Friday, March 25, 2011

My Life in AUSTRALIA

I know I know. The title is quite 'drama mama' considering how this won't be the only post of me being in Australia because of the number of years of study I have left ahead. But it still feels special to me become I'm not yet accustomed to the culture and more importantly weather here.

Anywhos, to give a quick breakdown, I left Singapore on the 19th of March at about 9pm and was seen of by my friends who honestly made it bittersweet for me. My family members were there as well and I remember as I walked into the terminal and turned one last time to face them (Ravin's shout for me to turn around could not be ignored), I felt a sense of loss because it was then that it clicked that I was not going to be on familiar ground once I landed in Australia. I have always been so used to being in charge of my surroundings, knowing what consequences my actions will call and having a group of people I know so well and they me in return. In Australia, I would have to start from scratch and though I was excited at that prospect, a part of me was hesitant because I was 21. Did I really want to start from scratch?

But there was no other choice. I was already boarding the flight (bootless by the way because I had to take off my boots at the customs.) and we were soon to take off. I was seated in the plane when I sneaked calls to my mum and messaged Prabs and basically trying to make everything seem normal. I suppose I wanted to delay the inevitable sense of loss of familiarity till the very end. If a call here and a message there would help, then by god, I woud do it.

The Prabs sent me this, "We're all standing in a line." I looked out to the left side, and there I saw, the only line at the window pane. I resisted raising my hand and waving to them knowing fully well that even if I started waving frantically, they would not see me because to them, my window was not large enough to see into and spot and differentiate faces. Then an idea implanted itself in my head. What if I used a lazer light and flashed it back forth, wouldn't they be able to see it? It was a stupid idea. I wondered if the Chinese Australian next to me had a lazer light.

Soon, the plane began to move off. All I coud do was watch the line of people fade away as the plane took off. Even in that plane, I thought I might die; that the plane might crash because I just couldn't picture my life in Australia. I really couldn't. I couldn't see myself walking through the streets and eating in the shops. I couldn't visualise myself shopping at the stores or even entering a bar.

But here I am.

Today I went to the Victoria market. Yesterday I went to 2 different shopping malls just to have Hot Thick Italian Milk Chocolate. Needless to say, as James put it, "It was the Sex." Or in my words, "A piece of heaven that just warms your inside in a bitter cold weather". James and I also walked by a peition that was going on outside the Melbourne State Library, "SIGN FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE". I wanted to sign it. James pulled me away.

Two days back, during class break, my new friend Monisha and an even newer friend Simba (yes it's the name of the Lion from Lion King) from Africa went to eat sushi at a small restaurant near our school. Simba has never eaten sushi before and it was his first time using chopsticks. But boy did he become a pro after just 10 minutes of fiddling around with it. I felt like an idiot.

And then ofcourse there was yesterday night where we went to a club, "JetBlack". Monash students were there and we decided to go as well. Wow. It was lame except for the stunt someone pulled and if you would like to know about that stunt, you may call me or text me and I shall bequeath upon you the torrid details ; ) Anyways, we didn't do much there but I have a ink stamp on my right wrist of them club's emblem and it refuses to come off!!!! Damn it.

Oh and to get to the club....okay let me first explain it's location. I live in the city. Which is like Orchard in Singapore. James lives in Boon Lay and Raj in Pasir Ris. This club is at City Hall. So, we took a cab out because it was at 2am. Then, we wanted to come back, flagging down a cab wasn't easy, so we waited until suddenly this car pulled up and an international student offered to drive us back into the city for 18 bucks which is half of what we'd pay for a cab. Everyone was okay with except for rigid old me who was caught in between the joy of finally saying "I HITCHHIKED!" and "I'm sorry mum. I didn't know what I was doing getting into a complete strangers car."

I hitchhiked.

So that's been my week so far and I've got a test to study for so I'm going to end this post here.

Oh and I don't like people who keep saying Bless you everytime you sneeze. Say it once and stop! You make me feel horrible for sneezing all the time because I feel like when you say "Bless you" Every Single Time, there's an underlining "Stupid girl! Sneezing all the time" undertone to it.

