Phew?

Too early to say I guess. But I think I survived the first day with grace (or whatever it was that kept me almost-normal). It was nerve-racking though, that goes without a doubt. One of the most nerve-racking moments was when we all got our timetables during the year assembly (assembly for each year level at designated rooms). We (the overseas people) were comparing it with one another's and I couldn't find anyone who shared classes with me! Not one! So yea, I was pretty nervous. But I guess a tiny, tiny, tiny part of me was sort of grateful because I could break away from the 'China group' and meet some new people.

So we started normal lessons after recess, third period. I had Methods 3 and 4. It was nerve-racking, heading towards the classroom, not knowing who was going to be in there and stuff. I sat next to a girl and she Hey-ed me and we sort of had small talk. It was okay. She is Diana and she's Year 12, retaking her Methods because she didn't do too well last year. There was a guy I recognized from the Bike Camp last year. But didn't talk to him. Because it was a double period, and a few students were at Peer Support (a group that helps out the new Yr 7 students), we had the first period to wander around, of course only after giving us sheets and intros and stuff. My teacher is Ms. Iacopino. She's okay I guess, but we didn't really do much so it's hard to tell. For the second period, we did a 'Circle Time', like a group therapy session or something. Haha. It was okay. Found out some new names, but you know, it doesn't mean you made any new friends.

Then it was lunch time. I went to grab money from my mum and Kel who were dropping it off (convenient that we live so close!) for me. Then I went to the uniform shop. I bought a shirt and a summer skirt. I bought the button-up white shirt, because the VCE polo (just a collared shirt) was technically only for P.E. classes. I bought the button-up just to be on the safe side, but I really prefer the polo. Come to think of it, I should have bought another shirt because the polo I have now is too big and so not flattering (hahaha). But oh well. The summer skirt was actually phasing out, so it was half price because they would stop selling it soon, and only sell the summer dress. I think the dress is okay, but I totally prefer a skirt. I don't care if by the end of the year I'm the only one wearing the skirt (well... I'll pretend I don't). Hmm.. maybe I should get another skirt? I'll ask my mum about it later. Anyway. The queue was so long that it took up my whole lunch time (yayyyyyy) (that was sarcastic, it case you didn't realize). So now I'm eating my sandwiches (strawberry jam! Thanks mum!!! =D) while typing this.

Anyway, next was Chemistry. I got Ms. Grant, the notorious (though not necessarily in a bad way I guess) class clown, I guess you could call it. Though words like goof, outspoken, joker, really loud etc. comes to mind. Her jokes are horribly lame, but that makes it kind of funny (my weird sense of humour). There were some Asian guys sitting right at the back that kept laughing, and mostly I laughed because of the sound of their stupid laughter. Haha. I think when she's serious she's not bad, I think she'll be a good teacher. I'm dreading the prac work (practical.. those experiments). Never really enjoyed doing experiments. Maybe this time will be different. One of the Asians at the back (the 'cha siew pao' group, according to Ms. Grant) was talking while she was saying something and she stopped and asked the guy what the formula for water is. 'H2O', the guy said. 'Wrong!', she said. 'It's H, I, J, K, L, O. H to O!'. PFFFFFFTTTTT. Talk about bad jokes. Hahaha. =D =D

Next was Advanced General Maths (AGM). My teacher is Mr. Quinn. I think he's very strict. He really DID NOT like people talking while he was talking. Quite impatient. And IMO, a bit eager (I guess) to show his stuff. I guess. I think he was not such a good teacher. He gave us a timeline on how we would be going about the syllabus. And while he was talking through it, he was like 'oh first we will be doing Variation' then he started talking about variation and I was like 'What?'. I had really no idea what he was talking about. Then he said 'then we'll be doing Complex Numbers' then he started talking about them. I was seriously 'sighhhhh.. I'm so sleepy'. It's not like I got anything he said at all. After going through the whole timeline, he really started teaching Variation for a while only. I think he assumed that everyone was okay, that we all sort of knew what it was about. Because I didn't, and I didn't really get what he was trying to say. Pfftt. So yea. I get it. But you know, more on guessing than really understanding.

Anyway. That's how my day went. I have homework to do and things to organize. It's kind of stressful. Because all teachers emphasized keeping EVERYTHING organize because it was very important to do so, and keeping up (which, according to them, is a MUST), and being punctual for homework and stuff. Kind of put pressure on me. Apparently the top enter scores last year for VCE was 99.8%. Whoa. Can I really aim that high?

Anyway. Those who care, check out the photos of my Bike Camp 2009. Just wanted to give you guys an idea on how it was. =D

Conversations

So fun. MSN chatting with some people. Really enjoyable!

