Friday, August 30, 2002
Thursday, August 22, 2002
On Tests
Sigh. The F.Math test we had today really killed me. Out of 50 marks, I only secured 8. Oh well. That's a pseudo Math student for you. The test itself was a horrible experience. I sat down there in the lecture theatre, then realising that the timer had already started. Then, furiously, I pranced on the deadly paper, only to be greeted by a disgusting array of seemingly impossible to answer questions. Worse still, I had to watch the seconds trickle by as I stared blankly at the sheets of paper.
It isn't very encouraging when after the test, you discover that the people around you are probably worrying about whether they'll pass or not. I just hope I get a decent figure. Dear me. There's another half of it next week. Argh...
Sigh. The F.Math test we had today really killed me. Out of 50 marks, I only secured 8. Oh well. That's a pseudo Math student for you. The test itself was a horrible experience. I sat down there in the lecture theatre, then realising that the timer had already started. Then, furiously, I pranced on the deadly paper, only to be greeted by a disgusting array of seemingly impossible to answer questions. Worse still, I had to watch the seconds trickle by as I stared blankly at the sheets of paper.
It isn't very encouraging when after the test, you discover that the people around you are probably worrying about whether they'll pass or not. I just hope I get a decent figure. Dear me. There's another half of it next week. Argh...
Friday, August 16, 2002
A Whole New Beginning
Voila! I'm about to start writing poetry regularly. Before this, I used to write only now and then. From today onwards, I will write as long as inspiration hits me. What a load of bullshit. Inspiration doesn't come all the time... it appears when it wants to, and now when you want it to. But anyway(s), I hope to develop it into an art I am proud of, one that is distinctively me, one that exudes style and surreality.
Voila! I'm about to start writing poetry regularly. Before this, I used to write only now and then. From today onwards, I will write as long as inspiration hits me. What a load of bullshit. Inspiration doesn't come all the time... it appears when it wants to, and now when you want it to. But anyway(s), I hope to develop it into an art I am proud of, one that is distinctively me, one that exudes style and surreality.
Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Exchange with NJC Choir
I must really write this down; it is one of the most significant and memorable events that ever occured in boring Hwa Chong life. Well, today we had a most interesting and enriching experience with the NJC Choir, we had an exchange with them at their college, and one of the first things that struck me was the architecture of the school, the design, the colour scheme, everything, gave the college a very homey feel, something Hwa Chong lacks. Absolutely. Second, the people were friendly and warm. More so than Hwa Chong people in general.
It was a really cool thing, and we sincerely learnt quite a few things from them. Seriously, I think Mr Brian Ang (the teacher in-charge at NJC) was being very tactful in evaluating Hwa Chong choir. I'm sure we were not much better than NJ, and we really lacked the preparation we should have had. And the NJCians were rather integrative, and seemed to be very comfortable with each other. In Hwa Chong, you never, or nearly never see such warmth amongst the people. And despite what people say about their school and their drab uniform, I think they seriously have more a life than us monotonous Hwa Chongians. I'm not trying to put ourselves down, I'm just stating an observation which I personally feel should be improved upon.
I guess everyone enjoyed themselves, and everyone benefited in one way or another, to a certain extent, from the exchange. Well, I hope to see more of such events in the future, and besides, we get to listen to songs. Free of charge. Oh well.
I must really write this down; it is one of the most significant and memorable events that ever occured in boring Hwa Chong life. Well, today we had a most interesting and enriching experience with the NJC Choir, we had an exchange with them at their college, and one of the first things that struck me was the architecture of the school, the design, the colour scheme, everything, gave the college a very homey feel, something Hwa Chong lacks. Absolutely. Second, the people were friendly and warm. More so than Hwa Chong people in general.
It was a really cool thing, and we sincerely learnt quite a few things from them. Seriously, I think Mr Brian Ang (the teacher in-charge at NJC) was being very tactful in evaluating Hwa Chong choir. I'm sure we were not much better than NJ, and we really lacked the preparation we should have had. And the NJCians were rather integrative, and seemed to be very comfortable with each other. In Hwa Chong, you never, or nearly never see such warmth amongst the people. And despite what people say about their school and their drab uniform, I think they seriously have more a life than us monotonous Hwa Chongians. I'm not trying to put ourselves down, I'm just stating an observation which I personally feel should be improved upon.
I guess everyone enjoyed themselves, and everyone benefited in one way or another, to a certain extent, from the exchange. Well, I hope to see more of such events in the future, and besides, we get to listen to songs. Free of charge. Oh well.
