On 15.2.2006, Thursday, at the President Hall (PH), slightly before 8.00 p.m, I decided to go to the PH, as requested by one of the college's very senior student counsellors, Jason CCH. I grabbed my camera (actually, it's not my camera) and made my way to the great, big PH which houses within it a great, big, cacophonous air-conditioner (someone's really going to fire me for saying this out loud).

Upon reaching the PH foyer, I saw Malini painting something great and big all by herself.

"Such a hardworking girl", I thought to myself.

After that, I walked into the hallowed halls of the PH that has witnessed countless events, formal and informal, since its inception in the year 1997. The faces may change, but the building remains, keeping with it various secrets untold.

On this evening, the students were having their rehearsal for the January 2006 "Talent Night"- one of our many college traditions.

A few of the students involved in the rehearsal.

A picture that I don't mind taking. These are the types of people who really make your day after a whole day's work.

I then made my way to the second floor of the PH. Guess what Malini is painting...

Galvin's painting, and his group of team-mates involved in the "Talent Night".

Galvin's other painting. I feared for the worst upon seeing that white piece of cloth.

Galvin's team-mates and his other painting. Anyway if you didn't attend last Thursday's "Talent Night", you seriously don't want to know what Galvin and the others did on stage. What they did was too indirectly real-life to be described here.

Talent Night, 16.2.2006, Thursday

The weather was fine that evening and a whole lot of the college's most active students congregated at the President Hall, waiting to display their efforts on stage for the audience to see.

The cool guy from BGO looking at his CD collection inside the sound control room.

Sadeque, Jean, The Great Giga-something and his shoe, and Christopher Clinton.

The gym- taken before the start of "Talent Night"

Elizabeth's group, rehearsing just minutes before the start of the event.

The hall, before the arrival of guests.

"Look what little Malini and her fwens did... aww, so sweet..."

Pui Lam & Jason.

Closer view of what little Malini and her friends did =P

My heroes, hehe.

Elizabeth's group, practising their dance finale.

Malini's group.

Emmanuel and Ian, two of the coolest dancers on stage that night. We should make 'em dance more often on stage, you know.

East meets West- some of the props used by Jean's group.

The night started with the MCs, Sadeque and Tracy, greeting the audience before the students went up on stage to perform.

The programme listing:

1945 - 2000 Opening Ceremony: Lion Dance performance

2000 - 2010 Speech by Michael Yei

2010 - 2030 Sketch: "Ah Lok CareFei" by Group: "Undecided" (Counsellor: Malini)

2030 - 2050 "Read Between the Lines" by "Still Thinking" (Elizabeth)

2050 - 2110 "Snow White & the 3 Dwarves" by "Chicken Little" (Jean)

2110 - 2130 "Malaysian Story: Memoirs of a ToyBoy" by "Reincarnation of Babooligans" (Charlene) --> Galvin's group!!!

2130 - 2150 "Disney Fairy Tales" by "Two Survivors" (Jason)

2150 - 2205 Voting for Best Counsellor

2205 - 2230 Closing Ceremony: Prize-giving

2230 - 2330 Disco Hour

The lion, pilfering the audience's belongings.

The MCs, Sadeque and Tracy. Reminds me of the good old days when I used to one of them, sigh.

Mr Michael Yei giving his speech.

The infamous troupe.

The Lion King.

Kung Pow

Eek

Jon on stage

Mubah and the guys on stage (Mubah, Emmanuel & Ian totally made the crowd go wild)

The awards for the night:

1st place: Chicken Little (Jean's group)

2nd place: Still Thinking (Elizabeth's group)

3rd place: Undecided (Malini's group)

Best Actor: Isaac ("Two Survivors")

Best Actress: Leong Shan Shan ("Chicken Little")

Best Counsellor: Elizabeth

This year around, the judges heaved sighs of relief upon realizing that all those previous purveyors of polymorphous androgyny had been captured and locked away in a place unknown to everyone else.

