best (or just slightly better) graduating student

I apparently won a gold medal or something for being the best graduating student in my grad dip cohort from NTU. Truth is, the whole grad dip "cohort" only consisted of me and my colleague. The rest are masters students. And I know my results were not that fantastic either.

Er... I guess, I am only the slightly better graduating student?

Er...

Hello, I'm back.

And finally the MEGA event is over and all of us are back to our normal lives. Had woken up a couple of times in the middle of the night thinking that there were still some follow-ups to do (yes, post-event trauma) but overall, am glad that the event had gone by without any major hiccups. The best part was that I really got to see world leaders, like, this close. And oh yes, including dear Mr. Obama, who looked much shorter in person than I thought. Too bad I din have the courage to take a photo of him with my handphone. I was too concerned that I might be towed away by the bodyguards.

Another "highlight" was being invited to the men's toilet by my boss' boss, standing alone with him looking at some showcase aimed at impressing our international guests, and trying not to feel awkward about the whole situation. He did seem really excited about the technology. But like, it's the men's toilet!

And now that the event is over... it's time to bury myself in books and notes and what-nots. Just finished the first paper today, and have two more to go. Am a little worried about the last paper - I didn't attend classes for that module at all the whole semester, and I heard that there is a compulsory question on SPSS. I mean, since when did a comms grad dip become a statistic one?! Wragh!

And..... then it's time to find back my long-lost friends, whom I haven't seen for ages, and whom I'm looking forward to catch up with sometime soon. I've been so out of sight/touch/sound/smell that I probably need to re-introduce myself again. I feel like I've gone overseas for a year and come back... really.

Zzz

Was feeling particularly happy today because I caved in to my cravings for a nasi lemak breakfast this morning before heading to work. It was a mere 10 minutes of sit-down breakfast at the Central basement. But boy, it felt good.

My email account was finally fixed today and I could, once again, access my emails and no longer feel detached from the rest of the working world. Funny how grumpy I can be for NOT being able to work. I guess that's because I know there will be 200 hundred plus emails waiting to be read eventually. Spent the entire day trying to clear some of the backlog. Argh.

Meant to sleep early today but ended up being awake still at this hour. Class ended late, and my group also stayed back for close to an hour to discuss the topic of research. Reached home after 11pm and was feeling a little hungry although I had supermarket sushi for dinner. Ended up eating two packets of cheezels and a bowl of mee sua all by myself. Not good at all, sister!!!

And now, I'm going to bed, with a stomach bloated with junk and the aftertaste of mee sua which was not really cooked.. but soaked in boiling water cos I was too lazy to switch on the stove. Yucks.

Luck needed

Back at work after spending the long weekend at Bintan with my little cousins. It wasn't as exhausting as I thought, perhaps because I was hiding in the shades most of the time (I couldn't swim this week), and also cos the food wasn't that fantastic. But then it felt good to have relaxed over the long weekend... especially before the final term starts this week.

Argh. Just the thought of going back to the far far away land gives me a headache - the long journey and evenings listening to profs speak with my eyes barely able to stay awake. @.@ The battle begins again. Wish me luck!

Exams are over!

Exams are finally over! The paper was a killer but I'm so glad that it's over because it meant that I'm done with another semester i.e. only one more semester to go!

From now till the next semester, I'm going to make it a priority to look after my health. I haven't fully recovered from the stupid flu and at the rate I'm eating chocolate (my comfort food), I'll slowly but certainly become the fattest bride next Jan.

Final creative

Right. I was expecting loads of criticism on the simplicity of the creative design. Surprisingly, most people liked it because they could apparently relate to it.

Late night studying? Hello?! Does anyone have a life??!!!

Work... work... work...

Just barely a week after I said people should learn how to enjoy life... I'm going back to the unfortunate work-work-work routine. :( Things are coming in non-stop and there's just no stopping them! But honestly speaking, I don't hate my work. In fact I quite enjoy it (in a fulfilling kinda way). I think it's important to enjoy what you are doing and I'm able to learn tons and tons.

Plus the colleagues are nice. Well, most of them.... :)

And it's quite funny that one actually told me that "Grace, you don't seem to be happy in this job". I think maybe I appeared too grouchy sometimes... looking like I'm going to tear my hair out and scream any time.

I think the coming months will get more and more hectic with the event I'm involved in looming near and school work getting heavier and heavier (stupid leturer giving us instructions only on Friday and expect us to present on Monday!!!!) *$%&$##%%

But what to do.... I have a choice to just do it or just be slack... :( Sigh.... I know I'd have to work on it over the weekend again....

Hi, I'm your buddy!

Was supposed to complete our profiles update by today but only managed to do one in the end. We have a new colleague who just came in and I was supposed to be her buddy, so spent a while briefing her on the division structure in the morning. XY (and the rest of the not-so-new newbies) just found out that I was supposed to be their buddy as well... that is, on her last day in the division, four months after she came in... Aha! I think they were all wondering how come I didn't tell them earlier and made them wonder who on earth their buddy was.

Spent the entire afternoon at a long meeting (again). Was hoping that I could do some work while hiding at the back of the meeting room. No wireless network unfortunately (or fortunately?)

Went for a brief teh tarik session with YC before heading home... and coming out again to meet Mr. Jang to settle some stuff for my trip. Bought quite a bit of "essentials" so that I'll be well-equipped for the trip.

Am supposed to finish the last two chapters for my paper next Wednesday but my eyes are getting heavier and heavier...

