Ang Mo Kio

Yes, Ang Mo Kio, in Chinese "宏茂桥", the place I work in Singapore, I've heard by a colleague "Ang Mo Kio" is from a dialect Teochew which means "tomato", so funny, but actually I find some details from sgwiki, telling a history of this place.

The locality's name is believed by some to derive from the Hokkien phrase Ang Mo Kio (红毛桥), meaning "Westerner Bridge". The term ang mo (literally "red hair") is a somewhat derogatory Singlish reference to the people with fair hair who settled from the West and, because such a name might be considered unflattering, it is now written as 宏茂桥 which is pronounced in an almost identical way but means "Bridge of Expansiveness and Prosperity".

The actual source of the name comes from the old survey maps which label the land as "Mukim of Ang Mo Kio" (Mukim meaning "area" or "district" in Malay). The word "Ang Mo" 红毛 may in fact not refer to Westerners. Rather, it is derived from two separate combined phrases in Hokkien. Ang Mo Dan means "rambutan" 红毛丹, a local fruit, red and covered in hair, found plentifully around the areas of old kampongs. Likely the second suffix "kio" 桥 ("bridge" or "bridges" in Hokkien) was added to the prefix "Ang Mo" 红毛 as an additional description to indicate a more precise location that residents would recognize i.e.红毛桥.


Then Red Man's Bridge or Rambutan?
Interesting!

Dialects

There're so many mixed languages and dialects in Singapore, it is said that the singaporean can speak both english and chinese, or other languages but they are not good at either of them...But actually I have to admit their english is quite good, although when they speak very fast with a chinese accent (or rather south asia accent ) , they often neglect some english grammars. However their listening comprehension and writing are so good. Well take an example of Markus, the son of my friend Jamie, this 13-year-old boy can understand everything in BBC news, but I cannot.

I'm always confused which language should I speak with my singaporean colleagues, those who also understand Chinese, but yesterday my HR colleague told me " if you really want to practise your english, just speak it naturally, don't care that we have different accents! ". Can it be a good solution?

Today when I talked with colleagues about the dialects in Singpore, it looked much more complicated than my problem of english...if you really pay attention to their common words used in dailylife, you'll find "qia" "kopi"...something mixed by Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, and Malay. They grow up in this mixed-cultures environment.

Now when I enter deep and deep into this society, shall I have to learn those dialects as well? Then work hard!


PS. qia=car, kopi=coffee

give me...ONE REASON

Who gives me one reason persuading me to continue living here?
We're far from family, friends, lovers and there must be a reason that keeps us living here.
One reason, or just one hope.
In your work that you've got big interests or nice futur?
You have family, lover or many friends here to make you stay?
You love the environment of this country or get better life here?

It seems neither of them works on me. I have nothing to rely on.
Give me a hope.

The Love

I wrote a lot but deleted all before I published the post.
I am tired, and have no more stock of love, the stock I accumulated and
held with my every force.

Maybe this love is called as a dream.

Poster

Well, with some modification, then hardly to recognize Sarkozy's wife.

Amaizing work from bbs.revefrance.com

Bugis Street

Bugis Street is really an exciting place for young girls (if I'm still young)...But I also love to go there...looking for some interests. I've bought 8 pairs of earrings and 3 rings there! (even I never put them on...but they're so cheap and nice...)

Everytime I went to Bugis Street, I never forgot to buy a fresh fruit juice and there're always so many choices, ice kiwy is my favorite.

I feel I was walking on "Xiangyang Road" in Shanghai, year 1999 .

Jude Law

I almost forgot this charming man, the one I put his poster on the wall in dormitory in university! Lately I watch again his film in 2006 with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. I am shocked again, he's criminal to be so handsome!!!