Maple’s Special – 41
Before I left Wuhan, I guess I should say something about my overall impression to China.
To judge a country, whether it is good or not, really depends. Everyone has different perspective and criteria on saying. Some priority goes to the safety problem, some priority goes to the facilities wise, and so it’s really hard to tell.
To me, China is quite a nice country to stay. Though I’m input with all kinds of rumors at first, about the bad characteristics of people, the unsafe environment, the unhygienic food and etc, I still feel that China is a great country.
Perhaps the food here is not so hygienic, but at least I don’t suffer from diarrhea.
Perhaps the environment here is not so conducive, but you will still get used to it after a while.
Perhaps the people here are very straight forward, but at least they speak out their real mind.
Perhaps the things here are not durable, but at least you pay very little.
Perhaps, what I feel most comfortable in China is the freedom feeling, the feeling when I am out alone, without guardian of family, have the full right on my life. It’s something that I have never had before, and that’s why it is making me so calm in leading my life here.
No matter how bad the facility is, no matter how unhealthy the food is, no matter how rude the people are, I am still alright with it, because I got the freedom I longed for.
But of course, the relaxing lifestyle and also the low standard living here are parts of the reason why I am comfortable. Because everything is just nice, right at your pace, so that you don’t need to rush for anything. And that’s where the peaceful feeling comes about.
And when you feel peaceful in a place, you will feel the country is great. So, I guess my overall impression to China is an A grade.
If there’s someone asking me if China is bad, I will say, “It is best of all.”
To China,
I like you and I will miss you.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 40
Our trip is going to end and I guess it’s time for our lecturer to feel relaxed.
After tortured by us for 40 days, I guess our lecturer should feel relieved now. Finally he can see the glimpse of burden-free again.
Maybe it seems nothing for a lecturer’s job on looking after a group of teenagers who know how to handle themselves, but I guess that is still a tough responsibility to uphold.
When we’re out without him, lecturer worried about our safety. When we’re sick, lecturer had to share his honey with us. When we’re injured, lecturer had to accompany us to the hospital. There’re actually lots of things for a lecturer to handle, but it is just all behind the scene.
I know that, that is why I wish to tell him a thank you.
Thank you for taking care all of us.
Thank you for treating us at restaurants.
Thank you for giving us permission to stay over in KTV.
And for all the mistakes that we have done throughout the journey, as a student leader, I apologize for not setting up a good example.
Sorry sir.
I hope that you can forgive us, as we’re youths and love to have fun so sometimes we will forget about what we supposed to it. We don’t really mean it, but it just occurs. So sincerely hope that you can embrace all the mistakes we made.
Anyway, I guess all of us had fun for the journey, so let’s just keep this unforgettable memory into our mind and let it be there forever!
It’s tough to take care of a bunch of smarty like us. Thank you.
Labels: Maple's Special
Well, I must really say that Singapore students are blissful. Guess why? Because all the information we need is easy available. In Singapore, there’re thick references books in public library which we don’t even need to spend a single cents on buying. In Singapore, there’re wireless connections almost everywhere, as long as you have a laptop, the information is just at fingertip.
However, in China it’s totally different. Due to its state as a developing country, many student welfare facilities are not developed. The library here is not a suggested place to look for information as the books are not really up-to-date. If the student wants to have reference books for research wise, she needs to buy it from the big bookstore which is located in the downtown area.
To a no-income China student, a reference book of 100 RMB is really costly; it equals to their pocket money for almost 10 days. So, in order to buy the books that they really need for study, they need to save up their expenditures, which mean they may have to starve for quite a number of meals.
This is the sad consequence for having no good book resources and poor. I heard that, in order to get the information, those real poor students have to go big bookstore every day, stand and read the books, then memorize out the contents when they’re home. It’s kind of heartbreaking to hear such stories right?
Yet, as Singapore students, many of us do not really maximize the resources in our country. We spent our leisure time in gaming more than visiting the library. Worse comes to worst, some of us don’t even browse through the books in library. We don’t really cherish what we have and just set it aside.
