Sunday, June 12, 2011
My luggage weighs 15kg now!! =(( GG... I wonder how am I supposed to bring back souvenirs..
6:33 PM
It's 3am now and I finally finished packing for my flight to Germany tomorrow.
My luggage is twice as full as compared to the time I went to Taiwan. =( This time, I will be away for 2 weeks, from 12 to 26 June as compared to the 9 days in Taiwan. Unlike a shopping "paradise" in Taiwan with lots of clothes to buy, in Europe I will be surviving on the clothes I bring there. So twice the luggage size is normal I guess. But, this means that I might not have enough luggage space for souvenirs like the famous German beer. =(((
Lavinia says that my common sense is a little screwed up, in a sense I am bringing dresses there when the temperature is around 10-18 degress??! Haha. I suppose my common sense is screwed especially after the taiwan trip...
Should I sleep now? I have been a walking haphazard before I bathed. =( Lost my right eye monthly contacts coz I was exhausted with a pounding headache and stomach cramps to handle. =(( knocked into the chair accidentally...
Hmm... But since I am up till this late, I might as well as finish my visa application to the US right? Sighh... I hope the visas will be processed in time for my flight on the 26th July to US.
3:26 AM
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The difference between an undergraduate, master and Phd student in engineering...
Just 2 years of education in engineering makes a whole lot of difference.
I understood it clearly today.
Can you imagine the conversation between a master and PHD student studying engineering?
It is not that difficult actually. Just imagine eavesdropping on a conversation between 2 foreigners speaking a different language. That's how it is like this evening.
It is so frustrating not catching the ball, when the people around you are like nodding their heads in agreement. Communication is one of the toughest topics/modules in NUS. Topics which I will learn in year 3 are all being cramped in a few days worth of lectures. =X All because the competition is in a week time. But all the preparations now are worth it because we won't be touching any topics once we fly off for Europe =33
On the other hand, it is quite cool listening in on the conversation. With 2 god-like profs guiding us along... Hopefully, we will be the first team to win this time round. =D Then our photos will be on NUS website. =D Hehehe =p But then again, we are up against Germans; 16 Germans team to be exact. And they have an advantage, in a sense that the answers to the preliminary round are up for downloads, in German. =( Luckily, there is google translator around =p
On a side note, I love my shorter hair! =D It is so much faster to bathe now =DD
2:01 AM
Friday, June 10, 2011
I cut my hair.
I look into the mirror when I opened my eyes and I was shocked. I think I look uglier =(
But I look younger as well.. like a secondary school student. Haha. I think I could pass of as a freshie in Engine Camp =p
On a brighter note, I just got a confirmation email from my manager in SV. =)))
It seems that it might take some time for the work visa to be processed though =(( Hopefully, I will be able to fly with the rest of the interns to SV. Else it will be a boring flight there =(
Once again I pray that I perform up to the company's standard and not get kicked out of the program anytime soon =XX
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For now,
Hello Germany and Austria! =)) And bye Singapore on the sunday! =DD
I can't wait to explore Germany and Austria! =D Heh. I will travel via SQ Boeing 777 flight on economy class. Awesome-max! =D I am guessing it must be rather expensive, at least 2-3k especially since it was booked last minute. But the flight would be so comfortable. ^^v I'm loving this life =D
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Other than that, I hope my gastric will go away soon! =( It is making my life difficult with all the cramps and nauseas feeling =( I promise to try and eat during proper meal times!
2:31 AM
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Dreams are so strange...
Last night, I dreamt that I got a confirmation that I was going to US. I woke up in disappointment that it was just a dream.
Today, Lavinia woke up half asleep and congratulated me, because she heard that I was going to US half asleep.
Strangely, I haven't heard from my manger over in the US, nor have I heard from the CEO of the company I am joining yet.
I gave up hope. I was prepared to say in Singapore and transfer to another college if things don't work out.
It is just impossible to find a company within a week because there is just an incredible amount of paper work to do. They have to speak to my manager over in the US, sign some contract to enter the NOC program, confirm that they are working like a startup. And before that, there might be many interviews to schedule and pass.
