China – A Land of Many Faces
By Shree Ravi
The temperatures dipped but our spirits did not. Unlike many of my Singaporean friends who frequent China, the land was brand new to me. And judging by the stares I got from passers-by, I can safely assume I was also equally brand new, to the point of being alien-ish.
Overjoyed at seeing the familiar faces of our Chinese counterparts, we sought eagerly to reinforce the connection forged in March. Although we had landed in the middle of their examinations, what warmed us up in the cold of Kunming was the fact that our friends still played extremely gracious hosts. If there was a place we wanted to see, a dish we wanted to taste, an item we wanted to bargain for, people we needed to speak Mandarin to, or even a freak incident like a lost painting we needed to track down (all this should actually be stated in the first person singular but our group is BIG on solidarity J), they guided us with an alacrity that was extremely endearing.
What struck me as interesting about Yunnan was its fairly simple economic structure that depended on the natural beauty of the place. Rightly called the Spring City, it is not surprising to hear that it is Asia’s largest flower market when you pass along the gorgeous flower-decked pavements lining the city’s roads. Three days were simply not enough to soak in all the beauty and history of the place.
From the serene calm of Yunnan, we moved onto a faster pace of life in Guangzhou. Being a bigger and a “citier” city, we had the comfort of unleashing our concrete-jungle born selves in a spree of shopping, supper-ing and KTV-ing with our pals from Sun Yat Sen University. Apparently, the food in Guangzhou is to die for and since that is indeed the way to a Singaporean’s heart, the city became an instant favorite. Even my own vegetarian existence had its moments of bliss due to the Custard Baos that I devoured in every grand dim-sum supper outing. Apart from the food theme, we visited sights laden with historical memories, the most important being the Sun Yat Sen Presidential Palace. The auditorium is a prestigious place for artists all over the world to perform in and a tremendous crowd-puller.
Quite inconsequentially, it was here that we first spotted a very interesting trend among the tourists we saw: couples, mostly Americans, who had with them Chinese babies that they were in the process of adopting. Due to China’s single-child policy and preference for the male child, a lot of Chinese baby girls are discarded or given up for adoption, and there is a market for these kids among childless Western couples. The sight of these babies with unmistakably Asian features being cared for by utter foreigners, and to be raised so far away from their homeland and biological families, left me with bittersweet thoughts…
Guangzhou passed us by and Xiamen treated us to an experience that was totally different from the former two cities. Yet the one constant factor was the warm reception extended to us by our Chinese friends in every city. The Xiamen University students took organization to a whole new level by distributing mini booklets on our schedule (down to the tiniest detail) and while it was an exhaustive itinerary, we had a memorable time to say the least.
The university itself was a grand sight. The main campus lay sprawling with the mountains behind and the ocean in front with Taiwan just around the corner! As if this was not impressive enough, the other campus lies on an island just a ferry-ride away from the main one complete with a golf course to boot! Nevertheless, despite all this novelty, Xiamen itself gave us a feeling of comforting familiarity, much having to do with the fact that the city was modeled after Singapore ten years ago. Time passed swiftly in Xiamen, on the islands and on the mainland, and always in the company of our friends who pampered us to bits. The pastries they prepared for each one of us for our flight to Hangzhou bears testament to the generous hospitality with which they showered us.
The grand finale: Hangzhou. We visited our friends from Zhejiang University, also known as “Cambridge of the East”. It was indeed an honour for us to interact with students of such brilliant calibre. They too exhibited the heightened sense of hospitality and warmth that we had experienced unfailingly throughout the trip. Our last stop was very similar to the first in that both Hangzhou and Yunnan possess immense natural beauty quite unlike any other. The Green Lake in Kunming and the West Lake in Hangzhou are captivating landscapes that no digital camera, however pixel-ed it may be, can do justice to.
The fortnight drew thus to an end. The knowledge that we may never see some of our Chinese friends again dwelled heavily on us and had made for teary farewells at every airport. Among the tears, hugs and exchange of gifts and cards, we realized that in a span of four weeks, we had reached across to another nation and forged some precious friendships. It is this strong bond with like-minded young people that we had formed on this invaluable trip that I cherish the most. I hope that as we grow to become the leaders of tomorrow, we can always lean back on this solid platform of friendship and cooperation built in youth, to initiate a united strive for peace and excellence in our respective fields.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Looking in from the other side
Looking in from the other side
By Veerappan Swaminathan
The 4th Sino-Singapore Exchange was a jam-packed program that saw about 30 student delegates from NUS, NTU & SMU visit 4 cities and universities in China; namely, Kunming, Guangzhou, Xiamen & Hangzhou.
It may sound cliche to say that my time in China was an eye-opener, but no other word adequately sums up my experience as a non-Chinese looking in on another culture and lifestyle. Though I had initial reservations about language being a barrier to interaction, my concerns were soon laid to rest due to two factors: the helpful nature of my fellow delegates and the patient assistance of the Chinese students – which enabled me to get my point across and see their perspective at the same time.
The friendliness and the sincerity of the Chinese delegates is really refreshing and I've been touched by their many efforts to make our stay in China as pleasant as possible. From waiting in the hotel lobby for us for hours on end in the middle of their exams to looking out for me so that I don't get conned by the shop-keepers, they really went out their way to ensure we had a memorable time in their country.
I found the talks (or at least the translations) arranged for us highly fascinating, and each session never failed to leave an indelible impression on me. One particular session had us in stitches when the Chinese professor from Xiamen University spoke on the usage of the Hokkien dialect. I wouldn't say more except that many familiar colourful phrases were heard, but in the process we also learnt about the origins of these terms that are widely used in Singapore. Another session that I recall was with regard to memorization conducted at a high school in Kunming. Though I failed to grasp the content of the talk (it was on Chinese literary classics), what struck me was the stark difference in Singapore's approach to education and that of China's.
Apart from university visits, we also had the privilege of visiting a good mix of areas ranging from historical places of interest to industrial complexes – and almost always in the company of our Chinese counterparts. As a fan of history, I found the museum visits thoroughly enjoyable and I must say I was eternally grateful to find explanation boards in English! The visits to the industrial complexes usually saw us returning with goodies such as ice-cream, Chinese tea leaves, beer and many others.
To wrap it up, the 4th Sino-Singapore undergraduate exchange program was a remarkable experience for me. I would imagine that if I had gone to China on my own, it would most probably be unlikely that I would survive a day outside Shanghai's Pudong Airport with no knowledge of the language or place. I am thus very thankful to USP for giving me this opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture and way of life first-hand, for we have not only gained significant insights in the classroom, but also forged long-lasting friendships with our Chinese pals.
By Veerappan Swaminathan
The 4th Sino-Singapore Exchange was a jam-packed program that saw about 30 student delegates from NUS, NTU & SMU visit 4 cities and universities in China; namely, Kunming, Guangzhou, Xiamen & Hangzhou.
It may sound cliche to say that my time in China was an eye-opener, but no other word adequately sums up my experience as a non-Chinese looking in on another culture and lifestyle. Though I had initial reservations about language being a barrier to interaction, my concerns were soon laid to rest due to two factors: the helpful nature of my fellow delegates and the patient assistance of the Chinese students – which enabled me to get my point across and see their perspective at the same time.
The friendliness and the sincerity of the Chinese delegates is really refreshing and I've been touched by their many efforts to make our stay in China as pleasant as possible. From waiting in the hotel lobby for us for hours on end in the middle of their exams to looking out for me so that I don't get conned by the shop-keepers, they really went out their way to ensure we had a memorable time in their country.
I found the talks (or at least the translations) arranged for us highly fascinating, and each session never failed to leave an indelible impression on me. One particular session had us in stitches when the Chinese professor from Xiamen University spoke on the usage of the Hokkien dialect. I wouldn't say more except that many familiar colourful phrases were heard, but in the process we also learnt about the origins of these terms that are widely used in Singapore. Another session that I recall was with regard to memorization conducted at a high school in Kunming. Though I failed to grasp the content of the talk (it was on Chinese literary classics), what struck me was the stark difference in Singapore's approach to education and that of China's.
Apart from university visits, we also had the privilege of visiting a good mix of areas ranging from historical places of interest to industrial complexes – and almost always in the company of our Chinese counterparts. As a fan of history, I found the museum visits thoroughly enjoyable and I must say I was eternally grateful to find explanation boards in English! The visits to the industrial complexes usually saw us returning with goodies such as ice-cream, Chinese tea leaves, beer and many others.
To wrap it up, the 4th Sino-Singapore undergraduate exchange program was a remarkable experience for me. I would imagine that if I had gone to China on my own, it would most probably be unlikely that I would survive a day outside Shanghai's Pudong Airport with no knowledge of the language or place. I am thus very thankful to USP for giving me this opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture and way of life first-hand, for we have not only gained significant insights in the classroom, but also forged long-lasting friendships with our Chinese pals.
Feeling right at home in a big big country
Feeling right at home in a big big country
By Mabel
18th May 2007
Dear Diary,
After two days at Yunnan University, it was time to leave for our next destination, Guangzhou. As it was our very last night in Kunming, I decided to spend this precious time visiting Nanxi’s house at her kind invitation. It was a little ironic as I had got to know Nanxi only two days ago when I first arrived in Kunming. This was because there was minimal interaction between the respective groups that we had been assigned to when the Chinese delegates visited Singapore in March. I was thus both pleasantly surprised and touched by Nanxi’s invitation.
