I just saw this on Facebook:
Student + Dying = Studying

Somehow, the pleasure derived from just plainly studying had long vanished along with pretty much of my childhood. Teachers all have a common sentence that must be said: Pay attention, this is how they will usually ask during the examinations, this is how you should answer, so that you can get the full score for that question.

It's a little sad that students now just learn for the certificate they will get upon completing their education in order to get a job with a decent pay. Whereas students used to learn just for learning's sake, and just to enjoy school life. More students also suffer from depression or other stress-related issues now.

Today's lesson only had the presence of four people in the room. The teacher, Owen, Tammy and me. I kind of prefer it this way though. It feels more comfortable because there are fewer people around. We couldn't escape playing the ensemble piece as there were still four of us though.

While Owen was playing the solo piece We Wish You a Merry Christmas, I made a small discovery. I was remarking about how his playing would most probably be better than mine considering the amount of time I spent on practising this week. And I continued how it seemed a tad embarrassing since he is much younger than me. Tammy then told me that he was only a year younger than me. And I'd always thought that he was still in Primary school. Ah well. Anyway, my playing was alright - definitely much better than last week's. The only problem was the chord changes which could have been better if I kick the habit of detaching my fingers too far away from the strings.
Alas, there came the next piece to learn by next week: Moderato by M. Carcassi and to play the A minor scale flawlessly. Sigh. Tammy and Eugenia won't be present next week. So I'm most probably going to be the only Secondary Three there.

Homework. Somehow, I get the feeling that if 'homework' were to be a person, it would a my nemesis - some monstrous, evil, scheming creature which intends to take all the joy out of my life.

Guitar lesson on Sunday wasn't exactly good since I didn't practise. We are doing Christmas carols now.

Choir has been alright I suppose. The French school exchange was really fun albeit it being far too short. We had only one and a half hour to mingle with each other. There were not many chances to speak to each other too since we had to utilise that short period of time to the maximum by singing.

When I entered the school, I wondered if we were still in Singapore. It was my first time in an international school and the campus looked really different from our usual school compound. The students also didn't have uniforms and you could see them walking about. When we got there in was already mid-afternoon so most of them were heading home. It really seemed like a school scene from those European shows.

Everyone took quite a while to settle down in the auditorium. Partly because we couldn't understand their conductor initially. Well, at least I was confused. She calls the sections by different terms and I wasn't used to sitting in once whole big block, I guess.

I stood in the first row, in between two girls from the French school. The girl on my right was Julia ( I think that was her name ) and the one on my left was Ariane. When Julia told me Ariane could speak Mandarin I was actually kind of surprised since I didn't really expect to find Asians in the school. Ariane told me that she has been in the school since she was five and her mum is a Taiwanese. After Ariane knew I can speak Mandarin, she started speaking in Mandarin to me and I think she is more fluent in the language that I am if I were to be frank.

Although they did not seem familiar with the combined pieces at all I was struck by how earnest they were in their singing. Julia told me that they only learnt the first few pages of Why We Sing and sang 大海啊！故乡 using the syllable 'la'. They also performed two Swedish pieces for us afterwards and during our turn, we performed around half of our December concert repertoire.

It didn't really matter whether their standard is as good as us, or worse than us. In my opinion, their enthusiasm and willingness to learn had already won me over from the start. I really like Julia too, she was really friendly.

At the end we gave each of them our choir badges and a bouquet of flowers to the French conductor. Let's hope we will get to have a combined performance with them soon!

By the way, the journey from the florist near my house to Redhill was a little awkward for me. It wasn't the first time I was carrying a bouquet while taking the public transport. The first was with my mum. We were going to visit Aunt Rachel at some hospital after the birth of her daughter. So my mum and I got this bouquet of teddy bears for Aunt Rachel. And for the duration of the journey there, I had plenty of stares. Yesterday was the same too, just that it was a bouquet of lilies instead. A lady asked me about it on the way too. She spoke to me in Mandarin; I guessed she was a Chinese/Taiwanese tourist since she didn't appear local and she had a luggage with her.

