Lichun or Chunli? Does It Really Matter?

Today ... eh ... yesterday - 4th of February 2012, was the first day of spring. Chinese calls it "Lichun" (立春). My friend said, Chinese believe what you do on this day, will set a precedent to the days to come in this new year.

It's apparently quite common that people will bank in cheque or cash to their account in hoping to have more of such occasions in their lives.

If that is so, this simple Saturday has brought so much joy, laughter, and slight tears to remind me that I have been really fortunate to be able to breathe, laugh, cry and share.

My Lichun, to be more accurate, started at midnight where I was having fun with my time-proven Frenchies group - taking photos with cute baby, eating and drinking great stuff and discovering generous souls through the games we played. Pure fun.

Image courtesy of me but baby is not mine

I then began my day with the two great supporters in my life over brunch, planning and plotting for more exciting "mini adventures" to come. Continuing from my previous conversation with them, we plan to have at least one new thing to do per month. However silly it may be such as - to approach a stranger and ask him/her "What's your purpose of life?" - well, that won't really happen ... just yet.

I continued with doing what I love to do - learning French in a carefree and without pressure environment. I also discovered through the lyrics of a song by Francis Cabrel how fortunate my life has been compared to those people who crossed borders with the risk of being shot dead just to have a better future. Saw 2 beautiful Black-Naped Orioles flying around outside the window of my classroom. Talked to a few really nice and friendly classmates of mine and got to know them better.

One Black-Napped Oriole sitting on a tree branch

My last stop for such special day was having another gathering with another group of French classmates (ex- and/or current). We had great food, wine, game, conversation and most importantly pure joy and laughter. Overall, my Lichun ended on a perfect note complete with the occasional serenades from a possible wannabe theatre singer. I had an awesome 24 hours of my life with a few minutes of work glitches that came through my phone.

The awesome Yusheng (Prosperity Toss) - Photo courtesy of DQ3

Whether it will turn out to be true that what happens on Lichun will be an overview of the year to come, one may never know. But by going through a day with such mindset has made me more aware of my own thoughts and expectations. When you set your day with such positive outlook, it doesn't mean glitches won't rain in your parade. You may get nudged here and there but the overall effect of psyching up yourself a notch has its little wonder. You are after all, what you decide to see, hear, feel, think, and ultimately choose.

If Lichun is just some superstition created by somebody, then, what's stopping us in making everyday a Lichun-ish day? That everyday is indeed a new fresh beginning. That everyday is different and unique. That everyday can be a Lichun or a Chunli or whatever you want the name/label to be. That everyday is a blank canvas waiting for you, the artist, to create something as per you wish. Then why don't you just paint it your way? It may not be perfect, you may have a small canvas, but, make it yours. Own your day.

This year is my first time celebrating such concept. I am glad to be aware of it and have the opportunity to spend it with people who enrich my life in all ways possible. I extend my overflown and rebuilt joy of the week to all of you, who even bothers to read my humble blog. In the spirit of Chinese New Year, I would like to say,"HUAT AH!"

Full Circle Moment & What Would You Do If You Have 3 Days and 3 Nights in Singapore?

Life has its funny way of unfolding itself. In December 2008, I was planning a trip to Europe in 3 weeks (including 2 weeks of Visa application with lots of hope and prayers). It was all planned last minute and I seriously didn't know what to do as I am simply not an average traveler.

Luckily, I was active in Plurk and just by posting it amongst the European plurkers, one very nice French lady responded and rescued me from being deserted in Bordeaux all alone during Christmas. She invited me to be with her family in Toulouse and to spend Christmas together. 2 strangers who hardly chatted online but crazy enough to say "YES" to the experience. The rest is history and I blogged about how much I missed Paris and how I will be confident to converse with French kids! To accompany that, 1 couple from Geneva (Swiss) welcomed me to their humble home with fantastic cheese and coffee, then 1 artistic kind soul from Liège (Belgium) showered me with great food and great booze for New Year's Eve party!

