You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July, 2007.
My first official post on this shiny new blog of mine recounts an event that happened to me the last time I was in KL. I had just went to collect my Canadian visa at the Canadian High Commission in Jalan Tun Razak that morning. Upon my return, I passed through KL Sentral to complete a train switch that would take me back to where I was temporarily staying.
So hum di dum, nothing really unusual as I crossed to open area from the Putra line to the KTM booths-KL Sentral, reasonably full of people, huge screen above the escalators flashing advertisements that I have seen since my SECOND year in RMC (that’s back in 2003 just so you know), McD as usual packed nak mampus….the whole routine KL Sentral enchilada, you get the picture. The one thing new I noticed was this dandruff ad-the company responsible had broken down huge chunks of plastic and lain them among a signboard advertising their latest anti-dandruff shampoo lol. Not bad not bad.
But what am I saying. Okay, so off I went to buy my ticket to Setia Jaya. Bade the counter woman (countress? lol) good day and headed to the ticket turnstiles. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the KTM guy at the gate help a guy in his forties through as he seemed to be having some difficulties with the machine.
I didn’t give it much thought then. Arriving at the underground platforms, I was greeted by the sight of the rear end of the train I had wanted to catch whooshing away into the afternoon sun. It wasn’t the first time I had had such blarsted luck. So I began my 20 minute wait, and presently the man I had seen receiving help at the turnstiles came down the escalators; no wonder the staff there had given him help-
The guy was blind. He couldn’t even see the bright contrast of pink, brown and black on his shirt. The man was holding his cane and gingerly feeling his way onto the platform, walking into walls and testing the ground with his intermittent taps. I watched as he slowly rounded the escalator and headed in my direction.
The platform was deserted and there was nothing else for it. It was just me and him, two random individuals waiting for the same train that would take us to other possibilities in this wide wide world. Melodramatic, but I hope it sets the tone for what I am going to question next.
So I walk over to this man and watched him for an infintesimal moment before I took my next move; even in this infinitesimal moment he was able to evoke my impending actions further by unconsciously walking into a solid brick barrier. I then spoke to him, taking care to ensure my intonation read of nothing but cheerfulness and the desire to know where he was going.
“Selamat pagi pak cik; pak cik nak pergi mana?“. Good day sir, where might you be off too was a line I figured would work. It did.
The man’s face turned in my general direction and responded.
“Subang-“
And it was more than an answer. He iniciated further conversation-
“Tren dah sampai ke belum?“. Of course he would wonder if the train had arrived or not-he couldn’t even see the face of the boy beside him.To this I replied, with careful intonation and gestures:
“Baru lepas pak cik. Tren lepas ni dua puluh minit lagi baru sampai“. The information he wanted, with a rough estimate of the train’s ETA was an appropriate response to me. It satisfied my newfound friend and he groaned at the time he would have to wait.
At heart we are all the same. Who doesn’t groan upon missing a train?
The man began feeling his way forwards once more and asked me if there were seats around. I told him yes, and offered to lead him there. He held out his hand, but I proved my incompetence a second time (I will explain the possibly unnoticed first later) as I began gently steering him to the seats by using my hand to guide his back.
To lead a blind man, it is best to take his hand. Especially if he holds it out.
And so I made sure he had a seat and retreated a slight distance, but on hand just in case further information was required. Taken by what had just transpired, I decided to message Atif on my phone-possibly the only guy who would and could comprehend fully what I just experienced. I told him what happened. As I hoped, he immediately responded to the bitter circumstances of the situation. And predictably (bleh to you Atif=p) he also began praising my actions in helping the blind guy, saying I was nice and sweet and all that lol.
To this I say: in helping him, I did not prove that I was kind and good.
I merely avoided being evil.
Think about it people. This is what Atif had to say-how could a blind man be allowed by his family or relatives to head to Subang all by himself? True, very true. He definitely had some business there-people to meet or aquaintances to see; why was he alone? The guy couldn’t even get his way onto the platform without negotiataing at least fifty dangers every second. what if he was mugged? What if he fell over in the middle of the platform? What if he fell….onto the tracks four feet down below? And what if no one knew he fell since the platform was deserted?
