Love at First Sight (Revisit)

Both are convinced
that a sudden surge of emotion bound them together.
Beautiful is such a certainty,
but uncertainty is more beautiful.

Because they didn't know each other earlier, they suppose that
nothing was happening between them.
What of the streets, stairways and corridors
where they could have passed each other long ago?

I'd like to ask them
whether they remember-- perhaps in a revolving door
ever being face to face?
an "excuse me" in a crowd
or a voice "wrong number" in the receiver.
But I know their answer:
no, they don't remember.

They'd be greatly astonished
to learn that for a long timec
hance had been playing with them.

Not yet wholly ready
to transform into fate for them
it approached them, then backed off,
stood in their way
and, suppressing a giggle,
jumped to the side.

There were signs, signals:
but what of it if they were illegible.
Perhaps three years ago,
or last Tuesday
did a certain leaflet fly
from shoulder to shoulder?
There was something lost and picked up.
Who knows but what it was a ball
in the bushes of childhood.

There were doorknobs and bells
on which earlier
touch piled on touch.
Bags beside each other in the luggage room.
Perhaps they had the same dream on a certain night,
suddenly erased after waking.

Every beginning
is but a continuation,
and the book of events
is never more than half open.

Translation by Walter Whipple


Will we have the chance to meet again, R?
... ... ...

Keep moving on!

The following is extracted from a blog. I find it rather meaningful so I'm copying it to remind myself.

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.

But it ain't about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. It's how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.

Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not point fingers and blame other people. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!

No matter how bad, every problem will not last forever. Every recession will end. Dawn always breaks after the darkest hour.

And success has a price. The price is massive rejection, frustration, and hard work, People never succeed either because they thought that success comes easy or because they are not willing to pay the price!"

Well, I should always remind myself of that. It's time to face the real world and reality!

Jung Typology Test

Take the Jung Typology test here:

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

Once you're done get a more detailed description of your type here: http://www.personalitypage.com/portraits.html

Portrait of an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging (Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)

The Protector

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

Jungian functional preference ordering:

Dominant: Introverted Intuition

Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling

Tertiary: Introverted Thinking

Inferior: Extraverted Sensing

Careers for INFJ Personality Types

Whether you're a young adult trying to find your place in the world, or a not-so-young adult trying to find out if you're moving along the right path, it's important to understand yourself and the personality traits which will impact your likeliness to succeed or fail at various careers. It's equally important to understand what is really important to you. When armed with an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and an awareness of what you truly value, you are in an excellent position to pick a career which you will find rewarding.

INFJs generally have the following traits:

1. Intuitively understand people and situations
2. Idealistic
3. Highly principled
4. Complex and deep
5. Natural leaders
6. Sensitive and compassionate towards people
7. Service-oriented
8. Future-oriented
9. Value deep, authentic relationships
10. Reserved about expressing their true selves
11. Dislike dealing with details unless they enhance or promote their vision
12. Constantly seeking meaning and purpose in everything
13. Creative and visionary
14. Intense and tightly-wound
15. Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it

The INFJ is a special individual who needs more out of a career than a job. They need to feel as if everything they do in their lives is in sync with their strong value systems - with what they believe to be right. Accordingly, the INFJ should choose a career in which they're able to live their daily lives in accordance with their deeply-held principles, and which supports them in their life quest to be doing something meaningful. Since INFJs have such strong value systems, and persistent intuitive visions which lend them a sense of "knowing", they do best in positions in which they are leaders, rather than followers. Although they can happily follow individuals who are leading in a direction which the INFJ fully supports, they will very unhappy following in any other situation.

The following list of professions is built on our impressions of careers which would be especially suitable for an INFJ. It is meant to be a starting place, rather than an exhaustive list. There are no guarantees that any or all of the careers listed here would be appropriate for you, or that your best career match is among those listed.

Possible Career Paths for the INFJ:

• Clergy / Religious Work
• Teachers
• Medical Doctors / Dentists
• Alternative Health Care Practitioners, i.e. Chiropractor, Reflexologist
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Counselors and Social Workers
• Musicians and Artists
• Photographers
• Child Care / Early Childhood Development

INFJ Relationships

INFJs are warm and affirming people who are usually also deep and complex. They're likely to seek out and promote relationships that are intense and meaningful. They tend to be perfectionists, and are always striving for the Ultimate Relationship. For the most part, this is a positive feature, but sometimes works against the INFJ if they fall into the habit of moving from relationship to relationship, always in search of a more perfect partner. In general, the INFJ is a deeply warm and caring person who is highly invested in the health of their close relationships, and puts forth a lot of effort to make them positive. They are valued by those close to them for these special qualities. They seek long-term, lifelong relationships, although they don't always find them.

