You know you've been away too long when your dinner conversations with other Singaporeans go like this:
"It's quite worth it, the hokkien mee is only £6 there"
(Remember that it's £1=S$3)
"The laksa's alright, as good as laksa can get without harhm"
"Oh yes, you can't get harhm in london anymore because those chinese immigrant cockle pickers died in that flash flood in Dorset."
"Yes, what a pity... laksa's not laksa without the harhmy taste."
"And tau pok! Here they seem to not understand that tau pok is essential!"
"I totally agree. You need an intermediary between the gravy and your tastebuds sometimes."
"Yes! It facilitates consumption of the sauce and diminishes the jelak effect!"
"Did you know that in hawker centres they are starting to angmohgrify dessert names?"
"Like how?"
"Chendol de durian... and yam soup"
"What the hell is yam soup?"
"Bo bo cha cha"
So you have an elite group of SG scholars (excluding me of course) sitting around the dinner table being suaku about Greek food and woefully mispronouncing the strange consonant-filled names, missing local food like mad and trying very very hard to pretend we know what we're doing. If only we'd gone to Malaysian kopitiam like I suggested! But then we'd be paying like S$18 for a plate of nasi lemak/char kway tiao/hokkien mee that will invariably fall short of the real thing and going against our deepest 'value for money' instincts honed by many years of not going to the hawker stall that sells chendol for $2.20 but to the one that sells it for S$2 instead even if it is at a totally different hawker centre altogether.
See, you don't even find it strange. That's cos you're singaporean and that's the kind of thing we do. Instead we'd rather pay £20 to have 'exotic' Greek food and eventually find that we don't like it after all. Khayce, take note. The debilitating effects of being deprived of favourite foods for long periods of time is the most traumatic aspect of being away from home. I can't overstate this. Am going to attempt to cook bak kut teh tomorrow for lunch. Will report back on results. (People who say hah! I can cook that-- face it, have you tried?) (except my grandma)
In case I've given you the idea that my Sgean friends in London are a sad bunch, let me assure you, we do more than just go out and makan together. We also travel to exotic destinations to go out and makan together. As well as engage in stimulating conversation about the casino referendum and straits times making us pay for online access and What the Health Minister Said About Gays-- and on that topic, the new gay sauna bar that's just opened across the road. In case this sounds kinky, yes, it is. It's funny how you become ten times more aware of local politics and news when you have to defend your country against narrow-minded liberals who have never been there, take The Economist as gospel and are looking to score easy points by comparing it against their own democracy.
Yeah, we are kinda sad.
On that note: I am going to Washington on Sat! So exciting! It will be very very interesting when we meet the NUS team and the Malaysian team and the Canadian team. (As I've said elsewhere in this blog, the UK JEssup team is comprised of 2 Singaporeans, 1 malaysian, 1 Canadian and 1 Brit.) For cultural night we were thinking of going as 'oppressor and oppressed' in a subtle political statement on Prince Harry's gaffe at a recent 'colonial and native' themed costume party attended by the hoi polloi of English society, held the day before Auschwitz commemoration day-- he came in a Nazi officer's uniform. Do you think anyone will get it? Or maybe we could more charitably term ourselves 'commonwealth'. (as julian suggested) Talk about foreign talent. Meet the team.
Julian: "Dude! Awesome!" (kancheong spider)
Jim: "Capitalism is harmful to your health." (kiasee)
Rich: "Chillax." (boh chup)
Preeti: "Victoria, I need to speak to you about your argument." (kiasu-literally can't lose an argument ever)
Me: "Wah lau." (yau kwee)
Guess which is which. (And our personalities all fit into stereotypes! Just like in the Mr Kiasu comics! Yes, I sadly used to read those.) We were too bored on the plane to Aberdeen and had to find a way to amuse ourselves. I gave Rich a quick run down on Sg geography, economy, politics, cultural stereotypes, lifestyle and food. I added that the fact is we may get roundly thrashed by NUS soon, 4-time winner of the international rounds out of more than 100 teams. They are genuinely feared. SGeans, be proud of NUS. It is a very good uni and I think many Sgeans don't realise this. They are 18th in the world Uni rankings! LSE is just 11th. Oxford and Cambridge are 5th and 6th. Top is Harvard.
Aargh. Am leaving tomorrow and haven't packed yet!
TOR
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
First day of school today.
CJ is alright, made a grand total of 1 new friend. Name's Nadia, very nice girl who seems to be the friendliest in my group. But then again, have not exactly gotten to know my group yet, so yarh.
Applied for a Literature and Geography class, if I don't get in will be chucked into a combi with History instead. And I haven't touched that subject for years, so I hope it doesn't kill me. Also seems to have a problem with CLB, so have to bring all sorts of official looking letters tmr to clear it up.
Haven't got any sort of timetable for the next week, and orientation is going to be spread out over 5 days. A bit long, but hey, am not complaining. I'm located very conveniently near home, town, the Lim residence, Comic mart and a straight bus to Thompson too. Yes, it all seems very game oriented, but that's not going to happen, seeing how that lot have to work in the afternoon.
Since I've a memory like a sieve, I can't remeber what I wanted to blog, so will do it some time later lah.
Oy, Toria. Mum says to take care yarh? You going to Washington and all.
CJ is alright, made a grand total of 1 new friend. Name's Nadia, very nice girl who seems to be the friendliest in my group. But then again, have not exactly gotten to know my group yet, so yarh.
Applied for a Literature and Geography class, if I don't get in will be chucked into a combi with History instead. And I haven't touched that subject for years, so I hope it doesn't kill me. Also seems to have a problem with CLB, so have to bring all sorts of official looking letters tmr to clear it up.
