Little Winks In The Mundane

I saw an owl fly above my head from across the street, a bird's nest perched high upon a barren tree along the PIE and the moon light brazenly streaming in through my kitchen window like it was the sun. 

The moon last night gave a sleeping construction crane a pensive silhouette and me some thoughts for the night.

What's there not to like about Singapore I wondered?

So What's Your Sign?

Some months ago (and they might've added up to become a year), Benji and I signed up for a Sign Language course with the SIngapore Association for the Deaf at Mountbatten Road.

Initially, we approached it with trepidation because we didn't know if communication was going to be difficult. But it turned out that they approached their would-be students with the same amount of caution as we did them. Learning sign language is like learning any other languages except that you have to work harder at it and be alot more expressive than usual.

Before you get signed up for any real course, you have to go through an introductory lesson. This is compulsory. It is not the acredit your aptitude for sign language but for you to understand the deaf community before you learn their language, and rightly so.

It is a common misconception that people think that the deaf are also mute. That is untrue. Their vocal chords are all working well but because they do not hear well, therefore they are unable to replicate the words through speech. It is also believed that deaf people cannot hear anything but vibrations and thumps. That is also untrue.

There are varying degress to how much the deaf can hear. At the same distance, some of our friends can hear speech at a close distance (so don't go talking bad about them), or loud music, or if their listening ability is heavily imparied, only the decibels of construction pounding. In fact, if they are not totally deaf, they would like to be referred to as hard of hearing. Because this is true. They can hear, just not as well as you and I. One of our instructors was even a contestant on Singapore Idol. How awesome is that?

As we began Beginner Course 1 (BS1), we realised that it was tougher than we imagined. Beside having to learn the signs for the alphabets, we learnt various baby words like 'I', 'you', 'we', 'them'. 

My own Sign Language textbook.

Just so you don't think I was bragging and ripped info off the web and take it as mine. 

Those were easy. The exam was easy. The teacher will sign out a phrase and we had to write it down. We passed that with flying colors. Then came Beginner Course 2.

BS2 was fun. We learnt how to sign in sentences like 'I am going to the grocer to get vegetables, salt and butter. What would you like me to get for you?". If I were to sign in Singlish, I'll ask "I'm going to buy things, what you want?"

The easy part of the lesson - the alphabets

I remember once, Benji and I wanted to practice our signing. We were at a fast food restaurant waiting for a friend. So we gave ourselves a rule. No talking until our friend came. We had to sign everything we wanted to say. So we had our food and signed for about 20mins.

During that 20mins, there was a family seated beside us that keep glancing over and kept giving us the Oh you so poor thing, cannot talk look. We knew they were looking at us so we kept signing until we saw our friend and did a very big wave & shout, "DAVID! HERE!". The look on the guy's face was priceless! It was mixed with a WTF and a WTH all together. Also then, we learnt one advantage of learning sign language, people cannot evesdrop. 

The deaf community is a very vibrant and fun community. During the course of our study, we were invited to a fund raising dinner. It was held at The Legends at Fort Canning. We were afraid to attend initially because we didn't know anyone and after all we were beginners. We can't possibly hold a conversation all night with, "So have you been to the grocer lately"?

But surprise surprise! We had so much fun! We were at a table that had a mix of students and people from the deaf community and it was really a challenge and great fun trying to get to know them, speaking their language. I grew in respect for them.

Even with their disability, they never see it as so. It is a different form of communication. They are still going out and doing their thing, living life as fulfilled as us. 

93% hor.

But Benji was top student, with 97%. 

We didn't manage to complete the Beginner Course because there wasn't enough students to make up a class, but we will be back! Plus it's always fun learning a new language and discovering a new world.

If you are interested in picking up sign language, visit www.sadeaf.org.sg and click on the Sign Language tab to find out more.

Have fun!

Hurray !

CONGRATULATIONS!

to Wild Rice and The Importance Of Being Ernest for bagging the Production Of The Year Award, Best Supporting Actor (Chua Enlai) and Best Costume Design (Frederick Lee) at the Life! Theatre Awards! 

