Woke up at: 7AM

My room... All prepared for when I come back home.

Our plane was meant to depart at 10:50AM... but it got delayed by half an hour. Long plane trip to Guangzhou... but luckily we still made it for the plane to Beijing (from Guangzhou). It was from then on that I started being Jackson's "director" (ie. translator, navigator, instructor, etc...). Didn't get any sleep at all on both planes (Jackson slept like a pig)... And we finally got to Beijing (-8 degrees C) at 11PM Beijing time (which would have been 1AM AEST), where we were supposed to meet our tour guide.

... And there was no one there! The airport gradually became virtually isolated as everyone from the plane disappeared. We walked around in circles, searching outside (lot's of taxi drivers camping there, one came up to us and asked us where we were heading) and inside for someone holding a sign that was supposed to read our names... I went to the help desk, which didn't help. I rang one of the tour group people... Who didn't really help for 10 minutes until he told us to catch a taxi straight to the hotel. I went back to the help desk and asked the lady how to pronounce the name of the hotel in Chinese, and she rang the hotel, asked for our names, then said that we weren't booked into the hotel. ARGH! Stress levels were rising... I rang the tour group dude again, who told us to go to the hotel anyway and we'd be fine... A bit anxious, we walked towards the exit... Then a woman comes up holding a piece of paper that read: Aus/Asia Tour Group, Ms. Wendy Qiu and Mr. Jackson Lin... RELIEF (where the hell was she before?!)! Then she blabbed a whole lot of Chinese to me, handed me a note from the tour guide, and drove us to Jade Palace Hotel (40 minute ride, where I also talked to the tour guide on the phone: "They told me you were arriving at 11AM!").

AN (outdated) INTERRUPTION TO THE CHINA BLOG

31st March, I found my old 8cm by 4cm pocket radio melted in the box that I stored random things in... including my nail polish remover.

Well, when I say “melted” I don't mean totally liquefied (that'd be some hardcore nail polish remover...). I opened my cupboard and it stunk of nail polish remover... I opened the box that contained it: it, along with some paper cut-outs, 3 earphones, coin purse, a tiny photo album (without photos) and of course, my radio. And yes, that's right: the cap of the nail polish remover (which had been there for several days) was loose so it spilled all over my stuff, turning everything plastic (yes, including the purse and the 3 earphones) into something that had the squishiness of blutak or semi-dried PVA glue.

It'd be interesting to check the inside of the $40 radio that I used for a month in the beginning of year 10 (2004)... But after taking out the screws I realised the plastic's been melded together and quite inseparable.

Beijing Day 1: 9th January

Wake up call at 6:30AM (so we had less than 5 hours of sleep). Our breakfast (buffet) was awesome. The place was really pretty, good variety + tasty food XD...

We met the rest of the people from our tour group, which included a family of 3 Americans (hehehe I love their accent XD)... A Canadian... And a family of 4 from Sydney. Our tour guide was cute =D =D (and looked like Melody). Set off at 8AM to the Summer Palace:

Jackson looks like a grumpy grandpa...

And we had lunch at... Chuan Ju De... obviously for Peking duck =]... *drool*

And then... The Forbidden City:

And then... The Temple of Heaven:

And then... An acrobats show.

And then we had dumplings for dinner. The food was A++.

Beijing Day 2: 10th January

Jackson wasn't very well prepared clothing-wise, and would have risked freezing his legs to numbness if he hadn't worn my pink dotty pajama pants underneath his jeans during our stay in northern China. Too bad I didn't take any photos.

  Same morning schedule as the day before. First stop was a jade factory, where Jackson got his Chinese name engraved on a stamp for 100 yuan (divide that by 6 and you get the Aussie price).

And then it was the Great Wall! The steps are quite evil: steep and narrow, and tiring to walk up continuously (hehe someone puked). When I got lazy going back down, I shuffled with my butt... Which made my jeans very very brown =\

We went to the Ming Tombs... Too bad we didn't get to see an actual tomb. Pretty with peaceful music...

Then we went to a Wutong... To tell the truth I'm still a bit blurry on what it is exactly, but it's something along the lines of a town that's not urbanised. We rode in this carriage, with a guy peddling a tricycle in front (160 yuan). Hehe physical labor is awesome. Then we invaded someone's house.

Dinner was at a minority culture restaurant, pretty nice. The restaurant people tied a red string around our wrists, for luck, I think.

We watched a suuuuuuuuper Shaolin performance for 90 yuan: which was less than half price (thanks to our tour guide's fake student ID)!

Xi'an Day 1: 11th January

Morning call: 5AM. Boarded 8:20AM plane from Beijing to Xi'an, and said bye bye to Beijing tour guide (forgot to give her tip). Plane trip was 1:30 hours.

Jackson + extra stupidity = leaving phone charger in Beijing hotel.

Our Xi'an tour guide Mr. Zhu, quite old... At our arrival to the airport a whole bunch of randoms started helping us to put luggage on the bus... Then asked for money.

