A New Look Again

   I changed the look of the blog again.

   I also realised something. Since I have a blog in WordPress and Blogger, I find that blogger’s actually easier to use! And also, I odn’t think I can change the colour of the words. So maybe I should switch to Blogger. But then, I’ll miss all the posts that I’ve written here. Oh well. I’m in such a dilemma.

   Also today I realised that while most of us students are in a holiday mood, our teachers aren’t there yet. They aren’t letting us off the hook, and gave us homework. I’m lucky today as a few teachers aren’t around. Hopefully the same can be said of tomorrow. Then I can enjoy my Chinese New Year more. After all, I already have lots of homework to bring back to complete!

Chinese New Year!

Ahh, finally. The long awaited holidays.

   So far, there’s only been one day holidays. Now I’m going to be free for 6 days! I’m delighted. Of course, this year’s New Year’s a little different. Before this, I never brought back any homework from school. But this year, I’ll have to make an exception as I’ve still got work to do!

   I”m down with cold and a slightly sore throat so I’m hoping that I can recover in time for the celebrations. I must have ate too much of the fried nga-ku. Now I’ve learnt my lesson. In order to stay fit for the Chinese New Year, I musn’t eat too many heaty food. At least, I should wait till the celebrations come. Otherwise, I’ll only fall sick and be unhappy when everyone’s rejoicing.

   I just cut my hair yesterday and now I look weird. Seriously! Next month I’ll have to tell the hairdresser properly. It seems that no matter how I put it, she NEVER understands me. She always gets things wrong. And I’m the one who has to endure it all. Oh well. I’ve learnt from my mistake now. You must be very specific with hairdressers. One word less and you’ll emerge a freak.

   But above it all, I’m glad to get a break from school. 

For My Sister

Dearest Sister,

   Why are you so distressed? A break from study is a good thing. Coming home is good, but isn’t seeing the world worth the sacrifice? If only I can visit those wonderful places too!

   I know that you want me to go with you, but I have school. For you, now is the best opportunity to visit Berlin and Dublin. Imagine, in 10 years’ time, you’ll be busy working and won’t have so much time to go for vacation anymore! So you should seize this opportunity and not regret about anything. Just open your eyes and see the world. Your destiny awaits, as some might call it.

   If you return, you’ll just experience the heat of Malaysia. Remember how you hated Chinese New Year heat? The weather in Ipoh is bound to be worse this year, I’m sure. Global warming is fast catching up. Even in Lunas the heat is getting worse.

   Yes, you’ll miss some good things, like food. But you’ve eaten them for so many years now, why not try some other delicacies instead? Savour those food, for you might not be able to taste them again.

   Do not think too much about home. If I were you, I would not hesitate in going. Sadly, time does not permit me to do it. So I can only offer my support and encouragement. I hope that you will look at it from a different perspective. You’re not missing a chance to come home, but gaining an opportunity to visit places. Europe, no less!

   You have my full support and encouragement. Ma’s and Dy’s too. I’m sure that you will have a great time. Do not worry about Chinese New Year. It’s just a festival. When you return, we still can cook those dishes you like and bake the cookies you enjoy. It’s just a symbol. There’s the Chinese New Year, Thaipusam or Deepavali (I’m not sure which), Hari Raya, etc. So with so many New Years, which one is right? I conclude that it’s just symbolic. So we can make the time you come back to be New Year, too!

   I attended a driving course today and will be taking my ‘Undang-Undang’ soon. When I’m 17 I shall attend another course before gaining my ‘L’ license.

Sister,

   You have our prayers and blessings to visit Berlin and Dublin. Chill out, relax, enjoy what you’re seeing, and have a great time! I shall be waiting for you to tell me how exciting your trip was!

With Love,

Your Brother

    

Mission Completed!

   I’m so happy.

   I completed my Chemistry folio yesterday. It took me 6 long, labouring hours before I could declare the completion of it. Now I just need to bind it.

   In terms of other homework, I’m making progress steadily. Slowly but surely, I’m catching up with homework.

   I also saw an advertisement for the recruitment of BRATs. I think I’ll try out for it. After all, what have I got to lose? All I need to do is write an essay about myself, my family, inspirations and aspirations in an essay of not more than 1000 words. Sounds easy enough.

   Should I succeed, I will be eligible to submit articles to Ole Brats, the monthly supplement for BRATs. Not to mention, the various places that I’ll get to go! 

Chemistry Folio

   I don’t have much time to write a long post, because I’m busy trying to finish my Chemistry folio.

   The teachers told us last year that we’re required to complete a folio on the last chapter in Form 4. However, not many students attended school that day, so the teachers explained about the folio again.

   Apparently, all we have to do is find a reference book and copy it. Of course, the teachers didn’t put it that way. We just figured it out ourselves. Should we fail to hand it in 2 marks will be deducted every day for the March test.

