untitled

2007-04-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just a little longer, people. Just a little longer:)

2007-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

To my utter consternation, horror and anger, *** is taking my class for *** tutorials! In the words of Simple Plan, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?! The recent spat has already drastically lowered his popularity with me. The stories I've been hearing about his sucky teaching isn't going to help matters at all, considering that I need someone patient and caring enough to help me with my ***. Well, if he really is such a lousy teacher, I'll just turn to someone else out there. And if he tries to make any snide remarks, he's picking on the wrong person.

School tomorrow. Can't wait to meet my new teachers. Except for ***.

2007-03-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

This quote sums up perfectly the H2 Dilemma I had been embroiled in for the past few weeks. Today, I received confirmation about the subject combination I'm taking: H1 Maths, H2 Geography, H2 History and H2 Economics. There you go. You may all lower your eyebrows now. YY Wan has made the 'sanity-questionable' decision to take H2 Geography and H2 History for the GCE 'A' Level Examinations 2008. Yep, I'm fully aware that it's a very heavy load to shoulder and yep, I know it seems crazy. That's why I've invested plenty of brain cells pondering whether to go for it or not. Well-meaning peers and teachers alike have been dissuading me from taking this up and my Mum and I even got into a feud with the HOD of Arts over this. I've taken all these into consideration, weighed the alternatives, went through an internal debate and have finally made up my mind to follow my heart.

Perhaps you all would like to know why it was heart over head; I haven't told anyone yet have I?Here it goes:

History
I enjoy studying History because it's all about international relations, which I am quite interested in. No man is an island, ever, and a country's past is always interwined with that of another. The same can be said for culture, tradition and heritage. Being an 'I' profile individual, as determined by the DISC profiling, I'm a people-person so I view all homo sapiens with interest. Our histories are shaped almost entirely by the people themselves and I'd like to know how we came to be what we are today. History's not dead, as others may think. It's a an ever growing stack of yearbooks, recording the ups and downs of our past. It's up to us to add colour, new faces and enlightening articles to make these yearbooks a meaningful and valuable read for the next generation.

Geography
Geography, like History, is split into 2 components: physical and human. Physical Geography appeals to me because I'm into Nature. I've always been awed by how the elements, over a very long period of time, sculpts beautiful landforms out of a big lump of rock or alters a coastline completely. Nature really is a force to be reckoned with. As for the human component, it's got to do with my interest in human beings again, as mentioned above. History tells me how they can alter the course of the years to come through their actions of the past. Human Geography tells me how humans adapt to the ever changing world and how they themselves change as a result.

I know myself.I have a passion for both these subjects and also know that I won't be happiest not doing anything else. It makes sense for me to do advance level History and Geography. Imagine if I chose to follow my mind, which says that it's a very heavy combination that does not even complement each other very well. I'd have to downgrade one of them to H1 level, and what would I pick to be my 3rd H2 subject? I cannot give a good answer to this as I have qualms about every other subject left available. Some may say it was foolish of me to do it in the name of passion, but I feel that passion is what drives a person. Passion results in enthusaism and from the latter springs forth the willingness to work hard. Hence,part of the battle is already won.

With reference to Robert Frost's quote at the start, I've picked the road less travelled,with good reason and after plenty of thought too. In the end, I'd like to score well in the subjects I enjoy doing. 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

2007-03-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

I hate being sick (well, who doesn't?).Mum attributes my being ill to the weather, which has been swinging from blazing hot to cold-and-rainy like a pandulum. According to the news, other parts of the world are experiencing unpredicteable, mad weather too. Bloody global warming.

Well, at least I get to stay at home while others go to school, heheh. But I don't get to fully enjoy my one day off because my nose leaks like a tap and the cough is still bothering me. Not to mention the stupid fever. To keep my spirits up, I'm watching Bleach! Here's my advice to all who are feeling ill: remain upbeat. Don't do any streinous excercises, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to flush out the toxins in your body, drink loads of water and indulge in your hobbies. And LAUGH, for laughter IS the best medicine, as proven by many studies.

Anyway, back to Bleach (warning! spoilers ahead!): I've just caught episodes 112 and 113. And I think Ishida's Dad is an utter asshole. When Ishida was young, his father despised Quincys in spite of being one himself so he never helped Ishida develop his Quincy powers. And suddenly, he turns up years later and uses his Quincy powers to kill a Hollow. His Dad sneers at Ishida's lost powers and gives him the ultimatum: Stop hanging around Shinigamis or he will not help Ishida regain his Quincy powers. What a hypocrite. Where the hell was he when Ishida was learning to use his Quincy powers? And how could he do things behind Ishida's back?

Oh, and the 10th ending song for Bleach is lovely! It's called Sakura Hiyori (cherry blossom weather). Now, if only I can find a site to download it from......

There's no school tomorrow either! Yippee! Because we J1s are getting back our posting results. I'm praying hard I get into my 1st choice: NYJC. They say that I should be able to get in with an L1R5 of 10 (after bonus deduction), which is comforting. The thing is, quite a number of people I know have a 10 too. This means I'll face competition to get a place in NYJC. Also, Meridian JC's cut-off points have dropped to 10, 11 from I heard on the grapevine. Oh, maybe I should just stop worrying. I'm a 'natural bundle of nerves' or so my senior tells me. Toughen up, YY, the fact remains that you DO stand a chance.

2007-03-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

Last week, on board the bus home, I noticed how intensely dark the shadows cast upon the ground were......and was reminded of an Enid Blyton story.It was about a miscevious pixie who snipped off a girl's shadow using a pair of magic scissors. In the end, the little guy was given a taste of his own medicine. Chancing upon that memory made me smile, for Enid Blyton stories were part and parcel of my childhood. And at the thought of my childhood, I took a looong walk down the memory lane...

My earliest memory was not a pleasant one. It involved two-year-old me falling off the bed, with my Mum screaming in the background. T'was a golden afternoon, happened in the master bedroom, carpet was pink......the end.

Nursery was stupid cos I had bitchy teachers and some bitchy classmates. Once, I girl asked me,"Do you want to be xxxxx's friend or my friend?". Knowing that I had to make a choice, I replied xxxxxx. She walked off in a huff, saying "Dun friend you." Whatever. Speaking of friends,I do remember my first best friend's name: Tan Si Ling. I wonder if she remembers me too? Kindergarden was better, though I recall being snubbed at by two assholes, Hilary and Valerie. I endured their snide remarks at almost everything I did for two years. In retrospect, I should have slapped the two of them on their faces.

Had it not have been for the boys at primary school, I think I would have a better time there. You see, I have eczyma, which makes my skin itchy sometimes. When that happens, I scratch, and when I scratch, my skin gets red. Ah, just go read my previous blogs to find out what those busybody-cum-asshole boys did when they knew about my skin condition. It's pretty obvious, isn't it?I've said enough about this topic. I loved primary 6, though. We were such a close knit bunch, with a handful of lame clowns. A few years back, I met up with one such clown and asked hime which secondary school was he posted to. "Anderson Secondary School. A.S.S" he replied. ERMM -_-"

Crescent rocks! Bet you netizens know that already. I swell with pride whenever Crescent 'does it again' because Crescent Girls' Secondary School really is a wonderful school. We have knowledgeable + caring teachers, wonky-but-nice students, great facilities.....There's this junior out there who keeps saying that she hates Crescent etc. And for no tangible reasons. Which is truly ungrateful, because in the same blog, she raves about her wonderful Crescent friends and CCA. Well, get the hell out of Crescent, then, because Crescent does not need brats like you.

