I'M ALL HYPED UP
Not for the new year, but for a chance to go for an overseas exchange.
Have been thinking all the time of where to go and all that. I'm kinda inclined towards getting to Calgary cos' my Aunt's there with her family (migrated) and somehow it is a comfort zone for me to know that someone out there (nearby) will be there for me.
And that means I'd get to celebrate my FIRST real WHITE CHRISTMAS with a stuff Turkey! It'll be good to celebrate with them too, especially the 2 cuties. Get to ski and ice skate. blahblahblah.
Other issues involve are like the fact that I wanna go to some ulu, layback, slow, small town kinda (think: Smallville) place and not urban New York kinda thing. No doubt the fun level is there, but somehow I'm into this very different kinda lifestyle (Are you really so different, SMU? lol)
Ping, I could sense the not-very-sure-I-wanna-go-Canada feeling and I was just thinking, it's quite alright. It being a once in a lifetime thing for each of us, we should be able to go to where we want to go, when we want to go.
And I think going for an exchange would be more fulfilling, spiritually at least, cos you will be all alone, no friends, homesick, culture shock. The lack of comfort zone brings about your true nature, forces you to smile and make friends. No one said it's gonna be easy, nor will it always be great. Maybe I'd call home and cry that I want to come back, but I think that's the learning journey I want to embark on. I want to be able to go through all of that, so that at least I can turn back and remember those times, be it good or bad memories.
All this you can do with a friend too, but my point is it's okay if we don't go together. And I hope I don't have to go with a lot of people. And even if I do I do not wish to stick around with them too much. What's the point then?
Feels absolutely great about what I've just typed out, feels like I've attained nirvana.
Next step: Get chosen for the exchange. kakaka
Friday, January 31, 2003
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
story from here
Are you really so different, SMU?
NUS, NTU students dismiss branding slogan. University insists US-style methods work
IF YOU'VE been reading the newspapers in the past three months, chances are you would have seen advertisements showing youths such as 22-year-old Marina Rumi Ibrahim in eye-catching poses.
Bold assertions by SMU, as in this ad, have become something of a talking point, especially among local undergrads.
Splashed across at least one-quarter of a Straits Times page, the bold claims have become something of a talking point, especially among local undergraduates.
The print ads declare SMU students as 'different'. But read the finer print and the suggestion is obvious: Trained to excel in the new economy, the Singapore Management University student is a cut above others.
Boasting about its American-style approach in teaching in small-group seminars, the new kid on the block - set up three years ago - says 'our students don't attend lectures and tutorials'.
The swipe at old-timers National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University is hard to ignore.
Its curriculum, which it calls innovative, was developed with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an American Ivy League institute.
The stress on its American make-up in its branding exercise is costing the private university $150,000, as the ads will run until April.
But professors and undergrads of NUS and NTU and parents shrugged off what they see as just a 'puff'.
Said businesswoman Claire Ong, 48, who has a son and daughter in NUS: 'NUS and NTU students should not get so hot and bothered. I think it is clever and fun. And it is just a branding exercise. Companies do it all the time, why not universities?'
But SMU's Provost Tan Chin Tiong insists it is not an empty slogan. The marketing professor who had taught in NUS for 20 years says he notices a discernible difference in the 1,400 students pursuing business and accountancy degrees.
'I think with our American-style university education, we have created a sub-culture. Students show a lot of confidence and are not afraid to speak up.'
While NUS and NTU professors would not be drawn into a debate, one NUS science professor noted: 'Everyone knows that NUS has the best students, at least in terms of A-level results. So let's wait for the employment surveys.'
Students tend to be dismissive, if not disdainful.
'They are like empty vessels making a lot of noise,' said NUS business student Adam Lim, 22.
NTU engineering student, Alfred Ooi, 25, added: 'The proof of the pudding is in the employment surveys.'
