by: chevelle chiong

she stood tall, majestic, regal.

she surveyed the room, analysing the steps.

the mechanic sound of the clock turned, suggesting that it was past its prime

cool gushes of air pressed her hot cheek.

her opponent sat opposite her, smirking. he thinks that he has won, and she let's him think about that sweet image she was going to shatter next moment.

hmm, how about this? she said, toying, as she flipped her ultimate queen card.

checkmate.

| inspiration ♥︎ : debating sessions. being a woman can be difficult when boys try to win argue — with one of my opponent telling me to “sit down”. so instead of taking it, I wrote a poem and I hope to send a message, that women will never take insults from men.

Sun-kissed skin, and a warm delight

Road trip adventures, laughter free

Chasing sunsets, wild and carefree

Pink and juicy, strawberries in hand

Summer vibes, that never go out of plan

Honey rays, on our skin so fair

Making memories, that we'll always share

Let's keep it fun, and full of glee

Strawberry Sundays, just you and me

Dancing on the highway, music loud and proud

Our strawberry Sunday, a moment allowed.

by Chevelle Chiong

The moon hung gibbous and bold,

its silver fire bleeding across the sapphire lake—

a breathless hush blanketing the world.

She sat nestled in a cradle of velvet grass,

the earth cool beneath her skin,

its scent mingling with the sweetness of night.

Leaning forward, she hovered above the mirrored water,

and the lake—still, sacred—opened like a secret.

It did not lie.

It showed her everything.

The ache beneath her quiet smiles.

The storms hidden behind her eyes.

It offered no kindness, yet no cruelty—

only truth, raw and bare.

Her insecurities spilled like shadows across the surface.

Her "not enoughs." Her silent wounds.

Yet there, too, shimmered her wonders—

the gentleness in her hands,

the fire in her silence,

the beauty she refused to see.

The lake held her—flawed, whole, infinite.

And for a breath, in moonlit stillness,

she saw herself.

…

Have you always been fascinated by adventure novels, especially when the main character undergoes multiple missions and thus obtains power? I have always been fascinated by how it shapes their psyche.

To give an example, I will be referencing Jacks in The Ballad of Never After. Jacks became an (heartless) immortal after being cursed, and he used to be someone with emotions and someone who has complexity. However, after gaining the power to shatter people's hearts, he became more cunning.

The rise of a character

Notice that in most hierarchies, power is inherited but fought for. For example, in the earliest societies, transfer of power was done through fighting relentlessly. Though it is morally wrong to coerce a party to gain power, it is one of the easiest ways for a party to gain power quickly, in their own terms.

Next, the “cursed” element in most literary books. If not for the brutal conquering of power, many books show how an immortal has risen to power because they have been afflicted with a curse. This title (e.g., bit of information) was something I was thinking of for a while. Usually, a great rise in power (e.g., immortality, telekinesis, eternal youth) is given to characters, and in return, they have to give something back, and usually it is in the form of emotions or their soul.

Arguably, it is one of the biggest trade-offs one could give up for power. While it may seem great, they will be so hollow, essentially an empty shell of their formal lives. And because of feeling nothing, they will start to feel invincible, and that marks the first shift in personalities.

“All those victories, so shiny, yet disenchant me.”

Perhaps this is why these characters are written into romantasy. Authors have made them such complex characters beforehand, which allows us to form an emotional attachment with them and breaks them once they have obtained something. They also offer an unglamorous take on power, that it is not as exciting as it seems; we are trading them from the complexities of life and taking away our perspectives. After all, emotions are one of the main drivers of our lives.

Sometimes, granting power makes us yearn for our past selves.

Dear you,

Thank you for being in my life during the tumultuous college years. I am finally eighteen today, and it feels surreal, as if I have hit a major milestone. Perhaps the only major milestone I will be hitting is A-levels, which is daunting at its best.

For my subscribers that are still studying, I feel you. It could be stressful at times, and please take a break when necessary. Talk to your friends when you are stressed, and know that tough times don’t last; tough people do! Pursue that very subject you are interested in and share it as a substack article!