Wow! Who gave you those lilies? Your boyfriend is so sweet/romantic!
Nonono, I'm giving these flowers to someone else. They are not for
me.
How much is it?
Around $55 for a bouquet this size.
Ohh...Still, so sweet of him to give you lilies. They smell great!

My arm went numb from cradling the lilies on the train. The florist told me that I must not crush the lilies and must cradle it gently. Somewhat like how parents carry babies I think?

Dinner at Yoshinoya went well. Lots of people couldn't make it unfortunately. Our group of nine went to Bishan Library (I didn't know there was a library there) after eating. I nearly walked into a glass panel there. It has been proven repeatedly that I should not have too many glass panels at home if I were to shift. Otherwise, I think I will have plenty of chances to walk into them.

I went to watch the movie Disney's A Christmas Carol last weekend with my mum. The three ghosts that visited Scrooge at midnight seemed scarier than the ones I saw in previous versions of the same story. The last version I watched was the English version, I think. And it wasn't an animation so there was a limit to how dramatic the ghosts appeared. There wasn't the journey to outer space in the old version I guess. But the animation was as heartwarming as all earlier versions. After all, the main plot is still the same, carrying along the lesson to be learnt by Scrooge. Charles Dickens' stories are good.

Should I go for the carolling even though Yibin won't be with me? D:

Our very first 3G1 class outing was miserable, with only seven people present.

Our second gathering was also less than half the class. Around sixteen went (Yitong and CTTT joined us for dinner later) and most that didn't go actually did not have much of a reason to refuse. I would not hide the fact that I am indeed disappointed that most who were absent chose not to go just because the venue was 'too far' and they were 'too lazy to'.

Let's just say I am utterly taken aback by these people. So much so that I do not even have the means to feel any anger. It's just... ... Shock. Shock due to the large number of people who chose not to go - that is exactly what I felt.

I thought a class gathering is for bonding. Isn't that the main objective for most outings? If so, what's with the 'too lazy to go' excuse? It's not even a reason. 'Too far'? I find it's quite unfair to the rest of the fifteen who came took the trouble to go - shouldn't most of us take the effort to do so too?


But I don't really feel angry with these people. I guess I'm too surprised. After all, this is the first year that I find so few classmates turning up for gatherings.


It was alright I guess. Rosi and I met at Tampines Interchange in the morning to do some shopping in preparation for the BBQ. I was late as I didn't know the bus service Rosi took would take such a short time to reach. And it was also partly because I forgot to bring along Jia Wen's SHINee's merchandise and had to make a trip back home to get it. Rosi and I were eating at Subway when I suddenly saw Jia Wen sitting at the open area in the basement of Tampines 1. We sort of loitered around the shopping malls after that. I didn't really know how to bring them around since Rosi kept saying that she was really sleepy.

They also mistook Tampines 1 for Tampines Mall. Rosi loved Century Square's second level ladies though, as it has the sofa inside. We then settled down at Starbucks whereby Jia Wen and I just stared at Rosi while she drank her mocha. Haha.

After Jia Wen left, Rosi and I proceeded on to Bedok station, where we waited for the rest to come. We had no difficulties finding Ms Chee's house since the block she lived in was one of the tallest in the vicinity.

The first word that sprang to my mind when I entered was: clean. Maybe it's because the floor and walls were white or beige. But Ms Chee's house is really nice.

Most of the girls were playing mahjong in one of the rooms the whole day while the rest settled for watching television programmes. It was the first time I watched a mahjong game up close. It seems like it needs lots of brain power to play it. Probably that's why old folks say that mahjong will help to prevent them from becoming senile.

In the end we couldn't have a BBQ although I'd already booked the pits at ECP. Which was kind of disappointing to me. However, it wasn't the case for those mahjong addicts since they got to continue with their game. We then boiled the sausages and meatballs we bought. We spent quite a lot of money on food that day actually. We ordered pizzas for lunch and then Macs for dinner.

Everyone ate while watching the movie She's The Man on some channel I guess. Charmaine (TTT) and Yitong arrived afterwards and had their dinner there too. Although 3C2 got to go to Ms Chee's house earlier that week, I heard that they were 'chased out' of the house after eight. But our group managed to stay on till nine since we wanted to finish the show. And even as we left, I think there were still some people playing mahjong.

