Friday, 29 February 2008
Lucky Leap?Y
29 February, a date you only see once in 4 years. Does it really mean that it's a lucky day? I doubt so this year. No offence to those who're only able to celebrate any occasions which can only be brought up every 4 years, but today started off we'll and became a complete disaster.
Morning was especially breezy as I just got my hair cut yesterday. I came across different reactions from different people; some felt that it looks cool on me, making me look more energetic and hyped up, others thought that I look like "a Auntie". My hair is awful.
Then I got back my Physics Common Test paper. It was up to my expectations.
The 2 Art periods were my free-periods as Miss Tan's away for Secondary 1 Cohort Camp. What's weird was that the school actually assigned a teacher to just 1 Art student. So I told the teacher to have his break in the staff room while I stay in the library to do my stuff. I wanted to complete my guides work (the Mother's Story and the article on a leader for public speaking). Request granted. He was glad he didn't have to watch me too. Since I would be in the library the 2 entire periods, he was kind enough to tell me that he would inform the second period re-leave teacher.
In the library, I was sitting among the Sec 1s and 2s who didn't go for the cohort camp. I went to the shelves and within 10 minutes, found an article from the book "Leaders of Singapore" on my all time role model, Mr Lee Kuan Yew (not that I want to be a polititian or whatsoever). So I took this huge, red, hard-cover book to the photocopy room. The 2 ladies there took about 15 minutes to handle that heavy book and print the 4 pages I needed. Back at the library, I complete the draft for my Mother's Story just when then bell for recess went. So I slot everything, my sketch book, article, Mother's Story, into my A2-sized, clear plastic art folder. I was really relief to have completed all that was needed to finish. I brought everything up to my desk and headed for recess.
Just before A-maths lecture, Mdm Halilah was chasing us all to the auditorium, so I grabbed everything that I would be bringing home and rushed out of the classroom. I put them down on the bench just outside the auditorium to pack properly for easy handling. Then off I hurried in to the auditorium. As I settled down, I realised that my art folder was not with me. I walked down the steps and wanted to sneak back to my class, but I saw Mdm Halilah at the entrance of the auditorium, so I just got back to my seat and thought of going back after the lecture.
However, I was supposed to meet the other YC people for photo-taking at our gigantic banner, hence I forgot all about my folder and had a fun time taking pictures.
I called Isabel after seeing nobody in the canteen to mingle around with. She told me she was wiht Hwee Ling at Parkway Parade and wanted me to join her. Okay, I went there. When we needed to rush back, we unfortunately out of dumbness, took the wrong bus. Eventually we had to brisk-walk all the way back to school.
Hwee Ling wanted to take pictures just for remembrance that today was the Leap Day. She went to get her bag with Isabel, so I headed to the toilet first. Guess what? My period came -.- Nevermind for that. I had to change into half guides uniform with the ugly blue t-shirt, which made me look like a Filipino maid because of my new haircut. And I found out that the mud print on the back of my t-shirt wasn't properly washed off and it had been there since November?
The enthusiatic group of Sec 3s were late for fall-in for once, together. The company was pathetically small but cute with all the Sec 1s and 2s away. Punishment was very lenient; late-comers had to pump only 10 more. During the meeting time, the guides who had to do public speaking were told to prepare their articles. I realised that my folder was not with me. I was given permission to leave the meeting for a while to get the key to unlock the door of my classroom and look for what was needed.
I ran back and forth from the classroom block to the general office then to the classroom black and back to the canteen just to look for any servants who had that treasure key I was looking for. Got the key, opened the door, quite happy, but couldnt find my folder, then frustration aroused. I locked the room, returned the key and started running around the entire school to possible places where I could have left my folder: the bence outside the auditorium, the canteen where my bag was, General Office Loft and Found, asked the servants, nothing. I saw Kristal on the way. I just told her that I had lost my Art folder. Somehow, I didn't know why, I shedded 2 drops of tears. She asked me if I was okay. I jus wiped off my tears and continued running and searching.
After about 30minutes, I gave up and went back to the meeting area. They were like, "Chiawmin's back!" I looked at everyone, including Mrs Yap and Mdm Azlyn, and I spoke my mind," Sorry Mrs Yap, I lost my art folder. Can I have my public speaking next week? My Mother's Story is in the folder as well. I can't give it to you now." Everyone was stunned and I could feel that they were worrying for me. I wanted to take a seat to calm myself down. Mrs Yap asked," Do you want to go and look for your folder? Because I know it's important to you. It's okay, you can have more time to look for it." I was already half-way to giving up. "Do you want to check all the big bins which are big enough to fit your folder, 'cause ther's a possibility that it may be in one of them." I stared at her blankly, then dashed out of the room. From one bin to another, they were getting more empty. Think about it, by that time of the day, most of them should be cleared as they wouldn't want to attract pests over the weekends, right? I headed back, and they stared at me, hoping for some good news. I shook my head. Erika asked if I'd check the Art Studio, but I told her the 2 studios were not opened that entire day. Mrs Yap said that people could have just left the folder there seeing that it should belong to the Art department. Without a word, I dashed out again. I seriously gave up no matter how Yuyi wanted to accompany me to go and look for it.
I had ran for about 1 hour, non-stop, all sweaty and filled with frustration and anger and the complete loser feeling seemed so real. For everytime when I try to do my best, the results would show that the efforts put in were all nothing but a pile of waste (s**t).
So is that what Lucky Leap really means?
Morning was especially breezy as I just got my hair cut yesterday. I came across different reactions from different people; some felt that it looks cool on me, making me look more energetic and hyped up, others thought that I look like "a Auntie". My hair is awful.
Then I got back my Physics Common Test paper. It was up to my expectations.
The 2 Art periods were my free-periods as Miss Tan's away for Secondary 1 Cohort Camp. What's weird was that the school actually assigned a teacher to just 1 Art student. So I told the teacher to have his break in the staff room while I stay in the library to do my stuff. I wanted to complete my guides work (the Mother's Story and the article on a leader for public speaking). Request granted. He was glad he didn't have to watch me too. Since I would be in the library the 2 entire periods, he was kind enough to tell me that he would inform the second period re-leave teacher.
