I thank God for this man...an amazing composer who wrote some very beautiful music.
I'm not going to bore you with a whole history, but Johann Sebastian Bach composed mainly for the church. He gave glory to God on each of his manuscripts :)
Here's a little something for your entertainment!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Halfway Through!
I thank God that He has carried me through this season of my life...and that He is faithful and will continue to carry me to the end.
It's been four months since my last blog post, so my apologies to those who have been coming here only to find nothing new.
Halfway through. That I am. Well, it's more like seven twelfths of the way to the end of this chapter and the beginning of a new one. Yes. Soon I will be at the forked road of continuing with the books or as some say, out of the pan and into the fire.
I will be baking a banana meringue pie come Tuesday. Yes, I have been baking more frequently. I think I'm just going to let this be a Delighfully Yours post. Here are some photos.
My coping mechanism. I am most definitely making the peach galette again. I loved every bite I had! Have to make some improvements though. So for a start, I will be trying a different recipe for the banana meringue pie. I need to organise my thoughts and come back to write a proper entry.
Hmm. I need to bring some of my other CDs over here. The jazzed Bach, for instance. Till the next post! (That hopefully will not be too long from now...) Oh, and on a side note, I would like to walk down my wedding aisle to Bach's Air on a G String.
It's been four months since my last blog post, so my apologies to those who have been coming here only to find nothing new.
Halfway through. That I am. Well, it's more like seven twelfths of the way to the end of this chapter and the beginning of a new one. Yes. Soon I will be at the forked road of continuing with the books or as some say, out of the pan and into the fire.
I will be baking a banana meringue pie come Tuesday. Yes, I have been baking more frequently. I think I'm just going to let this be a Delighfully Yours post. Here are some photos.
 | ||
| Oreo Cheesecake. |
 | |
| Crossiants, vanilla ice-cream and strawberries. |
 |
| Pretty peach galette :) |
 |
| Cookie pile! |
My coping mechanism. I am most definitely making the peach galette again. I loved every bite I had! Have to make some improvements though. So for a start, I will be trying a different recipe for the banana meringue pie. I need to organise my thoughts and come back to write a proper entry.
Hmm. I need to bring some of my other CDs over here. The jazzed Bach, for instance. Till the next post! (That hopefully will not be too long from now...) Oh, and on a side note, I would like to walk down my wedding aisle to Bach's Air on a G String.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Stuff#05 - Why I Believe
Today, I thank God for a very special person He's placed in my life at a crucial time. Blessed Womb Emancipation Day, Abg.
Little might Said Person know, but there have been many times where, since I took flight, that I've just felt so alone...and just looking at SP's life has been such an encouragement. I see SP as a role model, someone to look up to, and someone I can rely on. Having SP around during those times when I feel down and disappointed in myself...and when being alone is what I want but know that I especially shouldn't...and all the other times as well...SP's been such a blessing and I don't know any other way to put it.
There have been the jamming times...and the laughs and serious conversation...SP's made me feel like a kid and an adult in just a matter of seconds. I will never forget that gig-turned-shopping-expedition. It's called quality time :)
I was given the opportunity to bake for this special occasion, and thoroughly enjoyed my time in the kitchen. Baking for the people I love - that's a pleasure. Being able to pray for them as I bake, knowing that I'm investing my time as an expression of appreciation for the role they play in my life. Sometimes it's really all I can afford. It might not seem like much, and many times, I do wish that I had more to give.
I think one of the most important things I've learnt from SP is perseverance. Despite SP's attempts to appear nonchalant, SP is, in actuality, the perfect life example of someone who's pulled through tough times, times when one feels all alone and all that. My being here, is like a pale, pale shade next to what SP has had. I'd have to admit that sometimes, I seek SP out because I know that just spending time with SP would really make me acknowledge the minute-ness of what I'm going through.
So that's dedicated to this very special person who will be known as SP here.
On a side note, I missed last month's post...and that's because I've been on a pretty amazing roller coaster ride, that little to my knowledge had started a good six years ago. Sometimes when I look back on what happened within the span of a mere month, I'm in awe at the way He works things. Just to put it in a nutshell, I got a phone call, looked at airfares, witnessed the amazing connections God reveals when we let Him take the wheel, got stranded in a foreign land for a very scary couple of hours where it was a chicken and duck situation, heard an amazing concerto, met amazing people, experienced my first typhoon and earthquake, saw the fruition of much prayer, and literally ran to catch a connecting flight.
