It was Mr Siow who asked me to join him and some other boarders in this activity. At about 8 on a sunny Sunday morning, we gathered up in front of the hostel. Soon after that, the yellow cab which has a Victoria badge painted on his door slowly departed with us inside.

We reached there when the MC had already starting to read the grouping. I was in group A3, together with Ms.Cheika, my PE teacher, a Sec 1 boy’s family, an Indian man, the MC, and later on, we have a NCC-sea boy as well. 

Before the real activity we had a small game. The hosts putted some stuff like paperclips, water bottles, etc. on the ground and the teams had to remember them as they would have to write down as much as possible the name of the stuff on a piece of paper. The team which have the most correct names would be the winner. It was tight as everyone gathered and sandwiched between each other around the piece of cloth where the stuff were putted on. I still remember Mr.Siow’s loud and clear voice to command his each of his teammates to remember some certain things. It was very fun and the fact that his team did not win even make it funnier.

Back to the activity, we had some brief but detailed introduction and safety tips from 2 attractive female guiders. After that, we were ready for some warm up. Seeing the Sec 1 boy’s parent joining him and cheering him made me feel good. From a shy boy at the beginning, he became more confident and I know that his spirit was up to the race. 

There was a part when the captains of the team had the chance to talk. Mr Low came with a joke saying that his team would be the winner of the race or else it would continue until his team become the winner. Everyone laughed. I was surprised, he used to be very hard on us during school time, I never thought he could make such a joke with a broad smile on his face. Is it the Victorian spirit ? He did not only motivated other teams’ will but made everyone felt closer to each other also. After him, other captains also made their speeches with confident. There was another joke from Mr Siow as he said his team would install a motor on his boat.

Tightened out life jackets, we got into our boat. With good lucks from each other, the teams were ready to set sail.

My first time on the water was not bad after all. Followed the guider’s guides, we soon mastered the boat. The fun part is, we had to shout out really loud whenever we were putting the oar up or down the water in order to make everyone concentrate on the pace and make the boat move faster. This was real fun as everyone including the women or the small boys were shouting out loud. It was so fun and once again, Mr.Siow’s voice was the loudest of all. I made me think of the roar of a lion.

During practices, a boat approached our and started to splash water onto us and our boat. Then it bursted into a fun fight between the boats as we approached each other, using our oars and cans to splash water to others. The boats were shaking hard and everyone soaked wet from head to toes. We laughed a lot. I had so much fun and eventually, realized that our bonds had grew stronger.

After awhile, the moment of the race finally came. Four boats were ready at the starting line with their crews full of excitement and ambitious. The atmosphere became hotter than ever and it was not only because it was a sunny day.

Everyone held their breath, their arms hold the oars tight. They were waiting for the ready signal. Suddenly it became so silent around. I tried to relax myself.

“3… 2… 1… Go !!!!!!!”, the voice of a guider finally broke the silent.

The boats accelerated at full speed, heading toward the goal. Everyone were trying as hard as possible. There were a lot of sound then. The voices of the crews of the boats were saying : “One ! Up ! Two ! Up … ” Sounds of the oars were slashing the water steadily. Sounds of the boats that were breaking through the wind. All of them mixed up together, making a huge chaos. I was blurred because of water splashed onto my face, the only thing I could do was to concentrate in our boat’s pace and kept on sailing. Behind me, the Sec 1 boy’s family were also trying very hard, I knew it as their voice were really loud and happy.

When we finally got throw the goal line, I used my hand to rub my eyes and realized that we were the third (or the fourth … XD … I didn’t notice much about the B1 crews) to cross that line. Mr Low’s team were the winner with no doubt. However, did not letting the outcome affect us, our team cheered together, “Good work, everyone!”, and I saw broad smile in every faces.

We went up right after that and had ourselves a quick lunch before some of the young and fresh guys like Mr Siow and his boarders came back for more of the boating. We had the chance to race with the two other teams which weren’t got the chance to race with us just now because of the lack of boats. 

It was a quick and fun race, however. We, the fresh and young guys team, dominated the race and reached the goal line first. Still, Mr Siow’s voice was still the loudest of all. We had so much fun.

