Friday, August 16, 2013 | 9:48 PM
It's a new semester and I've been a bit drained and unprepared for everything to start.
I'm quite happy with my timetable though, and most of the modules I'm taking this semester (lit, social work and 2 CAPT modules) look like they'll be interesting. I was falling asleep in most of them this week :/ but hopefully I'll be more awake come Week 2.
Cat Baba was back to her habit of zi-pai-ing:
Still, I'm glad to be back at CAPT (the residential college I stay at at NUS) and this is what's been happening the past week:
1. Late night captain's ball sessions
The same night I returned, I soon found myself playing captain's ball. Walking around on my heels (trying not to put pressure on the blisters from playing barefoot), and washing off dirty feet at 1am, that's when I knew I was really back in the craziness of CAPT. This week alone, we've played twice and we're playing a third time tonight. Love the game and how it bonds people :) we've been having orientation activities every night for the past 4 nights, and on the second last night Dragon Slayer (refer here for explanation of the weird names) asked the freshies to play. I liked it because I got to know the freshies slightly better - it's somehow easier to break the ice this way than talking to them.
2. Dinners with my OG
Throughout fledgling week (CAPT's way of describing our orientation activities. It follows the idea of a college ready to take off at the end of the week), our neighbourhood emphasized "family." Because that is really what our friends and neighbours have become to us over the past 1 year.
Today as I was thinking about my post, I realised that - cliches aside - these people have really become close to family. I realised that I had tried to set time aside to have dinners with my OG in the week, the same way I try to set aside time on weekends for family.
3. Birthday surprises
We planned a birthday surprise for Hat and Prawn. It was quite funny because while two friends were bubble wrapping Prawn's door, I happened to run into him in the lift, about to get off on his floor. I panicked and asked him to help me. I ended up asking him to come up to my floor, take a roll of bubble wrap, and put it in the common lounge on level 1.
Thinking it was safe to let him go to his level lounge as long as he didn't go near his room, I told him I didn't need any more help. But for some reason the whole group migrated to someone's suite, so he walked past his room and of course, saw two people sticking stuff on his door. "I didn't see anything! I didn't see anything!" But obviously he did.
Hat still didn't know what was going on, till we finally gathered as a group (5 of us in total, with Kiwi late as usual) and sang happy birthday to them both. Then Prawn very embarrassedly gave Hat his half of the cake (he started eating it because it was left outside his door lol). And then we started the short trail around CAPT. Prawn and Hat were given clues with tasks like "Play a duet together" and "Win a foosball match." With each clue they also picked up a kiwi (for Hat) and tabasco sauce (for Prawn) because one loves fruits and the other loves tabasco sauce with everything.
(playing foosball with a kiwi)
Our last stop? The common lounge where we took a photo with the bubble wrap:
Oh, and we bubble-wrapped the wrong door. Hat swopped rooms with his suitemate but we didn't know! Luckily the guy hadn't moved in, so Hat helped us to bubble wrap his own door.
4. One CAPT
On the first night of fledgling week, we had "branding" which was basically writing "One CAPT" on our hands with henna. Sunny Side-up helped me to draw a ship's steering wheel :) and I drew flowers for her in return.
For black neighbourhood, we had our own special donkey (it's supposed to be a horse) called Tulee (?) that we took photos with. Turns out it's for our door label:
The door labels were presented to us on the last night of fledgling week ^^. Really a lot of effort went into planning the neighbourhood and college-level activities, and I'm proud of my friends/thankful to the committee for it!
5. Door gifts
Left a note on Gummy Bear's door, and she promptly returned a post-it and snack:
Couldn't help smiling at how familiar it was, and in a very nice way, to have people leaving friendly/encouraging notes at the door.
My Room
I loved my room last semester, but I realise I need the change in environment to help me kind of reset for the new semester. 90% of it is from last semester since I just decided on that today:
Will write more soon about the new semester! :)
happy to be back,
Labels: author: stella, lists, school and schooling, themed entries
Monday, August 12, 2013 | 11:56 PM
It's the first day of school! I dreaded coming back into hall on Sunday night because it signalled the end of the long holidays and the start of a new semester. Just one day in, though, and I am awash with memories -- and making new ones.
Here are 13 things that made hall life so unforgettable.
1) Climbing 10 storeys' (some claimed) worth of stairs to get to my room -- courtesy of being assigned a room in the tallest block in the hall which sits upon the highest hill. I'm lucky I didn't get the highest floor.
