Bits and Pieces

Due to the fact that i haven't updated my blog in awhile, and of course my random nature, this post will be a mish mash of everything.

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Story No. 1: The American Experience.

As much as i wish i could list down all the place we visited in DC and NY, it wouldn't be much of a list. Mostly because we spent our time in DC watching the breaking rounds, and shopping our butts off in NY.

We didn't break, but i guess ranking 61st in the world, and having 3 out of 4 mooters in the top 100 (well, top 80 technically) is a pretty ok achievement. We were just so close to breaking, only if we had strategized better. It hurt at first when judges who met after break night saying they were surprised we didn't break, but it is heartening nonetheless. The international rounds also were a good indicator that Malaysians, or Asians, whether in debates or moots, are too stingy with scores. The best oralist of the finals in 06 gave me a 96, whilst in the national rounds, the highest i could score was a 90.

The fact that i've seen this happen in debates too much is also disheartening. Maybe i don't deserve such high scores, but must it take outsiders to appreciate what we've got?

On a lighter note, NY was awesome! I wish i had more space in my luggage, more spending money, though the amount we had was more than enough for this former tomboy to buy shoes, clothes and.... makeup. Yes, finally, i bought my own makeup. I've been slowly learning how to put on my own makeup, which is sad that i'm only learning (to be a woman) at the age of 22.

In NY, i felt like i was literally walking around in a Gossip Girl episode. I even spotted the NY Palace from across the road. screamed a bit, and everyone just went nuts! LOL. There was also the NBC studios of 30 Rock, and of course the awesome UN experience. We were lucky enough to have delegates bringing us into places you can't go as part of the public tour, such as the security council and the delegates' lounge. It was heartening when my coach's friend, an Argentinian delegate, was encouraging about my hope of being a delegate myself. She responded to my coach's surprise ("Tharishni, i've always thought you were the litigator type"- meaning i'm the tough, no-nonsense, not exactly nice-and-diplomatic type) by saying that you need tough women in the GA, that a diplomatic disposition isn't necessarily the stereotype that should be followed in the GA.

A ton of friends made, and a new close friend, who'll be visiting from the States soon!

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Story No.2: Arau Open

Often the victim of unfair adjudicating, i guess i should get used to this. So let's move on to something new.

Arau Open was a very new experience for me for 2 reasons. The first is being left in charge of the whole contingent after Becks left. I suppose after being the irresponsible one on team UM all this time, it was definitely a new perspective. I tried to be the 'fun' leader, but i think that ended up with me letting a lot of things slide, and being disrespected as the person in charge. I guess being the 'fun' leader can't be an absolute.

Number two would be the people i met and befriended. I suppose that after my first semester debating, the people i hung out with from other universities were always the same. You do meet new people, but you tend to have that group or individuals that you just click with and tend to gravitate to. Perhaps its the comfort of the familiar, or the fact that i'm just a really shy person (which people tend to mistake for arrogance).

So many of them have left now, or at least are taking a break. I suppose my problem has also been the fact that i used to get along well with the debate seniors, until people seem to think that i've been around for a long time, when in truth, i've only been debating for less than 2 years. I still remembered Fareez's (another old friend who's not around anymore) reaction at Royals this year: "You, debating junior category? But you're a fossil". When i retorted about his age and the fact that this was really my 2nd Royals, he was surprised. It's been the same old story ever since i was DCA of IIU League. Most people didn't realise that i was just starting my 2nd year of debates at that time.

So at Arau, i made new friends, some juniors, but most are those who started debating the same time as i did, just that they never did realise about the little known fact of when i started. And it was fun. I miss the old peeps, and this being the first tournament without someone who has been somewhat a constant fixture in tournaments throughout my debating career, made me think about said person more than i have the past few months. Making me realise that i do miss the old times.

But it's time to move on, and to come into my own. I'm hoping i'm there already.
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Story No.3: Of writing, and music

I cannot tell you how happy i was when It started again. I was trying to sleep, and words came out and all i could do was get up and get them down. God, it's been far too long. The poetry wasn't in anyway quality stuff (refer to the previous post), but i'm just happy that i'm writing again.

Now, all i need is to start writing music again. I've been recording some random melodies, and am waiting for the guitar to be fixed. I've promised myself that i'll start recording proper, in a studio, come the new semester. And performing more too.

I've recently been offered a pseudo-job writing for an online maganize. It doesn't pay, but there are perks, and more importantly, it's recognition and a way for me to just keep writing. It's been awhile since i've been published. It'll be nice to see my name in print, and writing stuff that matters to more than me and a handful of stalkers.