my blogging mojo has been resuscitated. :)

I love the new layout of my blog. The old one just totally disincentivised me from blogging if you know what I mean. The font was too tiny, at time illegible cos of the weird colour and the posts cramped oddly in a corner. This is WAYYYYY BETTER! Totally revived that blogging mojo man! :D Which is why this is the third entry within a span of hours. Which is a Guinness record by my standards!

ok so what shall I blog about now?

I'm supposed to be reading up on my Soft power reading now, by Joseph Nye.

Anyway let me chart my plans for tmr, here:
1) Wake up at 640am, pray.
2) Bathe, go school.
3) Revise till like 2plus or 3 then go pray. (must complete economic & Coercive diplomacy readings)
4) revise again (Complete crisis reading)
5) 5plus: go pray Asar
6) Revise (Rationality & Bureaucratic politics)
7) Do 1-2 practice qns/papers.
8) Go home.
9) Sleep by 12midnight. (MUST!)

Then paper on Friday at 9am. Inshaallah, may Allah guide me through this paper, Amin.

Then after that hang around till like 2 plus or so in school just to wait for susu to appear n meet her at Clementi MRT. Can't wait to see her!! =D

Then Sat: I have this family function thing (to celebrate my cousin Rina's coming-of-age ceremony. hahaha
Maybe join the YWLC girls for the website meeting too.

Sunday: Meet Rahs at Eunos MRT for tea at 120pm like that, hang out for 1-2 hours. Nadzi wants to pass me her membership card at True Yoga for complimentary classes & gym usage for the next 2 months (May & June!!!) So cool right! Cos she'll be occupied with her exams. Shiok! Can't wait! :D
Tuition at 330pm.

Then I'm like FREAKING FREE already lah! I feel like applying for an internship ah, just for the fun of it. hmmm~ Oh, and I saw THE JOB OFFER of the century! (OK I dunno why I'm so dramatic right now, but it sounds way too cool lah. position of Management Trainee for 2 years or so at BHP Billiton and they'll train you in various roles in line with a programme planned by the Uni of Melbourne. AND AND, you'd either be based in Hague or Singapore, awesome or wad! Hague u know! Netherlands! :D I am SO going to apply!

Old, much? (Already?!)

Wow, I was just reading my blog entries from 2007 & 8, and I REALLY do feel so much older. Where has all that zest for life gone to?
Read this for instance: The younger, cooler, funnier & zestier me!

Ok, I pray that this has got nothing to do with growing old and grey but all to do with this last exam paper. Yes yes, it must be. (It better!!)

PS: on another note, Ri hasn't called me yet. Lets see if he keeps to his contract. (Refer to pic in 2 entries ago) :D

(One) Exam Blue(s)

I have one last paper this friday (not for life la, for this sem, but still..) YEAY! :) Its for my foreign policy & diplomacy module. I actually really did enjoy this module. Its been what, 4 months of studying it, 13 weeks or so of exposure to political science and yeah, I definitely have learnt much. Like one of my readings today revealed that the Women's suffrage rights campaign started in 1848 and by 1930, 20 Western Countries have granted these rights. Following which, over the next 20 years till 1950, 48 other nations followed suit. This proves 2 things; (1) that NGOs can be highly powerful and influential. Cos most of the smaller, developing countries granted women suffrage rights only after domestic human rights groups rallied from support from these large transnational NGOs (who will then in turn lobby for support ) & pressure their own govts to pressure those developing govts. Amazing huh, one long indirect process but mission accomplished! (2) That Norms are still relevant in policy making, contrary to what realists believe.
Realists are all for the need to maximise utility &power and discredit the need for normative & ideal concepts. (This came about in the 1970s-80s especially,in line with the increased push by economists for the need to measure utility.) So, realists tried to measure power in terms of material wealth. Let's face it, sure, wealth is an important aspect in measuring a country's influence and standing in the world, but clearly not the only one right?

There are 4 instruments of foreign policy can be used to influence the actions & behaviour of other FP actors (which includes both states & non-state actors), and they are:
1) Military
2) Economic instrument (Trade agreements, quotas, tariffs, embargoes,etc)
3) Propaganda: To influence not just the domestic public but also foreign publics
4) Soft power: Using culture and other normative concepts to advocate certain behaviour
So clearly material wealth is but one form of power, though arguably the strongest form of power.

