:: Tossed Salad and Scramble Eggs ::

Bear-Dog


In Big Island Hawaii'

:: Stuffy 11/29/2005 05:39:00 PM [+] ::
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Final Week, Finally!
Contemplating which bear-dog photo to put up, theres too many!

I haven't written a meaningful post for so long. But I'll try to give my two cents worth at this hour (3am).

As usual, my term passed at a glimpse and I hardly had any time to breathe. But I suppose this year's been different from the last in alot of respects. Perhaps the most obvious one is that I've been staying home more often, cooking more often (with a little precision - cooking more chinese meals more often) and of course, studying more often.

Even with being more settled down and laid back, I have always a cause for busy-ness. Theres work to be done because most of it counts for my degree. Theres always Latin and Ballroom which takes up almost 4 times a week especially when training for competitions or performances (big one coming up for One World Week), Economic Summit Exec meetings (am summit designer courtesy of photoshop, and am quite happy I managed to learn how to use it)and of course the new cell which has been tremendously fruitful and encouraging (many thanks to Hub's God-lead leadership).

And yes, I'm more than ready to go back after a year of being abroad. And I hear alot of you say : Oh so now you miss home huh? Of course, absence make the heart grow fonder *Wry smile at Zhi. Then again, going home too often makes less time for other things, not that I'm trying to taun next years internship.

When I go home, I hope to see change - changes for the better of course. And I can assure you, that you will see subtle changes in me, and I expect that. If I haven't changed, then I haven't grown in a year abroad and have probably learnt nothing then.

Am off to Kenya this weekend!

:: Stuffy 11/28/2005 07:08:00 PM [+] ::
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I took a well deserved break after completing next weeks essay. I was so bored I watched 3 movies and I was noseyly surfing around abit and this is what I found



This is a really cool pic of my cousin (thats why hes my cousin *beams), it looks like one of those Mediacorp artiste pics. Actually I think I know who took this pic.



And somebody is all dressed up for Christmas. Hahah, Santa bunny, so hurry down the chimney tonight! I remembered a pic with you and Helyn, but I forgot where is it though, did you take it down?



And this is my Bear-dog!

:: Stuffy 11/26/2005 12:34:00 PM [+] ::
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911

I bet at least half of you are guilty of having listened to 911 during your primary/lower secondary school days. Well, if I were 12 again, I'll be screaming and jumping up and down if I got tickets to see them, but last week when I heard that the there was a Latin and Ballroom social to the union to see 911, I had to ask them to repeat that again, because I thought the cheesy boyband group didn't exist anymore (like about 8 years ago).

Well, I'm going to see 911, since I'm obliged to go as part of my 'Equal Oppurtunities' duty to ensure that those who don't drink are not excluded when the drinking games start.

Hey, I can remember the lyrics ok...

:: Stuffy 11/24/2005 03:28:00 PM [+] ::
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Final Week

Am on the brink of compeleting my essay and posssibly starting on my regression or economics essay soon. Next week's the last week of school. Am going to Kenya on the 3rd Dec and I'll be back in Singapore on the 14th! So I'm starting to book my meet ups now.

Currently, I've got 17th/18th booked, 16th booked. And my 22nd till 4th Jan are entirely/most likely taken up. So that leaves me with erm - 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st.

Tat, is it suppose to be 17th or 18th? And whats the plan? Need to know by next week before I leave. Thanks!

:: Stuffy 11/23/2005 04:17:00 PM [+] ::
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How to make friends at Matthew Haag's office

S2.XX seems to be frequented by the few same few people every Tuesday. The long wait for professor Haag makes alot of time for conversation, and for the past 3 weeks, I've seen the same faces and got to know course mates and seniors alot better. I reckon I'll see the same faces again should I have to appear at his door next wenesday.

:: Stuffy 11/15/2005 12:47:00 PM [+] ::
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Academic Obstacles

I'm currenlty doing a paper on Product Differentiation. And for my own understanding of what I just learnt and for consumer(which is you) benefit, I would like to recap and organise.

I learnt that there are two types of product differentiation - Horizontal Differentiation where consumer preferences are ambiguous and uncertain, and Vertical Differentiation where all consumers prefer the best quality good given the constraints of income.

I'm suppose to discuss the developments of Horizontal Differentiation which first originates from Hotelling's Model where by drawing a line and locating two firms at both ends, the indifferent consumer is in the middle. (Given distance x, the indifferent consumer is at x/2 assuming that all consumers are uniformly distributed and that prices of both firms are given as the same). The idea is that the line of distance given by x is analogues to the varied consumer preference with two extreme ends. (for example, likeing sweet cornflakes and liking tasteless cornflakes)

The model then extends in several ways:
1)to a 2 stage game where given location, prices are set by firms.
2)Where location is costless and price is still set by firms
3) The inclusion of more than 2 firms
And countless others which I'm frantically finding the time to read through

Progressing from there, Sallop's model uses a circle instead of a line to show that there is an equilibrium despite having more than 2 firms. In point 3), there is a leapfrogging disequilibrium with more than 2 firms.

My main dilemma is about how many variation of the Hotelling development I am suppose to include. My difficulty lies in understanding the other variations from a few other industrial economists.

And then I have to compare it with other models of vertical intergration and give examples from, say the Economist.

My head is heavy, I'm going to bed and I'll think about it tomorrow.

:: Stuffy 11/13/2005 04:04:00 PM [+] ::
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Randoms

I've got 3 deadlines and a competition in 2 weeks time which I feel I'm not even half prepared and my instructor was so annoyed with us because we didn't practice, and we were so slow at getting even the basics right. Latin isn't even our forte and we're getting bad to worse at it. I seriously have no idea where I'm going to find the time to practice even though I'm now doing this 4 times a week, most of which is taken up by ballroom. This is not enough. We haven't even had time to practice Ballroom because of schedule clashes and this - made the previous private lesson unfruitful because so much time was wasted on routine steps. It quite left me so unsettled thereafter. I need to increase my practices next week but I also need to keep consistent with readings, problem sets, seminars and homework. And, keeping in constant prayer about the new bible study cell group that Hub is starting up.

I was quite in a dilemma really because I can only commit to one cell, either the 10:25 on campus cell which I have been grew quite comfortable with or to commit to the new cell which needs 'help'. Is that where God wants me to serve? But theres also another issue that this is probably (and should be) Hub's priority now. Which inevitably clashes with L&B again especially where competitions falls on a Saturday. So now our priorities clash. Which will be a huge problem because I've committed my time to L&B as an exec member. I do enjoy my post very much because I get to help the new beginners which is really rewarding because I feel happy to see that they learnt something new and enjoy it - I felt that way when I first started.

The more I think about it, the more things are obstructing. L&B is only a term time sport. But like every sport, if one loses momemtum, getting back on track is like starting from square one and to me, it is a waste of time when alot more could have been improved and accomplished should I keep in constant touch with it. Sometime, it annoys me that I can't practice without a partner because its not a sport I can do on my own. I spent 3 months on another continent from Hub and that adds to my obvious predicament that I need more practice. And what about Dec? Am I to go back to square one in Jan?

I shouldn't really take this too hard, and I know I haven't any reason too. But my motivation comes from not wanting to let my instructors down. Especially Betty because she has so much faith in us. Its because of that, that I absolutely cannot. disappoint her. I suppose its because I respect her character so much that I want to do it for her rather then for myself.

But like I said before its not a sport I can do on my own.

I do pray I'd get by the week.
"Even youths grow weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength..." Isaiah 40...

:: Stuffy 10/27/2005 04:45:00 PM [+] ::
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IMPORTANT

2006 Annual Gang Gathering

Listen up, Tat and I took the liberty to decide on this years gathering plans, but this is open to democratic majority vote. Since 24th and 25th falls on a weekend, we're deciding to hold it either on 17th or 18th at Tat's old place Merville Park because the place will be vacant (hes moving).

