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Xinmin Takada 2010 |
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Saturday, November 13, 2010
We have come some way... :)
11:24 PM
 August 2010. Xinmin, Hougang, Singapore.  November 2010. Takada, Mie, Japan. Guiding points for all
10:36 PM
Think about what you have seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled(?), experienced, so far in Mie.Think about objects, buildings, people, habits, systems, etc. What HIT you? M.T. Musings initiated. 始めまして!
10:19 PM
Thanks Vivien O. (sounds cool, like some rapper *tongue in cheek*) for starting this blog and the test entry.Hey people, as posted in the tagboard, it is time you should post your reflections here. And please, I am serious about it. We are all enjoying the experience, so we should play our part, shouldn't we? Let me start briefly first. Studied the Japanese language in secondary school and JC. Been exposed to the people (my 先生s), the culture (how my 先生s were like in class) and the media (Japan Hour), but the first-hand experience was longed for and long overdue. 11.11.10 - binary code? :p nice date, nicer day, because it was my birthday. And we touched down at Chubu Airport. Saw the very familiar Okada 先生 and was glad see her again. The reception we received was expectedly good, but that the Vice-Principal was there was a little overwhelming. Regardless of stature, they greeted me with such humility and politeness I thought I was undeserving of. I guess seeing this first-hand, though I knew about it, was humbling and led me to think how Singaporeans can emulate that. The part about customer service is rather self-explanatory. What came into my mind a little later was about how we can treat each other nicer (SKM may want to pay me for publicity haha) without much expectations. It would be so nice if everyone can treat each other with respect and gregariousness isn't it? Even strangers, rivals, etc. Can we have character of honour? The same could be said of the meeting with the hosts' parents. They were excited to see their children's new friends! Hospitality was a given. I think, what we can learn is, maybe we should be less guarded about each other. Reignite the kampung spirit. Do you know what the kampung spirit is? 12.11.10 - Ahh...decreasing arithmetic progression! (*lame*) Going to Takada High School was an eye-opener. The slipper practice was one I discussed with the students what we can bring into Xinmin. Imagine Xinmin with spotless corridors??? That would be nice. And it is humbling to see how Takada students stuck to the school rules, with additional costs on buying slippers (and standardised school bags, shoes, socks notwithstanding), and no one complains. Now, is pride and identity more important than those yens? What are pride and identity for? Do we long for a sense of belonging? Food for thought... I thought Singaporeans were voted to be the fastest walkers in the world, reflecting our frenetic pace of life. Errr...validity of test is flawed? Because maybe they did not measure running. The teachers in Takada run to class! Well, much as we value balance in life, and resist excessive stress, but maybe, for some aspects that we can be better in, like when we do not live up to our own potential, we should learn from their go-get-it-ness. 30mins lunchtime, back to work, teachers and students alike. Admirable industriousness? On a lighter note, I noticed that they played pop music during lunchtime, when the whole school simply dropped work. I think they enjoyed the 30mins fully! Work hard, play (relax?) hard. Don't think they don't have balance. Pop music during recess, good idea for Xinmin? Once again, like Haidian in Beijing, classrooms during lessons contain buried heads that "suck time dry". Maximising whatever that is offered in class? Carpe diem! Come on, we all know, a slack rubber band can never reach far. And who's to say it will snap? (See previous paragraph) Ok. It's 11.16pm (my laptop clocks still says 10.16pm, deceptively). Time to rest, raring to receive tomorrow! Not so brief after all. Pardon the typing ad nauseum. Mea culpa. M.T. |
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Xinmin Secondary School, Japan Takada Bicultural 2010♥ Alina, Chua Xuan, Claire, E E, Eunice, Jie Ling, Naomi, Randall, SiPin, Valerie, Vivien Ong, Vivien Seah, Wan Ting, Xiao Ting, Khoo XinYi, Ong XinYi. Ayumi, Erika, Hiroki, Ibuki, Kanako, Kyoka, Marino, Mizuki, Rika, Risa, Sakura, Yuka, Yukako, Yuri. Teachers In Charge: Mr Tan Thiam Meng, Ms Junie Lim, Ms Carol Ann Martin. Links
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JieLing
Randall
Vivien
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WanTing
XiaoTing
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