Weekly Reflection 7

What is my ideal career and how can I work towards it? What is my ‘to-be list’?

To me my ideal career should have the following characteristics: what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for and what the world needs which can be described as Ikigai in Japanese. For me my ideal career will be a medical researcher as I am good at and have a love for chemistry. Being a medical researcher enables me to make a living while helping people at the same time by making scientific breakthroughs in the medical field. My to-be list is to be more confident, improve my communication skills and leadership skills. These skills are transferable skills which can be used in many different situations unlike technical skills which can only be applied to specific fields.

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Term 1 Reflection

What is the best part and hardest part about Term 1?

The best part about Term 1 is learning about Modern Slavery in Identities and Citizenship. I have learnt that even still today, people are being exploited around the globe, being tricked or forced into working in inhospitable environments. It has really broadened my view of citizenship such as Global Citizenship as there are different roles and responsibility of a citizen.

The hardest part about Term 1 is writing the blog posts for the reflections, I have never expressed my opinions online before and I find it difficult for me to answer these questions.

How can I apply what I’ve learnt?

I can apply what I’ve learnt by sharing what I’ve learnt in this module to my family and friends. For example, I can help spread awareness about companies which support or takes part in Modern Slavery to my friends and family.

I’ve also learnt about the conditions our foreign workers are living in. Before this module, I’ve always thought that foreign workers needs and welfare are taken of. However, it has  been brought up to me that the foreign workers in Singapore are living in poor conditions, I can apply what I’ve learnt by supporting the initiatives to help those foreign workers who are mistreated such as those who aren’t paid on time and those whose injuries aren’t taken care of.

What else do I still want to learn?

I would like to learn more about the humanitarian crisis in countries such as North Korea and Syria and the problems the citizens there face daily.

What? We Kinda’ Caused the Haze?

What? We Kinda’ Caused the Haze?

I chose this blog activity because annually, Singapore faces haze problem which causes health, economic and environmental issues, but we simply attribute it to the deforestation happening in Indonesia. I wish to bring light to what we don’t know is that we are indirectly causing the haze by the consumption decisions we make.  For example, palm oil and paper are produced in a unsustainable way as it causes long term harm to the environment and people. In 2014, Singapore produced 1.27 tonnes of paper and cardboard waste!

Palm oil is environmentally friendly as it requires less fertilizer and pesticides and has high yields per hectare. However, the way we produce it is unsustainable, therefore the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was established to promote and use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO).

What we can do as individuals is to use FSC or 100% recycled pulp and paper options when buying wood-based products.   For palm oil, look out for brands such as IKEA, Tesco, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle and Unilever which uses certified sustainable palm oil.

We also can reduce consumption of edible oil by cooking with less oil or eating less fried food which is also beneficial for your health! Other than that, we can use an air fryer which requires no additional oil being added to the food.

Other than that, we also can reduce our usage of paper by using both sides of the paper. reusing scrap paper and recycling. This will ensure that less trees are cut down in order to make paper.

To combat the haze issue, Singapore adopted the usage of the enacted Trans-boundary Haze Pollutant Act in 2014. In 2015, Singapore has taken legal action on 5 companies and sent a team comprising of 40 Singapore Armed Forces’ and Singapore Civil Defence Force officers in an effort to fight forest fires in Indonesia.

In conclusion, I feel that we should do our part as Local and Regional Citizens to help combat the haze issue that is currently affecting the region. Even ordinary citizens like us can make a great impact by choosing what products we use and the amount we use.

 

https://webreathewhatwebuy.com/

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-will-continue/2216266.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-clamps-down-on-five-firms-over-haze

pmhaze.org/be-a-haze-fighter/5-ways-to-fight-haze/

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Made in Singapore

Did you know that the thumb drives we use so often today was originally made by Singapore-based Trek Technology? Who would have thought that such a tiny device is able to store large amounts of data within it?

First sold in 2000, the thumb drive is a small device capable of storing a lot of data that can be easily carried around compared to a hard drive or a disc. The thumb drive is used widely today because of its convenience and usefulness. It truly is a revolutionary invention.

