Wednesday, March 26, 2008 01:04 a.m.
Easter sunday lunch with Yado, Xiaohui, Chang, Steve, Adrian, E and myself at Din Tai Fung. I'm thankful for this bunch of sunday lunch kakis because it's nice to come together after church service, have a good meal, jake each other, share the wonderful happenings of the week and whine about school and how it's sucking the living daylights out of us. We walked around Raffles City after lunch, bought ice cream, Steve bought doughnuts (J.Co's doughnuts are a pretty decent substitute for krispy kreme doughnuts) before all of them except Chang, Adrian and myself went back to SMU to work on their projects and I came home to nap before meeting E again in the evening for dinner.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 06:25 p.m.
Saturday was my Dad's cousin's wedding so we spent almost the whole day witnessing and celebrating their union. It's funny because most of my dad's cousins are actually around my age so they treat him more like an uncle and treat me more like their cousins. This cousin of his (Clara) is only 4 years older than I am and my parents are really close to her parents because my parents stayed with them when they first got married because my dad had no money to get an apartment. Haha. Clara's mum was the one that thrashed all of us young ones at Scrabble during chinese new year. Haha. I couldn't wake up for the tea ceremony in the morning (7am!) so I just went for their church wedding at noon. I never knew how long they've dated but I know it has been a long long time because he's been appearing at all our chinese new year gatherings and family dinners for the longest time ever but it was only on Saturday when I talked to a few of her friends that I realized they've been dating for 11 years! So if you do a little calculation, they started dating when she was 15! Well, he proposed at their church's fairy-tale night and he asked her then to be his princess. Haha. Terribly sweet and so their wedding theme was about a prince and a princess and a happily ever after fairy tale wedding.
It wasn't a big church but there were still about 300 over friends and relatives. She had some small boy ride a motorcycle down the aisle (my dad says he's going to get a horse carriage to bring me up Barker's slope from the gate to our church's entrance. Haha) and her page boy is so cute! Other than that, it was a really cosy wedding ceremony, their friends had a lot of surprise performances for them and it ended off nicely with a tea reception!
After I send my grandparents home, I met up with E and we went out for Mos Burger. On our way home, we were stuck in this major major traffic jam because this huge true got uprooted along the junction of Balestier Road and Thomson Road (all because of the thunderstorm) and one car got pinned under so all the lanes except one lane on the other side of the road was blocked and no cars could move at all. The bus drivers just got out of the bus and sat outside 7-11 and this policewoman came around informing us about the incident and asked us to be patient. Well I couldn't wait an hour for them to clear the tree because I had to go pick my grandfolks up (my parents had to pick my other aunts up) for the wedding dinner and I needed to shower again so the plan was for me to leave the car with E, drive his car that was parked at my house to pick my grandparents and let my parents drive their own car to pick up aunt up. So on my walk home, I happily stood by the road and took pictures of the uprooted tree. Haha. The tree was really huge and thankfully the police managed to divert traffic through some other one way street and by the time I got out of the shower, E had driven home already.
Their wedding dinner was an equally cosy affair. I like how the couple aren't too picky about the program and it was really informal and carefree. Their cell group, old school mates and some church friends came up to do some performances, they had the traditional yum seng cheer and the food was excellent. Definitely one of the best wedding dinner food I've eaten so far.
After dinner, I drove my grandparents home again before driving over to Mark's house to play Wii with Mark, Matthew and E! Haha. Can I please tell you for the hundredth time that I really love the Wii and I think it's the most friendly gaming station around? The guys were playing soccer when I first went over but their game was over, we started bowling which I won (check out my score!) and it was hilarious watching Matthew and E bowl. Haha. We played the Wii Olympics game after bowling where the four of us competed in the swimming, athletics, table tennis and shooting event. Haha. I suck at the shooting event because my aiming is really so bad but the guys did really well there and were really competitive since they're army trained and the athletics and swimming event was super tiring! Haha. I really like the Wii and I'm really considering buying that with my first pay cheque. Left Mark's house at about 2 am and couldn't wake up the next morning for easter sunrise service.
