:: Tossed Salad and Scramble Eggs ::

:: Thursday, October 27, 2005 ::

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...

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 [+] ::
...