So please. Just say "Bless you" once and stop. Because it just annoys me. And when I'm sneezing and get annoying, my reflexes go spastic and I might punch you.

Peace out : )

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Chapters Of Love; A Valentine's Story



On the 12 of February, I got to direct an amazing cast and crew of people. This production meant so much to me and everyone who worked in it. We accomplished everything within a span of a month and the result was amazing. As I walk with my friends who came to watch the play, I still hear lines from the play being repeated as the laugh at the characters who sprouted their jokes so well.

"Chapters of Love; A Valentine's Story" started of as just a play but ended up being a huge mark for all of us and Arteen Furteens:
We have now proven that we are capable of producing quality small plays that endear the audience to the characters we are portraying. There has never been a greater accomplishment for me and I have the cast and crew of the show to thank.

To my cast: 

Sameer, Cheryl, KC, Nicole, Jazreel, Melissa, Kishan, Serena, Mustafah, Kristine, Colin, Luke and Syawal who all brought their own flavour to the character. You made the play fantastic and drew the audience of 57 to fall in love with you'll.

To my crew:

Publicity Department: Palani Raj, Bhavna and Ghau. Oh my god. The pictues were amazing, the posters wonderful and the programs brilliant : ) What more can I say?


Props Department: Kanages and Nanthinie! Brilliant job you guys. You made with what little budget we had and made that small stage look cozily wonderful. And that's not from my mouth. It's from the audiences : )


Dance Department: Christine! You were fantastic. You stepped up to the plate and choreographed and disciplined the dancers and produced a dance that no one will forget anytime soon!

Music: Prabs and Cheryl! Prabs thank you for managing the music well and for performing together with Luke and Nicole! Cheryl, thank you for bringing your own original song to the table!

Who raised enough funds to donate to the Children's Cancer Foundation : ) And we had more than the expected audiences. I look forward to watching this production being put up again because for all those of you who missed it, you have definitely missed out on a night full of fun, laughter, tears an smiles : )

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Peter Pan & Chapters of Love

OH THE STRESS!!!!

Well that about sums it up.

It's been a long weekend stretching into Monday and Tuesday and it's going to be a long week as well.. Last Thursday was when it all started. I got up in the morning and went for Thaipusam (A Hindu festival) to support a friend of mine who was carrying kavadi (Basically this beautifully decorated altar-like stand that the person carries above them with peircings through their back, front and sometimes face). So we walked and we walked and we basically walked.

After that, went back home at about 4pm and rested abit before heading down to watch "Phases" a production by students from NAFA. It was Nicole's school production and it was definitely worth watching because the short plays were thought provoking.

Anyways, got back home and woke up the next day bright and early so as to finish off the "Chapters of Love: A Valentine's Story" script. It's basically a production Arteen Furteens (AFT) is doing to raise funds for a charitable organisation. I can't really name the organisation yet due to legal issues and so on. So...I'll wait for confirmation from their side before I state the beneficary. It means alot to me to be raising the funds for this particular foundation so this production is of high importance to me.The script comprises of several love stories all intertwined into one.

So anyways back to the topic at hand, I completed the script at 5pm and by then, I had to make my way down to the CC to start printing the new copies of the scripts. Then rehearsals for this production started at 7pm and we ended at 10pm.

My Saturday then started off with rehearsals for the Peter Pan production from 9am all the way to 5pm. After that, I rushed down to watch "Guru of Chai" which I must say is a brilliantly well acted play. The solo actor performed for the entire 75minutes without breaking out of character once. His easy portrayal of different personalities was simply mind boggling and I vow that at one moment during the play, I almost believed he was someone else despite the fact that he was garbed in the same attire the entire time.

Anyways, after that I went out for dinner with those who went to watch the show, we went to drop Bhavna home and that's when we lost our way from Tampines all the way to Woodlands. I had never been so agitated before! I tried to keep my mouth shut but my sarcastic tongue got the better of me...and well I went home not in the best of moods...when your cup (a symbolism for life) is filled up with all the good things in life, someone WILL come along and piss in- Guru of Chai.

