Cry For Me, America

They weren't kidding when they said that American Idol was going to be focusing on the contestant's lives to make them more sympathetic to viewers. The attempted sob stories just keep coming on like a relentless tide.

Sob Story 1 - The wife of a man dies 4 weeks before the audition. He doesn't know if he has the strength to go on. The world held its collective breath as we waited anxiously to hear if he could actually sing (cause it would be a really horrid story if he couldn't). Thankfully, he could, and it was a golden ticket for him.

Sob Story 2 - A hippie's daughter and son are left orphans when their parents died. She says that if she doesn't get through to Hollywood, life would have no meaning left for her and she wouldn't know what to do. Those hippies sure are a dramatic bunch. How about, gee, I don't know, get a job?! Like everyone else? Her singing wasn't that good, but she still got through. She did a very unglamorous jig around the audition room when she received 4 yes-es. (Seriously, Simon... You're losing your touch...)

Sob Story 3 - A young single mother with a tattoo has a 2 year old baby boy that's as cute as her tattoo is scary. She just got divorced with her husband, and singing is apparently the only way out for her. She did a very interesing jazz song that I really liked. It was unlike any audition I had ever seen before, and the judges seem to think so too (fine. I think so cause the judges think so.)

Inspiring Story - Or at least, that's what it tried to be. 17 year old high school student, Austin Sisneros, isn't just like any other student. In fact, he's the senior class president! Oh wow! He's so amazing and he even gets to paste fliers around the school and plan the annual school dance. Even better, he has study sessions with his classmates! The way he goes at it, it's as if he was THE President instead of a senior class president. Apparently he thinks his auditioning is supposed to inspire people that they can do the same. How amazing. 7 seasons of American Idol with millions of people signing up, and suddenly now we need him to come inspire people to take part. The rest of them were forced to join, were they?

Finally, it would be the more exciting Hollywood rounds next week. Contestants would be teamed up, and they would have to rehearse and perform with their team mates. This is usually very exciting as you get to see contestants fight it out (literally) with each other when they disagree on ways to deliver the song. May the best claws win!

Bull'dozing In The New Year

Here we are again. The season married people regret the day they said 'I Do', and children (and 40-year-old-virgins) rejoice. It's the most wonderful time of the year (not ripping-off the Christmas song), or the most ghastly, depending on which side of the ang-pow you're on. It's also the time of year when people think it's acceptable to wear bright red costumes and parade around, showing off their mandarin oranges. As for me, I always like to wear black to keep people grounded and remind them that there are still people struggling in the world. I see it as a selfless act of heroism, they see it as being rude. People...

So, as we are all aware, this year is the year of the Ox. Ironically enough, it's the year we're least likely to experience the same, economic-wise. People still like to remain hopeful, though. I really admire their spirit. It's like nothing can put a dent in their shield of eternal optimism. Can hardly blame them, though. Two shots of wine down and you can hardly feel anything, much less a dwindling figure in the stock markets.

My lunar new year, as always, involves plently of rented movies, chocolates, and strangers. On the eve of new year, my dad's PhD students would come have dinner (this year there's around 15 of them) 'cause they're from overseas and hence don't have a family to go back to. My mom would cook and we would all have a great time. My great time was spent apart from them, of course. While they were out in the living room drinking themselves silly, I would hide in the master bedroom to watch movies. I forgot to rent movies this year, so I watched Charlie's Angels for the tenth time, stuffing my face with chocolate truffles while admiring Cameron Diaz's perfect roundhouse kick. I then watched a little of Beyonce's wembley concert, but was interupted and had to walk the dog. By the time I got back, my sis and her fiance had hijacked the TV and were watching Rush Hour 2. Since I don't get to spend much time with them, I didn't insist on switching back to the concert and instead settled down with them to watch idiocy at its best.

My new year's day was pretty much similiar. My sis' fiance came over and we took our first annual-family-photo together. It does feel nice, having someone new around instead of the same boring four of us. It does get pretty monotonous when none of your other relatives are around. My ang-pow earnings, as a result, are always minimal.

We then went over to a family-friend's place for lunch, and my friend and I watched a total of 4 hours of Alias, 2 hours of Friends, and episode of Charmed and 1.5 hours of X Men 3. Thanks to the alcohol consumed at lunch (and while watching the shows) my head began to hurt a little, and by the time X Men 3 came on I was practically wishing for the annoying Professor X to get killed. But right after that there was a funeral and everyone was so sad, and that made me feel a little guilty for cursing their beloved old man to death.

