Classé dans : Agent of Amour
We received news today that the hubby is the one of the top 3 high ranking personnels in his command! Out of 40 something people of the same rank, he is among the three who got really good evaluations and were nominated for such a high rank!
Congratulations baby 
I love you!!
Classé dans : 1
Okay I know you’re online now cuz you’re posting on my blog like mad! HAHA! Anyway yes la cantina is in changi and yes we should definitely go and chill on the beach with the trannies 
Err what else, that jessica claire photography is STUNNING. But not sure if she’ll travel to singapore/portland to do my pictures? Also no I havent heard of that jewelry store, is it located in Japan cuz everything is in Yen or USD.
I went through so many US based wedding photographers and NOT a single picture shows black people. Always caucasian or asians getting married. Makes you wonder don’t it
Classé dans : 1
I am thrilled to announce that after searching through countless of junk websites, I have FINALLY found my 2 photographers that will grace my wedding. One of them is based in Singapore and the other, in Los Angeles. Patrick and I will most probably be holding our wedding in September 2009 , Singapore. Because 9 is auspicious for longevity, I am going to see if 09/09/09 is available. I am quite sure there will be sooo many other couples wanting to get married around the same date though! CHIJMES will most certainly be booked for the whole september of that year. We’re going to have to book the venue as soon as this year, if not LATEST by next august after I graduate. Even then, it might be too late.
Anyway, I am too excited to let it dampen my high spirits. Here are some of the pictures taken by the two respective photographers. I am probably going for the one based in Singapore because he does a really really good job. Additionally, he also mentioned on his website that he does overseas consignment. And the website is SO professional, with a light tinkling of music, flash and brilliant photography I was won over! ‘Kay here are the prints, be prepared to be wowed.
What a busy weekend!
We hosted my aunt, uncle and Kara at the No Signboard restaurant on Saturday. The seafood was really good although the service sucked somewhat. But hey, it’s Singapore, ’nuff said! The restaurant has a signboard and a name to go with, which might account for the little turn out on a Saturday night. The chill crab was beautifully spicy, just the way I like it and I couldn’t help but wish that my hubs was there to savor the sweet-sour tang of the dish. The one that we had when he was here in February was somewhat tasteless and dull, all for the same price too! Complaints aside, the ‘rents promised that we would go to Long Beach for quality seafood the next time he comes. It was also great seeing Kara again since NYC and our road trip last summer at the Chesapeake and Williamsburg. I love how she’s her chirpy self, full of comments about everything with an insatiable buzz of curiosity about her.
Business-wise, I had 7 orders on friday and saturday alone! It felt really good to get so many sales.. I made a mental note to do some major bead shopping on monday. Which was what I did today after a titillating brunch of Dim Sum with Joyce.
It’s pretty good but we agreed it was nothing compared to the chinese restaurants in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles. The irony is sublime ; dim sum in N. America is WAYY better than that in Singapore. It’s because of the influx of immigrants from Canton that made their way to the US at the onset of the Maoist Revolution as well as the PRC takeover of Hong Kong. Many people, mostly the rich were afraid of being subsumed under the communist government because that would mean that all their wealth would be redistributed according to the Marxist mantra. So of course they left to seek greener pastures with the blue, red and white. And while they’re at it, their capitalistic instincts kicked in which explains why you have a deluge of Chinese restaurants springing up in every nook & cranny of china town!
Anyway, as you can tell, I’m in a sprightly mood today. It felt so good to just chill out with Joyce with a delectable array of chinese cuisine and really good brewed jasmine tear. Its the excellent company and the knowledge that I only have one semester more to go before I’m outta here. Singapore sure ain’t that bad if you know the right people to chill out with
Next stop, La CantinaVenetia.
Classé dans : Life
Singapore is known for Annabel Chong and the Singapore Girl
Thailand is known for Pattaya
Cambodia is known for its child sex industry
America has the statue of liberty
France has the eiffel tower, foucault, rousseau
Canada has the CN tower
Italy has the tower of pisa and musolinni
See the comparison? The west is full of men and the penis. And us, poor asians all we have are our women being done and overdone by a world of white men.
Classé dans : 1
The only memories worth keeping from college is my time in the USP. Lately, I can’t help but languish at the thought of my imminent departure from the USP. It’s as much the modules I’ve taken, as the relationships I’ve forged. I am so pleased to find a group of people that are brilliant, eccentric and define the parameters of fun in new ways that refresh me so. So it is with brooding regret that I have to part.
But I comfort myself with the thought that I’ve come so far in the USP and I’ve made as many friends and taken as many awesome modules that I only have one semester left in this unbearable school. There are so few things that can ever truly leave an impression on me, and USP would be at the top. Because it wasn’t just being in the USP that made things worthwhile. Two of the bestest friends that could ever ask for aren’t in the USP, met me through the Colin Goh talk organized by the USP last fall. If I hadn’t been in the USP, I wouldn’t have known of the email circulating around, and so wouldn’t have attended. If I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have met Gopal and Joyce who knew Kenneth Paul Tan.. And so the interconnectedness of our world works its magic and I find saving grace amidst an unforgiving environment.
