Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Breaking habits

You unknowingly try to grab that bottle in the distance and realise it's not there, a primal instinct to hydrate and the habit of knowing the presence of water is readily available makes people take things for granted.

Just one analogy to prove how i'm trying to break the habit (lucky for me it's a habit, and not an acquired attitude) to cope with the loss of companionship with the effects that's slowly sinking in me. Time heals all wounds, I'm sure it does.

Being busy is a good(may or may not be effective) way to not ponder over unwanted thoughts, yet the capacity of the brain allows for multi-tasking to take place, sadly.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Motions of life

It's this period of gritting my teeth throughout all that I've been doing, knowing i'll see the light at the end of the tunnel. For all the 5km runs up and down the little hills of lucky heights; for the 7km loop run around Bedok and Tanah Merah; for the 90kg log chest presses, bicep curls, shoulder presses and half squats; for the squat thrusts, inclined pull ups, dreaded sit ups and suicide runs; for the endless days of revision till the late of nights; for the rush in meeting of deadlines for numerous EOM drafts, Written Report drafts and OP slides.

One thing that comforts me most is that I know i'm not alone in this journey.

The motivation, inspiration and drive are derived from the stories of highly successful people, and the fact that they have all started with humble backgrounds makes me want to pursue even more

Monday, September 21, 2009

The never ending race with technology

2 weeks back, my enlisting-into-NS brother got an iphone just 2 days before he entered Tekong. My mom, him and me were just shopping for his NS necessities and suddenly we just decided to drop by Starhub and Singtel, before my brother decided he wanted the iphone and we got it on the spot at Singtel without even a day's consideration! Talk about getting things done fast man...

Today, after mom's and my facial appointment (which we had to take a cab down because the army boy decided to use the car for more than 24 hours and decided not to return it for our usage), we had crepes for lunch at Out Of The Pan at raffles city. I wanted to go fairmont for some snow skin mooncakes after that, but realise time was running out cos' i had tuition at 5 back home. Called the army boy again, and this time he's loitering around at Hort Park still refusing to let us use the car, so both my mom and me took the train without buying my snow skin mooncakes!
It's amazing how my mom has never used the public transport system for 20 years and never complimented how much it has changed from the past, only thing she kept going on about was how expensive the bus fares were when we took bus home after that.
So, the tutor called 3 minutes before the time tuition was supposed to start and happily cancelled the class. How responsible.
Luckily we were still at Tamp mall, so decided to get new phones cos' the contracts have all ended quite some time back.

The new baby i'm going to be having with me almost 24/7 for the next 2 years... seriously after all these years, the hype and excitement about getting new things is decreasing drastically maybe cos' i don't really hope for many things to begin with. One thing's that amazing about this is that they finally have a headphone jack. I can plug my own earpiece without connecting all the maze of wires that always come with SE's headpiece.

My mom on the otherhand got a Samsung Omnia II. How times have changed huh. Even the youthful me is struggling with operating the phone... imagine my mom using it! I still like the homely feeling Sony Ericsson's interface gives me. Touch-screen phones are a no-no.

I've been craving snow skin mooncakes this year... unlike every other year. Luckily, we managed to get another box of assorted ones from Bakerzin AGAIN. Wah... my indulgence! I've been snacking on one on a daily basis since the previous box. It's like an addiction. And... i still want to try Fairmont's snowskin mooncakes! :(

The only thing i can't ignore is food cravings... can you even imagine the state i'll be in when i'm actually pregnant? I'll have a chef in the kitchen that is fully stocked with international food whipping up my whims and fancies every hour or so.

Friday, September 18, 2009

The way to the heart

At different phases of life you find certain music that relate and express those unspoken thoughts so accurately... and you just fall in love with them having them played on repeat.

This song has claimed a compartment in my heart for it represents my perception of many things that linger in my mind during those surreal nights with the crickets in the thick bushes echoing through the streets...



Yes, it's one of my rare few cryptic posts.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Especially for myself

I've been doing quite some running these few days because of Titans and in order to improve my weak stamina, I've done some own-time-own-target training at home as well. I realised that I'm quite individualistic when it comes to running. I feel the reverse of what many people feel when running in a group -- usually group-running, we tend to feel more inclined to keep up with the pace and run faster as a result, I don't deny that's usually how I feel as well, but with that motivation there's also this stress that builds up with the fatigue when you try hard to keep up, at least that's for me. The footsteps that echo around me when we run in a group makes me lose my focus and breaks my pace, I really need to work on that for the team event 7km run. Then again, I still prefer some solo running, with just the breeze and my body going through several stages from panting to striding to taking in the sights in the neighbourhood all at the same time. It's really interesting that I feel so aware of my body changes during the entire duration of a run.
I was reading an article yesterday about how scientists want to make a pill that makes running more pleasurable for people. Many couch potatoes are too unmotivated to take the first step to change into their sports attire for a good workout. Wouldn't that be so cool? It'd be like a running-viagra! Tons of people would flood the streets to run then...


