Last day of OELP

Last day

Today was the last day that we would be in China. First, we went to Qibao guzhen. Next, we proceeded to the Shanghai museum. The Shanghai Museum was a total of four storeys high, and there were many different sections on each level. Some sections displayed the old coins used in China in the past, and the clothes that they wore.After that, we were supposed to go to the Shanghai Urban Planning Centre. However, we found out that it was closed on the day that we went. Therefore, we decided that we would just go to the airport earlier. Overall, I feel that this OELP trip was quite a fruitful one. We learnt about China's culture and tradition and bonded with our classmates. Lastly, we also learnt how to be independent and take care of ourselves.Overall,I believe that our classmates enjoyed this overseas exchange learning program very much.

When we landed back in the Singapore,everybody was feeling very emotional as everybody wanted to spend more time with each other.

Sixth day of OELP

Sixth day

Today, we woke up early to return back to Shanghai. After the long and tiring bus journey, we finally returned back to Shanghai. First we went to Chenghuang Miao. It was something like Singapore's own Orchard Road,where all the high-classed people dined.Our next location was the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.We went to the Animal World section where we got to see replicas of real animals.This was also where we bought our CID group identity here, which was a pendant with a clover leave inside. We also watched a short 4D film on how sometimes our bodies reject the medicine that doctor's prescribe. Next, we proceeded to the Oriental Pearl Tower. The tower was gigantic. When we were on the viewing platform, my group mate,Adon,had fear of heights.However I tried my best to encourage him to stand on the glass floor and he battled with his fear of height and stood on the glass platform to take our CID group photo. After taking the group photo,we went into a shop. This was when I realised that I had been cheated of my money.I bought a snow globe in Chenghuang Miao for 96 yuan.However,my group mates bought the exact same snow globe in the Oriental Pearl Tower for 52 yuan. Following that, we went to the Old French Concession. Finally, we went to Tian Zi Fang before we went for dinner. 

Fifth day of OELP

Fifth day

Today, we went to the Dongguan Street in the morning. It was full of shops that sold many different items. However, there was one thing that was very obvious in Dongguan street. There were many shops that sold pets,most commonly, dogs. This attracted our attention as most of the puppies were really cute. After we had finished taking photos, we went to our next destination, which was the Slender West Lake.The scenery there was magnificent.After touring around for a very long time, we were all very hungry.Hence, we went for lunch. After eating ,we went to the former residence of Zhu Ziqing. The place taught us a lot about Zhu ziqing and his entire life.

Finally, we proceeded to Dong Quan Men Alley. The shops inside had the design of China's old buildings, which brought out an ancient feeling of the entire place. Most of the shops sold souvenirs.I bought some snacks for my family.I also bought a new bag for myself. After we shopped, it was already late in the afternoon. Therefore, it was time to leave for dinner.I realised that Yangzhou and Shanghai are really different.Shanghai is a very modern city while Yangzhou is not as modern.I think that most people visit Yangzhou as it makes you feel as though you have travelled back in time to ancient China.

Fourth day of OELP

Fourth day

Today we went back to Shu Ren School again. However, today we went to the school's older campus.When we arrived at the school, we exchanged presents with our China buddies. While we exchanged presents we also engaged in conversations with them. When we were talking to them we realised that we had a common topic,games.After the conversation,the Shu Ren students rushed off for their lessons.For us we went to their art room to learn how to make something that resembled a friendship band.However, the teachers said that the band was meant for luck. After completing the band, it was time to go and perform for the students of Shu Ren School. We took turns with the students from Shu Ren to do our performances. All the performances done by the Shu Ren students were splendid, which showed that they had put in a lot of time and effort into the performance. Of course, we also did quite well. The whole performance was wrapped up with everyone singing the song "朋友”. Before we left, they also gave us one salted duck egg each. Now it was time to have out lunch.After eating,we went for our next lesson which was calligraphy.We learnt how Chinese word characters evolved over these many years.We did what we normally did in school during RV literature last year, as we were learning calligraphy. Finally, it was time for us to say good bye to the students of Shu Ren School. Thereafter, we went to Xinhua Book store. In the book store,they also sold electronics and sports equipment besides books. After that we went to have dinner and headed back to our hotel room.

Third day of OELP

Third day

Today we visited Shu Ren School.Our day at Shu Ren School was a very memorable and enjoyable one. At the school, we went to their school hall to learn Wushu with the students from Shu Ren School. After learning their performance routine, we performed our school's 立化拳 to them.After having the Wushu lesson ,we went to the canteen to have our lunch.After that we proceeded to our next destination, which was the school's garden. Shu Ren school had a very huge and beautiful garden. We took a walk around the garden, taking photos along the way and enjoying the beautiful flowers.

After touring the garden, we went back to the hall, where we were going to take part in a mini competition between the two schools. The games in the mini competition included pairs of students having to hold a ball in between their backs, jumping in a rice sack, balancing ping pong balls on the paddle and throwing shuttlecocks into a basket.We cheered our lungs out for everybody to show our RV spirit.This was something that the students from Shu Ren School did not do. After the mini competition ended, it was time for the basketball match against their school's basketball team. Although we lost with the points at 9-18, but we still cheered, not only for River Valley, but also for Shu Ren School. Finally, it was time to go and eat our dinner.We bid farewell and left.

