Monday, December 29, 2003
Blogs
The best blogs are often the ones that are so frank, so true about sucky days, sucky feelings and everything..written in the best kind of language known as Singlish. I'm quite amused by Renee's blog whenever she update it, quite impressed by how well Aileen can convey how she feels and how Danping can be so candid even in her blog. Reading someone's blog which is updated frequently, probably you will feel like you know the person very well. There's one link on the left of my blog that belongs to a stranger (someone I don't know personally), a medical student from NUS who probably doesn't know that her blog is linked up unless she did some programming to her page. She's definitely a intelligent individual, judging by what she study...full of opinions for things. But just by reading her blog, I feel that she probably will not be a close friend of mine even if I know her personally. Haha..
LOTR III and Mona Lisa's smile
Over the past one week, we managed to catch two movies in a row. It was amazing how people were all in a hurry to book LOTR tickets, and we had gotten it without doing any prior booking just two days after it started screening officially..and it was a Saturday too. Initially we had intended to watch 'Love actually' which is a romantic comedy recommended by Liangying, but too bad it was a sold-out when we reached Lido and we managed to book LOTR tickets at Yishun 10 instead. Have to admit that LOTR is a must-watch but at that point of time was a bit disappointed as my initial plan was to enjoy a light comedy with romantic elements (though danping said that it was a bit dumb) instead of watching the action-filled mega block buster. Nevertheless LOTR was an excellent show.. I mean, what else can you expect with Aragon and Legolas running around? It's just bit sad that from next year onwards, we can't look forward to the LOTR during the christmas seasons anymore, as that's the end of the trilogy. Re-read my earlier blogs and realised that I've been reading Book I (The fellowship of the Ring) since Jan this year, and right now my book had gone missing without allowing me to finish reacing it. Sigh.. I'm wondering if I should get a replacement of the book and try to finish the whole series in the next coming year. Hmm..maybe that should be my target for 2004. Hahaha..
On Christmas day, Hock Sui and I went to catch another show (I think there's quite a lot of good shows recently) and we got a very good bargain as we watched a very good movie 'accidentally'. Didn't know anything about Mona Lisa's smile before that, and I didn't even know that it was a new movie by Julia Roberts till we scanned through the movie posters, as we were at a dilemma of which movie to choose from. Was rather disappointed that we missed 'Love Actually' again, and I'm not keen to watch Infernal Affairs III as I didn't catch the first two parts. Went into the cinema with quite low expetations but came out quite glad that we had just seen a very touching and inspiring show. Only after the show then I realised that I had actually caught a sneak preview, as the official screening of the movie is only starting on 31st December. As I was watchinghe show, the film took me a long way back down my own memory lane, and reminded me a lot of my school days in a girls' school. It's not so much of the life of the girls, and their behaviour in the female college.. but it was the thinking and mindset that I had back then. Always thought that I would like to become a woman who's successful, liberal and progressive like Julia Roberts in the show. She's a damn great teacher who don't believe in getting married and that's against the socials norms since it's supposed to be the 50s'. That's exactly what I thought I'll become, a great teacher.. and never a housewife. I realised where I am now is a far-cry from my ideal years ago, and somehow part of the ideals had changed. Nevertheless, the movie is quite touching and it had gave me some encouragements to work harder towards where I dreamt to be. Recommended.
The best blogs are often the ones that are so frank, so true about sucky days, sucky feelings and everything..written in the best kind of language known as Singlish. I'm quite amused by Renee's blog whenever she update it, quite impressed by how well Aileen can convey how she feels and how Danping can be so candid even in her blog. Reading someone's blog which is updated frequently, probably you will feel like you know the person very well. There's one link on the left of my blog that belongs to a stranger (someone I don't know personally), a medical student from NUS who probably doesn't know that her blog is linked up unless she did some programming to her page. She's definitely a intelligent individual, judging by what she study...full of opinions for things. But just by reading her blog, I feel that she probably will not be a close friend of mine even if I know her personally. Haha..
