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Nasu's phone rang as he stepped out of the Steamboat Bathhouse.

"Hey, we're at the Broth Bar! We're running low on ingredients for Mala Margaritas, can you bring some salt over?" a bubbly voice pierced through the phone.

"Sure, sure, I'll be there in 10," Nasu replied.

As he made his way to the bar, the brinjal watched the beautiful dumpling boats glide across the Tomato River and felt his feet rustle against the fallen autumn leaves. The gentle breeze caressed his face while he took a whiff of the sweet-smelling air and enjoyed his short-lived solitude.

As Nasu quietly entered the bar, the glimmmering dance floor and dangling deep-red tassels seemed almost blinding.

"Hey! Thanks for coming!" two synchronised voices shouted across the dance floor.

"Is today's theme Mala Bonanza?" Nasu guessed.

"Yeah, you got it right!" the voices chimed in harmony.

Dressed in matching red and white striped suits, the energetic crab stick twins looked sophisticated and dashing. As the energetic crab sticks floated from table to table to entertain and host their guests, Nasu inched towards the exit in hope of having some alone-time to complete his new webisode. However, the supportive brinjal decided to stay.

"Kani, Kama, I'll be grabbing a seaweed soup shot at the bar, let me know if you need anything," Nasu whispered. "I'll help you keep a lookout for them too."

"Thanks Nasu! You're the best!" Kama said. The ever-bubbly crab stick turned to his twin and let out a disheartened sigh, "Hey Kani, do you think we'll ever find them?"

Kani grabbed Kama and pulled him into a hug. "Come on! Don't lose hope. We'll definitely find them through these parties. There's no way we'll miss crab-looking fishes. I'm sure they'll be looking for us too."

The twins, whose long-lost parents are rumoured to be fish instead of actual crabs, put a smile on their faces and continued their party in hopes of reuniting their family one day.

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At the bar where Nasu sat, a fashionable bean stood with poise and elegance. Dressed from head to toe in trendy apparel, the bean surveyed the room and let out a disgusted grunt.

"Look at Sotongbo! What is she wearing! her socks are unmatched again!" The chic Ya Ya shook her head in exasperation. "None of these Sumoborus have ANY fashion sense!"

As she downed her shot of laksa broth, the diva waved goodbye to Nasu and said, "I better get my new line of jeans out in the market before these Sumoborus face another fashion disaster!"

"Come on So So! Let's go!" Ya Ya reached out to grab her brother's hand.

So So, who was in the middle of his stand-up routine, exclaimed, "Nattō-gain!" (not again!)

As his audience erupted into laughter, the bean with the glistening bald head made a curtsy and exited the stage. "Hey! I wasn't done with my routine yet! I still have many bald jokes to tell!" So So said.

"Leave that for another day! I'm sure you'll have more time to tell your jokes when you're a world-class comedian," Ya Ya winked and exclaimed with confidence.

As the mischievous duo left the Broth Bar, they bumped into the edgy Dubu who was on its way to audition new members for its band, "Red Hot Mala Peppers".

"Hey neighbour! Heading home?" So So exclaimed while throwing his arm around Dubu. "Yeah, but get your hands off me, baldie!" Dubu jeered with a slight smile.

As the trio headed towards their apartment on Sumoboru Street, the sunset left a shimmery glow on the Tomato River to signal the end of a long day.

END

Find out more about the Sumoboru Family and their Side Characters!

The "OCCUPIED" sign above the Mala Stew Room lit up. A fair and well-shaven piece of tofu entered and shut the door behind him. All was well and quiet in the Public Sumoboru Steamboat Bathhouse. As Sumoborus filtered in one by one after a long day of work, a sudden burst of heavy metal music boomed from the Mala Stew Room. 

"BURNING FROM THE INSIDE OUT... MALA IS MY SOULLLLL!!!"

The Sumoborus turned their heads in shock (and annoyance) but resumed their activities after realising it was Dubu who was listening to his heavy metal music. Nobody dared to approach or enter the room for fear of getting shouted at by the angsty teenager. Dubu twisted the heat dial to 100°C and turned the knob on. As he waited for the foam of his bubble bath to form, the tofu quietly drummed his fingers on the metal walls and tapped his feet to the beat. He dipped a feet into the burning hot mala stew and started warming his voice up.

"THEY WANT ME WITH CHEESE, BUT I ONLY WANT TO BE MEEEEE," Dubu screamed.

