GOSSIPGIRL

2011-12-12T21:53:00.003+08:00

Did it take 5 semesters of law school to get me motivated to work really hard? Maybe 4. I started year 1 sem 1 with an immense amount of motivation. But after that, as it seems like no matter how much work, results still won't show anyway, I probably figured I might as well have the good slack life.
Now, I think I know how though. All it takes is a bit more thought and reflection and some clarity of expression.
Perhaps, I'll be able to make something of the last 3 sems and surprise myself.

Super not looking forward to equity and conflicts results on Friday.
Only consolation is my LTP RP A :D My first A for a law paper! Feel extremely gratified!
(TWC's A+s don't count)

Had a conversation some days ago about the importance of good teachers. Unfortunately, the conclusion is that good teachers either make or break a student's future in a particular subject.
I remember absolutely hating piano until I changed teachers.
And I cannot imagine learning LTP HG, WWY or SB. I would have absolutely been bored to death! Em or CM maybe. But I think I'm very lucky to have learnt it under TSH, couldn't have asked for better :D

A couple of years ago, I started tuition with the aim of being an inspirational teacher. But as the kids proved unmotivated and unmotivatable, teaching became routine. Must rethink my methods and put in more effort when I come back from exchange.

2011-12-09T13:16:00.001+08:00

2 weeks ago I wrote that my legal theory answer was very unsatisfactory.
It's a good reminder. Shouldn't be surprised or disappointed.

2011-12-06T00:12:00.002+08:00

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

This is a western perspective.
The only way this can be credible and not be just 'someone's view' is if there is an objective truth to what life ought to be like.

With regards to equality, who is to be treated equally? I'm sure all emiratis are treated 'equally'. Should the equality extend to the 'foreigners' who flood their land?

On the religious basis, is the draconian system even supported by it?

A violation of natural law + divine law?

2011-11-29T11:41:00.003+08:00

href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1168117/1/.html

1) Targetted at pre-schoolers because they can absorb the most
-they will learn, but with diminished use in the subsequent schooling years, they will lose it all
--> try to instill passion in the language, so they will hold onto it even as they are not required to use it so much

-also, if it becomes too difficult, parents will complain
--> screw the parents, but you won't so, teach the parents together (like how you do for models in maths? haha)

2) Discipline of SAP schools
-there's almost absolutely no difference today, kids are just as carefree

-->Post pre-school
3) Teach certain subjects in mother tongue perhaps (e.g. health ed, moral ed etc.)

Otherwise, it'd just be a waste of $100m when the kids forget everything.

2011-11-28T01:37:00.006+08:00

This post has recently been shared by some friends on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2611370894344&set=a.1250784560536.2038240.1557165764&type=3&theater

It is a little bit of a Washington Post article done some years ago:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

A world renowned classical musician playing at a metro station during peak hour. People wonder why such beauty is not recognised and appreciated.
Many blame it on 'the modern world'.
While there may be some merit in that people actually have places to go and things to do, they could surely have afforded a minute or a half.
I think there is a much simpler answer- people just don't know how to appreciate classical music.

The children all strained to see where the music was coming from. The adults who stopped 'knew' classical music or played the violin themselves. The children will grow up conditioned to popular culture, like all the rest of the adults who walked by without even a glance. The initial beauty the children recognised will be later treated as something incomprehensible and unfashionable. If you ask them to watch an opera, they'd probably rather die (apologies for the hyperbole).

It is not that people cannot appreciate good music. There have been many epic 21st century pieces that are just as musically brilliant and invoke just as passionate emotions as the music of the centuries past.
E.g. The theme song of Pirates of the Carribean / Phantom of the Opera etc.
The genius and beauty of these pieces are undeniable, and they are widely appreciated. Musically (technically), they are not so much different from the 'old' pieces. What I think the difference is, it that they have been immortalised by the films, and have been 'made cool'.

Will my friends who shared the article actually stop to notice the 'beautiful things in life' more? In order for them to do that, they will have to first be educated about what 'beautiful things' are. Or perhaps, even more fundamentally, they have to first be less pre-occupied about appearing 'cool'.

One might then argue that beauty is subjective. Yes, it is very much in the eye of the beholder- that is true for the fringe stuff. But I believe there are certain 'objective beauties' that are as obvious to everyone as the moral value that 'murder is wrong'.

2011-11-22T17:54:00.002+08:00

legal theory ah legal theory...
you were supposed to make me question my assumptions and beliefs
i thought i knew what you were talking about
i prepared and i pondered
in the end, it's still a demoralising exam done
when i know it was as unsatisfactory an answer as i could have written
when then grades come
i'll know exactly why
bleh

2011-11-22T02:29:00.003+08:00

People's reactions to the news of constitutional education being introduced in school is popping up on facebook.
A good number of them have been very cynical, and mostly concerned about the students learning about the constitution on the government's terms.
Don't teach: accused of playing on ignorance
Teach: accused on brainwashing
Many people need to stop being cynical for the sake of it/because they think it's cool.

2011-10-14T01:41:00.002+08:00

I must be such a lucky lucky girl!

Concerts I've had the honour and absolute pleasure of seeing live in concert:

1) Corrinne May (many times back in JC)
And she was always sooo nice and personal! If only she'll hold another concert in Singapore soon! (God forbid that I won't be in town when she does!)

2) Celine Dion (on my very first long flight to Amsterdam)
Spectacular, breath-taking...I can only smack myself for not getting the most expensive front seat tickets!

3) Julie Andrews (in London May 2010)
Only in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined seeing Julie live. It was really an amazing dream come true, especially since she'd lost her voice but still managed mesmerising numbers.
My Funny Valentine always lingers in my mind. And who will ever forget singing along to Doe Rae Me with Julie Andrews?

4) Kit Chan (yesterday evening!)
FINALLY! (After watching Forbidden City 3 times live, once on tv; December Rains; and being very upset about not getting tickets for her earlier Feb concert this year.) And I was certainly not disappointed, not in the least.
It was beyond perfect. And her rendition of 'Send in the Clowns'...was... one could not help but be drawn in right from her very first raspy note, and be glued gripping the edge of one's seat while she bared her soul with the beautiful perfect voice.
Extremely satisfying...every time it seemed she was about to end, and I'd be thinking 'no, this is not enough', she'd come back with more, until I was right and truly satisfied!

Recordings on CDs just don't cut it anymore! These artists bring a completely different level to their live performances...the energy that comes through with the music sometimes resonating sometimes wafting through...magic!

Reason for watching musicals live too!
Lucky lucky me!
Rowan Atkinson in Oliver in London will always be unforgettable!

2011-10-04T22:41:00.002+08:00

I just read an article on thought catalogue:

Perhaps that's why I haven't been writing for the past months. I've been too busy gallavanting around smelling the flowers.

It's been an exciting happy time. I got the wonderful news that I'll be in Lucerne next semester (can't wait to drink in the Europe air again). My dancing has improved and I'm having a very happy time at dance now. The freaky weather that has popped in recently has let me sit and enjoy the wind in my face. I've met my lovely S33 again for many times this summer.

Life can only get better if ___ and if I stop allowing myself to be so distracted from work. It's important to stop and smell the roses, and I'm very good at that. Now, it's time for me to work on the professional importance of being a good student too. All's good and well not to let work overwhelm life, but all's not good and well if work hardly affects life.

2011-07-12T01:42:00.000+08:00

Scrolled through pictures from 2-3 years ago...
Those were young happy days.
Need to remember the youth! :D

2011-07-09T03:03:00.002+08:00

HELLO!

Gosh, I haven't blogged for aagggeessss!
There's so much thats gone past, so must I've learnt and discovered in the past few months.

But now, I'm so tired.
Been going out every single day for the past month. 3 weeks in Germany, and then everyday for the week since I've been back.
Next Tuesday, I'm going to have a date with myself, and come home from work, stay home, and watch tv and read all evening!

2011-05-10T23:21:00.002+08:00

I can finally cross Black Swan and King's Speech off my list!
Amazing films!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-06T00:40:00.002+08:00

oh GE! I always mean to write a proper article about GE, but its never going to happen.
So here goes some notes:

Why I vote for the PAP

Yes, many of the unjust issues and criticisms of the PAP are well founded. (constitutional issues, free speech, GRC, tone of govt 'scoldings' etc.)
But we are still practical people, and day to day living is no doubt important. In that area, they have done a good job.

Yes, there is definitely room for opposition voices in the parliament, to question our policy makers, to keep them answerable to the people.
But not to form the bulk of the policies.

Yes, the government has made mistakes, many. They have admitted some of them, they have glossed over and defended the rest. There is room for improvement here.
But honestly, whats going to happen if the PAP is no longer in government? It's rather unthinkable. At this stage that is...