The chapter on secondary school has closed recently, and a new one on junior college one has just began. This story is going to last 2 years only but I still want to get the best out of it. NYJC may not be a top school, but I've known a whole lot of great people, both students and teachers alike. At this juncture though, I, the narrator of my life, am facing writer's block. Will they let me stay in NYJC? If not, will I have to start another chapter in life in another school?. Only time can tell.

2007-02-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Wan Shi Ru Yi!

Haha, it's not too late for me to say all that. After all, today is chu3 ba1, or the eighth day of the lunar new year. The lunar new year celebrations last 15 days. Sadly, we in Singapore don't get a glorious 15 day break but a relatively measly 4 day one. Ah well, 4 days is better than 0 days.

As part of Wan family tradition, the first day of the lunar new year was solely dedicated to the visiting of our relatives. But before that,we did the customary dolling-up. I wore a skirt, sleeveless top, leggings and boots so I appeared to have stepped out of an Avril Lavigne MTV. Didn't I tell you what a deviant I am? Mum donned something red-themed and my brother Yish put on his animated walking-man tee. Dad wasn't around as he was at the US.We sure looked swell. So did my cousins, when we finally met after a year apart. Gosh, Mum's right about Sam: she looks more matured than before, and even sported a ponytail! The rest looked more or less the same. At every house we visited, we exchanged oranges and received hongbaos. Chatted with my cousins too. As biased as this may sound, I reckon we Wans served the best treats.Mum got out the chocolate fondue set we got at Switzerland and pretty soon, everyone was dipping fruits, marshmallows and biscuits into liquid chocolate. It was blissful, sitting in the air-conditioned living room guzzling chocolated-coated food. Oh yeah, thank you Ah Min for the Bleach chibi figurines! Another addition to my small but growing Bleach paraphernelia.

Did I tell you guys about my being the MC at the 2007 Chinese New Year celebrations? Two words: screwed up. Well, not exactly, because I did feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of it and teachers congratulated me for a job well done, but so many things could have been better. Sometimes I talked too fast, then too slow or too loud, then too soft. Sheesh. And then there was this stupid miscommuniction which lead to an embarrasing mix-up. To round it all off, I think it was obvious to the audience that I'm a greenhorn when it comes to public speaking. Many thanks to my teachers and seniors who pointed out whatever I did right. That helped, it really did:)

Shall sign off here then. Stay tuned!

2007-02-15T02:03:00.000-08:00

I had so much to blog about.....but was a little lazy to do it. Yeah, go ahead and throw paper balls at this lazy bum. Better yet, get a crowbar to lift her butt off her chair.

First and foremost, my 'O' level results. When I saw them, I cried. Out of shock. I thought I was hallucinating, because I really did not expect my results to turn out......great!!! A 13! I've got an L1R5 of 13! This was beyond the 15-20 points I thought I would get. Here's how I fared for each subject:

English - A2 (Miss Goh's first words to me:"Where's the A1?" But I'm quite pleased about English. I thought I'd get a B3 for this one considering the compre vocab questions were tough. And I thought they would find the ending to my compre a little silly.)

Combined Science - A1 (You know,being very paranoid, I thought I filled in the wrong serial number. Thankfully, I didn't. And thankfully, I did very well.)

E maths - B3 (A little disappointing because the paper was really easy and I expected an A. In fact 93% of the Crescent cohort attained distinctions. Oh well, B3 is still good.)

A maths - A2 (Ironic, isn't it, that I did better in Additional Maths than Elementary Maths. I must thank Mr Loh for helping me a great deal with A maths, which I used to fail. Hooray for the A2!)

Geography - A2 (As expected I got a distinction! Though I was kinda hoping for an A1.)

Comined Humanities, Social Studies & History - B3 (What a relief! I thought SS was a little screwed up and History was the biggest killer of all. Thank goodness for the B3!)

Chinese - C5 (Sighs to that one. Like I mentioned before, I was hoping for a B4)

I know that around me, many Crescentians got single digit L1R5s and that the average L1R5 in Crescent is 9.9. Congratulations to all who did wonderfully well, of course. But even though I did not attain a single digit L1R5, I am still proud of my results. All that consultations, studying and sacrificed sleep paid off for me. Ah, the sweet smell of success. I pumped in lots of sweat, blood and tears to elevate myself from the borderline student I once was. AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME.

**********************

Chinese New Year celebrations tommorow! Haha, I do love half days. So do most of my class, who have decided that since we'll be attending two lessons only anyway, it would be wiser(!) not to come to school. Ah well, I HAVE to come to school tommorow anyway. Why? Because I'm one of the MCs for the Chines New Year celebrations. Note the absence of an exclamation mark. I'm quite nervous about this as it is the first time I'll be speaking to the whole school. Whereas Benjamin Low, my fellow MC, has plenty of public speaking experience and is as cool as a cucumber in the Artic about tommorow. Ah well, on the bright side, there is some fun in public speaking. There's also sort of thrill you get when riding a roller coaster: Scary but exciting.

Wish me luck manz. Oh, and I think I'll be popping in at Crescent tommorow:)

2007-02-08T20:24:00.001-08:00

Man oh man. The Day has arrived; an alarming 2 hours or so away. Will I be left with only the polytechnics to choose from? Will I screw up? Will I remain in NYJC? The answers all lie in that envelope lying among the huge pile of results slip, waiting for my trembling, sweaty hands to receive them. Good luck to all receiving their 'O' level results today.

2007-02-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Today's post shall be about Hinamori Momo from Bleach cos' I've come to realize that she is the anime character I resemble most (looks and character wise).

The girl:

Similarities:

Dark-coloured hair and eyes
People say we're cute (but obviously she's cuter)
We're both about 150cm
We're both about 40kg
Chin-length bangs
Upbeat attitude
Can be quite impulsive
Loyal
Pack a punch despite innocent appearance

Should I receive an invitation to a cosplay party, I think I'll go as Hinamori since it's not going to be difficult to be Hinamori-ish. The problem lies in getting the Shinigami outfit.

****************

The entire Sec 4 cohort is quaking in their boots: RELEASE OF 'O' LEVEL RESULTS NEXT WEEK!!!!!! Speculation is rife about the exact date of Dooms day but many reckon it's either the 5th or 9th. The suspense is killing me. To cope, I'm squeezing as much enjoyment as I can into the remaining few days left. It helps that I'm not the only one worried about how I'd fare. That's strength in numbers to you.

I just hope I like what I see when I receive my results slip.

Stay strong!

2007-01-26T01:25:00.000-08:00

The future does not seem rosy for Mother Earth and her inhabitants. An article in yesterday's New Paper reported that if something is not done about global warming, we may end up like the boiled frogs (if you place a frog in lukewarm water and slowly turn up the heat, it will die before it realizes the danger it is in). There are also more grim reports about melting ice bergs, wild weather etc. And has anyone noticed the weather in Singapore swinging from cold to hot, cold then hot? It's not just the climate changes. Bird flu has once again reared its ugly head and it's threatening to unleash a global pandemic. If that happens, "it may mean the end of humanity" should the situation gets out of control, our Geography teacher told us today.

I'm not blogging to paint a depressing picture of our future, but to talk about a sudden paradign shift I experienced with regard to the above. I used to worry about whether I'd live to see the planet's climate go haywire and watch people around me die of the intense heat or cold. I don't think I can stand watching seaside communities swallowed up by rising sea levels. Nor watch all the lovely flora shrivel up. One day, I realized I should just stop worrying. Not to say I don't care anymore, but if we really are heading towards a havoc-wrecking global climate, it won't do to worry myself insane. So instead of feeling so overwhelmed, I've decided to live my life to the fullest.