In the library, I was sitting among the Sec 1s and 2s who didn't go for the cohort camp. I went to the shelves and within 10 minutes, found an article from the book "Leaders of Singapore" on my all time role model, Mr Lee Kuan Yew (not that I want to be a polititian or whatsoever). So I took this huge, red, hard-cover book to the photocopy room. The 2 ladies there took about 15 minutes to handle that heavy book and print the 4 pages I needed. Back at the library, I complete the draft for my Mother's Story just when then bell for recess went. So I slot everything, my sketch book, article, Mother's Story, into my A2-sized, clear plastic art folder. I was really relief to have completed all that was needed to finish. I brought everything up to my desk and headed for recess.
Just before A-maths lecture, Mdm Halilah was chasing us all to the auditorium, so I grabbed everything that I would be bringing home and rushed out of the classroom. I put them down on the bench just outside the auditorium to pack properly for easy handling. Then off I hurried in to the auditorium. As I settled down, I realised that my art folder was not with me. I walked down the steps and wanted to sneak back to my class, but I saw Mdm Halilah at the entrance of the auditorium, so I just got back to my seat and thought of going back after the lecture.
However, I was supposed to meet the other YC people for photo-taking at our gigantic banner, hence I forgot all about my folder and had a fun time taking pictures.
I called Isabel after seeing nobody in the canteen to mingle around with. She told me she was wiht Hwee Ling at Parkway Parade and wanted me to join her. Okay, I went there. When we needed to rush back, we unfortunately out of dumbness, took the wrong bus. Eventually we had to brisk-walk all the way back to school.
Hwee Ling wanted to take pictures just for remembrance that today was the Leap Day. She went to get her bag with Isabel, so I headed to the toilet first. Guess what? My period came -.- Nevermind for that. I had to change into half guides uniform with the ugly blue t-shirt, which made me look like a Filipino maid because of my new haircut. And I found out that the mud print on the back of my t-shirt wasn't properly washed off and it had been there since November?
The enthusiatic group of Sec 3s were late for fall-in for once, together. The company was pathetically small but cute with all the Sec 1s and 2s away. Punishment was very lenient; late-comers had to pump only 10 more. During the meeting time, the guides who had to do public speaking were told to prepare their articles. I realised that my folder was not with me. I was given permission to leave the meeting for a while to get the key to unlock the door of my classroom and look for what was needed.
I ran back and forth from the classroom block to the general office then to the classroom black and back to the canteen just to look for any servants who had that treasure key I was looking for. Got the key, opened the door, quite happy, but couldnt find my folder, then frustration aroused. I locked the room, returned the key and started running around the entire school to possible places where I could have left my folder: the bence outside the auditorium, the canteen where my bag was, General Office Loft and Found, asked the servants, nothing. I saw Kristal on the way. I just told her that I had lost my Art folder. Somehow, I didn't know why, I shedded 2 drops of tears. She asked me if I was okay. I jus wiped off my tears and continued running and searching.
After about 30minutes, I gave up and went back to the meeting area. They were like, "Chiawmin's back!" I looked at everyone, including Mrs Yap and Mdm Azlyn, and I spoke my mind," Sorry Mrs Yap, I lost my art folder. Can I have my public speaking next week? My Mother's Story is in the folder as well. I can't give it to you now." Everyone was stunned and I could feel that they were worrying for me. I wanted to take a seat to calm myself down. Mrs Yap asked," Do you want to go and look for your folder? Because I know it's important to you. It's okay, you can have more time to look for it." I was already half-way to giving up. "Do you want to check all the big bins which are big enough to fit your folder, 'cause ther's a possibility that it may be in one of them." I stared at her blankly, then dashed out of the room. From one bin to another, they were getting more empty. Think about it, by that time of the day, most of them should be cleared as they wouldn't want to attract pests over the weekends, right? I headed back, and they stared at me, hoping for some good news. I shook my head. Erika asked if I'd check the Art Studio, but I told her the 2 studios were not opened that entire day. Mrs Yap said that people could have just left the folder there seeing that it should belong to the Art department. Without a word, I dashed out again. I seriously gave up no matter how Yuyi wanted to accompany me to go and look for it.
I had ran for about 1 hour, non-stop, all sweaty and filled with frustration and anger and the complete loser feeling seemed so real. For everytime when I try to do my best, the results would show that the efforts put in were all nothing but a pile of waste (s**t).
So is that what Lucky Leap really means?
. . . . .
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Get over it, c'monY
It's quite true, life still goes on no matter what happens. 开心也是过一天,不开心也是过一天,倒不如开心地过一天. Like what I've always told people around me, the lowest points of our lives are just challenges which we have to overcome in order to be stronger and understand life. Somehow I've learnt more about myself these 2 days.
I'm thankful for those who pulled open that door which almost shut, for your encouragement and advices, time and concern, I felt the need for me to get back to who I used to be morally in order to get back on track and find the lost racing track.
Everything seems fine now, though I'm still feeling rather down and unhappy. After the serious "down pour" last night, my eyes felt heavy even when I woke up and washed my face. I was quite untuned during lessons, except for CHOICES. Even during A-maths when Mdm Halilah called for me to solve question 11a on Quadratic Inequalities, I was so fearful. The usual perfectionist wanted to solve it on a piece of paper then present the working nicely on the board, but Mdm Halilah sarcastically asked me to do it directly on the board, saying," Chiaw Min, the difference between doing on a piece of paper and on the board is just that now you're holding a pencil and on the board, you're using a marker, so can you get a marker and just continue?" I was seriously lack of confidence and was asking Kenneth who was solving 11b next to me to help, which was totally impossible and I knew. So I just solve and had some minor transfer-calculation error which was corrected and surprisingly, with a sigh of relief, I got the correct answer. I knew Mdm Halilah wanted to test me.
Well,
Vivian did help me open up to myself to face the truth, which led me to see all the awful sides of me that I've been avoiding. Realisation is a hope for change. That was something I learnt from her.
Jin Jin Kor Kor's guidance was really meaningful to me. He could have just spend his precious time studying but he choose to hear me out and help me find my way on my own. I did see a spark of light after reading through the conversation we had on MSN, but was probably too exhausted after the long day out and the emotional break down. I see the light shining now, kor. Thanks for being there for me.
