Outcasts

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo.... I spent 30 minutes typing and thinking and retyping my tribute to the Social Outcast Society... and then it disappeared...

NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I shall make an attempt to duplicate what I had recorded.

This was given to me by Siddharth Kogilwaimath, the major minor of the Social Outcast Society of IMU. Sidd you owe me an ice cream for this free advertisement.

A few juniors asked me about the Social Outcast Society (SOS). Well, it started when we were in semester 1 (oh so long ago). To be very specific, the charter was written behind Dr. Vishna's Protein Metabolism lecture... yes, I was bored... and we actually had aims:

1. Long term goal: to be the majority of IMU population and outcast everyone else
2. Mid-term goal: to pass the exams with flying squirrels
3. Short term goal: to live until the next meal

We were good at reaching the short term goal about 3 times daily, had varying success with the second one and none with the long term goal. The 3 founding members welcomed all members of our batch

• who felt as though they did not belong...
• who came alone from college...
• who came alone from abroad (read: Siddharth, our international student)...
• who genuinely felt like they were outcasts.

We "invited" people to join us... but our society name more or less kept people far far away from us... we called them "SOS members-in-denial" and urged them to accept their fate. Resistance was futile... or you could say that we were irresistable. With time, we managed to con about 30 members into our little group and had Friday discussions, QnA, shared PBL resources and various forms of academic support.

We aren't as close as we were before... each finding a niche in various groups (although quite a number of us remain close...). SOS was a place that gave us the comfort of finding our niche within IMU... and we grew in separate directions but with fond memories of the great times we had together.

We didn't care who joined us... we already called ourselves outcasts... and we unwittingly created a home for those who didn't belong and found that amongst us there are those with hearts of gold. As the time in IMU BJ draws to an end, I remember Yuen's efforts at making an M104 student support group. I didn't exactly need one. I found a home in the SOS.

Folks, thank you so much for the things you gave, for being there... for being outcasts.

Me. Emcee

My colleague working at the sampling booth brought her children to work... a pair of 11-year old boys so identical to each other that I had to differentiate them by the shirts they were wearing. They really wanted the jerseys... and they had really good hand-eye coordination to play the game that we had and win the jersey. Problem: the game required a purchase of RM10 worth of Nestle Breakfast Cereals... and they aren't exactly from affluent family background.

The other colleagues thought that we should probably just make them happy. A few of us wanted cereals anyway... so we bought RM20 worth of cereals and let the boys play. We made two kids very happy that day... and felt good too. I think we do these stuff for ourselves sometimes... for that "feel good" thing? Anyway, the kakak was so happy that she gave me a few boxes of cereals that were leftover from the sampling. Woohoo!!!! Cool stuff...

But I digress.

Being an emcee at shopping complexes opened my eyes to a few things. There are all kinds of parents out there who take different approaches to parenting... and promoting breakfast cereals, something kids like, makes the job seem somewhat like a raw-footage of some documentary.

There are parents who teach their kids

They make the kid say "thank you" after getting a balloon. They make their kids line up at the sampling booth. Their kids can be toddlers and already know how to shake hands and say thank you. Brings a smile to my face all the time.

There are parents who don't teach their kids

We had a game in which kids throw in rubber balls into the "mouths" of "mascots" on a canvas sheet. Get in 5 out of 10 balls, the kid gets a jersey. Most kids manage 3 or 4 balls. There were these few mothers who knew fully well that their kids didn't get in 5 balls and demanded at the top of their lungs for the jersey. One kid told his mum that he only got in 4, which earned him a lectures about how stupid he was to say that in front of us.

I hate to notice this, but they were inevitably Chinese just as the previous category tended to be predominantly Malay... I remembered because I had trouble communicating in Malay to the first group (have to think for words before speaking) and the second group in Mandarin (I resorted to simple words and sign language)...

Then there are parents who TRY to teach their kids

They tell their kids to just walk in and get the balloons for themselves even when we were closed for lunch break and told them "no, these balloons are only for participants of the game". They knew that we won't stop a kid... but what are they teaching their kids? To steal?

