You know what happens recently? I do, at least I think I do. Many things are going on, and there are too many for me to process. It's not just about me, but what becomes of my friends affect me too, somehow. First, and the most bothering one, terminations of relationships. Somehow boyfriends and girlfriends just decide that the line is fragile and should just break. I do not know whether those are puppy loves or serious relationships, but I do not wish to pry. If I were having a relationship problem, I wouldn't want my friends to pry. If I want to talk about it, I'll talk about it.
To those who are having this problem: bear in mind - while the relationship might have just ended, it does not mean it's permanent. The damage is probably reversible, although the impact on one's emotion is most likely permanent. Relationships, although I haven't gone through any, are full of obstacles. They serve as tests to determine whether the both of you are valiant enough to weather the ferocious storm that will strike spontaneously with no mercy. You know what happens if you go weak, your legs go wobbly and soul skedaddles when you're caught in the midst of troubles? Simple - everything comes crashing down, and it marks the end of whatever you've meticulously planned to be perfect.
Just be tough. Because what happens now are only the beginning.
Second things that have been happening: studying. I've got many friends studying A-Level, and they have yet to sit for their exam. Some have just finished few days ago, some have to wait till next year while suffering with a pile of books in front of them. Somehow, I realise some of my friends are emotionally vulnerable to injuries. Maybe they have too high an expectation, or maybe they really do have their hands busy with loads of seemingly endless homework, or maybe they have been pressurised by their parents to obtain flying colousr. God knows what, but what I do know is that many of them are not doing very well and are not holding up.
Not all of them, mind you. Students who study A-Level generally cope well with pressure. But some are exceptions and I, to protect their privacy, would not divulge any names. For those who are feeling loads at the back: try to calm down, relax, and go have fun. Homework isn't everything. Try to chill and maybe hike a mountain, spill out everything you've concealed deep down in your heart, and you'll probably find that whatever is giving you the unnecessary weight would have miraculously vanished.
Try it. I'm not sure how effective it is, but hey, it's better than nothing. Remember, humans have a maximum capacity where we can store only up to a certain limit of unwanted waste, any additional one would have pushed the envelope and resulted in usually irreversible damage.
Third of them: crave for attention. Sorry guys, some of you are downright annoying. I understand that facebook is the place where you can pour out your problems, but it doesn't mean you should abuse it. Some posts up to 20 posts within a mere 15 minutes on issues so infinitesimal I wouldn't be surprised if nobody bothers to leave a response. Then, when nobody gives a damn about them, they come out with new posts, trying to sound sarcastic to people who apparently turn a deaf ear towards whom he finds seemingly needy people.
Then, we have people who indirectly crave for attention. They love to complain, and complain, and complain. They could grouse about virtually every issues. And the most exasperating one is that he never stops complaining, even if in that particular situation he is the person who is to blame, and he sometimes is foolishly bold enough to curse at other people who he identifies as the culprit behind whatever hot soups he falls into.
To these people, if one day, in the future, you've been stigmatised and socially isolated, don't blame other people who do not open their doors for you, blame yourself for always pointing your fingers at other people, and for refusing to open your doors for other people to fit in.
I think there are enough problems here. If you think you are experiencing one of the problems I have outlined above, consider what I've said. It might be useful, it might not. But how do you know if you don't give it a try?
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Interest
Someone asked me what is my interest. Interesting question. It's not because I do not know what my interest is, but nobody has ever bothered to ask what do I find engaging. Mostly because most people share a similar interest(s). Technology is usually the main interest. Second would be computer games, then idols/celebrities and...umm....many more I guess.
They say human can be compartmentalised into a few groups. I can't exactly remember all of them and I'm lazy to search for them. I remember a few: realist, socialist, artistic, and I guess a few more. People who get along with me for long easily identify me as a realist. Yup, I'm a realist.
Of all my friends that I have, only less than 10 are realist. I can't exactly tell which group my friends belong to, I wouldn't attempt to do it anyway. Realist is different because we don't believe in hypothetical situations. We tend to be introverted. We love to think more than being physically active. Quite many more.
I don't exactly call myself a true realist because not all of my personalities fit its definition. Certain are true: I don't believe in fantasies and I seldom fantasise. I'm slightly introverted but that's because of my strict upbringing and I don't enjoy spending money on stuffs I do not find necessary. I love to think but am not extremely physically active, for reasons I had stated before and because I had no interest in quite many sports out there. Socialising is something I'm not very good at because I share virtually no similar interest to my peers, but besides those subjects I couldn't drone on I could talk about any things that I can connect to.
So what is my interest? I don't want to state it here. Why don't you go do some detective work? Find out what a realist is like and try to deduce what I have interest in. Do bear in mind, I'm not 100% realist. A 100% realist would be a total nerd and they really suck in socialising. You might be able to get some correct.
If you really are curious, go try.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Newspapers
Reading newspapers today suddenly makes me remember the title of MUET speaking: newspapers play many roles in our lives. Which do you think is the biggest role?
Undeniably, newspapers is indeed part of our lives, and the role it plays is huge and cannot be dismissed. The most sold newspapers in Malaysia would probably be Utusan Melayu (the newspaper I shall endeavour not to curse today), followed by The Star, another newspapers I will try my best no to lambaste. I don't know which Chinese newspapers is the most popular, but I've been a fan of Kwong Wah because my mother supported me and because I grow up reading it, reading other newspapers is simply alien to me.
The first role it gave was reporting current events. Historically, newspapers were not distributed to report current events. But that, of course, depends on how you define 'newspapers'. The first widely circulated news sheets, according to Wikipedia, was meant to convey political messages and not report news. This, however, stirred some debate over whether that news sheets are considered 'newspapers' since its definition doesn't appear to fit well.
Let's focus on what happens in this era. Newspapers are circulated principally to report current issues. Just look at the front page, what do you read? If the biggest printing on the newspapers you're holding is about celebrities gossips or advertisements, it's very likely you've picked a magazine or an advert. But I'm pretty sure most people are not too dumb to be unable to differentiate between a newspapers and a magazine.
Whatever happens are reported in the newspapers. The difference is how much attention they get. Sometimes, newspapers can be discombobulating. A seemingly infinitesimal case or a tragic death of a not-known stranger could be printed on the front page. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't mean that their deaths or any burglaries do not deserve to be mourned, but I'm quite sure there are major concerns that involve more parties and these should get more attentions. Let's say...unexplained food poisoning among school children? Shouldn't these cases get more attention than a death of a total stranger since the source of the poison is most likely unidentified and anyone could still be a victim?
Okay. I got carried away. Let's get back to the role: reporting current events. Newspapers report happenings that are going on all around the world, including the universe and places unexplored, obviously, with issues on the galaxies and planets being constantly reported. Of course, the newspapers would focus on events happening within the country of its publication. Why wouldn't you? You can't blame them anyway, they can't station a journalist/reporter in the corners of the Earth and expect them to flee to places where explosions go off randomly or the dirty secrets are hidden. Issues like new plans or government transformation are usually the priority and printed in the front page, with issues considered mild or news considered worthless are printed together with more eye-catching advertisements.
But thanks to the invention of the newspapers, we move on as civilisation progresses. Newspapers remind us on the impact of some horrible mistakes to the victims and it is a message for the readers not to repeat the history. The war between US and Iraq have caused unforeseen and unimaginable psychological, infrastructure and geographical damages. When global recession, or economic tsunami, attacks, newspapers take on the mantle to deliver the latest updates - which country is affected the worst or which has faced insolvency. Magazines couldn't publish issues on these because magazines are generally much more expensive and they are not published daily. Hence, newspapers is still the best means to get updated information.
So what's the second role it's said to play? Imparting knowledge. Ya, it's true. A newspaper is not solely distributed mainly to announce any latest changes. There are articles they are extremely beneficial, if a little misleading, to the readers. Latest discoveries on certain issues like health and environment could be reported immediately. For instance, if cigarette is scientifically proved to be damaging to the body, then readers should thread carefully the next time they attempt to take a smoke. However, because the journalists/reporters who report the issues are generally laymen, interpretation of certain knowledge might be inevitably twisted due to insufficient knowledge and ergo the articles he writes becomes disturbingly misleading. Scientists agree that newspapers is not a reliable source of medical reference, but besides newspapers, what else can a person turn to?
