Ame - Rain

What do you think of rain? No, I'm not talking about the international Korean megastar but the liquid rain. There is a certain purity that is present in every droplet of rain. The perfect little concentric shapes it makes with the ground seem to be flowing in a particular direction yet also flowing in the opposite direction. It all depends on how you see it. Sometimes it seem to flow, other times it remains stagnant. At those times, they seem to form a great painting made up of repetitive circles which seem to tell a story. Looking straight at the rain falling down, meteorites rain down, attempting to scorch/purify the earth. In a way, they look like shooting stars, streaking across the dark sky. It makes you want to make a wish on it. The rhythmic music created by these rain drops weaves a melody so achingly familiar to us. Yes, this is the sound of nature, something which we tend to forget in this increasingly urbanized environment. It reminds us that Mother Nature is overlooking us and carefully observing what we are doing to survive. A reminder that we are alive only because she is forgiving and continuously providing us with the means of survival even as we slowly erode her. Hopenhagen - I wonder how effective it would really be with every country only looking out for their own interests. Indeed, it is too optimistic to hope that mankind will band together and avert this impending crisis which threatens our very own survival.

The contradiction that is examinations

Examinations are a contradiction to me. On one hand, I've an acute fear of it. On the other hand, I know it provides a useful way to judge how much and how well I've learned. Unfortunately, the time has come to fight the dragons. With the 1st paper being tomorrow, I can't help but feel unprepared for it even though I know I've done all I've could this past few days. The result of my semester's effort will all come down to this one and only paper. It seems funny that your school life all depends on a piece of paper and how well you answer the questions on it. It's not how you participate in CCA activities, the friends you make or even the lectures you go for. (thankfully for the last one I must add) I guess this is one of the effects of living in a paper-obsessed society. Yet, there are many things to be happy about. What we can do after the exams is a sure motivation to push through these last few days of revision and catching up. I'm looking forward to the holidays though it's a pretty short one. A short break is better than no break, yes? Hope to learn new skills this coming holidays! :-)

Good luck to all for your examinations!

I love music! - Part 1

My close friends would know that I love listening to music. While I try not to restrict myself to listening to particular genres of music, it is also unrealistic to expect myself not to have some likes and dislikes right? Let's start from the likes.

Since my generation belongs to the age where pop reigns over others, this fact has somewhat shaped my appreciation for music as a whole. I'm quite partial to boybands like Westlife, Boyzone and Backstreet Boys just to name a few. In addition, I'm a great fan of singers who have a powerful voice (at least in my opinion) like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. It's quite unbelievable how high and crystal-clear their voices can reach. However, these songs have rapidly moved towards being categorized as the old-school kind. The evidence is that they can no longer be heard on so-called hippier radio stations and heard mainly on Class 95FM. (I really do like that radio station) On that note, I also like evergreen groups like the BeeGees, ABBA and The Carpenters although they belong more to my parents' generation.

For Chinese music, ny influence has undoubtably be my sister. She started the trend of listening to 93.3FM and I started to really listen to Chinese music. Since then, names like Cao Ge, JJ Lin, Guang Liang have become "household names". It was also this time that I realised that Chinese music and English music are quite different. It could be the lyrics or the music itself, but both language songs require different kinds of appreciation. (not sure if I've adequately explained it :-)) Still, my favourites are Joi Chua and the above few I've mentioned earlier with the list growing larger and larger.

Unbelievably, my brother introduced me to Korean music which have got me addicted. Not to mention that I already love listening to Japanese songs (anime-inluenced), Korean music brings a different kind of mood and style. Most songs are upbeat with catchy tunes and some awesome dance moves. Some popular groups include SNSD, Wonder Girls, Da Vichi, Big Bang, SS501, DBSK and many more. With the K-wave hitting Singapore, it would not be too much of a stretch to see a rapid rise in the number of Korea language learners. (One of my main gripes about J- and K-pop is my inability to understand the lyrics and this prevents me from fully appreciating the music)

(to be continued...)

Stories

Everyone has his or her life story to tell. May it be interesting, may it be long, may it be life-changing, there are many stories out there waiting to be told. In the newspapers, we read about people who are able to make it in this fast-paced, ever-changing world. Those are the success stories. There's so much to be learnt form these stories. Mostly, it's about how the person overcame all odds, challenges with iron-clad determination. Admittedly, this has become predictable but nonetheless, a seemingly essential ingredient for success.

