Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Serendipity believed today at 5:47 PM
A new module will start this week. I'm thrilled to pieces "-_-
Just finished with my folio. Folio used to be known to be as either 1) a file to keep past works 2) a "diary" to keep track of progress or process of one's art works. However, it now has a new meaning to me. It's something that I frantically put together during the past few days of "holiday". We're required to have at most 10 pages and the tutor has been very vague in his instructions. Nevertheless, I'm kind of proud of the quality of trials that I've put together. Combining stuff that I've learnt and modifying them with materials I have at home since we aren't allowed to use the printing room w/o our tutor's presence anymore. Bleh.
Thursday would be the day for me to present my coffee artists presentation. Kind of nervous about it. Even dreamt of it when I took a nap this afternoon. After seeing the quality of some of the presentations by my artmates, I can feel the heat now. Wonder if it'll be up to standard. Once again, the tutor has been vague about what he really expects us to do.
Oh ya, and art lesson plan with partner. Going to have consultation with tutor again this Friday so got to add more stuff. So many deadlines this week!
Serendipity believed today at 11:14 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The other day when our tutor was discussing with us spatial visualisation for Maths, someone asked me if there's any colour when I try to visualise something. I told that there's colour and she's surprised coz there isn't any colour for her.
I wonder how true that is. Are colours added on with much effort or is it a natural thing? Do colours come more naturally for people who do Art?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm starting to see how judgmental people can be at school. All the niceness and everything can be so fake. I'm not talking about myself being judged but then if it can happen so easily to a friend whom I'm with quite often, I don't see why it wouldn't happen to me.
People don't like others who are loud and talkative but that's the person's nature. I would like to think of it as being real and perhaps naive in a positive way. No one says anything when the person generously provides resources from past year, which she had her own means of getting and yet, these same people can turn around and want to leave her out of things. It's really frightening how as a bystander, I see someone making use of group after group that is not aware of her undesirable attitude of working on projects and yet she's the one judging while at the same time pretend to speak up for people whom others generally dislike. Perhaps she wants to act like a saint, a buoy in the sea for the person who's not welcomed by others in school. Who knows what is really going on in her heart?
I wish I am not sensitive enough to detect stuff coz I so badly wanna live a life whereby I can be ignorant and blind to negative stuff. But I can't. In turn, I absorb the negativity and I see how scary people can be. Not a good thing.
It's sickening.
Serendipity believed today at 11:28 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sometimes it's unfortunate when people can't be there when you need them to be.
However, one has to deal with it.
That's life.
Your life.
There'll always be people who let you down.
Just don't let yourself down.
Be true to yourself.
Rely on yourself.
It's safer.
Much so.
Disappointments don't just go away.
They leave a hole in your heart each time.
Nothing to mend it.
Nothing to heal it.
Move away.
Go away.
Just leave this place.
For a world on your own.
Serendipity believed today at 12:02 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I've always known that I have been spending more on transportation as compared to when I was working under contract. Going to school now means taking a bus to the MRT station, taking the train, then transferring to the bus at Boon Lay interchange. However, I tend not to keep track of travel expenses, I only record my daily expenditure on other items. Until 2 days ago when I forgot to bring my EZlink card out (forgot to put it back into my wallet) and was too lazy to walk back from the bus stop downstairs to my house although tht wld probably take only 5min. I ended up paying by cash when taking the buses and the one way ticket for MRT.
bus to MRT station = $1 (although only 2 stops)
train to Boon Lay = $1.40 (only 4 stations)
Bus to school that is situated in the forested area = $1.20
Total for 1 trip = $3.60
Now don't forget I also have to come back home lor...
so... $3.60 x 2 = $7.20!!!
Can you imagine go and study need $7.20? Plus food in school?
Of course on normal days when I use my GIRO ezlink card, there's rebate when tranferring from bus to train and vice versa so I don't spend $7.20. But still... It's really horrifying when one actually keeps track of the daily travel expenses. $7.20.. that's almost like a $10 note being used up.
Moral of the story. Some things are best left unknown.
