baMboo 竹 sWing

Back Home

2012-02-15T19:53:00.002+08:00

Yup. So I'm back.

That's all I'm going to say.

For now.

Soon :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T08:21:00.002+08:00

I've been counting down events that will lead me closer to the date of going back home. End of school, check. A kinseria (15 birthday), check. Saying goodbye to friends, check. Christmas, almost check.

Can you believe it's almost Christmas?? I can hardly believe it. After Christmas we'll be travelling to another place for vacation, then I'll be flying home. My Argentine Adventure is drawing to an inevitable end.....

Am I happy or sad?

I'll leave it here. This is the shortest post I've ever written.

Cheers,
Ning :(

Books and People

2011-12-09T04:19:00.002+08:00

Wow. Did I just put the title "Books and People"? Two things that live at the very different end of my world's axis. I am enamoured with books. I don't do well with people.

Let's talk on the pleasenter subject first...... books. God, I miss my books. I miss my bookshelf that was getting smaller in empty space, I miss being able to walk into a bookstore to buy an English book. I miss the feel of books in my hands and the excitement as my eyes read over each printed word. Forgive me. Writers tend to talk too much about books. I realised that from many books, actually. I think there's hardly any literally writer who doesn't love books.

And when I found out a way I can download books from the Internet, bam, I'm done.

I feel guilty in downloading books, but I swear I'll buy those books that I don't own, as a support to the authors. I don't meant to download it without giving the author some well-earned royalties, but I'm just short of a bookstore. I even got the money, sadly. Something which I don't always have when I want to buy a book. I used to dream that one day I would like to just buy all the books I wanted and dive into their wordy depth. However, I'm sure I'll read it all, however. Which will make me a bibliophilist, not a reader. Oh, well. The greed for books.

Ok, ok. I'll stop my ranting of books for a while. It's just that I finally got access to the book I wanted for so long. I'm sorry, author. I WILL buy your book. Let me enjoy it now, first. Thanks!! You just save me from eternal boredom.

Alright. People. Today 5o people from Spain came to our small town. They're from something for something. Ok. I don't know. Anyway, as the Spanish Association here in San Julian are kind of in-charge to welcome them, I am in too. My host mum belongs to the Association, and I learned flamenco there. So I'm involved, somehow. I will be performing the "Sevillana" - a kind of dance - on Saturday to them. Can't wait!! Which is very atypical of me. But my courage was found on the fact that last Sunday I performed in a gala - 3 dances. It's this year-end even for my dancing school. There's performances of ballet, tango, folklore and flamenco. I'm involved with the last one. I had a Spanish dress and make-up. I'm surprised at myself that I actually enjoyed very much!! Something I wouldn't have thought I would feel. I only pray I won't forget all the moves and my traitous heels won't fly off and hit someone on the head.

Trust me. With my luck it can happen.

But anyway back to the 50 people. We received them today, presented them Argentinean flag scarves and badges. They're a very nice bunch. I'm fascinated by their Spanish, which is different from Argentina's. They had a very pronounced accent - Argentineans not really. They just spoke too fast, or I'm used to their accent. And they uses grammer different from Argentineans. For example, Argentineans don't use vosotros, which proper Spanish do. So when a woman asked me if we'll have breakfast I couldn't understand. But it's really fascinating. Kind of like I'm always fascinated in hearing Taiwan and China people speaking Chinese. It's the same language, but the ways, the accents, the words applied......

Malaysia is, as we called a "rojak" linguistic country. Rojak means mixed or jumbled. It's a typical salad here, with fruits and fried crackers and eggs and cucmbers with spicy-sweet peanut sauce. Oh, I miss it. There's one near my grandpa's house. The rojak is famous. If there's one thing I miss more than books here, is food. I realised we Malaysian's tongues are totally spoilt. Whenever we want we get good food, 24/7. Whether a morning coffee, an afternoon tea or a midnight teh tarik......

People like to ask me if I'm ready to go home. I have a rather strange answer. Mostly will say "NO!!!!" (Like my New Zealand fellow AFSer), perhaps a few "TOTALLY!!!" (???) However, I am ready to go home. I've prepared myself mentally to return on the appointed date. Days before will be unbearable, days after will be unbearable too. I felt I have enough. Not like I've enough enough, like I'm happy that this exchange is coming to an end because now I really know what I want and I want to pursue it. It give me the strength to move on, take the next step.

I'm listening to Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror now. Great message. Says:

I'm staring at the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his way
And no message could be any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and make that change!

Change is not neccesary a horrible thing. Change for the better. Change for the best. I changed myself in coming, and now I'm leaving a better person.

I really hope so.

Love,
Ning

Counting Down in Weeks

2011-11-26T05:14:00.002+08:00

Today is Friday. On Monday it's holiday, and Wednesday is the last day of school. Summer vacation thus begins................

I read a fellow AFSer's blog. I wodered to myself, "What have I achieve here?"

My blog didn't have much about my coming and goings of my exchange. Rather, it's very inner. Isn't it? In a month and half, roughly two months I'll be going home. I don't exactly know how I feel. Am I excited to go home? Yes. Am I sad to leave? Definately. But am I ready to leave? It seemed like the time for my next adventure, almost as an adult, is about to begin.

You know what? I think I am.

I wonder when I return will my family detect a difference in me. Will they feel I'm not quite the girl that had left them? Or they feel the same? I feel the same. I am quite confused. My ehart feels like a magnet pulling in two direction: excitement and reluctance.

On January we'll be going to Mar de Plata, way up in the north with sunny beaches. My kind of place. I can't wait!!!!!! I want to explore more about Argentina. Who knows if I'll be back again? Then in two weeks I'll be off...... thinking about the day I arrived seemed so, so far away. I am eternally grateful I kept a journal. Or a series of journals. Without them I wouldn't remember as well as I should. That will be my greatest achievement here. I'm not entirely sure about Spanish, though...... I didn't speak perfectly as a native. Ok. Admittedly I didn't study as well as I should.

On the 4th of December I'll be performing on-stage for flamenco...... yeah, you read it right. I can't quite wrap my mind around it. I just hope I don't froze at the sight of about 150 people..... it's the year-end gala for my teacher's classes. Everyone will be performing. From kindie kids to secondaries to adults. I have 3 dances... I got them in my head. I only pray that I wouldn't screw the hell up. stage fright...............................

I didn't have many friends, but I made a few lasting relationships; I didn't perfected a language, but at least I got the gist; I didn't finish a book, but I had quite a number of journals that'd last forever.........

Last few weeks of my Argentine Adventure...... treasure every moment.

Cheers,
Ning.

Eighteen and Breaking Dawn

2011-11-17T22:42:00.002+08:00

Right. I am officially 18 years old.

So where's my driver's liscence (do you spell it that way??), I might ask?

Sometimes I dreamt that I was driving...... I don't know why. I'm not a car fan, but I wanted to drive badly. It's like a sense of freedom. A real sense of freedom. I used to dream that I would like to drive from Malaysia to Europe, which is possible, you know. Just a really long journey. But a really fun one. Who knows? Maybe once I got back home, have my liscence and off I go!!!

My birthday celebration was a quiet one. At least I didn't slice open my finger and my vampire brother came to eat me. I haven't had a cake in, like, a long time. My family back home wasn't very celebrate-y kind of family. We go out to have an elegant dinner, that's all. Perhaps a present of buying a book or two (my favourite). And it makes me happy already. This year I had more than one present, and invited friends over, which is too, something I've never done before. It felt weirdly nice. The others were like asking me "Did you had a nice time? Did you sing? Did you danced?"

Yes, no, no. Sorry. I have no interest in dancing. Or their definition of dancing.

So...... Breaking Dawn comes out tomorrow!!!!! Cruel!!!!!!!!!!! Once again I am deprived of the chance to see it in the cinema. Which is tragic!!! Even though I still felt the hairstyle didn't suit Dr. Cullen. It didn't do his awesomeness justice. Maybe in January when we go to our summer vacation (please, please, please!!!!!!!!) we can go to the cinema. Hopefully Breaking Dawn is still on screen. Do you know that I just saw Harry Potter 7 part 2 last week? After like half a year!!!!!!!! It's also wierdly-nice. Especially weird at the "19 years later".

Now we're back in cave-man life. No water. The water pipes are broken. It's like a domino: today was this part, the next day the other. It kept falling down and down. Extreme water perserve. The whole town are half dehydrated. No school. Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!

My thoughts are a little random today. Sorry about that.

Stop here. XOXO
Ning :p

October

2011-10-19T06:55:00.002+08:00

October. Spring. Sunshine. At Last.

Yes!!! After seven monthsof staying in San Julian, spring is really and truly here!! Well, even though there are days which rained, and days which wind-ed, I am no longer forced to wear a Michilin-like coat and being coiled by scarf and gloves and hat. It is so nice just walking down the street with a sweater, nothing more.

Well, peeps. Three more months to go! To say time passes quickly...... not really. But neither is it slow. I really did "go with the flow", didn't I? I am up to my eighth book of journal/diary. If there is any big achievement in this exchange, it is I've written the amonut of diary fitted to be a book.

On last week Friday I was shock to receive a netbook from the mayor of San Julian. Yup. A netbook. Ok. I can't bring it back because it's like a motivation for the kids for when they passed the last year of school the computer will give to them like a present. So I'm going to have to leave the computer in the school. But whatever. I already have a perfectly nice computer. Though it is not every day when the mayor come to your school and give you a computer.

I'm very happy today, for I got back my Bioligy exam and I got 9.50 / 10 points!! This is one true exam which I can say I really studied and written in Spanish. No small feat compare to what I was seven months ago, where my vocabulary one extend to "Hola!" and "Si!" and "No!". Today I did Physics (cough, cough) exam and Language. The former I am not sure. The latter I did okay. I didn't study for the exams, since I don't understand those things as they were all about the Spanish, not language in general. I did two texts, and I am again surprised by my Spanish. True, it's crackly in grammer but I can write quite smoothly with only few interruptions for dictionary. The teacher is really nice to allow me to do different questions from the others. I don't know which is easier. If I study and I understand the test would be relatively easy. On the other hand, I am not the kind of person who remember the points and ways to write an essay. I just write them.

So I am quite excited to see what the teacher thinks. She looked pretty impressed - can I use this bword? - by reading my first text, which is a dialogue, since the questions is about things like "what is a dialogue".

Here's a whacky photo I made with my school friends:

You can see we are bored.

So here we go. A stop :)

Love, XO
Ning

Spring

2011-09-24T08:31:00.003+08:00

Spring is here!!

What a lie. On the 21st of September (Wednesday), it snowed. Yes, snowed. I know I haven't update for a while, and the past few posts was about snow, but really, I am now not too excited about snow. In fact, I wish summer would just hurry along so we can get some quality sunshine and warmer weather.

Well. To make up for my abscence, I guess I should tell something about my life here in Argentina for the past 2 months. It's fine. School is so much better, though boring at times (it can't be help), but indeed the surrounding are much happier and cheerful. It's always nice to be around someone who don't hates the sight of you. I've quite enough of that for the past few months.

Wow. I realised that I've only got like 3 & 1/2 months to go on this exchange. However, I am ready to return. Even though I have so many things that it's so difficult to let go here, but I feel the time is right to return to my life. I've been on a vaccation long enough. I want some passion in my life, and that's university and finally being able to study what I love: literature. I can't say I've done anything progressive in my time here, except writing up a bunch of journals, but each memory stay and imprint in my head forever as a potential idea, or the most precious memory.

I sound so old, don't I?

I am now addicted in watching Jamie Oliver. It's been going on for months now (kinda). I loved his 30 Minutes Meal and now his Jamie at Home. Though let's be frank, I can't actually eat 80% of his recipies; I like to his how he cooks and his reaction to food. It's so nice to have something that you feel so passionate about all your life. I'm itching to try some of his recipies that I've copied down when I get back.

I also love his garden. It's so nice to have a garden and plant all you wanted. One of my wildest dream is to own a farm and raise horses and dogs and just live life my own way. But guess what? I felt selfish if I were to persue this idlic life. If I were a philosopher I'd probably go join the Epicureans, the Garden Philosophers.

I am now trying another way of writing, that's it, to write something that's actually real, which is things like journals and personal experiences. I think I might have used up all my imagination juice, and needed time for some break to let my brain soak up the endless possibilities of ideas. For years all I've written popped up from my imagination, and now is time to free the birds and set it high again. It can be depressing at times that I have a perfectly good idea and not being able to write it out.

I guess I'll stop here. The internet connection is shaky and I have to post this before the connection breaks again.

Not knowing when I'll post again :)
Cheers,
Ning

4 Months

2011-07-03T01:51:00.005+08:00

Frost a few eeks before in Piedra Buena......

I have been staying here in Argentina for four months......

It's seemed surreal. Concept of time again. As cliche as it sounded, I must say that "it seems only yeaterday I was worrying about if I made it to the program or not". I could remember all those little scenes of waiting, worrying, excitment whenever a new piece of paper or a phone call lead me one step closer towards my destination. Sometimes when I sit down and meditate all those months that flew by, all those self-expectation that I had promised myself, I realised how many have I really achieved.

It gave me a pang to my heart when I realised that I may not have meet that self-expectation that I promised myself all those years ago.

Sometimes I do feel a little lonely in this world.

But then, something always cheers me up. Like yesterday, for instance, the first of July. And I think I've said it over and over the thing is called nature....

It snowed, people!! It totally snowed yeasterday!!!!

Close-up look of the snow-covered ground

I woke up to a winter wonderland - no exagerating. It snowed in the night and trasformed the town into a winter wonderland. Everything was blanketed with pure white, sparkling snow. It was early when I got out of the house to catch the bus, and everything was quiet adn peaceful. It gives me a sense of calm, too.

Sadly all traces of snow had melted away in the afternoon, and the town was the same again. But, hey, there's a thing called camera and I captured the images of the magical white morning.

Love,
Ning

In the dark morning the snow sparkled white.

LET IT SNOW!!!

2011-06-08T05:09:00.003+08:00

Ok. So here's the news: my classmares were talking that the weather forecaster said IT MIGHT SNOW TOMORROW.

Hmmm...... ok. Well. Yeah. Snow.

SNOW!!!! OH, MY GOD, SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For about two weeks I woke up every day and glances out at the wondow to see if it has snowed yet. Every night it's always about 0 Celcius now, and when I got out to school there's ice here and there. Please LET IT SNOW!! I feel like I deserve some snow as a kind of compensation for being living so down south of the world. (let us forget the other AFS students living further down in Pio Gallegos for a moment). I mean COME ON!! This girl from a tropical country deserve some reward!! Snow, please! Oh, the goddess of snow!!!

I forgot her name. The goddess of snow in Greek myths. It was in Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Ah. Please don't be mad at me!! You have frozen my mind with your eternal beauty......

Have anyone NOT YET see the Breaking Dawn Part 1 first trailer? I'm sure the whole world see already. It is infuriating to watch it because I totally just wanna watch the whole movie right now. Those "Hollywood" people sure knows how do make us wait breathlessly on our little toes!! What a bunch of teasers. Unfortunately it seems that all the good movies are coming out this year: Harry Potter 7: part 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Breaking Dawn: part 1, Sherlock Holmes 2.......... a bunch of good movies that I really wanted to see but can't as there's no cinema here in my town. My annoying of a brother had see the Pirates twice. TWICE!!!!!

I really hate him now. So is my host sister. That smug little pig.

Please snow. I'm sure at the plains outside of town is already blanketed with beautful snow, like the time when I was in Calafate the second time. So let the wind blow and snowflakes will fall......

A few pictures taken in the second trip to Calafate, when it SNOW!!

See the SNOW??? It made a vast, almost unrecognizable difference from the brown and dull plains when we first went along the road.

One word: Beautiful.

Ok. This is a bonus. My host dog, Penelope!!

Chau, guys!!
signed ~

GLEE!!

2011-06-07T07:35:00.004+08:00

When you live in a foreign country with plenty of time on your hand and a TV in your room, not to mention a laptop that (thankfully) is working well again, you spend a lot of time wasting searching for things that doesn't matter.

Er, yeah, I'm addicted to Glee now. Well, more to the songs than the plot. I felt the plot is rather mixed-up with "teenage dreams" and lots of bully, but yeah, it didn't stop me from watching it. I love it when they sing; which is the best parts. Also, I always loved it when there's Blaine and Kurt. The "gay" thing has really got to the world, isn't it? It started with Brokeback Mountain and now "Edward Cullen" is pulling a gay kiss in MTV Movie Awards. Talk about it!!

Oh. I didn't begin this post to talk about those things up there. I want to say about how Glee songs affects me.

They are a huge source of inspiration. You see, when I listen to songs my emotions just go with the music. So I get high with a rock song and sentimental with a sad songs. Mood swings creates muses, I tell you. I having the worst case of suffering right now: writer's block, and hell, it's suffering when I opened a new page in Microsoft Words, my hands posed on the QWERTY and I have no idea what to type; or I hold a pen in my hand and in front of me was a piece of seductive blank paper and I have no idea what to write. I can storm through the worst case of flu and fever, but the worst case of writer's block? You might as well as admit me to the hospital.

Touchwood.

