Ice Cream 101

"Rubber bands come in different sizes and different colors and different shapes, but they all worked on the same principle: they must be stretched to be effective. Like rubber bands, our personalities, talents, and gifts are different; we're also not effective unless we are stretched." - John C. Maxwell

STRESSED? How does one respond to stress? Some will go into the "I SCREAM" mood. Me, I go into my SING mood. One song I like is "Hey Jude!" by the Beattles. It goes like this, Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her under your skin. Then you begin to make it better, better, better, Better, Better, BETTER, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...! Written by Paul McCartney, it was originally written to comfort John Lennon's son during his parents' divorce (source: wikipedia).

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But if you want to know how Americans cope with stress, try spelling "stressed" backward. Yes, it reads, DESSERTS. Most Americans like their desserts, especially chocolates, cakes, cookies, and of course, ice-cream! Last month, my wife took an Ice Cream 101 course conducted by the Penn State Creamery. The introductory course is designed to provide anyone interested in ice cream with the basics of ice cream composition, formulation and processing. The course focuses on the small-scale manufacturing of frozen desserts.

Participants of the course include ice cream lovers, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners with little or no ice cream manufacturing experience. Many of the participants have interest in starting their own ice cream parlor. The two-day course, which costs US$ 580, includes a combination of both lecture and demonstrations plus a number of tasting sessions. However, my wife thought the course would have been more beneficial if hands-on sessions were incorporated.

Penn State has the largest university creamery in the US. Started in 1889, it has a long list of alumni - the most well known would be Ben and Jerry, who learnt how to make ice cream through its correspondence course in 1978, months before they opened their first Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor in Vermont.

I would guess that 95% of us try to avoid stretching. When we come against something that is bigger than we are, we tend to back off. What keeps us from expanding? Why do we avoid these stretching experiences?

1. Fear - the unknown out there can really paralyze us.
2. Satisfied - why stretch? We already like where we are; we have it made.
3. Laziness - there are times we would rather take it easy.
4. Self-esteem - we just don't see ourselves in the proper light.
5. Ordinary - some of us just don't like to be different.

If you stretch, you're no longer ordinary. To stretch is to be out of sync with many our friends and associates. I would encourage you to take a moment to evaluate yourself. Ask yourself why is it that you're not always stretching.

Source: John C. Maxwell, Be All You Can Be!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Perspective

One the perils of having a career in academia is that you are never a thought away from your work. Physically, you may be at home, but your mind is constantly actively, thinking about THE RESEARCH. So, apart from the time when you are sleeping, you are never completely off you work. Even then, some still think about work in their dreams!

So, I try to set aside Saturday mornings for my rest and relaxation. Usually I will read a book that is not related to my work, purely for relaxation and to take my mind off my research. Over the past six months or so, I am truly amazed by the number of books I have read. Today, I spent the time studying the bible and digging deeper into the statement I made in my previous entry, i.e. "everything in life is relative".

In his book, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Charles Swindoll shared this story about a pretty sharp girl who had two problems common to many students: low grades and no money. She had to communicate both to her parents, who she knew would have trouble understanding. After considerable thought, she used a creative approach to soften the blows of reality and wrote:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Just thought I'd drop you a note to clue you in on my plans. I've fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago, he got a divorce. We've been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I've decided to move into his apartment (I think I am pregnant). At any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I like to finish college sometime in the future.

On the next page, she continued: Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true. But Mom and Dad, it IS true I got a C in French and flunked Math. It IS true that I'm going to need some money for my tuition payments.

So, even bad news can sound like good news if it is seen from a certain vantage point. Hence, so much in life depends on "where you're coming from" as you face your circumstances. The secret, of course, is perspective! The American Heritage Dictionary, which defines perspective as follows: A mental view or outlook; the relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole (in the proper perspective); the ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance.

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My former principal once shared this quotation on the power of having a right perspective:

“Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.”

This was his explanation: Both men were stuck in the same situation. Both looked out, but the one who saw mud was looking down b'cos he was downcast, whilst the other who saw stars was looking up, towards the sky. Whilst our future and destiny are often out of our control, we still have a choice come what may. Particularly, when things don't go our way, which perspective would I embrace? Give Up or Look Up?

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”

- Og Mandino -

Almost Spring!

