Jia You!
I'm sad. And tired. And stressed. I don't know now which sensation (I don't want to use "feeling" haha) took over me first, and caused whichever, but if you mix them in a bottle, shake it all up like mad, and you get this gooey icky mixture, THAT's the one.
It's my turn to get this hell week. My Programming written test 2 was held on Wednesday, yesterday was this Talentime in the KR, where each block presented an item (it was lots of fun, but killed my study time), and tomorrow I have a Statistics test, and 30 minutes afterwards, my dreaded Programming Exam. And oh, the result for my Linear Algebra test came this afternoon.
Sooo.. how am I coping? How am I faring in my midterm tests so far? Let's just say I'm thinking Beatles right now. Particularly "Across the Universe" (I love Fiona Apple's version), and "Let It Be". Sigh.
Like they say in Chinese, jia you!
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
After calls to this Suntec phone hotline that was forever busy (provided too by this annoying information centre lady), calls to ShiHui and WeyLing of Choir, calls to SMRT bus company by Yishu, a trip to DBS to get a replacement for my ATM card, a trip to OSA for application of a new EZLink card and a report of lost matric card, I finally have my wallet back.
Thank you to Mr Chia, the taxi driver, for calling Wee Teck, this friendly Admissions Officer (whose calling card I luckily kept in my wallet), who in turn emailed me to contact the God-sent driver.
This taxi driver has got to be of a rare kind. I called him up as soon as I read Wee Teck's email, and he so happened to be in Clementi, the small town closest to NUS. At first I thought he was irritable, since he insisted that I meet him at that precise moment since he may not be driving near NUS when I was free. I was preparing for the last Choir practice of the semester at around 7pm, and was hesitant to go and meet up with him in Clementi still. It was 6:30pm.
I was heading for the bus stop when he called again, and kindly offered to meet me inside NUS. I had trouble explaining where Kent Ridge Hall was (it's not on Kent Ridge Crescent anymore), and we had a long phone call as I was leading him around (he was driving, see). An A1 bus luckily came, and I called him up again to meet me at the more prominent bus stop of Prince George's Park.
He came after a few minutes, and pulled out the wallet from the back compartment. He was so nice about the whole thing I wanted to pay him, at least for the missed minutes of his working hours in his trip to meet me, or show my gratitude somehow for the sheer kindness I didn't quite expect. "No," he says waving his hand, "it belongs to you." He offered a handshake, and I was most pleased to have chosen to ride in his taxi that fateful Saturday night.
God bless that good man.
***
NUS Choir practice was good; it was our last meeting for the semester, at least before we do our caroling. We were doing several Christmas songs in one go, and you know how Christmas songs are, they cheer you up effortlessly.
The previous conductor, Terrence, was selling his suit to me, as we all were required to have our measurements taken for a brand new suit for the Varsity Voices Concert in late February. Good thing I missed the practice when the tailor was taking measurements, because now I had a rarely used suit at a much lower price! It was fresh from the dry cleaners, and it seemed to fit quite well, except for the pants, which I had to refuse. But the coat and the elegant white polo (which he gave for free) fit quite nicely, and I got it for 50bucks! That's virtually a steal. The other choir guys have to shell out some 150+ bucks for the coat and pants only (no white polo yet) and that in fact, is a reduced price already after the 90bucks subsidy from Centre for the Arts. I still have to get the pants, but that will be quite okay.
***
And oh, guess who got an A in his Singapore Studies Assignment 2 proposal? Wow, thank you Lord! I knew you wouldn't let me drown in my troubles right? Hehe.
Guess it's back to work for now. Tests coming up!
After calls to this Suntec phone hotline that was forever busy (provided too by this annoying information centre lady), calls to ShiHui and WeyLing of Choir, calls to SMRT bus company by Yishu, a trip to DBS to get a replacement for my ATM card, a trip to OSA for application of a new EZLink card and a report of lost matric card, I finally have my wallet back.
Thank you to Mr Chia, the taxi driver, for calling Wee Teck, this friendly Admissions Officer (whose calling card I luckily kept in my wallet), who in turn emailed me to contact the God-sent driver.
This taxi driver has got to be of a rare kind. I called him up as soon as I read Wee Teck's email, and he so happened to be in Clementi, the small town closest to NUS. At first I thought he was irritable, since he insisted that I meet him at that precise moment since he may not be driving near NUS when I was free. I was preparing for the last Choir practice of the semester at around 7pm, and was hesitant to go and meet up with him in Clementi still. It was 6:30pm.
I was heading for the bus stop when he called again, and kindly offered to meet me inside NUS. I had trouble explaining where Kent Ridge Hall was (it's not on Kent Ridge Crescent anymore), and we had a long phone call as I was leading him around (he was driving, see). An A1 bus luckily came, and I called him up again to meet me at the more prominent bus stop of Prince George's Park.
He came after a few minutes, and pulled out the wallet from the back compartment. He was so nice about the whole thing I wanted to pay him, at least for the missed minutes of his working hours in his trip to meet me, or show my gratitude somehow for the sheer kindness I didn't quite expect. "No," he says waving his hand, "it belongs to you." He offered a handshake, and I was most pleased to have chosen to ride in his taxi that fateful Saturday night.
God bless that good man.
***
NUS Choir practice was good; it was our last meeting for the semester, at least before we do our caroling. We were doing several Christmas songs in one go, and you know how Christmas songs are, they cheer you up effortlessly.
