Non-Stop Week

Dear Reader,

I left Singapore already. I am lying in my bed, with Perdy next to me typing out a summary of my last week in Singapore. Took me 10 minutes to shut my eyes and remember.

Goes something like this:

August 20th – Lunch with Neha @ Rangooli, Dinner with my Eliz Tower Family
August 21st – Lunch and Coffee with Soo Leng, Dinner with Rachel and Nelson @ Modestos, watched HAIRSPRAY with Nelson.
August 22nd – Lunch with Wels and Kathy @ Sakae Sushi, Dinner with the Gang @ Vill’age and dessers at NYDC.
August 23rd – Lunch with Liang Yi, Coffee with Angela, and Dinner with Gin Nah and Yeen Yee @ Din Tae Fung
August 24th – Lunch with Pam, Daydreaming session (watched BLOOD BROTHERS starring Chang Chen and Daniel Wu) with Kathy, class BBQ @ Pasir Ris park, and clubbing @ St. James Powerstation with Nelson, Rachel and Anisa.
August 25th – Lunch and coffee with Soo Leng and Richard, Marsha joined, and WOMAD with the gang, supper with Arthur, Xinhui Nelson and Anisa
August 26th – Early Yum Cha @ Goodwood Park with Kathy, Wels and 2 of his colleagues, Stitch removal @ Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, Birthday Yum Cha with Xinhui’s family (her mom’s bday), Dinner with Marsha, Arthur and Xinhui @ Din Tae Fung, and watched Ratatouille with Yeen Yee and Gin Nah
August 27th – Lunch with Mark, Michelle, Xinhui and Cheryl, Grocery shopping with Kathy and house party.
August 28th – Walked Liang Yi to her bus stop, Lunch with Chris, hanging out with Kathy, and Airport.

Wow looking at that summary. I feel that its no wonder I put on 2 kgs and my face is having a full-fledged breakout.

I still have my insomnia, and I would like to get my memories down ‘on paper’ so I will write more about each day.
Read on if you want to

Your resident insomniac,
Stacy

August 23rd – Rain

I spent the whole day eating! Rolled out of bed and met Liang Yi for lunch. We decided to splurge and went to this Korean restaurant for lunch. Afterwards I made my way to Paya Lebar to meet Angela for coffee. The previous day Soo Leng psyched me out for moving back home for cooking, Angela psyched me out for moving back home for business. She made me feel better about moving back home, how I can help more, and be able to see results. Thank you Angela!

Afterwards I went home and took a 20 minute nap. Then I went out to dinner with Gin Nah and Yeen Yee. By 8pm, it was raining hard, so Yeen Yee came to pick me up. Her friend’s car was parked in the other entrance, she told me there was no need to bring an umbrella. There is a covered walkway from Tower A to Tower B. But that didn’t matter at all. The rain was the type of rain that comes and hits you from all directions. I wish I had a better cellphone So I could had taken a photo. I was standing at the foot of the walkway, and I looked ahead to see a soaking wet tiled floor, rain gushing in from the sides, I braced myself and walked ahead.

Dinner with the girls was great, just chit chatting and girly bonding. Will really miss that. Sigh.

August 22nd – Testing Patience

Kathy and I woke up to go have lunch with Wels at Raffles Place. We ended up eating at Sakae Sushi. They both are the sweetest things! Although it is a short time, I really love them and I feel that they cherish me and I cherish them too! It is really amazing how away from home you can find a new family. Then, I have an internal conflict, how can I want to stay in Singapore with my Singapore family and friends, and not return back to my real family?

I dolled up to meet the gang at Vill’age (I would call it Village, but it is suppose to be Vil-la-Jaye) Mark and Xinhui organised the dinner, : Charles, Cat, Michelle, Chris, Eileen, Mark, Xinhui and Kim Siah came. I actually can’t stand Kim Siah at all, he says the most retarded things, but Mark called me and asked if he could invite him and phrased it in a way : “It’s okay to invite Kim Siah right? You aren’t xiao qi right?”

Bah. Anyways we got lots and lots of food to share. And had lots of laughter over dinner and randomly chatting about things. And then Kim Siah would say something and either it wouldn’t be funny, or it wouldn’t be relevant, so the whole table just falls into a * silence *. The guy is a CONVERSATION KILLER!!!

He’d be like “And then on the flight, I said to the girl sitting next to me…..why are we flying China Airlines? I would never fly China Airlines…but.. of course because it is cheap! AH HAH AH HAH AH HAH”

And all of us are like “…..”, probably thinking “that poor girl having to sit next to him for 4 hours straight.” Or…..“hey buddy…can you just shut the hell up???”

Lol.

Oh and we decided to have NYDC for dessert, instead of going upstairs to the NYDC heeren branch. Mark had this wonderful idea of walking to the NYDC branch at Wheelock Place. So that we can “digest our food” haha. And just my luck, I had to sit opposite Mr. Low EQ over desserts. And the whole time I was *rolling my eyes* and thinking…“hey loser…can you just shut the *!@^&*#@!@#* up???!!”

Is he really that bad???
Wait, you gotta know this:
We were talking about this festival in the US, The Burning man festival? How it is wild and you can do anything you want? And he says, “Oh yeah that party is wild. And there are alot of queers.”
Is he really that bad???

YES.

August 21st – Hair Spray

I went to the Thai embassy early in the morning to submit my visa. Part of the visa requirement is one passport size photo, so I went to Far East Shopping Centre to take a photo. The price was 16$ for 8 pictures, but I only wanted 1, ended up bargaining 8$ for 4 pictures. And while the lady was taking my photo she gave me this kinda look like, “wow your hair is extremely messy and there is no way to make it better.” Hah.

Met Soo Leng for lunch and coffee. We chatted a lot, she and Richard are getting married!! They are a lovely couple. And during our coffee session we were talking about cooking and recipes, so she helped psyche me into going home, because at home I can cook all the time, and try new things. I love cooking.

I met Nelson and Rachel for dinner at Vivo. We went to Modestos and had a super healthy dinner, salad, capaccio, and a calzone. I noticed that Singaporeans always say it’s a giant curry puff. I never thought of that. I think its this uber yummy folded pizza. When I found it at York (Toronto), it was my sin of the week. Hawaiian calzone…with lots of mozzarella cheese…super yum.

Afterwards I went to watch Hair Spray with my dai gor Nelson. It was a somewhat fun movie, so far the best movie I’ve seen since a long while. The songs aren’t catchy, but the script is fun. I especially like when they sing, “I am big blonde and beautiful!!”

That’s me!! Big, I have blonde highlights and I’m beautiful!!! Haha. So think of me when you watch it. J

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The fat girl, who’s got the moves and a great personality gets the charming good looking hunk in the end! Now that’s my type of movie!

Here is a clip:

August 20th – Gotta Love Paneer

In September 2006, I found myself homeless. And Neha was kind to let me stay with her for 6 weeks at her apartment in Pasir Panjang. We had a great time together bonding and just hanging out. One of our frequent dining place was called Rangooli. On Monday (August 20th) I went back to Pasir Panjang and we had lunch together at Rangooli. I love NAAN!!! And I love Paneer!!! Something I will definitely miss because I don’t think we get it that good in Bangkok. After that we went to NUS, Neha had a class, so I went to hang out…er…SLEEP in the library. Wait, shoot I think I blogged that day. Hmm, anyways afterwards we went to have coffee and I went home.

Although I only had 8 days left in Singapore, I wanted to spend my Monday night at home just hanging out and chilling with my Eliz Tower family. I think we watched this ridiculous movie called 28 days. I remember staying up late, I don’t know why, or what I was doing. Hmmm…

Let's make a difference. PLEASE

Dear Reader,

You may not know it, but I am working with the Sub-Committee of the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Research project with AWARE. After 6 months, we are ready to distribute the survey and I hope you can help participate and spread the word out. This survey is for both men and women. Sexual Harassment is just as much a problem for men as it is for women.

Sexual harassment is a growing concern in the workplace, as of now in Singapore, we have no legal recourse in case sexual harassment happens to any of us. (God forbid) There is currently no research on this topic in Singapore, if this research is successful, most likely we can make a change!

The Singapore government was reviewed by CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) at the UN earlier this month. Lots of critical stuff was discussed during the actual review

(you can check it out these PDF articles:

Issues and Questions: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/251/67/PDF/N0725167.pdf?OpenElement

Final comments: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw39/concludingcomments/Singapore_Advance%20unedited.pdf )

Highlights: The UN CEDAW Commitee challenged the government delegation on its "idea that sexual harassment in the schools was adequately addressed." And added that unless a survey was conducted among students, the true nature of the issue would not be known. The Committee said that this applied to all sectors as well.

