Look who's back, Teck Whye!

It's Teacher's Day yesterday, and every teacher's day would mean my return to my primary school. After the celebrations in school (captain's ball competition, giving of presents and the concert, where some bands put up some amazingly bad performances). This year return to my primary school is actually more for the food and friends than for the teachers, because most of them have left the school. There's a new principal and also a new school logo. I must say I'm really surprised at how ugly the the new school logo is. I don't know why but it just gives me a feeling that the school is another new random neighbourhood school. I wonder which idiot designed it.

I was determined to eat from every single store since it would most likely be my last visit. I was back basically for 5 items.

1. The 50 cents nasi lemak
2. The nuggets from the malay store (this are great nuggets especially when it's hot from the oven)
3. The fried rice from the chinese store
4. The Laksa
5. The curry flavoured drumsticks from the noodle store (the same one that sells laksa)

I pull my best friend in Primary school, Zaki, along to eat with me. And as we wait for the other friends to arrive, we started our eating campaign. I was pretty disappointed because the store that sells the 50 cents nasi lemak was not opened, and if I remember correctly, the nuggets were from them too. And so I had no choice but to try the nuggets from the other 2 malay stores, hoping to find the nugget.

I noticed they have started reducing the usage of plastic bags, because she gave me something like a triangle paper cup to hold the nuggets. I was about to eat when I accidentally pressed the bottom of the paper cup and one of the nugget fell out. But the kind auntie gave me another one for free. And so I took a bite. Wrong one, too salty.

And so I went on to the next malay store. The auntie took the nuggets out from the oven and that means there's hope. I took a bite and ta-da! That's the one! Soft, crispy and the wonderful taste. I ate a few and tried some of the new products, the only one that left an impression is the satay flavoured sausage.

And I went to look for the fried rice, but the store was not opened. I had quite some memories from this store because I used to eat from here almost everyday. I remember there was once when I ate three fried eggs at one go and it's without rice, just the eggs. I remember the auntie gave me a weird look. I bet she must be thinking, "weird boy...eat so much egg, don't know the parents know anot..."

And so I had no choice but to go on to the noodles store. The storeowners used to be a pair of old couples, but now it changed to a middle-age chinese auntie. I asked her whether she's selling the drumsticks but she said her's is a new store and they offer basically fried noodles and bee boon, fishball noodles and spaghetti. I decided to go for the fishball noodles and it turned out to be pretty random.

I went to the drinks store in search of the ice cream that I used to eat secretly in school (but I fail to keep it from my mum everytime because there's always drops of chocolate ice cream on my uniform or my shoes). I met into an ex-kranjian at the store and she started asking me things about kranji because she saw me wearing the Kestrel PE T-shirt. She asked me a lot about the school and she looks disappointed to hear than many of her teachers have left the school and Kestrel is no longer the champion house. Well, she know about the new principal (it's a new principal to her) , and she asked me if she's good. Well, I bad-mouthed a little about her.

After that I chatted with my friends for at least 3 hours and soon it's time to go home. As I bid goodbye to my friends, I realised it's most probably my last time seeing them. I was pretty sad, but I know there's always a chance of a reunion. I look forward to that day.

Last but not least I wish all of them good luck for their 'O' level exams and a very HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY to all teachers!

The Official Passing Out from NPCC

My school's National Day Parade 2008 officially marks the end of my days in NPCC. I must admit I felt rather sad on that day, because it would be my last time wearing my uniform, the uniform that went through so much with me for 4 years. I've learnt a lot from NPCC, and as all of us go through the years, we will notice we have grown, or in fact, changed. No, I'm not talking only about people from NPCC. All of us will grow, both physically and mentally, even though some will grow more, on the physically aspect, but not the other aspect.

My parents received a letter from my teacher officer, Miss Foo, just yesterday and she said in the letter that I have grown to be more outspoken and confident. And it also shows all the good values that I have, but is that really that important? When so many people only cares about getting the "big" job and getting it done and making it big in life.

This are just some things that I have learnt coming through the years in NPCC and in school. Let bring back the subject to NPCC. Of course there are times when we are happy and times when we actually felt unhappy about NPCC. But we have been through all that, and some of us learn to be stronger, while some just remained the same, out to look for honour and the so-called "great achievements" or the "important roles". Of course everyone would be glad to be someone important, even for me, but if you don't get it, you can feel sad about it, and just move on with life, you can't be the best for everything.

When I was in Secondary 1 and 2, I was just out to get through every trainings that I have and as I go into secondary three, I started skipping some trainings with my friends, because I thought it was "cool" at that time and it helps me to mix in with my friends, but as I go into Secondary four, I realised being cool or mixing in with others was never something important.

Actually what is important is that you know you have done the right thing that you will never regret doing. At least at this time, I know I'm on the right track. I can't promise that I won't ever go the wrong way again. If I ever go the wrong way again, I just hope I will eventually come back to the right track.

I will definitely miss the days in NPCC. Thank you to all the Sirs and Mdms. Last but not least, here are some pictures of the Uniform parts that went through so many trainings with me, seen me through the years of being innocent, cool, and finally my last time marching in a parade representing the Kranji National Police Cadet Corps.

All this shall be in my memories forever.

P/S: Thank you to my sister for helping me take the photos and editing them.

National Day 2008

I think I'll blog about the National Day Parade 2008 in school another day, so...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!

Teenagers nowadays are so cool~

Well, I noticed a trend recently, which I believe many of you thinks is cool too. Many people seems to think that not supporting your own country is cool, because it shows how "rebellious" you are, and this thinking seems to have been passed on to other people over the years. I must admit, I might be one of those people if not for my sister, who is a pro in propaganda-ing.

One good example of this is the recent Football match between Singapore and Brazil. I can't believe some Singaporeans actually went there to support Brazil. When they scored against Singapore, they actually cheered. The Singapore team was playing on their own land, and yet they were treated like the away team. Many people in my school keep saying Singapore will lose, well, if everyone thinks like that, then I must say it's really sad for Singapore. Why must people be so practical, giving yourself no hope at all, and also looking down on your own country? The moment someone bring up the subject, everyone will go, "Aiya comfirm kanna thrash one la" , then another guy will go, " Ya lor ya lor 10-nil la". Well, I must say congrats to you, for finding yourself a new BFF (best friends forever).

And I don't know why people have so much problem with the Singapore government. Take the ERP as example, before the ERP was used, people kept complaining about all the traffic jams and everything, and when they used it, they complain about the policy and the government. What, you think built the ERP very fun ah? Anyhow built play isit? It improved the bloody traffic and what more people want? There's not much solutions you know. Oh, maybe the government can fill the entire country with roads, then more road more space so no traffic jam la? And some people can even be stupid enough to vote for the oppositions just because of this. Oh surely when they become the government they are not going to charge you taxes and no ERP fees too, they are just going to leave it there for fun.

And when people start complaining about the traffic again, and about the lack of action from the new government (if there shall ever be), then they might tell you, "Says who? There's the ERP! No charge at all, just like what you all asked for! Didn't it improve the traffic?".

And since people complain about Newater too, I'm sure the oppositions that some of you vote for is going to take away the policy too. And they will go, "Since people complain about the Newater, we will take it away, and we will buy more water from our beloved neighbour across the causeway. I don't mind being threatened having our water supply cut off *shrugs* ".

Sometimes you should think about things that you do, what did you do them for? Why didn't you want to support your own country? Did the government let you down? Is there a reason why they did some things that you don't like? If you still think supporting your own country is loser-ish, I seriously can't help you.

Just like what I think Mr Goh Chok Tong once said, "Don't be a quitter". Sometimes there's no need to follow the crowd.