Cec's

Holidays

2008-12-09T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am having holidays now
Finished my exams last week and no Bangkok trip to look forward too!
Sigh... Postponed the trip to March
I am suppose to go to KL today too!
For a day trip but last minute cancelled
Haiz =`(
My holidays are becoming really boring

Essay Generator

2008-11-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

I am feeling like an essay generator
Finished one essay on Sunday and I am going to complete another one tomorrow and another one the day after!
OMG! I cannot believe the rate in which I myself am generating essays

Updates!

2008-11-02T05:15:00.000-08:00

Updates!

My boyfriend is back from Perth and he is going to stay in Singapore for 4 more months.
That makes me a whole lot happier!

Bb also bought a new hello kitty keyboard and mouse for me
I have attached it to his computer and it is also making me a whole lot happier

Finally! I have finished 1/6 essays which I am going to complete!
Yes! Going to finish 3 more essays next week
Feeling like a machine generating essays but it is okay!
happy happy happy!

Work

2008-10-15T19:19:00.001-07:00

So much work and so little time
Means going on a B-spree
I have been getting all kinds of Bs for my assignments- B-, B, B+
Crap! I have given up hope
Just want to finish my work and have some beauty rest

BB Left already

2008-09-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

I am abit sad that my bb is not in Singapore again
But it is okay cos I got lotsa work to do anyway
I cannot imagine myself finish everything!
But I will be mugging in my little corner just outside my room!

On a happier note, I got A for an essay I just submitted
My grades haven't been impressive this semester...
So I am thankful for the A I got!

Dead Tired

2008-09-10T20:09:00.001-07:00

If I had enough time- today would be my rest day!
I am SO tired... even after sleeping for 9 hours!
The past week was a nightmare
I had to submit a total of 3 essays
Next week... 3 essays as well but nevermind as Winna have mentioned- We will get over it! somehow

I was thinking if I had 3 wishes what will they be
1. To be able to finish all my readings on time (and not wake up at 5 am to complete them)
2. To do all my essays (properly done) - I got a really embarrassing grade for anthropology
3. Get Ben Anderson to be my supervisor - although I'd probably die and I'd have to go overseas as he said that he would never come to Singapore

Anyhow, if you guys do not know who is Ben Anderson
You probably have not been reading much

First grade as a Graduate

2008-09-03T18:12:00.001-07:00

I got back my first ever grade - A- for the paper which I blogged about
Quite disappointed as I did not get an A or A+ actually
People may think that I am greedy - whatever
The amount of time and effort that I have put into the assignment outweighs an A minus!
Maybe after all I am not good enough

Lunch with S

2008-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was teacher's day but S treated me to lunch
Felt quite bad about it and I wanted to pay for lunch
But he said that I do not have to worry cos he does not believe in "shi shen lian"
His girlfriend is coming to Singapore day after and I kinda like her cos she said I did a good job with my ISM (hehe*)
I complained to him like mad over Tuesday's class
He was nice and encouraged me to persevere- most importantly he told me not to end up hating it
He also encouraged me to continue my work in Northern Thailand
Not that I do not want to (in fact I really want to)
But! (even though its true) I do not want to end up saying anything that is "harmful" to my faith
Told bb/Leroy about it before and they said that since whatever I have mentioned is true- I should just say it

Anyhow, I enjoyed my day in school yesterday with Wu Shi and friends
Wu Shi said that we could go China together and she will bring me around and it is so funny that she keeps refering to bb as my husband!

Been Busy Busy

2008-08-25T23:04:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of update!
I have been busy studying- seriously
Anyhow, here is part of what I have generated outa 2 days
Since I have never blogged about my fieldwork in Northern Thaialnd I thought of sharing this with you guys

Geertz’s article, ‘Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture’ provides us a way in uncovering the agency of the people under the state which is ‘comprehended in ways analogous to totalizing or super-organic models of culture’ (Steedly, 1999). I personally employed this ‘methodology’ when doing fieldwork amongst the Akha in Northern Thailand. Upon arriving at the field, I noticed that many of the Akha were actively in the process of applying for a Thai identification card. By looking at this particular action superficially, it may seem that they were actively identifying with the central control of the Thai state and were hence in the process of being assimilated into Thai society. But, when I probed further, the reasons behind the application of the Thai identification card was almost always not for the purpose of identification with the state. For example, one of my informants- ‘A’ told me that only with an identification card can she then apply for a passport which will in turn allow her to visit her boyfriend in Singapore.