But let us scrutinize our lucky selves here. Look at us, taking what we have for granted. How many of us are actually REALLY grateful that we have functional oculars? And imagine if we didn’t….imagine it if we were like that poor man I met. You, random you-the reader….if I took away your eyes and handed you a cane, would you be able to find your way onto a train headed to Subang? There are six bloody platforms for goodness’ sake. Can you do it? I know I can’t. I am upstairs at home, using the computer. If I closed my eyes just for the hell of it, and tried to find my ways downstairs for a drink, I’m sure I’d fail miserably. At best probably laugh and stop. At worst, fall headlong down the stairs and break my pretty neck. So go on-
How would you buy a ticket? And how would you muster the courage to go and look for a person you aren’t even absolutely sure is there to ask him or her for assistance? And then when you got on the train, would you be able to find your behind a seat? It would be better if you didn’t actually, and just hung by the door-then you could be bumped by every individual that comes aboard but be guaranteed of being able to find the door when the time comes to disembark. Right?
And look at me guys. My second mistake was to not take his hand. What was my first? I don’t know if the blind guy noticed it, but I failed to stop my innate nature of gesturing to him as I spoke. Gesturing-how insensitive when the guy can’t even see my face inches away from his.
And my third-I only realized this when I began articulating my SMS to Atif. I almost typed the verb “kesian” when trying to explain whyI helped the guy. Sympathy. These people do not want sympathy. They want assistance, yes, and the package includes acknowledgment of them as individuals in their own right; just like us, sans the feeling of pity and pittance. Sympathy is an emotion that removes what dignity the sympathee still has as the sympathizer comes to his or her aid.
I helped the guy get on his train to Subang. My stop was before his, and just before I left the train I took a last glance at him. I learned a lot that day. Thank God I have eyes, though they might be shortsighted, I can still bloody SEE. So can you if you’re reading this. Be grateful, be thankful, and remember to empathize, not sympathize.
And as I walked back to Ridzuan, a final thing happened to make me sure that all this was not just some bizarre coincidence-I put on my iPod, selected the random song function, and hit the play button.
Empathize-
The damn thing selected a song by Travis.
Not sympathize.
And it was titled Eyes Wide Open.
The original ‘Soliloquy’ got quite melancholic at times-this is one example of such posts. “What I Want” was written in a period of self-realization that maybe…the field I was in was not really where I wanted to be.
I remember back in Form 3, I used to hear a lot of advice from those around me regarding my career choices; or more precisely, what should my career choice be based upon. There was that “do what your heart tells you” cliche, the ol’ “you can do anything you set your mind to” optimism, and lets not forget the well-founded belief that in this country, the only way you’re gonna make it is if you take the Science stream. I talked to Kar Yian recently and realized there’s more to this than I thought.
I always suspected Science wasn’t for me; Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Add Maths and the like…you name it. Suspicion first rose in Form 4, when I realized I wasn’t exactly enjoying what I was doing and asked my bro Bidin what he thought about it. His answer I still remember clearly.
“Dah dasar ko smart menulis dan benda-benda macam tu,I think its logical to assume that”. (You’re good at writing and all that stuff related to it, I think its logical to assume that)
How could I not assume that, after I ’succeeded’ in failing my Biology twice in Form 4 and Form 5 (each), scraping through my Add Maths with marks barely above fifty, getting the look from my Chemistry teacher each time I couldn’t tell him what came after oxygen in the Periodic Table…it was all so clear. Back then I put it down to the fact that I was just plain stupid, and had too many extra co-curricular activities, hence I could not cope.
Then I realized something; something that made me so proud of managing to get 9A1 and 1A2 (for Biology) in my 2005 SPM papers-my suspicions in form 4 were true.I am not scientifically inclined. Only hard work has pulled me through all those times when my heart just said no.I remember slogging on, come on Irving, you must remember this!! Drinking cups of coffee, late nights, finishing ten pens in a few weeks knowing that my future depended on it. And all the while certain subjects were dropping subtle hints; hints that I didn’t notice….History-98,96,94…then back to 96. English never showed signs of dipping below 95. Getting over 85 in BM essays were a cinch, if I may say so myself.
And on the other end of the spectrum, there I was, salvaging my C’s in Sciences into A’s, wanting to pursue a Science degree that was definitely not for me.Its not that I cant do Science, its just that it’ll take me a whole lot more effort and sweat and tears before I grasp it.And I wont enjoy it that much, even when I do.
