Wet! Wet! Wet! It has been raining on and off for 5~6 days already! It quite a nuisance sometimes, but I quite enjoy the cool weather now... But seriously, the rain is a bit too much...

And it was precisely on one of the dark, stormy, windy and wet nights that the new batch of Anglican High PRC (People's Republic of China) scholars arrived...... One night (Physics Prac Eve!) they were given a list of names of boarders that they were supposed to get signatures from. So they went around knocking on our doors... They had difficulty, of course, not because we gave them tasks to do etc. but because most of us weren't in our rooms... There was about 6~7 of us in Eric's room eating Rambutans from Kluang.

Anyway, what's interesting about this new batch of scholars is that one of them looks a bit like a teacher in TJ (Hm... if I'm not mistaken, it's Mr. Francis Tay), and another one looked almost identical to Mr. Terence Chiew! Oh my god! If you ask me, I think he's his brother! It's like a young short Terence Chiew. His name is actually Shao4Pu3 but we all prefer to call him Terence, haha.... Actually, we found out that he hasn't got an English name yet... Should I try to upload his photo here? Hmm..... I don't know leh.... don't want to shock everyone....

I've watched the choir CD a few days ago... Inside is a recording (by Mr. Tearle Cheng I presume) of the choir's trip and performances in Europe. Brings back lots of memories.... but sadly the quality isn't very good + we didn't sing very well lah... haha...

Oh! I've got a letter the other day by this association in charge of acquiring and distributing donation blood packs. Finally, after so many years, I know my blood type! So happy! And I was so thrilled that I SMSed my brother for his blood type, which is A+. From these information + the fact my Dad is O and my Mom is A + my blood type is different from my brother's, all you clever people out there should know what my blood type is... Oh, by the way, I'm Rhesus positive as well (+)...

Chem Paper 4 (Practical Exam) is over.... I couldn't manage to finish the Qualitative Analysis part. I've confirm the loss of about 5~6 marks. That's quite OK actually. It was altogether not too difficult and I was glad of that... Paper 4 is 20% of the total marks.

Physics prac was on Monday. All I can say is that I was lucky to do the Mechanics part first, and that made the job fairly easy. Had >15 minutes extra time... Paper 4 is approx. 11% of total marks.

I've put up 3 new photo albums. Check it out!

The 'formal' last day of school has just went by...

It started off with a normal assembly, then off to the auditorium... There was a 'farewell concert' organised by the Year One's...

There were performances by a girl rock band (lead singer Izzati from choir)... They looked cool but the vocals and overall 'feel' was not really there lah.... Next, there were performances by 'Silversound', TJ's most famous rock band. Charles also performed 2 songs that he wrote on his own...so sweet... Oh, and Mr. Marcus Tan sang Joey McIntyre's 'Stay the same'. He did a terrible rendition of it! There was also this girl from the dance club... she sang quite well I think...I think she took part in Temasek Idol before...

There were speeches by the TJC Alumni president. He said he knew only 3 of us (TJCians) because they were under him for an internship programme... Hmm....is Winnie one of them? Haha... I can't remember...

Mr. Sherwin Cheng gave a (touching) speech as the teacher's representative. Students were also invited to come on stage to speak... WenYuan was one of them (If you don't know who is he, he is more affectionally known as CB aka Calculator Boy)... Haha... he got a strong and loud ovation...
Zenon and Vasudha also talked, and talked, and talked until Valerie had to snatch the mike from them. A few other students also gave their speeches. Then Mr. Bala was given the mike... he said a few lines then stood up and started to rap! Amazing! Really didn't expect that....

Hmm... my money is flowing out of the bank at an alarming rate... I have to take care not to overspend (I don't have much left)... After consulting my parents I've decided to take SAT II and that would cost S$100+... Have to eat instant noodles every few days to save on costs...

I'll put up some more photos once I get to borrow the card reader from Yi Jian...

