Giving Birth

Just read today's Mind Your Body's article about C sections. The main gist of the article is that more women are opting for regional anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia in C sections because the former is a safer option, with lesser health risks. As usual, the more I read, the more worried I become. Haha... I always get jittery.Hahha.... Since a long long time ago, I used to tell my mom that I would opt for a C section and not a natural delivery because I would rather fall asleep and wake up to the cries of a beautiful child in my arms... yelling and screaming and pushing to make way for the child sounds like a horrible sight to me. I am always so amazed at how my mom could deliver 6 children naturally... indeed, it is impressive! People from the olden days seem to have a higher threshold for pain! hahah... I am a scaredy cat, afraid of this and that... mommy asks me to adopt a child instead! Haha... so that I do not haf to go through all the birth pains.... But adoption isnt exactly the same as having your own child... it will feel different. That article talked about the risks of general anaesthesia that I had not known, such as choking on your own saliva because the induced sedative state meant that one's muscles would relax and one's tongue would fall back and this might be serious because the limpness in tongue might block the airways, hindering one's breathing. The natural reflex of coughing to clear the airway is also impaired during general anaesthesia. Wow... i didnt know that it can be that dangerous to undergo general anaesthesia. Well, so much for my ignorance. Always think that it's sth easy and safe, that involves only an injection and waking up to consciousness moments later. Perhaps that's why more women want to go for regional anaesthesia instead. It sounds scary to me too... haha... well, I am afraid of everything! Imagine yourself being aware of what is going on... the surgeons holding on to the knives and shapels, waiting to cut you up... hearing the clinks and clangs of the surgical instruments.... looking at the bloodied mess... miraculously not experiencing pain while u witness the process. Oh no, all these sound so so frightening to me! Now I know why less women want to give birth.... hahah...
Having second thoughts!

Abuse of Domestic Workers

Disturbed by the latest episode of In Cold Blood, a docu-drama series about how ordinary people could commit extreme and inhumane acts. I think I should limit myself to watching less of similar genres.... haha.. it's making me having nightmares... In Cold Blood, Confessions of a Crime, and now Unnatural ( its preview on the tv at sgh accidentally caught my eye...). The latest episode was about this cruel abuse of a domestic worker who was accused of stealing, by the family of 4. Their ways of abusing ranged from dripping wax on her, scalding her with boiling water, kicking and punching, and the most extreme form of abuse ( pulling out the maid's two front teeth). Those images kept on replaying in my mind.... oh no! I need to neutralise it with happy images! What was puzzling was that things still kept on disappearing in the house although the maid said it wasnt done by her. I believe her innocence though, since there was no point in lying as it wouldnt do her good. Perhaps it was the aunt's doing... And what was infuriating about this case was that the crazy family merely received imprisonment ranging from 6 weeks to 2.5 years! In my opinion, they should be sentenced to at least 5 years leh and be banned from hiring maids! For causing so much emotional and psychological hurt to the maid. Even though the maid has since replaced her front teeth, she still gets reminded of the traumatic event whenever she touches her teeth. According to her, it was 2 months of living hell and she is one of the few lucky ones to be able to escape. Towards the end of the episode was an interview with this fellow, who shed light on how domestic workers can seek help when they are being abused. He said it in a matter-of-fact manner, implying that domestic workers do not know that they can seek help and where to seek help... after that he listed down the helplines n blah blah.. Please la. Be more realistic. If you are the one being abused, and all your actions are being closely monitored, u think u can haf the chance to dial the hotline and call for help? Be thankful that u are not being locked up or tied up and have your movements restricted. This reminds me of Zimbardo's prison experiment on obedience.... Perhaps the family in question had assumed their roles and reminded themselves of the difference in superiority. Thus they treated the maid like dirt and abused her repeatedly... to show her who is with power. It's kind of scary...to learn that such forms of maltreatment are prevalent, even in this developed society.

So what have I learnt from this? Not to hire maids.. haha... You never know who you will become when you are armed with the authority and are constantly being reminded of the status difference... I hope all those maids who are still being abused would be able to escape, n move on to a caring family..
                   

Best Xmas Gift!

It was my best results so far! Gotten my first ever A plus and A during my 4-year stay in NTU. Thanks thanks thanks! I am so so contented :) Nothing more I can ask for! I was kind of surprised at my results as I was literally dragging myself to the exam hall... sitting through exams with panic attacks and a queasy stomach. And the wisest decision that I have made in year 2011 was to SU my forensic science! Yeah! I am so happy right now, can smile to sleep.... cant stop staring at results page....

Blowing bubbles

Caught this on a tv segment in which this bubble magician was able to enclose an adult in a bubble! It is indeed a beautiful sight that was created by something so simple... yet it is no easy feat. I was "wowing" during that 5 min act that seemed to last forever! Couldnt take my eyes off during the whole act. It was indeed breathtaking and miraculous. I was especially captivated by the part in which the magician "sliced" this humongous bubble into miniature bubbles, yet not bursting any! They should haf such performances in Singapore... I wouldnt hesitate to watch it (provided that I haf the $$$ haha)

Bubbles.... they appeal to almost all kids and adults :) Correction, perhaps to all females, who have a penchant for such stuff! Haha...Something so wondrous! Okay time to get my hands on those conventional bubble blowing kits! Have some fun blowing bubbles!     

