Maple’s Special – 19
Once again, I witness the power of China Chinese in surviving!
This is an aunty who runs up the coach to sell WUDANG map.
Almost all of the passengers are stunned by her actions as she didn’t ask permission before she boards the coach. Just out of sudden, randomly, she showed up at the front desk of the bus and started selling her map.
It only costs 1 RMB, but nobody buy it from her.
I guess this is because we are shocked and at the same time, we find her unreasonable. In Singapore, we never encountered such situation before. There’s quite impossible for a person suddenly pop out and sell things, unless he/she is insane. That’s why everybody will hope to chase her off as soon as possible.
However, this aunty is determined. In order to earn a living, she put down all his pride. Even though we’re having long face to her, she doesn’t bother. She just continues her work, selling her map to us. At last, awkwardly, she is dragged out of the coach by the driver.
Honestly speaking, at the moment when she is dragged out, I felt a bit down. I felt a bit regretted for not buying the 1 RMB map. Looking at her face, I guess there must be reason why she needs money so desperately. I believe there is nobody in the world would want to lose their face in public, unless he/she’s forced to do so. Maybe she’s just one of the cases.
In China, there’re lot of people earn money regardless of their pride. Pride to someone who starves all the time is totally worthless. In order to fill the stomach, they’re willing to do everything. Particularly nowadays, at the economic downturn period, more and more people are jobless and desperate for money. So somebody turns out to be pickpocket, robber and …etc.
However, this aunty doesn’t become a negative money seeker. At least, she still earns money on her own means. So at this point, I am kind of admiring her. Admire her courage, admire her thick skin. Cause I can never be like her.
I don’t really know what I want to bring out from this aunty. Just feel that this is something that I really have to discover to let others know or explore.
The end.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 17
Well, I had a new experience in eating today!
Looks very pathetic is it?
Sitting on the super small tool, eating in a restricted and small place, and the environment is kind of unhygienic.
But I enjoyed it. Hehe.
Well, I have to admit that at first I really felt a bit uncomfortable. Although I am a bit untidy, I had never eaten like that before, just like a beggar style.
But the uncle’s warmth moved my mind. He’s so sincere, helping us to move the chairs, asking us if we’re feeling comfortable with it, and if we feel uncomfortable can change to another place to continue eating.
It is because his sincerity makes me feel that the place is not that bad. Although the condition of the place is not well-furnished, the uncle and his family have stayed there for decades. To them, the place is good enough for them to live on. Without any lavishness, they can still lead their life well. They feel contented with their current state, a shop house selling packet rice.
Looking at their contented expression, somehow I will ask myself, is this called the meaning of life? Simple, ordinary but contented?
Sometimes reading on self motivated books, it will reflect the same matter (leading simple life). The books will make me realize that after all the efforts, we all will still come back to lead a simple life. All the luxuries that we took pain in gaining will still fade away. That’s why it advices us not to be greedy or ask for too much.
But, it’s kind of big crash to me.
I can’t get a definite answer if I should also lead such a simple life, because I am still in the midst of youth age. At my age, it is not supposed to think of such simple life. My age supposes to be youthful, daringly pursue dreams. So such retiring mindset shouldn’t exist as it will only make me lose my motivation.
*Sigh* Maybe I should just do what I should do. Stop struggling on this no-answer-question.
Anyway, I still feel contented for eating like this. Smile.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 16
In my mind, it is always alerted that China Chinese will spit anywhere. So I am always careful with my steps to avoid those “lucky stickers”.
But today, inside the bus, inevitable, a man spit in front of me. Just right between his seat and the place I am standing.
It’s really so YUKKZZZZZZZ!
Though this is not the first time I see people spitting, it’s the first time people spit in such a close distance with me. That’s why I’m intolerable.
I have to admit that China people have the awe-inspiring parts, but sometimes I really agree that some of the people here are inconsiderate.
Beside anyhow spit, China people smoke unconsciously. Even the Non-Smoking Sign is obviously hanging there, the smokers still boldly take out their lighters and smoke openly. They don’t feel bad when people surrounding are coughing like mad, including babies. They won’t stop even though the policeman passes by.
If the same situation occurs in Singapore, I guess no smoker dares to do so or else the smoker has already been fined, S$500 or above.
So what makes Singapore and China so different? Most probably, the way the law is enforced.
In Singapore, the people are trained to abide law accordingly. Maybe because Singapore is small, easier to handle, hence law is easier to enforce. Maybe because Singapore police teams have high efficiency in spotting people who break laws, hence nobody dares to do illegal stuff. If you spit, 10minutes later you may end up in the police station.
But in China, situation is totally different. It’s a huge country and hence not every single law can be conducted well. Corruption occurs everywhere and thus it is very hard for people to abide the law. That’s the reason why people can spit, smoke accordingly.
For this portion, I guess we should really give Singapore a loud applause, for its ability to maintain its country in such a clean state.
Although living standard in Singapore is high, it’s worthy, to have all the protection and cleanliness.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 15
The old man selling newspaper.
It’s so cold, yet he’s smiling and doing his business.
When I first saw him, I got a feeling that I will continue buying his newspapers from then on. I guess the reason why I feel drawn to him is due to his temperate attitude. Though he is about 70 years old, he strives hard to earn money.I don’t know the story behind why he is still working at such age which is supposed to be leading life blissfully with grandchildren, but I admire his determination.
He woke up very early, even earlier than a student like me. Around 7am, you will see that he is already sitting still in the middle of corridors. He just sits there and waits for customers to come. From his posture, he reminds me of my grandfather in Malaysia. Perhaps when people age, their postures will all turn out to be the same.