In its final comments to the government, the Committee encouraged "steps to enact legislative provisions on sexual harassment at the workplace as well as in educational institutions, including sanctions, civil remedies and compensation for victims".

I would greatly appreciate it if you could take 4-5 minutes of your time to complete this survey,

Disclaimer: Super sorry but participants need to be working in Singapore, no overseas entries please! Might distort the picture

It is available online at:

http://askme.digitalboomerang.com/index.php?sid=14

If you want a soft copy, drop me a comment and I will email it to you. The soft copy can be:
1. emailed to aware at: survey@aware.org.sg
or
2. snail mailed to aware at:
c/o SH Committee, Block 5, Dover Crescent, #01-22, Singapore 130005.

The more people that partake in this survey, the more we can find out whether there is a sexual harassment problem in Singapore. And if we have proof that there is a problem, we can take steps to make our working environments safer.

We deserve and we are entitled to work in non-sexually aggressive environments, environments where we are evaluated for the skills we have, not our gender, not our marital status, not on what we wear and how we look.

There is always power in the collective. Hopefully Singaporeans can get together and notice this sexual harassment issue. It isn't a women's issue. It is a national issue.

I hope that from this research we can push for leglisation on Sexual Harassment on the Workplace, and soon after Sexual Harassment on Campus.

Idealistic I know, but you can't shoot a girl for trying.
Can you help me spread the word?
I truly appreciate your support,
Your resident insomniac,
Stacy

Perpetually Single

Dear Reader,
I was sitting on the MRT yesterday, and saw a couple sitting in front of me. The man tried to speak to his gf and her answers were blunt. He reached out and placed his hand on her hand, and she moved her hand away. loveless.

Somewhat painful to watch. Despite my cynical view towards relationships, I can't shake this ideal picture that couples should be happy in love, if you have constant lull periods, something is wrong with that relationship and you should get out. My parents are happy in love, they hardly fight, and if they have disagreements it would be debates on current issues, never huge things. You can see their happiness. They aren't still together because they are obligated to eachother, it is more that they have mutual dependence. To sound completely corny, they 'complete' eachother.

So that was and still is the environment I exist in. True love and idealistic love. People have been telling me that relationships are not so smooth, there are ups and downs. And when they say things like that, I feel ike I am reading my favourite D.H. Lawrence books.

Periods of passionate romance, and periods of intense hatred.

With a week left in Singapore, I can't help but wonder why am I still single. In Bangkok, I lead an entirely sheltered life. My life is -> "Home, Work, Home" and "Family, family, family" So when I came to Singapore, I naturally thought, because I will be putting myself out there more, I would find someone.

On the telephone today,
Veronica (the Uni Admin lady) : Ah...you go back already hor? why, you didn't find a boyfriend?
Me: No la, where got.
Veronica: Because you are fussy mah.
Me: ....

....

Am I fussy in the sense that I expect relationships to be filled with laughter and love. You know, I don't expect much. Ultimately, I do want to have that true idealistic love, but not now.
I came here knowing that any (love) relationship developed will be dropped when I move back to Bangkok. No long term orientation.

7 days left in Singapore...and I have nothing to drop.
2 years of being single in Singapore, and looking towards another 3 years of being single in Bangkok.

Am I destined to be perpetually single?

I need some sweetness in my life.
Your resident insomniac,
Stacy

Two stitches

I am now sitting in the NUS library blogging. Imagine, I was suppose to be leaving today, how sad.

The previous night I could not sleep. Had yumcha plans with Kathy and Weils (8am!) so after blogging I decided to watch my favourite show: LOVE LETTER on youtube, I watched 2 episodes. Then went to yumcha and Kathy, Weils and Amelie accompanied me to the hospital.

The doctor saw it and said I needed 2 stitches, my goodness! And because of the nature of the cut (i.e. a piece of glass from a garbage bag) I needed a tetanus shot. Kathy came into the room with me and filmed the whole thing. Gotta say, mom trained we really well, takes me to acupuncture often so I am used to needles.

I am really thankful for my flatmates, my Elizabeth Tower family. They are super sweet, so sad to leave them. I fell asleep on the sofa at 11pm. First time I ever slept that early since...i think 1.5months.

The hospital bill came up to $380. CRAZY!! I didn't have enough balance in my account, so Weils helped me pay first. Butter Factory is going to compensate me, I called the manager, at first he was shocked, but he said the most important thing is that I am alright. I am superly impressed, granted that I could probably sue them for a lot more money, sometimes I gotta let things slide, plus Butter Factory is my friends' favourite clubbing joint.

So note: If you are moving to Singapore, or you live here, GET HEALTH INSURANCE. Initially when I moved here I was shocked that there is no concept of universal health care here. There is something called Medisave.

Medisave was introduced in April 1984 as a national medical savings scheme for Singaporeans. The scheme allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalization, day surgery and for certain outpatient expenses.

Under this scheme, Singaporean employees contributes 6-8% (depending on age group) of their monthly salaries to a personal Medisave account. The savings can be withdrawn to pay the hospital bills of the account holder and his immediate family members.

But medisave is different from medicare (canada). It isn't paid health care from the government, rather its the government forcing people to act prudent and put money aside in case anything happens.

Can you imagine my luck, for the past 2 years I have NEVER seen a doctor, and during the last 10 days I need to get stitches and there is a $380 hole in my friend's wallet for it.

I need a nap.

Mini skirts are dangerous

Out of total lack of modesty, I have to tell you that, I have amazing legs. (I have to thank my Dad for these genes. )

Girls would love to have legs like mines, despite my heavy body frame, my legs are fabulously (relatively) slim.

Plus, besides the ocassional clumsy bruises, I have no bumps or scars, and my legs are silky smooth.

My legs --->

Hence, when I do feel super bloated/ballooned, I like to wear skirts or shorts.

That's what I did today. Went to Ted's birthday party, followed by dinner with Liang Yi, Kathy Gilbert and Weils. Came home to rest a bit, got ready to join Ted's birthday plans again. But guess what, I could not find anything to wear! So I pulled out my black mini-skirt, paired with my off-shoulder black tshirt (loose), and of course my killer black heels...I looked amazing. (gotta love my modesty, eh?)

I am a professional Singapore clubber, mark my words, Avoid Butter Factory on Saturdays, it is dead. You are much better off at Zouk or MOS.

And because Butter Factory was a ghost town, Xin Hui and I decided to walk around a bit, and when we were standing in the front foyer, the bus boy was carrying trash out, and BUMPED into me. As in...his huge garbage bag bumped my legs. The bastard didn't even apologised, just rushed out, and then I looked at Xin Hui and said, "Xin Hui, I think he cut me..." and then I put my finger on my left shin, and ....my fingers were bloody!!! Both of us were so shocked!!! (I am happy it is me that got cut and not her)

An edge from a glass bottle sliced my leg, the cut is <-------> this wide, and <--> long. I was so shocked, Xin Hui took me outside to see the manager and there I am hopping with my leg dripping with blood. The manager (both of them) were extremely nice, and calm. They took me to the sofa, took out a first aid kit and helped me wrap the wound. I know I am super dramatic, but the wound looks like it needs stitches, because it isnt a paper cut, the skin is split around...5mm apart. (1/2cm)

So there I am sitting down, with Xin Hui holding my hand, while the manager is putting on the iodine and wrapping my leg with this huge bandage. And I am tearing, not because I am in pain (you will be amazed of the power shock has over accidents) but because my beautiful leg will now have a scar, and worse maybe a bumpy scar.

I think it needs stitches, but after 5 minutes it stopped bleeding, and the manager looked at me and said, "Do you want to go to the hospital? I don't think it needs stitches it is no longer bleeding"

Made me feel stupid to think of the idea of going to the hospital, especially when I just arrived at Butter Factory. The manager was nice and said that if I go to the hospital, Butter Factory will reimburse me any charges. At first I didn't think anything, but now after my shower, after washing the wound, re-bandaging it, and feeling the stinging pain while blogging....I wonder if I need to stitch.

My leg is stinging...I would HATE if I have a lumpy scar, will wake up tomorrow and see the doctor. If you haven't guessed by now, I am incredibly vain. Now I know why celebrities insure their best assets. I wish I insured my legs.... :(

(will post pictures of my bandaged leg when Xin hui sends them to me)

The weird thing is, this is my LAST time at Butter Factory. Next friday I have a class BBQ to go to, and next saturday is WOMAD. I usually wear pants to Butter, the only day I wear a mini-skirt I get a life-scar.

Lesson Learned: Mini-Skirts are dangerous.