Articles written by educationists, on the other hand, would decidedly benefit the students. It doesn't matter whether the knowledge you impart suit the readers or not, but as long as it is factually correct, there should be no harm publishing it.
The third role it plays would be improving language proficiency. Does it? Ya, it does. Newspapers is how I improved my language, but I won't say it's the most important role it plays anyway. Newspapers printed in any languages would only use formal language. You can't find a Manglish newspaper out there. (If you find one, tell me!) If it's a Malay paper, the language used must be pristine and grammatically correct. The problem in Malaysia is that newspapers often use languages that somehow got entangled with other languages, causing interference of languages. Malay being the worst - there are many borrowed words. Chinese isn't any better either because there are too many local slang.
However, if it's written nicely and grammatically, newspaper is an awesome source for learning languages. Firstly, it's cheap. Secondly, there are abundant of articles for you to peruse. Thirdly, the tone of the writing is usually soft and conversational to engage the readers by making them feeling absorbed. So, you don't usually get bored reading the articles. If you loathe it, skip it. Simple. Journalists would sometimes use bombastic words and highfalutin languages to reflect their language proficiency, so on the bright side, you would have a perfect opportunity to learn the language; on the dark side, you'll probably not understand the gist of the articles.
If you wanna use newspapers as a source to improve your language proficiency, make sure to bring along a dictionary. Sometimes, newspapers can be very annoying.
The fourth role it plays is advertising. Factually, it isn't; but newspapers is mostly covered by advertisements. Flip through the newspapers, and you'll find so many advertisements you thought you are buying a book of advertisements with news being the decorations. The problem is, how many people bother about these advertisements? Without huge printing and wonderful illustrations, you'll never catch the attention of the readers. But that's the big deal - newspapers allow them to advertise the way they want, at a price, and they satisfy them at the expense of the readers. The preponderance of advertisements is very annoying to me.
There are still many roles a newspaper plays. Gossip, for instance. They love to pry into the lives of each celebrities and dig out all dirty secrets they try to hide. Even the death of a celebrated singer attracted more paparazzi than the visit of Barack Obama to China. Horoscope are published for readers who believe them. Opinions columns, created for people to opine on issues that really doesn't concern them, and if it does concern them they make it personal and talk rubbish. Obituaries for the family to mourn the deaths. Movie reviews for readers to understand how a person receives a movie. Cartoons and caricatures either for entertainments and libel.
Newspapers play a lot of roles. I wouldn't underestimate the roles they play, but I definitely do not like all of them.
Undeniably, newspapers is indeed part of our lives, and the role it plays is huge and cannot be dismissed. The most sold newspapers in Malaysia would probably be Utusan Melayu (the newspaper I shall endeavour not to curse today), followed by The Star, another newspapers I will try my best no to lambaste. I don't know which Chinese newspapers is the most popular, but I've been a fan of Kwong Wah because my mother supported me and because I grow up reading it, reading other newspapers is simply alien to me.
The first role it gave was reporting current events. Historically, newspapers were not distributed to report current events. But that, of course, depends on how you define 'newspapers'. The first widely circulated news sheets, according to Wikipedia, was meant to convey political messages and not report news. This, however, stirred some debate over whether that news sheets are considered 'newspapers' since its definition doesn't appear to fit well.
Let's focus on what happens in this era. Newspapers are circulated principally to report current issues. Just look at the front page, what do you read? If the biggest printing on the newspapers you're holding is about celebrities gossips or advertisements, it's very likely you've picked a magazine or an advert. But I'm pretty sure most people are not too dumb to be unable to differentiate between a newspapers and a magazine.
Whatever happens are reported in the newspapers. The difference is how much attention they get. Sometimes, newspapers can be discombobulating. A seemingly infinitesimal case or a tragic death of a not-known stranger could be printed on the front page. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't mean that their deaths or any burglaries do not deserve to be mourned, but I'm quite sure there are major concerns that involve more parties and these should get more attentions. Let's say...unexplained food poisoning among school children? Shouldn't these cases get more attention than a death of a total stranger since the source of the poison is most likely unidentified and anyone could still be a victim?
Okay. I got carried away. Let's get back to the role: reporting current events. Newspapers report happenings that are going on all around the world, including the universe and places unexplored, obviously, with issues on the galaxies and planets being constantly reported. Of course, the newspapers would focus on events happening within the country of its publication. Why wouldn't you? You can't blame them anyway, they can't station a journalist/reporter in the corners of the Earth and expect them to flee to places where explosions go off randomly or the dirty secrets are hidden. Issues like new plans or government transformation are usually the priority and printed in the front page, with issues considered mild or news considered worthless are printed together with more eye-catching advertisements.
But thanks to the invention of the newspapers, we move on as civilisation progresses. Newspapers remind us on the impact of some horrible mistakes to the victims and it is a message for the readers not to repeat the history. The war between US and Iraq have caused unforeseen and unimaginable psychological, infrastructure and geographical damages. When global recession, or economic tsunami, attacks, newspapers take on the mantle to deliver the latest updates - which country is affected the worst or which has faced insolvency. Magazines couldn't publish issues on these because magazines are generally much more expensive and they are not published daily. Hence, newspapers is still the best means to get updated information.
So what's the second role it's said to play? Imparting knowledge. Ya, it's true. A newspaper is not solely distributed mainly to announce any latest changes. There are articles they are extremely beneficial, if a little misleading, to the readers. Latest discoveries on certain issues like health and environment could be reported immediately. For instance, if cigarette is scientifically proved to be damaging to the body, then readers should thread carefully the next time they attempt to take a smoke. However, because the journalists/reporters who report the issues are generally laymen, interpretation of certain knowledge might be inevitably twisted due to insufficient knowledge and ergo the articles he writes becomes disturbingly misleading. Scientists agree that newspapers is not a reliable source of medical reference, but besides newspapers, what else can a person turn to?
Articles written by educationists, on the other hand, would decidedly benefit the students. It doesn't matter whether the knowledge you impart suit the readers or not, but as long as it is factually correct, there should be no harm publishing it.
The third role it plays would be improving language proficiency. Does it? Ya, it does. Newspapers is how I improved my language, but I won't say it's the most important role it plays anyway. Newspapers printed in any languages would only use formal language. You can't find a Manglish newspaper out there. (If you find one, tell me!) If it's a Malay paper, the language used must be pristine and grammatically correct. The problem in Malaysia is that newspapers often use languages that somehow got entangled with other languages, causing interference of languages. Malay being the worst - there are many borrowed words. Chinese isn't any better either because there are too many local slang.
However, if it's written nicely and grammatically, newspaper is an awesome source for learning languages. Firstly, it's cheap. Secondly, there are abundant of articles for you to peruse. Thirdly, the tone of the writing is usually soft and conversational to engage the readers by making them feeling absorbed. So, you don't usually get bored reading the articles. If you loathe it, skip it. Simple. Journalists would sometimes use bombastic words and highfalutin languages to reflect their language proficiency, so on the bright side, you would have a perfect opportunity to learn the language; on the dark side, you'll probably not understand the gist of the articles.
If you wanna use newspapers as a source to improve your language proficiency, make sure to bring along a dictionary. Sometimes, newspapers can be very annoying.
The fourth role it plays is advertising. Factually, it isn't; but newspapers is mostly covered by advertisements. Flip through the newspapers, and you'll find so many advertisements you thought you are buying a book of advertisements with news being the decorations. The problem is, how many people bother about these advertisements? Without huge printing and wonderful illustrations, you'll never catch the attention of the readers. But that's the big deal - newspapers allow them to advertise the way they want, at a price, and they satisfy them at the expense of the readers. The preponderance of advertisements is very annoying to me.
There are still many roles a newspaper plays. Gossip, for instance. They love to pry into the lives of each celebrities and dig out all dirty secrets they try to hide. Even the death of a celebrated singer attracted more paparazzi than the visit of Barack Obama to China. Horoscope are published for readers who believe them. Opinions columns, created for people to opine on issues that really doesn't concern them, and if it does concern them they make it personal and talk rubbish. Obituaries for the family to mourn the deaths. Movie reviews for readers to understand how a person receives a movie. Cartoons and caricatures either for entertainments and libel.
