Finally, the long awaited post... Really got to apologise for delaying it so long! Hard to find the inspiration... =x

Yes, the day ended. We've officially graduated from these 3 years in poly. Now is the time to blog then! Frankly speaking, this is one of the reasons why I actually opened a blog... This entry has been in my drafts since day 1 I began blogging. 

Ok, before I start on this topic that's really close to my heart, let's have a quick recap of what actually happened the past 3 years...

How we actually formed the clique was a marvelous thing in itself. I really don't know how to explain this... I'd say, it's a twist of fate. Somehow, a group of fun-loving people came together and formed this clique in which we had lots of fun within. That is a fact we can't deny. After a few rounds of mergers and stuff like that, we formed this clique!

But what makes it unique is that it is all made up of total individuals... Each and every one of us are so different, different to the extent that I can't find any common interests that any of us share. On top of that, most of us - if not all - are really damn stubborn people (me included). All of us, probably with the exception of Andy, are obstinate in our own ways, and to different extents. I guess that's where the crux of our problem lie.

Actually in year 1 and 2, I was really fascinated by this fact. I found it interesting how we could still get along so well. To me at that time, it was really a perfect group. Every day, I'd be looking forward to going to school... When holidays were ending, I was quite happy in fact, because it's a chance for me to see my dear friends again.

Then somewhere in year 2, problems began to surface. Hmm... Zirong had to forward a whole semester. It was a really shocking thing, because all of us thought that though he might be playful, but he always has such a way of calculating that he will manage to pull through his modules... Then from then, we started to see less and less of him...

Year 3 was really when all problems started coming up. I was probably slower in realising that... but then, I was still quite confident that things will sort itself out. I naively thought that broken pieces can be mended back together. It turned out I was probably wrong, partly.

All of a sudden, the feeling is just not right. When holidays were ending, there's no excitement at all. Going to school is just like every other day. Yes, we still do laugh and make fun of each other, but it just isn't the same anymore...

It got to a point that, I felt I was the only one pulling the entire string of boats all going in different directions... Imagine, it was like a web... Like, 10 boats were going in different directions, and there I was in the middle, trying to hold everyone together with my bare 2 hands... Between the boats, there's probably some holding on to each other as well, but still, it didn't help much. If one goes, the other would go as well.

Seriously, it's too big a group to have much interactions between all of us. The group is so big and even in year 1, we haven't gotten use to this fact such that we 'forgot' that Andy didn't turn up for the exam. So the result of this? He forwarded the module. (sorry Andy, I didn't mean to talk about it again... =x)

Even up till now, I don't deny that we do still forget to inform some of us about outings or anything like that. But honestly, it's even confusing when people ask, "How many people are in your clique?"

Don't make me count now, but even so, as you can see, I'm sure all of us need time to think and count how many there are exactly. If I include the full number, I guess it'll be 12. 12 is a huge number for a clique, isn't it? It's half the class!

So it really gets tiring trying to hold every single one of us together. When I pull back any boats that start drifting away, I'd inevitably loosen the grip the other side. It's a situation whereby you can't get both, sadly.

Then I guess I just gave up trying to do so, and at that point in time, I was really sad about not being able to do anything to help. The perfect group I had didn't seem that perfect after all. I very much wanted to return to the time in year 1, when everyone just seemed to be able to go on well.

As time went by, and things started to get busier, there is even lesser time for interaction. But somehow, I feel the situation in itself got better in the end. I think everyone's relationship got better! It's all back to how it was again, and it really is very comforting... =)

Really, sometimes there isn't a need to do much. The more you want to force certain things, the more it just seems futile. Now as we end the whole 3 years in poly, there is a sudden feeling that I'll miss everything there, especially the company of the clique. Really lots.

Then of course, there's so much that happened in this short 3 years. We did so much together, I can't remember all of them... hahaha...

Chalets are, of course, an inevitable part of this.

The first chalet... hahaha... It was barely 2 months after school started, that we've already held our first chalet. But seriously, we were like a group that knew each other long enough already. Well at that time, we've already started teasing Madeline and Johnny, about how the battle of King Kong vs Godzilla will end up like.

In the midst of the King Kong vs Godzilla fight, they ended up raping the poor Pooh bear that Fiona brought... LOL... At that time, I guess Fiona and the rest haven't joined us yet - they were still with Lawrence and gang. But it was this chalet that brought us closer.