In short, I'm really overwhelmed by what transpired, still, and well - I don't know what He has in store for me, but I'm definitely excited. I've been seeing Him come through for so many people around me, and another big encouragement came yesterday at my college's fun day at the beach, our equivalent of a sports day, where a friend of mine who's doing an Arts Management course took part in a talent competition, and got spotted. She once shared with me how she has always wanted to be a stage performer, but she got into the Arts Management course instead. She honoured God by obeying and she's currently in her second year. She's passionate about Him and serves Him faithfully, despite being a first generation Christian whose family sometimes gives her a hard time about how much time she spends in church and all that. It was and is such an encouragement to know that I serve a God who is faithful, despite the fact that we tend to wander off.
It's not that we don't already know He's a faithful God, we do. But He likes to remind us by baffling us again and again. Just to add a personal thought, I think He enjoys watching us react to His ambiguity. I can't help thinking that it's like a drama. Haha :)
Little might Said Person know, but there have been many times where, since I took flight, that I've just felt so alone...and just looking at SP's life has been such an encouragement. I see SP as a role model, someone to look up to, and someone I can rely on. Having SP around during those times when I feel down and disappointed in myself...and when being alone is what I want but know that I especially shouldn't...and all the other times as well...SP's been such a blessing and I don't know any other way to put it.
There have been the jamming times...and the laughs and serious conversation...SP's made me feel like a kid and an adult in just a matter of seconds. I will never forget that gig-turned-shopping-expedition. It's called quality time :)
I was given the opportunity to bake for this special occasion, and thoroughly enjoyed my time in the kitchen. Baking for the people I love - that's a pleasure. Being able to pray for them as I bake, knowing that I'm investing my time as an expression of appreciation for the role they play in my life. Sometimes it's really all I can afford. It might not seem like much, and many times, I do wish that I had more to give.
I think one of the most important things I've learnt from SP is perseverance. Despite SP's attempts to appear nonchalant, SP is, in actuality, the perfect life example of someone who's pulled through tough times, times when one feels all alone and all that. My being here, is like a pale, pale shade next to what SP has had. I'd have to admit that sometimes, I seek SP out because I know that just spending time with SP would really make me acknowledge the minute-ness of what I'm going through.
So that's dedicated to this very special person who will be known as SP here.
On a side note, I missed last month's post...and that's because I've been on a pretty amazing roller coaster ride, that little to my knowledge had started a good six years ago. Sometimes when I look back on what happened within the span of a mere month, I'm in awe at the way He works things. Just to put it in a nutshell, I got a phone call, looked at airfares, witnessed the amazing connections God reveals when we let Him take the wheel, got stranded in a foreign land for a very scary couple of hours where it was a chicken and duck situation, heard an amazing concerto, met amazing people, experienced my first typhoon and earthquake, saw the fruition of much prayer, and literally ran to catch a connecting flight.
In short, I'm really overwhelmed by what transpired, still, and well - I don't know what He has in store for me, but I'm definitely excited. I've been seeing Him come through for so many people around me, and another big encouragement came yesterday at my college's fun day at the beach, our equivalent of a sports day, where a friend of mine who's doing an Arts Management course took part in a talent competition, and got spotted. She once shared with me how she has always wanted to be a stage performer, but she got into the Arts Management course instead. She honoured God by obeying and she's currently in her second year. She's passionate about Him and serves Him faithfully, despite being a first generation Christian whose family sometimes gives her a hard time about how much time she spends in church and all that. It was and is such an encouragement to know that I serve a God who is faithful, despite the fact that we tend to wander off.
It's not that we don't already know He's a faithful God, we do. But He likes to remind us by baffling us again and again. Just to add a personal thought, I think He enjoys watching us react to His ambiguity. I can't help thinking that it's like a drama. Haha :)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
State of my Mind
I thank Him for little pieces of home.
I went for a gig earlier this week, someone from home. It was good to just see familiar faces...not that I don't see familiar faces everyday, but just familiar faces part of home. It was good to catch up and all that.
It's been a tough time of late, time seems to just whizz past without me realising. It's been a month since school reopened. I'm at that stage again where I'm just worn out. Where I'm wondering how I'm gonna make it through. The temptation of giving up and packing up oh-so-appealing.
Making decisions on my own, it's all part of growing up, I know that. But maybe I'm getting tired of fending for myself? Maybe I'm just exhausted? Maybe it's because I'm alone here? Maybe it's because I'm not working hard enough to occupy my mind with things other than homesickness? Baking therapy last night didn't really work.
I discovered that musicians are probably among to most critical among the artspeople. Today. During the elective class. We had to do a 'mini lecture'. We were given the task of 'teaching' a given topic within 10-15 minutes. And there was a peer comment session right after each group presented. Then Teddy Bear pointed out that all the comments that came from the people from our department were more often than not negative comments, compared to the comments from artspeople from the other departments. Made me think. Yes, it's essential for us to prepare ourselves as musician for harsh criticism. But subjecting others to that just because I'm a musician? That's something I have to pay extra attention to, I suppose.
