Annoying Saturday Morning...

Back from school.

Saturday, early morning, insufficient sleep, 3 hours of travelling and a 30 minute test. That basically sums up my "eventful" morning. Why the hell must they put a 30min test on a beautiful Saturday morning?! Yes, I was damn irritated. But at least the test was easy. So yupz, that's why I WAS pissed. Haha. Anyway, I stopped by Queensway to get a new shoe for my everyday wear. And only today I realize how convenient it is to go there. I can just take 33 from NUS to Queensway, before taking 14 from there to home. Oh plus I got it for quite a bargain. Awesome. =D

Anyway this week's the first week of semester 2! Like the first semester, the first week's only filled with lectures. I think I planned my timetable pretty well this semester - very few breaks in between lessons. But the downside is Thursday. 2 hrs of Math followed by 2 hrs of Chem Kinetics in the same LT. Really shag out. I'm still don't like to attend lectures alone. But thank goodness, I only have to do that for Chem Kinetics. Oh I managed to find khakis to attend MLE lecture 2 with me! Awesome. And lab is every alternate week only. So yay! Super slack mondays every alternate week. Hmm.. but thinking again, I may end up having 3 day week if I watch online lectures instead of actually attending it. So tempting. But I shall be a good boy and drag myself to school (drag because almost every alternate day starts at 8am and the other days end at 6pm You can do the Math =X). I'm still wary of Karma. Haha. LOL! And no more midterm clashes! Damn happy. Midterm clashes can really kill you - a lesson I learnt the REALLY hard and painful way. Oh and another thing. I really can't believe my luck. For all my tutorials this semester, I got the same tutor! Not any tutor. It's the same *crappy* tutor I got for CN2122 last semester! Gosh! Really can't believe my luck. The probability is so low, yet I got them all. If only I was so lucky for 4D. =(((

Oh and Tuesday, I went back for TJC Open House! Lecture ended early so I waited for the rest in school before heading down to TJC! Yea managed to look for most of the teachers. I realize it's always the few of us that are going back regularly to visit the people who I'm so grateful of - the teachers. And the teachers still remember our class leh! Omg so 感动!  And they are still nagging at their present class about how nice my class was! I guess 01/06 really left a deep impression in many of the teachers. Yea the open house this year is definitely more packed and fun than the previous year! So yeps, feel so happy for my school! Somehow I get this sense of home whenever I step into TJC. The familiar and ever so friendly environment. Yeps. Actually, I also get the same feeling when I go back to TMS as well. I guess this 2 schools have played a HUGE role in developing me to who I am today. So yeps, really really grateful to this 2 schools. =D

I'm telling you the weather's insane these days. It keeps raining! It seems like I need my jacket almost everyday else risk catching a cold and freeze during lectures. Actually, I'm already coughing and sneezing away. Damn irritating. 

Ok I need to start doing my tutorials. They are piling up real fast. =(

Oh man! School's starting again!

Omg school is starting! Ok, this semester break's pretty short, but yeps, it has been pretty well spent I must say. Anyway got went to school on Thursday to get my WP paper back. So much for the suspense, coz I already got my grade for the entire module. LOL. But since I was already at Clementi, so I went over to get my textbooks for the the upcoming semester.

Bought the textbook for Heat & Mass Transfer and Chemical Kinetics. I'm really becoming broke because of all the textbooks I'm buying. Haha. But since I'm definitely becoming a chemical engineer in the future, I guess these textbooks would come in real useful. Haha. Yupz, feeling curious, I flipped through these books, and was really happy to realize that everything's very Math. Awesome. Oh and notes are up too. So I spent my quite a bit of time printing them out. 

Yupz, finally comfirmed all my modules and stuff. I will be doing 6 core modules this semester, namely

CN2108 Chemical Engineering Lab I

CN2116 Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design

CN2125 Heat and Mass Transfer

CN3124 Particle Technology

MA1506 Mathematics II

MLE1101 Introductory Materials Science and Engineering

I'm insisting on doing CN2116 despite everyone telling me that it's a pretty much killer module like CN1111 and CN2122, coz I really want to do CN4201R or CN4246R next semester, and it requires CN2116. So yupz, wish me luck! Oh and I'm delaying EG2401 to semester 6 coz I feel that the workload this semester is pretty heavy already. =D

Anyway the last couple of days have been pretty bad for me. Down with a pretty nasty flu. So yupz, forced to stay home. Sian. And I haven't been exercising. Damn. Oh and I was thinking if I should run the Standard Chartered Marathon this year. My last marathon was the SCSM in 2007 just after I ORD. Haha. And yes that's definitely the fittest period of my life. Haha. Hmm.. really have to consider this carefully coz I really need to be disciplined enough to put aside quite a bit of time every week to run. Oh and the pain. =( Hahaha.