Hmm... I remember having to shift 2 or 3 times, because some idiots were complaining that we were too noisy (when the group opposite are even noisier than us). Apparently our receipts got lost in the process of shifting - Fiona lost her whole file!

Then people started drinking, and someone eventually KO-ed, and started blabbering nonsense. Seriously, it was my first time seeing someone really drunk. I didn't know whether to laugh or to scold.

And then people slept, and apparently a group of us (with no space to sleep) went out to take a walk. When we came back to grab our stuff to go out to bathe, we saw a very scandalous scene that became our point of talking for very long... LOL! I stopped them from taking photos cos it isn't nice to take photo of people when they are sleeping arh...

The next morning, the 2 main stars were sitting at the 'balcony' area and chatting in a world of theirs. During the BBQ when Adeline Koh came, Shirley and Andy even acted the scene last night, exaggerating on the 'sweetness' part.

If I'm not wrong, Zirong and Daniel brought their guitars and they were playing while Lawrence sang. It was so different then.

Then came second chalet... By then, Madeline and Johnny were already together. So were Fiona and Nicholas... =p I can't remember exactly what happened, but there certainly was a significant event that happened too. hahaha... Well, drinking is the root of all stories. LOL... =x

First night... Apparently, I didn't get to sleep again. So this time, we went out for breakfast, leaving the rest to sleep... Then when we came back, I was asking, "Where's so-and-so?!" Junrong pointed at a direction, but when I looked, I saw another guy there. It turned out that the 2 of them were cuddled together, such that I couldn't find her cos she was buried somewhere amidst there!

The second night, we were watching "One Litre of Tears" at the chalet using one of their laptops. Actually that was an unplanned event, because Shirley brought it to give to Andy to burn, but apparently we took to watch. LOL...

Then as we were busy being addicted to the show, a group of them were outside, drinking and playing games. We took a break from the show and some went to take a look at the situation outside, joining them for games. Then I have no idea why, but the whole group came back in, and it doesn't look quite right...

We had 2 people who were quite drunk, and a few of us went out of the room the discuss certain matters. We were saying it really doesn't seem quite right, and decided we should separate them or something.

So we re-entered the room, and to our utter dismay, we saw that the 2 of them disappeared under a blanket on the only empty bed. It really gave us quite a shock, so we woke whoever else was sleeping and asked them to change places with one of them.

Then after a while, our lead woke up, and dragged a few of us out for a walk. hahaha... She was saying that she knew what she was doing, and they were really just trying to sleep. But well, we were really worried something would happen, so... better to play safe la arh...

I think besides that event which happened, there were some 'friendly' neighbours that we had. I think they were a group of Malaysians, and they were so friendly, they came over to interact with us. I really don't know how they did it. I only remember going out and suddenly discovering that we have some strangers talking to us. LOL...

So they were a group of guys and girls, but it was mainly 1 or 2 of the girls that came to talk to us. Then they started to offer the group of them outside drinks. Drinks that they mixed themselves... That Zirong went to drink it... He said he didn't know how to reject. -_-lll

That wasn't as bad, you know... The worst thing is, all of a sudden, they asked the group of guys if they wanted to watch porn. They said they were watching inside, and if they want to join in... like, wth?! I think that was when everyone outside all started to come back into the room. haha...

So, that was all for the second chalet... Eventful first year we had. Then came second year... This time, we didn't have Lawrence with us any more... But we had a group of new classmates. =)

Third chalet... Night cycling. Definitely memorable enough. lol... 16 of us (I think?) went on this crazy expedition... Starting point? Pasir Ris Chalet. The destination? Changi Village. Purpose? To see the legendary night scene there.

Well, we cycled all the way from the chalets to Changi, with Zirong leading the way. I think we barely started out half the journey (probably about half an hour?) and then the fateful thing happened... I fell. -_-lll

It was such an idiotic fall, because I was trying to avoid crashing into the one in front of me, who just slowed down, and then I swerved into the grass patch beside. Who knows, I actually met a big rock there. It was so stupid because I saw the rock, but then somehow I still cycled into it. The thing is, I went up the rock halfway, then suddenly the bicycle stopped moving forward, and started falling sideways... LOL...

Seriously, I think all these didn't happen too quickly. I was just too slow to process all these... My brain-eye coordination has gone haywire. I think the 'smartest' thing I did has yet to come. As I fell to my left, I don't know why, but I just didn't stick out my legs to stop the fall. Instead, I only came to realise it 'early' enough to stick out my left arm to prevent my head from crashing onto the ground. Wow.

