First good news to share, I’m FINALLY OFFICIALLY A GRADUATE!!! Hahaha.. Got my graduate letter and invitation to commencement on Monday. Feeling really shiok now! Now I’m free to look for the future I want and head towards it, or sorta.
I’m now one month into a new relationship. Just realize it’s really not easy maintaining a good relationship. Sometimes really feel that it’s a difficult route to walk. In the past, I’m free to do whatever I want, arrange my schedule as and when I like. But now, decisions are to be made in pairs. Maybe I’m just not used to it bah. I’m too used to the freedom I had for the past 2 plus years. Suddenly with another person sharing your life, it feels restrictive at times, and my moods swing with him. I always thought I understood how it is like being in a relationship. Suddenly I realize, I don’t. I finally understand why Wanlin will say the taboo “break up” words when she’s very pissed or upset. Ha… It takes one to know one bah. He’s a nice guy, but sometimes we’ll quarrel over different point of values and beliefs. Many a times I wonder, why are we so alike, yet so different. Haha…
On Monday, I went over to Melvin’s place for dinner. Phew. Was really nervous then. Haven’t had a formal meet with his family before, and I’ve to go there alone first. Melvin was stuck in his army camp. Was so nervous that day I started calling people asking for advice. Luckily I managed to get Joanne and she msged me some things that’ll help. Called Wanlin and got some advise from her and stress relief. Actually I really called quite a few people, but it turns out that only Joanne and Wanlin answered to the call of distress at that moment. Stef msged hours later to offer her advise too. Good thing I had their lifelines to call. It’s only with Melvin that I realize, I never had the opportunity to understand how to deal with Boyfriend’s Family. Last time with my ex, I don’t have to do anything. Just follow him about and do what he do can liaoz. His parents were so nice to me too. Hee.. not saying that Melvin’s wasn’t. But I never had to observe the “don’t close doors when you’re at the guy’s house”, nor “put up a good girlfriend’s show by washing all the plates if possible” nor “buy bird’s nest”. Haha.. I didn’t manage to put up the show of washing the plates coz his mum insisted, but I didn’t close door when we’re in his room, and I bought Bird’s nest. Haha… Score point! *ding dong ding dong* Phew. Was really nervous before going sia. But I’m really really glad I went. One thing I found out, his family are really nice people. Hee.. not as scary as I thought they would be.
Melvin’s place was near primary and secondary school. Before going to his place, I was at my tuition so had to travel there by 72. I’d gone back to my old place to buy 饺子 for his parents from the block across. It’s been 9 years since I’ve moved from here to Sengkang. Along the way to my old place, I passed by the Macdonald that my good friends and I spent our free time after our CCA.
Hougang Ave 8, around Blk 681: Macdonald
I was from St John’s Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) when I was in Secondary School. Most of the times our trainings were until late at night, and we really had either loads of trainings or lots of activities. Don’t ask if I enjoyed myself then. There’s no such thing as enjoying SJAB in my secondary school. It can be labeled more as torturing sessions and sessions of unleashing one’s frustrations for the higher ranks. But, I can’t deny that I really lots of things in my CCA. I learnt archery (3 years), canoeing (3 years), the art of non-stop marching that you can even do that while sleeping, perseverance for physical activities (at least 70 pumpings each session), forget the meaning of pain (try doing pumping in 30 over degrees of hot sun on the car park ground), the meaning of no freedom (you can’t even quit the CCA even if you want to), being a nurse attendant, the meaning of ego-less (try doing pumping with your boots across your neck and primary school students walking by and laughing at you). I think it was my trainings from SJAB that I manage to last my days till now. Ha… that I can not be afraid of 丢脸 nor not being recognized for my efforts. Blahx. But anyway, those were the ‘living in hell’ days. But that’s not to say I don’t have my happy moments. Every time after our CCA, Yuan, Xue, Jin and me will come to this Mac and eat fries, chat and sing along with its speakers outside Mac. Hee.. Hmmm.. Until everyone from my school was banned from going to this Mac bah. And it’s just coz someone fought there with people from Montfort. Duh…
My old house: Hougang Ave 4, Blk 603
This place brings back lots of memories. It’s the place where I’ve grown up. I still remember the times when we played hide and seek in the entire block. The neighbours around were all so nice, and we couldn’t finish our visiting during Chinese New Year every time. We can go from door to door at the whole level 5 on our stretch of the flat. I was even baby-sitted by two of my neighbours. Gone were the times when we were still young and had lots of expectations of the future. And now, here I am, from the future, looking and reminiscing my past.
Divine Realm Vegetarian Restaurant: Hougang Ave 4, Opposite Blk 603
The vegetarian food from opposite my place is really marvelous. This place was only open in the recent years.
