Went to watch this movie yesterday and I must say it's REVOLUTIONARY. uh huh.. That's the word to use for such a big ambition by a big nation. I can recall some of the phrases that was used by the Crazy teacher, Li Yang who authoritatively the people in China in a mass lecture of millions i must say. There was this joke that if every person in China were to spit, Singapore would drown! anyways, the teaching of English language to the Chinese were to literally shove it down their throat like a bitter cough concoction since they were constantly reminded of the importance of English and the opportunities it promises.
There was this part of the movie that somehow moved me, when the people got so discouraged by the complexities of the English language and the rules governed such as grammar and pronunciation, the Educator, Li Yang actually made them all, all millions of them in a huge ass field to close their eyes and pledge, to recall their illiterate parents who have thier future depending on them, how they'd be left behind if they were not to tame their tongue to adopt the english language and how by learning this language will improve their standard of living and that of the country. He continued to tap on their filial piety and sense of rooted to China- without doubt we see hear that a country with a rich heritage and legacy runs deep such that they only need to be reminded and not to forcefully and artificially instill in them. To me, that was priceless.
I guess watching them learn English was the hilarious part of the show, the wrong uses of English and the atrocious spelling, something that we ARE guilty of too.
The Interesting Part:
It was interesting that prior the Olympics, it was a nation wide campaign to pick up English, to the extent where only cab drivers who pass the English proficiency test are allowed to drive during that period and out of the thousands that applied to volunteer to act as guides to patrol along roads to help the foreigners get around, only 200 made it. They were hardworking and hospitable people who took all the efforts to perpare for this event.
The Not So Interesting Part:
I wasnt any of the millions who actually catch the Olympics, not even through the live broadcast and shamefully, not even when TV Mobile was showing it. nyah nyah nyah My Bad..
anyway, just to share:
ever realize how something never occured to you until the subject/thing is relevant to you. like you never did care about GST package until you can actually qualify for it?
hah.. ok.. that's one personal example i must add!
so i was grabbing some pastry to break my fast at Sun Moulin at Isetan.
since the whole world seem to just left the office, everyone was grabbing FOOD, so that explains the long queue. I find that i was stepping forward with every pulse that i take and obviously i was very pleased with their service, so after paying at the counter where the Manager was at the cash register,
Manager: So sorry for the wait.
Me: Oh it's ok *smiles*
After packaging and paying and he hand over to me the plastic,
Me: Thank you for being so effecient.
Ok. I dunno why but
1. maybe it was too noisy for him to hear what I said
2. he was having a long day
But he had this peculiar look on his face, something like the expression you had when someone just passed a sarcastic remark in your face.
Me: feels awkward and scurried away wishing that I could have just said a
a month back, when i was M.I.A, I went to catch Hungry Ghost as well.
It's kinda too late for me to rattle all about it coz it's already sometime back. But in a nutshell, I must say I can finally stop dismissing the Getai show and understanding why so many things just isnt the same during this period of time especially when my Night Owl Chinese khakis will be so "pantang" about everything , like coming home early! hah!
Rather than drawing henna, playing chapteh/weave ketupat and Chinese calligraphy , isnt the idea of screening such shows be more practical since people fear or condemned what they dont know and dont understand. I mean these are more REAL issues and something that promotes understanding right? I do enjoy the performance and play dress up but why not make it practical at the same time.
ok..
I aint turning into some square and dorky person, I did catch " Forgetting Sarah Marshall" HAh!
My Conclusion on that one:
1.Honeymoon to Hawaii is a MUST
2. Blondes, especially with no sense of taste in men's clothes are not worth your tears!
3. There are such things as Happy Tissues and Sad Tissues. ( Thy shall not elaborate on this!)
