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How would you remain friends with someone you believe to be doomed?
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Gone were the days where our government tries to subtly help a certain race. Now, they have resorted to giving free money directly. Yay! Well, I have a suggestion. Just make it a legal requirement for race A to set up a direct debit to race B transferring cash periodically. Yea, that's a hassle-free efficient plan.
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Warwick
First of the long list of plastered smiles
With Family
And Daniel
Ceremony starts at 11 in the morning, and as I need to queue up for an extra ticket into the graduation (Butterworth) hall for my gran, I was up and about in my dress very early in the morning.
Turned out I was not the earliest to queue for the extra tickets. Quite a number of students, especially international students like me, were so desperate for the extra tickets that they arrived an hour before to ensure that they get spots for their families. Immediately after, I rushed over to another booth to put on my graduation hood and the mortar board. Now this was the tricky part, and I spent the next hour in the toilet with other girls trying to figure out how to pin down the hood without making the shirt that we pinned it on slide upwards by the drag of the unexpectedly heavy hood. Yes, sometimes graduates can still be dumbass at these sort of things. Only after we had decided to pin the hood to the shirt, and then the shirt to our trousers that some realised they couldn't go to the toilet without removing everything anymore. Opps, no visits to the loos!
The ceremony itself was, to say the least, brief. Started with a sweetening speech by the chancellor, the graduates were invited on stage to receive our degree certificates, with some special awards given out in between. Peter Corvi won the lecturer award, which was not much of a surprise as he is probably the only lecturer teaching our business school with an appreciation/fan page on facebook. Oh yes, I am a huge fan as well. The party moved to the piazza afterwards for a class photo session, and with the hundreds of WBS grads, it took quite a few shots before we were let go by the photographer. A buffet lunch was served, and it was surprisingly fantastic, given the horrid reputation of business school with freebies/ luncheons.
Everything followed was a blur. Photos everywhere with everyone you could grab, and then the goodbye hugs and the constant worry about our parents going missing on campus. And all of a sudden, everything was over and you are left with a camera with a completely run down battery in one hand, and a very important piece of paper in the other.
Yay!!!
Farewell Warwick, the famous Russell Group university, and the notorious, money drying machine more commonly known as Warwick University Ltd.
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Warwick
Results came out today, while I was in Pisa, Italy with Daniel.
The trip was pretty crazy. Met some nice people, some rude and moody ones, got 'robbed' off our change, saw one of the 7 wonders of the world, and survived the very very hot weather in Italy without air cond.
Then on the last day, we got nervous waiting for our results. Not sure why, but the results was scheduled to be published at 3pm. Odd timing. We were still in Pisa, and because I didn't want the horrible wait by the phone to hear the news, I did not ask any of my friends to look up the results for me.
Oh well, at least I got to enjoy my last bit of the holiday.
Turns out I didn't have to worry about my results. Or Daniel's borderline-employment-at-risk grades. We got a lift from Dan's dad from the airport, and headed straight to the university house where they posted up the results for students to view. That's the first time I got my results in this traditional way- Look it up on the board.
And yep! I got my 1st class honours! Yiipeee.... Omg, such a bloodshed for that. Still haven't got over the fact that I did so well in my 3rd year. And as for Dan, he got his 2.1 so... our job is secured =) (provided I get my work permit and now THAT, is a huge problem for me) Anyhow, fantastic full stop for my student life.
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There you have it, my final exam at Warwick. Prepared freaking hard for this paper, but didn't really do myself justice as the questions that came out were short of what I anticipated. Anyhooo, I am done done done.
Finally.
Over the last 2 weeks my house mates have been rubbing it in, in my face, that they are all done but me and now... haha, the torture is over and I just joined the group of 3rd years putting our student lives behind us and moving forward. Well, as long as we don't owe any library fines etc, we should be able to graduate.
Graduation ball is naturally the best way to commemorate the end of university and hence after forking out a hefty £65, I dressed up (while guys, 'suit' up) and we all went merrily to our 'final fling'. Unfortunately though, the Warwick grad ball is pretty much a disaster, not even close to being OK. £65 and all we get is the worst budget public bus hire? Not even a coach? Transport 'musuem' as the venue and 'pre-cooked' meals with cheap ingredients and rock hard sorbets? Weird 'actors' hire? No drinks apart from plain water! The whole event was nothing but disappointments and we would definitely have enjoyed ourselves much better paying for a proper meal at a hotel with private taxis and good clubs.
Oh well, event's over and now I am back in my pit with heaps of junks to sort out. Happy packing!
