dancer

Coming Home

2011-11-14T01:22:00.000-08:00

Was planning to blog last Friday but went out to watch 那些年 which was quite unexpected but still good! So here goes…

As seen, my plan to blog everyday on the last week of school failed miserably, mostly because of all the Chinese revision going on –BUT Idid make a mental note to remember the significant events of each day, of course most importantly 4 Nov!!

Wednesday (2 Nov)

Had Grad ceremony briefing after probably 4 hours of Chinese. Ms. Chia returned our edited class speeches so Xiang Xuan and I decided to stay back and edit it there and then. It was waaaaaaaaaay too long so most of the time was spent cutting it.

We had so much difficulty writing the thank you parts to the teacher, especially for Mr. Tan Liang Hooi. Most of the time we thought of stupid stuff and laughed like mad, like thanks for the pigeon shit story you told us and turned all of that in jokes. But I did realize how important Mr.Tan was to our class, perhaps due to the significant impact he had on defining 302. How many memories he had left us with. Finally came up with something short, sweet and precise as well. It was a good thing we didn’t laugh during the class speech because of all the inside jokes. That would have been bad.

Thursday (3 Nov)

Class outing to ECP!! Hmm... Though it rained quite heavily, but we still made the most of the trip? Memorable moments included when we took turns to drive the “pink thing” Beverlyn and Xiang Xuan rented. If I had enough money, I would rent that the next time…

Let the pictures do the talking…

I know probably no one from 402 reads this blog so I can write this here. Well, I used to complain a lot about 402, saying that I really never fit it anywhere and I didn’t like the feeling of the whole class? But Thursday made me realize that I did find some really great friends in that class and maybe I couldn’t see that before. But just to sum everything up, I’m really happy that I was a part of 402, for 2 wonderful years. Besides the teachers we had, I think it really hard to find a class where there are no major (or perhaps none at all) conflicts, bitching and so on…

Rushed back to school after the outing to 10 minutes of CCA-watching and a quick dinner, gift-getting session for Rachel gan, at coro with Chermaine. Man, when was the last time we had a batch dinner together after cca at coronation…

Watched dramafest later on. Though it was a commendable effort, dramafest definitely needs a break through. Not everything emo is worthy of portrayal on stage, as meaningful as the themes may be, especially not when like 75% of classes chose depressing themes. 202’s Nodalbrink was good just simply for the fact it was a comedy and 206’s Alice was something different and very well-rehearsed as well. GOOD JOB SEC 2s!!!

Stayed up till 12+ that day to rush out most of my notes..

Friday (4 Nov)

Part 1: Morning Events

Last day of school started with incomplete opomou thanks to one moumou… Went to the studio at 7.10 and got a super sweet and meaningful gift from our little NYMD family. Apparently, Weifen and Lihoung went geylang to get it hahahahaha.

Another reminder of why I’d miss Nanyang so much. Thank you juniors for making that day right from the beginning!

Morning assembly in the hall with a closing done by Mdm. Heng that was fine, just didn’t like the fact that she loaded us with stuff about J1 academic stuff. Level closure was by Mrs. Phua and felt a little sorry for her because many people were talking away. Then gave out model student awards and finally the most iconic part of every level closure we’ve been through for 4 years- - the montage!!! All the better, 3 of the songs were NYMD songs and they were the more symbolic ones as well. Halo and Firework, all batch 11 dances, one being the first and the other being the last :’) whoever chose the songs is awesome!!!! Just wished some batchmates were seated around
me so I could have sung them with them.

Next was farewell ceremony. Started with the screening of the new corporate video which was a little… I don’t know, but NYMD part was super cool and I am so glad that we’ve finally got a footage that truly represents our style.

Followed by the bye-bye pal thing, which was also when I tear up for the first time that day. Thanks Chen Li Houng, though I know you won’t read this, for really a super meaningful good-bye gift which now sits on top of my cupboard amidst all the NYMD things and bits of pretty gifts. Nanyang bear is really cute and lovable, besides the fact it sheds a lot of fur…

Part 2: Last Recess in Nanyang

Last recess in Nanyang, also our last batch lunch in Nanyang, outside our second favourite place in Nanyang (quote gan), outside the dance studio. Later on, 4 of us went into the studio and just sat there, feeling the homely feeling of the studio, how beautiful it was although it had no fanciful lighting or perfect floor, just one spot of orangey light in the middle. It was probably the last time we could ever enter the studio anytime we wanted to.

And this picture I took last year still never fails to make me feel nostalgic.

From Chermaine’s blog:
I couldn’t help but tear up when I recollected the times that we danced on that floor with nymd, the times that we slept on that floor during camps or before performances, the times that we were noob dancers dancing raj's feedback in the worst ways imaginable, the times that we dropped hair all over and the times that we did our makeup together in that hexagon, the times that we would dim the lights to collect our emotions…. So many precious memories were created on that floor and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I just wish we had more time.
I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything in the world.

Part 3: Class Closure

Basically report books and graduation certificates were issued. And according to my height and weight measurements, I gained 6kg this year hahahahahahaha, probably due to all the conditioning… Spring cleaning was as heart-warming just like every year. I don’t know, there’s just something about everyone working together to leave a clean classroom for the next batch, taking off all the notice board papers and staple bullets together that gives a really nice feeling. Still remember so clearly spring cleaning back in 2009 with 202, looking forward yet fearing another 2 tough years in Nanyang…

Part 4: Gan’s Birthday Celebration

One of the highlights of the day! And it was more like a pre-celebration hahahahaha. Rach kept whining about wanting to go home or something, so we had to change plans and decided to surprise her when she got back to school in her hongzi. Met at 1pm at 402 classroom to finish off the cards, photo album and finalise the plan. Thankful to the Chinese Dance juniors who allowed us to use the studio for a while to surprise gan.

And so when she finally appeared in the studio under the impression that we were prac-ing steps there, we tried to dance around the studio to create a “magical feeling” without stepping on the cake in the middle of the dance floor, but obviously failed. Gan in her hongzi was… FUNNY.

Hmm, so we cut and ate the cake outside the studio and gave her the seriously last minute photo album (which we’ve yet to settle the $$$ for ahem). Pre-mini-surprise was a success and I bet she was convinced that that was all muahahahahaha.

With nothing left to do for about 2 hours, we played hide-and-seek. Sought (?) which Xinyi for two rounds and we both agreed that seeking was quite fun, just for the fact that we didn’t have to hide in stuffy, weird corners and garner confused stares. For one round, we hid in the staircase area leading to the car park. Ms. Tan and Mr. Koh and some other LA teacher walked past and were like what the crap are you guys doing. And they couldn’t believe us when we said that we were in fact playing hide-and-seek, funny.

Camped in the library red spot room (which was also the first time I entered the room! :0) for a while because we were all sweaty from playing. Finished off my cards and folded roses while they played poker cards.

Part 5: Graduation

From LT1 to the hall… Many things happened. Some memorable things included Mrs. Wong’s touching speech that made me tear up a little… Singing the school song for the last time…The star wars music when the graduands entered the hall which was filled with cameras flashing away in the parents’ hands, will never forget Cassmain saying, “I feel like I’m in Hogwarts” LOL.

Class speech went fairly well I guess, though it exceeded the time limit a little. Xiang Xuan and I were both experiencing upset stomachs and sweaty palms before that, perhaps we both knew that this speech was pretty important, although the audience may not have listened. Oh, I’m also really pleased that I received my “graduation scroll” from the hands of Zhang Laoshi!

Was really touched that some of juniors were helping out with the ceremony and saw us graduate from NY :’)

The formal ceremony ended with a touching and somewhat personal speech by Zhiping and Ang Jie, the singing of the graduation song and an NDP song “Home”. Everything that happened after passed really quick (just like how my whole life in NY did): Looking for teachers to take photos, eating my dinner in the 402 classroom for the first and last time, meeting Haoqing’s and many other parents, and finally helping some of the teachers to rearrange back the canteen tables and benches. It was a really great way to end the Nanyang journey, moving all those benches and sweating it out, night-time work out! Cher and I clung onto opomou table for a while. Sigh, old place…

A beautiful school compound, the place of many unforgettable memories that need no elaboration. The place where I met so many friends I’ll never want to lose for life and teachers I’ll always be grateful for. I loved Nanyang even before I became a part of it. I was desperate to get in when I came for the Open House, and even when I failed the DSA entry.

And now, we’ve all become alumnus of Nanyang and I guess the perfect sentence to express how I feel (and how we all feel) about NY is:

I’m proud to be a Nanyang girl.

2011-11-05T08:18:00.001-07:00

4 years have passed.

And I've officially graduated from Nanyang.

Write more soon..

Movement is question

2011-11-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

Day 2 over today, left with 3, 4 and 5.
Not good. And it only gets worse for a sentimental kid like me hahahhahahaha..

Highlight of the day (I sound like cher lol) was doing up n___ b____ with B11. Ok I doubt any j_____ read my blog, but yeah. So great to see B11 again although it was only half of the entire batch? Last time something as happy as this was batch outing. Seriously, from now onwards it's gonna get harder and harder to keep all 16 of us together with all the various commitments streaming in, but we'll all try our best I believe :) And I'll pray everyday.

Nothing much all the way till during subject combination talk by HCJC teachers. Small presentations squeezed into 1 hour - Not a good idea... My brain was like fizzled meat by the end.
Dilemma between KI+econs or CSE right nowwwwwwwwww. Hopefully I get my decision soon!!

After school, lunch with racher. Then it's dance studio with rach and xy.

Before that, xy bought her lunch from the jap stall in the canteen. She bought "PIM PIM PAK" (according to the sign) omg hahahhaha. Drama fest tickets sold out :((((( what a bummer...

I can't remember what we talking/singing (albert songs?) about but I laughed so hard that I had a stitch, was gasping for air and had tears in my eyes. Haha we're just so weird today. Managed to sneak into the studio costume closet and we just lazed around, listended to HS's podcast in the dark which is intriguing and inspiring at the same time. Work a little bit more on the ahem, I think it's not bad :)

Gonna miss going to the studio anytime after school everyday...

Addicted to rolling in the deep thanks to rach.
We could have it aaaaaallllllllllllllll, rolling in the deeeeeeeeeeepppp

If you lose a moment, you might lose a lot

2011-10-31T05:54:00.000-07:00

Got my title from a song I randomly started humming to myself today.
Turned out to be some really ooooooold song, Why Not by Hilary Duff.

Goes something like this:
Why not take a crazy chance?
Why not do a crazy dance?
If you lose a moment, you might lose a lot...
So, why not? Why not?

***

Term 4 Week 10 began today and I made a promise to myself to (try and) blog every single day. I know some people really dread this week, with all the last minute chinese overload and crap, but to me, it's probably a week to remember. I just wish the end doesn't come to fast, though we all see it approach us as fast a ever. So yeah, I thought that I might as well face it with positivity :) After all, it's not a permanent finish line but a... I don't really know what it is...

Am so glad that my week started out with opomou (wow first time I used this term on my blog) and CCA. Denise gave us lemon-flavoured sponge cake which was damn good, seriously. The love of juniors. The rest of the day went by fine I guess, with ineffective chinese lessons in between because Zhang Laoshi wanted to (direct translation from chinese) "melt" in the comp lab. Important event was SA and overall marks checking?

Ah well, I'm already super extra pleased with my marks this time round. Am happy that I proved to myself that my good grades in the past were not always based on "luck", which I forced myself to believe so that I'd never become a cocky banana. I may not have gotten msg 1.00 but who cares, I never expected it and I don't really want to. It's just not who I am.

Another interesting incident, Rach and I went library to cool our sweat (ahem) after the stuffy chinese lesson in the com lab and turns out she left her pencil case in the lab. So we climbed back 2 storeys and when we stepped into the com lab, turns our I left my MD JACKET THERE TOO OH THE HORRORS OF LOSING MY JACKET.

And this reminds me of how much my MD jack has been through with me ever since the end of sec 1... SYFs, I.D., countless lessons, my makeshift pillow when I fall asleep in bio (oops), freezing bus rides and of course EOYs in the hall. I love my jacket :)

Watched The Big Bang Theory in class before CCA, even Mrs. Tan was laughing though it was kinda awkward with Zhang Laoshi there due to all the sexual references... Watching BBT with 402 will definitely be something I will miss!!!! Nerds unite!!!! (okay, not exactly)

CCA was as homely, as comfortable, as satisfying as usual. Seriously, NYMD, no matter where or when gives with the greatest sense of belonging and acceptance.

We did a new floor routine and a spinning set that was short and sweet. I like how Laoshi's always soooooo innovative and we never know what to expect from her, really. Old yy's 3-count set and across the floor routine that was so whoosh and fun.

To be honest, I never really feel like I've really really REALLY left NYMD. Perhaps due to fact that I've been going back to CCA so often, or perhaps being part of NYMD is imprinted in me and takes time to remove...? But I'm sure more things, happy or sad things, will all start to hit me when Friday comes.

So that was my Day 1 of "the week we all graduate". Hopefully when Day 5 arrives, I'll look back on the past five days and see that I'm left with no regrets.

Still wondering if I should write farewell cards... but to whom...?

***

Sometimes, I seriously wonder how time passed so fast, as cliche as it sounds. It's so surreal. I could just sit there and ask myself, did I really go through 2 SYFs, did I.D. really happen, did OBS really happen, did I really experience Graces? The list could go on and it never fails to leave be baffled, over how all those events and memories were squeezed into a period of 4 years that seem to feel like barely a year now. Lying on the dance floor during cool down today after CCA with my eyes closed, for the first time, I was so sure that I've never felt such a great sense of reluctance before.

Why not take a crazy chance?

For the dancers who inspired me

2011-08-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Ever since SYF 2011 and Hurry. Hurry? came to an end this year, the word “farewell” started lingering around. The f-word that everyone tried avoiding but knew would come one day. For the sec fours, we all knew so well, it would be the only farewell in which we wouldn’t be involved in all the planning…

如果没有这个离别会, 我还没感觉你们要离开 – Laoshi

We all knew so well what we couldn’t avoid, and the end of FOA, where we were all bundled together crying our hearts out really was like the last station before the train terminates. The last milestone we had with our lil’ NYMD family A family we grew so attached to over the years.

