Thats.Just.Life.

Sunday, March 30, 2008 @ 2:57 PM

Mushroom Pot

Mushroom Pot

I entered into the world of sign language on saturday. In 2 hours we got a crash course into the alphabet as well as some simple conversational signs. It was really funny with our resident joker Vanessa. Our teacher Aunty Audrey who definately wasn't an auntie (can't be much older than me at most). Anyways I thought she was quite pretty too haha except for the thick makeup.

It was interesting. I think sign language is really something we might wanna invest in. To some extent it felt pretty professional! Haha.. but at the same time its a for of communication that could prove useful.

The start of a busy day. Soon I was heading to Midpoint Orchard to meet the youths for lunch at Mushroom Pot. Thanks Tim for organising! Anyways we really had scrumptous food with Ma La Huo Guo and the restaurant's specialty of mushroom stock. Company was pretty good too! What could be better than free flow Beef and Man Tou? Haha.. Price wise I thought it wasn't so good though. Bong rates it 3 stars out of 5.

Next ran off to play pool! Haha.. it was really funny with Audrey, Rachel and Sean trying to play. Haha.. tried teaching them the basics so I think they got an idea of pool. Sean was particularly funny as he checked his "blind spots" so that his cue stick wouldn't hit anyone or anything. Haha.

Then it was woodlands for me as I celebrated MZ's birthday with QF and YX. We had Botak Jones before we watched "The Princess and her Warriors". I found it pretty nice actually. Storyline was normal, but it did succeed in stirring up some emotion in me with its love story portion. Haha.. think I'm so much more emotional compared to last time. I rate it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Sorry JR.. think I owe you and apology for forgetting..

Saturday, March 29, 2008 @ 12:25 AM

Lessons Learnt

Lessons Learnt

Decided to edit the post a little to better reflect the day. Was pretty tired and all so didnt manage to get everything in haha..

Today was a day full of lessons to be learnt for me. I realized quite a few things today and it really humbled me quite a lot. It wasn't just a single event, but rather a few significant things that happened that made me realize that there are so many things that we can learn each day.

It was in bible class that what Bro Peter Chin was teaching today that I realized something. I guess it was something that I already knew, yet just needed someone to say it out. Its times like this that you wonder, "I knew that, yet why does it only hit me now?". Indeed, our psych is able to block out things that we do not want to face, yet gets hit by it only when someone spells it out for us. And I also realized that while we judge people, there is also probably a good chance that that same judgment applies to us. Indeed we are not perfect, so I think we should all examine ourselves before we pass judgment.

Anyways it was the usual Friday study (more like play) day for me Chui and Loke. Managed to get some work done while Chui died from work phobia. Anyways Chui managed to get a trip down to SMU resident cafe Frujch and concluded that "SMU is a more stressful place than NUS". Well said. Indeed its much much worse.

We ended up having dinner later with Loke and searched for something to do cos we had no more mood to work. So we ended up going to the arcade before a movie. Then we played DDR. Haha.. it was dumb.. newbies dancing DDR really hilarious! I think we made a fool of ourselves ^^.

So we watched "Charlie Bartlett" Yup I managed to remember. It was a story that centered around problem youths. Really packed a lot of meaning under its seemingly "rubbish show" facade. Me, Chui and Loke were pretty happy with it. Where do we fit in in life? What are we doing with it? And are we making the best out of it? I really wonder.

But I think we should all think hard on our lives and reflect on it hard.. there are always things to change.

So many things to do as the semester draws to a close. My current assessment: I think I still have unused capacity. Yet I am unwilling to sacrifice my friends and my life for grades (not to mention my tan). Will that kill my grades? I hope not. And as I continue to fight with ever present stuff that keeps coming, I will spare time for the simpler things in life.

Thursday, March 27, 2008 @ 11:07 AM

Boredom

Boredom

I'm bored.. really bored.. So bored I'm blogging in class.. Even manga is not helping much.. I've read so many I don't know what to read also (gonna finish School Rumble lol). Its micro econs with my "beloved" prof and I'm supposed to be learning about Externalities and Negotiation. Nothing's going in and I don't really care either haha..

Been playing a certain game on Facebook called Ragdoll Laser Dodge. Try it on the application Mindjolt Games. Haha.. really bored so I sound like a wuss in this post..

Oh well.. I dunno wad I'm blogging about also.. Zzz..

I need to change my FB display pic sia..

