I am by the sea...

How often can i wake up with the sea before my eyes? Once a year? Definitely less than a quarter of the year. It's a different type of feeling her and there. Here i focus a lot more on my family whereas in Singapore it's more complicated. I prefer the type of laid-back life here.

Anyway, when i got back, i realised i have become a crimminal guilty of animal neglect. The dogs that i once spoke proud of, once healthy and charming golden retrievers have succumbed to a state of beyond recognition. They are malnourished, dirty and unkempt!

To believe that they will be in safe hands, i am so naive... My cousins and uncles are not dependable anymore. I cannot describe anymore cause it will bring me to tears. I am someone who always boast how much do i love animals. But i have breached all the qualities of an animal lover. Keeping a pet when i am unable to tend to it. I am liable for their current state.

Since i got my license and stuff, i think they are the top on my agenda now...

Darn...

When was the last time i feel like a family in a team?

After joining back the team for some time, i still feel a little out of the circle. Remembering the feeling i had in the past, where i feel a part. Be it PJ, and needless to say Kaixuan. It's the feeling that is absence in this batch. I don't feel really happy after all, or is this an unhappy team by nature?

After being the vice captain, regrettably i still do not understand how the team functions. Their mindset, goals, vision. Sometimes i ponder to myself, is my return actually useful, or just redundant? Are my particular set of skills and play really useful in the team?

I came to experience that type of intense feeling last training with Quest, a short part. When coach needed centers from PJ to do the transition drills. I haven't went back to KX trainings, since my dad was in town and i had to accompany him. I wonder have the play styles of the guys changed? Or is it I, who still loves in the past? Somewhat i feel lonely on the court now.

In my opinion, a successful team firstly need coherence. I mean, each individual players have their role which they should excel and expected to perform well in games. For example, scorers, playmakers, rebounders, stoppers etc... Till now, only a few of them have been defined, not enough to make a consistent play style in the team and of course trust in your team mate which boost communication.

Secondly, hunger. Which will help in commitment. If you are playing in a team that have no obvious goal to improve, there is really no point training. Cause without the motivation key, you just don't want to train harder and push the limits. I have yet to pant my lungs out so far, weird... Guilty... Tough training should help improve my stamina...

Lastly, making it simple, discipline. What's the point of putting programmes in place if you don't force yourself to it? You can walk the whole 6k, do drills for the sake of doing? It'll just tear away the commitment, and the meaining of coming down for trainings. Shooting 50 balls where you know you have to shoot a lot more to improve. In the end, our abilities will stay stagnant there.

All this three attributes are those that made a team happier. Achieving an obvious goal, feeling yourself improve! When you feel stronger, able to out-muscle your opponent, scoring fastbreaks one after another, or crashing in shots which left the opponent burnt. I felt it before, ever since, no more...

Of course, as one of the three leaders in the team, I have to show these, in order for others to follow. But bear in mind, it is still up to them whether to keep in line, or go AWOL. We really got a lot to do, much more... Substance is not quite there, so we have to make it up, by pure hard work. Make others awe, at the very least, our fighting spirit... Guys.. Let's work... Can we?

Holiday...

Short! As always... Thanks to the two weeks shitty extra lesson which i don't find useful at all! I swear... School should think of something more constructive instead of filling our time table with long hours of GP workshop which felt draggy. Must be that new HOD's idea... Dumb move.

Am the vice cap of PJ bball team now. I hope i can do a good job. So far, i think i lack of communication with some of the guys, thus there is no affinity which may affect decision makings in games. Important to work on eh.

Work shadowing in YMCA, the one near plaza sing. 1st to 14th Dec. Try to ask me out after 6 if you all want. Haha... Wonder what it'll be like... Tailing a manager around, and i passed by that place. I realise a lot of them is in blazer and tie! Crap...

Yet to buy my prom clothes. But finalised my thoughts of what to wear. Will be very rush on 9th. End work at 6. Rush home, plan to reach bout 7? Lol!!! @ Orchard hotel.

