Home Sweet Home

Hello world!
I'm finally back in sunny island.
It feels a little weird coming back. Everything looks different, but I'm appreciating Singapore a little more now.


When I first touched down in Australia, I loved how the air was drier and cooler due to Winter.
I loved how brunches were served almost everywhere and they all tasted good.
I loved their supermarkets the most! Especially Woolworths.


But I started to miss Singapore a little after 2 weeks, especially the food here.
I craved for soup, non-creamy soup.
I missed laksa and chicken rice and what not.
I missed the spice in our food.
I missed having clean towels and clean bedsheets.
I missed my toilet too.


I'm really glad to be back here, though I'm having post holiday withdrawal syndrome now.

2014

Happy 2014 everybody!

A year has passed and so much has happened.

Lost a childhood friend, lost my grandpa.
Started working in my own primary school and got a few more students whom I absolutely love.

I've decided to get back to writing because I don't wish to forget anything in my life.
I want to pen down everything so that I can read about it when I'm older.



I visited Kuala Lumpur just a few days back with Hanwei and without this blog, I wouldn't be able to remember a single thing.
The last time I visited KL was a couple of years back.
I know where I wanted to eat, what I wanted to do but I can't remember a single thing about all the trips I've made to KL.
Managed to plan my trip by googling my old blog posts.
So, I want to start writing again.



Anyhow, I've came up with a few to-dos for Year 2014.
I'm not the kind to come up with new year resolutions but I have a few things I want to achieve by this year.



1. Lose some flabs (Read: 42kg)
2. Get more students

Actually, I don't have much I want to achieve for this year except these two.
It takes time.



Okay, school is reopening tomorrow.
I got to sleep soon.

New Found Love in my Life

Okay, this is going to be a rather wordy post.
I'm so hyped up about this right now, I have to pen it down.



I've been teaching piano in a music school part time for slightly more than a year now.
I started when I was still studying, just after I attained my Grade 8 certificate.
I know it is always better if I've got a Diploma, but I was thinking why not start teaching first, gain some experience. I can always teach and learn at the same time.
So while I was still in uni, I taught piano part time and still had my own piano classes.



After graduation, I continued teaching in the music school.
I was struggling between looking for a proper job (not that I don't consider teaching piano as a proper job) - a job that provides a stable income with some sense of financial stability - and teaching piano full time.
I tried applying for some jobs, mostly environmental jobs, because that is what I'm interested in besides music but I wasn't really active in my job search. Environmental jobs that allow hands-on application are hard to come by.
I was one of the teachers in the school who had more time to spare (basically every day since I wasn't working) so I relieved for the other teachers whenever they're not around.



I love ALL my students and the parents I've met are pretty nice people.



I've got one 71 years old lady learning piano from me.
I'd say she's a pretty slow learner, but she's very hardworking!
She's so passionate about learning, she brings books for me to look at and to show me what she had been learning at home.
SHE LIKES MY TEACHING TOO!
But she prefers learning the keyboard though, because piano keyboards are a little too hard for her. ):
So, she'll be switching to another teacher who teaches the keyboard.



I've got an 8 years old boy who loves playing the piano.
He loves it so much he gets his mum to purchase books for him just so he can practise at home on his own.
He feels the music too!
Like when I play a song that's supposed to be comical, he laughs. He gets what expression the music is supposed to be.
He just told me he wants me to teach him for life. Hahahahah.
And now, he calls me just to chat.



I've another 8 years old girl who's really quiet.
She'll only speak when I ask her question, and I've never seen her smile during class.
After a year of teaching her, she's finally opening up to me.
I'm starting to see her smile more during classes and she'll ask questions when in doubt.
AND SHE'S MORE MOTIVATED!
After her Grade 1 practical, she wants more homework and more pieces to practise at home.
So satisfying. (:



It's really nice to see students understanding what I'm saying and applying the techniques I teach them.
Even more so when they're motivated!
Sometimes, parents would talk to me about their kids - how they're doing etc.
Okay, maybe I just enjoy talking BUT I LOVE TALKING TO ALL OF THEM. Hahaha.
Life has never been as satisfying as now.
I was so excited just now, just thinking about all these.
I think I just found meaning in my life!

Cross roads

It has been 5 months since my last examination, and 4 months since graduation.

All these while, I've been teaching piano part time in a private music school and looking for a full time job that I'd enjoy, something related to Geography and preferably field work, just like what I did in Thailand.
I started out applying for various positions for Research Assistant, but I've never gotten a reply from any of the professors.


