May 14, 2008
You can say I’m somewhat shocked. I got B grades and maybe occasionally nearing A grades. But I never had A’s before. That’s why I was sceptical when I discovered I got A- for my humanities (arguments for the Sixties in Western countries) and an A for my English paper (analysis for two advertisements, relationship of the words and pictures used).
My Humanities tutor was amazed at the amount of reading I have done and was impressed at the way I organised my paper, although she would like me to revise my sentence structure a bit. Meaning I have to use less compound sentences. My sociolinguistic tutor just commended me on my effort on “analysing the ads to death”.
Suddenly, I got a booster injection. In case anyone of you are wondering, exams are just next week.
Did I mention I’m panicking?
March 5, 2008
Herein lies Tien, a person who decided to commit suicide by studying a subject known as English Language. The exact reason for his decision is currently unknown, although there was two days of suspicious activities where he was consecutively writing, checking, re-writing and submitting a 1,200 words discussion on Science and Religion and a 1,500 words essay on the appropriate use of English in education…
I better score an “A”. I mean, I killed my eyes and my back for those essays. And my neck is so stiff now! Well, relaxation time. At least for the moment. Lecture is on tomorrow and another two killer essays coming soon…
On a lighter note, I’ve fulfilled my duties as an uncle to my lovable niece. Traveling to my sister’s house on last Friday evening could be a little tiring but sneaking a peek at my niece sleeping so cozily and peacefully in her crib just wash the weariness away.
September 6, 2007
I give you my all
But why do you have to do this?
Those scars that
You inflicted upon me
The hand that is holding you
Too much to bear
Forgive me
As I let go
Kudos to anyone who remember this picture. Well, I came across the same tree again on my way to school and I saw those “injuries”. I have no idea what happened but I guess it just spark off the melancholic side of me. Dedicated to those who are as melancholic as me *sidelong glances to Min*
*********
No, SG doesn’t stands for Singapore. At least not in this context. What it means is actually “Survival Group”, or commonly known as “Study Group”. It’s a little difficult to study alone. I’m not really the lone ranger type and I guess I need people with me for this kind of thing. After all, the more the merrier for studies, right?
Anyone interested?
PS: For locals only (Duh!)
August 31, 2007
Ha, I finally finished my 1,500 word report standardization of English as well as my analysis on painting, sonnet and philosophy. Now, there is a three weeks breather before my next assignments. Enjoy your weekends! I’m definitely going to enjoy mine. Lotsa animes to watch!
August 18, 2007
How to write an analysis for a painting in less then 400 words:
1) Looked at the textbooks for instructions
2) Looked at the brief “Guidance Notes”
3) Surf the web for ideas
4) Inadvertently found something else better to do on the net
5) Forget about the analysis
In other words, I’m dead. And we are doing the same for sonnets, philosophy and background of an artist.
Not to mention a 1,500 - 2,000 word essay on English’s Dictionary History.
Any one, any ideas?
July 27, 2007
The murky world beyond
Greenery
Sounds
Lights
Thunder
Freedom
But within here
Safe from the storm
*********
English Version:
2nd of August
D-Day
School starting
Piano exam as well
Please ignore me if I’m cranky these few days…
中文版:
八月二号
世界末日的一天
开学了
也是考钢琴的日子
如果脾气不好的话, 请见谅
June 30, 2007
For life
We hold a job of death
For death
We waste away our life
The paradox
Of life and death
In this world
*********
English Version:
I just realised: a) I only have four posts for the month of June, b) come July I’ll be free of contract, and c) I’m starting my Uni life soon. Suddenly, my life seems to brighten up for some reason. So bright, in fact, that I need a pair of sunglasses. I am unable to decide which option is better.
A） Well, it’s not so much of the fact that my supervisor is always around that I’m unable to blog, but it is that the calls keep coming in and the cases keep piling up. Marcus and I are constantly besieged by cases that we are constantly asking each other “How is it?” every five minutes. In fact, our greetings to our fellow colleagues are “How are the calls today?”, not “How are you today?”. Isn’t that pathetic?
B） After reading the above scenario, I doubt there is little cheers regarding me quitting this coming July. It added a certain amount of zest to my life, I supposed, trying to anticipate what kind of calls is going to be next, what are the customers’ complaints and whatsoever. But it was certainly not a job I would be earning to go back to, unless I am really in short of money, which I certainly hoped not.
C） Life in university does not sound that bad, until I saw the textbooks they are carrying. It was so thick, I got knocked out just by looking at it. It’s not so much of the thickness, but rather the words themselves. I need a pair of magnifying glasses to read them. Suddenly, psychology textbooks seem intimidating.