Listening to this song on loop - State of my Mind - the song basically says that they way we think, the way we react - it's all a choice. "It's all in the state of my mind," one of the lines says. The last verse ends with a question, "What if I had no choice at all?" So that means the way I'm reacting to whatever's happening around me is really a subconscious choice. Call me crazy but maybe I just like the sense of longing for home. It's like a form of torture I subject myself to just because I can't let go, or don't want to.
Being away from home, people call me independent, they tell me I'm brave, they tell me I'm mature. But am I really? The truth? I'm scared. And I don't necessarily like the circumstances I'm in right now. I guess I just have to face the inevitable. It's better to start now than to have to pry myself away from home when I'm 40. Struggles and all that - they're real. I'd tell you a million times over, I'm really really scared. And lonely. And the emo-ness is setting in. It's setting in nicely, which it shouldn't.
Do I have a place to call home?
Where has my passion gone?
Will I wear myself thin and eventually snap?
Today GC said something that hit me hard. It's the rehearsals that are incredible, not the performance itself. It's the beauty of the music all coming together in the rehearsals, not the close-to-perfect performance in the concert. It's the journey that matters, not the final destination.
So this being my journey now...how am I going to make it count?
It's all in the state of my mind.
I went for a gig earlier this week, someone from home. It was good to just see familiar faces...not that I don't see familiar faces everyday, but just familiar faces part of home. It was good to catch up and all that.
It's been a tough time of late, time seems to just whizz past without me realising. It's been a month since school reopened. I'm at that stage again where I'm just worn out. Where I'm wondering how I'm gonna make it through. The temptation of giving up and packing up oh-so-appealing.
Making decisions on my own, it's all part of growing up, I know that. But maybe I'm getting tired of fending for myself? Maybe I'm just exhausted? Maybe it's because I'm alone here? Maybe it's because I'm not working hard enough to occupy my mind with things other than homesickness? Baking therapy last night didn't really work.
I discovered that musicians are probably among to most critical among the artspeople. Today. During the elective class. We had to do a 'mini lecture'. We were given the task of 'teaching' a given topic within 10-15 minutes. And there was a peer comment session right after each group presented. Then Teddy Bear pointed out that all the comments that came from the people from our department were more often than not negative comments, compared to the comments from artspeople from the other departments. Made me think. Yes, it's essential for us to prepare ourselves as musician for harsh criticism. But subjecting others to that just because I'm a musician? That's something I have to pay extra attention to, I suppose.
Listening to this song on loop - State of my Mind - the song basically says that they way we think, the way we react - it's all a choice. "It's all in the state of my mind," one of the lines says. The last verse ends with a question, "What if I had no choice at all?" So that means the way I'm reacting to whatever's happening around me is really a subconscious choice. Call me crazy but maybe I just like the sense of longing for home. It's like a form of torture I subject myself to just because I can't let go, or don't want to.
Being away from home, people call me independent, they tell me I'm brave, they tell me I'm mature. But am I really? The truth? I'm scared. And I don't necessarily like the circumstances I'm in right now. I guess I just have to face the inevitable. It's better to start now than to have to pry myself away from home when I'm 40. Struggles and all that - they're real. I'd tell you a million times over, I'm really really scared. And lonely. And the emo-ness is setting in. It's setting in nicely, which it shouldn't.
Do I have a place to call home?
Where has my passion gone?
Will I wear myself thin and eventually snap?
Today GC said something that hit me hard. It's the rehearsals that are incredible, not the performance itself. It's the beauty of the music all coming together in the rehearsals, not the close-to-perfect performance in the concert. It's the journey that matters, not the final destination.
So this being my journey now...how am I going to make it count?
It's all in the state of my mind.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
I Can't Get Over Him!!!
I thank God that He never lets me get over Him.
Here's part of today's songlist:
I Offer My Life
Saat Terindah (Times of Refreshing)
In Your Hands
You Are So Faithful
Breathing The Breath
Can't Get Over You
Today He reminded me that He is a jealous lover. Today He told me again (and He just never gets tired of telling me) that He loves me. Beyond my comprehension. Today He encouraged me and let me know yet again that He wants to carry me through the crazy periods in life - if only I'll let Him.
Yes, it's another one of those adjusting phases, homesickness hits hard, and I just wanna camp in my room and not go anywhere or be with anyone. I'm going to have to apologize to that friend of mine and well, just stop being scared of everything. This is the real world, and I have to step out and let Him guide me. Trust that He knows what's best for me. With this in mind, I'm going to get up tomorrow and just let things unfold as they will.
