The Good Old Days
Posted Friday, 29 July, 2011 at 3:53 PM.
“So what do you think about this heritage fest?”
I turned around and see a man, his glasses pushed up and an orange pen in his, “We’re doing a survey,” he says, “do you mind helping out?”
To be honest, I expected the heritage festival, held at Novena Square, to be boring and educational. I got the educational part right, but not about the part where the festival was boring. Upon my arrival, I witness a breath taking performance by a group of dancers. Watching them move gracefully to the beat of the music, their beaming faces, I was somewhat moved by their performance, and most importantly, the pride they had in their heritage.
The festival finale featured live performances, including dances from various ethnic groups, music from the 50s along with several skits. Themed “Family Fun”, the festival featured several exhibitions such as; The Family Celebrates, Down Memory Lane, Iconic Landmarks in Singapore, Entertainment in Singapore and Shopping in Singapore. All of which showcased how families in Singapore bonded. As I walked through the exhibition fringe, I realized how a “de-evolution” occurred. Videos games turned into board games with wrinkled covers which turned into toys such as five stones and ‘chaptek’, games my mother played, I was walking down memory lane and enjoying every moment of it. Giggles filled the air as children tested their skills at these games, practically extinct until now. However, they failed miserably, proving the fact that in this era, the skills of a player is in his thumbs and not his body.
“The games here are different from what I play at home,” Henry Chao said, revealing that his Xbox at home was the only thing he played nowadays. When asked on how the games from the past faired against his current technological hub, the twelve-year-old smiled, “My Xbox is definitely better, the games here gets boring after a while.”
His mother, however, had a different opinion. Having tried her hand at a game of five stones and conquering it she said with a laugh, “I’m actually enjoying this more than my son, even though I brought him here for his entertainment. It’s like going back to my childhood.”
Indeed, the heritage festival was bringing nostalgia to many adults, their joy written on their faces but for some, such as 17-year-old Alicia Long, the festival was a little plain and not as entertaining as she hoped. “It’s not very well planned, the exhibition is quite confusing, it’s here, there, everywhere! The showcases aren’t as engaging as I hope,” she added.
“Personally, I felt the heritage festival held here is a complete success and I have gain much insight on our local heritage, I think the event is worth going to, especially for adults who miss the good old days,” I smiled.
Labels: News Story
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