The Ultimate Eunoian Foodie’s E-A Guide

Written by: Jace Bong (20-E1), Leia Ong (20-U1), Soh Iwin (20-E5)

Designed by: Kothandam Anusha (20-I1)

Welcome, one and all, to the maiden publication of the Ultimate Eunoian Foodie’s E-A Guide! As Singaporeans, we know how important food is in our lives – hence, our intrepid journalists have (most willingly) travelled, tasted and laboured to assemble this unique compendium of international cuisine across the island. With each letter of ‘Eunoia’ as your guide, perhaps try one new food each day of the week!

From breakfast to supper, restaurant to cafe, here are six diverse entries that are sure to satisfy even the most avid Eunoian foodie.

E: Entre-Nous Creperie (Leia)

I stumbled across this quaint little shop after a visit to the MINT Museum of Toys, and being an enthusiast in all things crepe, I had no other option but to investigate. 

For the uninitiated, a crepe is a very thin French pancake, served either as a dessert or savoury meal – think the polar opposite of mountainous Japanese souffle pancakes.  

During my visit, I tried one of each: a Ham and Emmental Cheese crepe ($15.90) and a sweet one with chocolate and vanilla ice cream ($9.90). The savoury crepe came folded in a square, which I learnt is called a galette. 

Although the prices were rather steep, the quality of ingredients was apparent, which the menu proclaimed were imported from Brittany. Both crepes were thin, mildly flavoured yet very satisfying when paired with their respective toppings, whether it was the sweet banana or salty ham, the latter of which I unexpectedly enjoyed. Due to the mildness of the crepes balancing the strongly-flavoured toppings, the dishes were not jelak, or overly rich. 

If you’re ever in the Civic District and peckish after museum-hopping, then I recommend checking this little restaurant out – bring friends to share!

Location: 27 Seah St, #01-01

U: (Tamoya) Udon Singapore (Jace)

After being crowned the “Sanuki Udon Champion” on a reality cooking show in Japan, bonafide celebrity chef Tamotsu Kurokawa came to Singapore two decades ago and established Tamoya! Now, Singaporeans from all walks of life including students such as ourselves seeking gastronomical deals get to enjoy a bowl of his signature chewy udon, handmade in-stores daily.

As you take a whiff of the savoury smell of udon while walking into the store, do order these recommended picks. The Truffle Tonkotsu Don is a top dish for anyone craving a traditional udon broth with a tinge of truffle, but do consider the Beef and Pork Tonkotsu Dons as well! For around $10, this homely don store is a must-try for all udon-lovers.

Location: Plaza Singapura #06-11/12, 68 Orchard Rd

N: NY Night Market (Iwin) 

NY Night Market sells an array of atypical modern Korean-style dishes that’s different from the usual jajangmyeon or bibimbap we would eat, such as Korean Macaroni and Cheese and 50cm long bulgogi baguettes. Of course, they still sell common dishes like Army Stews.

During my trip, I tried out their Macaroni and Cheese, which was pleasantly fulfilling. Priced at $11.50, the macaroni was flavourful. Although a little pricey, the macaroni and cheese was worth the price. This is because the cheese was not dry nor salty – an ideal complement to the well cooked macaroni. The cheese was also creamy and plentiful like those which can be pulled a lot, leaving you craving for more of it.    

Location: #01-29, 313@Somerset 

O: O.BBa Jjajang and BBQ (Leia)

What’s a food guide without at least one Korean barbeque restaurant? This restaurant, located at Beauty World, isn’t the cheapest, but the quality of food they offer makes it very worth it. O.BBa serves both K-BBQ and other Korean-Chinese cuisine, and I tried both with my family, ordering a BBQ set meal consisting of a spread of red meats and a kimchi stew. 

Photo credit: Rachel Dawn, Burpple

Needless to say, both did not disappoint. The meats were generously marinated with the signature salty and sweet sauce characteristic of K-BBQ, and were not too fatty; the kimchi stew with soft tofu was fragrant, spicy, sour and overall very authentic to versions I’d tried in Seoul. Many side dishes (a.k.a. banchan) were also included, which also tasted good and more than completed the meal. 

For a value-for-money Korean dining experience, bring fellow foodies to visit this establishment.

Location: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Rd

I: Island Creamery (Jace)

When you think of ice cream, chocolate and vanilla are staple flavours that come to mind. However, this cosy ice cream cafe, established in 2003, took the dessert we love one step further and infused local flavours into it. Now, you get to order flavours such as Teh Tarik, Horlicks ice cream and even Mao Shan Wang – except this isn’t a 1990s roadside kopitiam anymore.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you will be delighted to find out that Island Creamery also serves waffles and cakes! Even with these conventional confectionaries, the shop does not fail to disappoint and surprises its customers with treats such as the Mudpie, a decadent affair with three sinful layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, sitting atop an Oreo cookie base with yet more crushed Oreos garnishing the top. The price range of below $10 should delight many Eunoians as well!

Location: #01-01, 559 Bukit Timah Rd, King’s Arcade

A: (The) Açai Craft (Iwin) 

If you’re looking for açai that’s cheap and near EJC, The Açai Craft’s the place to go! With a wallet-friendly student deal of $10 for two cups, you can bring your friends in together for an açai indulgence. For those who dislike having fruits on their açai, the good news is that unlike other açai shops, The Açai Craft allows you to choose the toppings that you want to add to your açai! This includes special toppings such as Fruity Pebbles cereal and Oreos. 

The Açai Craft’s açai base was a good match with toppings such as cookie butter sauce and fruity cereal. However, given that the topping quantity was too low to properly supplement the less sugary nature of their açai, this made my experience there slightly disappointing.

Location: #01-02, Jubilee Square Shopping Mall

That’s all from us for now! We hope that you have learnt of some new interesting places to satisfy your voracious appetite. May this review serve as a guide to help you find more delectable dishes in Singapore! 