For my other subscribers, my wish is for you to be healthy and stay updated about the latest happenings by catching up with the news. The world is going through a volatile period, and it is extremely pertinent to be well-read on the current happenings through reading a wide variety of news articles to ensure that you can obtain the freshest and the most comprehensive information. It is really overwhelming, but as a society, we can try to be more informed and help others to be informed. When everyone is well-informed, we as a community can respond thoughtfully.

Misinformation usually festers in social media apps, where the most viral content is often given more attention to. Please do cross check your sources <3

wishing you the best of health,

Chevelle

Whenever I look out of the window, I get flashbacks of my younger self, as the bus will pass through my primary school. I remmeber having the best time there, playing catch with my friends, trying tomyum noodles that were too spicy for me and learning about the wonders of science. This all came before the era where I had my phone.

The bus then halts to a stop, one stop before my school. There, the faded sign of a mama shop (traditional provisional shop selling traditional snacks and all sorts of products you cannot find in the supermarket) brought back another wave of deja vu.

When I had spare pockets of change after the tomyum competition, I will head to the mama shop with my friends. We often get a jelly, priced at $0.40, which is unthinkable in this economy, really. If we have more change to splurge, a paddlepop ice cream will do the trick. We would gleefully tear the crisp package of the ice cream, before enjoying our semi-melted ice creams that have to beat the tropical heat.

All the memories trickle back, leaving me with a sense of longing as I alighted from the bus. Perhaps, our strongest memories come from taking in the world without out phones, allowing us to be mesmerised with our great beautiful world.

I get semi-sentimental after writing this article, having spent six years enjoying my primary school youth ☆

from chevelle, with love.

Imagine this. The sky is in the most azure colour, with the sun glowing gently. Bees hummed in the background, and the grass felt so soft under your sandals. You take a deep whiff, and you catch a faint smell of rosemary, which reminds you of your nonna’s cooking.

It sounds very idyllic, and often times, I catch myself typing away a scene that could be taken out from a whimsical wonderland. Critics might shake their heads, saying that it is impractical of a city girl that lives nowhere near places with cottages to imagine living there, but there is still longing, like a letter that remains unfinished.

So today, we are going to dive into a world that is mystical, magical (caught that reference, anyone?)

The surge in pinterest moodboards.

Pinterest took off because they knew there was an outlet that creatives were searching for to explore new ideas that were not so mainstream. It also helps when pinterest is not filled with much slop that we unfortunately are seeing in many social media outlets.

As such, anyone, like me, an untrained person and definitely not a creative professional, can try their hand to find ideas that are uniquely them. That was when I explored the fascinating idea of cottagecore, where everything points to taking it slow for a while.

And that is when I realised I enjoy the days where I take it slowly, chat with my nonna at noon while she sits on her rattan chair and I sit at the sewing machine, swinging my legs.

this post was a tribute to a speech titled apples and daisies, and chev’s encouragement to never give it up for something less.

And as an Asian Chinese, it is quite amusing. Seeing people drinking warm water more studiously than me, (which will definitely make my grandmother proud) and people recommending different Chinese herbs that are supposedly given the greenlight by TCM specialists, everyone is taking bits and pieces of Chinese practices to look more Chinese.

While it is nice to see more people doing research on Chinese practices, but I couldn't help but point out a few key pointers:

Drinking hot water and taking shoes off before stepping in the house are practiced by many Asian families, not just the Chinese. This is an excellent starter to also learn more about other Asian cultures and see the beauty in the cultures as well.

Additionally, one should also consult an actual TCM specialist should they want to brew special teas to aid digestion, as Tiktok and Instagram are notoriously unreliable.

Moreover, “being chinese” goes beyond the surface level of donning on hanfus for the gram. While the Internet provides a stepping stone, it often presents the culture as a curated form of content for the views and clicks. Such videos may show just a tiny part of the festivals, but it is important to understand the symbolism as well :)

As my parting words, I think this trend does help more people, especially those in the Western hemisphere, understand more about the Chinese culture, which is a good starter for conversations. If we can push if beyond just making tiktoks and instagram reels - by connecting with the Chinese, clarifying what the Chinese characters mean, I believe that this trend will be more beneficial.

And of course, I encourage people to take pride in their own culture, instead of obsessing over another culture, because your culture is unique as well!

tdlr for my busy subscribers: chinese maxxing when used as a tool for cultural understanding, can promote discourse. but it should not be just using parts of chinese culture for content. And be proud of your own culture as well :)

xoxo 玮

“ You should have taken literature.”