What would i create if i was an inventor?

I chose this blog activity because ever since i was young, i wanted to improve life for humanity, be it directly such as being a doctor or indirectly such as being a researcher. So, if i was an inventor, i would create a cure for cancer. I know that currently, there are treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy. However, these treatments have side effects and are not guaranteed to succeed. These treatments are expensive and cause suffering to the patient. Currently, there are new ways to identify cancer cells, this allows targeted chemotherapy so that less healthy cells will die during the process. However, it is only in its developmental stages and would require more research. My idea is to create a drug that can identify and kill cancer cells in the body without damaging other cells. This will minimize any side effects from taking the medicine.

In conclusion, I have never knew that Singapore was a hub for creative ideas. I’ve only thought that Singapore was a country renowned for its trading, tourism and education industries. This shows that we Singaporeans can be active Global Citizens by inventing products that are beneficial and used around the globe.

http://www.stuff.tv/sg/features/8-tech-creations-singaporeans-can-be-proud/3-thumb-drive

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Weekly Reflection 6

What if Singapore doesn’t have any foreign domestic workers or foreign construction workers? What will happen? Write a story (or a blog entry).

If Singapore doesn’t have any foreign domestic workers, there would be no one looking after our children and elderly at home while the women were working during the day.  It will no longer be a dual-income family nuclear that is very common now, as people who hire domestic workers usually are people from dual income families where both husband and wife are working.

If Singapore doesn’t have any foreign construction workers, who would build our HDB flats and commercial buildings that formed the beautiful landscape of Singapore?  Most Singaporeans wouldn’t want to do menial labour jobs which have low wages and tough working conditions like working under hot sun and not to mention the dangerous working environment as they need to working at heights.

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Weekly Reflection 5

What is a “good country” to me? Do I consider Singapore a good country?

A “good country” to me is a country that is able to effectively and efficiently manage their country’s resources. A good country should possess these few traits: Egalitarian, Self-sustaining, Community Spirit, Resilience and Continous Growth.

Singapore to me is a good country, even though we do not have natural resources such as oil and land, we strategically utilised our geographical location to make us one of the world’s largest trading hub and progressed significantly since its independence in 1965. Singapore also relies on its citizens to contribute to its economy. As Singapore is able to produce highly-skilled workers and professionals, our banking and finance industry is strong. 

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Unusual Occupations

To me, ‘unusual’ means that it is not well-known or talked about, jobs such as Lego Certified Professional, Professional Mountaineer and Sneaker Customizer are examples of unusual jobs as many people don’t even know these jobs exist. I chose this activity because I had always assumed that Singapore only has ordinary jobs such as Accountants and Researchers mostly targeting the science and business industry. I never knew that Singapore has a array of unique jobs that you could take up.

Mr Nicholas Foo, 36, is the only full-time artist in Singapore and Asia who is Lego Certified Professional. When he was 8 years old, he received his first set of Lego which was a car that sparked his interest in Lego. When he made a bear with a hidden compartment in its tummy using Lego bricks as a gift and uploaded it online, it garnered a lot of attention which made him decide to turn his hobby into his full-time career. Being a Lego Certified Professional, he is a trusted business partner of Lego which allows him to market and sell their products and services as Lego master artists.

I feel that in terms of occupation, if you are able to turn your passion into your career, it is a massive feat. Many people often choose jobs that offer high wages or are pressured by their parents to take up a job that they do not like, which may lead to job-hopping as they can’t find a job that suits them. If your passion is your job, you are able to earn a living whilst practising your hobby at the same time, what could be better than that?

https://sg.celebrity.yahoo.com/post/121967427534/meet-asias-only-certified-lego-professional

http://mustsharenews.com/unusual-jobs-in-singapore/

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Global Voices

 

https://globalvoices.org/2016/05/06/environmental-crisis-makes-protesters-of-chilean-fisherman-on-chiloe-island/

As I was browsing through the list of news articles on Global Voices, what struck me the most was this article. I’ve noticed that nowadays, Singapore has been having more erratic weather patterns mostly attributed to Global Warming. This made me wonder on what efforts other countries have done to combat the issue on Global Warming.