From Me To Eu: Experience with Subject Combinations

Written by: Martha Henrietta Soetedjo (20-U2), Soh Iwin (20-E5), Zenov Liu Fan (20-U1)

Designed by: Leow Jia Wen Jolene (20-E1)

Have you ever wondered how your schoolmates who took other subject combinations felt about their combination? We pull back the veil on fellow Press seniors’ experiences with their subject combinations! From personal anecdotes to academic insights, we hope this provides some measure of reassurance to those newly inducted into the rigour of ‘A’s academia.

Science: Martha (BCME)

The science stream has always been a relatively common route for JC students to take, being more of a “default” choice. The BCME combination is also quite common, especially for those eyeing work in medical sectors. 

First thing I would like to preface is that you should never choose subject combinations just because it would “give you more opportunities”. Always choose based on what you enjoy doing! Find that sweet-spot between where your passion lies, and where you can excel in. 

For those of you who have taken similar combinations as my own, you may wonder what lies ahead in your next 2 years of JC? Well, be prepared for memorising heaps of content, drawing countless mind-maps and prepping for lots of quizzes and tests. 

But fret not! Since the majority of the subjects are your sciences, there are areas of overlap! This means that you can “kill two birds with one stone” by focusing your energy into honing skills that can be applied across all subjects! 

Second tip! Science is far from what you remember in secondary school. Yes, there are times where they make reference to past knowledge, but what we learn now is far more abstract and focused. Instead of learning about the circulatory system, ‘A’ level Biology now requires you to study individual cell components and their functions. My teacher once told me that JC’s Biology looks more like Chemistry, than the “Biology” we were used to. 

What does this mean? For Biology and Chemistry, making notes is pivotal to excelling. Personally, I find that mind-maps are the perfect aid for content-heavy topics – cue cards are also very helpful for quick memorisation of new definitions. Questions are now more application-based, so a strong foundation is ever-so important in attaining that A. Start early with your note-taking, and you’re sure to keep up with the new load of content! 

What about Economics? I had found it similar to sciences in that there’s a lot of content you have to remember and apply. Economics seem more ‘practical’, in the sense that its effects can be observed in everyday life. Applying economic concepts into these real-life scenarios made writing essays less cumbersome, compared to dealing with memorising different geographical locations and phenomena, or reading up historical dates and figures (which I was abysmally terrible at).

Economics also deals more with process, which helps me in understanding each new topic, and the relationships between different factors. These process-maps are akin to those we learnt in Science, like how a global pandemic may result in economic recessions. These big-picture concepts are easier to grasp as they all deal with systems and their relative functions. This similarity bridged the gap between my science and humanity subjects, easing me into Economics with less trouble.

Overall, my subject combination provides a good balance between memorisation and application of concepts. I must say that secondary school science is vastly different from what we have in JC, but as long as you have the passion for the subject, it would feel less like a chore, and more of a new perspective to a previously familiar subject! Despite the added workload, I still find fun in learning about these new topics, and the satisfaction earned when I finally master each topic is more than worth the initial hardship. That being said, I hope I can continue to strive for excellence in the coming J2 year. Hope you too can see success in the combinations you have chosen! Good luck!

Hybrid: Iwin (LCME)

Bringing up my hybrid LCME subject combination would mean that I am opening myself up to deploring looks or attacks such as “Will you get into any university course in the future?” The truth is, however, that hybrid combinations are not that much of a hopeless dead end as they seem. Hybrid combinations only close up a small fraction of courses which require double sciences, such as medicine, and other popular courses like law are still open for consideration. 

Regarding my journey in deciding my combination, I started by considering my strongest subjects — Literature and Math. I also considered my interests, which lay in Chemistry and entrepreneurship (consequently, I thought Economics was a good fit).

Another consideration I had was the type of questions and skills I wanted to see and use while doing my homework and examinations. For instance, I was drawn towards Literature as I found satisfaction in expressing my opinions and treating the exam as a mini debate where I would argue for a particular stand. I even chose Literature because I liked one of the books that EJC offers – Pride and Prejudice! Chemistry and Math were good fits as I hated memory work and preferred to spam practice questions to prepare for an examination. Economics was also chosen due to its less memory-based nature, as one cannot merely regurgitate in examinations. In millennial jargon, many students would deem it a subject that can be “smoked”, so long as you fully understand the concepts. 

My favourite thing about my combination is the fact that I can toggle between the sciences and the arts, depending on which field my mood calls for. However, a struggle I faced was spending more time on my sciences. This is because in my opinion, the workload of my homework was heavier for my science subjects.

Moreover, there were some myths on the subjects I took that I debunked after taking it for a year. For one, O Level Literature is very different from its A Level counterpart, as A Level Literature demands an in-depth analysis of certain words and phrases, and how they shape your understanding of a message from the text using literary techniques. Additionally, comparing poems was a shock for me as it was a huge leap from O Level poetry, where you do not necessarily have to uncover the deeper meanings of poems to do fairly well. 

As for Chemistry, don’t let a C5 in secondary school stop you from taking it. While A Level Chemistry partially relies on your secondary school foundation, most of the concepts are new, deeper and well explained by the school notes. Thus, consistent practice and understanding of the concepts taught will bring you to great heights. Not to mention, it is way more interesting than O Level Chemistry! 

Now that you have read my experience, for the brave souls out there who chose the hybrid combination, do not fret, for hard work will help you to ace it! Savour the beauty and the merits of toggling between the arts and the sciences, and you will have a blast with this combination! 

Arts: Zenov (HELM)

Now that you have read about the rigour that both the Science and Arts streams entail, you might be wondering how life as a student studying subjects at the other end of the spectrum is like. Yes, I’m a student of the arts, and I’m glad to be one.

