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Today's my first year anniversary with G.E.T. I was reminded by wc and sc. So happy. We shall celebrate tomorrow at the chalet=P
This morning I met up with some secondary school friends and we visited Ms Khaw's house - my form teacher in sec 4 and 5 who taught us A- and E-Maths. She has managed to stay the same - not much older than I could imagine. Only that her son has grown taller but he was too shy and feared a large group of strangers. She prepared spaghetti for us and ordered pizzas from Pizza Hut.
We had a great time catching up with each other's affairs and came to know that sinki's pub will be opening next week!
If only I got the money, I will set up a school:) A school where the children will be indoctrinated with Karl Marx' teachings. Boys will learn the arts of war and girls will learn how to be a good wife. But since I encourage a holistic and well-rounded education, each will read the other gender's subjects as electives. They will also learn how to detach emotionally from whatever things that have occurred to them in the course of their study. And I can continue to dream on for now since firstly, I will never have that money; and secondly, even if I have that money, such a school will never be allowed locally.
Tomorrow will be my last day stepping on SP's ground, since I am not certain if I can attend the graduation ceremony that will take place in July. It is highly likely that I will be having BMT at that time. Will I be able to get a Diploma with Merit or Distinction? Yesterday boss graded me an 'A.' I was delighted. Now whether I will get an 'A' for ITP will depend on wang pheck hoon's willingness to grant me that grade.
Last day 25 Feb 06 - tim, I, wx, sr and kennedy
Pantry lady
My room=p
In the living room - photo with serene
Earlier incident of Joyce sleeping at work because there is nothing to do
WX - taken in Dec 06Today is my last day at T Konnections LLP. I have mixed feelings. Sad to leave because of the people there. Bosses have been good to us - we had no scoldings so far. And out of the 2 other colleagues, serene had been nice to us as well. As for Joyce, we were not so close and everytime when she wanted to delegate task to us I'd say what I got to do at that moment so I can't help, but it all depends on my mood. But I'm happy because I do not have to adhere to a daily work routine, and no more itinerary planning and quotation.
Timothy bought us many food today as a farewell but I was too full to want to eat. But in the end I ate a super large and long pork sausage wrapped with french loaf with mustard toppings. It was tasty but wx seems to not like it because it was sourish. Mustards are sourish.
We left the office at 1pm plus.
This is my last marketing front I've designed for my company.
I'm left with 1 more day before ITP concludes. The more I count the number of remaining days, the more time seems to crawl like a turtle.
After tomorrow and before I am being sent to Tekong for uncivilian life, it will be so much fun. Eat, sleep, read and watch tv (even though I can't tolerate watching for as long as 30mins per day), swim, suntan, travel.
Monday to Wednesday will be a time to chill out at the chalet with some poly friends. Wc and my both said they wanna drink like a fish. I was thinking in my mind does "a fish drink?"
But I'm considering whether to resume working at T Konnections LLP in April because my boss requested me to do so yesterday. But how much is he willing to pay? That's why I said "I have to consider this."
In the office now, nothing to do. I was reminded of the days where I would read a story book (especially the Rape of Nanking - in October - and Purpose Driven Life - in December), revise for my tests, work on my projects or even doze off in the office. That's all in the past 4 months plus.
Tomorrow I'm accompanying wx to go for SIA interview. Hope she can get in. As well as shar and xy. Work hard girls and wash toilet in the air...
Is God that powerful after all? I came across a reading which says The Problem of Evil can't be solved because God did not want to put a stop to evil.
According to John Hick, evils can be categorised into either "Natural" or "Moral" Evil.
Natural evil: The apparent malfunctioning of the human world, e.g. diseases and natural disasters.
Moral evil: The result of human immorality, e.g. genocide.
The monotheistic (people who believe in monotheism believe there is only one God) of Christianity, Judaism and Islam assumes the divine qualities of omnipotence, omniscience and omni benevolence. However, the existence of evil and suffering provides a challenge to the loving God of classical theism.
