MILESTONE

END OF THE FIRST SEMESTER

A Trip To Sentosa

This Monday I first left my footprint on this beautiful island,with my dear classmates from 302 as a class outing. It even surprised myself that this was the first time I visited this prestigious island since I have been here for more than half a year. Actually, I knew the great fame that this island possesses a long time ago from my Travellers'Guidance Book. Now, even if I have not yet experienced most of famous places of interests here, I am sure which route I should take to get to my desired destination.

As for Sentosa, which is a place magical enough to stir our curiosity merely at the mention of its name,I decided to keep it as "unexplored" until in a holy occasion that can evoke my appreciation of its beauty and magnificence to the great extent, so does Mia----that is the sole reason why we set for it after such a long time, while the rest of my friends have been there a long time ago...

It was a class outing, so it tallies my defination as a "holy" occasion...

Mia was quite sullen the day before and could not make up her mind whether she would go or not.The time for setting up was approaching, eventually she capitulated and agreed to go upon my persistent coaxing and eloquent persuation. Thus, we two signed out and began our journey at midday, our destination was Habourfront MRT station where we would convenge with other of our dear classmates.

She was wearing a cute hat and a light coat while I was walking beside her, straining my brain to try to make her happier. I talked with her everything we encountered which could trigger an interesting conversation and gradually I could detect her happiness from her carefree smile. Although she looks like a mature young lady, in fact she is a child at heart and bears loads of exciting ideas in mind, more importantly, she is a so-called "road-blind", which makes her the most dependent one every time we go out.Thus this time it was my duty to ensure that she was both happy and would not lose her way.

We jumped upon the bus and began our trip. She sat demurely,not completely getting rid of her dismay while I bombarded her with "cold jokes" and discussed with her casually about those topics which she might put interest in. We failed to get seats in the MRT, so we talked and laughed and swayed from side to side in the train due to inertia. Because of my mismanagement to time, we arrived at Habourfront half an hour earlier than we were supposed to. I was quite unnerving about the upcoming idleness--half an hour of getting nothing to do--when she suggested that we could first mill around in the Vivocity. Carrying an empty stomach, both of us soon got attracted by the cake shops, candy kingdoms,tantalising delicatesseins, kopitiam with alluring fragrance,etc.that we were determined to fill our distensable stomaches hanging impatiently in our abdomins with latent rage. I was kind of reluctant at first after reading those formidable price tags but my stoicism wavered and I drailled unconsciously when Mia came out of a store with a big fried ham, fragrance of it threatening to overpower me. Thus, it resulted in my rushing towards the store and fumbling money in my "girdle".

After eating, we began to find our classmates.

The moment of discovery was quite dramatic.I was rounding a bend and searching for those familiar figures when suddenly perceived the existence to a group of people in class tees. The light was dim so it took me quite a long time to react before I recognised them. Beeleng was holding a big box of homemade chocolate biscuits and invited us to have a taste with great hospitality, it was quite nice yet both of us were too shy to ask for extra.Xian Zheng, a ever funny boy with ever-changing funny expressions, greeted us cusually as usual.Others who were present were Shirlene, the extremely cute sunflower girl(very chio and sunshine-like), Vincent, our Chairman who is always scamed by his fellows, Gibson, a boy with dimples when he laughs(his laughter is like cat"meowing"),Rong Yao, Mia's ex-deskmate(impressed me greatly in his English oral presentation)and Wei Song.

Mia could not wait to embark on the island so I agreed to go with her first,since others had not solved their lunch problem yet. Holding the monorail tickets tightly in our palms, we were besieged by a sense of excitement,after all----Sentosa,we are coming!

We got off at Beach Station and headed directly for the prestigious Siloso Beach. Mia was quite happy now and I could see her exultation when she caught the sight of the seemingly endless white beach and the turquoise sea.I remembered when we first came to Habourfront with our seniors, Mia shouted on the phone like a little girl:"WE WANT TO SEE THE SEA!",which startled our seniors and made me guffaw to die...

We staggered barefoot in the white sand and zoom in on towards the sea.Mia insisted on my taking pictures of her footprints; however,the periodical wave surged towards the shore,fading away her footprints, so she stepped again and again until I captured the precious moment in my camera with success. By that time, both of us were drenched and we sat on a cutdown tree trunk,gazing at the white beach and the sea.

