Sing Singapore!

"Count on me Singapore, count on me Singapore, count on me Singapore to give my best and more, count on me Singapore..." "We are Singapore, we are Singapore, we will stand together hear the lion roar... We are Singapore, Singaporean.. We the citizen of Singapore, peldge ourselves as one united people..." these familiar tunes were ringing in the NIE campus in the late afternoon. Apparently there was some sort of National Day celebration. We were humming along with all the national songs while dragging our feet towards the bookshop in NIE (as much as i didn't want to, thanks to the popularity of Popular bookstore in NTU). Oh how nostalgic.

I was asking, why didn't NIE spread this spirit of celebration to NTU? TQ's answer was "We are too busy???" hmm... but i want to have National Day celebration! =( it used to be such a big event in schools, especially during primary and secondary school days. Oh those sweet days. Probably a month or so before National Day, there would be preparations such as learning to sing the national songs during music classes. If I remembered correctly, 童谣 was the first song I mastered. As the name suggest, 童=child, so all kids ought to know it! haha. Finally THE DAY will come and there'll be celebration and the songs will really trigger the patriots in us! I am Singapore, Singaporeans!!! and of course the best part of the celebration would be the half day off school! yay!

Come to think of it, after I no longer wear the sailor-like blue uniform of PAP, I seemed to be celebrating National Day each and every day with the white and red checkered uniform in kindergarten. Hey, white and red really go well together. We should wear this combination more often man!

But I guess what makes us Singaporean is far beyond those nicely composed tunes and the red-white combination. It's the things around us, the people around us, the way our lives are. The hawker centres and kopitiam we go for the cheap and good food. The unique way of 'chopping' sits by our diligent office workers during lunch hours. Who set this rule I really wonder. The label of kiasu and kiasi Singaporeans (refer to the previous point for kiasu and as for kiasi, who isn't?). The playground with sand, swings, wooden seesaws and concrete slides in the neighbourhoods. Synthetic grounds and plastic slides had taken over these days though. Uncle and Aunty as we address anyone older than us. I very much prefer Gor Gor and Jie Jie though (keep that in mind kids out there!!) All the hardworking students mugging our way through to get our PSLE, O levels, A levels and all sort of certs. The National Service, aimed to make our boys to men, at the same time stopping the clock of the guys while their female counterparts move on. thanks for defending our sunny island guys! SBC, TCS or MediaCorp as it is known now, keeping us entertained with Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Central, Channel NewsAsia and Suria, producing well-known drama characters like the Aiyoyo teacher whom people of all races know of. And of cause all the radio stations that take over the shift late in the night. From the flimsy bus/mrt cards to the high-tech-just-tap ez-link cards. The long queues in various Singapore Pools' outlets islandwide especially on weekends, with the common hope of striking 4D, big Sweep or whatsoever. Signs with four languages all around. The "fine" country as we are known to others. The lah lor leh huh hor orh and many more terms, which come out of our mouth so naturally, causing abit of worry to our government, hence the birth of the- Speak Good English Campaign. Franking speaking, I'm quite a supporter of Singlish. I think speaking Singlish is not really a big problem. I guess most of us know when are the times not to use it. None of us are really such hardcore supporters of Singlish that we are willing to forsake our grades for oral exams or presentations to show our loyalty.

"Over the years, I've grown to be a part of you... It's the little things that we share, the love and joy that's in the air. The children's laughter everywhere, and all our favourite things... Over the years, I've grown accustomed to your ways..." Oh how apt.

Come on Singaporean, it's National Day! dun be shy leh! sing lah! "One people, one nation, one Singapore~~~~~"

Happy 41st Birthday Singapore! Happy bday!!!