Newspapers play a lot of roles. I wouldn't underestimate the roles they play, but I definitely do not like all of them.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Writing
Ever feel bored? Sometimes, entertainment and fun are snatched away, and you're left with only a blank sheet of life so dull you're wondering what you should do with it. That's life. Life's full with ups and down. If there's lack of one then it's very likely your life has been a total chaos and a complete boredom. The ups are satisfying, entertaining, sweet, lovable while the downs are downright annoying and hated. Yet you can't deny - they are important, for they colour your life.
But here's the deal - while you experience ups and downs, they should balance and cancel each other out, no matter in what frequency they transpire. You can have 100 downs in a day, but there'll be 100 compensations for that. Huge or small, let the faith decide, but it's probable that your downs have been compensated without your knowing.
Why am I writing this? I don't know. Well, I'm not filled with unexplained surge of emotions. Ya, I was kinda bothered last night, but today I'm fine. I'll try to be fine anyway. The problem is, I'm bored. Yup - unlike most people of my age, I hate long holidays. One week or two, that's amazing. More than that, holiday is annoying.
I don't socialise the way most people do. What interests I have is completely different from others. I have never been up to date. Technology and automobile are two things I am severely lagged behind of. Don't ask me what iPhone is, because I don't know, I don't wanna know and I don't care. I don't see cars. I can't even identify the cars that are choking the traffic. Owing to that, I share almost no similar topics with my peers. They might enjoy themselves reviewing the latest technologies or games, but I'll just sit at the side listening to what they say and pretending I understand.
But no worries, that's not what bothering me. I have no desire to be up to dated on those stuffs because I don't find them a need in our daily lives. I don't take photos on a daily basis, and I don't get banged by car and asked to identify them often. So, no, I will take no attempt to change that, unless the situation warrants it. That's me, and perhaps this is where I'm different.
I indulge in activities that are practically boring but, when the outcome is obtained, it's satisfying. What stuffs, if you wonder? Anything productive. I can't exactly pinpoint those works. Working is one, ya, albeit it is downright boring and the process and routine are a huge murder, but the notion of getting your salary, and the moment you finally get it, is rewarding and sweet. There's where I find satisfactions - accomplishments, but perhaps in a different view from the others. Most people derive satisfactions from winning a competition, but I don't. Not majorly anyway.
Everybody's different. I'm no exception. Everyone of us contains a uniqueness not shared by the others. I've got a friend whose love for Mathematics is undying, and you just couldn't understand how he manages to play with that jargon for such a long time and not falling to it. I've got a friend whose flame of love of sports never die off and could keep burning even if he's totally wiped out. I've got a friend who has a patience of a saint and will never go berserk no matter how you annoy him. There are more, almost countless.
But if you were to ask me how am I different, I would be left perplexed. It is very ironic how a person could easily analyse other people's personality and compartmentalise them into different sections, but yet fail to do the same for himself. Perhaps we often generalise a person's behaviour and make it seem as we understand how each of our friends act, but appearance deceive and his true behaviour might be concealed and remain a confounding secret that is never meant to be unravelled.
God is fair. He makes our society special by making sure that's not too many overlapping interests among the people He created. And we should thank Him, for He has painted our life with such mesmerising colours. Like everything else, balancing is the key. Ups and downs need to be balanced, so are good and evil, and therefore you'll never find a society where there's an overwhelming greatness or only ups. If the society consists of only goods, then the society itself is imperfect, as perfectness itself is a flaw.
Everybody is different, and I believe we should be able to identify what and where. Have you? If you haven't, try to. Understanding yourself is part of growing up, although it would be very challenging as you might find yourself constantly changing.
Because that's life. Life always changes.
But here's the deal - while you experience ups and downs, they should balance and cancel each other out, no matter in what frequency they transpire. You can have 100 downs in a day, but there'll be 100 compensations for that. Huge or small, let the faith decide, but it's probable that your downs have been compensated without your knowing.
Why am I writing this? I don't know. Well, I'm not filled with unexplained surge of emotions. Ya, I was kinda bothered last night, but today I'm fine. I'll try to be fine anyway. The problem is, I'm bored. Yup - unlike most people of my age, I hate long holidays. One week or two, that's amazing. More than that, holiday is annoying.
I don't socialise the way most people do. What interests I have is completely different from others. I have never been up to date. Technology and automobile are two things I am severely lagged behind of. Don't ask me what iPhone is, because I don't know, I don't wanna know and I don't care. I don't see cars. I can't even identify the cars that are choking the traffic. Owing to that, I share almost no similar topics with my peers. They might enjoy themselves reviewing the latest technologies or games, but I'll just sit at the side listening to what they say and pretending I understand.
But no worries, that's not what bothering me. I have no desire to be up to dated on those stuffs because I don't find them a need in our daily lives. I don't take photos on a daily basis, and I don't get banged by car and asked to identify them often. So, no, I will take no attempt to change that, unless the situation warrants it. That's me, and perhaps this is where I'm different.
I indulge in activities that are practically boring but, when the outcome is obtained, it's satisfying. What stuffs, if you wonder? Anything productive. I can't exactly pinpoint those works. Working is one, ya, albeit it is downright boring and the process and routine are a huge murder, but the notion of getting your salary, and the moment you finally get it, is rewarding and sweet. There's where I find satisfactions - accomplishments, but perhaps in a different view from the others. Most people derive satisfactions from winning a competition, but I don't. Not majorly anyway.
Everybody's different. I'm no exception. Everyone of us contains a uniqueness not shared by the others. I've got a friend whose love for Mathematics is undying, and you just couldn't understand how he manages to play with that jargon for such a long time and not falling to it. I've got a friend whose flame of love of sports never die off and could keep burning even if he's totally wiped out. I've got a friend who has a patience of a saint and will never go berserk no matter how you annoy him. There are more, almost countless.
But if you were to ask me how am I different, I would be left perplexed. It is very ironic how a person could easily analyse other people's personality and compartmentalise them into different sections, but yet fail to do the same for himself. Perhaps we often generalise a person's behaviour and make it seem as we understand how each of our friends act, but appearance deceive and his true behaviour might be concealed and remain a confounding secret that is never meant to be unravelled.
God is fair. He makes our society special by making sure that's not too many overlapping interests among the people He created. And we should thank Him, for He has painted our life with such mesmerising colours. Like everything else, balancing is the key. Ups and downs need to be balanced, so are good and evil, and therefore you'll never find a society where there's an overwhelming greatness or only ups. If the society consists of only goods, then the society itself is imperfect, as perfectness itself is a flaw.
Everybody is different, and I believe we should be able to identify what and where. Have you? If you haven't, try to. Understanding yourself is part of growing up, although it would be very challenging as you might find yourself constantly changing.
Because that's life. Life always changes.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Hope; Aim
Sometimes, humans are complicated. They might be able to be explained, but the problem is how? Humans have tried with futility to answer a multitude of questions that surround us. A satisfying answer has never been proposed. The reason is simple: humans are complicated. What happens to a person might not be the same to the another, and hence this causes great difficulties in unravelling mysteries. Perhaps, certain things are meant to be rhetoric.
Babies babble, and as he grows up, he begins to talk coherently and is able to form complete sentences. When he finally steps into the world of adolescence, he begins to talk mumbo-jumbo, and nonsense because he's deluded, or simply perplexed by changes surrounding him. When he moves on, usually after making regrettable mistakes, he begins to talk sense, and he appears to be mature. When he threads to old age, his speech begins to blur, and sooner or later he won't be able to talk smoothly.
Hormones. Everybody is filled with hormones. We have more than a thousand hormones in us, and each hormones in us measured less than a green pea, possibly less, and yet it exerts big enough an influence to completely alter your lives. Certain hormones are meant to pump adrenaline, to prepare you for fight or flight situation; certain hormones prepare you for maturity, making you grow up, seeing the world from a different perspective and begins to think autonomously. Certain hormones are simply annoying. They mess with your body, they occasionally blind you, they causes you to make stupid decisions. Certain hormones are deleterious. They seep into every tissue in your bodies and release a venom that partially paralyse your immune system. They weaken it, rendering your body susceptible to infections, damages, or mutations.
