The first week is rather like used getting accustomised to the new timetable & campus life for the class, as I guess many were previously from secondary school & such. Campus life is definitely something new for them. But everyone will get on with it in the end. Especially bad habits such as automatically falling asleep the moment the lecturer starts talking, its like some curse or spell you see… On lessons, from what I see, semester 1’s curriculum is largely based of what I’ve learnt from “A” level physics such as kinematics, thermodynamics & some basic physical stuffs here & there, very much good revision though. I guess keeping my old lecture notes do help abit in supplementing my knowledge.

This week is CCA week & the options are pretty much narrowed down to SP adventurers, Track & Field (T&F) & the Youth flying club. It turned out that the most bull-shitting CCA is the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) offering “free” flying & training. As it is, usually anyone who signs up just wishes to fly as part for the life-time experience & such, like getting a cool pliot license & so, even if it costs alittle. Too good to be true? But nothing inside their brochure informs you that their main motive- Neither did it turn out “a club for the youth” but just another part of a scheme to recruit air force pilots for the RSAF. You want us to teach you to fly? then be an air force pilot. You want the license? then get tied down with the Air Force on a contract. Though I have nothing against the air force, besides them bring chicken wussies when it comes to flying in the increment weather on afew personal experiences with them in the Army.

I think things could be better arranged & not just promoting the club.CCA with hidden interests. SP adventurers didn’t turned out to be a too adventurer’s club I thought to be either, but actually a club which organises outdoor activities for the campus, so you need not be a member to be part of the “adventures”. Furthermore their line up is about 8 activities a year, so its like… ermm super boring? On the other hand, Track & Field sessions are on Tues & Thurs 5.30pm to 7pm. Got to know some of the people there, esp one of the coaches who was an ex-armor boy too from 41SAR previously. Not bad in all, signed up for T&F as a long-distance runner, guess I would be a track boy after all.

Today is practical day & not a good day not to wear shoes & such. All our lab lessons are introductions, with our 2hr lesson slots wrapping up in 20mins & classes ending very early today. Our class, having lots of free time in our hands, decided to drop by our guild’s bowling alley for a short 3 games for $5 per person, including shoe rentals. I remembered last time when one of my Mum’s friends being an ex-SP student brought us to play here too, but it turned out the the special rates are like for only members & so.. so very much backfired. I saw his good intentions as personally, the prices here are indeed low. Its just too bad he didn’t know about the applicable rates. It was raining at campus then, wet wet wet. Half the class stayed & bowled, while some went to play pool.

When the place was full house around lunch time, the alley uncle turned on the alley’s cosmic theming & music. Cool. I mean how many schools out there in Singapore have a bowling alley for their students? With the exception of other campus facilities such as pool & billards tables, foosball, arcade, shops, swimming pools & gym facilities. There is lots to do here man! Not to mention urmm.. politically correct proper study places to catch afternoon naps too, like the library! Lunch was at KFC, & I took advantage of the “special” $2.95 meal only to find out you get a small dinky burger which you can finish in 2 bites, a small whipped potato & a small drink. So sad, but good thing the rates here are lower.

No wonder discount coupons hadn’t be used here. I’ve applided for my CCA already, Track & Field, will touch more on that some other day. Left campus around 2pm to apply for my student EZ-link card at clementi, would be ready in 2 weeks.. haiz so in the meantime its $1.03 per journey by bus to campus.

PC show at expo will be starting tomorrow maybe dropping by there sometime end week to get a new 2GB compact flash card.

Urgh!! attack of the Braun Thermoscan! hack hack cough cough… man didn’t find the energy to update my blog the last few days. As man I was down like 38.9 degrees since friday. Feeling much better today. Must have overworked too much on thursday under the sun. Amazingly this is the 1st time I’ve fallen sick this year. & strangely though a fever of 38+ didn’t really make me “bed ridden” & I just carried on with usual routines (besides bloggin, sorry dudes) & stuffs, just feelin “alittle hotter” thats all! whew! *wipes sweat*

Anyway, a few updates here & there. School starts tomorrow back to the taste of campus life – sleep! (ahah joking.. if the lecturer don’t cast sleep on the students I bet they would stay awake). Besides that.. umm completed ghost master yesterday. Amazing how much can I accomplish resting at home. Sis got a new Creative Neeon Mp3 player at about $300 yesterday. Kinda neat, much better than the old Zen ones with 5GB is a size slightly bigger than the ipod shuffle, but MUCH smaller than an ipod mini 4GB. Furthermore, theres a radio built in, quite a good player overall. Now lets see what apple have to say about this…

If you were to wander anywhere Singapore today, (esp near MRT stations) you definately can’t miss us in green- being SP’s flag day in support of the president’s challenge 2005 (I dunno how many times I’ve said that today, about 1000 times?). Anyway this is my 2nd flag day I’ve ever did in my whole life (the last being in SAJC for the organisation riding for the disabled, raising funds for a new roof).