INFJ Strengths

• Warm and affirming by nature
• Dedicated to achieving the ultimate relationship
• Sensitive and concerned for others' feelings
• Usually have good communication skills, especially written
• Take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships
• Have very high expectations for themselves and others (both a strength and weakness)
• Good listeners
• Are able to move on after a relationship has ended (once they're sure it's over)

INFJ Weaknesses

• Tendency to hold back part of themselves
• Not good with money or practical day-to-day life necessities
• Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism
• Have very high expectations for themselves and others (both a strength and weakness)
• Have difficulty leaving a bad relationship

INFJs as Lovers

"To love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before." -- Rollo May

INFJs are warm, considerate partners who feel great depth of love for their partners. They enjoy showing this love, and want to receive affirmation back from their mates.

They are perfectionists, constantly striving to achieve the Perfect Relationship. This can sometimes be frustrating to their mates, who may feel put upon by the INFJs demanding perfectionism. However, it may also be greatly appreciated, because it indicates a sincere commitment to the relationship, and a depth of caring which is not usually present in other types.

Sexually, INFJs view intimacy as a nearly spiritual experience. They embrace the opportunity to bond heart and soul with their mates. As service-oriented individuals, it's very important to them that their mates are happy. Intimacy is an opportunity for the INFJ to selflessly give their love, and experience it in a tangible way.

Although two well-developed individuals of any type can enjoy a healthy relationship, INFJ's natural partner is the ENTP, or the ENFP. INFJ's dominant function of Introverted Intuition is best matched with a personality type that is dominated by Extraverted Intuition. How did we arrive at this?

INFJs as Parents

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth...Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable." -- Kahlil Gibran

INFJs usually make warm and caring parents. Their goal is to help their children become adults who know the difference between right and wrong, and who are independent, growth-oriented individuals.

Along the path to that goal they are generally very warm and caring, and are likely to treat their children as individuals who have a voice in family decisions. They want their children to be able to think for themselves, and make the right decisions. They also can be quite demanding on their children, and may have very high expectations for their behavior. Although they are generally soft-spoken and gentle, they may become stubborn and sharp-tongued at times when their expectations aren't met, or when under a lot of stress.

INFJs take their parenting role with ultimate seriousness. They will make sacrifices for the sake of their children without a second thought, and without remorse. Passing on their values to their children is a serious priority in their lives. Children of INFJs remember their parents fondly as warm, patient, and inspirational.

INFJs as Friends

Although the INFJ is likely to put friends behind their God and their families in terms of importance, they do value their friendships. As idealists who have strong value systems, INFJs seek authenticity and depth in their close relationships, and especially value people who can see and appreciate the INFJ for who they are and what they stand for.

The INFJ is likely to spend a lot of time socialing with family members. If they are religious, they probably are social with members of their religious community. After that, the INFJ may have friends represented from any of the personality types. They are usually extremely intuitive individuals, who will have no patience for anyone they feel is dishonest or corrupt. They'll have no interest in being around these kinds of people.

All kinds of people are drawn towards the INFJ. They are usually quite popular, although they may be unaware of it themselves, because they don't place a lot of importance on it.

The INFJ is valued by their close friends for their warmth and consideration, their new and interesting ways of looking at things, and for their ability to inspire and motivate others to be the best that they can be. genuine article that they are.

INFJ Personal Growth: http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ_per.html

Others: http://typelogic.com/infj.html

http://keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=3&c=counselor

童年往事

童年往事
蔡琴
1986《伤心小站》

还记得 玩弹珠 蹲在庙门边
还记得 骑新车 经过同学面前
还记得 打瞌睡 罚站了半天
弹指间 都变成 遥远的从前

为什么春去秋来
人事也跟着改变
我的童年
我的童年
就这样消失不见

那时只当它寻常
今天却无限怀念
往事虽好
往事虽好
不能够重过一遍

还记得 多少事 仿佛在眼前
弹指间 都变成 遥远的从前

为什么春去秋来
人事也跟着改变
我的童年
我的童年
就这样消失不见

那时只当它寻常
今天却无限怀念
往事虽好
往事虽好
不能够重过一遍
不能够重过一遍...

