If you have read my blog since when it was first created (Feb 2005) you may notice the shift in blogging style.
Random things, my simple analysis about life, some reflection, even poems were among the popular topic you may find on this page previously.
Gone are the days. Now, it's only about diary (complain, mostly =P). Terse. Laconic. Versus the earlier mellifluous. Limited words. Almost no expression.
Does what I am doing have anything to do with that?
Perhaps. Last year, I was just 'fresh' from finishing my first on-stage musical script. Where I had to come out with the storyline, conversations as well as the song lyrics. Perhaps my literature review has done something on my linguistic nerve ;). I was also still active in my painting class. Thus, at least once a week I was forced to touch beauty, sentiments and arts. Will it affect?
Now. Reading, coding, thinking and writing report. The pragmatic side of me take greater role now (I think). There is no flowery words in engineering/science reports. Or codes =D.
I can't say if there are beauty, sentiments and arts in what I am doing now. Perhaps some people may accede to otherwise. Not for me hahaha =D.
Sigh. Indeed it's difficult to strike a balance. Isn't it? Or I just can't multitask?
Revive. Revive. I should. Can I?
Friday, September 22, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
The day is over..
Sunday is over =(.
Today I almost didn't study at all. I was enjoying the morning and afternoon so much. It was very relaxing and I almost forgot that I am a student =).
I thought I deserve a relax day after working so hard the whole week, morning to night. Had a lunch appointment with my two fabulous girl friends whom I haven't met for quite some time. We are actually class mates in our second year in high school. Went to NTU but separated into three different schools. Joined a committee together. Had similar personal conflicts at almost the same time. And we have become inseparable since.
Went to Cathedral and enjoyed the serene yet magnificent choir on top of other things. Saw some IMF members around, complete with the suit and name tag. Then meeting the girls, had sushi lunch for more than three hours hahahaha =D. Girl's talk. Heart to heart talk. Anything.
It was soooo relaxing and really put me in a relaxed mode. It was really hard to go back and study. And it rained cats and dogs when I got off the bus. I was drenched.
Had a one-hour nap which felt surreal. I've somehow felt very tired recently though I've tried maintaining sufficient sleeping hours. But everytime I wake up I felt like just having finished a strenuous physical exercise. Oh, I dreamt about attending the painting class again. Now you know why I mentioned "surreal".
Felt refreshed after napping. Did some reading, listening to 'Les Miserables' which never fails to amaze me, and now blogging.
Time to sleep. A long week awaits. I shall be ready.
Today I almost didn't study at all. I was enjoying the morning and afternoon so much. It was very relaxing and I almost forgot that I am a student =).
I thought I deserve a relax day after working so hard the whole week, morning to night. Had a lunch appointment with my two fabulous girl friends whom I haven't met for quite some time. We are actually class mates in our second year in high school. Went to NTU but separated into three different schools. Joined a committee together. Had similar personal conflicts at almost the same time. And we have become inseparable since.
Went to Cathedral and enjoyed the serene yet magnificent choir on top of other things. Saw some IMF members around, complete with the suit and name tag. Then meeting the girls, had sushi lunch for more than three hours hahahaha =D. Girl's talk. Heart to heart talk. Anything.
It was soooo relaxing and really put me in a relaxed mode. It was really hard to go back and study. And it rained cats and dogs when I got off the bus. I was drenched.
Had a one-hour nap which felt surreal. I've somehow felt very tired recently though I've tried maintaining sufficient sleeping hours. But everytime I wake up I felt like just having finished a strenuous physical exercise. Oh, I dreamt about attending the painting class again. Now you know why I mentioned "surreal".
Felt refreshed after napping. Did some reading, listening to 'Les Miserables' which never fails to amaze me, and now blogging.
Time to sleep. A long week awaits. I shall be ready.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Catch My Disease!!
Thanks to 'Ibu V' who introduced me to this song by Ben Lee. You feel like shakin' when you listen to this cheery piece. I think 'Ibu V' can sympathize my agony of being an SMA student haha that's why she gave me this song. Of course she can. She is an SMA-MST alumna. Check here if you want to see the video.
Anyway, it's quite heartwarming (and motivated me to write even more) to have people contacting when you (at last) go back on track updating your blog. But one commented, recently not only that my entries are getting less and less, it's all about misery. What to do, c'est la vie.
Anyway, this week is the first "official" Fall Term 2006. Which means full day in school. My classes end at 11 pm (yup, it's already dark out there) every Monday-Thursday. Three assignments are out this week (to my dismay). One of the subject is legendary (to be a killer) and I haven't got the courage to even read the question (and it is not an understatement).
It's quite fun to have a 'live beaming' classes with MIT. But can hardly wait until we are really in MIT next year. My friend saw his friend's face in the monitor when he (in MIT) asked question. My other friend told him "quickly ask question!! so the camera will zoom in to your face and he will also recognize you". We got slightly more (crappily) imaginative afterwards. Like, how if we are involved in a Long Distance Relationship and can see each other's face through the beaming? I've told you it's crappy.
Monday and Wednesday are the scariest (the legendary Partial Differential Equation and Optimization Method). Tuesday and Thursday are better (Intro to Numerical Method and Intro to Numerical Simulation). On the latter, the professors are much younger (read: more human). One of them is an Italian tenor and dancer (ehm).
Oh, and we have four different origins for four professors: Italian, Argentinian, Swedish and Spanish. It's quite fun as they have different accent. My favorite is the Argentinian. When he pronounces "Stellar" it's "Stel" (in tenor) and "Laarrrrr" (in heavy bass).
We are seated in an auditorium with an individual microphone for each student. When we switch it on the camera will automatically zoom mercilessly to your face. So yeah, a live telecast.
One time, an MIT student forgot to switch it off after she finished asking a question. Then we could still hear her whisper "I hate this notes!!". I wonder whether it reached the professor's ears. It's quite amusing to us. And no, we don't hate the notes. It's the most 'digestible' compared to others.
OK, that's all a quick update from me. I have to study again *hiks*.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Catch my disease!! (read: ayok belajar bareng!!!)
Anyway, it's quite heartwarming (and motivated me to write even more) to have people contacting when you (at last) go back on track updating your blog. But one commented, recently not only that my entries are getting less and less, it's all about misery. What to do, c'est la vie.
Anyway, this week is the first "official" Fall Term 2006. Which means full day in school. My classes end at 11 pm (yup, it's already dark out there) every Monday-Thursday. Three assignments are out this week (to my dismay). One of the subject is legendary (to be a killer) and I haven't got the courage to even read the question (and it is not an understatement).
It's quite fun to have a 'live beaming' classes with MIT. But can hardly wait until we are really in MIT next year. My friend saw his friend's face in the monitor when he (in MIT) asked question. My other friend told him "quickly ask question!! so the camera will zoom in to your face and he will also recognize you". We got slightly more (crappily) imaginative afterwards. Like, how if we are involved in a Long Distance Relationship and can see each other's face through the beaming? I've told you it's crappy.
Monday and Wednesday are the scariest (the legendary Partial Differential Equation and Optimization Method). Tuesday and Thursday are better (Intro to Numerical Method and Intro to Numerical Simulation). On the latter, the professors are much younger (read: more human). One of them is an Italian tenor and dancer (ehm).
Oh, and we have four different origins for four professors: Italian, Argentinian, Swedish and Spanish. It's quite fun as they have different accent. My favorite is the Argentinian. When he pronounces "Stellar" it's "Stel" (in tenor) and "Laarrrrr" (in heavy bass).
We are seated in an auditorium with an individual microphone for each student. When we switch it on the camera will automatically zoom mercilessly to your face. So yeah, a live telecast.
One time, an MIT student forgot to switch it off after she finished asking a question. Then we could still hear her whisper "I hate this notes!!". I wonder whether it reached the professor's ears. It's quite amusing to us. And no, we don't hate the notes. It's the most 'digestible' compared to others.
OK, that's all a quick update from me. I have to study again *hiks*.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Catch my disease!! (read: ayok belajar bareng!!!)
Monday, September 11, 2006
Balada Kaki Naas
Sebelum cerita-cerita tentang liburan yang baru lalu (kalo sempet ye), mendingan ta' critain dulu kejadian beberapa hari lalu sebelum lupa.
Jadi ceritanya, tertanggal 9 September 2006 (yak, bertepatan dengan ulang taun seorang sahabatku yang ke 27) entah kenapa kaki gua tuh siaaaaal banget. Mungkin Dewa Kaki (kalo ada) lagi sentimen sama gua kali. Boleh percaya boleh nggak, seluruh sisi kaki (terutama bagian telapak) kena kecelakaan pada hari naas nan buas tersebut.
Pagi-pagi (ya ga pagi-pagi amat seh, udah hampir jam 11 gitu loh) gua pulang dari Ikea sambil bawa-bawa lampu meja yang bentuknya kayak UFO nancep di antena. Pas nutup pager rumah, entah gimana prosedurnya (ta'elah) tau-tau aja jeglongan di belakang tumit kiri gua kebaret pintu pager. Bodoh banget kan (pager-nya apa gua-nya?). Sempet meringis-ringis gitu, terus abis naro lampu kita langsung cabut lagi ke bilangan Kota Cina sana (i.e. Chinatown) tepatnya gedung bundar emas bertajuk Pearlbank.
Abis makan sempet main-main sama si Boxy the Dog, pas lagi lari-lari kejar-kejaran (ta'elah kesannya rumahnya gede banget yak) di tangga, eh kaki gua sempet "nyangkut" di anak tangga yang membuat bagian bawah dan atas telapak kaki gua kebaret-baret dan kulitnya ngelupas-ngelupas secara tidak berperikekakian. Sakit banget jek. Gak cuma sakit karena luka, tapi impact yang dialami juga sempet bikin body gemeteran nahan sakit. Gimana skenario nya sampe kena depan belakang jangan ditanya deh. Pas mau meragain lagi pun udah ga tau tadi gimana kejadiannya.
Setelah merem melek beberapa menit, kondisi kembali normal dan kehidupan pun berlangsung seperti biasa.
Sorenya, gereja Cathedral of the Good Shepherd jadi tujuan kita. Entah apa salah kaki gua, pas lagi ngejar bus dia kecekluk aja gitu lho... BTW kecekluk tuh entah bahasa jawa apa bahasa nyokap, intinya ya keseleo/terkilir/terpelecok secara anonoh yang membuat bagian kanan telapak kaki sempet bercumbu (udah lama ga denger kata ini) dengan aspal. Jadi gak cuma keseleo (untungnya keseleonya ga parah) tapi juga sakit terbaret-baret. Untuuuung ga jatoh. Banyak orang, bo..
Abis gitu, gua jalan tunak-tunuk kayak ibu-ibu jualan jamu. Saking takutnya menghadapi bahaya-bahaya yang akan menghadang kaki gua. Abis gereja, kita janjian nge-date sama adik gua di Suntec (dinner lah). Ga ada deh yang namanya lari-lari nyebrang jalan... gak tau gimana malunya kalo sampe mesti ngusruk nyium aspal di tengah jalan gituh... Seinget gua, by then pun kaki gua udah banyak sakit dan nyut-nyutan gitu. Percaya apa nggak, tapi gua juga berasa kalo jempol kaki gua tuh terkilir tau gak..
Pas di resto tempat makan, hampiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrr gua jatuh ngusruk di WC karena gak liat ada downward step walo cuma sebiji. Ternyata Dewa Kaki masih menaruh sedikit belas kasihan juga. Tapi entah kenapa, pas pulang lewat escalator, bisa-bisanya betis kiri gua beradu sama sisi escalator yang sempet mengeluarkan erangan tertahan dari mulut yang aduhai ini.
Dan entah berapa kali kaki ini keinjek/ketendang secara gak sengaja selama jalan... Haiz, kesian amat sih kaki kakiku.
Saking takutnya "meng-aktifkan" kaki yang ga ada gantinya ini, akhirnya niat untuk bersepeda di East Coast Park pun terpaksa diurungkan saking gua takut ntar akan terjadi kepangan yang melibatkan kaki, jeruji roda dan kaki (emang mungkin?). Erm, alesan laen sih karena kita dateng jam 7 pagi di sana sementara tempat nyewain sepeda baru "nyambut gawe" jam 8 pagi. Dan, oh ya, kita ga punya sepeda. Akhirnya cuma jalan-jalan aje di pinggir pantai sambil narik-narik Boxy yang selalu nyari tiang untuk (maaf) dipipisin. Eh tau gak sih kalo anjing tuh (maaf) pipisnya dicicil? Kayaknya tujuan hidup mereka tuh untuk (maaf) mempipisi sebanyak mungkin tiang/pilar. Jadi ga sekali jor keluar gituh, tapi diirit-irit... Kalo udah (maaf) "turun bero" gimana yah? Huahiuheuiahuiehiahiuheiuhaiuah =D
Nah kalo kali ini, gua dengan sengaja menyiksa (kata menyakiti kurang mengena untuk konteks ini) kaki-kaki ini tanpa pandang bulu.
Yap, kita nyobain jalan-jalan di reflexology path yang sakit nya aujubilleh itu. Duh cobain deh, tingkat ketajaman si batu beda-beda. Kadang kita berhenti di tengah-tengah path dan teriak-teriak sendiri kayak orang gila. Dan karena ini pertama kali nya buat gua, gua pun dengan suksesnya ketinggalan jauh sambil sibuk mikir, orang-orang lain tuh kakinya kapalan semua yah sampe ga berasa nginjek batu-batu jahanam tersebut..
Yah, intinya... hari Minggu kemaren bener-bener merupakan hari bermalas-malasan sedunia untuk gua. Ujan deres dan angin gede, bikin males keluar-keluar. Rasa takut kalo kaki gua kenapa-kenapa lagi pun berhasil mengungkung gua di Pearlbank... BTW, FYI Pearlbank tuh letaknya di atas bukit (bukit skala Singapore) jadi kalo di tempat lain anginnya gede, di Pearlbank anginnya guede. Artinya, jadi tambah males keluar.
Jam 5an sore gua mulai gelisah. Haduh masa cuma di rumah nonton DVD, duduk-duduk males-malesan (gua suka sakit kepala kalo tidur2an di sofa menonton TV lebih dari 2 jam), makan cemilan demi cemilan, liat-liat majalah, godain si Boxy yang jauh lebih bermalas-malasan lagi dari gua. Ah, gelisah dan resah, hatiku pun gundah... Akhirnya pergilah kami ke tempat nongkrong paling indah, yakni (udah lama banget ga pake kata ini) Borders!!!!
Tapi yah, pas gua di WC-nya Borders, hampir banget gua terjengkang gara-gara kepeleset!! Ampun mak, apa salahku yah?