I've thought it through and have decided this may not be the best choice for a career because most research assistant would one day attain their Ph.D. and continue doing their field work.
I'm not going towards the direction of getting a Ph.D. so there isn't really a reason for me to become a research assistant, except that I'd be satisfying my interest in field work.


And so, I started looking for other options.
I've looked through all the job openings on Careers@gov. and applied for positions in various companies - NParks (my main interest), HDB, Sports Council, MCYS, Ministry of Environment and more.
Again, not a single reply.


Because Geography and Music are still my main interest, I've considered applying for MOE.
The only thing that was holding me back was the public speaking part.
Speaking in front of a class of 40 can be pretty daunting.
I actually applied for a teaching position but got rejected.


Now, I've decided.
Since I'm into teaching and can't speak in front of a large group, I should go into private tutoring.
I've been giving private piano classes part time for about a year now and I'm never tired of going to work. It doesn't even feel like work.
It's quite satisfying whenever the student understands whatever concepts I'm trying to put across. Better still, the students gets motivated and wants to learn more.


My mind is pretty much set on piano lessons.
I've done up my calendar for 2013, chose the designs for name cards and have printed my flyers!
All I need is my pool of students now.

I was soooo happy when I got my flyers yesterday night.


If anyone knows people who would like to have piano classes, call me!

Tonight's supposed to be my rest day. After the 4 consecutive papers and all the late night sleeps because of revision and insomnia, I was really looking forward to the end of today. All I wanted was to recharge before I started on my revision for the paper on Monday. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. For me, at least.


I went all the way to Millenia Walk after my paper to get Twelve Cupcakes for my family and I was intending to just relax in the karaoke room while the rest sing. Then come home to watch TV with my family as we try the cupcakes. I rushed home for dinner because I wanted to see Gong and Po. My parents booked the karaoke room from 8pm to 12pm and I wanted to get dinner done and be home by 8pm.


Why is it that you have the spoil everyone else's day just because you were in a foul mood? All I did was ask a simple question and explain why I have to have a quick dinner. You didn't have to make a fuss out of it. It's easy for you to cause a hooha and hide in your room after that, leaving everyone in a foul mood.


To the other you.
You don't even know what's going on so stop judging and making baseless criticisms. All you know is you're angry with us for something that has happened last year (which isn't our fault anyway). You're critical about everything we do because you have a biased judgement about us. What have you told us about understanding the other person's feelings and setting an example for the younger ones? Have you forgotten about it? Why don't you take a step back and look at yourself before preaching on others?


For a short while, I thought you were starting to be nice. I've contemplated talking to you, to make Gong and Po happy. But after what happened, I don't think it's even possible to look at you anymore. I've not regretted not talking to you. Look at yourself, picking on my parents for things they have not done and bringing up past records. Wasn't that what you said to not do? You said the right thing to do is to pick on the issue itself but you had the cheek to say oh I've sent your daughter an email 6 months ago to tell her why I'm unhappy with you guys. If you're unhappy with us, tell us. Don't write an email to one person and expect everyone else to get the message. Think about what you have been saying and doing. You criticise us indirectly, hoping that we'd get your message and not retaliate. Yes I got your message but no, sorry. I HAVE to say something about this.


You should respect my parents, especially my mum. You don't have the right to blame her for the unhappiness I've caused you. You brought the unhappiness upon yourself by nit picking every single small thing I say/do with your biased judgement. Sometimes, think about the person you're supporting. Do you really think everything she does is right? If you can support someone who is at fault and bring up past records to scold us, I am not sorry for everything I've said. I don't mind others saying I'm rude or whatsoever. I have to stand up for my parents because I don't think they deserve this.


Now I really see why I can't bring myself to talk to you. I don't think I'll ever consider talking to you again.

Most productive weekend for this semester.

Woke up early in the morning to travel to Yio Chu Kang to take a ride to Chinatown for Pai Fan.
Helped out with the preparation of the food, like cracking the eggs, washing the vegetables and DIVIDING THE FOOD INTO EQUAL PORTIONS!
I love packing the food into their containers.
And because there were more people helping out today, preparation of food was much faster than usual.
By 11.15am, we were all done packing and have all been grouped accordingly. Bee and I followed Liying and her mum to Kukop area to give out the packages.


Lunched at Chinatown and met Mum & Dad to get our toiletries.
Got a few facial masks to try too!


Came home and did a little packing to keep the place tidy.


And, I've send in my resumes to NParks for 2 positions.
Tried to do some work after that, but have decided to visit NParks's website for more job openings.
AND I SAW THE POSITION I'VE BEEN LOOKING OUT FOR SINCE THE START OF THE SEMESTER!
Conservation of Central Nature Reserve.
PLAY A ROLE IN NATURE CONSERVATION and maintenance for the areas.