Every parties have their ending. After returning the life jackets and oars back, we gathered for the prize giving section. We had one more game before the real prizes were given, however. Some of us got our eyes covered with a piece of cloth and we had to dance when music from a cassette was played, if one moved after the music was stopped then he/she would be disqualified. The prize was given to a teacher from VS, he was dancing so nice that all of us were surprised, a part of it was because he was quite fat.

Mr Low and the MC gave their last words to the crowd, everyone was satisfied for the day even though we were already very exhausted at that time. We were really looking forward for more of the activities held by the VSP. In the end of the day, we all became our good friends as we show each other our harmony by giving out our kindest smiles. 

By the way, Mr Siow was still the one with the loudest voice.

Now I really understand the meaning the Victorian spirit. It was not about winning. It was all about giving our best for the group and in return, no matter what the outcome might be, we would still get ourselves better friendships and trust for each other. The spirit was also about to never give up despite the situation, always believe that even in the worst cases, you can still get through and become the winner of your own self. If you can do that, then, congratulation, you got the Victorian spirit running in your blood!

Hello

Well, basically, I’m flying back to Vietnam in an Airbus A320.

After a 7 months journey in Singapore, it’s now time to get back home.

I don’t have much to say. Maybe I will end up saying that I am very happy and eager to go back home.

That seems quite obvious, so I would rather talk a bit about what I am going to do when I get back home.

First of all, I will spend sometimes (well, it might be greater than ‘sometimes’  ) to go and visit my old friends, ex-teachers and relatives. It might be tiring, I suppose, but on the other hand, it would be very fun and nice as well. 

Then, of course, I must have sometimes to revise my knowledge and do my homework ( Oops, the plane is shaking hard… duh… quite scary… haha ), there are a lot to do and I would definitely not waste my time just for going out and playing. Moreover, to have such a long holiday, I must made a commitment with mr.siow that whether I do well for my CA2 and SA2 or else I will end up having a shorter December holiday than others. Once the word had been spoken, I must try my best to keep it. 

(Well, the plane was going throw a bad weather area just now. It was very scary as the plane was shaking real hard, it even lose its height once and … well, I must admit that I was quite scared. It’s ok now, though)

Lastly, well, I think I am going to exercise regularly during this holiday, I want to get fitter and at least pass the NAFFA test in term 3, I failed a few tests and I think I could do better.

Well, that’s it, not too long and not too short. I’m ending this as my laptop’s battery is going to run out soon. It’s 18.27 in Singapore’s time and 5.27 in Vietnam’s time, I will be stepping on Vietnam in around 45 more minutes. I can’t wait to do that !

Have a nice holiday and see you soon.

This dream of mine started exactly 1 one year ago, when my father came back home from work and said, “Do you wanna study abroad?”

Certainly I do. Study abroad had been my dream for a very long time, and so the dream of being independent. I was confident of myself, after all, I had been a good pupil and my grades were high, even in literature, a subject that boys often bad at.

He said that it won’t be easy as I was going to compete with all the best pupils in my country for the Asean Scholarship. I nodded, then the 2 weeks training started.

Other pupils had prepared for this scholarship for about a year a two. I only had 2 weeks. My English was not even good. My speaking and listening were good. However, my grammar and my vocabulary were just bad, maybe worse than bad.

Then miracles happened.  I got it, the Scholarship. 2 weeks had beaten 2 years, what else can you ask for?

I was high.

I was excited. I caught up with the feeling that I was one of the best among them – the scholars.

It was right, at least in some aspects. I was more mature than ‘em in some way. I knew how to sing, I knew how to draw and I knew how to give a right idea.

That’s it. They were better in communicating, in team-working, in leading a team, and so on…

It was even clearer when the schools started.

How can 2 weeks compare to years of preparing? How can a ‘good pupil’ compare to ‘excellent pupils’? I had my strong points, but they were no use comparing to theirs.

My grades were terrible in the 1^st term. The marking method was different compare to that of our teachers’ and the the English was complicated. I’m sure that others had aware of this when they were preparing for the Scholarship, I was the only one who did not know anything. Hah.

I felt ashamed and sad.

I was no good and they were no fair. Other people have their own Mother Tongue subject, we don’t. The Chinese have their own Chinese Literature, we don’t. The Chinese didn’t have to worry about their CCA. They will get an A1 without any trouble. We have to strive for it and earn each point by our own sweats.