But it was still fun on the whole I suppose. =]

This year's birthday has been a great one.

My mum celebrated my birthday with me a day before as it falls on a choir practice day. We went to Plaza Singapura and walked around the place. The first place we shopped at was Cotton On. The branch there was almost twice and a half times bigger than the one in Tampines Mall. More clothes were available too. I bought two skirts and my mum bought a sweater for herself.

Next we went to the upper levels and went pass this baby spa outlet. They wrap this float thing around the baby's neck and let the baby dangle precariously in a circular tub that is at least one metre deep. My mum was really intrigued by the whole process and just stood at the window staring into the shop. I don't really fancy being dunked into the deep water with just a float loosely taped around my neck if I were the baby however. It just isn't my idea of fun.

I do love showering and bathing though. The longest bath I took was near two hours. When I was that baby's age, I was playing with toy ships in my own shallow tub of water at home. It was those tubs that were also used for soaking clothes which are meant to be hand washed. Actually you can just create a tub at home and soak your toddler in some hot water. Funny how people actually spend so much money on their children even when they can just do it on their own. Then again, maybe when I become a mother in the future, I may just do the same.

Dinner was at some Japanese cuisine outlet. I had curry omu rice. It was delicious. Then again, an omu rice lover like me will like the dish as long as there is omelette in it. My mum and I later shared a pretzel from Auntie Anne's. I didn't really fancy the oily taste though.

We later watched the Korean movie, My Girlfriend is an Agent. It's a really hilarious romantic comedy. I could hardly keep from laughing.

The following day, I went to school for choir practice and was greeted by many wonderful presents and cards from my great friends. Maybe it's because I now have a Facebook account, but I also received many birthday greetings. Oh, and Yibin, I will try to reduce the number of posts spent on Kpop. =]

Sungmin has just recently gotten a kitten, Hyaku. And the kitten is most probably a Siamese, one of my most favourite cat breeds. I think Russian Blues, Siamese, Japanese Bobtails and Ragdolls are really pretty cats. Ah well, I don't think I can ever care for a pet till I can get rid of my zoophobia. I wouldn't have the time to be truly responsible for one either. And there will be added expenses to worry about, plus the problem of fleas, rabies and other health problems.

It's late, therefore I will post about my class gathering later.

Yesterday was my cousin's housewarming party. I like my cousin-in-law - she's nice :D

My mum and I had some difficulties in finding the place initially. My second aunt said that my cousin's house was opposite hers. However, opposite was a series of condominium apartments. Actually I think my aunt meant the HDB block the other side of the school next to hers. You see, there is a Secondary school sandwiched between the two blocks. And when she looks out of her window, she can just see her son's house just across, over the school compound. This kind of proves that different perceptions will lead to different definitions too.


We were the first to arrive at my cousin's house. My cousin gave us a little tour around the whole flat. I kind of like the way they designed the whole area though. It's pretty cosy yet not too squashed up. However, like what my cousin and his wife mentioned, the master bedroom is small. It seems to have barely enough space of a person to move around inside. Otherwise the place looks really nice.

A while later, fourth aunt, uncle Patrick, Sheree and Ivan arrive and second aunt came with two pots of curry too - one vegetarian, one with mutton. The food catered was delicious. While we were eating Yu Sheng's family arrived. My cousin-in-law gave us eclairs and vanilla cream puffs too :DDD I love her already, hahaha.

We then settled to watch this Japanese movie, The Handsome Suit. It's kind of amusing yet a poignantly true show. It is true that appearances are often mistakenly valued above inner beauty. The rest of those who came arrived while the show was going on. The next movie was really funny - it was this Korean movie, The Scandal Maker. :D


My mum made me eat a second round of food, spoiling my attempt to eat less.


And Dennis has slimmed down so much!! I feel envious of him. Boys, aren't they lucky? Although he initially claimed that he didn't do anything and just got skinnier naturally, after my constant questioning (more like pestering, really), he told me that he climbed lots of stairs for exercise. Sigh.

