Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis work is killing me. I met up with my prof cum supervisor on Monday afternoon to discuss about the direction or rather theme for my dissertation. My initial idea was to work on foreign employment in Singapore and its impact on our economic growth and how it will affect local students and employment consequently. However, my prof pointed out that it will be extremely difficult for me to obtain the necessary data thus he asked if I have anything else in mind. So I recalled Obama's inauguration speech and the outlook he set for America as president. He pointed out that with unemployment rates soaring high, and Americans losing their health insurance automatically, he wants to set aside some budget for Americans' health insurance needs. My prof readily agreed to my theme and got me to work on pension instead.

I was like "WHOA!" Interesting.! He gave me the necessary website to obtain the data and asked me to go through it to see if it will be difficult for me to extract the data and use them having know that writing a thesis is completely alien to me as an undergraduate. I went back, read a bit on the website and the purpose of writing a paper on this. Subsequently, I spent my Tues afternoon and my whole morning till now going through the tutorials to learn how to make use of the data. Honestly, having gone through it, I wonder if it is really helpful? It is extremely tedious and time-consuming having to go through millions, oh no wait, perhaps billions because they have like 5,000 - 10,000 observations each year from 1968-2005.! WTH!

Now, prior to the start of writing my thesis, I am already feeling fatigue... Arrrgghhh!! Plus, I have a draft due next Tuesday yet I have not written a single word......... :((

Updates

Rock & Roll...

Have been extremely occupied the past 2 weeks with the term papers, project website, tutorial presentation all raining down on me. I do not deny I procrastinated quite a fair bit in the initial weeks of the special sem that led to me having to hug the Buddha's leg come the deadlines. Ever since I was back from Stockholm, I am always trying to catch up with deadlines in school, I don't know why. Perhaps it is due to the numerous tuition assignments I have on hand and also my way laid-back lifestyle that I have grown accustomed to.

Anyway, what has been going on in my life exactly other than school? LOl!

Manchester United Asia Tour 2009.
Bro and I had planned to go to Seoul for it but the tickets were snapped away the day it was released itself thus we decide to go to KL instead, near and cheaper as well. I love busking in the atmosphere inside the stadium, with the cheers and claps and singing that goes on. I will just post some photos and videos I guess...

Patrice Evra during warm-up

Nani

Michael Owen - hope he scores a lot more against LIVERPOOL! wahahaha..

Ah, my fav player after Ronaldo's departure - Macheda!

While I was in KL, I was lethargic all the time. I slept in the hotel all the time unless it was time to go for training or the match itself and of course dinner. The only time I got to shop was when it was time to check out then I went down to Bukit Bintang to walk around and shopped. The fatigue that plagued me should be attributed to all the late night stays and drinking sessions during the vacation. I sleep at 4-5 am every night having to wake up at 12-1p.m then bouncing off to school once a week on Wednesdays or to tuition in the evening. It was an extremely unhealthy lifestyle and no doubts, more pimples on my face these days!

As for tuition, sometimes I feel so fed-up and am on the verge to give up on those kids. You can see an apparent difference in motivation levels and learning attitudes between the Express and NA kids. More often than not, I feel like a nanny who has to pacify those little kids, stimulate interest and also ensure they concentrate during tuition. Majority of them have shown improvement but a handful of them are just incorrigible! They do not seem to express interest in learning and I see myself repeating the same concepts every week which gets on my nerve so much that occasionally I lose my temper and control. :( I hate to flare up during tuition because that unhappiness and anger lingers in me subsequently. :(

Now, school's starting in a week once again. I do feel excited about the start of school because it is my final semester at last!!! However, the uncertainty plaguing my honors thesis is worrying me a bit. The HT has huge implications for my graduation. I pray that everything goes on smoothly and may I be blessed with luck and determination to never give up on it. :)

Our AMAZING Website

www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~u0601691/gek1511

My group mate and I's amazing website...

A special semester in exchange for a special friend...

Special Semester has finally ended and I would say it ended with a bang, despite me being squeezed dried towards the last two weeks with the term paper, tutorial presentation and group project and website to do...

Honestly, I wasn't that into Special Sem initially and was so bent on leaving for Canada for summer exchange. However, the H1n1 virus turned things around and I even have to give up my US trip for a virus now widespread like COMMON FLU.. :(

Though we didn't spend a lot of time together since both of us always skipped lectures and only attended tutorials, I am glad we went for Special Semester together. :) A year and a half ago, when both of us left darling Singapore to beloved Stockholm, the bond between us was unusually and exceptionally tightly-wounded, like friends who have known each other for decades. Yet, when you spent too much time together despite knowing each other for only weeks or months, conflicts arise, friction results and I think we kind of gave up trying to maintain the friendship towards the end of the exchange. Misunderstandings arose, communication was impeded etc.

Now, a year after our exchange and with our lives back to what it was before the exchange, the memories still linger in us I guess. The unanticipated flings, crushes and parties, the people and friends etc....

I was taught an important lesson in these six weeks, to reflect on my life, to think of what I've been through the last 3 years in NUS and how I've lost myself along the way. Hardly could I recall myself being truthful to the people whom I met in NUS. Not being truthful does not equate to telling lies but it definitely involves certain white lies, my need for privacy, my need to survive, my need to meet the expectations etc. I am not trying excuse myself for the lies spoken, for the damage caused, for the responsibility of letting happiness elude me...

I realise that it was me who had let my emotions control my logic, let jealousy won me over, allow anger to triumph and the devil to leech on me. After all, having attracting the supposed attention for several years, it was hard having to grapple with the sudden loss. But the past two days have made me realised that perhaps they ain't that pivotal. God has shown it is time that I take the back seat and let the deserving ones take the front stage.

This special semester has taken a toll on my lifestyle, on my habits, on my stress level but it has definitely won me much more. The unearthing of a fresh perspective of life, of myself and the people around me is way more precious, all thanks to a casual chat in a tutorial some day in the middle of a discussion, over a few lunches of subway and a mugging session in the library.

Thanks, KIM! You've been truly awesome as a friend.... :)

I am reminded of a best friend I once had years ago but the last time we spoke was 2 years ago?!

Contrast

NUS and ITE Dover are just separated by a highway.
The emotional state and physical appearance of the two groups of students are a contrast as well.
I was waiting for the bus on Tues evening
Can't help but sighed.
They were all so happy, grinning, giggling among themselves
What were NUS students busy with?
Reading notes, and a glum and stressed-out look. Mental fatigue.
Why is it that there is such a big contrast between us?
Contentment and Non-competitiveness bring them happiness I believe
So are NUS students genuinely happy?

Emptied

I realise I have not been posting much these days.
Busy schedule.
Will find time to update after Friday 11am!
Wish me luck that I get at least a C for both my modules
Though I hate to see anything worst than a B+
Yet I know I don't deserve to see any A's this time
Since I hardly attend school and flung all my assessments.

This invited whelming response.

Ginnelle took What Is Your Future Job

Footballer
You will be a footballer.
You will earn £60,000 a week.
You will play for your dream club.
You will never get married but have a fit girlfriend.
You will have loads of kids (accidently).
You will die young because of your alchohol abuse.

*I wished* I guess it's the picture that suits me! :)

Stiff.

Your cold shoulder makes me tremble.
Your silence is abhorrent.
I stare in the middle of the night, defenseless
Only to feel my heart bleeding in convulse.
Save me from implosion. :)