For so long, I never see him talking lot to people. The most frequent word I heard from him is just “1.5 RMB”, the price of newspaper. Seriously I have to admit that, I bought the first paper from him because I felt pity for him. I sympathize him for working at such an old age and under such a cold weather. But after that I realized that despite his age, his working ability is actually comparable to the youngster. The latest Story Newspaper always reaches his stall one day earlier than other stalls. Instead of simply sympathy, his hardworking and efficiency become the reasons why I become “addicted” to his newspaper subsequently.
Know why I tell you this? Because I feel that he is a thumb-lifting model that all of us must learn.
He never takes advantage that he is an elderly and begging for money. Instead, he lives on his own feet. No matter how freezing the weather is or how heavy the downpour is, he will still be there, right at the position where he supposed to be. Though I don’t know if he is really willing to sell newspaper like this, but at least I know that he is working out his best, to be determined to what he has to do.
There are times when I really don’t feel like going class or do stuff that I supposed to do due to the comfortable sleeping in rainy days. But whenever I want to give up, the old man image will somehow flicker through my mind. His determination will pull me up from the bed and do what I supposed to do.
I guess there’s always something or someone who becomes the drive to your life, perhaps just nice, I met him in China.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple's Special – 14
Well, do you know that China is practicing “green” now?
One may have a perception that China is a less-developed country hence the government will focus more on the country development instead of putting its effort in saving the planet. It is true that China government’s main focus is how to build the country more advances, but it is wrong to think that saving planet in China context is a small issue.
Compared to Singapore, perhaps China is doing a far better job in the effort of protecting the environment. Similar to Korea, the plastic bag is no longer provided in supermarket of China. The people here are all using recycle bag or else take the goods in hand. If you buy too many things and really need one plastic bag, you have to pay 20cents to 50 cents RMB for each plastic bag.
Every time when we (Singaporean students) were buying stuff from supermarket, we always became the only group who are not environmental friendly as we demanded for plastic bag. Somehow, I feel ashamed. Know why? As we being a resident of a developed country, we didn’t become the role model of “be green”, instead we’re the one who waste the earth resources and create pollution.
Besides plastic bag, China government has banned the production of petroleum-generated motorbike. Nowadays the motorbikes found in China are mostly electrical motor bike, with exception of some old petroleum-generated motorbikes. This is one of the measures taken by China in order to reduce the emission of pollutants into the air.
From this, I find that China is actually putting in pains in order to save the Mother Earth. Though the amount of pollutants released is still greater than the amount of pollutants being cut down, though China is less advanced compared to Singapore, though Singapore is still cleaner than China, but at least China is doing something, at least China government is thinking ways to reduce its damage to the environment, at least the people here are willing to change their lifestyle to do their part in securing earth.
In contrast, we, being the citizens of a more developed country, detests the Wednesday when we supposed to bring our own bag to supermarket. And we always feel troubled to categorize our wastes into 3 in order to let 3R system takes place. Most of us are short-sighted, unable to see the consequences that we will bring to the environment in the future for our selfish act today. Even though now we have everything we need in hand, but if we don’t change our attitude now, nice environment for future can only be a far-fetch dream.
So, let’s not be selfish, think more about the environment, do our part, save our home.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 13
While enjoying the breathtaking scenery in the cruise, overheard somebody said that, the farmers’ life in mountain is so nice, so simple, and so peaceful, how I wish I can just stay here.
I guess most of us must have shared the same feeling as the girl. Feel so peaceful looking at the scenery and wish that we can lead our life in such a carefree place also. As in here, we’re feeling relaxed all the time.
But to the local, how do they feel?
Do they feel the same, feel peaceful and relax while looking at the scenery?
I guess they do feel peaceful living here, but at the same time, they are having stress of life here.
I believe, just like us, they have lots of things to worry about, just that what we’re stressed about is different.
They get stressed when the weather is bad, as they are afraid that the crops production will get affected.
They feel worry about the abrupt power cut, as electricity supply in mountain areas is always unstable.
We’re all the same. We have our own troubles, and they have theirs. So that’s nothing to envy about.
However, I do agree that their life is having less stress compared to us who live in city. Not because they’re living in mountains, not because they’re less knowledgeable compared to us, but just because they are more contented than we do.
In city, our basic “needs” are all fulfilled. So we start to have “wants”.
We want hand phone, we want tv, we want Ipod, we want laptop...etc. All of these are not necessity of life, but rather, luxuries that beautify our life. Due to these desires, we don’t feel satisfied even though we’ve everything needed in hand. That is why we feel stressed, due to the desire.
But to those who stay in the mountain, they’re not advanced. They don’t even know there’s the existence of Ipod or Gucci. To them, all of these luxuries are not crucial, what they concerned the most is meals, the basic need. They asked for proper meals, something that is very easy-handle to us.
Living in mountain area, it is really hard to trade or communicate with external. Thus, they can only survive on by the vegetables they plant and the fish they catch. Though in our eyes, this kind of life is really miserable. But to them, as long as there’re foods, there’re meals, there’re family, they will feel satisfied. This is how contented they are.
But we can never be like that.
We feel envious of them, of their simple life, but if we’re really given a chance to lead our life like that, I guess we all will unable to tolerate it. It’s really too hard for us to endure such life, since our desires are totally different from theirs.
What I want to say is actually simple.
We always think that others’ lives are much better than ours, but we never really put ourselves in their shoes. The one we are envious of might be suffering when we can’t see. Everybody has their own trouble, and everyone has their own happiness. To determine whether you’re happy or you’re troubled, it all depends on your own will.
So why not, instead of complain, accept life and lead it happily?
Just like how the uncle in the mountain did, sing while row the boat.
Labels: Maple's Special