Post-JCT review

I suppose the extremely dull title would have given the purpose of this post away. Today was the last day of my June Common Test and I'm giving myself a break after all the crap I've been through. To say that my performance has been stellar would have been utter bullshit on a whole lot of levels.

1) I did not study as hard as I should be, but I guess my efforts here indeed noticeable.
2) Fucking lit practical criticism.
3) Spotted wrongly for SEAsian history, FML then.

In all, it has been a pretty crappy week. While I hope my results in my weaker subjects would improve (fuck Keynes and Shakespeare), I am expecting a few disappointments here and there. If that actually happens, then the last few weeks till my A'levels would pretty much suck. That's because I would see my morale plunge into the deep depths of JC depression, and Bedok Reservoir might prove to be the perfect place to end it all.

Depressing/Suicidal thoughts aside, at least now I have a 5 day break for some R&R. Time for my 1st LAN session in months, and to consolidate my work in preparation for the hellish school weeks that are bound to overwhelm me no matter that. While I am not the most enthusiastic person with regards to schoolwork, I am most enthusiastic about NOT screwing up my university prospects.



P.S. And on another note, this would be my last post on this dusty, rarely-visited corner of the internet. I suppose this place is becoming a bit too boring (and perhaps sentimental) for my tastes. Besides, no one comes here anyway. I might just create another one, if I feel like it...maybe

Holiday, with revision on the side.

I'm leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again (oh yes, the 5th).

And I brought 3 kg of maths and history notes along in a carry-on gym bag. Oh the joys of the A'levels.

The last day of suffering, the first day of agony.

Today's the day of two lasts. The last day of semester 1, and my last debate training (technically) in TJC. Not that I will have time to relax, JCTs are coming up. To think that in my secondary school days this day would be treated like the second coming (THE last day of school is another matter altogether), but then again, those were the days where I do not have to contend with my mid-year exams AFTER the holidays.

It's been one (-ish) year since I've joined TJC's debating society. It has provided me with a sense of belonging, after the crap I had to go through in my previous PDP, not mention the wonderful I've met and befriended.. Indeed, my adjudication skills are shitty and I debate like a faggot (as in a bundle of sticks), but I improved on them, and I suppose that counts. Compared to my NPCC days where my last training (excluding the farewell party) did unleash a torrent of memories, this conclusion was...mild for the lack of a better word. I did not participate actively (either I couldn't or wouldn't) and this 1 year was too short and too uneventful for sentimentality to take hold, compared to the 3.5 years I had under the National Police Cadet Corps. Not that I did not have my fair share of funny, happy and often quirky moments (I will try to remember them), but 6 minute speeches pale in comparison to shooting a revolver or jumping off a 10 storey high tower. In any case, I am still glad to have been part of TJDebates and I will miss it. It did provide me with something to look forward to in my miserable JC life.

Loads of things to take care of in June; my cousin's wedding overseas, homework, extra classes, revision and so on. The pressure is becoming more intense, slightly more than 100 days left till the A's, and not a single day of intense revision has been accomplished. Now's the time for me to get in gear, I can't screw up my papers now.,

When FTW means Fuck The World

If my life was a triple megabyte simulation, I suppose the programmer must be a sadistic douchebag. Just to keep my hopes up, he throws me into events like last Friday's "TJ Mardi Gras" (The French and Louisianans would not be happy). After which, he would throw a bucket of lava on the Prozac-lined facade that has built up around me. For the umpteenth time, the first two lines of the school anthem; "It matters not where we come from, to Temasek we now belong." Seem like lines that describe one's involuntary submission to TJC's administration.

At least my recent report slip does hold some good news. Apparently I am a capable student with good ideas (I hope my cynicism helped), but I am unable to organise them properly. Not too good, but not too bad either.

As I type this rant-like pile of intellectual garbage on my hipster shit iPhone, waiting for the bus to take me back to my imperfect fortress of domestication, I hope (in vain most probably) that things will turn around for the better.

Although the great programmer has yet to accomplish his quest of trolling me to the point of complete insanity.

A week of tests, a day or two of sorrow.

My first and last March Common Test in TJC ended 2 days ago. It wasn't that bad, although the MCTs I was accustomed to in Bedok View was A FKING BREEZE. I am certainly screwed for lit and I plan on skipping any econs lecture that has anything to do with the damned paper.

