...To Live A Life...

2011-08-19T21:15:00.001+08:00

When I'm at work, I can think of a thousand and one things that I have to do when I get home. When I do actually reach home, I forget what those thousand and one things were. haha...

2011-08-06T14:49:00.004+08:00

Hmm....the problem with trying to write something, after not having written anything in a while, is that the words don't flow very well. In fact, I'm not even sure it flows at all. So, beware of choppy and weird sentences ahead!

Anyway, first things first!

The Canadian government is pledging to match donations donated by Canadians for the on-going and escalating famine in East African Drought Crisis. While I'm not sure if donations made via foreigners to a Canadian Charity Organization for the cause would qualify for this donation matching as well, I figured that if one was donating anyway, it wouldn't hurt to just donate via that option, since there's a possibility of having your donations doubled. I donated via the Humanitarian Coalition, formed by 5 of Canada's leading aid organizations. Whether or not it's trustworthy, please decide it for yourselves. A dollar goes a long way.....at least I think and hope it does. :D

Work....is well, I haven't really started anything really resembling work yet. Other than reading manuals, which I read but am not sure if anything actually went in. sigh...thats that.

2011-07-07T20:14:00.001+08:00

Back in sunny Singapore! <3

2011-05-20T11:08:00.005+08:00

Time flies and I am officially a NEET, 7 days and counting. Since May is nearing its end and I'll be heading to Taiwan, I figured I should write my obligatory May post! I must keep to my not-really-existent new year's resolution, although half the time, I don't even know why I'm writing this at all. Anyway! So far, so good!

Even though I've technically only finished exams a week ago, it already feels like it has been a looong time. It would have felt even longer, accompanied by the feeling of being a bum, if not for the planning of the Taiwan itinerary. Now, the bum-feeling just sneaks an attack on me occasionally. So, going to Taiwan means that I'll have a week to not worry too much about job searching. On the not-so-bright side, not job searching equals no job. =( My current daily routine is wake-up, check email, search for jobs, apply if any, plan the Taiwan itinerary - with random internet distractions in the middle. After I come back from Taiwan, there'll be a minor change, whereby Taiwan changes to Australia and voila, my new daily routine! For awhile anyway, before it's off to Australia!

Alright, that aside, watching Gantz on Monday, has made me realise that I cannot stomach gore too well. I can stand seeing all the blood and body parts lying around, but I cannot watch the process! The process is just too painful to keep my eyes open for. Not too mention that the body waits for a moment or two of no reaction, before exploding into it's full goryness. One word - urk! So if you cannot stomach all the bloodiness...at least I think it's called blood, don't watch it. Otherwise, it's kinda worth a watch. I'm not being biased!

All these talk about blood reminds me of something my dad just told me. Apparently, my family has a history of Thyphoid! On my father's side, that is. Out of the 7 of them, I'm referring to my father and his siblings, 5 of them have it. My father doesn't, but my grandfather has. (o.O)

Thats all for May~

....=.=

2011-04-21T15:12:00.002+08:00

And I revert back to becoming a NEET at the originally scheduled date. =(

....yay?

2011-04-20T11:59:00.004+08:00

And so, the day I officially become a NEET has also been postponed to the 14th of May...

2011-04-19T09:39:00.004+08:00

When I'm bored during tuition or just waiting for the tutees to finish up their work, I read all the stories in their English assessment books. Stories in these books are usually moral-based, or fact-based. Some are quite interesting, but generally, they don't differ much from other stories that tell you not to be greedy or lazy or stories that tell you you have to be a good kid. Recently though, I came across a story that was quite interesting. On to the story!

------

Once there was a wealthy businessman who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most, and he took great care of her, making sure she has nothing but the best.

He was proud of his third wife’s beauty, and enjoyed showing her off to his friends, even though he was very afraid she would leave him for another man.

His second wife was the most virtuous and patient woman of all. Whenever the merchant was troubled, his second wife would always be there to listen to his problems and tide him through difficult times.

Lastly, the merchant’s first wife was very loyal to him and had always managed his wealth, business and household well. Despite this, the businessman did not love his first wife although she loved him deeply.

One day, the businessman contracted an illness and was bedridden. Soon he realized that he would not be able to live long. On his death bed, he reminisced the luxurious life he had led and told himself, “Though I may have all the riches and four wives, I would be left with nothing once I die! Would I not be lonely then?”

Thus, he asked his four wives, “Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!” replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word.

“No!” replied the third wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the second wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.”

“I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She looked terribly gaunt. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I still could!”

In reality, we too have four wives. The fourth wife is none other than our body. Despite the time and effort spent in making it look good, it will still leave us when we die.

Our third wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they will be taken over by others.

The second wife is our family and friends. No matter how close or supportive they are when we are alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

Lastly, the first wife is in fact our soul, which is often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

------------------------------

I wonder how many P5 kids will actually really understand this story. But oh well, food for thought.

2011-03-13T21:35:00.002+08:00

freerice!

Visit the above site to help in rice donation!

For every question that you answer correctly, a grain of rice will be donated.

2011-02-14T20:11:00.002+08:00

February! Sometimes I forget how time flies~

CNY was as usual. Except that I collected a few bruises and cuts this year, when I fell. My luck is not holding up. Even in tutorial, out of 92 students, I get called out to answer a question and as luck would really have it, it was the question I couldn't do. It was a probability of 0.0027!

It's a little late, but I watched Confessions! omg! If anyone hasn't yet watched it, they really should! I lack the literary wit to describe it's awesome-ness, but just watch it. ...though I would say that if you can't stand blood, er...don't watch it. The blood is almost a constant feature along with the general lack of humanity. Or should I call it human conscience? Well, whatever it is, it's a really dark movie, so if you get depressed easily, then you should probably give it a miss. But omg, you should watch!

Happy 2011!

2011-01-02T12:03:00.007+08:00

Happy New Year!!

Food at Chris' house on NY's eve

New addition to the family!

Sis: oh, you went to the Pompeii Exhibit?

Me: ya

Sis: I went to Pompeii.

Me: ...

Sis: It was really dusty.

Me: It was very cool there. Got aircon.

Cheers to a hopefully great year ahead!

2010-12-26T10:06:00.001+08:00

Merry Christmas~!!

2010-12-10T17:01:00.002+08:00

New spectacles' frame!

I seriously bought it cause it was ~~cheap~~ relatively inexpensive.

And because my previous one broke and exams are next week.

The alternative was a red frame, which is alot nicer, but exorbitant at $232!

I paid less than that for the previous one, inclusive of the lenses!

~~Maybe thats why it broke...~~

Anyway, the important thing is that I'll be able to read my exam questions, so thats that.

2010-11-30T09:38:00.000+08:00

stress! Need 1000 more words!

stress and anxiety

2010-11-28T20:59:00.003+08:00

Sometimes, an excuse is made and I say that its an inherited trait. Yet it is, but just an excuse. The capacity to tolerate decreases and temper is quick. Irritation flares and vexation ensues. In addition to the looming deadlines, nightmares of failing to meet them are aplenty. They consist of everything that just falls apart with no way of salvation. Arising in a state of fear and settling into worry. The line stretches thin and the worriment almost unbearable.

In a week's time, I hope, things can be resolved. In two, settled. Lest of course, everything comes true. Then...then, let's pray the string won't snap.

2010-11-25T20:42:00.002+08:00

November! Time flies. And PSLE results are out. Sadly, P6 kid didn't do well for his PSLE. Alot worse than I would have expected. Still, hopefully he can get into a decent enough school. In my opinion, he slacked off too much towards the end. But overall, he's still a relatively bright kid. All the best! ...not that he'll ever read this. I hope.

1 more month till hols! If I even survive exams...=S

Because there has to be a post a month....

2010-09-24T20:08:00.002+08:00

...as such, this.

Week 4 of school! I have no information on my microecons project, no topic in mind for my politics term paper and an incomplete group for development econs! *shakes head*

That aside, I registered and paid for the HPV vaccine. So...more drugs in my body, yaye~! Not now, but later, yes. I hope the side effects are minimal. ...I hope I'll react well to it?

1 more week to Oct! Which means about 2-3 more lessons for the P6 kid before PSLE. I can't say I'm upset at the loss of income, because I'm not. =P

2010-08-21T10:11:00.002+08:00

I need to do something about my conscience. I shouldn't be feeling guilty/worried about changing tuition time, but I was/am. After changing tuition time yesterday, I had a whole night's worth of dreams about me being late for tuition and betraying my poor tutee, just because I told his mom that he said that he couldn't make it for an earlier tuition timing. Sigh...

On a brighter note, there's one week of work left! Where I'll only be working half a day each day, so I'll spend the other half doing whatever I have to do before school starts. Which reminds me...SERENE! I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE JLPT REGISTRATION FORM FOR YOU! Please collect it from me. I've been meaning to inform you, but immediately after I remember, I forget. Forgive me for my severe STM. I will remind myself to send you a message later.

Gotta keep the clothes...ja.

long long long August

2010-08-04T13:45:00.004+08:00

Car repairs were surprisingly...inexpensive. Thats what my dad said. It was $88. Nice number as well. Dad's overseas again! Which means I gotta be the chauffeur again. I will not let any harm come to the car this time, I swear.

It's the month of August and I'm back to slacking at work. Apparently, after a week of maniacal sorting, typing, packing and OT-ing, they've ran out of stuff for me to do. Alright, not that I'm completely free, just that Boss passed me "a mountain of things" to do and told me to "do things in my own time". This mountain of things include correcting typos on test papers, updating notice boards and sorting the photos.

The funniest thing was that she said that correcting the typos "will take 2 weeks", so "do slowly", but I think it's just gonna take me 2 days. (=.=) I felt like letting her know that she doesn't have to hire me for the whole month on a full day basis, but its kinda hard to bring it up. Especially when I know that the reason she insists on hiring me is because she has yet to dig up all the photos for me to upload. And she wants me to be around when she finally gets the photos, which from what I heard, is gonna be a long arduous process, because they're all floating in the intranet somewhere. She said that she has to chase the IT guy for it, but at the same time she feels bad for putting pressure on the IT guy because the IT guy just came back from a 3 month long leave because he had a tendon injury in his arm and even after 3 months, is still in the recovery process. And then she proceeds to tell me that there are actually more photos from the year 2005 stuck in another intranet, but that intranet crashed/is corrupted, so she has to chase another IT guy to unearth it. (@_@)

Anyhow, I will see how it goes. Anyway, there are only 15 days of work left and then again, there is still 15 days of work left. There are things to do, but I'm bored. Did any of you know that ennui means boredom? I had no idea.

I came to a recent discovery that I am ~~extremely~~ very out-of-touch with internet speak/slang of Singaporean youths/Singlish - whatever one may call it. For the past week, I've been working the full day at level 4, so in the afternoon, I had to share workspace with, technically, my colleague. He uses the laptop when I don't need it, but when I need to use it, he passes the laptop to me - without closing any of his internet pages or msn convos. Unbelievable, right? Thats not the most unbelievable part. That, would be the ...language(?), words(?) used in the msn convos and forums. I saw words which I'm pretty sure don't exist in any English dictionary.

