I Didn't Kiss the Ground, but I had..

1 Chinese Onion Pancake
4 Steamed Meat Buns
Few pieces of Deep Fried Dough Fritters with Cuttlefish Stuffings
Hot and Sour Soup Noodles

Burp...

I'm back in the familiar arms of food in Singapore. Had the above for dinner just now, and walking through throngs of merry shoppers in Orchard Road with a bulging stomach-the epitomy of a happy Singaporean.

Not to mention a friend decided to drop by with a log of fruit cake, baked fresh from the oven.

Pardon me (burp again) for not updating the blog. I am currently deprived of my inseparable partner- Mr Broadband- and have to make do with the dial-up mistress. That makes everything a chore, but it gives me good reason to weane off this terrible habit and get a real life.

Which I have... downing tonnes of coffee and teh terik.

I passed my exams! (Thank you God!) That means there's no excuse not to go through another 4 months of debits and credits, and bid adios to the land of numbers.

Three things I miss of Melbourne- the weather (yes yes yes), my church (including corny croatian-aussie pastor and his wife), and my bed next to the big window. Which reminds me, I've moved out-done in faith- that when I returned, I'll be able to settle my housing.

(Skip this part if you are not a kitty lover) Oh yes, I'm reunited with my boy. But that means waking up every night at some odd hour to let him out of the room. And I've missed him so much that I've allowed him to take over my quilt, at the risk of catching a chill. He's been really lonely and no one talks to him. And I'm re-reading Lynne Truss's Making the Cat Laugh, compliments of the new National Library in Bras Brasah.

Have you ever blog in Chinese? At 1am one night, I decided to throw myself a challenge, to reach the deepest recesses of my brain for my 'hanyu pinyin' ability. I rate myself 3/10 at first try, having to resort to Babel Fish for some words to complete a simple paragraph.

In a nutshell, I've been doing nothing really significant but sleeping late every night. I'm aspiring to chart out a decent plan for the remaining days tomorrow.

Meow!

Exams are Over!

Finally the dreaded period is over! When the group went down to Williamstown for fish and chips after church last Sunday before my last paper, I was already half into the celebratory mood. But alas, the last paper was rather 'bewildering', with horrendous typos that I had to call the examiner to confirm the words (think cut and paste, and made mistakes with editing), and most of all, I even had time to think about life.

So again, as the daylight lasts longer, the few of us headed down to Mornington Peninsular. We did some cherry picking (or rather, cherry tasting), a winery lunch, skip rocks at the Acrombe Maze and enjoy the sea breeze at Cape Schank.

Times like these, I really love the cell group, love Melbourne. I'm saying this because there might be a chance I might just make the last exams my very last. This trip back home should throw things into perspective a little.

But still, I'm welcoming the holidays with wide open arms!!!

Cape Schank

Acrombe Maze 

Ching and Pete picking cherries 

Cat or Husband

A friend of mine found this on ebay. And I was still telling him that afternoon that I have made the promise to my 19 year old moggie that I'll not marry anyone who will not love him (the cat). Looks like I'm not the only one thinking this way.

Cat or Husband- My Sentiments

I Really Hate Numbers

This has to be divine confirmation, I can't do numbers for the world. Paper number 2 on Management Accounting was a disaster, and I'll be happy to be given 49.5 (rounded to the nearest ten), and pass. I've done my part, did 2 rounds of 3am in Bailieu library the nights before, plus decent rounds of practising.

Surprisingly I wasn't the least depressed after the paper, considering I had no time to even attempt 37 marks of the paper.

On the flip side, I got an sms from my finance assignment partner at midnight regarding our assignment. It says that we got one of the highest marks. I was nursing a bad case of stomach flu then, and replied with a obligatory 'oh, good work!' type of sms.

Only this morning did I discovered, OH MY GOD.. we did indeed get the highest, ahead of the walking oriental calculators in class. And if you seriously looked at the way we went about doing it in a let's-get-this-out-of-the-way manner (we completed the assignment 1 week before the deadline, my first record), you know how I feel when I saw the marks in disbelief. It's again a divine revelation that I can WRITE and REASON and ANALYSE, but give me a calculator and you're better off giving it to my cat to add.

