Blog 10 Farewell, Bridging Course

It almost seems that I am digging in an architecture of hundred years of history, tracing the memory that nearly has been forgotten, and wiping off the dirt that has covered on all the layout merticulously. When I entered the blog, the ‘5 weeks ago’ on the right told me that all had past. I pretended to be as curious as before, and started examing every blog in the first page with a child’s eyes. However I tried to recall my life in group 7, the name once I was most familiar with at last belonged to the past. Like the posts that haven’t been finished will remain as ‘Draft’, all the past that we have spent together has been condensed into the pictures in our camera, handwriting in our assignments and celluloid of the movie in everybody’s mind.

Am I too sentimental now? Those sages, who at every stage of their lives, in different languages and with disparate feelings constantly expressed their emotions, shared the common sigh towards the glorious sunset, which was the end of a day and though would be replaced by another sunrise, never appeared again. As the promising generation, we should keep eyes forward. But when I caught even a slightest glimpse of the blog we ‘fostered’, a little bit sorrow would still burst into my mind.

Bridging Course, farewell.

It is not that I accidentally clipped on the browser and plunged into our blog. It is that I got the idea to write such a farewell post to set a memory for us even before the English class came to the end.

Writing does take inspiration, which is ephemeral. We may share the same experience that once we let go the time we feel like writing, we could hardly find another time to make up. Now is the time, for tomorrow will be late.

Friends let us cross the road

Prepare to take a sunshine bath

‘But it sounds a bit odd

For you see we are quite old’

‘To know just close your eyes’

‘I smell the fragnance of the orchids

‘I feel the shade of the evergreen

‘I hear the songs of the sunbirds

‘I taste the warm of the breezes

‘And we see the house we have ever been

‘I remember it was a low building

‘Yeah. It looked like a cozy villa

‘It made English ever interesting

‘And my fellows were fantastic being

‘And teachers, helped us hold a gala

‘We can never be back to the days away…

‘Oh… Maybe we have indulged too much…

‘But isn’t life a breathtaking play

‘We go feeble, memories doesn’t decay

‘They exist as they existed ever such

                                                                                                               2012.7.5

Blog 7 The smells in the Sistine Chapel

Last week, I watched a film called Good Will Hunting. The plot is simple while the lines have profound implications. One scene in the film is when the genius but self-abandoned boy is sent to the therapist. The boy does not want to work with the therapist, so he uses tricky words as contempt. Then the therapist pushes back at the boy to overcome his defense mechanisms. The following is my favourite lines.

So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written…But I'll bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You've never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling; seen that. If I ask you about women, you'd probably give me a syllabus about your personal favorites… But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy….And I'd ask you about war, you'd probably throw Shakespeare at me, right, "once more unto the breach dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap; watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help.

The words impress me so much because I see my own problem on the boy. And it seems to be a common problem among many youngsters. We learn from books, the Internet and other media. We appear to be knowledgeable and can easily spout our “splendid” ideas towards a topic such as art or war. However, few of us have ever experienced them on our own. When I know about this, I feel ashamed of myself for my thoughtless remarks in the past.

The therapist in the film taught me a lesson and I learned two things through it. One is to be cautious about our words. It is because people can never understand a situation thoroughly unless they experience it. The other one is to be willing to experience. Be willing to participate, to travel and to broaden the horizon and to form a critical perspective. I hope I can tell the smells in the Sistine Chapel one day.

Blog 8 Lost in the university life

I read a blog of my friend’s the other day. Since there are only a several days before the end of being freshmen, she wrote about her reflection of her first year in the university. The passage was like a wake-up call because it classified my confusion which has troubled me for a long time.

My friend wrote that the important reason why she could not adjust to university life was “nostalgia” for the last year in senior high school. I have the same feeling with her. Because of the college entrance examination, everyone in the high school seems to have the same aim-the university. It may be the only time in my life when all the people around me were heading towards the same destination. However, when it comes to university, there are so many different roads ahead us--exchange programmes, CAP and going abroad. We just do not know which road leads to our dream; or rather, which road is the shortest. We faced many choices in China and we are not facing less in Singapore.

A sentence from my friend’s teacher was profound. ”Are you pursuing success or just feeling afraid of failure?” If people are pursuing success, they will seize as many opportunities as they can. If people are afraid of failure, they will push away every opportunities and wait for the so-called “best one”. For me, maybe I am more like the latter one. I am not willing to try whatever I cannot control. I am scared of failure because I am afraid of being frustrated, losing face and disappointing my father. My friend said she could not accustom to the new life due to the feeling of insecurity. And this is also what I was worrying about. Anyway, after reading her blog, I feel clearer in mind.

After all no one can tell what the future holds. And no one knows which way is the shortest to realizing our dream. Whatever challenges we meet, at least we can learn from it. I think this process is also the treasure we get from the university life. Hopefully I will not lose my way.

Blog 6 Personalities are like a box of chocolates

“Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. "

Chocolate seems to be a typical metaphor for life. In my opinion, different characteristics are like a box of chocolates as well. As a big fan of chocolate, I am fond of tasting various kinds of chocolates. And I think different kinds of chocolates can represent different characters. For example, milk chocolate is sweet and lovely. White chocolate is charming and tolerant. Nut chocolate is adventurous but maybe kind of childish. Black chocolate is distant and calm. Mint chocolate is energetic but odd.