LOTR III and Mona Lisa's smile
Over the past one week, we managed to catch two movies in a row. It was amazing how people were all in a hurry to book LOTR tickets, and we had gotten it without doing any prior booking just two days after it started screening officially..and it was a Saturday too. Initially we had intended to watch 'Love actually' which is a romantic comedy recommended by Liangying, but too bad it was a sold-out when we reached Lido and we managed to book LOTR tickets at Yishun 10 instead. Have to admit that LOTR is a must-watch but at that point of time was a bit disappointed as my initial plan was to enjoy a light comedy with romantic elements (though danping said that it was a bit dumb) instead of watching the action-filled mega block buster. Nevertheless LOTR was an excellent show.. I mean, what else can you expect with Aragon and Legolas running around? It's just bit sad that from next year onwards, we can't look forward to the LOTR during the christmas seasons anymore, as that's the end of the trilogy. Re-read my earlier blogs and realised that I've been reading Book I (The fellowship of the Ring) since Jan this year, and right now my book had gone missing without allowing me to finish reacing it. Sigh.. I'm wondering if I should get a replacement of the book and try to finish the whole series in the next coming year. Hmm..maybe that should be my target for 2004. Hahaha..
On Christmas day, Hock Sui and I went to catch another show (I think there's quite a lot of good shows recently) and we got a very good bargain as we watched a very good movie 'accidentally'. Didn't know anything about Mona Lisa's smile before that, and I didn't even know that it was a new movie by Julia Roberts till we scanned through the movie posters, as we were at a dilemma of which movie to choose from. Was rather disappointed that we missed 'Love Actually' again, and I'm not keen to watch Infernal Affairs III as I didn't catch the first two parts. Went into the cinema with quite low expetations but came out quite glad that we had just seen a very touching and inspiring show. Only after the show then I realised that I had actually caught a sneak preview, as the official screening of the movie is only starting on 31st December. As I was watchinghe show, the film took me a long way back down my own memory lane, and reminded me a lot of my school days in a girls' school. It's not so much of the life of the girls, and their behaviour in the female college.. but it was the thinking and mindset that I had back then. Always thought that I would like to become a woman who's successful, liberal and progressive like Julia Roberts in the show. She's a damn great teacher who don't believe in getting married and that's against the socials norms since it's supposed to be the 50s'. That's exactly what I thought I'll become, a great teacher.. and never a housewife. I realised where I am now is a far-cry from my ideal years ago, and somehow part of the ideals had changed. Nevertheless, the movie is quite touching and it had gave me some encouragements to work harder towards where I dreamt to be. Recommended.
Friday, December 26, 2003
A one year contract
It had been a very eventful week, no joke! Yeah..of course X'mas was in the middle of everything to slow down the hectic week and give me something to look forward and celebrate. Wonderful christmas.. great birth of Jesus Christ. Hee hee..
Yeah, let's get back to the job topic although it was a very painful thing to talk about just a day ago. As I was saying on Monday's blog, "Formation Centre" (from hereafter will be refered as FC in my blog) which is the enrichment centre across the street from where Diah used to live had asked me to go and sign a contract with them the following day. The next morning, it was the first place that I went to. After reading the terms on the contract, with one of them stating: "Annual leave can only be taken during Formation Centre holiday", I was horrified. Does that mean that I can only be on leave on public holidays? I immediately thought of Ramunia which will fall on 3 of my working days, and the person told me that they would have to re-consider my contract afterall, so it was left pending and I felt that probably I will not be offered the job again. Sigh.. I was supposed to go home to change into a more formal attire for my NKF interview later that day, but on my way home I 'impromptuly' scheduled another interview at this Toa Payoh student care centre after my lunch. Therefore I ended up rushing to 3 places on Tuesday again. The Toa Payoh Student care is a PAP place with lots of kids running around and their teachers running after them to put them to sleep during rest time. This was the first time when I felt grossly over-qualified when I realized that the working hours are going to be double of that of FC, which is a private centre for the affluent, but the pay is even lower than FC! The teachers working there are all aunties like my mother, and once again I have the feeling that I will not see the place again. Later that day, I went through a very tough interview at NKF even though I was quite prepared, the interviewer pointed out mistakes in my grammar, looking quite disgusted the whole time and I felt like I was a kid talking to my principal in the Principal's office after being given some demerit points. What a day!
