The Good Old Days…?

Then & Now

Ten years down the road, I still think my student days were the best ever. The times we spent lepaking in college, Hari Kolej, co-op, trekking, mountain climbing…

Studying was secondary. I did it after midnight almost every day. Schedule was go to classes, petang labs, come back for a nap, play, hang out and THEN study… ha ha. Being practically penniless was hardly a hardship at the time. Life was good.

I was the couldn’t-care-less, laser mouthed weirdo who wore jeans all the time and cycled all over the place. Only got a motorcycle after my bike got stolen. Me wearing baju kurung earned stares from everyone in the dining hall, I kid you not.

Even then I loved the outdoor stuff – kayaking, mountain climbing, trekking, abseiling… We climbed up Gg Nuang in the middle of the night, we rafted all the way down to KT from Kuala Berang, we drank muddy water in Hutan Lipur Lentang… While many girls did it to be with their boyfriends while actually hating the forest, I really enjoyed being with nature.

I was hopeless in sports, though I trained for softball often enough. The only thing I ever got a medal in was tarik tali. Ha ha. Silat was a fleeting interest. It took me to Jakarta, but I quit soon after – the people were a little too bloodthirsty for a peace loving greenie like me.

I did well enough in my studies; some semesters better than most. Maybe I spent a little too much time socialising, but hey, I needed to feel wanted. Joined so many things I never really cared about. Kebudayaan? Like – why?? I can’t act, I can’t sing… Did a bit of writing, and editing for the college mag. The co-op became my ‘baby’ in my 2^nd year and I spent a lot of time running it. Such is the foolishness of youth. Wish I had taken the right course, but it’s a bit too late for regrets now. I’m where I want to be. Well, sort of…

Never got very far with boys in college – clueless is my name. *Wince* The first time a guy asked me out, I was so nervous I brought a chaperone. How dorky can you get?? And one time I had tea with this dude and I got so animated I spilled my teh O ais. Ouch. Needless to say, my ‘saham’ spiralled downwards ever since. Darn. Can’t say I’m any better on that score right now; barely know what to do with myself on a date. I’m only comfortable with old friends, so I hang out with dudes who don’t mind being seen with me. But as soon as they get proper girlfriends, I’d be on my own again. Not a very sustainable way to live, actually.

Guess I’m starting to miss the days when I was actually YOUNG. When I was much less overweight, had nice, blemish free skin and no grey hair. Those were the days when my ‘brothers’ would steal rambutan for me. When I had no care other than to make sure I submitted my assignments in time and didn’t flunk any papers.

Even flight attendants call me “Puan” now. Sigh. Do I look like I have 3 kids?