Yesterday at tuts.
I used the word red blood cells. My lecturer told me that I should be using the proper term for RBCs.
I didn't know RBCs is not a proper term. Frog in my throat is unacceptable but RBCs is perfectly fine. How many laymen knew erythrocytes anyway? Jargons.
Today at lecture.
My lecturer revealed that she dislike the idea of using cough suppressant immediately whenever there is a cough. Cough is a protective mechanism helps to clear the breathing passages from irritants and foreign particles she said. It is a good thing. Just like my sneezing @ allergic rhinitis back in Malaysia, it is a protective mechanism and I am proud because I taken no measure to try and get rid of them.
I think I like my lecturer a little more now.
More often than not I have weird thoughts of my own. We should not turn to medicine every chance we have is one of them. Personally, I resist any use of medication and my rationale is - the usage of medication impairs your body own healing processes.
Once you are on it, you are going to rely on the medication each time. No supplements, no medication and I do not get the usual cold or cough often. The last time I had a cough and fever was three years ago. My theory serves me well. I only sneeze every now and then, and sneezing is good.
I too believe that the usage antibiotic does more harm than good because it kills the good bacteria along with the bad ones and make you more susceptible to minor illnesses in future; and I am studying to be a pharmacist, how irony.
Showing posts with label MY PHILOSOPHY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MY PHILOSOPHY. Show all posts
POLITICS BACK IN MALAYSIA
I could barely hold myself not to blog about politics this time. Many are overly excited with the revelation of a mysterious letter related to Teoh Beng Hock's death.
Blogger Jebat said in his blog, what most people fail to realize is that
"The existence of this letter so far had only revealed to us that:
Blogger Jebat said in his blog, what most people fail to realize is that
"The existence of this letter so far had only revealed to us that:
1) There are good officers with clear conscience in the MACC – the MACC is not an institution of pure evil
2) Teoh Beng Hock’s death could not be certain by this letter
The letter still could not determine how did Teoh Beng Hock die, when did he die, and why did he or other people want him to die."
The most important bit of the puzzle is still missing in the big picture.
Jebat added,
Anyway, the writers of the letter knew that Hishamuddin had gone back from the office that morning. They actually saw him going back home although he did not do the obligatory punch-out. It is quite peculiar for them to say that. Because, this immediately absolves Hishamuddin from ever been at the point of TBH’s death because according to experts, TBH time of death is from 8am to 9.30am.
Hmmm.. as we all know, one of the last person to see Teoh Beng Hock was Tan Boon Hwa and this was admitted by the latter who made the declaration that around 6am to 6.30am, he saw Teoh Beng Hock looking ‘tired and quiet’ in the pantry.
What do you think? Has the letter, purportedly written by a group of MACC officers, had somehow told us that Hishamuddin could be free of any accusation that he murdered Teoh Beng Hock? Many are using this letter to further strengthen their claims that MACC killed a member of the opposition.
Full article refer to Letter from good MACC officers accusing the bad MACC officer.
PART 2,
Many would probably thought the famous blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin is probably taking the same side as the Pakatan government but the truth is, he is neither with the Barisan nor Pakatan. He is with the truth instead of blindly following a politician party.
I still remember one of my friends asked me one day, do I support or against the government?
To me, it doesn't matter who they are as long as they are working for the rakyat. Politicians are all the same; they stay in power for too long and they start to get corrupted. It is an unwritten rule.
This is why I don't get it when so many out there are worshiping Anwar. He might be an icon down the history but he stays just there, nothing more.
Chinese has a popular saying; it doesn't matter if a cat is white or black as long as it catches mice. So, the question is, why are we picking the cat instead of someone who is capable of getting those job done?
RPK has an interesting analogy,
"Prostitutes are better creatures than politicians. With prostitutes, you pay them money and you get to screw them. With politicians, you pay them money and they screw you. Prostitutes promise you a good time and deliver. Politicians never deliver on their promises."
I salute PRK for his insight.
"It is time we took back the country from the politicians. Politicians, both sides of the political divide, are just not delivering. They are screwing us good and proper. Politicians just can’t be trusted. If Barisan Nasional kicks Pakatan Rakyat out come next general election it is not because Barisan is strong, it is because Pakatan is weak."
Remember, it is not the cat but the one capable of getting the job done is always my pick at the end of the day.
Two party systems is a good thing to begin with because it is a healthy system. It ensures both parties would watch their steps closely and therefore, they wouldn't dare to think of personal benefit.
One of my teachers believes that politician is a fast and easy way to get rich in Malaysia.
Read last few paragraphs of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia written by RPK.
THE ART OF PERSUASION
What do you do when you are trying to convince/persuade someone of something? I came out with my own art of convincing people few days ago.
Method one,
You start working on common agreement and then proceed to brainwash someone with your idea.
Example,
Start with 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 1 = 3, 5 – 4 = 1 etc and you proceed to brainwash him/her with 3 + 1 = 5, 3 + 3 = 5 etc. When someone starts to show some resistance towards your idea, you quickly go back to 1 + 1 = 2 and 2 + 1 = 3; slowly you try to erode his stand and belief on the matter.
Theoretically it should work and of course I didn’t design a test to prove my hypothesis.
Method two,
You start with saying something extraordinary and prove to him/her you do know more about the subject. It need not to be that case. You don’t have to know more but just the impression that you do know more will do. Then, you try to send his/her mind into a blank state after projecting the idol image.
Sometimes when you are extremely shock or amaze at something and your mind just went into a blank state, the part where your jaw drop. Remember those moments where your mind is blank in exam hall?
Utilize that moment and try to sell your idea. You will encounter little to no resistance. Some even proposed that you can manipulate that to give some commands and people will blindly follows it.
I have no specific example how to send someone’s mind into blank state but normally an unexpected incident or response should be able to do the job.
One particular book I read years ago said there are only three things in art of selling your ideas – heaven, hell and bridge.
Heaven refers to an ideal state or the possibility of your idea.
Hell refers to the current state one is in now.
Bridge is the idea you are trying to sell here.
