Note from Reuben:
[This space here is for YuMin's Autoblogoraphy. No part of it was touched by me. Feel free to comment. It's best read while sipping tea. Meanwhile, have a nice day.]
The Chinese believe that two symmetrical moles in close proximity in certain shapes indicate that the person will be executed when he grows up. If that’s true, I’d do well to toe the line when I grow up, and I would include a photo here of the birthmarks in question, if not for the fact that the moles aren’t in a place I generally display to people. Generally.
I was born in the National University Hospital in Singapore, despite both my parents being Malaysian citizens at the time. This would lead to long trips back and forth from their hometowns, across the Malaysian expressways, something that has stayed with me ever since. I am still in regular contact with many of my cousins.
I’ve never really understood the point of an autobiography at age fifteen, especially since none of us have done anything even remotely outstanding yet. Ask us our hobbies, and you’d be hard pressed to get any answer that’s not soccer, computer games or music. Hmm. In fact, all that’s pretty much ever mattered to me is playing joga benito (beautiful football), or trying to play, in my case, and computer games.
I’ve never understood those who can never understand what the point is of supporting a club literally halfway across the world, whose players have never heard of you, and where you’ve never been. My answer is, it may not make much difference to them (in fact, it probably won’t make a difference at all) but it sure makes a difference to you, if you care enough. Personally, and although I sound like a very bad made-in-China James Dobson here, I feel it builds character. Homework due tomorrow? Million-to-one odds against your team winning? Spouse leaving and taking the kids? Heck, house burning down? Who cares, turn on the box and eat your heart out, as they lose again, and again, and again.
The true fan is the one who firmly believes that God is on his side, and that if they win or lose it depends on him. He yells advice at the TV as if the players could hear him, and he fervently refuses to use the phone when his team is losing, just in case the manager calls him for help.
Ah well.
As I write these words, I’ve nearly crocked (or was it cricked?) my neck from turning back and forth to watch as my beloved team gets spanked – yet again. Are we going to score? Nope, but why take a chance?
Following making my move here permanent in 1995, I enrolled in Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School in 1998. Seven is a little young to make judgments, especially on schools, so I won’t. Took the GEP test and apparently passed well (although if you believe a certain conspiracy theory, some of the GEPs are “control students”).
ACS Primary, my next stop, is a place I went to because all the kids from my block were going there, but I’ll never forget the three years I spent there. They were quite possibly some of the best years I ever had, honestly, where I had one of the best English teachers ever, a certain Mrs Jeyathurai. Without a doubt, had I never met her, or been taught by her, I would not have passed my English PSLE. Yes, before you ask, I was that bad.
Now I’m in Raffles. Do I believe the hype of being a Rafflesian, green black white? No, and I’m running out of words, so I’ll round off by suggesting that I may not be here next year round, at the rate my scores are dropping. However, in the tried-and-true ex-ACSian way, it’s not my fault, it’s Raffles’!