Uni Life...

Didn't know I would say this, but suddenly I really feel that being back in school isn't such a good idea actually. Why now after 2years of NS and yearning to return to my books, now that I'm starting school I kinda think that it's tougher being a student than (God forbidden tha I say this) an NSF. School does bring it own sets of complexities and troubles for a returning NS "boy", 2years and 6 months in NS had done much more damage to my memories than I could imagine. What happened to all those physics, maths, & chem stuff that I struggled to cramp into my head before the A lvls?! Die die die, the tutorials are killing me already.

Well next to the "fun" of studying, meeting new friends are definitely another highlight of uni life, and since studies is turning out to be such a killer, I guess this is my 'only' highlight of uni life. As I did not go for any Freshmen Orientation Camp (F.O.C) nor do I stay in hall, the only people I know in uni are my past acquaintances, ex-classmates, ex-platoon mates, ex-chiong suah buddies, mostly guys and yupz the uni system is not that conducive for people to actually make new frens easily. Unlike JC, there's no fix class system where u get to meet up every week or a day with the same set of people and it's pretty hard to form lasting friendship this way. Hopefully once I started joining a CCA this situation will improve. Well not that I am very poor off now, I am really glad that there's still alot of good friends around me that I can hangout with, it's just that these friends are also meeting new people, making new friends and expanding their social circles, and naturally they have to spend time with their new friends, so we'll have less time be hangout too.

I believe that there is no point in harping about problems without actually facing them and overcoming them. So here's what I planned to make my uni life more interesting and exciting in the days to come:

1) Spend 2hours each day doing tutorials, 1 hour reading lecture notes in advance. (Well how interesting u'll probably say, but I believe that once you get better in what u are doing, u will feel more confident and more interested in pursuing them, going for better results. Yupz, I'm gonna make (force) myself like studying more!

2) Pack my free time with gym/ running/ swimming sessions. (When you get fitter, your body works better, the mind feels fresher and u'll feel good naturally. And what a healthier way to relieve all the fatigue (stress) from all the studying.)

3) Visit my all friends staying in halls, for catching up. (To expand my personal network. People will link us to more people, friends can link me to their friends, and I will know more people around. Also having good communication do good to our spiritual well being and fulfills our emotional needs)

Scammers Reunite

08-08-2006. Met up with our S.O.S (aka Sisters of Scam/ Shit) with my B.O.S (aka Bra of Shit) @ Orchard. It's a miracle the 4 of us finally get to meet up since we parted ways in Sa Pa some 2 and a half months ago. While Cheng Yao had been BZ with orientation, tuition, gathering, Yuqing and Peili were tied down with work. Myself, I didn't even have time to blog, much less meeting up for dinner, when I was not travelling, most of my time was spent on late night OT/ boozing in APB with my new "colleague cum long time Bball Buddy" Joshua.

Well was really expectant for this gathering, cause I heard Peili mentioned something about a souvenir for me and Cheng Yao that our S.O.S got for us in China, and of course we miss our S.O.S too. Supposed to meet up with OPL at Orchard MRT station at 7pm, too bad I got the msg late, and as a result, turned up late at Orchard MRT station @ 7.15pm. Saw nobody, and as I waited n waited, and Cheng Yao eventually showed up @ 7.30pm and still no sign of that Lady.. Finally at 7.45pm, received a sms that read, " I guess I'll see u guys at 8.30pm." SCAMMED (no. 01)

8.30pm, supposed to meet up with both S.O.S at Topshop, again no signs of either 1 of them. SCAMMED (no. 02) Tried to ACT SMART, went to the sales counter to ask to make an appointment with the "Image Stylist", thinking I can spring a "surprise" on our apparently-working-late-and-definitely-LATE S.O.S, only to be get ambushed from behind. Guessed I made a fool of myself in front of the salescounter girl. Worst still, found out that we were again scammed when I saw Yuqing. We originally agreed on a Red-White theme to commemorate National Day (I still got that MSN msg log to prove it), but our dear S.O.S was dressed in a Brown top and White pants. SCAMMED (no. 03) again!@##$% (Prior to this gathering I suggested that every1 dressing in Red-White theme, so as to commerate the Nation's birthday. GLK = Patrotic Sgporean ok!) Can anyone tell me where is the brown in Sg's flag?! (unless u think that Mr Brown is a national icon)

Cut short the story, it's getting late nw... Here's our Pretty faces...

Name: Yuqing (aka S.O.S)

Skill Level: GrandMaster Scammer

Name: Cheng Yao (aka Petite)

Skill Level : Noob (always kena scammed!)

Name: Gavin (aka GLK)

Skill Level: Advanced (Branded the "thinker". Good at discerning scams and dishing out scams, but still can't beat the Grandmaster)

OPL, stop trying to hide behind the newspaper!!

Name: Peili (the Life story session facilitator)

Skill Level: Advanced (the one who came out with the Ultimate Scam, the "Lesbian" scam, but it was from her slip-of-tongues which let the cat out of the bag.)

Fav tagline: "U r dead!"

Me and Cheng Yao trying to pull out a SCAM on Yuqing.

Supposed to make Yuqing feel "deeply" touched by telling her Cheng Yao went all the way to Bangkok to get her the "Music is my Business" t-shirt. Trying to create a scandal, too bad the girls did not catch on to it...

Smilez, one last photo. Till we meet again in 08 August 2008.

Images contributed are taken by Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS camera.Photographer: Ong Pei Li (exp for group photo)

In the end I need to say this, thanks for the dinner treat Peili, and all the best to you girls till our paths cross again. You gals had been really really Gr8 travelling mates, n thanks to you we had an unbelieveably wonderful time backpacking around S.E.Asia n learnt a great lesson in life: always take what others tell you with a pinch of salt. Make observation and discern the truth for yourself, as scammers are just about everywhere.

To Cheng Yao, Myself Pei Li (the singles): We will all find a great partner someday, meanwhile let's enjoy the freedom of singlehood and the friendships and strive to give the best to our work/ studies!! Gan Ba Teh (",)

Happy Birthday SINGAPORE


Happy 41st birthday Singapore!! Wee, it's been a loooooong time since I watched the National Day parade on TV, and coincidently it's been quite a long time since I've blogged, well don't they always say "good things" come in pairs =P


I think that this year's national day parade was really well done, especially the video they showed midway through the parade. I can't help but feel a deep sense of pride for being a Singaporean, seeing how Singapore had developed from a small British abandoned colony to a World Class City, and despite the flaws and shortcomings our society holds, I cannot help but marvel at the progress the nation made over the past 41 years. It's embarassing but I've to admit I nearly cried when I saw that footage on TV..

So tell u what I am going to do today, my new resolution is to MEMORISE the Singapore national pledge. (I'm too ashamed to say this, but just 24hrs ago I can't even recite the national pledge. Oh well I still can recite it back in my JC days, it's not like I didn't know it BEFORE ok, man back in my sec school days we used to recite it in chinese too, how many people in Singapore can claim that! So stop judging me, all u self-righteous sgporeans)

And here after 5 min of practise, I've finally pieced my broken memories together and here I'm proud to present you, the SINGAPORE National Pledge:

We the citizen of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society, based justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our Nation.

(This is done w/o refering back to my primary school textbook, it's all actually still in the back of my head k!! Well done GLK..)

Fireworks displays during NDP (grand finale)