Now I know how it feels like to be deprived of the ability to talk. Yes, I have lost my voice. Completely. When I open my mouth to talk, nothing comes out. And I can only “talk” if I speak in the whispering voice. My aunt and cousin came to my house this morning and I thought that I may have seemed quite rude because I did not give any verbal response when they talk to me.
I remembered this incident which happened quite recently. I was on board 135, on my way to school one morning. I happened to be seated behind two Canossa Convent girls wearing hearing aids. I guessed that they were going to the Canossian School for the Deaf. They were conversing with each other without the use of verbal language and it really amazed me how they could understand each other. They could really express themselves well using their facial expressions and hand gestures. And here I am, completely loss without the ability to talk. I really admire them.
Sometimes it is us who are not disabled, who are actually disabled.
Not only am I suffering from having lost the ability to talk, I am also suffering from Orientation withdrawal symptoms. I miss getting up at 5am every morning and taking the early and empty bus 615am. I miss walking into LT4 every morning at 7am for OGL day briefings, and sometimes late due to my allergy reaction on my feet. I miss filling up all three water bottles for my sub-OG every morning. I miss taking attendance for my OGM in the hall every morning. I miss having lunch outside the PT everyday. I miss all the cheerings and mass dances. I miss the OG dinners we had. I miss mass dance at Suntec. Oh, I miss my OGL days.
I am really glad to get to know all 31 other Thor OGLs, especially Thor 6 OGLs; Alyssa, Gabriel and Qing Hui. Alyssa and her daily routine of packing the bags and ordering lunch. Qing Hui and her loose screw. And Gabriel, eventhough he may be MIA sometimes due to OGH committment, his presence really do make a lot of difference. I really do look forward to more OGL gatherings and sub-OG gatherings.
And more importantly, my freshmen. I was really touched when I saw them step up during games and such to initiate cheers and I felt really happy when I saw them talking among each other. It makes me feel like a parent somehow. Watching your baby grow up, taking his first baby steps and start his baby-talk. All these little itsy-bitsy development makes you feel very proud of your child. That was how I felt.
THOR SIX: Hong Tao, Jerrell, Joanne, Jonathan, Jun Rong, Jun Wei, Kai Chee, Linh, Nicole, Rae, Sarah, Si Hui, Stephanie, Wan Qing, Wui Leng, Xing Yu + Alyssa, Fathiyah, Gabriel, Qing Hui
Now that Orientation is over, I’m thrown back into reality. The reality that school sucks.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VISHALINI!! See you really soon okay! I am really sorry I could not wish you on the day itself but it is the thought that counts.
