The first week is always the most interesting. In this case, it's my first week in hall 7. I noticed a lot about my block. There seems to be no activities whatsoever! Eveyone just minds their own business and there is little or no interaction. What happened to good old 'neighbourliness'? Guessed no one really supports it. In general, hall interaction is pretty minimal though that may not be a bad thing. I have a very good roomie! Wake up same time as me even though my lesson start earlier. Another thing is he's very hardworking! Surely my slackness will disappear when he's around.
Now to lessons. Only had lectures this week. Most lectures will still manageable. Some were pretty hard to understand, others were impossible to make out. Still plow through I must even when I received bad news that I may have to take 4+2 physics modules. (That's technically 1 more module than a minor) The most important word of the day in NTU is 'walk'. We really do a lot of walking since the shuttle service only takes us to the outskirts of the campus. The fastest way to get from north spine to south spine would be to exercise those calf muscles.
Given a pile of lectures to complete. Argh! But do them I will. (Yoda speak seems the way to go)
To infinity and beyond! Till next time, may I get my laptop ASAP because I can't stand being disconnected with the rest of the world.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
The First Chapter
Just like holding a new book in my hands, I can't wait to start reading the first chapter. Going into university is just like that. The excitement building, the andrenaline rush and the growing feeling of anticipation of what awaits me are akin to reading the first chapter of a favourite book. What will the characters be like? How will the plot develop? And most important of them all, how will the story end?
Nothing much to report except I'm pretty pumped up! A little bit sad that I didn't manage to complete the hall camp with my hall mates but at least we went through initiation together! :-)
Went to K yesterday. Throat a little sore. Sad that my fellow kurtites are all in NUS. Hope to meet them often!
Till next time, may I have more things to talk about since nothing's happening today!
Nothing much to report except I'm pretty pumped up! A little bit sad that I didn't manage to complete the hall camp with my hall mates but at least we went through initiation together! :-)
Went to K yesterday. Throat a little sore. Sad that my fellow kurtites are all in NUS. Hope to meet them often!
Till next time, may I have more things to talk about since nothing's happening today!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Hall7
A rustic place. An old place. A derelict place. My home away from home for the next year at least! Attended the hall orientation camp. Had a lot of fun. Though the place is 'ulu', it's near my school. Though the place doesn't have a canteen, transportation is very convenient. Though this place is a little old, there's a spirit and culture among the residents that outshine the physical conditions of the hall. That is why I'll not regret living in hall 7. I personally feel the benefits far outweigh the limitations. Now all I need to do is move in. The plan is to do so by Sunday. Tomorrow will be the time to stock up on the stuff I'm going to bring to my new home.
Till next time, may hall 7 win the IH olympiad!
Till next time, may hall 7 win the IH olympiad!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Camp
We have all been through many camps, just like the one I'm 1 hr away from. Most camps are fun, the activities silly, the people great and the organizers deserve a pat on the back. Actually, I feel that how successful the camp is comes down to the logistics, the different personalities of the organizers as well as the participants.
Logistics, because there is a lot of leg-work and research to be done to come up with the list of activities that everyone will enjoy. It's no mean feat as the participants are all different resulting in different likes and dislikes. That said, it's not possible to accomodate all of them. It's more possible to cater to most of them. That might be one of the reasons that the activities end up being pretty common and generic. The onus is on the team to come up with new and creative activities and therein lies the challenge.
The different personalities of the organizers i.e CLs also play a part in the success of the camp. Whether they are enthusiastic, humourous, outgoing etc. will directly affect the flow and outcome of the activities planned. The traits I mentioned earlier are those that I feel are pretty important to the camp though some may beg to differ.
Then we come to the last but ultimately probably the most important factor which is the particiapants. Again, enthusiasm is a must for if someone doesn't share the same enthusiasm as the others, it would affect the general mood of the other group participants. Since we use the word participants maximum participation with minimum fuss is always the great hope. Even slightly less may result in a less than satifactory experience for the CLs as well as the participants.