Well, today... kaki gua ada dua dan jarinya masing-masing lima.. Ada yang ilang ga tuh?
Jadi ceritanya, tertanggal 9 September 2006 (yak, bertepatan dengan ulang taun seorang sahabatku yang ke 27) entah kenapa kaki gua tuh siaaaaal banget. Mungkin Dewa Kaki (kalo ada) lagi sentimen sama gua kali. Boleh percaya boleh nggak, seluruh sisi kaki (terutama bagian telapak) kena kecelakaan pada hari naas nan buas tersebut.
Pagi-pagi (ya ga pagi-pagi amat seh, udah hampir jam 11 gitu loh) gua pulang dari Ikea sambil bawa-bawa lampu meja yang bentuknya kayak UFO nancep di antena. Pas nutup pager rumah, entah gimana prosedurnya (ta'elah) tau-tau aja jeglongan di belakang tumit kiri gua kebaret pintu pager. Bodoh banget kan (pager-nya apa gua-nya?). Sempet meringis-ringis gitu, terus abis naro lampu kita langsung cabut lagi ke bilangan Kota Cina sana (i.e. Chinatown) tepatnya gedung bundar emas bertajuk Pearlbank.
Abis makan sempet main-main sama si Boxy the Dog, pas lagi lari-lari kejar-kejaran (ta'elah kesannya rumahnya gede banget yak) di tangga, eh kaki gua sempet "nyangkut" di anak tangga yang membuat bagian bawah dan atas telapak kaki gua kebaret-baret dan kulitnya ngelupas-ngelupas secara tidak berperikekakian. Sakit banget jek. Gak cuma sakit karena luka, tapi impact yang dialami juga sempet bikin body gemeteran nahan sakit. Gimana skenario nya sampe kena depan belakang jangan ditanya deh. Pas mau meragain lagi pun udah ga tau tadi gimana kejadiannya.
Setelah merem melek beberapa menit, kondisi kembali normal dan kehidupan pun berlangsung seperti biasa.
Sorenya, gereja Cathedral of the Good Shepherd jadi tujuan kita. Entah apa salah kaki gua, pas lagi ngejar bus dia kecekluk aja gitu lho... BTW kecekluk tuh entah bahasa jawa apa bahasa nyokap, intinya ya keseleo/terkilir/terpelecok secara anonoh yang membuat bagian kanan telapak kaki sempet bercumbu (udah lama ga denger kata ini) dengan aspal. Jadi gak cuma keseleo (untungnya keseleonya ga parah) tapi juga sakit terbaret-baret. Untuuuung ga jatoh. Banyak orang, bo..
Abis gitu, gua jalan tunak-tunuk kayak ibu-ibu jualan jamu. Saking takutnya menghadapi bahaya-bahaya yang akan menghadang kaki gua. Abis gereja, kita janjian nge-date sama adik gua di Suntec (dinner lah). Ga ada deh yang namanya lari-lari nyebrang jalan... gak tau gimana malunya kalo sampe mesti ngusruk nyium aspal di tengah jalan gituh... Seinget gua, by then pun kaki gua udah banyak sakit dan nyut-nyutan gitu. Percaya apa nggak, tapi gua juga berasa kalo jempol kaki gua tuh terkilir tau gak..
Pas di resto tempat makan, hampiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrr gua jatuh ngusruk di WC karena gak liat ada downward step walo cuma sebiji. Ternyata Dewa Kaki masih menaruh sedikit belas kasihan juga. Tapi entah kenapa, pas pulang lewat escalator, bisa-bisanya betis kiri gua beradu sama sisi escalator yang sempet mengeluarkan erangan tertahan dari mulut yang aduhai ini.
Dan entah berapa kali kaki ini keinjek/ketendang secara gak sengaja selama jalan... Haiz, kesian amat sih kaki kakiku.
Saking takutnya "meng-aktifkan" kaki yang ga ada gantinya ini, akhirnya niat untuk bersepeda di East Coast Park pun terpaksa diurungkan saking gua takut ntar akan terjadi kepangan yang melibatkan kaki, jeruji roda dan kaki (emang mungkin?). Erm, alesan laen sih karena kita dateng jam 7 pagi di sana sementara tempat nyewain sepeda baru "nyambut gawe" jam 8 pagi. Dan, oh ya, kita ga punya sepeda. Akhirnya cuma jalan-jalan aje di pinggir pantai sambil narik-narik Boxy yang selalu nyari tiang untuk (maaf) dipipisin. Eh tau gak sih kalo anjing tuh (maaf) pipisnya dicicil? Kayaknya tujuan hidup mereka tuh untuk (maaf) mempipisi sebanyak mungkin tiang/pilar. Jadi ga sekali jor keluar gituh, tapi diirit-irit... Kalo udah (maaf) "turun bero" gimana yah? Huahiuheuiahuiehiahiuheiuhaiuah =D
Nah kalo kali ini, gua dengan sengaja menyiksa (kata menyakiti kurang mengena untuk konteks ini) kaki-kaki ini tanpa pandang bulu.
Yap, kita nyobain jalan-jalan di reflexology path yang sakit nya aujubilleh itu. Duh cobain deh, tingkat ketajaman si batu beda-beda. Kadang kita berhenti di tengah-tengah path dan teriak-teriak sendiri kayak orang gila. Dan karena ini pertama kali nya buat gua, gua pun dengan suksesnya ketinggalan jauh sambil sibuk mikir, orang-orang lain tuh kakinya kapalan semua yah sampe ga berasa nginjek batu-batu jahanam tersebut..
Yah, intinya... hari Minggu kemaren bener-bener merupakan hari bermalas-malasan sedunia untuk gua. Ujan deres dan angin gede, bikin males keluar-keluar. Rasa takut kalo kaki gua kenapa-kenapa lagi pun berhasil mengungkung gua di Pearlbank... BTW, FYI Pearlbank tuh letaknya di atas bukit (bukit skala Singapore) jadi kalo di tempat lain anginnya gede, di Pearlbank anginnya guede. Artinya, jadi tambah males keluar.
Jam 5an sore gua mulai gelisah. Haduh masa cuma di rumah nonton DVD, duduk-duduk males-malesan (gua suka sakit kepala kalo tidur2an di sofa menonton TV lebih dari 2 jam), makan cemilan demi cemilan, liat-liat majalah, godain si Boxy yang jauh lebih bermalas-malasan lagi dari gua. Ah, gelisah dan resah, hatiku pun gundah... Akhirnya pergilah kami ke tempat nongkrong paling indah, yakni (udah lama banget ga pake kata ini) Borders!!!!
Tapi yah, pas gua di WC-nya Borders, hampir banget gua terjengkang gara-gara kepeleset!! Ampun mak, apa salahku yah?
Well, today... kaki gua ada dua dan jarinya masing-masing lima.. Ada yang ilang ga tuh?
Long time..
Yeah, I've been missing for quite some time.
One of the longest two-weeks in my life, I guess. It felt so long that the era before seems like a history. Ha! What an exaggeration.
Anyway, the two-week period that I mentioned is the Summer Term holidaaaay!! It's a long story I can't cramp them in just one posting. It was very relaxing, very fattening and I believe I had not slept as much before.
To my dismay, the Fall term started on 6 September. They say this term difficulty is multifold of that of last term. I kid you not, but I felt like I was preparing for a battle and not for school when I woke up this morning.
Haiiiizz, long story. Perhaps in another entry.
One of the longest two-weeks in my life, I guess. It felt so long that the era before seems like a history. Ha! What an exaggeration.
Anyway, the two-week period that I mentioned is the Summer Term holidaaaay!! It's a long story I can't cramp them in just one posting. It was very relaxing, very fattening and I believe I had not slept as much before.
To my dismay, the Fall term started on 6 September. They say this term difficulty is multifold of that of last term. I kid you not, but I felt like I was preparing for a battle and not for school when I woke up this morning.
Haiiiizz, long story. Perhaps in another entry.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Hungry....
Hmmpph, I am hungry... I didn't join my friends for dinner tonight as I set a target that (no matter what) I have to complete everything by 7 pm. Sometimes determination can lead you to self-deprivation, eh? I'll go to get some good meal afterwards.
I am lucky to get some good friends here. Overally, people in our program are quite close (only 11 of us). But with this group (of 5) I feel really close. Party of Five.
We do help each other. We do support each other. We amuse one another. And yeah, that makes my days much better.
Sometimes I wonder whether I can really "pass" this term or not... I am worried about it everyday and every night. So scared. You'll understand it if you know my assignment's result. And how careless I was in the last exam. Argh..
I am lucky to get some good friends here. Overally, people in our program are quite close (only 11 of us). But with this group (of 5) I feel really close. Party of Five.
We do help each other. We do support each other. We amuse one another. And yeah, that makes my days much better.
Sometimes I wonder whether I can really "pass" this term or not... I am worried about it everyday and every night. So scared. You'll understand it if you know my assignment's result. And how careless I was in the last exam. Argh..
At last...
I just finished my report. That damn MPI report. That long and exhaustive assignments. The one that kept me fully awake even at the wee hour of the morning. The one that also drove me to be fully awake on the next day (with only one thing in mind: I have to finish it A.S.A.P!!).
I am so pleased. Not because I think I did well there (as if I care.. the time is spent in answering ALL the long questions, plotting ALL the graphs, running ALL the codes with ALL kind of parameters... you won't care about the quality).
Yayy. I can now pay back my sleep. Some of my friends haven't even finished the code. I wonder how they can sleep at night. This assignmentis was trully a burden for me. It was soooooooooo exhaustive. Soooooooooooo long. Soooooooooooooo time consuming. Soooooooooooo tedious. And on top of it all, you may not use it again in looooong time. Well, it's good to know about MPI. But to know it heart and soul, bleeehh.... That would be my last option. The MIT professor told us few days ago "I don't think engineers and scientist would love to type MPI_Send and MPI_Recv manually". Yes, I do agree.
I still have my Linear Algebra to think about (exam next week!!), about which I am more worried actually. But I don't think I'll start today. My "engine" is still so hot I think I need to cool down.
And you know what, the very person that gave us that darn assignment is my (most) potential PhD supervisor. I wonder how would it turn out to be. But if you know me from my undergraduates, I DO need "real" pressure to do my projects well. And Francis did pressurize me (big one) last time. We ended up being close friends (after I graduate, of course). And ouw yah, Prof Damodaran is also a good friend of Francis. A sign?
I am so pleased. Not because I think I did well there (as if I care.. the time is spent in answering ALL the long questions, plotting ALL the graphs, running ALL the codes with ALL kind of parameters... you won't care about the quality).
Yayy. I can now pay back my sleep. Some of my friends haven't even finished the code. I wonder how they can sleep at night. This assignment
I still have my Linear Algebra to think about (exam next week!!), about which I am more worried actually. But I don't think I'll start today. My "engine" is still so hot I think I need to cool down.
And you know what, the very person that gave us that darn assignment is my (most) potential PhD supervisor. I wonder how would it turn out to be. But if you know me from my undergraduates, I DO need "real" pressure to do my projects well. And Francis did pressurize me (big one) last time. We ended up being close friends (after I graduate, of course). And ouw yah, Prof Damodaran is also a good friend of Francis. A sign?
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
pencil and paper
Oh, how I love pencil and paper.
You know, I've been sitting in front of computer for days. Like, all my spare time were spent doing my program and the painful debugging. At times, I continued working with my laptop at home also. The hours I slept? You don't want to know.
And yes, human has limit. Today I didn't feel like waking up at all. Had an exam nightmare, so I HAD to wake up.
Yesterday, in doing my last program I didn't start on computer at all. Normally, I would type the program pogresively and debug along the way until it finishes. Instead, I did EVERYTHING with pencil and paper and only typing it afterwards. With only 1 watt power left in my eyes.
Did it work? I didn't know. The network was down and my parallel program HAS to be run within the cluster. So I concluded the day.
And yeah. This morning it worked. How many debugging? ZERO. Now you know why I love pencil and paper.
Woo hoo. I've finished all six codes. Finished? Nah.. a lot of simulation and data collecting still to be done. Bleeeeeehhh....
You know, I've been sitting in front of computer for days. Like, all my spare time were spent doing my program and the painful debugging. At times, I continued working with my laptop at home also. The hours I slept? You don't want to know.
And yes, human has limit. Today I didn't feel like waking up at all. Had an exam nightmare, so I HAD to wake up.
Yesterday, in doing my last program I didn't start on computer at all. Normally, I would type the program pogresively and debug along the way until it finishes. Instead, I did EVERYTHING with pencil and paper and only typing it afterwards. With only 1 watt power left in my eyes.
Did it work? I didn't know. The network was down and my parallel program HAS to be run within the cluster. So I concluded the day.
And yeah. This morning it worked. How many debugging? ZERO. Now you know why I love pencil and paper.
Woo hoo. I've finished all six codes. Finished? Nah.. a lot of simulation and data collecting still to be done. Bleeeeeehhh....
Saturday, August 05, 2006
*smashed*
I didn't know that I am actually as tired as I am now. Confused?
Well, today I left atheneum at 5.45 pm to have dinner outside with *him* -- yeah he is in town now -- and his siblings. Decided to head back home instead of back to atheneum, I did spend some time laying my body on my bed.
Then I just realized that I am sooo damn tired, more than what I thought I was in atheneum. Blame it to the adrenaline rush. When I was in atheneum, I always feel like I have to do something, read something, write something, code something, search for something and I didn't have time *really* to stand still and know my body state well.
Even when I go back home, it is either continue working or crash straight to bed. Mind control, I think. My mind keeps telling my body that I have to work, work and work. Or perhaps it is the caffeine boost?
Anyway, it brings a second thought about going back there again tomorrow (yep, Sunday) or do all readings I can do at home (I prefer to do my coding in school somehow). But tomorrow morning I definitely have to go out. I skipped Sunday Mass last week btw *OOPS* -- I was up to my neck last week -- really!! And tomorrow I'll do HEAPS of *groceries* shopping. Though I normally hate finding parking slots on Sundays in Suntec *i'm not driving*.
But. Yeah. I am so excited about going to town tomorrow!!!
Well, today I left atheneum at 5.45 pm to have dinner outside with *him* -- yeah he is in town now -- and his siblings. Decided to head back home instead of back to atheneum, I did spend some time laying my body on my bed.
Then I just realized that I am sooo damn tired, more than what I thought I was in atheneum. Blame it to the adrenaline rush. When I was in atheneum, I always feel like I have to do something, read something, write something, code something, search for something and I didn't have time *really* to stand still and know my body state well.