Yesterday marked the last day Batch 11 walked the floors of the dance studio as NYMD dancers. I know there’s this whole thing about being NYMD alumni, losing a CCA but losing a family… but deep down in my heart, I still believe I’m an NYMD dancer. Nope, not “I was an NYMD dancer”.
Nothing will change that fact.

***

Not all of you guys may know, but I wanted to join this CCA known as “Modern Dance” ever since I came for the open house in 2007. My father and I went to the dance studio, the same dance studio where I had my most memorable moments years later. Saw the multiple mirrors, the orangey lighting that I grew so accustomed to later. I wanted to come to Nanyang so badly and I wanted to join Modern Dance.

Sec one, CCA selections came along. I remember seeing Eunice come to the 102 classroom in the MD jacket, but I was too shy so I didn’t ask her anything, haha! I remember the day where the CCA results were released, I was jittery all day. I couldn’t help feeling fearful of… being allocated to a CCA I never was interested in, like as if it’d ruin my entire NY life. The bell rang, I flew from the 1-02 classroom on the 4th floor to the canteen board with all the lists and names. Bobbed around at the back and tried looking past the 50 over heads in front of me. Then I saw the words of conviction beside my name – Modern Dance. I think I was so excited and thankful that my hands were cold and shivering slightly.

I decided to look for some of my future batchmates. Managed to find only one – Quah Ying Clare. Gave up in the end as people were all nudging their way through.

That day as I went home from 3rd lang, it had just rained super heavily. I was coming down a flight of steps in the HDB area, fantasizing about NYMD. Whether I was smiling to myself I didn’t know, but the next thing I know I was tumbling down that flight of steps. When I sat up again, now at the bottom of the flight, I was covered in cuts and water with two other Nanyang girls and an old aunty hovering around me, asking me if I was alright. The day ended with me telling my dad on the phone that I was “covered with blood”, so he brought me to NUH. The next day, I went to school with patches of plasters, cotton blah all over my legs, elbows and hands. Nanzhongquan hurt quite bad that day… And I was still telling everyone with pride “I GOT IN NYMD YEAH”. Everytime I think about this, I can’t help but burst out laughing. But oh well, I never ever fell on stairs for the next four years from that day onwards. It was a day to be remembered 

I remember so clearly going to the Science department the next day to look for Ms. Jocelyn Goh because apparently we were supposed to meet our teacher I/Cs once we knew our CCA. Was at the telephone when the girl in front of me using the phone said, “…Hi Ms. Goh…supposed to meet you…Joy Wong…Modern Dance”. I tapped her on the shoulder and told her I was from Modern Dance too, feeling damn excited.

Soon, as a batch of 18 at first, we entered the NYMD family, blurry faced and being the victims of wacko. The only name I could remember was Joy. Saw Karyan and felt slightly scared of her, haha! The rest was really a blur. All I can picture was us, Batch 08 09 10 11 sitting around the Siew May statue outside the auditorium doing self-introductions and wacko. Then they headed on to prepare for the production, HFOS II.

One day on the way to tuition, suddenly the girl beside me on 171 turned to me and asked me if I was from Modern Dance. She said she was Jermaine (whom I sadly couldn’t remember then lol) and soon she became the first batchmate I became close to in B11. That day, we studied together in the food court and went to the same class.

Probably a few weeks later, after a few Raj lessons have passed, Jerm and I went heading to our class again and saw Rachel Gan (or then, the girl who got scolded for laughing in dance WAHAHA) standed outside the classroom, head buried in books.

Raj lessons passed really quickly for the next months. HFOS II, I must say was still memorable – the first time I wore (a senior’s) NYMD jacket, the first time I saw the Batch 08 cry on stage, and I never really understood why.

The faithful day came when we were informed that we were having a switch in instructors. And rumours spread said that NYMD was gonna become more “ballet-based” (SO WRONG). When I first heard that, I was like yeah right… But soon enough, Cher and I were complaining to each other over msn, things like – Wth ballet based…. Totally not the same as sec 1 mini concert… SHE TEACHES IN CHINESE?!?!?

(Ah I feel like smacking the head of my sec1 self PIAK).

The first lesson with, the new instructor came and we all learned with reluctance that she was called 刘老师. She told us to wear leotard and jazz pants (what the heck was that?) for CCA from then on and remember to *ahem* at night before every CCA. She showed us some of her past works, works that I couldn’t comprehend with my artistically shallow brain. She asked us to go the floor and get up within 8,4,2 then 1 count. She brought in the simple cannon warm-up exercise and grouped us according to our birthdays.

Days after that were filled with intense technique training in our leojazz which started to get holes in the buttocks area. Out of which included a super painful rolling exercise which Jo and Veena taught me in the rooftop hall one break. Hello bruises and I remember my mum tsk-ing everytime she saw them. We did floorwork, the contractions which seemed so awkward then. We did three count, which trained the fluidity of our movements. We did the slide, the same slide that got revived just weeks before our farewell. We did moonwaker, which is almost instinctive now. We did a “hiphop-like exercise” which we all loved because of the powerful beats of the music. Laoshi taught exercise after exercise, never stopping, always pushing. She brought into NYMD an entirely new environment, the tangible changes like the upbeat safri duo music and those you couldn’t touch and see – her life lessons. It was often that after CCA she would say “来，全部来这里坐下”, and start telling us about dance, about her dance life, about us as growing dancers, about life. She talked about how she used to learn a new choreography and had to perform it in 3 hours. She talked to us how we needed to protect ourselves, how she got injured when she danced. She told some of us to jump more frequently and drink more milk, hahaha 

For a long time when Batch 08 was still attending CCA, Laoshi would always refer to them as really strong dancers, “她们都是蛮强的舞者”. I guess that was partly the reason why we worked so hard, to hear that from Laoshi one day, when in her eyes, we became beautiful dancers too. Another reason was that we were scared that the following batch would be stronger than us. So we fought and fought and fought, danced and danced and danced.

Sec 4 farewell party that 2008 year was really awkward. We got some nice-looking lollipops for the graduating batch, no notes, nothing. Batch performance was Cher and Rachel speaking on behalf of everyone. Ms Yeo joined in the farewell party that year, but B11 only knew her as the really nice ex-teacher in charge.

I’m still grateful for the day Laoshi suddenly decided to treat us, Batch 09 10 11, all to ice-cream. She said we improved a lot and we deserved it. That was the first time I felt the warmth Laoshi, who hardly knew me, exuded. We said 谢谢刘老师 with such enthusiasm.

It was a December holiday CCA session when Laoshi suddenly dropped a little bomb on us and told us that she may want all of us to cut short hair for SYF the following year. I still remember the exact scene, us sitting around Laoshi on the dance floor, mats strewn all over as we had been doing backrolls. Our mind boggled that Laoshi would have such a request. We soon laughed that idea off as Laoshi continued on with some of her inspiring stories 

That was also the December Laoshi started to introduce authentic, hard-to-catch but intriguing choreography, in preparation for SYF 2009. It was also when Batch 10 started creating Apologise.

That was sec one.

***

Sec two opened another chapter. A batch of 18 became a batch of 16. Amidst all the events before SYF 09 was Apologise, in which we were evaluated for. Apologise also brought in 15 little girl (on broom sticks and one dust pan ). Remember seeing Lihoung at our booth after sec 1 mini concert, she was talking alot, hahhahahahaha. Remember ziqi going into a full side split and kellynn doing flips, I was so deflated then, ouch I couldn’t that. Nevertheless, the excitement of finally being a senior heated up and I still remember them crammed into one mirror, learning Apologise from Batch 10. They must have looked as blurry faced as we were in sec one just a year ago.

SYF 09 knocked on our doors. I remember Joy and I approaching Gen super shyly, asking if she could go through the SYF audition set with us once. The way she said ok was like “can lah duh, why you guys look so scared.” The SYF audition set felt so awkward on my body. I wanted SYF 09 so badly and practiced the routine at home, took videos of myself doing them to see if I looked fine. When Laoshi finally put our whole batch into SYF despite the incredibly challenging audition set, so many new memories were created.

One of the fondest memories of SYF 09 must have been dance camp 09. We were all huddled together, seniors and juniors, around the tiny tv screen, watching an unrealistic but still inspiring movie on cheerleading to get up self-esteem up for SYF. Before we all slept, batches shouted across the floors, “goodnight juniors”, “goodnight NYMD”. As simple as that, barely a sentence, but the spirit of the NYMD family was fully expressed. It was really too awesome for words (Ah, Lihoung and Mr. Ting YOU GUYS MUST HAVE OVERNIGHT DANCE CAMP, it makes a huuuuuuuuge difference).

Around then, SYF 09 became known as Stalemate. Saying the name today still fills me with pride and nostalgia. Also around then, our hair was chopped…

The day we first went to school with our chopped hair and bangs, as horrible as we thought we looked, I never felt such a strong sense of belonging before. “Feel calm, I belong, I’m so happy here…”

Just to sidetrack a bit, Hilary once mentioned on her lj that the most prominent thing she felt from B11 was acceptance. For me, it’s security. I feel so safe with all of them and sometimes when we set out to do crazy things like cutting our hair short and pulling stocking over our heads, I feel like it’s just against the world :’)

Lol I couldn't really tell what I looked like when the person was cutting my hair 'cause I didn't wear my specs, but it turned out to be ok. Surpirisingly, nobody had drastic changes, so good lah :D I think the hair dresser must be totally sianed diao from cutting like 40+ times of the same hairstyle (btw it's short hair with bangs, haha)

After that practised some more. The effect of the hair quite nice, haha!
My bruise got 10 times worse ):
Will someone invent a butt protection guard...?

The day of SYF 09 finally came. Seniors spammed us with sweets, again the NYMD love. Shall cope some things from Cher’s blog and my old blog:

Remembering what Laoshi's said on friday makes me feel like tearing.
“在我的心里，你们已经达到了Gold with Honours，比 Gold with Honours 还要高得好多好多。不管你们得到什么奖，我都会为你们感到高兴。我不希望你们得不到 Gold with Honours，就哭得要死不活，因为我已经很 appreciate 你们的 effort”

I still can remember how frustrated with us she was after our first UCC rehearsal. She thought we were hopeless. The amount of effort she put into training us and choreographing the dance cannot be described with words.

Laoshi told us, or rather warned us, before SYF not to look at the previous school’s item when we were backstage getting ready for Stalemate. The scene on the actual day turned out exactly how Laoshi wanted it. Backstage, everyone was furiously going through steps in their heads and developing the mood. As young as we were (a CCA with barely more than 10 years of history), we were incredibly professional and that’s one bit I’ll miss so much about NYMD. If Laoshi taught us anything, that would be to always believe in the dance, believe in ourselves.

Item No. #68 Stalemate.

4 chess pieces, 2 long rows of soldiers; advancing.
Chess pieces make their move, one at a time.
A white makes her move, we collapse.
We rise, we battle.
Two triangles, one goal: extinguish the enemy.
Partnerwork. Do the blacks win or lose?
The blacks back out, the whites struggle; do the blacks win the battle?
Hell, no. Whites rise, they give it all they've got, they smack themselves awake.
We engulf them, they attack back, its a battle for our lives.
They exit, we come together, our leader makes her stand.
9 pieces, 9 spotlights, 9 stars.
We're all black now, how does it end?
We march and make OUR stand.
But no, she's too powerful.
She thrashes us at one go.
The black cloth is gone.
36 whites, 1 black left standing.
STALEMATE.
That's what its all about.

- Cher's blog, April 2009

Every single detail of the day results were announced in 09 is still etched in my head. Rachel on my right, Karyan on my left, clenched fists, recorder on and closed eyes as the announcer got the categories K, L, M, N… Nan Chiau…

The finally they came “Nanyang Girls’ High School, Gold wi—“

And because girls think by screaming anything would happen and scream at anything that happens, we screamed and screamed and screamed like we’ve never screamed before. Again, Rachel on my right, Karyan on my left, a row of Batch 11 dancers, offering each other tissue and turning red, tears streaming like nobody’s business. If you’re from NYMD and reading this, you’ll surely know about the feeling I’m trying to describe  it can’t be described. Just like how I felt whenever I was with NYMD, it’s just us against the world, and we stay strong.

All the hair-straightening, failed and successful make-up, how Laoshi fought so hard to finish pulling the choreography, how were struggled to find an internal beat in the seriously beat-less music. There were many firsts, and one of them was the first time B11 took the stage as one batch.

Amidst all the hugging, tearing, announcing of results to the school and cheering also appeared the words “SYF 11, yours to lead”. But it felt soooooooooo far away then.

***

I guess one of the main reasons why Batch 12 and Batch 11 grew so much closer was because of the Apologise that followed after SYF 09.We did one-to-one mass diao-ing sessions and I’m so thankful I got paired to Ziqi. After reading out all the names and the partners, Ziqi appeared in front of me all smiles  and it’s true, because of the one-month journey we had, we shared a special bond.

Again sidetracking, last Sunday while watching the juniors preparing to steal the show at founder’s, I decided to watch Ziqi do eyeliner for Adelle and I really was smiling deep down inside. Said this many times and I’ll say it again, as much as it hurts to leave, it’s really one of the best feelings watching your juniors having the firsts, doing the things you did.

B12 did us proud that night they performed for founder’s.

After that was a whole bunch of Apologise performances by B11 and B10. The dance never gets old, for the audience or the dancers. And each time I step onto stage with the slow walk, till the moment I turn around and see the two dancers emote so well, each second is priceless.

***

Heping was what became the glue of B11 for me. I mean come on, through heping we saw each other at our unglam-est :) I really thought we bonded over the dance. Organic energy originated there and that was when Laoshi really gave us recognition as well. I remember Kelly giving up the pep talk before the performance, making some of us burst into tears and I think to a certain extent, we secretly wanted to be like their batch, totally inspiring.