Haven't got any sort of timetable for the next week, and orientation is going to be spread out over 5 days. A bit long, but hey, am not complaining. I'm located very conveniently near home, town, the Lim residence, Comic mart and a straight bus to Thompson too. Yes, it all seems very game oriented, but that's not going to happen, seeing how that lot have to work in the afternoon.
Since I've a memory like a sieve, I can't remeber what I wanted to blog, so will do it some time later lah.
Oy, Toria. Mum says to take care yarh? You going to Washington and all.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Haven't blogged in ages, been busy.
On thursday, had Schaz's birthday cum bodycount thing. The food was done by Bern, cooked on the spot was... the sort of food good enough to dream about. The whole thing was very enjoyable really, especially the bit where we blasted Avenue Q.
Wen was kind of swamped during the game, and I co-GMed a bit. Was guided throught the technical bits, so was ok. Think I'll run an RP in another few years or so though (is not Schaz...).
It seems that every Saturday, I forget to bring down my choir scores. Mm, they've added a new song or two, I noticed during mass. Ah, who needs scores, just wing it larh.
Urgh, so angry! IJ having holiday this Thursday, in celebration of the good O level results. What's the point if we're not there to enjoy it, sheesh. I don't recall having one last year either.
Posting results out tmr, will be camping out in front of computer, in anticipation. Might do some writing here, while waiting in the wee hours of the morning. Do hope I get into CJ, will have to report to aforementioned school on Wednesday.
Tor,
Oh what a pity it is then, that Ed will be in Sg by that time... was so looking forward to spending time with him in London.
In any case, yes yes, we will go forth and seek adventure and exciting things without you, not to worry. Just joking.
Auntie G's going to send you an e-mail by Wednesday, to your lse account, covering the details for our trip ie. arrival and departure, and whatever else she got as a bonus at the travel fair. What's been confirmed so far though, is that I'll leave London on the 24th, and Auntie G and her friends the 17th, I think.
On thursday, had Schaz's birthday cum bodycount thing. The food was done by Bern, cooked on the spot was... the sort of food good enough to dream about. The whole thing was very enjoyable really, especially the bit where we blasted Avenue Q.
Wen was kind of swamped during the game, and I co-GMed a bit. Was guided throught the technical bits, so was ok. Think I'll run an RP in another few years or so though (is not Schaz...).
It seems that every Saturday, I forget to bring down my choir scores. Mm, they've added a new song or two, I noticed during mass. Ah, who needs scores, just wing it larh.
Urgh, so angry! IJ having holiday this Thursday, in celebration of the good O level results. What's the point if we're not there to enjoy it, sheesh. I don't recall having one last year either.
Posting results out tmr, will be camping out in front of computer, in anticipation. Might do some writing here, while waiting in the wee hours of the morning. Do hope I get into CJ, will have to report to aforementioned school on Wednesday.
Tor,
Oh what a pity it is then, that Ed will be in Sg by that time... was so looking forward to spending time with him in London.
In any case, yes yes, we will go forth and seek adventure and exciting things without you, not to worry. Just joking.
Auntie G's going to send you an e-mail by Wednesday, to your lse account, covering the details for our trip ie. arrival and departure, and whatever else she got as a bonus at the travel fair. What's been confirmed so far though, is that I'll leave London on the 24th, and Auntie G and her friends the 17th, I think.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
My exam timetable is really crap! I won't be done until the 7th of June! So you will be wandering around London while I sadly sit in the library mugging! Since you are coming on the 29th of May, it means you will have to entertain yourself for 10 days. That's a long time for London so I suggest you visit Paris too, in that time. You should stay there for 3 days if possible-- there's a lot to see and will be beautiful in summer.
A very stressed TOR.
A very stressed TOR.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Have been down with a lungful of phelgm for nearly a week.
It's hampering my singing. I try to execute a simple descant part and the strain of it is killing me. I know this is an egotistical comment but yes, I do like to hear myself sing and do it quite often. You know the times when you've just finished school and you're walking home, there's no one much around and the environment is just perfect for singing... now you open your mouth and you just can't let go, like you always can.
Could.
The worst bit about it all is that it's all my damned fault. For not taking care of my own health, for keeping late nights.
I think I shall go try hack up my lungs now.
It's hampering my singing. I try to execute a simple descant part and the strain of it is killing me. I know this is an egotistical comment but yes, I do like to hear myself sing and do it quite often. You know the times when you've just finished school and you're walking home, there's no one much around and the environment is just perfect for singing... now you open your mouth and you just can't let go, like you always can.
Could.
The worst bit about it all is that it's all my damned fault. For not taking care of my own health, for keeping late nights.
I think I shall go try hack up my lungs now.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Erm, am not exactly supposed to be home right now, but left school early as was not supposed to be there either. I know that didn't exactly make sense, but yeah.
Since I had Richard clean up the C drive, the machine's been so much easier to manage, now I haven't got strange icons of unknown origin anymore, so have been on the com for an hour or more since I got back, tinkering with new music conversion programme.
It's easier to find and arrange my music now, which means I'll have much nonsense on my mp3 player in months to come. The stuff that I've not been able to plug in, Dir en Grey, Gackt, Adagio, Budak Pantai... what's missing would only be the musicals Victoria brought over to London. Mm, I do miss Webber. Wonder if I can do any burning over in London...
Have been absent on the LiveJournal role-play site. Will pop by to poke around soon, I do miss the candid situations and the sheer fun of playing off each other's characters. Not to mention the nosebleeds.
Hey Althea~! Thanks, you too. Shouldn't we meet up one of these days?
Miss you too Jenny! *hugg
Congrats to you too Justin. Even if we're not off to the same school we've to keep in touch, ne?
