Hai! My name is Li Jize of 2G(29). I like gaming(especially with friends), but also reading(not with friends). My CCA is National Cadet Corps(NCC). I can be mischievous at times, but I will be serious at appropriate times(maybe).
My Vision:
I hope to improve on my communication skills through this CID 2 module and apply them to my daily life. The thing I'm looking forward to is definitely the OELP trip to Hangzhou/Yangzhou(who isn't excited about overseas trips?), especially when I'm going there with my whole class of friends. Hopefully I can learn some new things about Hangzhou/Yangzhou, especially the places' traditions and cultures.
Lesson 1:
POVERTY IN SINGAPORE
In today's lesson, I learnt to not judge a book by its cover as we should not trust everything we see without knowing the whole story.
The teacher first show me two pictures, an abled-body man and a woman with a baby, both on the street begging, he asked us who we would give money to. I felt that I would donate to none of them as I felt that they are not doing anything to earn money, they are just sitting there asking for money. When the teacher told me the story of the two beggars, I have to admit I am pretty shocked. The man had lost his home in a war and the woman was from a beggar syndicate. I regretted choosing not to help any of them as I felt that the man served his country and should be treated fairly and the woman is forced into her role and she will only get a percentage of what her employer will get. In the end, I choose to donate to both of them as they have reasons that caused their poverty and I will be fair to both of them.
In conclusion, I think that we should always look at the big picture before jumping to conclusions.
Lesson 2:
GLOBALISATION
Globalisation, as of the Wikipedia definition, is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture. Advances in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the rise of the telegraph and its posterity the Internet, are major factors in globalization, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural activities.
MODERNIZATION VS WESTERNIZATION
Modernisation is does not completely mean westernization. One place can be modern and not be westernized. Modernization is different from westernization in the way that modernization is keeping up with the times but not necessarily in terms of culture and thinking. Westernization is to inculcate Western ideals and culture into everyday life. Take for example China, it was way more advanced than other western countries, but it was not westernized. This proves that westernization is a different thing than modernization.
Lesson 3:
Gross Domestic Product
Gross domestic product (GDP) is defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as "an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident, institutional units engaged in production."
GDP estimates are commonly used to measure the economic performance of a whole country or region, but can also measure the relative contribution of an industry sector. This is possible because GDP is a measure of 'value added' rather than sales; it adds each firm's value added. For example, a firm buys steel and adds value to it by producing a car; double counting would occur if GDP added together the value of the steel and the value of the car. Because it is based on value added, GDP also increases when an enterprise reduces its use of materials or other resources to produce the same output.
The more familiar use of GDP estimates is to calculate the growth of the economy from year to year. The pattern of GDP growth is held to indicate the success or failure of economic policy and to determine whether an economy is 'in recession'.(Wikipedia)
Gross domestic product measures the value of a country's overall goods and services at market prices, without including income from abroad. In the U.S., for example, GDP figures are released quarterly. Although the GDP gauges the economy's health, it can also have either a positive or negative effect on the economy. Because of its importance, financial analysts and government officials pay close attention to the GDP.
Business Planning
Businesses use the GDP as a planning tool to decide whether they will expand or contract in the coming year. If the GDP has grown since the last year, a company may take the growth as a positive sign and hire more employees, build a new factory or purchase more raw materials for production. Conversely, when the GDP shrinks, firms may not focus on expanding their operations. Instead, many will concentrate on survival.
Changes in Currency Values
When a country releases its GDP data, its currency can appreciate or depreciate as a result. Let's say that the U.S. releases its GDP for the past year, and the GDP has risen since the last time the data was published. It will likely take more of a foreign currency--for example, the British pound--to buy fewer U.S. dollars. If the U.S. GDP shrinks in comparison to the previous year, it will generally cost fewer British pounds to buy more U.S. dollars.
Government Policies
As the GDP measures economic performance, governments watch it closely. A low GDP will cause a government to embark on a different economic policy, one which will boost economic performance. If, on the other hand, the GDP rises from the previous year, the government will propose policies to maintain economic growth, but will also seek to prevent inflation.