The acting quality has improved a lot this year, and the students did not have to resort to using what one former judge termed as "cheap thrills" (the buzzword for the May 2005 "Talent Night") to show off their talents this time.

"All the groups did great... except for Galvin's group!" Reuben walked up on stage and quipped (He loves quipping people directly, doesn't he? Maybe you shouldn't have printed out his funny face picture and displayed it on stage, Galvin.).

Well, actually, Galvin's group did well by daringly portraying the dark side of society past, present and future. It's just that the current society could not and will not be able to openly acknowledge the presence of such perversity in their lives- hence the low marks allotted for the performance. Furthermore, the props used should've just remained in a bedroom, and not take centrestage within a college. I shan't explain further. Your parents might be reading this (oh no...).

With all the prizes, certificates and souvenirs given away (the judges received a little souvenir each), a few groups of students then decided to hang out at the ETC (the only place to be- I mean, like, where else could there be?). It was Mr Michael's treat that night.

Let's see how the "Orientation Night" will turn out to be this time of the year.

The American Degree Program students at the "Song Dedication" booth.

"Nilai International College is organising a Speak English Campaign from the 17th February 2006 till the 23rd February 2006.
To launch the campaign, a forum will be held on Friday, 17th February 2006. The forum, entitled 'Do It All in English', is meant for all Nilai International College staff.
Panel members include Vice-President (Academic), Vice-President (Administration) and HOD (Languages & General Studies)."

I attended the talk. It was 3.40 p.m. I walked in 10 minutes late. Dato' Dr. Sothi was already halfway through his speech when I entered the hall (L201).
The Vice-President (Academic), Dato' Dr. Sothi, and Vice-President (Administration), Mr. Gan Eng Hong, were the panel members, along with Pn. Sha and Dr. Yap.
Just about 15 minutes ago before the start of the event, my boss reminded all of us once again in the office to go support the event (her first reminder came in the morning). I left the office, along with my two other colleagues.
When I entered the hall, my two colleagues mysteriously vanished and left me wondering as to what I was doing there, sitting at the front row. I was late and very much conspicuous to the rest of the crowd consisting of lecturers (and Mr. Michael of DSR)- not forgetting the four panel members briefing the audience on the importance of the campaign. I was alone (and all freaked out).

It makes you feel somewhat queasy entering a hall in full view of the others when you're already, like, 10 minutes late, and there's this totally smart academician out there halfway through with his talk =P

Pn. Sha commended the ELS members for the tremendous effort put in to make the campaign a success (Note: Only college staffs were present at the hall during the forum). She briefed the audience as to what the students from other programmes have planned to carry out during the "Speak English": campaign. I remembered her talking about a "Song Dedication" activity carried out by the ADP students as I had taken their photo yesterday evening before "Talent Night" (more of my junk on last night's "Talent Night" later). She spoke well of all the students involved in the campaign.

Mr. Edward, the person in charge of the Hospitality Department, went up to air his views about the campaign after Dr. Yap gave her talk.
Not too long after that, Mr. Tan SY, the Manager of Government & PR, was invited to share his vast working experience with the audience. He told us a story about one China boy, Zhong Zhi Yuan (sounded something like that), who came to Nilai International College in the year 2001 without much basic English language skills. With Mr. Tan's guidance, ZZY improved on his English language skills, transferred to the United Kingdom to study in the year 2002 and is currently working there. It was a "from zero to hero" type of a story, I told myself.
Halfway through Mr. Tan's talk, my head started to spin. Last night's outing with the students after the "Talent Night" finally took its toll on me. After Mr. Tan ended his talk, I quickly left the hall before the forum ended.
Rude, I know- but just like in a dramatic movie, I started to get a dramatic headache due to the late night outing with the students.
So, that's a little bit of news about the "Speak English" forum. Not able to tell you all as to what happened in the end, but I do know that Pn. Sha had said many nice things about the students during the forum, I'm serious.

HEARTS FOR SALE- The "Orientation Night: Where is the Love?" ticket booth.

Orientation Night is on 8th March 2006. Be there or else (or else what, I dunno).

* What could Shah be looking at?