Yes Amanda, will see you 3 on Wednesday? Mm, will have Pullman's His Dark Materials for you. And/or Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide... let's see how much I feel like carrying with me larh.
Hallo Cass. Yes, will see you around, probably.
Am sleepy. Think I'll go drink some milk then drop into bed and try not to sleep in side of head with pierced cartilage.
Since I had Richard clean up the C drive, the machine's been so much easier to manage, now I haven't got strange icons of unknown origin anymore, so have been on the com for an hour or more since I got back, tinkering with new music conversion programme.
It's easier to find and arrange my music now, which means I'll have much nonsense on my mp3 player in months to come. The stuff that I've not been able to plug in, Dir en Grey, Gackt, Adagio, Budak Pantai... what's missing would only be the musicals Victoria brought over to London. Mm, I do miss Webber. Wonder if I can do any burning over in London...
Have been absent on the LiveJournal role-play site. Will pop by to poke around soon, I do miss the candid situations and the sheer fun of playing off each other's characters. Not to mention the nosebleeds.
Hey Althea~! Thanks, you too. Shouldn't we meet up one of these days?
Miss you too Jenny! *hugg
Congrats to you too Justin. Even if we're not off to the same school we've to keep in touch, ne?
Yes Amanda, will see you 3 on Wednesday? Mm, will have Pullman's His Dark Materials for you. And/or Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide... let's see how much I feel like carrying with me larh.
Hallo Cass. Yes, will see you around, probably.
Am sleepy. Think I'll go drink some milk then drop into bed and try not to sleep in side of head with pierced cartilage.
This is not Gloria. And I'm not saying this is an effected post-modern Matrixy kind of way. I am really not Gloria. That's because I am TOR, of the Bolbol fame.
I am writing this in a somewhat disturbed state. There is wailing under my window. Yes, wailing. Not a cat yowling or children screaming kind of wail, but a low creepy moan born of real despair and anger. It is scary. It is reminds me of a surreal scene in horror movie where the people in the house are trapped without knowing it. The zombies are coming and they can smell your sweet human flesh! Like Night of the Living Dead. Which is more creepy in black and white than you would imagine it to be. Sometimes I really don't like living in London.
Luckily, I have Bolbol. Also, I have a bar of dark chocolate and a cup of soya bean milk. And a big glass mineral water bottle from Norway which I can use to defend myself, if necessary. Dao huey chui is more comforting that you suppose it to be. Accompanying me is a huge assortment of dustmites crawling up my nose this very instant as I've just vacuumed up a few hundred by sniffing my bolster. Not to mention their carcasses and shit. Hmm... tickly. Somehow the thought is less scary than the zombie people outside breaking in and eating me. I suppose I'd better wash Bolbol. I am not mad.
And speaking of not being mad, I just wrote this in my philosophy essay:
In Popper’s philosophy, all laws or theories are conjectural, or guesses, and one can never justify their truth empirically. In this regard he agrees with Hume. The implication of this sceptical conclusion, as stressed by Russell, is that all knowledge is of the nature of irrational belief, such that ‘there is no intellectual distinction’ between a sane man and one who ‘believes he is a poached egg.’[1] Popper counters this with the argument that the ravings of the lunatic can be refuted deductively by experience and that it is rational to choose the best-tested theory (he is a man) when there are competing theories (he is a man or he is an egg). Thus his method boils down to one of choice, and does not claim to be able to justify the truth or certainty of hypotheses.
Don't you wish you had a chance to ever write 'he is a man or he is an egg' in an essay? So actually in philosophy being mad and sane is the same. Isn't that nice?
I am writing this in a somewhat disturbed state. There is wailing under my window. Yes, wailing. Not a cat yowling or children screaming kind of wail, but a low creepy moan born of real despair and anger. It is scary. It is reminds me of a surreal scene in horror movie where the people in the house are trapped without knowing it. The zombies are coming and they can smell your sweet human flesh! Like Night of the Living Dead. Which is more creepy in black and white than you would imagine it to be. Sometimes I really don't like living in London.
Luckily, I have Bolbol. Also, I have a bar of dark chocolate and a cup of soya bean milk. And a big glass mineral water bottle from Norway which I can use to defend myself, if necessary. Dao huey chui is more comforting that you suppose it to be. Accompanying me is a huge assortment of dustmites crawling up my nose this very instant as I've just vacuumed up a few hundred by sniffing my bolster. Not to mention their carcasses and shit. Hmm... tickly. Somehow the thought is less scary than the zombie people outside breaking in and eating me. I suppose I'd better wash Bolbol. I am not mad.
And speaking of not being mad, I just wrote this in my philosophy essay:
In Popper’s philosophy, all laws or theories are conjectural, or guesses, and one can never justify their truth empirically. In this regard he agrees with Hume. The implication of this sceptical conclusion, as stressed by Russell, is that all knowledge is of the nature of irrational belief, such that ‘there is no intellectual distinction’ between a sane man and one who ‘believes he is a poached egg.’[1] Popper counters this with the argument that the ravings of the lunatic can be refuted deductively by experience and that it is rational to choose the best-tested theory (he is a man) when there are competing theories (he is a man or he is an egg). Thus his method boils down to one of choice, and does not claim to be able to justify the truth or certainty of hypotheses.
Don't you wish you had a chance to ever write 'he is a man or he is an egg' in an essay? So actually in philosophy being mad and sane is the same. Isn't that nice?
Monday, February 28, 2005
I am so relieved. The endless mugging for the O's, finally paid off. From a 32 to an 18, all that panic for nearly nothing. The freaking out at Mrs. Ho's office, on the phone, in the hall itself... but freaking out is healthy (to an extent), I suppose.
