Do not enter...you may be crucified?

Hmm...don't quite know what to make out of this sign I saw in Florence, Italy.

A real blessing...

To be able to spend time away from the daily grind of work and take time to enjoy a respite with family is certainly one of the greatest blessings one can have in this time starved world we live in.

Well, 3 weeks into our family's extended break, I certainly am feeling blessed, cherishing the opportunity to have this (probably) once in a life time chance to spend so much quality time with family in beautiful locations.

We spent sometime on the west coast of California and I will be heading over to France next week for the school orientation workshops. That will be followed by a quick pop into Bologna and then back to Los Angeles before we make a stop in Tokyo en route to Singapore.

California is really different than the eastern part of the US where I was more familiar with. I shan't go into the details, lest I create a cyberspace war between those living on Eastern standard time and Pacific standard time, *grin*, but regardless of the number of times I return to this country, I am forever perplexed by its numerous anomalies.

For example, the United States remains the leading superpower in the world. This is regardless of China's rise. Geopolitically, militarily and economically, the US continues to hold strong clout over the world. Yet, many of its citizens do not have basic health care insurance. That means a visit to the doctor to confirm that you have a fever would set you back US$80, without medicine. (In Singapore, a visit to the doctor with medicine dispensed to you would set you back about $20 to $30 for the same ailment). And with the recent push for better health care, the majority of the American people are not looking forward to changes put in place to help get affordable health care. Perhaps it's the fear of change; perhaps it's because the peoples' huge mistrust in their President (Americans have an in-built mistrust for government). But sentiment is such that the people would rather fight against change and remain in the status quo. Someone once told me, "Perception is reality".

How true.

I recently asked my class whether they would rate the US as a conservative or liberal country. Not one of them rated the US as a conservative country. The reason? They cite Hollywood; high profile divorces and scandals; and the ability to own guns. Yet, the US remains relatively more conservative than most European countries, and perhaps, even some Asian countries. This is attributed to a strong Christian base in the country --- giving way to many politicians playing the religion card to sway voters. Recently, Katy Perry's performance with Elmo on Sesame Street was removed from TV because she was wearing an inappropriate piece of clothing --- a gold bustier.

Have you recently seen what clothes Barbie is wearing?

I am utterly confused.

As the US promotes its tenet in the right to freedom of speech and religion, you have the recent case of the inter faith religious centre uproar (it's actually not a mosque, folks). CBS recently asked one of its producers to dress up in the hijab (tudung) and the burqa (covers all of the body except the eyes) and walk in public at 3 locations --- New York City, Houston (Texas) and a suburb in New York state. The result was that the cosmopolitan areas did not even bat an eyelid. The same cannot be same for locations that are more homogeneous in ethnicity.

Another area that the US promotes aggressively is their fundamental belief in gender equality and equal opportunity. I recently had a chat with a knowledgeable person about the presidency of the US. We also talked about equal opportunity in the US. This person was basically saying that it would not be possible in the foreseeable future for the US to have a female Head of State, due to the old boys club. New Zealand, Germany, Finland, the UK and even Indonesia have shown the way in this aspect. The US?

We all know about the financial challenge facing households in the US. However, I also found out that fresh produce can be gotten for a fraction of what you pay in many countries, including Singapore! I could get a can of soup, 8 heads of corn, slippers, t-shirts and underwear for US$ 99cents each. A bag of about 20 to 30 oranges costs US$5. Compare that to the same price per orange in Tokyo! And yet, according to USA Today newspaper, almost a quarter of Americans are living below the poverty line (calculated as an annual household income of less than US$22,000 for a family of five). Of course, the household savings rate is hovering around 3%, up from 2+% in the boom years before the recession. It is so affordable to have a decent standard of living in this country. Yet, many are impoverished.

Well, this post is not a complaint, it is simply an observation of this country. Talk to The Wife --- she will simply wave her hand at me and run off to the Factory Outlet Malls.

Let's go jogging

I completed my warm up jog around the track and began to pick up the pace.

The running track at Commonwealth served primarily as an exercise space for New Town Secondary School students. The track is also opened to the public, a wonderful thing at that. New Town Secondary School is no longer there but St Theresa's Convent has taken its place. Known for their field hockey prowess, the girls spend more time on the artificial turf within their school compound instead.

It was 6pm already. The track faces an MRT train station which was abuzz with people getting off work, heading home after a day at the office. The sun continued beating down on the growing number of joggers at the track. While Singapore does not have four seasons, we do experience more hours of sunlight during the Northern Hemisphere summer time.

Ten rounds, that's the aim. Ten rounds of 400m on a bitumen tar track. Jarring for the knees but it's my best bet given the amount of time I have to play with.

As I commenced my run, an Indian chap in a white tank top trots over from the side stairs and begins to run alongside me. It's not really a tank top he is wearing --- more like the sleeveless underwear one wears under a a business shirt. But I'm not fussed.

