~ PerCusSo ~

Just submitted my letter of resignation and my last day of work will be on 29 December. At the same time, I hope that I’ve made a right choice here.

What’s the use of sign language for?!
And, what’s the point of using the Total Communication approach?!!

I’d rather be DEAF to everyone around me!

Happy Birthday to You, Hina!
Enjoy your special day to the fullest!! =)

Our friendship has been ever strong for almost 4 years. We have been good friends and often, we’re there for each other whenever we face this life full of ups and downs. Now, I’m grateful to have this such good friend who has silently been supporting me. So therefore, she deserves this wonderful moment to celebrate her birthday with her friends!

I created another blog and do take a look at my humble blog!

“Doompt, Cha, Doompt, Doompt, Cha” As you attempt to silent read these onomatopoeic words, or even attempting to pronounce them, can you feel a rhythm in you?

For Lily Goh, tuning into the vibrations produced by sounds has been the bridge that connects her to music. Deaf since the age of two, music has been her means of communication in a world that is silent.

Lily became a public figure when she participated in the first Singapore Idol contest a couple of years ago. Veteran judges of the Idol Contest have been well-known for their sharp tongue and hyperbolic comments. When it comes to Lily however, the audience will find it forgivable should these witty judges be at a loss for words.

In the eyes of many Singaporeans, the courage exhibited by Lily is admirable. The Idol contest has seen many aspiring singers birth to fame, but to welcome a contestant who has lost her sense of hearing is unheard of.

Spurred by her passion for music however, Lily decided to join the Singapore Idol despite her hearing impairment. She shared that the experience was “a great eye-opener. It has widened my horizons and I now know that I can make opportunities for my dreams.”

Even though Lily did not win the contest, she has made a statement in the hearing impaired community. When asked about the thoughts that went through her mind when she was first asked to perform on national television, she expressed her desire “to inspire people, telling them never to limit themselves by their handicaps.”

Beyond all the glitz and glamour, Lily continues to pursue music in her everyday life. She teaches percussion to the hearing impaired children at the Canossian School.

Imparting her skills in music to these children is like going back to her roots. Lily was chosen to be in the school percussion band when she was ten. From there, her passion and love for music grew.

She tasted her first fruits in music when she made her first solo public appearance at the Singapore Conference Hall in 1995. Lily vividly remembers, “I played ‘Happy Mallets.’ When it ended, I was showered with bouquets of roses and the audience clapped loudly. It was the most memorable one that I ever had.”

All of these may sound impressive, but not many can understand the struggles behind the scenes. In a candid manner, Lily shares about the challenges that she face.

“With my present job as a band instructor, I have a lot of shortcomings. My scope is quite limited due to my lack of knowledge in music. Now, I mostly arrange scores for easy-playing so that deaf children will be able to enjoy it and at the same time, they will understand the fundamentals better.”

Challenges are not only found in her work place. Lily expresses loneliness at times “Perhaps my deafness separates me from the people around me. None of my deaf friends of my age range shares similar interests (music) as me.” She shares that often, when she invites her hearing impaired friends for a music performance or workshop, none of them are interested.

The silence in Lily’s world seemed to have amplified following the loss of her dad last year. But Lily is glad to receive the support from her family of fellow music enthusiasts. XTOMIC is a volunteer group specializing in performing arts.

Lily founded XTOMIC in year 2002. The XTOMIC has made itself heard in “A Nation in Concert” at the Esplanade last month. September was also an eventful month for XTOMIC as they have also staged overseas performances in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

It is heartwarming to learn about the XTOMIC and their overseas debut. Back in Singapore however, the pragmatic local scene requires some cultural fine-tuning.

Lily describes the development of performing arts in Singapore as “limited.” She disappointedly adds that it is “hard to pursue music here, and I am still struggling.”

Despite her tough and lonely journey in pursuing her dreams to study music and perform internationally, Lily continues to hold them close to her heart.

She believes that she has learned to overcome problems in life during the process. In her usual spirited self, Lily encourages the public to “never give up. Make opportunities and they will continue to knock on your door. If you keep on waiting, nothing will happen. No risk, no gain.”

