Michelle 'Pearl Tea' Peng

From left: Michelle, Nursi, Cindy, Evi



I don't know how much to say...some things may be too private, some things aren't worth telling (meaningful to me only), but today, I'm paying tribute to you, Michelle.

As my girlfriend you've stood beside me through it all. The stupid things I did, tolerated the things I said, didn't do, did but did wrongly...etc....but today, as I sit back helplessly when your group of friends invite you to discuss exam papers with them, and you decide that you're not going, because I wasn't called, I take no pleasure in this form of loyalty. It pains me that I can't make things better. I tell you now (I'll tell you when I ring you 30mins from now anyway), that if I received that email asking me to go, even if I had to put on my thickest of skin, I'd go with you. Even if I had to risk the stare of unpleasantness and hatred, I'd go. Because you don't deserve to be punished for what you didn't do.

I was stupid to feel sorry for 'friends' who don't give a damn. 'Friends' who put on a facade and later reveal the truth about themselves when the back is turned. The thing is, they didn't put a facade with you. They treated you as a friend. And even if it is now that I realise it, all friendships should be cherished....true friendships that is.

Kenny ..yea..that’s about it, no nicks..nada

Kenny (right) next to Rothman 'dont smoke cigarettes' Kam

Kenny is DA man..lol. Tramping, running, biking, roller blading, driving a car with burning tires, selling second hand bikes which fall apart right after money’s exchanged hands..you name it, he’s done it!

But I think the most memorable episode, was when Min dared him to do a skinny dip in our Lang’s Beach outing. Well…for purists, …it wasn’t an authentic skinny dip since he had his boxers on…but still ..hehe..I’m sure several girls were ‘impressed’. I mean..it was about 10pm!! And we’re talking about the Tasman Sea here! He was shivering like crazy when he got out, and he wanted to WALK back to the bach (pronounced bak ) Nuts…I practically forced him to get into the van….hey….us guys know what shrinks when its cold..think about long term exposure…I’m doing his future wife a favour here.

Finally, I will remember Kenny as the most determined and motivated person in Chemmat. He comes to uni early, leaves late. Libraries, labs, if there’s work to do, he’s on to it. Kenny is the antislacker.

If I had to watch a movie with him: LOL..come to think of it..I specifically only watching 2 movies with him..Kill Bill and Superman
Evil deeds: Making me feel bad about slacking off
He has: to not make me feel bad about slacking off

Hui Ian aka Mr Tan (Old Man)

Mr Tan second from left

Mr Tan is usually very serious with me. Note that even when addressing him, I have to use his surname. Sigh..old people. LOL…na…despite not being a close friend of his, I’ll admit now I can’t give a very description of him…then again, I haven’t been doing that for any of the people in here. This page, I realize now, is more for me than anyone else, my recollection of memories I hope won’t fade as time passes….ANYWAY..back to Mr Tan.

I actually meeting him in first year, and….thought his name was meant to be for a girl. It’s true, I’m not trying to be mean. It was also later I found out he was friends with Hui Min, and I thought they’d make such a cute couple, name wise…but…erm…both sides were adamant about beating me up had I continued to make anymore puns about the ‘suitability’ of their names and I left it as that.

Time passed, years passed, Mr Tan was in the midst of Mr Kam..Rothman Kam…yea..another ‘unique name’. But o well…I’ll always remember Hui Ian as the guy to go to in the event that I finish my assignment 2 weeks ahead of schedule and need to check my answers, or the person I need to get ‘copied’ software from, of the person I need anime from..or the person…lol..you get the gist.

If I had to watch a movie with him: He only watches movies with girls ..lol
Evil deeds: Not drinking liquor anymore..right when I was getting into the whole thing..sigh
He has: to not let those anti piracy ads played in the movies bother him

Lawrence aka Mr Quek

Mr Quek on the far right

Uncle, uncle, uncle. The first time we met, (and he remembered this one), I introduced myself as a Filipino, and Lawrence believed me! :P From then on...I lost all credibility. Hence, I always needed someone else to verify my tales of wonder, or facts of interest. I thought I’d regain his trust after a very, very long absence of my crap talking, alas, I was unsuccessful (EVEN AFTER our male bonding sessions in Invercargill) Sigh.