Okay, if you can't tell already, this is me trying to revise for my paper. :) hehe. But returning again to the topic on women's suffrage rights. Imagine, it took close to a century before women could truly claim to be equals, but that too just "officially". The fight still persists and glass ceilings are still commonplace and permeate societies. Its amazing isn't it? I know I'm beginning to sound like a Femi-Nazi here but think about it, all that campaigning, rounds of negotiations to persist and claim for equalityand today, we're basking and relishing the fruits of their labour. Really oughta be grateful. :) And continue to prove to all that we do indeed deserve equality and can do as well as our male counterparts.

Here, a picture to commemorate their efforts! :)

Source: http://americancivilwar.com/women/Womens_Suffrage/womens_suffrage_summary.html

Ok, that's all from me today! =)

Its been some time. For those who are wondering (if you're still amazingly tuned in, that is), I havent really been on a hiatus. I have been blogging, just that nowadays, I have reserved most of my entries and saved them as drafts, instead of publishing them. Also because life been an emotional rollercoaster in the past few months. Things are better now, much clearer, and happier(?) even. Hmm, so what's new? Tomorrow I'll be going for Chingay +CityAlive (the street bash after Chingay) from 630pm onwards with the ywlc peeps. I'm slightly behind in my readings, have 2 or maybe 3 mid terms this coming week and I NEED TO DO WELL! (side-note, check out this awesome mix by DJ Andrew, one of the DJs who'll be there tomorrow at the CityAlive party: http://www.cityalive.sg/)
Okay, just some food for thought, was wondering whats up with the Anwar's sodomy trial, and did some googling, and here's what's new, if you're wondering.
Some interesting thoughts here: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/07/11/malaysia-anwar-ibrahim-sodomy-trial/

I particularly like the comments and views by Farish Noor here: http://www.thenutgraph.com/article-4361.html
He questions on how despite the wide prevalence of anal and oral sex, Malaysia can be considered to be backdated or 'antiquated' in today's time and age. Personally, I don't think its so much an issue of time and age, as it is of whats real and not. I would believe that anal or oral sex was probably as widely practised as far back in history as we would dare to venture as it is now, of cos I have no evidence, but hey, why the hell should we think otherwise? Wrt Anwar's sodomy trial, what's clear is, to me, its a clear political set-up, and I do hopw that the Malaysians see likewise too. Cos ultimately, the point is, whether or not he's gay/ has strange fetishes/weird by any societal norms, what's important is that will be inconsequential when it comes to leading a country. Yes, I do believe that some will most certainly beg to differ, peraps the idea of having a Gay/bisexual PM say for instance can be discomforting, but hey, why so? Are they more likely to squander off public funds, or less likely to develop their countries on the international front? You would have to agree that being gay/sexuality won't have anything to do with that, no link really. Frankly, if you think about it, of course no one really gives a hoot about what Anwar does behind closed doors, but perhaps the fact that he has in the history of Malaysia been successful enough to at least forge an opposition front to contest the already weakened Barisan Nasional has earned him the alarming attention of his political rivals, and made him yet again, the scapegoat and pawn in yet another strategic attempt to dislodge him. Even if he were to win the trial, and clear his name, what would that mean to the masses? Poor Anwar, I really do think he's been set up.

Other news: US-Tibet talks are according to China, going to severely impact on US-China relations. Personally I don't see what China's problem is. Sure, you're damn important, possibly the world's next hegemon and economic superpower, sure sure, so? Just because you've got problems with your Tibetan neighbour doesnt mean the rest of the world must follow suit. Grow up. Sheesh.

