My 2008

2008 was a significantly different year for me on so many different levels. I began the year in Egypt where I experienced 2 New Year countdowns (one in Egypt time, one in Singapore time). Epiphany dawned on me when I realised that time waits for no one and it wasn't everyday that you have a second chance at anything. (Then) I was about to turn 27, and hadn't accomplished much in my life because I was too cautious with my life. And so I made a bold resolution. For every month of my life, I would try something commendable that I had never done previously.

And I did. I stuck to my resolution for every month of 2008.

Were there good decisions? You bet.

Were there times I wished I didn't jump into the unknown for the sake of my resolution? Definitely.

All in all, 2008 was indeed my year of change. And with all changes, come good and poor consequences. But regardless of the results, you mature from the experiences, and I like to believe that makes you a better person.

In no order of importance, here are other things which I will remember 2008 for:

1. Facebook
I got a bit hooked on Facebook this year but grew out of the stupid quizzes, blow-kisses, online friend trading as quickly as they came. I reunited with people from my past -- ex-classmates, ex-colleagues, ex-best friends, etc. Some reunions were cute and others were disappointing to the extent that I wished we never met again, so that I would remember the person at his/her best. Facebook has a wide variety of functions and even enabled me to sell an item. It also exposed my privacy to the eyes of people who cannot mind their own business. Eg. my new Boss. We even got into a small conflict as she wanted me to moderate the organisation group, when I was still new in the company and wanted to keep the knowledge of where I was working at, a secret from the prying eyes of my ex-colleagues. The next day she apologised to me. That was such a surprise.

2. MyPaper
Speaking of writing, this year, I became a real columnist. In 6 months, I've contributed 7 articles to a local English/Mandarin daily, MyPaper. Not sure what the exact readership is, but it is distributed in some offices, schools and at MRTs. I googled my name once and I was pleasantly surprised to see my article quoted on someone else's blog. I'm proud to say that all my articles were in Mandarin, something which became possible due to my constant practice in Chinese writing on my blog. :)

3. Investment Woes

As part of my every-month-wanting-to-do-something-new resolution, I decided to try investment of my CPF savings despite my cynical father's threats. I should have listened to him or be more prudent cos the economic crisis really did me in. But no use crying over split milk. Just holding onto the paper losses and hopefully the long haul will turn things around.

4. Beauty Personified

This year I became a very active online seller (from organising online overseas clothing shopping sprees), raking in considerable cash (which of cos is good considering that it cancels out a good portion of what I lost with the investment boo-boo). I began selling clothes and knick-knacks (new and old) in Yahoo Auctions last year, but around May Yahoo Auctions just died. The Yahoo folks lied about some technical error but I think they were already trying to wind up the entity. By then, I had garnered a steady but pretty loyal following, and some were encouraging me to set up a blogshop. And so I did. I'm pretty proud of myself cos I used to be a real tech idiot but my experience at my previous workplace gave me some web background and in mid June, my blogshop, Beauty Personified, opened. My little sideline continues to do okay, though it has slipped somewhat since the economic crisis.

5. Change of Jobs

I left my second job of 2.5 years because of mainly push reasons, which I have posted on and off on this blog. I endured a lot in the first 6 months of the year before I came to the decision to leave. It was especially tough because I did have a sense of belonging here, which I didn't have in my very first job. Also, I was offered another lifeline towards the end -- a transfer to Corporate Communications, which ironically was the department I applied before I joined. Life is really weird. Sometimes the right things just to have appear at the right time. Leaving was so tough that I wrote 5 farewell letters to 5 groups of people - whom I called "Those Who Matter", to thank them for everything. I can't say I love my new job now. I'm too tired mostly to feel passionate. The workload or rather, deadlines, are crazy. I'm still adjusting. But the people are real nice, a sweet surprise.

6. Surveying My Options

I made a conscious effort to date this year, and to give people who showed an interest in me a chance. I've made more friends, but I can't say I seriously like any of them romantically. Just playing the field I guess.

2008 will also be remembered as the year which I met a weirdo who claimed to have fallen for me at first sight. Well, he turned out to be a bit freaky, even on the online arena, so nothing happened beyond that. But I will always remember his crazy quote when I suggested that we get to know each other online. "I'm not interested in a virtual relationship". Too bad I didn't get the chance to say, "I'm not interested in any relationship -- with you".

7. Taiwan

I gotta go to my favourite country, Taiwan this year. I love Taiwan, from all the TV programmes that I watched. Love the culture, food, fashion, language slangs, etc. Unfortunately the tour we followed wasn't satisfactory so I didn't have the most fun. Hope to go back again, to savour the atmosphere and have more time to eat and shop. Plus meet up with my good online friend, Chanjuan, who's been helping me with my online spree payments, and never asking for anything back. Bless her.