If you want to lose weight (heaven), (obviously you are fat – hell) then you must use my product or take my advice (bridge).
Method one,
You start working on common agreement and then proceed to brainwash someone with your idea.
Example,
Start with 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 1 = 3, 5 – 4 = 1 etc and you proceed to brainwash him/her with 3 + 1 = 5, 3 + 3 = 5 etc. When someone starts to show some resistance towards your idea, you quickly go back to 1 + 1 = 2 and 2 + 1 = 3; slowly you try to erode his stand and belief on the matter.
Theoretically it should work and of course I didn’t design a test to prove my hypothesis.
Method two,
You start with saying something extraordinary and prove to him/her you do know more about the subject. It need not to be that case. You don’t have to know more but just the impression that you do know more will do. Then, you try to send his/her mind into a blank state after projecting the idol image.
Sometimes when you are extremely shock or amaze at something and your mind just went into a blank state, the part where your jaw drop. Remember those moments where your mind is blank in exam hall?
Utilize that moment and try to sell your idea. You will encounter little to no resistance. Some even proposed that you can manipulate that to give some commands and people will blindly follows it.
I have no specific example how to send someone’s mind into blank state but normally an unexpected incident or response should be able to do the job.
One particular book I read years ago said there are only three things in art of selling your ideas – heaven, hell and bridge.
Heaven refers to an ideal state or the possibility of your idea.
Hell refers to the current state one is in now.
Bridge is the idea you are trying to sell here.
If you want to lose weight (heaven), (obviously you are fat – hell) then you must use my product or take my advice (bridge).
PHARMACIES IN MALAYSIA
Everyone want a piece of pharmacy now. Pharmacy courses back in Malaysia have been blooming like crazy after mid 2008. A list of private institutions offering pharmacy course would illustrate my point.
1. International Medical University - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
2. International Medical University - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), credit transfer 2 years to University of Otage, New Zealand.
3. International Medical University - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
4. International Medical University - Master of Pharmacy, 2.5 years local + 1 year at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
5. UCSI - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
6. AIMST - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
7. University of Nottingham - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at
University of Nottingham, UK.
8. Segi College - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at University of
Sunderland, UK.
9. Monash University - Bachelor of Pharmacy, 4 years local.
10. Island College of Technology -Ijazah Sarjana Muda Farmasi (kerjasama USM) 4 years local.
11. Masterskill College - Bachelor of Pharmacy, 4+0 with La Trobe University, Australia.
12. Masterskill College - Diploma in Pharmacy, 3 years local.
13. CUCMS, Cyberjaya - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
14. CUCMS, Cyberjaya - Diploma in Pharmacy, 2.5 years local.
15. HELP University College - Ijazah Sarjana Muda Farmasi (kerjasama USM) , 4 years local.
16. Taylor’s University College - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at Cardiff University. Soon.
Six new pharmacy programs in just a year, I would be happy to be a high school leaver and a applicant now. I guess none of you get my point yet. This phenomenon would probably affect the quality of pharmacy education one going to receive in Malaysia, forget about more pharmacy schools indirectly would promote more competition among schools and thus, pharmacy schools will have to raise the quality of education they are going to provide, to buck up. That is going to happen only in an ideal world, not in the Boleh-land.
The increased in number of pharmacy schools would serve as a means for MORE students to take up pharmacy course, and it might not be a good thing to begin with. Pharmacy courses at private institutions are not cheap and as a result, not many parents could afford the fees without taking up government education loan, the PTPTN. The cheapest pharmacy course, add up to a total of at least RM 100,000 would burn a hole in many parents' pocket, and that is for total fees only, add in the miscellaneous expenses and that number is not a small amount for majority of Malaysians so to speak.
I still remembered the look my friends gave me when they realized I didn’t apply for the PTPTN because my parents could actually afford the fees during my one semester in UCSI.
There are people out there who can't afford it even after taking up the RM 80,000 loan.
1. International Medical University - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
2. International Medical University - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), credit transfer 2 years to University of Otage, New Zealand.
3. International Medical University - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
4. International Medical University - Master of Pharmacy, 2.5 years local + 1 year at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
5. UCSI - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
6. AIMST - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
7. University of Nottingham - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at
University of Nottingham, UK.
8. Segi College - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at University of
Sunderland, UK.
9. Monash University - Bachelor of Pharmacy, 4 years local.
10. Island College of Technology -Ijazah Sarjana Muda Farmasi (kerjasama USM) 4 years local.
11. Masterskill College - Bachelor of Pharmacy, 4+0 with La Trobe University, Australia.
12. Masterskill College - Diploma in Pharmacy, 3 years local.
13. CUCMS, Cyberjaya - Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons), 4 years local.
14. CUCMS, Cyberjaya - Diploma in Pharmacy, 2.5 years local.
15. HELP University College - Ijazah Sarjana Muda Farmasi (kerjasama USM) , 4 years local.
16. Taylor’s University College - Master of Pharmacy, 2 years local + 2 years at Cardiff University. Soon.
Six new pharmacy programs in just a year, I would be happy to be a high school leaver and a applicant now. I guess none of you get my point yet. This phenomenon would probably affect the quality of pharmacy education one going to receive in Malaysia, forget about more pharmacy schools indirectly would promote more competition among schools and thus, pharmacy schools will have to raise the quality of education they are going to provide, to buck up. That is going to happen only in an ideal world, not in the Boleh-land.
The increased in number of pharmacy schools would serve as a means for MORE students to take up pharmacy course, and it might not be a good thing to begin with. Pharmacy courses at private institutions are not cheap and as a result, not many parents could afford the fees without taking up government education loan, the PTPTN. The cheapest pharmacy course, add up to a total of at least RM 100,000 would burn a hole in many parents' pocket, and that is for total fees only, add in the miscellaneous expenses and that number is not a small amount for majority of Malaysians so to speak.
I still remembered the look my friends gave me when they realized I didn’t apply for the PTPTN because my parents could actually afford the fees during my one semester in UCSI.
There are people out there who can't afford it even after taking up the RM 80,000 loan.