Oh it's the New Year - 2011!

I realized that every year, I always countdown with the peeps from 01. Damn awesome people to hang around with and spend the first moments of the new year with. Anyway the evening started with dinner with the standard 01 peeps, minus Vincent who's in London, Wan Yee who's in Denmark (maybe somewhere else in Europe le.. LOL) and yupz, that's about it.

I think the food at Ootoya Japanese Restaurant at Suntec City is quite good! Haha. And it's not that expensive. Haha. Definitely worth the try. Anyway after dinner, walked around for a bit before heading over to Marina Square to countdown and watch the fireworks!

I feel that it's the atmosphere that makes all the difference. Yes, the fireworks was great, but coupled with the festive atmosphere and the result is a night not to forget! Haha. 

Loved watching the awesome fireworks with 01 peeps. Hanging out with the 01 peeps, we bound to do stupid things...

HIP-sters in action!

More retarded stuff with Qi Hui wondering what we're even doing. Haha!

It's really funny. The peeps from 01 are one of the wittiest people around, but hanging out with them, you call feel your IQ really falling! Haha. It's always full of nonsense and just FUN! Haha. It's quite unbelievable that we are able to just crap throughout the night. Yes it's really very funny crap. Haha. I think it's the amount of time we spent together as a class during JC days tthat we accumulate so much in common - the whole treasure cove of inside jokes. Haha. Damn I love just being around these people. It just makes you forget all your troubles and everything, and just feel damn happy! Looking forward to many more countdowns with 01! =D

Next up, New Year's Day. Yupz, today was spent with the awesome peeps from 00/10! Actually I don't know how exactly we got along too! It all started in TJC. But not as students, but as relief teachers! Haha. Anyway somehow, we all got to know each other and tadah! We became good friends! Haha. Must be all the lunch and bumming around together that made us so close as a relief teachers group. Haha. Oh and not forgetting all the school activities and everything. Really fun group of peeps! Damn awesome. Yupz, anyway it's the usual gathering at my house. Haha. But before that lunch at the new Bedok Point. Haha. The moment I stepped into the mall, I realized that the entire mall is dominated by food outlets! Yupz, there's quite a good mix of food outlets there. Anyway as expected, everyone was super late. Haha. But forgivable coz everyone's busy having fun till the wee hours of the morning the day before. Haha. Anyway, settled at Bishamon Sapporo Ramen restaurant. Yupz. Anyway had a pretty quick lunch before heading over to my house.

Yayness! Shi Ying brought Wii!

Haha. I'm telling you Wii's really great fun for gatherings! Haha. Maybe I should get one real soon. Damn awesome fun. But it's damn tiring! Please do not be deceived by the innocent looking controllers. They can really make u sweat! Haha.

Yupz, so we ended up alternating between Monopoly Deal and Wii. Haha. But yupz, played the entire afternoon away. Haha. Eugenia joined us later in the evening and off we went for dinner.

Somehow I feel that the East has this special aura. It makes everyone feel so laid back and comfortable. Really homely feeling. And there aren't that many people around unlike almost anywhere else in Singapore. And the most important thing - everyone seems less in a rush than in town or other parts of Singapore. That's why I just love the East!

Anyway, we decided to settle down at Xing Wang along East Coast for dinner.

I just love the French Toast and Yuan Yang from Xing Wang. That's something I will definitely order when I'm dining there. Haha. Anyway with Ser Yang around, we had our fair bit of cam-whoring. Haha. And it's New Year's Day! So yupz, let's just enjoy ourselves and do stupid stuff together. Haha. Damn fun stuff.

Ok, now we know who are the pro-cam whores. Haha! Anyway after that went back to my house for more fun! Haha. Sometimes it's just so nice to be able to sit around in a cosy environment and chit-chat and just have some simple fun with cards and everything. The simple pleasures of life. Haha. And I didn't know that there's this new hubstation in my guest room! Damn I'm gonna hog it down to my room. Haha. And time seems to pass so fast with the 00/10 peeps around! Haha. Really enjoyed the night with them. Guys please organize more gatherings! We need more gatherings! =D

These entire week has been really fun with all the outings/gatherings and whatnot. Really tiring week, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. As such, this semester break is one the most well spent holidays in my life. And I have to say this - I'm really blessed to have groups of really awesome friends that have played a pivotal role in every single aspect of my life! You guys rock man! I definitely couldn't have achieved so much in my life without you guys! Looking forward to many more years of friendship ahead! 

