So I did a quiz in SP's mag that supposedly can direct you to the specifc course types of your style, and found out (quite unsurprisingly) that I had practically no Fs (which points towards science courses). In fact, majority was Es, which is... language, of course. School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences. Very unsurprising. Or as uncle KC said, "that's the correct one what." LOL.

Given that more than half of my answers to the quiz were really what I thought I'd do if the scenario ever happened, I assumed it to be fairly accurate. So I dug up the three courses under that school, and whittled the options down to two:

Diploma in Creative Writing for TV & New Media
First off, I've never really honed my scriptwriting skills since I prefer florid descriptions that totally bamboozle me with their incredibly fluid vocab, but I'm willing to give this a shot. And, like, hey - the Story Classics Heroes Myths Legends module totally made me go wtf I want this NOW. The storytelling module isn't so appealing, but I find it far better than the drama one. There's a teeny weeny bit of psychology in there too. And, Research and Interview techniques? Cool. Writing documentary scripts? How very interesting.

Plus the job scope looks a lot better than the psychology one; there's sub-editors, researchers, news correspondents and of course I can branch into journalism, which I don't really want since I've this problem with hearing & remembering what people say (lol). I wanted copyediting, but... hmm, this'll do too.

Diploma in Applied Drama and Psychology
While the modules of this course interest me more since there's psychology involved, the job scope doesn't. I ain't interested in working as a youth worker or educational & outreach officers, for example. Studying psychology is great and all, but the drama modules really put me off. Sure, I like writing stories, but... this doesn't seem to be my style.

And thus, tentatively, I settle on Creative Writing for TV & New Media instead. Since I'm actually a little excited about this course, I take that as a good sign. But we shall see what happens during the open house... and, of course, my results, aaahhh.

Now I shall play DA. Ohoho. *runs*

Thanks to having not touched HTML in a couple of months, I spent about 5 hours messing around with the code of this skin. The image was easy-peasy since I didn't quite abandon photoshop altogether. The HTML was not since my skills are rusty. So I stuck with the simple stuff.

Oh well. At least it's a refreshing theme change, no? And in line with Christmas... somewhat, anyway.

Right, now that this is finally done, I can move on, give the CPU a break while I spend time with daddy God, and then marathon Dragon Age or something. Oho. Ho. :D

Btw, if anyone has glittery silver accessories, lemme know. I'm lookin' to borrow a few for our item. :)

EJ5 is the most awesome camp ever! :D

But before I start rambling, lemme point out a few things:

1) It's my first time wearing a cap and mum said I looked like a vagabond. LOL. How sad. Seems like caps ain't my thing, eh?

2) I know what pastor said about having a spirit of thanksgiving, but I just have to complain about this. I've been itching to do so. CURSE GLOBAL WARMING, PEOPLE! Two years ago we could've gone WWW for a whole day without being sunburned to a crisp, but times are different now. It takes just three hours for my skin to go as red as a lobster's; not to mention the sun's rays seem to be practically radiating fire these days.

And this is Singapore! This isn't Australia or Penang, where the sun is incredibly & unbelievably hot. SG's sun was always friendly. Not anymore. Lol. Curse you, CFC. Thanks to you & your friends, my face and arms feel like they're covered with crumpled sheets of paper instead of nice, smooth skin.

So. With that done, I suppose I should get on with recording down everything God's done for me in this camp, no?

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Well, to be honest I wasn't really looking forward to EJ camp, seeing how obsessed I was with Dragon Age (I still like it; am still gonna play it, but am so not gonna obsess over it). Aaaaand I didn't really prepare for the camp. Didn't even skim through the verses that are the camp's theme. Didn't even think about or tell God what I wanted out of this.

But daddy God's always faithful, even when I'm not. He gave me more than I could ever ask for.

The first day was, well, fun? Outdoor games, own-time-own-target activity at Wild Wild Wet (and basking in the sun, waiting for the wave pool to start up was probably what gave me the worst of the sunburn), and then our first camp service. I wasn't really expecting anything, actually.

But as we went into worship, it crossed my mind that it'd been a while since I'd been really touched by the presence of God. Serving in choir means you don't exactly cry while worshipping (though after stepping forward to serve, I find I see His love in many other ways), but it still feels good to be touched by Him after all, the loving, sweet and direct way.

So, yeah. That thought flitted away as quickly as it came, but by the time pastor was ministering to us, I was bawling my eyeballs out. Uh, not really. I wasn't sobbing, but it was like someone turned on an invisible tap, and I couldn't stop the tears. Not that I wanted to, anyway. On the first night it was impartation of the spirit of wisdom.

I didn't really hear what pastor said to me, but actions speak louder than words. When he held my hand I just felt this warmth blossoming in my heart, like a revelation that hey, God's been holding my hand all this while. He's been here all the time, knowing, understanding, loving me, even when I complain to Him about all the irritating things in my life. Something was imparted; I don't know what, but it'll show itself in the qarah moment. At that point, all that mattered was... Him and me.

Day two was more outdoor games, and looking at my sunburnt skin, I was all, oh God, spare me. He didn't. Haha. But it could've been worse if not for the clouds that cheerfully drifted past the sun, giving us shade. The indoor game was equally fun, though. Lots of cheers and laughter. We had service in the morning, and this time the ministering was for a fresh touch of daddy God's love. I was again bawling my eyeballs out by the time pastor called for this, and didn't really feel the need to go, so I didn't. People were being slain by the spirit, one by one... it was beautiful, and heartwarming.

Then the sec 4s were asked to do something unheard of before this. We were asked to lay hands on the current primary sixes; the soon-to-be sec 1s. I was like, what? Are you serious? Us? Lay hands? I've never done that before. But I know that laying hands is one powerful way of imparting and ministering to others. Pastor Benjamin wanted us to impart all that God had given us to the sec 1s-to-be. I was... to say the least, stressed. Lol.

But as I stood before this adorable little P6 girl (who was staring at me as if I was about to offer her up as a sacrifice or something) and worshipped the Lord, I just found myself recalling all the events of the past four years: how, despite not attending church for my first two years of sec sch life, God protected me. How, in sec 3, He used our DGL to speak words that hit home so hard, that were so exact - despite the fact that she didn't know a single thing about what I fretted over - it both hurt me and made me feel so touched, loved and relieved that there was someone who actually knew, understood what I was going through, what I felt.

I remembered all the times I felt lonely and sang random songs to God or simply sat there emo-ing; all the seriously stupid things I did in sec 2 while crushing on some guy... when pastor told us to lay hands on them, the words came so naturally. I prayed over her, and the words weren't my own. It wasn't a script. Honestly speaking, I can't really remember what I said, though I recall the general idea. It feels amazing, though, to lay hands on another and know that an impartation has taken place, that it's the power of God.

At night, what was supposed to be another service became instead three hours of praise & worship. Woohoo! We went wild. Running all over the place; dancing like idiots; holding hands, forming a circle and going round and round... every adult who was there agrees we're crazy. And far too energetic too. I cried again during worship; it was almost as if God was making up for all the times I could've enjoyed His presence and didn't, turning instead to the things of the world.

Yep yep. After the extended P&W, the six of us Reuel girls were out the moment we hit the bed. Lol. On the last day we had the most awesome service ever. P&Wed again, and pastor shared an amazingly relevant message that just hit home for many of us. He talked about the Father's love, and later called for those whose relationships with their fathers were, well, not as they desired.

God wanted to heal and restore this relationship. I felt like going up, though I didn't know exactly why. In the end it didn't matter, because when I went up there, it wasn't that which I wept for. Daddy God showed me something else altogether (who knows what? Why should I reveal details? Heh).

He tenderly opened my eyes to the fact that I'd blinded myself for so long. I was holding on to a lie all along, and that was why the hurt couldn't heal. In that same instant He gave me the love and desire to forgive, truly and completely. That's what I did. I cried and cried and cried like a faulty tap turned on. Pastor also said we should do something else too. I may, or may not, do that. We shall see. :)

That wasn't the end of it, though. After that he called for an impartation of the spirit of sonship, and up again we went! Thus began another round of crying, lol. This was the one ministering that stayed the freshest in my mind because it was the one that broke me down completely. The words that coach L said were so real, so needed, so relevant that when she was done I just turned and hugged the random server who was standing behind me in case I got slain (which I didn't), and sobbed until my eyes couldn't even open properly. The feeling was just... so beautiful, so warm, so gentle, tender and loving yet powerful, all at the same time. To say it's wonderful beyond words is an understatement.

So, yes. Cried some more after I broke away from the server whose name I never got, sadly enough. Lol. The worship team started singing Daddy God after I thought I'd finally stopped crying. I bawled again! Lol. The words are beautiful, so true and so very annointed.

Throughout those three days, each time they sang this song I'd start crying within four lines of the song. Until the very last night, when I was finally able to worship God with this song without bawling my eyeballs out in the process. Ahaha. Even now, though, the lyrics touches my heart in a way that reminds me of daddy God's perfect love and perfect embrace.

There was no lights-out for the last night, so we sat around and shared, listened to each other's testimonies and revelations. It's heartwarming to see what God's doing in both mine, and everyone else's lives. It's all different, it's all personal. But we all have a unique, divine calling in God, after all.

Someone asked me why (paraphrased) I preferred EJ camp to a school camp, what the differences were, and why I felt the former was better. My response came off the top of my head, but during the camp I found myself reflecting deeper on that. I had many reasons, many explanations, but I couldn't find a sweet and simple way to express it.

On the way back today, a brother gave me the words I sought. He said (paraphrased), "our worldly friends think that school camps are fun. That's because they don't know what the real fun is. That's why we're bored when we go to school camps, because we know what the real fun is. They don't understand it at all."

EJ camp is so different from others because Jesus is brought into the picture. And when Jesus is brought into the picture, there is only joy, peace and happy endings. And singing & dancing in the house of the Lord, of course. :D

But above all, unlike school camps, EJ camps are life-changing. When we walk out of the camp we know we're never the same again. We know God has imparted things to us, things that will prepare us for our trials and our future. We have a fresh revelation of daddy God's love; we feel it all over again. And that changes us, too. Bondages are broken; we're set free. We know we're loved; we find our identity not in the things of the world, but in Christ. All these revelations change us; change our lives.

I wouldn't attend a camp that doesn't benefit me. Orientation camps only benefit me in that I might make some friends before school begins, but - what's wrong with being alone? My identity isn't based on how many friends I'm surrounded by when I step into my new school, whatever it is. Now I know I'm never alone, even if it might seem like it to others.

I believe student-initiated camps have their fun moments. Campfires are always funny occasions, but they can never compare with the electrifying atmosphere of P&W; the life-changing grace of God; the Jesus-given joy we play our games and worship with. It isn't about us. It's about the one who gave His life for us, who loved us long before we loved him. And that's enough for me. His perfect love casts out all fear. :)

Right, I suppose I should end off, hmm? Here's a song, yay!



Friends are Friends Forever
Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

To live as friends

Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

No a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

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If we'd sung this for graduation, I would surely have bawled my eyes out because it's too beautiful. Haha.

And now that the equipping session is over, it's time for the real battle. :D

After having my main character (MC) spend a night with the royal bastard who was raised by dogs in her tent...
Alistair: "You do know that the rest of our little party is going to talk, don't you?"
MC: "First smart comment and I feed them to the darkspawn."
Alistair: (smug tone) "See? This is why I love you."

Orzammar town crier: "News of the hour! The disgraced Lord Harrowmont's followers take to the streets; pandemonium increases by ten percent!"

MC: "Tell me about the Qunari."
Sten: "No."
MC: "What? Why not?"
Sten: "You cannot define people in the manner of "the elves are a lithe, pointy-eared people who excel at poverty"."

Leliana: "A dress... silk. No, velvet. Red velvet, to keep you warm against the cold of Ferelden. But low-cut in the front, to show off your features."
Morrigan: "Stop looking at my breasts, it's disturbing."

Alistair: (paraphrased) In the underground city of Orzammar... "That's a lot of lava. I guess they just hope no one falls in."

Sten: "I don't understand. You look like a woman."
MC: "Are you flirting with me, Sten?"
Sten: "Flirting? I don't know this word. Speak the common tongue."

Alistair: "So... have you ever licked a lamppost in winter?"

And that's less than half of the number of conversations in-game that made me roar with laughter. Given that the game's main setting is that of a kingdom engulfed in civil war and threatened with annihilation by means of a Blight, the numerous bits of comedy relief is amazing. Every character has hilarious moments. Damn.

I have every intention of playing DA through a thousand times just to try every possible option...

Alex - LOL, same. Either that or making sure there's a fan wherever we are. XD

Ah, the hot week is over - well, not that I prefer the aftermath of the monsoon season, given that it flooded BT road some time ago. I suppose it's a good thing I didn't go out that day. Otherwise... hmm, I might have something to complain about. Heh.

The lift broke down while we were having lunch today. We stood at the lobby like fools for five minutes while the lift happily remained at the 3rd floor. So, X and I had to climb ten freaking storeys, two staircases for every level, back home. Geez! How exhausting. And since I'm a particularly lazy lazy bum, climbing stairs - let alone ten storeys - is a massive exertion on my part. How tiring.

I'm so grateful we didn't manage to get an apartment at like, the 22nd storey or something. Now that would be a killer. I ain't an athlete. And SG isn't exactly... cooling.

*fans self*

And it's the humid kind of hot. *sighs* Oh well, that's the little red dot for me. Shopping centers and bubble tea are excellent balms when it's one of those sweltering hot days.

Plus, I haven't written a thing since my last C85 post until now! *gasps* And writing isn't like swimming or bicycle-riding - it does need to be honed, and maintained. In fact the best thing to do for maintenance is to write everyday. Oh noez! It's true, actually, I wrote a post earlier and noted the differences... *sighs* Stupid Dragon Age. Reading just isn't the same as writing.

Oh well. Camp's coming soon; I'm both pissed and excited. Lol. Pissed, because that means approx. four days of no comp (not that it mattered during EJ4); excited, because it's EJ camp we're talking about, not some pathetic orientation camp (I have every intention of skipping the JC/poly orientation camp next year. Seriously. Orientation camps suck, especially the student-organized ones. It isn't horrible; it's just frightening and I'd rather not have fun out of fear. Ugh.).

And, what happened to my Microsoft Word? AJJ seems to have replaced it with something else. Hmmmm... wonder where's the spellcheck function...