When we left, Dennis told me that I could start my mission to lose weight immediately - to use the stairs instead of the lift. I just brushed it off, saying that I would start tomorrow. Ivan and Dennis laughed when I said that. I guess it will be really difficult to lose any weight without exercise.

A portion of the sole of my left foot has been hurting for the past few days.

Unlike most people who only have one flat foot, I have two instead. Sometimes I wonder if I should seriously consider the option of undergoing surgery. If I do intend to have that, now isthe time to do it, since it's holidays and I won't be able to walk for some time with a surgery on both feet. But I'm kind of afraid and arches don't help at all.

Maybe it's true that as one ages, the things one desires will change drastically. This will be my wish list for this year. I don't think anyone will buy me the CDs though...since it's not easy to get them here. But if you are serious in buying them for me, you can order them from Evangeline's friend, Eileena. Just ask Evan :D
And I think most will just forget my birthday. It was really ironic last year, the most of the people I expected to give me presents or wish me a 'happy birthday' didn't and those I least expected to did so for me. And this wish list is more for taking up a space in my post, rather than to coerce people into buying them for me since most won't.

This Birthday...

CD Albums/OSTs (if you want to buy them for me...)

1. You're Beautiful OST (A.N.JELL) - around SGD$20
2. Brown Eyed Girls Repackage Album (Sign)

Stuff

1. A grey/olive/chocolate pageboy cap
2. Cash!!!
3. Accessories (bracelets/bangles/hair clips/hairbands/ear studs/rings)*
4. Soft toy**

My tablet PC has died on me.

It was still functioning fine when I used it to watch some Korean variety show and the first episode of the drama White Lies (하얀 거짓말 / Hayan Geojitmal). But when I switched it on again at night, it just refused to start up. And even when the screen managed to show something else aside from just a black screen, an error message would come up.

Since there was committee meeting this morning, I brought my tablet along for its check-up at the TA office. I've never seen the guy who tended to my tablet before though. Anyway, let's hope that my tablet will turn out just fine. I have to go back again tomorrow to check what's wrong with it.

Today's committee meeting is the first since the new committee got chosen. We did manage to discuss the things that needed immediate attention such as the open house and stuff. I'm getting a headache thinking of the repertoire for the event though. I really hope that the Secondary Ones will perform but they do not know as many songs as their seniors. Hmm.

You're Beautiful is a really good drama to watch. But I don't really like UEE's character. Or rather, I don't really like her - don't ask me why. Somehow I never really know how to appreciate her since her appearance. But considering that she hasn't got much acting experience, I think she is kind of good I guess.

It's funny that Jang Geun Suk and Park Shin Hye are working together again though. The first time I saw them as a couple was the Etude kissing advertisement thingy. And the first time I saw both of them was in Tree of Heaven (Park Shin Hye) and DoReMiFaSoLaTiDo (Jang Geun Suk). I think they look kind of compatible and they sound good together anyway. Pity that they will be in a love triangle with that 'fake fairy' later on in the show. I really hope they wouldn't have something like Tae Kyung and Jemma/Mi Nam are long-lost siblings. I want the Tae Kyung x Jemma couple in the show please, and not the Tae Kyung x He Yi which kind of turns me off.

In almost every drama, there will be a love triangle. And almost every drama I watch, I tend to skip those parts with these love triangle stuff. I will rather watch the parts that the main lead will be with the character I like instead of the other. But I can see a Boys Over Flowers kind of relationship taking form in You're Beautiful too. There's Shin Woo who seems to want to be Jemma/Mi Nam's guardian angel and Tae Kyung who will slowly like her and care for her. And then there's the He Yi who will like Tae Kyung in turn and will most probably get jealous and fight for him since she will find out the Mi Nam is a girl in the following episode which should be released by this weekend.

Oh by the way, unlike most people, I never did support the Ji Hoo and Jandi pairing. Somehow I preferred Jandi with Jun Pyo all the way - but of course I did feel sorry for Ji Hoo.

