gh last supper!

Writer: Adriel Leong
Photos: JK
Editor: Ong Qing Liang

It was 9.10pm, on a Wednesday evening, the author was walking towards the tennis courts when he heard the loud exclamations of ”SUPPER SUPPER!!”, resounding from the corridors of the G and H blocks. When voice power failed to draw the residents out, the block committee then unleashed a microphone, and one by one, we saw the residents trooping towards the ‘G-Spot’ on G4, just like ants crawling towards sugar. Within minutes, lyrics of ‘And gives you hell, gives you hell, gives you hell’ by the All American Rejects was playing in the background, and we knew that a supper, the last supper of the Semester for GH Block, was getting started.
 
Upon reaching the G Spot, I was greeted by numerous members of the GH Block Committee, dressed in White T-shirts, with a bow tie and a moustache, looking rather cutely similar to those of the Monopoly Man, tying in perfectly with the theme of the night as ‘GH Monopoly, Supper edition’, complete with a black board which made ‘G-spot’ at that moment seem like Minds Café.

the gh block committee!

Desmond Kwan, the MC for the night, soon got the ball rolling, by inviting the blockers to feast on the delicious and savoury chocolate fondue, vanilla ice cream and brownies, and pasta (which the author also had the chance to partake, due to the generosity of the GH block committee), which was quickly tackled and flying off the table in fast responses.
 

bustling with activity

Soon, it was time for the highlight of the evening: the monopoly game itself! The rules were simple, as with the Macdonalds monopoly format, the residents had to collect game labels, which could be sorted to 3 different categories. The first were property labels, of which 8 unique ones were to be collected – the top prize of a $50 being awarded to the first resident/team that collected all different labels. The second were instant win prizes, of which 10 different varieties were up for grabs which included extremely attractive prizes such as ‘Hot Stuff’ (MacDonalds Garlic Chilli Sauce) and the mysterious ‘PAD’ (which rather than the PAD we were all thinking, turned out to be a Memo Pad instead) and lastly ‘thank you for participating’ labels. Of course, as with all games, strategy could also be applied to this game, and the blockers could group together and pool their labels together, to form the desired 8 combination, whilst similarly fostering cohesion amongst the blockers. Here are some of the labels!

 

scrambling to gather all the labels

After approximately 20 minutes of frantic alliances and backstabings, which could rival those of Survivor, it was ultimately down to 2 camps, who could claim the ultimate prize, Ding Wen vs. Ek Theng! Both had collected all different 8 labels, and had to undergo a tie breaker to settle the conflict. JK, the block head, had decided that whichever camp had collected the most Hello Panda labels, a bonus label, would be declared the winner of the GH Monopoly challenge!
 
After an eventful 5 minutes which truly brought out the best and worst in human nature, along with a lot of other backstabbing and alliances, Jiani (a new alliance leader), had finally won the challenge, by producing 7 Hello Panda stickers, compared to Ding Wen’s count of 0. It was later revealed that Wan Lee, had also collected a rather substantial amount of Hello Panda stickers, and could have merged with Ding Wen, to claim the ULTIMATE PRIZE, but unfortunately chose not to do so – further escaberting the already present rivalry brewing between G3 and G4 blockers.

winners of the night!

Finally, it was time to call it a night!  With the conclusion of the prize giving, numerous smiles and Thank Yous were exchanged, and it was certainly an effect to wash away the exam blues! Kudos to the GH block committee for such a job well done! 

gh!

exam welfare supper

By: Juin Shion

Photos: Juin Shiong

The 12^th of November 2009 lies upon the brink of a gaping void that yawns before us, a stretch of dates which are also lovingly termed as “End of Semester Exams”. As the frenzy of studying heightens in its intensity (I judge by the number of times I am asked how close my exams are on the occasional trip to the loo), I mark this highly important date down in my calendar with the words “Exam Supper”.  Graciously prepared by the Welfare Committee, the Exam Welfare Supper is the biannual calm before the storm of the examinations, and a signal to all that the end of the semester is nigh. However, though the tradition perpetuates through the years, the question remains whether or not the food provided this year will stand up to KEViians’ standards, and if the spread will satisfy or disappoint. Brushing off visions of unidentifiable comestibles with the consistency of mushy cardboard, I pause from my crepuscular habits to take a look for myself.

 

Welfare Team, good to go!

 

 

 

The “Fun” Pose!

 

Welfare Team in Action!

 

 

 

At precisely 10.00pm, the doors to the dining hall fling wide open, admitting hordes of KEViians to the much awaited supper. As the crowds descend ravenously, the Welfare Committee servers stand poised with tongs in one hand, the other hand outstretched and ready to receive the plain plastic plates, and a wide smile on their faces that stretches from ear to ear. I position myself at a vantage point on one of the many countless communal tables, observing the brightly-lit eyes, the hands lifted in supplication, and the grateful smile on each person’s tired face as he is served his share.

So far, so good.

 

A half second after this picture was taken, everything vanished!

Avik is struck by the realisation that he didn’t finish revising before coming down for supper!