These are the things I need to know:
1. POTLUCK or HALAL RESTAURANT? Need to know restaurant(this is Zuck's job) and budget
2. NSFs have bookout problems, so I just need to know when you guys can confirm. Thara is flying in 13/14th/15th and I'd be in on the 14th Dec.
3. Attendance: I don't have everyone's email so if you happen to read this, do pass on the msg to the following people in big caps
Tat
Sam
ZUCK
Ruhan
KHAIRUL
Thara
ELS (ask if hes bringing ? )
REUBEN
SHIT (ask if hes bringing sylvia)
NADIAH
ZHAN
JAY
ZHI
Steph

Would you guys like to ask Jeanine and Suling (if shes back) along? I haven't seen them in a bit, if you're comfortable with that I'd do the asking. And Vivien?

If I missed anyone, just pop their names onto my tagboard and I'll add them.

Thanks
Steph

:: Stuffy 10/23/2005 09:01:00 AM [+] ::
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I decided to type something on a Thursday night because there isn't school tomorrow (except for dance classes), I'm also irritated that none of my credit cards are getting me my ticket to Kenya (Because my humble MINDEF funded account doesn't seem to work, and using my PARENTS funded account isn't an option because Kenya is going against my parents approval)and so I'm heavily annoyed.

This is quite a random topic, but nonetheless an intruiging one. My current International Relations seminar group is literally quite 'international'(people from all continents except the Americas)which can be a good thing, and can be a bad thing. But I'd like to use the word amusing for now.

Imagine you step in a UN forum debate where you have representatives from all over the world. The most powerful and the most miniscule of countries. Imagine then that there is a debate going on, whatever the motion may be. Then, imagine for a while that there is a 1st-3rd World divide, and then try to contemplate what the 3rd world nations might say to 1st world nations. What antagonisms may surface?

Thats what it is. I have it in a more watered down form.

I never realised how much we represent our countries. When someone makes a comment about Singapore's perculiar banning-chewing-gum tendencies, or about LKY's remark on Asian values, I feel nationalistic (or at the very least racially enthusiastic?) to speak out and perhaps at times, sound quite offensive.

Today, we went off tangent from the seminar topic on Realism and somehow ended up in a whirlwind of the 'Evils of Colonialism'. So Russia criticises China about Hong Kong and China lashes out its claims on it. (Singapore, trying to diplomatic keeps quiet.) But thats not all. The debate gets personal. Paskistan and India accuses the Western Europe contingent of exhausting their resources so much so that they are unable to develope fast enough in our present age. Not an accusation that we havent heard or read before in political journals. But to see it live in action has given me a new perspective - that is - As much as I'd like to think of Warwick as a University where academics trascend racial and national flaws and biasness, we are still very much influenced by our cultural environment. We see them as whites, we see them as arrogant and we see them having misconceptions about our nation. I recalled an ignorant Sweden commenting on how undeveloped South East Asia is (not was). And of course, I found that hard to swallow.


I'm not saying that everyone is like that. Sure we have European, Indian, American, Asian, Australian friends, but there are always these barriers of cultural distinction are formed because of our assumptions about the 'others'.

Only when you get to 'know' them, do they become human.

:: Stuffy 10/20/2005 04:14:00 PM [+] ::
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House and House Warming

I finally got my internet started up today in the comfort of my own room!

Last week was a very haphazard housewarming which we invited everyone over at the eleventh hour (literally) the day before. Of course, the freshers who were too free to do anything turned up and a good number of year twos, so we had a total of 20 people which was more than enough to make the house brimming with excitement.

The hours before evening was MAD. Got off the phone with pohpoh and rushed to Tesco and did some shopping with Hub. Jan did the cooking, Hub cleaned the surfaces and I was left with the toilet.

Proudly presented my new room with 300 pounds worth of furniture to everyone who came. The feedback on my decor skills was a mixture of positives (those who have good tastes) and negatives (those who can't appreciate sophistication *kidding). Mok said that my room was minimalist by nature and asked how in the world did I spend 300 pounds which could have paid for three quarters a term for a room at tocil accomodations. How upsetting. But nonetheless, I'm quite happy with my room being in the minimalist state cause this gives me more room to roll around.









My room warming. Year twos chilling in my room. It was great having everyone over.

:: Stuffy 10/18/2005 02:44:00 PM [+] ::
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Housemates Dynamics

Its very important to have housemates who compliment your personality and tolerate your idiosyncracies. Pohpoh and I realised that after a rude shock with Diana's housemate.

In 32 Pershore Place.co.uk housemate dynamics have been working quite well for the past two weeks. Of course, there can always be room for improvements. Like in a given hypotheitcal situation where Jan can keep in touch with her naval officer commanding habits by ordering a coma-syndrome Hubert to wake up for lectures. That way, he can get into the habit of keeping to the conventional 9 to 5 lifestyle. A win-win situation.

But apart that, my housemates and I have done the following:

1. Mass cookings (mostly done by Rainbow and Jim)
2. Buying IKEA furniture and spending an entire day fixing them
3. Betting on whoever is not at home ( they bet on my return from my L&B late night social, whether I'll be cabbing or walking along the graveyard path - and Hubert won against Jan. No prizes for guessing the correct ans.)
4. Bak Qwa on Hub's rendevous with a certain freshie.
5. Competition on who can successfully wake up Hub

Thats life off campus

:: Stuffy 9/30/2005 06:32:00 AM [+] ::
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News

Why is it that everytime I hear about little bits and pieces of news from Singapore, it always sounds as if it came out from the New Paper. At this rate, I think I'd be able to make a parody of Singapore news.

I heard about Nathan having to serve a 2nd term by default because the opposing candidate was not eligible. In a bid not to serve a 3rd term, he is campaigning for active participation of all citizens to run for Presidentship in the coming elections - a fat joke. A few months back, there was the NKF scandal and Mrs. Goh Cheok Tong's peanuts. Prior to this was about a racially-abusive scholar and an NUS undergraduate proposing to a classmate in lecture. I'm seeing a mild evolution of the ST becoming the NP.

:: Stuffy 9/23/2005 06:22:00 AM [+] ::
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Back to term time

I moved into my new home about a week ago, haboured a few illegal mainlanders whose houses weren't finished. Cleaned up the dust and bought some wallpaper for a few cracks in the drawer. By today all my housemates are back, they came by one after another. First Hub, then Rainbow and today Janice.

Me and Janice are hanging by MINDEF's noose this academic year, which probably means that more time spent at home and less time outdoors (out of UK borders). This gives me more reason to spend on furniture at IKEA when I get there tomorrow. New bed, new shelf, new chair with wheels, good lighting and a modern sleek couch chair. I decided that if I were to spend my time indoors more often I would need extra comfort, after all, last year I spent my time in a prison cell serving two terms (literally - Cyrfield was a women's prison converted to a dorm when the Uni started in 1958). Then moving to Claycroft didn't make much of a difference because of my noisy trance neighbour. So this year, I would have to recouperate my sanity, again, in comfort.

:: Stuffy 9/21/2005 08:42:00 AM [+] ::
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I am back from the New World and I am currenlty far away in the desolated meadows of Hampshire where my only mode of transport to the city is either by a London cab or by horse. The weather, although slightly warmer than berkeley, is still rather bleak.

Today I will spend the day at the indoor pool and then commence to the dinning area for lunch. Perhaps after tea I will soak myself in the marble bathtub or go clay pigeon shooting.

I will be catching a train to Coventry to set up my new apartment tomorrow.

