My first light bulb

As a student, I don't think there's anything one would treasure more than having one of those light bulb moments when everything finally falls into place and the world makes perfect sense yet again.

Even though I must've had previous light bulbs (like when I first remember the sequence of numbers up to 10 or all 26 alphabets), the memory of this particular light bulb from "The Orange Problem" always comes back to me, even after more than a decade. Perhaps it's because it was the first time when I consciously heard my brain go, "Ting!"

The Orange Problem

I was in year 3. At the end of the year, I was to sit for an exam that would enable me to skip year 4 and go straight into year 5, should I ace it*.

Dad helped me prepare for the exam, going through practice exam papers and example problems. One popular repeated question in the mathematical section was one where they would ask something along the line of, "If 3 oranges cost $21, how much will 29 oranges cost?" (Oh my. I may have overpriced the oranges a tad bit.)

Ah, I know it's a simple question but I didn't think so then. Especially not when they would put it a lengthy word problem and I would have to extract all the information from it. Practice after practice I would get the answer wrong to that particular question and dad would go on to teach me, yet again, how to solve it. 

Until finally one afternoon (yes, I remember it was in the afternoon and I remember exactly where I was and who I was with), I was attempting another practice paper when I got to this dreaded lengthy word problem. I remember looking at it and thought, "Hey, what if for once I try EXACTLY what dad was saying instead of attempting my usual mumbo jumbo?" That resulted in me finally getting the answer right for the very first time. I was so excited with my new found knowledge that I squealed to my sister, who was beside me, "Look! I got it right!"

It was then I felt a row of light bulbs lit and though I didn't know it then, it will always be a point in my life that I will always remember.

*I did go on to ace the exam and went straight into year 5 the year after.

The reason

My sister had her last ever lecture as an undergraduate pharmacist today (will be graduating early next year). After dinner, she told me a story about how she was asked a question of wonderment by a customer at her pharmacy when she was in first year at uni. It wasn't until 3 years later, in her final year did she stumble across the answer. 

Sister: Don't you think that's interesting?

Me: What is?

Sister: That sometimes the answers don't immediately come to you but then eventually it does.

Me: Mmmmm...you should write about it on you blog!

Sister: But I don't have a blog.

Me: I'll write it in mine then :D

Indeed. Sometimes the answers don't immediately come to us when we want/need them most. It's the same with reasons.

Y'know how people say,

When the hardest hits, it's hard to think about the possible "reason(s)", the "good" that might come out of it at the end of the day, in the long run.

Most of the time, things do work out for the best or we hope so that it does but at that moment in time when tragedy hits you, when something terrible, the unspeakable happens, we don't see it. We don't, we can't see what that reason may be. You start to wonder if there's a grander plan out there for you, "pre-destined" in your future. You wonder if you'll survive through the day, the week, the month, the year. Your mind then comes up with a long list of all the possible reasons of "why", not making any sense at all - no rhyme and no reason behind it that you could possibly see.

But then again, you never know. Maybe just like "the answer", you''ll stumble across "the reason" 3 years later.

.....

"It was you who put the clouds around me.

It was you who made the tears fall down.

It was you who broke my heart in pieces.

It was you, it was you who made my blue eyes blue."

- Blue Eyes Blue (Eric Clapton)

I found a reason for me to change who I used to be, a reason to start over new and the reason is you.

In the span of 3 years

Yet another oddity of mine would have to be that I like to write the date when I first open something new (eg. new shampoo, new lip balm, new highlighter, etc) as I like to see how long they last before they run out. 

Today (yesterday really seeing it's past midnight now), I used up the last sheet of my Clean & Clear oil control film. Behind the pack, written by me: 30/8/08 (Sat). 

While I was using up the last sheet, I pondered away (as I do). What marveled me most was not that it took me 3 years, 1 month, and 12 days to use up the 60 sheets (which I cut in half 3 years back making it 120 sheets - I think they make the sheets too big anyway), it was this: 3 years, 1 month, and 12 days ago, I couldn't have possibly imagined precisely where I would be right this exact moment and here I am now!

Funny thing is, I still remember the moment in time when this precious (and I do mean precious seeing that 3 years later I'm writing about what would have otherwise be a seemingly mundane object) Clean & Clear oil control film was first brought into my possession. Since then, it's been with me, travelling where I've traveled until the end of it's time.

Then [30/8/08 (Sat)]: 

I'm was in my 1st semester of college, doing my Cambridge A-Level. I've only been here (in college) for 2 months. It still feels like a long way before I would finish.

Since then till now [12/10/11 (Wed)]. Top 5 happenings:

1. I got accepted into the fast-track program and finished my A-Level in 18 months (instead of 24 months), at the end of 2009. I'll always treasure my time in college.

2. I got my A-Level results at the end of January 2010 and met the requirements of the scholarship body that will allow me to continue my tertiary education overseas.

3. Arrived in Perth, Western Australia on 16 February 2010 and enrolled in The University of Western Australia (Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering, class of 2013).

4. Being at UWA for 4 semesters so far, I dare say I've pretty much uncovered most of the mysteries of the previously mysterious (to me at least) alpha institution of education.

5. Had my first heartbreak that was certainly a lesson learned.

I've only listed the top 5 from the top of my head (the more major events I would say although there were certainly a lot more that happened in between). 

A few years ago, there were things that I didn't know/didn't know for certain would happen although I would've possibly imagined some of them. The others happened as they may as the years past. 3 years later, here I am writing about what was once a full pack of 60 sheets of Clean & Clear oil control film.

