Happy Birthday to the Republic

Five Stars Arising
There's a new moon arising, out of the stormy sea
Youthful and bright and bearing hope, and tranquil as can be
Reach out for the moon above, savour freedom, truth and love
There's a new moon arising, out of the stormy sea

There are five stars arising, out of the stormy sea
Each is a lamp to guide our way; a lamp for all to see
Reach out for the stars above, savour freedom, truth and love
There are five stars arising, out of the stormy sea

There's a new flag arising, out of the stormy sea
Crimson as the blood of all mankind, yet white and pure and free
Reach out for the flag above, savour freedom, truth and love
There's a new flag arising, happy and proud are we

From: http://www.singsingapore.org.sg/

My favourite Singapore song when I was little. More than 10 years ago. More than 15 years ago. We're still on our way there.

NDP, and everything related to it, may be tacky and corny but I can't imagine 9 August without it.

Of Interviews

After a quiet week without any interviews or appointments for interviews, I had one yesterday and another one tomorrow. Why do these things come in waves?

One thing I noticed is that for all the companies I was interviewed for, all commented that they need new people because they are expanding or that business is improving. So I guess the Singapore economy really must be improving. Granted it's not a very scientific way of judging economic activity, I think such anecdotal indications are valid.

Well, I'm still bored. Will someone please hurry up and hire me?

Graduation ceremony in Hobart is on Friday the 5th. I wonder if they really are going to mention my name in absentia.

Home, Truly

First meal in Singapore: Roti prata, 2 egg, 1 kosong. Kopi-o :)


So, I'm home. Truly home and not going anywhere else for the moment.

I've been back for a week and I'm just about almost used to the temperature and the humidity now. But I'm still not sweating as much as I used to. Probably take me until the end of the month before my body really get used to it all. I went for a short run yesterday, the first one since I'm back. A very short run in fact. Don't want to push it.

It's quite a relief, to be back in Singapore and find that the little things are still familiar, that I still know how to order food from kopitiams, that I am still as swift at tapping the Ezlink card on the readers, that people actually understand me when I say "Neh-my, it's all-kay, don bother".

I'm not missing Tassie as much as I thought I would be too. Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet.

No interviews yet but definitely have one tomorrow.

Bring Me Home

MEL Airport. Qantas B747. 3 Jul. Bring me home:

On My Way Home

On my way home. Finally. I'm sitting at a cafe inside Melbourne Airport's restricted area. Another 2 hours until take-off. Now that I'm here, I just want to get home quick. I'm tired. Waking up at 3.50 for the domestic flight from HBA was tough after not having a good night's sleep in a week.

I spent the last night in Hobart with Tina. Dinner at Maldini's then a last walk along the docks. It'll be a pleasant memory.

I couldn't muster the courage to call Justyna when I reached Melb. I know she'll be awake but I just couldn't do it. I sent her a message instead, just saying that I had nothing left to say. She told me not to think too much and to cheer up. I can't help it; I can't help thinking.

I spent over an hour writing her a letter instead. Ended up crying while trying to finish it. But then there isn't a post office at the airport and so I'll have to bring it back to SIN and post it from there. Take a bloody week to get back to HBA.

I do really miss her, I do really want to always have her around and I really do wish my circumstances were different. I can only wish at this point.

Saying goodbye to everyone over the past two days have been emotionally draining. I'm tired, I don't really want to go back to SIN and work and leave everyone behind. I've never felt this badly about leaving someplace before.

Back to SIN, my mask is going back on.

Conflicted

Yeah, I should be home in 72 hours. I'm...conflicted. I am both sad and happy that I have compleated my degree. I am sad at having to leave this lovely place but I am happy to be going home. At the same time, I wish I could stay and I know I must go.

Comfortable and fun as this may be, it's just not home.

I'm gonna just spend the next two days with Tyna. As much as possible.

Last Run

Just got back from my last run in Hobart. I started later than usual, when it was starting to get dark. The sunset was beautiful. It was a beautiful red but I hope it doesn't mean that it'll rain tomorrow.

Right now, I'm alternating between wanting to go home and wanting to stay because there's so many things I'll miss. It's irrational and I'm going to enjoy being irrational for awhile now.

Last Days

Last few days in Hobart. Most of my stuff are already in boxes, ready to be posted or given away.

Made up a list of things to do, just in case I forget anything. I shouldn't. Still have a few people to say goodbye to. The Marine Tce people. My apartment people. Su and her gang. Pei and Sharmila. Buy souvenirs.

I'm pretty surprised that I'll be leaving Tasmania with at least 1 and maybe 2 interveiw appointments. Maybe looking a job via the internet isn't that bad. In my limited and most other people's experience, job listings on the internet are not good.

Well, maybe the newspapers are better and I'm really missing out on that...

Maybe dinner with the Marine Tce people tomorrow and then they have a going away party for everyone. I think maybe I'll bring some alcohol.

Have a date with Tyna on Sunday. I'll miss her so much.

Single party rule ‘best for Singapore’

See also: Tomorrow.sg entry and Today Online article

Extracted from the FT.com article:

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s prime minister, has criticised Australia and New Zealand’s liberal democratic practices, suggesting that Singapore’s system, under which a single party has ruled since independence, is more efficient.

Mr Lee blamed Australia’s multi-party system for his failure to persuade Canberra to open its aviation market to state-owned Singapore Airlines, which is seeking to fly the transpacific route from Sydney to Los Angeles.

He said Australia’s National party, the minority partner in the ruling coalition, was against opening up the route because Qantas could threaten in response to cut unprofitable routes to rural areas where the party is strong. Qantas has opposed Singapore Airline’s entry on the transpacific route.

The decision was "a net loss" for Australia because it hurt tourism, Mr Lee said.

Inital reaction: WTF, where the are heck his speechwriters?!?

One failing of the PAP government of today is that they continue to define "goodness" in terms of economic prosperity. If it aids the nation in economic terms, it is good. If it does not or if it might in some way threaten prosperity, then it is "bad". Or should we say "ungood?"

I am surprised that our Prime Minster would apply this mindset to other nations, particularly to industralised liberal democracies.

Who is anyone but for Australians themselves to determine if not granting transpacific rights to SIA is really a "net loss"? It is for themselves to determine if servicing regional Australia is more important than XX million in extra tourist dollars.

Simple economic terms might very well have been the best way of thinking post-1965, in the 70s or even in the 80s. But I think we should move beyond using merely economics to define what is good and what is not.

"Goodness" need to be measured in some term other than economical. Social justice, given our state of economic progression, is just as important. The ungoodness of a lack of substantial dessenting view in Parliment far far outweighs any amount of efficiency that occurs.

Tania Leaving

Tania left early this morning. Sent her to the airport in PY's car early in the morning. Jetstar flight to SYD and then a bus ride home to CBR.

She left me a funny and touching goodbye letter, a goodbye hug and $10 for petrol. Petrol doesn't cost that much so I'm glad I brought her a chocolate milk to drink on the plane.

Another one out of my life.