Augustine, in his book 'Confessions,' recognised this problem:
"Either God is not able to abolish evil or not willing; if he is not able then he is not all-powerful, if he is not willing then he is not all-good."
The Problem of Evil can be viewed as an inconsistent triad:
The three are logically inconsistent. If God is omnipotent, he is aware of the existing evil and suffering and knows how to put a stop to it. If God is omni benevolent he will want to put a stop to it. Yet evil and suffering does exist.
David Hume argued that only three possibilities exist:
1. God is not omnipotent
2. God is not omni benevolent
3. Evil does not exist
Since we have sufficient direct experience to support the existence of evil, if God exists he is either an impotent God or a malicious God; not the God of classical theism. Hume concluded that God therefore does not exist.
However, Augustine reasoned that all humans are worthy of the punishment of evil and suffering because "we are seminally present in the loins of Adam" deserving of the punishment from original sin. This is biologically inaccurate based on my opinion because a question can be raised: Is God really justified in allowing punishment of one human being for the sin of another human being?Augustine's theodicy argues that God created the world and it was perfect, without the existence of evil or suffering. But if the world was perfect and there was no knowledge of good and evil, how could Adam and Eve have the freedom to disobey God if goodness and evil were as yet unknown? The disobedience of Adam and Eve and the angels in the Garden of Eden implies that there already was knowledge of good and evil. As such, Augustine's theodicy is therefore questionable.
But since I am so free as to 'blog' the above entries during office hours, does it suggest that the world is perfect because I can do whatever I want? However, there is no perfection because if perfection really exists, I would not be in the office in the first place.
Tired now. Why am I tired everyday? 'Lazy' body. Finally I swam for 30 odd minutes this morning and in the afternoon I went Chan Brothers' at Chinatown to make tour bookings to China.
Soon my savings account will be depleted. Going on 3 trips next month explain why.
7-9 March, Bangkok, Thailand (from my savings).
Going with nb, my, sc and meet up with wc, hy, wl etc as well as lecturer wenda.
14-17 March, Siem Reap, Cambodia (from my February salary + 2nd sis' 100 bucks sponsor).
Going with wc, my, nb and deb.
18-27 March, Chengdu, Sichuan Province (partly from my savings and partly paid by mother).
Going with mother and 2nd sis.
I've been contemplating over the past few days whether I should really go Siem Reap. If I don't go Siem Reap, I might not find someone who's interested to go next time. With the proliferation of budget carriers offering stunningly low prices, I can't really let this opportunity to slip by. So return airfares on Jetstar Asia to Siem Reap costs how much? Unbelievable 153 bucks, including taxes (except USD25 Siem Reap Airport tax).
What I want is to visit a little of many countries. But if it is the U.S. I will go on extended holidays. However, that will only be possible when I start working next time.
Tomorrow I'm going night safari with my poly frens (I do not know exactly who's going). The last time I went there was during my boy's brigade camp during primary 4. But I think the animals are more or less the same. Elephant, leopard, sunbear etc. Hey but is elephant nocturnal?
"THe fUTURE bACHELOR" is my logo lol. If only I'm loaded, I'll establish a retail shop selling up-market men's apparel targeting at the singles in the late 20s to early 40s, perhaps with men's make-up:) But it's not meant to target at the homosexuals! It's those vain bachelors out there lol. It's so surprising that SP is offering a make-up class for the males, for the first time ever.
Today was like a normal weekday. wx and I had to work till almost five in the evening at the airport checking the group of Indonesian students in. Boss dropped us off at Bedok train station, and I left home thereafter.
Gonna meet am, hj, ks, nj and fr at east coast park for night blading. Hope I don't fall, just like last time. But so far only once. So sorry fb that I can't go watch movie with you guys. Not that I am not giving 'face.' :) It was too last minute.
Oh my it's 7.20pm already!