On the beach, some bona fide European beauties with blonde wavy hair and slender waists were basking in a pretty and idle manner;in the sea,a robust fish-catcher was diving with his big goggles...the sand here was not particularly hot as I expected,as when I was in Qing Dao seven years ago, the sand there was golden-yellow and was even hot enough to boil raw eggs,so we actually tip-toped as fast as we could to escape the "blistering gold" and immersed as quickly as possible in the sea where the real coolness belongs. Sitting on the tree trunk, we waited for our clothes to dry and soon afterwards we set off to meet other fellows.

They were on the beach of the other side, and to our amusement, there was a slight difference about the beach which made me laugh at heart.That is, there was a noticeboard erecting on the beach saying"CAUTIOUS:DON'T DIVE!WATCH OUT FOR JELLYFISH".

More fellows met us at that time,Zi Xin, Yu Ren, Yong Ming, Yan Jun, Yu Lin, Chee Liang,Jia Yin,Yuan Zhen.We played the game"Truth & Dare"(actually, it was double dare because we were forbidden to choose the "truth"one). I first got to know this game when I watched the drama series"Metior Garden"four years before.I was scared at that time because it was a game for those with extreme boldness, and deep in heart I prayed that I would not be chosen.First a few rounds were exciting though harmless.Vin&XYZ shouting "jellyfish",XYZ hugging a tilted tree like an ape,Yu Ren acting Pre woman...the disaster befell me on the last round when some boisterous ones decided to make it the most trying round and I was the poor one to fulfill the crazy task(neglect the instruction of the task),although I tried twice before meet their standard, after all the ordeal was over,under the young lady's curious gaze and inquisitive stare...

Then we played "catching", which would be a common game were it not for that it was carried out on the beach...on the sand.

Mia was then about to leave, and we waved her goodbye,it was to my great relief that she remembered the way this time so I did not to accompany her.Picking shells on the seaside alone, perhaps she was seized by unfathomable melancholy again?I could not tell.

But I am sure the moment when she was gazing at the sea, she was happy.

Boys made an immense"NHHS 302"on the other side of the beach across the bridge,which I hope would remain there forever and ever and ever.

......

Darkness began to engulf us when we set to leave.One of the seniors told us that even the air in Sentosa has flavour. I was dubious,on the way back,I opened my mouth and inhaled a mouthful of Sentasian air~~~hmm, it was salty, and sweet.

Earthquake!!

It always seems that natural disasters are too faraway from us, until today I know that how close they can be...
A call from mum awoke me from my reverie while I was reading redox reaction in the cool and cosy study room. (Yesterday due to my late return, I was issued an hourly-report as a punishment by the discipline teacher,so I have to stay in the study room study the whole day and report HOURLY) I wondered whether some emergent accidents happened, as usually she only calls at night, her worried tone did not prove my prediction wrong, yet it contained some elements of "black humour" in her tone.

"You know the earthquake, yesterday I was not at home the whole afternoon because of the earthquake..."
"EARTHQUAKE? It is only in Si Chuan, isn't it?" Her sentence struck fear in my heart that I interrupted her with intensified anxiety."
"Oh, don't worry about it, only a small fraction of the seismic wave affected here,so it is not very serious.."she tried to reassure me but to no avail, for I was still captured by fear.
"yet how did you know it was earthquake, did you FEEL it?"curiosity arose along with anxiety, I could feel my heart palpitating.
"I was sitting in front of the computer when the light in our bedroom began to shake, it was all of a sudden that I knew immediately that it could be nothing but an earthquake..."she began her story with great excitement, as if she was a hero(heroine actually).
"Then.."

"Then I put on my shoes and go directly downstairs, I came to the Wen Bo Plaza, a lot of people were there in avoidance of the upcoming earthquake, it was quite scary, everyone eschewed high-rise buildings...that is why I did not dare to stay in the house, it would be terrible."
"Only the light began to shake?"My curiosity was not completely satisfied.
"It was then the whole floor, because I was too panicky to think a little further that I could just rush down, so you too must always be prepared to run away in case of emergency..as agile as me..."
"Ok...no problem. Yet are you sure it is safe now? Will there be another attack, suddenly?"
"Oh, Si Chuan was badly affected, here it is quite Ok, so don't worry,oh,students from Exp School are dismissed to prevent potential injury..."
"......"
"......"

Knowing from The Strait Times that China was suffering from the earthquake, those Chinese chefs from the the hostel kitchen are all empathetic with great concern.Knowing from my mum that she has been so close to such a terrible disaster, I let out a sigh of relief that we had all been so fortunate.

