i know what they say about shopping being Singapore's national sport. i fully concur with this one. i was at the marina area today and there were the athletes decked out in their Levi's jeans and topman tees raiding the shops of Suntec City to Marina Square. yes, this is a national obsession. Singaporeans love their weekend shopping marathons. (we probably burn more calories shopping than any other sport) and it really is a sport because it is the most shag thing ever to do. strolling in an air-con complex fingering new clothes and trying them on may not seem like the most tiring thing to do on a lazy sunday afternoon, but the after-effect of doing all that is the most tiring feeling one can ever get, possibly more tiring than SOC (ok maybe not, but maybe, just maybe)
what i was doing in the marina area this sunday instead of being in church was because of the army half marathon cum singapore bay run. i didn't run. i have a knee injury, which prevented me from running. so i spent the whole morning taking care of bags, which was a terrible way to spend a sunday morning. i do wish i did run, though. the atmosphere was carnival-like, with many army guys, as well as civilians showing up bright and early to just enjoy themselves with a nice run in the cool morning. i think Singaporeans love such mass sporting activities. one only needs to look at the sporting calender to see how many mass runs/marathons/trialathons and whatever-thons there are. just last week there was the Semakau run, then a few weeks ago, the Shape run, now we half the singapore bay run and of course, the StanChart marathon, the adidas sundown marathon, the new paper big walk...and the list goes on. what's up with our obsession with such mass runs? i think it's a manifestation of our obsession with shopping. many people in one location, using their legs to bring them to a destination. when one comes to think of it, are shopping and running much different? in terms of the number of people involved, what they are doing and the entire dynamics of the activities, not so. hence i conclude that Singaporeans essentially like anything to do with walking and crowds.
the result of the shopping escapade was a new tee-shirt from Springfield. they had it on sale. it's been awhile since i last bought a tee-shirt for myself (oh who am i kidding?), so i thought i would just indulge myself one tee-shirt. it has a very nice design of a street, so i decided to buy it. all this does not augur well for my bank account, however, which is suffering from the stresses of spending. unfortunately, the next payday is not in a week, so i shall just have to find a way to survive until then. money leaves easily, unfortunately. i am considering teaching tuition to supplement my income (or fuel my spending?), however, weekends are precious...
i've finished two books: The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria, and Life On the Edge by Dr. James Dobson. the first is about 'the rise of the rest', i.e. China, India, Brazil, etc. and how America should adjust to fit into this new world. it made for a very interesting read, coming from none other than Fareed Zakaria himself. the second, Life on the Edge, is a most enlightening book about choices for the next generation. in the book, he dispenses advice on how to make the right choices for the future, and i think it is a must-read for any Christian young person wanting to make the right decisions about relationships, family issues, work, money and education, among others. it's a very comprehensive book and i would like to buy it.
i shall end this blog. i am very tired now. zzZZzz.
What hurts the most
Was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was tryin' to do
