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.