Then there are stories which sets us thinking. Thought-provoking articles about what-ifs and the moving line which separates the good from the bad. Justification of certain punishments. Moral values. OB markers. There are a wide collection of stories that entices the grey matter to start working.

Of course there are also the stories which lead to tears. We must not forget that there are other people who are not as fortunate as us to be living in a material world. Sometimes, the world has been divided into two: one of a more affluent nature and the other a much poorer cousin being an understatement. People who are living well below the subsistence level, constantly worrying when the next meal is going to be, where is the next shelter to call home. There is help for them, but it is never enough. So should we expand our efforts or resign ourselves to the fact that we can only throw so many starfishes back into the water?

Life stories are wide and plentiful. If we ever bothered to stop to smell the roses, we should be able to stop and listen to the stories that people are willing to share. There is much to learn and helps to broaden our horizons.

Responsibility

It's a big word with many implications. Assuming a leadership position puts me face to face with this intangible entity which gets heavier with time. Some people are able to handle the burden admirably (Frodo Baggins in Lord of The Rings), others become weighed down by this invisible force. Friends who you can depend on become absolutely crucial in this juncture. While the rewards may justify the work, often, it is a thankless task.

I'm not sure how I'll handle it if it is being thrust to me. I only hope that I have the strength and persistence to see it through. It would by no means be the first time I'll be faced with it and it will definitely not be the last. To improve and grow, learning is needed. And it goes in a cycle...

Mirrors

Look into a mirror and what do you see? A reflection of oneself that is untainted by lies or malice. A doppelganger staring right at you. Reality in the virtual. They are the windows to your soul. When you face a mirror by yourself, there is no longer a need to deceive and pretend. What you see is what you get.

Mirrors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are dresser mirrors, dentist mirrors, wall mirrors, road mirrors, hand mirrors and even house of mirrors in amusement parks. Mirrors have a variety of uses that help us in our daily lives. It has become such an integral part of our lives that I can dare say that there are few who have not looked into one at least once a day.

Something as simple and elegant as a mirror with such an important function, yet it serves to provide us with a greater insight on who we really are. When we stare into the mirror and ask who is the fairest of them all not unlike Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, what would the mirror say? Are we really happy with what we have become or who we really are?

If one can see the inside of another soul, what do you hope to see? Something as gleaming as the first rays of sunlight? Or something darker like the abyss which is devoid of light?

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" - adapted from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

VJChoir All-guys Outing

2 guys, a girl and a pizza place. 8 guys, 1 bottle of alcohol and 1 Japanese restaurant. What's the link? Well, the former is a hit drama/comedy, the latter was an outing I just came back form. The outing was memorable for more than one reason.

To be honest, I've not seen most of the people for a long time. While the time gap for KW and Shawn is perfectly understandable (they are currently studying overseas and are only back for the holidays) and that of Calvin and ZY can still be acceptable (they are studying in NUS), the fact that I've not seen CL, WL and JLo is quite amazing since we are all studying at NTU. Well putting that aside, it was a happy occasion to see all of them again. Reminisience was definitely on the cards.

Eventually selecting a Japanese restaurant at Marina Square, we made our way there exchanging stories and playing catch up. After placing our orders we began a HTHT which was nothing short of intriguing. We touched on personal relationships which I would not disclose here since there are sensitive issues. We also talked about what we wanted to do in the future. This would be one of the outings that I would cherish because the time we spent together in the company of brothers is precious to me!

We've set another outing soon. Hint: It has something to do with our passion.

Hope to see everyone again!

Mad World!!

Approaching the end of the holidays...

The national anthem rang out from the loudspeakers. Everybody stood up to take the pledge. The president takes his leave. The after-party starts amidst the excitement of the fireworks. Parade ends and school holidays draw to a close...

Very real indeed. I'm just picturing how it would be like on 9 August 2009. There would be joy and there would be a sad voice inside me telling me that school is starting again. I must say I have enjoyed the very long holidays. Busy with the little things as well as the big things, the holidays gave me a much-needed break away from the stressful studying environment. The changes that may happen (i.e I'm no longer staying in hall and I may be joining a new CCA) provide some anticipation.

