Unpredictable

Unpredictable

I'm back from Cambodia! After a 3 hour flight delay we finally touched down at 2.35am and waited at the McDonald's Terminal 2 while waiting for public transport systems to start. I reached home at around 7.30am and have been sleeping ever since even though I still feel exhausted.

Cambodia has been an enriching and touching experience. I will never forget the delightful and carefree faces of the children in HVPV which shimmer with innocence. They are inspirational.

I'll elaborate more when I have the time and after we compile the photos tomorrow so I can refer to them while blogging about Cambodia.

I could sense something was wrong this morning when my mum came down to pay for the taxi for me. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn't at work. I found out that I won't be having another brother or sister after all. Heartbeat stopped. And my mum went for surgery on Wed.

Many things in life are often unpredictable. But this is an outcome I would never have expected.

Surprise!

Surprise!

The news came to me last Sunday in the car. My mum is pregnant! According to her, she was waiting for my sister to come back from India before breaking the news, and so that was the first opportunity she got.

Well, my first reaction was of course shock, but I was happy. It was pleasant shock, if that phrase can be used. I had been joking about her giving birth to another since the day my brother was born, which like, 11 years ago. And 11 years later, my joke came true. It then dawned on me that my mum giving birth when she's older might increase the risks involved in pregnancy. And I became worried. My parents then told us they, too, had been worried earlier, but the doctor had told them it was still okay. So I am going to have another brother or sister!

Every time we move house, there's a new member of the family. When I was born, my parents had moved house. When my sister was born, yet again. And my brother came, again. In between we moved house once without any new member though(freak reading). And now. I'm moving house next year (Hopefully as soon as possible so I don't have to travel so far to school anymore), and here comes a new sibling! The coincidence is unplanned for, actually, according to my parents.

Maybe it is God's way of saying, "Hey, moving to a bigger home is too much space for the family, you need it to be more cosy by having more people". There's logic in that. Imagine a home where everyone has loads of private space. That home will simply become a place to sleep, eat and bath, because of the fewer opportunities to interact and talk. We need to share the space, share stuff, eat at the common table, watch TV together, play random board games together then can we call it a real home.

So. I look forward to receiving my new brother or sister.

Next year will be an exciting year!

Thoughts

Been doing research at IME the past few days. Gives me a lot of time to think. My experiments are conducted as such: Soak the substrate for 1 hour. Stone. Transfer the substrate to another dish to soak in another solution another hour. Stone. And it goes on. Of course, in between the steps I have to prepare the solutions and stuff. But it still gives me a lot of time to reflect and think. Usually there's no one in the lab I am in, except myself. Quite wierd considering this lab is supposed to be shared by a few others.

From my lab I can see other researchers in other labs concentrating on their work. I think I know why I've decided research will not be my career path. The topic I am researching on is interesting, but.. its the enviroment which is not exactly appealing, not when you don't get to speak to anyone for hours except yourself unless you use the phone next to you.

S47 chalet last week was fun! Although almost everyone who came was from our clique since half the class was going back home overseas. The chalet started with 3 people. Jt, py and me. We carried the snacks from Giant (lucky we didn't take MRT or bus) and the BBQ stuff from the carpark opposite downtown east. And we decided to visit the supposedly-haunted redhouse which didn't seem eerie in bright daylight.

Then steffi came, then wayne, who told us it was already late, so we'd better start the fire for bbq quickly. The BBQ was one of the few I actually felt full, and with so much extra food even though wayne dropped-goodness-knows-how-much food onto the floor accidentally. It was quite cool when we started talking about more mature topics like politics, the enviroment, the degeneration of the younger generation and stuff.

Playing 'I never', as always, revealed much. Except that I found it difficult to think of questions after the 2nd or 3rd round and well, asked the wrong question. Wild wild wet was wet. That whole sentence starts with W. Lame. The most memorable part of WWW was the wave pool. It took a lot of effort to stay together once the waves came. But in the end, we managed to:)

On the last night of chalet, we started talking about our first impressions of the class. And I have to say, back then on the 1st day of school when we all met each other during our 1st CT session, I would never have guessed we would have a chalet, and the many class outings. When I first stepped into V43, and saw that everyone was so stone, I was thinking, as I am sure everyone else was thinking, 'Oh no, why everybody look so sian' and 'Oh no, I'm going to be in this class for the next 2 years' and 'so many scholars!'. But when you're with s47 now, its hard to imagine that situation on the first day. S47 rocks man.

Its funny how the things you expect don't turn out the way you think it will, when the things you don't expect pops out and catches you by surprise.

