A Circle, A Cycle and Another Twist and Turn

I was suppose to do my math tuition homework but i could resist blogging about the thoughts right now in my head.
Right after viewing some photos on facebook(I'm not going to say who), i've realised a few things.

Culturally, i felt so impacted, just looking at all the different places my friend has gone has made me oh so envious.
There is just a touch of the native culture that i could feel with the photos that were taken.
Amazing.
And when were they taken?

Like right now in this age when we're stuck in cram school?

Yes its my moaning and groaning about pre-university education again, my 'period' if you like, just that it comes more often than once every one or two months.
But anyway the point is, just by looking at the pictures, i'm wondering, do Singaporeans give up more of life than they originally thought?
Finance, stability, family, sure they are important values and virtues that anyone would want to possess, but i'm just thinking, have we ourselves made this the American dollar of our lives?

My friend was definitely in university during the time of her travels.
And just looking at that comparison alone, do Singaporean universities offer that same expanse of experiences?
Or are disciplines pieced and framed, with no room for the necessary flexibility of individual interest?
And at the end of the day, do schools advocate nothing but a paper chase society?
Sure, there could be a rising defense which says, "No! We aim to develop character as well!", but honestly, are these values overly tied in with what's need in getting a certificate?
Then there's the other argument that 'Meritocracy' is the way to go, 'People are our only resource."
There's no denying that, given our disadvantageous geographical situation. But,
Fortunately, there's never only one path to walk in life.

I'm not saying the country isn't a great place to live in, in fact its awesome to the littlest dot!(No pun intended)
Especially food, never hungry, no matter what time of the day, as long as you have moolah.
Singapore is a food haven and we should be proud of it,
But i'm getting very very very fed-up with the education i'm having.
Or is it just me?
They always say the grass is greener on the other side, and many times we've wound up wishing we could have gone back to where we have come from.
I don't want to end up in a situation like that.
But i still look forward to an overseas education.

Still, i'd think when we all do exchange places, its about who we are and not where we are.
From young i've been taught Asian values and been drilled into Asian perspectives.
Little did i realise that i've grown up with a thinking that is relatively different from that of my peers.
Liberal, freedom of expression, aesthetics.
Character, have i forgone in my pursuit of the above?
Maybe some, maybe some.

I cannot stand chains.
Tying downs.
Not being allowed to do this, not being allowed to do that.
But perhaps its a lesson to learning to obey authority.
And putting away that prideful, insolent flesh of yours so that you can learn a little humility.
But its getting tiresome and extremely bothersome at where i am.
I know i'm not one to judge but i just want to express my personal opinion.

"That hairstyle is so rebellious!"
"No its not!"
"At least i think so."
"Well that's what you think, i don't feel it is haha!"
"Then you might as well wear T-shirt and jeans to school everyday?"

No mutual respect for personal opinions?
I think that's how wars started.
Not that one will be escalated out of this mundane conversation, but giving a damn about what people think actually makes you a better person and less of a narcissist.
No pinpoints, its just general advice.
Still, if its your remedy, then you can reward me with by acting on it and change.

I'd still think everybodys unique and different still though!
Not that everyone being bottled up in getting education is a bad thing.
After all, the potential of it is unseen until later in life.
But have they missed out a lot more?
Is that all that is to life?
Its insane when you actually calculate how much time you spend studying in proportion to what else there is to life.
Don't preach to me the formula of "how long you spend studying now and how long you spend enjoying life later" and how its all worth it and everything.
Remember kids, you're only young once.
I remember a friend saying that i'm so happening now, 'clubbing' and everything, so different from how i used to be, i was actually glad.
If you say that my life is more happening than yours right now, you haven't really lived life.
Experiences make a person.

Perhaps that's why the year end Europe trip looks so promising.
A different perspective that i'm hungry for.
I'm also hungry for experiences.
Its not going to be just about shopping, food and the holiday.
Gotta get a good camera, lots of spare storage space and battery.
Pictures paint a thousand words, a cliche that hits your thoughts almost immediately.
But have you forgotten what's most important about pictures?
Memories, and that was what i discovered today.
Another memory that i won't want to forget.

Another Memory I Don't Want to Forget
Another memory i don't want to forget,
Be it climbing up the treehouse or shooting hoops into the net.
Adolescence and childhood, reminiscence, emotions and moods
Tie up the ends, of my life's great, big, story book.
You flip the pages, finding it has only begun,
Yet, retracing the last few pages, filled with pictures of the golden sun
Rainy weather, a dying rose in the winter
The salt of the beach in the joy of summer.
Then you come across one photo, so special you could see
The polaroid's color fading as time develops another
Everlasting, memory.

Thank you my friends for bearing with this awfully long post. I haven't written this much in a long, long time. Did i mention punctuations are't my very best friends?