Pirates of the Caribbean

Went to watch Pirates of the Caribbean with Kok Vui, Janan, Samuel, Gun Kiat, Sihan, Vic, Claire and Dave yesterday.

But before that, went to New Urban Male with Jonathan to buy a birthday present for Kok Vui. Last time when I went to the shop I would just make one round, look at some of the prints on the T-shirts, then come out. Not this time. Omg it was so gay. Felt rather uncomfortable... nothing against gays though. Learnt that "302" is army lingo for gays from Jon. Interesting!

Ok, enough about that. Hope Kok Vui likes the thing that we bought him. =)

Met up for an early dinner at Subway at PS.

On to Pirates of the Caribbean... I didn't watch Dead Man's Chest so I was wondering if I could understand what was going on in At World's End, but it turned out fine--I caught bits and pieces here and there that fit the puzzle. The movie was a let down though. I liked some parts with play of words and stuff by Jack Sparrow, but that was not enough to save the movie. And it was a long movie... which really didn't have to be as there were many unnecessary parts. Not worth my S$8. For more reviews, visit Gun Kiat's blog.

Then went on to have supper at a supposedly famous Rochor Tau Huey (how do spell this?)(豆花). I guess it was so-so lah, dunno lar. Many things in Singapore seem more diluted than Malaysia... maybe because Singaporeans more health conscious? Anyway, quote of the day goes to Vic...

" Anything over Tau Huey is secretive "

Gossiped around, chit chat, and basically just chilled until 12+am. Gun Kiat was so kind to fetch us all the way back to NTU... thanks!

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers

This would be my first attempt at a book review... or rather, my thoughts after reading a book.

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First up, "A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers" by Xiaolu Guo 郭小橹。 I think I must first clarify two things: one, this is not a dictionary... it is actually just a fictional novel, somewhat based on the author's diary when she moved to London; two, I know I have a Chinese girlfriend now but that was not why I wanted to buy the book. It was actually recommended by someone in The Sunday Times and I found it interesting.

A warning beforehand... If you cannot stand bad English, replete with spelling errors, grammatical errors etc. ("What else I knowing about West?"), well, this book is definitely not for you! The book is delibrately written in poor English, but it slowly improves as the book proceeds on, showing how the protagonist tries her best to improve her English. There are also Chinese characters throughout the book.

To give a simple summary of the plot: A Chinese girl, forced by her parents, reluctantly goes to England to study English for a year. There she meets an Englishman, and lots of misunderstandings, quarrels (and sex) etc. occur between them as they learn more about each other. It is a romantic comedy.

I just finished reading the book today. I think to fully appreciate this book, you must not only be Chinese-English bilingual, but, as LKY said Singaporeans should be, bicultural. I found this to be true in many instances throughout the book, such as during the times the protagonist and her British lover quarrel. A lot of play on words ("Big Stupid Clock" = 大笨钟 = Big Ben) and also direct translations of chinese proverbs. However some of the translations are not proper... was that done intentionally? I don't know.

Oh the differences between the East and the West! There are times when I read this book I find so many similiarities in the relationship portrayed and my own (I hate vinegar! Yucks! But she cannot live without it).

There are parts in the book with simple drawings which reminds me of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time". I guess it's a trend to do that nowadays? On the other hand, the book sometimes feel like the book "The Catcher in the Rye", sans the glorification of violence and sexism, coz sometimes there seems to no specific plot and mostly just personal rants as time goes by--well, after all, it is based on a diary.

All in all, an interesting read. PRC Chinese should enjoy reading it (like my girlfriend), and I believe that they can understand and relate to the protagonist's plight and situation most clearly. A good understanding of both East and West is crucial in catching all the nuances in the book.

Happy Birthday Geat!

Happy Birthday to my dear old bro Geat who grew one year older on 14th May! Sorry bout the late posting =P Some people find it strange that I call my brother by his name (when others would say "gor" or 大哥 etc.) but I got used to it since we were staying in the US, so... yar.

Anyway, it's kinda sad that we meet only a few times a year nowadays. Can't be helped with me staying here in Singapore and him working in Penang. Well, at least there's still the 'ol MSN messenger...

Anyway, thanks for willing to donate to my "new phone fund". I will definitely buy it before I go to China... hehe...

My Brother (and my mischevious youngest sister)

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!

Mom, I know this is belated, but:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!!!

I'm sorry I couldn't be there back in Malaysia to celebrate Mother's Day with you. Lots of things that I want to share with you about my life now but I guess sometimes we are just too caught up with our hectic schedules. And other times I just don't know where to begin.

Sometimes I am really caught unawares when I receive your smses or emails, and everytime I receive them I feel bad for not calling home often. I am sorry for not being a fillial son that I should be... Sometimes, I just don't know what to talk to you all over the phone, when my life has become so different and in a way, detached from all of you. But everytime I call home I always feel a certain warmth in my heart even though we are talking about nothing of particular importance. And I guess sometimes I am scared to call home, scared because I am afraid I will get homesick.

It's been quite some time since our whole family could have some quality time together, with Geat up in Penang and me here in Singapore. I really do hope we all get to travel together someday. Do enjoy your time in Australia with dad and the 2 girls! Really hoped to go along.

Gee, despite this blog entry seeming rather short, it has taken me quite some time to write. I'm just lost for words sometimes in these matters. But I want you to know that no matter what happens in my life, you are still my mom, and I still love you.