If an average of 800 students are applying to get in any pharmacy course each year but only 200 chosen one are taken in because they are the only one who met the minimum requirement; before mid 2008, those 200 students will have to compete among each other to get in the pharmacy course at the institution they want, this would ensure the fittest [smartest or the one with the best result or the one with the money] would be able to pursue the course, promoting a healthy competition while others would have to live with the fact that they could not get in pharmacy. They have to look elsewhere, they have to forget their dreams, they have to settle for less, they are forced to do so.
Post mid-2008, basically everyone with money would be able to study pharmacy as long as you have a combination of not-too-bad results. Before mid-2008, most private institutions are facing problem filling up the entire quota allocated for pharmacy course. They will have more difficulties filling them up in future. If an instituition is allowed to take in 100 students for each intake and they managed to fill in 70 places, the numbers will drop further with the fierce competition among new schools of pharmacy.
This is happening in UCSI for years or at least for two most recent years (at the time this is posted). This however, is not that bad part because those 70 students taken in would be still able to cover the operation cost of the pharmacy course and thus the institution would still survive,
What if the total student admitted become less than 50? How is that possible, you asked. Because we have more pharmacy courses, more choices and a larger total quota to accommodate a bigger number of students, the 200 students in the earlier scenario can now pick the school they wanted to attend instead of the school choosing the students, now the schools are the beggers. If 200 students are sufficient to sustain only five reputable schools out there, if the number of institutions are increased to seven, we would only have around 30 students each institution. What is going to happen next?
How do they, the institutions who provide you with education in exchange for your money could still survive? They can, by lowering the minimum requirement to increase the amount of students "qualified" to take up pharmacy. This hopefully would help to maintain their viable business model.
If they are not going to do so and make the students pass, do you think parents would continue to support their children taking up pharmacy at that institution? Of course, they are going after QUALITY of education especially when it is their children we are talking about here as you might have in mind. Well, parents always wanted the best for their children until you are one for yourself and it is your children.
Most parents would end up transferring their children to another school of pharmacy, the one many students are able to graduate or in other words not-so-tough pharmacy course. Do you agree with me?
I have not even a slight doubt about my parents choice if one day they are forced to make the difficult decision and most of all, my own decision. By hook or by crook, I want or rather I need a pharmacy degree regardless of the quality, giving up is announcing to the world that pharmacy has defeated me and that I am not one of the creme de la creme. I am not going to let that happen.
In other words, quality would have to give way eventually. If you think that Malaysia education [solely pharmacy degree in this case] is inferior compared to a prestigious degree done elsewhere in a developed country, it would be worse in the future.
Young, a student taking medicine in UWA agrees with me, Not Another One. - here.
The only good thing I can think of about producing so many future-to-be pharmacists would probably help to feed the momentum pushing for the separation of dispensing and prescribing. What about the doctors and the cookies jar?
The doctors would stand firm on their stance of Malaysia is never (going to be) ready for that to be implemented and the pharmacists will refute that that is the way it should be (long time ago).
The crucial question is - do you still think this is a good thing right now?
GOD
Let’s start writing before I forget.
First of all, posting this for someone to read.
Romans 8:18-21
18.I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19.The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20.For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21.that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
My thoughts: I believe even before your eternal life, you will enjoy the fruit of what you are sowing right now. Every incident in life would make us grow in a certain way.
Matthew 19
The Rich Young Man
16.Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17."Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18."Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"
My thought: I kind of ponder upon the similarity of Christianity and Buddhism at that time. If we look at Exodus 20,
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
My thoughts: And so now I know why Christians go to church on Saturday or Sunday.
So now we shall look at the eight percepts of Buddhism. The main difference of percepts and commandments is that they are to be taken as recommendations. This means the individual is encouraged to use his/her own intelligence to apply these rules in the best possible way. Second, it is the spirit of the precepts -not the text- that counts, hence, the guidelines for ethical conduct must be seen in the larger context of the Eightfold Path.
The first five precepts are:
Prevent taking life of beings. Every living being has a right to life and it should be honoured by one and all.
Prevent taking things not given. One should neither steel nor accept things meant for someone else.
Prevent sensual misconduct. One should not only refrain from sexual misconduct but also avoid excessive sensual pleasure of any kind (like gluttony).
Prevent making false statements. This not only includes lying but also slander and speech that might cause harm to others.
Prevent taking substances that cause intoxication. This precept is important in the sense that it could be the cause of other four precepts being broken.
The Theravada Buddhists however also observe three more precepts on special holy occasions.
Prevent taking food at unsuitable time – from noon one day to sunrise next day
Prevent any form of entertainment as well as items used to beautify one.
Prevent the use of high, luxurious beds.
Taken from here and online bible sources.
Part 3,
Two weeks ago someone said,
Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it. To help those drug addicts the best you could, it is better if you have experienced it before.
[My thoughts: you will be in a better position to help people because you understand them, so it is true]
But I am here to tell you that that is a lie. It is not true. Why? Because it would immediately disqualified Jesus from helping people.
[My thoughts: These make sense as well. I have never thought of it that way.]
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
Jesus Christ was the visible image of the invisible God. Christ said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:10)
[My thoughts: Why are we comparing ourselves to someone that is perfect. Although we are created in the image of God, we are not perfect because we sin and sinned. ]
I guess I would stick to “Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it.” part for now.
First of all, posting this for someone to read.
Romans 8:18-21
18.I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19.The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20.For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21.that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
My thoughts: I believe even before your eternal life, you will enjoy the fruit of what you are sowing right now. Every incident in life would make us grow in a certain way.
Matthew 19
The Rich Young Man
16.Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17."Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18."Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"
My thought: I kind of ponder upon the similarity of Christianity and Buddhism at that time. If we look at Exodus 20,
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
My thoughts: And so now I know why Christians go to church on Saturday or Sunday.
So now we shall look at the eight percepts of Buddhism. The main difference of percepts and commandments is that they are to be taken as recommendations. This means the individual is encouraged to use his/her own intelligence to apply these rules in the best possible way. Second, it is the spirit of the precepts -not the text- that counts, hence, the guidelines for ethical conduct must be seen in the larger context of the Eightfold Path.
