The unspoilt empire

While browsing through an online news site a few minutes ago, I came across an article regarding Mrs Jean Yip's approach on dealing with her children. In a short interview with a reporter, she revealed that she was a 'very strict and result-orientated mother', albeit owning an enormous fortune. Describing herself as a mother who "encourage(s) them[Her children] to try a lot of activities' while emphasizing "that if they start an activity or class, they have to finish it. There's no such thing as doing something halfway", she indicates that she limits her children's expenditure, insists that they complete their education and make them do house chores, despite the presence of three maids in the house.

You may ask why a extremely wealthy family running an extremely lucrative business would set such "extreme" limitations on their youths?

The answer is quite simple: To keep them from being Spoilt.

In this day and age, everything, from clothes to books to toys to food, are readily made available for the children by their parents. It bears almost no resemblance to the "old days", where I heard that families, including the young children, had to plant their own crops to obtain food and a source of income. Due to this, I think, children take what they have for granted and demand for more from their parents without sparing even a thought for the amount of blood and sweat their parents have put in. Of course, parents do not usually speak out against their children, in an attempt to please their kids.

I am not saying that it is our parents fault, neither am I saying it is ours. I mean, how could immature kids like us appreciate what our parents were providing us? For example, I remember a year ago, my brother received an expensive action figure from my parents and thanked them enthusiastically. A week later, however, my sister reported that the action figure with its colour fading, floating atop the tremulous surface of the bathtub water, while my brother stood in my parents room later that night whining for a new toy.

I guess in this materialistic society, we are not used to expressing our gratitude. However, I think this is something we should all embrace. No matter what we do in this life, or the next, we will never be able to repay our parents for what they have done for us. The time, the effort, the blood, the tears, the money. We will never be able to repay them, but for each of their gifts, we should thank them.

An interesting conversation

Today, while traveling home on bus 66, I chose a seat nearly at the back of the bus, since I was feeling a little down that I had forgotten to file one assignment into my Chinese file and delayed my submission.

By chance, I overheard a conversation between two youths who apparently just started work. One of them said something like, "you know ah, my friends told me yesterday that I did not act like a Singaporean". The other replied, "Aiyah, go to eat Mee Siam ans drink Kopi O lah." Then the former added on, "Chicken rice too." And that was it. End of a could-be-more-developed conversation.

Still, from this short but meaningful conversation, I would like to comment on their opinions on what the "being Singaporean" is. To them, the "being Singaporean" is following the same set of behaviour that all Singaporeans should follow. I think this has become some sort of culture for us. However, the culture I am referring to does is not race and religion. I am talking about behaviour and preferences. We have a deep rooted Singaporean Culture, an example of which is our supposed love for the Chili crab dish and Chicken rice.

Then again, does it stop there?

Personally, I do not think so. I think being a Singaporean just means that we need to have pride in our country. It is not so much of showing off to other countries that we have the best batch of educated students or that we have the most unique culture. I think as we grow up, we are influenced by the adults around us, who have already integrated into society as the "model Singaporean". I do not rally support this attitude. I mean, how can a country survive with exactly identical people, doing exactly identical things, living an exactly identical live and have an exactly identical preference? I am not denouncing the idea that Singapore should have a special culture, but the culture cannot control us. I do not think we should be judged based on the Singapore culture. We cannot criticise others for not acting like a Singaporean because in the end, it is us, the Singaporeans of today, who will have the say in what "being Singaporean" is.

E-learning: Interview with my grandfather(Interpersonal)

Well, I just completed a simple interview with my grandfather concerning hios views on Prejudice and Discrimination.

Interview:
JK: What do you think is prejudice in your opinion?
Grandpa: Prejudice is the root cause of misunderstanding. For example, in a multiracial nation like Singapore, it can create social unrest.

JK: What are your views on discrimination, then? How does it, well, begin?
Grandpa: Discrimination destroys fair play or equality, social equality, gender equality. It stirs up hatred among those who are discriminated against. Consequently, social harmony will break down. Discrimination often results from prejudice.

JK: Are there any instances in History where Prejudice or discrimination is shown?
Grandpa: Several decades ago, the American Blacks, due to cultural and social prejudice, were discriminated against in their work place, politics or even daily lives which happened even in the United States of America. 40 years ago though, when I was in school in the early 1970s in the USA, Black men on the streets seen with white women were beaten, sometimes to the death. However, even now, there was some unrest when President Barrack Obama ran for presidency.

JK: Is prejudice and discrimination wrong? In your opinion of course.
Grandpa: 你是不是在开玩笑？

E-learning: Diary of Jem (Intrapersonal)

Dear Diary,

It isn't fair, is it? How could the Maycomb Jury convict Tom Robinson after all the evidence given? He was innocent, wasn't he? This... this is all nor right. It was Bob Ewell. He was the one, not Tom, not Tom Robinson. I can't accept this. I have lived here all my life. Sometimes life was hard, sometimes it was cruel but this! This is not just. I don't know what to be believe in anymore. How can I ever believe what anyone tells me now?

Atticus, how can this be possible? Answer me! Atticus!

Jem Finch

My learning profile

Woah...I will never know how the Birmingham Grid for learning works. Its results are right on the dot.

They are arranged from my best area:

Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalistic
Kinaesthetic
Visual
Linguistic
Logical
Musical

There is no use to deny my failure in music. I cannot play a musical instrument without creating havoc, cannot memorise my notes through a rhythm without angering my sister and absolutely do not bother to try again. On the other hand, I am quite wary of others around me, proving that the analysis of my interpersonal skills is accurate. That is why, for all those who wanted to know, I do not hurl abuses at others, throw people for no good reason and keep an eye on my classmates behaviour.

Well, this was just a short analysis of the results from my point of view. Now, time to start on the real work.