SMU's pioneer batch of 300 business students will enter the workforce next year, but the few employers who have hired some as interns sense a difference.
Ms Serena Khoo, a director at accounting firm Ernst & Young, interviewed 10 SMU students for one internship position.
She said quite a few were 'mature in their thinking, confident, articulate and willing to speak up, I think more so than the NUS and NTU students that I'd encountered before'.
Citibank vice-president Stephen Yeung supervised business student Jacqueline Zhuang, 22, whom he said had initiative and good communication skills.
Noting that up to 30 per cent of the marks goes to class participation for some SMU courses, Provost Tan believes it brings out the right qualities.
'If they want to pass, they have to think on their feet, be confident and speak up. If you have to keep doing this over and over again, it becomes second nature.'
After reading it, I can really only shake my head at that particular NUS business student. Afterall, in the end, who is the one who made themselves look silly? While the workforce looks forward to our graduation, people from the other 2 who don't really know much speaks up in national newspaper, being quoted like a fool.
Mind you, I am not being boastful. All I'm saying is, when you don't know much, don't speak.
Are you really so different, SMU?
NUS, NTU students dismiss branding slogan. University insists US-style methods work
IF YOU'VE been reading the newspapers in the past three months, chances are you would have seen advertisements showing youths such as 22-year-old Marina Rumi Ibrahim in eye-catching poses.
Bold assertions by SMU, as in this ad, have become something of a talking point, especially among local undergrads.
Splashed across at least one-quarter of a Straits Times page, the bold claims have become something of a talking point, especially among local undergraduates.
The print ads declare SMU students as 'different'. But read the finer print and the suggestion is obvious: Trained to excel in the new economy, the Singapore Management University student is a cut above others.
Boasting about its American-style approach in teaching in small-group seminars, the new kid on the block - set up three years ago - says 'our students don't attend lectures and tutorials'.
The swipe at old-timers National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University is hard to ignore.
Its curriculum, which it calls innovative, was developed with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an American Ivy League institute.
The stress on its American make-up in its branding exercise is costing the private university $150,000, as the ads will run until April.
But professors and undergrads of NUS and NTU and parents shrugged off what they see as just a 'puff'.
Said businesswoman Claire Ong, 48, who has a son and daughter in NUS: 'NUS and NTU students should not get so hot and bothered. I think it is clever and fun. And it is just a branding exercise. Companies do it all the time, why not universities?'
But SMU's Provost Tan Chin Tiong insists it is not an empty slogan. The marketing professor who had taught in NUS for 20 years says he notices a discernible difference in the 1,400 students pursuing business and accountancy degrees.
'I think with our American-style university education, we have created a sub-culture. Students show a lot of confidence and are not afraid to speak up.'
While NUS and NTU professors would not be drawn into a debate, one NUS science professor noted: 'Everyone knows that NUS has the best students, at least in terms of A-level results. So let's wait for the employment surveys.'
Students tend to be dismissive, if not disdainful.
'They are like empty vessels making a lot of noise,' said NUS business student Adam Lim, 22.
NTU engineering student, Alfred Ooi, 25, added: 'The proof of the pudding is in the employment surveys.'
SMU's pioneer batch of 300 business students will enter the workforce next year, but the few employers who have hired some as interns sense a difference.
Ms Serena Khoo, a director at accounting firm Ernst & Young, interviewed 10 SMU students for one internship position.
She said quite a few were 'mature in their thinking, confident, articulate and willing to speak up, I think more so than the NUS and NTU students that I'd encountered before'.
Citibank vice-president Stephen Yeung supervised business student Jacqueline Zhuang, 22, whom he said had initiative and good communication skills.
Noting that up to 30 per cent of the marks goes to class participation for some SMU courses, Provost Tan believes it brings out the right qualities.
'If they want to pass, they have to think on their feet, be confident and speak up. If you have to keep doing this over and over again, it becomes second nature.'