Anyways, when I got home, my two nephews were already asleep! I felt like killing myself for missing the opportunity to spend time with them. With the knowledge that I won't be able to see them the next day because I had to leave the house early, I went to asleep ready to perform suicide.

Sunday morning came and I woke up at 6.30am (I just love giving the mundane details). AND TO MY JOY, HARESH AND AVINESH (MY NEWPHEWS) WERE AWAKE!!!! I managed to play with them for an hour before I left with my mum to Woodlands Waterfront for Resident's Day. I met up with the AFT group; Serena, Prabs, Yoga, Naathan and Sameer. I had awesome fun sketching for small kids, playing traditional games like "5 stones", desiging bookmarks and watching performances. After that, my mum and I headed over to my cousin's new house for the house warming. We left later in the day and when I got home, I was already to collapse in fatigue.

Monday started early as well. I met up with Prabs and we went down to Art Friends to purchase several "HEAVY" products to build sets for the "Peter Pan-Revamped" Production. We then dragged all the purchases back to the CC. We ate abit before we started building the rowboat. Here's how it looks without paint:
It's not much of a picture. We've yet to paint it so DON'T JUDGE : )
Those two telescope looking things beside it are the cannons...also incomplete.

And here's some pictures of the roll by scene we're doing for the Flying scene in Peter Pan:


We're colouring the entire thing out of crayons...I think I have arm muscles now.

So then I went home and the next day, which was yesterday, I got up early, went to the bank, settled some bank transfers and then went down to the CC again. Prabs and I completed 4 cannons and I finished drawing the roll overs. We then ate and rehearsals for "Chapters of Love: A Valentine's Story" began at 7pm. It ended at 10pm and let me tell you, those 3 hours went by so fast, I felt like getting down on my knees and begging for more time.

And now I'm home reflecting on the 6 days that have gone by so fast. I feel like I'm a day behind though. I need to speed myself up tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

In The Magazine

I thought I would log in here at the stroke of midnight when 2011 was declared to post a lengthy speech on why things are going to change. But actions mean alot more and I didn't need to write out what I felt for me to feel it would come true.
I feel the change and I know I'm in control of everything that happens from here on out so I'm not worried about 2011 and the years to come. I'm more excited about them.

So let me get back to the title of my post! I'm in a magazine. But we can all calm down. It's not some top notch fashion magazine ; ) It's the passion card magazine. Here's the link: Passion Card Magazine

They basically selected 5 different interest groups and a youth each to do a photoshoot for the cover and a spread within the sheets. They talked about Arteen Furteens!!! It's exciting to know that more and more people will know about us because it makes it even more worthwhile when we spread the message of Arts is for Everyone.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My Sunday

Sunday was a wonderful day. I'm not trying to be cliched but it was. It started of at 9am in the morning when I headed down to the CC to meet with the AFT members and Ganesh and Nat from Ngee Ann Poly. We then went down to the open space opposite Sun Plaza to decorate it for the Christmas Party. Everything went smoothly. Kids came to make kites and I actually had fun teaching them how to make it. I was no expert and a kid and I tried to make it fly....it did lift off the ground for 30 seconds and then it came crashing back down : ) I didn't say I knew how to make it fly ; )

Then the colouring competition started. We went from having 0 kids participating to 13 kids. After that, we set up for Open Mic Night which saw 7 new acts and 3 of our AFT members performing. Sameer and Henry emceed and I must say they make damn good emcees as a team. They should really carry on doing what they do because they're bloody good at it!

So the moment Open Mic Night ended, I rushed back home to change for Sethu and Bhava's birthday party. The theme was Oscars. Met up with the rest and we headed off to Orchid Country Club. Here are some photos from the night:

The Red Dress my bought me.

