An eventful day indeed

1. PSD Conversations
As part of our DD's efforts to advocate learning and sharing of knowledge between colleagues, my department PSD (Programmes & Services Dept) has a monthly PSD conversations where 2 officers take turn to organise and present whatever topics they like, as long as 1 is NE-related, and the other can be of anything of interest to them (I had my turn 2 mths ago where I shared my FYP video with them).

This morning, Kelvin and Serene came up with a very interesting and entertaining session. First up, Serene shared with us her interest in Postsecret, an idea started by 1 guy using postcards. Basically, (i hope i remember correctly) this guy randomly placed 3000 postcards in various places, with the instructions for people to use the postcards and write a secret that is known only to themselves, be it a betrayal, regret, humiliation, happy experience etc. This spun off into an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

Some examples below:

To find out more and how you can send in your own Postsecret, visit www.postsecret.blogspot.com.

Next, Kelvin shared with us his passion for music, or rather, local music. To start off his topic, he got each group (we were sitted in grps of 5 & we were told to bring a music track that we like) to share why we like a certain song, when we listen to music, how we feel when we listen to music etc. I brought a song by Pink in her latest album, titled "I have seen the rain", which was written by her dad 40 years ago when he was at the Vietnam war. She recorded this song with her dad and it's really an emotive song, simple melody, just the strumming of the guitar, and you can almost feel for the dad through his singing and lyrics. Highly recommended.

Anyway, this music discussion moved on to why there are no songs about Singapore that went on the hits charts. No songs that took the world by storm. Is that impossible in cynical Singapore where we seem to be so cynical about our own stuff, especially when we sing praise of our ctry and how we love being Singaporean? Well, it's not. Check out Electrico's new album, where there's a song titled "We're NOT made in USA" (written after the band got to know of a local girl who bought their album, and insisted on a refund after learning that they are a local band and not from USA).

2. A walk down memory lane
ok, i realise this blog is getting very long, but just 1 more sharing about my trip back to NJC today. Today's my turn, as a Nexus officer, to attend one of the security seminars held in schools as part of the students' NE experience. And i'm allocated NJC. My alma mater.

I have known about this for months, but there's not much feelings evoked. After all, I've never felt a strong attachment to my JC life. Those 2 years seemed to fly by in a flash. I hardly meet up with my JC classmates, save for the annual class gathering.

But, as i stepped out of the cab today, my first sight of the assembly area brought back fond memories. Slowly, memories of my JC schooldays came flooding back to me. It's been more than 5 years since i've been back (ever since i collected my 'A' levels results), and it's amazing how things may look the same, but yet feel so different. They feel so different, but yet you still remember. I hoped i had more time to explore and walk around. But i was there for work. And all i can do, as i was walking out, was to snap a few pictures. And these pictures trace the route i always take with Huaiyue on our way out in our snail-like walking speed.

Taking the stairs down from the canteen.

On my right, the volleyball court where i spent alot of time with the vball gals.

On my left, the football field.

1 final look at the once-familiar sight...

before i head out, toward the side gate, back to my working world...