ThE rOaD nOt TaKeN.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
They released the PSLE results today.
So in Singapore, there are collective sighs of relief and sorrow. I think (as expected) there are some faces which show disappointment and some which show surprise, but I wish that tomorrow, all the faces will be filled with hope.
The hope that secondary school life will be full of challenges,friendship,discovery and experiences which will last a lifetime. I remember fondly the exciting times spent in my secondary school learning, playing, studying, but mostly playing! =)
So don't worry about why you didn't answer the last Maths question or how you misspelt the simplest words in your composition or how you reached the wrong conclusion for your science practical. It's over. Let it go and get excited. The holidays will be over in a jiffy and secondary school life is going to be here before you know it.
I watched a show called
'So You Think You're Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?'. They broadcasted the pilot episode today and it's amazing how some adults have difficulty answering questions that would be elementary to a fifth grader(equivalent to P5 over here). These are the adults that have attended university and law school, who are stumbling over questions like how to find the height of a triangle given the base and area or how many decades there are in 2 millenia.
I started thinking about what possible reasons they were having so much trouble, maybe they were asleep during their primary school education, or the system was unable to equip them with the right knowledge or skills. Or perhaps the education system has improved so much over the years that students nowadays are handling more at an earlier age? Whatever it is, it's simply amazing how the adults freak out and the kids are the ones smiling all the way...
don't forget to smile...
Labels: PSLEs, secondary school, smile
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
I'm not used to this.
After
chionging so long for the exam period, it's kinda hard to just kick back and stone for a couple of hours...but I'm trying my best! =)
Today was a good day to take a break, the weather wasn't too hot and I needed some personal time to unwind. Had a gd breakfast of prata and spent some time on the com playing games, watching videos, etc. DW went to school for meetings, so I was left to my own devices.
Went to the market after breakfast and noticed that the hawker centre had re-opened after completing their retrofitting. Yay! The past few weeks have been pretty
xian as breakfast selection has been very restricted since they shut down for the retrofit. The menu for today is
yong tau foo and fried
wanton. So went around getting water chestnuts,minced pork, prawns,
wanton skin and a selection of
yong tau foo. DW really likes YTF!Went home to take a nap and woke up at 2pm (no lunch!) to start cooking. I really dislike peeling prawns...my fingers (after soaking in water for an hour or so) look like they belong to an
ah ma and there's the 'special' smell! Kept the shells for prawn noodles this weekend! Woot! Gonna perfect my recipe then.
Decided to tidy up my study area as it looked like a hurricane disaster area as a result of the exams...now it looks a bit better but still work in progress. Will finish up tomorrow as I had to get ready for dinner.
Looking forward to a BBQ party this Friday with some friends, what can I say? I love food la!
Told myself that I wanna start exercising regularly, not just to tone up but to also make use of all the good food that I treat myself to day-in and day-out.
Will be stopping by Sim Lim tomorrow to pick up blank DVDs cos I've used up all my spares. It's been a while since I have popped by to browse so it should be quite interesting. Probably have lunch. Thought about popping by LPS tomorrow but I think everyone will be too excited and happy/depressed to chitchat? Gd luck to everyone, but don't think you'll need it. Whatever happens, deal with it and enjoy the next phase of your education! Don't forget your teachers, ya?
Peace.
Labels: life shorts, yong tau foo
Monday, November 19, 2007
Today marks the last day of tests for this term. So it's a big relief and now like the P6 students, I'm waiting for my results too. =) (Gd luck for Thursday!)
The test today was one of those tests which you cannot really prepare for, except to remain calm and try to do your best. It was an oral test, so I had to remind myself to speak clearly and try not to gesticulate too much...( I can't help if I like to use my hands)
Was a bit disappointed when the results of the previous group assignment was released, I thought my group had done a good job, but it turns out that we missed a few points and now I have to hope that I have done well enough for the other sections to scrape my 'A' back.
Had some time before I had to pick up DW after her work so I paid a visit to Bishan library. The place is quite nice as they have devoted a whole level (basement) to the children's section. They have a Cafe Galilee and I spent some time checking my email and Facebook while savouring an ice-blended Cookies and Cream coffee. Then I dived into the lovely books!
