愛 存在

In Singapore: Life Goes On

Came back for a short Spring break.

Indescribable feelings as I touched down at the airport.
After a week of mourning, it seems that everything is back to normal, and business as usual. Nevertheless, it also occurs to me that we all know we have lost something, leaving a hole in our hearts.

Undoubtedly, the post-LKY era has begun.

Tribute: Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew

23 March 2015, it was gloomy and rainy in Taipei.

Monday Blue has never been this dreadful.

The solemn moment has arrived.

Not that we are not expecting this day to come, just that the truth always hit us hard.

Singapore's founding father had “fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans.”

“Singapore was his abiding passion,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his national address on the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. “He gave of himself, in full measure, to Singapore. As he himself put it towards the end of his life: ‘I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There is nothing more that I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.’ ”

While the nation comes together to pay respects, there are some dissenting voices coming from human rights groups, criticizing Lee's iron-fisted governing style, and hence the need to overcome the restrictions after Mr Lee's passing. But had it not been his forward-looking and strict governance, we would not be here today. Under his leadership, Singapore became an admired international business and financial center - from Third to the First World in a matter of decades. Everywhere we turn: from the housing estates, the clean and efficient roads, the corruption-free system, the schools, the world-class universities, the hospitals, the safe and green environment, to the good jobs and good quality of life, Mr Lee oversaw the transformation of Singapore.

A citizen commented, “As long as you are economically well off, with housing and food, who cares about the politics? I would much rather live in a country like this than a place where you have every freedom in the world but you are hungry.”

For these years studying and staying abroad, I have seen and been through things I would not experience in my homeland, and the privileges I get to enjoy back at home may not apply overseas. All the more I have come to appreciate the little things in life, and how fortunate we are in Singapore that we take certain things for granted. It would not have been possible if not for the painstaking efforts of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the pioneers in building the nation.

Thank you, Sir.

On this day, we have lost the great chief of command,

But we shall fight on, we shall sail on.

For that is what keeps us moving forward since fifty years ago.

Majulah Singapura.

不 怎 麼 明 亮 。

Yesterday was 人日; supposedly a happy day but the news I received were not good. The sudden passing of a MD member from my district, and a college buddy decided to quit school for a semester. ▲


A week of spending Lunar New Year in Taiwan with my family ended so fast. Having hadn't been traveling and to a cold country, my dad acted like a kid, being all-so-curious of everything. Grateful to my family who has helped me delivered a great food supplies and luggage to my dormitory, as well as area cleaning, when we returned to Taipei on the final three days.

A new semester started on Tuesday but I came back to Singapore that morning. Will be heading back to school in early March. As I recall my winter break, all I can remember is that one month of working and the recent short getaway with my family. Before I even return to school, I already have some assignments and group projects waiting to complete. And this semester, we have a big project to work on: FLAL Annual Play 2015. ✌

I ' m B a c k . 我 回 來 了 。

A Writer, Translator, Presenter, Speaker, and Editor

Well, basically, everything.

As I looked back to this semester, most of my time are spent on writing, translating, presenting, giving speeches, and editing articles.

一年的經歷、一年的成長，不是幾段句子就能闡述的。

Another thirty minutes to a brand new day, a brand new month, a brand new year, a brand new beginning.

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)

 

Last semester, a group of NTPU professors flew to Singapore to attend an intensive training program at NUS. And so after their return, these professors shared on what they have learned at NUS and how they can apply the skills to their respective courses.

Last week, I'd the great opportunity to join in this rigorous symposium and sharing session that lasted for a week. I have learned a lot, especially in an area of study (i.e. language) I'm interested in. It was great listening to all the sharing done by various professors! I'd so many things going through in my mind as I sat there listening, while also reflecting on the education system in Singapore: how students were taught in Singapore schools. 

The part that professors shared on educators and students in Singapore, I can totally relate to it. How these many years of compulsory education had drilled us in our critical thinking and writing, the process was full of sweat and tears but in retrospect, we are certainly grateful for these intensive trainings that have produced independent learners.

This semester, NTPU has enrolled about 40 exchange students from Nanyang Technological University, School of Accounting. This statistic is by far, the greatest number of exchange students from a country the university has enrolled. This is also the first time NTPU has opened its application for Exchange Students from Singapore. It's definitely a bold decision and a step taken in the hope of globalization at NTPU.

P.S. And this also means that I am not the sole Singaporean in NTPU this semester! Yay~

For EMI to be systematically enforced in schools, and the hope of globalization at NTPU can become a reality rather than just a talk, it will be a long-term journey of many challenges. Yet, the undertaking is worthwhile.

Of course, knowing that the university I am in has academic exchange with the university in my homeland in this aspect makes me feel really contented. NTPU x NUS. ^^