Even when I go back home, it is either continue working or crash straight to bed. Mind control, I think. My mind keeps telling my body that I have to work, work and work. Or perhaps it is the caffeine boost?
Anyway, it brings a second thought about going back there again tomorrow (yep, Sunday) or do all readings I can do at home (I prefer to do my coding in school somehow). But tomorrow morning I definitely have to go out. I skipped Sunday Mass last week btw *OOPS* -- I was up to my neck last week -- really!! And tomorrow I'll do HEAPS of *groceries* shopping. Though I normally hate finding parking slots on Sundays in Suntec *i'm not driving*.
But. Yeah. I am so excited about going to town tomorrow!!!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
ScaLAPACK and Batik
ScaLAPACK = Scalable Linear Algebra Package.
It is a compilation of Linear Algebra functions for parallel computation. It is meant to make your life easier by providing us with the general subroutines, to which arguments need to be passed and that's all a mere mortal like us needs to do. They do the magic and tadaaa.. here comes the result.
Sounds simple, but the arguments to be passed on are TWENTY NINE, for the pdsyevx _() I was asked to use. Funny names. Puzzling mapping of variables as the original program is written by the TA (I never like modifying other's program).
And.. it's the first time in my SMA life that my program runs well straight away!! (Almost) no debugging (well I did miss 1 out of 29 arguments at first)!! Yayy!! I was actually freaked out last night as all my peers said it's damn confusing.
So one lesson learnt: apply a batik-painter patience.
I read an article once that one very famous Indonesian surgeon (I'm sorry sir I forget your name) applies this batik-painting patience to separate a pair of conjoined twin. He claims it to be his key of success.
I am nowhere close to a patient person, let alone batik-painter patience. But last night (oh, this morning actually) I had to. Haiz. Sigh. Inhale. Exhale.
And yeah. It's paid off.
Let me enjoy this joy overload. Ten minutes. Then another assignment. Sigh. Double sigh. Triple sigh.
batik: a method of dying a fabric using wax, on which beautiful intricate (sometimes ornate) patterns are painted. We, Indonesian, are very proud of this fine arts. Somehow it exudes beauty, humility, elegance and of course, the cultural richness of our country.
It is a compilation of Linear Algebra functions for parallel computation. It is meant to make your life easier by providing us with the general subroutines, to which arguments need to be passed and that's all a mere mortal like us needs to do. They do the magic and tadaaa.. here comes the result.
Sounds simple, but the arguments to be passed on are TWENTY NINE, for the pdsyevx _() I was asked to use. Funny names. Puzzling mapping of variables as the original program is written by the TA (I never like modifying other's program).
And.. it's the first time in my SMA life that my program runs well straight away!! (Almost) no debugging (well I did miss 1 out of 29 arguments at first)!! Yayy!! I was actually freaked out last night as all my peers said it's damn confusing.
So one lesson learnt: apply a batik-painter patience.
I read an article once that one very famous Indonesian surgeon (I'm sorry sir I forget your name) applies this batik-painting patience to separate a pair of conjoined twin. He claims it to be his key of success.
I am nowhere close to a patient person, let alone batik-painter patience. But last night (oh, this morning actually) I had to. Haiz. Sigh. Inhale. Exhale.
And yeah. It's paid off.
Let me enjoy this joy overload. Ten minutes. Then another assignment. Sigh. Double sigh. Triple sigh.
batik: a method of dying a fabric using wax, on which beautiful intricate (sometimes ornate) patterns are painted. We, Indonesian, are very proud of this fine arts. Somehow it exudes beauty, humility, elegance and of course, the cultural richness of our country.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Missing it..
I miss painting. And drawing.
The pastel. Even the horrendous odor of the fixative.
The oil. The paints. The colour. Burnt sienna. Yellow ochre. Sap green. Titanium White.
The linseed. My apron. The brushes.
Oh, I haven't finished my Botanical Garden piece. And the guy's hair in the market still needs some touch-ups.
Oh and my pastel flowers... Haven't put the greens.
SMA students' life... haiz...
The pastel. Even the horrendous odor of the fixative.
The oil. The paints. The colour. Burnt sienna. Yellow ochre. Sap green. Titanium White.
The linseed. My apron. The brushes.
Oh, I haven't finished my Botanical Garden piece. And the guy's hair in the market still needs some touch-ups.
Oh and my pastel flowers... Haven't put the greens.
SMA students' life... haiz...
Long Weekend
Yeah. Finally. Four days off.
The Linear Algebra professor has cancelled today's 3-hour lecture. Yeah baby yeah. You should see how we BEGGED him to postpone the assignment submission 'til next Monday. The questions were sent to us on Tuesday and he expected us to hand it in on this Friday? With our damn MPI report piling? We literally BEGGED. Wobbly voice. Pitiful face. And it was postponed to Monday. Phew.
The four days off, however, will consist of:
wrapping up my MPI's Lab 4 report (and still a bit unsure about the Gustafson's law, can somebody explain? heheh...)
finish Linear Algebra assignment and do some reading
finish question 1 of MPI's Lab 5 and submit the code tomorrow
(must) do some reading for an exam next week
start getting my hands and brain dirty on question 2 of MPI's lab 5 -- even the professor said it's exhaustive -- we don't understand a single thing (it's something related to PDE - Jacobi - Fluid-dunnowhat -- optimization -- iteration... or something like that)
hmm come to think of it, I DON'T think all can be done (or touched) within this weekend.
But, still. Four days off. Better than nothing. Some of us with other halves could finally meet him/her. Good, eh?
The Linear Algebra professor has cancelled today's 3-hour lecture. Yeah baby yeah. You should see how we BEGGED him to postpone the assignment submission 'til next Monday. The questions were sent to us on Tuesday and he expected us to hand it in on this Friday? With our damn MPI report piling? We literally BEGGED. Wobbly voice. Pitiful face. And it was postponed to Monday. Phew.
The four days off, however, will consist of:
wrapping up my MPI's Lab 4 report (and still a bit unsure about the Gustafson's law, can somebody explain? heheh...)
finish Linear Algebra assignment and do some reading
finish question 1 of MPI's Lab 5 and submit the code tomorrow
(must) do some reading for an exam next week
start getting my hands and brain dirty on question 2 of MPI's lab 5 -- even the professor said it's exhaustive -- we don't understand a single thing (it's something related to PDE - Jacobi - Fluid-dunnowhat -- optimization -- iteration... or something like that)
hmm come to think of it, I DON'T think all can be done (or touched) within this weekend.
But, still. Four days off. Better than nothing. Some of us with other halves could finally meet him/her. Good, eh?
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
printf("Hello World! I am process #%d.\n", myrank);
Hello World!!
Somehow that program is ALWAYS used for any kind of programming examples. Flip through your years-old dusty wrinkly C-programming bible, that's the first example given to you. Look at any programming book, e.g. parallel computing and that line pops up again.
I am so so so so so so damn tired!!
Some things I almost run out of:
toiletries...
groceries...
nibbles...
instant noodles (just in case I forgot to take my dinner again.. it did happen)
papers (I did print a lot)...
time...
sanity...
(I haven't gone to supermarket for weeks -- that explains the first four points above)
Some things I now have excess of:
eyebags...
stress...
acid in my gastric...
caffein...
insanity...
The five things I want most in life now:
1. Decent sleep
2. Enough sleep
3. Deep sleep
4. Dreamless sleep
5. Wake up when the sun's ALREADY up
That's all. Me in a nutshell.
Somehow that program is ALWAYS used for any kind of programming examples. Flip through your years-old dusty wrinkly C-programming bible, that's the first example given to you. Look at any programming book, e.g. parallel computing and that line pops up again.
I am so so so so so so damn tired!!
Some things I almost run out of:
toiletries...
groceries...
nibbles...
instant noodles (just in case I forgot to take my dinner again.. it did happen)
papers (I did print a lot)...
time...
sanity...
(I haven't gone to supermarket for weeks -- that explains the first four points above)
Some things I now have excess of:
eyebags...
stress...
acid in my gastric...
caffein...
insanity...
The five things I want most in life now:
1. Decent sleep
2. Enough sleep
3. Deep sleep
4. Dreamless sleep
5. Wake up when the sun's ALREADY up
That's all. Me in a nutshell.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
LOST
I guess I have lost MOST of my alertness, sharpness, and ability to CONCENTRATE.
I believe I spend more time than required to finish my assignments. Bugs in program, misread the question, and all the darn careless mistakes.
In today's lab for example, people around me were busy discussing and consulting with the TA and lecturer. I simply couldn't concentrate and true enough, I left some careless mistakes. Purely carelessness. Lucky did I check and recheck and recheck and indeed I found some bugs though my programs seem to work fine (even the lecturer said so!!). Well, slight discrepancy in results. Lots of bugs, though. But I want it PERFECT.
And last Saturday I spent the whole morning trying to find the silly DEBUGGING MISTAKES. Debugging mistake, huh? How stupid was that.
So. You see. I have so often spent few hard-labor hours for nothing *ggrrrbblll*.
Is it the "age"?
Or is it because my brain has been very much less trained in the past three years where I wasn't in school?
Or is it purely warming-up "procedure" for the whole race ahead? I hope.
Anyway, the TA for the Parallel Computing has extended the date of submission to Friday. It's reasonable I tell you, it's the hydra cluster that was down for SO MANY TIMES. It's not our fault that our submitted jobs can't be executed right away. My friends cheered and jeered to that. Meh, I will just submit it tomorrow. I want to see my report (printed out now.. that's why I am still blogging though I really wish I can go to sleep already) sitting nicely, demurely and obediently on his desk tomorrow morning. And then be done with that.
And then MATLAB, which I SHOULD have finished more of it today. Darn carelessness.
Today I read our next parallel computing assignment. NO WONDER I dreamt about matrix multiplication few days in a row (no kidding). Please. Just don't utter "matrix" whenever you see me.
And yeah, I believe Prof Ong would give us the Linear Algebra homework tomorrow.
Having said all these... do I miss working? Nope. Not at all. Not even a bit.
Hmm... may be a bit. Where I could still have time to take my painting classes...
I believe I spend more time than required to finish my assignments. Bugs in program, misread the question, and all the darn careless mistakes.
In today's lab for example, people around me were busy discussing and consulting with the TA and lecturer. I simply couldn't concentrate and true enough, I left some careless mistakes. Purely carelessness. Lucky did I check and recheck and recheck and indeed I found some bugs though my programs seem to work fine (even the lecturer said so!!). Well, slight discrepancy in results. Lots of bugs, though. But I want it PERFECT.
And last Saturday I spent the whole morning trying to find the silly DEBUGGING MISTAKES. Debugging mistake, huh? How stupid was that.
So. You see. I have so often spent few hard-labor hours for nothing *ggrrrbblll*.
Is it the "age"?
Or is it because my brain has been very much less trained in the past three years where I wasn't in school?
Or is it purely warming-up "procedure" for the whole race ahead? I hope.
Anyway, the TA for the Parallel Computing has extended the date of submission to Friday. It's reasonable I tell you, it's the hydra cluster that was down for SO MANY TIMES. It's not our fault that our submitted jobs can't be executed right away. My friends cheered and jeered to that. Meh, I will just submit it tomorrow. I want to see my report (printed out now.. that's why I am still blogging though I really wish I can go to sleep already) sitting nicely, demurely and obediently on his desk tomorrow morning. And then be done with that.
And then MATLAB, which I SHOULD have finished more of it today. Darn carelessness.
Today I read our next parallel computing assignment. NO WONDER I dreamt about matrix multiplication few days in a row (no kidding). Please. Just don't utter "matrix" whenever you see me.
And yeah, I believe Prof Ong would give us the Linear Algebra homework tomorrow.
Having said all these... do I miss working? Nope. Not at all. Not even a bit.
Hmm... may be a bit. Where I could still have time to take my painting classes...
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Quick
Quick. It reminds me of one of the role in a beautiful Australian book, Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.
Anyway, the word was meant to fill in well to the context of "a quick update".
Sunday night. Uggh... Counting the hours to be back at school. Do you also feel that you always haven't done enough during the weekend?
That you should have settled with...
... more sleeps?
... more rest?
... more relaxation?
... more study?
... more work?
... more and more of something?
I used to say that we spend 5/7 of our week is spent for a LIVING whereas only the other 2/7 is to LIVE. OK, I may be too sarcastic. But there are many aspects of life that we're lacking of before the two glorious S-days which we call weekends.
Firstly, just let my conscious mind says out loud: Why on earth that the unconscious mind always dreams about matrix multiplication? Ugh. As if I haven't got enough.
And now the cluster jammed. Which means I can't really run all my programs today. It doesn't mean I have less things to do today nonetheless.
The saturday night-sunday afternoon was pretty good to me though. Had my dinner at the Chinatown Food Street or something like that. And oh, I saw this gigantic Ice Kachang (I did take a picture with my phone but haven't uploaded it to my laptop) that's claimed to be the record-breaking Ice Kachang in the world. It's definitely more than 2 metres height, though I don't know the exact figure.
The food was OK, but it's MUCH oilier than what I can take. The oysters, sans d'huile, were heaven though. But it was soooo oily I couldn't finish.
I slept longer than usual. If not because that matrix multiplication dream, it would be a bliss.
Ate dimsum at Yum Cha, Chinatown, this morning.
I always cherish dimsum breakfast, it also reminds me of the family breakfast we used to had and how my parents insisted that we had to use chopstick and nothing else when we were toddlers. Chicken Feet. That's the best. Haha I know most of you wouldn't dare to imagine eating them. Like what happened when I brought my American friend to Yum Cha... She was freaked out.
Went to SUNTEC. The Health Promotion Board Exhibition. The Body Fat Calculator told me I'm too thin. 3% less than normal. Thin? In Singapore? You must be kidding me. Then what do you call other girls who are really skinny? Walking skeleton?
OK, that's weekend in a nutshell from me. Sigh. I hope I could finish this report soon...
Anyway, the word was meant to fill in well to the context of "a quick update".
Sunday night. Uggh... Counting the hours to be back at school. Do you also feel that you always haven't done enough during the weekend?
That you should have settled with...
... more sleeps?
... more rest?
... more relaxation?
... more study?
... more work?
... more and more of something?
I used to say that we spend 5/7 of our week is spent for a LIVING whereas only the other 2/7 is to LIVE. OK, I may be too sarcastic. But there are many aspects of life that we're lacking of before the two glorious S-days which we call weekends.
Firstly, just let my conscious mind says out loud: Why on earth that the unconscious mind always dreams about matrix multiplication? Ugh. As if I haven't got enough.
And now the cluster jammed. Which means I can't really run all my programs today. It doesn't mean I have less things to do today nonetheless.
