Wednesday, August 30, 2006
There's a huuuuge Singapore flag draped across the wall next to my bed right now, so visitors to my room dont have to ask where I'm from. My corkboard's plastered with pictures of friends, and my desk is covered by files and books, all with "PENN" emblazoned on them (which i really ought to pack soon.. sometime)
So hello! Yes I'm back from the transitional bogging hiatus, pretty much done about 80% of setting up whatever I can. My dorm's fantastic: my roommate's rented a microwave and a microfridge, I've got my own sink, and huge closet space. (Which I've incidentally filled to the brim with all my clothes. Sigh, so far away, still so kiasu). My uncle who lives in Jersey drove me over to Target the other day to help shop for the dorm, and i've got this super cool spider-lamp thingamajig with 5 adjustable bulbs. Whoohoo. Will post pictures as soon as my camera arrives! (Stupid me broke my camera on my first night here, so I had to order another one from Amazon.com)
People here are really friendly. Have only met international students so far, cause the US citizens will probably only move in tomorrow. But its been good! Ive befriended people from all over the world, found out about the best holiday spots in the Caribbean, how neoprints are like in Japan, and how to swear in Spanish, Japanese, Indian (so far). Hahaha. I love the fact that its so easy to talk to people here, no one thinks you'e weird if you just say "Hi" and extend some random handshake. And you can practically join just about anyone for dinner/ben & jerry's (yes there's one on campus!). People from all over have been barging into my dorm and bouncing on my bed. Hahaha.
Oh shit, I just realized I gotta go register my immigration documents like, now. Will update more soon!
he rocked the party at 6:52 AM |
Thursday, August 24, 2006
In less than 24 hours time, I'll be on a plane, half watching some random movie, gazing down wistfully at the twinkling lights of Singapore, feeling the heart stopping sense of excitement, anxiety, and that little pang of sadness when it comes to goodbyes.
I felt that pang today, as I had my favourite ban mian and satay dinner with my dad at ang mo kio, taking in the sights of ah lians and aunties alike squatting on pavements. I felt it as I was strolling down Orchard, passing businessmen who avoid your gaze, tourists who take pictures at the taka fountain (although I dont see why the heck they would wanna do that. Its so damn ugly), the metrosexual yuppie who smiles at nothing at all behind his humonguous shades. I felt it during cocktails with Debbie at Mezzebar, when her requested song "Home" by Michael Buble was played.
Aragh, why do I only notice the little things NOW?
Its the most surreal feeling in the world, being excited at the prospect of a whole new life, culture and (long awaited) freedom, yet being sad at the same time at the thought of leaving so much behind. Its weird seeing all your friends move on with their lives, being involved in dance competitions, hall activities, parties (I dunno how many "I'll be going clubbing with my uni friends tonight"s I've heard this past week).
Its like being in suspended animation while watching the rest of society evolve into something totally different. And yes, I admit that I'm afraid. I'm afriad that when I return, all fresh from seeing the world, that things will change in such a way that I wouldnt be able to fit in properly anymore. That all the past experiences, glories, friendships would be but a distant memory. I would have gained some of my own as well, but I sure as hell do not want to lose what I have right now.
They say going overseas makes you appreciate home more. Yes, its true. Sigh.
Having said that, I'm also wildly excited. I've been dreaming about this day for more than 2 years now, and as much as I say how mahfan it is to start a whole new life ("aiyo.. must apply for new phoneline, bank account, go shopping for dorm room..) I'm actually looking forward to experiencing it all, all part of the take-life-by-the-horns mentality y'know?