I hate it when my body messes with me. It's true sometimes we simply need to be optimistic - I have been. But you've got to admit, sometimes, it just bothers you. Ya, it's simple to say "Come on! Forget it! So what if you can't do it? You have got something better in you!" No! That sentences only soothe you and momentarily convince you that it is okay. Everybody who has gone through it would realise that it's nothing but a white lie.
I have asthma. I was eight years old when I was diagnosed with it. I was young, naive, ignorant to my health, and ergo I did not know what it is. The doctor said it was mild, because I never used a spray and it never attacks. When I was in standard 4, I tried to fit in in a badminton team. That was when I realised I gasp for air pretty easily. My endurance is kinda strong - I admit, thanks to my father. He's a tough guy so I follow his steps - but I realised that my body sometimes can't hold on to it. After few months of training, I was eliminated from the team. I was melancholy for a while, but after that I moved on. I can't remember how, I just moved on.
I remembered there was once I literally choked in the class. Nobody knew, and I conjectured nobody even realised. I was crying I guess, then suddenly I couldn't breathe. I thought I was dying, but after a few seconds of struggling, I managed to breathe. You have no idea how precious I found the oxygen was. A few seconds of losing oxygen literally made you understand how one insignificant yet omnipresent thing is important to you.
Moving on to secondary school. I never got bothered much by my asthma before because I was introverted. Outdoor activities were never what I enjoyed, but I still indulged in some. I'm not a fan of games. Basketball, soccer, tennis.......I never liked them. Exception made for badminton. Badminton is different. I prefer sports or anything that tests endurance. Form 2, I joined the school marathon. It was mandatory. I didn't perform well. Form 4 I tried again, and again, I didn't do well. Form 5 I gave a last try. This time I timed my run. I took about half an hour to complete a 5 or 6km run. It was slow, very very slow. I ran for a few steps, and I stopped for air. Then I continued to run, but was forced to stop again.
You could sense the difference, you know? It's not stamina problem. You may argue that if one hasn't done some sports for a long time, his stamina deteriorates, and his endurance would falter. But if it's your body, you know it. You've got to know it, it's your body! If stamina's really the problem, then what explains my gasping for air when I simply just ran 4 stories up a block? I ran often, and I still gasped hard.
Then I got this nasty infection that kinda paralyse me for days. There was no conclusive diagnosis, but there definitely was a definite link - my asthma. Whatever it is, my asthma is linked. There were two theories: one said my asthma deteriorates when weather changed abruptly, and hence my lungs collapsed when the weather was a little biting and I would thus gasp hard. The other said an infection took control, and my asthma made my condition a little worse than it usually is. I don't care which diagnosis was more appropriate, but I was treated for both. That was the second time I was given a confirmed diagnosis for asthma. Even after 9 years, the asthma possessed me like a ghost, and I guess it'll never go away.
I never let the thought get control of me. It is true I'm bothered by it. But I stayed optimistic. The truth about life is that it is not fair. It was never fair and it'll never be. I believed there has got to be something to compensate my weakness, so I go for endurance. I know I can't perform vigorous activities - running is vigorous, because you have to breathe in a lot of air - so I opted for lighter sports, like hiking. If you're wondering how hiking is less vigorous, here's how: the move is slower, although the sports itself, overall, is more tiring and requires more strength. I begin hiking more often this year, when transport becomes convenient for me. Before I learnt to drive, transport was a hassle. Now that I can drive, I can go whenever I want.
That will be some time where even the strongest will crash. Sometimes we thought we are strong, and stay optimistic believing that the philosophy is true. But you know it isn't. Philosophy are lifeless words that are created to be pedagogical, but real life is far more complicated than what it appears to be. This is the first time, after 10 years, I give in to my asthma. I'm tired to be prohibited from runs or any activities due to it. I've decided not to bow down to it. I've missed Penang Hill climb and Penang Bridge Marathon because I knew I wasn't strong enough. Okay, transport was part of the reason, but still the main reason stays. I wanna try how I would perform if I climb the Penang Hill, so I urged my dad to bring me up there, and on first try I completed the hike in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Slow? Yup. But since it's just the first try, I'm kinda satisfied. Suddenly, a flicker of hope materialised. Perhaps I wasn't as weak as I had imagined. The time I completed each activities was long, but consider fast for even a mild asthma patient, and my muscle don't sore after each activities. In this holiday, I wanna brush up my endurance. If I can't exorcise what's possessing me, then I'm going to subdue it until I render it harmless. I'm going to prove that one day asthma patients can do vigorous activities normal people consider they can't. I do not know whether it's possible, but I'm still giving it a try. After all, that's how things once believed to be impossible are created, and world records are broken.
Babies babble, and as he grows up, he begins to talk coherently and is able to form complete sentences. When he finally steps into the world of adolescence, he begins to talk mumbo-jumbo, and nonsense because he's deluded, or simply perplexed by changes surrounding him. When he moves on, usually after making regrettable mistakes, he begins to talk sense, and he appears to be mature. When he threads to old age, his speech begins to blur, and sooner or later he won't be able to talk smoothly.
Hormones. Everybody is filled with hormones. We have more than a thousand hormones in us, and each hormones in us measured less than a green pea, possibly less, and yet it exerts big enough an influence to completely alter your lives. Certain hormones are meant to pump adrenaline, to prepare you for fight or flight situation; certain hormones prepare you for maturity, making you grow up, seeing the world from a different perspective and begins to think autonomously. Certain hormones are simply annoying. They mess with your body, they occasionally blind you, they causes you to make stupid decisions. Certain hormones are deleterious. They seep into every tissue in your bodies and release a venom that partially paralyse your immune system. They weaken it, rendering your body susceptible to infections, damages, or mutations.
I hate it when my body messes with me. It's true sometimes we simply need to be optimistic - I have been. But you've got to admit, sometimes, it just bothers you. Ya, it's simple to say "Come on! Forget it! So what if you can't do it? You have got something better in you!" No! That sentences only soothe you and momentarily convince you that it is okay. Everybody who has gone through it would realise that it's nothing but a white lie.
I have asthma. I was eight years old when I was diagnosed with it. I was young, naive, ignorant to my health, and ergo I did not know what it is. The doctor said it was mild, because I never used a spray and it never attacks. When I was in standard 4, I tried to fit in in a badminton team. That was when I realised I gasp for air pretty easily. My endurance is kinda strong - I admit, thanks to my father. He's a tough guy so I follow his steps - but I realised that my body sometimes can't hold on to it. After few months of training, I was eliminated from the team. I was melancholy for a while, but after that I moved on. I can't remember how, I just moved on.
I remembered there was once I literally choked in the class. Nobody knew, and I conjectured nobody even realised. I was crying I guess, then suddenly I couldn't breathe. I thought I was dying, but after a few seconds of struggling, I managed to breathe. You have no idea how precious I found the oxygen was. A few seconds of losing oxygen literally made you understand how one insignificant yet omnipresent thing is important to you.
Moving on to secondary school. I never got bothered much by my asthma before because I was introverted. Outdoor activities were never what I enjoyed, but I still indulged in some. I'm not a fan of games. Basketball, soccer, tennis.......I never liked them. Exception made for badminton. Badminton is different. I prefer sports or anything that tests endurance. Form 2, I joined the school marathon. It was mandatory. I didn't perform well. Form 4 I tried again, and again, I didn't do well. Form 5 I gave a last try. This time I timed my run. I took about half an hour to complete a 5 or 6km run. It was slow, very very slow. I ran for a few steps, and I stopped for air. Then I continued to run, but was forced to stop again.
You could sense the difference, you know? It's not stamina problem. You may argue that if one hasn't done some sports for a long time, his stamina deteriorates, and his endurance would falter. But if it's your body, you know it. You've got to know it, it's your body! If stamina's really the problem, then what explains my gasping for air when I simply just ran 4 stories up a block? I ran often, and I still gasped hard.