I think the education system in Holland is really amazing. 7 years of childhood without any form of exams or rankings! No such thing as top 10 schools, top PSLE pupil, Gifted Education Programme, Integrated Programme etc. They teach important life values like humanity, kindness, caring and sharing(that's why they do away with exams so there is no competition and the little kids do not feel the stress to outwit each other - which is so apparent in Singapore - and they are not self-centered by keeping knowledge to themselves so as to gain the additional edge like in the over-competitive society here) The liberal education system has led to kids growing to become tolerant and accepting individuals that allow them adapt to and communicate with people from all around the world.

To me, the most effective education system is when it has the ability to instill in young learners the motivation to want to find out more on their own i.e. the thirst for knowledge which is seriously lacking in our context and to be compassionate as an individual.
All those talk about well-rounded education in Singapore goes to trash when we look at the children in Holland - no wonder they are ranked the happiest in the world.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Quickie

I think my mom and I just had a reversal of roles.

She's watching Boys Over Flowers and Fated to Love You(命中注定我爱你)!
I watched those Taiwanese drama like in Lower Secondary or something please...
Then i asked her, eh what's so interesting about these shows man. You think you still very young and falling love ah. And she said, YA cannot ah.. i still very young ok... still lian ai zhong(in love). *faints*


I sat at the dining table since 9a.m doing math with Tan Chanel x2.
They brought my requested Mcgriddles with egg breakfast... and I had my math tuition after a hiatus of more than a month. Lunch we decided to head to the nearby Aston's, where I had really yummy Prime Ribeye and peppermint milk tea. I can never find any stalls that makes the best peppermint milk tea except the $1 outlet opposite Parkway. Poor me... I'm deprived of this good milk tea. We decided to order delivery from Canadian Pizza and Pizza Hut for dinner.

A really interesting conversation went on while we ordered through the phone...
Me *dialling canadian's number into the phone* *passes to Chanel*
Chanel: Er hello, can I order pizza?
Me: *WIDE STARE* DUH you're ordering pizza else you call canadian for what!!!!
Chanel: *LAUGHS UNCONTROLLABLY while the person was still on the line!*
Blah blah blah...
Person: *asking for her name*
Chanel: Oh, Chanel, C-H-A-N-E-L.
Person: "Number?"
Chanel: "Huh? Oh 9......*give hp. number*"
Person: "Oh nevermind."

So, after the whole conversation... that silly girl turned and looked at me and exclaimed:
Chanel: "OMG! The person just made fun of my name! He was asking Chanel number what! OMG HAHAHAHHA and he just said never mind when i said HUH!"

EPIC FAILLLLLLLLL

Friday, September 11, 2009

One way to go

After researching about where I might 'drop out' to if I didn't make it for this promos... I found the ideal institution for me - SIM, where I can pursue a 1-year diploma in Economics which is like a foundation to a 1st year degree, meaning I can start working towards a degree in a year. THAT is actually the shortest path, even better than this JC route that I've taken. Okay, here's the thing, I just missed their annual intake. It's on Aug. The next intake would be Aug 2010! Evidently enough, I can drop the idea of dropping out of TJC(if i ever want to at the end of the year), because that would mean I would be idling around from Jan 2010 - Aug 2010. And that's silly.
Now you guys will wonder... so why the hell didn't I apply for this diploma straight after O levels?
See... I didn't know I'd enjoy Econs this much until I've taken in for the past 7 months. So actually, there's give and take in this... I've got nothing and no one to blame. I guess it's the experience which teaches and guides us. So at least now I know I have a clearer path to take in the future.

AND for now, I don't really have a choice, since i'm already in it, I might as well complete my A levels. There goes me... chionging for silly promos.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Post-birthday

I think if i were to wait for Calvin's photos to be uploaded I will never be able to blog... maybe 10 years later i suppose, hor? :P

Really... I think it's going to be such a boring post without the photos because words don't do justice to the extreme exhilaration i felt for the whole of my birthday, lest the fever parts.
My pre-birthday in school was really really sweet... with my class surprising me after the 1st lesson with a birthday cake + song + presents!

This drawing is really cute

Class of 28/09

And then with climbers scaring me with the huge AA hello kitty balloon that says "Birthday Princess".


(FYI, i brought the balloon home and Sushi got so scared of it... she went into hiding mode for the whole of the next day and refused to eat... poor thing. Then my brother got scared too cos i left it in the living room and when he came out of his room in the middle of the night, the huge balloon was bobbing near his room door, he said he thought what the hell that was.. something so huge flying near the ceiling in the middle of the night, freaking hilarious...)
Then we had titans training in the afternoon which left my quads aching for the next few days... and i had another round of birthday song from them, so sweet eh?

The next morning, had to wake up really early for the kayak P.E elective.
It could have been a really short journey from my house to MacRitchie Reservoir, but being road-idiots, my mom and I kept missing turns and what nots. We travelled almost twice the distance! Waste of petrol... The next car should really have a GPS system for my mom to know her way around the little island called Singapore. After driving for more than the years in my age, she still doesn't know her way around(sucks to be her).