Woohoo! I got Merit for Mathematics 'S' Paper... Haha... although only 36%... I'm sooooo glad..... I actually thought I would've failed (unclassified)..... Winnie also got Merit, so she has to stay true to her word now, cannot drop 'S' paper!!!!

Anyway, I received a letter from International University Bremen (in Germany)... They have courses that I'm interested in (unlike the many other letters I've received, asking me to study FINE ARTS and the like). The entry requirements are also higher than the other institutions that have sent me letters, which is getting 600 Verbal (I barely qualify--630) and 700 Maths for SAT. Unfortunately, I don't think it is a government-sponsored University... They estimate an annual living fee (including tuition fees etc.) of about 24,000 Euros (Around 92,000 Ringgit?)... Too bad... Of course, there are financial assisting programmes etc. but I'm still a bit sceptical...

Oh, one more thing... Singapore Idol yesterday sucked! I was like Eww...... all the way.... until Taufik of course, who (once again) did a marvellous job! Jerry Ong is still like usual (terrible), and there's a huge group of blind believers supporting him, oblivious of the painful truth that he just can't sing! Christopher is turning from bad to worse... from what I noticed, he always picks songs that are challenging with lots of high notes, but in the end, he just can't handle them nicely (unlike Taufik). Oooh... and Sylvester forgot his lyrics! Olinda still doesn't want to wear a dress yet (Quote: " I'm trying to get in touch with my feminine side..."). The rest were just average.... Taufik rocks!!!!!

OK, got to go to Bugis now... tata...

Ke Yeng (a Malaysian scholar who stayed in TJ for the first 3 months, now in SAJC) called me up yesterday. We discussed about some things and we decided to meet each other this Friday at Bugis. He helped me to get accustomed when I just arrived here, as he knew Singapore better than I did (He's from JB). Haha... actually I can't believe that we're still in contact after sooooo long. I've not heard from Kun Yang (a Malaysian scholar who left TJ before Year 1's JCT because he choose to take up the JPA scholarships to study medicine in UK) for a long, long time. Try to call the other guys to go along, but it's not quite likely that they would want to go...

I've given up on watching 'Sepet' because I'm going to watch 'Les Choristes' at Cineleisure with Winnie, Jeff and Cliff and it would be sufficient to burn a hole i my pocket already...

Hmm... Ching Mien, Wai Kit, me and the others have yet to finalise our year-end trip around Malaysia.... We would surely be going to Penang and KL, but other places like Langkawi, Genting etc. are not finalised... Should we discuss before the A-levels? I don't know... We plan to celebrate Christmas in Penang.... haha....

The first ever Malaysian Idol is born! It was won by Jaclyn Victor from Kepong, KL. I'm rather happy because racial issues were put aside (she's an Indian)... she won 76% of total votes. The runner-up was Dinah from JB (Malay).... sadly, her performance was not good and the difference in standard was obvious. Haha... it was difficult to get TV3 on the hostel TV... we were staring at a flickering, sometimes black-and-white screen. Check out http://www.malaysianidol.com.my , OK?

Woohoo! Went swimming again last Saturday... Met with the guys from 05/03 (Desmond's / Kok Vui's class). Fuda, Andy and Widyson came. The hostelites: Me, Yi Cheng, Ching Mien, Wai Kit, Eric. Still trying to help Ching Mien stay afloat and swim.... he's still sinking. I dunno what can I do to help, but I think the problem is his coordination... Maybe he should learn from Marcus (who now swims in the deep pool with us).

Well, I wanted to write that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to follow my schedule, but I've realised that it is FEASIBLE, though it would mean I would feel a bit sick at the end of the day due to all the writing and thinking while sitting stationary at my desk. That's why I'll still be exercising regularly...

Hmm... still haven't got to watch 'Sepet' yet... I wonder if I'll ever watch it. If I'm going then it has to be today... should call someone along....

Ay.... received demoralising news yesterday that my Further Maths scores were grade D not C as I expected! Wah Lau! 2 years in TJ and only now, during the prelims, must I get a D! Previously it was all A,B, and C's, even for GP. *sighz*... I've really got myself into a bad state.

