Went on OCIP Vietnam from 10th to 19th.
2days after i'm back, i think i have thought enough to 'pen' down some reflections.
Clearly rmb that when i first came to HC, i was an anti-OCIP student cos i find it extremely illogical to pay so much money for an air ticket to help ppl when e money cld hv been spent on the needy in Singapore.
So i thought, till someday i really find e motivation to go on OCIP, i'll nt try applying for any.
Then in J2, i realised tt it's probably quite affordable since it is highly subsidized n i really wanted to go on school trips for different purpose.
First was adventure trip, thn was educational trip, so this time it shall b service learning!
Feel really lucky tt e Cambodia trip in June was cancelled eventually, cos at tt pt of time, knowing that i had so much work to catch up after stepping down, i knew i wldn't enjoy the trip. Most importantly, i was a only J2.
But this time it's different! It's an entirely J2 team! n since it's after A's , there's really nthg to b worried abt. We have so much time, so much energy to spend!
Many went on the trip w/o any expectations so that they cn hv a surprise n enjoy the trip totally.
i din particularly want to get anything out of it. Just wanted to enjoy myself and see new things.True enough, i did.
With 6days of service at the pri sch n 2days of R&R, OCIP Vietnam was a great experience i'll nv forget.
Despite being stunned by the toughness of the work on the first day, we all got used to it very fast.Probably due to peer pressure and 'face', seems like no one really complained abt the hardship we had to go through. Perhaps a J2 team is really more mature and resilient. Glad i didn't see pampered weaklings. Could c tt all of us were really ready and willing to step out of our comfort zone to complete the task. Possibly nt everyone put in their best, bt the effort cannot be denied.
Sad to say, i really din think the team was v bonded. We could all work well tgt, bt given the choice, we'll all slip back to our comfort zone.

Well, i think even without going to Vietnam itself, we know some ppl are really poor. Their standard of living is low, their houses are simple and even shabby. They might not have the chance to receive proper education.
The difference now is that, i witnessed this situation myself and that's the most important reason why i was there.
As i sit at the courtyard of the pri sch everyday watching the kids play/ playing with the kids, i feel really disturbed by the fact that they cannot receive a proper education. Initially i thought, perhaps they really do nt need to think too much at this young age. They can just live their lives playing everyday. But i realise that there's really no proper system in place to ensure that they gain sthg significant out of their 'formal' education. To me, their future looks bleak, because they might not have a goal in life, or they might not know that they have to have a stronger purpose in life. Hmm, mayb if ppl like Tian yu hasn't found her purpose in life too, it might be bit too much to ask of 8-10yr old kids.
i believe they can learn, n they are willing to learn. Though the basic english we taught them might not leave a lasting impression on the kids, it is important to know that at least they were once exposed to an english education.
It might be their first step in grasping this powerful language.
Compare that pri school to HC, the contrast is really too wide to state. These kids deserve proper education like me, bt they dun. :( Will they be able to learn enough from their pri school n continue their education path to eventually end up as a Uni graduate like our fellow Vietnamese translators?
i really dunno, bt i really hope they will and i believe they can, if they want to.
Have we made an impact in their lives by being there with them for 6days?
i think we definitely did. Our contribution might not be as great as we want it to be, but we know, we hv provided emotional n literally structural support by spending 6days there.

(to be continued)
i really miss my flens :(

gone
- 8:56 AM

Jus a few days ago, i was diligently clearing the pile of mess in my room.
It was only then that i really felt how much work i have done these 2years.
For every assignment or exam paper that i attempted to throw, i pondered for a few instances. Really can't bear to dump the work i've spent effort to do. i saw that to prepare for the major exam -- Alevels, i used alot of paper n pen ink. Most importantly, i spent a lot of time.
In the end, there is still this big stack of work that i really cldn't bear to throw away though they are of no use anymore.
One fine day when i finally feel like letting go of those once-very-precious-work, i will discard it.

Realise that after exams, despite really really enjoying the 'mugless' life, you know ur life is short of sthg.
i think it's e emptiness w/o school days, nt getting to see ur classmates:(
Dunno how my daily routine nw has become so screwed. Farm/zoo/watch dramas till 4+ and slp till 2+ the next day. Trapping myself in the virtual world is in no way the route of escape.
Hmm, let the Vietnam trip be a real break for me.
Hopefully, when i come back, i have sorted out my thoughts or put everything behind and move on.
i think i need some determination. Start to follow my brain instead of my heart?

Perhaps, even after 2years of JC life, i have not grown to know myself alot better.
i still dunno why.
But only i can have the answer.

gone
- 9:05 AM

Despite A's being over, i haven't found my motivation to blog. Maybe there's really nthg much to say.
But i guess v soon i gt to type my year end conluding post.
I'm totally in the virtual world nw, so ppl who can't find me in the real world,
pls look for me in e virtual world instead.
Hardcore farmer n zoo-er for the time being.

gone
- 2:22 AM

WHEEE! i found him! :DDD

gone
- 9:21 AM

For this last lap, i will endure.
Believe u can even if u know u can't.

gone
- 8:06 AM

Finally got bit of time today to blog.
Haven't gotten all my photos yet though.
Well, needless to say, i've graduated.
It's a very different feeling from 2yrs ago, n this time i really dunno how to describe.
Nv had i regret coming to HCI.
n even though i used to resent being in a SMTP class, i've grown to realise there's no other place i'll prefer.
Of course not forgetting HuangCheng, without it i wld not hv such a memorable n interesting JC life.
Ok when i get all my pics i shall post some here. Got to take photos w everybody i cld! except 1. or maybe 2 :( nvm i'll try harder during prom.
THANKS to all those who helped me take photos n tagged on facebook.
KAKA loves Hwa Chong.
KAKA loves HuangCheng.
Half a ZhiWei!




My ticketing Com!

KAKA loves 08S6H.

Life w/o Junhui= helpless + boring


Awww...e loving couple!

Hmm what were they trying to do to me?

KAKA loves ReachCambridge ppl.



KAKA loves her tablemates except her direct tablemate! (Guess which one! >.<)


KAKA loves her teachers esp. Mrs Chua n Ms Claire!

I love Ms Claire!!!
KAKA loves SMTP.
KAKA loves her ISYF flens.

KAKA loves her GOR flens.




KAKA loves her ex-classmates.



Cutest boy! :DDDD

Smartest guy! :DD

Finest man! :DDD

Aunty Chin!

On a separate note, i think the Architecture related stuffs i've been doing these days are v inspiring n interesting, esp e wkshop conducted these 2days. I can't believe i listened to a group of Architects n Engineers talk for 7hrs yest. w/o falling asleep.
Or m i just crazy n like doing anything but studyg.

gone
- 5:03 AM

Today left school late cos had to do some stuffs.
So i managed to catch a glimpse of the Ares n Athena ppl having their grad day.V long nv leave sch so late le. Got e HuangCheng days feeling.
i think HC does make e whole Grad Day v grand. Quite cool i think. Some more it's at night, so mood will be different.
E thing is i can't believe i'm graduating tmr :(
Y so sad leh ...
But well, for e sake of getting my Hwa Chong bear(which i hv waited for 2yrs), i shall like graduating.

gone
- 6:33 AM