This has been an integral part of my schooling life, whereby all my friends and classmates said that to me. It might be a passing remark, but a pang hit my stomach every time I hear this. Regret gnawed in my gut.

It has been three years since this catchphrase has been spoken to me, in various forms. You would be good at it! They insisted, honestly this subject was made for you, others chime in.

And truthfully? I enjoy literature. The fact that I get to read more books, immerse myself into the world building and see multiple point of views that drag me out of the gruelling education system. It felt thrilling.

I love writing books reviews, having a bookstagram account and a goodreads account with multiple reviews, from the early days of giving every book 5 stars, to the latest reviews that were more critical. I enjoy analysing how the writers’ write and understanding the motives of every character.

The words flow so smooth here, but oftentimes, I am scared. My two years of compuslory literature education showed me that there were more accurate answers, that fit the character more snugly, than my own analysis. And for that two years, a part of me died. I started writing the overly positive reviews. I kept my to-be-read list to one corner of my shelf.

It was only until I chose the triple science stream with geography, that I could see literature as enjoyment again. To put it in a different way, I see literature not as a subject I want to be tested in, but a subject where I can find joy in.

And my experience also brings me to speak about three pointers, some refinements thay will help literature to be more accepting.

1. Refrain from giving long essay analysis and case study as assessments for the first two periods. Having to memorise certain key quotes for the exam contradicts the ‘exploration’ part of literature. Students may immediately treay literature like a science subject, sieving out useful quotes in a bid to get the top grades.

2. Be more accepting of points. Having every one to be more accepting of different points, is how we should see literature. It isn't a subject that is linear, so there shouldnt be a “model answer” used.

I will love to hear about your thoughts on the issue ★

Leave a comment

Until then, I will secretly read novels and highlight the crevices of each chapter, at midnight.

credit ☆ https://www.pinterest.com/fandomshelter/

By: Chevelle Chiong

Looking for nostalgia but perhaps watching high school musical will be better. And maybe a rewatch of modern family.

Whenever I am finished studying for the day, my to-go ritual since sixteen was to open the youtube app and watch a vlog. It was really wholesome- no overly-edited videos, no oddly written names and genuinely well-thought out content.

Never in my wildest dreams that in less than three years, it could change so quickly.

Now, vlogs with titles that makes an eyesore to any literature student - BiRTHDAY vlog, with every word capitalised besides the i, heavily edited vlogs, massive hauls, have amassed millions of views. And, just clicking on the content, is honestly more distressing. Teenagers, which I later learn that are younger than me, were dressed up like adults, dancing to tiktok songs. Meanwhile in Asia, many teens still dress their age, putting on light to no makeup. The fact that this generation (can you believe there is generation after my generation already?) learns that overconsumption is the new cool, can lead to lots of environmental issues and a narrower view of how to save, which could really set them back later in life.

And before you think youtube is all doom and gloom, there is a smaller corner of the Internet that seems to just follow the same style. Travel vlogs, done by netizens who are just documenting their travels, are always my comfort watch. Their no-frills editing (just a simple subtitle) and prices always makes it easier for the occasional traveller to plan their holiday, or a student who simply enjoy a heartwarming content at the end of the day.

chevelle c

A little disclaimer before we dive into this topic is that the guide is by no means any form of financial advice but serves to educate everyone a little bit more on economics by someone fascinated by economics and politics.

Economics can be a little daunting, but what does this field comprise? It is more related than we think it is. To start us off, when we are in a school canteen, we may think about where to spend our $3 SGD meal on, should we spend it on ice cream or on a small bowl of scrumptious fried rice? And on a larger scale, if you do not use Singaporean Dollars, you might have to convert them to United States Dollars (USD) or Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), so you have to go to the money changer. How are the rates being set? And after buying a ticket to Japan, everyone’s favourite hotspot at the moment, how do the locals benefit from your trip to Japan? If you want to know the answers to these questions, then hop in for the ride.

Economics, as we see, ties in nicely with everyday life. It is a social science, meaning it cares about people, politics and mathematics. It is very versatile too.