My subject combination is HELM. Was it the subject combination I had always wanted? No, it wasn’t. My aspiration had always been to become a doctor, and naturally I had an immense interest in the sciences ever since I was a child. One of my fondest childhood memories was to visit a library and spend hours on end reading encyclopaedias. Biology, in particular, piqued my interest and before I knew it I was reading about the 12 systems in our human body.

Then why would you choose to take arts? I believe this is a question that you might feel perplexed about now. Yes, science is fascinating and all, but I did not fancy the idea of wrecking my brain just to prepare for a science examination. I struggled a lot in upper secondary with Chemistry in particular, because I could not wrap my head around some concepts that my peers, unlike me, understood within a short span of time. However, ‘O’ Levels being ‘O’ Levels, I still picked myself up and sought help from my teacher. Eventually, I managed to attain a B3. 

After my somewhat painful experience with Chemistry in the ‘O’ Levels, I spent quite some time pondering what subject combination I should take since I had my mind set on a Junior College. It had not occurred to me that the arts were a viable, and available, option, until I spoke to my teacher who saw me through my struggles. 

It was then that I realised I could consider pursuing the subjects I had always been passionate about — History and Literature. My relationship with the humanities has been relatively amiable, because I enjoy the process of studying for these subjects. By now, you should have figured that I took double science and double humanities during secondary school. In particular, I loved to study History because I love seeing the way that events of the past parallels our world today. I also found exploring the attitude and dispositions of historical leaders and how we have learned from the past very exciting. 

As for Literature, it was mesmerising to witness how words can be used in ways so beautiful they speak to you. I always found a friend in poems, because I loved how the experiences and feelings of some poets and the personas they conjure up connected with me. 

All these and yet I never considered exploring the arts in JC. I even remember mocking humanities students as people who would ‘have no future’ because their job prospects seemed grim. I feel that this was partly why I never considered taking arts because I did not want to lose out. But with that said, ‘ARTS — EUNOIA JUNIOR COLLEGE’ still appeared at the top of my JAE application anyway. 

I have never looked back since. Though there was an added rigour in taking arts in JC, I can assure you that as long as you have an interest in them, you will keep going. Whichever subject you choose to take up in JC, it will be more taxing since the ‘A’ Levels demand much more. For example, in History, you can forget about solely relying on memory work and thinking you have conquered the world. 

However, don’t let that stop you. Though I’m still uncertain what lies ahead for me beyond JC, do not be afraid to pursue the subjects of your interest, whatever they may be!

Conclusion: 

If you have read all the way until here, we have one last piece of advice for you. The subjects that are unfathomable to you may seem more practical to abandon, but that should not stop you from going beyond the ordinary. If you feel you might be influenced by peer pressure, talk to someone else — preferably a teacher who knows you well. You don’t have to have everything figured out at this stage, because there is still plenty of time for the future beyond JC, so follow your heart!

AAA #26

Designed by: Jolene Leow (20-E1)

How do I best get myself out of a holiday headspace and into a more academic-focused one? 

Hello there! Now that we have just got into 2021, I understand that you might find it hard to get back into the study regime, especially when we’ve barely ended a one month long holiday. It may be hard to pull yourself out of wanting to have fun everyday, so here are some tips for you to try out! 

Firstly, to try jumping straight into mugging mode is definitely not easy, and will drain you out easily. Instead, you can set small goals for yourself throughout the week, from completing homework, to gradually adding more tasks as your stamina to study longer hours increases. By slowly building up your attention span again, it will be a faster way to get back to studying. 

If you are feeling stressed and lost, fret not. You have your friends and teachers around you to support you along your journey. By making use of the life coach system implemented in EJ, it would be nice to have a chat with your teacher and share with them your problems. This way, you can plan your work better and relieve some stress. Or if you are uncomfortable with communicating with your teachers, you can also study with your friends during break! By motivating each other, you will feel less lonely and lost in trying to focus on your academics. 

If none of these methods work, you can always try out a reward system whereby you try and finish what you have to do for the day before giving yourself a nice break to enjoy your hobbies. By using such rewards to motivate you, it will make getting back into the studying headspace much easier and bearable. 

Above all, try not to tire yourself out too early on in the year and try to get back into studying step-by-step. All the best in your studies and I hope this reply helps!

How should I deal with my existential crisis? I’m very stressed because it’s A Levels year and i feel like I’ve forgotten how to study. 

Hello! I’d just like to start off by assuring you that this is fairly normal and nothing to be worried about. It may feel odd that A-Levels are less than a year away and fast approaching, especially with the amount of work we have left. Moreover, it is the start of the year and we’ve had many activities such as preparing for Orientation and Spartan Race, which has us feeling more relaxed. Hence, it’s alright that you haven’t found your groove to studying consistently yet. With MCTs fastly approaching as well, I think it would be easier to get into the studying mood when you’re faced with a concrete test deadline. 

Until then though, a few things that you can try to get yourself into the rigor of ‘A’s: try attempting some exam papers (of topics that you have learnt) and to time yourself while doing so. By doing these papers in an examination setting, you’d understand the severity of the exam and the weightedness of it. You’d be able to learn where you fall short, discover more about your time management and how much you’d have left to work on it. Finding out the areas you lack in could provide you motivation to work on it, naturally getting you to study more and do more practices. 

Based on what you’re lacking as well as the new information you’re learning daily, you can try setting up study goals for yourself. Make a list of what to study and when to study them on a weekly basis for each subject and do your best not to stray from these goals. For example, if you’re trying to study for GP, you could create a google document to add in all the articles, case studies and examples that you have come across. At the end of the week, you could make sure that you have at least 2 new evaluated articles into your document. By ‘A’s, you would have a huge bank of examples that you’d be familiar with. As you are setting your study goals, do revise back on your last year topics as well. Revise them again and do a little each week and before you’d realise you’d have consistently been doing work and studying. Moreover, by looking back at the notes that you made last year, you might get reminded of your personal study habits and it would be easier to dive into a study groove. 

