Before i launch straight into what i would be talking about today, i would like to first thank a number of people who have actually made the effort to comment (even though i didn’t comment often enough on your blogs). Benjy, Weijing and Derek have been 3 of the many very persistant ones in posting up rather exciting comments to spur me on. Thanks lots guys, cos you give me the strength to write on, much longer than the previous 2 blogs i used to own.

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The 1st day was really done in a rather exciting manner. ISYF opening ceremony was rather cool, except for some situations which i think is rather awkward. Who would actually set the choir to perform on such a ceremony? And the idea of exchanging couplets is not that appropriate too. Haiz, HC still cannot shake off it’s humanities biased side…

The first lecture kicked off at 1130hrs. It was so heartening to see so many people back in action. The briefing for the 1st day of school, however was a little short of my expectations. It’s too short!

The lectures were fine…till the reactivity series which i apparently made a big screw-up. The rest were pretty fine. Math was most enjoyable, cos it’s the only thing so far that i am very comfortable with.

Breaks were really long, but they are certainly rather enriching. Looking at the various activities that can be done in such an extended break, we can’t help but sneak out of school for lunch. After all, though it’s against the school rule, we get food of better quality at a reasonable price.

And of course, there is the SMTP selection test. Until now, i am still rather delighted with my performance in the tests. Physics was by far the easiest paper, though the article on the coefficient of friction can be rather confounding on first look. Biology was next, probably due to good training in High School. Chemistry was tough, but going at the rate of 7 questions left untouched, i feel rather ok actually. Physics was the only subject in which i finished all the questions.

However, i am not expecting to be selected so quickly…sometimes things can happen out of expectations. To prevent disappointment, i think i better keep them low first.

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The college council certainly looks like a bunch of clowns. But i have to admit, it must have taken them lots of guts to act like that, and i believe they are normally not like that, so (by giving the benefit of doubt) i applaud them for all the effort to make everyone laugh.

Yes it looks nice on the portfolio, but i think i will not try to go for it. That wasn’t part of my goal anyway.

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Wrote rubbish for the EL essay during 1st diagnostic test; now feeling a little guilty.

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CNY’s coming! Here’s a great wishing to you guys all the best in everything you do.

The way i have spent my CNY have changed, bit by bit, over a number of years, but the thrill still never gets any lesser. This year this is how the flow will go:

22nd January (that’s 2 days away!): CNY celebrations @ the rifle range. I decided i would be going to pay a visit to the shooting team, a group of people who have played another major role in making my 4 years in HCI so fun and exciting. The spirit of HCIARC had never weakened. I will have to bring oranges on that day (or else i will not get my yearly hongbao from 张老师。), and some tidbits (or my club members will throw me out of the range immediately).

23rs January: CNY Celebrations in HCI. Going to spend some time with the college section (hope we really go and lohei in the end; it will be so much fun…到时候4O的人一定要全到哦！) Then it will be going back to the high school side to thank teachers and wish them the best of health.

In the evening, our family will hold our own reunion dinner.

25th January: Since there is no longer a reunion dinner on the paternal side of my relatives, we will be going over to the dinner on the maternal side. There i would receive my first red packet (hopefully, cos they are only given based on merit; i had to submit my results and comparisions is made with my cousins before it would be awarded). Will then stay for a while before leaving for Chinatown.

It has always been a tradition to pay a visit to Chinatown on New Year’s Eve, just to see all the decorations and the sales and the people, and buy some more tidbits. Many vendors cheat their customers by placing a plastic cone into the container before filling in the tidbits, then conceal them to trick people into believing that they have got a great buy. However, despite the fact that we know that, this is the only day which our mouths yearn for such cookies, hence we gladly get fooled by them.

Then it’s a rush back home to catch the broadcast of the CNY program. We chose not to stay out at Chinatown cos we think it might be rather pack. We look intently at the zodiac and do last minute spring cleanings every year (Things just never seems to have an end does it?)

Then we will countdown with everyone on the TV, then start a small ritual by greeting our parents and listening to my dad’s “new year speech”. Stay up till about 0100hrs, then we retreat for the night.

26th January: Big Day! At 1000hrs, we head for 1st Aunt’s house to lohei, meet and chat. Then at around noon, everyone sets out for 3rd Aunt’s house for another round of gathering. All is well, everyone is happy and wishes for the best can be felt most intensely at this time.

At around 1700hrs, we leave for the River Hongbao fair. Dinner is handled by buying some of the fine cuisine offered there. Some games are played as well as everyone waits for the Fortune God to drop Toto numbers, so that they can strike it big.

27th January: Watch TV, eat sleep and play till 12 noon; after 12 noon, life is back to normal with full of work to clear…:(

9th Febuary: A few bowls of tangyuan/yuanxiao (depending if you are speaking in Southern or Northern China i think) to mark the official end of CNY. Playing with some sparklers before going to bed.

This is how Chinese New Year have made an impact on me 17 years down the road.

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So much for now.