Besides that, Heping brought out the best in B11, our confidence shined through the stocking on our heads and we were true performers, even though we wore the NY PE shirts as our costumes.

That was sec two.

***

Sec three came along with whole new perceptions and experiences. I guess I won’t be describing every single event as they’re pretty much still fresh in most of our minds. I.D. sometimes does feel like it’s still yesterday, so is Halo.

After 4 entire of NYMD goodness and the countless numbers we’ve been in, Halo is the piece that still makes me beam with pride. Quote Hilary once upon a time: Anyway, I suppose Halo gives us an opportunity to realise how much our batch has grown as dancers, and also allows us to envisage what we can become in the future. I genuinely think the choreographers especially have done an excellent job; the dance is undeniably exquisite. Watching batchmates (especially during the evaluation) dance Halo today was very inspiring; ... it is lovely to see how their hard work has paid off. Halo has been developed into this impressively powerful yet delicate dance; to the point that it looks professional.

ha•lo (h l )

n. pl. ha•los or ha•loes

1. A luminous ring or disk of light surrounding the heads or bodies of sacred figures, such as saints, in religious paintings; a nimbus.

I think 20 years down the road, when I hear Halo in some random convenience store (by then the song will be old and replaced by some crappy songs), memories will flood into my mind. We left NYMD yesterday dancing halo and when I saw everyone in the mirrors jump in sync, the connection so strong and unbelievable, everything felt so right.

"I think the biggest step we made in dance was in terms of emotion and energy. I really couldn't stop looking at Jielin and Veena dance. It's written all over your face

Literally.

They really reached out with their emotions and touched the audience.”

Halo also ushered in a brand new batch of dancers – B13. They’re probably the cutest juniors I ever had till now (every batch has their good qualities yeah? ). Watching them practice DYR during dance night period even after CCA has ended really makes me :’) and think about how we worked our butts off when Laoshi first came in April 2008. We were driven by only one thing, passion. I remember feeling comforted when slowly love confessions for NYMD written by B13 started appearing all over my facebook wall. By the time I.D. ended, they became another irreplaceable part of NYMD.

***

Speaking of I.D., I still recall Joy, Haoqing, Eunice, Shiyan, Rosanne and I have dinner at KAP and the title “I.D. I Dance. Our Identity” just sprung up of nowhere. Ever since dance night was confirmed, NYMD never stop running for the finish line, making sure every bit was not just perfect, but done with love. The days of designing tickets, poster and for cher the taxing programme booklet. The days of converting our batch dance from dream to reality. The days where cher and I rushed from GAP/AEP to hiphop to see what awesome choreography they’ve learned from Ms. Ng. The days seeing B12 struggle to find their sexier side for broadway and come to a roaring success in the very end (refer to above about B12 making us proud). I can’t forget how loud everyone cheered when the broadway line finally became neat after countless weeks of practice. The days where our publicity event was pushed back, feeling pissed. Feeling pissed about BTs clashing with I.D. The days where we raced to the end with Bollywood being completed a week before the actual production. The days leading up to I.D. The excitement and countdown. The notices of full house on both days. Staying late in school until 8pm. The days of the production…

I was standing behind the curtains that were seriously towering above me, with C2 hat in hand. Took a look at my dancers, recapping the steps just like how they did before SYF 09. NYMD never fails to inspire me. The audience chattered insanely and when finally the houselights dimmed and the audience cheered, my hands started shaking for the “dance night” we’ve been imagining ever since SYF 09 ended was really happening. C2 music rang in my ears and the spotlights shot across the auditorium. And with the very first step we took, revealing our faces from behind the hats, I felt only one thing – pride.

By the time we finished Shihui’s final lift and got backstage, c1 girls were squealing and in tears.

I know we did well. Without even having the audience to say it. I felt it. For with passion, you can’t go wrong. And those two vigorous nights, every single dancer out there that stepped on the auditorium stage danced their hearts out.

Reviews of I.D. started streaming in, from Mdm. Wee, Mdm. Heng, seniors… saw Ms. Teng who helped for the production and she said “good show” with a smile. By the time the 2nd night has ended and the curtains fell, expectedly, everyone was in tears. Unwilling to let go of something that became our lives for the past months. And that was how easily NYMD became our lives, it just came naturally somehow.

I.D. shaped my sec 3 life, and it’s probably my best memory of NYMD.

***

NYMD can really be One. Big. Cry. Baby. Another point I’ll miss about all of them. As much as Laoshi dislikes our wailing and bawling, I feel like as if I don’t need to hide how I feel. How I feel like seeing people leave or leaving ourselves. For everyone felt the same way and everyone was willing to express that.

Even the Taiwan Trip was met with tears, funnily enough. 8 days of high ended off with people sniffling away on the way to the airport when the 5 Batch 09 dancers made their final “farewell” speech. As much as the trip was fun and memorable, as Chermain and the rest spoke, some cracking a little, it was a reminder that when we were back in Singapore, it was truly B11’s turn to take the reigns. To write our last bit of NYMD.

***

From here on, it’ll seriously be random thoughts jumbled up…

Leading NYMD was a total other experience. I can’t say that I never got pissed, never complained to Cher about how tired I was, but never did I once lose faith in NYMD. Seeing from the past 3 years, no matter how last minute or difficult anything was, we made it. I guess that really goes to show the passion and chemistry we have.

SYF 11, we fought so hard from 21st-28th March and 152 other days non-stop. And we did it.

I’ll never forget cheering at the exact same spot where we cheered 2 years ago, except this time with B12 and B13. Seniors writing countless encouragements and heading down to support. In my mind on 31st March , saying it along with the announcer as he read with so much conviction “Gold with Honours”. Swallowing back my screams as Laoshi wished. A week later, saying the same words into the microphone in the school hall along with Cher and NYMD. Showing our entire journey to the school and huddling together at the side, watching the montage Cher made that still gave me goosebumps today.

Sometime after SYF 2011, I headed to Cher’s blog archives and dug up her post dated a few days before I.D. And she said something like “It’s scary that a few days from now, we’ll have no aim till SYF 2011”. And I just burst out into tears.

2011 brought in the final batch of NYMDers we were ever gonna be with, B14. Their passion was almost immediate and so far, they’ve become the last to leave after every CCA session :’) Sometimes I just sit there, look at them and suddenly feel soooooo envious. I’d suddenly wish I was there, dancing with the rest of B11, looking forward to another four years of NYMD goodness and NYMD love. I wish there had been someone there in sec one to show me how much she cried at farewell.

***

I never thought being an NYMD dancer was easy, but the hardest part really came right at the end. While we experienced so many firsts in 2008 and 2009, 2011 brought many lasts. FOA was a big one that hit hard for days. Of course, the biggest reason to be bawling your eyes out at farewell is definitely the beautiful memories you’ve made for yourself in this family, the dancers and Laoshi.

Klara told me something recently. She said that the most peculiar thing about NYMD dancers is that she’s never heard a single one of us complain about having to go for CCA. I told her I had CCA that very day with a smile. And I was happy, because I knew that was beyond true.

I always knew that NYMD loved each other, but yesterday was the day I really saw it. Giving out the cards, the juniors were crying harder than seniors. As cute as it was, it was painful. Painful to have to accept the fact that you were no longer attending CCA with them. You were no longer ever gonna share the same stage as them. And it would be even harder to take when you’ve finally gotten used to it, accepted it.

When Yuqian’s speech dissolved into sobs, I was quite shocked. Shocked that the bawling started earlier than I expected. I saw how grateful they were and just wish maybe I had reciprocated that love and gratitude a little earlier. Thinking about the sec two days where we would complain about juniors, saying they were slack and unlike us, we were harsh. And shit, do I feel bad about what I used to say. We had the best farewell ever and it was because they dedicated their entire weekends to make sure they didn’t let us down. I couldn’t have asked for more.

And when the sec2s started singing “You’ll be in my heart… NYMD, will be there for you, studio’s always open… don’t leave to soon”, thousands of things were running through my head. Mostly – crap it’s really happening.

Juniors: That’s probably the sweetest thing any junior in NYMD has done for their seniors. I probably never felt so touched in my life before...
:')

Reading all those notes that said "Please remember to visit us often", "don't ever forget us!!!"
Forgetting NYMD and all the fond memories it has brought me will be the last thing I can ever do. I'm serious.

***

Besides all that, another thing I’ll miss so badly is ultimately Batch 11. The feeling of being with B11 all this while. All these four years.

I remember so vividly when we were sec ones hanging out at KAP and comparing us to the Batch 08 seniors, just like how Batch 14 did recently. How we formulated our secret code dratoel over lunch. I’ll also remember sitting around with the lights off during dance camp, and suddenly Jermaine uttered, “I think I’ll really miss our batch next year…”

I remember so vividly every ice-cream date we’ve gone on, every batch dinner we had. Sometimes we laughed at Veena, sometimes we bitched about people, sometimes we pissed off other customers. But every single time was a time I felt at ease.

Every single performance I’ve had with B11 is a whole new experience, though similar in some ways too. I never fail to feel everyone beside me giving their all. Whether it was a 1-minute welcome performance at YDF 2010, or a full-batch performance of Halo, I always wish the last note of the song lasted a little longer.

And whether we were chasing our dreams in dreamworks, murdering students in heping or shaking our heads off in Hurry. Hurry?, we always felt contented after every item.

8th July we performed a snippet of Hurry. Hurry on the hall stage as FOA opening. Just before our turn, Jerm said to me “see you on stage” and we went to our respective wings. Typing those words now still sends shivers down my spine and gets my adrenaline rushing, though I’m not sure when’s the next time I can hear or use such a phrase.

B11 has changed me, the dancers who inspire me, the people who shape me. It’s one of reasons why I actually enjoy school. And I know not many out there feel it, but I do, all the time. When I used to do ballet, I never loved dance so much. I guess passion really comes when you do what you love with the people you love. All this while, I would have been a spoiled brat to not notice how lucky I am. Lucky lucky lucky. Fate brought us together and I believe even as we step out of the NYMD studio for the last time, fate will brings us to meet again.

if theres a day when we cant b together, keep me in your heart n i will stay there forever. nymd ♥ - haoqing

And of course, another person who've had an enormous impact on me in this NYMD journey would have been Ms. Yeo. Although she'll never see this, just wanna say that: Ms Yeo, I think I wouldn't have been who I am in NYMD if it weren't for you and the all the chances you have given when I was in Sec3 to show what I can do. Thanks for your trust in me. I have the utmost respect for you because of your forever undying passion and how big an inspiration you've been to NYMD all this while. You're a perfect example of how someone can still be in our hearts even though they're not physically with us all the time :)

Last but not least, Laoshi. That time where we didn’t get the chance announce our SYF results the day they came out, things got complicated and we had some sorta meeting. They said they made decisions that were better for us, including changing out instructors on April 2008. That got me thinking.

What if Laoshi hadn’t come to NYMD? I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like. Laoshi is a legendary person, and when she dances, everyone is stunned that such aura can come from her. I remember her teaching us a little bit of Balinese dancing in sec3 or 2, and that really got our jaws dropped. But beside her artistry, many years down the road, the thing I’ll remember the most are the values she has taught us. How she has moulded us in the individuals we are today, and how she has been humbly pushing the credit away and letting us take the limelight.

你们的天真无暇的面孔, 土土傻傻的样子 – Laoshi

Seeing that sentence makes me wish I could go back to sec one and relive all these 4 years that are beyond amazing. I don’t mind being 土土傻傻 again just to experience what a strong bond we had with the laoshi that had the biggest impact on us, or at least, me. I can’t even begin to say how much Laoshi has done for us all this years, how much she has worked, to get us to Taiwan, to get us to Cedar and everywhere she feels is good for us. How she dreamed for us to have a dance night that we could call our own. How she gave us the ownership over our own dances but gave the artistic direction when necessary. How she was generous with chances. How she was uniquely Laoshi whenever she did something funny like say 我好饿when she has completed the SYF dance. How sometimes she zi-highed and the dancers stone for a few seconds before laughing at her cuteness. How she would comment on how bonded we were and tell us that she was proud of us. How she sometimes criticised us for our good (and the effects are obvious) tough love.

When she said she has dropped Cedar, I was initially shocked but then what I wanted to know what made her decide to not drop us. Fate? I really can’t imagine coming back to an NYMD where there is no Laoshi. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, juniors be grateful for every second you still get to spend with her for she’s beyond amazing and beyond inspiring :’)

***

The above 5000 words can’t sum up everything. I guess I just hope that whenever I miss NYMD, I’d dig this up and relive the moments – feel the creaky floor of the studio on my barefoot, do make-up in sucky lighting, have horrible singing that pass off as beautiful just because you’re doing it with NYMD.

I’ll miss everything. So much. Talking about farewell still makes me well up. But I’m more grateful than sad. Grateful that I’ve made the right decision to join NYMD in sec one. Grateful for the boundless love I experience every second with all of you guys.

So grateful that it makes you wanna cry.

NYMD you’ve taken a part of me with you. And I’ve taken with me a part of you too. It’s kept deep within my hearts where it can never be wiped away.

It may be a long time for me to not experience nostalgia at all when I see photos like those above, or worse I may always be longing to be able to share the stage with NYMD again...
But I'll not weep anymore, because all I feel now is gratitude.

I love NYMD is an understatement.
You'll be in my hearts wherever I go.

POM

2010-09-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

Nope, the title does not mean "Principle of Moment"

This holidays...

Am satisfied over:
1. Completing SMP poster judging! (results not bad!)
2. Completing Chinese SIA
3. Completing Art SIA
4. Finishing most homework?
5. Streetsales at Dhoby
6. Bruises and burns from PULSE
7. Mini Leap briefing

Am unhappy over:
1. Basically didn't get the chance to mug anything?
2. Chinese SIA ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Pulse yesterday! Seriously couldn't remember the last time I worked out so much. All work no dance makes a dull bohb (: Anyway, new exercise Ms Chiew taught was simply awesome and I love the connectivity of the whole set, it just keeps going. Impro was with XUESONG. Haha she's so cute and pretty! And I love her accent for some reason. Rolling was fun but bruisey but I'm totally fine with it. We started with just basic rolling, 8 counts, 4 counts, 2 counts... When I got up and saw everyone rolling to the tempo, it was like wow. Super wow. It would make a cool stage entrance.

