T’was a pretty eventful first week.
Tuesday
Contrary to popular belief (especially after what happened on Wednesday - to find out more, read on), I did not oversleep on Tuesday.
I left the house on time, but the bus was late. Yes, yes - I know. I’m blaming Singapore’s transport system again. But seriously speaking, leaving myself an entire hour to get to school on a small island like this is more than ample time. Give me some credit okay?!? I know I can sleep like a pig, but I’m really not thaaaaaat bad.
However, the occasional traffic jams slowed me down greatly, plus the usual traffic light conspiracy woes - where they’ll never fail to turn red whenever my bus approaches them. I swear, they’re really out to get me.
I can practically hear them traffic lights thinking (if they had a brain) - Oh, I spy Brenda on that approaching bus, and I HATE HER. That’s why I’m turning RED.
Me wonders what have I done to offend those traffic lights.
I walked into class twenty minutes late. Everyone was already present and the lecture was already in progress by then. The professor paused in mid-lecture and along with the entire class, watched as I scurried across the room to my seat, apologizing sheepishly at the same time. (Only that in my haste, my apology came out as a muffled squeak - which sent the entire class into laughter.)
Was extremely embarassed.
And initially I thought this was bad enough. Until came …
Wednesday
A.K.A the day yours truly awoke at 12 noon for a class that’s due to start at 12 noon.
Imagine my horror.
To think I recalled setting the alarm clock the night before, and there was unfortunately, no evidence of me doing so when I awoke the next day because (1) there was no trace of the alarm feature being activated on my handphone and (2) I may have unknowingly smacked the alarm shut when it rang while still in dreamland, which happens pretty often.
Naturally, I was dumbfounded when I noticed how the clock read ‘12:01′ when I was (finally) wide awake, gazing at it with wide eyes, wondering ‘oh heck, what am I going to do? I have a damn class that started a minute ago!‘
Dashed out for a quick shower before hopping into a taxicab for hopefully, a quick drive to my school compound. For once, all the traffic lights were in my favour and I reached school in record time - 10 minutes, 32 seconds. Must have been my lucky day.
Apparently, Mithi dearest had inadvertently announced to the entire class that ‘Brenda’s still asleep’ when questioned by the professor with regard to my whereabouts after having received my panicky sounding text message. (Which was likely a messy jumble of words considering how I had typed it when I was still semi-awake.)
Thus, I entered the classroom (at 1.15 P.M.) and was greeted with sneers from several people. The professor himself decided to rub it in by raising an eyebrow and going - ‘Oh, you’re awake?‘
At that moment, I wished for the ground to open and swallow me up.
Friday
My first proper solo performance, representing Music Interactive Club in the CCA Day 2007 Concert.
Not going to mention much about it because on the whole, I feel that I did well. (Personally, I thought I sounded damn good but let’s not inflate my ego further, shall we?) Satisfied with my stage presence as well - had an appropriate amount of movement without overly gestulating.
Let’s just put it this way - I was a really happy girl onstage. (During the actual performance today, and during the two rounds of rehearsals during the past two weeks.)
Much thanks to the bouquet of orange gerberas from Liz and Mithi. These two boosted my confidence by a great deal with their presence. Love you both!
No videos unfortunately, because Little Miss Mithi happened to be so engrossed in my performance that she totally forgot to film everything down for me. (I shall treat it as a compliment eh? Heh.)
There’s just something very fulfilling about peforming on stage and actually doing it well. I think I am ready to face the possibility of any future performances too - no more doubts about my vocal capabilities, because I know I can do it.
I’ll no longer waver under the gaze of crowds.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, ends my first official week back as a student. (A life which I am missing loads.)
Plus, I’ll promise I’d write more.
Again, my apologies for the short disappearance, though I had a perfectly valid reason for not being virtually present.
Despite the fact that exams are now over, what still remained was a project (a report that is 20 pages long, 11pt font size, single line spacing) on Information Security in RFID due today (or yesterday, considering how it is 1.46 in the morning now) at 11.59p.m.
Considering how I didn’t know a single thing about RFID before this project, the research process was absolute hell.
The internet is a wealth of information - this I must agree. However, this wealth of information only constitutes 10% of what comes up on Google’s search results. The remaining 90% (which was what we usually stumbled into) was purely nonsensical crap.
Thus, I will summarize the last four days by stating that it was four days of filtering through irrelevant material on Google and attempting to siphon at least something useful out of there, attempting to catch the writer’s point on those looooooong reports which we found that were pretty useful (wow, phD research papers have a tendency to be really long, don’t they?) and finally, struggle to churn out a report that was reasonably good.