Then I got this nasty infection that kinda paralyse me for days. There was no conclusive diagnosis, but there definitely was a definite link - my asthma. Whatever it is, my asthma is linked. There were two theories: one said my asthma deteriorates when weather changed abruptly, and hence my lungs collapsed when the weather was a little biting and I would thus gasp hard. The other said an infection took control, and my asthma made my condition a little worse than it usually is. I don't care which diagnosis was more appropriate, but I was treated for both. That was the second time I was given a confirmed diagnosis for asthma. Even after 9 years, the asthma possessed me like a ghost, and I guess it'll never go away.
I never let the thought get control of me. It is true I'm bothered by it. But I stayed optimistic. The truth about life is that it is not fair. It was never fair and it'll never be. I believed there has got to be something to compensate my weakness, so I go for endurance. I know I can't perform vigorous activities - running is vigorous, because you have to breathe in a lot of air - so I opted for lighter sports, like hiking. If you're wondering how hiking is less vigorous, here's how: the move is slower, although the sports itself, overall, is more tiring and requires more strength. I begin hiking more often this year, when transport becomes convenient for me. Before I learnt to drive, transport was a hassle. Now that I can drive, I can go whenever I want.
That will be some time where even the strongest will crash. Sometimes we thought we are strong, and stay optimistic believing that the philosophy is true. But you know it isn't. Philosophy are lifeless words that are created to be pedagogical, but real life is far more complicated than what it appears to be. This is the first time, after 10 years, I give in to my asthma. I'm tired to be prohibited from runs or any activities due to it. I've decided not to bow down to it. I've missed Penang Hill climb and Penang Bridge Marathon because I knew I wasn't strong enough. Okay, transport was part of the reason, but still the main reason stays. I wanna try how I would perform if I climb the Penang Hill, so I urged my dad to bring me up there, and on first try I completed the hike in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Slow? Yup. But since it's just the first try, I'm kinda satisfied. Suddenly, a flicker of hope materialised. Perhaps I wasn't as weak as I had imagined. The time I completed each activities was long, but consider fast for even a mild asthma patient, and my muscle don't sore after each activities. In this holiday, I wanna brush up my endurance. If I can't exorcise what's possessing me, then I'm going to subdue it until I render it harmless. I'm going to prove that one day asthma patients can do vigorous activities normal people consider they can't. I do not know whether it's possible, but I'm still giving it a try. After all, that's how things once believed to be impossible are created, and world records are broken.
Friends
Jacky Lam, how long have I known you? Ok. I first met you when I was in form 1. We only met each other, bumped into each other, or nearly knocked each other on the corridor or canteen, but then we didn't know each other. I remembered form 2 was the first time you talked to me, asking me whether I could lend you a pencil. LOLLL I don't even know why I can remember this so vividly. The enigma of the brain.
Then form 3, we were placed in the same class. Before I actually talked to you, you gave me three thoughts
- you were a member of the Chinese Orchestra.
- you were the class monitor.
- you looked way too skinny and fair, which isn't a good thing.
Then we got to know each other fairly well after it. Still remember the moments we painted the class? 3A5? I wasn't there the first time you guys did it, but I was there the second and third. The second time was fun, I remembered. It was a Sunday morning. I had difficulty trying to remember who else was there, but I did remember Chia Hui, and I think Jia Chyi was there, right? The moments was....OMG....fun! That was the first time I entered a ladies' toilet!!! LOLLL!!!!
Anyway it was a fun experience. You know.....painting the class......That was the first time I touched a paint brush. I remembered we painted different parts of the wall, and at the end we didn't finish painting the wall because all the paints had been used.....and.....OMG.....we started painting a corner of the wall, and now we couldn't connect them!!!! There's a huge patch of green paint at the corner, and the rest of it were still white.....because we didn't have enough paint to paint it!!! LOLLL.
Then we ordered pizza. Lolll the pizza was nice. The third time (second for me) was rather dull because it was after activity (saturday's afternoon). I was, frankly, a bit tired, and I think you all also la hahahaha. We managed to finish painting that day, and we still ordered pizza. It was fun, painting the class.
Then PMR result - we both got 8As, and were placed in the same class!!!!! Still remember you ask Joo Phin to ask me to sit beside you?? Lolll I kinda hope you didn't regret it because I was sometimes a nuisance! Hahahahaha xDDD. Anyway form 4 was a very busy year for both of us. You had your hands on the concert, and I had mine on Maths and Science Week and Caring Week. It was probably the busiest year for the both of us. Remember how sleepy we were during Physics classes, and to remain awake we actually beat each others' legs? Loll. And remember the moments we bring keropok to schools?? LOLLL we shared with Jussine (she brought the most).
Form 5 we were in the same class again. Remembered we prayed to have GCL as our physics teacher? Loll how sad, it turned out to be CAL. We attended her first lesson, and our first impression was.....OMG! This teacher seriously can't teach! Lolll Then you later complained to GCL......remember how you whispered to her about CAL.....and then how CAL looked at you surreptitiously? Haha
Ok.......let's go on to Chua Min Huang, the annoying bastard. The first time I met you was form 3. I only saw your face and knew that you're from Chung Ling, nothing else. Form 4 was the first time we knew each other. The first impression you gave me was someone who's literally insane. An imbecile. How did we get along with each other? Seriously, I can't remember. Remember what NPL asked you? She asked "what would you do to make your wife happy?". And your response? Lolll I guess you remember. You made all of us laugh! No need reminders, I'm pretty sure how you abuse your hand sanitiser. The moment when Raymond threw your hand sanitiser out of the window.......I guess I could never forget that. xDDD You also laughed way too much............
And I still remember the 6 page long essay you wrote for your final year exam. Impressive. Form 4 was rather dull. It was a very long ice-breaking, and since that year was the year I absolutely despise, I can't recall much from it. Form 5's the high. First of all, you sat beside me. Kinda noisy you know? First of all, you said "FOKUS FOKUS!!!", mimicking Usha, then PLKN 空一格 15888. And....umm.....many more. Annoying Susan, I guess that's your favourite. Still remember your oral presentation? Omg. Too much hand movements - an actual clown in action! This makes me remember.....remember the time GMT asked us to do a short presentation of Sejarah? Ya, you were our presenter. Lolll remember how you presented it? EPIC!! But loll too many fabrications la! xD
Remember your little misdemeanours?? Loll....let me recall someone: you flipped through Susan's book and gleaned her age. You played with chemicals in the chemistry lab, and ended up worrying the gas released is toxic. You tried to scare CAL way too many times. You literally harassed Marissa and other girls by pulling their hairs. I enjoyed pinching you, by the way. xDDD I went to your house several times. There was once I went there to try to finish our Add.Maths project. Sorry....but I did doze off. The next day you went to school, asked me to go to your house again, but then had a bad rephrasing. Remember what you said?
"要不要睡在我的床上?"
Someone laughed!
"我请你吃sausage!"
He couldn't control anymore, burst out laughing. Umm....I think he knows who he is.
Oh? And how you began your friendly camaraderie with GMT? You still remembered? Never mind, let me tell you. It was a replacement day, GMT didn't intend to teach because drums were loud, so you began to talk to her. A lot. And she instinctly knew your father did business. Wow! Haha....loll and do you remember that you never wore Jit Sin socks on Wednesday because there's no sejarah period, but you get very unfortunately caught when you were in PS room? You hapless imbecile. Okay. My father brought you once to Carrefour and we bought a lot of chickens. I then went to your house and help you marinated them. Nice. I liked how you get paranoid about the garlic and onion. You said they didn't smell nice. Lol. I liked the moments I went to your house to make popcorn. First....it failed....too oily....Second time....it failed again....and A FIRE BROKE OUT!!!! LOLLLLL!!!!!. Then luckily the third time was rather successful, except that the popcorn clumped together after the caramel hardened. Sad case.
Okay okay.....enough for you.....too long would make it way too boring.
Hi, Tung Wei Sian, aka TungTungFish. How was the name coined? Can't recall. The first time I met you was form 4. You were exceptionally tall, not many people are taller than me. Sad. And the first thing I noticed about you was your voice. Rather unique. I can't recall anything from form 4, but I do have some for form 5. Form 5 was rather sad because you were in 5S2, different class. Yet it apparently had no bearing on our friendships. You were rather quiet because you seldom joined us during recess. I remembered you said you detest badminton. You enjoyed basketball more. You invited us once to your house, remember? Haha. We, the whole group of people, were acting like little bastards. We made so much noise in the scene, and the girls screamed once when we nearly toppled the table. You were wearing a jeans, and coincidentally, Pillow was also wearing a jeans, and the others wore shorts. As a result, we suffered from mosquitoes bites, you both didn't.
