Thank God!

I really don't deserve this, but this time God has brought me through once again!

I did way better than I expected, especially for Math and 'Japan and the World'. I didn't even complete half the Math paper and I passed? That's seriously bewildering. The others must have really done very badly.. as I said before, it's sad when your happiness is built on other people's misery. Japanese however was pretty disappointing. It's not bad, per se, but I think I could have done better.. or maybe not, lah. This is the results I got for trying my best, so this is the results I'll live with.

Must stop wanting what I don't have and start appreciating what I have in front of me!

And my results reflect how bad I am at multi-tasking, hahahaha.

But whatever it is, thank You, Lord, for bringing me through. Your grace is always sufficient. Indeed, indeed.

Now I can really have a good holiday ahead! YAY 双喜临门, this calls for a celebration! :D

我思う、ゆえに我在り

誰でも知っているデカルトの有名な言葉だが、
これは「俺が考えているってことは、俺がいるんだなぁ」
という単純なものではない。
もう少し深い意味を持つ。

この世で、「最も確かなこと」は、何だろう？
この世で、「全く疑う余地のないこと」は、何だろう？

これをデカルトは考えた。

たとえば、目の前にある世界は、本物だろうか？
いやいや、これは幻なのかもしれない。夢なのかもしれない。
だって、夢を見ているとき、これが夢だとは気がつかないではないか。

今、見ているものは、実際には存在しないのかもしれない。
これが夢、幻じゃないと、どうやって証明できるだろう。
そんなことは、原理的に、決してできない。

じゃあ、数学は？学問は？論理は？
いやいや、それが正しいと思うのは、思い込みかもしれない。
だって、夢をみているとき、論理的におかしなことが起きても、
それをおかしいと感じないではないか。

では、やはり「絶対的に正しい」と宣言できるものは 何もないのか？

デカルトは、全てを疑った。
疑って、疑って、疑い続け、
それでも正しいといえるものは何かを根気強く考え続けた。
そしてある日、天啓のような考えがひらめく。

「我々が認識するものは、すべて嘘かもしれない。
　でも、それを疑い続けているものがいるということだけは真」
であると。

たとえ、
「疑っている」ということを疑ったとしても、
やっぱり「何かを疑っている」ことは真なのだ。

たとえ、すべてが夢であっても、
その夢を見て、夢じゃないかと疑っている自分が存在すること
は決して疑えない。

この世のすべてが、信じられないものであろうとも、
それを『疑っている何者かが存在すること』は、絶対的な真実なのだ。

これが「我思う、ゆえに我在り」という言葉の本質的な意味である。
デカルトは、この言葉を「決して疑えない確かな真実」として、
哲学の第一原理にすえたのである。
近代哲学は、デカルトから始まる。

I thought this was very fascinating and meaningful, so I'm posting it here.

It's based on a famous quote from Descartes: "I think, therefore I am" and it's background.

In essence, Descartes spent his whole life doubting everything in this world. He wondered what was real in this world because everything we are seeing might actually be a lie - afterall, when we are dreaming, we don't realise we are dreaming until we wake up.

Later on in his life, he stumbled upon a revealation that nothing is true in this world, but the fact that nothing is true. Oxymoronic, but true. Like nothing is certain in this world, but death. Something to that effect.

Therefore, it's an absolute truth that we do exist, even if we doubt what we see. Our very existence is a fact that cannot be doubted.

Therefore, "I think, therefore I am".

>Hmm.. food for thought.

Shiok, ah!

Hahaha cheap thrill. The day Charmine found Googlemap! I know la, so suagu right. I think half of the world knows about it already and I only found it today! I saw my neighbourhood! And AJC! And Ang Mo Kio! And Orchard Road! The sense of familiarity is so awakening. Now I know where to come when I get homesick! (:

Seriously, technology can be both a bane and a boon. But in this case, it's such a dearly-loved Boon! Ah Boon! Haha sorry I'm going crazy.

Last day of exam tomorrow! Not that it really feels like exam period. People were cheating their way through the papers and it's just really nonsense la. I think even the teachers don't think it's very important. But anyhows holidays start tomorrow -> GO! I'm in the holiday mood already. My heart's in Singapore! Someone pick it up. Getting excited about the upcoming mission trip, the foooooood and the sorely-missed company!

The temperature is dropping very rapidly. In 2 days' time, the lowest temp is going to hit 1degree celsius. I'm not a below-10degrees person so I'm quite nervous about it. Winter is starting to set in.

Results out tomorrow. Nervoussss. But it's just pointless to rant about what's been done, so I'll just see what God gives me and be satisfied with that.

Hmmm.. my tagboard is acting strange. Probably because of the lack of length in recent entries.

