graduation photos galore..

haha.. sorry for the long no-post.. busy with money-spending activities.. haha.. so, photo galore for making up..

took many pictures with the peeps from NUSCO before my commencement.. whooping 259 photos.. will upload them to somewhere else.. but here are some highlights.. =)

main characters: me, helen, peiying, andrew, daida - class of 2007.. haha..


me acting cute..


i think i looked weird playing the piano with the gown..


with our instruments!


i like this one.. haha..




tossing it up into the air!


at our familiar grounds.. haha..


act cute again.. haha..




this looks like a family portrait.. keke..


posing around, while Jin Lao Shi helped us take photos with his Nikon SLR.. free photo-taking by professional photographer.. woohoo..




guess who's who.. (ok, it's kinda obvious..)


i'm the little gold ridding hood.. haha.. or rather, i look like somebody from Lord of the Rings.. haha..




i think i acted cute too much..


assembly point!




with Mr Lum, a fatherly figure, who has sorta seen me growing up since my secondary school days..





yeah.. meanwhile, hang on for the full album.. haha.. =)

kids make me sick..

sometimes kids really make me sick..

me: so, what's the first step?
girl: what?
me: we did so many examples already, you should know by now..
girl: what? i dunno!

(after revising the first step again..)

me: ok, then the next step?
girl: what?
me: what? you tell me, not i give you the answer..
girl: then what?
me: then what what?
girl: how i know??

(my goodness.. so i had to do the whole thing with her again..)

me: ok, next question, do it yourself..
girl: har? i forget how to do already..

(wah biang oei.. that was the n-th time i was going through division questions..)

me: hoy.. look at what you are writing.. this is a division question, not multiplication question..
girl: i only know how to times, dunno how to divide..
me: they are opposites of each other what, and we did so many questions already, and don't tell me that you forget again hor..
girl: aiya, don't care lar..

(eyes big big.. this kind of student exists.. my god..)

me: see, the same mistake again.. what is 7 x 8?
girl: 60
me: wrong
girl: 64
me: wrong again
girl: correct what.. wrong meh?
me: wrong
girl: then what?
me: count it out, don't guess.. maths you cannot use guessing one..
girl: then how?

(i really wanna puke..)

US$1000 to do volunteer work?!?

i'm not giving up.. =)

was searching for organisations which i can work with for my overseas volunteer work.. came across quite a few, majority are US-based.. still trying to find more organisations that are Singapore-based, or with branch offices here.. so that i know they are in existence, something i can trust..

and to my horror, many organisations charge more than US$1000 for the fees to volunteer overseas.. my goodness.. why would people pay that much to volunteer??

i understand that fees are required, of course we can't be staying and eating for free in foreign lands.. but US$1000?!? and some organisations require a fee of US$2000 for a month's stay.. wah biang.. with that amount i can go tour Europe.. my god..

and i don't understand why people always have this misconception that you need lots of money in order to help the poor, or to do volunteer work.. yes, money can do a lot of things, but it can't bring you everything.. wasn't i able to gather boxes full of clothes and toys for the children? wasn't i able to get sponsors to donate stationery?

but anyhow, i still need my parents' support and approval.. pray for me.. pray real hard.. =) it's gonna be a long road down.. must persevere.. haha..

ice-skating again..

great, now my knee got a big bruise..

second time back into the ice-skating rink after 7 years, the enjoyment of re-mastering the sports is there, but it's not when you have a fall (and i had it more than once), or being pushed by people.. so i still want my Ben & Jerry's.. bleahz..

the wacky Pluck..

it was the most hilarious musical concert ever, one you could laugh your head off listening to classical music..

Pluck is a comedy string trio that presented this concert, The Specialists.. formed by Adrian Garratt (violin), Jon Regan (violin) and Sian Kadifachi (cello), they are the most entertaining musicians i've seen so far.. filled with comical special effects, this performance was indeed something worth all the laughs.. =)

smoke emerging from Adrian's violin, burps becoming part of their music, 2 persons playing with 3 violins, an angel descending from above, flying cannonballs, and many other funny performing tricks that they have come up with.. how often do you get to see that being collaborated with classical music pieces? =D

and it was so amazing to see Sian being able to play the cello standing up and moving around on stage.. and her quirky costume..

but my fave is still Adrian.. he's the best manz.. haha..


left to right: joyce, jon, sian, adrian, me, helen, biyun

after the performance, we managed to catch them outside the studio, and so we got their signatures and took photos.. and it was interesting to chat with them about music too.. =)



for more of their information, visit their website and watch excerpts of the performance of The Specialists here.. (and Pluck, i'm helping you guys spread the words! haha..)



if there's ever a next time that Pluck comes to Singapore for another performance, i'll be sure to catch it.. =) or unless i'm rich enough to go London.. haha..

BBQ at peiying's house..

it was perhaps the last big gathering for us yesterday, before peiying leaves for the U.S. to further her studies in music.. and food is always the main draw, especially so when the orchestra has many good eaters.. haha..