Family

This morning, I went to visit my maternal grandparents with my bro. Things really change when we grow up. When I was younger, I used to visit my grandparents with my entire family almost every week. But as I grow up, my parents no longer request that I go visiting with them. Nowadays, my bro and I will visit them alone. But I guess that's part and parcel of growing up - everyone are busy with their own lives and we learn to be independent. And it's not restricted to my family. My cousins, uncles and aunts, too, become so busy with their lives that everyday, my grandparents have lunch by themselves. And that's one thing I really can't stand. I don't know why, but I just can't stand seeing my grandparents eating alone. I just get this strange and uncomfortable feeling. Yupz, so I ended up having lunch with them. And it's really amazing how happy the elderly are when we do simple things for them, like having a meal with them. As such, it made me realize how easy it is to make someone so happy. I feel that no matter how busy everyone is, every family needs to have regular meals together to feel like a family. If not, to put it crudely, the house just feels like a hotel. Maybe it's just me.

Oh and I realized  how influential a grandson's words are to grandparents. My parents were trying so hard to convince my grandparents to retire, but they simply refuse. But the moment I mentioned it, they agreed immediately. Such influence indeed. Yupz, but I agree that they should have retired long time ago, lay back and enjoyed life. If not for my grandfather's recent operation, I'm pretty sure they would not even consider retiring. I guess that's the problem with the older generation. They work, scrimp and save for the next generation. They never really get to enjoy life. Or put it in another way, their definition of enjoying life is different. All they want in life is to see their kids, and they grandchildren grow up and become happy people. It's that simple. I feel that they should want more in their lives. Enjoy while you still can - that's how my father puts it. Yes fight hard to push your career to greater heights. But at the end of the day, think about why you're working, or what/who you're working for. That's how to maintain work-life balance.

If there's one thing that I've learnt about myself this year, it's that I realized that I'm a very family-oriented person. To me, my family is more important than anything else. Orion played a huge part in me understanding more about myself. Through this trip, I've thought about many things in my life - my priorities, my family and my life as a whole. Just take a step back and you really get to see your life from a whole new perspective.

BBQ, CIP and CORS!

Yesterday's GEP BBQ! This time it's held at Zhiyang's place. Pretty posh estate at 6th Avenue. Haha. The turn-up rate was awesome - almost all the year 1's turned up. There were fewer year 2's though, but Prof Quek and a few of the staff turned up too. Haha. Anyway, had great fun at the BBQ. Oh the new guys turned up too! Haha. Welcomed the new peeps into GEP! Haha. Anyway, it wasn't exactly a BBQ so to speak, coz we cheated and used the electric hot plate to cook the stuff instead of the regular one. Haha.

But the food was pretty good ! (coz me and Pei Yi did most of the cooking! =D). Oh and you get to eat the freshest foods too! =D

And the group of vultures forever camping beside BBQ - to always get the freshest food! Hahaha. But yeps, had quite a bit of fun cooking. I think I should just quit school and go into cooking! =X Anyway it was really fun hanging out with them. And yes at every gathering these days, monopoly deal is a must. Haha. I think I'm addicted to that game. Haha. Oh and how can I forget the super sweet fudge that Yan Tian bought. Haha. It redefined the term "sweet". Haha. I think all of us were high on sugar sia. Haha. But yea, really appreciate the thought. =D Oh and thanks Jia Mei for sending the East people home after the BBQ! Anyway, I think we should have more outings! The year 2's are all leaving for exchange le! But yupz, wish them all the best for the trip. My turn will come. Argh so looking forward to it. A good break away from NUS. Haha. But after they're gone.. Oh no! I think I'm gonna be really lonely for lectures after they're gone. =( Oh well. Haha.

Anyway today went over to Woodlands to help out for the Post-Orion CIP preparation. Tested out the amazing race and yupz, gave some suggestions to improve the activity. I think organizing CIP activities is really fun! Haha. But yeps, I guess it's also because of the people helping to organize it. Seriously, Orion peeps are a great bunch of people to hangout and work with! Haha. Really fun and sporting people. Haha. Yeps, looking forward to the actual CIP day! =D

Ok now for the not so fun part. CORS is back! But this time I do not need to wreck my brains to think of which modules to read this semester. I've got all 6 modules pre-allocated to me! Haha. But damn. 6 core modules! Pray hard everything will turn out really well! But yeps, timetable looks pretty good so far..

