Friday, October 30, 2009
i
can't
deal
with
this
NOT NOW
ryhan
can't
deal
with
this
NOT NOW
ryhan
what we could have been, 5:17 AM.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY - JAY ASHER
Got the book around midday, started reading it in the afternoon, and fought back protests from my exhausted body to finish reading it that night. And I did, somehow. No wait, i know how i managed to finish it, cause it's impossible to put the book down once you've entered the twisted life of Hannah Baker.
Want a summary/storyline? Go check it online. :) Sorry, I'm not being rude, this is actually a pretty hurried post before I have to get back to the pile of unanswered Stats questions.
I love judging a book by its cover. Looking at the shelves of books on my side of the library at home is like looking at shelves of colourful candy boxes. I can't deny it, I love books that scream '''BUY ME!''. Books that fashioned covers adorned with every colour of the rainbow. And even worse, I always had the preconceived notion that the thicker the books, the harder it was to understand its contents, and the more intelligent you would look with your nose buried in it. Encyclopaedia, anyone?
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was dark gray, with a sombre-looking girl on the front cover. It was bland, uninspired..and mysterious. I wanted to know why an author would be so cruel as to dress his masterpiece in last season's H&M when he had a whole closet of off-the-runway Chanel to choose from. So go on, start reading the book and you'll understand too. The author wasn't concerned about pleasing anyone or making your day by writing about a happy, sunny day when the fluffy bunny had a race with the timid turtle. He wanted to tell it like it is, tell life like it is, and that's what I loved about the whole book. It was gritty and raw. No sugarcoating here, honey.
And from a book that bears a few pages shy of 300, it sure taught me a lot. All those catty, high-school rumours and fights? Yeah, I don't think I'll look at them the same anymore. And because I've always been such a coward at taking chances, the book taught me to man (or woman) up, take a deep breath and spit out what I have to say. What if you run out of chances and then one of the biggest regrets in your life is not taking the opportunity to say the things that need to be said and do the things that need to be done?
Is this post too depressing for you? Sorry. :D I'm just saying things that the book can't say out loud.
Well, that was tiring. Nice to be back with a pretty long post after quite some time.
'Til another book catches my attention,
Ryhan Ghazali
Got the book around midday, started reading it in the afternoon, and fought back protests from my exhausted body to finish reading it that night. And I did, somehow. No wait, i know how i managed to finish it, cause it's impossible to put the book down once you've entered the twisted life of Hannah Baker.
Want a summary/storyline? Go check it online. :) Sorry, I'm not being rude, this is actually a pretty hurried post before I have to get back to the pile of unanswered Stats questions.
I love judging a book by its cover. Looking at the shelves of books on my side of the library at home is like looking at shelves of colourful candy boxes. I can't deny it, I love books that scream '''BUY ME!''. Books that fashioned covers adorned with every colour of the rainbow. And even worse, I always had the preconceived notion that the thicker the books, the harder it was to understand its contents, and the more intelligent you would look with your nose buried in it. Encyclopaedia, anyone?
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was dark gray, with a sombre-looking girl on the front cover. It was bland, uninspired..and mysterious. I wanted to know why an author would be so cruel as to dress his masterpiece in last season's H&M when he had a whole closet of off-the-runway Chanel to choose from. So go on, start reading the book and you'll understand too. The author wasn't concerned about pleasing anyone or making your day by writing about a happy, sunny day when the fluffy bunny had a race with the timid turtle. He wanted to tell it like it is, tell life like it is, and that's what I loved about the whole book. It was gritty and raw. No sugarcoating here, honey.
And from a book that bears a few pages shy of 300, it sure taught me a lot. All those catty, high-school rumours and fights? Yeah, I don't think I'll look at them the same anymore. And because I've always been such a coward at taking chances, the book taught me to man (or woman) up, take a deep breath and spit out what I have to say. What if you run out of chances and then one of the biggest regrets in your life is not taking the opportunity to say the things that need to be said and do the things that need to be done?
Is this post too depressing for you? Sorry. :D I'm just saying things that the book can't say out loud.
Well, that was tiring. Nice to be back with a pretty long post after quite some time.
'Til another book catches my attention,
Ryhan Ghazali
what we could have been, 6:42 AM.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Chin up; don't you quit. It's not the end of the world.
When life ceases to hold any meaning or understanding, when you feel like you've been betrayed or your efforts have somehow, inexplicably dissolved into nothing more than dust - useless, hopeless, nothing - that's the best you can do; the sole advice you can find sanctuary within. Even if it seems difficult to accept. I should understand better than anyone that it takes a Herculean effort to sincerely maintain and truly believe in optimism, without surrendering yourself to the dark abyss that is your all-natural negativity. Keep smiling, keep laughing, keep preservering. Nothing good can come out of constantly putting yourself down. Who knows? Good things may come out of it.
