facts

The thought that this semester is gonna be my last in NUS had me thinking about the things that I've come to accept as facts of life during my time there:

1) Bidding life and limb for a module on CORS, only to not get it.

2) Confusing your breadths, GEMs, UEs, REs, SS. Then worrying that you haven't completed enough of them to graduate.

3) Coming back to school on your free days.

4) Coming back to school during term break.

5) Basically, coming back to school ALL THE TIME.

6) Staying till 11pm for project meetings.

7) Buying/selling textbooks on the IVLE forum, and comparing with friends to see who got the better deal.

8) Printing notes in the com lab. Fast, efficient, and cheap. Except when there's a long queue and the person in front of you happens to be printing a book.

9) Skipping lectures. Then cursing the lecturer for not uploading webcasts.

10) The fierce drinks stall auntie who smiles at boys and scowls at the girls. But the coffee is pretty good. And she's running a monopoly.

11) Uncle Edward at the Western stall with his superhuman memory. And his very stressful "Next please!"

12) Surprise! at the fruit juice stall.

13) The kebabs that always run out. I haven't eaten kebab for 3 months!

14) Always complaining that we eat the same stuff in the Biz canteen, but never actually making the effort to walk to other canteens haha.

14) Dangerous shuttle buses, regardless of whether you're a passenger or a pedestrian.

15) Stairs. Endless, countless stairs.

16) The forever crowded CRC.

17) My stagnant CAP. And not in a good way.

18) Student discounts!! :D

So that's my non-exhaustive list. Shall add to it whenever I think of more stuff. The more I type the more I think I will miss NUS :(

Anyway here's to a successful, not so stressful, FUN last sem in school!



Say you'll stay, don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way, yeah I need to know
All about you

eve of the eve

It's the eve of New Year's Eve!

This time last year, I just came back from KL with WWF. It's scary how time always manages to catch you unawares. I honestly cannot remember what happened in 2009 haha.

I don't know if it's good/bad that the past year went by relatively smoothly, to the point of being almost monotonous. But I guess it's good that nothing much has changed, except that more people have gone overseas :(

Oh well, basically I just wanted to say something on 31 December 2009 haha. I'll come back with my reflection later. Too tired to think (I took like 1 full minute just to figure out how to spell "monotonous", the m's and n's were starting to blend together). It's been a crazy week. I look forward to a good long nap this weekend :D and there's some serious bidding to do also! ARgh.

Last but not least, this is an awesome rendition of "Everytime You Go Away".





The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you

oh here it goes again

I'm back to complain about work again. Sorry la, I can't complain on fb or msn cuz my boss might see :(

I MISS those days when I didn't have a care in my mind. When I could sleep however late I want, and wake up at lunch time for all I care. When the most important thing I had to worry about was where to go/who to meet. Now, my mind is either revolving around work (the immense load waiting for me everyday), or projects (another gigantic burden on my shoulders), or both. It's like my mind never had a chance to rest after twirling around the entire semester. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MY DARN HOLIDAYS.

But what to do, I brought this all upon myself. And it's too late to turn back now. At first it was supposed to be about earning some extra $$ for grad trip, but now it looks like my grad trip might not even happen at all :( So not worth it. Note to self: Money should never be the only reason to work when you have every opportunity to slack at home.

This is the first time I've actually forgotten that it's Christmas! And I haven't written any xmas cards!! Sooner or later, I'm gonna lose this tradition. But well Christmas is not supposed to be about that warm fuzzy feeling, but more about reflecting/celebrating Christ's birth.

Seeing all those elderly people hobbling to the stage (most had to walk with canes) to get baptised during today's Hainanese service was really touching. Even though most of them were evidently not strong enough to kneel, they still did so. It's like their love for Christ is so strong that they were willing to go the whole distance in spite of their physical weaknesses. And it's really good to see the joy on their faces after being baptised. It makes me feel ashamed of those times when I've complained about serving in church. If these elderly could find it in them to make the extra step to accept Christ, what more myself, a young and able person? It's also a good reminder that we don't have to do alot to be close to Christ, we only need a willing heart :)

Ok maybe I shouldn't be complaining so much. The most I can do is to try my best to get through this period. There's a reason why the Lord opened the door to this job (no matter how painful it might be). And in spite of the hardship, there's still plenty to be learnt. Something good will come out of this. Most importantly I shouldn't forget who's got my back in all this! :)

Just when you think you're in control,
Just when you think you've got a hold,
Just when you get on a roll,
Oh here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.