I remembered the key to getting donations is not only location, but being approachable & friendly with a smile. Out of 150 clanks into my “piggy tin”, 24 donated $2 while the rest came in coins making the tin rather heavy on mid-day. Usually when you put on a good gesture & smile, people will be obliged to donate all their change & so. With only the exception of a handful (4-5 people) completely ignoring me on approach. Otherwise its ok on the general side- Business is rather good on 1 out of 5 making a donation.

Occasionally you can thank those who’ve already donated (already bearing the charity sticker) even if they already did so to from students, & they would walk past you with a smile. Otherwise many just smiled & declined to donate, which I understand (I do that most of the time myself too). The most rather interesting donation came from a young malay taxi driver who signaled to us with his horn & stopping by the roadside near the Singapore bridge in his car to pop a $2 into my can! wow impressive!

Generous donations
The most motivating donation came from an indian business man at a bustop near chinatown who kept praising us on the donation drive. The bulk comprises of mainly working class ladies & men, even our senior citizens at chinatown are happy to help us in our charity. On the contray, all the expats I’ve approached today don’t even bother once lifting a finger to donate for us… haiz so sad.

I know the widely discussed issue on flag days in the papers recently is something rather controversal now, esp with complaints & such. & I hoped that is something which don’t translate into any undesirable experiences today for donation begging (literally) on the streets. Which thankfully, didn’t happen. Overall for the day’s event our class (DME/FT/1B25) gathered at Dolby Gaut in the morning the 1st league of donations in early morning.

Then we made our way to cityhall on foot where we split up into smaller teams at Raffles City & headed to padang then funan/clark quay then raffles place/lau pa sa area with Jeremy & Luke. Ended collection at 2pm where we took 147 back to SP from chinatown. Collected a grand total of $91.46 & Mmmm unexpectedly getting the highest amount in umm, class too… woot!

Oh well I am damn tried, all in a days work!

Well here there I was at SP main audi sitting with the rest of the 2005 MM (mechanical & manufacturing engineering) 2005 students, for orientation. Comprising of Dip Aero Eng (DARE), Dip Mech Eng (DME) & few other courses. I choose to continue further my studies in poly as I could not secure a place in local universities (that is NUS & NTU that is) with my dinky “A” level results. Though theres always the overseas option but thats something I see not worth the money (about $25,000 a year) & though I was accepted in both Monash & RMIT universities in Melbourne, Australia, the degree in the end is very much the same as what I can get locally in the end, nothing special worth going overseas for. Time factor spent here 2 1/2yrs poly + 3 years bach (NUS or NTU maybe) degree about 6years, overseas total 5 years plus foundation (costs 5yrsx$25,000) so myself stay in SG & hey at least I can still get in local happenings around here. Furthermore my stay in SP might be a free one with the tuition grant covering about 80% of school fees & the remaining 20% yet ot be covered by a scholarship I’ve applied. Hopefully my 2Bs & 4 distinctions at “O” levels will get me somewhere…

My class tutor is an old dude armed with not only a bach degree but honours, so the general rule is don’t underestimate the old dinky men in campus. His name is Mr Tan Gek.. something a cheerful guy. After a short time in class together, the class didn’t really get to formally introduce each other in a proper way, its just go here see this see that. The highlight I guess was the issue of donation cans for this Thursdays SP donation drive 2005 in support for the president star charity. Theres even prizes for top collector.. haha why not use the money for the prizes into the donation? unless they are sponsored then.. oh well then go go peeps go collect yourself crazy. Anyway, is it kind to “ask for money” the 1st day we step into campus? haha There are 4 girls in my class & man the Male to Female ratio in the course is like 7-1 or something. WHERE ARE THE GIRLS??? anyway can’t expect much from a male-orientated engineering course. We were introduced to various places around campus to kill time, namely the gym, track, pool, library & the various sports facilities littered around campus. For me I guess I would be a frequent visitor to the gym & track, not to mention the library for afternoon naps.

CCA week is next week, considering taking up a pilot’s license by joining the youth flying club. Otherwise its either SP – Adventurers (outdoor activities club) or track & field (T&F). Ask me what I want & I would put it simply- its either I want more yea.. adrenaline pumped adventures, exotic visits & photos (SP – A) or add more & more sport medals to my collection (T&F).. mmm decisions, decisions…

Any stuffs to comment on making my decision, please do so.

After more than 2 years out of junior college, I was quite amazed one day to recieve a letter addressed from them. Well its not the usual “oh your son funked his exams” or “your son just got into a fight with another student at school, I need you to come down…” kinda letter, but one about a reunion dinner for ex- St Andrews JC students & its addressed to me Held at the old campus before they move to potong pasir, it aims to raise money for the SAJC fund.

Costing $50 per person, its $500 for a table of 10 people. With the exception of the food quality & quantity of food served (which I still yet to find out) fifty bucks is kinda steep man… a real turn off for average ex-students like us. Unless my class of yesteryear is going & till I get back on the demand. I would give it a go… All in hand, they college needed funds right? so where else can they easily get it from?