 

In ten minutes, a queue forms up in almost no time over steaming hot mounds of nuggets and delicate cream puffs begging to be eaten, and the throng of people presses forward ever eagerly as their eyes scan for the slightest hint of the food running out. As an empty serving box is discreetly nudged away, all eyes follow to see if the box will be replaced by another (it isn’t). The Welfare Committee are now working at triple speed to supply the multitude of hands that reach out, and yet, the food never does seem to run out as more and more trays filled with cream puffs and cakes are revealed the moment a tray is finished. While the line of people waiting stretches and twists about like a snake threatening to devour its own tail, I take the opportunity to slip in an interview with a KEVIIan already munching on his hard earned share. “The food is so succulent”, he gushes between mouthfuls of golden brown nuggets. “I mean look at this, man: the juice just flows out!”. I leave him to his private moment of ecstasy, nodding quietly in agreement as I wander around the hall.

 

A bit of fun on the wild side!

 

Elsewhere, as fingerfuls of fragrant chicken are gobbled down amidst hearty conversation and the aroma of food, I hear snatches of conversations amidst the hubbub of voices from the different residents.  True enough, all are about the upcoming exams, and to the extent of whether one is prepared for it or not. I overhear a modest complaint proposed by my neighbour to the ringing laughter of his peers: “They say that the final test for the module is very easy… But they only say that after spending 3 hours after midnight studying for the module and getting a C+! Some more I choose the module after hearing about how easy it is! Wah lao!”. At the next table, booming laughter rings out from a group of KEVIIans after one of their companions returns, red faced, with a second plate laden to the brim with food. “Hungry”, he sheepishly announces to nobody in particular. As they marvel at his gastronomic capacity, I attempt to rescue the hapless fellow from the jibes of his friends by interrupting them to ask him about his opinion of the supper. “It’s a real help during the exams”, he perks up brightly. “I hope I can have this kind of supper everyday instead!!”. As gales of laughter break out again, I take my leave with the jovial grins of his friends and his crimson stained face imprinted in my mind.

 

A hungry man is an angry man! – Old English Saying

 

 

Half an hour later, as the crowd of a hundred or so people disperses and as many slip into the night after bidding farewell, the night ends on a quietly victorious note, with undergraduates retreating to their rooms satiated and well-fueled to study on further into the night. Truly, the ability of this welfare supper to bring together strangers in the hall and to connect them in the face of adversity shows just how much of a success it is in helping people to manage the stress of the impending exams. Special mention goes to the long communal tables, which definitely add to the ambience of brotherly fraternity and help to encourage conversation among KEVIIans yet to meet each other.

Finally, kudos to the Welfare Committee for creating a most praiseworthy meal which satisfies both in terms of food and company!

ET – Entertainment in Toilets today

Writer: Loraine Ong
Editor: Benjamin Lim

Do you need an entertainment break from studying too much and too hard lately? Or are you bored of the old, rustic look of KEVII and want something more? You can now enjoy that at a toilet near you! In the guys’ D2 toilet, you can choose to enter the world of “Harry Potter”, or “Star Whores”, just by reading the make-believes. Some stories even bring the interested reader into an entirely different time period; like one of “Jackula”…

The writer personally witnessed this different ‘world’ at the seventh Jackula hour (10pm) on 6^th November, 2009. It took her breath away, partly because of the intrigue at what some D1 and D2 guys had penned down on a stolen poster from a library, and partly due to the stench of urine from the cubicle.

Isn’t it very creative of the guys to kill 2 birds with one stone when they go to the toilet? They can both relieve themselves and add some entertainment to their lives. If you doubt the hilarity of this storyboard, the writer can personally vouch that she had a really good laugh after reading it. The plain poster that reminds the “Gentlemen” of D block (there is only one toilet for the men in this block) to aim properly into the toilet bowl was very capably converted into an anthology of stories!

For those of you interested to find out more, do be advised that the board is very explicit and may offend the more conservative people out there.

Another noteworthy lavatory display device, henceforth called LDD, came from the C2 female toilet. The person who made this handwritten, hand-drawn notice must have had a personal vendetta against foreign bodily fluids. Look at the number of angry faces she drew!

The West Wing also has interesting LDDs..

Have a look at the above, taken from the F2 guys’ toilet. Though I imagine the more literarily inclined readers would have quite a lot to comment about the literary ability of the humble toilet bowl, one must applaud the absolute civility of our longsuffering friend, considering the treatment he receives.

This LDD seems to suggest that guys in GH are shorter than they think, though it is not clear which length this is referring to =p. However, the writer is quite certain this has to do with physical stature =).

Remember, the next time you feel bored and need some entertainment, feel free to take a leak at these toilets. You will be as entertained as your bladder will be relieved.

ab last supper!

Writer: Ginny Quek
Photos: Deborah Wong
Editor: Ong Qing Liang

AB Block had its last supper for the semester on Monday and it was very aptly named ”The Last Supper”. There was no Halloween theme involved which seemed to be the main theme that most of the other blocks were revolving around so it was a refreshing change! Although I suppose some might argue that it might make the supper seem too mundane. However, any lack of theme was soon made up for by the feast that was spread out in front of our eyes.

ab block head, eddie, declaring the supper open!

tasty nuggets!

golden brown hashbrowns

ice cream!