As M1 puts it, you have 1 life, so live it. I've always liked children, so I think I want to join the UNICEF or on a more local level, MILK. One of my positive character traits is that I can make people laugh or smile so that'll come in useful. Job-wise, I want to be a journalist and witness history in the making. Why not start a family too? I'm also building up my social circle and can get along with boys and girls alike. To round up these dreams, I'm interested in being a Member of Parliament (or at least an NMP).

With regard to materialism, I'm just going to have to suppress it. Here are some of my eyecandies: Photoshop CS2, Samsung MP3, designer clothes......Expensive items that I can only dream about. Yet, should I acquire, say, an Ipod Nano, how the hell I am going to enjoy it when the climate turns its wrath on us? Is it going to save me in any way? It's okay to get a little bit of excess stuff but not too much. Anyway, if who you are is what you have and what you have is lost, then WHO ARE YOU?

In the end, should I get boiled or frozen under a wild climate, I want to look back, smile and say, "I've lived well."

2007-01-23T02:57:00.000-08:00

Chew on the following, people:

"Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers. " Who said that?

a) Irate member of public
b) An education minister
c) Simon Cowell
d)Socrates
e)Isaac Newton

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
give up?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Answer: d) Socrates, the famous philosopher who lived from 470BC to 399BC.

Conclusion: No generation of kids are angelic; they came under fire even over 2000 years ago:) A pretty good response to insensitive adults who keep lambasting us youths.

2007-01-15T03:26:00.000-08:00

Even though lessons have already began, life as a JC1 student is still rather relaxed. A typical school day begans with me waking up at 6.25am (instead of 6am during my Crescent days) and being whisked off to school by car to NYJC after breakfast. I usually reach school at 7.20am. Lessons began at 8am but we haven't learnt anything heavy yet so it's usually the teacher letting us try 'introductory' assignments or talking about the subject syllabus. In between, there are breaks which can be as loooong as 3hrs. To pass time, I'd hang around the Drum (the school library, no idea why it's so called) reading Empress Orchid which is pretty intriguing. School ends between 1pm and 2pm. Because we've been doing mainly light lessons, there is no homework issued so I can indulge in my hobbies when I get back.

Stress-free life huh? It is such a far cry from the Dark Days of 2006. I remember the Sec 4s being left out of certain fun activities such as Ronin's concert because we had to do some mock exam instead in preparation for the 'O' Levels. The juniors also began their holidays earlier than we did and could excercise their right to flock to cinemas to watch drool-worthy movies. On the other hand, we the Sec 4s were up to our ears in books, cramming information into our brains in spite of the information overload. Sweat, blood, tears...you name it, we've shed it.

I heard the current Sec 4s are having it a little worse than we did. Apparently, they have to stay back till 5,45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays! That, plus the usual packed timetable and increasingly common mock exams. Sheesh. Well, all I can say is: Study hard and smart NOW and then you will truly be able to enjoy your holidays without any regrets.

*******
Speaking of the holidays, did I tell you all what a super-duper productive December holiday I had last year? Productive in terms of enjoymaent and knowledge gained that is.

The Wans' enriching Europe trip
I read about 6 books(excluding the ones I reread)
A sharp spike in number of Bleach episodes watched
Learnt how to cook potato patties
Went out with squadmates twice
Improved manga drawing skills
Blogged more
THE BEST EVER: Downloaded a Paint Shop Pro 11 trial (thanks Mum!) and discovered how to use it on my own. I can do some pretty good digital art pieces now.

******

To quote Tigger, TTFN, tata for now!

2007-01-09T02:39:00.000-08:00

It's 1 week into the new year and I've had a taste of JC life. So the time has come to pop in at my blog to post the many newsworthy stuff garnered over the past few days:)

Oh sheesh oh sheesh, how the heck do I begin? I mean, it's my first time being in a junior college and there's truckloads to ramble on and on about. There's the building itself (nice architecture and GREAT canteen), new friends (quirky handful), Orientation( a BLAST), sseniors (lame ppl)...Enough beating about the bush, I'll first talk about Orientation.

As mentioned above it was a hydrogen-powered, proton-charged BLAST. But also quite tiring. For one thing, we did quite a lot of cheering which, at the end of the day, left us feeling as though our lungs contained vacuum. For another, we often went home late in the evening and were expected to report to school @ 7.20am. All that inevitably left us feeling worn. Still, the Nanyang Experiencia was quite fun and enjoyable on the whole. Most seniors were outgoing and friendly; some even enthusiastic to a rather alarming degree. Crescent Red Cross ppl would be interested to know that Hasyimah Senior is a member of the NYJC student council. Still as chatty and upbeat as ever, 'Syimah' as she know prefers to be known as, gave the surprised Yours Truly a hug when we met. She and other student council members played a big role in ensuring us JC1s have a smashing time at NYJC by organising games at Sentosa, inter-faction games(my faction Pyro won!) etc. There was even a Disco Night which rocked the school to its foundations.

Being in a new school means that I mingle with a new group of schoolmates, which I took quite some time to adjust to due to an initial culture shock. Don't get me wrong, I get along fine with everyone and no one is ostracising me. Yet, I feel slightly out of the place. This is because most of my peers communicate in Chinese,unlike Crescent, where we ususlly speak English. It's an issue for me because I rarely speak Chinese. Sometimes, I don't dare contribute any input to conversations in Chinese for fear of making ppl laugh. Ah well, I'm more or less used to this know. Besides, being in a Chinese-speaking environment should help pull up my Chinese grades.

After Orientation, we started to attend lectures on the subjects we chose to study. I'm doing Geography, History and Economics at H2 level, and Maths at H1 level. My decision to do both Geog and Hist at H2 level has raised a number of eyebrows and incited a 'siao' response this morning. Yep, it was quite insane of me to attempt H2 for 2 heavy subjects in the name of passion. Oh, I'll just see how it goes. Anyway, lectures have been pretty interesting so far, with each teacher beginning by giving us an introduction to the different subject syllabus. Our Geog teacher linked Geography to Starbucks(because different climates and regions produce different types of Coffee) while our Economics teachers shot us questions like 'Why do bankers earn more than nurses'(the former contributes more revenue).

Right, gotta go to bed soon. There's the CCA Bazaar tomorrow in which the various CCAs showcase what their sport,club or society in order to attract JC1 members. Initially, I wanyed to join Wushu but Mum shot down the idea, saying I would be better off building on my strengths. So I've decided to join Debate and Toastmasters Club which I think will be useful. Though she doesn't want me to take up Wushu, Mum is Okay with me joining a Lion Dance Troop. Stop laughing lah:P Then again, Amanda told me there's this club that offers manga drawing(DROOLS)......

Sheesh. I'll just have to grill the seniors tomorrow.

Good night!

2007-01-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

The curtain may have fell on year 2006 22hrs ago but that does not mean I can't look back and ruminating on whatever happened back then. In fact, I have to make a record of 2006 for I consider it to be a turning point in my growing up.

Sweet sixteen means more to me than being able to watch NC16 movies. I seem to have undergone some sort of maturity growth spurt at 16. Back in my lower secondary days, I was the cute kid who basked in attention. Like I mentioned once in a previous entry, people somehow found me cute. This was a far cry from my time in primary school, where I was a plain Jane. Being the airhead I was, I built up a frivolous and childish image to get more of the attention. Acting cute was part of it too. Operation Cutiepie was succesful but deep down inside, it felt so superficial. People were noticing me all right. For being a sissy.

