(warning : this post is 18SX. Readers below the age of 11, please leave now)
I reached the NPE toll, which was about to cost me RM 1.60 and paid RM 2 (2 x RM 1). Expecting a RM 0.40. change, as always, this toll lady, perhaps deciding to play Santa in light of the festive season, gave me RM 2 back in coins.
So readers, have a
Work's fine today. More housekeeping work to do. The thing that I love about this job is the amount of freedom we have in doing our tasks. Which is why we decided to take advantage of it and I sneaked in a 30 minute nap at one of the units. Hehe. We also "borrowed" some stuff, which we will return soon of course, like books, DVDs and, erm.. cash (its only a few cents for the toll)
I must say again that I'm very disappointed with my results. Having done so well in assignments, my expectations were high and I'd like to prove to my parents that I'd do well here, since I tried so hard to make them send me here. I was looking forward to entering the new semester, looking to maintain my performances, but, sigh, back to square one I suppose. And, once again, I felt that my assignment marks were given with a slight bias in my favour, perhaps due to reputation or something. Mind you, it's not something that I want nor something I appreciate.
If there was any consolation, going back to St John's at least meant that I could see Tennya more frequently. At that point of time, she was studying at CBN, just 200m north of St John's. As things go, we didn't really go out a lot anyway. A month into Form Six at St John's, she left me. We lasted 6 months.
I'll admit that I am an emotional person, and I would not have any reservations to admit that I do cry, but when we broke up, no tears were shed. It was simple. Its over and no contact was made between both of us for the next 8 months. Still, I was devastated. She was the tiniest consolation I had, and now I had nothing to look forward to at all. Till this day, although I've experienced a few bouts of depression before, I've never felt as depressed as I had felt at that time. Going to sleep was tough. Waking up in the morning seemed a huge task everyday. Even my break-up with Carrie did not have this effect.
Unlike many straight A's students, who took 5 subjects, I opted for 4. The less the better right? I dropped Physics, my weakest subject among the science subjects. However, for the first time, I wasn't looking forward to studies at all. If I said I lost all interest in studying, the truth wouldn't be far from that. Mrs. Lee, my biology and form teacher, who would go on to play a huge role in my life in the sixth form, took me out on a walk one day.
"You're underperforming, you know. Form Six is not like a 100m sprint. It's a marathon. You've got to maintain your focus at a 100% all the time"
Mrs. Lee has a reputation as one of the best biology teachers in KL, and I wouldn't disagree with that. In fact, when I knew she was going to be our biology teacher, I was delighted initially. However, this would be the first of our many conflicts. How could she sense I was underperforming? We hadn't even done our first test or exam, so there wasn't any way she could gauge my performance. I couldn't believe it. During the next 6 months, she would direct every single question in class towards me. It was unbelievable and downright obvious that she's ignoring every other student. I'm sure the others would love to have a go as well right? Why does it have to be me, every single time?
Chemistry was a disgrace. I don't know why, it's as if Chemistry and I were never fated to be together. I remember there was a time, in Form 5, when I stormed out of the lab in the middle of a lesson after a row with the teacher. I hated Chemistry ever since. But this time was worse. The school had appointed a teacher, with no experience and no knowledge about Chemistry, let alone Form Six Chemistry at all. She was a Form 4 Biology teacher for God's sake. What's going on? Her methods were simply abysmal. She can't speak 2 sentences of English, and during every lesson, she would take us to the lab, and play the stupid CD's supplied by the Education Ministry. By far, one of the worse teachers I've ever had.
Early 2005, life should have been more than perfect. A decent part-time job, wonderful SPM results, a great relationship with my then girlfriend, Tennya (and others), and Melbourne to look forward to. What more could I ask for?
A lot, in fact.
When Australia couldn't become a reality, I understood the reasons why, though the fact that my parents chose to tell me at the very last minute, left much to be pondered. Were they surprised that I was accepted to the University of Melbourne, or had they already plan to let me know at the latest point of time, to narrow my alternatives to just one. One they already had in mind.