It seems that this Olympic Year is proved to be a challenging period, with so many "rough protrusions" all along the way, but I believe that it is in such a trying period that a country grows, so does its people. Eventually the cocoon will be broken and what then appears is a beautiful butterfly.

Happy Mother's Day

My parents are coming...in the Family Tee.....

"Tee" is Singaporean name for T-shirt. Walking on the street of Singapore, you can find that Tee is ubiqitous.Being one of the most convenient and comfortable clothes type, this kind of shirt will never fail to catch your eye, especially in school----Class Tee, CCA Tee, Orientation Camp Tee, Integrated Trip Tee......various tees of different shapes and designs create a unique type of culture, which is rarely seen in China; actually, this kind of culture is almost non-exist elsewhere, thus it may well be regarded as one of Singapore school's 'trademarks'.

In this way, Tee almost substitutes emblems in some communities and organisations and this gives it a special function and status----a symbol of unity. Once you are in one of these 'symbolic Tees', you will be besieged by a sense of unity,which acts as a prelude to a sense of pride and eventually a sense of belongings. This may be the most valid reason why Tee is so prevalent here, and why it may have the effect of promoting group spirits----it grants people common identity.

In the wake of the official description of 'Tee Phenomenon' in Singapore above, I proudly reiterate that my parents are coming to see us in Family Tee, which is particularly sold in the shop "Shan Guo Yan Yi"in my hometown to commemorate our reunion as a family again. In the seemingly interminable battle with nostalgia for over half a year, I finally could anticipate something to happen and alter my unchangeable lifestyle for a while, that is my parents' arrival!

Having been a shopping-maniac since we were born, my dear mum devotes most of her time in choosing suitable things for us. Holding the previlege to enjoy the happiness in her adulthood, she nevertheless choose to play her own bliss second fiddle. Bring up children is a conbination of bappiness and tediousness, this is the very axiom derived by my loving mother. However, she undeterredly shoulders her responsibilities and unvariably provides us with the most considerate "childcare services". This time, her arrival is not an exception.Almost one month ago, she began to 'search for' things which we are in dire need here, namely, mosquito nets,summer clothes, suntan cream,portable nail file, etc...every time is like this, she is always most conscious of our material needs and then sets up on the task of CHILDCARE.In the past, especially when I was in secondary school, at the age of 'rebellion', I used to neglect her care and be fussy about the standard of her service, holding firmly that All of it was to be taken for granted. Until one day, I watched her silhouette vanishing gradually as I passed the checkpoint and waited impatiently in the terminal,heart palpitating in my chest,I knew that it was my turn to shoulder the responsibily of care, both the donor and the recipient of the care is myself.

She seldom wanted me to be worried about her, although sometimes I could perceive her immense distress as she talked to me in the phone, yet she always contrived to speak as casually as possible, trying to conceal any elements of disturbance. I kept this unrevealed, I do not want her to know that I am worried about her, either. Occasionally I was grumpy and hurled all my unhappy experiences towards her. She is always composed, soothing and relieving, being alert to my changes in mood while lending me a listening ear. Occasionally I tend to believe in the existence of Telepathy....

On this Mother's Day, I have nothing to give to her, however I know, material gift is not that important to her. She does not expect that at all. So,happy Mother's Day, mother, you know that in fact I wish you happy every day.

It will be her first flight...Welcome!!! We will stroll around this "garden city" in Family Tee

(Also Happy Mother's Day to Mrs Sabar, My dear Mummy Yip and My dear godmother)

End Of The War

After two weeks torturing in the classroom struggling with papers, I can finally take a break and release my mind which has been vexed by too many feelings. The holiday is on the corner, retrospecting what we had gone through, May is certainly a season filled with torture and challenge--a season of indulgence and a season to say "welcome" and "goodbye".

At the very moment our dear Chinese teacher Benny Ng retrieved my Chinese Literature paper from my trembling hands, I knew that the battle was over, a battle which I had hoped so badly for it to over...It is not that I think tests are not necessary, actually, they are highly important tools to motivate us to wark hard, and......highly USEFUL benchmark for teachers to "judge" us, and......highly crutial evidence that we are studying, instead of idling around with a bleak future awaiting us. However, facing this kind of marathon, any deny of the presence of stress and nervousness is proved to be false. We strive to welcome it with joy and confidence, yet at the end of it there is absence of relief and excitement...