2nd moral: best to use GIRO automatic top up when using ezlink card. :) Don't even have to worry about card not having any value left.
Serendipity believed today at 1:26 PM
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
My first coffee art piece! Hahaha! Not bad for a first timer right? Not say I hao lian haha. But couldn't be very detailed coz I've not mastered the art of blending and mixing. Blending coffee on paper isn't easy because the paper soak up the water so quickly. Got to use drawing paper (above) instead of the normal A4 printing paper which will wear thin and tear anytime. Did an impromptu one without sketching coz I felt that a mug of coffee would be most apt and simple too.
It's going to be one of the works that I will include while doing my presentation next Thurs for Art on coffee painting. Very amateurish but hey, it's the sincerity that counts since so far, no one who has presented has tried to produce their own works. :) My problem now is not being able to find many of Pornchai's work. It's unfortunate that I got to focus on 2 ang mohs (think they're a couple) who are also into coffee painting. However, Pornchai would be a good focus since he's the first person who's done it and he's got 6 yrs of experience with international exhibitions. His works are not easily available online probably coz he tends to auction his works for charity and if duplicates can be found online, it might lower the value of his works...
One thing for sure is, my painting smells GOOD!!!!! Wahaha...Serendipity believed today at 10:48 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Serendipity believed today at 7:27 PM
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Spirit of the Time
Southeast Asian Contemporary Art
Every Saturday on Channelnewsasia at 9.30pm
Serendipity believed today at 9:35 PM
Saturday, October 11, 2008
I met up with WJ for lunch at Miss Clarity today to collect from her some stuff she got from Taiwan. The soft shelled crab with tomato sauce base linguine was delicious. The linguine especially. I could have eaten it plain with the tomato sauce. I love tomato sauce based pasta! The crab itself was so so... nothing fantastic. Of course, dessert was bread and butter pudding. Just when she was sipping the last bit of her orange juice, she suddenly took out something from her mouth, threw something on the table and rather loudly, shouted COCKROACH!
There it was, the culprit was lying on the table after she took it out of her mouth and threw on the table, horrified. It was a baby cockroach (dead of course... probably drown.. but the cause of death was of course not important at all...). She said it so loudly that the staff, a Malay guy walked over to see what's the commotion about. He told us that he didn't know how it got there and that he'd talk to his manager to enquire more. After awhile he came back and once again apologized about it and said something about someone before that ordering the same thing.. blah blah.. as if such a thing will occur in every glass of orange juice. That would have been atrocious!
Anyway, WJ was magnanimous enough to just brush it aside (or maybe she fel too faint and grossed out) and said it's ok. However, I felt indignant because the manager himself/ herself did not even show his/her face plus not knowing the reason was not good enough a reason. However since she didn't wanna pursue the matter, I didn't say anything to the staff. He came back awhile later to clear the dead body of the culprit. It's kind of funny actually if you're not the victim and anyway she could even laugh it off (like I said, maybe she was too grossed out and got a little crazy). In fact, I told her that maybe she should have swallowed it and not taken it out then she wouldn't have known it's a cockroach.
We continued to sit there to chat and about an hour later when we were about the ask for the bill, the staff told us that the cafe's absorbed the cost. At least they were zi dong about it...
After we left the place. We thought that it's a pity were didn't order something even more ex. Wahahah...
Serendipity believed today at 10:44 PM
It's so shitty that we have fingers pointing at us. accusing us of messing up the art room when we obviously are the ones who have been using it the least number of times. Yesterday during our art lesson, the coordinator of Art came to have a talk with us saying that the place hasn't been kept in a good condition. She assured us that she's not blaming us and that since we "did not have art background" (her exact words), she wouldn't blame us for not knowing stuff too. At first we thought or at least I thought nothing much of it, coz she did say that she would be telling the students from other programs too.
However, our tutor did highlight to her that even when he came into the room, he saw that the tables were not arranged tidily. After the coordinator left, our tutor did assure us about the matter too.