In the daily life, I have encountered people of various personalities, as close friends or nodding ones. Of course I have my own preference of personalities but I am still sad to see people change themselves in order to cater to others’ opinions. Here I am referring to the basic characters rather than the living habits or speaking styles. For example, girls may pretend to be shy and naïve while they are actually lively. Although it is true that people should get along with others, this does not mean they are obligated to give up their own personalities. People may do this frequently in order to live easier. However, personally I don’t think it is right. It is just the same as chocolates. Among all the flavors, milk chocolate maybe the most popular one. So should the producer change the other favors to milk as well? There is no such thing of “best flavor” since every flavor is unique, therefore irreplaceable.

Various personalities are like a box of chocolates. Personality is no right or wrong. When people try to cater the others, they may be more popular, but may also lose themselves. The differences are the treasures that distinguish people from each other. When we are confused, just be ourselves, which may be the best way.

Blog.9 The Begining of The End of The Bridging Course

Upon the very beginning of this final blog, I have to let out my unsatisfation because of the missing of my last Blog. 9 topic of which is the same with this one, but it was wrote and edited by heart and soul! OMG. But-it-disappeared! Anyway, I gonna to recall as much as I can......

The Beginning of the End of the Bridging Course

-For The Memory Of The Past Days "Onlion"

-&For The Days To Come



Never waiting for you is time. Without even awareness, six months was dead and gone. Put it in another way which might sound more impressive, half-year passed. I have thought of reflecting the days "onlion". Yet not until now does the timing come. All says that briding course is a "honeymoon" for SM3 newbies. That is certainly right but suits for me. I was making it a monster that is much more fun. Enormous time-vampires have been lining up on my schedule and they sucks every bit of my time. Yes, surely for the average, it sucks. Nonetheless, life is going to be harder but, in turn, life becomes much intriguing when it gets harder. Further, I would say that when the marginal benefit is disminishing and return is low, it is better to diversity the portfolio you hold. Striking a balance between pouring time in briding course and pursuing a higher efficiency entails a mind-wreacking trade-off. But the dust is settling. And it comes the beginning of the end of the bridging course.

 Bros, embrace your time

and remeber, despite that you like it or lump it, the time never sleeps.





Mr Confusing, L.O.L.



Blog.7 CHINA, long time no see.

CHINA, long time no see.

Being a beneficiary of the cheap labour price for decades, China has been at the brink to lose this advantage. Inevitably, China’s booming and evolving economy has been driving up domestic manufacturing costs, a remarkable part of which are wages. Both the inflation and appreciation of YUAN render China a less desirable choice for producing, while China’s surrounding countries, like Vietnam, seems more preferable in terms of much lower wages. Therefore, according to the conventional notion, China must face with a dilemma where losing its manufacturing charm heralds a potential sharp decline in export and a likely crash of economy (because the unbalanced economic structure partly caused by not much changed over-reliance on export). Despite the unbalanced economy, luckily, manufacturing is by no means all about costs. Compared with other lower-cost south-eastern Asian countries, sophisticate labours, the giant scale and much complete infrastructures make it hard to find a substitute of China. Thus, it might be the end of cheap China, but not the end of China.

China’s trade surplus with America remains large and controversial, but its current-account surplus with the rest of the world is dying out. Meanwhile, China’s own investment expenditure rises. However, the surplus could widen again. Partly, on the ground that its investment could set the stage for a renewed export boom and partly, that the investment rate cannot be justified by slow-rising consumption. The future of China’s export monster depends on whether China’s high investment rate is sustainable. Many think it is not. And it is intriguing to notice that the world’s fear of China is being replaced by fears for China.

Blog 9: Never farewell

        Time and tide wait for no man. It has been five months since we first met in the same classroom. I still remember that day when we sat in rows and got to know each other. Although we are mostly strangers to each other before, after five months' companion, we are forever friends. It is a fate for we 17 to get together among nearly three hundreds students and to meet our four kind and knowledgeble mentors. Group 7 has been our exclusive and precious memory since we not only had joy but also fought for its glory!

         At this point, I want to express great gratitude towards our mentors. Although we never speak it out, we have tremendous appriciation and respect for them. Ms Angelina always cares for us like a mother, her tender heart always let me full of warmth. She is a experienced teacher whose professional skills are known and respected; Ms Anita is exceedingly facious and responsible. She always tells us interesting stories about her family. Her own rich experiences also further enrich our understanding of Canada and other cultures. Also, as our team supervisor, she guided our work earnestly and checked every word meticulously.
          Ms Misty will always be so patient and kind-hearted. Her encouraging word is a source of inspiration to us, stamulating us to be more modest and hardworking. She is a indeed good listenner and a brilliant teacher; As for Mr. Clarence, he is enthusiastic and humorous all the time. Knowledgeable about life and all aspects, thus he is voluble, and usually eager to discuss the latest headlines with us. His unique and profound insights always makes us amazing.
         Although we have only two weeks' left to listen to their class and to learn together, and maybe we will seldom meet through the whole life, our memories and friendships will never fade away. I believe, even though we have less contact from then on, everyone would reach out their hands with no doubt if anyone need help.
        End also means re-start. Our friendship will begin at the next journey.  We will never farewell then.