Rules, rules, rules. All school have them, all students hate them. What exactely is the point of having school rules which restrict our freedom we may ask. However from the adults point of view, rules are laws that keep us discipline. There has to be some flaw, everything has flaws right? Well, I would go through some of my school rules to show you some of their boon and bane.
Lets start with the most basic rule a school can have. The need for a school uniform. In Chong Boon Secondary (my secondary school), it is neccasary to wear chong boon attire which includes socks and shoes. True it is to have some sense of identity to chongboonites. However, it might have been too much. Sure shirt and pants can be uniformed but is there a need for uniformed socks and shoes? Well in my school, they allowed students to voice out their opinion. Many students have in fact denied the need for uniformed shoes and it has been removed. However the uniform socks still stays. Many students, especially upper secondary, ignored the need for a uniformed sock ending up being caught by teachers and having to walk barefoot for the entire day. As time goes by, the teachers decided to change the rules on a uniformed sock. Although no official announcement has been made, white socks is allowed. The sock and shoes may have changed. But do not bother testing your luck and asking if it is possible to come in our home clothes. The school needs students to have a some sense of identity and this is seen throughout most schools in Singapore.
Alright the uniform rule has been changed and can not be removed. Lets try another common rule. Handphones. Should they or should they not be allowed in schools. Again as per normal, Chong boon did ban it entirely from the school premises, however, students have suggested that handphones is needed to contact their parents after school if there is an urgent need. The teachers have considered on this and allowed the students to bring their phones to school however they are not to be seen or heard. Many of us may wonder, whats the point of having a handphone in school which is not allowed to be heard or seen. Well think about it, if handphone is completely allowed in school, teachers may be disrupted from the lesson with the help of a wrongly-timed phone call. Students may even message in class, play games in class via the phone and even send exam answers via messages. Therefore, the handphone rule has been changed to benefit us but could not be removed for reason.
It is true that some rules may restrict our freedom or even be an obstacle to us. However, we have to understand that it is to the benefit of us.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Singapore flyer
As a kid, did you ever dreamt bout flying? A breath-taking bird's eye view of everything and everything looked small to you. The feeling of peace as you look down below you, everything which looked chaotic and messy seems soo peaceful. Well, this dream might become a reality to you if you have had a ride in the Singapore flyer. What is this Singapore flyer i spoke about? Its similar to a ferris wheel but instead, its known as an observation wheel.
I am sure many of you would not be interested in all the facts and figures and the difference between a ferris wheel and observation wheel. Allow me to share with you my personal experience when I was on my trip to the Singapore flyer.
We were all hyped up on the bus preparing for the trip to the Singapore flyer. However when we heard about how high the Singapore flyer was, our mind started wondering everywhere on how it would be like on the flyer. On a 42 stories high observation wheel... what is it like? Scary? Well that was what we all assume. When we all disembarked from the bus. All of us stopped our chattering and started admiring and staring at the Singapore flyer. Some of us whom are appointed the role of the group's photographer went on and started taking some shots of the Singapore flyer. However those who are afraid of heights already planned on what they were going to do during the entire trip of the flyer. Sitting there and doing nothing, covering their eyes... While we were all waiting for the teachers to get the tickets, we splitted into our groups and discussed our plan on who would do what in order to enjoy and complete our work.
Once the teacher received our tickets, we all proceded to the capsile. we had to hurry as the capsule would not wait for us to board it. When we boarded the capsule, we found out that it was much more stable than any of us had assumed. As the capsule turned steadily, we started our work, snapping photos, looking out for monuments and measuring the graph. In fact, some of us thought that we were too engrossed with our work to be afraid of the height we were at. However the truth was that we were not at all afraid when we were on the flyer. Heres the prove. Many of us were actually going around taking photos from every possible angle in the flyer. That means getting up close to all the edges of the windows. The view from the flyer was extremely picturesque. None of us could deny the fact and we all just could not resist the temptation to take photographs of the scenic view.
The entire trip took 30 minutes to complete a round. Once we got down of the flyer. We were able to take our lunch break however there was nothing there apart from a seven eleven store. After our lunch break, we went to the rooftop garden to do our mindmapping on our group topics. After that was done, we embarked for home.
From all our friends recount, most of them said that they were afraid at first and anticipated the flyer to be more scary. However they were all proven wrong.
I am sure many of you would not be interested in all the facts and figures and the difference between a ferris wheel and observation wheel. Allow me to share with you my personal experience when I was on my trip to the Singapore flyer.
We were all hyped up on the bus preparing for the trip to the Singapore flyer. However when we heard about how high the Singapore flyer was, our mind started wondering everywhere on how it would be like on the flyer. On a 42 stories high observation wheel... what is it like? Scary? Well that was what we all assume. When we all disembarked from the bus. All of us stopped our chattering and started admiring and staring at the Singapore flyer. Some of us whom are appointed the role of the group's photographer went on and started taking some shots of the Singapore flyer. However those who are afraid of heights already planned on what they were going to do during the entire trip of the flyer. Sitting there and doing nothing, covering their eyes... While we were all waiting for the teachers to get the tickets, we splitted into our groups and discussed our plan on who would do what in order to enjoy and complete our work.
