the second week into school

i realised this is one of the really rare few times that i take so long to update my blog.

the second week of school is coming to an end.
seriously time is flying past.
and i've been struggling to really catch up with the workload.
there has been tonnes of things to do.
having to manage to crazy amount of reading just to prepare for a 2-hr class.
and there's totally no room for slack.
only finally decided to drop one of my core modules for this semester.
and then take it the next semester when the workload seems to be lighter.

it hasnt been a totally smooth flowing week.
in fact it has been a really draining week.
physically, emotionally.

drained physically.
i've been surviving on less than 5 hours of sleep since sunday night.
with the exception of tuesday night when i decided to come back home.
still it was less than 8 hours of sleep for that particular night.
really a very busy week having to help out at the booth whenever i've got free breaks between classes.
then going back to hall to deal with the things going around in hall.
events, meetings and all.
sleeping only super early in the morning around 3, 4 am despite the fact that i've got 8.30 am classes.
simply trying to finish up the readings to prepare for classes.
and then trying to finish the layout.
the workload never seems to clear.
my boss keeps giving me more whenever i'm done with one.
somehow or rather.
i think he's capable of finishing so much faster than me.
and he expects me to be able to match up it seems.
but apparently not.
haha.
so it had been a really tiring week.
very much deprived of sleep.

drained emotionally too.
i've never felt so strong negative emotions erupting from within.
some comments that people made got me rather affected.
to some extent there was damage done.
in a sense it shook me.
but of course things cleared up soon enough.
made me reflect on my own attitude in a way.
i think i'm just gonna have to do my best till that very day comes.

of course.
there's certain fun element involved somewhere, somehow along this week.
or else i wouldnt know how i could possibly have survived.






this week was the wsc fair. that was why i had to man the booth to recruit people into the club.
and the fun thing about it was.
my booth was beside this freebie thing they got in.
a cotton candy machine!
it was so fun trying to get my hands on becoming the cotton candy ah soh at funfairs.
but i realised i wasnt quite cut out for it.




and also the popcorn machine.
it was so super cool.
the 2 things became my all-time snack for the time i helped to man the booth.
haha.

special thanks to yonghong who helped so so so much with the fair.
i was demanding at times when it comes to work.
and i'm so glad that he was ever willing to help whenever possible.
having to man a booth the whole day by himself simply because people suddenly backed out.
and it was his free day.
man! i owe him a favour.










and of course. our very own booth!
hehe.
not very nice.
cos of the last minute slip-shot work.
special thanks to linda who spent so much effort helping me with the stuff.
it was a disastrous sunday evening trying to get things done when my printer suddenly just decided to go on strike.
and now i still dont even have the time to get it sent for repairs.
i really wonder what is wrong with it.


and of course. what is class without trying to munch on something nice while trying to stay awake?
haha. the hershey's kissables that i took from the goodie bags!


tastes quite like m&m's though.
quite a sad thing.
it's supposed to be hershey's!
haha.
but it looks interestingly cute!

of course today some things sure did brightened up my day.
things went on quite smoothly i must say.

i survived considerably well given that i only slept 2.5 hrs.
the caffeine managed to keep me awake throughout the day in class.

i received an email. though i'm not quite sure what it's gonna be about.
but i guess it ought to be something positive.

i got my results for the intersem class.
which got me so happy.
though i was still a grade lower than sis.
haha.

i intended to get back home tonight after the whole interview thing.
but the meeting ended late.
figured that i couldnt catch the last bus and train.
so thought i might just head back hall and come back only tmr.
was walking back to hall when linda and i bumped into eric with a car borrowed from a friend.
end up getting a ride back home!


and not to forget.
managing to get a durian treat when i got back home!
yummy!

i guess the only flaw of the day was a 'whatever'.
i simply dont like it that way.
maybe i'm just lousy at communicating with people at times.

still.
really thank God for this week.
truly it had been a really really crazy week.
with so many things to handle.
times when i really just break down cos i didnt have the strength to handle.
yet, He saw me through.
i learnt so much in this few days.
i've got so much blessings simply in just one day!
i may be weak and incapable. but thank God that in Him i can be strong and all things are possible.

