je me souviens

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:38:21 GMT

It is a pity that probably NONE of Hong Kong's FIVE news stations can reach this standard.

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:04:13 GMT

job applications suck

being rejected by the company you have wanted to work for all these years, at the first round, even though the rest of your friends got through, sucks even more

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:22:33 GMT

So. The end of the last summer holiday is finally here. Mixed feelings about it. I mean who doesn't feel shit that this would be their last summer. BUT, this would also mean that this is the last time I have to get emo about leaving home. Can't believe I have been waiting almost 10 years for this. But its still very yay nonetheless.

So, people have been asking me how was Singapore. Well, lets just things are no longer the way it used to be. I no longer have a green card to go through immigration. I am no longer spared from writing disembarkation cards. I am no longer the person who runs around the island like nobody's business. I am no longer going back for schoo. I have to tick 'Visiting Friends/Relatives' in the disembarkation card. Yishun is no longer what it used to be (and it's your fault ... Khoo Teck Puat Hospital).

Malaysia was uber fun, but it all started with the perfect storm. First, it started with the bus attendant in Johor yackering away in Malay. Then, getting driven around JB 10000 times before actually heading to the highway. The uber long wait at what was supposed to be the toilet stop, only to realise that the bus driver was already buying lunch at 1030 in the morning. Then, the major EVENT of the say. Getting stuck at Seremban Toll Plaza and having to push a bus. 小弟has not even pushed a car ever in his life, not to say a bus. And just when I wanted to call my friends in KL, the phone went FLAT. FML. As if things could not get worse, I was dropped off OUTSIDE Kuala Lumpur, and not INSIDE as previously claimed. And the driver still had the cheek to bellow out "Kuala Lumpur! Kuala Lumpur!" Now, I really understand why even Malaysians cannot tahan themselves lol. But hey, all was worth it...3 days of good chattering, good food, and much LOL-ing.

So, I am still get a loss of what to do for my last few days of freedom in Hong Kong. Going back to Tai Po on National Day, and I bet it is going to be a lot eyeball-rolling in the office at the communist propoganda. Oh well, what's new.

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:40:15 GMT

新加坡向來善於包裝,吹水天下無敵

lol how apt, how apt

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:25:06 GMT

OMG SOMEBODY KILL ME!!!!!!!

this is what studying from april does to you.

sighzzzz

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:40:43 GMT

Despite all the annoying Italian inefficieny and thoughtlessness, and the assumption they make that we must either be Japanese or Koreans, it was still bella Italia

So I'm back. Well fed, and apparently, tanned (according to others hurhur) - which is good I am literally becoming a tofu - like my faher lol. There have been agonising moments, but all those banter made it worth it. I am amazed how much 潮語 I have learnt over 12 days, which made me realise what I have lost by not being at home over the past 9 years (well I still go back over the summer, but still...) Going to Italy, has interestingly, made me more honkee. I'm just glad I have been finally able to find a group of friends whom I can have huge fun with, even when I am in Hong Kong. We are already planning on a road trip (I know its pretty useless in HK, but its still 1.5 the size of Singapore).

This makes me miss home and work now. I miss all of you in Tai Po.

EDIT: Why must we always be either Japanese or Koreans to the Italians. Are they that narrow-minded?BTW, our registration form registered us as NORTHERN IRISH, probably because thats the only word they understood on our passports. Hmm...time to plot and plant stuff!

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:30:11 GMT

離開了香港快要半年了,心里不禁想起家來,更思念的是三個月的工作經驗.

作為一名港人,以前我又是會為自己的背景而覺得慚愧.'Honkee',這的名詞我也聽過無數次,也算的是不以為了. 但是,經過三個月的洗煉,我對香港文化別有另一番體驗.過去我覺得港人對物質過於追求,但是那三個月我看到他們為了歷史,為了集體回憶,他們向強權爭取,可以說史史無前例的.現在,如果有人問我比較香港或者是新加坡,我會非常自豪地說香港.如果你兩年前問我這個問題,我連一個答案也未必可以給你.如果有人告訴香港人太執著於物質,我就說放長雙眼看吧.

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:32:26 GMT

in 1 year and 5 months....