Looks like giving 4 years to band wasn't such a bad idea after all, even if it did eat my life out. Don't think joining another time-consuming CCA at CJ is such a good idea though, even if the choir seems very tempting, looking at how accomplished it is.
Or perhaps I should go there and do what they have at RJ, that is, set up a gaming group...
It pays to have kender blood. After all the stress and running around, I think I'll still stay up til tmr. Mm, adrenaline.
Got a couple of things to do... burn all stuff out of com as it needs to be sent for reformatting, apply for CJ, mostly admin stuff. And have to stay up to watch Trainspotting so that I can return the disc.
Hallo Adam, thanks for the concern. You take care, I'll see you in church..?
Looks like giving 4 years to band wasn't such a bad idea after all, even if it did eat my life out. Don't think joining another time-consuming CCA at CJ is such a good idea though, even if the choir seems very tempting, looking at how accomplished it is.
Or perhaps I should go there and do what they have at RJ, that is, set up a gaming group...
It pays to have kender blood. After all the stress and running around, I think I'll still stay up til tmr. Mm, adrenaline.
Got a couple of things to do... burn all stuff out of com as it needs to be sent for reformatting, apply for CJ, mostly admin stuff. And have to stay up to watch Trainspotting so that I can return the disc.
Hallo Adam, thanks for the concern. You take care, I'll see you in church..?
Results are out!
English - A2 (this is ridiculous. Yes I am Upset at this mark.)
SS/Lit - B3
Geography - B3
E Math - B4 (damn this, I was expecting a 3, at least. Must have altered the grade requirement because the paper was quite easy.)
Phy/Bio - B3
PoA - B3
And I passed Chinese. 18 points in total, deduct 2 for CCA (that I got A2 for) and 2 for affiliation and I should get into CJ quite comfortably.
Am satisfied. Will write proper some other time.
English - A2 (this is ridiculous. Yes I am Upset at this mark.)
SS/Lit - B3
Geography - B3
E Math - B4 (damn this, I was expecting a 3, at least. Must have altered the grade requirement because the paper was quite easy.)
Phy/Bio - B3
PoA - B3
And I passed Chinese. 18 points in total, deduct 2 for CCA (that I got A2 for) and 2 for affiliation and I should get into CJ quite comfortably.
Am satisfied. Will write proper some other time.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
THIS IS TOR:
Just came here to moan... I need KC's email to so that I can moan more privately to him too. Although we won the national championships I'm starting to think thet it may have been better if we hadn't won. Moan moan etc about amount of preparation to be done and forcibly abandoned ski trip. Darn! I can't go skiing in the Austrian alps because I have to represent the UK in the international rounds in Washington. Aargh arrgh. This is the same competition that NUS has won more times than any other team. And they have a coach who just so happens to specialise in the same topics the moot problem is on. Wah lau. It's not cos the rest of the world is just no competition but that NUS is really really really good. They have a special course that prepares them for this moot.
And now our coaches and my other team mates are hell bent on making it to the very top. Eurgh is the only thing I can say-- I do have a degree to study for. I wonder if I will be conflicted out of competing with NUS, if it comes to that...?
Just came here to moan... I need KC's email to so that I can moan more privately to him too. Although we won the national championships I'm starting to think thet it may have been better if we hadn't won. Moan moan etc about amount of preparation to be done and forcibly abandoned ski trip. Darn! I can't go skiing in the Austrian alps because I have to represent the UK in the international rounds in Washington. Aargh arrgh. This is the same competition that NUS has won more times than any other team. And they have a coach who just so happens to specialise in the same topics the moot problem is on. Wah lau. It's not cos the rest of the world is just no competition but that NUS is really really really good. They have a special course that prepares them for this moot.
And now our coaches and my other team mates are hell bent on making it to the very top. Eurgh is the only thing I can say-- I do have a degree to study for. I wonder if I will be conflicted out of competing with NUS, if it comes to that...?
Monday, February 21, 2005
Victoria,
Mum's been bugging for me to drop you a couple of msges. Driving me crazy (as usual) so here goes...
-Why didn't we call you yesterday? Mum said she thought you were still in Scotland for that Jessups thing. By the way, congrats on winning it!
-Have sent off James' parcel diving equipment regulator whatever thing, to his place in Australia. Has he got it yet?
-Got the parcel you sent me. Thanks so much, you always know what to get me!
Hallo stranger, glad that you like what you see. Do you have a journal yourself, that I could visit too? And how did you find me anyway?
Mum's been bugging for me to drop you a couple of msges. Driving me crazy (as usual) so here goes...
-Why didn't we call you yesterday? Mum said she thought you were still in Scotland for that Jessups thing. By the way, congrats on winning it!
-Have sent off James' parcel diving equipment regulator whatever thing, to his place in Australia. Has he got it yet?
-Got the parcel you sent me. Thanks so much, you always know what to get me!
Hallo stranger, glad that you like what you see. Do you have a journal yourself, that I could visit too? And how did you find me anyway?
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Came across a musical recently, one that Victoria brought back the other time. It occurs to me that I've never posted song lyrics here. Probably because I've not really found many song lyrics very meaningful.
Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl
Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl
Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in
Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl
Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl
- Wicked, the musical: 'I'm not that girl'.
Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl
Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl
Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in
Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl
Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl
- Wicked, the musical: 'I'm not that girl'.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Settled the matter, couldn't have asked for better results. Another memory for the photo album of my life. I feel like a satisfied cat right now, complete with the head patting.
*stretches and smiles*
Amanda dear, we'll get that done when you finish work? Looking forward to it!
Thanks Toria, wish you were here for it!
Hallo MI people. Am not even going to try guessing who you are...
Tora~! *glomps* Thanks, miss you loads! Oh, and about the Naruto scanlations, I can't seem to send it to you, so have asked Schaz to send instead. If that fails then will get Wen to do it, since he's got everything till 37 or something.