But to my chagrin, we received an email today through our unofficial Art rep. that our tutor wanted to convey a message to us. That is, he has been told that without him around, we're not allowed to go into the printing room to do our artwork at all. And that next week, it will be our last week to use the printing room. WHAT THE HELL?
I feel that it's so obvious that we're seen as the ones making a mess at the artroom. And it seems so hypocritical. Is it because the coordinator thinks we're only going to be there for a year and it doesn't matter if we get offended? We are adults for goodness sake. It's totally disrespectful to just forbid us to make use of that place even for tutorials!!! Or maybe we're PGDE (primary) and that's why a certain someone do not think much of us...
I've been to the artroom twice outside of tutorial time. It's not that I like to do work there but it's just that having to use the equipment and paint there leaves me with no choice. Why don't I like to work there? It's because each time, when it's actually nice, peaceful and conducive, a few Diploma ppl will come in to do work and they will talk more than they work and they talk at the top of their voices. As if it's their home, also total disregard to others who are trying to work quietly. Find them super childish. Why aren't fingers pointing to them instead? They spend more time at the printing room compared to us. So it's it common sense that who are the ones at fault? We are too busy with other core modules to even frequent the printing room as much as we would like to.
It's really unfair lor. Starting to really dislike this place because not only are we overstretched, now when it comes to Art, respect is obviously absent and we're not treated as trustworthy adults. We just started on lino printing yesterday and all of us still have 2 more colours to go. I don't think we will be able to finish by next lesson. Which means that it will remain uncompleted just because we are ACCUSED of something. We were given an extra A4 sized lino mat for whatever print we would like to do ourselves. But now, I can only tell my friend that we might as well just use that as place mats "-_-
I miss those JC days so much. We could just treat the place like our own and there's trust. That was about 7 years ago when we're still considered as teens. Ironically, now as adults, we suddenly have fingers pointing at us.
Those people should just go eat shit.
Serendipity believed today at 10:05 PM
So many people have fallen ill or seemed to have fallen ill. I used the word "seemed" because people who took MC may not really genuinely be ill. But then, it's probably due to the stress in school too which makes one vulnerable to the bug. Not having proper and GOOD rest results in a sleepy immune system too.
I keep telling myself that I cannot afford to fall sick. When at this place, being sick isn't just a matter of not having to attend lessons. Consequences like not having the energy to work on assignments is the most worrying of all. Late nights and feeling drowsy throughout isn't anyone's cup of tea.
Me, I just try to think of funny things in my mind. Personal, private jokes that I can think and amuse myself with. I think the more stressed I get, the more I will smile to myself. Another term for it is "ku xiao".
Don't forget, "At the end, everything will be ok, if it's not ok, it's not the end."
Doesn't mean that I don't feel like tearing my hair out or weep to myself. "-__-
Serendipity believed today at 12:20 AM
Thursday, October 9, 2008
I suspect the toilet cleaners in school are on strike. Maybe they are not paid enough or they did not receive their salary on time.
The toilet cubicles did not have any toilet paper! And not only for 1 day but the whole of this week ok (after I came back from reading week)? Not only 1 toilet mind you but the few toilets I went to at various parts of the campus. Maybe it's reading week for them.. Hmm....
Good thing I usually bring tissue paper these days. Bad thing is there may not be enough for the whole day and I find myself stashing toilet paper when I (very fortunately) chance upon a toilet with toilet paper in at least 1 cubicle. Feel very auntie to stash toilet paper but what to do? Got to make do since toilet aunties are having reading week. Hahah...
Serendipity believed today at 12:02 AM
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
From the news on Yahoo, it's speculated that S'pore is heading for a recession and it could take 2 years to recover. For those who have just graduated and have yet to secure a job, I guess their concern now would be to move quickly to grab a position so as to tide over the next 2 years. 2 years isn't a short period of time. Unless one decides to go for a postgrad. degree in the meantime so as to have an advantage over others 2 years later, it might prove to be a long wait for an appropriate job to come along. High salary is even more unlikely.