I was glad to read that The Importance Of Being Ernest bagged so many awards solely because having caught it, I always thought it was a play very cleverly put together. Despite having been given a "16 years and above" advisory by the MDA because of it's all-male cast and therefore losing out on the Tote Board's Art Grant that subsidises 60% of student priced tickets, The Importance Of Being Ernest still ran to a sell out crowd during it's 2 week run at the Drama Centre. I love it when local plays get the support they deserve!

With live music by the T'ang Quartet and beautiful beautiful suits by Frederick Lee, the whole play was like being in a dream. Never mind Enlai playing a Gwendolyn or Ivan Heng playing Gwendolyn's mother or never mind that this all might've been a shout out to the government to repeal Section 377A, for art's sake - the play was good. 

Congratulations once again! You did well ! 

Chickity Chicky The Chinese Chicken!

What's a Singaporean to do with time on their hands? EAT!

Well, a large part of our weekends are always spent eating. We love our food! And being creatures of habit, we always visit the same places till we get sick of them.

For Chinese food, we love Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Marina Square. This might be confused with Crystal Jade Kitchen, but they are very much different entities. Though competitors, Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao was actually set up by the same person that brought us Crystal Jade Kitchen. Crystal Jade Kitchen was started in Singapore in 1991 and Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao sprouted later. 

We've had some bad experiences with this branch but we've given them many a chance, gone back and they have improved tremendously so we're stayers! Because of the bad experiences, the manager knows us and although that doesn't give us any benefit, but it's just nice to know that after all the nasty experiences, we all can be friends. 

These are our favourite dishes:

Li Bai Drunken Chicken ($7)

Steamed chicken sitting in a pool of Hua Tiao Wine. 

This may look mild, but it is really well done. The chicken is nice and cold and the potency of the wine is perfect. Not enough to get you tipsy, so don't bet on it.

 Chicken is tender and falls off the bone very nicely. 

Pork & Veggie Wanton Soup ($4.50)

This usually comes with garnish, but we always do without it because the smell puts me off. The soup is very full bodied and the wantons are fat with stuffings. Eats like a meal.

Ma Po Beancurd ($9.80)

We've had a similar version in Hong Kong and various other restaurants, but none eats as well as this. There is a very homely taste to the somewhat basil-ish tasting sauce. Although it's Ma Po, but the spice level is just right. The toufu cubes are soft and the generous servings of minced meat and shredded mushrooms puts the Mmmm! into the experience. 

La Mian with Meat & Mushroom or Zha Jiang Mian ($7.50)

Minced meat and mushroom in a spicy (very spicy) sauce over noodles. 

I'm not sure how it tastes but never dared to try a whole bowl myself because it IS really spicy. This is what Benji usually has. He always ends up pespiring all over (which is an indication of how spicy it is, kinda like the number of chillis on a menu). But I presume it's good cos' he always has it. Benji - any thoughts?

La Mian with Stewed Beef ($7.50)

I like this dish alot because the beef is not tough at all - I hate it when it's tough and it sticks in your teeth with every bite. This is very melt-in-your-mouth soft with a nice layer of fat on it. That's chilli on it, not blood don't worry. The noodles are al dente and the soup a pat-on-your-back kind of nice. 

*One dish you have got to try that I don't have a picture of here is the Shanghai Rice Cake Soup, it is absolutely comforting and delicious. Add a drop of vinegar or 2 and you are set for gastronomy heaven!

The overall experience dining here is very pleasant. The front of the restaurant is has an open concept so it gives a great sense of space and you can always wave to a wandering friend or two. 

Check Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Marina Square (#02-138J). Last order is at 9.30pm.

Some Wedding Manifestations

I spent the whole of last night and this morning deciding on what I should write for my 2nd post. I was straddling between my not-so-recent foray (this word is dedicated to Charms) with the Singapore Association for the Deaf or some unique wedding manifestations that bride-and-grooms-to-be cannot shed themselves from. Of course, the unqiue wedding manifestations won.

I will stop calling them 'unique' because it isn't unique after you realise that it is actually an age-old custom with habits handed down over generations. And what am I talking about?

The size of your wedding banquet.

