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Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Has it been 8 years since I alighted from my Primary Sch school van?

Has it been 4 years since I've tasted my last Cedar Xiao Ji Tui?

Has it been 2 years since I've last worn a school uniform?

Today's the first day of school for Primary, Secondary and JC kids (and of cos, not forgetting the semi-adults in BOON LAYYY). Once again, I saw the familiar school vans and buses zipping around the estate picking up anxious/sian/crying students. (some with their crying parents. hur) Brought back memories of myself. I took the school bus for 6 years in Primary school. HEY I was once their size! ... and then I discovered food. HAHA

Some school buses have an Auntie who is armed with a cane, prepared to threaten any misbehaving child. The job of the school-bus Auntie is a mighty stressful one, cos she's in charge of making sure the kid's on the bus and not left in school and failure to do so will result in stressed out parents and a wailing kid. Other than that, a school-bus Auntie also has the job of taming monkeys. She has to maintain order on the bus. Cos a bus load of screaming and fighting children will only succeed in driving the Bus Uncle crazy which will want to make him ram the bus into a tree (which we all know is very no gooddd). So as you can imagine, the job of a school-bus Auntie entails alot of shouting and blackmailing. Anyhow, it was like that in my ERA la. I don't know whether things have changed... hmmm

But I took a private van with no Auntie. And I remember about 4 years ago, there was news that a Sec school boy was knocked down by a Primary school van and was killed instantly on the spot. Whose fault was it I don't know, but I heard that the kids on the van were so traumatised that they had to be counselled etc. THEN I heard that the van that did the deed was the one I used to take! OMG!!!! I rememeber my Ah-Zek being very conscientious though he had to be the Uncle and Auntie at the same time. Maybe he was too careless, or maybe he was distracted without an Auntie to help him control the rowdy kids. So children, see how crucial the job of a school-bus Auntie is?

I saw little boys in their pristen white shirt and tiny blue shorts. HUR HUR. Their white shirt is not gonna remain white for long!! Pre-assembly, recess and after-school CATCHING sessions are sure to stain the shirts. GROSSSsss! I have 2 cousins starting their first day in Primary school today. HUR HUR. Ah Bu-lu is going to Raffles Girls Primary while Lil Weijun is going to PeiHua I believe. Welcome to the world of 5 stones/catching, homework, buying your own food for the first time (read: endless ice cream and hot dogs that your parents DON'T have to know about!), exams and bitching!

How was my first day in Cedar like? Hmmm I can't remember except that all new students would be in their VERY blue Cedar shirts and skirts that were past knee length. I later found out that your skirt length is inversely proportionate to your level. The higher the level you are, the higher your hem would go!

In VJC, it was Orientation all the way. Recall Suntec City dinners outside Courts and everyone risking being ousted. Recall preparations for Night-O. Recall mass dances and outdoor games (some YAY some YUCKS). Recall masses of girls exchanging their Sec sch uniforms for someone elses. Recall seeing some Ah Lian wear the Cedar U, seething and thinking that it was atrocious for some outsider to tarnish our uniform like that! Thinking back, I would had forced myself to enjoy more during Orientation cos Week 2 marked the start of the tumultuous life of a JC student.

When I was a non-tertiary student, I remember complaining about how early it was EVERY SINGLE day when I had to drag myself out from under the sheets. I remember telling myself 'ONLY 3 YEARS OF WAKING UP EARLY LEFT!' and 'Today is a great day!' in order to pysch myself up for school. Now when I look back, I'm actually envious of those folks who have to go to schoo. I mean, save for the bloody thick uniforms AND sweaty bodies AND jogging sessions that Cedar put us through AND the waking up early and the awful hair and glasses I had AND disgusting science lab classes AND scary exams, I actually loved it! Esp the celebrations during the festivities and events! Wad Chinese New Year la, Sports day la, National Day la, Teachers day la.... Occasionally you get the free ice-cream and early dismissal bell from VJ, WAH I MISS!!!

Ok, so Ruoying...SORRY HOR. You used to complain so much last time and couldn't wait to grow up right? Ok lor now let you grow up and you are STILL complaining. You're very hard to please u know?!... Yes la I know la. The Young are always thinking of growing up and the Older are always thinking of ways to retain their youth. SORRY LOR! Lost cause, fighting losing battle! ...NEXT!! haha.

I used to wonder why people say something as cliche as 'Time flies'. I guess to someone who is 14 yrs old, there wasn't much time to fly. But now as I get older (and riper. haha), I start to grasp that statement more firmly and appreciate every happy moment more.

I was born in 1985, entered Kindergarten in 1989.
Went to Maha Bodhi School in 1992 and graduated 6 years later in 1997.
Was accepted into Cedar Girls' the following year in 1998 and graduated with a O level certificate 4 years later in 2001.
Hopped on the train University-bound when I chose VJC and was distributed to 02A54.
Graduated 2 years later (thankfully) along with my peers. We are the Class of 2003!
Packed my bags for a faraway land with lofty ambitions in 2004, and am currently a 2nd year student in 2006.
The day I turn legal will be on the 6th of April 2006 (BAH!)
Will be graduating (most probably) with a BA, Hospitality Business in December 2007.

So far, thats all that I know of. SEEEEE when you split up the years, you realise that time REALLY zoomed past us. A few years here and another few years there... WHAT HAPPENED TO MY YOUTH?! Scary eh? And some of you... those in 3 yr course in NTU or those not doing double degree or honors, your 'future' will starting May 2007! hurrrr hurrrrrr. Remember today when I did this semi timeline, will do it again after Dec 2007. (dun come so fast pleaseeeeeee)
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