2011-05-06T00:24:00.002+08:00

So free week of fun is looong over. I'm almost finishing my second week at work now! I must say 4 day weeks are amazingly awesome! 2 weeks down, 4 more to go, then its off to schoene Deutschland um liebe Leute zu treffen! :D kann mich kaum nicht warten!

work has been good, not terribly unbearable, rather pleasant in fact! only dreary thing is that its in ulu far away international business park in jurong! walk out to somewhere else for lunch each day is like walking into a furnance and travelling to dance is like going to m'sia!

speaking of dance, life has mainly been work and dance. i'm not complaining much, though i do wish i'd more time to meet my friends, read my books and sit at home to watch my shows!

Met Ceci after a million years! <3 =) ikylm!
Met cousins.
Met Iain.
Met Melissa after a gazillion years.
Went to wine bar for an hour and zoomed around mambo.
Went to brewerkz to celebrate birthdays (Elane & Sonia <3)
Finally went Yonghe with Sonia.

Bought a small, cute vacuum cleaner! Yes, my room is cleaner now :p

Have yet to meet the kids, debo, clar, eileen, yinghui, and see more of other lovely people! Book me!!!

Summer rocks!

2011-04-26T00:22:00.001+08:00

We gotta fight fight fight fight fight for this love!

2011-04-25T23:47:00.001+08:00

Dance used to be my drug

2011-04-21T21:59:00.002+08:00

My Series of Fortunate Events

Yesterday, was our Ballare retreat. Where I thought that a huge seaview chalet would be so perfect. But as it turned out, it was so far into the other end of the world everyone either didn't turn up, or got spooked and didn't wanna stay. In any case, it didn't make sense for 4 of us to stay in the enormous place and do nothing, so we all locked up and left. But for an alternative I had, it would have been a sucky night (though the bbq was good :D)
Instead of going home to sleep, I went down to zouk to party, and it was a GOOD night!

Today, I was supposed to have a lovely lunch with clar, but I forgot to wake her up, and she also forgot to wake up herself. So in the end, I had a lovely afternoon by myself. I sat down in the middle of raffles city, had a crepe and smoothie for lunch, and proceeded to walk through all the shops in the mall. Top Shop, Warehouse, Marks & Spencers, Guess...it was such a nice feeling! Oh and I spent a ton of time in That CD Shop too! After making my rounds, I treated myself to a divine white chocolate cupcake from awfully chocolate and came home to a cup of camomile tea, before heading to the library!

This is looking to be another beautiful summer!
Friends (actually...ceci, deb, clar, eileen! lol) hurry finish your exams so you can play with me! Study hard! :D

2011-04-16T18:31:00.000+08:00

from thought catalog:
As you get older, you’ll see your friends dwindle down to a select few, and realize how rare it is to actually find lifelong friends. In high school, friendships were so ephemeral. In college, bonds were nurtured by the tight-knit environment created by school. When you graduate and are released into “the real world”, you no longer have any ties to anyone. You make the time for the people you genuinely care about. You say to the friends who matter,”Okay, things are no longer circumstantial. For us to remain close, we’ll actually have to put the work and time into it. I want to know you forever.” If you are still meeting people you want to know forever when you’re forty, consider yourself very lucky.

2011-04-16T17:08:00.003+08:00

I am ready to be swept off my feet by an exciting summer romance!
Please fall from the sky!

2011-04-16T16:15:00.001+08:00

Nothing like the mama mia soundtrack to brighten up a gloomy emo unproductive saturday afternoon! :)

2011-04-14T23:59:00.002+08:00

Someone posted the link for the trailer of 'The First Grader' on facebook:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XUAkZbB_6c&feature=share

This is the story of Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge, who enrolled in a primary school at the age of 84, after Kenya announced free education for all. He attended school everyday, even when he was in a wheelchair, and was even the head boy.

The story of a man who wanted so much to learn, and was so hardworking and conscientious. And here we are, being sick and tired of school.

Do we not appreciate what we have?
To a certain extent, no we do not. When we hear of stories like Maruge's, we sit back and think for while (like I am doing now), how lucky we are. But tomorrow, it'll probably all be gone.

Do we not see the value in education?
Of course we do, why else are we in uni?

Do we not enjoy learning?
I'm quite sure we do. Afterall, we picked our own courses.

Blame it on the system?
If Maruge lived in Singapore, would he be as overwhelmed with work as we are? Would be contemplate ponning classes? Would he complain of having to write papers and prepare presentations?
I think not.
But I think, it'd be a different matter if he had grown up in Singapore. He'd then probably be like the rest of us. Occasionally feeling as if education had been forced upon him, ploughing through piles of work to meet deadlines, to tackle exams...

My conclusion is that one would have to be as deprived as he was to have his attitude, otherwise it is rather inevitable to be like the rest of us...
Is this an excuse? I think so.

2011-04-14T13:36:00.002+08:00

Was reading Lee Wei Ling's article on Sunday, and she wrote about how she sometimes didn't speak to or meet with her closest friends for years. Excuse me?! You wouldn't even know if they had kids, contracted and recovered from cancer, or if they died la -.-

Anyway, right in the middle of exams. Half done, weren't too terrible, though none of my exams in my uni life have been fantastic :( Half more! Cannot get sian!
Then its summer!!! Lots of meeting up with all my lovelies! :)

2011-04-09T20:20:00.000+08:00

How To Avoid Emotional Entanglements
APR. 8, 2011 By SHANTE COSME
So we’re at that point. The point where all the subtle probes into my intentions and hints that you’re “not hanging out with anyone else” have proven all too subtle and my answers far too vague. So after a few shots of whiskey, lying in your bed in the dark, you’ll bravely admit you want more. You’ll say you’re still not hanging out with anyone else but this time you’ll add that you don’t want to be either.

And I will ache to agree. I will be filled with the rational desire to tie a bow on the pretty little thing we’ve made these past few months, to make some sweeping promises in that dark room and claim you’re the only one I want but I won’t, because I would be lying. And I don’t like to lie, it’s bad for my karma.

So I’ll tell you I’m not ready. Partially because I’m not sure of what I want, but mostly because I do know what I don’t want. I do not want the responsibility that being committed to you entails. I don’t want to devote hours of my day wondering about yours, worrying about how even my smallest actions might affect you. I want to be unreasonable on a whim, and I don’t want to ask for permission. And I certainly do not want responsibility for the maintenance of your emotional health, because I can barely manage my own.

And yes, I want to be single because I want to date other people. I’m not a sex fiend or anything. In fact, I really like having sex with you, so I won’t be creeping at bars on the few nights we don’t spend together looking to undress someone new. However, having the option to do so is something I’m not yet willing to give up.

And you’ll try to be understanding, but we’ll both know you’re disappointed. You’ll tell me you’re going on a date with another girl and hope to see some semblance of distress on my face, a markedly restrained response made through clenched teeth or at least a furrowed brow. But my unaffected demeanor borders remarkable, the ease with which I can reveal it sometimes even takes me by surprise. I will be reasonable and understanding and even manage to say “have a good time” without any hint of irony or sarcasm.

I will even extend the same courtesy, and let you know that I am also dating. I will divulge as many details as your masochistic curiosities can handle, because I don’t want to intentionally deceive you. Like I said before, I am fiercely overprotective of my karma. I want to be selfish, not duplicitous. I hope you can appreciate that about me.

At first you’ll convince yourself to be satisfied with me, privately labeling my glaring commitment issues with attractive adjectives like “cute” or “coy.” You’ll talk to your friends about how you found this girl that totally lets you do your own thing. “She doesn’t get on me about anything”, you’ll proudly proclaim as they lament over the women they are dating, pesky creatures who constantly chatter about “getting serious.” But you don’t have to deal with that shit.

But you are secretly envious that they have the choice to deal with that shit. They have the option of “yes” waiting readily at their disposal but you don’t have the luxury of choice. You don’t mention that part to them.

And secretly, even though I try to imagine myself as impenetrably callous, I’ll start to falter under the weight of the choices I’m unable to offer and the promises I cannot make. We will go through the same motions, keep sharing our favorite appetizer at that small spot in my neighborhood and I’ll keep burying my head on the same spot on your shoulder when we sleep, but something will have burrowed a silent rift between us that will widen its ugly mouth with each passing day.

You will go from dismissive to slowly terrified of all that you have already invested in me. How do you take back all those hours? You’ve unknowingly put all this hope in my hands, and you’re no longer sure of what those hands are capable of.

I will be terrified of what to do with your fragile hopes and expectations of me. I’ll become unusually introspective and spend every waking hour ruminating over who I have become. The selfishness I wanted to embrace has, well, fully embraced me. It is monopolizing my mind like a starved virus and has quickly become insatiable. It is ravenous for my tenderness, my well hidden vulnerabilities and even my fear, because fear implies feeling and my selfishness feels very threatened by that.