Time has passed and it's now November 2011, 3 years have passed just like that! The full circle moment has arrived for one of my saviour. This time, I am able to play host to my French friend! The one who was crazy enough to invite one stranger from Asia, finally came to Singapore! It's her first trip to Asia and she made sure she would stop by Singapore. (She demanded that to the travel agent). She has 3 days and 3 nights in Little Red Dot and I am glad she maximized it to the max.

So what did my friends manage to do in such a short period of time?

Day 1
Places she attacked:
- Botanic Garden
- Tanglin Mall for lunch
- Orchard Road
- Little India
- Chinatown
- Lao Pa Sat for dinner
- Customs House for drinks

Bear in mind she walks from Orchard to Little India in a rainy day. Pretty impressive, I should say.

Food and drinks she conquered:
- Char kway teow
- Satay (chicken and beef) + Rice
- Oyster omelet
- Prata
- Tiger beer
- Ume

Day 2
Places she attacked:
- Holland Village
- Wet market (woke up too late, so it did look like dry market instead)
- Hawker center
- Arab Street
- Peranakan Museum
- Raffles City
- Raffles Hotel
- Suntec City
- Esplanade
- Merlion
- Fullerton Hotel
- Colonial District
- National Museum
- Plaza Singapura
- Newton Circus

Food and drinks she conquered:
- Chicken rice
- Nasi lemak
- Grass jelly drink
- Ice teh limau (Ice lime tea)
- Kue lupis
- Breadtalk's chicken floss
- Yakun's kaya toast, half boiled egg, kopi-o and teh-o
- Stingray
- Rojak
- Hokkien Mee
- Soursop juice

Day 3
Places she attacked:
- Singapore zoo
- Orchard road again as the weather didn't permit her to go to Sentosa (*pout*) and ended up she made Steve Jobs happy. *ehem*
- Clarke Quay
- Geylang

Food and drinks she conquered:
- Starbucks coffee that put her to sleep (oops, I'm not sure on this :p I am just imagining)
- Chili crab
- Mantou
- Turkish ice cream
- Durian

Overall, I think she has done a great job. She conquered a lot and experienced the main attractions of Singapore. What more, she has a very "authentic" Singaporean guide too besides the "fake-made-in-Indonesia" one. I hope she enjoyed her stay with my passable planning and guiding and story telling ... or more like blabbering. I am glad she enjoyed durian with its stench still lingers on our fingers as I am typing this. I am glad I am able to return the favour that her family and she have done to me in 2008. I hope one day her family too will come and let me have the privilege to show them how awesome Singapore can be (in the rain). I hope my other Internet friends who have shown me how great people are just few clicks away, will be here too one day. I am so grateful for this full circle moment that keeps expanding in its own amazing way.

Life becomes more awesome when one is able to share a piece of themselves with others.

17 December 2008 - First photo taken after our dinner on the first night I arrived in Paris

31 October 2011 - First photo taken after our dinner on her first night in Singapore
(Image courtesy of my friend's FB. Approval is pending as she's busy with her novel at the moment of this blogging)

How Was "THE" French Class? - L'atelier des vins et de la gastronomie française

So ... she asked.
"Any feedback?"
"What do you think of the class?"
"Anything we can add and change?"

*Silence*

Seriously, I don't know how to answer those questions in French. Compared to most of my classmates, I am not only the youngest but the poorest with French vocabularies ever. Most of them either speak fluent French or have at least taken French course for minimum of 5 years. Me ... not even 2 years and even DARED to take a break for 1+ years. -__-"

I could understand 60-70% of the words but to respond to them, that's another realm.

"L'atelier des vins et de la gastronomie française" means French wines and food workshop. I registered myself to the class simply because there's the word WINE in it! I was even willing to pay a premium for it.

You think I'm a miser, right? Sometimes I am .... I brought my voucher to the counter and the aunty said,"you cannot use this voucher for this class ler ..." Then I replied,"Oh! Issit?" (Thinking for a few seconds and ...) "Ok lah ... I want this class.", I decided. The rest is history.

