I was once a child. An innocent young mind, eager to grow up and explore.
Yes. I remembered (roughly) about this me, more than 15 years ago.
Today over lunch, I visited this kopitiam that I used to visit in my childhood days, for breakfast and lunch, sometimes dinner. I used to stayed around the area that kopitiam situated.
And today, I was again back to the shop.
For the past 10-odd years, the kopitiam had gone through much changes. Stalls' operators moved out and back, shop renovated, changed of kopitiam owner, and diners getting lesser. Although it might not looked like what I had in my mind, I came back for the reminiscent.
The purpose of this blog post is my thought about childhood reminiscent.
While having my meal, I saw two boys, talking enthusiastically with each other. I did not hear their conversation content. It was the image that captivated me...
The boys were cheerfully talking to one another and walking together towards the other end of the shops.
Such simple scenario fascinated me. Some might not noticed because of its' decency. But to me, I see something great behind the decency.
Does anyone noticed (from my narrative writing) that the two boys DOES NOT held any electronic gadgets on their hands?
That was amazed me at the first place. There ARE still children today who are not stick to their fancy electronic gadgets! Woah! Whoever are their parents, I salute them for it, not exposing their children at a tender age. And having let them to have human interaction with one another.
This simple yet meaningful scenario inspired me to educate my children (if I have) to use technology wisely... not too much or glued to a device 24/7 and also not refused to have access to the rich information on the Internet.
Love the boy's smile. (Image from: http://ccoa-beecave.blogspot.com)
Writer's note: I haven't been blogging on similar topics about life for years it seems! I should motivate myself more in the future.
Before I start, here's a video to David Choi's 'Missing Piece'...
Well, it was just an introduction to this blog post. Nothing really.
It's a missing part in me.
I am studying in a private university which majority of the students are Chinese and Indians, with international students too.
I was educated in the Malaysian education system (the UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM thing). What can I say from it...? Well... I'm blessed, I guess. Imagine all classmates from different racial backgrounds mingle together in a classroom, from strangers to friends. That was the miracle part of human interaction, cross-culturally. I am thankful my parents send me to the study in the Malaysian system, making me a Malaysian in heart. Proud being one.
13 years in Malaysian system (I had an extra two years because I took STPM as my pre-u. No college life for me after SPM). It had became a big significant and shaped the person I am now. A wannabe journalist/writer who can write and converse fairly enough in BM, English and Chinese.
I learned many things from people I grew up with, school friends and teachers. I picked up English through learning, reading (Harry Potter throughout my childhood!) and speaking with my friends. Same goes as BM too. Just that I rarely read Malay books except the KOMSAS ones our teachers told us to read.
Back then I had this feeling that my Malay was much better than my English. It was because most subjects I did in school like history, geography, arts, moral, living skills, accounting, economics were in Malay, obviously except maths and science.
Come on! Obviously a person can improve their language skills if they use it frequently...
Yes. I really learned a lot from all my Malay friends I met throughout school.
I had a number of Malay friends back in school. Looking back, it made me realised how much I missed the best times I had with them. Some, I still stay in contact. It's just a small number...
Actually it was the lessons I learned from them that were valuable.
Back then, I can't speak Malay as well as I was in school. I guess it was my Chinese background. Imagine me as a 10 year old girl speaking in Malay, in some 'Ah Moi' accent. I wasn't teased frankly speaking... It was just not impressive.
After coming to secondary school I met more Malay friends. There, throughout the daily interactions I tried to improve the way I speak. Less 'Ah Moi'-ish, more clear in pronunciation. I don't have problems in writing though. See... There's this thing, "you can write well but not necessary you can also speak well or inversely, you can speak well, but not necessary you can write well". Believe me I knew people who write well but can't speak well and vice versa.
Speaking needs a lot of practice so does writing. Someone, if you are about to come out to work in the corporate world, you'll need to speak and write a lot.
I had become less 'Ah Moi'-ish thanks to the guidance of my Malay friends.
Upon coming to uni, the environment took a 180 degree swift. I studied everything (ALMOST) in Malay. What?! Now it's in English?! I never have so much English subjects back in school and Form 6. Ironically the only English subject I did in Form 6 was MUET. Others all in BM. And now English in higher education. I was thinking, "why wouldn't we get more subjects in English?! How am I suppose to cope?!". The environment was complete different too. Majority of the students are Chinese and Indians with international students and a small amount of Malay. I was taken aback when I first set foot into uni. A big 'what' was held up in my head. I thought there should be equal...