You just got engaged and you have started dreaming up your perfect wedding. A small cosy wedding with a garden theme in a glass gazebo in the middle of a beautiful lawn nestled in the belly of a colonial hotel. Birds chirping, friends quietly chatting, champagne glasses clinking and that ever beautiful 4-piece string quartet play as you walk down the aisle on a lovely breezy afternoon to the smile and hushed admiration of your family and friends. Everything feels so perfect. You do your research and find the most amazing colonial hotel that your little island can offer and imagine how beautiful it will be.

Then you discuss these plans with your parents. 

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Yes, you discuss it with your parents.

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and all hell breaks loose, all dreams of a perfect cosy wedding is shattered like the glass gazebo would should it hail.

The parents want to invite all the relatives that you've possibly only seen once a year (Chinese New Year that is), or never ever (EVER) seen. The whole village (if there is one) is invited because you are getting married. Joyous occasion! Invite everyone to celebrate! BOOM BOOM POW and your light cosy glass gazebo wedding goes from cosy to ... yes, there isn't a word for it. Only an expression.

You try to reason. You try to wiggle and squirm your way out of a wedding double the size that you imagined. But to no avail. Unless you elope or not involve any family in your wedding, you are not getting your way. (At this point, I hear alot of married people nodding their head in silent agreement, I will join the ranks)

And that is the story of my journey. My wedding banquet journey. My big fat Chinese wedding.

In my shattered heart (and head that imagined the beauty of a cosy wedding), I managed to pick up the pieces and made sense of it. There has not been more than one wedding that I've attended that has not seen it's share of a ballroom full of people that the wedding couple does not know. There is always a nook and cranny filled with tables of relatives that you do not know and they might not remember you except for the time your umbilical cord was cut that is there, just because.

And I have come to terms that - it is ok. I'm no wimp, I have resisted and contested, but in the quiet of my heart (and my husband-to-be and with good advice from our Pastor), I have decided that it's ok. A wedding is never about two people. It is about you, me, him, her, they, them and everyone else. Let's all get married !! 

But as bitter as that may sound, even though a wedding is never about two people, but a marriage is. A wedding is but a celebration and for a day. A marriage is for life. And to start you off on this life time journey together, a wedding should be celebrated with much cheer! And believe it or not, the people there do want to celebrate with you - and it doesn't matter if they do it on your account or on your parents. What matters is there are people who love you and want to see you married. Your parents are proud of you to want to invite everyone from their tattered phone book to come shout out, See! See! Come and cheer! They are getting married!

I know of someone that had 100 tables at her wedding. 90% of them, she did not know. Parent's friend, parent's relatives, parent's somebody. ONE HUNDRED TABLES, 1000 guests. But she told me, it's ok. She was happy. Their guests gave their share of red packets and they were happy, she was happy, everyone was happy.

My plan for my own wedding was 15 tables in an outdoor lawn of a colonial hotel. When the plan was brought to the table (no pun intended), it exploded to 30. There goes a soft, quiet cosy wedding. But it's ok. Looking back, I'm glad it's a family affair (the wedding, not the marriage). I'm glad my parents and relatives want to be proud of us and celebrate with us. It's like how you would celebrate birthdays, the more people the merrier. The more drunks, the more laughs!

So if you are dreaming up your perfect wedding, good! It is afterall a once in a life time event and you must dream. If you get the chance to have your perfect cosy wedding, I rejoice with you! But if you don't, this entry comes with a hug. A hug to tell you it's ok. It's ok if your cosy becomes noisy. It's ok. Have a wedding that everyone will cheer you and bless you and have fun while you're at it !

Congratulations!

Why Buy When You Can Borrow?

The last time I can remember ever visiting a library was when the adult section was all too serious for me. We were still using NLB's issued library cards. Remember the white laminated cards with blue NLB logo? It was precious (and I've lost it).

Who can forget the childhood induced visits to the Library? Armed with a headful of mischief and curiousity, I remember running into the children's section waiting to pull out as many books as I was allowed to borrow never thinking that I might have to carry them home on my own. But well, mom was always with us and like all mothers are, they are armed with bags to lug back the loot their offsprings have amassed. To little me, the Library was a magical place. Having a myraid of books to choose from and not having to give anything in return. Life was good.