Oh lol. I just love the way He does things sometimes. I can't say 'I love the way He does things all the time', coz I don't really like the way He handles SOME things. I'm working on that though :) The irony. I've got my iTunes on shuffle again. Haha. Tempat Pertama. See what I said about Him being a jealous lover? He won't settle for less :P
Let the construction resume :)
Here's part of today's songlist:
I Offer My Life
Saat Terindah (Times of Refreshing)
In Your Hands
You Are So Faithful
Breathing The Breath
Can't Get Over You
Today He reminded me that He is a jealous lover. Today He told me again (and He just never gets tired of telling me) that He loves me. Beyond my comprehension. Today He encouraged me and let me know yet again that He wants to carry me through the crazy periods in life - if only I'll let Him.
Yes, it's another one of those adjusting phases, homesickness hits hard, and I just wanna camp in my room and not go anywhere or be with anyone. I'm going to have to apologize to that friend of mine and well, just stop being scared of everything. This is the real world, and I have to step out and let Him guide me. Trust that He knows what's best for me. With this in mind, I'm going to get up tomorrow and just let things unfold as they will.
Oh lol. I just love the way He does things sometimes. I can't say 'I love the way He does things all the time', coz I don't really like the way He handles SOME things. I'm working on that though :) The irony. I've got my iTunes on shuffle again. Haha. Tempat Pertama. See what I said about Him being a jealous lover? He won't settle for less :P
Let the construction resume :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Home.
I thank You for bringing me back home safely and for the time I've been able to spend here.
Hello readers. And spambots.
So. It's the end of June and I realise I have exactly two weeks left back home. Sad thing happy thing...hmm...once again, mixed emotions cloud my judgement.
In the past week I've been home, I've missed cell, missed school (believe it or not!!), taken the time to browse through the past chapters of my life....
There were the times I had in the YO together with all you wonderful wonderful people. I realise that two camps have passed since I was last there and hey, I miss you guys. Of course, Aiyo came over to visit Kuching and I spent a day with her and we just took some time to catch up and...well, talk about nothing, I guess. Haha. Then there's Kinya with whom I've been in contact with via text. Such a wonderful fella. V, C and W...there's not much to say I guess other than I miss playing with you guys. A lot. And the other C who calls me the Cheeky Monkey...well, the time I had with you was short yet meaningful. We'll be sure to hang out if I'm in town, kay? And A. LOL. A, D and H. All they need is another D. Haha. Great bunch of guys who never fail to show up and make us all LOL. Of course there was C's best buddy, Plants vs. Zombies...and anyone else I missed out? Oh, Aiyo's dearest. Of course. He comes to hang out and stuff when I'm in their vicinity, and together with Aiyo, they're ever so hospitable each time I visit Penang. I stay with Aiyo and then they take me around and feed me. Haha.
Together with all my couriered documents from the YO's admin for YO purposes, there was the one-time SIR thing. Where Strawberry, Ally, the Cap and I went and well...haha. That's for us to know. Lol. But it was good just being reminded of the one time we did that. Ally made it the furthest and her fall was Propinquity. And look where she is today - with her human flips and stuff. Go go Judo girl!!!
The next envelope was a big official one from WSDC. I reached in and took out the contents and began flipping through. First was the speaker rankings from WSDC 2009...and then I started flipping through the adjudication sheets. Which was interesting. I should pull up my notes from then...from my thick file and start reading through them, replaying the arguments in my head. Then I stumbled across the one case where I lost it and went nuts. I can now look back and laugh. *looks over shoulder and LsOL* And I had a chance to relive moments of the 2009 event with two fellow participants. And we had a good laugh at one of them in particular, ever the victim...or so it seems...but what is it they say, that things are never what they seem...
Then came WSDC 2010 and I looked at the speaker rankings and just had to smile to myself. Haha. Flipping through the adjudication sheets brought a smile to my face, recalling little things and comments made throughout the event. I must say that I am quite pleased with the way things turned out said year for the particular event.
Penguin, Sher, All, Lv and I met up in the Spring on Sunday to celebrate Penguin's birthday. I got her this compilation of guitar stuff. 4 CDs. Good deal. The Spring's Speedy has a basket and all the CDs in said basket are priced at RM9.90. Some very good stuff but I must not spend. No no. Jireh comes first. So the five of us had lunch and cake and a chance to catch up and have a good laugh. It was really good, seeing all of them. And of course, we bumped into Chinny in MPH. Which was also good. Haha.
Nihplod and I met up with Commando B just the following afternoon and we had tea in a coffee place while Commando B had an ice blended, something he told us he couldn't have. Bad Gramps.
I'm looking forward to more meet-ups with good friends...and of course, the baking tomorrow.