Speaking of Invercargill, I’d like to reminisce about how we walked through gale force winds to catch a ferry to Stuart Island. Several days before, a work mate told me about how his neighbor’s zinc roof flew off and crashed into his house, cutting into his flat panel TV. This was very worrying, since both Mr Quek and I had to walk 30mins into town, and nothing but streets of houses with all sorts of roof tiles surrounding us. It’s all very Final Destination…heh..but in the end, the ferry was cancelled, and we went….shopping..lol..of all things. ..yea..looking back, I still remember where we went..Briscoes and Rebel Sports..then Pak n Save! Woo…wish my memory was as good during exams. Yea..it was also fun playing with him Red Alert in that dump of a house, and I still remember how he was such a Rise of Nations fan.

PS: If anyone wants a video of a ...'intoxicated' Lawrence..drop me a line. $10 per copy.

If I had to watch a movie with him: He only watches movies with girls 
Evil deeds: Not getting over me not going bungee jumping with him..heh..okok..it was my fault
He has: to not worry about Chupa chups choking him if he trips and falls

Hui Min aka Min Min

Note cap cap wearer

:P I met her after I knew this guy by the name of Hui Ian (yes, it’s a guy) And I so thought (at that time it) a cute way of calling both her and him at the same time would be hui hui.
Hmm..too many things to remember her by. She almost always went to all our functions with her trusty camera…she was always ready to use it on others…but NEVER wanted to be in the pictures itself. Then there’s her affinity for caps (something I don’t have an issue with since I went through a beanie and Von Dutch phase myself) Then there’s her apartment, the place where we’ve had so many parties in…where we had our drinking games (me and the other guys of course, Hui Min doesn’t drink..no siree) Then there’s her ABSOLUTE reluctance to attend university balls. “Waste of money she says” Then there’s also her ABSOLUTELY high requirements in order for her to go. I’m not sure if I got it all, but some of them include
1) The guy coming over in a limo
2) He has to pay for her ball ticket
Yea..that’s enough, because remembering that we’re all poor uni students, the guy who has enough cash to do that, well..he’ll have to be a mini bill gates.
Heh..all in all, it was fun to have had several ‘memorable’ conversations with her.

If I had to watch a movie with her: Heh..it wouldn’t be a movie, but I should’ve watched Black Milk with her :P!!
Evil deeds: Denying her right to go for a FINAL YEAR UNIVERSITY BALL
She has: to go for the FRIGGIN ball

Nursi’arni’

I remember Evi introducing me to her group of Indonesian friends…hehe…it was after mechanics class, and she brought me to meet Yoho and Nursi. At that time, I already found Yoho annoying….o O..I remember he kept on saying this phrase “Free your mind…”…..sigh…anyways…sorry..this is suppose to be about arni..hehe…she never let me call her that…such unfairness…><
But yea, for someone who can’t stand stupidity, I have to admire how she manages to tolerate my lameness and annoying tendencies….I always say how come she can take it when Yoho does the same things…such unfairness ><
LOL..okok…in all FAIRNESS, she’s a good friend. Letting me drop by her ‘city apartment’ and using her phone, letting me use it as an emergency backpackers in the event that I’m ‘unfit’ to man a vehicle…yea..I only hope she has enough patience to work with me in our yearlong project. I have to admit though, she's been a really good friend.

If I had to watch a movie with her: Gee..don’t think I can..:( She only watches movies with Michelle
Evil deeds: Being fierce. (Though I don’t blame her)
She has: to not be so fierce

Evilia

Lol, she still remembers the day I tried to help her in our Mechanics class in our first year. Were my intentions noble? OF COURSE!!!I didn’t know the meaning of buaya back then!