There was indeed a wide variety of food available, and in abundant quantities too! Just to name a few dishes, there was pasta, potato salad, fried finger food, prata sausage (which was really tasty!), sandwiches as well as jelly and fruits for dessert to complete the scrumptious menu! The AB block committee had truly outdone themselves this time round.The amount of effort that must have been put in by the block committee to prepare all this food must have been huge, judging by the quality of the food! Here’s a sneak peak at what went on behind the scenes!

power of teamwork - 8 hands to open 1 can!

why the potato salad ended up looking up like mashed potato

super pro watermelon cutter

oops!

However, owing to the fact that many of the residents were busy with the photoshoot and numerous CCA trainings that were ongoing at the same time, the turnout was lesser than expected. But still, there was a good turnout with about two-third of the residents coming down to enjoy the supper. We also had some unexpected guests from CD block whom we warmly welcomed. After all, we’re all from the East Wing family!

food makes ppl happy!

more happy faces!

After the supper, there was still some food left so we shared the love with the Hallplay set builders and photo committee people who had been hard at work the whole night to thank them for their efforts. The gesture was definitely very well-received and both groups welcomed the treat with open arms (or rather, mouths). All in all, it was a heart-warming and cosy supper which was an excellent way to end off the activities of Semester 1! Now, everybody will be settling in to mug so good luck to all and have fun preparing for the finals!

cd dessert night!

Writer: Ashish
Editor: Ong Qing Liang

CD Dessert Night took place on a cool, Tuesday night, kicking off at 10pm. Many CD blockers came down, all dressed in their new CD block shirts for this year. Amidst the sea of yellow, you could just make out the colourful sweets that the block committee had provided the gathering with. Leaving no effort wanting, the block committee presented an extravagant menu for all to indulge in. The premiun selection for the evening included the following palatable items; soursop drink, chocolate cream puffs, jelly, Sara Lee cheesecake, raspberry cakes and ice cream! However, the star dishes of the night were undisputedbly Jordan’s “extra creamy” salad and banana with melted chocolate.

food!

more food!

These last 2 dishes, though popular, required a lot of effort from the block committee. It took over an hour for Jordan just to make his special salad.! Even though I pestered the chef for details regarding his recipe, he would not budge. In the end, the only info I managed to dig out was that the salad is a mixture of fruits cocktail, peaches, nata de coco, grapes, banana and coconut with cream.

The story behind the banana topped with chocolate is also quite interesting. According to a reliable source, the guys first attempted to melt the chocolate but unfortunately, they used a wrong method to melt it and the chocolate actually turned lumpy! The chocolate seemed destined for the dustbin when Nicholas, the vice block head, wanted to throw it away, thinking that it was spoilt. However, by a miraculous stroke of luck (or rather, due to the greedy taste buds of some), the chocolate was saved from the dustbin when some of the cooks tasted it and actually liked it! I guess CD blockers can only thank their lucky stars as had the dish been thrown away, a great culinary experience would have been denied to all!!

ice cream murder!

past and present block heads

The event culminated at 11pm, with all blockers having satisfied the sweet tooth in them. It was a refreshing experience seeing so many blockers turn up to de-stress and hang out with fellow blockers. Thank you CD block committee for such a wonderful evening!

cd block!

 

NUS Student Achievement Award Ceremony 2009

Written by: Adrian Chia

Photos by: Adrian Chia

Congratulations to the 11^th Xing Qing Rong Ji (XQRJ) Organising Committee and the Rag & Flag Committee 2008/09 for winning the prestigious awards!

11th XQRJ

Aik Leong representing the Rag & Flag Committee

On 30^th October 2009, the NUS Student Achievement Award Ceremony was held at the Heng Mui Keng Auditorium. An annual event aimed at giving recognition to exceptional individual students or student groups who have made noteworthy contributions to activities outside of their academic curriculum and brought honour to the University, it was certainly a glorious feat for KEVII Hall to be represented by the two committees above. XQRJ received the award under the Arts and Culture category – a recognition to their long-running accomplishments in bringing cultural and dynamic vibrancy to the University. On the other hand, the Rag & Flag Committee was honoured under the Community Projects’ category for its unwavering support of the NUSSU Rag & Flag.

At 4.45pm, a few XQRJ members, all very smartly dressed, were spotted outside the Main Lounge, eagerly waiting for their other colleagues to arrive. The mood was clearly a celebratory and cheerful one, as it was also their gathering after a long time since they last got together as a committee. When they reached the venue, it was already teeming with many student leaders, award winners and guests. After a rather long wait, the event finally got underway with the arrival of NUS President, Prof. Tan Chorh Chuan, who was the Guest of Honour. In his speech, Prof. Tan highlighted the importance of participating in co-curricular activities, which make one’s eduction much more holistic and complete. Several notable individuals who attained highly acclaimed prizes in international competitions were also given special mention.

