2011 in 5 minutes
Jan. 2nd, 2012 05:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
methrowrockI missed the countdown to 2012 last night. We had a splendid view of the skyline,- a stippling of chromatic lights upon an inky-black canvas- but we missed it anyway. Sensei Flower was supporting his mother down the stairs, while Ah Da, JJ, and Gus hovered behind unhelpfully. As they tottered gingerly into the room, there was a sudden psychedelic blaze of sparks in the sky. There was a collective gasp of wonderment, mixed in with a little bit of... regret? It IS hard to say goodbye to time, seeing the hours burn up before your very eyes, careening at 360km/h in 360 degrees and disappearing as fast as they had exploded into your consciousness. But that was how 2011 ended: unexpectedly, abruptly, and staring at the backs of people that I had long etched on the back of my eyelids. There was even a whiff of annoyance as I jostled with the rest for a prime viewing spot by the window (all the better to take pictures from. What does it say about my generation that requires our days to end up as photos?) It was unassuming, it was understated, and for that to have been most of my year was something that I really appreciated. From here on: the annual summary of dazed days.
Having the calendar dictated by the academic semesters has produced a weird sense of limbo. It is as if my year has been segmented into 3 distinct chunks: Y1S2, summer holidays, Y2S1. Each period brought its own set of worries, conundrums, heartaches, joys, lessons, and mirth. As best as I could remember, Y1S2 was quite a blast. Although I was mucking around on the fence between PS and SC, I really enjoyed the modules that I took that semester. There was my favourite module I have taken thus far: CH2292A Understanding Modern China Through Film. Oh, how I remember grumbling about watching black-and-white Chinese films, while secretly relishing the quaintness of doing so in contemporary times. Learning more about the history, especially the 1950s-1990s, and culture of a country that I was in admiration of and in love with was a sort of icing on the cake. PS was always chockful of knowledge that was applicable, and although I hated FPD's lectures, I had to admit that the readings that CJI assigned were quite an eye-opener. Then of course, SC, which I fell in love with almost instantly. Why? It was something that me, being a busybody, would love, going around prodding people "why this, not that" and "how that, not this".
There was a quiet pattern to those days. Stressful Mondays, followed by MT to expel it from my system. Slack Tuesdays. Sociable Wednesdays, with lunches with different friends and dinners with the same people (Melins, Jeff, Marcus). Slack Thursdays with Interwebz. Slack Fridays with productive trainings. Do I need to explain it further? HAHA. There was a sense of everything being in its place, which I, possessing the benefit of hindsight, am able to abstract the essay-fretting and heart-fussing from the general consideration. It was a fruitful semester that I can look back on still tasting the sweetness of learning, playing, and coasting. Fun, but frothy.
Then came the holidays, which were three months of utter relaxation, something that I am rueful to admit. The days zipped past in a blur of trainings, shows, trainings, lounging; oh, the worst habits had the best of times in those months. I did manage to read a bit though, borrowing books from Central Library and cementing my interest in Sociology. That was the only good part. That, and caving into Ememe's persuasion to join her for trainings. Because that gave me the chance to remember the exhilaration that I had neglected. Because I met a group of people whom I have grown to look forward to meeting. Oh right, and having the time to hang out with old friends who have made their annual journey back home. And then, Union Camp?? Who am I kidding, summer 2011 was pretty good. No firecrackers, but marshmallows melting from a cackling fire sounds perfect to me.
Having grown accustomed to the loosening of brain muscles, settling back into academic mode for Y2S2 could only be a gradual transition. 5 SC modules sounded daunting, but they turned out to be extremely interesting. Glossing over the disheartening thoughts and niggling self-doubt once again, but how can I possibly complain? How could I, especially recognizing the unearned privileges that have enabled me to get thus far, and discerning a little bit more, the actual way in which society operates to produce, reinforce, and camouflage? I can only be humbled by my ignorance and inarticulateness. But the good thing about humility is that one is more driven than ever to know more, understand more, experience more. The idealistic fervour that I have always desired is stirring, and in 2012, I hope to awaken it. Only then will I be able to live up to my mantra of loving things and loving them loudly. Of liking, loving, and living. Fancy words, all, but writing has grown more important to me recently and that is how I embellish things. It is one of the few ways for me to organize my train-wrecks of thoughts, and too many people have given me dirty looks for mumbling incoherently to myself. Tsk, social construct!! Hahaha.
While I have despaired over my lack of growth last year, I felt that I made some progress this year. Small personal realizations, nothing monumental, but everything counts for something, especially when one sips the bitter brew of Bon Iver melodies. Even if there wasn't anything significant to show for it, I like to think that the attempting mattered as well. Is this why I am delusional? Haha. But okay, I can't stop here. We can never stop anywhere, until we fizzle out as "sound and fury/ signifying nothing". It bears reminding, with all the Doomsday predictions flying around. I hope not, I want not, I hope and want to know not.. Back to 2011, anyway.
Keeping in the routine of the Year of xx, 2011 was the year of the Internet. Hahahha. Man, was I, am I, hooked. Leave me a laptop with wifi, and I can surf twelve hours away without a problem. There are so many time-eaters on da interwebz!!: artoftrolling, memebase, facebook, nytimes, omonatheydidnt, youtube, and the one that seizes the crown - TUMBLR. Oh, if I could redeem all the hours I spent on it, getting riled up by righteous primers and cooing at varicoloured animations, I would probably have an extra fortnight in my life. But oh well, it resulted in me discovering the eternal love of my life: PARKS AND RECREATION!! And a few other favourite shows. And youtube gave me RUNNING MAN! The hours spent trawling through related links also led me to countless musical finds: Youth Lagoon, Dead Gaze, Cults, We Are Trees, Best Coast, The Antlers, et cetera. Insouciant lo-fi/shoegaze is da way2go! I guess Internet is an easy answer, because my interests have been scattered all over the past year. Ok, better stop listing out the causes of ma addiction to preserve whatever reputation I have left. Gah.