The next day was already Christmas's eve, but I was still on the job search high. I'm quite impressed with myself this time round. I called up several schools in the vicinity and enquired about relief teaching, and even went down to MOE to renew my status as a relief teacher. Can't believe that I'm doing what I was doing 4 years ago. Sigh.. but that's an alternative that was better than none. Finally Christmas eve arrived and it was time for my parties! Managed to put all these behind me for Christmas except during the discussion at Casey's place about job search and job interviews. Which, from what was discussed, I concluded that it will take me zillion years to convince somebody to hire me. So amazed by how most people can make themselves so enthusiastic and convincing during job interviews, BUT it's just not me.
The whole job issue became really hyped up last week, with good reasons. I was really upset with Hock Sui for pinning his ideals on me and pressing me to find a job soon. It's one of the rare times we have conflicts over anything, and its a sensitive but important issue. We didn't manage to have a fight or squabble afterall, but I was just plain upset with myself suddenly and horrified with him for making this his christmas wish when all I wanted from him was the latest Jay's CD for the 'hidden track'. I guess we are very different people and hopefully like what he says 'we complement each other'. He can't imagine how I can live my life without great aspirations while I can't imagine myself making great plans for the future. I guess he felt bad, but I feel so much worse that people close to me are feeling that I'm too laid back for my own good.
Last night, I slept with a discouraged thoughts of how to go about looking for a job now that Christmas is over, just like Cinderalla going home after her party. Was awaken by a phone call from Alicia (the young interviewer from FC), who told me that they had decided to offer me the contract despite the fact that I will not be fulfilling the terms when I go off for Ramunia. I ended up with the job and I realised that the FC hols are actually quite a lot as it always have one more week of hols in addition to the normal school break. I'll have 2 weeks of hols in March/ Sept, 5 weeks in June and 7 weeks in Dec. And that's a lot comparing to teaching in schools and other kinds of job, that's why leave is not granted on other days. At least I'm quite happy that I ended up with a job that I enjoy in a nice environment, just before the end of this lousy year. When I was walking out of the place, the lady from the Toa Payoh student care centre called to inform me that the post has been filled. I was still comtemplating taking up the offer, despite being paid peanuts (and I hate peanuts). Finally, the long week is over and so is my draggy job search.
Money issues
Yeah.. ERS is coming next week and so is the start of my computer loan repayment date. I'm pretty broke after these few weeks break from tuitions. Feeling so bad that I'm not paying a single cent everytime we go 'par-tor', which is not our practice until recently when he have a steady income and I'm taking pocket money from my parents again. Luckily, I'm going to have a pay check soon, just in time for new year and my tuition kid just called to start off with tuitions again. Phew..another reason why I was so desperate to get a job.
It had been a very eventful week, no joke! Yeah..of course X'mas was in the middle of everything to slow down the hectic week and give me something to look forward and celebrate. Wonderful christmas.. great birth of Jesus Christ. Hee hee..