It's gonna be really heavy on the preparation work with CN2116 and Lab. Looks like I will take the risk again. But hope it pays off this time round! =D

Oh and looking at the date, I'm suddenly reminded that the holiday's ending! Damn. I haven't really started much of all the fun and stress relief activities that I intended and the holiday's ending! So sian. Oh well. But at least I can say that this semester break has been unexpectedly meaningful and fruitful for me! Damn awesome!  Haha. Looking forward to enjoying the week or so of vacation I have left! =D

Boxing Day!

Boxing day's been a pretty hectic day. The day started off early as I needed to attend my uncle's wedding. Ritz Carlton again. It's a small wedding buffet lunch reception. Not your typical grand Chinese wedding dinners, but it felt way more meaningful and comfortable. I liked it really much. And  the food was damn awesome. Haha. It was an International buffet, with super fresh seafood and super nice desserts. Really enjoyed it. Oh and I found out that one of my students is gonna be my relative! LOL. Anyway gatherings with my cousins are always damn awesome. =D

Ok, anyway got home in the late afternoon, changed, then went out again. Wearing formal attire out for gatherings' really very weird, so yupz, gotta go home first. TMS family gathering! Ok this time round to celebrate the last of our 21st birthday this year! Li Wen's 21st!

Xiaolongbao buffet at Crystal Jade Holland Village. There seems to be a trend that we go there every 2 years and eat so much xiaolongbao that we won't go there for the next 2 years. LOL. Anyway today's attendance is good coz Meiying's back from exchange! Haha. =D

We ate 35 trays of xiaolongbao! Hahaha. Now I'm damn xiaolongbao-phobic. Haha. Spending a lovely night with lovely people in a lovely place. Awesome. Next up went to Starbucks to have coffee and settle Li Wen's presents. Haha.

I always enjoy gatherings with my TMS family. They're always full of nonsense and we always have good food! Haha. Thinking back, I don't know how exactly we got so close, coz back in sec school, not all of us were so close. But after sec school, everything just clicked and yupz, here we are! Haha. Amazing. Anyway this Boxing Day's really well spent!

P.S.(not my name!): I'm super full from the 2 buffets today! I think I've gained back the 2 kg that I lost during OCIP! LOL.

Christmas!

Alright it's the time of the year again. Christmas is coming (I'm not lying like Nan always is, but to be more accurate, Christmas IS HERE.. LOL). But somehow it doesn't feel like Christmas. Hmm.. probably it's because it doesn't have much significance to me (not even as a public holiday coz it's during the school holidays anyway -_-"). I think it's Singapore. During the trip, although it wasn't exactly Christmas yet, but it felt like Christmas - the warmth, the joy and that should be what Christmas is all about. Back home, Christmas is nothing more than a day where everyone shops and eat out... that's about it? So cold indeed. Oh well, that's exactly what it is in this concrete jungle called Singapore. And because it's a stay home Christmas this year, I've decided to change my blogskin a little. New blogskin for the new year. A fresh start - that's exactly what I need now.

Ok coming back from OCIP, reality strikes you. I haven't performed up to expectations in school (in fact, I missed it by quite a long shot). So that really calls for some soul-searching. What are my mistakes and what haven't I done enough for this semester. Ok these couple of days at home has been really fruitful - straightening my thoughts and trying to get my motivation back. Yes the sky seems pretty dark at initial glance but looking ahead, there still seems to be that little light at the end of the tunnel. Really like to thank the many people around me for being so understanding and supportive. And when times get really rough there are small and simple things that help you get through. So yeps, I really appreciate it. And yes, I'm back to normal!  =D

However bad things get, at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason. Rather than complain abut life, why not embrace it? Life's still beautiful! ( I think the double rainbow at Mount Hope is damn beautiful! Don't you agree? )

On the brighter side, next couple of days will be really packed. Gotta attend my uncle's wedding tomorrow, before heading over for xiao long bao buffet with my TMS family! Haha. Haven't meet up with them for quite a while, so yupz, really missing them. Supposed to have a CE Club/Orion chalet tomorrow, but yeps, looks like I can only go for one. =( Haha. Anyway I have a Keppel Site visit on Monday and GEP BBQ at Zhiyang's place on Tuesday! Haha. Awesome days ahead. So looking forward to them. =D