Did you know that "collick" means "colleague"? Because I swear that I had to blink a few times before I could make the link. Also "chiu" stands for "you". A link I only made because the sentence went "would chiu do blahblahblah...". The Singlish in the Singapore forums are amazing. It's no wonder that the Government has a "Speak Good English" campaign going on. And here I thought I was being very singlish when I type sentences like "where got?" and "no lah", along with my grammatically incorrect sentences.

Then when the shock of it wears off and you think about it, at the end of the day, it may just be internet speak - Singaporean's internet speak, because I sure don't see other forums having such horrendous spelling.

For your information, ennui is a proper word. I just realised that from the way this post wrote itself out, it might have been misleading.

terrible

2010-07-16T12:39:00.005+08:00

To make this day worse, a delivery man came to deliver some goods, while everyone was out! And me being an authority-less student cannot sign for the goods. Informing the deliveryman of everyone's MIA status, resulted in him calling the recipient of the good to presumably ask the recipient to come down to sign for it, which in turn led to the phone being passed to me and the recipient asking me to sign for it, which I had to kindly inform, was not possible due to my feeble student status and then resulting in him asking me to look for one of the staff, because he apparently didn't understand what the delivery man said about EVERYONE being out for lunch, so I had to repeat it again and then he ranted that it's ridiculous that there was NO ONE there to sign for it and that we cannot expect the poor deliveryman to wait for half an hour, which I agree but what the hell can I do, and he made me promise to look for someone to sign for it, which I had to comply, since I am so much lower in status compared to him and he was trying to make me understand and agree that this really shouldn't be the way, which I also understand and agree, but really, what the hell can I do, when I don't have the personal contact numbers of the staff? In the end, I had to call my boss, who I incidentally only got through to, only after 3 tries, to ask for the contact number of the person-in-charge of the office I'm working at and then call the person to come back. All while the deliveryman stands there, giving me more stress.

*takes a deep breath*

I hope this day doesn't get any worse. I'm already feeling very sad because of the car. ...and my boss just had came in to give me more things to do.

2010-07-16T12:15:00.002+08:00

Ok. Pardon my language, but I am in deep shit. I overestimated and reversed too much. Now there's a dent in the corner of the car because of the bloody pillar. I hit the edge of the pillar, so ya...I think it's quite a bad dent. With some paint scrapped off.

My DAD'S car.

I am so screwed. When my dad comes home tomorrow, I will die.

R.I.P me.

2010-07-13T14:58:00.008+08:00

Familiarity breeds contempt...or in my case, extreme boredom, because I just spent the last 15mins creating this...

　／|、
(°、。７
.|、～ヽ
　じしｆ_，)ノ

...which really just goes to show how bored I am. It doesn't show up very well though. It's not that I have nothing to do, it's just that well, monotonous work isn't really helping my not-really-sleep-or-coffee-deprived sleepy brain.

And no, it isn't the food that's making me sleepy, because I didn't eat lunch.

Uploading of photos was a chore last week, especially when the stupid "upload" button malfunctioned. But! For the first time in my life, I truly appreciated the 成语 also known as 因祸得福. Yes, pardon the atrocious mixing of languages. The 祸 being the malfunctioning of the "upload" button and the 福 being the discovery of a new way of uploading photos, which is ten times faster than what I've usually been doing. Looking back, I can't believe that I managed to upload a thousand photos one at a time. =.=

Discovery! I realised that I have less money in my bank account than I thought! Ok, more like I do know how much there is, but somehow the number that is floating in my head is a thousand more. Weird. Maybe I've been anticipating the change in numbers too much.

Oh well...back to work.

2010-07-04T10:19:00.002+08:00

New post!, because Min says I have a dead blog, which I don't really think so, because there are dead-er blogs floating around in cyberspace, but nevermind, it'll be revived with a birthday message:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIN~~!!

That aside, there's no entry, because I didn't really feel like there was anything to write about. June...was an otaku-ish month. I spent it watching variety shows and dramas, reading mangas and books. The only thing out of ordinary was sitting through 6 identical first-aid talks, 3 days in a row, i.e. 2 per day. That was work though, so I can't really complain.

July...will be spent working. So technically, I've started. Still, it's at NTU, though this time, lack of space at the Chair's Office has relegated me to the reception counter at the Physics general office, since no one sits at the reception there, but there is a computer there. As such, I have to put up with weird looks from EVERYONE that walks in, because well, usually, no one is there. Weird looks are fine, I think I'll get used to it as days go. Some stop to talk, which is also fine, because they only stop to talk as they recognise me. But what tops it all, is this professor who walked in, looked at me and said: 「へ、我们这儿也可以坐人啊！」 .... (=.=) Ok, he was only kidding, but still, (=.=).

I hope that the amount of work to be done was overestimated, because I'd hate to stay there for long.

2010-05-27T13:49:00.002+08:00

Results. There's the good news and the bad news. The good news is that I passed econometrics. Passed by a hair, yes - but I passed. Bad news is that the other 4 modules weren't good enough to prevent my gpa from falling by 0.02. Sigh. The funny thing is that I am not particularly upset, because I was so worried about not being able to pass econometrics and I passed it, so...ya.

...I guess after worrying about it for 3 weeks, now that it is laid to rest, I'm not really sure what my next step should be. haha...^-^"

Oh, does anyone know if they round up your gpa? Like for example, if it is 3.399, will they round it up to 3.40? Cos gpa seems to always cut off at the 2nd decimal place. And my gpa has never reached the rounding off stage. i.e. the 3rd decimal place is less than 4.

Hmmm....

Merlin Season 1

2010-05-13T14:09:00.003+08:00

I am confused. Having just watched the entire season 1 of Merlin online, I am terribly confused. The scriptwriters obviously took some artistic liberties with the story - extensive liberties. So much so that I got so confused, I had to wiki every character to make sure that what I originally knew, wasn't all wrong. Perhaps all may be revealed in the later seasons, but also perhaps, they have decided that the original Arthurian Legend contained too much incest and treachery and thus, too complicated for primetime TV.

There are a thousand and one versions of the Arthurian Legend that they've got to be either all wrong or right at the same time. The version I know of, is that of which Merlin was the wizard who aided Uther, so that Arthur could ...well, come into this world. Then proceeded to aid Arthur in becoming King. The whole pull-the-sword-out-of-the-stone story. Therefore it kind of confuses me that Merlin is of approximately the same age as Arthur.

Anyway, this TV series version is not too bad. There are perks to watching it on youtube, because some of the comments are hilarious. Casting-wise, I expected Gwen to be prettier. =P

2010-04-29T21:51:00.003+08:00

Why is Pooh called Pooh? When in doubt, google it! This is what wiki says:
.

"In the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne offers this explanation of why Winnie-the-Pooh is often called simply "Pooh":

"But his arms were so stiff ... they stayed up straight in the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think — but I am not sure — that that is why he is always called Pooh."

This explanation would be more believable, of course, if Christopher Robin had not already called him "Pooh" earlier in the story."

...huh?

Ok, I don't get it. I like my own explanation better. That is that "Winnie-the-Pooh" is his name, and he is not actually a "Pooh", but a bear and that "Pooh" sounds cuter and catchier than "Winnie".

Anyway, 4 papers down! 1 more to go - Econometrics, which I haven't touched yet. Argh.

New tutee! A Primary 3 kid from Pei Hwa Presbytarian. A boy. Again. Sigh. I think he should be the last tutee I'll have though...

2010-04-02T11:03:00.000+08:00

2 weeks to finals.

in the tutorial room...

2010-03-24T16:37:00.002+08:00

Oh great. I knew I shouldn't have turned up for tutorial. I am the only one here! Thank goodness there are random other people here using the comps, so I can pretend to be one of them. Maybe I should just go home now? Why did I even come in the first place when I usually don't? ...right. I had hoped that mid-terms would be returned today. I guess I was expecting too much.

Of falling gates....

2010-03-24T09:42:00.003+08:00

Like what it says. Falling gates. Sometimes I wonder what kind of luck I have. Last Saturday, I went for tuition as usual. When my tutee opened the gate, the gate fell off! Well, it didn't exactly come crashing down, but 2 of the 3 hinges it was hinged on, came undone. Specifically, the top two. So it was precariously hanging there lopsidedly. Obviously, I was holding on to the gate or it probably would have just came crashing down. I looked at my tutee and he looked at me and we were like, "how?!". In the end, I sort of held the gate back up and closed it, with it unrepaired. When I went back on sunday though, it was alright. ^^; May this not happen again.

Mid terms are over! Only one test left for basic opt, before finals. Yay?

tutee tales

2010-03-13T21:06:00.002+08:00

I think this is an appropriate name for the entry. ^-^ CA1 is over! P6 kid did relatively well, with the exception of English. *shakes head* As for his brother and cousin, I'll only find out tomorrow. Word is though, that his brother only passed English. And it was exactly 50%. *shakes head*

There was a particularly funny exchange during lesson with the P6 kid today...

Regarding questions on a passage about lightning:

Me: The question asks for the different ways you can describe the different kinds of lightning. So, what can you say about them?

P6 kid: Visibility?

Me: ok, visibility. What else?

P6 kid: Sound?

Me: Lightning. Lightning does not have sound.

P6 kid: Got! When it strik--

Me: That is not part of lightning. What is that sound called?

P6 kid: I don't know....

P6 kid: Bang!

Me: NO.

P6 kid: Boom?

Me: ...

Me: It's called THUNDER.

I don't know what to say sometimes, but he's a good kid. *nods*

I hope P4 cousin got good grades. P4 kid though...I'm worried.

Anyway, midterms continues next week! Ah! I think I may get more bruises than marks if this continues. Studying is a hazardous activity. Me and the study table do not go. I seem to have trouble navigating around it without bumping into it or kicking it. At least thats what I thought, until I hit the lever of the bathroom shower with my hip. The bruise I got from it really hurts.

20100304...

2010-03-05T10:42:00.002+08:00

...was the day I first became a tour guide. Under Tokyo University's "Elite Science Student Visit Abroad Program (ESSVAP)", 11 students visited NTU yesterday to have a look at the school. Apparently, this program allows their elite students to visit top schools around the world and in previous years, students from the program have been to universities like Yale and Oxford. Seems like NTU and NUS is quite highly regarded. lol. So anyway, I was tasked to making sure that they get from place to place on time.

Here, I must say that I am on a totally different frequency from them. One can totally tell the difference between the elite of Japan's top University and a dispensable student of NTU. I only joined them in their afternoon program, because a Japanese Professor from the Chemistry department brought them around in the morning. Thanks to them, I was brought on a tour of places in NTU, which I have never stepped foot in before.

