My Kiasu Teenage Life in Singapore (21 page)

BOOK: My Kiasu Teenage Life in Singapore
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We were divided into groups according to our warden groups and each group had three pits and chicken wings, sausages and corn. I had fun roasting the marshmallows but I didn't eat them 'coz they were too sweet. I voiced out, “How come the inside melts but the surface doesn't?” and Niles, whom I no longer have a crush on but still think he's very cute, answered my question. Eric was actually in another group but he came to talk to me. I can't really remember what we talked about. It was casual and quite nice. Oh ya, I asked him if he wanted to be the “model” for my photo project and he said OK. I told him it's not for nude photos. Ha! Ha! We're going to Orchard Road this weekend to buy some props for the photoshoot. Maybe I can buy myself some makeup and ask Nancy to do a makeover for me then ask Eric to take a picture of me. Actually it's nice to be friends with him without having a crush on him. I can be myself and not worry about what I say. In fact, I'm even quite witty sometimes! I think I'm finally learning something from
The Fine Art of Flirting.
I must recommend it to any shy juniors in the future.

Ms Lily Sim was also at the barbecue, and she smiled at Jen Nee and me. Maybe she's not that bad after all, and it's us who are
kolot
to think that she's flirting with the JC guys. Or maybe all this happiness about Eric is making me all softhearted and love everyone.

Saturday 4 September

Dear Mei Yee

Hi, I received your letter a few days ago. I waited for a few days for my exams to be over.

Now the one-week hols are beginning and after hols, we have exams again. However, most of my studying subjects are over. I just finished History today. Yippee! My hand and fingers were dying while I was writing the five essays.

Learning History essays can be such a bore. Thank goodness Jen Nee also takes History, so we can discuss and motivate each other. We acted out some parts, and laughed and laughed. She is always the native ruler; I am the Dutchman or Bugis.

Hey, only three more months and the school year will be over, and I'll be going to a good JC in Singapore, hopefully! Well, I don't know if I got into the JCs that I applied to yet, but whichever one I go to, I'll be choosing Science subjects. I'll get to learn Physics finally! I'm so excited that you may be coming to Singapore too! JC will be better because it will be co-ed, so I'll have more normal friendships with guys! I'm really looking forward to all these new things! As you know, I always think back and recap my progress over the past year. These are my thoughts for the year so far, compared with last year.

Good changes:

1  I don't read romance books anymore! I just outgrew them for some odd reason. Maybe because there are real things to do in my life instead of just reading silly fantasies!

2  I gossip less.

3  I'm nicer to people in the hostel who are less confident or people who need friends, like Nicole.

4  I can talk to guys normally now.

5  Eric and I may become friends who actually hang out together. Maybe!

6  I'm not so obsessed with crushes now. Will try not to have any more until I actually know the guy well.

7  I'm more sociable now, and have many friends in the hostel. I'm less dependent on you now. (That's good, right?)

8  I'm very happy that Jen Nee and me are such good friends!

Things that I still need to change:

1  I am still quite
kiasu
and competitive!

2  I get very impatient when things are not going the most efficient way possible or if I'm not being efficient. I hate wasting time.

Actually, I think I would probably be less
kiasu
if I wasn't living and studying in this
kiasu
environment. It's hard not to be
kiasu
when everyone around you is. However, deep down, I still know what really matters in life—family, friends and being a good person—and I don't really care if I am the top student or if I have a high-flying career in the future. So maybe I'm not truly
kiasu
but just ambitious!

Love, Pei Yi

About the Author

Ee Lin See grew up in a small town in Malaysia with her parents and two younger sisters. Her parents frequently emphasized the importance of education. At 16 years old, she received the ASEAN scholarship to go to high school in Singapore, which meant studying in one of the best schools in Asia. However, she had to deal with homesickness and the angst of teenage life. She hopes that this book will help teenagers going through similar struggles to realize that they are not alone in their problems. It was in Singapore that she became a Christian. She later went to college in the U.S. and currently lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. She is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Her blog is
http://blessedeelin.blogspot.com

Copyright

First published in print in 2005 by Monsoon Books

This electronic edition published in 2011 by Monsoon Books

ISBN (ebook): 978-981-4358-60-6

ISBN (paperback): 978-981-05-30167

Copyright©Ee Lin See, 2005

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

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