First day of the class was so intimidating! "WTF!" I was shouting so loud in my mind. Not only I was the youngest, littlest and lousiest with my speaking French! Most of them know their terroir, food, wines, Michelin chefs, map of France, .... I know RIEN (nothing)! Some can even recite the experience they have had with the Louis Vuitton of desserts, restaurants, etc .... I stared in amazement accompanied with my fit flop and chewing gum.

That was exactly 7 weeks ago :) Nothing changes, of course. I am still the youngest, smallest, and lousiest with my speaking French. I love Hokkien when combined with French and I still love to wear my FitFlops despite how horrendous the fashionista may think.

However, the invisible networks of friendships have evolved. One decision that I made 7 weeks ago has opened me up to a beautiful perspective towards world that I will never imagine I will be a witness of. Edith Piaf will say,"Je ne regrette rien (I regret nothing)."

What a wonderful classmates I have! To name a few:

• A perfectionist baker
• A happy and resourceful chef
• The "nose"
• The rescuer of the furry ones
• The one who shields us all
• The wine expert
  
• The "enlightened" Frenchie
  

"What do you think of the class?"
I think, it's fantastic.

Not because of the syllabus, the materials. But the passion of the teacher and fellow students. The moments they have weaved together through sharing their stories. And ultimately, the stories they will tell when they are asked by others.

"What do you think of the class?"
I think the class is like life. You may pay an expensive price for something that you don't even know what to expect. You went in with an open mind and open heart. You have no calculative ROI (Return of Investment). And you get out with an everlasting experience. It is something that words can't decipher and money can't really comprehend.

Ultimately, I am thankful for the experience. I am thankful for the kind souls I have encountered that I will be in touch dearly (provided they feed me with food, desserts and wines!). I learn so much from all of you that I would want to learn more. I have been fortunate and honoured to be at the presence of all of you. Hope these friendships, intertwined with the love of food, wines and desserts, will form a beautiful chapters in our lives.

Merci beaucoup, tout le monde! :)


PS. Photos of all the wines have been chosen because I respect the privacy of my classmates and let them be eternalized by these bottles always! HAHA (*what a crap I am writing, man*!)

The Gift That Gives to the Givers

Two weeks ago, my friend whom I knew from one of the earlier French class I attended, invited a group of us for her 10th year anniversary. In my life, I have only heard of such event in movies but never really participated in any. I almost went to a panic mode when a dress code was announced, my wardrobe looks more suitable for going to the market than any of such big event. No wonder I never really like to go to wedding. The dress code scares me!

But she's a very special friend of mine. I call her "ma tante" (means my aunty in French). She doesn't look like any typical aunty though she may shop like one but she looks like a "hot" momma! In our group of 10 ladies who love French things (and some - like me - took it to the extreme by carrying piece of Eiffel everywhere), ma tante has always been the mother figure to everyone. She's selfless and being the Type A personality, always makes sure things are well thought and planned for.

So, when such monumental event was being announced, I seriously wonder deeply what gift would be appropriate? Clueless, really. Not to mention, she has warned a lot of times, not to give her anything as she doesn't need anything in life. Just be there and enjoy the moment. But how can that be possible!

I thought, what else could be better than to find a gift that gives more. So I asked her, will it be okay if I donate to a charity of her choice. She was very supportive to the idea and asked me to check out www.ForJuliana.org, the fiance of one of the most touching story on American Idol 2011 contestant, Chris Medina. If you haven't heard about him, please do. Check out the following videos:
- American Idol audition
- His single "What Are Words"

In short, Chris and Juliana were supposed to get married but a tragic car accident wrecked their dreams away just 2 months prior to the wedding. However, he chose to stay by her side and mentioned these few precious words that has become the inspiration of his single - “What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most.”

Once hearing my plan, the rest of Les Frenchies girls were on board with me and together we donated through Laurus Foundation and everyone was delighted. Secretly though, I was not that satisfied. Ma tante deserves more than this, I thought. So, I bombarded the email of the Executive Director of the Foundation, Chris Medina's FB and Chris Medina's official website. When you ask, you do receive.