On this last day of my life, I want to be both responsible to the organisation (and study hard so that I won't waste their money) and to myself (and sleep early so that my health won't suffer). Maybe a compromise between the two? :(

Faith

Woke up rather early in the morning to take a final look at the term paper that S helped put together. Perhaps it's because we are reaching the end of the term, I am in the kind of "just want to get it over and done with quickly" kind of mood. In any case, the Tue presentation went relatively well and Prof din have much questions for us. So we just needed to make sure that the paper flows overall.

I have been trying to develop the habit of having proper breakfast, because apparently your brain works slower and you will get easily tired if you don't eat in the morning. I didn't have the habit of eating because I always get stomaches if I eat too early. Nowadays, I try... which brings me to the point - that I tried to make porridge this morning and it was really disgusting! I finished it nonetheless coz didn't want to waste food. :(

Spent the entire day at home studying and clearing emails occasionally. Really need to sit down and prepare for the trip next week because I don't want to miss anything out. It's barely six days away and I still want to clear a couple of items before I go.

On this last day of my life, I know I just need to stay calm, not worry too much, and leave the rest to God.

Exams are coming!

The past two days were mad, mad, mad. Wanted to clear my stuff before going off to study for my exams and was rushing things out like a crazy woman. Was doing work until 1am this morning because I had a last minute email from Boss and she wanted the thing ready by this morning.

The worst thing was, after I rushed it out, she said KIV it because somebody else said they are already doing it. Er... -_-!!!

Started on my revision today although the progress was slow. Kept being interrupted (voluntarily or involuntarily) by work. But then again, it's been a long time since I've felt this sense of peace. On this day, I was allowed to manage my own time, within my own space, with my own methods.

Exams will be coming in a week's time. I'm only about 1/4 done with the notes (still gotta catch up on the readings). I better buck up! :)

First attempt no good...

I was feeling a bit down again today because my first attempt at the report didn't turn out to be as well as I hoped. Heck, I didn't even feel that it was a decent report. And I feel bad whenever this happens because it'd mean that someone else will have to clean up after me. Sigh.

Class was alright today and was quite glad when it ended 20 mins earlier. Prof spoke to me on my request to defer my exams. Would have to withdraw from this module with a 'W' this semester. I secretly feel that it is worth it because the trip is a rare opportunity and I really love travelling. Prof apparently thought otherwise but I am just happy that I got the approval to defer. ^ ^

Came back home and had marcaroni with Sis. It tasted terrible terrible terrible not because of Sis' cooking but because stupid me had bought a jar of olive-based pasta sauce when the both of us don't even eat olives! Argh.

So on this last day of my life, I feel a little demoralised about work, and I still feel a bit hungry. :(

Champagne and Popiah

Managed to pull through my first day back at the office although there were over 100 emails to clear. Boss is going to be posted out to another division so we had a simple farewell lunch for her. We are all going to miss her presence.

The presentation at NTU wasn't that bad either. Prof said that ours was quite straight forward and easy to understand. We just need to have more meat in our actual term paper.

The highlight of the day was coming back home to find Sis and Chick at the swimming pool with a bottle of champagne and some nice popiah from Siglap. Was supposed to do my report for tomorrow but am just too tired from the chit chatting and scanning through Facebook for nice wedding gowns for Sis.

On this last day of my life, I am glad that I stayed and talked to Sis and Chick, instead of heading backto the apartment to hide and do my work.

Phew...

The last day of the course finally came. After a round of project presentations in the morning, we were allowed some time off to do our own stuff before waiting for Big Big Big Boss to come and present us our certificates. So the girls from Table 1 (A X 2, MJ and I) went off to Borders + Marks & Spencer to buy some thank you gifts for the sweet organisers - a card and some nicely packed soap.

And then came the brief ceremony. In his closing speech, Big Big Big Boss said we must all be "winged octopus" (...) I think he meant someone with the ability to (1) multitask, (2) handle pressure from multiple fronts and (3) keep his/her eyes on the big picture somewhere up in the skies.

(I am already trying very hard. I hope my tentacles don't get tangled up in the midst of trying.)

Shopped with MJ for a while at Far East Plaza after the course while A X 2 went to cut their hair . Bought two dresses and a pair of earrings within 20 minutes. No joke but retail therapy really works.

Flew back home to grab my laptop before meeting S for project discussion at Siglap Mac. Thank God we managed to lay a decent egg for Monday's presentation. It had felt like a difficult pregnancy + long and painful labour. Maybe I am just getting too old and rusty for term papers.

And then Mum and Sis packed dinner for me while we went up to the old house to do some last minute cleaning before the big handover tomorrow. I finally said goodbye to my good old faithful bicycle of 10 years. It will be henceforth "donated" to an unknown trainee pilot who needs to navigate his way around the run down Seletar camp.

Phew... a bit exhausted... I think I have accomplished quite a fair bit on this last day.

Mum's coming...

Day 9 of the course didn't start out too well with me being arrowed to be the class rep early in the morning (when I still have not recovered from my depressed mood + the lack of sleep)! Was feeling particularly nervous about having to introduce the speakers (formal/informal?) especially the big directors. Didn't help that I tend to feel awkward speaking in front of a big group of people.

Thank God that I didn't screw up, and that I remembered how to write 知己知彼, 百战百胜.

Halfway through the course, SIA flight info sent me a sms saying that check-in was confirmed for SQ873 HKG-SIN 16 Oct 2008 2015h. Wanted to send a reply telling them that "You've got the wrong person!". Turns out (when Dad called later) that Mum's flying over tonight because our old house is finally going to be rented out this Sunday. :)

I have a presentation next Monday evening for my NTU course and I know I have to prepare some slides. I hope despite that I can spend some time with Mum and Sis this weekend. I didn't get to eat dinner with her on the last day of her previous trip. :(

So Mum will be here with me, on this last day of my life.