My last entry before I return to Shanghai

I am going back to Shanghai tomorrow.

As blogspot in banned in Shanghai (or whole of China?), my blog will have no more entry until, well until further notice...

So long, farewell!

The oldest man in my family

My grandfather is 87 years old. He is the oldest man in my family.

When I was a kid, he fetched me from school, looked after me after school and provide lunch for me.
I enjoyed the afternoons with him - sipping kopi from the coffee saucer in a kopitiam, watching HK drama (4 episodes in a row), playing chess and losing all the time. In fact, much of my childhood memories involve spending private time with my grandfather.

I moved out of my grandparents' place when I started my second year in NUS. The main reason I moved back to my own house was because my house is in Dover Road, I can walk to NUS on school days! However, my grandfather's health started to deteriorate. He was semi-deaf by then, suffered from heart problem and later developed symtoms of stroke. Therefore, during my vacation, I always go back to visit him or fetch him to hospitals for medical appointments.

As years passed, his health condition only worsened.

About 2 months ago, when I was still teaching in Shanghai (last week of school term), I received a very long email from my sister about my grandfather's health status. He was suffering badly from digestion problem. From the email, I sensed that my sister was telling me to prepare for the worst. For the next few days, I kept checking my emails and handphone, expecting bad news from home. Then, I received a second email from my sister, saying that my grandfather's health condition had improved after a week of hospitalization.

When I returned to Singapore during my summer vacation, I spent as much time as I can with my grandfather. Every smile, every word, every touch I got from him seems like a blessing. I really wished him to be happy and healthy, this is my greatest wish now.

Popped by my previous school - GESS

Today, I went back to my previous school - Gan Eng Seng School. The school that I taught for 3 and a half years, the school that housed many of my best friends and great students.

I saw my ex-students like Aneill, Yanti, Ain, Hui Zhen, Teng Feng, Brandon, Teck Kian, Jian Wei, Jason, Jun Da, Shaun and many other students. I had flashbacks of talking to them in GESS Centre, scolding them, meeting their parents (what kind of memories I have?). Then I look at their slightly matured faces now, and truly felt that my boys have grown up. Of course, from what I heard, some of them are still creating troubles. Sigh... Yet, I am glad to see that many of them have outgrown their tantrums and bad tempers. Eugene and Teck Kian even top the level. Well done!

A photo taken last year on my last day in GESS

Then, I met my former 3G students: Li Sin, Yang Yu, Ryan, Sritam, Benjamin (I remember your name now!), Tsun Hao, Harris, Win,my beloved Sultan and many others. Glad to see that they have not lost their good spirits under the stress of O-levels.

Lastly, the great team of teachers who worked with me side-by-side throughout my 3and a half years in GESS. Really missed everyone of them and how we spent our time in the staff room gossiping about students :> Of course, my best best best friends-cum-colleagues like Mdm Chng, Lineng, Lipei and Siti are still pretty as ever.

Mdm Foo, myself, Lipei, Siti and Mrs Palan

I shall spend the next few days travelling down the memory lane....

Farewell lunch with GESS teachers in 2008


Library Club outing in 2008

Dong Dong's temporary home

Ever since April, I have been trying to find a place to house Dong Dong during the summer vacation when I come back to Singapore.

My original plan was to ask the help of my Shanghainese colleague to look after him. But my colleague has promised to look after another colleague's dog. Well, a dog and a rabbit staying in one place in peace and harmony? I don't think so...

Then, one of my Sinagporean colleague announced that she and her family shall stay back in Shnaghai for the whole summer vacation. In fear of H1N1, as she has a baby girl.I approached her about rabbit-sitting. She wanted to see Dong Dong and see how receptive her daughter is. So, one fine day, I brought Dong Dong over to her place and see if her baby girl will be frightened of Dong Dong. Come on,Dong Dong is such an adorable rabbit. Of course, the baby girl fell in love with Dong Dong. But my colleague herself was frightened of Dong Dong's size....So Plan B failed.



Then I started searching a pet hotel in Shanghai. To my horror, I found out that these pet hotels mostly cater to dogs and cats only. In fact most pet shops do not have any rabbit food supplies or any vet who knows how to handle the needs of rabbits. To the locals, rabbit is a dish in the menu in restaurants. Some of them rear rabbit as a source of food.