But do you know, at the moment when we’re throwing the great facility aside, there’re thousands eager eyes that desire to have it? So, let’s cherish what is in our hand. Making visiting library as part of our life, exploit this great resources to the maximum, as it is a place for you to gain wisdom.
Reading is not for the sake of others, but for you, to upgrade yourself.
Labels: Maple's Special
I got a great sentiment about desire to learn today.
Due to their mono-language environment, China Chinese don’t really have the chance to practice their English speaking.
As you know, language is a study which requires real life experience. It’s not all about investigating books principle, but more to a face-to-face communication, heart-to-heart talk. Let’s get back to the basic, language is meant for communication, it’s a medium for one to understand the others, it’s a method to express your opinion out. So in order to upgrade one’s language level, besides reading on books, real life communication is very crucial.
That’s why the China students are very looking forward to our meet-up. To them, the English corner arranged is a testing session, a great place for them to test out their English speaking with foreigners like us. (In their expression, Singaporeans are great English speaker and do not know how to speak mother tongue Mandarin.) In fact they’re very anxious, they’re afraid that their English level is still not up to level.
Nevertheless, from their eyes, I can see their eagerness, their desires in learning English. I can really sense their desire to improve, as they tried very hard in uttering out every single word. They squeezed themselves not to replace the unknown vocabulary with mandarin word. As they know, English language is important, for them to survive in this new era.
Observing the way they spoke their hearts out with English, I felt that I was really a good for nothing. Though I am a Malaysian who is not native English speaker as well, at least I got the chance, to practice my English speaking in Singapore, such an English-prior environment. But, I didn’t make a good use of my times in Singapore. I didn’t really take an initiative to upgrade my poor English standard, yet let my broken English continues to grow. It’s kind of shame, for having such a great environment, yet do not know how to utilize it properly.
Thanks god that I had the chance to attend this English Corner. It doesn’t help to improve my English, but it lights up my long-dead-desire to learn English. Their desire to learn has motivated me, to brush up my English level.
I am going to be like you, learn English properly.
Labels: Maple's Special
Well, due to the rock climbing event today, I verify the value of willpower. In order to climb to the top, great determination is really needed.
When we’re stuck in the middle and don’t know how to continue on, your willpower will be the factor which determines if you will able to hang on or give up.
If your willpower is strong enough, you will push yourself to the top.
If your willpower is weak, you will give up very easily.
This theory doesn’t apply solely on rock climbing, rather on our whole life.
If I were to ask you, what is so different between a successful person and a failure one? What leads them into different paths of life?
The answer is simple, just mentalities, willpower and luck.
But out of these 3 factors, only willpower is something that we can work hard on. Mentalities and luck are something beyond our controls; hence we must make good use of our willpower. As long as you have the determination in achieving success, you will throw in all your efforts in. No matter how tough or how suffering is the journey, you will still endure it and get it over. And all these efforts will produce a successful person.
Whereas, for those who fail, the main reason of their failure is always lack of determination. When the willpower you instilled in your project is low, it’s really hard for you to pull through the challenges you encountered. It’s very natural for you to give up, as there’s no back-up spirit which requests you to hold on. The missing of the back-up spirit, your willpower will mean a lot of difference.
It’s really clear that willpower will influence a person’s life, leading to victory or defeat of life. So, in order to succeed in anything, be prepared. Set your mind, switch it to the “determined” mode, brainwash yourself that you can do it, and be confident in doing it.
Never give up before you try your full strength. If you never carry on, you will never know how powerful your potential could be.
So, let’s buck up! Heading to the “never-say-die” spirit! :X
Labels: Maple's Special
22⁰C - Sunny
Yoho! Today was an entertaining day!
We went to WUST Zhong Nan Branch School for Leadership Training Program.
*Thanks to this program, our IS presentation got postponed! Yippy! :) *
Although I can only keep silent throughout almost the whole day again, it’s still interesting!