Friday, March 21, 2008 05:46 p.m.
"Before the empty tomb, there must be an occupied cross." Good Friday service this morning and personally, the past week of sermons by Pastor has been especially renewing and refreshing for me. It's not like he's come up with some ground breaking theory or anything like that, but I like how his messages have served as a very good reminder for me, especially at this point in my life. It has caused me to reexamine my faith and made me more determined to live my life out in a manner that pleases God and also to live a life that counts. Today's good friday sermon was on the principle, power and prophecy of the fallen seed in John and that was equally refreshing as well. After service, Steve, Adrian, E and myself had lunch at Sixth Avenue. E left immediately after he was done because he had to go back to school for project meeting so the 3 of us moved over to Venezia for gelatos and chit chat and for a short while, we were entertained and taught by this Sec 1 boy from Hwa Chong Institution. Haha. He came around asking us to complete this history survey for him and ended up telling us who Singapore's first resident was, what the 5 stars of our flag symbolizes and who our first president is and all. Haha. It feels like a Sunday today and I want to laze around and surf some travel websites but I got to get started on my revision for the consolidation test. AH.Thursday, March 20, 2008 08:44 p.m.
I spent yesterday, negotiating my pay package and it has got to be one of the more challenging tasks in getting a job. It came as a huge surprise when I got the call and I never thought (and was never told) that as a fresh graduate, you could have pay expectations. Weren't fresh grads supposed to take whatever the company offers to them? Because I wasn't prepared for it (for them to come back so quickly with a magic number and also because I never expected any negotiations), I was scrambling around the whole day, asking for advise on how to approach it and what the industry average is and all. A few hours later, they decided to match my number and you would think I should be satisfied and happy. I was, for a while. Until greed got to me and I realized I should have simply gave a higher number since they were willing to match any reasonable number I had. A few minutes of harboring that greedy thought of asking them for more (I am utterly disgusting I know), I snapped back and realized I was just being greedy and I should be contented and satisfied and give thanks to God for this blessing. It was then I recognized that there's this thin fine line between being greedy and being contented. I knew I was greedy in that situation, but sadly, most of the time, it is easy to justify and rationalize your greediness. So really, when do you know if you're simply being greedy or if you're just wanting that extra something because it's really going to do you (and some other people) some good?Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:30 p.m.
I've been attending the past 3 nights of holy week renewal services and Pastor Malcolm has been preaching from the book of Ruth. It's one book I've read through a couple of times (simply because it's only 4 short chapters) but I don't think I've ever looked at it like the way Pastor Malcolm has looked at it. Pastor made it a point to refer us back to Leviticus and Deuteronomy so that we can better understand why certain things in Ruth were written in that way (like the concept of kinsman redeemer) and through his sermons, he showed us the character of Ruth and Boaz, made it a point to draw out application points (like the doctrine of providence and the need for the favor of God) and since it was holy week, he showed us where the cross was in the book of Ruth. Surprisingly, there was a lot of instances of the cross in Ruth and I'm really glad I went for his 3 lectures (despite the huge pile of work) because I really benefited from learning the Word and I think it really has renewed me.Monday, March 17, 2008 07:37 p.m.
I know you can't really see the picture below clearly but it's this ad in the university's newspaper asking its graduating cohort to donate some money to the class gift. So E fills it up for me and look what he wrote! Haha
When asked to fill up the amount he wants to donate to the class gift, he writes "$1 million and 1 cockroach" Now, when you donate more than $75, you get to write a special note to your friends, so he writes "Thank you friends for not doing your project" And finally, when asked to designate his contribution to a particular fund, he designates it to the business school and writes "to fine people for not doing project." Hahaha. It probably has got to be the most primary school thing he's ever done but at least I know he is generous and is trying his best to seek justice for me. Haha.