Another way you can get some help would be by consulting with your life coach. The teachers in this school have seen countless students taking A-Levels and are experienced in knowing how to help them study. Having a talk with your life coach may give you plenty of insights on the workload, on how to manage your time and on how to balance all your commitments. They could also help you in creating the weekly study schedules! 

Lastly, you can also study in groups. Grab a few buddies and start studying together! Exchange your notes and discuss the various questions you’ve come across, clarify some doubts. This study method would allow you to learn more on your own while you work and help you gain 2-3 more perspectives and angles when you discuss. Moreover, surrounding yourself with people who are productive may encourage you to start doing your work as well. You could push one another to take fewer breaks and to stay focused and on task too! 

I feel like I have no one I can completely trust in school, and that has contributed to more stress on top of academics. What should I do?

Hello there! First, we want to express that we believe that it is completely alright for you to feel that way. Sometimes, things can just build up, it can get stressful, and it can be hard to talk to those around you about the things that bother you. However, when addressing more complicated emotions and thoughts like this, you might want to firstly try to work through whatever reasons are causing you to feel distrustful of your own interpersonal relationships, and understand them better. You could perhaps find some time for yourself to reflect on why you distrust people and what exactly they are doing to make you feel this way. This would also help you understand yourself better. From this point, you could try to pluck up your courage to talk to them about some of the things they do that make you feel uncomfortable since open communication is key to having a friendly relationship with anybody. Talking to them about it would help you understand their point of view on the situation and they would be able to understand you better through this, and eventually this would possibly help improve your relationship with these people around you.

If you do not want to talk to them directly, you could perhaps start off by talking to the person sitting beside you in class about the issues you have been facing. Most people, especially your classmates, would be willing to listen to you. However, if your deskmate is unfortunately dismissive of your concerns, you could consider talking to your teachers or your life coach! Many of the teachers in this school are very friendly and want their students to succeed, and hence, would definitely be willing to listen to your concerns. They can also give you suggestions on how you can understand your peers better or perhaps feel more secure around them, allowing you to be more capable of making some meaningful friendships with the right people. Talking to someone would work to help you feel better about the situation.

It is admittedly difficult to move forward and acknowledge the need to talk to others about your feelings, and even harder to speak up even if you have made the decision to do so. Ultimately, however, it might help to talk to the school counsellor. There is no need to be afraid to be judged, even if you fear that you might seem weird — what is important is to get some of your feelings out in a safe space, so that you don’t bottle them up. Getting your feelings out can also help you to speak to others without worrying as much. The counsellor can also recommend some more suggestions that may be more specific to your situation than what we can provide here.

Furthermore, you could also ask the people mentioned above, such as your subject teachers or classmates, for help with your academics! It is understandable that you would be stressed out over them due to the sudden jump to J2. However, it’s best to try to address both of the causes of your stress slowly but together, in order to avoid one continuing to exacerbate the other. You can try consulting with your teachers, or if you miss lessons and need quick assistance, you can also ask your classmates! In the end, not everyone is against you, even if it does feel like that sometimes when it comes to handling social situations. Actively look for help, and when you do get it, use the chance to strike up conversations as well! Forging friendships takes a while, but it’s well worth it in the end, and it’s a step in the right direction. It’s a slow journey, but hopefully, you’ll feel better over time!

How do I manage my academics, CCA, social life and relationships? I’m already five lectures behind! 

Hi there! First of all, I’d like to assure you to not panic. It probably seems very daunting having to balance so many different commitments in your life right now, but as long as you stay calm and consistent, all will be fine! It’s great that you’re reaching out and trying to figure out how to achieve this balance in the first place, as it proves that you are actively thinking about how to manage your commitments rather than letting them snowball into one another or letting one aspect of your life take up all of your time. This is a great starting point for you as the first step to achieving some semblance of balance in your life is to think about your goals in these areas. Ask yourself what you want to prioritise this coming year, and plan around that. Keeping a planner or schedule can be great for this as it allows you to see not just the day-to-day tasks that you have but also the bigger picture. Having your CCA, academics and social life charted out on your planner gives you a better sense of how much time you’ve spent (or neglected to spend) on each aspect, so that you can continue to adjust the way you spend your time accordingly!

With your planner in hand, you will now be able to make an effective use of your time by setting aside appropriate amounts of time for studying, CCA, social life, and relationships. Other than this, you should also make use of your white spaces wisely, by planning your schedule around these spaces. For example, if you didn’t have enough time to study, use your white spaces to catch up! You could also use these spaces to catch up with your friends, if that aspect seems to be neglected recently. Moreover, you could try studying together with your friends/partner so that you can do it all at once! Even if you aren’t studying the same things, it’ll still be great to have the company. This doesn’t have to be limited to just blank spaces too. Multitasking is a great way of squeezing more time out of the day when done appropriately. Even when studying at home, you can still video call your friends/partner to spend time with one another as well as to consult on your CCA and school work. 

Keeping up with your social life doesn’t have to take up full days if you just need a breather! Just having a simple conversation over text with your friends/partner in between your school commitments can still help to maintain your relationship with them and show that you care! Even just screening a Netflix movie or series over Zoom/Teleparty allows you to spend time with your friends while saving you travel time that can be spent on studying or resting (that’s not to say you shouldn’t leave your house)! At the end of the day, your friendships are not reliant on big outings, but rather, the small day-to-day interactions and the effort that you put into them, so don’t worry too much about seemingly neglecting your friends just because you can’t go out with them as often as you’d like to.