Interest Rate Changes
Rising or shrinking GDP also affects interest rates. The interest rate refers to the amount of money charged for loans. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve sets the basic interest rates. If the GDP rises, it means the economy has grown. GDP growth also means that people are spending more money to purchase goods on the market. To prevent inflation, the Federal Reserve will raise the prime interest rate, making the supply of money scarcer. When the GDP shrinks, the Federal Reserve often lowers the interest rate, making it easier to borrow money and encouraging expenditures.
Over time, the growth in GDP causes inflation, and inflation begets hyperinflation. Once this process is in place, it can quickly become a self-reinforcing feedback loop. This is because in a world where inflation is increasing, people will spend more money because they know that it will be less valuable in the future. This causes further increases in GDP in the short term, bringing about further price increases. Also, the effects of inflation are not linear; 10% inflation is much more than twice as harmful as 5% inflation. These are lessons that most advanced economies have learned through experience; in the U.S., you only need to go back about 30 years to find a prolonged period of high inflation, which was only remedied by going through a painful period of high unemployment and lost production as potential capacity sat idle.
Average income of countries
- Singapore: $78763
- Germany: $44469
- Japan: $36449
- South Korea: $33140
- Thailand: $14394
- China: $11907
- Indonesia: $9561
- USA: $53042
- Malaysia: $23338
Lesson 4:
Reflection of my classmates' presentations on their product
We can all improve on our presentation as they lack persuation. Too many unnecessary information are in our presentation and the way we say things are not very favourable. Like saying that the product is made in China but you do not have to worry. This makes the customer hesitate in buying the product as the way it is said is terrible. We can phrase it better to say that he product's materials are made of the best in China, by doing this, the customer will not be discouraged to buy the product. Our own presentation is boring and unappealing, but I think that Damien Wee from another group has done a great job in delivering his presentation. Many of the information he said are linked to the product itself and he even made the presentation light-hearted and humorous.
Lesson 5:
Favourite quote of Lee Kuan Yew
My personal favourite quote of Lee Kuan Yew is "I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind." This shows that Lee Kuan Yew ability to speak his thoughts is so good, that even his worst enemy cannot deny it is indeed great.
Lesson 6:
Golden Age
Today, Miss Teo taught us about the golden age of a country, which means a period of peace and progress in that country.
We learnt that China's Golden Age was the Tang Dynasty as there were significant developments in art, literature, particularly poetry, and technology. It was indeed a period of stunning development in China. China thus, became the wealthiest, most populous, and most sophisticated civilization in the world then. Through the lesson, my knowledge of what a golden age is and my understanding of China's own golden age deepened.
I feel that the 3 identifications of a Golden Age are:
-Aesthetics/ Arts and Cultures -> dance, poems, etc. -> extremely well-known
-Political stability/Good government -> laws maintained, economy grows. -> peaceful and prosperous country
-Advancement in Technology -> improve the lives of people(convenience, etc.) as well as the country itself(weaponary, research, etc.) -> progress in overall development of the country
Lesson 7:
Icon of Singapore
I feel that the Merlion would be a good icon to represent Singapore. It has a lion's head and a fish's body, hence the name Merlion, similar to the word "mermaid". Singapore was once called Singapura, meaning "Lion City" in Malay, thus the head of a lion. Singapore was also a fishing village once, hence the body of a fish. The head of a lion and the body of a fish give Singaporeans an unique identity.
The Merlion also serves as a reminder of our roots, as well as our achievements, since it dates back to quite a long time ago. It is there to tell us that Singapore has become the "Lion City" it is today, is through the many years of hard work. So, the Merlion still stands tall and proud in many places of Singapore today, reflecting as our city's image.
Even though the Merlion is not real, just a myth, it proves that Singaporeans are creative in their own ways, to create such an icon that is well-known, yet unreal. Sure, it might mean that Singaporeans like to dream, but see how a mythical creature can become an important part of Singapore, means Singaporeans' dreams are able to come true, and even be influential.
The Merlion is plays such a huge role in Singapore history that it is imprinted onto coins in Singapore, reminding people everyday and any time to not forgot about our past and accomplishments thus far. Furthermore, for this year's SG50 celebration, coins of the Merlion are released. This goes to show the huge symbolism of the Merlion to Singapore itself. Therefore, I chose the Merlion as an icon of Singapore.
