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?

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Wee Lee

By: Yap Juin Shiong
Editor: Pearly Neo

Wee Lee, Head of KE Flag Committee 2009

This year’s NUS Flag Day 2009 saw residents of King Edward VII (KE) making their way in full force to various parts of Singapore in a throng of yellow shirts emblazoned with the rag and flag design. The sole purpose: to raise funds for Community Chest on the behalf of 20 needy beneficiaries, who would eventually benefit from the $443,000 collected that day. The collection for KE was overseen by a single man, who is gifted of that very rare attribute that most people spend their entire life trying to acquire- the ability to effectively lead a group of people and organize them into a team working towards a single aim.

Recently, reporters from KEPress were able to coax this charismatic gentleman, Wee Lee, the head of KE Flag Committee 2009, into taking some time off his busy schedule to share his thoughts about Flag Day and hall life.

Q: Congratulations on organizing everything so perfectly! What are your thoughts on this year’s Rag and Flag?

A: This year was a fantastic year, especially because we won the Best Float and everyone I know is proud of it!!!

Q: That’s why KE is the best! Any interesting experiences to share about preparation for flag?

A: Yup, Johan keep molesting me. Just joking! It was great to see everyone’s passion and spirit into working for the final day to make sure everything went smoothly.

Q: Well, it must have been quite stressful! Why did you choose to be flag head then?

A: Because there was no head towards the end of the semester and being the previous Flag head I felt that it was a pity if no one were to lead it. So I told myself, “why not”?

Q: Wow! Being such an experienced person, what advice can you give on how to improve next year’s Flag Day? Do share some tips with the next potential Head of Flag Committee!

A: By asking the alumni to help. Halls like Sheares and KR have a very huge alumni base. Imagine if we have 500 alumni who donate $50, we will have $25,000 and definitely there are more than 500 alumni who have graduated from KE7. Imagine how much we can collect from them.

Q: Excellent advice! Let’s move on to hall life. As a senior, I’m sure you must have felt that KE has become your home away from home.

A: Yup, definitely!

Q: Well, so far, are there any changes you would desperately like to see in KE?

What I feel is that KE has a lot of potential to be one of the greatest hall and the alumni plays an important role, hence, I would like to see a more active alumni committee this year.

Q: What do you like about KE Hall? What is your most memorable experience of KE?

A: I like KE because it is quiet, it is near science, it is home of the squash champions and it has a kind of serenity around it. One memorable experience would probably be running for presidency when I was in year 2; it was quite an exciting period and a fruitful event.

Q: Having had the honour to interview you, I’d like to know more about the man himself. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a person?

A: I feel that I am a team player and a very motivated person. My weakness is that I am sometimes too optimistic at times.

Q: Being so motivated, you must be a really busy person! What do you do in your spare time?

A: Well, I guess normal stuff like going to the movies with my girlfriend and playing squash. I also like to play soccer and basketball.

Q: Which Junior College (JC) were you from? Do you feel that university life is anything like JC life?

A: I was from Nanyang JC. To me, University life would most probably be like JC if I was not staying in hall. You go to school, you hang out in the canteen and you go back home. Nothing special.

Q: Well, university life is also definitely about the academics too! Which course are you in? What do you like most about your course?

A: I am taking life science. What I like about it is that it is very interesting and the subject never fails to amaze me with topics ranging from viruses to human DNA.

Q: Any tips on studying?

A: I would be a wrong person to ask! Cause I feel I study very hard but I just can’t seem to score. Maybe I am self-delusional that I study hard, haha! But from what I observe from others, probably consistency is the key, no matter how busy you are, always take some time to review the day lectures.

Q: Now, a question which is on everyone’s mind- Which canteen do you think is the nicest in NUS, and why?

A: Hmm… Probably science, because it has a great variety and also it has Megabytes, which can be quite a treat after eating 2-3 weeks of canteen food. I usually eat Claypot Beancurd, it is a must try. I always feel very satisfied after eating it. Haha!

Q: I’ll be sure to try out the claypot beancurd next time I visit! Thank you so much for your time! Any last words of advice to fellow residents?

A: Enjoy hall life while you can and these will be the stories that you will tell your children when you have your own kids!

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Xiao Shuang

By: Akhilesh Narayan
Photos: Xiao Shuang

KE’s spectacular, whimsical, sea-faring float, made an absolute splash at Rag Day 2009, plunging into victory, with the ‘Best Overall Float’ prize, an honour that King Edward VII Hall has not had for years. Behind this bedazzling work of genius, however, was an unforgettable experience for many, a summer of infinite memories, a treasure chest of burdens and hopes. Here to tell us the story is the little bundle of energy and enthusiasm, who managed the finances for KE’s Whale- Xiao Shuang, Treasurer and Operations Manager of ROCKE’s Float Committee for 2009.

The wording on the picture says it all.

Congrats on being treasurer and Operations Manager for KE7’s best float! What was special about KE’s float this year?