I'm so excited I can't get back to work.
Have been spending the past hour looking at the various environmental groups and am tempted to sign up for TeamSeagrass. The things they do are pretty interesting and meaningful.


I hope I get a call soon!

Now I know the the danger of having a card.


Before I had a card, I'm always thinking of the limited amount of cash in my wallet. I don't like my wallet empty so I'd make sure that's that minimal amount of cash left. Today's my first time using the card, and I spent like nobody's business.


I wanted to get a memory card for my camera and a new hard disk, so I got Bee to accompany me to the IT fair. But, I didn't head for the IT fair straight. I went around looking at Crocs (cos they were on sale) and neckermann. AND BODY SHOP! If it weren't for the crowd and Bee to stop me, I think I'd have bought more. The sales was so much better than those offered in stores.


The reed diffusers, sold at $49.90 in stores, were going off for $19.90!
And the dream unlimited EDP that I've been eyeing for ages. I finally got it for myself. So happeeeeeee!!!! And the best of all is I don't feel the pinch at all. Hahah.


Okay, self control.
I promise I won't this again.

It seems like just yesterday that I entered NUS.
Meeting my guy friends who were in army back then was the time of my life. No educational talks, just chill and relax.


When the guys finally entered university, our talks revolved around school and work. And wow, I'll be graduating in 2 months' time!
How time flies.


Everyone has been asking if I've been looking for a job. Students in the same cohort have either found a job or have been called up interviews.
I've only been to career fairs which have been futile.


Went to the career fair at Suntec today.
It wasn't as useful as the career fair in NUS but I've talked to more people today.
Half of the career fair was for course seekers, people looking for courses to study in universities. The other half was mostly banks and issurance companies, and sales isn't exactly the job I'm looking for.


I was so happy when I was NParks's booth there.
They are usually not around during career fairs, so I went to enquire on the prospects in NParks. The booth turned out to be a department from NParks looking for workers to work in private landscaping companies. I wouldn't mind working in a landscaping firm but they were looking for gardeners. ):


After talking to the people there, I realized it's really hard for me to land my dream job.
Nature conservation is a niche job. It's not like the general sales/HR/admin jobs that any company can offer.


I want to do something similar to what I did in Field Studies.
Digging soils, moving upstream in the river, measuring turbidity of a river.
I want to work with plants and trees, conserve the nature reserves. Anything to do with environmental sustainability. Which means, I've only got NParks in my choice.


So hard to find a job I really like.

The Future of an Arts Student

This song truly depicts the predicament of all Arts students.
When you tell someone you're from Arts and Social Sciences, they'd be wondering if you really are studying. It's like our degree isn't worth as much as other degrees because we're not really studying.

When I tell people I'm studying Geography, people see rocks, volcanoes and plants.
My family sees me as jobless but I see myself working in a conservation.


Why do people get so skeptical about what you're really studying?
They generalize the subject you're studying but they don't exactly know what you're learning in school. Geography isn't just about nature.


Gah. Hate it when people put Geography majors down.

Hanwei's Birthday

On Bee's birthday, we went all the way to the East side of Singapore, because we wanted to use up the voucher we bought on Groupon last November.


The initial plan was to drop by Old Airport Road Food Centre to queue for Lao Ban beancurd since we had to take a bus from there to East Coast Park. Heard that the beancurd's really good and they start selling their first batch of beancurd at 11.30am and will stop when all's sold out. They'll only start selling the second batch at 5pm. As we were both too lazy to wake up early, we ended up reaching the food centre at 2pm and the queue wasn't as long as what we saw in photos. We could only try the almond flavoured one as the original one was sold out, but it was good too!

So, the thing about the Loft is the food's good but the voucher was pretty much a scam.
We paid $49.90 for the voucher which includes a main dish and a pasta that didn't even make up that amount. They had a $10 return voucher that was only mentioned only after we asked. The couple beside our table didn't even know they hadn't gotten their return voucher. Guess what? The return voucher was not given to us on the spot. We had to leave our names/emails down and until now, we still haven't received our return voucher via email.


Groupon's discounts always seem so attractive but when you really use it, you'd realized you don't save much.

Just when I thought I've got my modules all settled, I had to face yet another problem.
I managed to secure Urban Sociology, one module which I really enjoy after attending the first lecture. I planned all my tutorials and was ready to file for graduation, only to realize I really did read an excess Geography module and now, I have one UE lacking. Which means... if I don't get this solved, I wouldn't be able to graduate in time.