After reading it, I can really only shake my head at that particular NUS business student. Afterall, in the end, who is the one who made themselves look silly? While the workforce looks forward to our graduation, people from the other 2 who don't really know much speaks up in national newspaper, being quoted like a fool.
Mind you, I am not being boastful. All I'm saying is, when you don't know much, don't speak.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
School at 9pm. Test tommorrow. Trying to study, but the subject seriously sux.
Stupid [post and publish] button on my laptop somehow doesn't work. Made a joke out of myself.
Nevermind.
It is raining softly and the school has this nice air of serenity that I like a lot. Too bad the environment is a bit the stress.
All my modules fault.
Aiyo so stress ah
Irritating school work seriously. It's CNY already what, give us a break la. 2 test this week.
Getting giddy. & was having PMS today. Poor Ping had to endure my bimbotic gestures for about 1 hr until Panadol Menstrual worked.
Stupid [post and publish] button on my laptop somehow doesn't work. Made a joke out of myself.
Nevermind.
It is raining softly and the school has this nice air of serenity that I like a lot. Too bad the environment is a bit the stress.
All my modules fault.
Aiyo so stress ah
Irritating school work seriously. It's CNY already what, give us a break la. 2 test this week.
Getting giddy. & was having PMS today. Poor Ping had to endure my bimbotic gestures for about 1 hr until Panadol Menstrual worked.
Monday, January 27, 2003
Friday, January 24, 2003
I HAD AN AWFUL DREAM
I dreamt I died. I saw this black mage thing that was sort of chasing after me. Had to run into some tunnel which was very smelly to hide from that thing. It turned out that the person who was with me (I dunno who) was the black mage. (????) Can't really remember.
Then suddenly I was at this bright, organised looking place where it looks like you are registering for something. People around don't look dead, but they are. I think. Had to pay up some money for I cannot remember what, then was asked into this room. (Room 12) It was actually like very happy, give me the feeling of like a welcoming party into that room. But I tried to escape by pretending to go to the loo then suddenly I was holding my handphone and so I tried very hard to contact my loved ones, to no avail. Then my phone rang and I talked to Larry, telling him how sorry I was to leave him. Then my mummy called, and I too, apologised for not being able to take care of them anymore.
It is such a scary and depressing dream. I am controlling my tears as I recall the dream.
Yuck
I dreamt I died. I saw this black mage thing that was sort of chasing after me. Had to run into some tunnel which was very smelly to hide from that thing. It turned out that the person who was with me (I dunno who) was the black mage. (????) Can't really remember.
Then suddenly I was at this bright, organised looking place where it looks like you are registering for something. People around don't look dead, but they are. I think. Had to pay up some money for I cannot remember what, then was asked into this room. (Room 12) It was actually like very happy, give me the feeling of like a welcoming party into that room. But I tried to escape by pretending to go to the loo then suddenly I was holding my handphone and so I tried very hard to contact my loved ones, to no avail. Then my phone rang and I talked to Larry, telling him how sorry I was to leave him. Then my mummy called, and I too, apologised for not being able to take care of them anymore.
It is such a scary and depressing dream. I am controlling my tears as I recall the dream.
Yuck
Thursday, January 23, 2003
I need money.
Mission: Get enough money to go to Pulau Aur (cos I'm a friend indeed)
Mission estimate: about SGD 200
Mission: Buy a new pair of rollerblades
Mission estimate: about SGD 200
Mission hope #1: Part Timer/Week Ender required by Skateline to help in its outlets. If you have a couple of hours to spare during the weekdays and weekends and would like to earn some extra pocket money whilst engaging in a sport you love, please contact Edmund for an interview for a part time postion with us. For Skaters By Skaters...we want you!
Have to contact them soon.
Mission hope #2: Go back to sleazy Nanjya Monjya to work whenever free. But that's not a lot I think.
Mission hope #3 and more: For you bloggee readers to help me if you have lobangs.
