The Conversation with a Schoolmate (Theme: Something unusual that happened that day)

It may be everyday that you take the MRT train home. And it may be everyday that you get on the train with a fellow Victorian. But I don't think it is everyday that he talks to you, and something that isn't that great to be included in a good conversation. Well, I had an encounter similar to this.

It was a tiring day after CCA. I looked at my watch, which displayed the time to be 4:50 PM. Sigh...I was thinking about my homework already. I climbed up the escalator, to hear the MRT train approaching. When I reached the platform, the doors were already opened, as if to welcome me. I got in the train by the door that was the closest to the escalator.

I met a fellow Victorian in his PE attire. He noticed my VS Choir collar pin that I had pinned up on my school uniform, and remarked, "VS Choir rocks." I felt that he was kind of random. Since the day I got my pin, no one ever said that, or something similar. He continued, "You're a Sec two?" I nodded my head.

When I thought he was done with his comment and remarks, he suddenly asked where the MRT train was heading towards.

"Pasir Ris," was my reply.
"WHAT? I'm going to Tampines!" he exclaimed.
"Have you been on an MRT train? There are signs and maps everywhere." (Based on the fact that the train passes by Tampines on it's way to Pasir Ris.)
"I know. I've been taking the MRT train home everyday. Oh yes, I remembered I was going to Pasir Ris, not Tampines."
I grunted.
"What's the next station?" he asked.
"Simei. Why?"
"I forgot I was going to Changi Airport! Simei does have a train that goes there right?"
"No..."

And so the ridiculous conversion continued.

The MRT train finished it's journey when it terminated at Pasir Ris, where the both of us alighted. As I walked towards the bus interchange, I had a sudden thought that I had loved the conversation, for no reason. Maybe it was because that it was the first time that a schoolmate, whom I do not know personally, started a conversation with me. And he spoke in such a way and style that the conversation lasted long enough.

I want to use this blog post to remind fellow schoolmates we're not strangers, we're all sons of Victoria.


405 WORDS

Acknowledgements: Image- http://blogofsorts.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/ehub-downtown-east/

Homework first or project first? (Theme: A problem you encountered and how you solved or managed it)

I was in quite a dilemma. I had three projects on due, and all of them were due the next week. I totally had no time to do homework at my own pace, let alone discuss projects with my classmates.

OK, so the Science project was due next week as well. It was Monday, to be exact. Well, in order for everyone to meet up to discuss the project, all of us had to be free on that particular day. And that particular particular day was today, of all days. I flipped open my homework diary and almost got a shock. I had been paying so much attention in class until I didn't pay so much to my amount of homework. We had the most number of lessons on Tuesdays. That meant the most homework. English, Mathematics, Science, History, Chinese... multiply two worksheets by five subjects and you get ten worksheets.

Today was the ONLY day which everyone was free. Free of CCAs, extra lessons, etc. And it was the day with the most homework.

So now you could understand what kind of problem I had encountered. Project or homework? Well, I had two, or rather, three choices:
ONE: Go to my classmate's house with the rest of my classmates, and discuss the project there. I can get the Science project done by today, in four hours. When I get back home, I will only have about two hours left to do the pile of homework that I have, sleeping at around 11 PM.
TWO (A): Go home and complete my homework. As for the project, I will tell my classmates to discuss the details while I offer to do the presentation.
TWO (B): Go home and complete my homework. As for the project, everyone will meet on particular night to discuss the project online. I will have to burn lots of midnight oil then.

I had to think about each choice that I have and how much I will have to do in the end. Finally, I came to a conclusion, that is, to take choice TWO (A). My reasons were that if I were to choose to offer my help for the presentation, I would not have to do that much as a group and I could prepare the presentation in my own time. In this way, everyone could also get more specific roles in the project work, rather than everyone sharing and doing the same thing. And I didn't need to burn so much midnight oil!

My choice turned out to be a wise decision. Everything went smoothly and everyone did their part. Hence, I have learnt from this experience to always consider the consequences or effects of doing something, the pros and cons, before making a prudent decision.


462 WORDS

Hearty Meal in Pizza Hut (Theme: A special moment you enjoyed with your family)

Today, my Mum, Dad and I went to Pizza Hut to have dinner. We usually do not dine at Pizza Hut; it was a random day that we went to Pizza Hut, but for no particular event.

We reached Pizza Hut Bedok at around 6:30 PM, thereafter a waiter showed us to our seats and we were flipping through the menu. Beverages, desserts, pastas…pizzas! We discussed about what to order as we wanted to know one another’s preference before ordering, so we could share the food. Finally, we ordered Beef Spaghetti, Oriental Chicken baked rice, a Regular Hawaiian Pan-pizza and a lot of extra side dishes. I couldn’t bear to see Pepsi go down with those good stuff (I’m not saying Pepsi isn’t good! Just that it’s not THAT healthy.), so I got an apple juice as a replacement for the carbonated drink.