I played a lot of great games which I had never tried before in Malaysia!
First, we’re divided into 4 groups, with each group comprising 20 people. And thank god that I was with Felicia, Ian and Kumaran, so that they can talk on behalf of “muted” me.
Since both Ian and I were muted, the group’s so dead at the bonding session!
We can’t even think of a good team name and also logo!
But then at last they came out with an idea – AFRO, inspired by the perm hair of our captain.
Then, an “artist” drew a fantastic logo, resembling the face of our captain! Haha.
Later on, we’re tasked to do the MOVING BELT of tanker, by using purely NEWSPAPER! And 20 of us had to squeeze and step in the belt, in order to move to a tasked destination!
Oh My God, so tough right?! We all cracked our head and tried to think out of the box.
Luckily, our group had Ian and me! Though Ian and I were mute, we two were the resourceful strategists of our team! We used sign language to convey our message across the team. It’s so funny to see their expression when we’re communicating with lip + sign language. But, at least they got used to our communication method. :)
Next, we had a trust-bonding game, called 信任后仰.
In this game, one person was required to stand up at a height of 2m, with all the limps tied with ropes and jumped down backward. Your teammates were asked to stand at the ground, and catch you.
This game was really testing your trust to your teammates. If you really trust them, then you will fall with easy feeling. But to me, the feeling was so horrible! I didn’t fall flatly, just fell with sitting position.
I don’t know why, but maybe just that I can’t have the secure feeling from them.
I just can’t entrust myself to others maybe, at least not whole hearted. >.<
But still, when you’re caught by the team, the feeling’s beyond words especially the warmth you can feel. Great!
Then, we had a challenging game – 跳跃神.
Everyone had to put on the “super-tight” safety-assuring strings first then on one-by-one turn, we’re asked to climb all the way to the top, and jump a 1.5m gap.
Looks very thrilling right? But actually, it’s very simple, unless you’ve phobia for height.
I just ended it with a nice jump, and then scrolled all the way down.
Haha. After this game, I guess, I’m really prepared to go for my bum-gee jumping on my 21! YOHO!
After this, the last game’s rock-climbing攀岩.
For those who’re enthusiasts of NPCC, I guess this game had no kick at all. It’s only 6 levels high, and resembling the one in Singapore.
But, today was my first try! In Malaysia, such facilities were not available, unless you go for NS. That’s the reason why I was so excited.
I tried it, but I didn’t manage to conquer it, because I got stuck at the middle, sad.
With never-say-die spirit, I tried again!
But sad to say, the result was the same. I didn’t manage to complete it. Sob.
Anyway, I got higher this time, just 3 slots more I’ll reach the top. Perhaps, I was too exhausted, that’s why my hand slipped away.
No matter how, at least I had wonderful moment! Haha! :)
I’ve started to miss here, Wuhan.
Labels: Maple's Story
I will talk about Courage today, the song which Yi Sheng sang at the stage.
“Courage is crucial to overcome challenges in life. “ This statement is something that all of us know, but this value is something that many of us are lack of, including me.
I know I must be brave always to face all the challenges that come to me, but sometimes when I need it, I just couldn’t surge it up. Before the chances come to me, I always brainwash myself that, “if the chance is here, you must grab it.”But then when the real chance comes to me, I hesitated. And when the chance finally passes by, I will start to feel regret.
It happened to me quite a number of times, but every time the outcome was still the same. For certain things, I am always out of courage, out of no reason.
But today, I tried out. When the MC is asking people to answer question, I raised my hand up. This is something that I won’t do in the past, as I feel embarrassed. But today, at the night party, I made it. I answered the question and won a travel book. Though it’s no big deal, I still feel great because I managed to surge up my courage! It’s happy for me to step out, to be braver.
And today, I saw another reflection of courage from my friend, Yi Sheng.