That being said, I have lots of thank God for in this time of exams.

1)For the everyday pals whom you meet routinely for coffee, for mugging together, talking about the everyday mundane stuff that gets you through.

2)For a special friend who has appeared so timely, drove me to Chapel St for a coffee at midnight when I was sad, and appeared at my door when I was sick. For changing how Friday nights are spent, and just trudging life with me.

3)For the person who appears and says the right thing at the right time, for praying with me and whose presence is always downright assuring.

4)For the night babe who chats with me, the day babe who reads my email...

5)To the lovely couple staying behind me, who fed me well not for the return of my mediocre company, but for the of love for a quiet and company-deprived sister.

This list of by no means exhaustive, just something to think about on a Saturday morning, when you just had the crappiest exam 2 days ago, the pukiest illness, and a harrowing subject that beckons you to study. Such thoughts keep me alive. God loves me.

1 Down, 3 to Go

I have this imaginary thought running too many times today: When I finally touch down at Changi Airport, I'll kiss the ground.

I'm not patriotic, but I do feel a longing to be home this time. And I'll be back on Dec 3, to reunite to the familarity of friends and family. I thank God for the friends I have here, but maybe it's the culture of 'let's go out now' (and having your own wheels) that I miss really much.

Part of the reason why I'm saying this is because I'm bugged with 3 more papers, all I'll gladly exchange a pass grade for it if they exempt me from the exams. The conclusion is: no interest= no pride = no outcome to be proud of.

Speaking of studying, the library at 3am did turn into quite a commune- everyone's relatively nice to everyone. I get smiles when I come out of the toilet, the guys outside playing soccer at midnight. there's a quiet buzz as all the last-minute crammers huddle together to run their last lap.

Soon, I'll be home...

Time Out

This picture doesn't do the cupcake any justice, because yours truly has greedily chomped off half of it, before going 'oops, it WAS so pretty!'. You have to imagine the other half of it, plus the creamy icing.

Welcome to Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder, where the highlight is a mini cheesery in the cafe. Cindy, Kwok and I set a date to savour the Roquefort Cheese, after Australia finally gave the green light for it to be imported into the country. But the desperatecheesos got ahead of us, and so we got happy with a cheese platter of Fourme D'ambert, Livarot and a UK Cheddar. Took away a cupcake each... burp!

I'm hard at work, in case you are wondering.

Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder Cupcake

As the weather turns warm...

There's this commonality between Melbourne flies and its people. They start buzzing out when the weather turns warm. During my one-day break from the library, the supposed dress-hunt for daisy turned out to be a walk in the park, literally. It was sunny and you have two aimless people walking around the city. It wasn't too long before we decided a trip to the Botanical Gardens will do us good. The last time I was there with Terence, was (gasp), a year ago!

Oh yes, yours truly turned one year older on 5th Oct. There were celebrations with Olivia and Evie, Adeline who got me flowers and cake! And of course due credit must also go to Cindy, who trudged down the streets looking for a cake to take-away, and surprising me outside Union House. And belated cakes from Peter and Ching, from a new friend Adele; a treat from Daisy and Clara!

Of course these are the times you remember those you would had celebrated your birthday with had you been back home. I received a parcel from my cell group from home, another one from my 3 month old niece (or rather, my sis-in-law trying to write on behalf of her), calls and emails from my ex-colleagues, primary school friends... Am I blessed or what!

Now that I have taken stock... I'm suddenly comforted. Had been also ridiculously stressed by the avalanche of assignments and all I can think of is the holidays to come. 3 Dec, reunion date with my pals back home and the cha kuay teow, not to mention my dear ah boy.


Self-maddening indulgence

Spring Break!

There are only a few things that sum up my 2 week Spring break. I have made the Legal Resource Centre my second home, hailed Kwok as a legal savior, went on a literal guilt trip to the Mornington and finally started the new school week.

