The Next Chapter

End Note

2011-08-11T12:39:00.002+08:00

The new blog is ready.

http://crazyarnie.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading.

The end

2011-07-03T02:01:00.000+08:00

Dear Readers.

I would like first to thank you for the time and effort you put into reading the mayhem and the nonsense I occasionally spurt out into this blog.

The Next Chapter, I think, however has come to a close. A book cannot go on forever, it would only bore the reader, hence this is the end. Yes. The end of this blog.

While I can try to explain reasons for ending this blog. I will only say that I do not find any more aspirations to write here any longer.

I would like to thank you for being loyal and faithful readers. I am happy and proud that this publishing platform been seen my so many people. And I sincerely thank you for making time to read this blog.

Nevertheless, it is not the end of my writing. I said I am not going to continue this blog, true. But I will be setting up a new blog soon. Soon.

In the meanwhile you can follow me on twitter @crazyarnie or just follow me on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/arnankoh

I will announce the new blog as soon as it is ready. I will be starting work on it, but I will should and hopefully began writing towards the end of July 2011.

Thanks for being wonderful readers and a spectacular audience.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

2011-06-17T23:54:00.002+08:00

spreading ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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Dumpling

2011-06-05T11:16:00.000+08:00

I found some nice dumpling in Singapore.

They are homemade, taste nice and I think I love it.
The store selling this is near my workplace at Alexandra. It was nice, but a bit expensive.

Maybe if you come visit me, I will take you there to eat.

Results.

2011-05-31T08:03:00.000+08:00

Sorry for not writing for so long. Work and a lack of things to write about contributed to a writer's block which I found hard to see around it. Perhaps I was just tired.
This is probably the real end to my year one - the time my results come out.

How did I do??? Well I passed.
And I am so happy about this.

Now perhaps, I understand why some of my peers seem to be so happy with just a passed grade. Now, that I have experienced it too.
In the pass, where exams were simpler(simpler meaning as complicated with the current NUS standard), I usually am unhappy with average grades. I always wanted all A and usually competed with my friends who are top scorers.

When, I saw the grades when I woke up yesterday morning, I could not help smiling and being happy that I made it through what I thought was the most difficult semester of my life. To tell you the truth, although I really wanted to pass everything, some of the exams were so tough, that I thought I would have to redo them again.

Well with my CAP (CGPA) so low, there is only one way to go now: UPWARDS. I am not too proud about my results, but for now I am satisfied.

Studying for the exams was not as tough when you study with friends.

My Job Hunting Story

2011-05-17T08:16:00.000+08:00

Why work in Singapore? Well because, no matter how you look at it, a part time job in Singapore pays much better than any job in Malaysia. For instance, if you work in McDonalds, in Malaysia you probably get between RM3 to RM4 per hour, here in Singapore the rate is between SGD 4.50 - 6.

Most part time jobs in Singapore go at the rate of SGD 6 per hour.
Anyway, the reason I chose to find a job here in Singapore is because I have a lot of things to do in Singapore besides just simply working. But this post is not about my super-filled holiday, but on how I got the jobs.

Job hunting was easy. Because, I had applied for a financial aid scheme called the Work-Study Scheme. This thing, simply means that I will get emails regarding job openings instead of me having to go hunt them out. Hence, through this scheme, all I had to do was to read the emails they sent, and decide whether to apply.

Below are all the job openings in which I applied for:
1. Singapore International Water Week as student ambassador.
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as Temp. Night Shift staff.
3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health as Temp. Data Entry and Clinic Assistant.
4. NUS COOP as Temp. Staff
5. Law Library as Student Assistant
6. Ikea as Temp. Cashier

All of the above have a slightly different story.

Firstly, Singapore International Water Week (SIWW in short). This was something I really hoped to get, it will make my resume look good. I got called for interview for this one, and this interview had FOOD!!! So far, some of my other friends who have applied got a favorable reply recently. I didn't, but I am still hopeful. What is SIWW about? Well, it is where international delegates come together to discuss water issues. My job role if I get it is to be assigned to a delegate and to show him/her around - something like a personal assistant.

For all of the other jobs, I applied by sending in a cover letter and my resume. Of all the employers, the one with the best response time was the Law Library, she called me the next day, to tell me that I got the job and when can I start work. I was surprised that I did not even have to go through interview.

Second to call me was Ikea, who told me to come for "interview". Me, just fresh from all the career workshops who told us that we have to take interview seriously - planning and being prepared, naturally prepared for the interview by reading up on Ikea's history and all. When to the interview last Friday, and it turned out that all I had to do was fill up a form!!! No interview nothing, half an hour later, she called to say -you are hired and when to come.

This two job opportunities which just came to me like that were amazing. I sense God at work here. I thought I may never get hired and my parents might complain that I was bluffing them about wanting to work. But somehow, the jobs just came in so easily, it felt like it was falling from the sky.

I got the phone call from the Law Library last Tuesday and from Ikea on Wednesday. After the interview with Ikea on my way back, I got a call from NUS COOP which wanted to schedule me for an interview, amazing right! But I already agreed to two jobs, going for an interview for a third is not in the best of my interests so I declined. Just yesterday - Monday, I received another call from the Night Shift job, saying they received my information and want to interview. I declined again citing I already found work.

Hence. I am amazed. It is like Christmas time, where the jobs just kept coming and where I had to reject some of them because it was more than what I could handle.

Migration

2011-05-15T03:43:00.000+08:00

In last year Raffles Hall magazine, there was a certain interesting article on the migration of Rafflesians from their old room to their new ones at the end of the academic year. I found that article to be pretty interesting, and for some parts of it - true.

I came back to Singapore specify to shift out of my old room at Block 6-104 to my new room in Block 4 room 301. I had a full body aching time just shifting. IT WAS CRAZY.

I think I will classify myself as the mighty but extremely crazy ant. I carried all the stuff myself from block 6 to block 4 and then UP three floors to my room. If it was only my stuff - I would be gratefully happy. But it turned out that my roommate and another friend stored some stuff with me which I willingly agreed to them doing so. HOWEVER, I did not expect them to leave SO MUCH STUFF with me!!!! at least half of all the barang-barang were their.

It took the WHOLE MORNING just to move the stuff to my new room. And I was tired out after the ordeal. I have decided that they have to PAY ME (or at least treat me to something NICE) for helping them move their stuff. Only now, I realized that they would face problems when they want to claim their things from me since they don't stay in the same block - imagine them moving their things from my room (THIRD FLOOR) to their new place.

I have decided THAT I AM NOT SHIFTING ROOM ANYMORE. This is going to be my permanent room for the rest of the four years in NUS. I WILL BALLOT this room forever!!!
It is just too troublesome and tiring to shift again. Only madman will do this twice.

By the way, my new room is NICE. Windy - being on the third level. The floor is lined with some material, meaning NO MORE HORRIBLE TILES. The guard rail acts as a clothes hanger which gets the morning sun and evening sun EVERYDAY, but SHADED from the RAIN. YAHOO!!!! It even had more space than my old room.

The only thing I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT is block 4 kitchenette SUCKS!!!! The fridge smells and is dirty(but function-able), the microwave oven is dirty (but function-able). I AM MOST PISSED about the stoves - none of them are WORKING!!!! I so want to buy an induction cooker and keep it in my room. Maybe I should get it now, since I already have found a job.... but it is like using money before I have even earned it....

Want to see my room??? COME VISIT ME!!! Too lazy to post photos!

Want some treasures including a Swarovski bracelet? Jump on-board Queen Anne's Revenge! #AllAboardSG

2011-05-06T22:29:00.000+08:00

Want some treasures including a Swarovski bracelet? Jump on-board Queen Anne's Revenge! #AllAboardSG

Vaporised

2011-05-03T11:47:00.001+08:00

Before you start complaining that this blog has become dead. I am writing this to proof that it is not dead.

TWO WORDS before anything else: EXAMS OVER

Relief. Yes. But the real relief will come when the results come out. And hopefully, by God's grace I WOULD HAVE PASSED everything. Exams were tough. WHY? Because no matter how much effort we put in, come exams, everything we put in seems to produce NO results. Sometimes it feels like our lecturers are making a fool of us.

I will be updating more soon. But currently, I am looking for work and catching up on sleep. When I get back to Singapore I will try to learn photoshop and do a whole lot more writing.

Oh. Of course there is the Raffles Hall Float and Bash to do too....

Happy Holidays. for the next three months!!

ps. the title vaporised simply means that i have vaporised from singapore!!!

The best of Glee???

2011-04-23T14:57:00.000+08:00

Two glee music videos that I enjoyed!!

Enjoy!

Changes that took place in year 1

2011-04-23T13:28:00.001+08:00

In line of my previous post. I will be writing about things that occurred and strike me as important. Of course as the title of this post suggest, I will be talking and discussing some of the things that have changed since I have entered my first year at NUS.

1. Conversion from a "open source" to "Microsoft" software.
Previously, I have been a very strong supporter of the open source software - mainly about OpenOffice instead of the mainstream Mircosoft Office. This all of course changed somewhere in February in 2011. Being forced to make use of the graph functions, I was force or had to change from the open software to the Microsoft Office. Reason: Microsoft offers a better graph analysis than Open Office. Well, I am enjoying Microsoft Office and can't wait to try out the new Office 2010.

2. Zero stress to "SUPER Stress"
There is a reason why NUS is also know as the national university of stress. It is really stressful here. While most Singaporeans are used to it "the stress starts in primary school all the way to junior college", we from Malaysia - know as the "no stress, semua boleh land" find it a bit hard to take the super stress imposed on us. Many times I regret even choosing a engineering course as my degree when it is so obvious that I more suitable in arts. For one thing, I am grateful that I did not get my first choice which was chemical engineering because it is at least 2 to 3 times harder that what I am facing now in Environment Engineering.

3. From doing well - horrible
My first year helped me to realized that all the 11As in SPM or the 3As in A Levels are nothing but junk as soon as you step foot into University. Our teachers in A Levels sort of "bluff" us. They say that after A levels we will be okay - no more problems, it will be a easy road ahead. WELL IT ISN'T. It is damn tough. Just trying to keep up in class and preparing for exams is more than a full time job. Doing well, is something reserved for the "super-brained", the genius people who are the cream of the cream - we call them "Dean listers" because they do so well the university notices them. I on the other hand are on what we call "the warning listers" because we are at a point where if we do any worst the university will notice us and issue a warning.
Right now, I am trying my hardest to pull my average grades UP.

4. Lesser old friends, more new friends and some even older friends.
Coming to NUS with about 10 TAR College classmates was exciting, or at least that was what I thought. In truth, we live on opposite ends of the campus - I stay in Raffles Hall they stay in Prince George Park. Meeting them everyday was a near impossibly, unless it is during holiday time. Hence, I was isolated - the price I have to pay to stay five minutes from class and not to worry about breakfast and dinner. Well, I made new friends. My classmates and I have grown closer, we calibrate online and we have time in class. I close to two of my classmates. In Hall, being in a committee and the floorball team introduced me to newer friends. Hence, lesser time to meet up with old friend, but made a lot more new friends. Happy!! Even older friends include my senior who counseled me during one of the most pressuring times of this year - lee yvonne.

I am stuck trying to think about number 5. ....I am still stuck. Well perhaps I will keep it at 4.
Hoping for the best in the coming exams. Will be back in Malaysia after exams. But that is dependent on whether my parents want to come down or not.

A Quick Update

2011-04-22T06:25:00.000+08:00

First. I must apologize for not posting anything for quite a while.
Secondly. I will explain why I have posted anything.

I have not been posting for one simple reason only: EXAMS.

Studying day and night is hard. Of course, I find myself sleeping lesser at night but more sleep in between studies - afternoon power naps. My parents would agree that this is a bad habit.

Studying and trying to be as prepared as possible for the exams are not helping this blog. I have not the time to reflect on things that have happened to write about them in this blog.

So far, exams are no fun!!! Studying with friends, reduces productivity but this is limited to between 10am to 11pm. After that time, studying with friends is much more productive.

An update on all subjects status. Currently, I am expecting a sightly better results than last semester. Maths is still super hard - much of the things I am trying to do is still a bit like reading Chinese - you know some, but you don't know some more. Other subjects - Statics and Dynamics, Chemistry and Material Science are okay but still hard.
But I am hoping for the best. Most importantly I must pass my maths.

As of now, 3 more days to the beginning of exams. I realized that listening to an audio lecture helps me to concentrate better than listening to music - currently listening to a lecture from Uni Penn - PSCI 398 - Sustainable environment policy and global politics. They are talking about the environment but I am not too sure what they are talking about. After all I am using this to focus on my papers.....

About returning to Malaysia. I was planning to go back on the 30th of April as soon as the exams finish, but that is not confirmed yet.

I need to find a job in Singapore. For two reasons, 1. Money for the next semester and for staying back during the holidays. 2. I want to buy an iPod touch. I have even completed my resume, just hoping that it looks good.

I want to learn how to use PhotoShop. Plus, I hope I get selected for the Singapore International Water Week as a student ambassador - this would be a great experience.

I feel my heart is unsure. I love the arts, dealing with general issues and beating round the bush rather than engineering which is specific, formula based and too much maths... But I have decided to stick with environmental engineering. God, please guide me through this.

Well, for now, that is all I have to write.

If you know of a job opening in Singapore, please let me know!!!