Isabel too; though she didn't know how to handle situations like this, the least she did was to lend her listening ear and be with me silently ( the best way, she felt, to console me).
Si Yuan was the last person who finally shook me awake. I was ranting about being such a loser so much to the extent that everything we talked about was linked to me being a loser and all the negative stuff. She said she didn't know me, for I'm not the Chiaw Min she used to know, the determined and "never say die" attitude was gone and that I'm a pessimist. I told her that I'd lost my direction and that I'd been a optimist for quite long already. She was really pissed off with me that she even used the F-word on me and even emphasized that she couldn't believe that she's actually doing that. She openly said she wanted to slap me.
Isabel, Yi Jing and she were having lunch at Burger King while I had a little nap on the table. After I woke up, everything seemed not so tense, not as bad as it was before. Okay, so I'm still optimistic after all. Si Yuan, I'm back; Hi.
Thanks to Crystal and YanYing mentors as well. Thanks for your words of concern.
It's time for me to get back on my feet and trying walking again before I continue to run my own race. Thank you people for being in the crowd of spectators to cheer me on. Appreciate it a lot, really.
I'm thankful for those who pulled open that door which almost shut, for your encouragement and advices, time and concern, I felt the need for me to get back to who I used to be morally in order to get back on track and find the lost racing track.
Everything seems fine now, though I'm still feeling rather down and unhappy. After the serious "down pour" last night, my eyes felt heavy even when I woke up and washed my face. I was quite untuned during lessons, except for CHOICES. Even during A-maths when Mdm Halilah called for me to solve question 11a on Quadratic Inequalities, I was so fearful. The usual perfectionist wanted to solve it on a piece of paper then present the working nicely on the board, but Mdm Halilah sarcastically asked me to do it directly on the board, saying," Chiaw Min, the difference between doing on a piece of paper and on the board is just that now you're holding a pencil and on the board, you're using a marker, so can you get a marker and just continue?" I was seriously lack of confidence and was asking Kenneth who was solving 11b next to me to help, which was totally impossible and I knew. So I just solve and had some minor transfer-calculation error which was corrected and surprisingly, with a sigh of relief, I got the correct answer. I knew Mdm Halilah wanted to test me.
Well,
Vivian did help me open up to myself to face the truth, which led me to see all the awful sides of me that I've been avoiding. Realisation is a hope for change. That was something I learnt from her.
Jin Jin Kor Kor's guidance was really meaningful to me. He could have just spend his precious time studying but he choose to hear me out and help me find my way on my own. I did see a spark of light after reading through the conversation we had on MSN, but was probably too exhausted after the long day out and the emotional break down. I see the light shining now, kor. Thanks for being there for me.
Isabel too; though she didn't know how to handle situations like this, the least she did was to lend her listening ear and be with me silently ( the best way, she felt, to console me).
Si Yuan was the last person who finally shook me awake. I was ranting about being such a loser so much to the extent that everything we talked about was linked to me being a loser and all the negative stuff. She said she didn't know me, for I'm not the Chiaw Min she used to know, the determined and "never say die" attitude was gone and that I'm a pessimist. I told her that I'd lost my direction and that I'd been a optimist for quite long already. She was really pissed off with me that she even used the F-word on me and even emphasized that she couldn't believe that she's actually doing that. She openly said she wanted to slap me.
Isabel, Yi Jing and she were having lunch at Burger King while I had a little nap on the table. After I woke up, everything seemed not so tense, not as bad as it was before. Okay, so I'm still optimistic after all. Si Yuan, I'm back; Hi.
Thanks to Crystal and YanYing mentors as well. Thanks for your words of concern.
It's time for me to get back on my feet and trying walking again before I continue to run my own race. Thank you people for being in the crowd of spectators to cheer me on. Appreciate it a lot, really.
. . . . .
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
total LOSERY
I went to Qian Hu Fish Farm yesterday on an excursion trip under the science department. I bought a fighting fish.
I attended the PLGMSS's Prefect Installation this afternoon. It was pretty nice listening to the stories and cracking jokes with Vivian, Esther and Kevin. Most importantly, we were able to meet all the BBAF (BoBbi And Friends) people except Tessa and another girl who's also part of the NYGR Youth Congress project. It was really great to see all of them again. We took quite some pictures as well. I'll upload them probably during the weekends.
Let's get back to the topic.
What's the first impression you have of a fighting fish? Bold? Determined? Strong? High-endrance? Always in the ever-fighting spirit?
Well, those were my impression of a fighting fish, that's why I bought it. Moreover, it had a cool, dark black body with blue wavy tail that shines under different lighting. So it showed the boldness yet calm and cool that I used to be and yet losing now. It was suppose to be my motivator, but it just died today.
I wanted to feed it some fish food, but the one at home was only for guppies because my mum was afraid that the one for tropical fishes one was expiring, so she got the guppies one and threw the tropical fishes one, and I didn't know. So when I found out, I decided to try feeding it to my fighting fish, but it didn't like it as it gobbled some and spit everything out. I couldn't do anything. Then, I intended to set aside some water so that I could change today, and buy some proper food for him.
So I was really in high spirits to see him on his second day at home, with a packet of live bloddworms and a bottle of worms fish food. When I sat down in front of the container where he should be swimming freely in, he turned out to be stiff and greyish, somehow as though he was covered with a thick layer of wax. The water was rather filthy. I got emotional.
That fish meant a lot to me. Even when my family was asking why did I even spend that extra money to buy something which I had to spend time taking extra care of. Seriously, has been moving downwards in my life; my academics, family matters, CCA, NYC project, or anything. Basically, I haven't been pro-active in anything that I've been doing since school reopened in January.
Right at that moment, I felt like a complete loser, not being able to achieve the best out of anything, even by keeping a fish which should be able to overcome tough living conditions. It's really saddening to see that I had polluted the water and killed my own soul of motivation. To be frank, I've never cried for the death of an animal before, never ever. This shows that my fighting fish meant more than just any other fighting fish, it was a special fish which is graceful and bold.
Goodbye fighting fish. Thank you for awakening me when I was lost. This sacrifice was significant and shall always be.
Don't worry, I won't be purchasing any other fighting fish till I've really settled all my problems and continue to lead a purposeful life.
Special thanks to Vivian who heard me out and gave me some advises and just simply sitting with me. Thanks for your presense.
