Inspirational School Song

I had taught in the Chinese High School, Kranji Seconday School and Singapore Sports School before. This is the first school anthem that I’ve ever come across that strikes me as truly inspiring. Very fitting… since it’s a school that’s set up with a definite purpose to excel in the areas it’s called to excel in. It really has that modern inspirational feel. I can also identify the lyrics with my walk with God too.

I could not find the anthem on YouTube but found it on the Singapore Sports School website: http://sss.ntrix.sg/infolinks.aspx?id=1 You have to click on the link and stroll down to the school anthem and profile to listen to it.

Singapore Sports School Anthem

We will rise to the challenge
The Sports School as one
With pride and with passion
In the journey we run
Every step leads us closer to our goal
And a voice keeps telling us to stay strong
To keep on walking cause it won’t be too long
Till we can soar
Beyond our fears
We’ve been living for this moment
We’ve been dreaming all these years
It’s gonna be worth the struggle
It’s gonna be worth the fight
We can hear the crowds roar
Upon our wings we soar

Tang Poetry

Suddenly thought of another poem when I was studying Chinese literature in secondary school. The poems of Du Fu (杜甫, AD 712-770) were most expressional of the outlook of social unrest and the feeling of the people in that period.

A Portrait of Du Fu

Du Fu was in Changan when An Lushan’s army took the capital. He wrote “春望, Chun Wang, Looking Around in Spring”:

A seal script carving of the poem

国破山河在，          Guo po shan he zai,
城春草木深。           Cheng chun cao mu shen.
感时花溅泪，           Gan shi hua jian lei,
恨别鸟惊心。           Hen bie niao jing xin.
 烽火连三月，           Feng huo lian san yue,
家书抵万金。           Jia shu di wan jin.
白头搔更短，           Bai tou sao geng duan,
 浑欲不胜簪。           Hun yu bu sheng zan.

(Translation of the poem to English)

Mountain and rivers still remain even though the state fell,
Spring is in the city while grass and bushes are tall.
Seeing so much misery flowers are shedding tears,
Hearing so many parting words birds are startled.
Flames of battle have been raging till March,
A family letter is worth of ten thousand tales of gold.
I find my white-hair shorter when scratching it,
There is no way to fasten the hairpin on my head.

Korean food for Valentine's Day Dinner

Peiru and I celebrated Karina's birthday over lunch on Valentine's Day and went to a Korean restarant for dinner. We ate our favourite spicy beef soup, Yukgaejang and the typical Korean rice, Bibimbap in the Korean restaurant called "Muskus" near our house. :) Below are a few photos:

 Peiru happy with her Korean food

 Spicy beef soup "Yukgaejang"

Yummy Bibimbap!

Random thoughts during festive season

It is Chinese New Year and I just remember the poem that I learnt when I studied Chinese literature during secondary school. It is a poem written in the Tang Dynasty by Wang Wei. Basically it is about missing the family members during the festive season. Below is the poem, enjoy reading! :)

“九月九日憶山東兄弟” jiǔ yuè jiǔ rì yì shān dōng xiōng dì

by 王維 wáng wéi

獨在異鄉為異客， dú zài yì xiāng wéi yì kè

每逢佳節倍思親。 měi féng jiā jié bèi sī qīn

遙知兄弟登高處， yáo zhī xiōng dì dēng gāo chù

遍插茱萸少一人。 biàn chā zhū yú shǎo yī rén

“Double NinthMissing My Shandong Brothers” — Wang Wei (Tang Dynasty)

Translated into English version poem:

As a lonely stranger in the strange land,

Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.

Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,

All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.

Chinese New Year Celebration in Ecuador

Thank God for LaoBan and LaoBanNiang for inviting us for steamboat reunion dinner during the Chinese New Year. We had a great time sharing and eating together with their extended family! :) Below are some photos:

Steamboat dinner

LaoBan's sister and grandnephew

LaoBan and LaoBanNiang

Noodles with crab and mushroom

Stir-fried squids with green pepper and carrot