The first five precepts are:
Prevent taking life of beings. Every living being has a right to life and it should be honoured by one and all.
Prevent taking things not given. One should neither steel nor accept things meant for someone else.
Prevent sensual misconduct. One should not only refrain from sexual misconduct but also avoid excessive sensual pleasure of any kind (like gluttony).
Prevent making false statements. This not only includes lying but also slander and speech that might cause harm to others.
Prevent taking substances that cause intoxication. This precept is important in the sense that it could be the cause of other four precepts being broken.
The Theravada Buddhists however also observe three more precepts on special holy occasions.
Prevent taking food at unsuitable time – from noon one day to sunrise next day
Prevent any form of entertainment as well as items used to beautify one.
Prevent the use of high, luxurious beds.
Taken from here and online bible sources.
Part 3,
Two weeks ago someone said,
Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it. To help those drug addicts the best you could, it is better if you have experienced it before.
[My thoughts: you will be in a better position to help people because you understand them, so it is true]
But I am here to tell you that that is a lie. It is not true. Why? Because it would immediately disqualified Jesus from helping people.
[My thoughts: These make sense as well. I have never thought of it that way.]
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
Jesus Christ was the visible image of the invisible God. Christ said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:10)
[My thoughts: Why are we comparing ourselves to someone that is perfect. Although we are created in the image of God, we are not perfect because we sin and sinned. ]
I guess I would stick to “Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it.” part for now.
WEIRD THING ABOUT STUDY HABIT
If there is one person who likes to observe how people study, it would definitely be me. It is weird and fascinating to observe how others take notes, understand and memorize certain material.
Weird case one,
I have seen people coming in the lecture hall without lecture notes but they will take out their book and start making notes during the lecture. I am not sure whether it is the same girl but I have seen that at least twice in different lecture. She is jotting down the main point of the slides which is available to everyone if you could just go and download it.
One of my teacher said these,
“When I talk, you listen; I will give you time to copy later.”
“If you are busy copying, you wouldn’t pay attention to what I am telling.”
The concept behind it is simple; you concentrate and jot down only extra points not available in the slides instead of racing against time to copy the exact sentence and fact. Worst of all, you are not paying attention to all those important information. Your aim is to copy before the slide changes.
It only has one advantage if you are making your own notes during lecture – it forces you to do active listening because you need to decide which are the important points but given that, I would rather just print those slides. You can do better active listening by concentrating and trying to make sense of what the lecturer wants if you have the notes in front of you.
Few weeks ago, one of my friends asked me a simple Q. Why is that [almost] everyone is more interested with the “fish” rather than how to catch the “fish” themselves. In simpler words, he is telling me that most people borrowed and copied top student’s notes, asking them what is coming out in exams rather than learning how to make their notes and prepare for exams in their own way.
Weird case two,
Just like pharmaceutics exams last semester, I thought everyone would pass the final exam because we are told exactly which topic is coming out in exams. Seriously, never in my whole life as a student I have been given such detailed breakdown of Qs including those of multiple choices and short answer Q before exam.
For essay Q, we are given the following
Four questions worth 8 marks each (32 marks in total)
Q1: Relates to lectures on Solubility & Distribution
Q2: Relates to lecture on Colouring & Flavouring lectures
Q3: Relates to lectures on Filtration & Clarification
Q4: Relates to X’s lectures (touches on all topics)
Sure, the main intention of lecturers telling us those is to make sure we study each and every topic covered during the semester because every topic is coming out.
To me, that information is to be abused if you are running out of time to cover each and every topic.
I would say I didn’t even skim through Toxicology & Posology lectures notes, not even once after that particular lecture because I ran out of time and I am going to get only seven marks if I managed to answer each and every Q correctly. If I were to do that to Colouring & Flavouring topic, immediately I lose 8 marks just for that long essay Q and 5 marks elsewhere.
Three lectures given by Dr. Benson are the most valuable because the total marks for her topics are more than 40. That is nearly half of the exam paper. Nevertheless, I don’t know any other person abuse that piece of information like I do.
Sure, at the end of the day, someone would argue that string of As doesn’t matter because knowledge is what that counts. It is true but most of the people who said that are trying to justify the fact that they couldn’t score in exams.
Exams are the most common method of evaluating and applying your knowledge. If not, why are we still having exams all over the world?
Amount of knowledge is important after you completed your degree. When you are still trying to get a degree, exams and As are what that counts. When society still place so much emphasize on academic excellence, go with the system and beat the system. There is no point trying to fight it.
Weirder situation I have seen to be exposed later. At the end of the day, it depends on how you study. Sure, there is no best way to study but definitely there are better ways to be more efficient.
Weird case one,
I have seen people coming in the lecture hall without lecture notes but they will take out their book and start making notes during the lecture. I am not sure whether it is the same girl but I have seen that at least twice in different lecture. She is jotting down the main point of the slides which is available to everyone if you could just go and download it.
One of my teacher said these,
“When I talk, you listen; I will give you time to copy later.”
“If you are busy copying, you wouldn’t pay attention to what I am telling.”
The concept behind it is simple; you concentrate and jot down only extra points not available in the slides instead of racing against time to copy the exact sentence and fact. Worst of all, you are not paying attention to all those important information. Your aim is to copy before the slide changes.
It only has one advantage if you are making your own notes during lecture – it forces you to do active listening because you need to decide which are the important points but given that, I would rather just print those slides. You can do better active listening by concentrating and trying to make sense of what the lecturer wants if you have the notes in front of you.
Few weeks ago, one of my friends asked me a simple Q. Why is that [almost] everyone is more interested with the “fish” rather than how to catch the “fish” themselves. In simpler words, he is telling me that most people borrowed and copied top student’s notes, asking them what is coming out in exams rather than learning how to make their notes and prepare for exams in their own way.
Weird case two,
Just like pharmaceutics exams last semester, I thought everyone would pass the final exam because we are told exactly which topic is coming out in exams. Seriously, never in my whole life as a student I have been given such detailed breakdown of Qs including those of multiple choices and short answer Q before exam.
