I can't seem to upload videos to blogspot still. I give up. Just check out multiply for the optimum level of laughter and endless nonsense (that is, if you share my quirky sense of humour).
I said this before and I'll say this again. My exchange programme has ended and this will mark the closure (end of blogging days for blogspot account). I couldn't leave without saying some last words for the beautiful people i met in the last six months. They are afterall, totally wicked people. :)
Exchange started off with much frustration and sometimes, I overload myself with the unnecessary stress. I never had problems being alone. In fact, i do treasure very much the space and privacy that is bestowed upon me by my generous parents... what with the hostel stay in Singapore and now, this exchange programme. I cannot thank them enough.
I do admit though, that halfway through exchange, i did feel lost. More than anything else, i wanted to crawl back to Singapore even if it takes ten years from England. Point is, i wanted to be ON MY WAY home. Singapore, home. Why? I still am not too sure. Probably the lack of company and how time flies too slowly for me to fully seize the day. It feels endless. The calendar- planner hung loosely on the wall, counting down the days that my source of sanity should arrive. I reflected on that again. Maybe all i needed was company at that point of time. No excuses, but really... PMS is no joke. Hence, every time of the month is met with teary- eyed Aida seeking attention from home. This is as honest as it can get.
I failed miserably in learning what the exchange is all about until so much later. I did not see the point of making new friends. After years of seeing people come and go, i told myself that friends are those i can keep for life. Why bother with acquaintances? They'll leave and your next close encounter would be when you bump into them one day (if you do at all). I met the Lboro exchange students from other parts of Europe, Lboro Singaporean undergraduates and the fellow NUS exchangees. Somehow, I did not grasp that opportunity fast enough. If there wasn't International Day, I would have completely overlooked Xian, Yan lian, Lydia, Lester and Alwyn. Not that they are insignificant... who wants to mix around with low EQ people right? :)
Mel's bad. Not low EQ at all. These people, they're really sei (cool).
Then, there's the Lboro undergraduates who made the small town rock like Las Vegas - Jeremy, Wee Yong (Willie), Jerry, Alicia and the rest. You know who you are.
Next, thank you God for the existence of Helena, Sarah, Saara and Daniella. Without them, the exchange experience won't be complete at all. Lastly, the Arts NUS exchangees also known as the sorority - Melody, Yingzhi, Yushan, Joan, Yuen Mei and Huiran. I can't imagine a more exciting girl talk than the ones we had. Somehow, we never got bored over the same topic.
Each and everyone of you are precious to me and although things appear a lil bit difficult here back in Singapore when it comes to meeting up, do keep in mind what each of us promised over there. For myself, me trying to the best of my ability to manage time well and put some time for occasional gatherings. If there is one thing i learn from this, it would be how relationships take up a lot of one's effort. No loss there though, for such given experience brings joy and many smiles.
How can one say no to:
1. Jeremy's fantastic human / non- human impersonation,
2. Wee Yong's constant mumbling and lack of understanding on the meaning of crisps,
3. Jerry's metrosexual needs,
4. Alwyn's demands for late night tea sessions and politics,
5. Xian's incessant challenges in board (bored) games,
6. Melody's whining needs,
7. Yingzhi's "BIATCH" exclamations,
8. Yushan's need for "extra services",
9. Huiran's fashion talks,
10. Yuenmei's cooking recipes,
11. Joan's philosophical take on love,
12. Yan lian's famous chocolate cake,
13. Lester's fantastic cooking skills and
14. Lydia's sweet smiles and lovely company.
It is tempting to continue gushing about the fun moments even when it comes to grocery shopping and our battle for the bombay mix. I just wanna say THANK YOU, for your hospitality, never-ending support, love and laughter. Those five months will remain in my mind (and heart) as long as this cognitive mind of mine is still intact.
Quoting Mr Xian, "Goodbye, my Lough. It has been a loughly five months".
Showing posts with label my schizophrenic other. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my schizophrenic other. Show all posts
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
hush...
I am having exams right now. Tomorrow's the last paper. After today's bloody paper, tomorrow's paper better be good.
I'll update on Paris and Rome soon enough. Taking a break from the studying now. Feeling a lil' too emotional and i just had to look at sweet things.
Mel introduced me to Conny. She is amazing. Take a look:
But i happen to like him (George) a lot too. He has a gorgeous smile.
Man, if only i'm twelve now.
I should really stop.