On a more personal note, I'm feeling pretty good vibes for the camp I'm going to. Hopefully, it would be an enjoyable one for all of us. After all, we are going to see each other at least for the next 1 yr! Till next time, may the invitation for our parents to attend the cermony come early because my parents are feeling a little worried. :-)
Logistics, because there is a lot of leg-work and research to be done to come up with the list of activities that everyone will enjoy. It's no mean feat as the participants are all different resulting in different likes and dislikes. That said, it's not possible to accomodate all of them. It's more possible to cater to most of them. That might be one of the reasons that the activities end up being pretty common and generic. The onus is on the team to come up with new and creative activities and therein lies the challenge.
The different personalities of the organizers i.e CLs also play a part in the success of the camp. Whether they are enthusiastic, humourous, outgoing etc. will directly affect the flow and outcome of the activities planned. The traits I mentioned earlier are those that I feel are pretty important to the camp though some may beg to differ.
Then we come to the last but ultimately probably the most important factor which is the particiapants. Again, enthusiasm is a must for if someone doesn't share the same enthusiasm as the others, it would affect the general mood of the other group participants. Since we use the word participants maximum participation with minimum fuss is always the great hope. Even slightly less may result in a less than satifactory experience for the CLs as well as the participants.
On a more personal note, I'm feeling pretty good vibes for the camp I'm going to. Hopefully, it would be an enjoyable one for all of us. After all, we are going to see each other at least for the next 1 yr! Till next time, may the invitation for our parents to attend the cermony come early because my parents are feeling a little worried. :-)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Lifebook - Fujitsu?
I'm really not talking about the Fujitsu Lifebook. Really. Though I don't mind a Fujitsu laptop, it's all a misunderstanding if you really thought the topic of the day was about a laptop. So without further ado, here's the topic of the day...
Our lifestory. How is it like? Will it be fruitful? Will it bring you tears of sorrow or tears of joy? Will it be interesting? Or will it be dull as grey? Questions like these can't be so easily answered. This is because our lifestory only has one author - ourselves. Our lives can be viewed as a story, one in which we get to decide what to put in it. We may choose to add a little comedy in it by adding some jokes that made everyone laugh. We may choose to make it heartwarming by including all the good family events in it. In short, we have all the power. Chapters will flow just like water, characters will rotate in and out of our lives, the good times will linger, the bad times will change, the book will be completed. What kind of book do you want your lifestory to be like?
University life is a new chapter in my life. I'm fortunate enough to be able to experience it. A new flavour beckons. A place where I will spend the best part of 4 years is bound to give me an exhilarating time. Looking forward to all the friends I will make, as well as all the fun I'll have.
Till next time, may everyone always have fun in their live! We can't be serious all the time right? :-)
Our lifestory. How is it like? Will it be fruitful? Will it bring you tears of sorrow or tears of joy? Will it be interesting? Or will it be dull as grey? Questions like these can't be so easily answered. This is because our lifestory only has one author - ourselves. Our lives can be viewed as a story, one in which we get to decide what to put in it. We may choose to add a little comedy in it by adding some jokes that made everyone laugh. We may choose to make it heartwarming by including all the good family events in it. In short, we have all the power. Chapters will flow just like water, characters will rotate in and out of our lives, the good times will linger, the bad times will change, the book will be completed. What kind of book do you want your lifestory to be like?
University life is a new chapter in my life. I'm fortunate enough to be able to experience it. A new flavour beckons. A place where I will spend the best part of 4 years is bound to give me an exhilarating time. Looking forward to all the friends I will make, as well as all the fun I'll have.
Till next time, may everyone always have fun in their live! We can't be serious all the time right? :-)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Goals
How I wish I was talking about soccer. Then I can tell you about Ian Rush who has scored some spectacular goals for Liverpool one of which was a running volley which bulged the net. Or I could tell you about the time Diego Maradona dribbled half the pitch, beating half a dozen defenders to score one of the goals of all time. Alas, that's not really the topic of the day. In fact, the goals I'm talking about is centered on something on a different plane.
