Ingrates!

Went back to HC today on a last-minute whim. Coz I got a ride to the main road and ended up at the bus stop opposite, so I thought I might as well pop in and say 'hi' to Ms Wong. Ms Wong very popular sia, another of her student ('06 batch) appeared a few minutes after me and we started chatting. Then Weijian joined in and we talked for >1 hour.

I feel less of an ingrate now because Ms Wong really helped me a lot. All the other teachers did too, but I'm too shy to visit them alone. Wouldn't have known what to say to them. Saw Mr. Tang while I was there, exchanged a few words and it was quite awkward. Should have thanked him for his help lah. Wouldn't have survived physics without him. Thanks Mr. Tang! lol even though I know he won't be reading this.

MZ actually has a point - teachers appreciate ex-students visiting them but they don't always like to entertain such visits. They have to take time off work and think of topics - which inevitably revolves around the future plans and how-the-classmates-are-doing variety - to talk about. And usually the conversation doesn't last very long so he/she would have to find an excuse to shoo you off. Awkward. So I was somewhat glad that the junior and wj were around today.

Happy that I went back today! Anyone wants to go back HC/CHS, jio me! Won't be back for MAF this year. =(

Gonna go watch AI finals. And then Champions League finals later. Couch potato signing off.

MAF

Mid-autumn festival celebrations has always been the annual highlight for Hwa Chong-ians, both old and new. Affectionately known as "MAF" (-mahf), it's a time when alumni gather to reminisce about their student days, and current students take a break from mugging to enjoy the festivities.

Over the years, the programme has become somewhat routine, and the centrepiece (see blurry photo above) and pyrotechnics display increasingly mundane, but MAF never fails to draw a crowd. It's a unique Hwa Chong tradition, and one that seniors are glad exists, because it gives them a chance to meet up with people they have lost touch with since leaving school, in a familiar environment.

It was pretty cool, seeing and catching up with secondary classmates, CCA pals, BMT kakis, and of course JC buddies. For the guys, it's always "where are you now?", "when's ORD?", and "what are you gonna do after ORD?". For the gals, "how's uni?", "got boyfriend?", and "any girls to recommend?". LOL.

04S7A. Photo courtesy of KC (off class blog)

Most people haven't changed that much, and it feels good just to see everyone again, having the same crappy conversations or friendly banter at the class bench, or in the central plaza singing the HC songs and swaying to the mass dances.

I probably wouldn't attend MAF for the next four years, and I should be J9 (old!) when I'm back for the next one, but I certainly hope I'd still see the familiar faces and be able to recall their names and catch up with them then.

Happy Teachers' Day!!

Clearing off this week (Wed - Fri), coz I would be posted out of HQ coy to Kaffir coy starting next week, marking the beginning of the dreaded 5.5-day work week. Some of the others who got posted out are understandably desolate, but I just see it as another posting which is beyond my control, like being posted to SI as a signaller, or 42 SAR. No biggie. Though I must concede that the prospect of booking out 18 hours later than my HQ counterparts is not exactly welcome.

Went back to Chinese High and HC to visit the teachers yesterday. Only managed to catch Mrs Chan, Miss Wong, Mr Tang, Miss Kee (PW), and Mr Tan Yang (Chinese), but it felt good to speak to them again, esp. Mrs Chan after all those years. I am really grateful to have met all these great teachers, without whom I wouldn't have achieved all that I've achieved. And mighty thanks for the help and well wishes!

After that met with zejia, jun wen and "the girls" for lunch and then movie. Watched "Snakes on a Plane", and it was a really 'sick' flick. You get to see all kinds of snakes (among them the python, cobra and rattle snakes) bite the hapless plane passengers at various (including the most sensitive) body parts. It was morbid and disconcerting (got me squirming uncomfortably in my seat), but hilarious at the same time, and jun wen and I were chuckling at certain parts, indulging in the perverse pleasure of watching the characters' unglamorous end. Overall it was a whole lot of fun, and one of the 'scariest' movies I have seen in a while. For a B-grade movie, i.e. one with no overt attempt at having a plot or being artistic, it's great entertainment and provides all that you'd expect from its title, and a little bit more.