That is when you will leave, and you’ll take back whatever you can from my clumsy and unwilling hands. I will be left with only wide open, empty palms, but I will not be alone. I will have the selfishness I endlessly defended and fought for to keep me company.

2011-04-06T01:50:00.000+08:00

Miss the pleasant distraction of a starbucks delivery... (:

2011-03-24T22:57:00.001+08:00

vinay says:
2012 will come true

Liesel says:
ah wells
i'd be quite happy with the day i've lived my life if i died tmr

vinay says:
haha

Liesel says:
i've worked hard enough such that i'm not a loser
and i haven't worked so hard that i've neglected to enjoy life and my friends and family

vinay says:
so philosophical

Liesel says:
haha how is that philosophical
its damn straight forward

vinay says:
to think about sth like that makes u philosophical

2011-03-18T01:01:00.005+08:00

While waiting for my fish and chips yesterday, I went across to the library. (I miss the library. I used to go there almost everyday and devour 4 books a day) I decided that 'today, I will find a book I think I'll like and sit down and finish it like I used to!'
I found 'Molly Fox's Birthday' by Deirdre Madden. The chapterless style and perfectly crafted writing drew me in. I realised when trying to write something, that the narrator's name (supposedly a renowned playwright) was never revealed. Her narrative brought me through her day of memories and reflection. While it revealed her realisations and discoveries about her best friend Molly Fox (an actress) and her oldest friend Andrew Forde (some arty farty genius), it unwittingly revealed things about herself too.
(grrr my writing sucks now!)

http://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/molly-foxs-birthday-deirdre-madden/
This article/review seems to encompass most of what I think.

An evening well spent after a nice afternoon out in lovely weather with ceci :)

"It's funny how you cross paths with so many people in life, some you'll never meet again but leave you with important lessons" -Yap Zhi Xin
Throughout our conversation:
some ppl's lives are parallel so they'll never ever meet
some just cross once, and never meet again
some u cross all the time but you never know who they are, like ppl u see at the bus stop all; the time but don't know them
and when you think about the people you've seem to know forever, one day you might just realise you don't know them at all
life is such a funny thing
how the past informs the present the new things one finds out about people you thought you knew inside out the things you find out about yourself with these new discoveries

Now time to finish up finance!

2011-03-14T16:03:00.002+08:00

http://tunaynareddragon.tumblr.com/post/3822658722/translated-tweets-from#notes

“One person quietly picked up scattered goods at a supermarket, lined up and paid for her groceries. Another old lady gave up her seat to a pregnant woman. A foreigner who watched this was speechless. Wow, Japan.”

“I was tired waiting at the station, when some homeless people gave me a cardboard box to sit on to keep warm. This after we pretend they don’t even exist. It’s warm.”

“My 2 year old son put on his shoes and just about wandered outside. ‘I’m going to arrest the earthquake!’, he says."

“On my 4 hour walk home, there was a woman with a sketchbook note written ‘please feel free to use the washroom!’ — she was opening her washroom to the public."

http://prayforjapan.jp/
An update every second.

2011-03-09T21:37:00.002+08:00

rather jolting quote from shan: when have you ever worked hard and not seen results?

work harder!!!!

2011-03-05T23:32:00.002+08:00

It feels soooo good to be home. Almost like coming home after a 12 day flight!
Seeing Singapore from above, and coming back from Jakarta, I'm so glad to belong to a country of good planning and order AND EFFICIENCY.
Seeing the SQ planes lined up on the tarmac...it was rather like my last flight back from Milan, the sense of homeliness. Only now, it's with an urge to work too!
Walking along the airport, pulling a cabin bag with a mamasan bag on it; going into the cabin, seeing the airlarders; listening to the crew work in the galley; and just instinctively reaching to arrange the bags in the overhead compartments and closing them when they're full; restraining myself from telling people to stow their bags properly under the seat (tiger is super lax) etc...

now to work!
I CAN DO IT!!!

2011-02-28T21:30:00.003+08:00

Love these outfits :)

2011-02-27T23:36:00.002+08:00

More movies to watch:
Unknown
Never Let Me Go
Just Go With It
Rango
I Am Number Four
No Strings Attached

I'm sure my list has close to 20 movies now!
Thats 40 hours of movies! Where do I find that time? After exams thats when! Sigh!

RED was amazing! I'm so glad I didn't give up after all the many previous failed auditions in SMU. Hopefully, I'll be able to do at least one more play in my next 2 years. last chance on stage...though i still always like to entertain the thought that one day, i'll be holidaying in la, and be 'discovered' and be the next meryl streep :) *dreams*

Now:
Jakarta Comp (excited!)
Research Paper
Finance Midterms
Nocturne
Finance Project
CORP + CONSTI Presentations
FINAL EXAMS

then
Internship
Germany
Internship
BIC
other comps

then
year 3 starts

ahahahahaha
noooo life's moving too fast!

2011-02-15T11:15:00.002+08:00

Movies to watch:
A documentary about jailed Russian oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, by Cyril Tuschi.

+ all the oscar nominatees i haven't seen:
127 Hours
True Gift
Winter's Bones
The Kids are Alright
The King's Speech
Black Swan
Biutiful
The Social Network
Rabbit Hole
Blue Valentine
The Illusionist
The Warriors of Qiugang

2011-02-15T11:13:00.000+08:00

Books to read:
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier (1956)
Carrie's War by Nina Bawden (1973)
The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall (1975)
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (1982)
Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley (1999)

2011-02-15T09:16:00.002+08:00

" Good Afternoon,

As you learnt a few weeks ago, I had to stop my tennis career due to medical reasons. These last weeks were difficult, but I need to move on... Today, I definitely turn a wonderful page of my life. I lived 20 years of passion, happiness, with good and bad moments but I keep only the positive. If I achieved something along these years, it's also thanks to you... I wanted to thank you for your support and confidence. You've brought me the strength to keep going and to give all my best. I'll never forget it. Now, I head for new horizons. I’ve got some projects in mind but nothing specific so far. Things will be different but you'll fill always a particular place in my heart.
Thank you and see you soon...

Somewhere else...

Justine "

sigh, I was still hoping...she was the most amazing tennis player ever. Still the one I admire most, and probably will be for a long time to come. I was so excited when she came back last year and did well for the Australian Open...but...we'll see her somewhere else...

2011-02-12T02:38:00.002+08:00

Additional movies i wanna watch:
Black Swan
The King's Speech
Shaolin

Gl'Amour's over! Was amazing! Thank you everyone for all your support!
Tony's bday is over, can't believe your 21...gosh we're all getting so old!
CNY is ongoing! Love CNY! Was so sad I had a Bangkok turn in 2009!
Little Red Riding Hood is coming up! Really love drama!

Had the best bus ride of the year today! haha

Midterm break is coming!
Midterm exams are coming!
ahahahahahaha
GG

no! cannot gg! your gpa is already so cui! you need to pull up your gpa! and you know you can do it way better with more effort! its week 6, there's still 8 more weeks of school! you can do it!!!

2011-01-29T01:23:00.000+08:00

Walking around the law internship fair today was rather exciting.
I'm thinking I might rather like to practice law as a career afterall...
We'll see how things goes...

2011-01-29T01:14:00.003+08:00

A very superficial analysis.
Singapore needs to survive, yes.
Singapore is made up of immigrants. But immigrants who have grown to become Singaporean.
And now, we have a couple of generations of born and bred Singaporeans. Our focus now should then be on these 'real' Singaporeans.
Birth rates are falling, and we need population replacement. The answer is not to bring in more immigrants. People aren't having children because they don't find Singapore a conducive place to raise children. Why? Tackle these issues. They might seem unimportant in the entire pragmatic economic way of things, but if your solution is immigrants, its no wonder people don't feel any strong sense of belonging.
Citizens cannot be used as chess pieces.

2011-01-25T01:06:00.001+08:00

Movies I want to watch:
Lover's Discourse
Burlesque
Kove and Other Drugs

2011-01-23T20:18:00.001+08:00

Gosh, I think the last time I've been so tired was after an overnight flight before which I couldn't fall asleep!

2011-01-20T13:52:00.002+08:00

I'd forgotten how much I love and miss drama, being around crazy 自high thespians. As much as I love my darling ballare...hmmm...it'd be a tough choice...

Speaking of ballare, Gl'Amour is next Sunday!!! How exciting! Listening to all the tracks and watching the rehearsals, it really promises to be one kick-ass production!

Though after Gl'Amour, I'll be locking myself in for 2 days to catch up on work!