Lesson 8:
Can we use the Merlion as our national icon?
Having the Merlion as our national icon gives us a sense of belonging since it is part of the Singapore culture and tradition. However, people will argue on whether the Merlion should be the national icon, more likely the youngsters nowadays, who do not support the Merlion being the national icon as they do not feel the connection between the Merlion and themselves.
In conclusion, I think that that the Merlion should be used for our national icon due to the fact that it represents Singapore's achievements and culture, but it does not receive the popularity it deserves.
I would suggest sharing the importance of the Merlion to Singapore through different ways such as social networks and broadcasts to make people understand why the Merlion should be the national icon. Then, the Merlion will get the place it deserves in every Singaporean's heart.
Lesson 9: Research on tourist attractions in Hangzhou
Yue Fei Temple:
-built in honour of Yue Fei, a general of the Southern Song dynasty
-located near the West Lake
-first constructed during the Song Dynasty in 1221
-reconstructed several times later
-tombs and tomb sculptures all dates from the 12th century and have been meticulously restored
West Lake:
-a freshwater lake
-divided into 5 sections by 3 causeways
-numerous temples, pagodas, gardens and artificial islands within it
-influenced many poets and painters throughout China's history
Dragon Well Tea Village:
-a plantation is located in it
-most real and original place that produces Dragon Well tea
-tea booths and houses in the area existed for a long time
-ventilation there causes the tea to grow well
After five hours of flight, we finally reached Shanghai Pudong International Airport, where we meet our tour guide, Sun Jie. We were given a burger and it tasted nothing like the ones in Singapore while we left the airport on the bus towards the bullet train station. On the train, I whipped out my laptop to type in some stuff since it would take us an hour to reach Hangzhou.
Upon arriving in Hangzhou, we took the bus and visited Yue Fei Mausoleum. The only thing I have to say was that the place was huge just for paying respect to someone. Or was it for tourism purposes? We were given a brief history of the place by the tour guide.
After visiting the mausoleum, we went for the cruise on West Lake. I was actually looking forward to seeing the West Lake, but I totally fell asleep throughout the whole cruise... I had to ask my friends what was there to see. They said the view was rather enjoyable and it was beautified by surrounding pagodas and greenery.
OELP Day 2: Hangzhou
At the Chenghuang Pagoda, we had a traditional dessert that had a very delicate taste with a sweet after taste. It was thick and I like it. There were Er Hu and Gu Zheng players playing some music for us as we had our desert. But not many of my classmates liked the desert and they gave me their share of the food after knowing I
really liked it.
OELP Day 3: Yang Zhou
What's Happening:
OELP Day 4: Yangzhou
What's Happening:
The Slender West Lake is like the West Lake, except you know, more slender. Features of the West Lake can be seen there and some unique ones that I've never ever seen before.
We also went to the DongGuanMen History Street, where we were given some free time to go around and buy stuff. Nothing really caught my attention there, so all I bought was some milk tea and fried potato. But what I did find intriguing was that the place looked like an ancient street in China, and this further reinforced my thinking that China really wants to preserve its culture.
At night, we enjoyed QianQiuFenDai performance and it was quite entertaining, yet simple. There was one scene where a comedian, started talking in their Yangzhou dialect and almost none of us understood. I was able to understand some parts though, since it sounds very familiar to my parents' dialect, and some part were indeed quite funny.
The activities planned were all related to Chinese culture, such as calligraphy, knot-tying, the playing of musical instruments and the making of Zongzi, my classmates even volunteered to go up to the stage to perform using the instruments and they weren't too bad at it. After the activities, our buddies brought us around the school to explore. I found out that students in Yang Da Fu Zhong occasionally have breaks throughout the day for them to rest. And of course, they use Chinese during lessons rather than English. They have many activities that the school is Singapore definitely do not and it is rather interesting to participate in the activities. The food they serve in their canteen is really good as well.
OELP overall reflection
This journey has been an fulfilling one. I've learnt many lessons along the way in the period of 1 week. China's culture is a fascinating one and I would certainly want to learn more about it through this kind of events. But what's most important was that the trip was fun and I can still remember every detail of it, even now. Thanks to all the teachers- Mr John Tan, Miss Swee Siow Hui and Mrs Lee Teo for coming with us on this trip to make it more enjoyable. But of course, we have to thank the tour guides as well for their hard work.