So yeah.. That's what it's like on lunar new year for someone who's relatives are not in immediate proximity. For me, 'new year' is spelt b-o-r-i-n-g, but at least I still get to receive m-o-n-e-y. So apprecitate all your aunties and uncles, cousins and grandparents more, and love them doubly hard when you see them the next time. Yes, even the annoying one who pinches your cheek.

Happy new year!

Britney's Provocative 3rd Single

Britney's third single, 'If You Seek Amy', apparently has nothing to do about Amy Winehouse. Sure, the song sings about 'Amy' partying, sniffing drugs and dodging paparazzi (though her attempts would be seriously thwarted by that big hair of hers. They probably don't even have to look very hard for her. Just follow the black mess.). However, all that talk about wanting to drink with 'Amy' turns out to be just an excuse for Britney to sing 'all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to If You Seek Amy.' Doesn't make much sense? Well say it quickly and it becomes '... begging to F-U-C-K me.' Hah.. Now it's all cleared up.

Parents that are too uptight to take a joke are making much noise about it. They heard their precious little daughters singing 'eff you see kay me' and flipped. The funny thing is, the little darlings probably wouldn't even know what they were singing until their less-than-innocent parents heard it. And by making such a big fuss out of it, it surely and definitely made 'all the boys and all the girls' want to hear it even more. What better way to ensure someone would want to do something other than to ban it? Oh well... sexual education was always the more intruiging when it was independent study, anyways.

And here I was, wondering why there's no more news from Britney after the release of the 'Circus' video, when she sets free the ultimatum of sexual innuendos upon the world. Katy Perry was getting more attention than was comfortable for Britney with her provacative 'I Kissed A Girl' (there's a hilarious spoof by Cobra Starship called 'I Kissed A Boy' that's much more entertaining than the original.), so she left Britney no choice but to up the provocativeness. And she wasn't even swearing in the song, just 'innocently' singing the title. Looks like someone's got to up their game if she's gonna keep up with Britney ;)

Here comes the President, all dressed for (the) White (house).

The day we've all been waiting for- 20th of January. The day Bush is unceremoniously thrown out of the White House, and Barack Obama is welcomed in with open arms. The day Obama sheds the 'elect' from 'President- elect' and fully becomes President. Just in the nick of time, I would say. Bush would probably have pulled in alien planets to join in the lovely economic dive if he was given another week.

Obama certainly knows how to party in style. His inauguration is kicked off by Bruce Springsteen in the morning celebration, themed 'We Are One'. Celebrities who can't sing read history from a teleprompter, and those who can, sang. Mary J Blige, Shakira, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder were among those who could sing. Of course, some who couldn't any more still vailantly attempted, Bono from U2 being a fine example of such bravery. But the bravest had to be the sargeant who sang the National Anthem at the start of the event. It must take real guts to sing the last word wrongly, being such a high commanding officer.

The nightime event was the one everyone was waiting for, though. Stars such as Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Faith Hill, Beyonce and Stevie Wonder (again. This guy's got some serious free time.) were there to perform, among others.

Mariah sang the new version of Hero (cause she says it's totally appropriate for Obama) and was amazing at it, especially the belts. She no longer does the 'whole song almost belting' thing, 'cause I doubt her voice can stand that after years of hardcore usage. She still belted a bit here, though, and the diva actions (sadly the hand flutters were limited due to the straps on her dress) that have been missing for the past few performances are starting to creep back. Seems like someone hasn't tamed the diva after all.

Beyonce was treated like a lounge singer, and she was made to sing 'At Last' for the First Couple's first dance as a First Couple. The lyrics SHOULD have gone like this:

At Last
A real President has come along
We all can rest in peace
And life is like a song
Oh yea, at last
Bush's bullshit rules are out too
My wallet was running low on cash
Due to the recession caused by you

That would have been much more suitable for the night. After all, it's not everyday we get to chase an ex-president out of office.

Obama is certainly keeping the economy in circulation. US$40 million was spent for the entire event, and 2 million people turned up. A total of 19 thousand law enforcers were hired to enforce security, and 18 thousand volunteers turned up to help out. Definitely the grandest event that would ever be held this year. What other event would use as many as 12 thousand eggs for food? That's gotta be a sign of a sure winner.

See you in office!

American Idol: It's Back!