Despite the severe puking and diarrhea the whole morning, I forced myself to head over to school to enquire at the Dean's office. All they said was I had to send in an appeal online. So, I went to the Geography department to look for Mrs Chong to ask for alternatives. She's a much nicer person to talk to but sadly, she was on leave. ): And the person who talked to me kept asking me to drop the excess Geography module. How to when I read it last semester?! Pttf.

In the end, I sent an appeal through Cors online. Something which I can always do at home. I made a wasted trip down to school through all that uncomfort.

CORS suck big time. My very last semester and I still have problems bidding.
Despite the declaration in Soci minor, I'm unable to bid from my minor modules in Round 2A. Tried to appeal, only to know that Soci is an open minor and I've got to wait for the next round, meaning that the modules would be super expensive to bid for and there will be less than 5 vacancies each time to fight for. What the heck's an open minor? So, why did I even declare minor for when I have to fight with everyone from all over NUS for my minor modules?

After throwing in all my points this round on a single soci minor, I've only got 400 points left, which is way below the sufficient level for any soci module, except stats and the seminar module. I wouldn't want to do stats because it is totally not required and I can't make it for the seminar module. Each module is at least 2000 points now and tomorrow's the last round of bidding. Why won't they just accept my appeal? I'm desperate to get my module to graduate!

Please please please let me secure my last module.

I'm so satisfied with my Bee's packing.


I'm done with half of my study table, with all my story books, music books and unused notebooks propped up nicely. All these books give the impression that I'm really studious. Hahaha. I'd better keep my table the way it is for as long as possible, especially after school starts. My resolution for this semester: To pack my notes neatly into their respective files at the end of every week.


I'm also done with the table in my bedroom!!!
I've converted that table full of junk into my dressing table. All that is missing from my self proclaimed dressing table is a mirror. I've gotten a mini shelf from Muji to store all my beauty products. I've a drawer full of facial masks and another full of the sample products from Korea. I kept all my cosmetic products in a pouch and all the lotions at the top of my shelf.
I'm so proud of my table!


Now, I need to sort out all the random things lying around, pack the other half of my study table (most of the things there aren't even mine), clear my study room floor because of the mess I made when I came back from Korea, and the floor below my table in the bedroom.


I realised I've kept a lot of junk over the years and I don't even touch more than half of them, mostly magazines because I can't bear to throw them away. I even have my hair clip from kindergarten.


Glad to have Bee's help! I don't know when I'd even finish packing if I were to do this alone. I can take weeks just to pack my study table. Got to continue tomorrow. 2 more weeks to CNY!

I passed my Grade 8 piano exam! (: (:
My piano teacher just sms-ed me. 2 more marks to merit but passing the exam is good enough for me. I've been working for about 2 years for this because I've been procrastinating my practice. I've been looking forward to this day since I started my practice.


I was bent on teaching piano the very moment I pass my Grade 8 but that was before I took the test. I still want to teach but it's after recess week. Mid term tests, project deadlines are all round the corner. I was asking around for music schools that will take in Grade 8 students as part-time teachers. I was intending to teach in North area, preferably Yishun and I found various websites that require me to send my resume in. But the thing is, the websites don't tell me what the working hours are like so I've not sent in any resumes. Des asked her music school if they need any piano teachers and I can start teaching whenever I'm able to commit. I want to but it's at Whampoa Drive and I've got to start around 4 plus 5pm on weekdays. I have school every single day till about 4pm and I start school early this semester. How am I supposed to commit?

What is wrong with everyone?
Before I left for my field studies trip, everyone's asking when I'm free because they want to hold birthday celebrations for me. All I wanted was BBQ with my family at my grandma's.


When I'm back, I have birthday dinners planned for me. On days that most people are not free. Now I have a cake I didn't choose and no BBQ. And everyone's quarrelling over everything. I've never felt so disappointed before. It's not like I'm expecting a big celebration or anything. I just wanted to do what I've always wanted - BBQ with family.


Now, I want no celebration this year. I just want a day without anyone bothering me.

Home finally!
It was so comforting just to be at Yishun MRT. Sense of place!


Still not used to the weather here. It's so humid. ):
And I'm having post field studies/arts camp withdrawal syndrome. For the past 1.5 months, I've spent every single day doing something with friends. Now that I'm back home, there's no one to talk to and nothing to do. I'm getting a little restless.


I'm going to get my sleep back.
Tomorrow, maybe I'll do some packing and go for a run. Yes, I'm going for a run. I've been so used to doing physical work in Thailand that I'm not used to just sitting around doing nothing. Will be meeting the field studies people tomorrow for assignment discussion.