And then there were hyperactive kids and we just saw their parents reacting to the kids' actions. Kinda amusing especially if you aren't a parent yourself... these kids probably drive their parents bonkers and you get to see a bunch of relatives running back and forth trying to control the toddler. My parents would cringe... I was like that once.

Yes, just before someone adds on the tagboard, I am STILL like that. I never stole balloons, though. I was afraid of them.

Some Thought On Love

A schoolmate is going to get married. Almost everyone else has a steady boyfriend. Questions were directed from different directions... so yeah, I thought I'd iron it out here... since most of you peeps read my blog neway.

How should I put it...

Last week, I asked someone why she kept "walking out" with different guys. She told me that she wanted to find someone who was right for her. I was taken aback. That sounded so much like a trial run kinda thing. I mean... it just seems wrong to step into a relationship knowing full well that it would end in heartbreak but stepping into it anyway because it might be educational. No!!!

She then asked me why I enjoy being single.

THAT stopped my train of thought. Totally derailed it. It was kinda funny. I neither yearn to be in a relationship nor cling on stubbornly to being single. It is just something that one doesn't exactly think about ya?

Then she smiled knowingly and replied that at least she gave relationships thought. Deep thoughts at that... I just compartmentalize it and stow it away in the attic or basement. At least she is learning. I am not. She's getting there. I'm stuck.

No reply came to mind. Guilty as charged. I guess I'm not ready to learn at someone else's expense. No... No guy I know is willing to put up with being in 3rd place most of the time... and after a little thought, I realised that whoever I ended up with would be put exactly in that place... after family and studies.

She reminded me of the high school nickname I had. Block of wood

True. And false. While it IS true that I tend to keep away from relationships now, it's not because my heart is made from solid wood. Assuming that the heart is more than just a bloody pump, that is.

But suffice to say that yes, I am waiting until that someone to walk into my life. Someone who won't "see past" my lack of concern for appearances... unlike what my friends say. Because peeps, this lack of concern IS me. It's not a facade. It's not something I expect someone so important in my life to have to "look past". It may not be attractive, but it IS me...

And I have yet to meet a guy who didn't care about what a girl looks like.

Spastic Mamak

Met up with Sue Anne, Mima, Jie Huei and Xin Yee today. The pirated DVD guy was walking around as usual and actually skipped our table. Mima went frantic and wanted to chase after that poor guy but we had to keep her down to her seats with restraints. Okay, this part got add salt add pepper one... but it's only this part got add. The following served raw, I haven't process it yet.

When we finally got hold of that DVD seller for her, she proceeded to select the DVDs she wanted from the pile that he conveniently left on our table (and he actually disappeared)... if Mima was not spastic, she would have disappeared with the pile of DVDs, claiming to her mother that it was God's gift to mankind via her... But being the spastic Mima, she was actually frantic that the DVD seller disappeared.

When he finally returned to get his DVDs, Mima wanted to bargain. The usual price for 7 DVDs (yeah, she bought that many) was RM8 each. Usual price for one piece is RM9 la.

Mima: RM50 enough la
DVD man: Cannot la. Always I sell at RM9 leh.
Mima: But I buy seven leh. See *points at her pile and starts flipping* One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. *looks pleased that she could count to seven*

DVD man: Yes, but still cannot sell you at RM50 leh. One piece RM8 la.
Mima: RM70 la.

*silence. pin drops in mamak stall as everyone turns to stare*

Mima: I mean RM50, 50, 50!!!

DVD man: *rotfl* *He actually turned and laughed really loud*

Mima: *whining* What worr? Eh, RM55 can ah, cheap one dollar only.

DVD man: Okay lah, give you la give you la. RM55

Mima really shouldn't take up business. People say slip of tongue, not the fault of the mind. Her tongue slip so often that it has become legendary.

There, Gary

This is for Gary who said that I looked 10 years older

Hmmm... maybe for birthday present this year, request that my parents get me glasses without power. Since want to be nerdier have to look the part. Otherwise no one believe that I am trying to get nerdy. Maybe if I look nerdier then can blend into the library furniture community better. Still feel as though I am outside looking in. Not to say that I've attempted to blend in either la... but still, there is quite a lot of adapting to do moving from the SRC room to the library as a studying habitat.

