Thursday, October 30, 2008
Hola! Salut! 您好! Hello!
I am feeling international today.
I'm back to the blogosphere after one week of intense assignment preparation.
Today, 4 assignments/presentations are over. Phew.
Now I'm left with 1 more contemporary social theory 2000-word essay, 1 more 2000-word qualitative research report and 1 more 3000-word public administration project report.
And I have 12 days left to exams! Wish me the best.
Présentation français went well today with Marie, my French tutor giving thumbs up. Yay!
I was on Zhiming's car today after worship "cover" practice to hitch a ride home. He started sharing with me a lot of his views on Christianity, politics and the notion of freedom. I thought for an engineer-trained dude, he had an arts brain.
He understood the complexities of the world and was able to express them well. I am impressed.
He is just a very very nice guy. Very unassuming and humble. He does not boast in his luxuries and talent (he's really fantastic on bass guitar!) but attributes everything he has to God's blessing. He will make a good dad (soon!).
These few days, the following song has been repeated in my MP4 for the 2987654th time and I'm still not sick of it. Did I mention in my blog before that I am a HUGGGEEE fan of John Mayer's music?
I am! I am! He's sooooooo good.
The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.
John Rockefeller Jr.
John Mayer did it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
We are having a music festival this November for youths from all secondary schools and it's pretty cool.
If you feel your friends have the talent to sing/compose songs or they need some workshops on how to play the guitar or the piano, get them to join this Festival!
For more information, please visit:
Don't forget!
Go there and also vote for your favourite songs (Under "Vote and Win"). Sarah sang "Faithful One" and Angie sang "I used to think" & "Without You". These songs are written by a few talented school students.
Go there and listen to their nice voices and also the "Angie Choir" (hahaha).
Just go and vote. Anyone (even those from tertiary institutions even though this a competition for secondary school students) can vote. No harm. SMS is dirt cheap (5 cents per SMS?).
And you never know, if you vote for the winner, you may win a fabulous prize.
p.s I designed the poster for this Festival. Nice or not?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
In today's qualitative research lecture, we were learning how a researcher does content analysis on advertisements. So, we got to watch a few advertisements on alcohol.
According to the researcher, these advertisements make alcohol attractive and youthful, so college students, especially in the US are drawn to drinking.
A course mate then pointed out that this phenomenon is becoming visible in Singapore since SMU also has a bar in its school compound.
We began to talk amongst ourselves and according to my professor, NUS does not allow the sale of alcohol (but I thought I saw a bar near the Cultural Centre?).
Then I turned to Ching and said...
Me: Aiya, NTU won't have a bar in our compound. It's so boring. We only have that Chinese Heritage Centre lor.
Ching: Ya, and they'll serve us 女儿红.
Me: omg hahahahahahaha
Thursday, October 16, 2008
So many things to do that I don't know where to start first. Really.
Thank God I'm only taking 5 modules this semester. If I were to overload (which I initially planned to) and take 6 modules, I think I'll go berserk and tear my hair every time I go to school.
Come to imagine, it's a horrible sight. *shivers*
The deadlines are looming ahead and they are such a killjoy.
Every week, there's a project/essay to be handed in, starting from next Tuesday.
May our good Lord, my loving Abba (btw, that's a biblical and affectionate way of calling God 'father'; not the band, ABBA!) Father sustain me throughout this period of pressure cooking from NTU.
And in Your arms I find the strength to believe in me again.
***
P.S Congratulations Sarah for passing your driving test on your FIRST attempt. All of us in the family are proud of you!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
I have a love/hate relationship with my French tutor.
But recently, it is veering towards the 'love' side. Perhaps it's because she has lightened up so much more, and also, she has been teaching the class practical French that we would have seen on the streets or heard on radio.
Now, I finally know what some of the Singaporean restaurants with French names mean.
I will literally translate some of the names for you. It's quite interesting and yes, rib-tickling.
C'est facile! (It's easy!)
Au Jardin - To Garden
Les Amis - The Friends
Ma Maison - My House
And my favourite?
Au Petit Salut - To Little Hello
???!!!!!
(-_-" )
If I were to name my own restaurant, I would name it "Je Mange" (sounds cheem or not?) Heehee.
***
Okay, to get myself on track, I'm going to list down my essay assignments that are due within these couple of weeks. And that's excluding my presentations!!! Eeeks.
1) HS401 Qualitative Research Interview Write-up
2) HS401 The Final Project
3) HS312 Gender and Sexuality Essay
4) HA 101 Article Summary
5) HA 101 Project Essay (Healthcare system in US vs SG)
Now, back on my books and notes.
8-(
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
God was there when I needed him the most.
The desperate and down times - He was there watching, and making sure I don't falter.
When my heart broke, He was there, silently, mending the pieces, overlooking the fact that I was the one who first went against Him. Instead of raking up the past, He made sure that I don't get hurt by the same thing again.
He has revealed to me many secrets of the world.
What I ought to know, I've been told and that is why I can quit worrying about my future.
Nothing is attractive to me because for now, He is truly all that I need and my ultimate destination.
To live is to die. To die is to gain.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Was it the vivid dream I had about flying to Japan last week or was it the chat with Xiuwen and Weiqi a couple of weeks ago about Japan that sparked off my wanderlust for this country?
JAPAN!
This country is fascinating. Think about it.
It's one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world (they are quirky inventors. Think toilet bowls with remote controls and cars that sense the driver's alcohol level). And yet, they are also able to keep their traditions alive.
Who says tradition and modernity cannot survive together?
Japan did it.
How cool is that?
They are so clean. So efficient. So beautiful. So fresh. So fun! The little knick knacks they sell are very quirky. I want to see the bright neon lights on the Tokyo streets. Most of all, I would have fresh sushi and everything green-tea every day! Woohoo!
I would EAT SASHIMI (if you know me, I don't consume raw fish) just to go there.
I would EAT SASHIMI (if you know me, I don't consume raw fish) just to go there.
Okay, so they killed my grandparents' friends/neighbours during the the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s, so going there would be like treading on enemies' grounds. But let bygones by bygones. We must build up good ties now.
I WANT TO GO JAPAN!
***
Van's 21st birthday ~ 24 Sept 08 (her actual one's on 13 Sept)
Happy 21st Van!
Our dear friend's birthday was great! Yummy food and great company. Waiting for the bus that would never come with Ching and ASK was unforgetable too (We waited for half an hour at the bus stop!). But still, I had fun chit-chatting :) We walked all the way from Downtown East to Pasir Ris MRT at 11pm. It was a lot of walking. Ha.
Here's some pictures.
We wanted to do a Rocker picture and pose at the count of 1,2,3. But ASK caught us off guard!
The demure, sweet sweet side of us!
Cheers!
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Photoshop is implanting very skewed perceptions of beauty in us.
Today, I show you how it is done.
See these 2 pictures?
The one on the right has been photoshopped. I gave myself, my nainai and Sarah larger eyes.
SEE?
We get very uptight because we don't have the perfect figure or because we don't have huge bambi eyes.
Advertisements that are photoshopped (ALL OF THEM ARE) are putting false perceptions in us, telling us it's natural to have flawless skin, perfect teeth, double eyelids, flowing long hair, a 24-inch, no, make that 20-inch waist...etc.
We don't have to look like clones!
Let's all champion for real beauty.
Real beauty lies in your confidence and acceptance about who you are as a person.
Men who don't believe in this probably don't deserve you at all.
GIRLS, DON'T GET CHEATED BY THOSE PICTURES YOU SEE ON THE MEDIA ANYMORE.
What to expect from here
FLASHBACK
CREDITS