day #1
Thursday, October 30, 2003, 08:27 p.m.
Day 1 of ICT 2003.
The day didn't start too well. First, the camp has moved further down the road so we had to search for the new camp ourselves. There were no prior notifications about the relocation.
Next, my phone was detained at the guardhouse because it's a camera phone. I could only get it back the next time I book out.
The day only got better when I met up with my old buddies and we talked about how we've been since we last seen each other. Morning was spent in drawing store, moving into the dusty bunks, catching up and playing cards.
Then we went for the gas chamber training. As usual, we had to put on the chemical warfare protective suits, then we were thrown into the gas chamber which was filled with tear gas and were asked to perform drills and remove our mask in the end... This is where all men WILL cry no matter how strong you are. We 39 SCEians are very seasoned to the gas already, so though we were tearing we didn't feel it's so embarrassing anymore and we recovered from the tearing very quickly.
The 3-tonners have changed! Not only there're seat belts (we didn't bother to put them on anyway), there are cushioned headrests (wow)! The present soldiers are having a good life, man.
The day pretty much ended after the gas chamber training. We're allowed to book out but we have to book in again later at 2300 hrs for tomorrow's IPPT. Getting back my phone took 20 minutes with the silly RP going round finding officers to sign and searching for my phone... Sigh. SAF still hasn't changed in efficiency.
bye bye
Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 09:07 p.m.
Had a 3-hour session of LITS presentation. I presented a section of my group Lab Brain's project, and apparently many teachers were quite impressed by my articulation cos after the session, some teachers came to tell me I spoke very well and that my voice was "refreshing" and loud and clear. Haha.
Cos this was my last official day in ESSS for this year, I bade farewell to my students and colleagues. Tomorrow onwards, for two weeks, I'll be living a totally different life (reservice!)... Don't know if I'll be allowed to come home, there may be no more entries here until 14 November. Till then, take care, everyone. See ya! :)
late breakfast
Tuesday, October 28, 2003, 08:45 p.m.
What a busy day. I had to conduct Math enrichment programmes for 1T1 (got the children to play interactive Math games on the net, and then played a competitive game Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Millionaire-style on the visualiser), sit in for 2E4's social etiquette class, and attend a 4-hour promotion meeting to decide which borderline students get promoted and which get retained. Only managed to get my breakfast at 3.30 pm.
And because I'm going for reservice soon, I had to settle all the deadlines within these two days. Completed my Math and Science SoWs, marker's reports, work review and cleared my book-stocks. Somehow I feel I've left out something...
Vent - Tricky
She's the one makes me feel these ways
He's the one needs some praise
Can't stand to feel
Hate to feel
Gone insane
Hijack a plane
Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
Trying hard not to lose my head
Can't hardly breathe
I've been and seen
She hides my Ventolin
Can't hardly breathe
Can't hardly breathe
Can't hardly breathe
I'm the one
Watch him stop breathe
Watch him bleed
I right the wrongs
And take his song
And we all live happy ever after
Can't hardly breathe
Can't hardly breathe
Can't hardly breathe
Can't hardly breathe
And we all sing together now
Can't hardly breathe
audition
Monday, October 27, 2003, 09:49 p.m.
Watched the audition for Talentime. Except for a talented Sec 1 Malay guy, Hakim, who sang and played the guitar himself, the others were just so-so. Hmm. So disappointing.
P.S. Malay girls are really good in dolling up themselves. The Malay girls in the solo category dressed up like megastars and one of them really looked gorgeous in her black gown and flawless makeup.
helmet
Sunday, October 26, 2003, 06:50 p.m.
Dug out my fullpack and SBO and #4s from the storeroom in preparation for my reservice which starts next week, and found the white engineer's helmet which I got from my industrial attachment. Washed it clean and decided to hang it somewhere in my room as a form of decoration - thought of the times when I was good friends with Bangladeshi workers and I was as tanned as them cos we worked together under the sun...
senseless dreams
Sunday, October 26, 2003, 09:39 a.m.
Dreamt that a pink butterfly flew into our house and my sis and I caught it with a container. Then one day I saw the butterfly's wings were starting to crumple and asked my sis why. She said she sprayed my CK Crave on the butterfly... and the butterfly soon died... Then I dreamt of a Math test that was delivered to my house and I had two hours to do it and return it to school when I was done.
miracle
Saturday, October 25, 2003, 03:00 p.m.