For essay Q, we are given the following
Four questions worth 8 marks each (32 marks in total)
Q1: Relates to lectures on Solubility & Distribution
Q2: Relates to lecture on Colouring & Flavouring lectures
Q3: Relates to lectures on Filtration & Clarification
Q4: Relates to X’s lectures (touches on all topics)
Sure, the main intention of lecturers telling us those is to make sure we study each and every topic covered during the semester because every topic is coming out.
To me, that information is to be abused if you are running out of time to cover each and every topic.
I would say I didn’t even skim through Toxicology & Posology lectures notes, not even once after that particular lecture because I ran out of time and I am going to get only seven marks if I managed to answer each and every Q correctly. If I were to do that to Colouring & Flavouring topic, immediately I lose 8 marks just for that long essay Q and 5 marks elsewhere.
Three lectures given by Dr. Benson are the most valuable because the total marks for her topics are more than 40. That is nearly half of the exam paper. Nevertheless, I don’t know any other person abuse that piece of information like I do.
Sure, at the end of the day, someone would argue that string of As doesn’t matter because knowledge is what that counts. It is true but most of the people who said that are trying to justify the fact that they couldn’t score in exams.
Exams are the most common method of evaluating and applying your knowledge. If not, why are we still having exams all over the world?
Amount of knowledge is important after you completed your degree. When you are still trying to get a degree, exams and As are what that counts. When society still place so much emphasize on academic excellence, go with the system and beat the system. There is no point trying to fight it.
Weirder situation I have seen to be exposed later. At the end of the day, it depends on how you study. Sure, there is no best way to study but definitely there are better ways to be more efficient.
LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP
If you have to choose between getting involved in a long distance relationship or a shot at your field of interest and future that you always wanted, what is your pick? You are only allowed to have one.
I have been dispensing advice to A about her pathways after her STPM. To me, the only thing stopping her from going with her inner voice is her long distance relationship, basically stuck with a boy. Indeed, having a serious relationship with someone who is constantly at the other corner of the earth could be tough. No one said it is easy, but no one said it is going to be that hard either.
She seems to be so interested with how many ex(s) I ever had because I certainly do have a lot of theories about boy girl relationships. I did tell her right from the beginning that I am not a person who believe in long distance relationship, not anymore. I have seen probably few rare successful cases but they are certainly not without any hardships. Most of them do not have a choice. I believe no one would choose to involve in a long distance relationship.
If the only thing I could do is to recall the last time I hugged her, kiss her, held her in my arms, calling her each day, counting the days before I could meet her again, I would rather just stay single. Why should I go through all those trouble? Sure, I don’t love her enough if I am not willing to sacrifice [for relationship] but I would be rationale not to let it develop into love at the first place. I would choose to end it.
It is even worse if she and I were to argue on the phone every few days. Long distance relationship is already tiring without those arguments. I certainly don’t need more spices in my daily life. Of course, she did asked for my honest opinions and she couldn’t understand the fact that people are not hanging on to love the way she does.
If I like coffee a lot and someone tells me whole bunch of reason not to and all the harms it is going to cost me, of course I would selectively screen what is going to stay in my mind. To certain extent, my perception is shaped base on my actions. This is why smoking cessation is not that effective. One analogy - cognitive dissonance, different application. If she have not had that belief and behaved the way she had, probably her long distance relationship would have ended long time ago.
I even share with her a story, a story about X who chooses to end the relationship before he further his study overseas. I was at a moment impressed with the boy because the decision is not an easy one. I did tell her that a boy who chooses not to fight the battle in other words might be doing “damage control” to the relationship. We are not shooting The Last Samurai here, and therefore, no prizes are given to those who chose to fight til the very last drop of your blood. Why should you anyway?
Love is beautiful only when everything is right. You add distances, arguments, loneliness and love could be in fact ugly. No one could be sure that one day the boy and the girl would be together after the boy completed his study but at least they would not have to deal with the painful process in between, is that not tempting? Well, if you somehow believed that real love needs sacrificing, sure your real love can afford to wait four years too right? Waiting is also a form of sacrificing.
What if one day one of you just suddenly decided to give up and stop sacrificing anymore? Even there was once real love between both of you; long distance has just killed it. That is why X might get back together with that girl because he chose to preserve the love when it is still beautiful, pure and without any scar.
To me, hanging on to a relationship is not love anymore. There might be love in it but the love is not a pretty one. At the end of the day, hanging on to a relationship is not a direct measure of how much you love somebody.
It is hard to give up now but it is harder to give up later because you have sacrificed more. Your expectation towards love would be raised and you will certainly experience more disappointment because he/she can no longer hit your level of expectation anymore.
To me, some people just enjoy the “pain” in the relationship. They think highly of themselves because they are sacrificing for a noble thing call love. They enjoy the pain rather than love. 伤口，是爱最刻骨铭心的笔记(Wounds, are the most heartfelt notes of love). You do not sacrifice for someone you do not love, the more you sacrifice, it has to be because you love that special one more.
Love during high school is about sweet memories, innocent and stainless and it should stay that way. How many actually does make it to the red carpet in the end (from high school to getting married)? So, majority of us do not even had real love, so it is okay to give up because it is not real love. When you are in a high school, your world practically consists of your classmates and probably those of tuition classes. When you are in Uni you are dealing with a bigger world, in other word – more choices. Are you sure you already had the best deal out there?
Relationship is hard to let go because of a thing called habit. We are so used to sharing everything in our life with someone else. We are so used to being emotionally attached to someone. Everywhere we go; it just triggers our memory of him/her. Sometimes we are too afraid of changes. When you are so emotionally attached to someone, you are giving them the absolute right to break your heart any time.
First love is also the hardest to let go. Why? We have never done that before. How could we possibly good at something that is new to us – letting go and successfully detach ourselves emotionally. It would feels like it is the end of the world and when the reality is better than our dream; we don’t want it to change. We try to stay in it as long as possible. You know it is love when your reality is better than your dreams.
I still believe that 18 is an ideal age for first love. It smashes all the unrealistic expectations you have about love. It will help you in your future relationships. I am only against it when it is affecting possibly one of the most crucial moment of your life – deciding a pathway and possibly a career that you have to deal with for the rest of your life, a decision with consequences you have to live with up to 40 years?