(but they are still so flattering!!what to do what to do...)

Alone Again (Naturally)

I have been waking up everyday for the past 2 weeks with this song in my head:

Alone Again (Naturally)

***
To think that only yesterday I was cheerful, bright and gay Looking forward to who wouldn't do The role I was about to play But as if to knock me down, reality came around
And without so much, as a mere touch Cut me into little pieces Leaving me to doubt Talk about the man and his mercy For if he really does exist Why does he desert me?

In my hour of need I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally.

Seems to me that there are more hearts Broken in the world that can't be mended Left unattended What do we do, what do we do?

In my hour of need I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally
***

Could my subconscious be telling me that this is my new theme song?

Oops!

Ah so so sorry for going AWOL for many many days. What have I been up to? Spending lots of time with friends. I extended my stay until the 28th.

Lets see, I have become some what addicted to Mah Jong. ha ha. And um, on National Day (August 9th) I stayed at home and watched the parade on TV. fun stuff. Wait let me jot this all down.

August 7th - Karaoke with Liang Yi, Denise and Kym
August 8th - Movie with Maurice (Knocked up. hmm, kinda awkward...), Yeen's Bday Dinner at Hooters, then after party at Butter (extremely happening night.)
August 9th - Yummy Yum Cha with Weils and Kathy, National Day Parade Laugh-Fest at home and Mah Jong (til super late)
August 10th - Lunch with Yeen, Movie and Supper with Yeen and Gin Nah (we watched the Simpsons)
August 11th - Sentosa with Chris, Mah Jong night with Gilbert, Kathy and Weils
August 12th - Gyming with Chris (My goodness, Hip Hop classes at California are SO HARD!!), SSO performance at Botanical Gardens with Marsha, Arthur, Xin Hui and her parents
August 13th - Bonding time with Neha, we shopped at IKEA, decorated her room, went to temple, and I spend the night.
August 14th (today) - Lunch with Weils and Kathy, Dinner and Movie (Secret) with Liang Yi.


Phew!
So yes I've been busy.
Hmm, my life in Singapore, I wanted to show you all this ridiculous Singapore mascot, its this huge Fish, and during the Parade, the mascot (A giant red fish man in spandex), says

" I AM SINGAPORE!!"

And I'm thinking to myself...wow so Singapore is a Gay Red Fish Man?

Gotta love this place!

At Day at Marina Square

I spent today at Marina Square with Denise. It was really nice just shopping and hanging out. Um, one random thing that happened today, Denise and I were on the shuttle bus to CityHall from Marina Square, when the uncle (bus driver) RAMMED a Toyota Wish! He got out of the car and we hear the female driver screaming at him. And it was funny because half of the bus passengers were pressed against the window to see the commotion. Xinhui says it is probably because they wanted to notice the liscence plate number so they can buy lottery tickets. haha So funny. Anyways Denise and I left the bus and found another way home.

I came home and cooked dinner for my Elizabeth Towers family. Its so nice to cook again, but I feel like a big fat pig.

And just now I was super excited when I saw the tv guide that HEREOS was on StarWorld. But i took a closer look and its Season 1. Bah. But im watching the first episode now anyways.

Closing chapters

Yesterday was my last exam. After the exam, I felt like the happiest duck in Singapore!!!

The exam didn't go so well. I concluded one question using parts of my 'Think Local Act Global' entry, with a powerful thought that all marketing efforts should be localised, no more standardisation. I don't think the prof will like that idea...will keep you posted on my results.

After the exam, Denise and I went to NYDC at Heeren. Then I rushed off to meet the gang at East Coast Park. KL organised a Chalet, BBQ session for us. Wow. I have never been to a more posh Chalet in Singapore!!

http://www.esrcc.com.sg/bungalow/index.html
http://www.esrcc.com.sg/bungalow/gallery.html

For non Singaporeans, this is an idea of how the typical chalet looks like
http://www.costasands.com.sg/web/exploreAndPlan/facilities.aspx

We played cards, Taboo! (Singapore version. The word I had to describe was "Soya Milk" so i said, "Dou Jiang!!" and they didn't give us the point!!! evil opposing team!) , we also bowled (my end score was 47 points...) and Chris, Rachel and Eileen taught me how to play Mah Jong!

I won 2 games. Granted I had Chris sitting beside me as my "Si-Fu". And at the end of the night, my reaction was much slower, so my "Pong!" (an expression you use when you take another player's card to make you have 3 of a kind) was like "Poonnggg...' (slow motion) I want to play more and become a master at it.

Today (sunday) I've been resting. Marsha is such a sweetheart, she got me tickets to see "The blossoming of Maximo Oliveros". I went to watch the movie by myself, first time I did this in Singapore. I munched on a small box of caramel popcorn, sat back and enjoyed the film. It is a filopino movie about a young transvestite who is in love with a police officer, and who is torn between his love for the police officer and his love for his criminal family. Quite good, but apparently super censored. Then after the movie, my flatmates, Kathy, Weils, and Gilbert treated me to my graduation dinner! So sweet of them! I feel sad leaving Singapore.

I really feel sad about leaving Singapore, especially after spending time with everyone at the Chalet yesterday. I came to Singapore knowing nobody, and I found myself such nice and loving friends. I don't know why I booked my tickets for August 20th!! I want to extend my stay til the last week of August.

I got the sweetest SMS from Nelson today, "Thanks for helping me get Rachel the best chocolate bday cake she has ever had. Please try to make it for WOMAD. Luv." This might not seem very sweet to you, but if you knew my big brother Nelson, the additional "Luv" is HUGE!!! melt my heart.

Spoke to mom and dad today about it, and I could tell that they were disappointed and I hurt their feelings. The cost of changing my ticket is 36$. I cried because I don't know what to do, they say it is up to me, but I could tell they want me back earlier. I just cannot deal with the fact that I am closing my Singapore chapter in 2 weeks!

I think the fact that my academic chapter closed yesterday, meant that my reason for being in Singapore is no longer valid. So I have no justification to want to stay longer, only my own selfish wants to spend time with friends and enjoy alone time before I throw myself into a strong collectivist family culture and demanding work environment.

My goodness, it's already monday morning! Means that I only have 14 days left here?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to bury my head under my pillow.
Excuse me.

Second Chances

Dear Reader,

I am giving blogger a second chance. I wrote this amazing marketing entry and the jerks somehow posted a ‘blank’ post.

Let me just say that this post will not be as eloquent as my first attempt. (I was so contemplating becoming an academic writer after that entry, I could visualise writing my thesis)

But, before I forget!!
***
Happy Birthday Chris!! Thanks so much for the bracelet! (He bought me a bracelet on his bday! So selfless!) I had lunch with the bday boy, studied in the library. After I went to dinner with Yeen, Gin Nah, and Gin Nah’s sister Lin Dah. Lots of laughter. A much needed break.
***

In marketing we are always taught, Think Global Act Local. Implying that we think big, do business globally, when we go global, we localise our product/service offerings, localise our brand image and personality. It is a conflicting objective. Think global – to achieve economies of scale and be more cost competitive. Act local – tweak products as a response to local tastes.

In Bangkok, on a huge yellow board (outside Chula U), in strong black font, there is a sign “THINK LOCAL ACT GLOBAL”

I saw this sign 2 years back, sighed, and made a mental note. T-I-T. (This – Is- Thailand)

Today, I came across an excellent piece of marketing literature.
Global Marketing and Advertising: Understanding Cultural Paradoxes. By M. Mooji.
This woman is an amazing writer, with amazing insight.

Marketers are humans. And humans’ ideas, actions, motivations, beliefs, are all culturally bound. Therefore, marketers will think local, because cultural values determine the way humans think and behave. Therefore, it goes against our natural way of life to think global. We think local. We can act global, through our strategies and implementation of those strategies.

(Wow that was so crass. My other article was much better…I’m bitter)

Now, we are taught that the global village is shrinking, our tastes, expectations are all converging. Thus, as marketers, our job is to find commonalities that transcend borders. Global marketing implies thinking of an idea that will be accepted globally, and using one standardise marketing campaign to get the product/service sold.

The problem is, this one standardised campaign is based on your culture. (as it is your idea, and your ideas are affected by your culture). Often marketers are only concerned about standardising the stimulus, and they often neglect to understand the response.

In today’s world, we consumers face information overload. Our selecting mechanisms are working overdrive. Thus, we tend to notice marketing campaigns that we can identify ourselves with, that adhere to our values. The result is the overall decline in advertising effectiveness.

Think of Starbucks, and google. Have they built their brands based on advertising? Close your eyes, can you remember a Starbucks commercial? Ad? These companies are turning to other promotional tools such as Public Relations, the Internet, and social marketing tools (blogs!!!)