2011-01-12T18:26:00.005+08:00

Finally have time to sit down and blog.
Am sitting at starbucks @ Raffles City with a white chocolate mocha (after finishing my smuggled sushi) waiting to attend Michelle Kwan's talk at 1930 @ the National Library.
She'll be talking about the future of Singapore in figure skating. I'm not especially interested in that, but the point is just to see Michelle Kwan! Saw her skate live earlier last December @ the opening of MBS's synthetic ice rink, and it was just...spell-binding! It was the Winter Song programme she did at Kim Yu Na'show a couple of years ago, which I didn't think was especially fantastic watching on youtube. But watching her skate it live, it seemed like there couldn't have been anything more beautiful! I daresay I've seen all her videos available on youtube, and I'd never in my wildest dreams (and they are quite wild! www.lieseldreams.blogspot.com) thought I'd ever get to see her skate live! I had entertained the idea of flying to watch her anywhere she's performing, but as a poor student, that is obviously not a very feasible idea! So when I heard that she'd be performing in Singapore, I absolutely had to be there! I was one of the kiasu ones who went down and hour earlier to get a good spot. It was certainly more than worth it. She skates with so much heart! I was so sad she decided not to try for last year's Vancouvre winter olympics. That was more or less her 'last chance'. But now she's doing this wonderful thing with her life after skating-she's studying international relations and is an envoy in the US state department! How much more amazing can she get? Ok, I should stop gushing and go on to other things.

My holidays was spent dancing away. Gl'Amour is on 30th January, and from when exams ended, we were dancing practically everyday, choreographing, and learning our steps. (My 2 pieces are at long last finalised! It was quite a pain thinking of steps to some of my favourite songs: 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' & 'I could have danced all night', but now, I think it was well worth it :))Other than Gl'Amour, we have 2 competitions in January to train for. One of it was over last Saturday (hahaha so ggfied I think I'll just hide the certificates), and another is this coming Sunday. After that, we can concentrate fully on Gl'Amour, and after that, I'll be much freer for a while! (can't wait!)

So that was my holidays-dancing, resting at home, and meeting up with precious few people (oh and watching criminal minds!).
Managed to clear perhaps half of the things on the list of things to do with Sonia.
Met up with S33 people a couple of times.
Went for Liz's sister's very nice wedding with her very beautiful violin playing. (i'm soo going to ask her to play at my wedding!)
Went out with Yaqi & G4C lovelies.
Rafael went home, though we managed quite a few nice dates before he left!
And ceci came home! Yay! (thanks for all the presents!) Now we can have our (fortnightly?) outings after an unprecedented 5 month hiatus! lol.
Speaking of this woman, she 80% successfully organised a surprise birthday celebration for me @ Timbre on my birthday itself. Thanks so much woman! <3 (and no, it hasn't been 10 years! we're only 22 this year! wait till next year! haha)

I took huayshan's suggestion and took my birthday off facebook. Boy was she right- it's a very good idea!
1) reply to less 'happy birthday's on your wall
2) hear from people you actually love more
3) :)))))

Other than waking up for an 8.30am class, I had a very very nice day!
Went to see my beloved Ballare after class to settle tickets
Went to chill at New Asia Bar
Went to Timbre for surprise BFF put together
Went home to cut cake

There was Ceci's 21st celebration last week.
This week there'll be Tina's 21st.
Then next month is Tony's 21st! omg!

December holidays = Christmas too! Didn't feel much Christmas cheer this year for some odd reason. Hopefully this year will be better! I still have super super belated Christmas cards to send out overseas too!

So that was basically my rather uneventful but as fulfiling as it gets 'holidays'.
It's now the second week of school and I can't wait for summer to be here!
Germany!!!! :D (internships!!! not as happily exciting as Germany, but still should be good experiences)

CNY is in a couple of weeks and I haven't got my clothes yet!

2011-01-03T02:26:00.001+08:00

I'm being unreasonably irritated at people 'liking' my facebook status of 'hello to sleepless nights' now.

2010-12-28T23:55:00.000+08:00

Haha today is like 'Best friend day'. I know so many people who went out with their bffs today.

2010-12-28T23:25:00.000+08:00

Life goes on when people aren't around.
But life is just better when they are.

2010-12-21T10:19:00.001+08:00

What a lovely week!
Nice date, saw MICHELLE KWAN skate live (never saw a more beautiful heartfelt performance), and ceci's coming home early! :D

2010-11-23T01:45:00.002+08:00

Exams start today!!!

Tuesday: Comparative Legal Systems
Thursday: Law of Business Organizations
Saturday: Financial Accounting
Tuesday: Property Law

G.G.
I have honestly never been so ggfied before.

on to other matters...
not to start sounding so old, but hanging out/talking with younger people really makes one remember the voracity one used to have for life. doing whatever one's heart desires, when one still held true to 'nothing is impossible, before one got discouraged by 'practical consideration'.
no, we weren't delusioned, we were simply living life as it should be lived- pursuing passions, being absolutely driven.
"let not the vicissitudes of life constrain"
revive the old spark.

moving on again...
speaking of youth, there's been a spate of violence among youths that has been very disturbing. surely it can't be that schools don't keep them busy enough. do schools not keep them focused enough then? and perhaps it's a reflection of the lack of parental guidance, as majority of them chase after their careers. does the uncensored exposure from the media encourage them into such a lifestyle?

2010-11-16T23:49:00.001+08:00

I just want to go to anywhere in the world, anytime I want...
is that too much to ask for?

2010-11-15T02:05:00.002+08:00

I love receiving postcards! :)
Its so nice to know that you're remember in your friends' travels, to look at the beautiful pictures, and read of their exciting tales.

I love sending postcards too!

Real mail is so different from email.

Exams be gone!
this sem is absolutely GGfied

2010-10-29T03:09:00.002+08:00

Just finished watching The White Countess. It received pitiful reviews. But I found it a brilliantly stitched together film, with the best pedigree cast of Redgraves one could ever get. (Vanessa Redgrave, Lynne Redgrave, Natasha Richardson) The changes in tone and emotion slowly creeps up on one as one is subsumed into the slow meandering but captivating flow of the film. I also very much appreciated the reality of the time and place that the filmmakers took care to portray. The details in the fashion of the time; the tasteful distinction between the glamour and the poverty; the reality of the japanese invasion. Not a film for the 'modern hearted'.

2010-10-28T18:43:00.002+08:00

Friday:
FA Meeting
CLS Meeting
Dance

Saturday:
CT Meeting
Dance
(CLS Meeting)

Sunday:
SIBDC

Monday:
Class till 9.15pm
(CLS Meeting)

Tuesday:
CT Presentation
CT Visual Rep due
CLS Presentation

huh?!?! where am I going to find time to prepare for the presentations and finish my visual rep?!?!?!

2010-10-23T19:26:00.001+08:00

Needs to stop pmsing everytime the world blows me off cause its gonna be a repetitive thing through life!
I enjoy my own company :D

2010-10-18T14:42:00.002+08:00

When people die, there are 5 main regrets that commonly come up:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
-Nope, I always live a life true to myself. My parents have always given me immense autonomy and emphasized on my making my own decisions for myself, based on what I want.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
-Nope, I probably need to work harder.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
-Suppress my feelings to keep peace with others? Maybe, but only when things aren't really of much importance. Otherwise, I'm good too!

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
-Nope, I always make sure my dear friends stay in touch with me :)

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
-Nope, I'm a very happy and optimistic person :D

Hence, if I were to die today, my only regret would be...nothing much actually!
Not going to church?

2010-10-18T01:38:00.001+08:00

Non, Rien De Rien, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Ni Le Bien Qu'on M'a Fait, Ni Le Mal
Tout Ca M'est Bien Egal
Non, Rien De Rien, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
C'est Paye, Balaye, Oublie, Je Me Fous Du Passe

Avec Mes Souvenirs J'ai Allume Le Feu
Mes Shagrins, Mes Plaisirs,
Je N'ai Plus Besoin D'eux
Balaye Les Amours Avec Leurs Tremolos
Balaye Pour Toujours
Je Reparas A Zero

Non, Rien De Rien, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Ni Le Bien Qu'on M'a Fait, Ni Le Mal
Tout Ca M'est Bien Egal
Non, Rien De Rien, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Car Ma Vie, Car Me Joies
Aujourd'hui Ca Commence Avec Toi

Original by Edith Piaf in 1961

50 years later, an equally sincere (for lack of a more intense word) performance by a Janey Cutler

2010-10-15T01:00:00.003+08:00

I remember feeling absolutely miserable when I first started law school a year ago. Everything was so foreign from what I was used to and was good at. Then, I was genuinely convinced that this course was the wrong choice for me and wishing desperately that I had somehow applied into med school somewhere.
But as the weeks went on, I grew to enjoy what I was doing. I looked forward to classes and was genuinely interested in my work. I wasn't good at it like I was good in my sciences, but I didn't suck too badly at it either. So life was good...
UNTIL NOW
Property low property law
Why must you plague me so?
I know understand why you were the bane of law students since your birth
You bring so much pain and misery to everyone
And you are making me hate law once again
I absolutely can't wait till you're out of my life!