However in the process of doing fieldwork, I noticed that the process of obtaining a ‘Thick Description’ of a particular phenomenon is not an easy task. My informants were constantly weary about my background and were not very willing to reveal a lot of information to me. Not many of them were as straightforward as ‘A’ and I felt that in many occasions I had to interpret their interpretation. By doing so, all I could get at was just a ‘best guess’ (Geertz, 1973) of their actions. Although I felt disheartened, I consoled myself by acknowledging that I attempted to at least provide a thick instead of thin description of things.

My fieldwork amongst the Akha in Northern Thailand has given some weight to Ortner and Sherry’s call to acknowledge the agency of the people under the state. The culture and agency of the people -I believe, still lives under the powerful apparatus of the state.

Inspiration

2008-08-11T22:52:00.001-07:00

I've got an inspiration of how to write my paper!
One down - I am so glad that I took SE4101
Seriously! and also... philo
Its really useful in organizing the huge mass of thoughts in my brains!
Read abit on environmentality- quite difficult I must say
I wonder how my bb is going to help me out especially when the stuff I am doing is getting more and more difficult!
Opps!

Plain stupid or a product of social engineering

2008-08-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

I suddenly realized today that when I was young I thought that only 4 racial categories existed for the different races/ethnic groups
Indian-Malay-Chinese-Ang Moh
Only after getting interested in the Akha people and studying about race and ethnicity that I knew that there were many more categories and that these categories can be infinite like colours mixing with each other!
But when doing all those readings, I never knew that when I was a kid, I only recognized these 4 categories
It seems that I am unlearning stuffs which I have been learning when I was younger
Is this the fault of the teacher, MOE or the government?

Tomorrow

2008-08-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is stay at home day as I have school the next day!
Going to bb's house too to clear and get some stuff
I am actually quite sad that my bb is not here with me in Singapore
But after this year we will be together all the time!
I miss the times when we will hang out together in school and go for boring lectures together
Especially the times when we hung out with both Kenneth and Winna
But now, Winna and Kenneth - broken up and my bb- not in Singapore
Well at least Winna and I still meet up quite alot!

I hope you blow away

6 km walk

2008-08-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

I am super pissed off
Finished my 6km walk at East Coast... feeling really hot and sticky
Went home and quickly took a bath
Only to find out after I am totally wet that the shampoo and my preferred body soap was not in the toilet
Wanted to wash my face
Went up to my room's toilet to see if my other facial foam was in the toilet
Toilet was locked... wanted claris to pass it to me through the door
But! It turns out that Claris was not the one in the toilet
Great! What a wonderful day!

Can another person's presence make someone else feel so unhappy?
I am wondering why didn't it happen the other times...

Dental

2008-08-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

My Dentist sms-ed me to ask if my teeth are fine
I was quite surprised!
That was really nice of him and I will def go back to him for cleaning
Next appointment will be in December
I cannot believe that I am actually going to the dentist so often now
I must also thank my dear bf for bugging me to go to the dentist
Feel better after all the cleaning!

I miss pork porridge from the market at Bukit Timah
Haiz, I haven't been eating alot of porridge lately
But it's okay because my bb is coming back soon!

Good Day- Bad Day

2008-08-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

My days have been always good in the morning-afternoon
But whenever its time for dinner (or around that time), I will be unhappy
I know this unhappiness will continue unless I eat out every night (or almost every single night)
But I cannot help it! I love my grandmother's cooking and I am poor
I love staying at home too!

