Marina’s Bloggariffic

I am constantly amazed at how some things that happens purely online could affect me so much. Consider this. You are sitting at your computer. The other person is sitting over at their computer. There are absolutely no physical contact with each other. All the information being sent to each other are related to each other digitally.

And yet, in between all these, one bonds with each other and genuine emotions grow. This interesting cyber-life where we go to, where there is no sense of touch, no feel and yet, incredibly able to touch each other in other way, one’s heart.

I felt gladness when dynatec and geri passed their studies. Gladness when dismay found a wonderful person to have as a partner. Gladness when Zozee found happiness with lion, a man whom she’s been with ever since I knew her.

I felt disgust when there were drama posts back while I was addicted to neopets and especially at a middle aged man who was an attention seeker in a largely children populated site. Can you imagine this situation? Countless spams of how “clever” and “rich” he was and nonsensical attention seeking posts. This, a 32 year old man in an impressionable website full of 10 - 15 year olds. Well, one thing good about him was how entertaining he was though, spawning different stories day by day. The soap opera that I did not have to watch on television.

I felt sadness upon hearing the death of Undercore and Glonan. Both of which has touched my life back in cybertown, a community that I was part of for a while. Undercore was friendly and never made me feel like I was a dumb newbie while I started out. Even though he was of a high rank (residents in cybertown went by ranks during those days, one can start out as a block deputy and rise up to mayor if one could make it)he was friendly to everyone.

avatar of undercore

Undercore was gone too soon. He went driving and a drunk driver rammed up to his jeep and killed him instantly. Undercore was only 17.

I cant remember how I met Glonan, but I remembered how wonderful she was. We only met briefly when I was less than a month old in cybertown. She noticed that I loved faeries very much and gave me a faerie painting as a gift. The fact that she remembered it was touching and I knew that this was a wonderful person to be friends with. I learnt that was a retiree, she usually lives alone in alaska. This strong, amazing woman who would climb hills to chop firewood when she is strong enough, and though she grew weaker, continued to do odd jobs around the house.

She was always so nice to me and everyone around her. She offered to make me real life crafts. I had to say no, I couldnt accept such niceties like that. She insisted, saying that it will be something to remember me by.

For a while, I didnt understand what she meant by that.

I got a package in the post and received a pair of earrings that she crafted. I thanked her profusely and marvelled again and again at how this creation, crafted by a real life person,that I know of, on the other side of the world, crafted by hand is now in my posession.

“I’m going to make you shorts next,what size are you?”
“Uhh … I’m size M … but you really dont have to glonan, you did so many nice things for me already”
“nonsense! I like making things, hun”

That was the last conversation I had with her. I never seen her online for a few weeks and then I heard from her daughter announcing online that she’s passed away and has given in to her disease. She will be missed, so much. I still think about her,this charming, wonderful lady who loves to call me hun.

So in retrospective, I should not be surprised that I feel emotionally distraught with someone that I cared for very much was feeling bad about himself. I’m still surprised though. It could be a miscommunication. It could be my part on being hyper-sensitive. It could also just be bad timing. But I feel bad when he feels bad. And what made me upset about the whole situation is how helpless I am about it all. I cant do anything about it. I cant stand this helplessness. I cant.

I went to work late yesterday. Somehow or another, I felt so tired that I fell asleep right after I showered (thats a first for me)Anyhow, I was supposed to reach there at 1pm at the very latest but when I reached there, it was deserted, and quiet and there I was shuffling around with an umbrella, feeling very cold.

I didnt see anyone apart from two visitors who looked kind of lost. I saw the discipline master, Mr Parmjit walking around. We made small chat.

Mr Parmjit : What are you doing here, Marina?
me : Oh no, I’m too late!
Mr Parmjit : Everyone’s left
me : Are you going too?
Mr Parmjit : No, I’ll be staying here. I’m locking the school. No point for you to stay here
me : Ok. Bye.

That was when I saw Zurainah, the Art teacher trainee walking down. We were both surprised to see each other.

me : Z! What are you doing here?
Z : I was locked in the art room!
me : So how now?
Z : Shall we go to the guild house?
me : Oh, I dont know, what do you think?
Z : Its up to you
me : Oh, I dont mind, what do you think?
Z : I dont mind either

Zurainah started talking to the two visitors and I found out that they were the ones moderating Z. They offered a lift from the cab that they just hired. I was a little hesitant. But when the lady said “I’ll be offended if you didnt!” Oh okay then.

In the cab, Z and me contemplated.

Me : So how will we be going to Suntec?
Z : how about the train?
Me : Oh, I dont mind
Z : But train is very long journey
Me : Or we could take the bus
Z : I dont mind
Me : Its okay with me
Lady Visitor : Make up your minds! We’re already at the train station!

Z and m : We think we’ll take another cab!

*chuckles*

Anyways, I think Z is a very interesting person. She’s always very animated and fun loving. She has this infectious enthusiasm that I find so refreshing. Its nice that she’s very friendly too.

Its funny how a number of students mistake me for her. We both have shoulder length hair. I have almost straight hair. We both wear glasses. We both like chunky watches and we both love green too!

I’ll let you judge

Selvi (in brown) and Narimah (in red) at the back, Z (in green) and me in black

Anyhow, back in the cab, we reached Suntec some while later and we went next to Carrefour to take the lift to the fifth floor. The entrance looked pretty classy (this is my only chance I’d ever see a place like this I reckon, since its highly doubtful that I’d join the NIE Teaching force). The lobby looked reminiscent of a 4 star class hotel.

Anyways, I had my lunch which Waheeda and Narimah complained was not tasty enough. Personally I was surprised that I had rice with soy sauce, and boiled cabbages … it reminded me of the food whilst I had in kindergarden … But the roasted chicken was good, so I ate that with relish

Linda handed me some yummy baked cheese and potatoes later on … mmmm … delightful *slurp*

Thats Linda on the left, I realise now how bad my camera looks like in the dark no amount of photochopping will help.

I went to one of the Karaoke Rooms after lunch. I’m glad I brought along my camera. though picture quality isnt that great, at least its something.

Visual proof that Karaoke vid clips never go with the song

sure … she’ll listen to stone for sure …

but first, I’ll have to build a wall with these beads here on the floor

Honey, I still havent decided what type of wall to build yet

Linda : Oh God. Karaoke Vid Clips. The horror!

But needless to say, I had fun. Its good to have crazy stuff to point and laugh to. I had to laugh when Rudie, a math teacher, was singing falsetto to a Bee Gees song. I cant stop laughing when Shaheedah was quipping in while I was singing.

When I was young … (you’re still young, marina)
I never needed anyone … (But you still need me!)
And making love, was just for fun …(OOOOOH Marina!)

I made Rudie sing “Amigos Para Siempre” which was an operettic song. Too funny. I realised that he was singing the girl part and I was singing the male. I purposely made my voice deep and thrilled the R’s

Aaaaamiiigoooosss Paaarrrrrrrrrra siemmmmmprrrrreee. You will always be my frrrrrrrriend. Frrrrrrriends for life not just the summer or the sssssprrrrring …

My stomach hurt from all the laughing.

Anyways, I was amazed that Amanda, one of the top ex student, who joined us, was very good at singing. She sang wonderfully and was game to join in all the silly antics that we did. I wonder if she has a lower opinion of us now … *chuckles*

I had to leave earlier than I wanted to since I had night classes. But I really had a good time, on friday.