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 @ 2:09 PM

Chill Out

Chill Out

Its one of my ocassional chill out times when I head to the gym and get a refresher for my tan at the swimming pool. Haha.. feel so much better, really destressed quite a lot today!

Anyways, work load is a little less now.. 1 major presentation is down. 2 more to go! Can't wait! Can't wait for this sem to be over..

Yup.. and so I got tagged by an annoying junior that keeps calling me "Huai Ren" cos I wear black.. I know I'm quite Ah Beng and all.. but I quite guai one lor.. Anyway here goes!

Real name: Chen Yongzhe Benjamin
Nicknames: Bong / Ah Bong / Xiao Mian Yang / Huai Ren
Married: Nay
Male/Female: Male
High School: Bukit Panjang Govt High
College: Pioneer Junior College
University: Singapore Management University (SMUG Haven)
Short or long hair: Short I guess.. Its growing again!
Are you a healthy freak: Nope.. I love to eat good food but still quite health concious
Height:172 cm (at least 3 more cm pls..)
Do you have a crush on someone?: Haha.. dunno if can consider as crush
Do you like yourself?: Very much
Piercings: None
Right or Left: Right

First...

Surgery: Consider stitches as surgery? Can't remember when though
Piercing: Didn't have any. Kana pierce by pencil only haha
Person you see in the morning: Me lor
Award: Uh.. dun remember.. probably some interhouse game (Got Silver)
Sport you joined: Get this.. Ping Pong (Balls of Fury!)
Pet: Terrapin I believe (Reminds me of Mentos!)
Concert: Dunno lei.. I can only remember one from SAJC de..
First crush: In Primary School haha

Currently...

Eating: Nope.. just ate lunch
Drinking: Nothing.. I'm bloated
Im about to: Sleep

You're future...

Want kids: Yes. 1 Boy 1 Girl
Want to get married: 26-27 (DOn't think its possible though)
Careers in mind: I'm stuck to the Air Force. Maybe a HR Manager in the future.
Lips or eyes?: Eyes
Hugs or kisses: Hugs. (There's really nothing more assuring)
Shorter or taller: Taller haha.. Too short le..
Romantic or spontaneous: Don't understand haha.. I think spontaneous?
Sensitive or loud: Sensitive. (I think I get quite loud sometimes)
Troublemaker or hesitant?: Hesitant (I'm GUAI can?)

Have you ever...

Kissed a stranger: Nay
Drank bubbles: Ah?
Lost glasses/contacts: Yup
Ran away from home: Nay
Liked someone younger: Yup
Liked someone older: Yup as well
Broke someone's heart: Think so.
Cried when someone died: Yeah.

DO you believe in...

Yourself: Yeah.. though not all the time.
Miracles: Yup. But not the same kind of miracles
Heaven: Totally. Its where I wanna go when I die.
Santa claus: Haha if ur talking about a big red fat man then no.
Magic: No.
Angels: Yes

Answer truthfully...

Is there someone you want to be with right now? All the time..
Do you believe in God? Of course

And I'm not gonna tag anyone haha..

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 @ 12:23 AM

Slow Down

Slow Down

There's time when everyone should just stop and take a breather. Yet the world just rushes by, oblivious to everything else around, yet seemingly direction-less in their misguided passions and objectives. Do we really need to rush around that much? Or is life full of more meaning than we always see?

These were the thoughts as I finally had my dinner late at night. Sitting down at Burger King (regrettably alone), I couldn't help but give a little sigh of relief. That was pretty much the only time I had the time to slow things down and take a break. Even then I found myself starting to gobble down the fries and burger SAF style. Was it so hard to slow down? Or has haste been drummed into our poor minds?

Be fast or you'll be last. Be quick or you'll be in for trouble. In our current lifestyle where speed and efficiency has achieved dominance over just about every facet of life. Is that the way life should be? I think if everyone took time and slowed time down, they can see the beauty in nature around us.

I slow down when walking to the MRT station at times to stare up into the skies. I slow down when I chill out by the beach or by the pool. I slow down in my bed where I tuck myself in warm blankets and listen to nice soothing music. I slow down when I pray.

And indeed I cherish small pockets of time such as this. But yet, there's little choice but to stop and rejoin the masses of blurred lines of clockwork humans.

Oh.. and I'm so very disappointed Pool lost.. >< Lets all slow down!

