getting there...

2006-02-20T11:55:00.000+08:00

i'm back... after a long long time..

i guess many things have happened since i last came... Sri Lanka & Vietnam and back.... so many things to say but dunno where to start...

but one thing i have to put it down in words.... my idea to set up my fruit stall...

that small little idea i have to start building now.... to try and search for new ideas.... how to make this dream reality...

i have to be back......

2004-12-14T05:07:00.000+08:00

hmm... its been sometime since i last updated on this blog... or even take a look at it... guess i m a bit hung up abt the Moblog i am having... there seems to be more interaction on that...

I guess it somehow reflects on how i am feeling now... somehow, i miss Singapore... i dun mean juz my family and frens... but everything that i have grown up with.... all the familiar things, food, places, etc... on Moblog... there is "Singapore" stamp all over it... you can really identify with it somehow... i guess i only feel this way when i am here...

After communicating with my frens here, mostly from the so-called Western countries, i really feel that Singapore is really unique... there is really no place like Singapore... We have so many "New Year"s to celebrate... We are so small and packed with loads of funny pple... Everyone in Singapore seems to be either studying really hard... or working like is no tommorrow... or maybe its juz me... =P

why am i here tonight? I am supposed to study for the last paper of my exchange... Behavioral Finance... interesting subject... but the point is.. i suddenly feel the need to reflect on sthg... and this is alwiz a good place to let things out... i think i need to reflect on wat has this exchange done to me...

I have been to a lot of places ard europe... (spent quite a lot of money too, but i will earn it back soon enuff.. no doubt, no worries) i have learnt quite a bit on Europe as a whole... at least much better than in the past... the pple... how within Europe they are still different.. the history... the rich history that no one can really say they know it all... been to more museums then i had every been in my life... abt art stuff... history... watever... i muz say they are quite interesting.. and enlightening... hmm.. i guess these are really the more tangible stuff...

then i really learnt to live on my own... i may not have even realised it... but i guess i really did... being the only singaporean here... there is really no one that i can truly relate to... even the asians here... i need to start to learn how to "deal" with them... dun even tok abt the europeans and the americans... i guess the good thing abt the school is really the diversity... where in one place... you are forced to live and have fun with them... when do you stay out of everythign and when do you choose to join in and have fun... i guess.. its all up to individuals too...

i have learnt that travelling alone can be really nice.... of coz.. travelling with frens is fun too but... its a really different feeling... i went to some germany cities and Amsterdam alone... took the trains and boats myself... met some interesting strangers along the way... i really enjoyed it... its a totally different experience that i will not forget... trust me.... i will do it again.. =)

living with someone esle... thats sthg that i have to say i am still trying to adjust to.... i guess that will depends on ur luck too... who you are staying with.... in an exchange, most prob you will get to live with someone with totally different way of living.... i mean... its not juz me... almost everyone who shares a room got sthg to say abt their room mates... good or bad... a lot or little... there is sthg... even for pple from the same country... there is a difference... for some... it looks ok on the outside... seems to be good buddies... but there is still sthg that i dun like or he dun like... not to mention those that do tok to each other much.... i guess that will have to be in my case... the most we talked was when we 1st met in the room.... amazing how living together can shape a relationship... =) like i alwiz say.... everything happens for a reason... and i like to say is a good learning experience...

haha.. i realised i have be blabbling non-stop for quite sometime... maybe its the Nat King Cole i am listening to... =p there is really a lot of other things to blabble.. but i would leave it here for now... gonna try to start on some BF... :)

Good Luck Lin.

2004-10-13T04:34:00.000+08:00

If i can help people dying from thirst and disease, can i also prevent the deaths from the floods? or am i trying too hard?

But it does not make sense to save the same people from the dirty water and then watch them get washed away by the floods...

i never managed to understand how people really lose their lives during a flood... can someone enlighten me?

2004-09-13T10:45:00.001+08:00

hmm... i think i got the name of my blog rite... in the middle of the night.. its 445am in maastricht now... i dunno why.... i was reading some stuff till 3 and then i tried to go and sleep... but no use man... i juz can't fall asleep... maybe its the kopi... maybe its the funny noise(groaning) my room mate is making... haha...

maybe i will tok a bit abt my experience in europe so far...

been to quite a few countries so far... and all have their own special traits... all have their own charms... i guess its gotta do with the rich history they have... especially in the eastern europe.. there is juz so many interesting stories and places to see... but i think i still like barca the best.... there is juz so much life there... everytime you walk down the streets... you will discover sthg different... i will definitely go down again... =) when i have the cash...

i think this experience in europe will somehow change the way i look at things... i feel... the more i see... the more i think i wanna see more... the more i think there is so much more out there... especially when you come to a place so far away from home.. and you meet pple from places you nvr really thot of going... its juz amazing how diverse this world is and yet, we are able to live with each another....