Anticipating my Milan and Europe trip with people I love
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Critical Issues in Management- a module compulsory to all 3rd year Accounting and Finance students, has brought me lots of pain, frustration, many late nights. However, the very core existence of this module, its structured scattering of knowledge, compulsory attendance of seminars, presentation and QnA based approach to teaching, and the variety of issues that it covered... I have to admit that I could not find its relevance and 'the whole point of it' to start with. Raising my hand and asking questions for the sake of asking (more like for my contribution marks), presenting something with the intention to 'just get it over with'. It wasn't until towards the end of it all, when exams are approaching, that I fully appreciate the whole 'point' of doing this module. Seemingly useless but very thought provoking. My final individual presentation was a good end to it all for me. That was the first time I did one with such passion in delivering the message across, and of course I am happy the audience appreciated that (not least the seminar tutor)
Anyway the main issue I want to draw on today, is the Book Review assigned to me in CIM beginning of the year. The Corporation. With such a boring cover page, one can not help but feel a little put off from reading it.
Well, see for yourself
There are however, many hidden treasures in the book. Its main aim, is to get the readers to be aware of the ruthless legal existence of Corporations. McD, General Motors, Goodyear Tire, BP, Bodyshop... know these names? Yes, it's about them. They have human-like existence according to the law, and we are responsible for giving them that.
Problem number 1: They only have one legal purpose: Make money for shareholders
Problem number 2: They never die
Do you know that in terms of money making capability, Walmart is bigger than the whole of Malaysia?
Given how big they are, needless to say, they also have a big say in how things are run, on the international and national level. Political conspiracy? Definitely. Remember the financial meltdown in 2008, you bet these are involved.
Let's go right down the the basic, personal level and look at how corporations take over our lives. Recently I saw a blogpost on Facebook, with over 2000 comments to that post. It was an incident in Cheras. Now hear me out.
It happened in the middle of the night. There was a car accident involving several cars. Whether the drivers were drunk or not does not matter in this story. End result was that they crashed, and the cars were severely 'deformed'. This blogger was actually a passer-by, and he saw in what was left of one of the car, the girl behind the wheels screaming her lungs out as she was pinned, squashed in it. Seeing that sparks were forming at the rear of the car, this blogger ran to the nearest petrol station begging for fire extinguishers.
Two men were sitting behind the kiosk. Neither were willing to lend the fire extinguisher to this blogger to save the poor girl. Company policy, it was said.
But the girl is going to be burnt alive! She needs help! You can have my ID and I will return it and I will pay for it.
Sorry we cant let you have it. Our boss does not permit lending things to people. Oh, and it you make a scene here, our CCTV has got you captured and we will report your actions to the police.
Due to the insistence of the 2 cashiers to not lend the fire extinguisher to this blogger, the spark turned into fire.
The girl was burnt alive.
Post mortem: Would that action be considered negligent manslaughter? Unfortunately no. Remember the definition of corporations? They are here merely to make money. Saving lives? Sorry, not in the context.
What followed was that the blogger tried to initiate a boycott towards the company involved in that 'crime'. Crime of refusing to save another's life, accusing the 2 of murder. Morally, perhaps, but in no way did their failure to act can be considered manslaughter/murder. Here, I believe 2 issues presented themselves.
1) The lack of common sense of the nation. Education or the lack thereof, has failed to produce a nation with the basic ability to think, and react.
2) What I like to refer to as 'the shell of corporations'. The tendency of people to hide behind the corporation shell avoiding making personal decisions and taking responsibilities. In creating corporations, we created a money making machine, and also a poor excuse that shelters many morally corrupted intentions/actions that ultimately harmed no one but ourselves.
A case illustrating the failure of capitalism and corporations
with reference to Akina Teo
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Thoughts
Critical Issues in Management- a module compulsory to all 3rd year Accounting and Finance students, has brought me lots of pain, frustration, many late nights. However, the very core existence of this module, its structured scattering of knowledge, compulsory attendance of seminars, presentation and QnA based approach to teaching, and the variety of issues that it covered... I have to admit that I could not find its relevance and 'the whole point of it' to start with. Raising my hand and asking questions for the sake of asking (more like for my contribution marks), presenting something with the intention to 'just get it over with'. It wasn't until towards the end of it all, when exams are approaching, that I fully appreciate the whole 'point' of doing this module. Seemingly useless but very thought provoking. My final individual presentation was a good end to it all for me. That was the first time I did one with such passion in delivering the message across, and of course I am happy the audience appreciated that (not least the seminar tutor)
Anyway the main issue I want to draw on today, is the Book Review assigned to me in CIM beginning of the year. The Corporation. With such a boring cover page, one can not help but feel a little put off from reading it.
Well, see for yourself
There are however, many hidden treasures in the book. Its main aim, is to get the readers to be aware of the ruthless legal existence of Corporations. McD, General Motors, Goodyear Tire, BP, Bodyshop... know these names? Yes, it's about them. They have human-like existence according to the law, and we are responsible for giving them that.
Problem number 1: They only have one legal purpose: Make money for shareholders
Problem number 2: They never die
Do you know that in terms of money making capability, Walmart is bigger than the whole of Malaysia?
Given how big they are, needless to say, they also have a big say in how things are run, on the international and national level. Political conspiracy? Definitely. Remember the financial meltdown in 2008, you bet these are involved.