ok i'm watching this christmas movie, dunno what its called, cos i tuned in halfway through the movie. Oh, its called His & Her Christmas. and its those typical 'lets-celebrate-christmas-with-our-loved-ones-cos-life-is-beautiful-and-because christmas is about love and family' kinda movie. And I guess christmas does do that to you, regardless of race or religion really. (at least it does here in Singapore) You can't help but feel moved by it sometimes, especially if you have been guilty of it yourself, of letting yourself be occupied completely by work. and then theres the other typical theme of christmas movies, which happened to be the same theme of that movie i just mentioned. the i'm single and lonely and i have been so occupied with the notion of material success that i feel so sad suddenly during christmas only because this is christmas and everyone non-loser has a spouse or a special someone or at least a family to celebrate it with. even if you did return to your family for christmas, (like all families will during any major festival), they'll ask you why ur still single. like as if it isnt bad enough when you ask yourself that sometimes. when you look around at all the lovey-dovey couples around and ur attached friends and start wondering what it is that they have that you haven't got. And how you justify your preferences. like all i want is a decent, smart enough, pleasant looking funny guy whom i can click with. is that too picky or fussy i ask you? or too choosy? i doubt it really. reminds me of what Leen said the other time when we had this small conversation about how she's still single and I, like all other people immediately popped the question (no i didnt propose of cos) i asked her if she was too choosy/picky. and she gave an answer that i could relate with. Her exact reply was "well it isn;t like I have a whole long queue of guys to choose from". and yeah thats exactly my case too. I mean i'm wad, 22 and I already think I'm facing this same problem. Its common don't you think? How we like to assume that someone who's single is the one who'e choosy, who's picky, or fastidious. Why don't we ever consider the possibility that well just maybe there's aren't many to choose from anyway? that maybe those who are available, those who happen to be interested are the ones we can't go out with just bacuse we don't click and it has nothing to do with being fussy. in fact if the decision of not going out with someone because you cant click wth the person or because you cant see yourself with him is regarded as fussy, then its sad right? cos that would mean u need to change all your preferences for someone special just because you shoul;dn't be single. or maybe there needs to be less of an emphasis on the need to be attached. cos it isnt a crime to be single. but of cos i do believe that we're all made to have a special someone. its how we're made biologically, there is the physical need to be with someone. that's just one aspect of cos, there's also the spiritual need to connect with someone, and the emotional need to share that special close bond with someone. so its kinda like a whole thing, and I think there's also the formula to finidng your Mr. or Ms. Right. He/she has got to be able to connect with you on all levels, and on every aspects, there definitely has to be a balance of cos, but i guess thats exactly how u can get a relationship to last and work. else, it'll just end in a separation OR you just stay single till you meet your jigsaw puzzle piece. :)
Speaking of which, where is my other jigsaw piece??

ARGH! I am so irritated! So, Kris Allen won after all. America, WHAT HAPPENED?! But I wouldn't say I'm all that shocked or surprised, in competitions where votes decide who wins or who gets booted, you're bound to have such unfair results. That's alright, we all know how successful Adam will be anyway. I am buying his first album, and obviously boycotting Allen's. Haha!! You know whats so sad! I woke up at 8am contemplating on whether or not to walk over to my aunt's place (which is a few block away) to catch American Idol, before deciding (with a heavy heart to just doze back to sleep) and catch teh later episode. And now, I just realised Channel 5 aired it at 8am as well!?! How sad is that! Ok, nvm, it doesnt matter, I'm gg to catch either the 6pm one on star world or the 10pm one on channel 5.

Here's a picture of my Idol.. :)

Anyway, I got an Internship at PSA! :D I'll be starting tomorrow, and end on the 7th of August. But here's the catch, its an Accounting internship! Initially I was told it was a Finance internship, so I was mentally preparing myself, trying hard to remember all the finance terms we went thru during FNA2004 but now I realise its an acctg one. But they seem ready to train me, so I'm open to the idea myself. :) Its ok to learn anyway. Working hours are 830am-630pm from mondays to thursdays and 830am-530pm on Fridays. I am excited, and the most important thing is to go with an open mind and learn as much as I can.

Ok, gtg now, will update soon!

original philosophy

kyra says:
i do hope that u will be able to change ur midset soon
kyra says:
n appreciate the love n beauty of ur life, n restore ur faith in Allah
kyra says:
honestly bcos there will be a rainbow after the rain
kyra says:
even tho now its a thunderstorm+ typhoon+ tornado +tsunami
kyra says:
the sun will come out once again
kyra says:
but u gotta stop staying underneath ur broken umbrella
kyra says:
n look out for the Sun
kyra says:
ok that sounds funny actually
kyra says:
oye cool not my philosophy

xyz:
yeah yeah cool

HAHAHA, original philisophy yo.

Move on already khairah. Work-wise. Sheesh.

Momentary reprieve

These days, I'm too busy, I feel a tad too busy and guilty to be blogging. But, self-reprieve is necessary, and like Senior Minister of transport and Finance Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said, we women (or girls) shouldn't feel guilty when we take time off for ourselves! In fact, thats the only way we can strike that balance when it comes to juggling the myriad of responsibilities-work, family, life, passion and hobbies. I sound a tad too old already, but its true, I'm feeling the pains of juggling already, and one can only expect this to get worse, but one (i.e. I) will not let that dampen my spirits and hope for the future in anyway.

Anyhow, I just went for this recruitment talk by this oil and gas consulting company, Schlumberger , This talk did lend highly insightful findings on the oil and gas market, but the highlight of the evening (not necessarily the best one though) was when we found out they only prefer Engineering candidates OR MBA grads. Seriously. Why invite BBA students then?! Haha, but well, its all in the attitude really. Anyway I did learn a great deal aout the oil and gas industry, like the fact that its facing the lowest demand in years, and how this is some critical, unprecedented times for those within this industry. Forecasts were positive though, and they of course expect the industry to jump right back up when the economy starts looking better, and demand shoots right back up again. In fact they're predicting based on what has happened in the past before (in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis for instance) that the supply will start slacking during any crisis, cos the lowered demand and reduced revenue usually lead to large cuts in investments, which will serve to curtail supply, that could very well send supply shocks once the economy recovers and demand as I said earlier, shoots right back up. Interesting really.