First up were the Physics labs. As they visited each lab, a presentation or an introduction to what some FYP/post-grad students are doing or have done, was shown. At the end of each presentation was a Q&A session, which I must say, impressed me a lot. They really know their stuff and ask intelligent questions. Well, I think they are anyway. I've already lost touch with Physics for 3 years. Most of the things that were presented, I don't understand at all. I did learn some cool things though. Apparently, the physics labs are build such that underneath the lab, there is a layer of air, thats acts as a cushioning against vibrations. So if a huge truck rolls by the building, the lab won't feel a thing. I think it's to prevent calibrated stuff from ...becoming uncalibrated? *shrugs*

After the Physics labs, was a trip to the School of Biological Sciences(SBS). At SBS, they had a talk with the Dean of the College of Science (CoS), Dean of SBS and some CN Yang Scholars. The talk with the Dean of CoS was very interesting in my opinion. The 東大 students are ...how do I say this? They have a direction in life, I think. At least compared to me, I feel that they do. Questions like: How are the job opportunities in Singapore as a researcher?, Are there a lot of women researchers?, How is the social status of researchers in Singapore? Is it true that a lot of Singaporean students enter university without knowing what kinda research the university does?, etc, etc. The Dean provided interesting answers too. It was an enlightening session. Well, it certainly made my direction-less life a little harder to ignore.

The last stop was the Earth Observatory of Singapore - an autonomous institute of NTU. I've never been there before either, so it was a good experience. Interesting and informative talk about Earthquakes and Tsunamis. 2 of the students were from Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, so I guess this was the part that interested them the most.

All in all, the 東大 students were really great. I didn't talk much to them, because most of the time, we were just hurrying from place to place. Their English language skills were good though. Well, better than what most will expect I reckon. Among themselves, they spoke in such rapid Japanese that I can only make out bits and pieces of what they were saying. ...they don't know that I can understand them sometimes though. =P There was some talk about amino-acid at some point in time, because I kept hearing アミノ酸. *shrugs* Long long way to mastering Japanese. A very long way indeed.

JLPT2を。。。

2010-03-02T09:44:00.002+08:00

。。。不合格しちゃったんだ。２３２点を取っただけだ。残念ながら今年も挑戦する。でもね、本当に難しいよ！もう一度すれば受けるのかあまり自信がない。そのうえ、今年大学の学期が三週間ぐらい延期する。JLPTの日と試験の期間はちょうど合う。JLPTの勉強ができるのかなぁ。。。

Regretfully, I didn't pass JLPT2. Only got 232 points. Will try again this year, but it's really hard! Even if I take it again, I don't have confidence that I will pass it. On top of that, the next semester is pushed back by 3 weeks. Which means that JLPT and exam period perfectly clashes. I wonder if I'll even have the time to study for JLPT...

2010-02-21T20:52:00.002+08:00

So funny! My school is organizing an MAS pi day and this is what's gonna take place:

It will be an fun filled event, with competition such as pie eating competition, where you will have to eat 6 pies as fast as possible! and also pi-recital competition where you will need to memorise as many digits as possible.

Ahaha! pi-recital! I am highly amused. Now you know what math people get up to when they get together. =P I'm kinda sad that I only know pi up to it's 5th decimal place.

For your information, math maybe very dry, but math people get up to weird things. There is actually a world recognised Pi day on the 14th of March. (3/14) And a Pi approximation day on the 22nd of July. (22/7) And people actually celebrate it! (like what my school is doing...)

Academic Year 2010 - 2011

2010-02-19T21:48:00.005+08:00

NOOO~!!!

長い話

2010-02-12T10:13:00.003+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!新年快乐! Last day of school before the CNY hols. Yaye~!

Basic Opt test1 is over! Sadly, my leaving variable is suspiciously wrong. Overall, I guess it's fine? I hope so at least. I'm kinda hoping that KH's and Khalisah's leaving variable is coincidentally wrong. .... I think I'm gonna get killed for this. =P

And speaking of coincidences. Last Tuesday, my LG phone died on me at a most crucial moment aka. the battery went flat when I had to meet Cassie and Joanne. I had only the time to copy down both their numbers before it automatically switched itself off. I was actually kinda relieved that I actually had their numbers, but alas, the relief was short lived. There was no payphone in sight or even out of sight for that matter. To make things worse, I was uncharacteristically late by 10mins. When I'm late, I get ...a tad panicky. And no pay phone! To think I was initially worried that the phone I was hoping to find would turn out to be a phonecard one, which I can't use. Ha!

Anyway, I resorted to walking around Bugis, hoping to find them. "Bugis is so small, it shouldn't be hard.", was my exact thought. Turns out that I wasn't wrong. It's not only Bugis that is small. The world is small. Or rather, Singapore is. As I was wondering around, I met Huiting! Needless to say, I was very happy to see her. I was actually entertaining the thought of asking a passerby if I could use their phone. ^^; Thank goodness I needn't resort to that.

Going back to the story, I noticed that Huiting was in formal wear, so I asked what she was doing here. It turns out that she had an interview earlier in the day and was just done with it. I knew that Cassie had an interview earlier on as well, so I mentioned it to Huiting. They're both from NTU business, so maybe they're acquainted? And voila! It turns out that they do know each other! Yet not from university. Cassie and Huiting are primary school classmates. They actually went for the same interview earlier on and were just together 10mins back. Huiting was surprised that I knew Cassie and I told her that Cassie was my JC classmate. Cassie was surprised to know that I knew Huiting and I told her that Huiting was my Secondary school classmate. ...See what a small world this place is?

Conclusion is, I am extremely glad I met Huiting that day. =P

Econometrics is not going well. The professor talked to the class about being more hardworking. What he said was that he had taught at another university before in Shanghai, which he mentioned the name of, but I shall decline to state here, and he can't help but compare us to them. He would like to think that we're better, but currently, it doesn't seem to be so. "They really work very hard", he said. Makes me a little sad to hear it, but I guess it's true. It also doesn't help that the next week after he said it, attendance in my class fell by half, because most people went back to their country for CNY. Still, econometrics is really hard. My advice to people is to not take it, unless you really really really have an interest in it and are really really really good at statistics and linear algebra and calculus and mathematical thoery. Which essentially translates to having an interest and excelling at undergraduate math. Econometrics is not Economics. It is Math.

Anyway, enjoy CNY!

And the mystery is solved!

2010-02-01T13:34:00.003+08:00

Have you ever wondered why is it that in Korean dramas, in order to avoid a persistent caller, they always take the battery out instead of just switching it off or putting it on silent? And at the same wondered why it is a scenario that only happens in a korean drama? Well, the mystery is solved!

They have to take the battery out because the damn phone hanged! When the phone hangs, it enters a state of immobility. The entire screen freezes, such that even pressing the off-button does not help. It just simply refuses to switch off. As such, you have to cut off the electricity supply, so that the entire system shuts down. My guess is that if the phone hangs when it's ringing, it will continue ringing. To shut it up, you have to just take the battery out, since the off-button works, not.

Well, thats my theory anyway. It's what I realised when my stupid LG phone hanged on me today in the middle of typing an sms. Typing an sms, mind you! It's not like it was an overly strenuous activity for the phone. I was patient with it and left it alone for like 8 mins, and yet nothing happened. So I decided to switch it off, because there is a limit to my patience. And the off-button failed me! I was forced to take the battery out. =.=

...I think this phone won't last for more than 2 years.

tutees in 2010

2010-01-31T21:40:00.004+08:00

It's 2010! And so, things have changed. P3 kid is now P4 kid, P3 cousin is now P4 cousin and P5 kid is now P6 kid. Things have changed and yet not. The following conversations ensued earlier today...

@ tutee's house, teaching him questions which he could not do...
Me: *reading out the question* List out all the factors of 44. This question is easy right? You just need to find the factors of 44.
P4 kid: .... .....
Me: *looking expectantly at him*
P4 kid: .... ....
P4 kid: What does "all" mean?
Me: ....
Me: It means every factor of 44.
----------------------------------------
W-Words failed me at that point in time. I really really really did not expect him to ask me that question. If he had asked me how to find factors, I would probably just scream mentally, but explained it to him anyway. That question though, I...I...I give up.

And so, I went on from P4 kid to P4 cousin's house. Now, for P4 cousin, I honestly enjoy teaching him the most. He is more responsive and not overly smart. Still, he is one blur kid...

@ tutee's house, asking him about what his teacher in school is currently teaching him...
Me: Your math teacher is still teaching you Factors right?
P4 cousin: *has a look of intense concentration trying to remember what his teacher is currently teaching him*
P4 cousin: ....
Me: You can't remember?
P4 cousin: *shakes head*
Me: *laughing* ok, nevermind.
Me: .... ....
Me: Do you know that your exams are in 5 weeks?
P4 cousin: *shakes head with a wide-eyed look* ...5 weeks?
me: Ya.
---------------------------------------------
Getting information out of them is like squeezing water out of rocks. In fact, I end up watering these rocks. Nevertheless, 2010 will be a trying year. I get stressed teaching the P6 kid, because it's his PSLE year. And I get stressed by his mom too, but thats another matter.

In other news, I got a new phone! LG-GD900. I think. ...It was on offer. And today was the last day, that I could use the $50 voucher, so ya...I just got whatever was available. =P

week 2

2010-01-20T13:31:00.003+08:00

Week 2, it already is and I have work piled up! Ok, not really, since I have been good and done all my tutorials, but there are just so many things to do! I honestly need to make a schedule and stick to it.

Weekly To-do List

1. Basic Optimization tutorial

2. Econometrics tutorial

3. Mathematical Econs tutorial

4. Numerical Analysis tutorial

5. HMJ4 homework (if any)

6. JCS homework

7. Finish compiling advanced 1 notes. (not finished yet!)

8. Compile new grammar learnt

That aside, I need to make money! My bank account is in dire straits. Good news is, I get work! 7 hours a week in school, which is going to make me $49 a week. If I don't splurge, it should be enough for weekly meal expenses, leaving my tuition wages and allowance untouched. I foresee the numbers in my bank account changing! YAY! HAHA!

*cough*...please excuse my overexcited rant when it comes to money. Then again, that above is, like what I told KH, just me counting my chickens before they are hatched. A particularly engaging activity. Just sadly, not a very productive one.

Long entry, because I am freezing my ~~ass~~ fingers and toes off in Office now. Why is it that when I bring my jacket here, it's particularly warm and when I don't, it's like the Antarctic?! Gah!

Oh shoot. I just remembered that I forgot to do something which I reminded myself to do like 4 times yesterday and maybe twice the day before. Have to do it later. XD

N-Numerical Analysis lab later. Totally not looking forward to it. Maybe I should sneak out after tutorials? ...or the teacher may be sneaky and do lab first, forcing me to stay in there till 6.30pm. Going for NA is a battle. A psychological and mental battle.

Ah...back to my econometrics...

2010-01-14T20:42:00.002+08:00

1st week of school! Over! Yaye~!