This year, our float adopted a different concept from our past floats. Our main concept was to have a main float, which have always been Kent Ridge’s and Sheares’ trademark, instead of the concept of having a montage float. Apparently it did the trick =)

That could very well be the secret behind our success. KE also won most environmentally friendly float. How did you make this possible?

Our team had gone all out to source for any and every creative material that they could lay their hands on. This included electrical appliances such as electric irons, telephones, electric kettles and also kitchen utensils such as butter beaters. The judges were especially impressed by our ‘Iron’ fish =)

Cheers on the day!

Describe life in the post-Rag euphoria.

Life goes on, apparently. But one day, long after Rag is over, you will suddenly think of it and smile and say to yourself, “I’m glad that I joined and experienced one of the most meaningful activities in my life!”

Tell us about your experience as a member of the Float Committee last summer.

My experience is quite different from others. I am more involved in the admin side. I was responsible for liaising with the Hall management, other ROCKE members, companies (sponsors) and NUSSU.

What was your role as a treasurer, exactly?

Well, it was just normal stuff that a treasurer does. Plan a budget and keep an eye on it among other things. One additional thing I had to do was to hand in the financial statements to NUSSU towards the end period, when things were getting physical and mentally draining!

Describe a typical day of Float-work over the summer.

Wake up → switch on your computer → start work =)

Dedicated hard workers feeling tired...(L: Xiao Shuang, R: Sien Long)

 

Describe one special memory of your work in Float Comm?

A very special bonding session was when we cut and processed almost all the cans we got from Mega Metal (weighs up to 47 KG!!) in two consecutive nights. We chit chatted along the way and it was truly an unforgettable experience to me.

Describe one point when you and the Float Comm felt slightly down or bugged with the progress on the float.

There was one point of time when we had a miscommunication problem and were pushed to the brink of collapse. Luckily everyone sat down, discussed and probed every possibility that could be done to overcome the crisis. The crisis, in fact helped to bond our team even more!

Ok! Tell us one funny/ interesting thing about each of the other main committee members from float! (Please!!)

• Vincent likes to play with the kitten in Comm Hall.
• Sien Long cannot survive without milk.
• Zhi Peng was forced to wear one of the ‘sexy’ costumes =) (Zhi Peng, im soooo sorry!)
• Anthony likes to order large coke from Mcdonalds
• Xiao Han also likes to drink milk
• Wen Hao is another big fan of Coke.
• Sharlene is always painting =)

 

Finally, congrats on been selected to JCRC this year! What are your hopes and plans for our Hall (and possibly float) in the coming year?

Since we are a bit tight on our budget this year, I hope that all of us can work together and try to cut down unnecessary expenses so that we can still achieve what we intend to achieve when we made our plans for hall’s CCAs.

 

—

And those were the parting words of our Financial Secretary (she’s perfect for the post, I feel). This has been a wonderful way for all of us to gain a sneak peek into the world of our Float Comm. While many of us went back home, they stayed on and built for King Edward VII Hall a beacon of pride…

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Vincent

 By: Avik Sarkar
Editor: Janice Fan
Photos: Jessica Lau, Grace Chan, Ngyuen Kahn An

8^th of August 2009 was the day which went down in history as KE was honored with not only the Most Environmentally Friendly Float Award , but also the Best Overall Float Performance Award – an honor which has tantalizingly evaded KE for the past fifteen years. Behind the stunning show lay the countless days and nights of selfless sacrifices and team work. From the deep waters of hard work and commitment of this year’s Float Committee, a magnificent float arose- KENOVO!

So, here we are with the one person whose vision, perception and leadership added yet another feather in KE’s cap. Yes, my fellow KEVIIans, it is none other than the head of ROCKE’s Float Committee 2009. In a candid chat with me, this key person bares his soul about Float 2009…

Presenting… VINCENT LIM!

Vincent & Sien Long, with the two awards!

Congrats on the achievement of the float committee 2009. How do you feel about the success?

 Like I’m not truly a part of it. I have always believed that the members who put together the float are the rightful owners of the float and not the head. I could only share their joy of creating a masterpiece from scratch. However as their head, I could not have been prouder to be able to form and lead this team to victory 

 

What was the experience of leading the float committee 2009 like?

It is probably the slackest and most stressful post in the entire committee. Slackest because all you need to do is look through the paperwork done by others, attend meetings chaired by others as well as giving instructions to others. Most stressful because you’ll have to appear to be the slackest despite all the deadlines, screw ups, complains, dissatisfactions as well as misunderstandings directed at you.

  

How do you feel now, looking back at those grueling float practice sessions during the summers?Do you mean the rehearsals/dry runs and dance sessions or do you mean the production of the float as a whole? If you mean the rehearsals and dance practices, I’m probably very relieved because every sessions, I’ll have a surprise and usually not in a good way. If you meant the entire production, then I would say, I missed it quite a lot, I’ve never been on Facebook so frequent in my entire life.  Also the fact that being surrounded by friends who are working towards a common goal everyday adds to the entire float experience.

