A vacuum cleaner??
When it comes to culture, different people would practice different culture based on what has been passed down by their ancestors. However, as the culture were passed down from generation to generation, eventually the culture will be "modified" to adapt with the lifestyle of an individual.
In my family, [especially without the presence of my mum as she is in UK which leaves me and my sister] the culture that we practice may differ from what other chinese would have praticed all their lives. We have a simple way of life and we practice whatever that is convenient to us. For example, if we have to have a reunion dinner before Chinese New Year, then me and my sister would just meet up and go have our dinner in a coz cafe and that would be our reunion dinner rather than to prepare and cook the food at home and ended up washing all of them all later.
Not only that, as me and my sister are often out from our home, we usually wrap things up and do what we have to do all at once. For example, in the 7th month, you would have to pray your ancestors in their grave and then pray to the God at home and prepare some offerings to be burned for our ancestors. Me and my sis would take a same day off from work, go all the way to our grandpa's and grandma's grave to pray [and then leave early cause its hot] and then to put incense for the God in our house and finally burn all offerings we have bought in a day.
Even on the 9th month when we pray to the 9 Emperor God, we need to use new utensils so that it is not polluted by the essence of meat that was there before. We would have to be a vegetarian for 9 days and go for the parade on the last day. Me and my sister would eat outside like we used to so there wont be any problem with the utensils [but the food is extremely expensive >.<] and we would skip the parading part.
When i was asked to bring am item that represent my culture, i was thinking of bringing something old and antique. However, my thoughts came to me, i am not the type that actually practice my culture head to head. So if i were to bring something antique that represents my culture, it would reflect a wrong concept of my culture. So critical thinking happened for a fw hours and then it just came up to me that the perfect item was in my car. ^^
and proudly presents, the car vacuum cleaner.>>>>>>
Some may wonder what has a vacuum cleaner has got to do with my culture. Well, a vacuum cleaner is just a simple technology that completes its task magnificently. Imagine how would we clean carpet without it. So it is very similar to the culture my family practiced. We may not be the family who practiced our culture every single bit with the correct steps but we never ignored our culture and regardless of our busy schedule we would always make some time get together. We may do it in a very simple way but we still complete our tasks.
Just like the vacuum, we "sucked up" all our practices and tradition and do it all at once just like how the vacuum sucks up all the dust and placed it at the centre of the body. This small car vacuum cleaner is easy to carry and can be used perfectly. Just like our family, we may be small in numbers but we can easily handle the things we have to do. We may encounter problems at times, as we are both very young and there are many things that we may not know how to handle but there is always kind people around to help and assists us.
A simple mechanism that completes its task perfectly. Exactly how i would reflect the culture of my family. We are simple and we do things in a simple way. Perhaps some may call it the "Fast-Culture" concept following the "Fast-Food" concept. But we still get out things completed. We may face some difficulties or at times do something wrong just like how a vacuum might be stuck due to too much dust but eventually, we will clear our way out of it [or at least a lesson learned]
When it comes to culture, different people would practice different culture based on what has been passed down by their ancestors. However, as the culture were passed down from generation to generation, eventually the culture will be "modified" to adapt with the lifestyle of an individual.
In my family, [especially without the presence of my mum as she is in UK which leaves me and my sister] the culture that we practice may differ from what other chinese would have praticed all their lives. We have a simple way of life and we practice whatever that is convenient to us. For example, if we have to have a reunion dinner before Chinese New Year, then me and my sister would just meet up and go have our dinner in a coz cafe and that would be our reunion dinner rather than to prepare and cook the food at home and ended up washing all of them all later.
Not only that, as me and my sister are often out from our home, we usually wrap things up and do what we have to do all at once. For example, in the 7th month, you would have to pray your ancestors in their grave and then pray to the God at home and prepare some offerings to be burned for our ancestors. Me and my sis would take a same day off from work, go all the way to our grandpa's and grandma's grave to pray [and then leave early cause its hot] and then to put incense for the God in our house and finally burn all offerings we have bought in a day.
Even on the 9th month when we pray to the 9 Emperor God, we need to use new utensils so that it is not polluted by the essence of meat that was there before. We would have to be a vegetarian for 9 days and go for the parade on the last day. Me and my sister would eat outside like we used to so there wont be any problem with the utensils [but the food is extremely expensive >.<] and we would skip the parading part.
When i was asked to bring am item that represent my culture, i was thinking of bringing something old and antique. However, my thoughts came to me, i am not the type that actually practice my culture head to head. So if i were to bring something antique that represents my culture, it would reflect a wrong concept of my culture. So critical thinking happened for a fw hours and then it just came up to me that the perfect item was in my car. ^^
and proudly presents, the car vacuum cleaner.>>>>>>
Some may wonder what has a vacuum cleaner has got to do with my culture. Well, a vacuum cleaner is just a simple technology that completes its task magnificently. Imagine how would we clean carpet without it. So it is very similar to the culture my family practiced. We may not be the family who practiced our culture every single bit with the correct steps but we never ignored our culture and regardless of our busy schedule we would always make some time get together. We may do it in a very simple way but we still complete our tasks.
Just like the vacuum, we "sucked up" all our practices and tradition and do it all at once just like how the vacuum sucks up all the dust and placed it at the centre of the body. This small car vacuum cleaner is easy to carry and can be used perfectly. Just like our family, we may be small in numbers but we can easily handle the things we have to do. We may encounter problems at times, as we are both very young and there are many things that we may not know how to handle but there is always kind people around to help and assists us.
