The Same Blood Donation 同样的捐血

Singapore - HSA

新加坡 — 卫生科学局

Another day for blood donation.

又是同样的捐血天。

The same health-related Q&A.

同样的健康问答题。

The same anaesthetic.

同样的麻醉药。

The same blood-drawing procedure.

同样的抽血步骤。

The very same bag of blood.

同样的一包血。

What is different this time is that it is my 88th blood donation.

这次的不同之处在于，这是我第88次献血。

The Day of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s Renunciation 观世音菩萨出家日

Singapore - Bugis (Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple)

新加坡 — 武吉士（观音堂）

Today, the 19th day of the ninth lunar month marks the day Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva renounced worldly life.

今天农历九月十九是观音菩萨的出家日。

In folklore, before becoming a bodhisattva, Guanyin was the third daughter of Emperor Miaozhuang, known as Miaoshan.

在民间传说中，观音在成为菩萨之前，是妙庄王的三公主，名为妙善。

Emperor Miaozhuang sought a husband for Princess Miaoshan, but the third princess refused—she preferred to endure the hardships of monastic life in a temple.

妙庄王要给妙善公主招驸马，但三公主拒绝了——她宁愿在寺庙中忍受修行生活的艰苦。

The true difficulty of renouncing worldly life lies not in leaving a place, but in letting go of the attachments one holds within one’s heart.

舍弃世俗生活的真正难处，不在于离开某个地方，而在于放下内心的种种执着。

Only by letting go of one’s obsessions can one follow the path one has chosen.

唯有放下执念，方能沿着自己所认定的道路前行。

One must first steady one’s own mind before one has the strength to care for others.

一个人要先把自己的心安定下来，才有力气去照顾别人。

The name Avalokiteshvara (Guanshiyin) means "perceiving the sounds of the world".

观世音这一名称意为“观察世间的声音”。

The "Universal Gateway" chapter of the Lotus Sutra states that Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva responds whenever she hears of the suffering of sentient beings.

《妙法莲华经·观世音菩萨普门品》里讲，观世音菩萨听见众生的苦就去回应。

Half Year Gone 半年过了

Singapore - Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium

新加坡 — 万礼火化场与骨灰瓮安置所

Time flies—it has already been more than half a year since Mommy left us.

时间如梭——妈咪离开我们，转眼已过去半年多了。

Even though more than 180 days have passed, I still feel deep sadness and a lingering reluctance to let go following my mommy’s passing.

虽然已经过了180多天，对妈咪的离世还是难过、不舍。

Mommy, I miss you so much.

妈咪，我好想你。

Haiz 唉

Singapore

新加坡

Haze...haiz!

烟霾…唉！

We are once again "footing the bill" for our neighbour country's forest fires.

我们再次为邻国的森林火灾“买单”。

As Singapore is in the middle of examination season, Education Minister Desmond Lee said lessons and national examinations will continue in enclosed venues with air purifiers, and schools are ready to step up measures if needed.

鉴于新加坡正值考试季，教育部长李智陞表示，课程及全国性考试将继续在配备空气净化器的封闭场所内进行，且学校已做好准备，必要时将加强防疫措施。

If the PSI is forecast to enter the hazardous range (above 300) the next day, authorities will consider closing schools and postponing that day's examinations.

如果预计次日的空气污染指数（PSI）将达到“危害”水平（超过300），有关部门将考虑停课并推迟当天的考试。

Any decision to close schools will be announced by around 8pm the day before via schools and the Ministry of Education’s official channels.

任何关于停课的决定，都将不迟于前一天晚上8点通过学校及教育部官方渠道公布。

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said that when the PSI reading is between 201 and 300, N95 masks will be distributed to individuals who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze.

永续发展与环境部长傅海燕表示，当空气污染指数读数介于201至300之间时，当局将向那些可能更容易受烟霾影响的人群分发N95口罩。

Eligible recipients include the Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation, CHAS orange and blue cardholders, and children aged 7 to 16.

符合资格的受惠者包括建国一代和立国一代人士、持有CHAS橙色及蓝色卡的人士，以及7至16岁的儿童。

Muddled 乌龙

Singapore

新加坡

I was dumbfounded today when I saw the large pack of instant noodles I had bought earlier.

今天看到之前买的一大包快熟面，目瞪口呆。

Once opened, the individual packaging inside was identical to the outer packaging.

打开后，里面的独立包装与外包装完全相同。

I was also speechless upon seeing the seasoning packet.

看到那个调料包时，我也无语了。

I clearly bought udon noodles—how did they become "wulong" noodles?

明明买的是乌冬面，怎么变成了乌龙面？

This is what the cooked "wulong" noodles look like—I wonder whether eating them will turn me into a "wulong"?

这就是煮好的“乌龙”面——不知道吃下去会不会让我变成个“乌龙”？

Japanese udon noodles are also known as "wulong" noodles in Taiwan.

日本乌冬面在台湾也被称为“乌龙”面。

P/S: "wulong" denotes a muddle-headed person or a blunderer.

注：“乌龙”意为糊涂、冒失鬼。

S$1新元

Singapore - Yishun Town Square

新加坡 — 义顺镇广场

What is the actual market value of S$1?

1新元的实际市场价值是多少？

Amid global turmoil, the Singapore government sells groceries to residents every two months for S$1.

在全球动荡的背景下，新加坡政府每两个月以一新元的价格向居民出售食品杂货。

This is the happiness of being Singaporean.

这就是身为新加坡人的幸福。

Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节

Singapore - Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium

新加坡 — 万礼火化场与骨灰瓮安置所

The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is the Mid-Autumn Festival.

农历八月十五为中秋节。

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time for family reunions.

中秋节也是家人团聚的时刻。

Today, I come especially to reunite with my mommy.

今天，我特意来与妈咪重聚。

This is the first Mid-Autumn Festival I have spent without mommy beside me.

这是我第一次没有妈咪在身边度过的中秋节。