20 年一遇　月亮笑哈哈

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:55:04 GMT

近來叫人苦惱的事太多了，無語問蒼天，祂卻在黑夜的暗角展笑。中國大陸、澳洲、泰國、台灣以至香港，整個東半球，這夜都笑了。差不多 20 年一遇的天文現象，在百年一遇的全球經濟蕭條中出現。錯過了，不用愁，笑臉在 2036 年還會展現。
彎彎的月兒上，左邊是金星，右邊是木星，恰恰拼湊成一張可愛的笑臉。讀者 Getting Lau 在元朗上空清楚看見那笑靨迎人的黑夜，他和東半球數以十億人，在香港時間昨晚 8 至 11 時左右，都有緣看見這張笑臉。

香港天文學會會長梁淦章解釋，這並非特殊天文現象，只是兩顆行星這段時間與月球接近，又剛好構成狀如雙星報喜的有趣圖案。在香港，由於光害嚴重，市區肉眼只能看見較亮的行星，因此反而更能清晰看見笑臉。由於月球每天移動角度變化較大，今晚已很難看見這張笑臉。
1998 年 4 月 23 日，地球上空曾經出現過一張愁眉苦臉，當時的彎月是向下墜的，當年的亞洲金融風暴還沒有完結。澳洲悉尼氣象廳觀星學家 Nick Lomb 說，錯過了昨晚，就要待至 2036 年 7 月 21 日，笑臉才會復現。
~~

不幸的是,這現象到了歐洲,笑臉竟然變成愁臉 ):

Thoughts as 20 pass

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:04:42 GMT

Isn't it beautiful? A television station in a language that less than 100,000 people in the country speak, but its roots are so implanted in it. Even though Scottish independence leaders have long abandoned using Scots Gaelic as a rallying point, it's always nice to see how there are still people with a keen interest to revive their own culture, even when so many people have written it off. It is something which I wish I could do.

20 is a time when many decisions are made. One may have many wishes, but sometimes I wish these things do not come true, because with wishes comes choices. I have never been good in making choices, but hopefully sooner or later, a path would be lit for me.

I have had to confront many questions over the past few months: friends, family, identity, passion, future and past. I really wish I know what I was, what I am and what I will be. At present, there seems a way where I can do all this, and it lets me earn a bit too. However, there are questions on sustainability and safety, questions not necessarily posed by me, in a actual fact, never posed by me, but I shall see.

In less than a month, I would be setting off on my own, pursuing things which I truly want, looking at things which my eye truly thirsts for. My tastes will no longer be dictated by others. My path will no longer be plotted by others. My schedule will no longer be drawn up by others.

Myself, I shall be.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:39:58 GMT

Trust. Its the word that the world relies upon. Without trust, nothing can be done. I sometimes believe that I'm too trusting, perhaps even gullible, but how does it form, and why does it form. The answers always seem too far for a proper glimpse.

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Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:05:08 GMT

Thats like Canada going on holiday

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:11:06 GMT

It comes one every four years. No, not the olympics,not the World Cup. It's the time when people (or some people) take a look back, inspect, reevaluate and ponder on their values, chops a tick on a person's list, and drop an A3 size paper into a blue box, or for a privileged few, the red box.

And my short stint back in this part of the world is almost wrapping up to a close. I have always loved this city, for the little surprises waiting to be discovered, like the little freebies you get in Christmas crackers, but there is always this sense of loneliness when many people that matter are somewhere else, doing something else. The cosy cubicles somehow make storm-tracking or poll-tracking much more bearable, and those laughters, screams, conversations make the 11-hour day more worth it. It's always nice when somebody turns to you looking for a little comfort, it's an assignment I would gladly take up.

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:07:14 GMT

Act Canadian

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:38:54 GMT

I guess it's what I want always, and I see myself going in as my first job. But parents have dropped hints, sometimes bomb shells, and it's always sad to think that the starting pay isn't even enough to get a Bird Nest model. I am still waiting for that ray of light taht would lead me to a route which I could confidently walk along.

Sigh....I miss everyone: you, you, you and YOU.

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:34:13 GMT

I feel I'm only left with half of myself.

And the campaign hasn't even started properly yet.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:23:38 GMT

It's the small little things that you learn about your family that brings a smile to your face.

Or should I say, a very big thing.

I still cannot believe that neither my mum nor any of my uncles and aunties knew who their grandfather was.

At least, I know now.

And come Sunday, I'll be leaving all this behind. Who knows how long would I take to return. All I know is, I want to keep as much of it, even if its to the very last minute, even if its to the second before I step into the other reality of my life.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:14:35 GMT

It is a weird feeling. Of course I am more than happy to go back to Singapore and see all of you. Yet, I have to start work as soon as I get back from Singapore, and due to my work schedules, it rules out any nuahing at home. It is probably one of the very few moments so far where I have completely nothing to do, which feels weird, but also feels good. The weather is horrible, so even though I would like to make all those little expeditions around our very little land. Nothing much can be done.

