Somehow I feel that the academic year has blazed past at some time warping speed. The sequence of events began in October when I nestled myself in my humble abode and finally came to a hasty end just yesterday as I parted from Clifton Hill House for good. Within this time interval, there certainly were changes in the state of affairs surrounding my life yet as always, the unimaginable mess in my room remains. The only difference lies in the content of the mess; it was initially clothes, books and cutlery but currently rough paper and perishables line the walls and trash dominates the foreground.
Unlike most of my friends who'd jump at the opportunity of moving out, I think it'd be fair to say that I somehow liked and got swiftly acquainted with my hall from day 1, even though my room is claustrophobically small. Despite its physically inferior size, the memories that I hold of it are by and far large. First, although I hardly recognize it, I enjoyed having complete dominion over how I lived without anyone telling me to clean up the mess. Everything seemed so perfect because everything functioned despite direly lacking in visual appeal. However there were times where I had to bear the consequences of my undoings such as massively flooding the entire floor as I negligently forgot to turn off the tap while my swim shorts clogged the sink.
I miss the familiarity of hall; the faces, the rare quasi-beauties and the facade such as the juxtaposition of Old Cliftons classic splendour to the crude and tainted bricked apperance of the rest of the hall. With my sight kept within the range of the grandoise veneer, I envisioned a heated swim pool on the lawn and an al-fresco restaurant on the patio that overlooked it. I'm sorry to burst your bubble as this figment of my imagination is likely to remain as a distant reality.
Most eminently, I remember the daily trips to the dining hall for meals that were hardly worth the walk there. Yet, I steadfastly dined there and right now I'm starting to have a mild suspicion that I may be a sucker for routine. On a more elaborative note, there was this episode of my life where I slept at 11am and woke up just in time to make it to the gym for an hour. Coincidentally, that interlude was contemporaneous with the transition of winter to spring and I used to stare at this tree while at breakfast, witnessing every stage of blossoming. As most residents were lazy and apathetic towards nutrition, few turned up for breakfast and I mainly ate alone or with Yanying.
In a circular fashion, I shall return to where I started off- my room. As mentioned in an earlier entry, my room is a sanctuary to me. Within it have I experienced a specturm of emotions and learnt many things too. For emphasis, I shall mention again that one of the greatest wonders of my room is its stillness and security thus it provides the necessary conditions for me to reflect and be brutally honest with myself. Not to forget, I spent most of my time behind my computer talking to various people; enjoying the casual banter, seeking/providing advice and even allowing another to surreptiously make an indelible impression on my life which I once was unable to forsee. Like the death of winter, spring is fading and this again is but a passing phase.
Through this and like I've always thought, the consecutive events in my life somehow blur the distinction between what is the beginning or the end or the beginning of the end as some might say. For example, the end of term signifies the beginning of my summer holidays, which eventual end would in turn signify the birth of a new academic year and the oscillations continue ad infinitum. However, it our perception of what lies between that matters most. In other words, it is for us to decide and believe that what we're doing is meaningful. That is indeed the rhythm of life that we ought to sing to.
Anyway, I'm thoroughly excited and anticipate the 46 day adventure that I'm about to embark on. Thanks for the wishes and I hope that you amigos have a vacation that is supercharged with havoc activities that are worthy of constituting the time of your lives. Don't forget my bet on Elvin to beat the shit outta Malik... 2 pratas man. Elvin you better rise to the occasion haha, on the right occasion like the dota duel. Okay goodbye my friends, I'm off to London Town!
-Kenneth Wong