However, I was rewarded for my efforts-I am now a Petronas scholar, for which I am very grateful, every day of my life. I have the opportunity to study and earn my degree in Canada (hopefully at the University of Alberta=D) and I know that I should have a job waiting for me when I get back.I am blessed, lucky, and very grateful to God.
But is it what I want? In certain respects, yes. I’ll get my degree, earn good money, repay my parents for what they’ve done for me, help fend for my brother in case he needs me…all wonderful and beautiful things…but is it what I want? I have found unequivocal proof that Science is not for me.I now know my field is-big surprise-English, in all likelihood. Those who have been with me since primary school will be able to help me attest to this. I have four novels complete (none of them are more than child’s play though) and I have a certain penchant for writing and words.
Hazel called it my ‘greatest gift’. Thanks=)
I realize that I can analyze abstract texts better than I can recite you the order of enzymes from your lips to your rectum. I can put together an argumentative essay more convincingly than I can cobble together a scientific one. I know the ideas behind the argument of logical progression. I love studying literary texts and seeing what greats like Shakespeare, Fitzgerald and Dickens have to say about mankind.
I have something to share with you all. There I was, alone in my room just yesterday, a whole sheaf of jumbled up papers from sources created by God-knows-who in front of me, along with my copy of The Great Gatsby and an abstract introduction to it. I had to go through the texts, extract information regarding the various titles that Fitzgerald had suggested for his 1920s masterpiece and put them together in a literary essay, making sure to focus on events in the complicated novel and also the theme. By God I have never been so happy working in my life. I went on for eight hours straight, just writing and reading, quoting and paraphrasing, cramming my brain, all the time knowing: This is what you were made for!!! I may not be very good at it yet but at least I enjoy it.
I remember my younger days when I could just write for hours about my fictional avatars of Locke and Jeshara, evenings spent copying down how people like R.L. Stine used words, and learning how to manipulate them at that level before moving on to people like Stackpole and Rowling. This is what I love doing people, and no one can take that away from me. I want to do something along those lines, be an English major, for example; read on what great European and Eastern minds have to say and compress them together into a unified body- a degree in Arts should have been my focus, my passion. Even Chucky said this: “You really like English don’t you…I see that you’re, I dunno…different when you’re doing English”. Thanks man, you rock=)
People-THAT IS WHAT I WANT!!!
Instead- The sad truth has been realized.I am Irving Tan Zhi Mian.
And I am about to do a Bachelor of Science in Geology.
This post is also from the original ‘Soliloquy’ and was written after I realized I haven’t seen snow before….a travesty when you only live this life once.
I just realized that in this vast, vast world, there are so many things I haven’t seen. Some of them are so simple and absurd, it makes me wonder why I haven’t seen them before in my eighteen years on this sphere.Seen here qualifies as seeing it with my own eyes; video and live telecasts do not count lol.
Try it out yourself. See how many times we tally=)
Things I haven’t seen:
1.) An apple tree
2.) Snow
3.) An aeroplane’s moment of landing
4.) An automobile accident (not that I want to see this lah lol)
5.) A person score a goal in football with a header
6.) A snake shed its skin
7.) A cat chase a mouse….or the reverse for that matter
8.) Mountain tops….I’m not talking your lousy Bukit Katil or Bukit Jalil here…I want a REAl mountain
9.) A Literature In English SPM paper
10.) A person who got an A2 in EST and say that he or her expected it. Funny how we predict A1’s or B’s and lower and not contemplate the possibility of nailing an A2…
11.) A orange car (seriously)
12.) Nokia 3250 phone lol.
13.) A 2G memory card =.=
14.) How the underside of my study desk looks like (not for long though, hahaha *prepares to go see after completing this post*)
15.) The Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad Trophy (if there is one)
16.) A Wismilak cigarette…I just love the brand name. Yeah I wish you luck too=)
17.) Mouse poop
18.) An accordion or a xylophone
19.) A turntable (the ones DJ’s use…not the ones you see atop tables at Chinese restaurants)
20.) My bottom (have YOU?)
Think about it.
Originally titled “Of Lights and Sounds” on the original ‘Soliloquy’, this repost of my personal essay for the English 4U course I took has been given the name it finally carried when it was submitted to my lecturer….and it got a score of 93 *shy grin*
Special thanks to Farisman…got lots of ideas from your post; and I used some of your lines too bro, if you notice. His link, good reader, would be flashman.vox.com. Again, thanks bro.