8. Old Friends, New Friends

I lost a couple of friends this year (or maybe before this) because of a date which didn't happen. I wrote a MyPaper entry about being stood-up, and got pretty good response from friends who read it. It's no surprise that the people who responded strongly were those who were always the ones begging for a reunion, and having to collate everyone's availability, then having to redo it when someone can't make it. Only one apology came after the big stand-up (the rest probably didn't know I was angry or worse, didn't care). I admit I was brash to tell the one who apologised off. But she chose a bad time to apologise. Did I see this state of things coming? Totally. Did it hurt? Totally. Does it still hurt? Nope. This incident taught me that life is too short to spend on people who do not care. And on the positive side, I made a conscious effort to care for people who treasure my friendship. And so I embraced new friends, but I will still remember my old friends. They are not my enemies. I am what I am today, because of their companionship as I was growing up. But at some point, when they let go, you have to too.

The almanac says this will be a good year for my zodiac sign. I wonder how 2009 will pan out.

诚意会带来掌声

《小娘惹》播完完结篇，相信许多观众将对剧中依依不舍。播了一个半月，《小娘惹》为近年平平无奇的本地电视剧，创造多个许久不见的佳绩。先是打破八年来的收视率记录、后来在Compass Point的唯一一场剧中演员见面会更是出现水泄不通的人龙。

《小娘惹》的成功不是偶然。被电视台堪称为年度重头剧，宣传功夫自然高人一等。这包括电视上的制作特辑、台庆节目中的热情呼吁、杂志中的特别专访、网站上的番外篇、剧中艺人在部落格上分享心情点滴等等。

看戏的人多，自然就有负面的评语。 《小娘惹》播出以来就面对许多观众针对剧情而发出的质疑。 令人想不透的情节包括：菊香母女被抛下深海怎么还能浮上岸又安然无恙？日军为什么狠心害死了月娘父母却又良心发现帮她埋葬父母？小月娘小小年纪怎么会易如反掌地从新加坡到马六甲寻亲？刘一刀明明与月娘成婚，怎么后来在没有悔婚的情况下，又怎么变回兄妹？

站在创作人的角度，观众的部分质疑的确过于吹毛求疵。电视戏剧嘛，难免有煽情的情节、夸张的言行、偏激的人物性格，这样才有戏剧张力，令观众留下印象，也配合《小娘惹》这么声势浩荡的排场。如果每个细节都追根究底，恐怕又有观众会嫌故事拖泥带水，侮辱观众的智慧！不过，电视台还是要吸取观众的评语，好的该听，不好的更该听。曾经读过某个电视台高层的访问，他说一直推出围绕在饮食业的家庭伦理剧，是为了迎合观众的需求。观众喜欢看，所以才不停制作。其实这是错误的讯息。看一看收视记录就知道，饮食业的家庭伦理剧一直在下滑。除了早期的《荷兰村》，其他的印象实在模糊，只记得里头一定有兄弟为钱财反目、妯娌间必定拉大嗓门明争暗斗……电视台网站也有forum，撇开影迷的口水战，里头其实有许多观众对本地电视制作的期许和良性的建议。

《小娘惹》编剧洪荣狄曾经在报章为故事“漏洞”作出解释。当时他沮丧的说：“听不到观众的掌声，有点寂寞。”我想跟洪先生说他酝酿了八年的故事没有白费。从演员的表现、服装的设计、美术指导等等，都透露了电视台和制作组的用心。有诚意的作品会有观众的掌声。从网路每天排山倒海的剧情讨论，和人们茶余饭后的谈论看来，《小娘惹》成为了全国讨论的焦点。本地剧集已经好久没有引起这么广泛的支持了。这不就是掌声吗？

倒带人生

作词:葛大为

早午餐 越吃越昏沉
咖啡 提不了神
留我满嘴的 苦涩

低头等 车厢再开门
站着 同几个人
曾经 我们两个人

这个 过份认真的人生
不怀念 曾经多天真
习惯了分分合合
每次唱 生日快乐
旧愿望 还没发生
又得想 几个新的

回忆 只剩下局部
就算再和你 倒带人生
能失而复得
那时 环游世界的梦
也不再做了 只要依靠着
晚餐 还是一个人
你曾经坐在这
微笑着 热汤给我喝
想到就很快乐
我真的知足 够了
想念不小心 跳针了
别担心了 都过去了

