One last huddle...

One last huddle to surmount before the awarding of Monbusho scholarship.. and I have to wait til next February to know the outcome..

So far, I had cleared all the obstacles: (English written) test, interview (with a panel of 5 gentlemen) and searching (for a Professor to take me in) that were required. Now the ball is at the court of the scholarship panel in Japan...

I try not to think too much of it as there is still a chance of me not making it.. I would rather take things one at a time.. Although it would have been good to know the result within the next few months, but I know some things are worth waiting for.. =) It would be good to go back to school after almost 9 years of working.. although I do have doubts if I am able to get used to the life in Japan, especially playing the part of a demure and soft spoken lady that is expected of any woman. But now is too early a time to get worry, since nothing is confirmed yet..

Think it's the frustration of the current job that is making me hoping, more than ever, to get this scholarship to escape from this monotonous life. It would be sooo wonderful to hand in my resignation letter and see the faces of my 2 bosses.. That would be priceless... =P

Wish me luck...

NZ... No Go... =(

Aiy.. Looks like I would need to postpone my NZ trip...

Had plan to go NZ during the first 2 weeks of Oct. Wanted to join the 10-day hiking trip to the South Island. But alas, all these would not be able to fit into my budget of SGD3.5K.

Let me list out the expenses involved:
Air fare (from Spore to Queenstown) - SGD 1450 [cheapest I can find, via Qantas]
Air fare (from Queenstown to Nelson) - SGD 300 [had to go Nelson as the hike starts there]
Hiking trip (10-days guided hike) - NZD 1100 = SGD 1100
Food during the hike (NZD20/day) - SGD 200
Lodging (2 nites at Queenstown, 1 nite at Nelson) - SGD 300
Back Pack (since I dont have one, had to buy) - SGD 260
Hiking Boots (the cheapest but durable) - SGD 200
Misc (Other misc expenses and 'standby' money) - SGD 500

Grand total= SGD 4310!!!!

Even if I can save from the lodging, by sleeping in those youth hostel or budget hotel, and managed to borrow all the equipment needed, the air fare and the guided hike alnoe would have cost almost SGD3K!!

Think I would try to find other places to go.. maybe not hiking, maybe budget traveling.. Or use the money that I've allocated on other better activities... like what? Maybe go home during that leave period, or use that money and go for a thorough body check-up which I havent had one since 5 years ago, or go for a short trip to nearby countries, maybe Taiwan or HK.., or... Worst come, I will save up that money and use my leave to rest and relax at home, learn my Japanese and play my online games.. hahahaha..

My sis.. came and went back...

Last weekend Kuan and Ah Big came down to Singapore. Kuan was to catch his flight back to Japan, while Ah Big is to spend part of her annual summer holiday with me..

They reached Spore on Sunday morning. They took a cab from Woodlands checkpoint to my house. Took them for breakfast at my neighborhood hawker center. After resting and freshen up, I took them to Sim Lim Square, as Kuan wanted to buy a portable harddisk. We went to Parco Bugis Junction for lunch. We had Swensen. At Sim Lim Square, we bought 2 web cam in addition to the 80G 2.5" harddisk. Then we went back to Bugis for more shopping. After much persuasion, Kuan bought a formal watch and a wallet. Then we went to Pastamania for dinner. Got home around 9pm and Ah Big helped Kuan to move some of the stuff he wanted into his new harddisk. His flight was 7am the next morning, via United Airlines, so he had to be at the airport at least 3 hours before. Called a cab for him around 3am.

I had to work the following Monday, so I left Ah Big at home during that time. Met her at Bishan Junction 8 for dinner. We had Thai food at ThaiExpress. The food there was quite good. We saw some backpacks at Sports Connection, but decided to look around more. Went to Watson and bought some facial cleanser, toner and face mask. Didn't really buy any thing, only window shopped.

Tuesday was also a working day. We went to N.Y.D.C. Cafe, Suntec for dinner. Again, it was a good meal, especially the mud pies.. We walked around, looked at some anime figurine shops and went home around 9.30pm.

I was on half day on Wednesday. Arranged to meet Ah Big at City Hall and then we went to Marina Square. Had lunch buffet at Yaki Yuki. Went to Bossini and Hang Ten, and both of us bought some T'shirts, jeans and pants. Then we walked back to Suntec and bought a backpack that Ah Big saw the day before. A good shopping day..

Again, was on half day on Thursday. We went to Orchard this time. We went to Takashimaya's basement food court and bought lots of 小吃. Instead of a proper meal, we had many Asian and Japanese snacks and finger food. I also dropped by my Jap school and collected my Japanese Elementary Certificate. Then we went back to AMK and went to K Box. We sang for about 3 hours and went shopping again at the neighbourhood shops. Bought a Karaoke VCD, some 肉干, cakes and some tit-bits.

We had dinner at home on Friday. Ah Big cooked. Fried rice. That night, she was to catch the 9.30pm coach back to Taiping.. Accompanied her to Golden Mile and sent her off. Took a cab back as I was too tired.

And so ended the 5-day visit that Ah Big paid me this year...

Overloaded... with work..

Been working late since last week...

Because of the project that I'm doing, I've been staying late at work for the past few days since last week. Even with my working late, the project doesn't seem to be moving at all... This is not a good sign.

