A bit delayed considering Rag Day was on 6th and its 10th now...haha.

Kind of feel very relieved that Rag Day was over...given the amount of manpower we have, finishing the float itself is already an amazing feat. I mean, I still remember the first day of Orientation some seniors came down and were shocked to find only 2 people working in the tentage. People walking past our transparent tentages (we are the only hall to be so exposed.) were staring at it with disbelief...I mean, for a hall float to be that uncladded when there are only 2 weeks left is really unbelievable (what they dont know is we really prepared like 30% of it, hidden somewhere). Earlier stages of the process actually had the feel of "senior's float" because the number of juniors appearing is just saddening. Thank goodness they appear eventually and I must say they are indispensable.

Comparison with last year...being a senior this year with a rather high position means ability to make some decision and getting to know the "behind-the-scenes"..like how seniors assign work to juniors....got 学问 behind it one...not anyhow assign one...or how to deal with the organizers etc. Something new this year is also  how to deal with freshmen...how to attract their attention and how to enlist their help..in the end spotted a number of potential ones so that's good :)

On the float...overall I think the Berlin Walls are really good, as in the standard is there (probably with the exception of my parts). Some really creative materials like peanut shells and pasta lol. I like the colour scheme of the main float as well, but the design really limits the number of materials that we can use. Or maybe I am not creative enough..but that is besides the point..we all know that we spammed a bit too many hexagons. Also ran out of time to clad the horses and the chariot nicely, though it is presentable. The coat-of-arms are rather unique though towards the end ideas tend to be repeated...coz there are simply too many of them. Workmanship also compromised towards the end, but it cant be helped.

Mad dash at the end as usual...thank god for freshies...last year we dun have freshies but luckily we had enough floaters and progress was ok...this year we were lagging and freshie power is pretty obvious. I mean, they produced an estimated 50% of the hexagons by themselves? Power...

On other halls...felt that overall cladding standard went down, either that or I expected more? I mean, how often do you see KR not being able to cover the wheels of the truck? or EH having a rather eye-catching part wholly painted, or KE just painting a whole platform. They are still rather impressive though. I think they are smart in a sense that they know how to adapt to changes, coz its a YOG year and its at night, so they channel more energy to mechanisms and lighting effects. We on the other hand, are not rich enough to pay for faster moving horses (=.=) and we almost didnt think of installing lights at all until a senior came back to help. Plus TH is rapidly catching up as well. No offence but I felt that SH recycled everything that is good from last year's hall floats.

Oh well Rag Day is over..Liked EH's float and rooted for them from the beginning (I mean, since we dont really stand a very high chance) and they ended up sweeping all rag-related awards. For us process is more important maybe? Probably our philosophy. Mood is not as high as last year, but considering all the fiasco that happened prior to forming a proper Float Team (pulled out, kind of got PERSUADED to do float, problems forming a team, lost of quite a bit of materials coz wrongly assumed we wont face any problems in pulling out, many people forming vacation plans already coz wrongly assumed we wont face any problems in pulling out) I am really proud of what we have done, proud of the team, esp the people who stayed awake till 4 or 5am working on the float despite having to work the next day. Where else can you find this kind of people? From those want auxes for every tiny bit they contribute? From those who goes "I must have a double room, or else I wont stay and play for your team"? I salute them.

Maybe we can succeed in pulling out next year. Or maybe along comes some angel who will shed some light to the organizers, that Rag Day has already lost its purpose and should either be discontinued or revolutionized. Small chance.

Okay, wont have too many photos here since I already uploaded photos to FB. Check out http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=191786&id=717863044.

Jia Shen was really proud of his soccer ball and flag. :)

Labels: float, Raffles Hall

Havent been blogging for ages! In fact this is my first July post when it is like 2/3 gone. Sigh.

Float has been occupying most of my time and with minimal manpower this year hopefully we can pull it off. Usually came back from float at around 4 and slept at 5++ am these days..mindlessly surfing the net and dun feel like blogging. Eurgh. Sort of have made myself woke up earlier today so that I can type out a post..how sad is that? Haha...

Have lots of things running through my mind so I guess I shall just do this post in point form? Hehe.