My maturity level spiked at Sec 4 with the advent of the "O" Levels. The Omnious "O"s were an extremely big deal, so there was no time for childish nonsense. It was even more pressurising for me to do well because I was not very academically-inclined. I needed help. Badly. It dawned on me that I needed to shed the clingy, silly image in order to get the coaching I need. Who's going to pay attention to a giggly kid? No, the time had come to switch to a more serious mode. That bloody mask will have to be disposed off.

So I began approaching teachers for extra help. Something I would get all giggly about to dare to do in lower secondary. From then on, I discovered a new type of attention. Not the oh-so-cute type but a good-you're-responsible, warm one. I could tell they were pleased with me and I like that because I was being admired for the 'right' reasons. In my teachers' eyes, I was a responsible person and they began to entrust me with more difficult tasks. By the time I left Crescent, quite a number of upper secondary teachers knew me for my good attitude.

Perhaps you could say I got caught in an identity crisis and eventually managed to untangle myself. Well, almost. There are times I revert to the old silly self but usually to diffuse some tention in a situation. But I can be serious when the situation calls for it. The bottomline is this: I know that there is a time and place for everything.

The other day, Mum was telling me that people whom others find cute are usually perceived as pansies with little leadership. When I think back to some of the cringe-worthy antics of the past (e.g speaking in a high-pitched voice), I found myself agreeing with her. There is a limit to how sugar-sweet one can be. But then again, if ppl think I'm cute looks-wise, there's not much I can do about it.

In the end, I just want to be me. Soon, I will be entering a new school (Nanyang Junior College) and am determined to make a good impression while not putting on another bloody mask. Garnet of Final Fantasy 9 sums this whole post up best: "Someday I will be Queen(her, not me). But I will always be who I am."

2006-12-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-12-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

Five more minutes into the New Year......as cliche as it sounds, I can't believe how fast time flies. Just a few more minutes before the curtain falls on 2006 and booze spills, fireworks explode to usher in 2007 with a bang......

2006-12-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

Ciao, my dear netizens! Haha, no, that wasn't siao (mad in hokkien) but a form of greeting in Italian. As you all can see, I'm back from Italy & Switzerland (3 days ago actually)! Now, the other day I was blog-hopping and checked out Sui Ying's blog. In one post, SY said that according to some TV show, travel blogs are boring. No offence to anyone but that is rubbish. Otherwise, Discovery Travel and Living would have been a flop long ago. But I do agree ploughing through paragraphs of tedious, dry text would make the head spin. So instead of giving a blow-by-blow account of the trip, I'll do like one junior did and list the highlights and the shitty moments. A sprinkle of humour would be added of course. And since a picture tells a thousand words, I'll include photos as well.

Italy

Venice

Venice was once a great city state but started to decline in the 18th century and was finally catured by Napoleon of France (we did Venetian history in Social studies). Since then, the city has pretty much frozen in time.

One word to sum up my thoughts on Venice: surreal. You see, instead of roads and highways, Venice has an extensive system of canals. The absence of asphalt felt strange but the boat rides to and fro were lovely!

Venice is known for its Murano glass and intricately-designed carnival masks. Unfortunately, these 2 were caught in the centre of a storm brewing between my parents and a shopkeeper. You see, Mum accidently knocked down a Murano vase containing some masks at the shop. In the end, we parted with x euros and took home the broken vase and a mask (which I fixed).

In spite of this, the sojourn at Venice was lovely.

Florence

Florence looks like a big Orchard road to me. But unlike Orchard Road, there aren't any big malls. All shops in Italy are found at ground level. While at Florence, we took a train to Pisa to lay our eyes on one of the 7th wonders of the world:

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is easily my favourite Italian place-of-interest, though the Vatican in Rome is a close contender. Its X-factor: a breathtakingly-beautiful view on top.

Rome

The saying 'lightning never strikes twice on the same spot' certainly doesn't apply to my parents. Once again, they lost more euros. But this time, it was because a fuckwit pickpocket dipped his hand into my Dad's pocket during a Metro ride.

Singaporeans who complain about congested MRT trains should ride Rome's Metro during peak hours; it'll be so packed they'll have the wind squeezed out of their lungs. It was so packed that when I moved my hand forward to get out this guy mistook me for his girlfriend and held my hand! Anyway, we lost abou 2.5 times thge previous. My parents were hopping mad and made a police report. Along the way, we all cursed the asshole pickpocket and cooked up all sorts of bizarre punishments for the (inserts the very worst of swear words and obscenities)

May he get killed from the radiation emitted by his new handphone and may his new Ferrari fall off a cliff. All in all, may his 'windfall' bring him misfortune.

Other than the above-mentioned, Rome was pretty nice. I've always been interested in Ancient Rome so I enjoyed checking out the ruins and the Colosseum with its gladiators toting spears-and-handphone-and-credit-card:)

The Vatican was quite beautiful, especially its interiors. This is my favourite corner in the Vatican:

Switzerland.

We booked a hotel in Zurich but from Zurich, we travelled to many places via train. My favourite place is the summit Mount Pilatus which is in Luzern. There, we were surrounded by snow-cloaked mountains which protruded through a thick blanket of clouds. I call that layer the 'floating Antartica of heaven' because looking down from the summit, it really looked like a huge snowy landscape. All this, plus the glittering snow and azure blue sky was so breathtaking that I shed a few tears.

We got up Mt Pilatus via cable car.

My brother and I

What liked best about Switzerland was the villages. As Christmas was just round the corner, out comes the fairy lights, Santa Claus dolls, reindeers, ornaments etc. Coupled with the thick snow, the villages look extremely Christmas-card worthy.

Another thing I like about Switzerland is the warm and friendly people! Apart from Luzern and Zurich, we also visited Interlaken, Grindelwald, Bern etc. I've now decided that England, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore are my favourite countries.

Miscellaneous pics and funny moments:

Mini-Ritter Sport!!! So cute yeah?

We are The Wans. I told my Mum we looked like members of a rock band and she laughed:D

2006-12-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

A follow up on the previous post before I get whisked off to Europe in about 6h 25mins time:)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Hitsugaya Toushirou when he was young. Kawaii right? www.bleachportal.net

A ten-fold increase in cuteness as the uears go by xD http://www.animegalleries.net/

My favourite Bleach group pic. Clockwise from right: Kurosaki Ichigo, Kuchiki Rukia, Abarai Renji, Hinamori Momo, Hitsugaya Toushirou (yay, my favourite couple in the same pic!) and Kuchiki Byakuya. www.finni.deviantart.com

Made excellent progress watching Bleach today. So much so that I'm now afraid I'll be left with nothing to watch! Not that the Bleach series are gonna end; the series is still growing and growing because the ultimate assholes have yet to be caught. But a Bleach episode a day keeps the blues away. I'm now left with about 15 episodes left. Great news: BLEACH EPISODE 106 IS OUT!!!!!!!!! GO CHECK OUT BLEACHPORTAL.NET!!!!!! I'm ecsataic because this latest episode was released faster than I thought (Bleach episode 105 came out a month ago). I reckon if it takes about a month to come up with an episode the wait would not be so bad.

In the end, all the bad guys will die whether the good ones live or not. A fact I derived from years of watching television and movies. The bad guys always pay no matter what. Oh, just go watch Bleach.

Will return in 2 weeks, I'll see if I can post anything whike abroad. Till then, EUROPE HERE I COME!!!