Went shopping with Winna today
She was suppose to be the one buying stuff while I look around
But! Haiz... I ended up buying more stuffs then her
Although she tried more clothes
GG<5 had 20% discount so I bought a belt too
I am quite proud of my belt collection actually =)
Anyhow after shopping I was dead tired and thankfully Winna sent me home!

She said she will buy me a present when I give birth
Haha! I told her ... " Still very long la!"

射鵰英雄傳

2008-08-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

射鵰英雄傳 always reminds me of Mei Chow Feng
Its been many years - like 15 years and I am still freakin scared of her
Yesterday Teddy was telling me about the new version of that show, so I went to have a look at it on Todou
Wah! I saw Mei ChowFeng again! No need to sleep anymore

Went to the dentist today as well
It wasn't as painful as I have expected it to be
and the funny thing is that this dentist reminds me of Kian Mo
Wierd...

DET

2008-08-01T05:54:00.001-07:00

I finished my DET already!
It has been a long time since I last did a English Comprehension and it was super tiring
Grammer exercises too
I am having a very bad headache now actually ^_^

Met Victor there and he told me that his gf is in NIE
He met up with Stan too
I wonder how will class be like under Stan again

Experiencing Green Tea

2008-07-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

I have been drinking alot of Apple Green Tea
So decided to do some reseaerch on Green Tea

Benefits:
cancer
rheumatoid arthritis
high cholesterol levels
cariovascular disease
infection
impaired immune function
prevention of tooth decay

Harmful Effects:
Insomia

I do not know about the benefits but I do know that I am suffering from INSOMIA!
My eyebags are so bad, I can pass it off as smoky eyes gone wrong!

I have started studying already
Finished reading "Border Landscapes: The Politics of Akha Land Use in China and Thailand"
Quite easy to read but somehow I feel that her fieldwork and sources are not as good as others who have also written about the Akha people
Which reminds me of myself... my fieldwork and sources for my paper totally sucks
I have to work harder on it!
Reading Tooker now...

อยากให้เธอมีความสุขตลอดชีวิต

2008-07-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

I wrote that sentence myself
Did not copy it from anywhere!
I do not know whether it is right... but it means
"I want you to have happiness throughout your life"...

Let it be over now

2008-07-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

เจ็บมานานแค่ไหน จะต้องเจ็บไปอีกนานไหม
How long have I been hurt? For how long will I be hurt?
แต่ทำไมหัวใจ ของฉันมันยังไม่ชิน
But why doesn't my heart get used to it?
เจ็บที่ต้องทนเห็น ต้องทนที่จะได้ยิน
It's so hurt that I have to stand seeing... have to stand hearing
ไม่มีสักวัน ที่มันจบสิ้นสักที
There's never a day it will be over

อยากจะมีวันไหน มันสิ้นสุดไปทีได้ไหม
Can it be over any day?
ไม่อยากทำร้ายใจ ของฉันไปมากกว่านี้
I don't want to hurt my heart more than this
จบมันไปได้แล้ว เมื่อทางจะไปไม่มี
Let it be over since there's no way to go on
รักแล้วมีแต่ความเสียใจ
Loving but there's only sorrow

หัวใจทนไม่ไหวแล้ว รับอะไรไม่ไหวแล้ว
My heart can't bear it anymore... can't accept anything anymore
ฉันไม่อยากนั่งรอ ขอเลือกเดินหนีไป
I don't want to keep waiting. I choose to walk away
เสียใจมากี่ร้อยครั้ง เพียงแค่ครั้งเดียวมันแทบขาดใจ
Having been sorry for many hundred times. Just one more time, it may take my breath away
เจ็บช้ำมาสักเท่าไหร่ อยากขอให้สิ้นสุดเสียที
How much I have been hurt... I want it to be over now

Leroy introduced this song to be this morning
It's so beautiful- especially for those who are out of love

2008-07-27T01:19:00.000-07:00

My bf left for Perth already
But it is okay ^ ^ I will be able to see him soon again!

