I'm gonna be back into blogging again, so yeah. But I'm in Vietnam now so all my updates about Vietnam will be at pikachucanfly.xanga.com instead. So yeah do check it out too!

hi I just realised how dead my blog is -.-

Lalala. Life's been extremely busy for the past few weeks.

Big projects like the Avionics Systems (AS) Project, where we were required to produce a 10 minute Instructional Video. My group did on the Electronic Flight Instruments Systems (EFIS), which was pretty tedious. Honestly, I thought it was gonna be easy since video editing is my forte, plus I have my awesome Mac. But the fact that it's supposed to be an INSTRUCTIONAL video, not just any video, makes the whole project super hard.

We had to fly aircrafts using the Microsoft Flight Simulator, then record the entire flying process using Video Capturing tools, then edit the video, add in captions, subtitles, etc. Sounds easy? Not really. Requires lots and lots of teamwork and coordination between the 'Pilot' and me and the researcher. The theory part, which are the subtitles, have to match the aircraft's movement. 

I spent 3 nights straight (without sleeping) to edit the bloody video. Hehe okay not bloody, I'm kidding. Finally, I KO-ed but luckily the video was also done. Quite a number of cock-ups here and there throughout the whole process, but we managed to pull through. Phew. 

Eventually when we handed it up, Mr Ng was very pleased, and he liked it. Imagine, finally that 3 sleepless nights became pretty worthwhile! Hopefully it deserves an A or something, plus this project constitutes 20% of the whole module.

Had a extremely packed (but eggciting) weekend last week! 31st July (Sat) was spent at YOG Venex Rehearsal and the Dunman High Hostel Inter-Hostel Captains' Ball Challenge. And yes, we fought through very very hard, almost halting the journey at the Quarter-Finals where we lost to Dunman in the Penalty shoot, by ONE point. But eventually we had to complain because Dunman had 3 teams, Team 1 2 and 3, and they switched players among the 3 teams. We were fighting against Team 1, but it also meant there were a bit of Team 2/3 players in there, which was unfair. At last, they gave us another penalty shoot.

It was meant to tie-break, but both sides kept shooting in. After like a gazillion penalty shoots, still no winner! Hence we went on to a 5 minute Sudden Death match, where we eventually emerged the winner. We then went on to play against CJC Hostel, which was pretty hard and again, ended off with a tie. But we won them easily in the Penalty Shoot. 

Progressing into the Finals! We met our rival we (used to) fear most - ACS Oldham Hall. Earlier this year, they too organised an Inter-Hostel Challenge, where they beat us 10-5 in the Finals and emerged Champions. It was the toughest match we ever played. This time, we met them again - it was a remake of the Finals then in April. But this time, we were more determined than ever to bring them down, to bring glory to Nanyang, to show them what we're made of.

The match, as usual, turned out to be extremely violent, which I must admit, is due to the Oldham players' behaviour. They were pretty rough and hence the match was tough. But our players played better than expectation - unlike the match in April, our scores were following closely behind theirs. Towards the end, we managed to break off and lead by 1 or 2 points, and the challenge was to maintain. 30 seconds left... and we are leading by only 1 point. Oldham fought back hard, and we had to defend hard as well. The 30 seconds, which seemed like 30 minutes, finally ended - and we emerged the new Champions. The moment where all of the Nanyang people run into the court and we hugged and cried tears of joy - it was unexplainable 

Well done NYGBS Nanyang Warriors, we have won the war. We played fair and square, we were upright and righteous. We deserved the trophy, and I'm extremely proud of every single one of us. 

Oh wells, competitive Captains' Ball isn't that easy after all. 

Okay okay I'm supposed to update about Sunday and upload photos, but I gotta rush to Gym. Plus, there's AS test later zomg  What's with the GPS and Radio Waves and Aircraft Surveillance System and Navigation Systems not getting into my brain! ARGH.

Update soon bye bye.

SINGAPORE YOUTH FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY 2010

1 Parade. 15 Trainings. 60 Youths who made a difference.

This was the NCC Guard-of-Honour Girls' Contingent for the SYF Opening Ceremony 2010.

2 years ago I was like them. I marched, endured the weight of the rifle, fixed bayonets, fixed rifle slings and melted in the sweltering hot sun upon us as we drilled in the Lower Parade Square. I went there, made friends, and got to know some of the best CLTs in the world. Like any other of my contingent mates, we looked up to them; admired their high level of precision and took them as our role models. And on the 28th June 2008, 50 of us marched on proudly, with our heads held high, into the arena of the Singapore Indoor Stadium, eveready to show the world what we're made of.

