Semoga bahagia

I was walking home on the pavement from Notting Hill today, and a teenage boy on a bike raced past me. In front of me, there were two other pedestrians walking and as he passed the three of us he shouted "Ah fuck this!" and lifted his middle finger at us.

I assumed he was expressing his anger at having to cycle on the grass next to the pavement because we were in his way. As he began to disappear from sight, the two people in front of me, a boy and a girl who looked to be about twenty years old looked at each other, just realising that they had just been insulted.

The girl turned to the boy and asked, "Did he just....?" And then she brought her hands to her face, cupped the sides of her mouth and hollered, "Yeah well fuck you too!" and then lifted her hand in a rude gesture. Not satisfied that she had given her day's worth of profanities, she then added, "ARSEHOLE!!!" She continued to express her incredulity at being so rudely insulted to her friend who did the smart thing by just listening.

Boy aren't people so angry these days? And what happened to basic civility eh? It all goes down to good breeding I think and how society here is pretty laid back. The trains here have signs saying that foul language in the train is prohibited and those caught will be fined. Somehow our ban on chewing gum pales in comparison (this ban is gone yah?). If people need to be told how to behave and speak in public by law, they must have lost the plot somewhere.

In first year, I was surprised at how we were allowed to eat and drink during tutorials. After some time, even I started doing this because we just had no time to eat otherwise. But what really took the cake, was when someone swung both her legs on the desk whilst sitting in her chair, her feet facing the tutor throughout the whole tutorial. The tutor of course did not say anything.

No wonder teachers are having a hard time here and bullying is rampant in schools. No "Gooood mooorniiing Miss Wong" here, thank you. This apathy regarding basic respect and courtesy for others makes my culture and upbringing all the more conservative and traditional.

And I don't really think it's such a bad thing.

I was humming this Malay tune the other day - a song we used to sing on Children's day in Singapore. I think kids here will choke if they had to sing this.

Semoga Bahagia - May You Achieve Happiness

Sama-sama maju ke hadapan - Together we progress
Pandai cari pelajaran - Clever at seeking knowledge
Jaga diri dalam kesihatan - Take care of your health
Serta sopan-santun dengan kawan-kawan - And be courteous to your friends

Dengan hati bersih serta suci - With a clean and pure heart
Sama-sama hormat dan berbudi - We respect and do good to each other
Jaga tingkah pemuda-pemudi - Watch your behaviour, oh youths
Adat dan budaya junjung tinggi - Respect and honour your customs and traditions

Capailah lekas cita-cita pemudi-pemuda - Quickly reach your goals/dreams, oh youths
Supaya kita ada harga di mata dunia - So that we'll have our worth, in this world

Kalau kita lengah serta lupa - If we are lazy and forgetful

Hidup kita sia-sia - Our lives are worthless
Jiwa besar sihat serta segar - A big heart and a fresh mind
Rajin dengan sabar tentu bahagia - Hardworking and patience defintely brings success/happiness

Lemah lembut perangai pemudi - Soft-spoken is the lady
Cergas tangkas wataknya pemuda - Energetic and tenacious is the man
Suka rela selalu berbakti - Charitable, always contributing
Sikap yang pembela dan berjasa - Having a righteous spirit and doing good

Capailah nama yang mulia pemudi-pemuda - Attain a respectable position, oh youths
Rajinlah supaya berjaya semoga bahagia - Be hardworking so that you will succeed, may you achieve happiness

Ok it didn't sound this dorky when we learnt it back then. I think our version was better and they changed the lyrics a bit - click here to listen.