So, Teacher’s Day is next week.

1. I love dark chocolate. The darker the better. I prefer those with AT LEAST 70% dark chocolate. Anything less doesn’t qualify as dark. But, NO FERRERRO ROCHER, PLEASE!! That’s my least favourite chocolate brand. Seriously!
2. If you think I deserve something more intellectual, book vouchers would be great!
3. Have I mentioned how I like photography? I could do with some new lenses to go with my Nikon D60. Or one of those LED flashes.
4. My videocamera is dying on me. It’s been having problems for a while, and now the lens holder at the camera is getting loose (as in, it seems like it’s going to fall off my videocamera). I actually sent it in to fix a while back, and obviously it wasn’t a good job. Sigh… what to do, it’s a Sony. I really could do with one of those new HDD HD videocameras.
5. I’ve never been to Club Med before, would love to go there…

*Hint hint*

Hi everyone. It is with regret I have to make the following announcement.

Sony contacted me yesterday and informed me that the DVD on David Archuleta at Sri KDU cannot be sold. They have also advised me to provide a refund on the DVDs that have been sold so far.

My sincerest apologies to Sony, and to everyone, for all the trouble.

David Archuleta in Sri KDU

I met David Archuleta!!

OK, not really met. Stalked him with a videocamera, more like. But on official business.

David Archuleta actually came to Sri KDU! We won the Hitz.fm interschool competition. The morning crew DJ JJ and Ean came first (arrived 1.30pm) to entertain the school students in the hall. I was assigned to videotape David?s entire movement in the school. We were told to be await his arrival by 12.45pm. He arrived only at 2pm.

Jessica (the only official student photographer assigned for this) and I were waiting by the steps at the school foyer, complaining about the heat and the wait. I was dressed in a very pretty blue flowy top and black pants, but because it was halter neck, I put a jacket on. I regretted it. It was BOILING HOT.

We were discussing the car he would be coming in. Jessica was betting on a black limo. I suggested a Proton Saga. Or a Perodua Kancil!!!

We were both wrong. He came up in this white Bas Persiaran van.

Damn, I don?t have the photos here. I?ll upload soon.

It was so? low-key, uncomfortable, and well? unbefitting a superstar. Like, seriously!!

But David is such a sweet boy. He was so nice and friendly and obliging. *I* didn?t get to have a photo with him or even shake his hand unfortunately. I didn?t even get an autograph I was busy videographing mah.

Luckily I?m not a huge fan though, otherwise I?d be crying. I like him and his songs, but I?m not dying to meet him. HOWEVER I did get to be in one of the group photos! You see, the school had selected a few groups of students to take photos with him, and they of course had one photo of the top management of Paramount Corporation Berhad to take a photo with him too. I quietly snuck into the photo and stood next to the Finance Director? hahahaha!!! But I did get permission from my principal to do so.

Damn, I do not have the photo yet, so I can?t upload it here!!! It?s depressing to write about something so exciting without accompanying photos. I do have the videos, but I?m waiting for them to convert now on my other PC.

ANYWAY? he?s so polite and sweet. He was very obliging – signing autographs and taking photos. It was the security guards and the Sony people who kept pushing the students along, but I guess it was for security and also to speed up the time as he didn?t have much time with us at the school. In fact, one of the student girls threw her arms around David when she came in, screaming that she loved him!!! But he didn?t push her away or anything; the security guards had to pry her off him though.

The photos were taken in a special room that was set up for this, and after that we were all shooed out for him to do his make-up (not that I saw any difference) before he went to the hall. Inside the hall, the DJs were keeping the kids entertained; and just before David came on, they played a prank on the kids by making Germaine (the head prefect) read out a letter which announced that we were runner-ups in the competition, and as consolation, we would only get DJ JJ and Ean (many students actually fell for it? and gasped in horror), but Ean went, ?Oh wait, that?s the wrong letter? and screwed the letter up into a ball. And THEN they announced David was actually here, and the kids went wild!

David Archuleta went on stage and first answered a few questions posed to him by Kareem and Elliot. Then he sang his 2 famous singles (Crush and A Little Too Not Over You) before he was whisked away to the Bas Persiaran and out the door. It was all I could do to just run and catch him leaving. It happened in a matter of minutes.

All I can say about this is? WOW. David is exactly like how he behaves on TV. What you see on TV is what he really is? the sweet, polite boy, with the beautiful vocals that sound just as amazing live as it does on the studio recording. No airs about him at all. In fact, when he pulled up in that Bas Persiaran, he had no bodyguards with him, just his father (I think it?s his father, anyway) and a couple of people from Sony BMG. The security guards who ?protected? him were employed from a local company who had been waiting for him in our school before he arrived. He was dressed in a simple green shirt and jeans. Quite frankly, he looks just like any ordinary kid; if his face wasn?t so famous, if he arrived at our school, he?d look like just an international student in our school. When that Bas Persiaran van pulled up, I actually had to stare for quite a few minutes to really see if it really was David Archuleta inside!!

I hope he stays this nice and humble – that?s his selling point, which has snared many a young girl?s heart, and even caught the raptures of many ladies too. I bet mothers all over would love for someone like him to marry their daughters. I know that our principal is a HUGE fan of David Archuleta! With good reason, too.

[Now, if only David Cook would come...]

Oh. And I?m not going for the Sunway Lagoon concert. Sorry, David. I think you?re cute and you?re a fantastic singer, but I got to meet you for free, so that?s good enough for me =D

Oh. And you can see photos of David A at our school on Hitz.fm?s website. You can?t see me cuz I?m a right at the back on the platform videotaping him though

FINALLY…. after trying for about two weeks, I’ve finally managed to upload all the cheerleading videos from Sri KDU’s sports day. Here they are.

By the way, if anyone is interested – the DVD with all four march past and cheerleading performances are available for sale.

My deepest condolences to the family of Ms Elizabeth Chandy.

Obituary of Elizabeth Chandy

I heard about her death from a student, and I looked and checked the obituary in the papers (Tuesday, 9th December 2008). I wasn’t sure whether it was her, so I checked with Ms Susan who is Elizabeth’s sister. Susan said that Elizabeth had a heart attack, and her death was unexpected. She was still young – only 49 years old!

I had only known Elizabeth for a very short period of time; when I was in Sri KDU at the end of November for two weeks of staff training. Elizabeth was the Maths teacher in Sri KDU, and she joined this year after I left in May, so I did not have the privilege of getting to know her better.

I mentioned her death to a few students, and all of them were honestly shocked and saddened by what had happened.

Because I did not know her well, I won’t attempt to write a beautiful memorial because… well, I don’t know her enough to write something meaningful that would have been true to her memory. So all I can say to Elizabeth is: It was a real pleasure to have met you even if it was brief; I know you were a dedicated teacher who always strove to give your students the best. God bless you, and may you rest in peace.

Oh. Here’s a candid shot of her that I took during the staff training. That’s erm, all I have in her memory.

Elizabeth during staff lunch