The end of Year 1

2011-04-15T15:24:00.000+08:00

Today is the last day of class. It marks the end of my first year in NUS.
Of course, it also marks the beginning of the reading week and exams.

Celebrating???? Not really. Most of us are caught up mugging for exams or rushing to finish projects so that we can start studying for real.

What I can say so far: This is the toughest the thing I have ever done in my life. Studying for a degree is so troublesome and tiring. But I guess it is worth it.

Slowly, I am adapting to the crazy study schedule of NUS. It is hard to swallow new topics and then within 3 months vomiting out all the information during the exams. I don't think much of that information got pass the digestion stage.

Next semester should be better for me. I hope. I am cutting down, and am going to strain myself less. NOTE to all FRESHMAN: 4 CORE per semester is crazy... too much attention is diverted and not enough time to focus. I am cutting to 3 CORE per semester as to live a little longer and not hate my course. Trusting God to pull me through the next three and a half years.

I am no longer FRESH. A new year is coming (a new academic year), but I am looking forward to the end of exams and the beginning of our three month holiday!!!!

More about my year 1 experiences soon.... probably when I am taking a break from my studies....

DATELINE

2011-04-14T07:31:00.000+08:00

I just realized that my dateline for my research paper is tomorrow.

And I still have so many things to do to it... *panic*

See the price of focusing on other subjects and losing track of another subject.

Thankfully, it is the research paper is done. Just need to tweak it here and there to make the paper a better one.

Cannot play play with this paper you know, it is worth 50% of my marks.....
And I am so hungry!!!!!

Conflicts

2011-04-12T12:07:00.000+08:00

Two different conflicting feelings.

1. I want exams to be over ASAP. Finished and done with.... with a lot of time to waste....
2. I don't want exams to come so soon.... more time to study and better prepare... and not so stressed.

Solution: Someone please cancel the exams. THANK YOU very much. We will be eternally grateful.

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

2011-04-11T19:12:00.001+08:00

While searching for Japanese Music and soundtracks. I found this...

Which lead me to this...

And I felt in love with the show. So nice!!!! and FUNNY!!!!
Now, I am itching for the exam to be over to watch this series...... seriously from the first episode, it seems to be awesome!!!

"EH !" seems to be a common phrase in the this show...

EXAM Season

2011-04-11T16:38:00.000+08:00

April ushers in the exam season.

What happens in the exam season:
1. The number of the people in the library increase exponentially as the exam draws near: This is because people think the library is the best place to study. And the library also opens 24hours for all-nighters, who have too much midnight oil to burn.

2. The number of people going crazy increases: Mainly associated with the amount of work = (stress level)^2. Take me for example.

3. The number of sudden screams of frustration at the hostel increases dramatically esp. when there is an exam tomorrow: Along with the occasional throwing of books out of the window.

4. The number of friends on facebook decreases slightly: Some of my friend feel that deactivating facebook is the best solution now.

5. The number of lights-on in Hall at 3:00am increases: More lights are on at night during the exam period than way before the exams period. Go count them yourself. NOTE: some people sleep with the light on.

-----
As for me. I found myself starting my exam season 7 weeks before the exams. However, come week 13, two weeks before the exam, I find myself in square one, not sure of all the topics and need to read through everything again.

After reading Amy Chua's book, perhaps I need someone to be around to yell at me: "STUDY!!!!"

Stunned

2011-04-05T01:50:00.000+08:00

Mission Convention is not just limited to Tabernacle of Worship. I thought it was..

Trinity Christian Center also practices this as well.
For the first time in my life I am amazed at the amount of money a single church can give.

This was the amount pledged in the 8:30am service I attended.

Oh. They calculated the amount on the spot. And I am amazed at the figure. And that was only for one service. This church has two premises. And 5 English Adult services - 2 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday.

Then, they displayed the amount the Saturday services gave (inclusive of English, Chinese, Youth and Children services).

I felt shivers when I saw this.... It is just amazing how God can open the hearts of people to give towards missions.
Even the children and YOUTH.

Just amazed. And speechless.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom

2011-03-28T14:41:00.000+08:00

Finally after waiting 2 months and a few weeks, the library emailed me to notify me to pick up this book:

This is the book of the year!!! I really wanted to see what Amy Chua had to say on Chinese-style parenting.

The book is awesome, I finished it in one day. For the first time in the a long while I could not put down a book I picked up. My friends ask how do I read and walk without falling down. But reading and walking is my specialty - I have been doing it for years.

Amy Chua writes about how she parents her children, much to the horror of many US Citizens. I on the other hand, don't find much differences about how she brings up her children to my own childhood. Okay!!! My parents were not so strict, actually they were much more stricter when I was younger. For some reason, when I grew older, they relaxed a lot more.

Amy Chua writes that she never allowed to watch TV, be involved in a drama and not get an A in the exams. My parents were not as strict, but I remember them not being happy with me when I got a B. I remember that I was not allowed to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings - I usually had to wait for days when my parents went out on a Saturday morning, to secretly turn on the TV.

I wanted to write a up something to counter this book, perhaps secrets to survive parents who are tough. Or perhaps the child's view on tiger parents??? I don't know, but I think it would have wait till summer for me to start writing something.

Dinner and Dance 2010/2011

2011-03-28T14:09:00.000+08:00

The most stressful event I ever organised.

After months of planning, days of sleepless nights. Dinner and Dance 2010/2011 arrived. I have been preparing for it, writing proposals and plans, but never actually envisioning that the day would finally come.

But it did. It came. The day of reckoning. I could compare it to how the Allied Army prepared for the D-Day invasion.

Few people know that this event made me doubt why I was studying Environmental Engineering, it made me nearly give up everything. It was just thanks to a number of people that I made it through that stressful period.

In some terms, the event was a failure. We had to cancel 5 tables. We had made losses. We could not get the costumes we wanted. Not enough sponsors. etc. I could pin point each of those reasons to a certain place. But what is the point of blaming people. What is done is done.

But lo and behold, the event was said to be successful. Facebook was all commenting how successful the event turned out to be.

I am happy that it was to say that I am satisfied with the outcome of the event. To see all the pieces falling into place, to see the SCRC smiling. TO see the JCRC having a good time was enough. When I reflected the event, I realized that I this was the reason why I did this event. Not because of the stress or the pain of organizing, but to bear witness everything that was plan come into play and to see everything turn out to be successful.

Some how everything turned out to be fine. Everything!!! The planing gave structure to the event, the emcees gave our event life. And the final years gave the Dinner and Dance the hype and the power to make it a success.

I now must thank my department which is the combined program and pageant department. Thank you for assisting me in all I asked you to do. During the event, I am sorry that some of you got the sharp side of my tongue, it was just my choleric character coming into play. Next time argue with me anytime you want, but not when the main event is one to two hours away. I thank you for helping out with all the things I ask you to do... Without your help, this event would not be successful. Special thanks to Juat Ying for her help with securing the emcees and other various things and for being one of the most reliable. Also to Hoang Hai, for standing the whole night helping with the sound system. Thanks to Melissa and Ye Mei for helping out with make-up and to He Wei for helping with

I must commend Ling and the design department for coming out with a solution after some of the decorations got lost in transit to Jurong Country Club. The design was simple, but nice!!!

All in all, the event was successful. I enjoyed organizing it.

Should I do it again????

My 21st Birthday!!

2011-03-28T13:10:00.001+08:00

In Singapore when you turn 21, a party is thrown, a big celebration occurs, and the cost of celebrating the 21st birthday seems to be as expensive as having a normal wedding.

I, however thought that I would be celebrating my birthday all on my own. A lonely, stressful(due to the coming Dinner and Dance) and quiet birthday. I thought that my 21st birthday would be one of the most dullest of all, after all, I am away from home, my closest friends live about one kilometer away and I was busy running around getting my other things done.

Little did I realized that my parents had other plans. Somehow, they managed to contact my best friend Yin Qing to pull something together for my birthday.

The day started with a few small post on my wall wishing me happy birthday.... I never expected much from facebook - most people get their facebook wall's flooded with birthday wishes. I did not expect much because of the super-strict privacy settings that I set for my facebook profile - my birth date was revealed to a very limited number of people, not just my birth date but a whole lot of information is blocked off from general friends. Some of my friends are complaining about this too... haha.

I went to class without expecting much, and besides I was super busy!!! I had a full day of classes, make-up to purchase and I had to meet the emcees later in the evening.

I realized something was up, when my friend messaged me regarding my where-abouts when I was meeting the emcees.

It turned out that it was them....

Such a nice surprise!!!!
My parent even bought a cake from Awfully Chocolate for me. I badly wanted to try this cake, in case you did not know, Awfully Chocolate has made news for their chocolate cake and their unorthodox way of marketing. However, the cake in my humble opinion was not as nice as I imagined it to be. It seems that I have tasted better!!!

Thanks Mom! and Dad!! for the surprise. I enjoyed it.

Thanks again to Yin Qing, Jane, Sze Wei, Maryann, Irene, Soo Leen, Vee Ler, Bryan, Heng Giap and Amy for coming all the way to celebrating my birthday!!! I am sorry I made you wait for two hours. They came at 6pm, I was out meeting with the emcees
It was indeed a lovely surprise.

Now I am 21. Voting age. And fully ready to take on the world, or am I???

Candy Empire

2011-03-19T10:10:00.000+08:00

This is my newest favorite store....

It has so many nice candies, biscuits and chocolates.... irresistible!!!!

I have become addicted to

and it is only going at SGD1.00 for three!!!
Nice right.... I wonder if I will get a chance to go again to buy more!!!!!

Japanese Videos

2011-03-17T09:19:00.000+08:00

Watched a few Japanese videos last night. Trying to distract myself from reality.

Loved this two the most.

I don't understand much of what is being said. Too many points needed to take the Japanese class here at NUS, but I will try again next time.

But enjoy them, just as much as I did.

How I "nearly" gave my parent's a heart attack

2011-03-16T01:49:00.001+08:00

Simple. I told them I was thinking of giving up and wanted to change course.
Talking to them over skype with a tired face and boring voice probably increased concern.

ごめんなさい
I worried you guys too much!!!
But at time, changing course was heavily on my mind.

I was overworked. STRESSED out. And very tired.

And just felt like giving up.

Two things or possibly more contributed to this.

1. Studies.
Mid terms were not as good as I thought it would be. Doing Maths 1 a second time is no fun deal. And I am still facing the same problems I did when I took the Maths last semester. It is depressing and the final exams are drawing near.

I just hate maths. It used to be the best subject last time, but now I think it just plain sucks. Why so hard??? It is just a headache trying to figure out what is going on.

2. Dinner and Dance.
This is my Hall's CCA( like extra-curricular activity). I'm in-charged of the program and pageant department. And getting things together has been a chore and a big headache.

Basically, being the head of this two departments simply mean that if the event is a failure, it is generally my fault. And just ironing issues is a total headache.
Working with a minimal budget of almost ZERO adds to the stress at it is a limiter to what I can do.

Yups. These two things added together, just makes me want to throw in the towel, forget about engineering and go study arts.
After all I am better at vague stuff not as good as specific information like what is required in engineering. Or rather, I think I just hate memorizing facts. I rather read and give my own ideas and come out with my own arguments.

Trying to solve problems in a mathematical way is so not my style.

I am better now. Not so depressed. Some of the stress has been removed.
Partly thanks to the talk I had with my friend in YEAR 4 - Yvonne.

Now. I feel better and know that I do not have to rush through NUS life. Take my time and enjoy the learning process.

I plan to take her advice and increase my study time - instead of 4 years - four and a half. An extra semester will help reduce my workload per semester. Which also means that I do not have to four core modules (which is are killers) per semester, sure I will graduate later, but at least I will can focus better, and won't be so stressed out.

Yups. Traveling will be fun. I can't wait to do a work-travel holiday!!!

But for this semester. Just push on a few more weeks. I should be able to manage, when I focus on the coming holiday and the thought of knowing that I would not have to rush myself so much next semester.

ps. thanks Yvonne.

Masterpiece.

2011-03-11T01:03:00.001+08:00

Watch the video. It speaks louder than my writing.

I AM shuting down for one day

2011-03-08T11:49:00.001+08:00

It is a bit early for earth hour, but I need a break.
By the way, earth hour is on the 26th of March.

I think I will have a total shut down of electronic devices. TOTAL!!!
Meaning hand-phone will be off. Computer will be off. TOTAL BLACK-OUT!!! I hope they can survive with me...

Not going to do this because I am about the earth or anything.
I do not believe that Earth Day would work if we only turn off the light for an hour. It just won't work.

I think for it to work. Government and the electricity provider must agree to turn off the supply to the nation. Not for one hour, one day. It will be way more effective this way.

I am shutting down totally this Thursday because I am worn out. Too many things to do and most of them are work that have to be done online. I need a break. A long one and one away from the computer.

I will be taking a day off the computer and my hand-phone. I have been overworking on the computer and need a break.
Probably use this time to relax, catch up on studies and ignore all the "things to do" emails that would come in. Oh and to catch up on the books I meant to read...

I just remembered that this means I have to finish my lab report by Wednesday. Now, I have to rush the report.

What a great day to spent Earth Day!!!! If you see me online on Thursday, please scold me straight off...

Of Mongoose and crazy ideas

2011-03-05T04:36:00.000+08:00

Perhaps I should go into business, just perhaps.