I'm missing Thailand already. ):

I've been waiting for this day ever since I signed up for this Field Studies module.
I'm excited and anxious about it. I don't know what it's going to be like over there. All my friends are humanoids, and I know only a few physicals. There will be a presentation on the 17th. That's 5 days from now and there are already 30 readings uploaded on IVLE. But I anticipate lots of fun! Can't wait to step into the river.


Packing's a chore though.
I'm done with my "luggage". 10kg worth of stuff. Now I'm left with my day bag. Got to pack all my chargers in, plus my laptop. I'm not even sure if there's internet access there. At first, they said there will be. Then, they said they want us to experience life without internet, away from the comfort of home. Now I'm imagining the worst. Because we're going to bath in huts with no roofs, from a pail of cold water.


In any case, if you want to reach me, drop me a message on my phone. I'll call you back via my thailand SIM card.
088-4034802
If you want to call this number straight, drop the first number "0" and replace it with +66 and continue with the remaining numbers. But it'll be cheaper for you if I call back! So just drop me a message. I'll call back as long as there's reception.


My return flight's on 18 June, at 8.20pm, terminal 1.
Flight FD4110.


I'll miss all of you back here!
See you guys when I'm back. (:

The term colour blindness can be misleading sometimes. Most people who are colour blind are not blind to all colours, but just have a colour deficiency that makes it difficult for them to differentiate colours.

There are many different types of colour blindness, but the most common is the difficulty in differentiating the colours red, green and yellow. This is called "red-green" colour blindness. Other forms of colour blindness are difficulty in differentiating blue from yellow, or where everything appears grey.

Mock strawberries

Mock strawberries as they would appear to people with red-green colour blindness
Roughly 1 in 10 men are fully or partly colour blind, meaning that one of the three types of colour detectors in their eyes is either faulty or missing altogether. The condition is hereditary and sex linked. Fathers will pass the gene to their daughters, and not their sons. Mothers can pass it to all their children. However, because women can be unaffected carriers, men are at least 20 times more likely than women to develop colour blindness.

9% of men and 0.5% of women are colour blind.
I'm part of the 0.5%. ):

But there is evidence that people with colour blindness are much better than average at certain jobs. They are very good at finding green things hidden against green backgrounds, such as grass or leaves. They tend to find things by shape and get less confused by camouflage. Because of this, colour blind entomologists still catch lots of bugs and in wartime, armies prize their colour blind snipers and spotters.

Geography is the way to go!
I'm more than determined than ever that I'm going to work in the parks in future. Maybe NParks, so I'll be in the reserves often.

Took my 2nd jab today.
The doctor kept asking me how painful the first jab was because he knows I hate injections. He changed the needle for me! To the smallest one again.
He asked if I wanted to take a blood test right there and then so that I'd know if I need a hepatitis jab, then started laughing because he knew I'd say no.

1 more jab and I'll be done!
I seriously don't understand how people can get used to having injections. The idea of it freaks me out.


--------

I received an email from International Rivers today!
My voice was heard when I signed the petition to stop the construction of the Xayaburi Dam. They halted all construction activities and had the staff and equipments withdrawn. (: (:

"The Xayaburi Dam, if built, would forcibly resettle over 2,100 people and directly affect over 202,000 people, and could threaten the extinction of approximately 41 fish species, including the critically endangered Mekong Giant Catfish. An additional 23 to 100 migratory fish species would be threatened through a blocked fish migration route. These impacts in turn will affect the livelihoods and food security of millions of people in the region."

This is not a positive sign for the Mekong River.
There're so many dams built across the river already. WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE?

I hate the management for not doing something about pest control.
After so many complaints from the residents, they've decided to spray the rubbish collection point at every block once every 2 weeks or so to kill the cockroaches. Some die, but the smarter ones crawl further up the rubbish chute to escape the fumes. And INTO MY HOME.

One fine day, when my family was out, one courageous little cockroach made its way across the kitchen, across the corridor, past my bedroom and study room, and into my toilet and hid in an obscure corner (I don't know where) and has since STARTED BREEDING. I know this because there are so many baby cockroaches coming out at night! (I think it just laid its new batch of eggs because I found 2 cockroaches so small I wouldn't see them if they don't move). These baby cockroaches are so small they look like shavings from erasers.

I came home in the wee hours last night after supper with the Dumbies.
All I wanted was to wash up and go to bed quickly. Then, I saw a medium sized cockroach making its way towards the sink. My immediate reaction was to reach for the broom and smack it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another medium sized cockroach scampering (trying to get) out of my sight. I HAZ GOT SHARP EYES! So, instead of washing up, I went on a killing rampage.

Death count: 4

Sense of satisfaction.
And I hope I won't be punished for taking lives.