NO MORE WRITTEN REPORT

(Theophilus-inspired: "And I want to thank God for my friends.")

Having to work with peers for A Level Project Work has resulted in a lot of strained friendships in a number of PW groups. I've witnessed a lot of bitching about groupmates, a lot of tension and annoyance at one another.

And because of that, I'm even more grateful for how my PW group turned out to be.

I remember shouting in disbelief and feeling hot agitated tears springing to my eyes when Mdm Ng announced that Chen and I were going to be in the same group. That was shortly after Chen had said that he was hoping he'd be in the same group as Karen the Saikang Warrior, because I'd be doing all the work (thank goodness that didn't turn out to be the case). I was a tad jealous at the group that had Amelia and Geraldine and other fun friends in it.

And now, although our work might not turn out to be as immaculate as some other groups', and although our group might not seem as dedicated to PW as the others, and although we're really last-minute, I can confidently say that I'm really, really happy with my PW group.

Chen and Nazi can be hilarious when they're with each other, and Nazi and Sarah are so hilarious together too. With all the jokes about Nazi's hair and perpetual drunk state, and Chen's horribly mean jokes ("I don't wanna eat bugs!") and Sarah's F-bombs. Sarah's and my exasperation when Chen and Nazi were on Facebook throughout the PW lessons, but we sorta get stuff done somehow anyway. Okay we are a very last-minute-rush-stuff-out group, but it was a good journey. We all went into panic-mode recently, and I haven't gotten more than 3 hours' sleep on a weekday in two weeks.

(OP-whacking at Chen's place, but we hardly got stuff done.)

So today was the Written Report submission day - we've named it Kanchiong Day.

We were still panicking and editing stuff in the morning, and we were only finished with the WR at around 2.15pm (thanks to OP prelims), around three hours before the submission deadline. Panicked and cabbed to Buona Vista MRT station to get the stuff printed and binded at Zap Zap Copy (for the record, the cab fare was $2.80) but the computers there were lagging or something, so we cabbed to Queensway.

Printing the colour copy cost us more than $60 while the monochrome copy cost us $4 to print.

I think we were all mentally malfunctioning; it was such a stressful time, yet we were laughing all over the place. Cabbed back to school and emerged from the taxi laughing ourselves silly because we were abusing Sarah's obligation to pay for the fare.

Then we realised we had binded the Group Project File's cover page to the WR instead of the WR cover page.

There was so much running around and frazzledness it was just so funny. Kanchiong Day.

SEE OUR PRIDE AND JOY, THE WR ON THE TABLE

It's just been an interesting journey. Some groups, I guess, consisted of people too hungry for that A grade, so they did whatever it took to produce the best work ever for PW, but friendships got strained in the process. I think in our group's case, we have been brought closer together. It's cool, and although PW is still a sleep-stealer and ultimate sucker, I'm glad for what it did for us.

PI is no longer 22/7 in JC - it's 24/7.

It's freaking 4.30am now and I'm supposed to get up at 5 to go to school, my PI's still too lengthy and the perfectionist me wants to do a nice nice final draft with nice text boxes and all that rubbish. I still have to print it all.

I can't afford to sleep (that much) in classes anymore... I'll get picked on. "You, Council nominee!" Stupid PI.

You know what?

PW is going to be awesome. My group and I. I don't care. We'll make it awesome. During PW, Chen gave cool ideas and Sarah was cool and I, for some reason, immediately switched on the computer to take notes about our different personality traits and stuff, and I think I'll make a good secretary. YES, I SHAN'T BE THE GROUP LEADER, MUAHAHA.

I shall be happy and contented and thankful to God for what he's given me and the lessons He'll be teaching me, and I'll try my very best to be less kanchiong.

-

11pm: You know what, I was thinking about it and I realised this group actually isn't bad at all. In fact I'm actually happy with my group. I'm glad I'm not in the same group as my close friends either (although the fact that all of them are in the same group is still annoying me), because when I'm stressed or irritated I show my ugly side, and my closest friends don't deserve to have to deal with that. Or maybe I'm a little insecure with the friendships because they're still quite new - after all, if I had a choice to do a tough, stressful project with people like Maddie and Jan, they know they're going to get screamed at by me but I'll definitely want to do it with them anyway, 'cos I know we love us no matter what.