Anyhow, I received good news -- a 'Merit' for Physics 'S' Paper! 0~59 was Unclassified, 60~69 was Merit (what a small range!), and 70 and above was Distinction. Quite a number of people I know got Distinction (with marks like 75%, 85%, 87.5% etc.), but I'm satisfied with my 66.5%. Actually, if not for the many careless mistakes I could have gotten my Distinction too. But it's over so....

Another good news is that I've gotten my results for the International Science Competition for Schools (Science) organised by the University of New South Wales and some other organisation, and I got Distinction! Woohoo! I actually expected it... haha... I think it was much easier to score in that competition than scoring a B for Further Maths...

I've now found a new wave of zest to push me on in my studies... And I shall not put it to waste.

There's this new Malaysian movie being shown here called 'Sepet'. I'm rather interested to watch because firstly, the Straits Times gave it a 4 out of 5; secondly, it is a Malaysian film; thirdly, it is not the stereotyped 'Pontianak' movies which I totally detest! Trying to lobby people to accompany me, haha...

It's only been a few days but it seems like I haven't blogged for a long time...

Anyway, the mid-autumn festival was celebrated in the hostel a week or so ago. We became small kids again for awhile, carrying lanterns and walking around the neighbourhood. We had some rather nice mooncakes provided and paid by the hostel (oh, the lanterns too), and we had some (rather dilute) Chinese Tea. Someone bought a pomelo too... but as there were sooooo many of us, everyone could only get to eat rather little portions. It's interesting to note that the China scholars DO NOT know about the pomelo (or you4 zi3)... maybe it's a Southern China thing?

I've gotten most of my papers back. I'll be getting Physics 'S' Paper back today and Maths 'S' Paper God-knows-when. Hopefully I'll get a 'Merit' for Physics 'S'. As for the main A-level subjects and General Paper, I've gotten all my scores but I can only guess at the grades. So here it is:

Mathematics : 86% (A)
Physics: 78% (A)
Chemistry: 55% (C)
Further Mathematics: 55% (C)
General Paper: 64% (A2)

I'm surprised to get a wonderful A2 for general Paper and equally surprised to get a demoralising C for Further Mathematics. Seems like I wasn't the only one surprised. Mr Wong, my F Maths teacher came up to me in class one day and asked me why I fared badly because he expected much more from me. I told him that I panicked when I couldn't quite figure out the first few questions. I always follow the order--start from question 1 downwards and skip those that I can't do. He suggested that I do those topics that I am more comfortable and confident with first to boost my morale. I'm so touched! Never knew that Mr. Wong was concerned about me or paid much attention to me. Can't possibly disappoint him in the A-levels now......

My Chemistry marks were expected. I've never did wonderfully for chemistry. But I think I'm am making progress finally, even though my marks may show otherwise. I'm confident of securing that 'A' for the A-levels. Physics is a favourite subject of mine, so no problem in getting an 'A' for that... but I shouldn't be complacent!!!

General Paper-- Haha! I'm getting more and more interested in this topic! Why? Because I scored 64% this time (Paper One 32/50 + Paper Two 32/50), my highest ever, jumped grades from my stagnant B4 to A2 and beat everyone in my class. Wahahaha! OK... shall not be arrogant here. But seriously, I need to maintain the interest so that I won't become complacent. The atmosphere of revision and honing of academic skills is terribly lacking in the hostel. Where's the tension? The healthy stress/anxiety level? I'm quite worried for myself as well as the other hostel boarders. Oh, I forgot to mention that Tang Ning, the notorious guy who always plays truant, got 27/50 for his composition (paper1). While he may be rejoicing, his scores have angered Yi Cheng and Zhu Han. Haha... Anyway, my score has really boosted my confidence in General paper. I'll aim for A1 then....

4A+2A1+2 Merit.... here I come!!!!