How on earth do you protect yourself from an atomic bomb?
Really must buy this book edi... Chow's farts sometimes quite equivalent to that one

Photo Diarrhea

Just transferred these from my phone.

Sor Eng says I look like girl when I wear specs. Gotta start spoiling my eyesight. Tips anyone?

Look like kena constipation coz didn't want to laugh.

This fella getting bullied by a bunch of seniors happen to be none other than *drumroll pls*

The NINJITSU CLUB PRESIDENT, William Choo

Before joining NINJITSU

I wouldn't swear that this is from learning NINJITSU...
But suffice to say the transformation was pretty quick...

Effect of studying too hard for the exams...
You TRULY become a library furniture... irreversible fusion

Oh speaking of the exams... uber tough wei... mampus kinda tough. Like dunno-how-else-to-say-until-want-to-curse-for-lack-of-better-means-of-expression kinda tough. Wanna cry until don't mind hugging *name deleted because my mummy say cannot talk bad about ppl* to cry kinda tough. I seriously think it is a killer exam la. But fortunately, there was something else today to keep me entertained and my mind off that killer exam (at least until I looked through the phone pictures and saw Johan's pic). Why is it that when I see Johan, it triggers the memory of the exam? Hmmm... food for thought.

This, ladies and gentlemen, was the star of the Drama Club production this evening...
The PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
You are looking at the phantom...

You know the part when Christine pulls the mask off the phantom's face and get's horrified by his deformed features? For this particular play, Chow didn't even put any make-up under that mask.
Heard someone ask about it... his friend answered "isn't that a deformity on its own?"
Sorry, Chow. That was real.

Something I Wrote On Monday

News. I have resigned from the SRC for personal reasons. I have more news.

Buah mulut murid murid IMU minggu ini.

Three student council members were sacked for rigging the votes for the ongoing elections of the new council.

The postponement of the elections results are part of a larger plan by these former members to collaborate something that they have kept up their sleeves. “These are ALL their fault”, says a student who declined to provide a name.

One of the evil perpetrators have even took advantage of the opportunity provided by the academic council meeting last month to get closer to the deans of the partner medical schools and has secured high spots in the ranking that was sent in recently. Large sums of money were reportedly involved.

Great. The things medical students come up with to make up for the lack of campus life…

Futsal Fever

NOOB - This is my second time playing. Don't laugh

If the Chinese Singing Competition did not end as late as it did, that would be on my jersey for the IMU Female Futsal competition. I wanted to buy a white shirt and paint that on but the supermarkets were closed already. Nikki and Deva approached me some time ago asking if I could play for their team for the competition yesterday.

Since the first time I played was with them in the same competition last year, I assumed that I would be sitting on the bench for most of the games... probably having some time to read my Papa Patho. As usual, I was wrong. It was fun... though I did break a few cardinal rules.

Thou shalt not defend by standing in front of thy opponent

For a while, that was the only thing I could do. Since my opponents were girls, they usually look at the ball while dribbling. That means that they wouldn't see me standing in front of them. They would knock into me, fall down... allowing me to kick the ball far far away from my own goal. Mission accomplished.

Thou shalt not use the ball as thy weapon

More than a few times, I kicked the ball directly into the abdomen of my opponent standing right in front of me. I swear it was an accident. It was painful though. My opponent would fall down... allowing me to kick the ball far far away from my own goal. Mission accomplished.

Thou shalt not laugh during the game

• They poked me in the ribs. They swear it was accidental. It tickles, though.
• Someone sunk her teeth into my upper arm. I am sure that was accidental... my arm is too high in cholesterol for girls to like. It was painful. But #$^% hilarious.

There you have it... I don't think they'd call me for futsal ever again. But I sure did have fun. A great break from the stressful events of life. The bite mark still hurt, though.

