02.09.10
Post-orientation period
Things around me have been really mundane, and I’m getting sick of coming to school just for a 1 hour lecture or something. So I’m really looking forward to normal school, which should be next week? Shit I sound like an ass.
Orientation was fun and all, especially the campfire and all the OG outings. But that chapter has ended, a new one will begin soon. I guess it’s all down to mental preparation. Seniors and teachers have been saying that the first test will be a real culture shock, but I don’t ever want to fail anymore. Nidoto. High school was enough trauma, I don’t need another nightmare. Thou shalt prevail!
Anyway I’m now in 10A10, my class takes 14 different subject combinations. Go figure. But they’re all nice people, and now that we’re standing on equal ground again I don’t feel so left out in class anymore. I never want a repeat of what happened in Year 4. Nidoto.
Lectures have been quite enjoyable so far (although I wouldn’t really call them lectures), really hoping to learn more knowledge and gain deeper insights. Everything has been really great except for the quiz in the literature lecture, which made me feel like a “Barbie Doll”.
Still choosing between HACAS and Photography club. I wonder which would be better for me. Went for JCC open house today and quite liked it, plus there will be Japanese lessons every alternate week, which is a major pulling factor. So I’ll join JCC as my 2nd CCA.
HACAS or Photography, that is the question.
Reading my Economics notes now, and practicing Hiragana. I love you Jap.
02.04.10
On first glance, NS is not hell
Today I missed Orientation to go Pulau Tekong to send my brother off to National Service. I missed war games… sian. But it was worth it, cos I gained a new insight today: that National Service is not prison, it’s not hell and should be quite the experience in 2 years time. Although on a mental note, I better hit the gym soon… met my bro’s long time friend’s brother, and we chatted about how he spammed reader’s digest in order to study for GP, which he got ”A” wth imba… So I guess bro’s NS journey has kickstarted, although I’m not looking forward to mine…
After that, I went for Greg’s grandpa’s wake. His house is very big. Like really super dekkai kind of big… anyway paid my respects to Senior Ng, then had a chat with Gregory. He’s a really nice guy man, and its like, after having not chatted for such a long time (if by chatting you mean more than a “Hi, bye” in school), it was really quite interesting to see how much everyone around us has grown and stuff. So we did quite a bit of catching up, and it was fun apart from the mourning atmosphere surrounding us… it was a wake after all. My condolescences to you and your family and may he rest in eternal peace. God bless us all.
01.30.10
Orientation
Orientation has been quite fun, except for the rival-school-lose-to-hci-the-WE CHEER part, and of course the dancing. Dancing. I know bananas about it. Zzz (Sorry for screwing up TZ) Anyways this stupid school rivalry thing is so pointless. Yes, it adds to the school spirit, and it makes everyone cheer because we are obviously pwning other schools in terms of scoreline and whatever, BUT!
1. I’m seriously unsure if the scorelines reflected were accurate or just made-up farce to enhance the school spirit
2. Even if they are true, the comments made seriously potray the image of immaturity. That or they’ve gone cuckoo and warrant a visit to a mental hospital.
I mean seriously, what’s this whole big deal about Raffles vs HCI vs AC schools? Can’t we just bloody get along? Life isn’t a battlefield you know…
Anyway, OG7 has been a great experience so far and I’m sure the other OGs have been too. Games were rather well thought of in the sense that they integrated the boys and the girls to make the OG more united. That should perhaps be highlighted by the fact that the cheering went off the charts and everyone was going ballistic everywhere. Well, I wouldn’t say thats a bad thing anyway. Even though we did not win a single game on Day 2, everything still went rather well and I think OG7 has bonded significantly. Made many new friends and forged new friendships as well! Well I guess that’s the main idea of orientation anyway. After a long tiring day in which everyone’s hands were aching from one of the cooler but more exhausting activity (The one involving 2 boys, 1 girl and a cap), we went for OG dinner at some Muslim stall opposite Beauty World. Got exposed to many different kinds of Muslim food including a certain AHEM-DISH that I’d rather not talk about.
Looking forward to the rest of orientation. Just praying that the OGLs would have enough common sense to avoid the scorching sun when we’re all dressed in black. Screw Singapore weather.
01.25.10
First post of 2010
Yes I know this is a very late first post for 2010
But better late than never 
Lectures/ lessons have been quite interesting, especially economics. Even though I’d already selected my subject combination well before the new year started, I’m quite sure that its the best one available to me. It’s a good thing the teachers are nice too. The English Diagnostic Test 2 was too cool. Absolutely mind-blowing.
