Friday, April 25, 2008

Reaching the End.

Have you ever misses a place before even you're leaving it?

This is what I felt about my life in NYP on Wednesday night, after CO practice. I had to sent my classmates some power point slides before the night was over. So I stayed back for awhile, outside of LTK 2 to finish what I intended. It was a quiet, windless night. The benches outside of the LT were deserted as it's already reaching 10pm. As I was waiting the uploading to complete, while listening to Olivia Ong's 'First of May', something stirred inside of me.

In the beginning , I was afraid that I'll be an outcast of the class, like what I've experienced in my previous education institute. However, with the aid of Louise, I was slowly accepted and get along well wit the class. After Louise left us, I was 'involuntarily volunteered' by Jon to be the next class-rep. No one in my class object to it except me, of course. All I can say is that I don't hate the arrangement and I don't like it either. Personally, I don't think I've did a good job. However, I'm able the scrap by somehow.

By 1st year's 2nd semester, I've gotten closer to some of my classmates, especially Nana. Maybe it's due to the age difference, or the lack of it (though she claims that she is 'forever 21', she's actually older than me by 1 year. Wahahaha!). We helped each other a lot academically and sometimes emotionally. Indirectly, she and other also helped me to get comfortable around girls. You have to understand that before coming to NYP, I was in the Army. Other than the guys and the 'girls wannabe', I've got minimum contact with the opposite sex then.

Around the same time, I've lost 5kg and change from a countryman-look-alike to a Ang Mo/Malay/Pakistan look alike. But there's always people who thinks that I'm from china. It's a welcoming change as I feel more confident in myself. Of course, I'm still a long way from my ideal weight. 20kg away!

The things that I will miss...

Taking photos with my classmates in school.

Joking around with Aza during skills lab.

Fall asleep in lecture and having Nana to poke me awake to copy notes.

Having group meetings and doing 'filming' with my sub-groupmates.

Having 'Man's talk' with Sha and Aza in the north canteen, over a cup of teh-O.

Having Nana and Fifi scolding me 'idiot'.

Teasing Da about her height. Eg, can't see anything below my eye-level.

Staying back in the library until 9pm to enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Walking down SHS pathway with Nana and the rest of the gang.

Walking down SHS level 2 pathway that full of SHS students(mostly girls in mini shorts).


These are some of the stuff I can think of for now. I feel very fortunate to be in the tutorial group that I'm in now. And in couple of months from now, my life as a student will come to a stop. Not long after that, I'll become a full-fledged nurse. My classmates and I will go on our separate ways. Though as stress as it is, school life in NYP is one of the most enjoyable phase in my life so far.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Back to TPCO Part II

And so, tonight marks the end of TPCO's annual concert. This year's production have quite a variety of different performance. We have Chinese Dancers, Sze Chuan Face Changing artiste, a singer, and alumni soloists. All were accompanied by TPCO, where the face changing artiste drew the most applause from the audience.

After the sound check, the director of this production gathered all the TPCO member to the audience seat. He announced to us that the feedbacks from yesterday's performance were very good. He also commented that the orchestra displayed an energetic and youthful spirit, and the soloist gave a wonderful performance. His speech seems sincere and I feel that it makes many motivated and ease the nervousness of them. I said many because some of us are already 'old bird'. Stage fright something that we had already overcome.

Wahahaha... *nose tilt up and laugh out loud*

Tonight's performance went on smoothly. I didn't get to take much photo because I'm too lazy to go snapping around. But I do get a chance to take some with my bubbly, fun-loving, fellow bassists.

Yong Sing, Lih Yee aka Lychee, Me aka Uncle Fester (according to Lychee)


Well done Peeps. Farewell. Until the next concert, take care.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Back to TPCO

Finally! I'm able to help out in TPCO's annual concert this time round as I'm having my holidays now and I accident and injury free. From 2004 to 2006 I'm serving my NS, last year I twisted my knee a few days before the show. W00t!

Well, today's performance went by quite smoothly, except the concert starts half an hour late, and I make a couple of mistakes here and there, and the Mcees made the wrong announcements, and some of the performers forgot the re-enter the stage. The TP staff were satisfy with the results, so it's not so bad, I guess.

Better luck for tomorrow...

My last concert with TPCO was 'Popin Moods' and that was a long, long time ago. Most of the member are new faces to me. I know some which I met from elsewhere but the alumni from my batch who came back to help only left with me and JX. Some still came back as audience though.

My first participation in public concert was in TPCO. Back then, I'm still in my secondary school life. Stepping into the studio and the auditorium brings lots of memories; orchestra experience that I've gained from there, friends I've acquainted, responsibility entrusted to me. Some pieces that we performing in the current concert are also the ones that featured in the first concert that I'm in.



This is the picture taken from TPCO's friendster account. It's take after the 'Popin Moods' concert. Seriously, I don't remember been and the centre of the photo, posing like some British secret agent, but it's funny nonetheless.

I should feel nostalgic. However, I only felt distant, like it had been very long time.

Oh wait, it HAD been a very long time. Hahaha...

Maybe it's because I'm still active in other Chinese Orchestra. Well, at least the Peeps are friendly and I'm glad the Cello and Bass section are still going strong.

Keep it up!

After the concert, I went for supper with the alumni from my batch at 老麦 (lao mai). It's what we called the Mac Dee's that is around the neighborhood. Not sure if the new-blood still use this term... Like the old times, we went there for dinner or supper, some times even had committee meetings there. It felt nice to have everyone to gather at the same old place, doing the same old stuff like chit chat across the table, making fun of one another, at the same old timing and atmosphere.

Yup, nostalgia sure fills the midnight breeze, but I'm sure ain't weeping... *snif*