To understand our first concept, on the question of choice, we have an opportunity cost. If I pick the ice cream and let go of my precious $3, I lose out on the chance of eating my fried rice. This also shows that we do not have infinite money, we are constrained by this resource, so we cannot have both.

case one: The summer I turned pretty - team conrad or team jeremiah

If you have seen the movie, you will know that Belly has to choose between sunshine Jeremiah and always brooding Conrad. And maybe seen the ship-names online (bonrad??).

And let’s apply our use of opportunity cost. Belly has only one heart (hahaha) and limited time. She cannot date both boys at the same time, so economics tells us she has to choose. And fight it out in the comments if she chose right.

You can also apply this to My life with the walter boys (Alex v Cole)

Next, we will learn about currency! This is honestly my favourite because I love travelling and seeing the world. No prizes for guessing my favourite country though! This is a little more complex, since currencies are exchanged internationally. If a country wants to appreciate their currency (make their currency worth more), then they will buy back their currency on the international market. For example, Singapore and Malaysia. If Malaysia wants to appreciate its currency, it buys back its own currency, so there is less to exchange on the international market, so the value increases. If you are Malaysian, you will rejoice, as you can get more SGD Singapore dollars now. However, if you are a Singaporean, you will frown because $1 can be exchanged for less Malaysian Ringgit. That shouldn’t stop you from entering Malaysia though; the food is sedap (good)!

Next, we all know that tourism is good and bad. The good is that it boosts the economy. But how exactly? So let’s look at the land of the rising sun — Japan! Japan has seen a surge in tourism, with the country having to raise tax levies in places such as Kyoto so as to maintain the peace and green areas in the prefecture. With increased tax levies, it will be given to the government, which will then have more revenue; hence, it can either keep it in the reserves (to be drawn only in a pandemic) or spend the additional money building schools and infrastructure, raising the standard of living for the locals. And when you buy a daifuku (mochi with strawberry) from a local street vendor, you are increasing his purchasing power, and he has more income to spend on other food items, and this raises consumer expenditure. Anddd with two of them simultaneously happening, foreign investors will be thinking, wow I think I should invest in Japan, and then with more foreign direct investments (FDI), the investment expenditure increases, which will lead to actual growth in Japan. Actual growth is a good thing, as it increases Japan’s Gross Domestic Product. (GDP).

And I know, for the economists, this is just the tip of the iceberg. But if you would like to see Miss Americana’s Private jet controversy, Beyoncé’s concert ticket pricing and Miss Jenner’s “self-made” debacle, stick around!

Chevelle Chiong is a JC 1 Student in Singapore. Her likes? Economics with social policy. Sprinkle pop culture to taste. She hopes to make economics fun and engaging.

When I was overwhelmed, I only had one number on speed dial. That is my sister. Seeing two of us, many will remark, “are you two twins?” We look nearly identical to an acquaintance — raven-black hair cut into a bob, glasses and an oval-shaped head. They are not wrong about that, our ages are really close. But both of us are vastly different. She is the calm and cool person (with Gen Zs remarking on her as a “nonchalant chill girl” while I am the opposite, smiley and chatty.

While many might think that similar ages can cause many fights, we have a rather tight relationship. We look out for each other. I am so fortunate to have her because whenever I am overwhelmed with work (think planning school events in just a two-week timeframe and academics) or happy about a piece of news, I will usually give her a call, and she answers within two rings. She stays on the phone as minutes go by and gives me a collected response. Some calls can go for two hours long, and she never puts down until we both say goodbye.

Having written a post about my parents, I thought, ‘I want to dedicate one to my sister, who isn’t really a fan of mushiness, but all the same, C, this is for you.’

Love,

chev

Someone told me I was “too kind” the other day. The person, strangely, was somebody who texted me some pretty hurtful things, so it was unexpected to hear it from her. And here is my take on friendships and friendship losses.

In response to her, I believe kindness is something to be given to everyone. I shouldn’t just be kind to someone because we are friends, but I could be kind by offering my seat to people who need it on the train, sharing a pad with a classmate who forgot and volunteering to house visit because I love talking to others. Additionally, if someone has hurt you, it doesn’t mean we stop being kind to everyone else.

