Regarding college.

Cheh. I didn't think deferment would be so easy. And quick.

Friday night, I was still talking to Michelle and Joanne and her friend about National Service, was still very geared up about it.

But by Saturday, I completely changed my mind.

I decided I would just go to college.

Ker Lei was the first to find out, and she went (verbatim), "Cheh, I thought you were desperate to go?"

Not that I duwan go la, I went to the Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara office today, to hand in my letter of postponement, and I saw the photos of the trainees at camp, and I was thinking, "I wanna go also laaahh!"

"Satu Hasrat, Satu Semangat, Satu Tekad". FWAH, made me so semangated.

But I had plans. Seeing that a certain subject I wanted would be offered only in Taylor's, only for the January or the July intakes, and seeing that the July intake would mean waiting a whole year before I go off for.... something, sacrificing three months of NS is perhaps worth it.

Interesting to note that while I was in INTI College doing counselling, this young counsellor found out I was selected for National Service and she was like, "Har? You kena?"

"Kena" makes it sound like, you know, bad luck, "you kena bad luck" like that.

You realize all young people never say "You got selected", but they always go, "You kena".

So I signed up for Taylor's. January intake.

And to think, I was laughing at people who wanted to start college in January, 'cause I thought they were kiasu.

Now I know, they were just thinking beyond the next three months.

Aaaaanyway. I dunno why Taylor's have to go, "Okay, I take you go take photo now" once you register.

Well for one thing, I lost my comb and I was sleeping in the car. My hair was in a mess and now I would have a painfully ugly photo on my student card for the next year and a half.

It's like a curse la, all my photos look bad, like on my passport, my identity card, my driver's lisence (quote instructor, "Wah! Your photo, primary school take wan ah?" It's Form 4 photo la, sheesh), my CHS library card...

Or, you know, maybe I just look like that.

* * * * *

My cousin once said that people who're doing the A Level are mostly taking 3 subjects, which is the minimum number of subjects.

For some reason, I have signed up for 4, plus Thinking Skills which Taylor's made compulsory. So that makes 5 subjects.

What if I get back to my habit of slacking off the entire year, then desperately trying to buck up when the exams are near?

Sure die la like that.

(And regarding that International Baccalaureate thing I had been talking about, I realize I have next to zilch hope of getting a scholarship, and 50,000 - 90,000 for a pre-U course is too much.)

* * * * *

We were in the car after dinner, when my sister asked a Stupid Question.

"If a genie wanted to turn you into a kind of Food, what would you choose to turn into? You cannot say duwan, and nobody would eat you."

I said I wanted to be a chocolate cake.

She said she wanted to be... something, I don't remember what.

And my mom? "I want to be a lotus flower."

Sometimes I wonder if she really listens when my sister and I talk.

* * * * *

I finally decided I wouldn't be going to Pangkor after all.

Fortunately, someone was willing to take my place.

Unfortunately, my cousins are now planning a Cousins-Only-Trip to Genting Highlands.

It's got nothing to do with being a hermit, and everything to do with wanting to stay at home and enjoy my holidays before college starts.

College!

It sounds so adult, doesn't it?

No more uniforms!

And I think the best thing is, most of us are going to the colleges that are pretty near from one another, i.e. Taylor's, INTI, Sunway.

I'm looking forward to next year =)

Of nothing in particular.

I'm swearing off fast food as of riiiiiight......... now.

You guys, if I have to go out with you, we'll have something healthier for once, okay?

Burgers. Chips. Pizzasthreedaysinarow. My gawd, I'm going to die of clogged arteries pretty soon.

Of the total number of main meals I've had past two weeks, how many were in an outlet where you start piling up on the calories from the very first bite?

"Eh, what to eat?"

"Dunno lah. Fast food lah."

Darn fast food, for being so cheap and convenient and so darn delicious.

* * * * *

I've not filled in my NS forms.

I've not opened that Bank Pertanian account.

I have no idea if I gotta go for medical check up. Either way, I've not done it yet.

Two weeks left.

(How? There's this nagging voice in my head telling me to ENJOOOOOY myself as much as possible, it's a bit like, "You better appreciate your luxuries now, two weeks later your only luxury would be curry rice everyday". Mmmm... curry!)

