A "Thoughtful" Mind

Dear Diary,

I am on leave today and tomorrow. It will be a good period of rest for me. Last night, I found satisfaction from coming up with next week’s roster. It is one packed timetable and I am praying there will not be more unavailability of pharmacists because the manpower is so badly stretched that I can say that not one full-time pharmacist is not scheduled to do over-time. Anyway, like any of my previous leaves, I had some “mission” to accomplish today. In fact, in the morning… I was bound for my former university. On the bus to the MRT station, I saw a young Chinese girl who gave her seat to an elderly lady. However, that lady motioned her elderly husband to that seat instead. The young Malay girl who was seated in that seat, was visibly “pressured” to give up her seat. In fact, the “judgemental” stares of the other passengers descended upon her but she kept her stoical facial expression.

In Singapore, there is a strange culture. If you ever step back and look at our local habits, it is almost queer. We are so trained and influenced by government propaganda and campaigns that we almost never do things voluntarily and altruistically. If someone beside you gives up her seat to an elderly person, you are almost expected to do so for that elderly person’s spouse too! There is nothing wrong with that act… it is just that it may no longer come from the heart. It is just as evident in scenarios pertaining to those donation-flag solicitors. Many people give donation to get them out of their way.

If you think this is nothing fascinating… check out the public male toilets (Gents). Not too long ago, as I was relieving myself at one of those urinals, I was shocked when a female cleaner just ambled into the toilet. I was at mid-stream and as much as I want to pause and take “cover” in one of those cubicles, I could not. Guess what, those urinals are without partition. That was not the first time. It happens almost every time. If a male cleaner is so bold as to step into a female toilet, you can bet your last dollar that he will either be yelled at, maybe bashed up with a mop, maybe someone will call the police… simply said… he will be in deep trouble. At the male toilet, our privacy is infringed so frequently. That is also another incredible scenario unique to this country.

Anyway, I was back in my former university for the second time in 3 weeks. Students jay-walking in front of the Science Foyer bus-stop are just as rampant as years back. It is one of those practical skills we pick up as a university graduate, albeit illegal. Looking at those students… they just seemed like small kids to me. I remembered when I visited the university before I studied in there… I was in awe. Every student then looked brilliant. Even their slacks and noisy slippers looked fashionable. Now that I have graduated from it, slacks and slippers just look like what they are called. In fact, there is that attitude of laziness and defiance.

At the clinic, my heart almost missed a beat when the nurse told me that I do not need vaccination. I thought I was positive for a particular antigen. My mind swirled and neuron impulses literally flashed through my brain… Oh boy, everything I have done is a naught? However, I regained composure and upon listening… I was antigen-negative and in fact, I had such excellent antibody resistant and immunity that a vaccination is not needed! Yeah! Save some money and no injection! =) I left the clinic with a smile. This marked the last of numerous procedures I needed to do. I can go complete the remaining of my application at home. I am trying to boost my morale and confidence towards this seemingly formidable goal. I would just rate my chance at about 30%.

Whatever the case, I left the campus and proceeded to City Hall. I met up with a friend at his workplace and we went for tea break together. Apparently, he had just gone through a rough patch. Over the last few weeks, I have already heard two friends being dumped by their girlfriends. There is something really wrong… educated guys are getting dumped… maybe new-age educated guys are brought up sensitive, sentimental and sensible. Girls call us boring. They rather get the fun guys… let it be. It has been a long time since I heard guys dumping their girlfriends. I don’t relish hearing that, in case you are mistaken. I am just surprised. Period.

Shopping alone on a weekday is refreshing indeed. Bought two Swiss-made shirts and some snacks before proceeding home. On the train, I saw a very young cheerful boy with his young mother. I did not notice much until he brought his plastic Nokia toy phone to his ear. He had no left ear but just a long dangling piece of sausage-like meat. His right ear looked deformed too. I think… in the midst of everything, I must be grateful for my life. While people are enduring relationship disasters and physical deformities, I am pretty much well off. At present, I would rate how well I lived my life as 70%. Hopefully, I do not lose track of my goals but yet always be thankful and grateful.

The next day may just be 1.5 hours away for you. For me, the difference is a year (if you get what I meant). I better get wiser! Haha… May bring Dad out to Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve for a real good sunshine and adventure tomorrow! ;-) Goodnight.

God Bless,

Andrew