Right. This post is totally random, and I'm not a really random person. I have a quick train of thoughts that leaps from a to b in a matter of light speed. Random seems to be the "in" thing right now, isn't it? By the turn of the century all the words existed in the English Language will be add on with a new modern meaning. The cycle of live and all that.

Life is getting slight better now. My Spanish didn't suck so much; I understand about 50% of the class without getting a headache; a change of scenery does me good, not to mention more amiable classmates. Yup. I'm being so suggestive this post!! Alright Sue me.

Before I get more and more random, let me put a stop on this post before I attract more trouble. I have nothing against gay.

ning ~~

Mafalda!! The Argentinean comic star!!

OCEAN

2011-05-30T05:24:00.003+08:00

I have quite a tired week.

Fell sick and had a not-so-pleasant Friday wellowing on my bed. This is the first time I fell serious ill in Argentina. But now I am better, thank goodness. Finally got my appetite back, which for someone like me who loves food, it is a blessing.

Now all these pictures are taken on the short ride on last Wednesday, which is an Argentinean holiday. Christian took me and Martina for a ride at the outskirts of the town to the seaside.

San Julian is a town by the bay, so when you walk down to the beach you can see the strip of sea, then futhur back will still be land. I'm always curious at which point will the bay open wide to flood into the ocean, and now I get to see it.

We made several stops, and first we stop by a beach. It was a different kind of beach we have back home, for by the beach was a stretch of hill. I admired the layers of compressed earth in the hill, clearly coarsed and weathered by time. In between the layers was fossil, or at least I hope it was fossil. Or compressed seashells. It's wonderful! For I have never see natural formation like this.

One of the type of fossil burried in the eart. This have a peculiar flower patterned shape inprinted in the middle.

This one has this kind of big compressed shells in it. And I took three pieces of it as my brother's present.... SHHHH!!!!

Ah. This picture is taken from on top of a hill. See the black, dangerous rocks below? We saw "sea-wolves" around the rocks!! Now I'm not sure it's called "sea-wolf" or not, but it's actually a small, black seal. I've only seen seal in the zoo, and even though I can't see very clearly of the curious creature, it was nice. They made sounds like seals do, too. And a few of them swim around in the water.

The ocean is always my favourite natural formation. It's endless wideness and how it connects to the majestic cky above opens my heart out of worry and sorrow....... or simply keep me serene. It's nice to sit down and meditate upon some matters, and also give me energy to face the rest of the world. Nature is beautiful that way: it keeps you sane and teach you lesson, and you are humbled by the lecture.

Ning ~~

OOPS!

2011-05-17T06:54:00.003+08:00

YIKES!! It's been like a month since I last posted, isn't it?? Sorry guys!! I'm hugely lazy......

Well, on the 27th it'd be my third month here in Argentina. Seemed like forever...... I felt like I've been living here for a long time already. I kept thinking it's May, and it's almost the middle of the year, when I remember I arrived here in May and not January...... It's getting colder and colder now... It's autumn and the sky darkens early and rise late. It's really sad to get out of bed to school. School is one of the "must". I'm still having a hard time at school. Why? My Spanish is only a little, and the subjects are big thing that all ends with a "-ogy": Psychology, Methodology, Anthropology...... Real high standard, huh?

I'm very interested in Philosophy now - which, by the way, is also one of my school's subjects. I bought a book titled "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder, a former Norwegian philosophy teacher and now a writer. It is the most interesting book. I usually read fiction. Though Sophie's World is very much fiction but the History of Philosophy narrated by the book is..... not. It's really interesting - and also an easy approach to the first class of Philosophy 101. I'm writing down all the 3000 years worth of philosophy into a notebook so I can memorise it and be able to tell each philosophers apart. Greek names are difficult!!

My copy of Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

I wanted to say something about Easter, but sadly Easter is like a month ago. But still, I'll post the pictures of my Easter eggs, which have been consumed entirely by me. It was delicious eggs!!

Happy Easter!!

Next week I'd be going to El Calafate again for another trip - and this time with other exchange students that lived in my town. Perhaps this time we can climb on the glaciers!!!

Till then~~
Ning

Decisions, decisions

2011-04-20T01:57:00.002+08:00

I have a fear of confrontation.

In fact, I have a lot of fear. Most of them are social phobia. Here's the general list:

~Fear of public speaking

~Stage fright

~Excessive shyness in unfamiliar settings

~Difficult in conversing with people I don't know

I know I have a major issue in social relation altogether. So that's why I always try to avoid conflicts and hurt feelings...... but, no. I have two matters in hands that requires me to make decisions....... decisions that will connect to people and feelings.

YIKES!!

I guess that's another barrier I must overcome. The first matter is something that could help me.... but I'm just not that interested because...... I have enough of kids in my life. Second matter will perhaps make me feel more comfortable in school..... but oh, dear, I don't want to hurt anyone!! Perhaps once again I am paranoid (I'm always paranoid), but...... in a small town, good relationship is better than bad.

Sigh. Being a human creature is hard. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't go and be like Thoreau and live in the woods for two years, accepting only people I know.... Life would be much simpler and pleasant, won't it? But I guess that's my old habit of running away from problems.....

I don't make much sense in this post, I think. Oh, well. A girl has to rant some place. But to my family, if you read this, don't worry! It's not some life-threatening issues... just me and my old social phobia....

Love,

Ning.....

Life Goes On

2011-04-11T05:39:00.003+08:00

It's been awhile.

It's about a month and a half now that I've been in Argentina. Strangely, I felt oddly settled. I am not homesick (yet); my Spanish is improving; I get along with all my family; I get along well in my life. In fact, I felt like I'm just here, it's meant to be and no regrets.

Today is Sunday, and I've been lazying. Read some Twilight fan fictions, watched Shrek Forever After, eat and rest. While life goes on, I had a lot of "thinkings". The path of just walking and not choosing is over: I am now standing between a crossroad, wondering which road I should choose. As in Robert Frost's beautiful poem, The Road Not Taken,

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I felt exactly like the poem said: which road should I choose? the well-worn path or the road less taken? It's like a constant debate in my poor head. But I still got time; I can still stand a little longer at the crossroad and made my choice.

But life is as short as a wisp of candle, with a blow it's gone. It pains me when I see the news nowadays. There're more tragedy and happiness. Look at Japan, with tsunami, earthquake and nuclear leaking; look at Brazil, a massacre that kills 12 children...... the world is spinning out of her orbit...... our lives are spinning away from what it always had been...... evolution, revolution, whatever -tion that scientists had thought off......

It's coming true, isn't it? What will be the end of the world and all.

So. Which path should I take? Suppose the end of the world is to happen soon, should I choose the path that doesn't help to give something better, quicker; or to choose a path that can lead me to assistance to the people in needs quickly?

Before I finally choose the path that can alter my life into different spheres, I guess I still stuck like this bear:

I took this picture!! Really! My host mum's brother owns a laundry, and this is what he washed one day. It's really cute and funny at the same time, isn't it??

Well, till now,

Ciao, amigos!

Ning~

The Celestial Blue Block of Ice

2011-04-01T06:53:00.005+08:00

My host sister and I posing in front of the glacier. Yes, it was THAT cold.

A view taken from afar. See that seemingly endless white wall? Welcome to the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Hey peeps! Long time no "see"!!

Last week my host family took me to visit the Glacier National Park in El Calafate, a town about 5-hour ride from San Julian. We woke up early on Friday and reached El Calafate in around noon. It was really windy.

We checked in into a tent-like cottage for our room. The picture is down there. It's a small kind of cottage, with five people squeezing inside it's cosy. We spent the first afternoon wandering around and visiting the Glaciarium, which is a museum about glaciers. Did you know that aside from the fact that no two snowflakes were ever alike, but they are all hexagon-shaped? Cool, huh?

On the next day we had an hour car ride to reach the Glacier National Park. My god, it was really cold. There's one thing about the Patagonia is there's a big wind blowing out all year. These days I'm about to get blown off by my feet, and no kidding.

The name of the glacier, the Perito Moreno Glacier.

After we bought our entrance tickets and drive a bit longer, we took the free shuttle bus to ride to the place where we have to walk on the platform that they build and get close to the glacier. There are a few glaciers in Argentina, and this one that I visited, the Perito Moreno Glacier, is one of the largest and the only self-expanding glacier. In 2004 the glacier grows and grows until it reached the shore (the glacier was form from the mountain to the lakes), blocking the flowing of two lakes and just about creating a possible flood. So the glacier people dug a cave underneath the block of ice so the water can flow freely. At some point the ice melts and breaks off, until the whole ice on top of the cave was broke off, creating a humongous splash. Some years later maybe it'll grow to the shore again and they have to do the same thing all over again.

It is magical, the force of Nature.

As we reacher nearer and nearer to the glacier, I was just in an silence awe. To say the glacier was huge was an understatement. It was magnificent, stretching from the mountains as far as eyes could see. The glacier was blue, with wide edges and black streaks in between the layers. I could hear rumbling like the sound of thunder now and then, which is the melting and breaking off of pieces of ice inside the stomach of the glacier. I saw a little break off of the ice - I was so shocked and awed my host family laughed at the silly look on my face.

The tent-like cottage we lived in El Calafate.

A river snaking around the valley. I took this when we're on the road trip to El Calafate. See that everything is bare? That's Patagonia for you.

I couldn't keep my eyes off this Big White Thing. It's amazing, Creation. As a mere human I felt humbled by the force of Nature, and it really saddens me that glaciers all over the world are at the brink on melting because of global warming...... and we, the HUMANS, are the one who's actually RESPONSIBLE for this outcome...... I imagined what it will be like when this glacier melts off (It can and probably will in the very future), and imagine all the galleons of water......

Don't you feel that you need to do something?

Love,

Ning

Thank Heavens

2011-03-24T07:01:00.004+08:00

I am so thankful.

Yes. After so many months in last year are spent in the continuous study about the Dreaded SPM, the results have come today, to me, in Argentina.

It was so much better than what I've expected, much more than I'd bargain for against my not-so-good studying attitude. I remembered no love for SPM, always thinking why do I have to suffer for something that I so fervently dislike. But still, in all my moaning and praying and feeling I wan't doing what I should - I was still blessed.

My proudest was my English. The only subject that I really was passionate about and had worked so hard for so many years is English, and this is the only subject I can say it's a result of my hard-working and not luck. Yes, I got A+ for it!!!

It's a huge relief. I had been so nervous these few days, so far away. But I was glad to be so far away. If my result had sucked, I my parents can't do anything to me (haha!!). Also, perhaps it's my fear of facing reality. Anyhow, my parents are delighted and I am exhilarated.

To those whose results are good, I congratulate you!! To those who are downcasted, all I can say is I'm sorry and life is more about than just a piece of paper.

All the best to all of you SPM result takers out there!

Ning

Piedra Buena

2011-03-09T02:42:00.002+08:00

On Saturday my host family and I went away to another small town about an hour away from San Julian, called Piedra Buena. My family all told me I will love this town because it is green and has a river.

The reason we go to Piedra Buena is my host father had another shop there. Martina and I are going to walk around the town, taking pictures. As we finally turned into the street, there was these beautiful carved brick monument stood between the roads. The monuments were carved with indigenous pictures like owls, penguins, llama-deer animal called wanagos or huanagos, Red Indians and et cetera. It was really unique and beautiful.

By the town was a wide river, and it was so relaxing, seeing the trees swaying in the wind, the sun shinning through the green foliage. I took a lot of pictures.

At lunch I tasted one of the best meals I've ever eaten. It was mozzarella cheese coated with bread crumbs, fried, with side order french fries. It was a guilty food, but it totally reminded me of what Spongebob Squarepants once said to Squidward:"The Krabby Patty is good for the soul,"

This food is so heavenly it is really good for the soul. Well, the guilty soul, anyways!!

We had a short trip by the lake, where everyone was picnicking and enjoying the sun. Well, I sat in the shade. The people likes to bring radio and turned them up as loud as possible. Also most of them are having a barbecues. Argentina are famous for its barbecues.

Did I mention there are A LOT of dogs around? Also I saw and petted a horse. My favourite animals! Life is so relaxing here. It's like the song:

Row, row, row your boat

Row it down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

My only concern was my terrible Spanish. Haha!!

Ning

PS. My internet connections have a little problem, and so I will post the pictures later!!

Nao Victoria

2011-03-03T08:28:00.008+08:00

Hot chocolate la submarine!!

The Captain a in his tiny office surrounded by loads of things

Yes, they have such an animal in the ship. I´ve seen the real kind here.

Sao victoria, parked by the sea.

This is for you, Arya!!

Dear peoples,

These couple of days is getting c-o-o-o-l-d. I feel cold all day today. I missed hot stuff!! And toast. Yesterday I had a wonderful toast with submarine. Do you know what a submarine is??

It´s hot chocolate. When the waitor brought the drink here, I was surprised.

Submarine means they give you a glass of really hot milk and two small bars of dark chocolate. Then you put the chocolagte into the milk. Tada!! Hot chocolate!! It´s really good because you can put the excat sweetness you want to, and it tasted delicious, which i guess because they used milk. Anyways, I loved it. And the toast. Oh, my. Best toast with cheese I´ve ever had.

So yesterday my host sister brought me to see one of the famous landmark of Puerto San Julian: Nuo Victoria. It is a replica of the ship which some Spanish guy sailed over from Spain to Argentina about 500 years ago. The ship has all these live-size model and all the equiment and things that they brought on the ship 500 years ago. There´s even a cow and a llamma kind of animal. The whole shop is really realistic, making the atmosphere feel creepy. At least, to me. I don´t like creepy human statues staring down at me. It´s horribly like the Pirates of Carribean 1, where all the pirates were bones under the moon?? Dude, I can fully imagined the whole ship comes alive in the night. In fact, I had this horrible feeling that some of the 18 crew might be just outside..... my...... door......

EEEK!!!

I like to frighten myself with overimaginative brain. It´s what I do. You know, writers.

Ok. But, it is really interesting. In fact, my brother would probably loved to spend the night on top of the ship. (No, thanks!!) There´s the captain´s office, with maps and really old compass and a small bed. The guide told us that the bed was s short because Spanish people are shorter than other European people. But that didn´t stop them for ruling almost all the southern America, except Brazil.

I hope I get the facts correct!!

Still, if you just let your imagination flow, not too much, like me, but just a little, you can almost feel you were on a expedition on the sea. There´s the wind in your face (San Julian blows wind all day long), the waves rushing up the beach (the sea is just beside the boat) and birds calling (there are many birds squaling about the beach). There. You have your perfect voyage picture!!

Later, alligators!!

Keep your sails alive!

Ning

First Taste of Argentina

2011-02-28T23:25:00.004+08:00

San Julian...... my town. My host dad said one there´s dolphines and seals there. I wish I can see it one day!!

Roses are red, violets are blue. San Julian roses are really huge!!

A monumen. I don´t understand it, but still. I took a picture.

You can see how bare tha land is. There´s the wind blowing, and the plants are braving the wind. See the lake ripples??

The AFS camp. Scene outside my room. This is a very beautiful place.

The lake outside my house. Look at the overhead cloudy sky.

My dear peeps.....

YES!! I am in Argentina now!! I am currently in my host family house. It is a small town - and I mean it. it´s really small. Population, 9000 - called San Julian, in Provience Santa Cruz. santa Cruz is the southernest provience in Argentina. translation: very cold!

So. I left Malaysia on the 25th, and took a 26 hours flight from Kuala Lumpur to Buenos Aires. There´s only one word for this odiously long journey: exhausting!! I´ve never sit in anything for such a long time!! Plus, the food is kind of...... not good. I had a special meal of vegetarian, but it is too special. Haha. But the air stuff are really beuatiful and hadsome. It´s amazing anyone could look that attractive. It makes me thought of the Twilight vampires. Haha!!

I spent one day in Buenos Aires, which, by the way, is the capital of Argentina. There was an AFS camp, and it is to prepare us for our adventure. On the next day, I took a 3 hour plane flight to Rio Gallegos, the capital city of Santa Cruz. Oh, god. The plane was delayed for an hour!!! When I finally got on the plane at 11.45pm with two others AFS girls, god, were we tired!! That´s my first three days in Argentina: travelling for long hours and feeling very tired!! We reached Rio Gallegos at 3 am, and it was 9 degrees celcius. Yes, 9!! I totally did not expect that!!

The we had a four-hour car ride to San Julian. It was dark all the road. The scenery was just a stretch of dry plains with dry bushes. Occasionally there will be hills, and altogether a cold beauty of nature. But I liked it. It´s not a scenery that you can see in Malaysia, where everything is green all year long.

So I reached my host family house. Thye have a very nice and cosy house, and I love it on the first sight. In the living room the window overlooked a lake outside. They have flowers in the front yard, purple and yellow. They also have a dog, Penelope, and it is kind of a dream come true: I love dogs!

So. This is a long entry, but I hope you enjoyed reading it!!

XOXO,

Ning

On The Map

2011-02-23T14:27:00.002+08:00

In case anyone didn't know where Argentina is, I've posted this picture.

Oh, my gosh!! I haven't done my packing yet. Actually, there's a lot of important things I have to do...... and I'm here blogging.

Well. Accept fate, peeps!!

Ning

It is time.