The award presentation proceeded next and various student groups and individuals took turns to receive their awards from the President. It was definitely a jubilant moment for the award recipients as the beaming smiles on their faces clearly showed their sense of accomplishment. What followed next certainly made everyone even happier, as they were treated to a buffet dinner! Over the food and drinks, many individuals also took the opportunity to network with one another. However, more importantly it was the perfect occasion to capture all the glam and glory in the form of photos!

Receiving the award from Prof. Tan

A shot with Hall Master

Yummy!!

According to Aik Leong, “passion” and “dedication” were the two most important elements for a committee’s success. Be it Rag or Flag, “[when] it came down to the grind, the sweat and toil of every single member, who sacrificed their vacation to give their all to the cause, was the key factor in the success”. Similarly in XQRJ, their achievement would not have been possible without all the hard work put in. Once again, congratulations to the two committees and hopefully, KEVII Hall will continue to be represented in next year’s edition of the ceremony!

CD Halloween Night

Writer: Ng Sze Hwee
Photos: Zhang Jiyuan
Editor: Ong Qing Liang

It was a dark, hazy and serene night. Everything seemed exceptionally peaceful, seemingly serving as a prelude to the gloomy forecast for the night. What you are going to see is not for the faint-hearted definitely. Are you ready?

Sadako pays a visit to CD

Sadako and her friends

The creatures started their haunting at around 8.30pm, creeping along the corridors of CD, knocking on blockers’ doors and scaring the wits out of unsuspecting blockers who opened the door. Toilet-goers were not spared either. The monsters hid outside the toilets, pouncing on exiting toilet-goers. Well, luckily the victims had already relieved themselves. Otherwise, I guess the uncle will have a hard time cleaning up the results of uncontrolled bladder action the following day. The responses were varied and priceless—Some were so scared that they slammed the door after giving a high-pitched “Ahhhhh”; some stoned while looking at the enthusiastic monsters, while some laughed with them. The scaring continued as the block committee members went randomly down CD block to look for more potential victims.

As the clock struck 10pm, another scream was heard. “HALLOWEEN… CD Halloween!!!!” It was a call for the blockers to go down to the lounge for supper.

The lounge was intricately decorated with dangling bats and spooky music filled the room, creating the perfect eerie atmosphere. When everyone had arrived, the night started with the first game: ”The Word Search Puzzle” . Blockers were split into different groups and competed to complete the search for 20 over words in a pile of jumbled up words and letters. I must admit this was one of the hardest word search puzzles I had ever come across. However, with our unwavering determination and strong team work, my team emerged champion! And, we won 2 puppets!

CD blockers engrossed in the word search

Sweet victory!

Next up, we had some food. However, the amount of food was unusually little this time round. As we were wondering why there was so little food, Terence announced the start of the next game: “The Bid For Food”. All of us were divided into 2 teams (A and B), with ) and had to bid for 7 items with the “Halloween bills” ($100 each) pasted on our doors. Team A, having brought down all their “Halloween bills”, naturally had more spending power. The 7 items were unknown to us but a clue was given as to what they could be. The identity of the item was only revealed after the bid was final and the catch was: the team who won the bid had to FINISH ALL the food, regardless of what the food was or how bad (or good) it  tasted. And here’s the menu for the night…

Item 1: Dragon’s poo. Something sweet.

Final bid: $200

Winning team: Team A

What it was: Cupcakes with M&M’s chocolate! Yummy!

Dragon's Poo!

Item 2: Vampire’s blood

Final bid: $200

Winning team: Team B

What it was: Tomato juice

Team B sharing the Vampire's Blood

Item 3: Rancid goo

Final bid: $700 (Note: this made team B even poorer)

Winning team: Team B

What it was: Super sour Jelly! (haha! )

Cringing face

Item 4: Old scream

Final bid: $1000

Winning team: Team A

What it was: Oreo with the creamy side-up, topped with M&Ms.

Item 5: Blue balls

Final bid $400

Winning team: Team A

What it was: Blue fishballs.

Blue balls

Item 6: Devil’s fruit

Final bid: $200

Winning team: Team A

What it was: Dragon fruit with wasabi (yucky hot…)

Item 7: Witch’s potion

Final bid: $1200

Winning team: Team A (the richer group! Team B lost as they had no more money!)

What it wa: GINGER BEER. Cheers to our victory!

All in all, it was a memorable Halloween party especially as one bottle of ginger beer ‘exploded’, ending the night with a ‘Boomz’. Happy Halloween!

f block halloween supper

Writer: Jonathan Chan
Photos: Kelvin Anggara & Lee Khar Suan

KE Press: “So Cun Zhi, tell KE Press why you organized this event?”

Cun Zhi: “Uh. To enrich the life of F-blockers”

This simple answer from one of F-block’s most well known Block Committee members, in charge of this project, belied the effort and energy put into the production of F-block’s Halloween Supper, as the Monday night event once again allowed the F-blockers to interact and have fun.