After a few months' hiatus, American Idol is finally back with its eight's season, premiering on 14 Jan. Season 7 has delivered an amazing singer (David Archuleta) and an amazingly idiotic choice of a winner (David Cook), so I could hardly wait to see what season 8 would bring.

Season 8 kicks off in Arizona, with Ryan standing dangerously close to the edge of the Grand Canyon and earnestly delivering the lines that Idol executives painstakingly drafted. "American Idol isn't about the destination. It's about the journey." It's followed by a stream of people staring into the camera and each delivering their version of "I am the next American Idol." My favorite part was when they showed a clip of some Archuleta's fan's reactions when he lost last year. A bloodcurling scream that shook the grounds, that's what it was. The group of incosolable girls promptly burst into tears and threw world-class tantrums. I'm quite sure Cook wouldn't be very happy watching this video. ("That loser! How could they choose that loser! AHHHH!!! Eff American Idol!!!)


Are you happy now, Cook? Look at what you made girls resort to.


This year's American Idol has been changed slightly. There's a new permanent judge, Kara Dioguardi. She's a very sought-after song writer, and has been involved in writing songs for people like Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and David Archuleta. I was so excited to see how she would do as a judge. She's pretty strict with the recording artists, even daring to correct Celine on how to sing her song. You can see her in the photo (the only one who knows where to look when taking a picture.)

There would be fewer 'weirdo-auditions', and they would focus more on those who can actually sing. That doesn't mean that there arn't any nut-cases that auditioned, though. Far from it. There's one sweaty guy that was quaking in fear even before the audition (he subsequently proceeded to do some rasping singing, ala Golem from LOTR, and collapsed), and a rocker dude who cried before, during and after the audition ("I just want someone to say I'm great. Sniff."), and a girl who showed up in a bikini.

The bikini girl Katrina. The first audition in so many seasons that was bizzarre in so many ways. She shows up wearing that, and tries to sing Mariah's first single, Vision of Love. When Kara demonstrated how to sing that song with feeling and soul, she still had the nerve to say that Kara's wasn't any better. Paula got so agitated that the girl has such a bad attitude, and she teamed up with Kara to try and get the girl kicked out. It then turned into a sing-off between Kara and Katrina, and both of them were shouting the words at each other.But the sad fact that most guys are animals remain. The minute Simon and Randy see a girl in a bikini walk in, they probably already made up their minds to let her through. And since 2 yes-es get you to Hollywood, the slut got through. I wouldn't mind as much if she didn't choose a Mariah song. But show up like trailer park trash and sing one of Mariah's most important songs? What a disrespectful bitch. She'll see how Kara deals with her in the Hollywood round.

Other notable contestants include the blind guy Scott. They made such a big fuss about him, just because he's blind. Does that affect his singing at all? Maybe if he was mute, now that would be something to see. Ryan then tried to high-five him after he got his golden ticket, then realized that he was blind. He then went on and said 'SEE you in Hollywood'. Seriously. For a host, he's awfully insensitive.

Season 7's Jason Castro also made an appearance, but it wasn't him who auditioned (and he can't since he reached the undeserved number 4 spot last year), but his brother, Michael Castro. The pink haired dude proudly proclaimed to the judges that he only started singing 20 days before (obvious case of sibling rivalry) and said in the pre-audition interview that his brother was girly (which led to a very uncomfortable face-off between the brothers). His voice wasn't bad; stronger and edgier than his brother's. Simon said it was 'goodish', whatever that means, and Kara said he was 'ballsy'. and 'cocky' Which could be interpreted to have sexual connotations, but we'll pretend we don't know for now. She kept saying that she liked his 'mysterious' quality. A lot. Don't forget you have a boyfriend, Kara;) If Mike Castro makes it through Hollywood round, he would be the first sibling of a finalist to do so. But the real question is: what's up with the Castros and their hair?

Randy "I worked with Mariah' Jackson, Paula "You're all great" Abdul and Simon "That was utterly terrible" Cowell returns as judges, and together with Kara "you don't have the chops to sing that song" Dioguardi, they'll terrorize, exploit and lead the finalists towards the grand finale. Let's hope this season can have as many good singers, scandals and great mentors as before.

American Idol airs every wednesday and thursday, 6pm on Starworld (Channel 18), so check it out!

