GARGANTUAN steps
Saturday, September 23, 2006
and I did it my way
' There are two forms of academic diseases: intellectual infantilism, caused largely by minds never cutting loose and growing up;
and progeria, or premature sterility, which seemed specially to infect inbred and narrow faculties.' - William Osler
I've decided to delve into myself and give a better understanding about what constitutes me.
I believe two words can be use to describe my life- passion and perfectionism. I enjoy stress and intensity, and I believe the next generation to be somewhat of a social fallacy, rightly termed the MTV-generation. Instant gratification, quick-fix solutions, limited attention spans and a blatant disregard for respect is a cause for concern. But another day perhaps, shall this topic be breached, 'tis suppose to be about me.
In about 4 days time, I'll be headed to London to further my professional studies, where once it was suppose to be in Melbourne. I'll be doing my Medical and Science degree (MBBS/BSc) in Imperial College London, which incidentally happens to be the university my father graduated with an Engineering degree a good three decades ago. It's going to be a long six years, going by the current path, and a further year doing my internship. And then of course, I'll be specialising, but that's currently undecided.
I don't claim to be social; in fact, anti-social has been a stigma that has more often than not been attached to me. But it's only because I take a while to warm up to people. I make friends based on the first-impression-vibes, and they're usually quite accurate. I don't suffer fools, and I either have really good friends, or they aren't friends at all. In this respect, I may seem a little egoistic, but that's not the real picture. I would call myself a loyal and dedicated friend. (But of course my interest comes first, especially when it comes to my choice of place of studies)
I am a jazz enthusiast and a trumpeter and pianist. Once upon a time, playing the piano would have ranked higher then playing a trumpet (based on the number of hours of practice), but now, my piano at home has been completely taken over by my brother, and any attempts to play it now would end up with a mocking from him. So I stick to blowing my horn (which he will never be proficient in and thus I'm spared) and we have a regular jazz sessions, which will be dearly missed once I'm gone, on Sunday mornings. It is somewhat of a regret that my music practice has been somewhat lax of late (late being years) but the interest is there, and hopefully, I will get going with something up north.
I have a few love of my life, and one of them happens to be Liverpool FC. People close to me see me as synonymous with the club, but I don't claim to be their biggest fan, just one of the many passionate ones. As they say, Liverpool fans are the best in the world, and every lost is treated like a defeat in the World Cup final (just ask Andy or Spike, my fellow Liverpool FC enthusiast), and you wouldn't want to cross paths with me after a lost. It takes ages for a defeat to clear out of the system. (especially the recent losses)
I'm an avid reader, especially of literary works (but not of the Shakespearian or Homer kind). Favourite books include Angela's Ashes, To Kill A Mockingbird, Schindler's Ark (the movie is called Schindler's List) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, so you can check them out, and they're more or less guaranteed worth your money. I enjoy CS Lewis' Christian Literature series too, and anyone who wants to build up a foundation should read books written by him. I recommend The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.
I'm a cradle Catholic, if any of you don't know by now, and Holy Family Church has more or less been my regular church of attendance. Don't think I am worthy to be classified as religious, but I've been more than happy to have people ask me questions about matters pertaining to religion, and I do my utmost best to give a knowledgeable response.
Think this is enough of me for now! There's more to say, but it's a tale for another time. If there's one thing about me, I quite dislike talking about myself.
and progeria, or premature sterility, which seemed specially to infect inbred and narrow faculties.' - William Osler
I've decided to delve into myself and give a better understanding about what constitutes me.
I believe two words can be use to describe my life- passion and perfectionism. I enjoy stress and intensity, and I believe the next generation to be somewhat of a social fallacy, rightly termed the MTV-generation. Instant gratification, quick-fix solutions, limited attention spans and a blatant disregard for respect is a cause for concern. But another day perhaps, shall this topic be breached, 'tis suppose to be about me.