Mindless Stuff

Evelyn, Sor Eng and Kah Heng were in the library one day. With the drilling and all, realised that there is NO WAY that they can study. So Evelyn comes and say: "Hey let's argue here"

Kah Heng: I shall study.
Evelyn: Spoilsport. Sor Eng game for this? Let's start. Sor Eng sux.
Sor Eng: ve sucks
Evelyn: My name also you cannot spell. Damn kau blur wei
Sor Eng: *speechless* *laughs and roll on the library floor*
Evelyn: Yerr why you so disgusting one... don tell people that I know you k...
Sor Eng: u r de worm tat suppose to roll on de floor

Kah Heng: *random comment* OMG that's so annoying
Evelyn: What?
Kah Heng: The drilling... *points at the outside of library* Sounds like intermittent harsh farting *notices Evelyn typing* What is this crap

Evelyn: This is not crap. It's my blog la. Ngok ngek
Kah Heng: Your blog is crap
Evelyn: At least it's not a cafe and it does not have broken dreams

Side note: visit Kah Heng at cafeofbrokendreams.blogspot.com

Kah Heng: Eh can edit what I say just now ah? I said *points at the start* I am of pleasant disposition and I shall not argue with you.
Sor Eng: Are you having fever?
Evelyn: Excuse me while I bash these two kids up... I'll be back

To Be Continued

Sudden Death

An SMS Conversation

I want to resign from SRC. Consider it an early retirement. But I'll finish off my project before I go.

-src member-

Why the sudden decision? I'm doing the same but I'm calling it the transition period.

-eve-

Read my emo post on the forum and you'll understand. I don't think these students are worth our effort. They can all go to hell for all I care.

-src member-

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The criticisms at the forum thread alone would not have been sufficient to push my friend to an early retirement (supposed to stay on until July this year). He's quite resilient and had always been the type who would maintain a cool head whenever a problem cropped up. That was why I was surprised.

Then again, I guess he is tired. We all are.

Chow announced his resignation. Kah Heng followed soon after. With them quitting, I quit too.

Call me a quitter. Call me a coward. Call me soft. Call me names. They've been calling all year anyway... I should be immune by now.

I'm just tired... leave me be

Mummy's Day

It takes quite a lot of courage to become a parent, to be responsible for the lives of people you bring into the world, provide them with all you can and watch nervously as they turn out not quite like what you hoped they would. How many of us are a parent's dream? It is like asking who has not sinned...

I broke my mother's heart countless times and undoubtedly would unintentionally do it several more times before I graduate from university. There are things that people really regret and one of them would usually be "hurting my parents". Of course, we never do it on purpose. It's always the lack of consideration or overlooking something.

Mum has always seen kor kor as the more mature one. Perhaps because he is. She has always wanted me to be a little more like him, to put family first, to do the right things. There was once when I was 11 and Uncle Edward asked her to compare the two of us. I just sat there getting ready to wince when she said "but Willy has always been more mature". Then I winced.

Because I didn't know how to accept it, I started throwing mini tantrums and Mum just didn't know what to do with me. I got aunts coming to the house and giving me the "you are so selfish for doing this to your family" lecture and frustrated everyone to the point that Mum exclaimed my brothers "she's just weird la". It's odd how these memories stay with you sometimes...

Since then I guess I was never as close to Mum as I was to Pa. I always felt like I was in third place.

Pa goes out of his way to do things to express how much he cared. He fills up the water bottle in my car so I won't get thirsty when I drive, he washes my plates when I forget and leave them on the table... and he doesn't say a word. I notice but I don't know how to thank him... and he gave hugs. And I loved hugs. But since this is a Mother's Day entry... I shall talk about Mum.

Mum works so hard to make sure that her kids were given opportunities to do whatever they wanted... and she believed. She understands. She understands when there's exams and tolerates all that crankiness. She understands when we're having pressure from competitions and just happen to be out of sync. She understands when my younger brother had a girlfriend. Of course, it doesn't mean that we won't get a lecture about it later... but she stayed cool for as much as she could.

I am not an easy daughter... was never so. So this Mother's Day, my present to my mother is a thank you and an apology. I didn't know how to say it when I presented it to her but I hoped that as usual, she understood

Me? Schizophrenic?

Schizophrenia . Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine imbalances in the brain and defects of the frontal lobe and is caused by genetic, other biological, and psychosocial factors.

Okay... so this is technically NOT the definition that my friends mean when they call me a schizophrenic. They mean that I have multiple personalities. Talk about misunderstanding when they use jargon.

A few Evelyns (or rather "worms", since they insist that I am one) reside within my grubby soul.