Slow Down
by: Corinne May

16 hour work day just to provide
everything for his little tyke
No time to sing a lullaby
or give him a piggyback ride

TV, baby sitters, toys are awry
as he speeds out the doorway and car leaves the driveway
The boy runs out to his father but his steps are too small
He stretches out his hands to reach him as he tumbles and falls

~Chorus~

Slow down
I cant keep up with you
Your getting a little to quick for me to follow
Slow down
You're getting away from me
And i don't know how to slow you down

16 years together weathering the times
The good, the bad, the sweetest sights
Watching children of the children smile
As they did when they walked down the aisle

Walking kids in wheelchairs slowly whine
Twirling their ears, curling their faces
But now he's stumbling faster in towards that finish line
She stretches out her hands to hold him as he closes his eyes

~Chorus~

Sunday, March 23, 2008 @ 4:31 PM

Youth Jap Food

Jap Fever!

We had a pretty big Jap dinner bash at my house yesterday! As the bunch of young adults and kids bustled about my horribly small and not well stocked kitchen making delicious japanese delights like Chawanmushi, Koroke, Miso Soup, Konyaku Jelly and of course Sushi, we really had a whole lot of fun. But cooking food and playing with food. While hands (and the floor) was dirties, you could see there was quite a lot of happiness going around as we fumbled our way into Japanese cooking.

I don't have many photos this time round (most are with Zelda) so I'll just post what I have.

Accomplishments of the Day: A star-shaped koroke and 2 Onigiris (1 stuffed with Tuna)
Flop of the Day: One unforgivingly huge Sushi Roll (I put too much rice and too little crabstick)

Its been a while since my house was so noisy.. haha.. nice having you guys over! Thanks to the committee for organizing and cooking! I think the happiness spilled over to today la.. somehow was feeling quite happy today ^^ haven't really been happy for so long le haha.. hope it lasts!

And now comes the next challenge. 4 more weeks till the end of school. BTT evaluation and the BTT Test. More presentations. Submissions. The last push before I become year 2. Will really give a whole reflection for my first year in SMU after I come back from Dali. Haha.. cant wait to go!!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 11:03 PM

Random Stuff

Random Stuff

At a time I should be doing work, or sleeping, here I am blogging again ><. After getting some work done, I just wanna blog, slack and sleep. I'm a little tired of school now, but its something that will just happen each year. Here is the time where work just piles up and bottlenecks with presentations, essays and other countless stuff.

Rigorous training for the outside world indeed.

But as I wonder what to even blog about, I look at the fallout of my room. Haha.. Needs packing again. Its tough to keep my room clean and tidy. Somehow papers and letters will start piling up faster than I can clear them. Pity. For a self-professed tidy person, I think the flesh is just way too weak. Tired people can't be bothered to pack anymore!

Among all the SMU propaganda I see everywhere and even in the classroom, I still strongly believe in my school. Granted all the fluff, all the facade, superficiality etc, I really think its slowly grooming all of us to become better in terms of soft skills. We're learning more and more stuff, how to communicate and how to come across to people of the working community.

Oh.. my LTB group just walked out of a MediaCorp filming session la! Haha.. felt so so good.

And I seriously need to buy new shirts. Sigh.. runnin out of nice things to wear. And most of them is black! Sigh.. Oh but I got my watch at long last! Haha.. thanks Chui for waiting while I was stuck with choices haha..

Sigh.. my brain is a little drained. Long day tml.. sigh sigh.. take care guys!

4 more weeks!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 8:10 AM

Class Participation

Class Participation

It was at LTB impromtu speech time when the topic of the notorious class participation came out. I guess its been an extremely touchy issue where SMU's teaching methodology is concerned. Indeed, it has sparked off numerous comments on both side of the house.

Is Class Participation good or bad?

Thinking back on the Singaporean education system, I also think of inquisitive children that always ask questions and give comments. Class participation in the early ages? Now students are just content to soak up whatever knowledge that teachers give to them and accept it at that. The inquisitive side of a child's mind has been erased. In its essence, CP is nothing more than a going back to its roots in learning, which is questioning and sharing. Yet as students, we have lost all that in our paper chase. All other non-essential knowledge have become redundant. Does it take CP to start us back on the old path?

What is learning to us? And do we learn? Thus I conclude that horrible as it it, CP is indeed a good thing.

Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 11:37 PM

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday!

Would like to take the chance to wish a belated birthday to both Lokender and Medalene. Happy Birthday to you! And to Zelda as well coming Monday! As each year passes, we grow older and hopefully ever the wiser. With each new experience, learn from them what is good and discard the bad. Just as every side of the coin is different, how we all react to experiences make all the changes. I believe thats Steven Corvey's 9/10 Principle. Saw that somewhere.. haha CPT Boon Ching circulated it de!