Most importantly, I think it is essential that you remember to take the time to include breaks between your studies and school commitments, and then split these breaks up between time for yourself (to do hobbies, or even just to breathe really), your friends, and your partner. After all, the whole point of balancing your commitments is to ensure that you don’t burn out, and that you are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the rigorous requirements of JC life, so you must make it a point to actually take care of yourself!

Not All Heroes Wear Crepes

Written by: Chong Tien Ee (19-E3), Zhao Keyang (19-I1), Wong Siew Yee (19-O3)

Designed by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

These writers have risked their waistlines and NAPFA Test Scores (they’re J2s taking the dreaded A-Levels this year) – by reviewing food establishments located near the Bishan Campus. From cheap-and-good to the atas, you’ll find something in here for you! Reviewing these eateries using a strict set of criteria, you’ll be expecting a useful compilation of food options to help you survive your two (or one) years in the wonderful vicinity of Bishan.

Dino Cake House and Cafe

Address: 257 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574384

Distance : 18 min (walk), 5 min (car), 11 min (130 bus and walk 4 min)

This cafe is not located too far away from the bus stop. Cozily tucked away in a hidden alley, one should try to master Google maps before attempting to find this place. Be prepared to frantically run across a street with no traffic lights or zebra crossings to get to your destination. Stepping foot into the cafe, the lack of cafe vibes became uncomfortably apparent. The walls were beautifully (read: plainly) painted in pure white, and the standard tables and chairs did their jobs well enough in holding my weight. Nevertheless, the cafe’s air conditioner provided our hunger enzymes with the optimal temperature to function. With a constant and neverending chatter in the background, it is almost impossible to enjoy a moment of silence with our cake. 

We decided to order a block of walnut crepe ($2.80) which did not bear resemblance to a traditional crepe. It reminded us more of cookies stacked together after extracting all available moisture. However, the texture is surprisingly satisfying and we can taste a hint of walnut. We also ordered their bestseller, a sugar roll ($0.90). This was a welcomed surprise. Although it looks simple, it is moist, light and fluffy, basically all you can expect from a roll. There was no overbearing sweetness and will definitely not induce diabetes. The waiting time is negligible, though the short waiting time can be attributed to the fact that there was almost no one in the cafe at that time.  

Rating:  3/5 

Sembawang Hills Food Centre

Address: 590 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574419

Distance from School: 26 min (walk), 8 min (car), 17 min (162, 410, 52, 163, 167, 855 bus and walk 3 min)

We arrived on a ghostly Monday and lucky for us, this location was easily accessible as it was just opposite the bus stop. However, arriving at our destination proved to be a harrowing experience and this brings me to an important tip for our readers to look out for traffic when traveling there. The food centre was generally clean, with very little people but this was probably because we were not in the food centre during its peak hour. Some of the more popular stalls include Jing Ji Fishball Noodles, Fried Carrot Cake, Ping Kee Popiah and Grill and Pasta. Other upsides would be the short waiting times for the many stalls as well as the fact that WiFi is available (wireless@sg).

Rating:  3/5

S-11

Address: 504 Bishan Street 11, Singapore 570504

Distance from School: 28 min (walk), 10 min (car), 17 min (bus 52 and walk 3 min)

After traveling between the locations in this review, going to S-11 served as a respite for our tired feet as it was conveniently located right next to Bishan MRT station, with a covered footpath connecting the two locations. The waiting time for most of the stalls were pretty prompt, as expected of a food court and we got our meals quite quickly. Some of the best sellers in S-11 would be the BBQ Seafood and Penang Prawn Mee. However, the sweltering conditions of the food court proved to be trying for all of us. Not to mention the dinner crowd who were a noisy bunch. 

Rating:  4/5

Sky Bubble Tea

Address: 282 Bishan Street 22, Singapore 570282

Distance from School: 10 min (walk), 10 min (car)

 

Lies . . .  This bubble tea shop was just disappointing. Although this shop prices its items reasonably ($2 for their best selling cup of original milk tea with pearls), it is a clear example of you get what you pay for. It is a simple combination of bubble and milk tea and that’s it. The pearls have a weirdly artificial taste to it, compared to the chewy texture that one would expect. The tea, although not as bad as the pearls, tasted like a very diluted caffeinated drink. Nevertheless, if you just want to have a cold drink, there’s no harm buying bubble tea here. Location wise, Sky Bubble Tea is a reasonable distance away from the campus. 

Rating: 1/5

Menage Cafe

Address: 6 Sin Ming Rd, #01-01/02, Singapore 575585

Distance: 16 min( walk), 4 min (car), 8 min (bus 130 and walk 3 min)

This cafe is easily the most unique location in this list. Patrons are encouraged to bring their pets to the cafe and patrons without pets are welcomed too. This is a good place to interact with animals and have a meal (they offer food for pets as well). This cafe is a little on the pricey side so should you go there, we recommend bringing more cash. The interior of the cafe is very attractive to youths as it gives a warm and homely vibe. However, we do think that the food and atmosphere at the cafe justify the price tag. Do take note that Menage Cafe is closed on Mondays. The signature Fish & Chips ($17.90), Duck Confit ($18.90) and Spicy Crabmeat Linguine ($17.90) are a few of their recommended dishes.

Rating:  4/5 

 

You and Your Subject Combination

 

Written by: Clarence Sim (19-A6), Beverly Tan (19-E3), Alyssa Minjoot (19-I1), Dillon Phang (19-I4), Aloysius Tng (19-U4), Wong Sean Yew (19-U4)

Designed by: Lee Entong (19-U2)

 

We at The Origin* are sure that some of you definitely have many dilemmas about what to do in light of the upcoming Subject Combination Proposal Exercise (SCOPE), and our team would like to bring to you some information on the different subjects one can offer for the A-levels! 