After talking to Dennis, he advised me to speak to Wayne first, followed by my manger in Singapore.
Guess what?
I GOT IT!
at least according to my senior in P&P. He said it's strange that I haven't been contacted yet. I sure hope that what he is saying is true.
The confirmation I have been waiting for months, the anxiety and anxiousness fretting over getting a company and preparing for the numerous interviews...I can't help but cry..tears of joy this time =)
It's funny that I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be, like jumping up and down with a grin on my face. On the contrary, I still feel anxious, as if this opportunity would slip past me again. =X
2:19 PM
It's 2.30am and I'm uber pissed off.
I think I am kinda short fused nowadays.Mum, I know that you are worried about me, but can you please not nag so much? I am stressed about the trip to Germany too. I know you are worried that we can't communicate because we can't speak German, but I am sure that there is someone out there who is able to speak english too alrights? I downloaded quite a few apps on German language on my iphone too.
It's not helping that I still don't know the flight details yet which means I might be flying off on saturday/sunday evening. So I can't blame my parents for being so worried. =X It's rather frustrating that no one answers the company number either. Are the HR people forever on holiday??!!! Btw, we just received our itinerary today for the one week in Germany. =.=
Before today, we don't even know whether our team members would be able to participate in the competition even. Luckily, the visa for my 2 of my team members can only be processed tomorrow. Effectively this means that they might only be able to make it for the last day of the competition. How are we even supposed to answer the questions when the postgraduate student isn't there at all? I don't plan to win, but I don't want to lose so badly that we can't even keep up NUS standard either. It will be such hectic rush on the last day, and we are not even considering the jet lag my friends would feel after their trip. =X
Next, for the extended trip, we still don't have a concrete plan yet. We haven't booked the train nor have we booked for the hotels. Not forgetting I haven't packed for my trip (prepare winter clothings this time) and change money into 2 different currencies. I have a feeling the trip is gonna be so screwed =XX
Oh right, and I have 8 days left to saying good bye to Silicon Valley. Unless a miracle happens.
Everyday, my heart dies a little while waiting for a reply I am supposed to have received. Thanks man.. I hate this. Yet, I continue praying.
Screw this.
2:51 AM
Monday, June 6, 2011
It's in the genes..
My youngest sister is back from her 9 days trip in Singapore.. And I love her to bits mann.. =D
If I have to name one thing I love about her, it is how she always does things to the extreme. =p
The last time she is back from US, she spent $400 USD on sports shoes, one pair for each of us and that basically concluded her shopping trip.
This time, she bought back $100 USD of Hersheys Chocolate and she added the net weight to be about 7.5 kg worth of chocolate(coz she was afraid that it will exceed her luggage limit =p lol)! Wow! =p Hahha. =p If my family finishes the chocolate within one week...I have nothing to say =p
A very blur pic of the hersheys chocolate coz it was melting soon. =p
I guess it's in the genes? The last time my second sister was back she bought back 1 kgs worth of nuggets from china, as if she is gonna sell them back here in singapore...(because I told her to specifically buy something back apparently) =p
Well, it's not like I'm one to talk since the last time I was back from Malaysia, not only did I carry bags of shopping bags (incomparable to taiwan trip though =pp), I bought back 5 boxes of tao sa pia for my family and cousins but my family finished it within a week! =p Hahah. I am amazed =p Sadly, I didn't take a picture of that though. =p For the taiwan trip, lets not start on that coz I bought loads too =p
How ironic! We shop and spend overseas like we never went shopping before but we hardly spend alot in Singapore... Guess we feel that we have to get something back.
Speaking of which, I think I will refill the fridge with chocolates when I'm back from Europe - with chocolates from maybe Prague, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany? =pp Hehe.. =p Not forgetting german beer too.. Heard that Germany is really famous for their beers.. hehe =3
12:43 AM
Saturday, June 4, 2011
it recently struck me the reason for which the people used to say that the way 3 of us are called sounds beautiful. because
"Tong hua Qing"
literally means fairytale romance... =)
My sentiments exactly, except for number 7. I guess this must be written by a girl =p
6. Recognise small things. They mean the most.
I can't help but feel that this is the most important of all the 30 points. or maybe it is just me.