2010-10-09T00:37:00.002+08:00

you would like to see a more intelligent opposition? singapore only has so many people, where do you find so much talent and intelligence from?

to help the elderly pay for therapy sessions and medical bills, china is distributing 100-200rmb vouchers. that amount pay for what!?!? food for the week?

it'd be nice to see a non-sleazy joo chiat.

2010-10-04T02:01:00.001+08:00

I used to love watching this girl (Caroline Zhang) when she was a kid, because she really sparkled. She reminded me of Michelle Kwan. She lost it for a while, but now, the sparkle is back, though it can only be seen in the second half of this programme.

2010-10-03T00:00:00.000+08:00

May you rest in peace Mrs Lee.

2010-09-29T11:57:00.002+08:00

I dreamt that I had a conversation with MM LKY.

We were in some function room, and it was some waiting time. Somehow I was standing in front of it. It must have been some years into the future, because he was sitting in a wheelchair and looked almost a hundred.

Can't remember many details about what he said, something about his family, the importance and challenge of developing talent and getting them to serve in the various sectors of society ...

He seemed to like talking alot as I couldn't get a word in edgewise

2010-09-27T01:55:00.001+08:00

Daddy prepared my next day's breakfast.

Mummy cleaned my bathroom.

My friends ordered dinner for me.

2010-09-23T00:04:00.001+08:00

NOoooooooooooo

I am going to DIE for LOBO midterms.... :( :( :(

I NEED A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you God! Pleeeaaaaasssseeeee! Amen!

2010-09-13T14:56:00.009+08:00

This couple of weeks are going to be so sad :(
I haven't been doing my readings properly for the longest time!
Resolution of the week is to wake up early to study!!!!

-Elise is leaving on Thursday, so need to see her more before she disappears for another year!

-Nocturne is next Friday, so I have to polish up my choreo and actually prac to performance standard; also as events director, i need do all the other stuff too! I love dance, but its taking up too much of my life! After nocturne, fingers crossed.

-LOBO mid-terms is the day after Nocturne. GG. Not just the following day, but the following MORNING! GEEGEE!

-Hanteng is also leaving soon, and he has his birthday thing Saturday evening. Another weekend burnt.
-First presentation on Week 7. Thats the week after Nocturne and LOBO midterms. And its on a Monday! HAHAHAHAHA

-Glamour meetings, CT meetings (why on earth would a prof make people work in groups of 10? super ridiculous! even ltb groups weren't so large!)

-kid's exams are coming up. more sessions per week, more $$$, though it also means more time eaten up. [upside: no more tuition after another 3 weeks! though it also means no more $$$ after that :(]

-FA test tomorrow which I haven't had time to study over the entire weekend! burn midnight oil tonight! darling coffee, please work.

-CT creative journal or something like that due next week! out comes art paper and other nonsense and time wasting equipment.

-ceci was in a train that crashed! wtf. thank god they're all alive.

-wzh quit on us halfway through the term. guess its good KLow has 3 bridging lessons which don't require much preparation or I'd die even more. life's like that.

yay, life rocks! hahahahahaha

2010-09-02T00:46:00.003+08:00

I'm supposed to be reading a very important case now, but can't get myself round to it. So here I am!

Summer has barely peeked out, and now its already the 3rd week of school.

My friends have flown away, and gone back to their busy lives.

I've 'gone back' to my busy life. Of readings, projects, dance, lunches, suppers, movies.

All my busy old friends have been relegated to the part of life that's catching up over coffee or lunch. We're no longer part of each others' lives, but clinging onto the thread of occasional meet ups that join us.

Though technically school only takes up half the year.

Is half my life busy or half my life bliss? Is the cup half empty or half full?

旧的不去,新的不来.

我现在的生活也过得很充盛. 可是放假的时候和老朋友们过得很悠闲.

大家都必须长大。Life goes on. 但是，如果大家的生活都是‘新’的，那以前得事又算什么呢？

Live in the present.

As with everything else, the final conclusion is that there needs to be a balance.

Pui. I just need a time machine! :)

Today was teachers' day. And I had lunch with my favourite 杨老师！ She finally bought me lunch! haha (with yonghong and fanzhe) So nice to see her again!

欣怡，要用功读书。你读发律一定要读masters.

2010-08-25T21:37:00.001+08:00

There is a little truth behind every {just kidding}

A little curiosity behind every {just wondering}

A little knowledge behind every {I don’t know}

And a little emotion behind every {I don’t care}

2010-08-09T03:04:00.003+08:00

after a couple of outings with my german buddies, i find that they are alot more open to discussing social issues (e.g. aging population, immigrants, studying abroad etc.). its not that they're more aware (i'm sure singaporeans are aware of such issues too), but they seem to think more about things and actually have a defensible opinion which they are open to discuss. a very nice refreshing change! :)

a couple of things i forgot to add about December Rains:

It absolutely reeked of Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress. I caught forbidden city in Sec 2, when the school subsidized the ticket, and was so enamoured with it I absolutely had to watch it again when they staged it again a few years later; and also recorded the tv screening they had.

It was at Forbidden City that I fell in love with Kit Chan. And so I absolutely had to attend the musical Kit Chan was again appearing in after such a long hiatus- December Rains.

A while into the musical, it hit me that alot of the musical motives, the effects, and even the way the musical was staged was very reminiscent of Forbidden City.

Granted, the setting was very similar: a time of turbulence and revolution, centering around a woman who found and lost love etc; and many of the people involved were involved in both musicals. But it was a bit too similar...

Though given that December Rains was first staged in 1996, and I was only 7 then, it might be the other way round. And there's too little documentary on the 1996 production for me to make any comparison.

Nevertheless, I was thoroughly enthralled and entranced by the stunningly brilliant performance. (it would have been 101% perfect if the director had been more picky about the cohesiveness of all the ensemble pieces though)

omg, a week till ceci flies off for half a year! :(

a week till school starts. i need to buy my books. i need to find my matric card!

a week to clar's birthday.

2010-08-08T02:59:00.002+08:00

我今天去看了《雨季》。

一进去艺术中心，就感觉到这天的观众非常 'chinese'. 最后一次又那么的感觉是在中政70周年的晚宴那一晚。

演出的前几幕是在个华校里。看到演员们演出中学的画面，自己也好像回到中正似的。

想起了中学美好潇洒的日子，想起了湖的传奇，怀念了我的宝贝戏剧。

高中的时候一直去看朋友表演，自己也非常想再次上台演。自从开始读大学，我就一直想参加学校的演出。但是，实在太忙了，一直都没有机会，没有时间去面试。我唯一能取得一次，是为了一个我因为去度假而不能参加的演出。可是，我在大学还有3年，机会还多！:D

故事说了1950年代的事情。那时新加坡还在英国的控制下，但新加坡的华校生都不服英国人，都想到中国去’建国‘。这造成了很多奋斗和换乱。新加坡的华校历史都很丰富。但是，这时候抗议的事情，是个它们很少见的一部分。很多学校连提都不提，几乎那些事情没发生过。雨季的故事能够把那时的实况表达出来，是个很好的事。

雨季的故事，歌曲，音乐，演技，感人的不得了。

陈洁仪实在太美妙了！

2010-08-02T10:47:00.002+08:00

one united people, peace and harmony...what do these all mean?

a few years ago, these simply meant that all singaporeans lived together in peace, without the racial riots of the past. everyone understood each other's cultures and differences.

but now, a good fraction of our population are foreigners, and they are setting up their own enclaves in various parts of our country. does this call for a reevaluation of toleration, of what it means to be a one united people?

i don't think so.

yes, we need foreign talent. we need them to help with the advancement of our country, we thus need them to feel at home. however, when in rome, do as the romans do.

by all means, have your little spots in our country that reminds you of home. but do not revolve your life around that place. come because you like our culture, and can add a little spice to it, not because you can disappear into your 'little ______'. it wouldn't be good for singapore. and in any case, we don't have that much space for you to have a self enclosed 'little ________'.

the past few weeks with my s33 have been such a joy!

but now huayshan is back home, and everyone else if off on their little holidays.

c'est la vie.

and as much as i love my ballare, i don't want my last 2 weeks, the last 2 weeks that all my friends will be around for to be with people i'll see for the next entire semester! lol

2010-07-23T01:00:00.002+08:00

Went back to VJ for lunch and crashed Mrs Koh's GP lesson on Tuesday.

Had forgotten how wonderfully good and cheap the food in VJ is!

How awesome slack and relaxed life in VJ is. *sighs contentedly*

Very glad to see VJ still relatively full of good looking boys and girls :)

Monday and Tuesday were S33 days! Such a fantastic class! We're awesome!

More when Elise is back!!! Yay!

