Yesterday, I received news from my employer regarding my job application. It was not news that I wanted to hear and in fact, it was news which I did not prepare for. Prior to this, I had been preparing for two outcomes: I get the job, or I don't. I never expected to get the 'in-between' response which has now delayed things. Despite all this, the news was not something bad, just that my application would have to be delayed due to an age restriction stated by a certain policy which I am extremely sore about. I will not start a flaming session ranting about this certain policy for it will do no good; I will only say that it is a very selfish and disruptive thing. Anyway, my application will be followed-up next year so there is still hope.
The news has also taught me a thing or two about being naive. I am praying hard that my - somewhat foolish (if you ask me now) - actions have not hampered my pathway to my potential career. I shall keep that lesson in mind in future. Right now, I need to replan for this waiting period and the unknown beyond. I am still unsettled by the news, but life must go on. Oh well, as the saying goes, "Good things come to those who wait."
Today I graduate from NUS, Bachelor in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) in hand. The Commencement ceremony was all trim and proper with the usual flashback videos, student interviews, scroll presentation, valedictorian speech and even a piano performance by one of the members from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. Following that was a frenzy of photo-taking with family and friends which I shall now end this short post with...
Close friends during the course
Executing the highly difficult and dangerous jumping-mortar-board-sky-throw move. (Undergraduates, don't try this at home)
Da ULC Family
Fellow graduates Edwin (left) and Caleb (right)
~Thank you NUS for an enriching experience;
Thank you friends for further enriching that experience~
Awesome song and music video by Loveholic, a Korean rock group. This song was a collaboration between Loveholic and other singers/groups also under the Fluxus Music group hence the plural name, Loveholics. Those of you who know Clazziquai might also recognize them in the video.
I just recently returned from a 3-day stay at the hospital isolation ward after having a flu and fever. OMFG! H1N1! YOU BETTER STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME, PIG! CAN IT BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH BLOGS? YOU REALLY GOT IT RIGHT? Read the title.
Yes, the results were negative, thank God. However, let me recount 3 encounters at Ground Zero which reflects some of the public reaction.
Encounter #1 happened when I left the X-ray room to cross the corridor and return to the isolation ward just about 3m away. A man walking in my general direction saw me, made a abrupt 180 degrees rotation and then walked away as if it was as normal as picking flowers.
Encounter #2 happened after I failed the initial blood test indicating that I was suspected case. To make things sound nice and less serious, they called it 'Suspected URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)' instead of 'Suspected H1N1'. Anyway, Encounter #2 took place as I was being wheelchaired from the isolation room to the isolation ward by two male nurses. One male nurse was always in front of me motioning people to stay away from me as I was being wheeled through the corridors and to the lifts. I understand they were just doing their job enforcing preventive measures but I must admit the whole charade was slightly embarrasing.
Encounter #3 is by far the best. As I reached the isolation wards, a young lady was leaving some room (office?) and upon seeing me in the wheelchair, spun around double-quick time, ran back to the room and slammed the door. Hmm, must be the Welcoming Committee.
Fast-forwarding, secondary swab tests (the main deciding factor of H1N1) came back 2 days later with negative results so that was a huge relief but I had to stay an extra day because of a recurring fever. Other than that, the hospital staff and nurses were very friendly and caring throughout my 3 days there. I respect them as they continue to brave the everyday dangers of the H1N1 virus. Thank You doctors, nurses of Ward 17 and not forgetting, the nurse who was stuck with me in the isolation room while waiting for the initial test results - it was nice talking to you.
P.S. Ever since my childhood, I don't think I've watched this much television over 3 days.
A man was driving down a road. A woman was driving up the same road. As they both passed each other, the woman shouted at the man, "Pig!" The man shouted back, "Bitch!" As the man rounded a bend, he crashed into a giant pig and died.
A man met God in his prayers and asked, "God, can I ask you a question?" "No problem, go ahead," God replied. "Is it true that a million years mean a second to you?" "Yes, that is true." "Then what does a million dollars mean to you?" the man asked. "A penny," God replied. "Then, can I please have a penny?" "Sure, just give me a second."
Three engineering students were discussing about what type of engineer God was. The first student said, "God must be a Mechanical engineer because of all these joints in our bodies." The second countered, "Nah, I think He's an Electrical engineer because our nervous system has thousands of circuits." The last one finally replied, "You both got it wrong, He's a Civil engineer - who else would build a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?"
A snail was robbed by two turtles. When the police asked how it all happened, the snail replied, "It all happened too fast."
A man worked very hard all his life to become a millionaire. He wanted to bring his hard-earned riches with him when he died so he prayed asking God to grant his request. God granted it but said that he was only allowed to bring one bag with him. After hearing this, the man took his largest bag and filled it with gold bars. When the man finally died and went to heaven, he met St. Peter who told him that he wasn't allowed to bring any luggage with him. The man told St. Peter about his deal with God so St. Peter went to seek God to verify his statement. St. Peter soon returned and said to the man, "Alright, you can bring in the bag but I need to check the contents first." The man agreed. Upon opening the bag and seeing the contents St. Peter asked confusedly, "You brought pavement?"
About 6 hours ago, I finished my last paper for the last semester of my last year. (Damn that 8 marks ribblets question... who would've thought that would come out...) Yep, I'm finally done with Uni. And boy has 3 years passed just like that. I still remember my first year - getting slapped in the face with a torrent of high-speed learning. And then subsequently crashing and burning during the first few exams.
On the brighter side, it has really been an experience. The new friends that I've made here, the amount of knowledge gained (OK, I admit, a majority of that has been lost already), the eye candy from Arts (particularly Geography and Psychology), the countless deadlines, submissions, tutorials, mid-terms, exams... yes, it has really been an eventful 3 years. Even now as I type this entry, I am still reeling from the fact that it is finally over.
I guess it is normal for us human beings to become attached to a place or routine thing which we continue to do for a long period of time. But once this routine ends, these things which have become so much a part of our lives suddenly come to an end. At that point of time, you only then start to realize the effect and then you start reminiscencing of the good ol' days bringing this feeling of "So it's over, huh?". Well, for me at least.
After finishing my last paper, me and some Uni friends headed to Clarke Quay for some post-Uni celebration dinner cum chilllout session at Jazz@Southbridge at Boat Quay. (On a sidenote, that place never fails to surprise me - that night's set had a guest flautist who played Girl from Ipanema and another song I forgot. Awesome stuff.) It so happened that just before we left, the set was playing What a Difference a Day Made which resembled thoughts of my last day.
As they say, 'Life goes on', so this is just The End of one chapter and the beginning of another... and that I am looking forward to.