So off we (Fumin, Shree, Cheryl, Charmaine, Sandy, Crystal and I) trooped to Nanxi’s place that night: Her home was just a bus ride away from our hotel but it was hidden from the main road so we had to walk another fifteen minutes through an alley before arriving. The route to her place was a dimly-lit path with puddles of water strewn all over from the downpour earlier. But our spirits were far from dampened and we were in fact chatting, laughing, and absolutely eager to see how her home would look like.
A short while later, we heard Nanxi shouting to her mother from below, chirpily signaling our arrival. Her joyful call was merely a foretaste of what was to come: superb Chinese hospitality in a cosy setting coupled with two gracious hosts busying themselves to make us feel at home. Her mother was simply delightful, frantically pulling chairs for us to sit and eager to learn more about the group of us who had descended upon her dainty house in a flash. To save Nanxi from having to translate from Mandarin or English to the Yunnan dialect, Fumin valiantly attempted to rattle a phrase in the dialect (albeit a little more monotonously than how it is usually spoken), only to meet with chuckles all round the room. Even Shree who could understand neither Mandarin nor the dialect burst out laughing! Nevertheless, Nanxi’s mother was suitably impressed and applauded Fumin for his awesome effort.
After a mini pigging-out session on fruit and cake, we pounced on Nanxi's room. A talented musician by nature, Nanxi decided to entertain us a little by playing a famous piece on the Chinese zither titled “Nan Er Dang Zi Qiang”. As she played, we could see the emotion she invested in the piece as her fingers deftly and expertly plucked the strings with the ease of an experienced performer. So impressed were we by her solo recital that all of us whipped out our digital cameras and started recording her “live”, to the extent that the usually confident Nanxi confessed to being a little nervous by all the attention.
Time flew us by and before we knew it, it was close to ten. When we found out that Nanxi had actually invited us over at the expense of preparing for her examination the next morning, we were alarmed but more so touched by this wonderful gesture and warm hospitality accorded to us by both her mother and herself.
Our packed schedule in China, while enabling us to learn as much as possible about the four universities and cities in two weeks, sometimes had us wishing that we had more time to spend with our Chinese friends who took painstaking efforts to take us around and show us a side of China that one wouldn't normally get travelling alone. I don't think that any one of us will ever forget the sincere reception with which the Chinese delegates (and university administration) received us, and I know that distance will not be too big an obstacle in maintaining our friendships.
For sure, I know I will definitely remember Nanxi and her quaint little house where we felt right at home away from home.
By Mabel
18th May 2007
Dear Diary,
After two days at Yunnan University, it was time to leave for our next destination, Guangzhou. As it was our very last night in Kunming, I decided to spend this precious time visiting Nanxi’s house at her kind invitation. It was a little ironic as I had got to know Nanxi only two days ago when I first arrived in Kunming. This was because there was minimal interaction between the respective groups that we had been assigned to when the Chinese delegates visited Singapore in March. I was thus both pleasantly surprised and touched by Nanxi’s invitation.
So off we (Fumin, Shree, Cheryl, Charmaine, Sandy, Crystal and I) trooped to Nanxi’s place that night: Her home was just a bus ride away from our hotel but it was hidden from the main road so we had to walk another fifteen minutes through an alley before arriving. The route to her place was a dimly-lit path with puddles of water strewn all over from the downpour earlier. But our spirits were far from dampened and we were in fact chatting, laughing, and absolutely eager to see how her home would look like.
A short while later, we heard Nanxi shouting to her mother from below, chirpily signaling our arrival. Her joyful call was merely a foretaste of what was to come: superb Chinese hospitality in a cosy setting coupled with two gracious hosts busying themselves to make us feel at home. Her mother was simply delightful, frantically pulling chairs for us to sit and eager to learn more about the group of us who had descended upon her dainty house in a flash. To save Nanxi from having to translate from Mandarin or English to the Yunnan dialect, Fumin valiantly attempted to rattle a phrase in the dialect (albeit a little more monotonously than how it is usually spoken), only to meet with chuckles all round the room. Even Shree who could understand neither Mandarin nor the dialect burst out laughing! Nevertheless, Nanxi’s mother was suitably impressed and applauded Fumin for his awesome effort.
After a mini pigging-out session on fruit and cake, we pounced on Nanxi's room. A talented musician by nature, Nanxi decided to entertain us a little by playing a famous piece on the Chinese zither titled “Nan Er Dang Zi Qiang”. As she played, we could see the emotion she invested in the piece as her fingers deftly and expertly plucked the strings with the ease of an experienced performer. So impressed were we by her solo recital that all of us whipped out our digital cameras and started recording her “live”, to the extent that the usually confident Nanxi confessed to being a little nervous by all the attention.
Time flew us by and before we knew it, it was close to ten. When we found out that Nanxi had actually invited us over at the expense of preparing for her examination the next morning, we were alarmed but more so touched by this wonderful gesture and warm hospitality accorded to us by both her mother and herself.
Our packed schedule in China, while enabling us to learn as much as possible about the four universities and cities in two weeks, sometimes had us wishing that we had more time to spend with our Chinese friends who took painstaking efforts to take us around and show us a side of China that one wouldn't normally get travelling alone. I don't think that any one of us will ever forget the sincere reception with which the Chinese delegates (and university administration) received us, and I know that distance will not be too big an obstacle in maintaining our friendships.
For sure, I know I will definitely remember Nanxi and her quaint little house where we felt right at home away from home.
我太喜欢周楠了！
我太喜欢周楠了！
By Yeo Zhi Wei
Embarking on the return leg of the Sino-Singapore Exchange was something I was truly looking forward to. Having hosted them while they were in Singapore in March, I had made many good friends and was thus very excited to once again meet up with them and resume the relationships that had temporarily taken a backseat over the April to May period of school.
Perhaps the two long months had dulled my memory of the amount of teasing I had suffered at the hands of the said titular character/creature over my less than ideal standard of Chinese, she wasted no time in resuming what she left of the day we said goodbye in Changi Airport. Having just escaped to Hangzhou from a scorching Xiamen sun (and unfortunately having no noticeable improvement in my mandarin), my complaint of “我要熔化掉了 (I am going to melt)” with guffaws of laughter from her. I needed to be reminded why I missed her. Zhou Nan redeemed herself somewhat the following day by taking us out for an excursion around Hangzhou and for a romantic walk around the West Lake.
Nonetheless, I was overjoyed to meet all these friends again in each of the different cities and they wasted no time in showing their hospitality to their Singaporean friends. i.e. us. An example would be a flashback to the first day of the trip, upon reaching Kunming, we met up with several of the Chinese students and on the first night we were whisked off to a karaoke joint with Ye Feng where we were treated to first class Chinese hospitality. Despite meeting us for the first time, Ye Feng’s friends insisted on hosting us for the night and settling the bill. They insisted that as long as we were Ye Feng’s friends, we were their friends. This taste of Chinese hospitality was merely foreshadowing of greater things to come.
What really blew me away at this trip were the various university campuses that we visited. If we thought that NUS were big, nothing could prepare us for the mega campus that the Chinese universities were situated. While NUS can boast of having the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses, each of the Chinese universities had at least four sprawling campuses to call home. The compounds boasted of beaches, lakes, golf driving ranges and there was even a University island in Guangzhou, where all the provincial universities had campuses situated!
This 4th Sino-Singapore Exchange has been a very enriching programme for me. Not only have I been exposed to different cultures and cities, I have also fostered many long-lasting friendships among the Chinese and fellow Singaporeans alike. This is something that I will always treasure and keep close to my heart.
By Yeo Zhi Wei
Embarking on the return leg of the Sino-Singapore Exchange was something I was truly looking forward to. Having hosted them while they were in Singapore in March, I had made many good friends and was thus very excited to once again meet up with them and resume the relationships that had temporarily taken a backseat over the April to May period of school.
Perhaps the two long months had dulled my memory of the amount of teasing I had suffered at the hands of the said titular character/creature over my less than ideal standard of Chinese, she wasted no time in resuming what she left of the day we said goodbye in Changi Airport. Having just escaped to Hangzhou from a scorching Xiamen sun (and unfortunately having no noticeable improvement in my mandarin), my complaint of “我要熔化掉了 (I am going to melt)” with guffaws of laughter from her. I needed to be reminded why I missed her. Zhou Nan redeemed herself somewhat the following day by taking us out for an excursion around Hangzhou and for a romantic walk around the West Lake.
Nonetheless, I was overjoyed to meet all these friends again in each of the different cities and they wasted no time in showing their hospitality to their Singaporean friends. i.e. us. An example would be a flashback to the first day of the trip, upon reaching Kunming, we met up with several of the Chinese students and on the first night we were whisked off to a karaoke joint with Ye Feng where we were treated to first class Chinese hospitality. Despite meeting us for the first time, Ye Feng’s friends insisted on hosting us for the night and settling the bill. They insisted that as long as we were Ye Feng’s friends, we were their friends. This taste of Chinese hospitality was merely foreshadowing of greater things to come.
