Hello everyone, and welcome to 2009! I am in Week 7 of my final semester now. Economy is bad and jobs outlook, bleak. Anyway, happy Total Defence Day (15 Feb 2009 in SG) and happy belated Valentine's Day!

and if you read Straits Times/BBC today, you will see that "lovelorn singles to direct their 14 February requests for love to St Raphael, rather than St Valentine." Interesting. and there will be these newspaper articles on how V day is just another day that will pass, that roses will wilt and be forgotten. Bet you din know this --> 92% of women can remember the last time they received flowers, and 89% say receiving flowers makes them feel special.

back to revision! I am looking forward to next week, when my cousins are coming back to SG!

Hi everyone!

I think my blog has gone stale and even I myself don't visit it often. But hey, I thought I could just blog once more and keep myself engaged to myself, if I know the meaning of what I am typing.

Lionel is in USA right now. He has been there for 2 weeks, and I think Rocklin is very crowded with 3 (maybe even 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, depending if you count joan, uncle dell, speedy and mona lisa). I used to find it amazing how a 24 hours flight could land me in a totally unfamiliar place, when I have been in a familiar place with all my life. How majority of the world population could be leading a lifestyle so different from mine. In Marrakech, they had prayers broadcast over loudhailers in the evening and throughout the day. I wasn't paying attention to those at all, probably lost in all the sights and sounds, until one night we went up to the rooftop of our hostel to eat our dinner (read: banana and peanut butter bread) We thought the guy had lowered the volume of the CD player for us, but in fact, he had lowered it so that he could listen to the prayers. I found it really amazing.

and now I have been back in Singapore for 3 months. Fatter nonetheless. However, I feel myself scared to go into situations like I forced myself into by going for an overseas exchange. I received my overseas transcript. Mostly Outstanding and Remarkable. I wonder if I really deserve those comments. Maybe it was just that the students did not study as hard.

Which brings me to my next point. I have two cousins in Canada. Think the last time I see them was 2 to 3 years ago. They must have grown quite a bit. the younger brother was a toddler the time before he left. and guess what? he is learning sign language now. my dad guess he is autistic, anti-social, doesn't like to speak. But he is a hyperactive boy, who came to my house one CNY and started walking around in circles! Amazing!


Some updates about myself. I have completed half of my term now. So it is the mid-term break, kind of like March holidays for school-going kids in Singapore. In SJ's words,"recess week my foot". I find myself dreaming of the times I was in Europe, bringing up the Europe times in my conversation. It is one of those things which I never thought I would do, but I see it as necessary for me to prevent myself from becoming an even more spoilt brat, and to widen my horizons.

and here is one of those things which I never thought I would do, but I am forcing myself to do it anyway. I got an internship with a foreign bank in Singapore. Come ask me what bank it is. This bank has many Caucasians working there. I know I should not be affected by that, but I am quite apprehensive about how I will spend my time there. My exams end on 6 June and I start internship on 9 june and end on 15 aug and sch starts on 18 aug. real quick right? It is one of those things, when after the experience, I will just be amazed how I did it. Consolation: Mama will be right next to me literally. My building will be next to the OCBC building, so that is some comfort.

and I have been thinking about my previous internship last summer, with a Big 4. When I was in there, I thought my work would never end. I was in a 15 week internship, I had to work real hard, and I was often hoping it would end soon. now that it has almost been a year, I realise it is now over, just like that. Quite an experience. And it proves to me that I can do whatever I set my mind, heart, soul, brain, strength into doing something, whether I like it or not. and it helps I have my family and friends next to me. Imagine if I was posted overseas to work! I really don't know if I will accept such an opportunity that comes by, at this moment in time.

and My dad, SJ, Shaun and I just had dinner at Peach Garden. Amazing new dishes, which the restaurant innovated after coming back from Hong Kong. Applying what they have tasted and seen into practicality. and no wonders why I am getting fat. my spare tyre is protuding. Enough for now. Good night folks. and SJ, enjoy our midterm break!