I took a break by sitting at a long padded bench and the next thing I knew, I had dozed off. I awoke later to the sounds of a mother talking to her son as he took a seat near me. It was quite interesting to observe how some of the children behave in the library. The '
kuai' (obedient) ones would be reading and browsing through the books quietly, but the naughty ones would be running around and shouting at the top of their voices. How I wish children would learn to appreciate the library instead of taking it for granted. I remember how in the past the library was ill-equipped and short of facilities. No Internet, no lifts, no CD-ROMs, no comics(other than Tintin and Asterix), even the toilets had a smell(the natural kind). Now we have comfortable cafes, lots of study tables(not enough during exam period though) and new books every year! Woot!
After the short intermission at the library, I drove to Bukit Timah Plaza to buy some dog snacks for DW's dog and bought a pair of slippers from Bata(some call it short for '
buy and throw away').
Picked up DW after her work and we headed down to Paragon Shopping Centre to buy some bedding items from Aussino. While we were there, I went to look at some of the SonyEricsson hp models as DW was interested in 910i. I am still a Moto fan though. Was surprised to see that Fish and Co has set up a restaurant there. Hope the prices are still the same. We left at 7.30pm.
What a day...gonna finish up with a poem from a book that I found at the library which I thought was kinda interesting:
F*E*G
Abie's seedie effigy
Eight chide Jake: a lemon
O peek:
You are as tea
You feed double
You axe why
See?
... Horsehead!
- FEG Ridiculous Poems for Intelligent Children by Robin Hirsch
Labels: mixed blessings, poetry
Saturday, November 17, 2007
For those who visit the national library regularly, you will be glad to know that for the holidays, NLB is doubling your borrowing privileges(8 for normal membership, SIXTEEN for premium membership)! Ya, I was pleasantly surprised when I popped into the BPP library and they made the announcement. This is a great time to catch up on reading... X))))))
My last exam is on Monday after which I will be busy with a service learning project at the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home (it's at Serangoon Garden.) Then in the 1st week of Dec, I'll be away on Pulau Ubin for a course at the Outward Bound School(apparently I will be out of contact for the entire time of the course, so that will be kinda different..)
Currently trying to recover from all the stress that was generated during the exams, so just chilling out to TV and checking the Net.
Saw something a week ago which really made me angry and sad. I was staring out my kitchen window when I noticed that some inconsiderate person had decided to throw out a paper napkin that still had a half-decomposed piece of cake. I started to wonder what the person was thinking. Did they assume that the paper napkin would dispose of itself? Perhaps given enough sunlight, it will evaporate? Or it would hit someone after falling 20+ floors down and spoil their day? I just hope that sooner or later the inconsiderate person will get a taste of their own medicine.
It is very sad to be neighbours with people who behave this way...Grrr!
To the graduating class of LPS 2007:
Well done! You have completed an important part of your education and will be starting the next stage in a few months. I hope you're excited and not worried. Just remember that whatever results you get, it is only a piece of paper and you are more than that. I wished that I could have been there on Friday to say good luck and farewell, but I know that our paths will cross again(Sg is so small wat!).
So enjoy the holidays and look forward to your secondary sch life which I promise you will be even more challenging than you ever dreamed. Cheers!
If you ever see me on the road or at a shopping centre, come and say hi, ok?
Labels: good luck
Saturday, November 10, 2007
He smiled sadly, looking ahead with some expectation. The heat was almost unbearable, he could feel his shirt sticking uncomfortably against his skin. He was starting to wonder if he didn't make the wrong decision.
"I can't give up now. Not after so long!" Gawain thought angrily. He lurched forward, taking two steps before he had to stop. His tongue was parched. He looked around wearily for something he could drink but everything was out of reach.
Seven. Again he moved two steps before faltering. Looking ahead, the bright yellow light blinded him, forcing him to avert his gaze. He could hear the angry clash of metal on metal. He winced at the sound, wondering if his time had come.
Six."Not yet, stop thinking about it, you need to focus!" he chided himself. He remembered how easy it was at the beginning even though he knew that his quest would not be a short one. Scratching his chin, he swatted away a fly that flew into his path.
Five. He stumbled forward again, this time, only a step, as if resigned to the diminishing pace. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed it was devoid of any vegetation. Just hours ago, he was just another nameless face in a multitude of moving bodies, locked in the daily struggle for survival.
Four.He knew it was something he had to do. It was the right time and he couldn't deny what he could feel in the pit of his stomach. Calming himself, he quickly checked his belongings for what he needed. Fortunately, his fingers closed on his required tool which felt cold to the touch.
Three.He could see other obstacles in his quest, but these were beginning to resolve themselves right before his eyes. As his anticipation grew, he remembered how his peers had told him wonderful stories of their own quests and how he decided there and then to follow his instincts.