Econometrics was a total bore. The professor spent half an hour getting the slides up - or rather, he spent 5 mins to figure out that the comp wasn't working, 5 mins getting the technician to help him log in, another 5mins to realise that pdf files couldn't be opened on the comp, another 5mins to get the technician back and the rest of the 15 mins marking our attendance, while the technician dealt with the comp! It has been so long since I had a lesson where the professor reads out each name one at a time! And he expects us to hand in our tutorials so that he can mark them! Amazing! The rest of the lecture though, I can't remember much. =P

Loads of work to do...=S

2010-01-11T14:13:00.003+08:00

I have been rotting in the library for 5 hours. And there is another 1 hour more to go. How will I survive another 5 hours on Thursday?! Or rather, how am I going to survive the 2 hour lecture later?

The numerical analysis cohort this semester if frighteningly huge. It has got to be 3 times of the previous semester's. The lecturer is the same, the lecture notes are the same, the teaching style is the same. Even the student's response to the lecturer's questions are the same. "I think you should have learnt this before in Calculus 2, right?" "No....." "No? You should have learnt this... " "No..." It was a total deja-vu moment. The only thing different is the lecture theater. I haven't been in LT1 for so long that I forgot how steep it is.

This is a total Math semester. Because mathematical economics and econometrics do not count as economics anymore. At least not in my opinion. What's worse is the programming that is involved in Basic Optimization. If there's anything I'm worse at in than Math, it's got to be programming.

Such a wonderful 1st day of school...

Last week to hols!

2010-01-06T20:35:00.003+08:00

Like the title says, it's the last week of hols. 2 days spent at the chalet, 1 day sleeping. =P Only 4 days left! Well, another day for wanli's FYP survey, so 3 days left! I should use it productively. Finish my book, finish Jap notes and ...finish "You're Beautiful"?

I was allocated HMJ4. Yay! Been waiting for it. Timetable all set. =))

Chalet photos...I'll upload when I have the time. =P

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-01T21:07:00.002+08:00

You know, if someone really wanted to do something, they would have done it long ago. Why wait for the New Year to make a resolution about doing something? If they really didn't want to do it, they won't do it even if they've made a resolution. BUT! Who am I to go against tradition? =P

New Year's Resolution(s)
1. Save >$5600 by the end of August.
2. Raise my GPA.
3. Get a job during the hols.

Thats what I really kinda hope will happen. What's everyone else's?

2010-01-01T10:14:00.001+08:00

The 1st day of 2010! Honestly, it didn't hit me that 2009 was ending till yesterday when I left school. Where did the year go?!

2009-12-30T21:16:00.004+08:00

Ok, results again. Spectacular it is not, but disasterous it also ain't. 3Bs and 1C+. My sad uni grades. I wasn't really expecting a C+ for Real Analysis, but then again, I'm not really sure what I was expecting at first. B was a surprise for Industrial Organization, mainly because I felt that there was no way I could have passed the finals. For Urban economics and Political Economy...I had no expectations either, so ...ya. Thats that.

Next semester. I am going to DIE! Because my modules are:
1) Numerical Analysis aka. the one I failed. So its round 2 for me. I will ace it this time! Damn it.
2) Basic Optimization aka I-have-no-idea-what-is-in-store, but word is that it is not easy, which is just great. The fact that it's a math modules already has warning signs flashing. The additional fact that it is a not-easy math module, means that I will suffer for it. H-help!
3) Mathematical Economics aka. the econs module rumoured to be like Calculus. Friend A says it's hard. Friend B says it's easy. I don't know who to believe, but generally, Calculus has been nice to me. Well, nicer than some other modules I know, so...
4) Intermediate Econometrics aka. Hell level 2. Because I barely survived Basic Econometrics, I know that I will have to do more to barely survive Intermediate. I sure hope the the professor is better this time though.
5) Japanese Level 4 aka. my only saving grace. I'm not proud of it, but you have to do what you have to do. I do hope they'll give me this module though. Or else...they'd better give it to me.

A GPA of 3.5. Is it possible?

[edit] Another stamp on my death certificate. I have 3 exams in a row. 3! I never had 3 papers in a row. 2 was bad enough in my opinion, but 3?! Which again, I have no one to blame but myself. Who asked you to fail numerical analysis? huh? huh? *hits myself*

???

2009-12-21T20:26:00.005+08:00

Random-news-that-makes-me-happy-even-though-it-doesn't-really-concern-me:

"Oricon's year-end sales rankings for 2009 are out, and the results confirm that Arashi is the top selling artist of the year. They had the #1 single, the #1 album, the #1 music DVD, and were #1 for the first time in artist total sales.

In the 42 years of Oricon's history, no one else has topped all four categories in the same year.

Counting sales of singles, albums, music DVDs, and music Blu-ray Discs, Arashi grossed a total of more than 14.46 billion yen. At #2 this year was EXILE, who topped the list in 2008 with 19.58 billion yen in total sales.

In single sales, Arashi had the #1, #2, #3, and #5 releases, with "Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei" in front at nearly 657,000 units sold. The only other artists to occupy the top three spots were Pink Lady in 1978 and Hikaru Genji in 1988.

Arashi are the first to have four of the top five, as well as the first to hold the top two spots in back-to-back years.

Their "All the BEST! 1999-2009" album sold over 1.43 million copies. In DVD sales, they were #1 and #2 with "5x10 All the BEST! CLIPS 1999-2009" (591,000) and "ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in TOKYO" (428,000). More complete ranking lists are available on the Oricon website.

source: Tokyograph"

----------------------------------------------------

Random-news-that-doesn't-really-make-me-happy-but-concerns-me:

- dwindling cash
- lack of videos to watch
- results on the 30th
- jap notes not done

what have I been doing?

Ordeal! Course Registration

2009-12-11T13:38:00.010+08:00

Yes, it is time for the bi-annual course registration again. The pulse-racing, heart-stopping process we all know and hate. This is the recipe for ensuring that you get all the modules that you want:

Ingredients
1 accurate computer clock
1 (or 2 for the kiasu/kiasi) well-functioning Enter button
Good luck (amount up to individual)

1 strong heart

Steps
1. 5 minutes before registration starts, enter Stars Planner, not too early such that you get logged out due to inactivity and not too late so that you meet with a server jam and can't log in.

2. For the next 4 minutes, do the following:

- Check out how many vacancies are left. If the number is 1-digit, you need alot alot of luck - well, that or very little competition.

- Ensure that there is adequate activity from the time you log in, so that you don't get logged out.

- Make sure that your computer clock and the server clock are in sync.

- Check your timetable to make sure it is the right one. If the wrong timetable is sent in, registration will end in failure and chances of salvaging it will approach zero.

- Brace yourself for anything that may occur in the next few minutes.

3. Constantly check the clock. When it enters into the 4th minute, click on the send button. Obviously, one can't enter Stars as of yet, but after clicking on that button once, you can start attacking your Enter button. Pop-ups informing you that you are unable to enter Stars yet, but ignore that and for the next one minute, hit the Enter button continuously.

4. Keep your eyes trained to the pop-ups. When your clock shows that you have entered the 5th minute, a pop-up showing whether you have successfully registered will pop-up, instead of the previous message.

5. If pop-up shows that all course are registered, Congratulations! If not, go back to Stars Planner and chose another index number and pray for the best.

6. If registration ends in a disaster, do more good deeds in the coming semester to ensure that your good karma increases.

Disclaimer: Recipe varies according to individual, popularity of modules chosen, time of allocated registration and amount of luck. The "Enter" attack was tried and tested by Wanli, though she may not be the first to use it.

2009-12-07T00:25:00.003+08:00

Exams are OVER!!! I shall be happy for now. JLPT is over too. And in wanli's words, it's like a big wave just crashed in to you and you're left standing there in the aftermath, drenched and wondering what the hell just happened. For me, I just started wondering if we can even pass next year. Basically, it means that things were bad.

Still, exams are over!!! And so is wanli's party. I am honestly very sleepy right now, but I gotta wait for my hair to dry before KO-ing on the bed. Anyway, so many things to do during the hols!

1. Watch "You're Beautiful"!
2. Watch all the variety shows I dl-ed but never watched.
3. Compile JCS grammer
4. Work
5. Shopping
6. Tuition stuff

*yawnz* heading to bed. Gotta be a chauffer at 7 in the morning tmr. ...zzz.

2009-11-20T15:11:00.002+08:00

Ok, the follow-up. I called tutee's mom on Monday to "discuss" with her what was going on. Me with my fail!chinese had a very hard time expressing myself. I'm beginning to consider taking chinese lessons during the hols. Anyway, the (short) conversation went like this, we were talking about the P3 kid...

Monday

me: 之前，他考完之后，我问他：‘考试会不会难？’，他说：‘还ok。’。可是，现在他跟我说英文只考到十三分。我--

mother: 是lor，他把考卷拿给我签的时候，我看了之后就想吐，气到不要帮他签。叫他叫他的爸爸签。他的爸爸也是。看了之后超生气，叫他自己签。(what the..>.<...poor kid.) 最后到底有没有签到，我就不知道lah。

me: 那他的考卷，你有看过吗？

mother: 没有lah。看到成绩就已经够生气了。

me: 不过他的英文真的很差。我觉得他在家里没有自己读。他也不喜欢说话。

mother: 他很少讲英语的。在家里，几乎没有听过他讲英语。我问过他的老师，她也说很少听到他讲英语。

me: 我知道他很少讲英语，所以每次一定会叫他把文章读出来。可是他每次读的时候，S和-ED他都没有读出来。每个星期都会提醒他，可是下个星期又会忘记。

mother: 有时候我真的不知道他在想什么。我讲东，他讲西。他的爸爸也不知道他在想什么。

-------------------------------------------------

...and that concludes about the longest chinese passage that I've written/typed in awhile - make that a very long while. Honestly, I really felt for the kid when his mother said that she refused to sign and that his father also refused to sign the paper. I would have been terrified about going back to school the next day. Anyway, his mother called me back on Tuesday. Apparently, the paper is still with the boy. His teacher refused to accept it, cos it wasn't signed.

sigh. どうすればいいのかな。。。

誰か助けてください！

2009-11-15T21:01:00.003+08:00

I'm at my wit's end. Honestly. I think I mentioned before about the P3 kid I was teaching, whom I was at a loss at as to how to teach? Ya, SA2 just passed, and he...sigh...the conversations went like these:

last week
me: So how was the the exam?
P3 kid: .....
me: Ok? Hard?
P3 kid: ....
me: English? Ok?
P3 kid: ok.
me: maths?
P3 kid: ok.
me: Science?
P3 kid: ok.
me: you sure?
P3 kid: ......
me: when will you get back your results?
P3 kid: ......
P3 kid: got back already.
me: !!! so fast?!
me: so what did you get?
P3 kid: .......
me: English?
P3 kid: that one haven't get back yet.
me: ok, so maths?
P3 kid: 72.
me: ok, thats good! (sighing with relief and jumping with joy) Science?
P3 kid: 20 something.
me: ( [o.O]! uh no!) upon?
P3 kid: 50.
me: Ok...20 what?
P3 kid: ........
me: 25? 27? 21,22,23? (praying hard that its a 25.)
P3 kid: 22.
me: (weeping internally) Ok, must work harder for your science ah.

today
me: so..... got back your english?
P3 kid: ...ya.
me: so?
P3 kid: ...fail.
me: (cries) ok...so what?
P3 kid: ....
me: its ok, just tell me.
P3 kid: 13.
me: (!!!!!!!!! *hyperventilates*) upon?!
P3 kid: 50.
me: .........
me: what did your mother say?
P3 kid: She very angry.
me: (she has to be a saint not to be.) Then we gotta do more english. Where's your homework?
----------------------------------------

I swear. When he said 13, I came close to a heart attack. 13. 13! 13?! Goodness. Someone, tell me what to do, because I don't know what to do! Thats not the worst. Then I went on to teach his brother....

today
me: (sigh.) so, how did you do?
P5 kid: bad.
me: (!!!!! NO! Not again!) Just tell me.
P5 kid: 80 for science, 92 for maths.
me: English?
P5 kid: Dunno, must wait for report card. But I think its a B.
me: ok...but your maths is good.
P5 kid: good meh?
me: ya...science also ok what.
P5 kid: science...ya.
me: what did your mother say? (ya, I know that I always ask the same thing.)
P5 kid: she not very happy.
me: (sigh...) ok, lets do english....