Hi everyone! I am in UK right now. Was in Paris since 21 Dec till 26 dec with Songjie, Ivy and Victor. Now we are in Victor's place at Loughborough. It is a student's town, so it is not as exciting as Barcelona or Paris. I am having a little cold/sore throat etc right now. drank the medicinal tea already. Hope not to miss tmr's hot pot! Now we know why health is wealth. I am so heaty I haven't gone to the toilet since I reached Paris. argh.

We went to Disneyland on 24 Dec. It was really nice. Dream come true. I wanted to buy a soft toy from there - that is what I wanted to do since I was in Primary school. But I thought the toys were too kiddy and I was too stingy to part with my money.

25 Dec, we went up the eiffel tower. we queued for so long, and I think it took us 3 hours to get up to the tip. we took the lift ALL the way up! the view was magnificent, but the wind was so cold. Paris is a really beautiful and happening place. I want to be rich and buy LV bags like no one's business. Sounds really realistic right? actually I don't want expensive or branded stuff.it really is the thought that counts. haha I think that is what my mum means when she wants something from Paris.

kk time to sleep!

Hola! my second last night in barcelona, in spain. I will definitely miss this place, minus the studies. I will try to take some photos tmr to help me recall how I walk to the bus stop to take the bus to school, how i go shopping in the afternoons etc. it has been a good time really, besides the time when I wish I could cook laksa of course.

and I just had my exam. It was bad.

and today I went to the post office and sent 16kg of belongings back to SG, via boat ahahha. what a way to call it. anyway it cost me 86 euros!!! darn. i shd just throw away the stuff and use that 86 euros to buy new stuff right? oh well. sentimental person. hahaha

I asked my Swedish roommate to accompany me to the post office. she was really nice and obliged, even though I don't talk much to her. and she has to revise for her exam tmr. and we went to the post office, and thankfully, she was there to help me translate. I kept thanking her and her reply was " That is why we stay together with other people, to help each other." really nice of her.

and I am still worried my luggage is overweight! I have a lesson tmr morning at 8am. think i will come back after class and pack before I go out again!

SJ is in Prague now. Hope he is not freezing. I m worried I will freeze in other parts of europe. brrrr. it is 9 degrees here in barcelona. high compared to other parts of europe. brrrr.

uncle dell, looking forward to seeing u in sg in january! almost there! hold ur appetite for laksa!

christmas lights in barcelona! this is one of my favourite, near my sch. at night, think between 6 to 10, the lights are shimmering
















see the logs? they are typical handicrafts in barce, for the kids. kinda like christmas stockings. actually, they are sign of fertility. can google them and u will find their meaning












when sj came, he brought his canned food, and we had nice chinese food! nice by our standards. i miss chinese food! the chinese food here just tastes different














this is us on top of park guell. behind us is barcelona. and beyond, can see the sea.













and this is SJ, right on top of a mount on top of park guell. view from here, can see all the major landmarks from here. but the wind was really strong, and the staircase is no properly covered, means can get blown off by wind. i was really scared to climb up

8 more days to "Goodbye to Barcelona!" Am I supposed to be sad? Well I will miss this place for sure. the times when I just go downstairs and walk along the shopping streets, or go to the supermarket, or even going to sch! Like Ivy said, it is a different lifestyle. But hey, I am an extrovert. I need to be around ppl. I go berserk being alone. Maybe I am simply a loner :D

today 13 dec, is the day of my capital markets and portfolio management exam. but that is not important. The important thing is, I met THIERY HENRY! omg. in a shopping mall. I was hesitating whether to approach him to sign. I din want to take a picture of him, cos I was alone and I din bring my cam. din want to use my handphone. SO, I bought a Football Barcelona pen from the shopping mall, and approached him to sign. I was surprised he could speak English:

me: Will you sign for me please? (very politely, which is rare)
TH: Yes. sure

I think he is just like any other guy. But he is 30 years old! He was out with 2 of his frens. Ard his frens, he behaves just like any normal guy. but hey! he is a star. when ppl approach him, u could tell he did not want his shopping interrupted, but he kindly obliged to the requests. kinda like in sg when u meet aaron kwok hahahah

and I have been dutifully keeping a diary that has my entire year's schedule. Today I was cancelling out the days, and looking back, a really long year. I had my internship, where I clocked my hours and what i did in the notebook. I also jotted down what i needed to buy in sg for my barce trip, and now, counting down the days in barce with the same notebook! amazing isn't it?

AND Barcelona is a place of idols (Thiery Henry and Lionel Messi - I hope to meet Messi before I leave Barce haha) and pickpockets. Today, I saw a thief in a shop. He stole plenty of earrings and stuffed them in his jacket. usually, there are security guards at the door. i think the guard went into the shop. and the guy happily left. I was shocked. I turned to look at the guy and i think he knows i saw him. so he left quickly. I shd have alerted the salesperson or something. but no use. he would have escaped anyway. I think i m also scared that he might harm me. So i chose to be a coward and keep quiet. Now we know that the price we are paying are also for thefts. that thefts do happen.

I shd start packing my bag soon. my room is in a mess, indicating how i have fitted into my room nicely. weather in barce is kinda cold. i was freezing in my sleeping bag last night. and camp ehi-passiko is today! Really excited for all the participants and organisors. looking forward to more good camp videos!

Hola!
In exactly 2 weeks time, I will be in Paris, goodbye Barcelona. well, I have rushed through my projects for the past 2 weeks, because Songjie is coming today and everything is due next week. Things are under control, although I was a little stressed out. Whether I get stressed or not, things still get done. So I should learn to manage myself well.

and songjie is on the plane now!!

My brother just got back to rocklin from disneyland. and he spent 3D2N there with uncle dell!!! and uncle dell was really excited abt it as well, just that "I have Lionel as my roommate" hahaha. I am sure both of them had a great time together. Lionel said he walked until CMI (cannot make It) and he bought presents for me!! haha my bro is always more generous than me. So next time his girlfriend/wife will really be doted upon.

School work is ok. It is not exactly difficult. Just that everything comes BAM in these last 2 weeks. I have finance exams coming up, but i will pace myself to study. Not too sure what to expect for the exams, but i will try. and I believe I still have one more project, which we conveniently are waiting for exam to end and finish it in the last week haha. whatever. i will miss the shopping in barcelona! all the summer clothes are coming out! thankfully i m not here in summer, otherwise I will buy all the clothes to wear in singapore. quite hesitant abt buying nice furry coats which i m going to wear once.

and H&M is a great shop. kinda like the takashimaya or isetan of singapore :D

and there are all these spanish brands, european brands. asian brands like pantene are very expensive. so are american goods, like starbucks and subway. since starbucks is earning in euros and translating back into USD, it must be making a lot of money this year! buy buy buy! hahah that is just what i reason. and my reasoning is warped. don't sue me.

I have hell lot of work to do:

6 Emerging Economies Essays - I am not even an Economics student - Why am I writing economics essays?

Leadership essay

Derivatives Case

Revise Capital Markets

Derivatives and Capital Markets are real tough, but I believe the professors here teach lesser things but try to go through slower, though they end up hurrying through everything

and today I cooked a drumstick in the oven! Remove the skin (full of hair) and season with soy sauce and bake (vegetarians, pls pardon me). It was quick and not that bad. simple recipe, no need ginger and honey or terikayi sauce. but of cos if you eat too much of this you will get sick too.

and yes, I am getting sick of writing on India and China. Save me somebody! I will buy you sangria from barcelona if you will write my essay for me. and in case you don't know, sangria is red wine with fruits. sweet!