Yeah, let's get back to the job topic although it was a very painful thing to talk about just a day ago. As I was saying on Monday's blog, "Formation Centre" (from hereafter will be refered as FC in my blog) which is the enrichment centre across the street from where Diah used to live had asked me to go and sign a contract with them the following day. The next morning, it was the first place that I went to. After reading the terms on the contract, with one of them stating: "Annual leave can only be taken during Formation Centre holiday", I was horrified. Does that mean that I can only be on leave on public holidays? I immediately thought of Ramunia which will fall on 3 of my working days, and the person told me that they would have to re-consider my contract afterall, so it was left pending and I felt that probably I will not be offered the job again. Sigh.. I was supposed to go home to change into a more formal attire for my NKF interview later that day, but on my way home I 'impromptuly' scheduled another interview at this Toa Payoh student care centre after my lunch. Therefore I ended up rushing to 3 places on Tuesday again. The Toa Payoh Student care is a PAP place with lots of kids running around and their teachers running after them to put them to sleep during rest time. This was the first time when I felt grossly over-qualified when I realized that the working hours are going to be double of that of FC, which is a private centre for the affluent, but the pay is even lower than FC! The teachers working there are all aunties like my mother, and once again I have the feeling that I will not see the place again. Later that day, I went through a very tough interview at NKF even though I was quite prepared, the interviewer pointed out mistakes in my grammar, looking quite disgusted the whole time and I felt like I was a kid talking to my principal in the Principal's office after being given some demerit points. What a day!
The next day was already Christmas's eve, but I was still on the job search high. I'm quite impressed with myself this time round. I called up several schools in the vicinity and enquired about relief teaching, and even went down to MOE to renew my status as a relief teacher. Can't believe that I'm doing what I was doing 4 years ago. Sigh.. but that's an alternative that was better than none. Finally Christmas eve arrived and it was time for my parties! Managed to put all these behind me for Christmas except during the discussion at Casey's place about job search and job interviews. Which, from what was discussed, I concluded that it will take me zillion years to convince somebody to hire me. So amazed by how most people can make themselves so enthusiastic and convincing during job interviews, BUT it's just not me.
The whole job issue became really hyped up last week, with good reasons. I was really upset with Hock Sui for pinning his ideals on me and pressing me to find a job soon. It's one of the rare times we have conflicts over anything, and its a sensitive but important issue. We didn't manage to have a fight or squabble afterall, but I was just plain upset with myself suddenly and horrified with him for making this his christmas wish when all I wanted from him was the latest Jay's CD for the 'hidden track'. I guess we are very different people and hopefully like what he says 'we complement each other'. He can't imagine how I can live my life without great aspirations while I can't imagine myself making great plans for the future. I guess he felt bad, but I feel so much worse that people close to me are feeling that I'm too laid back for my own good.
Last night, I slept with a discouraged thoughts of how to go about looking for a job now that Christmas is over, just like Cinderalla going home after her party. Was awaken by a phone call from Alicia (the young interviewer from FC), who told me that they had decided to offer me the contract despite the fact that I will not be fulfilling the terms when I go off for Ramunia. I ended up with the job and I realised that the FC hols are actually quite a lot as it always have one more week of hols in addition to the normal school break. I'll have 2 weeks of hols in March/ Sept, 5 weeks in June and 7 weeks in Dec. And that's a lot comparing to teaching in schools and other kinds of job, that's why leave is not granted on other days. At least I'm quite happy that I ended up with a job that I enjoy in a nice environment, just before the end of this lousy year. When I was walking out of the place, the lady from the Toa Payoh student care centre called to inform me that the post has been filled. I was still comtemplating taking up the offer, despite being paid peanuts (and I hate peanuts). Finally, the long week is over and so is my draggy job search.
Money issues
Yeah.. ERS is coming next week and so is the start of my computer loan repayment date. I'm pretty broke after these few weeks break from tuitions. Feeling so bad that I'm not paying a single cent everytime we go 'par-tor', which is not our practice until recently when he have a steady income and I'm taking pocket money from my parents again. Luckily, I'm going to have a pay check soon, just in time for new year and my tuition kid just called to start off with tuitions again. Phew..another reason why I was so desperate to get a job.
Monday, December 22, 2003
Boring work=> blogging Edited blog title to humor Miss Wu, hee..
