This year's 初一 (1st day of Chinese New Year) is very different for our family as compared to those we have before all these years. Instead of visiting our relatives, we stayed at home all day long... as host! Actually, I could go around visiting instead of staying at home, but I'm feeling kinda lazy this year... Hehe... Ends up it's actually less tiring visiting relatives everywhere instead of playing host at ur own house!!!
At one time, my parents drove back their factory workers who visited us earlier... Before both my parents came back, different families of my relatives came, one after another. I was able to handle things at first, but when the guest number reached 25, all at my house at the same time, without my parents around chatting with them and such, I started to get really panicky... Heck, I dun even know half of them!!! Wat am I supposed to talk about? So I started walking all over, serving drinks and food and stuff, from the hall to the dining room to the kitchen and back again, occasional stopping by at the front door wondering when will my parents be back!!! Thank God they came back after 30 minutes or so...After staying downstairs for awhile, I "escaped" the crowd by watching The Godfather Part II upstairs in an air-con room. Phew~
Nv knew it's so hard to play host... I opt for visiting instead of playing host for next year's CNY!!!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
THE LEGEND BEHIND CNY CELEBRATION
For us who graduated from Chinese schools, the legend behind the celebration of Chinese New Year is well known to all of us. Of course, like all legends, there's always different variation within a legend, and as I search for info about the legend behind CNY in the Net, I'm surprised to find the most consistent variation of the legend is slightly different from the one I know of. Here's the legend behind the celebration of Chinese New Year:
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The word Nian, the modern Chinese word for "year," was originally the name of a monster that preyed on people at night before the beginning of a new year. The beast Nian was said to have a large mouth capable of swallowing many people with one bite. The people were afraid and could not find a way to rid themselves of this dreadful beast. One day an old man appeared, offering to subdue Nian. To Nian he said, "I hear that you are very capable, but can you swallow the other beasts of prey on earth instead of the people who are by no means worthy opponents to you?"
So Nian proceeded to swallow as many of the beasts of prey on earth as possible, and soon after the old man, later discovered to be an immortal god, vanished riding the beast Nian. With Nian and the remaining beasts of prey scared into the forest, people began to enjoy life again. However, before leaving the people, the old man had told the people to place red paper decorations on their windows and doors at each year's end to scare Nian away should he ever run loose again, because red is the color the beast feared the most.
From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian was carried on from generation to generation. The term Guo Nian, which once translated to Survive the Nian today, today means to Celebrate the (New) Year as the word Guo in Chinese means both pass-over and observe. The custom of putting up red paper and lighting fire-crackers to scare away Nian in the case of his return is still around today, though many have long forgotten the origins behind this tradition.
* * * * * * * *
In the version I know of, there isn't any "old man" character, juz that somehow by accident the villagers discovered that Nian is afraid of firecrackers and red papers (I can't remember the details). But otherwise, it's close enough la...
So there u have it guys, the legend behind the celebration of Chinese New Year! Hope u guys find that... er... educational! >=) Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Gong Xi Fa Cai, Hong Pau Na Lai!!! (Translated: Wish you a prosperous new year, now gimme my red packets! Lol...)
The word Nian, the modern Chinese word for "year," was originally the name of a monster that preyed on people at night before the beginning of a new year. The beast Nian was said to have a large mouth capable of swallowing many people with one bite. The people were afraid and could not find a way to rid themselves of this dreadful beast. One day an old man appeared, offering to subdue Nian. To Nian he said, "I hear that you are very capable, but can you swallow the other beasts of prey on earth instead of the people who are by no means worthy opponents to you?"
So Nian proceeded to swallow as many of the beasts of prey on earth as possible, and soon after the old man, later discovered to be an immortal god, vanished riding the beast Nian. With Nian and the remaining beasts of prey scared into the forest, people began to enjoy life again. However, before leaving the people, the old man had told the people to place red paper decorations on their windows and doors at each year's end to scare Nian away should he ever run loose again, because red is the color the beast feared the most.
From then on, the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian was carried on from generation to generation. The term Guo Nian, which once translated to Survive the Nian today, today means to Celebrate the (New) Year as the word Guo in Chinese means both pass-over and observe. The custom of putting up red paper and lighting fire-crackers to scare away Nian in the case of his return is still around today, though many have long forgotten the origins behind this tradition.
