Perfección

Hm.. During this point in the year, I'd normally be feeling exhilarated and totally into my work. But a sudden wave of homesick-ness just struck me. Now where did that come from?

Things have changed over the last few months since I landed back here in Melbourne. I lost a lot of my supports from the past year so I'm now officially on my own. The emotional support I have gathered over the past years in Melbourne are now gone. Even my best buddy is so busy that we have drifted quite a bit despite some efforts and a few calls in between the craziness.

I took the plunge and almost hit the bottom of the pool. Hell, Masters is even deeper a shit than Honours. It's killing me. Now I understand the importance of a fantastic supervisor. I miss Dr. Ben Williams! :/ He should give his interpersonal skills more credit. Maybe there are too many distractions (assignments every bloody week) that lure me away from really getting excited about my current research project (Uh, what is that I'm doing again?). I can barely explain what I'm doing.

I have two more exams to go before the "end of the semester" which technically doesn't exist because there will be seminars and placements starting in July, IF the Deakin staff can get themselves together that is. They tell us that we can only take 2 to 3 weeks off in the summer but haven't even managed to find us placements yet. What's taking so damn long man? Like WTF? Do you want us to do it or not? I want to get a headstart so I can take break later. The reason why you'll only give us a short summer break is coz YOU can't find us placements, not because WE start late -.-

There is a difference between being lazy and being obstructed because of TECHNICALITIES caused by YOU.

Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn!

As you can see, I'm feeling extremely frustrated. And these feelings don't help with my feeling more comfortable towards this course and the people in-charge. Geez, get on with it already. Is there a money back guarantee I can apply for???????

"You must attend 90% of the classes"

Well fuck you. I learned more in THIRD YEAR than I learned shit in these past 3 months. And my coursemates wonder why I fall asleep sitting upright.

I hope the placements will be better coz at the moment, the coursework sucks ass.

Damn it.

Sarawak State Marching Band Competition 2008 Results

As it were, another year has come and gone by. It's always difficult to see kids getting disappointed and heartbroken. I remember being at that age where winning is almost all that matters. I hate to say it. That mentality worked well in the school most of the time - mainly because there were hardly any loses. But then the occasion comes when it has to happen, and you'll see sad faces. I think that is where I get some of my spirit from. During my time, in that setting and under those particular circumstances with all the desolate instruments and skills we had, we were known as the best band around Miri. That was saying something because St. Co always put up a good fight. Now, if you're thinking this isn't familiar to you, then it's likely that you're too young to remember this. But yes, things were different back then.

Until one day in 2001, we were caught in this whirlwind that began this different era - the State Marching Band Competition. After the ho-hum and high spirits, we got handed our asses basically. Let me tell you, we were crying like how our juniors are now. Crying our hearts out then because the impact was just too unbearable. For myself, I think the tears were of confusion rather than anything else. It's the taste of unfamiliarity. Defeat was not something we were accustomed too.

But you know what? We all rose from that in more ways than one. Every year since then, I watched as my juniors came to terms about the position we're in and they've continued to improve by the year. No where to go but up!

I told a fellow ex-member and junior last night, as the years passed, winning became less of an issue. More so, the magic lies behind the renewed spirits every single time the members are pushed back to the ground. You have to see the tough stuff they are made of. It's a lifetime's worth of games you have to play - fall down, get up, falldown, getup, falldowngetup! And they never give up! Never missed a year of competition - always believing in themselves no matter what the outcome is.

So let me say this to you now..
You have done well in more ways than one, so that's something to be proud of. Now one day you will understand, out of these experiences, you will have risen more than scores and placing, because you know how to pick yourself up again when all has fallen apart. That's how you win.

Results

1st - St. Joseph Kuching
2nd - SMK Chung Hua Miri
3rd - St. Joseph Miri

Best Percussion - St. Joseph Miri
Best Drum Major - Chung Hua Miri (Terrence Ling)
Best Colourguards - Chung Hua Miri
Best Preparation - Chung Hua Miri

If you'd like a taste of the program this year, one of the songs is embedded to the right-hand side of the blog. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Videos will be up as soon as I get my hands on them.

**edit: All videos can be found here http://www.youtube.com/user/einzen

Sarawak State Marching Band Competition 2008

This is a short clip from last year, should be a good preview of the standards to be expected tomorrow! :D

Let the battle of the bands begin!

All the best! :D

-Video credit goes to ex-member of SJS Kuching, Anthony Tham.