Chu 5.

CNY has been keeping me really busy.

I feel the CNY tradition of cosy affair has become a gambling event for everyone.

Hahaha.

I've been playing mahjong everyday starting from the eve.

Today is the only day I probably won't touch any tiles.

Family visitings are almost done.

Friends' visitings will be on tmr.

Then, CNY will be over.

School work is piling up.

I attended all lectures, but, I don't understand anything.

Econs has become so mathematical.

So.

I'm really struggling to get pass this sem asap.

Hai.

Internships are on the way, I hope.

Right now, I'm leaving for sch!

Bye.

The prelude of CNY.

After much anticipation, it's the eve of CNY today!

This eve has been my most busy by far.

Being a young, yet skillful (haha) driver in the family of both sides (paternal & maternal); I'd help run errands whole day long.

My day started at 8am and I only have time to rest now (3pm). An hour nap in between just now.

This is really tiring, but, with the least complaints.

Although, MY BROTHER HAS THE LICENSE TOO, how come am I the only one driving in and out of my carpark to send food, bring food, buy food, etc from my relatives?!

Hahahaha. My only complaint ok. not a lot right. :)

And, it's also the only occasion I see my dad helping with household chores. Hahaha.

When I was younger, CNY was much looked forward to becos it's the only time children get too gamble too. 

But, as I grow older, gambling has become as so convenient that I don't see anything special anymore. 

But but, CNY has a newer meaning now. This year especially, I looked forward to CNY just like younger days.

It's the best time for family bonding with ALL the relatives. Those that you probably see only once to twice a year. 

When I was a kid, I see my maternal-side's relatives every single day becos we will all have dinner at my grandma's place. 

Now, I join them for dinner probably thrice a week? The sad part of life when busy schedule is always in the way.

So at least, every CNY, I would spend a full 3 days with them. Reunion, Chu yi, Chu er. =)

The imperfection of this CNY is that, we'll all have to start sch on chu san. 

Unlike previous years, I'd go visitings with my friends on chu san. This year, we gonna have it on chu 6.

Going on visitings with friends is like the most major event that most of us actually took the effort to make it and with most of us getting our licenses, we abandon public and take the cars!

I hope our "tradition" to do visitings will go on for years, becos it's really saddening to see fewer people can make it.

Oh, not forgetting the our yearly movie date on chu yi's evening.

Friends wrote new meaning to CNY. 

Younger children do not go out with friends during CNY, but, young adults do!

Dear friends, it's time for the annual gathering again!

=D

Oh ya, Jack neo's movie was horrible. Please don't watch it. WARNED!

It was so bad, don't watch it even if it's free. 

Just DON'T!

Pei, ivy, jaryl and I watched it ytd, we almost killed ourselves the director.

Then, it was World Tour at Jaryl's place. 

I don't suck that badly at games actually. Still got hope one.

hahaha.

It's the Ox year. 

Regardless how crappy our economy will be, embrace ourselves.

Government say we'll sail through it; we will.

Although it's the worst recession since independence, we've all it takes to survive this crisis.

Before we know it, we're gonna be stepping into 2010 happily.

My blog and I sincerely wish everyone,

恭喜发财， 万事如意！

=DD

ps: I wish the chinese tradition will last for centuries becos I want my children in future to enjoy CNY as much as I do.

Have you thought about it?

On the train back just now, a man was flipping the recruitment section of straits times. The middle-aged man had his handphone on his hand, while looking, he tried calling those agencies for a job interview. From what I heard, he's into artiste management, has only 'O' level qualification - with experience though, asking for at least $4k monthly. I couldn't help to continue listening to his conversation with whoever he was speaking to. (Oh, I'd my earphones on. So, it wasn't obvious that I was eavesdropping.) As he spoke, he tried to explain how he deserves a 4k salary with an 'O' level qualification. He said, 4k is rather fair. Really? 