Anyways, I'm all right now. Its been a difficult few days again for me but I'm out of it much much stronger. And I've gotten some direction already. Yes, the area around is still extremely foggy, but at least I can feel the road beneath my feet. And I'll just keep on walking on it to see where it leads.

Back from Gospel Meeting today. Bro Subin preached a really simple yet good lesson. Putting God first. Through each day in our lives, there are just so many things that distract us, that take our minds away from what matters. Can we always keep in mind that God is our priority in each case? He said something that made me chuckle. "Pray before making a decision. Don't start praying after you made your decision." How true.

I think we're really like ships. Ships in a stormy sea where we drift without knowing it. But yet, when the captain sees that we've lost our original course, we need to make all these little adjustments to get back to the correct bearing.

I really can't wait for this semester and for the next to start. God willing, I have planned quite a bit of stuff for next semester. Or rather the lack of it. Gonna drop all the extra stuff in school, concentrate on pulling up GPA, go to the gym more often and get back in shape. Pick up and participate in sports. Above all, to contribute even more in the Church in a different capacity.

As always.. I pray for the strength required to do it all.

Friday, March 14, 2008 @ 1:19 AM

Inner Struggles

Inner Struggles
I guess underneath every smiling face, and anybody around, lies the scars of struggles that they undergo day by day. Underneath the facade, the mask, or whatever protective shell you call it, lies some untold story. Neither can we share it, except to our closest confidants if we even have one, nor express it, for it just exposes us for the fragile humans that we really are.

Insecurities, confusion, and fear, all of which barriers to overcome. And hiding it under a veil does not help either. There will always be times where it just whittles away at our resolve and tries to pull us down. Pretty much reminds me of Naraku of Inuyasha (which I'm reading now). It times like these where we truly need someone. Someone else. Who else to share your deepest fears with than God, and where else to express all that pent up emotions than the safe privacy of your own space.

Was a particularly emotional day for me, with so many contrasts within a single day. Switching between happiness, to sadness, in a sense it made me feel.. very human.

Watched the Leap Years today with 3 very nice guys (no no no I'm still safe) and I must say I really loved it. Despite the poor camera skills and badly placed music, the dialogue and acting totally captured my emotions. Not to mention the different connections between each of the different players in the show. Exploring love even in the murkiest of situations, and in the most uncertain of times. Love is, still a concept that is impossible to define. A must see show!

And where will my road lead me? I haven't the foggiest. But I guess I'll have to be patient and see what happens in the end. We'll never know..

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 12:04 AM

TV Appearance

TV Appearance
And so Ah Bong hit the small screen. It was just a few short bursts of exposure, but i was there all the same. Finally getting to see myself there, I think there were good things and bad things.

Good Thing: I'm on the small screen.
Bad Thing: Indeed I look ugly.

But seeing what we did really brings back so many memories of our time interacting with these people and collecting cardboard in the wee hours of the day. And to see our effort up there made it all worthwhile. These people truly deserve our respect. I'll never look at another with the same perspectives ever again.

Many many thanks to all the members of Building Blocks. None of this could have been possible without any of you. I'm sure we all enjoyed the time we worked together and as we clear up the rest of this horrendous time consuming module, lets aim for our A+ ! I think we have a chance to be ahead of the rest.

And I think I really need this A+ to pull up my grades.. Haha..

Friday, March 07, 2008 @ 12:09 AM

Short Post

Short Post
Alright.. its only gonna be a short post, just to keep my blog running and you guys interested to check back now and then haha..

I'm heading to the small screen! Haha.. ok.. I'm no actor whatsoever, but I'll be on TV nonetheless. For those who have heard from me le.. the timing has been moved to 11 March at 2030H on Channel News Asia! Do watch ya? Though I think I probably look ugly onscreen.. was never photogenic la..

A levels is tml! Oh today actually.. just pretty much got back from school.. >< anyways all the best to those who are getting their results back tml! Praying for you guys.. Just remember, whatever you get, make the most of it and do plan what you are gonna do next. 4 years and many many more depend on your very decision.

And Mas Selamat is still out there.. While I don't often comment on such issues, you could say I am disappointed as well. There have been so many delays over the release of information that it is a little atrocious. Perhaps they needed time to ascertain stuff.. but in such a situation, everything matters in the first few hours. But I suppose its times like this to shake up the system so people know that they have to start waking up and fill up the cracks within the organisation.