Oh my, just went to Danping's page and saw her new blogs. Don't even have time to go through all of that as I guess I should be sleeping soon, but I'll be back babe! Suddenly feel inspired and decided to give my bloggie some updates, I think the 'peak' of everyone blogging down their babblering and boring life is when they feels the most bored. From what I observed, Miss Wu started her blogging during her attachment and my other good friend Miss Lim also became a blog fanatic when she just started working. Heh.. how interesting. And now Aileen is gone from the blogging scene for more than a week, probably too busy enjoying and shopping from xmas. But now Miss Wu's back again, as she's stuck in her office for FYP during the hols. What a life..
Job search
Alrighty, the job search is going at full force again. I have no more excuses as Hock Sui had already finished his post-grad, went for OBS and settled down happily in his job while I'm still bumming around (and I actually graduated a few weeks before him). CI course is over, no more tuitions and the only excuse that I've left now is the Ramunia, which is quite lame too and it's going to be over in a blink. Went for two and half interviews today in a row..and came back feeling that it's a feat. It's a feat as I was punctual for all 3 appointments and got myself a part time job which I'm quite interested.. at least it's a small feat. The first place I went was this enrichment centre for kids above the cold storage which is opposite to where Diah used to live..and we used to go there (that's why I was able to find my way there early this morn) The girl who interviewed me called back after I'm home this evening and said that they decided to give me a part time position to adapt to the job first. Sound pretty good, I only have to work 4 hours per day for a start and the pay is satisfactory. Sigh, maybe I'm really stucked teaching for the rest of my life.. dunno if I should be relieved or sad?
Oh my, just went to Danping's page and saw her new blogs. Don't even have time to go through all of that as I guess I should be sleeping soon, but I'll be back babe! Suddenly feel inspired and decided to give my bloggie some updates, I think the 'peak' of everyone blogging down their babblering and boring life is when they feels the most bored. From what I observed, Miss Wu started her blogging during her attachment and my other good friend Miss Lim also became a blog fanatic when she just started working. Heh.. how interesting. And now Aileen is gone from the blogging scene for more than a week, probably too busy enjoying and shopping from xmas. But now Miss Wu's back again, as she's stuck in her office for FYP during the hols. What a life..
Job search
Alrighty, the job search is going at full force again. I have no more excuses as Hock Sui had already finished his post-grad, went for OBS and settled down happily in his job while I'm still bumming around (and I actually graduated a few weeks before him). CI course is over, no more tuitions and the only excuse that I've left now is the Ramunia, which is quite lame too and it's going to be over in a blink. Went for two and half interviews today in a row..and came back feeling that it's a feat. It's a feat as I was punctual for all 3 appointments and got myself a part time job which I'm quite interested.. at least it's a small feat. The first place I went was this enrichment centre for kids above the cold storage which is opposite to where Diah used to live..and we used to go there (that's why I was able to find my way there early this morn) The girl who interviewed me called back after I'm home this evening and said that they decided to give me a part time position to adapt to the job first. Sound pretty good, I only have to work 4 hours per day for a start and the pay is satisfactory. Sigh, maybe I'm really stucked teaching for the rest of my life.. dunno if I should be relieved or sad?
Monday, December 15, 2003
Festive seasons
I can smell it in the air, the festive 'smell' that announcing Christmas is coming, the air is cooler and everyone is in the partying mood. Every year, I had been looking forward to this time of the year when Christmas is so near and the New Year and CNY coming soon after that. We have lots of countdowns and parties organized, firework watching and so on. Maybe its just me, and there's no such thing as the festive smell but whenever the weather turned cooler, I just feel so excited that Christmas is coming. Its just the atmosphere in the air and the decorations that I see everywhere. For the previous five years, I had been celebrating Christmas the same way (countdown with the CI course committee), but I'm wondering whether there's any changes to my plans this year. Hmm… the crowd is getting younger and I'm growing out of it and also, I've to see whether Hock Sui has any plans. Hadn't been bothering much about the new year in the past, just looking forward to go back to school. But this year it seemed that I'm rather dreading the arrival of 2004 as this year seems to be quite uncompleted and unaccomplished. There had been lots of good times and bad times this year. Obviously the completion of my studies is both good and bad, I just have the feeling that I can't go on to the next year without having found something that I like to do. The past six months gave me an empty feeling, like this year hadn't been achieving and doing as much as previously. Everyone (family, closed friends and Hock Sui) had been encouraging me to find something to do soon, I'm glad for their positive support but feel quite sorry that this had been dragging on for such a long time. Sigh.. I had also lost track on what other things I can do to salvage the situation, but hopefully I can get out of this soon.