We have adjusted to life in a cold climate - Most mornings, we wake up to temperatures falling below freezing point outside. For example, the temperature this morning was 8 degrees Farenheit, which is equivalent to -13.33 degrees Celsius! I would never imagine this but a few days ago, my wife and I actually remarked what a good day it was - plenty of sun, no snow, no wind! Not until we realized that the temperature was still only 5 degrees Celsius! It dawned on us then that folks back home would think we have gone crazy describing a 5-degree day as a NICE DAY!

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From this, we can appreciate that everything in life is relative! Five degrees Celsius may sound terribly cold for someone who have been experiencing 30+ degrees, but to someone who had just gone through a snow blizzard with windchill temperature of -10 to -15 degrees Celsius, five degrees would seem like a jolly good day! So, if you have drawn the short straw in life, think of others who have it worse than you. Count your blessings.

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Anyway, winters here are stunningly pretty. Every rooftop wears a cap of snow. The serene stream on the right runs through Slab Cabin Run, a public park in Happy Valley. Whilst the winter here is cold, it not depressing at all! Unlike the oppressive grey gloomy winter we experienced during our 3-year stay in Manchester, England. Nearly every other day the sun shines in Happy Valley! In the evening, it doesn't get dark till 6 pm, or so. And when the cold starts to get to you, "there is the reassurance of knowing that a good hot summer is just around the corner" (Bill Bryson).

Indeed, we received a nice e-mail (below) from our thoughtful landlady yesterday. It was a timely reminder that spring is almost here! Already, we have noted some stores selling outdoor garden furniture sets.

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Subject: Pre-spring in State College

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Toward the end of February and during March you can force forsythia (below left) branches to bloom inside for some color and a reminder that spring will, indeed, return to the yard. Check the messy bushes to the right of the cellar door (as you step out of the basement door) and the little one to the left of the carport door. When they have swollen buds, cut several long branches and put them in water in a sunny spot indoors. They will bloom! There are two sets of small clippers that will make this easier. At least one should be in the left-side cabinet under the counter/potting bench/buffet down on the patio.

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As for other early spring bloomers, keep an eye out in the backyard for hyacynth (below, left). They bloom under the forsythia, along the house in that same bit of yard, and along the stone wall on the exposed part of the patio. I don't think the girls and I moved them last spring. They need to be moved and clustered, but by the time their foliage has faded and they can be safely moved, they're covered by other things, and I'm occupied with weeding, spring leaf cleanup, and all the other tasks. They can't be see from indoors very well where they are now, nor are they on the regular outdoor paths. Perhaps the previous occupants had different spring habits than we do. In any case, they're fragrant and pretty, and if you're not allergic to the scent, you should cut them as they bloom to enjoy indoors. The daffodils (below) stay mostly put in the front yard, but the crocuses (above, right) and occasionally the tulips get moved by the squirrels, so it's always interesting to see what comes up where!

Happy almost-spring!
Cricket

An Endless Song

This happened to me a while back. One fine morning, as I was walking briskly to school, I suddenly heard a noise from behind. Apparently, a stranger was calling me. I stopped, looked back, and saw an elderly man. I waited for him, and guess what were the first words he said to me?

"Hi, I noticed you were whistling.

You know what, I have not heard that for a long time!"

My short reply to him was, "Isn't it a beautiful morning? I know of no better way to start the day by singing and whistling." The elderly man, who appeared to be a professor in PennState, replied, "people just don't whistle anymore". I wasn't sure if that was true. I haven't seen it myself but I am sure there will be a lot of cheering and whistling going on in the stadium during a football match or downtown, during the weekends, where you'll probably find guys whistling at "pretty women walking down the street".

Anyway, from that brief encounter with the elderly man, I realized that I, indeed, do sing and whistle a lot - mostly to myself, and particularly when I am walking, exercising, swimming or driving. I guess it has become a habit, something engrained in me, which I do automatically without even realizing it. Even at home when we are relaxing, my wife and I like to listen to CDs. Music is pretty much a big part of our daily life.

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It has also never occurred to me why I sing, but I suppose if you examine the lyrics of most songs that have ever been written and sung, they are inspired primarily by two emotions, either "happy" or 'sad". Interestingly, both emotions are related to a greater theme and one of the most important aspects of life, which is "LOVE".