and now it's another weekend to rest in His wonderful presence. :)

weary

as you can see i havent been updating for a few days.
which is uncommon unless i'm overseas.
haha.
have been a really busy week for me.
but nonetheless there's the fun element in it.

monday as i've already blogged in my previous entry.
i took part in the welcome day leading a group of 24.
a very satisfying experience indeed.

the meeting at night left me in a lousy mood.
but it only further convinced me that how enjoyable your hostel life is depends on the people you get to meet.
thank God i've got linda and chiewlin around.
guess they've been the support that i needed.
the bunch that totally made my hall life enriching.
not exactly the same case with the committee i'm in.
yet they think it's cos of the involvement that brings about an interesting hall life.
a bunch of people whose company only makes me feel even more out of place.
just have got a month more to go before i step down.
and till then i shall withstand all that they have to say.

tuesday did not have class and end up totally accomplishing nothing.
i wished i've done more things.
but well. i can't turn back time.
cos a wasted day left me with more work to do at the end of the week.

evening was a dinner gathering with the vm people.
an initially large group of people could come at first but eventually many had things cropping up here and there leaving us with about 10 people.


dinner was at vilage.
the new restaurant in place of marche.
the variety of food served is the same.
but somehow i felt that the quality didnt seem to be there yet.
the decoration is about the same.


one interesting thing.
spot the difference!
should be quite obvious.
i wonder which is right.

national day was a day out with the sixa people.
the morning started off with a rain.
which totally dampened our moods.
cos most people overslept due to the super good weather to sleep in.
and we couldnt go to the beach at sentosa cos of that.
but really thank God that the rain stopped even before most of the people reached.
allowing us to go sentosa and play.
the sun wasnt very strong.
not enough to get a really good tan.
but most of us turned healthily red.
hehe.


the renovation over at sentosa was not totally completed.
but the new food place is up.
with this water playground where the kids can play at.
a totally pretty place in my opinion.
now sentosa beaches can be an even more family place.


and we played captain's ball.
played frisbee also.
played soccer also.
totally got me so shag and wet.


and playing with frisbee got my second finger on my right hand slightly bruised.
for some weird reason.
i didnt know until suddenly i just felt that my finger doesnt feel right.
the bruise isnt obvious though.
and now it's fine already.
can bend my finger properly without feeling the pain.
that was why i could take pictures of them playing captain's ball.
cos i got to rest from games because of that small 'injury'.

thursday was a full fledged class day.
started with 8.30 am class.
had a break after 2 hours.
then another 4 hours of class.
preparation for class was totally crazy.
with loads and loads of reading.
i super have got to get back on track and start managing my time again.


at night was the hall bash.
the first time i step into a clubbing place.
which only got me more sure that it isnt the place i like to be in.
i came up feeling as if i've inhaled so much smoke that when i speak i appear to have just smoked.
eeks.
how utterly disgusting.
i went back smelling like some whole piece of crap.
which got me so disgusted.
didnt take me long to dash into the bathroom for a shower.
dancing wasnt sthg i particularly enjoy also.
just simply swayed to the beats cos the group of people were dragging me in to the dance floor.
so nearing the time when the shuttle bus they provided is to come, i just stood at the side.
checking my phone every 5 minutes to see if the bus is here already.
think most people can sense my super duper boredom.
didnt drink a single drop the whole night.
and i'm glad i didnt.

i've got so much work to do when i got back.
cos there's a fair next week.
which i've got to prepare.
and there's tonnes of things to do.
came back feeling that i shouldnt even have went in the first place to just try and show face.
a complete waste of my time.

today was even a more tiring day for me.
woke up after having slept only for 5 hours.
and started doing things to prepare for the fair.
went walking to this far uphill place to submit the flyer for photocopying.
only to be told to come back about 1.5 hours later to collect it.
so walked back to hall to do even more work.
then walk all the way uphill again.
rushed back so that i could act as a middleman for textbook sales.
and then rushed back home. dropping by jp to get photos developed for the fair.
totally worn out by this time already.
i wonder how i'm gonna survive the next half of the day.
to think friday is my official no-school day.

next week gonna be another tough week ahead.
i cant wait for the day i step down too.
i'm quite burnt out.
beginning to feel the weariness even though this is only the first week of school.