The often quoted ‘converging’ segments are the global teens and global elitist. Today, teenagers are listening to the same music (I think Emo and Hiphop are in right?), and they are buying into the same fashion trends. Elitist demand high-end brands, they want top quality and will pay top dollar for it.

The global teen segment implies that a Singaporean teen has more in common with an American teen than s/he has with a Singaporean adult. Similarly, the global elitist segment implies that a rich Indonesian has more in common with a rich Dane than s/he does with a middle-class Indonesian. Is this really the case?

Teenage years, in general are the most rebellious years (believe me, I’ve gone through it. 8 ear piercings.), teenagers grow into adults and then fall back into the culture-line. Commonalities may exist, i.e. commonalities in terms of demands. But the motivations for buying, the usage of the product, and the value systems of the customers differ.

Two teenagers living in their respective countries, one American and one Jap, both buy a Gwen Stefani CD. There is your commonality. Do they have anything else in common? How about the reason they like Gwen Stefani? The American may like her because No Doubt was awesome. The Jap may like her because Stefani is deeply in love with Japanese culture. (Or…they can like her because her music is good…but common…it’s not that spectacular)

If you and I both are Harry Potter fans, if we have the same cellphone (God help anyone who still is using K500i Sony.), and/or we both drive Hondas, does that imply that we share the same value system?
Needs may be universal, but attitudes, motivations and expressions of these needs vary.

This is a much shittier entry.
I am still bitter.
Your resident insomniac,
Stacy

PS. I came back to write this again, partially because there would be no point to ever rewrite this entry after tonight because TOMORROW IS MY LAST EXAM!!!!! (Means I am a degree holder!! 7 bloody years!!) And partially for Maurice. Denise asks me why I do so much for him. I have no idea. Going to miss studying with him as it’s the only time he talks to me. Like I tell everyone, when it comes to Maurice, I take whatever I can. (very unlike me). And yes you are reading, and yes you are right. Superguilt trip. But I’m not lying, I don’t lie. And I don’t like to be wrong. The questions will come up. We’ll do fine.

blogger sucks!!

I just wrote an incredibly long and interesting email about the marketing concept
THINK LOCAL ACT GLOBAL

and this damn blogger didn't post it! and it's blank! I am super upset. And it was damn long too, took me 30mins to type. no wait, more like an hour.

blogger sucks. im so upset my face is fuzzy.

Think Local Act Global

Interesting Economic Theories? Is that even possible?

Dear Reader,

Today I spent the whole day discussing International Marketing with Denise!

She invited me over to her house, and cooked me lunch (yummy!), gave me snacks (mmm), and dinner and desserts (I'm a huge cow now!)

I can type about international marketing theories this whole entire blog entry, but all of you would fall asleep. Some things you should take a look at

Coca-Cola blak - The essence of coca-cola blended with the essence of coffee. A perfect combination.

www.coca-colablak.com

Blllllaaaaaaaaaaaak!!! As in *choke* (choking on blak coke...haha i'm lame) What a horrible combination, can you imagine the caffeine level? Maybe coke needed to compete with Redbull? (Which is just nasty!)

Something that is really interesting to read (I'm reading it now, haha multi-tasker) is Porter's theory of national competitive advantage. Let me bore you for a bit.

Super ancient economic theory told us that a nation would have competitive advantages in areas it was most efficient in producing (aka Adam Smith and Richardo). That is, if Country A produces rice more efficiently than Country B, and Country B produces tomatoes more efficiently than Country A; the trade is rice for tomatoes and vice-versa. Specialisation.

Then there was the theory that countries competitive advantages lay in the factor endowments (what resources they had). Heckscher-Ohlin Model. Labour abundant countries specialised in labour intensive good, capital abundant countries specialised in capital intensive goods.

There was and still is continuous debate as to what makes a country competitive. The theory I am studying now is asking the key question:

Why are firms based in a particular nation able to create and sustain
competitive advantage against the world's best competitors in a particular
field?

Let me think of a Singapore example. Blog about it tomorrow...boring economics lesson to be continued....

Happy dreams,
Your resident geek-a-zoid,
Stacy

Stolen Moments

I woke feeling bloated and horribly ugly today. Nonetheless I'm in a relatively chirpy mood.

I noticed that I tend to study intensively in sudden spurts of time. Is that a really bad literal description? How about...stolen moments during my day.

Random photos: (Catherine, Marsha, and Xinhui)

Ha, so I woke up at 1230, at breakfast, then kinda went online to chat a bit...played guitar...wrote my exam outlines...plucked my eyebrows...lay in bed listening to music...wrote more exam outlines...

Then left for class. Best thing to do when you feel like a blob is to doll up. I want to be thinner. Sigh...

No idea what day it is

Xin hui and I were deconstructing why I have a bad case of insomnia (past 5 days I sleep no earlier than 6am). It might because I nap. So Yesterday I said NO NAPS!! Went to bed at 11. Sucked really, didn't end up sleeping straight away, fell asleep reading Peter Pan online. Which, by the way, is nothing like the Disney movie, Peter is the most neurotic thing. (I'm on chapter 5)

I woke up at 830 this morning. First time in...well lets just say a LONG TIME. Ate breakfast, watched the morning news. Studied a bit. Then headed off for my 2nd last day at Fitness First (FF). ABT (Abs Butt and Thighs) and Kickboxercise. Kickboxing is super tiring. My legs feel like butter.

When I was getting my card back from KC (the FF counter guy), and he was like, "oh tomorrow I am taking my week leave," And I kinda hmm not really wanted him to get my number or anything, but he is this sweet timid guy (Chris says he is gay, Damn!!!!!!!!). I walked out of FF, and as I was walking to the elevator I stopped, walked back to FF to say a proper goodbye!

Ah..so drama.

I walked in, and he was there, and I said, hey that means I won't see you tomorrow! And KC was like, yes that's why! hahah so I think he wanted to say something too. Anyways I gave him my contact number in Bangkok and my Singapore cellphone number too (my personal card). Thanked him for motivating me (sometimes if I left earlier he would say, get back!! so I would go back for another class, or the fact that I might say a quick hello to him also motivated me to show up at Paragon FF) A proper goodbye. Super nice. :)

After I went to have lunch with Liang Yi and studied at the Singapore Tourism Board library. I know I promised no naps, but I was flipping through the textbook, my eyelids were super heavy. So I took at 20 minute nap. Power naps really are amazing, when I woke up I studied 3 solid hours straight!

I decided to walk home from Tanglin. A break from studying. It was a nice walk back, came home and cleaned my room (spectacular!!) and Kathy was so sweet to cook dinner! I am cooking everyone dinner on Monday, looking forward to it.

So just now I was sitting watching That 70's Show, and Everybody loves Raymond, and I was thinking to myself, why is it on today? And there on StarWorld the commercial flashes, "ALL LAUGH OUT MONDAYs" and it hits me.

Today is Monday!!!

I have no concept of the days of the week! My brain must be overloaded with information, that small things like days of the week slip out of my mind.

Global marketing...*dozes off*

3 More Sundays to Go

If I am counting correctly, I'll be out of Singapore in 3 sundays. A little depressing.

Today I met Chris for lunch and shopping. It was good seeing him again and telling him about my HK trip. Shopping at G2000 was fun. I noticed that men have less styles but more variations. I like brown stripes and pink stripes, and safari colours.

After Chris and I powerwalked to Cineleisure because I was meeting Marsha for Transformers. At the elevator I saw this guy that I met in butterfactory. He is this puny and very pale chinese guy. When I met him at butterfactory, it was closing and he walked over and pretended to be japanese asking me to follow him to MOS. And I was like huh? And he kept on pretending that he didn't speak english, and at the lift he was standing beside me, and as i was TOWERING over him, I overheard his ENGLISH conversation over the cellphone. Amazing.



Transformers....hmm, honestly didn't understand the hype about it. But it was fun watching it.

Shia LaBeouf : Hot or Not.
This is the question.



Ah I just Wiki-ed. There will be a Transformers 2.

...

Based on What!?!??!?! After wiki-ing the plot of Transformers, I found myself thinking, "Oh..that's why!"



After the movie, Marsha and I went for dinner and walked around. Super bonding time :)
Came home, got this email from Denise. you guys gotta see this clip. Have a laugh

Japanese Tetris

Return to Singapore

I have been back in Singapore for 3 days now. I have been wanting to blog every day about how things are in Singapore but my backlog of HK trip entries have been haunting me.

Random point: I tend to try to sweep things under the carpet.

