Condolences

A copy of the following article has been published at Channelnewsasia.com in the "Condolences" section.

What a catastrophe that has happened - what more at the end of the year 2004. The Asian killer waves have swept away fragile and innocent lives that deserved more years to live - especially the poor locals that were already suffering before the incident. It is definitely the DISASTER OF THE YEAR - or maybe even the CENTURY. The tragedy has grieved nations so much that no amount of aid, no matter how large - can cure the heartbroken souls of the surviving families and relatives of the victims - the aid only alleviates the pain temporarily.

Endless mourning heralds the new year as time passes, even more so slowly for those directly affected. Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi ordered all major New Year celebrations to be called off, following the tsunami disaster on Sunday. Singapore cancelled its live telecast of The Nation's Countdown 2005 (although the event itself carried on) in view of the sombre mood. Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand also declared days of mourning.

Holy books such as the Bible and the Qu'ran have prophesied earthquakes and the like that would happen in the "final days". We are living in the "end times" - but how soon is the actual "end"? The next second, minute or hour could be it. But no matter what, we should take whatever precious time we have left to love and care for our loved ones. By the time we reach the final years of life, it is perhaps useless to contemplate over what we have done in the past years and wished that the clock could have been turned back in time.

Many deep condolences to those who have loved ones that have been affected by the tsunami.

A Special Song for this Christmas

To My Child,
You may know me, but I know everything about you...
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered...
For you were made in my image...
I knew you even before you were conceived...
I chose you when I planned creation...
And I knit you together in your mother's womb...
You are not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book...
I determined when you would be born and where you would live...
Because I love you with an everlasting love...
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me...
I am not distant and angry but am the complete expression of love..
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you...
For every good gift that you receive comes from my hand...
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could...
Because I am the perfect Father...
And I am the provider who meets all your needs...
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope...
My thoughts toward you are as countless as the sands on the seashore...
And I rejoice over you with singing...
I will never stop doing good to you...
For you are my treasured possession...
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart...
For it is I who gave you those desires...
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine...
For I am your greatest encourager...
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles...
When you are brokenhearted I am close to you...
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart...
One day I will wipe every tear from your eyes...
Because I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…
He is the exact representation of my being…
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…
Jesus died so that we could be reconciled…
His death was my ultimate expression of love for you…
I have up everything that I loved to gain your love…
If you receive the gift of my Son you receive me…
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…
I have always been Father and will always be Father…
My question is… will you be my child?…
I am here if you ever want to talk…
- Your Father God
(compiler – Anonymous)

Post-chalet reminiscences

Haven't blogged for quite a number of days - if you were wondering where I was - I just came back from my class chalet @ Aloha Loyang. That is really the biggest and most spacious place (if you booked the more "high-end" units) you could book if you have a large number of guests! Even for the lower-cost units, the place is still larger than the average chalet unit.

We had so much fun in the pool there - what with 3 jacuzzis (the warm water rocked!), the slide (whee!) and the main pool (quite cold though). And we all grew small and became little children once again in the playroom - even getting into "snowball fights" with the small playroom balls that were abundant in the room. The soccer/basketball court gave us a chance to pit our skills against the best of our class. And the night walk out to Downtown East and a 24-hour coffeeshop satisfied our hungry tummies - but didn't keep us warm for long.

Many many thanks to Mrs Gan who voluntarily, without asking, booked this chalet for us. It probably would be the only class chalet for some time to come (unless someone books one next year - reunion gathering or something). However, though the place was big, we only stayed one night (the other night was for her family/relatives). Though the attendance was quite good (30+ people out of 41), it was quite a waste that not that many stayed overnight - despite the 4 rooms that could easily accomodate all of us.

So this brings the number of chalets/BBQs I've attended in November/December so far to THREE - good life huh... not really - quite tiring to plan for the recent chalet - calls after calls, bringing utensils and lots of other stuff was the modus operandi, the manner of working, for the weeks beforehand.

I do hope my secondary school classmates stay in touch. But I'm sure they will. Haha. 'Cos it's really secondary school classmates that go through most of the ups and downs in our lives - when life takes a bend in the road - they're there to help and encourage us. Recently I've met my primary school classmate on a bus - almost didn't recognise him - it was him who introduced himself to me. You see, I've not been returning to my primary school (Tampines Primary) since I entered secondary school - not even for Teachers' Day, as is customary. So I've lost contact with my primary schoolmates/teachers. But now that he has my phone number - I guess I won't be forgotten for their future gatherings.

Signing off with fond memories

Wen Xia - What Really Happened!

The Straits Times - Fake graduate taught for 4 years

Read the below ACTUAL newspaper article from The Straits Times (11 Dec 2004, Main section, Page 4) to find out what happened.

Click the article to enlarge it.

Then read my review below.

Review

I really can't believe this has happened to a teacher - in my ex-secondary school! Gosh, which drain will the school's name flow down now? One thing's for sure, the school has no more face to hide. It is notable that she will be deported back to her homeland (China) after she comes out of jail. And the school will have one less teacher.

From the very beginning four and a half years ago, she was rather unpopular the moment she entered the school - probably because of her notorious attitude in scolding students. Having gained a negative impression for her often trendy clothing that she sported even to her classes, it was perhaps viewed that she was a wealthy "China taitai" as some put it. But now that something like that has happened, I am unsure how many parents will want to enroll their children in the secondary or (even) primary school, which is almost equally badly affected by the tarnishing of the shared "St. Hilda's" name.

And not to mention that the school had just celebrated its 70th Anniversary this year. Blessings and good gifts were expected to be abundant throughout the year. But now that such a thing has happened, the loyal Hildan can perhaps expect the school's name to remain tarnished for quite a while. But no matter how much we forgive and forget - "It is understood in such cases offenders will be deported after their release."

And what a way for the Straits Times reporters to end the article in such a way as "St Hilda's declined comment."

Even so, it might be appropriate to elaborate on her good side. Every Chinese occasion, such as the Lunar New Year, she would set up a stall near the canteen and put up books, calligraphy and worksheets to let students have a better understanding of the Chinese culture. It thus can be inferred that she is a hardworking teacher.

In addition, one of her ex-students recalled that when he was having a competition during his first year in secondary school, she took the effort to practise with him and search for the needed materials. He thinks that if students had learnt Chinese passionately and listened to her, her idiosyncrasies would not have mattered so much.

Nevertheless, her teaching days in the school are already over - and the once familiar face will be out of sight.

News article and photo courtesy of The Straits Times

CG Sentosa Outing

Just came back from Sentosa from my CG's Sentosa Outing and my skin's colour is somewhat like the colour of this font I'm typing it... some parts even darker. Argh... the weather's been funny recently - at times the sky cries as if it's just got a hurtful beating - other times it's so sunny (and harmful - with all its UV rays and whatnot). Anyway, the main unforgettable part of it was the games - especially the telematch! Imagine having a "sumptuous" meal of Tic Tacs in plain flour, whole bananas with Coca-Cola mixed with wet sand and more flour (not to mention saliva and the whatnots that come out of a person's mouth when he regurgitates)! To top it all up, getting an uncooked egg smashed into smithereens all over your hair (and face, and mouth, and arms, and...) as dessert! Really pee-you disgusting - and that was after lunch. Blech! So when your entire body after the whole game was floury, monkey, gassy, salivary and yolky, you run (with around 20+ others) to the sea and start washing in it. And spit in it. Although I've just had a bath, I still can smell that eggy stench of raw eggs somewhere on my body. I'll have second thoughts about having eggs for my future meals.

Winner of Singapore Idol (Debut Season) - Taufik Batisah... Congrats Taufik!