 

How did you feel when you walked up the aisle to receive the awards?Honestly, I was rather puzzled initially. After going through 3 floats, I was rather sure of the  scoring system for Rag Day. Since Eusoff Hall have won the Best Performance as well as the Best Design, which constitutes a large percentage of the overall scores, we were rather skeptical of being able to win the best overall float. Furthermore, the announcer called the award Best Float Performance for the Day, which I thought already went to Eusoff. Therefore I wasn’t too sure of the award we won until I read the title of the award on the Shield.

 

Vincent and an overjoyed crowd! (when the results were announced during Rag Day)

 

a close-up of Vincent

 What is the one thing you would like to change about KE float 2009, given the rare chance of time travel?

Why would I change anything? We did win the best overall performance right? I’m sure there are parts of the float that could be improved on to win the other awards as well but what happens if in the midst of trying to improve a certain aspect of the float, we forgo some other important aspect which cost us the ultimate award.

 

Tell us about one moment you hated the most and one moment you cherished the most during your term in office as the float head 2009…

I probably hated the times we have the weekly general meetings the most. Reason being nobody actually listens to what was being said especially during the later period where everybody is shagged out. But the meeting is still necessary for those who actually listens to update themselves on our progress. I’ll also cherish the moment the general meetings the most not because the meeting’s finally over but because we’ll have our float cheer at the end of the meetings where you get to see everyone re-energized.

 

Did you think we had a high chance of winning before the “big day” arrived and why did you think so?

I’ve never once believed that it was by any chance that we won. Since the design was finalized and all the members started on the float, we’ve already won. There were times when the team was demoralized and we were far behind schedule. I did get worried during these few periods. However, the team managed to pull through and proved that my worries are groundless.

 

KENOVO is a brilliant idea and an apt answer to NUSSU’s Rag theme 2009…How did the idea come about? Tell us also how it was developed into its final magnificence…

To be honest, I’m rather clueless on how KENOVO actually came about. As mentioned, I just put the team together and World War III didn’t start between the departments. A better person to ask would be our Chief Designer, Anthony. However, if you want to know how such a wonderful team is formed, I could share that with you though it might be rather boring for this interview.

 

Finally, perhaps a few words of encouragement for the upcoming Float Committee 201o?

I really hope there’s no need for any words of encouragement as that would mean they’ve hit a wall and are demoralized. Why else should they need any encouragement? Here’s a few words of advice though: Float is all about believing in what you do. As long as you believe your float is the winning float, it will be just that; the winning float.

 

Last but not the least, congrats on being selected to be part of the JCRC again. As the sport secretary, what are your plans for our hall’s sports in the coming year?

If this is to be put into the year book, it’ll probably be too late to know about my plans. On the other hand, if this is to be up in the hall blog, why would I share my plans with the other halls? What I can say is I foresee a rising KEVII in the sporting front. 

Thank you for your time and a wonderful interview! All the very best in your future endeavors

ROCKE Leaders Interviews: Louis

By: Jason Lun Leung

Photos: Louis Lim

Louis with his big killer smile...

First of all, why KEWOC?

I was in KEWOC the year before, as a publicity member, and I had thoroughly enjoyed it. I love getting in touch with the freshmen and serving them. I especially think of the foreigners who come to Singapore for their studies and are still disorientated. KEWOC gives me the opportunity to make their crucial first few days here more enjoyable, and less of a hassle.

This actually does not need to consist of any grand actions, and one of the best memories I have is of the freshmen coming to say how much they appreciated KEWOC members being there to help with moving their luggage. This quite simple gesture is a perfect illustration of how KEWOC allows me to help the freshmen in a way that is truly fulfilling.

KEWOC is a very fun committee to join. The activities and games were all a real pleasure, and, for this, my entire crew must take credit. They really did a great job. =D

Another thing I find interesting is how those crucial first days in hall can shape the freshmen’s whole hall stay, and, as KEWOC, I get to influence those to a great extent. With school and the heavy workload, students can get in a routine very easily, so, orientation is one of those rare periods when they are truly open-minded and free enough to make friends.

How did you get to this year’s theme? What was your inspiration?

Voyage. Ken Juin, my programmes head, and I came up with this idea. It does sound a bit cliché, but it truly is a fact of life. It suits the orientation time so well, in so many different ways. This is a way of acknowledging how, at this point in time, KE has the occasion to be an impactful moment for great change in the freshmen’s life. As freshmen, we all have had very different paths, and we will most probably go very different ways in the future also. Yet, at this precise moment, our roads crossed in this KEVII hall, and the KEWOC team was there to make sure that this convergence was fun as much as it is meaningful.

A plus point was that voyage was in line with this year’s float theme. Flag also joined in and this is how this year, the major committees got to have ship-related logos. Nice bonus.

How do you feel about the whole KEWOC experience, now that it is over?

