Bloody Bidding System

Don’t get me wrong I ain’t complaining, I got what I wanted (:p).

Apparently $11.84 in e-dollars is pretty much about it when I tried bidding for a particular module under the Global and Regional Studies category (credit goes to BabyMouse for the figure inspiration :D!). I am quite shocked to see that the minimum submission was actually only $10.00 e-dollars and the highest was $100.00 (talk about a lack of common sense :P). Anyhow I am relieved I did not deviate from the lowest amount too much.

I don’t understand why can’t they make life simpler by assigning us the modules, what a complete waste of time and effort AND deep analysis from previous bidding records..

So I got the module ‘Doing Business in China: Communication and Business Approaches’ which honestly, I don’t quite give a damn about (but it sounded edgier than ‘Tax Planning’ and other analogous modules). Christ why do we have to bid for these things when,

1. I don’t give a shit about investing in China
2. I don't even like China
3. In relation to the first and second point, I do not hate the Chinese as so
4. Even if I do go into China, I won’t need a separate course to prepare myself (besides my company would be in great state therefore I am expanding AND I could easily hire a Chinese correspondent).

I even got my ad ready.

5. I am Chinese for god’s sake (‘Doing Business in India’ would actually make more sense)
6. Factually, I don’t think my company would invent things that China will need
7. I don't even like the sound of "Made in China"
8. The laborers and factories in Korea are really getting cheaper so it's a good alternative
9. No business how to go China?
10. I can't imagine life in China

Anyway at least it fits well in my time schedule and I still get to keep Mondays free.

And anyway I am supposed to be celebrating since I am accepted so I do not have to go through the bid process again (and I get to complete this module with a couple of good friends I made :D). My first class starts tomorrow and perhaps, just perhaps, I will be convinced that this module could be useful after all.

But tell me, what are the odds?

The Lost World

I guess I have not been updating for awhile, reminisce of week one at school was unspeakable. Sure the building is impressive looking with its high tech features, polished white walls and grand “check-in”s, however, I thought it lacked that certain school feel, the kind of numbness you get when you go to lessons in a big campus. Other than attending countless seminars and passing by kids with multiple dress sense, I could be breezing though faculty to faculty like a corporate professional.

With an average class size of forty students per seminar, they should never have boasted that the teaching professionals were dedicated to a small group of students per class. If forty was "small", then tutorials at Singapore Polytechnic were like “tiny” since its head count would have totaled to approximately twenty. There were students from every milieu you can imagine; three quarters were filled up by the junior college kids and guys who returned from national service, divide the remaining quarter to number of international students and the remainder be students from different polytechnics. To facilitate the convenience and recognition of our professors, we had to display infamous A-4 tags folded into halves with our names and school we came from in front of our seats.

Challenge of the week: Be at the correct venue for different modules.

There is actually a distinction between seminar rooms and classrooms, just by the name itself suggested. Once I participated in a lecture for half an hour before realizing what was on the slides did not make sense. Extremely embarrassed to myself, I am in the wrong room. So the next day I decided to be ultra sure of the room I am supposed to be at by looking through my time schedule one too many times. The result was promising really (at least it was initially :p). I arrived early, and I am at Seminar Room 3.2 (and let’s ignore the fact that the hallway was completely empty). It was such an intense morning when the minute strikes and the hallway continued to be uncomfortably vacated, I began to dread for the worst; did I make a mistake again? A quick check with the display signs outside revealed that I had not mistaken the room number, I am indeed waiting at the right room at the right time, but at the wrong faculty building (eeekkkk :0!).

I don’t understand how some things can turn out to be so unfortunate. I don’t remember going through my first week like a klutz back when I was a freshman at the Singapore Polytechnic (and that institution was supposed to be many times larger than the current ground I’m standing :P!). I have to adapt quickly to the new concept, and hopefully be in time for the next class I’m going.


Title "The Lost World", courtesy of BabyMouse.

Give Me Back My Money!

I read an article about some dispute between unhappy booth vendors and the organizers of the Carnival@Marina event. It appears that the vendors were unhappy that potential customers and the public were not channeled to their area resulting in pitiable sales. In additional to the bad set up of each booth using poor quality flooring and fans were not provided, the angry mobs were petitioning for a full refund of their $1500 from the authorities for the eight day lease.


THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS PURELY THE WRITER’S OWN OPINION. PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU INTEND TO USE THIS MATERIAL FOR SUING OR UNAUTHORISED PUBLISHING,
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Seriously, these vendors need to rethink about their immature proclamation. They should realize that every business is a venture and there are countless risks involved. Since you have signed an agreement with the organizers to set up your stall in a scheduled area, there is really nothing you should not know about. Why blame them about the poor reception? Even if they are positive about the profits each store can possibly generate, shouldn’t these individual vendors have done their own market research? It leads one to wonder about the workings of these people, why complain about the loss and expect the committee for full money back? Do they suppose it’s like buying insurance and compensation is obligatory in an event of a no-show?

However, I do like to point out that perhaps better booth set up could have attracted the public’s attention and allow these vendors to work a little more comfortably in their positions. I empathize that these people have to standby their stores the whole day for eight days and yes, fans or other cooling devices are undeniably necessary.


THE VERDICT:

No, I do not think the store holders should be granted full refund for the very inopportune outcome. However, the organizers of the fine affair should compensate these people for their losses incurred, such as stocks damaged due to poor stall structural design. After all, I am sure an amount of $1500 should justify for a basic and reasonable architectural quality.

Could this be a belated centenary present for Singapore? I hope not.