in Him i shall find the rest that i need.
the peace that nobody can give.
the strength to carry on.
really thank God.
i survived this week.
and i know i will for the next.

welcome day

start of school.
and i'm in my second year.
oh how wonderful.
finally progressing.
but also means growing older.

missed classes today.
which i think kind of end up rather disastrous.
from what i hear from samuel.
it seems like i'll have to do something to catch up a bit.
man.

was a student leader for the welcome day today.
started off kind of bad.
was totally thrown into confusion.
and indeed i'm thankful that i survived it and got on track.
my classmates were so nice to pop by just to chat a little.
kind of relieved me of the stress.
the pressure was slightly overwhelming.
having to talk to a class of 24 and they just dont seem to be responding.

it was a energy-draining day.
but i think i've learnt a lot.
growing to be more confident.
growing to really have to tolerate and work under stress.
growing to be less autocratic.
cos things just dont work that way all the time.
a test of my patience.
a test of my ability to withstand pressure.
and i guess i merely just passed.

but indeed a rewarding experience.
although missing class was one ultimate craziness.
really nice to feel appreciated.
just when i thought they cant really be bothered to listen to me.
one of them messaged me after the whole thing just to say thanks.
which was indeed heart-warming.


this is one of the rare times you see the mlt so packed.
people had to sit on steps.
sit on the floor.
totally a huge crowd.
mlt has never been so packed.
not to mention when it's lecture times.


the mascot my group designed.
so cute the way they reasoned their design.
haha.
a really funny bunch of people.


and this is me according to them.
they didnt have enough lego figures.
so they split the head, body and legs such that there are 24 to represent them.
then for the 'me' i managed to have a full complete body.
haha.
kind of nice for them to include me into their class mascot which was meant to show their identity.
haha.
how sweet.


and my group!

now got to rush off for meeting!
gosh.

spectacular display

went to watch the fireworks display tonight.
hehe.
kind of fulfilled my wish.
hehe.
was saying that i wanted to watch fireworks live this time.
and i did tonight!
hehe.
kind of an impromptu.
so i didnt have my camera with me.
still it doesnt change the fact that it was a spectacular display.
really really pretty sight.
some fireworks make you feel as if stars are being showered over you.
just see it so close though it's some distance away.
hehe.
physics and chemistry combined gives wonderful sights!


yes the poor lighting.
but the crowd was crazy.
so many people were there.
gloria and i were so proud of ourselves being able to squeeze through the crowd.
getting from marina square to the esplanade to the merlion.
the steps down from marina square to the road to cross to the esplanade was filled with people.
the whole bayside at esplanade was the hardest to get pass.
the whole bridge linking the esplanade to the merlion was jammed.
we had to take the other bridge. i dont know its name sadly.
exit at fullerton there.
and cross over to the merlion.
then squeeze through another huge bunch of crowd.
amazing how we got through unscratched.
hehe.


and tonight's theme was italy.
a really wonderful display.
despite the fact that my phone's camera cant take shots to show that.
and we were blocked by one silly tree.
still. that doesnt stop us from marvelling and getting really excited over the fireworks display.
a short 15 minutes display though.
hehe.
still. i've got enough.
cannot imagine squeezing through the crowd again just to watch the other 3 performances coming up on 8th, 11th and 12th august.
beautiful things. once is enough to leave wonderful memories.

other random things.

we had dinner at marina square.
there were so many people though.
we settled for kfc after being unable to get a seat at the food court.


realised that they had a rather exquisite sink for a kfc outlet.
haha.
so silly me just took a photo of it.
hehe.
photo-madness!


and i wonder if it's the weekend crowd or the fireworks display.
it was just so so so crowded even at kfc.
had to queue for about 15 minutes or more to get our dinner.
thanks to gloria who queued and helped me buy food.






and some of the view from food court.
the food court had an outside area which was non-airconditioned.
can get quite a good view though.
no wonder there were many hogging the tables refusing to leave.
so that they can simply sit and watch the fireworks display from there.

some other sights from yesterday.


was on the bus when i saw the gate to the botanic gardens.
still under construction though.
the gate over at gleneagles hospital side.
looks rather pretty though.
hehe.




