TG I HAVE
TG I HAVE... International Speech Contest 11March2010
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. .
Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the opening lines of a great novel written by Charles Dicken – A Tale of Two Cities. The story revolved around London and Paris.
However, today, I’m going to tell you a new Tale of Two Cities. Which are the two cities? First, Asia’s World City, Hong Kong. 2nd Garden City, that’s right, Singapore.
Hong Kong & Singapore. When you compare and contrast the two cities as a tourist, you’ll find lots of similarities. For example,
• Hong Kong has Victoria Harbour while Singapore has Singapore River. And both are not suitable for swimming.
• Hong Konger travels on MTR while Singaporean on MRT. And both transport systems are clean and efficient.
Indeed, Hong Kong & Singapore are very similar. However, when a Singapore girl starts to work and live in Hong Kong – she starts to see the difference and feel the challenge.
• Hong Kong is a free and vibrant city. I often see people marching on the streets.. protesting for this and that. Hong Kongers act and speak freely – so much so that one is not punished for throwing banana at the Chief Executive. I’m not too sure about throwing shoes! Hongkonger is very creative - property developer calls the top storey of a building 88th floor when the building has only 46 stories.
This is a great contrast to the strait-laced Singapore. Living in Singapore is a bit like living in Disneyland – nice and clean, well regulated, well displayed but full of strict rules & regulations. The government very much dictates how Singaporean and foreigner living there should behave – no coca cola in school, no chewing gum. And if you are naughty, the parental government will whack your buttock.
• Hong Kong has 4 seasons, Singapore has two – wet summer, dry summer. Spring in Hong Kong is generally pleasant but the occasional spells of high humidity is no fun – your laundry gets wetter by the hours. A colleague told me water dripped from the ceiling of her building corridor. I asked her “When you walk, do you open up your umbrella?”
• Hong Kong builds high and small apartments to maximize the limited land area. Most hongkongers live in box sized apartment, averaging only 100 sq feet per person. It is a big challenge for me - my current apartment - 500 sq feet - is only the size of my living room in Singapore.
During my initial years in Hong Kong, I was not happy – I missed the sunny weather and my spacious apartment in Singapore. I dwelled on what I do not have. I magnified what I do not like. I became depressed. One day, a good friend asked me (is the moon rounder in Singapore PAUSE and asked me) if I’m moving back soon. I told her “Yes, very soon, the air is bad, the apartment is so small but hmm on 2nd thought, I’m not too sure, you see I am going to miss hiking and the freedom in Hong Kong”. My friend replied “Why not give it another try? Stay in Hong Kong but focus on what you’ve and to be thankful for it”
TG I HAVE – Thanks God for what I have. The new Tale of Two Cities taught us to count our blessings, to focus on what you’ve and to be thankful for it. When your heart is full of gratitude, there is little room for despair.
Ladies and Gentlemen, when you find yourself in a situation that is less desirable but you could do little to change it, make yourself happy by saying TG I have. You got it? Ok, let try this.
When you are unhappy with your boss or with your job, you could say TG I have helpful your colleagues and steady income.
When you are unhappy with your husband who is not earning as much as you desire, you could say TG I have a caring loving husband.
When you are unhappy with your child’s academic results, what could you say? TG I have a healthy growing child.
Finally, if you didn’t learn a lot sitting here today, at least be thankful you learned a little. But if you didn’t learn a little, at least be thankful you met your friends here.
I’m now a happy Singapore girl living in Hong Kong. I enjoy hiking and TG I have toastmasters community.
So everyone, if you want to enjoy abundant happiness, count your blessings and what could u say TG I Have!
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. .
Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the opening lines of a great novel written by Charles Dicken – A Tale of Two Cities. The story revolved around London and Paris.
However, today, I’m going to tell you a new Tale of Two Cities. Which are the two cities? First, Asia’s World City, Hong Kong. 2nd Garden City, that’s right, Singapore.
Hong Kong & Singapore. When you compare and contrast the two cities as a tourist, you’ll find lots of similarities. For example,
• Hong Kong has Victoria Harbour while Singapore has Singapore River. And both are not suitable for swimming.
• Hong Konger travels on MTR while Singaporean on MRT. And both transport systems are clean and efficient.
Indeed, Hong Kong & Singapore are very similar. However, when a Singapore girl starts to work and live in Hong Kong – she starts to see the difference and feel the challenge.
• Hong Kong is a free and vibrant city. I often see people marching on the streets.. protesting for this and that. Hong Kongers act and speak freely – so much so that one is not punished for throwing banana at the Chief Executive. I’m not too sure about throwing shoes! Hongkonger is very creative - property developer calls the top storey of a building 88th floor when the building has only 46 stories.
This is a great contrast to the strait-laced Singapore. Living in Singapore is a bit like living in Disneyland – nice and clean, well regulated, well displayed but full of strict rules & regulations. The government very much dictates how Singaporean and foreigner living there should behave – no coca cola in school, no chewing gum. And if you are naughty, the parental government will whack your buttock.
• Hong Kong has 4 seasons, Singapore has two – wet summer, dry summer. Spring in Hong Kong is generally pleasant but the occasional spells of high humidity is no fun – your laundry gets wetter by the hours. A colleague told me water dripped from the ceiling of her building corridor. I asked her “When you walk, do you open up your umbrella?”
• Hong Kong builds high and small apartments to maximize the limited land area. Most hongkongers live in box sized apartment, averaging only 100 sq feet per person. It is a big challenge for me - my current apartment - 500 sq feet - is only the size of my living room in Singapore.
During my initial years in Hong Kong, I was not happy – I missed the sunny weather and my spacious apartment in Singapore. I dwelled on what I do not have. I magnified what I do not like. I became depressed. One day, a good friend asked me (is the moon rounder in Singapore PAUSE and asked me) if I’m moving back soon. I told her “Yes, very soon, the air is bad, the apartment is so small but hmm on 2nd thought, I’m not too sure, you see I am going to miss hiking and the freedom in Hong Kong”. My friend replied “Why not give it another try? Stay in Hong Kong but focus on what you’ve and to be thankful for it”
TG I HAVE – Thanks God for what I have. The new Tale of Two Cities taught us to count our blessings, to focus on what you’ve and to be thankful for it. When your heart is full of gratitude, there is little room for despair.
Ladies and Gentlemen, when you find yourself in a situation that is less desirable but you could do little to change it, make yourself happy by saying TG I have. You got it? Ok, let try this.
When you are unhappy with your boss or with your job, you could say TG I have helpful your colleagues and steady income.
When you are unhappy with your husband who is not earning as much as you desire, you could say TG I have a caring loving husband.
When you are unhappy with your child’s academic results, what could you say? TG I have a healthy growing child.
Finally, if you didn’t learn a lot sitting here today, at least be thankful you learned a little. But if you didn’t learn a little, at least be thankful you met your friends here.
I’m now a happy Singapore girl living in Hong Kong. I enjoy hiking and TG I have toastmasters community.
So everyone, if you want to enjoy abundant happiness, count your blessings and what could u say TG I Have!
posted by Mae at
9:41 PM
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