Who am i?

I whisper to myself ,
asking myself where am i,
again and again,
all i heard is my heavy breathing.

Fear grows inside me,
anxiety fills me,
i try to think and focus,
but nothing came out of my simple mind.

I look in front of me ,
darkness, emptyness,
i whisper again to myself,
to feel my own presence
just in case im dead.

I try to blink to catch the possible light,
I feel nothing,i see nothing
I wonder whether i've blinked,
coz the darkness in front of me is so dark....
beyond my imagination.

I quiet myself,
to try to think and listen,
Everywhere is so quiet,
that my breathing become so loud.

to be cont....

Nelson Mandela: Fighter for Racial and Social Equity

Reported by Michelle Desarbo & Liza Young

Telephoning South Africa several times recently and speaking with Nelson Mandela’s team was exciting. To think that this Nobel Laureate (Peace Prize 1993) who was incarcerated for 27 years and was now traveling, had consented to appear in Education Update was a tribute to the African-Americans in this nation who have fought for peace and recognition through poetry, law, politics, danceand the written word.

Sacrificing his freedom in the name of democratic and social principles, Nelson Mandela has had a tremendous historical impact. From his early youth he was actively involved in fighting racial discrimination in South Africa. As a student, he was involved in a protest of the white minority government’s withholding of basic rights to South Africa’s vast Black population

Receiving his law degree, he opened a law firm, together with his college friend Oliver Tambo, which provided free oazr low-cost legal advice to many Black Africans who otherwise would have been grossly underserviced.

During his years as a student, Mandela began his involvement with the African National Congress (ANC), an organization promoting democratic policies in South Africa. He was instrumental in establishing the ANC Youth League and became its president in 1951.

Following the implementation of apartheid laws by the National Party (NP), which assumed power in 1948, Mandela and other members of the ANC protested apartheid laws through its Defense Campaign. In response to NP threats of disbanding the ANC, the “M” plan was formed. Named after Mandela, the plan resulted in the organization of smaller ANC units which would encouraged the earliest participation in the anti-apartheid movement.

Mandela’s anti-apartheid activities eventually led to his arrest, first to a five year sentence in 1956. In 1961 he was acquitted, but was again arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, during his imprisonment, Mandela covertly engaged in the struggle against apartheid, releasing a statement to the ANC, encouraging Africans to come together in the fight against apartheid.

Following his February 1990 release from prison, he ran for president of South Africa. He was officially elected in May 1994. During his term, he introduced the Reconstruction and Development Plan, economically fostering the creation of jobs, housing and basic healthcare. Mandela led South Africa’s shift away from apartheid, which finally ended in 1996. The newly formed constitution of South Africa in 1996 guaranteed the rights of minorities and freedom of speech.

Nelson Mandela’s contributions to socially equality continue today. The Nelson Mandela Foundation seeks to improve rural conditions of schools by soliciting direct accounts of what conditions are like in the particular rural area.

The Mandela Foundation has helped build over 140 schools. These Mandela Schools have been the focus of a development program. One of the objectives is to create centers of excellence in learning and teaching within communities. The Foundation strives for a deeper understanding of how rural communities view education and how they can improve their own lives. The Foundation tries to bring a deeper understanding between policy makers and the communities who need their help.

http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2005/february/html/Black-Mandela.html

Luv It !!

I love this song by Beyonce.I think it is well-written and actually convey the message that i have in mind.Sometimes i wonder why is it so difficult for male to communicate/understand female. After a semester course in Gender and Sexuality in school, i wonder if this can be fully explain by different stylistic communication as claimed by some sociologist in their research.
I appreciate the difference between 2 different sex ppl, but there are times which leave me wondering whether these diffrences can be eliminated after being with that person long enough, or whether these differences are what make a relationship stronger just like a treasure hunt game,where we uncover about your partner's personality as time pass.

BEYONCE - “IF I WERE A BOY” LYRICS

If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I’d roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted then go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I’d kick it with who I wated
And I’d never get confronted for it.
Cause they’d stick up for me.