On that night, I was studying half-heartedly and keeping an ear out for the sounds which would indicate the start of F-block’s Halloween Supper. Two doors down, Adrian must have been keeping a similar vigil, because we heard a clang and a few crashing noises from the balcony, thought it was some special sound effects that the Block Comm had come up with for the occasion, and so rushed down to the F3 rooftop only to discover preparations were still underway during which someone had dropped a heavy metallic object. An anti-climax to be sure, but it underlined the motor reflex which connects the typical KEVIIan’s stomach and legs.

Sure enough, 20 minutes later, the familiar yells of “F-BLOCK SUUUUUUPPERRRRRR” floated through the night air as Hazel, Mae Yue and company performed their usual laryngeal calisthenics. I pulled on my “Blue Blood” F-block shirt and headed back down the stairs.

A figure with a ghostly white face met me on the F4 fire escape. I blinked at the apparition before the ponytail which flicked around its shoulders identified itself as Jeana who was heading to the pantry. I looked over the railing and watched in slight incredulity at the sight of artificial cobwebs trailing down to the balcony, where numerous white-faced F-block comm members were gathered. The night air was filled with howls, moans and other other-wordly noises as Khar Suan’s laptop and the tracks it contained did its own bit to build up the atmosphere. Hui Shan bounded around, brandishing a paintbrush with white face paint. “Jon Chan! Want paint? MARK! You have no paint! COME HERE!”

Hui Shan wielding her paintbrush

F-blockers enjoying supper

Andy displays a creative design on his face

KE Press: “Tell me something interesting about the supper?”

Cun Zhi: “We had a lot of fun with the face paint. Everyone took turns to draw on each other’s faces, and everyone managed to express their creative side for once. The Halloween games also lah. Some people were made to drink some sick stuff”

The game in question was a modification of the traditional trick or treat. Led by a ghostly and rather vindictive Mae Yue, brave F-blockers stepped up to draw a coupon from a box which would either allow them to gain a free piece of pizza (albeit with painted faces), or drink the afore-mentioned “sick stuff”, itself a mixture of blended carrots, tomatoes and celery. And one by one they did, to the yells and cheers of the watching crowd.

Ching Tze preparing the "sick stuff"

And of course, there was food! Chicken nuggets, sticks of fruit, noodles, the usual potato chips and a fizzy F-block love potion were all up for grabs. The blue-clad F-blockers quickly swept through the line of food, happily eating and talking.

Chin Ee: We also had fun making the watermelon

Cun Zhi: Yea we made a Jack-o-watermelon

Mae Yue: Though one committed suicide

Jack-o-watermelon

Of course, the more intricate decorations had to be acknowledged too. A lovingly-carved pair of Jack-O-Watermelons were made by the block comm, though one took a jump off the balcony and ended up as a squishy red heap at the bottom of F-block. These were put to good use, as evidenced by the Block Comm member depicted below.

The supper wound down to a rousing toast from the massed F-blockers. As everyone let the fizzy juice wash down the food from the night, one had to admit that the night’s activity really fulfilled F-block’s reputation of Fun, Food, and most importantly, Family.

A toast to end the night

Happy F-blockers

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Sien Long

By: Wang Liansheng

Photos: Sien Long

It was euphoria for all when the KE Float was awarded “Best Rag Performance” and “Most Environmentally-Friendly Float”. The entire hall was absolutely beaming with pride over such awesome accolades – something we had desired for so long, and finally achieved this year. Months after the hard work, KE Press now turns to the heroes behind the scenes to hear their secrets to success, and find out all the juicy gossip they have to share. For this article, we have Sien Long, from the RAG team.

Thumbs up for KEVII! Sien Long is first from the left.

Q: For our audience, introduce yourself briefly!

A: Hello, the name’s Sien Long, a typical year 2 Food Science & Technology (FST) student who enjoys eating, playing but not mugging =) On top of that, this insomniac loves running, music, milk, and good food. And one thing I’d want to clarify that is its Sien Long and not Hsien Loong, they might sound the same but totally different persons.

Q: So what was the special, critical role you took on in Float?

A: I was the production manager (PM) of this year’s KEVII Float – KEnovo. I believe the “critical” role in float is not mine but those of each and every KEnovo floater that formed this incredible team, but I do admit that the PM is a special role because you are one of the only 2 who can get the kick of directing the float lorry during Rag Day itself =D

Q: Share with us what you thought was the most outstanding part of Float this year.

A: The most amazing part of this year’s float is basically the tremendous effort of the people behind KEnovo who made this happen. Whether it is ROCKE or the new blood of KEVIIans this year, I would like to thank every form of support you all have given.

Apart from that, I want to give a thumbs up to all KEnovo floaters. We walked out of our comfort zone this year and went all the way with such a daring and impossible float design. We’ve been through times when all the odds were against us, from a lag of 2 weeks behind production schedule to even lorry battery failure. I still remember this quote of a senior, “everyday in the morning when I enter the tentage, I see a different float”. I’ve seen my team conjure up countless miracles which brought us back on schedule especially the construction of Willy himself during the final few weeks of production.