1:10 hours bus trip to lunch... The tour guide attempted to do some explaining/history/etc but no one was listening: everyone was tired and sleeping.

Waahh it's so long... :O... lol

Tangcheng Hotel: 4 Stars.

Tang dance performance. You reckon those big heads look freaky? Me too...

Dinner was a dumpling banquet =D!! That's two full sized dumplings XD (of course not all the dumplings were that tiny)

Xi'an Day 2: 12th January

Morning call: 7:30AM. My hands were getting dry from the evil northern climate. Jackson's lips and hands were... cracking.

Wild Goose Pagoda

Terracotta factory

I bought a set of 5 terracotta warriors (well, 4 warriors and 1 horse) with a “free” emperor: 300 yuan.

And here's the real deal...

Dwarf chicken tank (stubby tour guide): takes all beggar damage (by walking in front). They came in swarms after we came out of the terracotta warriors excavation site.

Shanghai: 13th January

Morning call: 5:30AM. Flight to Shanghai 9:20AM. Tour guide asked for tip. 2 hour flight.

This time tour guide is a tiny girl named Hermy.

Yuyuan Garden

A birded shitted on my camera's screen.

We went to a pearl factory... The lady took a clam out of the mini pond and gouged it open with a knife =(... Then they led us into the store and closed the doors. Haha. Jackson bought moisturiser for 35 yuan.

You can sort of... vaguely.. tell it's us... and the Bund

We spent 20 minutes on Nanjing Rd. Jackson bought a overcoat/jacket.

I would like to remind Shanghai that it’s located in China.

Suzhou: 14th January

As we left the hotel, a guy camping outside asked us for our tax invoice (so he can claim tax in our stead).

We took a coach from Shanghai to Suzhou. First spot was the Master of Nets Garden (whatever that means).

Then we went to a silk factory. The tour guide burnt a sample of silk and compared it to “fake” silk (synthetic) and taught us how to differentiate between the two. We saw baskets of silkworm cocoons... and workers breaking them open and stealing the silk. We also tried our hands at stretching bundles of silk to form layers for the silk quilts... It was surprisingly hard >_>... To think those female workers do it all day XD, to perfection!

We had an early dinner at 5:00PM, and got to the hotel (Suzhou International Conference Centre...) that is supposed to be four stars but looks more like five stars.

Wuzhen/Hangzhou: 15th January

After breakfast we left for Wuzhen... with no guide. It was only the bus driver. He had no idea either. So he ended up guiding us through the old town...

In the afternoon we arrived at Hangzhou. Nice place with lots of trees... But shame there was a heavy overcast. We went on a boat ride (West Lake)... Then tea plantation, where we bought very expensive green tea =D (600 yuan for two big bottles + free small one)... Then we bought some tea lollies and tea biscuits...

I started to develop a cough that night.

Guilin Day 1: 16th January

I felt very sick after the plane trip to Guilin: mainly headache and sore throat. (Flight was 11:35AM from Hangzhou arriving at Guilin at 1:25PM).

First stop was “xiang bi shan” (literally ‘Elephant Trunk Hill)...

  ...then Reed Flute Cave:

   

We bought two packets of cold medicine for 9.50 yuan each. Felt a bit better after one dose of medicine.

Guilin Day 2: 17th January

Wake up call at 6:30AM. Felt tired, had a headache, sore throat, etc...

We had a 3 hour cruise on Lijiang River. Saw rock mountains and the funniest thing of this entire trip: river merchants XD XD. They’d row up next to the boat on planks of wood and try to sell you fake jade sculptures, fans, etc... In extremely negotiable and low prices (Jackson “haggled” with them on the other side of the window and easily reduced the price from 100 yuan to 10 yuan... not that he bought it).

On board the cruise...

Then we went to an art museum.

We went back to the hotel by 2 something. Slept from 3 to 6:35PM. My headache cleared but throat killed.

Jackson and I skipped the minority singing and dancing to take a rest.

Guilin Day 3/Guangzhou: 18th January

We went to a tiger and bear zoo in the morning... Watched a show... Walked around the zoo in mild rain.

We had lunch then went to the airport. Arrived in Guangzhou at around 2PM after a 50 minute flight.

People couldn’t be bothered going to places according to the itinery and ended up only visiting Family Chen’s place and a souvenir store.

Met with my uncle at the hotel in the evening... The next day would be my our first day living at my granny’s place... till 11^th February.

Random entry found in diary: 28th January

Been playing Final Fantasy Tactics in Guangzhou... Went ‘Beijing Road’ with Jackson... Grandview Mall (the biggest shopping centre in Asia)... ya... yes...

Now in Guangzhou East Station waiting for a train to Hongkong...

Ah yes.  We indeed go to Hongkong... a downer was that the train was 1 hour late.

On our first day I met with my grandpa and grandma (on my dad’s side), and went night shopping with my aunt (and Jackson, of course). I bought several pieces of clothing.

The next day (29^th January), we went Disneyland! Yay! Hahaha =]... It was pretty fun. Quite small though, of course. But still fun! Weee...