The legal assignment was a mega slap in the face for sitting through class without understanding much. Had to cramp 32 hours worth of lectures into 5 days. My answered prayer came in the form of Kwok, who provided the pro bono legal aid. Clara, don't forget the estoppels and fiduciary duties! (And Cindy, come back and mug with us!)

But we had our fun though, went to Pancake Parlour one night after a disgusting long day at the library till 11pm. It was a post-mugging treat, and the candied walnut and canadian pancakes compensated for the hard work.

Time really flies, and this is probably the most geeky Spring break that I've experienced. At least I know that Winter has bade farewell, and the weather can only be better.

The flies are already making their cameo.

Received a few pressies from friends back home... always nice to come home after a long hard day to a nice little package lying on your table.

After mugging treat

Mugging in the law library 

Portsea- Mornington Peninsular 

Stinky Sweet

Life is sometimes like that durian gelati along Lygon Street, it is stinky sweet. Sweet because it's finally the long-awaited 2 weeks Spring break, stinky because it is laden with truckloads of assignments and group meetings.

The frequent visitors will noticed that I have been blogging less, because sometimes the things you want to say are just too personal to be telling the whole world. But the bigger reason being that work is piling, and I'd rather interface with some decent human beings over a cup of coffee than the laptop screen.

That day after the fateful cup of Teh Terik at Bismi, I ended up lying on my bed till 3am. Was transported to a solitary bench among the wilderness. Suddenly, God came by and sat on the other side, about an arm's length. It felt like he came to make himself available to me, expecting me to say something. I thought long and hard, yet I can't bring myself to do or say anything. It's like we had a fight and I'm choosing to be quiet, or either that, we are like good friends who do can sit by in silence and yet enjoy each other's company. Could feel my eyelashes were a little wet before I drifted off to sleep.

What would you do if God came by and shared a bench alongside you?

Durian Gelati (far right) @ El Freddo Doche. Taken by my new camera phone. Yeah!

Things that Stuff Up in Melbourne

Found this on a fren of a fren's blog. He found this notice pasted on his apartment lobby after living there for 4 years. The joke is that now he has to change every address that he has given, including bills, driver's license.. basically it's as good as moving house.

Things that stuff up in melbourne...

I'm writing on stuff ups because I braved a sleepy windy rainy morning to scoot down to immigration only to have Tom-the-gay-guy-behind-the-counter giving me a lousy analogy for not bringing my passport. In the end, it was a wasted trip, and I would have been better off sleeping in.

I've been watching so little TV I might be able to qualify for regional/country status. House M.D has been the consolation on Wed nights as I forget about my academic weariness for a full 60 minutes. If I have to choose anyone to marry in the show, it has to be Dr House (and not that aussie bloke). I am intrigued by his aversion to social relationships, his in-your-face one liners, and possibly that hint of cynicism that makes his character rather real. Of course the show has its own issues:

1)If your loved one has a neurological condition that requires surgery that will lead to him losing his memory (including memories of you) in order to prolong his life by a few years, would you give your blessings? Or would you rather have him live half that number of years with the full knowledge of who you are, and what you did.

I'll choose the former, to be in possession of the imperfect is better than losing the perfection.

Stuff Up

What is Your Elvish Name

In another pathetic attempt to do a commentary on the adoption of International Accounting Standards and whatever GAAP, ABCDEFG, I found myself wandering into yet another realm of things.

My name is Drogo Overhill of Nobottle, at least in a Hobbit sense. My Elvish name is Fingon Fëfalas, which sounds like a familiar greek dish. Check out yours in The Hobbit Name Generator .

I have been googled! And it's unfair when the other party has a name that is impossible to google. Wait till I get that name out, because I pride myself at being a google queen.

Back to the IAS, IASB, IFRS, EFGHIJKLMN...

Too Little Play

Have been into tv-ish songs these days. The Melancholic steak in me working up amidst finishing up my finance homework. All studies and little play makes Wen a cranky woman.

