Reflecting (Colorado National Monument)
(Freshman in College and first Autumn)
Having graduated in '87 with my third degree, my professors were anxious to what i would choose as my career - my Fine Art Professors hoped that I wouldn't sell my soul to Commercial Art while my Graphic teachers made more sense of an advertising career. On the other hand, my Dance Professor was hoping I persue Dance further while my Performing Arts Professors were anxious to see if I would pick East or West Coast. Instead, I came home to check M'sia out... it was indeed a memorable 9 months. No, it wasn't what I had anticipated... it was the worst time I had in my life. I fell into depression....
1987 welcomed me home to the Lalang Operation, the Chow Kit Road shooting, family turmoil and major self examination. NST contacted me for an interview... probably for a little write-up regarding my "Who's Who" listings in the US. Fatimah Abu Bakar was the Entertainment Desk Editor. No, I didn't meet her but I was interviewed by Fifi Lim. Alas, after the interview I had this bad feeling that she didn't believe my story!
Basically I talked to her about my poor family, how I had always lived in a rented wooden house growing up with a well that depended on rain and an out-house IN the house... typical bucket system. Then I fast forwarded to the part where as from a child, I was an avid listener to shortwave radio like VOA, BBC, ABC, NHK, Radio Moscow, etc. Arlene Francis (What's My Line) was on VOA combined with dashes of Fame the movie, Alan Silverman, Rocky Moutain images in Reader's Digest, Professor Bill Robinson, Senator Tilman Bishop & most of all Dr Johnson - all combined to make my trip to the US a possibility but only for one semester! (Eventually, it became almost 7 years) My goodness, I had never been on an aeroplane before and to fly for 23 hours? 10 days before I flew, my visa application was rejected as I was told that my affidavit of support is a "no proof"! Well, I didn't have one! The foreign student advisor in Colorado happened to be a State Senator. He simply just sent a telex (yeah, no fax then!).
Then, the story to Fifi ended on how that one semester ended up in a wonderful college life of scholarships, work, accolation and multiple graduations. The journalist went on to say "Your story seems too good to be true." She got up and may have had accidentally asked if I had anything to show of my work. I had happened to bring slides of my artwork of intaglio prints, charcoal, acrylic and oil. She walked into the office to see Fatimah and walked out later saying, "You are so lucky, the Editor has given you a full colour page." I almost had to say sorry rather than be excited because I was still hanging on the fact that she may not have believed me earlier!
That article entitled "OVERACHIEVER" came out at a most unusual time in Malaysian history. A few weeks earlier, I was just interviewed by Spencer Wings Azizul Advertising, came out of that office and heard news that Sungai Wang Plaza was quiet... and the reason was, a shooting in Chow Kit had just happened and it was not advisable to walk around. Possible riots were whispered.
Later, Operation Lalang buzzed the news and soon after that, TheStar, Watan and Nanyang Siang Pao's licenses were revoked. Wonder of wonders, my article came out on NST that Sunday! Genting called up NST and Wisma Genting became my first working place as Corporate Arts Executive - a new area started by Lim Chee Wah.
Will breeze through the rest...
At the same time I started choreographing for Comscapes Dance Company under Frances Teoh where I had met Sean Ghazi as a Form 4 or 5 lad! Back in Ipoh the same year, I had met Afdlin Shauki as a Form 4 lad starring in Lat the Kampung Boy Musical! I knew he had potential back then! Bravo Afdlin!
So a little full circle for the day, it comes now to this point of my blog. I bumped into Afdlin Shauki today at Planet Hollywood.... and shared with him my blog after reading his... much reflection indeed huh?!
Note: I eventually left Genting when my grandfather passed away, fell into depression, family life was complex, hospitalised for a week and eventually decided to rush back to the US. Guess what, I fell into further depression in the US when I was denied the scholarships promised while my old employers (South West Jewelry) who had asked for my return to the US decided not to take me back. I began on a soul journey that saved me. That is part of another chapter to be continued perhaps....
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