Anniversary Code: 157

On the last week of July on a Sunday (it's been awhile, I forgot the date) 157th Petaling Scout Group had an anniversary barbeque party at Yu Feng's apartment.

Thanks to my sister, the two of us got there an hour late. Well, not like anyone complained about it besides me.

When we got there, my sister and I were escorted to the poolside by a security guard. There were a whole bunch of kids playing, screaming and splashing about in the pool. In that instant, I identified them as the junior scouts in the troop and my gosh, there was like twice the number of juniors I have ever seen still in the troop at this time of year in my history of being in the troop.

I saw my juniors (the juniors I'm familiar with) and went over to them. Sean, Maverick, Kin Yen, Jia Jun, Yu Feng, Haziq, TV, Wern Kit, Darren, Jeremy, all of them were there (almost), it was great to see them again. Really took my mind off some stress.

I sat around with them and chit-chat a little. I'm still not that much of a talker I realised.

The anniversary was potluck themed so the juniors brought food from home. After buka puasa, we all helped ourselves to the food. It was dark by then. The rest of the night was just sitting around, eating until full and catching up with each other. Yee Ying, Dawson and Raymond was there too, they came later in the evening.

The night ended with a cake and a birthday song for the troop and also Jeremy's birthday. Thinking about it, there is a lot of history to me in the troop. Most of it was a sad nightmare that Dawson doesn't want the new generation of 157th Petaling wants to know, much like 37th's history too but seemingly worse. Never will I be thankful enough for the Hawk Rovers (Rover H) to come to our aid and rise our troop to what it is today.

盆踊り2011・エッマの家・映画ナイト

Bon Odori was actually like a month ago... I didn't have time to blog but here it is anyway.

About a week before Bon Odori, I had asked around the cosplayers in my class if they were going. Cheryl, Nicole and Baddie were not sure if they can go but Emma and Jian Leng had decided that they want to go and on top of that, Jian Leng was gonna stay over at Emma's, so I took the opportunity to ask if I can stay over too. He agreed and informed me that Yumi's going as well. After some planning, we were ready and excited for the big day to come.

After Julian's class (Concept Art) I had to stay back to see Benny regarding my 3D Modeling progress. Emma left for a date with Yumi and Jian Leng skipped his 3D Animation class because he didn't feel like showing Chloe his incomplete animation. Chloe is such a bitch, I know how he feels. I just sat around, fiddling with my 3D Modeling in the 'vacant' 3D Animation lab filled with seniors using the computers to render their assignments. I took a short break and closed my eyes for a while when Benny called me. He said I can see him earlier and with that I headed to the Animation Department to see Benny. After Benny gave me his critique and some tips to improve my set modeling, I went back to get Jian Leng. We're heading off to catch up with Emma and Yumi!

After taking the bus to Asia Jaya, Jian Leng and I waited for Emma and Yumi. They later came on another bus and we followed them on it. We were going to Taman Sea Park to stay a little at Emma's aunt's place for a while. There, Emma and Jian Leng taught me Chinese mahjong. It's quite similar to Japanese mahjong, just without all the specific planning and techniques and it's easier to count points. Later, we got a larger set of tiles, we then played Taiwanese mahjong. Taiwanese mahjong is almost similar to Japanese mahjong, again, it's easier to count points and you don't need that much planning. Still, I prefer Japanese mahjong, it's more exciting but also more frustrating.

After dinner at a vegetarian restaurant in front of Emma's aunt's house, we left when Emma's mom came to get us. We then headed to his house and we settled in. At night, we went out for supper at a restaurant near Emma's residence. When we got back to his house, we did some of our assignments and then went to sleep.

I woke up in the afternoon. Jian Leng, Emma and Yumi were already awake. After cleaning up, we went down to have lunch, instant noodles. Emma's dad nagged Emma to bring us out for lunch at the nearby but we declined because we were thinking of our assignments and also Bon Odori at the same time. Emma's parents and siblings went out. While chilling around, Yumi found an anime DVD titled, Kamisama Kazoku. I've seen the title before but never watched it. Yumi wanted to watch it so the four of us crammed in the living room and played the series. Emma, Jian Leng and I did our assignment while watching the anime. While the anime was going on, Yumi's friends came over and they went to put on their yukata.

Soon, Emma's dad came back and took Yumi and her friends to the stadium first. Emma, Jian Leng, Gabriel (Emma's brother) and I waited for his return and finished the whole series of Kamisama Kazoku. Denise had messaged me that she will be going so I had looked forward to see my dear junior.

