YTuesday, June 5, 2007

Pre-University Seminar 2007 (Part Two)

On a bright and early Monday morning, the 21st of May, I made my way to school. The only noticeable difference from another normal Monday morning was that I was carrying a large massive bulky bag, and the gigantic smile that stretched across my face. I couldn't help be a little more cheery and friendly on that day, waving energetically to all my friends, acquaintances, and even some people who I can't stand. I would sneak into our conversations, with subtlety, the fact that I WAS GOING TO SKIP 5 DAYS OF SCHOOL WHILE THEY WEREN'T. SUCKERS. Upon hearing my casual remark, their face would completely change, from the surprise of seeing an unusually friendly and chipper Deyong, to disgust and regret, that they themselves didn't try out for Pre-U Sem, and someone like me managed to get in. As they shuffled away, their grumbles and muttered death threats were masked by the approaching heavy thunderstorm. Staring at the rain, listening to the fierce noises of water pouring from the skies, I smiled.

After a short bus ride, we reached NTU. We checked in to the hostel, and took the chance to have a look around. I was underwhelmed to say the very least, while some of my fellow ACSians were appalled. To be honest, the hostel looked pretty decent. The style wasn't quite so modern, had a somewhat rustic feel, so that the ivy and vines growing on the walls added to the atmosphere, instead of taking away from it. However, when I first opened my room door, I was hit with a wave of musty air. It felt as if the room hadn't been used in a very long time. The furnishings of the room were simple, but adequate. Two chairs, two desks, two beds, and one cupboard. However, there was something that was missing, to have to spend 5 days without it would be quite a challenge. I searched high and low, to no avail. I began to panic. There was no air-con.

There was no air-con. How could it be? As this realization dawned upon me, I sank to my knees, and covered my face with my hands, at this most unfortunate turn of events. I raised my hands to the sky, and with tears of anguish at this terrible injustice, I mourned for myself. Oh what have I done to deserve this cruel fate? Heavens forgive me! I then quickly claimed the bed directly under the fan as my own, leaving my roommate (who had not appeared) the crappier one.

I then had to use the bathroom. A shared bathroom. Though it was clean, I wasn't very fond of it. I have never been particularly fond of shared bathrooms. I care not to elaborate. It would be gross and unnecessary. So, to do the simple task of washing my hands, I would have to put on footwear, find my key, open the door, lock it, and walk 30 meters to the nearest bathroom, then walk back 30 meters, open my door, go inside, lock it, and take off my shoes.
Quite a bit of effort for a simple task.

I'm not sure I would care to live in such a place for 4 years of my life. Perhaps NS would change my mindset.

Anyway, I then went to meet up with my Seminar Group (SG). We were to play icebreaker games. Familiar faces greeted me, yet I struggled to remember their names. At this time, we couldn't really be called friends. However that would change over the next few days. First we played Field Table Soccer. Basically, it's soccer for lazy people. You stand in a line with a few other people, and you can only move from side to side. It was pretty fun, what with the rampant cheating, and 5 man Kallang waves that we did whenever we scored a goal. This would be the beginnings of our friendship. I think we won at the end. However, we met a SCARY GIRL whose presence, from that moment on, terrified us. One of us (not me) kicked the ball quite high, and managed to hit her. She was not pleased. Next we played a game in which we had to walk through some net-like thingy. This one was not so fun. That was the end of icebreaker games. I guess when then say "games" they mean "just slightly more than one game".



After the games, we were to change into our smart Pre-U Sem polo tees to go for our first Special Program. Perhaps I should elaborate. Pre-U Sem is not a holiday. We actually do stuff. One of the things we have to do is a project, related to Singapore being the most wonderful place in the entire universe. To assist us in our monumental task, all the SGs are brought on different field trips to gather information. Some groups got the chance to meet interesting people. Dick Lee, Hossan Leong, and Joscelin Yeo were just a few of them. Of course, my SG didn't get to meet these people. Our project was "Singapore as a Global City". We got to visit the URA.

To be honest, it was quite an informative trip. We learned how the URA operates, and how they do an important, though unglamorous job. We also got to take a closer look at the new Marina Bay, which promises to be an entertainment hub that will rock the world and turn it into the hottest place to be. The two employees who were there to entertain us were friendly, and quite patient, willingly answering our inane questions. Their presentations would ended up being a huge help in the conceptualizing of our ideas for the project. They also provided us with cold drinks, which was very nice. Thank you, URA.

I don't know what the chair is doing over there.


Here is a picture of the new sexy Marina Bay that doesn't yet exist.


Anyway, that was not the end of the day. At 8pm at night, we were to attend lectures to help us do our project. I am not kidding. Some of us were sent to learn to use some computer software which were given to us so that we could do our project better, and the rest of us were forced to go to some storyboard lecture. Basically, we were all going to be movie directors. It was conducted by some foreigner with a weird accent, who was supposed to be some big shot animator. However, the promising premise was soon shattered as he began to mumble on about TV aspect ratios. (I don't remember why.) Let me refer back to my notes.

"Descrne oniept inne sevturd. chrmtei urul challenges. ab is knrsynthig!!!"

That was most helpful. The lecture was most ineffective. First of all, they were trying to condense two weeks worth of information into 2 hours, so foreigner guy had to go really fast. Second, 8-10pm aren't the hours at which people are most alert. Everyone was sleeping. I wasn't sleeping when I took those notes down, I was merely writing with my eyes closed. I would soon learn that sleeping would end up being a most common occurrence over the next few days.

Oh dear, I didn't expect to write this much. I was originally expecting to have a 3 part essay, but now it looks like it will stretch to 4 parts.

Don't worry, there will be more pictures in the next posts.

Part One
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

Blogged @ 3:44 PM