 

Interviews and our own experiences came together to bring you this much-awaited article. There are MOE subject syllabus documents linked as well! Just look out for the orange text in the article. 

 

Subject Combinations

Choosing a subject combination is of paramount importance, due to the ramifications it can have on one’s future. Here are some thoughts on how to manage this difficult choice.

When considering what stream you should take, the two factors you should consider are interest and viability.

The rigour and content for every A-level subject is naturally high. When studying for them, you will inevitably feel drained at some point in time. Interest should hence be considered, and prioritized, when choosing your combination. If you already dislike a particular subject, you shouldn’t make your life harder by choosing to torture yourself by forcing yourself through it. In contrast, if you love or are interested in a subject, you should choose it as liking the subject in the first place can reduce the pain you feel when studying. 

The viability of a subject combination is also important in deciding the subjects to take. We’re sure that the teachers have already mentioned how you should check your target university’s website for your preferred courses’ prerequisite subjects, but we would like to reiterate this piece of useful advice.

 

Should I take arts (or science)?

Photo taken by: Mr Marc Kenji Lim

 

There is a stigma surrounding the arts – they do not offer many future career options. This is a reputation that is thoroughly undeserved, as there are many scholarships specifically for arts students and the variety of jobs available for arts students have grown far beyond the stereotypical fields such as law. Now, arts students can obtain jobs in different sectors, be it human resources, teaching and even in politics. We would hence like to encourage students to consider all options, rather than restricting themselves to the sciences just because they think their future would be brighter if they took that path. 

However, for local universities, the arts do not require many prerequisites, especially when compared to science courses. Thus, if one is still undecided about what university courses to take, one could stick to tried and tested science subjects in JC, so that they can join any course they want in universities. 

However, it is undeniable that arts subjects provide a solid foundation for future arts courses and could provide an advantage when applying for competitive humanities university courses in overseas and local universities. Thus, if you have your sights set on the arts, go for it!

 

Should I take a hybrid combination?

If you do not wish to pursue a major that requires two H2 Sciences in University, you may consider a hybrid combination. A hybrid combination is versatile for university applications as you would be able to pursue Engineering (if you pick physics), or a number of Science courses while also having a Humanities background for Arts majors. As Biology must be paired with Chemistry, you would need to choose between Physics and Chemistry while Math is a practical part of your combination. Most hybrid students take Economics but any mix of Arts subjects other than Geography and History (due to timetabling clashes) are viable.

Photo taken by: Mr Marc Kenji Lim

 

What contrasting subject should I take?

Looking across the cohort, the majority of students in Science stream offer Economics as their contrasting subject. You may think Economics is an ideal subject as it does not involve essays similar to History and Geography, however, essay writing is a crucial portion in Economics, and in fact all Humanities subjects. Economics is seen as the most versatile option amongst the humanities due to the similarities it shares with the maths and sciences (graphs) and is often seen as the most “muggable”. You’d expect to deal with real-world concepts that are rather simple to understand, but in a more logical and formal terminology. Other popular ones include Geography, History, Literature in English, Translation (Chinese) and China Studies in Chinese (CSC) (regarding CSC, check out Bridging the Cultural Gap: A Guide to CSC). Translation and CSC are perhaps 2 more unfamiliar subjects as you wouldn’t know of them from secondary school. As for Humanities/Arts Stream, almost everyone offers Mathematics as their contrasting subject. There aren’t many other options.

 

Should I take Biology or Physics?

Photo taken by: Ang Wei Ning (EJC Media)

The choice between the two will be important in narrowing down which University course and career you are eligible for. You should look up on university websites to find out which subject will better fit your ideal university course. Contrary to popular belief, Biology is not compulsory for taking Medicine and Pharmacy in University. Local medicine schools do accept Physics students, though the competition will be tougher for you especially since the majority of Biology students there would have a headstart content-wise. If you are sure that you are interested in entering a Biology-related career like Medicine, you should take Biology. If at this point you are more unsure of your career choice, perhaps Physics will be the more sensible option. Physics involves solving more mathematical problems that are applied to real-world physics problems, hence you will need a strong foundation in Mathematics as well. Instead of rote memorising, try to understand the meaning behind formulas and definitions. Generally, the A-level syllabus involves less memorising and regurgitating of formulas and definitions, and instead more application questions. You should also be more observant about phenomena related to Physics concepts that are present in our everyday lives, since many examination-style questions are based on these. For Biology, as described by a Biology student, Lee En Tong (19-U2), you will face a much more rigorous content base, which involves even more memorising and mugging. Just like Physics, there are application questions that may not be fully present in the lecture notes. You will need to focus more on staying up to pace with the lessons since the lessons are so fast-paced. Concept maps and topic summaries may help. 

 

Photo taken by: Ang Wei Ning (EJC Media)

 

Should I offer KI?

Knowledge and Inquiry (KI) is the study of epistemology, fitted into the A-levels “to be taken in lieu of General Paper (GP) for those craving little intellectual deaths”, to quote KI student, Lee Keng Yan (19-U1). The subject, dabbling with knowledge’s nature and construction, is not for everyone, for three main reasons. Firstly, KI has no clear equivalent in Secondary subjects and University courses. This means that KI will have a steep learning curve. Secondly, most universities, locally and internationally, treat KI as the equivalent of GP, despite the difference in difficulty, and only a select few overseas universities acknowledge KI as a separate subject. This may hinder applications, as an A in KI is substantially harder to achieve than an A in GP. In addition, KI requires independent motivation, preferably of a larger scale than simply not wishing to fail. The subject syllabus demands that students be familiar with concepts and theories that cannot be fully understood without outside reading and self-learning. There is a compulsory individual coursework component, the aptly named Independent Study, that necessitates personal investment. Finally, the subject itself  is extremely rigorous, and students are expected to be extremely discerning and disciplined. Essays, in particular, will have you disgraced and stripped of your honour should you misinterpret a question demand. The subject is more than GP+.

