BuCKLe Up!

is a ‘workshop’ of the course i’m attending at SAFTI-MI. BuCKLe is an acronym for Building Capacity for Knowledge and Learning. it can be seen as an effort of SAF to reshape itself as a 3G armed forces. learnt about learning and it’s mostly about organisation learning and learning organisation. as i said in the previous entry, i’m q interested by the concept.

there are some insights i like to share.

1. ironically, today i went back to nus for some valedictory speech workshop. at the beginning of the week, i felt that the speech workshop would be more interesting and fulfilling compared to the SAF learning workshop. but i was totally wrong.

it really felt different. during the discussions in the saf workshop, we felt q motivated and positive, when we heard each other speak. even when some of us talked about some negative issues. but at the nus speech workshop, we practised the valedictory speeches with each other. while the speeches were supposed to be motivating, they failed. perhaps we were lousy speakers or we were too tired to listen. essentially, i felt that all our speeches lack the spirit. in the name of formalities, proper pronunciation and some unknown ‘rules of public speaking’, most of us just spoke roughly the same stuff.

in some sense, i felt wat most pple talked about. the lack of feeling for convocation. the sense of jadedness. was talking to another reserve valedictorian (i shant name which major). and i just felt a dearth of enthusiasm for life and plain indifference from this chap. maybe it was me, or that i’m too self-righteous. i just thought that a representative of a class should be something more.

but i dun think he represents the majority of students i met in nus. most pple, esp those in csc, are v enthusiastic towards life and hold a much stronger sense of responsibility to society.

back to the main point. i just felt v surprised at how much better organisation gurus in understanding learning as compared to nus, a institute that suppose to epitomise learning. i think the latter is too caught up in delivering world standards and upgrading systems that she has failed in teaching the spirit. felt kinda sad.

but this is not to say that i didnt learn anything from nus. i’ve certainly grown in these years and yup, one impt lesson i took back is certainly that about mentor and apprentice. as i wrote in my speech.

2. on a positive note. i’ve realised a lot of similarity between some organisation thinking concepts and nichiren buddhism. and one thing i learnt today is that of the creative tension.

there should be a diagram. but i’ll put down in words instead. imagine two hands holding on to the same rubber band. let the two hands move in opposite direction (in a vertical axis) and the rubber band becomes tense. the top hand represents one’s ‘vision’ and the other hand one’s ‘current reality’. the gap between ‘vision’ and ‘current reality’ creates tension.

there are two ways to resolve this. one is to focus on the current reality and this creates emotional tension and one haves a reactionary orientation to the problem. the result is ‘vision’ lowering down to close the gap.

another way (the obvious preferred one) is to focus on your vision and adopt a creative stance to the problem. bring up ‘current reality’ to your ‘vision’.

then there’s a quote by peter senge, a guru in this area.

‘the essence of personal mastery is learning how to generate and sustain creative tension in our lives.’

to quote nichiren daishonin,

‘Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra (a Buddhist writing) are as of in winter, but winter always turns into spring’

Celebrate what is right with this world

Was watching this videoclip with the abovementioned title by this guy called Dewitt Jones. He's a freelance photographer with National Geographic. Actually wanted to put his photos, but dunno if got copyright implications. But yeah... here's the web link www.dewittjones.com

I saw this 22min long videoclip in my course in SAFTI. As the name implies, it's about positive thinking. There's really not much content and most of his material are actually about his photography. But i tot it was q motivating and there's one line.

"If you believe, you'll see it."

I felt quite amazed to hear this statement. Esp at SAFTI. The course is a military one, not one that is dedicated to self-help. The instructor is a lieutenant colonel, not a civilian. So, I was rather pleasantly surprised to hear such things. In the past, such self-help things are done with lacklustre and are really done for the sake of doing. Today, (or the past two days) it just felt different. Instructors are more committed to it and the students are more receptive. As I commented, this was the one day that I've witnessed so much positiveness amongst junior officers.

Another thing that struck me was that how these postive things keep coming to me ever since I accepted Nichiren Buddhism/started chanting. Four years ago, my midshipman (OCS) course was never conducted in such a manner. The atmosphere of learning was never so relaxing and so conducive. But somehow, when one takes up faith and believe in it, the environment will set its course. This is indeed what one calls oneness of self and environment.

I think I must have been thinking of getting a PHD too much. So much that i've lost my sense of reality.

Wanted to print the "academic gown online order" so that I can collect it tmr. To my surprise, i've ordered the wrong academic gown.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been reading lotsa books recently... decided to do a short review of them.

In order of ‘most recently’ read...

1. dan brown’s ‘angels and demons’. It’s quite a good thriller. The story is very engaging and is capable of keeping one awake from 2 to 6 am. The book is v similar to his other book ‘da vinci code’. In fact, I think it’s the same with only a change in the female lead and theme. Now, it’s about the war between science and christianity. The twists are rather predictable if u have read ‘da vinci code’.