Life has been very good! I've met up with Jia Yi, Man Ying, Ying Hui; bumped into Cassandra; enjoyed time with Ceci; gone clubbing with Phuay; danced; cooked; baked; watched movies; gone swimming...

I've yet to go running though. Soon...next week :)

YAQI IS BACK! YAY!!!

Andreas & Phuay are leaving this weekend...noooo D:

But till then, life is going to be awesome :)

Can't wait for my darling G4C meet up later today!

2010-07-21T21:52:00.003+08:00

Perfect Cast = Beautiful Movie

Julianne Moore + Amanda Seyfried + Liam Neeson = Chloe

Vanessa Redgrave + Amanda Seyfried + Franco Nero = Letters to Juliet

Meryl Streep + Amanda Seyfried + Pierce Brosnan = Mama Mia

Looks like the new magic equation is: established legendary leading lady + amanda seyfried + established leading man = wonderful movie

This week, after work has ended at skm is going to be sooo lovely! :D

2010-07-15T01:18:00.002+08:00

my flowers still smell very nice :)

quote back to myself:

"i've got friends who are still very good friends even though we can never remember to talk very often.

friends who always try to talk to me, no matter how busy i am :)

the one important thing i've learnt about friends from a long time ago is to beware of, what i call, friends in the moment. these are people with whom you can have a great time, but to whom you don't really matter. and hence, not to expect anything more than the occasional good time."

quote from ceci:

"sometimes we r too caught up and we get busy with our own lives

we dont talk as often

but doesnt mean anything

cause we are still close

hence with all the expectations

it might put a strain on the friendship because one party would expect too much from the other

with ur good friends

there is no need to make it a point to like talk every day kind of thing

just as long as both knows

that they r there when u need them

and u do meet up

then its fine"

my final analysis:

too caught up in our own lives, but the beauty is when you make it a point to catch up.

and as with any other relationship (platonic or romantic) there's always a certain degree of expectation.

i find myself on both sides of the balance, hence my above quote to manage expectations, and to think of others' expectations when i'm tempted to just blow them off.

last 2 days of work! before another month before school starts :)

July is the month when everyone is back! I like!

2010-07-12T23:01:00.001+08:00

Yay! I go for dance with a partner who's back from his holiday and who is bloody curt with me.
Call my friends to meet them after only to have them not answer the phone.
And once again, am not invited! Wheee!

2010-07-08T10:33:00.006+08:00

"Thank you for giving us something to dream about this summer, Germany." -Ying

And also something to cry about. It was heartbreaking.

Deutschland, ich liebe dich noch.

Vielen Dank fuer die schoene Sommertraum.

Sie lebt noch. Ihr habt so gut gespielt.

Am Anfang koennen wir uns nicht denken, dass ihr in mittelfinale wird.

Ihr habt uns so spannenden Spielen gegeben, so viele Toren geschossen. Die beste Manschaft wart/seid ihr.

Wir glauben an ihr noch! <3

Love my G4C! Always have a wonderful time in our (approx) twice a year outings! Exhilarating quarterfinal!

I had a very enjoyable time yesterday evenings! I want more of such times!

Singapore is really beautiful. And looking out at your country from the top of the newest and grandest structure in town, in luxurious surroundings and old friends- life doesn't get any better! :D

All my friends from the UK are back! Parties this Friday and Saturday!!!! And then weeks of awesome hanging out! :D

And phuay is back too!

After that, Andreas and Yaqi will be back!

And then everyone, including Ceci will be gone again :(

Yes, a blog is for myself, to jot down my thoughts about life. And I do abhor those who write for the sake of popularity and stuff. But its also a platform to publish and share my two cents worth on certain things, and times like these, its a I want to have my cake and eat it kinda thing. Haha, but its no big deal! Chill peeps :)

Might or might not be the case, but being pointedly left out is kinda obvious. Its not nice to be left out of emails and not being spoken to properly for such a long time after such an enjoyable december when I was included in almost everything.

2010-06-29T18:28:00.001+08:00

Haha, only 3 people read my blog.

Though why do I even notice? Its supposed to be for my own pleasure. And I hate those people who blog just to be read about.

2010-06-26T02:15:00.003+08:00

Passion

Wimbledon

11 hours 5 minutes, Isner & Mahut

Henin

Letters to Juliet

Vanessa Redgrave

Claire & Lorenzo; Vanessa & Franco; so sweet! must have been so fun and natural!

Want to harvest wine in Italy next summer or the following one

2010-06-26T01:54:00.003+08:00

I was on the night rider on the way home. It was really crowded. so I plastered myself to the side, and right in front of my were a couple of poly students. All the way from orchard to geylang, the girl was trying to explain to the guy why she wanted to travel.

They were year 3 design students from poly, and recently, the school had been getting people to talk to them, and the one thing she took away from those talks was that one should be passionate about what one does. So she wanted to travel to find her inspiration. She didn't want to settle.

She wanted to do something she was 100% passionate about, not something she maybe liked 80%. Fair enough.

If there were 100 things to do in the world, she didn't want to stop at maybe number 5. She wanted to travel the world, and maybe somewhere, she'll experience number 67 and fall in love with it, and voila, her life calling.

(I don't know if they guy with her was her boyfriend, but I was thinking, so there are billions of guys in the world...are you going to globetrot till you find the one you fall in love with at first sight?)

Bottomline argument, she doesn't know what she wants to do, she hasn't found her life's passion, therefore she has to travel.

The guy tried to convince her that she could find something she liked if she stayed put too. Apparently, her dad said 'Yes, people travel and get inspired. I stay in Singapore, and get inspired too.' He tried to leverage on that, but she was insistent, giving the example of a photographer who found his love for his art at the age of 35.

So then, her question was, if I am destined to find the one thing I'm passionate about at the age of 35, what am I to do from now till then?

The guy was apparently lucky, because he loved music and was good at it, so could live off it. But it apparently was a different matter for her.

I was almost reaching home, so I thought I absolutely had to throw in my two cents worth or burst. I absolutely agree with and applaud her desire to do something she's passionate about in life. However, you can't go actively hunting for it! That is no excuse to spend your life travelling and do nothing else until you find your life's passion! One, there's no guarantee that you'll find it. Say you are destined to find it at age 40, what then? Two, you can travel aimlessly. Three, there must be something you can do with life!

Make the best out of your situation for goodness sake. If you're financially capable, travel all you like and do whatever you want. But if you're like most people and need to make a living, do the best with what you have, hopefully find a job that you like, and do what you're 80% passionate about. If its really your destiny to find your 100% passion, you'll find it out of work!

2010-06-22T00:44:00.001+08:00

"Not sure if i've told you before but bet you didn't know that you rubbed me the wrong way initially perhaps during cca? But as time pass i realise how much liesel chong is, more than what she potrays at times.

She dares to fight for what she thinks it hers, no matter what. Guess that being something i lack in certain ways(as i consider too many things which may paralyse me at times), i initially was a little put off? More like it was the first time i really see someone who dare to do so much, heedless of what others may think of her.

As time pass and i get to know you better, you became one of my pillars of support(as along with my other good frens and the rarer good girl frens). Beyond what was superficial, it struck me how similar our ideals and beliefs are at times. Yes we clash, we argued but hey guess that's how i get to know people better.

You were the few who never bow down to pressure of any kind.

Up till now i can so proudly say that i know an ex-air stewardess and she isn't any much older than me.

Liesel, people who don't know you enough may think you do everything purely by feelings and everything is just spontaneous. But in actual fact everything is calculated(not in a bad way, more like planned out?). You know what you want, what are the goals you wish to achieve and achieve them you will.

You may wonder why others are so apprehensive at times but i guess there is an emotion you seldom face with.

Well i guess relationships with you are like wine, they take time to age. Perhaps you just need to not be erm bimbotic too much most of the time?(then again you will say what do i know about bimbos right?"

- Wong Han Teng

2010-06-21T19:33:00.002+08:00

I came across some quotes today, and decided to look for more.

"A true friend stabs you in the front." - Oscar Wilde

"People's fantasies are what give them problems. If you didn't have fantasies you wouldn't have problems because you'd just take whatever was there. But then you wouldn't have romance, because romance is finding your fantasy in people who don't have it." -Andy Warhol

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." -C.S. Lewis

"To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up." -Oscar Wilde

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." -Oscar Wilde

"We are keenly aware of the faults of our friends, but if they like us enough it doesn't matter." -Mignon McLaughlin (hmm, is this the McLaughlin that irritates law students?)

"You have freedom when you're easy in your harness." -Robert Frost

"I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." -Robert Brault

"Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right." -Laurens van der Post

"Man tends to treat all his opinions as principles." -Herbert Agar

"Freedom means choosing your burden." -Hephzibah Menuhin

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." -Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, 1905

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." -Judy Garland

"Do not keep on with a mockery of friendship after the substance is gone - but part, while you can part friends. Bury the carcass of friendship: it is not worth embalming." -William Hazlitt

2010-06-17T23:08:00.000+08:00

Long Awaited Day! (:

2010-06-15T23:12:00.000+08:00

Happy Day! (:

2010-06-15T02:05:00.002+08:00

Bills paid, GST credits registered!