晚餐 还是一个人
你曾经坐在这
第几餐 我都不记得
想到就很快乐
我真的知足 够了

偶尔想起你
自言自语 点点滴滴
幸福是个秘密
享受却不知情
深夜里 重播的 旧黑白片
想启示 我什么 人生真言
我都感激 已经很随性 已经很随性

回忆 只剩下局部
就算再和你 倒带人生
能失而复得
那时 环游世界的梦
如果再做了 有没有可能
晚餐 还是一个人
你曾经坐在这
另一份 碗盘是你的

想到就很快乐
我真的知足 够了
想念不小心 跳针了
别担心了 都过去了
时间不小心 停格了
别在意了 会过去的
---

很爱这首歌。释怀是EQ中很高的境界。大方放手何尝不是幸福？还是那句老话，不在乎天长地久地久，只在乎曾经拥有。如何知道已经释怀？当你想起过去，心里无苦涩只有感激，嘴角扬起浅浅微笑时......

如燕

《如燕》
词曲：陈佳明
演唱：Olivia Ong

愿意合上眼才能美梦无边
别让悔熏乌了从前

也许碎片才能让回忆展颜
何妨瓷花拼凑明天

谁带我寻获幸福的模
却自己谜中困锁

谁为我留下缱绻的天涯
信物是抹晚霞

Chorus:
思念如燕它飞舞舌尖
若是真爱配尝几分苦甜

意念婆娑时间里推磨
追随到何处才结果

燕如针线在青空缝编
几幅女红将以泪缀点

誓言斑驳情雾只是经过
风雨中且让我盈步婀娜

___

很开心再次听到陈佳明的歌曲。陈佳明因为许美静事件，沉寂了许久。如今参与年度巨作，作品高调亮相，令人刮目相看。佩服。

现代流行歌曲大多太流于表面，没有深度。《如燕》就通过歌词，编曲带出戏剧的精髓与故事的主题，不简单。没有许美静，陈佳明还是可以亮眼。

给学生实际的教育

女学生生日受辱一事，我不禁打了个冷颤。生日被整不稀奇，令我不安的是那群朋友对女学生的苦苦哀求竟听而不闻，还幸灾乐祸。在女生放弃挣扎时，低头啜泣时，朋友还警告她别哭。光读这两个句子，就足以叫人联想到绑匪虐待受害人的图景。尽管校方后来声明已辅导过这群学生，然而全程拍摄的影像会在互联网上，显然地，还是有学生轻视这个事件，继续把它当作玩笑来“分享”。

针对自校学生穿着不检点、头发染色而推行处罚。据报道了解，穿着不合格者不得入校，屡次重犯者更可面临校方的开除。数日后，Republic Poly学生在学校附近的组屋区抽烟被校方逮并罚款一事 也上报了。

对以上事项，网民观点出现两极端的反应。大致上，大人认为校方应该多管教学生，学生群（尤其是非制服学校的）则认为校方干涉太多。

我当了十多年的学生，如今在学府工作了一阵子，可以体会引发双方冲突的原由。站在教育界人士的角度，我觉得对学生实行适度的管制还是必要的。主要不是向学生示威，说“因为你是我的学生，所以我有权管教你。”学校是帮学生学习知识和培养身心发育的地方，以备他们出社会找工作时能一帆风顺。因此管教是义务，不是权利。

可惜长久以来，大专学校还是把大部分经历花在学生课业上，忽略了管教学生的言行举止。踏入很多学府，发现到处贴满贴图如“请勿抽烟”、“请勿乱丢垃圾”、以及穿着守则，但经过的学生个个视而不见，甚至就在“请勿抽烟”图旁，大吐烟雾。其实贴图只列出recommended behaviour和警告，但没有列出必须遵守规则的理由，加上许多学校也承认没有严厉实行处分， 所以贴图根本是白贴。如今，两件学府破例 对违规者进行处分，是有了杀一儆百的效果，但依网上批判学校的贴士数量，学生并没有信服。

我相信无论是策划整人生日会、抽烟或染了头发的学生都没有伤天害理的意图。如今，学校认为学生错了，在进行处罚时，就必须向学生清楚讲明错误的后果和处罚的意义。ACJC应该向学生讲明玩笑和欺辱的分别，让学生明白任何玩笑都要适可而止，要时刻体恤别人的感受。这个道理以后在交融着各文化、各宗教的商场上也要且注，以免无意冒犯同仁。

RP 和MDIS需要向学生讲明穿着举止和印象分的关联，以及言行穿着举止为什么是对自己所在场合的一种尊重。这个道理对学生将来求职和代表公司出席重要会议也都息息相关。

要学生听话并不难。这是一个me-generation的世代，让学生认清楚自己错误的后果对他们将来事业的影响，应该会比处罚更有效，更能让他们信服。