Ok, so I ended up with a few abrasions on my knees. And then I caused a whole massive jam cos everyone couldn't move. Then our dearest Fiona came all the way from behind with a 1.5L water bottle, asking, "Someone fell?! Where? Come..."

LOL... I just happily obeyed, and stuck out my leg. Whoosh... A whole gush of cold water showering on my wound. haha.. But it wasn't that bad... Until... we set off to continue on the journey. My left arm started to hurt while cycling, especially whenever there was a bump. Everyone was complaining about their bum hurting at the bumps... Mine was, but the pain at the arm was more distracting. But I still continued, anyway... For another 2 hours. =x

We reached our destination, but probably too early, because we couldn't find anyone on the streets... So we went to take some supper. I was trying to 'fix' my hand. Thinking it was probably an over-stretch or something, I started on a whole series of arm rotation exercise. LOL... (Oh well, I only found out it was a fracture much later when I reached the hospital.)

After supper, we went on back to the hot spot. Really lots of them started to come out... Eye-opener. They even said hi to Zirong! Some were quite sarcastic with their words, and even tried to show off their implants. haha... =x

Then we cycled up the slope leading to the old Changi Hospital... But most of us didn't want to go in, so we had to head back... Bad choice. A group of them were there, and when we cycled past, 'she' started scolding lots and lots of vulgarities. Seriously, it was scary because they were all bigger in size than any of us.

Imagine, we were chased by 'her' until we had to cycle down a slope leading to some... park? Halfway down the slope, Sarah slipped and fell! Into a bed of flowers... -_-lll LOL... Then we took the longer route back, since we didn't dare to take that same route back again...

After reaching the chalet (finally), we went to bathe... I was screaming in the bathroom, not because the water is hurting the abrasions on my leg, but because I was having trouble taking off and putting on my clothes. I couldn't even lift my arm above my shoulders to shampoo my hair!

Really, that night, I didn't even dare to sleep (not to mention there isn't even space for me to sleep), because I was worried that my arm would be smashed into pieces amidst that crowd on the bed. Midway through the night, Sarah and Zirong accompanied me to Cheers to buy some medication to apply on my arm and leg...

By next morning, my arm still didn't get better. No choice, had to ask my mum to bring me to the doc. At first we went to an osteopath cos we thought it was a sprain. The moment I entered the room and showed him my hand, he said cannot, it's something wrong with the bone already. hahaha... so he told me to go to TTSH for an x-ray.

It turned out to be a fracture! Well, so my arm was in a bandage for the rest of the next few months. At night, I went back to the chalet to join in for the BBQ, while we celebrated Shirley's birthday.

Following that chalet was another one 4 months later... This time, it's at a much bigger place at Aranda. It was a much less eventful chalet as compared to the rest... So basically, we just had BBQ, mahjong, playing cards and concentration games. Nothing very much significant other than that. But it was quite a big place... at least comfortable enough to fit the whole group of so many people...

The final chalet before school ended... This time, we decided to get a 2D1N instead of the usual 3D2N, and we had 2 adjacent rooms instead of 1. We thought we'd at least have more space. How wrong we were...

After the BBQ, the few of us decided to head down to the beach like how we always do during chalets. Then we saw some police on patrol, and we didn't have our ezlink or any form of identification on us. So we decided it was better for us to return silently to our chalet...

Oh yes, and we actually had a bad omen at that time. We were peacefully sitting on the rocks, when a cockroach came to disrupt our time there. Nicholas saw the cockroach first, and he jumped up and ran away, abandoning his girlfriend who was just seated beside him at that time. LOL! =x So that was when we decided it was time to go...

While climbing up the stairs to the second level where our rooms were, there was a whole series of screaming and shouting. At that point in time, I was just telling the person beside me (I forgot who)... "I certainly hope that's not coming from our room..."

Alas, it turned out that as we got nearer to the room, the screaming just got clearer and louder. When we entered the room, gosh... Shock of my life. The whole room was in a mess, with many drunk people all over the place. Why is it that the number of people drunk only gets more with each chalet?

Well then, we spent the rest of our only night there trying to take care of all those people. Controlling a whole group of people gone crazy is certainly not an easy task. Especially not when people were puking all over the place too. I didn't do much, because I don't know what I could have done... but we did have many who were patient and caring.