In today's Newpaper, an investment manager who's only 27 lost $90K in just 2 days because of the crashing of stocks. Nevertheless, at least she's still getting an income of $6K/mth plus commission which during the better months could be up to $10K (now she expects commission to be about $1000 plus per mth *which to us normal humans us almost like our mthly salary*). Plus she still has more than $100K worth of fixed deposits in other currencies like Australian dollars, etc. This lady is one hell of an investor as one can see.
That probably explains why she sounded calm about losing $90K. To her, it would only mean cutting down on meals at restaurants from 3 times a week to once a week and LV bags from one every 3 mths to one per year "-_- I guess the financial crisis does affect many people but to a different extent.
For those who are already working. Hopefully no one will get retrenched. So long as a person isn't retrenched and isn't facing a pay cut, I supposed there's light at the end of the tunnel even though the bonus may not be so good for the year.
I managed to set aside a couple of hours today to bake cookies. Haven't baked anything for a long time and I just wanna do something I like within this period of craziness. It's not like I'm getting $20K plus a mth so I don't see why I should sacrifice everything. Reality is tht there's 1 less zero in the earlier stated value.
BLEH!
Back to work.
Serendipity believed today at 4:24 PM
These days, the bookshop in school is selling picture books. They change the titles everyday and to my surprise, they were selling The Little Prince book! It's actual a story book cum activity book containing stickers, postcards, a bookmark plus all sorts of activities like colouring, identifying of characters in the story, creating a mask of a character among others. Oh ya, it teaches children how to draw a rose by letting them trace along dotted lines first. A lot of activities! Best of all is the price :D It's only $12 and it's a hardcover! It's so exciting to find it but of course I wouldn't bear to draw on it (it comes with a fine tip marker that has the little prince picture on it). Still, it's something worth buying and keeping since even at major bookstores like Borders and Kino, I don't see such a book apart from the normal version. Too bad I don't know of any child personally to give it to him or her as a present (actually more suitable for a girl). Not something I would give to a pupil in school too since a $12 prize is considered quite ex. :P
Serendipity believed today at 10:34 PM
http://www.borobudurauction.com/borobudur/main.php
Hopefully I'll have the time to pop by on one of the two days that they are having public viewing :).
Serendipity believed today at 6:06 PM
Something interesting happened today in my life. I decided to pop by the polyclinic to get a doctor's referral letter to consult the doctor at the skin centre for what else but my face problem. Then there's the polyclinic doctor who seemed too interested in my job that I almost felt I had to spill out everything to him "-__-. He seemed to have mentally calculated that at 25 years old, perhaps I'm too old to be studying?
Then he asked if I'm doing my practicum now and how long is this program that I'm doing at NIE. Even asked if I regretted going into it. Hello? I'm not your friend and we're only meeting for the first time, isn't it abit assuming that everyone should be regretting that decision? He also asked if I'm going to teach at a primary or secondary school and he seemed to look really wise when he told me something I already knew - that for pri sch, parents are the ones we really got to handle. I nearly asked him if he's a parent himself and whether he gave his child's teacher a bad time hahaha... But no lah, I decided not to be so mean coz maybe he's just enthusiastic about talking to patients since I suspect he doesn't have much experience in this field (with him looking quite young).
My conclusion was he must have seen many teacher patients each day and each giving him a negative comment about what they're doing.
Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience given that my life tends to be quite boring usually. But then, for once, I also suddenly feel that at 25 years old, I'm not exactly considered young anymore :*(
These days I can get quite emo. I don't know if it's because of the weather or the air but I do get depressed. I would suddenly stop what I'm doing and ask myself what do I actually look forward to each day when I wake up and can I remember the last time I woke up feeling rejuvenated and feeling a sense of purpose in life. Sadly, I cannot remember. I will think of the people around me and then knowing that they are moving on with their lives (or the next chapter of their lives) and then feel even more sentimental. Even my dear IRC friend from JC days is getting married and wants to invite me to his wedding next month.
Then I will look at my compiled list of deadlines and think to myself that these are the only things that I am working towards now. Isn't that sad? And the only pleasure I get is from striking out all those that I have completed.