Vegetable Farm Visit

Went to explore a vegetable farm located in Sembawang with elder sis, brother in law, mommy and daddy. I love these trips as they bring back fond memories of the past. My parents and sisters all grew up in a village and they cultivated crops and reared poultry themselves. I wasnt part of those memories as I was born when we shifted house to a HDB flat. So I kind of missed out on those. However, I could still vividly remember making trips to the village in my father's lorry when I was still a little kid. I could still remember my aunt brewing chrysanthemun tea for me and always happy to receive us. Brings back smiles to my face :) I guess those times were just simple, carefree, relaxed. My dad always says that when they were living in the village, diseases, cancers and other terminal illnesses were unheard of, or rare. However ever since they moved to a HDB flat, such illnesses became very prevalent and lots of people are dying from them. He blamed it on the newater haha... I guess he still longed to be back in the village, where everyone stay close knitted to one another and helped each other out necessarily. In my flat, sad to say, sometimes i dun even get to talk to my neighbours. Much less to help them out. That's why my parents always like to talk about these stories. Those are their common shared experiences.

Okay enough of grand mother stories. Walk through with me to the vegetable farm!

Water hyacinths! I still remember them from my primary 4 science!

 
     

      Cactus! Jessilyn once gave me one that looked like mickey mouse!

                                                 Bitter gourd

      This almost looks like a real dog isnt it? Fooled daddy. haha

                                                  Lime plant

         Sunflowers. A pity they are fake... It would be nice to grow them!

                  Chili padi. I havent seen these before...

                                             Gigantic pea pods   

                                 Love these little "huts"

        Daddy and me : D Took a rest as his legs were aching

           The succulent lobster meat, from the lobster porridge we ate for lunch. Parents were so happy to have them for lunch. Haha... The only chance in which they get to eat that would be during wedding feasts and the serving is usually small. Unlike this, really generous! But the price isnt cheap though...
Daddy has been obedient for this whole period, monitoring his sugar level and eating healthier than before, so i guess such indulgence is reasonable once in a while.

Verdict: I think we should have such trips more often, more importantly, as a family. Cuz most of the time I am the only one tagging along. Other sisters do not really like such stuff. But the more the merrier isnt it? And it's some quality family time spent :) Big sis says next outing is the science centre's dino exhibition. I cant wait! Haf been wanting to go for that for quite some time, but frens say I am lame... Looking forward to it!  

The camera is the best invention, in my opinion. Look at all these beautiful pictures that it can capture!

Early Xmas gift for myself

Xmas is coming! Counting down the days... My Dec Schedule is already packed.

4 Dec: Baking session 1

8 Dec: Meet up with Li Hui

9 Dec: Baking session 2

10 Dec: Family day at 3M

11 Dec: V's birthday

12 Dec: Mindef written test

15 Dec: Mindef written test

16 Dec: Check up at SGH

18 Dec: Meet up with Kania n Rong

22 Dec: Meet up with psy girls

23 Dec: Xmas celebration with louisa and gang

24 Dec: Xmas celebration with family

25 Dec: Xmas celebration with V

31 Dec to 3 Jan: New Year celebration at Macau

The remaining days not mentioned: FYP! 

Anyway I decided to reward myself for being hardworking for my exams (though the results are not out yet,

hope my efforts are paid off!) Decided to get this epilator for myself. Look forward to having silky smooth legs to welcome the Xmas and new year... No more stings from shaving and no more in grown hair! Haha...

Originally priced at $89, the price is now lowered to $66. Shall go down to tangs someday to make the purchase :) something to make me happy while still being sick. I predict I will get well by next week!  

Philips Satinelle Soft.



Mixed feelings

Exams are finally over! It signifies the end of the semester again. Mixed feelings. One more semester and that marks the end of my undergraduate term in NTU. Stepping to the workforce seems so near and yet so far. Filled with feelings of apprehension and curiosity at the same time. Meeting up with frens wouldnt be the same again once you are a working adult. As an introvert, socialising has been one difficult task that never fails to torment me. Haha. I make it sound so bad... It isnt that bad actually. Just that sometimes I just wish to please people too much. And I fear rejections. Since young, making friends on the first day of school always freaks me out, and the older I get, the worse it becomes. When I was younger, there were far less restrictions, I just go all out to do things without thinking of consequences. As you mature cognitively, you will think twice before saying things, ponder as to what choices to make. You arent that spontaneous as before. Haha... I guess it's because you come to realise that not everyone are nice and smiley to u. Sometimes I find this kind of sad.... being a kid seems more carefree and you treat everyone sincerely and genuinely. Kind of longing to be a child again... although it's impossible. I am too old at heart! That's why teachers always leave this comment in my report book: Yanshuang is a mature, responsible student who strives for excellence. Haha...

I like constancy and stability, apprehensive about novelty and risks. Too bad, changes are happening at almost every instant. Saddness looming in the air... yingjia has influenced me again. She always says that we should cherish every moment together as time is running out... things are going to be the same again once we are all working. No more stressing over reports, tests, exams, chit chatting during lessons, ogling at handsome guys.. (not that ntu has plenty!) It just sounds kind of sad. Brings back fond memories of the first day we met, as strangers during the orientation. Somehow I kind of wish that we can study for a few more years..... (not that i dun wish to graduate! choy!) Just that I wish to prolong all these moments. Okay, I shall enjoy my last school semester with my girls! And my guy as well.... Love of all of them!

Xmas is coming! Something to look forward to. I love the xmas lights and xmas trees. Time for pictures!