False Facade

Since I was absent for a family get together yesterday at my grandmother’s place, Mom took the liberty to fill me in on what is going on with my cousin Eilese (not her real name) who everyone had not met for a long time. Eilese is one year my junior, was from college and is applying for a place in the Life Sciences faculty in the National University of Singapore. Apparently, her dad who is my uncle was trying to explain to everyone else why she did not make it to the Optometry course in the school and instead ended up with another (unimpressive in my humble opinion :P) science course. According to Mom, this is what he said.

“When they interview her for a possible place in Optometry, they asked her, ‘Why do you choose to study this particular course?’, and she said, ‘I don’t know..’ and that is how they decided against puting her through.. haha.”

Honestly, how many people bought his cover? I have absolute grounds to question his defense. How could someone not prepare before hand before going for an interview? Even if you are not familiar with the profession or course outline, the most basic question you would have prepared an answer would be a question that is directly in regards to why you select the job offer or course to study in the first place! It is like asking a medic trainee why he is considering a career working in the hospital as a doctor and he got so stumped and replies, “I don’t know lei?” instead of the more appropriate (and always conventional) “I would like to save precious lives and cure the ill” answer.

I wonder, how far will people go to whip up an overpowering excuse to save their reputation and change another person’s judgment? In this case, I can only conclude that if whatever my relatives said was true, then my cousin Eilese must have been one dumb freak who has never gone for an interview her entire life OR she thinks she’s an ultra student such that offers come to her naturally and interviews are like bonus get-to-talk-to-the-directors sessions OR simply that she did not have enough EQ to see that “I don’t know” is really a thank-you-that-will-be-about-it immediate response rejection. I wonder if two years of college life taught her anything about reality.

And if they are making up the whole pretext, they should buy a new life for wasting our time with the previous one. How “kiasu” will they go in terms of repute desperation? With folks like them, I can only imagine.

Wedding Cynicism

Trackback: The Not So Very Big Secret


Looks like the weekend is almost over again, certainly not a very interesting week before. Ever since Dad got his new Creative Neeon, he has been begging me to transfer tracks for him from his album collection into the tiny device, wholly optimizing it's five gigabytes of storage space. I am always amazed with people who load up to ten gigabytes of mp3s in their iPods and listen to them all at the same time. Are they on random shuffle mode? Or, have they mastered the incredulous art that enabled them to listen to many songs simultaneously? In my own player, I only have about four albums (and I haven’t even cleared the last one because I couldn’t get enough of the third one :P).

Just to update about the upcoming wedding event in my family, my I-am-getting-married cousin and I have not been in touch since the last time we talked over the phone (ever since I called her a “young lady with an old mindset” that is), near a month ago. I think she has this delusion that I am green that she’s getting hitched while I am still a loitering agent. Fantastic isn’t it? I wonder if I am in her agenda, if she still plans to bestow me the bridesmaid duty, (though honestly speaking) I am not really into that role in the first place anyway (I always thought bridesmaids looked ridiculous following behind the bride and groom, almost redundant). As if the blissful couple needs assistance to get up stage and make a toast in front of all their excited witnesses. Oh and the music they play at a wedding procession always reminds me of soldiers going into battle.

Our crazy younger cousin so wants to be her flower girl. Now will someone tell me what the hell is a flower girl (:P)? Are they the ones who will be throwing the bouquet of roses at the end of the ceremony back facing a bunch of love horns who would step on your feets to catch it, who can’t wait to get married (or be deluded that they are next in line to the wedding bells) and isn’t embarrassed to share their desperation with the rest of the world? So is there a “weed” guy? The one who opens the car door so that the groom can get out of his chauffeured sedan or be stuck in it forever (how interesting is that :p)? Oh wait, they call him "Best Man", don't they?

Whatever it is, I guess we can excuse all the silly formalities or daft traditional practices. After all, the human kind is known to spawn all sorts and forms of hoo-ha since the day they took over the world. Besides I am sure if I decide against becoming whatever I am supposed to be, my grandmother or very concerned (and alarmed) relatives will send me straight to see their shrinks, reason, for being disruptive and disorderly (because I am the second granddaughter in line so that makes me bridesmaid automatically).

I hate talking about weddings. Especially since I’m not the one getting married or have intention for that matter.

Happy 40th Birthday Singapore!

Ok my mood perked up considerably after catching the live telecast of the National Day parade happening in Padang. I am happier now (:D), especially so after watching the aerial display by the F5s and F16s, as well as the Chinooks with the national flag across the Padang as the national anthem is played. I always feel so homely every time I managed to catch a glimpse of them rounding my neighbourhood.

Oh and the display of military tanks and anti-air ground units going around Padang were absoultely spectacular, a fantastic and unbelievable rare treat!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!

Get the lowdown of this year's National Day happenings!
→ ChannelNewsAsia National Day 2005

Somber National Day

I am on a mood-swing rampage lately, particularly this weekend, yesterday and today. Happiness lasts shortly before I plunge into total darkness mode unsuspectingly. Not willing to surrender, I am trying very much to pamper myself with absolutely the smallest things. I have yet to see a single firework this August, and the roars of the Kallang wave that will happen at the Padang later this evening will probably fail to incite me this year.

Of all days, I have to feel like a total wreck on Singapore’s fortieth birthday. And the best part is this rotten mood comes naturally and I have no idea if it will dissolve by tonight because I cannot imagine a complete day feeling like this tomorrow.

I am so in need of major distractions in my life right now.

Carnival@Marina

For more information, refer to "Celebrate Singapore National Day Parade 2005!"