2011-02-22T23:55:00.002+08:00

It is time.

Know what else in these few months have I done except moaning about my SPM?? Applying to AFS Intercultural Program....... and I got it!

I didn't feel like publicize it. Might be a taboo, before everything was totally set and confirmed. So you guys - whoever read my blog- have no idea what I've been through. But then, I've grown because of it.

First things first: I'm leaving in two days...... to Argentina. It's a very far place from Malaysia. Not anyone I knew went there before. My flight takes 26 hours...... according to the air ticket. So.

This program is about cultural-exchange, and it make sense going to a place which you don't know about the culture, sin't it? Now, Argentina's culture I know practically nothing about it! So that's why I put it first on the application letter. Challenge that I've never been through are facing me now, bald-face.

Well... anyone interested in a girl's record of a faraway country?? Stay tuned.....

Hahaha.....

Ning

Happy New Year!!

2011-02-07T20:04:00.002+08:00

So. Year Rabbit in 2011. Do you know that, in Chinese zodiac, Rabbit and Rooster (me) are not on friendly terms?

It's funny. My dad and a close cousin are both Rabbits. And we get along pretty well. There's no blood shed.

Ok. Back on track. NEW YEAR!!! I have a lot of ang pau this year!! Oh, and some luck too. My gamble luck is not that good. I have won, and later I bankrup. It's true. I bankruped twice, leaving me "penniless". But. At one crucial game I won back all my money. Kind of. I couldn't believe.

I'm writing gibberish, isn't it? Forgive me.

So. I still got about tons of works undone. Thank god I don't have to go down to the kindie now. Just rest and relaxation and a heavy guilt of "I haven't done this" or "I haven's done that". I swear, the "inner pressure" haven't left me even when the Dreaded SPM is over.

But still, New Year is a time to celebrate...... and gamble!!

I hope the cops won't jail me.

Tee hee

Ning

Time Gone By

2011-01-11T14:19:00.000+08:00

Hello, peeps!!!

Oh, wow. Times does fly, isn't it? Sometimes I hate myself for unable to do more than I wanted. I have some serious packing and managing to do. Also, a huge project that I haven't even draft!!!! Oh, my dear!!! I really need to stop obsessing over movies and internet.

Most of my peers are off to college, National Service or a part-time post-SPM jobs. This freedom is still unaccustomed to me. I can do whatever I want and my mum won't comment. It's strange, isn't it? How human brain works. When you're suffering, all you wish for is the after sweet. But when you're tasting the sweetness, all you can think was, "How strange!!"

Am obsessing in another drama. It's a drama I've been obsessed since I was five, and no kidding. re-watching is is one of the greatest pleasure.

Till now
Love,
Ning

2011.........2011........2011...........

2011-01-03T15:28:00.003+08:00

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year........

Wow. Today is the first day of school........ NOT FOR ME!!!!!! I am so exhilarated! Yippee!!! After 14 years of studying, I finally get a breather.

To day I'm helping my mum in the kindergarten No surprise there. It's fated. Oh, well. No complains!! It's 2011. It's such a weird combination of numbers. i still can't wrap it around my mind. I will be more faithful to my blog now. SPM is history, a trip is future, and now, a present. Which, you know, I indeed have a "present" to make.

So..... how's everybody's New Year going on?? Good? Bad? I think mine is still sweet. I've finished watching (again) the new version of "Journey to the West", and I really, really love it. But now I have just about three million things to do, and no more time to watch it!!!

The drama's poster

Oh, well.

TTYL

Ning

One Last Day

2010-12-18T22:53:00.000+08:00

Yes. Tomorrow is Sunday. The day after tomorrow will be Monday - the day I finally finish my SPM. The blessed day.

My heart is so totally not into studying. I tried and tried, but I'l like a stubborn donkey refused to budge. I didn't work hard. At ALL. I'm such a failure.

And I kind of care, but don't care, if you get what I mean.

It's, as I've said, the LAST stand. My last exam in secondary school. After 4 pm, Monday, I am a free creature.

I can't WAIT. Though the lions between the paths are worrying, but I will and can conquer it!!!

xoxo

Ning

The Last Stand

2010-11-17T00:34:00.002+08:00

One more week.
That's seven days, or 168 hours, or 10080 minutes or 604800 seconds.
To the SPM.

I can't honestly said I've prepared and ready. Dude, my mind is wandering from Twilight to Harry Potter to Percy Jackson. There goes for being a HUGE bookworm.

OK. The last stand. Four more weeks to study. Just for. I can do this. I will suceed.

I sound really lame. That kind of summaries what I feel when I'm studying. Where's the MOTIVATION??????

I CAN DO THIS!!!!!

=\
Ning

END is coming

2010-10-18T22:48:00.000+08:00

To tell the truth, even for ALL my mumblings, I really wish SPM is here and gone.

I have absolutely 0 interest in studying. Call me lack. Call me self absorb. Whatever. I felt like, as Bilbo Baggins put it in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: "I felt like I'm a rubber been stretch too many times......" 11 years of studying. 11!!! I think I deserve some well-deserved rest.

Oh, well.

My new favourite Taylor Swift song is "Mine". I get obsessed with a new Taylor song, until I memorised the whole thing, lyrics and music include, then I stop listening. until a new one come and I can start obsessing again. But I'm always glad to here it in the radio or whenever, it can cheer me up!! Though I'm not sure why......

Right. Have to get off now. Don't want to risk mum's wraith.

Love,
Ning

My Holiday's Begining

2010-09-07T22:54:00.002+08:00

I have just been back from Malacca.

Let me list out for you about the places I went these few days:
Saturday - Port Dickson
Sunday - Around Kuala Selangor
Monday&Tuesday - Malacca

I love to travel around. I'm used to it, and i especially love the sea. I don't know why, but I just do. Perhaps it's the vastness and openness of it, or the beautiful blue, or the music of the waves; I found seasides calming and artistically romantic.

I know. Artistically? It really does: the sunset, when the red sun goes down from the horizon and the light spills on the waves, it reminded me of Claude Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise. The stroke of red. I feel I could almost understand about the artists' passion of painting the sea.

Ok. Get back to my holiday. So I went to Port Dickson with my family, and we had a very good time. We went on the banana boat again, and I sat at the first seat, which was exhilarating, except for the part that the sea water was spraying to my face and into my eyes. I cannot imagine a cold seaside, like in Twilight, the seasides in Malaysia are all warm.

The next day trip is mainly a lot of driving to places I've never been, even if it's just in Selangor. We wanted to see the fireflies, but it was quite expensive, and we've all seen it (once upon a time). But along the road on every tree there is a torch, Hari Raya is coming and the Malays that live that area had all lit up pelita (fire torches) along the trees and in front of their houses. It was beautiful. If you just let your imagination flow a little, you can almost think that you're seeing fireflies.

Well, that's me.

Malacca. The last official time that I've been there travelling was when I was 11. And I barely remember the trip, as it was mainly visiting the historical sites and rushing against time. But this trip, these two days, I have just about got a whole new knowledge and insight of Malacca itself.

We centered around the Malacca old town, and I really like it. I've been to a few old towns, mainly in China, but Malacca is quite different. Why? Number 1 may be because of the n umber of tourists. In China there's nothing but tourists in old towns like Li Jiang and Yang Suo (in Gui Ling), but Malacca has not blossomed into that hectic. And there's a lot of food. Even if I'm a vegetarian. The cakes and oyster(I only ate the egg part) and noddles.....

We stayed in a guest house in one of the old houses in the old city!! It was a clean guest house, name Pantai St, with the river flowing in the back and the busy town life in front. The inn's boss was also a backpacking fellow, which we all have a lot to say. I should like to come back again, because it's so restful and my "wit can flow long".

I'm going to upload some photos...... if I ever could.

Cheers,
Have a happy holiday and happy celebration out there!

After Graduation......another part of life

2010-07-17T14:29:00.002+08:00

SPM is like a shadow that creeps nearer and nearer in our waking moments.

Every time I thikn of SPM, I had this very mixed feeling inside. Afraid - to get bad results; Happy - finally, end of secondary school! Nervous, joyful, uncertain......

So fast July is here. Three more months left, and with no motivation to study. i have been worrying about my tertiary education...... of course everyone is all about going off to private collage, but I can't. Finance is the biggest problem, but the other is subjects. No private school that I know, offers the courses I wanted. Serious. I have checked most of the popular collages in Malaysia. Only local universities have my desire courses. But the problem is I will be force to study 2 years of Form 6 in order to get to local U, which is something I DON'T want, because it's just another waste of time learning things I don't like. Am I a little harsh?

Well, there's only one way: study hard no matter what. It's easy to say, but for me it's difficult to do. I am not a person who is happy studying things I don't like. Many says, "Eh, you so clever already, no need to study!" My grades are average, and to make it better it requires efforts that I'm somewhat reluctant to give. Excuses and reasons......

Well, I hav to stop babbling. Got to help mum upload her kindergarten photos.

Cheers,
Ning

The Long Absent in Blogging

2010-06-19T19:24:00.002+08:00

For the ones who read my blog, I'm truly sorry to begin again with "Sorry I did not post anything for about two months!!!"

Life goes on like tide. It's gone in a flash of the eye. I'm not sick (touchwood), but only so many things to do that made me neglect this poor blog. There's only limited time until my grand exam, and all the time had been devoted to study. Almost. I can't help but say I'll be really, really, really glad when SPM ends.

Eclipse of the Twilight saga will be coming to the theaters soon!!! Oh, my god! I can't wait! I'm really anxious about the Cullens-Victoria fight. I liked that part. It's the part, finally, that we could see more of the Cullens than only just Bella, Edward and Jacob. Not that I don't like them, I just think the others should have more of a scene. Plus, my favourite Cullen is Carlisle, followed by Jasper, because they have really interesting pastime, so I'd really love it if they could be more on the big screen. :)

I wished I'm better in studies. I wish I can read all my unfinished books. I wish I could finish my writing. I wish...... I wish...... I WISH!!!!! So many demands...... so little time...... life's go on.

I've written a poem. Just something for try. It's about a dog. Here it goes:

The dog opposite
Howls pitifully
Locked in a cage
Barely its length
This is cruelty

Ok. It's really strange, I know, still, comment if you like/dislike it!!! I'm learning more about western poems now, like Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allen Poe. I figured that poets sometimes is quite sad. And a bit reclusive. I don't think I'm a poet material. There's a lot of things to consider like ryhme and metaphores. And the knowledge of both Greek myths and Christianity. Still, I love it. Wish school will teach this. You know, voicing your own opinion on a poem than just follow the rules. Still, rules must be understood before it can be changed. I guess it's a training?

Well. Have to go. There's a Michael Jackson concert on TV. I'll try to post more in the future!!

Love,
Ning

Dropping A Line......or an essay

2010-04-10T22:32:00.002+08:00

I know. I know.
It's been ages since I ever upload anything. Blame the lazy bones.

I've just finished my diagnostics exams. Did it brilliantly....... yeah, right. I totally suck. Every subject dropped, even English. I think. Haven't got a result yet. But there's the feelin' , ya know?

Been to the bookshop today. FINALLY!!! Percy Jackson fifth book - the last Olympian - is no0w in store in Malaysia!!!!! I've been waiting for months. Now I can rest happy. I finished the book in about 4 hours. I should be in a record of fastest reader or something. Ha ha.

The book is very nice. The whole series is. I loved the sarcastic humour and the modern style of describing the gods. The movie, sad to say, is just okay.

Another sad thing: have to go now. My mum is nagging at me, which she have a right.

So long, till then
Ning

How's How??

2010-02-14T22:14:00.005+08:00

I am extremely worn out today. I've been to five houses of my many realatives to visit them 'cause it's Chinese New Year!!! Whew!

Alright, Happy CNY, everybody out there, how's your celebration goin'? In my house just about everyone came to my 2nd uncle's house and ate reunion dinner on yesterday, CNY's eve. Then we get ang pau. Want to see my collection this year?

Ta da!! Nice, is it not? Did you see the tiger ang pau? Some ang pau can be really glamorous. Everyone was trying to get an extra ang pau, such as one of my uncles. He hids behind a person and just snatch the ang pau away! It is hilarious. But we all had fun laughing at the ridiculous things and CJ 7.

Today, as the first day of New Year according to the Chinese calander, it is a tradition for the younger ones to visit the older, more respected ones. But to tell the truth, visiting from 8am to 8pm is really tiring, even if you had food and drinks and gamble and lose money...... still, I am worn out and my eyes are at the verge of closing...... *yawn*

I wonder what's the agenda tomorrow. I haven't been able to visit my maternal side of family, since I'm busy visiting all my paternal side yesterday and today. I wanted to get more ang pau(s) *so bad of me* and gamble. It's once a year, this harmful gambling. Everyone from both sides of families had came back from all over the world like Australia, Holland, Saudi Arab, China etc. I still have some haven't meet yet, so......

Oh, well. How do you think about my blog's new template? I like it very much, except the reading space is too small. Advices, please!! So sorry haven't been able to post anything for nearly three weeks or so. Been unreasonably busy!! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

My Entire Family (Some are not in this photo, I assure you)

The long line in order to recieve the sacred ang pau.

The Victory.

Haha! Happy Chinese New Year!!

Love, as always,
Ning =)

What a fortnight!!

2010-01-31T22:53:00.003+08:00

SORRY!!!

I haven't been posting for a month. So sorry! Because a lot of things had happened that contributed to the absence of me in front of the computer. Let me list a list for you:

1.School's reopen (yuck)
2.Intervention EXAMS!! (not kidding)
3.Chinese New Year's arrival (a lot of work)
4. Oral Test

Whew. It's been a hectic month!! The worst of the three is exams. E.X.A.M.S. Who on earth thought that we'll be studying during the holidays? Hello! 9 days of torturous, full-set papers to answer! We had barely even regain our mood when you threw a thing like exams to us!! How unfair! Inhumane!!

Ok. Done complaining no. 2. No. 1 had no need to complain. It is a thing simply understood by everyone. Move on.

Now Chinese New year has nothing to complain about. You get money, you get food, you get to play cards. It is a stress-free, wonderful holiday loved by everyone (well mostly for kids, as you get ang pau) and money when you're not even working!! Can there be ANYTHING better?

Well. As usual I'm off to Dong Zen Temple to be as a volunteer. It had become a sort of tradition now.New Year, do volunteer. This year had a lot of program, and I'll now upload the poster:

You can press this banner and go to the main website for more info.

Whew, again. I'll post up pictures taken from the temple later (when I had finally take pictures. I always forget). Now I have other things to do, and that is no. 4.

Oral test. We're making a movie!! Well, more of a short film. And my group had done it. I've edited everything and it looked quite professional, if I might add. We filmed around my mother's kindergarten, and had fun. I'd like to be a director than an actress, so to say. But after 2 hours of filming we're dead tired. The four of us are very impressed with those people who go around and acting all the time. And editing is no picnic. I wanted the film to go at least smoothly, as I can't reach the standard of pro filming. But I did all I can, and hope for the best. I might post the video up here later.

That's all for this month. Hee hee.

Love and hugs,
XOXO
Ning

Time Flies

2010-01-02T18:47:00.003+08:00

It has been a year since I posted up anything. It is 2010 already! Quite hard to believe. I'm going to be in the last year of secondary school... it feels very old.

So. Made a lasagna yesterday as a celebration for New Year. It is vegetarian, of course, with potatoes, macaroni and cheese. It was one of the best I've ever done, with the inside still got the pasta sauce and the cheese melted......

This is now it look fresh from the oven. This picture is taken by my handphone, with only 1.3 megapixel, so it is not nice. The picture, I mean, not the lasagna.

You can see the little red part at the inside? The bottom layer is mashed potatoes, then a layer of pasta and cheese, the another layer of mashed potatoes, then the pasta again with the topmost layer potatoes, too. It tasted heavenly when it is warm and soft.

So what is everyone's New Year Resolutions?? I wanted to have more patience and tolerance. I have absolutely minimum tolerance for studies. God help me. And this year is the dreaded SPM......

Here's the END. Good luck for the year 2010 everyone!!
Hear the Tiger roars!!

Love, Ning

Two Days of R & R

2009-12-14T23:54:00.000+08:00

I have just been back (almost) from Bukit Tinggi. My whole family spent a wonderful time jumping off boards into the freezing water below.

I would really like to have post pictures up here, but I did not have my camera with me. My uncle photo"ed" us, I'll see what I can do.

Bukit Tinggi is a cool place, surrounded by mountains, isolated from the world. You know how lucky we were? Last night, when we all lay outside by the pool, smiling at the sky full of stars, there's a meteor shower? I've seen like five meteor shot across the sky!! It was unbelievable!! All I wish was to be alive the next day: I was stung by an insect on the nose, and it hurte. But not now, now it was okay, I hope.

We spent most of the time swimming, eating, slacking all around. Talking nonsense and playing the piano and the drum set that was provided by the lodge. The drum set was fun!! Make a lot of noise and no one was to scold us! We dance and scream and sing "Happy Birthday" to my 21st birthday of me long cousin. Her sister wiped cake on her face. I think it's a waste of cake. The purpose of cake is to EAT, not PLAY.

Oh, well.