I attended the PLGMSS's Prefect Installation this afternoon. It was pretty nice listening to the stories and cracking jokes with Vivian, Esther and Kevin. Most importantly, we were able to meet all the BBAF (BoBbi And Friends) people except Tessa and another girl who's also part of the NYGR Youth Congress project. It was really great to see all of them again. We took quite some pictures as well. I'll upload them probably during the weekends.
Let's get back to the topic.
What's the first impression you have of a fighting fish? Bold? Determined? Strong? High-endrance? Always in the ever-fighting spirit?
Well, those were my impression of a fighting fish, that's why I bought it. Moreover, it had a cool, dark black body with blue wavy tail that shines under different lighting. So it showed the boldness yet calm and cool that I used to be and yet losing now. It was suppose to be my motivator, but it just died today.
I wanted to feed it some fish food, but the one at home was only for guppies because my mum was afraid that the one for tropical fishes one was expiring, so she got the guppies one and threw the tropical fishes one, and I didn't know. So when I found out, I decided to try feeding it to my fighting fish, but it didn't like it as it gobbled some and spit everything out. I couldn't do anything. Then, I intended to set aside some water so that I could change today, and buy some proper food for him.
So I was really in high spirits to see him on his second day at home, with a packet of live bloddworms and a bottle of worms fish food. When I sat down in front of the container where he should be swimming freely in, he turned out to be stiff and greyish, somehow as though he was covered with a thick layer of wax. The water was rather filthy. I got emotional.
That fish meant a lot to me. Even when my family was asking why did I even spend that extra money to buy something which I had to spend time taking extra care of. Seriously, has been moving downwards in my life; my academics, family matters, CCA, NYC project, or anything. Basically, I haven't been pro-active in anything that I've been doing since school reopened in January.
Right at that moment, I felt like a complete loser, not being able to achieve the best out of anything, even by keeping a fish which should be able to overcome tough living conditions. It's really saddening to see that I had polluted the water and killed my own soul of motivation. To be frank, I've never cried for the death of an animal before, never ever. This shows that my fighting fish meant more than just any other fighting fish, it was a special fish which is graceful and bold.
Goodbye fighting fish. Thank you for awakening me when I was lost. This sacrifice was significant and shall always be.
Don't worry, I won't be purchasing any other fighting fish till I've really settled all my problems and continue to lead a purposeful life.
Special thanks to Vivian who heard me out and gave me some advises and just simply sitting with me. Thanks for your presense.
. . . . .
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Thinking Day Rally 2008Y
*Vivian extra, guide-stewardess wanna-be, still act cool, no wonder mentor wanna tease you... haha*This event is probably the grandest guides event each year, commemorating World Thinking Day(better known as Founder's Day) and having ceremonies and performances all by girls ourselves.
This year's Thinking Day Rally was probably the most memorable one. Not only did Puan Noor Aisha turned up for the rally with so many international friends from USA, Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vanuatu, and many more, it was also the last time TK guides would be receiving 2 awards; or rather, I should put it as it would be the last time TK guides 2nd comapany would ever receive an award due to the unfortunate decrease of enrolment each year (if only we were located further away from TKG). It's really an honour if I were to shake Puan Noor Aisha's hand which I never will have a chance to.
Anyway, both the 1st and 2nd company got a Silver for Puan Noor Aisha Award, and guides is most probably going to achieve a Gold next year since we've already combined the 2 companies. It'll be so cool, like as though our batch will make the difference, obtaining TK guides' first ever Gold award. =)
Somehow when I enjoyed the whole event, it didn't seem as draggy as the previous 2 years. Here are some videos and pictures taken at the Singapore Indoor Stadium:
see that black banner at the top? it's TK guides' submission
the World Flag/ Colours
TK guides'08;
discovering our potential, every guide a leader
. . . . .
Friday, 22 February 2008
End of Common TestY
Common Test had finally ended, with 3 out of 8 papers (of which only 6 can be studied from textbooks) I did not revise through because I fell asleep the night before.
Prediction...
Expected good results: Physics, Chemistry (didn't revise for both)
Relatively okay results: English L, Higher Chinese L, A-maths, Social Studies
Don't-even-dare-to-think-about results: E-maths, Geography Elective
Fine, I've just got to be patient and wait till next week.
Anyway, many funny things happened, especially on Thursday, 1 which I really have to share.
Our last paper of the day ended at 9.45am, which meant that there would still be 1 period of PE lesson. However, only 12 out of 29 people brought their PE attire. On a normal Thursday, we should have CHOICES programme for 3 periods, so those without PE attire gave the reasons either they thought it was recess immediately after Common Test or they thought they would have CHOICES and their activities did not require the PE attire on.
So, as a form of punishment, Mr Yusri came up with the funniest 1 I've ever encounter. Usually, I'd treat every single punishment seriously, but this 1 was really really super duper hillarious. He made the 17 of us stand in a straight row and walk. Initially it was 17 rounds along the edge of the netball court / assembly plaza. It seriously looked dumb, like as though 3J was rioting. The lower secondary students were having their recess, wondering why we were walking rounds and rounds in full school uniform in such an orderly manner.
Everyone was laughing and giggling away, even Mr Yusri himself. He always come up with silly punishments which makes me laugh. Last year, he punished 2 of my classmates to hold the broom stick and guard at each entrance of the classroom like some soldiers with their "riffles" because we were having History lesson.
By the time we completed 9 rounds, we still had 8 more to go, but 17 minutes left, so he made us walk around the podium, which made it even sillier. We looked like we were walking around the "Fountain of Wealth"!
The most unfortunate of all was that both of my form teachers witnessed our punishment. The best was, Mdm Halilah just spoke to us on class expectations and behaviour immdiately after our paper and before PE.
It's the most memorable punishment I've ever came across and the most embarrassing as I was the only councillor, but it was seriously funny!
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Today is the 22nd of February, which marks another brand new year for the scouts and guides. Today is Thinking Day and so we had our parade. It was extended due to the numerous add-ons for the announcements and the introduction of the Bangalore visitors, plus some spices from the winning bid of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. It was an interesting experience taking a school test in full guides uniform, which kinduf made me feel rather relaxed during the Chemistry paper which I didn't do much revision for. (opps!)