But anyway. I still love us all AC friends. To the max.

Anyway, yeah, I actually think our group isn't bad at all. Serious, meticulous, focused freaks like Sarah and I need Chen and Nazi (and I mean the two of them together) to help us loosen up when we're too stressed from time to time. And Sarah will make sure things get done. And I don't care, we'll make a great team.

PW woes

I'm in the same group as Nazi, Sarah and Chen.

I screamed real hard when I realised Chen was in my group and he went "YES! I'VE GOT THE SAIKANG WARRIOR!" but I actually think Chen isn't as bad as I make him out to be lah, I'm sure he'll contribute ideas and do what he has to. But I might get irritated when I see him stoning in a corner although that's actually what he does when he's thinking.

The thing is, both Sarah and Chen say that when they get angry, what they want others to do is to leave them alone and they'll get what they're supposed to do done. When I'm angry, though, it's because I'm not fully aware of what's going on or if we're doing things right and I need people to respond to me. And I'll end up drilling endlessly and talking in a very agitated voice. What a horrible combination. That means all of us must not be angry at the same time or we'll just die.

I think I'm quite a control freak because I'm quite a perfectionist. I'm usually also really stubborn and I have to change that. I'm always afraid we aren't doing things right or they could be done better and I guess that's why I always feel the need to be in the know.

Nevermind, no point worrying about that now. I need to learn to relax.

Geraldine, Amelia and Elgyn are in the same PW group. Together with Dave and Grace. I have VERY VERY few close friends in ACJC and I just hope that as Geraldine, Amelia and Elgyn hang out together a lot more and meet up with one another much more and I'm not there, our friendship won't become distant.

Breaking out breaking out breaking out of my comfort zone. It's a good thing, right? I don't know. Yes, I do want to forge stronger friendships with others in the class and my PW group is giving me the chance to do that, but I don't want to lose the closeness I have to those I'm already good friends with because they're in the same PW group which means they'll be doing things together a lot more too.


KAREN, RELAX

Sometimes, cheap thrills actually last

Sheena: She said she doesn't want to go for swimming today.

Dave: Aiyah can lah, she can just tell the coach that she has PMS what.

EPIC! Dave thought PMS meant period hahahahaha. Our class is too much of a joke.

(That's why I'm in it.)

Today was hilarious. With Chen's biting-bottom-lip-and-winking crap and how he pushed Elgyn against the wall like as if he was going to kiss him. Hilarious. Elgyn's horrified expression was epic, the squeezing shut of eyes and turning away and immediate total tensing up as he tried to push himself as much as he could against the wall. Stupid Chen hahaha.

Before assembly today, my wonderful orientation group and I met at the void deck to sing Chris a birthday song and to try Cheryl's cool pancakes!! (And in the end, Cheryl was the latest to arrive because she overslept -.-) Walked with Ching Sheng to school and he commented that Cheryl talks like a "drunk Caucasian" HAHAHAHA. I love my OG and meeting them today for half an hour was cool, even though the 3 "sources of laughter" - Avi, Wesley and Tim - weren't here.

Miss Tan's reaction to my 960 word-long Tia essay (it was supposed to be 200 words):

I just realised I made a few horrible mistakes in my "essay". I shouldn't have assumed Tia went to school because the girls probably didn't go to school then and there; there is no mention of school before Antoinette joins the convent after she leaves the town! And Tia's emotions towards Antoinette seem to change too drastically. I think they do. I mean, the reason they change so quickly is because of her mood swing - everything becomes negative when you're moody - but I don't know if the point's carried across well. And the change is too drastic. I shouldn't have added the first "pathetic-looking". Bahhh.

PROJECT WORK PRELIMINARY IDEAS PROGRESS:

I've thought of an idea but have yet to find the case studies and link stuff and whatever. Today's actually the only day I have to really get things done. Tomorrow's the Council interview (ahh!) and Janice's band concert, and Thursday's dance till 8, and Friday's the deadline. Die die die. Chen says he hopes I'm in his group. I told him that if he's in my group, the number of times I pray for peace per day will increase drastically 'cos only God would be able to help me get through PW with Chen in my team.