Surprises and Birthdays

Felicitations to the following two people who have inspired and gave me a reason to come to college on those dreaded days.

Celebrating your birthdays meant more than just candles and birthday cakes; we’re celebrating your existence and your existence in my life.

I’m thankful for you guys. 

 You lucky shit; surrounded by all the girls

Joshua Lim Sze Keong;

To me, we share more than just our names; we share a common bond.

The same wave length and twisted sense of humour.

Thanks for being my brother. Happy 20th!

 

Crystal Cha:

Your personality; bewildering.

Your mind; extensive.

Your friendship to me; immeasurable.

You are the real deal and You are inspiring. Don’t stop doing what you’re doing.

Welcome to adulthood–you’re finally legal. Happy 18th!

If the Cap Fits

For some reason, I became really fixated on this proverb upon hearing it in class. In theory—and definition—it simply means if someone pays compliment to a certain attribute of yours, you take it.

You own it.

As of now, I am known to be someone who is strong-minded, opinionated, stubborn, peculiar, blunt, sharp-tongued, witty, and particular.

I wouldn’t say that the qualities I’ve just mentioned are not “me” but it never really sinks in whenever someone commends or acknowledges those qualities.

Recently, a friend blogged about the people in her life; the friends, and acquaintances that have left an impression on her. To my surprise, I made it on her list of inspiring people.

She blogs and I quote:

“I love Josh’s I-don’t-give-a-damn-what-people-think attitude! His ballsy frankness to classmates and even to lecturers. Because of that I always know that he’s going to have something to say about anything that I want an opinion on, and I know that whatever he says is going to be real and honest. And even though some people think that he is way too direct, I feel it’s good to have friends like that because those are who you turn to if you want a REALLY honest opinion,”

By the way, thanks Crystal. That post really made my day.

Frankly, I have always been someone who never bit back on his words so evidently, there’s truth to her view on me. But no one has ever validated my traits like that and I feel almost undeserving to even accept a compliment like that.

Another example of similar fashion is the response I get whenever I give a presentation or speech in class.

To me, fluency in English is something that I have been brought up to attend to. As a child, my mother has always enforced the importance of articulation in language, especially English as it is my family’s first tongue.

So whenever I speak or debate, I tend to use more eloquent words to further prove or demonstrate a point but it’s not a conscious effort.

Before college, other students in my high school were a little more objectifying towards my use of higher vocabulary. They either felt that I was too smart for their own good or thought that I was pretentious and haughty; neither which won me any points with them.

So throughout high school, I pretty much lived a life subjected to being the receiving end to my peers’ jeering.

I was schooling in an environment that others gain to be in and I only deigned to be in.

I had no voice, no choices and no mind of my own.

So imagine my surprise when I started college: the rite of passage to a more open, challenging and mentally stimulating zone that seem to have liberated the insecure loser in me.

Starting college was the beginning of a new found “me” or rather the “me” that had been constrained for so long but was never motivated or pushed to emerge.

Since then, I discovered that I did have my own voice, my own decisions, and my own mind.

I guess you could say that after all these years: I finally found a cap that fits and chose to proudly adorn my newly discovered brains with it.

The Right Person

Favourite line from Juno:

Juno : I just need to know if it’s possible for two people to stay happy together forever, or at least for a few years.

Mac MacGuff : It’s not easy, that’s for sure. Now, I may not have the best track record in the world, but I have been with your stepmother for 10 years now and I’m proud to say that we’re very happy.

[Juno nods]

Mac MacGuff : In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass.

Bus Company Rocks Starbuck’s 100th Outlet Opening

Finally.

After scads of emo entries I’m now posting one with pictures. I admit my blog’s been pretty wordy lately, which explains the lack of comments by my readers–where for art thou readers?–please, my comment box is lonely.

But I can attest to my blog’s recent dearth in visuals with my inability to claim ownership of a very handy gadget known as, the camera. *hint, hint* Now, to commence my entry with pictures:

Bus Co. boys: doing what they do best.

Sam Oh charming the audience.

Shaun Xavier, rocking out with his emo hair.

Uber talented Darren Ashley on the drums. The guy’s a musical genius. You should hear his produce and mixes of the band’s songs. Awesome!

According to the rest of the peeps who went, the guys were awesome as per usual. Unfortch–we missed their performance cos our cab driver didn’t know the way to the newly erected Jaya One.

Imagine: Gal, En Ai (in heels) and moi being dropped off in god knows where in Section 17’s industrial grounds, walking in the hot, hot sun, getting on another cab and realizing 10 seconds later that Jaya One was just down the road.

Despite our little adventure, I’m glad we went.

At least we got to catch up with the Bus Co. guys, the rest of the people we haven’t seen in ages like Sarah, Joni, Darren, Kerry and of course…

the ever lovable, Petwina Patootie.

Oh and I bumped into Amanda there as well.

So the entire fiasco wasn’t a total loss, for we gained:

• knowledge of industrial lanes in Section 17, Petaling Jaya.
• the added knowledge that cab drivers in PJ are absolute imbeciles.
• Jaya One is absolutely breathtaking.
• precious memories with good friends.

And best of all…

• free Starbucks!

Peace out.

Photos taken from: Petrina Thong’s blog.

Updates #2675

Sorry for my recent lack of updates.

Mass comm is a course laden with tonnes of research and thesis statements. At the end of my streneous day of typing the last thing I’d want to do is well, type.

Chinese New Year was a total dud.

Didn’t do much except eat, sleep, collect ang pows, eat, sleep, collect ang pow again and the vicious cycle begins again, day after day.

Truthfully speaking, I don’t fancy celebrating the return of the new lunar. The relatives, the pretentious “how are yous”, the stifling comparisons of who’s son/daughter is doing better in than who’s son/daughter.

Which is why I look forward to only visiting the homes of close friends. It’s the catching up we do in each others bedrooms that I enjoy the most.  

Ok, that came out wrong.

This year: visits were cut short, food choices was limited, amount of ang pows decreased, and joy and happiness? Abysmal.

After the celebrations, I had more reasons to be depressed.

Placed at the very top of the list: Su Yin’s departure to Sydney.

I didn’t flood the departure halls of KLIA as much as I did last year, only because I didn’t keep it in till the last minute like I did when Wei Jin left. Due to the monotony of not doing anything else during the hols, I came to grasp with Yin leaving earlier than expected. 

Having done that, I managed to keep a straight face at the airport and didn’t ball my eyes out as much.

Now if only I can keep my eyes open as I burn the midnight oil and trudge through the myriad of assignments I have yet to complete.

I miss you.