Just three days ago, during my WP2201i class - a writing class focused on "Messing with Nature, Unintended Consequences", we discussed on the Mongoose on Amami Island, Japan.

The mongoose was introduced there as a natural predator for the local Habu (a poisonous snake) which was feared by the locals. The mongoose whom was know in other countries to eat snakes like the Cobra, did not do the same for the Habu and instead predated on other species like the rabbits and poultry.

After discussing the article a bit. Our Professor said we would be doing some role-playing, to discuss what to do with the mongoose.

Roles:
Mayor
District Representatives
Farmers
Parents
Biologist
Business People (trappers, tourism)

-----

I was thinking of going for something safe, like the "local representatives" or "parents", but than I thought of a crazy idea and decided to take the businessman for tourism.

My crazy idea:
That since the mongoose caused so much trouble, and we are deciding on an eradication program. We might as well make money of these pest. We could focus on Mongoose tourism. We hold a Mongoose Day - where we sell Mongoose products, we have special Mongoose dishes.

We could sell Mongoose fur products - hats, skins, bags...etc. We have Mongoose Open Season.

Basically is to make money off the mongoose at the same time solve the problem of them being super invasive.

In the end, no one else could come out with an idea that could match mine. After all, the best motivator for people to do anything is money. It is an idea that will increase the quality of life of the locals (they earn more money), it saves the government money and it makes the Island more popular. Hence, all was in favor of this idea.

Our prof said that he did not expect our discussion to head in this direction. But it was fun. I saw him later adding to the bottom of his role play list: "activist", possibly because we did not have anyone acting the role of an activist in our discussion. Perhaps the other classes have a different outcome... HAHA

But I did enjoy myself immensely. I felt good all over too.

Perhaps, just perhaps... Business is better for me than Engineering...

The Best or Nothing

2011-03-02T03:54:00.002+08:00

Now. I have found a company that says this:

Mercedes Benz.
I first saw the advertisement on the ABC website. Watch the ad. It is very good. In fact, I think they just convinced me that when it comes to cars, go for Mercedes.

Did you hear the commercial say:
"Performance is not about doing one thing well, it is about doing everything well. Because in the end, everything matters. Performance without compromise, that is what drives us"

These are powerful words. To perform well by doing well in everything. No Compromises. I want to live like this.

To give my best at everything. Profound. Perfect.
And now. To apply this to my life.

How great the Father's Love for us

2011-02-26T11:23:00.000+08:00

This is one of the songs I would always listen to on my computer.
Selah does this song awesomely.

I love the way the song reminds us that God loves us so much, that He gave His only Son to die for us. Us whom are useless, sinful people.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Such a beautiful song.

Awfully Chocolate

2011-02-25T00:22:00.003+08:00

I saw this in a issue of Reader's Digest.

A small cake shop, that is super popular in Singapore and now, South East Asia:

Awfully Chocolate

visit them here.

A lawyer who decided Law was not her thing a year after graduation. And turn to her love for chocolate.

After reading, I WANT to eat this chocolate cake. Someone out there!!! Get this for my birthday!!!

I am craving this already.... Chocolate Heaven...

What to do on a crowded MRT

2011-02-24T22:53:00.002+08:00

Here you are, standing in a peak hour MRT, with your ears plugged with your iPod blasting music into your ears.
You look aimlessly about as you half-listen to the music. Just hoping that the train does not stop too often and it would hurry up.

It was just like this the other day. However, I did find something to do. Something interesting to do.

I read someone else's book. No not borrow a book from a fellow traveler but over her shoulder.

The book caught my attention with bold term: "first-born child characters"
Once I saw that, I immediately started to read over her shoulder. She must be a parent or something to be reading a book like this. I think the book helped her, she sometimes closed the book for a while, and to me it seemed like she was thinking. Maybe she read something that made her understand what was going on.... who knows???

Anyway, I tried very hard to get a glimpse of the title. I tired getting it by looking at the reflection off the window - this was hard since it needed a dark background to get a clear view. I tried to read it when she put the book down.
It was hard. But eventually, she positioned the book in a perfect position for me to read the cover.

The book was:

Neat huh??? Of course I did not get caught or anything. I did not really have to move much to read the book, just move my eyes a bit. After all the print on the book was quite large.

So what to do next time on the train??? Try to read another persons book without the person finding out.

How I became a spammer

2011-02-24T16:03:00.002+08:00

Back when I was in TAR College, I was noted as someone who just loves to do the paper work. At least, I liked very much to write things down, put it into a soft-copy format and print it out.

Enter into NUS, a world where almost everything is online: your lecture notes, your submission of homework, your lectures and you even consult your lecturers online; now most meetings, announcements and minutes are all done online. I think system trains us to be spammers.

Like me. I have become a super spammer. Being in charge of one of the departments in Dinner and Dance Committee, helps me improve my emailing skills. You can ask my members, after the emails from NUS and NUS departments, my email count is second to none.

If you put the amount of emails I sent on a graph, you probably will see a high plateau and than a sharp drop. For some reason, I love sending emails. It is fun and an exciting. However, I doubt my member think the same way.

Recently my sms to them have also increased to beyond the normal levels. Maybe now, I will be in a class of my own, email and handphone spammer. Second to none.

Perhaps I should try to run for Hons Secretary. Hmmmmm....

If we all could be like Azizulhasni Awang

2011-02-21T10:53:00.003+08:00

If we all went for competition with the same fighting spirit of Azizulhasni Awang, we would be great champions.

Who else would continue a race after being stabbed in the calf with a 9-inch wooden splinter???

The Star came out with two head-lines today:

Crash put paid to Azizul’s plans to set the world on fire
Azizul the first cyclist to bag three consecutive overall titles

We should all strive to be as passionate as he was in what ever sports we play.

Sometimes it is better to pay

2011-02-17T22:45:00.003+08:00

For the past 4 years, I have been using OpenSource Office suites to meet my computer needs.

And I was happy. Happy that I did not have to spent crazy money to buy a licensed Microsoft Office or to secretly use a pirated version of the software.

I have been promoting OpenSource.
I have used StarOffice - which is no longer available for free. Than I moved to OpenOffice which was excellent.

Just yesterday, I decided to try a new OpenSource Office - LibreOffice. Which was good too.

But. I was happy until I arrived at my lab report. AND than, I realized why people pay to buy Microsoft Office suites.
It is all the functions which are not yet present on all the freeware products.

Like the graphs in openoffice and libreoffice, cannot be compared to that of Microsoft. I put out all my hair just trying to get it to work on my opensource office to no effect. Than just transferring my work to the school computer to use the Microsoft, saved me a lot of heartache, and even made the report a little fun to do.

So what should I do now??? I think I am willing to spent some money to get the Microsoft office. But I still think what the OpenOffice and LibreOffice is doing is good - giving people what they need for free, public service.

SO what should I do??? I can't be pulling my hair all the time....

Maybe, I will just do all my report in the computer labs.

Or I should just go and buy the software.....

Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T07:34:00.002+08:00

Valentine's Day. They say it is about love.

I still think that it is about making money. Almost all businesses will be trying to make the most of this day to make people spent money. EVEN societies will try to take advantage of this day to do some fund raising.

Valentine's Day is more about buying stuff than being about love. Isn't it??

And yet, it is so nice and cute to see your friends, who are in a relationship, do special things for their partners. It is fun tease them about what they do for each other... and at the same time it gives a warm feeling deep down that the act of doing something for the other - is love.

Sometimes I wished... well, I could wish...

Oh.
By the way. Valentine's Day is not a Christian celebration. NO CHURCH celebrates it, we acknowledge it existence, just like Chinese New Year, we celebrate it among family and friends. But it is not a event like Christmas or Easter.

While the day is about love. I think the people who ban Valentine's Day in Malaysia are wrong about it being a Christian thing. Yes, it roots could have been from a Christian source, but it does not mean we say it is part of our religion( Christianity is not even about religion; It is about our relationship with God).

Valentine's Day to us would be more like Chinese New Year to us. We celebrate it, we follow its tradition which is giving things to each other; however we do call it part of our faith.

I would say the Valentine's Day is about love. But many of us Christians, we try to use this day to show the world that love is not just for people in love. We try to show the world a different kind of love, the one that God has for us.

This love - God's love or agape love meaning sacrificial love, outlast our earthly love for each other. When love among couples fail sometimes, God' love is everlasting and no matter what you or me do, God will still love us. After all, God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us.

Christianity is about celebrating God's love for us. And as in all loving relationships, Christianity is about loving God back. Christianity is based on love.

Replicating Egypt

2011-02-14T20:51:00.002+08:00

We saw for ourselves how the Egyptian rose up in unison, overthrew the government and took Egypt back for themselves.

And now, on everyone minds back home in Malaysia - ARE we capable of replicating Egypt.

Most people agree that they are unsatisfied with the present day government. They say that corruption is spreading worst than cancer. Lies are being told on the HEADLINES of government controlled newspapers. - Well at least some people say this.

We hope for change. We have countless of money wasting by-elections just to fight it out between government and opposition parties.

We want change. We think that perhaps voting is not enough. And now, in the wake of the success of the Egyptian people, we in the deepest places of our heart now hope that perhaps, just perhaps we might be able to stage a similar coup-de-tat that will bring change to our nation.

I doubt it.

I doubt that we, Malaysians will ever stage a massive demonstration. And I do not think the military will back the people. And we do have our nation's Rulers to think about. I believe they will step in, if ever demonstrations reach such a climax.

But. I think it won;t happen because we do not have the courage to do it. It won't happen because Malaysian have found an easy way out - migration to other nations. Most people not happy will leave.

We simply do not have the courage, the will to see that our nation moves forward in the right hands. We vote, we complain, we make noise. But action-wise??? Nothing much right???

Besides that, our people know that any form of demonstrations to overturn the government is a double edged sword. We will hurt too. Our economy will suffer, we will have a decade of rebuilding to accomplish.

No. A demonstration won't work. An aggressive revolution won't work. We need to resolve as a whole nation to do what is right for the nation. IGNORE the parties, when the next election comes, vote in people who have been corrupt-free, people who are worthy of the position and people who are willing to work to built this nation up (and not their wallets).

I know I should not say too much, after all I am one of those who would leave given the opportunity. Already I am overseas studying. And if a good opportunity comes, I will take it. Unfortunately I do not see any opportunity coming from Malaysia.

I want Malaysia to become the jewel of South East Asia. More than what some places call the melting pot of different races and culture. I hope Malaysia will be a place where racial, cultural and religious barriers disappear. Where we can see each other as Malaysian not as Malay, Chinese or Indian.

I am still Malaysian, you know.

Hoping and praying for a better Malaysia. Praying for young leaders who have the vision, the passion for a better Malaysia to step-up and change this land.

I too want to change Malaysia.

Everything to me.

2011-02-14T02:44:00.002+08:00

Avalon (2007), Everything to me Chorus:

You're Everything to Me -
You're more than a story,
More than words on a page of history
You're the Air that I breathe,
The Water I thirst for,
And the Ground beneath my feet --
You're Everything...
Lord, You're Everything to Me...

Love this song. It reminds me that I am nothing without Jesus.
I want to live for Him, so that others may see Him through me.

How Labs can be fun

2011-02-13T18:33:00.003+08:00

Labs sometimes are not fun stuff.

The procedure does not make sense. The chemicals look weird. Whoever is your Lab Teacher looks fierce. You have no idea what you are to collect.

But I love Chemistry Labs. I loved A Level Labs. Esp. Chemistry.
What other lab is similar to cooking. And you get to see weird reactions.

Simply methods to be great at Labs:
1. Read the experiment first: I do this so that I don't blur out during the labs. You get to understand what you are doing and you are prepared for it.
2. Re-write the procedure and note down what data you are supposed to collect: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. Who wants to keep looking over at the lab manual, whose procedure looks super messy and takes one to three reads to get the steps right. I usually re-write it in picture form on a piece of paper. And just refer to it quickly during the lab.

----
Other things:
1. Lab partner absent. Meaning you are partner-less. And you will be get transfered into another group. Meaning three to a group. 6 pairs of hands and double the apparatus increases the speed of the experiment 2 folds. You get more accurate results and you are not that worked out.

2. Smarter partner. If your partner is smarter. Than you don't have to worry so much. It is more like you let the other person do the thinking for you. You use less brain juice and you are less stressed.

Last lab was fun, because it was reaction kinetics - which was a time consuming experiment but with careful coordination and preparations. You can finish it quickly too.

What I don't like about labs - WRITING the LAB REPORTS.... sienz-ah!!

A fading memory.

2011-02-13T14:03:00.002+08:00

Do you know what happens to old shopping malls in Singapore?
Have you ever wondered how it would look like in its former glory?

-----

The silence was what struck out the most. From the hype and vibe of Orchard Road, this mall was too quiet to be part of Orchard Raod.
If you wanted you could compare this mall with Ion Orchard, it would be like comparing a New York to a unheard of village.
It was so quiet. I could hear the sound of the escalators squeaking as the continued their never-ending motion of moving to the next floor. The dull hum of the old air-conditioners sounded more like the weak breath of a sick man.

The air has a musty smell to it. You could even feel the heaviness of the air. Shops were closed. Only a few were open at 7pm.
As I walked through it, I could feel the old mall sigh in boredom and cry in jealously. It probably could hear the and feel the other shopping mall having a grand time every night.