2006-12-08T02:13:00.000-08:00

What happens when the die-hard romantic, animaniac and music lover in me mix? This:

Songs to represent anime couples/charcters

Hitsugaya Toushirou and Hinamori Momo (Bleach) : Chasing cars by Snow Patrol
Diva (Blood+) : Flight of the Bumblebee by Maksim
Tidus and Yuna (Final Fantasy 10) : She will be Loved by Maroon 5
Saya and Hagi (Blood+) : Wherever you will go by The Calling
All FF7AC characters (Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children): Dare you to Move by Switchfoot

******

As mentioned in the previous post, Bleach is my current obsession. To say it's brilliant would be an understatement. I think any anime-crazed person out there SHOULD NOT miss Bleach because it's super duper popular, making it an ideal topic of discussion when being with other animaniacs. Just go to any anime site. There's a 95% chance of finding a link dedicated to Bleach and the Bleach link is often the one that gets the most hits.

After watching loads of Bleach episodes at Youtube.com (80 to be exact) , I think I can answer to question that popped into my mind when I first started: Why does Bleach stand out? Here's my opinion: Firstly, it has the basic template of a great show, that is laughs + romance + action + likeable characters. Secondly, the dudes and gurls aren't just 2d characters on the screen. The producers did a wonderful job of injecting distinct personalities in each character (though not every single one of them) , bringing nearly every one to life. For example, Ichigo the main character is clearly a rather fast-talking, cocky guy but with a strong sense of justice and loyalty. Ishida, his friend, is an extreme sense of pride in being a Quincy. Thirdly, it's kinda fun to watch the different relationships among the characters e.g Ichigo and his Dad's is always hilarious.

One thing I haven't figured out though: Why is Bleach so called? I mean, the chemical doesn't come in anywhere in the series. Won't some Bleach expert kindly enlighten me on this? I've got a theory that probably isn't too far off the mark: the Shinigami(Death Gods) in Bleach are always wiping out the dangerous Hollows just as bleach is needed to whiten clothes.

Some random things regarding Bleach (WARNING, SOME SPOILERS!) :

Top 3 favourite guys (in order of preference):

HITSUGAYA TOUSHIROU (aaarrgghh...adore him to bits!!!!)
Abarai Renji
Urahara Kisuke

Top 3 favourite girls (in order of preference):

Shihouin Yoruichi (she's pretty and kicks ass)
Kuchiki Rukia
Inoue Orihime or Tsumigaya Ururu

Ultimate favourite character: HITSUGAYA!!!

Favourite couple: Hitsugaya Toushirou and Hinamori Momo

Favourite villian: Ichimaru Gin

Least favourite character: Aizen Sousuke

Weirdest pairing: Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru

You gotta watch about 50 episodes to understand my feelings for certain characters.

******

Oh yeah, my family and I will be off to Europe on Sunday. We're visiting Italy + Switzerland :D and will be back on Christmas day. Can't wait xD

2006-12-05T03:21:00.000-08:00

YAY!!! I'M SOOO HAPPY:

You're Hitsugaya Toushirou, Captain of the Tenth Division! Even though you're young, your future already shows much promise, and you probably have already made a lot of progress in your area of interest. You also feel strongly about protecting your friends from any and all assaults, and don't mind getting dirty in the process.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to copy & paste the bar graph which tells me how I fared for the other 12 captains so I'll just type it all out:

Tousen Kaname, Hitsugaya Toushirou ~ 92%(The tie breaker gave me Hitusgaya xD)

Aizen Sousuke, Unohana Retsu, Yamamoto Genryuusai, Kuchiki Byakuya, Zaraki Kenpachi~ 75%

Komamura Sajin, Ukitake Jyuushiro ~ 67%

Kurotsuchi Mayuri ~ 58%

Soi Fong ~ 50%

Ichimaru Gin, Kyouraku Shunsui ~ 42%

Which of the Thirteen Division Captains (from Bleach) are you? From Quizfarm.com

Woohoo, I'm my favourite Bleach character + new eyecandy (dun worry I still cherish my old ones) HITSUGAYA TOUSHIROU!!! Yayness, he's cute right? Better agree with me or else...

BLEACH! BLEACH! I'm not suffering from severe Bleach addiction...I'M ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-12-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

Because I need to revive my blog but have no defining moments to pen down:

You Are 4% Slacker

You are anything but a slacker. You're truly a go getter.You never let laziness get in the way of living your life - and you can't stand to see it in others.

Are You a Slacker?

You Are Somewhat Honest

You do tend to tell the truth a lotBut you also stretch the truth on occasionYou figure a little lie isn't a big dealAs long as it doesn't hurt anyone too much!

How Honest Are You?

Your Learning Style: Unconventional and Insightful

You are very intuitive and ingenious. You're attracted to any field of study that lets you break the rules.
You Should Study:
ArtArt historyArchitectureComparative religionsEastern religionEducationMusicPhilosophy

What Should You Study?

You Belong in Summer

Energetic, creative, and very curious about the world...You're not going to let anything hold you back, especially a cold day.Whether you're chilling out at the beach or partying all night, you live for the warm weather.

What Season Are You?

What Your Black Outfit Means

You're a sophisticated woman with big city taste.You have a strong creative force - even if you don't wear the boldest clothes.You tend to intimidate people. But the right guy won't be intimidated by you!
Designer match: Dolce & Gabbana
Signature accessory: Gold framed sunglasses

What Does Your Favorite Outfit Say About You?

You are White Chocolate

You have a strong feminine side with a good bit of innocence thrown in.Whether your girlish ways are an act or not, men like to take care of you.You are an understated beauty, and your power is often underestimated!

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?You Are a Lace Bra! Dreamy, romantic, and ultra-feminineYou're a womanly woman who makes guys feel like menYour perfect guy is strong, determined, and handsomeWith a softer side that only you can draw out

What Kind of Bra Are You?

You Are a Halter Bikini

You're an athletic girl with a hot athletic bod to match.And you've got a great tan, probably from all those beach volleyball games!

What Kind of Bikini Are You?

You Are Chocolat Orange Pocky

Your attitude: funky and flavorfulRich and deep - yet zingy and zestyYou are the perfect partner in crime

What Flavor Pocky Are You?

Your Toes Should Be Blue

You're a little out there, but that means you take guys to a place that's out of this world!
Your ideal guy: Zany, hilarious, and totally unpredictable.
Stay away from: Anyone who has to get up for work in the morning

What Color Should Your Toenails

It's been so long since I did such quizes. Obviously the results don't accurately reflect my personality but heck, they're still fun.

2006-11-29T18:15:00.000-08:00

Grad Nite '06 ~ A night to remember

The night approximately 360 Cinderalla stories unfolded. The night sentimental feelings swelled, tears leaked and laughter resonated like a thousand tiny bells.

I must say, I quite like my prom outfit. if asked to describe it in a nutshell, I would say it's pretty New Age. The glitter sprinkled white and black top which had been confined to the darkness of my closet finallly got to be worn again. To go with the top, Mum and I embarked on a skirt search, beginning, and ending, in Thomson Plaza. We checked out this new shop and there was this skirt that caught my eye. It's a black, figure-hugging type that's flared at the hem. The top 5/8 of it was chiffon, I think, while the remainder was black lace. The gothic-bohemian-punk rocker in me was instantly aroused. Needless to say, I bought it in the end. To spice up the clothes I borrowed Mum's necklace+earrings and nice nice Mum got me this gothic bejewelled bracelet. Oh, and I wore black velvet boots:)

End result:

Person on the left is me(duh) and the one in black is my squadmate+moviemate+buddy Charlene. Click photo to enlarge; I know we're v chio thank you thank you.