As the lyrics to his newly written song "Death by Cheese" echoed through the Sumoboru Steamboat, the angry tofu shot a deathly glance to the curious Crabbo who had been peering through the glass window.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" Dubu yelled.

The now-terrified Crabbo quickly retracted her craning neck after realising that the hormone-filled teenager was the cause of all the ruckus. Dubu, whose eyes burned with passion, returned to his vocal warm-ups. Nothing was going to stop the edgy teenager from achieving his dreams of becoming a top heavy-metal artiste.

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Back in the Public Steamboat Bathhouse, sumoborus gathered to gossip about the newly released episode of the world-renowned webcomic, "When Your Rice Meats Mine". "Did you see how Solanum drew the main lead's features? How can anyone be this good at illustrating comics??" Ricebo exclaimed.

A deep chuckle emerged from a corner of the bathhouse. As the steam from the stew slowly drifted apart, the fog lifted to reveal a charming purple brinjal with a tall build and flawless skin.

Nasu, who goes by his pen-name Solanum, felt a deep rush of delight. His new episode was receiving much more support than he had expected!

As the mysterious brinjal quietly worked on illustrating new characters for his upcoming webisodes (webcomic episodes), he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find the A-List influencer Cheesebo holding up a name card.

"Hi there, would you be interested in joining our modelling agency?" Cheesebo asked.

The brinjal panicked and turned bright purple, further exuding his pure and innocent image.

"No thank you," he whispered.

He flipped his laptop shut and hastily made his way to the exit. As the elusive brinjal made his way out of the Public Sumoboru Steamboat Bathhouse, he left a trail of intrigued passersby who wondered how anyone or anything could look so stunning.

The brinjal sighed as he mentally shelved the idea of revealing his identity to his avid webcomic readers. "No one's going to like me purely for my illustration skills if I ever reveal my face," he murmured.

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Stay tuned for more adventures with The Sumoboru Sides coming soon!

Find out more about the Sumoboru Family and their Side Characters!

A new season of Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) is here! This November, Wheniwasfour partners with the National Arts Council to present "Punggol Explorers", an epic photography trail that will lead participants to discover the north-eastern coastal town that is Punggol.

Programme Line-Up

From 7-24 November 2019, gather your family and friends to explore the modern, olden and golden parts of Punggol!

Begin your photography adventure by collecting signature Punggol-themed collectibles (acrylic pins and keychains) created by our very own Wheniwasfour designers Tan Li Ling and Victoria Lim!

1. Visit any of the following locations for our Gachapon machines containing the collectibles found above:

• SAFRA Punggol
• Punggol Plaza
• Oasis Terraces (Oasis Terrace LRT)

2. Collect at least 3 different capsules at $1 each

Each Gachapon capsule will contain 1 keychain/pin and a corresponding photo frame.

Channel your inner artist and add colour to your photo frames!  

NOTE: decorative material will not be provided at Gachapon machine booths. Bring your own material to enjoy this portion of the activity!

3. Visit the corresponding Punggol landmark and compose your photograph

If your capsule contains a Jewel Bridge keychain and photo frame, you’d have to visit the Jewel Bridge. An example is shown below:

4. Continue your exploration of Punggol

Take photos of at least 3 different Punggol landmarks. Locations are as follows:

(Click on the links for an exact map location!)

5. Upload your photos onto Instagram and include the hashtags #ArtsInYourNeighbourhood and #WeArePunggolExplorers

Stand a chance to win an Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) goodie bag by uploading your pictures!

*Please note that your Instagram account has to be public for us to view and verify your participation. Winner(s) will be announced by the National Arts Council after the AYN season.

Stay safe and have fun exploring Punggol!

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ABOUT ARTS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Arts in Your Neighbourhood is an initiative by the National Arts Council that brings enriching arts experiences to everyone at their doorsteps. Every March and November, audiences can look forward to a diverse mix of arts offerings by established artists at various spaces across the island, with programmes inspired by their very own neighbourhoods.

For more information on Arts in Your Neighbourhood, please visit https://artsforall.sg/AYN

The Sumoboru family is back! Come join us in uncovering secrets of the new Sumoboru Sides!

Don’t let Dubu’s fair and plain appearance 腐 (fool) you! This goth-at-heart teenager is extremely angsty and edgy. Dubu listens to heavy metal music and takes bubble baths in burning hot spicy stew. Dubu is passionate about music and dreams of starting a death metal band named “Red Hot Mala Peppers”.