On the brighter side, pending on seat availability, I have been able to list which flights I'm going on.

>>>XB68203 CX735 HKG/SIN 1415/1800
>>>XB68203 CX734 SIN/HKG 1605/2000

So heres to a good 3 weeks

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:17:02 GMT

Wales was just wonderful. Every single thing there was bilingual, and C and I had hilarious moments trying to read Welsh. Everything was green in colour, which was beautiful. On my train ride from Llandudno, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to get a Giggs postcard for G (sorry!) even though i still do not agree with her. Did my pilgrimage to Cardiff Bay, even though we did not go into the Senedd - which was rather diappointing. Llandudno was just as I imagined a British seaside resort town should be - even though the average age of the people there must have been at least 55 yo.

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:02:41 GMT

Things that Warwick PPE students say before a shitty Philo paper
Suggestions for essay endings:
- Descartes says the world does not necessary exist, hence I shall not continue from here
- There is no world why should I be bothered
- Descartes is on crack
- Descartes and I are crack buddies
- You might be imagining that the essay questions exist, but I only see a blot of black dots on the papers, hence the essay questions are non-existant and non-incorrigible.
- You might sense that I'm writing a 2:2 essay, buts its actually a first essay (the malicious demon is playing tricks with you!)
- You are not conceiving clearly and distinctly, hence you shouldnt, clearly and distinctly, be marking this essay
- If we do ever know what life is, YOU (the marker) would be out of a job.

Other random stuff:
- The only reason we are here is we are Oxbridge rejects (outburst of laugher)
- The length of the exam period determines how good a degree is, hence we are the best and politics is the worst.
- Stop fucking complaining that you have long exams and crappy timetables: we have 8 exams over 3 bloody weeks.
- The quality of a degree depends on how late the paper ends: hence Film Studies is the best (cos they revise by watching DVDs), we are the second, and Biomedical Science is the rock bottom.

The things Philosophy do to you, sigh.

German Humour

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:59:52 GMT

CO2 is now officially know as the KlimaKiller. Jokes from der Deutsche Reich just kill me.

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:43:37 GMT

I have just written the largest amount of crap in my life. It is times like these when you miss writing Chinese.

2 more to go, 6 more to London, 8 more to Transbritannia train trips, and 17 more to HEATHROW!

Patience, oh, grant me patience!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:38:33 GMT

OK I should really be studying now. But I've just finished Politics and taking a breather before I take a dive int o Economics. Anyway, I never seem to be able focus on studying as thoughts keep on floating into my mind, such as:

1. What to cook for the rest NEXT YEAR
2. Upcoming birthday celebrations
3. WALES
4. and last but definitely not least, TRAINS

Well, of course it was not all happy thoughts, because there are always things like:
5. Career
6. Missing home
7. Case Endings
8. and of course the thought of, omgwtf im going to effing fail this exam

OK. 2 more weeks and Wales beckons. Gwlad, Glwad, Pleidiol wyf im Gwlad!

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:51:55 GMT

15 days to freedom. 27 days more to go.

Too many things are happening, I have found it quite difficult to catch up with everything. I shall struggle and maintain nevertheless. Mein Kampf!

Mein Deutsch ist wirklich schrecklich. Die letzte Prufung habe ich nur siebenundfunfzig Punkte. So wahr mir Gott helfe!

Things have been very odd of late. I am always feeling hungry, despite it only being one or two hours after my meal, but I still feel full easily.

Tue, 13 May 2008 18:35:29 GMT

蔡玉萍﹕愛國與民族主義一線之差

2008年5月13日

【明報專訊】海外中國留學生最近因奧運而激起的熱情和反CNN、反家樂福、反對藏獨行動，是愛國行為還是民族主義的體現？中國官方固然將之定性為愛國行為，但愛國與民族主義只是一線之差。