Here we go! This whole entry was triggered by a not so coincidental meeting with CL. We were actually going for a book fair organized by NLB at Expo. After making our purchases, we settled down at BK just to talk. The subjects were varied but with purpose. One of the subjects is the setting of goals. It's a real wonder then that we all have goals. But the extent of putting thoughts into action can be quite different. Goals are set because we believe in them. We believe that through our hard work and perseverance, we would achieve them. They represent our idea of limits. In a way, they are there as an aid to break through our limits. My OBS friends would probably know that I'm a process person so whether we get there is not as important as the process of getting there. If the process is right, then the product will arise eventually. This is where WL's view of the PPP model sets in. The people, process, product is actually 1 single entity rather than 3 different ones. We need all of them. We start with the best people we can find, then we get the correct process and the product will be what we want it to be. It's a step-by-step process. Anyway, back to goals. I realised we shared the same goals. But to be honest, the determination that came with CL's goals far exceeded mine. Yes, as you all have probably guessed, determination can come out of the act of setting goals. This made me think where I could get the same determination. CL went on to explain something so simple that it evaded my common sense completely: You have got to believe in it first. It is the manifestation of thought(CL thank you!) into action that will bring about the consequence. Believing whole-heartedly in your goals can give you that upsurge of power that you badly need to start off the day. After no small amount of thinking, I figured that I did not yet have the same amount of belief that CL has. Hopefully time will fill the void that I currently have.
Though CL and I disagreed on a number of subjects (sorry bro!) I felt that I have definitely gained something from our meeting. I'm exceedingly glad that you are my roomie! By sharing this little bit of information, I hope that you, the reader, have also gained something.
Till next time, may it please not rain on a day when I planned to go out! Though I do so love the purity of rain, it's quite a bother if I plan to go out and not sleep in. Thor if you are listening to my request thank you! One more hour to the meeting...
Here we go! This whole entry was triggered by a not so coincidental meeting with CL. We were actually going for a book fair organized by NLB at Expo. After making our purchases, we settled down at BK just to talk. The subjects were varied but with purpose. One of the subjects is the setting of goals. It's a real wonder then that we all have goals. But the extent of putting thoughts into action can be quite different. Goals are set because we believe in them. We believe that through our hard work and perseverance, we would achieve them. They represent our idea of limits. In a way, they are there as an aid to break through our limits. My OBS friends would probably know that I'm a process person so whether we get there is not as important as the process of getting there. If the process is right, then the product will arise eventually. This is where WL's view of the PPP model sets in. The people, process, product is actually 1 single entity rather than 3 different ones. We need all of them. We start with the best people we can find, then we get the correct process and the product will be what we want it to be. It's a step-by-step process. Anyway, back to goals. I realised we shared the same goals. But to be honest, the determination that came with CL's goals far exceeded mine. Yes, as you all have probably guessed, determination can come out of the act of setting goals. This made me think where I could get the same determination. CL went on to explain something so simple that it evaded my common sense completely: You have got to believe in it first. It is the manifestation of thought(CL thank you!) into action that will bring about the consequence. Believing whole-heartedly in your goals can give you that upsurge of power that you badly need to start off the day. After no small amount of thinking, I figured that I did not yet have the same amount of belief that CL has. Hopefully time will fill the void that I currently have.
Though CL and I disagreed on a number of subjects (sorry bro!) I felt that I have definitely gained something from our meeting. I'm exceedingly glad that you are my roomie! By sharing this little bit of information, I hope that you, the reader, have also gained something.
Till next time, may it please not rain on a day when I planned to go out! Though I do so love the purity of rain, it's quite a bother if I plan to go out and not sleep in. Thor if you are listening to my request thank you! One more hour to the meeting...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
A story...