Spending time with Mummy and the rest of the family has of course been awesome, all the conversation and the interesting things that happen. I think being home this time has really brought more things to light with regards to my family and well, education in general. Seeing how God is blessing my parents and opening different doors for them and realising the extent they go to so that we are able to get the most out of what we have...I would have to borrow someone else's words here...words just can't express what I feel with that realisation. I suppose we've always known...but this time, it's just hit me harder than it has before.
I'd like to thank God for His providence, and of course for Daddy Dearest who pushes and reminds my siblings and I to do things...because hey, we all know that he only does it with our best in mind. I thank the school's SP as well. Looking at the opportunities that have come up in the past year for me...it's just pretty amazing, and I'm looking forward to a lot more. Faithfulness is the key, and I can never be reminded enough times.
Teddy Bear's a good friend. May Ed RIP.
Hello readers. And spambots.
So. It's the end of June and I realise I have exactly two weeks left back home. Sad thing happy thing...hmm...once again, mixed emotions cloud my judgement.
In the past week I've been home, I've missed cell, missed school (believe it or not!!), taken the time to browse through the past chapters of my life....
There were the times I had in the YO together with all you wonderful wonderful people. I realise that two camps have passed since I was last there and hey, I miss you guys. Of course, Aiyo came over to visit Kuching and I spent a day with her and we just took some time to catch up and...well, talk about nothing, I guess. Haha. Then there's Kinya with whom I've been in contact with via text. Such a wonderful fella. V, C and W...there's not much to say I guess other than I miss playing with you guys. A lot. And the other C who calls me the Cheeky Monkey...well, the time I had with you was short yet meaningful. We'll be sure to hang out if I'm in town, kay? And A. LOL. A, D and H. All they need is another D. Haha. Great bunch of guys who never fail to show up and make us all LOL. Of course there was C's best buddy, Plants vs. Zombies...and anyone else I missed out? Oh, Aiyo's dearest. Of course. He comes to hang out and stuff when I'm in their vicinity, and together with Aiyo, they're ever so hospitable each time I visit Penang. I stay with Aiyo and then they take me around and feed me. Haha.
Together with all my couriered documents from the YO's admin for YO purposes, there was the one-time SIR thing. Where Strawberry, Ally, the Cap and I went and well...haha. That's for us to know. Lol. But it was good just being reminded of the one time we did that. Ally made it the furthest and her fall was Propinquity. And look where she is today - with her human flips and stuff. Go go Judo girl!!!
The next envelope was a big official one from WSDC. I reached in and took out the contents and began flipping through. First was the speaker rankings from WSDC 2009...and then I started flipping through the adjudication sheets. Which was interesting. I should pull up my notes from then...from my thick file and start reading through them, replaying the arguments in my head. Then I stumbled across the one case where I lost it and went nuts. I can now look back and laugh. *looks over shoulder and LsOL* And I had a chance to relive moments of the 2009 event with two fellow participants. And we had a good laugh at one of them in particular, ever the victim...or so it seems...but what is it they say, that things are never what they seem...
Then came WSDC 2010 and I looked at the speaker rankings and just had to smile to myself. Haha. Flipping through the adjudication sheets brought a smile to my face, recalling little things and comments made throughout the event. I must say that I am quite pleased with the way things turned out said year for the particular event.
Penguin, Sher, All, Lv and I met up in the Spring on Sunday to celebrate Penguin's birthday. I got her this compilation of guitar stuff. 4 CDs. Good deal. The Spring's Speedy has a basket and all the CDs in said basket are priced at RM9.90. Some very good stuff but I must not spend. No no. Jireh comes first. So the five of us had lunch and cake and a chance to catch up and have a good laugh. It was really good, seeing all of them. And of course, we bumped into Chinny in MPH. Which was also good. Haha.
Nihplod and I met up with Commando B just the following afternoon and we had tea in a coffee place while Commando B had an ice blended, something he told us he couldn't have. Bad Gramps.
I'm looking forward to more meet-ups with good friends...and of course, the baking tomorrow.
Spending time with Mummy and the rest of the family has of course been awesome, all the conversation and the interesting things that happen. I think being home this time has really brought more things to light with regards to my family and well, education in general. Seeing how God is blessing my parents and opening different doors for them and realising the extent they go to so that we are able to get the most out of what we have...I would have to borrow someone else's words here...words just can't express what I feel with that realisation. I suppose we've always known...but this time, it's just hit me harder than it has before.
I'd like to thank God for His providence, and of course for Daddy Dearest who pushes and reminds my siblings and I to do things...because hey, we all know that he only does it with our best in mind. I thank the school's SP as well. Looking at the opportunities that have come up in the past year for me...it's just pretty amazing, and I'm looking forward to a lot more. Faithfulness is the key, and I can never be reminded enough times.
