I wouldn't say "as a result of" (though I do not doubt it one bit), but after my two years of study in Hwa Chong, I have utterly lost my mojo for literature. I have been getting Cs for a subject I never had to give a second thought about and I feel so distant and removed from it. I guess that may be why I'm doing so badly? Literature is about human emotions and I feel absolutely nothing for it. Them. Nothing. I hate Pip. I hate Hamlet. I hate Catherine and Robert and Hal and Shakespeare and God what I would give to desecrate the grave of John Donne.

It's... the environment I think? In Nanyang it was never purely about the work. It really was a holistic education. About the people, the situation, nurturing the individual. And the work just took care of itself. I never had to study Literature because it was already in every aspect of my life. Oh and the tolerance. Students, teachers. I think we all had an immense tolerance and understanding for each other that allowed everyone to develop the way they wanted or needed. So you were sensitive, or aware somehow whether you wanted to be or not. None of these ridiculous cliques and social vendettas. Honestly I don't see how people put up with it. It's such lowering behaviour and the core of some of the basest writing in the world. And that's just socially. Here, academically... it's all Peter and Jane. This is Peter. This is Jane. Peter says go. Jane says go. Go go go go go go go. And get a scholarship while you're at it.

It's very childish of me, I know. To blame my incompetence on "feelings". Oh you poor lost soul no one cares about you boohoo of course your grades are justified. If I stopped being so lazy and useless actually study and read my texts of course I'd be doing better. If I had done more research, read more critical books... all that stuff, I'd be doing loads better.

But that doesn't explain why I feel like crying when I look at my old literature and language arts files now.

Fuck I need to stop whining.

I thought math was... somewhat easy? Ok from those questions that I didn't do/think I got wrong I've probably lost 20 marks. But I feel really good about those that I did do. So hopefully  low A? Or high B? Gah. Don't want to get my hopes up. But this was seriously the easiest math paper I've ever sat for within the Hwa Chong compound. I think once a year when the A level papers get trucked in the entire math department gives a collective, reverberating sniff of disgust.

 Panadol cold works very well for my respiratory system but it also makes me high and emotionally unstable.

Since 11am this morning, I have felt like giving daisies to everyone I know, sweeping lunch off the table, telling my family how much I love them, violently shredding all my revision material and sleeping for 5 hours straight in total disregard for the dismal state of my historical knowledge.

Thank goodness for self control.

 Every once in a while, someone comes along and changes your life forever.

MR BILLY LIM, YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE MAN. I SALUTE YOU.

 I think Natalie Portman would make a fantastic Estella in the long overdue Hollywood adaptation of Great Expectations.

 


My favourite show as a kid :(

So thought prongsiedongs the militant atheist upon watching this video.

Jimmy Wayne - I Love You This Much

I didn't want to put that title in actually cos it's sort of a spoiler but youtube doesn't allow this video to be embedded so the controversial title is there to make you bother to watch the video :)

I know it's cheesy country music, and the chorus and chords are predictable but that last bit hit me real hard. I mean, these are tough times. Someone can walk onto a plane, flick a safety switch, squeeze a trigger and you'll never see them again. And if Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Nefertiti, Ron Hubbard etc. can be the brother, sister, father, mother, uncle, friend that we're missing, surely religion can't be that bad.

And God (or Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Nefertiti, Ron Hubbard etc) knows I pray all the time for a reason to believe. Listening to the song again with the lyrics in its religious context... gah I feel like such a jerk. But I can't. I just can't make myself believe. I want to make up my mind but it's so difficult :(((

I love you this much
And I'm waiting on you
To make up your mind
Do you love me too?
However long it takes
I'm never giving up no matter what
I love you this much





plus unrequited love totally sucks balls

 Dear friend of prongsiedongs,


Thank you for contacting us. We always appreciate hearing feedback from valued customers.


We are sorry to hear about your experience at Starbucks Bukit Timah. Providing courteous and professional customer’s service is a top priority to us, so your comments are of great concern to us.


All partners (employees) attend extensive training where creating highly satisfied customers is stressed as one of the most important objectives. We shared your comments with the store manager and district manager, as customer feedback is a critical measure of our success in exceeding customer expectations. 


The store team and district manager, Jessie of Bukit Timah will like to invite you back to our store for coffee and to offer you our sincere apology for the unpleasant experience. Please help to provide your contact number so that we could make arrangements with you. 


Thank you again for your feedback, it is truly appreciated. 


We hope you will give us another opportunity to serve you and that your future visits to Starbucks bring you nothing but pleasure.


Sincerely,

Wong Shareen


Unfortunately, it doesn't mention anything about the removal of Harianah in a cruel and unusual fashion. And I don't want apologies, I want FREE COFFEE =D Haha ok anyway I don't know. It's up to friend of prongsiedongs.