Tomorrow I'd have to start working. Not outside work, but study. Study. Can you believe that? Cest la vie, babe! Next year is the dreaded you-know-what. Hope life is always smooth and nice.

I've lost my voice due to all the shouting.

Love,
Ning

Happy Holidays!! Time is short of peaceful life!!

Finally......

2009-12-10T23:24:00.002+08:00

Today's my last day teaching in my mum's kindergarten......yipee!! no more waking up early and stay in the "garten" till 7.00p.m. Woohoo!!

I have plans already, well, plans I've been going on since the holiday started:
1. Read
2. Write
3. Watch TV
Ha ha. I have 15 books waiting to be read...... yum, yum!

On the 13th & 14th I'll be celebrating my tall cousin's 21st birthday!! She's going to Australia next year on January...... congratulations!! We will be celebrating in Bukit Tinggi (I hope) if all goes well. Hope I remember to bring camera so I can post it here..... I've always don't have a camera at the interesting moments.
The place is called Gracehill Lodge. I've been there this April, and it is a nice place. It seemed to be nestled in between many mountains, and so it's cool in the eving and morning. There is a mountain-water swimming pool, some dogs and a very nice view. I hope we can go there, so I can swim.

This year I won't be going anywhere furthur than Malaysia. Wish I could go to Europe. It had been my live-long (almost) dream.

Where would you go if you had the money? The moon?

Har har,
Love,
~~Ning

Holiday = Work

2009-11-29T21:51:00.003+08:00

You would think holiday is all peace and quiet.
Not in my case, apparently.

Okay, this week is my free week. But guess what: I have to work tomorrow.
And not that kind of work I actually go and do it willingly. I DID NOT beg this: working in my mum's kindergarten. Quite on the contrary, I dislike it.

I have no place to run, no place to hide...... oh, yeah, they'll be giving me quarter of the tuition money. But I DON'T want it!!! I rather curl up in bed all day and read the 15 books I haven't read. Ha ha!! 15!!! Been to a book fair on the 26 of November. Whoa. RM5, 8, 10, & 15 are the prices for all books!!! That's practically a heaven for booksies like me.

That's all. this is a late post. Last week the Internet frustrated me. More later.....

XXXOOO
ning

Three More Days

2009-11-13T23:05:00.005+08:00

S.O.S!!! S.O.S!!!

Ok. Pathetic attempt to change my blog layout. It just doesn't work. A little help?? How to download from a web to my account. It's driving me crazy!!

Yeah!! Finally, this week of full-torture exams are over!! Three more days left until the Grand Escape! Can't wait! Can't wait! 20th of November, then I'll be out from school forever!!! Well, until next year. Like two months away. But actually, 2009 passed quickly. next year is the dreaded SPM. OK. Not thinking about it. Yet.

Yesterday is a special day: 12 November. My birthday!!! I just had a little dinner, with delicious vegetarian spring rolls, "cakes" and ice-cream. I got a present..... from Arya:

I was all speechless with shock. I could NOT believe my eyes. the twilight saga: new moon - The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz. OMG. This is not exactly what I had in mind..... but I have absolutely no objection. I'm not crazy! This is top 3 the coolest birthday present EVER. Thanks, thanks, thanks, Arya!!

Inside the book had beautiful pictures, and the ways the make the movie. It's not only an interesting read, but with those gorgeous pictures...... I really like Carlisle.

I had 4 birthday "cakes". They are actually tarts.

Yum! My cousin brought them for me. Two is the blueberry cheese, and one is covered with strawberries, another is covered with kiwi, peach, grapes and strawberry. Had it for lunch in school today. Definitely beats exams.

It's a quiet birthday, but I'm really, really happy. I never thought I'd get a great present, delicious dinner and birthday cakes!! Love you guys out there! You really did make my day!!! Imagine - exams on birthdays. It's practically criminal.

That's all, keep your head on for more exams!!
Love,
Ning

*Cheesy, right?

The Final Fortnight of Torment

2009-11-06T13:53:00.003+08:00

Yes. This is it. This final fourteen days of torture, tears and exams...... only fourteen days then all Hades break lose..... I can't wait!!!

Now I am stuck in my aunt's house.....studying like a good student..... if you call mind-wandering every ten minutes and listening to songs is a way of cramming hard, then, yes, I am indeed studying. Didn't went to school yesterday or today. Teachers not teaching, and the class like an illegal poker place, with everyone keeping a poker face......(hey, it rhymes!) So, no point going to school, no point at all.

I'm living with a one tortise, two cats and two fish. I wish I can put the cats' picture up..... but I have no camera. One black, Tigger, another white, Snowy. The former is a right old cat, the latter is a prima donna. Loved them both. Wish I can have a pet. Dogs are my favourite, I really wish to have one, big ones that weighs like me. But cats is good, too. And horses and elephants and pandas...... I'd like to own a zoo.

Ha ha. Ramdom mood is on today!

So.... Monday is the SACRED finals. Let us pray we will survive this terrible ordeal..... O Athena, goddess of wisdom, boost our brain cells so that we can remember that one plus one does not equals to three......

Love to all sufferers that are sufferings.....
Ning :(

Beethoven Virus

2009-10-24T15:06:00.003+08:00

I have a good reason, a very good one why I have not been able to write these two weeks: my keyboard is spoiled.

Ha. Just brought one. I'm still getting use to it. It's like my fingers are not accustomed to this new board. Ok. Straight to my point: you know 8tv, 8.30 pm every weekdays had a drama called Beethoven Virus? Well, I have so got the virus.

This is also my second Korean drama that I'm truly crazy of. the first is Jewel in the Palace (Dae-Chang-gum). This is about orchestra. I love orchestra, and after this I really hope that I could play in one..... but seriously, I failed my piano test. Must be the first one ever in history.

Anyway, watch this!!! There's a sharp-tongue, straight-forward maestro, a genius that doesn't knew it himself, and a girl going deaf. Together, they formed a love triangle. I can't tell you how cool it is, just watch it!!

This drama is also an inspiration for me. Not to be in the orchestra, no. Work hard to achieve my dreams. Like Beethoven, he wrote his 9th Symphony deaf. He had wrote it for 6 years. 6!! Imagine. The 9th Symphony is also the first ever symphony that had choir. Namely, Ode To Joy. I couldn't figure out what language they are singing.... Latin or Italian. But of course I'm wrong. It's German. That sort of make sense, as Beethoven was a German.

So, nothing but orchestra and Beethoven occupied my thoughts now.. You can say I truly gotten the virus.

Love,
Ning.

P.S. Anyone know German?

Joy is over......work is here again

2009-09-27T16:52:00.000+08:00

Boo hoo, boo hoo!! Holidays are over again......Life is back on the hard-working track, and it is not such a happy prospect.

Well, what can I say? I should be grateful to have this holiday after all. Not in many countries you get so much school holiday like Malaysia. It is because we simply had three big different culture - the Malay, Chinese and India, and we could not offense any of it. So we had all types of holidays.

What did I did in the 9 days of freedom? To tell the truth, I had worked. Well, make it a help out. I helped my mum to paint her kindergarten, and for the last Thursday and Friday I helped her unavoidably - her kindergarten had school. Let me tell you something, working in a kindergarten is like working in a factory: the kids were given a project of drawing, and it's on on paper; its on canvas. I had to see to the little sots, see them don't paint their humans became aliens....... just kidding! It was actually fun, for the kids drew beautifully. Children arts are always beautiful - I think because they are still innocent.
And on Friday I had to put buttered four mega loaves of bread. And then the Mooncake Festival is coming, which means some twenty of lanterns to be care of (and that's only one class). So, you can't say I have been idling all my 9 days - quite on the contrary.

I did had fun. Went to Port Dickson for the day on last Monday. It's funny: for a harmless one hour journey can went until adventurous 3-hour. We kept making the wrong turns until we realised, when we finally got to the long-desired beach, we would have arrive to Johor by this time.

Then I brought a new book shelf!! From Ikea. I like Ikea, even though I don't regularly buy furnitures there, but it was comfortable there. The wood smell, the currypuffs, the comforting displays...... I've put all my books there, and it looked great. I'll post the picture of my shelf later, for the camera was unfortunately not with me.

So, the days drag on...... and heaven returns to hell. Well, that's my consolation for the grieving students nationwide......study hard.

Ha ha ha,
Happy End-Holiday,
Ning.

Holidays!!!!! ......... again

2009-09-19T12:03:00.003+08:00

I haven't been posting for a long while. Well, that's nothing really to write.

Holiday again!!! For a WHOLE week!!! It's Hari Raya, which is new year for Islam calendar. It's a big deal, since we're a Islamic country and all - Happy Raya, people!!!

I have some stories, I think, I'm going to tell. First, my economy teacher is going to get marry. I'm not putting exclamation points behind "marry", because I'm not fond of that teacher.
Everyone in our class "donate" 2 ringgit to buy her a present, which is Tupperware, with a container filled with dates and another was a cake. It cost almost 80 ringgit, the whole set. Even though we don't like her, but we still give her the present with the best of wishes. We expected tears, cries, or at least thank yous. All of us were so excited, waiting for her to enter the class.

When we present her the bag of gift, and a hand-made card (our monitor and a few girls - June, the twins~), she barely see what was written in the card and what was in the bag.

Personally, I was shock.

I thought, okay, you dislike us, we dislike you, fair. But we really wish you well (even we were giving out prophecies that were not actually happily-ever-after) and the teacher barely care!! Our monitor said, "Hey, cikgu, baca itu card" (hey, teacher, read that card), only she opened it and scanned it.

I so not believe it. Alright, I don't really expected tears, I thought she might be touched. Apparently, she's as cold blooded as always. She was very formal, giving her thanks and all, but you can feel she doesn't really care.

So much for our excitement. So this is story #1, hasppened on Monday.

Now, I really have no stories, so much for promising. Later, perhaps, I will.

Lot of sorries...
Happy holiday everywhere......
Cheers and good bye.

P.S. Heard of www.fanfiction.net ? Go. It's a site where you can read stories that are written by other people. The stories are based on a book, like Twilight. They wrote stories about the characters, but the plot and all are created by themselves, so you can have your dream version of your favourite book. You can write a story, or stories, yourself. I liked it.

Ning>>

2009-09-06T23:21:00.003+08:00

It's been awhile. i haven't got anything interesting to write.

Sometimes I really hate myself for reading too fast. I can finish 300 page a day, and that's not talking about whole day devoted to reading.

Finished 2 books in the past week. Yeah, I know it's so slow, after what I've "boost" just now. But I don't read 24/7, okay?
Whatever. I finished The Time Traveler's Wife and Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lighting Thief. The former is sad, the latter got me into hysterics.

The Time Traveler's Wife FELT cool at the start: who wouldn't like a soulmate that was fried with you since you're six? Or time travel to your heart's content? In the middle it become sad, and in the end you don't know whether to cry or feel glad.

Got you hang? Well, go and read it. I forgot the author's name (*hem* sorry~). Or the movie. It's coming to the screen these days... I don't know when clearly. It will be sad, so get a tissue. But I liked it. Treasure every moment, for you don't know when you'll be leaving for good...

Percy Jackson. Greek mythology. I'm crazy about Greek myths. Greek myths had huge influence over English literature. So, naturally I was hooked, too, several years back. The stories are funny, and the gods can be really ridiculous, altogether really interesting.

Percy Jackson is all Greek myths, twisted, made humorous, I had another new favorite series. The author surprised me on the Greek myths stories he used, and how he twisted the "honorable gods" into realistic. It sort of give me even a clearer images of the Olympians. And guess what. There will be a movie. I can't believe it!! Nowadays every book is made into movie!! (okay, not every. But you get the general idea) If I can choose what book to be made into film... hmmm... I'll choose All American Girl by Meg Cabot. Or something by Sophie Kinsella.

Good thing: me NO go to school tomorrow!!

(very childish, thank you.)

Cheers and Beers(and I hate the taste)
NinG

The Ninja Power

2009-08-26T13:25:00.002+08:00

Been watching Ugly Betty, season 1 on Youtube. It was sad, hilarious and meaningful. To me, at least.

You guys know Betty was being laughed at when she first went to work at Mode. To get rid of Betty, Danial (Betty's boss) gave her all sort of Mission Impossibes in order to force Betty quit. Like the coleslaw without cabbage. Jeez, who can even thought of that?? And making betty wait in the cold? Wow. I'm impressed and touched by the "ninja-ism" of Betty. She said nothing, but only kept it and work without complain. Throughout the series I can remembered she was always like this, patient, optimistic, like her dad said. Prehaps we can take a leaf out of her book instead of laughing. I am thinking how much the actress had to sacrifice to do this movie, being laugh at everyone... This may be "ninja-ic" to.

This is a short post. Just thought it up. I love Ugly Betty, yes. Hilarious drama. But maybe I should learn to be a "Ninja-Betty", and brave through all the troubles.

Cheers to all,
Ning.

HOLIDAY!!!

2009-08-23T21:05:00.004+08:00

Yes, yes, YES!!! Holiday is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I am now very tired. I had been chasing after little sots for two days. TWO DAYS!!! Why am I always starting off holidays with children camp??? The mid-year holiday started off directly with children camp, which I am my mum's helper. And now, I have 11 children (age 9 - 12) to care for two days, one night. I am fated to be with kids. My mum opens a kindergarten, and that is like seeing kids 5 days a week.......

Ok. Last Friday, I "ponteng" school, which means I didn't go to school, and herlp in the kindergarten to make PIZZA!! Whoo- hoo! Pizza is nice because it's dry, at least, the process of making is dry. Unlike salad, the kids were squeezing the fruits to get cut... and you lost your appetite. Plus, the fruits are almost de-juice.

Pizza. Yummy. these are some photos I took it:

Baking in the oven.

See the cheese??? Oh, mouth-watering...

Eat it up!!

Since the pizzas were all vegetarian, we had:
~tomato sauce
~fresh tomato
~vegetarian ham & hot dog
~pineapples
~mixed vegetables (carrot, corn&peas)
~mushroom
~a lot of CHEESE (cheddar&mozzarella)

Oh, typing this my mouth is watering! We (me and my two cousins) had been baking pizza like machines for nearly four hours! it is so fun and delicious! The kids had to bring home a piece, and their lunch is pizza, too. So, we at least bake 100 pizza. But they are small sized, mostly, for the kids each do one.

So, now holiday is here, YEA!! I can read all my books. I have four. And play computer till the end of the world...

Cheers & happy holiday to all students in MAS
=) Ning

Bitter Sweet

2009-08-15T23:15:00.002+08:00

Life is bitter sweet. Like dark chocolate, you scrunched up the moment you ate it, but then savour as it melts in your mouth. Life, so, too. Or should I say, first bitter, then sweet??

Exams, exams, exams today!! *sigh* Bahasa Malaysia and Science. The latter is ok, the former... well, I did badly in the "making sentences"... Monday & Tuesday still have exams. Why??? I have three "unstable" subjects that I have to cram!! Oh, god. This is the bitter part.

The sweet part is: wow! Next week is the last week of school! One week of holiday!! Can't wait. I've got four books waiting for me and a whole bunch of writing to complete. Oh, and there will be a book fair in KLCC. But I wonder if it will hold, because of the H1N1 thing. H1N1 is a terribly bitter part, like black coffee+bitter groud. Malaysia is one of the highest death rate country in the world. This Thursday, my school gave everyone free masks. The dear principle said it is a "must" to wear mask now. But did anyone wears it? No. Only the show-offs.

Another sweet part in the midst of bitter is I got another exciting art project! The bitter part is: I've got to hand it in next friday, so the time will be very short, what with exams and everything.
I'm a team with See Tho, like the batik and box. I think we're good team together. Both of us can negotiate well.

Time's up for me to close eyes!! Wish I have a SWEET not BITTER dream. And you peoples out there...
Keep safe and pull a smile,
Ning

Ode to Arya

2009-08-07T22:02:00.004+08:00

What's up, peeps?

Har har. Does it sounds like the short form of 'people'?? Ok. Today school sucks. It was the most BORING-EST day ever. This week it seemed that no teacher wanted to teach us... all absent. *sigh* What's more. Exams are coming!!!

Another sad news... tragic, even. Arya is moving!!! Well, she's not moving until October, but still. It's a move. I wish you luck, dude!!!

Talking about her, something very ridiculously funny but it really touched me happened yesterday. Let me tell you...

When I had reach my school, and sat down in my class line, saw Arya walked down from the stairs. I paid no attention, mind dreaming away as usual. Then suddenly she thrusted a package to me, and I was bewildered. What is this? I asked. She didn't answer and hurried away to her line. Then I took it up and took a whif.

This is the 'present':

DURIAN!!!!!

Actually, this picture is downloaded. Hee hee. I wanted to take a picture of my REAL durian, but I only remembered it...until I've finished... *sob*

Anyway. Imagine my shock!! A durian as a present! And it's not ME the one moving, but HER. So I'm feeling really guilty. Arya told me that her new house got a durian garden. Isaid bring some for me... unexpectedly, she did!!

My dear classmates kept smelling durian smell that day. HA HA. Hey, guys, it's me who 'brought' it! It's so funny. They kept commenting 'Whay is there durian smell??' I was laughing with Li Jun, whom sat beside me, whenever we heard this comment.

The durian was not completely 'cooked', still had raw palces that were hard. But it was really, really nice. I'm gonna write here, something for you, Arya, though I know you won't be able to see it...

I really appreciate your durian!! I love you!! (as the bestest friend ever)

I guess that's all. Stay healthy, everyone! H1N1 is getting seriously serious!!

Cheers,
Ning

P.S. Just remember... I wrote something in the afternoon just now cause feeling moody and pissed, so here is this:

Life Is Stupid
Do you know how stupid life is?
Let me tell you...
Like you think today is YOUR day,
and it turns out to be a SUCK day?
Or you planned to ask the guy you had a HARD crush on to dance,
But he was grabbed by your best ENEMY?

So life is stupid.
There's no other word for it.
S-T-U-P-I-D
That's the way how to spell it.

Life is indeed stupid.
When your teacher say you're, too
You're ears are whistling,
And your face a boiling glow.

When you walk down the street,
A dog sees you
He takes too a much an interest,
And decided to go home with you
You ran down hill, you ran up hill
Until you find yourself in a puddle of poo

HA HA

So let me tell you how stupid life is!
Left, right; black, white!
Turn around and get a smack!
Life is stupid, it's a common knowledge.
So get ready your googles and join in the parade!

HOORAY!! LIFE IS STUPID!!

What's the Conflict?

2009-08-01T23:47:00.002+08:00

Yo, yo!

Have nothing really important or exciting to write. Only a sad news that is one of my uncle had been admitted to hospital on Wednesday. He had a major operation and is in ICU now. This afternoon went to see him with my parents and brother. I don't like hospitals. It felt a lot of conflict. But I wish with all my heart my uncle will be good and well again.

Hmm, what else could I write? I'm tired now, been out all day. Oh, my art class teacher gave us a homework, it's to use postal colour to paint a lake, with a tree growing by. On the lake was several lotus. We needed to use the technique of postal colour, which are:

1. Wet on dry
2. Wet on wet
3. Dry on wet
4. Dry on dry

Basically, the former 'wet' or 'dry means the colour, the latter is the paper. I had fun for two hours painting only three papers... using only the primary colours: red, blue & yellow. I made the lake variety shades of blue green, and loved it. Not posting here~ too childish!! Anyway, I hope to get done by tomorrow. Prehaps when I've finish I'll put here......

Tired&sleepy,
Night!!

A Wonderful Day

2009-07-24T20:58:00.006+08:00

I have just been to MidValley Megamall with my best friend, Arya, and her sister, Suhaila. Well, not actually just been. We went around 1.00pm after school.

Today started off badly, almost unfortunately, and left me hugely annoyed. Plus, I was worried Arya won't come to school. Her family had circumstances now that sometimes it is necessary to be absent from school. So, with a worried mind, I arrived to school, and founded out this day could get worst.

Our dear headmistress started scolding the whole school about our decreasing discipline and attitude. There are almost one hundred new rules added to the school, some I think it's over the limit. Even prison had much more freedom. But I had to thank my lucky stars I wasn't captured as the 'bad lot'.

In Economy, our dear teacher got the wrong side of the bed. Her temper was boiling like crazy. When the whole class didn't do her homework properly (except for a girl), we were told to stand up. I nearly thought we would all be busted and get suspended from school. Sadly-or is it fortunately-we didn't.

How did this going-to-bad-day turn better? Well, at Fridays we our school ends at 12.30pm. But today ended at 12.15pm. But it doesn't really matter, because I have to stay back for Chinese class. After Chinese class (2.30pm) I'll go to MidValley with Arya.

At 12.15pm, when I stepped into Chinese class...... HOORAY!!! We only need to do the asigned homework, then FREE!!! I finished the 40 questions in 30 minutes -a record- and we left the school, with joyful hearts, at 1.00pm.

This trip was scheduled and rescheduled for I don't know how many times already. Finally. Finally. We are leaving. Me, Arya&Aila(Suhaila). Walking to the LRT station was far, but we had lots of fun. When we finally reached our long-await destination, we were ravenous.

There's a twist - we wanted to eat Dominoes Pizza - but ohmigosh it's CLOSED for renovation. Our disappointment and shock. Bad luck! Our subtitute was Pizza Hut, and it was great.

Then we went MPH, and saw this Twilight Director's Handbook, written by Catherine Hardwick:

This cost RM69.90. But I scanned through it, and saw a page where the Cullens had a kind family pendant that everyone wore. Then I got an idea. Why don't Arya and I get a same pendant, and it's a bond of our friendship? So we looked through the stalls and got this:

It is a dragon, and I named mine 'Sapphira' after Eragon. And Arya named hers 'Arya'. (From Eragon, too. (Oh, PS. Finally I know the trick of uploading photos =)

I'm'm going to upload another photo:

Ha ha!! This is the bread Arya gave for my mum. It is a long story, however, why she give my mum a loaf of bread. But it's because I'm bankrup and wanted to buy this bread before, but cannot, so she brought it. Thanks, Arya! Love ya!!!

Cheers for all,
Ning

2009-07-17T21:18:00.004+08:00

Dear folks,
I have recently obsessed with a new celebrity now. And it's the second Chinese celebrity I've ever obsessed with. Can you believe it? I can't.

These few days the air was so bad. The haze from Indonesia because of burning forest had return again... they always do, every year around this time. The first day it really hit, Monday, was so terrible that we can't breath rightly. My classroom was at the last level, and the first it hit... will be us. I swear even my clothes got the hazey smell.

Yesterday we got the fire drill rehearsal. My god. It is fun, in a way, we skipped the last ten minutes of English class and one period (50 mins) of some other subjects... at first we didn't realise it's rehearsal. We only thought it's the end of class. But one look at the watch - impossible. Then the screaming starts, and the whole school rushed out.

We sat on the road, and the boys starts throwing pebbles from the floor to the girls... how did they even thought of throwing pebbles??? Somehow the people's mind work weirdly.

Oh, I had watched Transformer 2, and it's the second huge action movie I liked. (the first is Transformer 1). How the Transformers transform... how did the producers create such machine... completely clueless.

Oh, I forgot: the one good thing about fire drill is...... one of my loathsome teacher is absent today!

Cheers,
Ning

2009-07-05T21:50:00.002+08:00

I just felt like I have to write something.

Last Friday was the Judgment Day. Hee hee. Take report card. Not a day I actually look forward to. But my teachers always gave me good comments. Except for, 'Well, she read a little too much...'
No. I don't read a little too much. I read too much to be normal. But I kind of like every teacher to say this. it's like following the tradition or something. Teachers who know me will definitely say this. Except last year. the teacher didn't. But it was understandable. She wasn't our class teacher, only PE. My last year class teacher nearly never show herself up...

This year, I got pretty good marks in all the 12 subjects. Except maths. Ah. That is predictable. I never really understand the equations and all. if you don't understand, you'll get frustrated, and you'll hate it. Yup. I can't stand maths. Though this sounded like I'm avoiding the trouble, and all that. But it's like a thing you don't know, you don't know. It can't be helped.
(Oh, and in the history of my family, no one had ever get suck low mark in maths... I broke their all-passing, more-than-seventy marks record, thank you.)

Talk about luck. Today and yesterday (Saturday and Sunday) I went to a two-day meditation camp. And we're supposed to go and eat out because of my brother's birthday, which is last Monday, but we didn't get to celebrate with him. So. After the camp we're suppose to have a nice dinner and all that. I have too much hope.

We didn't go.

Well, thanks to the birthday boy himself. He caused all the trouble of coming back home only to wash his clothes. And so. My hope shattered. I was so looking forward to this dinner. I rarely eat in fancy restaurant, and it's a treat to go! Thank you, birthday boy!

At least we got to eat pizza. Pizza is a treat, too. And I ordered extra cheese. Extra cheese = extra fat, I know that. But it's only so long once. It doesn't matter.
Ha!

Cheers for all,
Ning

My Saturday

2009-06-28T19:26:00.004+08:00

Hello, people!

It's been a long while since I come up here and written anything. Sorry for the slow progress. It's just that I have no idea why it wouldn't accept anymore stories that I've copy and paste in it. *sigh* So how can I post my Lawrence Academy?

When I reread this first story of mine that I finished, I laughed. How child-like it sounded! Of course, I wrote this three years ago. My way of writing and vocabulary had increased. But every page I've written is a progress. A sweet progress that I treasured. Because it showed how much I've been through.

Yesterday I had to go to school. In order to force everyone come, the principle made it a test day. Grrrr. We just had a huge, mid-term exam. Now test again??? But what can I say? Of course I come. For only five hours, we had three paper to sit. And I wasn't feeling well, sort of feverish. And with all that H1N1 thing...... it creeps me.

At night, around 9.00 p.m. my father took me to a clinic. The funny thing is when the doctor took my temperature, it's 38.6 C, and normal people suppose to be 37 C. The doctor said it's normal. But I think it's creepy, again. I suppose to have fever, for crying out loud!

At 10.45 pm I watch a Michael Jackson concert that was on the TV as a tribute. I was stunned when I heard his death. Because when i was in the car, the radio was playing 'Top 10 List of Most Asked for MJ's Songs'. I though it's one of the radio station event. But when the 8 o' clock news showed, the first headline was 'Michael Jackson is Dead'.

I couldn't believe it. Well, to tell the truth I wasn't the biggest fan. No, I'm not even a fan. It's just knowing Michael Jackson is like a common knowledge. You born in this world, you'll know him. And if the world know him, of course I do. I like some of his songs, like 'Black or White', and some of his scandals. But I never imagined to hear his death. If this news is a shock to me, then it's a heaven-breaking, hell-flooding news for the great fans. But I can only say, 'Be at peace, MJ. You have rock the world, and it's worth to be alive.'

My gosh, look at the length of this post! Well, have to go. Work awaits. Tomorrow is school day, and I'm not looking forward.

Cheers,
~Ning

TROUBLE

2009-04-24T22:40:00.002+08:00

SOS!!! SOS!!!

I am not having major, national trouble now. It just that I couldn't post anything from my computer, namely, my stories. I don't know why but whenever I want to publish a story, a notice came up and said, "Tag is not allowed". What is that suppose to mean??? Can ANYONE help??? If this continues, I'll... ... go crazy or something.

So. Will someone please, please tell me what's wrong? Or this blog would stuck forever!!! (ok, I may be exaggerating) Please, god or whomever...

Fainting,
Ning.

Sleeping Marathon

2009-03-09T12:19:00.002+08:00

Yesterday I helped out in a charity fair for Myanmar children to build school for them, because last year the typhoon destroyed many of their school. This fair was organized by the yoga society of my aunt, and you can say I must help.

I was in charge of T-shirt printing in the Arts Corner. Sad to say but not many people came to my "stall", but I got a fairly business. I woke up at 7 am in order to prepare the stall. The day before the fair I help to prepare the fair until 2 am, in between I only got 4 hours of sleep. Yes, I was really tired after the fair ended, which was 5 pm.

But I had fun, because this fair was a vegetarian food fair, which means... I CAN EAT EVERYTHING!!! I'm a vegetarian. I had a veggie burger for breakfast (tee hee) and all sort of things I can't eat normally because they have meat in it.

Anyway, we got home after the fair around 6 pm, and I slept at 6.30 pm ... ... until today, 9 am. Which means... I've sleep for 15 hours straight. A record!!!

I got up feeling out-of-sort. Like my legs and limbs disconnected form my body. And the head's a muddle. I never sleep so long before. If I didn't watch out, the Guinness might have a new record!!!

Cheerios!!!

Here's chapter 11... ...

Chapter Eleven - Carols

‘Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingles all the way…’

‘Josephine Sumpter! It’s only November!’

The two friends Alex and Jo walked past the corridor windows to the dining hall and saw white, fluffy snow falling. Jo sighed in a dreamy way and suddenly crashed into Jonathan Sumpter, who tried to look angry, but failed to because he liked Jo the best between his siblings.

‘Ta, Johnny! Listen, do we have carols in Lawrence?’ said Jo eagerly.

‘Why?’ asked Jonathan.

‘Because she is singing carols everyday, twenty-four hours non-stop.’ said Alex irritably.

‘Shut me up with a punch, then.’ said Jo sarcastically.

‘Yeah, yeah.’ said Alex with the same tone. ‘I love carols so much but now I’m sick of it.’

‘Why? Do I sing out of tone? Listen to this: We wish you a merry Christmas-‘

‘You may as well try not to sing, “We wish you a Merry Christmas” in your sleep!’ said Alex quite loudly.

Just as Jo started to sing a new song, Alex’s brother, Andrew came and slapped hard on Alex’s back.

‘Quit it, Drew. It’s painful.’

‘What ‘s up?’ asked Andrew, puffing.

‘I’m trying to shut Jo up. I don’t know she wouldn’t or couldn’t shut her mouth up. She keeps singing carols.’ said Alex.

And, to Alex greatest horrid, Andrew sang ‘Winter Wonderland’ loudly with Jo, which made the students passing singing themselves, too. Soon, the whole dining hall ringing with ‘Winder Wonderland’.

‘See what you have done!’ cried Alex. ‘I could not possibly eat lunch here.’

And surprisingly, Andrew and Jo led the hall singing beautifully of Christmas carols.

Quite a lot of people were standing in the middle of the entrance, applauding.

‘Thank you, thank yo-‘

Andrew and Jo stopped suddenly as they turned around and bowed. They must have thought it was a pile of students and bow to them, making fun. However, it turned out to be the headmistress and teachers.

‘Well sing! Well sing everyone!’ exclaimed Madam Minerva. ‘Don’t stop! Let Christmas sprit fill the whole school!’ and away the students sing whole-heartedly for the headmistress. And, to Jo great surprised, when the lunch had ended, Rose, who looked really like a beautiful red rose, said that Alex join in the carol just now, too!

* * *

‘Would you all please be QUIET!’

It was school assembly again. And the students were very noisy and very excited. And poor Peter Black was frustrated that he walked down from the stage and Madam Minerva came up, stern and firm. The hall quiet down at once.

‘I am disappointed in your behavior. Peter rarely gets angry, and now he is. But, I do have an important news. And wish all of you listen properly.’ Madam Minerva’s eyes swept pass sternly at the auditorium once, and continued:

‘Everyone knows the Winter Carols Competition that held every November 25th in Victoria Village. Many schools including St George school-‘ here Dorene looked uncomfortable. ‘-Stonehill School and ours participate and compete. But, our school students, sadly, do not co-operate with us. Nobody wants to sing in front of audience. So, when those little amount volunteers went and competed in the past few years, of course they failed. And-‘ Madam Minerva suddenly turned angry. ‘- you all asked them why don’t they get a prize, and turn out you all didn’t put much effort either. So, this year, I’m going to put a first year student to pick you up to compete the carol competition. I’m sure she can help me. Will Josephine Sumpter stay after the assembly to see me?’

* * *

‘Wow, Jo.’

After Jo had told everything to Alex, about what Madam Minerva asked her to do, Alex was so stunned by that to talk anything.

‘Come on. You, a first year? I mean, that’s a big job! Finding carols singers.’ said Alex, who was impressed by Jo, since Alex was right, Jo was a first year.

‘I know. You no need to sound sarcastic or anything. I am thinking how to let everyone to have a chance to try out.’ And let a sigh out.

‘I know!’ cried Dorene, who was nearby, suddenly.

‘Dore-ene!’ cried Jo and Alex, they jumped a mile at Dorene’s sudden broke out.

‘I’m sorry. But do listen to this. You will hold a carol tryout. Only don’t let the students know. First, get the permission from Madam, of course. You can let the students to wait in the auditorium, and one by one goes into the little room behind the stage and sings. Then, if you can ask Rose, tell Peter to get all the prefects to prevent of any “escapees”.’ said Dorene and was greeted by a laughter.

‘Brilliant, Dorene!’ said Jo, much impressed. ‘But-‘ she suddenly said softly. ‘will you help?’

Well, to be sure, Dorene expect anything, even a major earthquake would not shook her as much as this kind offer by the look of her face.

‘I’m serious, Dor. Think about it, okay. Come Alex, let’s go for dinner.

* * *

Dorene did ’think about it’, as Jo said. And the next day, she asked Jo, during breakfast:

‘Why do you want me to help?’

Jo, who was eating a mouthful of cereal, choked and said, very kindly and friendly:

‘My dear Dorene. It’s you who thought of that suggestion. And, to forgive you what happened to Alex, please help me!’

Dorene considered it for a moment and said,

‘Well, I will! Thank you Jo, for trusting me!’

Just Drop a Line

2009-02-28T15:58:00.004+08:00

It's been a very, very long time since I've come in here and write... life's been busy.
I have now finally feel familiar of my school subjects now. In here, Malaysia, when we had passed the PMR test (which is a government test that every From 3 have to take) we can choose two types of stream we want to go, Science or Arts.

I was first thrown into Science Stream, which consists of 11 subjects, four are new subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Additional Maths and Accounting. For a brain like me I can't really handle add maths. Anyway, it is a real work load for lazy bums like me. I was put in the class-changing list... and succeed. Which is not really hard since I'm going down and not up.