On Chiloe Island, the marine phenomenon known as red tide which is a rapid spread of algae which causes a higher concentration of toxins has affected the livelihood of many fishermen.

Many attribute the recent red tide to the excessive salmon industry which was hit by an algal boom which killed more than 24 million salmon. Two thousand tonnes of the salmon were disposed in a marine trench which is more than three thousand metres deep, and more than 130 kilometres from the coast. However, the environment minister simply dismissed the phenomenon to climate change. This caused protestors who have been protesting since 3^rd May 2016 to resort to road blockade, barricades and burning tires.  From this article, I feel that environmental issues should be taken more seriously.

In conclusion, I feel that the root cause of the problem should be investigated and dealt with appropriately by implementing preventive measures and proper plans to deal with the crisis.  Protecting the environment is everyone’s undeniable responsibilities, we should do our part as Global Citizens to help save the environment

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Kampong Glam Heritage Trail

Kampong Glam Heritage Trail

Kampong Glam

On 1 May 2016. I went with my sister to the Kampong Glam Heritage Trail.  I have chosen this heritage trail as it reminded me of when I was young, I visited the Malay Heritage Centre with my family during a Malay cultural event where I got to try out many different traditional Malay games that my parents used to play during their adolescence.  I remember how thrilled my parents were when they demonstrated to me how to play the games and it seemed like suddenly they were 20 years younger!

Comparatively, this second visit gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of Kampong Glam.

1. Malay Heritage Centre

The building that greeted us when we arrived was Istana Kampong Glam which was once home to Malay Royalty in Singapore.  The original residence of Sultan Hussein Shah was a timber hut.  The current two-storey Istana Kampong Glam was built in 1843 which was commissioned by Sultan Hussein Shah’s son, Sultan Mohammad Ali Iskandar who was recognised as the Sultan of Singapore in 1855.  In 1999, the government announced plans to develop a Malay Heritage Centre which involves conserving and redeveloping Kampong Glam.  Restoration work were undertaken from 1999 to 2004 and was opened in June 2005 as the Malay Heritage Centre by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Malay Heritage Centre

2. Gedung Kuning

Right beside the Malay Heritage Centre was Gedung Kuning which meant “Yellow Mansion” in Malay.  When we reached the area, a wedding was currently taking place at the location.  Opposite Gedung Kuning was a shop which showcased many traditional Malay instruments such as the gong and Gambus.  However, they did not allow taking of pictures.  The mansion was home to Tengku Mahmud, a grandson of Sultan Hussein.  In 1912, Haji Yusoff, a merchant of Javanese descent bought the mansion.  Gedung Kuning remained in his family’s possession until 1999 when the government acquired it for conversation works.  After conversation works were completed, it was opened as a restaurant to the public in late 2003.

Malay wedding reception at Gedung Kuning

1. 3. Former Pondok Java and Sultan Gate

On Baghdad Street, we were looking for Pondok Java, but to no avail.  After researching more about it, I found out that due to structural safety issues, Pondok Java was demolished in 2003.  The meaning of Pondoks are communal lodging houses which were set up to house newly arrived migrants from Indonesia and Malaysia.  Each Pondok could accommodate 40 or more people and there is a communal hall where residents could gather for prayers and kenduri.  Many of Pondok Java’s were travelling hawkers known for selling traditional Malay cuisine.

At Sultan Gate which was just in front of Baghdad street, we saw a variety of shop houses.  We found out that this area was known for its blacksmiths and masons.  Masons from Sultan Gate used to craft tombstones, stone mills, grinding slabs, mortar and pestles. The crafts they made were all done by hand.  By the late 1990s, there were only two blacksmiths left at Sultan Gate and the last foundry closed down in the mid-2000s after a fire.