My physical condition now - lethargic! Yesterday and today, wx and I had to lead a group of Indonesian students, all-in-all 66 students, splitted into 2 coaches. And where's our boss? MIA and he left for us to manage the group by ourselves.
When we visited Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), a female marketer was astounded that we were only attachment students and given such a major tasks. She remarked that during her attachment while studying in NTU, most of her time spent was on 'shredding' paper. I was laughing out loud at that point of time. She looks funny.
We also visited a branding company called 'Brandz' and Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts. The talk at the branding company was very relevant to my field of studies - business. It taught me the importance of branding, that brands relay emotional messages to our customers that must be consistent with our market positioning. For a brand to stand out and provide a competitive edge, it must be 'different' from other brands. But of course if your brand promises 'quality,' then your products must be able to deliver the required 'quality' to your customers should you not want them to lose faith in your company.
What about NAFA? And also Lasalle? Seriously speaking, I am not into Arts. So I kept my ears shut tightly. Most to most I listened only to the entry requirements. Without doubt, both NAFA and Lasalle presented in such a way that they were conducting a recruitment exercise, promoting their institutions in-depth. We were then brought on a walking tour, but in Lasalle, wx and I just took a seat in the canteen because I was too lazy to walk!
We brought the group back to Hotel Royal and reached at 4.50pm. Thereafter, we went home without returning to the office. So we earned an hour. But tomorrow we're gonna lose many hours sending the group to the airport and checking-in for them at the airport. It is certainly going to be a rowdy sight at the airport. And a 'saturday blue' for me. But fortunately boss advised wx and I to report at the office at 11am instead of 9.30am, before meeting the group at the hotel at 2pm.
8 days to end of attachment, including tomorrow and sunday.
Today wasn't a good day, most likely due to my lost of sleep. My head was full of facts I memorised from the lecture notes. My brain just can't stop working! Laid on the bed from 1am to 7.05am, eyes wide opened.
UCCD test wasn't a satisfying one for me. I've tried to recall the facts but it seemed as if I suffered from mental block, and most of what I have written were based on my understanding, instead of the flowery prose I have memorised for the past 2 weeks.
At least BPT wasn't so bad after all, and it was a breeze for me. But of course I wouldn't know the outcome. Life is ironical at times. I may think I will fair badly in UCCD, but the outcome might be surprisingly good. While BPT may turn out to be a disaster instead. And yeah! My mobile rang in the course of my test, playing loudly "Truly Madly Deeply." I was cursing the one who called me, and thought I would be fined 50 bucks without doubt. But I was fortunate that susan chiam looked towards my direction and smiled at me instead.
God will decide my fate, whether I can make it to the university or not. Somehow I feel a bad omen is impending in my workplace - that my boss is going to give wx and I a "C" for our ITP report, or mark us down for our "slack" attitude towards work. I can't hope for more also since I'm the "act busy" type. Perhaps I should really consider working hard for the glory of God, just like how I studied hard for God's glory.
Today's my last day attending a full-day school. Mixed feelings - sad because I really enjoyed the "class" atmosphere, giggling with my nonsensical friends like sh, sc, shaf, my and naz. Oops, and what about my "necking" and "jawing" that I've terrorised on sc and hz? They'll all be gone, but will reside in my memory for as long as I am still a "thinking" thing. I won't also be able to hear the word "Rapist" from patricia moreira who taught me Business Law as well. Still can't forget how she'll always tease me till my face was as red as a baboon's butt!
Happy? Partly, because there won't be any more brain-draining exams and sucky project work, at least for the time being. And it's vacation planning time!
Even more sad - I'm serving the nation soon, deeply sceptical of my survival. Under the command of an authority figure seems like a nightmare to a "demanding" and autocratic me. The thought of my gal friends who will step into the society all the more put me under pressure. They will be a step ahead of me. Will they be promoted to managerial position once I complete my national service, and turn out to be working under manager sh, sc, shaf, naz, and any other schoolmates of mine that I can think of? What if I am given the opportunity to further my education, such that I'll graduate at age 27? I will be so old by then! Good and bad consequences. These are just the front list of my 1001 thoughts.