I suppose this would serve as a wake up call for me. Not that I did not want to study, but I was as motivated as that German Army Group when they surrendered in Stalingrad in 1942, not that my wonderful school life helped. And I am looking forward to my very first "U". In any case, I hope to learn and survive (and perhaps thrive). Time to hit the books and rape the answer schemes, I have exams to execute, tests to torture and closet muggers to cauterise...

Tomorrow, I shall dine in hell.

1st day of MCTs, the GP paper wasn't too bad, although the "Use your own words" questions are getting on my nerves (every single fking question has that fking phrase!!!). Expecting a double whammy tomorrow, econs is definitely screwed up, lacking in content and in skills, spotting is my best friend now. History's not too bad, but that fact that any decent essay I did needed 3+ hours of brainstorming just to plan out is not a very good sign.

It would not do any good for me to moan about not having studied eariler, at least this is the MCTs, I will have a bit more time to spare for the JCTs. I should have my work cut out for me by then. I hope so.

11 years, finally, its over.

Got my MT A'level results yesterday. A "D"! No more mother tongue for the rest of my life! :D

Considering how I almost failed my MT promos, I'm as happy as a guy with a $1000 escort (read "whore"). Imagine, struggling over the use of 10000 characters (although I should be able to remember only 500, tops) for most of my childhood. At least it's all over now.

Despite all the hell it has given me, I guess I have to thank the chinese language syllabus for many things, although making me appreciate the chinese language is not one of them.
Those wonderful teachers who had the patience to guide us uninterested anglophones through the numerous essays, comprehensions, tests and examinations that popped up like bouncing betties along this 11 year long journey to nowhere. The friends I've made in tuition classes and in school, when we felt that talking amongst ourselves (in Singlish) is more productive than deciphering any oriental hieroglyphics, by sight or sound. And not to forget the hilarious mistakes made, by accident or otherwise. Despite all these, I'm just glad I shall not have to study this not-so-despicable subject for the rest of my life.

With MT sorted out, I still have my PW results to take care of, and a few more pesky subjects to prepare for, damn...

It's been a while, too fucking bad.

Read the title, it has been a long time since I've updated this backwater of the internet. JC life and a lack of motivation (tertiary education can sap even the most tenacious of Carebears of their joy). I still have loads of work to do tonight, so I HAVE NO FKING IDEA WHY I AM BLOGGING RIGHT NOW!!!!!! So cya...soon?

The first 7 days, only the beginning.

Tomorrow's the second week of school, and it feels like a month already. It sure was hectic as hell, and it can only get worse. At least I've got most of my holiday work done and over with, and CNY's coming soon, so I can get some undeserved R&R...

Shit, my train of thought has been ruined. Thanks mom.

Welcome to fking 2012

So, this is the New Year everyone looks forward to every year. Hmm...nothing special, except that I actually stayed up late for the whole night in the city after the firework display with some of my BVSS buds. Not something I would do everyday, but it was fun. I ought to do it again though, like say...AFTER THE DAMED A'LEVELS!!!

Anyway, homework's not completed, books unread, shit, I'm screwed for the new school year.

Back from Europe, a week or so ago...

Finally, I am back, for some time anyways. London and Paris, two great capital cities of the world, simply smashing, magnifique. While it was not the best trip from a social perspective (I can't seem to be interested in mixing around in conversations that I will ruin anyway), it was extremely enlightening. The numerous museums, attractions, performances, brilliant.

I suppose it was a tad discomforting at first, having to adapt to the cold temperatures (but no snow, WTF), the Tube/Metro, the fking high prices, and the lack of connectivity to the rest of the World (no auto-roaming for me, shit). Eventually, I got the hang of things, sort of. (14 days without rice, and the fact that the British hostel's breakfast can't seem to stay in my stomach aren't very good news)

With the huge amount of time spent in museums and galleries, it was definitely a feast for my brain cells. While the Natural History Museum, the British Museum and the shitlaod of art museums (including the Lourve, which was the only one I gave a damn about) were great in their own right (especially the first 2, the art museums were generally boring or "WTF am I looking at" moments), I was generally looking forward to the Imperial War Museum and the Churchill War rooms (Chateau de Versailles and the medieval village of Provins were a treat as well). It was a military historian's wet dream! All the militaria, the history, the artifacts, the exhibits, the experiences of those who actually were there (I met a survivor of the London Blitz!), my goodness! I definitely ticked off many things from my bucket list from those visits.

