The life and mind of Adeline Ong

Have you ever thought that when will you actually be successful? What does success mean to you? Will success mean that you have all the money in the world? Does success mean showing off things that others do not have, be it talent/material goods etc?

If you asked me five years ago, this is what I will tell you when I consider myself successful.

Being able to buy a pair of Jimmy Choos, a Jing Ooi wedding gown and a Zang Toi skirt (But not just any skirt, the one with Wayang Kulit designs) without checking the price tags and without batting an eyelid when I have to pay at the cashier.

Yes, that was what I believe was success. Material goods. Shallow isn’t it? You want to see more of my material dreams?

Here we go.

Dream car – A Hummer (Funny, Jennesis has a similar goal/dream)

Dream Pimped up Car – My trusty old Kembara spray painted metallic pink with Lamborghini front doors and suicide back doors. (I do not care much about the inside or tyres, I will leave it to the designer)

Dream home – One large enough to accomodate a personal library, a kitchen with an island, a dining room that can fit 12 people and a mini stage/practise room ala Ramli Ibrahim for my theater work. Not to mention 4 bedrooms with walk in closets for myself and my family members.

Dream job – One that earns me enough money so I can spend more time on my favourite charities. (Isn’t that any philanthropist’s dream? Sigh!!!)

Dream activity – Funding charity balls.

When I was in Kindergarten I measured it by how many stars I got in my homework.
When I was in Primary School, it was how many friends I knew.
When I was in Secondary School, it was how many clubs and societies that I was on board as a committee member.
When I was in Pre-University, it was which university I could go to.
When I was in University, it was how many companies I have networked with.

Before I was working, it was the size of one’s pay cheque.

Now that I am working, it is how many people have I helped in my job. Trust me, not many people would do what I currently do for a living. After all, they do not use the term ‘struggling artist’ as just an expression. It is very true.

I am sick and tired of my relations going, “So little money ar?”
One uncle once called just to nag me about my career choice. I will admit that it is tough living from pay cheque to pay cheque and not being able to afford the luxuries that some of my peers can. Am I jealous? Nope. But I will say that I get frustrated when being compared and ridiculed for venturing into my passion. Not everything can be bought with money. Not everything can be measured in dollars and cents.

Because somehow now, I see materialism as being a disease that engulfs an entire nation. People are going into debt for a lifestyle they could never afford or could only dream of affording.

Not too long ago, I received a SMS from an aquaintance, saying she was riding a Ferrari. The SMS reads, “I am in a Ferrari now. Wohoo!!! Too fast too furious.” (The last line just happened to jump start the Teriyaki Boyz theme into my head.)

Anyhow, I am happy for her if that is how she wants it to be. Yet in a way, I pity her because I see her as being so shallow. Then I wondered if she wanted to make me jealous. If that was her intention, she has failed miserably.

First of all, the car is clearly not hers. So there is nothing to shout about. Second of all, I am just not that into cars. Yes, I do realized that I have stated a few dream cars in my list above. For me it is just one or the other, if I have it, then GREAT. If not, my life is not over. Because to me, it is only material. You can’t take it with you when you die. Some who are reading this may say that I am selling myself short or I am too chicken to chase my own dreams. Trust me, being in the Performing Arts world takes a lot of guts and those who can’t take the heat. Well, gets burned.

Anyhow, I am not saying money is evil. It is indeed a very important part of life. Having it and not having it makes a lot of difference. Being rich is not a crime, but being addicted to money in the sense that it governs how you act is a whole different ball game. One that I do not wish to play in.

Yes, I may not be rich and I may be drowning in education debt but I can still hold my head higher than the ‘water’ and survive. I have touched many lives and seen many things that others are not priviliged of. At my age, I have accomplished things that some may never do in their lifetime. To me, I am successful in my own standards.

Now I am raising the bar again!!!

As the story was orally passed down. Facts can be distorted from actual history. So if you think this is wrong, feel free to let me know the ‘real’ facts. But please do not undermine my credibility, as one reader has done bluntly in an e-mail. I, on the other hand would love to find out about my own culture, but to attack me personally for something that I researched only by interviewing people and reading a few articles, is going a bit too far. Yes, I will expressed that I am hurt. But this will not deter me from publishing this (even though it is an online version)

Hokkien New Year by Adeline Ong

On the 9th day of the Lunar New Year, the Hokkiens celebrate their saviour, the Jade Emperor’s (also known as Ti-Kong in Hokkien) compassion for saving their clan. The celebration, known as Pai Ti Kong, literally translated to Praying to the Heavenly God, commemorates this act.

Legend has it that the Hokkiens, once angered another Chinese dialect group in China. This group vowed to wipe off the entire Hokkien race. The Hokkiens, fearing for their lives, hid in the sugarcane plantations. For days on end, they survived by eating the sugarcane. Undeterred by the thick sugarcane groves, the enemies started to burn the sugarcanes, in hope of killing the hiding survivors.