Thanks Dana, for the conversation starters. Hopefully I'll have the confidence to use them though. Hahaha. So amusing! =D 'Be confident. New start. You can do it!' Dana said. Hopefully I can!!!

Thanks Clifern, for entertaining me with stuff like perverts and how it differs in the different sexes. Haha. Good to know you'll reply my texts asap... Though I selfishly wish that you brought your hp to school so you could reply right away. But then hopefully I won't need your company at school. Cross fingers!!!!!!!!

Thanks Jessie! For Biolody. Hahaha. Will miss training without you.. Wish we played together more often. But always you have to be with the setter-in-training. Oh well. Good luck for your Biolody test tomorrow!

Thanks Radiance! For your prayer. Haha. Who knows? Maybe one day it'll really be our physiology clinic! =D

Gnite all. Cross fingers for tomorrow. And remember, 'ugh.. I can't believe holidays have ended'. Then move on to things like jet lag and stuff.

Haha. =D

Sweaty Palms

Definition of Nervous:

1. Easily agitated or distressed; high-strung or jumpy

2. Marked by or having a feeling of unease and apprehension

I'm seriously nervous about tomorrow. Nervous at not knowing how it's going to be, nervous knowing how it could be, nervous at everything!!!

Well.. Deep breaths right?

It's time to make a difference...........................

For People Like Jessie And Eye

Extracted from The Best Of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, gift from Aunty Elaine. =D

This book is excellent. It's just a book packed with entertainment, humour, trivia, science, history, pop culture and more. Haha. It's a book full of interesting stuff which saves you from 'frantic searches at the last minute for that perfect magazine article'.

I know I'm supposed to have left, but apparently the car which was coming to get us had a punctured tire. So I figured why not? Type fast. Hehe. Enjoy!

Left-Handed Facts

We considered doing a piece about left-handedness for several years, but the question always came up- are there enough left-handed bathroom readers to make it worthwhile? After six years, we decided it didn't matter- we just wanted to use the info. So here's a section for you southpaws, from Vol. 6.

Are you left-handed? If so, you're not alone- but you're definitely outnumbered; lefties make up only 5% to 15% of the general population. If you're a female southpaw (heyhey!!), you're even more unusual- there are roughly 50% more left-handed males than females. For centuries, scientists have tried to figure out why. (They're not even sure if all lefties are that way for the same reason.) Here are some theories:

WHAT MAKES A LEFTY?

1. Scientists used to think that left- and right-handedness was purely a generic trait, but now they have doubts. Reason: In 20% of all sets of identical twins, one sibling is left-handed and the other is right.

2. Some scientists think the hand you prefer is determined by whether you're a "right-brained" person or a "left-brained" person. The right half of the brain controls the left side of the body, as well as spatial/musical/aesthetic judgment and perception; the left half controls the right side of the body, plus communication skills. Lefties are generally right-brained.

3. Support for this theory: Most children begin demonstrating a preference for one hand over the other at the same time their central nervous system is growing and maturing. This leads some scientists to believe the two processes are linked.

4. According to another theory, before birth all babies are right-handed- which means that the left side of their brain is dominant. But during a stressful or difficult birth, oxygen deficiency can cause damage to the left side of the brain, making it weaker and enabling the right side to compete against it for dominance. If the right side wins out, the baby will become left-handed.

5. This theory also explains, researchers claim, why twins, any child born to a smoker, or children born to a mother over 30 years old are more likely to be left-handed: they are more prone to stressful births. Children of stressful births are also more likely to stammer and suffer dyslexia, traits that are more common in lefties.

LEFT-HANDED HISTORY

No matter what makes southpaws what they are, they've been discriminated against for thousands of years- in nearly every culture on Earth. Some examples:

1. The artwork found in ancient Egyptian tombs portrays most Egyptians as right-handed. But their enemies are portrayed as left-handers, a sign they saw left-handedness as an undesirable trait.

2. Ancient Greeks never crossed their left leg over their right, and believe a person's sex was determined by their position in the womb- the female, or 'lesser sex,' sat on the left side of the womb.

3. The Romans placed special significance on the right-handedness as well. Custom dictated that they enter friends' homes 'with the right foot forward'... and turn their heads to the right to sneeze. Their language showed the same bias: the Latin word for left was sinister (which also meant evil, or ominous), and the word for right was dexter (which came to mean skillful, or adroit). Even the word ambidextrous literally means 'right-handed with both hands.'

LEFT-HANDED MISCELLANY

1. Lefties are more likely to be on the extreme ends of the intelligence scale than the general population: a higher proportion of mentally retarted people and peopled with IQs over 140 are lefties.