2) Hanging clothes out to dry in the morning, going for lessons, and then groaning out loud when it starts to rain. Some rooms get sheltered clotheslines, but that also means they don't get the crisp freshness of sun-dried clothes. (Sun-dried makes them sound like fruits.)
3) Having classmates and friends live so close I can literally holler to get their attention.
4) Having to defrost (and excavate - I'm serious) the freezer component of my lousy fridge at the end of every semester. It kinda sucks that after some time, you can't put anything inside (or get anything out of) the freezer. Which means no more ice cream.
5) Having ice cream parties in our hall rooms. Or any party, for that matter. We're notorious (amongst ourselves) for hanging out at someone else's room till past midnight, just talking about random things or having what we call heart-to-heart talks (HTHT). In fact, some of my friends have made it a point to visit more rooms. They call it room-hopping. Many life lessons to be learnt, I've heard.
6) Rushing to the printing room 5 minutes before midnight, trying to print notes for the next day's lessons. The frustration is compounded when:
a) The printer runs out of paper
b) The printer spoils (and it's locked so you can't try to fix it yourself)
c) Someone's hogging the printer
d) The printer and computers shut down (after midnight) while you're printing something
Makes you wanna break something, I swear.
7) Hall dance. Is awesome.
8) Knocking on friends' doors and then running away. Multiple times. Yes we still do this.
9) Huge gathering of people to spring surprise birthday celebrations, usually near midnight. They can complain all they want but it's part of hall life and it keeps happening.
10) Talking about life and stuff deep into the night with the roomie.
11) Making silly comments and antics and having laughing fits in the room with the roomie.
12) Both roomie and I studying so quietly I sometimes turn around just to check if she's still there.
13) Being proud to claim which hall I am from when people ask. Despite its many shortcomings (especially now that the shuttle bus routes have changed - we've lost our advantage), this hall has been, and will continue to be, my home away from home.
Good night,
Labels: author: ji inn, lists, school and schooling, themed entries
Sunday, August 11, 2013 | 11:32 AM
Returning to school after 4 weeks of winter break (in Aussie) or 2.5-3 months of holiday (in Singapore) can prove to be immensely difficult. Especially since the drive to study has been long lost after the last exam the previous semester.
So here's a How To Survive Your First Week Back At School guide!
1. Get enough rest the night before
It's tempting to celebrate 'the end of holidays' or 'the start of school', I know. Go ahead and do it, but I'd suggest partying on a Saturday night. So that you can have enough rest on Sunday and regulate your body clock for Monday morning.
2. Pack your bag, plan your wardrobe, etc. the night before
So that you don't have to wake up freaking out over what to wear, whether you should curl your hair, and where your pencil case is. Plan, execute without hesitation, and you'll be ready for school in no time!
3. Set as many alarms as you need.
I use just one, but I know of friends who go up to 8. The alarm will start ringing an hour earlier then they intend to wake up, and they will simply keep slamming on the snooze button every 10 minutes. Only in college have I ever seen people who need running alarm clocks, Lark silent vibrating alarm clock, and having to solve maths sums to turn off their alarm. Do whatever it takes to end your affair with your bed.
4. Have a nice breakfast
I don't have breakfast regularly throughout the semester, but I find that having breakfast makes me less irritable (i.e. less grumpy-looking and more approachable) and more focused. Try this if you haven't before, it makes a huge difference!
5. Arrive ~10 minutes before your first class
So that you'll have enough time to search for your classroom or visit the washroom. It's always better to be there early and make friends with that one other classmate, than be late and make a clumsy entrance into the classroom with everyone staring at you.
6. Pay attention
Because you'd wanna know how to contact your tutor when shit happens, or when all the huge assignments are due, or where that cute exchange student is from. ;)
7. Ask for help
Don't be afraid to approach a stranger to ask where room 248 is (you might find a classmate), or to ask your lecturer 'silly questions' about that unit. You'd rather be informed than be lost.
8. Be friendly
Having friends makes lessons feel like they're much shorter than they really are. It also makes group work so much more enjoyable when you have a few mates you are comfortable working with.
9. Do all your readings and assignments
Because you don't want your tutor to have a bad impression of you. First impressions are important, you don't want your GPA down the drain just because of that one reading you left out the first week of school.
10. Get keen
Having a positive attitude and being truly excited for school can make returning to school a better experience. Find a good studying routine for yourself, and stick to it. You will see results if you're consistently putting in effort into your studies.
Whether you're in primary, secondary, or tertiary education, I hope this guide will be helpful in some way. May everyone have a great week back at school!