The impending D-day leaves me the impression that I must cherish the last part of the holidays. As such, I'm trying to organize outings to meet up with old friends (did I say old? I mean young!) as well as new ones. I sincerely hope the attendance won't be too bad.

The autumn wind brings with it the scent of fallen leaves. The leaves fall so that new ones can grow. The cycle of life continues in a never-ending cycle that never fails to amaze me.

The Korean Wave

Yes everyone, it's here. For the very slow me, it has come. But for the more updated, it has been here like eons ago. The Korean wave (or K-wave) has landed on our shores, threatening to sweep us all off our feet. The onslaught of Korean drama serials, pop music and culture has open up and challenged our perceptions of Korea. It is not uncommon nowadays to watch Korean drama serials on our TV with Channel U offering up its fair share. For the cable subscribers there are even 2 more channels which cater to your every K-needs. Fortunately (or unfortunately? :-) ) I have finally caught on to the craze and come to appreciate these serials for what they are. Jewel in the Palace, the hit Korean serial about a palace chef introduced me to the traditional form of Korean culture with the scenic locations as well as a well-thought storyline. On the topic of storyline, although there is a school of thought that Korean serials have very similar storyline (they are quite really), they do have variations and the realistic portrayals more than make up for the predictable storyline. Korean reality television also has a very different way of attracting the viewers that I have difficulty trying to describe. Then there is Korean pop music which was introduced to my more fashion-conscious bro. Super Junior, the recent performer in the recent Melody Awards in Taiwan, is a mega-hit with fans all over the world. Their single "Sorry Sorry" has sparked massive following with fans taking to imitating their dance moves and even classes on how to dance to their music. It helps that they have boyish good looks and lots of idol quality. FT island graced our shores just yesterday and released quite a few hits.

Well, I'm not really sorry that I have caught the K-train. (maybe just a little since I caught a really late one) Till next time, may we all learn the dance steps for "Sorry Sorry". :-)

The many faces of English

The English language is a mystery. Many people have tried decoding it but to no avail. Many more have tried to understand it but failed. There are so many facets of English that are all unknown territory. Not even Christopher Columbus could completely discover this vast piece of land. How many ways can you express sadness? Heartbroken, downhearted, disconsolate, devastated. These are just some of the words that are synonym to "sadness". Unbelievable isn't it? That is probably one of the contributing reasons why some people (me included) find it hard to learn a new language. If there are so many words that have the same meaning then why not use them interchangeably or even eliminate some of them to make things easier? Linguists will say that there are some differences to the different words and although some of them differ by a minute degree, they add colour and variety to the language. They will say it's the beauty of the language. Well, tell that to the normal primary/secondary/tertiary students. It's a massive headache!

On one hand the intricate patterns of the English language can be a terror to learn, on the other hand I must admit that I do enjoy the language especially what is written in books. The different words use in different situations has a magical feel to it, bringing something as two-dimensional as a story in a book to life. They can change something as mundane as going to work/school into vivid pictures and endless adventures. Learning it is difficult but appreciating it makes it much more bearable.

Updating the updates...

Just had an exhausting mj session just now. Whew! We managed to complete 3 complete rounds and I'm glad to say I ended up in the green despite being in the red after the 1st 2 rounds. It was great fun and I hope to do it real soon.

On another note, some events coming up include the financial literacy camp at Shu Qun Sec Sch, the training and the camp itself. Should be a fun-filled experience starting with this Saturday morning with the training for the camp. There will be some testing for the stations for the fun-trail among other interesting activities. Side-tracking, the Praxis game looks to be one of the highlights of the camp. The elegant game-play infused with simple tidbits of financial education makes it ideal for secondary school students to tackle.