X&Y (Coldplay)
Trying hard to speak
And fighting with my weak hand
Driven to distraction
It's all part of the plan

When something is broken
And you try to fix it
Trying to repair it
Any way you can

I dive in at the deep end
You become my best friend
I wanna love you
but I don't know if I can

I know something is broken and
I'm trying to fix it
Trying to repair it anyway I can

Maybe somedays you should just take a backseat, have a cup of latte, read the papers, and let someone else do the repairing.

Another one... check out "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane. Featured in Grey's Anatomy.

God, grant me the strength...

If I am an animal, I'm probably a duck. They apparently do not go about alone. But this week, I am most likely a cat who seeks her own comfortable space.

I had an outpouring of 'questions' this week, to account for basically everything I do and don't do (i.e, skipping class). For those whose last trip to a lecture was eons ago, skipping class equals bad student, leech-status group member, absolute no-no. To account for my continued absence in Singapore, I've also finally sent a mass email to some friends telling them about my delayed return to quell the neccessary but incessant "when-are-you-coming-back"s.

I skipped Corporate Accounting to get some solitude. The weather's been fine and I decided to camp in a North Melbourne cafe just to be quiet. The chocolate ring and flat white turned out to be more inspiring than sitting through another clueless absorption of some Aussie Accounting Standards.

Was it an early signal that 1 month ago, I was sitting there in the Hillsongs Conference hearing all about Strength? Because that is surely something I do with in huge proportions right now. I need to continue to persevere in love and in joy.

Meanwhile, hugs for the week going out to Sha (for helping me with finance homework), Nel (for the sweet card), Cindy (for listening to my endless whinges), Clara (for missing out on her B'day celebrations)...

I miss normal life.

Pic taken at Hillsongs

Things that Make Me Go Ohh... (Part 1)

In case you think I've gone mad, I am fully stressed right now with my accounting course. You heard it right, the social sciences/marketing madhat turned numeric. It's been 3 weeks and I am adequately lost to feel utterly demoralised.

So while I am nodding off trying to read my Cost Management notes, I cannot help but to escape into the happy recesses of my mind. Happy thoughts...

So here it is, I had this in the apartment in Sydney (a full stainless-steel version), decided that a Dishdrawer is my favourite innovative kitchen piece, since it departs from the washing-machine format and is half the size. Pulls out like a real drawer, has a rinse-only function (+10 others), and emits a melodious electronic beep when you open it.

Back to the notes, Happy thoughts...

The Fisher and Paykel Dishdrawer

When You Only Had Love to Give

Have you ever love someone for his imperfections? I know it sounds a little bizarre, but have you love someone for what he can be, and not what he is?

(Cries of 'Denial' hurling my way)

I don't know which is more beautiful, to be with someone perfect, or to be there to witness the goodness blooming in him. I chose the latter. I love the movies of the human spirit, how the weak triumph during times of iniquities. I love those soundtracks where the orchestra plays it to the crescendo in the scenes- think ala Truman Show in the last scene, the bittersweet feeling of triumph over your own weaknesses.

To my favourite person who is in his solo battle- the person whom I love the wrong side up, the one who challenged my boundaries of giving and receiving- I hope you will one day understand that you only need to wait it out, and things around you need not be as hard on you as it seems.

"Nothing you can do, can make Him love you more
And nothing that you've done, can make Him close the door
Because of His great love, He gave His only Son
And everything was done so you would come"


Someone You Could Talk To

Big Decisions

On the average, I have 2-3 people asking me when I'm going home. Yesterday, it came from my ex-lecturer whom I bumped into at the corridor. I have since adopted 2 typical answers- a 5 second version that says 'soon, going to, enjoying myself first'.. and the other answer goes a little longer, speaking of my apprehension of going back, and how I might be considering extending my stay through job/new course/marry an aussie or wombat etc... If this was the an exam question, I would have failed many times over, and re-sitting just doesn't make it any better. But the thing I can promise you is, I'll make a decision in the next week.

My friend Sha is going to Hongkong to work, and although it's a big step for her, she doesn't know the amount of shopping and tim sums that await her arrival, the big fat succulent dumplings, the buttery flakey pastries that glimmers under the yellow spotlight... ahhh... I can almost smell it. The practical tip to her is, find the nearest laundry, cos it's such a chore doing your own.