SC: History, Econs, Literature, Math H1, General Paper, CHINESE FTW
So I decided to do some background reading on friday and today on Cold War, as I had not touched History since the end of Secondary 2. The Red-spot books are really quite good, just that the library only allows borrowing of up to 3 hours per reference book, which totally sucks. Or was it 4? Can’t quite remember…
Yesterday I went to Funan to repair my mom’s watch (battery flat), and saw this really nice watch. Anyway, Dad bought it for my birthday present, which is coming up soon. Haha, come to think of it, this is my first watch that I chose myself. Not incredibly expensive, but nice. I must treasure it well! 
Lastly, my POP collection. So far I have collected SE (Luffy + Chopper), Neo (Sogeking), Neo DX (Hawk Eyes Mihawk) and Neo CB (Dereshi Robin). Spent quite a bit of cash on that. No actually quite alot of cash hehe… but it’s going to be worth it. Without a doubt. After checking and double checking, I have concluded that it is no longer a matter of “if”, rather a matter of “when”.
My POP Wishlist:
[Strong Edition] Zoro
[Strong Edition] Nami
[Strong Edition] Sanji
[Strong Edition] Brook
[Strong Edition] Franky
[Neo DX] Bartholomew Kuma
[Neo DX] Hancock (should be DX…)
Well the list above looks both excessive and obsessive. But it’s not called a wishlist for nothing, no? Anyway [Strong Edition] Robin should arrive by May, I’m so glad I pre-ordered it hahaha…
Anyway Cage details for tomorrow:
11am – 1pm, Court 4, $3/4 per pax
Please don’t pangseh. Thanks.
12.29.09
Unencouraging performance
It has been 2 months and 13 days since I first embarked on the journey of learning Jap. 16th October 2009 was when it all began. Hopefully one day I will look back at this blog and remember how much it had taken for me to finally accomplish this mission of mine. But for now, things have been disappointing, my learning curve has slowed considerably, and things must take a dramatic change if I wish to complete this dream within the 3 year deadline.
Sian.
12.23.09
Kaze Wo Sagashite
Today went out with Apple to watch movie. Went to watch “avatar” again, but this time in 2D. Anyway, hope to watch “bodyguards and assassins” as well before the New Year begins. However, due to commitments at work, I’m not sure if that’s a feasible enough possibility to entertain. Although on the other hand, working has given me a new angle towards life, and hopefully that will be a significant step towards maturity.
That aside, I bought my second POP today at “Latendo”, which was much more expensive than the first, much to the muted yet agonized groans of my ever-thinning wallet. Well, it can’t be helped. Strong World will definitely be more expensive than Neo DX Excellent and Neo DX Mild (CB). Anyway, I’m still waiting for Zoro, Nami and Robin to be released… maybe if I had gone earlier much of this current predicament would not even be occurring now. (This is in light of the fact that Zoro and Nami were still available the last time I checked at latendoshop.com)
Well, so today I spent about $200 on Christmas presents and my POP figurine. Feeling kinda sinful now lol… anyway I’ll be going to Malaysia tomorrow morning, so have to sleep soon. Video below is probably one of the nicer openings of One Piece (THEY’RE ALL NICE), perhaps behind Openings 5 and 6. ONE PIECE SIGOI!
It was so hard to find this video since youtube is so fucked up now… therefore the English translation is pretty screwed up… bloody hell…
12.20.09
Strong World
Well alot of things have happened to me in the past week
I’ve visited places where I’d never dreamed I would go
Met people I never thought I would meet in at least another decade or 2
It’s been absolutely life-changing
However we must revert to reality and think
Hey
I’m still a 16 year-old kid
I do have a life too
I do have my own dreams and ambitions
Therefore, do not cast snide glances
when I say that
Learning Japanese has still been my prime ambition as of late
That and collecting POPs
Although this line of work may be the job of a lifetime
I want to devote more time to studying Jap and watching One Piece
For I may not have much time to do so in JC
I’ve been learning Jap during the daily lunch hour
And it sucks
At this rate I’ll never be able to finish on schedule
Additionally, work is also very exhausting
Chik Shio!
This movie is already out in Japan cinemas… I’m really looking forward to watching it as it is by Eichiiro Oda the mad genius and this trailer looks pwnage. Also, I just bought a Robin Dereshi Chibi POP, still looking for Zoro and Adult Robin and maybe even (thinking and dreaming that my pockets know no bounds), Hawk Eyes Mihawk and Nami. But they’re all so expensive. Screw this shit.
