Meiyi (Malaysia), Tanawat (Thailand), Kanyanat (Thailand), Ruth (China), Sarah (Yemen), Isabela (Brazil)
Dhaneshree (India), Saba (India), Me, Rozanne (Belgium), Rajab (Pakistan), Maggie (Hong Kong), Patricia (Hong Kong), Nataly (Belarus)
Me, Nataly, Maggie, Veronika, Patricia
Front: Ayaka, Faustina and I
Back: Kristaps, Augustine and Martynas
The SPOTLIGHT is on GIAN!!!!! Soon to be the WINNNNNNEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!! (This photo was taken before the finals, after the first round where he was announced to be one of the finalist). He was an awesome speaker, I really enjoyed his speech so much. =) "To every question there is and answer. To every problem there is a solution." said with a genuine Philipine accent as he mimicked his Math teacher. He took a topic that would usually not appeal to the general audience, scientific research, and made it so funny and so nice and at the same time personalised and thoroughly enjoyable. It was the best ever talk on science that I have ever heard!! Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus! I'll always remember that =) Go Gian!!! U deserved the win!!! =) Absolutely brilliant! He wants to take biochemistry in university. Speaking to him, I noticed that he is really smart, at the same time very humble, easy to talk to, and a really really nice guy overall. =)
We did our best, both Faustina and I didn't forget our lines. Nor did we stumble. Unfortunately, only two from each group in the heats would go through to the finals, and it was not either one of us. =( Martin and Jad got to the finals for heat 2 (Our group). We had the round in the long drawing room in Darthmouth House. I think everyone would remember Martin's speech for how humourous it was. "The only attractions are holes in the ground... oh that is so.... BIGGGGG.....and soooo... DEEEP." Lol. It was definitely one of the more enjoyable speeches of the day. If you don't want to live in a distant planet (mars), then take care of this blue green earth or all you''ll have is holes in the ground (craters) to look at. Jad was talking about racism. How what he did as a small boy and how the situation is like now in his country and his world. The airports in Lebanon were closed due to riots and he said that while we are all returning to our homes, he might just not be able to. I hoped he did get back safely. "Those who criticize you most loves you most" or something like that was one of the lines that I remember. It was a good speech, a very different one from Martin's and it really does touch on people's emotions. I know I felt it =) Right after the heats, Jad spoke to me. He said it was a good speech but there was only one problem. When I had an opened hand gesture, the whole room could see the words that I wrote on my palm to prompt me. I was allowed cue cards, but I just did not want to use them! I hated having things in my hands, I will just fidget and fiddle with them. But I was so afraid that I would forget that I wrote in the most brilliant blue ink the first few words of every sentence. I didn't realise till Jad told me, and then I laughed and laughed about it. Then I went to the washroom and tried to wash the ink off. I tried soap, I tried scrubbing, I tried rubbing, I even tried scratching it off. And it wouldn't come off! Sure it faded a little, but it was still there, as unmistakable as ever, the blue blue blue ink! lol. Should have taken a photo. Something to laugh about =p lol
After lunch at Darthmouth House, we headed over to the US Embassy for the finals of the competition. We had to wait a very very long time to get through security. No cameras or mobile phones and other electronic devices were allowed. I brought nothing but my passport and purse. The most amusing thing was when the competition was just over, all the cameras and camera phones sprung up! I thought we weren't allowed them lol. We sat by alphabetical order of our countries. I enjoyed the speeches very much. The finalists were: Augustine(Romania), Kanyanat (Thailant), Michal (Poland), Dobri (Bulgaria), Martin (Argentina), Jad (Lebanon), Catherine (China) and Gian (Philipines). Before, or perhaps in between (I cannot really remember exactly when), Rajab was expressing some of his disappointment about not being up there in the first row, while Martynas was reprimanding (I would say he was) him. Truth was, I kinda felt the same way Rajab did. I guess it's only human. But listening to the speeches of the finalists actually made me feel much much better. Michelle from Denmark who sat in front of me said that she liked my speech. =) I cannot tell you how much that statement actually made the whole day just turn around from darkness to light. At least it made me feel like I did give it my best shot , and with that I could really smile and enjoy the speeches. =) Kanyanat's (or as we call her, Natty, or Ty) speech was the highlight of the day. "No condom protects the heart." Now that was the quote of the day. Or probably the quote of this year's ESU international public speaking competition!! No one will EVER forget that phrase. She was really brave to choose a topic of "talking to prevent teenage sex", which of course was very controversial, and there were people who agreed wholeheartedly, people who disagreed wholeheartedly, people (like me) who was amused with the different reactions of others. She did a good job, I thought, even with a topic that brought about quite adverse reaction like hers. =p I think all of them did a good job :) After tea, the announcement of results commenced. First place went to Gian from Philipines which I mentioned earlier in this post. Second was Kanyanat from Thailand, and again the quote of the day "no condom protects the heart" was reiterated. The best non-native speaker went to Dobri from Bulgaria who spoke about bicycle pathways and how people should use bicycles instead of the modern vehicles for it reduces the environmental impact and solves health problems. I liked the idea he used of how regressing back to a slightly more primitive mode of transportation would paradoxically be a new frontier. Reminds me of a comic illustration I saw once, comparing Malaysia and Germany. 60 years ago, the comic script went. Malaysia was portrayed as a village where people went around in bicycles and Germany with their black automobiles. 60 years later today, the comic script showed: Malaysia with our myriad cars and congested traffic, and Germany with bicycles! Intriguing, a paradox yet so absolutely true! Martin was the audience choice. Before even the results were announced I think Rajab predicted that Gian would win and Martin would get audience choice. =) Right on the dot is his prediction.