BBQ!!! =D

and i'm proud to say that i can start a fire myself on my first attempt!! successful leh.. haha.. see? i'm quite garang.. what the boys can do, i can too!! haha..



got my hands all black with charcoal, and a few bubbles on my fingers after being scalded by the hot charcoal and fire..

it was the usual BBQ food, and we tried BBQ-ing fish too.. and it was real good manz..



and look how greedy we were.. haha.. no, i should say that, we adore food.. haha..

but i always look forward to the end of the BBQ, when everybody gets too full, and when all the food gets cleared up.. because i can peng-kang marshmallows!! haha.. i can chomp down many marshmallows, because there's always room for dessert.. haha..

i'm happy for friends who are able to go far, to pursue their dreams, because sometimes i wish that i could be like them.. but nevertheless, i wish peiying all the best, and one day, we all will get to hear many of her wonderful compositions on world stage.. =D

shrek 3 and surprise presents..

things aren't that bad now, or so i hope.. at least there are things to cheer me up.. =)



Shrek 3!! went to watch the movie with friends from the orchestra.. it was damn hilarious.. and those shrek babies, so cute!!! my favourite part of the movie - when the baby shrek appeared in shrek's dream and called him "da-da" with the eyes big and wide.. haha.. laughed my head off..

i wonder if they sell these cute plush toys here in Singapore.. haha..


and i received my squid rings, all the way from Bago!! yeahhey.. and also the t-shirt from tricia and family.. =) thanks so much, my friends! finally, i have my own TRY t-shirt.. haha..

i still want to catch Pirates of the Caribbean 3.. and i think i missed Spiderman 3.. maybe i should try out those rental stores..

another monday..

thanks my friends, for the concern.. =) things are getting better, but i am going to dedicate more time to take care of my grandpa..

constant attention and care is all he needs now.. with everybody rotating duties to look after him around the clock, let's just hope that things will get better.. =)

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i've seen the video of my Bago City experience, made by biyun.. indeed it brought back special memories, laughter and tears.. although it's not professionally-perfect, i still like it.. =) perhaps i will upload the video, when all final editing has been done.. thanks, biyun! i really owe you a big one.. hehe..

ah gong, please hang on..

exhausted right now, after many hours in the hospital and settling the adminstrative stuff and his medication.. but at least ah gong is back home now.. =)

it scared me how fragile life is.. it made me regret how i didn't spend more time with the two old ones.. it made me realise how precious they are to me..

yes, sometimes i took them for granted, sometimes i was so wilful when under their care.. but they love me nevertheless..

it hurts when i see him wheezing away, and i could do nothing to relieve his uncomfort.. it hurts when he still ask me if i have eaten, even when he himself had no appetite.. it hurts when i see him drifting in and out of his sleep, talking about things that did not happen, imagining that he was still having his regular smoke..

and it hurts, when he told me that he knows that he is old, he knows when the time will come, and that i should not cry..

now i just want him to be happy and enjoy his last few years the way a grandfather who have been loved by many should be..

i love you, ah gong..

morning blues..

a mix of emotions in the morning.. wasn't a good one..

ah gong has been admitted to the hospital.. it was more saddening to see him lying on his floor (he sleeps on the floor, with just a pillow beneath his head) wheezing with difficulty.. while the other kids were sitting in the living room watching cartoons, not knowing what was going on.. ignorance is a bliss? perhaps..

and earlier, i woke up from a dream, that left me in a frightful daze.. i was running away, from people, from a situation so much similar to what i'm facing right now.. i believe that dreams are ways of interpreting what your subconscious mind is going through.. i was running, many times i came to a corner, many times i came so near to being stopped.. to a point where i was so frightened of the thought of being caught, and not wanting to witness that, i forced myself to wake up..

for a short while, i sat up, trying hard to sort things out.. i knew it was only 5am when i saw the living room's lights were on, and dad was preparing to go for work.. i tried going back to sleep, but the frightening feeling was still there.. it was only when i started seeing the break of dawn then i slowly drifted back into sleep..

i think i need a slow night walk tonight after seeing the kids..

a broken necklace..

i'm sad, that the necklace tita bambie made for me was broken.. =(

i treasure every little thing that i got from Bago City.. from friendship bracelets, presents from dearest friends, to Coca-cola glass bottles and a fallen christmas ball deco from a tree outside an old church (which ryan said it was a good sign.. haha)..

every little thing has a special meaning to me.. every little thing has a special story to tell..

i like the necklace tita bambie made.. she likes making accessories.. on some nights i will see her sitting alone in the living room with all her beads and wires.. i have no knack for these things, but i can see that she really puts in her heart into making those accessories..

and now, it's broken.. =(

commitment and expectations..

sometimes, commitment and expectations will pull you down.. there are many things you would wish to do, wish to achieve, things you look forward to.. but because of the commitment you are being tied down to, and people's expectations of you, your wishes and dreams may have to be abandoned..

when you have finally decided to pull yourself away from all these burdens, you may realise that, time is not on your side.. or maybe, heavier commitment comes to you that you may not be able to pull yourself away..

i don't want to leave any room for regrets.. but are there choices?

being pessimistic may be the way for now.. i'm not giving up hope, although negotiation may have to come into play..

take not the road less travelled, rather make new roads, blaze new
trails, find new routes to your dreams..

if only that's easy..

