Monday, May 31, 2010

叶问 II

“今天的胜负,我不是想证明我们中国的武术比西洋拳更加优胜。 我只是想说,人的地位虽然有高低之分,但是人格不应该有贵贱之别,我很希望,从这一刻开始,我们大家可以学会怎么懂得去互相尊重."

There will always be differences amongst human beings; be it views on religion, personal beliefs, opinions and mindset. The day that we learn to respect these differences, is the day that we will achieve peace, no matter how minuscule it might seem. So what if we have analysed and dissected these differences so that we can point out the flaws in them, what's the benefit we can gain from it? It will only prove that these differences can never be reconciled. That is why we must compromise by respecting that there is the existence of different people, different religions, different mindsets and different beliefs.

We can only study these differences to gain a deeper understanding and to nourish our ignorant selves. It is not for causing conflict by driving the wedge between these differences even deeper.

You learn to forgive someone much more easily when you understand it from their point of view.
Don't say you can't when you haven't tried.
It's the first step that's always the hardest. Use that doggedness in you to take that first step.

Pumpfest 2010

Pumpfest 2010 marks the end of our climbing journey in TJCCC 09/10. I really enjoyed myself both as a competitor and spectator. NTU has done a really good job in organising this year's comp. The location was good, the crowd was good, the schedule ran smoothly, and last but not least, I respect the organisers for pulling this off so perfectly(at least to me it was rather flawless). After having organised for climb X, I totally take my hat off to them.

The Inter Women qualifiers round was exceptionally hard to me. It only goes to show how much more I have to learn. I didn't even feel pump at all because I couldn't even do the route. I look forward to resuming my climbing training after A levels amongst many other things on my to-do list!

After 3 rounds of bouldering (Gravical, Boulderactive & Pumpfest), we have emerged as the champion for the JC Bouldering League. I am so proud of us man. Amazing feat, amazing climbers. 10 years down, I will still remember this very moment of how we have transformed from nothing to climbers. This is one of the greatest achievements I have attained as a team. It puts a smile on my face just the mere thought of how we have so much talent in all of us. I think we all lived up to the school's motto "Passion, Purpose, Drive".

It was climbing that allowed me to see the fierce driven side of everyone, especially during competitions. The determination to finish something that we have started with; it's leaving me wanting for more.

Today as I was watching the finals for all categories, I have seen a plethora of climbing styles amidst all these local and international climbers, and the ones that stand out for me, has reinforced my previous stance on the importance of grace and fluidity during the execution of various climbing moves.
I have this sudden urge to want to go back to skating, go back to slaloming; to experience this grace all over again.

My first and only freestyle skates still sit in the cupboard rotting away. I realised I have this ability to take care of things really well. My skates has already lasted me for the 4th year and counting. Similarly for my climbing shoes, my first and only pair's still working fine. I wonder how long it can last me. My Asics has seen me through 2x 10km stanchart marathons, Temasek Titans, 4 years of NAPFA, and netball trainings in the past.

I am able to handle my possessions with such tender loving care, but when it comes to inter-personal relationships, I really fail at it.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The journey


I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb


The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking


I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dedicated specially to TJCCC 09/10; it has been a beautiful journey to me.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Hardwork

I have never paid so much attention during lectures/tutorials before, and they are all showing results... good results. Both my weakest subjects, Math and Econs have drastically improved. I have always given my best in climbing, but never really applied it for my studies. Miss Kwan's long advice to us during post MCTs was a good reminder to me to apply the same amount of effort we gave for our PDPs, and even Mrs Ang also constantly praised how climbing really stretched my potential.

I really hope for 2010 to be the best year of all my school years, at least for now. Not only amazing results and achievements for climbing, but also for A levels. TJCCC 09/10, we can do this, as long as we believe in ourselves. Every little effort counts. Start paying attention, start absorbing, and most importantly, start practising for all subjects, because results doesn't come without practice. I really crave for decent results for JCTs. Allez!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Oral Communications

Don't you think the kids in Singapore really lack the much needed oral communication skills needed in the future when they start going into the labour force?
Just take a look at this video and be amazed at how a 13 year old communicates with an adult. The fluency and confidence just shine through man.


Pick any 13 year old in Singapore and conduct just a casual conversation, I think they can hardly reach this standard. How can the education system be revamped so that we are more daring and confident to speak up and voice our views?
It's not only the kids in Singapore who lack such communication skills, some adults waver in their speeches even in their 20s, 30s when asked for an opinion.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Climb X 2010

It might have seemed like a 2 day climbing event, but playing both the roles of the competitor and organiser sure makes the whole thing feel much much longer. My perspective of organising climbing competitions sure did widen over planning Climb X 2010. There's just so much aspects and details to pay attention to that nobody will see until they have organised one themselves. I am so glad TJCCC 09/10 was given the opportunity to plan for Climb X 2010 despite our hectic schedule of competitions after competitions. Amidst this year's climbing camp we managed to pull off both the camp and preparation for the wall really well. I'm so proud of how efficient all of us are especially the leaders who are pushing the whole thing to keep it going. The rain might have dampen the spirits of the competitors for both days, but I'm sure just the mere sight of the wall and the routes were enough to wow them. I glow at the thought of how a bunch of 17/18 year olds managed to pull off this whole event. The sight of varsity climbers coming to support our event has also given me just that right amount of satisfaction and appreciation.