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Creame brulee I torched for my BMW

Acknowledgement: Once again, I would like thank my blog consultant for showing me how to embed music into this blog. From that, I also learnt to embed videos. ..

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Now, I will be able to share some of our favorite songs. For a start, allow me to share the lyrics of a song which I heard recently. I like it because it helps to articulate the reason for my singing. When I first heard it for the first time in church a few months ago, I quickly took out my note book and scribbled down the lyrics. It was a long song but I managed to note down the important parts ... There is an endless song, echoing in my soul, I hear the music ring... How can I keep from singing? ... I know that I am loved... and it makes my heart want to sing... I can sing in troubled times. Sing when I win.

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I have managed to find a video clip of it on youtube. See below. Click to play. (However, you may wish to turn off the blog's background music first (located at the right-hand side of this blog). Overall, a boisterous performance, which seems more like a pop concert plus a karaoke sing-a-long!

THERE IS AN ENDLESS SONG

Echoing in my soul

I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come

Still i am holding on

To this rock i (will) cling

How can I keep from singing your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is your love

How can I keep from shouting your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

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I will lift my eyes

In the darkest night

I know my Saviour lives

And I will walk with you

Knowing you see me through

And sing the songs you give

Bridge: I can sing in the troubled times

Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step

And fall down again

I can sing cause you pick me up

Sing cause you're there

I can sing cause you hear me lord

When I call to you in prayer

I will sing til my last breath

Sing for I know

That I'll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne

Matt Redman/Chris Tomlin/Ed Cash

Copyright © 2006 Thankyou Music/sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com songs/kingswaysongs.com & Alletrop Music/CopyCare

Inspired by the Robert Lowry hymn 'How can I keep from singing' c. 1860

Reunion Dinner

This year, being so far away from home, we had our reunion dinner in the US. We also had a guest, Yuen Leng, my NUS colleague who has been in PennState the past 5 years and will be completing her PhD soon. Below is a slide show of what we had for the simple reunion dinner prepared by my wife.

For the Chinese, the reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year is a huge thing - very much like the "Thanksgiving" meal for the American families. Members of the family would travel home and gather for an annual feast. Growing up, I remember my mom making a big fuss over the meal; often, making the preparations weeks ahead. For example, she would start soaking the "sea cucumber" weeks in advance. Nowadays, as we get busier as a society, some families have decided to hold their reunion dinner in a restaurant, which I find less personal.

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Recollection: Ever since my migration to S'pore in 1984, my mom would always make a big fuss when I return to my hometown (K.L.). She would constantly ask what I would like to eat, and in particular, how I want the prawns to be cooked? Somehow, she seems to remember what I have long forgotten, that prawns was one of my favorite dishes when I was younger. After a while, the constant fussing can get to you and I would reply, "any style would do, I will eat anything you cook. I have grown up. I am no longer fussy about food!". But then, I realized that it was my mom's way of communicating and expressing her love and care. And I find this generally true of the older Chinese folks, they rarely express their love in words, but through their actions, and in the case of my mom, through her wok. Hence, I learn the best way to appreciate her would be to gobble down the food she has prepared.

Be My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day with Love

‘What should I get to show I love you?’

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Photo by YY: Sound of Music, Austria (2007)

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

To celebrate Valentine Day, I decided to prepare a special meal for my wife: Salad with raspberry walnut dressing and pan-fried crab cakes for starter. A chunky slab of yellow fin tuna (seared and marinated in teriyaki sauce) and two small beef steaks served as the main course.

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For dessert, we had mango pudding and to celebrate the occasion, we concorted a cocktail of red wine, lime juice and soda.

A toast to my BMW: "I am so glad you came into my life".

My beloved is mine and I am his. The banner over us is love!

Whilst I do not subscribe to the commercialisation of Valentine Day, it is nevertheless a good opportunity to reflect on our courtship - remembering the first day we met, recalling our dreams about being together, and enjoying each other.

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Valentine Day is more than roses, chocolates, or gifts. Why use material things to tell someone we love them, instead of telling them and showing them daily our love? And why wait until a holiday like Valentine’s Day or birthdays or Christmas to make our love known? If you love, make your love known, before you find that your earthly opportunity to express your love is gone.