So obviously, the beds went to people who soon had a hangover from all that drinking. Not surprising, since they finished the whole of I-have-no-idea-how-much of liquor. The remaining half of us had totally no space to sleep, we ended up at the doorway.

It was like filming "雾锁南洋", and we're like some illegal immigrants being packed into the tiny ship... 9 of us at some tiny doorway that's not even enough to fit a mahjong table. With so many people there, even breathing becomes a problem. The entire place was so stuffy that Justin even had breathing difficulties.

The whole night there, the bunch of us were trying to switch positions and find one that's comfortable enough to sleep in, but to no avail. I sat there till my butt already changed shape... -_-lll and finally when I found a position to lie half my body there, people started waking up and stepping all over us to get to the toilet. Great.

Conclusion: I never got to sleep at any of the above chalets.

We didn't organise a chalet in the final semester of our year in SP. All because Ben Yang didn't want a BBQ, and insisted on a class outing at the Southern Ridges. It was probably also partly due to everyone's busy schedules in this final sem, rushing out reports and busying ourselves with the FYP.

Although that was the case, we still kind of missed the chalets we had together. So this time, we decided to organise another one out from our own pockets, after school ended altogether. We had a small chalet between just people from our class, and a few from the other class too.

Actually, we wanted one at Aranda, but because the whole chalet plans kept getting delayed and postponed, it was kind of too rushy for everything to be done. Promotions and stuff were over too. Plus, we tried looking for people with the country club membership so we could at least get a discount off the rental, which would otherwise be too much a sum to pay.

Had many problems trying to coordinate the whole thing. Nicholas was especially vexed by it, as he was sort of the main coordinator, and he was having rehearsals every day for his musical at that time. It didn't help much that people are not responding or replying, or problems suddenly surfacing.

It was never easy to take on the job of organising. A really thankless job. In the end, we settled for Costa Sands, which was much cheaper, but the units are obviously a lot less spacious. Fiona and a few others weren't very happy about this, but still, we wanted the chalet.

Well then, on that day we arrived, and proceeded to check in. A few of us were waiting at the unit, while Nicholas and Fiona went to see to the check in. We were waiting around the porch area, and all of a sudden, Andy pointed to a dead cockroach just right next to my feet.

Well, that's just the beginning. I think the most cockroaches we've ever seen in a chalet. Didn't know so many were afraid of cockroaches. LOL! =x

During the BBQ night itself, I think we saw at least 3, some running on our seats, beside us, into the drains. Even when I went to the toilet, I saw a baby cockroach running all the way from the wall on my right, to the ground in front of me, to the corner right at the left. Willy was the man of the day and caught the cockroach, if not I'd think nobody dares to bathe there.

Then we went Wild Wild Wet the 2nd day. Had lots of fun with all of us around. Tried the Samsung Slide-up with Wai Ling, which I didn't even open my eyes throughout. LOL! Seriously, I think the climbing up part is a chore. By the time anyone reaches, I bet their legs already turned jelly. =x

We spent the rest of the time there playing cards, mainly. Daidee somehow became Fiona's addiction in the subsequent few weeks. I finally played it again like, after 4 years? I'm really still quite bad at it though.

Actually, playing card games isn't quite safe either. Cos somehow in the midst of playing, I forgot why, but Nicholas was stuffed into the super small wardrobe. Actually he ran in there himself, and Fiona merely closed the door on him and left him in there. LOL! =x

Well, this is the first chalet that I actually had the chance to sleep. Although Shirley and Sarah did make some noise for several hours before they finally were tired too. On the whole, a rather peaceful yet enjoyable chalet. When is the next? =D

I've learnt my lesson from secondary school - never forget a good friend's birthday. It really makes me feel very guilty when everyone else is wishing them 'happy birthday', then you suddenly 'oh... happy birthday'.

So from then on, I made sure I make an effort to remember my good friends' birthdays. Since the beginning of poly started, I can say I've never forgotten anyone who has told me their birthdays.

Somehow, 10 times a year, buying presents always seems to be rather troublesome. With so many members, so many opinions, there are always clashes. Gradually, buying presents becomes a chore. Less and less people turn up to buy the presents each time. It really gets very tiring. I wonder why things became like that.

Slowly, buying presents end up as a routine, in a way. We buy for the sake of buying. We buy things to match the budget exactly. We buy just to make sure we bought. Sigh. But still, the well wishes that one gets on his/her birthday is enough.

So I'm going to be a little thick-skinned here and ask, please do continue to wish me a happy birthday in the years to come. It's really my source of a happy birthday.