Entrance to Disneyland... Damn backlight

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves =D! Ahh... I loved them since I was 3 XD

Disneyland Express

Hehe I love the castle.

...

On 5^th February we went to Beihai, and met up with Jackson’s dad. He had a junkie taxi driver take us around to places... I mean, he was pretty cool, but kinda funny how he asked if Jackson and I were communicating in “Australianese”, and what part of China ‘Australia’ is in... and how he took us to the black market when Jackson’s dad told him to take us to an electronics store. Then we found out he had no highschool education.

Beihai

In the afternoon Jackson and I took a bus to Qinzhou, his grandfather’s home. We had dinner with his family... Then went karaoke (where nobody sang, they just ate). We stayed at Jackson’s uncle’s place: it’s got 5 floors.

The next day we went to Jackson’s grandpa’s place. Ah... It was nice to see that he remembers at least fragments of his home when he lived in China (“I remember the water pump!”). The place was a bit like a farm.

We also went to a strawberry plantation whilst we were at Qinzhou. They were very nice and we picked a basket full =).

In the morning of the third day we were driven to Nanning Airport, then flew back to Guangzhou to spend our last few days shopping around (mainly Grandview and Teemall) before we cae back home.

Here are some pics from Guangzhou...

http://tkfiles.storage.msn.com/y1pe1QxN2PtnVRDvl9SMQqRppisrHU98n14xZ023OsxKr2aj-XjPy6rPzCSrcO5xMhl
Mostly Final Fantasy Tactics... and some random MSN Zone games... Yes, that's how we spent most of our time when we were not out. Haha.

We went to a place called "Da xue cheng"... or "University Village". It's basically universities of Guangzhou clumped together on one island. We just drove around and looked at the buildings.

This picture doesn't show much but Pizza Huts in China are so glam! I mean, compare our take-away stores with their full sized restaurants... They have much more variety too.

"Baiyun Mountain" ("White cloud")... Very nicely landscaped =]

Bird show on Baiyun Mountain =O... they learn to scab the larger notes first... Here's a video:

Statue of the Five Goats... a place we were supposed to visit for our tour except the others weren't bothered

Another place we were supposed to visit... The Sun-Yat San Memorial

Teemall! Around 15 minutes walk from where we stayed.

Grandview Mall... Biggest shopping centre in Asia... Though this isn't the main facade.

Tianhe Sports Centre

Me, Granny, and the washing machine

Lastly... I present a photo of Anton with a souvenir we bought from Guangzhou:

Again, there's more photos in the photo albums! Farewell, friends =].

Oh yeh, I owned Japanese Extension. Not.

Those marks got scaled down a lot:

I wanted 98!! Because it looks pretty... And so I could get a... 1% chance at getting the $1k/year for 5 years scholarship... Poop.

Oh well who cares. At least I know I spent no money on tutoring and semi-bludged with Jap and 10 units xD.

Farwell, HSC. Good riddance.

I was meant to post the following up aaaaaages ago except it just remained on my offline blog document untouched. So now I can use this very extremely perfect opportunity to post this:

 

“Here's my intellectual suggestion to solve many of the world's environmental problems:

It's simple. Let smokers smoke all they want (preferably in tiny, isolated cabins, far, far away from me). Apply Darwin's theory of natural selection and viola - The human race has evolved in intelligence, pollution has reduced, and natural resources have become less strained.

 

Well, obviously it'd probably be way more efficient if we just gas everyone. No humans, no problems, no god.”

 

So now that’s out of the way…

 

I guess it's my turn to pay tribute to my friends. I know I probably almost never show any sort of love and sometimes consideration towards my friends, but that's who I am (on the outside *wink*) and I don't think I can ever change that =P. I'm too loud, too quiet, too honest, too deceiving, annoying, argumentative, apathetic, etc etc etc... But through all that I can really honestly say that I value each and every one of you for being a part of my life and for putting up with me, no matter how close you are, how distant you are becoming or how distant you have become.

 

MORE TO COME VERY SOON!!

added: Reboc and Kat 5/10;; Billy 12/10

JENNY
You know who you are. I have met many Jenny's in my life but you were the closest. You've said once that I copy you a lot, and that's actually true: I think part of my personality has been influenced by having met you in primary school. I think I’ve just become more random hmm… We kept relatively close contact after you left Auburn North in Year 5... And the day you did, I vividly remember crying myself to sleep. I also remember a boy commenting on the fact that I look "depressed" ever since you left, I don't remember what I replied to that, probably a stubborn "as if". Our letter exchanging (good old snail mail) was constant through to high school, and every single one of those letters I still have nicely kept in a box that's inside another box under my bed. Then I guess we started to drift apart after that, and only know of your presence online. Sometimes I find your numerous comments a bit annoying, a bit too biased, critical maybe; the insulting ones sometimes really hurt but the overtly complementing ones were just a bit scary; but as long as you're alive and well, I'm glad of it =). I remember my dad once asked you a stupid question whilst we were coming back from a trip to the Central Coast, it went something along the lines of "How will you two still be friends? She goes to Birrong Girls and you go to Sydney Girls." You simply replied without hesitation "We'll be friends no matter what." It really, really warmed my heart even though I said absolutely nothing and continued to face the front of the car. You will always remain the eccentric, yet kind Jenny that I always knew. You were my very first, real friend that I made when I came to Sydney 9 years ago, and I'll never forget that.
Sorry for the out-of-date photo.

