Q 1. Do the respective authors use these traditional Chinese rituals (eating paper dissolved in drink, burning of paper money and houses, lightinng of joss-sticks and praying to dead ancestors) just for irony or for more profound purposes? What are these purposes?

A : It is more for profound purposes as it is mainly practiced by Buddhists. For the story Tanjong Rhu, Madam Li often make her way to the ancestral room to 'communicate' or 'speak' to Mr Li's father, which have passed away. She did not go to the extent to drink eating paper dissolved in it, but she did commence the daily ritual of lighting up the joss-stick and praying to the dead. Therefore, these tradional practices are practiced by Madam Li for it's the only way she can communicate with people she have loved and died.

Q 2. Would you yourself, as a mordern young Singaporean, see the relevance of such cultural rituals as necessary still, or are a hindrance to progress and enlightened thinking?

A : I personally think that it is alright to have such cultural rituals being practiced in my soceity as it is their traditional. It is not seen as a hindrance to progress and enlightened thinking for it is not a sin to prcatice their own cultural rituals. Many may find it a trouble to do all this rituals but these simple rituals may have brought the family closer as they can have one more topic to talk on. Overtime, as the society progresses, this rituals may disappear as many youngsters do find it a hindrance. However, when the elderly practices these rituals, there are many disadvantages to it like creating a hindrance, to others, which may find them boring to carry out this practices everytime.

Q 3. Do you think the elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the contemporary world? How far is it a virtue to remain contented likd old Mrs Li and think that there is nothing more than a person, especially an elderly one, can want?

A : I do not think all elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the contemporary world. Many of the elderly still do interact with their grandchildren when they have time and they still do catch up with the mordern times like these.However, some elderly still do carry traditional and out-dated thoughts in their mind which makes many think that elderly in Singapore at out of touch with the contemporary world. It may be quite difficult for a vitue to remain contended like old Mrs Li and think that there is nothing more that a person can want. In modern times like this, many are not easily satisfacted. they demand more from their surroundings, thus it is far from easy for a virtue to remain contented.

Q 4. Is looking back at the past necessarily a good thing? This particular story uses the past to affirm strong ties, emotion and sentiment, but when can it become a negative habit?

A : Looking back at the past can be a good thing. Remembering all the good times he/she have spent with their family members or friends may aid one become more motivated to move on and find the happiness again in the future with his/her new friends. However, when looking back at the past changes from reminiscence to nostalgia, it may become a harm for the person may get a little too engrossed in it's past and do not want to move on. In the story, Mrs Li did look back to the extent that she could not differentiate the past from now, and it is a bad habit already.