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Reflection of my classmates' presentations on their product
We can all improve on our presentation as they lack persuation. Too many unnecessary information are in our presentation and the way we say things are not very favourable. Like saying that the product is made in China but you do not have to worry. This makes the customer hesitate in buying the product as the way it is said is terrible. We can phrase it better to say that he product's materials are made of the best in China, by doing this, the customer will not be discouraged to buy the product. Our own presentation is boring and unappealing, but I think that Damien Wee from another group has done a great job in delivering his presentation. Many of the information he said are linked to the product itself and he even made the presentation light-hearted and humorous.
Lesson 5:
Favourite quote of Lee Kuan Yew
My personal favourite quote of Lee Kuan Yew is "I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind." This shows that Lee Kuan Yew ability to speak his thoughts is so good, that even his worst enemy cannot deny it is indeed great.
Lesson 6:
Golden Age
Today, Miss Teo taught us about the golden age of a country, which means a period of peace and progress in that country.
We learnt that China's Golden Age was the Tang Dynasty as there were significant developments in art, literature, particularly poetry, and technology. It was indeed a period of stunning development in China. China thus, became the wealthiest, most populous, and most sophisticated civilization in the world then. Through the lesson, my knowledge of what a golden age is and my understanding of China's own golden age deepened.
I feel that the 3 identifications of a Golden Age are:
-Aesthetics/ Arts and Cultures -> dance, poems, etc. -> extremely well-known
-Political stability/Good government -> laws maintained, economy grows. -> peaceful and prosperous country
-Advancement in Technology -> improve the lives of people(convenience, etc.) as well as the country itself(weaponary, research, etc.) -> progress in overall development of the country
Lesson 7:
Icon of Singapore
I feel that the Merlion would be a good icon to represent Singapore. It has a lion's head and a fish's body, hence the name Merlion, similar to the word "mermaid". Singapore was once called Singapura, meaning "Lion City" in Malay, thus the head of a lion. Singapore was also a fishing village once, hence the body of a fish. The head of a lion and the body of a fish give Singaporeans an unique identity.
The Merlion also serves as a reminder of our roots, as well as our achievements, since it dates back to quite a long time ago. It is there to tell us that Singapore has become the "Lion City" it is today, is through the many years of hard work. So, the Merlion still stands tall and proud in many places of Singapore today, reflecting as our city's image.
Even though the Merlion is not real, just a myth, it proves that Singaporeans are creative in their own ways, to create such an icon that is well-known, yet unreal. Sure, it might mean that Singaporeans like to dream, but see how a mythical creature can become an important part of Singapore, means Singaporeans' dreams are able to come true, and even be influential.
The Merlion is plays such a huge role in Singapore history that it is imprinted onto coins in Singapore, reminding people everyday and any time to not forgot about our past and accomplishments thus far. Furthermore, for this year's SG50 celebration, coins of the Merlion are released. This goes to show the huge symbolism of the Merlion to Singapore itself. Therefore, I chose the Merlion as an icon of Singapore.
Lesson 8:
Can we use the Merlion as our national icon?
Before I answer this question, think about it, is it necessary to even have a national icon at all? Well, in my opinion, we should have a national icon since it represents our nation's culture, and even our tradition to the world . Not only that, it also reminds the citizens of their roots as the national icon would have a link to the past of a country. Although the Merlion was partly created for tourism purposes, it also holds us back to our roots. It even tells about our myths and history: the lion part of the Merlion came from the sightings of lions and the fish part came from Singapore being a fishing village. In fact, there are many other myths and legends relating to this majestic creature.
Even though the Merlion is not real, just a myth, it proves that Singaporeans are creative in their own ways, to create such an icon that is well-known, yet unreal. Sure, it might mean that Singaporeans like to dream, but see how a mythical creature can become an important part of Singapore, means Singaporeans' dreams are able to come true, and even be influential.
