Monday, April 24, 2006

You think it's easy? HA!

Juggling studies and a part-time job is definately not a task for the weak hearted. It's energy draining, physically tiring, mentally straining yadda yadda yadda. I wonder how Ruyan was able to work FULL-TIME and yet have enough time to study for her 'A' levels, how Ash is able to attend her attachments in the afternoon and still have sufficient energy to work at night and how Garry, Ade and Louis are able to work on weekdays during their school term.

Obviously, I'm not used to schooling and working. Joe noticed the difference in my performance
this morning. He said he'd give me some time off to adapt to my new school before letting me start work again.

Normally on weekends (friday and saturday nights), I would be really "high" cos it's when customers would flow into the restaurant like running water and time would pass by really quickly. It's like "poof!" and then it's time to do closing. Moreover, the whole of the pioneer batch of MS staff would be working!

Yes, I thoroughly enjoy working with them FINALLY.

Looking back to when MS just opened, I couldn't stand Louis cos he was constantly nagging at me to do my job properly. My hatred for him was so strong, I swear I could've taken a steak knife and slit his throat with it. UGH! But now, we're cool with each other and he is one of the few guys (apart from Harris) whom I can bitch with.

I remember an afternoon back in March when the only people working were Garry, Ruyan and I. Three teenagers of ages 18 and 17 with no adult around to supervise them; you'd think we'd screw up pretty bad during lunch time hour eh? WRONG-OH! Our service was flawless! And it was one of my most memorable times of working in MS. Unfortunately, both Garry and Yan-jie aren't my colleagues anymore.

Oh, shit! Let's get back on track.

Yeaps, I always look forward to working with my colleagues on Fridays and Saturdays. But the same can't be said for yesterday and today. My tiredness was visible, my smile to customers had to be forced, I kept mixing up "Great Chomps" with "Sandwiches" while using the PDA and my hands weren't stable when clearing plates and utensils.

Nowadays, I refuse to take the train to work. I'd rather let the bus company earn my money. "Why?!", you ask. It's takes me an hour to get to Marina Square by bus and only 25 minutes if I take the train.

Simple.

A 60 minute long journey to town (with my Creative Neeon alongside me) allows me to reflect on my life. On whether I've chosen the right path by taking up Nursing, if I should be working at this time of the semester, whether or not things would work out between him and I and would I be able to cope with my first year in NYP.

I'm not usually all that pessimistic and paranoid. I don't know why but sometimes, I just allow all these little issues disrupt my way of life. Maybe it's a road I've to take to be stronger, more mature, more independent.

To be honest, I'm not looking forward to going to school tomorrow morning. The modules I'm taking are entirely different from the subjects I've been learning for the last 10 years or so. Let's talk about Science; chemistry, physics and biology. Read textbooks/notes, understand, take exam and pass with flying colours.

Those versions of Science are what I would like to call "Chicken feet".

Currently, I'm taking Biological Science. Considering I'm not a Biology student, I'm trying my hardest to catch up with those who're already way ahead of me in that area. If you're curious to know, I'm not coping well.

ASHLEYYYYYY!!!!!! I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS FUCKING MODULE!!!!!

I'll take a trip back to memory lane; to the times when I'd walk into EVSS and take a seat on the parade square in between Amal and Hajar. We'd copy each other's notes, bitch about that sickening and insignificant form teacher we had, run through our homework answers together, get grossed out with stories about a snake and a witch (haha!) etc.

Now?

Walk to the Auditorium, wait for Ju, Shidah and Nad, walk to our tutorial room/lecture theatre, run through assignments... very similar to my Sec 5 days. But I'm not enjoying it.

I love hanging out with those three minahs (oops...) but they can't replace Amal, Haj and Fir. Maybe it's a matter of time and interaction. I hope it makes a turn for the better!

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Here are some of my fondest moments during the holidays which I pray will not fade away with time:

1) Lazing at the booth seats, waiting for "Pom-chia-chia" to message us the results of our sales.

2) Downing leftover SODs, nuggets, onion rings, calamari, oatmeal fish and chunky fries.

3) Occasional trips to MacDonalds for Fillet-O-Fish, McChicken, hot fudge sundaes, McFlurry etc.

4) FREQUENT suppers and talk sessions at MakanSutra until 2am in the morning.

5) Garry dialling Francis' number so that we'd all be able to go home in style (Mercedes cab ok!).

6) Train trips home with Ashley, Song and Keith.

7) Taking bus 70 and 133 home with big head Garry (sometimes Ashley too).

8) Louis, Ade, Ash, Garry, Yan-jie and I running after bus 133 to have our dinner at Bugis. "Eh!!! 133 come already! CHEONG AH!!!!!!!"

Yeah... those were the days when the teens of Billy Bombers (MS) took control of everything! We'd turn to each other for advice, spill our frustrations to one another, counsel each other and even though arguments did break out, we're still as close as we are now.

MS is no longer safe though.

Two cases of theft has happened in a matter of two weeks. Boy, oh boy... I need the Lord's help to get over all these mishappenings and adapt to the changes in my life QUICKLY.