I am going through my 2 years in uni until this group of MRSM students came to study American degree. Their arrival added more variety of colours to the community. I happened to know some of them. Not as close as I was with my classmates and friends back in school but we did get along well.
It was only yesterday I attended the Malay Cultural Society's gathering night and saw more of the MRSM students I had yet seen and some familiar faces I knew since they first came. I rarely go to clubs' gatherings in uni. I only go to those that I think it's worth going...
I was the only non-Malay local student (there was another non-Malay guest at the gathering, Rahul, a friend from India) guest there. No. I didn't feel awkward at all being with people from different cultural backgrounds. I was bought up, studied with people from different backgrounds in school.
Going to their gathering gave me this old sentimental feeling in school. Joking loudly with each other in Malay and boys chasing one another... Those were the similar scenarios I used witness. With them, I can reminisce the voices of from the good old days...
With the friends I knew from MRSM, I tried to speak as much Malay as I can with them.
Come on! 13 years of using the language and putting it to waste later in life?
Also I speak in their language to make them feel comfortable with me.
Yesterday, I was talking to the club's advisor and my friend, Siti about their progress in the program. She told me that they are going to take their SATs soon and some of them did it last week. The current club committee are stepping down.
Zawier, club's chairperson and also a friend of mine told me the next semester would be their last before going to the US.
Writers' notes: So much of the recollection and fun from the gathering. Incidentally next semester would be my last too... For studying. The short semester is for final year project before going off to my internship in August next year. From the bottom of my heart, I will try to go as many gatherings I can in my final study semester including Mass Comm which I hardly show up.
Time flies. It is 2 years since I first came to uni and in about 10 months time I'm leaving my studies and I will be working in the society, for the people (well, I like to put it this way).
I should put studies as life collection. Not doing masters or anything in the future. Tired of studying, honestly...
I decided to write more songs that I grew up listening to, the continuation of 'Songs from the 1990's'. I didn't include songs after year 2000.
BB Mak - Back Here
I find them to be so underrated!!! Their songs are nice! Unfortunately, it's one of the 'one-hit-wonders'. You heard the song, but forgotten who sang it. Famous song, unknown singer.
OK, can you remember the bits or parts any song(s) in its' lyrics, rhythm that you had heard in the past? I can... But I don't have any clue who sang and what's the title...
Christina Aguilera - What A Girl Wants
One of my favourite songs back in school...
Christina looked so different back then. Young, cute, girly. The pop princesses era. Pop music in its heyday.
Blink 182 - All The Small Things
Ha, ha, ha! This could be the 'guilty song' that you like to hear... Kids, like me back then will think it as R-rated or something... Silly and innocent young minds. Want to watch but had a sense of guiltiness from listening or watching.
Seriously, watch the music video! I realised the boys tried to mock some singers in it. Any one will burst out laughing!
Samantha Mumba - Gotta Tell You
OK, who still remember Samantha Mumba? Is she another one-hit-singer?
This song didn't cross my mind until I was searching for information to write.
Faith Hill - Breathe
Whether it's pop or country, Faith Hill does it well.
Love this song so much! Romantic! I don't think 'Breathe' will ever gone out-of-date.
Matchbox Twenty - Unwell
None of my friends never heard this song! Switch on the radio to any random radio stations, you can hear it. Even in school! My school used to play music early in the morning, before assembly and I always heard 'Unwell'. I even sang to it when I was bored!
Avril Lavigne - Complicated
Avril Lavigne's music is full of attitude! That's what I love. Her first ever song. So young and fierce! She gave me a feeling that she's not your average teen...
Sadly, I'm not into her music after 'Girlfriend'. I find her being another 'bubble-pop' and too commercialize.
Train - Drops of Jupiter
A song other than 'Unwell' I heard everyday on radio stations at least 2 times a day!
Nice song, all I can say. Until today, I still don't know the lyrics to the song. Failure...
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
That was when JT started to go solo... This was his second single, if I'm right... Because of this song and the other, I had totally forgotten about N*Sync. I don't see JT as another guy in boyband. He's Justin Timberlake!
A short note: while searching for this song, I also found another Justin... Yes, Bieber, I mean... Singing this song. Taken aback. Speechless. And still finds his irritating.