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my Bago trip video is soon to be completed (i owe you one, biyun! =D).. doing the final acknowledgements and accounting for all the sponsors and beneficiaries stuff.. i hate doing the post-project work.. oh well, for the sake of my future projects..

it's over!!

yeahhey!! i passed!! i'm offically out of the evil clutches of NUS!! haha.. =D

i was so worried over PL1101E - Intro to Psychology.. negative marking leh.. and that LSM3252 - Evolution and Comparative Genetics.. screwed up the oral presentation and had to deal with the irritating tutor..

but it's all over!! yeahhey!! =D

and the kids, overly noisy and talkative today.. and the boy kept saying he's cute and handsome and smart and talented and blah blah blah..

boy: teacher, i know you like to see me..
me: wert, who wants to see you everyday..
boy: but i'm so handsome and cute!
me: you know the meaning of cute? it means adorable but ugly.. so that means you are ugly lor..
*muahhahahaha*

and he spilled my cup of coke, and sat on his chair until he fell over.. haha.. heck, i was indulging in my ice-cream then.. haha.. what a nice parent.. =D

i'm going to celebrate with Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Shrek 3, more shopping and pyscho-ing my parents for my trip.. heheh..

but still no tv.. damn..

sentosa outing..

the tv has gone haywire.. blue became green, green became red, and red became blue.. now i can't enjoy all my late night shows.. arghh.. Desperate Housewives! CSI!! Survivor finale!!! damn..

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anyway, was in Sentosa with the NUSCO gang last saturday for some sun-bathing.. haha.. my tanning oil was working (a bit).. but i still got burnt on the shoulders..

playing frisbee and captain's ball under the hot sun was indeed tiring.. so tired that 2 nights of 10-hour sleep don't seem to be enough.. =P



and NUSCO has found out ways for perfect self-photo-taking with more than 4 people.. by getting a tall person with long arms to be the photographer a.k.a. the bi-pod.. haha..



and we decided to try out the skyride and the luge that day.. oh well, it was fun, for a $9 attraction..



and it was our first time taking the Sentosa Express, which has replaced the old monorail..



yar, really had fun that day.. we should be out in the sun often.. so that i can achieve my tan.. muahhaha..

kids' results..

the kids got back most of their results.. can't say that i was satisfied with it, there are much room for improvement.. there were questions which i had gone through similar ones days before their papers, but yet they still got them wrong.. there were many marks lost due to carelessness.. and things that are common sense (at least to me) they got them wrong too..

but i was surprised, that some questions with a certain level of difficulty, they managed to score.. =)

i didn't expect the girl to pass her science, but she did.. then again, she failed her maths and english.. sigh.. with lots of funny excuses thrown to me too..

sometimes i just wish that they could be more sensible when it comes to their studies.. and less horrors for me..

sigh.. kids..

phantom.. again..

now i know why a musical can be so good.. because it is able to move you, touch your heart, regardless of the number of times you have watched it.. =)

my favourite parts of the musical - at the roof top where Raoul and Christine sang "All I Ask of You" with the Phantom overlooking at them, and when the Phantom looked at Christine leaving him and said "Christine, I love you.."



and yes, it was worth the money.. =)

but this time round, the female lead was different.. she was so much shorter, more than a head shorter than the two male leads.. what a great height difference.. but in terms of the voices, i would prefer the original one..

but the effects were still the same.. and less glitches.. haha.. and we were nearer to the raising chandelier.. haha..




and i'm going to enjoy listening to the cd.. yeahhey.. but, why is there no video recording of the musical??

festivals of Philippines..

wanna share an article i found.. quite interesting, especially now that Philippines is having a huge fiesta celebrating these festivals.. how i wish i would be able to experience it..

Our country is rich in traditions handed down by our ancestors. Festivals are part of the Filipino culture which are largely influenced by Spanish religious practices. Some festivals are in honor of a patron saint or major events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A festivity is held every month somewhere in the country. Each city or barrio comes to life with at least one festival. Visitors, both local and tourists, are always welcome to celebrate the festivities which are special occasions for Filipinos to extend their hospitality and friendship.

The colorful month of May blooms with fiestas such as the much-awaited Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan. Flores de Mayo is the flower festival during May in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This month-long revelry is distinctly separate from the Santacruzan. In the Tagalog region, this custom began after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla’s translation of the devotional Flores de Maria.

Many towns celebrate Flores de Mayo with people gathering inside the church every afternoon to pray the rosary and offer fresh flowers and songs to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Children visit the church with bouquets of flowers and baskets of fragrant petals which they sprinkle while walking to the altar. This custom is called Alay sa Birhen. Nine days of prayer or novena in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of our Filipino tradition.

A Santacruzan or Festival of the Holy Cross is a religious-historical procession held in many cities, towns and small villages throughout the Philippines. It is one of the most colorful May-time festivals which commemorates the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. There was a joyful celebration of thanksgiving after the Holy Cross was found and brought back to Rome. Hence, the most important sagala is the Reina Elena and her consort, a boy called Constantino.

The procession has evolved throughout the years. The Santacruzan is now a unique blend of beauty pageant and religious procession as attractive belles walk in their stunning gowns. It is definitely more than a competition as to which sagala’s canopy is the brightest or has the most creative flower arrangement. As May starts, processions that showcase beautiful maidens and handsome consorts under floral arches are common evening fixtures in many parts of the country. Movie and TV personalities are also invited to participate in the Santacruzan as sagalas and escorts.

Pretty young ladies and gays are chosen to represent various biblical and historical characters and attributes of the Blessed Virgin. Each one is dressed in exquisite and resplendent gown, looking regal just like the queen she portrays. It is also required that gentlemen joining the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog.