The Approach of the Nightmare

It's finally happened. Try as I might to deny its existence (screaming, kicking and throwing tantrums were involved), the first day of school really does exist after all. Not just the first day of any year, it's the first day of our A Level year. The year we being to forget what it's like to be irresponsible and carefree. The year we make our everlasting commitment with lovely stress. The year that we have to push ourselves so hard we forget the names of our loved ones. So forgive me if I'm not jumping around with glee and waving colorful streamers.

We receive our new timetables after assembly. With the exclusion of Chinese and Project Work, we now have a time table that seems for humane for student usage. All lessons end around 2, other than Monday when we have an adorable lesson from three to four thirty known as Cultural Studies. They're so cute in thinking that eighteen year olds would love to bring red packets and make lanterns with it. Oh my! I could hardly contain my excitement when they told us we even have to pay five whole bucks to 'learn from a master'! Oh jolly jolly. Six hours that I would never get back. Thanks so much, school. I feel so sad for all those thousands of students out that would never get the chance to spend Monday evening 'till 4.30 making delightful lanterns. How lucky that we can get to waste time in such a tasteful manner.

Oh, another splendid thing! We now have to sit according to register number in Math lectures! This school really never gives up on new ways to waste time. And the most amazing part of all, I have to sit isolated in another block 'cause that's the allocated seat for number 23. What else do they have to pleasantly surprise me with? I feel like I'm not afraid of anything anymore.

Oh yea. Our physics teacher has changed, and now it's this guy that every one says is half nuts. In a completely bad way. He apparently got rich from suing someone, hounds people for homework like a bloodhound and likes making girls tuck in their shirts till you can see the top of the skirt. Kind of like a straight version of a teacher we know and loved in BP. Can this day get any worse?

At least we still get to keep our Chemistry teacher. I was so worried the entire holidays that we're going to have to switch Chem teachers and have to deal with a completely different styled (no, not talking about hair) teacher. Luckily, we were notorious enough that no other teachers want us, so in a way our notoriety worked to our advantage.

One thing every teacher kept highlighting in those supposedly admin lessons (but we end up having proper lessons anyways) was that this year was going to be unbelievably hectic. They may say it in many different voices, many different threats, and many different ways, but the message is clear.

Hang on tight, 'cause it's gonna be a real bumpy ride.

Happy back to schools, everyone.

First Celebrity I Saw

January 8. 2009. Thursday.

Gotta remember this day well, 'cause it's the day I saw the wonderful Lea Salonga. And also the day I ate the worst pasta that ever existed, but let's not go into that, cause it brings back memories I've been trying hard to suppress.

Lea's starring in this musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Obviously, since she's the star, she's Cinderella. It doesn't actually matter what play it is, as long as Lea's in it, I'm watching it. So there we were, in our side view seats that gives people neck-aches. We later managed to switch to better seats after the intermission cause there were empty seats. This woman still came to ask us where our original seats were. Oh please. As if anyone's going to turn up now.

Lea's acting and singing in the play were all so awesome. In case you didn't already know, Lea is an award-winning Filipino singer and actress, and has been in plays such as Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and has released and been involved with over 20 albums and soundtracks. You might also know her as the original singing voice of Jasmine in the Disney cartoon, Aladin, and sung the song 'A Whole New World." So, of course, Lea was the biggest star there, and it was such an experience to see her perform.

The songs and the dancing in the play were all so cute, other than this 'Prince Is Giving A Ball' song. That one was truly annoying. All they did was to keep repeating 'The Prince is giving a ball!! The Prince is giving a ball!!'. Like, we got that the first twenty times, alright?

They slightly tweaked the storyline a little. In this one, Cinderella is the one who actively asked her godmother to grant her her wishes, although she didn't know that her godmother is magical and has been around for four hundred years. Also, they put more emphasis on the interaction between her and the prince at the ball. Afterwards, when the Prince is looking for her to try on the shoe, he almost failed but the fairy godmother intervened, proclaiming that 'humans can be so dull!".

The story is also slightly modernized; the king is worried about spending so much money on the ball due to the economic crisis, and he tells the prince that a girl that doesn't speak much could actually be a good thing after a few years in marriage.

The costumes were really dazzling, the sets not that much. I was quite disappointed by the palace scene. Also, it would be better if Lea didn't just wear those two costumes, the rags and the ballgown, but seeing as how she's supposed to be a servant-girl, I'll forgive them.

I really enjoyed myself at the play. It was a light-hearted, fun, a little nonsensical at times, and a great way to spend an evening. Music, dance and Lea Salonga. What could be better?