Teddy Bear's a good friend. May Ed RIP.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
MFLD
This post is gonna be a little different. Just read on if you're looking for something to entertain your boredom.
Yesterday. Where do I even begin?? Have been trying to get my thoughts organised. I scroll through my call catalogue (latest to earliest for yesterday) and I see this:
Unknown
*music assistant*
*year 2 senior*
*Teddy Bear*
*Teddy Bear* (outgoing)
Daddy (outgoing)
Unknown
*music assistant*
Unknown
*music assistant's office* (outgoing)
*music assistant's office* (missed)
That's yesterday's call catalogue. Yup.
Yesterday was a big day for me. At this stage in life. I woke up and thought to myself, "I'm just gonna take my time today, shower, do my long tones, pack my turtle shell (credits to Mr. EW for the nickname), then slowly get to school and take some time to 'chill' (kinda impossible in my school environment, but yeah), rehearse with my accompanist (maybe not the whole programme), then 'chill' again and warm up shortly before I have to go in.
BUT.
I received a call (we're working our way up from the bottom of the list). Which I was unable to answer. So I called back...and was told that I have outstanding fees.
It's school policy that anyone with outstanding fees will be disallowed to take the final exam. My final and most important exam was scheduled for yesterday, 1540hrs. There's no way I was going to be disallowed from taking it. That would mean I would have to retake the whole academic year. Another school policy.
I'm not complaining about school policy here. In fact, I think the policies are fair. What I'm getting at is that they told me I have outstanding fees. Nothing against the Music Assistant, he was just the messenger. The thing about me is, I don't want to pay extra school fees. It's $187.50 per extra credit. So I make sure I stay within the 20 credit limit so that I don't have to pay extra. I checked and double checked and triple checked before I signed up for this additional module. I was pretty darn sure that I stayed within 20 credits even with this module in.
Instead of berating the MA, I decided to go in and speak to the finance officers in person. So I finished my long tones, and rushed everything else, skyped Dad to tell him what happened, and rushed down to school. Having gone offline right after I typed in the skype chat, Dad called me as I was on my way to school. It was a big, big day for me, and I was to have my Principal Study exam. No joking matter. It's the deciding factor whether I go on to Year 2 or retake Year 1. And believe me when I say that going through Year 1 once is enough. For any module.
Daddy called again as I was walking from the MRT station to school. He said he phoned up the Finance Department and had a 'nice little chat' with them. Not his words, mine. Haha. Then MA called again, apologising for the whole thing and said that Finance called him after receiving my Dad's call. Haha. I got to the Finance Department and they had this printout with the amount I had outstanding. And they got three people to explain to me that I had $187.50 outstanding and that it was more than 120 days overdue and I was actually supposed to be disallowed from taking my final exam but that they were being gracious (not their words, mine) and letting me take the exam. They were obviously (this is a borrowed analogy) being like ostriches, sticking their heads in the ground, refusing to see the point I was trying to make. I was saying that it's impossible that I have outstanding fees because I stayed within the 20 credit cap. Even if I did and it was more than 120 days overdue, shouldn't I have received a notification/warning letter? Hmm??? And did I receive any letter of the sort? Nope. Absolutely nothing. But they kept telling me that I still had $187.50 outstanding but they were being nice and letting me take the exam. They even threw in a free lecture about the school policy of students being disallowed from taking to exam should the student have any outstanding fees. WHEE!!!!!!
You could probably imagine my frustration at this point with three people talking to me, telling me the same thing as if I didn't understand what they were saying. If I could multiply myself, I would have told them in three persons through loudhailers that it's impossible that I would have had outstanding fees because I stayed within the 20 credit limit. I got frustrated and it was hard to continue being polite to them, so I told them I was going to take my exam and then come back and settle the whole thing.
I got to my campus, booked a room, and MA walked past. He saw me and laughed, saying I looked like I was ready to kill someone. He showed me the email they sent to him and told me it must have been a mistake. We had a laugh about the idiocy of the whole situation then I went to the practice room. From there, I called Dad, told him what had happened. Dad heard me out, told me some stuff and then prayed for me. Then I tried calling Teddy Bear. Who didn't pick up his phone. He called me back, and I asked if he had to pay extra fees for the extra credit he took (same number of credits as mine) and he said no, because he stayed within the 20 credit cap. Which he said should be the same for me. I had the confirmation I needed. If Teddy Bear didn't have to pay extra then mine was obviously a mistake. But Finance insisted they were right and that they were going to check with IT if it was a technical fault, and they told me that I could come back and make the payment after my exam.
Then Year 2 Senior called, saying Lao Shi wants to take us out for dinner after his exam (Y2S's exam was scheduled for 1800hrs). I said yes, of course. Just a side note: Lao Shi is just awesome la.