However, at the journey’s peak, one can expect to enter University already battle-hardened, with rigorous research experience and a toolbox of useful conceptual frameworks under your belt. With a clearer sense and vision in multiple fields, KI will definitely change your perspective on many key issues.

If you are still undeterred, go on and try the entrance test, which will give a small taste of the issues to be grappled with. Come with open mind and mouth.

 

Should I offer Music?

Eunoia is one of the few JCs that offers H2 Music with the Music Elective Programme (MEP). However, the workload is heavy, to say the least from performance and composition to a skill-based written paper. In addition to the six hours a week in Music lectures and tutorials, one needs to devote a substantial amount of time to practice and compose. Despite the intimidating timetable, Eunoia MEP is a place where music goes beyond the ‘A’ level syllabus and where each and every musician has grown to be better musicians, as testified by Ng Weihan, an EJC MEP alumnus.

 

Should I offer Art?

When the famed painter Henri Matisse said “Creativity takes courage”, he had just unknowingly summed up H2 Art. With 3 hours of coursework and 2 hours of Study of Visual Arts (SOVA) every week, H2 Art students spend lots of time to perfect their craft. According to H2 Art student, Clare Lam (19-I1), the environment at EJ Art is “very chill and nurturing as the teachers try their best to guide students to find their art styles and create works that best cater to their interests”. If you’re up for the challenge, take the upcoming diagnostic test. H2 Art does not require one to study art in secondary school, so everyone is welcome to take the diagnostic test. 

 

What should I expect after taking Third Language?

Taking a third language in JC is a big step up from O level. In the words of Sherry Mak (19-A6), a H2 German student, “the language becomes a part of your life.” The lessons are held at the MOE Language Centre in Bishan on two evenings every week which is compensated by more free time during school hours. With a third language, one has more opportunities to study overseas. Furthermore, one can be able to immerse in the culture through trips and exchanges as well as projects. 

Subject syllabus document links: H2 French, H2 German, H2 Spanish, H2 Japanese

 

Should I offer F Math?

F Math, known as H2 Further Mathematics, is basically H2 Mathematics but in greater depth and more application-based. We asked Lin Wangyu (19-U5) what were some key requirements to take the subject and he cited “perseverance and a passion to learn” (besides being good in Math of course). Do note that all Further Math combinations require students to take H2 Physics and H2 Mathematics. Many students taking Further Math take Economics or China Studies in Chinese (CSC), so if you want to take a different humanities subject, you have to approach the teachers during SCOPE and your proposed subject combination will be subject to the teachers’ approval (pun totally unintended). Daunting as it may be, take the test if you have the passion for Math and we wish you all the best.  

 

What’s the difference between H1 and H2?

Generally, H1 subjects have three quarters the content of their H2 counterparts. This means that the school will finish the syllabus earlier, up to half a year faster than their H2 counterparts. However, the techniques required for answering questions are similar. For instance, both H2 and H1 Economics require CSQ answering techniques. Often, there is a change in examination format as well. For example, practicals are not tested for the H1 Sciences. H1 Economics does not test essay format questions. However, there is a tradeoff as taking 4 H2s, as compared to 3H2s 1H1 is considering to be ‘safer’, as even if you score badly for one of your H2 subjects, there is a safety net and your rank points suffer less. Also, taking 4 H2s in your first year can allow you to drop one subject to H1 if you find that you cannot cope with the workload, so that can be considered another safety net.

 

Conclusion

Now, your subject combination is not something you should take lightly. We urge all our juniors to be rational decision-makers and consider your interests, ideal university courses and jobs. We hope we have answered most of your queries. If you still have any more questions, feel free to ask Agony Aunt Agatha through this form!

 

 

 

Interview with sustainablelivingej

Hello! We are Charlotte and Suyi from 18-O3 and 18-A3 respectively.

1. What is sustainable living?

Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources. Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering their methods of transportation, energy consumption, and/or diet.

2. How did this account start off?

This account was originally started off by our senior, Hong Jing. We found his work extremely inspiring and impactful, so we volunteered to take over the account and the campaign after he graduated. Considering the fact that he is now serving the nation, he agreed that it would be more impactful as the account is still relevant to our school, and isn’t inactive.

3. What impact do you hope to make?

We hope to shift the focus towards sustainable living in general, instead of the past focus on merely reducing straws. Sustainable living consists of a varied assortment of issues, ranging from Animal Conservation to eco-consciousness to Fast Fashion. We hope that more people would be aware of the small changes they can easily make to their lifestyle, in order to incorporate sustainable living into their everyday lives. We also wish to generate more discussion on topics related to sustainable living, in order to educate more people on what exactly it is, as well as how they themselves can contribute to conserving the World.

4. What motivates you to continue developing this account?

Even before the straw-free movement started in 2018, we were always interested in finding ways to conserve the environment we live in. At the peak of the movement, during which many people were involved by making an effort to purchase and use metal straws, we realised the impact that such campaigns were capable of making. It showed us that even the smallest of actions were able to contribute to a huge change. Coupled with our passion for the environment, we strongly believe that the content this account promotes has great potential to positively influence the people around us. By developing this account to reach out to more people, the world would hopefully become a better place for everyone to live in, through all of our combined efforts.

5. What are some specific environmental issues that you care about?

Charlotte and I both feel as though we have a personal stake in the environment. We both have our issues that we are extremely passionate about. For instance, I am very invested in the topic of fast fashion and feel that as youths, we are the main perpetrators of this environmental issue and it is up to us to resolve it. On the other hand, Charlotte is more interested in issues such as reducing waste, as she believes that eco-consciousness can be applied to our everyday lives. Small actions such as avoiding food packaging can make a huge difference in the long run. Hence, we feel that it is our responsibility to raise awareness for issues.

