Happy Earth Hour...I think

Hi all. Haven't posted in a long time. Sry,couldn't find time to post due to the load of homework I have. Why do teachers give us so much homework anyway? It's as if they think they're the only ones giving out work for us to do.

But I'll probably rant on that next time.

For this post,I am talking abt Earth Hour. Earth Hour was held for the 1st time last year in Sydney,where most of the people switched off their lights at home for a whole hour to save electricity. This year,other countries have joined in. But what about our country? Ok...wait a sec...[looks at Sunday Times]

Ok. Got it. Says that Earth Hour was not really accepted by people in Singapore. And we claim to be a Garden City. We may be filled with trees,but with almost everyone here littering,wasting water and electricity and having an obsession with using plastic bags,our self proclaimed title is useless. That's right,USELESS.

And since I stretched the writing of this post to Tuesday,I have managed to read an ST reader's comment on Earth Hour and the irony of it as the F1 racing thingy also did a publicity stunt involving LOTS & LOTS OF LIGHTS when MOST countries around the world were in darkness. Wonder what it would have looked like from space...

Alien: Ok. It's Earth Hour now,let's see what's going on as part of our exploration mission. Hmmm...this place called America is all black. So is Fiji. And Sydney. Seems like these people living on Earth really do care about their planet.
Wait! What's this? A small island is actually being indifferent to this occasion. Some parts of the place are dark,but others are still very much lighted. They even have this racing event. The light is blinding!!! What is this place called?!

Of course,we all know what the alien was talking about.

Are u serious?!

Just saw this article on stomp.com.sg:

196 North Vista Sec students suspended for breaking school rules: STOMPer

196 students were suspended on Tuesday (Mar 18), according to STOMPer Alvin. He said that the students - all from the lower secondary classes - were suspended based on what he calls "minor reasons".

"The school has started a 'massive suspending scheme'. They suspend students based on the most minor reasons such as having unkempt hair, short skirt, tabloid pants, untidy attire," he said.

“That makes the school left with 10 students on average per class.”

According to Mr Yong KS, Vice President of North Vista Secondary, "53 students are in the process of rectifying their hair or uniform problems."

Continuing in an email reply, he said:"We instill high expectations of students' attire and general appearance. We have clear standards of expected hairstyle and attire which are reflected in the students’ handbook. There is a consistent process of monitoring and managing students who do not comply with the standards.

"Character development is an important component in our students’ education at North Vista Secondary School. Our school endeavors to nurture Vistarians who are disciplined and manifest the virtues of care and respect.

"Students who are found not meeting our hairstyle requirements are sent to arranged barbers to have their hair cut. For students who have modified uniforms, they are expected to rectify the problems or buy a new set of uniforms in the school bookshop.

"Parents are kept informed through the phone call when their child leaves the school for the haircut.

"We are confident that parents and Vistarians will jealously guard their school rules and regulations. All these are done to develop our Vistarins to be fine ladies and true gentlemen."

North Vista Secondary School, located in Sengkang, "was a popular choice among heartlanders", according to STOMPer Alvin.“Does this suspension really help the students? Or do they do this only to cut down operating costs? Parents of the suspended students are very unhappy and have no channels to voice out their concerns," he added.

WOW. 196 students suspended in one go. Someone give the school management staff a medal. And it wasn't because they were caught doing something that would shame the school greatly such as stealing or gambling or even taking drugs. They were suspended because their attire was untidy. Tell me,how petty can you guys get? they aren't dressed properly,so what? This dosen't call for suspension. The worst punishment in my opinion is to simply call their parents and scold them. Compare that to suspension. Anyway,your plan sucks. If u suspend them,what do you think they're going to do? I can tell you that they sure won't be at home going,"I deserved it. I should wear my uniform properly and neatly."

Think abt your decision. It will really affect the school's reputation.

Cambodia Pt 2

Ok. Back to the trip that I had...



Day 2- Tonle Sap

Azmi and I woke up at 4.00 am that day. Maybe it was because we were afraid of oversleeping,or it could have been the extra loud alarm that I had set to sound at 4. Anyway,we woke up and THEN went back to sleep. An hour later,we woke again and went back to sleep AGAIN. We finally woke up and stayed that way at 5.30. BTW,I have no idea how Azmi can wake up at so early. I mean,he said that he slept at about 2am!

When we arrived at the restaurant for breakfast,we were surprised to find that there was NO ONE there. We had expected the place to have a few other Victorians who came down earlier than us. Even the staff was not fully prepared as some of the food had not arrived. That's really early.

Due to the long distance between Phnom Penh (where we were) and Siem Reap (our destination),the trip took 5.5 hrs long!!! Has anyone of travelled this long on land? In that amount of time,we did a whole list of things. Here's what we did:

1. 
   
   Try to do some parts of the worksheet in the bus. I said try becos the bus was driving on a bumpy road. Every few seconds,the bus would hit a bump and everyone would levitate for a short moment.


2. 
   
   Play Melvin's GBA.


3. 
   
   Take more random pictures of a pissed off Brennan.


4. 
   
   Sleep. ZZZZZ.......


5. 
   
   Talk. Actually,it was more of a debate actually. We (Brennan,Melvin,Brennan's friend Dexter and I) debated with Azmi abt who we should vote in the next Singapore elections. Azmi was the only one supporting the PAP. All of us supported the opposition.

Upon reaching Siem Reap,we had lunch before heading to Tonle Sap in a new bus with a new tour guide. Tonle Sap is home to many people. Unfortunately,they are extremely poor and have to grow crops or fish to make a living. We got into the motorboat that would take us to one of the floating houses. Along the way,we saw many other floating houses and even a floating basketball court! Our tour guide explained that the Cambodian government wanted the children to be engaged in sports. But what if the ball accidentally rolled off the court and into the river?

