Exams

As I arrived home after the finishing the very last test of this term, I felt relieved, yet at the same time not. I start to draw comparisons between tests and the war poetry we are studying. In war poems, they always say that although the war is physically over, there is this sense of guilt when you don't do well, and that your emotional and mental state will be changed forever.

Of course to say the same for tests and examinations would be too much of an overstatement. But still, is the war/exam truly over? To analyse this, let's start from the begining. 1st term, we think it will be an easy year, still being in Secondary 2. As we face our first test, we are only too aware that the year will not be so easy. Term 2, we did in and prepare for our mid-year tests. The June holiday is a mere respite before we plunge into another deludge of tests. As the year ends, we know the worst is yet to come. The EOYs are upon before we can prepare ourselves mentally for the onslaught of failure that is sure to come. Perhaps not for some people. When they finally end, we say its over.

But is it? We still have to wait for the report cards to come out. Fortunately, it is not like a war where the results are never good. But still the memory of a badly done exam will live on for quite a while, oftenly into the following year. Thankfully, not for the rest of our lives.

YOG, and the future

Well, well, to think that even a small little, insignificant island such as our Singapore can actually host the 1st ever Youth Olympic Games in the world. We have already won two silvers and a bronze, with perhaps more to come. At the Olympics we only managed one silver. Does this show something? Obviously, there is room for improvement, not just in the adult category.

We apparently have a greater potential than what we have already acheived. Singapore has invested so much time in resources to train the youths of Singapore, who will eventually become the pillars of the state in their respective fields.

Back to the YOG, there has been many discussions about the supposed theme song of the event. JJ Lin's cheer. Many have actually lamblasted the cheer to be rather childish and therefore reflects badly on Singapore. The SSC chief in order to create a cheer more Singaporean can unite behind, issued a challenge to the public. So far I have viewed one that indeed sounds less cheesy and more cheerable (pun intended). I will be closely paying attention to the games. Hope you will too.

Malaysian Embassy

Last week, I went to the Malaysian Embassy to have my passport renewed. The last time I did that I was about nine. So since such a long time has passed, I have long forgotten the experience of the previous trip. I was sure it is currently in a different place where I had gone before.

After a breakfast of waffles (yum!) at home, I proceeded to the embassy, with my father driving. We have read from online forums that the queue would be very long so we decided to go there earlier. We were rather early but there was indeed a queue there already. Fortunately, it was not very long, but the embassy was not even open yet. We joined the queue and like everyone else took out something to occupy ourselves with lest we get bored. Most were reading newspapers, I was multi-tasking a little - listening to my ipod while reading getting up to date on the latest happenings in the world.

Finally at about 7.30, the large gates of the embassy opened. Everyone swarmed in and reformed the queue at the entrance to where our photos whould be taken. We were given a number each and told to wait till the number is called. Once again and started to kill time with the methods mentioned above. I waited till my number 286 was called then I went to sit in a 18 second photo taking booth. I sat and waited. The person manning the booth told me to get ready and 3,2,1. And the photo was taken. Only then did I realise that my left eye was a bit funny in that it always seemed half closed. My right eye was fully opened.

Anyway afterwards we were told to go to a counter where things will be finalised. My parents submitted the necessary documents and we were told to come in person to collect it the next day. I find it a troublesome process. Fortunately, I only need to go through this hassle once every 5 years. The embassy was a rather efficient place, where things are rather routine and settled quickly. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo of it on the internet. I suppose they wanted some security. It was a modern place and beautiful decorations. It was really a pleasant and interesting experience on the whole.

Rainstorms

Recently, there have been rather huge rainstorms in the area. Huge amounts of water pouring down on us almost daily. I actually like the rain. It gives us much respite from the hot, humid weather of Singapore, though afterwards it will still be rather humid. Aside from that, I do think that the rain looks very beautiful. So many things I have experienced happened in the rain, therefore I always will think of someone or something.

Back to the point, the rain has caused a fair amount of incovenience and damage to people and their property. The draining system in Orchrd Road has failed to work on a number of occasions and thus caused Orchard Road to be flooded to waist level. Many cars were damaged when water seeped into the engine. They are claiming insurance all at once, causing the insurance companies a huge headache. The government has also been questioned about the disaster that the drainage was supposed to prevent. The government obviously launched an investigation into it and came up with some temporary solutions like walls of some sort.