It's such a great day today, blue skies and sun shinning. Not the typical Melbourne winter. I think I'll make a trip to the post office to post out pressies I bought for my niece and my good friend Joc. My loadful of laundry is also beckoning me.

What a Week in Sydney!

Allo allo! I'm back from my long rendevous with Sydney- my third trip there, but it's always a trip with a difference.

The main purpose of going their this time is to be part of the Hillsongs Conference. I figured out that since I won't get another opportunity to do this, I might as well go for this 5 day, super intensive conference while I can afford it. It was real tiring, having to wake up at 7am every morning to catch the train to Olympic Park. The sessions don't end till 10pm, and I'm proud to say that I survived all but 1 night. There were great speakers such as US top tv evangelist Joyce Meyers, the German fire-infused Reinhard Bonnke, and Michael W Smith. It was great fun seeing the crowd of 30,000 every night filling into the Superdome. The 2-hour queueing each day was mind-boggling, but you get the drift after a while.

Despite the contraint in time, Aud and I did some sightseeing as well. Went to the Darling Harbour, the Fish market, the Rocks, the DFO and Birkenhead Point for some factory outlet shopping. And we rented this awfully great split-level apartment (thanks Phil!) that was loaded with dvds that Aud and I found it hard to leave it. Our place was just 5 mins from the Glebe Markets, and a short walk to the Broadway Shopping Centre, so we didn't really stepped into the city at all.

Took at pic of Darling Harbour- Atiq, this one is for you! Remember that in 2001 we came here for coffee every night after our conference??

So now I'm back, sick to the core. After experiencing the gorgeous Sydney winter weather, I suddenly felt shortchanged staying in Melbourne. It's not funny to be running a fever, accompanied by a slow-to-perform 6 fin heater turned on at full blast, tucked inside a down quilt, and yet it's cooooold cos it's 9 degrees outside.

Back to savouring my instant soup. MSG never tasted so good.

Darling Harbour

The Hillsong Conference Crowd at the Sydney Olympic Superdome

Nobody Knows- The Bittersweet Movie

I promised myself that I have to have something worth calling a 'celebration' after my last exams on Thursday. Offcially, that is the last exam of my life- at least in an institution of learning.

So hey, I celebrated by washing up my huge pile of laundry, cleaned the toilets, vacuumed the floor. That is what freedom smells like when you are living along in a foreign country. Of course, I tried to compensate by going to catch a really good show- Nobody Knows, which is a pure 140mins worth of heartbreaking, bitter-sweet, emotion-provoking, big-sighing movie.

Based on a true story about a mother's abandonment of her 4 children in a small apartment in Japan, the story revolves around the lives 4 children and how innocent and ironic joy can be found interwoven into the overhanging tragedy. It does not try to overdramatize the plight of the children, nor pit the audience against the heinous irresponsibility of the mother, but through nuances, elicit a silly kind of joy that everyone can identify with- the squeaking slipper, seeds planted in styroform Nissin noodles cup.

The movie is directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and admittedly, took a longer time to come around to this part of the world. Featured in the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, it saw 12 year old actor Yuya Yagira took home the coverted title for 'Best Actor'. I personally prefer the absolutely adorable 4 year old Shimizu Momoko, whose amazing acting and drop-dead cutie pie face won my heart after the first 20 mins.

Friends in Singapore will be mad to know that they have missed such a great show (it was shown in cinemas last Dec), but for my Melbourne friends, it's not too late to catch this at NOVA. It's worth every bit of your cents.

That being said, I had a great brekky at Nonya Hut at Glen Waverley this morning, with Nonya kueh and the works. That my friend, is the real smell of freedom!

Nobody Knows

I am an Aunty!

Never thought this day will come, but I'm an official aunty now! Not those aunty of your cousins' kids, but the children of your sibling.

Close friends of mine will know that I'm not a big fan of children, not even babies. Not that I dislike them, but let's put it as they get no goodwill points when it comes to them. However, I'm quite excited about her, although it'll be some time more before I'll see her. Hopefully that brother of mine will continue to send me some pics from Arizona.