Now, a picture is supposed to tell a thousand words, no? So instead of me rambling on and on about prom, I'll let the photos do the talking. There were plenty of Kodak moments but I'll show you all the ones I particularly like. Enjoy!

From left to right: Charlene, Weixue and I.

8/14 of the wonderful Silicon family a.k.a my Red Cross squadmate

Some of 4G3'06 and I

Mrs Audrey Leo, who's my history teacher of 3 years, and I.

My mentor+ English teacher+ Red Cross teacher-in-charge Ms Sharon Goh and I

Sharyl-san! Fellow Bleach-fanatic:D

Ex-S3ers(from left): Jessica, Jazlyn and I

The day when we must part, MAY CRESCENT REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS!

2006-11-23T01:56:00.000-08:00

YY Wan takes up the keyboard once again to record a defining moment of her life:

THE 'O' LEVELS ARE OVER! THE 'O' LEVEL ARE OVER! (X1000) Bring on the fireworks! Call up BBC! May there be a free flow of sweet treats! Actually, it was over on Monday but because i was too busy indulging in some well-deserved slacking, I didn't blog about it then.

I suppose you all want to know how the 'O's turned out. Well, all I can say is OKAY. All turned out well (cos I studied hard and smart) EXCEPT for the History paper. I shall not delve into the details of the History paper because just talking about it makes me feel like crushing something. Let's just say the general consensus was that it was a difficult, unexpected and idiotic paper. A note to all juniors: The 'O' levels are gearing up to be more difficult as it has come under fire recently. Don't be complacent. You have been warned.

On a lighter note, the past few days have been extremely productive. In terms of slacking, that is. Here's what I mainly did: Watch anime, draw manga, sleep and read. Achievements included getting the gist of drawing Saya and Diva AND FINISHING ALL 50 EPISODES OF BLOOD+. OMG the last few episodes are so sad; so many ppl died. I cried a little.But it's heartening to know that ____ is not really dead but somewhere out there waiting .

GTG ppl. Till then!

2006-11-05T04:21:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd dedicate this post to the adults who have helped me greatly in the course of my 'O' level preparations.

Thanks a million:

Mum For helping me with my Maths, hearing me out when I feel down and for the doses of that very best of medicines, laughter.
Miss Sharon Goh For your quirkiness, really really sweet cards and the words of encouragement.
Mr Stephen Loh For the tremendous help given during A maths consultations and not getting pissed off when I take 23543544545726 years to grasp a concept.
Mdm Claudia Ting FOR MAKING THE QUANTUM LEAP FROM AN E TO B IN SOCIAL STUDIES POSSIBLE. You rock!
Mrs Audrey Leo For your excellent teaching of History and lame jokes.
Mrs Lew For the Chemistry tuition and the EXCELLENT set of notes.
Miss Tan Chui Ping(a.k.a Laoshi) FOR REKINDLING MY INTEREST IN CHINESE AND THE PATIENCE WITH ME!

2006-10-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

I KNOW I KNOW I KMOW. I am well aware of the fact that it has been a month since I last blogged. A thousand apologies to fans(if any) for the unannounced hiatus. But please understand that the 'O' levels are just round the corner(next week in fact) hence the need pump in hours and hours of revision. Wish me luck:) As cliche as it may sound, I can't believe 4 years have passed since I first stepped into Crescent. More like 4 minutes. Back in my sec 1 year, little-o-me viewed the 'O's as something a light year away. Hakuna Matata, as the Lion king movie would have put it. Today 's situation is the polar opposite.The ultimate battle is beckoning. All that I have learnt in the past few years is going to converge in this one exam. It's up to me to know my stuff, use it to tackle the questions thrown at me and finally emerge with 6 A1s. I think I'm more or less prepared to rise up to the challenges that await me, considering that I did revise consistently and sought assistance from teachers. Kudos to my nutty family too, for keeping my spirits up.

I still remember the story Mrs Lee told us about a famous statue of Mary. People would come and touch her nose for good luck. Over the years, Mary's nose was worn down almost competely. Mrs Lee says this was applies to our attitude towards our studies. Each effort, no matter how little, would take us one step closer to success.

When I think of the post 'O' days, my heart flutters with excitement. It would be well within my rights to slack, slack and slack some more to my heart's content. I'm especially excited about Prom. The glitz! The glamour! But sheesh, to savour the sweet we nust first brave the bitter. Occasionaly, in the midst of all that studying I do indulge in some beautifully-refreshing slacking. Then I remeber I 'm supposed to gear up for a battle and return to the desk. Forbidden fruit tastes the SWEETEST after it's ripe, after all.

2006-09-29T01:29:00.000-07:00

Some things in life that puzzle me:

1. Why some people hate vegetables

Such people, in my opinion, need to have their heads examined. What in the world is wrong with vegetables? Vegetables don't cause 17 different types of cancers nor do you suffer from eating too much of them. They are packed with dietary fibre, vitamins etc. In short, they are very healthy. They don't taste bad either. Who can resist juicy sweetcorn coated with piping hot butter? Or crunchy, fresh broccoli?

Incomprehensible, the way some people view eating greens as chewing cardboard.

2.Lack of focus on environmentalism

Environmentalism is seriously what the world needs RIGHT NOW. Peace-talks, international exchanges and terrorism, while very crucial, are secondary to reducing the alarming amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Who's going to be left alive to talk about world peace when global warming spins out of control? It's ironical and obscene that we abuse the very Earth that provides so much for us to lead decent lives. What is worse, our children and grandchildren are ging to pay the price for our outpourings of smoke, rubbish and other crap. Going green worldwide is not going to be easy, but we do not have a choice.

3.Smoking

What a major put-off. Smoking causes a whole range of cancers, chronic bronchitis and other health problems. It turns a beautiful young person into a wrinkled prune who reeks of smoke. These cancer sticks also cause much heartache for loved ones. Which really makes one wonder why anyone would want to put one in their mouth in the first place. I understand that life can suck terribly, but rather than helping you, smoking actually creates more troubles.

4.Why people think I'm cute

Throughout my secondary school years, I've had teachers, seniors and strangers approaching me to tell me that I'm cute. Okay, fine, I admit I'm flattered, but what puzzles me is that why other cuter girls don't seem to get the same attention. Why doesn't anyone tell ________ she's pretty? Perhaps they do but I don't know it. Anyway, what sort of 'cute' am I? The ugly-but-adorable type or the Hilary-Duff-Amanda-Bynes type? I do hope someday, someone will tell me:)

2006-09-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

The winds of change are blowing. Junichiro Koizumi's chapter in the history of Japanese politics has ended and that of Shinzo Abe's has begun. In Thailand, a coup staged by the military ousted Thaksin Shinawatra from power and seized worldwide attention.

On a local scale, the Gifted Education programme has been done away with, a move I support. About time, I think, as I don't approve at all of segregating bright pupils from the rest of the cohort. Do help maximize the genius in them but not at the expense of denying them oppurtunities to mingle with mainstream pupils, who may be their future work-mates.

************************

Oh all right, I shall snap out of the formal mode. Just wanna give my 2 cents worth in current affairs. Ah yes, THE PRELIMS ARE OVEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring out the fireworks! Pop the soda! The past 2 days have been extremely fruitful, in terms of slacking, that is. I surfed the net, did 2 fanarts, watched my beloved Blood+(OMG I LOVE SAYA'S NEW LOOK!!!) and read. Bliss, I tell you. I was certainly a far cry from that streesed-out girl whose eyes are glued to the textbooks. But, man, I'll have to leave lala land by tomorrow to hit the books again, for although the prelims are over and done with, the O levels are not.