• Rag Day is 17 days away. Main structure came back horribly late and its not very up to standard either so we are lagging like nobody's business. More long nights ahead.
• CORS is starting soon! Have a bit of idea on what to take as my 5th and 6th module this sem, though I am still wondering if I should write in and ask for webcast for 2 FoS modules, coz their lectures clash with my core lectures. If I cant take them this sem or next sem I may just have to give up Forensic minor altogether. :( though it means that I am free to take more enjoyable modules or just dont take anything and do VIP. (Never mind if you dun understand that bit).
• Went for free lunch/tea/dinner 4 times this month at Commencement. Makes me wonder what will happen in two years time.
• Amazed by the fact that committee chairpersons started hunting for members among freshies when they haven even stepped into hall. Wondering if I should take up a chair/co-chair position too. Trying quite hard not to re-join another activity but having little successes at the moment. Not being able to try new things sucks larh.
• Phone bill costs a bomb this month. Sigh so much for "Navigation on your phone. Free. Forever." Data costs sucks. 
• Collected YOG uniform and accreditation card finally. Wow-ed at the fact that Crocodile sponsors the uniform and cap, wow-ed at receiving my a new Visa Prepaid Card for all the workforce that doubles as an Ezlink. Starting to look forward to it again even though it means i have to skip classes. 
• Got listed! Happy Happy Happy :) :) :)
• JiaXiang visited. Went to Marina Bay Sands Casino and the security guard verifying my age goes like "ngam ngam ho ah..." JiaXiang got really lucky (ask him for details :D) and treated me to Fish and Co dinner (THANKS!!!!!). Night scenery there is good, will be even better once all the construction is done! 
• Finally back in a single room. In fact, a single double room <3. Love the space! The privacy! :)

Labels: around singapore, float, NUS, Raffles Hall, updates, YOG

Let's just say that..most of the things I used to enjoy about float are almost non-existent this year. There is just no spirit. I mean, how often do you see a 90% senior's float and the only "freshies" helping out are new ppl who are the same batch as us. Or how often do you see 2 or 3 people in a huge tentage slaving away during daytime (and occasionally night time)? Or people appearing once in a while just to collect more materials and hide in their rooms doing work? Or an entire department (though made up of 3 people only) doing their work entirely in their room with the excuse that they need internet to help out with their designs, and acting as if they are not part of the team at all?

I mean, I can understand that because of late notice and stuff many people have confirmed their holiday plans before they are dragged back to do float..so juggling between work and float. It is tiring. I just thought it is seriously irresponsible of those who signed up for float and then disappear without a word. You can count the number of juniors with one hand and how often they appear to do work with another. They just don't care. I wonder if the situation will change at all.

I am quite convinced that none of us will be back next year, because from what it seems there is absolutely not going to be any form of continuity next year. We are already having severe continuity problems this year and now its just gonna spiral out of control. Yay no more float next year.

Maybe it's high time for n-u-s-s-u to review the purpose of rag day, because its now just a event wasting time and resources. We create more rubbish instead.

Sienz.

其实这次假期唯一的收获（至少到目前为止）是重拾一段友谊...虽然至今我还是无法理解当初我们是为了什么事而闹翻。我自问什么也没做，也不知道你在气什么，不愿和我交谈。一年就这样过去了，我们几乎到了见面都不打招呼的地步， 但是这次回来你却突然热情起来，好像什么事都没发生过似的。我自问还是一年前的我，对人对事的态度应该没太大的改变，所以刚开始我还真不知要如何反应。我不明白是什么促使你这一百八十度转变。现在总算回到可以自在的和你相处的阶段（虽然说我的反应还是有点僵硬），但是想要回到当初要好的关系恐怕还需要一段日子吧？不知你有无此意？

Labels: float, Raffles Hall

Back in Singapore.

So 1/3 of my holidays have ended...as usual failed to utilise them in a good manner. Spending time at home is always the best but I ended up being a couch potato (bad) and a driver (good). Wrote down a list of things I wanted to get done during hols at home but unfortunately it didnt go too well :S

Original plan for the remaining 2/3 of the hols was YOG volunteering and since I wud be in Sg...float. Was kind of worried coz din hear anything from them so I emailed...turned out that they have enough staff to cater to the pre-games stuff and they say they dun need me anymore...:( Sigh. If ever i have known earlier I might not even have been in float....wud have gone travelling. Nan de my parents encourage it some more. But I guess things are not in my control anymore? Though I cud go in December tho. :D

Float...was supposed to be really hectic since the seniors are mostly on intern during daytime and the juniors, well, there are no full timers from what I see. Back in Sg on Thursday and already worked till 2am ==. But slacked on Friday since I was supposed to be off shopping for them, so din do much...and then raced to PC Show at night. Went out during weekend too! But I am already giving in more that what I have promised anyway.