And this post is not short after all.. haha.. oh well.. another meeting in 8 hours! That leaves me with a resonable amount of sleep!

Leave out all the rest..

Sunday, March 02, 2008 @ 8:27 PM

Mix

Mixed Stuff

This is gonna be one of the more random posts. The type when you just got so many different stuff to talk about that you cant put them into a single topic. here goes ^^

Met the BP gang again yesterday to celebrate YX's bdae. Being busy getting burnt at Waikiki that morning - afternoon, I joined them late, missing the K-box session as well as the cake. In a flash, its been so so so many years I can't really count. Since Sec 3.. thats a real long time..

How did we stay together so long? I really cant tell.. but considering the effort put in by all of us to hang out here and there, celebrating tons of birthdays, giving each other birthday presents that weren't always the most practical at times, we saw each other frequently enough. Blocking escalators while thinking, our horrible habit of writing birthday cards in front of the lucky person etc etc.. we really went through a lot together. And those with better memories can tell so many stories while goldfishes like me can only imagine and hopefully revive our past history.

Really hope we'll never lose contact.. Till we next meet!

Thinking about school, I can once again feel everything tightening up. I'm not sure how I'll get through.. But at least I'm much better emotionally le.. So we'll see how my results will shape up! Gonna try to study my econ.. but dunno wad to study! Argh.. I think my prof can really do so much better la.. sometimes we need something to mug with other than just a thick textbook that has no answers..

Well.. something new just popped in my mind.. haha.. but its a happy problem la.. oh well.. We'll see what happens..

Sigh.. summer is so packed.. really wanted to go back attachment but i really think thats impossible le.. my CIPs are gonna take up all my time! But I think it'll be the most powerful learning journey for me. Can't wait to get through this phase and think of all the lessons I've learnt. Both good and bad.

I'm aching!

I wish there was something we could all do to help the situation. What has gone wrong? Did we drag it too long? Or did things just happen that made the situation worse? Can we prevent it from happening? Is it within our power? Or within our responsibility? We are only 4.. and are we united and committed enough.. Sad to say I'm not too sure.. but I think we have enough in us to at the very least weather the storm with the support of each other, then work from there..

So many things in my head. All different fields and topics. At least it doesn't affect my sleep ^^ but it really sucks when you're thinking of something then you drift off into another topic without knowing.

I'm tired of the rat race. Why should we race? Can't we travel together in a pack? A pack of rats haha..

Humanity and emotions are fast becoming a thing of the past. Are we what we really are? Or only a shell of a personality created to survive this world, a self-defense mechanism of sorts. Can't we all stop this facade and stop betraying our own true feelings? I hate being enclosed in that cage.

Woo.. long long post.. writing what just comes into your mind. At the end of all this.. I feel sad.. as if all this reflection and thinking just yields bleak results. But all good things are in the future. I will survive this.

Saturday, March 01, 2008 @ 10:03 PM

Waikiki 2008

Waikiki 2008

The Sun, the Sand and the Sea. Pretty much the prime combination of elements that makes my very own self tick. An extreme lover of the sea, you could say the event of the month of March like no other. Waikiki 2008, the biggest beach event in SMU's calendar.

Of course, there was no shortage of fun and games and eye candy. Chui and Loke, haha.. invite you you dun want to come. Missed out! Anyways, I really enjoyed myself thoroughly there. We had signed up for Pushball, which was dubbed an evil sport by someone. And so it was. It transformed men and women alike into crazy people trying to push balls in whatever way possible over a line and over people, in the process expanding large amounts of energy. It was crazy.. At the end we were really winded. We didn't come close to winning the tourney, cos there was the rugby team and the dragon boat team around. Totally kena owned by those 2 teams. But it was fun.

Really should have signed up for more la.. really regret.. haha.. Will I be able to join next year? I wonder.. chances are I'll be doing exhange la.. so cant really tell.. oh well!

Pictures tell the experiences much better I guess.. Here are the nice ones!

profile

Reach my prismic soul.

Benjamin Chen
Born 24 Jun 1986
Reborn 24 Aug 2003
Perpetually in a zombified state. Liverpool fan.
Keming Pri > BPGHS > PJC > SMU
WSO(ADA)
Cancer

wishlist

Unconditional Desires.

Nice formal wear
A Road Bike
Sunglasses
Massimo Dutti Coat
Fresh Colours
To demolish his room
Strength
The Beach
New Desktop

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Mix the words up.