Strangely, despite my earlier angst, I don’t quite want to leave Singapore, because the advantages that it boasts are things that I hold close to my heart. But this place is driving me crazy. I could be happy without the academic stress, I could be happy if I lived alone with the man I am destined to be with. I could be happy if I had a car and could drive anywhere I desired without being held down by the inefficiency of public transport.
You say life is too short, be happy, do what you need to be contented with life!
I will. In another country. The stark reality is.. I need to have quite a sum of money to be happy in Singapore, more than any other place. My insipid classmates in Public Admin class purport that money doesn’t matter. Truth is, money doesn’t matter if you’re drawing a fat paycheck of 10 grand a month. The difference between 3000 and 2000 from working in the private and government sector is more phenomenal than say a difference of 10 000 and 11 000. Especially if you’re the breadwinner for a family of 2. Of course, university kids don’t understand. How could they when they party on weekends and the most of their concerns is the B+ they might get.
What a sad sad country where priorities are misplaced and stereotypes are casts ; the person slips into the shadow of their stereotype and forever becomes soulless and emotionless.
The fact is, money does matter. And in Singapore, more than ever, to be happy you need the wonders of money to insulate the heat, to decrease the travel time, to go to school, to eat decent non-greasy food, to buy a bottle of wine, to live alone you need to rent a private apartment because governmental housing is only for purchase.Patrick’s chances of being stationed here are also slim to none.
I don’t want to have to work my life away for this metaphysical sum of money that will be diminished by CPFs and other state evils. And I refuse to succumb to the fact that money is a prerequisite to be happy here.
And let’s just be honest here : why would I choose to live in Singapore when we have the choices of Fukuoka, Hawaii and Naples on our wait list? All of which have more efficient transportation, better food, nicer people, beautiful skies and amazing beaches. And in a place I’ve ceased to even call home, I’m afraid there is no comparison.
The grass is never greener on the other side for long but I only want to stay long enough anywhere to experience the fraction of happiness that was always out of reach in Singapore. And when I’ve been to every country, every continent and this bit of wonderment expires, only will I turn to Singapore. Which I’m sure will have become almost unrecognizable, as it always is every time I get back.
I am the nomad, watch me roam.
Classé dans : Life
What’s with the single word post titles you ask?
Well, I’ve been feeling rather frustrated lately. I am really pissed off at my fucking group members who after meeting yesterday do not have an ounce of decency in them to mail me their slides for our dry run which is incidentally TOMORROW at 1400 hrs. The actual presentation is on Friday. I am pleased to say that I know my part pretty well, and I’ve done the slides up pretty with spiffy animation and all that jazz. They however, have not. I really am fuming right now.
Second issue.
Why, when I write an email to a senior administrative lady in the USP, about module mapping does she give me a link to a website that FAILS to explain away my confusion but adds to them. Apparently, I need faculty approval to quit the USP. I need the approval of the arts and social sciences, according to that website she gave me. WTF. I don’t see much sense in it, because since I’m still able to do honors right now and am thus in the USP, why do I need the approval of the arts fac presumably for grade matters?! Its a given that being able to stay within the USP would mean that I probably do better than half of the other arts students floundering in their gpa of 2.2
NUS logic eludes me. And now it’s starting to anger me extremely. I am really really glad that I’ll be out of here come summer 08. Which I should be after doing a special semester because OH arts decided that all arts students need to do 4 exposure level 1000 and for the uspers, you only need to do 3.
The logic behind having to do exposure modules is to find out what major best suits you. If after doing 3, you realize that political science is your first love, why the hell should you take random modules like theater studies which is not only immensely irrelevant to your daily life but also a FAR CRY from your interests/point of major that is political science?
What’s the guarantee of doing 4 exposures? To glean basic knowledge about how to act, say in theater studies? To learn practical criticism in literature? These exposure modules are not even the least indicative of what the actual major is like, I’m sorry to say, there is thus no reason why we should do so many exposure modules aside from the fact that they’re mere orientation. Fun and games belie the harsh reality of college life.
Shittypore. Sillypore.
Forgive me if you resent the sordid nicknames I give Singapore. I hate it here. I hate almost everything about. I hate the humidity, I hate the goddamn rain that causes rain stains on my leather bags and destroy my expensive leather sneakers, I hate the rudeness of Singaporeans, I hate how Singaporeans are so damn uptight like they ALWAYS have to get a seat on the subway to make their dollar fifty worthwhile by sitting their butts on ugly, glaring plastic seats. I hate how the drivers are so damn rude here. I hate how the cab drivers CHOOSE who to pick up, because you’d think they need the money. They of course, complain about how sucky the economy is blablabla. Idiots all of them. There’s a reason why they’re driving cabs and beggars can’t be choosers. I hate how claustrophobic everywhere is. I hate how obsessive this country is on studies. I hate how we are cheap imitators of others in our second class pride. I hate how rigid the system is. I hate how conforming everyone is. I hate the smallness of everything. I hate how people don’t understand the concept of CHILLING OUT and HAVING FUN. I hate how people look so bloody tired all the fucking time. I hate how slow the goddamn buses are. I hate how the most read blog is that of frivolous pursuit and ugly girls. I hate my school. I hate the feeling of being trapped when I want to run away. I hate how there is NO where to turn when you feel like you need out. Except Malaysia. But you either get robbed or murdered or ambushed there by corrupt cops. I hate how the media tries to shape our thoughts according to how the government wants it to be. I hate how there is no freedom.