The waiter took down our orders and left our table. The soups and garlic bread came surprisingly quick. I guess that was because the soup was already boiling even before we came. You may not know it, but I’m a fan of garlic bread. I mean, who isn’t? A nice warm toasted garlic bread with a wonderful aroma…dip it into that mushroom soup and you get… What do you get? A wonderful combination!

The rest of the dishes were served subsequently. I have to say, the food was delicious! We shared the food so everyone could try everything. The pizza, naturally, was the best of all. I’m also a fan of cheese, by the way, so the cheesy Hawaiian pizza was my favourite!

As I have mentioned, my family and I do not eat at restaurants very often. We only do so on special (and random) days, which total to only about 5 times a year: My Mum’s, my dad’s and my birthday, and 2 other random days. I sincerely treasure today, a time where we can get together and have a hearty meal, in Pizza Hut.

Have I mentioned that Pizza Hut is my favourite restaurant? Okay, that was redundant.


344 WORDS

A Typical School Day (Theme: Something that took place in school-Edited)

I would just like to edit the theme a little. This entry isn't going to be SOMETHING that took place in school; rather it is EVERYTHING that took place in school. My life isn't all that interesting...but when it comes to school, it gets just a little bit more.

It is a cycle—the cycle of sleeping and using up that energy that you get after a night of sleep. I sleep at around 11 PM, and wake up at 6:30 AM. And if you count, I'll get about seven-and-a-half hours of sleep, but that isn't the case. Tossing and turning, my sleep time only totals to seven hours, approximately. And if sleepy eyes aren't enough, getting up to brush teeth and change of clothes is enough to drain all my energy away. Plus, all the while I am still half-asleep.

Dad drives me to school every morning. Since I am still sleepy, I have to eat breakfast on the way to school. When I reach school, I report for flag-raising ceremony and etcetera. 7:50 AM is when it really begins. Depending on the day of the week, a list of different lessons will be lined up for me, just like in a queue. And each individual in the queue varies from a length of 35 to 105 minutes.

The day is a good one if everything goes well. Particularly today I had forgotten to stuff my pencil case into my school bag. The reason I said ‘particularly today’ was that it was Thursday and Thursdays were Choir days. The lack of writing materials would cause great trouble for me, and I was sure. However, I found an ‘emergency pen’ hidden in some compartment of my bag and that was the only thing that could save me.

Imagine a whole day of lessons. You are hungry, tired and frustrated. You still have some homework yet to be done. And they are all due tomorrow. I feel like tearing all my books and throwing them down the bin. But I know I shouldn’t do that. To top it off, there is CCA later in the day. CCA just equals to time that could be used to finish homework being used up.

Lunch is twenty minutes, and I have to rush up to the music room for CCA… Luckily no one notices me not having a pencil case.

Torture lasts for about three hours, and after that, I’m dead beat. There’s always this ‘homework reminder’ that keeps popping in my brain, reminding me of the tasks and assignments I have yet to complete. And finally when I’ve completed them, it is late in the night and I go to sleep, already feeling like death is approaching.

I fall asleep…and the next day awaits me. I hope it’s not as torturous.

468 WORDS

My Musical Retreat (Theme: A moment spent alone doing something you enjoyed)

Do I listen to pop music because I'm miserable or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?
- John Cusack

The former applies to me. Since the new school year has started, homework has been pressing on my back so I haven’t got time to relax much. You could say I was rather ‘miserable’. It had been a long time since I plugged my earphones into my ears or even touched my MP3 player. However, I managed to finish my homework for today earlier than usual so I could indulge in my acoustic world.

I searched for my pouch of earphones in the messy pile on my messy desk. Then I saw it—a black velvet cloth peeking from under my textbooks. “There you are!” I said in exhilaration. I never needed to find my MP3 player—it was always in the second drawer on the left side of my desk. I untangled my earphones as I switched on my MP3 player, and the brand logo flashed on the screen.

I plugged my earphones into the player, and starting playing some pop music. I would say that I was connecting my physical self into a machine. A machine that transforms the room to my acoustic world of wonderful sound. I was careful not to play the sound too loud, although it is wrongly believed that you should listen to music at a high volume because it is ‘great’. I tend to forget everything when I’m listening to music. Especially those that are upbeat and fast in tempo.

Another alternative I can take is to listen to the symphonic sounds that are performed by orchestras. This kind of music gives a grand feeling and indescribable assurance when in stress.

I love how time pasts so quickly when I am listening to music, like when I’m in the bus or train. It beats so much boredom out of me. Music is my retreat. What is yours?


326 WORDS