A simple mechanism that completes its task perfectly. Exactly how i would reflect the culture of my family. We are simple and we do things in a simple way. Perhaps some may call it the "Fast-Culture" concept following the "Fast-Food" concept. But we still get out things completed. We may face some difficulties or at times do something wrong just like how a vacuum might be stuck due to too much dust but eventually, we will clear our way out of it [or at least a lesson learned]
-Exclusively by SWEC 8 [LMK]-
Identity of my Family
I and my family members are Chinese Hokken. Therefore, I choose the pineapple be the identity of my family. My family members believe that pineapple will bring a lot of fortune to us. This is because the Chinese Hokken called the pineapple as "Ong Lai" in our dialect. "Ong Lai" means the fortune will come to you. If the family use the "Ong Lai" as decoration during the Chinese New Year, that family will get a lot of good luck and fortune especially the wealth. Since, the pineapple is a sacred fruit for Chinese Hokken because they need it to bring a lot of wealth and money to them.
-KC-
Me and my Chopstickz
I would like to use Chopstick to represent my own culture.
Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture. Chopsticks are called “Kuazi” in Chinese.Chopsticks can be classified into 5 groups based on the materials used to make them, such as wood, metal, bone and compound chopsticks.
Bamboo & wood chopsticks are the most popular ones in Chinese homes. Gold and silver chopsticks became popular in the Tang Dynasty. It was believed that silver chopsticks can detect poisons in food.There are a few things to avoid when using chopsticks. Chinese people usually don’t beat their bowls while eating, since the behavior used to be practiced by beggars.
Also, don’t insert chopsticks in a bowl upright because it is a custom exclusively used in sacrifice.
-Winnie-
Of Nickel back.. or maybe not..
Having been born into a Catholic family, i still remember how i use to like having rosaries(a kind 
of chain like a necklace with small beads)..I would want to have the most beautiful one and would bring it just especially during Sunday school in church and me and my other little friends would be excited to compare who had the most colourful and the most nice smell ...haha..kids..
Now all grown up and wis
e..ahem..it is safe to say our family have this culture to
bring along our St.Benedict medals with us whenever we go..right above here, is my pic of my own medal, the one on your left is the St.Benedict medal and the one on your right is a medal of the Christ's image..its not that clear though..Here on your left is a clearer picture of the front & back of the medal.. 
of chain like a necklace with small beads)..I would want to have the most beautiful one and would bring it just especially during Sunday school in church and me and my other little friends would be excited to compare who had the most colourful and the most nice smell ...haha..kids..Now all grown up and wis
e..ahem..it is safe to say our family have this culture toso why do i have it around?well..first & foremost, i think the words that being engraved onto it is kewwwll...:)..right..what i mean is the many prayers for the beholder in this small piece of metal..
As u can see at the back, the vertical of the cross has the letters C.S.S.M.L, which means Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux(May the Holy Cross be a light for me)
The horizontal beam says N.D.S.M.D, which means Non Draco Sit Mihi Lux( Let not the demon be my guide.)
The letters encirling the cross on your right has the letters,V.R.S.N.S.M.V which is Vade retro satana; nunquam suade mihi vana..( Get behind me Satan, suggest not to me thy vain things)
As for S.M.O.L.I.V.B encircling on the left stands for Sunt mala que libas, ipse venea bibas (The drink you offer is poison, drink that poison unto thyself)
The four large letters at the angles of the cross; C.S.P.B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti(The Holy Cross of the Father Benedict)..
There's more i think but i cant remember..the purpose of this medal is for protection against the evil one a.k.a Mr. S.A.Tan..
Anyways, Jewel saw my medal when in class and she said,"Hey! He looks like the lead singer from Nickleback!!" and i said, "Nolahhh..His name is Jesus from Nazareth!"..
..hehe..signing off..tutoot..
-Claudia-
My Baju Kurung
BAJU KURUNG is very synonyms with my culture. It has a very high traditional values. It is usually being wear by most of the women in the past. However, nowadays, perception towards it start to change among my culture groups. most of them think that it is out-dated. So, it is only being wear to most of the formal function only. The most common fuction where baju kurung can be seen now is during wedding. However, most of the baju kurung that they wear nowadays is not the traditional one. This is because, in this modern era, most of the fashion designer has modernize it. So, most of the people would prefer to wear the modern baju kurung rather than the traditional one. As for me, I prefer the traditional one. I feel ease when I wear it. So, whatever perception of people towards it, I accept, but I will still wear it most of the time because I love it.
BAJU KURUNG is very synonyms with my culture. It has a very high traditional values. It is usually being wear by most of the women in the past. However, nowadays, perception towards it start to change among my culture groups. most of them think that it is out-dated. So, it is only being wear to most of the formal function only. The most common fuction where baju kurung can be seen now is during wedding. However, most of the baju kurung that they wear nowadays is not the traditional one. This is because, in this modern era, most of the fashion designer has modernize it. So, most of the people would prefer to wear the modern baju kurung rather than the traditional one. As for me, I prefer the traditional one. I feel ease when I wear it. So, whatever perception of people towards it, I accept, but I will still wear it most of the time because I love it.
-Nur Shakirin-
![K - Kai Chuin x]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XGTYdxkjHHB5sQVv0KtsQra1HkupIfWdpdUaTEuDZ5dkfWj_DaAe8MVKDkQofKqnXblx9Nmew7J18KgiVG-TSIYru7tOUna9kiSRmtd2EfDLIM3MKUA_L4TXmpnrPZjZb9yzp3Iq7k0/s220/kc.jpg)
wow.. cool.. u can make something from nothing.. haha
ReplyDeleteinteresting concept abstract but well justified MK. The rest of your explanations of culture is very vivid and interesting. Thanks for sharing, most appreciated :)
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