The previous conductor, Terrence, was selling his suit to me, as we all were required to have our measurements taken for a brand new suit for the Varsity Voices Concert in late February. Good thing I missed the practice when the tailor was taking measurements, because now I had a rarely used suit at a much lower price! It was fresh from the dry cleaners, and it seemed to fit quite well, except for the pants, which I had to refuse. But the coat and the elegant white polo (which he gave for free) fit quite nicely, and I got it for 50bucks! That's virtually a steal. The other choir guys have to shell out some 150+ bucks for the coat and pants only (no white polo yet) and that in fact, is a reduced price already after the 90bucks subsidy from Centre for the Arts. I still have to get the pants, but that will be quite okay.
***
And oh, guess who got an A in his Singapore Studies Assignment 2 proposal? Wow, thank you Lord! I knew you wouldn't let me drown in my troubles right? Hehe.
Guess it's back to work for now. Tests coming up!
Burden of Proof
Burden of Proof
I've always liked the phrase, "Burden of Proof". Blame it on the Estrada Impeachment Trial, where the Chief Justice emphasized that the "burden of proof lies in the prosecution, not the defense".
In any case, if you still don't believe that I sing in a choir (I still don't believe it too sometimes haha), here's some proof. (Or maybe you do believe, but I'll post this anyway bwahaha)
Kent Ridge Choir: In the KR Music Room after the Culture Night Performance (21.10.04)
The tenors of Kent Ridge Choir (most of them at least, some couldn't perform that night), who I struggle to sing with as I'm singing Bass 2 for NUS Choir.
We're shabbily dressed (at least the guys, since we were in the market scene in the play.. The girls were more dolled up since it was supposed to be a market in the 80's. I don't understand that connection very much though. Hehe.
NUS Choir: In the Holding Room (just a storage rooom really) of Exhibition Hall 602, Suntec Convention Centre after the PAP 50th Anniversary Dinner Performance (23.10.04)
I've always liked the phrase, "Burden of Proof". Blame it on the Estrada Impeachment Trial, where the Chief Justice emphasized that the "burden of proof lies in the prosecution, not the defense".
In any case, if you still don't believe that I sing in a choir (I still don't believe it too sometimes haha), here's some proof. (Or maybe you do believe, but I'll post this anyway bwahaha)
Kent Ridge Choir: In the KR Music Room after the Culture Night Performance (21.10.04)
The tenors of Kent Ridge Choir (most of them at least, some couldn't perform that night), who I struggle to sing with as I'm singing Bass 2 for NUS Choir.
The Kent Ridge Choir
We're shabbily dressed (at least the guys, since we were in the market scene in the play.. The girls were more dolled up since it was supposed to be a market in the 80's. I don't understand that connection very much though. Hehe.
NUS Choir: In the Holding Room (just a storage rooom really) of Exhibition Hall 602, Suntec Convention Centre after the PAP 50th Anniversary Dinner Performance (23.10.04)
That's the NUS Choir for you. Not everyone was free for the performance though, so we're not quite complete here. A guy was able to make it to the rehearsal in the afternoon, but since he didn't have a security pass, he couldn't perform in the actual thing. Anyway, on a more cheerful note, that guy who's blocking the front row, Keng Khoon, was the photographer and here he was rushing to get in the photo after setting the cameras. Suddenly the photo became more natural, don't you think?
I would've cropped and resized the photos if I had time, but I'm just so (supposedly) busy. Hehe. Hope this makes up for the absence of posts in the coming days (I'll try not to blog, I promise). Please pray for me for my tests! Cheers.
I would've cropped and resized the photos if I had time, but I'm just so (supposedly) busy. Hehe. Hope this makes up for the absence of posts in the coming days (I'll try not to blog, I promise). Please pray for me for my tests! Cheers.
You lose some, but you win more
You lose some, but you win more
I lost my wallet yet again. Argh I can be so careless.
But that's okay, as I'm trying out "optimistic" mode this time, and that always-look-at-the-bright-side-of-life stance. For one, my wallet didn't contain much money this time; in fact I was about to withdraw but didn't have the chance to. The only things of value were my matric card (which I use to access my room, get through hall doors, get meals, borrow books, enter computer rooms and lounges, but that's okay I can figure out stuff [i got in my room now in fact]), my ATM card (which is easily replaceable), and.. that's about it. My cashcard has only about two bucks, my toastmastesters card I don't use much, this rare Singapore and Brunei dollar bill aren't of much practical value since I planned to keep them only, my family pics I have bigger copies at home hehe, so basically no problem.
I'm not sure whether I lost my wallet in the taxi or in Suntec, but, nuff of that, because I think the brighter side of it all was that the NUS Choir gave a "superb" (that's according to our conductor Josephine) performance in the PAP 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner held just a couple of hours ago. We practised in the afternoon and rather lacked some oomph, but I think we delivered during the actual performance, which was at 10pm, and marked the end of the whole dinner, some sort of finale if you will.
It really was a grand event that dinner. We went into the convention center at around 2pm, and there were these big screens, lights, grand yet simple decor on stage and around the hall, and these really neat, dressed-up round tables for the VIP guests. Actually, the two front tables were marked VVIP instead, and, basing on the more elaborate decorations, the more elegant china and silverware on the table, those front tables were to seat the Singapore bigwigs.
And true enough, I got a good glimpse of LKY and Goh Chok Tong when we sang. Haha, I'm not sure I identify PM Lee Hsien Loong, but I'm sure I saw him since I looked at all the old guys' faces in that round table in my occasional glances past the conductor during our performance! Haha, all just to get a good look at these political celebrities.
For a while I thought we were going to share the ten-course meal (now I'm not too sure if it was ten), which included the symbolic shark's fin if I may add, but instead, we were just given large servings of chicken rice to eat in the holding room. It wasn't too bad, really, at least they gave us food, unlike that other group we sang for last time.
I'm also glad that I'm getting to know more people in the choir, and we're turning out to be pretty good friends. I'm thinking now that maybe the December caroling and the June competition won't make me too miserable, at the very least.