I overheard a remark by Alexey (I think it was), saying that for sure someone is going to say "you are all winners" during the announcements of the results. Sure enough, as the announcement was ongoing... that prediction came true exactly as he said... "you are all winners". *grins* I couldn't help a chuckle when I heard that.
Next stop: China Town ==> THIS IS WHERE THE FUN STARTS!!! Competition is OVER!! The pressure is OFF!! Now all we have to do is have FUN =)
Together with the new-found friends from Thailand, Hong Kong and China, we headed over to Chinatown. They were missing RICE. Haha it was just 4 days in London, and already I hear cries of delight when rice was served on the table. lol. Thanks for the treat =) The food was great! Even though we were in the heart of London, we had a chinese dinner like the ones we would get in a restaurant for a wedding dinner! A full course meal, with appetizers and dessert. =) Peanuts and tong shui =p
Patricia, Maggie, me, Natty, Ruth, Catherine
An addition of Tanawat, or as we call him, T. We were putting our hands to the first letter of our country. Notice that Ruth and Catherine had a "C" for China, Patricia and Maggie "h" for Hong Kong, I have an "M" in sign language for Malaysia . T seems to have transferred alliance to china? haha or maybe its C for chinatown! And Natty, well I don't see her hands in the photo. Maybe she has a "T" for Thailand hidden from the camera =p
That's Martin (Mars or Planet Earth?) at the back with outstreched hands.
In the front: Me, Catherine, Alliya (Pakistan) and Rakshita (Mauritus)
Gian with Isabela's shoes. Which went to his feet as he acted as Paula from American Idol.
Me and Joao
Rajab and Rozanne
Rajab, Rozane, Gian, Alliya and I
Everyone look up to the camera =) Someone said I looked like a GUY in this photo!!!
An awesome group photo =) I like this one.
Rakshita, Akhila and Jad. I decided to capture natural "in action" photos, just to capture the essence of the moment. We have had way too many posed photographs over the days.
Alexey, the admiral for the navy =p Jad and Isabela. Rakshita from MAURITUS (lots of repeats about Mauritus as she was trying to make Jad remember (I wonder if it was successful in the end? lol), did a good job of making me remember where she is from though), and Gian.
Gian, Ana, Akhila
Jad is singing!
And Jad is still singing ! =p
Gian, Michelle and Akhila
Ilya, Michal and Joao. I like these natural shots =)
With the two pretty Belarus girls =) I think they brought the most fashionable clothes and shoes to London =D
Gian!! The well deserved winner =) Professional photographer (well haven't seen his photographs but the camera looks professional haha)
Rajab =) I heart London =D A really awesome guy, so easy to talk to =)
Jad, me, Rajab, Meriem
Isabela!! =) Hey this girl doesn't only adore musicals, I bet she can act and sing in one splendidly as well... she has an amazing singing voice, and in this short while, she showed really awesome acting/ mimicking skills!! =) One day she will be someone famous is my prediction haha
That's sweet Jima from Mongolia
Tom from Aussie!
Daniel! Also an Australian. Its so funny how he looks like some alcoholic drinking from the bottle like that. Its JUICE =p *grins*. The other bottle tastes better. This red one is just sugar sweet water, or at least that's what it tasted like.
That's Ian from USA. He came over for a short while, and i offered him some marshmellow. lol. He has a really charming way of saying thank you. =p
Jima with me and Gian
Kristaps!!
Isabela, Elene, Kristaps and I
With Rozanne
With Meriem
After dinner we headed back to the hotel, just in time for me to get a quick shower and meet everyone else in the lobby at 9pm, the time we planned to all meet for the last time.