Anyways, I digress a little. For me, making friends came easier, as I am a conversationalist, and I am curious about people’s hobbies and their worldview. However, with the given amount of time, it is difficult to remain close friends with everyone else.

Anddd sometimes, we come across people that hurt us. By acknowledging how the person and we were once friends, for them to cross a boundary, it hurts a lot. Sometimes, it is good to step back from the person and give us some space to heal. It is okay to acknowledge it. Sometimes, it is because one party makes a mistake, and time will heal that wound.

However, if it is a mistake that is made repeatedly (i.e., the person keeps making small jabs at you whenever you are in a group), then perhaps you should reconsider, will stepping away help better? Also accepting the fact that you are:

a) not unlikable (you have your own tribe that loves your quirks and everything)

b) not all people will appreciate you

c) you DESERVE to hold space

you learn how to let go. Unfortunately, it is a process that almost everyone I know needs to go through, and it can be painful. But let me hold your hand one more time as I say this: you deserve friends that uplift you, and those friends deserve uplifting as well. It works both ways.

And for those friends that have stuck by your side and seen you at your breaking point, those friends are precious. Please cherish them. Also, make sure that you are doing the same for them. Grab a coffee with them. Chat with them. Update each other about your lives. These people are your people, so keep them close. (I am looking at you I and A)

So, the next time you meet someone, don’t be afraid to say hi, expand your social circle. And learn how to let go if they are only here for one stop of your life chapter, because they have changed something in you, for the good.

Finally, I hope to leave you with a quote: “People who love you will always hope to see you grow, and the moment they want to take away that space, perhaps learning to make more space for your growth is for the best.”

For essays about life and growth, with no fluff, please consider subscribing. <3

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2025 is over! It has been quite a year for me; in between the flurry of high-stakes promotional examinations that all junior college students faced, I started this substack. I am grateful to everyone for joining in for the ride.

This year has been a rather intensive academic year, with assignments to be completed almost on a daily basis. Catching a breather was a reminder I had to constantly make myself chant, simply because I couldn’t find the time to do so.

Onto academics, it has been a wild ride. Theories such as the electromagnetic spectrum and free radical substitution took me quite some time to digest, whereas political content was my type of tea (what can I say, I enjoy current affairs).

And friends. I am so grateful to find my tribe in junior college, the friends that I will spend fleeting but seemingly never-ending years with. V and J, thank you for mugging with me in the library. Let’s continue to motivate each other (and make occasional talk) in between lectures! And my cool people tribe (S, J, M, H, J, W, Y, V and J) let’s continue updating each other on pop culture (your the reason why I write about 67, you know). I am also so grateful to meet A, my soulmate and honestly my twin? She understands almost everything about me, and I hope I am the same for her.

Before I get sentimental and before this post becomes a 2015 youtube rewind, I am also grateful for standing up for myself. Some of them have overstepped. Falling asleep and making me wait for 3 hrs for our meetup, backstabbing … sigh. Knowing that we were once friends hurts a lot, because I cared for them, and finding out it was not reciprocated is a sad feeling. This is a reminder to you, dear readers, as well as to me, that if someone keeps stepping over the line, it is okay to distance yourself from them, as you need the space. Never stop being kind to others and own that space.

And most importantly, my family. I got to talk to my grandmothers over the phone and more frequent meetups, although we (my extended family and my immediate family) live at the corners of singapore. I am so immensely grateful to be surrounded by people who care and show up. And for them, my wish is to keep showing up, keep talking about the 1000 episode dramas with them and keep updating them about interesting things about my life. I adore them.

Finally, on my personal growth, as well as my wish for you, dear reader. It is to never stop holding your space, never stop loving, and always be there for your family and your loved ones. Next year is the year where we take one step forward and try something we wouldn’t have tried. It is not like a 2026 resolution that will never take off; it is the spontaneity that comes with it.

with love,

chev

By: Chevelle Chiong

A student that is fascinated with economics and social policy.

I was first introduced to the peculiar action by my sister, who eagerly outstretched her arms and went 676767676767! To those who have heard this trend and saw Gen Zs had a laugh about this number and are befuddled, allow me to introduce the meaning. It holds no significance, unlike “slay” (cool, awesome). However, it left a lasting impact on everyone that Google will also do the bouncing action should you type in 67 trend. (go ahead, type in 67 trend).