Let's go right down the the basic, personal level and look at how corporations take over our lives. Recently I saw a blogpost on Facebook, with over 2000 comments to that post. It was an incident in Cheras. Now hear me out.
It happened in the middle of the night. There was a car accident involving several cars. Whether the drivers were drunk or not does not matter in this story. End result was that they crashed, and the cars were severely 'deformed'. This blogger was actually a passer-by, and he saw in what was left of one of the car, the girl behind the wheels screaming her lungs out as she was pinned, squashed in it. Seeing that sparks were forming at the rear of the car, this blogger ran to the nearest petrol station begging for fire extinguishers.
Two men were sitting behind the kiosk. Neither were willing to lend the fire extinguisher to this blogger to save the poor girl. Company policy, it was said.
But the girl is going to be burnt alive! She needs help! You can have my ID and I will return it and I will pay for it.
Sorry we cant let you have it. Our boss does not permit lending things to people. Oh, and it you make a scene here, our CCTV has got you captured and we will report your actions to the police.
Due to the insistence of the 2 cashiers to not lend the fire extinguisher to this blogger, the spark turned into fire.
The girl was burnt alive.
Post mortem: Would that action be considered negligent manslaughter? Unfortunately no. Remember the definition of corporations? They are here merely to make money. Saving lives? Sorry, not in the context.
What followed was that the blogger tried to initiate a boycott towards the company involved in that 'crime'. Crime of refusing to save another's life, accusing the 2 of murder. Morally, perhaps, but in no way did their failure to act can be considered manslaughter/murder. Here, I believe 2 issues presented themselves.
1) The lack of common sense of the nation. Education or the lack thereof, has failed to produce a nation with the basic ability to think, and react.
2) What I like to refer to as 'the shell of corporations'. The tendency of people to hide behind the corporation shell avoiding making personal decisions and taking responsibilities. In creating corporations, we created a money making machine, and also a poor excuse that shelters many morally corrupted intentions/actions that ultimately harmed no one but ourselves.
A case illustrating the failure of capitalism
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Warwick
Everything is going in slow motion... The mad exam revision rush, the congregation arrangements (hey, where are you 'putting' your parents for graduation? Why are we referring to our parents like they are objects?!), the first proper house-hunting (to rent or to buy) for the coming year (now we pay income tax, council tax, NIC etc), the last minute Europe touring before some leaves UK for good... and before you know it, it's time to leave the place we now call home.
I still remember what the term 'home' means in our first year. No matter how much inconvenience it caused, we never fail to distinguish the place we STAY (ie: our current accommodation) and what we used to call HOME (the 6000 miles away paradise). Gradually, the distinction became less important, as the line blurred even in our own mind, and by the time we realised the perception changes we went through, we already started referring to what we used to think of as the temporarily place we stay, as HOME. And what of the 6000 miles away paradise? That is Home-home. Real home. Perhaps its the feeling of being united with the little family we gathered for ourselves away from our real ones. Whatever it is, this place bears a lot more meaning to us than it did when we first stepped onto the Warwick grounds.
It's a natural process in life. You go to a new place, you meet new people, and then after the common goals are accomplished, you leave. That is the way. What's saddening is perhaps the fact that most of the people you laugh, cry, struggle, sing, dance with, your path will never cross ever again in the future. We will now scatter all over Earth like tiny peasants. What's depressing is you are leaving the life of being a student you know so well, that you have perfected, stepping into a completely new world, and that there is no turning back from now, whether you like it or not. What's exciting is- it is a race of life from now. We came to university for different reasons, some to get a job in the highly competitive job market, some for an international experience, most to gain skills in preparation of taking over family empires, and a handful just for the sake of getting a degree. Whatever it was, we shared a common challenge, albeit a colourful one. Now, the clock starts ticking, and you have a limited time to get out of this maze of life, whichever direction you choose to, at the pace you desire.
It didn't matter who you were, we were all students; it didn't matter how rich your family was, we all shared the same chasing after the 12 or unibus experience. But now, armed with various degree of knowledge/qualification, depending on how you did over the last 3 years, we are now all thrown back out of 'The Bubble'- the term Warwick is well known for. This is a dedication to all my fellow leavers of 2010. Looking back at the photos over the last 3 years, it is visible how much we have grown. Together. It is now time. Time to pack up and run. Now, let's run, babies, run.
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Why third year modules are so exponentially harder than second years I don't really know. The business school admin must be mentally retarded. You know the 2 days cramming right before exam? Yeh it won't work anymore. Well this means a few things:
Don't understand the seminar solutions? You won't be the only one.
You start recognising the real power of the internet. At least for me, typing in 'immunization' led me to other random lecture slides, notes, journals... a very long process but you can get your questions answered.
