ICE.COLD.COFFEE

We sent off our seniors one year ago and it's our turn now...

I really can't believe that we're leaving horti. It's so fast, and I don't want to.

Saw Teng Wen on msn before I went out today, and I suggested having barbeque at the end of the year, for his batch, and the current horti members. Then he would ask his seniors to come along to. 4 generations of horti people. That would be fun! :)

For our farewell, we went to some hotpot buffet at Kallang. The place was quite nice. Actually when Xu Duo told me it was a hotpot buffet, I pictured all of us sitting in big table around a steamboat, sweating profusely while eating the spicy food. Luckily it was nothing like I imagined...

The place was nice and cool and quite spacious too. 4 people to 1 steamboat. My table had Melissa, Jia Yan and Wei Sheng.

Xu Duo told me that everyone was coming, including Mrs Chuah. But in the end, Ryan, Michelle and Ping didn't turn up. Quite disappointing. Yong Bin didn't come at the last minute cos he fell sick from watching soccer late last night. Ruxin came though.

The food there was ok. Not a lot of variety. My favourite was the mushrooms and the vegetables. I think I eat buffet always like go and waste money. Cos the club fund paid $15 for each person and I probably ate only about $5 of food. Didn't eat any meat or seafood cos I just didn't feel like eating. Luckily the can drinks are free flow so I had 3 cans. Haha... Must make the money worth it... Wei Sheng and Ruxin had so many cans that it was almost what all the rest of us had combined.

The steamboat was divided into 2 sections. One with, and the other without chilli. Seriously, the chilli was very, very spicy. We didn't touch the chilli soup much, so I don't know why the juniors decided to go for this hot pot buffet in the first place.

Jiayan came late, and by that time, we almost finished eating.

After eating, we gave each other farewell gifts. The juniors gave the seniors each a combined card. With a paper rose and a bottle of xiang si dou. So so nice! I love receiving cards. I think they're so meaningful! :)

Inside, they wrote "Charlynn. Happy Farewell 2006! Thank you very much for guiding us in the past 6 months. We will miss you!!! From. Michelle Xuduo Tian Yuan Pritha He Yun". Honestly, I was quite disapointed that Ping's name wasn't inside. She's quitting horti, but I thought they should let her sign the card since she was part of the society too.

Melissa gave all the girls a pair of butterfly earrings. I chose the gold ones. I'm so in love with gold! Haha... It's so nice! :)

Kimberly gave all of us a card. Mine read " Charlynn. Hello! Time really flies! Although we only got to know each other late last year (i think it was the Aug/Sep period) through Biz, I feel as if we've known each other for a very long time.. Haha! :) Anyway, I've treasured all the times we've had together, whether it was during Biz, or Horti, or mentoring the really cute kids @ Ngee Ann Primary.. Will certainly miss you a lot when we leave VJ, cos I'm quite sure you'll be going SMU! Keep in contact k? Meanwhile, when I miss you, I'll look @ the neoprints we took together at TM that time... 26th May! Good luck for A's. I'm sure you'll do well! Kim :P"

Haha... I love my Kim darling. By the way, I don't think I'm going to SMU. Changed my mind about that already. My card to Kim was like this: "Dearest KIMBERLY! We first met when we took part in Camp Ideapolis last year. I still remember the time we worked late into the night and the next day just to complete our business plan. At that time, I didn't know that it could be the start of such a wonderful friendship. Seriously, life in VJ would be so, so different if I hadn't met you. I love your laughter (which in turn makes me laugh, that makes you laugh more, making me laugh even more! etc...) and all the fun and happiness you gave to me. I will remember fondly the times we had cup noodles illegaly in the classroom, your wonderful performance during glossolalai, the times we went mentoring together, our econs S lessons (which we are still taking), the fun times during horti and loads, loads more! Thanks for all your encouragement in horti. I truly appreciate it! You are such a wonderful friend and I love you so much darling! Let our friendship never end! :)"

After reading it, Kim said she was very touched. Actually, that was what I really felt. It's just so weird that we've known each other for less than a year, but we're so, so close. And I just can't emphasise more that my life in VJ would be so much more different if I hadn't met her!