In about 4 days time, I'll be headed to London to further my professional studies, where once it was suppose to be in Melbourne. I'll be doing my Medical and Science degree (MBBS/BSc) in Imperial College London, which incidentally happens to be the university my father graduated with an Engineering degree a good three decades ago. It's going to be a long six years, going by the current path, and a further year doing my internship. And then of course, I'll be specialising, but that's currently undecided.
I don't claim to be social; in fact, anti-social has been a stigma that has more often than not been attached to me. But it's only because I take a while to warm up to people. I make friends based on the first-impression-vibes, and they're usually quite accurate. I don't suffer fools, and I either have really good friends, or they aren't friends at all. In this respect, I may seem a little egoistic, but that's not the real picture. I would call myself a loyal and dedicated friend. (But of course my interest comes first, especially when it comes to my choice of place of studies)
I am a jazz enthusiast and a trumpeter and pianist. Once upon a time, playing the piano would have ranked higher then playing a trumpet (based on the number of hours of practice), but now, my piano at home has been completely taken over by my brother, and any attempts to play it now would end up with a mocking from him. So I stick to blowing my horn (which he will never be proficient in and thus I'm spared) and we have a regular jazz sessions, which will be dearly missed once I'm gone, on Sunday mornings. It is somewhat of a regret that my music practice has been somewhat lax of late (late being years) but the interest is there, and hopefully, I will get going with something up north.
I have a few love of my life, and one of them happens to be Liverpool FC. People close to me see me as synonymous with the club, but I don't claim to be their biggest fan, just one of the many passionate ones. As they say, Liverpool fans are the best in the world, and every lost is treated like a defeat in the World Cup final (just ask Andy or Spike, my fellow Liverpool FC enthusiast), and you wouldn't want to cross paths with me after a lost. It takes ages for a defeat to clear out of the system. (especially the recent losses)
I'm an avid reader, especially of literary works (but not of the Shakespearian or Homer kind). Favourite books include Angela's Ashes, To Kill A Mockingbird, Schindler's Ark (the movie is called Schindler's List) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, so you can check them out, and they're more or less guaranteed worth your money. I enjoy CS Lewis' Christian Literature series too, and anyone who wants to build up a foundation should read books written by him. I recommend The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.
I'm a cradle Catholic, if any of you don't know by now, and Holy Family Church has more or less been my regular church of attendance. Don't think I am worthy to be classified as religious, but I've been more than happy to have people ask me questions about matters pertaining to religion, and I do my utmost best to give a knowledgeable response.
Think this is enough of me for now! There's more to say, but it's a tale for another time. If there's one thing about me, I quite dislike talking about myself.
Labels: Singapore
Friday, September 15, 2006
after sunset
Today marks the end of my tenure at my first job (serving the nation was involuntary, and the allowance allowed little). It's been a pleasure working at the Australian International School Singapore, and the encouragement and accommodation of my colleagues and friends have been very much appreciated! A little more job description - every day at work was like fighting a war, with my office being No-Man's Land. Daily combat with the photocopying machines provided a glimpse of the dystopian future of I vs Robot. Paper jams abound, but I triumphed in the end, the enemy succumbing to my barrage of staple bullets and hole punches. It was a pyrrhic victory though, being permanently scarred by paper cuts. Other horrors of this war shall be buried together with me in my grave, though its echoes will forever reverberate within my intracranial cavity. Of course, credit to my colleague with whom I had a battle of wits right to the very end - an instant retort or a pre-emptive strike was necessary to survive his verbal onslaught. This will be missed very much, together with our daily cup of teh savoured to pass the dour afternoon.
Mike Lui came over to my place last night for his MMR vaccination. For those who don't know, he's been classified as my oldest friend. I've known him since the Jurassic Period of Primary 1 catechism (which is at the age of 7). Since then, we've been in the same class in catechism and following that, secondary school and confirmation. He's survived my mockeries about receiving medals from the school principal (who coincidentally happened to be his father) and for voluntarily serving the nation, and that we're still friends is a testimony to his high tolerance for eccentrics.