The lecturer's email is bombarded with so many queries that s/he will probably just let it get overload and say to all: I am NOT going to reply
You get to recognise just how many different study methods there are. Currently I found: Reverse day-night strategy (so you can talk to noone and no-one talks to you), Repetitive work strategy, workload-sharing (everyone spot all potential questions and each prepare a piece of essay and if you are in the 'scheme' you share answers); notes-trading, notes-write-up trading (I write out points, you type it up), Utilising the library (apparently the reason is to prevent distractions of food and water. Act of desperation I would say) and the current champion of all strategies: reading lecture slides in reverse order! Er... not sure how that works, but apparently if you are able to understand it, it means you are ready
Uni is such an interesting place...
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No puedes leer? Jaja, lo se. No quiero.
Tengo muchos examenes la semana que viene. En realidad, hay un oral examen para español esta tarde. A las seis y media! Por la tarde! Quien tiene examen por la tarde???
Aaa, pero ahora, no puedo estudiar, no sé porque... Es molesto!
Actualmente, tengo una confesion, sabes esta cancíon, Bad Romance? Cada vez que escucho esta cancion, recuerdo algo que no quiero.
Me gusta. Odio. No puerdo decidirme.
Si se traduce esto, bueno, jaja, no tienes nada mejor que hacer?!
Voy a volver a mis estudios =(
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Not sure why I am writing here? Nor me.
It's one week to go, and well, I am no where close to finish revising. I am probably, er... halfway there? Slightly less?
I am not sure why I left things so late. It's not my fault really. Who knew the volcano was going to erupt? (Take 5 days out from my revision schedule). Who knew the Spanish exam was going to be moved FORWARD? (Subtract another 5 days). And then there is the recovery from the 40 hour Spain-London bus journey. (Another 1 day). And the oh-so-exciting British Parliamentary elections. (1 day). That's almost half a month dammit. That halved my revision. And yes, this exam will unfortunately be 50% of my ENTIRE degree.
I think I just lost my 1st.
Now PLEASE. Don't screw up a 2.1. Your job is on the line. My fingers are shaking while I am typing this. Entering panic mode.
Why
Why
WHY did I take the 100% options?
WHY did I take ALL the freaking finance options?
WHY did I take Spanish?
Shit
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UK 'lost' its government!
Hmm, and suddenly Nick Clegg is all important...
Oh... and he gets to choose UK's next Prime Minister?! Enjoy your moment of triumph while you can
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Doesn't like the sound of a hung parliament, nor increase in national insurance, nor possible clamping down of immigrations.
Interesting British Elections
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Well, I actually didn't want to participate in this study trip to Salamanca. It was quite expensive, £300 for everything but flights, and it takes about 1 week out of my pre-exam revision time. But then I thought, I will be living with a host family, like an exchange student (something I have always wanted to experience) and as everything will be in Spanish, I can absorb Spanish like a sponge and hopefully not do too badly in my Spanish exams. Killing 2 birds in 1 stone right? So yeh, that's how I ended up participating in this journey of my life.
Day 1 (Saturday)
My flight is 8am on Sunday, but having spent so much money BEFORE my trip starts, I figured I should save on the cab right and take the last bus at 0020 to Coventry before taking the 2am bus from Cov to London Stansted Airport. Not the wisest choice. By the time I reached London, I was absolutely knackered but as I was on my own, there was no way I could fall asleep with so (surprisingly) many travellers waiting for their flights in the airport.
Day 2 (Sunday)
Finally boarded the plane at about 830. I didn't know then, but my future housemate in Salamance was sitting two rows in front of me in the flight, and was apparently very noisy all through. Of course, not knowing where they were going, we remained strangers.
I arrived at about noon. With my heavy suitcases and the crazy lack of lifts/escalators, I decided to just stay around in the airport and wait for the meeting time with the rest of the group. OK, I shamefully admit that the first meal I had in Madrid was... Mcdonalds! And it was good! Haha
By 5pm I took the shuttle bus to the 'meeting point' and met up the the rest. My first impression of the group wasn't great. Oh god they are playing cards... it's gonna be a boring week. Needless to say, my feelings changed after all we went through during this trip.
Later the day, we took the bus from Madrid to Salamanca and was hastily allocated into our host family by pairs, and our journey in Salamanca began...
Day 3 (Monday)- Day 6 (Thursday)
Spaniards have crazy meal times. Breakfast at 830, Lunch at 330 and Dinner at 930pm! The first day there was the worst. we kept eating at the 'wrong' time and basically I was usually full at meal times and hungry in between.
On Monday morning we were put into a test. To be graded into classes. I have to say I felt a huge sense of relief when I was placed into the same class as everyone else on my level from Warwick. I didn't understand the questions at all as I didn't really speak Spanish (I still don't by the way).
The lessons were great. We shared a class with a group from Belgium, and had plenty of opportunities to practice our very limited Spanish vocabulary. With many hand gestures, sound effects, drawings and Spanglish involved, our Spanish teachers seem to be able to understand what we were trying to say.
