baby, what's in that satchel?

today's national day in singapore! for the uninitiated, singapore's national day commemorates the day that she gained independance from malaysia. for many singaporeans and expats alike, it's pretty much just another holiday. only this one has a big drama. NSmen train for aaaages (and i mean abso-fricken-lutely aaaages) with the marching, and the logistics, and the parachute display and the flight formations, and the fireworks, and the driving of their tanks and all that kinda thing. it's a real "yo dude, check out my balls, ain't they fancy" shebang. and then there's the school children of all ages dancing to singapore-songs with bigger and fancier displays than the year before. and flash-card displays (to singapore-is-my-home music of course). that being said though, it is quite entertaining, and with singapore being so small, you can pretty much see the fireworks from anywhere (this i am assuming because i've always lived in the east and the parade's held very near the east) .. and these fireworks aren't just any pissy ones. they're really extravagant razzle dazzle numbers. they make perth's australia day fireworks look like cheapo chinatown sparklers. fancypants.

also, from what i've heard and read, taufik's (singapore idol winner) the singer of this year's national day song. him and some other chick, and it's really annoying because they've been playing the music video ad nauseum on tvmobile. in recent years the songs have gotten heaps better. there's still the really old school ones doing the rounds (stand up for singapore! one people, one nation, one singapore! etcetc). i really used to like those .. but then again i was 3 and extremely easily entertained. they used to play them on tv karaoke style with blue skies, fluttering flags, children of all 4 major races holding hands and playing in hdb playground .. but nowsadays they get actual proper pop stars to record it so as to gain popularity and win the hearts and minds of the people.

i know lots of people want to run away from singapore, come to australia! dont need to pass chinese to get into uni! go to anywhere-that-you-don't-have-to-pay-$1million-for-a-toyota-camry! and it's true that school in singapore's a major downer. according to dee, every uni exam is like taking a levels all over again (not that i sat for those btw). the shopping's cheap but transport prices are starting to become daylight robbery. property is shockingly expensive, and in terms of a tropical getaway, it's pretty well So Expensive and Nothing TO See Also (volcano world? fail) but it's still stupid loser friends homebase, and there's still family and friends there that make me want to go back and visit at least once a year. not to mention the food is cheap and good and dirty (occasionally).

so anyhoo, in honour of the country of my birth, i wore my i heart singapore shirt to uni today! home-made summore. 'coz i heart singapore with (almost but not quite) all my um ... heart.