 

NATALIE
Even though you weren't really the first friend I made when I went to Birrong Girls (Zareena was, really), you were the one who actually lasted. Maybe that's just because of lucky circumstances and stupid deals (Year 9: Wendy will go Chinese school if Natalie will go Wushu). I'm almost never serious when I'm around you, and I think it's because for some reason I just feel more playful around you (maybe cos you act like such a mum =P =P... just loose speculation). But really, I just think you're a very normal (though still, to an extent) person and I think I sorta need some of that since everyone else is sort of... abnormal. It was hard leaving the comfort of you, Carney, Mandy, Shanny and Christine to go to Fort Street in Year 10. And my anti-social attitude at first, was loosely based on my belief that nobody could ever replace my friends, and I don't want to forget them by replacing them. It sounds stupid and unbelievable but that was how I really felt, but of course it'd be more painful to lone around the school every lunch and recess and have no one to talk to in class. Yes, I felt you guys were that special. You've grown close to Fort Street, and sometimes I'd wish I was in your shoes, and even more often I wish I never left. But life goes on. Not too many sympathies because I expect to see you at least every Sunday from now on. I hope to see you often in uni (better be going to USYD). Keep up the energy =).

 

And of course the rest of the Birrong girls, I haven’t forgotten you! Special shout outs to: Carney, Mandy, Christine, Shanny, Emma (you don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned to others your strange antics), Zareena (great buddy in Year 7), Lauren (peer molester… j/k =P), Megan Brayshaw (thanks for the constant MSN company throughout Year 7… you were very interesting to talk to until I crashed your computer =D I’m still sorry!), Gina (even though she blocked me once for typing 123456789 too much), Sandy and Uyen (I still love the hot pink photo album).

 

BETHANY
When I first saw you, it was love at first sight the first thing I thought was "She looks very lost". Second time I saw you, "She looks very Asian". When I went to Fort Street I was really scared of joining the wrong group, eg. the material girls, the druggos, the fully skips... And I brought that paranoia with me as I met anyone at Fort Street. That's another reason why I didn't talk a lot during my first days: Maybe I'll gain the interest of those "wrong groups" (and I was almost petrified when Elise was the first person to introduce herself to me). I think it was through meeting again in roll call that I "officially" became part of the group, and at the sight of Reboc's randomness, I knew I was there to stay =P. People say we act like sisters because we're together most of the time, we moved to Ruse together, we invade Fort again together... And sometimes I reject that because I want my individuality. But I guess being "sisters" doesn't necessarily extend to the point of "acting alike", but I believe by what we've been through and perhaps by how we think, that definition's close enough, and that definition I accept =P. You have made an impact on my life, and led me to believe that Scopios can get along with Geminis =P. You don't take criticism and insults to the heart. That is admirable =). You better make it to USYD.

 

REBECCA
If you already read my little tribute to Dudu, you’d know how important you were in deciding my um… joining of your group (that was as eloquently as I could put it just then). The thing I remember most about you is that you opened up a whole new world of weirdness to me: at times you were a bit of a grandma, at others you were an hyperactive octopus spouting out random "philosophies". I just read your comment on my blog and OF COURSE I’d include you =P =P (You were always the next to be up actually), and for obvious reasons =). We interacted in mostly maths… Ahh the good old days with Mr. Bayas (who is, by the way, THE best maths teacher in the entire universe), his teases, his sadistic stories, his real-life whacked up stories, his undiscriminating action in giving me an estimate of HD for my task which he lost… Aaanyway this is about REBOC! Haha. I was almost amazed at the fact that you treated the person who sat in front of us with such… (almost) kindness. That though, led you to some difficult situations in which you and Beth would surely know what I’m talking about =P. I remember that little well of depression that I was going through in Year 10… And you gave me a wake up call. Smack bang in the face. No holding back. I’m not sure if you remember it. I haven’t thanked you for that yet, so: Thanks HEAPS (and I mean a LOT A LOT A LOT), I really needed it, and it did help, however harsh it was. Looking back at those conversations I realised how stupid and annoying I was:

[07:26:43 PM] happy2004; ?: ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
[07:28:09 PM] happy2004; ?: gyuugufyfdhgkhouyitdrfum
[07:38:38 PM] happy2004; ?: gyjghjghdertfhgfhugtyu
[07:39:05 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: awww
[07:39:11 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: geez STOP THAT
[07:39:11 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: SERIOUSLY
[07:39:15 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: STOP BEIN A RETART
[07:39:23 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: IF U GOT PROBLEMS SAY EM
[07:39:23 PM] happy2004; ?: spelt, retarD
[Cut]
[08:20:49 PM] happy2004; h: so how am i blind to myself?
[08:22:45 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: hmm
[08:22:53 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: welz u've been living in ur own beliefs
[08:22:57 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: ur not living in society
[08:23:03 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: do u noe what a loser is?
[08:23:13 PM] happy2004; h: er... me?
[08:23:17 PM] [FaTe Of FaI: yehz

