~light of the world~

Monday, April 28, 2008

Today was purportedly a half day. Meant for the teachers. Hmph. Ending lessons at 1.20pm after GC is not a half day. It's exactly the same time my classes end anyway! Goodness! I suppose it's good for the IP1 and 2s who end at 4.30, but I protest anyway. Last time we ended at 11.40 - excellent! The concept of "Half Day" has lost its meaning *sobs*.

Today during lunch I bought my food from the Malay stall, but decided I wanted steamed egg from the cai fan stall, so I waited really long while the aunty was frying rice. Turns out she was frying it for Jonathan - this IP1 in the Thursday morning PM. I commented that I didn't know they sold fried rice. He said that she wanted to cook it for him (LOL) so he just agreed.

Anway, he asked me a very funny question: "Do you cook?" I totally can't, and then I said "Please don't tell me you can." Thank goodness he said not really, but maybe he was being nice. But he looked a bit surprised that I couldn't even do instant noodles, and asked "Then when you get married how're you gonna cook food?" I found it VERY FUNNY. Seriously. IP1s are so... I don't know what's the word... young? But young in a nice/adorable way.

After lunch XW was telling Sheryl, Rachel and me about the Hansel and Gretel movie she watched the other day with her free movie ticket. It sounded quite suspenseful and scary (for me) the way she described it, but she said the movie wasn't scary. Strange for a horror film. But I suppose it tried, with the creepy children and queer unexplainable happenings in the house in the forest. I think the explanation for their powers was rather silly, but the whole movie sounds quite interesting. And it's Korean!

I went to the library afterward to do work with Sheena, XM, YJ, Ann, PC, Elvin, and LC was sitting somewhere else. Ernest and Jem were being noisy with one of their friends. Tsk tsk. For shame.

During H3 at HCI, somewhere around 6pm we heard these people singing really high notes outside, and I immediately guessed them to be the HC Choir practicing. Hence, after H3 ended I went out to see if I could watch their practice. I heard some soft singing, tried hard to track it down, and concluded it was from these few girls coming from the toilet.

Unfortunately, they went into the AVA (I think). I peeped in from the outside door window through the inner door window and saw Ms Lim! I really wanted to hear them, but they'd think I was crazy barging in on their practice like that. Reminds me of the HC guy in my H3 who's a bass, I think, and the Thursday before TKGS' concert. He got to watch some of our practice since it was at the bookshop. But it's a lot easier to watch in the open, not as if he came in to the AVA when we were practicing. Pity.

And just to complain a bit: not one day will pass without the words "A Levels" appearing somewhere in my parents' speech at home. If it's not about studying, it's about not wanting me to go anywhere, and reminding me how expensive overseas education is, and how the entrance rate of NUS Medicine applicants is about 1/10. The not going anywhere includes the [compulsory] HC Choir concert, Pianoworks [to support XW and RO], and Perspectives [which is Christian].

Plus, my sister and brother-in-law want to go to a country dense with frequently erupting volcanoes, and up to 10% decrease in ozone level. Gah.

Labels: choir, school

xuan blogged at 9:01 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Friday, April 25, 2008

Today for the first time ever, I walked all they way home from NJC. Actually Sheena has done it before, so she suggested we do it one day, and so we did.

Actually I thought I wouldn't be able to do so, because I was going for CIP. I smsed Daixi to tell her, as I was leaving school. Then after taking 961 to Farrer Road, I got off to wait for the 186, taking out my handphone. Thankfully, I saw her sms saying that there's no CIP for the rest of the term. I was really annoyed at the whole situation, but thankful that I hadn't gone all the way there.

So I had to cross the overhead bridge and waited till a 174 came along. I debated whether to go home or return to school, and decided that more work would be achieved in the library. I met Conan and JA at the bus stop ready to go home. Then I saw Eugene with his classmates going for his CIP. After that I waited with Xiaowen for 156 to come.

After that I went up to see the choir whiteboard as DF asked me to, and saw cartoons drawn all over, representing certain members of the graduating batch: Conan the 石头, YT "I'm so chio", LC with huge eyes, G'nia with a high A, "Small Cloud" XY, a PC for PC, YJ "hair hand hair leg", Ek "One Bottle Water", Nasi BRYANi, and my SSOD.

After hanging around the choir store and not getting anything done, I went to the library, but I walked right past LC (who was sleeping) without seeing him. We were joined by YJ and YT. The two guys left earlier, also saying that it was Shutdown Day.