It was just too sad. Perhaps. in years to come developers may feel that it has become a waste of space. And decide to destroy it.
Will this old mall, who probably had it glory days and lost out to more modern looking, better located mall be forgotten and destroyed. Only to be remembered when a grandfather walks by and tell his grandson that there used to be a mall here.

"A grand mall" The grandfather would say. And sigh at the good old days. When he met his wife there. Perhaps even shed a tear to see the place where he proposed to his wife no longer there.

A fading memory.

- The mall I was referring to was Far East Shopping Center.

Round and Round

2011-02-11T06:05:00.002+08:00

Why did I choose this title? I still don't know. Perhaps because that is what is going on in my mind right now.

Wait.

Or is it because that is how I feel, everything spinning round and round, too fast for me to control. Like a whirlpool sucking everything in, and with no way to navigate out of it.

Or perhaps I am just feeling this because I have not enough sleep.

Going no where,

the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.

Feeling frustrated at life, at people, at everything.

I sometimes wish I can let go

Let everything go

Let it fall apart

Let it crumble

It will be known that I let it fail

But who cares, DO I?

A vicious cycle. Never ending, never progressing. Always stuck somewhere somehow.

* forgive my crap at 6 something in the morning.

Interesting Headlines

2011-02-09T11:15:00.003+08:00

Last week, I saw two interesting headlines in the star.

First:
Seven arrested as Malaysians rally in support of Egyptians
(THE STAR, 5 February 2011)The report was on Malaysian being arrested for bad behavior while protesting in Kuala Lumpur.

I was not interested in who was being arrested. It was interesting to see what they were demonstrating for.
They were supporting the people in Egypt, who if you do not know have been going through some political problems: The people do not like the President and want him out.

But I found it amusing that they wanted to sent a memorandum to US Embassy. Not that it is wrong. But I was wondering what can the United States do??? They have no sovereignty over Egypt and hence cannot not intervene. Oh. They can say stuff, try to get the UN to act but other than that?? Nothing much. Placing sanctions on the Egypt will only cause more people to suffer, going in on a full-scale war is out of the question.

So what can the US do?? Nothing much for Egypt. So why sent a memorandum to the US Embassy???? It would make better sense to sent a memorandum to the Egyptian Embassy, after all the only way to solve the problem is for the Egyptian government to reconcile with its people. Either agree to their demands or come to an acceptable compromise.

Second:
Malaysia is not ‘going bankrupt’
(THE STAR, 5th February 2011) The article talked about the government reassuring us that they were not going bankrupt despite claims from other parties.

I find it weird that Malaysia has a bankruptcy issue. I thought for one, that we were recovering well from the crisis, people were doing better. But this bit of news is a bit shocking. Digging a bit, it seems that the opposition claims that we will go bankrupt if keep to current "practices". I read somewhere about corruption eating up our wealth.
And after reading about Penang, one of the smaller states in Malaysia being the state which brought in the most wealth, made me wonder about the truth of what is being published.

Perhaps. Even though both sides of the government have different problems and some of the stuff being reported in main-stream media and through the internet makes me doubt all in politics.

Gee. I am almost (few months) from voting age. I guess I will vote in the side which can bring the most money to Malaysia.

-----
Disclaimer: In no way am I writing this to criticizes anyone. Please accept my humble apologies if you feel hurt. But on the other hand, please tell me how and what in this article hurt you.

I know what I will do NEXT CHINESE NEW YEAR

2011-02-09T10:01:00.002+08:00

Yes. I know exactly what I WILL DO next Chinese New Year.
I will NEVER EVER EVER take land transport to balik kampung for Chinese New Year again. ONCE IS BAD ENOUGH!!!

What happen this year then???
TWO super bad experiences when traveling back and to Singapore.

1. HOME-TRIP

I mentioned this in an earlier post. BUT THANKS to heavy rain - KTM (Malaysia's Only rain service that it inter-state ) failed at at a halfway point between Singapore and Seremban. Giving me one hell of a headache on how to get from Kluang to Seremban without dying. Actually, the headache was not mine, it gave my parents the headache. I just sat here in Singapore waiting for them to do something about it. BUT I still had to get up at 5AM in the morning to catch the 8AM train to Kluang. And it cost my father almost 8 hours to drive down and back.

2. RETURN-TRIP to Singapore

THIS WAS WORST THAN THE KTM thing!!!
It was not the frequent occurrence of traffic jam that irk me. Nor was it the 6 hours I spent in the bus.
IT WAS THE FACT THAT THE STUPID BUS had a very poor air-con!!!! AND CAN YOU IMAGINE being in oven FOR A SIX HOUR RIDE???? IT was ------- .
I paid RM35 for the ticket. Which should be equal to a three in a row comfort bus with a lot of leg space. BUT NO, it was some shit bus, four to a row, minimal leg space and a freaky hot air-con.
What pissed me off also was that the bus which was scheduled to leave at 11:30am. Waited till 12pm plus to leave so that the bus could be packed FULL... I was really pissed. And MORE-SO when the bus air-con started to fail 10 minutes after it left the station.

----
SO NEXT CHINESE NEW YEAR - I DON'T CARE how much a plane ticket will cost. I AM SITTING on a plane to get back home.

Disappointment

2011-02-09T09:48:00.003+08:00

I could not bring myself to write this last week. It was just to sad and painful to talk about just then.

We lost the critical floorball match and did not make it through to the next round.

I barely remember the match now. It was a lot of screaming, shouting.
I remember the supports rallying, trying to give us the support we needed.
I remember the captain calling for us to focus.

But simply. I just remembered that I did not play very well.
I think I was distracted that night.

At the end, we agreed that we were not on form that night, we were too slow to start and played with not enough passion.

I dunno. But I felt the whole thing was my fault. I remembered being screamed at.

I could blame a number of things:
1. The sudden change in lines, I was not playing in the same line as the first match, and I did not get much practice in that line.
2. Perhaps it is because as defenders we were told to play a more forward role, which did make me a bit disorientated.

But I still thing it was me. I wasn't good enough? Perhaps.

Well. Now that we are down. There is only one other place to go. UPWARDS.

UPWARDS and FORWARD.

CNY 2011

2011-02-07T22:31:00.004+08:00

Was not as exciting as it should or could have been.
I was hoping for more fun-time.

But what to do when you get sick on the first day of CNY and cannot get to enjoy the best cookies (made by my cousin-aunt) in the WORLD when you visit your grand-uncle's house!!!! Now. I have to WAIT one year to taste them!!!!

Also how to enjoy the CNY holiday when you have a LAB REPORT hanging over your head. Where-by if not completed by the end of the holiday is equivalent to having your head on a chopping board.

So. I did not really had the Chinese New Year I had expected or perhaps even wanted. AND I did not GET TO EAT YEE-SAN - that is the most saddest part!!!

Anyway. I did get to meet up with family and relatives. I did get the much needed rest I needed. Forced to sleep because of being sick.

But on the bright-side. Re-union dinner was awesome. Because the best cook in Chinese Cuisines- my aunt who decided to cook this year instead of going out to eat. I am SO HAPPY she cooked!!! IT was the best!!! I must take up an internship course with her...

I also got to use another aunt's kitchen to cook. Nice right. Now I have used a total of three kitchens. My mom's, my aunt's and my other aunt. Hmm... Maybe I should call myself the traveling cook.

I love red. And CNY is all about redness. Sometimes, I don't get why people still stubbornly wear other colours other than red on CNY and worst case is to wear black.
I think that if you want to celebrate CNY, which is a traditional celebration, we should follow most, if not all of the traditional practices.

For one, I am in total agreement of NOT CLEANING the house for CNY. Not because I believe in the luck or any of that. But because I AM SUPER-LAZY!!!!

CNY is fun. And I wish I had more time off.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!

ps. They say because not just the Chinese celebrate the new year at this time, it is better to use LUNAR NEW YEAR - not so racist. HAHAHA

pss. this year's MAYBANK AngPau package is SO NICE... much better than last year's one.

How I ended up in Kluang

2011-02-05T11:43:00.003+08:00

I was enjoying the rain, the cold weather and the climate which started to mimic New Zealand climate...

...Up until I saw Yvonne facebook status about her parents driving down to Kluang to pick her up.

Which got me thinking, HARD. I realized that KTM services were and could get disrupted due to flooding in Northern part of Johor and Southern Negeri Sembilan. I did not think it was that bad, since I did not hear anything about it in the newspapers and parents have not mentioned anything about it to me.

But one sms to my father about it. Send them into (almost) panic mode. It seems that the flood was BAD - read BAD for me since my train was cancelled.

After lengthly discussions on handphone - which burned my international credit big time!!! and a good long chat on skype which my friend witnessed. I had to catch the replacement train that would take me all the way (as far north as possible) to Kluang.

I had to get up at 5:00am (which is a very very unholy hour), walk through NUS at 5:30am - I think the guards thought I was crazy, get to the bus terminal and catch the first bus to Tanjung Pagar KTM to buy the ticket.

KTM services told my dad the train would leave at 0715, that is why I was up so early. But when I reached there, KTM told me it was 0800. WHAT THE---!!! I could have slept at least another 30 minutes!!!

In regard to public transport - Singapore still rules. However, Singapore's banking service is another thing (you can read about that story here)

Well. Who said trains were safe and guaranteed to get you back??? Well at least my father did not mind driving down to Kluang to pick me.

Mix feelings

2011-02-01T02:27:00.003+08:00

I thought my WP2201i module will be all about plants.
Seems I was wrong.

We are now reading social action and it unintended consequences.
I have just read-out-loud the whole article. And little of it makes much sense.

It sounds totally like crap.

It talks about what society does in response to certain things and what they do will have undesired effects.
"Undesired effects are not always undesirable effects" That what the article says.

I agree in principle of what the article is generally talking about.
Even with careful planning something don't go according to the plan. But that is normal, humans have come out with something call - adapting and taking the best course of action.

This is what the article is talking about. How do man make choices when facing unpredictable circumstances? Hunches, past experience, head knowledge? Or simply weighing the possibilities and choosing the best option???

The article is horribly hard to read. But the discussion and my own expansion of the article looks like countless possibilities. I am excited.

Hence. Mix feelings: excited and bored.

Hungry to WIN

2011-02-01T02:23:00.003+08:00

After watching the Volley Ball finals. And witnessing the crowd's cheers and the exhilaration of winning. I WANT TO WIN TOO!!!!

Today's match. WE MUST WIN. I am jealous at the excitement and at the feeling the volley ball team got when they won.

So today's Floorball match. MUST WIN. Because, I WANT TO.
GO>GO>GO!!!!

Rain, Rain, and more rain.

2011-01-31T10:30:00.002+08:00

It has been raining almost 24/7. For three days already, I have not seen the sun at all.

Temperature is at all time low. But not low enough to wear double layers or triple.
I am still hoping for snow.

When will the falling rain, turn into white fluffy snow???

Let it snow. Oh, let is snow. I want a white Chinese New Year!!!

Because He lives

2011-01-30T15:10:00.003+08:00

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

I know, it is not even Easter yet. But I am writing this, because today I was reminded that I can face tomorrow because Jesus lives.

Live holds no meaning if not for Jesus. Today. I am reminded that no matter what, Jesus hold my future.

From now on, when ever things get tough. I will remember that I can face tomorrow, I can face the exams, I can face the problems because Jesus lives.

Jealous

2011-01-30T14:58:00.002+08:00

Yin Qing now has iPhone.

And I am super jealous. Haha.

Practically, everyone (almost) has a smartphone of some kind - HTC, apple, samsung....
If you don't believe, you come down over to Singapore, go to Orchard road. And survey the people. I think at least 1-in-4 will have a smart phone of some sort.

I also want one. But got no finance. To get a iPhone you need to take up a package with the mobile company. SGD 800 as deposit for foreigners and SGD 480 for the phone. Every month you pay SGD 40++.

I don't have that kind of money.

So I guess, I will wait till I start working, than only I will think about it.
And, besides if I get an iPhone now, I will be super distracted with the new devise. So best thing is to wait, and for now focus on my studies.

But I also saw this. NotionInk Adam.

Adam Promo from Notion Ink on Vimeo.

Nice. And the specs look better than the iPad. The price looks less than the iPad also. Don't know when it is going to be released. But it really look nice.... *drooling.

First Competitive Floorball in Singapore

2011-01-30T14:41:00.005+08:00

After 1 semester and a little more of training. I played my first competitive floorball match in Singapore last Thursday.

IHG - Inter-Hall Games. Where the 6 halls in NUS go all out to become the best hall at all sporting events.

I am in Raffles Hall team.

The team!!! (photo from Raffles Hall facebook page)

Nervousness struck 5 minutes after the game started, when the team captain called for my line - line 2 to get ready. Haha.

3 quarters of 15 minutes. We lost, but everyone said we played well.
Oh. We played against Termasek Hall which had a strong team. I think they said about one line of IVP players (IVP - inter-varsity players, or in Salibandy.CO!! terms, have one line of national players). We only had one VERY good goal-keeper. Losing 0-2 is not bad, considering we were all almost new players, and had only one semester of training.

We did well. But I think I let too many ball and players get pass me. Weird thing is, they said I played quite a good defense. Anyway. For the next match, we play KE7. We hope to win, and I will play my hardest too..

GO Raffles!!!

Why Grammar???

2011-01-25T11:07:00.003+08:00

I am currently having issues with my writing class.
For one thing, I did not expect that the class would be like this.

