With my TEE University Application!!!
And...I now have one more university application to finish. -_-"
I am rather annoyed about this. I have so much to do, like learning how to complete my homework and study at the same time; write, photograph and edit the yearbook and graudation video; organise Leavers Week and; finish university applications at the same time.
All whilst attempting to assure the rest of the world that I am not yet dead, and indeed do enjoy socialising once in a while.
And okay, I realise I did ask for this, and no one forced me to be a part of the Yearbook Committee. But it's something that I've been dying to do since I started secondary school, and I am willing to add on to my already bursting amount of stress. But social events really should just learn to come in at the right time as well.
Like River Rock tomorrow night which I will be missing out on. Much as I would love to go, it is on a WEDNESDAY. A day which is normally busy as hell for me, seeing as it is in the middle of the week.
A lot of my friends are going. And many are annoyed at me for not going.
But I don't care. I don't have the transport or the time or, really, even the energy to force myself to care about any River Rock right now. Even IF dolphins followed the boat the last time. Even if this is possibly the last event all of us as Year 12s will share.
Sheesh, it's not even just us as Year 12s, we had to invite the Year 11s with us for some reason.
But, okay, moving on.
I received two TCK postcards in the past month. For those who aren't in the loop about this, it's a little experiment by the TCKid website. One person starts off the relay by buying a postcard and mailing it, and then the receiver mails it to someone else, who mails it to someone else. And it just keeps going.
Unfortunately, we're still in the early stages of this experiment, but I really do hope it picks up quickly after this. *ahem Brice*
I have yet to take photos of them, but I will get them up really soon. One from China and one from Canada. Finally Brice, it took you long enough it did. XD And it really was rather conspicious. I mean, who else would draw cats all over the envelope?
And as part of the programme, I promise that I will mail the relay postcard this Saturday.
So where will this postcard go to next? Only time will tell...
And, well, okay the address that I write on the envelope will too, I guess.
Mishy <3
Thursday, 21 August 2008
A Small World After All
Reflecting is a very big part of my day. I reflect when I wake up, in the shower, in the car, during breaks...
Okay, I think about the past a lot in other words.
And I do have a lot to reflect on. But recently I've just noticed something that's been happening a lot more than usual lately.
I call it- meeting up with old friends.
And I do this all the time when I go back to Malaysia, and I WILL if I ever get to go back to South Africa. But this time, it's not in the normal circumstance. I am meeting people I met in Malaysia and South Africa in OTHER places, and not the places I originally met them in.
Elaine being one example. I have met up with her here, in Perth. Definitely not the place where I first met her. Okay, so it was a holiday for her, and it wasn't as if I chanced on her at the mall or something. But I find it amazing that I have actually met an old friend in a different place.
I have also met An Qi at UWA here, when she pounced on me after a sudden realisation that I did not actually know she was here. I must admit, I was incredibly surprised, but it was really really good to see a familiar face in a slightly strange and new place.
My parents had some friends over in Indonesia, and we quite literally crashed into them at a Malaysian Association function here in Perth to the delight of the elders. In fact, the lady saw my little sister, and thought that it was me for a split second before realising that surely I must have grown and changed in the ten years that she had not seen me.
Another example would be Lu, my amazing history partner in South Africa, whom I know is coming to Malaysia for a holiday. And whom I will most definitely be meeting up with when I do travel back. I am already tres excited for this visit. :P
All of this has, or will occur during this year.
Other surprising instances are meeting the friends of friends in a different place.
Ti is a person I used to know at choir. When I arrived in Australia, I met an old classmate of his at my current school, when I realised that she was Malaysian, and happily attempted to increase my connections upon this realisation.
Another example would be a friend I knew in Malaysia, and the Australian exchange students whom I met in South Africa. The Malaysian friend moved to Melbourne, and straight to the school where the exchange students came from.
Much more recently, my mother went to work today, and found- gasp, shock and amazement: a Saints Boy. Yes, a Saints Boy. And apparently, he went to Saints at the same time as I did, and apparently was in the same grade as I was before he moved here recently. Not that I know him. In fact, his name does not even sound familiar at this point in time. But just the idea that someone so close, yet so far is in a very similar situation as I am in is...well, incredible.