My Grandpa and Grandma have just arrived in Singapore from Hong Kong where they live. Yippee:) GTG now, I WILL be back:)

2006-09-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

Once again, my idol Deviantartist Pyromaniac has came up with yet another interesting meme(that's what they're called right?). Speaking of Deviantart, I'm thinking of setting up an account showcasing my lovely works. I know they pale in comparison to masterpieces like Heise, Luciole and Pyromaniac but it'll be nice if I could get tips from others on how to improve.

The 'If I were...' Quiz:

1.- If I were a fruit I'd be... a yellow kiwi.
2.- If I were a colour I'd be... black/pink.
3.- If I were an animal I'd be... a dragon.
4.- If I were a dometic appliance I'd be... a pizza knife.
5.- If I were a book I'd be... "My sister's keeper" by Jodi Piccoult.
6.- If I were a clothing item I'd be... silk scarf.
7.- If I were a jewel I'd be... gold heart-shaped locket.
8.- If I were an object I'd be... swiss army knife.
9.- If I were a car I'd be... a Ferrari.
10.- If I were an element I'd be... water.
11.- If I were a tree I'd be... a sakura tree.
12.- If I were a drink I'd be... lime-lemon H2O.
13.- If I were an ice cream flavor I'd be... white chocolate.
14.- If I were a person I'd be... myself.
15.- If I were a planet I'd be... Mars.
16.- If I were an insect I'd be... butterfly.
17.- If I were public transport I'd be... an MRT train.
18.- If I were a song I'd be... "Wake me up when September ends" by Green Day.
19.- If I were a movie I'd be... X MEN 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20.- If I were a season I'd be... autumn.
21.- If I were a flower I'd be... a blood-red /pink rose or sakura or any black flower(they do exist).
22.- If I were a job I'd be... journalism.
23.- If I were a cartoon I'd be... X-men Evolution.
24.- If I were a place I'd be... Easter Island.
25.- If I were a gift I'd be... a homemade one.
26.- If I were a memory I'd be... wearing my prettiest smile.
27.- If I were a city I'd be...Kyoto.

28.- If I were a sense I'd be... sight.

29.- If I were a game I'd be... Final Fantasy.

30.- If I were a candy I'd be... a Belgian chocolate.

31.- If I were a time of the day I'd be... twilight.

32.- If I were an invention I'd be... the computer.

33.- If I were a bodypart I'd be... eyes/ hair.

34.- If I were a country I'd be... Singapore/England/Japan.

35.- If I were a flavor I'd be... mildly sweet.

36.- If I were a sport I'd be... Wushu.

37.- If I were a smell I'd be... lush foliage after the rain.

38.- If I were a subject I'd be... an art related one.

39.- If I were a flag I'd be... the UN flag.

40.- If I were a building I'd be... the Esplanade.

41.- If I were a month I'd be...April.

42.- If I were a perfume I'd be... Rose oil.

43.- If I were a gummy candy I'd be...Yupi gummy bears.

45.- If I were a toy I'd be... Stitch plushie

46.- If I were a textile I'd be... black lace.

47.- If I were a shape I'd be... circle/square.

48.- If I were a answer I'd be... yes/no.

49.- If I were a common liquorice I'd be... pure black one.

50.- If I were a word I'd be... love.

2006-09-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

I still find it hard to believe that Steve Irwin is dead. I haven't watched Crocodile Hunters(except for the one featured the other day in Irwin's memory) but I've read about the famous Crocodile Hunter through magazines. A man famed not only for his way with crocodiles but also his infectious enthusiam and colourful character. Here's an article on his death: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_en_tv/obit_irwin. One way you can pay tribute to Steve is by inserting the turtle icon : (tu) into your MSN nickname. Apparently, there's a crocodile icon and a stingray one but I don't know where to get those.

Rest in peace, Steve.

***********

Haven't watched Blood+ for a week. The withdrawal symptoms have yet to set in.

***********

Prelims next week. Maaaan.

2006-09-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

YY Wan has been hit with a strong bout of animania (anime-madness) so she shall devote this post to her beloved Blood+, Cloud, Tifa and whatnots:)

I'm making excellent progress watching Blood+. There's 52 episodes in all and I'm currently at number 32. Haha, watch out Michiyo-san, I'm catching up! I'd like to talk about Diva here: I think it's not her fault she is evil. Before you label me as a sadist, cold-hearted freak or whatever, allow me a chance to explain. Do you really think Diva would have developed a black heart if Joel has locked her up for years and years in the first place? She was 'treated as a test subject' from the time she was born and received 'no education or human contact' plus 'minimal subsistence', so said the current Joel the 6th. Having been subjected to such treatment for a long time, is it any wonder she hated the human race? I am not trying to condone evil; I just want to make people see things from Diva's point of view. By the way, Diva, Saya and Haji are my favourite Blood+ characters. I hate Carl most , when Michiyo-san told me he died in the end I was elated.

Come to think of it, that is how people can evolve into serial killers. Abuse begins at an early age and after years of terror and pain, their spirits are left broken. Full of spite and hatred, they themselves become abusers and seek other people to torture. This is the story of many murderers and rapists; whose atrocious deeds stem from the horrors of childhood.
***********

Why, I wonder, do many people think Cloud and Aerith make the perfect FF7 couple? Not that I'm anti-Aerith, she's sweet all right,I just think she and Cloud don't make a good match. Tifa and Cloud. Now THAT is more like it. I mean, they've known each other since they were kids and Tifa is the one character who really understands Cloud. So yeah, they'd make a better pair.

This is Cloud and Aerith:

This is Cloud and Tifa:

Ah well, this couple-thingy is subjective. But I still stand by my point of view that Tifa and Cloud is the better match.
*****************
Will some kind soul please tell me of any good websites to download FREE anime music? I'm going gaga over Diva and Season's call but damn, I can't find them on this world-wide web(pun intended).
*****************
Arigato!

2006-08-27T05:45:00.000-07:00

Killer_with_the_katana

How's that for an online moniker?

I know. I'm morbid.

2006-08-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

I am now done with 1/3 of my English 'O' levels. There was the oral exam on the 21st which turned out all right, just that I wish I had planned more carefully what I had to say for conversation. It's a good thing I can bank on my vocab bank to boost my marks(I don't mean to boast, just giving credit)

Anyway, while browsing the Teenage magazine, I realized that one of the participants of the Teenage 2006 contest is a crescentian! It's Yap Hui Xin and I think Ive seen her in school somewhere. Funny there wasn't a lot of hype about her participation in school. I mean, a crescentian on her road to stardom! YOU GO GURL:D

I've got a new favourite Deviantart artist! It's Heise and her art is breathtakingly detailed and beautiful. You can visit her deviantart page at http://heise.deviantart.com/. I especially like the one featuring a girl and some white pigeons. Really lovely:)

2006-08-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ying Yi you stupid idiot. Why the hell did you have to dispose of your antibiotics just because it fell onto the floor? Don't you know it's crucial to finish up the entire course i.e all the tablets? It won't hurt to pick it up, blow and swallow it.

Disappointment. First at HER. Now at myself.

WTF

2006-08-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

This morning I shed my first tears of anger.

I guess my body simply wasn't big enough to swallow that surge of frustruation, nor deep enough to drown it. So it had to come out in the form of tears.