Introducing the workers behind the scenes

Q: Time to confess, what was the most unforgettable snippet of event that happened during Rag? Any person left an indelible mark in your life? =)

A: The most unforgettable moment for me and every single KEnovo floater is when we marched our float gloriously into SRC on mounting night with our KE Chant deafening all the other Halls and Faculties. I believe those who were present on mounting night itself will definitely remember that moment for a lifetime.

P.S. : And the number of McD Deliverys we had =p

Q: What words of wisdom would you offer those interested to take on the time-consuming yet extremely rewarding Float next year? Any suggestions for next year’s theme or design?

A: If you want it, go all the way! It is not just a time when you don’t have to worry about studies and commit fully to a hall CCA, not just the time that you are upfront on the battlefield for your hall, but also a time to enjoy and make many friends of a lifetime. But always remember, dare to dream and don’t constrain yourself to the traditions of KE7, be bold in your design and carry on that “New Beginning” that KEnovo has brought

Q: Was it tough juggling work and hall activities for you? How was it possible for you to overcome all these problems?

A: Not as tough as one could imagine, some activities towards the end of semester 2, but other than that all I had to manage was the home sickness throughout the holidays. Thanks to all the support of friends and family, I survived =D

Q: Describe the days of post-float – Is it all back to studies and no more fun?

A: Definitely NO =p Though everyone is back to the normal semester life, we still get together often for birthday celebrations and gossip around on the potential couples of KEnovo haha. But its still amazing when you walk around hall and realize that even after float, those comrades who went through all the hardship with you are still alive, kicking, and fighting on for our Hall.

Q: Lastly, what’s up for you in the days to come?

A: Studies… and my other family – XQRJ of course =)

“Float is not just an activity, It is a way of life!”

“Once a floater, always a floater!”

Sien Long

PM KEnovo

Indeed, Sien Long has provided rare insights not only on being the Production Manager of KEnovo, but also several very interesting snippets on being a resident in KEVII. Now, who’s up for the job next year?

Internal Culture Night 2009

By: Akhilesh Narayan

Photos: Cao Ying and Zhou Shuo

Nine cultural groups, one night and an escape into the world of diverse cultures present in King Edward VII Hall. The 22^nd of October 2009 was a night filled with a variety of dances and songs, a drama, a movie and a very gripping display of martial arts, all of which gave shape to KE’s Internal Cultural Night. The emcees for the night were Asher and Lisa, who had a small skit of their own before every performance. They did not allow the audience to feel dull at any moment, while the stage crew propped the stage up for the next cultural group. The night was inaugurated by F Block Resident Fellow, Dr. Seow Teck Keong who announced to the audience that there was something extra special about this particular ICN.

There was a small opening ceremony which consisted of dancers, colourful curtains and very sensual and soothing music. It was just the right thing to calm everyone down before the burst of energy that would grip the entire Hall in the next few hours. And just as the calm music subsided and the dancers faded away, the KE Titans burst into the Comm Hall from what seemed to be literally every entrance. The cheerleaders in red and black brought along with them a thunderous applause and an immense amount of KE spirit as they charged towards the front of the Hall. This was the first ever performance by the KE Titans (Cheerleading Squad of KE) and boy, did they lift everyone’s spirits.

The opening ceremony dance

Go Titans!

This was followed by five songs that were composed by KEVIIANs themselves from Xinyao. The first song ‘Broken’ was in English, while the others ‘Shi Shu’, ‘Que Shui De Xln Qing’, ‘Zui Ling ‘Long’ and You ‘Zi Yin’ were in Chinese. Xinyao’s performance contained a variety of music ranging from archaic tunes to modern ones. Their compositions were very delicate and contained a lot of heart in them. This was followed by a tale of love in the form of some very different dancing styles in the first dance performance titled ‘Love Affair’. There were graceful and elegant moves happening on stage, behind stage and along the sides of the stage in this performance and they all received deafening appreciation from the audience.

A Love Affair

Beautiful singing...

The next performance was by Chinese Drama- ‘An Unexpected Valentine’s Day’. How bad can your Valentine’s Day be? Well the answer to that was provided by the very simple yet deep play. The protagonist gets thrown out of a bus because he gives up his seat to an apparently pregnant lady, he nearly gets beaten up by a hooligan for trying to look after the hooligan’s bicycle, he loses his girlfriend when he runs behind a woman to get his money back and he gets yelled at by a mother when he tries to lift a little girl’s (Dr. Seow Teck Keong’s daughter) spirits. Pretty bad, right? But the silver lining for the protagonist was when then little girl came running back and gave him her balloon. A small gesture of gratefulness can mean a lot. That was the moral of this story.

I want my money back...

Go Andy!

A Cappella has always given a very tranquil and blissful performance. There are no fancy gimmicks, just good old fashion beautiful music. They performed two songs which were very contrasting in nature showing the versatility of the group. ‘If’ and ‘Fire’, the two performances, displayed how music can in fact change the entire mood of a place. The most mesmerising fact about their performance was that they made it look effortless. Pop music has always been very peppy and dance inducing. The audience snapped their fingers and tapped their feet along with the dancers in their second performance of the night titled, ‘Those Pop Songs’. There was a praiseworthy moonwalk from either side of the stage that looked perfect. There was again a lot of energy in the dancers as they danced to these old, but popular numbers.