Messing with Nature: Unintended Consequences. What in the good world does this title have to do with invasive plant species???

I was hoping for some unorthodox issues. Like how natural disasters are human induced and are natural factors of population control. Or some weird stuff - I love weird stuff, and writing crap about crap is fun. But invasive species??

But I have issues is with the Grammar. Why on earth do we need to learn all these stuff - present past future... tenses adjectives... etc. I don't care much about them when I write. But apparently we should care more.

I don't seems to be making sense of the module. But I hope it gets better. I don't want to spent the whole semester brooding about making a bad choice. Hopefully the other writing assignments will be more exciting.

Visit to Doctor

2011-01-22T23:35:00.002+08:00

Last time I counted - I lost count. I can't remember the last time I went to see a doctor.

Anyway. It is probably the first time in 10 years or more where I am visiting a doctor for a common ill. Had a cough for more than 5 days, which was irritating and giving problems esp. during training. Hence a doctor. And since visiting the doctor is FREE, why not???

Well. The experience. Okay-lor.
Got some free cough mixture. And that is about it.

It is not that I hate doctors or anything. It is just that my family tradition is that normal simple illness like fever cough flu can be treated without a doctor. See the doctor when it is serious.

My common remedy... drink water, take some vitamin C, panadol if fever. And than SLEEP it off.

Doctors, are well... not common in my equations. Until now.

NUS Fast Facts 1: Lao Po Ping

2011-01-22T23:00:00.003+08:00

The best part of NUS is that there is kuih shop selling lao po ping - WIFE Biscuits.

The shop is located in Engineering Faculty, block E4. And that is my favorite stuff there.

I went there once to buy to of that biscuits. The shop owner look at me and asked "You want two wives???? One is a lot of trouble already..."

I gave him the blank look. Paid of the biscuit and left. Haha..

So if you ever come to NUS(during the Semester), I bring you to this shop.

Fever: Aftermath

2011-01-17T00:43:00.002+08:00

Fever. Is when your body get heated up, in response to a virus.
The higher temperature get your enzymes and cells to work faster to produce more antibodies to fight of whatever is attacking.

Best remedy: Two pills of Penadol(Adults), lots of water and lots of sleep.

Getting fever sucks. It makes me stop doing normal things. Like eating. And for the first time in a long while, this fever is taking a longer time to go away (usually within 10 - 15 hours).

Possibly because I went to play a friendly match while I was still in the recovery stage. I had to sleep it off for a longer time - I think it was at 30 hours.

SIDE-EFFECTS: My bio-clock has been knocked out. Hence, I still awake now.

I am going to force myself to sleep after this.

NUS Week 1

2011-01-16T22:04:00.002+08:00

School has started. And I think my timetable is not doing me justice.

It is great that I do not have 8am lectures. Those are killers.
But having 9am lectures is just as bad.
I still think the worst thing is my timetable has between one to three hours gaps between classes.

What am I suppose to do with this extra time??? No homework yet.
So I sleep. Which sometimes make me five minutes late for the next class because I am a super-sleeper. Once I close my eyes, it will take a lot more than an alarm clock to wake me up.

However, I love Wednesdays!!!! It is the only day I can sleep in and relax. Only two hour class at in the evening.

So based on my timetable. It is two days hard work, one day rest, two days hard work and than the weekend.

Classes so far???
I am loving my writing module. Barry Grinder is our lecturer. Class is fun. But I just received the reading assignment. And for the first time I have to say I find it a bit boring as compared to reading fiction - who would not??? 20 pages of a book talking about invasive plants. But I do look forward to this class.

Chemistry and Materials Science classes are OKAY. Lecturers are okay. Both modules looks like Chemistry stuff. I keep seeing what Mr. Siva taught us in everything they are going through.

Statics is taught by Michael Beer. He keeps telling us about that we are supposed to solve problem not memorize the theory and look for similar examples to solve them. He is from German, so you can guess that he has an accent that is a little bit more hard to understand. This module is like Physics. Yeo Ye (my last semester lecture for physic) would be more expressive in certain things like generating the formula.

Maths is still as boring as usual. Although Prof Tan last sem was more lively. Prof Ng, this sem is more detailed and I think give us a better understanding of the module.

Had four floorball training last week too. IHG is coming. Hope to win. It has been a low intensity week. I managed to sleep early. But I also managed to get sick with fever - still in the recovering phase.

Tutorials are coming out. Meaning that I have to start work soon. Hopefully, I will be able to sleep by 12am, latest 2am.

Wet-lands

2011-01-11T12:41:00.002+08:00

Singapore is fast becoming the newest wetlands of the world.

It has been raining everyday.
Percentage-wise it is something like 70% rain, 5% Sunshine and 15% looks like it is going to rain.

It is wet wet wet all over... I love it.

The temperature is around 22 - 24 c - I think. Colder at night.
Perhaps it will snow one day.

First DAY of CLASS

2011-01-10T19:57:00.002+08:00

Weather: COLD, WET. NO SUNSHINE. So sad.

For the first time in a LONG LONG while I got up at 7am to attend class. Class starts at 10am.

When early because I was not good at estimating traveling time needed to get to LT32. After all, it is not class as usual in Engineering Faculty. I had to travel to Science Faculty to attend class.

Got to meet up with classmates. But this semester we would be seeing less of each other much lesser than usual. Well, it come when you take different modules and have different tutorials.

Today was quite uneventful. Boring, some would say.
But it is just the first day. Tomorrow could bring surprises.
And who knows what the following few weeks would bring.

Thanking God for 2010

2011-01-10T19:32:00.004+08:00

Sorry everyone. But I think I am still living in 2010. Can't seem to let go of it yet.
There are still things that I have not done, which I think I am carrying into the new year.

THANKING GOD FOR 2010
1. giving me one of the best years EVER.
2. the A Level results.
3. my Semester 1 results - very thankful for not doing as badly as I anticipated.
4. the wonderful trip to New Zealand. - Had quite a lot of fun there. And now, I want to go back again.
5. Getting me into NUS. - It is no short of a miracle that I made it into NUS. - I sent my application late(which got in one day before the closing), I got the hostel I wanted where none of my friends did. Although I did not get my first choice - I did get the second choice ( and I believe this is what God wants me to do). Thankful for the finance also.
6. the 6 months of work experience. Although I did not manage to save much of what I earned.
7. giving me friends who helped me about NUS - namely Jerusha.

Thankful that I made it through 2010. God is indeed GOOD.

FCBC

2011-01-09T13:55:00.000+08:00

Yesterday. I visited Faith Community Baptist Church with my friend Kok Hau.
It is my first time attending a Saturday Night service instead of the normal Sunday service.

Sigh. It is so hard to find a church call home. After attending Trinity for about 2 months. It felt like home. But I have not made any connections with anyone there.
No cell group. It is just the Sunday service - which is awesome. But my parents want me to go somewhere where I can have friends (preferably older friends) who can give support and encouragement.

I was a bit skeptical about FCBC. Worship was okay okay. But hey, it is not about me, it is about Him. The church was a bit cramped. Full-house. While the crowd was about the normal Trinity Service, they seems to have less space than normal.
But the message was great. And it reminded me a lot of things that I need to be doing.

The message last night was "tarry until..." reminding me that I was to wait for God, not carry on without God. Not to do things with my own strength but to wait on Him and rely on Him.
I was reminded that God is the God of the impossible and I am to ask God for things that seem impossible with man but possible with God.

I have decided to ask God for some big things.
1. CAP 4.5 in my coming semester exams - This means perfect score in all the exam papers. All A in all papers.
2. Asking God to sent the rain in Raffles Hall. RH VCF need revival and I want to see it happen in my time. I am praying that God will start with me. To renew my hunger and thirst for Him.

I am not sure whether FCBC will be the church that I will stick to. My friend is in a cell group there. And well, it seems awesome. But I am not sure.

Currently I'm thinking about three churches to attend:
1. Continue at Trinity and get involved in a cell.
2. Attend Jerusha's church - Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church
3. Or Continue with Kok Hau at FCBC.

Praying for wisdom to decide. I hate wondering about.

Night Train

2011-01-06T22:57:00.004+08:00

I have mastered the art of sleeping on the train.
For the first time, I had no problem falling asleep and sleeping through the jerks, the bumps and the swaying of the moving train. It was a good nights rest. Unlike previous trips.

I still remember the dread I had to endure by sitting up all night since there were no beds available.

Although the train did arrive late, and reached even later, I did enjoy the rest I got on the train. And am grateful that it was late - I did not have to plow through Singapore's rush hour to get back to University (Buses were not as full as during peak hours, there were enough space on the train to sit).

Well. I think it was a good train ride. And quite comfortable too. For once, I enjoyed it.

Purely Political???

2011-01-01T12:39:00.003+08:00

Purely Political???
Was the same question Nelson Mandela's secretary asked him when he got quited work out over Rugby.

This post will be about football.
Those who know me, should know that I have ZERO, none, nada interest in football. It is a weird game and I think to get worked out over a dozen men or so running around after a ball in a field so large is a bit crazy. Anyway, I think playing the game is fun. But watching it on TV is boring.

But why football?? Since I think it is a boring subject.
Recent news about football has been hitting our newspapers, other people's blogs, and even facebook very hard.

And while I have no interest in whoever wins or loses. I writing this post because I see the potential this game is having for the Malaysian population.

I think this football thingy is what is needed my Malaysians to unite. It is something to overcome the normal boundaries of racial, religious and status conduct.

And what rugby did in South Africa could be mirrored by Football here in Malaysia.

Of course, our Prime Minister has not said anything about wanting the team to win the world cup yet.
But I think that football is a step forward toward unity among citizens.

Perhaps, football is what the political parties need to overcome the hatred for one another...

Just perhaps we can forget that we are Malay, Chinese or Indian.
And be thankful for being Malaysian.

Dang!!! It is the new year.

2011-01-01T12:33:00.001+08:00

And I still have things to post up which should have been posted up last year.
What am I to do about that???

Back-date it???
Or just post it up like this???

I Survived

2010-12-30T18:55:00.003+08:00

Hmmm...

It might be a little early to say this.
But. YAY~~~~ I survived 2010. Or well at least I have come out in one piece.

2011 is going to be challenging - it is apart of uni-life. But I believe it is going to awesome too. Currently, my only wish is to do well in exam!!!!

Leaving 2010 is hard. Somehow, it seems that the year passed by so fast - in a blink and tada!!! we are entering 2011.

How time really flies. And I can still remember getting my A Level results in January and realizing that that results is quite useless as soon as you enter University. Somehow, you get the feeling that all those effort you put into to study is to break you in to a good University (in my case NUS) and than it become useless, like a piece of yesterday's newspaper, good for nothing but throwing away.

Loved my time in New Zealand. AND I DO WANT TO GO BACK.
I will try with a student exchange otherwise, it will be somewhere I really want to work in.

Looking forward to 2011....
But cherishing 2010....

Invictus

2010-12-28T23:29:00.003+08:00

I was watching the show Invictus with my family just last weekend.
It was my second time. And I still they the show is very good.

I could not help thinking that if South Africa could overcome a racial divide, no, it was more that a racial divide - it was one race being put down by another.
Well, if they could do it. Why can't Malaysia also overcome its racial differences and work towords a unified body.

Hence. In my humble opinion, I believe that that the policy to ban the 1Malaysia logo out of advetistments to be unwise. Not that because banning it is wrong. But rather, by doing so send the wrong message to the public.
The public (well most of the us), would like to live peacefully with one another. Why should there be fights and things like that.
And the 1Malaysia campaign is working towards that. Even though, it may be flawed, or have the wrong motives or even copied. It is still aiming to breack the racial differences and allow us to live together with each others differences and learnt to enjoy these difference which make up what and who we are.
Banning the usage of its logo just sends the wrong message to us - that you rather have us divided.

I guess, the banning is purely political.
But I think there is a limit to all this political strive. Yes. Both sides should disagree with each other on certain issue - nothing wrong with that. Yes. Both sides are allowed to compete, since competition only helps the other to want to do better. And the end result would be the same for us.
But I think that both sides should agree on certain issues. To show us, that no matter the differences, or even if both parties hate each other. These people, leaders of our country know when to put aside these issue in the light of working towards a common goal.

If your enemy is my enemy too, than we would gain much to work together.
In this case, the enemy is racism, divisions in the country. And working together, whether is through 1Malaysia or something else to achive national unity and wholeness is some worth putting away your differences between the parties to work together.
It will show us, the public who look to you that you know when to overlook difference with each other and work together.

The day, I see both the government and the opposition work together towards a common goal, is the day we see our nation move forward towards a better future.

I am looking forward to this day!!!

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

I contributed to Christmas Eve Dinner

2010-12-25T11:07:00.003+08:00

And I am so proud about it.

I made butter prawns for our family's traditional yearly Christmas Eve Dinner.
AND it looks and TASTE so so GOOD!!!!

The process is actually simple. But it takes a lot of time.
I had to wash the prawns, cut of the head just behind the eyes and slit the back to pull out the vein. This is the most gooey part... because of the dirt coming out of the prawn. Seriously. If you did the cleaning, you may not want to eat the prawns later. The things that come out... it is creepy.

Fortunately, I love the taste of prawn. So the gooey-ness did not stop me. HAHAHA

Next was to dry fry the grated coconut, chop the garlic finely and get a lot of curry leaves.