I'm gonna have to study amongst the best and the brightest, go grocery shopping, party with the wildest, and do my own laundry (washing the puke off my clothes, undoubtedly), all in the same day. I'm going to have to travel as much as I can, meet new people from all over the world, and sample their food while listening to stories of how someone's parents escaped from the KGB or how they help the homeless in Bangalore. I'm going to dance alongside Koreans, African-Americans, Hispanics and white boys. I'm going to have to speak up in class, despite having not studied for the past 10,000 years, and still engage my international classmates in debate. And honestly, its probably my last chance to have my last grasp of fun and freedom before the reality of Singapore's corporate world hits me in the face. (Well, I've worked a little, and I can honestly say that I'm in no hurry to venture back into the office)
But of course, all that wouldnt mean a thing if I didnt have friends to share it with, friends to call and complain how ugly the girls here are, friends to chill and club with during summer breaks, and friends to visit during chinese new year after we're all old, married and fat. So this post, dear reader, is dedicated to you.
You, who has stood by this blog since its inception 3 years ago, who bothers enough to know whats going on in this silly, crazy life of mine to keep reading, whom I can truly call "lifelong friend". The phrase "Dont forget me" has more meaning to me than you think, so dont be surprised if I tell it to you once too often.
So... in the words of Douglas Adams, "So long, and thanks for all the fish."
(In case anyone's thinking of sending me off with big banners and bouquets of flowers, my flight is SQ26 departing Friday 25th August 2350 from Terminal 2. I should be checking in around 9.30pm. I promise you your surprise arrival will not go unrewarded! Hahaha.. shameless, aint I?)
he rocked the party at 9:19 AM |
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Question raised at Confluence 2006 (dialogue between students studying overseas and Mr Teo Chee Hean with a couple of panellists):
"Mr Teo, do you think that with the new law school opening up in SMU, and the expansion of the NUS law faculty, the pool of lawyers in Singapore will be expanded?"
Like duh. Goodness, such a perfect example of the smarmy, kissass, say-things-for-the-sake-of-saying, wannabes that gives singaporeans studying overseas a bad name. As mentioned by Terence, that question can be directly translated into, "Oh Most Esteemed Panel, I hope that you're impressed that I read the newspapers."
Thank goodness that for every person who makes a kissass remark, there's always someone who knows how to give it the dissing he deserves.
he rocked the party at 8:21 PM |
Friday, August 18, 2006
Just 2 of the 10,000 pics we took at Rapture 2006, courtesy of Jessica:
Alumni guys... Raring to go before the concert
Half of my hiphopping cast in "On The House" (I'm missing 4 guys and 2 girls. Haha)
More pics up soon as soon as I get hold of 'em!
he rocked the party at 9:21 AM |
So I've finally lived the dream (albeit, a short-lived one) of driving with the windows down, shades on, and lip-synching to teriyaki boys along the expressway. And for the past few days, I've done what I wouldve killed to do 8 months (ok, 1 week) ago: Dinners, swimming, gymming, clubbing, movies... I love to live the life that I love.
Yet, I think its times like these when I think I become the biggest of bastards cause I'm just so full of myself. It sucks cause it just feels so good doing it, but it sure as hell comes back to haunt you. Tonight, it came in the form of a friday night spent alone at PS shopping for a friend's present. I hate spending friday and saturday nights alone. -sigh- And then, the whole previous euphoria comes crashing down as reality kicks you in the face and says, "Hey dude, you're not immortal, and its not as if the whole world's worshipping you."
And really, I'm not THAT kind of a guy. At least, I hope I'm not. (which is what I spent the whole of this morning convincing somebody) But yes, I know that this aint Hollywood. If I wanna live "Da Life", I have to damn well live with the reputation/consequences.
I'm not that kind of a guy. Really. I guess the ego often overshadows common sense and sensitivity during good times like these. And I'll bet it sounds really hilarious/pathetic if I try to convince everyone around me. So as for now, I'll just curl up with Marie (my newly acuired, 80GB black MacBook.. whoohoo!), sort out my shit, and wait exactly one week before I leave and hope this silly side of me gets forgotten.
he rocked the party at 8:21 AM |
Monday, August 14, 2006
I'm grinning because there's...
No more spending an entire day taking brain-frying (expensive) driving lessons.