I'll update on Paris and Rome soon enough. Taking a break from the studying now. Feeling a lil' too emotional and i just had to look at sweet things.
Mel introduced me to Conny. She is amazing. Take a look:
But i happen to like him (George) a lot too. He has a gorgeous smile.
Man, if only i'm twelve now.
I should really stop.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
This is it- part one.
This should be the last posting before i fly off to Rome and Paris (where i'll meet Ivy Lam O.S. and maybe King Kong).
We had a BBQ last friday to celebrate Xian and Mei's birthday (the former older by a generation). I do not have many pictures with me because the pictures turned out ugly/ bad. If you just turn to Mei's blog, maybe you'll see it. It was crazy for we played so many games... my favourite being the song lyrics game where we leave one word for the opponent (all girls VS Xian) to sing another song with the word in it. Can't believe the word 'Venga boys' was up... very gay. haha. We played three rounds of Polar Bear and i think i am getting better at it. *Three cheers for Aida*
I must thank Alwyn though for facilitating the whole BBQ. I must say, you were impressive... the OCS style, eh? Cheapo but efficient. haha. Of course, to the rest as well who put aside everything else to make this celebration a complete one.
Happy Birthday Xian & Mei! I should be wishing Mei again for her party on the 8th.
On to a serious note, i just wanna share something. Sometimes, we go through life thinking how hard and bad it is, choosing to see the unseen rather than the seen. It works both ways, good and bad. This is not the end yet. I do see it clearly though, that i must say things before it all ends officially. I should be writing one again at the end, where i probably will have more time to think. This is just a summary cause as much as i'd love to write a bye-note for everyone, i really don't have the time now cause of the free- trade agreement that i signed with Mel. It's coming along just fine. Here it goes:
CHEERS!!! For everything. For just being there. For looking me up. For ensuring this girl won't die of coke overdose. For protecting me from the darker forces of evil in SMB. For accepting that her PMS is analogous to the nuclear bomb. For the many supper and tea sessions. For polar bears. For the medication when i was down in the dumps. For the many movies to cheer me up. For teaching me table tennis... and the list goes on. At the rate we're going, i feel like i'm leaving everyone for good. Just going off for nine days yeah? We'll organize another get-together just before i depart for Singapore. YOU ALRIGHT?
I think a more touching message will be on this blog before we leave yeah?
Okay, on to less serious issues (the above not very serious also, i know)... I know i'm vain and some people told me i look 1) cuckoo in this picture, 2) like i failed in being a porn star and 3) like i am acting cute. Whichever way it is, i shall share it anyhoo because i like how i look in soft focus. No pimples yeah? Excellent. Thanks Jeremy for snapping it. haha.
That's the birthday girl's bunny actually. But as usual, i just had to borrow it.
On an episode of Yushan say the darnest things: "Is it polar bears wake up when you say the word 'so'?"
We had a BBQ last friday to celebrate Xian and Mei's birthday (the former older by a generation). I do not have many pictures with me because the pictures turned out ugly/ bad. If you just turn to Mei's blog, maybe you'll see it. It was crazy for we played so many games... my favourite being the song lyrics game where we leave one word for the opponent (all girls VS Xian) to sing another song with the word in it. Can't believe the word 'Venga boys' was up... very gay. haha. We played three rounds of Polar Bear and i think i am getting better at it. *Three cheers for Aida*
I must thank Alwyn though for facilitating the whole BBQ. I must say, you were impressive... the OCS style, eh? Cheapo but efficient. haha. Of course, to the rest as well who put aside everything else to make this celebration a complete one.
Happy Birthday Xian & Mei! I should be wishing Mei again for her party on the 8th.
On to a serious note, i just wanna share something. Sometimes, we go through life thinking how hard and bad it is, choosing to see the unseen rather than the seen. It works both ways, good and bad. This is not the end yet. I do see it clearly though, that i must say things before it all ends officially. I should be writing one again at the end, where i probably will have more time to think. This is just a summary cause as much as i'd love to write a bye-note for everyone, i really don't have the time now cause of the free- trade agreement that i signed with Mel. It's coming along just fine. Here it goes:
CHEERS!!! For everything. For just being there. For looking me up. For ensuring this girl won't die of coke overdose. For protecting me from the darker forces of evil in SMB. For accepting that her PMS is analogous to the nuclear bomb. For the many supper and tea sessions. For polar bears. For the medication when i was down in the dumps. For the many movies to cheer me up. For teaching me table tennis... and the list goes on. At the rate we're going, i feel like i'm leaving everyone for good. Just going off for nine days yeah? We'll organize another get-together just before i depart for Singapore. YOU ALRIGHT?