我想没有人的人生能够重过一遍，而也只因为我觉得我的童年曾经有外婆带给我很美好的回忆，我才对这首歌特别的有感觉。因为外婆的过世，才让我真正了解过去的真的都已成过去，一切曾经拥有过的美好人，回忆与事物都不可能再重来。过去的真的已成过去。。。和一些朋友曾经拥有过的回忆也真的只能回味，因为这些朋友都离开了。。。

人生，真的很难去了解它。或许它不是因该被了解的，而是去真正体会，享受活在当下的那种感觉。。。所以，我真的很珍惜那些曾给我带来很美好回忆的人。他们真的是我的宝。有些或许只是我人生的过客，但我也记得他们曾带给我的回忆。

Fong 其实真的是位蛮不错的好友人。我知道我们都共同经历过彼此个阶段的喜怒哀乐。。。朋友毕竟也因该如此。我真的很珍惜这位朋友。但，他的问题真的还蛮多的。。。想要帮他也真的要他肯要我帮忙才行。哇。。。蛮绕口令的。呵呵。。。好了就在这end吧。希望每个我认识与认识我的人都互相珍惜彼此吧。

Angels & Demons

Caught Angels & Demons with Justin at Illuma Mall on Wednesday. I like this new shopping mall. It's not as crowded as the one just across the street, Bugis Junction. I like quiet place. =)

Anyway, I like Angels & Demons. Though I don't find it as fascinating as Da Vinci Code, it's still a relatively nice movie with the story unfolding at a relatively fast speed, which keeps the audience's attention going from one clue to another. And the trick about Dan Brown's story is that you won't know who're the masterminds behind the mystery of the story, always keeping everyone in suspension. But you still can guess who might be the mastermind.

Angels & Demons is not exceptionally good or bad, I'd categorise it as above average. So I'll rate it 3.5/5.

And today, I met Justin bestie again before he does his COS duty tomorrow. We're suppose to have 刺身（さしみ） but in the end, downgraded to have hawker food... It's okay. So we had very unsatisfying hawker food at Clementi. It's really not appetising at all. I mean I can make the dishes taste better if you give me the ingredients. That's why I really find Singaporean hawkers as 'unprofessional' in their food industry. To a certain extend I'd classify them as unethical. I mean, don't sell food just because you need a living, just because you need to earn money for whatever reason... Cook with the intention that you want to provide the best to your valuable consumers. I know it's just hawker centre, but why can't we elevate the standards? Why must we classify them as cheaper alternatives to restaurants? There are good food in some hawker centres and why do these stores do exceptionally well as compare to others (or rather the rest)? I seriously analysed this issue before and I conclude that these chefs place their consumers' value before their intention of just earning money. They look at the long-term rather than short-term profit. And they really value whether consumers like their food, and also how to constantly improve their food to attract more consumers. I've explained this to Xiao Ting before as I saw his Uncle, who has a store in NUS Engineering canteen, always trying to improve on the way he can provide better value to his consumers so as to make them satisfied and buy from him again. I'd classify him as a professional and ethical hawker, and I think such act of his is commendable. =)

Wow, what a big jump from having lunch to the next activity happened today. We then headed to KBOX for KTV, which I really didn't wanna sing since after the last time we went to sing I find my performance below my expectation. To my surprise... I was wrong. I think this time I sang exceptionally well. Yes, 'exceptionally' after such a long period of time... Maybe Stefanie's concert in Taipei affected me somehow... Her comeback make me wanna improve and sing better than before as well. That's good! =) Anyway, I'm sure I sung Sammi's 萨拉热窝的罗密欧与朱丽叶 very well. Haha! If not bestie won't ask me to sing it again! Lala... Happy =)

We then had simple dinner at KFC (his beloved KFC) and chatted from Clementi to Jurong while walking back my home. It's quite a distance but we really had a long good chat, trying to understand each other even better. I cherish every friendship that I have as I know the feeling of losing someone you really cherish and who would never come back anymore... The feeling, if you had before, is awful. Totally undescribable when you wanted someone so much and you know he/she won't be back. Just absent on earth.... Hence cherish the people around you. They make you who you are today.

And so I had a relatively perfect day with Justin, totally unpredicted that it'd turn out great too, 'cos most of the time, if we meet, we'll definitely end the day by quarrelling with one another. Maybe he changed his attitude toward me after his relationship with Tim, and knowing that I helped him quite a bit. For whatever reason, I'm happy to have chatted with him just now. Now back to mugging for ACCA! Arrgghh...! Scary.

Édith Piaf (Revisit)

I just happened to see a contact on MSN with 'Non, je ne regrette rien' as his personal message, implying that 'he regrets nothing'. He's quite a sensual person so I guess he put it to reflect himself. Anyway, I then decided to revisit Édith Piaf.

I watched the movie La vie en rose that was on Édith Piaf and that was how I got to know her. I did a search on her and get to know more about her biography and all. I can comment that she probably had a sad childhood but she led her life with hope. Well, having hope in life is very important... She had many boyfriends and a few husbands... More information can be wiki-ed.

What I wanna share is that she sung very well. She had a very powerful vocal, less the body language, and plus the facial expression she had. I'd think that having a strong vocal and unique singing are all that singer needs actually. That's my expectation. Other talent skills are more to be performed by other professionals e.g. dancers, instrumentalists etc. A singer should focus on his/her vocal and singing.