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Practice the language of love - Be sure to tell your spouse "I love you" every day, and show that love by your actions. There is nothing more vital than encouraging and appreciating the person you love. In Song of Songs, the most intimate and sensual book in the Bible, the lover and the beloved are constantly found expressing their love and admiration of each other.

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Lover : Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.

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Beloved : Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Strenghten me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.

SOS 2:2-6

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One from the file - A simple card I made during our courtship days (Feb 1991). Wow, that was exactly 17 years ago! Truly, love puts the joy in both our hearts. When you are in love, there is a spring to every step you take.

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p/s - for those who are still waiting for the "perfect" life partner to come along; instead of waiting for him or her to appear, it may be worthwhile to work on being a "perfect" partner for that "special" someone. Where shall I begin? Well, a good place to start is the love definition in 1 Corinthians 13. Try substituting "love" with "your name" (for example, 'joe is patient, ... joe never fails ...") and see which aspects of your character can be improved.

reference: http://journals.aol.com/kewloldman3/ReflectionsSermonsandmore/entries/2007/02/09/be-my-valentine-sermon-for-sunday-11-feb-2007/477

The Rat Race

THANK YOU! Over the past week, we received a number of lunar new year greetings. I would like to share one specific greeting from a student, who is in his final year in the university. He mentioned:

"In the lunar year of the Rat, I hereby wish you and your wife have a fruitful and enjoyable the final few months in Happy Valley before coming back to join the Rat Race once again."

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So far, we have not seen any rats in Happy Valley. The closest resemblance would be the playful squirrels. A few of them like to climb the maple trees surrounding the house. Although we do see them everyday, it has not been possible for us to get close enough to snap a picture of them. From the video below, you will appreciate how challenging it is to ask those "rats" to stay still, smile and pose for a photo. Doesn't their frantic pace reminds you of the life in some places?

Time flies. We have been in Happy Valley for more than 6 months. And in 4 months' time, we will be going back to Singapore. Already, a friend who will be visiting S'pore in mid March is asking whether he could help to bring back some of our stuff. I remember a conversation I had with a fellow academia on my sabbatical plan. When he heard that I would be taking my sabbatical at PennState, his immediate reaction was, "its only a small college town, there is nothing much happening there. You should consider taking your sabbatical in a university in a metropolitan city, such as New York or Los Angeles." He was worried that my wife and I would be bored in Happy Valley. Well, our reply was that Singapore is a metropolitan city and that it would be a refreshing change for us to go hinterland, where there would be more greeneries and open space.

photo: wild petite flowers growing under the maple trees in our backyard

After staying here for 6 months, I would concur that in comparison to a big city, nothing much happens here. But you know what? We are enjoying the pace of life.

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A slower pace that allows us to actually "stop and smell the flowers", explore new terrains, read widely and leisurely, cultivate genuine relationships, and take time out to contemplate. Truly, Happy Valley has truly been a resting place where we enjoy the lives God has given us instead of rushing through them!

I can imagine that many city dwelling folks would yearn for this kind of life, at least for a moment, away from the"'stress-ridden", 'hurry-worry" society such as in Singapore. Charles Swindoll once wrote in his book, Stress Fractures,

“Gone are the days of enjoying babbling brooks along winding pathways or taking long strolls near the beach. The relaxed bike ride through the local park has been replaced with the roar of a motorcycle whipping through busy traffic. The easy-come, easy-go lifestyle of the farm has been preempted by a hectic urban family going in six different directions, existing on microwave food, shouting matches, strained relationships, too little sleep and too much television.”

In Wikipedia, "rat race" is defined as:

picture source: msnbc
A rat race is a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of the futile efforts of a lab rat trying to escape whilst running around a maze or in a wheel. In an analogy to the modern city, many rats in a single maze run around making a lot of noise bumping into each other, but ultimately achieve nothing (meaningful) either collectively or individually. The rat race is a term often used to describe work, particularly excessive work; in general terms, if one works too much, one is in the rat race.

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Let's face it - for many of us, stress has become a way of life. We're all too busy, aren't we? And to a large extent, the society teaches us to take a lot of pride in how busy we are... as if our overloaded schedules will impress our colleagues and bosses. We may think that our never-ending, ever-growing assignments are impressive. But are they? The trouble with the rat race, according to Lily Tomlin, is that "... even if you win, you’re still a rat”.

