Some space to breathe in now

After a hectic day of helping out in the drama competition (Grand Finals), finally I've got some time to rest my weary brain and get the organising of the drama competition out of my head. Now, I am really more ready to concentrate and focus for my examinations.

The drama competition was quite a success, despite the fact that there were mishaps here and there. Sorry Jared for one of the errors in the lighting part!

The drama teams were superb, each group trying to display their best. There was a strong sense of humour in all the dramas, though I find that the audience have quite a dry sense of humour.

Nevertheless, from the looks of our VIPs, everything seemed to be satisfactory. We managed to minimise technical difficulties during the drama competition and we managed to make quite an impression. In fact, the VIP even mentioned that instead of having a drama competition within the English Programme, we should have a Inter-Programme Drama Competition! Oh well, we'll see if that turns out well.

Anyway, to some minor matters. Did I tell you that I have agreed to join the UTP Debates Team? Well, it's not that I'm really that enthusiastic anymore about debates (in fact, I can't tell for sure how committed I can be in the team), but as my lecturer had tried so hard to persuade me to join, I couldn't find the heart to turn down her request anymore. However, my consent was rather conditional. I can't be bound to the debates team at all times, and if I feel that I have other priorities that need my immediate attention, then I shall not be able to just focus on debates alone. I may even need to sacrifice debates.

Part of me wanted to join debates because of the experience and the general knowledge that I can learn. However, part of me refuses to join because it consumes a lot of time and, as I said, I can't be sure about how committed I can be towards the team. I don't want the team to suffer because of my lack of commitment. I find that it would be utterly irresponsible of me and very unfair to them.

Still, I have joined and I shall give it a try. University level debates are nothing like secondary school debates anymore. There are two styles of debates, namely the Asian Parliamentary Style (the usual Parliamentary style debates that we see in secondary school debates) and the British Parliamentary Style. Both styles have vast differences. In the Asian Parliamentary Style debates, there are two teams (one Government, one Opposition) in which each team comprises three members. In the British Parliamentary Style debates, however, there are four teams (two Government, two Opposition) with each team comprising two members only. There are opening and closing teams in British Parliamentary Style debates, so we'll have Opening Government, Opening Opposition, Closing Government and Closing Opposition.

British Parliamentary Style debates are generally more difficult than Asian Parliamentary Style debates, especially if you are in the closing team. However, it is a good challenge for debaters who are constantly trying to improve themselves.

During the holidays, from the 9th of December 2006 to 11th of December 2006, I shall be engaged with seven other debaters to go down to IMU in Bukit Jalil for a debate competition related to health and science issues. It's British Parliamentary Style debates and I am not familiar with that style so I shall be going as an observer. Jared was lucky enough that my lecturer selected him as an adjudicator. No, it's not that I've not adjudicated debates before in real competitions. It's actually rather nice to get a chance to see first hand on what a British Parliamentary Style debates are like. Besides, I get to holiday in Bukit Jalil! I won't feel so bored just staying at home, right?

Well, Jared, I certainly hope that you'll enjoy your adjudicating and that you'll learn a lot about adjudicating. Besides being an observer, I'll do some personal adjudicating on my own, huh? Then, we'll compare results. Let's see who is more selfish in giving marks (normally, after comparing with my other adjudicators, I constantly found that I give lower marks than other adjudicators; but still we agree unanimously on which team wins). Hehe...