Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Mother Nature is just Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Everything she does is the sum of those three things. She's completely amoral. She doesn't care about poetry or art or whether you go to church. You can't negotiate with her, and you can't spin her and you can't evade her rules. All you can do is fit in as a species. And when a species doesn't learn to fit in with Mother Nature, it gets kicked out.
- quote from "Hot, Flat and Crowded"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 1:14 PM
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Okay, so I went to NTU with scott my bro and roommate for NTU Hall. We did our medical, submitted the tuition grant thing, and explored a bit if NTU and had a nice lunch. Then I proceeded for my interview.
I was sitting at the chairs outside the interview room. Then there was this ah-pek looking middle-ages man spotting a pot belly, walking around the room. He wore the typical uncle dress, white short-sleeve collared shirt and black pants with a weird-looking towel hanging on his trousers. I assumed he was a cleaner who just cleaned the room. So while I was waiting for my turn, I took up the CN Yang brochure, as till then I still didn’t know exactly what the scholarship’s objective was. Ah, I saw the director for the program face, Aye looks so familiar. OH GOSH, it was the AH-PEK. OPPS!!!! He’s a Harvard Grad for goodness sake! Many apologies to him first.
And so it was my turn, I went in.
And the first thing I saw the director, I tried to suppress my laughter. He’s too funny looking. Another professor started asking me why I didn’t go for the first interview. And I said I was in NZ on working holiday trip. The 3 professors started to get interested in what I did in NZ. So I explained. That took about 5min. Then the director asked the other 2 whether they wanted coffee. And he left. I said, what the hell, you’re interviewing me halfway and you left to get a coffee!!
Ok, the aerospace professor started asking me, what is my interest? So I told him I like planes. That sparked off a strong discussion on planes, on how they fly, how it maintained its flight, the rudder, tail plane, flaps. Then he kept insisting in asking me what the material for planes making initially was. Isn’t it Aluminum?! Then I refused to answer his question. By this time the discussion got a bit hot with him which somehow evolved into a mini debate. The director with his piping hot coffee came in. I tried to impress them by saying the new composite materials which are used in current new planes design. Okay, they all got impressed. Then, the irritating aerospace professor went back to the initial materials question. I said I don’t know! He just said wood. Oh yar!
after which I thought planes were over, the third prof started blabbering, how does a helicopter works? TOOT to myself. Wa shit, I gotten myself into deeper mess. I tried to smoke, and answer to my best ability cause I didn’t really know.
Then after it, the director pointed to a white board and asked me to find out the angle. I said which angle. He said that’s a triangle, there’s only 3 angles, of which 2 are useless to find out. Okay, that made me real stupid. So I guess it must be the right angle. Haha, this is a secondary maths ques. OMG! I seemed to have seen it somewhere but I cant recall the proving steps. I held onto the marker, stunned a bit, draw some random lines and angle then EUREKA! I solved it.
When I sat down again, they asked me, what questions I have for them?I said, I don’t really know the objective of this scholarship. Then the third prof asked me back, what do I expect myself of getting from this scholarship? ERM. Blank! I want to learn more of Aerospace?! Then the 3 of them unanimously said NO! you think a plane can just fly on aero?! What about fuel, fluid dynamics, seat comfort, materials, environment……? Like a barrage of jargons thrown into my face. Ok I officially just jacked myself again! I tried to salvage myself by saying ok sorry, I think aerospace is just a small part of the bigger picture of science and technology and I hope to learn and research more about it. They seem satisfied. That was the end. Haiz. The moment I reached home, I wanted to download the episode 14 of fated to love you. Then came an email. Dear Yida, we are delighted to offer you the CN Yang Scholarship. OMG!!! Hooray! Haha it’s so shocking la, I tot I screwed it up big time. Oh wells, called my dad and mom, and my poor sis who was on a mission to conquer alkenes in her notes were greatly disrupted by me. Just then babe who just gotten her break sms me, so I called her to share the good news. Oh man it’s a nice happy day today!!!!!!!
Thanks scott for the luck it worked! And Mimi who guided me out of NTU from the pouring rain. And not to forget, National Geographic Channel's Air Crash Investigation which provided all the facts for me to smoke.