I would have to concede it is a mixed feeling. One part of me heaves a long sigh of relief. KEWOC is really draining some times, and I do feel happy that it all finished without any major problems. The other part of me still longs for the times that I had with our people: laughing at each other, doing silly things, getting high at not sleeping! J Ultimately, my heartfelt thanks must go to my committee people, whom without them, this year’s orientation will not come into existence.

...and another one...

Could you share some of the difficulties encountered with us?

Without doubt, the red tape is the major hassle. Getting all our plans approved by OSA, OSHE and SCRC was very difficult. They have lots of guidelines and rules that people would not really imagine, and complying with all of them is quite a feat. But thankfully, after revisions and reviews, we managed to pull it off, ensuring that there are no ragging elements in the orientation.

The scheduling was quite problematic also, with this year’s orientation clashing with the matriculation fairs. On top of that, because our programme is not compulsory, which leaves us dependent on the freshmen being willing to join in of their own free will. This is quite stressful, but then, when they do come in numbers, it really is a great joy and victory for us KEWOC people.

Describe one moment that stands out during the pre- orientation week period.

The dry runs for all the games! Not only are the games themselves very fun but this is also when we get to bond as a team and learn more about each other. Thinking back about it, it’s amazing how far we have come, from those first days when it was still a little awkward to the end when we were all having fun.

Describe one such moment during the orientation week itself.

I was extremely pleased when I saw the freshmen cheer so enthusiastically among their tribes. Up to that point, KEWOC is mostly about planning and advance work. Orientation week is when we get to know how productive our efforts have been. As such, the cheers are tangible proof that our work has achieved its goal.

Ultimately, KEWOC aims to make the freshmen acculturated into KE, develop a strong hall sense and make friends with all those new people they meet. When I saw the freshmen being so enthusiastic, I really felt proud and happy. It truly makes you forget the difficulties you have been through to get to this point.

Tell us about one memorable moment from post orientation week.

Obviously, post orientation week, I was just relieved that all was over. By that time, I was very tired and had to settle my sleep debts. But one thing I remember fondly is seeing how people miss KEWOC. Here, I am talking about how the committee members will still go to the KEWOC room. It’s something we do not usually realise, but KEWOC does grow on us, and when it’s all over, we miss it. After spending so much time together planning and discussing in that room over those many weeks, we do bond together as a team, which is why we have this ‘something-is-missing’ feeling in the first days after it ends.

But aside from that, we also have to move on. And for KEWOC, that means helping float and flag people, who by then, are steadying themselves for their critical phase. I am extremely glad that this year’s ROCKE committee have done such a good job!

One thing you would do differently, if you were given the chance.

I think I would recruit more girls. Having too many guys is not good for the group dynamics. Haha.

...and whaddaya know? There's another one! =D

Do you have any advice to give to the next committee?

More girls. Haha.

But seriously, KEWOC is a very fulfilling job. Like most of those, it is very taxing at times, but the rewards are seriously worth it. While the completion of task is important, the welfare of people is of higher priority. Care for people and show them you sincerely value them. Learn to love your people. They will love you back. This is something that I have learnt. =D

Getting to the root of the hairy issue

Writers: Lim Fang Min & Benjamin Lim
Editor: Benjamin Lim

With the weapon of the mass media, countless unarmed conflicts have been fought over the maintenance of this prominent portion of the human anatomy  Few of the many belligerents of this bloodless war have enjoyed strings of victories, winning many followers through clever strategising, while others have fought on their own unique terms to secure small but fiercely loyal supporters. Yes, if you haven’t got it by now, it is the war of the Shampoo brands! Indeed, what are the 3 brands that have KE guys enraptured in the act of scratching their scalp?

The premise was simple: most residents leave their shampoos in the toilet. What better way to find the answer than to have a look in these soapy places? So, on a fateful Wednesday morning, 1 reporter driven by his curiousity on this fascinating subject took up the arduous task of visiting all the male toilets in KE to investigate. Following countless stares and stairs, we are proud to bring you the results you have all been waiting for; the 3 most popular brands of shampoo are *cue drumroll* Clear, Dove and Head & Shoulders!

Our shampoo critic!

To get an idea of why these brands were so popular, we had avid shampoo user Terence from block C to give his verdict on each of these shampoos. A fan of Clairol’s Herbal Essences because of its great refreshing scent, Terence would be a tough critic to please.

The reigning champion! or not...

Clear, undisputedly the most popular shampoo in KE did not really appeal to Terence, who said it smelt like Dynamo (the washing detergent). The writer (who uses Clear himself) postulates that perhaps, most guys like to smell homogenous with their clothes.

As soft as it claims to be?

Dove, the runners-up had never been tried by Terence before, in fact, he was rather surprised that it made the top 3 spot since it was a pretty late entry into the Shampoo battle. Still, it seemed to have garnered quite a following among male KEVIIANs, suggesting that the alluring claims it makes for its shampoo (undoubtedly modeled on those that have made its shower foam so successful) seems to have some measure of truth, allowing them to capture the hearts and heads of many here.

