Well, officially 8 days since I came home to Malaysia for a well-deserved rest. After like a 2/3 week hiatus, I think it's time to update my nonexistent blog again.
Two things I am dead sure I am going to do for the holz... (both initiated by my mum, I'm forced)
1) Pick up guitar
Not that I don't want it, I was just thinking of total relaxation during the holidays. But my mum was like "since you already have a piano background, you should pick up something else". Lazy to quarrel with her bout that already.
2) Get braces (No.......)
My teeth are you know, very uneven and they jut out a little. Urghz... I really don't want it... So Ugly Betty... :-(
Anyways, I stopped trying to fight back. Just do it lo...
Watched 3 movies recently. I wouldn't recommend all 3 of them. Harry Potter 5 (fr BitComet), too fast, lacked many details and kinda racing through the plot. Hairspray, nothing ouut of the ordinary, just ordinary. Secret (Jay Chou movie), sorry fans out there, it sucked to me. Well, thanks to the lousy subtitles which went literal thoughout the movie (今天天气好好哦 - today weather good good o, 我是路小雨 - I am Road Light Rain) That generally spoilt my mood. Besides, I don't see the greatness in the movie, in fact, it was the weird-ish plot that I wasn't really interested in. What's worth watching in the movie though, is the piano!! Omigod, that was so pro... I am so nothing beside him, insignificant.
Basically been whiling away time these day. Not doing anything significant enough to be worth a mention. Hopefully this holiday would be fruitful (by learning guitar?) Looking forward to Chrismas though, so can visit relatives in Singapore (not for presents ok?). Anyway, I have not communicated my primary school friends since like Ice Age. I don't really bother though. Don't understand why some people are like "I miss you guyz la... Come back tell me ya", "When is next reunion ya?"
Discovered that there's online delivery for Pizza Hut in Malaysia too @ http://www.pizzahut.com.my/, which came to me as a shock really. :D Sorry random. But I really didn't expect that, even Singapore doesn't have that. Anyway, I realised the heavy impact on studying in Singapore and what effects it had brought into my life recently. I see everything CHEAP! My mom's like "where cheap?" and I was like "cheap what. In Singapore right, this is $xx.xx". And I'm not happy bout it. Don't bother the Singaporeanisation (no such word). I'm out. Bye.
Second post today... Recently, a post on Chern Yuen's blog caused certain 'outrage' among many people. He mentioned that his roommates continuous gaming marathons were getting onto his nerves. Certain stereotyping had also caused a few comments of dissatisfaction by “Hall D gamers” as he put it. Since Chern Yuen decided that no more comments are going to be accepted as there is a flood of 19 and maybe even more comments, I decided to put in a few of my own ideas about gaming and roommates in my very own blog.
In his blog, there's someone who went by the pseudonym “Silenced” (between you and me, I think that he is Zi Kang himself, though it was mentioned that he was “on relatively good term with the person attacked in this post”) He mentioned about being asked “what you would do if you roommates played music too loud at night?” I remembered clearly during the interview, I was asked the same question. I answered that I will bear with it, which is what I am doing right now. I went on saying that if it was unbearable, I shall ask them to consider the welfare of the rest of the people in the room.
Personally, I dislike gaming. Some may even call me a “mugger”, judging by the results I usually get from my tests and exams and by the fact that I don't play computer games (though personally I think that's stereotyping too). I am not interested in dota, maple and whatnot. The internet is used only for research and personal stuff, Youtube only twice or once a week. My laptop on the other hand, has the purpose of homework and projects.
There's a reason for me hating games like these and gaming itself. Firstly, the obvious. I was bound by moral values since young and the expectations for me to maintain high marks for my studies – I know that your results might more or less be affected if you play games like these, unless you are born so clever like a child prodigy or an evil genius or whatever.
The second reason being my past experience, which is still somewhat 'a hole in my heart'. Last year, I undertook a project with a group of “gamers”. Bearing with their un-enthusiatic-ness was already hard enough, I had to do the project alone, I did the website, the full web resource, the presentations, the planning... At many points, there were even whining and quarrels involved. When I scheduled meetings with our mentor, one member will always counter and complain, stating that it was a time waster, and that he would prefer playing Dota in boarding school. Sometimes, I will even overhear them saying “aiyah... let Xue Zheng do all the work, we slack/play Dota...” Oh, and I was blamed for getting them into a sabbatical that they didn't like!
The experience that actually angered me the most was during the prize presentation of Projects' Day, where one of my members (not naming anyone) actually commented that he would wish to “pon” (ponteng) the boring ceremony so as to go back and play computer games and even invited another member of my group (who is also a gamer) to follow suit. This totally pissed me off, even though I didn't show it on that day. I helped you ALL to obtain a High Distinction, an A* in Projects Day, and you don't give a shit? The High Distinction included ACE points for all of you, and as far as I know it, and exemptions for one of you due to the increment in your ACE points. I could just walk straight to the teacher-in-charge and tell them that the contributions of the rest of my team were only limited to presenting what I told them to and lending me their computer(s) and perhaps during the nights before the competition. But I did not. I forgave and gave them their ACE that I think they barely deserved.