 I just had a freaky dream :(

I dreamt that I was walking along a road at night when some woman stopped me to ask me for Hwachong's phone number (?!). When I whipped out my phone her 3 compatriots appeared out of nowhere and robbed me at knifepoint D= One of them almost wanted to not take my phone because it's such an old model but they eventually took it anyway.

I think this must be some kind of warning because I've been thinking about buying a new phone recently. Best stick with the antique that still works. But oh god I was seriously scared. I just ran and ran and ran and I didn't know what to do because they were chasing me in a car or something? And I couldn't find a busstop? D= And when my sis woke me with a start I was just groaning incoherently.

Afternoon naps are evil.

Below is an irate complaint letter fired off to Starbucks by me on behalf of friend-who-will-not-be-named. I haven't had so much fun writing something in so long that it almost felt gratuitous =D  Complaint outsourcing anybody? Business shouldn't be too bad in Singapore.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am friend of prongsiedongs, a student from Hwa Chong Institution (College Section).

I patronised the Bukit Timah Starbucks branch on the 22nd of October at around 1130 am, and was appalled by the service standard of the coffee master on duty (I believe her name is Harianah).

I ordered a drink and a blueberry muffin which I wanted to share with my friends. As she only put one fork on the tray, I asked her for three more. She then proceeded to slam down the forks on my tray and sarcastically asked if I wanted three more mugs as well. I was too shocked to react and walked away with my order.

I suspect that I was treated in this manner due to the fact that I was in my school uniform. My friends and I were seated near the counter and we noticed that Harianah's attitude improved greatly when serving Caucasian or well dressed customers. This is hardly the kind of service I expected from an internationally renowned, world class coffee chain that prides itself on its humanitarian efforts. One of my friends who regularly patronises Starbucks outlets all over the island remarked that this was the worst behaviour she had ever witnessed from a service staff. Our experience was also a far cry from the friendliness and warmth expressed by the owner of the small, locally run restaurant at which we had just had our lunch, who took the trouble to return us our change in the exact denominations requested.

This Starbucks outlet is within walking distance of many schools in the district and I believe students make up a very large section of its customer base.

I would appreciate if this problem could be rectified as soon as possible before more students are subjected to such unprofessional, off-putting behaviour.

Regards,
friend of prongsiedongs


Because Fuckers should get what they deserve :)

Personally, methinks friend of prongsiedongs was too soft on Harianah. I would've said "Yeah. And I'd also like 4 plates, 5 spoons, 6 knives, 7 bowls and a feedback form."

The "locally run restaurant", by the way, was Curry Wok :)

 

 
I managed to get to the last question of the math paper somehow despite the cat naps and extended periods of vacuous stares. Then I saw the most common and annoying typo math teachers make.

'Find the latest time that he should leave his home? Give your answer correct to the nearest minute.'

Like that didn't irritate me enough, I couldn't do the question either. So I wrote:

"Technically the question reads 'Find the latest time that he should leave his home?', and my answer is no which is a valid answer =) I suppose I should elaborate since this is a 3 mark question.

Ans: No. It is too difficult. It is approximately 10.05am."

I swear I wrote that on my paper. I'll take a picture of it and upload it when I get it back.

 This shouldn't feel like liberation but it does :( I need to study math.

 My hair has been developing an unnatural frizziness of late. Either the abnormal amount of brain activity is starting to exhibit its physical repercussions, or my indian maternal great grandfather's blood is screaming to be let out.

 How come we get Big B for 2 years and juniors get cute new french dude??? X(

 I like Mum Wisdom :)

I was feeling really f-ed up today because I couldn't concentrate and couldn't accomplish anything. I just couldn't tear myself away from surfing the net blindly for anything and everything while beating myself up inside at the same time. Uhh. Going crazy I think. But anyway I went to whine to my mother. Actually I was lying on the floor and groaning. She didn't spare me from the "it's for your future" talk but then she stopped abruptly and told me to forget it and go cook dinner with her.

So I've made the biggest, prettiest, colourfullest salad ever and whipped up a dressing to die for and I'm so happy now =)))

I love my mummy so much.

 





1ST WARNING SIGN THAT YOUR BRAIN MIGHT BE MELTING: OVERWHELMING URGE TO WATCH HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3














2ND WARNING SIGN THAT YOUR BRAIN MIGHT BE MELTING: SUCCUMBING TO THE URGE

 i wish greenday would stop being so emo. i really hate their lyrics but their music appeals to me somehow. i guess i prefer the melancholy left unsaid.




i think the girl in the video's pretty :) and the guy's not bad either.

 y'know people always say we base our current mindset on our past experiences but actually it works both ways doesn't it? we re-evaluate the past based on new experiences. been reading stuff. never thought about it that way before. very interesting.