What really blew me away at this trip were the various university campuses that we visited. If we thought that NUS were big, nothing could prepare us for the mega campus that the Chinese universities were situated. While NUS can boast of having the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses, each of the Chinese universities had at least four sprawling campuses to call home. The compounds boasted of beaches, lakes, golf driving ranges and there was even a University island in Guangzhou, where all the provincial universities had campuses situated!
This 4th Sino-Singapore Exchange has been a very enriching programme for me. Not only have I been exposed to different cultures and cities, I have also fostered many long-lasting friendships among the Chinese and fellow Singaporeans alike. This is something that I will always treasure and keep close to my heart.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Guangzhou – Moments to Remember
Guangzhou – Moments to Remember
By Cheryl Ng
One of the most memorable moments of our stay in Guangzhou was undoubtedly the dim-sum supper with several of our Chinese friends on our final night there. Needless to say, the food was good (and cheap!), and the company, even better. Although “good company should complement good food” is oft-used and somewhat clichéd, I never realised the full value of its truth till that night. Our spirits were lifted by the sumptuous food and the friendships between us, sealed with hearty conversations and jubilant laughter. Sitting together at a round table felt like being an integral part of a circle of friendship – remove any part of it and this circle is never whole anymore.
Dining with our fellow Chinese friends also became a platform for cultural exchange. I remember them telling us about how, after a waiter or waitress pours tea into our cups, we could, instead of saying “谢谢 (xiè xie – Mandarin for ‘Thank you’)”, bend our index and third fingers into a ‘kneeling’ position and tap on the table twice to express our thanks. It was indeed interesting how cultural knowledge could be brought to new levels over a seemingly simple meal – it was not merely the consumption of food anymore, but the ‘consumption’ of culture!
In that one meal alone, my friendships with others were strengthened and cultural intelligence heightened. Indeed, it was, to me, the most fulfilling meal ever – in all senses of the word!
Sharing a meal around a table will never be the same again.
The Learning Journey never ends…
The Learning Journey never ends…
By Yong Kiat
不知飛來橫福，還是飛來橫禍，就這麽一天，咱們就被帶到了課室裏…
I recall not only being enthusiastically greeted by the students, but also by the entire staff and administration of the universities we visited. Yet what really made an impression on me was the 40-minute classroom observation that we witnessed in Kunming, Yunnan. What struck me was the stark difference between the attitude of China’s students (never mind that it was only at the secondary level) and Singaporean pupils. The class on the whole displayed great zest throughout the lesson – even before the teacher fired questions at the class, students were already brimming with intelligent questions. It was really refreshing to see how students readily responded to the teacher’s challenges, how questions were tossed back in return, and how the teacher fended them off with ease. This was in marked contrast to Singaporean students who usually shun questions and challenges and often maintain a passive stance in classrooms (more often than not, ignoring the questions in class). I was particularly encouraged by such a setting as I am currently pursuing the path to becoming a teacher.
I recall Xiamen University’s vision as being 读破万卷书 (loosely translated as reading widely), and while it is a simple one, it is obvious that the students have seriously contemplated its meaning, translating a simple statement into action in their daily lives. One incident stands out vividly in my mind. A passing remark with reference to Arthur Compton’s Compton Effect (a phenomenon in Quantum Physics) during a casual conversation with a Finance student turned out to be a surprisingly intellectual (and tiring!) conversation about Quantum Physics! This incident left me undeniably impressed by how widely the students read even when it does not correspond to their area of specialization. Furthermore, for the student to understand so much, he must have invested much time, effort and most importantly, passion in the subject.
I recall witnessing the Xiamen school spirit in every one of the students I met – students who cherish the opportunity to receive an education, who love their school, and who love learning! School pride is difficult to come by nowadays – especially in university – and this is something that we could do better in.
Perhaps, no vision or goal is too difficult to attain so long as everyone gives of their best.
Indeed, we have much to learn from them as they from us.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Our Story
Our Story
by Jian Hao
在你左右
还有多久
怎么样才能让时间倒流
每一分每一秒都珍重
握紧的手
不愿放松
十点半的飞机它在等候
不要再让自己的眼泪流
我必须要走
要记得~~~
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天
缘份会继续
在你左右
还有多久
怎么样才能让时间倒流
每一分每一秒都珍重
握紧的手
不愿放松
十点半的飞机它在等候
不要再让自己的眼泪流
我必须要走
要记得~~~
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天缘份会继续
我知道你寂寞
一个人确实好难过
思念是一种痛
没有你叫我怎么活
身边充满诱惑
不坚定就容易犯错
你是否能看见
未来的收穫
你愿意在耐心等候
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天缘份会继续
让我们一起演完
It is amazing what a song, with all the right lyrics and the appropriate mood set up by the music, can do to people’s lives. Indeed, “Our Story” by Chinese R&B group TENSION has aptly captured the experiences of a group of Singaporean and Chinese participants of the 4th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange Programme. Since it gained its status as the unofficial theme song of the Programme, “Our Story” has never failed to stir nostalgia in the participants. More importantly, it has added a magical touch of surrealism to the entire “Sino-Sing” experience, and transformed memories of the Programme into an endearing story in itself.
The song made its ‘debut’ on the farewell dinner night for the PRC participants. On 23rd March 2007, the Singaporean participants performed an item that combined mambo dance movements with the singing of the song “Our Story”. Many of the Chinese students have heard of this song before and were moved by the parallels drawn between the plot of the song and the emotions they were facing on their last night in Singapore after a 2-week exchange programme. In fact, Chen Jie, one of the participants from Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, personally told me that he really loved the song and thanked me sincerely for choosing to perform that particular piece for the farewell.
The China leg of the programme was a memorable experience for everyone who went on the trip. But it was especially memorable for most of us because of that one song, “Our Story”. When we were in China, not only was the song played for some of the presentations during our official visits to each of the four universities (Yunan University, Zhongshan University, Xiamen University and Zhejiang University), it was also mentioned several times in the notes of well wishes exchanged between the student participants from both countries. It also became a staple during our KTV sessions with the students!
For me especially, the song held a very special meaning. Prior to the performance in Singapore, I mentioned to the audience that memories are very important things in our lives, that behind each memory is a story, and that this – the “Sino-Sing” experience – is our story. In retrospect, I meant for the words to be a well-weaved introduction to the song that we were going to sing for our friends from China. However, at a little video presentation of the students’ experiences in Singapore at Zhejiang University, one of the participants, Wen Biao, quoted my words in his video, and that really moved me. I never felt the emotions invested in those words till he stirred them up with the video.
Indeed, looking back now, the hasty decision to perform at the farewell dinner, the rather ad hoc choice of a song and the rehearsal that almost never happened all contributed to an excellent bonding tool that brought friends from Singapore and China a lot closer than we thought.
To many of us now, “Our Story” is no longer just a song. It has become a metaphor – the crystallization of our collective experiences and memories from both the Singapore and China legs of the 4th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange Programme. And with this metaphor, we have weaved numerous unforgettable and endearing stories telling of the many special moments that both the Singaporean and Chinese participants had. The “Sino-Sing” experience is now a story to be told and retold, one to be remembered or even mythicized, as we begin, passionately, to exaggerate and distort our memories with the passing of time. More importantly, “Our Story” remains unconcluded – an open invitation for everyone featured in this magical narrative to pen down the next chapter of experiences, memories and the continuation of friendships.
by Jian Hao
在你左右
还有多久
怎么样才能让时间倒流
每一分每一秒都珍重
握紧的手
不愿放松
十点半的飞机它在等候
不要再让自己的眼泪流
我必须要走
要记得~~~
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天
缘份会继续
在你左右
还有多久
怎么样才能让时间倒流
每一分每一秒都珍重
握紧的手
不愿放松
十点半的飞机它在等候
不要再让自己的眼泪流
我必须要走
要记得~~~
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天缘份会继续
我知道你寂寞
一个人确实好难过
思念是一种痛
没有你叫我怎么活
身边充满诱惑
不坚定就容易犯错
你是否能看见
未来的收穫
你愿意在耐心等候
我们的故事真难忘
太多的回忆和希望
不管它有多疯狂
我愿意一生收藏
我们的故事不能忘
太多的情节要发展
不要放弃
因为有一天缘份会继续
让我们一起演完
It is amazing what a song, with all the right lyrics and the appropriate mood set up by the music, can do to people’s lives. Indeed, “Our Story” by Chinese R&B group TENSION has aptly captured the experiences of a group of Singaporean and Chinese participants of the 4th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange Programme. Since it gained its status as the unofficial theme song of the Programme, “Our Story” has never failed to stir nostalgia in the participants. More importantly, it has added a magical touch of surrealism to the entire “Sino-Sing” experience, and transformed memories of the Programme into an endearing story in itself.
The song made its ‘debut’ on the farewell dinner night for the PRC participants. On 23rd March 2007, the Singaporean participants performed an item that combined mambo dance movements with the singing of the song “Our Story”. Many of the Chinese students have heard of this song before and were moved by the parallels drawn between the plot of the song and the emotions they were facing on their last night in Singapore after a 2-week exchange programme. In fact, Chen Jie, one of the participants from Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, personally told me that he really loved the song and thanked me sincerely for choosing to perform that particular piece for the farewell.
The China leg of the programme was a memorable experience for everyone who went on the trip. But it was especially memorable for most of us because of that one song, “Our Story”. When we were in China, not only was the song played for some of the presentations during our official visits to each of the four universities (Yunan University, Zhongshan University, Xiamen University and Zhejiang University), it was also mentioned several times in the notes of well wishes exchanged between the student participants from both countries. It also became a staple during our KTV sessions with the students!