Last week's sucky week is made up for by this week's full schedule :)

Had a wonderful competition trip to KL and came home very satisfied with everything :)

Cycling past the Changi Airport's runway today reminded me of my last work flight vividly. Landing into Singapore early in the morning, looking out through the window to the sight of Singapore Airline's gleaming planes lined up shrouded in a rare morning fog. A majestic welcoming sight, heralding a new chapter of my life...

On the flight back from London, the LS said to me 'I can see that you really miss your job'.

2010-06-08T10:03:00.002+08:00

ahh, I appear to have been missed by 2 readers :D

my trip was lots of fun, especially the weather! one cannot believe how absolutely sucky sg weather is all the time. bring me to europe anytime!

internship was very enriching, became a ucits expert, haha.

UCITS is a european fund, that is heavily regulated, and becoming increasingly popular because of that(esp post madoff).

i met someone who's convinced that a person only needs 5 friends at any one time, and in fact can only have 5 friends, any more of which is unnecessary and impossible. and as long as one of the 5 is always your spouse, you'll be fine.

this i absolutely disagree with. i definitely have more than 5 friends i want to talk to at once, all of whom play parts of varying importance in my life. no doubt, in this age when so many are studying overseas, and more might work overseas, it is getting increasingly difficult. but life goes on, so we make full use of technology and human effort. how depressing that life goes on, it'd have been perfect if life could have remained post-JC, pre-uni (but then, i'd never have met my uni friends). i love my friends :)

its always nice to spend time with my best friend, even just sitting and doing nothing :)

i've got friends who are still very good friends even though we can never remember to talk very often.

friends who always try to talk to me, no matter how busy i am :)

i shall slack this week away, and then see what i can find from next week :)

lovely idle bliss :D

2010-05-01T05:06:00.001+08:00

Airports and train stations are emotional places.

blahblahblah

lots of thoughts, lazy to write

2010-04-24T02:14:00.002+08:00

EXAMS ARE OVER!!!!!
Have been over for a week!
Life has been good!
Though everyone else but smu are just starting exams!
Which means my friends (or rather friend, since all my other friends are overseas), aren't free!
But still, life has been good.

Slack, sleep, watch tv, sleep, eat, sleep, read, slack, sleep :)

And I'm pleased with myself! Been doing some sort of exercise everyday for the past week!
Sunday: Went running
Monday: Went skating (surprised myself by still being able to do some small jumps :) though I've lost my spiral :( but I'll get it back this summer!)
Tuesday: Went for ballet jazz trial class @ SBA with Vicky. Most boring class ever, though good work out. Those were exercises I could do on my own if I remember :)
Wednesday: Clubbing. Dancing for 5 hours is super tiring! Damn! Getting old! I used to be able to do this without being so shagged after! Shall try again in June; though everyone will be out then...SMU, NUS, NTU, JC kids... :(
Thursday: Did exercises at home
Friday: Dance. Finally! After 2 weeks!
Something's weird going on. Been like that for a while. I don't know why, and I don't like it. But it might be groundless, so I won't do anything about it.

I'm going off gallavanting again from tomorrow!
Though this time I won't be paid to travel :(
Wonder wonder, what life would have been like if I'd taken no pay leave instead of quitting...flying was good, haha.
Can't wait to feel what its like in a plane again.

Excited to go back to those lovely places, see some new places, perhaps meet my friends, enjoy beautiful weather...
Though I'll miss everyone back home! Haven't had about enough time to enjoy since exams ended! Time before exams don't count, because that was just study time and that was just no life time.

Speaking of time, it really really flies.
Seems like just yesterday I was still in school.
Now, my juniors are almost finishing school!
ahhh this always happens. I feel like I've so much to write, and I do have the time to write! But then I feel all lazy and decide to not to write afterall. i.e. now. hahaah
so cheerios!

2010-04-12T23:06:00.003+08:00

I have never been so screwed in my life.

Dammit, can't stop thinking about it.

Reminder to self:

When you get a C for contract, its because you didn't read the self help article (although you don't agree with the bulk of the article); you missed out frustration; you didn't have time to go into penalties and LDs properly.

2010-03-06T23:48:00.002+08:00

I'm baaaccck!!!

After such a looong loooong time.

My excuse: life has been HECTIC and I can finally take a breather now!

I screwed up law play auditions, so didn't get casted.

I think I shall act for myself once in a while from now on, just to practice. Surprised myself with my appalling performance.

But to make up for that, this has been a week of compliments for me! haha

1) I appear smart

2) I appear graceful

3) I sound articulate

haha. i'm easily pleased. lol

And I'm pleased with how my Contract 2 mid term paper went too!

Spent 3 nights studying for it. Doesn't sound like alot, but it was 3 very productive nights supported by coffee. 3 nights of sleeping after 3am and waking up early enough to be in school by 0830. I surprised myself again (good thing this time :D)!

A million and one other things have been going on. Seems like an uber long time since I've met my friends!
Hopefully I'm seeing ceci for tea or something tomorrow! :D

2010-02-18T21:42:00.002+08:00

writing an office memo is the most depressing thing ever!

i have honestly never done a more agonising thing in my life!

i have plenty more to blog about.

happy days

a traumatising event

but this depressing thing is what finally drove me to pen it down here

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2010-02-10T01:40:00.000+08:00

The time difference between UK & Spore is 7 hrs but the flying time is 14 hrs. It doesn't make sense to travel for 14 hrs rite? So why not we just sit in the flight, take off, hover somewhere 'up there' & wait till the Earth turns (which will take 7 hrs) & when we see UK below us, just land back down again? Saves time and fuel, rite?

This actually makes alot of sense...lol

2010-02-10T01:11:00.002+08:00

The numerous unending demanding obligations of life, especially school life, are damn annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't wanna do this anymore!
I don't wanna continue with this

I don't wanna waste my time at school

Doing all these senseless things no more!

2010-02-08T01:55:00.003+08:00

You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, even months analyzing a situation, trying to put the pieces together. Justifying what could've, should've, would've happened. Or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move on.

Just because she comes off strong doesn't mean she didn't fall asleep crying, even though she acts like nothing is wrong, maybe she's just really good at lying.

2010-02-05T09:32:00.002+08:00

Things I need to start and finish SOON i.e. by next week

1) Legal Writing Memo

2) Tort Presentation

3) Start Contract Presentation

4) BGS Individual Paper

5) BGS Group Paper

including of course the normal day to day preparation of classes.

No time!!!

There's dance, there's tuition, etc...not forgetting there's the need to sleep.

And after another week, will come the time to prepare for mid-terms.

Been meeting phuay to find present for Vicky!

Had lunch at this new place called 'indulge' at the cathay with tina. Fair price, nice good, good deal :)

Meeting Ceci later!

Then SUPER FULL day tomorrow before Vicky's party!

And its Vinay's birthday tomorrow too! DIE

Sitting in BGS class...something i always wake up for (as opposed to AS)

2010-02-03T02:26:00.001+08:00

bleah

i've so many things to do i can just drop everything and not do a single thing

2010-01-30T00:08:00.003+08:00

I need to study
I need to sleep

I need to dance

I need to run

I need to swim

I need to read

I need to go out

I need to skate

I need to play tennis

I need to practice piano

I need to learn violin

I need time prepare for ppl's bdays

I need a harry potter time turner

2010-01-29T21:19:00.002+08:00

soooooo tired.

4 hours of sleep last night just to prepare for presentation.

at least it didn't go too badly.

i can still fit into my uniform! yay!

lots of things to look forward to next week. cut hair, hopefully movie, etc. etc.

but too tired to be excited :(

2010-01-20T20:27:00.002+08:00

It's 8pm on a Wednesday evening and I'm home alone.

A little odd, nonetheless very nice.

It suddenly came to me today that my tort Prof Gary Chan is a very good listener. He will silently let one say his piece, listen intently, and be able to pick out what one was trying to say no matter how convoluted one's speech was. 技术高明

That was Wednesday. It was now noon on Saturday, and I'm sitting in school again. This time to wait for dad to pick me up for lunch. Once again, the last bits of morning in the city is lovely. Warm rays of the sun and a light comfortable breeze :)

That last bit was 6 hours ago! This is probably my most fragmented post to date!

Well, lunch at Pu Tien @ City Square was surprisingly nice. And I had a most productive dance session! Glamour looks like its going to be a beautiful event. Unfortunately the tickets are miserably expensive, so I shan't make my friends come :(

Love dancing, miss skating.