18^th August 2004

…and probably still am, stupid and annoying. But hey, I’m learning (as well as we all are) very slowly, mother =]. You’ve done a part in returning me back to my normal self =]. I haven’t see you much since you went to North Sydney Girls, but even though, ironically, “Happy 2004” was always on my nickname, I’ll always remember the great times I had with you, Beth, Kat and Cindy =]. Yes, Love Fort Street.
(Whoops your pic doesn't have a border... I'll fix that later)

 

KATHERINE

Aww… It’s cute little Katty Watty =] =] =]… Sorry, I had to use this opportunity to tease you since if I did it in real life… I’d get a good smackin’. In my first few days at Fort Street, I confused you with Reboc (cos you were both SO SHORT HAHAHA: you can’t hit me neeehhh). You’re an authentic tomboy obsessed with death, reapers and decaying corpses: at least that’s how I’d remember you. I also remember killing most of your bandwidth by downloading a trillion episodes of Happy Tree Friends on your computer and you got pissed… Hehe. It seems everywhere I go there’s always someone who finds it fun to bully me, and you’re the one from Fort Street. But of course, under that seemingly boyish-ness and thick-skinned-ness, is a girl who nevertheless joins and enjoys the fun like everyone else (source: Year 10 formal). Even though I haven’t seen you that often in the past two years, you never seemed to have changed: Kat will always be Kat =).

 

JACKSON
Jackson, Jackson, Jackson... Need I remind you again of how we met (or at least, how I knew of your existence)? I think I've brought it up so many times that it has become cliched. But the relationship that started strange, I believe has been strange ever since. You keep thanking me for my part in helping you through certain things last year (and if you think your gratitude is insufficient then of course: bring on the Easyway.), but I also thank you for indirectly teaching me things that have changed me in the time I've known you (if you don’t believe me, ask Beth). For example, your "timeline"... That was an in-your-face way (on top of other things) to show me that honesty can probably take you further (and similarly you can get smacked in the face for bluntness). I have yet to meet anyone else who puts coloured dots on a piece of paper to represent who they liked during periods of time =D =D. Your willingness to put up with my lecturing I found amazing, cos if the roles were reversed I'd probably shoot you in the head. I think I've thrown my worst at you, and you more or less coped with every piece of shit I shot mercilessly out of the cannon: That is a unique and amazing ability =) (you have almost defied god).
Your plans to become “hottir” have so far @#&^%!@#&*#$^.
Whoops typo.
It’s funny how you’re the one who’s telling me to cleanse my face and use toners =P. You have become a little queer girl boy.
I know for sure I'll be seeing you somewhat often in the next few years, so umm... nothing emotional XD. But of course… You're one of my closest friends and that'll stay true for as long as I know you =) (and I'll enjoy making you a source of my sadistic pleasure as much and for as long as I want).

 

BILLY

I just read Jackson’s little shout out for you and yes omg: you’re supposed to be my “godbrother” too haha XD. But yes, things have changed and we haven’t been talking that much to each other since Year 11 (and thereafter, it was partly YOUR fault because you decided to get some other email and… yes you know the rest =P). I thought I’d write your little shout now, even though I’ve done jack all (in regards of homework) today. Don’t you feel special? When I first saw you in CS (the only class we shared), I thought: That guy looks like a lonesome nerd. I dunno, for some reason the style of your glasses just created that stereotype in my head, and I think I only saw you looking down at your work (first day at Fort Street… I think). And yes, we “met” on the internet exactly how you described it in your little shout out for me =P. “I specifically remember laughing at your email address”… Didn’t know about that, all I remember was that you told me you laughed at my hair…

Which reminds me…!

You see… Those farewell messages you gave us (Me, Beth, Boc, Weil)… I still have them on my computer. A screen capture =P (Your site layout, everything). And I would like to mention, not stress, JUST mention, this following quotation:

“Gud lukz, I’ll buy u a tiket to our semi formal nex yr if u havn forgot abt ur fort fwenz.”. I would also like to mention, not stress, definitely not STRESS, that he didn’t shout me a ticket (nor did he bother turning up at the semi).

Just kidding =P. I know Billy’s a decent guy who keeps his promises at heart (except for that one).

You’re certainly a unique character, and made my life more interesting: not just by making me interested in Chinese music (believe me, I was a stubborn bitch who refused to believe that Chinese music had any substance to it… Until I talked to beelee), but also by simply being gay =]. I’ll frame the photo of you wearing my “chicks rock” singlet and put it on my wall someday =).

And of course you can be my “GG/bleak/._. friend” (never mind how those terms came about…)… Spontaneous chatter makes life more colourful xP.