Okay, if we were in a literature class, I would say that life in singapore is a direct contrast from my time in HK. Whereas in HK it was all about scorching sun, getting a sun kissed tan, eating 3 meals a day and spending lots of time with Doug, Grace and catching up with close friends. In Singapore it is all about rainy afternoons, drenched shoes, a meal a day, and alot of alone time.

Let's see...on Thursday I went to pick up my toshiba. and my sweet baby is like brand new! They replaced the mother board and she is perfect! i am super happy! Ahh...yes, I have been spending time with Carolyn. Who I have missed so much these past few months. When she left it was a 360degrees change, Ling and Steph did not contact me. My cellphone was quiet, gyming was lonely. Shock therapy. But I survived.

And today, I have been feeling a little light headed and not focused for my exam on Saturday. Hopefully I can get my act back together!! Looking forward to lunch with Chris, movie with Marsha and dinner with Gin Nah tomorrow.

HK Day 3

I was uber tired coming home last night that I had no energy to blog.

Day 3 was super long. Grace and I headed out to fitness first in the morning for yoga class. But we couldn't find the building. I had cha siu faan for lunch, and honestly? Not that spectacular. We went to meet Doug, he had a gig at this place called Pop Bites. It is a concept restaurant.
"..." No comment.

After that we chilled out at IFC, went shopping at H&M and I didn't buy anything! Now that is really resisting temptation!

Met Henry for dinner, he treated us to this Shanghai Restaurant in Times Square. Yummy. After that Henry and I joined Doug and Fiona for dessert and drinks.

So I was out from 10 am til 12 am. Walking all that time but still obese.

HK Day 2

My wish wasn't granted last night. Coughed in bed from 2am til 5am. Bought DROWSY medicine for tonight, I hope that will suffice.

Grace took me to Wong Tai Sin Temple. I did the 'Kau Chim' after that Grace and I went to have the 'Chim' read by a fortune teller. All the sticks were 'chung' just average. Career average, love average and life average. Things pick up for me next year (Year of the Rat!! My year!!)

As for the palm reading, it was the first time I had my palm professionally read. For women, our right hand is read, and the right hand is life after 30, and the left hand is life before 30. Heck, I'm 23, so there was no point to read my left hand. Same old stuff, difference is that the lines that i thought indicated 'cracks' in my relationships, actually are strengths. Apparently my husband will really love and cherish me, really!?!??! The poor poor soul, still loving me when I am such a difficult person.

Random things. I'm going to have 2 boys. I move locations alot. Successful career. When I am old and grey I will still keep contact with my childhood friends (Hmm, do you think she says these things by accurate guessing because she knows that Grace and I have been friends since we were 12) Um, my health is quite good until I reach around 65-67. My children will also love and cherish me. I will be part of the family business forever, but on the side have my own business. And...if I get married before 27 my husband will cheat on me, but if we get married after im 27 he won't. What logic!!

After Wong Tai Sin, we went for Japanese food and went shopping. Ahh...I bought 2 tops at Zara. Shit. HK sales are more attractive than Singapore sales. and my credit card is just so nice and shiny....

CK treated us for dinner at this KOREAN BBQ restaurant! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love korean bbq~~~!!! Haven't had it in ages!!! Since Toronto!!!

Today was alot of 'trips down memory lane'. Grace and I went to this shopping mall we used to hang out in, and DAMN!!! I don't know how I 'da haan'ed it before. Imagine JJ Market, or...like Bugis Market, but compressed into a smaller space. So claustraphobic, filled with punks. Some punk was pushing a cart (pushing a cart on the 3rd level shopping area...) and he scratched my calf, and guess what, this f#!&ker tsked me!

TSKed me!!

*deep breath*

The more I think about it, Singapore might be slower and a tad bit more bland. but I am slowly thinking that I would prefer to live there.

Lastly, I love being loved by my big Brother Doug. He smsed me this morning, called me during the day, really feels like he loves me and cares for me. Its an incredibly nice feeling. I love him very much too.

HK Day 1

I am exhausted!

Last night I couldn't sleep again! Woke up at 8 to get my fitness first passport and to buy Grace Kaya Butter. (Singapore speciality)

Left for the airport at 9:15am. Not smart. Should have left 15mins later and then I would have dodged the morning peak hour charge.

I have to say that the flight seemed SO LONG. I could only sleep 2 hours, the rest I was staring off in space anxiously waiting to land. I have no idea how I used to take long haul 18 hour flights.

And there I was, in Macau. One irritating thing about the Macau airport is that the washrooms are located AFTER immigration. What an evil tactic!

The cab ride from the airport to the ferry was 10 mins and 48dollars. Once I stepped into the ferry, it was uber chaotic because it was 3:25pm and I was rushing for the 3:30pm ferry. Turns out the ferry was at 3:45pm so wasn't too bad. I went around asking people (in cantonese) how to buy the tickets and they replied to me in Chinese! (Putonghua) Slap in the face.

Ha. but I managed.

Meeting Grace was awesome. and we took a cab to hang out at Doug's new 'crib'. I really like it, and it is a steal (compared to singapore rental prices). I think that if I wasn't moving back home, I would definitely move to HK. Singapore rental prices have shot up, HK is cheaper to live now, plus the city is more vibrant.

City is more vibrant, but I have to say that the people here seem pushy, rude and on a whole really disappointed or unhappy with life. NO one smiles! (No one smiles in Singapore either, but there are more occurences of 'blue moons')

Doug treated Grace and I to dinner and dessert. He lives near the steepest street in HK. Walking up this street is an amazingly quick cardio work out, guaranteed to increase your heart rate! Hah!

I'm now blogging at Grace's apartment. Will take photos tomorrow.

Tomorrow its gyming at Fitness First followed by Wong Tai Sin Temple. See what the future has in store for me.

Coughing like mad and suffering from lack of sleep. I hope that HK can give me some sleep. That's my real wish for this trip.

Insomnia

I can't sleep.

I wonder if my cough and the fact that it is raining in my room (leaking aircon) is what keeps me awake.

I had a really short day trip to JB. It was great, I got to see the real JB life (Johor Bahru, Malaysia). Gin Nah and I went to Yeen's house, met her loving parents. We set off for breakfast (Malay food), then we went to see Yeen's condo and after that desserts! Super short, but it was great all the same.

The rest of my day I plopped myself on the sofa, watched tv and napped.

I'm going to HK on tuesday, I am super excited and happy to see Grace and Doug. Will see Aunt Christina as well. (haven't seen her in years!)
Will take loads of photos with Grace and Doug. Upload them as the days pass. 8 Days!! Woohoo!

Although I'm feeling a bit happier, I'm not at my happiest, hopefully HK can change that for me.

An eventful Saturday

I have to admit that today (saturday) was so much more eventful than last saturday. Last saturday I rotted at home the whole day.

Today, I woke up and Rachel and Nelson took me to Sentosa. It was really nice, but there was an overcast, so I am not a tint darker!!!

Forgot to say that yesterday Yeen invited Gin Nah and I over for chilli crab! It was really good, the first time she tried the receipe but it was awesome. They ate the chilli crab with bread. I couldn't dip and no rice, so it was good, very little carb intake.

Looking forward to going to JB tomorrow with my two big sisters. I must sleep.

Random Soap Opera update

I got my groove back!
Clubbing has been very .... blah recently, but tonight was awesome! Partied hard at Butter Factory with Marsha, Michelle, Vicki and Angel. The best song to sum it up is "Hit the Floor" By Twista.

Update: Stephen is back with his ex girlfriend! (Told this to Michelle, he hasn't contacted me since the last email)

Great, or wait, a huge part of me is pissed, because he said that his ex, could be "the one". Fucking hell (pardon my french) apparently anyone COULD BE THE ONE. I was 'the one' after he knew me for 3 days, and now he has decided that his ex is the one?(its not that im a sour grape, she can have the psycho for all I care) I seriously think it is a line that he uses to trap women.

The past 2 months he has put me through an emotional roller coaster and alot of anguish.

WATCH OUT. BEWARE OF MEN WHO MOVE TOO FAST AND WHO MAKE UNECESSARY REASSURANCES.

(Check out point 2 especially: http://www.homestudycredit.com/courses/contentCR/secCR16.html#Bottom
http://www.messiah.edu/offices/engle_center/counseling_services/self_help/unhealthy_relationships/)

He initiated their 'reunion'. What a bastard, to break the poor girl's heart in February because they hadno chemistry, and then to start the relationship again, because he had time to 'reflect'. I don't think he told her about me. He emailed me on June 30th, got back with his ex first week of July. So much for reflection.