Than I deep fry the prawns. It is weird that black prawns turn red when heated. Still trying to figure out what does that. Like the protein in eggs causes the egg white to turn white when heated or chicken meat to turn white from pink.

Anyhow. I take out the prawns and let them drain.

Than I put in butter, the garlic and the curry leaves to fry until fragrant, toss in salt, soy sause and sugar . Than throw in the prawns again. Oh, the fire is on high heat. Throw in the cocounut. Than fry for a minute or two.

Than can serve it already and eat!!!

Nice-leh...

Christmas Greetings

2010-12-25T11:04:00.002+08:00

Blessed Christmas!!!!

Christmas

2010-12-22T21:07:00.001+08:00

Christmas is coming!!!

I could sing.. lalaLA!!!!

I'm so happy and in the holiday mood.
All the food, the cooking, the buying of presents.

It is going to be fun!!!

BLESSED CHRISTMAS everyone!!!

Bad, but not as bad

2010-12-21T23:09:00.003+08:00

Yups. I did bad. Worst result ever.

You must be imagining. How did a Straight A SPM student, 3A A Level student did so badly??

Well. I did. And I have no idea how??
But I thank God that I did not get as many F as I thought I would get.
I was expecting worst.

Now. Is to look forward. Dig in deep. And not do as badly again.

A kick in the ass

2010-12-21T22:45:00.003+08:00

Perhaps I was too relax.
Or
I had too much fun.
Or
I did not focus enough.
Or
It was the 24/7 access to internet.

But I totally screwed up Semester 1.
A kick in the ass to remind me that what I am doing now is not working. And I need to change the method of which I do things.

So how not to screw up Semester 2??

And I dread seeing the same maths module again.

Everyone has come back

2010-12-20T00:01:00.002+08:00

December is a good time to catch up with people. Mostly because all of the people have returned.

Chester, Clarance, Daniel Low, Welcome back from NZ. I envy you guys around three months holidays...

Jessie is back from Kedah.

Shu Shan and Grace Gan is back from Aussie.

The KL people are also back.

We from Singapore are back too!!!

It is great to be home. Christmas is a wonderful time to be home.
I get to shop at 2.4 times cheaper. I GET TO DRIVE!!!! I get free food. Don't need to think about washing clothes or whether it is going to dry or not...

I love to be home. Pity the internet speed is slower.... that too bad, but it just means more time with people less time online.

Welcome Home everyone!!!!

Same, Same, But Different??

2010-12-19T23:59:00.003+08:00

Saw this three time today... Still trying to figure out what exactly it means.

Wikipedia says it is some German drama, whose settings is in Cambodia.

What does the phrase really mean??

Understanding Bus Services

2010-12-17T22:26:00.002+08:00

I think I have got the picture on how inter-state bus services work.
It is not clear and perhaps wrong.

I went to Plusliner to get a ticket back to Seremban. My friend said its service was good.
However, the guy at the counter brought me to a bus which was not Plusliner.

So I am confused. And decided to think on it for a while.

I decided that perhaps the bus system works this way. Someone owns the bus. And everyone around in the station calling out to potential passengers will get commission if they managed to put someone on that bus.

It looks like that. Because, no matter which I guy I go to, it is the same bus.
So perhaps that is how it works. Either that or I need to travel with some who is more street smart than me.

Today I was approached by some old Chinese lady with an umbrella. She looked like a passenger herself. But she was one of them - the bus ticket sellers.
And I got pissed off with her.

She was playing the racism card. And trying to get me to buy a ticket from her by saying: "Chinese should buy from their own people" (She spoke in Chinese, so a rough translation).
I nearly puked.

I just walked past her and ignored her completely.
Impossible. What has the bus and bus tickets got to do with race??
Please never play the race card with me. I refuse to even look at it. It makes me angry.

When it comes to buses. The company or the people who provide the best service for the best price matters. It has nothing to do with skin color.

Holidays

2010-12-14T23:48:00.002+08:00

Yes. I am still in NUS.
And it is awfully quiet here. Everyone has disappeared for the holidays.

My reason for staying here: Training.
But training only last a few hours a day leaving me with plenty of time on my hands.

So what did I do ...

Celebrated Yin Qing birthday. He nearly ruin the surprise by wanting to go out for supper. We had a wonderful time.

Met up with Ms Joanna and Ms Hee, who came to Singapore. And I also got my chance to see Orchard Road's deco, which I got bored of within ten minutes of looking at it.

Read some books.

But right now. I am looking forward to going home. And celebrating Christmas.

Christmas. How I wished it snowed.

Happy Birthday QING!!!

2010-12-11T12:27:00.003+08:00

Yin Qing turns 20 today!!!!

Happy Birthday my good friend!!!
It has been a wonderful 5 years, from Bukit Mewah to TAR College and to NUS. We seem to be following each other everywhere we go...

I am so glad you loved your birthday surprise.

500th

2010-12-11T12:23:00.002+08:00

My blog celebrates it 500th post, since it opening in December 2007.

In just three year, THE NEXT CHAPTER has written a book, 500 chapters long.

Hence, lift you cups in the air, shout "CHEERS!!!".

To my readers, THANK YOU for reading this blog and commenting on it... I really appreciate it.

I hope that everyone enjoyed reading it.

Here is to another 500 more chapters!!!

Singapore Botanic Gardens

2010-12-11T12:02:00.002+08:00

I went traveling all by myself....
And it was 100% FREE. No money spent.

A few things about Singapore's botanic gardens:
1. IT is HOT. Just walking around it made me sweat a lot.
2. A Lot of green very little colors. Quite few flowers, a lot of greenery.
3. Too little animals running about
4. The gardens is very commercialized.

In Conclusion. It was a nice trip. But I prefer Auckland Botanic Gardens better.

How to get there:
Take NUS bus, BTC1 to Bukit Timah Campus and look for this signboard.

In case you did not know, the Bukit Timah campus is surrounded by the the botanic gardens... Lucky them... they get to walk in the park everyday.

This is the main entrance, but if you take BTC1, you won't see it. As this is on the other side of the garden. I had to walk one hour plus to get to this thing.

They even had a garden to show how the world looked like million of years ago. They called it

Dinosaur tracks found inside the garden.

Had to pay 5 dollars to go in here. Hence, I just look at the entrance.

They only had two lonely swans in the lake. So sad. In Auckland, they had a flock of ducks...

The curtain of roots. Want to have this for your house???

Girl on the swing.

Girl on the bicycle.

I loved this shot.

And this reminds me so much of the lamppost, in the book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

One of the best in the garden. Called the passing of knowledge.

A better place??

2010-12-07T14:22:00.002+08:00

In direct response to this article taken from the MALAYSIAN INSIDER.

A better place for their children, not Malaysia
By Melissa Chi December 07, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — First-class education system, a corruption-free government, zero tolerance on racism and the basic skill to communicate properly are all on one Malaysian’s mind when he chooses to work in Australia.
Anthony Leong, 30, an application support programmer, said he is considering giving up his Malaysian citizenship and live in Australia permanently, for the sake of his future family.

He said he had become frustrated at the corrupted system, the quality of local university graduates and the red tape he had to go through to apply for welfare support for his 70-year-old disabled aunt, among other things.

He is now a permanent resident in Australia, working for the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, and is considering applying to be an Australian citizen once he has convinced his father and sister to move with him.

Low purchasing power, racism, political instability, low income, race-based policies, crime rates and non-dual citizenship laws are seen as some of the reasons that have kept a lot of Malaysian talents anywhere but here, 300,000 annually to be exact.

Another Malaysian who had also chosen to be Down Under felt unappreciated in Malaysia.

“I am a Malaysian who loves my country but I do not feel loved. Why then should I stay?” Wesley Wong, 25, a software developer in Australia, told The Malaysian Insider.

His deep sense of frustration was echoed by many who are working abroad.

“The country should learn that all Malaysians love their country. Any Malaysian who does not feel appreciated in their own country will definitely find elsewhere to go because they realise that their future is bleak,” he said in an e-mail interview.

Leigh Howard, South Asia director for Talent2 International Limited, told The Malaysian Insider that approximately 300,000 Malaysians leave the country for better education, work and business prospects, quoting figures released by the government.

“That would compare with a figure of 80,000 for a country such as Australia which has a similar size population and workforce,” he said.

He added that Malaysia is lacking talents in the services sector, technology, banking, as well as in oil and gas.

Brian Fernandez, 40, a headhunter for senior and middle management positions for the last decade at Talent Search International, said those talents are lost to Singapore, all over Europe and the Middle East.

“Setting up Talent Corp is a nice blah blah but it’s not real,” he said, dismissing the initiative launched yesterday.

The prime minister announced at its launch yesterday that foreigners and Malaysians living abroad can soon apply for a new resident pass that will allow them to live and work in Malaysia for up to 10 years at a time.

Although he had earlier said that Talent Corporation, which was established under the Prime Minister’s Department, will spearhead initiatives to attract the estimated 700,000 skilled Malaysians currently working abroad, the prime minister did not mention the ambitious figure at the launch.

Instead, Najib announced a new policy to retain and attract talent to Malaysia.

He said the resident pass will be made available to highly-skilled expatriates seeking to continue working and living in Malaysia as well as Malaysians residing overseas.

Unlike an employment pass, he said the resident pass has the advantage of not being tied to an employer and it can be issued for a longer period.

Najib, also the finance minister, said the pass will also be available to those originally from Malaysia as well as their offspring who no longer hold Malaysian citizenship.

Following the announcements, however, he did not specify how the new body will reach out to those “highly-skilled talents”.

Fernandez was sceptical about how the new initiative will pan out, even before the launch yesterday.

“Malaysia is very good with plans, but when it comes to execution, it’s a different story,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider had reported that Singapore had trumped Malaysia in the brain gain stakes, according to a recent Gallup poll which saw the island-state beat some 150 countries to come out as the most favoured destination in the world for educated migrants.

Fernandez cited his family as “a classic case” as one of his sisters is working for the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and another in Singapore.

Fernandez, who has a university degree and a small child, had also left for Singapore in his late 30s, said that he was “one of thousands who had left Malaysia in the last two years.”

He said Malaysia had lost a lot of talents in technology because the skill is very transferable and that “Singapore is a good example of a vacuum cleaner, sucking talents out of Malaysia.”

He added that Malaysians in the banking and financial industry, especially accountants, are being offered better salaries and benefits abroad, whom he said, usually stay on in the country and do not return.

Fernandez used the biotech industry in Malaysia as an example of the many sectors which need to improve, to gain talents.

“Singapore went through that as well. They had a 10-year plan, bought global talents from the UK, the US, there were a lot of PhD students. They grew the talent pool and now they have more than 1,000 PhD holders,” he said.

He credited the government for its efforts and said that at least Malaysia is headed in the right direction as he noticed that talents are being paid better in recent years and that senior management salaries had gone up in government agencies as well as government-linked companies.

SOLUTIONS FOR THE PHENOMENON

Howard said that even though there is an incentive package for repatriating Malaysians which includes tax exemption for importing a car and leeway for their children to enter international schools, “however more could be done.”

Under the Human Resources Ministry’s “Return of Experts Programme”, an approved returnee is entitled to bring back two cars tax-free, as well as the applicant’s accumulated income, also tax-free.

However, this is hardly an incentive as in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries which do not have approved permits (AP) or prohibitive taxes on imported cars.

Howard said the solution to this brain drain phenomenon is twofold.

“In a broader sense, the same types of economic and social conditions which attract quality immigration will assist with repatriation, (for example) there needs to be material improvements in education, career and working life.

“At the same time, there are some very specific initiatives that would target and attract Malaysians to return home. All of them involve a considerably more detailed and proactive approach,” he said.

He suggested the government follow the footsteps of large multinational companies in the private sector that invest heavily in their employee value proposition (EVP) and review specifically at this target group.

He also said the level of outreach needs to be highly proactive as policies and standard incentive programmes can only go so far.

“(The government) needs to adopt a less passive and highly rigorous approach to identification, communication, and interaction with this pool of people. It’s not impossible to map out and identify Malaysians living overseas, it just involves work. Following up from this, the type of engagement programme needs to be sophisticated enough to have a long-term impact on repatriation numbers. Whether it’s accelerated resettlement, incentive programmes or fundamental changes to the Malaysian economy ... will also play a role,” he said.

“It may not come as a surprise that the private sector is already undertaking its own efforts to identify and repatriate Malaysians into mission critical roles within their organisations,” he said.

Fernandez said some of the ways to stop Malaysian talents from leaving are to have better physical security, better policing and opportunities, adding that “it’s not always about the money”.

“A trickle will be a flood. If there are opportunities, people will come back,” he said optimistically.

Currently, he said there is a net outflow rather than inflow of talents and warned that it will get worse next year.

However, Fernandez said that losing Malaysians might not be the end of the prime minister’s vision for the country to be a high-income and a developed nation by 2020.

“If we are losing Malaysians and can’t get them back, then hire foreigners. It’s not easy for a foreigner to get work permit here and that’s a mistake. It should be more difficult for unskilled workers,” he said.

In the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) report on the New Economic Model (NEM), it says that the numbers of expatriates have fallen from nearly 90,000 in 2000 to nearly half of that by 2008.

The net result is a “shortage of dynamic talent to push Malaysia into higher added value activities”.