Today as I was walking back home, the image of a working mother still in her office wear playing badminton with her son really amazed me. Some parents sure do treasure these growing up moments with their child. It serves to remind me of how I have never enjoyed such privileges of spending copious amounts of time with my parents. From those childhood days till now, I barely even remember any family activities we had together that were purely in the name of having fun. Now, it's even worse. Every single night, I will give a call to my mom around 11ish just before I head to bed only to receive a standard reply "in a meeting call you back", of course it never happens. The only time I get a glimpse of her is when I wake up in the morning and the 15 minutes spent in the car in the mornings that she send me to school. Most of the conversations would revolve around her work and the way she manages the company.
I think she, as a mother, as a woman, deserves so much more than this.
I'm so afraid I'd be like that in the future as well, immersing myself in work, letting the roses go by. She's not getting any younger anymore, and even though I might have some doubts in that she would have to face a difficult moment when she reaches 59 (as predicted by the feng shui master), which would determine if she would continue living if she managed to overcome it, or move on to the netherworld if she doesn't; it's hard to ignore such information that has a possibility of being true.
It's a pretty short 9 years from now.
She doesn't know how much she has missed in my growing years.
Maybe these months that I have been spending home alone with just the maid serves as some sort of training for my independence without her in the future.

I was thinking, it's so easy for me to take the easy way out, to throw my studies away, to throw everything that I have struggled so hard for. The vast amount of freedom I have allows me to do anything I want. Yet, sometimes I console myself by reminding how good a daughter I am, making her never having to worry about me at all. I suppose this is a reflection of the success of her parenting skills, but, you know, I still crave some family time.
Loneliness kills, seriously.
One parent missing could still be tolerable, but if both parents are missing, I start to wonder...
Maybe I could be my own parent too, start training to be a mom for my future. Nag at myself to go study; force myself to eat something even if i don't have the appetite; make sure the little kitty has sufficient food; make sure the maid ain't doing funny things behind our backs; make sure the house is clean and prim; make sure that my mom go to sleep early and not waste electricity staring at the lids of her eyes while the TV blasts away. A reversal of roles? Maybe that's what's happening. I could start hunting for a husband for my mom to let her enjoy since I prefer old men so much, you know, kill 2 birds in 1 stone. Aye, it's funny how my optimism never dies out.

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Climb X Inter-JC Cat

I've broken a couple of personal records today. One, for climbing extremely fast (which is considered normal pace relative to everyone else), I shaved half the time I take to climb a lead route. Usually, or rather, all the time for all the past difficulty competitions, I always exceed the 6 minutes and don't finish the climb and i have to let go. Now, i have managed to do it about 3ish minutes. I'm actually liking this pace better. When I review my climbs from today, it looks so much smoother and fluid as compared to the constant slow motion that I have been doing. I'm so proud of myself for finally being able to move the gear up in terms of the speed of my climb.

Another thing, it's hard to attend classes with frequent stomachaches that require certain form of relief in the toilet, it's even harder to compete with such stomachaches. I had a total of 2 diarrhoeas today before my climbs and trust me, it's not fun at all. The ultracarbon pills don't work at all. I wonder if there's anything wrong with my stomach because I have the diarrhoea symptoms for a week already.

It has been a long day of hard work today from competing to organising. Whoever said organising was easy? Too much manpower creates the problem of control, too little manpower creates the problem of inefficiency. I'm so thankful and grateful for having such great leaders amongst us.

One last day for Climb X 2010, crossing my fingers for good weather, and great success to the whole event.


Thursday, May 06, 2010

Potential

The recent spate of unions of people have made me felt quite left out on the shelf. I've been rethinking my expectations of my future partner. Was it credentials or feelings that were of most importance? Will credentials provide the same bliss that feelings would? I really don't know right now. I have quite a skewed and practical opinion on relationships, probably because I'm not a very romantic person to begin with. However that said, I still wonder, is credentials what I really need? Or is it just part of the many expectations that I have? The human psyche is so complex, even I can't decipher what I want... what right do i have to set expectations for myself of the specifics that I want!

I think my scary male traits are driving guys away.

如果我说 爱我没有如果
真的爱我 就放手一搏
还想什么 还怕什么
快牵起我的手

Some guys are still wussies(well said by Jo) at this age, that's why. And I hardly admire boys who are full of bullshit with no action and try too hard to be impressive(they don't realise they look foolish instead), probably that's why men stand higher chances of being envied by me because they have shed that mommy's boy skin.

It's about feeling shy, it's about being self-conscious in front of the person.
Haven't felt that in a long while...

Monday, May 03, 2010

TJC Climbing Camp 2010

It's finally been done. After weeks of proposal editing, of meetings, of countless late night organising for the whole camp, of thinking if camp should be cancelled; it has come to an end. The camp go-ers had been from the ones participating to the ones organising it. It's really a complete cycle of the journey in TJCCC. It really marks the coming of an end to our statuses as seniors in the club, to pass the baton on to the next batch 10/11. Slowly but surely, we'll all have to step down from our various roles that we have been playing, with the juniors looking up to us. I remember I was so afraid of leading the club without Ser around. I wonder how it would be like for the next generation of TCs.

The highlight of the camp was the nightwalk. It's not as fail as some of us might think it to be. I'm sure it was way scarier than the one we had last year. Hopefully the year 1s will make it even scarier for the next batch. Hur hur...

Climb X will be next... I really can't wait for it.

And when Pumpfest arrives, we all know we will be stepping down officially and start being the muggers we have been, from the snippets of study periods during the pre and post-trainings to being full-time canteen seatwarmers.