This trend, while meaningless, offers teens like myself a chance to bond over. Oftentimes, in such an interconnected world, having a meaningless “secret code” can offer some happiness in our fast-paced lives. Being so mainstream, youths from different countries can bond over this shared meaning, forge friendships and share the laughter.

“Brainrot”, a term coined by youths, also has the same effect. It is a string of nonsensical words mushed together that runs a fine line between readable and confusing. Its purpose, on the surface, gleans from its namesake — they are phrases that rot your brain. However, just like the 67 trend, it offers a conversational starter for youths or a filler when the topic reaches a close.

It goes to show that simplicity, after all these years, is still something that all crave and value.

If you have ever been to a concert and found your wallet empty, you know the feeling. A deep resignation tingling to your very core, but you somehow will still say yes if Jennie or Taylor Swift comes back to your country to perform.

And I go as far as to say that if the demand is price inelastic, people will pay $1000.

Sounds mind-boggling, right? How do they do it? It is simple. Demand and Supply. Let’s say Blackpink is coming to your area (get that reference? Okay, I am sorry; no more jokes from here on.) They will need to book a venue. Perhaps they booked the national stadium, and there are only 10,000 slots, and they cannot add any more slots. This is known as the supply. Only 10,000 lucky fans get to hear their music for that night. And now, the demand, which is from you all, their fans. Let’s say that there are 20,000 fans that wish to see Blackpink in Singapore on 12 November 2024 (that’s the deadline tour!) And as you can see, demand exceeds supply, so people who are eager to see Rose live will bid up the price (willing to pay more). So, they can raise the price till the point where demand = supply. But this is often difficult to tell in real life, so the numbers are often an estimate by their team.

And eager-eyed readers might have caught the “elasticity” part I was talking about. Elasticity is, like what the language suggests, how stretchy the price is. Take for example, water: it is a necessity, so it is demand-price inelastic (a fixed number of people will have to drink a sip of water, so even if they raise the prices by a whopping amount, we still have to buy it). And your expensive Gucci bags? They are often a rare luxury for many of us, so it is demand price elastic.

However, before we get so eager to unpack this, it is also important to note that elasticity is not easily calculated, due to how many factors economists needs to guess. This is one of the limitations.

And because the demand tickets of Blackpink is price inelastic for the Blinks, even if the price increases a lot, they will still buy it.

So the next time you hear them onstage, perhaps think about the economics of concerts too!

Chevelle is a junior college student who loves two things, economics and social policy. She adds pop culture to taste. She hopes that her articles can be fun and light-hearted to show that economics isn’t just understanding the math — but the psychology behind our choices.

By: Chevelle Chiong

It was a terrible morning. I had forgotten to set the timer, I didn’t have my usual warm toast for breakfast and I was running late. So, I scrambled, with my stomach churning, and I felt nervous.

If you had to know, I managed to get there on time. But I had an accident. A rather bad one. I had to call one of my friends for help, and my best friend answered. She came to help, and I am forever grateful for her.

I have only four best friends, and I can count them with my five fingers. I am a rather sociable person but often find myself being unable to keep the friends I have met from the event or school. So, you can imagine that there are many people that came in and out of my life, and only four stayed consistently.

Sometimes, I do wish that I could connect with everyone, vibing with them like what we always do. But sometimes, perhaps they were only there for one part of the journey or had a common activity with you. Once that thing ends, you wave goodbye to them. There will be some moments of sadness, because you cherish them. Bittersweet, just like breath mints, but it really taught me how to appreciate my best friends even more, who stuck with me even though we are poles apart/in different schools.

One of my best friends, H, was the only one that picked up my call at an (ungodly) hour of 5am for help. I was ill that day, and I couldn’t do prefectorial duty and really needed a replacement. Although she was (understandably) groggy, she agreed.

They say a friend in need is a friend indeed, and I believe in this statement. Best friends are the friends that see you during those raw moments, where your guard is off, where you are having a bad day, and they listen. They stop to hear. And I am working to keep that friendship that I hold dear by having coffee chats and bowling dates (which, unfortunately, my dear readers, I keep losing).