6. What are your future plans for @sustainablelivingej?

We plan to post regularly on our Instagram account to raise awareness about the environment and its myriad of issues. We also hope to foster engagement and interest in among Eunoians to do their part in saving the earth. In an effort to increase conservation, we will be holding a contest in Eunoia, where people stand a chance to win bubble tea if they give us a shoutout on Instagram and submit an entry via DM about an environmental issue that means a lot to them, along with two solutions to target the issue. In an effort to save the environment, no plastic straws will be provided and winners are encouraged to bring their own reusable straws to drink the bubble tea with.

Bridging the Cultural Gap: A Guide to EJ BSP

Written by: Beverly Tan (19-E3)

Interviewers: Beverly Tan (19-E3) and Zhao Keyang (19-I1)

Designed by: Loh Zheng Lucas (19-A4)

‘Just because you’re bilingual doesn’t mean you’re bicultural’ is a quote that has been etched in my memory for a long time. After attending a seminar conducted by a translator during my BSP camp in Secondary 3, the realisation of the importance of possessing cultural intelligence of both Eastern and Western cultures dawned upon me. As we all know, China’s manpower, natural resources and rapid urbanisation is an indication of its advancements towards superpower status. Due to China’s growing importance, the study of contemporary China is becoming a topic of interest, with the emergence of programmes like BSP.  

Thus, this leads to the crux of my article – what is BSP? Is it a program that promotes the usage of the Chinese language in schools despite its ‘obsoleteness’ in our post-HCL O level days?

BSP stands for Bicultural Studies Programme. It is a programme helmed by MOE that aims to cultivate a deep understanding of both Western and Chinese cultures in students and engage them in tackling the complexities of contemporary China’s local and international issues, such as trade and foreign relations.

For JIP students, applications for BSP commence in Secondary 2. Actual curriculum starts from Secondary 3, spanning until their J2 year, should they decide to continue being part of BSP. As for non-BSP students who are interested in applying for BSP in J1, they must study H2 China Studies in Chinese (CSC) to be admitted into the programme.

I know there are many people who perceive BSP as a dry and boring programme. Well, these assumptions are not true. Through BSP, I had the opportunity to attend seminars, camps and embarked on an overseas immersion trip to Shanghai and Nanjing in Secondary 3 (note: locations of trips differ across all schools offering BSP). In EJ, our BSP teachers make an effort to make BSP as interesting and engaging as possible through discussions and inviting guest speakers to share different perspectives of China. The insights I gained of China’s construction of its rags to riches narrative, from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ in the 20th century to the recognised global superpower it is today, are truly invaluable.

To provide more insights about BSP, I interviewed Dania Tan (19-A5) and Khoo Kiat Lun (19-O2), with the help of Zhao Keyang (19-I1), to share their BSP experiences:

Question 1:  Why did you choose to enter BSP?

Dania: I chose to enter the BSP programme in secondary school as I already had a keen interest in China’s development, as well as its culture. I felt that joining this programme is a good avenue for me to understand China better.

Kiat Lun: I thought that BSP was a meaningful programme. Also, I had a strong interest in both the English and Chinese languages. Through BSP, I hoped that I can better understand Western and Eastern cultures with greater depth.

Question 2: What is the content covered in BSP classes?

Dania: I learned about China’s economy, its social demographic and foreign relations. There was also a series of lessons about analysing one of the ‘Four Classics of Chinese Literature’ – The Dream of the Red Chamber.

Kiat Lun: At the beginning, we learned ancient Chinese history, then we moved on to modern China. We compared its society and economy to other countries. China’s relations with other countries were also discussed. For example, we discussed the ‘One Belt, One Road’ policy and its possible developments.

Question 3: How has BSP shaped your perspective of China?

Dania: Previously, I had very little knowledge on China, so I used to often hear things about how China was backward. After attending BSP lessons, I have learned about how China is actually extremely advanced and has a burgeoning economy.

Kiat Lun: At first, I did not see China as a rising power because I did not know that China had the potential to grow. After attending BSP, I get to see China’s rapid development and potential to advance further.

Question 4: Can you share an unforgettable moment of your BSP journey?

Dania: An unforgettable memory for me would be my BSP trip to China with my BSP batchmates in Secondary 3. I got to experience the way of life in China and  the education system there. I visited many memorial halls and gained deeper insights on China’s history. It was a very rewarding experience as I got to know my classmates better and I had a really good time there. Therefore, I decided to apply for the Eunoia G.O. BSP trip to Chongqing and Chengdu.  

Kiat Lun: During my Sec 3 BSP trip, my friends and I experienced ‘culture shock’ when we had a student exchange session at a local school as the students were very hardworking, which was very different from Singaporean student culture. In the same trip, I participated in an entrepreneurship programme, which was very fun and enriching as I learned more about setting up a business.

Question 5: What are your greatest takeaways from being part of BSP?

Dania: I think that one of the greatest takeaway is that I feel that I have understood China at a greater and deeper level and I think that this will be beneficial for me in the future as China is becoming increasingly influential on a global scale.

Kiat Lun: My greatest takeaways would be the knowledge I gain from attending BSP lessons as I understand more about China. The friendship forged between BSP students from other schools is also another big takeaway.

To conclude, BSP is truly an eye opening programme that I am grateful to be a part of. When I first joined BSP, I was expecting to learn more about China. Instead, I found myself becoming a more culturally intelligent and reflective individual. If you’re a prospective student, do consider joining EJ BSP! We may not have cookies but we can assure you that the weekly one hour BSP lesson is nothing short of fruitful.    

Note: Thank you Dania and Kiat Lun for taking the time to participate in the interviews. Also, special thanks to Lucas for helping with the design.