This time, I really feel recession has hit us - young adults. Although news have been annoucing about technical recession and negative growth in 2009, I didn't feel the impact personally until what I saw on the train. Middle-aged man looking for a job - I could sense the urgency from his voice and how quick he was to call up every employer on the MRT. This is serious business. People everywhere are getting retrenched. Newly graduates can't even secure a permenant job in the finance sector. I was talking to a friend who has just graduated from NUS Business School, majoring in finance. She has only able to secure a temporary job at Citibank which has every tight headcounts currently. No one probably expected a graduate with a business degree to end up as a temp staff only. This is how bad the job market is. And because I'm living off my parents, I thought nothing of this recession. 

But now, I start to worry. When it's my turn to secure a decent paid job, where do I stand? Even a finance graduate finds it hard to get a job, what should an economics graduate be expecting? My plan to pursue CFA upon graduation doesn't seem logical now. CFA is only useful if I'm doing compliance or investment banking. But as you know, investment banking is the dying sector right now. Almost no one is employing in that sector. So, I'm gonna shelf my plan on CFA. In other words, I need to start looking for a job next year!! Trust me, by next year, the economy barely recovers. And the amount of people out there looking for a job, especially those with better grades, gets the meat first. This is my concern. After so many years of education, in NUS particularly, I can't get a job of my choice. Am I ready to face the major setback and rejection in life for the first time? Immediately after I graduate, how great.

Hai.

Woah, this is a heavy post on a Thursday night. I wanted to write more, but, I'm getting depressed as I write. It's really easy to turn an optimist pessimistic, the other way round is gonna be a lot harder.

finally something from all the nothing

NUS successfully gave me my tutorial slots!

Spare me from writing in to CORS to appeal again.

PHEW.

I've a sucky 5-day week.

But, I think I like it this way.

Only few hours of school a day.

The shit is, travel time makes up half of it.

Bear and deal with it.

One sem is gonna be over damn bloody soon!

Oh.

I didnt know econs textbooks are so hot-selling.

I've sold all my ec tbs. 

And all other tbs from those weird modules I've taken, eg: Literature!

Hell....

Okay.

I'm gonna be in school for one lecture tmr.

and.

Get ready the mood for CNY!

hahaha.

The week before CNY.

There was a picnic on Saturday. The Laus, their partners and their dogs.

I think I built some bonds with Rusky through that outing.

No longer so scared of him. 

And.

Odie is such a lazy dog! He doesnt like to move much except for sniffing the ground, grass and eating stones that caused him to vomit and diarrhoea. He slept the night away after we got home. 

Rusky must have been dead tired too. He ran a lot! The exact opposite of Odie.

Woah. Im actually going on and on about dogs in my blog.

hahaha.

We played mahjong after the picnic! 

Freak. I won a lot! 

So sorry to Darren and Wilson man.

Some day play again ok!! hahaha!

Oh yah.

NUS finally gave me my last module.

As such, I've a 5-day week!!

5 econs modules some more.

#$%^&* RIGHT!

One lecture a day. 

I'm not gonna say anything.

I've resigned to the stupid bidding system. No matter how much I whine or complain, it won't change things. I'll swear not to miss bidding timing EVER AGAIN.

Hai, NUS ah NUS.

--

Happy 21st, Ben!

I remember calling you small boy when I first saw you in class 4 years ago? 

Thinking back, how did I relate you to the term 'small'? I must be mad. hahaha.

Anyways, like I've written in your guest book and smses, enjoy your days before your enlistment and I'll see you soon for whatever reasons!

Have a blasted Birthday!! :):):)

AHHHHHHHHH.

This is so frustrating!

I couldn't get my last module, MNO1001.

Wrote in to appeal and their reply was, 'as the bidding is still on-going, continue to try bid for the module.'

Hey hello NUS!! 

Obviously I didn't have enough points to bid right!

Get a life la.

I don't know how come I'm points broke.

98 points left in programme account (the account used to bid core modules)

All my friends have like 1000plus points in there!!