In fear and desperation, the Hokkiens prayed to the Heavens, seeking the mercy of the Jade Emperor. In answer to their plight, the Heavens opened up and heavy rain began to fall on Earth, forcing the angry pursuers to retreat and extinguishing the flames. By midnight of the 9th day, the Hokkiens emerged from their sanctuary, unharmed.

From that day onwards, the 9th day of the Chinese New Year is celebrated with prayers of Thanksgiving. The 9 th day is also known as the Jade Emperor’s birthday.

On the eve of the celebration, Hokkien houses will be seen decked with praying paraphernalia. This usually consists of a big red altar with two sticks of sugarcane tied on both ends. The sugarcane is a must as it reminds the Hokkiens of how their race was saved during the genocide. Elaborated folded joss paper resembling gold and silver ingots, known as Ti Kong Kim, adorns the altar. A variety of foods are offered, from roast pigs to ducks, traditional kuihs and fruits. Some Hokkiens will offer vegetarian dishes only because they believe it is sinful to offer meat (blood) as to commemorate being saved from execution.

Prayers usually start from Midnight and ends around 2 a.m. with a small bonfire, burning the Ti Kong Kim. The food offered to the Jade Emperor is deemed blessed and is often distributed among family members.

Nowadays, the prayers are done to express gratitude for the past year and seeking blessings for the New Year. Commonly, people will ask for blessings for their family, career, studies and business. It is also believed that wishes made on this auspicious night will come true because the Jade Emperor is generous on his Birthday

Found this thanks to TASH

So I thought I might as well try it out on my RC gang. Since we are all so SCANDALOUS!!!

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Get Your Sexy Name

Since I was on the site, I checked out my Decoded Monster and Cyborg Name.

Get Your Monster Name

Get Your Cyborg Name

Saw a very interesting video on Tash’s site.

So I decided to share. I know I am so going to be bashed by my mates in the USA. But this is just too interesting. Plus I am putting it up to question, the importance of quality education.

Before we go further, Oprah once’s did an episode regarding how the American public school system has failed the American public. In the clip, questions were posted to American school going kids as well as kids from all over the world. Surprisingly, the non American kids knew more about the good ole USA compared to their American counterparts.

I do not think Americans are stupid but just somehow blissfully ignorant of what is happening in the world. Something that I can claim many others all around the world have in common. With personal daily problems, who has time for the world right?

Alright, alright. I am talking about the ‘normal’ folks, which do not include NGO activists, the ruling class, politicians, so-called educated ***tards (Who preach non-stop on something that is irrelevant), people who are generally concern of the way the world is run and orang-orang yang sewaktu dengannya.

I do believe at some point education has indeed failed the American school going child. My personal experience was when I was in the USA, 2 years ago. Someone from college asked me where Malaysia was. I am already used to the fact that a lot of people out of Asia are not sure where Malaysia is located on the world map. So I was not too annoyed. Anyway, V told her that it was in South East Asia. The girl, who still could not grasp the exact location of S.E.A., gave us a blank look. Trying to make things clearer for her, V offered the simplest explaination I could think of.

“It is the region between China and Australia!” V said.

Guess what was the reply…

“Umm, where is China?”

I was taken aback. (If I wanted to be more dramatic, I would term it as FAINTED)

With so many Chinese made products stocking Target and Wal-marts all across the USA, one would at least think that a college going individual would at least know where the clothes, jewelry and etc is coming from.

But what I mention was just my experience. Watch the video clip below and be entertained (or not)

If you cannot view it here. Please checkout this link instead, People Believe Americans Are Stupid

Anyway, I am somewhat blessed with the standard of education that I have received in Malaysia. Yes, I would agree that it is not the best in the world and no doubt there is a lot of improvement to be made. However, I have studied most of my life in Malaysia and have quite a level head when it comes to a lot of things.

THINK FAST SURVEY that I took from Baby Ji’s Friendster.

The Idea is not to think about an answer…just put the first thing that pops into your head.

By reading mine, you will probably know what mood I am in at the moment.

1. My ex is still:
my friend

2. I am listening to:
the printer printing

3. Maybe I should:
scream my lungs out

4. I love:
to run away from all this crap

6. I don’t understand:
life

7. I lost:
mind

8. People say:
things are not as bad as it seems

9. The meaning of my screen name is:
go figure?
it’s just a name

10. Love is:
overrated

11. Somewhere, someone is:
plotting to kill me

12. I will always:
be vindictive

13. Forever seems:
like now

14. I never ever want to:
wake up again

15. My cell phone is:
full of Bleach themes

16. When I wake up in the morning:
I wished I had not

17. I get annoyed if:
someone tries to control me

18. Parties are:
not welcomed at the moment

19. My pet(s) is(are):
dead

20. Kisses are the best when:
you really need it

21. Today I:
wish I was dead

22. Tomorrow:
hopefully I will be dead

23. I really want:
to plan my funeral