2nd runners up...for a good reason

Terence reserved his harshest criticism for Head & Shoulders, which came in a close third to Dove. Contrary to its long touted claim of reduced dandruff, Terence found that his dandruff actually increased when he last used it. According to him, the entire scalp comes off in a classic “Christmas coming early” effect. The relative popularity could then be explained by a strong desire among KEVIIANs to re-create a cool snowy climate here in warm Singapore.

The dark horse (or man)...literally

Now, you may wonder whether our shampoo critic even has anything positive to say about brands other than the one he uses. Curiously enough, Terence gave his stamp of approval for the relatively uncommon Jackie Chan-endorsed Ba Wang when he had the opportunity to try it for himself.

From doubt...To delight!

The reporters felt that it would be terribly inadequate to represent the interview conducted with him simply in words, so they have instead included the actual interview footage for your viewing pleasure below.

For some obscure reason, substantial similarities were noticed between this interview and the one below it featuring Jackie Chan. Barring the very fundamental difference of language, we believe that the similarity of opinion can only mean that Ba Wang has a universal appeal that transcends language and cultural boundaries leading users to profess similar testimonies of the superiority of the product.

seeing double? (part 1)

Writers: Ng Sze Hwee and Jonathan Chan
Editor: Ong Qing Liang

 Ever since Wang Lu and Xu Nan were seen together during orientation, people have commented on their identical hairstyle (not so identical now that XN has cut his hair!), their scholarship and their education progression- both took the SM1 programme – they came to Singapore at the equivalent of the local Sec 3 in order to attend through-train programmes here; both are doing the same double degree in NUS now. But beneath these appearances, how much were they exactly alike? We went to meet the KEWOC member from F-block and the freshman from CD for a small chat to see whether their likeness ran more than skin deep…

Xu Nan (XN) and Wang Lu (WL)

Introduce yourselves?

XN: Xu Nan, Engineering, Year 2

WL: Wang Lu, Year 1… well, same faculty as him!

Which part of China do you all come from?

XN: Hebei

WL: Liao Ning

Liao Ning and Hebei are actually quite far apart right?

Both: YES!

So here, we see how fate has brought the two from so far away to this tiny little island, this tiny university and even to this tiny little hall!

WL: (exclaims!) We are actually very different! He was from the main stream while I was from the Integrated Programme in VJC.

XN: Well, actually I went to ACS(I) and did the IB programme there.

Well, close enough for us reporters who are looking for any mild link whatsoever between them =)

How did the two of you first come to know about each other?

WL: (thought for a long while.. and almost forgot until XN prompted her!) Supper outing during the welcoming week.

XN: I knew of her existence before I saw her (awww). You know, in KEWOC we have this name list of the freshies.. So I was checking out who were all the SM1 freshies because there were very few of them, and she was one of them! And then I met her during the dinner outing of course!

What is your one favourite thing to do in hall?

XN: Chinese drama lor!

WL: Arghhh pressure!!!…. Because I’m in Chinese drama! Ok, ok, Chinese drama too…

So we have found yet another similarity and we probed further.

What is your favourite dinner special in the dining hall?

XN: Bak kut teh

WL: Orh, haven’t tried yet

What is one thing you would change in the hall?

WL: Change it to a five-star hotel

XN: Put aircon in the rooms

What do you think of the other person? You can secretly tell us if you don’t dare.

XN: Ahhhh…. Ladies first

WL: Errrrr… I think he has strong leadership and he is very good at acting, at least that’s what I heard. Then, good CCA results, good academic results. Character-wise, he’s kind to all the Chinese drama members.

Ohhh, so he’s very nice to you!!!

* Wang Lu blushes*

WL: No, ALLL the Chinese drama members!

Aha, and what about you XN?

XN: She’s very responsible. She’s in charge of one of our small productions. From what I heard and what I observed from the meetings, I can tell she is very responsible.

So you’ve been observing her?

WL: Hehhh that’s what you infer.

If you rate the other person’s character and looks from 1 to 10, what will you rate them as?

Wang Lu rated Xu Nan’s character as 7.5, and his looks as 7.0

Xu Nan rated Wang Lu’s character as 8.0 and her looks as 7.5

Describe KE in 3 words

XN: Seek strive and serve!

WL: Home, fun, friends!

Do you have any eye candy in hall?

XN: If I say no, all the girls will kill me! Ok, YES! In every block. Especially West Wing. Especially F-block!

WL: YES, especially East Wing

East Wing guys and West Wing girls, rejoice =)

What do you like best about your block?

XN: F-block? The RF! Because of the special supper we have every year!

WL: Ah, I love C block because everyone is so united!

Not because of Nicholas?

*Wang Lu waves her finger threateningly*

WL: Ehhhhh!!!

Would you all go out with each other?

Both: For what!!

*They both think*

Both: Ah it depends, it depends…That’s the politically right answer =)

So that means there’s a chance!!!