2. Why are lefties called 'southpaws'? In the late 1890s, most baseball parks were laid out with the pitcher facing west and the batter facing east (so the sun wouldn't be in his eyes). That meant left-handed pitchers threw with the arm that faced south. So Chicago sportswriter Charles Seymour began calling them 'southpaws'.

3. What did traditional Christians believe was going to happen on Judgment Day? According to custom, God blesses the saved with His right hand- and casts sinners out of Heaven with His left.

4. Why do we throw salt over out left shoulders for good luck? To throw it into the eyes of the Devil, who, of course, lurks behind us to out left.

=D Random fact found at the bottom of the page: Five Jell-O flavours that flopped: celery, coffee, cola, apple and chocolate.

Things I'm going to miss when I leave:

My friends, my HOME myhomemyhomemyhome!!!, the weather, unlimited internet, American Idol on Wednesday and Thursday nights, the ceiling fans, the fully-functional air-cons.. etc.

EYEHOPEEVERYTHINGWILLBEFINEWHENSCHOOLREOPENS! =( Will see everyone soon. =D

Wave as the rain drop slides down.

I'm going to leave in a few minutes. As in leave my house.

Goodbye everyone! =D =( ?

To all my friends, study hard! Put everything you have into it! No Regrets!

On the sports side, I hope that you will all also put everything you have into it. No Regrets!

There are some things that I've done since I've been back that I'm not proud of. I'll make it up. Hopefully. Sigh.

Anyway. Really guys. Work hard okay! SPM this year. You only got one shot. Goes the same for me.

Well. Goodbye! The second of many to come.

BTW, Happy Birthday Nicholas Hong! =D You're 17! And a flight to Australia is about EIGHT hours! Looks like you've finally grown up. Hahaha. =D

Miss you guys already. See you soon! No hugs...

Oof. Reminder for myself. DSC W380 and W350!

Nerdy Stuff

The book I'm sort of currently reading, though I haven't continued it so far, I'm only halfway.

Tick Tock- Dean Koontz (1996)

Tommy Phan is a successful detective novelist, living the American Dream in southern California. One evening he comes home to find a small rag doll on his doorstep. It's a simple doll, covered entirely in white cloth, with crossed black stitches for the eyes and mouth, and another pair forming an X over the heart. Curious, he brings it inside. That night, Tommy hears an odd popping sound and looks up to see the stitches breaking over the doll's heart. And in minutes the fabric of Tommy Phan's reality will be torn apart. Something terrifying emerges from the pristine white cloth, something that will follow Tommy wherever he goes. Something that he can't destroy. It wants Tommy's life and he doesn't know why. He has only one ally, a beautiful, strangely intuitive waitress he meets by chance — or by a design far beyond his comprehension. He has too many questions, no answers, and very little time. Because the vicious and demonically clever doll has left this warning on Tommy's computer screen: The deadline is dawn.

Tick-tock

Time is running out.

The cover on the left is the one I have. I think this book is also a disappointment. I guess because I was sort of hoping for something like Velocity, where it's all human and not some supernatural thing. It just seems kind of weird I guess. I will finish the book because I'm curious on how the book will go and how the story will end. Well, until then! =D

Eclipse- Stephenie Meyer (2007)

In the dead silence, all the details suddenly fell into place for me with a burst of intuition. Something Edward didn't want me to know. Something that Jacob wouldn't have kept from me...It was never going to end, was it?

Ok, blame it on Kat who took the book out to read. I saw it on the table and I just picked it up to read. Sigh. Wasting my time. But it's captivating (?) enough to make me finish it, AND continue reading Breaking Dawn. Haha. Oh well. I love the distinction between the writing in Bella's and Jacob's point of views. It's awesome.

Percy Jackson and the Sea Of Monsters- Rick Riordan (2006)

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war between the Greek gods, Percy Jackson's seventh grade school year seems unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson -- a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.

But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name . . . The Bermuda Triangle.

Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family -- one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Whee!!! Second book of the Percy Jackson series! =D This book is good. Yay to Greek mythology! But then sort of predictable at how everything is such a coincidence. But the plot is very good, especially how it's all so well thought out and there's a plan behind every plan or something. Whoa, complicated. Haha. It's a good book. Waiting for me to get the third book! I got the fourth from the Scholastic catalogue. So yea. Hmm 4.5/5 for me. Because of the coincidence thing which is quite ridiculous. How many times can you get lucky? But it was funny too. Nice humour. =D

Really nice song! =D Winter Wonderland (Jason Mraz version) covered by Al, Justine and Jasmine Rafael who comes in in the middle. Really nice. =D

Beginning Again..