   I’m considered lucky. One of the teachers wanted her classes to hand it in weeks ago. My Chemistry teacher, however, actually gave us until Monday. But we had pleaded and begged till she gave in and postponed it to Friday. So right now, I have today and tomorrow to finish it. And Thaipusam came at the right moment. Now I have an extra few hours to do it!

   Hence, I can’t really spend so much time online. Actually I just wanted to check my mail and to blog a while. But the connection’s a little weird today so I can’t access my e-mail.

   Hopefully, I can finish the folio in time. I mean, obviously I don’t want any marks to be deducted! Considering how tough Chemistry is, every mark counts! 

   A few prefects also have admitted that we all are spending a lot of time in prefects. Indeed, the Head Prefect nearly got issued a Discipline Form for not completing his work. The rest of us are luckier, though we’re still struggling to catch up with the enormous pile of homework that we’ve been trailing behind in.

   I seriously think that we’ve been commiting too much in prefects that we’re slacking in schoolwork. Almost every prefect I ask has not been finishing their homework. We really have to change this.

   Meanwhile, I better stop typing this longer and longer post and start rushing the folio!

Roller Coaster Ride

   I simply am not in the mood to post now, so I’ll just copy and paste my post from my other blog.

   “It’s the end of the third week of school and I’m not happy. Not at all.

   It’s such an emotional roller coaster, eh? I was quite content last week but many things happened this week, especially today.

   First there was the article. I just found out today that the school authorities know about it. I’m not concerned about what they’ll do to whoever who wrote it, but how. I hope they do not ask the prefects to investigate the matter. We have enough to do as it is.

   Which reminds me of prefect duties. So much happened this week. We had a spotcheck, various meetings for events and so on. Not to mention, I have to frame a photo up and buy a rack to keep our blazers. And since I’m the Treasurer, I have to collect money. Not just for one thing, for several.

   In scouts, I was told that a letter I sent to the Head of Co-Curricular Activities was lost somewhere. So now, I have to re-print the letter and suffer the wrath of the troop leader. And I have to train my assistant, too.

   I joined 2 clubs- Badminton and ‘Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya’. I was elected Vice President in Badminton and have to stop training because it clashes with the school’s badminton session and the teacher advisor has firmly told the board members that we have to attend every time. I need to Co- Curricular points, you see.

   I tried out for MSSD today with my friend. We failed to make the cut, but we still have a chance because 1) All of us who tried out today are working together to kick out a few people who aren’t deserving of a place and 2) The teacher has a meeting on Monday and if she succeeds in getting one more place it’s us.

   In class, I am behind homework. Most of us prefects are. I have no idea why, but we just are. You cannot imagine how much I have to do just to catch up. Chemistry notes, Chemistry folio, Biology notes, Moral, Modern Maths, Add Maths… And it’s not just one exercise, it’s several…

   So it all adds up to one hell of a week. Not to mention the work I have from tuition. I’m barely finding time for myself. And there’s replacement tomorrow for Chinese New Year! An extremely long, busy and stressful week.

   I just want it to end and move on to next week.”

   Seriously!

I Love Weekends

   Finally, the end of the week has arrived.

   I’m struggling greatly trying to juggle between all my commitments and school. So, the weekend is a great time for me to catch up with the work I’ve not completed yet, and also to unwind and relax.

   Even before these came up, I enjoyed the weekends. A lot. I can’t explain it, but there’s just a feeling of relief in me. I feel cheerful. I feel different compared to weekdays. I feel great during that time.

   Now, I value it even more. It has a new meaning. But actually, I prefer unwinding compared to catching up. Somehow the idea is stuck to my head that all work’s to be stopped in weekends. I can stress about work during weekdays, but not weekends. I think I definitely have to change that mindset.

   I realised some months ago that I’m a pretty messy person. Sure, there are times when I want things to be neat, like for example, the study desk. But when it comes to the bedroom, it just doesn’t seem me.

   My clothes (dirty and clean) are all left on top of my sister’s bed. Dust has also started to accumulate in a few areas and things. But I just don’t feel the urge to clean things up. Actually sometimes I do, but it just somehow slips past my mind every time.

   In school, work is piling up as usual. Not much are homework actually. Most are from scouts. But I have countlessly reminded myself that it’s only for half a year.

   But although I don’t like having so much of work to do, I have thought of something as well.

   Since Year 4, teachers have always told me that I have to suffer for a few more years. After my UPSR, I can have all the fun I want. At the beginning, I accepted it.

   Then in Form 1, teachers say that I have to suffer till PMR. After that in Form 4 I can have fun.

   In Form 4 teachers say I have to work hard for my SPM, then I can have fun.

   I’m sure that when I enter college, that’s exactly what the lecturers will say. It will be the same all the time. In university, and working.

   So I thought: why suffer? Why don’t I just have fun being in school? Why don’t I just enjoy taking SPM? Why don’t I relax? After all, it’s a nver ending cycle; it’ll only stop when I retire, when I’ve suffered enough.

But now, I can have fun while studying. I needn’t suffer. I can just enjoy, and let myself soar.