and holland close there has got a street soccer court built now.
i wonder how long it has been up.
hehe.
bet it's gonna be some new hangout place already.

and just something silly.


kiddish me got mum to help me tie my hair yesterday.
hehe.
so i went out with a childish hairstyle.
hehe.
but it looked neat.
hehe.

ok shall have to just abruptly stop here.
many things to handle but i'm tired.
and i think i need to get rest.
shall have to definitely get them done by tmr.
deadlines drawing close.
and the stress level reaching close to its peak.

zhien is in a dilemma for some things though.
argh.

the move

moved!

finally got to collect the keys to the new single room in hall.
i really wonder how i'm gonna survive being in a single room.
despite the fact that i guess it's only gonna be a month more or so.
being stuck alone can be rather awkward.

anyway. about cleaning up and moving today.




the single room came with a bunch of neatly folded plastic bags in one of the drawers.
and a whole pile of dust.
i really wonder if the person cleared the room properly.
and i doubt she cleaned it while she was staying in it.

after cleaning up and packing for close to 2 hours.
the room looked like this!


looking from the door.
it's a really small room i think.
and i dont really like the idea of a wall fan.


my bed.


the study table area.
with the book shelves above it on the wall.
kind of packed with loads of junk though.
hehe.


just the study table.
i guess it looks quite neat still.


and the single room doesnt have the stand-alone shelf by the bed like those in the double room!
so my lovely tissue boxes and pooh stuff have to be put into one of those book shelves.
eeks.


and saw a defect when i was cleaning up.
shall have to get it reported before it becomes my responsibility.
argh.
i wonder what the previous occupant has done to it within her short stay.
the back of the top storage area in the wardrobe got ripped quite badly.
ewww.

so yeap i'm done with moving.
got it done quite fast i would say.
but dashing in and out two rooms on the same level is quite crazy.
it's crazy enough.
hehe.
i wonder how i'm gonna move back home.
it'll be so so so much worse.

other random photos.


recollecting memories of the inter-hall games.
at the nie hockey pitch.
haha.
wonderful sports facilities they've got there over at nie indeed!


and caught sight of this on one of the trees at nie.
haha.
so cute.
was for the publicity of some event they had i think.
hehe.


had mango ice-cream for dessert today after lunch.
quite amazing that they would have a rather uncommon flavour at the hall canteen.
hehe.
1 bucks for 2 scoops on a cone!
lovely.

a rather tiring day somehow.
gonna get as much rest as i can.
coming closer to school start.
and more deadlines ahead.
i'm so gonna faint.

break camp

back in hall tonight.
despite the fact that tmr there's still activities for the hall camp.
just that they are at aloha loyang chalet playing them.
managed to hitch a ride back to hall close to the end of the day's event.
think maybe tmr i can move into the new single room.

today's main highlight was amazing race.
which is leaving me kind of tired now.
worn out with the running and all.

but got the chance to look at interesting places!


got to see the city's scenery in the day and took pictures of them.
the esplanade.


the singapore river.
not as romantic as it would appear to be in the night i suppose.
but i would still say it's charming.


over at the empty place near the pasir ris bus interchange.
there're cardboard cows once again.
but this time dressed to the occasion in red and white!
cute.

and got to try good food too!


lunch was at beach road.
and i just tried the lor mee.
tastes really nice.
3 dollars for one that's tasty.
worth it i suppose.


and had this after my lor mee.
the goreng pisang simply looked so tempting.
it tasted good too.
hehe.
*thumbs up*

and of course playing with linda and chiewlin too.


us on the lorry that took us in to the chalet.

there was also a secret pal game in the evening at the chalet.
kind of like some form of sdu project though.
this batch of freshmen had too few girls.
hence the senior girls had to be mobilised to stand in as secret pals for the male freshmen.
bleh.

nothing special.


but i got a free gift for no rhyme or reason.
without spending money on one for exchange.
it looks cute!


a photo taken at pasir ris beach.
was amazed by the beautiful colours at the sea when the sun sets.
really a pretty sight.
maybe i should build a beach house next time!

ok. zhien's tired.
think i'll just go rest.
might have to labour hard tomorrow.