School's starting tomorrow. Why can't we have home-learning until EOYs?!? I swear I'll be able to do better then. Just hope everything goes fine! ART PREP SHIT.

All that's in my mind now is seriously what's in line after EOYs. Freak this.
Off to hit the bookzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzies

I like how dancing makes me...

2010-09-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

Haha, this picture has been my entertainer for 3 days.

Whenever I'm feeling low in self-esteem, will just take a look at this. I could have been uglier.

LOL.

Finished Chinese SIA (at least my part) and Trigo3! Feeling so accomplished right now.

Am so excited for after EOYS - Photoshoot, Taiwan, Taiwan x2, Leap, CNY Dance, SYF....

*Squeals around like a bimbo*

Right, for now, for reality, there's poster judging tomorrow, entire day gone.

The judges shall be nice tomorrow.

The presentation shall be smashin' awesome tomorrow.

I shall break a leg tomorrow. Heh.

And to answer to my blog title, I like how dancing makes me powerful (:

THE FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE

2010-09-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

THE FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE YOU MEET AT STREET SALES

1. People who smile at your dancing
2. People who wants to see your dancing
3. People who join in your dancing
4. People who tell you, "Don't stop dancing."

Falling in love with dance all over again.
Movement never lies (:

Will blog more tomorrow!

2010-09-04T03:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Hip Hop Hilary Ho! :D
Continue bringing Humour into our lives, see you when cca starts again and Taiwan...

School life without NYMD is

Pulse today was funny during improv! I love acting scenarios in improv (:

Yesterday in school some how I became really depressed. Like really really depressed.

I guess I really really really don't wanna be Sec 4.

happy teachers' day

2010-08-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

From Hiphop Hilary Ho's lj

TDC 2010 in Nanyang yesterday.
Celebrations in the Nanyang are always the best (:

Started with a class party. In the end was kinda disappointed that Mr Tan LH didn't come back zZZz. Went around the school looking for teachers to give our presents to which was quite fail cos all the teachers were no where to be found.

Sat with B11 girls in the hall right (well, almost) smack in the middle of the hall. Basically screamed like I've never screamed in my life. The entire concert was so awesome and the teachers' performance + montage was no doubt the highlight of the performance. Like the screaming never stopped for more than a second then. Still can't get over the fact Mdm Heng danced.

Other teachers who danced - Ms Yeo, Ms Teng, Ms Teo (HAHA), Ms Sab, PT, Mr Ting, Mr Ang so super entertaining!!! (:

The Montage was really good. Second song that came on was HALO. We just started screaming and hugging and singing all the way till the last "Bom". Will never forget the lyrics even when I'm old and grey. Then when Laoshi's picture went on the screen, we erupted, literally. I think Jo, Hao and I just immediately got up on our feet, like instinctively and started bouncing up and down. Pity those sitting in front and behind us haha.

Went back Peihwa with Ling An and ate lunch with Yi Ern and Keisha whom I haven't seen for 3 years, whoa. Spoke to Mrs Lee who thought I was "Grace" all the while I was talking to her. It would have been funnier if the real "Grace" appeared then. Met other teachers before going to west mall to catch

Missed like half an hour of it but oh well, it's a dance movie so the plot's not really important.
Twitch was so cool! Starting to find street dance increasingly attractive...
My first time watching 3D, think I'll stick to 2D next time

That's all! Facebook hype with all the TDC pictures, my notifications are getting flooded.

2010-08-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

A quick update!

Well we're sorry, this is like our home (:

Haha today after school was absolutely epic. Had globalisation lecture by Mrs. Amy. Gosh when was the last time I had a Mrs. Amy lesson.

After that loitered outside dance studio with Rach and Jojo. It was used by the teachers for their perf. rehearsal. So we basically peeked once in a while. Then they finally came out and we thought that their rehearsal was over. So we were damn high before our 10 minutes of prac was interrupted by Mdm Teo's "Hello children"

Whoops. Started screaming hysterically and running to grab our stuff. Skirtless, sockless, embarrassing... After that mugged with Rach.

Teachers' Day tomorrow! I'm as excited as the teachers haha, because of...

take away my life

2010-08-28T02:24:00.001-07:00

Oh man, today is not my MRT day. Go there also stand, come back also stand

"Bell Tiong Bahru"

Oh boy! Finally got seat!

*Sees woman approaching*

Uh oh

"Uh you can uh have it"
"Thanks!"

*Woman plants butt down, I stare helplessly*

I hate myself

***

My desperation for a seat on the MRT/bus if always overpowered by my conscience
and it makes me feel really :\

***

Did something like that in Improv class today. Except without the glam outfit and wings.
I needa learn to regulate my breathing properly.

But today I definitely didn't dance my best: 1) Glasses were slipping off 2) Ached everywhere, literally 3) Just tired

I will do better next week!

CCA on friday was meaningful but was also the last session until after EOYS, darn it. We taught the juniors an exercise we learnt in sec one. Brainpower! Seniors came to peek once in a while. Laoshi talked about Taiwan trip, a few dancers need to back out due to the passenger capacity of the bus ): I really don't want it to happen. For if it happened to me, I'll just go insane.

Take off your shoes to fit into others
How true.

keep that in mind

2010-08-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

No performance is too small.
No position is too far from the audience.
For when you're on stage, you're on stage

& when you're on stage,
there's no junior or senior.

just 1 NYMD.

i have a feeling

2010-08-22T02:25:00.000-07:00

I am feeling

because I finished my Xiaoxiaoshuo
Zz.

On the larger picture because these people

are just a few classrooms, or a push of a button away.

And OH BOY!
It's monday tomorrowwww.
Monday = School starts late + Dance = (:

Credits: Colormekatie

Life facts

2010-08-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here's another of my rare but determined attempts to keep my blog breathing.

Last post was before ID 2010?
Gosh I really miss those days and thinking about the preparation process makes me hate how life doesn't have a 'backspace' button.

New additions to my life that I've grown so used to - PULSE.
Words can't describe how lucky I feel.

Other unexpected things that took a turn for the better include my right hamstring healing. I still remember how exasperated I was when I saw everyone's butts touching the floor during middle splits and all I could do was open it to an acute angle before the pain starts sinking in. How cheated I felt when the acupuncture was useless (or was it?) and how numb I felt when laoshi told it would take one year to heal. I prayed hard every night for months and God did hear my prayers, so thank you.

And other things I'm grateful for.
The DJs, Rachel, Xinyi, Cheryl, Laoshi, Peishan, 302 too!
It's as straightforward as that. Nuff' said (:

Besides ID 2010, there was Leap this year. I have to admit there were times I felt left out or just too tired. But Leap was an eye-opener and my world has a new dimension, a new family.
Take a leap of faith.

Hmm what else?
Dance nowadays have been crazily hiong but so awesome (:
Batch 10 stepped down. I guess enough has been said about that. It'd take me long to get used to looking over to the other side of the studio and not seeing their deos and hongzis strewn over the ledge. Or hearing their terribly cute screams, complaints, laughing that we've all been accustomed too. Batch 10 ):
And this monday's farewell is the last farewell Batch 11 has to plan something...
Whenever I feel frustrated over dance, I'll tell myself that.
And it continues to ring in my head like a bell, that maybe my dance journey is ending?

OKAY that's a stupid mentality!

Batch 11 let us bring NYMD to higher leaps, painless splits, steady pirouettes, astounding artistry and evocative expression!

Then comes
Taiwan Trip Dec 2010, 8 days of being a full-time dancer
Leap 2, the hot topic of our little close-knitted pulse family

And the final showdown, SYF 2011.

Right now, I have to learn to find the healthy balance between dance and academics.
Block Test 2 results were frightening.
But each time I sit down and solve trigonometry equations or read about a human's heart,
I wanna get up and improve my centre split to a greater angle or feel the pulse running through my veins.
Someone hypnotise me HAHA

2010-03-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

Back to school life. Back to reality.

Stayed back with Chermaine Jo today. Programme booklet, ticket, poster design settled!
Go aesthetics comm. Go Batch 11. Go NYMD!!

I can't stand an oily nose

2010-03-13T23:18:00.000-08:00

[Uh, no we didn't get to do this. There wasn't a cliff at Ubin. How sad, NOT]

Isn't it simple to become an OBS alumni? (:

***

"There's something about OBS that stays with you for life."
Very true!!!
This year's LSC isn't exactly the 'awesomely fun' kind, where everyone went high and hysterical. Unless you consider trekking 10km with a 10kg bag fun. But it really taught me quite a bit here and there and bonded 302. Though it wasn't the most enjoyable, it was definitely the most memorable. And I wasn't the kind of camps where you did what they told you to do and then tell you what you're supposed to have learned and you nod. I truly learned and was inspired a lot.

Quote YY, OBS wasn't half as terrible as some seniors said it to be. I managed to come back in one piece, zero sandfly bites and PLEASE, your boat does not turn bloody when you're having your period. Seriously scared the poop outta me but turned out I was worrying for nothing.

Can't be bothered to recount everything in chronological order. Too much to recall.
So in random points:

Instructors
Boo and Roland. Boo is a freaking cute name haha (: They were really special instructors. In the sense that they did extra things for us to make our OBS experience especially memorable. Making apple crumble, bringing us ponchos at 4am in the morning, creating that scroll for us and burning (note: BURNING, not cutting) the edges to make it look more authentic, indirectly forcing us to reach the top in rock-climbing. It would have been different had they not been our instructors. I'm really thankful that they've asked us to perform before the entire level as a forfeit, because from what I know, classes really bond when they work together for a showcase.

Did I mention 302 was known as Amundstrong? (:
Armstrong + Amundsen (some name I can never get right)

Land Expedition
This was by far the most 'limit pushing' challenge I've ever taken up. Obviously, there were times I felt like I couldn't take another 10 steps, so reaching the end was even more satisfying. Also, the singing took my mind off the ache in my shoulders and sole. And thanks Joei and Jiale for keep wanting to share my load and Cassmain for encouraging us to continue singing though we were outta breath. The singing really helped to take my mind off the ache in my shoulders and feet. Yes, "singing does wonders" (:

Climbed a hill during the 2nd checkpoint of the Land ex. The view was really spectacular and I think everyone was momentarily stunned and couldn't help muttering 'wow' under their breaths. Shouted "We love 302, we love Amundstrong, we love Boo and Roland" at the top of our voices. Felt good to scream.

Impossible is nothing. Finally understood that after Land ex. (:
Thanks Jiale haha!

Oh and I've said this many times, but I'll say it again: I'll never complain about my school bag, ever again.

Sea Expedition.
Thanks Mushu for being an extremely funny (not to mention strong) kayaking partner. Thanks Xiang Xuan and Mengting for saving us when we capsized and pulling us back into the kayaks even when we kept sliding off. I was super worried that day but everything turned out fine. So thank goodness.

Transporting those kayaks was NOT FUN. My fingers could have broke off, but it was really awesome that everyone worked together willingly. Saw the principal and LD touring Camp 2/Ubin, lol.

Our class seemed to be hit by the lizard epidemic. For some reason, many lizards, that were competent in swimming, kindly visited us during the expedition. There was one in my kayak too and it was horrifying. They had red eyes, darn.

Rock-climbing
My favourite activity! Didn't perspire much, didn't get all soaked in sea water and belaying was fun! Our instructors made us climb all the way to the top to sign on a piece of paper that had all our handprints. I think that method really helped all of us reach the top. No one liked giving up. Thanks Shuyi for cheering me on consistently and telling me where to hold on to when I was stuck.

Sleeping in tents.
Enjoyed this too, haha! Surprisingly, I slept really well though sometimes the ground was sloping and all the blood went to my head. Wonderful tent mates: Cassmain, Lydia, Yilin, Shuyi. I think we were the most efficiently group at pitching and un-pitching the tents. Oh yes, night watching with the 4 of them was fun too. At first, doubted that time would past fast. But we kept talking about random things like food and varities of animal poop and people in the class (not bitching involved!), which made it much more enjoyable. And that moment where we got scared that a wild bore was near us was damn funny (turned out to be someone snoring, hmm...). Thanks guys!

Cooking
All I have to say is that canned food really puts me off now. I feel nauseous when I think of sardines, especially. Oh, Roland's apple crumble is damn original and delicious.

Farewell Circle
Okay, I really don't wanna sound like a mushy banana here.

302 got really emotinal when we had our last circle on friday morning (oh my, the term 'last circle' sounds so terrible). More than half the people there broke down. And crap, I wanted to prove the "everyone's gonna cry before May" thing wrong. Haha, just kidding.

So the instructors got us to sit in a circle, and pen down our thoughts on the three most important lessons of OBS. Mine were: Other before self, never take things for granted and impossible is nothing. Sound cliche I know, but they were sincere. I think it was the first time I felt so sincere in my journal writing. Then Boo and Roland got us to clamp the journal in our hands and raise them up, to "uphold our goals". In a circle, we took turns to share about the most memorable moment in OBS and what we aim to achieve after that, maybe years and months later. Bear in mind, our hands were still raised, and continued to be raised for the next 10 minutes till everyone shared.

When it got to my turn, I was trying hard to keep my emotions from pouring out (like someone ahem haha). I talked about putting others before self. Honestly, I was not exactly the most selfless person among our class. I thought everyone was really generous and was willing to put others before self. If I had to put myself in their shoes, I'm not sure if I would have done the same things. So, that's something I'll work towards to, being more selfless. And that's the most important lesson I took away from OBS.

On a lighter note, I was suddenly inspired to do community work. HAHA. But as everyone knows, saying it is easy but not so much when you get to doing it.