I've lost the ability to write long entries. Maybe because nothing exciting is happening.The past week had been a whirlwind and to be honest, I can't really remember what's happened. Disney Sea (pictures up in FB!), school, finally getting to sleep in on a Saturday after consecutive weeks after weeks of events going on and Gospel Christmas! Awesome to see how God works!

How I wish time could come to a standstill for the next few weeks..

Lost something important today )':

-

OMG, I'M SO HAPPY!

SINGAPORE'S RADIO STATIONS ARE BACK ON LIVE :D :D :D

Retail Therapy!

Just when I was talking about shopping yesterday. I went today! Didn't expect myself to buy as many things as I did, but Retail Therapy indeed. Happyyy (: But spent close to 200bucks, so abit 心痛, but it's quite worth it leh, IMO. That amount to get 2 coats, 1 pair of boots, 1 top is actually quite a steal already! and anyway that's what happens when you haven't shopped in a veryveryvery long! And I spent all my dinner money and time on shopping plus walked alot, so in a way, it's exercise too! But the lugging it around and back home was a pain, literally. My right shoulder must be depressed after all that.

I'm soooooo tired right now. Disney Sea tomorrow, yay!

Good night, good night.

Chasing Pavements.

Today's rain was not Tokyo Rain! It was more than a drizzle, which by the way is the equivalent of Tokyo Rain. So I walked home in the rain, because I was too cheapskate to buy an umbrella. Haha. But I'm only bringing this up because something very heartwarming happened! In the rain! Hahaha it's quite a give-away, isn't it. A woman shared her umbrella with me! Although that only happened about 50m away from my place, but the offer was so sweet. Good Samaritans like that make you want to celebrate humanity. But of course, there are Evil People who make you want to punch humanity.

Yeah, now you know my soft spot.

I can't believe I haven't been shopping for about 4 months. That's so unreal! I couldn't have survived without shopping maximum for 2months in Singapore! What's happening to me? Maybe cos there's noone in particular that I can just call out on a shopping trip spontaneously. And cos it's lonely to shop alone. I think many people do that in Japan! I mean the Japanese. I'm still not very used to it because I like asking for opinions and taking my time to dwell on whether to buy or not. Hahaha my friends should know that characteristic very well, though it drives them up the wall most of the time. Ah, I miss my shopping buddies. BBF! ):

I really don't like the city. I enjoy the peace and quiet of suburbs much more, I think. The city makes you feel so empty despite the hustle and bustle around you. This feeling just makes you feel worser and emptier than ever. I don't like that. It's depressing. Too bad I'm not able to get out of the city. Damned to 5 years of city-life. Waa death-eaters all around.

Tired. Shall stop blogging.

December.

At last!

Just read Straits Times Online and found out that the parking test is going to do without poles! For those who did not/are not learning driving, you probably won't understand the fuss. But I think this is a very good move! The poles are ridiculously redundant in the first place. Yes, it helps you to focus on something when you're learning parking for the first time. But in reality, there are no poles. I'd rather learn it the hard way than to have a hard time later on. This probably explains why I still can't park well although I've passed driving. Kudos to whoever who realised the practicality of this move!

Random.

I can't believe it's December already! December always makes me a very happy girl :D Really am looking forward to Christmas - my favourite season of the year! :D :D

Even more random.

Not that this has anything to do with Christmas. Or anything at all. But I'm reaaally dreaming of waffles. I wanna eat waffles so baaaad. Especially the A&W one, but too bad they closed down in Singapore. It used to be a fond memory of mine going to A&W with the family on Sunday mornings and having the spongy golden-crisp waffle with maple syrup and ice cream and curly fries. Mmmm.. makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Well, I could settle for Udders too. I definitely want to go there when I'm back! And I also want to eat the neighbourhood waffle. You know, the green pandan one. From Prima Deli. That's the best.

While I'm at it, I'll make a list of cravings.

1. Dim Sum (Buffet at Meritus Mandarin/Yumcha)

2. Waffles

3. Ang Ku Kueh (Yes, STILL. After so long!)

4. Super Ring

5. Pandan Cake

6. Zi Char

7. Char Siew Rice

8. Fried Bee Hoon

9. 菜饭

10. Calbee Hot & Spicy Chips (Hopefully I can get that tomorrow!)

11. Durian/Chocolate cake from Jane's Cake Station

12. 面煎糕

13. 萝卜糕 black please

14. My mom's taohu goreng/dried noodles

15. The colourful cupcakes from Pasam Malam (what are they called again?)

101. Whatever random eating expeditions, I'm there!

Okay, off to sleep now. I'm getting a kick out of sleeping early nowadays :D

Shall leave you with a sign on the train I found superbly amusing.

Reads:

It's painful to get caught between the doors.

Even more so are the eyes of those looking.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Thank God it's December.