The morning of the event, I received the most wonderful email from Juliana's mom - Janet, who told me that Chris thought it would be more personal to handwrite a letter to ma tante. Thanks to my friend's office printer too, we managed to pull things through and the result is as seen below.


As much as one may see it is a touching and thoughtful gift. But to me personally, the whole experience, has given me the most meaning. Sure, the destination was worth it :) but the journey to get there, the kind souls who have taken the extra miles in making sure ma tante was surprised = Priceless.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following kind souls with the equal order of importance and significance:

• Jim Dolan, the Executive Director of Laurus Foundation - Thanks for passing the message to Chris. I hope your foundation will be able to reach the goal to help Juliana.
• Janet, Juliana's mom - Thanks for taking the time to write to me and making sure it pulls through not only in time but in such a beautiful manner. Wish Juliana a steady recovery. With so much love and prayers from all over the world, it is just about the timing, Juliana will be okay again :)
• Chris Medina - Thanks for taking the time to send us the handwritten letter. You are indeed a rare soul who chose to stand by your partner in times of need. Your story will be an inspiration to many people. Wish you all the best in your singing career.
• Ma tante - For being such a loving figure. Your selflessness is something that is so rare that not only your family is lucky to have you but we are so privileged to have known you.
  
• M.Y. - For taking the risk to go back to her office to get the letter printed.
  
• Les Frenchies - For supporting me in this idea and put Singapore on the map in supporting Juliana :) You girls are DIAMONDS! (They love their blings too much ...)
  
• The Emcee of the night - For the beautiful suggestion and convincing me to read it out to ma tante as if Chris was there reading it to her. Though I need lots of drinks before that, but it was a once in a lifetime moment and it was an honour.
• Oprah - *WHAT* Haha ... well, so that I'm able to say these words. "So this is how Oprah feels." Through her shows, the most meaningful moment was when people were touched not by the material things but by gifts with thoughts and meaning. This is truly an A-HA moment for me.
  
• Unseen forces of life - For giving me the instinct and inspiration to something that is so meaningful. For bringing me to the people that can make all these happen.
• My readers - Thank you for still reading up to this point. :) Your silent attention has been one of the driving force for me to stay creative in all areas of my life.
  

I have learned through this experience that the true gift in life is not only the joy we see in the eyes of the recipients but also the fulfilling effect to the giver. Giving is the gift that gives to the givers. Hope you will be compelled to give in whatever ways you choose to.

If you would like to support Juliana Recovery Fund, you may do so with the widget at the end of this post. Thank you so much for your time and attention.

Belle du Berry & David Lewis in Singapore

Alliance Francaise de Singapour was proud to present French Groove event and one of the memorable guest who closed the series was A Concert by Belle du Berry & David Lewis (Saturday, 14 May 2011 - @ 7.30PM) presenting most songs from the album, Quizz. I am truly honoured to be part of that experience. Thanks to my ex-French classmate who is always in the know of interesting things, I was present for one of the most enlightening experience in my life.

When I found out about them, I did a little bit of homework before the concert by visiting their youtube videos. But seriously, none of the videos did justice to the real experience of simply being there and be lost with the experience. Though most of the time I have trouble understanding the lyrics (I bet they are great too), but the music and the musicians did my confusion justice. I was automatically transported to an imaginary land where everything is cryptic and hypnotic.


Belle du Berry - singer, song writer and also accordion player, has proven that she has more talent than just those 3 areas. She has her charm or some kind of "law of attraction" to make audience who has been 99% of the time glued to their seats, stood up and danced to the beat at the very last song. She didn't give up on that idea throughout the concert and she nailed it. She got what she wished for.

As you can see in the photo below, my view was blocked by the dancing crowd.


David Lewis - plays the trumpet and piano (sometimes both at the same time). I don't need to elaborate more on his talent. He does know how to maximize the value of his trumpet by combining method that is not traditionally seen. Here, he dipped the trumpet into a bowl of water to create an eerie and mysterious sound that can only be imagined if you are alone in the dark and watching some old detectives' movies.