The saturday night-sunday afternoon was pretty good to me though. Had my dinner at the Chinatown Food Street or something like that. And oh, I saw this gigantic Ice Kachang (I did take a picture with my phone but haven't uploaded it to my laptop) that's claimed to be the record-breaking Ice Kachang in the world. It's definitely more than 2 metres height, though I don't know the exact figure.
The food was OK, but it's MUCH oilier than what I can take. The oysters, sans d'huile, were heaven though. But it was soooo oily I couldn't finish.
I slept longer than usual. If not because that matrix multiplication dream, it would be a bliss.
Ate dimsum at Yum Cha, Chinatown, this morning.
I always cherish dimsum breakfast, it also reminds me of the family breakfast we used to had and how my parents insisted that we had to use chopstick and nothing else when we were toddlers. Chicken Feet. That's the best. Haha I know most of you wouldn't dare to imagine eating them. Like what happened when I brought my American friend to Yum Cha... She was freaked out.
Went to SUNTEC. The Health Promotion Board Exhibition. The Body Fat Calculator told me I'm too thin. 3% less than normal. Thin? In Singapore? You must be kidding me. Then what do you call other girls who are really skinny? Walking skeleton?
OK, that's weekend in a nutshell from me. Sigh. I hope I could finish this report soon...
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Damn the Dream!!
Two days ago, some CE students had troubled sleep with hectic, tiring and disturbing dreams. Are we too tired or what?
Anyway, it's just quite fun to exchange our dream stories.
In Rebecca's dream, she was dancing ALL NIGHT. Throughout her sleeping night. She woke up feeling damn tired. Can imagine, Reb.. my empathy.
Song dreamt that Singapore is damaged by a heavy pouring rain. DAMAGED. And it's just his first week in Singapore. He even thought (in the dream) about where to escape if he can't stay in Singapore. A well-prepared guy, stay lucid in dream.
Mine, however, seems to be the messier among the three. It was so messy until I couldn't really distinguish dream from reality. The day before, (this is the reality btw) a friend (just call her Qian) and I walked together to the University Health and Wellness Center to check out my blood test result. In the dream, I had exactly the same setting and Qian told me about having submitted her MIT Online Medical Waive Form. When I took shower in the next morning, I was literally racking my brain on whether she has REALLY submitted it or not (she told me on Friday that she has not -- I did check).
It didn't stop there. It was actually just a trivia in the whole dream. Oh, by the way, on Thursday night we were invited for a casual dinner with some MIT's faculty members. In the dream, I remember debating with a post-doc fellow who insisted me to write a program for a vector-vector multiplication. Excuse me? Unless it's a single-element vector how can you do that? So I wasted my precious slumber time debating. I woke up at 5.15, however, but slept again afterwards.. continuing the debate!! Until I got so tired and that fellow still insisted that I should do that. I woke up and see my watch. I missed the alarm. 7.35 am. Dammit.
Last night, I had a rather casual dream. Chit chat. Jovial mood. Some celebration. Until one point where I started dreaming about the fox algorithm that I am doing. I quickly woke up and yeah, just in time.
And I just finished it!! My fox algorithm!! It worked!!
Uummm.. after some reckless mishaps, some MPI-deadlocks, mysterious blunders, sighings, pessimistic feeling, chocolates and coffees.
Phew. Now I can focus on my MATLAB and Linear Algebra, exactly where I am weaker at.
Anyway, it's just quite fun to exchange our dream stories.
In Rebecca's dream, she was dancing ALL NIGHT. Throughout her sleeping night. She woke up feeling damn tired. Can imagine, Reb.. my empathy.
Song dreamt that Singapore is damaged by a heavy pouring rain. DAMAGED. And it's just his first week in Singapore. He even thought (in the dream) about where to escape if he can't stay in Singapore. A well-prepared guy, stay lucid in dream.
Mine, however, seems to be the messier among the three. It was so messy until I couldn't really distinguish dream from reality. The day before, (this is the reality btw) a friend (just call her Qian) and I walked together to the University Health and Wellness Center to check out my blood test result. In the dream, I had exactly the same setting and Qian told me about having submitted her MIT Online Medical Waive Form. When I took shower in the next morning, I was literally racking my brain on whether she has REALLY submitted it or not (she told me on Friday that she has not -- I did check).
It didn't stop there. It was actually just a trivia in the whole dream. Oh, by the way, on Thursday night we were invited for a casual dinner with some MIT's faculty members. In the dream, I remember debating with a post-doc fellow who insisted me to write a program for a vector-vector multiplication. Excuse me? Unless it's a single-element vector how can you do that? So I wasted my precious slumber time debating. I woke up at 5.15, however, but slept again afterwards.. continuing the debate!! Until I got so tired and that fellow still insisted that I should do that. I woke up and see my watch. I missed the alarm. 7.35 am. Dammit.
Last night, I had a rather casual dream. Chit chat. Jovial mood. Some celebration. Until one point where I started dreaming about the fox algorithm that I am doing. I quickly woke up and yeah, just in time.
And I just finished it!! My fox algorithm!! It worked!!
Uummm.. after some reckless mishaps, some MPI-deadlocks, mysterious blunders, sighings, pessimistic feeling, chocolates and coffees.
Phew. Now I can focus on my MATLAB and Linear Algebra, exactly where I am weaker at.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Chocolate at Midnight
Munching chocolates can really make things happen, even at midnight. Forget about gaining weight. Especially this particular chocolate that my friend brought from Switzerland. How can I say no to living in Europe in that case? Not that I have got any offer though, too bad.
Current Music: Il Divo.
Celestial indulgence: authentic European chocolates
Results: Three programs started and done!! Yayy!!
Good night, sweet dreams.
Current Music: Il Divo.
Celestial indulgence: authentic European chocolates
Results: Three programs started and done!! Yayy!!
Good night, sweet dreams.
Monday, July 17, 2006
P A N I C
They utter Linear Algebra jargons like it is the language they use with their best friends.
They use MATLAB just like it is a pencil in their hands.
They start talking about our next term's subject: Numerical Simulation, Numerical Method, Numerical This and Numerical That.
The lecturer told me that to catch up with those from similar stream, what he did was sleeping only 3-4 hours a day when he was an SMA student.
How can I not go to a P A N I C state?
They use MATLAB just like it is a pencil in their hands.
They start talking about our next term's subject: Numerical Simulation, Numerical Method, Numerical This and Numerical That.
The lecturer told me that to catch up with those from similar stream, what he did was sleeping only 3-4 hours a day when he was an SMA student.
How can I not go to a P A N I C state?
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Like a Camel
Do you know that I drink a lot?
I am not an athlete nor a sports woman, but I drink way beyond 2 litres per day. How salubrious.
One example, this morning I reached atheneum at around 7.40 am. Now is 9.40 am exactly. In this good two hour period, I have finished 800 ml water... only in office. So if I should include one glass I drank in the morning plus a cup of coffee, it would be more. Can be 1 litre, half of daily requirement. In TWO HOURS.
It's not a wonder that water boiler was among the first thing I brought co my cubicle here. I boil my own drinking water, rather than taking three turns and long walk between each turn to the water cooler.
I drink only (mostly) plain water and coffee. I don't like tea (it always upsets my gastric somehow), hot chocolate, milk (my enemy), soda, sweetened drink, fruit juices (still OK compared to others though).
With the amount of water I drink every day and coffee being diuretic, please don't ask if you see me visiting the rest room too often.
PS: I joined the "beser club" in highschool... hahaha only sanurians 99 would know its existence.
I am not an athlete nor a sports woman, but I drink way beyond 2 litres per day. How salubrious.
One example, this morning I reached atheneum at around 7.40 am. Now is 9.40 am exactly. In this good two hour period, I have finished 800 ml water... only in office. So if I should include one glass I drank in the morning plus a cup of coffee, it would be more. Can be 1 litre, half of daily requirement. In TWO HOURS.
It's not a wonder that water boiler was among the first thing I brought co my cubicle here. I boil my own drinking water, rather than taking three turns and long walk between each turn to the water cooler.
I drink only (mostly) plain water and coffee. I don't like tea (it always upsets my gastric somehow), hot chocolate, milk (my enemy), soda, sweetened drink, fruit juices (still OK compared to others though).
With the amount of water I drink every day and coffee being diuretic, please don't ask if you see me visiting the rest room too often.
PS: I joined the "beser club" in highschool... hahaha only sanurians 99 would know its existence.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Christmas in July
You don't need to pay a pricey ticket to Australia to have a Christmas in July.
I could, in Singapore.
Here's the story. You know, for these past few days I had been in (almost unconsolable) distress. Ok ok it's an exaggerating. Anyway, I am notorious as a very uptight person. And I get bored too easily. Saturated. Mind-blocked. In short, I always need to "strategize" my day-to-day life in order to cope with, well, life. Juggle between school works, leisure, rest and some others carefully, so I would have enough of everything.
Coming back to school does need some adjustment. Sometimes I do too much, sometimes it's too little. This past week, I rather forgot to include my leisure time. And I was worn down. Wrecked.
So off I went to C I T Y today. I had a very nice lunch with my younger sister in NYDC, Wheelock Place.
I ordered my all-time favorite (actually I didn't give any option for her to choose, I dictated her to agree with my NYDC choice.. because of this menu): FARMBOY SALAD.
Doesn't it sound good? It comes as a BUCKET of greens, chunks of chicken breast, almond flakes, garlic croutons and I believe there still are something else. It's simply awesome.
It was sooooo good (as always) that I ignored the vinaigratte dressing. I like my salad plain. I could feel it's seeping through my body, bringing wholesome goodness, pure freshness, and energizing healthiness.
After eating school canteen food for weeks, I craved for an enormous fresh bowl of salad. I felt detoxified. Ha!
Oh yeah, I still took some small bites of my sister's bratwurst sandwich (it was good) and some french fries. I know it's bad for your health but I just can't resist it. And, we did share the dessert.
Being as talkative as ever, she has made me laugh, surprised me with her stories etc in only few minutes after we're seated. Indeed, laughter is the best medicine. My mood was already few levels up afterwards. She told me how she copes with school stress (it was rather hillarious), how she's willing to spend more money to buy back "humanly level of insanity". She urged me to go and watch some crappy movies. Or some very funny movies that can make your tummy burst laughing. Or entertaining Korean dramas. And then we talked about My Sassy Girl, which I really like. I like the characters (yeah, I like that kind of girl; not that 'like', mind you).
Anyway, we proceeded to Borders afterwards to find some funny DVDs or VCDs. There was none that appealed to me, so I walked out empty-handed. We also went to Takashimaya Food Festival. There is this queue for a Japanese Ice Cream (they claim to be the original best or something like that) which was snakingly long. I wanted to try the Seaweed Wasabi flavour actually, but I've never enjoyed being in such a crowd so I just walked pass.
We parted before I went to Cathedral, at which I met a friend from my painting class. We ended up sitting together and had some chats (before and after the mass). Would you believe me if I tell you last night I actually dreamt about meeting some of them? I really did. Haha and today we challenged each other to paint the 14 Stations of the Cross. None was up to it though, too bad.
Upon reaching home, I showered, and was ready to continue my assignments and report. Hmm, the mood was still not there yet. So I flipped through my CD collection and my choice went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choirs' "Joy to the World" (Christmas collection, obviously). The mood was instantaneously better. At least I could keep on typing without feeling grumpy and my laptop was safe from slamming and other harrasment.
So that's how I had my "Christmas in July". It's not the first time actually, indeed I must admit of having "wrong-season syndrome" too often.
I could, in Singapore.
Here's the story. You know, for these past few days I had been in (almost unconsolable) distress. Ok ok it's an exaggerating. Anyway, I am notorious as a very uptight person. And I get bored too easily. Saturated. Mind-blocked. In short, I always need to "strategize" my day-to-day life in order to cope with, well, life. Juggle between school works, leisure, rest and some others carefully, so I would have enough of everything.
Coming back to school does need some adjustment. Sometimes I do too much, sometimes it's too little. This past week, I rather forgot to include my leisure time. And I was worn down. Wrecked.
So off I went to C I T Y today. I had a very nice lunch with my younger sister in NYDC, Wheelock Place.
I ordered my all-time favorite (actually I didn't give any option for her to choose, I dictated her to agree with my NYDC choice.. because of this menu): FARMBOY SALAD.
Doesn't it sound good? It comes as a BUCKET of greens, chunks of chicken breast, almond flakes, garlic croutons and I believe there still are something else. It's simply awesome.
It was sooooo good (as always) that I ignored the vinaigratte dressing. I like my salad plain. I could feel it's seeping through my body, bringing wholesome goodness, pure freshness, and energizing healthiness.
After eating school canteen food for weeks, I craved for an enormous fresh bowl of salad. I felt detoxified. Ha!
Oh yeah, I still took some small bites of my sister's bratwurst sandwich (it was good) and some french fries. I know it's bad for your health but I just can't resist it. And, we did share the dessert.
Being as talkative as ever, she has made me laugh, surprised me with her stories etc in only few minutes after we're seated. Indeed, laughter is the best medicine. My mood was already few levels up afterwards. She told me how she copes with school stress (it was rather hillarious), how she's willing to spend more money to buy back "humanly level of insanity". She urged me to go and watch some crappy movies. Or some very funny movies that can make your tummy burst laughing. Or entertaining Korean dramas. And then we talked about My Sassy Girl, which I really like. I like the characters (yeah, I like that kind of girl; not that 'like', mind you).
Anyway, we proceeded to Borders afterwards to find some funny DVDs or VCDs. There was none that appealed to me, so I walked out empty-handed. We also went to Takashimaya Food Festival. There is this queue for a Japanese Ice Cream (they claim to be the original best or something like that) which was snakingly long. I wanted to try the Seaweed Wasabi flavour actually, but I've never enjoyed being in such a crowd so I just walked pass.
We parted before I went to Cathedral, at which I met a friend from my painting class. We ended up sitting together and had some chats (before and after the mass). Would you believe me if I tell you last night I actually dreamt about meeting some of them? I really did. Haha and today we challenged each other to paint the 14 Stations of the Cross. None was up to it though, too bad.
Upon reaching home, I showered, and was ready to continue my assignments and report. Hmm, the mood was still not there yet. So I flipped through my CD collection and my choice went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choirs' "Joy to the World" (Christmas collection, obviously). The mood was instantaneously better. At least I could keep on typing without feeling grumpy and my laptop was safe from slamming and other harrasment.
So that's how I had my "Christmas in July". It's not the first time actually, indeed I must admit of having "wrong-season syndrome" too often.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Stress bet. Banyak bet. Gila bet.
Hahahaha I quite like this new word (for me). The 'bet'. It doesn't rhyme with 'pet' but rather with 'limpet'.