All in all, 2011: thank you, it has been wonderful. 2012: here I come~~~! :)
Having the calendar dictated by the academic semesters has produced a weird sense of limbo. It is as if my year has been segmented into 3 distinct chunks: Y1S2, summer holidays, Y2S1. Each period brought its own set of worries, conundrums, heartaches, joys, lessons, and mirth. As best as I could remember, Y1S2 was quite a blast. Although I was mucking around on the fence between PS and SC, I really enjoyed the modules that I took that semester. There was my favourite module I have taken thus far: CH2292A Understanding Modern China Through Film. Oh, how I remember grumbling about watching black-and-white Chinese films, while secretly relishing the quaintness of doing so in contemporary times. Learning more about the history, especially the 1950s-1990s, and culture of a country that I was in admiration of and in love with was a sort of icing on the cake. PS was always chockful of knowledge that was applicable, and although I hated FPD's lectures, I had to admit that the readings that CJI assigned were quite an eye-opener. Then of course, SC, which I fell in love with almost instantly. Why? It was something that me, being a busybody, would love, going around prodding people "why this, not that" and "how that, not this".
There was a quiet pattern to those days. Stressful Mondays, followed by MT to expel it from my system. Slack Tuesdays. Sociable Wednesdays, with lunches with different friends and dinners with the same people (Melins, Jeff, Marcus). Slack Thursdays with Interwebz. Slack Fridays with productive trainings. Do I need to explain it further? HAHA. There was a sense of everything being in its place, which I, possessing the benefit of hindsight, am able to abstract the essay-fretting and heart-fussing from the general consideration. It was a fruitful semester that I can look back on still tasting the sweetness of learning, playing, and coasting. Fun, but frothy.
Then came the holidays, which were three months of utter relaxation, something that I am rueful to admit. The days zipped past in a blur of trainings, shows, trainings, lounging; oh, the worst habits had the best of times in those months. I did manage to read a bit though, borrowing books from Central Library and cementing my interest in Sociology. That was the only good part. That, and caving into Ememe's persuasion to join her for trainings. Because that gave me the chance to remember the exhilaration that I had neglected. Because I met a group of people whom I have grown to look forward to meeting. Oh right, and having the time to hang out with old friends who have made their annual journey back home. And then, Union Camp?? Who am I kidding, summer 2011 was pretty good. No firecrackers, but marshmallows melting from a cackling fire sounds perfect to me.
Having grown accustomed to the loosening of brain muscles, settling back into academic mode for Y2S2 could only be a gradual transition. 5 SC modules sounded daunting, but they turned out to be extremely interesting. Glossing over the disheartening thoughts and niggling self-doubt once again, but how can I possibly complain? How could I, especially recognizing the unearned privileges that have enabled me to get thus far, and discerning a little bit more, the actual way in which society operates to produce, reinforce, and camouflage? I can only be humbled by my ignorance and inarticulateness. But the good thing about humility is that one is more driven than ever to know more, understand more, experience more. The idealistic fervour that I have always desired is stirring, and in 2012, I hope to awaken it. Only then will I be able to live up to my mantra of loving things and loving them loudly. Of liking, loving, and living. Fancy words, all, but writing has grown more important to me recently and that is how I embellish things. It is one of the few ways for me to organize my train-wrecks of thoughts, and too many people have given me dirty looks for mumbling incoherently to myself. Tsk, social construct!! Hahaha.
While I have despaired over my lack of growth last year, I felt that I made some progress this year. Small personal realizations, nothing monumental, but everything counts for something, especially when one sips the bitter brew of Bon Iver melodies. Even if there wasn't anything significant to show for it, I like to think that the attempting mattered as well. Is this why I am delusional? Haha. But okay, I can't stop here. We can never stop anywhere, until we fizzle out as "sound and fury/ signifying nothing". It bears reminding, with all the Doomsday predictions flying around. I hope not, I want not, I hope and want to know not.. Back to 2011, anyway.
Keeping in the routine of the Year of xx, 2011 was the year of the Internet. Hahahha. Man, was I, am I, hooked. Leave me a laptop with wifi, and I can surf twelve hours away without a problem. There are so many time-eaters on da interwebz!!: artoftrolling, memebase, facebook, nytimes, omonatheydidnt, youtube, and the one that seizes the crown - TUMBLR. Oh, if I could redeem all the hours I spent on it, getting riled up by righteous primers and cooing at varicoloured animations, I would probably have an extra fortnight in my life. But oh well, it resulted in me discovering the eternal love of my life: PARKS AND RECREATION!! And a few other favourite shows. And youtube gave me RUNNING MAN! The hours spent trawling through related links also led me to countless musical finds: Youth Lagoon, Dead Gaze, Cults, We Are Trees, Best Coast, The Antlers, et cetera. Insouciant lo-fi/shoegaze is da way2go! I guess Internet is an easy answer, because my interests have been scattered all over the past year. Ok, better stop listing out the causes of ma addiction to preserve whatever reputation I have left. Gah.
All in all, 2011: thank you, it has been wonderful. 2012: here I come~~~! :)