My Favorite British Show in the World

Where have all these fantastic shows been hiding? I've come to light of this amazing show from Britian, called Skins. It's about the lives of 7 British teenagers, and their struggles as they try to make sense of it all. It's a comedy (or so they claim), but you would have to be really sick if you laugh when one of their mothers leave, or their fathers die, or one of them get hit by a bus and become mentally impaired.

So yea, you see the general atmosphere of the show.

Each episode is focused on one character of that group of friends, and you really go indepth into their lives to see how each of them are dealing (or failing to deal) with life. The characters are so well developed, and none of them are the typical one dimensional characters you see on TV. They all have a side you can love, and also a side you can hate. The main guy is popular and hot, but there is also a side to him that is dangerously manipulative and cunning. His best friend is warm and kind, but also cluelessly heartless to the girl that likes him. None of them are really who they seem on the outside, and you pick up clues to that as the show progresses.

One thing that very clear to me as I was watching the series, was how twisted and sadistic the writers were. Every character is brutally punished by life; Chris' whole family has left him, and he's homeless and jobless and schoolless. Jal's mom has left them, and her dad is a shameless womanizer. Sid's mom is in love with another man, and his dad died right after they made up. Tony finally managed to get Michelle to forgive him, but he gets knocked down by a bus and forgets her existence. It's like no one is safe out there.

Another thing that struck me was how consistent the quality was. Every single episode was crucial and fast-paced, and they dont waste any time at all trying to 'drag' the a show to it's full forty five minutes. Each episode is shocking and really delivers a blow to you. It's though provoking, and makes you ponder about your own life, and reflect on their mistakes.

I was so heartbroken when I found out that the whole cast was going to be replaced by a new bunch. Apparantly they claim that the current cast was getting too old to play teenagers, and most of them arn't even 20 yet. Looks like someone's hinting to Gossip Girl...

The show is also utterly provocative and can be disturbing if you're not used to seeing people parade around half or completely naked on TV. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Jesse to play Prince Zuko...?

I just discovered the most insane piece of news.. In the movie adaptation of the hit Nickelodeon series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jesse McCartney has been offered the role of Prince Zuko, and he is currently in negotiations for the role.

Now if you've never watched the show before, it may not seem very shocking, but fans of the cartoon will know what I'm talking about. The Fire nation (sort of like the Nazis of WWI) are attacking the others (Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe- Air Nomads have already been wiped out) and Prince Zuko is the official heir to the throne of Fire Nation. There is only one person who is powerful enough to defeat the king of the Fire nation, and that person is the Avatar (this little monk person). Zuko was exiled from his own country, so he's on the mad rampage to capture the Avatar. Basically, he's nuts, shoots fire from his hands, is consumed by anger which makes him evil, and has really really bad hair.

Now think of Jesse McCartney. See my point?

Plus, almost every character in the series is either Asian or Inuit, but the director - M Night Shyamalan - has idiotically decided to use white actors for all the leads. He has even cast Jasper from Twilight as the bumbling idiot Eskimo boy. This might seem strange for any other director, but we must keep in mind that this is the very man who brought us 'The Village' (a movie about crazy animals that eat people in a village), 'Lady In The Water' (a movie about a crazy animal chasing a crazy woman that lives in a swimming pool), and 'The Happening' (a movie about crazy trees that make people go crazy and kill themselves). So, considering that, his decision seems perfectly normal. Casting Caucasions for Asian roles. What's the big diff, other than the fact that it's completely different from the series?

I adore Jesse, but it's just not very right for him to play the role of a deranged fire-manipulating boy. It's not right (and no, Whitney, it's not okay either).


This... to this?

---------->>>

Ramblings of Cassie

I like boys on swings and girls on skateboards.
I like pharmaceutical wrappers.
I like people in hats with big eyebrows.
I like people in hats with big eyebrows and big mustaches.
I like water caught in spiders webs.
I like wearing all my clothes at once.
I like people who don't smile. Ever.
And I like people who smile.
I like hair that goes on and on.
And I love food.

In a way, I love everything.
'Love' is less of a thing... less distinct, less particular.
I like things that I like, but I love everything.
It has more choice than like.
There are even the worst things with things to love about them.
I love things so much sometimes I feel like I can float away... that's wrong.

