Busy Wk 7 & Wk 8

Week 7 and week 8 is very different from the other weeks in the term, they are much busier than I thought. I have been slacking for the past 6 weeks as there are only a few tests to motivate me to become a mugger. Besides, I did not do any ACE for this term, just hoping that some competition will give me some ACE.
Geography and biology lessons are the two most boring lessons, but yet they are my greatest challenges. I found the geog mock test really difficult and also I find the terms in bio are flooding my brain as there are really a lot of chapters covered in the coming test; and I just realised that bio test is on next Monday and geog test is on next Tuesday.
Even though week 7 is almost over, where Literature, History, Chinese and Malay test are over, I still have projects day finals judging, which is just tomorrow! I cannot believe that we have completed our PowerPoint on our topic and we are going to present it tomorrow. The good thing is that there are no audience but only the judges, this lessens my nervousness and I will less likely have stage fright and this allows me to perform some "skills" successfully towards the judges, unlike during the semi-finals judging, where I failed to perform the "skill". I also have to be very familiar with my script as reading the slides thoroughly will make us fail.
I hope that the finals judging will be successfully smooth and the best is that we are able to enter grand finals, even though the chances are very slim as they will choose the best group in the category only.

Holiday: more but not enough

This holiday is quite long, in comparison to normal weekends, but it is still not enough for me as there are only four days of holiday and if I go back to Malaysia, I would have wasted almost one day of my precious holiday. So holiday life in boarding school is really boring, even though I have to study for my tests in these two coming weeks, those time which I do not use to study is really like no-life. Inviting friends to go out for a long swim would be quite a nice idea to use my time, but besides that I find nothing which is fun, maybe computer game, depends on what games.
Some of my roommates went back to Malaysia, some say that because they cannot study in the boarding school so they went back to study, while the others go back for fun. I am hoping to find out their comments about their time management, and that is because I can never study well in Malaysia. All the televisions and the PS2 took over my intention to study, so it always fake when I put a stack of books on the table where there is a "huge" television and a "gigantic" PS2 in front of me.
My parents came to visit me yesterday. We stayed in a hotel and did nothing for 2 hours until we go out for dinner. Then I found out that I am quite unique compared to the other teenagers in Singapore. I never see a teenager going out with his or her parents to have dinner, I only see a bunch of them in fast food restaurants. This shows the difference between teenagers in Singapore and those in Malaysia. In Malaysia, families are always "united", I rarely find teenagers going out unless they are already 17 plus.
On the 6th of August, there is a National Day Celebration. My school also celebrate, and some elderly came to our school to watch our performances. Surprisingly, some can even speak Cantonese, and they say they are from Kuala Lumpur, children got a scholarship and lived in Singapore, brought their parents along and then put them in those houses for the elderly. After those performances, they were brought to a class, where they play some non-teenager games and had their lunch there. But we went off halfway because we still have bio lesson. There is one thing that I think is very important for us teenagers to learn, those elderly are very caring towards each other, and they are also very considerate. But we are the direct opposite of them, we try to harm each other to get advantage and better opportunities, I think it is not a very meaningful way of doing things, probably because those elderly know that they are old and that their time is going to come, but why can't we learn from them, do the things that the elderly do before it is too late.
At last, I hope that there will be an even longer holiday so that we can do more things and that I am also looking forward to go back Malaysia to complete my Warriors Orochi game in PS2.

Everchanging Lit

It has been very long since I last posted into this blog and this term I will post some new posts.
Time flies, and it is now the second half of the year. My results were only average in the past two terms, hope I can do better this time. I like the holidays in this term, especially around the National Day where we get to rest for 5 days. This shortens our "agony" in school. We were all given a list of events that will happen in this term, and this means that either we are early dismissed or there will be holiday!
Come to talk about studies, the most unpredictable subject is English Literature. Last term we had "To Kill A Mockingbird" and unseen poetry; this term we have "Emily of Emerald Hill" by Stella Kon. It is a very unique book as it is a one-woman play. The main and only character talks in many kinds of tones. She is a mixture of present Singaporean mothers and grandmothers. She is kiasu, bussy body, conservative and bossy. The book is not thick, quite a few pages, only about 50and it is not boring because of the peranakan slangs used.
I hope I can get a good grade in this coming Lit test as the book is not difficult to understand unlike "To Kill A Mockingbird" which is about the Blacks and the Whites in America where even the title resembles a lot of things. Luckily, this is the last term for Sec 2 Lit to be taught! But then I am not sure what other Lit stuff will be taught as it is an unpredictable subject.