to my dear frens out there... if you can go out to see a bit more... pls do... i think i am really fortunate to be able to come to Europe for exchange... but i guess its how much you wanna it to happen sometimes... i am not trying to be cocky or funny here... but i juz think its better to be young when find out and see more of the world... it will make a difference to how you think..

i think.... =)

2004-09-13T10:45:00.000+08:00

2004-09-08T02:42:00.000+08:00

haha... finally.. i am back... =P

hmm... juz in case pple reading this do not know... i am in the netherlands now.. on exchange...
in a city called Maastricht.. a really nice cosy place i feel... a little like Prague... =) I love Prague..

for the past one week, i have been trying to settle into the new environment... its not so easy really.. there is juz so many angmohs here... and they tend to hang out with each other... not surprising thou... but the thing is there isn't any other singaporeans ard... and there are not too many asians ard too... even if there is... the koreans stick to each other...

haha.. enuff whining... in actual fact... its all quite nice here... i think its really a matter of getting used to it... =) i really think things will turn out really well in the end... haha... i juz gotta put in a bit more effort to tok to pple...

hmm.. abt the school... the Problem-Based Learning(PBL) here is really quite different from back home... the tutor dun really say anything... a group of abt 10-14 of us juz sit ard the room and discuss certain readings... certain issues... and that REALLY pushes you to think... i thot this method of teaching is really good... i really hope this will help me in future...

i think the workload is going to be quite heavy... but i think i will enjoy it as i like the modules i am taking... Knowledge Management and European Business. haha.. but i do not have exams for them... so it means that i will have one week free... think i will go to germany... =)

okok... think its abt time to go to the party!!

Seven SINS
- Party With The Gods.

2004-09-07T17:28:00.000+08:00

eXpressive: 5/10Practical: 7/10Physical: 2/10Giver: 6/10

You are a RPIG--Reserved Practical Intellectual Giver. This makes you a Rock of Gibraltar.

You are loyal, kind, thoughtful and conscientious. You're a good person. You make everyone around you happier and better, even if you yourself are not at your happiest or best. You just care so much about your friends and loved ones that you can't help giving them everything of yourself. It can wear you out, but you'd never let on.

You're successful, smart and fun to be with, but your self-esteem could use some boosting. You don't like conflict, and you don't like demanding things for yourself, so you can feel unappreciated. But then you wonder if you don't deserve to be appreciated. You do!

You have many small crushes, but it takes you ages to get to a serious stage with someone. You get so caught up second-guessing yourself and worrying if the other person really *likes* likes you that you never dare to make the first move. Generally you end up with another clever RPIG who knows one when s/he sees one. This adds up to one long courtship. Fortunately this also adds up to one long marriage.

You would never cheat. You would never hurt anyone's feelings. You are so sympathetic and give so many second chances that it takes a lo-o-ong time for anyone to get on your bad side.

Your only problem is you can be *too* thoughtful -- you can end up worrying and getting hung up over nothing.

You may be a boy scout.

Of the 56274 people who have taken this quiz, 6.4 % are this type.

kinda accurate i muz say.... =P

2004-08-08T21:47:00.000+08:00

i used to think fireworks are a huge waste of money. until today. in fact, it took me 4 mins to change my thinking.

1947 : juz finished my reflection session in the Esplanade Library Cafe. thot i will walk out to the open air concert area to watch some performance.

1953 : there are SO many pple on the ground floor. In fact a lot of pple are sitting on the pavement facing the waters. I realised why. National Day Preview today. Fireworks.

1955 : there are juz TOO many pple. i decided to walk home. so i walked twds the Fullerton Hotel.

1959 : i am stuck. as i try to walk along the waterfront of the esplanade, i was stopped by the mass of pple sitting, standing, tip-toeing,picnic-ing, crying, sweating, talking along the pavement. for a moment i thot: "hmm... i guess i will juz join the crowd."

2003 : suddenly, the small trail of pple i was following out of the place started to move. i followed the slight trail of movement to get out of the packed area.

2010 : i reached the park opposite Padang. there are still a lot of pple. all waiting patiently for the fireworks. all staring at the black blank sky.

2015 : i reached the small tower area where the merlion used to be. a lot of pple.

2017 : i walked twds the fullerton waterfront. the traffic ( i mean the vehicles) was dead. the cars cannot really move. the bridge was filled with pple. the worst thing is the road isn't block out for the public. the pple juz decided to do it themselves by filling the bridge.

2021 : i was deciding if i shld stay ard to watch the fireworks. i mean, i reckon half of singapore is there and as a singaporean, i shld juz follow the crowd. and thats a HUGE crowd mind you.