***
Back to the wallet, I'm glad that because of its loss, I was able to interact more with my friends and choirmates to help me. So thanks Yishu my neighbor for calling the taxi company to check for any reported found wallet, thanks Adrian for opening the D block 2nd floor gate twice and being genuinely concerned about all this crazy stuff, thanks Wey Ling and Shihui (choir president and VP, respectively), for taking my calls and helping me out in contacting Suntec. It amazes me to see that you're more willing to find the wallet than I am! Thanks guys.
Awhile ago I was thinking of saying this was still the Screw-up Series in effect, and it most probably is, but I won't say it. Yes, I try my darndest to stay in this "optimistic" mode, and hopefully it'll help me get through the crazy week to come.
I lost my wallet yet again. Argh I can be so careless.
But that's okay, as I'm trying out "optimistic" mode this time, and that always-look-at-the-bright-side-of-life stance. For one, my wallet didn't contain much money this time; in fact I was about to withdraw but didn't have the chance to. The only things of value were my matric card (which I use to access my room, get through hall doors, get meals, borrow books, enter computer rooms and lounges, but that's okay I can figure out stuff [i got in my room now in fact]), my ATM card (which is easily replaceable), and.. that's about it. My cashcard has only about two bucks, my toastmastesters card I don't use much, this rare Singapore and Brunei dollar bill aren't of much practical value since I planned to keep them only, my family pics I have bigger copies at home hehe, so basically no problem.
I'm not sure whether I lost my wallet in the taxi or in Suntec, but, nuff of that, because I think the brighter side of it all was that the NUS Choir gave a "superb" (that's according to our conductor Josephine) performance in the PAP 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner held just a couple of hours ago. We practised in the afternoon and rather lacked some oomph, but I think we delivered during the actual performance, which was at 10pm, and marked the end of the whole dinner, some sort of finale if you will.
It really was a grand event that dinner. We went into the convention center at around 2pm, and there were these big screens, lights, grand yet simple decor on stage and around the hall, and these really neat, dressed-up round tables for the VIP guests. Actually, the two front tables were marked VVIP instead, and, basing on the more elaborate decorations, the more elegant china and silverware on the table, those front tables were to seat the Singapore bigwigs.
And true enough, I got a good glimpse of LKY and Goh Chok Tong when we sang. Haha, I'm not sure I identify PM Lee Hsien Loong, but I'm sure I saw him since I looked at all the old guys' faces in that round table in my occasional glances past the conductor during our performance! Haha, all just to get a good look at these political celebrities.
For a while I thought we were going to share the ten-course meal (now I'm not too sure if it was ten), which included the symbolic shark's fin if I may add, but instead, we were just given large servings of chicken rice to eat in the holding room. It wasn't too bad, really, at least they gave us food, unlike that other group we sang for last time.
I'm also glad that I'm getting to know more people in the choir, and we're turning out to be pretty good friends. I'm thinking now that maybe the December caroling and the June competition won't make me too miserable, at the very least.
***
Back to the wallet, I'm glad that because of its loss, I was able to interact more with my friends and choirmates to help me. So thanks Yishu my neighbor for calling the taxi company to check for any reported found wallet, thanks Adrian for opening the D block 2nd floor gate twice and being genuinely concerned about all this crazy stuff, thanks Wey Ling and Shihui (choir president and VP, respectively), for taking my calls and helping me out in contacting Suntec. It amazes me to see that you're more willing to find the wallet than I am! Thanks guys.
Awhile ago I was thinking of saying this was still the Screw-up Series in effect, and it most probably is, but I won't say it. Yes, I try my darndest to stay in this "optimistic" mode, and hopefully it'll help me get through the crazy week to come.
The Swamped Series
Swamped Series
Actually the Screw-up Series endures, but right now I think I'm just Swamped.
As for Java, I'm just Stumped (but I'm figuring out stuff now ;)).
As for my Committee interviews, I got Dumped.
But nuff of the negative energy, we'll just call this the Swamped Series.
I never quite understood when my friends tell me it's their so called Hell Week and all, but if the past week and the next week are any indication, I might just be halfway into this blasted Hell Week.
But it's okay, I'm not complaining much, as I've resigned myself to the fact that University life is really busy (heck I had a bridging course also here at NUS as a primer). Still, I find my sleeping pattern all screwed up, my eyebags getting bigger, my zits popping like Pringles, my room getting messier. Wait a minute, WHAT SLEEPING PATTERN? There's no pattern now, in fact. I try to grab some shut-eye sometimes at noon, before dinner, or perhaps after dinner, since I sleep at around 3-4am now lately. As much as possible, I try not to sleep during lectures. That's one thing I'm proud about. Well, that is, if I make it into class, since I sometimes oversleep and skip half of my 8am classes. I didn't mean to, trust me. ;)
Anyway, I won't bore you about the boring details of my all-nighters with Java (it's stressful but I think I'm getting better), my comm interviews, and my essays and assignments, but I'll tell you the more happier stuff.
Culture Nite last night was a success! I sang with the KR Choir (Kent Ridge hall choir), and we sang the cheery When I'm 64 by the Beatles, and this really sad song, The Oak and the Ash. The Culture night this year was different from the previous years', since they integrated the drama (KRX), songwriting (Inspire), a cappella, band (Rockers), Dance, and Choir into a play of sorts. Quite cool actually, and birthday girl Ivy had the most interesting role as an effigy. She was basically running around making faces and laughing. Quite a debut she had. Showbiz debut too. Happy 18th Ivy! And congratulations to Choir for singing more confidently and harmoniously than I expected onstage.
Tomorrow also happens to be the PAP performance at Suntec City Convention Centre with the NUS Choir. I'm rather excited, as this will be the first time I'll see the all-powerful political elite of Singapore, including LKY. We'll perform late into the night, but we have to be there right after lunch! This has got to be one of the biggest shows of the Choir.