Frankly, I had less moments with you. And now that you're in Germany, we literally have not contacted each other for months! I'm hoping to see you soon.
A big Hi to Eunice Tang. The first time I knew you was in Form 4. I saw you with MH quite often and later on knew that a bond exists between both of you. You were in 4S6, the class I actually preferred over mine. During form 5, you always came to my class to meet CMH. You had some difficulties during your years, I hope you realise, we'll always be there for you. We communicated with each other much more during form 5. You were involved in a science project, and so did I. Turned out we quite enjoyed it and had quite a successful result.
Your enjoyed baking, and party for sure.
I just knew you last year Pillow Tan. I remembered vividly the first time I met you: gotong-royong time, when that little bastard pointed at you and told me: This is Pillow! Lolll. I didn't know you that time and probably didn't even talk to you at all on plurk. How our friendship grows later I can't remember, but for sure Plurk's where we all gathered and had fun. We went to tungtungfish's house for a dinner night, and it so happened that you two were the only two wearing long pants and thus avoiding mosquitoes 'kisses'. I'm sure you remembered! You literally went red and speechless when we teased you.....
Early this year you've got a part-time job in Bloggers. We first flocked to your house where we saw your room. You and the others bullied me.......don't tell me you don't remember.........then you brought us to the park nearby and literally walked us into a sea of vampires. haha. We then followed you to Bloggers. Ok, truth to be told: we had lots of pranks ready for you, but since your supervisor was there we kinda endeavour not to put you in hot water. We've met several times after that, hopefully we'll meet more.
Ong Yee Von, or Ong Yee Tat? Haha I first knew you on Plurk, then only later on I knew you in person. Of all the girls I know, you are, to me, one of the rarest and most active. It's true most girls are crazy, but you're crazy in a different way. Hahaha. So rumour begins to spread when it appeared that some flames had been sparked between you and, *uh hem*, the guy. To speak the truth, whether it is genuine or phoney I have no idea. I know you've a house in Penang, which you've now sold away, and you invited all of us there once. I couldn't go due to some problems and I wish very badly I was there. Anyway, after you've left for UK I've barely contacted you. How's life there?
Hei there Phang Hui Ting, a small-looking girl but definitely not a girl one could underestimate. You've been quiet sometimes, probably busied with Orchestra things. During BBQ, I learnt that you enjoyed talking to MH's maid. You said you had some sympathy for her, and you literally talked to her for a long time. We've not been very close, except Plurk, and I have not seen you for a long time after you began your A-Level. Hope we'll stay in touch.
Jackie, I almost forget you! Haha. You're definitely a Mandarin lover. Your strong grasp of the language and obtaining A+ for Chinese in SPM proved your proficiency in the language. Like Jacky, perhaps anything that rhymes with 'Jack-gee' are cursed to be slim and can never put on weight. Both of you should put on some weight la! Too skinny, and too white le LOLL. Anyway, you've been daring. Your incredible valiance/gallantry makes you a unique girl. I remembered the time you wore boys' uniform to school. Remember what you said that time : "今天, 我是学校的hold住姐!" Something like that...Btw, you need to eat more vegetables la haha, we sort of learnt that you're not a big fan of veges. xDDD.
Mah JiaChyi, your name is spelt as a single word, is it? The first time we met was form 3. I, or you, was later arranged to sit beside you, or me, after OSH thought that our class had been too noisy and rearranging was warranted. Like all girls, you've been a little talkative - it's not bad, it's good. We painted the class once, I think. Initially we wanted to prank you by hiding the pizza we ordered, but somehow one of us couldn't subdue our enthusiasm to watch your reaction when we lied, and our lies didn't work. Haha. Form 4 we were in the same class again. Then form 5 we weren't anymore.
=======================================================================
Friends, memories fade, sadly, but I've tried to remember every bits we had. The reason I created this post is to ensure I store all memories I have. It doesn't need to be extra emotional, but what happened must be recorded unaltered, and any additional emotion, if there is any, can be added where it is appropriate. I didn't mingle with you guys very often because I was a little introverted (am probably still am) and my parents kinda prohibit me from having too much fun. But still, I tried my best.
I typed all of these over a few months range. I started this about half a year ago and stopped halfway due to overwhelming studies, so I've just recently attempted to complete it. So you might be able to spot some language difference and style of writing. Please pardon it.
Hope you enjoyed. =)
Then form 3, we were placed in the same class. Before I actually talked to you, you gave me three thoughts
- you were a member of the Chinese Orchestra.
- you were the class monitor.
- you looked way too skinny and fair, which isn't a good thing.
Then we got to know each other fairly well after it. Still remember the moments we painted the class? 3A5? I wasn't there the first time you guys did it, but I was there the second and third. The second time was fun, I remembered. It was a Sunday morning. I had difficulty trying to remember who else was there, but I did remember Chia Hui, and I think Jia Chyi was there, right? The moments was....OMG....fun! That was the first time I entered a ladies' toilet!!! LOLLL!!!!
Anyway it was a fun experience. You know.....painting the class......That was the first time I touched a paint brush. I remembered we painted different parts of the wall, and at the end we didn't finish painting the wall because all the paints had been used.....and.....OMG.....we started painting a corner of the wall, and now we couldn't connect them!!!! There's a huge patch of green paint at the corner, and the rest of it were still white.....because we didn't have enough paint to paint it!!! LOLLL.
Then we ordered pizza. Lolll the pizza was nice. The third time (second for me) was rather dull because it was after activity (saturday's afternoon). I was, frankly, a bit tired, and I think you all also la hahahaha. We managed to finish painting that day, and we still ordered pizza. It was fun, painting the class.
Then PMR result - we both got 8As, and were placed in the same class!!!!! Still remember you ask Joo Phin to ask me to sit beside you?? Lolll I kinda hope you didn't regret it because I was sometimes a nuisance! Hahahahaha xDDD. Anyway form 4 was a very busy year for both of us. You had your hands on the concert, and I had mine on Maths and Science Week and Caring Week. It was probably the busiest year for the both of us. Remember how sleepy we were during Physics classes, and to remain awake we actually beat each others' legs? Loll. And remember the moments we bring keropok to schools?? LOLLL we shared with Jussine (she brought the most).
Form 5 we were in the same class again. Remembered we prayed to have GCL as our physics teacher? Loll how sad, it turned out to be CAL. We attended her first lesson, and our first impression was.....OMG! This teacher seriously can't teach! Lolll Then you later complained to GCL......remember how you whispered to her about CAL.....and then how CAL looked at you surreptitiously? Haha
Ok.......let's go on to Chua Min Huang, the annoying bastard. The first time I met you was form 3. I only saw your face and knew that you're from Chung Ling, nothing else. Form 4 was the first time we knew each other. The first impression you gave me was someone who's literally insane. An imbecile. How did we get along with each other? Seriously, I can't remember. Remember what NPL asked you? She asked "what would you do to make your wife happy?". And your response? Lolll I guess you remember. You made all of us laugh! No need reminders, I'm pretty sure how you abuse your hand sanitiser. The moment when Raymond threw your hand sanitiser out of the window.......I guess I could never forget that. xDDD You also laughed way too much............
And I still remember the 6 page long essay you wrote for your final year exam. Impressive. Form 4 was rather dull. It was a very long ice-breaking, and since that year was the year I absolutely despise, I can't recall much from it. Form 5's the high. First of all, you sat beside me. Kinda noisy you know? First of all, you said "FOKUS FOKUS!!!", mimicking Usha, then PLKN 空一格 15888. And....umm.....many more. Annoying Susan, I guess that's your favourite. Still remember your oral presentation? Omg. Too much hand movements - an actual clown in action! This makes me remember.....remember the time GMT asked us to do a short presentation of Sejarah? Ya, you were our presenter. Lolll remember how you presented it? EPIC!! But loll too many fabrications la! xD
Remember your little misdemeanours?? Loll....let me recall someone: you flipped through Susan's book and gleaned her age. You played with chemicals in the chemistry lab, and ended up worrying the gas released is toxic. You tried to scare CAL way too many times. You literally harassed Marissa and other girls by pulling their hairs. I enjoyed pinching you, by the way. xDDD I went to your house several times. There was once I went there to try to finish our Add.Maths project. Sorry....but I did doze off. The next day you went to school, asked me to go to your house again, but then had a bad rephrasing. Remember what you said?