Now my four new subjects are Science, Accounting, Economics and Arts. They said 'Art Stream' which is actually are business studies. Not really any subjects to choose, really. Even if everyone said 'oh, you can choose your own subjects' is actually two choosing between science and business. For someone like me whose interest in neither, school has been more of a torture and boredom than anything. But I did pay attention, just not very attentive... har

Ok, enough babbling. Here's the tenth chapter of Lawrence Academy... please comment and do enjoy...
Cheerssie

Chapter Ten - The Truth Leak Out

‘What?!’

Everyone began to talk at once. The hopeful one? Sprained her leg? Never in the history of Lawrence Academy had two accidents, no, two same accidents on the same form and in the same game.

But it was true. Sally got up to the bus and helped the ‘hopeful one’ came down. Her face was wet, her eyes were red, and her leg was pain.

It turned out that when they started the competition against St, George School, Dorene did score a few goals, and was quite proud of it. She played very, very well at first, but she was tired. Very tired. She didn’t stop practicing until the last day of the competition. She had used up all the energy that left in her body on the competition. So, after a twenty-minute rest, she was sleepy and tired and hungry and longing for a good sleep. She did not play well after that, and was desperate when the other team scored, so she accidentally tripped, fell, twisted her ankle, and she couldn't play for the rest of the game. The medical people put a bandage on her poor ankle. And she was replaced by the other first former. She cried and cried and Sally comforted her, telling her that players often hurt themselves. And that was when she gave out little of her secret. She said:

‘Oh, that damn Alex shall be happy,’

Sally at first could not possibly believe her ears. She remembered that Dorene had been so good to Alex. But then when Dorene repeated the same words, Sally began to suspect.

After the competition ended 99 to 97, the Lawrence players all had refreshment and bade good-bye heartily and warmly to the St. George’s players, then they went back all talking and singing. Except for Dorene was so tired that she fell asleep.

Now Dorene had a bad trick. She talked in her sleep no matter where she slept. And unfortunely, she knew what she said was true, and wanting to get rid of the habit very much but didn’t know how. The first sentence she said in her sleep in the bus was:

‘That damned Alex,’

The bus went quiet instantly since Dorene practically shouted. The bus driver stopped whistling and said in his croaked accent:

‘If ah hav no mista’en, did the young girl jus’ said damn?’

‘Let’s listen to what she said. She doesn’t usually say damn, right?’ said Sally.

They listened, and not long after that was another out burst:

‘What I want is to win,’

Everybody turned grim, something important was coming.

‘I envy.’

Silence.

‘I hated the Sumpter girl.’

No noise at all.

‘I wanted fame! I want to win! I like to win. So, I tripped ‘Lex with a stone.’

She moaned in her sleep.

Everyone turned pale and turned to Madam Rodger.

‘Let’s hear more,’ said Madam Rodger softly.

And instantly Dorene said:

‘Why can’t I’m the pet? Just want love…’ and no more.

The stunned silence stopped the bus. The driver Mister Davis stopped, he hated to hear anymore, but he said softly to Madam Rodger:

‘Ma’am Rodger, I want tar know, is this kiddo haven’t had a good fameely?’ he asked, as he turned to Madam, Rodger.

‘I don’t know,’ said Madam Rodger softly. ‘But get on with the driving, the school will come rushing if we didn’t arrive as quick as possible.

‘Yes, ma’am.’

But quiet didn’t suit Dorene. After twenty minutes complete silence, she woke with a start.

‘Have we arrived? I’m dead tired and pain.’

Nobody didn’t look at her now. Her face flushed as she saw the grim faces.

‘W-what did I do?’

Madam Rodger cleared her throat and said:

‘Explain yourself.’

Dorene’s face turned scarlet.

‘E-explain w-what?’

‘How dare you tripped Alex!’ burst out Sally so suddenly and furiously.

And Dorene knew they know what she had done. Stupid mouth, she thought, why can’t I just shut up? The more she thought, the more she felt guiltier and failed to bear the angry, disappointed looks. And her feelings flowed by tears and words,

‘F-father a-and M-mother are b-both divorce. My s-sister a-always b-better than me e-even she is y-younger. I-I get j-jealous all the time. I-I’m s-sorry. R-really am.’

‘So you tripped Alex?’ asked Madam Rodger quite sharply.

‘N-no, n-no, I m-mean, I-I oh, yes, I did.’ And she burst into bitter tears.

So after Dorene came down from the bus, only the head mistress, Madam Minerva, knew what had happened because she was told by Madam Rodger secretly. She cleared her throat, said:

‘It is just an accident that Dorene sprained her ankle. Now, I’m sure kitchens already prepared a fantastic tea, and so let’s celebrate!’ she tried to look happy as the students walked pass her to go to the dinning hall. When everyone except Madam Rodger, Sally and Dorene left, Madam Minerva said in a grave tone:

‘I think you own Alex an apology. May she have it?’

Dorene was completely taken aback by what Madam Rodger had just said. And Dorene replied with a tone full of regret:

‘Of course! A thousand times!’

So the party went up to the matron’s room and the story was told again.

‘You did it, then?’

When Alex heard the confession, she looked so disappointed and hurt that Dorene did not bear to look.

‘Why must you do this? Can’t you just tell me that you want to enter the competition? I would have considered letting you replace me if you had asked first. And now I think I have to think clearly anything you’ve ask me. I have lost faith in you, and I don’t like that.’ said Alex so full of disappointment, hurt after a minute of silence.

And Dorene flung herself to the nearest armchair and cried all her heart out. This was indeed too a bitter lesson for her.

‘Don’t cry now,’ said Alex softly as she went over to pat Dorene. ‘Poor Dor, dry away your tears and try don’t let your jealousy win you.’ And the good-hearted Alexandra forgave the poor girl in one comforting kiss.

Bamboo In the Wind

2009-01-25T10:46:00.004+08:00

I went to Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom, Selangor yeasterday. Dong Zen Temple is now having a 17-day Chinese New Year Festival. There are many exhibitions, and food fair, and beautiful scenaries. Hey, people, a must-go!!!

I've always wanted to take pictures of bamboo there. The temple had planted many beautiful, heart-touching bamboo. Yesterday I took lots of them. I'll show here, and you can see it. It is not professional pictures, but the bamboo is all what I want.

I wonder what you all think, the first picture is the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin). I took the picture at the 33 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Street. This is one of them. I'll put others below.

The second pic you can see the street. All 33 statues are so perfect, solemn. All are not the same, esach bearing different names for different helps to us people beacause the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is the bodhisattva who save people all over the world.

The third is the begin of the Street. See the bamboo growing beside? And see all the bodhisattva's statue had planted bamboo. It matched the statues in harmony.

Later, till here.

Chinese New Year!!!!!

2009-01-24T14:04:00.002+08:00

Heya!!! It's been a long time since I write in here... school's reopened, and the classes have been occupying me ... I'm so happy now, cause now is HOLIDAY!!! Yea!!! Chinese New Year is two days later, so I got 10 days holiday!! Hooray!!!

Chinese New Year... for us children this 15-day (we celebrate CNY for fifteen days) is all about fun, food, money, gathering. Sounds fun??? Of course!!! Tomorrow we have the Reunion Dinner, which means every family gather together and eat together. Then we'll get ang pau (red money packet) and ... gamble. Harmless gamble.

I can't wait. I really, really can't wait. I just love Chinese New year for the fun and relaxation!!!
Cheers, bamboo.

Here's the next chapter for Lawrence Academy. Enjoy and comment!!

Chapter Nine - Trophy or no Trophy

Alexandra Olympus’s sprained foot news quickly spread over the school. Everyone felt the loss of the trophy already. The weather suddenly became cold and dark, and cast a gloom over the school.
Alex was the gloomiest of all. She hated herself for spraining her foot. She begged matron to have the leg cured more quickly, and poor matron, pitied Alex and sent her a doctor. The doctor told them best to rest and now Alex just lay there, did nothing. Once a merry self turned gloomy and glumly. She wanted no one to see her except only Jo and the matron. She sobbed in her sleep, sometimes punching her pillow, or mopping. Nothing could cheer her up. Everyone felt sorry for her except Dorene.
After the incident, Dorene found a gloomy Sally came out from the matron’s room.
‘Is Alex’s foot okay?’ she said worriedly.
‘No, it is not so okay.’ was Sally answered.
‘Really?’ said a little too excited Dorene.
‘Are you happy?’ Sally said so sharply that Dorene’s face flushed.
‘No. I just want to know who will replace Alex,’ said Dorene, a little too hopeful.
‘Ma’am Rodger will decide and leave me alone.’
* * *
The basketball player list was posted on the next Sunday. And Dorene’s name was on the list. People began to take hopeful views of the ‘new player’. Dorene practiced practically almost every spared hour she could find. She mumbled basketball in her sleep; she became ‘basketball crazy’. And once in geography, Madam Harrison, asked her to point out Columbia, she just pointed wildly and dreamily towards the basketball court she knew so well by now.
When the day of the competition was drawing nearer, everyone began to trust Dorene, the ‘Hopeful one’ was her nickname. People passed her, give her an encouraging smiled or whooped, ‘Go girl! Be sure bring the T-bag.’
The elder boys would say, (and quite meant it) ‘ “t”-bag’ instead of ‘trophy back’.
Finally, the competition day was here. The players with Madam Rodger and Sally Young went up to the little bus with many wishes and good lucks. Everyone sent their best to the players and waved and shouted till the bus drove away and couldn’t be seen anymore. Lessons that day were stopped. Everyone sat tensely on the grass patch near the school garden where the road was to be seen. The school never had been quieter. The students shot up to see at any sound, and three hours later, the team came back, as gloom as the cloudy day.
When everyone came down, Madam Minerva rushed to the group and said tensely:
‘Did we lost?’
Not a sound was heard, even the wind seemed to stop and listen.
Madam Rodger said heavily, ‘Yes,’
And everyone’s heart dropped.
‘Yes,’ she said again. ‘WE’VE WON BY A MILE!’ she cried suddenly and every basketball player laughed. Indeed they had won! Everyone cheered and cried and hugged. What a relief! Everyone was cheering until a student said,
‘Where’s the “hopeful one”? We wanted to thank her!’
Everyone became quiet again. And Madam Rodger said unexpectedly:
‘She sprained her leg.’

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-25T01:02:00.002+08:00

*Santa Claus is coming to town*
Merry Christmas, a thosand times over!!!

Wow, Christmas has arrived. It means this year is coming to an end...
It's quite sad, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm growing older! The age I'm moving forward to seems so unreal, and old. I know, I know, lots of people is WAY older and they didn't even complained. Sorry!!

So, what Christmas plans and resolutions??? I haven't thought of mine. I think I'll try to be more patient, do my work well, and just be... good.

Have to go. Here's the next chapter. Cheers!

Chapter Eight - Competition Again
After Alex had won the basketball competition, she and Jo went to the basketball court every day and played. Alex was a very good player and taught Jo. The sport mistress, Madam Rodger, decided to put Alex in the basketball team. Plus, she’s so tall that everyone thought that she’s an elder former!
Other girls sometimes came and saw or played with them. Evelyn George was always sitting on the bench, studying or watching at them. She never once played with the girls but at least she wasn’t grumping like Dorene.
Dorene played really bad indeed. She did not complain. But when she failed to score, instead, she threw dirty looks at everyone. And when good-nature Alex asked her if she wanted her to teach Dorene, Dorene flared up so much that she retorted back Alex unexpectedly:
‘Shut up. I can and will do much better than you without your coaching.’
They were quite amazed about Dorene’s queer attitude. But, she had acted like that before to Rose and now, to Alexandra. Dorene played very hard, and pled to be in the basketball team, but she still played badly. Even quiet Evelyn couldn’t stand it and said:
‘Dorene, let Alex coach you if you want to be in the team. You cannot get better on your own.’ said Evelyn sensibly.
‘Shut up. I want to do by my own. If you think you are much better than me, why don’t you play?’ said Dorene ungratefully.
‘I did not say that I’m better than you. And mind your manners,’ And Evelyn packed her bags and walked angrily away.
‘Dorene, what’s got into you?’ asked Jo angrily. For good-natured Evelyn never got angry often. ‘If you refuse to let Alex coach, just say it! No need to retort like that, do yo-‘
And the girls heard no longer, for Dorene threw the basketball to Jo so hard on her face that Jo’s nose started to bleed.
‘You-‘ cried astonished Jo.
‘Won’t you guys shut up? Can’t I do it myself? I’m fine without you all. Wonder what school is this! I just wish you guys could LEAVE ME ALONE!’ and Dorene stomped back into the grand castle.
Nobody spoke for a minute. Then, Alex remembered Jo was bleeding and took her to the washroom.
‘Wow!’ said an astonished Rose Black.
* * *
They had the same week again when Dorene was angry like she had got angry with Rose before. She had a new name for Alex - basket dork. She was unusually nice at first. She pulled the chair for Alex to sit but pulled even further away when Alex sat. Then Alex fell to the ground and Dorene laughed.
They thought she was sorry when Dorene brought a glass of orange juice to Alex. And when Alex drank, she spat it out almost instantly, for Dorene had added lots of pepper and salt. And when Dorene buttered a piece of bread, it turned out to have mustard and hot chili instead of butter. And now Alex refused to take anything from Dorene, even rubbers or pencils.
‘You never know what’s on them,’ said Alex to Jo.
The sports mistress, Madam Rodger, was very pleased that Alex was such a good basketball player and somehow heard about the argument of Alex and Dorene and wasn’t much pleased. She asked the sports captain, Sally Young, a nice and very tall fifth former to persuade Dorene not to bother Alex during practice but Dorene wouldn't budge. During practice now, Dorene kept shouting to distract Alex from scoring and found out it did not have any effect on either other basketball players or Alex and Jo. These days, Jo was very protective of Alex, however, Dorene didn’t give up trying, she kept calling names, somehow acted quite like a baby.
One Saturday evening in the cozy common room, while every one was doing homework, playing or fooling around, nobody seemed to be worrying, or too lazy to think. It’s one of the ‘weekend moods’. But Alex felt restless and went out to the basketball court to play basketball alone. She didn’t know that someone was following her quietly. When she arrived at the basketball court, she nearly scared out of her wits when suddenly a familiar voice spoke so differently in the shadow:
‘Alexandra, I wish you could teach me the real way to improve me in basketball, please, would you?’
The sky was quite dark and Alex knew the voice, although Alex was really amazed but she still spoke quite bravely:
‘Dorene?’
Dorene stepped out of the shadow and Alex saw her face was wet.
Wet?
‘Oh, poor Dorene, did you cry? Of course I’ll teach you! Poor Dor. Dry your tears and come. I’ll teach you and you’ll improve greatly than you can be in the team,’ comforted Alex, who heart melt in every sorrow sign.
‘Alex, oh Alex! I received such a scolding from Ma’am Minerva. I thought I could have died of sorry towards you! I’m sorry!’ and Dorene clutched Alex and sobbed in Alex shoulders, which now Alex’s heart was so soft that she was afraid that her heart would just break. Neither any of them noticed Jo, as still as a tomb, standing unblinking behind them, looked very stern.
A few minutes later, Jo just stood at there, never moved a muscle and finally, whose heart couldn't stand any sign of crying, walked noiselessly away.
* * *
Last week Dorene treated Alex like an invisible person, or more likely, a person who had many good names to be named. But this week, this particularly week, Alex was a god.
Dorene showed her regret of how she treated Alex last week by taking everything for Alex, kept Alex always to herself and once even mended Alex’s socks. Everyone was happy to see the new Dorene and was quite surprised the improvement of Dorene in one week. Everyone now praised Dorene. Yes, everyone, just except one, Josephine.
Jo had a special sense. She could sense people that were dangerous, wicked, and cunning, or honest, truthful, or maybe a teaser. She felt that Dorene had another plan, but did not mention anything. She watched Dorene silently, afraid that harm would come to Alex. It did, however.
One breezing afternoon, Alex was teaching Dorene as usual, and Jo was working on mathematic. Jo was concentrating so hard that she did not notice anything. Sally Young, the sports captain was watching over the two girls, correcting their movements and praised them. When Jo was in the middle of the toughest question, a piercing scream was heard.
‘What's the-‘ she startled and found instead of playing basketball, Alex was crouching on the court.
‘Alexandra!’ Jo scrambled to help Alexandra and found her moaning in pain.
‘Come, I’ll take you to matron,’ said Jo and Alex nodded.
‘Sally, come help!’ said Jo to the thunder-struck sport captain.
Together they left Dorene on the court and they helped poor Alex to go to the matron. When the matron, Madam Lance, checked the poor foot, she looked very grim and said:
‘Sally, when is the basketball competition?’ said Matron grimly.
‘N-not until n-next week,’ said Sally, felling bad news was coming.
‘I’m afraid that Alexandra can’t compete with St. George School. Her poor foot is the worst sprain I’ve seen.’

Careful and Caution

2008-12-15T21:12:00.004+08:00

Heya, folks!

Not much of news this week. Just home from my mother's work place, done painting the walls after, like, 4 hours. Thank goodness. But it is very fun. I know it's weird but I like to see little drops of paint splattered on my hands and hair. It's so nice!

Ok, I just want to tell you something, as a reminder.
Never sit on motors for fun, or anything. One dreadful news happened from a known friend. Let's just say it's so dreadful that I can't believe it. Just be very, very, very safe. It's better off don't ride it.

Ok, now's Chapter Seven. Please, enjoy.
Cheers!

Chapter Seven- A Pleasant Visit

September passed by quickly and Mid-October came. The whether was kind of windy, but nice also. Alex just liked to play basketball when it’s windy. But they were always boys around the basketball court that she didn’t want to play.
‘Why?’ asked Jo when Alex failed to play basketball five times a row, kept saying that there were too many boys around.
‘Boys just laughed at you, you know. ‘ and at that time, Angelina came into the dormitory and said that the third assembly in a month and a half would start in fifteen minutes.
Jo and Alex went to the Gathering block and discussed about the basketball court. They found the usual seats and waited the assembly to kick off.
As usual, that would be reminding that which club had started. And next month the basketball and the school paper: News in Lawrence would carry out its activities soon. Students who were interested in both clubs would have a meeting on Saturday. Jo saw that Alex’s eyes lightening up.
‘As a month and a half is over, and tomorrow will be the third week, and the Victoria Village visits will start at next Saturday and Sunday,’ said Madam Minerva. And everyone cheered. ‘We had sent letter to your parents and they agree to let each and everyone one of you may go. But you know the rules, get the permission from the head-prefects and co-head prefect first. Then, you may go.’
Every student was now all talking and planning what they would do when the day arrived. Madam Minerva motioned them to be quiet and continued,
‘But you must have at least one partner to go with. No one is allowed to go alone. If you did once, we gave warnings. And the third time, you will be banned from the trip to Victoria Village rest of the year. Clear? Now you may go planning everything you want to do. Dismiss.’
‘I wish to join the Basketball Club right away. But Victoria Village! My brothers all told me about it.’ exclaimed Alex excitedly.
‘You never told me you have brothers!’ said Jo. ‘ and I’ve told you every member of my family!’
‘Well, yeah,’ said Alexandra, smiling guiltily. ‘I have two elder brothers . Jack and Andrew, and a younger brother, Jacob, is still baby. Well, Jack is fifteen and Drew is thirteen.’
‘Drew?’
‘We never call Andrew "Andrew". Just Drew.’
‘Oh, how funny,,’ said Jo. ‘Anyway, want to go to the village?’ asked Jo.
‘Do you need to ask?’

* * *

The week crawled ever so slowly when every student was waiting impatiently for the exciting day. Finally, it was Friday. Poor Peter Black and Lisa Hildegard were so busy to mark down those students who wanted to go to Victoria Village that they nearly forgot to mark themselves down. And as Saturday came, everyone was chattering as happy as a lark. The first-former followed the elders to Victoria Village by walking a nice road. Along the road there would be one or two squirrels in sight, some birds were chirping excitedly as if to say ‘Welcome to Victoria Village!’ Trees planted along the road, starting to fall leaves.
When they walked further, suddenly, a sign said that they had arrived the village. Jo felt as if she just entered a new world than the busy London she had been during the summer days. The Victoria Village now was far more different than the one she passed on her first day of school. The weather before was quite hot, but now the wind was breezing coolly and the scenery was picturesque. Jo felt she could stand there all day long.
As they walked along, the villagers talked and laughed. If the villagers are wearing 80s clothes, I’ll surely be mistaken that I’ve just enter the days of the book of Little Women, thought Jo.
‘Where shall we go?’ asked Alex, who was enjoying the scenery as much as Jo.
‘My brother Scott told me about a candy shop. I’ve almost forgotten,’ said Jo mournfully.
‘I know!’ cried Alex suddenly that made Jo jump a mile. ‘I know! The Patterson’s Candy Shop right? Old Jack told me. He went all dreamy and demanded Dad to stop the car. Dad said no and he looked so crestfallen,’ said Alex.
‘I can help you,’ said a familiar voice behind them.
The girls turned around and saw Jonathan and some boys.
‘Oh, Jon. Thank you. We were quite lost in this new place,’ said Jo, gratefully.
‘I see. These are my friends. No need to introduce them. But, guys,’ said Jon and he turned to his friends. ‘This is my sister Jo and her friend Alexandra. Drew, your sister, right?’
And Jo saw a boy with curly brown hair and brown eyes nodded. This was one of Alex’s brothers and Jo finally saw him.
Alex grinned to his brother and his brother kissed his sister’s cheek. Alex began to talk so fast that Jo couldn’t follow what she said. So, she turned to his own brother instead.
‘Could you take me to the candy shop? I’m dying to see it.’
* * *
What a shop! Practically the whole school had crammed into the old, but very sweet smelling shop. As Jo looked around, there were candies in every tiny corner and the workers there were so kind and nice looking. Jonathan pointed out the Patterson’s members and said that three generations before had already started this candy shop in this very place. It had already been the sixth generation now. He showed Jo old Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, the younger couples, who were old Patterson’s three sons and wives and two daughters and their husbands. And the grandchildren, six of them in a row were helping this candy shop.
Jo was amazed and knew at once why Scott had been so dreamy that day. She looked around, taking deep breathe every time and smiled at Jonathan.
‘May we buy some?’ asked Jo.
‘May you buy some,’ corrected Jon. ‘You know I’m allergic to chocolate.’
It was true. Once when Jon was three, he ate a little piece of chocolate cake and he had bright, red and terrible itchy spots all around his body. And once when five he ate chocolate too and he turned so itchy that Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter had to take him to the hospital and he knew the sad truth that he was allergic to chocolate.
‘At least you still can eat peppermint and other sweets without chocolate in it,’ said Jo and Jon nodded. Jo looked around, having a very hard time to choose and finally bought some chocolates with marshmallows and raisins in them.
Jon took Jo to a lake and saw Alex and his brother. Alex looked really happy about something and told Jo it was a good news. After they had enjoyed enough in the village and had eaten a lot of delicious food, feeling satisfied and very happy, they finally dragged themselves back to their dormitory. Alex only told Jo her good news:
‘Drew has promised that I can play basketball alone very soon,’ she said excitedly.
‘Well, hopefully so.’ she replied, cheerfully.
* * *
A week later, Alex came in red and puffy, holding a basketball in one hand. She looked very pleased with herself.
‘I had a competition with the boys and I won!’

Twilight

2008-12-04T01:04:00.003+08:00

Ok, here's a news: well, not actually a news. it's just my news.
I've seen Twilight the movie.
I know, I know. It's no big deal. But it's big deal to me. I loves Twilight. I adore the books. I've probably memorise the books by heart.
To you guys IF you don't know what a Twilight is.
Twilight is a series of books written by a American writer, Stephenie Meyer. This series consists of:
~Twilight
~New Moon
~Eclispe
~Breaking Dawn

It is about a vampire love a human girl. Anyway, I'm not going to write a whole page of what's the book, see it for yourself. Here's a line only: I love the books.

Okay?
He he.

Anyway, those who haven't read yet... see the movie!!! Though the movie had changed slightly than the book, it's still fantastic!
Ok, here's another chapter...
Cheers!

Chapter Six~ What happened to Rose and Dorene

When everyone filled out of the auditorium, Jo raced beside Rose and Alex was right behind.
‘Your brother is a head-prefect, Rose?’ panted Jo, walking beside Rose.
Rose stopped and looked at Jo and Alex, then she nodded.
‘Oh. Why don’t you tell us.’ asked Jo.
Rose paused for a second and said unexpectedly. ‘I don’t want anyone to ruin my life.’
Jo and Alex stared hard at her. And Alex quickly recovered and said hoarsely, ‘What? Ruin your life?’
Rose nodded in a sad smile and repeated, ‘Yeah, Ruin my life.’ and walked away.
* * *
The past few days Rose seemed become rather quiet. And Dorene Craig seemed always wanted to find a chance to insult Rose in front of everybody. One day while everybody was peacefully finishing their homework in the first and second year common room, Dorene suddenly said loudly,
‘Well, Rose. Didn’t see you at dinner today, did you go to tell tales on anybody that you dislike?’
It was true that Rose wasn’t at dinner that day, she was with Jo and Alex by the brook near the school ground. Little Rose wasn’t a person that looked like to tell tales every now and then. So, everyone in the common room looked up at Rose in surprise.
Jo looked at Rose, thinking that Rose would retort something back to Dorene but she didn’t. She just went back to her writing and kept silence.
Jo saw that everyone was still looking at Rose, Jo finally spoke up,
‘Rose, Alex and I went to the brook since we were still full. We decided to eat supper later. So we didn’t have any dinner,’ said Jo.
Everyone now looked at Jo. Even Dorene. But after a few seconds, Dorene said, but under her breath,
‘Probably to have a chance to tell off people,’ which only poor Rose can hear. Then, Dorene added loudly,
‘Oh, I see.’ And everyone went back to work.
Rose now was nearly shut herself up in the dormitory. And when every time she packed up her things to go up to the dormitory, Dorene would said,’ Good night, tale-darling.’ Dorene’s attitude towards Rose was really odd these days. She kept calling Rose tale-tatter every time she met Rose. Finally Angelina couldn’t stand it and threatened Dorene if she called Rose names again, she’d report to Madam Minerva. That shut her up.
Jo couldn’t figure out why Dorene Craig was still mean-looking to little Rose wherever she saw her. A week later, Dorene suddenly sat beside her one day at dinner while Jo was watching Rose.
‘Still fond of that girl?’ asked Dorene when she approached Jo.
Jo jumped and said,’ What makes you think that?’
‘I noticed that you always look at her or help her. Come on, she got a brother who is the head-prefect. She could just simply ask him and get all the benefits from him.’
And that exact moment Rose rose up from her seat not far away from Jo and ran out of the dinning room. Alex followed.
‘You see!’ exclaimed Dorene as Jo stared blankly at Rose’s place. ‘You see! She probably goes and finds her brother and said “Oh, brother. That Dorene Craig still insults me! Please punish her, or better, tell Ma’am Minerva.” ‘ said Dorene in a faked squeaky voice.
‘Well, if you know she will do this, why do you still do so?’ said Jo quietly.
Dorene looked up at Jo in surprise. She had not thought of that while Jo rose up from her seat and went back to her dormitory.
While Jo went back to her dormitory, suddenly Rose’s words on the day of the assembly flashed in her mind, ‘I don’t want anyone to ruin my life.’ And Jo understood why Rose didn’t want to be a head-prefect’s sister. She couldn’t believe there were some people that were actually so easy to be jealous like Dorene. When Jo arrived at her dormitory, she banged the door to enter because she wished to shake Dorene, and immediately she wished she didn’t do that.
Alex was standing uncomfortably beside Rose’s bed while Angelina was looking sorry at Rose, who was in a boy’s lap. And that boy was Rose brother, the head-prefect.
When Jo banged the door, all four of them looked up and Jo blushed so hard that she couldn’t blush any redder. She saw Rose’s tear-stained face quickly dropped back into her brother’s lap and the head-prefect smiled at Jo and said, ‘What the rush?’
Jo was tongue-tied. What she managed to say was, ‘I thought boys are not supposed to come to girls’ dormitory?’ and right away she wished she just could keep her mouth shut.
But Peter just smiled at her and said, ‘I had permission from Madam Minerva.’
‘Oh.’ was all Jo could say.
Peter turned back to comfort his sister and Jo stood beside Alex. She looked at the sobbing Rose and Peter; Peter was looking a bit troubled. When Rose finally cried out of tears and she fell asleep. Peter gave the girls a smile and walked out of the dormitory.
‘What is the time now?’ asked Alex suddenly.
Angelina turned white and said, ‘It’s seven fifteen. Classes ended fifteen minutes ago!’
* * *
It was the English class that Jo, Alex and Rose missed. It was lucky that Miss Luck just gave them a talk when Alex explained the reason that they were late. Miss Luck just reminded them not to be late anymore. And the girls said goodnight to Miss Luck when they left the classroom. Nobody said anything.
The next few days, Dorene didn’t speak to Jo and nobody said anything. Dorene didn’t speak to either Rose or Alex, though Dorene didn’t fight with them. Finally, Annette couldn’t take it and asked Angelina what had happened.
Angelina sighed and sat on her bed. They just had lunch and still had plenty of time to rest. She looked at Annette and said, ‘I won’t tell. I’m so sorry Anne. But maybe you’ll know later, or not knowing this matter forever. I’m so sorry that I could not tell you. But we must respect other people.’
Annette of course, was puzzled. So was Evelyn. They treated Rose normally, tried to make friends with the cool Dorene. Finally they gave up and that matter was soon forgotten.
But not for long.
A week after that, Angelina called Dorene to go to headmistress’s office. Angelina looked grim and Dorene was puzzled. And when Dorene came back with red-eyes while everyone was doing their home work in the common room, she walked straight to Rose and said in a loud, clear voice, ‘I’m sorry, Rose.’ She said bravely. And she collapsed into tears. Rose looked shocked for a moment, and then she comforted the crying Dorene gently, just like her brother did.
Later on when Rose and Dorene went up to the dormitory, Angelina told that Madam Minerva had a strict talk with Dorene. She was sure that Dorene wouldn’t do that again. But Jo was not too sure.

Our Life

2008-11-27T20:25:00.006+08:00

Just finish two great - and quite sad - books:

~ P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahearn

~ Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

I know lots of you read P.S. I Love You, and get a slight what's it's about. I'll still bother you about the slight synopsis: It's about how a girl passed her ten months without her husband. Her husband died in February cause of brain tumour. She was absolutely depressed and lived in a state of tears and haunt until her friend shook her from the "coma" (sort of like Bella in New Moon, if anyone had read it). Then, her husband left her ten messages that was to open for the next ten months, and she followed them all. Slowly she learns not to be sa, but cherised every minute she and her husband had passed.

Very inspiring.

Ways to Live Forever is about an eleven years old boy with leukaemia (or blood cancer) wrote a book about himself. He wrote his life, his best friend, his feelings and questions. Here are a few questions he wrote:

~How do you know that you've died?

~Why does got make kids get ill?

~ Does it hurt to die?

And so on. These are "Questions Nobody Answer". There's eight of them. I strongly recommend to read this book. It makes you (ok, me) to think questions like, if I die, what will my funeral be, or, if I had cancer, will I be as strong and aspositif as the boy? or I might write a book about myself.

I hope you guys are not bored by my long "speech", this is my longest post ever. I hope this will inspire you or something. This two books is about (again, there goes me) how to face death. Someone might be all sad, but it's normal, as say in P.S. I Love You, only how you face it.

So, guys, read this two books!!! (If you want you can borrow from me or something. Library, etc) And maybe give you a direction.

Love, the bamboo. Cheerios!

(here's Chapter 5 of Lawrence Academy. After the two books mine does sound boring...)

Chapter Five~ The School Assembly

The following week passed slowly. The morning of the second Monday that Jo came to Lawrence Academy, Angelina told them to go to the auditorium.
'Why?' asked Evelyn George.
'Because you are told to,' replied Angelina quite coolly. They now found out that Angelina did not like to talk much and less friendly than the other room-prefects. A friend told Jo that her room-prefect even gave them chocolates and helped them with the things that they didn't know. For instance, ‘where is my classroom located?’ Angelina just pointed the way and finished the things she's doing.
Jo, Alex, Annette, Dorene, Evelyn and Rose walked to the auditorium and found a place and sat down. The elder students were talking and chattering happily as if it was normal. The first-former sat tensely in a bunch. Then, a boy about sixteen or seventeen came out behind the stage and motioned the students to be quiet. The hall turned quiet almost instantly.
The boy then spoke, ‘Dear friends, welcome back. New ones, welcome! This is the second week you have been here. Now, I would like to welcome our beloved headmistress to have a talk to all of you.’ And a smart-looking woman wearing a black satin walked to the middle of the stage.
She looked at all students first, and she spoke warmly:
‘Good morning, dear students. Welcome again to Lawrence Academy. As this year head-prefect Peter Black has told you, I’m your headmistress, first-formers. You may call me Madam Minerva,’
She paused, looked at all the students, and talked again, ‘As you know there are five blocks here. There are Gathering Block, where you are now; Lesson Block, where you go study; Addition Block, where library and all kinds of labs are; Dormitory Block, where your dormitory is and last but not least, Sports Block, the flat one where you do all kinds of indoor sports. Every block has a way to another block. The newcomers will use by that in a few weeks time.’
She paused again, and suddenly called out, ‘Will Peter and Lisa come on the stage?’
The boy who went on the stage earlier and a pretty girl with red hair went on the stage.
‘They are Peter Black and Lisa Hildegard. They are this year head-prefect and co-head prefect. If you have any trouble, find them or the counselor teacher, Madam Thane and Miss Georgia. The discipline teachers are still Madam Easter and Madam Katherine. Madam Lance is still our matron-‘ and the elders all cheered. ‘Deputy Headmistress and headmaster are Miss Whither and Mr. Smarts. One more thing to be remember, my dears, ‘ Madam Minerva suddenly turned very serious. ‘Boys cannot go into girl’s dormitory nor could girls go to boy’s either. That is strictly forbidden. And that’s all for today. Meet you in another two weeks time. Assembly dismiss.’