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Don't get me wrong... I am not advocating "slacking" or "laziness". I still have > 10 items on my "to do" list, and yes, I still run with the aim of finishing well the race God has set has before me. I still rise early and sleep late. Also, should you get the wrong perception, let me stress that PennState professors are one of the most hardworking and productive groups of people I have met. But one good advice my wife and I received when we first arrived was from the Department Chair. When we told him of the long list of things that needed our attention, he wisely counselled us to take things slow, aim to accomplish one or two things a day, and don't forget to enjoy the scenery.

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source: risingtide.org.uk/book/print/119

For Christians: "When you get deep into the rat race, you don't know whether you're coming or going. And as busy as you are, you're not accomplishing the things that are most important in life". The rat race will hinder your spiritual growth, damage your walk with Christ, and suck every ounce of joy from your life. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, said, "I can be active and pray; I can work and pray; but I cannot be busy and pray."

Sources: http://www.chapinbaptist.com/sermons/20030622.html
http://www.redlandbaptist.org/sermons/sermon20030518.htm

The "Drum Major" Instinct

Whatever game I play, I play to win! It could be a board game or a soccer match, it doesn't really matter, I dont' just participate. Like the verse in 1 Corinthians (below), I run to win the race. I am not sure about you, but I think this competitiveness streak is in most of us... to be the first in everything, top on the list (nobody remembers the second name on a list), to be champions (history will forget the runners-up) , winners (nobody likes losers).

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Photo: Rag & Flag, NUS

Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize - 1 Corinthians 9: 24

Besides being a civil rights fighter, Martin Luther King was also a pastor of a church in Georgia. During his funeral, one of his great sermons, "The Drum Major Instinct" was played. The essence of which is contained in the following words,

Photo: New Orleans

"There is, deep down within all of us, an instinct. It's a kind of drum major instinct - a desire to be first... we all want to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade...

Don't give up... Keep feeling the need to be first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral practice. I want you to be the first in generosity. It's what I want you to do..."

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Somehow, reading the above exhortation by King reminded me of Eusoff Hall, NUS. Between 1998 and 2004, we stayed in a student hostel, where I was the Resident Fellow (RF, Block D) overseeing around 100 undergraduates. Although the administrative duty as RF as well as serving as the Domestic Bursar of the Hall was time consuming, I never considered them as a chore but a real joy and privilege. Indeed, serving as a RF had been a dream of mine since I graduated from NUS in 1988.

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During our 6-year stint, we shared many pleasant and memorable experiences with the students, the admin staff and the SCRC members/families.

The fondest memory of our 6-yr stay would be the enriching and interaction we had with the students - especially the informal sessions with the block residents.

File photo: Celebrating CNY with the foreign students. .
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The house we stayed in had a big courtyard, which we occasionally held BBQ sessions.

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We also planted a row of lime hedges and chilies when we first moved in to provide some privacy.

Watching them grow and harvesting the fruits and sharing them gave us a genuine sense of satisfaction. Just the other day, we were amazed that a supermarket here was selling fresh lime (kaffir) leaves for US$ 40+/lb! (In comparison, fresh mushroom sells at $3/lb here).
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This year, Eusoff Hall is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Truly, it has lived up to its motto of being a hall of "excellence and harmony".

I am proud of my association with Eusoff Hall.

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The residents are passionate and excel in almost everything that they did and often with great sacrifice – sweat and blood literally. I have seen the ecstasy of winning. No obstacles were too great, no mountains (not even Mt Everest) too high for an Eusoffian to conquer. Above all the hall's achievements and successes in the sports and arts arena, the one aspect which I am most proud to be associated with Eusoff Hall is its spirit of giving and serving the community.

During my tenure as RF in-charge of Rag & Flag, I was happy guiding the students to channel their competitive spirit towards doing good works. I remember exhorting the Head of the Rag & Flag committee, 'if you want to beat the other halls, then let us outdo them in good deeds." Whilst staying competitive in the rag competition, Eusoff Hall strategically placed greater emphasis on the flag competition and managed to raise significant donations for the needy over the years. Although it was never under my portfolio, I was also very proud of Eusoff Voluntary Corps. Seldom on the spotlight of hall activities, I applauded the students' committment and faithfulness in visiting the hospital, orphanage and old folks' home weekly, even during the exam periods. Just before we left, I noted with approval the students' plan to extend their voluntary service and outreach to the poor communities in the region.