-------------------------------------------------------.

Why?! Why is it that one says ok, and does so badly and the other says bad and does so well?! And to make matters worse, when I went over to teach their cousin, who is also P3 at the same school, I asked the cousin whether his SA2 paper was upon 50 or 100, and he said 100. Which means either the P3 kid or the P3 cousin is not telling the truth, or it may have been a misunderstanding. The P3 cousin may have thought it was inclusive of everything. If it is not a misunderstanding, then I have to confess that I am inclined to believe that the P3 kid is not telling the truth. Why? Because the P3 cousin said he had above 80 for all his tests. Whether its out of 50 or 100, the result is the same. IF the P3 kid was not telling the truth, it means that he had 22/100 for science and 13/100 for english. ...I think I might faint.

P3 cousin is another source of exasperation. Actually, I think I am on a totally different frequency from this family. When I talk to them, half the time, I am .....I really just don't know what to say. Anyway, P3 cousin is quite smart. He's abit blur, but does well enough. Even though I took great pains to make him realise that 8+3 is 11 and not 21, but ya...he's still ok. He just has a very surprised look on his face whenever I talk to him. And I don't know why. Still, the most exasperating conversation I had with him went like this:

last week

me: so have you gotten your results?

P3 cousin: (surprised look on his face) .....

me: have. you. gotten. your. results. ?

P3 cousin: (still a surprised look on his face) yes.

me: so how did you do?

P3 cousin: (still a surprised look on his face) ok...?

me: so, tell me the marks. english?

P3 cousin: (still a surprised look on his face) 80 something.

me: maths?

P3 cousin: 90 something.

me: (I think the surprised look is just how he looks) science?

P3 cousin: 80 something.

me: (ok, its just how he looks) .....why all "something"? You can't remember the exact marks?

P3 cousin: ya...*shakes head*

---------------------------------------------

I don't get it. Its a very normal thing for a tutor to ask how much you got right? So why is it that I have to go through this ...this cycle of queestions each time? I feel like I'm prying information out of a prisoner. Sigh. Someone, help?

Exams!

2009-11-07T12:48:00.002+08:00

Like the title says - Exams!

25 November - Real Analysis
30 November - Political Economy of East Asia
01 December - Industrial Organization
04 December - Urban Economics

...sigh.

Kim Jong Kook - Sarang Surowo

2009-10-30T21:44:00.004+08:00

Small dance steps. Seems like the singer's almost embarrassed to be doing it. Nevertheless, I rather like this song. The voice doesn't seem like it comes from him. haha...but it does. =)

2009-10-26T20:11:00.002+08:00

Time! Where has it gone too?! I can't believe its already week 12! 2 more weeks till the 1st week of exams! Which means 3.5 more weeks till my 1st paper. Gotta finish all my projects ASAP!

In other news, chalet, 4th to 7th jan. Ok?

and I slept...

2009-10-24T20:30:00.003+08:00

...which basically summarises most of what I did today. For whatever reason, whatever I did yesterday drained me. I slept from 11pm last night till 9am this morning, only to go back to sleep at 11am, till 1pm. Then I did random stuff and slept from 5pm to 6pm. ...so ya, all I did was sleep. I hope I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight.

Still got a japanese essay to write, which I already delayed for 2 weeks. Can't delay it anymore. Back to work...

2009-10-16T09:25:00.003+08:00

Slience is sweet. The comp repair man came and looked at it. Apparently, the video card fan was faulty, so he changed it. Now, all is silent. =) And he did a hardware check. The interesting thing is that is you run the hardware check that is on your comp, while its checking, an animation plays out on the screen. There'll be a video of a person walking about in your CPU, tinkering with stuff here and there. Very cute. haha...

2009-10-10T19:44:00.002+08:00

Goodness. Defragmentation of my C drive has already taken up 8hours and it is still not done. Argh. Its only 250gb of stuff. Surely it doesn't take that long?! Now I'm in a dilemma whether to cancel it or not.

I think my comp is on the verge of dying soon. The CPU is giving out alot of noise. I think its from the hard drive. Opened it up to clean the fan, because I thought it might be the dirt, but the sound didn't come from there. And during the defragmentation, the noise gets louder. Sigh...WHY?! Why is it that I always get these kinda comp problems?

I wonder how much it costs to get a repairman to look at it...or rather, where should I even go to look for the repairman?

2009-10-05T20:00:00.002+08:00

Yaye~!
306 written assignment 1, done!
209 math assignment, done!
312 presentation, done!

311 mid-terms, not done...):
306 assignment 2, not done...):
312 discussant group role, not done...):
209 industry analysis, not done...):

...ok, alot of things not done.

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra

2009-09-21T10:32:00.002+08:00

Ok, there's not much point in watching the video, because there is no video. Its the music thats the main point. BUT! I never knew that this existed! A medley of Arashi songs were played, starting from: A.Ra.Shi, Beautiful Days, One Love, A Day in our Life, Kitto Daijoubu, Kaze no Mukou e, Happiness, Sakura Sake and Love so Sweet. Got the mp3 off here. This is what youtube surfing in the middle of the night gets me...^^;;

NTU prank

2009-09-10T13:51:00.004+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIJ1I0L_E1s

I thought it was funny, but some people thought it was mean to the bus driver. What do all of you think? Er, in case you didn't get it, the bus stop in the video is a shuttle bus stop. Though the 179 bus does drive pass it, it doesn't stop there. So the students tied a pole with the bus stop sign to the existing one and flagged the bus down.

[edit]: Took down the video embed, cos the dean of students sent an email to everyone in school warning us about tampering with traffic sugns. =S

Thank YOU!

2009-09-09T20:26:00.009+08:00

Thanks for the presents everyone! Here are the pics~!

Really, thanks for all of these. T'was truly unexpected. All the lovely messages and effort put in....ありがとう～！♥♥♥

2009-09-09T20:18:00.003+08:00

I swear that blogger is having a huge problem. Is it only me? This page now looks like this.

Even on Opera! Does everyone have this problem?

[edit] weird. now its fine. ...?

2009-08-28T11:18:00.003+08:00

Monetary woes. Global Financial Crisis. Financial Globalization. Asian Financial Crisis. My head is filled with all these, thanks to Political Economy.

Stole the record book back to my desk for awhile today to calculate how much I earned. I am amazed that I actually worked for 9.5 hours on one of the days. I'm also amazed that I only worked for 3 hours on another day. Why did I even work for 3 hours only? It makes my travelling time seem such a waste.

I have a new found appreciation for google chrome. My laptop is amazing, but maybe its because my computer is just too pathetic for words. I can't install google chrome. Firefox is installable,but something in my comp blocks everything in firefox, such that nothing loads. What is the point, if I can't see anything?! Opera works - thankfully, but it is rather slow. As such, I am totally reliant on IE on my comp. My laptop is another story. Everything works! Why can't Fujitsu just manufacture desktops too? Or maybe they do, and I'm just ignorant?

Happy Birthday to Chris!

My P5 tutee is hilarious. On Monday evening, he sent me an sms with a math question, asking for the answer. The sms relay went like this:

Tutee: Shiyun bought a refrigerator and a tv at a 20 percent discount. She paid 4000dollars. If the price of the refrigerator cost 60percent of the tv, what is the cost of the refrigerator before discount? Just give me the answer.

Me: 1875. This was a question in your CA2 paper today?

Tutee: YES! THE WHOLE CLASS WROTE 1800 AND THEY LAUGH AT ME! I WROTE 1875! SEE WHO LAUGH LAST HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Me: ...you'd better go and revise your science or there will be someone else having the last laugh.

What you see above, is exactly what he wrote! Right down to the capitalized words! I am at a loss for words...lol...

ok, back to money matters...

2009-08-15T14:48:00.000+08:00

Is it me or does everyone feel that blogger is getting abit too screwed. Most of the time, the new post page doesn't load properly.

Anyway, new semester, new timetable. I have a 13hour timetable. Which means that I technically have lessons for 13 hours a week. Its good and all, but some of the econs modules are ....content and participation heavy. They really expect you to get involved. Take HE209: Industrial Organization, for example. Even before the first lecture, group assignment was posted, along with the groupings! >.< And it is a damn tough assignment. I think. And for HE312: Political Economy of East Asia, has lists of reading materials up for download till lecture 6! And I haven't even started lecture! And again, they expect lots of groupwork. =S

I am praying that I survive. Please pray that I survive.

GP!

2009-08-11T12:25:00.000+08:00

"Singaporeans are jacks of many languages but masters of none." How far do you agree with this statement?

In my opinion, this is true of 99% of the population. And sadly, I belong to this 99%. What is even sadder is that I kind of fail in my mother tongue. I gave a 1% leeway, becuase it is technically quite impossible to fully master a language. As long as you are very very good in the language, in my opinion, you're a master of it. =)

Ok, this is just a random question that popped up in my head. Though they should seriously consider this as a GP question. =P

The TV just flashed an advertisement which went along the lines of "There is no channel quite as powerful/moving as Mediacorp!". Can you tell me which free to air channel here isn't a Mediacorp channel? =.=

I have a 3day week this semester! Yaye~!