And much as I whinge about my lifestyle- the constant moving, the erratic changes in accent and culture, the leaving of friends...this is the only thing that could possibly make up for some of the hurt and pain over the years. The idea that people will be coming to see me, the idea that I will see them again somewhere. Changed or the same, old or young- they will be there and despite everything that's happened over the years, we can still sit back and laugh like the ten, twenty, thirty years between us never happened.
After all these examples, it really is a small world after all.
Mishy <3
Okay, I think about the past a lot in other words.
And I do have a lot to reflect on. But recently I've just noticed something that's been happening a lot more than usual lately.
I call it- meeting up with old friends.
And I do this all the time when I go back to Malaysia, and I WILL if I ever get to go back to South Africa. But this time, it's not in the normal circumstance. I am meeting people I met in Malaysia and South Africa in OTHER places, and not the places I originally met them in.
Elaine being one example. I have met up with her here, in Perth. Definitely not the place where I first met her. Okay, so it was a holiday for her, and it wasn't as if I chanced on her at the mall or something. But I find it amazing that I have actually met an old friend in a different place.
I have also met An Qi at UWA here, when she pounced on me after a sudden realisation that I did not actually know she was here. I must admit, I was incredibly surprised, but it was really really good to see a familiar face in a slightly strange and new place.
My parents had some friends over in Indonesia, and we quite literally crashed into them at a Malaysian Association function here in Perth to the delight of the elders. In fact, the lady saw my little sister, and thought that it was me for a split second before realising that surely I must have grown and changed in the ten years that she had not seen me.
Another example would be Lu, my amazing history partner in South Africa, whom I know is coming to Malaysia for a holiday. And whom I will most definitely be meeting up with when I do travel back. I am already tres excited for this visit. :P
All of this has, or will occur during this year.
Other surprising instances are meeting the friends of friends in a different place.
Ti is a person I used to know at choir. When I arrived in Australia, I met an old classmate of his at my current school, when I realised that she was Malaysian, and happily attempted to increase my connections upon this realisation.
Another example would be a friend I knew in Malaysia, and the Australian exchange students whom I met in South Africa. The Malaysian friend moved to Melbourne, and straight to the school where the exchange students came from.
Much more recently, my mother went to work today, and found- gasp, shock and amazement: a Saints Boy. Yes, a Saints Boy. And apparently, he went to Saints at the same time as I did, and apparently was in the same grade as I was before he moved here recently. Not that I know him. In fact, his name does not even sound familiar at this point in time. But just the idea that someone so close, yet so far is in a very similar situation as I am in is...well, incredible.
And much as I whinge about my lifestyle- the constant moving, the erratic changes in accent and culture, the leaving of friends...this is the only thing that could possibly make up for some of the hurt and pain over the years. The idea that people will be coming to see me, the idea that I will see them again somewhere. Changed or the same, old or young- they will be there and despite everything that's happened over the years, we can still sit back and laugh like the ten, twenty, thirty years between us never happened.
After all these examples, it really is a small world after all.
Mishy <3
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Beijing Olympics '08
This one is being held in China this year. And I must say, I think the Olympic committee made a brilliant decision, deciding to host it in China this year. That, or they were bribed rather well by the Chinese.
08/08/08. Beginning at 08:08pm.
It's really interesting how they've managed to get it on what would seem to be China's luckiest day of all.
Watching the Olympics, I incredibly impressed with the idea of the scroll, and the meaning behind it. The body calligraphy amazed me [because I had no idea how the guy knew where to put down the brush] and the lighting of the cauldron [after all the useless running around] was definitely a highlight. I was also rather impressed with the drums at the beginning, although I didn't actually like the way they gradually started looking more and more like a kaleidoscope than a drumming performance. I looked forward to a dragon/lion dance and, okay, I was pretty disappointed that none came. I can honestly say that it is the highlight of my Chinese New Year, and not having it at the Olympics made me sulk a bit.
People say that China is all for precision. Nothing must be out of place. Everything must be perfect.
But in a sense, I'd say that this is what makes China, China. The precision is a sight to behold, especially in a country like Australia where no one likes to listen to authority. [the year 8s and 9s at every school are proof]
When the athletes came out, this had to be my highlight of the entire ceremony, possibly excepting the lighting of the cauldron.
And many people found it boring because, let's be serious, they only had one country to support, and most probably didn't know the flags of all the countries, much less the names.
