Personal Feels Trip to the Alma Mater

Hi readers!! Once again, a long while after the last post. I am so sorry for that, I am really, like really, busy such that I do not have any time to spare to blog. Now that the semester has ended (there is still finals though, but that is still (only?) a week away~) I can spare some time to write something. And just nice, I have something to say as well!

Okay so basically, today (by the time this is posted is yesterday) I went back to my secondary school, SJI - that's St Joseph's Institution, in case you don't know - to attend a farewell concert. The concert is in conjunction with the moving of the campus as it is going to be renovated. The school is going to be moved temporarily to another campus in Bishan (I think it is used to be an ITE or something) for a couple of years. Shortly, I was a sort of..... fooled(?) by the nice-looking e-mail invitation, thinking it is some kind of grand concert that would take place in the PAC (Performing Arts Centre) or something, where old boys (term used for SJI alumni. Rather ironical that when we were still students there, we were called young gentlemen) from various batches come together to enjoy the campus for the last time, before it was being scraped off. 

Nice invitation, huh?

Maybe it is my fault for not looking at the e-mail carefully, but I still feel cheated as it turned out to be a concert in the CANTEEN, from the supposedly FIELD but moved due to the rain. Not even close to my imagination; most of the people there are the current students, and a few alumni that I do not know, possibly those who just graduated 1-2 years ago (I have left the school for 3 years already! I am freaking old! D=). There are hardly any teacher I know there, save Jeremy Liew, my beloved (not really) discipline master, and Janet Kwok, some of my friends' English teacher (not mine). My friends and I were not even allowed to walk around the campus! There were prefects around that kept guard; bouncing those who tried to relive their bittersweet memories around our beloved campus. The guests were effectively only allowed to mingle around the entrance and the canteen.

My beloved SJI Malcolm Road Campus =')

We decided to stay around the field instead, as the canteen was packed with people, and the bad ventilation there due to the low ceiling makes the area very hot. As we walked towards the chapel (on the left hand side of the picture, the building with a small Holy Cross at the tip of the..... tower?), one prefect chased us away and told us to go and attend the concert instead. 

(I HAVE TO SAY THIS. WHILE WRITING THIS MY LAPTOP DECIDED TO PLAY MY GRADUATION SONG, 'RASCAL FLATTS - MY WISH'. THE FEELS, PEOPLE. THE FEELS!!)

(Anyway, that song is really good. You should try listening to it!)

Anyway, after numerous alumni kept coming to look around, I think they finally allowed us to walk around to some parts of the campus, but only limited to the statue of St Joseph (or is it St John Baptist de La Salle? The one with the saint piggy-backing a kid) and the class block around 'the Pretzel' (still do not know what the significance is, even after 2 years there) After going around the track and took the picture above, I tried to go a bit further from 'the Pretzel'.... only to be blocked by tables and a poor, lonely prefect sitting on top of one of the tables. I initially did not thought much of it, but I decided to see what is beyond that tables and I remembered.... the small garden near the lower-secondary block!!! A beautiful, soothing spot behind the school chapel, with a small waterfall. I regretted seeing that, but thankful at the same time. I regretted because that made me crave to go there and look at it for the last time, before the renovation possibly bring all of my memories of this place to ashes. However, I am thankful still, as that reminds me of that heavenly spot, and thus I am able to keep a reminder of it here, right in my blog. =')

Anyway, despite not seeing any teachers, that trip is still very memorable to me. It was possibly the last time I would be seeing my Alma Mater the way when I was still studying there. I heard from Jeremy Liew (the discipline master guy) that they may tear down the iconic circular structure as seen in my photo above!! How could they!! It was like what makes SJI different from all other schools in Singapore!! They are also possibly going to take down the structure where the statue of St John Baptist de La Salle with two kids (this time I am sure it is him) stands right now. They will keep the statue, of course, but the structure is also really one of a kind!

This very structure!! It was built only in 2002,
according to the time capsule. Why?

That is all I have to say about my trip. I have to say that I am saddened by this news, but the campus is indeed in need of some makeover, though I was hoping for not a massive one. Anyway, if any of you readers happen to be an Old Boy, please do take time to visit our old home for the last time before it was renovated. It is likely to be the last time you see SJI the way it is now. New building would be nice indeed, but nothing can change the sentimental feeling of the old building. I am so sorry that I did not take many pictures for the benefit of those who are unable to spare time to go back 'home', but I think I took the most important one already (except for that small garden behind the Chapel! =( ). So yeah, that is all. Thank you for reading, and sorry for non-Josephians, as this post is indeed irrelevant to you all in any way.

Anyway, for the old Josephians, a little memento to our amazing 2 (for scholars) or 4 years in SJI: the picture of Signum Fidei. The Sign of Faith. 

I would like to give you all another memento; maybe an SJI song or two, but I am too lazy to do that haha.. So sorry. But I guess you can do a quick Google search to find one, if you are in need of a feels trip back to your SJI years. Have a good one! =)

(Oh by the way if you have not known yet, there was a fire in the chapel sometime this year, thus I cannot enter the chapel to take pictures. =/ )