The mysterious Nasu is a force to be reckoned with. Many model agencies have scouted Nasu for its tall build and flawless skin. However, Nasu prefers to stay out of the public eye and sticks to its day job as a webcomic illustrator. Nasu has managed to hide its identity despite being the author of the world-renowned romantic-comedy webcomic, “When Your Rice Meats Mine”. Nasu portrays an aloof and elusive image, but is a fiercely loyal eggplant who will always lend a helping hand when the Sumoboru family is in need.

Kani and Kama are identical twins who are extremely energetic and sociable. As avid fans of social gatherings, the wild crab sticks have held over 100 parties in the last 5 years. From “Mala Bonanza” to “Under the Sea”, Kani and Kama are known to throw the best themed parties in the Sumoboru-verse. The twins have bubbly dispositions and top-notch hosting skills but a darker reason lies behind all their partying: Kani and Kama are trying to find their parents who are rumoured to be fish instead of crabs.

Named the sassiest of the Sumoboru family, the Bean Siblings are often self-assured and mischievous. As fans of warm temperatures, So So and Ya Ya love visiting saunas with their fellow beans to bake themselves. The punny So So loves making jokes out of everything while the diva Ya Ya always claims she “豆 like this” and “豆 like that” (don’t like this and that). Despite their contrasting personalities, So So and Ya Ya share a common interest in creating new pick-up lines. Their favourite pick-up line is: “Where have you bean all my life?”

So So (Left)

So So the bean often gets laughed at for being bald. However, the self-assured bean never lets the opinion of others rock his self-esteem. As the funniest and punniest member of the Sumoboru family, So So often brings laughter to the people around him. He dreams of becoming the best stand-up comedian in the Sumoboru-verse.

Ya Ya (Right)

The sassy and chic Ya Ya spends most of her time reading fashion and lifestyle magazines. As the diva and fashionista of the family, Ya Ya spends most of her time critiquing and creating outfits for the Sumoboru family. Even though she appears picky and fussy, the highly-misunderstood perfectionist is only looking for ways to make the world a better place for future beans. Ya Ya is currently working on her new clothing line named “Green Jeans by Beans” that features the world’s first pair of biodegradable jeans. 

We’re bringing 小油 and 小条 back from their mini hiatus! Back with a bigger and better twist, the inseparable duo will be returning to the online and Waterloo store by the end of October!

油条 (Youtiao), also known as dough fritters or you char kway, are long golden-brown deep-fried strips of dough with origins from China. The flaky and crispy texture of youtiao pairs well with both sweet and savoury liquids and are hence traditionally eaten at breakfast as accompaniments for soy milk (豆浆油条) or porridge. In Singapore, the highly absorbent youtiao is often dipped in Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Soup) and/or Kopi (Black Coffee).

Origin of 小油 and 小条

The inseparable 小油 and 小条, born through extreme kneading and twisting, found themselves falling into a wok of boiling hot oil on the 22nd of July 2016. The extreme heat and pressure gave the new Kopitiam Heroes a new power - the ability to grow bigger and bigger and BIGGER! 

The two youtiaos developed polar opposite personalities under the immense pressure and often quarrel about day-to-day life. The outgoing, brave and bubbly 小油 loves going to dark and new places like the Kopi Spa while the kind, shy and timid 小条 prefers bright and familiar places like the Soymilk Spa. Despite their constant bickering and arguments, 小油 and 小条 always make the effort to make up with a squishy hug.

Made with soft cotton and polyester, the new and improved 小油 and 小条 are perfect for hugging, squishing and playing with! The adorable youtiao plushies also come with detachable velcro tapes that will allow 小油 and 小条 to be separated into individual dough sticks.

Keep them in a set or share a You Tiao with your best friend, pre-order your very own You Tiao Plush Toy today!

Pre-Order

A special 10% pre-order promotion will be running from 2-13 October 2019! Get a You Tiao plushie at $44.90 (u.p $49.90)! Limited pieces are available, place your orders here today!

Additionally, key in the promocode "YOUTIAOISBACK" during checkout for FREE LOCAL (SG) REGISTERED MAIL SHIPPING!

NOTE: Youtiao Plushies will only be available at the end of October. Shipping will commence at the start of November. For customers who opt for self-collection, we will drop you an email once your Plushie is ready.