:: Stuffy 9/14/2005 12:51:00 AM [+] ::
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US Fraternities

These are my Frat members - Beta Epselon Alpha Roe. I collected them from various theme parks and arcade claw machines with PohPoh.

:: Stuffy 9/14/2005 12:21:00 AM [+] ::
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The one thing I learn about America is that its citizens like wearing sweatshirts, especially the bears

:: Stuffy 9/07/2005 12:34:00 AM [+] ::
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Telegram

Dear Reader.stop. My blog is not comatose.stop. I've just been kept buy the past few months.stop. Just came back from Hawai'i and LA-Hollywood.stop. Will be going back to UK in a weeks time.stop. Steph.

:: Stuffy 8/31/2005 09:13:00 PM [+] ::
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Bonjour mes amis!

Desolee, Je ne ecrite pas mon blog parce que je n'ai pas de internet. Maintenant, Je suis a California, Berkeley. C'est une ville manifique. J'ai voyage a San Franciso, a Las Vegas, a Yosemite. Je vais tres bien!

Oui, apres summer school, je vais aller a Hawaii et Los Angeles.

Bises,
Steph

P.S: Forgive the lack of accents

:: Stuffy 7/26/2005 11:22:00 AM [+] ::
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On Farewells

One of the things about being in an offshore university is that you'll have to accept that people come and go, and when they go, you know that its your last parting.

I suppose I didn't miss JC much apart from the routine because I knew that I could come back and see friends and teachers as and when I liked (- I do have the convenience of living 5 mins away). After all, there are always reunions to reminisence about 'good ol' days'. But here, a farewell, is said in its essence. I know I won't see Marco and Valentina anymore when they go back to Milan. I won't see Helen any longer when she goes back to Paris. I was looking forward to seeing her this summer, but it wasn't really feasible considering that I'll be in the US. I'll probably miss having cook outs with her and hearing her passionate philosophy on food and having to remember her many authentic French recipes. The last thing she said before we bid farewell was, 'I hope you'll come to France, then I can make you practice your French!'

Then theres the 3rd Yrs Singys, but I suppose it isn't so bad saying farewell since its easy to meet up in Singapore. I will miss their presence here in Warwick. Won't see Shi ling and Wee Teck on Sundays, won't have Deqi to humour me with his bout of retardedness, won't see Weiliang tirelessly running off for another Christian Uninon event or in cell group meetings, won't see Jean to hang out at the piano room in the art centre. I just wonder whether there'll be enough next year to fill the vaccum.

But it made me think about what it'll be like in another two years time when we graduate and say our farewells to our international friends. I probably won't see Rainbow, Eric and Soph. I won't see the Thai guys, I won't see Leor, nor Anjili or James or Tina or Mukul or a whole bunch of others.

The thing about reunions and gatherings. It is a mechanism which lets the memory fade over time, so it cushions the impact of having a sudden void. This is different, because when you get back, your environment changes and everything that has been going on for the past three years has been a distant memory. Sometimes I fear it will seem like an inkling of a surreal sub-reality dream.

Still, I guess the most fortunate thing was having had a passing glimpse of knowing so and so in your life and having appreciated their time with you for that mere moment. I suppose the constant linger of reunions does sometimes kill the image that is bygone when people change and get along in different ways. It is nice to keep up with everyone and see how they get along, but its nice too that you leave that chapter behind and get on with life, just remembering them as they were in that moment.

:: Stuffy 6/06/2005 04:13:00 PM [+] ::
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Notes and Keys

Was killing time at the art centre piano rooms with Janice before watching a play after we ended our papers. Taught her a few notes here and there, or whatever I could, after being such a failure as a teacher for the past few months.

Played that simple song in C major when the pianist in the room beside me started playing the song as well ( you could hear what the other room was playing because the walls are so thin). It amused me quite abit, and since it was a duet, I played the accompaniment. I didn't know who the pianist was, but his appeggios reminded me of my paddling partner Eugene- another gifted pianist.

And then I played a piece from The Phantom of the Opera, then I stopped, and he played where I left off. Janice and I were just laughing and commenting how nosey (Kpoh) he was. After awhile, he stopped, and then someone opened our door, looked at us two chinese girls and then said 'Oh sorry', then slammed the door shut and walked off. And then the playing continued again, he played on of my favourite pieces, Rhapsody in Blue.

We had another 15 mins to kill, so we thought we'll just go knock on the neighbouring door and see who it was. We just said 'Oh sorry'. But I couldn't help but compliment his playing, so I told him he played beautifully and asked him if he was in the Warwick Big Band.

It became awkward because he started turning red, and being a white, it was quite obvious - this I know from my own experience. He flustered and stammered, perhaps quite annoyed that he was interrupted from his playing, perhaps it was just the sudden compliment. Anyway, I said that we won't disturb him any longer, but just that I hope to hear him play sometime again at the art centre.

And then we left the awkward moment to linger.

:: Stuffy 6/05/2005 03:28:00 PM [+] ::
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Today I walked with someone in the rain...

Started to rain just before I stepped out to take a paper at the Butterworth Hall, so I took my umbrella with me before I left. Noticed a lad infront of me without an umbrella, so I quickened my steps and then offered him to share my umbrella with me. I can't remember how he looked and never asked his name, but from my conversation with him, hes Swedish, in his final year in mech E and wants to find a job in London, and plays badminton. Got a little drenched since my umbrella wasn't really large enough, but it feels good when you take the initiative to help someone. I suppose its the least I could do for all the help I've always been so blessed to receive.

:: Stuffy 6/01/2005 11:44:00 AM [+] ::
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Question: What do Lim Lai Cheng and Lee Phui Mun have in common?

Apart from being JC principals (although the latter has retired), the both of them have Friendster accounts. I was highly amused that Lai Cheng has a Friendster account with the 481 'friends' on her list being TJC students, the other extra 1 happens to be Phui Mun.

My amusement wasn't to the point of being shocked. Actually, this is quite typical of our managerial, corporate-styled Mrs Lim as we'd known her to be. After all, she did fox-fly down to the assembly ground for the media when I was in J1. The account is, by all attemps, very professional, especially her bid to show a very charismatic 'Tony-Blair-lets-lead-the-people-power' photograph. I think the New Paper should do a report on this one.

What I found interesting was that her 482 'friends' did not comprise of any other JC principles except for Phui Mun. Phui Mun? Yes, Lee Phui Mun, former VJC principle who 'still holds the reigns of VJ even after she has passed her time' (quoted by a certain student of the school). One cannot help but find it very difficult not to sense the underlying implicit political connotations of having Phui Mun there as a 'friend'.

So lets contrast. Phui Mun's accounts has only 2 'friends' - Lai Cheng and a mass VJC affliate account, with no testimonials; Lai Cheng, in stark contrast, has 482 'friends' and a few testimonials to reflect the 'people's approval'. If this was a voting scheme, then Lai Cheng would have won by a landslide. As for the slogans on the icons, Lai Cheng has a very patriotic 'I love TJC' and a profile expressing her 'Passion, Purpose and Drive' for 'College, for Nation'. Phui Mun on the other hand, has the same icon slogan with the additional 'no one can take VJ away from me'. Her profile is perhaps one of the eeriest I've seen and as I read on, Joel's (Lim) VS-VJ conspiracy theories seem all the more realistic. One can only suspect that if the account is truly authentic, then Phui Mun must have had a family history of being close associates of the Stalinist Soviet Union regime.

The authencity of Phui Mun's account can be called to question. I was only half believing what I read, but I will leave it to the reader's discretion as to whether the words were actually from the horse's mouth. Considering that she was a 'friend' of the VJ mass account, it could be plausible that someone has been up to some mischief, but given that Lai Cheng has also added her on to her list, this could mean two things. Either Phui Mun's account is authentic and that the both of them are close associates (a bleak truth) or by JC politics, Lai Cheng is setting a contrast. After all, every political campaign must have its sense of rivalry.