No more being nagged and nagged and nagged at by old, fierce instructors.
No more being lectured on "how great the PAP is" by politically correct instructors.
No more logging on to the stupid, badly designed driving centre website.
No more bringing my stupid green booklet everywhere I go.
No more stopping at stop lines even though its really obvious there're no oncoming cars.
No more doing "direction change", which I'll probably never do in real life.
No more driving those ugly white cars with stale airconditioning.
Because I've officially passed my driving test!
I had the exact same examiner as my first attempt, so I was really nervous. He penalised me for all the silly 2 point mistakes, but at least I know I'm not some unsafe driver who doesnt check blind spots. :)
Added bonus: And I get the car for the whole of Wednesday and Thursday cause parents will be overseas. Whoooohooooo.
I really feel like getting my instructor a hammer as a farewell gift, since he always says he wants to hammer me. Hmmm.
he rocked the party at 8:35 AM |
Sunday, August 13, 2006
2 things which I reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally wanna do, but cant, because I'll be leaving for the States on the 25th:
1. Take up Magdalene's offer to join her group for the upcoming wade robson hiphop competition. (i've always, always wanted to join a hiphop competition in sg. Aragh)
2. Join beloved alumni members for (tentative) plans to take part in Ch 5's Dancefloor.
Aiyuh.. see la see la, itchybackside go overseas.
On a brighter note, maybe I will choreograph for next year's Rapture after all! If I can come back early enough, and as long as I can dance alongside these fantastic people:
he rocked the party at 10:12 AM |
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
It's almost been a week since we've parted. At first, I was determined not to miss her, not to let her be like the 2 others before. I packed my schedule with meetups, dinners and work, just so that I wouldnt think about her. But everyone I met seemed to want to talk about her, making me give ambigious answers, restraining myself from giving a full-blown account that only I myself would appreciate.
And though I had no photos, nor videos to remind me of her, she crept into my mind whenever those songs ended up on my iPod playlist, and I found myself reliving 4th August once again...
Ok lah, I admit it: I miss Rapture. :)
Excerpts from the post-concert email I wrote to the dancers:
"Okay, the point of this very boh liao post is this: That i loved it.
I loved every single minute of rehearsal, costume/prop preparation,
performance, and time spent with you guys. Glen asked if anyone would
choreograph/dance again next year, and I can tell you right now that
if I'm in sg this time next year, I'd do it. (tho after this yr, im
not sure if anyone wants to dance in my items anymore. heheh.)
Despite the shit we got from *censored*, the frustrating
attendance issues, burning-hole-in-the-pocket costumes... It was sure
as hell worth it once we took to the stage. And i'm sure you guys
agree with me."
"Thank you for putting up with my constant nagging, scolding, and overall
inexperience as a first-time choreographer. You guys made my dream of
choreographing a hiphop item at the Esplanade come true."
Therapy: Tuesday night's dance alumni gathering at Hui's house with fantastic food (as always), and screenings of Little Britain, and 3 years' worth of past Rapture concerts. (I tell you, nothing interests a dancer more than watching himself/herself on stage. Which is why I'm so irked esplanade didnt allow video recordings for this year's Rapture.)
Tomorrow's post concert dinner reception with our beloved juniors at SAJC. Hooray!
Last dance,
last dance for love
yes, it's my last chance, for romance tonight
I need you, by me,
beside me, to guide me,
to hold me, to scold me,
'cause when I'm bad, I'm so, so bad
So let's dance, the last dance
let's dance, the last dance
let's dance, this last dance tonight
-"Last Dance" by Donna Summer
he rocked the party at 8:31 PM |
Sunday, August 06, 2006
In conjunction with this new blogskin, here's a (totally pointless) email conversation I received today, between fellow scholars-on-attachment at Company X. (taken word for word, non-edited, names removed to protect dignity. haha)
KW: Eh FL, why u not joining us to go liquid room?