Started gym-ing again. Seeing my muscles grow again. Very good! hahaha...

Kayz... I going off first. Sleep...
GG back for school tmr. For refreeing course. I wonder why do i have to go. Since i already gotten the certificate. Lol... Nvm. Gym tmr...

Boring breaks...

Hi, how's life about Julius?

Boring, since my i got no PW where the rest of the J1s are busy about, i got nothing to do... Having break now till Wednesday, before going back to school to start J2 topics. Revision for me... :) Hope my holidays will be more interesting, with work shadowing, CIPs and maybe a trip to Aussie...

Heard you join back B ball, how do you feel about them?
Well, still learning the ropes. Got to really drill the basics for some. Can see some really put their heart in to get better, but to take it to higher level, the team need to put in really a lot more work. I miss the previous team, but my role here is totally different. Still not sure why am i back, but i am doing what i feel is right. Bring some experience to this team. Just lost the ACSIS previously known as ISIBL. Thrown at the face at the difference in standard of the team's performance, but kind of happy to see the team doing better at the end of the season.

What plans do you have for this holiday?
I plan to upgrade myself. Initially wanted to take driving courses. Which is unnecessary. I can easily get an A-I license in Jakarta, and i am already driving in Jakarta, so why go through the pain and money?
Take up music courses, basically piano. Can't convince myself. Imagine, an 18 year old taking grade 1? Err... I need a good teacher in the first place.
Take up French. Any school to attend? I really hope someone tell me where to attend the class?
Learn a new sport. Tennis or badminton. David can coach me badminton for free.

The end of my interview.

I would like to help my dear cousin to advertise himself. David Tjong, a young player. He also seem to be a good coach. So far he have successfully coach 4 kids who manage to enter the SBA kids squad from nothing. Anyone looking for badminton classes feel free to find me, i'll refer you to him. Yeap.

Post - promos

Hello! Let me see, what date is today. It's the 15th October, tomorrow is the 16th, and 5 days ago was the 11th. Well, 11th marked the 17th month i am attatched to darling, and still counting on! Tomorrow, is a bit special, it's Mama's birthday! Haha... Well, thought of doing something special this time, like do some scrapping for her. It's been so long since i had done a handiwork for her. Maybe she will like it, and i am more free now.

Plan to take a course, either music or an extra language. Have yet to decide, but i need to decide soon, so as not to waste my holidays. Anyway, about driving, i decided to just wait the chance to go back Jakarta and get my A internationals done, it will be easier that way, more speed, no haste. Haha... So i heard i just needa convert my license by taking the basic theory? Don't really have a perfect picture yet.

I took part in this years Interhouse games which was last wednesday. It on tuesday. Man, it's been so long since i touched the basketball. Yes, i represents a new house, and am the most experienced among the group of players, i take it, i am the leader of the team of 7. It's a pity that my friend Wei Cheng injured himself the day before, otherwise it would have been a more enjoyable time.

Tried to exercise my strategist mind. Standing in a position of a coach, but i realise it's hard to get a team to listen to you. Needless to say accessing the flow of the game, and do tactical switches. For example which player is more suitable, what type of play, and set pieces to get the team out of danger. Well, overall i think it was a good experience, and i the team Nobel got a third placing, which is rather good i thought. This make me feel i still gotta learn a lot from basketball, and i do consider taking coaching courses which will benefit me, needless to say apply it when i'm in the game.

My physical strength have definitely weakened. Stamina dropped, strength missing, and all my touches and timings were rusty. I promised Mrs Loh to get back into shape within 1 months. I mean business, i really gotta to show the result this time. I am the senior yoz... The first welcome to the team, a match against New Town Sec. I don't know what will it be like, without the mates i used to rely on, I realised, i am one of the main pillars now... Hope to have a good game...

Re-sitting the same exam.

While my friends was taking back their bloodbathed prelims paper, i was sitting in the exam hall, resitting for the examination i took a year ago. It was still about a month away to A Levels. You can really tell that my former classmates are on full steam. Rushing against time, brain trying to sponge all the stuff they need in the exam halls.