In other news, Mr Huam has a good critical perspective on University Rankings. Eh, sorry haven't reply to your mail, will do so after my papers.

:: Stuffy 5/28/2005 03:29:00 PM [+] ::
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And heres to Oliver and his vodka...


'We drink one another's health and spoil our own.' - Jerome K. Jerome

Cheers mate, I found this out of a quote book about The Joy of Food and Drink and I got it off for a pound.

:: Stuffy 5/19/2005 06:31:00 PM [+] ::
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Bureacracy: Response

Pardon my incoherence, I have excuses for it but they are the least bit important. But, nevertheless, let me clarify myself.

*I am under the assumption that bureaucratic elites are utility maximisers and will not put any isue on the political agenda which is against their interest.
*The notion of pluralism is in reference to the bureaucracy(as titled), not civil society. In part, this is my fault because I used the word 'regime' which is misleading.
*'Those who agree with the existing form of governance would be those who have benefited from the system, and as all individuals are utility maximisers, we seek to maintain our own status quo. But there is a large majority which do not benefit.' This is in reference to civil society.
*My question was: How is policy constrained by bureacracy?
My answer was socialization which causes information to be interpreted in a single line of thought or idealogy, thus hindering creativity. Hence I asked if it was possible to ever have
'Would alternative strands of political values or ‘way-of-doing-things’ provide a better option, is it even possible to provide alternative strands of political values in a bureaucracy?'
My answer was no, because elites have their own political agenda which they will not let anything get in the way of their interest hence, they will not let certain issues in civil society get onto the political agenda simply because they have the power to do so.

The last two paragraphs were incoherent. I didn't develope it well enough because I wasn't about to write a 2000 essay. But in essence, those who agree with the existing bureaucracy are those who have benefited from it, while those who disagree have not. (Continue) Those who benefit from it grow in strength and strive to maintain their dominance. Those who do not benefit fall back politically challenged. If this is the case, an obvious 'social cleavage' will follow. ( I do base this on several assumptions, although you may argue with me that this line of thought may not follow in a meritocratic society)

Dear BH, you said that disatisfaction with the bureaucracy was a result of 'the lack of transparency'. Agreed. But I see transparency as a secondary issue to utility. The main reason why we want transparency is to ensure that the government(or their bureaucracies) will be accountable for their actions. Why would we want them to be held accountable? This is obvious. We want to ensure that they are doing their job, that is, to benefit society. Hence, our primary objective is still to maximise our utility.

Political apathy could be used to blame civil society for not raising their demands. Agree, and I do thank you for raising this. But I have a question. Does political apathy mean the willingness to follow whatever the government offers because after weighing the cost and benefit of raising political demands, civil society (in reference to those who do not yet benefit from the government) sees that there is nothing they can do because it is nearly impossible to change the political culture of the government's bureaucracy and thus move certain issues up onto the political agenda?

I know its not fair to leave you tagging on such a small space and marginalising your freedom of speech. If you've felt I've done a great injustice to the hypothetical regime, by all means, email me: vapourize@excite.com and we will pick this up.

Steph

:: Stuffy 5/18/2005 12:43:00 PM [+] ::
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On Bureaucracy

The term ‘draconian regime’ might sound a little far fetch and somewhat rude to the likes of every citizen of that country. I’ve personally never liked that term, neither am I an enthusiast for answering chewing gum related questions. I never understood why those Westphalian democratic peace loving countries always thought that this ‘draconian regime’ was an iron hand apart from the fact that it caned Michael Faye, banned chewing gum, shoved Nick Leeson in jail (surprisingly without canning), and practices ( or has been accused of practicing) nepotism.

Because of diplomacy, it has never really been explicitly said that the nature of that country’s bureaucracy condemns it to being a little more than dictatorial. Its officials and ministers are from a particular social and education background and it has been that way since its independence. As every political science textbook would have you know, the concept of socialization into a particular political culture proves relevant in explaining how this typifies a bureaucracy. These values play a part in socializing officials in line with bureaucratic goals and objectives. This then reinforces organizational control and regulation which only rewards conformist behavior.

How then is policy constrained by bureaucratic behavior? Theoretically, newly elected politicians may be provided with limited policy options, which explain why policy changes have always been incremental and developing in a gradual way consistent with orthodox mainstream policies. What then for a regime which elects its politicians based on the core basic values of a sole political party? How this form of government implements its policies is subjected to one’s good opinion of whether it is the best available decision possible. But let me play the devils advocate.

As mentioned before, its officials are chosen from a particular social background and this is probably justified through the need for a strong government based on cohesion of values and beliefs. Question: Would alternative strands of political values or ‘way-of-doing-things’ provide a better option?

Those who agree with the existing form of governance would be those who have benefited from the system, and as all individuals are utility maximisers, we seek to maintain our own status quo. But there is a large majority which do not benefit. There are issues which need to be addressed and yet do not find themselves on the political agenda simply because this regime lacks pluralism. What creates further doubt that we would ever be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel is the bleak fact that new officials will still continue to be chosen and socialized into the orthodox political culture (the means of which are highly obvious).

I do not arguing for revolutionary change. Although this regime is based on meritocracy, it is still more capitalist than it is socialist and this perpetuates the interest of the dominant class more than it takes into account the social ills of the less-heard-of.

* I have predictions as to the response half of which I will probably not be surprised at. But this was good practice for next weeks politics paper.

:: Stuffy 5/14/2005 06:45:00 PM [+] ::
...

Drinking coffee over Diana Krall and Frank Sinatra

The title doesn't have any relevance to the post, I'm just listening to my collection, wishing I had an espresso shot, wishing I could do a proper foxtrot.

I moved again because my next door trance-music neighbour annoyed me bad. In British sense, he is just 'thick' (stupid). After three warnings, his thickness grew out of proportion, so I had to move. The accomodation lady saw me for the fifth time and my intuition tells me that she thinks I'm a reclusive noise-intolerant nut. Now I can't see Jacky and Alan, I can't talk to Reish and Bear can't play with Mukul.

:: Stuffy 5/09/2005 01:18:00 PM [+] ::
...

How Interesting...

I was in the kitchen when my new PRC flatmate actually broke into Chinese while speaking to me. Its hardly the case that a PRC would actually speak to a Singaporean in his mother tongue, especially me, given my not-so-fluent use of the language; but he spoke to me like he would have spoken to our other PRC flatemate. I'm honoured.

---------------------

"i met my els and zak - two very Latecomers who apparently could not drag themselves off the bed after a very late friday night....with us jamming at my playstation two and, for a very brief moment, tension as zak thought he screwed up my console. sam made a special appearance and we went down my house for soccer with my neighbours, which proved to me more of a good workout than a waste of time. dinner at afganistan was nice as both of us started talking about old times and after that, it was back to my house for live soccer matches and playstation 2 (again!). they left late - or rather, i held them back till quite late - at about half past midnight and i slept till eleven this morning. (note: incoherence here.)" - Excerpt from Eng Tat's blog

Seems like any usual day. Dear Tat, if I were around, I wonder when will I make my entrance, and I wonder, what will I say? I'm sure you guys know me too well to speculate. *wry smile

Steph

:: Stuffy 4/28/2005 04:12:00 PM [+] ::
...

Hokkien phrases with CHIA in them.. my hokkien very the powder one ok..dun thk even the ah lians can beat me in that... =p


Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Hokkien Way
Not say I say what II
boh CHIA png
Literally, Hokkien for "have not eaten rice". Used to describe someone as physically weak.
"Wah lau, like that also cannot carry! You boh chiak png, ah?"