Genetically speaking, we Chinese can't jump, run or swim faster than our counterparts from other continents. And yes, while China churns out fantastic athletes, the vast majority of us are happy to be confined to recreational exercise...and the auditing of Profit and Loss sheets. And so, knowing my genetic position in the hierarchy of human physical abilities, I decided to slow down and let the Indian chap run on ahead.

He didn't.

Ok, so maybe there are some young strapping Indian chaps who are not so pre-disposed to running. Or maybe, he was being courteous.

I decided to pick up the pace.

So did Indian chap.

I slowed down to let him run on ahead.

He slowed down too.

Hmm...

Ok, I have tried my best to accommodate him. Since he is not picking up my signals, I'll just run on ahead.

First round.

Second round.

Third round.

Hey! Indian chap is still pacing me just half a stride beside me!

You know the feeling when someone is running beside you? You can't see him but you know he is there? How would you feel? I don't know about you, but it's as if someone was breathing down my neck, and it's not fun.

Now my feelers are scanning for possible reasons as to why he is tailing me so closely.

Maybe he is lonely; maybe he likes my scent (yuck!); maybe he is gay and wants to hit on me (happened to me once...you can never be too sure); maybe he wants to pick my pocket; maybe...

I try to lose him on the 4th round. I pick up my pace and decided to apply full-on Chi Running and steamed on ahead.

Round 5, and he was still there.

As we entered the bend to complete the fifth round, I had concluded that this chap probably just wants company on his run. Oh well, so be it.

As we entered the sixth round, I hear him panting heavily and gasping slightly for breath. That was when he turned to me and said,"How many more rounds to go?"

I could not suppress my grin as I turned to him, running stride still in motion.

"Four more to go," I replied in a half pant,"What's your name?"

"Rizal."

I reached out my hand,"I'm Paul, pleased to meet you."

He flashed his pearly whites, offered me his sweaty palm and we shook.

"I will finish the same number of rounds as you," Rizal quipped.

I offered,"All right, let me then slow down the pace for the rest of our run."

Though he did not say it, I could feel the sense of relief wash over Rizal.

And that's how two strangers jogging on a public track spent the remaining four rounds --- chatting and jogging.

Rizal is from Malaysia and he works at a hotel in Singapore as a Receptionist. He is going to take part in an Inter-Hotel Track & Field meet this weekend. Today's run was meant to be a training session with some colleagues. Since they were late, he decided to pick the first person he saw on the track and pace him --- that would be me.

As we completed our run, we bade each other goodbye and walked away in separate directions. I wonder what he was thinking as he walked away. Was he glad that we could run together albeit over such a short distance? Was he thinking about how to train for this weekend's race?

I guess I'll never know. But I sure was glad that he wasn't trying to ask me out on a romantic date.

Choices in life

I've taken a hiatus from updating my blog of late, largely due to my teaching schedule.








Having spent some time in the corporate world, the contrast between that and a teacher's life is quite substantial. That said, specific occupational rigours are expected whether you are a corporate man or a teacher. For example, corporate life can be quite intense during the different cycles in a work year. But once I got used to it, I was energized! When teaching, I underestimated the energy required to conduct public speaking and to explain challenging concepts on the fly. And although contact hours are much less than the time spent at a corporate job, I somehow crash after every lecture and facilitation session.

It is commonly circulated amongst the corporate folk that those in academia tend to be 'out-of-touch' from the 'real world'. There is some truth to this statement, but try and figure out this anecdote --- most patients who get admitted into the Institute of Mental Health are teachers. A friend of mine who happens to be a psychologist at the aforementioned facility could not comment on absolute figures, but concurred that the anecdote is not 'too far from the truth'.

Hmm...

But yes, given that I have a little time now, it is only decent that I update my blog and once again, to all those who are actually reading this entry, an appreciative thank you to you --- but don't you have better things to do?

LOL!

I am blessed to have been able to complete my Masters program last November. Nope, I don't feel any smarter or wiser. In fact, the more I learn, the more I don't know. Someone once insinuated that the reason for his studying an MBA was to obtain a higher level of intelligence. I never knew he wanted to be an alien.

But yes, having made the switch from being a corporate man to becoming an educator, I can say with all my heart that I am loving every minute of it! The past 3 years have also confirmed my calling in life. And thus, the plan to study even more hatched sometime late last year. Yes, this former school dropout applied to doctorate programs earlier this year --- and got accepted into both schools.

*background refrain of obama-esque shouts echoing 'Yes, we can!'*

I thank God for life's journey so far. There was a time that I used to ridicule doctorate students as having irreversible brain trauma. Looks like they are having the last laugh now as I go over to the dark side. One program was based in Spokane, Washington. (Now where the heck is that?) Another is a French program based in China. Yes, the fella who failed his Chinese exam at high school level in Singapore got accepted into a doctoral program in China. Rest assured, the program is conducted in English but the telephone interview was conducted in both English and Mandarin. I guess the professor probably admitted me because he felt that my Mandarin language skills make for good comic relief amongst my mainland Chinese classmates.