Sultan Gate

4. Former Chong Cheng School and Chong Pun Girls’ School

Our next stop was the Former Chong Cheng School and Chong Pun Girls’ School which was on Aliwal Street.  The building was well maintained and was converted to Aliwal Arts Centre and Food and Beverages businesses.  Chong Cheng School was founded in 1903 as a boys’ school.  It was originally called Yang Zheng School before changing its name in 1909.  The school moved into the school compound at Aliwal Street in 1938.

Chong Pun Girls’ School was started at Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street.  Originally it was called Yu De Girls’ School before changing its name in 1917.  These two schools shared common facilities such as the school hall.  Both schools provided education when Singapore’s educational infrastructure were lacking back then.

Former Chong Cheng School and Former Chong Pun Girls’ School

5. Madrasah Alsagoof Al-Arabiah (Alsagoff Arab School)

Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah is the oldest surviving madrasah in Singapore.  Originally opened in March 1913, the school taught Muslim boys the tenets of Islam.  In the 1940s, the school started accepting girls, as the enrolment of girls increased and boys declined over the next two decades hence the trustees of the school decided to convert it into a girls’ school.  Today, its students are taught Mathematics, Science and Malay Language in addition to Islamic studies, Arabic and English.

Madrasah Alsagoof Al-Arabiah

6. North Bridge Road

North Bridge Road is one of the earliest built in Singapore.  This road has always been one of the liveliest commercial streets in the Kampong Glam area.  On this road, there were many food outlets selling Arab and Malay Cuisine food such as murtabaks, biryani and nasi padang.  I saw the famous Victory eating house and Singapore Zam Zam Restauraunt Pte Ltd which is famous for Curry Fish Head.

North Bridge Road

7. Arab Street

On Arab street, we saw many shops selling textiles and carpets.  We stopped at V.K. Abdul Samad & Co. where I met the son of the owner, Mr Hakim who is the 3^rd generation of the family running this business.  His father who is 56, was at home resting.  This shop has been around since 1952 and is one of the oldest shop on Arab Street.  I asked Mr Hakim about the history of this place and he told me that his family used to live on the second floor of the shop.  However, now the second floor is used for storage purposes.  Can you guess how old is Mr Hakim?  He is just 20 year old, 3 years older than me!

Mr Hakim, 3rd generation of V.K. Abdul Samad & Co.

        8. Bali Lane

Bali Lane was part of the former Kampong Bali along with Shaikh Madersah Lane which was removed, and was approximately around present-day Ophir Road.  By 1950, more Chinese had moved into Kampong Bali, many of them set up lodgings for coolies.  Newcomers who could not afford rent at first could stay there first and repay the rent after they find employment.

Bali Lane

9. Haji Lane

The term haji shows that a man returning from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.  Many pilgrims waiting to depart for, or returning from Mecca used to stay in Haji Lane’s shophouses.  At Haji Lane, there were many murals on the walls.  Haji Lane’s street art were commissioned by the local bars and cafes.  The street art at Haji Lane brought the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s attention who was concerned that the bold colour of the murals were not compatible with the other shop houses in the vicinity but I like the contrast.

Vibrant Haji Lane

10. Bussorah Street (former Kampong Tembaga)

Bussorah Street was originally called “Sultan Road” but was renamed in 1910 after a place in Iraq.  Bussorah Street, located right in front of Masjid Sultan was renowned for its food, culture, community spirit and distinctive districts such as Kampong Tembaga, Kampong Intan and Kampong Kaji.  Kampong Tembaga which means copper in Malay, was known from the Javanese coppersmiths who were once active there.

 

Bussorah Street

11. Bussorah Street (former Kampong Kaji)

Kampong Kaji which is the Javanese pronunciation of haji, was known for its men for their knowledge of the haj.  The pilgrim brokers who were called sheikh haji who were predominantly Javanese, Bugis, Banjars and Arabs were operating shop-houses in Kampong Kaji. Now, the shophouses have been turned into restauraunts.

12. Masjid Sultan

In 1823, the Sultan wanted a mosque near his residence at Kampong Glam.  The mosque with a simple structure with a three-tier tiled roof was built in 1824-1826.  In 1879, the grandson of Sultan Hussein, Sultan Alauddin Alam Shah, gave more land to the mosque.  By the early 1900s, the mosque was rebuilt. The present building was commissioned in 1924.  The work was done in phases as funds were raised and prayers continued to be conducted during the construction period.