Happy shopping!

Measurements & Specifications of You Tiao Plushie

NEW PLUSHIE:

Size of a single youtiao: 12cm x 8.5cm x 44.5cm (Length x Breadth x Height)

Material: Cotton, Polyester

Other features: Detachable (velcro on sides)

Washing Instructions: Machine washable but gentle cycle and preferably in a laundry bag

In comparison, size of OLD youtiao plushie: 8cm x 4.5cm x 40cm (Length x Breadth x Height)

NOTE: Due to the size of this product, registered mail will be the only method of delivery. Alternatively, self-collection at Wheniwasfour’s brand store is available.

It’s International Coffee Day! As the world of coffee lovers gather to celebrate and share their love of coffee, we’d like to share a list of our favourite local beverages. From the basic “kopi-o” to more exquisite things like “Milo Godzilla” and “Yuanyang”, this list pays tribute to the most iconic drinks found at food courts and hawker centres across the island.

But first, here’s a list of the commonly-used kopitiam (coffee shop) lingo:

O

Without condensed milk (note: there still is sugar!)

Kosong

(malay for plain/empty)

Without both sugar and milk, plain

Peng

(hokkien for ice, the mandarin “冰”)

With ice

C

(Hainanese dialect)

With evaporated milk instead of the usual condensed milk

Siu Dai

(Hockchew/Fuzhou for less sweet, the mandarin ”少甜“)

With less sugar

Ga Dai

(Hockchew/Fuzhou for more sweet, the mandarin “加甜”)

With more sugar

Gao

(hokkien for thick, the mandarin “厚”)

Concentrate

Poh

(Hokkien for thin, the mandarin “薄”)

Dilute

Dabao

(Hokkien for takeaway, the mandarin “打包” or  “带走”)

Pack to go

These phrases are often chained together to form a drink order. For example, the Kopitiam Uncle would brew a hot cup of sugared coffee without milk if you say “Kopi-O”, but a cold cup of sugared coffee with evaporated milk if you say “Kopi-C-Peng”.

These phrases apply to both Kopi (coffee) and Teh (tea). Give the following questions a go!

(Answers will be revealed at the end of the blogpost)

1. Teh-Kosong: ____________
2. Kopi-Siu-Dai: ____________
3. Teh-Peng-Ga-Dai: ____________
4. Kopi-O-Siu-Dai: ___________
5. Teh-Gao: ___________

Here comes the sweeter and more interesting part of the list:

Teh tarik

(Tarik = Malay for pull)

The tea is first brewed with spices like cardamom and ginger. After being strained and mixed with both evaporated and condensed milk, the tea is “pulled” from one mixing cup to another to create a signature froth.

Teh Halia

(Malay for ginger tea)

Tea with sweetened condensed milk and slice(s) of ginger

Diao Hee

(Hokkien for “fishing”, the mandarin “钓鱼”)

Chinese tea. The tea bag that dangles in the cup looks like fishing bait, which has helped the beverage gain its name.

Yuan Yang

(the mandarin “鸳鸯”)

A drink that hails from Hong Kong, this cantonese beverage is also known as “Kopi Cham” (“cham” is hokkien for mix). A mixture of three parts coffee and seven parts milk tea, this beverage is suitable for drinkers who love tea with a strong coffee roast. It can be served either hot or cold.

Tak Kiu

(Hokkien for soccer, the mandarin “踢球”)

Milo. This beverage’s unique name was derived from its product packaging.

This sweet and malty drink is popular among Singaporean students as it is often sold in school canteens. The Milo Dinosaur and Milo Godzilla (seen below) are variations of this energizing drink.

Milo Dinosaur

A mug of iced Milo mixed with condensed milk and topped with a generous scoop of milo powder.

Milo Godzilla

Exactly like the Milo Dinosaur, but with an additional scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Rose Bandung

This beverage is often found in large clear containers with green rims at traditional drink stalls.

The ruby red rose syrup turns into a signature creamy pink hue once condensed or evaporated milk is added. It is usually served with ice. 

Soy Milk

Sometimes called “tau huay zui” (hokkien for soy bean drink), this drink is not just tasty, it’s also nutritious! Filled with vitamins and calcium, this beverage is said to have “cooling” properties and will help us ease our inner heat. A drink that can be served both warm and cool, soy milk is loved by people of all ages.