Anyway, my main reason to watch this show was initially due to the presence of Jang Geun Suk and Park Shin Hye actually. I know Hongki's also in the cast but I was interested mainly because of these two artistes since I've seen their acting and thought (and still think) that they act really well. But Hongki came as a bonus actually. His character, Jeremy, is as cute as him. I couldn't stop laughing at Hongki's expressions throughout the released episodes. I don't really think much of Shin Woo though. I find the character Shin Woo (not Jung Yong Hwa, the guy acting the character) too nice and a little boring. Somehow, I didn't really notice Jung Yong Hwa in CN Blue...But at least he looks great in the drama :D

I don't want tomorrow to come...It'll be doomsday...

Oh. Can anyone tell me the username for 3G1 class blog? I forgot D: And I need it to post some annoucements..

It's been quite a while since I last played the guitar.

I finally went through the music sheet that my teacher sent me through mail. It felt kind of good to play chords - at least this piece doesn't require me to strum for the chords. I just have to remember to hit the strings with the back of my fingernails every second and fourth beat. :D
I'm playing More Than Words by the way - well, only the intro actually, since the teacher only sent me that part. I guess the more difficult parts will come tomorrow when I go for the lesson.
However, my fingers and muscles hurt now since I haven't been practising much...it hurts to type.

SHINee's 링딩동 (Ring Ding Dong) music video has finally been uploaded onto YouTube by SM!
I think they look much better in the MV than in their Comeback Stage performance on Music Bank last night. Minho and Taemin's permed hair looked quite awful on Music Bank. Their hairstyles look tons better in the MV. Onew looked better during Juliette's period.
I guess Jonghyun and Key are the ones that look much better than during the Juliette promotion period. I really love Key's outlook. Those violet streaks and maroon tinting on his hair really makes him look so cool. It almost made me swoon hahaha.

I still remember my surprise and delight when SuJu came back in the first half of the year too: Eunhyuk looked (and still looks) really cool with his new hair style and the eyeliner. I prefer Donghae with straight hair though...too bad it was permed after that.

Oh and I realise I'd forgotten to mention about F.T. Island's Raining MV. I really like Jaejin's singing! And it's great that Jaejin has finally shed that geeky outlook: Gone are the black-framed glasses and bowl cut. I hope he lets his hair grow a little longer. The rest look as good too, like they always do. And this is the first time I listened to their Japanese songs too. I usually just listen and watch their Korean releases.

Strangely, it's quite the opposite for TVXQ. I started listening to Tohoshinki and bought their Japanese releases. It was only in the second year of knowing them that I started listening to their Korean songs although I knew they were a Korean male group from the start.

This morning, as I was rubbing my hair dry with my towel, a loose thread got caught with my right ear stud. Unfortunately, I didn't realise it and just pulled my towel away. My ear lobe hurt quite a bit after that. Otherwise, I think both sides are healing quite nicely. I don't really know how to clean though. All I do is to try to spread the alcohol around the stud and pull and twist the studs. Let's just hope I won't get ear infection.

I watched thirteen episodes of Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy yesterday. However, I still have another thirteen more episodes to go till the end. Somehow, Han Hyo Joo resembles Song Hye Gyo at certain angles. Both are as pretty though. =]

Happy birthday to Fishy Donghae! 생일 축하합니다~

I think I'm the only one who didn't go out after the examinations. Well, I couldn't find anyone to go out with and I didn't plan anything D:

My last paper ended this morning. I kind of sympathise with those who need to go back to school tomorrow to take the Chinese Literature paper. It's great to go home earlier than those History students today too.

Before the doomed day for the release of the papers next week, I shall immerse myself in my Kdramas - You're Beautiful and Shining Inheritance (!!!) - and my Super Show concert DVD which has been lying in under my textbooks (Suju!!!!!!~)

Ahhh~ It would be nice to be able to have the holidays start next week... ...

One more day to SHINee's comeback on Music Bank!!! They really went through a radical change...

I'm quite surprised and happy with the new committee positions.
I was really happy that others think that I can be a good and capable leader.
A heartfelt 'thank you' to everyone who has congratulated me. I will definitely work harder and prove that I am a responsible person and help the rest of the committee.

To the new members of our committee, each of you were chosen with great consideration by the old committee. Welcome to the group and don't forget to work hard~ /(^^)/
May all of us work together as a great team!