The harmonious voices of A Cappella

Fire indeed!

Looking good!

A short break for light refreshments and then we had the lucky draw prize winners announced. Then the KE band was welcomed with a thunderous applause. Six songs later the crowd was left begging for more. ‘Free Loop’, ‘Careless Whisper’ (by Seether), ‘Paralyser’, ‘Geek in the Pink’, ‘September’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ was the selection the band went with to turn the Comm Hall into a concert ground. There were mobile phones being raised in the air, people singing along and a lot of cheering, solos on the drums and guitar and loud rock music in everyone’s ears. There were no drugs and no sex, but the band rocked and rolled their way into the night.

Craig singing Careless Whisper

Look at him go...

The hooting after the band’s performance subsided, as the lights went off and the theme of Mission Impossible paved the way for ELnD’s movie ‘Camp KE’. The recession, Jack Sparrow, Super-man and Harry Potter brought themselves onto the screen along with NS. This was supposed to be an intense comedy, but due to the lack of subtitles, many of the funnier parts remained unnoticed. Despite this there was a roar of laughter from the audience when Gavin’s ahem… ‘R-rated’ scene came. Wonder what was so funny about that?

The third dance performance called ‘Haunting Dreams’ was a very unique one. As the name suggests, it had a very eerie feel to it. The music, the dancers, the costumes and the lighting all contributed to the effect of the song. The abstractness in this dance contrasted with the next dance performance called ‘Crazy Little Thing’. There were hats, girls in colourful clothes, guys in white shirts and jeans, glitter, light and a lot of colour that highlighted the excellence of the dancers. It was a fitting finale to the DansDemonz performance.

Haunting everyone's dreams...

Woah, so much colour!

Men in black and women in white, but the music was perfected to a point beyond perfection. The KE Choir sung three songs- ‘Solerum’, ‘Lux Aurumque’ and ‘Pasigin’. While the first two songs were slow and soothing, the third was full of life and jumpy. There were a number of loud cheers from the audience, as the choir got ready to perform.

The KE Choir!

The final performance for ICN 2009 was by Wushu. The Wushu team put up a very well choreographed display of the martial art. The thunderous beats in the background, the war cries, the clanging of swords, the acrobatics of the Wushu team, the different coloured costumes, all lead to one ultimate thing- the end of KE’s ICN. The fight which involved the girl in a purple costume and a hat definitely stole the show.

Is he flying?

Thus, ICN 2009 came to an end. It was a month of hard work put in by all the cultural groups, no doubt, but many people tend to ignore the enormous amount of work put in by the people behind the curtains. The people handling the lights, the sounds, the stage, the decorations, the marketing, the publicity and the logistics would have spent many sleepless nights trying to co-ordinate with the different culture groups. The Culture Comm did a splendid job in making ICN a success and they deserve a huge round of applause…

The Cultural Group Heads

Good job Culture Comm!

Gavin and Priscillia!

After Dusk Party

Editor: Pearly Neo

Editor’s Note: Two writers were dispatched to the ADP, in hopes of obtaining two different points of view (hopefully one who would feel overwhelming fear, and another who wouldn’t)…but it appears that the ADP was indeed a smashing success, as both writers (both big strong guys, I might add. XD) have admitted to feeling fear to some degree! Good work on the ADP GH folk! Hope everyone enjoys reading the articles!

The After-Dusk Party (Writer 1’s POV)

By: Wang Liansheng

In short, the ADP was bloody good. Who would have thought that an event purely managed by the GH Block Comm would garner such a large turnout?

To be honest, when I first heard about the After-Dusk Party, there were reservations about it. For one, being the ever cynic that I am (and I assume many others were), I was wondering if this would degenerate into one-super-lame event meant only for the blockers.

I was wrong.

The event was executed to a pretty large scale. Prior to the event, facebook videos publicizing the event caught my attention. They were short, yet successfully sent chills down my spine every time I watched them. Suddenly, I had friends who asked me about the event, and even friends from my faculty (which resides in a faraway island known as the BTC) wanted to come down in support of the event. During the event, there would be a band performing, themed food and drinks available, and of course the main attraction of the night – A Haunted House. The stairway leading up to the Haunted House was not spared too – It was decorated with cut-outs of bats, ‘Blood’ was splattered on the floor, and it was gruesome.

Was I missing something here? What had been promised in the After-Dusk Party that was so enticing?

So I took up the challenge, and volunteered myself to cover the event.

Sadly, the start of the night was slow. The turn out was slightly dismal, and I wasn’t particularly interested to cover the event. I thought, “Maybe all the effort isn’t paying off.” Only a few turned up around 7.30pm, and they seemed to be supporting friends, rather than genuinely interested in the party.

I left disappointed, and came back around 9pm after meeting up with a couple of friends. I had decided to give the party another chance.

And indeed, it was a risk well taken.

9pm was the time when dusk finally came, and the night became grotesquely dark. It was a signal for the party to REALLY begin.