Jiayan also gave us all a card each. It's actually a piece of foam with the first letter of our names on it. So cute! Mine said "Hey Charlynn! It was nice knowing you and working with you! You're someone who's always smiling, creating so much fun and laughter! thanks for all that. plus the numerous memorable moments we all have together! Let's keep in contact okay! Maybe go cycle sometime again! Haha. :) All the best for your future! Love, Yan '06"

And my card to Jiayan said "Dearest JIAYAN! You know something? I can't remember the time we met and how we introduced ourselves to each other because seriously, it feels like we've known each other for ages! Thanks for always being such a caring and supportive friend - always helping me with horti stuff readily, especially during V. day and being ever-ready to sacrifice your breaks to man the V. day booth, and the list goes on. I'll remember all the fun and wacky times we had together: our "secret" cycling trip, laughing at KFC during the camp, sneaking out to buy cup noodles (and eating with the toothbrush!) and of course, the hard work we put intot our econs essay! I appreciate you for just everything you are; your lameness, craziness, and just being so friendly to everyone. You totally rock! All the best for A levels, study hard! And must definitely keep in touch even after we leave horti and VJ. I'll surely miss all the fun times we had during horti. :)"

After dinner, the 6 seniors (me, Melissa, Kimberly, Jiayan, Wen Zhe and Wei Sheng) went to Bugis. Wei Sheng left at the mrt station though, cos we were going shopping. Wen Zhe felt bad that she didn't give us anything so she bought us each a hair rubber band with stars. So sweei of her! Although she really didn't have to. It was $1.50 and we got to choose the colours we like. I chose the purplish-blue ones cos the gold ones were too common. Golden stars... You see them in that colour all the time. :)

We saw loads of nice stuff and Wen Zhe brought us to "icon". It's some new shopping place beside Bugis. The stuff there are so nice. And cheap too! Some shops let you bargain, so if you ever go there, remember to try to get discount! :)

I bought a necklace. The pendant is some rectangle thingy with yellow crystals. And the chain is the best part. It's so unique, not to mention pretty, and it's gold!! Haha... So of course I had to buy it. And it's only $8.90. So cheap! I seldom spend money, but if I didn't buy this, I would surely regret. Melissa bought loads of stuff! And Kimberly bought a denim skirt. It's so nice! Kim has such nice legs. After she tried on the skirt to show us, I said she has sexy legs, and Jiayan said she was going to drool if she looked at Kim any longer. Haha... By the way, Kimberly rebonded her hair. She is now super beautiful!

After walking around until about 10pm, the shops started to close and we decided to go back. The others took bus, and while on the way to the mrt station, me and Melissa got tempted to go walk walk at Bugis street. There are lots of nice clothes and bags there. Earrings too! The prices are really reasonable.

I bought some more stuff. 3 pairs of earrings. Haha... 1 pair of white hoops, another pair of gold hoops (although I already have one of that colour, but this one is different... really!) and a pair of button stud earrings. I didn't want to buy the button ones, but since it was 3 pairs for $5, then I decided to buy. So nice! I love the white hoops, and I think they match my skin colour!

Melissa spent a lot more money than I did, and she told us about her shopping sprees the few days before, so I didn't feel bad spending the money today. I spend very little compared to her. Haha... Self consolation.

Anyway, after shopping there, we really had to go back cos it was getting late. We took the train back together and talked on the way back. Melissa told me some personal stuff...

I reached home quite late, 11.30pm. But it was a superb day. I'm so happy!

But I can't believe that my whole horti journey has come to an end. I must say that the best part of it all was getting to know my batch of horti members and our seniors. I've never had such a group of friends who I love so much. And of course, being the chairperson. I think Mrs Chuah is just wonderful at giving all of us each opportunities to shine and develop our potential. One thing though, I don't think I was a really good chairperson. Like I was blur and lost quite a number of times. I think I wouldn't have gotten the position if there weren't so few people in horti. Nonetheless, this opportunity has been life-changing, and I learnt a lot from it.

And I would like to end off this post with a line that I wrote on the year 2's farewell cards:

HORTICULTURE SOCIETY BATCH OF 05: WE ROCK! :)