Anyway, I just realized, I rarely make or receive any calls, and in a short period of nearly six months, I have make and receive calls amount to almost three thousand calls, each call estimated a goodly five minutes or so. It almost seems to make up for the twenty one years which I have wasted not making or receiving calls…
中文版：
我刚发现：A）六月份我只有四篇日记，B）来临的七月份我的合约就结束了，和C）我快要开始我的大学生涯。突然之间，我感觉到我的人生似乎明亮起来。简直是亮的我得待一副太阳眼镜。我不能决定那一个选择比较好。
A）不是因为我的助长一直监视我们，所以我才不能写我的日记。是因为一直有人拨电进来，而且一直有顾客的档案得注意，所以才少写。MARCUS和我简直是被档案淹没到我们每五分钟都问对方：“怎样啦？” 。其实，我们对同事的招呼是：“你今天的电话如何？” ，而不是：“你今天如何？” 。够不够可悲？
B）读了以上的短文，我想应该不会有太多人反对我在来临的七月份终止合约吧。虽然说，为了要预知下一通电话是怎样的、顾客要投诉什么和其他琐碎的事而真添生活情趣，但是这绝对不是一个会让我眷恋的工作。除非我真的缺钱用的话，不然我真的不想回到这份工作。
C）大学生涯听起来是挺不错的，但是当我看到他们拿的课本，巨厚无比。简直是厚得单单看了一眼，就晕倒了。不是因为太厚，而是因为那些字太小。简直是得用放大镜来读那些课本吗。突然之间，心理学课本好像好恐怖。
喔，对了，我刚刚才发现，我很少拨电或接受电话，但是在这短短得六个月内，我接受与拨电得电话几乎将近三千通，而且每一通都是才不多五分钟左右。这似乎补偿了我这二十一年来，很少接受或拨电的分量。。。。。。
March 11, 2007
Riding high upon them
Having fun
When we are done
What happen to them?
English Version:
You know, I haven’t been blogging consistently for quite some time, so I thought I better do it more often, before I forgot about the blog entirely. Anyway, went to NTU open house yesterday. One of the perks about being at the open house is that, you can pretend to be an undergrad sauntering around in the campus. At least until you leave, that is.
Walking around the campus, or going around it in the bus, was quite a pleasant trip. Jason, Thana, Eugene and I were having some pleasant talk. Or should I say, I was talking to Thana and Jason only, since I haven’t really warm up to Eugene yet. You just can’t forget certain things. Anyway, they seem pretty sure about where they are going, while I was just floundering about for an answer when people start asking “Where are you going?”.
I guess I better start praying that for a place in U…
中文版：
发现到最近没有定期的把我生活的小故事写在网上日记里。所以乘我完全忘记之前，最好快点写一些在我生活所发生的事。对了，昨天刚刚到南洋理工大学的开展会，在那里感觉好像一个大学生慢无目的的四处流荡。
在学院里，坐着车倒是挺好玩的。JASON，THANA，EUGENE 和我，或着我应该说是JASON，THANA和我，聊的挺开心的。我对EUGENE始终还是有所保留，因为我还是不能忘记我们俩人之间所发生的一些不愉快的事件。不过，当我还在对我未来不知所措时，他们几个倒是对未来抱着很大的期望。但是当别人问我你去那里读书？”时，我却不知道该怎么回答。
我看该是时候祈祷我能顺利的报进大学。。。。。。
March 2, 2007
English Version:
Two years ago, it was me in the school hall, waiting for my results, feeling anxious. Two years later, I’m still waiting for the A Level results, feeling anxious. But this time, it’s different. I mean, I already gotten my results. Now, I’m waiting for the others to get their results, so the application will be open. And in that way, I’m able to apply for university. Again.
Remember when your parents and everyone you know says you have to study hard? So you will be knowledgeable and not sound like some idiot from some obscure mountains hidden in Brazil or Canada? Well, scrape that. We study so that we can get a degree and then, hopefully get a job in the future that pays a lot so we are able to live from day to day. What is the world coming to?
中文版：
两年前，是我在礼堂里忐忑不安的等着拿我的成绩。两年后，我还是忐忑不安的在等A水准会考的成绩，不过有一点是不同的。我已经拿到我的成绩了，只是在等别人拿而已。这样一来，进入大学的入选有在一次开放了。那也就是说我又有机会被入取。
还记得小时候你的父母和你所认识的人都劝你要把书读好吗？这样一来，人家认为你是一位家学渊博的人，而不是一个从哪嘣一声出来的山芭佬。你被骗了。我们读书只是为了拿那一张文凭，然后希望能在不久的未来讨到一份像样的工作，好好的过生活。。。。。。这个世界是怎么了？
July 12, 2006
The road to self improvement is never easy, I’ll admit, but this is ridiculous. I mean, months after working on my skills (and the book), I don’t seem to have improve at all. And on top of that, I’ve taken a beating to my ego. Even the only thing I’m proud of, doesn’t seem to be really good. For your information, I scored a 67% in reading memory and my reading speed is usually quite fast. But turned out, in comparison, the “skill” which I’m so proud of was actually consider as average.
Not only that, when I started the programme on improving my reading speed and memory, there seems to have a drop in my standards. Talk about adding salt to wound. At this rate, I’ll need every self improvement book I can lay my hands on. And really having to improve is sort of difficult when no one tells you exactly where went wrong.
I think what I need is people who are willingly to tell me which areas am I lacking in (in nice ways, of course. Blunt is good, I suppose, but I have a habit of turning off and not learning when someone comment bluntly…). I shall continue working my @$$ off those books, but in the mean time, I need to nurse my bruise ego…
Tata