CHIA lat
(tjia laht)
Hokkien adjective literally meaning "to eat strength". Means that a task is onerous and consumes one's energy. Can sometimes be used to denote being in trouble.
1. "Wah, climbing up the hill along hearst avenue is damn chia lat, if stuffy here, she sure cannot tahan one."

CHIAk buay liao
(chia'h bway leow)
Hokkien phrase meaning "cannot finish eating". It means to have come into great, unending fortune.
"Wah, the american servings here all so big, lidat i chiak buay liao man...but nvm, there's still R*****L!"

CHIAk chow
(chia'h chao)
Hokkien phrase literally translated as "eating grass". It is used to describe impoverishment, and thus doing without.
"I spent all my money on my sports coupe (my new car), so now I have to chia'h chow till pay day."

CHIAKk hong
(chia'h hong)
A Hokkien phrase which literally translates as "eating wind". It means to go on a holiday.
" my new car, the engine very powderful, when u come to cali i bring u go chia'h hong k.."

CHIAk kantang
(chia'h kahn-tahng)
Literally: "eating potatoes". A pejorative expression used to describe an Asian who speaks with a Western accent.
"wah, she go america come back then chiaK kantang liao, the accent sibeh POHser man."

CHIA KUAY-KUAY (steady, steady, pom pee pee)
(chia'h koo-eh loo-eh)
Literally translated from Hokkien as "to eat over and over", this phrase is used to describe achieving a crushing victory, and is often said with a mixture of confidence and arrogance.
Ah Beng: "Wah lao, today the stats paper only 2 questons also si beh difficult, leh."
Ah Lian: "Ai tzai lah, I got study, chia'h kuay kuay one"
See also: Sure Can One

CHIAk pah boh sai pang
(chia'h pah boh sai pahng)
Hokkien expression which literally translates as "Finished eating, no shit to excrete". A phrase used to denote that someone is frivolous and has too much timeon one's hands.
"Why must you( refering to my fren Govindasamy singh) always come and disturb me? Chia'h pah boh sai pang!"

gor CHIAm tua kuay gu chia leng
Hokkien phrase which literally translates as "five cents bigger than a bullock cart's wheel". Used sarcastically to criticise someone for thinking that his/her money is worth a lot.
"Wah, ur boyfren come all the way here u only buy him the 9 pound coach ticket.. 5 hrs train ride man...You gor chiam tua kuay gu chia leng ah?"

pah CHIAo
A Hokkien term which literally translates as "beat bird". It either describes someone with a squint or being 'cockeyed', or is used to scold someone for inability to see properly. One wonders whether the term was derived from an activity that is often said to cause its practitioners to go blind.
"That "PANDA BEAR" there so big and round u also cannot see, u must be pah CHIAo man.."
AH HUAY

:: Stuffy 4/26/2005 05:56:00 PM [+] ::
...

On Humility
Just a thought.

When one has an exceptional ability, would one be envied? Most likely
When one is envied, do most people take it to spite? Perhaps, but not necessarily.

Point being: Whether one has an exceptional ability (artistic, athletic, academic or practical). That is not measured by the exception of one’s ability as much as how one carries one’s talent with him. Human respect is not given by sole branding or mere talent. It is earned and granted over time by one’s character. And so the biting fact: It is of a lesser excuse (or no excuse at all) to say that others are simply resentful of what talent you have – that is mere arrogance. Would it not be better to evaluate the character and humility of thyself?

I'd like to think that although the world is not fair, it is made just by God and everyone is capable of something no matter how great or small. I suppose sometimes the smallest things matter more than bigger ones.

:: Stuffy 4/24/2005 02:20:00 PM [+] ::
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Not say I say what

Today, jalan go Edwin place then found out my Lao Hiah full blooded hokkien, wah, nur wunder his 'kkien damn hiong.

But how I know one? Sit in his room do ploject until du lan then end up juo bo, use intehnet and go talkingcock.com. He say, he spend four hour at learning grid* chiong hrough the whole site. Now I know where all his 'mai hiam' crap come from, wah lau. Navy got teach, then Lim Peh ka li kong. So impressive. I think if he everyday jio me gimme 'kkien tuition, I also tio awready.

But when I ask him, then he reply ''kkien yiah boh? you ang moh pai leh you'

What to do? Must cunvert mah, then he and I can more gum. Wah lao, now ler eh ang moh kei ao. Then tomolo must do essay. Sian.

FAT Ah Lian

*Warwick University house where students go to be chao muggers

:: Stuffy 4/20/2005 03:44:00 PM [+] ::
...

Morocco Hitch (Spring) 2005
Greece- London – Spain - Morocco



When I was younger, I used to dream of going on some great archeological expendition just like that of Lord Carnarvon, Fransisco Pizarro or that of Herman Cortes. Traveling in Europe has been an experience in itself, but globalization has made our intergration into Western culture almost a norm – nothing very new or exciting. Hiking on the accounts of Charity to Morocco in the company of Janice and Deqi (now hailed as Fatimah and Ali Cous-cous respectively) has been something valuable and an almost priceless experience.

Almost with a tinge of guilt, my impression of Morocco was first colored by media coverage of the UN helping to salvage Third World Poverty (that anywhere in Africa must be always be painted with a picture of sick and diseased children begging for food and money). And then there was the hearsay about Morocco being a place full of cheats and beggars out to con the first tourist they see getting off the bus. And not to forget terrorism; media coverage of Arabs in turbans (often represented by the Taliban) threatening a suicide bombing in the name of jihad. How wrong we were; or perhaps how lucky we were to have an entirely different experience.

In my chronology, I hope, my dear reader, I could touch you with warmth and hospitality of this beautiful country as well as the people whom we hitched a ride from.

Day 1 – 8/04/2005 Portsmouth
Boarded ferry to Bilbao at 9pm
Stopped at London after Greece and spent the night before at Kai Lun’s preparing for Morocco Hitch. Janice and I met Deqi at London Victoria station and we took a coach down to Portsmouth to catch a Ferry to France. Apparently missed the Ferry to France and after much discussion, we decided to take the 2 nights 1 day Ferry to Bilbao – Spain instead. Well, that was part and parcel technically cheating since we missed hiking in France entirely, but our objective was to get to Morocco as quick as possible and spend more time there since Deqi had an exam and school starts Monday after next; managed to get a great reduction on the ticket price after telling the lady at the counter that we were hiking for charity.

While waiting to board the ferry, Janice spoke to a family who happened to be on a land rover expedition going to Morocco via Spain. That was just it! It was what we needed. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough space since their vehicles were all packed up. We did however, receive word that there were 17 land rovers on board the ship.

Day 2 – 09/04/2005
On Board ferry (full day)
Went around the ferry asking everyone and anyone if they were going South of Spain in a vehicle and whether there was space enough to take the three of us down to the coast. We didn’t have much luck asking lorry drivers since most of them could only take 2 passengers and some others were told by their company not to take any hitch hikers. As for the other passengers on board the ship, some weren’t going our way and other didn’t have any space on their vehicle to take on excess baggage. There were passengers who supported our cause and gave us a donation – an excessively generous gesture.

Our lucky break came when the family going on the Morocco expedition found us another expedition team going to Morocco as well. They had space and they were willing to take us there. That’s when we met Dave and Fiona who did travel expeditions as a living. By coincidence, Fiona happened to be a financial administrator at Warwick up until last year. I suppose hearing that the three of us from Warwick made her inclined to helping us. Dave (a Scotsman) reminded me of one of those movie stereotypes of the stern hard man with a hidden heart of a philanthropist. When we first met him, we were greeted by scrutiny, even before a formal greeting. ‘First, let me see your passports, your travel documents and your charity sponsorship’. I didn’t feel threatened, simply because I liked the meticulous character, and somehow that introduction rest assured me that someone was serious about helping us. I couldn’t help laughing in relief once we had secured a ride – that was our first blessed moment without realizing that there were many more to come.