The beautiful belles walk with their consorts under hand-carried bamboo arches adorned with colorful flowers. Some of the queens in the parade include Reina Fe who symbolizes the virtue of faith and she carries a cross; Reina Esperanza represents the virtue of hope and carries an anchor; Reina Caridad symbolizes the virtue of charity and carries a red heart; Reina Justicia personifies the "mirror of justice" and carries a weighing scale and a sword; and Reina de las Flores who carries a bouquet of flowers.

The highlight of the procession is the majestic Reina Elena who carries a small cross and walks with her consort, Prinsipe Constantino, under a huge canopy of beautiful and colorful flowers.

The highest honor given to a woman’s beauty is to be selected as Reina Elena. Behind her is a float carrying the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary followed by a brass band that leads the festive sounds of the procession and the singing of Dios Te Salve. The devotees who walk with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands, praying the rosary, and singing songs of praise.

The origin of the Santacruzan has its roots in the stories about the historical discovery of the Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified. It is said that Queen Helena was sent by her son, Emperor Constantine I, on a mission to find the true cross on which our Lord was crucified. Queen Helena traveled to Jerusalem in 326 A.D. in search of the Holy Cross. She recovered three crosses during the excavations. She tested each cross by making her sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant was healed was identified as Christ’s.

In another story, Constantine I, the first Christian Roman Emperor, went on a battle against Maxentius in 312 A.D. and asked God for help. Constantine cast his eyes heavenwards and saw in the night sky a glowing sign of the cross with the words In hoc signia vincit which means "By this sign thou shalt conquer." He used the cross as his battle insignia with the words and defeated the Roman Army in the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Constantine’s victory led to his conversion into Christianity. His mother, Queen Helena, was inspired by her son’s experience and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to seek the Holy Cross.

like the article has mentioned, every town, every province in Philippines has their own festivals.. Bago City has its Babylan Festival, and i bet it is as colourful as the other bigger much celebrated festivals in major provinces in Philippines.. but if given a choice, i would choose to experience Babylan Festival first, then slowly immerse myself to the rest of the Filipino culture..

to all in Bago, i miss you guys so much!! hehe.. elections coming up, all the best to papa and tito carloy.. take care yar? haha..

the green van..

it isn't that exciting after all.. i spend half of my day sleeping away into my lala-land.. haha.. and everyday i would have funny and weird dreams that i would end up continue daydreaming after waking up.. this isn't reality manz.. haha..

and last night, the green van appeared in my dream.. the green van that brought me around in Bago City.. =)

in the van, i travelled, i saw, i thought, i laughed, i sang, i cried..

i always sit by the window, looking out to the passing rice fields, squatter homes, sometimes met with interesting things and beautiful sunsets.. when i'm not talking to anybody in the van, thoughts would race through my mind.. when i'm listening to songs played on the radio, i would sing along with it, occasionally belting Tagalog tunes that surprises the gang in the van..

there would always be laughter in the van.. how i always joke around with the gang, how i always ask funny questions and give funny answers.. haha.. and how the van got stuck on the way to Astro Farm Elementary School, and how it got stuck again in some hole along a small alley in Bacolod.. haha..

the van is also a place to eat.. sometimes we would buy food from the roadside and savour them in the van.. i remembered the filipino's version of goreng pisang, but coated with caramel, burgers packed from home, sugarcanes freshly cut from the plantation, and my mash potatos specially prepared by tita tessa when i was sick..

the tears were only on the very last day.. for 3 years, no fail.. haha.. i'm such a loser..

things may change for the coming year (Philippines elections coming up), i don't know if i will see the green van the next time, but whatever it is, i still enjoy the company of the gang and the van.. =)

kiddy horrors..

another round of kiddy horrors..

1.
me: take out your science text book..
girl: har.. in my bag..
me: why har? take out from your bag only what..
girl: tomorrow i have science lesson, later i forget to put back the book..
me: ok, later i put on top of all your books so that you won't forget, can?
*girl reluctantly went to take her book*

2.
me: ok, science quiz..
girl: har?? why quiz.. last week also got quiz..
me: your exams coming soon.. need to revise..
girl: still got 2 more weeks! the last subject leh..
*so young, yet already mastered the art of hugging buddha's leg.. haha*

3.
boy: teacher, why i cannot use calculator?
me: because you are not smart enough..
boy: then why you can use calculator?
me: because i smarter than you..
*muahaha*

4.
me: do these questions first..
boy: why leh?
me: so that i can mark your other homework first..
boy: don't want.. hand pain..
me: then do the comprehension cloze..
boy: ok ok ok..
*another of my tactics.. haha*

5.
me: this question, calculation mistake..
boy: my calculation is never wrong!
me: wanna bet?
boy: bet with what?
me: you lose, do 2 comprehension cloze..
boy: don't want!! i don't want to bet!
*hahah.. my tactic is a proven success*

here comes my freedom!

yesh! yesh!! yesh!!! i am now officially free from the clutches of the evil NUS!! muahaha.. and i better not fail any of my papers.. *pray pray pray*

the moment we were dismissed from the lab, the first reaction from me was, "yesh!!".. haha.. that was my last exam paper of my life.. no more lab work, no more stoopid modules, no more irritating tutors.. muahaha.. but provided i can get pass this semester smoothly lar.. yar.. so pray for me.. haha..

i was so eager to get out of school, to the extent of wanting to throw my book into the rubbish bin.. haha..