Saturday, March 15, 2008 10:11 p.m.
Met up with the SCGS girls last night for sushi and ice cream. The last time we met was before I left for Copenhagen and I was really glad to be able to meet up with them again. Besides, it was a nice end to 2 crazy weeks in school. It's amazing we've stayed friends for so long despite leaving SCGS 5 years ago and I really like it that we're so comfortable with each other that we can simply pick up from where we last left off and talk about anything and everything, reminisce the past and share about the happenings in our lives and our future plans. Girls, let's meet up again after the exams are over and before we all start work and fly off to the different countries! :)
This afternoon, after brunch with Steve at Novena Square, E and myself went to the apartment launch right across my street. It's not that we have any intention to get an apartment right now but anyway, the apartment was really really small! It's about one third the size of my house and it's going for a whopping $1 million. No kidding. It's really a couple's apartment but it's so small, I don't think I can have a walk in wardrobe. The only parts I like about the apartment was the sunken bath and this small enclave in the master bed room which would make for a very good reading corner. Other than that, there's a gym on the 14th floor and the glass pool is on the roof top. If there was anything we got out of that apartment launch, it was that we both need to work very very hard for the first few years (and save a lot of money) if we eventually want to settle down and have our own apartment.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:36 p.m.
I am finally done with all my presentations for this week. Consolidation presentation yesterday went pretty well and today's individual essay presentation for econs went quite well too. I've got to say that this chinese economy module I am taking right now has got to be the most mind blowing and engaging econs class I've taken. We study almost everything about China. From its financial and banking reforms, to the development of township and village enterprises, to its agricultural and land reforms and the liberalization of international trade. We even examine why corruption is rampant and whether its growth is sustainable. It's really almost everything you'll need to know about how China grew from an isolated country to its super power, factory of the world, status today. To add to that, we've got a really good chinese professor who speaks with an american accent. He used to work in the farm during his school holidays and earned work points and then went on to a career with the World Bank before coming to teach at NTU. It has really sparked my interest in China's affairs and now when I read the papers, I can better understand the rationale and reason behind China's actions because I know what happened in the past and how they went about opening their economy. It's really the most interesting class I've taken (I don't even mind sleeping late to work on my term paper) and now I'm really keen to backpack across China to see the country first hand and end my whole educational/social trip by climbing up one of China's mountains in the Tibetan region. My boyfriend obviously thinks econs has possessed me, because suddenly, I'm not interested in going to China to get my clothes tailored and I'm willing to forgo a holiday with him in a developed country with clean toilets to trek through China and he is betting that I won't even survive 5 days outside of Shanghai. Ha.Monday, March 10, 2008 08:46 p.m.
It is so difficult juggling so many projects and datelines all at one time. I think I'm on the verge of collapsing.Sunday, March 9, 2008 04:37 p.m.
During church service today, we were reading this passage about Solomon and all the gold he had and used to build the temple. I think the gold was almost equivalent to 5 billion dollars today and E suddenly asked "is that how Solomon brothers started?" Hahaha. I almost burst out laughing during the sermon. After service, Steve, Jialin, Zhen Yang, E and myself went over to Holland Village's Crystasl Jade for Jialin's farewell lunch because it was her last sunday in Singapore. On our way home, E suddenly asked me "Dear, if I call you deer, would you call me panther or leopard?" Haha. Sometimes I really don't know whether to laugh or cry.Saturday, March 08, 2008 07:33 p.m.
Went back to school today for the NTU open house where I spent the entire afternoon selling the business school, telling prospective undergraduates the modules we take, the career prospects for accountancy and business students, brief them on how to prep for the interview and life in general in university. My voice is so hoarse and I think it gets harder and harder each year to get into university. Almost every 18 year old I talked to had 3As and an impressive CV to boot. On top of that, instead of relaxing post A levels, they took it upon themselves to find part time jobs in the big 4 accounting firms to get a better understanding of what accountants do, they climb mountains and help build homes for the less fortunate and they take part in all sorts of competitions. Amazing. I'm so glad I'm not entering university with them.Friday, March 7, 2008 11:18 p.m.