Obviously lessons are a main part of our 3 years of poly life... Ranging from lectures to tutorials to practicals. I guess creating a grand entrance each time we enter a class has been our trademark that is already a known fact. We're notorious for it.

The time spent doing IDEA was sure memorable... Quite a few interesting things which happened. Well, the day before coming to my house for the first time to discuss the stupid module, my whole fish pond of koi just died. Bad omen. LOL...

Then of course, talking about all kinds of crap too, such that we ended up only going home at 10 pm on one occasion... I certainly remember the super loud Madeline's ring tone, which would never fail to make my jump whenever it rings. It is just blasting away there, especially when it's quiet (like my house).

The thing that is hard to forget would likely to be that time when they complained they were hungry. So I happily went to cook 5 packets of instant noodles for them. hahaha... but knowing me, I don't like to put a lot of seasoning into my noodles, so for that 5 packets, I only put in 1 packet of seasoning. =x

Ever since that 'bad' experience that they had, Zirong never ever dared to touch any food at my house. LOL... Never. Even when my mum cooked beehoon for lunch, he'd say he just ate. hahahaha!

Sometimes, doing IDEA can be such a boring thing, that some people *ehem* started to use my MSN to talk to people. LOL... Interesting conversations that came out, that kept us laughing for quite a while. I still have the conversation saved somewhere... Anyone wants to see? =x

One of the funniest lessons would be, I guess, Cell Biology. No, you didn't see this wrongly. Yes, it is that lesson. Why? Not because of the lecturer, of course, but because of the time and location.

Remember how we used to finish our lunch and go into the lecture theatre early to play and slack around? Like, switching off all the lights in the theatre, and pulling out the OHP to play with. Performances such as the sword-swallowing stunts and things like that would begin to surface. hahaha...

At that time, in that lecture theatre at T1A... We were not the only ones who loved going there to slack. The security guard also likes sleeping there! LOL... Every week when we went in, we'd never fail to meet him there. The playful Shirley, of course, went to make fun of him, saying we won't tell anyone he's eating snake. When he left, she even said, "See you next week!"

So the week after that, we were just mentioning it, and she sounded like as if she was waiting for her husband to come back. So from there, she started calling 'xiang gong' like how they do in those olden period dramas.

That crazy woman started calling 'xiang gong' whenever the lecture theatre door opened. hahaha... So at that time, when she did that, the security guard didn't appear, instead, Jeremy appeared from there, and all of us burst into laughter. Well then, from then on, that started the whole 'xiang-gong-niang-zi' thing.

Then when the lesson starts, we always seemed to get all the scoldings. I'm sure Zirong made the headlines on the very first lesson (refer below). Even when we don't open our mouths, it doesn't make a difference too. She'll be scolding us for sitting at the side, and making us move closer to her. -_-lll

Someone suggested that she looks like the actor, Kumar from channel 5. Since then, the more we look at her, the more we find that it is true! So unfortunately to say, since then she was referred to as 'Kumar' by the group of us. Slowly, the name somehow spread through the whole class, and it's soon used by most of us.

We were so used to using that name whenever we were talking about her, that one day, when our dear Madeline wanted to ask her a question, she called, "Kumar." LOL... Well, anyway, that name has been conferred to the unlucky lecturer and been in use for 3 years now.

The journey home from a whole tiring day in school is definitely an essential part of our poly life. The fun we derive each time from taking the same train back together. That is, of course, excluding the rarer few who live at the other end of Singapore (sadly to say).

First of all, when we enter the train, there is definitely a very routine phenomena you can observe. We always formed a big circle automatically as soon as we enter the train, after walking in or staying at the back door. I have no idea why. It just comes so naturally, probably to facilitate talking amongst ourselves.

Obviously, as a result of this, we're inevitably the centre of attention in the train, although that might be due to the amount of noise pollution that we caused. =x

With so many of us staying along the NEL, it is certainly enjoyable to have those days where we have company on each trip home. Apparently, the NEL just started not long ago at that time, and there were several technical problems that often cropped up. Unfortunately to say, we met with quite a few of them.

There was that once when 2 trains collided, I think. That caused a whole blockage from the entire journey after Dhoby Ghaut. So our usual route back from Outram Park is not available. Thinking we were smart, we took to City Hall and changed to Dhoby Ghaut to catch the NEL from there. At that time, I was with Madeline and Andy, the 2 Seng Kang-ers.