And I strongly believe in reciprocating, so I try my best to do so through being there with them.

So, if you have that one friend that is really caring, hold on to the person. The person is really special and keep them close.

Thank you I, H, A, S for supporting me. I <3 you.

Perhaps it was because of an all-too-small meal, or that I am overwhelmed, but seeing aunties that make snide remarks about my age (she called me my mum's sister, and mind you, we have at least a 27+ year age gap) and how they have faster progress than me wasn't how I imagined my evening to pan out. And to smile and act that I wasn't feeling a pinch didn’t help.

So, to wrap up my Monday blues, I ended up wandering around the lift lobby, tired of trying. It got me to wonder, is “trying” ever enough?

This might come off as a “people-pleaser” tone, or put it more simply, a “yes man”. It is okay to say yes (in fact, it can help you to get to know people, grasp opportunities and meet with other wonderful encounters. But sometimes, I felt like I am saying “yes” too often can really take a toll. I was being unhappy while my friends were enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or simply wolfing down their dinner. I was staying just to brighten someone else's day, but sometimes, at the expense of my sanity (the aunties got to stop).

Now, before anyone comes hurling stakes at me, chanting, “burn her!” Let me set the record, I am a firm believer of saying yes, maybe it wasn't the aunties fault (she just had the wrong tone) and maybe I was stressed. But my main message to myself, is to always take a rest if holidays are hectic, or if I am dreading to go.

x C

The winds were blowing at a breakneck speed, and I felt as if I would be blown away. Being a tropical girl basking in summer for the entire year, huge winds like this was unheard of. But at that very moment while I was holidaying, there was a twinge of regret of leaving the safe haven of the hotel room.

As the wind howled, I decided that I have to take a break at the nearest shops to recharge. Stepping in to one of the coffeehouse, an uncle pointed a phone to our faces, and asked cheerily, “where are you from?”

As a girl, I was always extra wary - because I do not want to be in an uncomfortable situation. However, my family decided to answer. He began speaking about his knowledge of my hometown (which is surprisingly a lot!)

When I emptied my hot cocoa, my dad asked the shopkeeper for directions. The uncle, who we learnt was 96, waved it off cheerily. “No, I can take you!”

Having learnt that he was a teacher in this small neighbourhood in taiwan, and that everyone knew him, we decided to go along.

He shared with us his life in the small village, he used to be a teacher at a school near his house and most of the older teachers were his students. He always mentioned going to the school everyday to jog. Yes, you read that right - he goes there to run. At 96, he was agile and carefree, always having a smile on his face. Knowing that he was fitter than me, I sheepishly replied, that is great, 叔叔.

After chatting with him for a little bit, I couldn't help but think: countryside life is so warm and if urban dwellers (myself included) try to look up from the screens and engage in small talk with strangers, we might find it interesting and life-changing.

After entering the train, I gave one last wave to 叔叔. As the train moved passed the paddy fields, I couldn't help but think: it is unlikely we cross paths again, but he really made my trip special and encourages me to be warmer and kinder to those around me and brighten everyone's day.

Image by Goodreads

By: Chevelle Chiong

I will be diving straight into my review in a second, but if you would like to check out the blur first, here goes:

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel. The tower and its students are the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver-working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as the arcane craft serves the Empire's quest for colonization.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…

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my take

Honestly, this book was a heavy read, even when I was holidaying in Taiwan. The book has footnotes and lengthy explanations about everything. While I appreciate RF Kuang for her thorough research, I was a bit sad as this was packaged as a Arcane book (so I was expecting more world building and characterisation). We unfortunately do not get that as our main character, Robin, is a 2 dimension figure with no raw emotions of his own. I stopped reading after a while, dnf at 50% (did not finish at 50%)

It shouldn't take multiple lectures to enjoy a fantasy book

In all of my gripes, I do appreciate the work that Kuang went through to write the book. Like the use of silver, where it was both a literary tool and a physical object, got the lit girl in me screaming.

In conclusion, I would have liked rhe book to focus more on developing the characters, instead of giving us a lengthy explanations on everything. I believe the readers who picked up this book will do a simple Google search, and this will not really impede the writing as much as giving us a whole encyclopedia on every definition.

2/5 ★★☆☆☆