FL: my fav DJ is spinning at zouk so im headed there. was already going before i heard of US bound...
KW: alamak, who is ur fav DJ. Come to Liquid Romm we also can spin together.
FL: DJ shadow, first time he's spinning in singapore. we can spin together some other time, haha.
KW: FL, u vv into this type of music thingy ah. Go clubbing is to see girls mah, where got pple go listen to music. I bring you go pasar malam buy 3 for $10 CDs, then u go home drink 3 bottles of beer, off the lights and spin la.
-grin- Scholars..
he rocked the party at 7:06 PM |
Friday, August 04, 2006
And so Rapture 2006 is finally over. -collectivebigsigh- And honestly, I loved every second of it, from our late night rehearsals all the way to the post concert drinks. I loved:
- Editing, re-editing and re-re-re-editing my song over and over again.
- Coming up with steps and drawing them in my infamous blue book.
- Coming up with blocking while I was bored in the office, (and drawing them in my infamous blue book)
- Cabbing down to SAJC to teach steps in a millipede-infested dance studio.
- Climbing over the SAJC gate to go home.
- Fighting with hundreds (okay, dozens) of dance groups for rehearsal space at AS7.
- Munching on subway sandwiches while doing warmups 4 times a week.
- Going to chinatown to buy TRAYS
- Horsing around AS7 just like how we used to when we were 17.
- Crazy-ass lifts which brought our girls to new heights and left the guys with aching arms the next day.
- Being so damn happy at the Toa Payoh studio because I had a full cast and an excellent rehearsal.
- Having fun with costumes: Finding cha-chat clothes for Sandy's, going to Bugis street to get (overpriced) blazers for mine, and stripping half naked for the first time at AS7 for Dewi's.
- Vettings at SAJC which gave us the jitters backstage.
- Zaki's surprisingly good appraisals during vetting post-mortems. (our item's SOLID?!)
- Getting high, munching on double decker and jack&jills in the Esplanade dressing room.
- Lunching in the Green Room and scaring the hell out of our juniors with sexual innuendo jokes.
- Crowding around the mini TVs backstage ooh-ing and ah-ing at each other's performances.
- Smiling at "GO LIONEL!" cheers from Ervin, Eugene, Lauren, Yen and Rox, who decided to hell with Esplanade's strict code of conduct.
- The thunderous applause after On The House.
- Watching Zaki dance for the second time, a rare rare occasion indeed.
- Watching, with a little tug on our heartstrings, the video montage of our previous performances.
- Curtain call carrying soft toys.
- Hugs, flowers and happy smiles.
- Post concert (expensive) supper at TCC Holland v, drinks and wala wala and eski bar.
- The dancers of my beloved SAJC DANCE ALUMNI, who made this amazing journey with me. :)
Special shoutout to Eugene, Ervin, Lauren, Yen Yen, Roxanne, Kelly, Rohai, Debbie and Yanxiang who came all the way down and gave me an audience to dance for. Haha.
This definately goes into the unforgettable experiences list. Yes... it was all worth it. Pictures up soon! (If I can get my hands on 'em. My camera died on me. Bah.)
he rocked the party at 9:36 PM |
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Today's rehearsal was veryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryvery much better than last saturday's. So, if any of my dancers are reading this, WELL DONE! Keep up this energy and we'll rock Rapture 2006. I am very pleased. Goodiegoodie.
Anyways, for those of you who were lucky enough to get tickets, (or desperate enough to kill to obtain them) please dont forget:
Rapture 2006
Friday, 4th August 2006
8pm
Esplanade Theatre
DONT BE LATE, cause esplanade has a really strict policy about punctuality. (I should know, they turned me away when I was 15 mins late previously) This year's items feature a good mix of contemporary, hip-hop and classical genres, which should make everyone happy. Cant remember the total number of items, but it should be around 16-17, of which alumni are contributing 5.
The countdown begins...
he rocked the party at 9:38 AM |