Oh, on a more not-so-happy-not-so-sad note, I'm probably going home on December 20. The exams will finish by the end of November still, but the NUS Choir is scheduled to do some caroling. On December 18 and 19, there'll be performances in no less than the Esplanade, so I didn't want to miss it. Also, the major reason is for the subsidy for the overseas competition in June! They say the more that we join in events, the more subsidy each member gets. But of course, I enjoy performing too outside (since I never got to do it in the Philippines), and it thrills me to think of the competition. I hope the time away from home is justified though.
Okay, I think I better stop here as I have mountains of stuff to do again! Good night blogster.
Actually the Screw-up Series endures, but right now I think I'm just Swamped.
As for Java, I'm just Stumped (but I'm figuring out stuff now ;)).
As for my Committee interviews, I got Dumped.
But nuff of the negative energy, we'll just call this the Swamped Series.
I never quite understood when my friends tell me it's their so called Hell Week and all, but if the past week and the next week are any indication, I might just be halfway into this blasted Hell Week.
But it's okay, I'm not complaining much, as I've resigned myself to the fact that University life is really busy (heck I had a bridging course also here at NUS as a primer). Still, I find my sleeping pattern all screwed up, my eyebags getting bigger, my zits popping like Pringles, my room getting messier. Wait a minute, WHAT SLEEPING PATTERN? There's no pattern now, in fact. I try to grab some shut-eye sometimes at noon, before dinner, or perhaps after dinner, since I sleep at around 3-4am now lately. As much as possible, I try not to sleep during lectures. That's one thing I'm proud about. Well, that is, if I make it into class, since I sometimes oversleep and skip half of my 8am classes. I didn't mean to, trust me. ;)
Anyway, I won't bore you about the boring details of my all-nighters with Java (it's stressful but I think I'm getting better), my comm interviews, and my essays and assignments, but I'll tell you the more happier stuff.
Culture Nite last night was a success! I sang with the KR Choir (Kent Ridge hall choir), and we sang the cheery When I'm 64 by the Beatles, and this really sad song, The Oak and the Ash. The Culture night this year was different from the previous years', since they integrated the drama (KRX), songwriting (Inspire), a cappella, band (Rockers), Dance, and Choir into a play of sorts. Quite cool actually, and birthday girl Ivy had the most interesting role as an effigy. She was basically running around making faces and laughing. Quite a debut she had. Showbiz debut too. Happy 18th Ivy! And congratulations to Choir for singing more confidently and harmoniously than I expected onstage.
Tomorrow also happens to be the PAP performance at Suntec City Convention Centre with the NUS Choir. I'm rather excited, as this will be the first time I'll see the all-powerful political elite of Singapore, including LKY. We'll perform late into the night, but we have to be there right after lunch! This has got to be one of the biggest shows of the Choir.
Oh, on a more not-so-happy-not-so-sad note, I'm probably going home on December 20. The exams will finish by the end of November still, but the NUS Choir is scheduled to do some caroling. On December 18 and 19, there'll be performances in no less than the Esplanade, so I didn't want to miss it. Also, the major reason is for the subsidy for the overseas competition in June! They say the more that we join in events, the more subsidy each member gets. But of course, I enjoy performing too outside (since I never got to do it in the Philippines), and it thrills me to think of the competition. I hope the time away from home is justified though.
Okay, I think I better stop here as I have mountains of stuff to do again! Good night blogster.
...
Programming is the ultimate depressant.
I salute all you programmers, and I wish I had that elusive "programming sense".
Remind me to steer clear of any programming modules EVER.
I salute all you programmers, and I wish I had that elusive "programming sense".
Remind me to steer clear of any programming modules EVER.
Surprise surprise
Surprise surprise
Guess who just got into CHEERLEADING COMM?!
Haha! Who would've thought?! On one hand, I feel that I've become so desperate I decided to tap that inner barker in me, just to earn hall points. BUT then again, I've always enjoyed yelling cheers in my high school days, and now in University, I've become quite "on" (Singaporean(?) word for "active" or something) in the cheers and yells for my Orientation group, as well as for Kent Ridge Hall in the NUS Rag and Flag Day.
Thursdays and Fridays are my longest days, as I've always said, and last night (Thursday) at 11:15pm, after two exhausting but enjoyable choir practices on top of my busy day, I went for the Cheerleading Comm interview. "Why do you want to join Cheerleading Comm?" this friendly girl Yan Yan smilingly asked. She was beside Weiyi, a very approachable fellow D-blocker, who was ex-CL head and now head of Recreation Comm.
I hesitated a bit, thought for a while (I'm not sure if I thought hard enough though), and decided to go for the road less traveled.
"The honest answer to that question is that.. I was rejected by three comms," I said with what I hoped to appear as a grin. "BUT," I hastily added upon seeing their smiling faces, "I've always surprised myself with something new in Singapore, like the Choirs I joined, when I never had choir experience in the Philippines. Besides, I was one of the barkers in our Cheerleading in high school. They got me because of my big voice and, um, I can clap loudly." Haha, I found that hearing myself say that last bit rather amusing. Hehe.
They made me do a cheer, I wasn't prepared, I was buying time and all, but I think they ultimately appreciated my cheerful energy and loud voice. Pakapalan na ng mukha eh. Hehe. I even gave a little sample of the bipbipbopbidipbidipbopbop cheer, which is one of those cool nonsensical cheers that surprisingly sound good.
Anyway, I have to earn more points still if I'm really intent on staying back in KR. The HPB and Hall Production Comms (yes I'm still watching their list of succesful applicants) found a bunch of new members in the last round, and the openings are getting fewer and fewer, meaning my chances of being a second-class member (yes I had to swallow a huge chunk of pride) are getting slimmer and slimmer.