It serves very nice 饺子,锅贴 and many other food. Really… Oishii! If possible do go and try it, and it’s not expensive too. ^_^
I was almost reaching Melvin’s place when I spotted this really cute and nice car. Just feel that I have to share it with everyone. Isn’t it nice???
A front view…
Wah seh!!! Nice! *Jumps up in joy* So glad I took the pictures. Hehe…
Xinmin Primary School: Hougang Ave 8
My primary school and secondary school was linked together in the past, but now it’s separated by a field. I was from Xinmin Primary (XMP), and went to Xinmin Secondary (XMS) after my PSLE. My schools really changed a lot since I was last in it, which was more than 10 years ago. Oppz. Haha… It’s really a very beautiful school now. From the picture above, it looks a little like a prison, but it’s coz of the fence.
A view of the backdoor of XMP. The little girl in uniform was how I had once looked like too. Hahaha… Cute?
Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang Ave 8
According to Melvin, this was a Ah Beng, Ah Lian school in the past so he never went. For your information, it’s not k… It’s not as prestigious as many higher ends schools (like Maris Stella or Chinese High), but the discipline was really strict in XMS. And because my batch did really well in O’ levels, we even became an autonomous school from a neighbourhood school. Blahx!
Looking at the entrance of XMS, I don’t even dare to go in. I still remember when I was in SJAB, I had to stand guard at this very door for a few hours at night just coz we had a SJAB training camp. *shivers* Sleepless nights coz of reason-less fire drills and whatever other drills. *SHIVERS* Don’t ask me if I missed my times in SJAB.
But I did like studying in school. Hee.. in fact, I loved studying. I can still remember the times when I was mugging alone at home in my room for hours and hours. And of course, the number of books that I have read coz I was such a book worm. Just give me any book and I can sit there for hours reading till I complete it, forgetting about my meals or even taking a shower. And also the time when I was at Mingjie’s place, putting down 6 art homeworks and doing it with her all at a time. Erm… they were my friends’ homeworks. Haha… But I enjoyed myself doing them. In sec 4, I was even third in class during prelims, and the first two were guys. So, I’m the first in class for gals!! Haha.. ok. I have this ‘Must be the best’ gene in me, ok? But in the end, I didn’t do well for my O’ levels. Only got 13 points. 1 point more and I would have been in AJC. Shucks! Cried in the toilet for a long long time. My mum had to console me over the phone. My friends were confused over why someone will cry over 13 points. Ha… It’s just coz… I’m not the best! Haha.. everyone had 13 points lehz… and I couldn’t stay in AJC. My ex-colleague Anthea (colleague of my mum then) even gave me a bookmark to console me days after.
It’s so amazing and ironical that I only knew Melvin now, when we had lived so close together before. There must have been many times we brushed past each other whilst going about living our lives. And to think that only after we’re together, we realized we lived so near before, had taken part in the same competition before in SMU, and we knew some of each other’s project mates and friends. Haha.. really… 向左走向右走. If not for the time we met each other on the streets towards SMU, and I entertained him by answering his questions, we wouldn’t have really known each other or even be together.
Just to re-enact the scene where we met each other.
*Some of the dialogues are pieced together from my memory so they may not sound exactly the same or of the exact sequence.
Melvin: Hi, You’re from my Ethics class rite? (What a pick-up line! Haha..)
Wei Lin: Eh… Is it? Hmmm… I don’t remember.
Melvin: I’m Alwin’s friend.
Wei Lin: Oh… Alwin’s friend! Oh ya… Hi. (Alwin was my project mate. Actually I still have no impression of him)
Melvin: Are you Singaporean? (trying to create topic)
Wei Lin: Eh… Why do you say that? I’m already speaking English. You mean my English sounds weird? (frustrated that everyone thinks I’m from M’sia or China when I speak Chinese, coz Singaporeans don’t speak fluent chinese)
Melvin: Oh no no… It’s just that you look like you’re from Taiwan or Hongkong.
Wei Lin: (Flattered)
Parting coz we’ve reached school.
Melvin: You wanna exchange contact?
Wei Lin: Sure. You send me a message of your msn and friendster email if you have lorz. (coz I’m a networker! And you said i look like Taiwanese)
Ahem. And that’s how we met. Lolx… And after we got together, I realize that we were from the same ethics class, just that I don’t remember him at all though he said we had talked before, and took part in the same Technology World Change project competition (I even remember his project and remembered talking to people at his booth, but not him!), and had the same project groupmates. *chiang chiang chiang chiang* Talk about fate. Ha! We missed each other so many times, it’s really fate to meet again. Whether it’s a good fate for good or not, let’s just see bah. Too early to tell. ^_^