Last resort, I approached the pet shop that sells rabbit food. The shop that I frequent to buy Dong Dong's stuff. The lady was reluctant as her shop is very small and she doesn't want to start this sort of service. I pleaded my case. Finally she agreed on the condition that the rabbit can only stay not more than 3 weeks. The reason is that rabbits are very timid animals and can be stressed out easily. Rabbits also have very short memory. If I put Dong Dong there longer, he might be frightened of the patrons in the shop and suffer from stress. Then he will die. Also, he might not recognise his owner if he does not see the owner after some time. Sort of 'Out of sight, out of mind'. So, three weeks it is!

On the day before I fly back, I brought Dong Dong over to his temporary home. I put him in a carrier and took a cab to the pet shop. Although I prepared him mentally by telling him that he will only stay there for 3 weeks, he was still angry with me. He backfaced me when I go near his cage and refused to let me touch him. When others tried to touch him, he allowed it. So my conclusion is he is really angry with me...

This is his tempoarary home for 3 weeks. He is lucky that the pet shop is air-conditioned. If not, he will suffer badly as summer in Shanghai is just too hot!

The pet shop owners told me that if a rabbit is tramatized by changes around them, he will not drink or eat. He may even suffer from diarrhoea which is quite deadly. They told me if a rabbit is OK after the first week, he will survive the whole stay. Four days has passed since I left him there. I have not heard any news from the pet shop. Well, let's hope that no news is good news!

My family's visit to Shanghai

I have not posted anything on my blog for quite some time. The simple reason is Blogspot is banned in China!! If you think it is bad enough, I have worse news: I suspect Facebook is banned in China too... (tried to access the website a few times, but unable to do so...)If this happens, I think I will have a hard time keeping in touch with friends in Sinagpore.

Anyway, I shall try my best to update you all!

My family visited me from 27 Jun - 10 Jul 2009. I had a great time bringing them around. The only setbacks were
1) the weather is simply too hot (35 degree C), and
2) I was suffering from flu and cough throughout their visit.


Nonetheless, we had a good time travelling around Shanghai. We went to the usual tourist places in Shanghai. Went to Zhou Zhuang (very famous watertown) and Hangzhou. Ate a lot of good food. They all enjoyed the trip alot!

Of course, I must bring up Dong Dong, my beloved pet. My family finally met him in person (I mean, in rabbit). The first words that came out from their mouth were:"Oh my god, he is so big!!" Within the next few days, they all fell in love with him.

Summer is here!

Thinking that since I come from Singapore (a country in summer all year round), I should be glad that summer has finally arrived in Shanghai. A familiar season for Sinagporeans like me.

I was quite wrong there.

Unlike Singapore, air in Shanghai is very dry. My lips and my skin get dry easily. The sun is stronger here. You feel like the sun is burning through your clothes when you walk under the sun. You can't go anywhere without sunglasses and a hat. Oh, and it is not recommended to wear sleeveless shirt here, unless you favor burnt arms hanging from your shoulders.

Last weekend, my rabbit, Dong Dong, and I experienced a dry 34 degree C in Shanghai. The two of us went to my friend's estate and catch little lobsters form a pond. I did not perspire at all even though I was outdoor most of the day. It is an indication how dry it was. I had to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration though.

However, my rabbit Dong Dong suffered from flu due to this outing. I thought he was going to die as he was so lethargic after he got home. Luckily, he is a strong boy. He recovered after a few days. I got so paranoid. Gave him iced water, switched on the air-conditioner, bought him an electric fan, allow him to sleep in my room at night... It was quite an experience...

From this incident, I realise that summer in humid Singapore is not the same as summer in dry cities like Shanghai. I still have a lot to learn about surviving summer in Shanghai.

Rabbit's favorite food: Alfafa Hay!

The pet food supplier tells me that rabbit's favourite food is alfafa hay. In fact, it should be their main food. I always thought that food pellets should be the one and hay is like their snacks. Well, we learn new things everyday.

Dong Dong, being a greedy rabbit, has no particular preference. Or so I thought. He eats everything! Pellets, hay, broccoli, apple, prune, carrot, toilet paper roll, remote control, you name it, he eats it. However, I was told that rabbit has a weak stomach so sweet and juicy food could lead to diarrhoea. Any food given to rabbit should be as dry as possible.

Last night, while feeding him, I finally found out his favourite food! It is Alfafa Hay!!!! How do I know? Just look at him!