You know what pisses me off the most? Is the fact that he got my parents involved. He happened to be in Bangkok, initiated dinner, and asked my parents for my hand in marriage. Because he 'just knew' that I will be his wife. I don't mind being played, but don't trick and deceive my parents. That's crossing the line.

I know maybe I shouldn't write this on my blog, but this is my only way of warning his current girlfriend (maybe she would google him) and Stephen other future 'soulmates.' Stephen Edward Cheung. This Stephen's birthday is March 11, and all 3 sons in his family share the same middle name. Chinese Canadian. Chartered Accountant. Lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Not sure if he was planning to get back with his ex, and keep a long distance relationship with me CONCURRENTLY, or if he went back to his ex because he was devastated from my super bitchy ending of our 'soul mate connection' (I'm honestly happy he moved on)
Regardless, he is weird and doesn't have a clue what's going on with his life, he is all about drastic "actions". Because Actions Speak Louder Than Words *cringe*

Maybe ultimately in life we should choose someone who love us more than we love him/her? Rather than harp on someone who loves us less?

I tend to love more. Look where that has led me! (Single and bitter)

My lesson learned? Always trust my gut.

Keeping busy

I haven't written in a while. Been having mood swings. Some days I lie in bed and do nothing, other days im the most productive bunny on the block.

Mondays are the worst. For an unemployed person, I get crazy monday blues. why!? I have no clue. My day moves much slower and I feel meaningless.

On tuesday I spent the whole day doing errands for AWARE and went to class in the evening. Wednesday I went for my test, passed (yay!) and spent the whole day at AWARE training. When I left, I felt so good, and happy. Fulfilled. Maybe I found my calling, I can see myself doing AWARE type of work when I'm retired. I want to help women, in whatever way I can.
I need to give back.

As for today, woke up at 12, met Mark, Xinhui, Michelle and KL for lunch. Yummy chopstick noodles! I really like their noodles, which is weird, because im a rice girl.

I kinda have a cough, but not severe.

I wanna be thin and pretty for HK. Shh...just let me keep this dream okay?

07/07/07

At 7:07 p.m. I shut my eyes really tight and chanted my secret wish for 7 mins.

I love numerology, I play with numbers in my head.

The Number Seven denotes introspection and the pursuit of universal truths.
Seven is the Number of the individual seeking knowledge in solitude. Wherever a
Seven appears in a chart mysticism may come into play. Seven is considered the
number that connects Heaven and Earth.

Other special dates to look out for:
08/08/08
09/09/09
10/10/10
11/11/11
12/12/12

I have to make myself available on December 12th 2012, my close friends Alvin and XinHui set their wedding date.

Ha ha. That must had made Alvin laugh. Today I'm meeting Carolyn and the rest at MOS for a night of clubbing. Seriously dreading it... :(

My First My Last My Everything

One of morning songs. Miss my york girls.

Time to smile and dance along....

Part 1: Fun at Work

Part 2: Awesome Birthday Present! (complete song)

Difficult fishies

Another glimpse into my psyche...


Are female fishes this difficult??

A Day at Sentosa

I woke up happy today!

Met Chris and Juliet for lunch and then we went to Sentosa together, I was looking forward to getting a sexy dark tan, but it rained!

Boo. We hung around til 4pm and got the late afternoon sun. Lovely but not enough, I am like 15% darker. Not good enough, I need to get a nice tan for my hk trip!

Sentosa was a nice break, not like my life is that hectic, but its been quite mundane and I've been feeling low. It is nice to recharge batteries.

I recommend it to anyone.
Stacy says, "A Day at Sentosa will do you good."

Persistence

Persistence is such a broad word.

I will not slack on my studies. Persistence.

I forced myself out of bed today to go to gym. Persistence.

Someone unwantedly keeps on contacting me. Persistence.

Here is a question I am throwing out to all of you....

If you do not feel the same way about som eone, but that person persists with the thinking that s/he can change your mind, and make you love him/her.

Is that hot or not?

There are two perspectives,
1. It is sweet and endearing. How s/he is patient and will wait for you.
2. It is intrusive and egotistic. How s/he thinks that you will definitely fall in love with him/her later on.

I side more with the 2nd perspective. I find it incredibly intrustive and I dislike people who are persistent. Maybe I am a little ruthless, because I tend to cut contact and burn bridges, you see, when I turn something off, it turns off. I'm not the type who would break up and make up.

So when I do break up, or cut off, any contact from the other person is very very gross.

This week I encounter 2 instances.
1. Email from Stephen
2. Msn chat with Cheng

I have to say that I am more welcoming to Cheng's messages. Cheng is persistent, as in he gave me my space (since last september!) and now he is slowly trying to talk to me. But, I think he is just clueless in general, so its not that he is giving me space and persisting.

Last week I drifted off in class daydreaming a bit, for all the men who waned off. Should I have persisted? Example, When he stopped calling me, contacting me, should I had called him instead, sat him down and told him, look I think we'd be good together, I'm not asking much, why deny ourselves a time of happiness?

Eee...I am too proud for things like that. Eee..so eerie, if I did that it would be like pulling a Stephen.

Stephen's email gave me shivers and ulcers and I couldn't sleep, and thank goodness Mary logged online (after I emailed her) to hear me vent for a while. I feel harassed.

I don't get it, granted I did say that I 'just wanted to be friends', but its a line!! What am I suppose to say?? Get out of my life? don't ever talk to me again?

Right now I'm really hating people who are on the one-way pursuit for the objects of their affection. So what if I am your object of affection? You definitely aren't mine.

Good bye National Stadium!

We went to the lights out party at National Stadium.

It was poorly organised, the standard drink that came with the ticket was a diet pepsi, and beer was 5 dollars.

It was clubbing Kampong style! Lots of young kiddies with us, the crowd was not happening at all, lots of team singapore people.

It was also super hot, I don't think I've ever sweat so much when clubbing, must had lost 1 kg.

On the bright side, it was fun that we got to dance on the national stadium pitch, and Nelson and I took a 400m walk around the field.

I had a great time regardless, felt a little embarassed dragging everyone there. The highlight of the night was a carboot party. We wanted to leave at 12am, Nelson turned on his music and we chilled and hung out around his car, he had a bottle of Moet. Champagne!

Everyone left at 1:30 am, then nelson and I hung out a bit, then we went to supper at McDonalds.

I love my big brother. :)

Irritated with Singapore

Dear Reader,

Today had to be my most BLAH day of the week. Of this month. Days like these I am happy to get out of this island nation.

I think it is because I have so much time on my hands.

Woke up at 9 to try to call Andrea, I couldn't get through. Something is telling me that I need to call her, the other day I had a dream that I saw her and gave her a huge hug, and she showed me her diary as a way to update me, and it was so organised filled with all of her drawings.

Anyways, I woke up, had breakfast, emailed Mary, then went back to sleep until 1.

It's Catherine's Bday gathering tomorrow, its a whole day event, Movie (transformers), Dinner and then Partying. Our group of friends are going to National Stadium's lights out party.

Yesterday I went to Nokia at Wisma to buy tickets. (A group of 15, can you believe it, so nice.) The jerk at the counter said "Oh, that was a misprint on the flyer, we only sell tickets to you if you buy a phone."

I HATE NOKIA

Stupid nokia.

Ended up having to go to Toa Payoh Sports Recreation Council (SRC) to buy tickets today. Toa Payoh isn't so far from home, just 4 MRT stops. But..Toa Payoh is HUGE. I managed to find the SRC, went into the foyer, saw that they took nets/creditcard, and asked to buy tickets fo LIGHTSOUT PARTY.

The lady at the reception said, "No not here, at our booking office, do you know where it is?"
Me: "No, could you please tell me?"
Lady: "It is beside the gym."
Me: "And where is the gym?"
Lady: "Oh, it is very easy to get there, exit this building and walk straight until you see a glass building"
Me: "okay thank you."

Singapore Peeve 1: PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GIVE DIRECTIONS.
I've noticed this before. It's not that they aren't friendly people, because they are.
If I was in HK, and lost, and asked someone for directions? The person would give me a super dirty look and ignore me. Here they are quite friendly, but they give either...WRONG directions, or they just do not know how to describe things. Not to generalise, but man, singaporeans are really stupid when it comes to directions.

Picture me, walking out of the SRC admin office, walking straight ahead, aimlessly looking for a glass building. I see a building with blue transparent windows (2), could this be what she was saying?

No way. "Toa Payoh Table Tennis Club"

Glass building.....

None ahead...

To the left is the road...

To the right....wait...I see...a GLASS WINDOW.

then I see...a ghetto white sign "Booking office."

Grr...