We went out every single night. The first night was the worst. We stayed at a restaurant to have 'tapas' and Sangria until they started raising the price significantly after every rounds we ordered to chase us out of the place. It was the first time I played poker without an 'alliance', and I won so many hands that none of them believe I am a beginner! (Hey!) The night went downhill after that. Maybe it was the fact that we were such a mixed group of people. Doing different courses, different age, from different ethnicity... what follows was a loooooong wander around the city of Salamanca, many attempts in choosing a bar... and 3 hours later, frustration arose and we all sort of headed home without going anywhere.
It almost seem like no one wanted to repeat the tragic history of Monday night. From Tuesday onwards, we went into every single bar we saw, and on Thursday, we did a bar crawl around the town and ended up having a bit too many drinks that night. (Hey, 12 shots for 5 euros, where else in the world can you get that!)
Glowing Gin and Tonic!
Not exactly sure what we were trying to do
They have I macs in the college!! Lots of them!
Day 7 (Friday)
On this fateful day, we received our first bad news. A volcano erupted. In Iceland. At first we were going, 'so what?' The wave of ashed have started to drift into the UK, and flights on Fridays were cancelled. No one knew how long it will last, and as the day move on, more flights were cancelled and that was when we started to panic.
At night, I took my laptop to Mcdonalds (I know, again!) and we spent 2 hours looking through every piece of volcanic news and checking the websites of every British airlines. By midnight most of our flights are cancelled and we started scrambling around fanatically looking for alternative routes home. All of us went on our mobile phones and called for emergency help from friends in UK. By that time, most of the flights are fully re-booked until the Saturday the following week, trains and ferries are all booked up as well. The only alternative we found then was a bus from Madrid to London, which will take 24 hours costing 141 Euros. The site was in Spanish completely, and when we tried to buy the tickets, it crashed on us! And then McDonalds started closing down. To make things worse, my laptop ran out of battery and so we decided to just go home and get our own friends from UK to buy the tickets for us.
It was a looong night. When I finally managed to buy my ticket, it was already 5am in the morning. My bus from Salamance to Madrid will leave at 7am and hence the 'wise' me decided to sleep in and take my friend's later bus to Madrid.
I really did slept in. (To be fair that was the only night I managed to get more than 3 hours sleep for that week) I woke up at 1pm and started rushing to get ready. After several more rounds of miscommunication between me and my host family, I managed to get to the bus just in time for departure.
Day 8 (Saturday)- Day 9 (Sunday)
Toured around Madrid. Visited some museums and had loads of Mojitos (some free as well! I love this about Spain. To fill up the bars in the beginning of the night, most bars often give out free drinks to visitors and if you go around a few bars before 12 you could end up having a pretty good night out for almost nothing!)
Shisha. He Hui disapproves
Day 10 (Monday)
Time to go home. Having checked out at about 11am, I stayed around the hostel for a bit helping Ben with his Lloyds interview preparation. Then at around noon, we started our journey home.
First leg of the journey: Metro from Anton Martin to the Bus station.
Second task: Get our tickets. We were quite lucky that the other group of us who came straight from Salamanca arrived there early. They queued for an hour and when we arrived, we joined them right at the front of the queue that had ballooned up to 5 times the size after they started queueing. Reporters were present and the whole place was chaos. The worse that could happen. Or so we thought.
Third task: Get ON the bus. This proved to be trickier than we anticipated. After some Burger Kings (not me this time, blame Max and his cravings!) and a few rounds of shithead (a really cool game of cards, yeh, I got pulled into their card playing habit. Again, not proud), we started heading towards our bus an hour before the bus SHOULD leave. What happened next was a complete nightmare. Right behind our bus was a queue. Or rather, a huge group of people pushing and pulling at one another. The more conversational people from our group asked a few people in front of us and we realised that to board our bus, we need to 'Check-In', which means joining that pool of people to get to the check-in booth.
We were NOT the best at this sport. Half an hour after our 'attempt' to get to the front, we were still right at the back of the pack, the queue was still as long. At 4, we managed to advance a foot and 2 hours after the bus was scheduled to leave, we finally made it to the front and got ourselves checked-in. (Only then we knew that check-in meant getting 'Bus 90, Platform 29' written on our tickets. Duh, could have so done that ourselves.
Forth task: Survive the bus journey. I don't really know how, but we managed to somehow stay sane throughout the 25 hour bus journey.
Fifth task: Check our call charges. My call charges for the last week was £35, Max was £85 and Josceline managed to top us all with a whooping £106.
Sixth task: get from London to Coventry. The whole bus shook as we cheered when we left the ferry, and when we arrived in London. It felt so triumphant that some of us on board even had tears in their eyes. We made it made it made it! Daniel surprised me in London, which was really helpful as I would have gone crazy being on the bus again after just getting off one. And another from Coventry to Warwick University.
Arrived in London!
I have never felt so happy arriving at Warwick. Not even the first time I came to UK. I jumped off the bus and kissed the bus stop (Don't ask me why but I just felt the need to OK!) and ran all the way home leaving Daniel chasing after me all the way.