Second day of OELP

Second day

Today,we left Shanghai and headed for Yangzhou.We had to wake up very early in the morning and took a bus ride for almost 3 hours.We had lunch and after that,we went to Geyuan Garden(个园).After visiting Geyuan Garden,we went to a paper cutting museum(剪纸博物馆). When we visited the paper cutting museum we had the chance to do some paper cutting. However, a problem arise.It was our turn to do the paper cutting but another group was there before us and hence they started with the paper cutting although it was our turn. Hence, we decided to go to the Grand Canal first. After we took a boat ride on the Grand Canal, we returned back to the Paper Cutting Museum. Before we started to do the paper cutting,I thought paper cutting was very easy and simple.However, I found out that I was wrong.Paper cutting required a lot of patience and concentration.My end result was a very torn horse. Finally, we went to one of the local supermarket's in a shopping mall. China's supermarket are huge. There were almost anything in the supermarket.The supermarket was so big me and my group mate,Adon, ended up getting lost and we were unable to find our other group mates. Luckily, we managed to find them.This was out of my expectation because I have always thought Yangzhou was a village-like city. However I realised that  Yangzhou was actually quite modernised.

First day of OELP

Today I left my house at 6 in the morning and headed for Changi airport.I was really excited for this overseas exchange learning program and could not wait to learn about the culture and history of Shanghai and Yangzhou.When I reach the airport, I saw the rest of my classmates and I went over to meet them.I could feel the excitement in the air as the rest of my classmates started arriving.

Then,it was time to bid farewell to our families.Some of us were quite emotional and a bit unwilling to part with our families but most of us were comfortable with parting with our families.

We went on the plane and after a five hour flight,we finally reached our destination.After we collected our luggage,we left for lunch.Next we visited The Bund,also known as,外滩.We were also lucky enough to take a boat ride.After visiting The Bund,we went back to our hotel,we had our debrief and took a good night's rest.

A national icon

A national icon is what represents a country. Without it, we will have nothing special and no identity. The Merlion has a head of a lion and a body of a fish.It is a unique creature whic attracts people from all over the world to come visit Sinagpore.The Merlin was found because a man named Sang Nila Utama visit Singapore and thought he saw a lion.Hence the Merlin was "born".Although it is one of Singapore's landmarks,I do not think that only the Merlion can represent Singapore.As seen in the picture below,the Ferris wheel,Sinagpore river could be our national icon.There could be other things that could be the national icon of Singapore and they are significant as the Merlin.Hence although the Merlin could be Singapore's national.I think that other places like Sentosa could be our national icon.

merlion, our national icon

A national icon is what represents a country. Without it, we will have nothing special and no identity. The Merlion has a head of a lion and a body of a fish.It is a unique creature whic attracts people from all over the world to come visit Sinagpore.Although it is one of Singapore's landmarks,I do not think that only the Merlion can represent Singapore.As seen in the picture below,the Ferris wheel,Sinagpore river could be our national icon.There could be other things that could e the national icon of Singapore.Hence although the Merlin could be Singapore's national.I think that other places like Sentosa could be our national icon.

My December Holidays

My holiday was very interesting.Unlike many people,my family did not travel overseas this year.However,my family and I were not deprived of any fun,joy and laughter.During the holidays,my family and I visited many fun and interesting places and did many fun activities.

The first place that we visited was Sentosa.Over there,we visited one of the tourists attraction named "The Luge"."The Luge" is a part go-cart, part-toboggan action ride that is suitable for all ages."The Luge"is a self-driving car system in which riders control the speed by pushing a pair of handlebars back and forth. The luge ride goes downhill, relying on gravitational pull to move.However,when visiting this ride,the Skyride is not to be missed. After the ride, the Skyride using chairlifts brings riders, luge carts, and the helmets back to the starting point.While getting brought back up,you can enjoy a scenic view of Sentosa and the beach.I really enjoyed myself when I took this ride.

While we were in Sentosa,we decided to try out another tourist attraction which was "iFly Singapore"."iFly Singapore"is a place where you can do indoor skydiving."iFly Singapore"has the world's largest wind tunnel.As part of the experience, we received professional training,guidance from the certified instructors and complimentary gear rental.I felt adrenaline rushing through me as I was flying in the wind tunnel.I feel that "iFly Singapore"is much more safe than actual skydiving as actual skydiving has many risks while "iFly Singapore" has professionals helping and monitoring me.