Then there was the food and people. The people were generally helpful, and polite. Especially so in France when we are as Francophone as Helen Keller, in her mom's womb. And the guides were brillant, funny, and they do have character, acting as if they were part of the attractions themselves! Although there were dicks here and there, but I guess dicks are located everywhere around the damned globe. Then there was nutrition, very expensive, yet, very filling. I've never eaten so many baguettes, so much pasta and so much fast food in my life! Of course, those were the cheaper options for students like us, and a member of the middle class like me. They were delicious though, most of the time (snails anyone?), but the fact that a cuppa would cost as much as a meal in Burger freaking King still pisses me off. Still, it's Europe, land of Arty Farty crap, loads of it, and expensive goods (don't ask me about shopping, if shopping was a religion, I would be a heretic)

Still, there were not so good parts about the trip. While the public transport systems of both cities were very good (almost, their stations were not the most impressive), having to walk around is still a bitch (but it prevented me from becoming an American, looking at the enormous amount of food we had at every meal), and it gave me the benefit of observing the everyday life in a Western European metropolis. Crime also proved to be a nuisance, while it wasn't so bad in London, except for having to look out for pickpockets all the freaking time, Paris was shit. That place was filled with freaking gypsies (no offence to the Roma people) who beg and beg and look for opportunites to stuff their hands into my pockets, all I could say to them was non merci and "Get a job!" (Under my breath, obviously). Perhaps, Singapore is not so bad after all.

Despite their flaws, I had a wonderful time in both countries. It was a pain in the arse (literally, 12 hours in economy class sucks) that I had to go home after so long, but then again, it was time. I have a lot of friends and things to take care of.

Last night

Tomorrow I shall be setting off to Paris. Just as well, I am left with only £10. Looking back at how much one has spent is scary indeed. Will have to be careful with my Euros then, I have yet to find my bag (Best bet is in Galleries Lafayette). London (as well as Bath) has been wonderful, with a few nicks here and there, I hope Paris will be the same, although the cheese eating surrender monkeys might not be as jolly as the bulldogs.

London, with not much time left online.

London, 2314 hours. 2nd day running. Went to loads of attractions and places of interest. And loads of food as well. Shit, all my running had gone to waste. Treat £ as S$ is definitely not a good idea, but I can manage. I hope to be online soon. Internet's fucking expensive in the hostel, and I can't access FB, ARGH!

Going off to the Land of Hope and Glory

4 more hours till I set off to the airport, for 2 weeks (more or less) in London and Paris. I should be excited. Well, I suppose I am, but compared to my UG trip to Japan 2 years ago, it's something akin to a whimper. I guess the fact that I hardly know any of my peers going for this trip played a huge part in this situation. Moreover I will (most probably) be the only lone ranger not having his parents waving him off. Damned UK civil servant strike, now I am the one seeing them off, not the other way round. At least my cousin is kind enough to give me a lift, and I will have a few wonderful secondary school comrades seeing me off.

Perhaps I should stop being such a pessimistic fucker. The fact that I am able to go to Europe in the first place is an indicator of my improving, although erratic luck. Maybe Hopefully, I will be able to make some new friends on this trip. 14 days can't go by with me being a lonely bugger. Besides, I will had loads of shitty work on my hands once this trip is over, sigh.

My bags are all packed, cameras (yes, I am bringing more than 1) charged, and I am now able to speak "Sorry sir/mdm, I can't speak French, can you speak English?" I guess I am more or less ready to go. To anyone who even bothers to read this infrequently updated blog/rant, cya in a few weeks.

Monotony...bummer

Middle fingers plucking out clicks from the keyboard. Kate Bush reverberating in my earplugs. Another typical monotonous night. So much to do, but so little allocated to me. Of course, I do have a lot of homework to do, but I shall procrastinate, I rather enjoy a bit of "me" time first. Time to catch up with friends and acquaintances. Time to work out. Time to explore my World. Time to wallow in jealousy under the shadow of the success of others, only to take a vow to destroy that shadow or surpass it. Time for what is basically R&R. A week or so till my trip to London/Paris, I better make those few days count.