I hate shoes.
I hate people who change their voices when they say something important.
I hate my thighs.
I hate war.
I hate swimming costumes that cling.
I hate dripping taps... but I also sort of love dripping taps.
I hate invitations
I hate this.

Wow... sorry...

Incredible, isn't it? It's the transcript of a Skins' character's video blog. She's this mentally ill patient, but what she says is so deep and insightful. This is probably one of the best scripts the Skins writers have come up with. It's so true that everything has something to love about it, but you won't necessarily like it.

The March

(The phone rings. 'Beautiful Soul' ring tone plays.)

"Hello?"

"James, you free tomorrow morning?"

"Yea... Why?"

"Tomorrow you're gonna come with us for the march back to the new BP campus!"

"I am?"

"Yeah! It'll be like before, meeting in the morning... taking the bus... Then we can tour the new campus."

(Thinking of having to wake up at 6.30am...)

"Sigh.. Alright then. Meet you at the bus station. What bus did we use to take again?"

*

So at 6.30 am, my annoyingly accurate cellphone alarm began playing 'Don't Love You No More', and I reluctantly allowed Craig's voice to pull me out of unconsciousness. It had been almost 2 months since I last woke up so early, and more than 2 years since I woke up this early with BP as my destination. I dressed and ate slowly, giving my blurry head some time to clear up before I tried to leave the house. I could get myself killed if I tried to cross any roads in this state.

Damian was already at the bus station by the time I reached. If it had been 2 years ago, we would already be panicking and rushing about trying to decide if we should abandon the bus queue and try to look for a taxi. But since we were returning as the all important and precious alumni, we didn't have a care in the world about time as we took our time getting to the boarding berth and onto the bus to our favorite seats.

The bus ride was much longer than I had grown accustomed to. The five minute rides that I took to school now seemed so much (and was in fact very) short as compared to the 25 minute ride. As per usual, one of us would supply the music (through a player, not through singing), and we would sit in the freezing bus listening to the songs.

The walk to the school from the bus stop was exactlly how I remembered it, though, again, if it was 2 years ago, we would be running to school instead of strolling to it, as the morning bell (a spastic version of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'') chimes merrily, as if mocking us with its false cheer.

The students (oh bless their little colorful selfs!) were all sitted in the assembly ground by the time all the alumni (there were probably more alumni than there were teachers) got there. The principal was talking about how the march was a tradition, but I wondered if it was the right word to use, since we had never marched back before. Nevertheless, the little students lapped it all up and drank in all their lies about how the alumni took time off studying (yeah right) to come visit them and support them. All we wanted to do was see what the school built, using the money we raised.

And so the march began, and the students set off. We all felt strangely nostalgic to that rundown jungle of a school as we see the students walk right out of it. We contemplated stopping them and making them all come back. They thought I was joking.

The alumni were the last to set off. It was after we set off did we see what a pathetic march it really was. Everyone was constricted to the small sidewalks, and the crossing of roads made progress so slow. A disabled, paralyzed old man could have challenged us to a race, and he would have won.

Two minutes after setting off, we began plotting our escape. The craving for bubble-tea was getting to our heads, and so we abandoned the march at the first traffic light and took off. After getting out delicious apple-green teas with the nice and chewy black tapioca balls, we hopped on a bus that took us all the way to Lot 1. Seeing how we were already cheating, we decided to cheat some more and took another bus that took us all the way to the school.

We were on the bus when we saw the first glance of the new building. The admin building was expanded, and it looked just like in the poster (before the colors faded) they hung at the holding site. Since we were so much faster than those slow poke alumni, we had to wait 'till they were right in front of the school before we cut in and pretended to be walking all along.

It was an unbelievable experience, stepping back into the school that was both familiar, yet foreign. The lobby was crowded with people, and we managed to find Joanne, who cheated even more than us (she went straight to the new school). We tried to move in, but the chinese HOD, as vibrant as I recalled, stopped us and told us that alumni had to wait there. We eventually got sick of standing there with all those other people, and they probably forgot about us, so we wandered off. Finally, I got to see what we had sacrificed so much for. The buildings were refurbished, and everything was brand new. The canteen had been relocated, and there was now a sports hall in its place. Everything was just so new, yet underneath it, we could still see traces of the school we had spent three years in.

As Damian said, it seems that we have come full-circle. Starting off at this campus, then moving away to the holding site, then coming back here again when it was all new and beautiful. I just wished that we could experience life here as a student, even if for just one day.