Tomorrow will be the Thinking Day Rally at the Indoor Stadium, so we'll all be reflecting tomorrow.
Happy Thinking Day to all brownies (yummy!) and guides and guiders around the globe!
Prediction...
Expected good results: Physics, Chemistry (didn't revise for both)
Relatively okay results: English L, Higher Chinese L, A-maths, Social Studies
Don't-even-dare-to-think-about results: E-maths, Geography Elective
Fine, I've just got to be patient and wait till next week.
Anyway, many funny things happened, especially on Thursday, 1 which I really have to share.
Our last paper of the day ended at 9.45am, which meant that there would still be 1 period of PE lesson. However, only 12 out of 29 people brought their PE attire. On a normal Thursday, we should have CHOICES programme for 3 periods, so those without PE attire gave the reasons either they thought it was recess immediately after Common Test or they thought they would have CHOICES and their activities did not require the PE attire on.
So, as a form of punishment, Mr Yusri came up with the funniest 1 I've ever encounter. Usually, I'd treat every single punishment seriously, but this 1 was really really super duper hillarious. He made the 17 of us stand in a straight row and walk. Initially it was 17 rounds along the edge of the netball court / assembly plaza. It seriously looked dumb, like as though 3J was rioting. The lower secondary students were having their recess, wondering why we were walking rounds and rounds in full school uniform in such an orderly manner.
Everyone was laughing and giggling away, even Mr Yusri himself. He always come up with silly punishments which makes me laugh. Last year, he punished 2 of my classmates to hold the broom stick and guard at each entrance of the classroom like some soldiers with their "riffles" because we were having History lesson.
By the time we completed 9 rounds, we still had 8 more to go, but 17 minutes left, so he made us walk around the podium, which made it even sillier. We looked like we were walking around the "Fountain of Wealth"!
The most unfortunate of all was that both of my form teachers witnessed our punishment. The best was, Mdm Halilah just spoke to us on class expectations and behaviour immdiately after our paper and before PE.
It's the most memorable punishment I've ever came across and the most embarrassing as I was the only councillor, but it was seriously funny!
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Today is the 22nd of February, which marks another brand new year for the scouts and guides. Today is Thinking Day and so we had our parade. It was extended due to the numerous add-ons for the announcements and the introduction of the Bangalore visitors, plus some spices from the winning bid of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. It was an interesting experience taking a school test in full guides uniform, which kinduf made me feel rather relaxed during the Chemistry paper which I didn't do much revision for. (opps!)
Tomorrow will be the Thinking Day Rally at the Indoor Stadium, so we'll all be reflecting tomorrow.
Happy Thinking Day to all brownies (yummy!) and guides and guiders around the globe!
. . . . .
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Lunar New YearY
Today marks the 10th day of the 15-day -long festive season of the Lunar New Year, also the most important festival of the Chinese.
This year's visiting was quite different. Since my sister was back with Fred, we initially thought the Toyota ALTIS was too small to fit the 5 "kids" at the back, so the 2 youngest ones took the public transport to get to our destinations. It's the first time I've ever taken this mean of transport during visiting, so it was (you can consider it as) an eye-opener? There're actually families, i mean large families of 5 to 15 which I believe have been doing this for probably since the use of public transport. It's really cool. They're helping to reduce the amount of energy used as well!
We eventually managed to squeeze all 5 giant babies at the back seat. As my father drove on the busy roads and expressways, I realised that our family wasn't going against the traffic rules alone, many other had even more heads "popping" from the back seat!
This is how the 4 kids are supposed to be "arranged":
Big sister , Big brother , brother , me .
For the 5 families we visited, all 5 mistook us for the other us, as in the arrangement went the complete opposite way.
This was the mistaken arrangement:
me , brother , Big brother , Big sister .
Even at the dinner with my maternal relatives.
So many uncles and aunts and cousins got us mixed up! Come on, do I look older than my sister? I'm just slightly taller and chubbier than her!
Well, it was funny because many shook my hands and asked about how's life; they only speak to the adults like this, they never really bother about the youngest, probably assuming that I still have a long way to go so there's nothing much to worry about.
Oh, the 'cousins-gang' had upgraded! We used to play with those firecrackers until we were primary school kids, then we upgraded to playing self-initiated games like frisbee, soccer, captain's ball and poker cards, and this year we'd promoted to playing mahjong. Time kinduf passed much quicker than the previous years that night. The older cousins weren't really in the 'cousins-gang' thgy, they were chatting with the older generation. Okay, once we reach a certain age, we'll probably be having a Han's parliament on the first night of Lunar New Year annually...lol
Anyway, I realised that my family missed the 2 big events we would usually go each year, the Ang Pao Villa and Chingay Parade. It's kinduf disappointing, but I doubt I've the time either. Let's see how it'll go about next year.
This year's food was good. I'm lucky to have my braces on and weak gums hurting or I'd have gained more than 2kg during the festive season. It's quite a pity at the same time. Contradicting, eh?
My sister had headed back to LA yesterday, so the house is back to it's usual, quiet norm. Like almost all Chinese families in the Mainland, I guess we Singaporean Chinese also practises the "reunion -- a once-a-year opportunity to get together". This scenario will be more obvious maybe in 2 to 3 years time when my sister will still be in the States, my Big brother will still be staying at the University, and my other brother will be serving the nation.
The house was for 6 people, then to 5, reduced to 4, eventually 3.
Every reunion dinner is treasured, especially when everybody sits around the round-table with the gargling hot steamboat in the centre bringing us warmth and keeping us full.
This year's visiting was quite different. Since my sister was back with Fred, we initially thought the Toyota ALTIS was too small to fit the 5 "kids" at the back, so the 2 youngest ones took the public transport to get to our destinations. It's the first time I've ever taken this mean of transport during visiting, so it was (you can consider it as) an eye-opener? There're actually families, i mean large families of 5 to 15 which I believe have been doing this for probably since the use of public transport. It's really cool. They're helping to reduce the amount of energy used as well!
We eventually managed to squeeze all 5 giant babies at the back seat. As my father drove on the busy roads and expressways, I realised that our family wasn't going against the traffic rules alone, many other had even more heads "popping" from the back seat!
This is how the 4 kids are supposed to be "arranged":
Big sister , Big brother , brother , me .