Right there at Dhoby Ghaut, as we were traveling down the escalator from the other line, a whole scene in front of us gradually unfolded. A whole sea of people. Never in my life, have I seen such a huge amount of people waiting for the damn train. The whole platform is just filled. Packed.

We wanted to try, so we went to join the people waiting, but there was a whole confusion when the train towards Habourfront came. People started boarding that train too, because the announcements given were very confusing and misleading. Then you see people running from the train on this platform, to the other train opposite, and those people from opposite running to this platform.

It was such a mess, until we gave up, and decided to go up to Plaza Singapura for a drink and some snacks. Big mistake. When we came back down to Dhoby Ghaut, we only saw a whole flood of people even more than just now. Wow.

So we went out and tried to hail a cab to share instead. Even a cab was so hard to wait! Well, we only managed to reach home at 8+ when we could have been home 4 hours ago.

Another occasion was at Outram Park. I forgot what happened then, but probably going home after dinner. It was only Andy and me at that time. Some idiotic stuff happened to the NEL again, and so we ended up going out and having to take a cab home.

But alas, the queue at the cab stand was scary enough. Still, we went to join the queue, which was not enough moving much! After an hour or so, we were still there waiting for our cab to come. In the end, we even had to call Andy's father to come and give us a lift back, before the cabs started to charge the midnight charge.

Of course, besides that, Dhoby Ghaut seems to be my jinxed place. Many things which happened to me there that caused me much embarrassment. Almost falling from the travelator, getting stuck due to the doors closing on me, meeting some crazy man who starts spewing vulgarities all over the shop, etc.

Well then, enough of that complaining... =x

At the end of year 1, during the 2 months holiday, my dad helped to get me an internship at this Biotech company, with the help of a friend of his, who knew the founder of the company. Since there was no harm trying, and I'm paid like, $350 per month... That's how I spent the holidays.

I'd say, it's a total different experience. Well, at first, I really had nothing to do at the main office at Parkview... So all I've been doing was just some random stuff, like helping to look for journals (which I really had no idea how to, at that time), and helping to change the headers and footers of some documents.

It was quite boring, because at times, they couldn't even find me work to do! Sometimes, I had to pretend that I haven't finished what I have on hand, cos at the beginning, whenever I finished, they'd be, "So fast?!" and had to think of what else there is for me to do. LOL... So it's better that I pretended to be slower arh... Own time, own target, I even had time to talk to people on MSN... =x

Until they decided to let me go to the lab@Camden to help out... That is a much more interesting place. Not that I'm saying that lab work is interesting, because I wasn't allowed to do any of the lab stuff (actually I wasn't even supposed to enter the lab)... The people there were interesting.

Over there, I got to meet a group of... hmm, how should I describe them... friendly people? hahaha! Well at least they made me feel much more comfortable around with them. The very first person I met was Robynne... Actually I met Ying Liang first, he was sitting right opposite me, trying to sort the samples, before Robynne came along and asked if I was Janet.

Well, in that short span of a month left, I really learnt a lot. Good and bad. At the age of 17 at that time, I was obviously the youngest there. I was supposed to be there for only a week, actually. Then on the Friday, Haoquan came back from his study break, and offered to bring me into the lab to tour, since it's my 'last' day at the lab, and I didn't even have the chance to do that even after a whole week there.

Cool place, I'd say. Really interesting, and I had to gown up with a full attire, including lab coat, rubber shoes, face mask, hair net and gloves. I even had the chance to enter the processing lab, where you had to go through an air shower to get in. But I was barely in for a few seconds, and we got chased out of it because the Quality Manager was complaining it's too many people inside. Still, good enough.

Well then, at the end of the week, I was super reluctant to go, obviously. So I got Huiying to let me stay on for another week or so, since there isn't anything for me to do at Parkview either. Subsequently, I had more chance to enter the lab. Either outside at the preparation lab, where I'd just help to sort and label the samples, or at the nitrogen tanks!

Speaking of the nitrogen tanks... It was really the first time I got in contact with that. We had to locate the samples and sort them into new drawers, because of some re-organisation. Gosh, that damn tank is really heavy. I couldn't even lift one column from inside. Fortunately, I didn't fall into the tank. =x

Robynne became one of my best working companion there, probably because of the closer age gap we share, since she just finished poly at that time. She has a really cheerful and bubbly personality, so she's quite easy to work with. The way she talks is very 豪爽, and like me, she's really very thin. =x

Then there were some internal conflicts going on within the lab, and somehow, I came to know of both side of the story, because both parties were complaining to me. LOL!