And thanks babe, the waffles helped! With added ability comes greater responsibility.
my silver v3i is playing, "我的快乐 - 命中注定我爱你OST"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 5:54 PM
Friday, May 30, 2008
After a grueling yet satisfying 3 and half months, I have finally made my way back to my long missed bed and bolster. The long WorkHol trip has given me an interesting insight of life. Travelling around NZ is a cool experience literally, and it has definitely trained me to be a more independent man.
Friends are an immense important part of travelling. I couldn’t imagine myself doing it alone so I’m really glad that Jiahua is with me. I won’t deny it’s not easy for 2 people to live, eat and sleep together as there are bound to be differences and conflicts. However I’m proud that we did not let those small things ruin our friendship and importantly the trip. The working part was tough. Sometimes we worked till midnight and the next day wake up at 7 to start work again. But such hard times were short lived.
I also met and made friends along the way in NZ. These are the people who will make your day and make my trip in NZ a more fulfilling one. One such guy is JON. He’s a Brazilian whom we met when we were picking apples. During that part which was our lowest point in NZ, he helped us a lot like giving us advices in work. When we went Auckland, he was there to help us all the way, selling our car and bringing us explore Auckland. Too bad he could not extend his stay in NZ if not we could have more fun.
After friends, the experience is the second most important thing I felt. This is sort of the longest time I have been away from home. This is the time which my true independence and self-survival skills are tested. After this trip, I sort of felt the last time when I came to NZ with the tour was a waste of time. It was so rushed through and I didn’t learn much of the culture here. So, it’s a point to try backpacking and exploring the country rather than going on a tour package. Europe is definitely a must-go destination.
Of course not to mention is the adventures that I have “risked” through. The highlights will be the skydive, bungy.
SKYDIVE - It was like dangling my life on the cord of a parachute.Tandem skydiving is easy, you’re just strapped to the instructor and being told to bend like a banana (head up, hips forward, legs back).While the plane was taxiing to the start of runway, it felt almost like a normal plane ride. There was no sense of queasy or nervous. But when the plane reached the altitude, butterflies seemed to start occupying my stomach. It was too scary to sit out of the plane and looked down at the clouds not stepping onto anything. The best moment was tumbling out of the plane feeling completely befuddled. Not knowing up from down is priceless. At 12,000 feet, you get a 45s of freefall which was without doubt the shortest 45s of my life. The rush that you get is difficult to explain.Luckily I did buy the DVD which cost a lot more, cause I get to convince my unborn children that I kicked some ass back in the day.
BUNGY – It is a different ball game from skydive. You sit down and a towel is placed in between your ankles. A tight Velcro binds it and with some tying, a karabiner connected to the Bungy cord is attached to you at the ankles. The whole trick about Bungy is DO NOT look down before you jump. You will just be scared off your balls/whatever and knees will start buckling. I looked down, I got scared, my balls dropped, and the countdown from the back says “YIDA, don’t be a loser and not jump!” Hopping onto the platform and after a 3-2-1, I took the leapt of faith. The bungy cord went taut and snapped me back upwards. On my face was a ridiculous half fear half euphoria look.
The ground rush you get from a bungy is something you don’t get from skydiving, accelerating towards nature at a pace only matched by your heart rate.
The journey down was crazy, with my arms flailed about and irrational thoughts raced through my mind. But saving my life, my freefall slowed as the cord became taut and sprung back upwards for the second part of my ride.
Whao, it’s a long entry, a short summary of over the 3 plus months. Time to feast on some kiwis and chocolates. That’s what NZ is full of too other than sheep and cows.
I miss the turquoise blue lakes, the lushy green hills, the snow-capped mountains, the noisy sheep bahs and cow moos, and the warmth of Kiwis. But there’s one thing I hate here and in every cold country, a cold toilet seat. It will just kill your urge to shit.
oh ya, i lost of mighty pink ipod in NZ. for now i will survive on my tough V3i for music entertainment until the ultra cool iphone is in singapore.