He’s actually a good guy but lack of self-confidence and courage. Due to his inferiority, he always thinks that he’s good for nothing. He doesn’t trust his own ability, including his talent in singing. He only dares to sing in front of the friends he’s close with and always rejects singing in public. He always said, “I cannot make it.”
But today, he made it. Although I was the one who pushed him up to stage and he’s forcefully to sing, he did a great job at the stage. From the unstable key at the beginning till keeping high key at the end, I guess his heart had experienced a great upside down. But at the same time, I know that he has already surged up the courage which he thinks he doesn’t possess. I feel that his courage is really great, becomes the main drive which pushes him to overcome his own mental block.
Looking at his transformation, I feel great. Deep in my heart, I feel happy for him as well as myself. Because I know that we had both grown a little bit more, in surging up courage.
So, if you have something which you do not dare to do, try it today. Surge up your courage and tell yourself, “You can do it.”
I will be braver, from now on.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special – 35
In the past, I once dreamt to be a tour guide.
I felt that it’s so great to have such job, can earn money and travel around the world at the same time. And it’s so nice to able to meet with different people, discover new culture.
That’s all my imagination, thoughts of being a wonderful joyful tour guide.
But the reality in China gives me a big blow, to my daydreaming.
Guess how much is the monthly salary of a tour guide in China?
Don’t think about fancy number.
It’s only 800 RMB.
Shocked? 800 RMB, which equals to SGD$150 only and it, is based on per MONTH.
I am totally speechless when I heard of the number. In my imagination, tour guide is a stable job which can at least earn SGD$1800 per month! Yet, the answer from reality is such a big contrast!
After acquainting with several tour guides, I must really say that, the life of being a tour guide in China is really tough. Along the journey guiding the tour, we all have our welfare well taken care of. But to tour guide, it can really be said that there’s no welfare provided for them.
While we’re complaining about our plain breakfast, they have to eat the biscuit they prepared themselves.
While two of us are sleeping on the uncomfortable (which we think it is) bed, the tour guides (4 people) have to squeeze inside a small tour guide room to rest.
There’s no time for them to eat, no time for them to sleep properly, but time to serve us. After the hard work of an entire month, they can only get 800 RMB as repay.
Don’t you think that they’re pitiful? Low salary is given, but high perseverance is needed. Though the market price is really bad, still they have to struggle to carry on their jobs as China is an over competitive society. As you know, there’re thousands of places of interest in China. Hence, thousands of tour guides needed. But there’re millions of people are jobless. The competition is really harsh. In order to survive through, one must really endure it.
Perseverance is something all of us shall learn, to pull through the difficulties in life.
Labels: Maple's Special
Maple’s Special - 34
Today while visiting Valley of Beauties, I saw a working uncle who was “netting” algae up from the pond. He used a bamboo pole to catch those algae which destroys the beauty of the scenery. The way he did the task is really easy, as if no energy is needed.
So, my curiosity killed me again.
I asked for his permission and took over his job in algae fishing.
Well, I must say that, the bamboo pole is really heavy! It’s not as easy control as it appears to be! Due to its length, it is quite tough to move it as you have to be cautious if you will hit someone behind you.
And I can’t catch the algae as how he did! I swift the pole left and right, again and again, to no avail. The algae just don’t stay inside the net obediently!
You may find my action meaningless, but actually it makes me realize an important value.
There’re always times when I underestimated the ability of people. I always think that what the others can do so easily, sure I can make it as well. So somehow, I will overestimated my own ability and at the same time pull down the grades of others. But in fact, when I really get my hands on, I just realize that the task’s not so easy. It’s not as simple as how I see it.
Just like the uncle, he can manage the pole so easily yet I am so clumsy about it. To me, it’s apparently just a pole, no big deal. But when the real trained person is compared with the over-confident person (like me sometimes), the outcome is obvious. Hence, self-doubting is really something needed for those highly self-estimated people.
So I guess next time, before I judge the ability of other people, I will judge myself first, in order not to be over-confident.
Labels: Maple's Special