Masjid Sultan

This return visit to the trail is very fruitful for me as it brings me a deep sense of citizenry feeling about Kampong Glam.  Back then, migrants and residents made their living in this place and now even though it is no longer a residential area, the government has done a great job in preserving Kampong Glam and retained her historic cultural flavours and scent in the trails that not only serve as a great tourist attraction but also for Singaporeans like me to pass down to our future generations.

In conclusion, what I’ve learnt from this visit to the Kampong Glam Heritage Trail is the history of the location I have visited and how life was in Kampong Glam. Contrary to the current day Kampong Glam, I would have never expected Kampong Glam used to be a busy area which was densely populated. The government has placed enormous efforts to preserve the heritage and cultural roots of the area by restoring the buildings to make it look more appealing. There are also signboards all around showing Kampong Glam’s rich history to both locals and tourists. To me, I feel that Kampong Glam is a great place to learn about Singapore’s history, I had never known that people from many descents lived in that area such as Banjarese and Javanese people. 

We can practice Local Citizenry by finding out more about Singapore’s history and culture. Places such as this helps ensure that we can maintain and preserve our unique multicultural identity as nowadays more and more youths are unconcerned about their heritage and roots. This is due to globalisation which allowed western influence such as Starbucks, MacDonalds and pop culture to take over by storm. I feel that it is important for Singaporeans to preserve our heritage as it is an important part of our unique country. If we lose our heritage and culture, we lose our diverse history when Singaporeans from different descents practiced their rich and unique cultures.

 

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Resources:

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/sites-and-monuments/national-monuments/istana-kampong-glam

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/gedung-kuning

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/former-pondoks-of-kampong-glam

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/sultan-gate

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/former-chong-cheng-school-and-chong-pun-girls-school

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/madrasah-alsagoff-al-arabiah-alsagoff-arab-school

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/north-bridge-road

http://theculturetrip.com/asia/singapore/articles/singapore-s-artsy-haji-lane-the-lion-city-s-last-hidden-gem/

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/former-kampong-bali

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/historic-sites/bussorah-street

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/trails/kampong-glam/trail-i/trail-sites/places-of-worship/masjid-sultan

 

Worker Writes

Worker Writes

http://www.singaporeworkerpoetry.com/#!2014-results/ckg1

I chose this blog activity as often, when heading back from school, I would encounter large groups of foreign workers and wondered how they felt about working in Singapore. As poetry is a means of expressing yourself, this is the perfect activity for me to find out how they feel.

Pocket 2
Still in the same world, we belong to different spheres

You on that side and me on this:

we can do nothing but remember each other

The memories of you and me hang like posters

on the wall of the Ekushe bookfair

at the doil chatta, under the shade of the bakul tree at Charukala

at Hakim square, in the hoodless rickshaw

at the florists of Shahbag, at the open field of TSC

on the water of Ramana lake

in a night of shades and lights

on our bed of love

 

I remember when I returned this time

my heart dissolved in your tears

The pocket of my shirt was wet

Reaching the end of my memories

I wear that shirt every night

and write love poems to you

Do I really write poems

Or do my poems cry with me?

 

Second in a set if three poems with ‘pocket’ as the main conceit. The first one is about the poet’s son, the second about his wife and the third about his father.

Written by: Zakir Hussain Khokhon

I never knew that some of our migrant workers were published writers with degrees!  However, I was proven wrong when this poem written by Mr. Zakir Hussain Khokhon won the 2014 migrant worker poetry competition.  This poem was dedicated to his wife back home in Bangladesh.  it expresses how dearly he misses his wife and he can’t do anything about it other than reminiscing about the memories they shared in the past.  Many of the migrant workers in Singapore wrote about longing for their homeland and reunion with their families. This poem made me realise that we often don’t think much of the migrant workers in Singapore, but each and every one of them has a unique story behind them that touches our hearts.

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