In the President Hotel Lobby, night of the day of the competition:
In the President Hotel Lobby, night of the day of the competition:
That's Martin (Mars or Planet Earth?) at the back with outstreched hands.
In the front: Me, Catherine, Alliya (Pakistan) and Rakshita (Mauritus)
Alas, instead of all agreeing to go somewhere together, everyone had different ideas. Some wanted to go to the pub, some wanted to go to a club, some wanted neither. So in the end we decided to split up. I was with those who wanted to go clubbing, so we set off. It was too early, and no club has opened yet, but we decided to check out the scene in London anyway. With us were Gian, Rajab, Ana, Akhila, Rakshita, Jad, Nataly, Veronika, Alexey, Ilya, Michal, Fares and Rozanne. (If I missed out someone, sorry!) Thus comes first amusing thing of the night. Apparently, Rajab was recommended this club by the hotel receptionist. It was supposedly a really great place. And so Rajab insisted that we go there. Which sounded like a brilliant plan... only that when we reached the place and stopped at the door, we saw these words "GAY BAR". Wahahahaahaha. I swear I couldn't stop laughing. Ana was like "we can go in there, but you guys are going to get raped/molested (or something like that, can't remember exactly)." LOL. It was really so funny. We did find another club, but then realised that some of us were underage and that some of us did not bring our IDs. Oh well, so we scrapped the idea, and just roamed the streets of London. We were in Convent Garden when we came across these awesome singer! His singing was so beautiful and his voice was amazing, we HAD to stay and listen! What is he doing singing in the streets??? His voice would make the most awesome record on CD! =) Of course live performance would be better, which we got the experience first hand. This guy could sing any type of song possible!!! He was just awesome. I think with the music, it lightened everyone's spirits, even those who really just wanted to dance it out in a club. Perhaps this was what made Jad high later. =p
And the highlight of the night was.... JAD form LEBANON!!! Haha. He suddenly decided that he will NOT talk, but SING every single word. lol Imagine in the morning he was all solemn and serious giving a very sad and emotional speech, and politely saying "Ladies and Gentlemen," in a coat and tie. And here we were singing and even skipping and dancing down the streets of London! LOL. The funny thing is, we didn't even look out of place as it was getting late, and people who were out in London were pretty much a tipsy bunch. However, we could get high without a drop of alcohol. =p Especially Jad. Perhaps London's oxygen is a little different at night and it makes us all high spirited. haha. Jad claims Mariah stole his voice and it is actually his voice that we hear when her songs are playing. And I swear I have never heard a guy with a range of vocals like Jad. He seriously can go many many many many many octaves higher than even a girl can!! But he has a good voice really =) And so does Rajab. These people can really sing haha. It was awesome! =) I had so much fun just walking down the streets. It's something I guess none of us would do back in our home countries. Imagine doing that in Malaysia. People would think we were crazy! We decided to go to Tesco and get some chips, chocolate, marshmellows and we got 2 bottles of juice. Haha. The bottles looked like alcoholic drinks, and even the colour. So when we got back, the other group who went to the pub also came back around the same time somewhat after we went back to the hotel, and asked us what that was. We got some interesting reactions when we told them it was juice. "Mickey mouse club" says Alliya, when we were asked by quite a few.... Hmmmm... Did I pick up some sarcastic vibes?? =p Mickey mouse club or not, it was great fun. People CAN have fun without CH2OH you know. And the chips tasted really good! I'm not sure if they were really as good as it felt, or it was just the awesome company that made it taste better than gold (if you can eat gold that is). We were talking and laughing so much, it was great fun =)
There we were in the hotel lobby having munching on junk food. The marshmellows were pink and white =p
Ewa came around at some point to give us a dose of Polish Vodka. It was really strong, and I couldn't take more than a sip, but it DOES taste a whole lot better than the cheap vodka Jordan made me drink pure during my bday last year haha.
Joao, Isabela and Gian decided to play Simon, Randy and Paula from American Idol (In that sequence). It was so funny, Isabela lent Gian her black high heels and Gian put them on and said "I love everybody". *Grins* It was a funny mimic and I really enjoyed it. I swear I haven't laughed like this for ages!