2. and 3. malcom gladwell’s ‘blink’ and ‘the tipping point’. I read the latter first and the latter was gladwell’s first book. Gladwell is a writer with the New Yorker and writes a blog at www.gladwell.com. Basically, the two books are about his insights on social phenomena. It’s kinda mix between sociology and psychology. His views are rather refreshing and in the words of some reviews, revolutionary. ‘Blink’ is about ‘two-second decisions’ or ‘snap judgements’, while ‘The Tipping Point’ is about how small things can make big differences, ie start social epidemics. His arguments are very balanced and he draws from a wide range of examples. I’d prefer ‘the tipping point’ as his argument/message is brought forward very clearly and coherently. V interesting read which teaches one a new approach to life. One way to look at his writing is to visit his website. he actually got excerpts of his books there.

just came back from batam yesterday

i had only one day to explore the place, and i think it was more than enough. there's really nothing much there. i was lucky that when my friend and i were walking around, we met a ship crew who was with his auntie (a local). Luckily, the auntie brought me around to buy the ikan bilis and dried shrimps my parents wanted. From there, we just tagged along with him, as he also had another friend bringing him around.

1. we first went to dua bei gong temple to bai bai. i dun really believe in such things la, but just do it to show some respect. q interesting lah. e chinese really pray to almost every famous character in the chinese history.

2. then we went "shopping" at Batam City Square. the so called newest and largest mall there. nothing much too. but we mainly shopped for food/snacks to bring back to ship.

3. then the 'highlight' (which i think everyone on my ship went for): a one and a half hour massage. Now, for those who are thinking what i think you are thinking, the massage parlour was a clean one. No special services... But the massage was indeed v cheap. around 13 sgd for the 1.5 hour session. But dunno if the massuses know wat they are doing... they got do a lot of funny manoeuvres lah. twisting the head, back, ankle... pull the fingers, toes, legs... kneeling on your back... but dunno if really good or not. but feel v shiok after that.

4. ate some seafood at dunno where. my crew's friend brought us to this open air hawker place. the food was ok lah. quite cheap though... think it was around 50 sgd for 10 pple. but we didnt pay cos the crew's friend was v generous.. so paiseh. the place q interesting though. got an open air karaoke and got pple singing. then when u sit down, beer girls each representing a brand will stand around your table asking u wat to drink. but in the end, my friend (the crew) ordered green tea...diao...

after one day of 'enjoyment' at batam, we went for the exercise. i wasnt involved in the actual exercise, so i helped keep watch (something like guard duty) when the ship was at anchor at night. super boring. first night i managed to finish dan brown's 'angels and demons'. but second night i got diarrhoea and amazingly managed to survive the night and keep watch.

lucky today feeling much better. starting course on monday at safti mi for 4 months. so no more duties and sailing for the next 4 months! haha.

weekend of gatherings

1. 16 jun dinner. grp4/ragnaroc outing. went to eat at marina square foodcourt and went to settler's play games. updates: timothy and bryan graduated. tim is a business developer at some it firm. the rest nothing surprising lah.

2. 17 jun lunch. maths honors class gathering. organised by the dept for the honors graduates. q boring at parts, as some of the more 'fun' lecturers are not around. won a $5 popular voucher and found that most pple are doing masters or got a job liao.

3. 17 jun dinner. coming soon. westlife gathering. actually we meet up q often lah. haha. later treating them to dinner at some zhi cha place in hougang and watching soccer later.

4. 18 jun dinner. coming soon. rooster gathering?? not actually a gathering lah. just forced by mika to watch some SD concert at tampines tmr.

q eventful weekend. mon i'm gg batam for exercise (naval minehunting exercise) until fri. prob may blog at batam. batam go there can only shop shop shop. cannot take part in water sports as we are not allowed to do so. so sian...

mcdonaldisation of the football experience

today i watched soccer with kunhui, mark and his gf rochelle at hougang green mall's 24 hr mcdonald's. i must say that it was a refreshing experience, compared to watching at kopitiams/pubs.

1. mcdonald’s for the first time was actually crowded. not the normal crowded. but crowded as in every available space had pple either sitting down or standing to watch. it was amazing how the staff could just bring in chairs and put at any space for pple to sit. even outside the store, they actually borrowed chairs from a neighbouring store for the spectators to watch.

2. it was the first time i watched soccer with kids and families. that is to say aunties. it's rather comic as they laughed at things which they thought were silly and they screamed at the slightest opportunity. haha. think mcdonald’s had provided these young boys to watch soccer in a comfortable environment, as compared to pubs/kopitiams.

it's kinda late, so i'll keep it short.

i'm loving it!

just came back from genting. had a gruelling bus ride back. sigh. and checked my email and found out that i was the reserve valedictorian.

ok. the story started out last week. when someone called me and told me that i was nominated to be the valedictorian for the mathematics dept. then another person called me and told me i was a CANDIDATE to be a valedictorian. the other person apparently came from physics dept (i guess, since this was another dept attending the ceremony). yeah. so they asked for drafts for the valedictorian speech, and judged based on the speeches. So, hers was better than mine, so too bad for me i guess.

Well. think the following points are why i nv got to be the valedictorian.

1. i forgot to thank my parents and mika in the final part of the speech. (ok. i actually plan to add it in in the final draft.)