I had this whole thing bugging me. And I had to take my exam. And to add to that, Ed's not in such a good condition. I feel for the guy, I really do. But there's nothing I can do to help him :(
Rehearsed with my accompanist, then went in for the exam. Two on the panel, GC and EY. Excerpts and then repertoire...exam didn't go as great as I wanted it to, and I'm just going to leave it at that. On a brighter note, it would mean that I have even more room for improvement. Let's hope I'll be the most improved student next semester. Lol. So much to do during this 3-month break. Which is good. Coz it'll keep me busy...and my neighbours possibly annoyed for the 2 months I'm back home.
After my exam, I put my turtle shell in one of the rooms, and headed to Finance again, ready to let off the pent up steam. When I got there, it was a different person at the counter, and she, being more sensible than the other three earlier, called the department with which I took the module and let me talk to the person on the line. It was quickly cleared up then. The whole thing turned out to be a mis-entry. So that cleared, I thanked the person on the line, and thanked the staff who had the sense to settle this whole issue in a much more civilised manner, and went back to my campus. MA called, telling me that he had just received a call from Finance, saying it was all a mistake, and that it was such a mafan issue. For it to have happened on my exam day...LOL. Then I chilled in one of the bigger rooms with the rest of the Flute Family, waiting for Y2S to finish his exam. Texted Daddy and told him what had happened.
Later, as we were walking to the cafe to meet Lao Shi, Daddy called and I talked to him for a while, told him how everything went...the whole tirade and then the exam and how the issue settled. Then told Daddy that Lao Shi was gonna treat us to dinner at one of his favourite little cafes near school. One of his colleagues, a clarinetist, joined us, and it was a lovely dinner and great fellowship.
Then I headed home. Bumped into KH on the way and walked with him to the MRT station, took the same MRT, he got off one stop before me, then I got home around 2230hrs. Took a nice long shower, finalised arrangements to visit EC's mum and then skyped home. Talked to Sis for a brief moment, then to Mum and Dad, Dad prayed for me and then we talked some more about HIM. Other Sis came on and told me about her day with OrPeS. And Seloka Cak Kun Cak, our 'favourite' song. Haha. Then she called back to ask a theory question.
Shot some important emails out, got a couple of replies, then got ready for bed and went to sleep.
SO. I THANK GOD THAT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT IN THE END. And that the first academic year is over and I'm still alive. Lol.
So that was My First Last Day. In case you guys haven't figured it out :)
Yesterday. Where do I even begin?? Have been trying to get my thoughts organised. I scroll through my call catalogue (latest to earliest for yesterday) and I see this:
Unknown
*music assistant*
*year 2 senior*
*Teddy Bear*
*Teddy Bear* (outgoing)
Daddy (outgoing)
Unknown
*music assistant*
Unknown
*music assistant's office* (outgoing)
*music assistant's office* (missed)
That's yesterday's call catalogue. Yup.
Yesterday was a big day for me. At this stage in life. I woke up and thought to myself, "I'm just gonna take my time today, shower, do my long tones, pack my turtle shell (credits to Mr. EW for the nickname), then slowly get to school and take some time to 'chill' (kinda impossible in my school environment, but yeah), rehearse with my accompanist (maybe not the whole programme), then 'chill' again and warm up shortly before I have to go in.
BUT.
I received a call (we're working our way up from the bottom of the list). Which I was unable to answer. So I called back...and was told that I have outstanding fees.
It's school policy that anyone with outstanding fees will be disallowed to take the final exam. My final and most important exam was scheduled for yesterday, 1540hrs. There's no way I was going to be disallowed from taking it. That would mean I would have to retake the whole academic year. Another school policy.
I'm not complaining about school policy here. In fact, I think the policies are fair. What I'm getting at is that they told me I have outstanding fees. Nothing against the Music Assistant, he was just the messenger. The thing about me is, I don't want to pay extra school fees. It's $187.50 per extra credit. So I make sure I stay within the 20 credit limit so that I don't have to pay extra. I checked and double checked and triple checked before I signed up for this additional module. I was pretty darn sure that I stayed within 20 credits even with this module in.
Instead of berating the MA, I decided to go in and speak to the finance officers in person. So I finished my long tones, and rushed everything else, skyped Dad to tell him what happened, and rushed down to school. Having gone offline right after I typed in the skype chat, Dad called me as I was on my way to school. It was a big, big day for me, and I was to have my Principal Study exam. No joking matter. It's the deciding factor whether I go on to Year 2 or retake Year 1. And believe me when I say that going through Year 1 once is enough. For any module.