For me especially, the song held a very special meaning. Prior to the performance in Singapore, I mentioned to the audience that memories are very important things in our lives, that behind each memory is a story, and that this – the “Sino-Sing” experience – is our story. In retrospect, I meant for the words to be a well-weaved introduction to the song that we were going to sing for our friends from China. However, at a little video presentation of the students’ experiences in Singapore at Zhejiang University, one of the participants, Wen Biao, quoted my words in his video, and that really moved me. I never felt the emotions invested in those words till he stirred them up with the video.
Indeed, looking back now, the hasty decision to perform at the farewell dinner, the rather ad hoc choice of a song and the rehearsal that almost never happened all contributed to an excellent bonding tool that brought friends from Singapore and China a lot closer than we thought.
To many of us now, “Our Story” is no longer just a song. It has become a metaphor – the crystallization of our collective experiences and memories from both the Singapore and China legs of the 4th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange Programme. And with this metaphor, we have weaved numerous unforgettable and endearing stories telling of the many special moments that both the Singaporean and Chinese participants had. The “Sino-Sing” experience is now a story to be told and retold, one to be remembered or even mythicized, as we begin, passionately, to exaggerate and distort our memories with the passing of time. More importantly, “Our Story” remains unconcluded – an open invitation for everyone featured in this magical narrative to pen down the next chapter of experiences, memories and the continuation of friendships.
Little Snapshots of a Big Country
"It must be China I am beholding
on this early summer evening -
the great sway of rivers,
thousands of birds rising on the wing,
the jade and mulberries of China,
plum blossoms - hear the cry of a pheasant."
- Evening Alone, Billy Collins
Little Snapshots of a Big Country
by Crystal
For me, China is a country of red banners and badly translated signs, of bicycles and beggars, of great natural beauty and terrible man-poverty, of bargaining and boorishness, of great thriving life and endless renewal.
Of Kunming, I remember the endless tea houses and the bitter bitter sweetness of tea-scented rain; of Guangzhou, I remember the gigantic billboards and neon-lit signs trying to peek their heads out of the crowd; of Xiamen, I remember the beautiful tangerine brick houses on the hills like little blocks of pottery and finally; of Hangzhou, I remember the caves – so dark yet filled with hundreds of Buddha sculptures that seemed to have eyes that could see.
There are things I want to share that can’t be found in any travelling documentary, pamphlet or brochure – little snippets, moments, scents and flavours that we lived through in a quick flurry of fourteen days. I can hear Sandy’s voice ringing clearly in my ear, “Crystal, you are right! Everything’s bigger in China!” or the flavours – sweet, sour and salty (sometimes all at once) of all the dishes we ate. I remember being enchanted by Kunming’s quiet charm and thinking that Singapore shouldn’t be called a City of Flowers. There’s something romantic about the women selling flowers on the street in the two gigantic baskets they try to balance on their shoulders with a pole– a careful labour of love – like romance could be born anytime for just a few yuan. They even eat flowers in Kunming. Sadly, Singaporeans aren’t born to be romantic – when eating a rose biscuit, all we could think of was bandung.
Guangzhou was different – if Kunming was soft and feminine, like a sweet girl with pigtails, Guangzhou was its racier older sister, headstrong, wild and bedazzling with its colourful night life. For me, Guangzhou had the best shopping and compared to Singapore’s tidy rows of shops, I enjoyed Guangzhou’s maddening mazes – like a commercialised Alice in the Wonderland with enough bargaining to turn your proper life upside down.
I shall announce unabashedly that Xiamen was my favourite and probably because of the students of Xiamen, who were so warm, generous and open (although I must say all the students who hosted us in China were impeccable). Xiamen was like a long lost younger sibling – there were imprints of Singapore everywhere and it’s funny how beautiful the familiar can be when you are away from home. There’s just something very peaceful about Xiamen that I cannot explain – just strolling down its shopping streets (with no cars allowed to come in) or admiring their beautiful expansive university campus. And, that soft comfortable feeling is probably why I liked Xiamen the best.
Finally, we have Hangzhou, where I remember eating the stickiest dragon beard candy on earth. It’s hard for me to place Hangzhou in this family of Chinese sights. I remember it for its myths and legends of love – unrequited and sacrificial. My memory is cloudiest for Hangzhou but I remember feeling strangely nostalgic and I felt like I was walking through a Chinese lyrical poem.
China can be really beautiful and it can be really ugly - but I suppose my favourite characteristic of China is that no matter its wealth or poverty – it is always filled with such immense history. And so, we walked through the landscape - sometimes under an umbrella, sometimes not - but always walking in air scented bittersweet by the numerous teahouses on the streets of China.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Love is Crystal Clear
Wow Sufei you actually wrote a note for everyone - you are like the best kind ofchocolate - look awesome on the outside but very sweet on the inside. :) Ireally admire how you can be strong and yet such an attractive woman at the sametime! And you sound so sexy when you speak mexican - I think the only mexicanword I know is tacos (is it even mexican??! haha). Thank you very much and Ireally died laughing at the "frocks" - Audrey DID ask all the girls to bringdresses no? haha
Hey Sze Min! Thanks back for being my roommate :). You are just wonderful - soeasy to be with - as natural as breathing and you make me feel so comfortable. Ilove your sensitivity and quiet intelligence. I think we made a perfectcombination - I can't imagine sharing my room and answering wake up calls withanyone else. Thank you again for always making/getting breakfast for me and Istrangely drank less milk since returning to Singapore. China has better cows :)
Ok, shall try to do a Sufei before I forget everyone on the trip (haha):
Girls
Sandy the Sealion & Shree the Poppadom:
Haha, the two of you strange silly girls really made the trip more fun and Istill can't believe that the two of you are older than me - obviously age has noco-relation with maturity. Thank you for all the laughs and wackiness - alwaysstubbornly leaving the group to seek greener trails - only to see lots ofcentipedes!!! To Sandy, when will people learn you look sweet but ain't sweet atall :) and Shree - i can't remember all the things I tricked you about China andChinese culture - but just to clear things up, no kite olympics exist in Xiamen:). And, underneath it all, I really do love being with the two of you. :)
Cheryl, Charmaine and Mabel:
Cheryl - I was really shocked to hear you are year three. Again, I learn thatmaturity obviously doesn't come with age. However, I really loved your sweetnessand thanks for polishing up my Korean. Kamsahamnida! :) Saranghaeyo. To Charmaine - obviously confused between being Snow White or a Polar Bear, you areseriously the cutest cutest thing and I love your shoes. I hope to see you onCampus one day :) hopefully on the killer black stilletos? Lastly, Mabel - youare seriously so Pure and Nice and Pristine and unbelievable and suhc a sweetgirl like you really shouldn't be friends with me but I like you so much thatI've decided that you need corrupting. :)
Qingru & PanPan:
Qingru jie you still hold lots of admiration from me with your da jie feng fan -too cool. I hope you continue your journey gaining wisdom for the much desiredsagehood. :) And to Panpan, you are really unpredictable - can never tell whatyou will say, wear or do and I think it's great you have such a feisty attitudeto life and immense collection of costume photography :).
Kalyn and Cheryl:
Kalyn haha gosh, I think you must think I'm such a bimbo because you somehowalways catch me saying the most ridiculous things. Haha anyway you always giveme the biggest shocks out of the blue during the trip and it's nice to have sucha pretty bubbly senior - you have a lovely voice too! :) And Cheryl, I didn'tget to talk to much but I was super impressed with your golfing skills and Iabsolutely loved your black dress during our final farewell - I really liked thepicture we took. :) Oh also, your voice when you speak chinese is amazinglysoft!!!
Fumin aka Fiona and William aka Wendy/ Wilhemina?:
Haha Fumin, for you, i will always remember how you insisted on following mewhen I went to wash my hair because you didn't want me to go off in Xiamen aloneand had to wait for an hour?? for me to be done - haha I still think that's thefunniest thing. Thanks for being such a GENTLEman throughout the trip, youreally took care of us and don't worry sssh your secret is safe with us - iwon't tell your girlfriend about your alter egoes. To William, haha I reallyadmire how you carried your camera everywhere and your genuinely sincere sweetpersonality - it's not really human you know. Well cheers to two impossiblysweet guys!
Boys
Veera & Yong Kiat
To Veera, although I know (as you have assured me repeatedly) that you do nothate me, sometimes your icy stare speaks otherwise. Haha, but I had a fun timebantering or should I say bickering with you and the thing I shall say lastly toyou is to smile more, don't always use your eyes. :) to YongKiat, the reason whyI even checked my ivle mail because you said you wrote love poems to Sufei andSzemin and those poems are - man, leave me with no words. I'm glad we got toknow each other better in the trip, although I'm quite sad that you no longerthink I'm a quiet sweet girl. Oh wells, :) nothing's perfect in life right?Anyway, thanks for always being the silent dependable person in the background -you have saved me and many others in small countless ways on the trip. The factShree still has her painting speaks for itself.