The queue now at the Communal Hall where it has been transformed into a Haunted House was long. Everyone was in their groups, chit-chatting prior to entering the Haunted House. It had become a social event where people were excited about the event, and discussing about it with much anticipation.

Finally it was time for the writer to enter the Haunted House (thanks to GH Block Comm for the lovely complimentary ticket!). Somewhat, I was glad I had a friend with me because I was genuinely afraid the first instance I stepped into the Communal Hall.

We were first led into the hall by a freakishly scary patient. (Kudos to Yu Wei for being in character, haha!)

Prior to entering the maze, we were treated to snippets of horror movies, and the shrill screams of many others who had entered the maze. For a moment, it was scary because the entire atmosphere had set the game for the night.

Then we entered the maze. It was walking through sections of stations where a different story unfolded before us. There was a psycho doctor with an eyeball, cadavers lying on tables, a pregnant lady with another sicko doctor, two small children in a living room, and many more.In between sections, there were crazily narrow walkways with black cloth draped on two sides. I have to say: I really had apprehensions walking through.

Featuring a few 'friends' of the After Dusk Party...

To be honest (and maintaining that male ego) I wasn’t pretty much petrified until the children part where in the midst of leaving that section of the communal hall, someone grabbed my leg from beneath. There was an instant shock and fear perpetuating through. Once again, kudos to whoever that was – A classic yet timeless scaring technique.

Before we left the communal hall, we were made to search through photographs of a woman with her face punched in. The photos were… not particularly good for your appetite.

Finally, we left the Communal Hall in the midst of all the screaming (either from participants or the Block Comm-ers themselves) and decided to walk down to the Meeting Room for some refreshments to calm ourselves down.

The meeting room was not spared in adapting to the theme too – Paper cut-outs of bats were hanging from the ceiling, the dishes were named and created appropriately to suit the theme. It was definitely an event well planned – and achieved much success in injecting life into a dark, solemn Friday night.

Looks like the guests of the Haunted Mansion aren't that afraid of the ghosts lurking around! Bet they had an awesome time too!

The After Dusk Party is a new experiment that achieved its spark of brilliance in some instances. For a cynic who professes to be one brave soul, it has been one hell of a ride – and an interesting twist to an otherwise boring Friday night. I eagerly anticipate a bigger and scarier After Dusk Party next year!

The After-Dusk Party (Writer 2’s POV)

By: Jason Lun Leung

Over the past few weeks, everyone’s anticipation of the After Dusk Party had been steadily growing, and finally, 16^th October arrived.

It all started quite well, with the steps leading to the Comm. Hall being smeared with blood marks and lined up with bats. The waiting area in front was darkened and glowing ominously. The crowd that had gathered in front of the entrance was quite eclectic. No doubt helped by the ambiance created, they were chatting nervously: some were already having second thoughts about going in, while others were just encouraging themselves and bragging how they would need a lot more than that to be scared. As they were ushered in in pairs, the After Dusk Party started with the tour of the Haunted Hospital.

Before going in the tour proper, you were made to wait and watch some horror clips. These few minutes really got people in the right frame of mind, especially with the screams from those who had already gone in being heard loud and clear and the hanging body you could see dangling from the ceiling. When the moment came, you got called in, and then, after bracing yourselves, you took a deep breath and stepped into the dark labyrinth.

The ghosts all ready to go out and do some proper scaring...But what could be behind that cloth?...

The whole tour was quite eerie. The black drapes were perfect for people to jump and grab you, and when that did not happen, you were still scared, because you could never be sure what was lying in wait on the other side. At some point, you just did not know what to do anymore. Scared by the corpse area, you just rushed through, thinking that being done with it as fast as possible might be a good idea… only to get so terrified by the next walking zombie that you just could not move forward any more. Brrr…

Like all good events, this one was a compelling act that took all of your attention while it lasted, and then left you wanting more. You just went through the pregnant woman scene, the mirror scene, the tunnel and all the other creepy areas, before ending up looking for the picture of a dead body. At the end of the tour, you had already been so impressed that you were half expecting them to have something left for you. I remember going through the door at the back of the Comm. Hall checking if there was somebody waiting to pounce on me as I stepped out, and then chuckling nervously when I realised that it was truly over.

What else would it be, but even more of them!

By that time, you were so caught up discussing how your tour had been with the others that you had already forgotten that the GH Block Comm actually had more in store: the food and the band. And this was no minor feat either. They had been meticulous enough to come up with witch fingers, RIP sandwiches and other dishes suited up for this night of mayhem.

The band was performing at the BBQ pit area, covering Metallica, Evanescence and Michael Jackson, to the delight of everyone there. The events of the night all made perfect conversation starters and with this, concluded a marvellous night for everyone who had come down.

After Dusk Party was successful in bringing down people for a night of scares and giving them good memories that they will be talking about for weeks on. Congratulations to the GH Block Comm, who came up with a new idea and successfully put up this show which broke away from the routine of usual hall events and was, overall, very entertaining. It was a welcome change and the organisation was really good. Good job!