It's amazing how one day I was still complaining that that must be the worst day my muscles were aching all over and I was going to die from overstretching in the bath and then on the next day all my pains just miraculously disappeared and I felt almost fully recovered from that dreadful first gym experience.
Oh, by the way, many of my students came to tell me that they're picking up the violin. Either they'd always wanted to learn the violin (this was what they said), or they're inspired by Takeshi Kaneshiro in Turn Left, Turn Right, OR they're actually inspired by me... Wooh, that's a nice thought. :)
keychains
Saturday, October 25, 2003, 11:36 a.m.
My bundle of keys has two keychains: One (the Peace sign) is a farewell gift from my beloved Compassvale class, and the other (the Positive Energy rune) was bought at East Spring's NCC fundraising. Reminds me of those good times in CVSS every time I use the keys...
P.S. Gasp. There is actually a MUSIC VIDEO of Smelly Cat in episode S2E17!!
car crash
Friday, October 24, 2003, 12:41 p.m.
Tricky playing in the background...
Car Crash - TrickyYou leave me hungry
Wanting more
Am I thirsty
I wasn't sure
See me driving
Through the rain
Why am I driving
I can't explain
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
In my car to where you are
I can't make it
I won't make it
I am sliding
I lose my brakes
The lights are blinding
The earth quakes
Now I'm lying
Will I die
Will they find me
Will they try
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
In my car to where you are
I can't make it
I won't make it
Doesn't matter about the time we make
Doesn't matter it doesn't shatter
If time we take
You know they're lost
While I'm dragging the cross
(If you sing along...)
And where you cross
(If I scream...)
While they're washing their sins
(And we sing along...)
She sings, I do evil things
I need to strive
(And we sing along...)
I bleed alive
(And we sing along...)
busy
Friday, October 24, 2003, 08:04 a.m.
Yesterday had been a long day (this must be the most frequent phrase in my blogs). Did nothing much in the morning except chatting with my classes and saying goodbye (next week is a whole week of post-exam activities so we will not see each other in formal classes anymore). But afternoon was a rush. I had to submit my drafts for my designs of the certificates (which was rejected several times in one afternoon) and eventually print out the final copies. And also went around chasing the Science teachers for their class results so that I can compile (a certain teacher only gave me at 4 pm, which was 26 hours later than the deadline that I set) and print out 3 copies of the whole stack (must be a few hundred pages - poor trees). Then I rummaged through the resource cupboard to look for ideas for next week's Math enrichment for my 1T1 class and discussed with Angeline on what could be done. And then I started to type my work review and SoWs (which I gave up and decided to continue at home).
Then went for dinner with Jim, Elizabeth, Gek Hong, Irene and Dawn. This was the first time Dawn came out with us, but she was very outgoing and comfortable with us - she shared with us many of her interesting experiences and she laughed aloud when she was amused. Quite different from my first impressions of her as she always had a stern face in school.
marks
Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 09:35 a.m.
Just went into 2E4 class to distribute their papers for them to check their marks. Now I understand how my teachers must have felt when I pestered them for marks. To all the students out here: We teachers would be GLAD to give you the marks if we truly made mistakes or left out marking some of your points (It's not as if we ENJOY disappointing people). Aside from that, we can't do much because we have a marking scheme to follow and this has to be strictly adhered to across the whole level for fairness.
My student told me my face was red at the end of the lesson. Haha. Probably because I had to entertain and patiently explain to all those students who begged me for marks that weren't justifiable. And this was only my first class for the day. Will be seeing four more classes later to check the marks... I wonder how my blood pressure would be by the end of the day - probably "only Smarties know the answer" (quote from a student's script).
long yesterday
Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 09:29 a.m.
Was suddenly bombarded with things to do yesterday... designing of certificates, collection of Science marks from all Science teachers, compilation of all Science exam papers... Did all that I could, then went karaoke with Irene and Gek Hong before we went back school for a captain's ball session and BBQ. Was very tired by the end of the day. At least I could have the luxury of sleeping early. I was one of the few luckier ones (or, more hardworking ones) who have finished all the marking by yesterday, some teachers would have to burn midnight oil because we have to go through the papers with our students today.
a different way to brush
Tuesday, October 21, 2003, 07:35 a.m.