I suspected those new media modules are the reason why.

damn it damn it damn it.

It looks like I'm gonna have a 5 days week this sem if I don't get MNO through appeal again tmr.

eff.

And. 

I'm taking 4 econs modules this sem.

SUICIDAL!

4 core is _____.

CORS bidding is making me very grumpy.

I don't like myself like that.

The stupid system is really getting on my nerves.

!!!!!!!!!

The Dean didn't call me.

I'm starting sch tmr at 4pm.

It's good to start sch in the later part of the day becos then I don't have to sleep early tonight.

I need to remind myself to check out the venue of my first lect.

Not prepared at all.

Why can't sch start after cny?

=|||

Oh. 

I screwed up bidding, again.

Supposed to bid for MNO yesterday, but, I happily went out with Sab and Elmo the entire day.

Came home and saw the email saying that I was outbidded.

Bidded 500 points for the module and the winning bid was 543.

I could have easily gotten that module cos I've 1200 points in my general account.

ughs.

Babies are wonderful things.

Chubby babies are the cutest!!

I'm waiting for my baby cousins to arrive.

=)))

I wanna keep myself busy throughout this sem. 

My days to graduation are drawing near.

3 more sems?

hahaha.

Issues.

Haha.

I think I love my friends and their company a lot if they've less issues with each other.

The guy's life is in a mess.

The girl's life is in a mess too becos the guy's messed up.

My god.

This is so funny.

When friend is going for another friend.

World peace, friends!

Ivy came back from BKK telling me she saw things that I wanna buy, BUT, she DIDN'T get them for me!

Thanks man thanks.

hahahaha..

So many 21st's are nearing.

Oh.

I just bought this small and cute bag from Project shop.

Sab bought a laptop case to put random stuffs.

hahaha.

Sch is starting. 

Noooooooooooo........

I'm apprehensive about sem 2 year 2. 

=||||| 

Panadol Flu Max.

For the first time, I resorted to panadols.

Never liked the idea of taking panadols for illness of any kind, but, I was feeling really crappy the entire day.

Sneezed and coughed half a day away.

Feeling like shit for the other half.

Panadol flu max managed to help relief my blocked nose, but, not the sneezing part!!

My body is protesting to start school.

I really don't want sch to start.

It felt like the holidays just started.

sick.

CNY's 3rd day is on wednesday.

Means SOX cannot go bai nian together like usual.

We'll be doing night visitings on friday, sat and sunday instead.

Please take note.

As for CNY's movie, we'll watch Fann wong & Christopher lee. 

Jack neo can step aside this year.

hahaha.

Oh yes!

Red Cliff 2 is finally out tmr!

=))

Bankrupt.

CORS bidding is forever a piece of shit at the beginning of each sem.

I wasted 1200 points on 2 modules.

Best part is, I've less than 100 points to carry forward to next sem.

I'm points broke.

No core modules to do next sem.

All econs majors are crazy!!

They're willing to spend 600 points on each module on average.

C'mon la! You tell me which year 3 will be points broke?!

I can't be the only one right.

damn it.

If there's one thing I've to hate about NUS, it has to be CORS.

That dumb system is screwing all of us up and the school is not doing anything about it.

I've visited the DFS at scotts road the most this week.

I think I was there 4 times from last friday to today.

Power not.

Finally found a suitable pair of sunglasses from Coach.

It was a good buy cos I managed to save quite a bit with discount plus the salesperson scanned the wrong price tag which was slightly cheaper.

=))

Gonna watch a couple of good movies later this week.

College & Red Cliff 2.

Btw, I strongly recommend 'The Duchess' & 'Ip Man (eep mun)' not 'I P Man'. Goodness.

Anyway, Duchess is only exclusive in gv. Definitely worth the money & time.

You won't get to see Keira Knightley act topless else where.

Besides that, I think the storyline is kinda cool since it's adapted from true story.