The Merlion best represents our country as it is truly unique to Singapore and a part of Singapore histoy, which nothing else can really do. There is Vanda Miss Joquaim, which may be the first of its kind in the world, but it does not say much about Singapore at all. There is the Chnagi Airport, which is just a reflection on Singapore's advancement and service and nothing else. I feel that the most important factor to support the fact that the Merlion is our best national icon is that it gives us our identity, tying us back to our past and our many accomplishment such that the Merlion can stand tall and proud today, just like Singapore itself. The name combines "Mer" meaning the sea, representing Singapore's origin as a small fishing village, or even Singapore being surrounded by the sea, while "lion" represents Singapore as the first-world city it is today.Having the Merlion as our national icon gives us a sense of belonging since it is part of the Singapore culture and tradition. However, people will argue on whether the Merlion should be the national icon, more likely the youngsters nowadays, who do not support the Merlion being the national icon as they do not feel the connection between the Merlion and themselves.
In conclusion, I think that that the Merlion should be used for our national icon due to the fact that it represents Singapore's achievements and culture, but it does not receive the popularity it deserves.
I would suggest sharing the importance of the Merlion to Singapore through different ways such as social networks and broadcasts to make people understand why the Merlion should be the national icon. Then, the Merlion will get the place it deserves in every Singaporean's heart.
Lesson 9: Research on tourist attractions in Hangzhou
Yue Fei Temple:
-built in honour of Yue Fei, a general of the Southern Song dynasty
-located near the West Lake
-first constructed during the Song Dynasty in 1221
-reconstructed several times later
-tombs and tomb sculptures all dates from the 12th century and have been meticulously restored
West Lake:
-a freshwater lake
-divided into 5 sections by 3 causeways
-numerous temples, pagodas, gardens and artificial islands within it
-influenced many poets and painters throughout China's history
Dragon Well Tea Village:
-a plantation is located in it
-most real and original place that produces Dragon Well tea
-tea booths and houses in the area existed for a long time
-ventilation there causes the tea to grow well
OELP Day 1 Shanghai/Hangzhou
What's Happening:
What's Happening:
- Bullet Train Ride
- Visit to Yue Fei Mausoleum
- West Lake Cruise
- Visit to Dragon Well Tea Plantation
We are leaving Singapore for the trip today! After bidding our parents farewell, we boarded the plane for Shanghai. It's exciting to not have parents with me on this trip.
After five hours of flight, we finally reached Shanghai Pudong International Airport, where we meet our tour guide, Sun Jie. We were given a burger and it tasted nothing like the ones in Singapore while we left the airport on the bus towards the bullet train station. On the train, I whipped out my laptop to type in some stuff since it would take us an hour to reach Hangzhou.
The tickets are rather expensive for a train ride, but it's a bullet train after all. However, I've ridden a bullet train before so the experience wasn't very new for me. Riding the train was extremely comfortable as the ride was very smooth and the seats were comfy. Food and drinks are allowed aboard the train, which is totally different from that of Singapore.
After visiting the mausoleum, we went for the cruise on West Lake. I was actually looking forward to seeing the West Lake, but I totally fell asleep throughout the whole cruise... I had to ask my friends what was there to see. They said the view was rather enjoyable and it was beautified by surrounding pagodas and greenery.
水光潋滟晴方好，
山色空蒙雨亦奇。
欲把西湖比西子，
淡妆浓抹总相宜。
This poem depicts the West Lake as a place of much beauty, take for example the greenery around it, the pagodas in it, the mountains surrounding it and the water is clear. It is indeed a scene to behold. I couldn't agree more with this poem, especially after visiting the place myself.
After the cruise, we went to the Dragon Well Tea Plantation, where we were told about the history and benefits of Dragon Well Tea. We were then given samples and after the talk, they sold the tea. However, I did not like tea at all, so I didn't buy any of it.
On the way back to the hotel that evening, I saw my father's university and I was pretty amazed since this was the first time I've seen it, apart from the photos my father has shown me.
The hotel was simply amazing. It was big. It was clean. And there was WIFI. What else could one ask for?