Children in the Darkness (Task 1)

Henry M Bechtold was in Vietnam during 1967 - 1968. He often visit Vietnam as he is born there. During that time, there was war in Vietnam. He was sitting in my hotel room in Saigon just before Christmas 2009 and he was trying to write a poem about the girls who work in the park and how badly men treat them. He was angry but unable to write anything that did not sound trite or weak. Looking at the television, he did not know what the news reader was saying but in the background was a photo of a small boy with a helmet and an automatic rifle. This poem flowed out. The words just came to him and he typed as fast as he could to get it all down.


Sources: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Children_

Last week of term

This week is the last week of term 1. I believe everyone is looking forward to the coming holiday. But I do not think I will like the holiday to arrive so soon. I will have literature test which is hell for me in the first day of term 2.
Normally our school will have a special event for we students to choose to attend. The only bad thing is that one must attend this event, those who have bad records in their report book and are given demerit points need not to go for it. Going for the event is not just for fun, people like me choose it with full of 'awareness' because ACE points for certain subjects will be given. These points are very important for us, it affects greatly on our progress report. So I will also think twice before jotting down my decision.
These special events are called sabbaticals, they are actually held mostly at the last week of the term. Some attend sabbaticals for fun, but some attend it for the sake of getting their most 'beloved' ACE points. The sabbaticals that I have joint is Science Eureka. It is not my first choice after all, there are many other options chosen by me but I failed to get into it. These sabbaticals course requires one to bid their bidding points on the courses they have the most interest in. These bidding points are given every year, extra points will be given for students who have good grades, which I don't have.This Science Eureka is quite free, I get to talk more often in class and it is an air-conditioned room. Besides, the ones who present the lecture aren't teachers, but sec 4 students. They are trained by the teachers to be our 'trainers'.
There are a lot of experiments for us to do during the course. Some are very fun while the others I think is just a waste of time. Today's module is physics, so we had physics experiment, which is playing with the balloon, creating an electric circuit. There are some students who are from the other schools in Singapore, there are four girls and a boy. We wanted the boy as we know that girls will definitely not be doing anything. The boy is very useful for us, besides he is a cheerful guy. He knows how to do almost everything thought as he is one year elder than us.
There are also competitions between us. We are divided into five groups, which will compete each teams in doing the experiment as fast and as efficient as possible. Our team got a top position before, so we received a packet of chocolates given by a teacher.
I think this sabbatical is though useful for us, but sometimes it is a waste of time. I hope that Science Eureka will improve and become more interesting next time.

Significant post 1: CNY party @ HCI

On the 27th of February, a Chinese New Year party was held at our school. The celebration is specially for students from HCI who are not citizens of Singapore or living at Singapore, which means they live in HCI boarding school. I am one of them who are unable to go home that time to celebrate Chinese New Year with friends and family. On that day, we sec2 Malaysians were required to sing the Chinese New Year songs; they are '大地回春' and '恭喜恭喜'.

Before that I tried very hard to memorise the lyrics for the songs, and at last I successfully memorised them. I have been to this party before last year, but the only thing special is that I am able to perform, which was singing the Chinese songs. I am able to experience the feeling of performers behind the stage, feeling nervous, while the audience are watching the performance happily. This is my first time being the performer.

The party starts at 10:00 am, but we performers have to arrive at 8:00 am to prepare everything and do the last rehearsal to ensure a good show. There are audiences from many different countries, they are students from Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Most of them stay in the boarding school, but because the others are PR of Singapore, they do not stay in the boarding school.

There are a lot of fun and interesting performances such as wushu, dances, drama, lucky draws, singing of the Chinese New Year song and quizzes on the history of CNY. There were also lucky draw where you can win hampers back home with a lot of finger food inside. There were also fun games where you win prizes home. The students from China had a great advantage because they know the most about Chinese New Year among all, and they celebrate it traditionally. There are groups divided according to the arrangements of seats. We received an ang pao from a teacher after our performance.

After the performance, it is not the end of the story. There was still buffet lunch for us. But before that, we did the traditional Chinese ritual to wish for something to come true, which is '捞鱼生'. It is believed that the higher you lift the stuff in it, the higher the chance of your wish coming true. It is nice as there are raw salmons which I always aim for. After that only we can have out delicious buffet meal.