"要不要睡在我的床上?"
Someone laughed!
"我请你吃sausage!"
He couldn't control anymore, burst out laughing. Umm....I think he knows who he is.
Oh? And how you began your friendly camaraderie with GMT? You still remembered? Never mind, let me tell you. It was a replacement day, GMT didn't intend to teach because drums were loud, so you began to talk to her. A lot. And she instinctly knew your father did business. Wow! Haha....loll and do you remember that you never wore Jit Sin socks on Wednesday because there's no sejarah period, but you get very unfortunately caught when you were in PS room? You hapless imbecile. Okay. My father brought you once to Carrefour and we bought a lot of chickens. I then went to your house and help you marinated them. Nice. I liked how you get paranoid about the garlic and onion. You said they didn't smell nice. Lol. I liked the moments I went to your house to make popcorn. First....it failed....too oily....Second time....it failed again....and A FIRE BROKE OUT!!!! LOLLLLL!!!!!. Then luckily the third time was rather successful, except that the popcorn clumped together after the caramel hardened. Sad case.
Okay okay.....enough for you.....too long would make it way too boring.
Hi, Tung Wei Sian, aka TungTungFish. How was the name coined? Can't recall. The first time I met you was form 4. You were exceptionally tall, not many people are taller than me. Sad. And the first thing I noticed about you was your voice. Rather unique. I can't recall anything from form 4, but I do have some for form 5. Form 5 was rather sad because you were in 5S2, different class. Yet it apparently had no bearing on our friendships. You were rather quiet because you seldom joined us during recess. I remembered you said you detest badminton. You enjoyed basketball more. You invited us once to your house, remember? Haha. We, the whole group of people, were acting like little bastards. We made so much noise in the scene, and the girls screamed once when we nearly toppled the table. You were wearing a jeans, and coincidentally, Pillow was also wearing a jeans, and the others wore shorts. As a result, we suffered from mosquitoes bites, you both didn't.
Frankly, I had less moments with you. And now that you're in Germany, we literally have not contacted each other for months! I'm hoping to see you soon.
A big Hi to Eunice Tang. The first time I knew you was in Form 4. I saw you with MH quite often and later on knew that a bond exists between both of you. You were in 4S6, the class I actually preferred over mine. During form 5, you always came to my class to meet CMH. You had some difficulties during your years, I hope you realise, we'll always be there for you. We communicated with each other much more during form 5. You were involved in a science project, and so did I. Turned out we quite enjoyed it and had quite a successful result.
Your enjoyed baking, and party for sure.
I just knew you last year Pillow Tan. I remembered vividly the first time I met you: gotong-royong time, when that little bastard pointed at you and told me: This is Pillow! Lolll. I didn't know you that time and probably didn't even talk to you at all on plurk. How our friendship grows later I can't remember, but for sure Plurk's where we all gathered and had fun. We went to tungtungfish's house for a dinner night, and it so happened that you two were the only two wearing long pants and thus avoiding mosquitoes 'kisses'. I'm sure you remembered! You literally went red and speechless when we teased you.....
Early this year you've got a part-time job in Bloggers. We first flocked to your house where we saw your room. You and the others bullied me.......don't tell me you don't remember.........then you brought us to the park nearby and literally walked us into a sea of vampires. haha. We then followed you to Bloggers. Ok, truth to be told: we had lots of pranks ready for you, but since your supervisor was there we kinda endeavour not to put you in hot water. We've met several times after that, hopefully we'll meet more.
Ong Yee Von, or Ong Yee Tat? Haha I first knew you on Plurk, then only later on I knew you in person. Of all the girls I know, you are, to me, one of the rarest and most active. It's true most girls are crazy, but you're crazy in a different way. Hahaha. So rumour begins to spread when it appeared that some flames had been sparked between you and, *uh hem*, the guy. To speak the truth, whether it is genuine or phoney I have no idea. I know you've a house in Penang, which you've now sold away, and you invited all of us there once. I couldn't go due to some problems and I wish very badly I was there. Anyway, after you've left for UK I've barely contacted you. How's life there?
Hei there Phang Hui Ting, a small-looking girl but definitely not a girl one could underestimate. You've been quiet sometimes, probably busied with Orchestra things. During BBQ, I learnt that you enjoyed talking to MH's maid. You said you had some sympathy for her, and you literally talked to her for a long time. We've not been very close, except Plurk, and I have not seen you for a long time after you began your A-Level. Hope we'll stay in touch.
Jackie, I almost forget you! Haha. You're definitely a Mandarin lover. Your strong grasp of the language and obtaining A+ for Chinese in SPM proved your proficiency in the language. Like Jacky, perhaps anything that rhymes with 'Jack-gee' are cursed to be slim and can never put on weight. Both of you should put on some weight la! Too skinny, and too white le LOLL. Anyway, you've been daring. Your incredible valiance/gallantry makes you a unique girl. I remembered the time you wore boys' uniform to school. Remember what you said that time : "今天, 我是学校的hold住姐!" Something like that...Btw, you need to eat more vegetables la haha, we sort of learnt that you're not a big fan of veges. xDDD.
Mah JiaChyi, your name is spelt as a single word, is it? The first time we met was form 3. I, or you, was later arranged to sit beside you, or me, after OSH thought that our class had been too noisy and rearranging was warranted. Like all girls, you've been a little talkative - it's not bad, it's good. We painted the class once, I think. Initially we wanted to prank you by hiding the pizza we ordered, but somehow one of us couldn't subdue our enthusiasm to watch your reaction when we lied, and our lies didn't work. Haha. Form 4 we were in the same class again. Then form 5 we weren't anymore.
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Friends, memories fade, sadly, but I've tried to remember every bits we had. The reason I created this post is to ensure I store all memories I have. It doesn't need to be extra emotional, but what happened must be recorded unaltered, and any additional emotion, if there is any, can be added where it is appropriate. I didn't mingle with you guys very often because I was a little introverted (am probably still am) and my parents kinda prohibit me from having too much fun. But still, I tried my best.
I typed all of these over a few months range. I started this about half a year ago and stopped halfway due to overwhelming studies, so I've just recently attempted to complete it. So you might be able to spot some language difference and style of writing. Please pardon it.
Hope you enjoyed. =)
Strenuous
I hate my asthma. Even though I'm not dependent on drugs for breathing - it is a mild asthma I have - but it still makes me gasp for air sometimes. Running up a stairs and I'm down for air.
Because of it I've missed a lot of fun. There are lots of strenuous activities I cannot indulge in like running. I can hike, but I can't run, because running is much more vigorous than hiking. But I can run - that's the point. When I run, I run fast, The only thing that slows me down is this damn asthma!
I've tried, and still am, brushing up my endurance, but I think I'm gonna focus on strenuous activities next. Perhaps all I need is lots and lots of practice, and my asthma will go away as abruptly as it materialised. Hopefully.
Because of it I've missed a lot of fun. There are lots of strenuous activities I cannot indulge in like running. I can hike, but I can't run, because running is much more vigorous than hiking. But I can run - that's the point. When I run, I run fast, The only thing that slows me down is this damn asthma!
I've tried, and still am, brushing up my endurance, but I think I'm gonna focus on strenuous activities next. Perhaps all I need is lots and lots of practice, and my asthma will go away as abruptly as it materialised. Hopefully.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Relax
I'm trying to post my stories (dull ones) chronologically, so instead of going straight to talk about how my MUET is, I'll attempt to regale you on what I did immediately after my last STPM paper.
First, I went for badminton. I've been playing a lot latterly and I seriously need to brush up my skills if my intention is to be on par with my friends. My reflexes are still slow so I guess I need to play more frequently; as for my gasping I guess I can't do much because it's a health problem, but I believe I could improve my endurance.