I hope we’ll keep in close contact from here on, and probably see you in uni (though you made it seem like you’re more likely to be going to UNSW) so you can keep reminding me that I’m Asian.

And of course: sunshine.lollipop s2 i.lyk.pnut =P

You’re back on my stalk list by the way.

And yes, my final day on school grounds before the HSC starts is Fort Street. From previous entry:

 

Jennifer: Indeed our last days of production will be until the end of the HSC. Yeah and send your photos to me remember =P.

Beth: Should I have to frame you a picture of my reservoir of fat to remind you it's not "all muscle" =P? No I don't think you want that.

Jackson: Mine's 20.3 now. Apparently.

Reboc: Haha... Greetings old friend. You should at least change "no name" to "Reboc" or something.

Jenny: The UAI is not a measure of smartness but is variable depending on: How much you study; Whether or not you go tutoring, and; How much of a social life you have (which is inversely proportional to your final results =).

 

My day started off with me leaving home with mum at around 9:00, wearing a school shirt and jeans (ie. traditional Fort Street uniform). Mum went shopping whilst I headed towards the station to find a long line of ticket buyers. Whilst I was in the line, a scary middle-aged Vietnamese lady with badly applied eyeliner and makeup approached me and started talking to me in Vietnamese. I told her that I’m not Vietnamese and she (seemed to have) walked away. I buy my ticket with the only money I had: a $20 note. The dude gave me change: $10 note, $5 note, $2 and 50c coin. Right after I turned around I was confronted by her again, this time talking in English.

 

Woman “Can I have five dollars? I lost my wallet.”

Me “Uhh… I need the money.”

Woman “Two dollars?”

Me *Purposely looks very disgruntled and drops the $2 coin in the woman’s begging hands*

 

Should’ve gave her the 50c.

 

Apologies to Ms. Moxham and Ms. Ross for trespassing on Fort Street school grounds (for the final time)... Beth and I would rather stick to the unofficial school motto: Once a Fortian, always a Fortian. I saw Billy and it was just like old days: he handed me his new collection of music on his iPod shuffle. I passed Kelvin in the grade below and exchanged with him a short piece of non-conversation (“HI WENDY!!” “HI KELVIN!!”). Of course I felt a bit uneasy during the beginning of the Flop (for non-Fort Streeters, it's basically a muck-up assembly for Year 12s, apart from the farewell and graduation...) as I was sitting between Jackson and Wallace, after being told by Richard that Ross kicked Andrew Tran (who never attended Fort Street... Andrew says it was "Fucking bullshit" that he got kicked out, lol). I wore the Fort Street jersey (yes, I have one, thank you Jackson =D), and people grinned whenever they pushed my hair aside to read the back (which I'm not going to disclose here). The actual Flop was quite awesome... The Umbilical Brothers imitation was just fantastic XD XD... Teachers dancing video... "Enrique Iglesias" Hero Music Video which was bloody hell disturbing and ruined the lovely original (but still, lol)... The random "Technical Issues" dude who wore nothing but an undersized white tutu and float ring that made him look like he had a giant swan's neck protruding from his groin... Then it was the final song/performance, we all had the song lyrics on the back of our programs:

 

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start
Running in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart

Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start

 

[Year 12 - start to move slowly to the stage]

 

...

 

That was when I thought "uh oh". I would have to go on stage with that suss tag on my back, where certain teachers might recognise me and question my presence. Oh no...!!! (Of course I could just stay in my seat whilst everyone forwards off and look even more suss). But I moved quickly on stage with everyone else and hid behind everyone... And then everyone walked off the stage and slowly made their way around the all in single file. Then I looked at the end of the line: Ms. Ross was hugging everyone, argh! Beth had the same reaction when I pointed at the would-be-very-awkward-situation. I devised a very elaborate escape plan: We'll be busting to go to the toilet when we reach the side doors.

 

And so we swiftly drifted out the doors towards the toilet. I actually wanted to go since I consumed a whole bottle of water during the Flop. We reckoned people won't be out of the hall yet after we washed our hands, so decided to read the interesting messages on each of the cubicle walls. One of the traditions of the toilet wall would always be present: The Hottest Guy In Each Grade (the Year 12 one was most filled-in). Juniors started coming in, so it was safe to move towards the outside of the hall again to join the crowd.

 

And half the people were crying. It vaguely reminded me of the aftermath of the Ruse Farewell, but there were less guys crying today. Jackson was crying like a baby. Wallace looked like he had a very bad case of hayfever. Cheng was looking as stoned and emotionless as usual. Billy was being homosexually provocative. Yeah, quite the usual really, just add some sobs. Then everyone signed each other's shirts, and I tagged them as well as Anton's face. The variety of hugs were interesting: Those who lifted you up because they're taller than you (Chenny, Billy, Ant), those who couldn't be bothered to bend down so you had to stand on your tiptoes, those who stabbed you in the stomach before hugging (Kat), those who were rather normal (Jackson and others). People spent one to two periods hugging, crying and signing.