I think a more touching message will be on this blog before we leave yeah?
Okay, on to less serious issues (the above not very serious also, i know)... I know i'm vain and some people told me i look 1) cuckoo in this picture, 2) like i failed in being a porn star and 3) like i am acting cute. Whichever way it is, i shall share it anyhoo because i like how i look in soft focus. No pimples yeah? Excellent. Thanks Jeremy for snapping it. haha.
That's the birthday girl's bunny actually. But as usual, i just had to borrow it.
On an episode of Yushan say the darnest things: "Is it polar bears wake up when you say the word 'so'?"
Monday, May 14, 2007
Negotiated power.
This got me thinking. I was in the library and i stumbled upon his book. It was really an old tattered book, but it was like finding a piece of treasure for me.
French theorist Foucalt (1977) argues that power is not something that one person or group of people holds over another ot others. It is not 'something to be won or lost' (Katz, 2003). Power is a diffuse and unlocatable force that permeates all levels of society and that is reproduced in an indirect and often erratic way through multiply mediatory networks. This would be easier to explain how individuals are often in a position of empowerment and at the same time, a subject of it.
A good example for this - The prison.
(Not prison break). haha.
Anyway, back to the point from the lame digression, each of us assumes that in a prison, the warden has control and power over the prisoners. A study in the US prisons however, showed a different thing. Within prisons, exist an informal economy with inmates trading commodities for scarce items such as cigarettes. There is the powerful respected baron (who exerts power over others) and this shows the multi-level power negotiation. It doesn't stop there. The police warden comes into the picture. Some of the wardens allow the illegal trading activities to go on knowing very well that the need to stop them would mean extra overtime pay. In addition, some of these barons are indeed powerful criminals, who more often than not, resort to threats and intimidation towards the wardens and officers' families. Instead of the police warden having the power, we see an implicit fear of the police officers and this is translated into them trying to keep the relationship friendly between officer and prisoner.
Then, i tried relating this notion of power into our everyday situation. If say, i want to buy a 28 pounds purple dress and my mother says i better not... At face value, she has the power right? What if i i go through another network and ask my father? The probability of my father saying a 'yes' is higher. If he were to tell my mother to allow me to buy, then indirectly, i am empowered right?
Just a thought... The things i learn in school.
__________________________________________________________________
References:
Foucalt, M. 1977. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. London: Penguin Books.
Katz, C. 2003. Social formations: thinking about society, identity, power and resistance. In: Holloway S., Rice S., Valentine G. (eds) Key concepts in Geography. London: SAGE.
French theorist Foucalt (1977) argues that power is not something that one person or group of people holds over another ot others. It is not 'something to be won or lost' (Katz, 2003). Power is a diffuse and unlocatable force that permeates all levels of society and that is reproduced in an indirect and often erratic way through multiply mediatory networks. This would be easier to explain how individuals are often in a position of empowerment and at the same time, a subject of it.
A good example for this - The prison.
(Not prison break). haha.
Anyway, back to the point from the lame digression, each of us assumes that in a prison, the warden has control and power over the prisoners. A study in the US prisons however, showed a different thing. Within prisons, exist an informal economy with inmates trading commodities for scarce items such as cigarettes. There is the powerful respected baron (who exerts power over others) and this shows the multi-level power negotiation. It doesn't stop there. The police warden comes into the picture. Some of the wardens allow the illegal trading activities to go on knowing very well that the need to stop them would mean extra overtime pay. In addition, some of these barons are indeed powerful criminals, who more often than not, resort to threats and intimidation towards the wardens and officers' families. Instead of the police warden having the power, we see an implicit fear of the police officers and this is translated into them trying to keep the relationship friendly between officer and prisoner.
Then, i tried relating this notion of power into our everyday situation. If say, i want to buy a 28 pounds purple dress and my mother says i better not... At face value, she has the power right? What if i i go through another network and ask my father? The probability of my father saying a 'yes' is higher. If he were to tell my mother to allow me to buy, then indirectly, i am empowered right?
Just a thought... The things i learn in school.
__________________________________________________________________
References:
Foucalt, M. 1977. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. London: Penguin Books.
Katz, C. 2003. Social formations: thinking about society, identity, power and resistance. In: Holloway S., Rice S., Valentine G. (eds) Key concepts in Geography. London: SAGE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