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| My friends and I at our beloved school's biggest open day in a century. Don't forget to have regular fun as well to lead a balanced life! |
Much love,
Labels: author: madeleine, how-to, school and schooling, themed entries
Saturday, August 10, 2013 | 12:56 PM
I recently chanced upon this article, here's an excerpt:
Dolphins have the longest lasting social memory ever recorded for a non-human, according to new research that leaves open the possibility that dolphins possess the world’s most impressive memories.You probably didn't read all of it, but if you did, a trophy to you. Long story short, dolphins are found to have incredible social memory, and are suspected to have their own language.
Dolphins have what are known as “signature whistles” that function like their individual names plus added information, such as sex, size and health status. Humans have something similar. When a person says his or her name aloud, for example, listeners may infer additional information. For example, a large man with a head cold is more likely than certain others to have a loud, deep and nasally voice. Figuring these sorts of things out among humans is not an exact science, though, as a short guy with a booming voice might prove.
At any rate, dolphins each have their own signature whistles, and other dolphins certainly pay attention to them, as Bruck determined.
He played recordings of signature whistles to dolphins that had once lived with the animals that made the calls. He also played recordings of dolphins that the listeners had never met.
Bruck found that “dolphins get bored quickly listening to signature whistles from dolphins they don’t know.” When they heard calls from their long-lost friends, however, the dolphins immediately perked up.
“When they hear a dolphin they know, they often quickly approach the speaker playing the recording,” Bruck explained. “At times they will hover around, whistle at it, try to get it to whistle back.”
In one notable example, a female dolphin named Bailey, now aged 24, heard the signature whistle of another female named Allie, whom she had not seen in more than 20 years. The two females used to share digs at Dolphin Connection in the Florida Keys.
Bailey appeared to be thrilled to hear the recording of her old buddy, and tried to communicate back.
There is little doubt that relationships among these animals are deep and meaningful. The findings also indicate that these are highly intelligent animals capable of very complex mental processing.
Their communications are equally complex, such that Bruck and some other researchers now wonder if dolphins have their own language. The creation and possession of language has never technically been applied to any species other than humans.
“We know they use these signatures like names, but we don’t know if the name stands for something in their minds the way a person’s name does for us,” Bruck said. “We don’t know yet if the name makes a dolphin picture another dolphin in its head.”
For his next round of research, Bruck said, “That’s my goal — show whether the call evokes a representational mental image of that individual.”
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| Picture of a dolphin because who doesn't like looking at dolphins? |
Since young, I've always been pretty uncomfortable when people referred to the sounds crows made as 'noise'. What, are crows simply nature's accessories meant to sit quietly in the trees as decoration? Yes, the crows' incessant cries may be annoying to our ears, but do they not deserve to interact with their mates as well? (Hmm crows' rights. And ravens are so much noisier than crows, trust me.)
Isn't it incredibly pompous to think that we are the only animals who can communicate using language? And isn't it even more conceited to think that all animals should interact the way we do, as if our way is the only/ cleverest way to communicate?
In fact, while reading children books and watching 101 Dalmations, I've wondered if all animals are capable of speaking to one another without humans knowing. Do you remember how the dogs and horse basically saved all the dalmations, while the people could barely do anything? What if everything in nature could shout secrets, and humans are the only ones left out? What if we are the ignorant ones?
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| What if, huh? |
I'm aware I sound a little crazy (this is kinda thoughnotreally what I meant when I mentioned I have uncommon ideas in my introduction), and I shall end this here. Dismiss this entry if you'd like, but if you're actually pondering, please comment/ hit me up, we could be friends.
Kinda wack,
Labels: author: madeleine, personal, thoughts out loud
Thursday, August 8, 2013 | 8:14 PM
I love family traditions, and one of them was having a BBQ every national day. We've since stopped it, although now and then we'll do it when we're in the mood for it. I remember the funny thing about family BBQs was that every time, usually on a Sunday, we got out the grill and started igniting the charcoal, it would start raining. Thankfully, we could still have it under the sheltered porch. There would be chicken wings, hot dog buns, potato salad (one of the rare occasions my family has salad), mash, and steak that would never cook completely. My favourite part was helping with the mash because of the heavenly smell that fills the kitchen the moment hot potato meets butter. And tasting it to get the taste just right.
