When you know it, you just do.

Crazy test

I was overjoyed when I knew that I scored above average and pretty close to full marks for my lousiest module. But after calculating the descriptive statistics, I think I should still be content although the mode of the scores is full marks! Whoever heard of full marks as the mode?!

Old man playing piano

Schubert's Impromptu Op. 142 No. 2.


I'm quite partial towards old men play the piano. I think it's largely attributed to ABRSM exams I took in the past. I started learning piano since I was 4, but stopped and dragged on for a period of time, which is mainly the reason why I still haven't gotten my Diploma. That and my lousy techniques plus shortie fingers too. I'm learning this song now. But only at the top half the second page.


Back to old men and piano, I remember I used to be VERY nervous and these fat and jolly looking old examiners from UK would be friendly and sometimes try to crack jokes to relieve the tension I was feeling. Maybe because I look scared to death and very small in size. The most 'memorable' exam was I think Grade 6 exam. No matter how hard I tried to recall, I couldn't get B flat minor scales. Worst still I prefer harmonic when it comes to scales so I was wondering why he couldn't have given me that instead of melodic or better still, B flat major! haha.. Talk about being greedy..


The same song but played by another pianist, a much younger one. Look at his facial expressions. It makes me curious to know what he is feeling. I wonder if he's enjoying the music he's making. He looks like he's eating something distasteful.

Disgusting humongous cockroach is dead!

Herr Bean (mein Bruder) hat heute Geburtstag und hat auch die scheußliche Kakerlake totgeschlagen! Gott sei dank, es ist tot! Ich bedanke mich Herr Bean.
To ALL insects, DIE DIE DIE!!!



And I should STOP nagging.

PS: Zsofi, ich schreibe endlich etwas auf Deutsch! :)

Made up my mind

Since my mum doesn't mind not attending my commencement ceremony (I'm the eldest), I'm going for WAT! *Aurelia, you can tell me the story anyway :)* Thanks for all the comments on MSN too.


It is a little frustrating to be liasing with Speedwing-theirritatingagency. I know their email is probably flooded with TONS of questions everyday, but they can at least address the email to you when they reply you! During the application process, I also encountered several problems with Speedwing. Firstly, they needed you to go down personally to make payment. Secondly, you can only pay by NETS. Third, the time frame allocated for payment each day is unbelievably short. Fourth, I was first told that I can get someone to pay on my behalf, only to be told the truth when Anlin made the wasted trip. Although she claims that it wasn't extra trouble, she still made the effort to go there! Fifth, I practically have classes during their payment time slots. Sixth, I had to be very diligent and start mugging by the time I realised that I had to go down personally.


As a result, I could only pay after the crazy week of tests, cancel piano lesson just to pay money, which was also the deadline. And in turn, I paid late and cannot be allocated my first choice Yellowstone. Crap!


Anlin and me will have to discard previous plans and re-plan. The current plan would be to wait for the new list of employers and see where Maybeline wants to go.

Dilemma

Should I:
1. Go for Work And Travel USA (only tertiary students are eligible to apply) and miss the Commencement Ceremony
2. Skip USA and go for the Commencement Ceremony? Any comments?

Rants

Great! Just great! I bought a 2nd hand textbook from this girl who sold it in such a condition that isn't worth the price I got it for.



It's my weakest module, Econometrics and I seriously loathe even attending it's lectures. The lecturer-cum-tutor speaks SOOooo slowly. Tutorials though only held on alternate weeks, appears to resemble a soldier going for war, fighting courageously in order to emerge a survivor from the ordeal. Ok all except the courageously describes me, that is. I shield my head from sight whenever it's questions time, wishing fervently that it isn't my turn each time it's someone's turn to present the answers. This screams YOU ARE SUCH A COWARD!



Anyway, that's not the point. The point is, I EVEN BOUGHT THE WRONG BOOK!



I don't dare to go toilet because there is a ful-fledged cockroach residing in there. Time to ask Mr Bin to eradicate unwelcomed pests Mr Bin to the rescue!

Clumsy

It's no surprise whenever I spoil things just by touching them. Most of the time I just meddle around a bit and Haha! the thing broke again.


I watched a Resident Evil: Extinction with Allan last Friday at PS. No my horrible stint of deadlines and tests are not over yet. But all work and no play makes Shuxian a dull girl right?


This the first movie I had to pay for myself ever since I returned from Stuttgart. Movie tickets are getting increasingly expensive in Singapore too. I paid $9.50. I decided that I wanted to eat popcorn since it's the only time I get to enjoy popcorn in Singapore. We put together $4.50 for a small box of popcorn and entered the cinema. As usual, you guys know how much I prefer sitting with my legs crossed even when I sit on chairs. In order to prevent my bag from dropping, I accidentally tilted the box and OMG, every single bit of the popcorn went where gravity directed! It's the first time such a thing ever happened to me and I'm glad I had started eating the popcorn as I was walking. Poor Allan paid $4 and couldn't eat any. I started laughing uncontrollably at the popcorn on the floor. Throughout the movie, I had to curb my urge to laugh again so I won't seem like crazy sadist who laughs when there are zombies running loose.