Finally, results are going to be released in just over a half an hour. Good luck to all NTU students!! (Though there's nothing we can do about the results anyway :p )

Marina Barrage + MJ session

On Friday I went with my air force buddies to visit the much talk upon Marina Barrage. A little background about the place. It's actually a large dam which helps to store water for the reservoir. In times of flood, the dams open and allow water to flow out to the ocean. It's a pretty interesting place because its architecture at some parts i.e the Green Roof actually looks like the design of NTU's ADM. We took a shuttle service from Marina Bay MRT which took us directly to our destination. When we arrived, we proceeded to visit the exhibition. It was quite cool since they made use of recycled materials to put it up. There was even a place where we could take free photographs and we stayed quite a while. Next, we went up to the rooftop where we saw a couple of interesting things which included 2 different couples taking their wedding shots there. After our visit to the barrage, we went down to Clarke Quay to have our dinner. Our dinner was...bak kut teh!!! Delicious it was, and there was even free refill of the soup. There were 3 different tables which categorised our spending powers: low, medium and wealthy. After dinner, some of the guys went to play LAN while the rest (including myself) started for home sweet home.

The next topic was the overnight mj session at jon's house. It was pretty exciting because it was the first time the 4 of us i.e the spades/mj/Big2/bridge gang were playing overnight. The night promised to be one of intrigue, deceit, risk-taking and of course barrels of fun. As we caught up with each other with regards to our school and personal lives, we also engaged in one of the most deadly spy games in recent history. Bluffing and double-bluffing as we tried to rack up the most number of doubles. I didn't do too badly and yf was the big winner. When edwin left, the rest of us pored over the updated CM 01/02 with yf taking on his beloved Blackburn. Combining tactics and his transfer acumen, Blackburn managed a very credible 8th place and even made it all the way to the quarter-finals for one of the cups. Exhausted and only standing because of adrenaline, we managed to stumble our way to the coffee shop downstairs to take in much-needed rations. The we went our separate ways while planning other more fun activities in the coming holidays.

Well, that's all for an update. On another note, I've not paid my hostel application fees and am seriously considering not paying for it since the chances of success is not particularly high.

Holidays

Holidays are here. I thought they would never come. Yet here they are. What should I do? Should I find work? Who would want someone who can only work for a few months? So many questions but how do I find the answers? Anyway, some relaxation first. There are some events coming up including the Singapore Outreach fun trail. Looks like this could be fun! Tomorrow would be the release of Alara Reborn. This set promises thrills and spills as it's an all-multi-coloured set. Difficult to pick and choose. The Premiership is going down the wire but Man Utd looks set to clinch it. Not sure about their Champions League charge though they managed to defeat Arsenal at Old Trafford. Well, we shall see of course. Not much more to say except I'll probably enjoy this holiday. After all, this spells the official end of my first year in NTU! Hooray!!

It's finally over...

Yes, the dreaded exams are finally over! No more books and notes. No more endless head-scratching and wondering if my answer is correct. No more having the headaches which seem to accompany me during these periods. A sense of serenity has come over me. The peace and tranquility that surrounds me is only interrupted by the incessant drilling that's going on in my neighbour's house. How I wish that the renovations would be completed as soon as possible.

On another note, Liverpool completed an astonishing fightback which saw the second 4-4 in as many games. I must say it's very poor defending on Liverpool's part to concede so many goals. Arshavin put Arsenal ahead with a well-taken goal which bounced off the crossbar after great work from Fabregas. Monster was at fault here, easily giving away the ball. Liverpool showed great spirit after the break, attacking the Kop end. Torres help Liverpool draw level with a downward header which beat Fabianski who had a much better game than against Chelsea. Liverpool went ahead after a Dirk Kuyt cross from the right was met bravely by Yossei Benayoun who clashed with an Arsenal defender before putting the ball past the line despite the efforts of Fabianski. Then came the incredible defensive errors. Arbeloa was robbed off the ball by Arshavin before he unleashed an unstoppable shot that curled away from Reina and bulged the bottom right hand corner of the net. Arshavin has shown why he was such an inspiration for Russia in the World Cup and why Arsene Wenger was more than willing to splash out the cash for him. Arsenal went ahead after Aurelio failed to clear a cross in the penalty area and Arshavin controlled the ball beautifully with his first touch before putting it past the despairing arms of Reina. Liverpool were not done yet though. An innocuous cross was aimed at Torres, who checked before turning his marker and powering it past Fabianski. At 3-3 there were murmurs of the spirit of Istanbul as the Reds chased a win. However, their hopes were dashed when a corner kick of Liverpool was cleared into the path of Theo Walcott who dashed the whole of 30 yards before laying it off on a platter for Arshavin to finish. The introductory of Walcott was inspirational, unlike Babel who came on for an ineffective Reira. All hopes of catching Manchester United seem to fade into the distance as the final whistle drew near. Then 3 mins into extra time, Yossei Benayoun made it 4 a piece after a goalmouth scramble to help Liverpool secure a yet to be precious 1 point. Liverpool are now level on points but Manchester United has 2 games in hand. The title chase looks set to be over.