I think this time I am able to fully know the feelings of being the audience and the performer at the party which I think is meaningful as I get to appreciate the performers as they worked very hard to go on stage. I hope there will be another CNY party next year.

Is Maycomb a good place to live?

Naturalist:
a. Do a research on the natural habitat of mockingbird. In your research, include the kind of flora and fauna you think exist in Maycomb and explain why the mockingbirds live in Maycomb.

Mockingbirds are renowned for their ability to mimic the songs of other songbirds. They serenade the neighbourhood for hours in the spring and summer, often at night by the light of a full moon or nearby street light, probably because of the hormonal changes that accompany mating and nesting during this time.

Originally natives of open scrub pine and oak forests of the West and Southeast, mockingbirds have edged northward over the last 30 years. They developed an affinity for mowed lawns and ornamental shrubs that offer them insects and berries they love to eat. They are very comfortable around people. They are not harmful at all as they only sing songs. The Mockingbird is the state bird of Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. Mockingbirds will live 4 to 12 years.

They are about 11 inches long -- the size of a robin but a bit thinner. Both sexes look alike. They are soft gray with paler breasts, marked with white wing bars and outer tail feathers. White patches under their wings are visible when they fly. They have long, thin beaks and long perky tails.

Mockingbirds love just about any fruiting shrub or tree, many of which you are likely to have in your yard already. Honeysuckle, a hedge of privet, dogwood, cherry trees and eleagnus are staples of many home landscapes. Cats, dogs, squirrels, other birds and wildlife are always harassed by the mockingbirds to protect its territory.

Five personality traits that describe Boo Radley would be innocent, protective, courageous, scary, and clever.

Boo Radley is quite innocent with the fact that he never steps outside the doors of his house in Maycomb County. He is protective because as the novel progresses, we see how he helps Scout and Jem throughout numerous events that transpire. He is courageous because he knows that if people saw him leave his house they would be all over him; interested to see him. He is scary and somewhat mysterious because no one has seen him for quite some time now. Various rumours about Boo and his life have spread throughout the novel. And lastly, Boo although he is not seen much, is quite clever with the fact that he leaves little objects inside the hole of the tree for Jem and Scout. It seems as though he plans what items he will leave-- however, once his brother patches up the hole, the objects then stop. However, that does not stop Boo from helping/gaining two friendships with Jem and Scout.

Interpersonal:
a. Conduct an interview with a friend (not from HCI) or family member. Find out from their point of view on prejudice and discrimination. Either record the interview or write out the interview transcript.

Interviewer (W.M): How would you like to start expressing your opinion?

Interviewee (I.V.): I would like to start with the family. Sibling rivalry normally begins with the feeling of prejudice and discrimination from the child who is not being favoured. The parent should try not to make it so obvious in giving special treatments or privileges. Any such extra benefits should be explained patiently to all children.

WM: What other things do you want to add?

IV: Oh yes, if step-parents are involved, the situation may become disharmonious and there may even be fighting among step-children,

WM: What about in the school environment?

IV: It is to be expected that a student from a minority race would face prejudicial behavior from other students, at least initially.

WM: Do you think this is a certainty?

IV: Well, I know for sure that a Malaysian student in another school was picked upon by the rest because he was one of only two Malaysians in the whole class.

WM: What has happened to him?

IV: There is a happy ending in his case. Somehow, he learned how to interact with other students and even caught on fine with a lot of his seniors. Those seniors even helped him to do some of his assignments and prepare for some of his tests.

WM: Is that all you have you say about schools? Besides the racial bias, what other points can you think of?

IV: I feel sometimes prejudice and discrimination can take the form of bullying an intimidation. This is not necessary on the racial basis but more likely on size and number of friends. Those who are bigger size and have a lot of friends are normally safe.

WM: Do you want to say anything about working people i.e. adults?

IV: Whenever I think of working life, I always remember what my mum has told me before. She said that practically all females have to work extra hard to gain promotions or to achieve success. She said that it is well known throughout the world that prejudice and discrimination against working female are the norm.

WM: What is the conclusion as to your previous answer and overall summary?

IV: Well, I don’t really know how the working environment is but I can say for sure that in most families and in schools prejudice and discrimination exist one way or the other.