Visited Resorts World Sentosa on Saturday..though we could only stand outside the gates and took pics coz we din buy tickets for Universal Studios...walked around, and entered the casino. Hehehehe. Just to remind myself that I am legal now :D Can say its kind of eye opening..lots of middle-aged woman sitting down gambling their afternoon away. Super profiting business lah...I gave up $10 in a space of 10 minutes (or was it 5) via the slots machine. == Gonna visit the Marina Bay one when I have the chance! Spent more $$ coz met up with different groups of ppl for lunch and dinner....Marche for lunch and Ichiban for dinner. 3rd straight class outing there o____O. Always enjoy these nice little reunions :D

(Pics to follow)

Did something kind of spontaneously today also..but I think I shall save it for the next post. :D

Labels: around singapore, float, outings, YOG

Finally, the post everybody is waiting for. (:P)

The fire to blog about it in me sort of died down already coz i had quite a bit to do after Rag Day but I shall still try to say sth about it :)

I can't believe it has all ended...The last month especially, it literally flew past us. I cant say I will definitely join float again next year but I am really glad I was a floater this year and I will definitely help out again next year.

2 months. 2 whole months working on the float, and I don't even know what made me give up my holidays for this, but overall i think nothing can replace the satisfaction when I complete everything I am tasked. 2 whole weeks for the base cladding of the wardrobe, one whole week for the both trapezium walls, massssssss productions and so on.

What I have taken away from float:
- Immeasurable amounts of satisfaction
- Stronger bonds with all floaters!
- Priceless memories that holds a special position in my heart :)

What float has taken away from me:
- sleep :(
- money :(
- a few of my pants and t-shirts
- 2 months of holidays with family
- a few outings with friends
- weight (I think i dun mind this)

Seems like more cons than pros. Haha who cares. :)

Progress was slow at first..we cladders begin with prototyping, which was incredibly slow and I hate it coz i was horribly uncreative...picked up pace a bit when mass production for the wardrobe begins, our week starts getting longer and longer, and the last two weeks are the craziest. From 5th to 6th I had 9 hours of sleep in 48 hours. The eve of Rag Day saw a mad dash to finish everything, sacrificing neatness and some parts were left untouched. Sideprops made their way to SRC from 9pm on Friday, and by 11pm all work have to stop. Stopped to change, then made our way to SRC after watching our float video...where touch-ups begin..all the way until 7am in the morning. Pre-judging a.k.a static display went okay i suppose..then another few touch-ups for performance, then under the baking sun performances began with faculty floats...after which we stopped for one hour ++ coz President of Singapore who only wanted to watch hall performances was late. We floaters were almost dying under the sun lah..

There was a problem with the music in our main CD during sound check period earlier in the day so we requested them to use the back-up instead..turned out they din follow our instructions and NUSSU practically ruined any surprise, if there were any in the first part of our performance. They allowed us to restart and well, probably its a good thing coz everybody was clapping for us :) and some halls even helped to cheer for us, due to our very small group of supporters, though we made enough noise to be heard too :)...performance went well too!

Pleasant surprise for us as we won the Least Cost Float Award, our first shield in 11 years. I personally felt that it was very commendable (though it didnt have much to do with us) given the complications we faced :)


So many memories during float...I especially like karaoke sessions (the chinese ones by Chin Ling..with occasional "What a weird song" chant in the background) which is so much more fun than singing alone in the room...also the last minute birthday "surprises", Uncle Vincent's cheese naan supper, watching shows while mass producing (in the earlier days of float), "DINNER! TECHNO! LAST CALL!".....etc etc etc.

Labels: float, holidays, NUS, Raffles Hall

Seriously wanted to blog about Float and Rag Day but then...finish up dismantling, clean up comm hall and went out for supper, not to mention outing with McNair ppl later...need to get some sleep. So for those who wasnt and NUSSU Rag Day 2009, here is a video (credits to Eusoff Works, Media Wing of Eusoff Hall) of the Rag Performance. There is a long story to the real performance also, but I shall save that for later. I owe everyone including myself for the post!! That should be up tomorrow.