It is in times like this that Lily’s tenacious spirit shines. Like gold that has been through the refining fire, Lily’s undaunted spirit presses on. Despite facing setbacks in her audition with a couple of local arts and music school, Lily aims to explore overseas.

Perhaps her background served as the refining fire that has crafted a piece of refined gold over the past 27 years. But it has yet to be transformed into a jewel. Lily continues to search for her market and career path as she turns into a full time performer next year.

Unlike an over-night star with a one-hit wonder, Lily continues to resonate in the hearts of Singaporeans as a brave girl. She may not know the cause of her deafness, but she certainly knows what she wants to achieve ahead of her.

For now, this gem continues to sparkle in the lives of those around her. Lily will be teaching 3 hearing impaired boys till the end of this year.

And so, she returns to the “doompt, cha, doompt doompt, cha,” in the four walls of a centre for children with special needs. Lily will then venture fully into professional performing arts and beyond the shores next year.

“Doompt, cha, doompt doompt, cha…”

Even for those of us who are not too musically inclined, you probably would have felt the beat behind these words. If you haven’t, then be prepared to be all ears to Singapore’s Miss Beethoven, as she increases her volume and shout out to the world of music which knows no boundaries.

When I stand up for my beliefs, and myself they call me a bitch.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.

Being a bitch means I won’t compromise what’s in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way.
It means I won’t allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone’s maid, or when I act a little selfish.
It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won’t become anyone else’s idea of what they think I “should” be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me.You won’t succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it.
I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.

B = Babe
I = In
T = Total
C = Control of
H = Herself

B = Beautiful
I = Intelligent
T = Talented
C = Charming
H = Hell of a Woman

B = Beautiful
I = Individual
T = That
C = Can
H = Handle anything

[Copied from my friend's forwarded email]

First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

(Drag your mouse here to find out this answer)
Answer:
If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!

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Try not to screw up next time.
Now answer the second question, but don’t take as much time as you took for the first question, OK?

Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are…?

(Drag your mouse here to find out this answer)
Answer:
If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’re not very good at this, are you?

Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it!

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10.
What is the total?

(Drag your mouse here to find out this answer)
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.

If you don’t believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?

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Maybe you’ll get the last question right….
….. Maybe.

Fourth Question:
Mary’s father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?

(Drag your mouse here to find out this answer)
Did you Answer Nunu?
NO! Of course it isn’t.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again!

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Okay, now the bonus round:

A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done!
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?

(Drag your mouse here to find out this answer)
He just has to open his mouth and ask…
It’s really very simple…. Like you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enjoy this game and have great fun!

Two men met while both where looking for their lost wives.
1ST: How yours look like?
2ND: She is 5″7, 36-24-36, Fair, Black eyes. What about yours?
1ST: Forget mine. Let’s find yours!!

*************************************
Man comes home, finds his wife with his friend in bed.
He shoots his friend to death.
Wife says, “If you behave like this, you will lose ALL your friends.”

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Small Boy wrote to Santa Claus, “Send me a brother.”
Santa wrote back, “SEND ME YOUR MOTHER!”

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What is the definition of Mistress?
Someone between the Mister and Mattress

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Husband asks, “Do you know the meaning of WIFE??
“Without Information Fighting Everytime”

Wife replies, “No, it means,
“With Idiot For Ever!!!”

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Three Feelings:
What’s the difference between stress, tension and panic?
Stress is when wife is pregnant,
Tension is when girlfriend is pregnant, and
Panic is when both are pregnant.

*************************************
Teacher: You know the importance of period?
Kid: Ya, once my sister said she has missed one, my mom fainted, dad got heart attack & our driver ran away.

*************************************
Women asked man who is traveling with six children, all these kids are yours???
No, I work in a condom factory & these are customer complaints.

*************************************
Sons asks about the difference between confidence and confidential.
Dad says, “You are my son, I’m confident. Your friend is also my son, that’s Confidential!”

*************************************
Mother to her teenage daughter: I think this is the right time we should talk about sex.
Daughter (Excitingly): Sure mom, tell me what do you want to know.
Mother Faints…

With Rikki_Yiku’s Samsung phone, a few shots were taken: