The very beginning of the next Singapore's largest tuition conglomerate could be today. :)  ¶

18:15 |

 

Hilarious SMS session with Kai Wei:
Kai Wei: Are you suchang or suan xiong? (anyway it's su chang and suan siong)
Me: i'm the more handsome of the two.
Kai Wei: Yup, i think you're suan xiong too.  ¶

23:06 |

 

Recently attained ability to "earn one's own keep" and manage my meagre earnings rekindled the old yearning for a dog. A trip to Pets Safari at East Point and a pet shop along Tanjong Katong Road instantly turned me into a molten marshmallow as the puppies, in Eve's words, "charmed my socks off". They are so totally adorable... i especially love this three-month old miniature shnauzer boy. And i hope nobody buys him before i do!  ¶

22:43 |

 

When Joline first asked me the poor NSF to fork out 12 bucks for a charity film screening, i was rather reluctant to part with my hard-earned cash. i wouldn't if i knew what was awaiting. Beyond Borders is one of the few serious attempts at depicting the true danger and hardship faced by relief workers all around the world, especially in war-torn areas. It is also one of those few movies that do not celebrate the Great Americanism and do not appease the audience with a happily-ever-after ending. However, the old restrictions of commercial films will never fail to apply. Beyond Borders just has to feature a cheesy love story and one-sided heroism. It is just too bad that the movie could have gone deeper. Well make that a lot deeper. Moreover, the role of Sarah Jordan might be brought across better by someone other than Angelina Jolie. i would prefer to see perhaps a weaker or more city girl kind of Sarah Jordan who grew inspired and strong through her experiences in Ethiopia and Cambodia, and who finally found her own courage to follow the love of her life to war-torn Chechnya. It is not to say that Angelina Jolie had not put up a plausible performance, but she is just slightly too masculine for this particular role. Of course, the NUS medicine faculty had made an excellent choice of film. It is very relevant to their cause of raising money for Cambodian children.  ¶

20:33 |

 

Just had another mathematics session with Sharon. As usual, had to teach her almost everything. She needs practice, practice, practice. My patience has been amazing during these times, perhaps it's because her attention never drifted away despite her not being able to advance even two steps without some assistance. Her mind is also rather messy, writing in numbers and symbols when and where she pleases. Her workings betray her broken trends of thought, without proper sequence and logic. But i enjoy teaching a willing student. i don't know why i write about her here. Maybe i have nothing else to write, and nobody knows who she is anyway. She is my little maths student who will one day make me proud. :)  ¶

23:28 |

 

Met a chatty old man at the bus-stop on my way home. He was kind of apprehensive at first, then mustering his courage, started the conversation. That amused me. He was very coherent also, understanding everything i said and giving sensible replies. And that made me like him. i like talking to coherent old men. Have you ever talked to incoherent old men or women before? Then you'd know how painful it can be. They could be taxi drivers, strange old folk sitting next to you at a coffee shop or even your economics teacher. Somehow their age imposes an invisible force field to make you stay put, but every second of the conversation you're looking for a quiet escape. That was why i was so relieved when that old man i met at the bus-stop outside Marine Parade library was so coherent. Even though he wasn't particularly interesting his coherence amused me till my bus came.  ¶

23:29 |

 

Passed out today to become a private. Brisk salute to Tekong before boarding the ferry for a one-way ride back to Singapore. Too much memories, too little words. No should-haves. This time, i have done my best.  ¶

13:29 |

 

Sent home last night on account of a 38.5-degree high fever. There goes my perfect record of no Att. C and no report sick... Anyway the fever was totally gone by the time i woke up this morning, so i'm now feeling guilty of slacking at home the whole day while the others were busy digging. And i hope nobody got bitten or stung by anything.  ¶

22:38 |

 

The Old Man And The Sea is every bit as good as when i first read it in its Chinese translation. And i finally found that line Hemingway said (actually the old man said it, but you know what i mean) - But man is not made for defeat... A man can be destroyed but not defeated - on page 89. There were a few symbolisms i couldn't understand though, the lions on the African beach for example. Anyone enlighten me?

Next project: poems by Pablo Neruda!

Passing out in four days. Think i'm going to miss my bunk mates? They are really a terrific bunch, without whom my BMT life would be totally a drag. i hope i've done just as much for them as they have done for me. And i hope i've been a good platoon i/c.  ¶

07:59 |