Grass Jelly Drink

Known as “chin chow” (hokkien translation of the mandarin “仙草”) to many, the dark herbal jelly is often mixed with a sweet syrup to mask its slight bitter taste. The grass jelly is thinly shredded so drinking through a straw is easy.

Michael Jackson

Inspired by the late King of Pop’s top song lyrics “it don’t matter if you’re black or white”, this beverage is a combination of creamy white soy milk and translucent black grass jelly. Unlike the shredded version in grass jelly drinks, this Singapore concoction has cubed grass jelly made just for gulping.

Sugarcane Juice

Freshly-squeezed sugarcane juice is a must-try at hawker centres! It not only keeps us cool in this hot and humid climate, it is also a healthy drink that boosts our immunity and contains little sugar.

Answers to mini quiz above:

1. Tea without sugar and milk (Teh-Kosong)
2. Regular coffee with less sugar (Kopi-Siu-Dai)
3. Iced milk tea with extra sugar (Teh-Peng-Ga-Dai)
4. Coffee without milk, less sugar (Kopi-O-Siu-Dai)
5. Concentrated Tea (Teh-Gao)

Remember the days we spent saving our pocket money during recess, only to squander them on snacks at Mama shops after school? Here's a throwback to 10 childhood snacks Singaporeans love:

Haw flakes

Packed in small cylindrical stacks, the sweet and tangy haw flakes come in thin slices made from the fruit of the Chinese hawthorn. Unlike its traditional purpose of masking the bitterness of Chinese herbal medicine, haw flakes are served with tea or as treats for children today.

Chupa Chups

This Spanish lollipop is a hot favourite amongst Singaporean teachers, often used to reward their students for doing well on spelling tests and examinations. Chupa Chups has been thriving in the Singapore market since the 1970s with its classic flavours (Cola, Orange, Strawberry and Apple) and has even diversified its production line to include flavoured soft drinks and toys.

White Rabbit Candy

More commonly known as 大白兔奶糖, the soft, chewy candy gives off a flavourful milky and creamy taste when chewed on. The sticky candies are wrapped with an iconic edible paper-like wrapper and a printed wax paper. We personally love how the edible rice paper melts slowly once it touches the tip of our tongues.

Bangle Chocolate

More known for its colourful aesthetic and crackling packaging than its actual taste, this bangle chocolate was a popular snack among the 90s kids. An exciting snack to have during playtime, this bangle chocolate fueled all our childhood dreams of being doctors. Having to dispense these colourful “medicine” and popping them open for our “patients” was truly one of the most satisfying things we remember from our play time.

Mamee Monster Noodle Snack

This Malaysian snack has stolen all of Singapore’s heart with its convenience and amazing flavour. Known for being a noodle snack that requires no cooking, this crispy and savoury snack is often crushed into tiny bits and shaken with the seasoning packet that comes with every bag (it’s really just MSG). Maybe we should’ve heeded our parents’ warnings about eating too much of these Mamee noodles that will cause us to start “dropping hair”...

Hiro Choc Cake

A golden yellow cake with a sweet chocolate coating, this Hiro Choc Cake was a big hit in the 80s and 90s. This soft and mini cake reminds us of all the times we spent sitting at canteen tables with friends, stuffing our faces with snacks after a good round of “catching” in the courtyard. 

Fancy Gem Biscuits

The fancy gem biscuit is an iconic Singaporean snack best known for its colourful variety (usually in white, pink, green and yellow). A fun-sized confectionery suitable for the young, the old and everyone in between, this sweet biscuit (both icing and biscuit) melts in the mouth and always leave us wanting more. 

Wheel Cracker Snack

Don’t be fooled by this pale-looking snack! This widely-popular wheel snack can be found across Singapore. From canteens to mama shops and convenience stalls, this potato-based snack has made its way into the tummy of almost every Singaporean.

Super Ring

Known for its cheesy flavour, flaky texture and finger-staining property, Super Ring makes its presence known by leaving stains and trails wherever it goes. This bright orange snack has survived the test of time and can still be found in supermarkets around Singapore.

Ice Cream Sandwich

“Ring ring ring!” Remember hearing the familiar ice cream bell and running down to our HDB carparks to buy our favourite ice cream sandwiches? From basic flavours like vanilla and chocolate to unique flavours like yam, durian and blueberry ripple, these ice cream sandwiches are our saviours from the heat. At only $1 (inflated to $1.20-$1.40 today), we’d even get to choose how we’d like the ice cream to be served. From colourful bread to biscuits, cones and cups, these ice cream sandwiches are worth every cent they cost.