Once upon a time, there was a boy. Now he was not some ordinary boy but a very special one. He was destined to become the greatest magician of all time. No, his name isn't Tom, Dick or Harry. It's not even Merlin. His name was Cogiz. Cogiz had no parents, nor was him born with any. No one really knew where he came from except that he was found by some villagers as a tiny little toddler in the woods. Many people marvelled that he was able to survive in the wild for so long and claimed that he was a miracle baby. 'Cogiz' was his first words and it stuck. He was known as Cogiz thereafter. His journey would prove to be the start of a legacy...
It's not easy to write a story. The above few words already stretched my limits. That's why let me take this opportunity to congratulate relf on his story! It's really interesting and for those who have not read it yet, here's the link: http://thelegendofdoria.blogspot.com/
Highly recommended!! From the above, I guess that most of you already figured out that I love to read. From my younger days (now I'm feeling all of my age) I started with Enid Blyton and her Famous Five and Secret Seven. Graduated to reading The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon in upper primary and also R.L Stine's Goosebumps series. At this juncture, I also liked game books especially from The Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever. This carried on to secondary school where I continued to read. At this stage, I was probably adopting the wrong way of reading, speed-reading by taking in all content and minimal language. Let me just make it clear that this isn't the right way because the author took great pains to use wonderful language as well as content in his story. Then I started to move into adult fiction like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series of mystery books. Read a few books by Jeffery Deaver and quite liked his The Eleventh Commandment. Went into courtroom books by John Grisham who was the author that gave me my first taste of the drama that exists in the judicial system. As I read his books, I was even thinking of studying law since it seemed so interesting. Lee Child came along armed with the charismatic hero Jack Reacher. An Army MP and decorated serviceman, his knowledge of the weaknesses of the human anatomy and the different arms never cease to amaze me. His ability to remain invisible in a city, only bringing along the clothes he was wearing and a toothbrush, would definitely be a great ability to have for secret agents. The list goes on as I strive to satisfy my craving for books...
The legacy was fulfilled. Cogiz became the greatest magician since Merlin to ever live. He never misused his powers and worked together hand-in-hand with the king to ensure peace and prosperity in the land. And so, the world was at peace once again, the magic balancing the sword, showing the world that 2 powers can coexist side by side and even support each other. It's a lesson well-learnt and passed down from generation to generation. The story of a magician and his king that evoked a million feelings, would forever remain in the chapters of history.
It's not easy to write a story. The above few words already stretched my limits. That's why let me take this opportunity to congratulate relf on his story! It's really interesting and for those who have not read it yet, here's the link: http://thelegendofdoria.blogspot.com/
Highly recommended!! From the above, I guess that most of you already figured out that I love to read. From my younger days (now I'm feeling all of my age) I started with Enid Blyton and her Famous Five and Secret Seven. Graduated to reading The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon in upper primary and also R.L Stine's Goosebumps series. At this juncture, I also liked game books especially from The Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever. This carried on to secondary school where I continued to read. At this stage, I was probably adopting the wrong way of reading, speed-reading by taking in all content and minimal language. Let me just make it clear that this isn't the right way because the author took great pains to use wonderful language as well as content in his story. Then I started to move into adult fiction like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series of mystery books. Read a few books by Jeffery Deaver and quite liked his The Eleventh Commandment. Went into courtroom books by John Grisham who was the author that gave me my first taste of the drama that exists in the judicial system. As I read his books, I was even thinking of studying law since it seemed so interesting. Lee Child came along armed with the charismatic hero Jack Reacher. An Army MP and decorated serviceman, his knowledge of the weaknesses of the human anatomy and the different arms never cease to amaze me. His ability to remain invisible in a city, only bringing along the clothes he was wearing and a toothbrush, would definitely be a great ability to have for secret agents. The list goes on as I strive to satisfy my craving for books...
The legacy was fulfilled. Cogiz became the greatest magician since Merlin to ever live. He never misused his powers and worked together hand-in-hand with the king to ensure peace and prosperity in the land. And so, the world was at peace once again, the magic balancing the sword, showing the world that 2 powers can coexist side by side and even support each other. It's a lesson well-learnt and passed down from generation to generation. The story of a magician and his king that evoked a million feelings, would forever remain in the chapters of history.
THE END
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