Struggling with the inevitable

The exams are almost over but the stress just seem to keep piling up. Wish tuesday will come asap before the weight becomes unbearable. Linear algebra threatens to unhinge everything I have learnt so far. Tough luck really.

The time of the semester...

Yup, it's the time again. Exams, exams, exams! The stress that boils and boils, simmering just under the surface, awaiting the perfect opportunity to erupt into a crimson flame. Before we all get eaten by the 'stress monster', pleases remember that it's also important to relax. Studying is definitely important. But it's equally important to know when it's time to let loose. The incentive to studying so hard is so we can party once exams are over! Let's work hard to overcome this hurdle! Together, we are invincible!!

An update!

Just a short update. Carrom training ended yesterday with a bang! It was a record-setting attendance as for once the TV lounge at Blk 40 was filled almost to the brim. There was a special guest which I will not elaborate for fear or backlash. It was a very fun practice as I played doubles all the way. It's not everytime that I get to practice doubles due to the lack of people. I also received a congratulatory certificate and a nice pat on the back from Francis for being the manager. Must say I'm mighty proud of the team since we have improved from last year. Another point to note is that I finally received my subcomm shirt! Quite cool design! Will wear it soon.

Various other smaller things have happened which are not worth putting it down. Lots of worries too! Hope my roomie gets well soon! :-)

The 4-1 drubbing

Well, the big match just ended. The battlefield was strewn with casualties. (Actually only 1 failed to make it to the end of the game) As a supporter, the result was a fantastic one. I'm sure it was also a sumptuous match for the neutrals. First, a brief description of the epic game.

The Theatre of Dreams has one of the most intimidating atmosphere in the premiership. There is no mercy for the weak-willed and the weak-minded. Pitted against the league champions, Liverpool was really up against it. It did not matter that they took Real Madrid to the sword during the mid-week Champions League 2nd round. Looking at the depth of squad of the opposition: Van der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Park, Carrick, Anderson, Rooney and Tevez, it was up to Gerrard and Co. to get a result.

It was the home side who struck first with Park beating Hyypia for speed and Reina had to come out, bringing Park to the ground. Penalty was the call and up step the Portuguese wizard to slam the ball to Reina's right with such ferocity that there was no way Reina could save it despite guessing the correct direction. The ensuing minutes were an ebb and flow kind of thing with Man Utd obviously having the upper hand. The next turning point was a hopeful long ball which caught Vidic out as he elected to let it run. Up stepped 'El Nino' as he out-muscled Vidic took the ball calmly into the penalty box and chipped it past the despairing reach of Van der Sar. It was a clinical kind of finishing that led our beloved Kop hero to finish his first season with more than 30 goals. The Kop was delirious. More joy was to come as some quick thinking from Gerrard led to him being brought down in the box by Evra. Penalty! Stevie G took on his responsibilities like the Captain Marvel he is, firing it in the bottom right-hand corner of the net. 2-1 and it remained like that till half-time.

Second half was littered with onslaught after onslaught of United attacks and it seemed it was a matter of time before the siege will lead to results. Ferguson became a little impatient on the 70 minute mark, opting for a gamble of a triple substitution, with Giggs, Schole and Berbatov taking to the field. Unfortunately, the gamble failed as it severely disrupted the flow of United's game. Gerrard was put through again and Vidic cynically brought him down. While it was debatable whether he was the last man since Ferdinand seem to be the last man, he deprived Gerrard of a genuine goal-scoring opportunity and on that count, fully deserved the sending off. Free-kick and Aurelio was the man to take it. Liverpool has lacked a dead-ball specialist for a long time and it was even more glaring with our usual free-kick taker Alonso missing through injury. Aurelio put his name into the frame with a glorious, curling free-kick which soared past the wall and flew inches away from the upright, nestling in the net. The Liverpool supporters were in dreamland! 3-1 at the Theatre of Dreams was beyond our wildest dreams since Man Utd has a proud record at their hallowed ground. 10-men United were looking despondent and so were their fans. Dossena put the icing on the cake with a glorious first time chip which beat the stranded Van der Sar after being put through by a wonderful long kick from Reina. 4-1 it finished at Old Trafford!