It was like you use your bare foot to compete with people riding in bicycle. I accepted that, that’s why I was here as a scholar.

However, efforts were not enough. My marks were as low as a normal pupil. No matter how hard I tried to score A1 for all the Science Subjects and B for the Combine Humanities and English, I still got an A2 for Phy, B4 for Bio and D7 for the combined subjects and Eng.

They even add up the score of the first term, which was like hell. Eventually, my Chem and Phy’s grade dropped to B3.

Disappointed.

However, I would not stop and blame others for this.

My goal had set, the world are not going to slow down to wait for me.

Now I admit that I was no genius, I was no superman.

I am just a tank, just like my name, I might not move fast but I could move forward and stably.

Maybe getting over failure is one of my strength.

I learned a lot.

I will try and see, see how good I can be.

I will see my grades going up.

I had chosen this life, I will fight for it until my very last breath.

Do you believe me ?

“Yes, in… a week”, I replied.

“But… but, why ?”, John asked.

I did not know how to answer him. I was just standing there, stunned by his sorrowful voice. 

Finally, I murmured, “I’m sorry”.

“No way,” John ran away, his figure faded away and lost in the shadow of the night. 

John and I had been friends for more than 5 years. We used to be neighbors and used to be classmates. Whatever that we did, from playing sports to study, we did together. To me, he was the kindest boy ever. He was like a brother of mine and I knew that he had the same feeling towards me.

There was one occasion that I could never forget. It was a rainy day and I had to stay back in school alone to prepare for our class festival. When I was too tired that I was thinking of giving up, out of the blue, he came and helped me. I could remember how surprise and thankful I was.

Then, one day, I came and told him that I was going to leave for US, he was shocked. He and I had a promise that we would study in the same university. Unfortunately, my parents had chosen another journey for me; and I could not hesitate.

To my surprise, he avoided to see me since then. I though that we could have at least one last week together, but there was no way for me to contact him. It was like he had vanished.

Those days were really hard for me. I thought that he was angry with me, with my unexpected trip.I did not even have a chance to go out with him once. 

I waited silently for the day to come, the day that I will have to leave my hometown, my family and my firends behind. People came, people left, leaving gifts, hugs and tears behind for me. None of them was John, the person that I wanted to see the most, I just wanted to say sorry to him. Where did he go, what he had done, I was clueless.

Then that day came in grey. I had not seen him for a week. It felt like a century with me. 

Things never follow the way that you think. Just right after I left the car that took me to the airport, I heard a voice behind me, calling my name. I glanced back, the voice was too familiar to me. I was him. I was surprised, or, in a away, excited to see him. Gently, he gave me a notebook and a pair of colourful figurines. 

“I am sorry for not seeing you earlier,” he said, “ But I wanted to do something for you, and it took all my times,” he looked at his gifts, “I was angry with you, but now the feeling is gone. I made the figurines myself. They represent you and I. They can not be separated because they have a string that tie their heart together. I hope that you won’t forget me when you are in US. Take care and study well. I will miss you very much, bro.”

It was until then that I knew boys can cry. He cried. I was lost for words. I feft a terrible saddness inside my heart. It was like a knife that stab nonstop into my heart. It started to rain. I can taste the bitter of each drop on my face. I can not tell if they are my tears or the droplets of the rain.

The plane took of its wings carrying me and leaving John behind. However, it could not separate our soul. I opened his notebook. There were full of colourful pictures of us. There were funny, stupid notes about us written by our friend. There was a note written by him : Friends forever.

I have finished my AMath SA1 this morning (SA1 is the name of our Mid-year exam). The paper was very, very long. It took me 1 hour 45 minutes to finish it and another 45 minutes to check my works. It’s okay, though, I think I’ll get an A1, I should. 

I have 2 more subjects to go : Geography and Physics. My SA1 seems ok so far, I done the papers quite well, except for a few mistakes in Bio and Chem.

Got a weekend, phew, at last. I will spend at least half of it for Geo, though. I think I am a ‘Mugger’ now… haha. . 

Ops… my stomach is calling… gotta go for lunch. XD

So long. 

————

22 days to go [9/5/08 - 31/5/08] …