The Chinese 'O' level results dropped and you are not pleased about it. That I can understand. What I don't get is why you have to say that the students who did not achieve a distinction slacked too much? To date, it's one of the biggest insults I've ever got. And it stung all the more because you said it. I am a person who is slow when it comes to Chinese. Last year, I kept failing my Chinese exams. At one point, I wanted to ditch Chinese altogether. Then Laoshi came into my life and rekindled my interest in Chinese. Not to mention the will to work harder. My grades improved, I could pass Chinese and I begin to enjoy Chinese lessons. For the 'O' levels, I got a C5. Not the B I was hoping for but I was satisfied I made a quantum leap from last year's D. And that I had given the Chineses exams my best shot.

When you said the people who had contributed to the decrease of Chinese 'O' level distinctions had too little discipline, I wanted to scream. This year's format is different, what do you expect? While there may have been students who slacked there was also quite a number who didn't. I was one. So why did you have to assume all who did not get distinctions were not hardworking? Does that mean my worth is determined by the results I get?

I used to have deep respect for you. I don't know about now; just that I am extremely disappointed that had to come from you.

2006-08-11T04:26:00.000-07:00

Chinese 'O' level grade: C5
Comments? : None

So I'm now in a really tight situation. There's no way I can include Chinese in my L1R5 and I've combined my sciences already. Which leaves me with with just 6 subjects, 0 to fall back on.

I WILL do what it takes to clinch that A

2006-08-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 41ST BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!!!!

The thing about Singapore that amazes me most is that we've made quantum leaps in terms of progress in a short period of about 40 years. Transforming from a tiny fishing village to a global city would not have been made possible without good governance, and more importantly, the faith of Singaporeans in their own country. For the people are Singapore's only resource and their support and love for Singapore will give the nation the boost it needs to attain greater heights. Let us all hold that famous line One People One Nation, One Singapore close to our hearts and look forward to an exciting tomorrow:)

2006-08-06T04:24:00.000-07:00

If I were a guy, this would be my kinda gurl (physical traits):

LONG hair that cascades down the back
Black or dark brown hair
Blood red/ice blue/ silver/ amber eyes
Dark or fair, no in-betweens
Anime-ish looks

But I'm not a male so this would be my kinda guy (physical traits):

TIDUS LOOK ALIKE:)
Tall, dark, mysterious aura (think Haji of Blood+)
Long hair is fine
Hair that falls over face
Anime-ish looks

Okay, fine, today's topic is kinda random. But speaking of anime and manga, I learnt today that my cousin has been attending manga-drawing classes! GAHHH, I WANNA JOIN TOO!!!!!! Yeah, in my dreams. My mother expressed strong opposition to this when I pleaded with her last year. "And anyway, your manga-drawing is good enough already." scoffed Her Majesty. @#$$%%%%#@$^$^^^$ It's not actually. I suck at drawing the legs and chests:(

Did a superb wallpaper based on Final Fantasy 7 Advent children:

I think it's my best desktop wallpaper to date:)

2006-08-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

Blood+ is one brilliant anime. Like the name implies, it's all about blood. Hence,this anime is not for the faint-hearted; in fact, I'd give it an NC16 because of the gory bits. But one should not judge an anime on it's rating alone because its humour, storyline and unexpected twists make it one enjoyable watch. What I like best is the pulse-racing twists and turns in the story; the characters are not who you think they really are and another plus point would be the action packed fighting scenes. Saya, the main character, is my type of girl: innocent looking with a nice disposition but packs a mean punch. Especially when wielding her katana(a japanese sword). You can catch Blood+ at Youtube.com, highly recommended by Michiyo-san and I:)

2006-07-30T05:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Speech Day cum Arts Awareness Day cum Opening of the Arts Conservatory. So yeah, it was red day for my school and very,very much a big deal cos the education minister, Stella Ng and members of the press turned up. Needless to say, the school was careful enough to remind us again and agin to put on our best behaviours. Not to mention best smiles:)

The Speech Day programme was all right, the only gripe we've got was having to wait for about an hour before the actual programme started. Besides the Sec 4s, members of the public, the minister, Ms Ng and the press were present too. Speech Day kicked off with the presentation of a video chronicalling the school's history which for some reason, evoked this bitter-sweet feeling in my heart. This was followed by speeches and prize-giving. Being a person who has more energy than all comets of the universe put together, I soon grew rather fidgetty about having to sit on my butt for hours. Not to say that the programme was boring, it's just that I grow restless easily.CONGRATS TO MY SQUADDIES FOR HAVING RECEIVED THE COLOUR AWARDS!!!

I joined the manga-drawing competition for Arts Awareness Day this year. Drew the character I had been developing over the past month but stopped for a while to join my class in our class dance. Ah sheeh, some of the dance steps slipped my mind but heck I had a good time. As for the competition, I did not win a prize because I couldn't finish colouring in time. That's okay because I participated in the name of fun.

Then at 2.30pm it was There and Back Again(home)

2006-07-26T03:36:00.000-07:00

I am a deviant. I hate conformity and I do things differently from others. In terms of dress, style, thinking, creativity etc that is. It's much better this way. Throughout the years in school, I've come to realize I never seem to be able to fit in with my peers. Blame it on the different wavelengths. Like all youths, I yearn for the acceptence of my peers too and have tried various ways to earn this. I've changed my attitude, opened up more and socialised. It would be a major overkill to say this was not successful because my relations with others did improve by leaps and bounds. But strangely, something was still missing. A prolonged period of pondering led me to the conclusion that I know my peers only on a hi-hi basis, nothing more intimate(don't think dirty lah) So there's still something about me that does not quite click well with others. That's when I realised I had enough. Improving my character has been tried already and I didn't quite get what I wanted: To be a social butterfly. Not to say I'd become an anti-social; it is still vital to be on good terms with everyone. What I mean is that I just have to accept myself for who I am. Someone who thinks different and is different. It's not like it is a crime to be a non-comformist is it?

Coming to terms with this has made me feel better about myself. I understand that I am simply of a different wavelength from others but at the same time, I know this is not a good excuse to alienate myself from my peers. I'm proud to say that since coming to Crescent, I have found some really good pals e.g my squadmates(the silicon electrons!) and Shyan Juang(Michiyo-san!). These friendships shall always hold a special place in my heart for I was a loner once so I've been there, experienced that.

I am a deviant. And proud of it.

2006-07-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

And with a snip of the ribbon, YY Wan declares http://www.this-other-nirvana.blogspot.com open......

WELCOME, WELCOME ALL AND SUNDRY TO MY 4TH BLOG!!!!!!

I am so glad this blog is finally done. Especially the lovely blogskin, which is dedicated to Tidus & Yuna, my fav anime couple. Believe it or not, it took me about a year to do that skin! That was because I worked on it little by little whenever I had the time(and mood). I wanted to create a really pretty blogskin, but unfortunately, I did not have the tools to do so. For one thing, we do not have Adobe Photoshop 7.2 so I could not download any brushes to spruce up the skin. That was one major stumbling block. The breakthrough came when my Mum downloaded Photo College which has pretty good tools for manipulating pictures. And voila! The birth of this superb blogskin!

I got the idea for the blog's name the title of a book called This other Eden. So yeah, I replaced 'Eden' with 'Nirvana'. The names I pick for my blogs usually reflect my personality or thoughts. I like 'this-other-nirvana' because there's a mysterious feel to it and to understand me, YY Wan, you'll need a super advanced computer.

The format of this blog is so different from my previous blogs, no? In addition to the profile, links and archives, there's a Gallery where I feature pics I like. The tagboard is found way at the bottom. I may install a music player as well but for now, these will do.

Well, hope you're impressed! Do leave a tag before going off but make sure it's a constructive comment. Obscenties, vicious rumours and spam are not tolerated here.

Enjoy and do pop in every now and then:)