Drivel

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

[Korean Adventure] Memories

It’s been said so often that it has nearly become a cliché: it’s amazing how one can make such amazing friendships, how one can bond so strongly to people who were strangers just weeks ago, in the span of just two weeks.

I had the pleasure of personally experiencing the aforementioned, not once but twice, the latest being during the APEC Youth Plaza in Korea. I’ve been putting off posting a full post about my experience there, possibly because the memories, when juxtaposed against the slavery of National Service, induce nostalgia, longing and sadness.

Oh how sweet these memories are, how special they are!! I remember dancing Salsa with Colleen to the rock music emanating from a Korean DDR machine. I remember setting off fireworks and releasing paper boats along the Han River with Cindy and Jinny. I remember discussing horses and Mongolia with Laura by the seaside. I remember trying to dance Cha Cha (and failing terribly because I didn’t have the confidence to lead) with Brigitte. I remember drinking a little a lot with Ronin everyone on the first day every single day of the conference. I remember playing Korean drinking games with practically everyone, French games with Pierre, Simole, Melissa and co, and Chinese games with Tracy. I remember going up to a girl on a dare to try a Korean pickup line, which was both embarrassing and interesting. I remember gushing over 김태희 and전지현 with Moon and Jyun all the Korean and Japanese guys. I remember the goodbye scenes in the subway, the rush of air portending the arrival of the train, the chimed in sad music, the tears in our eyes and the feeling of despair and sadness.

To be continued…

Friday, September 02, 2005

[Korean Adventure] Memorable Quotes

Inspired by Pin’s post, I’ve decided to post some of the more memorable conversations I had or listened to during my two weeks at the APEC Youth Plaza. A word of caution: my memory faculty, damaged by two years of stupidity also affectionately know as National Service, isn’t what it used to be and thus, if you spot any misquoting, do forgive me (I emphasise that embellishment is not my aim).

PS: I will be using pseudonyms to hide some of the identities.

See: *random comment about Korean drinking parties*
Me: When in Korea, do as the Koreans do.
Dantes: When in Korea, do the Koreans.

Vishal: Do you know what’s better than alcohol?
Steve: Sex?
Vishal: Dude, no… More alcohol!

Stephanie, who has already drank a lot, lost another bout of the drinking game we were playing.
Daniel Smith: Hey Stef, just get someone to drink it for you.
Stephanie: Hey! I’m Canadian. *proceeds to finish the shot in front of her*

Anonymous Korean Girl: Sorry for whining so much. Haha, typical girl behaviour.
Anonymous Playboy: No problem. I believe they call it 공주* in Korean?
Anonymous Korean Girl (blushes and giggles): Thank you.
Anonymous Playboy: Oh wait, I think I remembered the wrong phrase. It ought to be공주병**.
Anonymous Korean Girl: What!!!

*공주 means Princess
**공주병 means Princess Disease

John is only 18, but he is highly intelligent and will be applying to Princeton this year. Unfortunately, he hails from Texas and is an ardent Bush supporter.
John: I believe in freedom and democracy.
Pin: And how do you define freedom and democracy?
John: Freedom and democracy is what we gave the Iraqis.
*To avoid getting slapped with an Adult Rating for violence and gore, I shall not describe the ensuing bloodbath. However, I can reveal that he was verbally hammered by seven liberals who were all decidedly anti-Bush. Use your own imagination*

SAT Essay

Do you think that ease does not challenge us and that we need adversity to help us discover who we are?

The annals of history are replete with examples of figures who had to undergo tremendous hardships or face herculean challenges before being successful; history often implies that they have been shaped irrevocably by it, and that only through hardships did they truly find themselves. I agree but to a certain extent.

It is true that when Man is thrusted into a difficult situation, he has to adapt or face failure. He will discover certain traits about himself which may not be so readily apparent in times of prosperity. Perhaps he has nerves of steels or maybe steel-like determination? Perhaps he crumbles under pressure or maybe he has a proclivity for blame-shifting. Adversity becomes both a sieve and an x-ray, but does that necessarily mean we can discover who we are?

Man is a multi-faceted creature: saying that he reacts well to adversity paints neither a complete nor accurate picture. Traits that one may demonstrate during adversity need not neccessarily remain when the black crowd of gloom dissipates: in fact, many historical leaders who so successfully rose to the challenge during adversity quickly became figures of dissipation when prosperity and success reigned.

Simply put, Man exhibits different traits for different situations, and while they are not mutually exclusive, they may not be intimately linked. Tom may be insufferably cranky in crunch times but may be extremely mild-tempered in boom times. Thus, while adversity allows us to discover another side of ourselves, its effect is hardly as all-reaching as some would claim.

Addendum:
Necessarily not neccessarily
Thrust not thrust