Jianhao & Lucien:
Gosh you guys are really tall. Haha, I'm stating the obvious but it always hitsme when your carry the luggages. Thanks for doing that the whole trip - likesome baggage warriors. Didn't get to spend much time with the both of you butfrom what I know haha your are really funny. I won't tell Ruth about yoursecret, Jianhao and I gather you won't be eating dragon beards anytime soon Lucien?
Boy & Girl:
Zhiwei & Nikki
I think both of you are really sweet and Nikki, your obsession with food makes me smile! A girl should love her food indeed. :) And Zhiwei, your collection of clothes amazes me!!! It's rare to meet a guy with such fashion sense. Food and Clothes are a good combination indeed. :)
Last but not least, are my three shi xiongs:
Aik Kai, Yupei and Zhiqian (in order of seniority):
ok Aik Kai just looks weird - Yikai your english is too funny or should I sayMost Funniest? Have to confess that at the last few days, Shree and I wouldsuddenly shout What?! at each other - a poor imitation of you of course. Anyway,although we do tease that you are really ungentlemanly (after you?) and like totease about your stubborness over 10 yuan, I think you are a good shi xiong, soif we do meet on campus please do not resort to violence as you often threatento. Yupei hahahah, i'm so sorry that I often pat your shoulder because I oftenforget that I'm not supposed to. Your silence is so amusing and the fact thatyou often talk more the further you are from Zhiqian is even more amusing. Youare definitely the slyest out of the three - haha and your Yupei smile can be soscary sometimes! :) Do smile more though.Xiao Shi Xiong, hahaha do send me all the photos I took in your camera ok? Youare definitely one of the funniest person I ever met and you have a beautifulvoice. Almost like a different person when you sing, but perhaps that's the moresensitive side you tend to hide. Your two good points - sense of humour andsinging. But actually, although you like to insult yourself, you are really agenuinely nice person and I still can't believe you and sandy were friends -obviously, a very dysfunctional relationship both of you have.
Whew, finished. Gosh, this is exhausting. I don't know how Sufei did it.
Bye!
Hey Sze Min! Thanks back for being my roommate :). You are just wonderful - soeasy to be with - as natural as breathing and you make me feel so comfortable. Ilove your sensitivity and quiet intelligence. I think we made a perfectcombination - I can't imagine sharing my room and answering wake up calls withanyone else. Thank you again for always making/getting breakfast for me and Istrangely drank less milk since returning to Singapore. China has better cows :)
Ok, shall try to do a Sufei before I forget everyone on the trip (haha):
Girls
Sandy the Sealion & Shree the Poppadom:
Haha, the two of you strange silly girls really made the trip more fun and Istill can't believe that the two of you are older than me - obviously age has noco-relation with maturity. Thank you for all the laughs and wackiness - alwaysstubbornly leaving the group to seek greener trails - only to see lots ofcentipedes!!! To Sandy, when will people learn you look sweet but ain't sweet atall :) and Shree - i can't remember all the things I tricked you about China andChinese culture - but just to clear things up, no kite olympics exist in Xiamen:). And, underneath it all, I really do love being with the two of you. :)
Cheryl, Charmaine and Mabel:
Cheryl - I was really shocked to hear you are year three. Again, I learn thatmaturity obviously doesn't come with age. However, I really loved your sweetnessand thanks for polishing up my Korean. Kamsahamnida! :) Saranghaeyo. To Charmaine - obviously confused between being Snow White or a Polar Bear, you areseriously the cutest cutest thing and I love your shoes. I hope to see you onCampus one day :) hopefully on the killer black stilletos? Lastly, Mabel - youare seriously so Pure and Nice and Pristine and unbelievable and suhc a sweetgirl like you really shouldn't be friends with me but I like you so much thatI've decided that you need corrupting. :)
Qingru & PanPan:
Qingru jie you still hold lots of admiration from me with your da jie feng fan -too cool. I hope you continue your journey gaining wisdom for the much desiredsagehood. :) And to Panpan, you are really unpredictable - can never tell whatyou will say, wear or do and I think it's great you have such a feisty attitudeto life and immense collection of costume photography :).
Kalyn and Cheryl:
Kalyn haha gosh, I think you must think I'm such a bimbo because you somehowalways catch me saying the most ridiculous things. Haha anyway you always giveme the biggest shocks out of the blue during the trip and it's nice to have sucha pretty bubbly senior - you have a lovely voice too! :) And Cheryl, I didn'tget to talk to much but I was super impressed with your golfing skills and Iabsolutely loved your black dress during our final farewell - I really liked thepicture we took. :) Oh also, your voice when you speak chinese is amazinglysoft!!!
Fumin aka Fiona and William aka Wendy/ Wilhemina?:
Haha Fumin, for you, i will always remember how you insisted on following mewhen I went to wash my hair because you didn't want me to go off in Xiamen aloneand had to wait for an hour?? for me to be done - haha I still think that's thefunniest thing. Thanks for being such a GENTLEman throughout the trip, youreally took care of us and don't worry sssh your secret is safe with us - iwon't tell your girlfriend about your alter egoes. To William, haha I reallyadmire how you carried your camera everywhere and your genuinely sincere sweetpersonality - it's not really human you know. Well cheers to two impossiblysweet guys!
Boys
Veera & Yong Kiat
To Veera, although I know (as you have assured me repeatedly) that you do nothate me, sometimes your icy stare speaks otherwise. Haha, but I had a fun timebantering or should I say bickering with you and the thing I shall say lastly toyou is to smile more, don't always use your eyes. :) to YongKiat, the reason whyI even checked my ivle mail because you said you wrote love poems to Sufei andSzemin and those poems are - man, leave me with no words. I'm glad we got toknow each other better in the trip, although I'm quite sad that you no longerthink I'm a quiet sweet girl. Oh wells, :) nothing's perfect in life right?Anyway, thanks for always being the silent dependable person in the background -you have saved me and many others in small countless ways on the trip. The factShree still has her painting speaks for itself.
Jianhao & Lucien:
Gosh you guys are really tall. Haha, I'm stating the obvious but it always hitsme when your carry the luggages. Thanks for doing that the whole trip - likesome baggage warriors. Didn't get to spend much time with the both of you butfrom what I know haha your are really funny. I won't tell Ruth about yoursecret, Jianhao and I gather you won't be eating dragon beards anytime soon Lucien?
Boy & Girl:
Zhiwei & Nikki
I think both of you are really sweet and Nikki, your obsession with food makes me smile! A girl should love her food indeed. :) And Zhiwei, your collection of clothes amazes me!!! It's rare to meet a guy with such fashion sense. Food and Clothes are a good combination indeed. :)
Last but not least, are my three shi xiongs:
Aik Kai, Yupei and Zhiqian (in order of seniority):
ok Aik Kai just looks weird - Yikai your english is too funny or should I sayMost Funniest? Have to confess that at the last few days, Shree and I wouldsuddenly shout What?! at each other - a poor imitation of you of course. Anyway,although we do tease that you are really ungentlemanly (after you?) and like totease about your stubborness over 10 yuan, I think you are a good shi xiong, soif we do meet on campus please do not resort to violence as you often threatento. Yupei hahahah, i'm so sorry that I often pat your shoulder because I oftenforget that I'm not supposed to. Your silence is so amusing and the fact thatyou often talk more the further you are from Zhiqian is even more amusing. Youare definitely the slyest out of the three - haha and your Yupei smile can be soscary sometimes! :) Do smile more though.Xiao Shi Xiong, hahaha do send me all the photos I took in your camera ok? Youare definitely one of the funniest person I ever met and you have a beautifulvoice. Almost like a different person when you sing, but perhaps that's the moresensitive side you tend to hide. Your two good points - sense of humour andsinging. But actually, although you like to insult yourself, you are really agenuinely nice person and I still can't believe you and sandy were friends -obviously, a very dysfunctional relationship both of you have.
Whew, finished. Gosh, this is exhausting. I don't know how Sufei did it.
Bye!
From Yong Kiat with Love
Our Yong Kiat decides to give a poetic response to Sufei, and included Szemin who spent most of the trip enduring Yong Kiat's poetic expressions.
Su Fei! I love you too! And I've written a poem just for you, and one for SzeMin too!
Here goes nuts:
To Senior With Love
I've tried and thought with all my being,
And you're definitely not just a fling.
True love on a summer's day,
Is what I want with my Su Fei.
Oh, won't you be mine,
And send those chills down my spine.
You think you're too old,
But oh, weren't you told?
Oh Su Fei, you're all grown-up,
Sweet like syrup.
Love you so much I'd say to you, please wake-up,
You look so much better with make-up.
Ah Su Fei, why didn't you show up?
No no, it wasn't a mix-up,
For your birthday I so wanted to get you a push-up,
So you could have a shape-up.
Please, [insert Su Fei's boyfriend's name], please don't give me a wallop,
But I'd really love her as a pin-up,
So why don't you just give her up,
And set the two of us up?
Oooh, I'd really want you close-up,
Rub you all over with ketchup,
Then maybe give you a clean-up,
And that's just for the warm-up.
So hurry, hurry, break-up,
And let our relationship speed-up.
Then off to the Mediterranean we'll gallop,
Where I'll feed you scallop.
I've been running, and doing many a sit-up,
Hoping for the night where it all piles up.
Maybe when you go to the doctor for your next check-up,
In your tummy there's a new pup.
Everytime I want to confess, there's a polyp,
Deep in my throat, my breath I can't keep up.