The feeling of being an aunt is the closest I get to being scrutinized, to have a life watched and pondered by an impressionable one. Suddenly you feel that you need to ACT right, make sure the little one sees you in the right light. Wannabe mums and dads, you'll feel that too, and in triple intensity! (Gloats...)

My first baby niece Kalynn

Me, Hearing Loss??

I couldn't resist writing this one, despite being halfway through a take-home exam.

My case study for this exam is on Cochlear, Australia's pride and joy for a company who develops hearing implants. Yes, you heard it right, implants to help the profoundly deaf people to hear. Great technology- you have a mini broadcasting station built into you.

To prove that I have been working on this case long enough, I slacked off a little to check my hotmail, only to be shocked by MSN dispensing me advice on "How to Prevent Hearing Loss". Yes, the magic of technology yet again.

Alright.. back to work.

Ryanair, Ocean Spray and Cochlear

My exams starts this Friday. I'll have to put a suspension to my blogging days. For a taste of what it'll feel for the next coming weeks, I'll be pulling my hair over the cases of Ryanair, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice, and the Aussie pride and joy-Cochlear.

I came across an interesting quote that I've better wake up to everyday.

“A number is a fact. Divide two numbers and you have an analysis. If you divide two numbers and explain how a third number is related you have an argument. If your argument makes sense you have a hypothesis. Combine a few hypothesis credibly and you can present at the board meeting.” – BCG Partner 1999

Ok... concentrate... soon it'll be over. See you on 16 June.

The Last Lectures of My Life

You see it during every end of semester. People bringing their cameras and snapping pictures with anyone and everyone they can lay their hands on. I promised myself that I would not succumb to the cheesy activity of taking last minute pictures, immortalizing that part of your life that you paid so much for.

I broke my promise, almost- it was my classmate's camera. It finally occured to me that it's the last week of uni and also the last lectures of my life. I have passed yet another milestone of my life, and decided that it'll involve too much trouble relating it verbally in the future.

But I should take some pictures, for nothing will bring back those memories as vividly as pictures do.

So, whether you are the snap-happy or the photo-shy, this will be my unbashful sharing.

Deena, my newfound neighbour living just above me. We didn't know of each other existence till one rainy morning in the tram.

Me, Deena and Kate. Together, we represent the Southeast Asia countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. 

Purpose of this picture is to illustrate the concept of "scale". Or rather, Omar's a great guy, doesn't mince his words. He's mellowed over the semesters tho, no more quick-witted sacarsms.

Chinese Steam Egg Recipe

This is dedicated to my friends in Melbourne, where every meal doesn't come that easy.

I've tried this a couple of times, and it's quite fool-proof. Just dump all the ingredients inside, steam it till it solidifies, and viola!

You'll need:
4 Eggs
Lean Pork 100 g
Dry Black Mushrooms 3 pcs
Chopped Spring Onion 1 stalk
Chicken Stock-same volume to egg

For the Sauce:
Salt 1/2 tbsp
Light Soy Sauce 1 tbsp
Pepper to taste
Yellow Wine 1 tbsp

Directions:
1) Wash lean pork, mince into small fine dices
2) Soak dry black mushroom, cut into small dices
3) Heat wok with 2 tbsp of oil, stir fry pork and black mushroom
4) Add sauce when pork is cooked, stir fry well then pour in a large bowl
5) Whisk well the egg with same volume of chicken stock and 2 tbsp of water
6) Pour the egg into bowl gently, and stir mix well gently
7) Put inside a steam case, steam the egg in medium heat when water is boiled
8) Steam for approx. 15-25 minutes until egg is steamed solid
9) Sprinkle chopped spring onion, serve

Steaming time varies, but just make sure that the egg has solidify before taking it off the stove.

Bon Appetit!

Steam Egg

Check this Out!

This is a posting from the online forum of my Strategic Management class. Check out this posting and tell me if the lecturer reading this will flip.