YT and I heard the juniors at NDP practice from the library during a particularly loud chord! At 5.45 we packed up and went to meet them, after which Sheena and I walked home! Pity Sonia didn't want to join us.

I regretted it slightly because we were walking westward at 6.06pm, sun glaring at us. And the roads filled with cars are rather treacherous. One car didn't even signal that he was going to turn, so dangerous! My legs weren't so tired, but my shoulders ached from carrying my school bag so far. I'm quite satisfied that I made it from school to my gate in 33 minutes. Good exercise!

Labels: school

xuan blogged at 10:36 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

This week is Earth Week! It's a time where people focus on our planet, the climate changes, global warming and such. Even the Time magazine is green!

My neighbourhood decided to be eco-friendly as well last night. I was using my laptop when suddenly my light flickered off, the whole house power went out, as did the power of the houses in my Crescent, including street lights. Never has my house been so dark before. I managed to fall asleep before the power came back on though, despite the heat! Yay.

The Green Link club in our school has organized several activities for us to take part in, and I really think it's a good effort by them! Most prominently, they organized a recycling competition for newspapers and can tabs collection, and competition takes place between the houses.

Like a coin, this has more than one side to it.

Heads: It causes many people to notice what Green Link has been doing, and results in a lot of newspaper being recycled, hopefully saving trees in the process.

Tails: It turns into a competition not in the spirit of Earth Week. Aerius is winning with 800+ kg. Apparently their house captain purposely went to collect enough newspapers to require a van to bring it to school. As a friend said, the petrol and carbon emission from the van probably did more harm to the environment than the recycling of those newspapers did good.

[This was also seen during International Friendship Day, when the IP1s had to collect as many 20c coins for their stalls as possible. The Aqua house captain encouraged people to go to the Aqua class to support them by buying their food and playing the traditional game. Apparently the Terra captain collected a bag of 20c coins and gave it to them. Let's not go into how the stickers were indiscriminately pasted to represent money earned.]

Thin side of the coin: We should try our best to strike a balance between house rivalry and trying to save our environment. All this talk about global warming, An Inconvenient Truth and other things, but no one seems to care anyway. Perhaps we Singaporeans are complacent after all.

I salute the Green Link club for taking such pains to instill a greater sense of environmental awareness in everyone. Perhaps we ought to have more recycling bins around the school. For example, one for plastic, so people can throw their drinks cups and straws there.

Make Every Day Earth Day!

Labels: school

xuan blogged at 8:40 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Friday, April 18, 2008

My father told me to move my laptop back to its original place on my desk today!

It's a bit strange to have it back, but at least I like my wooden desk more than the small table in my parents' room with glass cover. That desk has little space, especially when my parents want to use it, and dump stuff on top of my laptop.

Possibly more blog entries will appear if the situation remains as it is. I feel that having the laptop gives me energy to stay up later to do work, partially because I can blast the music in my room!

In a totally unlinked way, I went to search for more lightbulb jokes.

Q: How many RJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: One. He stands with the lightbulb, and the world revolves around him. (my own joke. the actual one spoke of 4 different faculties drafting proposals and designing bulbs)

Q: How many HCIans does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: The whole school. Trying to beat RJC.

Q: How many VJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: One person to screw the lightbulb, and the rest of the school to cheer him on loudly and with banners.

Q: How many TJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: None. They think they are very bright already.

Q: How many ACJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: None. They hire and pay YJC to do it for them. (I think it's a bit mean to use YJC, but I suppose the author picked a random JC.)

Q: How many AJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: None, they're too busy studying to be one of the top 5.

Q: How many SAJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: They pray for the light to come on. (thumbs up!)

Q: How many CJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: They prefer it in the dark. (this is really mean.)

And FINALLY...

Q: How many NJCians does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: NONE. They can mug without light!

And anyway, we'd just report it to the OM, and nothing will be done about it, as the funds are currently going towards converting LT5 to a performance theatre.

I am now going to study for Chem SPA Skill A. Hopefully no dropping funnels will appear. Or drying agents. Hmm.

Labels: school

xuan blogged at 9:24 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

I finally completed my 5-item test for NAPFA today! Sit-ups (A), Standing Broad Jump (D), Sit and Reach (A), Inclined Pull-ups (A), Shuttle Run (B), and I passed my 2.4 km run last week.