“We are competing globally, so we need to look globally. It’s not a zero-sum game, it is not that if you bring in a foreigner, it’s at the expense of a local,” he said, adding that bringing in international talents can spur more job opportunities.

MALAYSIA IS NOT ALONE

Howard was quick to add that Malaysia is not alone in the brain drain phenomenon, and that every country experiences immigration and emigration flows, which constantly affects the calibre of the workforce.

“What you need to do is examine is the brain exchange, (for example) that you ensure the skills entering the country are at least the same or ideally superior than those exiting. Malaysia’s challenge is that our emigrants are more skilled than our immigrants (and our general population),” he said.

Howard stressed that the government should improve on the selection, settlement and integration of skilled immigrants to help boost the quality of the workforce in Malaysia. He said that not only do skilled immigrants provide a higher calibre workforce through their own efforts, but they also indirectly improve the skills and knowledge of those around them.

The report by the NEAC on the NEM laments that “we are not developing talent and what we do have are leaving”.

The report says that currently, some 350,000 Malaysians are working abroad, with over half of them having tertiary education.
This leaves more than 80 per cent of the workforce with SPM-level qualification, and their wages are being continually suppressed by the vast availability of foreign workers and other barriers like subsidies and price controls.

According to the World Bank, Malaysians residing overseas numbered only 9,576 in 1960 while the world’s total registered migration was 382,912 per nation. By 2005, the world’s registered migration increased to an average of 919,302 per nation, an increase of 2.4 times. However, Malaysia’s emigration numbers rose to 1,489,168, an almost 100-fold increase over the 45-year period.

Many first world countries have schemes to attract talents from all over the world. The closest example is Singapore, which has employer-sponsored (Scheme 1) working visas, which are issued within three working days on receipt of application. And under its Scheme 4, top-notch professionals are “purposely” sought from all over the world and attracted to reside in Singapore.

Jonathan Monteiro, 28, a headhunter, described this phenomenon as a chicken or egg situation, where because of the lack of talents in Malaysia in certain industries, investors hesitate to invest, hence the limited pool of Malaysian talents will opt to leave the country for better opportunities, mostly to where the said companies invested in.

Monteiro said most Malaysians are tempted to work abroad because salaries offered are more attractive.

For example, he said, certain jobs in Qatar pay Malaysians about 85 per cent more than what they do here. Monteiro said he is considering moving to Qatar next year to be in the human resources industry.

“When you come back, you’ll definitely need to take a salary cut,” he said, adding that no one he knows was working in a company in Malaysia that could match their salaries abroad.

He said, however, that some of them will eventually return to Malaysia, “simply because it is home.”

RETAIN AND RECRUIT TALENTS

Lyvian Loh, 27, a market analyst in the US, said among other things, health insurance is very affordable, there is freedom of speech and it has a less stressful lifestyle.

She said there is also “lesser expectations of entertaining your superiors to get a better positions or to get promoted”, the pay is relevant to your degree or ability, and that the purchasing power is higher there than in Malaysia.

“It is definitely a problem for the country but is a benefit for the particular individual. If a country doesn’t appreciate the talents and qualifications in their own country, the individual may as well go to a better place where people appreciate them while giving them a better life,” she said of the brain drain phenomenon.

Jesse Lee, 30, a senior accountant in the US, said following completion of her degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, she had only wanted to stay on for a few years to learn the culture and the working lifestyle there, but had since changed her mind.

“Gradually, I fell in love with the people, environment and the surroundings here. Not only there’s the higher salary, you get the freedom you don’t have back home. You know, here’s just like what Alicia Keys described in her song — if you can make it here, you can make it everywhere, concrete jungle is where the dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do.

“It gives you hope. You know as long as you work hard, you will achieve what you dreamed of. But there’s a huge trade off for working abroad. You don’t get to see your families and friends often,” she said.

Asked what the solutions might be, she said the government should “walk the talk.”

“1 Malaysia isn’t just a slogan. The government should really put in effort to unite the people and create a ‘home’ for us. Fix the corruption and reduce crimes,” she said.

Wong had similar initial plans as Lee and had also changed his course.

“I had wanted to return to Malaysia to help my family business when I was studying for my bachelor’s but some time in 2007/2008 but I changed my mind and decided to stay in Australia. This was because I saw no future in Malaysia with the current system in place. My parents had advised me to stay in Australia as well,” he said.

Wong called for open tenders for projects, lower crime rates and that the government should do away with race-based policies and emphasise on meritocracy instead.

“The brain drain phenomenon has been a problem since many years ago. Many Malaysians have realised that you will never get anywhere if you don’t pull the right strings. This has spurred many Malaysians to leave the country in search of greener pastures where they can be appreciated. Malaysia has been stuck in the middle-income trap for many years and will still be for many years to come because the level of education there is appalling.

“Malaysia can’t continue on with its manufacturing sectors because many other countries can do the same thing for a cheaper price but yet Malaysia continues to churn out many sub-par graduates with poor language skills. As it goes, Malaysia won’t move on to the next stage after manufacturing, which is to start designing and inventing products because of the lack of talent in the country,” he said.

Among other things that Malaysians working abroad complain about are the rampant racism which they felt is more tolerated in Malaysia compared to where they are, having to choose only one citizenship and oppressive laws such as the Internal Security Act.

I am now studying overseas(Singapore). And I can tell you that I will most definitely I will be abroad for at least the next 10 years.

10 years is a long time isn't it?
But yes. This is my current 10 year plan. (Cool right... I already have charted out the next ten years).

I will ( I hope) earn my degree in four years time (2014).
I am bonded to work in Singapore for 3 years. However, I have decided to work in Singapore for at least 5 years or more. Simply because I want to pay off the loan within five years or less and save some money for the future.
Now this is 8 years. What about the other two year?

Now my plan is to pursue my Master's degree in the UK or US for two years. Than, we will see... either it would be come back to Malaysia or take up a job overseas.
OR
After 8 years, I find myself sick of studying, than I would most likely return to Malaysia or continue to work in Singapore.

Now. The article mentions that Malaysian talent is going abroad and some of the reasons of this is that it is more attractive overseas rather than in Malaysia.

I agree.

Studying in NUS is prestigious. It is current number 30 or 31 in world ranking. It gives your parents something to boast about when there is family reunions.

Like when you are not at a family dinner someone will ask:
"Eh! Where is your son/daughter?"
"Studying-lor"
"Where-ha, how come cannot come leh?"
"He/She studying in NUS"
"WAH!!! Must be very clever to go there leh..."

Your parents would be bursting with grins.
Maybe last time, when your mother talked to neighbor and started comparing their children. You happened to be quite lousy.

I know how that feels like... "Look at your results!!! Hiyo, your cousin/neighbor's son/someone's child did so much better..."

Now, results no longer matter to parents once you reach university level, why?? Because most parents have no or little idea what you are studying. You may show them the your work, but they can't make much of it, especially if it is maths and science subjects.
However, parents do know the ranking of universities. And if you are studying overseas or somewhere with a big name. Your parents status somehow goes up a notch.

There are a few reasons why I came to NUS rather than studying in Malaysia.
1. Singapore government provides tuition grants - which cover up to 60 - 70 percent of the tuition fees of course, we are bonded to work in Singapore of three years, by the way this grant is offered to all students, unless you opt not to take it.
2. The banks in Singapore offer tuiton fee loan where repayment starts once you start working after earning your degree.
3. There are other financial aids offered by the University itself.

These three reasons talked about the financial side of the University. And if you apply for all of the grants, loans and aids, like I did, it would cover 100% of your tuition fee. Now in Malaysia, is there such thing? There is no government grant, there is the PTPTN loan but it is not enough. None of the banks in Malaysia have a loan in which you could repay back after you start working. And aid offer by universities are too little.

4. A Levels is not accepted in Public Universities except for a few exceptions ( people with special circumstances). Most people are not allowed in.
5. Private Universities and Collges are expensive and have no outright loan in which we could pay back after we graduate and start working. Plus the PTPTN loan is no enough when it comes to private uni and colleges.

Hence. Although it is more expensive to study in Singapore. But thanks to the financial assistance. My parents do not need to fork out so much as compared to a private college.
Per year: my parents have to come out with roughly RM12000 - 15000 for all my expenses. As compared to a private college where tuition fees per year is RM 35000 -45000, excluding living expenses.
Where would you study? 15k or 35k?

You might say that I should have done STPM instead of A Levels.
TWO Reasons.
1. I could not do ALL the subjects I wanted in STPM. I had to choose between Physic or Biology. I wanted both.
A levels (In TAR College) allowed us to take all three science and maths.
2. STPM does not guarantee a place in the uni of your choice or the subject of your choice.
But NUS, if you have the grades they want, you get in. As with all overseas universities. Your grades count.

I mentioned masters in UK or US. Why?
Because the course I want to do is not offered locally. Period.

----
To be honest. I do not really love Malaysia. Well I will not willing die for this country. But I do not hate Malaysia.
I am okay with living in Malaysia. Perhaps I have grown accustomed to it.
True the food is great. The people are great.
And perhaps the only reason to stay is right now, I have no where else to go to and my family is there.
The only thing I dislike about Malaysia is the HOT WEATHER. In fact I dislike Singapore because of the hot weather too. But who can change the weather.

But if the opportunity comes. And the doors are opened to go to live overseas. Will I give up citizenship?

I do not know.

Do I hold a grudge against my home country for not giving me a straight A Student a scholarship?

I did. I think. I badly want to study overseas and did not have to burden my parents with the finance.
But now, NO. I don't bear a grudge for not receiving a scholarship. In fact, I am glad I did not get it.
After all. I have come to realize that SPM and even my A Levels results is totally worthless. They serve one purpose to push me on to the next step. But once you reach the next level, you realized that the results mean nothing.

So whether I will leave Malaysia?
I don't know.
But most probably.

Not because the politics are horrible. Not because the education system sucks (the system does not dictate how well you will do).

But simply because they offer me a better offer.
And perhaps the weather is better over there.

How Marvelous, How wonderful (I Stand Amazed)

2010-12-06T12:11:00.001+08:00

I love this song.

Worthy

2010-12-06T08:41:00.002+08:00

Was invited to watch this video.

Am I ready???

End of the end

2010-12-06T00:05:00.003+08:00

Yups.
It over.
Hence, Officially I have finished an eighth of my University Life.

How were exams??
They were mortifying scary.

I shall not do a recap of the exams. It is too nasty, and distasteful to write about.
The only paper that I think I did okay and left happy was the environmental management exam.
It was the only paper that did not involve calculations. It just needed some thinking and a lot of writing.

The best things about this semester.

I loved it best when friends from Malaysia came down to see us. It feels like you coming to visit my home. (others would say it is like someone coming to visit you in jail).

Anyhow. Thank you for coming.
Alvin and Alice; Sze Yin; Kelvin and Kelson; Janice.
I had fun meeting up. Walking Orchard Road. Eating Food (sometimes till we tortured ourselves).
Enjoyed your company the most.

This semester I also met some NEW FRIENDS.
From the same tutorial group.
Jie Si, Ming Hui, and Linh.
Enjoyed doing some experiments together and having branch every Thursday morning after class.
Although we never did study together. It was fun just talking with you.

I must say. Not many close friends in Hall yet.
I still have my dinner all by myself (most of the time).
But enjoyed attending RH CF.

Enjoyed the inconsistent night prayer meetings with Jing Yang. Hoping to have see more people come. I also hope to do more next semester in CF.

I guess. I need to mix around a bit more. And get to know more people better.

Be early Or very late

2010-11-30T20:35:00.000+08:00

When travelling always remember to be early.
To be punctual is not good enough. As I have learnt travelling back to Singapore today.

Always be half an hour early. No matter what time the guy says the bus is leaving.
Otherwise, you will be late. And late by a lot.

Today. My bus to Singapore was supposed to leave at 10:30am. Or well, as the guy said.
However. When I arrived at 10:15am at the bus station. The bus had already left.
It seems that the bus leaves at 10:15am and not 10:30am.

Thankfully. There is another bus at 12:45pm.
The price I had to pay. Five Ringgit extra. May miss Hall Dinner. And arrive in Singapore much later than I wanted to.

Good News is that I still get to Singapore today.

I wished I had been just 10 minutes earlier. I would have made it in time. And save 2-3hours.

One lesson to learn.
Super Nice is not always nice.
And try another bus service that communicates better and clearer.

Attention: SINGTEL. I AM PISSED WITH YOU.

2010-11-25T21:14:00.000+08:00

I am really pissed off.
Now I can identify with thousands of customers being mad with their respective handphone service providers.

Since for the first time I am at the receiving end of a bad service.
I can't make any call in Malaysia because of something called a main account and the Singtel128 account.
AND I AM DAMN PISSED ABOUT THIS.

I top-up 28 freaking dollars every 50 days to maintain a good balance in the phone so that I can called out while I am overseas. ONLY TO LEARN THAT SINGTEL USES THE MAIN ACCOUNT WHILE I AM OVERSEAS and not the 128 account.

DO YOU KNOW that because of this I AM STRANDED!!!!
No way to contact people. Public phones in Malaysia are not 100% reliable also – but they work if you find a good one.

I am quitting 128. And not going to use it any more.

While trying to solve the problem. I have COME OUT with a few dozen lines of choice words to say to SINGTEL when I get back.
SO SINGTEL!!! YOU WATCH OUT! I am super-pissed.