My flatmate of 2 months in Invercargill, we had our ups and downs. She was nice enough to bring me to the aviary in the park even though she had already been there. And it was also there, that behind that innocent face..lies a devious and cunning person. At the water park, after getting me in position, she quickly ran to the opposite water pistol and shot me! I didn’t see that one coming and spent the whole day in town with wet clothes….ahh…now that I think about it…perhaps she wanted a wet t-shirt competition………

What have I learnt about her in Invercargill? That 12 hour shifts starve anyone! And with her, gobbling down her food when she gets back induces her to hiccup. A very unique hiccup if I must say.

And I think she believes my car is jinxed and I don’t blame her. I’ll buy a new one someday when I’m an engineer.

If I had to watch a movie with her: I wouldn’t. Her boyfriend’s name is Rex. Nuff’ said
Evil deeds: Wetting my t-shirt. (Though I don’t blame her)
She has: To be shot

Yoho aka Yohoney

The guy who at least has a girl friend whom gets mad when he tries to be dodgy with me (unlike the kennet). There are too many ‘weird’ moments with him. Moments recorded on Kenneth’s annoying phone. Reward to the person who can retrieve that footage from him.

My philosophy buddy, and at that time..the Subway guy. When philosophy lectures got too boring, we retreated to our imagination and made wonderful works on art with only our pen and our coursebook paper. I will forever remember that we were taught philosophy by a lady who openly scratched her bum in front of a lecture hall filled with students. Hehe…Yoho also tried to hook me up with this girl. So nice of him.

Someone who should be there when we go clubbing. He knows which clubs to go to (Even the gay ones) To this day I wonder how he found out about that place.

If I had to watch a movie with him: Brokeback Mountain (He’ll be in the same cinema as Kenneth)
Evil Deeds: Kancho and Dodgedick
He has: To be neutered..yes...less hormones means less dodgedick

Kenneth aka Kennett aka Ennis

The guy who likes to touch me…literally. His excuse, “I’m from Civil Engineering!” And Cindy’s OK with it too. Sigh

Michael Jackson has a huge impact on him. In what way, I don’t know. And I’ll remember him for the stick figures he likes to draw…stick figures with tummies. I’ll also remember the time he drove on the wrong side of the road for 200 m to avoid queuing at the traffic lights.

I had fun too when he was a disabled and he couldn’t walk…lol….I’m not ALWAYS inconsiderate towards people who limp. It’s just that it’s easier to annoy him and get away with it when he’s limping. He has a mad dog at home. Coco. Sometimes I can’t see it’s tongue for all the drool that has collected in its mouth. And to this day, it still barks at me!

If he had to watch a movie with me: Brokeback Mountain (But I’ll be in a different cinema)
His Evil deeds: Trying to set Coco free while I was putting on my shoes at his place.
He has: Got me drunk with the help of his parents. Yes, HIS PARENTS e.g. mom & dad.

Cindy aka Windy aka 2

[Cindy's on the left]
The kuching girl, fiercely protective of her homeland, she’s one of the first few people who was introduced to me in my first year. Ever forgetful and habitually leaves things behind e.g. calculators, folders, sunnies..etc. Someone whom I’m not afraid to be kiddy-like around, I mean….no one else knows how I push the trolley down the ramp in Countdown pakuranga.

She has one of the finest collections of photographs around for someone who rarely brings her digital camera. I’d love to visit her 20 years from now and browse through all those Kodak moments, reliving the moments of stupidity and fun when the group was out and about.

Is her favourite phrase: “Wanna go shopping?” To Diane, that’s an invitation, to some guys, well…hehe. I admire her for her stamina though. And the will to look good in the outfit she decides buy, that’s something I have to learn from her. If I had an hour to buy something I like, I’d bring her and Michelle. I can’t make decisions myself when it comes to buying clothes, or shoes, or sunnies.

Like the other people who know me, we’ve had our misunderstandings, and I’m glad they were discussed. It would be wishful thinking to keep in touch with her. But I’m still gonna make that wish.

Oh, and she drives as fast. Almost as fast as her ‘ling’.

If I had to watch a movie with her: Zoolander or Notebook
Her Evil deeds: When she offered me a potato and told me it was an apple and I believed her.
She has: Been sent off on a modelling career.