Too Lazy

2008-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

I am too lazy to start studying
Have been spending my time watching TVBs!
Such a lazy pig

Played mahjong today and I won 10 bucks
It was quite a boring game
I guess either than TVBs, Mahjong and Theme Hospital there is nothing much I am interested in actually
How! My life is so boring!

School

2008-07-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

School is starting soon and I am looking forward to it
I pray that I will be able to study in a trouble-free state of mind
If that is possible I believe that I will be able to do really well
Like... really well as can be seen from my results from the past 2 semesters
I wish that I do not have to worry about anything except for studying

No more Corochan

2008-07-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

There is no more Corochan at Bugis Junction... or anywhere else in Singapore
I am so SAD! I miss Corochan so much

My Latest Craze - Porridge

2008-07-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

I have been crazy about porridege since Wednesday!
Feel like having some porridge now actually but I am too lazy to go to hearland mall

Latest news is that I got about 4 TVB series to watch
Happy!
I was watching my TVBs and packing the hidden messy parts of my room
I am still reluctant to pack my cupboard *argh*

My bb is leaving in exactly 7 days time
So FAST!

Lazy Pig

2008-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

I am such a lazy pig! Suppose to be studying but I am always either hanging out with bf or playing mj with my mother
Today shifted the furniture around my room to make it better
Tomorrow I am going to clear my cupboard and notes from last semester
and shoes and bags too!

Sleepy... but I think I will go learn some new words first
Ciaoz!

Europe and the people without history

2008-07-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

I finally got my book!
'Europe and the people without History'
My mum was asking how can there be people without history
Actually its quite simple - some people do not have history as others do not write about them!

So now... I am reading 3 books concurrently
I must admit that I still enjoy reading wild swans the most but I have to start reading my other books before term starts
Which reminds me that I am taking Chie's module again! So happy =)
I think I took almost every single module that is being offered by Stan and Chie... erm and Daquila ( which i really regret cos everyone seems to be getting A for his modules except for me!)

Its time to read myself to sleep again

It's my turn to reach and touch the sky

2008-07-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

When boyfriend was sending me home, I heard this really beautiful song... which is so super uper duper meaningful
Its about this girl who is always living in the shadow of her other half
However, she decides that it is time to start doing things for herself

It's my turn
To see what I can see
I hope you'll understand
This time's just for me

Because it's my turn
With no apologies
I've given up the truth
To those I've tried to please

I especially like it when she says she wants to reach and touch the sky... I too want to reach and touch the sky =)
Well, I am trying ...working very hard towards it

Started

2008-07-13T01:23:00.000-07:00

I have been reading Border Landscapes
It is actually quite readable
I guess that I was unable to read them the previous 2 times as I was really stress with work! - school work
I cannot wait for my other book by Eric Wolf to arrive

And I have started erm collecting words which I do not understand such as...
Okay I better not say it as it is embarrassing!
Let me end with Eric Wolf

"My primary interest is to explain something out there that impinges me, and I would sell my soul to the devil if I thought it would help." -Eric Wolf

Tired-ness - Theme Hospital

2008-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

So angry! I cannot seem to pass the second last level of Theme Hospital!
Kept re-playing and re-playing

I had piano exam today!
I do not know whether it is good or bad but I know I played to my best abilities under the given conditions
But the examiner is really nice and I could sense that he was trying his best to help me
So I hope I pass!

Went to school to take photos with Stan

Stan and I

One of the best thing that happen to me in NUS was to get to know Stan - My Lecturer, supervisor and friend.
And one of the worse thing that happened to me in NUS was being terrified by Farrell! Haha!
And I think he remembers me!

Boyfriend took photo with his 2 of his lecturers too

Boyfriend and Farrell

BUT! I guess that Farrell is one of the best thing that happened to my boyfriend in NUS... erm other than meeting me!

And with Lockhart who gave my bf and I a BAD grade which pulled down our CAP

The graduation gown was really hot and we almost died under the heat

Overall it was a good day
Oh! and I bought a pair of slippers from TANGS at $80!
Quite ex but its something I always wanted!

ciaoz!