My Story

2008-11-17T23:01:00.003+08:00

Here's the next chapter, guys! Sorry took so loooong. Got so enormously busy these days though it's holiday already... gotta help my mum with her works, and make me go oh-so-forgetful.
Anyway, here I am again, and hope you all will enjoy it. I know I am slow... sorry again!
Cheers-a thosand times!!!

Chapter Four ~ The First Night and Day

As they finished their lunch, Alex and Jo walked back to their dormitory. They chatted along the way.
When Jo and Alex reached their dormitory, they saw all the beds were loaded with bags and clothes. The other students must have arrived, thought Jo.
There were four other girls in sight, one of them had short but rather wavy blond hair which matched with the twinkle blue eyes, when she smiled, her dimples in each cheek showed that she’s a jolly person.
Then a girl with frizzy black hair and a pair of dark eyes looked like she was hiding a grave secret and was ready to burst any second.
One of the four girls was talking to Angelina. She had red hair and brown eyes and wore a pair of thick glasses. She looked sort of tired.
The last girl had blondish-brown hair and pale grey eyes. She looked simple and nice. She was unpacking her things and she looked up and saw Jo and Alex.
‘Hi,’ she said in a quiet but ringing voice. ‘I’m Rose Black. I come from a small country. I love there. What about you guys?’
Jo turned and looked at Alex. Then she said ‘I’m Josephine Sumpter. I came from Hertfordshire.’
‘I’m Alexandra Olympus from Hertfordshire, too. But we don’t live near. Our mothers are old colleagues, though.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ said Rose.
‘Nice to meet you,’ replied Jo and Alex.
‘Okay, okay. Everybody, look at me,’ said Angelina. ‘I have to tell you some rules and regulations of Lawrence Academy. Can all of you please pay attention? Thank you. Now, please introduce yourself to your roommates. But at first, let me introduce myself again. I’m Angelina Forest, call on me anytime if you have troubles. My class is Grade Two, Miss Marcia's class.’
The three other girls turned out to be Dorene Craig, the red hair and brown eyes girl, Annette Dale, the blond hair and blue eyes girl and Evelyn George, the frizzy hair girl.
Angelina told them that the first year bedtime was nine o’clock sharp. At nine-fifteen, everyone must be in bed. The morning bell rang at seven-thirty and all classes would be starting at eight- thirty sharp. Lunch would be at twelve and dinner would be at five. All classes would be finished at seven-thirty, and every Saturday morning there would be club meeting (‘If you enter any club,’ said Angelina.) ‘-and now is almost nine, get ready to sleep. All of you must be in bed when I come back. You must have enough energy for your first full day at Lawrence Academy.’ said Angelina and she went out.
The girls quietly prepared for sleep. Jo sighed to herself. What a day!
* * *
The next day, Jo probably shot out from the bed when the morning bell rang. She and the other girls except Angelina were making their bed. When everything was done, they went down to have their breakfast. Which, according to Jo, was tasty.
They went to their class at the third floor and waited for their teacher to arrive.
Eight-thirty sharp, the door opened and came a young looking teacher wearing a pink blouse and purple skirt into the classroom. Her mother-of-pearl earrings were dangling back and forth while she was walking. She, as Jo noticed the last, had pale, pale blond hair that was almost silver that tied back to a long pony tail and deep, watery blue eyes, which just suited her perfectly.
When she walked to the front of the classroom, she turned to the students and said in a soft, warming voice
'Welcome to Lawrence Academy, my dears. I'm Cynthia Luck, call me Miss Luck, for that I haven't married. I'll be your English teacher for the rest of the year. I'll now give you some instructions...'
*
'Miss Luck can talk,' said Jo as they went down for dinner. 'for a size so small like her, she sure can talk a lot!'
The girls just finished their lessons with several teachers and headed down for lunch. Every teacher gave out instructions to read the text books or did some work. Jo and Alex were exhausted for just only a day work. They slumped down to the chair and stared gobbling down their potatoes.
'Well, we still have an hour to go, then we shall rest.' said Alexandra.
'I don't think so,' said Jo while gobbling down a piece of lettuce. 'We still have to read the history of England, chapter one, do two pages of Mathematics, read the geography text book, chapter one. And we still have to read Science, too.'
Alexandra stared at Jo in a stunned look, 'You have memorized everything that all those teachers told us to do ? I’ve even forgotten that we have to do maths.'
'I don't know. I do have a good memory.' Now gobbling down three cherry tomatoes in one go. 'And we still have to do an essay “About Myself”,' added Jo to the horrified Alexandra.
'Oh my lord. I just hate teachers giving us work on Friday. I cannot play... Nothing. Why don’t you eat some chicken? It's tasty and... what is the matter with you?'
Jo face now turned to a horrifying look like Alex earlier.
'Sorry, but I don’t eat meat,' she said.
'Oh, I'm sorry,'
'Never mind. Just think that I couldn't bear to eat a cute little animal. What is the thing that you like to play? Maybe if we finish homework earlier, I'll play with you.'
'I want to play basketball,' she said softly. 'I love to play basketball.'
Now, it's Jo’s turn to be stunned. 'That's why you're tanner!' she said.
'Yeah. I know.' said Alexandra softly. 'I'm a very good athlete. When it was summer, I used to swim practically every day. I know it does sound like tomboy, but that's what I like.'
The rest of the dinner went through quietly. After that they went once more to Miss Luck's classroom to listen down the day’s homework. When they climbed into bed, it was just in time to sleep.

Freed at Last

2008-10-26T15:26:00.006+08:00

Finally, the torture of exams had ended. For me, at least.

I undergo a ministry test - for the fifteen years old (form 3) students. This is unavoidable. Well, you can. Just blew off the test and goodbye forever... not a good choice. Anyway, I have sacrifice almost months studying. The stuff just can't stick in my mind - neither do I bother about them - so... the test was finished two weeks ago. Thank goodness. I am bird out of cage now.

Here's another entry for the story. Enjoy.

Chapter Three~ The Olympus Family

‘Julius! How are you?’ ‘Pam, you do look tanner!’ ‘Where did you go in the summer?’ Greetings shouted all over the hallway as the Sumpters walked toward the registration desk. New students were checking themselves with the teachers.
Mr. Sumpter went up to the registration desk. He asked one of the teachers where Jo’s dormitory was. Then, Mr. Sumpter and Mrs. Sumpter took Jo to Room F-156. On the way to Room F-156, Mrs. Sumpter gave Jo advice about school and teachers. And soon they reached Jo's room.
As they went inside, there were seven four-posters beds in a row with little tables beside. And at the back of the room there were seven closets. And three shower rooms were beside the closets.
Then, they saw a girl with shoulder-length dark brown hair and green eyes talking to a mother with her daughter. The daughter had light-brown hair and dark eyes and a serious brown face. She stared at the girl and jumped when Mrs. Sumpter suddenly spoke:
'Ella! How do you do?' greeted Mrs. Sumpter to the girl's mother.
The mother turned around and smiled. 'Hello Ruby! This must be Josephine, right? Such a nice pleasure to meet you.'
'Yes, this is Josephine and this must be Alexandra. Come Jo, say hi to Mrs. Olympus and her daughter. We were colleagues when we studied in California.'
They exchanged greetings and the girl with green eyes spoke to them.
‘Will parents please go down to the dinning hall. I'll send them down when they are ready.'
'Alright. Meet you there.' said Mrs. Sumpter. And she and Mrs. Olympus went down to the dinning hall, chatting merrily.
'I'm Angelina Forest. I'll be your room prefect for this year. There are seven beds here, this one,' she pointed to the bed that was just beside the door, 'is mine. Both of you can choose your bed and closet, and you may unpack. After that, you may go down for lunch.'
Two of them nodded and Alexandra spoke to Jo. 'Er, where did you want to sleep ?'
Jo smiled at her and said 'That bed at the very end. Do you want to sleep the bed next to it?'
Alexandra serious face broke into a smile. She nodded and started to unpack.
Jo smiled to herself and thought: I have a new friend!
After unpacking, Jo and Alex went down to the dining hall to have their lunch. On the way to the dinning hall, they met three dark brown hair and dark eyes girls. Although they wore school uniforms, their hair styles and all those jewelry that they were wearing made them look older than twelve.
Suddenly, one of the brown-headed girls with pink rubber band spotted Jo and said in a you-are-such-a-low-down-person tone, 'Would you tell me the way to the dinning hall?’
Jo and Alex stared at her. Finally, Jo replied ‘Okay. Just-just follow us.’
Five of them went to the dinning hall and when they arrived at the door-way, the three brown-headed went off to find seats without saying anything to Jo and Alex.
‘How rude they were.’ said Alex when they found seats and taking chicken to the plates in front of them.
‘Yeah. But I can’t believe that she is wearing pink rubber band instead of blue.’ said Jo.
‘Maybe she thinks she’s so grown up that she does not have to follow school rules,’ said Alex thoughtfully. ‘But anyway,’ she continued. ‘The uniform here is nice. ‘
The girl's uniform of the Lawrence school is a white, long-sleeved shirt, a blue and gold-stripped plait skirt, a blue coat, knee stockings and black shoes.
‘Yeah.’ answered Jo.
The dinning hall was very noisy. Somehow, the students managed to eat and talk at the same time. There were parents talking to their children and left with red eyes. When Jo was eating grape pudding, Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter, Penelope, Edward and Scott with the Olympus came and said goodbye to Jo and Alex.
‘Bye Jo. Be good! Send a letter after your first week.’ said Mr. Sumpter.
Then Virginia came with tears stained face. She rushed to Mr. Sumpter and cried, mumbling ‘I want to leave! I want to leave! I don’t like here. Please let me go back home!’
‘Okay, okay dearie. You always like this when we leave. You know this place well. Call us if you need us, alright?' said Mr. Sumpter comfortingly. Virginia dried her tears and nodded. The adults left.

Just a chat

2008-09-07T19:30:00.003+08:00

Lo, folks. How's everything. To me, just simply freaky and tired.
Time passes like whirwind now. I feel very... how to say? Very out-of-place. In school was all about exams ans in home was all studies. Not stress-y, but I dislike this... life. Still, it's unavoidable.
So, how's everyone's life going on? I tired to be patient, but sometime it's just so hard. How to force your mind work hard? I'm not a very hard-working person by nature, so... help!!!

Cheers...?

My Story

2008-08-16T20:49:00.001+08:00

Chapter Two ~ The Lawrence Academy

‘I am ready!’ shouted Jo. ‘Hurry up, slowpoke.’
'Oh, right,' said Virginia, 'I am trying to. But the stupid trunk keep blocking my way,' she sounded near to tears.
'Okay, I'll help you and you take my school bag. But you have gone to Lawrence for years, still cannot manage the trunk?’ and she helped Virginia to take her trunk and Virginia walked behind Jo.
Mr. Sumpter was managing all three heavy trunks into two cars and said to the entire family when they went to Mr. Sumpter to put Virginia's trunk.
'All last minute checking has done and let’s go!' said Mr. Sumpter.
Six children and both Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter piled up to two cars and off they go.
'You know what, Scott,' said Virginia to Scott that was sitting in the front seat since Mrs. Sumpter was driving the other car. ‘I’m going to miss this big mansion, my cat and all those meal that Mum cooked. Especially jackets potato. '
‘I know,’ said Scott. ‘You always talked the same thing for years.’ And the family laughed.
'I,' said Josephine confidently. 'am not going to miss anything in the house.'
'Even Mum and Dad and Rover?' asked Jonathan. Rover was the Sumpter's collie. Jo loved dogs especially Rover.
'We-ell, except Rover, I'm not going to miss anything. I'm going to have lots of fun that I can get and keep myself busy with work.'
They went on and on and suddenly a village came into view.
'Hey! A farm!' cried Jo.
'That's Victoria Village.' said Scott.' You know what, you could come every first and third weekend and occasionally you can come to do a bit of cheering on the parade.’
‘What parade?’ asked Jo curiously but Scott just shook his head and said, ‘You’ll know.’
As they drove through the village, the shops there showed older and more the happier was Scott. When they passed through a sweet shop, Scott exclaimed:
‘That is it!’ he cried happily. ‘old Patterson’s Candy shop. I used to buy sweets and candy inside. There’s Mars bar, Kit-Kat’s, Butterfingers… Just think as you enter, the smell of sweet is already in your nose. And at the winter term, remember to drink the hot chocolate of theirs, it was deliciously warm and tasty.’
They laughed as they saw Scott’s dreamy face. He usually was a bit strict face and they hardly heard him said anything that was as interesting as that much.
‘We will stop there later if you want.’ said Mr. Sumpter. ‘I’m sure nobody will mind.’
‘Oh really?’ cried up Scott. ‘Oh thanks, Dad!’
About half an hour, the great, big four-tower castle came into view. Jo cheered up as Mr. Sumpter finally turn-off the engine and came down from the car.
‘Ol’ boy Lawrence.’ said Edward in a fake accent. ‘Miss ya’ terr’bly.’
They heaved their trunks and walked into the crowded hallway.

My Story

2008-08-16T20:47:00.001+08:00

Okay, this is the start of my story written 2006, finished 2007.
Hope you all will give comment.
Cheers**

Chapter One ~ The Happiness of the Family

‘It came! It finally came!’ cried Josephine Sumpter happily.
‘Jo! Indoor voice, please!’ said a deep, male voice.
Josephine Sumpter was a black hair and a green eyes twelve- year-old girl. She had three brothers and two sisters, who all attended a boarding school in South of Wales. Her eldest sibling, Penelope, was currently studying to be a lawyer. Edward, the second child in the family was now studying in a university in London. Then, Scott was studying to be a bone surgeon like his father. And came to Virginia who would be spending her third year in Lawrence Academy, the boarding school, while Jonathan would be in his second year. And at last, Josephine, the 'baby' of the family, who would be going to Lawrence Academy this year.
‘Oh right Ed. What are you doing, anyway?’ asked Jo.
‘None of your business, little sister,’
‘Hey!’
‘Hello! I’m home!’ came a voice from the front door. ‘Anything to eat, mother?’ added Scott, who was always hungry.
‘Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, dear. Jo? Tell Johnny to set the table. Your father will be back soon,’ said Mrs. Sumpter, who was in the kitchen with Penelope.
Jo obediently went up to Jonathan’s room and called him. He had been up in his room since the Lawrence school’s letter arrived.
‘What’s up, people?’ said Jo as she entered the room.
Jon’s look was as white as sheet. He looked up at Jo and said in a croaked whisper, ‘I’ve been made as a first year room prefect.’
‘Oh ho, congratulations, Jon. But… what is a room prefect?’
‘It’s a someone who takes care of the room of the younger students. For instance, I will be sleeping with the first year boys, like you, for the whole year. And check them their attitudes and work. If they do something wrong, it’s my responsibility,’ explained Jonathan patiently.
‘So, it’s some kind of students’ sitter, right?’ said Jo.
‘You can say so.’
Jo thought for a moment and said, ‘Oh, I almost forgot! Mum said set the table for dinner, let’s go!’
The two raced downstairs. While they were running, they talked about the heat of the summer sun and the fun they had during summer. Now that’s summer is almost gone, they do feel sad, but happy also since going to school is fun to them. When they reached the bottom, Jonathan held Jo for a moment and said, ‘Don’t tell anyone about the prefect thing yet. I will tell when they ask, okay?’ he looked hopefully.
‘Oh right. Quick or Mum thought we have gone to Greece or somewhere.’
They entered the kitchen as if nothing happened and set the table. Then the front door opened.
‘Daddy!’ cried Virginia.
A man with the same black hair as Jo but with blue eyes walked tiredly to the dinning room. He sat down, drank a glass of water in front of him and closed his eyes for a moment.
‘What is the matter, dear?’ asked Mrs. Sumpter. ‘Go on to have a bath. Something very good has happened.’
Mr. Sumpter nodded and got up to change. ‘Penny, ring the bell, please.’ added Mrs. Sumpter to Penelope, who was helping the kitchen all the time.
Half an hour later, the whole family sat down and enjoyed the dinner. It’s a day that everyone could sit together and talk happily like a family. Otherwise, some of them had classes or programs; or there would be children at the boarding school. The Sumpters were of course, very grateful to tonight’s meal.
‘My dear,’ said Mr. Sumpter to Mrs. Sumpter. ‘The thing you said earlier, about something good has happened, what is it?’ Jonathan’s face turned to deep shade of red.
‘Oh, it just that Jo has been accepted to Lawrence and…Jon? Why are you blushing?’ the mother’s eyes swept to Jonathan’s deep red face. And now, the face had turned to beet root red and his ears went pink. Jonathan had black hair and green eyes too, and he was a hunk, but he had too tender heart and was sensitive.
‘No. nothing... It just-I just -I oh!’ he sounded frustrated. ‘Okay. I’ve been elected to be one of the room prefects,’ and he pushed his chair away and left the dinning room.
Everyone stared at Jonathan, he was like that when he was young, always shy to tell anyone when he had achieved something. When anyone ask, he would answer, but would also leave that place. The Sumpters shook their heads and continued their dinner.

2008-08-16T20:31:00.002+08:00

My blog... It's very green. But I liked it.
This blog, my point is to post up my writings. I wish for comments to improve my skills,
to get ideas...
So you need to be generous about giving your comments!
Ah, bamboo green!
Cheers**