All my colleagues are overworked.. ever since one of them left one week ago. With no replacement in sight, things will only get worst in the coming weeks when all projects try to meet the "end of September" dateline.

I won't be working late for very long, since I'm not paid to do work late. If it wasn't that I wanna trouble-shoot some issue pertaining to the project, I wouldn't bother to stay back... I can foresee September to be an even maddening period.. I need my break in Oct!!!

Singaporean Kiasu??

Was playing MapleStory just now.. was enjoying myself.. until an idiot came and killed my fun..

"She" (aka "Fl*w*rPr**st" - Magician level 22) wanted to trade 9 orange mushroom caps for 2,000 meso which i refuse to sell.. "She" then decide to KS me for 2 hours!! I ticked 'her' off saying 'she' shd go n get her own caps and not being so childish.. Well, 'she' replied saying 'she' is 12 yrs old, so 'she' is a child. I replied, saying that if someone says that 'she' is 12 yrs old and is entitled to be childish, then most likely 'she' is not. Then 'she' de-fame me!! KNN!! What a loser!! No wonder most of my colleagues commented that Singaporean (online) gamers are unable to deal with rejections/setbacks/defeat/hardship, both in the real world and virtually. They have to win or have their ways all the time, regardless.. So now I've encountered a good example of such childish behaviours..

Aiy.. Think I'm going to uninstall the game.. Think 'she' did me a favour by pissing me off and destroying my interest in the game..

So tomorrow, it's back to Japanese Anime and Drama series... :)

What happened last week... in short...

Happening week it was last week..

Mon (31 Jul)
Went to Furama Hotel at Havelock Road for farewell treat by my Visa boss. All of us in the team, plus 2 from Server Operations team and my boss. The spread was so-so only, not very fantastic. But well, since we are not paying, no complaints.. :P Sat around and talked a lot of crap.. Reached home almost 12midnight!

Tue (01 Aug)
Went to Outback Steakhouse in Millenia Walk for another farewell makan for the same colleague. There are 10 of us. We had steaks, fries, calamari, and the usual western stuff. Not too bad.. Although the portion was not as huge as I was expecting, especially after hearing what one of my colleague said earlier.

Wed - Thu
Stomach rest day...
Kuan reached Spore on Thu late evening. I took public transport to the airport to pick him up. Didn't expect his flight to be early. He had to wait for me for almost an hour.. Took taxi back. Slept around 2.30am friday morning.

Fri (04 Aug)
Told my colleagues that I'll be coming in late today. After work, went for dinner organised by my HP boss's boss, Andrew, a 'new' fella who took over 2 months ago. Very slimey and cunning fella, who answers questions without commiting anything and talks as if you must/will kow-tow to him.. The food was so-so only, although the venue (Spore Recreation Club) is nice. Wasted my 2+hours on this dinner, listening to all the usual management (sweet) talk. Had to stayed up late (till 1am) to finish up the translation job..

Sat (05 Aug)
Took coach with Kuan to go to KL. 9am bus. Didnt reach the 2nd Link till almost 10:30am!! The journey was slower than I expected. Reached outskirt of KL around 2pm. Alighted at Serdang instead of Puduraya. Dad, mum and Ah Big came to pick us up. Went to 4th Auntie's place for dinner. Instead of cooking, we all went to a restaurant for steamboat. The food is good!! The bill came up to about RM350 for 13 of us, not too expensive, considering we had prawns and crabs. Went back to 4th Uncle's house to chit-chat till almost 12midnight. Stayed over at Kuan's condo in Sri Kembangan.

Sun (06 Aug)
Early in the morning, we drove to Malacca to meet 9th Uncle and for Kuan to get his car. Reached Malacca around 11:30am. Went for lunch. Wanted to go to some special prata shop, but unfortunately the shop closed down and we ended up having Peranakan food. The food is good... We spend around RM130 for 9 of us. We then went to my uncle's TCM shop house and chatted. Jiu Su did some accupuncture on mum's feet and he also took my pulse. He took quite a while 'listening' to my pulse, on my left hand and my right hand. He said my body is the 寒type, so cannot take too much of 凉茶 or 穿心莲 and must avoid cold drinks. He even gave my some chinese herbs to take. We left Malacca around 5pm. Hit a traffic jam in Seremban, lost our way several times in KL before reaching 7th Uncle's house almost 9pm! Everyone was very hungry and we went to a small roadside stall to eat. The food is GOOD!! After the dinner we went back to 7th Uncle's house. Since the next day was a Monday, everyone left shortly, and so did we.

Mon (07 Aug)
Kuan drove Ah Big to try to get her Russian visa renewed early in the morning, while I followed mum and dad home to Taiping. Reached Taiping around 1pm. Slept a while. Kuan and Ah Big reached Taiping almost 6pm. We went out for a simple dinner and rushed home for mum to catch her 9pm Korean Serial.

Tue (08 Aug)
Had Pizza Hut for dinner. It was horrible. The pizza was not properly cooked, with the cheese still looking 'pale', instead of the usual golden brown. The salad was too dry and the service sucks big time. Took the 9:30pm bus from Taiping to Spore. Reached Spore the next day 6am.