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I attribute my interest in the personal welfare and development of the students to the inspiration of Prof Ho Peng Kee (who was my RF when I was the student Block Head at Kent Ridge Hall, 1986-87), and to Prof Andrew Tay (Master of Eusoff Hall, 1988-2003). When Prof Andrew Tay stepped down as the Master of Eusoff Hall in 2003, I had the honour of saying a tribute on Prof Tay's contributions to the Hall. The speech is reproduced below. Prof Tay is still a professor in NUS at the School of Engineering.

A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ANDREW TAY

This afternoon is an eventful day for Eusoff Hall. We are gathered here to pay tribute to a special man who has devoted and given so much of his life to the Hall. Professor Andrew Tay has been closely associated with many cohorts of hall residents, beginning as a Resident Fellow of Dunearn Road Hostel back in 1976. He was subsequently Resident Fellow of Kent Ridge Hall and Vice-Principal of Eusoff College before assuming the responsibility of Master of Eusoff Hall since the hall’s inception in 1988.

Over the years, many students and a number of resident fellows have come and gone through the corridors of this our great beloved hall. Yet, Professor Andrew Tay has been around and seen them all. From the Eusoff College days at the Bukit Timah campus, to its relocation to the Kent Ridge campus, and evolving to become the excellent Hall that it is today. Indeed, under the mastership of Professor Andrew Tay, Eusoff Hall has excelled in so many ways – be it in committee, voluntary & charity, sports, or cultural activities. The “can do” and entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and synonymous with Eusoff Hall. No mountain and I dare say, even Mt. Everest, is too high for us to climb and conquer.

As a resident fellow, I am proud to be associated with Eusoff Hall. I am sure all of us in this room can say the same – we are proud to be Eusoffians. Eusoff Hall, as a community, is great not because we have of fantastic physical facilities. It is great because of its people, its residents. Over the years, I have seen waves of students coming into the hall as freshman and growing to embrace all that is symbolic of the Eusoff spirit. And we recognize their significant contributions each year at the Merit Award Board dinner. I can see quite a number of you, past winners, here with us today. Yet, I dare say that none of us can match the level and consistency of Professor Andrew Tay’s devotion and service to the Hall. Indeed, he literally embraced the Hall motto, “Excellence and Harmony” to the extent of naming his first son who was born in 1989, Jin-An, after the hall motto.

Working with him in the SCRC, I have known him to be a very detailed man - he seems to know every nook and corner of this hall. I have never failed to be amazed by his level of enthusiasm and support for the students. He has also shown tremendous patience and belief in the residents. In my five years of working with him, I have never seen him losing his temper or getting angry with the students. He always places the students’ interests first. I know this from first hand experience. In the past few years, I have been involved in several upgrading projects in the Hall – the common areas, the toilets and the coming massive upgrading of the students’ rooms. In all the discussions concerning the work plans, Professor Andrew Tay’s priority is very clear – the students! The resident fellows’ flat and the master flat will only be renovated only if there are surplus funds.

As a boss, I am sure staff members in the Hall office have a lot of good things to say of Professor Andrew Tay. One thing I have observed is that he is a caring and compassionate superior. He never imposed his authority on us. He looks after the interest, welfare and personal development of his staff. I remember when I first joined the university and the Hall, his advice to me then as a young academic was not to neglect my research. Indeed, as an academic, he has been a fantastic role model for me – the ability to devote so much of his time for the students and yet excel as a researcher and teacher.

He is also a good judge of character, a good leader, and a team builder. One thing that has not been obvious, according to an ex-Resident Fellow, but I believe is true is that Eusoff Hall has always been blessed with a committed and cohesive team of Resident Fellows – both now and in the past. Individuals and their family members who shared Professor Andrew Tay’s commitment with regards to the students’ welfare and passion for the Hall. In no small way, I attribute this to the meticulous and careful selection of the Resident Fellows by Professor Andrew Tay.