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A Song For Mama

by Boyz II Men

You taught me everything

And everything you’ve given me

I always keep it inside

You’re the driving force in my life, yeah

There isn’t anything

Or anyone that I can be

And it just wouldn’t feel right

If I didn’t have you by my side

You were there for me to love and care for me

When skies were grey

Whenever I was down

You were always there to comfort me

And no one else can be what you have been to me

You’ll always be, you always will be the girl

In my life for all times

Chorus:

Mama, mama you know I love you

Oh you know I love you

Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart

Your love is like

Tears from the stars

Mama, I just want you to know

Lovin’ you is like food to my soul

You’re always down for me

Have always been around for me even when I was bad

You showed me right from my wrong

Yes you did

And you took up for me

When everyone was downin’ me

You always did understand

You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times

Looking back when I was so afraid

And then you come to me

And say to me I can face anything

And no one else can do

What you have done for me

You’ll always be

You will always be the girl in my life

Chorus

Never gonna go a day without you

Fills me up just thinking of you

I'll never go a day without my mama

Chorus

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Love,
Fei

~To the greatest mom in the world =)

声声慢

我似乎对凄惨的歌、诗、电影等有种莫名其妙的兴趣和感触。也许这一类的作品比较能显示出悲欢离合，又或者是我的人生观太悲观了。

今天和大家分享这首感人的宋词，《声声慢》：

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声声慢 李清照


寻寻觅觅，
冷冷清清，
凄凄惨惨戚戚。
乍暖还寒时候，
最难将息。
三杯两盏淡酒，
怎敌他晚来风急!
雁过也，
正伤心，
却是旧时相识。

满地黄花堆积。
憔悴损，
如今有谁堪摘？
守著窗儿，
独自怎生得黑？

梧桐更兼细雨，
到黄昏, 点点滴滴。
这次第,
怎一个愁字了得！

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p.s.（太久没写华文了，请多包涵）

crazy AE2011

Ok, so it was supposed to be a happy day for most Year 2 Aerospace Engineering students but it was rather a disaster. AE2011 - Introduction to Aircraft Design and Manufacturing, I must say, was one hell of an exam. The exam constitutes 60% of overall marks, with the remaining 40% based on our 2 projects that we have toiled (and "wasted" a lot of time) to complete during this semester.

I would've thought they might've let us easy on the exam but they didn't! Sure, they allowed us to bring in our own double-sided A4 "cheat sheet" ("restricted open book" they call it), but there was simply not enough time. Seriously! No one I asked so far (Pontus, Ge Yao, Kok Vui, Kelvin...) completed the paper in time. It was also rather unbalanced, with a isometric view drawing (which takes quite some time to draw properly) having the same marks (7 marks) as a simple calculation question (which took like... 5~7 minutes?). And a lot of writing work. Simply not enough time. Oh well, guess they'll have to moderate down then. Btw the cheat sheet wasn't very useful. Sheesh.

Swedish meatballs (centre), potatoes (right), lingonberries (left) and cream sauce (rather "cheesy"... I like!)

Anyway, after all that we decided to follow Pontus to IKEA for some Swedish Meatballs. Oh btw, Pontus is this exchange student in our course from Sweden (full name: Pontus Erik Victor Karlsson... but we just call him Karlsson). He said the Swedes pronounce it as "ee-kee-ya"(actually, if you know Hanyu Pinyin, it was "yi3 ki4 ya2"). He's leaving tomorrow though. Anyway, the meatballs were great... first time eating them. Looking forward to try more European fare when I'm in Europe (hopefully).

So the holidays have officially started for me but it ain't gonna be free and easy... lots of stuff planned out already... Blog about it another time... Ciaoz!

American Idol season 6, new MRT line and exam updates

Ok, I know American Idol season 6 has started quite some time ago... in fact, it'll be ending in a few weeks' time. Unfortunately I haven't been following every episode but I make sure I watch Melinda Doolittle's performances on YouTube. Just wanted to share this video below with y'all... It's one of my favorite performances in AI 6. Not by Melinda Doolittle but by Lakisha Jones, who started off the season really strong but didn't improve much I guess (from the remarks I read online). So now 17-year old Jordin Sparks has overtaken her to be one of the favorites in the finals.



Lakisha Jones during the top 20 performances, singing "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going"

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So I suppose most of you have read about the new Downtown MRT line that they will be building... linking Bukit Panjang LRT to the Bugis area, making a loop around Marina bay and continuing to Tampines and Expo. S'pore Gov says will be completed in 2018...

Grabbed this file from someone last time... it shows the possible planned MRT stations and lines in the future (if you guys are interested to see). If you take note of the station numbers you'll realise there are gaps in numbers, like between Yew Tee (NS5) and Kranji(NS7). This picture below shows all those "missing MRT stations":

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Exam updates:

German level 3 was tough. I attribute that to the fact that I didn't take it very seriously this semester, as the semester was one of our craziest ones ever. It was the first time I left some blanks in the comprehension Q&A part. And as usual, lots of words I never seen before. Thank goodness I S/U-ed it! Oh well... If I'm really going to Technischen Universitaet Muenchen I gotta buck up and train a lot a lot...

Thermo was at the expected difficulty. After doing past year papers I realised that the November papers were easier... maybe because it's for those who have "da3 pao1" (adj., take-away; university lingo; referring to the situation where someone fails the subject and has to retake it next semester). The paper was do-able but I forgot many things... but I'm still hoping for the best. = )

Only one more paper to go! Jiayou everyone!!!