You stay happy too, Gaby... thanks for dropping by.
Quid pro quo, King Kong. I'll tell you where I've been, if you tell me who you are? Why'd you want to know anyway?
Thanks for giving a damn, Orion. I've no idea when yours is either?
All done fine, Khayce. Oh, and have new friend for you to meet this Saturday. She's sitting in for VtR, Richard says it's fine. Bern (that's her name) loved Bodycount Thursday, so what will she think of actual role playing?
To you: Thanks, for everything.
*stretches and smiles*
Amanda dear, we'll get that done when you finish work? Looking forward to it!
Thanks Toria, wish you were here for it!
Hallo MI people. Am not even going to try guessing who you are...
Tora~! *glomps* Thanks, miss you loads! Oh, and about the Naruto scanlations, I can't seem to send it to you, so have asked Schaz to send instead. If that fails then will get Wen to do it, since he's got everything till 37 or something.
You stay happy too, Gaby... thanks for dropping by.
Quid pro quo, King Kong. I'll tell you where I've been, if you tell me who you are? Why'd you want to know anyway?
Thanks for giving a damn, Orion. I've no idea when yours is either?
All done fine, Khayce. Oh, and have new friend for you to meet this Saturday. She's sitting in for VtR, Richard says it's fine. Bern (that's her name) loved Bodycount Thursday, so what will she think of actual role playing?
To you: Thanks, for everything.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
My life has been turned upside down, within a week. This is ridiculous.
I am a teenager, even if I'd like to think that I don't act like one (not all the time, anyway). Something has been brought to my attention recently and believe that I should deal with it the way it should be handled, with care and awareness of all consequences. But I want to be the child that I am and just do what I want to do, to satisfy my own needs, or my own lust in this case.
God help me, I thought it was a done deal by Sunday... have I made a mistake with my recent actions? I had hoped not, despite warnings from one whom I trust. She has spoken of it for ages long... and only now do I learn the hard way.
Many things hinge on the events of tomorrow, the best results being that we come to a peaceful understanding. Worst case scenario, me being scarred for life perhaps. I don't really want to think about it. Playing it by ear seems like the best course of action now.
I don't have time for this.
To whom it may concern: it's not about barriers, it's about- what is it all about anyway? I'm so sorry to have started it all.
I am a teenager, even if I'd like to think that I don't act like one (not all the time, anyway). Something has been brought to my attention recently and believe that I should deal with it the way it should be handled, with care and awareness of all consequences. But I want to be the child that I am and just do what I want to do, to satisfy my own needs, or my own lust in this case.
God help me, I thought it was a done deal by Sunday... have I made a mistake with my recent actions? I had hoped not, despite warnings from one whom I trust. She has spoken of it for ages long... and only now do I learn the hard way.
Many things hinge on the events of tomorrow, the best results being that we come to a peaceful understanding. Worst case scenario, me being scarred for life perhaps. I don't really want to think about it. Playing it by ear seems like the best course of action now.
I don't have time for this.
To whom it may concern: it's not about barriers, it's about- what is it all about anyway? I'm so sorry to have started it all.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
THIS IS TOR
Top questions I hate people asking me in making conversation:
5. What kind of law?
When I tell them. they go blank anyway. I know they're hoping I'll say something fun like criminal or family... since that's what girls do, right?
4. So, whereabouts in Singapore are you from?
I had a lecturer who said, hey, I was brought up in Singapore. Where in Sg are you from? And I'm thinking, if I say Bishan, that would just embarrass you cos you have not the slightest idea where that is. So I said, Bishan. And he said, oh... That's nice. I'm from Terlok Blarng-Arh.
3. So, what language do you speak in Singapore?
Ugh. This is Britain, our former colonial masters.
2. Do you speak English?
Ugh. This from a customs official. I just blinked and waited for a long time to see what he would do. Then he flipped my passpart and discovered what exactly I was doing in his country. [Planning to steal his pathetic job along with all the bloody illegal immigrants here, of course.]
1. So, what's your real name?
Aargh. What was I to do but laugh and down my Foster's? No prizes for guessing where this knob was from.
Top questions I hate people asking me in making conversation:
5. What kind of law?
When I tell them. they go blank anyway. I know they're hoping I'll say something fun like criminal or family... since that's what girls do, right?
4. So, whereabouts in Singapore are you from?
I had a lecturer who said, hey, I was brought up in Singapore. Where in Sg are you from? And I'm thinking, if I say Bishan, that would just embarrass you cos you have not the slightest idea where that is. So I said, Bishan. And he said, oh... That's nice. I'm from Terlok Blarng-Arh.
3. So, what language do you speak in Singapore?
Ugh. This is Britain, our former colonial masters.
2. Do you speak English?
Ugh. This from a customs official. I just blinked and waited for a long time to see what he would do. Then he flipped my passpart and discovered what exactly I was doing in his country. [Planning to steal his pathetic job along with all the bloody illegal immigrants here, of course.]
1. So, what's your real name?
Aargh. What was I to do but laugh and down my Foster's? No prizes for guessing where this knob was from.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Am to be 17 soon, next week actually. Which means... birthday wishlist.
1. Earphones with a decent bass (my current ones are crap, they came with the player)
2. Black, collared short-sleeved shirt (to wear over my indecent... pieces of cloth)
3. Wallet that cannot pass off as a brick, prefably one of those slim leather ones (it's possible to stun a burglar with my current one)
4. Multi-purpose plain stud earrings
5. Black, liquid eyeliner
6. Black, plain sports sandals (sport shoes can get tiring)
7. Black, reversible belt from Giordano
8. Spirited Away DVD, Japanese dub with English subs (my favourite movie)
9. Return of the King official soundtrack
10. Someone to come over to my house to teach me how to convert songs to mp3 format to plug into my player, dammit
11. Coffee with RK
12. Kino voucher
13. A hug
So like that larh. Or you can get me anything you think I'd like, which should be quite easy.