Tell us one interesting thing about yourselves:

WL: On the first day of school (JC), I was heading to VJC from my hostel in Victoria School. What’s interesting is that there was only ONE bus out of the many buses that did not go to VJC and I actually took that ONE AND ONLY wrong bus and ended up in siglap! What luck!

XN: Once I had a cockroach on my body while I was sleeping. I felt something on my body and when I switched on the light, there was the cockroach! I jumped out of bed, grabbed my foolscape pad and whacked it. My roommate was screaming and jumping on the bed!

Your roommate was a girl?

XN: NO! My roommate was a guy!

We had them play a game, showing them 4 different pictures of random objects and asking them to write words related to these things which came to their mind without discussion. We then compared their lists to see how many of their words coincided.

A watch pinned to a red noticeboard

Common words: Numbers, red.

2 out of an average of 13 words written

A biscuit tin on a blue background

Common words: Label -_-“’

1 out of an average of 11 words written

A mop

Common words: None!!!

0 out of an average of 10 words written

A flight of stairs

Common words: Green

1 out of average of 8 words written

Wang Lu's (left) and Xu Nan's answers

Well, it was not exactly what we had expected as they only had about 10% of the answers that coincide. So I guess they don’t have the telepathy that we expected. But of course there are always fundamental differences between a male and a female so I guess this discrepancy is acceptable? Anyway, that is why opposites attract! But wait, as we left…

By the way what is your favourite colour?

XN: Blue

WL: Huhhhh!! Mine also!

And do you play any sports?

WL: I just came from basketball training.

XN: !!! I was from basketball last year!

So, KEVIIans, what do you think now? =)

 

Xu Nan, Wang Lu and the interviewers!

Interview of Graduating Senior(s) – Sharon Lynn Chu

Interview done by: Jason Lun Leung
Editor: Janice Fan
———-

 Name:  Sharon Lynn Chu Yew Yee
Faculty: Arts and Social Sciences
Major: Communications and New Media

Interests: Dance (especially Chinese dance), Martial arts (especially Wushu), anime, game development, casual games, documentaries, outdoor activities

Aspirations: To excel in dance and Wushu, To find a job which I am passionate about, To lead a happy and exciting life with people that I love

CCAs joined: DansDemonz, KEVII Wushu, Publications Committee, Float

One interesting fact about you:  I am a tiger who looks like a cat.

 What does KE VII mean to you? At least for these last four years, a safe haven where I can return to.

 What is your best memory of hall? There are a lot of things that happened in hall and that I will always remember: Float dances, Wushu camps and trainings, dance practices in the dance room, going for supper at NUH, sleeping at 5am or not sleeping at all…

 What thing do you like most about hall? 
Free and fast internet connection, which allows you to…for example, mousehunt all day long . The main lounge where you can hold meeting at any time of the day or night, since everyone stays very close together. Common Hall, even though it’s sometimes real dirty, but it’s the place where I can indulge in the CCAs that I like most

 What thing do you hate most about hall?  Eating the same fish everyday for four years? Haha…ok it’s not that bad.  Having the sun turn my room into a sauna in the afternoon… Risking my life every time I cross the open corridor near GH block when it rains.  But on the whole, I don’t have much to complain about hall.

 What would you change if you could change one thing about hall? Install a system where you pay only when you take meals in halls (so I can skip more breakfasts ) and buy a nice mattress for KEVII Wushu practices.

 How has KE VII changed since your first year?
Well apart from infrastructural things like upgrading of toilets, hall hasn’t changed that much.  Good ‘ol KE doesn’t change much along the years, right? J Well, the people do change and the CCAs go through cycles of ups and downs but generally, the spirit is still the same.

 What will you miss most about hall?
Dance and Wushu in hall are definitely two things that I’ll miss the most.  During my four years, I’ve been so involved in them that they have become an integral part of my life.  Suddenly not able to dance and train with friends because I have to work everyday will be most saddening to me.  There are a lot of things that I would have like to achieve in hall, and that I wasn’t able to because of many barriers.  But now I just hope that others after me will materialize what I have failed to achieve.

 Any advice/ words of wisdom you want to share with your juniors?
Four years is not a long time.  Each year in hall brings fresh challenges and new happy moments.  Enjoy everything that hall life has to offer to you; don’t fake it.  Do things in hall because you love doing them, and not because you have to do them.  Once your four years are over, you must be able to look back and say “I wouldn’t have done anything that I did in hall differently”.  And along the way, remember to make true friends for life because this might be one of your last opportunities to do so.

 Any last words? I sincerely hope that one day KE Wushu will be THE pride of KEVII Hall and DansDemonz will have its own dance production.  May KEVII soar to greater heights!

And to all current KEVIIans, remember that you will never ever stay in hall again after your studies.  So learn how to balance your life so that you can stop mugging so hard and enjoy hall life more.