Shops in shopping centers have also damaged, specifically the ones on the ground floor. Poor thing really. After repairing the damage from one flood, another one comes along and throws all their efforts down the drain, literally. Aside from wetting people, the rain has brought down not just a few trees, managing to kill someone and damage another's car. Wow, cars are really having it bad this time. The government is going to hack down a few trees to stop the destruction of cars and loss of lives.

While we think we are having the worst of the situation, we are actually receiving the tiniest bit of it. Look at China. Hills collapsing. Entire villages turned into mini Atlantis. People stranded on the roof of their houses. No food. No water. No electricity. So we really need to put things into perspective and sympathize with others plight.

Now, let me look at the rain and think.

World Cup 2010

Well firstly congratulations to Spain the winner of World Cup 2010. Next to Netherlands for being runner up. Although I would have preferred Germany to have fought with Spain in the Finals, they had a premature confrontation at the semi-finals with Germany fighting tooth and nail against Uruguay to win third place. Although Uruguay lost and acheived fourth place, they were rather sporting and acted as though they had won something.

To a certain extent this is true, as the last time they had reached top 4 was 1970. 40 years later were they able to repeat it. Germany was a little disappointing to have not gone into the finals despite having a very good team. The absence of Thomas Muller due to a scond yellow card in two matches was critical to Germany's defeat against Spain. Germany lacked the attacking strength and used the wrong strategy - a defensive one. The match was a rare yellow cardless, showing that these two superb teams played by skill and not brute force.

So, let us some up the best of the World Cup. Firstly South Africa selected as the host nation despite the country being in poverty. The world can finally see that the country that was not so long ago divided by apartheid and civil war is able to unite under one common goal (pun intended) - football. Then let us move on to the World Cup matches themselves. There are too many examples to list, but I will list the more memorable ones. (At least to me)

First Robert Green fumble of the ball allow USA to draw with England. Then as the group stages came to an end, the supposed best started crashing out. England, France, Italy all went home rather early with England at least lasting to the last 16. Though there was a very controversial gola disallowed for the English side. The ball was clearly two feet into the goal post. However, Germany was in clear control of that game. Then Argentina and Brazil losing surprisingly to Germany and Netherlands respectively. Uruguay squeezed into the semi-finals by cheating. Striker Luis Suarez acted like goalkeeper and used his hand to block the ball. Ghana missed the penalty given.

Spain eventually won against Netherlands because they had the team spirit, working with each other in cohesion to eventually score a goal after 122 minutes of struggle with the other team which was equally united.
Well done Spain.

Football - World Cup mania

Even as we speak now, perhaps there are already a few countries celebrating their entry into the last 16 round. Others are grieving over their loss. Though I must say, after all this is still a game and when one is out, one is out. The more sporting ones say that they'll work harder, while those who are sore losers blame the referees for bad decisions, red cards and penalties.

For example, the French Coach Raymond Domenech refused to shake the South African coach's hand after the French lost to them 1-2. To be fair it was said that the opposing coach said something about them cheating to get into the World Cup. This refers to Theirry Henry's "handball" goal against Ireland. But still, Domenech was rather rude not to shake the hand. He was already in a very, very bad mood due to the players boycotting a recent training.

The boycott was a support of Nicholas Anelka who was removed from the team after having a shouting match with the coach that was laced with vulgarities. It shows that the coach was unable to build strong teamwork with his team, resulting in the team refusing to perform well.

Aside from France's poor form, Italy also lost out to Slovenia. There was, I admit a rather controversial disallowment of a goal by Italy, resulting in them losing 2-3. I watched the Americans play a few days ago and that last 91 minute goal seemed to come out from a story. It was unbelievable. Americans were saved by a last minute goal. The following day, the American stock prices rose sharply. So, perhaps miracles do happens.

Now that school is reopening, I cannot sleep that late at night - 12.00am. Well, back to the old routine again then. Wake up, breakfast, travel to school, study, stay back for project, go home, bathe, dinner, homework, facebook?, and sleep. Do I even have a life???

Maybe I do, just that I haven't found it yet.

Welcome back

Well, it certainly has been a while since I have updated this blog. I'll be begining to start posting regularly soon. I have much to share. My life is going to be rather interesting now. So, see you here again.