More often than not, harsh reality triumph over noble love. If you chose relationship over what you want to do and your dream, you would probably end up blaming the special one in the future. When you sacrificed your choice of education you wanted, you expect a happy and successful relationship in return. No one could guarantee you that.
In this case, you are betting on the future. Imagine waking up one day and you realize you have let go a great future and there is no turning back. You will start blaming your mr/mrs right and there won’t be a happy marriage. The path not taken is always greener. If you are afraid that by letting go the relationship you might be making the worst decision ever, you might have already made the worst decision by choosing relationship over your study. Remember, the path not taken is always greener.
If you believe you have found real love/the right one and the love between both of you would never fades, love can wait again in this case. It never fades and therefore it would exist forever and ever, til the world ends. Didn’t he/she promise that his/her heart would never change? You too told me yesterday that boys are always the same, which I would agree with you although not at that moment because she is blaming me for walking away on her when she needs me. If all boys are the same and you would never change, and his love would never changes, thus all relationships would be almost similar. If all boys are the same, why are you afraid that you wouldn’t find a similar/better boy?
Make the correct decision. It is pain to grow but you will have to just grow through the pain. I believe most if not all love couldn’t stand the cruel testing by time and distance. It is your real love against my belief.
Yes, I am realistic and a little too rationale.
Enough said and I am sure I made my stand clear.
我羡慕理想的爱情，却总是要面对现实的爱情。 (I envy and want the ideal love, but I have to face the reality side of love)
taken from - 大学生恋爱，到底能够维持多久？ available here.
I have been dispensing advice to A about her pathways after her STPM. To me, the only thing stopping her from going with her inner voice is her long distance relationship, basically stuck with a boy. Indeed, having a serious relationship with someone who is constantly at the other corner of the earth could be tough. No one said it is easy, but no one said it is going to be that hard either.
She seems to be so interested with how many ex(s) I ever had because I certainly do have a lot of theories about boy girl relationships. I did tell her right from the beginning that I am not a person who believe in long distance relationship, not anymore. I have seen probably few rare successful cases but they are certainly not without any hardships. Most of them do not have a choice. I believe no one would choose to involve in a long distance relationship.
If the only thing I could do is to recall the last time I hugged her, kiss her, held her in my arms, calling her each day, counting the days before I could meet her again, I would rather just stay single. Why should I go through all those trouble? Sure, I don’t love her enough if I am not willing to sacrifice [for relationship] but I would be rationale not to let it develop into love at the first place. I would choose to end it.
It is even worse if she and I were to argue on the phone every few days. Long distance relationship is already tiring without those arguments. I certainly don’t need more spices in my daily life. Of course, she did asked for my honest opinions and she couldn’t understand the fact that people are not hanging on to love the way she does.
If I like coffee a lot and someone tells me whole bunch of reason not to and all the harms it is going to cost me, of course I would selectively screen what is going to stay in my mind. To certain extent, my perception is shaped base on my actions. This is why smoking cessation is not that effective. One analogy - cognitive dissonance, different application. If she have not had that belief and behaved the way she had, probably her long distance relationship would have ended long time ago.
I even share with her a story, a story about X who chooses to end the relationship before he further his study overseas. I was at a moment impressed with the boy because the decision is not an easy one. I did tell her that a boy who chooses not to fight the battle in other words might be doing “damage control” to the relationship. We are not shooting The Last Samurai here, and therefore, no prizes are given to those who chose to fight til the very last drop of your blood. Why should you anyway?
Love is beautiful only when everything is right. You add distances, arguments, loneliness and love could be in fact ugly. No one could be sure that one day the boy and the girl would be together after the boy completed his study but at least they would not have to deal with the painful process in between, is that not tempting? Well, if you somehow believed that real love needs sacrificing, sure your real love can afford to wait four years too right? Waiting is also a form of sacrificing.
What if one day one of you just suddenly decided to give up and stop sacrificing anymore? Even there was once real love between both of you; long distance has just killed it. That is why X might get back together with that girl because he chose to preserve the love when it is still beautiful, pure and without any scar.
To me, hanging on to a relationship is not love anymore. There might be love in it but the love is not a pretty one. At the end of the day, hanging on to a relationship is not a direct measure of how much you love somebody.
It is hard to give up now but it is harder to give up later because you have sacrificed more. Your expectation towards love would be raised and you will certainly experience more disappointment because he/she can no longer hit your level of expectation anymore.
To me, some people just enjoy the “pain” in the relationship. They think highly of themselves because they are sacrificing for a noble thing call love. They enjoy the pain rather than love. 伤口，是爱最刻骨铭心的笔记(Wounds, are the most heartfelt notes of love). You do not sacrifice for someone you do not love, the more you sacrifice, it has to be because you love that special one more.
Love during high school is about sweet memories, innocent and stainless and it should stay that way. How many actually does make it to the red carpet in the end (from high school to getting married)? So, majority of us do not even had real love, so it is okay to give up because it is not real love. When you are in a high school, your world practically consists of your classmates and probably those of tuition classes. When you are in Uni you are dealing with a bigger world, in other word – more choices. Are you sure you already had the best deal out there?
Relationship is hard to let go because of a thing called habit. We are so used to sharing everything in our life with someone else. We are so used to being emotionally attached to someone. Everywhere we go; it just triggers our memory of him/her. Sometimes we are too afraid of changes. When you are so emotionally attached to someone, you are giving them the absolute right to break your heart any time.
First love is also the hardest to let go. Why? We have never done that before. How could we possibly good at something that is new to us – letting go and successfully detach ourselves emotionally. It would feels like it is the end of the world and when the reality is better than our dream; we don’t want it to change. We try to stay in it as long as possible. You know it is love when your reality is better than your dreams.
I still believe that 18 is an ideal age for first love. It smashes all the unrealistic expectations you have about love. It will help you in your future relationships. I am only against it when it is affecting possibly one of the most crucial moment of your life – deciding a pathway and possibly a career that you have to deal with for the rest of your life, a decision with consequences you have to live with up to 40 years?