2 years later, year 2010, the parade was organised by our rival UG, NPCC. This brought the entire SYFOC experience to a total whole new level. We learnt the various drills the Police/NPCC way, and trainings were held in the NPCC HQ @Home Team Academy. It was also at HTA that we met some of the nicest people in the world, the Cadet Inspectors and Honorary Officers. These trainers, like us, spent their time and effort to bring up the standard of the drills. Moreover, the fact that they were not training their own NPCC cadets placed them in a test of patience and management, and gave them more troubles. They were incredible.

As a cadet in 2008, I only had to worry about doing my drills right and not screwing up. This year, as a CLT, there was more to that. I was their Contingent Commander (Reserve), although I eventually became the actual Contingent Commander because my dear senior, who was also my CC back in 2008, decided to give me the opportunity. Reserve or not, it didn't matter - what mattered was that I was still part of the cadets' lives. I had the responsibility of taking care of them, just like any other CLT. I had to train them, work with the CIs and do whatever I can to make them improve. Especially during the times when my partner and senior was away, I had to take them all by myself. I learnt my greatest lessons, all thanks to these wonderful, bubbly bunch of cadets. They can get on my nerves sometimes, but at the end of the day, they were my motivation to move on and be better.

I had to leave for home during my 2-week break, but rehearsals were still ongoing. Partner's off to USA, while senior's off to Korea. My mum told me to use the same reason - that I was overseas (I really was anyway), but I couldn't bear to do so. I was overseas, but only at nearby JB. I thought, senior doesn't have a choice because she's in a conference in Korea, and partner doesn't have a choice either because she's far far away in USA. But I had a choice to travel out to Singapore when there were rehearsals, since JB is so near. I knew if I didn't, I would have left them alone without a CLT, in a foreign territory. It was them who taught me to be a better Leader, and the true meaning of Commitment & Responsibility. 

A few days before the Preview the real challenges began. We were at the point of almost being taken out of the parade, due to the lack in numbers. And everyone knew that even after we manage to fill up the numbers, we had to overcome the problem of raising the standard of the new contingent to the highest level in a matter of less than 3 days. As I stood in front of my newly-formed contingent, I thought, how in the world am I suppose to handle all 60 of them? But I must really say, a big salute to the cadets who persevered and trained all the way, but in the end still set aside their differences and put down the unhappiness they had in the 'newcomers' to help and guide them. Thank you so much. 

Be it Preview day or Actual day, at the command of "Baris, Hormat kepada panjit-panjit, Kehadapan hormat", we marched on proudly into the arena of the Singapore Indoor Stadium, with our heads held high. It was just like in 2008. Just that this time, I was so proud of the contingent I was standing before of. I felt like I needed to show the world what they were made of. And that reminded me not to screw up myself. During the marchpast, I couldn't have felt any prouder and more honoured to be leading this particular contingent. I felt so proud to be their CC.

In the midst of all the hardwork and everything, I wanted to be a CLT they could look up to - just like how we looked up to our Sirs & Ma'ams. But eventually we all had a common goal - To be the best that we can be and ensure the success of the parade. I was of course unsure of whether I've made a difference to their lives, but it really impacted me when the cadets came up to me and bid farewell, thank me etc. I may just be one of the people who've impacted their lives, but they're a whole lot of 60 youths that has made a difference to mine.

All they could learn from me was probably the drills and the salutes and a few little mistakes, but what I learnt from them and from being their CC was more than anything else 

With that being said, SYFOC 2010 also allowed me to know some of the most wonderful people in the world - (Ma'am) Syikin, (Ma'am) Eileen, Michelle, Jolene, Firdaus, Jason and the other CIs; 

My dear partner Liu Anqi who went through all the thick and thin with me;

C/CPT Shaniszah, a great senior who graciously gave me the oppurtunity to be the CC;

Sholihin & Nesaar, the best CCs that we all look up to;

Ryan & Karthik, the flag bearers we're all proud of;

Jia Hui & Clarence, our dedicated trainers.

And a big thank you to Dad, Mum, Zhermin, Ms Serene & her sister, DELTA!, Seniors, Delta'10, Charlie'10, Bravo'10 and Alpha'10 for your support and for taking time off to attend this milestone event in my life 

Maybe I'll do a less 'philosophical/emo' update soon haha. I felt like I've just written and article or something