After the sharing, we put our hands together. Roland read us something that we all did not expect to hear (I guess?), and definitely did not expect to moved to tears by. Quote Lydia, I think our class is crazy

It was story about departure and it went something like this:
(Nah, I didn't memorise it lol)

... "When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone."

He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye.."

... and Boo and I wish you enough love

By the time he finished reading the story, I was desperately trying to use my free hand to dab the tears. However, soon enough everyone was tearing and weeping and hugging, so heck, let them flow. It was really... quite amazing to see everyone being moved to such an extent. Something like this wouldn't have happened in 202. Another difference between 202 and 302. To sum it all up, I thought it was a perfect enough ending to the entire OBS experience, better than jetty jumping, better than ringing some insignificant bell, and I knew from that moment that I'll never forget that scene.

After that was, oh no, the performance (in front of the entire level) we owed the instructors. Though it's nothing compared to drama fest or talent time, it was a stepping stone towards a more bonded class. Mengting and I can't wait to get a class tee, haha (:

So yeah, that's all I have to say about OBS. I definitely do not regret going to Ubin and tryng to survive there for a week. The hygiene standard isn't horrendous and if you apply insect repellent/sun block diligently, everything will be fine (;

But like Hq said, I'll never wanna go back for another try. These kind of experiences are better off undergone once. (:

***
Some random thoughts I had yesterday:

1. I really hate it when I'm in a good/bad mood, sitting in the car listening to the radio, and some shitty trash song comes on. It's so bad that I feel like listening to a chinese channel ~.~ Just yesterday, XY.Z FM (Don't get me wrong, I love the channel) played this really disgusting song, where this rapper, who didn't even have a rapping good voice, kept shouting in the mike. And I couldn't even hear what he was blabbering about?

"Aiyaladeezoonalonelenight" And so he kept chanting this line. What is that supposed to mean?

2. I really hate it when I'm at a restaurant trying to enjoy a meal with my family and the adjacent table just keeps staring over at us. As if we didn't have pants on or something.

Sit down, they stare at you.
Order food, they stare at you.
Drop a spoon, they stare at you.
Order more food, they stare at you.
Get up to use the restroom, they stare at you.
EAT, THEY STARE AT YOU.

Like, MYOB man.

3. Why do Korean, Chinese and Japanese songs have English words and English songs not have... let say, Malay or Tamil sentences?

Okay that question makes me sound really shallow :O

***

Hh tomorrow *a million exclamations*. I can't wait to step into the dance studio and lie there forever.

***

I feel like pitching tents!! But no, I do not feel like eating canned food from a mess tin, yuck.

***

Happy Belated Birthday Chew En Ning!!!
I know you don't read my blog often now. But wanna say I really enjoyed the times last time with Jermaine and Rachel, where we would roam the grounds of Novena haha! Okay, that made us sound like scavengers (x

Happy Belated Birthday Chen Li Houng!!!
Or Li Hound? :P Glad to have you in NYMD. You really brighten up the atmosphere (: Let's all rock I.D. 2010 together and set the stage on fire and make the audience get heat stroke!! Wahaha.

Still feeling OBS nostalgic )x

***

This december holidays, I'll take up photography if I'm free. Key words are if I'm free.

***

Ending my very long (I think) post.
I don't wanna do homework! No!

***

Sadly, a picture-less post :O
It makes the blog look so naked.
I couldn't stand it haha

life is too short to be unhappy

2010-03-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Haha tomorrow's OBS o.o
50% excitement 50% anxiety.
Gah I will pray tonight...

Still trying to squeeze another 1.5 litre plastic bottle into the backpack. I have deformed it like 5 times already.

Joy's house yesterday for halo prac and B.D. choreography! The place really brings back tons of memories. And B.D. is taking shape! All the way B11! (:

Anyway, can't wait for OBS to be over. Not that I dread OBS. But the schedule after that is really tempting:

March Hols:
Monday: Hip hop, meet clare and yuemin for art?
Tuesday: 2.5 hrs of Chem supp, 2.5 hrs of Physics supp (this is the not so fab part)
Wednesday: OMG DANCE CAMP + sleep over at gan's house
Thursday: OMG DANCE CAMP
Friday: Dance from 2.30-5.30, watch D1M3?

And Finally,
Happy Birthday Hilary Lau!
Happy Belated Birthday Lee Shiyan!
Happy Belated Birthday Goh Shichun!
Happy Belated Birthday Tammie Teo!

Haha (: I owe lotsa people presents, oh dear.

tears make you stronger

2010-03-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

colourmekatie

Be happy Batch 12! Take yesterday as a motivation and turning point.
NYMD gottcha back <3

So yesterday was a high-low day. Batch 11 was pretty high for some unknown reason. Did halo twice in a row full out for Ms. Yeo, full outttttttttt. Boy wasn't it tiring. Even organic energisers get tired at times. Tammie's birthday was yesterday and Batch 11 sang birthday song for her. Followed by squishing her into a corner. She was tearing! (; Haha!

Watched sec two's broadway and kinda slacked our time off. Oh no. NYMD talk by sec4s. After that we talked to the sec2s again. Double blow? ):

Anyway, Batch 12 you guys have potential. Be in it as a batch, together. Care for each other and just be there for her (not referring to anyone in particular) And the outcome will be beyond your expectations (:

We should really start giving our all into preparing for dance night. I wanna feel exhausted and stressed. I wanna have my schedule dance packed. Jiayou NYMD!

It's not gonna be just fun all the way. It'll be difficult, frustrating and emotionally taxing at times. But we'll brave through this together, no?

And after one hundred bruises, two hundred friction burns, a million beads of perspiration,
We'll get the satisfying feeling of body ache and a bag of irreplaceable memories. What can beat that? (:

I wish I can dance all day in school, every second.

P/S Cher that post-it idea is good. I wanna do!!

living large

2010-01-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Haha, I like this.

***

Hi world. My blog is not gonna die.
So, what happened recently...:

Sec 1 Auditions
I was really impressed by the Sec ones this year. Those who wanted it so badly really gave in their, like getting up early in the morning to practise. Was quite sad to see some of them leave and felt happy for those who got in. In a way, I think all the Sec 3s know more or less all the sec one juniors already.

302
302's opening up (: 302's really different from 202, in terms of the people, whether they're more friendly and participative in class. I mean I've never gotten people in 202 saying 'good morning' to me. Though I'll also never get anyone in 302 hyper ventilating or going crazy about Hermoine all of a sudden. Both classes have their good points. Oh man, I'm so sad there wasn't any class photo taken during class breakfast!!

NYMD
Apart from sec one auditions, dance night preparations have officially started. Learned this Balinese dance Laoshi taught on Monday and Friday. Gosh is it hard or what. To do dance that style requires lotsa strength and it's different from the energy in Halo where you just needa keep on giving your all. So not used to it but the dance itself is pretty cool when everyone's synchronised.

Really hope the proposals for the Taiwan trip gets approved and everyone can go!!

(Sorry, poor sentence structures because I've got random thoughts popping up everywhere)

Batch dance choreographing is starting soon!!

And went to burger shack with Haoqing, Cher and Cheryl after dance on friday. Heard upbeat remix (not as nice as the original one) OF HALO while eating and they actually screamed out loud. I was kinda lag so by the time I was gonna scream, they've already finished so I was like forget it. Because if I screamed, then I'll be the only one going all mad and we didn't want to attract more stares (x After that left for tuition.

Others
GAP is fun
CLEP is fun (Omg, I get totally hyped when I think of the Taiwan trip)
SMP is fun

Generally, school life has been great.

Oh and I've finally made my new year resolutions (I know, slow). Will keep them simple this year (:

Manage time well and not procrastinate on FB,
Read newspapers,
Keep fit which includes running and going to the gym often,
Take photographs more often,
Improve in dancing (as always)

Love, Ellen.

go ahead and make me cry; i'll be alright

2010-01-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

I've been itching to blog the entire week. Finally.

And yes, I SURVIVED THE FIRST WEEK OF SEC 3.
It wasn't that bad and the workload right now is manageable so I don't really think I have valid reasons to complain yet. This week has been thrilling, confusing, meaningful, painful and sometimes annoying. So,

1. Five days of lessons
2. Halo
3. Teachers.
(I'm writing this here just in case I leave out any)

Monday
I learnt 2 very important lessons that morning/the night before: Never ever watch funny videos before you sleep. Dang o_o The night before, my dad and I were watching some stupid videos showing slightly retarded soccer players and I was laughing my heart out. And congratulations to me, I only slept at 4.30 that night. This is a good research topic for science: Why laughing would cause a person to me more awake. 2nd VIL: Never eat too many pears the night before. Got up to pee 4 times that night.

So obviously the following morning wasn't a very pleasant one. Drank coffee and my last resolution and that made me wanna puke on the bus. Tried hyping myself up by thinking of the day's event.

Reached school, met Chermaine HQ they all at the corridors. Went into 302 classroom and surprisingly many people were like much earlier than I was? (even when I arrived at 7) Plonked my bag on a random seat and told Shuyi to look for it later. Followed batchies to dance studio to recap Liulaoshi's dances and practise Halo (!!)

The rest of the day was basically getting to know the form teachers and Halo prac. FT's Mr Tan Liang Hooi and Co FT's Mrs Ho. I guess they are quite responsible form teachers. Mr Tan is good, you could tell that he was really dedicated to his job and he got really excited (Passion I guess?) when he taught physics. I was surprised that he could remember our names within such a short period of time. Like on Friday, I was stoning outside the rooftop hall toilet and he asked me why I was stoning outside the rooftop hall toilet and I told him I was waiting for my batchies and he was like haha. Okay in short, I think he's good. And Mrs. Ho is very funny and warm (:

Oh did I mention how totally excited I was when I first saw the timetable. Michelle told me, "Eh, see who's our math teacher." And the next thing I knew, I was jumping up and down and people were staring at me like o_o
Ms. Gloria Teng.
I really didn't expect it. But anyway, yay!

Halo prac during recess. I practically ran to the dance studio but not a lot of people where there ): This was when I got my bloody (literally) blister.

After that some briefing in auditorium and Mrs Wong is our LD again. I guess I'm happy with that. Almost half the cohort left at 12 pm due to LOA and it was quite funny. Met at dance studio and started Halo practice again. When Laoshi came, Chermaine and I were like smiling at each other (: Laoshi made quite some changes here and there and I'd proudly say that Halo is x100 better than before. The walking thing in the beginning was damn pretty!! Anyway, this was where I started becoming unbelievably tired (due to the major lack of sleep last night) and the coffee was definitely starting to lose it's effects. Everytime Laoshi said zai4 lai2 yi ci4, I'd be totally omggggg. But all the panting and perspiring paid off in the end.

CCA exhibition started and the Sec ones started streaming in when we were practising Halo half way. Shingz. Showcased some dances and you could tell that Laoshi wasn't very pleased. Exhaustion level went up by a few notches, my entire batch was d a m n t i r e d.

Proceeded to roof top hall with Laoshi where further changes were made. My blister was aching like hell so Joy lent me her sock thing (Thank you Joy!!) Energy level super low and I felt like sleeping ._. So did HQ and some others. Laoshi talked to us about xing2 xiang4 and she was slightly disappointed/pissed that our dance tee isn't out yet. I want it too!! Went to dance studio to teach juniors some parts of halo, was slightly pissed and staggeringly tired. I thought I saw stars.

Had full-dress in the audi with our costumes. "Lighting queens" Jielin Karyan Shiyun were the awesomest (: Surprisingly, the rehearsal went quite well and I thought the entire thing was quite neat. After that, I completely drained myself of all the energy left.

Practically dragged myself home afterwards. Ate like a 饿狼 at dinner. Haha.

Tuesday
Arrived in the morning and was quite disappointed to find out that the treasurer was already appointed (during LOA). But oh well, I had my chance last year.

The curriculum started with CLEP. I think CLEP will be one of my favourite subjects this year (Don't give me that ELLEN ARE YOU PSYCHO look). It really is interesting with all the China history and of course the EOY trip to taiwan which I can hardly wait. According to Shiyan, we should bring lotsa money because apparently the shopping there is fantastic. Lol. The teachers for CLEP are reasonably nice too. Oh yes, Veena's in CLEP, but didn't get the chance to sit with her.

Chem had Eric Tan. he has some obsession with yellow... I think. And he can't pronounce "everything" properly, which Shuyi and I found very amusing (: (Eh Did I mention that I'm sitting next to shuyi? ^^)

Physics was Mr Tan (Liang Hooi). He taught well. Unlike so-n-so. Think I'll start to like physics again.

IH Mrs. Ho. Super cute. Math MS TENG!!! The self introduction was like totally redundant because she already knew half the class? Lang Arts Lydia Teo. I find her really professional and I don't get why some people don't like her. But anyway, seems like all the upper sec teachers are good. So phew.

Oh I saw Royanne (Iffy's sister) a couple of times in school and she's really sweet and nice! (: I hope she comes modern dance though she'll likely go TCN? She better not skip the audition tomorrow. And Shuyi's sister, Shuli looks exactly like her, except her uniform is whiter (duh). And Royanne and Shuli are both in 102, wow.

During breaks, saw many 202 people, definitely missed them a lot. Saw other people, who were evidently not very elated to see me, so I just ignored them too. Lol. I know there's this thing about loving your enemies but I don't see what wrong about disliking someone who dislikes you.

Halo rehearsals after school again. Thanks a million to Shiyan (who was only kaypohing...) and Chermain who stayed back to help us brush up!

Shiyan was being really funny (: She was taking a picture of us in a certain pose to let us see if it looked neat. So she stood in the middle of the driveway (we were practising around Siew May's statue haha). And mumbled to herself, "I hope I don't die..." *Looks around anxiously for cars*
HAHA

Aftewards went home Joy HQ Shiyan and Sally. Oh Sally's nice!

Wednesday
Shall focus mainly on HALO here.