Come to think of it, as was pointed out to me, maybe those comms didn't get me since I told them I was going home to the Philippines during the Christmas holidays. Their main activities are going to be held in January, see. Or, maybe they've just got uber high standards and I don't quite make the cut. Nah, I prefer the former.
***
Oh yeah, we're confirmed to be performing to the PAP (People's Action Party) next Saturday! And of course, my ticket to that performance is my favorite NUS Choir. Hehe. It's the PAP's 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, and we were chosen to sing. If PAP doesn't ring a bell to you (I was clueless too a few months ago), it's basically Lee Kuan Yew and Co. Quite cool eh? LKY + ex-PM Goh Chok Tong, and current PM Lee Hsien Loong will be in the audience.
Get this: we had to submit our FIN/IC number and a passport-size photo for our security passes! So in yesterday's NUS Choir meeting, those who didn't have photos had an impromptu picture-taking session just so we could all perform next Saturday. Although I think the whole security thing is a teeny bit absurd, maybe I just have to realize these are Singapore's bigwigs, and of course, LKY is a worldwide celebrity almost always equated with SG's exponential growth and progress and all. He's my Uncle Tito's idol too.
***
Too long entry already! Guess I better rest since I aim to beat my Indonesian friend Johni to Statistics class tomorrow morning (later at 8am) since he says that I almost always turn up only during the 9am break (which is not quite untrue as well haha).
That's all the blogworthy stuff I have for now, but before I enjoy the comforts of my bed, let me just congratulate MIKE for finishing his final final exams, and wish JAY a safe trip to Davao.
G'night!
Guess who just got into CHEERLEADING COMM?!
Haha! Who would've thought?! On one hand, I feel that I've become so desperate I decided to tap that inner barker in me, just to earn hall points. BUT then again, I've always enjoyed yelling cheers in my high school days, and now in University, I've become quite "on" (Singaporean(?) word for "active" or something) in the cheers and yells for my Orientation group, as well as for Kent Ridge Hall in the NUS Rag and Flag Day.
Thursdays and Fridays are my longest days, as I've always said, and last night (Thursday) at 11:15pm, after two exhausting but enjoyable choir practices on top of my busy day, I went for the Cheerleading Comm interview. "Why do you want to join Cheerleading Comm?" this friendly girl Yan Yan smilingly asked. She was beside Weiyi, a very approachable fellow D-blocker, who was ex-CL head and now head of Recreation Comm.
I hesitated a bit, thought for a while (I'm not sure if I thought hard enough though), and decided to go for the road less traveled.
"The honest answer to that question is that.. I was rejected by three comms," I said with what I hoped to appear as a grin. "BUT," I hastily added upon seeing their smiling faces, "I've always surprised myself with something new in Singapore, like the Choirs I joined, when I never had choir experience in the Philippines. Besides, I was one of the barkers in our Cheerleading in high school. They got me because of my big voice and, um, I can clap loudly." Haha, I found that hearing myself say that last bit rather amusing. Hehe.
They made me do a cheer, I wasn't prepared, I was buying time and all, but I think they ultimately appreciated my cheerful energy and loud voice. Pakapalan na ng mukha eh. Hehe. I even gave a little sample of the bipbipbopbidipbidipbopbop cheer, which is one of those cool nonsensical cheers that surprisingly sound good.
Anyway, I have to earn more points still if I'm really intent on staying back in KR. The HPB and Hall Production Comms (yes I'm still watching their list of succesful applicants) found a bunch of new members in the last round, and the openings are getting fewer and fewer, meaning my chances of being a second-class member (yes I had to swallow a huge chunk of pride) are getting slimmer and slimmer.
Come to think of it, as was pointed out to me, maybe those comms didn't get me since I told them I was going home to the Philippines during the Christmas holidays. Their main activities are going to be held in January, see. Or, maybe they've just got uber high standards and I don't quite make the cut. Nah, I prefer the former.
***
Oh yeah, we're confirmed to be performing to the PAP (People's Action Party) next Saturday! And of course, my ticket to that performance is my favorite NUS Choir. Hehe. It's the PAP's 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, and we were chosen to sing. If PAP doesn't ring a bell to you (I was clueless too a few months ago), it's basically Lee Kuan Yew and Co. Quite cool eh? LKY + ex-PM Goh Chok Tong, and current PM Lee Hsien Loong will be in the audience.
Get this: we had to submit our FIN/IC number and a passport-size photo for our security passes! So in yesterday's NUS Choir meeting, those who didn't have photos had an impromptu picture-taking session just so we could all perform next Saturday. Although I think the whole security thing is a teeny bit absurd, maybe I just have to realize these are Singapore's bigwigs, and of course, LKY is a worldwide celebrity almost always equated with SG's exponential growth and progress and all. He's my Uncle Tito's idol too.
***
Too long entry already! Guess I better rest since I aim to beat my Indonesian friend Johni to Statistics class tomorrow morning (later at 8am) since he says that I almost always turn up only during the 9am break (which is not quite untrue as well haha).
That's all the blogworthy stuff I have for now, but before I enjoy the comforts of my bed, let me just congratulate MIKE for finishing his final final exams, and wish JAY a safe trip to Davao.
G'night!
Screw-up Series
Screw-up Series
Someone just screwed up. To protect his privacy, let's call him J.
J went for three committee interviews last night, and was turned down by all three. He appeared to be rather confident about at least one comm, the Hall Promotion Board, which he assumed to require the skills he acquired in his previous hall (which we shall hide under the initials KE), especially from this crazy comm that we shall for the moment call PR C.