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All products featured can be found online and in store. Click here to view more products!

We’re experiencing a decreasing trend in outdoor play. We see fewer children playing on the streets, families glued to their personal mobile devices during meal time and babies choosing tablets and tv shows over toys. As the world digitalises, we see less interpersonal interactions and more signs of inactivity and childhood obesity.

From iconic outdoor games like block catching to board games like monopoly, are our favourite childhood traditions becoming a mere thing of the past? Are familiar childhood games being replaced by online entertainment and games?

Here’s a list of 10 childhood games we loved and wish we could still indulge in:

Block Catching

Remember running across corridors and occasionally getting shouted at for breaking the neighbours’ potted plants? Those were the days we had energy to run from fuming aunties and race our friends up and down blocks and blocks of staircases. A favourite after-school activity, this game was the simplest of the lot - you just ran and ran till you got caught (or catch everyone, if you’re the “catcher”).

老鹰捉小鸡 (Eagle Catch Chicks)

A traditional children’s game from Taiwan, this game wreaked havoc on school courtyards and at HDB void decks. A game rather similar to “Catching”, 老鹰捉小鸡 brought out all our primal instincts - to catch our prey or to prevent ourselves from getting caught.  With an Eagle (the “catcher”), a Hen (the “protector”) and the many chicks, this game was an exciting large group activity. 

Game Rules:

1. The hen (usually the tallest/biggest person) would protect the chicks by stretching its arms out and running away from the eagle
2. The chicks would stand in a line behind the hen, usually linked by holding the shoulder or shirt of the person before him/her. They would follow the hen’s movements and try not to get caught by the eagle.
3. The eagle would try its best to catch all the chicks.

The eagle wins if it manages to catch all the chicks, and the hens and chicks win if they aren’t caught by the stipulated timing. A game that involved a lot of running, screaming, domino-effect falling and t-shirt stretching, this game definitely got our blood pumping and adrenaline rushing.

Eraser Flipping Game

These infamous country erasers doubled-up as toys, collectibles, possessions for barter trade, and even spinning tops (if you stapled them). They just weren’t good at their one job - erasing pencil marks. In an era where handphones and electronic devices weren’t allowed in schools, the eraser flipping game was a hot favourite among students. A game commonly played during recess, in between lessons and sometimes with your table buddy during lesson time… this game taught us that brute force doesn’t necessarily manifest into success. Sometimes strategy, sacrifice and patience are the most important values in life.

Pick-Up Sticks

Players would sit in a circle and the first player would gather the sticks in a palm and let them fall onto the floor. The rules were simple - each player would have to pick up as many sticks as possible without touching or moving the other sticks. If another stick moves, the next player gets to start his/her turn. This game bases itself on patience and an extremely stable hand. It was a popular game to play when it was raining or too hot to be running outdoors.

Chopsticks

Remember that annoying friend who kept tapping his/her own fingers so they could “split” later on in the game? The Chopsticks game could go on for a minute, or five, depending on how strategic both players are. A versatile game that can be played anywhere (because the game pieces are your fingers!!) and with anyone, we highly suspect that this game was invented by our Asian parents to teach us basic addition and subtraction.

Heart Attack

Cr: Kappanonline

Staying true to its name, this game might actually have caused some of us to have the weak hearts we have today. In the game that combines luck, deviousness and an awful lot of anxiety, players would follow the instructions below to win the game:

1. Players would have to play a round of scissors-paper-stone and the loser of the first round would place his/her hand on the table.
2. All players would then continue playing scissors-paper-stone and stack their losing hands on top of each others’.
3. When all hands are placed in the stack, the person with his/her hand at the bottom of the stack (on the table) would have to remove his/her hand and compete with the latest winner.
4. The goal of the game is for a player to have both his/her hands out of the stack.

The winner with both his/her hands out of the stack gets to countdown to the punishment. Using the syllables “Heart-A-ttack”, the winner would smack his/her hand on the stack - whoever couldn’t remove their hands fast enough would be victims of a huge, painful hit on the back of their hands. Here’s a slight mentally-twisted part. Most winners love having the power of everyone’s fates in their hands and would countdown really slowly to give a sudden attack. Heart Attack was definitely a thrilling and exciting game, but were the red, swollen hands and anxiety it gave us really worth it?

