are you a welfare tourist? i know some are. what is a welfare tourist? what i type below is taken from the New Paper Fri 28.
Dr Terence Chong, a sociologist from the Institue of South-east Asian Studies commented that "When many young affluent Singaporeans go overseas to do humanitarian work, they become welfare tourist. There is often no long term commitment to a project or cause. The welfare tourist is there to experience poverty, catch a glimpse of human suffering, lend a hand, and than come back to the comfort of Singapore with a nice CV, and lots of stories to tell their friends over lunch. This phenonmenon is part of the self-help culture where helping others is seen as a way to self enrichment, and also part of a consumerist society where people can go out and buy such 'feel good' experiences."
I sit before the bed looking out the window, spending the day in memories; life is a resplendent illusion, time is a thief, stealing everything away
When I was seven I captured a cicada, thinking I could capture summer; when I was seventeen I kissed her face thinking we would last forever
Is there really that kind of forever, forever unchanging, the beauty we’ve once embraced never shattered
Make rapidly passing time unable to run wild on my face, make the separation of life and death distant, so no one can hear them
I sit before the bed turning my head to see who is asleep on the pillow, that ancient face appears to be me, tightly shut eyes
Those who once loved me, and who I loved deeply, are all gathered by my side, I can’t take with me those regrets and sentiments, they all transform into that one last tear
Is there really that kind of tear that can wash away remorse, transform into a rainstorm falling on a street I can’t return to
Give me one more chance to rewrite the story, to offer the apology I've owed him all my life
Is there really that kind of world, where the sky never goes dark, the stars and sun and everything listens to my commands
The moon doesn’t wax and wane, spring isn’t far away, twigs hold tightly onto their leaves, can anyone hear me
Beside my ears, before my eyes, this life is lived over again, I came from the darkness and return to the darkness, a lifetime, a flash, between heaven an earth, next time who will I be
Is there really that kind of rose, that never fades away, forever proud and beautiful, forever uncompromising
Why does life turn out to be like a scrap of paper, not like a flower petal that was once splendorous
Is there really that kind of bookmark that can stop on that day, at that most innocent, smiling face and that most beautiful year
A backpack filled with cake and soda, eyes devoid of suspicion and wrong-doing, let us be outlaws
Is there really that kind of poem that doesn’t end, youth forever halted in our own time
Boys and girls with guitars and dancing shoes, laughing and forgetting life’s suffering, just knowing its sweetness
Is there really that kind of tomorrow, that lets me live all over again, to once again experience the yesterday I squandered
Whether surviving or living, I won’t waste a moment, won’t let this story be so filled with regrets
Can anyone hear me, I don’t want to say goodbye
I sit before the bed watching my fingertips already like smoke
October is an important month. Not becos of the essays and assignments and presentation dateline. But becos of new album releases from Jay and MayDay. November is an important month. Not becos of exam, but becos of the U.S. presidential elections. Dec is not an important month for me.
Since young, I have enjoyed watching Gallen Lo's Hong Kong serials. From 天地男儿 to 天地豪情 to 難兄難弟 to 創世紀 to 流金歲月. I especially like epic shows about some guy with no money, but over the years, through hardwork, manage to start a company, make it big, play on the stock exchange, then kanna bankrupt, then later make it big again. In fact, it was after watching Gallen Lo's show that I decide to study business course at polytechnic. I tot I can make it big, jus like in his shows. haha...yeah..damm naive at that time. Aniway, I am jus glad that he is back at TVB after MIA for a few years. Looking forward to another of his epic dramas again!
The year has not ended yet, but I know who the year belongs to, as far as mando-pop is concerned. It belongs to the winners of season one of 超級星光大道, Aska's 洋葱, Jam's 收藏 and Yoga's 伯樂 and 神秘嘉宾 are without doubt the best songs of the year. 2008 is shaping up to be an excellant year for Chinese pop, especially when you consider that Jay Chou and Mayday has not even release their mandatory 'once-a-year' album. I wan to express my appreciation to their songs for their company on many late nights and long bus journy...allowing me to seek solace, and always inspiring me.
