There were really few people in church today, especially the kids and people around my age. I guess after the sunday school teachers called everyone up and told them lessons were cancelled for these 2 weeks and advised them to stay home, a lot of parents felt that it was safer to keep their children indoors. Or maybe they decided to go out with their friends instead, since fellowship was cancelled too. ;

The pastor told us not to shake hands with anyone in church, but wave to them instead as a greeting just as a precaution. He was teaching us how to wear those masks that are given out at the hospital correctly, as though it was some health education lesson. ; But hey, it’ll come in useful sometime.

Soon after the first service the church was more or less deserted; I really wonder how many people actually turned up for the second service. I had to wait for my dad, so a few of us just hung around till around 1pm. Beats staying home in any case!

When I got home the estate was really quiet as it has been for the past few days. Usually there would be kids playing in the playground downstairs with their maids or parents watching them, and at the other end of the block the elderly would gather for a chat. Now not a soul can be seen, everyone is worried about catching the virus so they would rather stay indoors. *sigh* When will everything return to normal?

One new SARS index case today. I think the woman was rather irresponsible, knowing that she was in Beijing and Hong Kong, where the virus was spreading, she should have gone for a check-up upon feeling unwell. Yet she still took a flight back to Singapore, and now officials have to locate everyone on that flight plus the people she had come into contact with. If some of these people catch the virus from her and are not located in time, it’s going to start spreading again… just when the situation is more or less under control this has to happen… sigh. I hope this whole outbreak will stop soon, though it doesn’t seem very likely.

I’m so bored at home… this totally sucks. For once I want to go to school badly! At least I get to get out of the house. Anything beats being stuck at home! Quite a number of people I know are complaining about this too.

They said that they’ve got the situation under control now, so making students stay home is just taking another precaution, but I don’t really see the point. For secondry and JC students especially, we won’t be able to stay home for the full 10 days and will think of ways to get out of the house and go out with friends. Won’t think increase our chances of catching the virus from outside, especially if we go to places where there are more people? At least if we were allowed to go to school we would probably go home after school ends, and checks are conducted every morning to see if anyone is ill, so school is quite safe actually.

I’ll probably be complaining for the next 9 days… I’m have nothing better to do at home!

Dad called home to say that all schools in Singapore may be closed tomorrow due to the recent breakout of the SARS virus. A few school children have already caught the virus, so MOE is having a meeting now to discuss on this issue and to decide if schools should be closed. It that really happens, I’ll get an extra day off school to rest, but I hope there woun’t be make-up lessons or anything due to us missing lessons. Going to watch the news tonight to see if they make any mention of it.

Edit:
It’s been confirmed: all schools in Singapore will be closed from tomorrow till 6 April to prevent any further spreading of the SARS virus. Anyone wants to go out or anything? ; But then our June holidays will be shortened. Arrgh… I want my long holiday!

I was feeling sort of depressed last night and had a lot of things on my mind, so I had a really hard time falling asleep. I guess I had mixed feelings about school, since I didn’t know who exactly would be leaving and what new aces I would see in NJ.

When I walked into school today I saw quite a number of people hanging around the school bus stop. 3 months ago I was standing there waiting for my friends, ready to start the first day of school. Now I see others doing the same as I walk straight into the school gate. Was quite surprised to see Chiao Ling as she had applied to HCJC. Apparently she didnt meet the cut-off or something, maybe she’s meant to stay in NJ. *grin* When the O Level results were just released, her parents wanted her to go to HCJC, but she didn’t really want to. After some talks with them she didcided to go for HCJC, but in the end she still remains in NJ. But I’m sure everyone’s glad to see her and vice versa.

On the sad note, Vi and Lian Yee were transferred out: Vi to YJC and Lian Yee to JJC. I’m really sad to see them go… especially Vi since I don’t know Lian Yee that well. Vi is a really nice guy, friendly and funny too. I think it isn’t fair that he cant make it back in… and now he has to switch hostels too, so that means all of us have a much lesser chance of meeting him. We met up for dinner today though.

When we had to choose JCs after our prelims, Vi chose NJ and Gian decided to go along with him; he initally thought of going to ACJC. Ironically after the second posting results are released Gia can stay on but Vi was posted out. At least we stll have Gian, if he leaves I’d be even more upset.

When we had to choose our subject combinations An Qi, Hui Yian, Wei Han and Joel decided to take AO Chinese after much pursuation by the teacher in the computer lab and Candice, who’s also taking the subject. That means that they are almost confirmed to be transeferring out of the class. I’ll miss them so much… since they are the ones I’m closer to. Sigh.

Met 5 new people who joined out OG today… Linus was there too! When Candice told me she saw Linus in school this morning I was really shocked; I thought he would be staying on in SA. And when he was posted to my OG Candice and I really flipped. Sigh, what to do. He disappeared halfway through the programme. There was only 1 girl, Adeline. She seems really friendly. Maybe she’ll be in my class since she’s taking the same subject combination and she also applied to STaR. The other guys seemed pretty ok, but I need to know them better.

Was quite pissed off with Chin Yaw today, he kept trying to hit on Adeline. Grrr… I don’t think Adeline knows though since it’s the first time she’s meeting Chin Yaw, so maybe she just thinks he’s very friendly. Chin Yaw was trying to hard to get her as his dance partner during mass dance, and tried moving all the guys backwards since Adeline was standing in front. And when Gian danced with her for the first time round he tried to get Gian to dance with someone else, but to no avail. When we were playing this “match the body parts game” he was fighting with Wai Wan for her, even though Wai Wan matched with her first. I think a lot of us there were not very happy with him today. Grrr… I don’t like his behaviour.

I make today sound so depressing, but it wasn’t that bad really.