Who would say NO to a FREE meal?

"...... of course, unless if you are a fish. :D"

I am a bit under the weather last few days and start to cut back on meeting friends or going out, so I end up spending time at home with parents and doing some stuff on the web. I recalled people that I met last one week and count those who "paid" for me when dining out, like with my former lecturer. There were quite a number of them. Mom didn't like the idea of "being treated" for dining or meal. I think the Westerners will normally graciously say "thank you" to that. Traditionally, I think Asians or those more conservative one, regards "being treated" for meals as a sign of "people belittles you", so one must "return" that. As a result, people like my mom who detest such idea, think that is paisay (i.e., embarrassed) to have people treating you for something. I think this is an "attitude" issue. I didn't beg people to do the same to me, it's happen and when people do that, they are happy to do so, unless people do with an ultimate motive, which can be quite obvious from the start, and for that, I will stay away or avoid, but these are quite rare, how would one say no to someone want to give you a treat?! :D

The other days, a friend was telling me about vides and how they are magnetic and attract people. I then began to think about my vides and how it "attracts" people to "treat" me. Well, I am borne in the year of dog. Dogs are generally likable and they are man's best friend. I like to think that, perhaps these are the two qualities that attracts people around me. However, dogs are also great assets to man, like they guard doors, lead the blinds, hunt the dead, etc, so as long as "keeping an account balanced" is not necessary, as in, the person who treats me lunch, expects me to return the treat, I (i.e., dogs) am quite hamless and friendly, except a bit needy at times. LOL. I don't believe in keeping the accounts balanced, though I try to do so as best as I can, but somehow find it hard especially "repaying" to a senior as I don't know how to handle it when people, especially a senior becomes very "persistent" and "decline my kindness" to repay. To "compensate" for that, I normally would pass the "good deeds" forward.

I had a call today from a toastmaster friend, who suggested that we go for a meal on Friday with his family and friend, and that he openly says he will buy it for me. I told my mom about this and my mom told me me a junior should treat the senior. I told her, in that case, if I got chance, I will treat my junior peers then, students, friends, relatives, etc. Yes, like I said before, passing the "good deeds" forward and more people will enjoy the "fruits" and that should "balance things up". :D

Cabin Fever

Today is a typical day as if "working from home'. I worked on my research all day, spending time on the Excel spreadsheet and not leaving the flat. In the UK, this would have been bad as 'too isolated' could cause 'cabin fever". You could go bad just like Jack Nicholson in 'Shining'. Watch the Trailer and imagine what "cabin fever' felt like, scary huh? :D



In any case, it also rained almost all day. And it poured, unlike those rains I experienced in the UK, as if spitting. Actually, 'doing some work' is good during the holiday as it helps "holiday-work" balance and allow you to feel 'in touch' and 'control' on your research. Of course, you are enjoying this as you find good spirited moods taken over your emotion following you completion of a certain set of work, and then to leave some for later, :D

Healthy food/healthy living is an option

".. but we do have a choice, and we make choices."

Met my Friend LX at JCoDonuts at Bugis junction. Really like this coffee/Donuts cafe. It located at a rather cosy corner and has its own unique character. The website introduces its business and has a section on healthy ingredient. LX was a secondary friend, who is now pursuing a PhD at Australia, doing a topic on Education. I remember LX told me that fruits were really cheap at Australia, and he even bought a fruit juicers and going for a healthy living style. However, he will be back to Singapore following his expected completion of the PhD by end of the year.

We went for a walk nearby after finishing our coffee. The weather was very hot and humid, a total contrast to the cool environment in the cafe. Bugis areas are often very crowded with stalls situated along pedestrian walkway nearby, and there is a market place nearby, in which "fast food" style local dishes were served, you can "eat in" or take away. I remember now each of such stall is classified with governmental approval of "cleanliness and hygiene' standard, either A, B or C. Interestingly in the UK, I don't remember we see this, perhaps there were not very many such outlet, though takeaways are quite common. What however is practiced in the UK, is the food labels highlighting the food nutrients in term of sugar, fat and salt mainly. See the website here. UK has serious problem about overweight and especially among the men. Has any research about similar situation in Singapore been done yet?

I kind of feel that, I cannot imagine the Singapore government doing the food labels like what the UK did, because if that is the case, a lot of food stalls will have to close down, many things in Singapore like those you find in Bugis area, are nice but sweet stuff and what's more Singapore is famous for it's food. It is a food paradise, where do healthy option stands here, nowhere to be seen really. Foreigners visiting here is fine, tasting food like this once in a while is fine. If you live in Singapore, you are often surrounded by tempting and tasty food, healthy food/healthy living becomes an option but for some, they don't even have a sense about healthy living and sadly, only know the importance after problem arise like high fat, high blood pressure, etc kicks in.

whether you are happy..

"it worked out quite similarly like a zero-sum game"

I met two friends today. Both were my High School's mates. I should say both are of different stages in their career too. ZW is now a VP of international Sales in a Major MNC firm, while KH, still seems to me, finding its way getting a grip of what he is best at. All of us are of the same age. It is often easier to open up and share with friends of the same age, as we share similar things a lot more than others. As we open up the conversation, I realise a bit more about their attitudes and what they value. ZW, as far as I remember, inspired to have their own family, wants to settle down and have a good career, by the time he reached xx year old, which I think he already get it now. As for KH, he seemed to have up and down for the past few years in his life, which unfortunately, I was not being updated about, but that was also because I was not close with him, job change, sales of his business and divorce, all seemed drastic to me.

I am also lucky to have found my footing after all these days. There are obviously pros and cons in the UK compared to Singapore. Taxation is not something my friends like, but pension scheme is something not everyone understand. Pension crisis happens everywhere affected by factors such as aging population, and so is Singapore, and that should not make a different. KH also commented the high rank pay of professorship is "not very high", but I supposed that is depending on exchange rate and what one is looking for.

At one point, ZW even suggested I come back to teach in Singapore. SIM, ploy, etc, which I was not too sure because they are not really proper University. I find KH needs some solid speciality for him to excel in his career, which I also suggested to him. At the end of the day, you win some and you lose some. It worked out quite similarly like a zero-sum game. It is where you are and where you worked and whether you are happy, that matters.

Au Revoir Taipei (一頁台北)

I will postpone today's interesting meets with my friend till tomorrow. This is because I cannot forget the movie poster I saw yesterday while visiting the Cathay Cineplex with M. It seems delightful and sweet. It says on the poster, the title to be "Au Revoir Taipei" (i.e., Good bye Taipei)

I quickly check this up online and find more information about this film. This movie has won a few awards already including the Best Asian Film in the latest Berlin International Film Festival and another award in Paris. I often look forward to what the Taiwanese film maker produced in their latest movies, especially the young and the up and coming ones. They normally made films without much of a baggage and can handle the theme in an orginal way and so is this film. I don't want to give too much away, but the following gives the trailer and a brief film review provided here



Oh and I like the theme song too. It nicely integrated guitars and piano and reminds me of a comptenary jazz and also felt very European. Here's the theme song (not an MV though, but you will like it, I am sure)