Scenery on board – the Atlantic Ocean
The sun was brightly shining at midday while we were resting on the open deck. The image was beautiful and serene. The waves looked like a sea of erupting volcanoes in slow motion and as the sun set later in the evening it was as if God had spray painted the sky beginning at the horizon; first with a layer of white, then yellow fading into orange and finally covering it with a backdrop of light blue fading into the dark blue sky.

Day 3 10/04/2005
Road trip down Spain
Disembark from ferry at 9am and head down south of Spain. Dave and Fiona had three land rovers. Deqi followed Dave and me and Janice followed Simon and Dan, a couple of brothers who were on the expedition with Dave and Fiona.

Spent the whole day traveling towards the south of Spain. Janice started complaining that we were too comfortable and this was too good to be true; that all we ever did was sleep and stop for coffee breaks along the way. My sentiments exactly, I wondered to myself what am I going to tell everyone if we made it back home after Morocco; ‘We went on a hitch hike to Morocco, we took a ferry to Spain, got a ride from someone going to Morocco and we ended up there – well that’s about it I guess’.

Arrived at a campsite in the evening in the Spanish town St Elena. This is the one time we actually used our sleeping bags and if not for the tent that Dan and Simon lent us, we would have frozen to death.



Day 4 11/04/2005
Leaving the land rovers, multiple Hitch Hikes down to Algeciras
Dave and Fiona were headed for the south-est coast of Spain – Malaga but they crossing over to Morocco until the following day. We decided to break away from them at Malaga and continue to the port of Algerciras. Before we left, Dave gave us some advice on where to go in Morocco, and if not for him, we probably wouldn’t have such a good experience in Morocco. Dave quite reminded me of Gandalf and we’re like the hobbits on a mission to Morocco, he certainly was a fatherly figure and if ever he has kids of his own, they’ll be a lucky bunch.

And so we left them at a service station near Malaga and tried to get another hitch towards Algerciras. It took us an hour before we got a lift from a mid 50s Spanish construction worker with a good tan. While we were cruising down the coast area of Southern Spain, it reminded me a lot of those movies with California’s long beach; the palm tree, the beach houses and people clad in tank tops. I guess people like him had 3 day work weeks and the rest of the time was just used for bumming around in the Mediterranean sun. Quite a good life, I shall note southern Spain as a potential retirement home.

He dropped us off at San Pedro and went on his way. It didn’t take us long to get another hitch from a British national staying in Spain who smoked weed and looked like he was half drunk to take us another 20km down to Estapona. I’m not a sucker for cleaniness, but his car was in a dingy dusty state and his dog was flea infected, so much so that every time it shook, I could just imagine those buggered things jumping onto me. What was highly amusing wasn’t the state of his car but when asked what kind of music we listened to; I expected loud heavy metal music. I was proven wrong when he started blasting classical compositions – something which went along the lines of Mozart, Schubert and Bach. There was just one word to describe people like that – eccentric – or in a more crude term – crazy.

At Estapona, we waited in vain for an hour at a petrol station (Shell if you’d like to know), but after much discouragement we walked another km until we reached some private housing. For awhile, it reminded me of home. We managed to get a lift from a British national who also stayed in Spain and sold cars for a living. He got us down just before Algerciras and we were just 20 mins away from the port. The final lap was taken by taxi but we still missed the ferry by 5 mins.

Day 5 12/04/2005
Crossing the border into Morocco
Today was milestone. After staying the night in Algerciras we ferried across to Ceuta (on the African continent but Spanish owned) and bussed down to the border of Spain and Morocco. The sight at the border was amazing and it was a pity I couldn’t take any pictures due to tight security. Once we crossed the border, only Arabic and French were spoken.

Scenery – at the border
The sight was nothing like that in Europe which I have ever seen. There were three long divisions at the side of the road which looked like 3 narrow cages. In them were people, mostly old hunched backed women, packed like animals moving through immigration. The narrow cages led up to a hill where, from behind the walls of the immigration barrier, we saw men and women staggering up the rocky slopes. Many of them were carrying heaving goods on their back, a kind of primitive manner which one normally sees in less developed countries. The atmosphere was claustrophobic, but it was fascinating. This was daily living.

In accordance with the negative hearsay we made sure that we were on high alert in every sense of the word. Took a taxi down to Tetuan and then to Meknes( 5 hrs) and down to Erfoud (10 hrs).

On the bus on our way to Meknes, Deqi started talking to 3 Moroccans - Brahmin, Aziz and Fahtimah . They knew only French and Arabic, and we knew only English.



Experience – Language barriers
And perhaps it was only then I realized that the magic of humanity lies in our ability to communicate with one another despite language being a barrier. We don’t have to speak the same language to learn about one another. Our actions, expressions and our creativity have allowed us to transcend language barriers and strengthen our sense of communication. And as proven, actions always speak louder than words.

Fatimar taught Deqi and I how to count in Arabic and a few other Arabic words. To pass the time away on the coach, we pointed at objects and asked ‘Arabic?’ and ‘Francais?’ and in turn, we told them the ‘Anglais’ translation. Despite difference in culture, this is one time I am thankful for Westernisation.. The Moroccan boys exclained ‘Jean Clad Vandame’, and then remembering that he was French, I exclaimed back ‘ Celine Dion’ and they repeated her name in acknowledgement. They were much amused at us Singaporeans as we were of them. And then they asked Deqi as best as they could in English if he would send them a British postcard when he got back.

Day 6 13/04/2005
Reached Erfoud at 4am. Trip into the Sahara.
Scenery – on the evening coach to Erfoud
While we sat on the coach on its way to Erfoud, we watched the sun set and the stars appear. The night sky was cloudless and it was like an astronomer’s dream to see the stars so clear that I thought them unreal in the night sky. I wish I knew how to read the constellations which were brimming and there was simply nothing blocking its well defined patterns.

I would never forget the sight we saw when we reached Erfoud at 4am in the morning. The streets were empty as if not a soul had existed in the town. There were no homeless, just a blank street ahead. We hurried on our way knocking on every door of any hostel or hotel we found but we were lucky that it didn’t take long to find a good accommodation and arranged for transport into the Sahara desert – Erg Chebbie as recommended by Dave.

At 6am, we headed to Erg Chebbie for a four hour Camel ride into the desert oasis where people lived in tents.

Scenery – Sahara Desert
I have never seen finer sand than that in the Sahara. It was magnificent and dramatic, almost surreal. I was reminded of the movie ‘The English Patient’ and remembered the hero was a Hungarian map maker in the Sahara Desert. When the wind blew, the sand was so smooth that it looked like waves washed up on the sea shore and then gently sloping down the highest sand dunes like water until it formed layers of ripples on the leveled ground. The sand dunes lay in multitudes, some small and insignificant, and others vast and deep. Our guide took us to the small village near the oasis where people lived in tents. He was a villager whose life evolved around bringing tourist to his village to experience his simple way of life. What I saw was just a glimpse of life in a desert, but even that was commercialized.

When asked where was the toilet, Mohammed looked at me and said, its everywhere and then he went off laughing. They had no medication, but I saw a French lady (possibly a volunteer worker) bandaging a Berber’s foot using only washing powder detergent as her only medication. And yet, our guide, Mohammed, had a twinkle in his eye whenever he spoke of his Berber tribe and their life in the desert. It wasn’t easy getting by since every morning, the villagers (which only comprised of 20 people) would go into the town area of Merzouga for work, but they get by as well as they could. Mohammed looked content with his life there, it was what he knew, it was his home.