Around 5 or 6pm, the television would already be on even though it was mostly the hosts getting the crowd hyped up at the stadium and the television hosts discussing some new feature or other to the annual parade. Half the excitement is in the anticipation, so it was always nice to sit down to this and get hyped up along with the crowds in the stadium. And hyped up for dinner too!
When I was young, I read a lot of books by Enid Blyton (Famous Five and all), and I always assumed I would one day live the kind of life I read about. I never knew that the things in those books - 4 seasons, living in gardens with toadstools and fairies - either didn't exist, or happened only in places like the UK. So when I found out, I set my heart on moving there when I grew up. Singapore always seemed like a rather dull and commonplace country to live in.Over the years though, I've come to love this sunny island and with each overseas trip, I look forward more and more to returning home. Learning about the histories and problems of other countries in school helped I suppose, as did building my own memories and relationships that make Singapore worth coming back to.
Praying for Singapore
I went for my church's prayer meeting for the first time in a long while on Tuesday, and during the meeting we prayed for Singapore. It was quite cool because as we prayed, I thought about a few things:
(1) the wonder of Singapore's birth
As we thanked God for seeing Singapore through the years, it reminded me to think about the wonder of Singapore's birth. After all, that's what National Day is about right? Celebrating Singapore's independence, and the miraculous change from a problem-plagued country to the Singapore it is today (not without its problems definitely, but we've come a long way). Or even further back, how this island first came to life with villagers and lions roaming (according to myths), and then a bustling sea port. Just imagining how Singapore began from nothing.
(2) Diversity
I can't remember the exact prayer pointer for this, but it made me see our multi-racial and multi-religious culture with new eyes. Seeing with fresh joy what a privilege it is to be part of this culture, and how remarkable it is to have people of so many different races and cultures (including the increasing number of foreigners) live together. Consider how elsewhere, sometimes by no choice or fault of their own, people live with their countrymen waging wars against others from the same country, same religion. Even as problems surface, I think we can take a moment to see what a remarkable nation Singapore is by virtue of its existence and its current culture.
As national day draws near, I'm kind of glad to be spending the day with my family. Minus the BBQ. I think the atmosphere will still be around.
Happy National Day!
With love,
Labels: author: stella, family, themed entries
Wednesday, August 7, 2013 | 11:35 PM
For as long as I can remember, the singularly most important thing about National Day for my family was the holiday, and by implication, the long weekend, which was excuse enough for us to head to Malaysia for a short trip. Considering that I have many relatives residing in M'sia, it really isn't much of a surprise. This means I seldom get to celebrate National Day, especially when my parents request for a leave from the school celebrations so we can leave one day earlier. Still, I've attended enough of these celebrations to feel nolstagic now that I can no longer experience it all.
Every year without fail, there would be some of my peers who expressed their reluctance at attending the celebrations our school organised. They'd scoff at the red-and-white colour code, chit-chat with their friends while the Nat Day speech is being read out (I'm guilty of this too), and mumble the words to the Nat Day songs. The rest of us would be pretty excited about the whole affair (maybe because we didn't have to study and we didn't have to wear our uniforms) and the general atmosphere was rather hyped up.
My favourite part of the celebrations was always the song session. I love many of the oldies (older-gen Nat Day songs) like Home (1998), Where I Belong (2001), Reach Out For The Skies (2005), and We Will Get There (2002). These have beautiful melodies that transcend time. You know, I bet individually many of us just don't have the talent to sing well. But when everyone sings together, somehow it all balances out and becomes very lovely. The crazy thing is, I get so touched by this I actually teared sometimes (ok now it sounds like I cry a lot). It's just so hauntingly beautiful, you know?
Random fun fact: Every year, whenever we sing Where I Belong, people head into the chorus right after the first verse, when there's a second verse first. Every single year.
Anyway, since we're on the topic of Nat Day songs, I feel obliged to talk about this year's theme song, One Singapore. I don't know, nowadays I don't really remember what the new songs sound like. I think in primary school we were all taught (and made) to sing the songs, so we can remember for so long. I've heard quite a number of negative comments about the song, and I finally went to listen to it today. Hmm.. (better be careful here) Haha I guess it's not thaaat bad, just that it doesn't really have a nice melody that people would remember. The bridge felt a bit out of place.. but the last part (after the bridge) was not bad.
As you can probably tell, I kind of miss Nat Day celebrations. In university there isn't such a fun event for Nat Day and most people don't care anyway. And I just realised most schools had their celebrations today. Wish I could have crashed ): Singing the songs alone in my room with Youtube just ain't the same..
How do you celebrate your Nat Day?