went to have lunch with my (hot and sexy) cousin who came down from malaysia.. haha.. it has been a long time since we saw each other.. or rather, all the cousins don't get to come together.. if you were to ask me all my cousins' names, i will fail at that.. serious.. and i jokingly told my cousin, that if i were to go back to malaysia for any family gathering, there would be people asking me who i am.. haha.. anyway cousin, i will sure look for you if i ever go to KL, provided i have the time and the budget.. haha.. =)

and after that i went to meet up with my CO friends for a heavy dinner and a beer-drinking session at Paulander.. time for some celebration, i suppose.. haha..



i ain't a very good drinker (i haven't got to test where is my limit yet) but i ain't a bad one too.. haha.. had a few glasses, which i think would be able to make me sleep better.. haha.. the place was alright, but it's the company that matters.. haha..

ok, time to sleep!! no more late nights with all the notes and books!! =D

one left!

finally.. i can get some good sleep tonight.. haha.. i miss my 8-hour sleep.. too much caffeine is no good for the health..

one last paper left.. after that, i'll be FREE~~~!! =D

today's papers were like.. oh well.. wrote a lot of crap.. just hope they make some sense.. i think my three years in NUS has made me a better fisherman.. so many "crabs"..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
ok, not funny.. see? too much caffeine is really no good..

why compare?

when we were young, we liked to dream big - to be rich, to live in mansions.. huge ambitions of being a doctor, lawyer, celebrity, pilot or a billionaire always seem so possible with imagination..

there wasn't much for comparison between kids.. how many toys you have, how many coloured pens you have in your pencil case, how often do you get to go to MacDonalds..

as we grew older, things became complicated.. we started to compare what we have.. we started to compare our academic results and how much pocket money we get.. we started to care about our image, our looks - branded goods, handphones, material needs.. and what kind of friends we were mixing with..

when reality really strikes, we started to compare pragmatic things like our jobs, our salaries, our status.. life just seems to revolve around the big M (money, that is), isn't it?

we all want to lead a good life, to be comfortable in everything.. more often than not, reality and dreams don't go together.. dreams do crash, dreams do change.. how many of your childhood dreams and ambitions do really come true?

i never like comparison.. it either makes you proud, or it makes you even more depressed when you know you are not as good as the others.. why are we comparing among ourselves, when we are all different anyway?

life shouldn't be that boring.. do what you feel that's good (of course that does not include committing crimes or taking drugs).. do what will make you happy.. do what is being true to yourself..

live your life, as if it's a shooting star.. short-lived, but brilliant..

but sometimes, i just wish that luck could be on my side.. i just wish that i could pluck enough courage to pursue what i want..

kiddy horrors 2

silly things my kids say (again)..

1.
boy: teacher, your parents are americans ar?
me: do i look american to you?
boy: because you said "yar, right"..
-_-"

2.
me: let's say you are given two strings and some weights. how are you going to show which string is stronger?
girl: i don't have anything!
me: LET'S SAY..
-_-""

3.
me: ok, look at the picture and answer the question below. what do you think the person is trying to do?
girl: i don't know!
me: (demostrating) ok, so if i put the ruler here, and try to do this, what am i trying to show?
girl: i don't know, i'm not doing it what..
-_-"""

4.
me: do your corrections now..
boy: can don't do? hand pain..
me: then use your leg.
boy: leg pain..
me: then use your mouth.
boy: mouth pain..
-_-""""

5. (my favourite.. haha)
me: can you do your work?
boy: hand pain..
me: then use your leg.
boy: leg pain..
me: then use your mouth.
boy: mouth pain..
me: mouth pain still can make so much noise??
=D

love-hate relationship

for the record, i stayed at home for 4 days.. haa.. and sleeping at odd hours, i wonder how i'm going to cope during the exams.. maybe i should start condition myself for the exams.. yesh, my last set of exams!! haha..

oh well, another phase of my life is going to begin.. but before that, the love-hate-relationship with the school still lingers around..

love -
1. the field trips! =)
2. wonderful lecturers and tutors - it's so fun imitating them.. haha..
3. the long holidays - because of the holidays, i can get to travel, be away from home for as long as a month.. something not really possible when i enter the workforce.. damn..
4. friends - of course they have been playing a major role in my life.. just hope that we won't lose touch when we go our separate ways.. =)
5. wearing slippers! - haha.. i'm a person who hates wearing shoes, who likes to wriggle my toes and cross my legs on the chair.. i dread the days of wearing shoes to labs.. haha..
6. student discounts! - who doesn't want cheap deals? =)

hate -
1. lousy lecture halls and chairs - just when i am going to graduate, they are going to renovate the super old and horrible LT26.. and i was put through 2 years in that LT.. yucks.. now i don't have to put my termites in there to destroy the LT anymore.. hmmph..
2. 8am lectures - i just hate it, when i gotta get up early in the mornings (especially monday mornings) and struggle through the lectures in a half-asleep mode..
3. horrible lecturers and tutors - enough said, they give you a hard time when they are incompetent.. arghh..
4. endless projects and exams
5. sucky timetable
6. bad groupmates - where is the teamwork?!

sigh.. sometimes i wish i won't grow old.. haha.. i wouldn't mind being a student forever, with the exams and projects done away with, of course.. haha.. =)

kids.. damn..

silly things my kids say..