愛國與否固然值得討論。因為我們要問愛的對象是什麼，是中國政府？是中國共產黨？是中國文化？還是在同一片土地上生活的社群？我們是否只愛有相同文化的漢人，還是亦愛其他少數族裔，例如西藏人？我們亦要問，用怎樣的方式去愛？支持，是否就一定是愛國的體現；批評，是否就一定是不愛國？六四天安門的學生對中國政府大力批評，他們比起今天高舉五星紅旗，甚至以暴力「保護聖火」，支持中國奧運的海外留學生，誰更愛國？五四運動時對中國封建父權文化大力鞭撻的知識分子比起今天互聯網上和官場上聲聲為中國五千年文化感到驕傲的人，誰又更愛國？以《醜陋中國人》一書批評國人陋習的已故作家柏楊是否就不愛國？

民族主義比愛國更複雜

民族主義比愛國更複雜。民族主義，根據Ernest Gellner(1997)是「以文化大同為社群組織根基的政治原則」(Nationalism is a political principle which maintains that similarity of culture is the basic social bond)。這裏牽涉的是一個當代人類社會的重要組織——國家作為一個壟斷政治和軍事權力的實體，和她相關的主權和疆界問題，極端民族主義者相信只有與其具有同一文化承傳的人才有合法性(legitimacy)成為其國家(nation-state)的成員，並且每一個國家公民都必須具有同一文化承傳。民族主義者不但為國家的疆界劃上界線；他們亦堅持只有具有同一文化承傳的人才可成為他們國家的合法領導人。

民族主義是排他性的，雖然其關注點是國民和國家領導者的文化同質性(homogeneity)，但因現代社會很少國家只包含同一文化承傳的國民，因此民族主義者的議題就變成要將文化異己從國家疆界和權力中排出，否定外人過問國家的統治。雖然始於對自身文化的擁抱和認同，但民族主義的核心議題是經濟資源和政治權力分配。

民族主義是特定政治和社會制度的產品。歐洲在19世紀起開始飽受民族主義的困擾，德意志的極端民族主義情緒最終導致對猶太人的種族清洗(ethnic cleansing)。民族主義情緒很多時是由於不同文化社群間的經濟資源和政治權力分配不均所致，例如在一個國家人數較少的少數族群卻比主要民族控制更多的經濟資源和政治權力(我想漢人在西藏的經濟和政治壟斷是激發藏獨支持者的民族主義情緒的原因之一)。在其他時候，民族主義是受外國壓力所激發，19世紀的中國民族主義情緒就是對西方帝國和殖民主義的一種反抗。今天中國憤青的民族主義情緒是因為他們認為西方傳媒和政府對中國存在偏見和偏袒西藏所引起。

民族主義情緒一旦被點燃後果堪虞

統治者可能視民族主義情緒為一團結人民和動員群眾的上佳工具，但雖知民族主義的核心理念──相同文化承傳是統治合法性的唯一原則，在現代文化多元的社會是不能實踐的。要滿足這個原則，就需要是一個民族，一個國家(one nation, one state)。人類歷史告訴我們，民族主義情緒一旦被點燃，後果堪虞。如果受西方傳媒和政府而激起的中國民族主義情緒把矛頭指向中國境內的藏人和其他少數族裔(包括外籍人士)，我相信這也是中國政府和社會所不願見到的。

民族主義是感性、激情和浪漫的，是建基於對特定社區和文化的認同上的。遺憾的是，在社區文化的認同過程中，在尋根，在界定「我們」是誰的同時，我們亦同時在界定「他者」和排斥被界定為「他者」的人。因此，民族主義和在二次世界大戰後，國際社會所強調的理性、平等和包容等普世人道價值有明顯張力，甚至是相違背的。在一個民族主義的視角下，一個公民的經濟、政治和社會權利取決於其文化根源(cultural roots)和對領導者所屬高等文化(high culture)的掌握。沒有這文化根源的人，如選擇留下就只有兩條命運──被同化或是成為次等公民被壓迫。

在今日中國正需要與世界接軌的同時，在香港這樣一個多種族多文化的大城市，過分強調民族認同是否一件好事？我們的下一代需要的是對自己文化的批判認識和了解，還是對其毫無保留的擁抱？他們需要學的是支持中國的統治者，還是對平等、自由、包容、人權等普世價值的認識和反省？學校應教導學生支持奧運，還是應和他們討論奧運背後的意義？老師應向學生灌輸「西藏是中國不可分割的一部分」，還是應與學生討論西藏所牽涉的複雜文化、經濟、政治和種族問題？希望現在香港的公民教育還不只是民族教育。

作者是中文大學社會學系助理教授

je me souviens

20 年 一 遇 月 亮 笑 哈 哈

Thoughts as 20 pass

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German Humour

20 年一遇　月亮笑哈哈