Had Justin and Alex meet Ed and Gee today. Needless to say, they get along just fine. Now they know why I always wax lyrical about my other friends. Generally find that having my friends meet my friends is usually a very good thing, for some reason.
Am too damned tired to do a full entry today, might blog next week?
Tora~! *glomp* nice of you to drop by. Well, bury yourself in a good book and carry your player around with you, should be rather effective. I should know.
Yes, coffee Rosie. Shall we arrange it on Valentine's day? You working?
I am in Singapore, Althea. That was my sister posting, you should know that by now! Ok, are you free after the new year week? I'll give you a call larh.
Jenny, yeah. Ouch! Oh the wax, it's dripping. I like it between my-
Khayce, is it me or does all this reservist business sound quite ridiculous? Erm, you don't have to do anything for my birthday, really.
Tor,
what you could get me? Erm, books again I guess. Can't go wrong with that right? I'll think about it lah.
Eh, remember the coduroy pants Auntie G got for us from Giordano? Do you have my pair? I can't find them larh. And several pairs of your jeans mysteriously appeared in my closet?
Now I can't wait for June lah! Won't tell them anything, and will go read up on that bit of the world. Paris, Venice, Italy, Spain. Will need to meet up with Ed and Paul as well.
Ok. First milk, then sleep. G'night.
1. Earphones with a decent bass (my current ones are crap, they came with the player)
2. Black, collared short-sleeved shirt (to wear over my indecent... pieces of cloth)
3. Wallet that cannot pass off as a brick, prefably one of those slim leather ones (it's possible to stun a burglar with my current one)
4. Multi-purpose plain stud earrings
5. Black, liquid eyeliner
6. Black, plain sports sandals (sport shoes can get tiring)
7. Black, reversible belt from Giordano
8. Spirited Away DVD, Japanese dub with English subs (my favourite movie)
9. Return of the King official soundtrack
10. Someone to come over to my house to teach me how to convert songs to mp3 format to plug into my player, dammit
11. Coffee with RK
12. Kino voucher
13. A hug
So like that larh. Or you can get me anything you think I'd like, which should be quite easy.
Had Justin and Alex meet Ed and Gee today. Needless to say, they get along just fine. Now they know why I always wax lyrical about my other friends. Generally find that having my friends meet my friends is usually a very good thing, for some reason.
Am too damned tired to do a full entry today, might blog next week?
Tora~! *glomp* nice of you to drop by. Well, bury yourself in a good book and carry your player around with you, should be rather effective. I should know.
Yes, coffee Rosie. Shall we arrange it on Valentine's day? You working?
I am in Singapore, Althea. That was my sister posting, you should know that by now! Ok, are you free after the new year week? I'll give you a call larh.
Jenny, yeah. Ouch! Oh the wax, it's dripping. I like it between my-
Khayce, is it me or does all this reservist business sound quite ridiculous? Erm, you don't have to do anything for my birthday, really.
Tor,
what you could get me? Erm, books again I guess. Can't go wrong with that right? I'll think about it lah.
Eh, remember the coduroy pants Auntie G got for us from Giordano? Do you have my pair? I can't find them larh. And several pairs of your jeans mysteriously appeared in my closet?
Now I can't wait for June lah! Won't tell them anything, and will go read up on that bit of the world. Paris, Venice, Italy, Spain. Will need to meet up with Ed and Paul as well.
Ok. First milk, then sleep. G'night.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Further to my earlier email I wanted to say, I can even take you to New York with me if we play our cards right and if you want to come. Try and convince Mummy and Daddy to let you come alone. And let me know what you wanna do so I can look into what's feasible. Obviously don;t tell mummy and daddy.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Finally have got a bit of spare time to myself and thought I'd check up on my sister's blog and all the denizens of her mad world. Or all the mad denizens of her world.
It's literally freezing here-- I understand why people wear ski masks to keep their faces warm now. Gotta get myself a pair of earmuffs too. It's like every inch of exposed skin leaches the heat out of your whole body. And I'm going to Scotland in a couple of weeks. In the middle of bloody winter. When the wind starts in the Arctic and sweeps down the Russian Steppes, gathering frost and snow and ice and ends by billowing across the barren moors and bleak fields. Think Macbeth. Think Wuthering Heights. I am going there. Bleargh! Not nice. Still, it's meant to be a big party too.
Yesterday we, the LSE jessups team, had a nice little chat with our Professor (actually it was mostly him talking and making jokes and me being expected to laugh politely). Interestingly, he was brought up in Singapore. And as the introductions progressed, it became apparent that 3/4 of the team had some connection with our fair city. There are 2 Sgeans, 1 Malaysian who was brought up in Singapore, 1 Canadian who having spent 3 years in Singapore, now says 'wah lau' with conviction, and an English guy who now knows how to say 'wah lau' like a true blue. Wouldn't it be funny if we really made it to the finals in Washington and if we came up against the Singapore team? The organisers probably wouldn't be able to tell us apart!
Other news: Gloria's birthday is on the 8th of February! Don't forget in all the CNY rush. I'll probably be improvising a steamboat over here-- we'll use a rice cooker to keep the broth boiling. How sad we are, lonely little chinese people in a strange and foreign land! Argos (like Tangs in SG) does not have steamboats we can buy then deviously return the next day saying that we don't want it anymore-- a perk of the western idea of being able to return clothes, consumer durables and other useful things you sometimes need but don't want to buy and store, eg. champagne glasses.