my silver V3i is playing, "I'm yours - Jason Mraz (We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things)"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 12:16 PM
Monday, February 04, 2008
To pray: to ask that the laws of the universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy
This is such a harsh statement, taken from The God Delusion. Been cleaning up my computer and saw this phrase which I don’t know why I saved this phrase. However, is the statement realish? Pondering time…
It has been a meeting-up week. Since the 41 officers gathering, there’s Maldives, JC class, Sec class and even Pri class. Oh my…
It was a guy’s 21 birthday form Primary school. Lost contact for near 8 years and from some connections here and there a small group of us met up and went to his party. Since all of us live near to his house so might as well but I am truly glad that I went. It was such a stunning, memories-evoking and wonderful party. Stunning, because I didn’t expect her to be there to. When she came and poked me “again”, I was shocked, just minus the exclaiming part. Babe, we must meet up on the V-day week yar!! Memories-evoking, with the small group of primary school classmates, I guess 8 years of catching up with all was great. Never-ending, laughter about the naïve young days, certainly sweet. The rule of the closer you live the less contact you have sometime works. Wonderful, from all the food, cake, and talks with one another made it well (esp still the shocking part from babe)
JC class was Yum Cha-ing. Sec class was steamboating. Attendances for both were great, maybe it’s 2008, maybe it’s the organizers, maybe it’s just this year is a special year for all of 1987, maybe it’s just we all miss one another. Friends will last a lifetime.
2 more weeks to New Zealand. A bit of regrets – will miss a scholarship interview (but I think NTU got chance to get it again, and maybe they will reschedule another one for me if they really want me), will miss Singapore Aeroshow 2008 (Well, I can catch the 2010 one again!), will miss babe’s 21st birthday (Very sorry about that, but I will definitely call you and sing a song in NZ), and so many more, BUT, the 4 months in NZ will I hope be a life-changing experience for me. For me to try out be independent truly.
Then this blog will remain dormant for 4 months while another one will be active.
http://www.theadventuresof2kiwipluckers.blogspot.com
wish all a happy Chinese New Year!
My
pink Ipod is playing, "New Soul -Yael Naim"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 12:36 PM
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
It’s a long ding-dong since I’ve last updated. Right now I’m now working at NTUC learning hub as a telephone survey dude. Quite slack, just calling and jiacheng intro this job one. He has been the one slacking all along in this job Dog. Haha
Since I’ve come back from Taiwan, weekends are active. The sat, I met up with quek, jose and swee sen. Had a dinner and a movie, Cloverfield. OMG, this movie sucks BIG TIME. I mean, don’t ever watch it after a heavy meal (which was what we’ve done). The whole movie is shot by a handheld camera and was jerking and running all the way, then the movie plot is so CHUI. A Godzilla-look-a-like invaded NY and the protagonist was running away from it. the trailer was so captivating and looked nothing like what was shown. Gosh, felt so sick throughout the movie. I was like closing my eyes halfway and declined to watch. The rest all could take it sia… I was waiting to smell some puke in the cinema but there was none. Amazed. Only like now, cinemas are putting up signs of motion sickness warning outside for Cloverfield. You could get a refund too u noe!?
Sunday was great, meeting up with the Maldives people at minds café. So fun especially the telepathy game, laugh till my abs pain like hell. People are always doing stupid things. It’s important to go minds café with the correct bunch of people.
Then work started last week n today. My last day at work. Imagine I typed this entry during work. Been slackin all along.
Last sat was fun too. A bbq at my house with the 41 officers. It’s great reminiscing about the 1 year at unit and KB of each other, slutting and dogging each day, watching tv in my bunk aka common area. Those were the times that pulled me through NS. Anyway thanks to mr chew, mr sim and mr chua for coming. They made our lives better. Fitz’s BBQ express was delicious. There were too many alcohol bottles and little soft drinks. This is wrong sia. In the end to waste some alcohol, we lit the alcohol up and created little candle, but I was playing with it, accidentally spilt it onto myself and the alcohol was burning on me. wao! Hot! And burnt leg hairs. Ahah that reminded us of weiming burning jiahua’s hair with a lighter. That was totally hilarious. In case you didn’t know, Hair is easily flammable. Talk and talk, drink and drink, it lasted till early morning. Think we shld organise such gathering often, making it a tradition annually.
My
pink ipod is playing "Mr. Pitiful - Matt Costa"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 10:12 PM
Friday, January 04, 2008
I did not know, playing golf is so tormenting on my body. Do not underestimate those swings, after about 100 times of swinging, my whole body aches like hell the next day. One, my physical fitness is damn bad. Two, I’m still too noob in playing golf. But ya, gonna train more and at least do a decent shot. In case you didn’t know, I’ve just started learning golf. It’s really a thinking, psychomotor, patient game, something which I’m not good at so treat it also as training my mind.