There are indeed differences between artists who create and perform from their souls and those who are out there for commercial reasons. The experience they create will linger on. I did wish I was able to have the entire concert be played again. Unfortunately, such unique performance, there's no DVD available. Even CD won't do justice to it. It's the moment and the experience that count. Just like life.

Redefine Oneself

Huh!

As if I know anything about the subject.

Exactly, thanks to me not knowing, I'm compelled to write about it. For years I've been trying to define me, define my blog as the expert says, you need to find a niche. You need to specialize in something.

Alas, after so many years of figuring things out, I still can't find my niche. I still specialize in nothing. This frustrates me to the core.

When I look at people around me, I'm able to pinpoint:
- she is a supply chain specialist
- he dwells in hardware
- she is so good in her French
- it is so good in loving people (yes, I'm referring to the wonderful four-legged creature that I adore)

Then I take a look back at myself, what am I good at? I am not expert in skin care just because I'm working in the industry. I'm not a specialist in short term rental just because I dwelled in it for a while and worse, my beloved language of French, I'm so far from mastering it. My passion was procrastinated as I lost my steam then I stopped the course as I couldn't commit. Well, simple case look at my blogging habit, kinda say it all about me and specializing in something. This just sadden me to the core. How am I going to define myself? What am I good at?

That's when I realize defining myself in such a rigid manner doesn't work for me at all. I am who I am and I am who I'm evolving into (thanking someone for this insight). I am accepting to be the specialist in nothing and everything. I may not know a particular subject in depth but I am sure I at least heard of it or willing to learn about it. I am not ignorant.

I may not be the top student in French anymore (thanks to my lazy other half :p) but throw me back to Paris and I should be able to converse to the children now instead of playing alphabet games with them like I did in December 2008 (as shown below).

I am evolving and I love who I am becoming so far. I still not sure what is my niche, who I want to be and it may get fuzzier as I think harder. But as I let things simply flow together with life, so far it had never failed to surprise me.

I define myself as a human being with a curious mind and ever evolving soul that when I come to the end point, one thing I am sure is that I have grown to be better than I was before.

I Miss Paris Badly

My last post to fulfill my promise to my friend so that I'll not be eaten as his lunch (hmpf) ... will be a rant from my heart, which many of you would have already known anyway. Yes ... it's
I MISS PARIS BADLY!!!!!!!!

:'(
My body is here but my heart is really there. Yes, you may say I'm just a tourist there and of course I'll miss it since I was there to play and not to work and live. I can't completely disagree with that thought either but there was something about France I really like!

Some of my friends in Asia said if I do live there, I'll not get used to their super quiet "Sunday" where most of the major shops are closed. Well, people there apparently don't SHOP as much as people in Asia, but I just love it! What I really miss the most is the quality of the conversation I'm able to get while I'm with the locals there. And I love how much care and thoughts they give into what they buy, what they eat, their culture, their history, etc. It's amazing.

At times like this I can't help but wonder why is Europe so far away? Why I can't stand the aircon in Singapore and I was pretty much happy during the cold winter in Europe (with the right gear of course!!!). But if there's one thing I really really love about Asia ... Singapore and Indonesia in particular ... that will be the convenience of the public toilets system! I'll not take that for granted! With a small bladder like mine ... toilets are like my bestest friend ever!!! But, then I survived too when I was there. With the bulky winter clothes and my heavy backpack, I still survive the toilets adventure!

I really hope Hiro from Heroes will just zap me there whenever I want ... ah well, for now I can only stare at the photos I've brought back and give thanks to the experience that I already have. I'll just tell myself, Paris, I'll be back.

Les Champs-Élysées

This following French song - Les Champs-Elysees will always remind me of my very first French teacher - Linda Hung. Not only it's my ringing tone but it's a basic song where you can really pick up a lot of words and not to mention, if you've never gone to Paris (like me), will make you dream about it more. I hope you'll enjoy it and as I'm going to share it with fellow classmates, I'll paste the meaning below too. :D Enjoy!