1.
when going through answers for comprehension questions,
me: ok, this question, what illness did Chopin die of?
girl: i'm not a doctor, how do i know??
*slaps forehead*

2.
me: what is a buoy?
girl: boy lor..
me: no, a buoy is a thing, not a person..
girl: you take away the letter "U" then becomes a boy lor..
*slaps forehead again*

3.
when going through composition outline,
me: so you must tell me in your story, why he chose to do that..
girl: i don't know..
me: this is your story, you have to tell me what..
girl: but i'm not the boy..
*slaps forehead again and again*

4.
boy: you are very lucky to have a student like me, you know?
me: i will be lucky enough if i don't get a heart attack while teaching you..
boy: i so smart, and i'll go take part in Campus Superstar.. then you'll be honoured..
*rolls eyes*

5.
boy: teacher, you married or not?
me: you wait long long.. why leh?
boy: i want my ang bao..
*slaps face*

there are laughters, there are frustrations too.. so, 3 kids are enough.. haha..

the phantom of the opera..

"let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears
i'm here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you.."

"anywhere you go, let me go too
love me, that's all i ask of you.."



my favourite song from the musical.. =)

it was a much awaited performance, and indeed i was truly mesmerized by it.. the whole musical was magnificent.. the chandelier, the river, the candlelights and the magic.. words can't describe how wonderful it was to be led into a mystical journey through the songs and the characters..

and tears almost rolled down my cheeks when the phantom said, "christine, i love you.." awww..



but really, this was the best musical i've watched so far (out of 3).. haha.. the seat was good, right smacked in the middle.. woohoo~~ but there were minor glitches in the musical.. even world-class performance makes mistakes.. haha.. but the merchandise were really damn expensive.. the programme booklet alone cost me $25.. gosh..

i would very much love to watch this musical again.. anybody willing to treat me to that?? =D

rivermaya rocks!

rivermaya rocks my day!! woohoo~~!!



it has been quite some time since i last went to a rock concert.. i attended rivermaya's outdoor concert at esplanade last year, and decided to come again, to relax myself, amidst those exam and assignment stress.. besides, the ticket was cheap.. haha..



but the venue was so damn far away, literally at the other end of the island.. downtown east.. my god..

the show began with 3 local bands and 1 filipino band.. they hyped up the crowd a little, but... ... that was not what i want to see!! i want rivermaya!! haha..

after almost 2 hours listening to them, rivermaya finally came on stage!! yeah!!



they were real good, i tell ya.. the songs, the band.. oh my.. mark the drummer was impressive.. and they were damn cute too.. they took photos and videocam-ed themselves while performing on stage.. haha.. mike, the guitarist, was so cute, he was really playing and enjoying himself on stage.. haha.. japs, the bassist, even played with those fire sparklers when the vocalist, rico, was singing his love song.. wahaha..



i got even higher when i start hearing tagalog songs.. haha.. as if i'm one of the kababayans (fellow countrymen).. haha.. and i became the translator when my cousin and his friend asked me what they were saying.. haha..



the concert came to an end with their hit song "You'll be safe here".. that was the best part manz.. the whole crowd was singing with them..

it was really enjoyable.. but tiring, because we stood for 5 hours.. and my knees are now crying for help.. haha.. and my ears, they are temporarily deaf, for now.. haha..

day before havoc..

the good thing about going to the supermarket with my mum (especially before she's going away for a few days) is that i can get to buy all those junk food for stocking up, at no cost.. haha.. using exams as an excuse is workable too.. haha..

and i can demand for a 50c macdonalds ice-cream after that.. haha.. yes, i'm still a kid at heart..

my mum was nagging in the car on our way back, and was still giving instructions before she went to sleep.. but really, i can take care of myself.. it's only a few days home alone.. besides, i've tried being overseas for a month, and nothing major happened.. haha.. i think the only problem i will face is that i know nothing about cooking, other than instant noodles.. haha.. there's always something called "eating out" or "delivery services".. haha..

so yes, i can still survive.. =D

poor stitch..

my little stitch broke its ear!! oh my!! my poor stitch.. boohoo.. this little stitch was from wanfen and wanying.. because they know i love stitch.. but now its ear is broken! so sad..



took another picture of my big and little tofu.. and i think it's time i bring the big tofu to the laundry shop.. oops.. haha.. will do it after exams.. haha.. but i really enjoy his company.. he has replaced my smelly pillow (which my mum threw it away when i was away in Bago, without my permission!!) but he doesn't smell k.. haha..



heard this from somewhere, "losing is important, because that's what make us stronger".. but there are some things that i wouldn't even want to entertain the thought of losing them.. i would rather give up my strength, than to have them taken away from me..

time for a good sleep..

"eh.. you look very concussed.."

"i dunno how many times i've concussed in a night.."

for the past few nights i've been surviving on chocolates, potato chips, coffee, coffee, coffee and more coffee.. luckily i have been stocking up on my Nescafe Mocha.. haha.. and will continue to do so.. it has been very good at keeping me awake.. haha..

and yesh~~ finally i can have some good night sleep.. at least for a few nights.. haa.. i'm only left with one confrontation (yucks..) and one term test before those BIG ones come along..

and havoc this weekend! haha..

fiery lecturer..

for the first time in my 3 years in NUS, i witnessed how my lecturer got frustrated with the noise level in his class, so frustrated that he chased students out of the lecture hall.. *eyes wide open*.. and i supposed those 3 gals were super embarrassed when the whole class turned to look at them.. haha..

sigh.. the crucial month has begun.. besides the endless rush for reports and assignments, time to start panicking over exams.. oh shucks.. that means more late nights, later late nights.. and perhaps a grouchier me.. haa.. but i can be easily pleased with chocolates, coke and chips.. haha..

and don't ask about me getting a job.. i'm not going to think of that until after the exams.. haha.. i still have plans for what i want to do.. haha.. we'll see..

finishing all those bloody reports are more important at the moment.. haha.. good luck to those on the verge of going crazy over reports too.. haha.. like me..

really random..

deadlines deadlines deadlines.. i'm slowly walking into my grave.. oh well, at most i'll just jump out of it and become a vampire at the end of those deadlines.. muahaha..