Fundraising for the Cambodia trip - newspaper and old clothes collection - was a success, thanks to everyone who helped out: jt, py, py's anderson friends, huimin, jason, agung, jiahao, steffi, steffi's friend, xianglin, yingwah. We raised 705.45 in all. Apparently with we surpassed another group who had more manpower than us. And Cambodia is 7 days away!

Over lunch with nat, jo and cheryl on Sun, cheryl, nat and I were sharing our thoughts on research attachment, while jo laughed at us, and apparently, the 3 of us share similiar views on it. Also, I realise I got exactly the same promo results as Nat (Except for physics cause she takes Bio. But we both got E). It runs in the genes I guess.

I met chris chok today by chance, at the coffee shop, after visiting the doctor. He was eating breakfast before going to study before his history A's today. Great chat and company for breakfast! All the best for your last paper man.

I received good but surprising news on Sunday, which I unfortunately cannot post about until the 'official' release date, next mon.

Hope.

I read

Tuesdays with Morrie. The book was given to me in Sec 3, and I only touched it now. What procrastination. Then again, maybe I would not have appreciated it two years ago. 'When you learn how to face death, you learn how to live'. How true that is. Many of us know that we'll eventually die. But few of us believe it, me included. It's like, isn't that for older people to think about? But life, and death, is unpredictable. If only we believed that, we will live life very differently. Don't you think so?

A Day to Remember

Yesterday was a day of many feelings.

I reached school at 8 to help out with the CIC board, and the first thing I heard from Chia Weei was that Aravind got knocked down by a car. Shocked, I went round looking for more info, and got the details I needed from Hsuen Te. Smsed the rest of the scouts, and we decided to meet at changi general hospital after my usher duty.

I went on with my usher duty, and it was fun, I enjoyed bringing people around the school and everything. Haven't done that in a long time.

Amazement, at the liveliness of the open house. The mass dance was especially cool, cause when the MC's announced the mass dance, it was like everyone just stopped what they were doing and went to dance. It was a good show of school spirit.

After that, I went to the hospital, met the scouts and saw Aravind. He had undergone operation for one of his lungs the day before, and seemed quite tired, but optimistic. He was quite lucky, cause his head fell on his bag during the crash which protected him from head injury. And there were no bones broken. He'll be warded for 3 days to a week. And should get well soon. What set me thinking was that the crash made him think about his life and what was really important to him.

Caught up with the rest of the scouts too, haven't seen them in quite a long time, especially Trent. That, was nostalgia.

Was in church for the rest of the day, discussing reflection day and attending the formation session. Learnt a lot.

In fact, as the day played out yesterday, I learnt more and more things, perhaps more than the whole of last week.

Maybe it's time to really think about what is truly important in life, and not get caught up over what is not.

Facebook is: Addictive

I decided to try out facebook last night. It's lame but quite addictive. In a way I managed to catch up with old friends and bite them/throw a cow at them at the same time. Virtually. Well, I was surprised that even Mr Kwang had an account. Anyway, it is like there are limitless applications on facebook. Everytime I log in again there's this invitation from a friends to do this and do that, and now my profile page is congested with all sorts of crap (werewolf/ movie ratings comparisons/ jedi and whatnot). I'll have to limit my usage. If you're supposed to be studying, I suggest you don't give it a try. Just yet.

Its Over

Promos - finally over. Chinese compo was okay, but the compre was quite difficult. Anyway, time really passed very fast - it seems like just yesterday I was in orientation 1. And it'll be quite soon that I'm studying for my prelims and then A's, thinking about how fast time passed since my promos. Chilling thoughts. The only way around this is to make full use of my time now.

Promos: Its Almost Over - Except Chinese

Some of the papers were more difficult than expected. Some careless mistakes were made. But I'm not going to think about what is out of my circle of control. I'll just wait for the results now. And read up my chinese textbook.

Went out with s47 (South-East Asia group lol) immediately after physics paper on friday. Finally all 10 of us could go. Yay:) Went to Settlers cafe for the 1st time. We played the local version of taboo first, Kang Rong was super funny, with all his actions and hand movements. Then we played some monkey game that was probably meant for children aged 7 and under. Was retardedly fun. And we moved on to a complicated 2 hour game that was mentally exhausting. Think it was called Avalon or something. I wonder who came up with such a complex board game with so many scenarios.

Ate Sushi Tei at Taka with chia weei, jt, pei ying and steffi. Haven't been there for quite some time and the food tasted good, especially the green tea ice scream. Worth the 45 min wait which we spent walking around taka looking at other food.

After dinner, by the time we walked into Wisma's topman/topshop and out, I was exhausted, went home to sleep at like 11 plus.

Great way to celebrate. Although there's still chinese paper..

High School Musical 2
This post is lag..
I enjoyed the songs and dances, but the plot just cannot match the first show. Sam, Emily, Nat, Keith and Jolenta (or JO:) ) came over last Sunday to watch. Quite cool, haven't had like a cousins gathering for a few months already I think.

Doing EoM, rushing through revision and settling the trip to Cambodia is stressful. It shows on my face with all the pimples. Patience. At least the air tickets have been booked, and I can leave the planning alone first while I focus on promos. The number of hiccups faced in planning for Cambodia is just astonishing, but I guess it could have been worse. EoM - passing it up tomorrow. Spent many hours on it already. I'll gladly hand it up.

Immediate plan: end this post and study for Chem SPA skill A, which is tmr..

Patience.

Time

Always sprints ahead. No turning back.

Time

To appreciate everything around you. Big and small.

Time

To go back and study.

Life

Moving too fast? Or too slowly?

Well, two months since I last blogged. Had a hectic, and enriching June holiday, except that it meant I only had one week to study for my mid-years which translated into not-so-satisfying exam results. But I guess its a worthwhile price to pay for the experience in June. The Germany-Switzerland trip, Build4hope, science attachment.. and I won't regret it. Although I know that I've disappointed teachers, and probably myself if I look at just the results. Well, I'll take it as a warning, and I'll improve myself for promos, not that there is a lot of time to do so.

Read an article in the forum a few days ago, where some JC student wrote in to air his gripe over JC life, about how hectic life is, how our holidays are packed, how we have to rush back to serious studying immediately after O'levels. Well, sad to say, after being in JC for more than half a year, I have to agree. The curriculum is fast-paced and our timetable is packed with activities (of which, of course, many are worth the time spent and voluntary).

BUT.

Going through the fast-paced schedule of JC life is just part of the equation of life. It is also about who you go through it with: your friends, your family, and God. It is about the learning points which you can glean from it. Although our education system seems to point towards results, which is taken as evidence, proof, that we have learnt something, there are many learning points which cannot be shown on paper, many more important aspects of life which goes far beyond academia. We want to excel in studies, thats why we are so stressed. We are stressed by our own choice. I hope I am not making this sound negative. I am not saying that stressing ourselves over studies is wrong. But the balance has to be there.

Ultimately, it is important to ask ourselves what we want in Life. An excellent highly-ranked career? Or just a sustainable, reasonable, slightly above average job?

And if we want to pursue our wildest dreams, our most audacious ambitions, how much and what will it cost us?

Excitement!

Leaving for Germany-Switzerland in 2 Days! :)
Holidays starting in 2 Days!

My holidays are packed.. 1st Week, I'll be overseas. 2nd Week, Build4Hope. 3rd Week, Family Chalet. And the science research attachment results are not out yet, if I get it, it'll take up 2 weeks in June. Which means I'll have to study for my midyears whenever I can.. Better start planning my June timetable..

Going to pack my luggage now! Whoo!

Amazing!
I never actually thought I would post on this blog again. I had actually decided that I have no time to maintain a blog. But well, I've decided that I should at least post once in a blue moon.

I'll have to change a few things in my profile. Like from SJI to ex-SJI, of course, 'once a Josephian, always a Josephian', and add in VJC:) Yeah. Then add and change some links. Yeah cliff, sorry for taking so long, I haven't updated in a long time. And of course I remember you. And glen, I'll relink you...

I'll also have to create a new tagboard. The other one expired for a good reason. Haha. I've half a mind not to create any tagboard.

Well, I've been busy, and am busy, and will be busy. I know, I am the one who made myself busy, but... Whats life without the challenge right?

I'm now in VJ community involvement council, and my aim is to help more people help others in the community who are less fortunate. Many projects coming along. Just yesterday I had to do a live ad at assembly, and kind of made a fool out of myself. I guess thats something you have to do to attract people's attention.:)

Then there's the Singapore River Raft Race next weekend, and I've to build the raft with my group like, in a week. Wow. Thats a little rush. Must push.

Looking forward to the German-Swiss trip at the start of the June holidays, and the science research institute attachment. That also translates into little time to complete my revision for midyears. So yup. Must also push from now.

So many things to do, so little time.

Thank God, my Family, Friends, Teachers & SJI

For my O'Level results.

I want to thank:

God, for guiding me and being with me during exam preparation, exam, and basically all the time.

My family, for their support and encouragement, for motivating me, for giving me the conducive enviroment for studying.

My friends, for helping me with those problems I cannot understand or solve, for the encouragement. Especially my classmates, for relieving our stress from studying by continuously adding humour everyday:)

My teachers, for their unrelentless efforts in helping me understand and grasp the subjects they teach, for all the time spent, for not giving up on us.

SJI, for a wonderful and fulfilling 4 years of secondary education, for helping me excel academically, and preparing me not just for exams, but, perhaps more importantly, for life.