Two. The heat was getting worse. The very air seemed to be hissing and spitting like an angry cat. Looking back, he thought about the ones who would follow his footsteps, some who had lost sight of their goals, some who faltered when they lost their resolve and those who had selflessly volunteered so that others may benefit.
One.He knew he had gone past the point of no return. He thought about his lady love who was waiting for him to return triumphantly, each hand bearing the fruits of his labour, tired but proud at his achievement. Steadying himself, the man went over the plan in his head for the final time.
It was time. Gawain looked up as the strange man in front him beckoned and nodded with a smile.
"Two plates of
char kway teow without bean sprouts please!" Gawain ordered, thinking how fortunate that he had already been vacinated against hepititis B.
Labels: think again
Monday, November 5, 2007
Another weekend's come and gone and I'm older as a result T_T
Chronologically speaking of course.
Yesterday, I attended a show that was done by my sis Anne's drama group
Tapestry Playback Theatre. It was called "That Thing You Do" and was held at the Substation at Armenian Street.
Was a bit unsure of how to respond during the show as it was not your conventional sit-down and watch a group of people go through their lines with makeup and costumes per se. So no Shakepearean blank verse or massive scene changes. Everything just happened on the same stage, but it was quite fun! How should I describe it?
If you entering the guiness theatre (i think that's what they call it.), you will see a pretty bare stage with 2 chairs at stage right, 1 coat rack covered with lots of cloth, 3 wooden boxes at centrestage and a collection of musical instruments at stage left(very native stuff, shakers, noisemakers, even something that sounds like thunder). The walls are all painted black and the seats are arranged in ascending order like bleachers at a stadium. To make it cosier, they added in 2 rows of quilt carpets (from IKEA) for people to sit on the floor.
Met my classmate KK as I walked in (which is like twice in 2 weeks, this is more than the entire last 2 yrs combined, i think.) So it was like deja vous again. I'm half expecting him to pop up behind me in 5 min's time.
As the show started, I realised that it was going to be one of those shows where you either liked it or hate it. Due to the fact that it's largely improvised and impromptu, you would either be intrigued by the various devices used or get put off by the 'pretentiousness' (though I didn't think it was pitched to be arty farty).
I found myself getting drawn in to the various stories and the emotions that were displayed. I couldn't help but wonder about how much the actors empathise with the various storytellers as they told their stories. I think this format is amazing for the simple reason that it goes back to basics, where entertainment is not about glitz and shock appeal but about truth and life in its raw form. People listened and were moved by the variety of emotions as they follow the different stories like a reader browsing an anthology of short stories. With the storyteller in front of you, each story is told with conviction. Sharing is indeed a very powerful process.
Being a pragmatist, I did however check my watch halfway through (not because it was boring, but because I wondered how much more was there to enjoy). I am a closet escapist and drama has always been a beautiful window for me to look through and re-discover the simple beautiful things.
I must admit, that I am tempted to get involved (not just to satisfy my exhibitionist tendencies, I have been away from drama for a long time...) but simply because the process itself is fun and entails a lot of self-discovery. I couldn't think of a more enjoyable way to spend my Sunday evenings than to sit around, share stories and insights. I do however, have some stuff on my plate that needs to be cleared first before I can think about this seriously.
But don't be surprised if you see me at the next show, maybe not as an actor(yet) but at least as a member of the audience. Yippee!
Labels: drama, playback
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Wow, with the PSLE and SA2 exams over, I noticed that some of my students have been feeling a little demoralised and sad over their results. Of course there are some of them who have improved(well done!) but some of them didn't get the results they wanted.
Well, don't spend too much time moping around because just feeling sad for yourself is not going to solve your problem. Either you just enjoy feeling sad for yourself(which is a bit scary) or you really don't like the feeling(which is quite understandable), do something about it!
Start with a short review of the paper, which I think your teachers will help you with. Don't be so concerned with copying the right answer. Focus on understanding how to get the answer and why you ended up with the wrong answer.
If you just copy the answers, you will be able to answer the questions if you are lucky enough to see it in another paper.
If you understand how to get the answer, you will be able to answer other similar questions by using the same process.
I know it sounds quite cheem... but actually this is a good chance to really think about how you can help yourself achieve the goals/targets that you want, not for your parents but for yourself.
To close, don't forget to have lots of confidence in yourself! And when you feel down or sad, just remember that there are many people out there (including me!) who have confidence in you and are cheering you on!
Gambatte!
Labels: learning, reflection