My business valuation team went over to Hanlong's hall this afternoon to work on our UPS case study. He lives in Hall 16 and it's the newest hall on campus and wow, it's really quite beautiful. It doesn't feel like a hall especially with the huge ceiling to floor glass windows, air con, card access, shoe cabinet and all! There's even a sky bridge (on the 4th floor) that links the different blocks in the hall together and they've got this small individual balcony outside your window for you to hang your clothes to dry. This way, no one can just walk pass your corridor to steal your clothes (apparently it happens quite often at the older halls) and you don't look up at the block and see unsightly clothes hanging to dry. I suddenly miss hall life (the joy of being woken up at 1am because your neighbor wants to borrow a stapler) though I don't think I'll ever go back to living in NTU halls, especially after I've lived in the residences in Copenhagen.
Thursday, March 6, 2008 10:24 p.m.
I've been having quizzes for the past two days. Yesterday was the business valuation quiz and oh my goodness, it was pretty hard! After a while, I looked at all the numbers they provided and I have no idea what numbers to punch in to get my answer. I don't know, but I don't seem to be able to get a grasp of this module. It reminds me so much of the horror I went through for statistics and I actually do think I might end up getting the same dreaded grade that I got for statistics. Today's foreign exchange and derivatives quiz wasn't that easy either but it has definitely got to be better than the business valuation quiz. I was quite short of time so I was rushing through the last part on options and futures so I seriously hope I don't make any careless mistake or else I can shoot myself. E came up today after he was done with his classes and we went to the science library to find for some golfonomics book for his science elective class. I don't think I've ever borrowed a book from NTU's library if not for E. The air in the library seems so still and it feels so claustrophobic. I don't know, but I do miss the library at the Copenhagen Business School. It's a really modern library with all the natural light and wood (look at the second row pictures) and now when I think about it, I really miss sitting down at one of the huge tables in the basement, with a hot coffee from the canteen, typing away on my econs assignment or just simply surfing websites to get the cheapest travel deals. The CBS library has leather couches for you to sit on and read the papers and they even provide plastic bags just next to the self check out counters! I've always wanted to sit at those individual tables lining the square in the library but E never wanted to sit there with me because he knows I'll end up people watching. Haha. The CBS library was really conducive (just look at the photos and you can already tell which library is cosier) and I wish we had something like that in NTU so we don't have to sit at the benches or in the noisy canteen just to do some quiet studying.
vs
Monday, March 3, 2008 09:47 p.m.
E and myself attended his good friend's baby shower yesterday evening and in the last 3 months since I've been back, I've had 5 close friends announce their engagement. I kid you not, 5 close friends! While we were shopping at Toys R Us yesterday afternoon, we both realized that this is definitely the first of many many baby showers we're going to attend in the next few years. I don't think I am wrong to say that this decade will bring about a lot of changes, not just personally or professionally, but also socially. I mean, the only big changes I experienced in the last decade was moving from secondary school to junior college, driving a real car and getting used to wearing outside clothes to school when I started University. And as much as I rejoice at my friends engagements and ooh and aah at cute babies, I am, really still afraid and dare I say, mildly excited, of what changes this decade will bring.Saturday, March 1, 2008 11:04 p.m.
The boyfriend and his dog :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008 06:10 p.m.
I spent my entire mid semester break, working on the consolidation project and presentation, the UPS case study and I can barely believe the mid term break is over and I'm going back to school in less than a day. March is madness month for me. I've got quizzes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the following week, I've got the UPS case study due on Monday, consolidation project presentation on Tuesday and econs essay presentation on Wednesday. And after I'm done with those, I still got to write an econs term paper, study for the second auditing and consolidation quiz, work on another case study and the last consolidation project. It's crazy, and just writing it all out makes me confused and tired. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------