To a certain extend, I link Stefanie Sun to Édith Piaf. Both are small in size, Stefanie standing at 1.62m while Édith at 1.42m. Both have a strong vocal, unique way of singing and are able to express the feelings in a song to its fullest. They are both iconic 'national treasure' of Singapore and France respectively. 孙燕姿, in Chinese 燕姿 sounds like 燕子 which means swiftlet, while Édith Piaf's Piaf means sparrow. Both are somehow link to birds. Haha... Anyway, that's the reason why I find both of them in common. I think it's a great association to link both of them together. They are both very successful singers in their time with many classic hits. =)

From the web, I found a few of Édith's Non, je ne regrette rien. Let's take a look.

This should be the version of Non, je ne regrette rien in the movie La vie en rose with Marion Cotillard acting as Édith Piaf.

Non, je ne regrette rien was composed by Charles Dumont and its lyrics were written by Michel Vaucaire, describing Édith's defiant attitude toward the past.

This should be taken in one of Édith's last few concerts in 1962 before she died on 10 October, 1963.

And this is by Canadian pop singer Isabelle Boulay. Her version is quite good too.

向井理 むかい おさむ

He's cute and handsome, ain't he? Quite a versatile actor too.

Check him out at: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Mukai_Osamu

Blog: http://ameblo.jp/osamu-labo/

アタシんちの男子

"You know, I don't have a family or a home. I've been alone for a long time.

I tried to blame my misfortunes on other people. And I always thought, "This isn't the real me." Living like that is pretty tiring, you know?

Every day is hard and painful. I just started hating everything. I was really thinking of dying then. But...

I never thought I'd have a future. Alone, I never would've learned that.

If you take one step forward, the world will change. Maybe.

The world... will change."

Official site: http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/atashinchi/index.html

性感尤物

Haha! I'm sure the subject of this entry attracts attention. Well, 性感尤物是我给惠媛姐的称号。Anyway, she's back from Japan, after taking one year of Japanese Language study at 东京国际大学附属日本语学校。I find it so cool ~ She shared with me the whole night the time she spent over at Japan and Australia. She was in AUS for her bachelor degree at QUT (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia). She's such a global citizen. Born in Taiwan. Got her education in Singapore and then in AUS and JPN. SO COOL ~ ! How I wish I can be like her...

Which leads to the thought of me going Japan for a similar program. Maybe if I can finish my ACCA and find a part-time job next year to find the money, then I can go for such a program. Need the money and guarantor to do so. Haiz... Is it possible? Sometimes I really hope I can find someone who can be with me and support me. 'Cos I know I can't depend on my family. It's about time that I leave the house and stay somewhere else.

I wanna go 东京国际大学附属日本语学校。I wanna learn Japanese and live in Japan!

简单就是美吧。。。

有时我会很疑惑，到底我要怎样的生活方式。有时会觉得自己很简单，一切从简。有时却又有很多欲望。哎哟，我相信毕竟人在某种程度上都是复杂的吧。。。

Anyway, 无意中看到这个tube 关于《爱》的。和大家一同分享。

Long awaited KTV

In case I forget to update my life and procrastinate further, this was some photos taken last night.

The first one was taken on Sunday with my dearest bestie snoring his way in Computer Centre's discussion room. I guess the sofa is too comfy... zzZ

The rest are from last night's KTV with Tim and Hui Ting as well. I took a picture of Tim but it is blurry 'cos he was too emotive when he's singing with his big actions so it came out blurry. Hence I decided to delete it. Sorry Tim!

I don't know why but every time I get to see Hui Ting I always think that she looks different. And Justin suggested she underwent some minor surgery every now and then. Haha... Only she knows. Nobody knows...

Anyway, it was rather fun hanging out with them. They were very 放. Unlike me... Haha. And I think I did badly for my singing after so long. That's the result of breaking from singing for more than half a year?

Before I forget, I also saw this Anonymous person at Marina Square. A good catch I missed. =( Nevermind.

Memories of her

I suddenly cried while having lunch with Mum. I was asking her how the lady at the other table know Po-po. My Mum was telling me that they were colleagues at Woh Hup and then I asked back, "Does she know Po-po passed away?" And Mum replied that the lady asked her if po-po comes to visit us at our house recently...

And I started crying... I can't stop. Just how I wish those days can be back. The times when Po-po would visit us at our house, settle down and ask me to brew her a cup of coffee...

She would always ask me to be 乖, help Mummy with house chores etc... Haiz... Po-po is always so giving... Always give but receive so little. And for this fact, I kinda hated myself that I didn't provide her enough. And that I really, really miss her so much after she left us...

Po-po, you are my dearest, and will always be... in my heart. =)

Get to Know Yourself Better

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education:

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:

You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.

How do you view success:

You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

I think this is rather accurate for me. Try it out!

http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx