Catch Up

Man, it has been a long time since I've written on this blog. I've been so busy (and really exhausted), but now that iGCSEs are over I think I can finally catch up on everything as I was suddenly inspired to document everything, once again! There has been a few big events and a few little events that I'd like to share so here goes nothing... *I've hyperlinked the "bigger events" where I've written a completely seperate post about!*

Start of Year 11 

It was a rather interesting start, filled with lots of music related events. I grew closer to my performing arts family as we went through a lot together, from being forced to join an eca together to performing together.

November Assessments 

This was relatively stressful and took up quite some time! I'm glad it all worked out well.
Apart from that, we had our year assembly and I got a little solo in singing "Count On Me" by Bruno Mars.

Recital 

I performed "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse with one of the most talented friends I know and it was wonderful. My dad came and it was just a ball of fun.

Bangkok

read more about it here

Mocks 

The entirety of December in 2016 was basically spent studying for my mock exams, apart from a little trip. It was stressful and I fell ill during New Years but I'm glad it all worked out well and I was really happy with my forecast results.

Chinese New Year

As Mocks came to an end, Lunar New Year approached! I didn't journey back to my dad's hometown this year but I had an incredible time nonetheless. It was so relaxing and I spent time with people I absolutely love and got to get all dolled up!

read more about it here

UK 

read more about it here

iGCSE Music Recordings

This was a relatively time consuming week, though I learnt so much from it and got to know people better. We had to do two compositions and two practicals (one solo, one ensemble). Stress was emerging but I'm glad we all managed to get through it together.

My solo piece: "Audition (Fools Who Dream)" - La La Land
My ensemble: "The Letter" - Billy Elliot
First composition: Minuet of the Flowers
Second composition: Clued-Up

Other Mid-After-Mocks-Before-iGCSEs Notes 

I went out with my fiends to watch Beauty and the Beast. I also got a henna.

Last Recital 

I performed "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele with my talented friend and it was wonderful. Though I messed up one line by singing different words, thankfully no one realised! My best friend and brother came and supported me, which was lovely.

   

Performing Arts Day

This was my last performing arts day and I had a great time. The day was lined up with events after events and I must say my favourites were the game show where I got to be an adjudicator with one of my friends and the big performance towards the end of the day. I got a little solo of singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, alongside with a mashup of "Wannabe" by Spice Girls and "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins. So much effort was put into it all, in terms of organising and rehearsing but I had so much fun. Throughout the week, before the day itself, was just filled with staying back after school, screaming on the top of my lungs in order to coordinate everything, fighting against other houses for practice rooms, and just pure energy.

The idea for our big performance was "Girl Power". The idea was developed by me and my house captains and it basically starts with an acoustic version of Girls just wanna have fun, where me and five other girls were in bath robes, dancing around and getting ready for work though we dreaded going to work. I got to wear a lovely pink bathrobe with our work clothes underneath, and at part where the lyrics sang "and when the working day is done" we take off the bathrobes. Then after a dialogue of "oh no look at the time", followed by some other dialogue by the guys "flirting" with the girls, Wannabe starts, and it's just pure sass in the work place saying girls stick together. Finally, footloose starts it's a lot of choreography was put into it. Though there was so slight issues with coordinating the music and the band and lack of practice, I'm still proud of everyone and glad we managed to (kind of) pull through. 

Last Day of School 

I think we all cried enough tears to take a shower in. Emotions practically drowned us as we said our goodbyes to the last 8 years of our lives (maybe more for some). The one thing that hit me hard was saying goodbye to the music room I grew up in and my performing arts family and friends.

   

iGCSEs 

Stress. I'll spare you the gruesome details but I tried my best to keep it together.
It stretched over a month and my first paper was math where I sat in front, right in front of the air condition. I had to find a jumper! Apart from that I sat at the back of the hall, on the first row, right next to the window.

Basically, this month was spent burying my head in books, notes, past year papers and sitting in prep rooms getting ready to sit for the exam. Oh, and writing my candidate number, centre number and praying (trying not to cry).

Little Post iGCSEs Entertainment

My last paper was music but before that I had a week break! So after my add math paper, I went shopping with my mum! The next day, I finally went out for dinner with my family at a delicious Japanese place. Not only that, but I stayed up till 3am cleaning up my walldrob (I missed my annual christmas cleanup as I was busy with mocks). I watched some glee too!
Apart from that, on Saturday I went out for Dim Sum with my family and a little bit of shopping (prom shopping). I also got to do my nails (gel nails), on Wednesday, with my best friend as we were both having prom on the same day, just different places. We went in the afternoon (she had a paper) and I watched dance videos and Ed Sheeran's carpool karaoke whilst waiting.

Of course I studied music throughout the week; watching YouTube videos on Music Listening Practices, Dictation, Italian Terms, Cadences and Intervals, as well as making do with the little past years practices and mark schemes I had. A funny memory during the music paper was me covering my nails, afraid that people would notice. It was completely okay though, hehe!

Prom 

read more about it here

Thailand 

read more about it here

Roadtrip 

After arriving back from Thailand, I had two days to rest (Thursday and Friday). I spent the two days just catching up on TV and Youtube! I watched 13 reasons why, glee, childhood TV shows and etc. Early on Saturday morning, we headed back to my dad's hometown. I felt so at home and comfortable. My dad had a primary school reunion so my mum and I went shopping, had a lovely dinner and listened to some live music at the hotel. I even requested a song (A Team by Ed Sheeran) where I got to harmonise and have fun! The next day was super relaxed, we packed up, had breakfast at a local coffee shop with my parent's friends (we had to pass them some body shop goodies to take home) and followed by another fancier coffee place with extragent coffee - watching the preparation of the coffee made me feel as if I was performing a chemistry experiment. Once we arrived home, we celebrated Father's Day with a lovely dinner at my favourite Italian place with my family! Indeed a week to be grateful for.

Internship 

read more about it here