Feel free to argue/comment/criticize people. I need a good mark=)
ESSAY BEGINS HERE:
Sitting alone in a café in Subang Jaya, I watched the middle-aged man at the table opposite mine draw out box of cigarettes from his pocket. Selecting one, he lit it up and drew a couple of puffs before leaning back with a look of deep relief. The wisps of smoke cheerfully spouting from the cigarette managed to attract attention faster than when they announced that the US wanted to blow the nuts out of Iraq.
“Can’t that guy light up elsewhere?” said a disgruntled patron.
“Another one of those dudes that dig them coffin nails,” muttered another.
A third launched into about a minute of unprintable obscenity.
It must be hard being a smoker. No, seriously. Don’t laugh. First you get all those prophetic, and unnecessary- as if you didn’t know-warnings about the dangers it brings to your health. Then you get those individuals who see fit to associate your private vibe provider with cruel and unkind names like coffin nails and cancer sticks…a guy I talked to recently suggested frothing fries. Adding even more misery to these tormented souls’ lives are those gargantuan, half-baked anti-smoking campaigns that come by about once every six months, threatening to overrun our collectively sorry behinds with corny anti-smoking slogans.
And as if all that weren’t enough, every government has also acquired the particularly nasty habit of raising the cigarette prices each time they get to table the budget in Parliament…sin tax, they call it. Another equally vindictive trait of these governments is their tendency to enact anti-smoking laws, though not necessarily at the best of times. Hong Kong saw fit to pass theirs virtually on the eve of an Asian tobacco convention…no one, not even the foreign heads who came for the meeting, was allowed to smoke. A move that will definitely make the top ten of the most brilliant ideas we’ve seen this side of the century.
Don’t get me and my stance wrong: I am not a smoker myself, and I don’t condone the use of cigarettes. I just find it unfair that so many smokers- be they the casual type or the heavy duty, hardcore type, the ones that send smoke detectors haywire even when they’re not smoking- are subject to so much stereotyping and stigmatization by society.
But don’t take my word for it. Why should you? Go on and try it out; seat yourself in some café or restaurant and wait for some brave soul to light up. See how far you go without associating him or her with moral decadence, a troubled childhood or even sexual abuse, if your conscience permits it. Chances are you-plus the rest of the world; don’t feel too bad about it-are all part of this inherent stigma against these people who contribute substantially to our infrastructure through-you guessed it- sin tax.
And this irks me the most. At times I wonder how we can even hope to abolish things like racism, anti-Semitism and gender bias without even being able to get our heads around the fact that it’s not wrong to smoke. Not wrong enough to be subjected to so much stereotyping, at least. A friend of mine once got ticked off in public by the lady sitting next to him on the evening bus, just because he had this slight whiff of tobacco about him that made her dizzy. Interestingly, the strong body odor of a dozen sweating basketball players behind her miraculously escaped her attention.
She looked like she was from Hong Kong.
But at the end of the day, I guess the core of the problem comes from the fact that people don’t understand why smokers choose to light up. The stigmatized individuals that I have talked to cite stress relief and the calming effect the cigs provide as the reason behind why they smoke; exactly the same results that computer games and television programs provide. But do couch potatoes and game addicts get this much flak from the government and society? Add into consideration the fact that it has been proven by numerous surveys that computer games and the telly are the main causes of truancy, moral decadence and teenage violence. Makes sense to stigmatize an online gamer and a soap opera fan more than a tobacco user, doesn’t it?
And for the record, I am yet to hear of a teenage smoker who suddenly decides to write a suicide note, then goes on a smoking spree-in the process of which he carbon monoxides twenty classmates and a teacher to death-before finally committing suicide by smashing the butt of his still-smoking cigarette on his forehead.
So why the stigma people?
This point is going to come out sooner or later, so I’d better address the health issue now. Yes, there is not a single smoker who is unaware of the side-effects of smoking. Gum disease, lung cancer and what not…spare them the lecture, they’ve heard it about a billion times. It all boils down to the idea that smokers believe what they gain when they light up are more than the losses; by the way, smoking does help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, two diseases that commonly plague modern society.