Hey guys. I know it's the holidays again for me and I haven't been online to blog or blog surf much. Sorry about that. So here's the thing: School is reopening on Monday. Yes, as in SCHOOL, in AUS! Am I ready? The only answer I can come up with is *INHALE*. Holding my breath and crossing my fingers.

Ok here's the rundown on the things that have happened.

1. (the most formidable and tangible one) I'm leaving today. Later, in the afternoon. School starts on the 1st of Feb, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW! 30th of Jan seemed like quite some time away when I first arrived back and was enjoying how familiar everything was. But now I'm already here, staring it right in the eye. Inevitable I guess. SIGH.

2. By right, this post should be titled 'Krys' House!' because my friends (Pei, STEPH and Tur) slept in my house yesterday. We got Steph to sleepover too which is totally a HUGE yay for all of us because her parents don't allow her to sleepover in friends' houses but yesterday was that REALLY rare exception. We slept really late, like at 1am or something. We were trying to upload photos on Facebook, that was a failure. Then I was also sort of packing. My willpower was challenged when the alarm rang at 6am (yes, they have school on Saturday) and I had to off the alarm and WAKE UP. So today all of us will be seeing the world through sore, dry eyes. Haha. Gah. At least they don't need to pack and make sure nothing is left behind.

3. Parkson just started their sale and yesterday was 5X Bonus Link! So yea, me and Kat were there for a long time. Mum and Aunty Elaine joined us later. I bought 4 pairs of slippers (flip flops?) and a pair of heels. Haha. I also bought a shirt and Kat bought a pair of slip ons and loads of nice tops. Let's just say I was really, really tired after that. In that morning before Parkson, we went to get stationeries. It was a long day.

4. Yesterday was also my last day of volleyball in KK. I actually stopped to ponder on how I was supposed to phrase that sentence. Yesterday was also my last day of volleyball (stop). Yesterday was also my last day of volleyball until I get back. Yesterday was also my last day of volleyball in KK, hopefully I would get to play in Aus. Question mark! But you know, I'm not sure about any of that. I don't really hold much interest in going to volleyball anymore. I love to play, that's undeniable. But I'm just not that interested anymore. The only reason why I go is because I'm supporting my friends. Lee Pei. It's always been that way. Now there's more reason, Angela is there too. Then there's also JESSIE and Pitza too. Just sort of be there for them you know. But anyway. It was tiring to play yesterday. I felt so bad because I was supposed to go eat BAN MIAN with Jessie, Pei and Angela. But then the line at Parkson was seriously LONG. I really, really felt bad. More towards JESSIE. SORRY!!!! It was the first time I was supposed to go out with her. I was really really sad. =( =( Seriously wasted that chance. =( I would give up all my new shoes to get that chance back. But anyway, there's always next time. Right, Jessie? =D I bought them the Takoyaki (not octopus, but chicken sausage inside (huh?)), and also the Bo Lo Bao we always have. The one with apple inside. It's the BEST Bo Lo Bao. But I think Jessie thought it was too weird. Haha. Don't worry, I won't make you eat anymore. =D

5. Number 4 was a very long bullet point. Ehehehe.

6. Yesterday, we (me, Pei, Tur, Joey and Steph) had a nice dinner in Jesselton Hotel, Bella Italia. I met Joshua and his parents there. Haha. Met Jasper in Little Italy, which was funny because when me and my friends had dinner in Little Italy last time, I met him there too. It was a nice dinner. Introduced Joey and Steph to Chocolate Pudding, our traditional dessert since, I don't know, 2008? If we're eating Italian, we (me, Pei and Tur) judge a restaurant by whether or not they have Choc Pud, and whether or not it is good. =D Anyway. It was a really nice dinner. RM20 each. =D We were all sort of crazy because we kept (emphasize the KEPT) taking photos. My camera ran out of battery so we used Pei's C905. Tur ordered for us so she could get the 50% (5pm-7pm! We were late from school after volleyball) for us. We only had 3 pastas and a pizza to share amongst ourselves. Not bad. It was all good choices. So we didn't eat much therefore we had two choc puds! =D After that (SIGH) we walked to Wisma Merdeka to have Coffee Bean. I've been wanting a Coffee Bean/Starbucks cheesecake for a long time, but there was only the Oreo one left. Not that nice but it was okay. We were still crazy then and took loads of weird pictures there too. SIGH. Then after that we hung out outside Wisma Merdeka, waiting for Steph's mum to pick us up. We took loads of pictures there too. Gosh. I guess we were running on sugar rush after the two choc puds and the cake. Seriously weird pictures, we kept taking pictures with inanimate objects. Luckily we didn't take pictures with the rubbish bin. That would have been lower than low. Hah.

