The Dysfunctional Pilgrim

When Prof. Dr. Shirley Lim (writer of Monsoon History, among others) came to our uni to share on Asian American Literature, she shared this poem by William Carlos Williams with us: I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were so delicious so sweet and so cold When she taught poetry to students (under the Budding Poets Society) in Hong Kong (I may be wrong about this information, it was a long time ago), she instructed them to use that format in the poem and come out with their own version. She actually wanted to do that with us but we ran out of time.  I took it on myself to give it a go, but there were two problems. First, I was writing it during a boring athletic lecture, and second, I was starving. As in, really, really, REALLY hungry.  And so I ended up with these two variations: This is just to say (V1) I have eaten the stray cat that walks around our five-f...

Tell me my name Tell my story Tell me my past and what you have in store for me Because my pride blinded me My fear swayed me My apathy lied to me and I rested in ignorance But now I sense of longing from deep within to know who I was, who I am what I'm called for, who I am to be I want to know Your reason for creating me of placing me here, of my name my life is no longer a game Tell me my name Tell me my story Give me a reason to live for Your glory Something i thought of after watching Rise of the Guardians. I love the deep themes amidst all the fun. Soundtrack was awesome too. No need to mention that the animators are GENIUS. If i had drawing skills, i would want their job.  I've actually written a lot of random nonsense while i was busy with assignments and whatnot. Most of them are poetry because when i'm short on time, or lazy, i'd just cram it into some short ....thing. I suppose i have the time to du...

“November is the most disagreeable month in the whole year,” said Margaret, standing at the window one dull afternoon, looking out at the frostbitten garden. “That's the reason I was born in it,” observed Jo pensively, quite unconscious of the blot on her nose. "If something very pleasant should happen now, we should think it a delightful month,” said Beth, who took a hopeful view of everything, even November. November is here....I remember Guy Fawkes (but unfortunately not too familiar with him, i have to google him after this), but more importantly it's the birthmonth of Louisa May Alcott, one of my favourite authors, and Jo March, one of my favourite fictional characters. Jo March is apparently Alcott's description of herself, so that means....she and I are quite alike. It's kinda eerie that I'm in a way, trodding the same path as Jo now. She wanted to be a celebrated authoress, someone great and famous and rich, and in the end she became a teac...

Uni life has begun, and my kiasu-ness has been coming out of the closet. This is strange, because I’m a laid-back type who wouldn’t be too bothered with results or competitors etc. Ok, so maybe “ laid-back” is an understatement. I’m downright lazy. But laziness seems to be taking a backseat these days. For example, during orientation they were introducing us to all the elective and minor courses we could take and immediately the desire to take ALL of them (well, almost all) popped up in my head. I don’t know why. Also, we were grouped together in our respective courses during orientation and I was constantly trying to check out the competition. I had to rein my kiasu-ness in and remind myself that these people are going to be my course-mates, not my rivals. I’m supposed to be making friends. But friends can be rivals, right?  Shut up, kiasu.  During classes, if I notice someone being outspoken, my inner hackles will start to rise. I won’t challenge the ...

Did I say something about blog posts coming more frequently? I must have been high. It's been three months since my last post and I apologise to my non-existent followers (lalala, i like to kid myself). Anyway, I have nothing to say (or perhaps too much to say but too little time to put into words), so here's some words of goofy wisdom wrapped in nerdiness from the ultimate Wes Chan from Wongfu Productions.  I love writing down words spoken in movies or lyrics of songs for some reason. It's a weird hobby of mine (yes it is a hobby; when I have time I'd write down lyrics of songs instead of looking them up). This is called dictations right? I use to love having dictation tests in school. There you go, something new about me! I love doing dictations/dictating (which is it??? I'm not sure...) This is my biggest project ever, so effort went into this, mind you! I got it off the video, wrote it all out, did some research so I know I got all the college re...

Whoa...I had no idea that my last post was my 100th until I checked my list of posts by complete accident.  Hm....I guess it was rather fitting that on the 100th post I would look back into the past. Or was it fitting?  Anyway, here's a thank you to those who have followed this blog since the beginning, and those who just started, or randomly popped by, anyone who decided for some reason, to click the link to read more of me.  Big thanks to those who commented, encouraged and pushed me to keep on writing. I hope you all found something a teeny-weeny bit meaningful here. Otherwise, I apologise for wasting your time. Oh, and thanks for putting up with my grammatical errors and typos.  I have to say, I did have a blast writing here. It's probably because I don't push myself to write much, so it doesn't feel like a chore or anything. And it's also probably why I've only reached a 100 now...after..give or take..FOUR years. FOUR. my goodness...that...

First of, I'm not even sure whether the title is grammatically correct. Someone let me know if it's ok? Because it sounds kinda off. Moving on. It's been about 10 yrs since I moved to Seremban. I never did blog much on this because I only started blogging 6 yrs after the move and most of my life revolved around Seremban by then. In fact, it's difficult sometimes to remember life in PJ before. I'm certainly not a city girl anymore. KL/PJ life kinda freaks me out now. But one vivid memory that would always stay with me: my back door neighbour. I have no idea who they are, I don't know their names, I don't know where they came from, I know nothing about them. Except that they had a dog and every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, someone would be playing his electric guitar. Ever since we moved into that house (I was about four or six), the same thing would happen almost every weekend. It always was old rock-ish (or metal...I'm not too sure...