School and the New Year

   School began a few days ago. I’m now a fifth former.

   Being a fifth former means you’re one of the oldest students in school. Young ones look up to you (literally!) in awe. At least, that was what happened when we were in Form One. Now I have no idea whether they still see us that way.

   I’m also a senior prefect. And in my school, it is a tradition for junior prefects to greet the seniors. And so, I had fun replying to greetings. Some might not sound sincere but I still take it as a greeting. Besides, this is the first year I don’t have to greet any prefect I don’t want to!

   However, there’s still a few problems. For one thing, I never liked rising too early. But it’s exactly what I have to do. My alarm clock would blare its annoying tone into the silent morning at 6am. Early, eh? Then I would start preparing, and would leave the house at 7.

   Schoolwise, my teachers aren’t that good but I guess that’s what tuition is for, right?

   Being in Form Five also means extra responsibility. Clubs, Societies, Uniform Bodies, etc. etc. It’s only the first weekend but I already have a mountainload of tasks! But I think I’ll cope-lah. I keep telling myself that it’s only for half a year, until the Annual General Meetings when I pass all my responsibilities down to the next unfortunate soul.

   I’ve also had to adjust to being unable to come online everyday. During the holidays, it was a must to blog in my other blog that I share with friends, Mount Olympus. But now I have to get used to come online only on Fridays and weekends. And sometimes, it’s even less as I have to complete all my schoolwork! Why can’t we students just be allowed to enjoy our school life? The way I see it, it’s not enjoyable at all; what with the Mount Everest-sized amount of schoolwork and co-curricular activities. And not to mention, the many tuition classes that we’ve to attend! If only all these are reduced, I’m sure I will enjoy it much more than I do now.

   I took a few quizzes today and one of them said that I am ’sincere and not afraid to be different’. I’m also naturally caring, apparently. Another quiz said that I’m an intelligent, responsible person with a hidden wild streak. It also said that once in a while, I should ‘go crazy and enjoy’.

   I think the last one is pretty accurate. People tell me that I’m intelligent and responsible. And I myself know that I have a darker side. I mean, everyone has one! But I’ve always supressed it, and I think that’s why sometimes I feel like I live two lives .

   It’s not that I do it on purpose, it’s just that that’s what people perceive of me. Everyone calls me ‘good’ and I guess I don’t want to be known to be rebellious. But I suppose if I let loose a little, or accept that part of me, I think it’ll be a healthy balance.

   This year has brought in many revelations to me indeed! 

A day at the morning market

This morning, I woke up groggily and it took awhile before I remembered that I promised Mom that I’ll go to the morning market with her and Dad.

   Actually, I wouldn’t have done it if it was somewhere else, but I obliged this time because I love the chee-cheong-phan that one stall sells. I’m not good at describing, so if you don’t know what it is, you’ll just have to ask around. 

   Anyway, this stall has more than the usual black sauce. They have curry. And boy, it tastes out of the world! So I went to the market to savour it, while making a mental note to eat it every time opportunity strikes.

   Then, it was off to the wet market. I told them that I’ll just wait outside, since I don’t fancy going there, to struggle with everyone trying to get to their desired stall. So I sat down on a nearby chair and took out the newspapers.

   Not long after starting, I started to feel a little awkward. Perhaps it’s because every passer-by would look at me before going off. So I kept the newspaper, and waited.

   I noticed that most people wear very casual clothes here. Just a simple T-shirt and short pants. After all, it IS a market only. Yet, there are some people who can be deemed overdressed. For example, make-up. No kidding. I saw a woman wearing it. Some people just have to look glamorous everywhere they go.

   And then there’s the ‘uncles’, working men who were there accompanying their wives. Once in a while, two men will lock eyes, wave and smile, then approach the other, ask ‘Hey! How are you! Long time no see-ah!’, and then start talking about their jobs, businesses, etc.

   The ladies are just slightly different. Some might talk as loud as men, whereas some will just say hi when they near the person. But when their husbands talk about jobs, the wives will ask each other what they bought, for what purpose. Then they’ll move on to ask about kids, how old the kids are, how they’re doing at school, etc.

   That is what happens during a day at the morning market.

The Golden Compass

   When I saw The Golden Compass in a bookstore recently, I bought it with the intention of reading it before watching the movie. And I told myself I must finish the entire book before watching it.

    The book was quite okay, albeit a little hard to understand. I had a better understanding of it after starting the second book. Anyway, my point is that I found the story quite interesting. They call it fantasy but it’s very different from other fantasy novels.

    But when I watched the movie with my family, I was slightly dissapointed. The movie wasn’t very loyal to the book. A friend of mine pointed out that even the Harry Potter movies weren’t completely the same as the books. But I still didn’t like the movie. I think that it was less loyal compared to the Harry Potter movies. The ending was completely different, as if they simply cut off a section of the story. Perhaps they want a happy ending?

   Now I regret promising my friends that I’ll watch the movie with them. But perhaps watching it a second time will give me a better impression of it.