As much as I wanted to quickly complete Halo and burn the floor and burn their asses off, I knew that after Wednesday, I'd be feeling empty and aimless for a while, like after SYF. Before Wednesday, everyday was worrying about, getting excited about, practising like crazy - HALO. And after Wednesday, I'd be wondering to myself: What do I do now? Now I truly understand how important the journey is, as compared to the result. I think if we screwed halo on wednesday, I would have been still as happy as every. But of course, Halo rocked (and according to shuyi's sister, we received a wonderful applause!!)

So this was how after LOA at 11.30 went:

As usual, accompanied HQ to put on contacts along with Clare, and omg she's much better now at it (: Make-up, mostly done by super pro Veena and Chermain. We went to the costume room to recap all the key must-remember-or-die points of the dance and everyone contributed really well. It really showed how much Halo meant to all of us.

And this dance IS really super important to all of us. For one, it was definitely a stepping stone for our next project to come - batch dance. Laoshi also had much faith in us during the Halo process. And of course, the bonds in our batch have never been stronger (omg sounds like chem). I think each and every one of us is really proud of Halo and impressed by what we can achieve as one Bacth 11. Now, I'm feeling really confident about batch dance and I can't wait to start on it. I think being in Batch 11 is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me (:
(Sorry, the structure of this paragraph is probably all jumbled up because I just have random thoughts popping up everywhere in my mind)

Okay back to wednesday.
Fast-forward to back stage scene. I was totally freaking out inside, had no idea how the dance would turn out since this was Batch 11's very first time leading a performance all on their own. Had an emotional moment when the emcee (coughs) said: "Presenting to you Nanyang Modern Dance." and at the very last POM of the song where the smalls took out their yi lai xin. Okay if you aren't a modern dancer, the previous sentence would sound like gibberish to you.

I think I could have done better, looking at the video afterwards ): But it was really well performed and I'm sure the Sec ones enjoyed it. Seeing how happy my batchmates were really made me feel relieved. And luckily, the part where I kinda twisted my right foot during the small's solo wasn't that obvious. And thank you seniors Eunice Shiyan Chermaine Ashley Shanping and Rosanne too for encouraging us and telling us that we'll put up a great performance.

Thank you guys and I love you all.

After the concert, rushed to Art class with smudged eyeliner + mascara and bird nest resembling hair. I must have been a real mess when I entered the classroom and everyone was staring at me. And I kinda banged into one of the stools and made a lot of noise because I was really tired. Gosh, so malu. Anyway art seems fun, except for the first task which would be designing life skills camp tee -_- But I really look forward to 3D mixed media (I'd really love this) and photography.

Thursday
Thursday was a typical school life day. Recess was weird as it was the first free recess. Other times, we were occupied with Halo. As I said earlier, I felt as if I was going in aimless directions, chermaine felt this way too! And I'm sure most of Batch 11 did as well.

Got quite irritated at some point of the day due to various reasons. I really hope the teacher will rearrange us. Sounds absurd to be saying this but I'd like (a lot) to get to know some people better and they're like sitting on the other side of the earth. I hope I can have a decent conversation with everyone in 302 by the end of Feb.

Oh yes, another depressing thing is that we have tingxie for chinese just because we got some super cheam teacher for chinese. I wouldn't deny that she's good but I really can't relate to her complex chinese language. And we've spent two lessons learning about a guy who loves lotuses? o_o Man.
But I'm quite sure she can help me improve my chinese by quite a bit provided that I do my part in paying attention. (which reminds me, I haven't revised for tingxie yet).

Friday
I became the NE coordinator o_o And when I asked Shuyi what NE coordinators did, she said "Attended war memorials". Well yeah sure that helped a lot )<

Met our Bio teacher who looked like an AI (artificial intelligence) to me. Seriously, the way he talks and walks, everything.

Sec 3 SIL was about OBS. Honestly, seeing how some people dread OBS really annoys me. Like why can't they be more open-minded and hate less stuff. I'm really looking forward to it and all my seniors who went said it was fun. So yeah (:
(Although you gotta dig holes to shit)

Dance afterwards at the rooftop hall. I didn't dance due to my sprained foot. But actually it was almost alright already, just that I didn't bring my leojazz -_-
Laoshi briefed us about Sec one auditions on monday and I got really hyped. Really glad that the secs threes can participate this year, instead of trying to kaypoh and getting shooed off in the end.

After dance, had batch dinner at Coro Prince. Initial plan was to discuss batch dance costume but we all ended up laughing too hard from bitching about certain people. Okay, I know, mean. Was a really fun batch dinner although all of us risked choking on our food. In the end, Rach and I cabbed to TLL as we were too carried away with eating.

Alright that's all for now. My typo is getting really horrible as I just took around 3 hours to blog all that.

Stuff to look forward to: Sec One MD auditions! We get to teach and watch everything. CLEP. Discussing dance night? (:

Stuff to not look forward to: AHEM. I wish people will love more than they hate.

Love,
A tired Ellen from typing the above post.

time for miracles

2010-01-03T00:48:00.000-08:00

302'10 tomorrow. I pray everything goes fine.

2010-01-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

It's time again to

BURNTHEFLOORANDBURNTHEIRASSESOFF

2010-01-01T23:34:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010!

Another year's over and surprisingly I quite enjoyed 2009 despite all the crap here and there. It was a year that really made me grew quite a bit in terms of being a person and a dancer.

Okay you don't really have to read the following stuff because it's more of a record for myself.

Well as a person, I guess I became more tolerant, open-minded and "myself" (instead of trying to blend in all the time). At least I hope that what I've achieved and I want to maintain all these traits.

As a dancer, oh gosh there's so many.
"Grown as a dancer" doesn't really mean improved dancing skills/technique blah. One thing's for sure, I've become like a thousand times more passionate about this amazing artform. It's like... second nature?

And I realised I've put much more effort, time, energy and emotions into my dancing and I'm sure that what everyone in Batch 11 has achieved this year, at least according to Laoshi.
My only regret is that I've not taken better care of myself when I dance. I guess I'm to engrossed into everything, lol.

I feel Batch 11 has really grown this year, in terms of being seniors, leadership, passion and so on. It's really heartwarming to see how close knit our batch is and that we'll have each other all the way 'til we're Sec 4. I'm just really glad that I've got all these wonderful people/dancers as MY batchmates (:

Chermaine, Clare, Shiyun, Haoqing, Cheryl, Karyan, Hilary, Yuxin, Jielin, Rahel, Joanne, Veena, Jermaine, Joy, Xinyi.
Organic Energy ♥

As for 202, I've realised who I really treasure. I'm definitely relieved that it's over, not saying that I've not appreciated 202 but two years is enough. I've had regrets but it's really no use crying over spilt milk so I'm just happy that some really awesome things happened in 202 in 2009 (and that the not-so-awesome stuff are resolved). Good luck to all of us in our new classes! (:

Anyway to round things up, 2009 has been boomz (:

***

School's in two days.
Luckily I'm reporting to the dance studio ♥ at 7.00am instead of 302's classroom. Like, what do I say when I step in there?
"Hello I'm Ellen. One of the classmates you'll be having for the next two years. I hope no one will dislike me. Thank you very much."
o_o

So yes, Halo in the morning is the perfect way to start the school year. Thank god!!!
And I'm actually having LOA in the first day of school, which is quite amusing for some reason. I hope the extra time we have will be put to good use!!

***

Had dance today from 9-2 in the hall. It was unbelievably hot and I was perspiring like some sick pig. Today's practise turned out neutral I guess. If all of us really focus on monday, we'd be able to pull everything together (: It's so not time to lose concentration right now.
And Laoshi's coming on monday during our LOA to save us for the lighting and hopefully the mentally exhausting humans clustering part.

Omg thank you thank you thank you.

School's starting but I still wanna shop and go east coast park to play!

learn to trust your heart

2009-12-29T01:20:00.000-08:00

Hello world.
Hope you all enjoyed your christmas!

Yesterday had dance again in the morning. Practised, improed, standardisation not done yet but tomorrow got dance again so everything will be fine now!

Went to Novena with batchmates and chermain and ate lunch.
HUNTED FOR COSTUMES at XXX shop. Oh gosh is it tiring or what :O
Tried on many but finally decided on Oliver Hooded Tee Blue Marle, 390869-87
But there were only 2 S sizes in the store and we needed 7, so we called practically everywhere...

"Hello, can you please help us check if your branch has the item called Oliver Hooded Tee Blue Marle, the item code is 390869-87. Thanks"
"Sorry we're busy please call again later"

Curses

"Hello, can you please help us check if your branch has the item called Oliver Hooded Tee Blue Marle, the item code is 390869-87. Thanks"
"Sorry we can't check this item."

SHINGZ

"Hello, can you please help us check if your branch has the item called Oliver Hooded Tee Blue Marle, the item code is 390869-87. Thanks"
"Sorry we are busy so we can't check sales items for you"
"Excuse we already called aorund 10 outlets and they all tell us they are busy so are you gonna be busy until 2012? For your information we have like a performance coming very soon so can you please do us a favour and check it?"
"Sorry mam, it's not that we don't want to help you, we can't help you"

"Hello, can you please help us check if your branch has the item called Oliver Hooded --"
"Sorry we no longer have stock for this item." Beep--
"But I haven't even finished my friggin sentence..."

***

Oh well we've gotten 5 now so 2 more to go.
And some stupid outlets are uncontactable, like the website gave a 7-digit contact number?!?! o.o

Alright off to call more outlets
Tata.

P/S. Just watched Step Up. Omg it's such a 'sweet' rockin' movie.

in my head

2009-12-26T01:35:00.000-08:00

Reply of tags!
Decided not to reply on the tagboard this time round 'cause it'll just be a big mess of '[cont'd]'s

cher: Oopsie daisies (x I should have said spoilers alert or something.
YY, shihui, hilary, shichun: Hahaha!

(I really don't know how to reply to the above tags because they basically say the same thing "HAHAHA New Moon's ending is hilarious" Oh well)

cher: Hahaha it's really beautiful, the choreography. I was like totally speechless and smiling like an idiot when I was watching it. Haha, heck the stupid timeframe already. Let's jiayou!!!
'JOANNE: Thanks Joanne! Haha you did a lot lah, your choreography super nice and super "oomph"!
YY: THANK YOU! (:
Haoqing: Haha actually can use, ujst cannot use facebook and blogger stuff ):
ENNING, Shichun, Haoqing, shihui: Merry Christmas you all! Have a great new year ahead! (:

Okay done! Going out now to idk where.

Love, Ellen

let the tears wake my dreams

2009-12-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

Recently my life has been revolving around dance, Halo and so on.
Just came back from (freaking cold) China on tuesday and had dance the following day.

I was really super glad when I saw my batchies dance newly choreographed sections of Halo.
I can feel that our confidence was increasing so much and we're definitely determined to put on a good show next year.

Dance on wednesday was tiring but worth it! Since I had to catch up a lot, danced almost all the way. Some steps not so sure yet but I'm lucky to have the luxury of time. Full-attendance can only be seen in 2010 T_T Oh well, I'm sure we can do it and impress them (whoever they are).

Went costume hunting (Yay!) at Lot 1 cotton on. Bought some really awesome for angels but the rest are not settled yet. Anyway, costume 50% complete, that's an achievement! (: Had dinner at Subway, gosh I really did miss them a lot.

I really hope there's dance tomorrow! Still have much catching up to do.
Haoqing I miss you!!

***

Christmas today (:
Merry Christmas everyone, and have a great new year ahead.

Well, nothing much special today, no celebrations and stuff.
Watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the morning, lol.
Yeah that's about it!

***

It's been happening for 5 months, shit.
& I have no idea what's going on.
Please don't be a permanent injury ):

let's be naughty instead of nice

2009-12-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas one and all!
Hope you all gotcha lovely presents! (:

i swear i'll never fall again

2009-12-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Bye bye Singapore!
):
(:

Batch 11 must update me about halo + batch dance + dance night okay?
I'll be thinking of ideas while I'm in China.
I really don't wanna leave when halo is still left undone.

Jiayou tomorrow guys! and will miss you guys terribly.
Can't wait to be back and finish up halo and make orientation a blast.

Hope I can go out with 202 peepz when I'm back too (:

Love,
Ellen

faltered stumbled and found my feet again

2009-12-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

Halo

Remember those walls I built
Baby, they're tumbling down
They didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound

Found a way to let you in
And I never even had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I've got you breaking
It's the risk that I'm taking
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I typed all that out acc. to memory! (:
Paiseh if some of the lyrics are wrong.
Halo's etched in my head right now.

Unexpected evaluation yesterday, Rach Xinyi and I formed the cheering team, haha.
Anyway, watching the entire evaluation was inspiring, breath-taking and so on.
Laoshi said everyone (yes, everyone) in Batch 11 has 进步很多了, since she joined us last April.

I think the biggest step we made in dance was in terms of emotion and energy. I really couldn't stop looking at Jielin and Veena dance. It's written all over your face
Literally.
They really reached out with their emotions and touched the audience.

Evaluation was really a good boost in our confidence.

And yes, the Sec 2s were suddenly good too, much better than during the practices...
Hmm...
(:

Discussed dance night a little with batch after evaluation. Went into the costume closet to look here and there. It's gonna be hard finding appropriate costumes (I'll see if I can get any cheap ones in China, lol). After all, our batch dance seems to be the most expensive one... BUT IT'LL BE DAMN COOL I PROMISE. Visualising the whole thing on stage makes my jaw wanna drop (in the good way).

Can't wait to get started on programme booklet and all that too with cher (:

***

After that, met Bernie and Jiale (who's like @.@ taller than me...).
Discussed our 5 projects for SMP.
Then as we were typing happily and laughing heartily, the website suddenly closed down and it was stated: Scheduled website maintenance.
O M G ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ +
I think my head was gonna 冒烟
Damn it.
So we retyped the entire thing lah. What the hell lah. We were damn pissed lah.