JOAC: Jump Off A Clift.  The feeling one experiences when faced with extreme embarrassment, despair, frustration, sadness and any other crappy  negative situation until one wishes to die, at least temporarily.  JOAC does NOT mean that one REALLY desires death, but simply that one wishes he/she wasn't alive at that point of time.  Example:  She's so darn annoying, I just want to JOAC when I see her. Or make her JOAC.  That was such a JOAC interview; I'm going to try to DMITS.  Augh!!! JOAC JOAC JOAC!!!  Synonyms:  DMITS (Drown Myself In The Shower)  JOAB (Jump Off A Building)  SM (Shoot Myself)  SMHIAHAD (Stick My Head In A Hole And Die)  WIADANCB (Wander Into A Desert And Never Come Back)  KMN (Kill Me Now)  IWD (I Wanna Dai)  EM (Execute Me)  PECSMU (Please Earth Come Swallow Me Up) etc.  ………….  IHNL (I Have No Life). Imma go JOAC now....

This reminds me of my "Miscommunication" post. Only a whole lot funnier. Remember Disney's Winnie the Pooh? This is an excerpt from one of their shows. Rabbit: Good grief! Tie them (rope) together, Piglet! Can you tie a knot? Piglet: I cannot. Rabbit: Oh, so you can knot. Piglet: No, I cannot knot. Rabbit: Not knot? Winnie the Pooh: Who's there? Rabbit: Pooh! Winnie the Pooh: Pooh who? Rabbit: No! Pooh, it's….Piglet, you'll need more than two knots. Piglet: Not possible. Owl: Ah! So it is possible to knot those pieces. Piglet: Not these pieces? Winnie the Pooh: Yes, knot those pieces. Piglet: Why not? Eeyore: Because it's all for naught. I love a dialogue that plays with words. This made me laugh. Did you get it? Let me know. I don't remember much of Winnie the Pooh, cuz I didn't get to watch much of it, but it always had a quiet sort of humour. Hope you enjoyed. I think you can find this scene on youtube...just copy and pas...

The new Wongfu short really had me this time. It'd probably rank as one of my favourites from them. This was Phil Wang's idea, and this is his commentary “Take It Slow” is about two teenagers who may have missed out on this magical moment at their first dance together, because popular music didn’t allow for it, but taking matters into their hands. I hope that despite the DJ not playing any slow songs nowadays (because there are none), that people will still find a way to have this special and sweet moment together, because there are really few things like the innocent romantic emotions that come from slowly swaying with a person you really care about to a good, sweet song. On a personal level…I miss slow dancing. As we grow up, it’s one of those things that don’t happen much anymore. Now, people just wanna bump and grind. I mean, that’s fine and all… but the good stuff, the deep stuff, is in the slow dance. But maybe, that’s what makes it more special, now that we’re older, bec...

Interesting conversation with my aunt. Me: Hi Aunty AP, Hannah here Aunt: Oh, hello Hannah Koh. What can i do for you? Me: (Heard her say Yeoh not Koh) er, no...I'm Hannah Koh. Aunt: Oh you're having a cold? It just so happens that I was having a cold. Me: (wow my aunt psychic!) Er...what? Aunt: I'm having a cold too you know, sneezing and coughing a lot... Me: er........ .(lazy to explain myself) yeah, ok. Somehow this isn't as funny on paper. =/ Anyway, my aunts also tend to mistake me for my mom when I pick up the phone. Apparently we sound alike over the phone. So sometimes they don't wait to clarify who's who and just spew out some information. Occasionally, it's very juicy information...but in Hokkien. Me: Hello? Aunt: Ah Cheng? You know or not, this so-and-so *insert hokkien words* Me: Er.......no, it's Hannah. Aunt: WHAT?? Eh you don't go around repeating what i just said alright? Where's your mom? Me: Er, here she is. Don't worry...

Yeah, i've neglected my blog. It's a good thing that i'm mostly addressing a non-existing audience. The reason why i don't blog as much is because i'm trying to find the best thing to blog about. A blog is usually about yr everyday life but i don't really like to do that because i just feel uncomfortable putting up my daily life for ppl to see. It's ...exposing. I don't have anything to hide, but I like privacy. When I do have a certain event that i think i can write about, it ends up sounding very crappy. So i shove it aside and by the time i perfect it, the event was probably months ago (Perfection and procrastination....remember my personality thing? That's why I don't get a lot of things done on time) But are you really interested in my life? Let me know. Oh....i just remembered - the rat disection videos. Gosh. Ok, next time then. Check my older posts if you have no idea what i'm talking about. Anyway, here is something that i wrote out...

Hello, here is the second part =) If some of you are wondering why this is more nonsensical (and cheesy, *ahem ahem hint hint to a certain someone*) than my other stuff, it's really because it started on a whim, and i've yet to perfect it. Besides, "a little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest of men". The majority of this part was written by Shaphan, btw. The sun was high when Coney finally emerged from his cozy little burrow. Carrying only a bindle made from a nearby tree branch and his Avatar printed comforter. He made his way onto the narrow rabbit trail which lead to a vast world of adventure and re-domination of his kin. It was a bright and lovely morning. With an atmosphere enhanced by chirping of the birds flying round and round, diving in and out of the high trees. Little Coney, enjoying the wonderful view of the rising sun together with the graceful movements of the birds was happily striding along the path when suddenly a bone-chilling screech ...