I love you so so much, that's what's up,
So please don't ask me to shut up.
I love you so very much,
Dear Su Fei!
You're Not Alone
Ah, Sze Min, Sze Min,
So damn freaking pristine,
What happiness and joy
For me to be your boy.
I really like my girls lean,
Really feisty and mean.
(With my patience,I will tolerate your constipations.)
Oi, Francis, Francis,I want you so much more than just to be a Sis.
Oh but when I tell you, please don't flip,
That you really need more fats on your hip.
Oh your social skill, your savoir-faire,
And the way you look like a bunny and a hare,
Your class and your style,
Oh oh oh, so nubile!
I'll give you Dragonfruits, Yang-meis and Papayas,
All the underwear in the world, all the different sizes,
My love for you is in such excess,
Just as your dress sizes are XXXXXXXS.
I just want you to know, you're not that alone.
Added on in response to Crystal's messages from the heart..
Dear Crystal,
Oh Crystal! You doth teach the torches to burn bright,
Your beauty hangs upon the cheek of night.
Er... Like the iPod earphones in my ear,
Resonates too rich, too alluring, too dear.
Ah, he who is stricken blind can never forget,
The precious treasure, Crystal, his very sight beget.
You're my true love, my true fate,
Come to me now, it's not too late!
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
The very laws of Earth I will flout,
Just to see you lean your cheek upon your hand,
To hear you say, I'm your man.
Too rash, too unadvised, too sudden!
If only I was the frond, laying in your fern.
To love, and not receive is such sorrow,
Will I still see your smile when the sun rises a'morrow?
Your voice, like softest music to my ears,
Makes me younger, by so many years.
Men's eyes were made to gaze, so let me look,
Into your face, your gentle book.
You make my day, my jocund day,
As I turn to thoughts of in your bosom I lay.
Love lies on us like an opportune frost,
Seize it, my dear, no matter the cost!
I wish for my arms, to take an embrace,
Around your body, full of majesty and grace.
Thy lips so crimson, I seal with a kiss,
Oh good grief, don't ever, let me miss.
And because you so loved "Romeo and Juliet"
Because your love, I will never get,
Never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
I'm so tired. Haha.
Yong Kiat
Su Fei! I love you too! And I've written a poem just for you, and one for SzeMin too!
Here goes nuts:
To Senior With Love
I've tried and thought with all my being,
And you're definitely not just a fling.
True love on a summer's day,
Is what I want with my Su Fei.
Oh, won't you be mine,
And send those chills down my spine.
You think you're too old,
But oh, weren't you told?
Oh Su Fei, you're all grown-up,
Sweet like syrup.
Love you so much I'd say to you, please wake-up,
You look so much better with make-up.
Ah Su Fei, why didn't you show up?
No no, it wasn't a mix-up,
For your birthday I so wanted to get you a push-up,
So you could have a shape-up.
Please, [insert Su Fei's boyfriend's name], please don't give me a wallop,
But I'd really love her as a pin-up,
So why don't you just give her up,
And set the two of us up?
Oooh, I'd really want you close-up,
Rub you all over with ketchup,
Then maybe give you a clean-up,
And that's just for the warm-up.
So hurry, hurry, break-up,
And let our relationship speed-up.
Then off to the Mediterranean we'll gallop,
Where I'll feed you scallop.
I've been running, and doing many a sit-up,
Hoping for the night where it all piles up.
Maybe when you go to the doctor for your next check-up,
In your tummy there's a new pup.
Everytime I want to confess, there's a polyp,
Deep in my throat, my breath I can't keep up.
I love you so so much, that's what's up,
So please don't ask me to shut up.
I love you so very much,
Dear Su Fei!
You're Not Alone
Ah, Sze Min, Sze Min,
So damn freaking pristine,
What happiness and joy
For me to be your boy.
I really like my girls lean,
Really feisty and mean.
(With my patience,I will tolerate your constipations.)
Oi, Francis, Francis,I want you so much more than just to be a Sis.
Oh but when I tell you, please don't flip,
That you really need more fats on your hip.
Oh your social skill, your savoir-faire,
And the way you look like a bunny and a hare,
Your class and your style,
Oh oh oh, so nubile!
I'll give you Dragonfruits, Yang-meis and Papayas,
All the underwear in the world, all the different sizes,
My love for you is in such excess,
Just as your dress sizes are XXXXXXXS.
I just want you to know, you're not that alone.
Added on in response to Crystal's messages from the heart..
Dear Crystal,
Oh Crystal! You doth teach the torches to burn bright,
Your beauty hangs upon the cheek of night.
Er... Like the iPod earphones in my ear,
Resonates too rich, too alluring, too dear.
Ah, he who is stricken blind can never forget,
The precious treasure, Crystal, his very sight beget.
You're my true love, my true fate,
Come to me now, it's not too late!
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
The very laws of Earth I will flout,
Just to see you lean your cheek upon your hand,
To hear you say, I'm your man.
Too rash, too unadvised, too sudden!
If only I was the frond, laying in your fern.
To love, and not receive is such sorrow,
Will I still see your smile when the sun rises a'morrow?
Your voice, like softest music to my ears,
Makes me younger, by so many years.
Men's eyes were made to gaze, so let me look,
Into your face, your gentle book.
You make my day, my jocund day,
As I turn to thoughts of in your bosom I lay.
Love lies on us like an opportune frost,
Seize it, my dear, no matter the cost!
I wish for my arms, to take an embrace,
Around your body, full of majesty and grace.
Thy lips so crimson, I seal with a kiss,
Oh good grief, don't ever, let me miss.
And because you so loved "Romeo and Juliet"
Because your love, I will never get,
Never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
I'm so tired. Haha.
Yong Kiat
Love from Sufei
Our lovely Sufei has written a touching, nostalgic and sweet email to everyone from the NUS group! I think that it'll be good to share it with all. Gosh, I'm missing Sino-Singapore already!!
Hey dear NUS mates!
Sigh I was supposed to send this yesterday but I konked out before I knew it!
Seeing how everyone is scattered all over China and SG at the moment, I thought that an e-mail would be the best way to communicate my thoughts (in my coughing-my-lungs out, half-zombified and half-overKTVed state), but more because Slack Sufei couldn't do up a proper (physical) note for everyone before leaving Hangzhou¡so please make do with this! ;p
(in alphabetical order)
Cheerful Charmaine
Your infectious laughter really helps to brighten things up, especially when it isn't intentional (e.g. for the skit). Your PENGUIN jokes will stay with me forever hahaha. I'm sorry I didn't manage to do something special for your b'day but do stay bubbly, cheerful and sunny always!!!
Cool Cheryl [Chung]
Cheryl, I don't know if you've played golf before but you really have the "seh" when you swing the club¡you should see the photos William took¡they're awesome! Good luck in your first job¡I'm sure you'll be successful in whatever you pursue in the future as well!
Cheeky Cheryl [Ng]
Beneath that very guai exterior lies a mischievous and cheeky girl who pokes fun at me when I'm not paying attention, eh? Hehehe¡I think you're a pocket dynamo who sings like a pro *impressed by your performance during Farewell Night* and I'll see ya around school!
Chirpy [Cardboard] Crystal
Crystal, you always look so lovely in all your different frocks every day! And seeing how my camera has just died, the photos I've seen thus far have made me realize something: you're like how photogenic la! Plus you're such a sunshine girl that's so full of zest! Take care, dear PSC scholar!
Firm Fumin
Sorry Boss that your nick isn't as sexy as the others' but this really IS a compliment coz you really seem like you've got your head firmly on your shoulders (can just imagine you shaking your head and saying "Buay tahan Sufei" like how you did to me on the trip) and that when it comes to the crunch you'll never get shaken¡so I might see you as an MP sometime in the near future ya? Best of luck in your aspiration to hit the S$5,000 mark soon!!!
"Joker" Jianhao
I was gonna call you "Snowman" but seeing how I'm going with alliterations so far I thought I wouldn't break the trend¡do you see why "joker" is in inverted commas? *grin* Without you on the trip a lot of things would not have got done¡so I guess you're pretty dependable, huh? *winks* I'm still waiting for my dim sum treat, Mr "I Know"! And good luck with Freckles!
Kissable Kalyn
Hey gorgeous, there's this mischievousness about you that's so endearing and alluring¡*ok I'm starting to sound les!* I still think you've got that "I play golf and I go horseback riding regularly look" about you hehehe¡but you're definitely one with a ferocious bite (which keeps wolves at bay)! You go girl! And keep in touch, pretty!
Literally-Lofty Lucien
From PS major to PS major *mutters something incoherent about the discussion topics never being about PS except when bitching about PS profs at the dinner table and end up confusing everyone else*¡you're pretty useful when it comes to checking luggages in at the airport, loading them onto the bus, and not to forget acting cheesy on stage¡hahaha kidding! Have fun in France, "Shai Zi"!
Modest Mabel
Hey twin, the apt-test adjective to describe you would be "SWEET" so I'm trying to crack my brain here¡I think people have really got it stuck in their head that we're total extremes ¨C you being the Sweet and Skinny Twin while I'm the Evil and Fatter half hahaha! But that's totally fine by me coz that's not too far from the truth¡*grins* Have a good 3 years more in NUS coz time really flies! Never change!