I HATE THIS PLACE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY DISEASED HEART.
I like how cheap things are here. I like how I can get everywhere easily and cheaply. I like how cheap my beads are so that my profit margin is huge. I like how I can do my business here online with ease. I like how internet centered the university is, so I can fly off to MD for 3 weeks and still hand up my assignment on time. I like that our airport is accessible and there’s free internet/phones there. I like the cleanliness here. And most of all, I love how gullible people are when they gawk at me in amazement speaking in my acquired accent.
Someone asked if I was going to trade red for green. My answer?
You couldn’t pay me enough not to.
Classé dans : Life
To celebrate my coming of age is the eruption of my wisdom tooth. The pain and the gum swelling first started a couple of weeks back when I was back in Maryland. I didn’t think much of it until I brought it up that my mouth was hurting to the hubby. Nonchalantly, he let it slip that I was grinding my teeth in my sleep. Shocked, ( and somewhat appalled at this dental catastrophe) I assumed the pain was derived from the friction that ensued from the grinding which probably led to tenderness of gum. But today, I peered into the vanity mirror in my bathroom and saw what looked like a fraction of a baby teeth, a shadow of white inching its way slowly amidst the pink. I was somewhat relieved that it wasn’t my oral hygiene that was giving me troubles, and busied myself with informing the ‘rents who informed me that the operation is a thousand dollars and that Hilary had gone for hers last summer when I was back in the states.
I know it’s gonna hurt like a bitch but I’m gonna get it fixed. Akin to abortion, although not because a tooth isn’t quite like an embryo.
Aside from this pernicious pain, I’m quite happy with life (:
So I’m back and hating it. Adding to my distaste of school and stupid people is my horrible sleep patterns. I’ve been up since 0415 and my little computer clock tells me that its 5.41pm. There is a mistake, a deliberate one. I’ve refused to change the clock on my laptop to singapore’s time, letting it stay at Eastern time. Probably because I’m hoping by some magical twist of events that I can be back again.
Why do I detest singapore so much you ask.
I resent the fact that I’m stuck here, within the parameters that school dictates. Instead of choosing what I really want to do ( being with him ), I’m stuck here in a school system I’ve come to hate. No, don’t pretend for one moment and say, with that impervious shrug of your shoulders that it’s the best because that’s a lie.
I’m sick of the horrible weather here, I’m tired of the constant rush of assignments the flurry of anxiety that has epitomized school life here. I refuse to pretend that I will enjoy the remaining of my school term here.
I am depressed when I’m here. And it’s not that I haven’t tried to do anything about it. I don’t whine about it to people because let’s face it, everyone’s got their own problems — school related or otherwise. Instead, I try to focus my negative energy on worthier pursuits like my business because money always cheers me up and there is freedom associated with the empowerment that the mean green gives. I don’t live for the moment anymore. Indeed, to live for the moment is to give into that heavy shroud of melancholia. Alternatively, I transcend time and space to live for the future. A tomorrow that wakes up to the sun shining brighter and the quiet rustling of leaves, a world where Patrick and I can finally be together always. Where the bleakness of school is just a distant memory, and frowns are reserved for burnt dinners and we laugh off the remaining of the evenings on South Park.
And what about doing honors anyway. It’s always been so poignantly discussed by wide eyed freshmen and weary juniors a like. Three years or an additional one. I no longer feel it neccesary to do four years. I’m not sure if this recognition will be accorded to me at interviews of future employers overseas. In Singapore, grades are almost everything. They pay passing homage to OTHER credentials, as if to say well, we’re not that shallow.. But in reality, it just adds to their unrealistic demands of employees. Unrealistic because a straight A student may not necesarily be earning the millions that a shrewd business man who has no college degree whatsoever can. So as long as I have a basic bachelors degree, I am good to go. Afterall, I’m not gonna be here post-graduation. And I highly doubt if Americans know the difference between bachelors and honors. Or if they know what NUS is. Not that they would care, really.
I’ve got the skills, I am great at PR, I have the endeavored intelligence. And I have a go for it attitude. And well I can speak Mandarin pretty well ( scoff if you may ) so there’s always the option of being a language teacher which pays pretty well.
Well, I feel somewhat better. Its 0600 I should either go back to bed or start on my readings.
Classé dans : Life
Not quite.
Back to the terrible humidity, to crowded subways that reek of sweat, to the grit of school life and annoying responsibilities. Every time I leave, I deceive myself into believing that things will magically become better when I get back. That life in Singapore will transform into the extraordinary paradise that tourists think we are.
Can you tell that I’m really not looking forward to coming back?