Oh well, so at that time, there were many people coming and going. The turnover rate was really high. Like, when I was there, Haoquan quit, Ying Liang and Neil tendered their resignations, Robynne and Jay entered CordLife even later than me.

On the whole, working at CordLife really gave widened my scope further. Got to learn many things there too... And of course, had the chance to go to many places. By that, I meant places which are usually out-of-bounds to me.

First, it was to Wala Wala after work one day. Well, Haoquan actually managed to get a seat upstairs, right in front of the live band - kind of a 'house seat'. But we arrived there after 7 (because Robynne was stuck in the toilet for 1 hour, trying to fix her eye lashes on), and had to buy a drink in order to go upstairs.

After debating for a long while on the phone with Haoquan, I tried to buy a drink just to get entry upstairs. Obviously, the guy at the counter asked for my IC. We let the people queuing behind go first, while we called Haoquan again. No choice, he had to drag his butt off his house seat and come downstairs, just to accommodate me.

Because the place was so crowded already, we only had a place right outside at the back... beside the rubbish chute. I was really sorry about that. LOL... When he came down, Haoquan was even angrier when he learnt that I didn't even bother trying to show that guy my IC. He said that guy might have let me go. Oops... =x

It's a rather... different experience, I'd say. Too bad we didn't get to see the live band. We could only hear the echoes from where we were. Did I mention we were right below the window of the Gents?! I was rather worried that some drunkard might mistake the window for the urinal, then we'd have been real goners.

After that, they even went for a second round. Winebos at Clarke Quay. Yet again, a whole new experience. It's much quieter, and more of a great place to chill out. We slacked around on the couch for a while, while watching some 'show' because of a not-so-sober colleague, whom a few of them already didn't find quite 顺眼.

I think the one who left a deep impression on me that day was probably Ying Liang. His usual sarcastic humour is something I really liked. Like, he was already complaining about going home so late. He mentioned something about "回家要跪洗衣板了", because his girlfriend would be complaining about it.

Then when Robynne insisted on taking a photo with each of them individually, and put her hand on his shoulder, he was shaking his head and saying "惨了，这次要跪榴莲壳了"... and he simply refused to smile in the photos, while saying the photos should never land in the hands of his girlfriend. LOL...

In the end, we shared a cab home when the place closed at 2am... Since Ying Liang lives near me, he was supposed to see me home. But it turned out more like I was the one seeing him home... -_-lll

Haoquan is also someone whom I really enjoyed the company of. Sometimes, the way he says things with such a straight face just makes me laugh. The very first time I saw him, I was still quite wary of him, cos he appears to be quite 'dao'. Who knows, it turned out the complete opposite.

The other time he even asked me to go down and open the letter box with him, and we ended up next door, at STB to buy some drinks for tea break. hahaha... shhh! But he is someone who is rather flowery with his language. So, he knows how to get into good books of girls. Great as a friend, but I pity his girlfriend. =x

Alright, besides Walas, there's still the company outing at Zouk! It was my last day of work at CordLife. Huiying and the rest treated me to dinner at... Oh no, I forgot the name of that restaurant. It's near Camden, at the corner of a row of shophouses. Since they were going for the outing after that, they psycho-ed me to go too.

They were saying, once in a lifetime experience. After this, when am I going to find the chance to go... cos they said since they were going in as a whole big group, it's easier to smuggle in. Since I am a very easily convinced person, I decided to go.

One of my colleagues, Fiona Lim, has been a very frequent customer of theirs. Since she was 16, she's been going there almost every week. Well, she just lives somewhere down across the road. So she is a 'VIP' there, having many connections inside. We got to get a table at the very last minute, all thanks to her phone call down that very evening.

Since she is already such a familiar face to all in there, she was telling me she'll have no problems getting me in. She sort of 'communicated' a bit with the staff, and somehow, I just walked through very easily. LOL.

It was a real eye-opener for me. The lighting, the music, the dancing, the drinking, the games, the smoke, the people. The CEO of the company was even telling me, "Welcome to the real world." Certainly.

All in all, the 2 months there has been both fast and short. Now looking back, I don't think I ever regretted sacrificing my 2-month holidays just for this. The biggest gift I've got from this, is a great group of friends. Friends who've taught me many things. Friends who still continue to ask me out frequently just for a drink or to sing, even up till now. I'm really glad.