Interview of Graduating Senior(s) – Joanna Chan

Interview done by: Jason Lun Leong
Editor: Janice Fan

As we start to ease into a brand new semester and embark on a new chapter of our lives in KEVII, it is always beneficial to have the seniors share some advice based on their experience in Hall so far. Especially seniors who have lived in Hall throughout their entire stay in NUS! In that light, KE Press has conducted interviews with a few of the seniors who just graduated, and we will be putting these interviews up from time to time this holidays

For today, we have with us Joanna Chan, a senior who was part of KEVII for FIVE years! So it will certainly be interesting and useful to read about what she has to say about our hall yes?  Well then, read on!

Before we get to the good stuff, here’s a short introduction/profile of Joanna (she wrote this herself!):

Name: Joanna Chan Shi-En

Faculty: Medicine

Interests: God, Star Wars, reading, drawing.

Aspirations: To be a safe doctor. To help society. To write and illustrate children’s books one day.
To win the Booker Prize. (Ha. fat hope)

CCAs joined: Hall Play (set decor, SLW), Pubs Comm (now known as KE Press), Road Relay, ELnD

———-

And now we have the good stuff coming up!

What does KE VII mean to you?

Hall is one of the few communities I’ve been in where I felt that I ‘fitted in’ and could be accepted for who I am, perhaps because we’re from all kinds of backgrounds so we accept each other’s differences as we work together in hall.

What is your best memory of hall?

The friendships that were made! I remember especially the late night nonsense chats with Dawn (my roommate). Also, dinner chats with friends and medicine juniors, and baking hundreds of cookies together with my VCF friends.

Even the time just before and during final exams when fellow M5s Zhongyang and Claris would drop by and we’d listen to each other’s worries and accounts of the exam and reassure each other

What thing do you like most about hall?

The view from E601 with beautiful sunsets, and the feeling of living independently and having space while at the same time being in the midst of a support network of good friends.

And keeping in touch with those friends after graduation.

What thing do you hate most about hall?

How meetings never start on time. There could be a more efficient work ethic.

What would you change if you could change one thing about hall?

I would make sure all the toilet flushes worked properly and stopped wasting water.

[Ed: To incoming freshies reading this, please do not be dismayed! Our toilets work perfectly fine. They just occasionally, uh, need to be... improved! So yes, there is no cause for alarm :P ]

How has KE VII changed since your first year?

Physically, the appearance of hall has changed after all the fire escapes were built and greatly increased the number of steps in the hall! I like the changes, though, as they make getting around the hall more convenient.

People-wise, almost everyone whom I knew in year 1 and 2 are no longer around. It’s a new generation. (Like in Star Wars Legacy of the Force.)

Also, I’m so proud of how far Publications Comm has come in its new incarnation as KE Press under Kok Pun!

What will you miss most about hall?

Expecting to see the faces of friends every time I step out of my room or go for dinner.
I think seeing familiar faces every day even if it’s just a smile and ‘Hi’ really makes a big difference to one’s day!

Any advice/ words of wisdom you want to share with your juniors?

Hall years, and in fact one’s university years, are a great opportunity to try out things one has never done before and to learn to work/live with others and also learn to lead. Max out your opportunities to develop yourself as a person! Join stuff that you like, not because you feel that “there’s no one else to do it”. And join activities wisely, don’t spread yourself out too thinly for the sake of points, but choose well so that you can concentrate on a few and achieve excellence in them – it’ll be more fulfilling and enriching that way.And (whether in or outside hall) don’t be in a rush to get attached just because you see many couples forming almost immediately after orientation. Some will become healthy relationships but I’ve also seen many couples who formed in year 1 and 2 break up by year 3 and 4 or after graduation. Don’t settle for Mr/Miss “Why Not?”. Wait for Mr Right or Miss Right! In some ways the single life allows you to do a lot more when you’re in university so you’re not losing out by waiting for the best, all in God’s plan and timing. (Yes, I talk like a grandmother. But listen to your grandma.)

[Ed: Yes, this is good advice from a grandma So if anything, make sure you read the bolded parts at least!]
Any other interesting fact about your hall life you want to share with us?

A point of interest is that KEVII is the place where my own parents met when they were students, actually. And now my brother is staying here too. I used to go to his hall room and borrow notes from him and eat his biscuits and practise examining him as a patient. So for me hall is ‘family’ in more than one sense of the word!

DnD Pageant – F Block’s Talented Chun Keat & Mae Yue!

CHUN KEAT

Why he’s in this contest
I was approached to join this contest, I did not expect to be short listed as the finalist. Anyway, I am looking forward to learning whatever I can through this contest.

What he wants to be
The winner of this contest? (Ahem… Just joking lar.) I always wanted to be someone who can contribute to the society in whichever ways I could.

His secret
If I let you know, then I guess it’s not a secret anymore. So I guess I prefer to let my secret remain as my secret.

The naughtiest feat ever
I remembered there was once when I spray insecticide on my parent’s clothes after they scolded me for reasons I have already forgotten.

His campus life
I seldom stay in my room except for sleeping. I have been very busy with hall activities. Although persevering through a hectic campus life I guess I enjoyed each and every moment spent with my hall friends. That is the reason I seldom study but thank God I still did well in my exams.