"In the literature review assignment,my interest is innovation one.My questions are from the question you asked us"can innovation be effectively framed as the firm's capability?" (1)you expect us to find the different prevailing innovation theories(value innovation,technology innovation,management innovation) or your focus is how they could be framed as the capability or you want us to show that we know that capability is not necessarily the competitive advantage to firm(4 attributes)? (2)As the reading given under this topic is the value innovation(focusing on customer needs, irrelevant to competition),the writer says this should be the strategy(not the traditional competition-based),I am confused about the above points relative to your question.Ir does not mention capability stuff,should I define the "capability"in the question to be narrower,that is ,the capability which could provide company with competitive advantage. Thanks very much."

Lecturer's Reply:
The questions you have asked is a little confusing, but let me try to answer the issues you have raised.

What The??! (Series 1)

It's one of those things that never fails to catch your attention. In Communications Marketing, we call it Novel Stimuli (using of humour to attract attention). BAD ENGLISH!

Talking to Cindy and Clara, we've compiled some bad english that occured right in the heart of Melbourne, land of the English descendents, but possibly peppered with ambassadors of other nationalities (of which I will not try to name).

Here's the list from the restaurants:
1) Prok Vemicelli, Dump Dumplings and Fred Red Bean Cake
2) BBQ Chiken with special rice

And these came from formal correspondence/presentations of the post-graduate students of Australia's best university:
1) Alternative Adz
2) It's a Pitty
3) Swizzland

We're quite brain-dead now... so we'll add on as we get more of such input.

"Everyday Everyone"

I've been spending recent nights obscillating between thoughts of correcting a badly written essay and sending a politically correct email to the authors to get a better grip of their writing. I'll let you be the judge.

A sample of it goes like this:

"Furthermore, within the budget airline industry, high number players who are severely competing on price gives a little room for customer to differentiate products provided by different firms... Additionally, the weaknesses of not well established brand and lacks a safety track record also prevent the company from ... ..."

Additionally, the flexible culture the company where cost saving is regarded as a core task of everyone everyday accommodates favorable conditions for cost leadership strategy......"

I'm a fan of Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots and Leaves (the ultimate guide to punctuation), but I don't demand her pristine standard of english on anyone. However, to put things into perspective, this context is set on a post-grad level course which requires a convincing command of the language in order to be effective.

Therefore, I am hardly surprised when the following article was published in The Age:

Unis Depend On Foreign Students to Stay Afloat
Australia's universities have become so financially dependent on foreign students that their viability as major learning and research institutions now hinges entirely on that market.
But the pressure of maintaining the 220,000 international students needed each year to keep the campuses afloat has led to a drop in academic standards.
Academics report that in some courses entry requirements have been lowered, courses have been made easier and marking has been softened to help overseas students cope with their problems with the English language.

Back to another night of editing. Cheers!

I'm Back!

Hi, I've finally returned to the blog scene. It's been a crazy 2 weeks with tonnes of assignments and presentations. My dear friend cindy will attest to that, and even Clara, since we've not have a decent meal together for sooo long!

'Buggered' was a good word to use after Marketing Plans and Strategy presentation. When it was done, you get the feeling of wanting to just slob over a chair and call it a day. The good news was that our Swiss Choc lecturer didn't go on an attack, but the bad news was that the French was a tough loaf.

But that is all over!

Thanks to my babe Sharon, i had been entertaining myself (read: wasting time) with Toshimitsu Takagi's Viridian Room and Crimson Room. They are great mind-perking games to play when you are bored with your Strategic Management assignment.

Back to case study on Swatch. Food for thought: it costs only A/S$10 to manufacture one swatch. Irony indeed...

Do you like my revamped blog page?

Blog Undergoing Major Overhaul

Dear Readers of this Blog,

This blog is going through an identity crisis. And the blogger has to picked up from where she left off, from the days where HTML was the only script available for websites. Taking a leaf from TV 12 who stole yours truly's idea of a cartoon website, I have decided to make Yahoo my template. But need to sort out a few garbage on this one, and at 12.48am and the crazy wind howling outside, is not the most favourable of moods for an overhaul.