Meanwhile i was in a war of my own, fighting for the legibility for a seat in class next year. If i lose, i may be well on my way elsewhere. Feeling stressed, as moderation may not help much due to the 100% of my results will come from the papers i sit. Every mistakes i made will be more fatal as compared to the rest. I need to be extra sure than the rest, be extra careful.

I will put my best foot in the line, whatever happens next, at least i tried. But i do feel i am crossing that line already, to the safe harbour, and not be relegated into the wilderness...

Life can be more interesting...

I need something to spice up my life! Argh, i'm so jealous with the people around me. My besties are getting jobs, and even my cousins are so. Whereas, i'm still a parasitic boy. Crap. No income, yet still spending! If i am a country's government i will have incurred millions of national debts i think.

The school do have some work shadowing programme with some affliated companies. Only for about a week? Worst of all, you don't really get paid, but it still beats being labeled "unemployed". Furthermore it's something to add to my testimonial which is quite nice already, and something to note about in my future resume. Thinking of how to spend this coming holiday wisely, on one condition, i get through this promos. Well, unlike other J1s, my promos will be a 100%. So whatever i get, it will be what my results are reflected onto the report card.

Lately, my tummy, the intestines area, on the right, about 4 fingers above my hips, hurts often. Yes, what does that mean? I suspect i am getting appendicitis. It's beet hurting a few days already, that explains why i am actually quite lazy to eat this few days. I don't feel goo after eating. I hope it doesn't go bad, if not off to the operating table i go. Crap... Never been so unlucky in my life before.

Last year i did a CIP at Paragon, Metro. Well, it's a joint effort by SIF, Metro and PJC to raise money for the unfortunate children in less developed countries. Usually this CIP project is out to the J1s, thus since i am once again a J1 student, i am able to join! I remembered the timing was quite bad, somewhere very near to Christmas! Yes to the eve!

That's not the matter. I can choose not to join, but i decided to join again anyway. Why? This time they are raising money for Indonesian students! Yes, precisely, if it wasn't for the word Indonesia i would have cared less. Donations are designated to a high school in Bandung, still a developing part of Indonesia, more known for a tourist attraction.

At last, someone actually highlight the importance of education in Indonesia. Let me try to apply some economic theory to it. Education is a merit good, and by nature, it is deemed as socially desirable, yet tends to be underconsumed or underproduced. People consume education bearing in mind only their private benefits, which is below the socially optimum level, ignoring the external benefits on third parties. It is a market failure due to allocative inefficiency. Resources are not allocated to boost consumption of education which will allow marginal private benefit to coincide with marginal social benefit. So, this is a form of intervention that will help to work do so! I have been wanting to contribute to Indonesia's society, and this is a good chance.

If possible, i would like to go a step further. I heard SIF is doing some form of exchange programme with Indonesia, honestly, i will want to be included, but i don't know how to get to that platform. Not only i will understand more of my country through that, being an overseas educated Indonesian, i believe i will be able to bring to my counterparts at Indonesia a picture about the world outside and thus they too will benefit. Can anyone link me up to this? Thanks!

I haven't been touching basketball lately. Think i am somewhat a rusted old gun. Will i come back to hit the courts? I don't know. The first one will be the inter-house games. Hope i can bring the team to achieve some result. A loophole, each house is supposed to be allowed 2 school players. My house has 2 already, but as i have already stepped down last year, i am not included, so that makes 3 i guess. Should be an advantage in a way or another. Talked to some juniors today. They want me to come back and join them though, we'll see how is it after promos then.

I just met up with the girls, yeah without Chujun. Okay, say it out, Siew, PQ, Karol, and Clari. Went to eat Thai food at Chuntin Rd. It was on Monday night, rainy night. The rest are busy, Alan's having training, CJ i dunno, Chris and JY got their prelims.

That's all,
Big love peeps