 

Jackson, Beth and I decided to go to Burwood at around 2:30 to eat lunch. And yes, Jackson shouted me Easyway because he broke his no-contact-with-opposite-sex vow-thing =D. It was Oporto for lunch. Others arrived in the food court later. Then I caught the bus with Beth to Campsie. The first song I listened to on my iPod gave a sense of nostalgia: Sore Ga Ai Deshou – Mikuni Shimokawa. Train back to Bankstown by myself.

 

As I was sitting in Campsie station waiting for the train, I contemplated on what I missed out on. It’d be nice to have a graduation that you’d care about and probably cry about. I go into university with no sense of… almost identity of which school I came from. I didn't want to sing the graduation song half-heartedly. During both mass-crying sessions I felt like I was in my own little bubble, observing everyone else and hardly feeling what they’re going through. Well, less so in the Fort Street one, (almost) ironically. But I’ll definitely miss high school.

 

Three million, one hundred and fifty three thousand, six hundred minutes… =P

 

PS. I still don't know what FLOP stands for.

TRIBUTES TO COME =D

Woaah I have no comments for my last blog I feel so alienated =(…. Lol. (Wait, Beth's there. lol)

 

1 Exam left… And it’s on the 19^th (this Saturday!! >.<)

 

I am also proud to announce that during a week (from last last Tuesday till last Tuesday; yes, during my trials), I’ve watched the following movies (rented):

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 4.5/5 (awesome =)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 5/5 (obviously, it was like my 3^rd time watching it)

Finding Neverland 4.5/5 (beautifully touching… loved it)

Brothers Grimm 2.5/5 (quite confusing to begin with…)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith 3/5 (t’was alright… but what’s so good about Brad Pitt)

Edward Scissorhands 4/5 (I found it quite sad =(… But another wonderful job by Burton)

A Series of Unfortunate Events 3/5 (Carrey is awesome though… I don’t fancy prolonged exposure – here being around 2 hours – to gothic grimness… but check out Carrey in this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dy1LHKvFv-g, it’s bound to make you laugh =D)

 

Oh speaking of youtube.com, you should check this out too: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ujlG4U4xVu0

Hilarious =)

..

XD

 

Movies I’ll be wanting to watch (probably next week):

Chocolat

Lost in La Mancha

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

 

Oh, and my Powerplay visual representation… sucks XD!!

 

I was a bit too nervous when giving my speech because I didn’t expect to do it so early (stupid late people). Thank you Weil for accompanying me ahaha =P.

 

I found this quote today, and it pretty much summarises my view on religion:

“It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”

-          Carl Sagan

I’ve always had this little theory that religion was only created by humans as a comforting story behind their existences.

Before religious people try to shoot me, I’d also like to believe that there’s a higher being that would lead us (ME!!) to heaven (hopefully…)… But I confess I’m not doing a great job convincing myself.

 

Snippets of my conversation Anton:

 

(On Futurama)

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: i want a genetically engineered teddy >.<

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: lol

 - lol -  says: hahaha

 - lol -           gives

 - lol -  says: hehe

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: i never thought about genetic engineering like that actually

 

(On the violence against/harassment of women advertisement)

- lol -  says: man if you're going to rape someone at least rape someone decent

 

(On religion)

- lol -  says: that's what’s

 - lol -  says: shit about

 - lol -  says: today

 - lol -  says: nobody believes in heaven

 - lol -  says: but everyone believes in hell

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: how good can heaven get

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: i mean if heaven's like ... very very happy

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: you'll get bored of very very happy-ness

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: >_>

 - lol -  says: maybe

 - lol -  says: it's like

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: i don't see hwo it works

 - lol -  says: chocolate orgasm 24/7

 - lol -  says: =D

- schMilә²³¹ºoч«.. [10:9][4:4] `       mia angela carol says: rofl

 - lol -  says: mmmmmmm chocolate

 - lol -  says: brb salivating

I took a day off school today, for what I think are pass-able reasons:
1. In all honesty, I can't be bothered.
2. First period English: Having had a taste of what our new substitute English teacher was like on Tuesday (after our old one decided to ditch us on the last term of our HSC course), I don't think it would have been all that enlightening/constructive/interesting/endurable.
3. Second period Japanese: self-explanatory.
4. Third period free. Reccess. Double free. Lunch.
5. Sixth period maths: The only lesson worth going to today, that's if our teacher actually turns up, unlike on Tuesday and Wednesday.
6. Seventh period biology: Our teacher wouldn't be there, he told us to bring notes to study for the trials.

So instead, I went to the doctor's (at Parramatta) with mum to see why the hell my left arm's been hurting (for no apparent reason) for the past week. In regards of that, he commented "I really hope it's not shingles. *taps the rash-looking-thing-on-my-shoulder*". Also, my nasal passageways are apparently extremely blocked, so my haemoglobin oxygen saturation (hello, bio people =D) would "probably be around 80%", as opposed to the normal 100%. Maybe that explains my ice cold feet.