The trip has done 2 things:
Firstly, I had the opportunity to know a few people not from the Business School. History, Physics, Economics, language studies etc. It's the first time I get this close to people who DOESNT like math, and it is actually interesting.
Secondly, well... this is the obvious. From now on, I will think twice before un-checking the option to buy insurance for any flights or accommodations!
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Burgers??? Yuck!!!
(I have to shamefully admit that McD is still my favourite) what to do? They cocaine-ed the burgers!
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We have got rid of one type of colonialism, only for it to be replaced by another form
Nizar Jamaluddin
Which smart-ass suggested the taking over of Malaysian governance through a 3 headed monster 52 years ago??!
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You complain that the union is too expensive for students; the cost of running the union is high and we need the money to support the societies, campaings, sports, the students. We need money to serve you.
Why not cut cost then? Initiatives were taken to reduce cost, by voting to opt out of unnecessary memberships. Not enough students voted for that to pass through. Reducing funding for societies perhaps? Student societies will then complain that the union doesn't listen to us, the union is not supportive of us!
What about getting more students to vote? All initiative were taken to encourage student voting, the bubble, the Boar, our univeristy Radio channel, lecture shouts, kitchen run by street team, emails from the SU, facebook invites, notices around compus. How else do you want to be reminded?
In what area then, has the union failed? Why all these complains still, why does the union still not reach quorum in many cases?
Here I would like to adopt a slightly different tone. Now I will explore the idea of why, perhaps, the union is not good enough for the students.
Just one word.
Language.
I am not an English expert, nor am I going to suggest that the grammar used by the union is bad. Take a look at the following paragraph, (this is from the main page of the union elections page that was supposed to encourage students to vote):
Referenda:
Changing the Way this Union is Run.
The trustees of the Union shall have the power, which the trustees can exercise upon a future date, to transfer the business of the Union to a charitable company limited by guarantee with memorandum and articles of association in the same or similar form to those available here.
NOTE: IF YOU VOTE FOR, YOU WILL ALSO AGREE TO PARAGRAPHS 1 TO 13 IN THE MOTION DOCUMENT WHICH SET OUT TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SET UP THE COMPANY AND GIVE THE TRUSTEES THE POWER TO TRANSFER THE UNION’S BUSINESS TO IT.
I am an international student studying accounting and finance. I am by no means stupid, and have a certain level of knowledge regarding UK politics. That paragraph to me however, is a complete jargon, from the title right up till the button: Vote Imagine I just got back from a lecture and am ready to prepare a presentation for tomorrow. I logged on to the SU page and was prepared to vote when I saw that paragraph.
'Ahh.. I am not exactly sure what I will be voting for, nevermind then.'
Perhaps that why
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Just got back from Warwick Malaysian Night 2010. To be honest the show wasn't thaaat great. Halfway through the show I was thinking, 'really? did i look that bad when I was up there 2years go?'
Ahh. Went out to 'Hustle' yesterday. Girls' night out! We ended up leaving the party early and went to our flat for a midnight chitty-chatt session. The supposedly short sobering-up chat turned into a discussion about our past and future. That was when we realised that we are growing -old- 'why are we talking about this? kids talk about the future, only the old and wise reminiscence about their past'
True. Watching the dancers on stage today at Malaysian Night, I remember thinking how young they look. 3 years of education here really tortured us into grow up the speedy way. All of us. To prove this, let's look at a few pictures.
Orientation Time + First Year:
Me with dyed hair! Jess, Aaron at the back. T shirt at parties ahem ahem
Yup! Look at that :S
And now........
(you may notice the same people in some photos)
With the exception that Aaron + Heng yong still have the Asian flush problem... look at everyone else!
Need another prove?
We now even do proper food out! No longer being so broke after parties that we had to live on soy sauce and rice. (We don't do that often though, look at Aaron's concentration on trying to make sense of the menu)
So there. Ageing!
Posted in
Down to the last 3 weeks of my schooling life... How do I feel now?
Not exactly sure.
O m g
Sigh
Posted in
Wow. I may have gotten myself a job here. In UK! Perhaps not what I originally wanted but hey, like what a friend says 'beggers can't be chosers'. No complains here.
The only thing I can do, is wait for the offer letter to come. A London one. Please transfer me to London please transfer me to London. Never have I felt so excited about Mondays. Slim chance but still, there's hope.
2 terms of hard work, 2 terms of neglecting my studies. I can almost see sunlight! Just one thing left, and it will be perfect.
Come on....
The only thing I can do, is wait for the offer letter to come. A London one. Please transfer me to London please transfer me to London. Never have I felt so excited about Mondays. Slim chance but still, there's hope.
2 terms of hard work, 2 terms of neglecting my studies. I can almost see sunlight! Just one thing left, and it will be perfect.
Come on....
Posted in
Ok, here's a continuation of my tooth saga:
After my tooth came off, I did what everyone would do if you hold part of your tooth in your hand, I panicked.
Luckily for me, I met a friend on my way home one day, while he was going to the dentist to get his tooth fixed (I later found out that he experienced exactly the same problem as I did). I got the number from him and booked an appointment for the next day.