I lived and breathed RFID over the past few days. It even appeared in my dreams!
Imagine this.
Last night, I dreamt that the whole world had been taken over by RFID. RFID to open the front door of my house (all I had to do was to approach the scanner and the door would automatically open), RFID to board and disembark from the buses and also one to enter the school compounds.
The most WTF of it all was the use of RFID to identify my friends. I was holding a damned mini-scanner which goes beep beep beep each time any of my friends approached. And when I opened my wallet (in my dream), it was full of nothing but RFID tags for everything and anything.
I awoke at that moment and the first thing in my head was;
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
But whatever it is, the RFID nightmare is officially over because my groupmates and I had managed to successfully complete the project, turning it in at 11:48p.m.
(And no, please don’t ask me why the deadline is so late in the night. Plus, this isn’t even an online assignment submission we are talking about. It has to be handed in in person, in school.)
Irrelevant, but I finally got a taste of Kinder Bueno (with hazelnuts) after having avoided them for almost two whole years because of my nut allergy.
Seriously speaking, one can never understand how agonizing it is to step into any convenience store because those Kinder Buenos would just be calling out my name from their spot on the shelves. And only God knows why that 7-eleven outlet nearest to my school has to display them Kinder Buenos on the shelf right in front of the door! I can’t avoid them even if I want to.
They used to be my favourite chocolate before all this nut allergy hocus pocus happened but now they are virtually out of reach for me.
However, having been in a “I don’t care anymore” mood this afternoon, yours truly finally popped two squares of that hazelnut cream fulled goodness while I was midway through the report, keeping my fingers crossed that I wouldn’t get a reaction which strangely, never happened.
Perhaps there’s hope for my allergies after all.
Four more days to D-Day. The final exams are looming closer, and I am just going stronger and stronger - and yes, fatter and fatter as well - considering how yours truly is completely devoid of any form of exercise with my arse glued to the chair most of the time.
Exercising my mouth, more likely.
Typical study environment - Research Lab, SMU.
Clockwise from left:
(1) Apollo Strawberry Chocolate
Can’t live without this tube of heavenly goodness. Got hooked onto this under Steph’s influence. Open this tube, and you’ll find a mini paradise in there. I can deplete an entire tube in just a couple of hours, because a strawberry and chocolate combination is just something I can never resist.
(2) Meiji Full Cream Milk
While the rest of the world relies on caffeine-concentrated coffee to keep themselves alert, it’s milk for me.
Milk is my addiction, and it makes me wonder how lactose-intolerant people can actually survive without this bottle of creamy goodness.
And oh, milk is rich in calcium and protein as well, both of which is vital to our daily nutrient needs. More reasons to convert to milk! Haha. (I sound like a walking milk-advertisement here, oh dear.)
(3) Earphones
It allows me to blast my favourite music into my ears without bothering everyone else in the Research Lab, and allows me to satisfy those sudden urges that come by occasionally to listen to a particular song, replaying it over and over again without drawing strange stares from the people around and yes, fielding the questions that are expected to come by.
Additionally, it helps me to drown out the high-pitch squeaking noises and the constant chatter of a particular individual.
(4) Laptop
My productivity machine, enough said. It’s my pride and joy.
In fact, I ought to give it a name. Any suggestions?
(5) Silver Necklace
That ‘Faith’ charm has been acquired about a month ago, and it is there to motivate me with the constant reminder to have more faith in myself. It’s been hanging around my neck ever since, and occasionally I’ll remove it and place it at my desk while I work as a source of strength.
Took a peek at my exam schedule and discovered that both of my papers are on the same day. One in the morning, and one in the evening.
I’m more or less convinced that the higher authorities up there who designed the exam schedules are either pretty sadistic, or went through their entire childhood sitting for exams to an extent they are completely immune to the trauma multiple-exam days can bring.
Plus, why must I have an exam paper in the morning? I am practically dysfunctional in the mornings because my head will still pretty much be high up in the clouds, and also probably moaning and grouching at how I’ve been yanked out of bed by an invisible force. I cannot get into my usual upright and thinking mode at anytime before twelve noon.
Grrarrr.
Ah, well. Four more days to go.
Oh, and I got rejected by the first company I applied for an internship at. Methinks that my dropping of all belongings in a fit of frenziness at the lift lobby in the presence of the Human Resource Administrator had played a part.
Meanwhile, is there anyone out there willing to help replenish my milk and chocolate supply for the next three torturous days?