Friday, August 09, 2002
Tuesday, August 06, 2002
EgofreakZ
I'm glad that 4E' 2001 could have a dinner together today. It was great, and really reminded me of the awesome times we spent together. It was like in the past, when all of us shared laughter and joy together, like a reunited family. We were no longer in khaki shorts, all of us in our college uniform, yet that unique, strong sense of bond was visible within that short span of an evening. Congrats to Terence for getting hitched and getting free leadership points for PEARLS, and while I'm at it, Jonathan for having started school (finally). Kudos to Wai Kit (high-five) for organising this really hilarious dinner, and thanks to everyone who was present. I really enjoyed myself ya?
I recount the days when ALC was still our teacher, when lame was the game, and when life was great. Thanks 4E. Though some teachers have condemned us, it is undeniable that we were and still is the most remarkable and liveliest bunch of guys. Call us ego but I doubt any class will ever be as marvellous as us (in terms of going down in history as the most incredible class that ever lived). Don't you just love to agree with me? Images of Mr Ang battling maths on the "memories" book we gave him resurfaced, and I laugh at Terence being portrayed as a ball of hair - Mr Mao, no insult intended. Anyway, I'm thinking of giving Mr Ang a combined effort again for this year's Teacher's Day. What do you guys think?
4E' 2001 has been immortalised as the most non-conformist, most outspoken and most spirited class of Chinese High history, and I'm sure our self-confidence (or ego for that matter) greatly exceeds the legal limit in any organisation. For that simple reason, and a million others, we rock.
I'm glad that 4E' 2001 could have a dinner together today. It was great, and really reminded me of the awesome times we spent together. It was like in the past, when all of us shared laughter and joy together, like a reunited family. We were no longer in khaki shorts, all of us in our college uniform, yet that unique, strong sense of bond was visible within that short span of an evening. Congrats to Terence for getting hitched and getting free leadership points for PEARLS, and while I'm at it, Jonathan for having started school (finally). Kudos to Wai Kit (high-five) for organising this really hilarious dinner, and thanks to everyone who was present. I really enjoyed myself ya?
I recount the days when ALC was still our teacher, when lame was the game, and when life was great. Thanks 4E. Though some teachers have condemned us, it is undeniable that we were and still is the most remarkable and liveliest bunch of guys. Call us ego but I doubt any class will ever be as marvellous as us (in terms of going down in history as the most incredible class that ever lived). Don't you just love to agree with me? Images of Mr Ang battling maths on the "memories" book we gave him resurfaced, and I laugh at Terence being portrayed as a ball of hair - Mr Mao, no insult intended. Anyway, I'm thinking of giving Mr Ang a combined effort again for this year's Teacher's Day. What do you guys think?
4E' 2001 has been immortalised as the most non-conformist, most outspoken and most spirited class of Chinese High history, and I'm sure our self-confidence (or ego for that matter) greatly exceeds the legal limit in any organisation. For that simple reason, and a million others, we rock.
Saturday, August 03, 2002
Wandering About Went Alvin
Without any hesitation I decided to go a wandering alone around the Orchard Road area. I walked for about 1 to 2 hours, not really knowing why I was doing all this, or what had made me do this. And on my journey, I realised one truth: that the people around you don't ever notice you. They do not acknowledge your presence as they go about their business. They never really do, unless you decide upon impetus to jump about and shout "I love Singapore!" in flashy red and white. How very... interesting that would be.
Anyway, I continued my wandering. I really had no idea what to do, taking sudden turns at every junction, moving ever so randomly, very much akin to particles in Brownian motion. You do not really have any absolutely clear idea on where you're heading, but still you carry on moving, because there is this driving force that ever prevents us from even discontinue our journey.
I entered a few places, including Cineleisure, Paragon, Heeren, and finally decide to stop at HMV. Spent a considerable amount of time on level three, the classical/evergreen/new age/world section. They were playing some intrumental, and I could make out a sax and a piano. Sounded really good. Anyway, I left and walked to the MRT station. Noted some unruly characters boarding the train at Marina (I took to Marina you see). Felt like slapping them.
This whole entry is totally irrelevant!
What a scam.
Without any hesitation I decided to go a wandering alone around the Orchard Road area. I walked for about 1 to 2 hours, not really knowing why I was doing all this, or what had made me do this. And on my journey, I realised one truth: that the people around you don't ever notice you. They do not acknowledge your presence as they go about their business. They never really do, unless you decide upon impetus to jump about and shout "I love Singapore!" in flashy red and white. How very... interesting that would be.
Anyway, I continued my wandering. I really had no idea what to do, taking sudden turns at every junction, moving ever so randomly, very much akin to particles in Brownian motion. You do not really have any absolutely clear idea on where you're heading, but still you carry on moving, because there is this driving force that ever prevents us from even discontinue our journey.
I entered a few places, including Cineleisure, Paragon, Heeren, and finally decide to stop at HMV. Spent a considerable amount of time on level three, the classical/evergreen/new age/world section. They were playing some intrumental, and I could make out a sax and a piano. Sounded really good. Anyway, I left and walked to the MRT station. Noted some unruly characters boarding the train at Marina (I took to Marina you see). Felt like slapping them.
