Mar 3, 2005 | Snowman

I came home a snowman. I came home as a grey and blue, music-listening shoulder-bag-strapping snowman. And it wasn't a pleasant sight. Either Mother Nature got really spiteful over the fact that we were having mock exams during a week of restful vacations, or she just wanted the roads to be covered with snow so that the proctors could not come to school. (Never mind that one of the proctors uses the Metro).

It's a really interesting sight to see snow flakes blowing from behind you, because if you look carefully, you can imagine seeing those Windows screensavers (the ones with the colorful Windows fading endlessly into the distance). I remember those from a loooong while back, and it's just hilarious thinking about them. Now we have those boring Windows XP logo jumping from one area of the screen to another. (My 98 still has the "Flying Windows" screensaver, although I somehow detest screensavers: everytime I see one on I have the impulse to twiddle the mouse)

This week has been full of wierd weather, and it just comes to show Mother Nature's displeasure at seeing us trudge to school so unwillingly to be executed for some misdemeanor known as "getting a good grade". Most of us survive, because we never "get a good grade".

However if exams are interesting, they are in one way: looking at other people. No, not at their exams, but at how they go about their exams. Here are a few things I've noticed:

1) Back against chair, face relatively distant from paper: He or she is relatively confident about the work, sure about the answers, or at least has been able to convince him/herself that what he or she is doing is not garbage.

2) Slouched, head bent over paper: He or she is worried, unsure of what is being written. May or may not flutter pages loudly around.

3) Head rested on arm (and I've seen this in two people who later confirmed results): He or she is completely unsure of what he or she is writing, possibly making things up and is hoping the teacher would think it is correct.

4) Leaves exam room really early: Has been studying really well for the last week, or has completely given up on getting a good grade or even passing it. Usually accompanied by chuckles from those who are still taking the test. More often than not one person who is unsure of his or her results who leaves is swiftly accompanied by others of a similar predicatment. A mass exodus ensues, leaving just a handful of confused (or prudent) test-takers behind.

5) Looks around test room: Has given up on completing the exam and is hoping for another person to pick up their stuff and leave, so as to be able to leave at the same time and not be seen as a fool.

Also written on this day..

• 2010: Chile vs. Haiti (infographic)