And the highlight of the night was.... JAD form LEBANON!!! Haha. He suddenly decided that he will NOT talk, but SING every single word. lol Imagine in the morning he was all solemn and serious giving a very sad and emotional speech, and politely saying "Ladies and Gentlemen," in a coat and tie. And here we were singing and even skipping and dancing down the streets of London! LOL. The funny thing is, we didn't even look out of place as it was getting late, and people who were out in London were pretty much a tipsy bunch. However, we could get high without a drop of alcohol. =p Especially Jad. Perhaps London's oxygen is a little different at night and it makes us all high spirited. haha. Jad claims Mariah stole his voice and it is actually his voice that we hear when her songs are playing. And I swear I have never heard a guy with a range of vocals like Jad. He seriously can go many many many many many octaves higher than even a girl can!! But he has a good voice really =) And so does Rajab. These people can really sing haha. It was awesome! =) I had so much fun just walking down the streets. It's something I guess none of us would do back in our home countries. Imagine doing that in Malaysia. People would think we were crazy! We decided to go to Tesco and get some chips, chocolate, marshmellows and we got 2 bottles of juice. Haha. The bottles looked like alcoholic drinks, and even the colour. So when we got back, the other group who went to the pub also came back around the same time somewhat after we went back to the hotel, and asked us what that was. We got some interesting reactions when we told them it was juice. "Mickey mouse club" says Alliya, when we were asked by quite a few.... Hmmmm... Did I pick up some sarcastic vibes?? =p Mickey mouse club or not, it was great fun. People CAN have fun without CH2OH you know. And the chips tasted really good! I'm not sure if they were really as good as it felt, or it was just the awesome company that made it taste better than gold (if you can eat gold that is). We were talking and laughing so much, it was great fun =)
There we were in the hotel lobby having munching on junk food. The marshmellows were pink and white =pEwa came around at some point to give us a dose of Polish Vodka. It was really strong, and I couldn't take more than a sip, but it DOES taste a whole lot better than the cheap vodka Jordan made me drink pure during my bday last year haha.
Joao, Isabela and Gian decided to play Simon, Randy and Paula from American Idol (In that sequence). It was so funny, Isabela lent Gian her black high heels and Gian put them on and said "I love everybody". *Grins* It was a funny mimic and I really enjoyed it. I swear I haven't laughed like this for ages!
Gian with Isabela's shoes. Which went to his feet as he acted as Paula from American Idol.
Me and Joao
Rajab and Rozanne
Rajab, Rozane, Gian, Alliya and I
Everyone look up to the camera =) Someone said I looked like a GUY in this photo!!!
An awesome group photo =) I like this one.
Rakshita, Akhila and Jad. I decided to capture natural "in action" photos, just to capture the essence of the moment. We have had way too many posed photographs over the days.
Alexey, the admiral for the navy =p Jad and Isabela. Rakshita from MAURITUS (lots of repeats about Mauritus as she was trying to make Jad remember (I wonder if it was successful in the end? lol), did a good job of making me remember where she is from though), and Gian.
Gian, Ana, Akhila
Jad is singing!
And Jad is still singing ! =p
Gian, Michelle and Akhila
Ilya, Michal and Joao. I like these natural shots =)
With the two pretty Belarus girls =) I think they brought the most fashionable clothes and shoes to London =D
Gian!! The well deserved winner =) Professional photographer (well haven't seen his photographs but the camera looks professional haha)
Rajab =) I heart London =D A really awesome guy, so easy to talk to =)
Jad, me, Rajab, Meriem
Isabela!! =) Hey this girl doesn't only adore musicals, I bet she can act and sing in one splendidly as well... she has an amazing singing voice, and in this short while, she showed really awesome acting/ mimicking skills!! =) One day she will be someone famous is my prediction haha
Some of the others came over at intervals.
That's sweet Jima from Mongolia
Tom from Aussie!
Daniel! Also an Australian. Its so funny how he looks like some alcoholic drinking from the bottle like that. Its JUICE =p *grins*. The other bottle tastes better. This red one is just sugar sweet water, or at least that's what it tasted like.
That's Ian from USA. He came over for a short while, and i offered him some marshmellow. lol. He has a really charming way of saying thank you. =p
Jima with me and Gian
Kristaps!!
Isabela, Elene, Kristaps and I
And some funny faces to spice things up a little =p
With Rozanne
With MeriemLol and WHY is my expression exactly the same in BOTH photos?? lol
I had a blast that last night with everyone else, and I'm sure most would agree. =) The next day everyone was off to their homestays, or to their other plans, and me to a hotel in Heathrow. No one wanted to go up really, but some of us were just too tired. Amazingly, for the FIRST time in London I was not sleepy nor was I tired. The last two to go up to bed was Rajab and I. It was already 5am, and technically the next morning. It was an awesome night, one that I shall remember for the rest of my life. I miss everyone already!!!!
I had a blast that last night with everyone else, and I'm sure most would agree. =) The next day everyone was off to their homestays, or to their other plans, and me to a hotel in Heathrow. No one wanted to go up really, but some of us were just too tired. Amazingly, for the FIRST time in London I was not sleepy nor was I tired. The last two to go up to bed was Rajab and I. It was already 5am, and technically the next morning. It was an awesome night, one that I shall remember for the rest of my life. I miss everyone already!!!!
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