Though, personally, on hindsight, I am put off that they may think that BBA graduates aren't competent enough to handle consultancy jobs. In fact, I am put off by all consultancy firms who think that way. It shouldn't be your qualifications (I mean not totally atleast),it should be one's ability to analyse the industry, the trends and put data from seemingly unrelated aspects to come up with real issues and solutions to deal with problems that matters. So, give us a chance!

Okay, just as a disclaimer, I am sure that consultancy companies do look out for outstandingly bright candidates (nvm if they're just graduates with a Bachelor's degree) but its the inherent assumption that BBA students are not on par as MBA students that I disagree with. Why I think so?

Honestly, because many MBA students had no business or economics background prior to their MBA studies, and many MBA programmes (especially the executive types), are based on the very same curriculum that BBA undergrads take for twice as long (4 years)! So you tell me, why shouldn't BBA graduates be considered on par, if not better than some MBA graduates?

Haha, as you can tell, I am aspiring to be a consultant someday. Its highly exciting don't you think, to be able to put yourself in the shoes of another company, help analyse, study, learn before helping to turn around the situation and make a real impact in not just one company (your own) but in that of the many clients you work with.

I shall strive for the best, Inshaallah! =)

Anyway peeps, just for your info, if you're a fan of sushi, go get the sushi at Ramen Ten (West Plaza Mall) the new one next to Clementi MRT station. The sushi on the conveyor belt is going at 99cents per plate! (White plates only though, but still! A darn good deal if you ask me! Till 31st March I think, so hurry!

Here are some photos I took that day (Ramen Ten should so pay me) :

Sushi on the conveyor belt. We were just piling them onto our table. 99 cents mah!





In addition to the whole sushi spread, we also had ramen! Thanks to the wonderful 50% off every ramen dish (we had 2 coupons lah!), we basically had a buy-one-get-one-free deal! We felt like ultimate super contented and bloated kiasu Singaporeans after that, nvm the whole Jap cuisine. ;D

Hi guys! I just drank a cup of Bru Coffee and I'm gg to be an unusual high soon enough, especially since this cup was extra strong. =D Life has been great, Alhamdulillah. Had my first Quiz for Consumer Behaviour yesterday, and as usual work's piling up! Thats what recess week is all about anyway! I'll be having my MS mid terms the week after next so I'll have to start preparing for that. Really grateful that my MS tutor is this wonderful guy who's superbly helpful and friendly AND he speaks perfect English. Just the other day, Hani and I were discussing how so many of our uni mates couldn't hold a conversation/presentation, or write a report without making unacceptable grammatical errors along the way. The kind that make us cringe. Having done 3 years in Uni thus far, I'd have to concede to that fact. Its appaling really, how so many amongst us cannot write or speak decently. I know that implicit in this observation is the supposed claim that my English is better. Not trying to distinguish myself in anyway, I'm guilty of the few grammatical errors now and then too, but I would atleast catch myself right after that, just because it really sounds awful.

Oh another random observation. In the past, when you see someone muttering ro talking to himself, we'd clearly suspect he's suffering from some mental illness. These days though, you can never be too sure. You gotta watch out for the bluetooth earpiece, in built ear canal earpiece and such BEFORE jumping to that conclusion. Its hilarious how technology has progressed to the extent that it redefines our thoughts, thinking process and perceptions. Just the other day, my family were at Sheng Siong. My grandma and I being the two who had injured feet, stayed in the car. Then, this guy driving this huge lorry parked next to us. He came out and was chattering out loud. Wanting to give his sanity the benefit of the doubt, I naturally peered to the left side of the lorry to look at who he was talking to. After a while, it became apparent that there was no one else in the lorry with him. My grandma was unusually silent at that point. Knowing her, I clarified, "Grandma, please don't think he's mad, he has this bluetooth piece attached to his left ear." She was greatly relieved, and went "OHHHHH... I really thought he was crazy!" HAHAHA, she's so adorable!

Okay, back to work now. Take good care kids! OH YES! I got into the YWLC mentorship program I was talking about. Alhamdulillah, its such an honour to be part of this noble network that's filled with 29 other brilliant young ladies. Looking forward to meaningful friendships, contributions and bonds, Inshaallah! Women power! ;)