As you grow older, going to the Library was not cool. Why borrow when you can buy? I have spending power! Bookstores became the new libraries, partly because they carried newer books and because you got to keep them.

I was browsing through Borders one day and saw a book I wanted by Michael Phelps. It was S$49. Why? I have no idea. It's not huge or thick or remotely autographed by the Olympic champ himself. Wwhatttt? I shrugged it off. I could do without it (sorta). Couple of days later, Benji was at the Library (he's cool so he ain't bothered about these libraries are not cool thing - it's just me I realized) and he picked out the same Phelps book in mint condition and borrowed it for me. I was so amazed that I raised my hand involuntarily in the air proclaiming HAIL the National Library! The book was a new release, by the way.

And there begins my re-affair with the National Library.

Just the other day, I was browsing through another bookstore and wanted 2 books - Ivanka Trump: The Trump Card and Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island. But of course, why buy when you can borrow? I trudged down to the Library one afternoon, did a search on the system and found those 2 books waiting patiently with arms outstretched shouting Mama! What a gem the library is. Go find a book you'd want to buy rather than borrow then go and check the Library for the book you'd rather borrow than buy. Saves money and reading makes you smart and happy. Oh yeah.

But I am glad things has changed at the Library. If you have lost your membership card like me, you can now borrow books with your NRIC, NTUC Link Card, SAF11B, School Smart Card, Singapore Mint Personalised ez-link Card (what's this?) or Personal CashCard (phew! who would've thought?) and can borrow upto SIX library items inclusive TWO music scores/audio-visual materials. All from the lending sections of course.

But of course if you are one of those that read 2000 words a minute (showoff), you can upsize your membership to borrow EIGHT items inclusive of FOUR of those music scores etc. You can actually upsize your membership to borrow SIXTEEN books. But that scares me. How do I carry 16 books? What if they are all gigantic print with hardcover and weigh about 500g each? 8000g? That's 8 kg right? I will need a wheelbarrow.

The Days Of Yore

The ex library on Stamford road was old school cool. However, I always got lost in there and gladly I did. I loved the old brick building and the whole college look and how literary you feel inside even though you are reading a Dilbert comic. Never you mind.

But despite all that, one thing I really miss about the old National Library (which one Minister commented that they pulled down so we could squirrel a tunnel that saves us 5 mins - atta Sir!) was actually S-11. Remember the auntie that looked like an uncle or was he an uncle that looked like an auntie. He added so much color to the place screaming at us when we opened tables at will. I remember suppers there after midweek Bible Study. The fried food from Poly Western (which is now located at Lavender Food Centre), wanton mee and laughing our nights away.

That uncle is a fiesty character.

I remember once we did a guerilla shoot there because approval to shoot was taking too long to come back & affecting our schedule. So we chose a quiet afternoon (wrong choice) and bought some drinks (to appear amicable) and I got Simon to quietly go shoot the place. The uncle got mad and kept asking us for the approval and said head office (S-11 has a head office, yo) didn't inform them. And while I was distracting him with questions, Simon was shooting away till Uncle-Auntie realised what was going on.

He stomped in front of Simon's camera and placed a hand on the lens and said "Go away! Go away!" (with less pomp than Ah Nan definitely). Like disgraced HK star. We realized that reasoning wasn't helping so we left quickly before he started throwing stuff at us. After all, he did hurl some expletives.

I also remember there was one evening, us FSV students had to finish a paper, so we camped out there. And when it was over closing time and they wanted to nudge us out, they played Closing Time by Semisonic! How cool is that? It was hilarious when everyone started to do a mock panic to the tune and a sing-a-long. Those were some days.

Although I might miss the great old dame at Stamford Road, I think the many upgraded public libraries peppered around our island are quite impressive and enviable places to call our own. From the grand old days where 'checking out' a book involved standing with your arms wrapped around a tower of books in an ever snaking queue, dumping it on the counter where the librarian would use a huge stamp to indicate the date of return to the automated and snap quick check out counters, 24hrs bookdrops and the expansive collection of books of today, our libraries have come a long way.

Who says there is nothing to do in Singapore? Find an afternoon, open your mind, step into a library and pick up a book and you will realise there is a huge huge world out there in the libraries you have forgotten.

Have a good read.