In the version I know of, there isn't any "old man" character, juz that somehow by accident the villagers discovered that Nian is afraid of firecrackers and red papers (I can't remember the details). But otherwise, it's close enough la...
So there u have it guys, the legend behind the celebration of Chinese New Year! Hope u guys find that... er... educational! >=) Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Gong Xi Fa Cai, Hong Pau Na Lai!!! (Translated: Wish you a prosperous new year, now gimme my red packets! Lol...)
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish yourself to be."
Thomas À Kempis
Thank God... I've finally realize the root of the problem I've been having for the past few months... and possibly the solution to it as well. After all these time... God help me...
Sunday, February 06, 2005
HELLO!!! LOOK AT ME FOR WHO I AM!!!
I dun really know wat to feel about this: How would u feel if ppl see u as an oddity, a freak, or an amusement, and nv consider that u're a person as well? I'm really glad if my offbeat persona lighten up someone, but when ppl start to converse with u as if ur whole life juz resolve around some antics... Or that I'm juz a shallow brainless guy saying/doing stupid stuff... It's annoying enough to convince me to scrap off these so called antics.
It's a different thing when it's with friends that I'm close with, since they've already know me somewhat... But I really hate it when it becomes a first and lasting (worse, only) impression ppl have of me when they first me, espeacially when it's not me that shows it, but someone who tell it out. When story or two won't hurt, but one whole strings of "The Weird Adventures of Thomas C.A. Lee" to someone I juz met is... well, degrading at best.
To know that many ppl only see the superficial part of me but totally ignorant about the deeper nature of me really makes me wanna scream... It's as if someone saw a parrot in a cage and is obsessed in all kinds of stupid attempts to make it say "Hello!" instead of admiring its beauty and its yearning to be free. Maybe scrapping that antics behavior is a good idea after all, if it makes ppl see me as who I am, not juz the occasional silly things I perform. Ya, definitely.
It's a different thing when it's with friends that I'm close with, since they've already know me somewhat... But I really hate it when it becomes a first and lasting (worse, only) impression ppl have of me when they first me, espeacially when it's not me that shows it, but someone who tell it out. When story or two won't hurt, but one whole strings of "The Weird Adventures of Thomas C.A. Lee" to someone I juz met is... well, degrading at best.
To know that many ppl only see the superficial part of me but totally ignorant about the deeper nature of me really makes me wanna scream... It's as if someone saw a parrot in a cage and is obsessed in all kinds of stupid attempts to make it say "Hello!" instead of admiring its beauty and its yearning to be free. Maybe scrapping that antics behavior is a good idea after all, if it makes ppl see me as who I am, not juz the occasional silly things I perform. Ya, definitely.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
SILLY TEST
This definitely is the silliest and yet most amusing "test" I've taken for quite awhile. If u have nothing better to do, go give it a try! ;)
Friday, February 04, 2005
UPDATES ON KKB
Well, it's about time I update my experiences in KKB... But there's juz so much to say, I dunno where to start! So let me try to divide them into points...
1. KKB is a surprisingly cool (small) town
From the way the seniors describe KKB, I was expecting something really ulu and underdeveloped, with the houses in a really dilapidated state and all. I couldn't have been more wrong. It turns out that KKB is actually quite a charming town, and like the chinese proverb 麻雀虽小,五脏齐全 (Although sparrows are small, they are complete with all five senses), the shops around the area are rather well-stocked too, making life very convenient for us all. I guess we shouldn't believe everything the seniors sez after all... Heehee... But there's 1 thing that they've said that's really true: The enviroment there is not very inducive for studies... It felt too much like a vacation! Lol.
2. Medicine is learned by the bedside and not in the classroom (Sir William Osler)
I've been briefed that this KKB trip will be really educational to us, but I nv thought it's so effective... I love everything about bedside teaching, espeacially the case presenting part... It's really interesting to know wat diseases the patients are suffering from and what has been done to treat them, as well as their family background and personal history. But I guess I have to practise more on my social skills though... I dun really built rapport well with the patients I have!