Daddy called again as I was walking from the MRT station to school. He said he phoned up the Finance Department and had a 'nice little chat' with them. Not his words, mine. Haha. Then MA called again, apologising for the whole thing and said that Finance called him after receiving my Dad's call. Haha. I got to the Finance Department and they had this printout with the amount I had outstanding. And they got three people to explain to me that I had $187.50 outstanding and that it was more than 120 days overdue and I was actually supposed to be disallowed from taking my final exam but that they were being gracious (not their words, mine) and letting me take the exam. They were obviously (this is a borrowed analogy) being like ostriches, sticking their heads in the ground, refusing to see the point I was trying to make. I was saying that it's impossible that I have outstanding fees because I stayed within the 20 credit cap. Even if I did and it was more than 120 days overdue, shouldn't I have received a notification/warning letter? Hmm??? And did I receive any letter of the sort? Nope. Absolutely nothing. But they kept telling me that I still had $187.50 outstanding but they were being nice and letting me take the exam. They even threw in a free lecture about the school policy of students being disallowed from taking to exam should the student have any outstanding fees. WHEE!!!!!!
You could probably imagine my frustration at this point with three people talking to me, telling me the same thing as if I didn't understand what they were saying. If I could multiply myself, I would have told them in three persons through loudhailers that it's impossible that I would have had outstanding fees because I stayed within the 20 credit limit. I got frustrated and it was hard to continue being polite to them, so I told them I was going to take my exam and then come back and settle the whole thing.
I got to my campus, booked a room, and MA walked past. He saw me and laughed, saying I looked like I was ready to kill someone. He showed me the email they sent to him and told me it must have been a mistake. We had a laugh about the idiocy of the whole situation then I went to the practice room. From there, I called Dad, told him what had happened. Dad heard me out, told me some stuff and then prayed for me. Then I tried calling Teddy Bear. Who didn't pick up his phone. He called me back, and I asked if he had to pay extra fees for the extra credit he took (same number of credits as mine) and he said no, because he stayed within the 20 credit cap. Which he said should be the same for me. I had the confirmation I needed. If Teddy Bear didn't have to pay extra then mine was obviously a mistake. But Finance insisted they were right and that they were going to check with IT if it was a technical fault, and they told me that I could come back and make the payment after my exam.
Then Year 2 Senior called, saying Lao Shi wants to take us out for dinner after his exam (Y2S's exam was scheduled for 1800hrs). I said yes, of course. Just a side note: Lao Shi is just awesome la.
I had this whole thing bugging me. And I had to take my exam. And to add to that, Ed's not in such a good condition. I feel for the guy, I really do. But there's nothing I can do to help him :(
Rehearsed with my accompanist, then went in for the exam. Two on the panel, GC and EY. Excerpts and then repertoire...exam didn't go as great as I wanted it to, and I'm just going to leave it at that. On a brighter note, it would mean that I have even more room for improvement. Let's hope I'll be the most improved student next semester. Lol. So much to do during this 3-month break. Which is good. Coz it'll keep me busy...and my neighbours possibly annoyed for the 2 months I'm back home.
After my exam, I put my turtle shell in one of the rooms, and headed to Finance again, ready to let off the pent up steam. When I got there, it was a different person at the counter, and she, being more sensible than the other three earlier, called the department with which I took the module and let me talk to the person on the line. It was quickly cleared up then. The whole thing turned out to be a mis-entry. So that cleared, I thanked the person on the line, and thanked the staff who had the sense to settle this whole issue in a much more civilised manner, and went back to my campus. MA called, telling me that he had just received a call from Finance, saying it was all a mistake, and that it was such a mafan issue. For it to have happened on my exam day...LOL. Then I chilled in one of the bigger rooms with the rest of the Flute Family, waiting for Y2S to finish his exam. Texted Daddy and told him what had happened.
Later, as we were walking to the cafe to meet Lao Shi, Daddy called and I talked to him for a while, told him how everything went...the whole tirade and then the exam and how the issue settled. Then told Daddy that Lao Shi was gonna treat us to dinner at one of his favourite little cafes near school. One of his colleagues, a clarinetist, joined us, and it was a lovely dinner and great fellowship.
Then I headed home. Bumped into KH on the way and walked with him to the MRT station, took the same MRT, he got off one stop before me, then I got home around 2230hrs. Took a nice long shower, finalised arrangements to visit EC's mum and then skyped home. Talked to Sis for a brief moment, then to Mum and Dad, Dad prayed for me and then we talked some more about HIM. Other Sis came on and told me about her day with OrPeS. And Seloka Cak Kun Cak, our 'favourite' song. Haha. Then she called back to ask a theory question.
Shot some important emails out, got a couple of replies, then got ready for bed and went to sleep.
SO. I THANK GOD THAT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT IN THE END. And that the first academic year is over and I'm still alive. Lol.
So that was My First Last Day. In case you guys haven't figured it out :)
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