Mission: Get enough money to go to Pulau Aur (cos I'm a friend indeed)
Mission estimate: about SGD 200
Mission: Buy a new pair of rollerblades
Mission estimate: about SGD 200
Mission hope #1: Part Timer/Week Ender required by Skateline to help in its outlets. If you have a couple of hours to spare during the weekdays and weekends and would like to earn some extra pocket money whilst engaging in a sport you love, please contact Edmund for an interview for a part time postion with us. For Skaters By Skaters...we want you!
Have to contact them soon.
Mission hope #2: Go back to sleazy Nanjya Monjya to work whenever free. But that's not a lot I think.
Mission hope #3 and more: For you bloggee readers to help me if you have lobangs.
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
He came to my house to apologise. How sweeet. :) Therefore forgiven.
On lab computer now dunno why happened to my laptop, super screwed. Can visit all webby except blogger. And I thought Blogger was down, turned out that yup, my laptop's screwed big time.
An update: The laptop, after restarting, works now!
*Grrr*
Ping insisted that I will be posting up my bikini when I was boasting to the class people, so I shall post it up.
Its a beautiful brown reversible bikini from Tannlines. *sniggers proudly*
Oughta go. Ping is staring at me with an evil eye. Must be hunger pang.
And yes, I got the red eye.
On lab computer now dunno why happened to my laptop, super screwed. Can visit all webby except blogger. And I thought Blogger was down, turned out that yup, my laptop's screwed big time.
An update: The laptop, after restarting, works now!
Ping insisted that I will be posting up my bikini when I was boasting to the class people, so I shall post it up.
Its a beautiful brown reversible bikini from Tannlines. *sniggers proudly*
Oughta go. Ping is staring at me with an evil eye. Must be hunger pang.
And yes, I got the red eye.
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Feeling stone today.
Got this stupid supposed lobang for a easy money shit, went to town and ended up shopping cos he got a meeting last minute.
Wasted my time. !@#$%$^%^&%$#@ Damn pissed. I mean, he din sound sorry at all!
Anyway, bought a new bikini from Tannlines.
Supposed to be very excited and happy about it, but is feeling fucking shit now.
Fly by my ninety nine
Sorta got pissed of by him.
Got this stupid supposed lobang for a easy money shit, went to town and ended up shopping cos he got a meeting last minute.
Wasted my time. !@#$%$^%^&%$#@ Damn pissed. I mean, he din sound sorry at all!
Anyway, bought a new bikini from Tannlines.
Supposed to be very excited and happy about it, but is feeling fucking shit now.
Fly by my ninety nine
Sorta got pissed of by him.
Monday, January 20, 2003
It's Patron's Day again!
Remembered how I was all happy and excited over my school's 2nd birthday, and yup, it's now her 3rd!
It's pretty cool to watch her grow bigger *literally - population*. That's part of the beauty of being in a up-and-coming university I guess. I mean, yes we don't have great history to boast of, most of our ECAs aren't comparable with the other 2 varsities n polytechnics cos we are only like 1000 strong (Arts and Social Science in NUS alone has 8000 the last time I heard). And as usual, we often get mistaken of being SIM. Not that SIM is any bad.. just.. identity crisis. Or our degrees get weird looks and questions, like 'is it part time?' 'is it recognised in Singapore?' DAH!
We are the 3rd uni in SG okay? Yup. We do get local degree awarded by the government. Not RMIT, not UOL. So.. quit asking. Gets on nerves.
But anyway, back to beauty, our voices are heard by the faculties. Changes made because of our suggestions, and clubs formed by students like us. People know most people. Like the good ol' secondary school times. We, are the pioneers. And that's cool.
Anyway tommorrow promises to be fun, according to all the banners and set ups and emails circulating. WOMAD styled, the night promises music, bazaar, food and all. So if you're free, just c'mon down. It's open to all, cos we are friendly people from the Singapore Management University.