Hey there! I just changed my blogskin :) It's a little user-unfriendly because you can't navigate my past posts by headings or hashtags. So i'm gonna update the codings, stay tuned! (The font's kinda hard to read too..other than these 3 peeves, i'm quite satisfied) Follow me on the links below! :) 29/4/2015.
Started this blog during the last few weeks of SEM1(AY2014/15) cos' i regained interest in blogging. I blog about anything - news, social issues, music - but mostly about my university life :) Hope my posts will help you to make better life (and module) choices! Currently a Sociology Major. Still fresh. xD  : Amelia Lim, 20 October.+ follow | Email | insta | twitter | fb magic sprinkles: recent updates :
|
Keep Testing Your Limits - you can achieve much more ~~
written on Wednesday, 4 February 2015 @ 08:33 ✈
^ That's one of my favourite quotes haha! Anyway, sem 2 has been pretty hectic. Contrary to what my seniors said about exposure mods being more heavy than my major modules. Hell lotsa readings. Okay maybe cos i'm a soci major loll. I'm currently taking this FMA module and its really interesting because its totally student run, but we learnt alot. FMA1201P, Meanings and Leanings. Each week, 2 people present on a controversial topic and we would write a reflection on it! These are my 1st 2 reflections, to give you a brief idea on how this FMA is like! Gave me really fresh perspectives and makes me feel enlightened as a soci student, there are so many things we naturalise in this world, taking it for granted, to the extent we do not question about it anymore. On the flipside i really needa speak up MORE! Haven been talking in my FMA lols..30% class participation marks!! Its the last lesson of the last day of the week so its really kinda sian ._.
Week 2 Reflection: Are
Singaporeans Gracious?
In the past few years, Singapore’s Graciousness index has
fallen from 61 in 2012 to 55 in 2014.
Chun Hui thinks that Singaporeans are generally not really welcoming or
gracious, and he thinks that this is closely associated with Singapore’s
Service Sector. He illustrates this by comparing Singapore’s Service sector to
that of USA’s, saying that he prefers USA’s warm, friendly, gregarious nature.
Although I do agree with him that there is much to improve on in Singapore’s
Service Sector, I am generally fine with Singapore’s Service Standards. He may
prefer US’s Service Sector, but that does not mean that Singapore’s Service
Sector is below par. Preference towards certain types of services is
subjective, depending on the social environment you were born in— which
actively shapes your tastes and preferences.
He brings out the example of Charlie Aston, where she was 10
weeks pregnant and was crouching for fifteen minutes in pain in the MRT, and no
one stopped to help her. She then wrote an article and labelled Singaporeans as
having a “compassion deficit”. Personally, I think that this is a solitary case
and it should not be generalised and extrapolated to the Singapore Population.
From my personal experience, as well as comments from my family and friends,
gracious acts like giving up your seat in the MRT are a common sight and people
would often be more than willing to help out those who request for help.
Following, he also compared Singapore’s service sector and
USA’s service sector, illustrating the contrast between Bubba Gump and
Swensen’s. He first established that Singapore was 134th on the
World Giving index (behind Rwanda) and USA was the 1st in World
Giving Index—for 5 years! He also noted the tipping culture versus the 10%
service charge in Singapore, which often goes to employer than the service
crew. This subtly forces the service to be transactional instead of one which
truly serves the customer from your heart. Chun Hui talked about how Bubba Gum
offers a whole array of songs suiting different occasions, ranging from
birthdays to anniversaries. Once the service crew knows that its your birthday,
they would quickly gather the whole crew and one would play the guitar, and the
rest will clap and sing along. In addition, you will get a special food treat
too! He sees a stark contrast as compared to Singapore’s Swensen’s, where they
would only give you a few scoops of free ice cream for you birthday, coupled
with some special discounts on certain desserts.
I am personally satisfied with Singapore’s service, though
I’ve experienced my fair share of bad services before. Let’s be gracious too
and put ourselves in their shoes—they may be tired, or having a bad day, or
having some personal troubles.
But if everyone were to put other’s first, despite some of
the setbacks they may face, I think the world would be a much better place.
Because making someone else happy, makes you happy too. Though we all may have
different preferences in terms of service style, lets enjoy these cultural
differences and be happy that we can actually we have a choice. However, I
think amongst all cultures, there should be a minimum service baseline, which
is to smile and meet the customer’s needs.
I have learnt alot from Chun Hui’s presentation, it made me
reflect a lot on myself as a student, a singaporean, and a friend. A gracious
act goes a long way, it can make someone’s day, and that someone may spread it
too, multiplying happiness all around.
Week 2 Reflection: Volunteering
Who really benefits from volunteering? Do the people we help
truly benefit from our actions? Or do we actually benefit more from it? I have
always thought that I have helped the other party when I volunteer, but today’s
presentation made me pause and think if my actions had actually helped them.
Sharon thinks that the volunteers are the ones that benefit
more than the group we are supposed to help. She used the analogy of a weighing
scale which she made herself, listing that most of the benefits were gained by
the volunteers, with the weighing scale tipping to our side. For example, by
volunteering to teach children in Nepal (Overseas Community Inovolvement
Programme which I participated in in Secondary 3), I have gained:
1. Teaching
skills: How to teach the Nepal children English and Origami
2. Some
painting skills: Helped to paint their new school
3. Many
new experiences and insights in a foreign land, learning about their culture
4. I
had lots of fun teaching them, they learnt really fast
In contrast, this is what I think they have gained:
1. A
newer and nicer school
2. Some
basic english skills—But without practice, I think they would have long
forgotten what they have learned
Yet, we also took away something we gave them: Happiness.
Throughout these days of teaching, games
and interaction, we have already establish a special bond with them but now, we
are leaving, breaking this bond we have built. I think that we have hurt their
feelings unknowingly after they opened their hearts to us.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recognised the core
issue— that “All lives have equal value”, which has led them to become the most
effective altruists today. We may not be as wealthy as them, but there are
definitely actions we can do to help those in need. However, we have to also be
smart and analyse the volunteer campaigns which we sign up for—take some time
to ponder and ask, where do the proceeds go to? How is it carried out? Does it
really benefit the needy? Or would it cause a long-term dependency? Is there a
better way to carry this out?
“Becoming and effective altruist gives you that meaning and
fulfillment. It enables you to have a solid basis for self-esteem on which you
can feel your life was really worth living,” said Peter Singer, a moral
philosopher.
We have also discussed the issue of Altruism being one that
is an act of self-preservation and for self-satisfaction. Personally, I do not
think so. Just like how Daniel Fisher puts it,
“the only
ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and
found how to serve. This “Self-ishness” becomes a virtue when your own
happiness is tied to service—finding whatever uses you up to your fullest
capacity, and knowing that you are loving nearly every minute of work.”
Because I’m always putting someone’s welfare first, making them
happy makes me happy. I think this is the joy and magic in helping people, the
sweet tingly feeling that warms your heart—it makes you long for it, and in
doing so, you spread the love around, hoping others will do the same and
experience the same sweet feeling you felt.
0 comment[s] | back to top |