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OMG... I seriously can't believe what happened today...

There's been this auntie who greets me every morning when I go jogging at Telok Blangah Hill Park. So I just return her greetings too. But she started saying and asking me questions which sound really suspicious:

"Are you chinese?"
"You're pretty! Pretty!"
"Are you married or studying?"
"Studying in Poly or University?"

And lastly, something that sounded like "Oh! My son [is] also studying in uni!"

Oh dear.. Sounds like another parent who has taken it into her mind to do some matchmaking. And it's no longer limited to Hong Lim Park either!

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Went back for Mid Autumn Festival at HCJC on Sat.. That's a photo of most of my exclassmates who went back, and one of our seniors... Ok, it's no longer HCJC, it's HCI, but I'll always remember it as such.. =P Nothing much of the compound has changed, other than the String Ensemble club room no longer being where it used to be.

Really really glad to be back!! So many memories that I hold dear.. Serene and I were practically gushing about our memories throughout our tour around school.. So much time has passed since, so much has happened.. It's been a tiring journey so far, but this trip back has somehow refuelled my drive, sounds corny? But it's true.. =P Maybe it's the HC fighting spirit.. Never noticed it so starkly until now, maybe the realisation only emerges after being away for some time..

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This is seriously hilarious... One would've thought that with all this modernization in Singapore, and the government trying to lose its image of being a 'PAPa government' by allowing demonstrations and all, it actually suggests that parents try matchmaking for their children. That's like almost the ultimate in authoritarianism with regards to private life. And most amusingly, an astounding 150 parents actually took the advice and went for the matchmaking session held yesterday! And that's not even counting those who're exploring other means of matchmaking or who're going to attend future sessions.

I wonder how successful all this will be. Singaporeans of our generation have a vastly different mindset from those in China, who were brought up as the example. It was reported that a parent was saying that her son never had time for a social life, which led me to ponder -- will he have any time even after his parent has found him a match?

Isn't that the inherent problem?

Singaporeans are so driven by the typical concepts of success, it's been overly discussed over the past donkey years, the 5 Cs and counting.. But where does family come in? (It obviously doesn't begin with C haha.) Some view it as a burden. Some view it as just another goal in life. Doesn't that just remind you of the game, Sims2? Family-oriented Sims will have aspirations pop up that you help them fulfil, then that's it. It's but another thing on the checklist.

What's the use then, of having 2 people who just lead their separate lives, come together just to fulfil a goal, like some 'big events' like marriage or having kids, then have nothing to do with each other for the rest of the time? Is all this Singaporean pragmatism turning us into little more than machines? Forming the 'ideal' family unit, having kids so it doesn't stress the next generations financially, going through the motions, seemingly perfect, but always so hollow.

What happened to the sharing of lives and all?
Is that too idealistic a question to ask?