As usual, lovey mum always said to me "mai xiung kah zhuay lah" - which means "do not think too much" in hokkien.
Treasure NOW! Oh men behold! I'm looking forward to night safari next monday, sentosa sun-tanning on next tueday, chan brothers' fair on 26 feb, G.E.T. member outing on 27 feb, chalet from 27 - 29 feb, canoe trip with wx. And thanks wx for the downtown east chalet at merely 40 bucks!
Today's valentine's day, so far not a single one. Perhaps really a future bachelor? Last year I got 2 on mount faber some more with sh and my who practised anti-valentine or what we call it "AV," but it was a complete mistake since the onlookers might be misunderstood! So shan't go anywhere and stayed home instead. Once I fall asleep, it'll soon be another day:)
Yesterday was a 'slack' day at the office. Bosses had gone to malacca and there were only sr, wx and I in the office. Sr had wanted to drive the passenger van from the front of the office to a carpark behind the building, but she couldn't reach the pedals and was stucked, somehow the rear area of the van intruded into the pedestrian path, with weird view from a passer-by.
So wx asked me to help her out and I drove, for the first time, a van, to the carpark. On the way up a steep slope my engine stalled. Blame it on my rusty driving skills of a manual car. Two posh cars, one of which was a BM, waited patiently for my attempts to get the van going. The Bangalas working along the roadside paused unhesitatingly to take a glimpse of what was happening. It was so embarrassing. Fortunately the two cars behind me did not horn at me.
After work at one in the afternoon, it was a rush back home, where I took a four-hour nap from 3 to 7pm. And I was on my way to war as I committed those brain-draining cultural knowledge to my already jam-packed memory. And guess the time now? 03.02, and I am still awake. Just to use the Internet to decide on my graduation trip. This year, I will make it China. Sounds surprising? It came as a surprise to me as well.
Today marks the last day of a formal school day, at least for my polytechnic education. My memories of year 1 were still vivid - the 'bookworm' me in the first year, to the 'notorious' me.
My first lesson in poly was an econs class, and my last lesson today is understanding cross cultural diversity. And i am glad that my first and last lessons were undertaken by 2 good tutors - Sin Mun Wah and Wenda Leong. Of course in between there were 1 or 2 freaks such as our financial management tutor, who commented on my class and our attitudes, that "still water runs deep." In the case of my liaison officer - the usual unanswered emails and phonecalls regarding my ITP report.
I also recounted my first presentation - fundamentals of marketing (SA Tours), and last presentation today - business planning for tourism (Verve - yacht business). Thinking of it, nb was my first and last group project member. Fortunately I did not end with the other group members of my very first project.
Wenda relayed to us that there are of course many disappointments in life that are to come as we grow, but we must learn from such disappointments, but never to hurt others. And a conscious mind is imperative. She also agreed that life is unfair. Some things you want, you never get. Some things you prayed hard to God you never want, you get. These are the very last moral values she taught us.
Perhaps, with so many projects and exams to handle in poly, even the most saint person is prone to being hot-tempered. Especially when dealing with freerider issues, meeting deadlines and the like. I fell into this category by no means.
This whole week will be hell for most of us. Tests are coming next week and at the end of ITP, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in life. Will it be an easy chapter, or a chapter full of complexities? Will it also be a chapter full of opportunities, or a chapter that is going to lead the author nowhere?
I am sceptical.
stress, streSs and more StreSS!
Next week BPT presentation, NAPFA on thursday and two tests are coming up!
I've been slacking these few days, deciding on which courses should I apply for NUS and NTU. Managed to settle down and read my UCCD notes only at 4.30pm earlier, but I closed the book at 8pm. What's more? I only read topic 3 on cultural dimensions.