3. Effective communication is vital in medical practice
One of the best way to build rapport with the patient is to speak the language or dialect he or she knows best. I'm having quite a lot of problems in my history taking bcuz I can't speak BM fluently, and I know won't do much better if the patients only speaks Cantonese either. Seeing Dr. Lim conversing effortlessly in Tamil was quite a sight. About time to learn some dialects and maybe other languages as well Thom! ;)
4. There's still a lot that I've yet to know...
Which is why I have to stop blogging now and finally start my long overdued studies. Can't believe that EOS 3 is juz about 20 weeks ahead! Yikes!
1. KKB is a surprisingly cool (small) town
From the way the seniors describe KKB, I was expecting something really ulu and underdeveloped, with the houses in a really dilapidated state and all. I couldn't have been more wrong. It turns out that KKB is actually quite a charming town, and like the chinese proverb 麻雀虽小,五脏齐全 (Although sparrows are small, they are complete with all five senses), the shops around the area are rather well-stocked too, making life very convenient for us all. I guess we shouldn't believe everything the seniors sez after all... Heehee... But there's 1 thing that they've said that's really true: The enviroment there is not very inducive for studies... It felt too much like a vacation! Lol.
2. Medicine is learned by the bedside and not in the classroom (Sir William Osler)
I've been briefed that this KKB trip will be really educational to us, but I nv thought it's so effective... I love everything about bedside teaching, espeacially the case presenting part... It's really interesting to know wat diseases the patients are suffering from and what has been done to treat them, as well as their family background and personal history. But I guess I have to practise more on my social skills though... I dun really built rapport well with the patients I have!
3. Effective communication is vital in medical practice
One of the best way to build rapport with the patient is to speak the language or dialect he or she knows best. I'm having quite a lot of problems in my history taking bcuz I can't speak BM fluently, and I know won't do much better if the patients only speaks Cantonese either. Seeing Dr. Lim conversing effortlessly in Tamil was quite a sight. About time to learn some dialects and maybe other languages as well Thom! ;)
4. There's still a lot that I've yet to know...
Which is why I have to stop blogging now and finally start my long overdued studies. Can't believe that EOS 3 is juz about 20 weeks ahead! Yikes!
Thursday, February 03, 2005
ALBUM COVERS
Have anyone ever admire the creativity and art of album cover design? I for one do. Of all the artists I listened to, Bjork won my vote for best covers design throughout her solo career. I've arranged them according to order of release: Debut, Post, Homogenic, Selmasongs, Vespertine, and Medulla. Have a look!
My favourite would be the third one, Homogenic. She juz look so... inhuman there, with her oversized kimono, "stretched face", mickey mouse hairdo and those long nails, not to mention the "neckwear"! Love the creativity! ;) The "hair-mask" of Medulla is really cool too, along with the oh-so-colourful Post! It's interesting how each images actually kinda symbolises the different types of songs in the different albums, and how much she has evolve thru time.
My favourite would be the third one, Homogenic. She juz look so... inhuman there, with her oversized kimono, "stretched face", mickey mouse hairdo and those long nails, not to mention the "neckwear"! Love the creativity! ;) The "hair-mask" of Medulla is really cool too, along with the oh-so-colourful Post! It's interesting how each images actually kinda symbolises the different types of songs in the different albums, and how much she has evolve thru time.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
THERE'S A SNAKE IN THE HOUSE!
I was reading my book when my brother entered my room with a pail in his hand. "Be careful, our house isn't as safe as we think it is. Take a look." Expecting a frog or something, I looked into a pail... and I saw a snake! Man I was shocked! It's about 20 cm long and 1 cm wide, black with some red patterns around it. Dad sez it's some kind of python, and it's caught juz outside my grandma's room.
My 1st thought is to kill it, since I'm not sure how deadly exactly is the snake. My dad kinda took pity on the snake though, saying it's harmless and such... Since we can't decide wat to do with it, we juz leave the pail with the snake within outside our house for now... We'll deal with it tomorrow.
I wonder where the mother is...
My 1st thought is to kill it, since I'm not sure how deadly exactly is the snake. My dad kinda took pity on the snake though, saying it's harmless and such... Since we can't decide wat to do with it, we juz leave the pail with the snake within outside our house for now... We'll deal with it tomorrow.
I wonder where the mother is...