Some argue that all this is not bias, that people react naturally against things that are harmful. Right, and I’m the Marlboro Man. Boozers, by contrast, are less stigmatized than smokers; at least they don’t get people staring and glaring at them even though they decide to drink themselves into a stupor. Or maybe it’s just because we’ve finally evolved sufficient common sense not to mess with drunks.This is hardly a fair argument in any case, as the smoking equivalent would be smoking yourself senseless like a chimney.
The bottom line is that smokers have been compared – more frequently than genitalia at boarding schools- to morally decadent people. They do not deserve this. By the way, newsflash people: smoking is perfectly legal. I’ve even seen smokers go and find a secluded spot so they can enjoy their smoke without bothering others; even those who toss their unused cigs into a dustbin when they see kids passing by for fear of influencing them and passing second-hand smoke. There is nothing evil about smoking; at least nothing much worth stigmatizing against. We have better things to worry about: world hunger, for instance. And Hong Kong Idol.
So let that depraved youth light up under that staircase; that English teacher leave his class quietly for a quick smoke; that businessman in the smart tie sneak into the toilet for a quick fix- live and let live I say. And even if you decide to go waste your breath on telling them to stop, does it honestly look like they care?
This post is from my first ‘Soliloquy’ blog as well, and was written to envoke sympathy and generate free lunches (heheh) due to my misfortune of getting pick-pocketed at KL Sentral.
Pick-pocketed,actually.Yes people,I have just been robbed of my wallet!!! Yeah baby!!! WOOHOO!!! Boy am I so freaking annoyed! I have lost cash and stuff before,but never anything of such substantial value >.< Not exactly what I would call the best of starts to the new year.Here’s how it happened:
There he was;Irving Tan Zhi Mian.A young,innocent Taylor’s University College student.A relatively young soul in this cruel world and blissfully unaware of the evil possibilites that the world held.Standing with his friend Hafifi at the underground KTM Komuter train terminal at KL Sentral,never did he imagine that this would happen to…lol!!!…okay,let’s not over-dramatize this incident here.Basically my wallet was taken from me as I waited at KL Sentral for the train that would take me to Setia Jaya.
I was with my pal Hafifi at that time.We were both on the way back from Mid Valley after a trip to MPH and Kinokuniya to look for our English 4U Culminating Performance Task novels.Knowing that the novels plus the additional literature notes would be expensive,I brought extra cash with me and also withdrew a surplus RM 100 from my account.Big mistake.
So what happened was simple.As we waited at the underground terminal,we sat on the benches there and chatted.There was this Indian dude,I think,quite well dressed,sitting next to me.At the time at which I sat down on them benches,I am absolutely positive that my wallet was with me then,as I still felt its familliar weight around my knee level.After a while that Indian dude left,leaving the two of us still oblivious to our surroundings.Horror struck when the train rolled into the station.I stood up,took a few steps and realized that the side pocket of my cargo pants was surprisingly light (silly of me to put them there,I know).
Knowing I didn’t spend THAT much money;at least,not enough to make my wallet weigh less than five grammes,I grabbed my pocket and surprise,surprise:my wallet was gone.Here’s what was in it:
1.)Cash-Three hundred bucks >.<
2.)IC and driving license…P and L both.I now have no way to prove that I’m not an Indon.
3.)ING Insurance card, and a few other miscellanous food and book coupons.
4.)Taylor’s student card.Yay.I can’t go into the library and The Web at Taylor’s anymore.
5.)And a little junk.Okay,lots:Ticket stubs,eg:Eragon,Casino Royale,Daddy Day Care (2003 crap),PMR exam slip,the most touching letter I have ever received,my good luck charm…and more junk.
Sigh.Hafifi later explained that he noticed the Indian guy next to us appeared to be “interestedly looking at us” and had left in a huryy.Double sigh.
So my wallet was gone,I had no cash,and not the slightest inkling on what to do next.So I did what every self-respecting teenager would do:call mum fast. After a few anxious moments filled with annoyance and self-sympathy,my mum picked up the phone.Needless to say,she and my old man angrily berated me for what had just happened (why didn’t you scold the thief? >.< It’s not my fault he’s morally decadent=( Haha).
