William Chong

I know that right now, most of you are on holiday.  I’m annoyed at that, but I’ll take comfort in the fact that I’m fairly confident I’ve reached my target grades in both 301 and 303, the two important core papers I’ve been taking this semester.  Tomorrow’s exam is a sociology Singspiel that is worth just 30% of my final grade, whereas Monday’s Chinese110 final exam is within the A+ range if I’m up for it!

In between that I’ve got a busy Saturday – informal class concerts (with reports attached), Academy open rehearsal, and work as well means I’ll have to practise my vocab and essay-writing amongst all that.

——————

I think I need another pad to to-do note paper things.  My iCal is fantastic but I couldn’t possibly carry my Mac to do groceries… or to buy clothes, pay bills, etc etc.  Here’s a couple of things I’m looking forward to working on during the break:

• more songs – writing and recording existing ones.  Keep checking!
• shopping for clothes, especially winter ones for Kim.  Got a couple of gift vouchers to help with that.
• sorting out presents for RB, Nathan, Brendan
• Yea, gotta flex some Sibelius muscles from time to time
• really hard work on my ATCL pieces for violin.
• dine and review a couple of other restaurants, maybe concerts
• keep working on Chinese!

I’d say taking 110 has been a really crucial paper in that learning Chinese was something I’ve always put off until it was too late.  I’m happy to say that I can start writing letters to my mum again, if not just to feel more at ease but also to express how much life has changed over the past year or two.

The saddest memories regarding my mum passing away – they’re vivid for months, but then somehow, it’s like snow that slowly melts when spring is here at last.  You won’t forget, since there are tell-tale signs that something immense happened in your life: empty fields where the snow used to lie.  Though I must say that sometimes you have pictures of really specific things – like the first look on your brother’s face, or the sound of the rain fording across the mortuary rooftop, or a floral guard of honour for such an immense service to your family.

——————

Other recipients of my vastly improved Mandarin (albeit half-Simplified) literacy include: my dad, Linda and her family, my godgrandmother, and essentially half my bloodline living in Taipei City!  You have to realise that this post is in part a procrastinatory attempt, since who wants to study sociology?  So when I -