Theme Hospital

2008-07-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yay! Isaac kindly burnt Theme Hospital for me =)
Even though Kialih also asked his friend to burn it for me I get to play it earlier because of Isaac!
Thank You =)
Kialih's friend is going to have Theme Park World so I can play that too

I have been sleeping alot in the afternoon
Must be the travelling time to Bukit Timah that made me sleepy

So anyhow I have been doing my readings already
Not that much but quite a bit!
Piano Exam is tomorrow and I cannot wait for it to be over!

Having a hard time being Civil

2008-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am currently on a mj winning streak!
Must remember that samuel owes me 30 and teddy owes me 10
Then I will have enough money to pay my sis

I successfully passed all the tests for my medical-checkup!
So happy! hehe!
This is because I failed the urine test when i was just admitted into NUS and I failed the x-ray test for SQ due to a crooked spine
Imagine if I passed medical for SQ... I would have been an air stewardess!

I am not going to say that it is God's will that everything turned out as it is...
But I am happy that I decided on continuing my studies and that I've got a good supervisor!

Recently, I have been thinking of becoming Catholic
Must be due to the influence of the hospitaliers... It must be!

A Tiring Day

2008-07-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

I bought a Tennis Racket today and Pink FBT!
See! I am determined to start playing tennis
But, there is no tennis court for me at the moment
Have to wait for about at least a week before kialih and I can start playing at NUSS
But it is okay, and right now I will just be preparing for my piano exam
Ciaoz

Unhappiness

2008-07-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

People around me are pissing me off real badly
I feel so pissed I don't feel like doing anything for anyone anymore

I feel like going shopping

1. I want to buy SK 2 Eyepads from Sasa
2. I want to have a black forest cake from Lana
3. I want to have a new bed
4. I want a new wadrobe
5. I want Theme Hospital

The Invasion of my Private Space

2008-07-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned in my previous post that I am going to buy some books
But after calculating shipping and everything - one book costs 40 bucks
So... even though I am certain that I have to read these books by December
I am not going to buy it
I am also not going to violate any copyright law by photocopying the whole book = p
I am just going to read the book and hope everything stays in my head

Me: Why books are so expensive? They are just paper.

Kialih: It takes effort! Why clothes are so expensive? It's just cloth!

Me: Baby!

Taking MJ the wrong way

2008-07-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

My heart is still pumping like mad after playing mj
I think I am taking it too seriously
I was just telling Leroy about a week ago that "I must WIN" and he was like "I cannot believe that you are saying that!"
I have to say seriously- what is the point of playing mahjong if you do not want to win?
Maybe that is why I am willing to play mj with almost anyone (actually anyone)
However, some people have certain choices making the finding of mj kakhi really difficult!

I bought a new game for 10 bucks today
Getting bored at home, but it is fine = p
For some reasons I am enjoying time spent alone!
Ciaoz!

为你我做了太多的傻事

2008-07-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Afternoonz...
Today NUS officially kicked me out of their email and IVLE
Thankfully my second sis is still in NUS so I still can gain access to IVLE
I guess I have to wait till next next week to gain my new pin/pw and matric number

Kialih is bringing me to Orchid Country Club to play
So excited to exercise again
But I have to do something about the protection of my hair if not it will become like grass

I am also buying books from AMAZON and eBay!
I know that it will not be a waste of money as I will be reading it
The pressure to do well is getting higher as I get closer to my lecturer

Breakie at YaKun

2008-07-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

I met Stan today for breakie
Talked about school work and gossip alot
I told him about my pastor's reaction towards my paper
He said that it was expected and that I can never satisfy everybody
Also told me to treat my MA as work even though I am paying school fees
Oh ya! And he is also a fan of Mahjong =)

We talked about getting into good universities (not like NUS)
and he told me that it is really easy to get into all these top universities
Just get good grades... and how do you get good grades? Just work hard!
I have worked hard and have gotton good grades so I am going to continue to work hard!

After breakie I went home to slack
Watch lots of TV and practiced alot of piano
Hur hur!
Cannot wait to meet up with my PL friends!