They told me to go and make a police report and cancel my ATM card.FAST.So off we went (dearest Hafifi came along,love ya man) up to the KL Sentral police booth,located next to Nile Bookstore on the second floor of the station.When we arrived there,there was this Chinese dude who looked as if he had been dumped…turned out he lost his wallet also.Lol.Then we made the damn report;the police man was very interested to know why I had so much money with me-he exaggerated my report;said I lost five hundred.Thanks for the drama dude.Cekal,tangkas and whatever else you have on that motto of yours.
Upon finishing the report,we went out of the police station and I proceeded to call CIMB Bank to cancel my ATM card.Haha,this is the best part lol.I even managed to amaze myself at how deep my (wacko) sense of humour ran.I called up the bank and this young-sounding woman answered;even in a dire situation I still twisted a couple of things into jokes…and best of all,I even got her to laugh with me.She sounded hot;very cutesy voice=p In four minutes and 26 seconds I got a few laughs out of her….maybe in ten minutes I would have gotten her name as well eh? Haha=p Here’s how it went,conversation between me and PHCCIMB (Presumably Hot Chick from CIMB):
ME:Hello CIMB? My name is Irving Tan and I’m calling to cancel my ATM card..
PHCCIMB:Your card is lost sir? Stolen?
ME:Stolen,yes.
PHCCIMB:I will need your IC number and your handphone number please.
ME:*gives IC and handphone number* (censored for safety reasons)
PHCCIMB:Thank you sir.I am about to block your card,and for yor information,this block is a permanent block.
ME:The block doesn’t extend to my savings I presume?
PHCCIMB:*laughs* No.You will just have to make a new card and the fee of the card will be twelve ringgit.
ME: Alright.
PHCCIMB:I will need you to spell your name for me please.
ME:I-R-V-I-N-G-T-A-N-Z-H-I-M-I-A-N
PHCCIMB:Alright.Your last transaction was…today….am I correct? *background smile*
ME:*sighs* Yes.
PHCCIMB:And your withdrawal amount was,one hundred ringgit?
ME:Yeah.
PHCCIMB:And you lost your card today?
ME:Yeah.Along with that one hundred we were just talking about.
PHCCIMB:*laughs* I see.
ME:So you know how much I adore that guy lah.
PHCCIMB:*laughs again* Okay sir.In any case,I have blocked your card.Your account is safe and you will have to reapply for a new card.
The rest is all pleasantries.After that I borrowed some cash from Hafifi and we headed back to Subang.Me with a sad and heavy heart lol.hafifi spent the whole trip back bringing me out of my hangover.Thanks man,appreciate it lots=) I spoke to my dad agian on the phone and he said there’s a 70% probability that he’ll come up tomorrow to give me subsistence money.If he didn’t turn up,he suggested I lapdance at Sunway for some extra cash (honest!!! He was joking lah).I told him I’d wear extra tight boxers with pockets so the patrons could stick their cash with no real hassle.Lol >.<
Presently the train rolled into Setia Jaya Komuter station and I assumed that the day’s whirlwind was over…I was dead wrong.The day’s surprises weren’t over yet:
All of a sudden I received a call from a number that did not register in my phonebook.I picked up the call and on the other end was a guy who identified himself as Daniel.Again a dialogue:
ME:Hello?
Daniel:Hello,is this Irving Tan.
ME:Yes,yes,this is Irving Tan….may I know who is this?
Daniel:Chiang hua yi ma? (At least I think that’s how it sounds like when you want to inquire whether the Chinese you’re speaking to is a banana or not)
I admitted I was the biggest banana you will ever find.Then Daniel said a few words that made me thank the heavens for the existence of Samaritans.
Daniel:I think I have your wallet…i found it at the Seputeh River(of all the bloody places)…can you come to the Mid Valley area to pick it up?
Thankful,my only wish at that moment was that my wayward thief will find his way back on track.
EPILOGUE:Today,Buntal,Hafifi and me went to Malaysia Furniture Mall to meet up with Daniel.There,he handed me my wallet;all my important documents were intact and even my book receipts for the income tax rebates made it.The money was gone though.Nevertheless,I am thankful to have crossed paths with people like Hafifi,Buntal and of course,Daniel.The world needs more people like you guys.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
This post is from my first ‘Soliloquy’ blog, and was written to commemorate my arrival back at Taylor’s after a two month break.
Usually,when I type a header;or a title for that matter,I place an emoticon right next to it.For example,I will usually go ‘My First Post!!=D” or “My Dog Wee-ed On My Foot >.<”. Not this time though.To be honest,when the 2nd of January rolled around,I was having mixed feelings about returning back to college…or university college,whichever you would have.