They claim it to be Sundanese and means "banget" or "very". But the one who introduced it to me is a Javanese. So I kinda like the 'bet' with thick Suroboyo-nese accent rather than the original Sundanese.
Sometimes I wonder, am I too slow or are they too fast or are we doing different things? Until now, we've never compared our assignments or report though we do have discussion sometimes along the process. However, I feel like spending so much time in analysis and reporting while I saw my friend just did a quick one in few hours time. Huh? So what does the prof ask actually?
I know it's good to just stick to whatever you think is right. But if what you sacrifice is your time, you may think twice. Like what I do now. Rushing for my other assignment after spending so much time for the first. I believe I had a short circuit today. The words and numbers were meaningless to me after some time. I was sooooooooooooooo freaked out. And frustrated. Which made things worse, I have to admit. I'm so afraid once the workload is more than what we have now. Can I cope?
Worried. Confused. Unsure. Tired.
Mumet bet.
They claim it to be Sundanese and means "banget" or "very". But the one who introduced it to me is a Javanese. So I kinda like the 'bet' with thick Suroboyo-nese accent rather than the original Sundanese.
Sometimes I wonder, am I too slow or are they too fast or are we doing different things? Until now, we've never compared our assignments or report though we do have discussion sometimes along the process. However, I feel like spending so much time in analysis and reporting while I saw my friend just did a quick one in few hours time. Huh? So what does the prof ask actually?
I know it's good to just stick to whatever you think is right. But if what you sacrifice is your time, you may think twice. Like what I do now. Rushing for my other assignment after spending so much time for the first. I believe I had a short circuit today. The words and numbers were meaningless to me after some time. I was sooooooooooooooo freaked out. And frustrated. Which made things worse, I have to admit. I'm so afraid once the workload is more than what we have now. Can I cope?
Worried. Confused. Unsure. Tired.
Mumet bet.
Random Thoughts of the Moment
Just few random things to say.
--- I would never prefer a small mouse (you know, not that Tom & Jerry kind of mouse but the optical mouse). My palm just can't rest comfortably on it, like you have to always consciously put this finger on the left-click button and that finger on the right. It's not like with bigger mouse, when all the positioning is 'just nice'. Or is my palm too big? I don't think so.
--- Intravenal jabs will only leave you with few droplets of red afterwards. Nonetheless, intramuscular one can give you an irritating sore. Discomfort, to put it more correctly. Luckily I had it on my left arm.
--- I feel like having a dose of shopping spree. Nothing in particular to buy, actually. Just, you know, see people, hear voices and eat something better than canteen food.
--- Hey, my life still goes on even though I didn't have my cup of morning coffee today.
--- I would never prefer a small mouse (you know, not that Tom & Jerry kind of mouse but the optical mouse). My palm just can't rest comfortably on it, like you have to always consciously put this finger on the left-click button and that finger on the right. It's not like with bigger mouse, when all the positioning is 'just nice'. Or is my palm too big? I don't think so.
--- Intravenal jabs will only leave you with few droplets of red afterwards. Nonetheless, intramuscular one can give you an irritating sore. Discomfort, to put it more correctly. Luckily I had it on my left arm.
--- I feel like having a dose of shopping spree. Nothing in particular to buy, actually. Just, you know, see people, hear voices and eat something better than canteen food.
--- Hey, my life still goes on even though I didn't have my cup of morning coffee today.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Some Sort of Satisfaction
I am trying to omit any identity or event hint of the whereabouts and whatabouts of the people that I'll be referring to here.
Anyway, imagine you have a friend. This friend of yours can be damn annoying at times. As you go along, you build up "certain impression" on him/her. Only for politeness sake that you restrain yourself from saying what you actually think about that person.
And you have another friend. This particular friend just voiced out your "impolite" thought about the first party, directly to that first party. And it doesn't only happen once. Sometimes you participate in it.
Man, I grinned inside. I was oozing with pure satisfaction. Hmmpph... An utter proclamation of honesty.
Anyway, imagine you have a friend. This friend of yours can be damn annoying at times. As you go along, you build up "certain impression" on him/her. Only for politeness sake that you restrain yourself from saying what you actually think about that person.
And you have another friend. This particular friend just voiced out your "impolite" thought about the first party, directly to that first party. And it doesn't only happen once. Sometimes you participate in it.
Man, I grinned inside. I was oozing with pure satisfaction. Hmmpph... An utter proclamation of honesty.
Gourmet Something
*inhale....*
*exhale...*
*inhale...*
*exhale...*
Bleh. I am so bored of looking at the PC's monitor (and what am I thinking I am doing here in front of that thingy?).
Typing program. UNIX. Visual basic. Writing report. Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Excel. Whatever.
I always TYPE until I get bored of it. I wish I can hire a secretary and I just read out the program I want to write and it's there in the window. Ha!! I wish.
I miss sitting down in a cafe. Reading a book (one of my Jill Mansel's is still unread). Feeling the gentle breeze.
I miss GOURMET SOMETHING.
Gourmet sandwich.
Gourmet coffee.
Gourmet steak.
Gourmet salad.
Gourmet dessert.
Simply a woman's best friend. Diamond? Nah. It's a woman's other half. Ha!!
Oh, and I always miss this one: International Breakfast Buffet. Somehow. Botanic garden can be an option. But it's pricey. Uughh.
Another one. Cycling along East Coast. Teasing Boxy (the dog). Concluded with a nice hearty breakfast. Hmmpphhh heaven.
PS: Programming is enjoyable until you get enough of typing.
*exhale...*
*inhale...*
*exhale...*
Bleh. I am so bored of looking at the PC's monitor (and what am I thinking I am doing here in front of that thingy?).
Typing program. UNIX. Visual basic. Writing report. Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Excel. Whatever.
I always TYPE until I get bored of it. I wish I can hire a secretary and I just read out the program I want to write and it's there in the window. Ha!! I wish.
I miss sitting down in a cafe. Reading a book (one of my Jill Mansel's is still unread). Feeling the gentle breeze.
I miss GOURMET SOMETHING.
Gourmet sandwich.
Gourmet coffee.
Gourmet steak.
Gourmet salad.
Gourmet dessert.
Simply a woman's best friend. Diamond? Nah. It's a woman's other half. Ha!!
Oh, and I always miss this one: International Breakfast Buffet. Somehow. Botanic garden can be an option. But it's pricey. Uughh.
Another one. Cycling along East Coast. Teasing Boxy (the dog). Concluded with a nice hearty breakfast. Hmmpphhh heaven.
PS: Programming is enjoyable until you get enough of typing.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Ngantuk Berat
Hmmpphh do you know what time I woke up this morning after watching the match? 7.30.
No wonder I am sleepy now and had a bit of headache. The day went on pretty fine for me actually. Luckily I was able to concentrate in the lecture and also lab session. In a small group of students it would be just funny if I fell asleep in the middle of the class. I only got a bit sleepy after dinner. *grrbbllll*
I am still in the atheneum now... so tired, so sleepy. But still have to do some assignments. Won't finish by today for sure... hmmppphhh ngantuk bangets, kepala rasanya berat.
By the way do you know that Catholic JC's principal, Brother Paul, the very strict and discipline one, made an announcement last Friday to all his students that today (Monday) they don't need to come at the usual time? So instead of 7.30, the class today is started at 9 am. It's to allow students and teachers who would watch the WC2006 final.
So greaaaaaatt... I know about it from my syster, who happened to be his student both in school and hostel (CJC's).
Oh I guess I'll just go back earlier today.
No wonder I am sleepy now and had a bit of headache. The day went on pretty fine for me actually. Luckily I was able to concentrate in the lecture and also lab session. In a small group of students it would be just funny if I fell asleep in the middle of the class. I only got a bit sleepy after dinner. *grrbbllll*
I am still in the atheneum now... so tired, so sleepy. But still have to do some assignments. Won't finish by today for sure... hmmppphhh ngantuk bangets, kepala rasanya berat.
By the way do you know that Catholic JC's principal, Brother Paul, the very strict and discipline one, made an announcement last Friday to all his students that today (Monday) they don't need to come at the usual time? So instead of 7.30, the class today is started at 9 am. It's to allow students and teachers who would watch the WC2006 final.
So greaaaaaatt... I know about it from my syster, who happened to be his student both in school and hostel (CJC's).
Oh I guess I'll just go back earlier today.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
My Broken Heart is Healed... At Last
It's been six years. Six long years I've been waiting for this.
And it comes this year, this day and this very minute... at last.
The "unmended" happened, clearly, long before my blogging era. So perhaps it's beknown to none of you. Except some.
I cringed, seeing Toldo (Francesco) with his nose bleeding, still tried to save the goals from France's attack. High and low. Rise and fall. I felt dissapointed when the 2000's Euro Cup went to France.
Since then, I've been waiting for Italy to get even.
Needless to say, my long wait has been paid off. My broken heart is healed. Haha!! Man, I don't feel like sleeping anymore.
I guess it's time for italian food.... (lho apa hubungannya?) Anyone?
FELICITAZIONE!!!
PS: Sorry to French's supporters!! =D What "ignited" Zidane by the way? His attitude was kind of disappointing...
And it comes this year, this day and this very minute... at last.
The "unmended" happened, clearly, long before my blogging era. So perhaps it's beknown to none of you. Except some.
I cringed, seeing Toldo (Francesco) with his nose bleeding, still tried to save the goals from France's attack. High and low. Rise and fall. I felt dissapointed when the 2000's Euro Cup went to France.
Since then, I've been waiting for Italy to get even.
Needless to say, my long wait has been paid off. My broken heart is healed. Haha!! Man, I don't feel like sleeping anymore.
I guess it's time for italian food.... (lho apa hubungannya?) Anyone?
FELICITAZIONE!!!
PS: Sorry to French's supporters!! =D What "ignited" Zidane by the way? His attitude was kind of disappointing...
Friday, July 07, 2006
Homework, drunk and civilization
Tomorrow I'll be back to civilization... at last.
You know what, this evening I met, shook hand with, conversed with the President of MIT but I didn't bring a camera with me. I can't be categorized as a person who likes photo-taking too much, but I guess it's such a rare opportunity that doesn't really come now and again. I've completely forgotten it.
Blame it on the 13-14 hrs stay in school. Indeed the atheneum (the "office" for SMA students) is our second home now.
So, today was the reception at Four Seasons Hotel. Nothing much, the much-expected "treat" turned out to be only finger foods, not dinner, which idea has been conjectured in our mind. And I concluded my half-dinner with red wine. It's proven disastrous. I can drink, I won't get drunk easily, no redness, no rashes, no any kind of indication whatsoever only IF I drink on a full stomach.
This is my second time. The first time was during my hectic day preparing for the musical+++ (plus some other things). Ah, forget it. I am happy enough to survive through that period.
This evening, I felt like riding a Catherine Wheel. Standing in MRT didn't help. I am clutching to the handle like hanging on the dear life. The blow from aircon just made it worse. But don't worry, nothing embarassing happened. I was just more quiet, that's all.
No more alcohol on a semi-empty stomach. Full stop.
You know what, for this first week we are the only groups that have already had three lab sessions which means three separate assignments. We're green with envy as other programs can still have find time to enjoy themselves and MST can still even organize an outing to East Coast tomorrow *grrbbblll*. As for CPE (Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering) students, the only module they have for this term is "Independent Study" (if there's such term). Yup, correct, just paper and publication review with no exams at all for these two months *aaarrgghh*.
Anyway, tomorrow I would have another agenda. Go to a friend's place to celebrate her daughter's first birthday in the afternoon, meeting my (younger) sister somewhere in town... BACK TO CIVILIZATION!!! Yeahh.... For one day. At least.
You know what, this evening I met, shook hand with, conversed with the President of MIT but I didn't bring a camera with me. I can't be categorized as a person who likes photo-taking too much, but I guess it's such a rare opportunity that doesn't really come now and again. I've completely forgotten it.
Blame it on the 13-14 hrs stay in school. Indeed the atheneum (the "office" for SMA students) is our second home now.
So, today was the reception at Four Seasons Hotel. Nothing much, the much-expected "treat" turned out to be only finger foods, not dinner, which idea has been conjectured in our mind. And I concluded my half-dinner with red wine. It's proven disastrous. I can drink, I won't get drunk easily, no redness, no rashes, no any kind of indication whatsoever only IF I drink on a full stomach.
This is my second time. The first time was during my hectic day preparing for the musical+++ (plus some other things). Ah, forget it. I am happy enough to survive through that period.
This evening, I felt like riding a Catherine Wheel. Standing in MRT didn't help. I am clutching to the handle like hanging on the dear life. The blow from aircon just made it worse. But don't worry, nothing embarassing happened. I was just more quiet, that's all.
No more alcohol on a semi-empty stomach. Full stop.
You know what, for this first week we are the only groups that have already had three lab sessions which means three separate assignments. We're green with envy as other programs can still have find time to enjoy themselves and MST can still even organize an outing to East Coast tomorrow *grrbbblll*. As for CPE (Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering) students, the only module they have for this term is "Independent Study" (if there's such term). Yup, correct, just paper and publication review with no exams at all for these two months *aaarrgghh*.
Anyway, tomorrow I would have another agenda. Go to a friend's place to celebrate her daughter's first birthday in the afternoon, meeting my (younger) sister somewhere in town... BACK TO CIVILIZATION!!! Yeahh.... For one day. At least.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Good Samaritan
I am not sure why I decided to publish this now, out of the blue. This encounter occured almost two years ago.
The story came in mind where I somehow landed at COMFORT Taxi's website during one of my aimless virtual tour. On one of the pages, they listed the names of taxi drivers who have been awarded for their good service, sincerity and willingness to help the needy. It rang a bell. And this is how the story went...
In around mid 2004 (I think it was 19 August), I got my first "kiss". Unfortunately, that first exter-familial kiss came NOT from a homo-sapiens but rather from something belongs to Apis genus, a bee or hornet or something like that I am not too sure and don't really care.
All I knew was I got a sudden pang of bitter pain, and I could see a part of my left palm was swollen. And hardened. And blue-ish. And very very very extremely painful. It somehow benumbed the motoric movements. I had to maintain my arm at 90-degrees bent position.
I was somewhere in Telok Belangah, near the highway. There were not many people there. In fact, I couldn't see anyone in sight except those inside the cars and riding motorcycles, which were useless.
I went to a panic state and managed to call my friend whom I know has some doctor-friends. Fortunately, those doctors are with her at that moment and the first suggestion was to go to hospital.
In the midst of panic feeling, I could feel that the pain "crawled" and got closer and closer to my shoulder. I flagged a cab, luckily could found one immediately.