In the open desert, we could vaguely see nomads with their camels, but we had no interaction with them neither were we able to get a close look at them. A pity, I would liked to have seen how they looked like and what was their way of life.







Day 7 14/4/2005
Overnight coach to Meknes and Meknes city
On our way to Meknes, we met a new friend. We were first approached by Abdelatif while waiting at the bus station for the coach. When he first approached us, we hesitated thinking he was out to con us with his over friendly approach. He asked if we were going to Casablanca (which was his destination) and wanted to know where we were from. We didn’t trust him on first sight. As travelers inexperience with the culture and norm we didn’t know what to expect and feared the worst.

I noticed something perculiar. He had a crossword puzzle in his hand and it puzzled me to think that if he were a conman, it would be quite an amusement that he should be holding on to a crossword puzzle. He boarded the bus with us and sat next to Deqi. We slowly warmed up to him and spoke to him. He was a student trying to find work in the financial sector in Casablanca ( the commercial hub of Morocco). He studied English from an American teacher at a French Corp which helped developing nations. What made us so ashame to have doubted him was his kind gesture of finding us a taxi and speaking to the driver to get us to a cheap hotel when we arrived in Meknes before continuing on his way to Casablanca.

While on board the coach, we learnt more Arabic words from him and Deqi taught him some Chinese words. He struck me as a bright young man with high ambitions of making it big in the city away from his small town village in Erfoud.


Meknes City
Did I tell you that Janice broke a cup at the bus station café on the way to Erfoud? Well we went back to the café to say ‘hi’ to the owner and he invited us back to his home for dinner. We hesitated, but decided to go ahead with it with our fingers crossed anyway.

Meantime, we visited the star sights in Meknes (Christian Slaves Prison where Deqi wanted to leave me and Janice there, Moulay Ismail Shrine etc – nothing unusually exciting) and stumbled across a High School Madrasa. And as usual we astounded the students with our race, a few of them started talking to us. Being sympathetic, we allowed Deqi to have his 5 mins of fame of being associated with Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jacky Chan. Everywhere we went in the city; we were greeted with whispers or shouts of such undeserving acknowledgement.(My dear Deqi,beauty is in the eye of the beholder *shrugs)

Conversations with the locals have always been a pleasure. I spoke to a young boy my age. In life, there are certain individuals whom you see special by instinct on first encounter. Dave was one of them; and this young boy. His quiet demeanor and his eyes told me he was just different. I haven’t a clue why he confided in me that he grew up in an orphanage before attending this high school, and then he told me that none of his friends know that. When asked what he wanted to do after his final year, he told me that he wanted to specialize in English to become a journalist. The conversation flowed smoothly as he begged my pardon by conversing with me in fluent English.

Lasting Image – primary school children, no more than 7 in age I think?
We were walking along the busy street when Deqi greeted a bunch of school kids, ‘Salamu Walakum’, they responded in turn. And then we counted in Arabic (‘Wahid, Jooj, Thlata, Arba, Khamsa’) and they chanted along with us. Then, Deqi started counting in English (Anglais? – One, Two , Three…) and the school kids chanted along in turn. They knew. It was encouraging to see that they were so keen and eager to learn English. You may refute me dear reader for bending over to the imperial powers that be, but is there any other choice given that English has been an institutionalized language in the First World? For them, learning English can go a long way.

Numbers. When I told a friend in jest that I finally learnt how to count in Cantonese, he responded that that was the first thing to learn when you learnt another language. Deqi told me in some random conversation why he appreciated numbers. I will never fully appreciate math and its jargon, but I will appreciate that image of us chanting numbers together with those school kids. It established a certain distant friendship with a stranger. Numbers are universal in every language and now I see why.

The Streets of Meknes
We met Abdelkadel, the waiter at the restaurant and followed him back to his neighborhood, not far from where he worked at the bus station. If ever one were to ask me what was the most special gift I have ever received, I will gladly say that it was from a stranger who allowed me to peek into a small part of his daily life.

Abdel spoke little English. Why and what made him trust us so much is still a phenomena to me, he treated us as if he had known us for years. He had only seen us twice and probably remembered us for being Chinese and breaking a cup, but when he saw us again, he greeted us with a warm smile and invited us back to his house. How does one trust a stranger, or is it that we have we been so ingrained with the childhood philosophy of ‘not talking to strangers, that’s what ma said’, that we fail to have any faith in the good nature of human kind? He reminded me of the Good Samaritan. He just offered, no questions asked. What simple faith.

He introduced us to his family – His parents, his younger brother of 24 who works as a hairdresser, his little brother of 7 – a child prodigy who trains for the Meknes state team and his little sister of 5. His three older sisters have all been married off. He used to be a boxer until he broke his nose and he loves football. When I pointed to his brother’s picture (his brother in a football jersey on the soccer field) and then pointed to his poster of Ronaldo and said ‘your brother’, he laughed and said ‘Ensh’ allah’ (Arabic: If God be willing).

We went for a walk in his neighborhood, something that a typical tourist or even a journalist would never quite experience. Everyone knew everyone else in the close knitted neighborhood. There were hardly much street lights except for the shops which were still open at nightfall. The rows of houses along the dingy narrow streets were bustling with children playing catch and playing football. We asked him if he used to play along the streets like that and he nodded his head. We visited his brother at his coiffeur (hairdresser) shop and went down to the neighborhood pool place where Deqi and his brother played a friendly match. It was nothing compared to Singapore’s pool centres, the room was dark and smoky with only two pool tables. But the mood was similar, it was the hot spot for juveniles to hang out at night. Abdel bought each of us a postcard of Morocco and a small piece of chocolate while he got a cigarette for himself. Then we went to his father’s restaurant and he ordered some drinks for us. Being visitors, it was more than we could ask from a host.

His hospitality was a wonderment, and his carefree nature a profound astonishment. What I saw at the end of the night was laughter and friendship. It was a pretty sight seeing Jan, Deqi, Abdul, his brother Idriss and myself in merriment. Then Jan taught them how to skip – something that she taught me a while back (a liberating momentum). I pointed to the green tiled roof across the row of houses and Abdul whisked me high up just so I could touch them. How do people of different backgrounds, culture and above all language becoming ‘mezziene sahdaki’ (Arabic: good friends) in one evening? I guess I'd never know

Day 8 15/4/2005
Meknes and overnight coach to Erfoud
Spent the day at Volubilis (Latin for morning glory) – an ancient Roman ruin just in the outskirts of Meknes before heading for the towns markets and taking a midnight coach back to Erfoud.

Day 9 16/4/2005
Crossing the border into Spain and flying home
When we were stuck at the south of Spain despairing for a hitch after an hour, Janice said to me ‘If God has taken us here, He’ll take us there.’. He did. We were blessed beyond measures. We spent two days on board a ferry, two days hitch hiking down Spain and four days in Morocco( Meknes and Erfoud-Merzouga).

‘But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey?’ – Jules Verne. In four days, we learnt Arabic and a little French. We had seen a natural wonder. We experienced a different way of life. We learned more of life’s lessons. And of course, we learnt the meaning of hospitality to its fullness. And yet theres still so much more to see. I now understood why Dave has been to Morocco 40 times.

I dare say, I feel as if I had been one of Jules Verne’s characters from one of his adventure novel with two of the best traveling companions, whom I’m sure have a story of they’re own. And I would imagine that years from now, my two traveling companions would somehow return, ensh’ allah; and pardoning my wild imagination, I would imagine Deqi being an English teacher to the Moroccan kids and Janice maybe somewhere along the lines of having a dowry of 20000 camels (private joke) in the Sahara cooking Tajine and Cous cous for the rest of her domestic life. And myself? I’ll leave that to you, dear reader, to speculate.