More often than not, harsh reality triumph over noble love. If you chose relationship over what you want to do and your dream, you would probably end up blaming the special one in the future. When you sacrificed your choice of education you wanted, you expect a happy and successful relationship in return. No one could guarantee you that.
In this case, you are betting on the future. Imagine waking up one day and you realize you have let go a great future and there is no turning back. You will start blaming your mr/mrs right and there won’t be a happy marriage. The path not taken is always greener. If you are afraid that by letting go the relationship you might be making the worst decision ever, you might have already made the worst decision by choosing relationship over your study. Remember, the path not taken is always greener.
If you believe you have found real love/the right one and the love between both of you would never fades, love can wait again in this case. It never fades and therefore it would exist forever and ever, til the world ends. Didn’t he/she promise that his/her heart would never change? You too told me yesterday that boys are always the same, which I would agree with you although not at that moment because she is blaming me for walking away on her when she needs me. If all boys are the same and you would never change, and his love would never changes, thus all relationships would be almost similar. If all boys are the same, why are you afraid that you wouldn’t find a similar/better boy?
Make the correct decision. It is pain to grow but you will have to just grow through the pain. I believe most if not all love couldn’t stand the cruel testing by time and distance. It is your real love against my belief.
Yes, I am realistic and a little too rationale.
Enough said and I am sure I made my stand clear.
我羡慕理想的爱情，却总是要面对现实的爱情。 (I envy and want the ideal love, but I have to face the reality side of love)
taken from - 大学生恋爱，到底能够维持多久？ available here.
INTERVIEW - disorganized post
This is a highly disorganized post as I took days to finish it.
I can’t believe that it is 1am in the morning and I still have lots of daily online reading to do. [No more relevant on the day this is posted]
It was a Saturday early morning when I saw that particular vacancy. Composed a simple e-mail and sent in my resume. I didn’t expect any reply and definitely not on Sunday due to the lay-back culture over here and to my surprise, an interview is scheduled for me on Monday.
Monday morning couldn’t be more dramatic when I missed two buses, not one but two. The weird thing is, bus “100” supposes to pass by my place every 10 minutes but I waited around 20 minutes for a bus and I have seen THREE buses “100” pass by on the opposite side of the road throughout those 20 minutes.
Glad I still make it to the place ten minutes earlier and I got back only two and half hours later. It was an I-have learn-a-lot interview plus chit chat thing going on with the pharmacist in-charge.
We managed to touch on a lot of issues such as lifestyle diseases, his precious view on nutritional supplements, customer services, viable business model, courtesy, body language and eye contact during the two and half hours. He is a no-ordinary pharmacist. He has a lot to teach me.
One particular question he asked me was “Do you have eidetic memory/ photographic memory?” and sadly I have to answer “No, not at the moment.” I couldn’t believe that I actually forget to ask him the same Q after he told me to develop one. What a waste.
Last time one of my friends managed to brainwash me with the idea that independent pharmacy is facing tough competition from those operating under chain pharmacy. Apparently that is not all true or kind of doesn’t apply here/his pharmacy.
Lifestyle disease is definitely eye opening concept to me.
I was telling him about the incident where my ex-flatmate kind of argued with me over the amount of Ginkgo biloba to take (claim to boast your memory/ concentration) daily as I have the feeling that the recommended dose is actually a marketing strategy wanting you to finish the products faster.
He did linked Ginkgo with heart problems causing low/high (don’t remember which) blood pressure. HE however did mention that a large bottle of fish oils suppose to last you for months and consumer should only take supplements if they really need it. It all comes down to your [healthy] lifestyle.
I have a feeling that he could be a mean boss.
I too observe him throughout the informal interview. One particular incident was his mobile phone rang and I asked why didn’t he answer the call and he said to me :
“Those people in front of you are the one that matter the most/important. If it is important, they will ring me twice.” O
f course it did ring for second time eventually.
One particular thought was in my head at that very moment. He is either manipulative or he is being himself or really sincere. Why?
There is one particular scene in Red Cliff part 2 where Cao Cao needed every soldier to fight/die for him including those affected by the deadly, commutable and contagious plague. He eventually manages to raise his army’s morale and "manipulate" those sick soldiers to die for him by pretended that he cares for them and gave them an emotional speech.
The concept is kind of the same in Red Cliff and in the pharmacy.
The only closest memory trick I have ever done is to memorize a deck of poker cards in about half an hour two years back. It would a cool trick to do when you are trying to impress. 20 cards would take me less than ten minutes I hope.
The 2007 UK Memory Championships Ben Pridmore memorised a single shuffled deck of playing cards in 26.28 seconds beating the previous World Record of 31.16 seconds set by Andi Bell. Dominic O'Brien successfully set a new Guinness World Record by recalling 54 inter-shuffled decks of playing cards, having seen each card only once. He made 8 errors out of the 2808 cards, four of which he corrected himself after being told he had made the mistakes.
I am close to their records at least, in my own dream of course.
Went to city, new hair for new sem and Boarders for a few hours. The ice block featured at eunice's blog is no longer there (replaced by jazz music).
I can’t believe that it is 1am in the morning and I still have lots of daily online reading to do. [No more relevant on the day this is posted]
It was a Saturday early morning when I saw that particular vacancy. Composed a simple e-mail and sent in my resume. I didn’t expect any reply and definitely not on Sunday due to the lay-back culture over here and to my surprise, an interview is scheduled for me on Monday.
Monday morning couldn’t be more dramatic when I missed two buses, not one but two. The weird thing is, bus “100” supposes to pass by my place every 10 minutes but I waited around 20 minutes for a bus and I have seen THREE buses “100” pass by on the opposite side of the road throughout those 20 minutes.
Glad I still make it to the place ten minutes earlier and I got back only two and half hours later. It was an I-have learn-a-lot interview plus chit chat thing going on with the pharmacist in-charge.
We managed to touch on a lot of issues such as lifestyle diseases, his precious view on nutritional supplements, customer services, viable business model, courtesy, body language and eye contact during the two and half hours. He is a no-ordinary pharmacist. He has a lot to teach me.