For the 5 families we visited, all 5 mistook us for the other us, as in the arrangement went the complete opposite way.
This was the mistaken arrangement:
me , brother , Big brother , Big sister .
Even at the dinner with my maternal relatives.
So many uncles and aunts and cousins got us mixed up! Come on, do I look older than my sister? I'm just slightly taller and chubbier than her!
Well, it was funny because many shook my hands and asked about how's life; they only speak to the adults like this, they never really bother about the youngest, probably assuming that I still have a long way to go so there's nothing much to worry about.
Oh, the 'cousins-gang' had upgraded! We used to play with those firecrackers until we were primary school kids, then we upgraded to playing self-initiated games like frisbee, soccer, captain's ball and poker cards, and this year we'd promoted to playing mahjong. Time kinduf passed much quicker than the previous years that night. The older cousins weren't really in the 'cousins-gang' thgy, they were chatting with the older generation. Okay, once we reach a certain age, we'll probably be having a Han's parliament on the first night of Lunar New Year annually...lol
Anyway, I realised that my family missed the 2 big events we would usually go each year, the Ang Pao Villa and Chingay Parade. It's kinduf disappointing, but I doubt I've the time either. Let's see how it'll go about next year.
This year's food was good. I'm lucky to have my braces on and weak gums hurting or I'd have gained more than 2kg during the festive season. It's quite a pity at the same time. Contradicting, eh?
My sister had headed back to LA yesterday, so the house is back to it's usual, quiet norm. Like almost all Chinese families in the Mainland, I guess we Singaporean Chinese also practises the "reunion -- a once-a-year opportunity to get together". This scenario will be more obvious maybe in 2 to 3 years time when my sister will still be in the States, my Big brother will still be staying at the University, and my other brother will be serving the nation.
The house was for 6 people, then to 5, reduced to 4, eventually 3.
Every reunion dinner is treasured, especially when everybody sits around the round-table with the gargling hot steamboat in the centre bringing us warmth and keeping us full.
. . . . .
Friday, 1 February 2008
Update!Y
WARNING: this post will be long, really long. I'm warning all to stay patient and read it =)
I've finally got some time to share with you all the so-many-things which had happened over the passed 2 weeks.
According to events:
China Exchange Programme '07-'08
(Singapore Trip)
(23 Jan '08 - 27 Jan '08)
Day 1: The buddies joined us for lessons according to our time-table till 2pm. We set off to the Singapore Zoo at about 3pm --it was supposed to be 2.30pm sharp and we were rushing our lunch for goodness-knows-what.
It was quite ok during curriculum, but the afternoon tour was bad. Nobody had nice pictures, relaxing time, learning experience. The silliest arrangement was for us to take the tram! Though it was my first time taking the tram in the zoo, I didn't like it at all. You wouldn't get a chance to have a good shot, you wouldn't be able to get close enough to the exhibits and read about the animals or just observe them. However, we were able to catch 1 animal show, so that kinduf round things up quite nicely. I felt as though that afternoon was a total waste of time. I was glad that I was able to explain the various parts of the banana tree to the Chinese nationals; they were really impressed at how beautiful the nature of the plant is!
We were back at school at 7+pm.
Day 2: Curriculum till 2pm. We were on our way to the Singapore Discovery Centre by 2.35pm. The tour should had been interesting and educational, but the guide made it so brief! Though I did not get to play with those hands-on games on my Learning Journey trip last time, before the Singapore Discovery Centre was re-opened, the tour was thorough enough and everyone was really satisfied with the trip. After the rough tour, at the snacks stall, you could see a crowd of talkative people purchasing junk food, preparing to go into the theatre with the tallest screen in Singapore. The movie screened was something which had got to do with millitary aircraft, which was in American English. Most of the Chinese nationals were bored to slumberland! Michelle's buddy actually slept during the show. My buddy was only interested in her candy-floss, she even fed me more than 5 times when I was enjoying the movie. Then she started shaking her right leg. I was sitting on her right. Just imagine, whatever you're seeing was actually moving up and down vigorously... I couldn't stop her, she's my guest and I'm her host. Day 2's tour was completely a waste of time!
We arrived back in school at 6+ pm.
Day 3: Curriculum as usual till 12.40pm. I had to work out some Youth Congress stuff, so I left my buddy with Isabel and Hazel. We left for Sentosa at 2.30pm. Besides the uninteresting and time-wasting activities, The Merlion, Siloso Beach and the "Songs of the Sea" extravaganza were the only memorable attractions. What time-wasting activities you might question. Well, the tour guide gave us 45 minutes free-time to walk around, but most of the attractions required an additional admission fee -.-''' So apparently, we just walked around and took pictures to kill time. I must really help promote the "Songs of the Sea" seaside show because the effects using light, water and fire were marvelous, but the storyline is really bad.
Since we had to catch the night show and it was Friday, we alighted at Katong Hostel at 10+ pm.
Day 4: I was busy with Youth Congress rehersal in the early morning. That day coincided with my cousin's wedding, so I didn't join the buddies for morning tour. I managed to catch up with them when they were about to leave Little India for the Sultan's Palace at Arab Street area. Then we went to Chinatown, where most of our buddies just didn't care about the existance of their hosts and just wander off into the sea of people leaving us at the back, struggling to reach for them, which was why we gave up on taking responsibility over them and browse along the streets on our own.
In the evening, it's all up to me to arrange. I know it's quite tough for my buddy to try to stay alert especially after a day's walk from place to place, non-stop. She wanted to buy some cosmetics, so I brought her to John Little at Orchard together with my mum and brother. We were actually on our way to Seah Street to have our dinner at an authentic Hainanese restaurant. So after dinner, we headed to the Merlion Park as promised to her, the Fountain of Wealth, then my dad drove us around the Civic District, passed the fomer and present Supreme Courts, the Parliament House, Clarke Quay (to check out the night buzz). On our way back, we passed by the "durian district" along Geylang, unfortunately, my buddy was so tired that she took a nap on the way back to my house.