7. We decided to walk to Suria Sabah. It was my first time there. I think it was nice. Big and bright. Empty, but nice. =D Me and Pei bought a pink pair of RM40 shorts each. Hehehe. =D Me and Tur have the same Body Glove shorts which cost us about RM98? I don't remember. Forgot. Pei didn't buy at that time. The colour of Tur's pair is so off by what it is supposed to be. Haha. Anyway. Yay to having the same pair of shorts with Pei. =D We walked around and soon, Steph's dad arrived to send us back home.

8. The original plan was for us to sleep in Steph's house. When I asked my mum before leaving for dinner, she said no. She said she'll pick me up from her house when we were done. Over dinner, I told them and we discussed and said that I should ask Steph's mum to let Steph sleep in my house, and they all would follow. The reason why we usually go to Steph's house to stay is because Steph can never come to our houses to sleep. When we got back to Steph's house, we started uploading photos. At about 11pm, I told Steph's mum that I couldn't sleepover her house and that I was sad (which was true!!!). I used that opportunity to ask whether Steph could sleepover in my house, with the others too (Pei and Tur, Joey couldn't). Then Steph's mum said 'Hold on for a minute' and went downstairs (we were on the staircase conversing) and went to discuss with Steph's dad. Then Steph was called to discuss with them. Then after that Steph started Yaying and dancing around. Haha. So awesome! =D =D We all thanked her parents for giving her permission. =D I guess because I was leaving today only did they allow her. Sigh. What circumstances. Anyway.

9. In my house, we TRIED to upload more photos, but ended up going to bed without doing so, after I sort of gathered my stuff to pack. Haha. Everyone was EXHAUSTED! We didn't even talk. We lied on the bed, I turned the lamp off, and it was quiet after that. =D

10. In the morning, after trying to get them to get moving, we ate breakfast. Wow. First time for me, to have breakfast 'before going to school'. Oh and Kakak Dina is back!!! =D =D It was a total surprise!! YAY! I'm so glad she's back. We had her signature Banana Pancake (Kuih Gulung) for breakfast and she made my friends Milo. =D Nice breakfast. I followed them to school, said hi and bye to some people, hugs and lumps in MY throat, and left. And now I'm here.

11. Yesterday before I left volleyball (for the last time..? Haha) I said bye to some people including Jessie and Janice. I saw Jessie again today. Anyway, yesterday saying goodbye, I was kind of sad. Hugging Jessie, Pitza then Janice, I sort of wanted to cry. Lumps in my throat. Sigh. I will really really miss them. I really wish them all the best in everything, namely the upcoming Sports Day. I know they can do it. Waiting to hear the good news from Jessie and Janice. =D =D

12. Rewinding to the 22nd for a second. =D Friday, the 22nd, we (me, Pei, Tur, Steph, Joey, Liau and Angela) went to dinner in Little Italy. Haha. It was so expensive!!! RM40 each! Anyway, it was fun because we played the game '请你跟我这样做', which was based on the rhythm of four beats. First beat: both hands hit your lap, second beat: clap hands once, third beat: snap left fingers, fourth beat: snap right fingers. It was really fun. =D It reminds me of the 'I am a C, I am a C.H, I am a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N' song they sang during my farewell last year. Anyway, I won't go to Little Italy ever again (I guess). They don't have good ravioli. Jesselton Hotel's one is much better.

Ok I guess that's all. Oh wait.

13. Yesterday's volleyball was quite nice. I think that they are shaping up quite well, much better than last year! =D I played with the boys, Ah Zhong (the computer teacher!), Ang, Ah Ket, Simon and the girl, Ho Mei Yee. We played against the girls' team. It was fun. =D Both sides played quite well. It was just enjoyable. I was actually not planning to go, but because Jessie text me the day before asking me whether I would be going, I decided to go. It was really fun I guess, the mood on both sides were quite high and it was like a friendly match. =D Whee!! I'm glad I went. Thanks, Jessie? Haha. Leaves a good memory. =D

Ok. I guess that really is all. Well, for the future, I have no idea what is in store for me. I'm a bit nervous seriously. I have no idea which way it'll go for me. I will have to work hard on both the studies and also the friends department I guess. Not going to be easy, not going to know if I'll be able to pull through, but hopefully I'll be okay. Sigh. Really nervous. Hope hope hope it'll all be okay.

So yes.. packing is sort of done. All I have to do is remember my guts, my brains and my jacket.