Hence the lack of emoticon next to the header.
But I’ll be the first to admit that I should be happy here.Happy to be back.Happy to be learning.Happy to be back amongst my peers.I do know that I’m one of the privileged few to be given an overseas scholarship in a reputable institution;sadness thus seems an emotion that is unsuited on returning.I admit to a slight twinge of guilt over realization of these facts.The circumstances changed though,as I came to grips with the way things were supposed to be done.
The more sand passes through the hourglass of our lives,the clearer we should see through it.
I guess I was then still feeling the effects of a particularly harrowing first semester which managed to throw yours truly completely off his bearings.Never did I once expect to be held accountable for tests,quizzes,assignments and all that tosh at all times.The constant and ever-testing nature of the ICPU programme caused this and to be honest,never have I so eagerly awaited the holidays.I guess I should have known better.This is not high school anymore;no more fun and games,more dedication,and a nice cut-off point just dying to snap your guts out.
Hence the doubt regarding emotions on coming back.
So when I walked up to my unit at Ridzuan,I was already dreading the start of the new semester.Upon opening the door,I saw good old Buntal,a huge (wacko) grin on his face whilst he diddled about on his computer.The guy looked just the same even after the hols:stocky,happy and 80 kilos (estimation) of pure fun.Missed you man.Barely a few hours later,Adib walked in.
Oh yeah,Adib.Tongue still laser,wit still ada,and sarcasm still a blunder.He walked in,grinned and to me,half the fun was back in the house.Not more than five minutes in after that and we were already exchanging pleasantries…ok,words that symbolized how much we missed each other…no,phrases that were metaphors for how…ah God dammit,we were trading insults lah to be honest!! Amiable ones=) Among the topics that cropped up in that session were Buntal’s ever present,erm,diameter;Blackburn Rovers’ (my football team) 6-2 thrashing by Arsenal (Adib’s team);and the issue of whether green is orange and pink is visible(inside joke=p).
The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
It was damn great to see them all again.Adib even got me a souvenir from China,where he went for the hols….cheapskate.I asked for a chick=p Kidding kidding.He gave me a gorgeous keychain that commemorated the 2008 Beijing Olympics;thanks man!=) Buntal as usual gave me a constant supply of gaseous anomalies;thank you too=p Again,I jest.
Then Cheese,Kay,Frendy and Atif walked in.Friend,friend,and more friends!=) We filled that middle room and started laughing at anything that moved.There was Kay whining about Liverpool’s 1-0 loss (yes!!) to blackburn,Cheese begging us to go down for dinner whilst Atif and Frendy doubled up the fun in that cramped room.It was only then that I realized how much I missed those dudes,even Atif whom I met quite recently,relatively speaking;debate comp.There I was,sitting and looking at those dudes,so glad to see them again;it even made me wonder how I managed to scream at dear old Cheese for some mistake he did to me a couple of moths back.There is always a certain time in every week where I think about how bad I still feel after I made that outburst…my apologies man.
A friend is a person who knows the song of your heart and can sing you the words when you have forgotten them.
That night we played futsal.Bloody hell,I never thought I could embarass my kaki bangku self to that pathetic degree.I even managed to get injured man! >.< Then the guys REALLY did add the literal insult to the literal injury.Oh boy oh boy oh boy.
What a day.And what ways of celebrating our mutual return to Taylor’s.I had never had so much fun in so long=) I truly know now,what it means to be among the best and brightest,in mind,and heart.
You guys rock.
People,I’m back at Taylor’s…=)
Hey there guys!!
Welcome to my new blog! If you’re looking at this post you probably got the link from my page on Friendster or I told you myself….but on the other hand you may have decided to type something weird in your browser and ended up here, none the wiser lol.
In any case, welcome!!! I’m not using my Friendster blog anymore-it has undergone a debilitating series of uncurable ailments (and people don’t visit it anyway bleh!)-hence I’m moving here. Some of my old posts from my previous blog will be shifted here as I see fit, so I hope whatever you see here will be worth your time and attention. Will try to make it as interesting as possible=)
Cheers! Now let’s see what wordpress can do=)
PBS (Post Blog Script lol)-Thanks to Atif for introducing this site to me!! Snuffleupagush!!!
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