***

Was dragged to watch New Moon with Jiale (Bernie watched already).
Why did I go? 1. I got hyped by Jiale 2. By the time I realised I was too tired to go, I was already on the bus. So oh well. Why did I go watch it, exactly o.o

It was okay.
Good enough for the fans, I thought.
But without the book, it would have just been any other 'ok ok' movie.
Bella looked pretty.
Jacob looked fine.
Edward looked weird.

The ending sucked to the inner core.

E: I got one condition if you want me to do it myself.
B: ... ...
E: Marry me, Bella.
B: *some weird sound here*
Screen blank.
Anticipation from audience.
Credits start rolling.
Audience: WHAT THE HELL O_O

So yeah, terrible ending.

gravity can't forget to pull me back to the ground

2009-12-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

ha•lo (h l )
n. pl. ha•los or ha•loes
1. A luminous ring or disk of light surrounding the heads or bodies of sacred figures, such as saints, in religious paintings; a nimbus.

Anyway, I suppose Halo gives us an opportunity to realise how much our batch has grown as dancers, and also allows us to envisage what we can become in the future. I genuinely think the choreographers especially have done an excellent job; the dance is undeniably exquisite. Watching batchmates (especially during the evaluation) dance Halo today was very inspiring; ... it is lovely to see how their hard work has paid off. Halo has been developed into this impressively powerful yet delicate dance; to the point that it looks professional.

Taken from Hilary's blog

100 % true
Indeed, Batch 11 has grown a lot since we've been through so much together.
Literally: From hair, to no hair, to sock. - Quote Rach Gan
Words fail to explain how much I love my batchmates.

Jiayou for evaluation everyone!! (:

"This Little Bright Light Around the Bigs' Heads"

P/S YY hope you get well soon and feel better!!

not waving, but drowning

2009-11-30T22:54:00.000-08:00

Oh shit ): As 2010 gets nearer, I'm getting more and more apprehensive about 302.
At least, I'm pretty lucky to have 7 great 202 people with me.

I better post about the Class BBQ and Dance Factory open house before I forget everything.

Dance Factory (street jazz is niceeee)
Last Sunday, Shichun and I went to Yanying's dance factory open house. It was really fun! After all, I love dancing, so it was like a bonus. Anyway, my favourite was street jazz. It was a little sexy but if you didn't think about that element, it was really fun to do! I may consider taking up street jazz classes (yes, it's that cool). Hiphop was fun(ny) but not my thing. The instructor was hilarious though "hip, ass, hip, ass..." Girls hiphop was fine, but I didn't really like the choreography I guess. Overall, had fun! Sadly, no pictures, haha.

***

Class BBQ!

The photos are already up on FB! Yay! (: I shall put some here so my post won't seem so wordy.

So Hilary and Jiale (& Jiale brought her mj hat and hil was laughing at it...) came to my house around 4+ to finish up the notebooks (although in the end we didn't) and bake cookies and waffles. I had this dejavu feeling when I went to open the sied gate for Hilary. It was like the Dreamchild rehearsal all over again (Oh, I miss Dreamchild!!) Yanying also came early because apparently I told her the wrong time, haha. So we made the waffle mixture first and we were all tasting the raw eegs + flour + butter etc before they were actually baked. After that, we made some chocolates (chunks?) cookies. Oh, Hilary gave us goodies from China! (:

They were playing with the free Snapple darts thing I had. Hilary shot this :D

"I would rate your cookies 10 outta 10!" - Weelin

Later on, when Jiale, Hilary and I went down, most of the class was already there. I guess most of my time was spent eating (duh), BBQ-ing the food and posing for photos and making waffles. It was really fun even though all we did was eat eat eat pig around.

The fire was BIG. Chaotarred (?) a lot of stuff. Thanks a million dad!

Iffy's mom helped out too!
She's really friendly and hip (she was dancing sorry sorry, gosh!) Lol, I'll miss her since I won't be in the same class as Iffy next year ): I remember her telling me before she left the BBQ - 要嫁个好老公okay! 不能随随便便找个臭男人. Something like that (x

Oh my, look at the food everyone brought Believe or not - I was actually worrying the night before that we didn't have ENOUGH food. (sounds so ridiculous now, right) When I looked at the food list, it looked quite simple and... un-sophisticated. Never realised everyone brought enough for 30 ._. In actual fact, we had a lot of leftovers. I really hate wasting food. Next time must really plan properly. At least there weren't any major blunders like - can't start the fire (thanks millions Dad!!!), no tongs, no ice, no cups blah blah... All the stuff that can go wrong at a BBQ.

We became really high afterwards, some people went on the bridge over the swimming pool and Eleen almost dropped into it. Yan Ying and I taught some the street jazz routine we learnt at the open house. Danced together, sang together, had failed jump shots together. I was really glad everyone was having fun and no one was unhappy with anything, so that was great and a success!

Street jazz (in other words, the cool) peoplez.

If you're wondering how we took this, just think along the line of how jump shots are taken.

Most of them left at 10 or so. Shichun, Wanli and Klara stayed a little to talk and stuff. Sigh, I'll miss 202 even if we're not a perfect class.

"Cheryl: See the two awesome people at the top.
Bernie: The two shortest people are at the top. "

ROFL.

***

HCI Band Concert

Last saturday, went to watch the HCI Band concert with Wanli, Bernie, Yan Ying, Jiaying and Shichun.

It was good! I liked most of the songs they played even though it was my first time hearing some of them. Imagine was really brilliant, especially the saxophone solo, could really tell that the guy was playing passionately. Imagine's a super meaningful song (:

Big fun in the sun left a deep impression too, for another reason though - the quirky dance steps they got up to do. I remember Shuin Hern spinning with his tuba, super hilarious. "He looked like he was about to roll his eyes any minute." Haha. Anyway, it was cute!

Overall, the concert was enjoyable (except that the emcees were really DEAD). Oh yes, the program booklet was professional too, inspires me to design the program booklet well for MD's dance night'10 along with cher! ♥ Lol

***

NYMD Halo

Had dance yesterday (monday). Met Rach Cher Chermain & Jielin and ate lunch at Penang Kitchen. Yep, the seniors are back!! I guess yesterday's practice was really productive, both Sec 3s and Sec 2s improved quite a lot. Yay, Batch 11 rocks Halo. Seriously, after all, we're the batch with organic energy (inside joke). Laoshi was in a good mood again and she helped out with Halo too, so I guess she's okay with our choreography.

Did I mention Batch 11 rocks? Lol. I really do appreciate the fact that I have probably the most supportive/fun/enthusiastic/passionate/understanding batchmates on earth. Haoqing and I had our evaluation for Sec 1 orientation yesterday (through video recording, haha) and they were really very super duper absolutely extremely supportive !!!~ I really love them ♥ (and yes, the juniors were great too!) Haha we have newly invented sort of hugging within our Batch - jumping hugs (:

Thanks you batchies.

We discussed dance night a little, got me at the edge of my seat (okay, there wasn't any seat, but whatever). Program list is out!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thinking of titles really kills brain cells!!!!!!!!!!! Omg Batch 11's batch dance will burn the floor and burn their asses off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG So long since I've used BTFABTAO!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm REALLY hyped!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for lack of vocabulary!!!!!!!!!

***

Overdue ECP/last day of school photos

I really like this (:

I really like this (:

Okay, this isn't exactly taken on the last day.
But it was our last full class photo (?)

Emotional assembly session.

This one's pretty cool (:

Gee competition.
Haha, Shichun looks like a doll.

I wanna put a caption but you'll say I'm corrupted ):

Even the demented ones know how to surrender.

***

Today

Hmm, nothing much. Just came home from NUS. I went to take the H1N1 vaccination. Bloody hell, the queue was freaking long. Feeling slightly numb in the arm and drowsy right now, haha excuse not to do homework. Going to China next thursday, aww missing 2 dance sessions ): I promise to do HALO and stretch a lot in China, even though I'll be all bundled in clothing and look like a meatball (Fyi, I look chubby in winter clothes, I swear). Looking forward to China trip too, since it's been ages since I've seen my grandparents. Can't wait to go skiing, ice-skating and playing billard!!

P/S. Yay tomorrow! (I hope I don't feel drowsy then)
P/P/S. HAOQING HAVE A SAFE AND SUPERB TRIP. Will miss you. Can't wait to dance with you when you're back, partner ♥
P/P/P/S. Credits to yy for photos!!

i got my angel now

2009-11-26T05:22:00.000-08:00

Dance was tiring but rewarding, I guess (:

All sec 2s and 3s learnt halo until before the chorus.

Some sec3s stayed back and cheryl and HQ choreographed the chorus, super nice and emotional (:

Oh yes, Kelly and Celine came back and they learnt halo too! Talked to us about MAD + upper sec life. *Shudders*

I love halo, really.

***

Went to eat BBQ chicken with HQ cher rach and caught My girlfriend's an agent.
Funny show! Though some parts quite cheesy, lol.
Haoqing's laughter was super loud (I sat beside her) funny.
The show was good :D

Maybe will post tomorrow.

standing in the light of your halo

2009-11-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

Today's like an anti-climax break from all the halo craze ):
"Quite said there isn't dance today" - Rach.
Yup! Agree with you rach! Yesterday, we were so high and happy at joy's house.
Oh well, but I'm a little relieved though, because I haven't exactly been in great condition to dance this week. If you get what I mean ):

Tomorrow will be a long but interesting day. A little apprehensive about teaching halo to everyone. I wonder if they'll be alright with the choreography. We'll see tomorrow. Exciting!!

DAMN I CAN'T UPLOAD THE FREAKING PHOTOS.
BLOGGER & PHOTOBUCKET SUCKS.

I'M SO PISSED

one less lonely girl

2009-11-24T05:41:00.000-08:00

Hello all.

Just went to Joy's house today to choreograph Halo.
Chermaine and Rachel went too.
Joy's new house is really nice - swimming pool, club house, dance studio, gym, billard room, badminton court, squash court etc etc ...
But the only bad thing was how big and complicated the place was. I took ~20 minutes to find my way out -_- Ended up feeling pissed, demoralised and retarded.

Apart from the major walking here and there, today was a success! (:
We choreographed until "Pray it won't fade away", in other words, before the first chorus.
I'm not being ego or anything, but when cher rach and joy did it together (I saw because I forgot some steps), it looked really pretty !!

But of course, there were a few times we stoned and stared into blank space. We got artisitic blocks today twice. It felt absolutely terrible/exasperating/frustrating/lethargic. Never realised it would be so irritating not being able to choreograph anything. There was once we didn't progress for like 30 minutes? Stuck at the same verse over and over again.

Anyway, we did it in the end and that's all that matters right! (:
What's left for evaluation is just "(I can see your) halo halo halo. Halo halo halo..."
Ah I can't wait to see the 'final product'

***

Class BBQ turned out to be awesome. I wouldn't say I went super duper high but I sure was really (really really) happy.

I shall post in detail when yy uploads the photos on FB. Thanks yy!
Can't wait for the next class outing (:

***

Finally finished reading The Time Traveller's Wife.
Like Bernie said, it was kinda confusing in the beginning, but afterwards it was made clearer.

There were many intiguing scenes. Like when small Henry found out he was "the few chosen ones given the special ability to time travel" like old Henry told him. There was one scene, where the two Henrys (yes, two Henrys), one a kid and the other an adult, stood together facing a mirror. Little Henry saw the resemblances between the two faces and suddenly realised that he was alone in the world with this rare disease. It was a really bitter scene.

Okay whatever, I'm not particularly good at writing book reviews. Anyway, there were many imageries, really good and impactful sentences in the book, of course too many to list. I definitely would read it again some time.

The ending was really sweet and heart-warming too!

***

So my Sec 3 class is 302.
Am in the same class as Jiale, Shuyi, Lingan (wow haha), Bernie, Michelle, Eleen, Kailin.
I'm really happy about it.
And I can't wait to meet all those other people from 203/207/201/210 and so on...
I have a feeling 302 will be interesting.

***

Alright will post about Dance Factory open house and ECP photos tomorrow! (:

I'll miss those times where we didn't care if we were unglam or not,
and became retarded people. ♥

there's sunset in your eyes

2009-11-19T16:20:00.000-08:00

I've never been so enthusiastic about logging onto LMS in my entire secondary school life.
Someone upload the damn allocation!!!

let's head for the finish line

2009-11-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

Today was... epic?
Had dance from 2-5 pm but only arrived around 3 and some other were even later.
Reason? Shitty rain. The entire canal and Dunearn road was flooded, ground level.
I was stuck at "Spot X" (quoting chermaine) for half a hour?
Was calling cher and rach and they were in the same condition.
But dance was good!! Teached parts of halo to the rest!! It'll turn out awesome!! I'm feeling confident!! Haha!!

And today, I met a lot of nice people:
1. This woman who offered to shelter me when I was going to school.
2. This girl who offered tissue to a NY girl drenched in rain.
3. A woman who gave band aids to someone who tripped and fell.
4. An elderly woman giving up her seat to a middle-aged woman.
5. My batchmates, of course (:

I'll not blog about Malacca trip.
Because, honestly, I didn't enjoy it.
So yeah, I'll just leave it here as it is.

Thinking about how much fun I could have had if I had followed the right people,
makes me wanna cry.
I really hope you don't come for the class BBQ.
I would like to think that our friendship has reached the finishing line.
If there even was one in the first place.
I wonder why I could tolerate you.
I seriously fucking hate you now.
And this is the first time I used the f word in my posts, ever since p5.
I pray that I'm not in the same class as you.
I pray that I'll never see you again.
I wish that you've never walked into my life.

you can't play on broken strings

2009-11-10T01:40:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. Haven't gotten 'round to posting about Dreamchild yet because I have absolutely no idea what words to use to describe the entire experience. So here goes.