ITP at Mount Alvernia is a whole new experience. I was there a few years ago because of a stupid mosquito that bit and planted the Dengue virus on me. During the balloting process, the competition was so intense! Shirley got a place first, and when she heard my name next, she literally squealed with joy. LOL... =x

After some switching and twitching, we managed to get Sarah to fit into the 3rd slot! Great. So the 3 of us turned up on the first day at work, together... There, we were introduced to the various people in the lab, and then got dispersed to the different sections we were to work at for the week.

The good thing about the lab at Mount A was that it is considered quite small. There's basically only 2 main laboratories, with the many different sections in 1 single room. Even the 2 main labs are linked. 

So much as we were posted to different sections, during our free time or whenever we found the chance to, we would go and look for each other and just talk or slack around. LOL! Those 2 other women were lucky enough, such that they always got posted to departments in the same lab! Always leaving me to be all alone in the other lab... Bleah... =x

The whole attachment there was basically fun. Most of the colleagues there were rather easy going and could play along with us. One in particular, Robert Chua, totally kept us entertained in our 9 weeks there. 

The way he talked is very funny, with his big, fat, round tummy of his. He kept exclaiming to everyone who walked in that we are his 3 daughters. Then after they look and nod their heads, he would be like, "Chey! Don't see! Who ask you to see... Go see Ah Loy!"

He would take every chance he can to slack around, like always bringing us out of the lab halfway through the day to take tea-breaks. Towards the end, he even started proclaiming that Sarah is his 'boh' (as in wife)! LOL... Made Shirley and I laugh till we had stomach aches.

Then of course, knowing the 3 of us, we always lunged at any chance we had to slack and get out of that lab where we were doing our routine stuff. So each time any of them were out to take bleeding time for any patients, or things like that, we would gladly volunteer ourselves to go and 'observe'. With that, we had many chances to get in contact with so many shuai ges. LOL!

There was once, an entire football team had to come to have their blood taken to screen for malarial parasites. Since they were having their blood taken in the room just next to the lab, Shirley and I totally skipped out of the lab to go assist our dear colleague in blood taking. So poor thing you know, she has to take blood for so many people... =x

Well, the whole football team including reserves... there were so many of them! And there were quite a few who were very good looking. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, they are all Japanese from Albirex Niigata. So through out the whole phlebotomy process, we were there talking randomly to a few of them. We were literally talking with our hands and feet, because of a language barrier.

Apparently, language isn't much of a problem, neither is race. At the end of the whole thing, I think there were quite a few of them who wanted to get Shirley's number. =p

I guess another enjoyable session was when we went up to the infant wards for a heel prick session. See Hon brought all 3 of us up one day during the last few weeks of our attachment there. It's really an eye-opener for me!

Babies and babies... Gosh, so many of them. Some happily kicking around, some sleeping soundly, and some basking in their UV lights. So adorable! =)

But well, a heel prick is still a heel prick. We have to close all the curtains just in case any parents saw their babies being pricked and felt the ache. Obviously those small little infants would cry when they felt pain. 

It's totally like a chain reaction. When one starts, everyone will start. Their cries are so loud for a body as small as theirs! Especially when it's in an enclosed room of babies. I've heard 1 before, but definitely not a volume as much as this.

We were always scolding See Hon for being so rough, and told him to be gentler with the babies. There was even once that he din manage to get blood from this poor baby, he poked him quite a few times, until he had to take the blood from the back of the baby's small hands. Gosh. But that was one brave guy... He totally didn't cry at all throughout the whole thing! He'll grow up to be a great achiever, really. 

Then there were other random few stuff... Like finding out that 龙凤胎 can have different blood types... Finding out a baby with the same name but different types of blood group each time he comes... We were even suspecting a human smuggler behind it. But the case got hushed up in the end... somehow. Shrugs.

Also, the food there! The cafe sells nice food, but the staff canteen too! Cheap - for the price of only $1.50... Though the serving is rather small, but can follow Shirley and become good friends with the uncle and ask him to add more rice each time. LOL! =x

Basically, I really quite miss the fun we've had there... Playing around, slacking whenever we had the chance to, talking to many of the colleagues who taught us many things. Towards the end, we really took so many photos with each and every single one of them. Memories~

The very first time I actually met him was on the way home on the first day of school. At that time, when Shirley and Andy came to approach me on the train, I was quite taken aback actually.