Mad Cow.

"The Singapore Red Cross precludes potential donors who have spent a cumulative time of three months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996."

That's a line from the Wikipedia page of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or rather known as mad cow disease. I was on this page the day before, and if I'd have read that line, I'd have sort of mentally prepared for being utterly rejected just now.

It kinda sucks, when you want to do something of significance, that would make an impact on someone else's life in a good way, but they tell you you can't. It's not like you're not good enough, it's just that the circumstances don't let you. And it's just a really, really strange feeling. Sort of a mixture between disappointment and well, more disappointment.

Only one person in our slot could donate, which was just really unlucky. But the other three people who couldn't donate aren't banned for life, and never being able to donate blood is just sad. Jean had low blood pressure, so she couldn't donate either. So much for promising to donate blood together. But the thought counts too, right? A lot of people didn't even bother signing up, and I'm glad we at least tried.

So yeah, that was the highlight of my school day.

Oh, and we had a guy come in for Malay to talk to us about writing and answering comprehension questions. We all sorta like him and enjoyed it. Funny guy.

Now I've got to go and do other things. Should stop thinking about blood donations, and congratulations to all the other donors who've gone through with it. When you don't know what to expect, or how much pain to brace yourself for, it's scary having to bide your time waiting for it to happen.

So yes, courage.

Oh, and the Malay cerpen guy told us a story about this other guy who answered the essay question "Define courage," by simply writing "This is courage" and then handing in his paper. Apparently he aced it. Awesome stuff.

Adieu.

P.S. It's a Wednesday, it honestly feels like a Monday, but all I'll ever remember this day as is "the day my blood got rejected forever day".

P.P.S. I realise that if I really wanted to, I can go and donate blood in other countries, but then again knowing your blood's been rejected is like knowingly jeopardising the health of the blood receivers. Man, dilemma.