Even if you step down from the mastership of Eusoff Hall this coming May, we will always remember your passion and devotion to the Hall. Professor Andrew Tay, you will always have an honorable place in the memory and history of Eusoff Hall. And we are also confident of one thing – you will not forget us. As the saying goes, “Once an Eusoffian, always an Eusoffian!” As a contestant aptly puts it in the recent D&D pageant, “you can take an Eusoffian out of Eusoff Hall, but you can never take Eusoff Hall out of an Eusoffian”.

Professor Andrew Tay, words alone cannot represent and express our sincere gratitude to you. On behalf of the staff members of the hall, the SCRC members, current and past residents, we would like to say a big thank you for sharing your life. Your leadership has made a significant impact to the Eusoff Hall community and to us as individuals. Master, we salute you and wish you success in everything that you put your hands and mind to. Just as you have given your time and life so freely to the Hall, may your God in heaven, who sees all the good works and sacrifices that you have done both in public and in secret, richly bless you and your family in all ways.

March 29, 2003

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Can't believe it! Next week, it's Chinese New Year. It seems like we have just celebrated the New Year, and here we are, … celebrating another new year! Anyway, my wife and I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone back home Gong Xi Fa Cai!

.file photo

How would one celebrate Chinese New Year in a foreign land? For us, we are planning to have a quiet dinner on new year's eve. A "must have" dish for the "reunion" dinner, though, would be rice cake as my wife is a Shanghainese. We will probably supplement with a steam fish dish and leave most of the cooking to the 3rd day, when we will be having an open house. We've invited some colleagues over for lunch. It would be a good chance to share with our guests (12 - 14 adults plus 5 children) some of the Chinese New year delicacies and customs. For a start, in our invitation e-card, we have requested our guests not to bring any gifts, but if they wish, they could bring two tangerines or oranges :) . My wife has also prepared "ang pau" for the children. We also bought some "love letters" and not forgeting our stockpile of Bee Cheng Hiang's prawn rolls and bakwa. She will also be baking fresh pineapple tarts.

We have yet to finalize the menu for the day, but what is definitely confirmed on the menu will be yu sheng. We both thought that the best and fun way to start the meal would be to lo hei (salad tossing)! As it will be our first time making the dish at home, I combed the internet for the recipe and was surprised that the most detailed one actually came from an old Hawaiian press article on how Singaporeans celebrate Chinese New Year!

Recipe for Yu Sheng:

You'll notice the instructions below are atypical for a recipe.

2 fresh pomelos that we bought yesterday

carrots, daikon, cucumbers, green onions, red chili peppers (finely julienned), pomelo sections, finely sliced raw (or smoked) salmon, 4 calamansi limes (halved), 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger, 2 tablespoons minced pickled leeks, 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder, 2 tablespoons cooking (or olive) oil, 3/4 cup Chinese plum sauce, 3/4 cup coarsely ground roasted peanuts, 2 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds, and 3/4 cup fried wonton strips

Arrange vegetables in sections in a deep platter. Top with green onion and chili peppers. Divide salmon into five portions and arrange around edges of platter. Place remaining ingredients in small bowls around platter.

Yu Sheng is assembled at the table and the host or server is expected to call out good wishes as each ingredient is added, to seal in the prosperity.

1. When presenting the dish, say: "gong xi fa cai" and "wan shi ru yi" (wishes for riches and smooth sailing).
2. Squeeze lime juice over salmon and say "da ji da li" (to be auspicious; a wish for favorable circumstances).
3. Place salmon on top of vegetables and say "nian nian you yu" (for wealth, literally "a surplus every year") and "long ma jing shen" (for health).
4. Sprinkle vegetables with salt, sugar, ginger, leeks and pomelo. Sprinkle with pepper and five-spice and say "yi ben wan li" (for a flourishing business).
5. Pour 2/3 of oil and plum sauce over vegetables and say "you shui duo duo" (another wish for business success).
6. Sprinkle with peanuts; say "yin man wu" (for abundant wealth).
7. Then add sesame seeds; say "sheng yi xing long" (one more time, for good business).
8. Then, the wonton strips; say "man di huang jin" (again, for wealth).
9. Give all guests chopsticks and have them toss the salad as high as possible in the air, while shouting "lo hei!" (for prosperity).

Once everything is well-mixed, guests may serve themselves. Add remaining plum sauce and oil, to taste. Serves 10.

Source:
http://starbulletin.com/2005/02/02/features/story1.html