When the driver asked me for destination, I quickly answered "Hospital!!". He started realizing the height of the situation and he asked me why. I could only answered "Bee-sting!!". He looked at my swollen and blue-ish palm and my stationarily bent arms. He stepped on his gas and told me "I'll find the NEAREST clinic for you. Don't worry, just stay calm." The taxi was speeding.
He stopped for a while, only later that I knew that he went down and asked a person where could he find the nearest clinic. In front of the pointed clinic, he stopped and refused the payment. He just said "don't care about payment, please just go immediately and see doctor!! It's a short ride anyway." I tried to open my wallet with my right hand but he insisted "Please just GO!!! Go see the doctor and DON'T pay me a cent. Take a good care of yourself."
Being extremely panic and having the pain crawling higher and higher to my shoulder, I just dashed out from the cab and reciting "thank you thank you thank you..." to the taxi driver.
I stormed to the clinic and after knowing my situation, the nurse let me cut the queue and therefore I was able to see the doctor immediately.
"You're lucky", the doctor said after examining my hand and giving me an anti-histamine. "If the sting reaches your heart, you may not know what its reaction is and what will happen to you." It's at the shoulder already, remember?
The doctor gave me some medicine, some of which were pain-killers and sleeping pills. His last advice was to call an ambulance immediately when I have the slightest difficulty in breathing at night or on the next day. While waiting for a cab back home, I still had time and energy to call my boss and let him know that I would be on MC on the next day. I wonder...
Despite the jab that I've got, the pain was still unbearable, in fact it became more and more unbearable. One confession to make, that night I didn't take a shower at all *ugh*. So I just washed my face and brushed my teeth. Let me tell you, even those simple tasks at that time seems more difficult than stepping on the moon.
I slept in a foetus-position, due to the extreme pain which was not getting better at all. I was sweating despite the aircon for bearing the pain. Here the sleeping pills came in rescue. I really went to sleep due to the high dose that the doctor gave. I remember even when I was dozing off, I was still fighting with the pain. So it's the high-dose coupled with my tiredness.
My hand was back to normal only after one and a half day after the incident. The mark stayed for weeks. Luckily I didn't have to call any ambulance at all *grin*.
That "Good-Samaritan" taxi driver trully deserves an accolade for what he has done. But I didn't do anything, I somehow regret that. Though I know that my circumstance that time didn't really give me the chance to check out his name, driver number or even the plate number.
So with this, by publishing this story, I wish he gets what he deserves in a way that perhaps only God knows. Eventhough I have no idea who he is and where he is now, let God do in His own mystrerious way. Is it possible?
Song playing in radio: "I Swear", exactly the song that Christine and I liked to sing together 12 years ago wuakakakakkaka =D sounds so romantic, huh? Again I remind you, we are both a 100% straight female....
The story came in mind where I somehow landed at COMFORT Taxi's website during one of my aimless virtual tour. On one of the pages, they listed the names of taxi drivers who have been awarded for their good service, sincerity and willingness to help the needy. It rang a bell. And this is how the story went...
In around mid 2004 (I think it was 19 August), I got my first "kiss". Unfortunately, that first exter-familial kiss came NOT from a homo-sapiens but rather from something belongs to Apis genus, a bee or hornet or something like that I am not too sure and don't really care.
All I knew was I got a sudden pang of bitter pain, and I could see a part of my left palm was swollen. And hardened. And blue-ish. And very very very extremely painful. It somehow benumbed the motoric movements. I had to maintain my arm at 90-degrees bent position.
I was somewhere in Telok Belangah, near the highway. There were not many people there. In fact, I couldn't see anyone in sight except those inside the cars and riding motorcycles, which were useless.
I went to a panic state and managed to call my friend whom I know has some doctor-friends. Fortunately, those doctors are with her at that moment and the first suggestion was to go to hospital.
In the midst of panic feeling, I could feel that the pain "crawled" and got closer and closer to my shoulder. I flagged a cab, luckily could found one immediately.
When the driver asked me for destination, I quickly answered "Hospital!!". He started realizing the height of the situation and he asked me why. I could only answered "Bee-sting!!". He looked at my swollen and blue-ish palm and my stationarily bent arms. He stepped on his gas and told me "I'll find the NEAREST clinic for you. Don't worry, just stay calm." The taxi was speeding.
He stopped for a while, only later that I knew that he went down and asked a person where could he find the nearest clinic. In front of the pointed clinic, he stopped and refused the payment. He just said "don't care about payment, please just go immediately and see doctor!! It's a short ride anyway." I tried to open my wallet with my right hand but he insisted "Please just GO!!! Go see the doctor and DON'T pay me a cent. Take a good care of yourself."
Being extremely panic and having the pain crawling higher and higher to my shoulder, I just dashed out from the cab and reciting "thank you thank you thank you..." to the taxi driver.
I stormed to the clinic and after knowing my situation, the nurse let me cut the queue and therefore I was able to see the doctor immediately.
"You're lucky", the doctor said after examining my hand and giving me an anti-histamine. "If the sting reaches your heart, you may not know what its reaction is and what will happen to you." It's at the shoulder already, remember?
The doctor gave me some medicine, some of which were pain-killers and sleeping pills. His last advice was to call an ambulance immediately when I have the slightest difficulty in breathing at night or on the next day. While waiting for a cab back home, I still had time and energy to call my boss and let him know that I would be on MC on the next day. I wonder...
Despite the jab that I've got, the pain was still unbearable, in fact it became more and more unbearable. One confession to make, that night I didn't take a shower at all *ugh*. So I just washed my face and brushed my teeth. Let me tell you, even those simple tasks at that time seems more difficult than stepping on the moon.
I slept in a foetus-position, due to the extreme pain which was not getting better at all. I was sweating despite the aircon for bearing the pain. Here the sleeping pills came in rescue. I really went to sleep due to the high dose that the doctor gave. I remember even when I was dozing off, I was still fighting with the pain. So it's the high-dose coupled with my tiredness.
My hand was back to normal only after one and a half day after the incident. The mark stayed for weeks. Luckily I didn't have to call any ambulance at all *grin*.
That "Good-Samaritan" taxi driver trully deserves an accolade for what he has done. But I didn't do anything, I somehow regret that. Though I know that my circumstance that time didn't really give me the chance to check out his name, driver number or even the plate number.
So with this, by publishing this story, I wish he gets what he deserves in a way that perhaps only God knows. Eventhough I have no idea who he is and where he is now, let God do in His own mystrerious way. Is it possible?
Song playing in radio: "I Swear", exactly the song that Christine and I liked to sing together 12 years ago wuakakakakkaka =D sounds so romantic, huh? Again I remind you, we are both a 100% straight female....
write while still can
"Welcome to the most gruelling program in SMA!"
(SMA = Singapore-MIT Alliance)
That's how the dear director first greeted the 11 students in CE (Computational Engineering Program). Though similar, CE is structured slightly different from the rest. With that comes different expectation and standard, which unfortunately is rather higher.
The "gruelling" part is not an understatement according to some seniors. Reinforcement of this statement may come from many. One of the real-case example, according to the dear director, is that some of the previous batch students are confirmed NOT to be able to complete the program on time.
I was disillusioned by the sharing of some close friends who have undergone MST (Manufacturing System and Technology) of SMA before. According to them, life in MST is only about projects, exam and assignments. True enough, as when I wanted to have a human conversation with them (a.k.a meeting face-to-face and not virtually) I travelled back to NTU as travelling to city area for them might mean some unfinished or imperfect assignments. Even on Sunday, the atheneum will be full of students.
I thought, there should be NOTHING worse than that.
And only today that I know that I was wrong all along. They (it's a plural word) told me that indeed CE is the toughest. Only seconds after that Prof Khoo came into the room and reinforced it with his "gruelling" statement. Ha, I am trapped now. But well, there's no turning back so just wish me luck.
There's no mercy in SMA. The minimum GPA requirement is (damn) fixed. Another real-case examples said that some of ex-students had been really expelled and worse still, they have to PAY BACK. Everything, from tuition fee (both MIT and NUS) and also stipends and other amount that SMA had spent for them.
Even Prof Khoo said that we really went pale after hearing all this. Man, really, it was beyond our "expectation".
So if you see I write much less here, you know why...
(SMA = Singapore-MIT Alliance)
That's how the dear director first greeted the 11 students in CE (Computational Engineering Program). Though similar, CE is structured slightly different from the rest. With that comes different expectation and standard, which unfortunately is rather higher.
The "gruelling" part is not an understatement according to some seniors. Reinforcement of this statement may come from many. One of the real-case example, according to the dear director, is that some of the previous batch students are confirmed NOT to be able to complete the program on time.
I was disillusioned by the sharing of some close friends who have undergone MST (Manufacturing System and Technology) of SMA before. According to them, life in MST is only about projects, exam and assignments. True enough, as when I wanted to have a human conversation with them (a.k.a meeting face-to-face and not virtually) I travelled back to NTU as travelling to city area for them might mean some unfinished or imperfect assignments. Even on Sunday, the atheneum will be full of students.
I thought, there should be NOTHING worse than that.
And only today that I know that I was wrong all along. They (it's a plural word) told me that indeed CE is the toughest. Only seconds after that Prof Khoo came into the room and reinforced it with his "gruelling" statement. Ha, I am trapped now. But well, there's no turning back so just wish me luck.
There's no mercy in SMA. The minimum GPA requirement is (damn) fixed. Another real-case examples said that some of ex-students had been really expelled and worse still, they have to PAY BACK. Everything, from tuition fee (both MIT and NUS) and also stipends and other amount that SMA had spent for them.
Even Prof Khoo said that we really went pale after hearing all this. Man, really, it was beyond our "expectation".
So if you see I write much less here, you know why...
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Apa yang kamu suka dari bola?
Soccer is indeed a universal language. Bahkan kata bola yang berarti harafiah sebuah benda bulat yang bisa senang ria menggelinding ke sana ke mari, sudah diidentifikasikan dan diasosiasikan dengan sepak bola. Mana pernah anda mendengar ada orang bilang "Main bola yuk" tapi bawa bola basket, voli, pingpong, tennis atau bola-bola sport lainnya? Nggak pernah kan?
Seluruh pecinta sepak bola di dunia ini sedang semarak dengan gegap gempita FIFA World Cup 2006 yang bener-bener bikin saya pengen punya visa gratis nan otomatis tanpa belit-belit, tiket gratis pesawat pulang pergi, akomodasi dan tiket nonton di stadion di Germany.
Satu contoh yang membuktikan kalau bahasa bola itu bahasa yang universal banget, terjadi waktu saya di airport Soekarno-Hatta, menjelang keberangkatan saya pulang balik ke Singapore. Sebelum boarding ke pesawat, orang-orang yang memenuhi boarding gate D1 itu banyak yang memusatkan perhatian ke sebuah televisi yang tergantung yang sedang menayangkan SCTV walaupun rada kresek-kresek. Orang-orang terutama kaum pria banyak yang mencari tempat strategis untuk menonton, untuk menghindari keseleo leher kalo pilih tempat yang gak bagus. Termasuk juga saya.
Saat itu Germany sedang melawan Sweden. Jujur saja saya bela Germany. Ahh, saya emang selalu suka sama cowok-cowok super gesit, gak plin-plan, super cepat dan tajam dalam bertindak. Pokoknya mantep deh. Cowok memble sih, walaupun sedikit doank, lewat... hahahhahahahaha =D
Ada satu anak bule yang rupanya berasal dari Swedia. Awal mulanya kita nonton sendiri-sendiri, diem-dieman dari posisi duduk masing-masing. Si Swedish boy ini pun memulai percakapan dengan bapak-bapak sambil meminta a quick update of what he had missed. Dari situ, mulai orang-orang mau berkerumun lebih dekat lagi ke televisi (me included). Dan mulailah pada ngobrol dan berkomen dan meringis bareng-bareng ketika Swedia gak berhasil nge-goal pas ada kesempatan penalty. Dan semua juga bilang "yaaaaahh..." melukiskan kekecewaannya ketika kami harus benar-benar masuk pesawat.
Banyak teman, terutama pria, yang menggoda saya pasti nonton bola karena pemainnya ganteng-ganteng dan body-nya six-packs and not six-months.
Padahal, jujur aja, it doesn't appeal to me at all. I like watching soccer only for the game. Purely for the game. Karena kalo ditanya bela siapa, jujur saja saya emang gak fanatik ke negara manapun. Tapi emang favorit tentu negara-negara yang ber-pria-kan orang-orang yang cepat, tajam, taktis, strategis, gak suka emosi pokoknya mantep deh.
Contohnya ya Brazil, Germany dan Netherlands.
Kalo lagi nonton bola, saya suka spirit yang ada di lapangan dan di kalangan penonton. Orang-orang banyak yang nanya, apa serunya nonton bola.. 1 bola direbutin 20 orang? Lho, justru itu serunya kan. Nonton bola-bola itu berpindah kaki... Mata gak bisa lepas ngikutin bola. Namanya nonton bola, ya liatnya ke kaki pemain... bukan ke mukanya. Jadi mana tau siapa yang ganteng dan siapa yang nggak? Ya gak? Kalo pas keliatan bodynya yang bidang dan six-packs (ouuwww..) nah itu bonus.
Pertama kali nonton bola tuh pas World Cup 1998. Sang kakak baru hengkang ke Singapore, lagi liburan gak ada kerjaan di rumah, akhirnya ikut juga ajakan adik laki-laki semata wayang (cowok satu-satunya gitu lho) untuk begadang berduaan nonton bola. Dengan rajinnya dia kasi tau, itu namanya offside, itu namanya anu, itu ini, itu itu, etc. Plus tambahan gossip "tau gak, orang itu istrinya sekian".
Keranjingan deh, walaupun gak sampe gandrung-gandrung amat. Alias, gua cuma nonton World Cup dan Piala Eropa. Masih gak rela untuk begadang nontonin liga-liga.
Sayang seribu sayang, liburan kemarin gua sempat didera flu yang tak berperikepecintabolaan. Alias, gua ga berani menyiksa diri begadang-begadang. Cuma ketika flu jahanam tersebut itu mereda baru gua berani nonton yang jam 2 pagi WIB. Kalo kata nyokap sih, dengerin gua nonton aja gak kalah seru dari bolanya itu sendiri. Kalo bukan yang subuh punya, kan gua nonton di ruang tamu. Sering kedengeran di kamar nyokap ngakak-ngakak dengerin komen-komen dan teriakan-teriakan gua plus loncatan-loncatan gua yang emang seru boneng itu.
