While clearing my wardrobe (two large bags of clothes to give away), the irritation with all the free stuff or presents I've received struck me. Some gifts I can't let go of, being the sentimental monster that I am, although I secretly wished people never gave them to me. I just about only appreciate books and meals, since the former represents an investment in my education (ha ha) while the latter is a necessity to some extent.
So while this is presumptuous, and kind of limited in impact given my tiny readership, I'd just like to state here that I don't want to receive anything on my birthday.
In fact, I'm thinking of throwing a small party where I cook for friends instead. (Been watching too much Asian Food Channel?)
Ce matin j'ai rêvé que j'étais à Paris avec les élèves de cette année, et j'avais envie de rendre visite à Martine le dernier jour avant de revenir à Singapour. Je me suis réveillée sans avoir abouti. Me faire rendre compte comment la France me manque...
Je viens de lire un article par une étudiante actuelle au Havre, qui a critiqué le manque d'attention doté pour les campus délocalisés. Cet article était en réponse au Directeur de Sciences Po, qui avait publié sur son blog des belles photos du nouveau campus régional à Reims. Pourtant, les campus havrais et mentonnais n'ont pas encore un campus fixé. Il me faut donc me rappeler qu'en faisant cette demande à Sciences Po, je dois accepter certains inconvénients et entretenir les avantages de l'éducation que je receverrai : un programme holistique, l'échange culturelle, un beau paysage, la proximité à l'Italie et à Monaco, l'opportunité d'étudier dans une région plutôt inconnue, et cetera.
I just read an article by a current student at le Havre, who criticised the lack of attention given to the regional campuses. It was in response to the Director of Sciences Po, who had published beautiful photos of the latest campus in Reims. Yet, the Menton and Havre campuses do not even have their own campuses yet. I have to remind myself thus that in applying to Sciences Po I must accept certain disadvantages and cherish the advantages of the education I will receive : a holistic curriculum, the cultural exchange, a beautiful environment, the proximity to Italy and Monaco, the chance to study in a more or less unknown region (Middle East), and so forth.
Today was a fulfilling day.
1. I played RGS ambassador for the first time, and regretfully I wasn't successful. My dad's friend's daughter got a pretty good PSLE T-score (260-ish) and her parents were deciding between St Nick's and RGS for first choice. I expounded the virtues of an RGS education, and I did my best to quell every last doubt in the mother's mind. Unfortunately I was not prepared to deal with the mentality that the 'O' Level was better preparation for the 'A's. How can I possibly argue with that? I thought about the fact that I know virtually no CHIJ girls in RJ, and how the first two batches of through-train RGS kids did excellently still at the 'A's. I only thought of these after I had ended the call, and it appears that even after discussing the options with my mom ("Don't stress lah! I don't care one!!") and me, the mother was still intent on CHIJ.
I can't get this out of my head. In my mind, the value of an RGS education is exceedingly high. Some ex-girls, like my sister, may not have entirely rosy memories of their time, but surely there can be no doubt of the quality of the holistic education provided there.
It reminds me of the top Malay student (I think she was the top overall student too?) didn't want to go to RGS at first, opting instead of some neighbourhood school. She was worried about the fees or something? I'm glad they talked her round to going to RGS in the end. Meritocracy isn't just about offering the best but also the best applying for the offers.
2. Cycled like crazy today. Started off at VJC and then cycled to NSRCC where I leafed through The Economist while watching my mom and sis swim. And then the cloudscape turned ominous, so while they headed to bathe, I cycled furiously back. I was pretty strained by the first trip so I was pretty amazed by how much I could push myself back. Unfortunately, it started drizzling near 360deg so I decided to heck it and take the underpass. Even more unfortunately, there were only two ladies in the direction of my estate, and they were walking so SLOWLY I thought I'd be faster rounding the estate instead of waiting for them to open the back gate. Probably wrong - it started raining heavily. Had to take out the jacket with only 200m to go. Cool experience nonetheless, quite like kayaking in the rain.
3. Visited City Hall for the Singapore Design Festival. Neat stuff.
I NEED TO LISTEN TO KERSH'S RECOMMENDATIONS MORE.
Metric is awesome.
"Prefectorial Board" = "élève chargé de certaines fonctions de discipline" ?? C'est très bien pour la résumé ça ! >:( Ecrire la lettre de motivation en français et le CV est pire qu'écrire la dissertation de Coursework. Et il n'y a personne qui puisse m'aider !
Pour l'angoisse on a toujours Stars.
Anyone know the genus? species?
Did myself a favour and went out to buy myself this:
I didn't know that myself. Of course it's nice to be reacquainted with my favourite Science subject, at least, the only one I 'got' in secondary school haha.
On other things... cleared a (massive?) 6kg of useless notes and stuff. Remarkably my SEAHist notes are more intact that I'd imagined they would be after my rigorous sifting-through. On the other hand, my GP stack has been whittled down to all my good essays. That's it. LIBERATING.
OK à partir de maintenant c'est le retour au français en faisant anticipation de C1 et, j'espère, l'interview pour ScPo.
Feels great to be home, to relax a bit. Going to return all the letters I've received, give people what I owe them, and make sure I do all the things I promised myself I will do.
Come February I will resume worrying about 'A' Levels again.