The following account makes me swear that British make horrible dentist:
The walk there was long. I just did my presentation and was in not-very-comfy-shoes. The receptionist told me it would be a 10 minute walk from campus, but wth, it took me over 30 minutes and I even had to half-jog the last 5 to avoid being late.
I kind of wished I hadn't make it to the appointment on time. The place looked like a horse shack. She spent most of the time while I was there fiddling with her computer, whilst repeatedly telling me there's not enough time to finish fixing my tooth. Fine. After she finally put in some fillings in my tooth, I found out that she'd put in too much filling that I couldn't close my mouth after that!!
'Could you check, cause I don't think I can close my mouth now'
'That is not possible. You are closing your mouth fine as I can hear your jaws clenching'
'It may be that I am not used to the new fillings, but could you check'
'I think it is your own problem' (Blame me for your own inadequecy?!!!!!!!!)
5 minutes of getting her to check later...
'Fine' She pulled out a thin piece of paper, and asked me to bite and hold.
The paper fell right out.
'Fine' and she started drilling away the fillings.
I went home thinking, well, at least the problem was more of less solved right?
Wrong.
I looked into the mirror and found our that she merely coated my gum with a thin piece of filling, not even attaching much to the tooth. In a few more days I am sure the filling is coming off.
I am sure an amateur dentist in Malaysia can do better.
Man I miss Malaysia even more now.
So to all of you there...
Happy Chinese New Year! =)
After my tooth came off, I did what everyone would do if you hold part of your tooth in your hand, I panicked.
Luckily for me, I met a friend on my way home one day, while he was going to the dentist to get his tooth fixed (I later found out that he experienced exactly the same problem as I did). I got the number from him and booked an appointment for the next day.
The following account makes me swear that British make horrible dentist:
The walk there was long. I just did my presentation and was in not-very-comfy-shoes. The receptionist told me it would be a 10 minute walk from campus, but wth, it took me over 30 minutes and I even had to half-jog the last 5 to avoid being late.
I kind of wished I hadn't make it to the appointment on time. The place looked like a horse shack. She spent most of the time while I was there fiddling with her computer, whilst repeatedly telling me there's not enough time to finish fixing my tooth. Fine. After she finally put in some fillings in my tooth, I found out that she'd put in too much filling that I couldn't close my mouth after that!!
'Could you check, cause I don't think I can close my mouth now'
'That is not possible. You are closing your mouth fine as I can hear your jaws clenching'
'It may be that I am not used to the new fillings, but could you check'
'I think it is your own problem' (Blame me for your own inadequecy?!!!!!!!!)
5 minutes of getting her to check later...
'Fine' She pulled out a thin piece of paper, and asked me to bite and hold.
The paper fell right out.
'Fine' and she started drilling away the fillings.
I went home thinking, well, at least the problem was more of less solved right?
Wrong.
I looked into the mirror and found our that she merely coated my gum with a thin piece of filling, not even attaching much to the tooth. In a few more days I am sure the filling is coming off.
I am sure an amateur dentist in Malaysia can do better.
Man I miss Malaysia even more now.
So to all of you there...
Happy Chinese New Year! =)
Posted in
I have 2 statements to make here:
ONE- I have a presentation tomorrow. In less than 12 hours
TWO- Half of my tooth just chipped off!!
So clearly, these 2 statements don't match up. You see, my tooth felt a little weird a moment ago and so I went and 'interdental-ed' + brushed it. After 5 minutes of fiddling, it went mad at me and.. fell off. FELL OFF! You know although you had caused me plenty of heartaches and sleep-less painful nights, I still love you and want you to be with me for the next, however many years I remain alive. But no! You betrayed me!
So now.
No tooth+ Presentation= Shit
P/s: I got 2 interviews and an Assessment Centre lined up over the next 2 week! I was very happy/nervous up till now.
I miss my chipped tooth!
There is no turning back.
Damn. Again, this 2 sentences doesnt match
ONE- I have a presentation tomorrow. In less than 12 hours
TWO- Half of my tooth just chipped off!!
So clearly, these 2 statements don't match up. You see, my tooth felt a little weird a moment ago and so I went and 'interdental-ed' + brushed it. After 5 minutes of fiddling, it went mad at me and.. fell off. FELL OFF! You know although you had caused me plenty of heartaches and sleep-less painful nights, I still love you and want you to be with me for the next, however many years I remain alive. But no! You betrayed me!
So now.
No tooth+ Presentation= Shit
P/s: I got 2 interviews and an Assessment Centre lined up over the next 2 week! I was very happy/nervous up till now.
I miss my chipped tooth!
There is no turning back.
Damn. Again, this 2 sentences doesnt match
Posted in
Just got back from One World Week- World Party. Tbh it is very disappointing, I don't know since when, but now it just seems like the whole things is about Indians, so much for 'one world'...