A magnificent performance from LFC! Though winning the league seem far away at the moment, one never knows until it's mathematically impossible to win the league!

214 on Friday

Nope, the numbers are not some magical numbers nor are they any lucky numbers. I'll leave it to you to find out what they represent.

Anyway, attended the NTU choir concert with the maths gang as well as the air force gang. Amidst the secret mission I was tasked to do, (I was told that to fail would amount to being decapitated :p ) I slogged my way towards VCH with the help of my reliable friends. The first obstacle was to smuggle the package in but it was to no avail. Relying on quick wits, I relayed a message to a friendly usher who passed on the message to my boss. Saw Mr Yong and I must say it's been a while since I've seen him in the flesh. My boss relieved me off my package and our next mission was to find good places. We blended into the shadows and ended up in the circle seats. After a tactical move to reserve seats for the rest of the gang, we settled down and proceeded to enjoy the concert. The first half was pure choral with a wide variety of songs from Japanese, English and even a Hungarian composer. The alumni was here too, adding to the beautiful layered music. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I was taken back to the past where it was actually compulsory for VS choir members to attend a certain number of concerts per year. It struck me that I actually missed listening to choral music.
The second half was a mix of musical and retro hits. It was entertaining surely, but in my humble opinion, the quality of the choir was evident in the first half and the second half was about having fun. Actually, this is quite a normal scene in choir concert with the second half decidedly more light-hearted than the first half but I must say that the first half was the highlight for me. Listened to my boss's instruction to shout encore at the correct time (he better thank me...or else...lol), and the gang proceeded to Raffles City Shopping Centre for supper. It was BK but at least it provided us a time and place to catch up with friends.

That was my Saturday! Quite interesting, don't you think? Gets me thinking if I might rejoin choral singing...Beginning to miss it...But I really hate the stress!

Summer passes...season has changed

The sand in the hourglass trickled away. The last lotus petal falls forlornly on the glimmering surface of the river. The symbol of everlasting purity and strength, lost among the thickets. The birds seek warmer places as the first icy touch of the glacial wind caress the land. It's almost as if Gaeia is telling her story. The time for fun and laughter is almost over. The truth sinks in reluctantly - recess week is over. What fun we had (studying) and how we enjoyed(or the lack of it) it. The quadruple terrors are coming. Integration, numerical methods are the first onslaught. The next to put us to the sword are the determinants. The terrible trio of matrices, Gaussian and the return of the determinants may just seal the deal for us. The final nail to the coffin is the dreaded Communication presentation that would determine a third of my "lifeforce" (marks :p)

The knell has sounded, the gates have been drawn. Now's the time to fight for fall we shall not. We would not permit it.

Midweek

Let's talk a little bit about soccer. Looks like this season is a foregone conclusion. Man Utd will finally tie Liverpool's proud record of 18 league championships. Not that it has been a surprise. They have a great manager in Sir Alex, an absolutely talented squad with strngth in depth in almost every deaprtment and a magnificent stadium in the Theatre of Dreams. Liverpool, on the other hand, has an eccentric manager, a thin squad, and a stadium rich with history but lacking in economic sense. It doesn't help that the owners are often bickering and the manager refuses to put pen to paper on any contracts. It has become increasingly like the Chanpions League is the only salvation for the Kop this season. Well, better luck next season! YNWA!!

An update...and recess week

Here we are again at the crossroads of my life. Staring down the different paths that are presented to me. Thinking if I should follow the yellow brick road or try platform 9 and 3/4. Either way, it promises a thrilling ride. Outings have been planned. A Minds' Cafe outing, a possible K-session, mj session and numerous study sessions are some of the upcoming events. Make-up lesson coming up on Saturday. Sad but that's life. You can't control it, you can only overcome it. Tution to be rearranged. Running a tight ship but I'll survive. After all as long as I don't meet Captain Jack Sparrow I gather I'm quite safe.