J-dramas

2009-08-04T21:14:00.000+08:00

I've finally finished watching the special of Zettai Karashi. For once, I think an SP had meaning. The ending of the SP was better than the ending of the drama itself, and in my opinion, is a perfect closure for the story. Admittedly, Zettai Kareshi is not a fantastic drama, but I rather enjoyed it. Normally, I wouldn't choose to watch these kind of dramas, simply because I'm one who cries buckets watching such sad bittersweet scenes (and yes, I did cry buckets.). All in all, this drama is worth watching, though I really wouldn't watch it again. =P

And yes! I have finally finished watching The Quiz Show 2! =D I think the drama got better towards the end. From episode 8 onwards. Before that, you have to put up with the suspense and not very good acting. Sadly though, The Quiz Show 2 is the kind of drama, where the same thing happens every episode. That's to be expected, seeing as this is done in a quiz show format for most part of the show, but still... . Yokoyama Yuu was good in this show. Sakurai Sho was... not as good as Yokoyama Yuu, but I watch the show for him anyway. =P I'll recommend watching the 1st episode intact. The rest though, you'll know which part to skip. =D

There are alot of dramas this season that I want to watch! But there's still alot of shows from last season. Mr Brain and Boss to be more specific. Anyway, there's gonna be Liar Game 2 next season and I heard that the Nodame movie is coming to Singapore! But that's just a rumour.

2009-07-27T20:43:00.003+08:00

~2 weeks more to school! I am looking forward to it, but not at the same time. Sometimes, I think time passes by too quickly. Yet at times, I can't wait for it to pass.

Allow me to recount yesterday's tution session with P3 kid. It was on the topic of the Digestive System and the question was: Which is the longest organ in the digestive system? Tutee did not know, so I told him that it was the small intestine. Then came the next question: How does the length help it in it's role in the digestive system? This, he obviously wouldn't know as well, since he didn't even know that the longest organ is the small intestine, so I explained to him everything and even told him the answer. Then I asked if he understood, of which he replied, "yes.". BUT, obviously he didn't. So I asked him to repeat the answer for me. And as expected, he didn't know. So I said, "You told me you understood what I said, right? So what's the answer?" and I waited for him to reply. And after like a minute or 2, he started crying.

(o.O)!!

I didn't even scold him lah! So I just told him to stop crying, saying I wasn't angry, etc. I just want him to honestly tell me if he understood or not. And after some moments of crying, he stopped and I let him off tuition on time, even though I was going to drag it on longer, because exams were coming.

Seriously, as someone teaching him, I am worried for him. He is not going to do well enough to make it to P4, if he doesn't pass the CA and SA with at least a 60. I think so at least, seeing that he didn't pass CA1 and for SA1, he only barely scrapped through. His mum says that he seems abit too carefree. And that she really doesn't give him much pressure, whereas on the other hand, she gives more pressure to the P5 kid.

Honestly, the P5 kid is smart. He can do well enough on his own. I am not worried about him at all, because he is the kind that will worry and angst over his marks if he doesn't get like at least an 80. It's the P3 kid that honestly worries me. Their mum says that the P3 kid doesn't really seem too worried about exams. Which really makes it worse, because how do you help someone who doesn't want to help himself?

*shakes head* 4 weeks more to their exams. I am going to drill everything into the P3 boy's head, even if it makes me look like a demon!

2009-07-24T10:39:00.001+08:00

Finally! Jesmine's present completed! It'll be up sooner or later on facebook, so check it out! =D

1 sentence updates

2009-07-14T14:04:00.005+08:00

Chris is back in Tasmania. =(

Meliza is back in Melbourne. =(

Cassie is back in Singapore. =)

I am about to use up whatever creativity I have and I had very little to begin with. >.<

Finished watching Atashinchi no Danshi! =)

Have yet to finish The Quiz Show 2. =(

Finished watching Mr. Brain, but there are only subs till episode 6. =\

Tutee added me on facebook - cute kid. =)

I am starting 2 to worry about school now that it starts in a month.

I cannot believe I first typed "to" as "2" in the previous sentence. >.<

Have yet to finish some of my holiday goals. =S

...is going back to whatever I was originally doing.

嵐 - Everything

2009-07-07T14:58:00.007+08:00

New single~! ~~Again!~~ =P

嵐 - Everything

It grows on you, as all Arashi songs do. The PV has pretty colours though. =D Personally, I like the B-side better, but ya...I kinda wish that they made this a double A single too. Then there'll be 2 PVs! =D This youtube PV is chinese-subbed. With very chim chinese. It was out even before anyone put up links for the original PV. I am amazed at the speed of chinese subbers. haha...

I am very broke. Which kind of reminds me that I should start messaging people. =P

2009-07-03T20:56:00.003+08:00

This is really random, but I wonder how much a Nintendo DS lite costs. I wanna play dragon quest. According to this, it costs $174. But I need to know how much the game itself costs as well. Hmm...anyone knows where's a good place to go scout? This is really a spur of the moment thing, cos knowing me (and me knowing my dad), I probably won't get it. But I will indulge in the window shopping! =P

I am rather broke. Money has been flying outta my bank account by the hundreds. For presents and etc. I have dreams about me counting money and I remember it quite vividly. The bills ranged from two dollar bills to a hundred dollar one. Sadly, it was only a dream and there was only 1 hundred dollar note. I have about a month more to the start of school. I think it's not possible to hope that the figures in my bank account will increase till the digit in the thousand place goes up by one?

And speaking of presents, my grandma got me a 21st birthday gift! Huge surprise, since my birthday isn't anywhere near. Then I figured that she didn't know when my birthday is. Haha...funny.

Subs are out for the last episode of Atashinchi no Danshi! Yaye~! Actually, I'm looking forward to The Quiz Show more. But unfortunately, I have a lack of access to subs and I haven't gotten over getting rejected by the subbing community to join. Not their fault, but sigh...=(

2009-06-25T12:01:00.008+08:00

There are 2001 things that I want to do, but haven't got around to doing them or rather, are all done halfway. While there is still sometime left, half of the hols are gone! Not that thats a bad thing, actually.

Course registration was a harrowing experience. And I have to detail it out so that people will understand how harrowing an experience it was.

The night before my registration, I went to check the online planner, which we call STARS planner, to see if the courses still had vacancies. It's a pre-caution, because days before, I realised that the vacancies were dwindling. Why they were dwindling, I have no idea, because by right, us econs majors have priority. Anyway, I went to check and to my horror, there were no vacancies at all! I messaged my friend who was also clueless as to why this was happening. Then, I went to check my NTU mail, only to find out that SPMS sent me an email at 3+ in the afternoon (and mind you, it's just before they knock-off at 5!) to inform us that from now on, all econs cores are offered in both semester 1 and 2. As such, places offered each semester will be half of the cohort size. However, for whatever reason, HSS opened up less than half. SPMS had already wrote in to HSS asking them to open up more vacancies, however, due to the fact that HSS is in the middle of shifting to their new building, they may not reply very quickly. Therefore, we were to send in the index number of the courses that we wanted and SPMS would help us register those courses, only IF HSS opens up more places (which they cannot guarantee) and it will be registered for us on a first-come-first serve and case-by-case basis. =.=

So, great. The day before my registration, I get my entire nicely-planned timetable messed up big-time. The worse thing is that they cannot guarantee me a place. So I had to keep slots free in my timetable for those 2 modules and plan again just to make sure that in the event that I do not get those 2 modules, I have at least enough AUs cleared. This is tough, because not only do those 2 modules take up space in the timetable, they take up space in the exam timetable as well. And if I register for a new module that clashes with those 2 modules, SPMS won't register those 2 modules for me. =.=

A whole lot of trouble, this brought me and I spent 4 hours re-planning my entire timetable. And then came registration day.

Registration was at 9.30am, so around 9am, I was already in the system, playing around with it to make sure that it was ok. It was then that I noticed that after a period of inactivity, you get logged out of the planner. and their period of inactivity is damn short. Like less than 2 mins. So to play safe, I opened up 2 more pages, ready to switch to them in the event that I get logged out at 9.30. I had to be fast, cos all the modules had only 6+ vacancies and there may be tens of people wanting it. So at 9.29am, my fingers were poised over the mouse, with the mouse hovering over the send button and eyes trained on the comp's clock, ready to click once it turned 9.30. At this point in time, during this 1 min, I could feel my heart pounding. And then, 9.30 came. I clicked "send" and up popped "You have been logged out of STARS planner, please log in again.". Panic! I switched to the other page, and logged in again, but because I was so panicky, I typed in the wrong password and had to re-type. After successfully logging in, I managed to click send and by a stroke of luck, got everything that I wanted. Immediately after I got everything, I went to check the vacancies and there were none left.

...my fingers were trembling after everything was done.

My lifespan may be shortened by a few years by the time I graduate. Thank goodness the next subject registration is half a year away. *heaves a sigh of relief*

2009-06-15T17:52:00.002+08:00

It has been a few years since the lower secondary school days that I read so many books. And I realised that to a certain extent, I kind of miss reading. However, my short attention span has resulted in a slower reading speed. *shakes head* Anyway, out of all those books read, there were 3 books that stood out particularly.

Grotesque by Natso Kirino
Sayonara Gangsters by Genichiro Takahashi
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

Grotesque and Second Glance are worthy reads. On the other hand, Sayonara Gangsters leaves me alittle bewildered. I have completely no idea what the author is trying to tell me. And the online reviews are not very helpful either. So, if anyone wants to read it, or has already read it and knows what the book is about, let me know.

Grotesque and Second Glance are good. They make you think after reading it. Grotesque is slightly twisted. Read the online reviews if anyone has any interest in it. I'm bad at reviews.

=P

2009-06-09T16:01:00.002+08:00

I went back to the optical shop today to collect the spectacles and contact lenses. And I ended up spending 1-1/2 hours in the shop! Why? Because the specs had to be fitted and I had to learn how to put on contacts. Or rather, the lady there taught me. My eyes are dead tired now. And contacts are hard to up on. =( Gotta practice. The lady says that I have inflexible eyelids! Haha...well, not exactly, it's just that my sis's eyelids are more flexible than mine. So she is able to master the art of putting on contacts faster than me. In the time I took to put on the contacts and take them out twice, she already did it like 4 times. (O_O)

And the new spectacles give me a headache. I gotta get used to them.

Headed down to Ritz Carlton after the ordeal at the spectacle shop. I don't know if this job is worth it. You gotta get your own pair of court shoes and you gotta wear makeup. And you gotta call them every wednesday, to check the schedule and see if there is any function going on and to sort of plan your timetable. I wonder if I can not go for this although I already applied.

目が疲れてる。。。

嵐 - 明日の記憶/Crazy Moon~キミ・ハ・ムテキ~

2009-06-04T20:10:00.008+08:00

It's the hols and I'm unemployed! So yes, it implies that I have all the time in the world...=P

Another double A single~! So 2 PVs again..=)

嵐 - 明日の記憶

嵐 - Crazy Moon~キミ・ハ・ムテキ~

I like the 1st song better. And I have no idea why they made it a double A single, but I think it's partly for the profits. If so, then they've hit jackpot! Because, this single apparently sold over 500,000 in a week. And they have another single slated to be released in July. Good year for them, really.