Emma's dad dropped us outside the stadium where he previously dropped Yumi and her friends. We met up again and we headed into the stadium together. Near inside the entrance, I saw a group of the Bunny Squad members. Why wasn't I surprised. Haha. Yumi and her friends split up and we were back to our group. First we headed to the food stalls and started our purchase. I didn't bring enough money so I had to hold back my gluttony. And I still owe Yumi RM7 from our last Singapore trip. She doesn't remember though but I reminded her anyway.

While we settled down at a grassy spot to feast, Denise called me to find me but it was very crowded and the reception was bad. I told her my location and hoped that she could find me. Oh well. The drumming soon started and the dances continued. Yumi got all of us to get up and join the dance. Soon, we were all laughing and dancing around the stage. Even though it's my second time at Bon Odori, it's my first time dancing the dances. It was really fun.

Evening soon fell, we walked around, sat around, I took pictures and tried to spot Denise. I had tried to call her but she didn't pick up. Probably because she had her phone in a bag or something, she was wearing a yukata after all. Unfortunately when I manage to reach her, she said she had already left and apologized. Oh well. It was also unfortunate that Yati and SenzO couldn't go. Wayne was lazy to go. Haha.

After Bon Odori, we went back to Emma's home. Emma's dad then took all of us and the family to have dinner at the restaurant that the four of us went to the previous night. Emma told his dad that I eat a lot so his dad ordered a lot of things. Darn. Now I'm known to two of my friend's parents as a guy who can eat a lot.

The next day, Emma's dad took us out for lunch at a pan mee restaurant. Since Emma's dad already knows that Jian Leng and I eat a lot, he kept insisting us to order a second bowl, he added, "When you eat, you have to eat until you're satisfied, don't be paiseh.". So Jian Leng and I were 'forced' to order a second serving of pan mee.

Yumi went back to her home after lunch. Back at Emma's house, we worked on our assignments. I did my VST movie analysis assignment and had to watch 2012 twice. In the end, now, I have watch 2012 five times and from 'My favorite movie', it became, 'I'm sick of it'. Curse you VST!

Later at night, Emma's dad took us to eat at the same restaurant again. Again, he had Jian Leng and I eat a lot. Emma's dad is really generous and nice but also strict and stern at the same time. After dinner, we continued our assignments. After I've done my audio and plot chart, I didn't feel like doing other assignments so I watched Tonari no Totoro and Paprika. I had always wanted to watch Paprika ever since I saw a the movie trailer on television in a movie review show, that year it was released. Now that I got watch it, I really love the movie. It's story is awesome, the concept is amazing, the movie itself is colorful and vivid, the music is like a hypnotic trance that matches with the movie! My favorite scene is the parade scene in the dream world. It's so lively, so colorful, so ...ominous. I had dedicated a poem for this movie in a previous post, using some lines from the movie and the song, Parade. I went to sleep at around 4a.m. after the movie.

PS: I don't really know an English translation for the word "paiseh". "Embarrassed" maybe?

Break

Finally my semester break has arrived. It was a really, really rough ride through Year 2 Semester 2 in The One Academy. Almost near the end of the semester, I was really demotivated, depressed and pessimistic about most of my assignments. I almost felt like giving up. I have a strong feeling that I might fail one or two subjects due to the drop in quality of my assignments. I had done quite a lot of thinking and I found that I might actually not enjoy what I'm doing now but I have chosen this path and now that I'm in the middle of it I should continue this journey.

While the semester was going on, I had been restraining myself from doing any personal artworks, doodles, sketches, and sort so that I can focus on my assignments, which was pretty bad that it sort of drove me to insanity. Unable to draw anything that was on my mind on paper was horrifying! Every time I start doodling a bit, I would quickly restrain myself from it, holding down the urge to draw. It was suffocating, I felt like I was gonna burst from the chains I placed upon myself. This might be the reason I was so negative about myself.

Well, now that it's the semester break, I plan to indulge myself in doodling and drawing. I also planned to do some digital painting to improve myself and maybe some 3D modeling and animation exercises to improve on that part too.

Even though it's the semester break, we still got things to do. Especially Visual Story Telling. We have to find actors, improve our storyboard, do more discussions and plan ahead for our short film.

Since yesterday, I had been feeling a lot better now that I can really relax without feeling guilty about not doing any assignments. Also, I get to catch more sleep. Now, it's like putting down two huge boulders I had been carrying around. I can't wait to see what activities are installed for the Birds to do this semester break!

Glutton's Oath

Glutton by day, glutton by night,
I eat all the food I see within my sight,
I never get fat, food be my might,
Nothing can stop me, not even the Green Lantern's light!