For now, my weary hand must rest.

:: Stuffy 4/19/2005 01:51:00 PM [+] ::
...

I have been a country bumpkin for too long - but thats life at Warwick

The last thing I saw of a city and its lights was in December, in Singapore. The past few months have been a dreary winter which has kept me confinded to my room - claustraphobia is no longer in my dictionary.

Last term was more off ground travelling and this term left me more grounded on campus. As usual, I'm glad that this term has went by superbly well. As for its pace, it was neither too quick nor too slow.

There was too much to do around campus - cookouts with EPAIS coursemates, cookouts with Thais, cookouts at Hun's (Korean coursemate), party at Helen's, cookouts for charity hitchhike. Then there were economic projects, latin and ballroom competitions, latin and ballroom exec elections. Hangouts: Hangouts during CNY, hangouts to watch pie (mathematical notation), hangouts at claycroft. And of course, who could forget, essays, essays, essays.

Today was a good day. The temperature is getting better ( weatherwise its 16 C). Went cycling to city centre with Deqi to get a sleeping bag, then went to Wei liang's for lunch. Couldn't resist getting a frisbee and a guitar out into the open (now you can picture all of us singing doe-a-deer with Weiliang posing as Marie). Spent the rest of the day outdoors. Tomorrow, John is coming and we're all having another cookout.

:: Stuffy 3/18/2005 04:31:00 PM [+] ::
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Easter Break

Time to whine - I'm such a sad sod. Everyone has gone away on some vacation. Rachael and gang to Croatia, Deqi to Geneva, Hubert to Budapest-Prague-Vienna. Jan and Rainbow are completely non-existent. And where am I? I'm in Warwick Campus in my new accomodation.

I emerged from the Third World Cryfield into the more developed area of Claycroft. If you'll like to know how I feel like, just ask the refugee who swam across the Atlantic ocean into the New World. Apart from spending the last week moving things and finishing last minute essays, I went around disturbing the Claycroftians I knew. The adverse effects of it started showing when my biological clock started adjusting to a 1pm to 4am daily routine as opposed to my healthy 9 to 5. Resolution: I have to stop hanging out with such terrible influence.

Well, next week John will be around and week after, I'm off to Greece and then I'm HITCHING HIKING TO MOROCCO!

:: Stuffy 3/14/2005 05:08:00 PM [+] ::
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Wikipedia

After much talk about having a number of Singapore schools on Wikipedia (I didn't bother to check until a very proud Hubert sent me a link to ACS), I went to look up for Temasek Junior College.

Well, its there alright. But as usual, being the lazy kampung green heartlanders in the east, the website is a pathetic three liner with a 'refer to official website' link. Will somebody please do the honours of supplying more infomation. Sarah, Tat, Huiling, JingHua, and 3402-ers, will someone go back to TJ and speak to Tong Chee Beng about this. (It sucks being geographically so far away) I think more information needs to be supplied onto that website, and I'm positively sure that everyone would want to know that our favourite hangout is Bedok Market.

:: Stuffy 3/02/2005 02:58:00 PM [+] ::
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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Guess where am I going and what I'm going to do this easter?
Stay tune...


PS: If I've told you, keep mums about it

Steph

:: Stuffy 2/25/2005 02:27:00 PM [+] ::
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Randoms
Best pick up line I've heard: 'Steph! You've done me a great injustice!'
'Whys that?'
'You didn't give me your phone no.!'
- French EPAIS course mate, Leor (Liberty, Fraternity, Equality! - talk about political culture)

After much debate about my getting fat and what not, I decided that fresh post should quell whatever serious discussion which has been going on on my tag board.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone back in Singapore, there hasn't been much of a festive period here with the exception of the countless reunion dinners being held by Singy soc, Malaysian soc, and Mainlander soc (Chinese soc comprising of Hong Kong, China, Korea, and very oddly Taiwan - if Chen Sui Bian found out about this, I'm sure he would have asked for all Taiwanese Warwickians to be expedited back).

Leish and Jieqi came down to Warwick last weekend. So brought them around to Stratford on Avon and Warwick Castle. Couldn't help doubling over when Jieqi said that Warwick campus looked like NTU/NUS or at least it gave him the very metropolitan Singaporean feel. I never thought of campus that way, but it some sense, it could be somewhat true. And then the latter started whining about UCL not having a campus and how he should have traded places with Jan to be here (what misfortune! - I sympathise *smug). In any case, it was good seeing Lei again, caught up with her on TJ class and classmates. Boo! Wish I could have stayed on longer in Sg to go for the other class gatherings.

Yep, will see you guys in Amsterdam in a few weeks. Good weekend.

:: Stuffy 2/08/2005 06:15:00 PM [+] ::
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The vicious cycle of Schoeler and Kettle Chips

The temperature is decreasing rapidly and I'm confined to the insect ridden walls of my delibitated jail cell in Gibbet Hill. Instead of drinking Egg-noug like the old disease ridden A' level cambridge examiner, I have resorted to Schoeler sparking green grape juice and yoghurt and green onion Kettle Chips.

I have sneaky suspicion that both were invented to complement each other, even the shelf on which I found those Kettle chips were strategically placed direcly opposite the cold drinks section. And so I married the two in holy matrimony. What a mistake, everytime I open a can of sparkling grape juice, the light fizzle screams for something dense and milkish. Thus the only reflex one could offer is crinkle of some yoghurt and onion chips, and then, like as if it were dejavu, screams for something light and fizzy again. In a span of one week, I consumed 2 bags and 8 cans (general ratio is 1:4).

But not to worry, the can soda is 250ml, theres room for somemore.

:: Stuffy 1/24/2005 06:28:00 AM [+] ::
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Social Comment
Awaiting school to start

My PRC flatmate said that Singaporean boys are not cute. I asked her whys that and whether it is attributed to facial features, height, weight, personality? She said that it was because they have bad facial skin (pimples, pockmarks and the like).

Agreed. Put a chinese mainlander beside a Singaporean boy and the difference is quite obvious - the cover of a book counts for quite alot. But of course, we can only blame the the tropical climate - and the military.

As in my future career, I propose that part of the defence budget should go to Marie Franc facial treatment for all NSFs. The reason is pragmatic, so don't 'tsk' me off just yet. With China's booming economy, Singapore must 'seek good relations with the future powers that be'. The importance of interacial relations cannot be dismissed, if the Koreans, Taiwanese and Japanese can do it, so can we. A frivolous social comment? I think not, its worth a ponder.

So my dahling metrosexual friends, I'm sure you have alot to speak up for.

:: Stuffy 1/04/2005 10:03:00 AM [+] ::
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When one has time, one simply writes...

Time is no longer at my feet, I find myself chasing it again, especially when I needed it the most.

What a way to start the new year, I am back home in the UK. ('So when you going back home?' my father says, he said that now I should call Cryfield my home, I have much to comment about that, but another time.)

Met Melvin at the coach terminal and then we called Jun after arriving on Campus for dinner. The only adjustment I needed to make was to get back a discipline of eating crap food and being patient about transportation. After being in Singapore and Korea for too long, I've been over pampered. Melv didn't want to go back to his dorm because he didn't want to be the only soul in dorm(wuss), so Jun had to be the sacrificial lamb and stay over with him. I had a bad bout of sniffles and was grumpily tired.

This morning, everything on campus was quiet. It was a beautiful morning and I did supermarket shopping and then did work (not very productive, but getting there).

I have thought about my past year, but this blog is public, thus my reservations.

:: Stuffy 1/02/2005 12:22:00 PM [+] ::
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