Monkey Evelyn. This one takes up most of the space and dominates the personality when no other demands to surface. This Evelyn jumps around and is hyperactive, perpetually on a sugar high.

Working Evelyn. This one emerges whenever Evelyn is studying or working on a project. This Evelyn enjoys holding her fringe upwards and look stressed half the time.

Competitive Evelyn. This one is very serious about playing sports sometimes when there is a competition. She feels that luck favour the serious. Hasn't really proved true this far.

Angry Evelyn. Enough said. *growl*

Yes I have multiple personality disorders. You have a problem with that? *growl*

On Goodwill Games

I wrote this for the newsletter tomorrow... thought I should put it here just for the heck of it... Goodwill Games was on the 22nd April this year in Seremban Clinical School, a whole day event. So here is the "report" on what happened that day.

What does Goodwill Games have in common with IMU’s infamous orientation?

It is a “Senior vs Junior” thing. Most of us were once again facing the seniors who orientated us. Now someone is actually keeping the score and winners actually go home with something more than mud and an unbaked cake on the head.

We were repeatedly told to “respect your seniors okay?” At least that was what we were reminded upon reaching. We were unsure of the reason for them saying so… until someone interpreted the concept of Goodwill Games respect. If you are able to replace “respect” with “give in to”, you are proficient in Seremban English sports dialect.

We had to wake up so @#&% early!!! Just like in orientation, we had to unceremoniously haul ourselves out of the bed (it really didn’t help that it was so nicely drizzling that morning) to board the bus at 6.30 a.m. Why on earth is Seremban so far away from Bukit Jalil???? The Sandman was doing his job too well that the effects had yet to wear off. Big Head Prawn Ivy actually forgot her racquet and had to run back to her apartment to retrieve it. I actually promised her not to tell anyone… but I’m known to be a physiological liar – one who functionally lies under NORMAL circumstances.

It was to foster ties. At the end of the day, Goodwill memang Goodwill la. We met great seniors (special dedication to our favourite Uncle Albert) and it DOES ease the transition for Seremban-bound students. Hendrick aptly concludes it saying, “See you next year at your side of the volleyball court”.

We have to learn better respect la… since we did not respect our seniors all that much. IMU Bukit Jalil won the Prof Ong Kok Hai Overall Champion Cup for Goodwill Games this year. Special thanks to all the players, especially those who had exams two days after the games and those who drove down from KKB to boost the ranks of the teams. In short, WE WON… *excuse me while I go off and gloat in private* No, I am not lying this time.

I'm Turning Into A Bitch

Feel that I'm bitching too much. Excuse the language, but there's no other way to put it. Working with a colleague who enjoys politics more than work, it is really difficult to reconcile differences. Of course, in the ideal world, I would have mustered sufficient courage to speak up and have that confrontation. Instead, I skulk around like a criminal, bitching about that person to all who care to hear... and who would pass up an opportunity for some juicy gossip. Finding willing ears is like positive feedback that is negative for the soul.

I should stop bitching and I should stop now. It is not that difficult right now because that colleague hasn't been doing anything... in fact we actually had a friendly conversation today, something that we had not done in weeks.

This is a promise to myself, to that person and to the organization that we are both serving... in our very own unique way

Of Korean Barbecue and Advertisements

Korean Barbecue... the ultimate dining experience so far. Of course, if got people want to belanja me eat something else to prove to me that there is something else more interesting than this, I would not object. After all, my parents always tell me to keep an open mind.

It's this really small place near Hartamas Square. At the same row as "Uncle Bob's". There's a Korean Barbecue shop at the other end of the row... but that's not the one. It's really obvious that the brightly-lit, highly-decorated shop downstairs is not as good... because most tables are empty. Try the one upstairs and you'd have to actually queue up for a table.

Kinda pricey, although it's pretty worth it, especially when you go with adults with significantly larger spending power. There's the regular barbecue "set", at least I think it is since everyone else is eating the same thing. It's actually slices of marinated meat grilled on a hot metal plate. They place a stainless steel plate over a charcoal "mini-stove" and that plate has to be replaced pretty often. Someone comes over to grill the stuff and cut it into bite size chunks, while you savour the many types of yummy appetizers.