2. i forgot to thank CSC for being such an integral part of my varsity life.

3. Cause CAN project is on 9 Jul 2006. The same day as my commencement ceremony. So, those who could not decide between hearing me speak and going for CAN Collect, can now go for the CAN Collect!! for more details, log onto http://www.nuscsc.net/~can haha. i so bhb.


Since this speech will never be spoken, i might as well post it here.

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Mr Chancellor / Mr Pro-Chancellor / Mr Provost / Dean of Science, Fellow Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning. First of all, I’d like to thank the faculty for giving me the honor of standing here today to represent the graduating class of 2006.

Today, we don our academic gowns to receive our degree scrolls. These scrolls represent the knowledge that we have acquired over the past 3 or 4 years and symbolize the fruits of the efforts that we have put in. Yet, these fruits would not have been born, if no seeds were sown. Today, on behalf of the class of 2006, I’d like to thank one special group who helped us along the way, our mentors.

A friend once told me that the university education is distinguished from other forms of education in that, her mission is to nurture through a mentor-apprentice relationship. He then told me a story of a fellow undergraduate.

Well, this fellow undergraduate had a peculiar timetable. When my friend looked at it, he noticed something strange about the 10am-12pm slot on Friday. It wrote “KOPI”. “K-O-P-I. KOPI.” Was there such a module called KOPI? If it was really just drinking KOPI, was there really a need to remind himself to drink KOPI every Friday at 10am? So, my friend just asked his friend. And he realized. Oh. This friend of his actually arranges to meet up with his lecturer to drink KOPI every Friday after lesson.

Indeed, many of us here would have developed similar relations with our lecturers. The other day, I heard rumours that a current undergraduate sends his honors project supervisor home in his car every now and then. More ridiculous rumours include a student washing clothes for the supervisor. No, that student is not standing in front of you today. No, I’m not the one. To be honest, the most I’ve done for my lecturers was to send them Christmas cards. And probably after today, I may have to treat them to a meal.

But let us return to the topic. Were these students trying to bribe their supervisors? Well, they did fare well in their exams and projects. The KOPI-drinker did score an A+ for that particular module. However, the reason is not that these students had pleased their supervisors or lecturers. Rather the reason is that they had created a close bond with their lecturers, and this bond has created wonders.

It is only through this bond, can the brilliance of the academic mind be illuminated. It is through this bond, can virtuous habits of an experienced life be rubbed off. It is through this bond, can values of a great character be passed on. The KOPI-drinker did so well, simply because he had unconsciously learnt to think like his lecturer through the many KOPI-cum-chit chat sessions.

Yes. The KOPI-drinker understood well the fact that, the student need not restrict his relation with his mentor to the classroom. Indeed, most of us here will have some close lecturers, who have taught beyond the theorems and formulae, and shared with us precious experiences from their lives.

For me, Professor Ling San, the present head of the Department of Mathematics in NTU, had always been a role model. I’d like to thank him here once again. Indeed, I have forgotten most of what he has taught on coding theory. But I’ll always remember his warmness, his modesty and his generous capacity to listen to students. These are great attributes. Great attributes which I’m trying to practise at my workplace.

There are also many other mentors who appeared in my life in these four years, and amongst them are Associate Professor Leung Ka Hin and Associate Professor Tan Kai Meng. I’m sure if we were to write a list of lecturers who have touched at least one of us seated here, the list will be very very long.

Today, we shall leave the university to join the workforce. While mentors do not appear explicitly as lecturers, mentors will appear in other forms. They may appear as superiors, senior colleagues, co-workers or even subordinates. These mentors shall have inspirational stories, keen insight, worthy values to share and pass on.

Indeed to quote the late philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, “In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.”

Hence, we need to explore and uncover these mentors and be their pupils. We shall develop the mentor-apprentice relationship similar to the ones we have nurtured in university.

So, join me in applauding to all mentors, those in the university and those in life!

As we remain standing, my fellow graduates, this is a proud day for all of us and for our parents and loved ones, who have supported us in our journey here.

Therefore, before we leave this hall, let us take this opportunity to turn and face our family and friends, and show our appreciation with a round of applause.

Please join me in this gesture. Thank you.

ah.. last week was a slack week, but still most of my time was preoccupied by dunno wat. so, now, i'm no longer sailing to kuantan, and instead i'm on leave for this whole week! yay! mika has come back and we're planning to go to genting this wed. woohoo!

mika has also brought back my portable hdd, which contained the pictures i took at hanoi.

shall some pictures of halong bay here.

halong bay. shot taken by me.

halong bay. shot of a artpiece not done by me. it's actually made from thread and i guess u can call it an embroidery.

lifting up one of the rock formations in surprise! cave.

Mika and me doing a stupid pose on the peak of some rock in Halong Bay.

Sunset at Halong Bay. Wanna guess who took this picture? Me! Btw, in the background, u can see a pavillion on the peak of the rock/mountain. Yup that's the pavillion i took the shot with mika from.

Me jumping into the sea from the junk that we lived onboard.

pretty mika