But of course I don't do that. I return them a week later.
Last night was Australia Day. Having a good friend who had a good friend over from Sydney, not to mention an aussie boyfriend, I had to go out and see what the fuss was all about. You see, while national day in singapore is an excuse to laze around the house, catch up on some much needed sleep or online entertainment or reading of the non-academic sort, watch the parade and alternately scorn or revere the LKY weepy speech according to political bent, look out for the planes and the flag and the fireworks, then have a good dinner and go to sleep,
in London, Singapore National Day is wearing red and white and going to a park (since it is a nice summer day in august) where many other singaporeans are already drinking canned tau huey chui and the occassional illicit tiger for the boys and red wine for the matrons. It is standing still for the national anthem and saying the pledge and secretly thinking what a wanker you look like except other people are deadly serious about this. Ok don't laugh. These are the future leaders of Singapore, man! They are your civil servants, your teachers, your policemen, your future politicians, all only in London for a short stint before returning to loyally serve you people! You should be damned relieved that they are taking their patriotism very seriously!
National day in London is eating slightly sub-standard curry puff that tastes like heaven although it is potato mush instead of chunks of potato, exchanging cooking tips with other singaporeans, and watching Kenny unsuccessfully trying to wrangle a part time job from a lady he just found out runs an extremely profitable and well known real estate business. It is a 'net-working' avenue, although I find the way Sgreans explicitly say 'I am here to network' quite disturbing.
Australia Day in Australia is, apparently, going to the beach/bar/someone's house to party and drinking yourself silly. Until you make a technicolour pavement pizza or ralph or throw your voice which means in SG, to merlion. Which is what they do every weekend anyway.
Australia Day in London is a completely different affair. For one, the patriotism in the air is palpable, not in a sombre 'Singapore made it so far with so little, we are so proud' way but in a 'Happy Australia Day mate! Yay! Woohoo! VB! Ralph!' way. Many people wore T-shirts with the flag on them and even had little aussie flags painted on their faces. I cannot imagine the same happening in a singaporean bar on national day. The bar was awash with various local aussie brews which I sampled at first with trepidation then with less and less inhibition until I, as well, was singing along to such perennial favourites as Stand By Me, Losing My Religion and Time of Your Life, putting my arms around complete strangers, and cheering the aussie atheletes on the screens all around. If there are 3 things that define australians, they may be devotion to sport, beer, and affinity for stopping in the middle of conversations to shout out lyrics of the chorus of a song. No, I did not hear anyone sing waltzing mathilda, although I expect if someone had started you wouldn't be able to stop the whole crowd. No, I did not know that Stand By Me was a song you could sing along to in a pub either.
I loved it.
So did Cecely, my BBC (to the uninitiated, British born chinese, which is what english honkies here call themselves) friend and her ABC (aussie born chinese, apparently) friend up from Sydney on a holiday, and my ABV boyfriend too. Do you know that if we are to follow this acronym we would be called SBCs, Singaporean born Chinese?
Living here does have its bright spots sometimes. Although I really really really miss old chang kee curry puffs! A lot!
PleasAnt Gloria, not Pleasent! Please tell me you knew that.
It's literally freezing here-- I understand why people wear ski masks to keep their faces warm now. Gotta get myself a pair of earmuffs too. It's like every inch of exposed skin leaches the heat out of your whole body. And I'm going to Scotland in a couple of weeks. In the middle of bloody winter. When the wind starts in the Arctic and sweeps down the Russian Steppes, gathering frost and snow and ice and ends by billowing across the barren moors and bleak fields. Think Macbeth. Think Wuthering Heights. I am going there. Bleargh! Not nice. Still, it's meant to be a big party too.
Yesterday we, the LSE jessups team, had a nice little chat with our Professor (actually it was mostly him talking and making jokes and me being expected to laugh politely). Interestingly, he was brought up in Singapore. And as the introductions progressed, it became apparent that 3/4 of the team had some connection with our fair city. There are 2 Sgeans, 1 Malaysian who was brought up in Singapore, 1 Canadian who having spent 3 years in Singapore, now says 'wah lau' with conviction, and an English guy who now knows how to say 'wah lau' like a true blue. Wouldn't it be funny if we really made it to the finals in Washington and if we came up against the Singapore team? The organisers probably wouldn't be able to tell us apart!
Other news: Gloria's birthday is on the 8th of February! Don't forget in all the CNY rush. I'll probably be improvising a steamboat over here-- we'll use a rice cooker to keep the broth boiling. How sad we are, lonely little chinese people in a strange and foreign land! Argos (like Tangs in SG) does not have steamboats we can buy then deviously return the next day saying that we don't want it anymore-- a perk of the western idea of being able to return clothes, consumer durables and other useful things you sometimes need but don't want to buy and store, eg. champagne glasses.
But of course I don't do that. I return them a week later.
Last night was Australia Day. Having a good friend who had a good friend over from Sydney, not to mention an aussie boyfriend, I had to go out and see what the fuss was all about. You see, while national day in singapore is an excuse to laze around the house, catch up on some much needed sleep or online entertainment or reading of the non-academic sort, watch the parade and alternately scorn or revere the LKY weepy speech according to political bent, look out for the planes and the flag and the fireworks, then have a good dinner and go to sleep,
in London, Singapore National Day is wearing red and white and going to a park (since it is a nice summer day in august) where many other singaporeans are already drinking canned tau huey chui and the occassional illicit tiger for the boys and red wine for the matrons. It is standing still for the national anthem and saying the pledge and secretly thinking what a wanker you look like except other people are deadly serious about this. Ok don't laugh. These are the future leaders of Singapore, man! They are your civil servants, your teachers, your policemen, your future politicians, all only in London for a short stint before returning to loyally serve you people! You should be damned relieved that they are taking their patriotism very seriously!