One particular question he asked me was “Do you have eidetic memory/ photographic memory?” and sadly I have to answer “No, not at the moment.” I couldn’t believe that I actually forget to ask him the same Q after he told me to develop one. What a waste.
Last time one of my friends managed to brainwash me with the idea that independent pharmacy is facing tough competition from those operating under chain pharmacy. Apparently that is not all true or kind of doesn’t apply here/his pharmacy.
Lifestyle disease is definitely eye opening concept to me.
I was telling him about the incident where my ex-flatmate kind of argued with me over the amount of Ginkgo biloba to take (claim to boast your memory/ concentration) daily as I have the feeling that the recommended dose is actually a marketing strategy wanting you to finish the products faster.
He did linked Ginkgo with heart problems causing low/high (don’t remember which) blood pressure. HE however did mention that a large bottle of fish oils suppose to last you for months and consumer should only take supplements if they really need it. It all comes down to your [healthy] lifestyle.
I have a feeling that he could be a mean boss.
I too observe him throughout the informal interview. One particular incident was his mobile phone rang and I asked why didn’t he answer the call and he said to me :
“Those people in front of you are the one that matter the most/important. If it is important, they will ring me twice.” O
f course it did ring for second time eventually.
One particular thought was in my head at that very moment. He is either manipulative or he is being himself or really sincere. Why?
There is one particular scene in Red Cliff part 2 where Cao Cao needed every soldier to fight/die for him including those affected by the deadly, commutable and contagious plague. He eventually manages to raise his army’s morale and "manipulate" those sick soldiers to die for him by pretended that he cares for them and gave them an emotional speech.
The concept is kind of the same in Red Cliff and in the pharmacy.
The only closest memory trick I have ever done is to memorize a deck of poker cards in about half an hour two years back. It would a cool trick to do when you are trying to impress. 20 cards would take me less than ten minutes I hope.
The 2007 UK Memory Championships Ben Pridmore memorised a single shuffled deck of playing cards in 26.28 seconds beating the previous World Record of 31.16 seconds set by Andi Bell. Dominic O'Brien successfully set a new Guinness World Record by recalling 54 inter-shuffled decks of playing cards, having seen each card only once. He made 8 errors out of the 2808 cards, four of which he corrected himself after being told he had made the mistakes.
I am close to their records at least, in my own dream of course.
Went to city, new hair for new sem and Boarders for a few hours. The ice block featured at eunice's blog is no longer there (replaced by jazz music).
SHAPE OF THE MOON
Came upon this documentary, Shape of the Moon, after my movie marathon 2 nights ago I think. I have this thing for anything showing what probably other people are going through in their real life. Movies that really got under your skin.
Something like slumbag millionaire and painted skin (the part where the hero said, “As a husband, how could I possibly give up on my wife?” and the one where Zhao Wei said “ You don’t know what love is.”)
Probably I wouldn’t stay on that channel if I didn’t realize that it is about Indonesia. After spending months and months in Indo once upon a time, can’t really blame myself for that interest.
The movie is mostly a slice-of-life piece on Indonesia itself, their daily struggles and the world they live in. It is a place where most of us wouldn’t even want to visit. Forget about Bali, that is different.
And so, there was this ordinary man who tries to make ends meet and his mother and his niece in the documentary – “uncle”, grandma and the niece.
“Uncle” was a Christian and he wants to married an Islamic woman. After much thought, he decided to convert. His mother, the grandma said he always falls for the wrong woman. Somehow, his wife only appeared once and that is in their wedding. The “mas kahwin” was only a gold necklace that weighs 6 gram. Well, it might considered as luxurious when you are really that poor.
One day, there was a fire in the town and all people came to help to put out the fire before the fire brigade arrived. Why? Because almost every houses are connected to each other. It is a crowded and dirty urban area, probably most of us and even them wouldn’t want to stay there as well but they have no choice. You don't put out the fire in time and you will lose your house as well.
The documentary also shows that the grandma is struck with a loan shark after she borrows money to get a new sofa. After months and months trying to clear the debt, the loan shark finally takes away their sofa because grandma still owe her 300,000 after paying 1.5 million.
I wasn’t sure about the initial amount borrowed though. And so, mother and son have quite a big argument over the matter. In the end, the mother decided to go back to her hometown because she has the feeling that she is too old for city life.
Back in the hometown, there was a part where they shift the whole house by tying bamboo around the house, like the one you always see four men carried a minister in an opiate in ancient China. Whole village came to help. "Tolong – menolong" is still an important concept in the suburban area.
That is pretty much everything I get to watch on the tv. It is such a waste that I didn’t manage to watch the whole thing.
Others things highlighted including the local newspapers warn of the threat of "Christianization". Basically, the whole thing is about how a family struggle to get through their daily life.
What I like about the whole show is the few phases of wisdom told by the “uncle” although he is uneducated. Poor people tend to understand life better than the rest of us.
“Politics are for those that rule the country, we should only concern about how to make a living and those farmers who grow our food.”
“Politics and religions should always be separate and religions are for us when we are dead.”
I only managed to recall two of them. We might not agree to all his views but when you are poor, you just have to be realistic.
I have seen people, married ones hiding in their house during Chinese New Year because they can save on the "ang pao" money. I have seen cases where people can only afford to buy new clothes for their children and they have to wore those they bought years ago. Yes, when you are that poor, CNY is all about spending money.
Those are the real poor ones and they do not care about politics. They wouldn’t have the time to argue whether BN or PKR should be the government when you can’t feed your own stomach. Their real concern would be what is the cheapest rice available in Tesco, the next time their children need new textbooks and the next bus fare hike.
Seeing how poor people struggle and actually living it is totally different.
For every Lim Goh Tong that make it big, there are thousands others didn’t make it and some are cleaning those toilets for him. I am sure everyone dream of making it big at some point of your life.
Life is unfair is all aspect.
Nothing dramatic happens the whole documentary but you know you have learnt a lot just by watching it although there is no hero saving the day this time.
Posts
