INTP

Before I went to teach in Singapore, the agency that I work for spent a considerable amount of time preparing us and training us for life overseas. For part of our preparation, we were required to take a battery of personality tests. In the past, I have viewed these types of tests with a grain of sand. I didn't want a test to tell me what I could and could not do, to put my myself in a box and define my strengths and weaknesses.

When I recieved the profile results, I was initially excited about the results. I showed them to a few family members, and most of them responded with reserved fascination or indifference. Then my Grandpa noted to me that fortune tellers often come up with similar things with much less effort. After hearing that, my interest in the tests slowly died down and I stuck them in a closet in my parents' home in Springfield, Missouri. After a few months of buzzing around the globe, I completely forgot about these tests.

Last week, after being out of the country for over ten months, I found the personality test results and looked at them again. Reading through my scientifically tested psychological profile gave me a really odd feeling. Nearly all of the struggles that I have had over the past year, and many others years in my life, can be filtered through the conclusions reached by the Meyers-Briggs personality profile.

According to the test, I am introverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving (INTP). The profile explanation sheet states that the strengths of people who have similar personalities are "especially interested in mastering and perfecting theoretical or complex issues," "quiet, serious, and thoughtful," and "eagerly consider more creative yet reasonable approaches to problems."

The weaknesses of people like me is that they "sometimes neglect the more human side of issues," "set such high standards... they easily become discouraged," and "intimidate others with [their] independent and confident style."

As a side note, only 1% of the American population have the INTP personality type.

Link
TypeLogic
INTP

UBUNTU

Lately, I've been using a lot of software that I didn't pay for. No, I haven't been stealing or downloading from thepiratebay.org; I have been using a Linux distribution called Ubuntu. Linux is an operating system, similar to Microsoft Windows or Mac OSX, but the difference is that it is freely distributed. You don't have to pay a dime for it. The programmers who volunteer and contribute know that they are part of a community effort. They also believe that information should be as freely available as possible. They believe that computer use shouldn't be limited by physical handicap or language. Linux programmers also believe that software should be easy to modify, the source code should be available, and computer use should be unhampered by artificial restraints such as DRM.

It also helps that the effort is sponsored by multimillionaire Mark Shuttleworth, the South African who paid the Russians 20 million dollars to fly into space.

Link
Ubuntu
Ubuntu Philosophy
Mark Shuttleworth's Blog

CAT EMPIRE

Right before I left Singapore, my buddy Dave called me up and told me that I needed to go see an Australian band called the Cat Empire down at the Esplanade. I had been completely exhausted from moving the school and finishing up the year, and when I saw the band I was completely blown away by the band's energy.

Cat Empire presented a fusion of styles. There was a jazz trumpet player who stole the show with Cab Calloway style vocals, a guy on turn tables who spent his free moments doing crazy dancing, a long haired guy who rapped witty vocals, and a keyboardist and a drummer who both managed to keep up with the improvisations of their band members.

Back in America and sitting in front of the computer, I looked up this band and I was surprised to find that they had followed me back to the Midwest. They were in Singapore last week and last weekend they were in Lawrence, KS.

According to their tour schedule, they will be in New York, Chicago, all over Canada, and performing at Bonnaroo during the next several weeks.

Link
The Cat Empire

100% SUCCESS RATE

I've been to lots of places, but I've only seen businesses like this in Singapore.

THE LAST KAMPONG

In Singapore the vast majority of people live in HDB flats.  These
are large groups of identical , low-cost apartments that have been
built by the housing development board in the last forty years.

In the past, Singaporeans lived in kampongs, little traditional
villages.  If you ask an older Singaporean they will fondly reminisce
about these places.  They will tell you stories of raising chickens and
fishermen bringing in their latest catch, village weddings and parties,
and little boys chasing little girls with slingshots.

The vast majority of these kampongs have gone by the wayside, discouraged
by the government and sold to the government. Fortunately, I have been able
to quietly observe one of the few remaining kampongs over the past year.  There
is a small plot of land on Kampong Bahru road that functions as a kampong.  It
consists of a rickety shack and is surrounded by a sheet metal fence.  I've seen
villagers adding on to their shack, taking care of chickens, and greeting people
who pass their dwelling.

I learned from the my school's janitor that the kampong is allowed to exist
because the land is owned by Malaysia and contains the grave of some Malaysian
royalty.

LEAVING SINGAPORE

Once again, I am blogging from the Changi Airport in Singapore.  It is 4:30 am and in an hour and a half I will be leaving on a journey that will take me half way around the world.  I will stop in Japan, Portland, Minneapolis, and, finally, Springfield, Missouri.

 

I have a seven hour layover in Portland. If anyone knows anything good to do there, please leave your suggestions in the comments section.

 

God willing, I will make it home safe.