I'm sick again. Irritating irritating irritating!!!

I think I can't balance work and projects. I'm not meant to multi-task. I can facebook while working, but I can't do 2 "work-s" at one time. It's tiring and it's driving me mad. All I want to do is watch TV shows, and sleep in. I don't even have time to be lazy anymore. Excuses, excuses.



There's a chance
I'll start to wonder
If this was the thing to do

Out of the goodness of his heart (and maybe pity), my bro lent me the use of his super powerful laptop for the month of December :D Oh the joy of a speedy computer without constantly being disrupted by frequent hangs, or having to wait 5 secs just to change windows. I hate the thought of going back to my ol' Fujitsu once the new sem starts :S I think this comic really summarizes how I feel towards my computer haha.

So work has been well..TIRING. I do PR (public relations) in the day, and PR (project research) at night. Good times. So far I've even made a few stupid mistakes here and there argh. After one whole sem writing 15 page reports, I don't think I'm capable of flowery descriptive vocabulary anymore. Nvm, 4 more weeeekssss. The good thing is that I sleep early and wake up even earlier. I even managed to wake up at 7am to go cycling today!

Speaking of which, today was really fulfilling although really early mornings are a pain. I'm surprised so many of us managed to make it for our 8am cycling trip :) And it was fun! Leisurely cycling (as opposed to going as far as possible, then chionging like mad to return the bikes on time) rocks. Then after that we went to this Penguin (the publisher) book sale at Singapore Expo and I got like 8 books for $41. Like totally worth it la, considering a book typically costs at least $17 outside.

So I'm still really tired (even after an afternoon nap) and really dreading work :(

Good to know it's all a game

Disappointment has a name

what hols?

I'm still wondering why I ever agreed to work this hols. Ya, like the day before my first day of work right. Or rather, my first half-day. Even though my boss agreed to let me take time off during work for CP meetings and stuff, it doesn't make me feel any better whenever I need to ask for leave.

Plus there's CP and Brandstorm to do this hols. Not to mention, lotsa nua-ing to accomplish. I must think I'm some super woman who's adept at balancing so many tasks. WHAT WAS I THINKING. Nevermind, I shall rise to the challenge!! Ah well, I do need the money. But is money a strong enough motivation?? And how can it be my only motivation?? I know, I'm pathetic.

I hope I can work from home more often this time :S So I don't have to wake up so early haha. After one whole sem of 3am/10am days, I don't know if I can adjust well to a 8am alarm.






You and me
Always between the lines

only in level 4

How on earth am I supposed to cram out 15 pages of essay when I don't even know how to do my introduction??

I hate level 4 modules. But I can't deny that they're really different.

For example, only in MKT 4415 do you get to literally cut and paste SWOTs onto foolscap. So you have sticks of glue and scissors being passed around class during the exam haha. Meanwhile your prof is happily taking photos of you struggling to finish writing in time. Cool.

MNO 4313B is the best:
1) We hand up 2% assignments on Hari Raya and museums.

2) The prof explains the origins and proper technique of using chopsticks during class. And writes and explains Chinese words on transparencies.

3) The prof demonstrates tai-chi in class. And makes everyone stand up to practise "7 Head-to-Toe Exercises".

4) We sing "阿里山的姑娘" and a whole range of international folk songs during the class. Then for the grand finale, we hold hands and sing "Auld Lang Syne".

5) We watch videos (from the 1980s, with the big shoulder pads and glasses) on stress management techniques.

6) And we have to submit 15-paged project papers, in addition to doing an 8 minute individual presentation.

7) All in accordance with the prof's philosophy of "teach less to learn more". He teaches less, but I don't learn much.

I can't wait to see what next sem's module has in store.

So another friend has left to pursue greener pastures. With everyone else working, I'm like the only noob student left. I don't know whether to look forward to, or dread graduation.

Sometimes I feel anti-social. I'm content to wander around alone, or stay at home with a book. I'd rather be with a small group of close friends, than be with a big group of people.

Anyways, I'm really thankful for friends whom I can share my struggles with, who totally understand, and who instead of agreeing with everything I say, actually help me to see what's really important and readjust my priorities. Everyone needs friends like that around them haha.

Whether full or empty it's all the same
It's so easy to see, everyone can agree, you're not to blame