Out With The Old, In With The New (Part 1).
As some of you might know, I changed course from the Science stream in 2005 to the Arts stream of 2006. The trials and tribulations (pardon the cliche) of last year was a main reason why I wanted to make this blog. Someone has to record what happened to me, what I did, and how I felt last year, even if no one reads it. Because one day I'll read it, and I'll laugh like someone watching a Simpsons marathon over how stupid I and others have been.
This entry, however, is not the story of last year. (Slight Douglas Adams reference for you Hitchhiker-heads)
This entry is an attempt to assess my new class. 06A05 has a double meaning nowadays. We have the 06A05 hardcore...and we have the 06A05 hardcore plus some people added in. For purposes of clarity, let the hardcore be called...um...the core batch shall we? And the class right now be simply A05.
Stick with me, it gets simpler.
Let's wind back the clock to a time before Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face with a shotgun, when Liverpool was still in the Champions League, and before there were riots in both the Phillipines and Thailand. Let the mind's eye view...the first day of Orientation 1.
I can recall it quite clearly. There came a call in the middle of the night before.
Mysterious caller: Hey, is this Sulaiman.
Me: Um, yeah. Who is this?
MC: I'm your new OGL.
Me: OGL? What's th- oh. Right. Orientation.
MC: Yes, the orientation. Your group is Beatles 10.
Me: The Beatles? Really? (At this point my current interest in the Beatles had not reached its full extent, but I was still somewhat a fan. Blame Nata.)
MC: Yup. Bring 20 bucks. Goodbye.
Me: Twenty dollars? For what? Oh...you hung up...
After pleading with maternal parent for the required cash the next morning, I arrived at tpjc with a vague sense of dread like always. I said hi to my usual morning table-mate (hey Jeffrey) and we discussed the merits vs the pitfalls of an orientation. Jeff assured me it would not be bad as I thought.
I really, REALLY hoped he was right.
The bell goes. Various cyan-clad students drifted towards the direction of the parade square. I even took two steps to it until I remembered. You're J1 now boy. Go to the hall.
I wandered into the hall trying to look nonchalant, or as nonchalant as a terrified 6-foot Asian man clad in the uniform of a J2 can be while listening to 'Highway to Hell' on his iPod. After a few agonizing moments, I saw familiar faces. The resident Mats were all apparently OG leaders, and this was good news. However, the resident Mats had decided to all take charge of the ABBA group. Which was not so good.
A couple of high-fives with Ariff and Amad later, I found the Beatles, and the mystery caller of the previous night.
Me: Hey Filzah. It's me, I'm in your group.
F: (Vaguely interested) Oh right. Hello.
Me: Hey! Is that John, Paul, Ringo and George? (Referring to the sign she held)
F: You actually know their names?
Well alright. No small talk here.
I decided to abandon OG 10 for OG 9 cos me mate Hadi was leading the Nines. On retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have. And oh yes, I didn't find out Emily was in OG 10 until much later.
To Be Continued...
Finn Solomon 5:26 PM
PROFILE
Sulaiman Daud a.k.a. Finn Solomon a.k.a. Dark Solomon, emo boy.
Liverpool FC die-hard. Rafael Benitez is my master.
Arts Student of Tampines College
Fortunate member of the best academic class in Singapore- 06A05
Reporter for the TODAY Newspaper
Fairly liberal Muslim
Technophobe
Quite possibly the biggest Stephen King/Terry Pratchett fanatic in the world
Lover of classic rock- The Beatles, Guns N' Roses, The Who, Led Zeppelin and AC/DCtag
Gemini- This might explain the days when I am insufferably moody. And also the days when I am wildly optimistic.
Dragon- The Chinese Zodiac is intriguingly accurate in its assessment of my character.
Shares a special bond with a special girl from Texas, an amazing woman in Madrid, the erudite psycho of Tampines, an amusing Egyptian and the classy rock lady in Canada, a great friend from the Phillipines, a lovely lass from Venezuela, another one in Sheffield, and the coolest of dudes from Miami, Minnesota and London.
If for some reason any of you are reading this, you know who you are. Thanks.
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