2009-06-02T19:27:00.002+08:00

Money flows out really quickly. After a trip to the optical shop today, I am $450 poorer. The frames and the lenses cost me $290 while the contact lenses cost me $180. Why the hefty price tag? Well, while the myopism didn't change, the astigmatism did. It is now 250 on the right and 200 on the left. Both the astigmatism and mypism are almost parallel! o_O!!!

Anyway, $450 means that it cleans me out of my last month's tuition earnings. Ah...and then I return home to read this...

"All the students have done extremely well and we’ve extracted more emails than we had hoped for! Unfortunately, this is posing another problem which I’m now resolving, i.e. it is exceeding the monthly maximum we can pay for part-time work. I promise to get the best arrangement for you commensurate with the work and effort, but we will have to relook the reimbursement part a bit. My sincerest apologies, please give me a while to sort it out."

Hello! I did not slog for hours for nothing! They'd better pay me. *stares daggers*

2009-05-27T20:56:00.004+08:00

Note: Due to rapidly jumping train of thoughts, this is going to be a very messy entry. Long unstructured sentences ahead. Read at your own risk!

....after the previous very depressing entry, this seems like a huge jump. BUT! All the melancholy has to pass. =) Not that I've really forgotten, but there's not much point in harping over it. Deep down, I'm still really worried, partly because I don't know if I can do it, if I can make it. However, like I said earlier, I just have to try. There's nothing I can do but try. Ganbarimasu~.

I guess a reason for this slight uplifting of my mood, is that I have finally finished or at least handed up my work. After slogging at it for the past few days, I have earned ~$600! More could have been done, but with all the slacking in the 2nd week and outings in the 3rd week, I actually only spent less that 2 weeks on it. I feel kind of guilty for not neglecting it.

This is where I have to cut in and say that this is the problem. The very big flaw in my ...what do you call it? ...character? I have no determination. I procrastinate. I'm lazy. I may want something, but never work hard enough to get it. I am a terrible person. I know what I have to do, but always end up not doing it. Incorrigible and never learning my lesson. All this, I have to change. If not, history will just keep repeating itself, until there comes a stage, where the consequences are dire. In a way, I have always managed to escape "fatal" consequences, because my parents have been there to make sure that doesn't happen and also because I occcasionally "wake up" to reality. Yet, reality is that it has always been easier to slip onto the easy road than to take the harder path. My parents cannot always be there to nag at me. I am turning 21 soon(sadly), and I have to change or I will be learning things the hard way in future. So anyone that is reading this, if you think I need a good scolding, please go ahead. But do it gently, ya? And privately too. Public humiliation is not something I can take. If I get upset, which I think I will, because I don't like it when people tell me to do things that I already know I should be doing but am not, please do bear with me. I'm usually angry at myself, not you. It's a huge character flaw, this one is.

So yes, to summarise the above paragraph, there is alot I need to change and I do need help along the way. So...yoroshiku onegaishimasu! <---seriously, somethings are just more aptly expressed in certain languages.

Moving on, is anyone interested in volunteering at the Youth Olympic Games next year? I'm not sure if it's open to the public, but NTU students, anyone interested? This is rather unlike me to be volunteering for something like this. There are 2 reasons actually. One, would be that it would be something that I could put in my future resume. Next, would be that this could probably be a once in a lifetime experience. Yep, this is also something that I'm trying to change. My aversion (a very strong aversion) to new environments. Again, I have to sidetrack and say that (sadly), in 2 years, I would be entering the workforce and new "things" would be abound. I have to get used to this and not just accept it. Accepting does no good.

About the resume. My resume is rather pathetic. This was the conclusion I came to after seeing my sister's. All of you should know what I'm talking about. She can easily put down all distinctions in her resume along with CCA accolades and the scholarships. My resume is sorely lacking. I am painfully average. Which really isn't anything wrong, but the resume really needs more in it. So ya...

Now that this job has ended, I should start looking for another. But I'm wondering if I should. There are some things that I want to do. Compile all the japanese notes, properly make ntes/materials for the tuition kids, etc. I'll think about it.

Running out of steam...I'll end here for now. :)

2009-05-22T12:48:00.003+08:00

I guess after fretting about it for weeks, it is good to finally know. Anyway, results are out. Not a very pleasant experience. GPA fell by 0.04. But I guess that is not what I am particularly upset about. It is upsetting, yes, but in a way, I had expected worse. So GPA wise, it's not particularly traumatizing. What is traumatizing is what I got for one of the modules.

I think I need to do some serious soul-searching. I'm abit lost right now. I wasn't really expecting that. Or maybe I was, but I just didn't want to admit it. Yet, reality is as such. To look on the bright side of things, which is still rather gloomy, is that there is still a chance to turn things around. Alright, not really turn things around, but to at least improve the situation. How it would go, I have no idea. There is no option other than to try.

:(

2009-05-15T16:16:00.002+08:00

I was going to post this yesterday, but the cockroach talk distracted me. Anyway, chris said that the fishing thing is most probably going to be on weekdays, cos weekends are too short. Anyway, what she said was:

alright. i'll get my mom to confirm then let u noe. but roughly, it'll be 3d2n. we'll leave in the morning on the 1st day. prob reach there by lunch time/afternoon. we'll get them to fetch us from sg all the way to the kelong (it's quite a drive, so be prepared. i ahve plenty of motion sickness pills though, dun worry! =P there'll be pit stops too... ) we'll have to take a boat from the jetty to the kelong(mid waters), all included in the amt paying. food everything is provided. bring ur rods though. if u dun have, i have plenty. no aircon, but i doubt u'll mind. it can get kinda cold at night tho, coz of the sea breeze, but there's blankets of coz. u can do night fishing if u want. if the waters are good, they occasionally go out deep sea fishing in a boat. u can go too if u want. otherwise it'll be mostly fishing at the place itself. the kelong has 2 main fishing areas: 1. huge feeding holes that they use to throw scraps into and at the same time attract fishes. good for first timers and kids, and sotong catching at night coz they hang lights there. 2. everywhere else. even the toilet hole, which incidently, is quite a good place to fish, when others dun need to use the toilet though. this mainly means that u can cast ur line far into the sea instead of juz dropping ur line straight down. and them we'll leave on the 3rd day, after lunch. prob reach home around 10+pm... u can ask ur family too, see if any of them are interested...

Ya, so anyone free on weekdays?

2009-05-14T20:21:00.003+08:00

今日、昼ご飯を作ると思って、台所に入った。あそこに大きいゴキブリがいていたんだ！最悪。殺虫剤（さっちゅうざい）を使って、台所にゴキブリを追跡（ついせき）した。ちょっと時間がかかったけど、やっと殺した。ハハ～！

でも、死んでいたゴキブリの形は本当に気持ち悪い。。。

2009-05-12T12:02:00.004+08:00

Cabbage Cabbage. How do you cook it? I have about 1 and a half heads of cabbage, which I don't know what to do with. I was going to make okonomiyaki, but I don't have the flour. I was going to buy it and I even went all the way to IMM yesterday, but daiso and Giant didn't have it. So I figured I'd just buy it today from JP (and I don't even know if JP sells it), but unfortunately, the truckload of clothes to be washed means that I gotta make sure all the clothes are hanging out there when its sunny. Which also means that I cannot leave the house unless its raining and I hate leaving the house when its raining. So ya...what do I do with the cabbage? I can't seem to remember how its always cooked. Soya sauce?

Sis came back from Taiwan last night - hence the truckload of clothes - and alot of trouble she brought back, losing her wallet and handphone there. She lost her handphone at the Hong Kong airport during transit. My mum had to keep calling, hoping that someone would answer. And by a stroke of luck, someone did! It was a Hong Kong-er who found the phone, so my mum had to converse in cantonese. Here, I am again reminded of the importance of knowing more than one language. Anyway, the Hong Kong-er was rushing for her plane too, so she said that all she could do was hand the phone to the cathay people, which she did. Nice person, this woman is. However, the stroke of luck ended here. My sis was boarding her plane, when she was informed of the handphone. And she couldn't get off the plane to collect. So the phone is still in Hong Kong, I think.

As for the wallet, she lost about 3000 taiwan dollars, which is about 150 singapore dollars..? And she's got to cancel her debit card and remake her driving license. Why she even brought her driving license over, I have no idea. Thank goodness she didn't bring her IC over. If what happened to my 7th floor neighbour happened to us, my father will kill her and then revive her only to kill her again.

Sigh...my house has a serious lack of ingredients. There is no tung chye?!

2009-05-10T22:02:00.003+08:00

New tuition kids' house is really hot. And today, I think I figured out why. They get the afternoon sun. So as the sun starts 'setting', all things in the house starts baking. If an optimal position could be found, I reckon an egg could be half cooked. Thank goodness my tolerance for heat is high, any less heat intolerent and I would have melted. Literally. No wonder people make so much fuss about ensuring that the house doesn't get any afternoon sun when they scout for houses.

Anyway, when you have 4 tuition kids, of which they are 2 pairs of siblings and they happen to be 2 sisters and 2 brothers, you can't help comparing. Seriously, they are total opposites. The 2 boys are as neat as the 2 girls are untidy. Just put their work side by side and you can tell. Actually, you don't even need to do that. And the boys are as quiet as the girls are noisy. So much for gender stereotypes, 'eh?

P3 boy's english is worrying. Actually, all his subjects are worrying. =S I hope I can actually help him. On second thought, please let me be able to help him!

11days.

2009-05-06T16:16:00.003+08:00

I got a job! Well, sort of anyway. Compiling emails for NTU, at 15cents per email. It'll take a looong time for the amount to build to something, but well, something is better than nothing, no? And I get to do it at home. NO transport fee! Anyway, it's only till the end of may. Something to occupy my time with. =)

16 more days...

2009-05-03T22:28:00.002+08:00

Useless whinings - best skipped
I contradict myself too much. I'm not working at my aunt's, because by the time I took to decide if I wanted the job, they filled it. Not that I'm complaining. =P But I do feel slack. I will defend myself by arguing that I work on weekends instead of weekdays, because all my tuition appointments are on weekends. On the other hand, it can also be argued that I only work 3 hours a day on weekends. There are still hours to milk! That being said, I cannot take on another tuition job, because I can't juggle so many tuition jobs and school at the same time. Especially when I already have a foot on the path to doom. So that concludes my weekend argument.

The weekdays are a totally different matter. I have NOTHING to do on weekdays. Absolutely nothing. That's when the guilt starts seeping in and my brain starts filling up with unnecessary thoughts. Nonono. I really don't need those thoughts. That's why I sleep alot. Because time seems to pass rather quickly when you sleep and you don't think of anything. At least, I don't remember what I dream of. Nights are thus settled, because I can sleep for 10 hours. But the day is long. I spend an hour or less sweeping and doing the laundry, 1 hour to read the newspaper - if I read it, 1 hour to use the comp - not too long, because my dad's not very happy with me, and I spend the rest of the day either watching tv, or reading a book or 2 or 3. See! This is totally a life of a slacker. *shakes head*

Countdown
What else is there to countdown to other than results day? 19 days.