To be honest (I'm quite worried about the present situation. You've got to admit that things aren't looking very good right now...), the Monday of the last week of school, I thought everything was going wrong. When it was finally CCA after school, I couldn't help but feel like escaping 202. Like Hilary said, "On the surface we seem to become more bonded, but on the inside, everything is getting worse." Dinner with Haoqing, Eunice and Shiyan, I was trying really hard to forget everything I saw in class that day. Then at night, I was having a heart-to-heart talk with Yueling over MSN and I broke down. I'm quite amused when I think about it now, because Shuin Hern was like asking me "How's life?" And I replied "Yes, fine." all the time while I was weeping. Sentosa turned out to be a complete change, thank god for that opportunity for 202 to be back on track again. Talked to Yan Ying after school in the canteen. Surprise after surprise, regret after regreat, shall not blog in detail. Wednesday, Ling An came back to school with a horrible voice, Regine was falling sick and my very own voice sounded weird, the whole day I was thinking shit shit shit shit. The mood was so low, rock-bottom, all the "Go 202!"s just had eyes rolled at them. Later, Regine, Ling An and I went out to practise a few lines and we started to become high once more. Ling An seemed to have lost her sore throat, though she was told not to strain her voice too much. Went back to class, and what the hell, she actually ended up laughing super loudly in the end. Everything turned out well on wednesday (:

Thursday

Thursday was a series of worries. Firstly, FOA: I was worried that we would get laughed at, I was worried that my classmates would not appreciate the dance, I was worried the four carriers would end up dropping shiyan, I was worried I would slip on the magazines. I was worried, I was worried, I was worried...

However, I was more concerned for Drama: I was worried Ling An would still sound like a duck, I was worried Regine was still feeling unwell, I was worried Cheryl would rush through her monologues, I was worried I would blank out and forget my very own monologue, I was worried that I would burst out laughing on stage, I was worried the mass killing scene would be a total mistake, I was worried about this, I was worried about that...

After FOA, it was like as if a huge burden has been shifted off my chest. Though the timing was off and the music was too soft, I didn't feel pissed, just relief. Nothing but relief.

The day seemed to past really quickly - Howl's Moving Castle and a whole load of other crap. Finally the technical run through for Drama Fest Finals. The run through, in my opinion, wasn't very good. Someone even commented that it appeared as if it was our first time on the stage. Rushed make up and dinner. Stand by backstage.

Once again, everyone was hugging everyone. On 29th Oct, I almost cried when I saw the scene, especially when Iffera hugged me. Firstly, she was so skinny, hugging her was like hugging myself. Then I recalled the times when I ignored her as a table mate, when what she told me just escaped my head because I wasn't interested, I really wanted to cry. So I was like, "Eh can you all stop hugging each other, I want to cry already." Haha, it was for competition's sake (smugged mascara doesn't look really nice). On 5th Nov, I was just neutral, probably because we've all been through the mass hugging marathon or maybe I was too nervous to feel anything else. I saw Xinyi and Eleen huddling together in a corner, Wanli reciting her lines, she hugging her and so on, it was evident how meaningful this production was to the entire of 202.

The cheers from the audience when the SM said "202, go!" were surprisingly loud (thanks a million cher, for the video! & for supporting my class). I guess it kind of boosted my confidence. Publicity received overwhelming response. Scene 1 was awesome as usual, Shenlin actually cried when saying her lines. Scene 2. Scene 3. Just before I stepped into character, I recalled all the drama rehearsals we had - lunch breaks, after shcools, weekends, marking days, mornings. If we didn't do this scene well, then when would we. I felt I did the best I can, though I made a mistake in Scene 5 - letting go of ML after the RHM hit her only once. It was a small mistake but it could have been avoided. Managed to suppress my laughter. Or maybe it was because I really tried to feel manipulated. Sohpie's monologue was impressive, and I'm sure it freaked the audience (: Haha as Yan Ying said, 202 literally ended with a BANG. During the curtain call, I couldn't help but smile. It was a good memory.

Back at the changing room, was reassured by Yan Ying that the performance was well delivered. At the moment in time, I couldn't care much about winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd or nothing. I just felt that we did our very best and the end of 202's journey was beautiful the way it was, with no prizes or popcorn (:

But of course, it would be a million times better if we had won some prizes, am I not right? (:

Whoever it was clicking the powerpoint during the results made an insanely huge mistake. When they were announcing the class for 3rd place, our Dreamchild poster was actually flashed on the screen. So what the hell, anti-climax. If that didn't happen, we would have been much higher afterwards, what a spoiler. But anyway, the day was great. Apparently, my dad who was outside the auditorium heard the results and screams from 202. So he messaged me to congratulate us. And yes, I cried, only a little (:

Afterwards during the debrief, I wasn't exactly energetic, just tired but relieved. Relieved that everything turned out well, relieved that all the effort, the tiring processes didn't go down the drain. On top of all that, relieved that there weren't any new conflicts. The last class photo that day. The person we ask to help us the take was like saying "Okay, look here!" Ling An muttered under her breath "then where..." Set everyone off giggling. I bet the whole class was trying not to jerk when the photo was taken (:

Dreamchild was tiring, I wouldn't deny. But I truly enjoyed it. I looked forward to rehearsals, I looked forward to seeing 202, I looked forward to performing in front of the audience even though it was nerve-wrecking (I'm sure it's in my blood, lol). I'm sure everyone wanted our very last project to go smoothly, go well. And it did. I hope every single one of you is as proud as I am of Dreamchild, of each other, of 102 '08/202 '09.

Ellen

P/S: Just a reminder for myself - I need to blog about: HALO, Dance Night (I'm hyped), East Coast Park with Jia Le, Yan Ying and Shichun!

P/S: Haoqing, Hilary, Shumin and Charissa, have fun in China! 快点回来

all too soon

2009-11-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

For a long period of time, I've thought that 202 was an experiment gone wrong, done randomly. Fitting puzzle pieces that do not match by logic and trying to force them together. In the end, you get a chaotic picture, nothing but conflicts. It has been like that for some time, especially this year.

Then now, I've realised, that each and every one of us have changed ourselves to become more tolerant, friendly, open-minded and approachable. It was towards the end, when we finally knew to appreciate one another's beauties, when we finally could understand each others' flaws. The puzzle pieces could, then, fit together.

But it has ended all too soon.

202,
We all don't hope for our journey to end, but it's unavoidable.
However, I'm sure the memories will live on, forever.

I'll remember, every single one of you.
102 '08/202 '09 ♥

'Til we meet again,
Ellen

dancers "turn out" better

2009-11-02T04:53:00.000-08:00

Horrible horrible mood. It's all ending the wrong way.
Dance afterwards was fine, productive? Discussed dance night and evaluation. Exciting!!!
We all couldn't keep still by the end of the discussion.

I know I've not updated for some time, and this is really a poor post. Drama fest, FOA blah blah blah and a lot more crap... I really feel like rolling down a few flights stairs and breaking a few bones here and there.

Well, batchies were awesome today, as always. They're the best.

Ellen

[/edit]
I FEEL MUCH BETTER. (:

the last song

2009-10-24T03:31:00.000-07:00

202 is putting up their last performance as a class on 29th October, 3.15pm at the NY Auditorium, Dreamchild (Drama Fest). 6 other classes are performing their plays as well. Tickets are priced at $4 each. Please contact me by Sunday if you wanna watch/ask for details. Thanks! (:

It'll be awesome

***

Dance on Friday was rockin' as usual. Learnt a new 3-count exercise which I love. Laoshi was super cute, but sad, she injured herself again. Afterwards drama with 202 (omg, michelle's right about classtriotism. I'm starting to feel it), pretty fun again. 202 was so cooperative that it was surprising, not to mention a relief as well. Lunch at Golden Rooster, we sat on the steps like chinese coolies, or 无家可归children who just got kicked out of somewhere. Photos will be uploaded as soon as I get them. For now:

Budget pointer. Take #1

Budget pointer. Take #2

Happy Budget pointer. Take #3

Barbaric and buffy budget pointer. Take #1 (Jiale don't kill me)

Hmm...

After lunch, Shuyi kinda went a little loose-screw-in-the-head and started tapping everywhere (the bus, people's head etc.) with her straw "budget pointer" to detect hollow areas. And surprisingly, one of them was Jiale's head...

***

Just came back from Orchard. Went to ION, the escalators there totally suck. I was wondering where the heck they were leading me to.

Urgh, I almost fell off while taking this.

Wheelock Place, the cone building at Orchard. Cool right? (:
Bought 4 books from Borders.

***

202: Add oil for drama!
NYMD: Add oil for FOA!

unashamed

2009-10-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

I promised a detailed post of 21st October so here it is (:

Yesterday
Morning, math paper, set by Ms Teng. Oh god, thank you Ms Teng. Manageable and had time to check every question.

After the paper, we (Hilary, Jiale, Iffera, Shumin, Yueling and I) went to Takashimaya, Seoul Garden. Quite a nice place. It was a buffet, where you took your own veggies and meat (okay that sounded weird) and grilled them yourself (: Let the pictures tell the story. Um, actually there's not much of a story, we were just pigging around.

Iffera was being all hilarious. She totally wasted her $ man, paid 12 bucks to eat rice and paus? No wonder she's so skinny.

Famous Iffy quotes

1. "No no! I can't eat meat! I need some fibre. I haven't been able to shit properly for a week!" -This was after shumin offered her some pork thing. I told her off for saying the word 'shit'.

2. "Yes I ate bananas already! I even ate PRUNES!" - Hahah this one was the funniest, sent us laughing in different directions (esp. Yueling). She said this after Jiale told her eat bananas to solve her constipations.

3. "(自言自语) Eh, prunes SUCK man." - With much (maybe over) emphasis on the word suck. Then we started telling her how delicious prunes are. I laughed until I wanted to puke out all my food.

Oh yes, I'll never forget the scene of Yueling holding a fork with her left hand and a pair of chopsticks with her RIGHT, stuffing some guava-looking thing into her mouth and fishing around for meat. (insert wink)

Alright, after doing crazy stuff like frying icecream and orange skin and acting all gluttonish, we were about to leave. Then found out, for every 100 grams of wasted food, there was a fine of 5 bucks. So, what the hell. So we had no choice but to stuff the left over food (which wasn't really a lot anyway ._.) into the empty eggshells. Genius.

Hmm, suspicious looking eggs...

Went to Kinokuniya, found my The Time Traveller's Wife. Oh my god, I can't wait to start reading.

In case you're wondering why we look distorted, it's the mirror's fault. We got quite fascinated with how's retarded we looked, haha (:

Next, did something totally absurd. Went to different department stores and totally monopolized the changing rooms. WE TRIED PROM DRESSES (everyone had to try on at least one). Even Yueling did (zomg). Got really hyped up and Jiale tried like three, haha! Came to the conclusion that tubes really suck to the inner core. Like how do you actually walk in that? Hmmm, I wonder if this brought out the 'inner feminity' in us -_-

Did some other crazy stuff, irritated people. Wore caps and posed

I love the cap. We look cool, don't we? (: We look like tourists...

Finally went home with Jiale after goofing around so much. I remember I needed to pee really desperately, so I totally burst into the house and dashed to the bathroom, gave my poor dad a heart attack...

Today
Drama rehearsals in the morning. I wanted to sleep in so badly!!! Nevermind, shan't be a pig, and drama's quite fun to me. 202 was productive, I felt everyone's acting improved. Omg, the publicity team did a really good job, prepare to be wowed (: Entire class had lunch at KAP. Lesson Learnt: Shuyi, Jiale, Ling An and Ellen cannot eat at the same table.

Jiale, who says I'm taking you...

Hooray I just posted a picturey post, happy! (:

***

Now stuff I have planned to do after exams. Of course dance was be the biggest priority, along with NYMD. I think I'm already as stiff as an iceblock.

1. Perfect Spanish Romance on guitar
2. Finish reading The Time Traveller's Wife
3. Shopping at Borders and Bugis.
4. Sign up for dance lessons.
5. Do at least one cross stitch.
6. Tidy up the pig sty
7. Go east coast park with whoever wants to go.
8. Watch The Fame?
9. Watch lotsa movies.
10. Do well for drama fest
11. Create a montage?
12. SHOP BABY
13. Ski in China
14. Ice-skate in China
15. Play billard in China (y'know, I just found out my granddad's a billard coach. I'm so outdated)
16. Get into SMP
17. Flexibilise my back
18. Choreograph something
19. Learn ballroom
20. Watch Gossip Girl
21. Omg, this is never ending
22. Get songs.
23. Keep my bloody blog alive
24. Not let results spoil my mood.
25. Cherish times with 202?
26. Take lotsa photos.
27. Play badminton at least once a week
28. Get into a sec3 class I'm satisfied with
29. Get stuff that are related to dance
30. Spend Christmas and New Year with loved ones ♥ (who doesn't want to?)

Sigh, so little time, so much to do... (:

***
Oh yes, if you facebookers wondered what happened to half of 202 for the last two weeks. Presenting to you the culprit

Kinda have a just-playing-around feeling but it was surprisingly effective. Notice the artistic signatures 202 people have.

***

BATCH 11. I miss you like (insert non-existent word)

Cca tomorrow, can't wait.

[/edit]

Joy,
Recover asap, Batch 11 gotcha back forever ♥

emotional roller coaster ride

2009-10-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

And here I sit again,
trying very hard, actually not really, to revive my blog.
OHNO, why do I sound so emo?

I'M HAPPY!
Today was pure madness. Math paper in the morning, my favourite paper in EOYs this time round. After school, was SeoulGarden. My first time going there. Never knew eating lunch could be so thrilling. Alright, photos tomorrow.

Lotsa stuff happened recently.
There's the good stuff like:
Esperanza, Nyglitters, times with Batch 11 and 202, Crab flower club so on...

Then there's the neutral stuff:
Choosing sec3 subject combinations (still debating between the pros and cons of taking art as an optional subject), poor SA grades etc etc.

Lastly, there's the depressing stuff:
EOYs (which are over, but surprisingly I don't feel relaxed at all), suspension of CCA (made me go through hell) and the sickening class politics blah blah blah.

but 202 and NYMD Batch 11 managed to survive all these, so can I (:

Alright, more detailed post tomorrow, after drama rehearsals. Which reminds me, I gotta re-memorise my lines.

Hmm why do I get the feeling that I'm gonna have a hard time getting people to read my blog again...