Holy Week

Common tests are over, and it's a beautiful view from this side of the valley of doom =) Heh, did the recreative question for Lit PC, which was like the most fun exam that I ever did. The downside is that it is quite risky, but what the heck, this common test is the last screw-up-able test before the prelims. Even the next common test will have the implication of being the prelims to the prelims. Heh but it was quite hard to write cohesively under the pressure of a time limit. After a while I realised that I was just replacing words in the passage with my own words, which is one step away from plagiarism. And the funniness of my passage relies on the use of irony - in other words, it's only funny if you compare it with the original. If you read it by itself it isn't really remarkable.

But this kind of exam is on the right track I think...an attempt to assess creative writing skill. It may not be perfect, but it's the best so far. And the PC, though comparatively less risky, won't be nearly as fun.

Stoned around in Orchard after the test. Heh, talk of reality TV, pool, Kino browsing, HMV hunting, and basically a feverish sort of having fun and staving off the time when the after-test euphoria needs must come to an end. Orchard is like a cloak to wrap yourself in after excessive intellectual exertion. When your brain is tired, you appreciate that poser length of street more. But for getting lost in the crowd, I prefer Toa Payoh. It's a brilliant place now...very lively, and the crowd there speaks to my heart more clearly. It's a friendlier feeling, a simpler feeling.

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Saw Grace's TSD exam yesterday. It was brilliant =) And once again, my faith in TSD has been vindicated...I don't know how they managed it. The performance yesterday had admirable levels of dramatic tension, I thought, and the execution was rather convincing, even with the finesse and technicality of Kabuki. The costumes were spectacular (although there was a bit of a technical error with the onstage costume change), and the acting was satisfying. There were moments when there was a thrill down my spine, like when she was wielding the sword and speaking of the murder of her father. Quite chilling, the aircon notwithstanding =)

Hmm...there are bits to smooth out, to be sure. The performance can be tighter, with quicker transitions and more precise light and sound cues. I think the sound would be better if they can crossfade between tracks, because Jap music is quite jarrirng, and at times the piece could do with reinforced continuity. The costume change filled the piece's requisite quota of technical glitches. The sword dance got a bit draggy after a while. The crying was so fake (intentionally, I hope) that it was quite painful to watch (which could have been the whole point). Yeah...things that can be ironed out with more rehearsal. But all in all quite a good rendition, I've got to say. An admirable job considering the limitations she was working with =)

Managed to see two other exam pieces that day too. Basically spent the whole afternoon in VJ TSD, kind of living vicariously the fantasy of what might have been. Pretended that I was a J1 helping out at any piece that needed a props crew. Heh, the J1s are really endearing, at least the ones that Grace has for her team. They are so dedicated that it's almost scary. Yes...having a production team like that is definitely a blessing.

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Holy Week this week, and it's the time for reflection again. This is the time of year when my faith actually has a detectable mystical quality to it. Church visits on Maundy Thursday, and it was rather poetic and quirky to be on a bus in the middle of the highway singing hymns, rather than karaoke ballads or "Ten Thousand Bottles", and saying the rosary. And today's Good Friday service, a two-hour affair with Stations of the Cross, Veneration of the Cross, and the most solemn Holy Communion of the liturgical year, and a minimum of singing (I always thought that we couldn't sing in Church on Good Friday). Today's service was so solemn and grand, it's easy to get caught up in the wonder at the notion (the fact, even) that someone actually sacrificed himself for your sake. It's a fantastic, a glorious notion. The greatest love is when someone sacrifices his life for someone else. And there were so many theatrical elements at the service...understatement, solemnity in ritual, spectacular costumes, grand yet quiet hymns. The service would be compelling to anyone, Christian or not.

And there has been a lot to thank God for, the last year. Was reflecting on the last year on the church visitations on Thursday...it is really conducive. Lent is the time for reflecting on your life and wondering where you could have done better, and setting yourself to the task. Anyway, it's amazing, when I think about it, the goodness that I've had in life.

God, I thank you for all the experiences you gave me last year, all the big events and major developments, and also all the little things that pop up everyday. Thank you for making every day special in its own way. Thank you for including surprises in everyday events, and for revealing your goodness in every corner. And for all the trials, and your unfailing support with each and every cross. Thank you for letting me find my way through all those experiences to this point, and thank you for helping me to appreciate what I have, and what others have. It has been an enriching year all around, a special year, filled with magical moments.

And thank you, God, for protecting all of us. My family, my classmates, my friends, local and abroad, and my soulmates. Thank you for preserving old friendships and creating new ones. Thank you for allowing us to experience so much together. Thank you for giving us all companionship and fortitude, and for not leaving any of us to the ravages of loneliness. These people have made everything worthwhile, and I'm glad that you've given me a chance to be with them on this part of their journey. Thank you for blessing all of us with each other.

pondered by phoenican @ 25.3.05