I think Korea should pay me for advertising la. But wah, mega fun experience wei. Am I sounding like a "sua ku" yet? Sememangnya first time ma... what to do worr... if you find me too "katak bawah tempurung", do feel free to bring me jalan jalan cari makan, as long as my wallet is not on some economic crisis...

Surprising Meeting

Really don't know what to blog about right now. Since I have just returned from observing a meeting by the SRC candidates, I thought I'd blog about it.

Now if you happen to be a candidate just surfing and happen to read this, listen up and listen good. There are a few rules that we expect everyone to follow, especially in SRC...

1. If you absolutely have to come in late, do apologise and at least explain.
2. If you absolutely have to answer a call or reply a message, kindly do it outside the meeting room and when you go out, muttering a "sorry" doesn't take that many calories.
3. If you absolutely have to leave before the meeting ends, it is common courtesy to at least inform your colleagues before walking out as though you own the room.
4. Even if you are not very interested in what is being discussed, don't be so demonstrative.

And the list would continue... and I wasn't even making it a point to spot those trivial things. I was more interested in the content of the discussion... but these trivial things, when repeated, become large enough to warrant mention.

If you fail to demonstrate even basic courtesy when there are observers in the room, whom you know fully well are evaluating your performance and contribution... Kah Heng and I shudder to think about how you would behave when your position in the council is secured. This particular message neither addresses the entire group nor a particular person. A few people (what appeared to be) consciously did those trivial stuff... and I was hoping not to see it again.

I may be too sensitive...

Birthdays

Birthday reminders on my calendar for 1st half of this month: 2nd Yuen. 5th Pei Ling. 7th Trisha, Kah Mun, Yee Yong. 9th Mashen, Jennifer. 10th Yien Von. 12th Jean, Caryn. 14th Gary, Valerie.

Financial status: BROKE

Spasticity Redefined

SPASTICITY: A state of increased muscle tone and exaggerated tendon reflexes.

clasp-knife spasticity: rigidity of the extensor muscles fo a joint which thus offer resistance to passive flexion up to a point, when they give way rather suddenly allowing the joint then to be easily flexed; the rigidity is due to an exaggeration of the stretch reflex.

spasticity of conjugate gaze: an oblique or horizontal deviation of the eyes evoked (1) during forcible lid closure or (2) while fixating on an object 30 to 40 cm in front, the eyelids being opened and closed at 4- to 5-second intervals; associated with temporal lesion opposite to the direction of deviation.

Spasticity is sometimes defined as a synonym to a singular noun: Mima

Sue Anne and I went over to Mima's place last night, hoping to get her out for supper. That spastic kid was trying to reach her mummy, who wasn't answering her calls.

Mima: Mummy not picking my call la. I don't understand you know. Why bring a phone when you don't pick it up? Like that better keep handphone at home right?
Evelyn: Maybe your mummy busy leh
Sue Anne: Ya, try again la.
Mima: I call like 30 times already. Cannot be busy until like that kua.
Evelyn: Wanna hear an alternative?
Mima: Sure. What?
Evelyn: Your mummy put your ringtone as silent. Dowan to answer.
Mima: Err... I think she's busy.

So we just left her to sulk and continue trying to contact her mummy. Sue Anne and I went back to Jalan Raya Barat (that's the original rendezvous point with Sue Anne btw) to enjoy pizza naan. In case you were wondering, no, it doesn't taste like heaven. Not recommended. Neway, we chatted for a while... good to catch up with old times.

Then this morning, thought I'd call Mima for lunch. Got Li Sa out as well. Talked about how things are generally for them in school, Taekwondo... kinda cool meeting up with these two budak budak la. Mima was particularly amusing.

I wanted to throw her out of the car. So wind down the window. Then I changed my mind.

Mima: Why?
Evelyn: Because my uncle bas say don't throw rubbish out of moving vehicle
Mima: My uncle bas also got say wor. Why ah?

Evelyn and Lisa laughs intestines out.
After 15 seconds, while we were cleaning my car of our chicken meat-filled intestines...

Mima: Oh I get it... you calling me rubbish!

Evelyn and Lisa laughs intestines right out again.

It was a fun and productive day.