Day 5: My dad and I brought her to the hawker centre to experience the "morning breakfast routine" of the typical Singaporeans. I bought tau huay jui (soya bean drink), chai tau kuay (fried carrot cake), chee chiong fan / zhu chang fen, nonya zhang (nonya glutinous-rice dumpling), the "green top with glutinous-rice bottom" nonya kuay, and some small portions of yam cake, shun kuay and loh mai gai. She's not a big eater, so my dad and I ate a lot. We even took a photo with the MP and Mayor for our constituency and district. I was glad that she was glad.
Then we headed to East Coast Park for awhile. We met up with Brenda and Hazel together with their buddies at Bugis. Let's not mention about the fire-ry fuming mad crazy "shopping spree". After rushing back to the hostel to pack their home-stay belongings back into their baggages, we had a fare-well dinner at Prinsep Street.
It was then, finally, tar-tar to the Chinese nationals!!!
Overall:
-saw the other side of them
-disappointed with their behaviour
-not happy with the way they treated us
-think that they're rather self-centered
-see them as high-IQ low-EQ people
-see them as tourists who don't know how to enjoy a tour
I've finally got some time to share with you all the so-many-things which had happened over the passed 2 weeks.
According to events:
China Exchange Programme '07-'08
(Singapore Trip)
(23 Jan '08 - 27 Jan '08)
Day 1: The buddies joined us for lessons according to our time-table till 2pm. We set off to the Singapore Zoo at about 3pm --it was supposed to be 2.30pm sharp and we were rushing our lunch for goodness-knows-what.
It was quite ok during curriculum, but the afternoon tour was bad. Nobody had nice pictures, relaxing time, learning experience. The silliest arrangement was for us to take the tram! Though it was my first time taking the tram in the zoo, I didn't like it at all. You wouldn't get a chance to have a good shot, you wouldn't be able to get close enough to the exhibits and read about the animals or just observe them. However, we were able to catch 1 animal show, so that kinduf round things up quite nicely. I felt as though that afternoon was a total waste of time. I was glad that I was able to explain the various parts of the banana tree to the Chinese nationals; they were really impressed at how beautiful the nature of the plant is!
We were back at school at 7+pm.
Day 2: Curriculum till 2pm. We were on our way to the Singapore Discovery Centre by 2.35pm. The tour should had been interesting and educational, but the guide made it so brief! Though I did not get to play with those hands-on games on my Learning Journey trip last time, before the Singapore Discovery Centre was re-opened, the tour was thorough enough and everyone was really satisfied with the trip. After the rough tour, at the snacks stall, you could see a crowd of talkative people purchasing junk food, preparing to go into the theatre with the tallest screen in Singapore. The movie screened was something which had got to do with millitary aircraft, which was in American English. Most of the Chinese nationals were bored to slumberland! Michelle's buddy actually slept during the show. My buddy was only interested in her candy-floss, she even fed me more than 5 times when I was enjoying the movie. Then she started shaking her right leg. I was sitting on her right. Just imagine, whatever you're seeing was actually moving up and down vigorously... I couldn't stop her, she's my guest and I'm her host. Day 2's tour was completely a waste of time!
We arrived back in school at 6+ pm.
Day 3: Curriculum as usual till 12.40pm. I had to work out some Youth Congress stuff, so I left my buddy with Isabel and Hazel. We left for Sentosa at 2.30pm. Besides the uninteresting and time-wasting activities, The Merlion, Siloso Beach and the "Songs of the Sea" extravaganza were the only memorable attractions. What time-wasting activities you might question. Well, the tour guide gave us 45 minutes free-time to walk around, but most of the attractions required an additional admission fee -.-''' So apparently, we just walked around and took pictures to kill time. I must really help promote the "Songs of the Sea" seaside show because the effects using light, water and fire were marvelous, but the storyline is really bad.
Since we had to catch the night show and it was Friday, we alighted at Katong Hostel at 10+ pm.
Day 4: I was busy with Youth Congress rehersal in the early morning. That day coincided with my cousin's wedding, so I didn't join the buddies for morning tour. I managed to catch up with them when they were about to leave Little India for the Sultan's Palace at Arab Street area. Then we went to Chinatown, where most of our buddies just didn't care about the existance of their hosts and just wander off into the sea of people leaving us at the back, struggling to reach for them, which was why we gave up on taking responsibility over them and browse along the streets on our own.
In the evening, it's all up to me to arrange. I know it's quite tough for my buddy to try to stay alert especially after a day's walk from place to place, non-stop. She wanted to buy some cosmetics, so I brought her to John Little at Orchard together with my mum and brother. We were actually on our way to Seah Street to have our dinner at an authentic Hainanese restaurant. So after dinner, we headed to the Merlion Park as promised to her, the Fountain of Wealth, then my dad drove us around the Civic District, passed the fomer and present Supreme Courts, the Parliament House, Clarke Quay (to check out the night buzz). On our way back, we passed by the "durian district" along Geylang, unfortunately, my buddy was so tired that she took a nap on the way back to my house.
Day 5: My dad and I brought her to the hawker centre to experience the "morning breakfast routine" of the typical Singaporeans. I bought tau huay jui (soya bean drink), chai tau kuay (fried carrot cake), chee chiong fan / zhu chang fen, nonya zhang (nonya glutinous-rice dumpling), the "green top with glutinous-rice bottom" nonya kuay, and some small portions of yam cake, shun kuay and loh mai gai. She's not a big eater, so my dad and I ate a lot. We even took a photo with the MP and Mayor for our constituency and district. I was glad that she was glad.
Then we headed to East Coast Park for awhile. We met up with Brenda and Hazel together with their buddies at Bugis. Let's not mention about the fire-ry fuming mad crazy "shopping spree". After rushing back to the hostel to pack their home-stay belongings back into their baggages, we had a fare-well dinner at Prinsep Street.
It was then, finally, tar-tar to the Chinese nationals!!!
Overall:
-saw the other side of them
-disappointed with their behaviour
-not happy with the way they treated us
-think that they're rather self-centered
-see them as high-IQ low-EQ people
-see them as tourists who don't know how to enjoy a tour
-they're fine
Cousin's Wedding
(26 Jan '08)
My parents went to fetch me from school to the Church at Serangoon where the wedding ceremony was held. It's probably the first Catholic Church wedding I've ever witnessed. I think I've seen 1 before, but I was too young then to even know about my surrounding.