I, on the other hand, found it extremely difficult to figure out whom I should be cheering for. After living in these places, who do you say deserves to get your support the most? South Africa, or Australia? Indonesia, or Malaysia? The Philippines, or Singapore? [not that I have lived in Singapore, but I believe they're worth supporting] And of course, should I be supporting China- the place where my roots come from, or Hong Kong- where my grand-uncle currently resides? England- to where at least a quarter of my mates have moved, or Canada- where at least a tenth have moved?
Of course, I didn't actually think about it too much, and cheered for all of them all the same.
My brother and I also stayed up the entire night, comparing team sizes [we have decided that China's is by far the biggest and the best, after having to re-evaluate our opinion of the size of the American team- both in numbers and in height] and trying to figure out where each flag came from. We didn't exactly know every country, nor did we know where they all came from either, but we figured all of them out based on the flag and the costumes they wore.
My mother, after all these years of travelling, still didn't know how to figure out if a country was from the Bahamas or Africa just based on the flag and the costumes alone. Her education has been wasted.
And according to a lot of my South African friends, plenty of people were thinking about me during the Olympic ceremony.
I had only one thought when I was told this: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???
In St. Stithians Girls' College, I was the only Chinese girl in my grade. There were more chinese girls in the grades below. But the Boys' College had even more chinese in one grade than the girls college had put together in the whole school.
So really, why am I the one who's being thought of during the Olympic Opening Ceremony??
I know I have [or, well, HAD] a Chinese counterpart in my grade back at Saints, and my counterpart is also an actual Chinese from China. Unlike me, since I am from Malaysia. It made no sense whatsoever. He is more Chinese than I am, he's in Jo'burg at Saints where he can remind them of his presence daily, and I am the one who gets thought of? A friend from the boys college even sent me a message congratulating me on the performance in China. I was incredibly shocked.
I suppose it was a stereotype thing. I'm not concentrating on it too much and I really can't do much except to shake my head in wonder.
Although I can't help but wonder if I perhaps left my mark on Saints a little too clearly.
Mishy <3
08/08/08. Beginning at 08:08pm.
It's really interesting how they've managed to get it on what would seem to be China's luckiest day of all.
Watching the Olympics, I incredibly impressed with the idea of the scroll, and the meaning behind it. The body calligraphy amazed me [because I had no idea how the guy knew where to put down the brush] and the lighting of the cauldron [after all the useless running around] was definitely a highlight. I was also rather impressed with the drums at the beginning, although I didn't actually like the way they gradually started looking more and more like a kaleidoscope than a drumming performance. I looked forward to a dragon/lion dance and, okay, I was pretty disappointed that none came. I can honestly say that it is the highlight of my Chinese New Year, and not having it at the Olympics made me sulk a bit.
People say that China is all for precision. Nothing must be out of place. Everything must be perfect.
But in a sense, I'd say that this is what makes China, China. The precision is a sight to behold, especially in a country like Australia where no one likes to listen to authority. [the year 8s and 9s at every school are proof]
When the athletes came out, this had to be my highlight of the entire ceremony, possibly excepting the lighting of the cauldron.
And many people found it boring because, let's be serious, they only had one country to support, and most probably didn't know the flags of all the countries, much less the names.
I, on the other hand, found it extremely difficult to figure out whom I should be cheering for. After living in these places, who do you say deserves to get your support the most? South Africa, or Australia? Indonesia, or Malaysia? The Philippines, or Singapore? [not that I have lived in Singapore, but I believe they're worth supporting] And of course, should I be supporting China- the place where my roots come from, or Hong Kong- where my grand-uncle currently resides? England- to where at least a quarter of my mates have moved, or Canada- where at least a tenth have moved?
Of course, I didn't actually think about it too much, and cheered for all of them all the same.
My brother and I also stayed up the entire night, comparing team sizes [we have decided that China's is by far the biggest and the best, after having to re-evaluate our opinion of the size of the American team- both in numbers and in height] and trying to figure out where each flag came from. We didn't exactly know every country, nor did we know where they all came from either, but we figured all of them out based on the flag and the costumes they wore.
My mother, after all these years of travelling, still didn't know how to figure out if a country was from the Bahamas or Africa just based on the flag and the costumes alone. Her education has been wasted.