...Fishing?
Chris is asking if anyone is interested in going to Malaysia(?) for fishing. Will be between the 21st of June and 9th of July. So?

2009-04-28T17:39:00.001+08:00

Exams are over. 22 May. According to the site, this will be the day where the results are out.

I fear.

2009-04-25T13:41:00.002+08:00

Last paper left, and I think I died for numerical analysis. =(

Aunt has a job offer for me. S-Should I go for it? A very huge part of me doesn't want to go back there to work, but with the economy as it is now, its always good to earn extra cash.

... どうしよう？

I really don't wanna think about this now, with the calculus paper looming ahead, but I gotta give a reply soon...

2009-04-20T17:19:00.001+08:00

3 down, 3 to go. I'm not exactly sure that the paper today went well. Ok, fine. It didn't go well. As usual. Most of the time it's a question of how bad it was.

...?

2009-04-17T14:51:00.002+08:00

I have to stop slacking! The horror of stats, numerical analysis and econometrics have yet to be unleashed. I cannot afford a slide in the GPA, but at the same time, I cannot stop my mind from slipping away. If I could even remember what I actually day-dreamed about, that would be good, but I don't. I just blank out for xxxminutes, and when I return, I totally cannot remember where my mind wandered off to.

... (o_o)

2009-04-16T15:15:00.004+08:00

Ok, 2 papers down, and 4 more to go. Not much of a difference when all the heavy subjects are not yet over, but somehow I feel slightly better. I really shouldn't be feeling this way. It results in low productivity, and I can't afford it.

Anyway, I was ~~slacking~~ taking a break last night, and logged onto facebook for the 1st time in quite some time. Only to find out that a friend got married. I am not kidding. I think most people who actually read this, would have her as a friend. Or maybe not, but if you know it, then you know it. So go check it out yourself. Granted that it's someone I haven't met in a very very long time and i have no clue what is going on in the person's life for past 6 odd years, but its still a shock. Ok, it's not a bad thing, but I just didn't think I'd see my classmates getting married at this age. 0.O If she was of the same age as me or younger, I'd feel old, but she's not, so I guess I don't feel that old?

Anyway, may she have a happy marriage and have many cute babies to come! =D

2009-04-09T17:54:00.002+08:00

It turns out that #07-216 lost his IC last week. And so, he's saying that he didn't borrow the money. A police report was made. Town council came to white-wash the wall today.

BUT!

The loadshark came back again today. He loitered in the stairway between both floors, talking very loudly on the phone. At least thats what my dad said. I only witnessed the loitering part. He came around the same time as he did yesterday, when the paint was splashed. Around 5.10pm. But he left when the 7th floor people came out I think. Not very sure.

This is the 1st time in the 20years that I've stayed here, that I actually feel unsafe in this neighbourhood.

Can I say that I'm worried?

WTH!

2009-04-08T17:54:00.003+08:00

This is no time to be civilised!

My door kena splashed paint! Bloody hell!
The splasher can't count to save his life!
He wrote there #07-216, but he came to the 6th floor?!
And my door number isn't even 216!
And my neighbour also got hit, although not as bad.
The funniest thing is that #07-216, didn't even get anything!
Like what the..!

This splasher.
May he get divine retirbution someday.
And may numbers be his downfall then.

And the guy that borrowed, I hope he gets more paint splashed on his door.
He'd better pay back the money asap!
Bloody Hell.

2009-04-03T20:44:00.002+08:00

Ok. Now, I am seriously irritated, but more at myself than anyone or anything else.

I have to go to school tomorrow, to use Eviews to run my regression analysis for the econometrics project. It is going to be approximately the 10,000th time, I am making changes to the data and running this stupid regression. Presentation is on tuesday, which means that I have to at least get results out, so that I can start analysing. This is Problem 1.

Problem 1.1, is that Eviews is only available in the HSS labs, and the HSS labs are only open on weekdays, and tomorrow is a weekend. I highly doubt it'll be open. BUT, there is hope in that I can use the comps in the HSS library to access the network, to get Eviews running. I tried accessing NTU's network from home, but I keep getting this error that says "specified destination does not exist", which I cannot for the life of me understand why, when I followed all the instructions the stupid NTU site gave.

IF I can access Eviews tomorrow, half of my troubles will be gone, leaving only the other half. That would be that I don't really know what to do with the results of my analysis. BUT, I shall worry about that after problem 1.1 is solved.

If problem 1.1 is not solved, I am quite dead. It means that I would have to do it on monday, leaving me only 1 day to do my entire report and presentation.

I am so irritated that I feel like cursing and swearing, except that it is not my nature to curse and swear, even though this situation really is appropriate for cursing and swearing. I am really so irritated, because this problem could have been prevented. I could have just realised it earlier. It is my fault through and through and I cannot blame anyone but myself, which really just makes me more irritated.

And with finals coming up, I really don't need this kinda stuff to irritate me. Damn it.

2009-03-26T09:22:00.002+08:00

Numerical analysis is slowiy killing my brain cells, one at a time. Who knew that the human brain could come up with something so....complex. Mathematicians! *shakes fists*

I have a grudge going on with the 7th floor uncle whose kitchen faces mine. I swear that he was laughing at me when I was trying to bring in the clothes yesterday. What's so funny about me struggling to bring in those bamboo poles? They're heavy and especially so when curtains are hanging off them! And he was there again looking out of the window when I was hanging the clothes out this morning. What am I? Routine entertainment? Sheesh...and it does not help that I have an unsympathetic father who says that he would have laughed too if he were the uncle. I am deeply offended. *sniff*

Right...back to N.A.

2009-03-24T09:11:00.003+08:00

The thing about the weather these days, is its unpredictability. It could be raining cats and dogs in the morning and be sweltering hot in the afternoon.

Sleepy...

2009-03-22T22:07:00.001+08:00

sigh.

It's a BIG Ad!!!~XD

2009-03-16T11:54:00.004+08:00

Something my sis showed me that's hilarious~! XD

2009-03-14T17:53:00.001+08:00

PAY DAY~! makes today a happy day. After all, its not everyday you get your pay and its certainly not every pay that you get a raise. Ok, it technically isn't a raise, since I did put in the hours to justify it, but I wasn't expecting to get paid for it. And I updated my passbook, only to find out that the $200 from the govt has been credited! Its nice to have the money flowing in instead of out for a change.

"Departures" is a good movie. I won't talk about whether its oscar-worthy or not, simply because I can't tell, but I felt that it was good. Worth the $6.50(student discount~!) that I spent. Among the movies that I watched this year, from the total rip-off of a "Ponyo" (was it this year?) to the acceptable "K-20" and the I-quite-like-it "Suspect X", I think this was the best. I'd admit that I cried in many parts of the movie, but it may just be me being over-sensitive, because my sis didn't shed a tear (heartless one, she is). So, everyone, watch it if you have the time! I don't think it's that dl-able, it being an oscar-winning show and all. I couldn't find a subbed version of "Letters from Iwo Jima". =( Or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. Anyway, "Departures". Watch it. I shan't give a review, because I'm kind of bad at reviews.

My dear comp just crashed and was recently revived. As such, all my data in the hard-drive is gone. All the videos and dramas. *sobs* I shall have to re-dl after finals.

Japanese Conversation course the other day was interesting. 「つーかめちゃめちゃ日本人じゃん！」will be stuck in my memory for awhile.

Deadlines are looming....

2009-03-07T00:04:00.003+08:00

D-day is near! Why? Look at the dates below:

21st mar - Calculus Mid-terms
24th mar - Academic Writing research report due
27th mar - Numerical Analysis Quiz 2
31st mar - Econometrics Presentation due
3rd april - Econometrics research report due
6th april - Japanese Listening test
7th april - Academic Writing weblogs due
9th april - Japanese Oral test
14th april - Japanese level 3 FINALS
15th april - Defence Science FINALS
20th april - Prob and Stats FINALS
23rd april - Econometrics FINALS
24th april - Numerical Analysis FINALS
28th april - Calculus FINALS

I am clinging on to the last shreds of my sanity here and experiencing an intense dislike for the LTA and Uruguay now.

It'll be a rollercoaster ride from now....

2009-03-04T19:34:00.001+08:00

誰か私と一緒に「おくりびと」という映画を見に行ってくれませんか？
Anyone wants to watch "Departures" with me? =D

嵐ｘ矢野健太starring大野智 - Believe/曇りのち、快晴

2009-03-04T11:45:00.010+08:00

Ok, I'm really supposed to be studying for my mid-terms tomorrow, but...new PVs~!

Another double A-single, so 2 PVs this time.

嵐 - Believe

I kinda like this song, though the start really sounds like the opening of an anime song. Oh well, I guess its only fitting for the theme song of a movie made from an anime. Cool PV though, the clothes aren't too bad either. =P

矢野健太 starring 大野智 - 曇りのち、快晴
Yano Kenta starring Ohno Satoshi - Kumorinochi, Kaisei

Theme song for "Uta no Oniisan"~! Which by the way, really isn't that interesting a drama, but I still watch it anyway. Still, I gotta say that if anyone in arashi were to have such a solo song, I'm glad its Ohno, because..... ...I shall leave that statement unfinished.

Back to stats~!

2009-03-02T21:32:00.002+08:00

I'm sure half the world would've known about the "NTU stabbing" incident now. Hopefully, the professor is fine, even though I have no idea who he/she is. It really is quite sad that the guy had to resort to this. =(

It seems like there's alot of violence occuring on campuses lately. And no, I'm not talking about NTU only. Like the beheading incident and shooting incident in Virginia Tech, and another shooting incident that happened at some other school? All these. In a way, people's priorities seemed to have slowly changed.

Ah~too complicated! Shall not talk about it.

2009-02-27T09:45:00.002+08:00

Passed JLPT3~! Yaye~! =) I think I did better for 3 than 4. Weird. Can't really remember what I got for 4, but I seem to have the impression that I scored better in 3. *shrugs*

Recess week is coming to an end. Sigh...but oh well, I did watch 2 relatively good movies this week. Relatively good, means that it managed to keep my attention for the full duration. I have a very short attention span lately, and my standard for movies were dramatically shattered by Ponyo. As such, K-20 and Yogisha X no Kenshin (aka Suspect X) was interesting in my opinion. =) And I finally figured out that the song they were playing on radio was the song for Yogisha X no Kenshin. No wonder it was so familiar. Apparently, I have it in my mp3!

Hmmm....back to work?

2009-02-26T01:05:00.002+08:00

I have finally completed the data compilation! With graphs! =)) After going through 10 years worth of monthly data on COE prices and the number of COEs issued per month, I have mastered typing and not looking at the number pad on the keyboard! Ok, nothing too impressive, but I was never good at typing.

1 thing down. Alot more to go, but I think its time to sleep.