Good time on Tuesday meeting up with the girls. Too short! Too infrequent! Too busy!

Past week has been a busy week. This coming week is going to be worse. Thanks to my irresponsible contract TA and useless BGS. Also irritating how AS is such a total waste of time. Shouldn't be too bothered if I keep not waking up for classes.

Can't wait for holidays!!!

2010-01-14T10:14:00.002+08:00

It's a beautiful January Thursday, I'm sitting at the open space in school opposite the Cathay, the sun is mildly warm and there is a lovely strong breeze blowing, rustling the leaves and swaying the branches, the air smells clean and refreshing.

Its almost coming to the end of the second week of school, and almost 3 weeks of 2010 has passed.

I am also now 21.

Turning 21 holds plenty of legal significance, though life goes on, the day I woke up fully 21 felt the same as any other.

Despite all that, I had a lovely 21st birthday party. It was at beautiful sunset bay @ ECP with most of my dearest people.

My family, to whom I am the only one to be amused at, nag at, be frustrated at. and for whom I intend to remain so until such a time as comes necessary for otherwise; and the members of which have bestowed me for all my life with much love, gifts and extra opinions.

My cousins who I've only discovered a few years ago but with whom I've spent lots of enjoyable times.

My bestfriend with whom I've had lots of fun, who's lived with lots of my whims and who's helped me with alot of saikang :) and naturally for whom I would never swap with anyone else.

Naturally my friends from school (cchms,vj,smu), without whom life would be a bore and a good deals less enjoyable.

Whoever was overseas, I know you love me :D

I had a tourist day out with Eileen and Clar last week (after I slept through my first AS class at home. speaking of AS class, I think its a total waste of time, if it must be compulsory, easily accomplished via e-learning), and then a nice evening with Ceci @ Timbre @ Mt Sophia (we were smart and walked up the road instead of taking the stairs).

As far as possible, I shall try to make Thursdays my movie day!

Last Thursday was Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker's funny and entertaining 'It's about the Morgans'.

This Thursday shall be the great Meryl Streep's 'It's complicated'.

As I've been typing, the mildly warm sun with the lovely strong breeze has morphed into an overcast sky with strong wind, shaking the branches of the trees. Nevertheless, it's still lovely weather to be sitting out in (safely sheltered, away from the impending storm of course).

2010-01-01T04:32:00.002+08:00

2009 is finally gone and 2010 is here. As the previous year was coming to a close, all I could think about was that the holidays were ending and that school was going to start again. The month break had been a good rest (I've gotten plenty of sleep and chill time), but there were plenty of things I hadn't done.
-Kbox
-Ice Skating
-Picnic
-Sentosa
-Pulau Ubin
I then went on to think about how I needed to pull up my socks in school, quit bejeweled and thoroughly prepare for every single lesson.

So all of my new year thoughts were about school and work, this considering school took up only 13 weeks (out of 49) of my 2009. The lighting pace and giagantic pile of work from school has somehow led to my sort of losing track of my outside world. Life shouldn't be about work, and then fitting friends and outings in. If that were the case, I'd be spending 95% of my time working, and only having time for my friends and family once a month. Then I'd want to only spend my time with a select few people, because this time that I can squeeze out is definitely not enough!

This time last year, I was more concerned with my social life. I had all the time in the world to accomodate my friends' schedules, visiting them in school etc. I always say I miss flying, my passengers, the times with my collegues, the stations etc, one thing I never realised I had then was the time I had for myself to really do what I wanted; things then were really very nicely balanced (except that I could be around on certain days).
Now, life is immersed into school, what social life I have is closely intertwined with my classes and work. Other people will have to be slotted in. Reading Liz's post about 'living for oneself', I sort of know how it feels to not be able to spend as much time with friends and family as you'd like.
Its actually an either or thing. To excel in work, you'd have to put it your priority, your relationships will grow among the people you work with (not that I'm not grateful for my classmates, they've come to become very good friends); but if you want to nurture and maintain your 'old life', other things will have to take a backseat, and it'll be a case of work slotted into one's social life.
In this world, to 'succeed', the choice is made for you, you have to take the first choice. But I don't like seeing so little of my friends, and hence will try to be superwoman and the last resolution for this year would be to work out something to fit it all nicely together.

Happy New Year!!!
you know you love me
and i love you too!

2009-12-29T02:51:00.002+08:00

Since I have promised to blog, I shall start to blog.
Now starts the arduous task of trying to remember what I've been doing the past 2 weeks!

There was Deborah's party.
So went shopping for Deborah's present with Andreas one fine day. Found Yaqi's present as well, and almost everyone's Christmas present.

There was Ying Hui's party.
So went shopping for her present.

There was our law Christmas party at Tina's place.

Shopping for Shan's present.
Hanging out at Liz's before that.

Dad's company's Christmas party. + boring Singapore flyer.

Dance, Tuition, Baking & Cooking.

Sherlock Holmes on christmas eve with vicky and lying.
And probably the most exciting, Ceci's finally 20th birthday celebration.

Avatar, the most fantastic movie of the year! Very well made, exciting, cool storyline, relevant underlying messages.

Originally had plenty to write, but am feeling lazy. heehee.
probably till next year folks!

you know you love me

2009-12-12T01:51:00.004+08:00

Hi world. I've been absent for a while.
Forgive me, but the first thing I'm going to blog about are my disgusting grades.

First up on the dartboard is LTB, the module my sem 1 life was devoted to. The amount of time I spent on it was ridiculous. I end up with a B+.
My advise to my friends yet to take LTB?
*Be the slackest person in the group, just make sure you do well for graded components, and especially your learning journal. Someone else can do all the shit work.

Contract: I've got no quarrel with my component grades. Thanks for the A+ for class part furmie. But I'm pretty sure I produced a better answer for my final exam than for my midterms. So why the B- for my final exam my dear prof? Which gave me an overall B...

Crim: Happy enough with my class components. Was quite well prepared and pretty satisfied for my final paper. So a B for that paper? And B+ overall....is that it?

LSLMA: Ha, dear Prof Gao...Thank you for all the A+s, but but but, why was my final exam another B-?????? I really do not understand. I honestly do not believe it was that bad!

So all these leaves me with a 3.32 GPA...

Now that I've moaned about my (i feel underserved) grades, I shall thank my many friends for their many words of encouragement and faith :)

That done, I've been enjoying the past 2 weeks of holidays.
Life with not a care in the world is honestly very blissful. Especially when you've just ended a period of a tonne of things on your plate. Okay, maybe I'd hate to have nothing to do for a prolonged period of time (like some days during my flying days. gosh how I miss those days now), but a good long break is definitely welcome after 13 weeks of school.
I've been having a very relaxing time.
Frying pancakes with Eileen.
Going to new asia bar with Ceci, LY, Vic.
Clubbing with my dear friends (as mentioned above and those from law sch)
Playing tennis
Spending time with Ceci in PP before she flew off to BKK for a week
(finally get to spend time with my fav person after 13 weeks of horrible sch :D)
Finally dancing again
Being able to laze my Sundays away
10k Stanchart run
Going to Bugis with Vicky
Having lunch with Clar n Eileen then walking round Orchard
Reading my novels are home and doing nothing for the day
Having lunch at Cafe Cartel to celebrate Angeline's birthday
Having dinner with Tony and Aaron
FINALLY meeting Debo! albeit for a super short time
Having an awesome Stone grill lunch with vicky
Then meeting ceci again

yes, so this has been my very awesome holidays.
another 2 weeks, before its time to go into top gear for sem 2 to rectify my disgusting gpa.

YAQI mein liebchen! Happy Happy Birthday!!!! You're 21! That sounds so mature! haha. So this post shall be dedicated to you. lol. Wish you were back this hols too! <3

2009-12-01T14:11:00.002+08:00

EXAMS ARE OVER!!!!

Studying with my law mates was fun and productive.
Don't abhor what I'm studying as much as I did now. Grows on you.
Exams were kind of alright.

Busy making the most of my holidays now!
Sleep, friends, movies, bake. CHRISTMAS...
Gonna be seeing alot of my favourite friends, yay :D

Deborah Hendricks where are you???? You've disappeared!

2009-11-15T02:03:00.001+08:00

"Deng had congratulated Mr Lee for building up Singapore into a carden city. Recalled Mr Lee: "So I said, 'Whatever we can do, you will do better. We are the descendants of the landless peasants of South China, you have the literati, yo u have the top brains, you ahve the poets, the artists.' He did not answer me, he just looked at me and went back to his food."

Do I agree with this view?
It is necessary.
Is it correct?

2009-11-12T20:15:00.002+08:00

LTB IS FINALLY OVER!!!
plenty of things to say about that, but its all in my learning journal, which I shan't reproduce.
It feel good that it's finally over!

Now, I only have my LSLMA report to complete, and exams to study for!

you know you love me