Political Systems of Highland Burma

2008-06-29T02:37:00.000-07:00

Its been about 5 months and I am still at p.18 this particular book
'Political Systems of Highland Burma- A Study of Kachin Society' by Edmund Leach
I am no procastinator but... I really cannot bring myself to read this book
Oh well, at least I finished Fields of the Lord (not lord of the fields)
Still wondering if doing research is my cup of tea
*Sighz*

Midst of my Holidays

2008-06-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have been practicing my piano, accompanying my mum, meeting up with my friends and spending quality time with kialih!
On top of that I will be meeting Stan for breakie soon =)
My mummy and I have decided to go swimming every Monday morning
Yes! At last some form of exercise on my part
Been also spending alot of money on GG<5
Kia Lih insists that it is GG>5 as everything there is more than 5 bucks!
Oh well, their clothes are really beautiful

I also attempted to pack my cupboard
Packing my cupboard is good in curbing my spending as it reminds me of how much clothes I actually have!
On the other hand it is also a torturous experience as my nose will always become runny and I have finished eating my super powerful flu medicine

Tomorrow I am meeting Ching again with jasmine and Rina
Hehe! We are going to have some fun playing Mahjong and enjoying the cooking of Ching's Mum!

Thinking of playing Tennis but no racket and no one to play with when Kia Lih leaves
Winna suggested learning squash but I guess its not my cup of tea!
Till then...Ciaoz!

Swan River

2008-06-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Just 5 minutes from the place where I am staying

I am going home soon...

Studying at NUS

2008-06-12T05:43:00.000-07:00

Just received confirmation today that I got accepted into NUS
My mum must be quite happy

SIck

2008-06-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

I thought with the dry fresh air here
I will never fall sick in Perth
BUT... as usual I am sick
Sore throat and flu! (the usual stuffs)
Thankfully I brought my super powerful flu medicine!
Must be the rubbish which I have been eating
I miss my grandmother's soups!
Hopefully I will feel better before taking the dreaded plane back to Singapore

5 Reasons to Why I want to go home

1. I want my nose to be warm when I am asleep
2. I want to watch TVBs on a TV instead of a Lappy
3. I miss Mahjong, family and friends
4. I miss my grandmother's cooking and punggol Nasi Lemak
5. I miss my super high speed internet in Singapore

5 Reasons to Why I do not want to go home

1. I will miss the fresh clean weather in Perth
2. I will miss my super huge wadrobe, fantastic table lamp called (Koncept)
3. I will miss the river view from my room
4. I will miss ebay australia
5. I will miss my baby!

A view from my window in Perth

2008-05-30T02:29:00.001-07:00

A View from my window

To the Right

Perth city is just opposite and I have to take a ferry (not bus) to go to the mall
Nice view right? Swan River is just in front!

and To the left

The place I am staying is relatively safe as it is protected by a body of water the Swan River!

Got back my results today - 3As and 2Bs
Thankfully, the paper which is gg to be publish, I got an A +
To date, I have re-written the paper 4 times

2008-05-26T01:23:00.000-07:00

Me at the University of Western Australia!

Birkenstock Crazy

2008-05-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Again! I am crazy over Birkenstock

hehe... I got one of them already (Guess which one)
I got it at a really good deal! Cheaper than www.footshopping.com and cheaper than the huge sale at World of Sports in Singapore
Got it at subiaco at a 60% discount! so happy!
should I get another one? haha, No! SAVE MONEY!

Prezzy!

2008-05-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

A Present For Myself!
Decided to reward myself for working hard all this while...

I bought this online recently
To replace my white flacking bag from little match girl

Happy 2 Years!

2008-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in Perth already!
Its quite cold but I am enjoying the weather!
Anyhow, my bf and I just celebrated our 2 years recently =)
We had Italian food at Ciao Italia

So we went to celebrate at Ciao Italia

Waiting to get into the restaurant!

Seafood Pizza with Huge Prawns and Sotongs!

Me and my Mushroom White Pasta

We decided to go to Burswood after heavy dinner

Me and my Baby at Burswood