People Profile 1 - Michael Lui Peiwen
Gender - Male
Age - 21 (as of 2006)
My most atheletic of friends, and the most dedicated and patriotic one, serving the nation with a passion equal to that that I have for the medical profession. He's headed to LSE to study Geography, and following that, a life in the service till he's five years shy of meeting the half a century mark. A true friend with boundless humility, and nary a worry in the world.
And so we had a nice chat and a drink last evening at the ABC (which is the corner prata shop along Duku Road). Statistics and figures flooded our conversation on our common yet despairingly different situations that we will face in London. Well, one thing for certain is that we're almost equal in our miserly ways.
Mike Lui came over to my place last night for his MMR vaccination. For those who don't know, he's been classified as my oldest friend. I've known him since the Jurassic Period of Primary 1 catechism (which is at the age of 7). Since then, we've been in the same class in catechism and following that, secondary school and confirmation. He's survived my mockeries about receiving medals from the school principal (who coincidentally happened to be his father) and for voluntarily serving the nation, and that we're still friends is a testimony to his high tolerance for eccentrics.
People Profile 1 - Michael Lui Peiwen
Gender - Male
Age - 21 (as of 2006)
My most atheletic of friends, and the most dedicated and patriotic one, serving the nation with a passion equal to that that I have for the medical profession. He's headed to LSE to study Geography, and following that, a life in the service till he's five years shy of meeting the half a century mark. A true friend with boundless humility, and nary a worry in the world.
And so we had a nice chat and a drink last evening at the ABC (which is the corner prata shop along Duku Road). Statistics and figures flooded our conversation on our common yet despairingly different situations that we will face in London. Well, one thing for certain is that we're almost equal in our miserly ways.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
alea iacta est
'the die is cast' - Julius Caesar
I can only look back now on hindsight, from the safety net of the present, to enjoy the fruits of the labour. Understanding how obstacles placed in the path of life serve two purposes - to crush or to exalt the human spirit. It takes courage to pick yourself up from the pits; no one said life was easy. Who appreciates the light until they have experienced the darkness?
In a matter of days, I begin the adolescence of my adulthood. I think I’m just about done with coming to terms with leaving home. Home is a construction of personalities, and it is my endless supply of energy. I think comfort zone is not the right moniker for it...it's the only paradise we have on earth.
I suppose it's different now, not knowing anyone who is attending the course personally. I'm burdened too, by the weight of the burden I elicit. It unsettles, but I can't do anything about it. And the fear of failure, of even mediocrity, spurs me on. It is just not an option.
I am in eternal gratitude. Never have been outwardly expressive of my appreciation to those who've been there for me through it all, but I would like to let you all know it's a debt that can never be repaid. I can only hope that I’ll be able to return it in kind.
May the past always serve its purpose, as a healthy reminder of a future that might have been naught.
I can only look back now on hindsight, from the safety net of the present, to enjoy the fruits of the labour. Understanding how obstacles placed in the path of life serve two purposes - to crush or to exalt the human spirit. It takes courage to pick yourself up from the pits; no one said life was easy. Who appreciates the light until they have experienced the darkness?
In a matter of days, I begin the adolescence of my adulthood. I think I’m just about done with coming to terms with leaving home. Home is a construction of personalities, and it is my endless supply of energy. I think comfort zone is not the right moniker for it...it's the only paradise we have on earth.
I suppose it's different now, not knowing anyone who is attending the course personally. I'm burdened too, by the weight of the burden I elicit. It unsettles, but I can't do anything about it. And the fear of failure, of even mediocrity, spurs me on. It is just not an option.
I am in eternal gratitude. Never have been outwardly expressive of my appreciation to those who've been there for me through it all, but I would like to let you all know it's a debt that can never be repaid. I can only hope that I’ll be able to return it in kind.
May the past always serve its purpose, as a healthy reminder of a future that might have been naught.
Labels: Singapore
