Talent Vogue (: Okay so after bringing my camera I stupidly leave it in my school bag which I left at home before I came to school so all that's left is blurry images.



Yay at the bubble-tea booth that practically sold out by the start of the concert with Xiner and Elaine (the small one).

More on other things later while I proceed to write my 50th word of my Lit PT.

Labels: Events, Photos

Here's a little bit of shameless advertising:

When: 3rd August 2008
Where: National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus, outside Block B
Organisers: Inspire '08

Activities Attractive prizes from our generous sponsors
Short but lively concert by school performers
Corporate Booths and Fund Raising Stalls

Running Events The Competitive Runs are one of the main highlights of the Inspire Run '08 because there are attractive prizes to be won. Top 3 runners will win prizes.

- Competitive 8KM Men’s Open (Registration costs S$15)
- Competitive 4KM Men’s Under 18 (Registration costs S$15)
- Competitive 8KM Women’s Open (Registration costs S$15)
- Competitive 4KM Women’s Under 18 (Registration costs S$15)

The Mass Run event is for the whole family, this is a non-competitive leisure run that doesn’t require participants to run the full distance.
- 4KM Mass Run (Registration costs S$15)

The Kids Dash is a special race for the kids! Only for P3 - P6 kids.
- 1.5KM Kids Dash (Registration costs S$5)

Please visit http://inspirationrun.com/ to register!

On saturday when I was out at Bugis going for tuition, I stopped by Tori-Q to grab some of their yakitori sticks when I saw a mother and her son along with his grandmother standing infront of the display pointing and speaking in a voice that ensured everyone in the 5m radius was aware of their conversation. After discussing whether they should buy anything, the mother suddenly exclaimed really loudly "oi boy, you better study hard, if not you come and word here" before crossing her arms and walking off.

I think I was as stunned as the guy over the counter who practically paused with the yakitori stick mid-air dripping sauce over the unopened plastic pouch for the next order. Just made me think alot about the society we're in today. I don't really think it was so much of the kiasu kiasi ("scared of death" in Hokkien) mentality that we as Singaporeans have long established to be our trademark, but the very fact of politeness or even thoughtfulness before such words come out of our mouths.

I'm not even going to bother disproving the fact that that statement was utter rubbish (since when does service industry=people who can't study?) but instead just. Wondering what the child must be thinking when his mother told him that. I suppose yes, we've all gotten those don't-study-and-you-become-a-road-sweeper jokes from our parents but the sheer seriousness which that mother lectured her kid was just. Odd, to say the least.

Parents want the best for their children, and as part of this society of which the amount of As on your academic certificate seem to be proportionate to your self-value, the pressure is paramount already. But by setting such an example for children with this mindset, this behaviour and this attitude is definitely not going to develop them positively in either way.

What's wrong with being a Tori-Q guy (even though he looked kindof kiampa)?


And on a more positive tone,
BALLACK JUST SCORED A GOAL!
:D 3-1 to Germany!

Labels: Ramblings, Sports

TURKEY VS CZECH
3-2!!

2 goals from Kahveci in 2 minutes!
(87',89')
OMW seriously, go watch the replays.

Waiting for the matches to start, but anyhow. The two weeks in Europe was a very satisfying break I must say. The architecture of the cities of France, Italy, the alps of Mt Titlis, scenery at Switzerland and Austria was in one word breathtaking. Just perhaps took a moment to sit down and reflect on the first half of the year and how I’ve been spending it, trying to study, feeling pretty fucked up at times due to various problems and whatnot. Perhaps it’s the same reason why we all enjoy the holidays so much – whether it is indeed for relaxation, for more time to pursue what we want or to just recuperate for the battle of the next half of the year – there just seems to be some common point where we all want to take a breather, and just do one thing to save our souls from insanity. We all want to escape.

I guess I’m speaking for myself with the days of attending school and feeling like I’m wasting all my time with most of the words coming in and out of my head because I don’t understand things for 6 hours on roll, or perhaps just reminiscing about those ‘If your life was a movie, would it be worth watching’ moments where we come to this point in time where we realize all we’re doing’s living the day as it goes by. I think its pretty much inevitable that having activities recurring over and over day by day will leave anyone feeling aimless, feeling bored or simply pissed off wondering what they’re doing with their lives. Then the opportunity comes, perhaps a chance to finally escape that mundane lifestyle. I’ve very much heard it well and often that when it comes to a problem, we should never try to run away from it but instead to identify the areas of contention to handle it in a step by step approach, but somehow through the years I’ve never been told how to handle the sordidness of reality which binds firmly into our scheduled school life.

In an attempt not to sound too cynical, the truth is that there’s really no bad way to spend a holiday. Despite the silence in response to the awkward cheerfulness of teachers who exclaim ‘I’m sure you spent your holidays well’ or the protests of having to come back to school for CCA, we’ve all managed to do one thing – escape waking up at 6am every morning. So I guess whether your time was spent sleeping in, or learning new skills (or used much more optimally by staying up to watch Euro 2008), it doesn’t really make that much of a difference so as long as you enjoy your deserving month of rest and recuperation. Perhaps it is because most of the time we have a holiday, the sudden stream of free time that pours into our once hectic lifestyles catch us by surprise and before we know it – it goes past and slips out right through the window. But no matter how it was used, even if we can’t really get out of the problems and pressure in our life, at least take comfort in knowing the next Esc button isn’t too far away.

Labels: Holidays, Thoughts

Temporarily abandoning my blog in favour of staying up through the early mornings watching the UEFA Euro 2008.

Seriously, its worth it.

Labels: Sports, TV

Realised I forgot to mention that I'm away but. Anyhow the 3rd day and its pretty awesome other than the fact that I don't understand a single word here. More when I get back (:

Labels: Holidays