Friday, June 24, 2005
Orientations and the like.

Well I was supposed to go for my Faculty Orientation this week, and only be back today. I changed my mind last minute because I wasn't really comfortable with the fact that the money I was paying for the package was inclusive of the clubbing fee. Its all of 52 bucks, wah! even more expensive than my driving lessons leh!

Yea, call me a stick in the mud, but I really don't see how clubbing enhances the whole orientation experience. I mean, is it really necessary? Dirty dancing, alcohol, smoking and loud music. How does that make you know people better? As far as I'm concerned, I've seen alcohol bring out the worst in people.

That's not my point. I wouldn't go clubbing for the world, that's why I didn't see the point in going for the orientation, although clubbing was only on one night. I changed my mind in going for the orientation for several other reasons.

But seriously, why can't we make friends the normal way nowadays? Is there really a pressing need for orientations? I mean you can't say "Well, it makes you get to know the school grounds better" because we WILL know the school grounds like the back of our palm with orientation or not, its just a matter of time.

Whatever happened to the days of "Hi, I'm _____, you are? Hey, nice to meet you" plain and simple, without getting muck poured on you, or sliding on some mixture that the seniors devilishly concocted?

And honestly tell me that you actually LIKE getting dirty? You actually think that hey, its really fun sitting on flour! and its really great that the seniors are pouring this blue mixture of what looks like yesterday's dinner and paint down your shirt! Or wow! It feels awesome to have a water bomb thrown at you and getting squirted by some red water coming out of a super soaker!

Get real.

To think that we actually have to pay to get dirty. Sigh. Nothing's really free nowadays, yeah?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not violently against orientations or anything, but I think orientations are getting pointless and its a waste of time and money. I've been through JC orientation and I can honestly tell you that the people I'm closest to are the people I met the normal way.

What do I mean by normal way, huh?

Normal way meaning a friend of a friend says "hey, you're ___'s friend right? Hi I'm ____" or by plain introduction or by sitting next to someone in lecture or extra classes or combined tutorials or simply by being the the same CCA.

Half the people in my OG, I honestly can't remember. A quarter of them, I bump into almost everyday in school but they pretend like they don't know me, and I pretend back. Haha, dammn I'm mean.

That's why I really don't see the point in orientations. You may say that maybe its just me, its just me to be utterly forgetful to forget people who maybe had the time of their lives in orientation, I'd say that you've got it spot on! Thats why its just me to think that orientations are a waste of time and money.

I mean what's the rush? You're going to spend 3-4 even 5 years with these people and you need camps to supposedly get to know them before school starts? After all, the people who are going to be in the same class as you will be completely different people from those in your OG, which means you have to start from square one again.

Oh wells. Opinions, opinions. I haven't heard from Stace how the orientation went. Would love to find out.

Again, don't get me wrong. I'm not protesting and insisting that orientations should be abolished, but thinking rationally, hmm. I'm not some anti social angsty person who scorns making friends, please! haha! Yeah we need to make friends, but why the rush? Slowly la! Truth be told, I'm actually really scared of making friends! I'm not super sociable around people I don't know. Bahh.

On a very contrasting note, I think I would be attending the orientation organised by the Malay Society. Why? Well, because I think that will be an orientation catered for the Muslim Community. Eh, eh WAIT. I'm not saying they will have like mass praying sessions, with some Ustad on stage preaching! Or it being some worship camp.

All I'm saying is that you won't have people thinking you're a Mummy's girl just because you say you don't drink because it will be a widely known fact that Muslims aren't allowed to consume liquor.

No, no seriously! Because I've had people of other religions laugh and scorn when I tell them that Muslims aren't allowed to drink or eat pork, for that matter. Sigh, the level of ignorance in this world today. Well also the number of Muslims doing it, so I can't exactly blame them.

Its not a minority thing, but at least I know my money won't be squandered on club fees.

Haha.

Oh well.