Kalo subuh, ga berani ganggu di bawah so cuma nonton di kamar adik gua. What a blessing for him as he often fell asleep but never missed the goal. Soalnya gua akan refleks bangunin dia dan dia akan liat siaran ulang goal nya yang bisa dari berbagai angle itu. Tapi sepinter-pinternya menahan diri, tetep aja nyokap bisa denger dan tau kalo gua nonton bola... Seru, man.. seru... mana mungkin bungkam seribu basa?
Tapi kalo disuruh coba main bola? Nggak lah ya... Mana kuat lari ngukur lapangan gitu. Hahahaha =D beda sama adik gua yang tiap minggu rutin rela-rela cabut dari rumah jam 6 pagi untuk main bola sampe keringetan (kalo kata nyokap "grombyos"). Iya, si pecinta tidur itu....
Sekarang, namanya udah jadi anak perantauan yang numpang di rumah orang. Kalo subuh-subuh nonton bola rasanya kok kurang ilok. Mana mereka orang-orang yang sudah agak berumur dan biasa tidur cepet. Yah nasib.
So, kalo di jalan denger ada orang ngomongin bola, liat nick MSN temen-temen yang berbau bola, liat koran uncle-uncle di bus yang lagi baca tentang bola, rasanya badan ini gemeteran sampe ke jempol kaki dan kelingking.
Ah, bola... Siapa sih yang nemuin yah? I like the spirit, the noise, the strength, etc. Walau kadang gak tega dan masih ber-empati juga ke team yang kalah. Apalagi kalo liat goalkeepernya gagal menyelamatkan kandang walau sampe berdarah-darah... Kasian juga sih.
Berbahagialah kalian yang masih bisa nonton bola terus...
Seluruh pecinta sepak bola di dunia ini sedang semarak dengan gegap gempita FIFA World Cup 2006 yang bener-bener bikin saya pengen punya visa gratis nan otomatis tanpa belit-belit, tiket gratis pesawat pulang pergi, akomodasi dan tiket nonton di stadion di Germany.
Satu contoh yang membuktikan kalau bahasa bola itu bahasa yang universal banget, terjadi waktu saya di airport Soekarno-Hatta, menjelang keberangkatan saya pulang balik ke Singapore. Sebelum boarding ke pesawat, orang-orang yang memenuhi boarding gate D1 itu banyak yang memusatkan perhatian ke sebuah televisi yang tergantung yang sedang menayangkan SCTV walaupun rada kresek-kresek. Orang-orang terutama kaum pria banyak yang mencari tempat strategis untuk menonton, untuk menghindari keseleo leher kalo pilih tempat yang gak bagus. Termasuk juga saya.
Saat itu Germany sedang melawan Sweden. Jujur saja saya bela Germany. Ahh, saya emang selalu suka sama cowok-cowok super gesit, gak plin-plan, super cepat dan tajam dalam bertindak. Pokoknya mantep deh. Cowok memble sih, walaupun sedikit doank, lewat... hahahhahahahaha =D
Ada satu anak bule yang rupanya berasal dari Swedia. Awal mulanya kita nonton sendiri-sendiri, diem-dieman dari posisi duduk masing-masing. Si Swedish boy ini pun memulai percakapan dengan bapak-bapak sambil meminta a quick update of what he had missed. Dari situ, mulai orang-orang mau berkerumun lebih dekat lagi ke televisi (me included). Dan mulailah pada ngobrol dan berkomen dan meringis bareng-bareng ketika Swedia gak berhasil nge-goal pas ada kesempatan penalty. Dan semua juga bilang "yaaaaahh..." melukiskan kekecewaannya ketika kami harus benar-benar masuk pesawat.
Banyak teman, terutama pria, yang menggoda saya pasti nonton bola karena pemainnya ganteng-ganteng dan body-nya six-packs and not six-months.
Padahal, jujur aja, it doesn't appeal to me at all. I like watching soccer only for the game. Purely for the game. Karena kalo ditanya bela siapa, jujur saja saya emang gak fanatik ke negara manapun. Tapi emang favorit tentu negara-negara yang ber-pria-kan orang-orang yang cepat, tajam, taktis, strategis, gak suka emosi pokoknya mantep deh.
Contohnya ya Brazil, Germany dan Netherlands.
Kalo lagi nonton bola, saya suka spirit yang ada di lapangan dan di kalangan penonton. Orang-orang banyak yang nanya, apa serunya nonton bola.. 1 bola direbutin 20 orang? Lho, justru itu serunya kan. Nonton bola-bola itu berpindah kaki... Mata gak bisa lepas ngikutin bola. Namanya nonton bola, ya liatnya ke kaki pemain... bukan ke mukanya. Jadi mana tau siapa yang ganteng dan siapa yang nggak? Ya gak? Kalo pas keliatan bodynya yang bidang dan six-packs (ouuwww..) nah itu bonus.
Pertama kali nonton bola tuh pas World Cup 1998. Sang kakak baru hengkang ke Singapore, lagi liburan gak ada kerjaan di rumah, akhirnya ikut juga ajakan adik laki-laki semata wayang (cowok satu-satunya gitu lho) untuk begadang berduaan nonton bola. Dengan rajinnya dia kasi tau, itu namanya offside, itu namanya anu, itu ini, itu itu, etc. Plus tambahan gossip "tau gak, orang itu istrinya sekian".
Keranjingan deh, walaupun gak sampe gandrung-gandrung amat. Alias, gua cuma nonton World Cup dan Piala Eropa. Masih gak rela untuk begadang nontonin liga-liga.
Sayang seribu sayang, liburan kemarin gua sempat didera flu yang tak berperikepecintabolaan. Alias, gua ga berani menyiksa diri begadang-begadang. Cuma ketika flu jahanam tersebut itu mereda baru gua berani nonton yang jam 2 pagi WIB. Kalo kata nyokap sih, dengerin gua nonton aja gak kalah seru dari bolanya itu sendiri. Kalo bukan yang subuh punya, kan gua nonton di ruang tamu. Sering kedengeran di kamar nyokap ngakak-ngakak dengerin komen-komen dan teriakan-teriakan gua plus loncatan-loncatan gua yang emang seru boneng itu.
Kalo subuh, ga berani ganggu di bawah so cuma nonton di kamar adik gua. What a blessing for him as he often fell asleep but never missed the goal. Soalnya gua akan refleks bangunin dia dan dia akan liat siaran ulang goal nya yang bisa dari berbagai angle itu. Tapi sepinter-pinternya menahan diri, tetep aja nyokap bisa denger dan tau kalo gua nonton bola... Seru, man.. seru... mana mungkin bungkam seribu basa?
Tapi kalo disuruh coba main bola? Nggak lah ya... Mana kuat lari ngukur lapangan gitu. Hahahaha =D beda sama adik gua yang tiap minggu rutin rela-rela cabut dari rumah jam 6 pagi untuk main bola sampe keringetan (kalo kata nyokap "grombyos"). Iya, si pecinta tidur itu....
Sekarang, namanya udah jadi anak perantauan yang numpang di rumah orang. Kalo subuh-subuh nonton bola rasanya kok kurang ilok. Mana mereka orang-orang yang sudah agak berumur dan biasa tidur cepet. Yah nasib.
So, kalo di jalan denger ada orang ngomongin bola, liat nick MSN temen-temen yang berbau bola, liat koran uncle-uncle di bus yang lagi baca tentang bola, rasanya badan ini gemeteran sampe ke jempol kaki dan kelingking.
Ah, bola... Siapa sih yang nemuin yah? I like the spirit, the noise, the strength, etc. Walau kadang gak tega dan masih ber-empati juga ke team yang kalah. Apalagi kalo liat goalkeepernya gagal menyelamatkan kandang walau sampe berdarah-darah... Kasian juga sih.
Berbahagialah kalian yang masih bisa nonton bola terus...
She Found Me!!
Surprise surprise!!
Hari Sabtu kemarin, iseng-iseng gua buka Friendster. Gak tau ada angin apa yang bikin gua buka Friendster setelah udah lama gak buka. I just had a hunch.
And true indeed, something was waiting for me. A message from a friend whom I haven't met for 12 years!! Not only that, it's been around 1-2 years that we lost contacts.
Christine itu, temen baik gua pas gua ikutan homestay di Singapore tahun 1994. Jaman masih culun banget, gua masih kurus kering cengkiwing. Kalo bokap bilang lung-lit alias balung-kulit thok.
I found a big sister figure in her. First of all, dia tinggi banget. Jaman itu, di usia 15 tahun dia udah menjulang sampai 173 cm. Otomatis, kita semua jadi mungil kalo sama dia. Gua pun masih 163 cm, emang pertumbuhan gua rada telat. Awal-awalnya, kita gak deket-deket amat karena gak sekamar. BTW kita gak tinggal di rumah penduduk tapi di resort (enak banget kaaaan...) tepatnya NTUC Pasir Ris Resort. Wih enak deh, having fun melulu.... dan ngabisin duit ortu hiks.
Karena porsi ketawa kita berdua sama alias kalo ngakak suka gak berperikemanusiaan, bagaikan ada magnet yang mempersatukan orang-orang yang ketawanya gak sopan kita pun jadi semakin deket. Akhirnya deketlah kita....
Daaaaann.. suatu hari kita kepikiran untuk sepedaan bareng. Awalnya ga berdua doank tapi kemudian satu per satu kecapean dan balik ke kandang. Iseng-iseng coba sepeda tandem, so berduaanlah kita menyusuri cycling route yang ulu alias jauh dari peradaban banget, sampe ke beach nya. Beach nya ini private jadi pas kita ke sana hampir tak dapat ditemukan makhluk lain yang berjudul manusia.
Dipikir-pikir, mesra amat yah? Sepeda tandem-an, ketawa-ketawa, becanda, cerita-cerita, nyanyi-nyanyi sepanjang jalan... Duduk-duduk sebelahan di pantai sambil terus ngobrol, nulis-nulis di pasir (aihh...). Sayang, minus foto-foto. It was really the utopia for people in love... Sayangnya we are both female and 100% straight hahahahaha =D
We've been very close after that. Tapi apa mau di kata, nasib belum mempertemukan kita sampai sekarang. Kampung halamannya di Surabaya sementara gua di Jakarta. Dia pun pindah ke Singapore untuk sekolah. Sarana komunikasi kita saat itu adalah surat-suratan alias snail-mail yang mesti nunggu berminggu-minggu sampe dapet balesannya. Kirim-kiriman kado, kartu dan foto. Pokoknya tulisannya yang rapiiiiii banget itu selalu gua tunggu-tunggu deh. Kalo dia pas lagi di Surabaya kita juga sering telpon-telponan.
Dan kemudian pindahlah dia ke Canada. Surat-suratan pun jadi semakin lama nunggunya. Benar-benar melatih kesabaran. Sampai akhirnya datanglah internet dengan fasilitas e-mailnya ke generasi kita. Contact melalui e-mail pun berjalan lagi. Sayang, jarang kita bisa MSN-an karena perbedaan waktu yang terlalu jauh.
Kemudian pindahlah gua ke Singapore. Ditelan oleh kesibukan masing-masing, frekuensi e-mail dan chatting pun jadi jauh berkurang. Sering berbulan-bulan bisa gak ada contact. Waktu sadar lagi, hotmail account nya udah bounced back. Begitu pula hotmail account gua. Usaha dan upaya kita pun menemui jalan buntu. Sudah kira-kira 2 tahun kita benar-benar putus hubungan. Beberapa kali gua coba meng-google namanya dan mencarinya di Friendster, tetep aja gak berhasil. Rupanya emang dia belum ada Friendster Account by then.
Sekarang dia udah berdomisili di Jakarta, sementara gua taun depan udah akan melanglang ke US (gak jodoh banget sih), untungnya ga permanent. Dan gua happyyyyyyyyy banget I was among the first names she search once she's acquainted with Friendster and untunglah gua juga gak pake nama aneh-aneh di Friendster.
Kangen banget ngobrol bareng, cerita-cerita dan yang pasti denger ketawanya yang kenceng dan renyah dan selalu ada itu...
So, moral of the story: mungkin emang ada baiknya untuk me-maintain your original hotmail account walau udah dari jaman kuda banget hehehehe =D
PS: sejak kita gak ketemuan emang gua masih nambah tinggi, tapi teteeep aja ga bisa ngalahin dia =( boro-boro ngalahin, 170 cm aja cuma hampiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrr...
Hari Sabtu kemarin, iseng-iseng gua buka Friendster. Gak tau ada angin apa yang bikin gua buka Friendster setelah udah lama gak buka. I just had a hunch.
And true indeed, something was waiting for me. A message from a friend whom I haven't met for 12 years!! Not only that, it's been around 1-2 years that we lost contacts.
Christine itu, temen baik gua pas gua ikutan homestay di Singapore tahun 1994. Jaman masih culun banget, gua masih kurus kering cengkiwing. Kalo bokap bilang lung-lit alias balung-kulit thok.
I found a big sister figure in her. First of all, dia tinggi banget. Jaman itu, di usia 15 tahun dia udah menjulang sampai 173 cm. Otomatis, kita semua jadi mungil kalo sama dia. Gua pun masih 163 cm, emang pertumbuhan gua rada telat. Awal-awalnya, kita gak deket-deket amat karena gak sekamar. BTW kita gak tinggal di rumah penduduk tapi di resort (enak banget kaaaan...) tepatnya NTUC Pasir Ris Resort. Wih enak deh, having fun melulu.... dan ngabisin duit ortu hiks.
Karena porsi ketawa kita berdua sama alias kalo ngakak suka gak berperikemanusiaan, bagaikan ada magnet yang mempersatukan orang-orang yang ketawanya gak sopan kita pun jadi semakin deket. Akhirnya deketlah kita....
Daaaaann.. suatu hari kita kepikiran untuk sepedaan bareng. Awalnya ga berdua doank tapi kemudian satu per satu kecapean dan balik ke kandang. Iseng-iseng coba sepeda tandem, so berduaanlah kita menyusuri cycling route yang ulu alias jauh dari peradaban banget, sampe ke beach nya. Beach nya ini private jadi pas kita ke sana hampir tak dapat ditemukan makhluk lain yang berjudul manusia.
Dipikir-pikir, mesra amat yah? Sepeda tandem-an, ketawa-ketawa, becanda, cerita-cerita, nyanyi-nyanyi sepanjang jalan... Duduk-duduk sebelahan di pantai sambil terus ngobrol, nulis-nulis di pasir (aihh...). Sayang, minus foto-foto. It was really the utopia for people in love... Sayangnya we are both female and 100% straight hahahahaha =D
We've been very close after that. Tapi apa mau di kata, nasib belum mempertemukan kita sampai sekarang. Kampung halamannya di Surabaya sementara gua di Jakarta. Dia pun pindah ke Singapore untuk sekolah. Sarana komunikasi kita saat itu adalah surat-suratan alias snail-mail yang mesti nunggu berminggu-minggu sampe dapet balesannya. Kirim-kiriman kado, kartu dan foto. Pokoknya tulisannya yang rapiiiiii banget itu selalu gua tunggu-tunggu deh. Kalo dia pas lagi di Surabaya kita juga sering telpon-telponan.