Anyway,we arrived at the floating house,which was very large. I think it was also used as a tourist attarction and a mini zoo. First,we saw two crocodile pits. Next to the pits was a pond which seemed to be empty. Until our tour guide threw some frozen worms into the pond. Suddenly,fishes began to leap out of the water to fight for the food.

The main attraction,however,was a python. At first,no one dared to go near it,until Amirul bravely touched the reptile. Brennan and Jia Hao were persuaded (aka forced) to carry the python so that others could take photos. Some students used "flash" on the snake,which is really asking for trouble. We then climbed up the steep stairs to take in the scenery.

On the way down,I spotted Melvin's cousin. (Ahem) I told him abt it and he threatened to throw me into the crocodile pits if I continued.

We checked in at the Prum Bayon Hotel where we would be staying for the rest of the trip. After slacking for abt 2hrs,we went for dinner and watched a Cambodian traditional Apsara Dance.

In the hotel: MORE HALO AND THE INTRODUCTION OF PILLOW FIGHTS!!! Let's just say that I am a noob at pillow fights. Got owned by everyone.

Watch out 4 Part 3...

An "embarrasing" moment

Damn it. Today many of my classmates and I were made to stand up. Why? Because that day was "MT silent reading time" and we did not bring our MT books. We had brought our Maths Wkbks instead as there was a Maths test after flag raising. The teacher who called us to stand even said that we should be ashamed and that we as VS students should be even more so.

First of all,there is nothing to be ashamed of if u have forgotten to bring something OR have a valid reason. Like the Maths test. Why else would we be bringing our Maths Workbooks to the hall to read? Do u really think that we are so free so as to just read anything we have?

Secondly,why do you have to order us to stand up for all to see? Are we criminals? Have we commited a grave offence? Why the need for this sort of public shaming? It's useless I tell u. Before long,that same person will most probably repeat what he did wrong. Translation: YOUR PLAN BACKFIRED. Clear?

We were supposed to feel embarrased. Me,definitely not.

If there is a Maths test and it falls on a Thursday,I'm going to bring a chinese book PLUS my maths notes.

CAMBODIA pt 1

Hi! Just got back from Cambodia yesterday. The trip was quite good although it could have been better. The next few posts will be about my trip. So here goes....

First day in Cambodia

We met at Changi Airport at abt 6.40am. Then got a scolding from my parents becos they saw everyone (actually it wasn't everyone,they saw wrongly) wearing jeans and they thought that I did not listen to my teacher. Sigh. Then,after checking in our luggage,we took a group photo and entered the departure hall. Everyone waved goodbye to their parents. We then boarded the plane. Since it was a Silkair flight,there were no games. So maybe it was a good thing that the flight was only 2hrs long.

Waiting for the plane...

Amirul taking a nap due to the boredom of the flight.

We arrived and met our tour guide,who then brought us to the Toul Sleng Museum,which was once a high school in Cambodia until Pol Pot used it as a torture room and prison. About 20,000 people died there. You think Hitler is cruel,look at Pol Pot. Ryan,maybe you should take some ideas from the guy and use them in your book. The guy is damn sadistic.

After lunch,we proceded to the Killing Fields. Let's just say that we were shocked at the place. In front of our faces was a Buddhist Stupa with countless HUMAN SKULLS inside!!! They belonged to the people who were killed.

The stupa




The skulls of those who were tortured...

We then proceeded to the Royal Palace and the Independence Monument. Sry that I could not take any photos.


Finally,we went to our hotel. Due to some unforseen circumstances (LOL),I ended up bunking in with Azmi. About 2hrs later,we went down for dinner before returning to the hotel to rest. 2E,on the other hand,ended up partying in room 213 aka my room. Azmi brought his laptop and installed Halo on it. Out of pure randomness,we tried to think of 101 ways you can kill urself with a Warthog in Halo. Also,becos we realised that we had taken so many random photos of Brennan,we started the 100 random photos of Brennan project.



*drumroll* And here are some of the photos. Brennan,if u see this do NOT kill me the next day.









Watch out for Day 2...

One more day...

ONE more day to my Cambodia trip. Very excited. All packed. Just one problem:My video camera's battery cannot take more than 47 min of video!!! And the trip is 5 days long!!! Now,my parents are trying to buy a new battery. Hope they get one...

March holidays!!!

March holidays have started! Yes! Two more days before I go to Cambodia for a Hist/Geog learning trip. Went to get new passport today. The queue was extremely long. Then at Lavender MRT station,I met Yong Quan. What a coincidence!

Hope to enjoy the Cambodia trip. Write more later.

Sigh...

My parents scolded me again. I really have no idea why they like to scold,criticize and put me down so often. Sure,there are some times where I have done something wrong and I admit to my mistakes and take the scolding,but there are also other times where they can flare up just because I they accused me of doing something that I did not. Whenever I try to talk to them,I am often shouted at and shooed away. "Don't tell us what to do" they say.

Maybe I am already used to it,but nowadays whenever I am being "disciplined" I just shut up and listen. Talking or negotiation is futile. I am like a robot in their eyes. Everything I do must be to their standards. I think it's better to be a robot. At least you don't feel any pain.

Just a few minutes ago my parents said that I was spoilt. Well they did not say that but what they said showed. "Do you know how much money we spend? Everyday can take taxi to school and back" HELLO?! Did I even say I WANTED to take taxi? I said my collarbone was OK and that I could take the bus. Why do you blame me???

I know that my parents love and care for me alot. If my parents happen to read this,I want to tell you that I know your intentions and I thank you for it.

Signing off, Rebel Peasant.