He had it coming

Saw a copy of this act at Broadway Beng. Joshua and I loved it. (got him scared) Then Amanda told me that the original one comes from the Chicago Musical. PLEASE come to Singapore!!!!

Wise words from Prof Rama

Abstract from 'The U in SMU' by Seshan Ramaswani. What do you think about it? :)

A campus does not a University make – U do!

This great University is a lot more than those 35 courses, and the hours spent cramming for them in the GSRs and library. There are huge opportunities for extra curricular activity, great museums and libraries and art galleries and concert theatres within a short walk, a huge number of opportunities to travel abroad (exchange, BSM, community service, internships). And these are not only for the moneyed student – there are grants, scholarships, there are internships that pay you. If you get hung up on Wharton or some American or “branded” school as the only exchange program worth getting into that would look good enough on your resume, you’re overlooking the huge learning opportunity for learning in the Czech republic or in Bangkok or in China. If you always strategically decide to form groups with your JC or year 1 buddies in all your classes in years 2-4, you are greatly stunting your growth and your ability to work with a diverse bunch of people. If you participate in class discussions strategically to maximize the chances that the TA would notice you and get you that CP point, you are likely never to raise that really bigger fundamental question behind whatever the class is talking about. If you take courses based on which professor gives the most As or is the most entertaining, you could be losing out on courses that could be a lot more challenging intellectually. If you read only the text books and course packs, you are losing the huge opportunity to learn outside of those books.

Back2School

It's BACK2SCHOOL!

Classes are everyday except Wednesday. AND ALL start in the morning. And only Morning (except Thurs which has classes that end at 6.45pm) So since I have class at 8.30am to 11.45am, and practice at night at 7.30pm, what do I do in the meantime? I GO HOME. Yup, it's so weird. But it's kinda shiok in a way and I know I can't maintain this routine for long, soon there'll be meetings and bump-in rehearsals at Victoria Theatre.

Today was even weirder, I ended class at 9.10am. I have an irregular night class at 7pm later. It was weird going home cos everyone was so travelling in the opposite direction.

You know what's the hardest thing I do everyday? Waking up! It's really really by sheer will power that I swing my legs and get out of bed. Oh because of long afternoons now, I take 1 hour naps. My, they are POWER naps. There's something different about sleeping in the day. My body feels more charged in an hour in the day than in the night. There's something different about sleeping with the sunlight shining on your face. (there's sunlight because my bed is near the window)

And I've finally met a very enlightened SMU instructor who has decided not to reward class participation. He made it very clear that he loves class participation and that it is absolutely necessary. But as years have gone by since the start of SMU, both students and INSTRUCTORS have gamed the system of class participation marks. WOW. I was blown away. He is Professor Rama, teaching me Consumer Behavior this term. His degree is in Mathematics (wow, wow, wow) and he says Consumer Behavior combines his two loves of psychology and mathematics.

So far, so good. Praise God!

Cell stay over at Aaron's

11 of us spent the first hours of the new 2010 at Aaron Tan's place. We went to eat at Simpang Bedok for supper. It was crazy crowded. Back at Aaron's place, we placed Taboo and Circle of Death. Well, everyone plays Taboo (my group won) but not Circle of Death, so I shall tell you more about the latter.

As a holy Christian cell group would, we used a big container of water and not alcohol. We placed palm-sized poker cards in a circle, all lying faced down. Each takes a turn in picking out a card, at any time, the circle of cards must be maintained. The following cards represent:

2 - 5 Red --> Drink a mouthful of water

2 - 5 Black --> Person on the right drinks

6 --> Action card, to be used once at any time of the game. Do any strange noticeable action, last person to copy you drinks

7 --> Toilet pass (used once only)

8 --> The rhyme card. E.g. First word given is cute, next person carries on in a clockwise fashion with words such as flute, brute etc until someone gives up and has to drink

9 --> The category card. Say, category is flowers. Clockwise fashion again until someone gives up and drink

10 --> you're asked a question and you must tell the truth.

J - K --> Everyone is pre-assigned to be a Jack, Queen or King. If you're King and pick a King card, drink!!

Ace --> The rule card. Make a rule. It lasts for two Ace card rounds. A rule could be "no touching face and hair". It's like darn, my nose, ears, cheeks start to fill itchy now.

It was FUUUUUUN. What a great way to start the year and decade. :D

Twenty-10 is HERE

Blessed twenty-10 to all!

Here are some new year resolutions:

1) Keep bedroom clean and tidy. I actually fail to keep this resolution every year. It's now just here for tradition. But, hey, I will really try hard this time. (...as I always say!)

2) "Just a closer walk with Thee" Yup, wanna walk close to God. I loved the phrase Ps Chia said in Watchnight service, "When you fail to wait, you fail to hear (from God)"

3) Be involved in youth music ministry, so that my service to God is meaningful.

4) Be a loving and caring cell leader.

That's about it. As for other issues, I'll cross the bridge when I get there. :)

Fluid and Mush

Christmas just flew past! It was awesome. With all the heartwarming messages on Christmas cards, my heart is all fluid and mush now. Jan is right in saying that while nothing awesome is going around with the going out and celebrations, the true reason to celebrating Christmas is God's greatest gift to us all. So that's enough for me.

It's been a five day break of NO JUST SO. Tomorrow, Monday, will be back to usual business. From 2 Jan onwards, it's rehearsal til 10pm. I NEED A BIG HUG.

Recently, I've been caught up in my world of Just So. I've slacked in my quiet time, preferring to stone or space out. I've not been reading the news, so I've only vaguely heard about the floods and crashes happening.

Over the next few days, I gonna come up with a few New Year resolutions. Reflect on the godly advise and encouragement people written to me in Christmas cards too.

Christmas 09 is coming

Christmas is coming! And as usual, I ponder on the meaning of Christmas. First, I sigh at sight of how Christmas is so commercialized. Second, I have to write Christmas cards. Third, I wait for the highly expected date to arrive and pass me by. It'll be like, 'Yay, Happy Christmas everyone. Oh wait, it's boxing Day already???'

Just So is tiring!!! But a lot of fun. There are definitely sacrifices though. Like I had to miss my cell's Friday Christmas gathering in the evening due to EXTRA vocal training. It felt so wasted because of the 3 hours I stayed behind for, I practised for 1/2 hour only for my song. My co-actor and I waited for the other soloists to finish. It's just part and parcel of working in a group, you know.

IF YOU'VE NOT BOUGHT TICKETS YET, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU WAITING FOR???