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my godson's name is ryzel! haha.. ryan + leizel = ryzel.. haha.. how convenient is that? but the name is indeed one of a kind.. =) can i see him? pictures??

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i'm going to create havoc next week! muahaha.. because.. i'm going to be home alone!! everybody else is going back to malaysia, while i'm stuck here with all the deadlines and exams.. time to stock up instant noodles, chocolates, biscuits, and extra money for macdonalds' delivery.. haha..

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i'm a zombie in training! muahahaha.. arghh.. getting cranky.. this is what deadlines would do to you..

someday..

someday, you'll gonna realize
one day, you'll see this through my eyes
by then i won't even be there
i'll be happy somewhere
even if i cared

i know you don't really see my worth
you think you're the last guy on earth
well, i've got news for you
i know i'm not that strong
but it won't take long, won't take long

'cause someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, someday

but now, i know you can tell
i'm down and i'm not doing well
but one day, these tears
they will all run dry
i won't have to cry sweet goodbye

'cause someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, i know someone's gonna be there

someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, someday

listen to the song here

random

i miss doing the high-5.. it's like the oh-so-natural thing with the filipinos around.. but i think i'll get to do it more often.. =)

and i think i am running low on my chocolates again.. shucks.. and brain cells too..

sigh..

seriously, i think i really need more than 30 hours a day in order to survive.. with so many things to do, i think my shrinking brain is unable to accommodate any more bloody irritating things..

somehow i just wanna sit down, listen to music and stone the whole day.. =(

and i'm getting less and less sleep.. think my brain cells are going to suffer sudden cell death or something..

i want my icebox cake!!!!

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listening to NUSCO's concert songs right now.. somehow listening to own performance is different from the on-stage experience.. don't know if this sounds good.. haha.. but i think we did relatively well.. =)

performing has really becoming a part of my life.. though i would like to try out other forms of performances.. i think my first time performing on stage was during my graduation night of my kindergarden.. haha.. then subsequently i've been performing in my primary school, and some mini-concerts in my music school.. when i got into RVCO, it became a regular thing.. school performances, external performances, competitions.. and it came all the way until now, in NUSCO..

i can't say i'm really that passionate about chinese orchestral music, but i do enjoy playing the pieces.. and i am never that good when it comes to playing solo.. haha..

i think i'm better off singing in my own little world (and also in the bathroom).. =)

no more performance for now..

the NUSCO concert was over.. after the whole event, i was tired, mentally.. after performing for so many years, nothing memorable in particular, though there was disappointment in some aspects.. this could be my last time performing with them.. if i'm set on roaming around, doing overseas volunteer work for a year (or more), that is..

perhaps that could be the explanation to why i took more photos than usual.. but i still hate the bright red costume.. not only it doesn't fit, the design is bad.. grr..

so anyway, here are some pictures.. =)

the strings section!


we were just trying to be funny.. hehe..


the girls with our dear pipa soloist, huiyan! she was really good, i tell ya..


with the guest conductor, mr wong.. i find his belly cute.. haha..


with dai da..


with aditya (su feng).. before i got to remember his name (i still have problems pronouncing his english name), i used to call him my indonesian boy.. because of him, i became the official translator in nusco.. haha.. it can be challenging at times, when i have to translate those long stories by mr lum, from chinese into english.. haha..


with yihui and kathy..


this guy, i really don't know what to say.. cannot stand his cold jokes and lame-ness.. eric, sometimes your cold jokes don't work on me.. bleahz.. but thanks ar, for cheering me up and tolerating with my temper when the need arises.. haha..


with wenhui..


with andrew, sunjing, dai da, eric, wenhui and helen..


thank you, my friends in nusco, for being a part of my life.. i don't know when and how long i'll be away, but if i can still play, i may be back.. haa..

dear cousin..

Dear cousin,

how are you up there? i suppose six years there, you would have grown accustomed to the life, and perhaps made a lot of friends..

any birthday cake for you today? maybe you have got 20 candles on your cake.. =)

things have changed, since you've been gone.. somehow the cousins are not that close anymore.. you were the only one whom i could confide in, share my secrets with.. remember those nights i used to stay over in your house, and we chatted till we fell asleep? gone were the days..

i've never mentioned how much admiration i had for you, despite me being the older one.. you were better than me in sports, and was more active than me.. sometimes i felt that my thoughts were more childish and naive than yours, and it seemed like you were the mature one, not me..

perhaps i was over-protected by my parents (you know how strict they are), i didn't get to have the kind of experiences that you had.. that's why i was often envious of you..

i shall not think about the pain of seeing you leaving us, but rather, reminisce about those happy days when we were kids..

thank you for the companionship.. and i wish you well.. happy birthday..

miss you much,
hui

she ain't heavy, she's my sister..