*Grin*

When the time came to make a decision on which offer to accept, a thousand and one things ran through my mind. Are we good on the financial situation? Must we sell the car? How about Junior's education? The Wife's job? Where will our new domestic helper go? But the time came and the choice was quite clear.

It helps that both programs allow for me to commute to class over the 4-5 years course duration, but I guess the clincher really boiled down to an issue of how relevant the institution was at a global level. The fact that classes are held in China is a plus point for me. This prodigal son of Hainan Island (China) has never stepped onto the mainland soil yet (if you exclude Hong Kong). Perhaps, one might see me as a Sea Turtle (Hai Gui, a term to describe mainland Chinese who leave home for greener pastures in the West, but return to the mainland eventually), but I do think it is time. The decision making process involved thought, prayer, research, seeking out wisdom from the correct folks, lobbying and of course, waiting.

I am certain this will be a life changing decision, and I am looking forward to the journey ahead! And so all you folks out there, if you happen to be living in Grenoble (France) or Beijing/Guangzhou (China), I shall be knocking on your doors very soon! Come to think of it, I am doubtful I know anyone in these places...

New LG PRADA II mobile phone - $380 neg

Beautiful LG PRADA II (Black) for sale.

Hardly used.

No problems with the phone.

Am selling to finance my wife's new IPhone.

Comes with full warranty. Date on Warranty Card is left empty.

Please contact Paul: 917 852 17

Man, that was fast!

Man stole after casino losses

Feb 17, 2010

By Elena Chong

AN INDONESIAN man who lost all his money at the Resorts World Sentosa casino stole a mobile phone from an undergraduate at Changi Airport.

Paulus Djohar, 49, unemployed, was jailed for four weeks on Wednesday after pleading guilty to stealing a $500 phone from Ms Lim Tse Min at Terminal 1 on Tuesday.

A court heard that he came here from Malaysia last Tuesday with the intention of patronising the newly-opened casino at RWS. As he lost all his money gambling at the casino on Monday, the second day of its opening, he decided to steal from passengers at Changi Airport.

Early on Tuesday morning, Djohar was at the airport when he approached Ms Lim, who was with a group sending a friend off.

One of them in the group saw his suspicious movements and alerted Ms Lim, who discovered the phone gone from the side pocket of her backpack. She and the witness confronted Djohar.

Djohar, who said he regretted what he had done, could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined.

www.straitstimes.com

This one's for you, my boy....

Find Your Wings
Mark Harris

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And if I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

A short respite...

Entering the year 2010, it has indeed been a busy time for me so far.

Teaching assignments; the endless amounts of grading my students within a short timeline; conducting leadership training sessions; and heading off for 2 weeks of army reservist training. I foresee breathing space during the month of Ferbuary...I hope =)

Thankfully, today is a very much needed respite from my work and responsibilities. To give you an idea of how tight my back to back schedule is, I am only able to fit in certain appointments on the way from the toilet to the carpark --- talk as we walk. Arrive at the car, meeting over. Job done.

But yes, today, as part of the institution's performance indicators for its staff, I am required to sit in, observe and report on one of my colleagues in their presentation of the lesson. Such an exercise can be rather intimidating for both Observer and Observee. If you can imagine the potential level of blackmail that might take place, you will know what I mean. Thankfully, my colleague, J, is an easy going free spirit. She does a good job anyway, so it's a straightforward exercise for the both of us.

That means, I get a chance to breathe!

Actually, it sounds worse than it actually is. I remember the days in Advertising that left me with heart palpitations and breathlessness --- an exciting industry indeed. Not to mention high levels of stress! That was a different ball game altogther --- with the potential for many to burnout.

But the work I am doing now, though busy, I am actually quite enjoying it.

Still, a man needs to rest.

Rest has been understated, especially amongst the Generation X-ers and, especially Y-ers. We think that if our mind is able to push us to multi-task between office work, family responsibilities and fitness training for that triathlon coming up next month. But the reality is this --- our mind can make us achieve heights physically we are not able to attain, but only for a limited period only. Everything comes at a cost, and while you have achieved a greater height, the toll on your body can be irreversible.

It could even kill you.

I have friends and acquaintances who hold top positions in their corporations. They work till late and then go for late night jogs, swims (think 12am). They sleep at 2am and then get up at 6am. They are quite proud of their ability to balance such a lifestyle.

I shudder.

Research has proven that with little sleep, people die earlier; are not able to concentrate for long periods; and are prone to make wrong decisions.

To be fair, I was one of these individuals who thought that nothing could stand in my way. But I have learnt my lesson, and I have to make time to rest.

Yes, one has to make time to rest, especially if you are the go-getter type of person.

And so, on this day of respite, I have planned to visit the mall nearby to get a pair of tennis shoes (so that I can keep the tennis date planned in February). I will also head to the gym for a short run and pump some iron. And then there is more grading for tonight.

Hmm...I've learnt my lesson, eh?