Okay, I get to the booking office, and no one is there. No queque. (line ups)
Then I see a sign "Sorry please be patient the waiting time is 10 minutes"

Looked to the left, looked to the right.....Toa Payoh SRC was a GHOST town, no line ups, no other beings around, and they still managed to stick up this sign.

Amazing lor.

Then the staff returns from her smoking break. Guilty. Powerwalking towards me.

I request for 14 tickets. Guess what, they only accept CASH payments. 210$ cash.

Singapore Peeve 2: SRC BOOKING OFFICES ACCEPTING CASH ONLY

Whats with.

SRC admin offices accept credit cards and nets payments, if you go to the immigration office they only accept non-cash payments. And here we are, a BOOKING OFFICE, with a CASH ONLY policy???

Talk about not cracking down on corruption, the smoking-lazy-good-for-nothing woman could easily just say she sold 10 tickets and pocket 70$. But okay, Singaporeans are risk averse so she'd never do that. Noted.

Its probably some petty thinking that they don't want to pay Nets' or Visa's commission charge.

Anyways...She directed me to FairPrice (supermarket), across the street (bad directions again) for an atm. I manage to get to FairPrice. Decided I needed a pick-me-upper. Got myself a chocolate milk...at the cashier...there are....5 cashiers, all at their post, with 3 of them having the "please use the next counter sign"

Grr...needless to say I didn't get my chocolate milk. Went out of the supermarket to the area where there was suppose to be an ATM.

There was an ATM...but it was a POSB Atm. and this leads to my...

Singapore Pet Peeve 3: Selective usage for local bank cards. Meaning that, if you have a DBS account, you can only punch out money from DBS and POSB atms. Similarly, if you have an OCBC account, you can only punch out money from OCBC and UOB.

I have an OCBC account.(Gotta love OCBC. I'm overseas chinese and Mark works for it. Therefore I love it. ) Had to walk to the main bus terminal (where I got off the MRT) and I see a UOB sign, so happy. I felt, hey maybe things aren't too bad.

Yeah well. it was just a sign. The ATM was a 5 min walk from that sign. Whats up with that!?!?

Got to the ATM and this guy was taking his sweet time taking out money

Singapore Pet Peeve 4: For an efficient economy, they DIDDLE DALLY WHEN USING ATMs.

But this guy was creepy, he was playing with the brochures, loitering around...I had a super creepy feeling so I backed away and waited til he left.

Bah. got the money, took my 15 mins walk back to buy the tickets. Mission accomplished.

Usually I am a very positive person, but throughout the entire day I felt like I was cursing underneath my breath.

I feel severely irritated with Singapore, and on days like these I feel super happy with my decision to move.

Because I am super paranoid, I won't write here where I am moving to. Its a totally different location you guys wouldn' expect. For my darling friends who read my posts, I will update you personally.

Argh, I can't sleep.

Thanks for reading,
Stacy your Bitter Insomniac

Weddings

I attended my first wedding dinner on Saturday (Jay's birthday), June 23rd. It was a very nice and sweet, and it was a chance for a whole gang of us to get together. From an outsider looking in, our group of friends look like clubbing buddies. It's true, we do party together. But at the same time, we are quite close, I hope we grow closer.


It feels rewarding when you grow closer to people, and its a process of give and take, being more open, sharing experiences, sharing problems together. Although I don't meet them that often (the whole collective group) today I was daydreaming in class, and realised that time is precious, and I want to maximise my time with all the people I care for.

I have not received all the photos yet, but here are some photos I got from Catherine.


This is Table 15!! ( sans Joanne and Felix)

From Left to Right: Mark, Nelson and XinHui
Sitting down: Catherine, Yours Truly, and Rachel

The wedding dinner wasn't the typical chinese wedding dinner ( I was so craving super pimped chinese dishes)

The food was catered by the famous Brazillian restaurant on 6th avenue. It was such a novelty! Innovative and refreshing, Good job Michelle and Eric (bride and groom) for selecting it.







We were served meats, the waiters walked around with the meat on sword looking things. We thought the other things like rice, veggies, salads would be served too, but turns out it was a help-yourself theme! When we realised it was super funny because as Rachel and I were getting food to bring back to the table, we noticed that most people had full plates of food. Whereas every plate on Table 15 displayed one half eaten slice of roast beef, and 2 sausages. hahah.







The speeches made by Michelle and Eric's friends were so witty and sweet.

And I could not help feel very lovey dovey and my usual helpless-romantic self (that 'self' has been in hiding recently)







Michelle looked gorgeous. She had a sun kissed tan. An amazing body, and she had a stunning strapless wedding dress. I will upload pictures when I get them. I think she radiated so much because she was really happy. You could see it. I am so appreciative to have been invited and allowed to share this moment with her.




I had a super great time. And we were laughing so hard over really small random things. Laughing is always a good thing.

I've noticed recently that so many people are getting engaged.


Thank goodness they didn't throw a bouquet at the wedding. I would had run as far away as possible. I feel so traumatised.

" Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. "
- Franklin Jones

To all of you who have found the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with, may they cherish you and never let you go.

Little things that brighten up my day

I woke up this morning and Adrian told me he had something to give to me, and thought of me when he saw it.

He gave me a quote:

My knight in shining armour....turned out to be a loser in aluminium foil

It made me laugh and smile the whole day.

Quarter Life Crisis

This past week I've been experiencing a quarter life crisis. Alvin send me this article to read. I thought I'd share it with you all.

***

Being Twenty-Something

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared. You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and addthings to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe you can love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

***

Great Singapore Sale

The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is coming to an end!(http://www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg/ )

I've been a good girl, did not buy alot of things (2 shoes, 1 jacket?), and when you really come to think of it, the GSS isn't really a big deal. Usually the sale is 10-30%, I was walking past FILA and they had this sign posted "WOW SALE!!" and underneath in fine print was..

"up to 10% off"

Honey honey honey, I don't blink an eye for anything less than 70% off.

Bangkok has spoilt me.

But its nice and fun to go shopping all the same. And I am such a lazy bugger, I only like to shop in Orchard! I gotta get out more. haha.

Today I rolled out of bed and joined Denise for Step class.

Goodness me...

1. Make sure to get plenty of sleep before a step class...because...
2. An upbeat mood is the best for this class...and also...
3. Coordination is required...I didn't have much so...
4. I tripped.

MY WORST NIGHTMARE came true, im always paranoid that I would trip and fall flat on my face during aerobics class. Tada! mission accomplished! but I'm a smooth operator, I caught myself in time, ha ha.

The other day I was at Paragon basement, went to buy something at Guardian, and someone whistled. I turned around, and there were 2 malay boys (20ish?) sitting at Delifrance snickering. IT REALLY PISSED ME OFF.

I decided to ignore them, then afterwards after buying my goods, as I was walking out of the store and the guy whistled again! (I was wearing frumpy gym clothes.) I was half tempted to walk up to them and just say

Hello, DO YOU KNOW ITS RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL TO CATCALL WOMEN

But I held back.

I held back and regretted it.

Next time...I will be confrontational. So f**kers be warned. Someone has to teach them a lesson.

Its been a while

I feel like I haven't written in ages, and actually I just haven't blogged in 11 days! Amazing. Felt like half a lifetime passed since then.

I went home, and it was great. I finished my corporate finance paper, not so great, but doable. And now its all about applying for jobs!

Now I am more free I will blog more. So many random things happened to me, I can't choose which one to share with you all.

I feel much closer to Jamie now, I am very happy she came over for 3 weeks, I hope that we can travel to korea together next year. Will save money for that trip.

Here are some random pics of us on the plane, haha how we killed 15 mins of our 2 hour plane ride...

I really miss her. I got so used to having her around, now its just me at home.

On my own once again...

Happy Birthday

I want to dedicate this entry to one of my best guy friends - Mitchell.

Happy Birthday!!

I love how you read my blog! and you are right, I have to cut down on the sweets and the cakes, will do so after my exams. (on the 16th, please be patient :) )

When Mitchell and I went to UCC together, sometimes we'd chat on the phone (ah..the dramas of secondary school and the endless hours chatting with friends...i.e., Oh...you like her? yeah maybe she likes you, maybe you can do this and that and this and that...) I was the forever 'friend of the object of affection' never the object of affection.

Which to this day, I will never understand why. It is seriously damaging to the ego and self esteem.

Okay getting back on track, throughout the years (12 years!) Mitchell and I have grown closer and closer, and I cherish our friendship so much. I would like to say that we motivate and inspire eachother. Sometimes he shares stories with me that will change my outlook on life (Mitchell, the whole "fly on the wall" thing helped me get over my fear of awkward silences!!) and recently he has been my rock to keep me off the NO JERKFACE!! Resolution (going quite well..but i have to admit that i added him back on msn...I think I'm at the 'i can be friends' stage, no?...do i have to delete again?)

