Passion and Profession

Now, I could say that there are only two professions which I will never hesitate to throw myself on the spot - a musician or a journalist.

Piano - I have once dreamed too much

Aged 5, I got a piano as a birthday gift from my loving mum, an object seems too much bigger than me. I liked it and played it and as well most probably if I was not mistaken - I showed off in front of all my mates.

But this is not enough, of course, under the guidance of this 30-year-old, most generous and rigorous lady, my mum would provide me everything that could lead me to be a true musician.

There is no problem with my mum, my dad or my entire family. But I was stumbling, I was confused, and I got lost with my mind, my fingers, or more precisely, my talent.

I have got talent, I know that, but it has never enough. From the bottom of my heart I know my limit and always, so I tried very hard to show people different side of me.

When I was 16-year-old, I was fiercely determined to go for an English Speaking Contest in my high school - one of the eight best English teaching records boarding schools across mainland China.

I was excited to be on stage, I knew I was going to make my day...At the end I didn't won but I have landed an offer as a second.

I didn't complain as I have more than enough reasons to freak out because I would never forgot the hours and hours practice in front of mirror in the bathroom from my mum's flat.

What is this? What is this to back me to the hilt for practising hours and hours long? I didn't know, I was too young to pursue the answer, or maybe I just simply don't care.

Life continues until I obtained my Proficiency Level Ten in Piano Performance. Then there are two ways in front of me - being a music student at a music college or go to a normal University studying a normal subject - I knew I had been at a crossroad.

Finally, I chose to lead a normal life - on that moment and that place - Chongqing, China, 2001.

Malta, back to piano

2003, I left to Malta, aged 19. My mind started to regret. I once anxiously asked my young and talented Maltese piano teacher:"How do you think if I study music?""Oh, well, you have good technique, but you know..."

I have got very little sleep, and every single night I can only sleep for two hours worrying where my piano could end up, and then it lasts for more than half an year. Have I got a flicker of hope?

It was the first time in my life that I started worrying about my profession, but it was so vogurous even I did not understand.

In the meantime I started pursuing my Communication studies at Uni. Malta, I started to learn all the aspects of Media, Communication theories, and then political science as my second major.

I was tirelessly absorbing EU integration, UN founcationality, International co-operation these seems quite posh concepts, in that little island in the Mediterranean. I tried so hard to integrate with local students and get myself deeply involved into uni. life.

And then, my piano was back into right track and I know where I am going and what I can achieve. A warm smile back to my cheek.

I talked, talked, and talked all these things, and almost everything to my soul mate - a nice maltese chap, with a gentle personality and a kind heart. And of course, a good musician, much better than me.

Four and an half years living in Malta, I was nearly used to that island, that little island. But I know there is always the other half of me to keep my eyes open, my curiosity alarming, and my goals settling.

I joined AIESEC Malta, travelled and interned in India, Kolkata, though I was a marketing researcher in that Indian org, but it's more of a cultural exchange programme.

I was once considering about Marketing as my profession, but do I truly wish to be a sales person? I am not saying being a sales person is something wrong, it's just I was wondering do I really possess that passion, that eager motivation just as the apprentience of Sir Alan Suger?

EU integration summer school and "The image of Europe" meeting along with the trip to Brussels open another world to me, a world which is fundamentally clashed with my culture, mentality and the way I was brought up.

Is it good or bad? To date I am still searching the answer.

London, a new start

Pursuing journalism as a professional career in London is the toughest challenge I have ever met. It's not because I haven't got the motivation, the drive, the dedication or curiosity, it's simply just because of my English is holding me back.

Andy, the news writing teacher from News Associates, NCTJ course centre

Will continue...

Eurovision winner 2009 said "I won because I had a story to tell"

Norway contestant Alexander Rybak, aged 23 won the first prize of Eurovision 2009. He composed both the lyrics and the melody of the winning song "Fairytale".

Alexander started piano and violin study at younger age, to date he has performed with one of the world most celebrated violinst, Pinchas Zukerman.

China sex education was once again put off

A sex theme park supposed to be open in October in Chongqing, China was demolished even before its opening date. The state run newspaper China Daily expressed its concern on the owners "interested only in profiting from sensationalism"

Sex - Taboo subject in China

The park aimed to improve sex education and allow local people to get more access to information related with sex.

As the park's manager Lu Xiaoqing said:"Sex is a taboo suject in China, but people really need to have more access to information about it."

According to BBC News, the park will display giant genitalia, naked bodies and an exhibition of sex history.

Why press is afraid of speaking out

I am not surprised when found this piece of news, as China is a conservative country for centuries.

Its vast territories, including an incredibly large amount of ethnic communities, are far more tough for governing than westerners could imagine.

Who can guarantee those visitors' initiatives and attitude towards these rare displays.

And is China ready to positively embrace this kind of brain-wash which is directly contrary towards rooted Chinese mentality?

I seriously doubt about it. Though I do understand that to be open-minded, tolerant, and optimistic with changes is the pre-requisite for huge development, as a nation, or as a person, no matter whatsoever it does counts.

But under such a situation - a rigorous state controlling condition, anything that leads to transform people's mind will simply be torn down, just as the park.

Ridiculously easy for 60 and 80 words/min shorthand exam

The shorthand exam speed between 60 to 80 per minute is held today at Uni. Westminster at 10:30am, most of the journalism students have found the 80 and 60 passage are ridiculously easy.

You see, here we are

When talking with Helen Elizabeth Varley, one of the student who did the exam, she said:"Yeah, the 60 one I am happy with it, and as long as you get something, so you see, here we are."

Though the 60words/min passage are pleased by most of the students, for those who aiming at 70 words/min seems that they did not receive the same happy ending.

Jennifer Willis-Jones is struggling with 70 speed, she said: "Oh, I am aiming at 70 and cannot imagine that the 80 words/min passage is ridiculously easy, and there is no councillor, local community, social security these difficult stuff. I cannot believe it."

Kirstie Nicols, the first one who left the exam room, said: "I will definitely get the 60 one, and I just make sure I have got my 60 today. Next time I am gonna to do the 80 one, and for today's 80 passage, I have missed one sentence, so it is stupid for me to transcribe it, and I will fail I know that."

Rukshana, cannot fall asleep till 5am worrying about bloody shorthand

Angela, the shorthand teacher as well as the examiner was worrying about one student from the class - Rukshana - who had not appeared until half of the exam passed.

Rukshana, a Londoner originally coming from Bangladesh, said: "I just cannot fall asleep until 5am in the morning today and worrying bloody shorthand. When I got up and found out that already 9am. "

I really want to kick myself, and stupidly missed the high speed level exam, which I do know how to do it, for the 80 one!

Shorthand

Shorthand is part of UK National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification for pre-entering newspaper journalism industry in UK, which require newspaper journalists reaching the standard of 100 words/min, while magazine reporters need to make sure 80 words/min.