Soooo... it's Easter break! Haven't done much except for an internal analysis on AirAsia. Went to a church camp at Howqua, 2.5 hours from Melbourne. Met some interesting people, got myself inspired, played some games and was soon propelled to reality.

Was just thinking, if you have no money right now, what would make you happy? Mine will have to be:
1)Talking to my cat
2)Sitting in a vehicle with misty windows
3)Watching another one of those Jamie Oliver's shows (current one: Jamie's School Dinners) and feeling all wanting to make the world a better place
4)Looking at pictures of Montreal and L'ile Des Soeurs, my favourite places to reminisce

Ok, better stop dreaming. Send me some of your ideas of penniless-joys alright?!

Someone is in the Details

Do you think it's possible to bump into someone whom you have not met for 6 months and before you know it, the two of you are rushing to a Christian rally?

I did, met her on the tram. Have been trying to catch up with her, but never had the chance to. And that was after walking aimlessly for 30 mins in the supermarket, wondering what to cook for dinner.

The Franklin Graham rally at the Telstra Dome was pretty great, about 3000 came forth to receive Christ. I was enjoying the performances by The Katinas and Hillsongs. Feeling pretty "unmoved" by the message(expecting more, since he is Billy Graham's son), but apparently it did touched many throughout the 3 days. I knew being a non-Christian herself, she was touched too.

That for me is enough.

Not to mention that the latest discovery is that my new project mate is the flatmate of a good friend here. It's freaky, since another mate of mine took over the room of that similar good friend. Melbourne is just soooo small isn't it?

It has to be that someone is in the details...

Easter is coming soon! Someone died for me.

Cindy's Surprise Birthday Party

When was your last time?

Seriously, when was the last time you went hiking?

I don't think I've really had a last time. The ONLY time I went hiking was doing a couple of 1hr walks in Tassie, and that's all there is. Climb a couple of steps, pant a little, look and your watch and wonder if the destination is anywhere near, and then marvel at some lookout.. and reverse the whole sequence again.

It's a long weekend here in Melbourne, and the highlight of it is bushwalking at the Werribee Gorge State Park, an hour and a half's drive away from the city. The circuit we took was a 4hours, 10km route. Just in case you are wondering, I did secretly chart up the possible 'exits' I can take, for good measure. Good thing I didn't have to use it, and was among better hikers. The gorge was pretty, and there was a couple of nice lookouts. We travelled along the river, and it's amazing how I climbed those huge rocks and ambled through the narrow edges of the gorge. Quite frightening sometimes! That again, is one of my greater 'achievements', a going out of your comfort zone mental challenge accomplished.

Clara and I had a great time trying to get a surprise birthday party going for Cindy. Operation Cindy's Bday went in such a clockwork fashion- wenli buys present, shuan gets the cake, clara brings the deco, clara tricks cindy out, mike brings cake over, wenli, mike and shuan decorates the house, clara brings cindy back home, suprise!

When was the last time you had a surprise birthday party??

Werribee Gorge State Park

Closer to...

Closer to Autumm, Winter, Easter, bad weather,
Closer to established friendships, better coffees, busier calendars
Closer to assignments, deadlines, reviews
Closer to Home.

I miss my cat. But I know I'll miss my life here when it's time to say goodbye. I've learnt how little money I have, but also how little money can buy. I marvel the times when you feel broke to the bone, and yet able to miraculously smile, laugh, have fun and sleep well.

Although Autumn has descended and all activities ebbing, things do get a little cosier. Watched Closer after a panting swim. Had a nice vietnamese dinner with the rest and caught Run Lola Run at Arthur and Chet's place till late. The gale came on full force on Saturday but nothing stopped me going for a shopping trip to Chapel Street. Went to Ricky and Caro house to chill out on Sat and Sun.

Listening to the 11909th time- The Blower's Daughter, proving the effect of what an appropriate scored movie can do... or simply put, what a great song can do for a movie.

Damien Rice's "O": featuring the hauntingly surreal song "The Blower's Daughter" in the movie 'Closer'