EoY reflections

It's the end of the school year, although this term is extremely subjective, considering the fact that my A Level OP is this Friday, and I still have lectures the week after. Not to mention the avalanche of holiday homework that I fear will come down upon me. At the very least, I can rejoice in the fact that my workload now has been drastically reduced...sort of, as well as the fact that I have done reasonably well for my promos (the fact that I mugged for 2 weeks either shows my prowess or stupidity, either way, I'm cool).

For the past few days I have been slacking like a corrupt Malaysian policeman on the Second Link causeway. Watching Youtube videos over and over again, reading, playing my Xbox 360 with games that have begun to lose their appeal. I am seriously bored. Maybe I should start on my homework soon. I recently had a dinner with my cousins, and I've started a routine of jogging around the neighbourhood, so at least I am not a complete couch potato, thank goodness for that.

To be honest, my holidays aren't exaclty as bad as my post O Level vacation. I have my debate competition to plan for (if enough schools actually turn up) and I will be going overseas, twice. Plus I will need to reunite with my squadmates, classmates and other wonderful Secondary school comrades, even if the reunion lasts only for a mere 5 hours. I better get my ass in gear then. At the end of this week would be the 1st anniversary of my last O level paper, perhaps I might have something good to blab about.

Reflections

It has been more than a week since the end of my promotional exams. I am not going to say much about it. The results are less than satisfactory, might have to forfeit my London trip, as well as the 700 dosh penalty. Tuesday will tell me whether my J1 life ends with a bang or a bang from a gunshot. Moderation, I do hope you can do something about my predicament. While I have wasted my September holidays, it proved to be something of a wake up call, I guess I should be thankful for it. My Econs might be shit, but at least it was not the most miserable...hopefully.

Debate brought about much needed relief from the damned academics, until I was drafted into the proposition for a debate against internet anonymity. Still, it was quite fun, especially when my peers now know how deranged my mentality is. Bonded with them, well, Jordin at least when we had dinner at Subway. And our conversations further showed them how demented I was. I look forward to shocking my peers once again.

Then, I had the opportunity to meet up with a couple of ex-schoolmates yet again. Bros from Bedok View NPCC. The same old rhetoric: old times, how shitty our present situation is now, girlfriends, cigarettes (for them anyway) and all sorts of nostalgic crap we could think of. It might seem like a worthless exploit to try and relive the old times, but, I guess we all have our moments of glory.

More nostalgia came when I went to see my Sec 4 tutors. First was the science tutor, Ms Pratthi (spelling?). Wonderful teacher, and she was teaching a bunch of Sec 4 students when I went into the tuition centre. To think I was in their shoes only a year ago. Time does fly, and I guess it is human nature not to cherish their most memorable moments until they are long gone. I do miss the company of Jeremy, Bo Jun and those 2 girls, all the lewd jokes and crap. Those were simple, yet precious moments, I regret not treasuring them, but then again, I am just looking back with the benefit of hindsight..

Went to see my MT tutor afterwards. Our meeting was brief, very brief. I suppose she was tired. She seemed to be happy to meet me, but she seemed to be in a hurry to finish our conversation. A bit weird, since I had been her student for almost 7 years. I could still vaguely remember my last class with her, when we reminisced about old times and all the (missing) acquaintances and (disappeared) friends I've made there. While I am not the most enthusiastic about the language of the "Middle Kingdom", I did reasonably well for my standards. I have yet to thank her for that.

JC life, despite being only a year old for me, has been a life changing experience. An entity that practically changed, if not destroyed my previous routines, changed my perspectives, reduced my optimism and stifled my emotions. For the better or worse, I do not know, even after 4 hectic school terms. All I can say is, things will never be the same. Life is like a town ravaged by a hurricane, some things might disappear, others might stay, but things will never be the same again.