Monopoly

Cr: Amazon

Monopoly has withstood the test of time. Its evolution from the original American Monopoly board to its current variety (Disney, Fortnite, Spongebob and even a Singapore board) has proven how successful the franchise is. From taxation to collusion, under-the-table negotiations and bankruptcy, the hours-long game helped players learn about economics and the real business world in a fun and thrilling way. “It’s just a game” definitely did not apply to this world-renowned friendship-ruining game.

Cluedo

A game that put our deduction skills to the test, Cluedo helped us realise all our detective dreams. From unsuspecting weapons to innocent-looking victims and rooms you’d never find in a Singapore HDB flat, this definitely was the most fun and interesting mystery-themed board game.

Snap

Let’s be honest, we all screamed “SNAP!!” at the top of our lungs as if volume affected the outcome of this game. This matching card game was played using either snap cards or poker cards, and rules were changed to intensify the game. This game trained us to be alert and fast thinkers and responders.

Old Maid / Donkey

With the goal of discarding pairs of cards and not being left with the old maid or lone donkey, this matching game is highly dependent on luck and chance. A game that is enjoyed by family and friends, this game is usually played at parties or gatherings.

We spend the majority of our childhood and teenage years in school. We hide snacks under our tables so we won’t get caught eating by prefects, we leave soaking wet handprints on our classmates’ uniforms. We doze off during English and Math classes, but miraculously have a never-ending supply of energy to play “catching” during recess. 

We gain knowledge, discover our personalities and explore the world beyond our imagination in the many years of education we have. We try, we fail, we learn and we grow. For that, we have our teachers to thank. From the Chemistry teacher who ALWAYS gives random organic chemistry pop quizzes, to the Chinese teacher who makes us “罚站” (stand during class as a punishment) if we don’t complete our “习字” (writing practices), our teachers work tirelessly to help us become better people. 

Our passionate and dedicated teachers spend long hours formulating lesson plans, executing curriculums and managing our extra-curricular activities (CCAs, excursions etc.). They go beyond their working hours to mark worksheets, give consultations and keep updates of our progress. They impart more than just knowledge. They inculcate values. They inspire. They are the very backbone of our education system. 

This Teachers’ Day, let us reminisce about the good ol’ school days and the lessons our teachers have taught us.

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From ages 7 to 16, children are put through a rigorous and holistic education system. From Science to Art, Singapore’s education system ensures that children are well-rounded individuals who have strong physical and cognitive abilities. Here’s a list of subjects we have been taught (and what they have taught us):

Languages

Ah... the anxiety-inducing spelling tests and oral examinations. Remember trying so desperately to use phonics or the “有边读边” method during our exams? Remember writing “在一个风和日丽的早上, 小明和小丽踏着轻快的脚步...” for ALL our chinese compositions? 

The compulsory language classes we have in primary and secondary schools - English & Mother Tongue - help to develop both our written and verbal communication skills. English, the lingua franca of international business, science and technology, prepares us for interactions in the globalised world. It encourages us to develop a personal voice, to be effective communicators and to gain interest in reading, inferring and understanding the information around us.

Our Mother Tongue Language (Chinese Language, Malay Language or Tamil Language) not only enables us to be adaptive and prepared for additional opportunities in the global environment, but also grounds and reminds us of our heritage. Our Mother Tongue Languages reiterate traditional values (i.e. filial piety, humility, frugality, etc.) that are close to our racial and ethnic identities, some of which are untranslatable to the English language.

We often laugh at the absurd “John” who buys 80 watermelons at a supermarket and the “Alice” who has to split 600 pieces of chocolates with her friends. We question why we need to learn algebra, geometry and trigonometry when they’re mostly inapplicable to everyday life. We complain about the iconic TYS (Ten Year Series assessment books), yet practice them religiously when PSLE, “O” or “A” Levels are right around the corner. Why do we have such a love-hate relationship with Mathematics?

Mathematics, or rather, the practice of mathematics frustrates us because it often seems one-tracked; a fixed set of answers exist and our answers are always either right or wrong. An inaccurate decimal point, let alone a miscalculation, would result in a catastrophic loss of marks during our examinations. Essentially, there is little to no room for error and carelessness.