The end was good though. It was a teeny bit too crowded, a teeny bit impossible to walk, but it was good dance to everyone. I know what you are thinking, if it's impossible to walk, how can you dance? Trust me, it's easier to dance, at least you have the excuse to knock everyone around you while you are at it =P
Looking at the EQHO troop on stage, makes me feel like joining them, again. Kinda miss all the performing in my first year. Third year has been hard core work. Sigh
The guys got protective again today. No, I am not complaining. Halfway through the dancing everyone started staring somewhere behind me and so you know those games where you look at the sky and point, everyone starts follow your gaze? Only this is not a game. Apparently a 'french' guy was getting a bit grind-ly, which triggered our boys to 'talk' him away. Well he did, only coming back half an hour later with another dude. Things could have gotten ugly. Good thing his dude refrained him from throwing a punch. They started shouting for another 5 minutes and then the party cleared up.
Oh well, it always happen, everytime we go out, even in the students union.
Anyway, 'Life's a BITCH', or so I was told...
It's gonna be 4am now. My feet hurts, I am dehydrated, and I have an essay due tomorrow.
Better go to bed now.
The end was good though. It was a teeny bit too crowded, a teeny bit impossible to walk, but it was good dance to everyone. I know what you are thinking, if it's impossible to walk, how can you dance? Trust me, it's easier to dance, at least you have the excuse to knock everyone around you while you are at it =P
Looking at the EQHO troop on stage, makes me feel like joining them, again. Kinda miss all the performing in my first year. Third year has been hard core work. Sigh
The guys got protective again today. No, I am not complaining. Halfway through the dancing everyone started staring somewhere behind me and so you know those games where you look at the sky and point, everyone starts follow your gaze? Only this is not a game. Apparently a 'french' guy was getting a bit grind-ly, which triggered our boys to 'talk' him away. Well he did, only coming back half an hour later with another dude. Things could have gotten ugly. Good thing his dude refrained him from throwing a punch. They started shouting for another 5 minutes and then the party cleared up.
Oh well, it always happen, everytime we go out, even in the students union.
Anyway, 'Life's a BITCH', or so I was told...
It's gonna be 4am now. My feet hurts, I am dehydrated, and I have an essay due tomorrow.
Better go to bed now.
Posted in
I am tired. Hungry. Sitting in front of my laptop, having catched up with two friends on the other end of the globe, my mind began to ponder, on various things...
This is a new year piece, so, first off, Happy new year everyone. It is impossible for me to know what your goals are, what all your wishes are for the new year, but to those of you reading this, hava a fantastic year.
To be frank, I am not holding my breath for this year myself. As far as I am concerned, let 2010 never come upon us. But it did, and guess what, just give me a slap and say 'get on with it'. That's what I need. My only defence would be, 'but how'?
I still remember my post here right before I come to UK, I said, 'a chapter of my life is closed, but a new one is beginning'. Now, it's been three years, and this chapter too, is coming to an end. Expecting me to say 'time flies'? Well, sort of. But if I stop and think what happened within the recent 3 years, I would say, so much has happened.
For one, my perspective in life changed. In fact, it changed a few times too many, but I am none the wiser. One thing I can say for certain though, is that I am humbled. If I were to be perfectly honest, my self worth was completely and utterly crushed. The good news is, it crushed a few other things along with it. I was foolish. Competitive. Jealous. Wishful. Uninspired. 5 dangerously contagious charactor traits. 5 unacceptable ones.
I am no longer.
They say university is where you grow the most. I cant agree more. If you are reading this Dad and Mum, you may have wondered, 'is the money on my degree well spent?', the answer would be, a definite 'yes'. Never once have I regretted this journey.
Although it is as though I left heaven for earth.
This is a new year piece, so, first off, Happy new year everyone. It is impossible for me to know what your goals are, what all your wishes are for the new year, but to those of you reading this, hava a fantastic year.
To be frank, I am not holding my breath for this year myself. As far as I am concerned, let 2010 never come upon us. But it did, and guess what, just give me a slap and say 'get on with it'. That's what I need. My only defence would be, 'but how'?
I still remember my post here right before I come to UK, I said, 'a chapter of my life is closed, but a new one is beginning'. Now, it's been three years, and this chapter too, is coming to an end. Expecting me to say 'time flies'? Well, sort of. But if I stop and think what happened within the recent 3 years, I would say, so much has happened.
For one, my perspective in life changed. In fact, it changed a few times too many, but I am none the wiser. One thing I can say for certain though, is that I am humbled. If I were to be perfectly honest, my self worth was completely and utterly crushed. The good news is, it crushed a few other things along with it. I was foolish. Competitive. Jealous. Wishful. Uninspired. 5 dangerously contagious charactor traits. 5 unacceptable ones.
I am no longer.
They say university is where you grow the most. I cant agree more. If you are reading this Dad and Mum, you may have wondered, 'is the money on my degree well spent?', the answer would be, a definite 'yes'. Never once have I regretted this journey.
Although it is as though I left heaven for earth.