* * * * *

I'm completely, completely lost when it comes to my future.

It's so easy to say "A-Levels!" when people ask what I'll be doing next year, but um, ask me what subjects I'll be taking, and I wouldn't be able to answer you.

So, question is, go the safe route and do sciences, or take a risk and go for the humanities package, which would include law, economics, sociology and literature in english? Or should I just flip a coin.

Decisions desicions.

My bro's studying art, my mom says artists have to die before their works are properly recognized. She's not placing her chips on him earning millions of Ringgit and purchasing a mansion.

So what if I tell her I wouldn't mind driving a second hand Perodua Kancil for the rest of my life, because that's all I can afford?

I mean, as long as I love what I'm doing, right?

A disorganized post, of Singapore and such.

Throughout the four days in Singapore, there were a few overused phrases, one of them being "Only in Singapore, never in Malaysia!" (and another one being, "Jiu Hwei! Until which station?")

Come back really kena cultural shock lah, the elevators there move faster, the cars actually stop for you, the toilets aren't just clean, they generally look pretty funky too. And the people never get irritated when you ask for directions.

Anyway. We spent all our nights walking along Orchard Road, and the Christmas decorations were beautiful.

I remember walking past a seemingly ugly-looking structure, and one of the guys went, "What the hell is that? So damn ugly."

That was in the day. We came back at night, and that "ugly-looking sturcture" had morphed itself into a beautiful, beautiful christmas tree fountain!

I don't remember seeing Christmas decorations that nice in Bintang Walk, but maybe they've bucked up this year. I assume I'll be making endless comparisons when I'm there later.

(But make no mistake, I love KL. Going to stay in KL with my parents is usually a bit like going on a walk-fest. We walk everywhere, i.e. to the best beef ball noodle stall by the most rundown building you can imagine.)

So anyway, my family would probably go visit Singapore soon, which I cannot join because I have a lot of things to do.

And, my family would be going off to China in January, which I cannot go because I'll be in Kem Geo Kosmo (Spam so likes the word, hor?).

* * * * *

AAH! My brother's coming home next week!

Excitement. Anticipation. I-Can't-Wait-ness!

It's sad 'cause my time with him is cut real short, all because I've got to leave for National Service on the first of January, so I'm still having doubts about that after-Christmas Pangkor trip.

Coupled with the fact that I've not told my parents about it yet, I've got a good mind to just forgo it.
The only thing stopping me is my conscience. I told them I'd go, you know?

I heard my brother has gotten quite fat gained quite a bit of weight while being in Hawaii, and the guy refused to take a picture of himself when I asked him to, so we'll just have to wait and see just how fat much weight he has gained.

But seeing that he's always been quite the monster eater (as in he eats monster quantities of food, not taht he eats monsters), I wouldn't be surprised if he has become pretty blimpy.

Oooh yes, he's coming back!

* * * * *

There's been an inexplicable surge in visitors of late, which is weird 'cause I have not been updating at all.

But the tagboards so awfully lonely lahh.

Ahah, if you're here looking for prom photos or anything, I bet you're disappointed, 'cause I did not go.
Wrong place to go to if you want photos anyway. That's why people don't find this blog interesting. I don't have photos =(

If you're here because you think I've been blogging lately, you clearly do not know me well.

If you're here by accident and are not even from Catholic High, well then, nevermind.

* * * * *

Before I sign off, I must report that as a result of the Singapore trip, I -

- can now ride standing up on my bike!

- have learned to play Cho Dai Di! (Luuu, are you proud of me now? Hahah)

- have touched stingrays, starfishes and some other stuff I cannot identify

- learned that unless you're a pro biker, doing 'aerodynamics' is just about complete bullsh*t

- have touched something

- am seeing WW2 in a whole new light

- dislike shopping (always have, always will)

* * * * *

Christmas is almost here!

They're having a Christmas party, with turkeys and decoration and all - the works! (P'haps the best part would be my bro joining us in this one!)

I think we need a class gathering cum Christmas party.

We could have it at the house of the-guy-whose-house-is-so-nice-but-is-SO-self-conscious, and whose-mom-asked-him-to-invite-his-friends-over-for-a-party-to-which-he-replied-that-he-had-no-friends.