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OELP Day 2: Hangzhou
What's Happening:
- Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum Visit
- China National Silk Museum Visit
- Chenghuang Pagoda Visit
- Song Dynasty City Visit
- Watching of Song Dynasty Performance
At the Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln museum, we were given some clay to make a simple artwork and we also learned about the history and art of Chinese pottery and porcelain. There were many works of art in the museum, especially clay ones. The clay artwork I made was quite underwhelming compared to some of my classmates', but it looked rather funny.
Next, we went to the China National Silk Museum, where we were given a tour around the area about the history, uses, culture of silk and how it was made. I didn't know that silk has so many interesting features until then.
really liked it.
We headed for the Song Dynasty City where we were given some time to explore a small area. Song Dynasty City has preserved the cultures and tradition of the Song Dynasty in it. We then proceeded to watch the performance "The Romance of the Song Dynasty". The performance was spectacular was I was only able to concentrate on the action on the amazing stage.
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I felt that the performance was great as they have managed to tell of Hangzhou's history in a way that will keep the audience in their seats. With this performance alone, they would be able to promote their history and culture. And of course, dinner was great that day as well.
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OELP Day 3: Yang Zhou
What's Happening:
- Chinese Paper Cutting Museum Visit
- Ge Yuan Garden Visit
The bus ride to Yangzhou took around 4 or 5 hours and I totally fell asleep for the whole ride, before finally reaching Yangzhou. We headed for the Chinese Paper Cutting Museum, where we were introduced to paper cutting. After a tour around the place, we had some hands-on activity and we tried to cut our own paper. Paper-cutting is way more difficult than I had imagined and I ended up crushing my work due to it looking like crap.
Next, we visited the Ge Yuan Garden, which was owned and built by a merchant named Huang Zhi Yun. It is famous for its "four seasons", spring, summer, autumn and winter, where parts of the garden has the features of one of the four seasons. The scenery is what makes the garden look so magnificent with the many plants and rocks. For the first time in forever, I was able to be captivated by a garden's beauty. The owner of the garden placed his whole life's experiences into making this garden. Life lessons I learnt: equip yourself with knowledge and contribute to the society.
Our new hotel was also quite high-classes too. If I recalled correctly, that night, my roommate went berserk and I had to lock myself in the bathroom to keep him away.
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What's Happening:
- Volkswagen Factory Visit
- Block Printing Museum Visit
- Slender West Lake Visit
- Xin Hua Bookstore Visit
- DongGuanMen History Street Visit
- Watching of Qianqiufendai Performace
At the Volkswagen factory, we were brought around the factory in small little cars and we were given a talk about how the cars were made. The tour was fascinating to me as it was the first time I have seen the inside of a factory in person and the process of the creation of cars in person. Too bad we can't take pictures in the factory.
At the block printing museum, we were given a short tour around before we were allowed to roam about on ourselves. The museum houses many many ancient relics and has been able to preserve them. I could tell that China is really keen on preserving their cultures.
The Slender West Lake is like the West Lake, except you know, more slender. Features of the West Lake can be seen there and some unique ones that I've never ever seen before.
Xin Hua bookstore was 6 stories high and, of course, books were sold there, alongside some toys and stationery. Prices were also way much lower here than in Singapore. I exceeded the time limit to buy stuff due to me wanting to buy a toy car(it is way cheaper than it is in Singapore).
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We also went to the DongGuanMen History Street, where we were given some free time to go around and buy stuff. Nothing really caught my attention there, so all I bought was some milk tea and fried potato. But what I did find intriguing was that the place looked like an ancient street in China, and this further reinforced my thinking that China really wants to preserve its culture.
At night, we enjoyed QianQiuFenDai performance and it was quite entertaining, yet simple. There was one scene where a comedian, started talking in their Yangzhou dialect and almost none of us understood. I was able to understand some parts though, since it sounds very familiar to my parents' dialect, and some part were indeed quite funny.
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OELP Day 5: Yangzhou
What's Happening:
What's Happening:
- School Immersion
- Dinner at Lushi Old Mansion
- Visitation of Supermarket
Early in the morning, we headed out for Yang Da Fu Zhong, which is way larger than our school. I was excited that day and I couldn't wait to meet up with my buddy, even though I totally forgot to contact him before coming. We were greeted by the principal of the school, who gave a short speech. After that, our China buddies performed for us. Their performance was great and I can see a lot of effort put into them.