The problem with me is that I always like to watch movies like that before I enter the cinema. But once the show starts, much to my displeasure, I behave like a timid little Frog. Yuck. I don't watch half the gruesome scenes and stare at the floor instead. Ok I know it's a waste of money but I simply hate suspense. With the added effect from the background music, it just implants fear in me, when there's sometimes nothing to be afraid of. Allan even said a few times "There's nothing to be afraid of in this scene." Oh well..



Since my popcorn craving wasn't satisfied, I requested that my brother buy me popcorn on Saturday when he went for Resident Evil. He came home with a humongous box of popcorn which, tried as hard as I could, I only consumed half a box.

Differences

Siwei's comment reminded me that it totally slipped my mind to contrast the STARK differences between public transport in Stuttgart and Singapore.


First difference: Regardless of it being the bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn or some other trains, they always come punctually. Right to the minute. If the plan says the bus will come at 8:53, most of the time it will arrive at 8:53. Singapore? They came up with the IRIS and I don't see a reason why people should waste money sending SMS to check the bus timings since it most probably won't be correct.


Second difference: Going out/travelling in Stuttgart is so much more convenient. We don't actually have to pay before every single trip. Just buy a pass at the beginning of the month if you commute by public transport frequently. Almost hassle-free! Plus with my FOC Verbundpass for the whole semester, it was hassle-free. The pass was valid up till the end of last month and it was quite a waste I couldn't give it to Siwei or Ziming since neither look like a girl, I reckon.


Third difference: It is not uncommon to witness a strike Stuttgart but if it ever happens in Singapore, I think people might go ballistic. I glanced through a recent news report and the public transport workers are asking for a 31% increase in pay rise!


Fourth difference: Public transport means it is to cater to the general public, in fact that means just about everyone right? Why is there such emphasis on profit maximization? I refuse to feel justified towards the rise in fares for senior citizens because it seems that the increase is supported by facts that are distorted to deceive the general public.

Recent Bus Fare Hike (Super disorganised post with my thoughts all over the place)

Is the bus fare hike really justifiable?


According to the ChannelnewsAsia reports, the rise in bus fare was approved after careful considerations about the increasing CPI and average monthly earnings. With that, senior citizens would have to pay an increase of 2 cents per ride regardless of the distance as of 1st Oct. Despite having 2 PT companies, buses from 1 company that run in a certain area are not subjected to competition from the other company, and thus we almost have a monopoly. When the senior citizen has to transfer buses in order to get around, the increase in 2 cents translates to at least 4 cents per journey, ensuring a significant increase in the bus fare per journey.


Additionally, senior citizens who have poor health, and cannot afford to walk 2 bus stops to the market will have to pay the same amount of bus fare as the rest who wants to travel longer bus journeys.


In my opinion, inspite of looking out for the poor and lower income groups, fare hikes are nonetheless an essential. This is to match the increase in CPI and other economic factors. However, the stagnant bus service standards do not justify for this increase. Take a look at the buses you are commuting with the next time. Are the window sills full of dust to the effect that one would feel disgusted propping one's elbows there? Is water leaking from the air conditioner due to poor maintenance? The irregularity of the buses?

Shh!

*Shhh* I secretly suspect that I hate studying and doing work because I just cant wake up when there's work to be done. *Shhh*

Pleasantness

What a relief! 2 down and 4 more to go.. At least Macro was manageable although I was so tired this morning. Being late didn't make things worse, I'm glad. But it was such a chore to force myself to read the questions carefully through my glazy, barely opened- eyes. Submitted the assignment and project proposal today too. 4 more obstacles to a nice long relaxed sleep! GOGOGO!



Imagine yourself scrutinising the computer, looking at statistical data and a friend comes up to you and taps your shoulder from behind. You turn around to say hi and your friend asks "Have you completed the assignment we are supposed to submit today?"You say "No", and your friend, who is forever on the Dean's List asks you an astonishing question. "Do you want to copy mine? I figured out how to do the question both of us got stucked at."



Now that's great! First you get to get good grades for the assignment. Second you also can to enjoy a little humour on the stressful week with tons of work piling everyday.



3 delightful little incidents to lift my spirits today!

*Correction*

Starting from today, it's 5 more tests, 2 impending assignments and 1 proposal and the horror will only end exactly 2 weeks from now. Oh not to mention 2 IVLE tests within the next 3 weeks for the stats module I didn't even know until this morning.

Wish me luck in scraping together time for the (in)dispensible activity also called 'sleeping'.

YOO HOO!!

Stocks went up!! I'm not sure why am I estactic about this, afterall I just bought them yesterday haha. Blame it on the stressful system in NUS. Mundane routine of trying to squeeze more information out of your brain while you work on assignments and doing your best to put more useful stuff into the brain. {Poor brain you know.. }. When was the last time I had some REAL EXCITMENT ?