It's quite an eye-opener, because it's probably my first time stepping into a church in Singapore, sitting by the aisle, observing the ceremony. Though I'm not a believer, I think a church wedding is interesting for perhaps I've never seen one before.
Anyway, YingYing, or Paulyn was really pretty in her gown and with everything on. I hardly see her except during Chinese New Year gathering or when I drop by at they Wang's house sometimes.
I had to leave in the midst of the wedding lunch because I had to entertain my Chinese guest, so I'm really sorry for not being able to at least take a family shot with you and your spouse and the Ng's during the lunch. Congratulations to you once again!
Youth Congress: Anti-Bullying Day
(28 Jan '08)
I can't post much on this special day because it's part of a 5-month project with 3 months for implementation. So once the whole project's done, I'll post all about it. This project means a lot to me. I've grown much since going through the orientation and camp and workshops and meetings, therefore you be assure that I'll write a lot about it when the time comes =)
52nd TK Annual Road Run
(1 Feb '08)
Today's suppose to be sunny, but somehow it was raining cats and dogs by 2pm. The road run was cancelled. Those who were at the venue had to be covered under the shelters till the rain settle down a little and the lightnings disappear.
Well, I had fun in the rain. Councillors went from one shelter to another carrying cartons of mineral water for distribution. By the time we got from the 1st shelter to the 4th, the cartons were almost completely drenched. Sharmane and I wanted to head back to the 1st shelter though the teachers were stopping any movements out of the shelters, so we braved through the heavy rain immediately after the teachers' attention got away from the shelters. When I was giving cover to Sharmane to the carpark, we were splashing water with at each other and playing under the rain. It was quite enjoyable =)
Most of us were only allowed to leave at about 3.30pm. Sometimes I wonder if heaven's playing tricks on us.
Special thanks to Mr Hareesh for giving Clarissa, Boon Yee and me a free taxi car-pool to Bayshore Road. Actually it wasn't really a car-pool, you wanted to head home and drop us at VJC, but you're so kind to offer a ride all the way to the nearest underpass to the venue.
Cousin's Wedding
(26 Jan '08)
My parents went to fetch me from school to the Church at Serangoon where the wedding ceremony was held. It's probably the first Catholic Church wedding I've ever witnessed. I think I've seen 1 before, but I was too young then to even know about my surrounding.
It's quite an eye-opener, because it's probably my first time stepping into a church in Singapore, sitting by the aisle, observing the ceremony. Though I'm not a believer, I think a church wedding is interesting for perhaps I've never seen one before.
Anyway, YingYing, or Paulyn was really pretty in her gown and with everything on. I hardly see her except during Chinese New Year gathering or when I drop by at they Wang's house sometimes.
I had to leave in the midst of the wedding lunch because I had to entertain my Chinese guest, so I'm really sorry for not being able to at least take a family shot with you and your spouse and the Ng's during the lunch. Congratulations to you once again!
Youth Congress: Anti-Bullying Day
(28 Jan '08)
I can't post much on this special day because it's part of a 5-month project with 3 months for implementation. So once the whole project's done, I'll post all about it. This project means a lot to me. I've grown much since going through the orientation and camp and workshops and meetings, therefore you be assure that I'll write a lot about it when the time comes =)
52nd TK Annual Road Run
(1 Feb '08)
Today's suppose to be sunny, but somehow it was raining cats and dogs by 2pm. The road run was cancelled. Those who were at the venue had to be covered under the shelters till the rain settle down a little and the lightnings disappear.
Well, I had fun in the rain. Councillors went from one shelter to another carrying cartons of mineral water for distribution. By the time we got from the 1st shelter to the 4th, the cartons were almost completely drenched. Sharmane and I wanted to head back to the 1st shelter though the teachers were stopping any movements out of the shelters, so we braved through the heavy rain immediately after the teachers' attention got away from the shelters. When I was giving cover to Sharmane to the carpark, we were splashing water with at each other and playing under the rain. It was quite enjoyable =)
Most of us were only allowed to leave at about 3.30pm. Sometimes I wonder if heaven's playing tricks on us.
Special thanks to Mr Hareesh for giving Clarissa, Boon Yee and me a free taxi car-pool to Bayshore Road. Actually it wasn't really a car-pool, you wanted to head home and drop us at VJC, but you're so kind to offer a ride all the way to the nearest underpass to the venue.
. . . . .
know me
littlest of the Pang Family
people call me ChiawMIN or ZhaoMIN
was from Maha Bodhi School
and TanjongKatongSEC
and Temasek Polytechnic
Temasek Design School
tracking people
PANGsters
大哥
二哥
know littlest PUNK even better
HANrelated
MeiFen
MAHA BODHIANS
Alwin
Dennis
LiXin
Michelle
Moyra
TzeChong
YingTing
YingXin
TKsians
Alicia
Amelia
Asha
Atiqah
BoonYee
Celine
Charmaine
Clarissa
Dean
Desiree
Eileen
Erina
EstherTay
EugeneKay
EvelynChan
Farhan NomborSatu
FarisFarizuan
Hafiz
Hasif
HuiMin
HuiJun
HuiXun
James
Janice
JasmineKok
JasminePoh
JiaJun
JinFei
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Josephine
JovanYo
JunHui
Kane
Kenneth
Mark
Michelle
MingJie
Nazri
NicholasAw
Nigel
Nikki
Novia
PohKing
Rifat
Rohaida
Ryan
SandyLikitdachavongs
Sara
Sharmane
Sharon
SiHui
SiYan
SiYuan
SooHan
Stefan
WeiLin
WeiYing
YinShuang
YongJia
Xenia
Yuyi
ZhangXin
NgeeAnnSec
ChinaExchange'07
Pamela
SherylChia
Shimei
TzeChong
ZhongHuaSec
ChinaExchange'07
ChiehLing
Grace
Stella
them
TK3J'08cum4J'09
Crystal
KelvinPang
WeiYing
YanYing aka YY
YeeJia
YuJia
other STUDENT LEADERS
JonothanSeng/HwaChongInsttn
JoelLim/MarisStella
ShaunSeah/MarisStella
Jesmine/TKGS
CherylSeah/PLMGSS
EleanorNeo/PLMGSS
Hannah/PLMGSS
Joanne/PLMGSS
WeiKee/PLMGSS
ZiQi/PLMGSS
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