He tried out for this HPB, as well as for PO of HP. For CMU, he was presented the schedule of tasks, and he plainly couldn't make it since he also belonged to the Choir. Two of them, in fact. Bwahaha.
Anyway, rejected he was, although the note on the notice board says that if the one isn't listed, it doesn't mean that he/she is rejected totally. The "rejects" are supposedly still "under consideration". Yeah right. See if only rotten ones sign up for succeeding rounds, and if nobody else is good enough, they get the less rotten, waitlisted ones. GREAT. Second-rate members.
The sign also says that applicants whose names weren't posted can still apply for positions in the same comm. J says, Ooooookay, and get interviewed by the same persons, and say the same things. Talk about adding insult to injury.
The next morning, J took a linear algebra midterm test. How'd he do? Hmm.. let's just say that his luck wasn't getting any better just yet.
J has momentarily considered going to PGP next year due to his possible lack of hall points in his desired hall, KR, but he isn't giving up yet. He vows to muster all remaining dignity and self-esteem to go for the next round of interviews.
And of course, he promises to study a little harder every day. Singapore has a meritocratic education system, as J has learned from his SS module (he watched this cool film for SSA1206, Jack Neo's "I Not Stupid" last Monday), and he is now more acutely aware of this fact.
J goes back to work now. Good night.
Someone just screwed up. To protect his privacy, let's call him J.
J went for three committee interviews last night, and was turned down by all three. He appeared to be rather confident about at least one comm, the Hall Promotion Board, which he assumed to require the skills he acquired in his previous hall (which we shall hide under the initials KE), especially from this crazy comm that we shall for the moment call PR C.
He tried out for this HPB, as well as for PO of HP. For CMU, he was presented the schedule of tasks, and he plainly couldn't make it since he also belonged to the Choir. Two of them, in fact. Bwahaha.
Anyway, rejected he was, although the note on the notice board says that if the one isn't listed, it doesn't mean that he/she is rejected totally. The "rejects" are supposedly still "under consideration". Yeah right. See if only rotten ones sign up for succeeding rounds, and if nobody else is good enough, they get the less rotten, waitlisted ones. GREAT. Second-rate members.
The sign also says that applicants whose names weren't posted can still apply for positions in the same comm. J says, Ooooookay, and get interviewed by the same persons, and say the same things. Talk about adding insult to injury.
The next morning, J took a linear algebra midterm test. How'd he do? Hmm.. let's just say that his luck wasn't getting any better just yet.
J has momentarily considered going to PGP next year due to his possible lack of hall points in his desired hall, KR, but he isn't giving up yet. He vows to muster all remaining dignity and self-esteem to go for the next round of interviews.
And of course, he promises to study a little harder every day. Singapore has a meritocratic education system, as J has learned from his SS module (he watched this cool film for SSA1206, Jack Neo's "I Not Stupid" last Monday), and he is now more acutely aware of this fact.
J goes back to work now. Good night.
Cross
Cross
My MSN nick reads, TicTacToe has got me quite cross X(.
Yep, that's the name of the program we're supposed to have done. I worked days and nights and late nights (last night I was at the Computer Centre till 1am since the URL loaded like the fastest sloth on my PC). Today, I was working all day and until the very last minute of the deadline, 12midnight.
We were tasked to create a TicTacToe Program that would run on 3 skill levels: Simple (a.k.a. Dumb), Random (a.k.a. Dumber-But-At-Least-It's Guessing), and Smart (a.k.a. SUPPOSEDLY Unbeatable).
This is my program. It's not unbeatable, but at least it passed 4 out of 6 test cases by the autograder. I hope I don't get penalized though, for style and design. If you know me, you'd know I'm not the logical, structured, organized thinker type. And this may very well be the last Programming module I will ever take.
But also, Anthony (our lab instructor with a PhD but who, like the rest of the faculty and staff, prefers to be called by his first name), stated that we need not aim to pass all 6 cases. 4 was enough, he said, but of course, it would have been jsut WONDERFUL to pass all six after the long bloody hours I've bloodily spent.
That's that. I'm supposed to have a Linear Algebra midterm test tomorrow (yes, while all you folks in the Philippines are nearing your sembreak!), but I think I'll go for the Tuesday test. STRICTLY speaking I should be in the Monday group, but since I attend the repeat lecture every Tuesday anyway (since Monday is Java LAB Day, SS Day, and NUS Choir and KR Choir Day). I hope Dr Roger Poh doesn't mind. (I didn't want to email him too, since he might tell me to go for tomorrow's 8am test, which I will quite possibly fail since I've been basically been breathing J-A-V-A the past week (and still I'm struggling to figure it out).
Tomorrow, I have three scheduled interviews for Hall Committees: Hall Promotion Board, Hall Production (Publicity) and Culture Management Unit. I'm working for hall stayback, so I sincerely hope I get into at least HPB and Hall Prod'n. I have choirs on top of them anyway, plus my stint in the Ridge Publication of NUS Stude's Union.
BTW, I'm not gonna be published for the October issue of the Ridge. Well not just yet. It's okay, really, since we all take our turns (I think). Besides, my fellow writers in the Outspoken Department are mostly from Arts, so they're of top calibre.
I'm unfortunately going to have to skip my NUS Choir practice tomorrow, but I'm sure they'll understand that three interviews cannot be rescheduled. What won't be cancelled for sure is the Programming Sit-in Lab at 11am! Woooohooo. I wish I do well. Singapore Studies at 2pm, something I've always been looking forward to. Like the banishment of TicTacToe from my spinning head. ;)
My MSN nick reads, TicTacToe has got me quite cross X(.
Yep, that's the name of the program we're supposed to have done. I worked days and nights and late nights (last night I was at the Computer Centre till 1am since the URL loaded like the fastest sloth on my PC). Today, I was working all day and until the very last minute of the deadline, 12midnight.