Finally I’ve made my new passport. Cos to apply for new Zealand work holiday visa, my passport expiry date must be quite long so my old passport can’t make it. Anyway the new biometric thing is quite cool, but other than that, nothing much. Jiahua got his visa approved le, so left mine, and hopefully before I leave for Taiwan next week, the NZ side can approve mine too and we can confirm our air tickets to NZ le. At first we are planning to leave after CNY and come back end May, but apparently, the whole of March to May is HOT season for kiwi plucking (which was the intended jobs we are looking for) so he was thinking of extending the stay to mid june meaning we will be touring after May. Hmm… 4 months out of Singapore, first time gone for so long… And we are booking air tickets to Auckland then back from Christchurch. Can’t do that on Qantas webby so hafta find agents to buy. And yar, dunno why, Air New Zealand does not operate out of Changi Airport anymore. So the only direct flight to NZ is by SIA which is too ex for us, so we have to settle for Qantas, which have to transit in Aus. Another of planes taking. I guess I will have enough of plane taking this year haha… actually I’ve always wanted to be a jet-setting worker, not sure whether in the future my job will allow me to do that, can see more of the world. Hee… I’ve decided to bring my Lappy to NZ so I can keep in touch wif family and friends and updates you guys of situation in NZ.
So I’m gonna start something soon ---- The Adventures of 2 Kiwi Pluckers. Stay tuned to more updates gonna start chapter 1 soon haha.
YAY, Babe’s back!
Looking forward to the bbq that I organize for 41 officers.
Taiwan, here I go…
My pink Ipod is playing, "When Will I See Your Face Again - Jamie Scott"
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 10:49 PM
Saturday, December 22, 2007
YES! Man U won Liverpool! Was watching the match at song’s house. What a great feeling to win it at Anfield haah!!
Ok, the plan to Taiwan is confirmed. Leaving for Taipei on 11jan and coming back from HK on 16Jan. Hopefully I can meet my Taiwan friends.
Met up with the class on haji at huang lao shi mum house. Wondering why, that’s cos she has just given birth and we went to visit the little life. So cute sia… and the first thing all will ask is her name, Rui Ning. But I think we all guessed wrongly her Chinese characters, or ashamedly to say, we dunno how to write the character having returning our Chinese knowledge to lao shi haha.. but it was great catching up with the class and just understanding how’s everyone doing. Then it was National Treasure hunting. This is a damn nice movie to catch so go go watch it! SPOILERS revealed. A sequel might be happening, something to do with page 47 in the President’s Secret Book. So we were waiting for the credits to roll on anticipating something will be played at the end giving us an insight on the part 3, but to our dismay there was nothing! Seems like a bunch of idiots waiting haha.
Town is just too crowded, don’t like to drive in there.
Oh ya, pls do visit my friend’s newly created blog. An identity for those living in our area. http://www.bukitpanjangblog.blogspot.com
do hope to meet up with you soon babe! get well soon kay.
my
pink ipod is playing, "Let's Start From Here - 王若琳" a real nice soothing song.
Jim popped a can of Jolly Shandy @ 9:44 PM
When I sat down again, they asked me, what questions I have for them?I said, I don’t really know the objective of this scholarship. Then the third prof asked me back, what do I expect myself of getting from this scholarship? ERM. Blank! I want to learn more of Aerospace?! Then the 3 of them unanimously said NO! you think a plane can just fly on aero?! What about fuel, fluid dynamics, seat comfort, materials, environment……? Like a barrage of jargons thrown into my face. Ok I officially just jacked myself again! I tried to salvage myself by saying ok sorry, I think aerospace is just a small part of the bigger picture of science and technology and I hope to learn and research more about it. They seem satisfied. That was the end. Haiz. The moment I reached home, I wanted to download the episode 14 of fated to love you. Then came an email. Dear Yida, we are delighted to offer you the CN Yang Scholarship. OMG!!! Hooray! Haha it’s so shocking la, I tot I screwed it up big time. Oh wells, called my dad and mom, and my poor sis who was on a mission to conquer alkenes in her notes were greatly disrupted by me. Just then babe who just gotten her break sms me, so I called her to share the good news. Oh man it’s a nice happy day today!!!!!!! 
1 Comments:
At 10:33 PM,
Marco said…
You actually updated your blog!!
I had a great mahjong game with you guys just now (though I was the ultimate loser). Hahaha.
Happy new year! =)
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