For the record, I have nothing against "the girls". In fact they are quite a nice bunch, more sensible than some others I've seen. Like they don't hog the mike when we go K together (unlike some 7A girls...), make an effort to be sensitive, and gamely agreed to watching the ghastly "Snakes" instead of "The Devil Wears Prada" yesterday, even though I suggested we split up to watch the 2 movies instead. But as always, I don't like neurotic and bimbotic girls, so when those manifest, I'd prefer to distance myself.

Supposed to go for steamboat at Marina later with my platoon mates before we get posted out, but I am not feeling well, so wouldn't be going. Anw I need all the rest and we wouldn't have the luxury of clearing so many days' off again anytime soon.

Pretentiousness

I must admit my last post was a little pretentious. It's so obviously (trying to be) nostalgic, but also palpably insincere. Just like a lot of people, I mean, the insincere part. Some people are so fake, you totally despise them. But you end up "faking" with them coz it's the polite thing to do, but it's inevitably tiring, trying to keep up the pretence in their presence.

If you find that you have to put on an elaborate mask in front of someone, to portray yourself as someone you are not, then it's pathetic, for you, as well as the other party. I must admit I am guilty at times, but with no ill intentions or ulterior motives. But some people are so unashamedly plastic, they can still smile at you and claim to be your best friend after they've just put a dagger through your heart. If you watch Da Chang Jin, Ah Lie is the embodiment of such master fakos.

Many people say that your BMT friends are those you keep forever, but I beg to differ. In retrospect, it's difficult for genuine friendships to be forged when you dunno (save for a few real buddies) whether the person next to you is being truly nice or just so he can get into command school. With all that wayanging, backstabbing and all, it was a pretty good simulation of how life might be like in the working world - full of scheming and pretentious people.

Of course, I concede that "full" is too much of an overstatement, but it appears so to less discerning eyes like mine - I have difficulty judging who's real and who's fake, sometimes. It's just like the chinese proverb "after you've been bitten by a snake, you become afraid of anything that resembles a snake" (loosely translated).

Which makes me miss the good old school days, when friendships are just that, innocent and with no strings attached. There is no worry that people are befriending you simply because they want to use you as a stepping stone. But it was also in school that I was most brutally backstabbed, except that that was an isolated incident, and in the end I emerged scarred but also wiser. So, I guess it isn't so bad after all considering I've been through 12 years of formal education, making more friends than enemies along the way.

Lately I've been wondering if a platoon mate of mine is "too nice", but I think I am just paranoid. Now if only 猪八戒 can lend me his 照妖镜.

I'm too slack!

I have been very very slack since the end of Prelims, seems like it's time again to pick up the mugging momentum. Probably tml. Haha. I seriously wonder how some pple can mug non-stop. Don't they lose steam? Or is mugging really their passion? -_-" Oh yah, and I hate those pple who can do so well without mugging like there's no tml.

Anw I'm actually looking forward to Mr. Ang's Principal Address - most probably the last time we'll hear him speak before we get back our 'A's results next year. And Mrs. "Full" reminded us that today was the last time she was going to lecture us (there's a pun on "lecture" there if u didn't realise). I ain't going to start reminiscing about my past 2 years in HC, but I can say that I do not regret choosing HC over RJ, though I have always wondered what life would have been like had I chosen RJ. Oh well, guess I'd never find out.

疯狂世界(五月天)

如果说了后悔 是不是一切就能倒退
回忆多么美 活着多么狼狈
为什么这个世界总要叫人尝伤悲
我不能了解也不想了解
我好想好想飞
逃离这个疯狂世界
那么多苦 那么多累
那么多莫名的泪水
我好想好想飞
逃离这个疯狂的世界
如果是你发现了我
也别将我挽回

想了你一整夜 再也想不起你的脸
你是一种感觉 写在夏夜晚风里面
青春是挽不回的水 转眼消失在指间
用力的浪费 再用力的后悔
我好想好想飞
逃离这个疯狂世界
那么多苦 那么多累
那么多莫名的泪水
我好想好想飞
逃离这个疯狂的世界
如果是你发现了我
也别将我挽回

I've posted this on the class blog, but thought I'd post it here again. I really like the lyrics of this song. They appear pessimistic, but it's actually sung with much gusto and passion for life in Mayday's rendition (at least that's how I perceive it lah). I'm sure there have been times when we lament that everything sux, and that this world is unbearable, but abscondence is not an option, so we'll all have to learn to live with all the imperfections of this world.

I can't believe I'm rambling off these philosophical crap. Anw yeah, Mayday's music sets you thinking, which is one of the reasons I support them.