No more NAPFA for the rest of my life! It is a cause for celebration!

Other than that, I went for my first class CIP today. We were late because we attended the PSC scholarships talk before that. At first Jessica was supposed to go, but she decided not to, and abandoned Melody and I, the two who haven't gone before, to go by ourselves. Luckily we didn't get lost.

We didn't know where to go, but thankfully these people delivering free food from YWC showed us the way, and an Indian lady Mrs Raja showed us kids to help. I helped this kid do a math problem sum, before being shifted to another kid, to show him to do long division.

I was really annoyed with him because he wasn't really paying attention, and simply kept saying how difficult it was to divide 525 by 3. I didn't mind so much that he didn't know how to do it, but that he was distracted by anything happening around him, and obviously didn't really want to learn.

Plus, the other kids weren't being helpfully quiet, including a girl who was asking me Science questions, when I'm sure she's one of those who doesn't need the tuitioning. Behind me was another table with two Saint something School girls with a bunch of rowdy kids.

I was suddenly reminded of yesterday's Chemistry Reaction Kinetics Consolidation lesson with Ms Ang. There was only one of her and 25+ of us, and we were making so much noise, also claiming not to be able to draw the graph and such. I suppose that in that respect, we're much worse than the kids, because we're old enough to understand when to be quiet and listen or do work seriously.

We really ought to respect our teachers. I'm sure most of them put in a lot of effort for us their students, making powerpoint lecture slides, marking assignments, giving consolidation / remedials / consultation, teaching us, standing up in class when we all sit down (except our Lit teachers, lol), coming up with extra worksheets for our revision etc.

Before accusing teachers of being bad or unknowledgeable or being annoying, try asking yourself whether you could do a better job.

Labels: school

xuan blogged at 7:10 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

No choir today... but I mugged with Sheena, LC and Elvin in the library until the librarian aunty chased us out. And we found out that Conana, YT, Ann, YJ and goodness knows who else were eating at Island Creamery. Without us. Sacrilege! But to show how nice we are, we forgive you guys! Happy 18th Bday, Boss!

Elvin described me interestingly: A snow-capped volcano. So when I'm not infuriated, I'm snow-capped, seemingly nice and approachable. [I thought he was going to say that I'm cold and mean.] But when I'm angry, the volcano erupts into a steaming destructive lava fountain.

Anyway, elections will be coming soon. I think the comm is supposed to describe the various roles to the choir next week. It ought to be interesting to see who's running this year.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there are a lot of juniors previously from exco positions, and almost none from music comms. Personally I feel it's bad, because I generally feel that being an SC is a lot harder than being a President. Comparing skills required for being the SC as opposed to President, much less people fit the bill for SC. I may be wrong though, having been neither.

I also wonder who's going to run for my post! So exciting! Future Alto SLs waiting to bring the Altos to greater heights! I mean, we're already the best section, but who's bragging? Hopefully enough people will run so as to eliminate double posting. And maybe we ought to create a post called Welfare Head. Like the person in charge of birthdays, encouraging people, buying us sweets for sustenance!

Just to be random, I was thinking about those "how many ____ does it take to screw in a lightbulb" jokes. They're quite funny. I came up with my own SATB set.

Q: How many NJ Sopranos does it take to screw in the choir store lightbulb?
A: It's impossible. They tend to shatter it before they can even screw it in. Especially Eugenia.

Q: How many NJ Tenors does it take to screw in the choir store lightbulb?
A: The whole section. They spoil their voices cheering while Jing An floats up to fix it.

Q: How many NJ Basses does it take to screw in the choir store lightbulb?
A: One. Yong Jian!

Q: How many NJ Altos does it take to screw in the choir store lightbulb?
A: None. They're so bright, they can learn their scores without it.

Alternatively: A combination of effort.
Tiffany creates a new bulb design,
Wanyun records down the details,
Yun Tian asks the teachers for permission,
Ann provides money for the bulb,
Michelle calls the shop to make it,
Jia Wen and Chantik rush down on Tuesday to collect it,
Jocelyn finds a step-ladder,
Rachel and Cherry carry it to the choir store,
Chyi Wei holds the ladder steady,
Lavania holds up the bulb,
And Jaymie screws it on,
As Sixuan yells at Sonia, Eunice1 and Eunice2 to stop making so much noise singing / dancing / cheering, but to go and help.
Xuemin supervises.