After their performance, it was our turn. Our performance for them did not turn out very well, due to a fault in the music, and it was kind of embarrassing. At the end of our "performance", we were introduced to our buddies, and mine was very welcoming, totally different from me, but we got along pretty well. We chatted for a few moments and exchanged gifts before the activities started. I learnt quite a fair bit of his school life, and not to my surprise, their school life is way stressful than ours.
They start school as early as 6.30am and end as late as 10.30pm. But there's one thing that shocked me was that they only had CCA 1 or 2 times a week and is only 45 minutes. I had assumed the students in China focused more on their studies than anything else, since their school hours is way longer than anything.
Not long after, the programmes started and I had a lot of fun with my buddy, exchanging conversations.
We headed for the Lushi Old Mansion after that. It was built in 1987 during the Qing Dynasty by another merchant by the name of Lu Shaoxu. It was restored in 1980. It is currently operating as a restaurant and also served as a venue for certain events. A traditional dishes were served there, and I enjoyed it. The dinner we had there was unforgettable.
After that we went to the local supermarket, which is just below our hotel. It's like a regular market though. My group and I went around studying the prices of certain items and noting them down. I bought a few snacks so that I could eat something for the next few days.
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OELP Day 6: Yangzhou/Shanghai
What's Happening:
- Visit to Buddy's Home
- Visit to The Bund
- Nanjing Road Shopping Trip
Today, we are paying a visit to our buddies's house. We walked for 45 minutes to his house, buying some magazines on the way, and I saw many street vendors too, but I know better than to buy from them. I found it shocking that my buddy would run to school everyday in just 20 minutes, no wonder he's in he school's tract-and-field team.
The buddy then gave us a tour around the house and we chatted for a few minutes. Then, we went to his room, where we played games on his PlayStation3. Not long after, it was time to eat. My buddy's mother have came over to join us for the meal. Their food was great, tastes almost like what I eat at home, and the milk was extraordinarily amazing. I asked him about the cost of living there, and he said it was fairly well, well enough that living there was acceptable. I continued to ask him about his life, such as his homework and sleep, and he said he was able to manage his time to finish his homework and get enough sleep, so he only uses his devices during the weekends such that he wouldn't be distracted during weekdays. When I questioned whether he had tuition, he replied with a proud no, so I assumed he's very very smart.
We talked about Singapore and Yangzhou while enjoying the appetizing food. Sadly, time got by very fast, and we soon had to leave. We then took a taxi back to the school. I was extremely shocked at how cheap a taxi ride was over there. We added each other on QQ to keep in touch.
After returning to the school, we got on the bus and headed for Shanghai by bus. After dinner, we visited The Bund, which is a waterfront area in central Shanghai centering a section of Zhongsan road. It was beautiful during the night time as the lights on the building were all turned on, making the scenery really nice and pretty.
Then, we went to Nanjing Road, where we were given free time to go shopping. I bought a stuffed toy just for fun. I realised that the items prices were even more expensive than those in Singapore. Shanghai is certainly an expensive place to live in. The tour guide also explained to us that Shanghai is one of the top few most expensive city to live in, and also more expensive than Singapore.
However, I took almost 30 minutes of my time just to find a bathroom. 30. Minutes. That's way to inconvenient，my bladder was going to burst.
However, I took almost 30 minutes of my time just to find a bathroom. 30. Minutes. That's way to inconvenient，my bladder was going to burst.
That night we stayed at a holiday inn, and just like the other hotels, the place did not disappointed as well.
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OELP Day 7: Shanghai/Singapore
What's Happening:
- Visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
- Returning Home
It's the last day of OELP. Early in the morning, we went to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. I liked the design of the building as it is really one-of-a-kind.
Upon entering, we were given a tour around, and we were introduced to the the history of Shanghai, what it is like now, and what it will be like in the future. Looking at the modern Shanghai now and the past Shanghai, this city have certainly come a long way and its achievements are showcased in this hall. There is a model of the entire city and it was really impressive due to its massive size. Furthermore, it was quite detailed. The effort put into it must be huge, from this I can see that creators of the model must love Shanghai a lot to be so dedicated into making the model.