The best pick-up lines he’s heard
You look beautiful today, just like every other day.

He handles his girls
If I have a crush on a girl in school, I guess I would get to know her and be her friend.
If the girl I love ignores me and hangs out with her friends all the time, I guess she doesn’t love me after all.
I would impress my date’s mum because who knows she might be my future mother- in-law?

His body
I have 6 packs which merge into one big pack. 6 in one I could say.

He’s stranded!
If I am stranded on a deserted Pulau Ubin, I just hope there will be a beautiful girl stranded together with me. I hate being lonely you know. Lol.

MAE YUE:

Why she’s in this contest
Because I have to! and I think it’ll be funny to try something that is not me.

What she wants to be
A doctor with a life! With friends, and family!

Her Campus Life
I sleep, and eat, and play sports, and try not to fall asleep during lectures.

Her secret
During the weekends when I’m free and hall is empty, I love to play the piano to old songs and sing out loud.

The naughtiest feat ever
I can’t think of naughty feats because I’m usually relatively nice. Unless you count putting pepper in cookies baked for my friends!

The best pick-up lines she’s heard
Hi, if I can rearrange the periodic table, I’ll put Iodine and Uranium next to each other  HEHE.

She handles her guys
I’ll just be myself and see how things progress. Will never initiate anything.

Her body
I wish I am ambidextrous so I can save time and sleep more and do other things that I want to.

She’s stranded!
Go snorkeling and enjoy the sights and sounds! And then panic.

DnD Pageant – E Block’s Extraordinary Peng Keong & Marie!

PENG KEONG:

Why he’s in this contest
Cumulative factors – I was led to believe that there was a lack of awesome year 1 guys in my block. (Which was not true, there’s Edwin, Yi Rui, Pipetius.. to name a few). Miss Glory Ngim convinced me. It is something I have never done before.

What he wants to be
In addition to attaining a lifestyle of indulgence and excess, I want to be able to exert a positive influence on others.

His secret
I love Macdonalds. My craving-for-Mac curve was exponential while watching Morgan Spurlock’s SuperSize Me.

The naughtiest feat ever
I can’t really recall the naughty things I did when I was younger. But the most recent has to be stripping down to my boxers on the summit of Jungfrau.

His campus life
Apart from classes and sports, I’m not very involved in organizing and planning events.

The best pick-up lines he’s heard
Guy/Girl : “Hey, are your parents bakers?”
Guy/Girl : “Nope. Why?”
Guy/Girl : “Cos you got some really hot buns”
Well, not necessarily best in the sense of effectiveness, but the funniest.

He handles his girls

• If I have a crush on a girl in school, I’ll try to get to know her either by joining the activities she’s in or through a mutual friend but I won’t resort to using pick up lines – not in school at least.
• If the girl I love ignores me and hangs out with her friends all the time, I’ll get over her. Time can be better spent with someone who appreciates me.
• I would impress my date’s mum because it would be weird to impress her sister? I don’t know. Personally I wouldn’t try to impress my date’s mum unless she becomes my mother-in-law in the future. However, since she’s just a date, it would be inappropriate to impress her mum. Furthermore it would be most unfortunate and warped if her mum falls for me.

His body
I want my body to be able to go without sleep and yet feel energetic all the time. That way, I’ll have more time on my hands

He’s stranded!
If I am stranded on a deserted Pulau Ubin I’ll start a fire and wait for help to arrive. But in the mean time, build sandcastles or something

Marie:

Why she’s in this contest
The proposition of taking part of this event actually came at the same time as a photographer asked me if I was interested in modeling. I was quite surprised because I wasn’t used to get that much attention, so I told myself… why not ?

What she wants to be
An architect.

Her Campus Life
I usually work by myself for more efficiency (… so far, it works!). You’ll never see me in any study room but with a lot of free time to hang around with my friends or out of Singapore

Her secret
… is a secret !

The naughtiest feat ever
I guess, that’s something like when my sister is having an argument with my mum, and I take advantage of the situation, add fake charges on her, and then get favors from my mum…

The best pick-up lines she’s heard
Hey, do you want a drink with me and my friends? (yes sure) Can I have a dance then ? (ok… sure) Can I have a kiss now? (what ?!)

She handles her guys

• If I have a crush on a guy in school, I will make use of my seductive look on him, but be shy at the same time, so that he has to do the talking part.
• If the guy I love ignores me and hangs out with his friends all the time, I’ll follow the famous proverb : “ Run after your guy, he will flee. Ignore him, he will desperately come to you”
• I would impress my date’s dad because I’m smart and pretty at the same time, and I know how to play haha.

Her body
Haha I guess I have the same problem as a lot of girls … cellulite!

She’s stranded!
If I am stranded on a deserted island, I’ll learn how to survive with my bare hands and whatever I can find in the nature, but I’ll also make sure I had some chocolate from Switzerland with me before sinking. Or I’ll find a gentle native to take care of me!