We were tasked to create a TicTacToe Program that would run on 3 skill levels: Simple (a.k.a. Dumb), Random (a.k.a. Dumber-But-At-Least-It's Guessing), and Smart (a.k.a. SUPPOSEDLY Unbeatable).
This is my program. It's not unbeatable, but at least it passed 4 out of 6 test cases by the autograder. I hope I don't get penalized though, for style and design. If you know me, you'd know I'm not the logical, structured, organized thinker type. And this may very well be the last Programming module I will ever take.
But also, Anthony (our lab instructor with a PhD but who, like the rest of the faculty and staff, prefers to be called by his first name), stated that we need not aim to pass all 6 cases. 4 was enough, he said, but of course, it would have been jsut WONDERFUL to pass all six after the long bloody hours I've bloodily spent.
That's that. I'm supposed to have a Linear Algebra midterm test tomorrow (yes, while all you folks in the Philippines are nearing your sembreak!), but I think I'll go for the Tuesday test. STRICTLY speaking I should be in the Monday group, but since I attend the repeat lecture every Tuesday anyway (since Monday is Java LAB Day, SS Day, and NUS Choir and KR Choir Day). I hope Dr Roger Poh doesn't mind. (I didn't want to email him too, since he might tell me to go for tomorrow's 8am test, which I will quite possibly fail since I've been basically been breathing J-A-V-A the past week (and still I'm struggling to figure it out).
Tomorrow, I have three scheduled interviews for Hall Committees: Hall Promotion Board, Hall Production (Publicity) and Culture Management Unit. I'm working for hall stayback, so I sincerely hope I get into at least HPB and Hall Prod'n. I have choirs on top of them anyway, plus my stint in the Ridge Publication of NUS Stude's Union.
BTW, I'm not gonna be published for the October issue of the Ridge. Well not just yet. It's okay, really, since we all take our turns (I think). Besides, my fellow writers in the Outspoken Department are mostly from Arts, so they're of top calibre.
I'm unfortunately going to have to skip my NUS Choir practice tomorrow, but I'm sure they'll understand that three interviews cannot be rescheduled. What won't be cancelled for sure is the Programming Sit-in Lab at 11am! Woooohooo. I wish I do well. Singapore Studies at 2pm, something I've always been looking forward to. Like the banishment of TicTacToe from my spinning head. ;)
As personal as it gets
As personal as it gets
Ten things. Something I ripped off Michaelstyx's blog, who ripped it off from Jeunesse's, who ripped it off from her friend's. Ten things I'd like to say to ten different people (or even groups of people since I tried to be less specific). Guess which message is for you? Haha. Don't look for yours here. Ask me! Hehe. But of course, if you're in need of a message from me, by all means choose a number from one to ten and pick! Hehe.
Anonymity can be a very good thing. This is brutally honest, and as personal as it gets.
Don't read between the lines, I suggest.
1. I miss you. I've read that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but sometimes (as I've also read), it just makes it forget. Please keep in touch.
2. I am annoyed by you. I don't mean to be the saintly one here, but I wish you were more sensitive, more responsible, less pretentious.
3. I feel for you. Don't worry, we're all struggling here. I'm always online, and I'm always just around the corner.
4. You make me laugh. Thanks a lot.
5. I appreciate your good intentions, but I feel you're not up to the task. Still, thank you for persisting.
6. I should not be doing this to you. I'm sorry, I can be pretty weird sometimes.
7. Thanks. Good luck to you. I wish we could be friends, because I think we'd be good buddies.
8. I'm glad we're much better friends now. Thanks always for the help.
9. I'm sorry for everything. Don't hate me.
10. I miss you. We almost never see each other in the last couple of years, but I'm confident that after some catching up, we'll be great as usual.
Ten things. Something I ripped off Michaelstyx's blog, who ripped it off from Jeunesse's, who ripped it off from her friend's. Ten things I'd like to say to ten different people (or even groups of people since I tried to be less specific). Guess which message is for you? Haha. Don't look for yours here. Ask me! Hehe. But of course, if you're in need of a message from me, by all means choose a number from one to ten and pick! Hehe.
Anonymity can be a very good thing. This is brutally honest, and as personal as it gets.
Don't read between the lines, I suggest.
1. I miss you. I've read that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but sometimes (as I've also read), it just makes it forget. Please keep in touch.
2. I am annoyed by you. I don't mean to be the saintly one here, but I wish you were more sensitive, more responsible, less pretentious.
3. I feel for you. Don't worry, we're all struggling here. I'm always online, and I'm always just around the corner.
4. You make me laugh. Thanks a lot.
5. I appreciate your good intentions, but I feel you're not up to the task. Still, thank you for persisting.
6. I should not be doing this to you. I'm sorry, I can be pretty weird sometimes.
7. Thanks. Good luck to you. I wish we could be friends, because I think we'd be good buddies.
8. I'm glad we're much better friends now. Thanks always for the help.
9. I'm sorry for everything. Don't hate me.
10. I miss you. We almost never see each other in the last couple of years, but I'm confident that after some catching up, we'll be great as usual.
System.out.println("Hello World!")
System.out.println("Hello World!")
Oy! At nagbablog uli ang bata kahit supposedly busy sya.
Oh well. It's the weather. Or not.
I'm mighty glad the week is over, and I'm still in one piece. I can tell from the MSN nicks of my friends, that pretty much everyone is struggling, but I'm glad that when I do see them around hall or in school, they still manage to laugh and smile and act "normally". (Haha, that last bit in the previous sentence didn't go too well)
In any case, you can tell from the title of this post that Java is still haunting me and the rest of my CS1101 buddies, but now we can all breathe a a collective sigh of relief as the deadline of our ultra cryptic TicTacToe task is extended till next weekend!
