ENGLISH BLOG

2008-02-18T16:44:00.000-08:00

Ah Meng's Departure

Well, to be truthful, I have never heard of Ah Meng untill her recent departure. Though, after scavenging through old photographs of me and my family or relatives at the zoo, a particular photograph captured my attention. It was my sister, uncle, aunt and me, smiling cheekily into the camera with Ah Meng.

As you can imagine, I was shocked beyond words to find that I had taken a photograph with Ah Meng without knowing it. Even though my memory failed me and I cannot remember clear details about the trip there because I was still young, what I did manage to recall were the photographs I took with the 48 year-old orangutan, Ah Meng. -Sigh- During the photography session, I was scared and unsure around her seeing that she wasn't human. I was close to tears when she put her arm around me! Luckily, my uncle managed to cheer me up before the photographer took the picture.

Regarding Ah Meng's successor, I wouldn't be too sure. As I had stated above, I never really got to know Ah Meng well and who her heir should be. Though, after my teacher, Mdm Hayati spoke to us about the pros and cons of the animal candidates, I would suggest having Pedro the Otter to replace her. Unlike Chawang the Elephant, he doesn't have a bad history of attacking humans upon contact. Omar the White Tiger isn't a very suitable choice if children wanted to pet it seeing that there would be a high risk of injury. Chomel, Ah Meng's favourite grand daughter, would probably be compared to Ah Meng, risking her reputation.

So, in my opinion, Pedro would be a good choice!

2008-02-11T17:38:00.000-08:00

Question: You have an extra $100, 000 to give away; you cannot spend it on yourself. What would you do with the money?

Well, my answer to the question would be to spend a fraction for my parents when they get old. They have supported us from young, why should we abandon them when they get old?

There are many third world countries so I would really want to donate most of the money into helping these countries. I would contribute to help the construction of building a mosque and a school in Africa so that the children there will have a future awaiting them. Like the saying goes, 'You can give a starved man food and he can feed himself for one day. But, you can give a starved man skills and he can feed himself for the rest of his life.' I find this quote a good one because I feel that education is important for our future and us Singaporeans, who are lucky to be educated, should not waste our time.

Subsequently, I would spend some of the remaining to help build an orphanage for the homeless children in Africa. Woth the remaining money, I would like to take up the ‘adopt a child’ program where you give an orphaned child $50 a month. These people and children need our help so it is up to us to save them from the poverty cycle.

2008-02-11T17:29:00.001-08:00

Hey, do you want to know how I spent my time during CNY? Well, of course you do and NOW…You can! Well, there are four days of holiday and one half-day. On the Half-day, I spent it at Mc Donald’s with my friend Amalina. Boy, was it packed! I felt like tuna in a can. I had to wait 20 minutes just to order my food! Oh well…It was the call of the pancakes. Who can resist the soft buttery substance?! Alas, everyone, run before you trap yourself in the web of their sugary goodness! But, we all know that resistance is futile!

On The First day of CNY, I spent it at my cousins’ house. Lo and Behold my mighty cat-stroking powers! For I, Sabrina, has managed to conquer my fear of cats and cuddle with my cousins' cat called PERSIAN! Mwa Ha Ha Ha! Plus, I got to eat Lor Mee-obviously the ones from Myojo Noodles. They tantalised my tastebuds and my hands were twitching just to resist the urge to hungrily wolf it down ravenously! And I just know that you’re jealous! Hee.

On The second day of CNY, I spent it viewing this new anime called ‘D N Angel’. I know, I know, how lame! But still, being a fanatic myself, it manipulated me to watch it like bees to honey. My mother ‘approved’ the anime seeing that’s it’s not as violent as Naruto, Bleach or Inuyasha. Because…they fight with feathers. You didn't expect that did'cha?

On Saturday, I went to Mr Soh’s house. He’s my one of my favourite teachers so I felt extremely excited to go to his house. I wanted to know the real Mr Soh behind the mask of mystery! He walks to school, dresses and speaks humbly so I didn’t expect more than a HDB flat. My psychic powers failed me once again and it turns out that Mr Soh lives in a terrace with his wife, two of his three children, three dogs and a maroon-coloured car. Oh yeah, I’m not psychic at all. The terrace was huge and it lay on a slope. Mr Soh's wife, Mdm Florence, grilled chicken wings for us. Mr Soh even had a small carpeted area for viewing the television. It was set into the ground like a miniature swimming pool. It was SU-PAH KEWL!

Sunday was quite busy because I have a lot of classes on Sunday. No fun here. From 8.30am to 10.30am I had Tahfiz classes or in other words, a class to memorize the Al-Quran(Holy Book). Then, from 2.15pm to 5.30pm, I had religious classes at an orginisation called Andalus. It is always quite interesting to learn new things. So at least now you know that I don't spend my time uselessly.

Boo Yeah! My CNY rocked!

2008-02-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Good children's literature appeals not only tothe child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.~ ~Anonymous ~

2008-02-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

Title: Never Gone

---
15 July 2004

Blood is thicker than water. But I’ve always hated my family before 11 June 2004.

It was raining, the day I visited my family’s mansion. The soft rattling of the car’s window panes calmed me down as rain pelted it with its ice cold touch. The BMW drove into the indoor parking lot and as I stepped out onto the cold marble floor and I was presented with lavish surroundings.

Sighing, I trudged into the living room and settled myself down onto a leather couch. Why was I summoned here? Visits back home were usually to celebrate an achievement of my brother’s which brought honor to our family’s lineage. It was either that or that it was my brother’s birthday. The household was not bright, cheery and full of life with servants running around preparing for a celebration so it could not be either. My parents were also seated in the room and before I could ask, they droned, “Your brother requests your presence.”

Ah, my brother. We used to be extremely close. I was always by his side and I looked up to him like an idol. Six years ago, he became colder and more distant with his new friends and lifestyle. For months I scrutinized his actions to find a flaw in that impeccable mask of his but to no avail. We stopped talking and it seemed foolish to think that we used to be the closest siblings you would ever find. Soon, he fazed completely out of my life.

A shadow cast over me and I met the piercing cold black irises of my brother. He gestured for me to follow him and I complied. We went into his room and laid out on the yew table was a chess board. My brother gave a small nod and I took my place on the chair and we played. I had never won a game against my brother but even as we played, I realized that his movements were slower and it took him a longer time to move his pieces.

“Do you think that I am the best brother you ever had?” his voice was soft and slightly weak.

I cocked my head to the side and replied firmly, “No, I don’t. You’re the worst brother ever,” and I added softly, “But I used to think so.”

My brother gave a small smile and my breath hitched. My brother never smiled ever since he changed. He always remained apathetic. He continued, “Then, can I start over and be the brother you’ve always wanted?”

For most, this wouldn’t have meant much. But for me, it was a promise-a promise that he would return to the way he had always been. To the kind, caring person I grew up with. That night, was what should have been the beginning of the best days of my life. But I was wrong.

Here I seat, listening to my brother’s will being read out. He had died of cancer six weeks later. The news was not as shocking as I thought it would be. Before he died, I realized that when we spent time together during those six weeks, he was weak and fragile. He wouldn’t explain to me what was wrong. Strange, I had finally found my brother’s flaw and yet, I wish that it was never there. I guess you don’t really know what you have until it is gone. Engraved on the marble coffin was,

Uchiha Itachi
Son, Brother and Loved one
Died of lung cancer
1982-2004
May he rest in peace.