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
I don't know how to describe this song... I had this song playing in my head, over and over again. No idea why.
Norah Jones - Don't Know Why
I never listened to alternative music such as jazz, acoustic or indie before... Until Norah Jones came. I realised that alternative music gave me a different kind of feeling. Pure and simple.
I think because of her, alternative artistes managed to score their big break, dominating the top 40 charts that were usually dominated by mainstream artistes.
Craig David - 7 Days
Now it's the British music's turn!
Craig David was one of the best RnB artistes ever. This was my cousin's favourite song... I heard him played the song in his room loudly.
Just enjoy '7 Days'...
Kylie Minougue - Spinning Around
I knew Kylie Minogue way back to the 90s. Forgotten to include her on the previous part... From being an 80s pop to 2000s sexy diva. I don't know if you do feel the same or what, listening to Kylie's song gave you a youthful feeling...
I wanted to put 'Can't Get You Outta My Head' but decided to back out. That song was too annoying to me...
Ronan Keating - When You Said Nothing At All
Another singer from boy band group, Ronan Keating.
This song will be one of those you'll tend to listen once in a while and fall in love all over again... Romance.
Robbie Williams - She's The One
Bad-ass Robbie! He's such a bad-boy that people love. I'll always be his fans...
There's something about Robbie Williams' music that I attracted too. The strong British influence maybe...
Westlife - My Love
Oh my goodness! Them! Other than Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, they were my favourite! Even those that don't really listen to boybands will still love Westlife.
Back then boybands made good music. We don't hate them. We adore them. Unlike now, One Direction is so bimbo!
Blue - All Rise
A friend was posting random videos songs that we listened back in school and Blue was one of them... There! I had the idea of writing this post!
OK. My group of friends back in school were so obsessed with Blue. Even my mother like them! They're so cute!!! (young girl yelling)
I listened to them until they were disband... How much I wish they can get back together.
Girls Aloud - Life Got Cold
You might remember Cheryl Cole in it... But don't remember who's Girls Aloud.
I first heard them back in 2002, when they won a singing competition.
This song is my personal favourite. For the 'emo-ness' and attitude.
Busted - What I Go To School For
I love Busted, until today! They're so comical! I can't believe they are English!
This is one crazy song! Crush on a teacher! School's dull! Ha, ha, ha!
Yeah, my school days would be bored without Busted!
Daniel Bedingfield - If You're Not The One
This song! So touching!
Time to remember all the sad times... Ha, ha, ha!
Who still remember Daniel Bedingfield by the way...?
S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
Who doesn't grow up with watching S Club 7 on tv?!
Who doesn't sing along to their song?!
My cousin and I were one of their fans, sitting in front of the tv, watching S Club series and singing along to their song while playing their CDs.
Listening while writing for each song, reminded me on my life dated back almost 10 years ago...
Those songs accompanied me throughout my childhood years.
Glad I lived in an era where boybands made good music and not behaving like bimbo boys like One Direction. No annoying Bieber. Ha, ha, ha!!!
Songs we listened to when we grow up, brought up the memories from your life in the past.
I grew up in the mid-90's (to be exact).
I do listen to them once in a while. Not everyday. I wouldn't be 'reminiscing' those days in every day (but I did it once a while). I admit. I'm getting old. That is why I wrote this post.
Frankly speaking, I don't remember the things that happened in my life clearly, just the bits and bites of it. Like I can't remember what games me and my friends played in the field back in primary school. What I do know was we enjoyed the time very much.
People around me are avid music fans. I saw they had mini radios or Walkman with them wherever they go. Yeah, I remembered my cousins used to sing to the songs on radio. I basically listened what they played. One of my cousins love singing Mariah Carey's songs. Ha, ha, ha...
There were hundred thousands of songs in the period of time. I just select randomly from some list I found online.
Savage Garden - To The Moon And Back
- Believe it or not, I still love this song until today. I first knew Savage Garden when I saw them on MTV (YES, not YouTube! Ha, ha, ha!). OK. It's those pop songs that common people mostly listen to on their way to work on radio. Sad to know Daniel Jones and Darren Hayes no longer together.
Savage Garden - Crash And Burn
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back
- They're like One Direction and Bieber in 90's. No... Let me rephrase! One Direction and Bieber are Backstreet Boys of today. That should be better.
This music video, was one of the coolest (in my opinion) that I seen. Ya. The vampire-zombie-magic thing doesn't go out of trend, right? There's Brad-Tom in the 90's and Rob Patz-Ian for today. *burst out laughing* Again another MTV era.