On another note, hope the yet to be confirmed class outing will be a success. It's a novelistic idea since it's pretty rare to have one at somebody's place. Hopefully, attendance will be great!
Friendship is like gardening. A pair of safe hands is needed and showers of care and concern help nourish the young saplings. It takes little to plant a seed, it takes much more to help it grow into a tree. Friendship is like that. It takes both parties to maintain and treasure this precious gift that is not easily given yet so easy to lose.

Sidekicks

What's Batman without Robin? What's Superman without Supergirl? What's Sherlock Holmes without Watson? So what am I really talking about? I'm actually talking about sidekicks!

Who or what are sidekicks? They are actually side characters in a story except they appear time and again to aid the hero. Often, they are under-appreciated and overlooked as a tasty snippet to the grand design of the story. They tend to be compared against the main character and serves to accentuate the special abilities of the hero by having inferior abilities. However, it is almost imperative to have such a side-character, no matter how helpless he or she may be.

Sidekicks are fun really. They don't hog the limelight that often but the few occasions that they do, the storyline gets a little more entertaining. Applying to the real world, leaders are just like superheroes while the followers are just like the sidekicks. The leaders of the world need followers just like how superheroes need their sidekicks. Not everyone will be suited to being a leader. Sometimes, we can also contribute by being a sidekick. We speak our mind when we need to, point out things which the heroes may miss out, and we can also have our fun. I would like to be a sidekick sometimes. After all, nobody ever said that a sidekick cannot eventually graduate and become a superhero. Ask Robin if you don't believe me!

Till next time, may the recess week come sooner so that it can release me from the mental torture of attending lectures which I can't understand!

Yahoo! And I don't mean the search engine!

Hooray! Confetti scatters on the floor. The sound of firecrackers fill the air with joy. Yes, my $1000 ++ investment finally paid off! No more reserving sundays for lessons and losing $38 in the process. No more fretting when I can get the coveted piece of paper(card). It's finally here and I could not be any less ecstatic. Sure, I missed school for one day, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. After all, peace of mind means I can now fully concentrate on my other priorities like school. (It seems I've been slacking off in this aspect which is a pity)

On another note, recess week is coming and the usual anxieties regarding school work has resurfaced. Most likely, it's the continuous quizzes that are coming up that bring this fact into view. The weekend is here but I forsee work to be done.

Till next time, may Hall 7 win more finals!

Tomorrow's prize

Tomorrow will be my second shot at the prize. Pray it doesn't rain on my parade. Pray my turning turns out better than the previous lesson. Pray I get a decent tester. Pray I pass...
If I don't, I'll feel absolutely awful.
Looks like I'm putting too much pressure on myself. It's something I hate to do but sub-consciously I reach out and self-inflict. A habit I definitely need to break. Expectations give way to stress and ultimately an inability to perform to the best of my ability.
A lesson I need to learn, either by the hard way or the easy way.

Till next time, may I get the prize I desparately want.

J-pop

I can't stop listening to J-pop. Though I may not understand the language, the way the Japanese language is sung is sufficient to incite interest. There's a certain elegance to the language that is absent from our spoken languages. Nowadays, it's possible to understand what the Japanese mean through the numerous translations on the web. Some of my personal favourites are BoA, Rie Tanaka, Hitomi, Nami Tamaki and many others. Sad to say, I'm not very familiar with the male Japanese artistes. Even for groups, I have only listened to Do As Inifinity. Part of my fascination comes from the fact that I'm an avid fan of Japanese anime, and the songs that are used are nothing short of spectacular. Sure, there may be some which are not as catchy, but on the whole, the songs are really popular. This may be one of the reasons that a lot of popular J-pop artistes are willing to put their vocals behind some of the anime's opening and ending songs. The anime openings and endings mix colourful pictures with the beautiful melodies, creating brilliant images which are nothing short of stunning. If you have not been exposed to J-pop, you may want to go to Youtube and just search for some of the anime's OP or ED songs. I won't gurantee that you will like it but I love it!

