Constructive Deconstruction

Insomniac Ramblings

June 16, 2007 on 4:19 am | In Random | No Comments

I slept at 1.45am only to awaken at around 2.45am afterwhich sleeping became impossible. Considering i’m going to Macritchie with Jas at 8am, I’m simply going to die for not getting enough sleep. But when insomnia comes, all you can do is embrace her. So i figure I might as well blog randomly just to tire my mind and hopefully catch some sleep…

I had an MSN conversation with Cathy a few hours ago about what her plans were now that she’s somewhat graduating. It’s crazy I tell you how China students work so hard at so many things.

Now, before you start equating Cathy with those “China” Chinese image that most Singaporeans have, I want to put in a word for the students of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. These are people who don’t speak English with that Chinese accent. These are people whose level of courtesy beats so many Singaporeans hands down. And they’re extremely humble. 

Anyway, she’s going into what appears to be her final year and she’s currently hunting for internship opportunities and all. Last we spoke, she was planning to go to the US to pursue her Masters…but I think I may have just convinced her to make a stop in Singapore for a vacation of sorts. If that happens, I’ll most definitely clear my entire schedule to bring her around. While I was in Shanghai, this other Shanghainese girl and herself went all out to bring us around..the least I can do is to do the same when she comes over.

Cathy is someone I always remind myself to keep in touch with. For one, she amazes me with her humility. She’s sure of herself yet she doesn’t flaunt it. I remember her saying how horrible her command of English was only to hear speak it more fluently that many of my Singaporean peers. I was even more shocked when I read her blog which, despite grammatical errors, showed a profound ability to write artistically - think poetry. This is something even Singaporeans don’t really do.

She has simple dreams. She wants to bring a better life for her family back in Zhejiang. She also wants to travel to see the world and hopefully make a career for herself.

Being in the China system, it amazes me how she copes with what seems like an endless work cycle that’s pushed onto them…turning so many of these Chinese folks into machines that run their economy. I always have a problem with systems that kill dreams.

And just now, I added another name to my list of people whom I shall make sure never stops dreaming…

argh. My brain is dead and i’m not writing coherently at all. I’m just jumping around. bleagh.