Labels: choir, school

xuan blogged at 9:20 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Today we had our choir concert in the afternoon. I was very annoyed at first, because the taxi only took 20 minutes to reach VCH, meaning that I could have left church later and not rushed so much.

Furthermore, Chantik was sick, so she couldn't come, and then Tiff burnt her gown while ironing, Ann thought the warmups started at 12.15, XM was having tuition, Cherry and some other scholars were late, etc. I had to rearrange the whole alto standing arrangement since obviously Tiff couldn't stand in the first row.

Hence, I wasn't in a very good mood. For my last concert no less. Anyway, it didn't start out very well, because Ms Lim said our sound was dead, without vitality and life. I personally attributed this to everyone trying too hard to produce the correct sound / pitching / pulse / actions etc. In our defense, we haven't touched the competition songs since Italy other than when she sometimes went through them in practice.

Our guest choirs were Fairfield Methodist Sec and this Convent primary school whose name I have forgotten. I like the FMSS choir gown - it's blue and shimmery, but the sleeves aren't flattering. The primary school girls were so cute. And their singing wasn't bad. Got actions too!

Before it started, Ms Lim also gave us some pep talking. Then she also called Conan out to talk about him. But after she started on how much he'd changed, then he was gonna cry, I think, as well as her, and almost me as well. That's what happens when we get all emotional and sappy.

The concert itself practically flew away. By the end of the first half, I was surprised that so much had passed by already. And it's my last official choir practice, so I decided to squat down when we were waiting to emo for a while. Then XM bent down as well to emo with me. LOL.

Bal-laygi was really a blast. I was gasping for breath after it was over! Rosas was better than I expected, and for Tickle, poor JA's evil laugh got drowned by the applause! But I think we really got a lot of encouragement from the audience. Thanks!

Afterwards we went for dinner with some seniors at Marina Square food court, but then our batch of people went to find another table separately due to lack of space. So perhaps it was a bit segregationalist. Either way, it was good to see the seniors again after so long, especially Jia Yun!

During dinner ensued much talk about elections, and staring contests that wasted a lot of time. SSOD got mentioned, as well as H3. YJ almost declared another Insult Sixuan Day. Whatever. My stare pwns LC's. Later when we were to go home, I was asking how other people were going home, and he had the nerve to say: "By public transport." [thereby insinuating that I'd be taking private transport] !!!

On the bus home with Sheena I was rather quiet, mostly because I was tired, I think. Earlier on before dinner we asked Ms Lim whether she'll really miss us. She said that she didn't feel it yet, because she's too tired, but later on she'd feel it. I think I feel the same.

NJChoir has been an important part of my life for approximately 1190 days, give or take a week, which is about 3 years and 3 months. It hasn't really sunk in that I'm not going to be Alto SL anymore, or that I can't be going for choir practice anymore. After 3 years and 3 months of practices, 2 SYFs, 2 Italy trips, 3 concerts, 3 carollings, 3 camps, 3 seniors' farewells, it's sort of over. I hope to join the NJ Alumni Choir though, so it's not so bad.

I'm really going to miss choir.

Labels: choir

xuan blogged at 10:37 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Haha, seizing the opportunity of a half day to blog a lot. Lol.

I've had this little thought in my head: Why do we listen to particular songs? Is it because of the artists, lyrics, tune, chord progressions, themes? I think I listen to certain songs for the tune, some for the words, some for both, but probably none which possess neither. I've even thought of specific examples that shall all come from DBSK.

EG 1: listening for the tune - Phantom (Hwan Yeong) by DBSK
Seriously, the words don't make much sense, and I don't understand why it's even called Phantom. But the tune is really nice, all minory and stuff. Like one of those anime ending theme songs for Rurouni Kenshin.

EG 2: listening for the lyrics - Aisenai Aishitai by DBSK
According to the translation, it's about them (guys) liking their "best friend's girlfriend", but asks "which path do I take to keep from hurting anyone?" I think the words are very touching, even though it's the kind of situation you only see on tv, but it's still a lovely sentiment. Unfortunately, I really don't like the tune. It's not nice.

EG 3: listening for both tune and lyrics - Fighting Spirit of Dong Bang by DBSK
This is my favourite DBSK song, because firstly, the tune is NICE. Really. Seecondly, this song was sung during the World Cup to cheer on Korea, as our Asian representatives. It gives a very patriotic feel. After I heard it I felt like cheering for S. Korea. Seriously.