This whole entry is totally irrelevant!
What a scam.
Thursday, August 01, 2002
Untitled
My mind is confused and direction-less at this very moment in time; I feel like saying something, yet I have completely no idea what to really say. Sometimes, I wonder why we blog. Do we really need to keep track of our ideas, behaviours, thoughts, feelings and emotions?
To quote from Wai Kit:
"Online chats are screened with an invisible filter, sieving all forms of emotions. Hand signals, facial expressions, the flick of a smile, the streak of a frown, are found not on these chats. Yet, i go online.
I think its my form of escapism from the real world, to chat with aquaintances without the hassle of a claptrap. Over the net, we talk about anything and everything. When everything slowly dwindles to less things to nothing, you just simply morph into a sitting veggie awaiting people to come online for everything yet nothing. Its as if they were everything to you, but when they finally do come online, you realise its silly anticipation for nothing.
It just struck me how true his words were. Every night, I go online, only to find that I really have nothing to talk about. Perhaps then, keeping a diary or web log helps us take away some of this loneliness we constantly face. People keep diaries and disallow anyone else from reading it; they write down their deepest desires in them, and the irony is, if only they get to read it, what's the point of keeping a diary when all of it comes from the person keeping it him/herself? Online diaries, web logs, etc. are slightly different, other users get to see them openly on the World Wide Web. But the motive remains the same, to express what a person genuinely (I hope) feels at that particular moment.
Does all this stem from a deep-seated need and sub-conscious desire to feel secure? Are we Homo Sapiens insecure creatures that are constantly plagued by loneliness? Why do we all have families and friends? Question upon question only bring a trillion more. Indeed, we humans are fragile beings. In the day, we hide behind a mask of strength, of power, but when night falls, and when all is dark, we begin to question the very nature of our existence. What are we doing on this world? "Ego" only stems from the insecurity people feel. People need and want this assurance that they are good for something. Tell me if I'm wrong.
And amongst all the shit proclaiming humans as the most intelligent creature on Earth, amongst all the rubbish celebrating and embracing human achievements, we have to remind ourselves that we are in reality insecure beings. Despite wielding technological wonders and scientific advancement, man remains in awe of some of the phenomenon we witness everyday, and even in an age of electric lamps, people still fear the night to a certain degree. We certainly haven't changed much through the course of history. And someone just told me this sounds like a GP essay.
My mind is confused and direction-less at this very moment in time; I feel like saying something, yet I have completely no idea what to really say. Sometimes, I wonder why we blog. Do we really need to keep track of our ideas, behaviours, thoughts, feelings and emotions?
To quote from Wai Kit:
"Online chats are screened with an invisible filter, sieving all forms of emotions. Hand signals, facial expressions, the flick of a smile, the streak of a frown, are found not on these chats. Yet, i go online.
I think its my form of escapism from the real world, to chat with aquaintances without the hassle of a claptrap. Over the net, we talk about anything and everything. When everything slowly dwindles to less things to nothing, you just simply morph into a sitting veggie awaiting people to come online for everything yet nothing. Its as if they were everything to you, but when they finally do come online, you realise its silly anticipation for nothing.
It just struck me how true his words were. Every night, I go online, only to find that I really have nothing to talk about. Perhaps then, keeping a diary or web log helps us take away some of this loneliness we constantly face. People keep diaries and disallow anyone else from reading it; they write down their deepest desires in them, and the irony is, if only they get to read it, what's the point of keeping a diary when all of it comes from the person keeping it him/herself? Online diaries, web logs, etc. are slightly different, other users get to see them openly on the World Wide Web. But the motive remains the same, to express what a person genuinely (I hope) feels at that particular moment.
Does all this stem from a deep-seated need and sub-conscious desire to feel secure? Are we Homo Sapiens insecure creatures that are constantly plagued by loneliness? Why do we all have families and friends? Question upon question only bring a trillion more. Indeed, we humans are fragile beings. In the day, we hide behind a mask of strength, of power, but when night falls, and when all is dark, we begin to question the very nature of our existence. What are we doing on this world? "Ego" only stems from the insecurity people feel. People need and want this assurance that they are good for something. Tell me if I'm wrong.
And amongst all the shit proclaiming humans as the most intelligent creature on Earth, amongst all the rubbish celebrating and embracing human achievements, we have to remind ourselves that we are in reality insecure beings. Despite wielding technological wonders and scientific advancement, man remains in awe of some of the phenomenon we witness everyday, and even in an age of electric lamps, people still fear the night to a certain degree. We certainly haven't changed much through the course of history. And someone just told me this sounds like a GP essay.