After that, we were on our way to the airport. I was reluctant to bid farewell to China, so I bought a paper cut-out there to bring back home. On the plane, I could'nt stop thinking about the 7 days we had spent in China.
Upon entering, we were given a tour around, and we were introduced to the the history of Shanghai, what it is like now, and what it will be like in the future. Looking at the modern Shanghai now and the past Shanghai, this city have certainly come a long way and its achievements are showcased in this hall. There is a model of the entire city and it was really impressive due to its massive size. Furthermore, it was quite detailed. The effort put into it must be huge, from this I can see that creators of the model must love Shanghai a lot to be so dedicated into making the model.
After that, we were on our way to the airport. I was reluctant to bid farewell to China, so I bought a paper cut-out there to bring back home. On the plane, I could'nt stop thinking about the 7 days we had spent in China.
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OELP overall reflection
This journey has been an fulfilling one. I've learnt many lessons along the way in the period of 1 week. China's culture is a fascinating one and I would certainly want to learn more about it through this kind of events. But what's most important was that the trip was fun and I can still remember every detail of it, even now. Thanks to all the teachers- Mr John Tan, Miss Swee Siow Hui and Mrs Lee Teo for coming with us on this trip to make it more enjoyable. But of course, we have to thank the tour guides as well for their hard work.
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Cost Of Living
So, I had asked my buddy about the cost of living in Yangzhou and he said that it was reasonable. His parents' salary was enough to sustain the family well enough. He said that the things there are rather affordable and they need not worry of not having enough money. From the PS3 console in their house and other devices, which are up-to-date, I could tell they are definitely not lacking in money. Their house was clean and tidy, not what I had expected, even though it was pretty small. From what I could tell, they were satisfied with their current situation. They even had a pet, so I guess they aren't really in need of monetary aid.
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Education
I didn't attend any lessons with my buddy, but from what my friends told me, I have a brief idea on the students' behaviour in class and the style of teaching. My friends told me that in every lesson the students attended, they were focused, quite unlike us. Talking in class is apparently not allowed, which is definitely different from us. However, I was told that the teachers just feed information to the students without much interaction, which I find rather ineffective. But the most significant difference between us and them is that they are way more proactive during classes. They would fight to answer questions, their eagerness during lessons surprises me, no one is that ready to study. Even more shocking is the fact that they would go beyond than just knowing the answer, they would ask the teacher how to work it out, or if there is other methods. They are willing to improve themselves, searching for ways to make themselves more knowledgable. That is why the students there are much more intelligent than us, we aren't proactive enough and we certainly don't find ways to improve ourselves.
I further questioned him on his life and the answers are quite interesting. He told me that he was able to cope with the amount of homework even though school ends late, and have enough sleep. I was schocked and he explained to me that he doesn't use his devices during weekdays`, so that he won't be distracted from work. And then I found out he had a timetable planned out for his weekdays. It was so detailed that I couldn't believe he made it himself. I also learned that he doesn't have tuition since he said he doesn't need any, he must be very smart to not need any tuition. He spends about 3-4 hours a day on homework, but only 45-90 minutes on CCA. He has at least 7 hours of sleep a day, which is just abut how much I get. But the thing is that they get to get some sleep during their long lunch break. So I think their life is rather more difficult than ours, since they have more work, longer school hours than us and they need better planning of time than us as well.
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Monument
I had asked my buddy to get me a mail (couln't get ahold of any postcards) and stamp so that I could send a short paragraph back home to inform my parents about my current situation. Though my parents have sent many mails back to China, I have not even sent a mail anywhere before.
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(I really hoped that my parents received it and they did, but they critisized on my handwriting and my lame paragraph.)
Here's a poem I wrote about the monument of my choice, Yue Fei's Mausoleum.
北宋末年率兵打将，
大将好汉身上见。
精忠报国背上刻，
忠诚忠心心上刻。
好人不定有好报，
最终被秦桧背叛。
怎么安魂爱国者？
建他一座岳飞庙。
Yue Fei was a patriot of his country, he was a great man and lead a army. But a good man do not always receive goods as well- he was betrayed by Qin Hui. How to let a lover-of-the-country's soul go to rest? Build him a Yue Fei Mausoleum.
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