Always remember that what doesn't kill you, certainly makes you stronger. I find a considerably comfortable weight off my shoulders now that that is a part of the past. There are more things to mull over, more things to savor and commit to; you can't afford to dwell on the past. Look to the future and hope for better things to happen.
So, once more: chin up, troops!
Good luck for the exam, you guys :) I know you'll ace it!
Kilah
When life ceases to hold any meaning or understanding, when you feel like you've been betrayed or your efforts have somehow, inexplicably dissolved into nothing more than dust - useless, hopeless, nothing - that's the best you can do; the sole advice you can find sanctuary within. Even if it seems difficult to accept. I should understand better than anyone that it takes a Herculean effort to sincerely maintain and truly believe in optimism, without surrendering yourself to the dark abyss that is your all-natural negativity. Keep smiling, keep laughing, keep preservering. Nothing good can come out of constantly putting yourself down. Who knows? Good things may come out of it.
Always remember that what doesn't kill you, certainly makes you stronger. I find a considerably comfortable weight off my shoulders now that that is a part of the past. There are more things to mull over, more things to savor and commit to; you can't afford to dwell on the past. Look to the future and hope for better things to happen.
So, once more: chin up, troops!
Good luck for the exam, you guys :) I know you'll ace it!
Kilah
what we could have been, 8:53 AM.
Hey y'all.
Exams start like, this Thursday, for those taking maths. I think my fellow authors would agree that we take a period of hiatus to concentrate on our exams. Need to score them straight A's dear! To anyone else sitting for their exams, we wish you the best of luck! I, for one, will be needing lots of luck.
Until the day we can toss our books out the window,
Au Revoir et Bon Chance!
p.s. Mom, have fun in Australia and don't forget my Anya Hindmarch. I swear they're my exam motivation :p
Ryhan
Exams start like, this Thursday, for those taking maths. I think my fellow authors would agree that we take a period of hiatus to concentrate on our exams. Need to score them straight A's dear! To anyone else sitting for their exams, we wish you the best of luck! I, for one, will be needing lots of luck.
Until the day we can toss our books out the window,
Au Revoir et Bon Chance!
p.s. Mom, have fun in Australia and don't forget my Anya Hindmarch. I swear they're my exam motivation :p
Ryhan
what we could have been, 5:59 AM.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
This morning was Teachers' Day and Hari Raya Celebration.
It
Was
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so thankful that everything went smoothly, albeit tiny hiccups here and there. Overall, the feedback has been positive. Some even went as far as saying that this year's celebration is the best so far!I'm sure all the previous events have been equally festive, but THANK YOU anyway. :) These compliments might not seem like much to everyone else, but to us MPs particularly, it meant everything. Today's event was worth the time and effort we've put in to ensure its success.
So all '09/10 MPs and performers, thank you for your contribution!
Kaki ku sakit! Should've worn flip-flops.
Ryhan
It
Was
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so thankful that everything went smoothly, albeit tiny hiccups here and there. Overall, the feedback has been positive. Some even went as far as saying that this year's celebration is the best so far!I'm sure all the previous events have been equally festive, but THANK YOU anyway. :) These compliments might not seem like much to everyone else, but to us MPs particularly, it meant everything. Today's event was worth the time and effort we've put in to ensure its success.
So all '09/10 MPs and performers, thank you for your contribution!
Kaki ku sakit! Should've worn flip-flops.
Ryhan
what we could have been, 6:16 AM.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Today - and I don't say this often, at least not since I've been here - was a good day.
Today was a day of firsts.
Today was a day of surprises and of answered prayers.
Today was a day of reconnection.
Today was good.
Today was the first time I walked alone, in England.
I walked to the school I was assigned to do Community Service, alone, with only a poorly-constructed map by Sarah to guide me.
Today I designed and bought a bookmark online, my first purchase ever, made and dealt over the Internet.
Today the Chemistry and Math teachers said I was ahead of everyone else.
I am pleased.
Please let me enjoy this moment. I get so little of it.
Good luck for Teacher's Day, Raihan.
Kilah.
Today was a day of firsts.
Today was a day of surprises and of answered prayers.
Today was a day of reconnection.
Today was good.
Today was the first time I walked alone, in England.
I walked to the school I was assigned to do Community Service, alone, with only a poorly-constructed map by Sarah to guide me.
Today I designed and bought a bookmark online, my first purchase ever, made and dealt over the Internet.
Today the Chemistry and Math teachers said I was ahead of everyone else.
I am pleased.
Please let me enjoy this moment. I get so little of it.
Good luck for Teacher's Day, Raihan.
Kilah.
what we could have been, 1:18 PM.