I'll always believe in the strength that breathes in you
Your persevering appearance has awoken me
And has shown me that we can win it all

We've waited a long time for that time when we unite again
Fifty million hearts, hearts in which we carve our flag
We'll do this with you so that you won't be lonely

Please show us our rising flame,
The fighting spirit that, with our lasting love, does not give in,
So that it may ring throughout the world

We've dreamed a truly beautiful dream, protecting it with our love
Caress the ailing minds, outstretch your hands
Let us be by your side, until the day we win

Please show us our rising flame,
The fighting spirit that, with our lasting love, does not give in,
And is in everyone's hearts

We were able to know,
With an impossible amount of perspiration
That we would achieve our dreams only through our tears

Open your hearts wide, and always give your best
Please don't forget how hard we must try

I believe that, with you, our cheers
Will work miracles once more,
That the world will be ours once again
Please show us our rising flame,
The fighting spirit that, with our lasting love, does not give in,
So that it may ring throughout the world

Warriors of the nation we're proud of
Towards victory, Korea

http://www.crunchyroll.com/media-20171/DBSK-Fighting-Spirit-of-the-East.html

Labels: dbsg

xuan blogged at 3:41 PM

Before I get on to what I wanted to blog about, I want to say that I have THE BEST SECTION IN THE WORLD. On Monday, we had choir because today's a half day, but I had H3 from 4.30-6.30, and GP enhancement from 3.40-4.30 before that. Xuemin had chem VA from 5-6.30, so we had to leave them in the capable hands of altos like Yun Tian and Ann.

Then when Cherry and I rushed back, obviously LT3 had no aircon, I was really sweating madly in there. After practice ended, everyone was passing around the forms, and suddenly Eunice1 and Sonia were shouting for Altos to gather round. I went to the side first to give Boss the extra form...

And then I heard them singing the "You give me wings" by Hady Mirza song. Then they shouted at me to come back! So Xuemin and I were a bit stunned, as they sang, and then they gave us each 2 heart-shaped balloons! Xuemin got a light and dark green, I got blue and yellow. One balloon said "Awesome Altos" and "Almighty" on the other side, while the other said "I am an SL of BEST SECTION", with our name and "loved" on the other side.

I was really surprised, and I want to thank them for doing such a sweet thing! They also all wrote on a paper card for each of us, everyone except poor Jocelyn who's sick. I said it was so smart of them to wait for the day both of us weren't there. Then Sonia said they did it for sectionals! I was going to hyperventilate until they said they were joking.

Xuemin and I were showing off our balloons in front of the other SLs, like "Haha, my section gave me balloons, you all don't have! My section is the best!"

Thanks everyone, for writing, especially the 2 Eunices, whose names are at the back of the card, and Tiffany for designing the balloon words!

Labels: choir

xuan blogged at 3:27 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Friday, April 4, 2008

Everytime I reach my blog I feel loath to post anything un-Italy related. But I suppose you can't go on dreaming about such a past experience, because it's back to reality.

Anyhow, I remembered one more event that I felt like posting, which is the dinner at which I Ann and Ek swapped with Boss and JA. That left YT and I sitting with 2 left-handers. Anyway, the interesting part was because YT started talking about gossip, but I thought it wouldn't be fruitful with Boss and JA, as opposed to, well, girls.

But YT says Conan is actually gossipy! Surprise of the century! He was discussing stuff too! It was really different, because I usually live in my own little bubble, ignorant of practically everything.

So, today after our late practice my father grudgingly allowed me to go with them to KAP for dinner. But when we walked to the atrium, they still weren't there. So Sheena, PC and I waited for 25 min or so for them to come, because they were talking gossip and stuff with Ms Lim. Then Sheena pangsehed me and went home!

By the time we reached KAP, the younger people who were there were already eating, and there was virtually no queue. Then after Boss, YT, Ann, PC and I got two tables, Boss merrily walked off to buy dinner, very ungentlemanly to force a girl to jaga the bags.

While we were eating YT began a short session of Truth or Dare, and I swear, the question she asked me is exactly the one that was asked when we first went out after National Day or something as Junior Commm with Senior Comm (I being the only member of both :D), after most of the people had gone home. I think there was Boss, YT, me, Sheena, LC, Gnia etc.

I'm really going to miss this group of people after we have to graduate, and I also have to leave after April 13th. It royally sucks.

Labels: choir, italy

xuan blogged at 11:59 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...