It is over?

It is OVER!!

If it is over, let it be over~~~

Sounds pessimistic, however, there are reasons for me to drop those unrealistic optimism ( although I have promised millions of times to stick to it, until the end of the Mid-Year it suddenly dauned on me that it was not realistic) For Mid-year, I tried my best...and it is hard to give a general feeling about it, the results have not come out yet, so it is not time to mourn or celebrate.

In retrospect, in the past three years every time after the crutial examination, I would spend the rest of the day going out with my parents, discussing the answers with my sister, and indulging in the most tantalising dishes that the most skillful chefs could provide; I would lie idly on the bed, side by side with my sister, father and mother, emptying my brain which had been crammed with too much knowledge and pressure; I would keep cycling the whole afternoon, letting the wind howl beside my ears, letting the coldness pierce through my body, rendering me numb......

Here, on the equator, there is no parents to go out with, there is no courage to discuss the answers, there is no enough money to indulge, there is no space to lie down, stretching my limbs, there is no bicycle, no piercing wind, no invisible imps mumbling to you at the silent night...

There is interminable leaving.My friends(except my dear Candy, a lovely and meek creature) are leaving, they are immersed in indescribable joy and excitement, they are heading for their paradise, they are swarming towards their territories, they are in the seventh heaven, packing with trembling hands. That is just the prologue, two more unexpected departures are the real thing that stabbed my heart, rendering me sorrowful and speechless~~~My two dearest, most affable, most venerable and most caring principals are leaving, too. Their tickets have been prepared and departure dates fixed, indicating that it is INDEED a season of saying goodbye.

Three weeks ago, I read Daniel's story"saying goodbye", it was riveting and moving, yet fictional...now, the real leaving is impending, after the END OF THE WAR, after all these torture, all these mutual encouragement, after all these days insanely biting those textbooks and worksheets in the cold study room(sometimes playing the piano in the music room:), after all these suffering of stress and uncertainty, after all these periods of writing crazily, we have really to say "goodbye".

Maths Olympics is at the end of the May, for which I still have to study hard on my Maths. I participate in the Open Group, so it will be more challenging and exciting.

Next week our results will gradually come out, may there be more tears, or more laughter? Time will tell, so "let it be"~~~

(It does not matter whether we reach the PEAK or not, what matters is that we HAVE EMBARKED)

So, strive on...

Almost the end...

We, assiduous and diligent students who happened to choose Chinese Literature as our tenth subject, are always deprived of the right to celebrate the end of examinations with other of my DEAR, LOVELY and cheerful classmates. Their battle always ends earlier than ours...sometimes one or two days, sometimes thre or four days...WE are the last batch of the Army, but we have te confidence to put all this to a marvelous end!!!

Yesterday, while I was struggling with my Additional Maths & Chinese Literature in the study room, miserably scratching at those mosquito bites, some Geography students were striving to cram FORESTS & Kalimatan & Benjamasin into their brains. At the same time, students from Commonwealth Secondary School were celebrating the end of this torture. Thus, I was doing my coordinates geometry and logarithm while they were merrily watching HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. I was overwhelmed by a surge of jealousy nad dreamt of the senario when OUR battle is over...and now, some of our fortunate comrades achieved this dream.

Never mind, we will strive on, do our best and stretch our potential to extremity, Mr Foo, Mr Lam, Mr Tan, Mrs Sabar, father, mother and all those who love us, we will not let you down!
(The battle is still on.....)

MILESTONE

HALF A YEAR IN SINGAPORE

Impossible&Possible

At first I thought I could not survive with Biology and History tests on the same day, for both subjects need elaborate preparation.However, as it turned out, my time management did not only enable me to finish rough revision for both subjects, but also made it possible for me to finish a little social study revision. With the help of my senior, I got better understanding of history source based questions and gained a little self confidence in that.Knowing that my other comrades are also struggling as I am, I have the courage to finish this bloody journey.
Only when I saw the lights of your bedrooms were alight till midnight did I know how high the price we paid for this exam;
Only when we packed in the study room, cowering in the coldness of air-con did I recognise how hard-working we are;
Only when I dissolved the coffee into my mini-cup did I realise this battle is fated to win;
Only when I discovered that so many people were fighting hard did I see the bright future awaiting us.
Let the storm strike heavier, freedom is on the corner!

(THE BATTLE IS STILL ON.........)