Sick
Had a long week behind me as I was down with flu, cough and sore throat.. each of them are taking turns to had their toil on me. Recovered from flu to be followed by sore throat, then cough and now I'm having flu again. Argghh.. the ATC that I had was the slackest I ever had as I was sick the whole time and spent lots of time sleeping in the bunk. I'm still feeling quite weak and need a lot of sleep right now. Finally get to attend the campfire since I had missed it the last two courses but sad to say, it was held in the canteen due to endless rain on Ubin.
I can smell it in the air, the festive 'smell' that announcing Christmas is coming, the air is cooler and everyone is in the partying mood. Every year, I had been looking forward to this time of the year when Christmas is so near and the New Year and CNY coming soon after that. We have lots of countdowns and parties organized, firework watching and so on. Maybe its just me, and there's no such thing as the festive smell but whenever the weather turned cooler, I just feel so excited that Christmas is coming. Its just the atmosphere in the air and the decorations that I see everywhere. For the previous five years, I had been celebrating Christmas the same way (countdown with the CI course committee), but I'm wondering whether there's any changes to my plans this year. Hmm… the crowd is getting younger and I'm growing out of it and also, I've to see whether Hock Sui has any plans. Hadn't been bothering much about the new year in the past, just looking forward to go back to school. But this year it seemed that I'm rather dreading the arrival of 2004 as this year seems to be quite uncompleted and unaccomplished. There had been lots of good times and bad times this year. Obviously the completion of my studies is both good and bad, I just have the feeling that I can't go on to the next year without having found something that I like to do. The past six months gave me an empty feeling, like this year hadn't been achieving and doing as much as previously. Everyone (family, closed friends and Hock Sui) had been encouraging me to find something to do soon, I'm glad for their positive support but feel quite sorry that this had been dragging on for such a long time. Sigh.. I had also lost track on what other things I can do to salvage the situation, but hopefully I can get out of this soon.
Sick
Had a long week behind me as I was down with flu, cough and sore throat.. each of them are taking turns to had their toil on me. Recovered from flu to be followed by sore throat, then cough and now I'm having flu again. Argghh.. the ATC that I had was the slackest I ever had as I was sick the whole time and spent lots of time sleeping in the bunk. I'm still feeling quite weak and need a lot of sleep right now. Finally get to attend the campfire since I had missed it the last two courses but sad to say, it was held in the canteen due to endless rain on Ubin.
Friday, December 05, 2003
Yeah..i'm back, been blog surfing for the past half an hour as I had almost forgotten about the existence of blogger. =P Saw someone's blog that's full of such quizs..
-Sensitive- You're Sensitive, and you'd like to
stay that way. Sorry,listened to a bit too much
Jewel there. You're sweet and very emotionally
charged. You definitely love the person you're
with, and always want to know how they're
feeling so you can make sure they're happy.
What Kind of Girlfriend Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Yawn..I believe that my significant other had long forgotten that I have a blog page to check this out anyway.. tsk tsk..
-Sensitive- You're Sensitive, and you'd like to
stay that way. Sorry,listened to a bit too much
Jewel there. You're sweet and very emotionally
charged. You definitely love the person you're
with, and always want to know how they're
feeling so you can make sure they're happy.
What Kind of Girlfriend Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Yawn..I believe that my significant other had long forgotten that I have a blog page to check this out anyway.. tsk tsk..