Just go watch it and you'll know what I'm talking about. 

As for Ip Man, the best fighting fighting movie I ever watched/liked.

It's damn awesome I tell you.

The moves, the moral, the movie.

So, please hurry and go watch those movies. Don't be a loser! haha.

This new year has taken a toll on my health and it's only the beginning.

I'm coughing so badly becos of a prata I'd last weekend.

Okay, I'm gonna stop writing cos if I continue on, I won't want to re-read my own boring cum super singlish entry.

Nights!

The Wii Machine

I'm having muscles ache on both arms all thanks to Wii.

Spent the whole evening yesterday playing Wii with Sab and her cousins.

Actually, I don't suck that badly at games that don't require me to aim and shoot.

Games like bowling, tennis and dancing are still quite manageable for me.

hahaha.

=D

Not too sure if I enjoy my muscles ache yet.

But..I haven't had this feeling for a really really long time. Since I stopped squash?

And...

Agnes videoed down Sab & I playing the dancing game.

It. Was. Hilarious.

2 idiots dancing to nothing with the Wii controllers in hands.

hahaha.

I just cleaned, packed and organised half my cupboard.

It took me 4 hours.

WOW.

I'll continue with another half tmr.

ahh.

2 drawers cabinet, 1 shelf, 1 table (with lotsa rubbish).

So, I'll need about another 3 days?

Need to clean the walls, windows, bed frame, bla bla bla.

AH.

1 week just to clean my room!

Oh.

I've officially put my squash and badminton racquets away.

High up on my cupboard. Sealed and kept.

I'm quitting sports.

Not a happy thought, but, the best choice.

Hmmm.

It's the New Year.

Welcome 2009!! 

Good Bye 2008!!

2008 has been great.

But, 2009 will be better.

I was thinking about new year resolutions awhile ago.

Didn't really have the habit of coming up with resolutions for a new year becos probably, I'll leave them unresolved by end of the year and that is disappointment, so I hardly wrote any for the past 20 years.

This year gonna be different and I know it.

First and foremost, I'll be turning 21 along with many peers months down.

Twenty-One is a number I never really like. 

Adulthood is something I'd rather stay away from if there's even an option to opt out.

Guess not.

So, move on.

I'll be an adult this year.

period.

In other words, I've to be more responsible in whatever things I'm involved in and think wiser and further.

But, it's not like I've been irresponsible for the past years. 

I just feel that alot of decisions I've made in the past years can be done better and I'll have to make things better from here on.

I guess things are not exactly smooth and well-going for me in the year 2008 although I managed to survive an accident, which is probably the most fortunate blessing in the year.

My academics are not worth mentioning, such that, I'm gonna leave that out of my 2009's focus plan.

I know I'll get my degree and that's all about it.

I stepped into 2009 with an annoying backache which was suspected to be slipped disc.

My health now matters the most to me. 

And so, health is my priority this year.

I really want to get my back heal.

I'm only beginning to taste life and a backache to hinder my movements is totally unwelcome.

As for my knees, I guess they'll heal as my back heals.

Family is all great.

2 lovely babies will be joining my family in this year and I know everything will be good.

I'm so looking forward to them!!

=)

Oh, I want my family to be less worried for my health. I do know how to take care of myself. Worry less. It makes me feel better.

For all the things my parents have provided and done for me in 2008, I appreciate them. 

I love my whole entire big family!!! 

=)

Friends are great too! haha.

For those who played a part in my life in 2008, thank you.

I can only feel glad & fortunate with those friendships blossoming from year to year and each year, our friendships only get stronger and sweeter.

I really can't deal with a year without you guys!

I refuse to list names here becos I don't want them to feel too special right at this moment but, c'mon..you know who you are right?! HAHAHA. Go ahead and feel special! lol.

=D

Hmm..

Guess that's all I can say of 2008.

All in all, let's hope 2009 will be fulfilling despite the economic downturn.

Happy New Year to all!!

=D