I've been making full use of my whiteboard to update me of stuff to do, and it never seems to get cleared, as new tasks are always popping up. Ganito lang siguro talaga pag nasa "University" na, one that even claims to be world-class. (Shempre proud of NUS :D)
Updates, updates. I downloaded the premiere of this hot new spin-off of CSI, called CSI:New York. They call it CSI:NY in fact, and it rhymes! I thought this would be make me jaded about the whole CSI franchise after CSI and CSI:Miami (William Peterson a.k.a. Gil Grissom of the original was totally against these spin-offs), but this new production seemed so COOOOL. Gary Sinise (I remember him as the amputee in Forrest Gump) gives a pretty intense performance as Mac Taylor, and the supporting cast is very good, not too mention aesthetically pleasing (the female lead resembles SJP of SATC, and the other Kylie-Minogue-ish girl has these full pouty lips, and even the guys look decent). I think they worked their darndest to make this a well-polished, classy production, and it WORKS.
I'm still downloading the finale of Amazing Race though, since I missed it when they aired it a few weeks ago.
Awhile ago, I celebrated the end of the week by checking out the newest music videos on Yahoo!Launch. I think the lovely Alicia Keys pairs perfectly with Usher (they did two collaborations already) and Alicia looks hot in this latest "My Boo" video. And as for Britney's latest, I'd have to say she's physically gorgeous, but I think she's too geared towards the overly sexy and titillating that she has somehow lost her appeal on me. And the way she looks at marriage and all turns me off. I'm glad that Mase is making a comeback, after his smash rap/R&B hits in the late nineties, and I'm hoping that he makes yet another splash. Vanessa Carlton is still likeable and pleasant and nice, but I think her new video lacks some oomph. Maroon 5's She Will be Loved video (yes I saw it only now, haha) is one ultra cool video worth watching over and over, but the concept of it all (guy falls for lover's mom) is something I didn't quite expect upon hearing the song only on the radio, and is something I don't quite buy. But as I've told you, it's ultra cool. Like my dance idol Usher's video. Hehe.
Oh yeah, since we're down to TV and entertainment (look where my digression led me, hehe), watch this WAY COOL Gap ad starring SJP and Lenny Kravitz. Thanks Kiko for posting the link on his blog. I've also watched Jasmine Trias's ad for Smart, and I wasn't impressed with the production, although of course Jasmine is still as beautiful as her voice. It was much too cheesy, and Jasmine seemed detached, especially as she was floating in clouds or something. It could get classier than that, I think. ;)
Okay, enough of this, as my Java's waiting! Cheers.
Oy! At nagbablog uli ang bata kahit supposedly busy sya.
Oh well. It's the weather. Or not.
I'm mighty glad the week is over, and I'm still in one piece. I can tell from the MSN nicks of my friends, that pretty much everyone is struggling, but I'm glad that when I do see them around hall or in school, they still manage to laugh and smile and act "normally". (Haha, that last bit in the previous sentence didn't go too well)
In any case, you can tell from the title of this post that Java is still haunting me and the rest of my CS1101 buddies, but now we can all breathe a a collective sigh of relief as the deadline of our ultra cryptic TicTacToe task is extended till next weekend!
I've been making full use of my whiteboard to update me of stuff to do, and it never seems to get cleared, as new tasks are always popping up. Ganito lang siguro talaga pag nasa "University" na, one that even claims to be world-class. (Shempre proud of NUS :D)
Updates, updates. I downloaded the premiere of this hot new spin-off of CSI, called CSI:New York. They call it CSI:NY in fact, and it rhymes! I thought this would be make me jaded about the whole CSI franchise after CSI and CSI:Miami (William Peterson a.k.a. Gil Grissom of the original was totally against these spin-offs), but this new production seemed so COOOOL. Gary Sinise (I remember him as the amputee in Forrest Gump) gives a pretty intense performance as Mac Taylor, and the supporting cast is very good, not too mention aesthetically pleasing (the female lead resembles SJP of SATC, and the other Kylie-Minogue-ish girl has these full pouty lips, and even the guys look decent). I think they worked their darndest to make this a well-polished, classy production, and it WORKS.
I'm still downloading the finale of Amazing Race though, since I missed it when they aired it a few weeks ago.
Awhile ago, I celebrated the end of the week by checking out the newest music videos on Yahoo!Launch. I think the lovely Alicia Keys pairs perfectly with Usher (they did two collaborations already) and Alicia looks hot in this latest "My Boo" video. And as for Britney's latest, I'd have to say she's physically gorgeous, but I think she's too geared towards the overly sexy and titillating that she has somehow lost her appeal on me. And the way she looks at marriage and all turns me off. I'm glad that Mase is making a comeback, after his smash rap/R&B hits in the late nineties, and I'm hoping that he makes yet another splash. Vanessa Carlton is still likeable and pleasant and nice, but I think her new video lacks some oomph. Maroon 5's She Will be Loved video (yes I saw it only now, haha) is one ultra cool video worth watching over and over, but the concept of it all (guy falls for lover's mom) is something I didn't quite expect upon hearing the song only on the radio, and is something I don't quite buy. But as I've told you, it's ultra cool. Like my dance idol Usher's video. Hehe.
Oh yeah, since we're down to TV and entertainment (look where my digression led me, hehe), watch this WAY COOL Gap ad starring SJP and Lenny Kravitz. Thanks Kiko for posting the link on his blog. I've also watched Jasmine Trias's ad for Smart, and I wasn't impressed with the production, although of course Jasmine is still as beautiful as her voice. It was much too cheesy, and Jasmine seemed detached, especially as she was floating in clouds or something. It could get classier than that, I think. ;)
Okay, enough of this, as my Java's waiting! Cheers.
