here's the speech I made in class yesterday :)
I think its quite lenghty...
ENJOY!! :)
Memories, Change, transition.
We have unhappy memories we long to change.
It's a transition.
Growth, maturity, transition.
As we grow, we mature.
It's a transition in a life cycle.
Difference, adaptation, transition.
We move into a different place and learn to adapt.
It's a transition everybody will experience.
I suppose Mr Kevin chose the topic "transition" for me
because I was transferred from 3A to this class,
where I soon learned to adapt and grow to love.
Learning to adapt and be part of a class is hardl and easy task.
Thus, I was rather reluctant to leave 3A at first.
However, I soon came to understand that
this change is a must.
Now,
I can feel the strong camaraderie within 3D.
Sometimes, we come to wonder.
Why?!
Why do we have to make changes when
everything is already moving smoothly?
The reason is just simply because
to improve,
to make ourselves better.
For instance,
moving of houses is a transition
that people like
you and me make,
usually for the better.
It is to move into a place
that we are more comfortable with.
As for major things like,
Singapore making a transition from
colonial rule to self-government.
Although, transitions do have their cons like,
animals being unable to adapt
to the climatic differences,
when they are brought to a place
they do not belong.
Nevertheless,
the only thing that never changes is 'change',
and transition is a change.
You'll be falling this December,
7:30 AM <3
By Lim Peak Deng
The trip was organised by the school's GEMS committee, which consisted of the Geography, English, Mathematics and Science departments, to provide, students from the secondary 3 cohort, with an enriching educational experience and to understand the importance of conserving our environment. Thus, the school has decided upon giving an opportunity to let their students get closer to nature by bringing them on a field trip, where a wide range of wild creatures and plants are at a hand's reach.
You'll be falling this December,
5:40 PM <3
My class and I went on an amazing trip to Sungei Buloh. The weather was quite pleasant that day as we gathered at the concourse with our form teacher Miss Noriff for a small briefing. She divided us into 2 groups for the trip. I ended up in Xin Kai's team but after some minor adjustments, I joined Cornelius's team with my close friend Gaiana. Soon after, we departed school for a 45mins bus trip to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Labels: field trip
Through the whole journey, some of us were bursting with excitement while others were practically not looking forward to entering a forest filled with insects that would either bite or tickle them. I was one of those who were extremely enthusiastic about the trip. Sungei Buloh is
a place where nature never cease to surprise visitors that come to knock on its doors each visit. I had been there quite a number of times and every time I would see something interesting and breath-taking.
As we arrived at our destination, we received another briefing and were given insect repellent which Cornelius sprayed till his arms seemed drenched with it. Well, he did it by accident which was hilarious. We started off into the butterfly trail and we were quite lucky to see a few butterflies fluttering around when there was a lot of people walking in and out of the trail. As we walked into the visitor's center, I saw a monitor lizard swimming lazily in the fishpond at the entrance. Then, we were given another briefing but a more interesting one. We were given a small introductory about the difference about monitor lizards and crocodiles. I learned that the monitor lizards are scavengers and they do not hunt. They also have extremely strong tails. As of comparison to the crocodiles, they have much rounder jaws and blunt teeth. I also learned that reptiles that are on the ground are able to hear danger from up to 50m away. That was what the Red Indians learned from. As the guide was speaking, I saw a skink with a black body and two neon yellow strips down its back running into the bushes near us. It was ran really fast.
Next, we walked into the gallery where we saw the mud lobsters mound. It was just a model. However, the guide amazed us by explaining that the mound can be as high as 7 feet and has 3 different creatures living in it, the mud lobster, crab and prawns. They depend on each other for protection. The largest mud lobster the guide saw was about an octave on a piano key. So after some indoor explanation, we headed to the reserve's mangrove board walk.
The very first thing we went to see were the miniature 'dams' those were used to control the water flow in the area. It was also used for harvesting of fishes and prawns. The guide told us that the reserve was once a prawn farm and due to Singapore's need for land, they were removed at first for building of buildings but because the land was rich in plants and animals, it was converted into a reserve instead. She then said that in a reserve, we were not allowed to take or leave anything behind but our foodsteps becaus every matter affects the ecosystem.