Dan kemudian pindahlah dia ke Canada. Surat-suratan pun jadi semakin lama nunggunya. Benar-benar melatih kesabaran. Sampai akhirnya datanglah internet dengan fasilitas e-mailnya ke generasi kita. Contact melalui e-mail pun berjalan lagi. Sayang, jarang kita bisa MSN-an karena perbedaan waktu yang terlalu jauh.
Kemudian pindahlah gua ke Singapore. Ditelan oleh kesibukan masing-masing, frekuensi e-mail dan chatting pun jadi jauh berkurang. Sering berbulan-bulan bisa gak ada contact. Waktu sadar lagi, hotmail account nya udah bounced back. Begitu pula hotmail account gua. Usaha dan upaya kita pun menemui jalan buntu. Sudah kira-kira 2 tahun kita benar-benar putus hubungan. Beberapa kali gua coba meng-google namanya dan mencarinya di Friendster, tetep aja gak berhasil. Rupanya emang dia belum ada Friendster Account by then.
Sekarang dia udah berdomisili di Jakarta, sementara gua taun depan udah akan melanglang ke US (gak jodoh banget sih), untungnya ga permanent. Dan gua happyyyyyyyyy banget I was among the first names she search once she's acquainted with Friendster and untunglah gua juga gak pake nama aneh-aneh di Friendster.
Kangen banget ngobrol bareng, cerita-cerita dan yang pasti denger ketawanya yang kenceng dan renyah dan selalu ada itu...
So, moral of the story: mungkin emang ada baiknya untuk me-maintain your original hotmail account walau udah dari jaman kuda banget hehehehe =D
PS: sejak kita gak ketemuan emang gua masih nambah tinggi, tapi teteeep aja ga bisa ngalahin dia =( boro-boro ngalahin, 170 cm aja cuma hampiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrr...
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Unfamiliar
Having a flight alone, I am no stranger to that.
But this time, it's simply different. Not only because it's my trip back to reality after the longest and most relax (in a doing-nothing kinda way) holiday I've had in years, it's also a trip to the unfamiliar terrain.
New environment, new school, new life.
I'm not yet familiar with this room, house and surroundings.
I'm staying with people with whom I didn't share any intimate closeness (yet -- I hope).
I'll be moving forward to a new school, new class mates, new cultures, new everything.
Survival is still in question mark.
"How if I've forgotten how to study where the rests are still fresh from school?"
My friends have settled in their own lives and careers, and with no common activities/affiliations among us, meeting up may not be a guaranteed promise.
Will I be lonely or will I fit in?
Uncertain. That's the feeling that accompanies me during my journey back.
But this time, it's simply different. Not only because it's my trip back to reality after the longest and most relax (in a doing-nothing kinda way) holiday I've had in years, it's also a trip to the unfamiliar terrain.
New environment, new school, new life.
I'm not yet familiar with this room, house and surroundings.
I'm staying with people with whom I didn't share any intimate closeness (yet -- I hope).
I'll be moving forward to a new school, new class mates, new cultures, new everything.
Survival is still in question mark.
"How if I've forgotten how to study where the rests are still fresh from school?"
My friends have settled in their own lives and careers, and with no common activities/affiliations among us, meeting up may not be a guaranteed promise.
Will I be lonely or will I fit in?
Uncertain. That's the feeling that accompanies me during my journey back.
The 23rd Hour
Qatar Airways has been exact last night. It landed in Singapore at 02.20 am. The discrepancy was only less than 10 minutes from the scheduled arrival time. With my frequent flight to-and-fro Jakarta-Singapore and others, I could conclude that it's not a very common occurence.
So almost 24 hours (which means, one full day) now that I've been back in Singapore.
The first thing I miss is the WORLD CUP shows. SCTV has given us so much of convenience by providing the LIVE Telecast of the matches. Unlike Singapore, where you need to subscribe for Cable TV, which means money. With SCTV, you just need to bear with loads of advertisements in between.
Anyway, this holiday has been a real holiday for me. Three weeks without thinking about school or works are just heaven. I spent most of my times at home, too lazy to beat the metropolitan traffic. It's as if everybody is competing to claim the beaten asphalt as their own. Their wish is the rule.
Some conclusions:
1. The celebrity gossip in Infotainments are just TOO MUCH. The worst of all, not only their life doesn't concern ours at all (sangatlah tidak penting), almost all of them share the same video montages. Exactly the same interview, viewed from the same angle. It will just give us nothing more than satiety.
2. You can find in Jakarta what you want to find in Singapore.
3. The prices are no longer cheaper than in Singapore, especially for food.
4. Indonesian food has become less and less attractive to me. Many of them must be categorized into my banned list now, thanks to my IBS.
5. The traffic gets crazier than ever, highway included.
6. The money you need to spend on education is more and more each year. Our parents are now sighing with relief, knowing what they need to pay for our generation is peanuts compared to the prevailing school fees nowadays.
7. etc.
Despite all these, my family is still the same as ever, Bibi Marni's secret recipes remain, and Indonesia is still generous in giving World Cup Live Telecast. That's enough for me.
And yeah, the bakery is getting more and more Bread-Talk like, with floss, sausages, quirky names and funky outlook. Hopefully all the more classical bakeries know that I will always still be looking for the conservative, classic roti coklat (chocolate bread). I guess I looked for Holland Bakery in every mall that I went to. Remain your business, please.
Anybody in Singapore knows where to find tape singkong and tape ketan here? Bandrek and sekoteng? Karedok? Martabak duren? Tempe goreng? Pisang goreng?
So almost 24 hours (which means, one full day) now that I've been back in Singapore.
The first thing I miss is the WORLD CUP shows. SCTV has given us so much of convenience by providing the LIVE Telecast of the matches. Unlike Singapore, where you need to subscribe for Cable TV, which means money. With SCTV, you just need to bear with loads of advertisements in between.
Anyway, this holiday has been a real holiday for me. Three weeks without thinking about school or works are just heaven. I spent most of my times at home, too lazy to beat the metropolitan traffic. It's as if everybody is competing to claim the beaten asphalt as their own. Their wish is the rule.
Some conclusions:
1. The celebrity gossip in Infotainments are just TOO MUCH. The worst of all, not only their life doesn't concern ours at all (sangatlah tidak penting), almost all of them share the same video montages. Exactly the same interview, viewed from the same angle. It will just give us nothing more than satiety.
2. You can find in Jakarta what you want to find in Singapore.
3. The prices are no longer cheaper than in Singapore, especially for food.
4. Indonesian food has become less and less attractive to me. Many of them must be categorized into my banned list now, thanks to my IBS.
5. The traffic gets crazier than ever, highway included.
6. The money you need to spend on education is more and more each year. Our parents are now sighing with relief, knowing what they need to pay for our generation is peanuts compared to the prevailing school fees nowadays.
7. etc.
Despite all these, my family is still the same as ever, Bibi Marni's secret recipes remain, and Indonesia is still generous in giving World Cup Live Telecast. That's enough for me.
And yeah, the bakery is getting more and more Bread-Talk like, with floss, sausages, quirky names and funky outlook. Hopefully all the more classical bakeries know that I will always still be looking for the conservative, classic roti coklat (chocolate bread). I guess I looked for Holland Bakery in every mall that I went to. Remain your business, please.
Anybody in Singapore knows where to find tape singkong and tape ketan here? Bandrek and sekoteng? Karedok? Martabak duren? Tempe goreng? Pisang goreng?
Sunday, June 11, 2006
The Unemployed Was Having Reunions...
The Mechatronics Gank gathered again, at last. I guess it's the first time we have a complete gathering outside school projects and assignments. A small group though, only five people: two girls (including me) and three guys.
We had our dinner at Sakae Sushi, West Mall on one Saturday before I went back to Jakarta. None of us had changed. The vain is still vain, the one with peculiar interest still has it, the one most cheerful still is, the one most bully-able is still the victim, and the last one is me. Still the same.
But a mechatronics gank will still be a mechatronic gank. Although our conversation has covered various topics: about career, love, life and other usual stuffs that quarter-aged people used to talk about, one topic wasn't missed out. It was none other than 'Mechatronics'.
Somebody started it, the rest continued. I just rolled my eyes. Triggered when that somebody saw a vending machine. Then they started discussing about various mechanisms of vending machines. Oh well, not an interesting topic for you I know.
My second reunion was just few days ago, at Huang Ting Restaurant, Taman Anggrek Mall. It was the first one for me after THIRTEEN years!!! It's my primary school reunion. Oh my God, it's just like a part of my history surfaced again.
You know, I was a girl you love to hate in my earlier years hahahahahhaa.... damn bossy. Perhaps that's why primary school days weren't on top of my memory list. Some people say I have an elephant memory but it needs effort to dig my 'recorded' primary school days. And as I moved to another secondary school afterwards, I got lost with their conversation sometimes.
It DIDN'T make I enjoyed it less though. They're planning to have a bigger reunion next week. We'll see... surely I have to rake my brain again to recognize who is who.
Wait for another update!!
PS: Though my memory has 'faded', I still remember clearly whom I kicked, hit and whose hair I pulled...
We had our dinner at Sakae Sushi, West Mall on one Saturday before I went back to Jakarta. None of us had changed. The vain is still vain, the one with peculiar interest still has it, the one most cheerful still is, the one most bully-able is still the victim, and the last one is me. Still the same.
But a mechatronics gank will still be a mechatronic gank. Although our conversation has covered various topics: about career, love, life and other usual stuffs that quarter-aged people used to talk about, one topic wasn't missed out. It was none other than 'Mechatronics'.
Somebody started it, the rest continued. I just rolled my eyes. Triggered when that somebody saw a vending machine. Then they started discussing about various mechanisms of vending machines. Oh well, not an interesting topic for you I know.
My second reunion was just few days ago, at Huang Ting Restaurant, Taman Anggrek Mall. It was the first one for me after THIRTEEN years!!! It's my primary school reunion. Oh my God, it's just like a part of my history surfaced again.
You know, I was a girl you love to hate in my earlier years hahahahahhaa.... damn bossy. Perhaps that's why primary school days weren't on top of my memory list. Some people say I have an elephant memory but it needs effort to dig my 'recorded' primary school days. And as I moved to another secondary school afterwards, I got lost with their conversation sometimes.
It DIDN'T make I enjoyed it less though. They're planning to have a bigger reunion next week. We'll see... surely I have to rake my brain again to recognize who is who.
Wait for another update!!
PS: Though my memory has 'faded', I still remember clearly whom I kicked, hit and whose hair I pulled...
Diary of an Unemployed Who Is... AT HOME!!
It feels sooooo good to be at home. To be with your parents, siblings, the familiar routine, familliar smell of the kitchen, the familiar taste of food even as simple as banana fritters (a.k.a pisang goreng), the familiar humorous banter, the familiar laughter which is so typical, and of course, the food specially made by Bibi Marni which is just impossible to be duplicated.
And to put an icing on top of it, I have NO schedule, NO obligation, NO task, basically nothing to trigger my notorious uptightness.
I still wake up early though. It's such a waste to spend this holiday on bed. But it's also my only chance to have an eight-hour sleep everyday. Undisturbed.
I guess I have to really treasure this period before I start with exams, assignments, projects etc etc etc at school, which is starting next July.
For those in Jakarta, I am sorry if I haven't contacted you. Hahaha my laziness still enjoys its heyday... so forgive me, please.
PS: Man, this pisang goreng is just soooo good.
And to put an icing on top of it, I have NO schedule, NO obligation, NO task, basically nothing to trigger my notorious uptightness.
I still wake up early though. It's such a waste to spend this holiday on bed. But it's also my only chance to have an eight-hour sleep everyday. Undisturbed.
I guess I have to really treasure this period before I start with exams, assignments, projects etc etc etc at school, which is starting next July.
For those in Jakarta, I am sorry if I haven't contacted you. Hahaha my laziness still enjoys its heyday... so forgive me, please.
PS: Man, this pisang goreng is just soooo good.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Diary of an Unemployed
So what did I do on my first day of unemployment?First thing, finally I wake up after 7am *grin*. Showered, had breakfast, read newspaper and chit chatted with the owner, well, the usual stuffs.
Did my laundry, then continued with my painting at the backyard. Man, it was hot. And a nearby house is undergoing its renovation which is soooo noisy. Can you imagine that that sound replaces the earlier sound of birds chirping? A spoiler, but we can’t help it.
Had lunch (fried rice and egg – a simple one), packing up my painting stuffs. Had another shower and off I went to Suntec when it started drizzling. Luckily it only rained buckets after I got on the bus. Sometimes I think God loves me too much, it can even be in minute-detail.
In the bus I started reading the book that my boss and his wife gave to me as a farewell gift. KNOPPIX HACKS, (and check this also) a book about LINUX programming and all the wonders you can do with it (that I am still yet to explore). Another ex-colleague gave me a bookmark with initial ‘P’ which is for my middle name – the one non-Indonesians normally choose to call me.
My main purpose to go to Suntec is to visit the PC fair and buy something from it, something that I really need. I thought I am clever by avoiding weekend, lunch-hours and after office hours. But the fact is, Suntec was a human ocean today. The PC fair is REALLY crowded. It was like everybody tried to shuffle brochures and surveys to you. Smiling politely to refuse will just tire you down. So I just grabbed the thing I need, paid and went off. Then I went down to level 4 which is holding a World Book Fair. No wonder Suntec is really really really full of people today. I even thought that some people purposely take leave for these fairs. I went out from the hall carrying few new books. Sigh. Really can’t control my lust over books.
Then I went to buy the nice gelato that I’ve mentioned previously. I tried pineapple and pistachios. I still prefer the After Eight though, but this gelato’s still a cut above the rest compared to others.
Went to Carrefour to buy some groceries then had my dinner at Subway. This is my only permitted fast food and I just love it soooo much. It tastes so fresh.
Then, agaiiiiin… I was suddenly in the middle of human ocean again, at the bus stop!! The one just in front of Suntec Convention Center. I saw the taxi queue is snaking. And after people get off the buses, the previously packed buses were almost empty. Which means that almost all the passengers are heading to Suntec.
I simply can’t imagine how is it during weekend… Or will it be better since all kiasu people have come on weekdays?
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