A lot can happen in a day, a week, a month, a year. A lot more happens in the span of 3 years. All this while, although I didn't think much of it when I had it, my Clean & Clear oil control film pack was always there, lurking in the background. Not that I get overly attached to objects (well, sometimes I do) but now that I'm about to throw the empty pack into the trash, I find myself filled with a rather odd wave of...sadness? Perhaps a better phrase would be "wave of nostalgia". Nostalgic! Yes, that's it. I'm filled with a nostalgic feeling that has been brought by this now empty pack. 

Farewell empty pack. You may not have thought that you'd be of any significant importance (I didn't think so then anyway) but in the end, you really were. You've inspired these train of thoughts and that alone is more than I could have ever ask for from a 2.5x3.5" object.

Significantly important empty Clean & Clear oil control film pack, you are hence forth forever (or more precisely, for as long this blog lives on) immortalized.

*Authors note: In case you were wondering (judging by the amount of times I've mentioned "Clean & Clear oil control film pack", no, I wasn't paid by Clean & Clear or Johnson & Johnson to advertise their product. *laughs*

Small town lawyer

Joe grew up in a small town. He then moved away to attend college and law school. Upon finishing, he decided to come back to the small town because he could be a big man in this small town. He really wanted to impress everyone. 

He opened his new law office but business was very slow at first. One day, he saw a man coming up the sidewalk. He decided to make a big impression on this new client when he arrived. As the man came to the door, Joe picked up the phone. He motioned the man in, all the while talking.

"No, absolutely not! You tell those clowns in New York that I won't settle this case for less than one million."

"Yes. The Appeals Court has agreed to hear that case next week. I'll be handling the primary argument and the other members of my team will provide support."

"Okay. Tell the DA that I'll meet with him next week to discuss the details."

This sort of thing went on for almost 5 minutes. All the while the man sat patiently as Joe rattled instructions. Finally, Joe put down the phone and turned to the man. 

"I'm sorry for the delay but as you can see, I'm very busy. What can I do for you?"

The man replied, "I'm from the phone company. I came to hook up your phone."

Moral of the story: Before going ahead in a scheme to deceive, make sure you have all the details down pat - like making sure the phone has a dial tone before proceeding to pretend to have a conversation with a non-existing person.

Year 6 lesson on % discount

Today, I got news that my year 6 math teacher (who was also my class teacher) has died a year ago. I haven't seen her for 9 years and I have to admit in that 9 years I haven't thought much about my math teacher from year 6 but hearing the news today, memories came rushing back to me. 

One memory in particular sticks out: our lesson on percentage discount.

I remember her telling us at the start of the lesson not to make the mistake (as some of her previous students have done) of thinking that if we get a 20% discount on 1 pair of shoes, we'll get a 100% discount when we buy 5 pairs (multiplying 5 with 20%), making our purchase free. All of us laughed then. Who would be silly enough to make that mistake?! You'd be surprise.

I wonder now if she remembered me. Did I do anything remotely notable in that 1 year I was in her class or was I another face in the sea of thousands of students that passed through her life? Nevertheless, I'll always remember her to be one of the two most notable teachers in my primary school (the other is my year 3 class teacher but I'll save that story for another post). 

Mdm Ooi, R.I.P. Your students will always remember you to be a great teacher. You have touched my life when I was 11 and the hearts of thousands others, I am sure. You'll live on forever in our memories.

3 apples that changed the world

"3 apples changed the world. 1st one seduced Eve, 2nd fell on Newton and 3rd was offered to the world half bitten by Steve Jobs." - BBC

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve has lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." - Apple.com

Tribute to Steve Jobs on Apple.com homepage

Unlike so many of my friends and those around me, I don't own a single Apple product. Not that I have anything against Apple, only that the opportunity to get myself an iPod/iPhone/iPad/MacBook has yet to present itself. I was still extremely shocked by the passing of the face of Apple, hearing the news on the radio on my way back from uni today. My thoughts are with his family. 

Needless to say, he will be missed by millions. R.I.P.

"Your time on this earth is limited. Don't live someone else's life, live by your vision." - Steve Jobs, 1995-2011

The realest dream

Dreams are such funny things. The ones you have while you're asleep, that is.

"Well dreams, they feel real while we're in them, right? It's only when we wake up that we realize how things are actually strange. Let me ask you a question. You never really remember the beginning of a dream do you? You always wind up right in the middle of what's going on." - Cobb (Inception, 2010)

Have you ever had a dream so real you thought it really was? Have you ever had a dream where not a single thing was out of place; the people, the location, the surroundings were just as they should/could be? Have you ever had a dream that was so ordinary, so possible that when you woke up, you can't properly remember whether you've actually lived through it or not?

I had such a dream last night and when I woke up, I could almost be sure that it has happened and it wasn't merely a dream but possibly, a memory. Just as quickly as my puzzling mind puzzled me by trying to remember the possible occurrences, all my memories came crashing back and I knew then that it hasn't occurred and will never will. That one realization alone of "never will" hit me like a tonne of bricks and for a fraction of a moment, I felt the wind get knocked right out of me. Needless to say, my day went downhill from there.

The only strange thing about my dream I suppose (and perhaps I should have realized then that it was indeed a dream) was that it took place with me sitting on a bench on Mounts Bay Road overlooking the river and I had no inkling of how I got there.

"No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." - A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella) 

Cynical me says, "I ain't a princess and this ain't a fairy tale."