Once the teacher received our tickets, we all proceded to the capsile. we had to hurry as the capsule would not wait for us to board it. When we boarded the capsule, we found out that it was much more stable than any of us had assumed. As the capsule turned steadily, we started our work, snapping photos, looking out for monuments and measuring the graph. In fact, some of us thought that we were too engrossed with our work to be afraid of the height we were at. However the truth was that we were not at all afraid when we were on the flyer. Heres the prove. Many of us were actually going around taking photos from every possible angle in the flyer. That means getting up close to all the edges of the windows. The view from the flyer was extremely picturesque. None of us could deny the fact and we all just could not resist the temptation to take photographs of the scenic view.
The entire trip took 30 minutes to complete a round. Once we got down of the flyer. We were able to take our lunch break however there was nothing there apart from a seven eleven store. After our lunch break, we went to the rooftop garden to do our mindmapping on our group topics. After that was done, we embarked for home.
From all our friends recount, most of them said that they were afraid at first and anticipated the flyer to be more scary. However they were all proven wrong.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Chinese New Year
Imagine yourself as a tourist whom just visited singapore for a vacation around late january and mid february. As you enter the city, you see fireworks in the air; firecrackers sounding the streets; little boys and little girls all dressed in red ethnic costumes running around playing with sparklers. You begin to wonder, what on Earth are this people doing? Well, this scene is seen throughout many asian countries during Chinese New Year. This is a time when families reunite, exchange red packets.
How did this festival come about? There was a legend about how Chinese New Year came about. There was a mythical beast called 'nian' or year. It would visit a village during the start of Chinese New Year and wreak chaos. The villagers seek a wise old man whom drifted in to town not long before the attack. The wise old man told the villagers that the beast was afraid of loud noises and the colour red. The villagers heed the old man words and prepared for the next attack. They pasted red clothes on their door, dressed themselves in red clothings and prepared many items that could produce loud sounds, this includes cymbals and drums. When the beast came to attack the village, the villagers were all prepared. The beast were afraid to attack the villagers this time as they were all dressed in red. The villagers saw this and started making loud noises with the cymbals and drums. The old man heated a sealed bamboo and let it crack. The beast was frightened by this and dared not attack the village any more. The villagers treated this as a celebration and practised it every year. That is how Chinese New Year came about. However there are many different legends on the start of Chinese New Year and this is just 1 of them.
Every holidays has its own superstitions and believes, but what superstitions does Chinese New Year hold? Well many believed that on the festival date, it is appropriate to open all doors and windows to usher in the good luck. Switching on the lights is good luck to scare away the misfortunes that may affect the new year. Sweets are eaten to ensure a sweet year ahead. Cleaning up the entire house from top to bottom to welcome the good luck for the coming year, however, this is to be done BEFORE Chinese New Year. This is because that cleaning the house during Chinese New Year means that you are sweeping away the good luck. Buying books on that day is bad luck as books in chinese sound like lose. Avoid clothes that are black and white in colour, wear red clothes.
What about its practices? Red packets are often exchanged when visiting relatives. Inside the red packets contains cash. Usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundreds. However, you will never find a red packet containing $4 as the word 4 sounds like death in chinese. People often buy new clothes on this festive season to symbolize the beginning of a new year. Often red is worn. During the festivals, you will find many people who hang the character 福 upside down on their doorsteps as it symbolizes the arrival of prosperity.
If you see any of your Asian friends next time, celebrating this festive season, be sure to greet them 'gong xi fa cai' which means congratulations and be prosperous.
How did this festival come about? There was a legend about how Chinese New Year came about. There was a mythical beast called 'nian' or year. It would visit a village during the start of Chinese New Year and wreak chaos. The villagers seek a wise old man whom drifted in to town not long before the attack. The wise old man told the villagers that the beast was afraid of loud noises and the colour red. The villagers heed the old man words and prepared for the next attack. They pasted red clothes on their door, dressed themselves in red clothings and prepared many items that could produce loud sounds, this includes cymbals and drums. When the beast came to attack the village, the villagers were all prepared. The beast were afraid to attack the villagers this time as they were all dressed in red. The villagers saw this and started making loud noises with the cymbals and drums. The old man heated a sealed bamboo and let it crack. The beast was frightened by this and dared not attack the village any more. The villagers treated this as a celebration and practised it every year. That is how Chinese New Year came about. However there are many different legends on the start of Chinese New Year and this is just 1 of them.
Every holidays has its own superstitions and believes, but what superstitions does Chinese New Year hold? Well many believed that on the festival date, it is appropriate to open all doors and windows to usher in the good luck. Switching on the lights is good luck to scare away the misfortunes that may affect the new year. Sweets are eaten to ensure a sweet year ahead. Cleaning up the entire house from top to bottom to welcome the good luck for the coming year, however, this is to be done BEFORE Chinese New Year. This is because that cleaning the house during Chinese New Year means that you are sweeping away the good luck. Buying books on that day is bad luck as books in chinese sound like lose. Avoid clothes that are black and white in colour, wear red clothes.
What about its practices? Red packets are often exchanged when visiting relatives. Inside the red packets contains cash. Usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundreds. However, you will never find a red packet containing $4 as the word 4 sounds like death in chinese. People often buy new clothes on this festive season to symbolize the beginning of a new year. Often red is worn. During the festivals, you will find many people who hang the character 福 upside down on their doorsteps as it symbolizes the arrival of prosperity.
If you see any of your Asian friends next time, celebrating this festive season, be sure to greet them 'gong xi fa cai' which means congratulations and be prosperous.
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