After so, we went to the bridge where the guide enthusiastically wanted to show us the crocodile that was lazing in the sun during the morning. She was hoping that it was still sunning but unfortunately, it had disappeared. Thus, we went on looking at the amazing fishes swimming against the current. Those fishes were known as the strip-nose half beak fish. Those fishers usually swim in accompaniment with the archer fish which would aid them in finding food. The half beaks usually eat the left overs of the food.
We also went to the main bird-viewing hide. There we saw a few grey herons, the white-collared kingfisher, a thousands of telescopians (snails) and 4 wild dogs which are descendants of the farmer's abandon dogs. They enjoyed chasing after the grey herons but never got as near as the edge of the water. We saw pictures of other birds like the one called little heron and another named Godwit etc. . We thenwalked deeper into the mangrove where we saw amazing mangrove creatures like the Giant mudskippers, crabs, barnacles, nerita snails, spybugs, sesarmine crabs and learned about the otters. We also saw varieties of plants like the fish tail tree, Avicenna tree, Rhizophora apiculata, Berringtona, Torch Ginger, fungus, sea hibiscus and the mangrove ivy. The guide also greatly emphasised on the fact that mangrove trees are a great source of charcoal. We also learned a surviving skill which was that the sea hibiscuses are a great help in forests as they always lead you to the beach. Another point we learnt was that not to touch the mangrove ivy as it is slightly toxic and might lead to discomfort in the human body. During the trip, we were also taught the way mangrove saplings germinate in the tide-ever-changing and water-logged mangrove. One of the ways was that the saplings grow from their parent tree and as soon as they are able to lock themselves into the soil in the strong current waters, they break off from their parent. This is an advantage because the sapling would not have to take a long time to germinate. Another interesting fact I learnt as we came closer to the end of the trip, was about transpiration. We were made to taste the "water" on the leaves of the Avicennia tree. Surprisingly it was rather salty. I came to conclusion after some thought that it could have been due to transpiration. This is because, the mangrove water is salty and as the tree absorbs water, then transpires the water out, the water evaporates and leave the salt behind. Adding on, we realise that the crabs were rather peculiar to climb up the trees but we soon understood that it was to escape from coming predators in the water when high tide arrives.
After a really long walk, we were quite worn out and stopped at a shelter as we listened to the guide explained the answers to our given worksheet. I began to feel very tired and looked over the ledge of the shelter. I saw a piece of plastic bag floating in the water. I was rather irked at the sight of another sign of human ignorance and looked away. Then I came to realise that the "plastic bag" was bobbing in a heavy manner. Then, I derived at a possibility that it could be just a piece of meat floating in the water. Once again, I started daydreaming. I thought: a piece of meat. Yeah right. Hang on! A piece of meat and no blood? So I turned to look again. This time, I realised that it was a little translucent and had a thick bunch of tentacles dangling beneath. translucent? tentacles? bobbing? Could it be a... "Jellyfish!"I shouted. Then everyone was distracted by my sudden exclamation and went, "huh? where?"
"oh yeas thats a jellyfish"the guide said.
Everyone was astounded and amazed as they rushed to take a picture of it. Seeing a red jellyfish is an uncommon sight already and we actually saw one at the mangrove swamp where jellyfishes do not usually swim in. I was thinking that it was a jellyfish that lost its way. The guide also pointed out that in 22years of her working period at the reserve, she had never seen a jellyfish appear at the mangrove. That was when I began to think that it might be due to the global warming which affects the temperature in the water. That could have lead the eyeless jellyfish into the coasts of Singapore.
We had an extremely enriching trip at the reserve and I enjoyed it very much. Nature surrounds our environment and we should learn to conserve it, to protect the habitats of the innocent animals and plants that bring comfort and liveliness into our lives. These organisms are part of our ecosystem, they provide us with our basic needs. If we do not protect it. Who will?
You'll be falling this December,
3:00 AM <3
I'm __Peak Deng__ from *Anglican High School*. Sunny Singapore. Born on 21 Dec.
Dance Society, Art Club,Design and Technology Club! :DMusic~
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