Or we could just be lazy and meet up at a restaurant in a mall again.

Anyway, signing off!

(An early Merry Christmas! Remember, I was the first one with the greeting!)

Free Hugs

So we arrived back in Malaysia around 10.30 pm yesterday.

I'd blog about the trip now, but I'll just wait till I get the photos from the others first.

Anyway.

We were in Orchard Road yesterday, walking to Takashimaya for lunch, when we saw a girl and a guy holding up signs, offering free hugs.

Which reminded me of the Free Hugs Campaign YouTube video.

Initially we just walked off, but then we turned back and figured we'd go for a hug. A group hug.

A couple of stupid jokes were told, we laughed, then we walked off.

Only, I stopped, walked back to where she was and did a solo hug with her.

We wished each other an early 'Merry Christmas', and I left.

I have no idea why, I've been thinking about this ever since I've returned.

So I went online, googled the Free Hugs Campaign, went into this forum, and read this post written by someone who recieved hugs "from a guy and a girl in Orchard Road".

I think it's pretty amazing, this Free Hugs thing.

Think it'd be nice to do it in Bintang Walk?

Burn them books!

40 people turned up at Manhattan Fish Market yesterday, and took up two looong stretches of tables.

20 people stayed for the movie, and took up two rows of seats.

It was our first class gathering, and everyone was lamenting that we should've done this earlier.

Like JoonMing said, we started acting like a class, only when we aren't really a class anymore.

Anyway.

I found out that there are people who still love Malaysia, and are not trying to get out from it the first chance they have.

To a few of my classmates, Malaysia is home, and they're like Jenny from the Pendidikan Moral paper - they're coming home no matter what.

It's nice to know their only gripe is the hot weather.

* * * * *

I'm announcing Daniel Craig as my favourite Bond actor!

You DO realize the only people who still think he's no good, are the same people who have not watched the movie yet?

So he's blond, big deal.

(Someone should've told me that when I was happily criticizing him for being blond prior to watching the film.)

I was told he had amazing abs.

I was dissappointed.

* * * * *

I am having a bad, bad, BAD case of the pre-trip jitters.

It happens everytime, one day before I leave for trips or camps.

Last week, I was anything but anxious, what with people randomly going, "Eh this time next week we'd have passed the immigration already!" or "What'd you think we'd be doing now?"

So we're leaving tomorrow!

Seeing that we're probably spending near a thousand ringgit on this, a mere 'good trip' just wouldn't cut it - we need a GREAT trip!

My camera conked out during graduation when someone dropped it on the floor with a very sickening *insert sound of camera dropping 1.5 m to the floor*.

Being the procrastinator that I am, I brought it out for fixing just yesterday, and it couldn't be fixed in time for tomorrow.

Sad lah, now I have to rely on other people's camera.

A small bunch of friends, on foreign soil, without adult supervision (hey we're almost adult ouselves), so why am I wishing I could just stay at home tomorrow?

* * * * *

I thought when the last paper was handed in, it'd be like going through a magical moment, angels would descend and start singing, birds would fly in and start chirping.

But nothing happend.

So SPM's over!

(I'd hate to be SPM. People get all fustrated when you're near, and start rejoicing like WHAT when you're gone.)

Smile.

I had the biggest fight with my mom an hour ago.

It was kind of like the sum of all fights, where both of us started bringing up fights we've had over the past, oh I dunno, five years or so, and began arguing who was right and who was wrong.

You know it's gotten to the most extreme degree when your mom says, "You could die and I wouldn't even care."

She has never said anything like that before, and she probably doesn't mean it, but it obviously hurts a lot more than when a friend tells you she thinks you're mean or when someone says you're cocky.

I've not felt this shitty in a very long time.

I don't know why it even started, we were having dinner and everything was going well.

This is probably the kind of dirty laundry I shouldn't air, but I couldn't concentrate on studying right now, I feel like shit.

So what now, we're going to pretend not to see each other later tonight?

Sigh.

(Came online, talked to the worry-free person who thinks studying Biology is like going to the toilet and doing your big buisiness, important but can be put off till later, and now I feel better.)