However, despite its lack of tolerance for mistakes, Mathematics teaches us a great deal about the real world. It trains us to be meticulous, accurate and focused to prevent the snowballing of mistakes. It encourages us to develop logical, problem-solving and pattern-recognizing abilities, skills essential for our daily lives. Mathematics teaches us the value of hard work and perseverance - to practice ALL our problem sums in our iconic brown jotter books - because practice really does make perfect.

Science classes (especially lab sessions) were undoubtedly some of the most fun classes we’ve had. From examining a plant cell to testing for hydrogen gas with a lighted splint, science teaches us about ourselves, the world around us and the world beyond us. Biology teaches us about our bodies and our biodiversity - how our biological systems and ecosystems work and how we can protect them. Chemistry teaches us about reactions and how our actions can impact the world around us (e.g. how do CFCs contribute to global warming?). Physics teaches us how to improve the world around us (i.e. inventions, automations). 

Science teaches us how to protect, prevent and enhance ourselves and the world around us. If knowledge is power, then science is our enabler.

The Humanities trinity - History, Geography and Literature - definitely trained us to have the good memory we have today. From memorizing the years the Vietnam War occurred to how breakwaters prevent coastal erosion, we learn about our predecessors, their stories and their experiences.

History teaches us about social division, wars and inequity. It hones our need to understand context and intention, it makes us think critically about narratives that have developed over the years. It teaches us about peace, harmony and social cohesion through the concepts of extremities, tyranny and oppression. History utilises the battles of our forefathers to explain how inadequate planning can lead to unfavourable consequences and how we can prevent or rectify injustice. 

Geography puts our interactions with Mother Earth under a microscope. From seasonal human migration to water pollution, the study of geography allows us to examine the impact of human actions and how we can/should prevent the destruction of our only inhabitable planet. By shedding a light on natural geological formations, climate change and our human population, geography helps us become aware and prepared for natural (tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.) and man-made (forest fires, overpopulation, etc.) disasters.

From Romance to Science Fiction to Mystery and Crime, Literature enables us to identify with characters to analyse larger-than-life questions. Classic Literature like “Animal Farm” and “Things Fall Apart” teaches us the importance of unity and strong leadership. Literary masterpieces like “Romeo & Juliet” and “Hamlet” prepares us for love and loss. Literature exposes us to a variety of themes and emotions - it teaches us about life through riveting narratives and epic adventures.

Art and music classes help us develop skills outside of academia and enable us to explore alternative ways of expressing ourselves. 

Art and Craft classes encourage us to express ourselves through painting, drawing and making. It trains our fine motor skills and acts as a form of stress relief. From colours to textures and gradients, art teaches us to appreciate the simpler things in life and explore our craftsmanship and creativity. 

Then comes the legendary recorder. Remember how we used to get so flustered trying to hold our breaths while switching from note to note? Regardless of whether we loved pretending to be pied pipers, or could not be less interested in playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, the legendary musical instrument holds a special place in every Singaporean’s heart. The simple and easy-to-master instrument teaches us more than we realise. We build our sense of rhythm and learn to synchronise beats. We bond with friends through harmonies, melodies and the universal language that is music.

The Civics and Moral Education (CME) curriculum, now termed Character & Citizenship Education (CCE), interweaves with the Singaporean culture. As Singapore experiences an increasing exposure to western culture, traditional Asian qualities like frugality and filial piety are close to forgotten. CME, more commonly known as 好公民, teaches us to be respectful, responsible, resilient, harmonious, honest and caring citizens. It reminds us that compassion, service and social competencies outweigh academic and monetary achievements in our dog-eat-dog world. 

With rising childhood obesity and decreasing outdoor play rates, Physical Education (PE) is our saving grace. From the dreadful NAPFA test to intense sports like basketball and soccer, we learn to adopt an active lifestyle and develop our motor skills. Sports gives us the necessary exercise we need and help us with concentration, instruction-observation and discipline. Through our participation in sports, we learn how to collaborate and manage conflicts with others, skills essential for the 21st century workplace.

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Our childhood and adolescence is when we first discover how we relate to the world and how we relate to others. We make life-long friends and experience our first falling-outs. Our teachers help us grow from mistakes and guide us in forming our personal values. They teach us to listen and assist us in establishing our identities. 

As the nation celebrates Teachers’ Day today, let us appreciate the painstaking efforts of the mentors who have helped us become who we are today. Call a former teacher. Write them a card. Say a huge thank you.

And to all teachers out there, Happy Teachers’ Day!