After badminton, I joined my classmates and other friends to have a movie in Pacific. Initially I wanted to spend the three free movie tickets I have, but since going to Sunway was inconvenient to some of my friends, we opted for Pacific instead. We had lunch - McDonald, something I hadn't eaten much. Odd, right? Who doesn't enjoy indulging in McDonald? Perhaps I was the odd one out. Thinking back, I have always been the odd one out, haven't I?
We watched Skyfall, the latest James Bond film. I have to be frank: I've never watched a single Bond film. I have always been a Jason Bourne fan, but not Bond, or even Hunt. This Bond film was awesome. I thought it was exciting, and it certainly pumped my adrenaline. Oddly, those who had watched previous films found the film a little dull, if not filler. Maybe I should have watched the old Bonds films. Well - an activity to for my holiday.
First, I went for badminton. I've been playing a lot latterly and I seriously need to brush up my skills if my intention is to be on par with my friends. My reflexes are still slow so I guess I need to play more frequently; as for my gasping I guess I can't do much because it's a health problem, but I believe I could improve my endurance.
After badminton, I joined my classmates and other friends to have a movie in Pacific. Initially I wanted to spend the three free movie tickets I have, but since going to Sunway was inconvenient to some of my friends, we opted for Pacific instead. We had lunch - McDonald, something I hadn't eaten much. Odd, right? Who doesn't enjoy indulging in McDonald? Perhaps I was the odd one out. Thinking back, I have always been the odd one out, haven't I?We watched Skyfall, the latest James Bond film. I have to be frank: I've never watched a single Bond film. I have always been a Jason Bourne fan, but not Bond, or even Hunt. This Bond film was awesome. I thought it was exciting, and it certainly pumped my adrenaline. Oddly, those who had watched previous films found the film a little dull, if not filler. Maybe I should have watched the old Bonds films. Well - an activity to for my holiday.
STPM Baharu First Term: Day 3
Anyway, since this was the last paper, the end of it marked the end of the first semester. It ended quite horrendously, and I do not know how I would fair in the next two semesters. I wouldn't want to think about it yet - I've got 7 weeks of holidays ahead of me and I wouldn't want to blight it with surreal thoughts on the foreboding future.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
STPM Baharu First Term: Day 2
There are two papers I have to sit today: Physics, and Mathematics T. Nightmarish, you might think? You're right. Physics alone is going to drain your brain, but after that you've to sit for another brain-drilling paper.
First paper of the day was Physics, and the paper was horrible. We are given 1 hour and 30 minutes only to complete 15 objectives, 2 structures, and 2 essays. And as anyone who has a logical mind could have thought, it isn't enough. And it really isn't. I failed to complete the paper in time, leaving one subquestion blank. Objective questions were fine, though a bit challenging. Subjectives were tough. Essays were worse. The moment I saw question 20 about gravitation, I skipped it immediately, and opted for Kinematics and Thermodynamics instead. What frustrated me was that Torque and Kinetic Theory of Gases didn't come out in Section C. I was more prepared for these two. Well, this paper was badly done, and many, like me, failed to complete it in time.
Second paper of the day was Mathematics T, a horrible paper but very much better than Physics and perhaps Pengajian Am. First of all, the questions that came out were, like PA, rather insignificant and weird. The one on A.P and G.P was something new for me and it discombobulated me momentarily. The function graph was simple, although anyone who didn't read the question carefully would have drawn a wrong one. Matrix was ok, but the one that asked about how many solutions were very very insignificant. I thought elementary row operation or Gaussian would be asked, but neither came out. Complex number was fine, although I expected the questions to find the roots of a complex number using De Moivre's Theorem, but still it was ok.
Question 5 was shit. Chords and tangents have been removed from our syllabus and yet it came out in our exam paper. Worst thing is this question allocates 10 marks out of total 60. MPM should have a serious discussion and thread carefully with their next move. Coming out a question in this major exam that's out of our syllabus has already angered many people. Question 6 on Vector was very much simpler than what we have thought. Section B was ok. The one on polynomial was very easy. The one on vector would be tougher. Since we only needed to answer one, I chose polynomial.
Out of 60 marks, because of question 5, I've lost 10 marks, and 2 more for A.P, 2 for vector. There may be more careless mistakes since I did not have enough time to check my answers. I definitely wouldn't get an A for my Maths and Physics, but hopefully I will get at least a B. I guess I'll see about it next year. =)
First paper of the day was Physics, and the paper was horrible. We are given 1 hour and 30 minutes only to complete 15 objectives, 2 structures, and 2 essays. And as anyone who has a logical mind could have thought, it isn't enough. And it really isn't. I failed to complete the paper in time, leaving one subquestion blank. Objective questions were fine, though a bit challenging. Subjectives were tough. Essays were worse. The moment I saw question 20 about gravitation, I skipped it immediately, and opted for Kinematics and Thermodynamics instead. What frustrated me was that Torque and Kinetic Theory of Gases didn't come out in Section C. I was more prepared for these two. Well, this paper was badly done, and many, like me, failed to complete it in time.Second paper of the day was Mathematics T, a horrible paper but very much better than Physics and perhaps Pengajian Am. First of all, the questions that came out were, like PA, rather insignificant and weird. The one on A.P and G.P was something new for me and it discombobulated me momentarily. The function graph was simple, although anyone who didn't read the question carefully would have drawn a wrong one. Matrix was ok, but the one that asked about how many solutions were very very insignificant. I thought elementary row operation or Gaussian would be asked, but neither came out. Complex number was fine, although I expected the questions to find the roots of a complex number using De Moivre's Theorem, but still it was ok.Question 5 was shit. Chords and tangents have been removed from our syllabus and yet it came out in our exam paper. Worst thing is this question allocates 10 marks out of total 60. MPM should have a serious discussion and thread carefully with their next move. Coming out a question in this major exam that's out of our syllabus has already angered many people. Question 6 on Vector was very much simpler than what we have thought. Section B was ok. The one on polynomial was very easy. The one on vector would be tougher. Since we only needed to answer one, I chose polynomial.
Out of 60 marks, because of question 5, I've lost 10 marks, and 2 more for A.P, 2 for vector. There may be more careless mistakes since I did not have enough time to check my answers. I definitely wouldn't get an A for my Maths and Physics, but hopefully I will get at least a B. I guess I'll see about it next year. =)
Monday, 5 November 2012
STPM Baharu First Term, Day 1
So today is the first day for our first term exam : STPM Baharu. And since we are the first batch, it also signifies that we are the first batch of students sitting for the new paper. Let's go straight to the point.Section A objective is rather easy. There are about 2 or 3 questions that I can't answer, but overall it's ok. Section B subjective is the worst part. There are only 4 subjectives, and I can only answer one. The questions are way too weird and insignificant to be even expected to be asked.
Here are the questions (rephrased):
1) Bagaimanakah seorang tertuduh boleh dihadapkan ke mahkamah? (4m)
2) Senaraikan tiga elemen penting dalam pelaksanaan Pilihan Raya (3m)
3) Nyatakan 4 fungsi MAMPU. (4m)
4) Dalam perkara apakah perlu Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan merujuk kepada Kerajaan Negeri semasa membuat pertimbangan?
Essay questions were tough as well. Hot topics didn't come out, and the three that came out were very challenging if you didn't read before.
Here are the questions: Upper 6 students who are sitting for Pengajian Am next week can take a look:
1) Kebaikan Pelaksanaan Penetapan Gaji Minimum.
2) Kepentingan Warisan Budaya dan usaha-usaha untuk memartabatkannya. (Sorry but I don't exactly remember the questions. It's about warisan budaya, that's for sure)
3) Sebab Malaysia terkenal dengan barangan kraftangan dan usaha-usaha untuk memajukan industri kraftangan menjadi industri skala besar yang dapat menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara.
These are the three titles.
The good news is, I finally managed to finish all these questions (15 objectives, 4 structures, and 2 essays) in 1 hour and 55 minutes. 5 minutes before we handed in the paper.
Seriously, 2 hours to complete the question paper is really not enough!!!
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