Jessup

It seems rather strange reminiscing about Jessup, particularly after coming back from Hong Kong. In hindsight, it was an excellent idea going through such a vigorous training process for IHL International; it sure didn't feel that way at that time, though.

I think everyone who was with me or who met me during the preparation for Jessup could see what a toll trying to juggle 2 major competitions was having on me. I remember feeling tired all the time, and the fear of flopping miserably in both competitions was never far away.

To make matters worse, we had the craziest bus ride ever down to UKM. The freakin' bus broke down, making us spend 14 hours on the road. We arrived 9 hours before the start of the competition: crazy tired, a little down-hearted, and not having gone through our finalized oral submissions at all. That was madness; kudos to the whole team for making a gargantuan final effort, even if it meant sleeping at 4am.

On the competition proper, though, it was a good experience facing UDM and UM, and an especial privilege getting to moot against UiTM, the eventual winners of the competition. I am especially proud of Danie; I knew that she wasn't feeling particularly well and she was extremely worn out, but she gave an amazing performance against UiTM in our final round which would hold us in good stead for the IHL International still to come.

I managed to nab 4th spot on the overall mooters performance, which isn't bad. It still felt quite disappointing as I would have dearly loved to have gotten my furry paws on the Best Oralist prize. Ish.

I think the team as a whole, and Danie and myself in particular, can honestly say that we really learnt a whole lot from this competition even if we didn't do particularly well as a team. It really didn't feel like that at the end of Jessup, though, as we were really exhausted, demoralized and not looking forward at all to Hong Kong; we were really expecting to go there and get creamed. Badly.

At the end of Jessup, I definitely was not feeling happythankyoumoreplease; it was more ohmygodpleasethatsenoughfornowkthankskbye. And the thought always on my mind was: 'Hong Kong is only 4 days away'.

4 freakin' days, my God.

That overwhelming sense of impending doom hung over us, as you can imagine, all the way back from UKM on the bus. Thank God things do not always turn out the way we expect them to, ya? =)

More next time.

The Hurt Locker!

Every year, usually around December-February, I'll begin downloading the most critically acclaimed movies of the year (Oscar nominees are usually a priority), as well as great movies from years past which I have missed. This year, I only began my search in February, and to date I only lack Precious from my Oscar nominees collection.

I haven't really had the time to watch any movies at all due to my hectic involvement in IHL, Jessup and IHL International. From the Oscar nominees, I have seen Avatar, Up, Up In The Air, District 9, The Blind Sideand Inglourious Basterds - from this lot, Up In The Air is my favourite (George Clooney, in particular, was excellent), followed closely by District 9.

However, I don't think anybody can say they were too surprised by this year's Best Picture winner. This is one movie I have been saving for a special occasion, when the time is just right, to savor and experience it properly.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:

Yay, Kathryn Bigelow! And take that, you arrogant blue-man-loving-i-am-king-of-the-freakin'-world-tree-huggin.. er... er.. man!

The Hurt Locker FTW!

Mooting, Dinner, Man-Love and Loud Indian Music.

As I type this, it is 12.36am and I am exhausted to the core of my being. Ming, Yumi, Ken, Danie and I (the Jessup-ers!) have just completed 2 brutal days of mooting preparation. Dr Ahmad Mahsum has been incredibly gracious, giving us his most of his night time this week in helping us prepare. Hopefully our performances this weekend can live up to his (and everybody else’s) expectations.

Yesterday’s session lasted an overall of around 8 hours, while today’s session was a superduperhardcoregilababiultimate 13 hours, starting from 11am till nearly 12 midnight, with the only break coming at dinner time.

Speaking of dinner, a big THANK YOU to Amos for getting some of the guys over to Kachi for a time of food and fellowship. I reallyreallyreally wanted to get some rest after finishing the afternoon Jessup practice, but I am very glad I kept the dinner appointment. Amos, Simon, Foo and Che Ping, that 1 hour really gave me the boost I needed to keep pushing hard. Thank you guys so much for the company and the h_r_m MAN-LOVE encouragement. =D You guys are the best! I wish you guys all the best in pursuing your 1+2 degrees, ya, haha... (For Tok, I think it should be 1+3 degree!)

Well, the Jessup competition begins this weekend – 72 hours time.

****.

All our plans of alternating Jessup and IHL training has basically gone out the window because I think we severely underestimated how much work Jessup was going to require. I think we have managed to nail our arguments, more or less; it is now a matter of trying to iron out our presentations and striving to be, like Dr Mahsum always says: per-suuuuuaaaaaaaaa-sive. And so it all begins again at 12pm tomorrow, live from Cengkeh cafe.

I don’t know how much more persuasive we can get in 3 days, but I do know that at this point in time, my bed is making a very persuasive and eloquent speech to me about the benefits of sleep.

And my neighbours are bleeping blasting their bleeping Indian music as loud as their bleeping speakers will bleeping allow.

Wow.

Fan-freakin’-tastic.

NOThappythankyoumoreplease, you crazy inconsiderate ********s!

Inspiration!

I love my FGC CHANGLOON friends! =)

I was chatting with Foo (Tok Guru, Mr. Hot Like Sugar), and was sharing with him how I am finding it a real struggle to motivate myself to pick up and read the Jessup materials, even though the competition starts next Saturday (having to complete a Professional Practice I assignment AND prepare for IHL HK is also not helping).

His response?

Tok: mana tau... win again

Joshua T.: If I win again, I'll faint. Means end of March must go to Washington DC.

Tok: wah.... cun lah can go US. A lot of ang moh haha

Joshua T.: Alot of ang moh BABES!

Tok: yeah baby tis is the spirit

Later...

Tok: i wonder isit rite 2 encourage u using tis reason

Hahaha! Cantik, Tok! You're the best, man! Don't worry, any reason to get me motivated for Jessup is fine by me!

happythankyoumoreplease, Tok!

For me: listen.

He has made my mouth like a sharp sword;
In the shadow of His hand He has hidden me,
And made me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden me.

Isaiah 49:2

Literature no.1

I don't want to be a tree, I want to be its meaning.

As I watched Black walking before me, however, I knew with utmost certainty that none of this would happen. It was all illusion. Black Effendi was more real than I. It happens to us all: In reaction to being overly logical we'll feed fantasies for weeks and years on end, and one day we'll see something, a face, an outfit, a happy person, and suddenly realize that our dreams will never come true.

My Name Is Red, Orhan Pamuk.

Post no.1

I think the reason why I am starting to blog now is because my life seems to be pitching forward crazily, rushing inexorably towards a destination I cannot yet see. And maybe blogging will allow me to capture quick snapshots along this mad rush of forward momentum, that at the end of it all I will be able to look back and say,"Here I am and this is how I got here."

The biggest things that are occupying my mind right now are the Jessup moot competition in UKM on the 27-28th of February and the International Humanitarian Law moot competition in the National University of Hong Kong on the 5-6th of March. The cases, the principles, the arguments, the sheer amount of WORDS: it is all a medley of madness.

God, HELP ME. I fear I may have bitten off more than I can chew and I can't do this alone.

happythankyoumoreplease.