Till next time, may the new year bring good fortune and prosperity to everyone!

Chinese New Year

It's coming! I bet you know what's coming. The annual Chinese New Year is almost upon us. The period for festive snacking, well-wishes for a prosperous new year as well as the usual dose of good-natured gambling. Pineapple tarts, bak kwa, cashew nuts, love letters and prawn rolls are just some of the delicacies waiting in store for us. Mandarin oranges are exchanged and hongpows are given by those blissfully married. Mahjong, blackjack and daidi are just some of the games that family members play in good fun. Don't forget the great Chinese New Year TOTO draw which never fails to draw in millions of people who don't mind giving it a shot among the festive cheer. Will be looking forward to the start in 6 days!

Till next time, may my lecturers not place their make-up lessons on the weekend after CNY!

Participation

The active chatter filled the classroom. Students were busy exchanging conversation. The teacher steps into the classroom and there is a sudden silence. You could hear a pin drop if there ever was one. The teacher begins teaching. One of the key components for the module is class participation. Suddenly, words begin flying in the air as everyone was scrambling to have their say, and hopefully earning some points under that component. Hands were raised to get attention. Competition was keen. The look of concentration and determination were deeply etched on most of the students' faces. It's pretty fun to watch sometimes. I tried to get my A game but was throughly defeated by the intense competition. Well, better luck next time!

Till next time, may I be more prepared for biz law and get my act together!

Fine

Fine. An ending. The start of a new beginning. A flower. Beautiful. A lotus that only blooms once every ten years. How many times can we see it bloom in our lifetime. The cycle of life is endless. Repetition. The cause for many things to occur over and over again. Sadness. Joy. Two sides of the same coin. Completing the spectrum of colours and maintaining the balance.

January is the month of the Capricon. The unicorn is a majestic, mythical and an animal full of magickal aura. Amethyst. The birthstone.

Fine.

The Finger War - Day 1

It was horrifying. Heads were flying everywhere. Stray sharpnels danced in the air. Buildings were reduced to mere rubble. The fire burned with a raging desire to desecrate everything in its path. The ruby red sky seemed to reflect what was happening on the ground. Piercing screams were heard throughout. What was lacking was probably the people...

Yup, that was the prelude to the Finger War. It occurs during the first 2 weeks of the new semester as students regardless of gender, age, occupation, height, weight etc. jostle with each other to prove that they are the ultimate finger champion. This was just my second shot at the title so you can say I'm still green behind my ears. Still I was determined to out in at least a good fight so I can proclaim (or brag) about my prowess to my children. The clock began to countdown and I waited with bated breath.

Mouse? Check.
Keyboard? Check.
Planner? Check.
Okay Houston! We'll all set to build this city on rock and roll!!

5...4...3...2...1... ... ...

Boom!!! Bam!!! Surprise!!!!

I didn't win. Sad but true. Yet I can still say I was beaten by better opposition. I can have no regrets. Better luck next time! Bye!!!

End of (holi)days

Armageddon's coming! Quick hide! Meteor shower! Earthquake!! Tornado!!! TSUNAMI...

Nah just joking. It's just the end of the holidays. The biggest event of the year when all students stand in 2 neat rows with solemn faces forming the guard of honour. Cries of frustration and a sense of helplessness fill the air with unimaginable depths of sorrow. The end of days...

The sweet memories of the last month come flooding back to me. It all started from the day we ended exams. We went to Kbox and sang our hearts out. This was quickly followed by outing after outing and provided the perfect opportunity for old friends to reminisce and also to strengthen the bonds of new friendships. We talked, we laughed, we remembered and best of all we did it with seasons in the sun. Christmas came and carolled to our hearts' content. Christmas parties came and go. MJ sessions were the pick of the day, though we tried to keep it few, it came out more than we expected. Classmates were well-met as we toasted one for the old times. (reminds me how old I actually am) FLC people met up and tried our darnest not to think of the old times while celebrating the new year. Kurtites met and just chilled out. Maybe we should OBS again? Cue flashback end...

Back to the present and into the future. Time waits for the one who wields it. An uncommon school of thought which is nothing short of unorthodox. Till next time, may schoolwork not pile up like Mt Everest, where few have been able to overcome.