I will either call your customer service and make the person on the other end explain the details of Singtel's prepaid.
OR I will go to your main office to make you explain.
Either way. I will make sure that by the time I finish, you will be as pissed as I am.

Seriously. I can't believe this. First it is OCBC giving me problem. NOW it is Singtel..
Who going to be next?

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR... That is all I can do now, while I am in Malaysia!!!!
Just wait. Singtel. You just wait.

I take it back

2010-11-22T11:53:00.003+08:00

Okay.

I take back what I said in the previous post.
Physics is NOT OKAY.

It was super scary. It was like a two hour long nightmare that you could not get out of. It was like eating lunch and than going on a loopy roller coaster for 10 rides non-stop.

Really.
I felt kind of sick during the exam. Like I wanted to throw up.

So I take it back. I thought it would be okay (because I could answer the tutorial questions and the online assignment questions).
I guess it was not enough.

So yups. I felt really sick after the paper.
But no time to feel too sick. Need to brush it aside for tomorrow's maths.

I hope that today's nightmare, will remove the scary factor from tomorrow's paper.

Three plus one more to go

2010-11-21T14:42:00.002+08:00

Right.
This week. I will be facing three papers.

Scary Maths.
Plus Physics and Electric Engineering.

Maths. Will be a tough one. We can bring in all the formulas we need for the exam. But know when to use which formula and the correct execution of the formula is going to be a great heck of a challenge.

Physics and Electric Engineering. Is memory work of the concepts and the ability to apply those ideas into the given problem.
I won't say it is an easy task.
I don't think I have good memory skills for memorizing detailed facts in letters and numbers.
Better at understanding the whole idea, not in micro detail but rather as a general picture.

Hence, need to work on that. Wish that the exams were all open book, or at least they allow us to bring some of the formulas in.
The real world is open book after all.

Good things to look forward too.
Going back to Seremban on Thursday.
And by the end of this week. Most of the hard stuff is over. Left with one more paper.
Which I think I may enjoy, but than on the other hand, will I really enjoy going through the environmental laws and policies again?? Or thinking about the future built environment???
I dunno.

But Semester One has come to a closed. And Christmas is coming.

Gettysburg Address

2010-11-20T01:17:00.002+08:00

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

- Abraham Lincoln "Gettysburg Address"

Inspiring. Isn't it?
Explains the American Civil War in a few sentences.

I am Coming Home

2010-11-19T01:53:00.002+08:00

It is very bad to think about what you want to do after the exams, even before the exams begin. But there is no helping it.

I thought that I would keep this a secret and arriving in Seremban and surprise my parents that I am back. But I guess that will not do.
They will kill me, since they will need to cook for one more person.

Okay. So I have decided to go back home, as in hometown. NEXT THURSDAY.
After my exam at 11am. Hopefully be able to catch a bus around 2 pm and get home.
And return to Singapore on the 30th to prepare and sit for my final paper on the 2nd.

HAHAHA. I love my plan. It gives me about 5 days in Seremban.

Wondering why I choose to go home instead of sitting in Singapore preparing for the last paper??

Reasons:
1. I am getting very very sick of Singapore. Need a Singapore-detox. Rather, I think I am sick of my room, and the hall food and studying everyday.
Need a change in routine.
2. I have ONE WEEK in between my second-last paper and the last paper. I am not going to be studying for ONE WEEK.
I am a bad example. But who cares. Since the exam is open book and there is nothing much to study. Rather module is more talking BIG about things that MAY NEVER HAPPEN.
3. DANIEL LOW is back in Seremban!!!!! I should go see him. After all how often does someone from NZ come back. It is a freaking 10 hour flight.
4. I want to go shopping in Malaysia. Since after spending Sing Dollar for so long. It will feel good to go shopping in Malaysia and find thing so CHEAP!!!!
5. The next time I come back it is after 16 December.
6. My parents say they can't come to see me. So what the heck. I go back to see them lah. Cheaper for my part anyway.

Yups. I feel so good about this. I am practically grinning for ear to ear.
I feel so good about myself!!! HAHAHAHAHA

Studying == Super Anti-Social

2010-11-18T22:02:00.002+08:00

Today I realized that I have not spoken to anyone for five days already.
Not even to my roommate.

I recall speaking to myself, shouting at the maths papers. And screaming about not being able to solve a coding problem.

But I don't recall speaking to anyone.

There is no need to talk when getting food from the canteen. I just point to what I want.
Even buying lunch, I just had to nod my head and pay and I got it.

When I walked in, the lady said " lunch sir?" I nodded. The shop only has one type of set lunch everyday, so she just rants what is being served and I just nod. Than she ask eating in? I shake my head and she pack the food away.
Than I just pay and go. No need to speak.

Yups. Studying for exams really make you anti social. Especially when you are studying by yourself.

Eat, Sleep, Study

2010-11-17T10:49:00.002+08:00

That is the three things that I have been doing this week.

And, if you think being a couch potato is bad for health.
I believe that this is worst. Eat Sleep Study. And we don't sleep that much anymore.

How am I to go for floorball training after around three weeks of just eat sleep and study???
No time to think about this...
Will figure out a solution once the exams are over next week.

Back to the books.

The point of no return

2010-11-15T19:02:00.004+08:00

This is it.

The point of no return. Only two options.
One. You make it.
Two. You die.

Most people in NUS are not optimistic enough. We say we will die.
Yups. Most definitely die.

We would scold everyone who recommend us to come to NUS - "National University of Stress". And say that although it has the branding... it comes with a heavy price.

So here is to two weeks of lack of sleep, frustration and perhaps panic.
Remember that facebook is the enemy of all students during this time.

So lifting our cans of red bull and nescafe to sleepless nights and dreaded tomorrows. And hope we live to die another day.

He came at the wrong time

2010-11-15T18:56:00.002+08:00

I wish David Archuleta came ONE WEEK EARLIER.
Than, I could go and see him.

Too bad he had to come now. When the exams are just five days away.
I could not take time off my books to go.

Hence to make up. I am listening to his album for a few times...

The reason I am here

2010-11-10T09:07:00.003+08:00

Last night, I was reminded of why I was in NUS, and why I was doing Engineering.

With all the work-load, the evil maths and the scary subjects, I really wondered if I was doing the right thing... or was I doing something wrong.

But during the prayer meeting.
I am here, not because of me. But because God opened all the doors to get me here.

After A levels, I told God that I am going to apply for a lot of things.
And I told God, I don't know what He wanted me to do.
But to Open the doors to where I am supposed to go, and closed the doors to where I am not supposed to go.

And somehow, God opened all the doors to NUS. And shut the doors to all the other things.

How I know the doors were opened.
1. I submitted my application to NUS on a very last minute basis... My application reached NUS one day before the closing date.
2. I got accepted to study in NUS.
3. But not my first choice. Rather my second choice - environmental engineering.
4. I got the hostel I wanted, when all my friends who applied did not ( and they applied earlier than me).

These things were like the doors physically opening for me.

I saw a lot of door shut too.
1. I did not get the scholarship to study anything related to the bio-field.
2. I did get to attend the interview for a business scholarship, but in the end I did not win the scholarship.
3. Somehow, the plan to go overseas did not work out well.
4. When I went to Auckland University while in NZ, I thought this was the place. But than, it wasn't because it was way too expensive. And there were no scholarship options

So, I realized, that yes, I am supposed to be here. This is where God wants me to be. And this where I am now planted.
It is time to buck-up. And bloom where I am planted.

The last time I saw the doors open was when I was going to study in TAR College.
And I can now tell you, I was meant to go to TAR College.
No regrets about that.

And no more regrets about being here, In NUS.
It is time to flower....

Distracted by Skin

2010-11-09T16:36:00.004+08:00

Thanks to my sun burnt skin that is.
Every time i study the biggest distraction is my peeling skin on my both arms.

It is irritating. I just need to peel it off.

While you can put distraction like internet, books, handphones away while studying... you can't just study without using your hands.

Hence a distraction that is always present....
And I like to peel the skin...

Gross right... but fun..

Extraordinary

2010-11-08T13:30:00.003+08:00

I have a destiny,
created for His glory.

In Christ i am free,
new life is overflowing.

Before the world began,
all of my days were in His plans.
I'm called to great exploits,
His wonders to perform

Cos' I serve an extraordinary, supernatural, mighty God.
He is my God. I know my life is blessed, I'm walking in His favor, yes,
I've the favor of God.
Now life simply is extraordinary.

- By Peter Loy @ Trinity Christian Center.

I love this.

Two weeks left

2010-11-07T01:11:00.002+08:00

I confess, this week has not been as productive as it should have.

Two reason. Nope. I think Three reasons.

First. I was bogged down with project work. I had to work through a bit of rejection over it. But improvised in the end. I came very close to deciding to use the S/U option for this paper. Now, I am hoping that it would be a CAP puller. Now the project done, and perhaps only minor editing left. Who would like to proof read it??

Second. Programing Labs took up the earlier half of this week. I was okay with the easy part of this subject. But when the harder part comes in... I realize that I am not very logical and cannot see a direct solution immediately, which is a tremendous disadvantage in this module. I guess I just like to plan things, but have lesser skill in implementing it. Programming is still a weak subject. And I really need to buck up on it.

Third. NO MOOD. Really, with a depressing lab, a project that was not approved by the lecturer (after 1800 words) really made my week to be an emo week. I felt sick in the head. No mood to study and very very sad. I don't remember talking much this week.

Well. Now for the days to come. I am glad that the project is done. But now the real work begins. I admit I am behind time by one week. Meaning I have to put triple the amount of effort to get through the exams. I hope I won't screw up this week as well.

It is time to put the best foot forward. God be with us all.

Deepavali

2010-11-05T23:25:00.003+08:00

The normal thing for me to do on Deepavali is to go to Murugesh house, eat his mom's best in the world mutton rendang, talk crap for hours and than go home.

This year with me in Singapore and Murugesh in USA. No Deepavali norm for us. At least for the next 4 years.

What did I do today. I tried to rush my project. Which I had no heart in doing anymore, but had no choice but to do it.

Had an awesome instant noodle lunch with fish-cakes. I used a metal cup to cook.

I also managed to catch up with my sleep. Yes. There is such thing as catching up with sleep - my mom does not believe in this though.
My theory is for every hour of lost sleep, you will need at least 1.5 hours of sleep to make up for it. It is ideal to sleep about 10 hours per day. But since it is crazy to do so, because we have so many things to do, we loose sleep. It is like borrowing sleeping time, and pay it back with an interest.

In the end, you will never get to pay it back. Since, I have calculated that I would need to sleep for a straight of 2 years to catch up with all the sleep I have lost.

To sleep. And fun. And to mutton rendang.
Oh how I wished the exams were over, and yet I wish they don't come.

I hate labs

2010-11-04T23:55:00.003+08:00

This phenomena began in NUS. For some reason, the way they conduct the labs make we want to hate labs.

I used to enjoy them though. I remember having so much fun in the labs in A Levels. Yes it was hot, sometimes sweaty, but we had fun doing the experiments.

But here. It feels like a torture going through the labs.

One main factor why I hated the physics labs is because it tortured us. When we had the physics lab, it would be our longest day in school with no lunch break.
And a growling stomach makes me very pissed off when the results do not match the theoretical conclusions.

I am hoping that the labs next semester will be more interesting, easier to understand, and perhaps, scheduled at a better time.

The best lab teaching assistant was the white guy from experiment 1 in the physics lab. Everyone else fell short.

Convergence

2010-11-04T10:49:00.003+08:00

I need to come back to reality.
I need to get back that sense of urgency.

For the past few days, I realized that I don't care.
Not really that I did not care, more like I acted like I did not care.

I need the sense of urgency to tell me that if I do not put my foot down and start doing something about this, I going to flunk the exams, and disappoint myself and embarrass myself.

So far the study-plan has not worked, I need to revise it now.

I'm so disappointed with the remarks on the progress of my project, that I don't feel like doing it anymore. Who would not, after doing research for straight four days, and writing around 2000 words in drafts for it. I am quited pissed about this. And my group wants me to submit the finished product by Saturday. I need to put the disappointment behind me and start moving forward.

I need to get a hold of myself. I must.

Ignition

2010-10-31T20:00:00.000+08:00

Engines - Ignite.

Time to push down the accelerator and move full speed ahead.

As of this post. We are at the 20 days count-down to the exams, and about 35 days to the end of Semester One.

20 days to get my act together, to catch up with everything. And to ensure that I don't SCREW UP my finals.

FEARS: WHAT IF I FAIL??? NO, don't think that. Aim for CAP 3.5

I just don't want to mess up my semester one.
The self issued curfew had begun. No more going anywhere, anymore.
No more shopping - today was the last time.

Limited to go to church, classes, library and PGPR.
Will stay in my room as much as possible. And will try to stay off facebook as long as possible.

God help us, all.
NOVEMBER - the darkest days of a student's life, at least in NUS.
Let the curfew began.

The precious person

2010-10-31T17:00:00.001+08:00

Many stories - many mangas portray the main character fighting or becoming stronger to protect their important person, their precious person.

It is not just a person, it might be a village or town. It might be a group of people. But the motivation is to protect the person they care for. And they are willing to give up everything to protect that thing.

Naruto, Bleach, Zero no Tsukaima, The Sword of Uruk, Full Metal Alchemist, Gintama, Night Wizards, History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi... they all have either someone or something to protect.

I want to have a something or someone special to protect too...