National day in London is eating slightly sub-standard curry puff that tastes like heaven although it is potato mush instead of chunks of potato, exchanging cooking tips with other singaporeans, and watching Kenny unsuccessfully trying to wrangle a part time job from a lady he just found out runs an extremely profitable and well known real estate business. It is a 'net-working' avenue, although I find the way Sgreans explicitly say 'I am here to network' quite disturbing.
Australia Day in Australia is, apparently, going to the beach/bar/someone's house to party and drinking yourself silly. Until you make a technicolour pavement pizza or ralph or throw your voice which means in SG, to merlion. Which is what they do every weekend anyway.
Australia Day in London is a completely different affair. For one, the patriotism in the air is palpable, not in a sombre 'Singapore made it so far with so little, we are so proud' way but in a 'Happy Australia Day mate! Yay! Woohoo! VB! Ralph!' way. Many people wore T-shirts with the flag on them and even had little aussie flags painted on their faces. I cannot imagine the same happening in a singaporean bar on national day. The bar was awash with various local aussie brews which I sampled at first with trepidation then with less and less inhibition until I, as well, was singing along to such perennial favourites as Stand By Me, Losing My Religion and Time of Your Life, putting my arms around complete strangers, and cheering the aussie atheletes on the screens all around. If there are 3 things that define australians, they may be devotion to sport, beer, and affinity for stopping in the middle of conversations to shout out lyrics of the chorus of a song. No, I did not hear anyone sing waltzing mathilda, although I expect if someone had started you wouldn't be able to stop the whole crowd. No, I did not know that Stand By Me was a song you could sing along to in a pub either.
I loved it.
So did Cecely, my BBC (to the uninitiated, British born chinese, which is what english honkies here call themselves) friend and her ABC (aussie born chinese, apparently) friend up from Sydney on a holiday, and my ABV boyfriend too. Do you know that if we are to follow this acronym we would be called SBCs, Singaporean born Chinese?
Living here does have its bright spots sometimes. Although I really really really miss old chang kee curry puffs! A lot!
PleasAnt Gloria, not Pleasent! Please tell me you knew that.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Ooh, haven't been posting huh. Busy with school and all, yes I actually bother to pay attention and learn something. Have to listen to lectures as normally don't do homework. Hanging out with the MI bunch quite a bit (it's school what) and am starting to get quite comfortable with them, though am missing the RK. Coffee meeting is in order, ne?
Actually, had a decent conversation with Andrew today, when a whole bunch of us went to the swings near Veronica's place after school. Unlikely person, unlikely conversation. But pleasent indeed, wish I had more friends like him. The sort you don't really know, but can have coffee with anyway. They're the sort of people whom I'd think would not want to be friends with me, but then again I like to think that I can think, too.
Today had its downs though.
Never in my decade worth of school have I ever had a teacher as infuriating as the Econs teacher here. I clearly remember Mrs Kunna, and that patronising tone she would use for students who thought too far ahead in her lessons (Or thought at all, come to think of it...). Taking the effort to smile and nod dumbly put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
With this woman, it's like that all the bloody time. She treats us like kindergarden students. As such, if one treats me in such a manner I am compelled to act that age, by flinging my brick wallet, or worse, my phone, at the stupid woman.
As I sat in school with the (now) usual bunch, I realise how much I've turned into a teenager. Grudges against teachers, spending break time oogling at boys (well, they are nice to look at) and general angsting.
Am not sure what to make of it.
Althea~! Hair is quite growing out now, but obviously still quite short, even if not spike/mess-able anymore. You'll see it larh, eventually. Take care too, haven't seen you for ages!
Drama indeed, Amanda. Equilibrium in life and all that, I know... thanks for the reminder as quite needed it. How are the books coming along?
Been ok lah, Mavis. Got net connection again or what? Take care, don't let schoolwork get you down.
Am trying to call you right now, Jenny. But line is engaged, will chat later tonight, perhaps?
Hallo Khayce~! How long more are you going to be in there ah? How come you got computer access also? What exactly do you do in camp anyway?
Actually, had a decent conversation with Andrew today, when a whole bunch of us went to the swings near Veronica's place after school. Unlikely person, unlikely conversation. But pleasent indeed, wish I had more friends like him. The sort you don't really know, but can have coffee with anyway. They're the sort of people whom I'd think would not want to be friends with me, but then again I like to think that I can think, too.
Today had its downs though.
Never in my decade worth of school have I ever had a teacher as infuriating as the Econs teacher here. I clearly remember Mrs Kunna, and that patronising tone she would use for students who thought too far ahead in her lessons (Or thought at all, come to think of it...). Taking the effort to smile and nod dumbly put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
With this woman, it's like that all the bloody time. She treats us like kindergarden students. As such, if one treats me in such a manner I am compelled to act that age, by flinging my brick wallet, or worse, my phone, at the stupid woman.
As I sat in school with the (now) usual bunch, I realise how much I've turned into a teenager. Grudges against teachers, spending break time oogling at boys (well, they are nice to look at) and general angsting.
Am not sure what to make of it.
Althea~! Hair is quite growing out now, but obviously still quite short, even if not spike/mess-able anymore. You'll see it larh, eventually. Take care too, haven't seen you for ages!
Drama indeed, Amanda. Equilibrium in life and all that, I know... thanks for the reminder as quite needed it. How are the books coming along?
Been ok lah, Mavis. Got net connection again or what? Take care, don't let schoolwork get you down.
Am trying to call you right now, Jenny. But line is engaged, will chat later tonight, perhaps?
Hallo Khayce~! How long more are you going to be in there ah? How come you got computer access also? What exactly do you do in camp anyway?