ONE PIECE STRONG WORLD!
F**k I sound childish. Keith the Chibi. Nya Nya Nya.
12.10.09
A meaningful holiday?
Just got a job at some company in Battery Road, and apparently I’m supposed to act as an understudy in some 15th floor department. Therefore, my holidays will probably be all but over, as the working hours are pretty long and I’ll be there till 8th January. But that’s okay, I must look on the bright side. This job will provide me with a huge wealth of experience and knowledge of the law industry, albeit only a small portion. Yes, we must think positive.
Anyway I think I’m getting used to living in my new house, it’s actually kind of cosy and all. My study table just arrived today, so I’ll be able to continue learning Jap properly instead of having to lie on the bed and remember all those Hiragana. Hopefully that phase will be done by the end of this year and I can move on to the more challenging part, which is the meaning of words.
Suddenly decided to play FM10 yesterday, so I started with Leeds. Coca Cola league 1 club. Haha… but its not bad! At least its something new, instead of beginning with a super pro club and not doing much…
11.21.09
Looks back with a smile
Commencement dinner, it was there for us to experience. Words alone fail to suffice, such intense emotions are not describable in black and white alone. Describing the events of the dinner, that is what anyone in the mood would be posting about now. I do not want this post to be a mere repetition of what has been mentioned by others, that would be meaningless. However, I must add that I do not recall ever feeling this way about HCI before, and I’m glad that we parted the High School in such high spirits. I can’t imagine how Liki managed to conjure up that emotional speech of his, but if you sit down and think about it, everything he said in his closing speech was entirely in frank honesty. These 4 years have undoubtedly been difficult to say the least, but the fact that everyone has passed through to HCJC is heartwarming. That, I feel, is more than enough.
Sometimes in such situations, we are more able to look back on our history. And that I feel is actually of utmost importance. It is human nature to neglect the small issues in life when focusing on what is ahead of them, most of the times we fail to notice what is most obvious and what is around us. This commencement dinner has had a great impact on my life, as I am sure my readers from HCI will likewise feel. When we mix around with the people around us, share the laughter, the joy, embracing the moment with open arms. That’s something we should always cherish. It is not common to find ourselves in situations as such, but what we do with those situations, that is most vital. If we do not treat treasure what we have, then I don’t think we can say much of ourselves can we? We’ll just be hollow skeletons basking in darkness. Last night was the night of our lives. I hope to maintain it as such, and perhaps emulate more of these occasions in the years to come. Times like these are what make the world a better place to live in. Grasp them, and never let go.
Tonic for the soul, what would my life be without it? He wonders, he wonders…
11.19.09
SUPER tired
Yesterday went for cage with the 6J guys, played for 4 straight hours. That’s 10am-2pm non-stop, which was extremely tiring, even though I was only the goalkeeper. Got my Arsenal jersey super messed up as well, sian. But I was actually quite glad that I went, because this was probably my best performance as keeper in my lifetime so far. Super shiok… can make saves that I would never have thought were savable by my hands before. Although maybe that’s because the ground was soft so I dived without much hesitation of getting injured. Speaking of getting injured, now my entire body is damn cramped up, like some sort of rusty machine. Cannot bend down properly, sit down also damn painful… ah well, all part of the experience I guess…
Then after that went to Dhoby Ghaut for LAN at IRC. Played Left 4 Dead, and I found it to be quite fun luh, rather worth the money. Went to chalet at 6+, played PSP, mahjong, watched people do things that were absolutely immoral, played Ban Luk. Overall the chalet was more fun than I expected, which is good of course. The BBQ was also quite good. Although I wish I could have gone to watch the late night movie with the guys (2012 at 9pm), but they did not book the tickets for me anyway since I wasn’t there earlier in the day. If I’m not wrong, we played some sort of music game at night where you’re supposed to hum out a tune and let people guess the name of the song, which turned out to be quite enjoyable. Played “Don’t forget the lyrics” as well but that mostly ended in shambles. Anyway at night we were talking cock until damn late, so only slept for 1 hr+, therefore coupled with the soccer earlier I’m feeling damn lethargic now. Shall go sleep now, bye bye. Anyways thanks for organizing the chalet, it was a great class bonding experience.
PS: Tmrw commencement dinner! What should I wear? Hm…
The more I watch One Piece, the more I find Robin amazing. She is more than what meets the eye. Extremely interesting to analyze, for no sentence is said for fun. That is sheer grandeur, and true beauty.
(Btw this song is even nicer in full version)