i was on the bus.. sitting opposite me were 2 little girls, falling asleep during their (maybe a long) ride home from school.. then the elder sister woke up, realising that it was nearing their destination.. she tried to wake her sister up, but perhaps she was really too tired.. the little girl then briefly opened her eyes, carried her bag, and both of them got down the bus..

the older girl then piggy-backed her tired sister from the bus-stop back home..

will you do that too, if your younger sibling is tired and can't walk?

she ain't heavy, she's my sister..

morbid talk..

has it ever occur to you, what will happen when you get old? will you be an active old man/woman who still be able to jog around the park, or down with health problems?

i know it's kinda morbid to talk about it, but the fact is, people do get old.. i admit i'm afraid of getting old, afraid of dying.. i don't think i can come into terms that easily, for an outdoor-loving and freedom-craving me to deal with it.. not at this age..

my family has a history of diabetes.. it hit my dad and my uncles at a young age.. whenever i see my dad sorting out his medicines, i will think to myself, will i become like that too, a few years down the road.. my mum always tell me to watch my diet.. but i would always shrug it off, continuing to indulge in my chocolates and coke, thinking that i'm still young..

some people told me before, that i would get some women-related health problems in future.. i don't know how true is that, but i suppose it wouldn't be a mere coincidence when more than 1 person said that to me, and when those fortune-telling seems to say the same thing.. i think there is some family history to this too, perhaps i ain't told about it, or maybe my family finds it a taboo to talk about it..

and for the past few months, my knees and ankles have been aching more than usual.. sometimes i even feel wobbly while walking.. even my finger joints are getting stiff.. i remembered that during my primary school days, the nurses would always write the same thing in my health booklet during annual check-ups - "drink more milk, three times a day"..

i used to never give it a hoot, but i suppose age is really catching up on me.. i can't imagine the day when i can't enjoy my favourite outdoor activities, when i can't roam around as freely as i want to.. or worse still, when i can't even perform simple tasks or losing the strength that i have.. and i don't wish that to come so soon..

how about you? what is your most feared thought when it comes to ageing?

a long day..

sigh.. i'm really tired.. it was another long day for me.. was in school from 8am, with a field trip to Tanah Merah beach, and then a 3-hour tuition.. only got home at 10pm..

and this week i have to meet 2 deadlines, and then the NUSCO concert.. i'm really dead.. sigh..

and when the bus passed by Changi Airport back from the beach, i wished i could fly away.. anywhere.. a place where i could stop thinking about things..

sigh.. i need more chocolates..

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ryan has a baby boy! i'm now officially a ninay (filipino for godmother).. haha.. show me the pictures of my godson! =)

field trip to Gunng Belumut..

sheesh.. i was really exhausted after yesterday's field trip to Gunung Belumut.. i slept for almost 12 hours straight.. but it was an exciting trip indeed.. how often do you get to go out of Singapore to do a practical? haha..

i had to wake up at 5am to get ready, and was in school by 7am.. when was the last time i got up so super early?



it took us almost 4 hours to get to the forest.. and we were all geared to conquer! creating a stir, i mean.. haha..

so it wasn't your normal sight-seeing kind of field trip.. we were doing our practical.. which means, we were there, armed with equipment, to collect specimens, doing data-recording and measurements.. so who says we were there to enjoy? haha..



we had to do the practical at 2 different streams.. the first one was a little one, water level was perhaps below the knees.. nothing much to describe, only managed to catch sight of some small fishes..

then we had to take the bus up to the inner forest, and then to walk through the forest to reach the other stream.. we had to cross many obstacles, such as big tree logs blocking our path, muddy patches, steep slopes.. this time round the stream was a bigger one, with large, slippery boulders.. and the depth was greater.. many of my groupmates slipped and fell, getting themselves all wet.. haha.. but i was lucky enough.. :D

again, doing the same thing, collecting specimens, doing the measurements..

and then, lunch time!! haha.. yes, we had our lunch at the stream.. sitting on those large boulders, passing potato chips around.. what an ambience.. haha..



me and my TA, eunice.. =)


and then it was time to move out of the forest.. thank goodness there were no leeches.. but i still got some small cuts, by sharp branches or leaves..

i suppose this was the most interesting field trip i had so far.. something memorable before i graduate? maybe..

arghh.. my brain is still stone-ing.. wake up!!

rainy field trip..

the field trip today was an ultimate failure.. haha.. even before we got off the bus, it was already starting to drizzle.. the moment we started walking into the forest at Lower Pierce Reservoir, the rain got heavier.. and it was really impossible to continue walking in such heavy rain..

imagine, walking in the forest, amidst of all the trees, with an umbrella.. what if lightning strikes? haha..

and so the field trip was called off within 1 hour.. and we had to hide in some prata place for shelter.. haha.. but we were all drenched by then.. from head to toe.. haha.. what a wasted afternoon.. and they better not make us go back there again..

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anyway, yesterday's yusheng was the best! haha.. that big plate of yusheng.. more than enough for that 8 of us.. haha.. with extra ingredient - shedded roast chicken!! haha..



and this was what being left after chomping down the yusheng.. haha.. notice that there was 2 pairs of mini-chopsticks and a fork.. not enough chopsticks for everyone! haha..



die lar, this week is filled with 2 term tests, practices, tuition and 1 more field trip to Johor.. i want my new year holiday back!!! give it back to me!!