Pitas was down for the past two days, so I shall summarise what I wanted to write. Celebrated Youxia's birthday at Cafe Cartel and Baker's Inn on Sunday. And because I had a tight tuition schedule to follow I couldn't stay for the movies but had to rush off (I also had tuition before the celebration). I was so happy when Fiona told me she needs a break and that was going to the last session before she's only going to see me again after a few weeks. I am actually quite sick of giving tuition already, especially when sessions with Fiona were always non-stop-action, and her questions were one after another so that I didn't even have time to take a sip.
Yesterday was marking day. As I've finished marking, I was typing my marker's reports, SoWs and work review. Then I had my first intensive gym session with Gek Hong. He was my instructor and he brought me through many chest and bicep exercises. After two hours of workout, I was really exhausted and my arms didn't feel like they belong to me anymore. Gek Hong said it's normal and in fact after the first session, I will feel paralysed and extremely drained out for the next two days. Hmm. So I was expecting I would not be able to get out of my bed this morning. But it wasn't that bad. Except for the fact that I cannot straighten my arms and my muscles are feeling all sore and awkward, I am quite fine. Though today instead of using my hand to brush my teeth, my hand was stationary and holding the toothbrush and I had to shake my head to get my teeth brushed. Heheh. A bit comical.
phoebe's songs
Sunday, October 19, 2003, 08:22 a.m.
Phoebe's songs are just so funny! And I'm not her
only fan, there're tons of websites that feature her lyrics and audio files, complete with guitar chords! Here're some of her songs:
Blackout - Phoebe Buffay
New York City has no power
And the milk is getting sour
But to me that is not scary
Cause I stay away from dairy
La-la-la-la-la-la...In The Shower - Phoebe Buffay
I'm in the shower and I'm writing a song
Stop me if you've heard it
My skin is soapy and my hair is wet
And tegrin spelled backward is nirget
Lather, rinse, repeat
Lather, rinse, repeat
Lather, rinse, repeat
(pause)
As needed!
And of course, the famous Smelly Cat:
Smelly Cat - Phoebe Buffay
Smelly cat, smelly cat
What are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat
It's not your fault
They won't take you to the vet
You're obviously not their favorite pet
You may not be a bed of roses
And you're no friend to those with noses
friends and eggs
Saturday, October 18, 2003, 08:30 p.m.
Haven't been Friends-ing for quite a while. Downloaded Season 3 today and started watching Season 2. With all the witty lines and compact subplots, I just couldn't stop watching once I started. Friends has just ended its ninth season, and watching the first seasons is like witnessing how the characters have grown over the years (quite freaky that all of them looked the same ten years ago, and their dress sense is quite timeless). It's a pity that in real life we cannot "rewind" and see how we have changed ourselves.
Cleared my desk. Now it's empty and so soothing to the eye. Also cleared my drawers and to my horror found many roaches' eggs in my files... Can't believe I have built a conducive nest for the Most Useless Organism on earth. Threw away all those trash that I'd accumulated since my NUS days and felt really accomplished.
tears and drama
Saturday, October 18, 2003, 12:37 p.m.
Yesterday was the graduation ceremony for our second batch of students. When Mdm Tey was giving out the graduation files to her form class, she was crying the whole time and some of her students were crying and the students hugged her and a boy kissed her on the cheek. Gek Hong was commenting, "What's the big deal? Would you cry?" It was definitely a little overly-dramatic but I was moved. I can't remembered if I cried when I graduated from TCHS, and I wonder if I will be crying when I hand out the graduation files to my form class next time.
vcd
Friday, October 17, 2003, 08:38 p.m.
Practised some new songs with Junbin and Youxia during yesterday's Integral practice, and the VCD guy finally delivered our concert VCDs after the long wait. Spent the night watching the VCD - I think we played really well! Much better than last year. And the VCD is indeed very well-packaged and well-edited. Worth the money.
been...
Thursday, October 16, 2003, 02:56 p.m.
Been invigilating in the hall for the past week where the Sec 2 Express students were taking their streaming exams. Paced up and down the hall so many times that I could almost remember every single student's faces already.
Been marking too. My Science class 2E4 performed extremely well - more than half the class scored As. My Math classes 1N1 and 1T1 had more than a quarter of the class failing, which wasn't very surprising for Normal students. I was actually quite impressed with some of the students who often played in class but scored pretty well in the exam, some of them even scored nearly full marks. My last two classes - 3E1, Sakinah is marking; and 3T1 - the paper is on tomorrow. Cos I finished marking my own papers quite fast, I started helping Irene to mark her Math papers too.
