14/7/05

Went shopping with mum for a hot water flask. My first contribution to the home. I paid for it ha. Went from Toa Payoh to Bishan just for that flask. Went back home after that and waited for my teacher's call at 2.30pm.

My teacher drove me to Ang Mo Kio CC to watch a band exchange between AMK sec+ Commonwealth Sec band and the German Band. Totally enjoyable when I hear the german band. Big broad sound with energy in the gentleness. The repertoire for them today was light and fun. All the audience enjoyed it very much.

At 4.30pm, my teacher and I had to rush down to the Airport to wait for the arrival of the World renowned Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. We are the hard labor, so sad haha. But I feel soooo honoured to just carry their lugguage for them. I even got face to face with one of the eupho player. It happened like this....

I was one of the helper to load their lugguages into a small lorry. This Eupho guy, placed a eupho hard case and a eupho soft case to load into the Lorry. My first instinct. Its going to get crushed... So, I approached the beautiful translator (She offered the whole hard labor crew some great chocolate from a jap shop in Suntec. The taste was just amazing. I'm going to buy it when i see it!!) and told her about it. She too was concerned and agreed to ask them to carry those instruments to the coach. Then, the eupho guy came down from the coached and talked to me.... "these are clothes, not instrument (in a jap accent)". "orhhhhh" Dumb me. But I "communicated" with him!!

After all those loading, I was assigned to sit in the lorry with the driver. We chatted alot!! And I felt such great happiness in his smiles and the way he talked. We talked on almost everything, from goverment matters, politics, tax, goods, durians, people, young teenagers, his family, the new generation, the casino, the traffic jam, the anxiety of being late in reaching the hotel, army.... everything! I am really intrigued by some of the examples he used to described serious matters. He made me understand some of the things that I've never thought of. He was not well educated as he told me. He told me that some people really has no heart to study. He also told me how come theres durian all throughout the year. I could see the enjoyment of his simple life. Well, he is a boss of his logistic company... small one i think. But he is contented with his life. He told me about the pitfall of Comparison. Comparison with others will make people feel terrible. I agree! Totally!

During the journey, I saw 2 car plates, number 6633 and 7722. Coincidental encounter. The driver told me, "not 5566" . Well, I saw one before ha.

After the unloading was done at the hotel, the hard labor crew took my teacher's car and head towards esplanade. I was so lucky that I was able to get into the hall to watch the band from the Netherlands (Frysk Fanfare Orchestra, and the USA (Boston Brass). They played a half each.

The Dutch band is a brass band. I've always like the sound of the brass band. THe forceful and manly sound is the highlight. The showcase of the versatility of fugelhorns and the beautiful tone of the piccolo trumpet really surprise us all. I sat at the choir's gallery, that is, at the back of the band. The sound at that seat was great, especially at the left side. the Tuba's sound was boosted cuz we are so close to it. We could feel the effect of the Marcato and Accents of the notes. The crash of the concert cymbal gave some after-rings in the ears. The euphos in that band are so great. Watching them really boosted my motivation for more improvement. Too bad, school is starting soon.

The Boston Brass consists of 5 players. Its a brass quintet actually. F.horn, trombone, tuba and 2 trumpets. Those are super world class people!! they play music from classical, funk, and jazz. They form a great Accappella group too!! Best of all, they are soooooo humourous. All of them took turns to speak to the audience at each introduction to the pieces. It was more of the showmanship really. I remember one of the members said," I could not find any Tuba player that does not complain when he is not given any breathing space in the pieces." They are a great group. But I heard from my teacher that Canadian brass doesn't loss in any way too. I must listen to Canadian brass one day. ONe day.

Slice of life

Circus Humans?

I once heard the story of a grown bear that lived in a cage and travelled with a circus ever since he was a small cub. The bear spent everyday of his life pacing back and forth in his cage while countless spectators looked on. When the bear-keepers were not looking, some of the spectators would poke the bear with sharp sticks. Sometimes they would throw pieces of food filled with broken glass into the cage. When the great bear ate what he thought was a wonderful treat, the broken glass would cut the inside of his throat and stomach.

One day a wealthy animal-lover visited the circus and saw the harmful acts committed against the bear. Because he felt great compassion for animals he approached the circus about purchasing the bear. He explained that he would take the bear and place him in a large open area. In this area the bear would have cool pools of water to play in and verdant fields to run. The circus agreed to sell the bear to the man and set up a delivery date.

When the day arrived for the bear to be delivered, everyone was anxious to see what would happen when the door of the cage was opened for the first time. To everyone's amazement, when the cage was opened, the bear did what he spent every day of his life doing. He simply paced back and forth the length of the cage. The bear didn't even seem to care that the cage door was open. Finally, the bear-keepers got the bear outside the cage and rolled it away.

The bear looked around at his beautiful new home. He looked at the cool pools of water and the lush green pastures. Then to everyone's surprise and disappointment, the bear began his pacing. Back and forth he would go, as in an imaginary cage. Eventually he had to be put to sleep because he simply could not function in his beautiful new surroundings.
This is the powerful way we become slaves to our past, to our habits. This is how many of us, not just circus animals, learn to accept that there is nothing better for us. Even when it's staring us in the face.

To a large degree, our history and past experience determine the person we are today. Yes, we are the result of upbringing, of education, of constraining social norms. But that's no excuse for accepting a routine, meaningless lifestyle. That's no excuse for not being the person you want to be.

Many of us have responsibilities towards others - our families and loved ones. Some of us put up with less than desirable conditions because of those obligations. But how many of those obligations are really excuses for not making things better?

In a world of possibilities, are you pacing the length of your imaginary cage?