Nubile Nikki
Ok don't kill me about "nubile" coz I just didn't want to put boring ol' "nice" hehehe¡You know the name "Nikki" reminds me of the assassin Nikita¡ok out of point! But the fact remains that you're super cool! Hope you're feeing better (since you weren't feeling well in Hangzhou) and that you're enjoying your trip with Zhiwei, William and Cheryl! I'll look to ya if I need legal advice in the future (hopefully I won't need to la)! ;)
Princess Pan Pan
There's something about you that I just can't quite put my finger to but it's good, really! Your eclectic dress sense, your spunky-cum-funkyness, and the way you carry yourself just makes you SO cut out to be a model! See ya around school, you trilinguist and counting! (see how I didn't say that to Lucien! *wide grin*) Stay pretty and you'll have plenty more time to find a cool dude to match your wonderful personality!
Queen Qing Ru
The "Tuan2 hua1" who can hold her liquor better than the guys!!! I hope that Burberrys-lookalike bag can last you till you get to Hongkong at least¡sorry I was such a crappy shopping partner but I promise to put my best foot forward when we next bargain (though I think you're better off doing that by yourself anytime over me)! Take care, my babyee!!!
Sweet [Signboard] Sandy
The sweetness shows on your face but somehow never gets reflected in the comments to me *furrows eyebrows* But I prolly deserve it la coz I'm not the Sweet Twin anyway hahaha! Hope you didn't get too irritated by my constant haranguing as Group Leader (though I sometimes wonder if you peepz are the group leaders coz I don't act my age at all!) Have fun in NUS!!!
Sassy Shree
Too bad we just missed "Miss Universe 2007" but I'm sure if you take part in a future one the "Miss India" title will certainly go to you for your class, poise and elegance along with super brains to boot!¡I'm sorry that the food wasn't too your liking on the trip and it didn't help that you weren't feeling well¡get well soon!
Spunky Sze Min
Never ever underestimate the best things that come in small packages¡I'm honoured to have got to know a former national table-tennis player like you! (plus all the other gazillion sports you play) I'm always here as a listening ear if you need anything, alright? Feel free to practice your espanol with me if you like! (though my Mexican-accented Spanish is really quite pathetic)
Vivacious Veera
Hey Scout (I know you hate that nick haha!), I know how hard it must've been for you and Shree when 99% of the stuff was in Mandarin¡but anyhow you've been a super trooper on the trip and I totally salute you man!!! Also your navigational skills are like how superb! Do stay in touch (yes yes I know you're trying to chase me out into the working world already ;p) and hope your project went well!
Willy William
I believe your "Yang and Lang" strategy will go down in (NUS) history as a classic¡But dude you'll never need to resort to that to get your girl¡partly coz your personality alone will shine through! =) I think we all are impressed by your professionalism and passion for photography¡it's amazing how you carried the camera, lens and tripod stand around every day for 15 days! Pei4 fu2! So I'll be waiting for ya in SG and have fun traveling in the meantime! *smiles sweetly* Will still need your help with the photography stuff (like I told ya)! *winks*
Yuppie Yi Kai
1/3 of the "3 Stooges", I think you peepz at the back of the bus were pretty close to setting up a gambling den with your card games hahaha¡but I think things wouldn't have been the same without any one of you 3 future lawyers! I'll definitely share with you any traveling tips (on where to check out!) in the future, you fellow travel junkie!
"Youthful" Yong Kiat
*blows a kiss at you* My dear Junior, thanks for being such a great pal on the trip! It would've been such a bore without your crappy antics and nonsense jokes, really. That said, thank goodness for Zhiqian who came to my rescue at times hehehe! It really is quite amazing how you can be so caring and at other times drive us up the wall!!! Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do!!! Eat pasta!!! (Hahaha lameness learnt from you!)
Yogi "Yupz" Yupei
Ok you're not really a "yogi" but you SEEM to be nearing that stage of Nirvana where you're not really unfazed by anything hehehe. Which is why "Steady POM PEE PEE" will be etched in my memory forever sia!!! Suddenly I don't quite know who the trusty sidekick is anymore hahaha. Well, hope you didn't find my "antics" too much to bear on the trip (having had to help me collect boxes on the plane)¡somehow you always catch me in my most unglam of moments hahaha!
Zany Zhiqian
Undoubtedly one of the most talented singers from the NUS contingent and on the entire trip, thanks for being my Protector from Yong Kiat in instances where it got "out of hand" hahaha! You know what, suddenly I can imagine you being one of those lawyers on Ally McBeal¡or maybe Boston Legal? Hahaha you sparring with the judge employing the most underhanded of tactics and warped arguments¡*shrugs* Oh well, that's just you eh, Zeeq? *grin*
Zing-ful Zhiwei
To the ALWAYS-COOL [AC] Junior (whose Chinese ability has been disclosed for all to see haha) I must say your (Chinese) KTV-singing skills are really not bad!!! Xiang3 bu4 dao4¡well looks like someone is gonna be some top-notch investment banker someday, play golf like a pro, puff on Cuban cigars and zip around in his own private jet with the initials "ZW" on it¡till then, see ya around Maplewoods!
[Apparently "zing" refers to that special quality that makes someone interesting!]
Last but not least, we may have had our differences but I'm glad we put them aside for one last performance in Hangzhou as a parting gift and lasting memory for the Chinese students¡so¡
Thank you everyone! And do keep in touch! YK's suggestion of meeting up this hols (those who aren't jet-setting off anywhere else) is good¡hasta pronto!
Lots of hugs and kisses,
Silly Sufei the Old Year 4
Hey dear NUS mates!
Sigh I was supposed to send this yesterday but I konked out before I knew it!
Seeing how everyone is scattered all over China and SG at the moment, I thought that an e-mail would be the best way to communicate my thoughts (in my coughing-my-lungs out, half-zombified and half-overKTVed state), but more because Slack Sufei couldn't do up a proper (physical) note for everyone before leaving Hangzhou¡so please make do with this! ;p
(in alphabetical order)
Cheerful Charmaine
Your infectious laughter really helps to brighten things up, especially when it isn't intentional (e.g. for the skit). Your PENGUIN jokes will stay with me forever hahaha. I'm sorry I didn't manage to do something special for your b'day but do stay bubbly, cheerful and sunny always!!!
Cool Cheryl [Chung]
Cheryl, I don't know if you've played golf before but you really have the "seh" when you swing the club¡you should see the photos William took¡they're awesome! Good luck in your first job¡I'm sure you'll be successful in whatever you pursue in the future as well!
Cheeky Cheryl [Ng]
Beneath that very guai exterior lies a mischievous and cheeky girl who pokes fun at me when I'm not paying attention, eh? Hehehe¡I think you're a pocket dynamo who sings like a pro *impressed by your performance during Farewell Night* and I'll see ya around school!
Chirpy [Cardboard] Crystal
Crystal, you always look so lovely in all your different frocks every day! And seeing how my camera has just died, the photos I've seen thus far have made me realize something: you're like how photogenic la! Plus you're such a sunshine girl that's so full of zest! Take care, dear PSC scholar!
Firm Fumin
Sorry Boss that your nick isn't as sexy as the others' but this really IS a compliment coz you really seem like you've got your head firmly on your shoulders (can just imagine you shaking your head and saying "Buay tahan Sufei" like how you did to me on the trip) and that when it comes to the crunch you'll never get shaken¡so I might see you as an MP sometime in the near future ya? Best of luck in your aspiration to hit the S$5,000 mark soon!!!
"Joker" Jianhao
I was gonna call you "Snowman" but seeing how I'm going with alliterations so far I thought I wouldn't break the trend¡do you see why "joker" is in inverted commas? *grin* Without you on the trip a lot of things would not have got done¡so I guess you're pretty dependable, huh? *winks* I'm still waiting for my dim sum treat, Mr "I Know"! And good luck with Freckles!
Kissable Kalyn
Hey gorgeous, there's this mischievousness about you that's so endearing and alluring¡*ok I'm starting to sound les!* I still think you've got that "I play golf and I go horseback riding regularly look" about you hehehe¡but you're definitely one with a ferocious bite (which keeps wolves at bay)! You go girl! And keep in touch, pretty!
Literally-Lofty Lucien
From PS major to PS major *mutters something incoherent about the discussion topics never being about PS except when bitching about PS profs at the dinner table and end up confusing everyone else*¡you're pretty useful when it comes to checking luggages in at the airport, loading them onto the bus, and not to forget acting cheesy on stage¡hahaha kidding! Have fun in France, "Shai Zi"!
Modest Mabel
Hey twin, the apt-test adjective to describe you would be "SWEET" so I'm trying to crack my brain here¡I think people have really got it stuck in their head that we're total extremes ¨C you being the Sweet and Skinny Twin while I'm the Evil and Fatter half hahaha! But that's totally fine by me coz that's not too far from the truth¡*grins* Have a good 3 years more in NUS coz time really flies! Never change!