Been feeling quite handicapped for the past few days as I didn't have my laptop on my desk. Lent it to a group of 5 graduands who were paid to type out the past year papers for us Physics teachers. This project actually started off as a suggestion from Basheer, and we, the young Physics teachers (we call ourselves the Physics Elites), thought it's a brilliant idea cos the question bank will be a useful resource for us when we have to set tests and exams, so we went ahead and shared the costs to pay these students who volunteered to "work" for us. Can't wait to see the end product on a CD-ROM at the end of the week!
sing sing sing
Tuesday, October 14, 2003, 08:47 p.m.
Went karaoke after school together with Irene, Gek Hong, Wee Teck and Jim, and we enjoyed ourselves singing Hokkien songs, ballads and oldies. Though I was still having a slight sore throat and blocked nose, I think I sang quite well - they said they're going to submit my name for our school's next Talentime. Haha.
15
Monday, October 13, 2003, 10:09 p.m.
Just watched the controversial Singaporean short film, 15 - no subtleties, no pretenses, right in-the-face. The front part was hilarious with all the ah beng MTVs and Hokkien vulgarities and I was laughing all the way, but as I watched further, I started to relate the characters to the Normal students that I personally know and I felt very, very terrible... the little things in the film are very, very true: the things they say about the future of Normal students, family problems, sexual curiosities, envies, the birthday that only grandma remembers, the "brotherhood", public caning, body-piercing, tattoos...
It's not a brilliant film in conventional standards, but it touched my heart.
irritateo
Monday, October 13, 2003, 08:36 p.m.
That PE HOD Miss Teo caught hold of me again today and pestered me to go to that silly Sentosa camp again when I'd already rejected her last time. Apparently no one wants to go and she thinks I'm an easy target who will oblige to everything. I told her I'm okay with other things but I'm completely uninterested in camps and I'm busy with other stuff to take part in this camp. But she insisted that "it's okay, it's okay" (without stating how it is okay) and she had that f***-it-just-say-yes-so-that-I-can-write-down-your-name look on her face, and she had to say, "But your Science HOD told me you're very good, you know, so you should go!" I got quite heated when I heard that and replied, "Being good doesn't mean I have to say yes to everything, you know?"
Think I have made an enemy with my bluntness (though I have no regrets). Luckily she's retiring at the end of this year.
on mc
Friday, October 10, 2003, 10:35 a.m.
Having a bad sore throat and a runny nose and resting at home now. I already felt sick yesterday morning and the sickness worsened by noon... and I can't say it wasn't made worse because of Benjamin...
I am co-teaching with him in 3T2 but I have always been the one conducting the class. Yesterday was the first time I let him take over the class and he got the class to stand in the sun at the parade square as they were too noisy. Of course I had to join in (the school policy is, it's ok to make students stand in the sun, as long as the teacher is in the sun too) when I was already sick. Then I let those students who behaved themselves at the parade square go back to class one by one, and Benjamin went into the class to carry on with his lesson, while I still stood in the parade square to watch the kids until all of them finally got sent back to class.
Was struggling on whether I should go to school this morning despite my sickness, as today is the last day of lessons before the exams and I am sure many students will have last-minute questions to ask me, but I eventually decided that I shall let myself rest at home and not spread my sickness to my classes.
freer states
Tuesday, October 7, 2003, 02:57 p.m.
All states of matter always want to become the next state of matter because it is freer. Solids will always want to gain enough energy to become liquids so that the particles can glide more freely... similarly for liquids, they'd grab any chance of gaining energy to become gases so that the particles can move freely independent of each other...
somethings and a boy
Sunday, October 5, 2003, 09:04 p.m.
A very productive Integral quartet practice today. We managed to play the whole of Morning (Edward Greig) quite cohesively, and I figured out some parts of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart).
Then it was a string of tuition sessions, one with Darren at my home, where he was his spontaneous and humble self and the session was very enjoyable, and another with Fiona at her home, where she was her usual dull and a little disrespectful self and I was counting down the seconds the whole time. The reason why I am getting more and more unhappy with her is because she simply refuses to think whenever I ask her questions and her mind always drifts off and she'd request for me to repeat simple things over and over again... And she expects me to devote my whole time to her. As her exams are approaching, she expects me to appear at her doorsteps whenever she calls me, and when I told her I usually have other music-related commitments at night, she said, "Huh? Why are you doing those things? Are they important? What do you get from doing them?" I felt like tearing off her head and pulling out her hair and shouting, "YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET SOMETHING FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO!" but I didn't do that as I knew she wouldn't understand and she would look back at me and say, "Can you please repeat that?" Moreover I didn't want to dirty my hands with all the blood. Oh well.