Hello? I'm 25...
I'm sick of studying.
I really am. This sudden realization from a couple of days back.
I finally understand how it's tough for people to work and then try to get back to studying. The feeling is different. There's the been- there- done- that feeling that seeps all forms of joy out of something. There's a constant look out for "What's next?" instead.
But when I watch the news and hear the word "recession" that pops out occasionally, I feel that I really ought to be thankful that I'm safe in a shell *just that I need the shell to open wider for me to have a breather*. Mum said recently that there are some people who are not cut out for studying and that when they look at books, they get turned off and these people end up being poorly educated or end up as drop outs. Thus, I should be thankful that God did not create me to be that way.
Hahaha... I disagree with such thinking because to me, it all boils down to effort. Yes, it's true that some people with perverse thinking love to study and have exams but how many of such people are there? Not all highly educated people love studying. We study because we know the importance of studying and not because we are dying to mug for that special exam day just so to forget most of the things soon after that.
Ok but this point leads to nothing in particular lah... Just wanna echo what a few tutors have said to us before - "Life is unfair anyway"...
How true...
Serendipity believed today at 6:56 PM
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Ever since their status have changed 3 days ago, there's been this Abba phase that they are undergoing now. I don't mind Abba, in fact they have some lovely songs. However, I do mind when people force me to listen to songs that I do not get to choose and especially so when I am trying to do an essay on motivation. It tough getting motivated when Dancing Queen is.. well.. dancing again.
It's funny how when I told a friend that I enjoy sports (just that I don't get to play often), she seemed to doubt me so and kept asking if I was sure "-_-
I just don't like to run. I don't like to run aimlessly because it reminds me too much of life. Life involves lots of running and there may/ may not be any particular direction and after all the running, one will just realize that one has never left the spot at all. Machiam like running on a treadmill hahah.
I suspect it's due to my fair face and long black hair which make people think that I will die if I were to break a fingernail (in fact I don't even have long fingernails to begin with! haha). She kept looking at me in disbelief that I wanted to tell her that I was kidding and that I hated sports like mad and assure her that she did not assume wrongly. Bleh! She couldn't believe it when I told her I got gold for my Fitness test in JC. She could not believe it either when I told her I used to go suntanning.
But hey! If I have all the time in the world and by then I will have enough energy, I will surely be gamed if anyone were to jio me to join in for a game. Any sport will do (except soccer). After the game of floorball, I realised how long it has been since I've enjoyed a rush of adrenaline. I wouldn't mind stinking after that too;P
Serendipity believed today at 10:53 PM
It's my favourite song at the moment! Couldn't find the song version of it in this MP3-Code website so I've to make do with this instrumental piece which is beautiful too! It's titled Moon River and different people have sung this before too including Audrey Hepburn (in Breakfast with Tiffany), as well as Sarah Brightman.
Serendipity believed today at 11:28 AM
I came across the following quote and found it simple and yet meaningful,
"In the end, everything will be OK. If it's not OK, it's not the end yet."
So nothing to worry about... nothing to fret... right? :)
Serendipity believed today at 11:17 AM
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Yesterday turned out to be a rather productive day. With me completing a podcast recording in school with my partner and coming home after that and completing my English assignment. Good thing I don't have to go to school anymore this week so hopefully I can finish more of those major assignments.
I feel like going to Daily Scoop again to have their ice cream. But today being a public holiday, it's probably going to be very crowded so maybe I should postpone my visit till tomorrow if time permits. Below's an ice cream cone, can you visualise it? Hahah...
( )
\/
Serendipity believed today at 4:05 PM
My first coffee art piece! Hahaha! Not bad for a first timer right? Not say I hao lian haha. But couldn't be very detailed coz I've not mastered the art of blending and mixing. Blending coffee on paper isn't easy because the paper soak up the water so quickly. Got to use drawing paper (above) instead of the normal A4 printing paper which will wear thin and tear anytime. Did an impromptu one without sketching coz I felt that a mug of coffee would be most apt and simple too.
