Catching Up

This is the 100th post!

Heh lots to talk about since the last post, not in the least about universities. But I resolve not to talk about that in the 100th post. We've been talking so much about it that it's rather sickening. All week long we've been having university talks, which could explain it. But all the same I wish it didn't dominate the agenda so much. Sure, all these considerations are important, but talking about all these issues all week long is not only stressful, it's downright boring. And after a while it becomes pointless, even decadent.

Which is why going to the book fair on Fri night was such a relief. For two whole hours didn't need to think about universities, but rather immersed myself in a sea of books! Most of it was still trash, but going on the first day of the Times booksale meant that there were more nice titles to buy. Came back with a scifi tome by Ben Bova, Saturn. About ten thousand political dissidents sent on a scientific mission to study Saturn in a rotating habitat. The blurb made it out like it was a study of how religion and science interact, which was why I decided to indulge in it and buy it even though I had so many other things to read. The trouble is that it turns out to be not as inspired as I expected =S But still, I'm looking forward to reading Youth by J. M. Coetzee. Saw it before, but didn't buy it at the time, and Shoojee says it's a good read. And Thong bought The Passion by Winterson, which too is something else to look forward to.

Walking back from the Expo sending Mel home, noticing the cracks in the pavement caused by tree roots thrusting inexorably and slowly under the concrete, and thought of the fragility of this construct we call reality. After doing so much of Heart of Darkness and Virginia Woolf, got lots of ideas about how both authors portray this thing called reality. It's a product more of consensus than of truth. Like money, which has value only because we all agree to think that it has value. But postmodernism aside, there was also a sense of age, of oldness. The worn concrete, the old tree. And then there was this sand playground at a tiny park near the train tracks. You all know how rare sand is in playgrounds nowadays. And then, walking home, there was the scent of burning incense paper in the air. The quiet streets of suburbia, and then strolling through the high-rise estate, and everywhere the smell of tradition. Seems like no matter how much we build and rebuild this city, the past will linger on.

Hist S lesson on Friday was fantastic. Chunlong had a great paper on Marx and Bismarck. That is one formidably analytical mind, and the arguments presented in the paper were clear and incisive. He's wanting to end up at Oxford. Seeing that kind of drive, I am more than willing to stand aside and wish him all the best =P Bah, here I go again about universities...Anyway, one last mention of universities then, because Mel's paper on cultural vs class identity woke up the old embers of interest in sociology. I always thought that studying people and societies and how they interact was an interesting prospect, until I actually read a sociology book, which made the whole thing seem as technical as economics. The same model-based approach, though with humans rather than economies. The approach goes against the fundamental notion that humans are too complex for models to adequately generalise. But her interest and passion in the subject has reawakened mine too...

Well, schoolwork aside, last week has been remarkably good. Was out with Joel yesteday night studying. Well, we really did study, after we chatted about universities =S Hmm...should not talk to HC people about universities, because they are all extremely driven, and you'll just end up intimidated and discouraged. Well, the good news is they're practically all going to Oxbridge, which means aiming for second-best would probably be safe =P We were saying yesterday that we must get to the UK next year, and through the PSC Scholarship. I do hope that I'd be able to do that. I have no doubt that Joel will end up in a UK university, even if he doesn't end up in Oxford. For my part, the crux of the problem will be that scholarship. All or nothing indeed. The hard part is definitely in getting there.

Anyway, it is useful to study with Joel...kind of like intellectual jogging, because he just motors on in analysing all the coursework. Was very impressed with his New Imperialism work yesterday...very detailed self-styled notes (unfortunately all handwritten), and he could carry out an argument on the spur of the moment, leaving me huffing behind, trying to warm up as fast as possible =P That guy is eminently prepared for the exams, and he is aimed at greater things indeed.

And to top it all off, it's always nice to see him again =P

Also saw Andre on Friday. Picked him up while Chern, Mel and me were on the way to J8 for lunch. We ended up in Yoshinoya, and naturally, since he's on his way to Cambridge, we talked about universities. Buuuut besides that we also found ourselves delving into childhood. Heh...I think my childhood was rather deprived. Thinking back now, the previous few years have been so memorable that my childhood memories all seem to be whitewashed in comparison. Hmm...I figure it's because of the lack of girls in my family. So we didn't do all those funky things that the girls were reminiscing about. Anyway. Was rather cool to see someone who actually came back from abroad. Another aim for next year: to get to the UK and visit Andre at Trinity College =P

As things turned out, managed to catch up with YS on Wed afternoon, and griped to her about my non-qualification for MLC (you start to get the impression of how repetitive my conversations have been for the last week...). Hmm...I do hope that she can get to do what she wants to do in university. It tends to be on the idealistic side, what she wants to do, but then again, I can't forget the indulgence that MLC represents for me. Anyway, after the prerequisite university update, we were talking about the Taiwanese exchange people in RJ. Heh, was remarking that it was so easy to spot the Taiwanese among the crowd of Singaporean students. And indeed, it is strange to be without Taiwanese (or anybody) to host for this National Day. Feels...not right. Especially after last year's combined Frexprog-Texprog thing. Ahh...those were fantastic days. Perhaps even the best days ever. I'm pining for something to do, someone to talk to, someone from a strange new place, to distract me from the routine of studying and worrying about next year.

Anyway, to my surprise, also got to catch up with Jes. After Mr. Hodge's Slug Club meeting on Wed. We ended up at the interchange Macs griping about scholarships and yes, universities too made an appearance. But I was rather glad that we had a consensus not to dwell on it. After all, it's been like a year or so since I last had a proper talk with her, and to spend it all on the stupid university issue would have been such a waste. Heh, actually, to tell the truth, we spent a lot of time laughing at the prospect of a PSC Scholarship. Put in perspective, it really is quite ridiculous, all the trouble that you have to go through to win a chance to sell your soul to the government. Phew...haven't laughed that much in a really long time.

It's a bit strange, I guess...we started out by agreeing to take turns complaining to each other, and ended up drawing stares because we were falling out of our chairs, almost =P But I do hope that she has more confidence in herself. And that she doesn't stress herself out so much. Since we're all stuck in this studying cycle anyway, we should try our best to enjoy as much of it as possible. It's important to keep a sense of perspective about things, otherwise we'll all drive ourselves nuts.

Yep...so that's it, the important bits of last week. I can't believe that the university issue kept intruding. We really must talk about something else next week. Maybe the fireworks will distract us. Heh, but the conversation topics aside, was rather surprised that I could catch up with so many people last week. All these old friends...they make me feel safe. Needed. Wanted, even. Was reflecting the other day on the train that I'm reaping the benefits of the wide social foundations I built in secondary school. But that would be too arrogant. The reason why I find myself with such a broad base of friends is not due to my careful planning, but the accident of relationships, the generous and warm-hearted responses of others to me. I'm indebted to their goodwill and sincerity. And once again, I wonder at how things have come to this, how I have fortunately ended up at this conducive intersection of experiences, of personalities.

Well...shall not get any more sentimental than I already am. I love my friends. And I thank them all for their friendship.

pondered by phoenican @ 7.8.05