"It's best that you go to Form Six"
Now, Form Six wasn't my first, second, or third choice, heck, it wasn't even my last choice. It simply wasn't a choice at all. I wasn't going to go back to school at 18. Not with the results that I had. Not when there's so much more to choose from.
"I'd rather quit studying and work than go to Form Six"
Looking back, my parents would probably tell me that I did great in Form Six. The benefits of going to Form Six was illustrated clearly during my first semester in Taylor's. But back then, going back to school was like going to hell. The uniform. The assembly. The rules. The whole fucking system. What's more, none of my friends will be going there with me. It's not that I'm not looking forward to making new friends, which I always am, but the already bleak outlook of going to a place which I didn't want to go at all, compounded with the lack of anyone familiar there, just made it all worse.
Like everybody else, I felt like I was as free as a bird after SPM. After 11 years of school, finally, college beckoned. I was so excited about Australia, and even when that possibility disappeared, I was busy looking into colleges. SAM, A Levels, ICPU, etc. But no. My parents refused to even listen to what I had to say. They refused to follow me to the Education Fair, or even bother to look at any brochures I showed them. Its as if Form Six was what they had planned for me all along, and there is no way I can do anything about it. Financial problems? I could've gotten a full scholarship to do A Levels anywhere in the country.
I was depressed as I had ever be.
Some activity occurred during this boring holidays
Was at My Place Apartments with KG to register as a student helper, which includes some paperwork, escorting new students to their rooms, and other stuff. At RM 5 per hour, I suppose that's not bad. It's definitely a better place to work than in shopping malls.
After that, off to FTZ for FIFA. I thought my game had improved, but still got walloped by KG in 4 games. Sigh..
Next, charity work at the PJ campus. Hahaha. Well not exactly charity, cuz I had dinner and foos paid for by Jolene. Hehe. I really need to work on my dribbling though.
I woke at 1pm this morning and the first thing I did was to put on my earphones and switch on Hitz.fm
Natasha Beddingfield was live on Rick Dee's and she sang one of my favourite songs, Unwritten live and unplugged on her accoustic guitar
What better way to wake up during this boring holidays?
Finally, we've completed our first semester unscathed (except Marketing). We celebrated by going for bowling, shopping, hours of non-stop FIFA, Futsal, and Fish's birthday. Futsal was free of charge at Subang Lake, but we got whacked by a group of foreigners although we outnumbered them 5 to 3.
And for the climax of our celebrations, after weeks of tedious planning, preparations, withdrawals and postponements, we finally made it to Langkawi!
I only have limited amount of photos, so this will do for the time being.
We arrived at Hentian Duta at 10pm, before boarding our executive double-decker Transnasional coach at 11pm. Unfortunately, no one brought their laptops, as planned, which is why the photos are so hard to distribute.
The ride was smooth, and we had a 30 minute stop somewhere in Perak. We arrived at Kuala Perlis at around 6am, and as soon as we alighted the bus, an agent approached us. We were reluctant to trust him, as any problems would have to be rectified on the mainland, but after our long negotiations, we decided to use him, as he could guarantee refunds on the island, plus, it was more convenient. We booked 3 Wiras instead of the Innova we planned, cuz it was way cheaper.
Our ferry was at 8, so we had breakfast at a mamak nearby while waiting
Somehow, we were lucky enough to get a huge ferry, with an exterior different from the others
Elizabeth & Yixuan
The 6 of us
I just realised Yixuan's holding her heart.
Sunrise
Aaron & Fei Fei
Me & Yixuan
Photo of the Year
I'm starting to think we're taking more photos off Langkawi
SK & I
Me, Yoon, Sunny Mun Teng, SK, Kelvin, Fish, KG
The girls
At the hotel lobby
Say "Whisky!"
But so is KG
They tried to persuade me to overcome my fears at 650m above sea level
The guys
The girls
The marketing team
Sunset at the beach
They tried to buried me, but they couldn't hide the obvious. Heehee
The beach was magnificent
In the pond are catfishes which "cleans" our feet
On the Banana boat.
At the waterfalls. Me clearly showing signs of fatigue
On the ferry
We still had time for blackjack