Kayaking was really fun... in my mind i had the picture of an open sea.. with salty water and all the dirt etc but the place turned out to be really nice. I was glad that Xiao Wee provided much entertainment for the whole morning. What with his capsizing-other-people and paddling-like-an-idiot-because-he-can't-freaking-coordinate-with-me moments... seriously, even though it's silly, it keeps me laughing.

After that, I had lunch with cocobeforeTan Chanel... btw, i've fixed up the jigsaw puzzle that you guys gave me... it's so niceee. BUT why are you at the centre of the picture? Totally steal the limelight away from me, like as if it's a birthday present FOR you like that. TSK. The same old same man... we haven't met for a month already I think, and when we meet, it's as if we've known each other since forever.

My fever at this point in time was starting to scream in my head... waiting to unleash the fury. Initial plan was to head home and have a good sleep because i thought a lot of the climbers couldn't make it for the outing, unexpectedly, there was a change of venue - Clement's house. Guess what? The whole bunch of them were already waiting for this princess arrival lah... imagine if i just went home and sleep... I wouldn't climb in peace for the rest of my life man. Hahaha! They sang me a birthday song and Calvin baked my birthday cake! This is a first k! No one has ever baked me a birthday cake before... I was utterly touched by his sincere efforts.. especially when he's a guy! Heh... I also received a pair of hand-drawn shoes from Kris, Gwen and Black, and a photo journal from Rah! Don't you see something in common with all these gifts? They are all so personalised... just so my style of a perfect birthday gift.

Dinner went out with my family and relatives at Aston's. Due to the lack of appetite because of the oncoming fever, I ate really little, but nevertheless i enjoyed the company a lot. We went back to my uncle's place and they bought me black forest ice cream cake from Swensens. Another round of birthday song and cake cutting... heh.

Throughout all of these cake-cutting, i've never made a wish at all. I didn't know what to wish for, because i am really contented with what i have already. My classmates just affirmed that when they picked me as the most self-satisfied/contented person in class for some random readings during GP. I think that's the way to go to leading a fulfilling life man... if you're always wishing for something better you'll never be happy and appreciative of what you already have.

That sums up my wonderful birthday... spent with the closest of friends and my loved ones, i can never ask for anything more than that. Thank you...

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Most powerful organ - the heart or the mind?

I wonder what I'll be doing right now if I had taken Biology. I have never really noticed my interest in the anatomy of the human body and the workings behind it until I realised this part of me always look forward to every Thursday where the Straits Times has Mind Your Body, and that would inevitably be the first piece i sieve through the pile before touching the rest of the things.

Technically I enjoy reading up about the various studies/research scientists are constantly doing and today I came across this article on how people are less likely to kick up a fuss when you insult them when they are lying down. Did I mention how my urine colour is almost clear and that signals really good hydration? I was never one keen on memorising a gazillion chunk of words only to regurgitate them out during exams, and that's probably why I've never considered Bio or History as the subjects of pursuit, but I've always had this keen interest in both subjects. I remember during those Higher Chinese lessons back in Sec 3/4 where we would have to move to a different class for lessons and I would rummage through some random person's desk and read her Bio textbook secretly under the table during lessons.

Detention yesterday was really a worthy experience i've never had before. Usually detention is associated with cleaning of toilets/classrooms/school compound etc. I think those who benefited the most are those who really sat down to reflect on what went wrong and how they could go about to amend the mistakes. Just two solid hours sitting down at the desk there penning down honest feelings made me think about how unique our school system is. I always have random fluttering thoughts in my mind making comparisons to how things were done in Secondary School and how the same things are being done in JC.

JC allows more flexibility to how the lessons are being structured and there are definitely more breaks in between albeit a longer school day. I sat in the library waiting for the 4 period break to end before my Econs period today and it reminded me a lot of how Uni life would be like in the future. As what my friend always says... "JC prepares you for Uni... go for it." Now i'm beginning to understand why. I am sure i will understand even more when I'm in Uni.

If only GP was recommended much earlier say in Upper Sec, it would have been so much more interesting. GP really widens the scope of one's readings and knowledge derived from the readings. I've always never had the time to indulge in leisure reading and GP is one way to allow me to do that; Lit as well. I don't understand why most people have this really shocked/impressed look on their faces when I say I'm taking Lit. It's as much as another content subject in the education system. Do you know that in the US, Lit is pretty much what they call English?

Let me digress... I still think I can relate better to older people. I don't know if that's a good/bad thing because I have trouble communicating with a handful of peers. I can't see things the way they see because of how I've been past the stage already. Is this the case of growing up too fast? My mom used to say how she wished her little girl would not be thinking so much about adult matters so soon... I wish to find back the innocence too, as much as that's the case, i am still very thankful for the experience and exposure i've had.

And I would say, the most powerful organ... is both the heart and the mind - the heart to feel and empathise and the mind to think with clarity; and the day that one exists without the other, is the day that my inner soul perishes.

FYI - My biggest birthday wish: An entry level DSLR! Bwahahahaha... There you go people. All my lovely friends can come together to chip in for this divine gift. (I always look at so many things every second in life and imagine it in the frames of the viewfinder and ask myself why don't i have the luxury of snapping pictures with the human eye...)