Nubile Nikki
Ok don't kill me about "nubile" coz I just didn't want to put boring ol' "nice" hehehe¡You know the name "Nikki" reminds me of the assassin Nikita¡ok out of point! But the fact remains that you're super cool! Hope you're feeing better (since you weren't feeling well in Hangzhou) and that you're enjoying your trip with Zhiwei, William and Cheryl! I'll look to ya if I need legal advice in the future (hopefully I won't need to la)! ;)
Princess Pan Pan
There's something about you that I just can't quite put my finger to but it's good, really! Your eclectic dress sense, your spunky-cum-funkyness, and the way you carry yourself just makes you SO cut out to be a model! See ya around school, you trilinguist and counting! (see how I didn't say that to Lucien! *wide grin*) Stay pretty and you'll have plenty more time to find a cool dude to match your wonderful personality!
Queen Qing Ru
The "Tuan2 hua1" who can hold her liquor better than the guys!!! I hope that Burberrys-lookalike bag can last you till you get to Hongkong at least¡sorry I was such a crappy shopping partner but I promise to put my best foot forward when we next bargain (though I think you're better off doing that by yourself anytime over me)! Take care, my babyee!!!
Sweet [Signboard] Sandy
The sweetness shows on your face but somehow never gets reflected in the comments to me *furrows eyebrows* But I prolly deserve it la coz I'm not the Sweet Twin anyway hahaha! Hope you didn't get too irritated by my constant haranguing as Group Leader (though I sometimes wonder if you peepz are the group leaders coz I don't act my age at all!) Have fun in NUS!!!
Sassy Shree
Too bad we just missed "Miss Universe 2007" but I'm sure if you take part in a future one the "Miss India" title will certainly go to you for your class, poise and elegance along with super brains to boot!¡I'm sorry that the food wasn't too your liking on the trip and it didn't help that you weren't feeling well¡get well soon!
Spunky Sze Min
Never ever underestimate the best things that come in small packages¡I'm honoured to have got to know a former national table-tennis player like you! (plus all the other gazillion sports you play) I'm always here as a listening ear if you need anything, alright? Feel free to practice your espanol with me if you like! (though my Mexican-accented Spanish is really quite pathetic)
Vivacious Veera
Hey Scout (I know you hate that nick haha!), I know how hard it must've been for you and Shree when 99% of the stuff was in Mandarin¡but anyhow you've been a super trooper on the trip and I totally salute you man!!! Also your navigational skills are like how superb! Do stay in touch (yes yes I know you're trying to chase me out into the working world already ;p) and hope your project went well!
Willy William
I believe your "Yang and Lang" strategy will go down in (NUS) history as a classic¡But dude you'll never need to resort to that to get your girl¡partly coz your personality alone will shine through! =) I think we all are impressed by your professionalism and passion for photography¡it's amazing how you carried the camera, lens and tripod stand around every day for 15 days! Pei4 fu2! So I'll be waiting for ya in SG and have fun traveling in the meantime! *smiles sweetly* Will still need your help with the photography stuff (like I told ya)! *winks*
Yuppie Yi Kai
1/3 of the "3 Stooges", I think you peepz at the back of the bus were pretty close to setting up a gambling den with your card games hahaha¡but I think things wouldn't have been the same without any one of you 3 future lawyers! I'll definitely share with you any traveling tips (on where to check out!) in the future, you fellow travel junkie!
"Youthful" Yong Kiat
*blows a kiss at you* My dear Junior, thanks for being such a great pal on the trip! It would've been such a bore without your crappy antics and nonsense jokes, really. That said, thank goodness for Zhiqian who came to my rescue at times hehehe! It really is quite amazing how you can be so caring and at other times drive us up the wall!!! Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do!!! Eat pasta!!! (Hahaha lameness learnt from you!)
Yogi "Yupz" Yupei
Ok you're not really a "yogi" but you SEEM to be nearing that stage of Nirvana where you're not really unfazed by anything hehehe. Which is why "Steady POM PEE PEE" will be etched in my memory forever sia!!! Suddenly I don't quite know who the trusty sidekick is anymore hahaha. Well, hope you didn't find my "antics" too much to bear on the trip (having had to help me collect boxes on the plane)¡somehow you always catch me in my most unglam of moments hahaha!
Zany Zhiqian
Undoubtedly one of the most talented singers from the NUS contingent and on the entire trip, thanks for being my Protector from Yong Kiat in instances where it got "out of hand" hahaha! You know what, suddenly I can imagine you being one of those lawyers on Ally McBeal¡or maybe Boston Legal? Hahaha you sparring with the judge employing the most underhanded of tactics and warped arguments¡*shrugs* Oh well, that's just you eh, Zeeq? *grin*
Zing-ful Zhiwei
To the ALWAYS-COOL [AC] Junior (whose Chinese ability has been disclosed for all to see haha) I must say your (Chinese) KTV-singing skills are really not bad!!! Xiang3 bu4 dao4¡well looks like someone is gonna be some top-notch investment banker someday, play golf like a pro, puff on Cuban cigars and zip around in his own private jet with the initials "ZW" on it¡till then, see ya around Maplewoods!
[Apparently "zing" refers to that special quality that makes someone interesting!]
Last but not least, we may have had our differences but I'm glad we put them aside for one last performance in Hangzhou as a parting gift and lasting memory for the Chinese students¡so¡
Thank you everyone! And do keep in touch! YK's suggestion of meeting up this hols (those who aren't jet-setting off anywhere else) is good¡hasta pronto!
Lots of hugs and kisses,
Silly Sufei the Old Year 4
Monday, July 2, 2007
First Post
Welcome all!
We finally have a blog for Sino-Singapore! Cheers! Let's start contribuing articles and photos!! (I wouldn't want to flood this website with my camwhore photos) :)
First of all, let me just introduce you to our facebook group made by Qing Ru!
http://nus.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2378992637
Then, we have all the parties involved!
Singapore Delegation Team
Andy Wong Jiajun, Chan Kah Yoke Nikki, Chan Sze HuaCharmaine Kong, Cheryl Chung, Cheryl Ng, Chong Weihan, Choo Foo Yuan, Chua Shunjie, Crystal Tan, Daphne Ng, Feng Fumin, Gong Pan Pan, Hen Yi Qi, Hong Ying Quan Lucien, Joy Ng Eng Woon, Kalyn Liang, Koh Zhi Chao, Lek Sze Min, Lim Qing Ru, Lin Sufei, Lin Yupei, Lu Jian Hao, Mabel Goh, Mabel Yip Shu Fen, Michelle Koh Hui Yin, Ng Aik Kai, Ng Shun Hao, Nicholas Ong Huai Gim, Pan Yu Zhe, Qin Zhiqian, Sandy Ong, Serena Seah, Serene Cheong, Shree Ravi, Sim Hwee Lee, Tan Choon Kiat, Toh Cai Hong, Veerappan, Weicong (Tow Wee Cheong), William Wong, Xie Shangbin, Yeo Yong Kiat, Yeo Zhiwei
浙江大学访问团
贺劲松,杨燕元,周楠,吴维东,梅芬,黄婷婷,王文彪,陆正杰,朱凌,朱承毓,孙恺
厦门大学访问团
辜芳昭,林婧,诸强,王安,钟晓宇,张立君,李沐王旬,杨明,龚万菁,翟云耀,彭泓,王世锋
中山大学访问团
李杰,周卉,林侃,李瑾,漆姗姗,王娜,阳煜琳,傅强,陈杰,苗青,吴文蔚
云南大学访问团
王浩,吴海峰,王军,叶锋,马昭,刘劲芸,肖芳,严敏,何敏,杨子莹,赵芬,南希
We finally have a blog for Sino-Singapore! Cheers! Let's start contribuing articles and photos!! (I wouldn't want to flood this website with my camwhore photos) :)
First of all, let me just introduce you to our facebook group made by Qing Ru!
http://nus.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2378992637
Then, we have all the parties involved!
Singapore Delegation Team
Andy Wong Jiajun, Chan Kah Yoke Nikki, Chan Sze HuaCharmaine Kong, Cheryl Chung, Cheryl Ng, Chong Weihan, Choo Foo Yuan, Chua Shunjie, Crystal Tan, Daphne Ng, Feng Fumin, Gong Pan Pan, Hen Yi Qi, Hong Ying Quan Lucien, Joy Ng Eng Woon, Kalyn Liang, Koh Zhi Chao, Lek Sze Min, Lim Qing Ru, Lin Sufei, Lin Yupei, Lu Jian Hao, Mabel Goh, Mabel Yip Shu Fen, Michelle Koh Hui Yin, Ng Aik Kai, Ng Shun Hao, Nicholas Ong Huai Gim, Pan Yu Zhe, Qin Zhiqian, Sandy Ong, Serena Seah, Serene Cheong, Shree Ravi, Sim Hwee Lee, Tan Choon Kiat, Toh Cai Hong, Veerappan, Weicong (Tow Wee Cheong), William Wong, Xie Shangbin, Yeo Yong Kiat, Yeo Zhiwei
浙江大学访问团
贺劲松,杨燕元,周楠,吴维东,梅芬,黄婷婷,王文彪,陆正杰,朱凌,朱承毓,孙恺
厦门大学访问团
辜芳昭,林婧,诸强,王安,钟晓宇,张立君,李沐王旬,杨明,龚万菁,翟云耀,彭泓,王世锋
中山大学访问团
李杰,周卉,林侃,李瑾,漆姗姗,王娜,阳煜琳,傅强,陈杰,苗青,吴文蔚
云南大学访问团
王浩,吴海峰,王军,叶锋,马昭,刘劲芸,肖芳,严敏,何敏,杨子莹,赵芬,南希
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