Pls really zoom in to see it better. :)

Labels: float, Raffles Hall

Time to squeeze out one post before the mad dash to complete float begins in 6 hours time.

************

Float is 70% complete. Rag Day is two days away. Chiong-ing 25% tomorrow and the final 5% during the 5 hours before static display. Sigh, in this way i will have to miss my ex-roomie outing, even though it is rare for MH to come over to Sg. :( Clashes with the final days of float.

************

I have 829 points in my General Account for CORS. Confidently thinking its more than enough to secure my GEK1542 Forensic Science. In the end I checked CORS so often these two days like some maniac checking stock prices, stressed out over it, thot of giving up for another cheaper module. Finally the winning bid was 803 points, highest in its history, and leaving me almost bankrupt (in terms of G account points). Whew!

************

I achieved a personal record of 9 hours of sleep....in 48 hours. Float really made me contract unhealthy habits. :S

************

Will post up photos of Rag Day after I repaid my sleeping debt. Until then....

Labels: float, Raffles Hall

Haha...just in case there are ppl who are expecting more posts..sorry to say that I might not have the time to blog much..maybe once a week or less than that...haha.

Float progress was supposedly slow wor so we made ourselves work overtime..was planning to write out this post at 4am last nite just to proof this point haha..but couldnt bring myself to do it..Last nite (this morning) ended up sleeping at almost 6am. :x But the work is not that bad lah. At least not for "mundane" people like me. Others may have more difficulties sitting down and doing the same thing for even an hour or two. Lol.

H1N1 is kind of getting out of hand in Singapore..a few cases in NUS, and cases in E.Hall...scary scary. Even Brunei has around 20 cases liao..although all imported cases. And cases among AYG athletes. Eeks. Speaking of which, I am going for functional area training at Sentosa tmr. Eesh..praying that I will come thru all this healthy :)

Hope to write again soon! (I sound like i am writing a letter)

Labels: AYG, float, holidays, Raffles Hall

Ok, its a boring title.

Anyway..the only two things I am involved in now..float is still quite slack eh..coz we junior cladders arent really involved in the design yet (thankfully, coz I am horribly uncreative), so we did a little bit of mass production these few days..not to mention long lunch breaks, late late dinners and lots of watching show while doing work. Heh heh.

Havent been going out very often but have been spending quite a bit of money...most of it went into accomodation fees. Spent quite a bit during last weekend's PS outing wif ex-classmates. Going to spend more when AYG comes....just came back from beach volleyball volunteers briefing and since I am doing morning shift, I am supposed to report to Sentosa by 6.30am. Shuttle bus at Clementi MRT at 5.45am = no public bus at that hour = must take cab or else walk but its a bit far = spend more. Luckily food is provided. But I think my role shud be quite ok..I am an Embarkation I/C who directs the athletes/media/officials etc etc to the correct bus.

One more thing to report..I can officially start looking into SEP programmes already...and plan out vacation internship etc etc..guess why. No prizes for the correct answer though...

Until next time...

Labels: AYG, float, holidays, JDP, Raffles Hall

Sigh, back in the island.

Had a quiet 20th birthday few days ago, but enjoyed every moment spent with family and friends :D. Thanks again to all who wished! Enjoyed every moment back at home, so it wasnt surprising that I was a bit emo yesterday...another half a year a.k.a a semester to go.

First day back yesterday...was feeling really lazy to go report for float..not feeling like doing float at all because I was going "Sigh, why couldnt I stay at home longer". Watch my series until around 9 sth...finally called up float head..who told me to come today instead. Hehe. Slacked!

This morning..was supposed to report at 10...then i purposely turned up late..coz was still feeling lazy and awkward coz no other batch-mates were there..anyway turned out I was earliest. I was told that the reporting hours normally got pushed back as float goes on...sooner or later it will be 12pm to 3am? Haha. Anyway they put me into cladding. Personally I dun think i will be a good engineer, and I cant sew, but I can do repetitive stuff though I cant design for nuts. But anyway slacked again the whole day coz I was supposed to just search for some ideas for cladding materials. So watch two or three episodes of series in between also. Heh heh.

Tmr is when all the "fun" begins. 2 months!! But I will survive. And hopefully not hate it.

Labels: float, holidays, Raffles Hall