It's a long story. But from that you can see why I hate the sport (I call it a sport) of gaming so much, why I despise gaming. And yes, I had long forgiven them, only sometimes it just angers me a little, thinking what I'd gone through to do that project. I vowed that I would get a better team the following year. Yes, I still got an A*, but at least this time it was no solo work, but a team's work.
These are just some of my thought on gaming. Roommates, on the other hand, I don't have much opinion. I am satisfied with the present situation I'm facing.
Yes, I have a roommate who fits the description of a “gamer”. However, I'm on fine terms with him. Usually during weekends and afternoons, he would not be in our room. Even if he's in my room, he wouldn't play computer games, as he was caught a few times by my CM. The worst is only the music, and even that's bearable, as he will adjust the volume to a softer one once the rest of us starts to sleep.
Apparently not for some of my friends though. Chern Yuen for example. Shien Yang and Zhi Hao have problems with the twins too. Sometimes, people just don't get along very well. Like sometimes I quarrel with Theron too ;D. But it would be fine later on. Trust me! After all, you guys still have at least 2 more years with your same roommates (unless you apply for a room change or the boarding school suddenly decides to move you)
Conclusion 1: I think I understand what Chern Yuen's going through. It's tough, but I believe he will get over it
Conclusion 2: Gaming really isn't my thing. I doubt that I will ever get influenced or involved in this activity.
Conclusion 3: Forgive and Forget (cos that's what I'd done for them too honey [sorry I sound a little like ChanSH here =D])
The last time I checked, I own a seriously deprived blog. Two posts in a row today should do the trick. On Sunday, I followed my relatives to church in the morning after a sleepover the day before. A small clarification though, I am not a Christian. However, I agreed to follow them to church. Firstly, I know that it would be convenient for them and for me, as we are going for lunch later on. If they had to drive all the way back (it's quite far you see) just to pick me up for lunch, it would seem that I'm exhibiting diva qualities (*blushes*winks* is there a male term for that word?).
Furthermore. They are such nice people, they think of me everytime they go out and would invite me along. I am of course very touched by that. I have relatives who don't even notice that I'm already back in Singapore on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year (which is rather depressing) and they did not even deign my absence. So, these relatives are truly the best I can ask for. There is no reason why I should refuse to go to church with them, not after a scrumptious dinner with them on Friday in a Japanese restaurant where sandals and round-collared tees are not even allowed, a fabulous brunch and a generous dinner on Saturday. It's for convenience, I keep reminding myself. And so I went, open-minded and objectively.
Their church, so happens, was FCBC @ the Singapore EXPO, where memories of certain unpleasant stuff still held for me. It was very. very crowded over there. I was told that I had to do “service”, and I had totally no idea what was that about. If it was something like helping-the-elderly sort of service, I'm totally cool about it.
Turns out it was something like a concert, similar to that of my previous experience. (The singer was the same guy too, if I'm not mistaken. As I said, I remember faces and small insignificant things.) Only it was better, cos' I was with my relatives, who understood me and empathized with me. Generally, I still could take it. It was mainly singing religious songs and medleys. Now and then, they would ask everyone to raise both hands in a “I Surrender” position and close our eyes to “feel/thank god” etc. and bless those around us. Though I did that hand position, I couldn't put myself to do the rest. My relatives blessed me, and I said “thank you” politely.
There was a guest speaker from Israel. An American-born Japanese Israeli. Get what I mean? He basically analysed some parts of the bible. I didn't really understand that la... All in all, I wouldn't say that I enjoyed the whole experience, but I could still take it. It wasn't much. After that, my cousin sister said to me “it was very boring right?” I smiled. But I understand her intention, she was trying to help because she knew I wasn't Christian. Thanks! I really appreciate that.
To be truthful, I wasn't really happy about my past experience going to church, so did many of my friends. I have totally no problems with Christians, really. I only don't like if you force, trick me into church, which was what happened the other time. Something about that it was “only a concert, nothing religious”, along those lines. My relatives are Christians, but they asked whether it's fine for me to go to church and I can tell that they really care. Everyone is entitled their own religion. I respect every religion, though sometimes I might disagree with some things they do. Anyway, everyone should have mutual understanding of each religion and race!
Conclusion 1: Church wasn't that bad. Though I'm not influenced a bit.
Conclusion 2: Thanks to my relatives for that (and their [only too] good treatment to me)!
Conclusion 3: May all people of all races and religion live in peace forever!