Soccer balls & awesome tuts;

Okay firstly, I hesitated over the title for my blog post. Should I write soccer ball or football?

Because both are actually referring to the same sport no? The Americans call it soccer (I expect because football clashes with American football), while the English calls it FOOTBALL. However, Singapore, being a former British colony, we adopt their way of spelling and pronunciation and all I expect. So then, why do most of us refer to football as soccer? Women's soccer, the soccer team, soccer match etc. But English clubs we support like MUFC, LFC... they go by Football Club.

And I think football is a very convenient word too. Because soccer is the sport, and soccer ball is the ball. But football refers to both. I mean, you dont go, "This is a football BALL" right? Because its understood. But if you say soccer, you would need to explain "This is a soccer BALL", because you cant refer to the ball and say "This is soccer". Haha.

And I think football is more appropriate as well because we play with our foot, hence football. I dont really know how the term soccer came about. And like American football, why do you call it football when you run with the ball and bang each other about and only kick the ball over the pole when you score a touchdown? And the ball is not even round, so is it even a ball? When we say ball, must it be round? To me, balls are supposed to be circular in shape! Haha.

Secondly, I realised some names for sports are really straightforward. Like basketball, because you know, the aim is to score it into the seemingly basket like net. And then we have volleyball, cause I assume you have to volley the ball over the high net, hence the name volleyball? And eh, what else we have... Table tennis! Because its like tennis, but you play on the table. And squash, because you hit the ball so hard against the wall so it would be kind of like squashed. And rugby, I supposed its because its a rugged game, so someone decided to borrow "rug" from rugged and form "rugby". And baseball because the aim of the game is for your team to run to their bases. There's also bowling cause you have to bowl the pins over!

But of course, there are some sports which I have absolutely no idea on how their names come about. Like, cricket, and pool, and hockey and wakeboarding and softball (the ball is softer meh!) etc etc. And of course, soccer itself.

So anyway, after hesitating, I've decided to go ahead with soccer still, because thats what most of us here are familiar with! Hahaha.

So the point of this post is, it feels good mingling around and kicking and dribbling the ball once again! It was very refreshing for me, and to clad on my soccer shorts, socks and boots made me so happy. I feel so chio yesterday, even though I may actually be looking like some rugged, boorish girl. Haha.

The 10 rounds round the seemingly large soccer field, and multiple sets of core strength exercises were really a test of mental strength for me. Especially because I've not be exercising for soooooo long. But I felt good, sweating out and all. I do kind of miss those intensive trainings back in jc, but not in the way where I'm willing to do them all over again. Haha.

I do really have to improve my touches once again though. As always, my problem is also low confidence. Damn. But eveybody's nice, especially Yiting and Yinhong (my capt). They constantly clap and shout encouragements to the team. I really like my capt alot. The first time we met, I already like her. She's a good example to the team, a very nice girl, a very good soccer player etc etc. But most importantly, she treats us all well! :D She's one of the main reason I join back the team! Haha.

On the way home, Huiying and I began talking about stuff like life and death, heaven, afterlife... I must say, it was a pretty depressing talk in a way, but also very realistic. Because one day, we would need to experience loss and grief. But I really think time will heal all wounds. Of course, such separation is too painful for our wounds to be healed completely; scars still remain. But the thing is, we learn to move on.

So anyway, my tutorials so far have been AWESOME okay! Made friends, and the tutorials sessions were very engaging. But still, I lack the confidence to speak out in class. I'm fine with group discussion but I'm not like those vocal classmates of mine, who can talk and talk and talk alot. I dont know why they dont feel shy one!

But of course, now that tutorials have commenced, we are all suddenly bombarded with group project works and presentations and all those time consuming stuff! AARGH! But my group mates seemed nice thus far. So I hope everything well go well this sem for me!


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Soccer is the international language that connects people, but separates friends! Haha!

Every time when friends get together, we'll talk about soccer, and suan each other's club to the max. Haha. Nice or what.

Love,
Theresa 28th jan '10 9:43pm