Social taboos which are my pet peeves

1. Ladies sitting like men in public, with one leg crossed over the other leg's thigh while shaking the crossed leg.

2. Digging one's eardrums in public and flicking the contents away with one's fingers.

3. Narcissistic snapping of oneself in photos.

4. Snapping photos of one's purchases in public.

5. Taking service crew for granted and not thinking of their interests; failing to show appreciation for their efforts in attending to one's needs; making their job difficult for them; being insensitive to them and loudly commenting on their products/efforts with negativity.

6. Taking friends' feelings for granted and thinking only of one's own convenience.

7. Always being late for appointments.

8. Being picky over outing details and failing to compromise to the majority's view.

9. Verbal diarrhoea in terms of vulgarities and mere complaints without appreciating true blessings.

SG's transport system

There have been complaints and disgruntled remarks about our transport system. I have an opposing view towards some of them. I present my opinion in numerical points.

1) Overcrowding is something normal. So is switching transport modes.

2) We don't need to deal with strikes by the staff, dirty vehicles or the inadequacy of facilities for the disabled.

3) The government is doing all it can to address these grouses. Give it time.

The latest update is that the entire Circle Line will be opening in 2 months' time. I am happy that I have more places nearer to my doorstep. There are:

1) SAM via Bras Basah station
2) Island Creamery at Serene Centre via Botanic Gardens station
3) Holland Village via the station of the same name(in case my god-brother wants to go there)
4) Colonial bungalows at Portsdown Road via one-north station(to take photos of the vintage homes)

The ethics of teachers having their students as FB friends

With the UK article where teachers were told not to accept their students' FB friend requests, and the local article where Spencer Ng, an election candidate, faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards his former students, this issue of teachers and students being connected to each other on FB is a current topic. I stand by my opinion that teachers should have nothing to hide on their profiles. What I mean is, they should maintain a clean character as associated with their vocation. Why have separate accounts or restrict profile features in order to appear clean, when one is clearly dubious in character? Why be afraid of accepting their students' friend requests if one's conscience is clear?

A teacher posted her student's essay on FB and made some disparaging remarks on it. I think that defies the trust put upon her by the student when he handed in his essay. If his essay is good, on the contrary, reading it out in class or giving copies of it out to the students is a better method of compliment on it. I would still not advocate the idea of posting it on FB. I am more appalled by a teacher who made a comment on NA students on the network. It may have been meant to be positive but it can mislead people into thinking that these students are seen by him in a negative light, especially with the use of "tumours". Both these teachers should have known better that FB is a place where many people can read their posts, especially if they have not adjusted their privacy settings. They should learn to be sensitive to the feelings of their students when posting anything about the latter.

I agree with a teacher who said that teachers are "role models" and can "understand (their) students better" through FB. It allows them to create a sense of rapport with their students and at the same time, they do need to maintain boundaries with the latter, according to a university lecturer.

Evident racism

An American uni student had a racist attitude towards Asians on her selfmade video. She was unhappy that they invited their relatives to visit them over the weekend. I find nothing wrong with that. She claimed that they have "no manners" but doesn't she also lack them through this video?

What utterly disgusts me is when she showed disdain at their calls to check up on their family members during the recent Japanese disaster. It shows her lack of compassion and sympathy. I wonder whether she would still feel ashamed at these feelings if she were in their shoes and they showed understanding towards her, which I have no doubt they would. Her reason for such an attitude is that they disturbed her studying progress. How insignificant!

Thank goodness she has decided to leave the uni. She is a disgrace to it and society. However, in citing her reasons for her move, I detect a resentment in the tone she uses. Perhaps I am prejudiced against her. I hope that the consequences of her video have taught her to respect others and their feelings in times of crisis. It is unfortunate though that her family has to bear them as well. I feel that she deserves them but not her family.

Japanese tsunami disaster

There is a reason why I am blogging about it only now. I found an article that touched me so much to do so.

Teachers are ensuring that 30 students in school are physically and emotionally taken care of, in the midst of finding their missing parents. These teachers have their own families too and willingly become surrogate parents to these kids. I guess being a teacher has had this article evoke much poignancy in me.

Then, my thoughts drift to the workers at the nuclear plant and the medical staff staying with their patients. They are making the same sacrifice to save others. This is true nobility; to place one's family below outsiders.

'Back to school'

I realise that I have been manifesting my nostalgia in reality. First, I went back to reading Chinese prose articles which I used to read in preparations for my A'level Chinese examination paper. The same enjoyment and appreciation returned as I perused the short articles of expression.

Secondly, I have again taken up the habit of copying words and their meanings into a notebook. I did it in preparation for my O'level English examination paper. Even as a teacher, I never stop learning new things. Thus, I want to note them down for future use and reference :)

Answers to Writer's Block questions

(This is based on Livejournal.)

1. If you could turn back time, how far back would you go?
Ans: I would go to either the 1960s of Singapore, when life was simpler and cheaper, or to the Regency era, when Jane Austen's characters were living and everything about their lifestyle seemed so appealing.

2. If you were a country, what would be your national anthem?
Ans: It would contain ideals of unity, harmony, peace and collective welfare.

3. If I were able to transform into any object while carrying conscious thoughts for only 24 hours, I think I would be...
Ans:...a dog. I would like to understand what it thinks and goes through, especially an abused one.

4. Was there ever a fictional character whom you admired so much that you strived to be like him or her?
Ans: Yes. The character is Elizabeth Bennet. I admire her wit and thought process in the novel, and how she ultimately learns more about herself and others, growing and maturing with time.

5. If you won a trip to anywhere, where would you go and why?
Ans: England. There are so many other parts that I want to go to, especially since it is the core centre of the literary journey I embarked on in my degree.