22. treat her the same around your friends as you do when you're alone.
Hmm..I don't know about you but I think that it might be difficult to achieve in reality, even though it's sweet of course. =p
29. play fight with her and let her win.
coz it really shows you love her? I think =pp Hehe. It's fun anyways, to mock fight/argue. =p
But oh well..I guess reality is never the same...
2:37 AM
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Things to pick up this holiday..
- Cut my hair ( My hair is so long that it got in the way when I was tossing and turning on my bed half asleep =.=|||)
- Read up on communications, modulation techniques involved and coding for the competition
- Read up on communications, modulation techniques involved and coding for the competition
- German (Since I am going Germany =3)
- Japanese
- Photoshop and Dreamweaver
- Piano (Learn scores from music I really love =3)
- Sailing? =33
Wow...That's alot of to-do list. I wonder how many I will be able to accomplish. =p
2:34 PM
Surprise Surprise!
Things finally seem to be looking up for me! =)
Last semester till today has been one hell of a rollar coaster ride. From the first to the nerve wrecking third interview with NOC office, followed by numerous interviews with startup companies and failing every one of them (well not really but I still didn't get a job in the end), to getting 2 companies offers which turned out to be a futile attempt as they already accepted 2 interns from NOC programs itself. Can you imagine how depressed and lacking in confidence I was? Not forgetting having to juggle studies and spending loads of time trying to debug my hardware for cg2007 which turned out to be a short-circuit, burning of chips and misplacing chips position problem. =.=||| Thankfully my final product, which made up 50% of the module, worked in the end and was SCRAPPED! =( For that module, I really have to thank Kenny for helping me with debugging or I would have definitely given up. =)
This summer break I found myself things to do again. No internship this time as I was unsure whether I would be flying =( but with luck, my holiday has been packed once more.
After exams I flew off to Taiwan for 9 days together with IES. It was a good break from Singapore as it took my mind off NOC. On hindsight though, I think it might have been a better idea to stay in Singapore and take on a summer module (EE2001 - another hardware project =.=||| ), which is only available in special semester 1. Oh well, I needed the break anyways.
Shortly after I came back, I participated in a competition by R&S. The topic was on radio monitoring and we were given 4 questions to solve, after which we would present our answers to the judges. The experience itself was awesome! The staff were friendly and the food was good =3 Call me a pig but I think I really gained weight after that one day! =p There was breakfast, lunch, teabreak (with yummy chocolate cream puff =3) and dinner in BBQ style! =3 Throughout, we were free to visit the pantry which was stocked with drinks including hot chocolate! =D I don't mind participating again next year for the food. =p
Speaking of which, I ate so much during lunch (partly because I was very very hungry) that I felt like vomiting thereafter. =p Hahhaa. Okay, I admit I am kinda piggy =p
At the end of the competition, we won, surprisingly! ^^v This means that I would be flying to Germany with my team for one week with airfare & accommodation paid for! It is so unexpected. I am still in disbelief. It's the first time I ever won a competition and and the feeling is amazing. =)
Oh yes, and this time round, I wasn't as nervous as my results as compared to last semester. Maybe because I am looking forward to something more. But this time round, I did better than I expected for my modules. =) Modules I thought would fail turned out okay. And I did very well for cg2007. My first ever A in NUS =D I think it was thanks to doing past year papers with Kenny (my study buddy) and approaching the prof for consultation. Overall, I am rather happy with my results ^^
Oh yes, and this time round, I wasn't as nervous as my results as compared to last semester. Maybe because I am looking forward to something more. But this time round, I did better than I expected for my modules. =) Modules I thought would fail turned out okay. And I did very well for cg2007. My first ever A in NUS =D I think it was thanks to doing past year papers with Kenny (my study buddy) and approaching the prof for consultation. Overall, I am rather happy with my results ^^
Now, the next highlight of my holidays is the confirmation of acceptance from a company. It's make or break. =X And I am praying it would be a make.
2:22 PM