We spent new years eve 2000 together, watching this horribly boring movie, what was it called? incognito? incommando? a movie with Samuel L Jackson, and all i remember was that he was wearing jungle army gear.

I will always laugh really hard when I am with Mitchell. He is so funny and so sincere, a great guy. Plus he is a genius.

My earliest memory of Mitchell is ... him singing outloud all the time in class/break/what nots. He is a crooner and a class clown.

I miss hanging out with you. I wish I could be there to celebrate your birthday! I would come over to your office with lunch, or if you were busy I would bring you out for dinner, and we'd do something crazy like...go to an open mic karaoke bar and sing!!

Mitchell, be Happy and content. You work hard and for that you will definitely achieve your dreams. I have no doubt about that.

Rather than fear as a motivator, when you confront obstacles/snags, say your famous phrase...BRING IT!! Take on challenges like you always do.

Happy Birthday Mitchell.

Thank you for being there for me.

small things

Today I've been trying my best to study, maybe because management accounting APPEARS so easy i'm not working as hard. Woke up at 12, studied til 430, then slept til 6!

Small things really count, Jamie went out and bought me dinner, so sweet of her, and now I feel energised and ready to conquer the world! (Hmm, didn't have much of a lunch, dou foo fa? and oreos?)

Tomorrow is my last LSE paper for the year! Woohoo!

Muay Thai

Financial reporting yesterday was great! Everything I spotted for came up. (Well...Hick's Income Theory didn't come up as a calculation question, damn..too bad) I'm looking at a definite pass, around..50 and highest 60. So I'm happy!

As I was walking home, I did my usual MP3 singing walk. I haven't done it in a long time (cuz was too lazy to put new songs in my player. and too lazy to buy batteries). It is great and liberating! Walking down the street singing outloud and doing little dance moves as you walk. Lovely. haha.

Anyways, this morning I woke up and forced myself to go to body pump. I literally rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, threw on a tshirt, socks, and zombied walked to the bus stop. I looked seriously horrible. But that's fine right? just body pump...

WRONG MENTALITY.

The moment I step out of my room I should look presentable and at least somewhat pretty, cuz you never know who you are going to meet. And instead of my usual lady instructor, we had a male instructor.

I went to his class...last...saturday or something? And I wasn't wearing my glasses but from afar his body looks nice and his voice is lovely! hahah So today when I read the roaster and that he was subbing for Rue, I was like, Oh man...shit!! No eyeliner, no blush and my eyes are puffy...my hair is a huge mess....

lol. damn it. plus the shirt I threw on wasn't exactly the most flattering shirt. Its the boxy type that makes me look 20lbs heavier, I must stick to pretty gym clothes.

Anyways, mental note made. And up close, he isn't much of a looker.

Gin Nah and Denise really motivate me to lose weight. During body pump class Denise pushed me to load up, move from 2kgs to 2.5kgs. PAINFUL!!!

I decided to do more cardio from now on. Instead of running I joined Muay Thai. Wow. very powerful and tiring class. But I feel great after it! A total of close to 3 hours of gymming today! I hope I can keep up this habit.

In the meanwhile, I have one FREAKING LONG assignment to complete and an exam on friday.

Muay thai is fun. :)

Lazy Sunday

What a lazy sunday.

Stephen called me, woke me up and we chatted for an hour. After, I emailed Pantea, then went to drop off an "Officer and a Gentlemen" that I borrowed from Fitness First.

Marsha called me and she happened to be at Taka so we met! Her party at butter last night was great, I showed up wearing what looked like a pillow case. hahah I looked like 2000lbs, (2000 pound beauty, sequel? goodness I'd love to be with the male lead...mmmm...mmm...*drifts off*..)

erm. back to my point, the party was great.

And it was so nice to see her today to hang out at coffee bean, then we went to Plaza Sing to meet Arthur and Xinhui!

Anyways I know I should study, but now I feel quite confident about my exam. I did all the past exam questions...so I'm taking things easy.

Marcus left on Thursday. So sad!! I never wrote about him before, but he has made living here so much easier, its nice to come home and chat with him, and if I need a hug, I can ask for one from him. And well...we stopped for a while, but we always had movie nights or we chill and chat in the living room.

Sigh.

I will definitely miss him.

Ah...I look really bad in this photo ===>

I must make a mental note to open my eyes when taking pictures.


This is a photo of Jamie, Marcus and I
Oh! Marcus might come back in September!! For an internship :) Will keep you posted.

Study Break

My first exam is on Tuesday. (may 29th). Financial Reporting. I have to answer 4 questions in 3 hours, and for efficient but very risky studying purposes...I am studying only 5 topics.

Ah! Then my Management Accounting paper is on the 1st. Should be fine...

So this is me studying....

Or at least trying to...

The past few days have been alright. Been shopping a lot with Jamie. I feel bad that I can't take her around, but all she does it sleep. So I guess I can't complain. its 2pm and she is still sleeping. Good for me, I can focus and study better.

She is a sweetheart, cleared my makeup table so that now I have a desk to study on! Great!!

I'm going to conduct an experiment, I'm not going to wake her up and see what time she gets up naturally.

Motivation is what gets you started...

Man, I really hate the fitness first slogan

"Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going"

My problem....lots of motivation but no habits.
I woke up this morning and gymed for 2 hours! Yay! Came back home, tried to study but ended up sleeping.

I'm feeling good. Gotta go back to study now, took Jamie to Aware with me, someone said we don't look at all alike,

Then she continued...oh!! Yes you have the same eyes!!

Oh its like looking at

<= === Before

and

After=== =>

Very amusing.
What do you think?

Btw. This is me superpale cuz I didn't put on any make up.

The Prince and Me

I met Stephen at the airport today. I got to spend...roughly 2 hours with him.

He is just the same guy as last week, sweet and extremely loveable. When I saw him, and after speaking to him, all my doubts about him went away. (Doubts...in the sense of...why are we moving so fast? something = fishy? what's the story?)

He is a straightforward honest person, maybe not the brightest guy on the block when it comes to women (Men please take note: never ever imply marriage after a week of dating) ...haha but adorable all the same.

Anyways, I went in there determined to make a point, that I DO NOT want him to come to Singapore for me, and that we should just be friends.

Honestly, how do I know we'd even work out? how do I know if we'd last for a week? He gives up everything he loves and is used to in Victoria for me? I couldn't and don't want to take that responsibility.

Him, being the eternal optimist, tried his best to reassure me and told me that it is his decision to make. Sigh, at the end of it, I asked him not to contact me until I contact him first.

And when we were saying goodbye, it was so painful. It was just like my dream from 2 nights ago, when I hugged him, I clung to him. I felt like it was a moment out of a Chinese drama series. I should had just held him there for as long as I could, so that he could miss his flight.

I stood there watching him go through the immigration lines biting my bottom lip. When he was out of sight, I wanted to just sit at the airport 'til his plane left. hahah. neurotic.

I sat on a bench, called Gin Nah right away and told her what happened, then called Jamie as well. And from the sound of it...they (and Juliet) feel that I just let Stephen slip away, I'm always complaining that there is no one nice out there, then here comes mr. close-to-perfect and I push him away. It is extremely frustrating for them, I know I should be with him because he is so perfect for me.

I met Juliet and Jamie for dinner at Pepper lunch, we went grocery shopping and then went home to watch The Prince and Me.

Wow, I god damn wish I watched that movie yesterday.

Not to super spoil the movie, but basically she falls in love with this guy, he turns out to be a prince and she is so upset that he lied to her. and then she realises that oh my goodness maybe this really is like a fairytale and its real love and happineess...her fairytale could come true. So she dropped all her bags to go find him.

During this point of the film, I clapped my hands, and I got dirty looks from both Jamie and Juliet. haha I am very animated when I watch movies, so I was clapping my hands when she was realising that this guy is the one and she cant let him go.

Back to the plot...Then she realises that she lost herself in Denmark, and leaves him to pursue her career and to go back to her life in the US. *SUPER SPOILER*

The ending is lovely, at her graduation he is there behind her, and he said that he only wants her as his queen, and if it means waiting til she is ready, then that's what he'll do.

Made me bite my nails. Did I let my prince charming slip away? Jamie said that I slammed the door on destiny.

Wow that is super harsh.

Stephen, just in case you are reading this, I think you need space from me, most probably if and when I contact you; you would have realised that I'm no big deal and not worth the trouble. If and when that happens, I'll be happy for you. I am so sorry if I broke your heart today.