He prescribed me icky icky bitter Chinese herbal medicine. And put a patch thing on my arm to ease the pain ("If blisters start popping up, come and see me again"... Eww bubbly skin...).

I can't be sick before the trials!!

And shingles are ugly. Some travel around your waist, or around your face (oh God eww). Even the Chinese name for it is ugly: 生蛇.

On a lighter note, I wrote this mini-entry a few days ago and saved it on my computer to supplement (mm... supplementary texts...) my next blog.

14^th July Mini entry

This is morally degrading for myself to proclaim but I LOVE JACK SPARROW >.< >.< >.<!! I assure you I’ve never obsessed over a movie character/characters, actor/actresses before, except this one. I’ve also been reading some pretty interesting comments on Jack Sparrow on DeviantArt, like this one:

“Jack Sparrow lives in my bed on tuesdays and pleasures me.”

…I’m definitely not going that far.

Isn’t it wonderful to escape reality into LaLaLand? I mean, study for trials, Jack Sparrow, study for trials, Jack Sparrow, seriously, which one would you prefer?

Obviously there wouldn’t be anyone in real life that acts like Jack Sparrow. That’s probably a good thing.

Johnny Depp is 43 years old… So I’ll proclaim the next best thing: HE’S MY DAD !! Jack Sparrow, not Johnny Depp, I don’t want to associate myself with Willy Wonka =).

Oedipus complex.

No.

I'm such a tool.

But hey, Johnny Depp is a damn good actor. I thought he was dead before year 10 lol (when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came out... I think). Mistook him for the "Live fast, die young" guy (James Dean). Oooh same initials =D...

 

Edit: 21/7

I have found a John Howard petpet.

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All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission

To start off, I would like to congratulate the Australian government for the sexy new cigarette packaging. Damn all smokers to hell.

This was from WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back but lol… Who cares =D. I had it on my computer just never bothered to post it up (you’d probably want to skip this =P… but I’m posting it up for record):

OLD NEWS

Sunday

Wushu was gay we had to train on the rooftop basketball court. Kept telling my brother off for not letting go of my spear and I in turn got told off with my brother for handling “other” people’s weapons (I had my hands on my spear so I could yank it out of his hands). My hair band broke. *bitch bitch bitch bitch*, etc.

Then we (me, Beth, Jackson) went to Fort Street Festival! We got driven there. We were greeted by Cathy who told us we missed everything (we… sort of knew that =( ) and Chenny who literally tackled and lifted me. Haha fun..

I went to the festival so I could see Reboc, to give her a late late late late present (it was a framed photo of her birthday thing after all, it has to be late). We discovered later that she has a fever and couldn’t come =\. Ended up fattening ourselves with kebab and sausage and ice-cream (I’m fat).

I got home at around 2:40PM. As soon as I got a drink of water I slept for two hours straight, till 5PM. Washed my hair. Went on MSN.

As you can see I got nothing done (study-wise) on the weekend.

…Shit.

Monday

Advice: A good way to both procrastinate and burn fat – Dancing!

Wednesday

Quote of the day: Wendy “Suyan has given me more pickup lines than any other person.”

 
And now for a slice of conversation in the midst of last week’s assessment gooeyness:

- schMile* =] says:

omg i dont' wanna touch maths =(

 - lol -  touches maths

 - lol -  molests maths

- schMile* =] says:

okay

Term 2 assessments are over and now it’s time to prepare for the trials… My HSC Japanese speaking exams are in 1.5 months… I can hardly believe it =/. My trial revision timetable looks ugly.

My English teacher is taking leave next term… And getting replaced by the teacher who everyone has labelled as “The Shittest”. We’re failing Powerplay, yup.

I also never knew the bags under my eyes were so dark. Perhaps it’s not so much due to study… Probably because I’ve been playing Kingdom Hearts during my exams (Hehe!).

Look what I found yesterday:
Alas, poor students... http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/alas-poor-students-133/2005/08/14/1123957949797.html

“…One of the most derided terms on the syllabus is "text".

The head of English at Newington College, Michael Parker, said it was just one shadowy expression that could distract students from enjoying the course. "The turgid language in which a lot of the syllabus is phrased obscures the fact that what it is actually proposing is often exciting and invigorating," he said. He translated the outcomes into plain English for his students.

But the Australian poet Les Murray said that might not be going far enough. "They could call it Lying Studies, because it prepares kids to talk the bullshit they need in the workplace."…”

They hit the nail on the head.

I shall get an iPod shuffle! Lol… after all the times I’ve dissed it… But yeah, I’m getting sick of listening to the radio everyday.

Back to researching on “The Scream”.

Term 2 Assessments Results

Mathematics –                                      

Mathematics Extension 1 – 48/63

English (Advanced) –                          

Biology –                                               

Japanese Continuers:                            Speaking – 19.5/20

                                                                Listening – 23.5/25

                                                                Reading – 23/25

                                                                Responding –

                                                                Writing –

Japanese Extension :                             Speaking – 8.5/10

                                                                Reading –

                                                                Responding –

                                                                Writing –