Tuesday, 18 September 2007

KMB Glory Days Part III

...Fading glory...
(Prelude: The songs in the player were my "working" songs... they kept my brain running as I struggled for my World Lit and ToK. By the way, the "pause" button is there if you really want it.)

- CUT -
If were to summarize this post into two words, they'd be:
"busyness" and "flying".
- UN-CUT -

The pictures, from top to bottom, are:
1. Math Standardized Test - Topic: Differentiation/Integration?
(18 Sept)
2. My exhausted roommate, on a typical Friday afternoon
(8 Sept)
3. Waiting for a bus at the simpang, to send a bunch of seniors at KLIA
(12 Sept)
4. Immediately after school reopens - Raya Aidilfitri celebration
(6 Nov)

5. In an English class - Topic: Love
(8 Nov)
(All in 2006)

And read on if you want to.

The Big 4 haunted every one of us, on every single night. The heaviest of assignments in my experience so far. I mean, I've pulled an all-nighter for a few Form 4/5 folios, but what on earth is it that I'm tackling if even 2 sleepless nights gets less than 50% of my stuff done? I vividly remember my EE supervisor, Puan Bahariah, politely asking, "If possible, give it [1st draft] before the Raya break." And I did give her what I choose to call a half-draft. (22 pages. No kidding. And about 1,200 words.)


It was very much a call for disaster. And all the while, I was actually calling for even more disaster. DotA continued to be my staple weekend dish, occasionally with other custom maps such as RO and Dragon Ball. And a craze in the Block C computer fellas was the Insaniquarium. I even let my computer run several nights just to collect shells! And even under my desk, in class! (On battery power, with LCD closed, and "Low" CPU speed.) To top it all off, I spent 80% of my holiday time on NamelessRO. Very crazy indeed.

I went to KLIA about 3 times in total (George, Qing Xi and gang group, Meryl's solo departure, and Melvyn, Zi Dong and gang group). Perhaps it was supposed to ignite the fading fire within us who were then in IB year 2. What it did ignite was the desire to get out of KMB immediately! (Oh well... maybe it also helped in some other ways during the process.)



Our Uni applications were also underway. UKCAT, BMAT, PS, Mock Interview, etc... UK fellas were the busiest, followed by Ireland folks (And hey, I wonder why can't we apply to both UK and Ireland? Pleasing more people? But never mind...as if I bother). For me, it was the decision point. I talked to my dad on one morning, telling him that I was not going to take the UKCAT. It means no passport to a UK medical school. It also means I was roughly turning myself into an academic machine whose target is an absolute minimum score of forty points. My Melbourne craze heightened since then. So did my Aussie-support group, consisting mainly of Nad, Missa and Paw.

It was quite an anticlimax when the college decided to give us standardized tests in the final week (in the afternoons!). The decision was met with negative responses from students, with the most dramatic complaint/petition against our Malay A1 paper--it was eventually turned into a 3-day (or so--) homework. Our juniors, on the other hand, seemed very eager to have themselves tested, just like most of us a year ago.


More:
KMB Glory Days Part I

KMB Glory Days Part II

Wednesday, 5 September 2007

Observe...Nature

When each picture is (probably) worth more than a thousand words...

Horizon: Taken during the Homestay Programme, just after collecting "kerang".


Island & Mainland: From an aircraft, not long after taking off.


Sea: Jetty view.
(Kuala Penyu)


Sunset: One of my favourite pictures.
Sky. Sea. Sun. Shore. Silhouette.
(Pulau Tiga)


Sunrise: The 'dream halo' effect.
Nostalgic.


More: Observe...Nature 2

Tuesday, 4 September 2007

An Unspoken Reflection

Fragile life...

I wonder...







How does it feel to know that I have 2.5 minutes left to live?

How does it feel not to know it?

How do I know it, anyway?

And...

How does it feel to be snapped during those final moments?










How does nature play its part?

How about fate?

How do I matter in the whole working of this grand world?

How true is the butterfly effect?

How will my end be the start of something new?



This is based on a true story about a millipede (a rather big one, measuring about 20 cm). It was found at a roadside in a highland, on the new Papar-Keningau road. It managed to cross up to the middle of the road unharmed. As it continued along, it met its end shortly (cause: road accident).


Of course I had the intention to help it by pushing/kicking/transporting it to the other side, but it was my dad who mentioned: "Just leave it on its own." On second thought, I could have saved it and boasted the tagline: "It made a difference to this one." But oh well, I was curious to see nature at work anyway.


P/S: Do not click the images unless you really want to.

Monday, 3 September 2007

Word of the day: Grateful

Just when you thought life is so predictable...


I should be grateful for the latest turn of events recently. An invitation to a wedding reception - by a ministry leader, since the bride and groom gave one 10-person table to him - might seem like nothing much at first thought. But that's just the starting point of what I consider to be 'fun with friends'.

-Commercial break-
You see, when you have about 5 really free months ahead of you - free from work, school, kids, etc - and have spent the 3 previous really free months on nothing but catching up with buddies, you'd start pondering on the significance of every little thing that you do with every single second that you're given. You'd start being...rather critical and analytical, knowing that such a long period of freedom won't come by in the near future, and it therefore must be spent in as fruitful a way as possible.
Or maybe it's just me. I don't know.
-Alright, commercial's over-

In the function, I of course got to congratulate the new couple. It was kind of weird to wish the groom - who's my age - but oh well, it's indeed happening. And it's nice to see him again after many months.

It was also a chance to meet up with a few other fellas whom I haven't seen in quite a while (so there goes more of my "catching up" activity, but it's fun, you know).

And I must admit that our table rocks! Kind of a "happening" table - if you want to put it that way. We joked like real youngsters. No "kontrol ayu or macho". No need for those. Having fun really meant having fun at that moment. As mentioned by one sister, "Itu waiters suka kita punya meja ni...berebut diurang mau serve kita."

Oh, I should also mention about the kids. Maybe I can't really recall what were wedding functions like back when I was little, but the sight just now was simply typical. The children would go in the lift (elevator), press the next floor up, then exit just before the door closes. So it would be like a "hantu" using it to those upstairs. I have two words to describe them: imaginative and noisy. And when I join them up, some would cuddle me at the waist, in their little arms. Cute.
=)

Post-function
The function ended at 10.30 pm, but our ministry team went on to celebrate a member's birthday (in a surprise). We arranged to meet at McDonald's. I drove with three friends, and went to take the birthday cake from another member who was at the university hall.

It was a night drive through the heart of KK city - with a short stop at 7-eleven for a friend's phone top-up - to the university (with the prize-giving ceremony for a Battle of the Bands going on), and to the fast food outlet.

One friend was about to leave for Peninsular tomorrow, so she covered up the motive by mentioning about her departure. Then the whole group - 12 people in all - prayed together for her.

It was pretty much an act of concealing the real deal. Just seconds after we finished our prayer, we sang Selamat Hari Jadi as the birthday cake was taken in. What an unexpected present for our birthday girl!

---What touches me the most is the brotherly (sisterly?) love that binds all the members of our ministry together. Love as in being selfless. As in not being reluctant to spend some time for friends. As in sharing happiness together. It is truly amazing. It must be God-given---

And finally, as we bid our farewells and goodnights, I had the chance to do one last favour for 5 of those friends: by taking them home.

Above all, I thank God for this wonderful opportunity he has given me.

All in 23,400 seconds (it doesn't even take one day to be touched by our mighty creator).