[Chorus]
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man.
I’d listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he’s taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I could turn off my phone
Tell evveryone it’s broken
So they’d think that I was sleepin’ alone
I’d put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Cause I know that she’d be faithful
Waitin’ for me to come home (to come home)

(Chorus)

It’s a little too late for you to come back
Say its just a mistake
Think I’d forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong

(Chorus)

But you’re just a boy
You don’t understand
Yeah you don’t understand
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don’t listen to her
You don’t care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you’ve taken her for granted
And everything you have got destroyed
But you’re just a boy

Taken from http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/10/08/beyonce-if-i-were-a-boy-lyrics/

Reflection

I refelect on myself from time to time to ensure that i am living to the life that i want and aimed for.This trip to Saigon has been a meaningful one. I told myself to come with an open heart,embracing my title as the future sociologist:)

I observed alot of things here which make me feel very contented as i had a chance to see how others live their life here.There are times which i feel very sumpathetic towards the people who live in poverty here,but i also tell myself that i should respect their way of life.They may be poor,but they have their own way of leading their life and they have their own ways of searching for happiness. I should not sympathize them but i should respect them because i believe that all human brings in this world deserve sme respects from others no matter how much money they have in their pockets.

Things are done differently here..and it took me quite a long to understand why people do certain things, and it actually frustrates sometimes since i am so used to the bureacratic system which emphasize on efficiency as the utmost important criteria for the country. Well, in Saigon, people are more laid back and slow in their daily activities. Sometimes people do things such as transfering your goods from one basket to another after its being weight, instead of giving you back. Yes, puzzled me BUT it is interesting. I laughed to myself as i looked at that guy who kept throwing my fruits into another basket without giving it back to me. LAter did i know that i was supposed to collect all those from the basket which was 3 persons away from where i was standing. And i asked myself, why cant he pass it back to me so that i can put it in my basket since he is just beside me?!Funny!!!!! Well, it shows that they do learn from countries like Singapore who emphasize on effeciency and effectivenesss in their bureaucratic system.Isnt this scenario look like what you encounter when you're asked to put your passport and documents inside the basket by immigration officers instead of giving him straight away? GOOD JOB!

Trust is very important in every reltionship-be it girlfriend and boyfriend, or businessman and employees. But, what happen if there is lack of trust in some of these relationships? Well, you do it black and white! So, here, you need to handwrite contract when you purchase goods like furnitures and computers,then you passs it to the dealer. The dealer will deliver the goods to you on the date stated in the so called contract and then only you pay them.Well, its funny but its useful coz you dont want your grey table to turn out to be green table a few days later upon delivery...and people here are very 'forgetful'. One day its USD100 and the next day you talk to them, it will be USD 200.The price will always go up..but never come down.So they are real SMART!And you have to show them the contract as a prove, else you will surelly lose in the argument.

Also, people here wont reply your email if they dont understand your enquiry. L actually went to this woman who's a government officers but she didnt send him any notification.So, he went to ask her and her answer to him is"I dont understand you email" and full stops.Thus, the moral of the story is to make sure, you write something your receiver can understand else, you can wait years and years for the reply! heee..funny!

to be continued...............

Bad News

I found out something really heart wrenching today, one of my classmates commited suicide on his 22nd birthday which is on the 1st December.I couldnt believe what i read, and thought that it was a prank by some other friends when i saw on their blog.

Although i am not particularly close to him, but all my RP classmates used to have lunch together and help each other in school work.
He was a positive and friendly guy.He's the youngest student in our class.Everyone used to call him 'Pentium 1' due to blurr-ness and also easy-going attitude. He was born colour-blind but did not complain anything about his deficiency. He's helpful and likeable person in the class as he's not kiasu like many Singaporeans. I think many would miss his laughter which used to be slower than normal people 5 seconds which make him famous for his slow reaction time.

Looking at the picure in this newspaper report, i can understand the pain his family is going thru. As his ex-classmates, i couldnt believe what i saw .His parents must be shocked as well as aggigated seeing their beloved son which has a promising future shattered in front of them.

His death has taught me a lesson, to cherish people around me as if they are going to leave anytime and to live my life to the fullest.