And even till now, I'm still panicking over what are the characteristics of ascription-oriented cultures. All the Trompenaar's cultural dimensions, as well as Hofstede's framework, are giving me a headache and adding to my stress. I really enjoy studying them, but to memorise is becoming more and more difficult.
Tomorrow is sunday, soon it will be monday and it's commencement of work again. I haven't even read BPT! How????? And I'm still blogging and checking on Tiger Airways' cheap airfares that are so tempting... no frills, no fear.
I shall read BPT tomorrow.
For almost two weeks, I will put my swimming after work routine to a halt and jolly well crack on my studies. What about NAPFA? Anyway, I'll fail for sure, or at most a bronze. So it doesn't pay to train for it. I'll just show up and advice the instructor to mark me "NIL."
After tests, it will be sun, sand, sea and sentosa. Not forgetting to celebrate our one-year anniversary with G.E.T. Now all these seem so far away from me.
Steak and potato wedges
chicken zurich-style main dish. looks like vomit?For this afternoon, I was trying hard to memorise alfon trompenaar's cultural dimensions. So hard! Real hard to memorise, seems like my brain has been clogged up.
Met sh and my at city hall, 6.30pm. It was suggested by me that we go Tony Romas for dinner. But I never knew we would end up in swiss culture instead - a restaurant that i've seen at suntec for ages and really longed to dine at for quite some time. Well now that i've had an experience, i doubt i would go back for a second time. the price, 16.80 bucks, doesn't support the quality of the main dish which i ordered, chicken zurich-style. the chicken was prepared in an ordinary style, only that the rosti potato was a little more appetising than the former.
we walked to eng wah cinema where we bought tickets for 'i not stupid too,' and later sat outsider coffeebeans for a chat on further education, since we're soon graduating in less than 22 days. it was so great that the gals can continue studying, while guys will be called up for national service. two years are equivalent to 24 months. if i earn 1.5k per month, that means my opportunity cost turns out to be 36k! wat about work experience? another loss for me sigh.
returning to cinema, i saw my ex-colleague billy, who's also weicai's cousin. but we did not approach him. he's busy anyway with the 'hotdogs.' the thought of warming hotdogs and spreading sauces onto them during my eng wah days irks me! jes and i could find ways to skive standing at the hotdog counters, and lying to customers "sorry, no more sauces" simply because we are lazy to pour them, or to refill the bottles.
the show is full of moral values. not all rotten apples should be discarded away. just slice off the rotten portion and it's still edible. so there is no hopeless students after all. they just need someone to give them chances and to be the lights in their lives to guide them. the show also stresses a strong positive correlation between parental guidance and the outcome of the children. and that parents and teachers should focus more on our children's talents and less on their flaws.
i reached home at 12 midnight. now i'm tired. when i sleep, i die.
So at the turn of 2006, a new word called "wayfle" has been invented? Well, as least invented by a friend whom I was out with today.
I was teasing this friend of mine who pronounced "wayfle" instead of "waffle." So where we went? As usual, Suntec City and Marina Square, where I had dinner in the latter.
Prior to meeting a friend, wx and I were printing ITP reports in the library this afternoon. It wasn't even within my imaginary that 17.50 bucks would leapt out of my pocket just so easily. Perhaps I should name it "The Great Leapt Forward - My Money down the drain." One set of the report was to be submitted to school, another to be submitted to my company. Cost of printing a coloured page was 40 cents! How darn the SP earn great profits from the students.
And what could be even more holy shit than to print the 3rd set of report and bind it with hard cover imprinted with golden lettering! Another leapt forward?
So tired and I've just closed my UCCD lecture book. Shall continue reading tomorrow.
Gee, and I still recalled pranking shaf with page no. 33! That her ITP report was short of page no. 33. Da hell of her to request me to submit her report, so I shalt let no opportunity to prank her go by. Thou shalt remember:=P