During the holidays,we also managed to go ice skating.Although this is not my first time ice skating,it is my first time skating together with my family.The previous 2 

times,I went ice skating with my friends. Every time I ask my parents if we could go ice skating as a family,they always tell me that they are busy.But during theholidays,we managed to go as a happy family.I remember that when I was ice skating,I fell down on the ice and landed on my bottom.It hurt a lot and I had trouble standing up as the ice was very slippery.However,my father skated over and encouraged me to get back up on my feet when I fell.Now I am slowly but surely getting better at ice skating

The next place we went was prawning. Prawning is the same as fishing just that instead of catching fish,we catch prawn.It was my brother's first time prawning and he was so excited that the night before that he had trouble falling asleep.When we reach"Hai Bin Prawning",my brother was so excited he immediately ran to grab a pole and the prawn bait and started prawning. We went prawning during the Christmas period and the lady at the counter told us that they had tagged some
prawns with vouchers attached to their tails to spread the Christmas joy. After about 5 minutes,my brother caught his very first prawn.Low and behold,the prawn he had caught was huge.Whats more hanging from the prawns tail was a blue tag.My family were getting more and more excited.When my brother turned the tag around,it was a $10 voucher.Instantly,my brother took the voucher to the counter and bought drinks for everybody.

After visiting Hai Bin Prawning,the next place that we went during the holidays was Sentosa's Adventure Cove.It was our very first time going there so my family were very excited.When we got to Adventure Cove,we immediately went to buy 4 tickets and went in to play.Adventure Cove was the biggest water park I had ever been to.We took many fun water slides and had a whale of our time.

Despite not being able to go overseas,my family still managed to have fun during the holiday.It was a very long time since I had so much fun together with my family.

 

                                             A picture paints a thousand words-23/01/15

  

My reflection on the photo:

When I first saw this photo,I felt very sorry for the toddler.When I went back home,I did a bit of research on this photo.The story behind this whole photo was very shocking.This is what I managed to find out about this photo.In March 1993, photographer Kevin Carter made a trip to southern Sudan, where he took now iconic photo of a vulture preying upon an emaciated Sudanese toddler near the village of Ayod. Carter said he waited about 20 minutes, hoping that the vulture would spread its wings. It didn’t. Carter snapped the haunting photograph and chased the vulture away. (The parents of the girl were busy taking food from the same UN plane Carter took to Ayod).

The photograph was sold to The New York Times where it appeared for the first time on March 26, 1993 as ‘metaphor for Africa’s despair’. Practically overnight hundreds of people contacted the newspaper to ask whether the child had survived, leading the newspaper to run an unusual special editor’s note saying the girl had enough strength to walk away from the vulture, but that her ultimate fate was unknown. Journalists in the Sudan were told not to touch the famine victims, because of the risk of transmitting disease, but Carter came under criticism for not helping the girl. “The man adjusting his lens to take just the right frame of her suffering might just as well be a predator, another vulture on the scene,”.

Carter eventually won the Pulitzer Prize for this photo, but he couldn’t enjoy it. “I’m really, really sorry I didn’t pick the child up,” he confided in a friend. Consumed with the violence he’d witnessed, and haunted by the questions as to the little girl’s fate, he committed suicide three months later.(Information and picture credits to https://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/)

 For most of us who grew up in Singapore, we have never encountered such incidents and will probably never starve in our whole entire lives. However, that does not apply to every children in the world,especially in parts of the world that are less urban and developed.When compared to these poor children, I feel that Singaporeans are very fortunate that we do not have to face starvation.

After that, we were shown two pictures of two different beggars.The first beggar was a woman who was carrying a baby.The second beggar was a man who had lost all his belongings. At first,when I
saw both beggars, I made the decision to help the woman who was carrying a child and was begging for money because I thought that the woman was pitiful and that she could not find any jobs as she was carrying a baby. Whereas for the man, I felt that since he did not have to take care of anything besides himself,  he could find a job and earn money by himself.Hence,I felt that the woman needed the money more as she had to take care of the baby as well as herself.

However,after our CID teacher told us the background of both beggars, I realised that I had made a wrong decision. The man just needed to make a phone call to his relatives  as he had really lost all his belongings. However,the woman was actually from a syndicate which cheated people's money from getting the people's compassion.  

I believe that there are people who donate for the sake of being charitable.However,I also know that there are some people who donate because they hope that one day these beggars will change their way and learn to earn money by themselves.

This CID lesson has taught me many things and made me grateful for a lot of things that I take for granted.For example,I used to take for granted the fact that I will never starve and the fact that I have the opportunity to study. I am very grateful for all the things I have now and I will cherish them.



                                                     Reflection-China's Economy
               
        In this lesson,I learnt that China's economy growth is very rapid over the last two decades.They open up their country to international trade and they welcome foreign investors to invest in China.These two factors have great importance to the accumulated huge levels of growth in the country.This is to try to create as many jobs as possible for China citizens.

Getting to know China's commerce better

1.China ranks number two in the world in terms of GDP
2.China's population is 1.4 billion.Likely implication is the large number of unemployed people and the lower salary that the working people receive.
3.China joined WTO in the year 2001
4.The size of China's land mass is 3854082 square miles.Likely implication is that China has a lot of land and that people have a lower rent.
5.Steel,coal and natural gases are natural resources that China is endowed with.

6.China's corporate tax rate is 25%.

7.Why have the Americans been accusing China of keeping the Chinese Yuan undervalued?The Chinese exports will be relatively cheaper.Why is this bad for America?It is because lesser countries are importing from USA.

8.USA is Chins's greatest trading partner

These are the facts that I learnt about China is this lesson.