Alanis Morrissette - Ironic
- I listened to this songs, over and over again on a CD. Yes! I remember recording albums that we used to buy back then, CDs and cassettes. Costly but I enjoyed buying.
I don't buy CDs nowadays. Yes. Download them everywhere.
The Heights - How Do You Talk To Angel
- I include this song in the list because this is a meaningful song and I love the rock twist for it. I heard this song way before school!
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Underneath The Bridge
- The rock influence came from these dudes. It's one of the rock bands you will like once in a while, even you're not really a 'rock person'.
Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
- Oh my goodness!!! Britney Spears! I used to collect her posters! Such of a big fan of her... until the 'inappropriate behaviour' in public few years back. I don't listen to her songs after she married that guy (what's his name again?!).
N*Sync - Tearin' Up My Heart
- Oh my goodness (this is no typo!)!!! N*Sync! They're HUGE back then! The prime time pop music. Can't believe it was Justin Timberlake! Start playing the music, please!
N*Sync - God Must Have Spend A Little More Time On You
- This was so karaoke! Some of my friends sang them in singing competitions!
Third Eye Blind - Jumper
- Crazy nice song, from a band that I can't remember their name or songs. What the hell?! I love going to a shopping mall near my home and this song was constantly played back then, at the centre stage. One of those emo songs I listen to... almost everytime (?)
4 Non Blondes - What's Up
- Song of attitude! "And I say hey, hey... I said hey, what's going on?"... *singing toward the song*
Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger
They said Beatles represent British rock, but for me it's Oasis. Love their songs! Even until today, I listen to 'Don't Look Back In Anger' frequently. Well, for me this song has way too much sentimental feelings inside. Enjoy the song...
Oasis - Little By Little
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
- I remembered this song, from a Nicholas Cage movie. To be true, I want to play this song on my wedding in the future (if I have the chance of getting married...).
No. I didn't cry while I listen to it. Just feel sad.
Jewel - You Were Meant For Me
- I love Jewel's songs back then. Her songs were so 'real', probably because of the acoustic guitar or something. The acoustic music is still here to stay...
Sarah Mclachlan - Fallen
- For me, 'Fallen' is one of the best song written. Sarah Mclachlan didn't sing it in Adele-kind-of-powerful-vocals or the song is catchy. I love it because the simple and unique style of the song, and Sarah Mclachlan.
No Doubt - Don't Speak
- I heard this song on radio for few times a day, back in the 90's and in the 2000's. I miss No Doubt and wonder when they will reunite...
I don't think I did enough for this blog... Well there's always part 2 right?
Any songs that you love in the 90's and wasn't in the list, feel free to comment...
Few weeks ago while at a shopping mall, I stumbled upon this back-to-school sale. Reminds me of many things while I was attending school, including wearing school uniform.
School shoes. Honestly, for the 13 years of my life in school, I have no idea how many canvas shoes I had...
School uniforms. Sorry I can't find the rack that contained secondary school ones.
Now the days were over. No more school rules. No more sitting in a stuffed classroom. No more writing in hand (well, it's not really true...). No more school uniform. We had grown up! We're on our own now.
We learned lessons, from the school subjects and also the 'dramas' that took placed. We gain knowledges, academically and socially.
Every year when I saw those back-to-school sales, I stopped and looked at the items for few moments. No, I'm not buying it. It's just, looking at them reminds me what I had learned for the past 13 years in school.
This post will be about memories (again). Memories, they're like a car traveling on a road. You passed through the road (parts of your life) on a car (your journey)
As I'm having mid-semester break, I have some time to relax and do my work for the whole week.
After dinner at Sunway Mentari, my father drove the car to scrolled around Sunway area. Something hit me on my mind. I realized there has been a while since I took this road. I have no idea why I am feeling sentimental. Maybe it's because I'd been talking about my past in few days before it.
We were talking about those days when I was in primary and secondary schools. Goodness! That was how I am during that time. Things seem to be so simple back then, as if ABC and 1+1=2. Yes, I do remembered most of the things happened back then, especially those that gave me an impact on the rest of life.
There's no other way than talking about the past in a car, traveling on the road. As you spoke, the random stuffs even popped up your mind.
p/s: I'd written some parts, funny and scary in the story... Really dumb of me in the situation.