Happy National Day,
Labels: author: ji inn, school and schooling, themed entries
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 | 12:30 AM
I'm not the most patriotic Singaporean around, but having been in Perth for about 7 months now, there are some things about Singapore that I have come to realise I absolutely treasure.
1. Safety
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| If they did this in Perth, the police would run out of signs all the time. |
My friend who got his mountain bicycle stolen in hall could do nothing about it, except buy another bicycle. So, contrary to popular belief, Singapore's police force aren't doing nothing. At least they bother putting up signs!
Also, I feel comfortable taking long walks in Singapore, but a simple 11km walk from hall to town's Maccas had us trying to shake off a creepy dude for quite a while. He only stopped following us when we entered Maccas. It wasn't fun having to watch our backs constantly, so I'm truly grateful that I feel safe in Singapore most of the time.
2. Public Transport
On a Tuesday evening, my friends and I took a 15 minutes bus ride to Subiaco to get some KFC. When we were done with dinner, it wasn't even 9pm yet. Alas, the last trains and buses back to hall were long gone. We had to take a 20 minutes walk in the rain to the nearest bus stop that still had running bus services, board a bus, alight at a bus stop, cross the road, board another bus, alight 10 minutes away from hall, and then walk back to hall.
Why is it so hard to return home after a simple dinner outside?!
Singapore's public transport may have its own problems, but at least you can find a simple route back home before midnight.
3. Efficiency
When the new buildings in our hall were slated to be done in half a year, what they really meant was one year. And the residents had to be kept waiting for
4. Singlish
It's a love-hate relationship with this one. Hate it when you let slip a Singlish phrase while speaking to Caucasian friends. But love it when the stranger next to you goes leh/ lah/ lor; I just have to go up to the person and befriend them because, hey siao eh only you know what I saying when I talk like that leh! Only Singlish has the power to let us immediately identify another Singaporean, and quickly forge a sense of familiarity and closeness.
5. Loved Ones
Ultimately, they are the ones who make me look forward to returning to Singapore.
/EDIT
6. I forgot about food.
How could I have forgotten to mention food?! All those nights of having indomee for supper just make me wish, more than ever, that I could be having wanton noodles or meepok or roti prata. It is also really annoying that Tim Ho Wan has been in Singapore for quite a while already, yet I haven't had the chance to try it. And this might sound crazy, but I've already planned my menu for the first day back home. So keen for my daddy's chilli crab for dinner!
Much love,
Labels: author: madeleine, lists, themed entries
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About Sundaescribbles
Hello there and welcome! Sundaescribbles is co-authored by 3 friends who love to write. Not only would we like to share our thoughts and ideas with one another, we also hope to entertain, inspire, and relate to our readers. Follow us on our journeys as we navigate this treacherous but wondrous new decade of our lives!Labels
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Ji Inn
Jean/Jeanie/Genie, a dreamer with an over-reactive heart
Ji Inn of all trades, mistress of none. Many things pique my interest but I haven't yet found my passion. I like both the arts and the sciences, and am open to everything in between and beyond. "Exploring" recently made its way into my list of hobbies.
If the thought of doing something scares me, that's when I know I have to do it. I believe in taking steps to better myself, in embracing challenges as a means of personal growth. This is a picture of me at Pulai Falls in Malaysia, taking risks and going out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be a marvelous place.
Madeleine
Mad/Maddie, studying in Perth, (falling) in love ♡This photo was captured while exploring the streets and alleys of Geraldton. I suppose it shows my enthusiasm for treading a different path and discovering the unexpected. And taking pictures with adorable graffiti. With obscene/ funny gestures (take your pick and we could either remain strangers or become friends).
On a less seemingly-nonsensical note, I love listening to marginalised voices narrating the other side of the story. (Which is why Wicked is one of my favourite musicals and my second major is Anthropology.) It opens my eyes, blows my mind, and captures my heart. Tell me your story and you might find yourself holding onto a piece of my heart.
Stella
Stella, Christian, writer, 20-year-old idealist
I like pretty photos and inspirational quotes. Words are my favourite way of communication - be it reading, writing or good conversations with people. This picture was taken at the old Bukit Timah railway. I guess it signifies journeys, and standing at the start of them. My favourite Disney song in Sec 3 was "At the Beginning" from Anastasia (a movie I love).
I have very few pictures with just me (I prefer being behind the camera haha or taking it with a friend). The little things can make my day - a smile, note or hug. You can read more on my blog at faithinbuilding.wordpress.com!