And according to a lot of my South African friends, plenty of people were thinking about me during the Olympic ceremony.
I had only one thought when I was told this: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???
In St. Stithians Girls' College, I was the only Chinese girl in my grade. There were more chinese girls in the grades below. But the Boys' College had even more chinese in one grade than the girls college had put together in the whole school.
So really, why am I the one who's being thought of during the Olympic Opening Ceremony??
I know I have [or, well, HAD] a Chinese counterpart in my grade back at Saints, and my counterpart is also an actual Chinese from China. Unlike me, since I am from Malaysia. It made no sense whatsoever. He is more Chinese than I am, he's in Jo'burg at Saints where he can remind them of his presence daily, and I am the one who gets thought of? A friend from the boys college even sent me a message congratulating me on the performance in China. I was incredibly shocked.
I suppose it was a stereotype thing. I'm not concentrating on it too much and I really can't do much except to shake my head in wonder.
Although I can't help but wonder if I perhaps left my mark on Saints a little too clearly.
Mishy <3
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Looking Back...
We were discussing this in P&L, and when I finally thought about all of it, I was pretty surprised.
Mr. Lacy kept saying something aboout managing to skip a grade in primary school. Not that we actually considered that to be too much of a feat now, but back in the day I suppose it would've been considered pretty impressive.
Looking back, I had a family friend who managed to move up a year after a term in year 3. I was in year 5 at that time, and rather unimpressed at the fact that he was now encroaching on my territory.
My story, I suppose, is not nearly as impressive as his was.
What I had managed to do was to skip out on a Year/Grade/Standard 4. Completely. It wasn't because I was brilliantly smart. It wasn't because my mother forced me to enroll into school early beyond my formative years. No, none of that.
It was because I switched school systems.
When I was 8 I moved from the Philippines to Malaysia. In doing so, I had to switch from an American Missionary international school to a British international school. I had just finished Grade 3, and upon moving back to Malaysia, realised that I was meant to continue into Year 5, and not 4.
And I never quite realised what a weird, but interesting circumstance it was. I guess one could say it coincided with my Chinese heritage, with 'si' or 'sei' being unlucky and all. So technically, this would then mean I should be extremely lucky in all my studies, seeing as I've managed to miss out on the 'most unlucky' year of all?
Well, perhaps not so lucky. I remember having to spend all of year 5 changing my spelling from that of an American way to a British way. And of course, I am now fully convinced that the British way is the only proper way to spell things because of this. XD I didn't go through all that work for nothing.
Aluminum ---> Aluminium
Color ---> Colour
Favorite ---> Favourite
Gray ---> Grey
Odd, the things that've actually happened to me when I think about it.
Mishy <3
Mr. Lacy kept saying something aboout managing to skip a grade in primary school. Not that we actually considered that to be too much of a feat now, but back in the day I suppose it would've been considered pretty impressive.
Looking back, I had a family friend who managed to move up a year after a term in year 3. I was in year 5 at that time, and rather unimpressed at the fact that he was now encroaching on my territory.
My story, I suppose, is not nearly as impressive as his was.
What I had managed to do was to skip out on a Year/Grade/Standard 4. Completely. It wasn't because I was brilliantly smart. It wasn't because my mother forced me to enroll into school early beyond my formative years. No, none of that.
It was because I switched school systems.
When I was 8 I moved from the Philippines to Malaysia. In doing so, I had to switch from an American Missionary international school to a British international school. I had just finished Grade 3, and upon moving back to Malaysia, realised that I was meant to continue into Year 5, and not 4.
And I never quite realised what a weird, but interesting circumstance it was. I guess one could say it coincided with my Chinese heritage, with 'si' or 'sei' being unlucky and all. So technically, this would then mean I should be extremely lucky in all my studies, seeing as I've managed to miss out on the 'most unlucky' year of all?
Well, perhaps not so lucky. I remember having to spend all of year 5 changing my spelling from that of an American way to a British way. And of course, I am now fully convinced that the British way is the only proper way to spell things because of this. XD I didn't go through all that work for nothing.
Aluminum ---> Aluminium
Color ---> Colour
Favorite ---> Favourite
Gray ---> Grey
Odd, the things that've actually happened to me when I think about it.
Mishy <3
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