Anyway I was too tired of spending so much time traveling to her home I told her if she didn't want to travel to my place then she'd have to look for another tuition teacher. I was hoping that she would pick the latter choice, but she said she'd start coming to my place after her exams. Hmm.
Came across a boy and his father on the bus. The boy had tear streaks on his face and the father had his arms over him, occasionally touching his face and massaging the child's temples. The boy looked very tired and disgruntled, but slowly fell asleep in his father's arms... Don't know why I'm recording this down, but I felt something when I saw this - I can't tell what.
lose myself
Friday, October 3, 2003, 11:53 p.m.
Don't lose yourself, ok?
An old friend just visited my homepage and felt very melancholic after she read the part about our JC days - the dreams and innocence we used to share.
I wish I wouldn't too.
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted - In One Moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgettin
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin, how everybody's jokin now
The clock's run out, time's up over, bloah!
Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked
He's so mad, but he won't give up that
Is he? No
He won't have it, he knows his whole back city's ropes
It don't matter, he's dope
He knows that, but he's broke
He's so stacked that he knows
When he goes back to his mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again yo
This whole rap shit
He better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him
[Hook:]
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo
The soul's escaping, through this hole that it's gaping
This world is mine for the taking
Make me king, as we move toward a, new world order
A normal life is borin, but superstardom's close to post mortar
It only grows harder, only grows hotter
He blows us all over these hoes is all on him
Coast to coast shows, he's know as the globetrotter
Lonely roads, God only knows
He's grown farther from home, he's no father
He goes home and barely knows his own daughter
But hold your nose cuz here goes the cold water
His hoes don't want him no mo, he's cold product
They moved on to the next schmoe who flows
He nose dove and sold nada
So the soap opera is told and unfolds
I suppose it's old potna, but the beat goes on
Da da dum da dum da da
[Hook]
No more games, I'ma change what you call rage
Tear this mothafuckin roof off like 2 dogs caged
I was playin in the beginnin, the mood all changed
I been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage
But I kept rhymin and stepwritin the next cypher
Best believe somebody's payin the pied piper
All the pain inside amplified by the fact
That I can't get by with my 9 to 5
And I can't provide the right type of life for my family
Cuz man, these goddam food stamps don't buy diapers
And it's no movie, there's no Mekhi Phifer, this is my life
And these times are so hard and it's getting even harder
Tryin to feed and water my seed, plus
See dishonor caught up between bein a father and a prima donna
Baby mama drama's screamin on and
Too much for me to wanna
Stay in one spot, another jam or not
Has gotten me to the point, I'm like a snail
I've got to formulate a plot fore I end up in jail or shot
Success is my only mothafuckin option, failure's not
Mom, I love you, but this trail has got to go
I cannot grow old in Salem's lot
So here I go is my shot.
Feet fail me not cuz maybe the only opportunity that I got
[Hook]
You can do anything you set your mind to, man
past 3 days
Friday, October 3, 2003, 01:53 p.m.
The past few days have been very tiring - so tiring that I didn't have the energy to type here by the end of the day - I only had just enough energy to drag myself to bed...
Two days ago, I chatted with my 1N1 students - Manfred, Qianhui, Yuxin, Jiasui, etc - after our ASP (after-school programme, another name for the all-too-familiar remedial). I was so engrossed in their gossips and concerns that we chatted for several hours. And I realised that Manfred has a brother Nicholas who's in my 3E4 class. What a small world.
Yesterday was a long day. After school, we had four hours of science meeting, when many 'arrows' were shot and everyone got his/her fair bit. Then I went to BH, where I nearly fell asleep while playing my instrument (especially when it was that 'green grass' piece which I'm totally clueless about what the piece is trying to say).
Today, I was half-dead in the morning, but ironically, towards the end of the day, I felt even fresher, probably because it's the weekend, and I'm going for my fourth violin lesson later! :)
shady lane
Wednesday, October 1, 2003, 05:13 p.m.
...The worlds collide,
But all that I want is a shady lane...
- Shady Lane, Pavement