A mixture of my old and new friends : )

AFT members! And Ravin and Suady


The 16 year old Birthday Girl! : )

The 21 year old Birthday Boy : ) And the Paki! lol
And just for the fun of it....here's my Ninja Gingerbread Man (Made by Serena)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Awesome Christmas Eve Out

What more can a girl ask then a pleasant outing on the eve of Christmas, a festive for which she has no reason to celebrate due to the fact that she's not christian. I however love Christmas because of the presents and decorations. Yes. My reasons are rather shallow.

Anywho, got up in the morning to head out with my mum to collect my brother's present. It is a Dark Knight Original one of ten a kind poster that I got framed for him as well. Had to collect Naathan's Iron Man poster as well. Then from Esplanade, headed off to Orchard for lunch with the female cousins, Mahes, Shanty and Selvi. Ate at Bali Thai which had surprisingly good food. We then did our gift exchange and I got a gift from Shanty; a necklace with a pendant that's a boot : ) Love it. When I'm less lazy, I'll take a picture of it and put it up here.

Then from there went back home to grab some stuff and then headed off to the CC to meet up with the rest. We printed Christmas song lyrics and grabbed our instruments before heading off to Vivocity. Once there, we ate and sang and enjoyed the fireworks. It was a feel good evening that was free of any expectations. We could all just be ourselves and I honestly did not care what anyone else thought was right or fun because I genuinely enjoyed myself in the good old fashioned sense.

So while we crooned to the tunes, the younger men were playing cards right next to us....loners. Haha but it was fun nonetheless and when the fireworks lit the sky, I just sat back and grinned to myself. Things couldn't have been put together better than that. I handed out my gifts to everyone and passed Serena and Naathan theirs. Serena's gift to me was awesome. Really woman it is : ) A samurai styled letter opener? Come on. I love it!

And then things went to hell from there...haha. Well not to hell. It was just the public transport. It was like every god damn singaporean was at Vivo and was trying to leave at the exact same time. So everything was jam packed and took twice as long to do.  Either way we got back home parted ways. And when I came home my brother gave me his present to me and it was this adorable voodoo looking earpieces. Hilariously thoughtful : )

So that was my christmas eve and this weekend just like every other week's weekend is packed with activites so this writer is going to sign off in hopes that she might get some rest in order to face the next day with less eye bags : ) (Than she already has that is.)

NIGHT! AND MERRY CHRISTMAS READERS : )

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Why Women Are Single

Here are my top 10 carefully worded reasons why single women are....well.....single.

She's single because...

1) HER FATHER WAS ABUSIVE and hence she is turned off to most men. Generally these females become strippers as intelligently proven by the famous Chris Rock in this video here. He's rich. He can't be wrong.:


2) She is single because she is FOCUSED ON HER CAREER NOW. Bullshit! Oh please. If she's focused on her career then she should give up ties with her mum, her dad and anyone else she has a relationship with. Seriously? Focusing on your career? Gentlemen. Know this. That line is just an excuse females use for they fear getting into a relationship hence they hide behind their careers as cover.

3) She is single because of HER PARENTS. No explanation required. Especially if you are an Indian girl.

4) She is single because NO ONE HAS ASKED HER OUT BEFORE. That can be a real turn off for a chick. If no one has ever asked her out before then she's going to feel inadequate and unsure if she's attractive enough. Here's 2 possiblities as to why she has never been asked out before: a) She's too intimidating. b) The guys around her are generally cowards or gay. Because every female is attractive in some way and deserves to be asked out for that reason.

5) She is single because SHE IS CONFUSED ABOUT HER SEXUAL PREFERENCES. It's true.

6) She is single because ONLY WEIRD GUYS ASK HER OUT.

7) She is single because SHE'S A HOPELESS ROMANTIC and nothing would do short of a knight with a devastating smile in shining armour who will gallop towards her in a black Arabian horse and would love her as she would him till the end of eternity. A castle would help too.

8) She is single because SHE'S A GOLD DIGGER and that turns off most men. Shocking. You would think the male species would be okay with that as long as she's hot and isn't turned off to sex. I'm just saying.

9) She is single because SHE'S A COUNTRY SINGER and they are generally picky with their men because they fall into the No. 7 category.

10) She is single because SHE IS A NUN.