Random ramblings

I've finally managed to do two hours of proper study, I guess that gives you an idea on how productive my holidays were. After 2 hours of Southeast Asian history at a McDonalds near home, I've decided to ditch one hour of literature so that I could hang out with a couple of old comrades who interrupted my lonely existence. Ah, the joys of "lepaking" with a few friends, bullshitting about how screwed up our lives are, talking about future ambitions and reflecting on the past with the benefit of hindsight. Moments like these, no matter how scarce, are always more enjoyable than surfing the net or even LAN gaming (with I enjoy with a passion mind you), even if all we do is to talk in some secluded corner of Bedok Central, made cosy by the cool, humid equatorial night. I hope we would be able to do something like this again, I really do.

SLCamp 2011, something's up, and it's good.

It's been 4 days since SLCamp 2011. It was simply amazing. The activities, the people, the bonds and the spirit that we all had. If this is what being a TJCian means, I am definitely in the right school.

It would be a total bore, and not worth my time (or rather, yours) to recollect every single moment (or most of it) in the camp. That's the job of my two cameras, my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 and my disposable Fujifilm. However, those 3 days and 2 nights in kota Tinggi's rainforest resort as well as a few hours in TJC and several parts of Singapore during day 1's nomadic race, were freaking awesome. While I do not expect my group to be as bonded as my pre-U seminar team, I am sure that change is coming. While the games, the jungle trek, the raft building fracas and the campfire were activities that every single Leadership camp would have, I have a hunch that change is coming to TJC, and this year's batch of SLCampers (with me as one of them) would lead the charge.

First though, I must have my say about the camp itself. The Sportsexcel ppl who made the camp happen...they have their work cut out for them. It was a rather unique experience. From the accomodations which consisted of tents made out of plastic covers over small concrete platforms, to the showers which did not work (forcing us to use the low taps instead, squatting down naked is never fun), to the small rickety canteen which became a melting pot of facilitators, participants and everyone else for those short few days.

While the activities were not as tough as some of the other camps which I've attended, there were times and trials where my limits were probed. Especially in a segment in which my team had to build a raft out of vats and poles and rope. Bloody hell, I regreted it when I overestimated the abilities of myself and my group. Thank goodness we managed to get our vessel into the water, I've never swam so hard (or so willingly) in my life. Moments of blood, sweat and tears aside, all work and no play makes Jack a dull emo kid. There was much fun to be had in the camp. Be it the numerous times my group and I played the "nah nah" game on the last day, to the campfire in which everyone was as high as a bunch of junkies on 50% pure Colombian cocaine, goodness gracious me, those were fun times. The photographs I've taken of (in no particular order) Jonathan, Leon, Jia Khee, Peggy, Yu Hang, Christian, Gaya the Great and Myself will be preserved for prosterity.

 
Even as I ramble about the details of the camp. Something more important than friendships, fun and memories was to be gained from the camp. I cannot really describe it, any one word would be too vague to decribe it. Whatever it is, it just involves the revival of a long lost TJ spirit. I am not too sure on how to go about it in words...screw it. I will talk about that when I am able to.

Mundane routines of hard work and meagre salvation

Another day as a JC student, another day of mugging, human Xeroxes, PW woes and the like. The fact that I have 2 tests ahead of me isn't helping much, damned history, to think I am planning to study it at university level. I guess my fingerprints will soon be wiped off the face of the Earth through friction.

Tried spicing up things for once, by showing the class the 1984 movie, Nineteen-Eighty Four (nice timing eh?) in GP today. Not that it helped much. I guess such films should only be watched if one has had the time to read the book or (at the very least) knows the gist of things. The movie isn't Due Date, but certain scenes aren't going to help it in the board of censors arsewipes, not a very good sign there. Mrs Lau may call it a valiant attempt to "enlighten" or "introduce" the class about the ideas surrounding the book (bless her, and this is from a freethinker), but the next time I am having playing a movie in class, it will be either Hot Fuzz or Rambo, either will suffice. (Hopefully the 20 girls in my class of 25 might have the hots for Sylvester Stallone, or Simon pegg) I just hope my "valiant" attempt does not label me as a person of ill repute, even though it is not very likely.

On other matters, I've just created my own Tumblr page (that is SO individualistic). It's as cliche as heck but it might be a good way of expressing my daily emotions......nah. I think I will just spam "nigga stole my bike" all over the damned thing. If anyone has an imbecilic wish for death via boredom, here's the link. And yes, I do know what "Sieg heil" and "Shalom" means, and yes, I am being a douche.