Les Champs-Élysées
by Joe Dassin

Je m'baladais sur l'avenue le coeur ouvert à l'inconnu / I trotted on the avenue my heart opened to the unknowns
J'avais envie de dire bonjour à n'importe qui / I wanted to say hello to no matter whom
N'importe qui et ce fut toi, je t'ai dit n'importe quoi / No matter whom, it could be you, I'd said anything to you
Il suffisait de te parler, pour t'apprivoiser / It was enough to speak to you, just to calm down.

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Tu m'as dit "J'ai rendez-vous dans un sous-sol avec des fous / You said to me "I was pinned in a basement with fools
Qui vivent la guitare à la main, du soir au matin" / Who live guitar-in-hand from dusk till dawn"
Alors je t'ai accompagnée, on a chanté, on a dansé / Then I accompanied you, one sang, one danced
Et l'on n'a même pas pensé à s'embrasser / Any one who did not even think of embracing oneself

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Hier soir deux inconnus et ce matin sur l'avenue / Yesterday evening two unknowns and this morning on the avenue
Deux amoureux tout étourdis par la longue nuit / Two in love all dazed by the long night
Et de l'Étoile à la Concorde, un orchestre à mille cordes / And to the Star of Concord, form an orchestra with thousand cords
Tous les oiseaux du point du jour chantent l'amour / All the birds at day-break singing for the love

Aux Champs-Elysées, aux Champs-Elysées / At Champs-Élysées, At Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit / In the sun, under the rain, in midday or midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées / That's all you'd ever want at Champs-Élysées

Sans Rancune

Just learn another phrase in French - "Sans rancune". Got it from a song that I'm listening by Corneille. It means "without resentment".

Just wondering, can one be angry and yet not resent?
The answer is yes.
You'll be surprised you may be angry at that moment and pissed off and agitated but that doesn't mean you need to hold on to your anger and grow it to resentment.
It is actually not that difficult.

Focus on what you think is better for your well being, if nothing falls into that category, don't hold it for too long. Toss them away.

When you succeed, trust me, you'll feel so much lighter.
And you'll laugh at how ridiculous most things are.
How simple life can be but most of the time we try to complicate for nothing.

The Dead Ones Did Not Die

I would like to share an excerpt from a beautiful poem (though in French) written by a Senegalese poet - Birago Diop (1906 - 1989). In the following poem titled "Les Morts ne Sont Pas Morts" which based on the online translating device means - The Dead Ones Did Not Die - he addressed the popular African belief that those which and who have died (e.g. ancestors), are still present in the natural world.

Hope everyone will enjoy this beautiful poem which translations I've put after the French version. As the translation was quoted from online dictionary, it may not have been depicted accurately but the gist of it is still there.

Les Morts ne Sont Pas Morts
by Birago Diop

Ecoute plus souvent / Listen more often
Les choses que les êtres, / To the things than the beings
La voix du feu s'entend / To the voice of the fire, Listen
Entends la voix de l'eau / Listen to the voice of the water
Ecoute dans le vent / Hear in the wind
Le buisson en sanglot : / The sobbing of the shrub:
C'est le souffle des ancêtres. / It's the breath of the forefathers

Ceux qui sont morts ne sont jamais partis / Those who died have never left
Ils sont dans l'ombre qui s'éclaire / They are in the shades that become clearer
Et dans l'ombre qui s'épaissit, / and in the shades that thickens
Les morts ne sont pas sous la terre / Deaths aren't under the earth
Ils sont dans l'arbre qui frémit, / They are in the tree that quivers
Ils sont dans le bois qui gémit, / They are in the wood that wails
Ils sont dans l'eau qui coule, / They are in the water that runs
Ils sont dans l'eau qui dort, / They are in the water that sleeps
Ils sont dans la case, ils sont dans la foule / They are in the huts, they are in the crowd
Les morts ne sont pas morts. / The dead ones did not die