2024 : i wished i had my camera with me. pple was EVERYWHERE. on the railings, in the middle of the road, sitting along the divider along Shenton Way,etc. any spot that could catch a glimpse of the dark blank sky above the waters. ANYWHERE.

2028 : i was hovering ard the middle of the road, walking along the divider, deciding to stay or not. not everyday u get to stand in the middle of shenton way's main road and not be afraid of getting run over by a car.

2030 : i decided to stay ard. i walked into the old clifford pier. as i expected, pple was lining up against the water front. the fireworks is going to start any time.

2033 : its getting a bit hot. pple are still streaming in to stand behind me.

2034 : BOOM!! BOoM! BooM! the moment everyone's been waiting for.

2035 : i cannot really see everything as i was blocked by the structure of the building.

2036 : i realized pple are really excited. everytime a few fireworks went of together you can hear "Whoa!! Wah!! Nice!!". everytime the lights from the fireworks brightened the dull skies, you can sense the smiles on everyone's face.

2037 : I realized if 2 million singaporean's are watching the fireworks for that 5 plus mins, you add up the "excitement and happiness" generated, you will see that any amt of money is worth it. To make so many pple happy all at once is not a easy thing to do. never mind its juz a few minutes.

2039 : the last few fireworks was going off. i felt really happy. i started to walk away from the crowd.

2040 : the show was over. pple just disappeared from sight. maybe there shld be more fireworks in future. i will go and watch the real "thing" tommorrow.

2004-07-09T22:28:00.000+08:00

Cannot take it... juz kena one times big arrow b4 i knock off.... lao ban wants me to do the presentation tom... in front of 100 plus pple... all teachers... some big shots somemore.. grrr.... haha.. "it will be a good experience.." i know... i know... but still??

Hmm.. but i think i really need to look at it postively... otherwise it will really be bad... haha... okok.. its all in the mind.. i will go study the ppt later... =P

hmm.. dunno why.. been feelin tired these days.. fall asleep very easily... then wake up late some more.. =P

hmm.. really muz get my documents out by monday... then send it over to UM soon... otherwise... cannot go liao... until now.. i still cannot believe i forgot abt the most impt part of the application... kaoz...

kk... time to get some work done..

2004-07-07T01:56:00.000+08:00

its going to 2am in the morning...
Hmm... seems like i am not really a blogger type of person huh? hah.. havent been up here for quite some time...
ha.. but it seems like blogging is the in thing now.. so i guess i shd do it too... haha... but seriously.. i think its quite a nice invention... great way to keep ur thots flowing..
kk.. a few updates.. a few of the etters on my keyboard is not realy working wel... its getting quite irritating.. wil get it fix soon.... But hmm.. i reallie busy these days.. STORM.. Heartware.. Exchange... hmm... so much things to do.. so little time.. but i guess its all about planning my time properly.... =)
quite excited abt the exchange.. but reallie hoping i can cope there man.. but i just found out i havent send in the documents they need.. dateline was 1st July! hope they will let me off....
quite worried about Storm.. hmm.. really got to nail down the sites soon... at least one B4 i go... gotta start working on it...
quite worried for Flushing MAD Day.. hmm.. still not enuff schools... no money.. no pledge cards taken... bad... $150000 is the target! HA.... lets see how far i can go.... =P
haha.. quite a long entry huh?? hmm... long day later... FocUS Lin Ah YAo!!

2004-04-04T10:01:00.000+08:00

hmm... its a sunday morning... juz one more week to exams...
sian.. have to go back to camp for some ICT briefing later... at mandai.... wah lau....
thinking of going back to school after dat.... still got 1 more project to go b4 i can start studying for my exams...
i shld really plan my study plan soon...

my room is STILL in a mess... have to clean it up now....

2004-03-31T09:06:00.000+08:00

its 9am liao... i am still sitting here... i muz say... watever i read last night... nthg really go into my head..
its 9am liao... i am not in class... sitting here... typing my new blog... productive indeed...
its 9am liao... i haven't eat bfast, but my sisTa bought for me liao... so i eat later...
its 9am liao... i haven't finish my DUO application.. wth... TODAY in the deadline.
its 9am liao... i am STILL Lin Qing Yao. i guess..

2004-03-31T04:44:00.000+08:00

its about 5 in the morning... and i am still trying to finish my mktg revision... nthg really went in anyway...
hmm.... another sleepless night... i dunno... but i am enjoying these sleepless nights.... its at night when i feel much more at ease... think i shld get back to my books...

2004-03-30T02:50:00.000+08:00

its about 3am now... i really shld be doing my work... studying for my test... worrying abt all the work i have this week..
but no... i am not doing all that... i am doing sthg i never really thot i will do... or at least thats wat i told myself...
after reading the blogs by my dear frens... i suddenly got this "feeling" to pen all these down... to share all these to my dear frens...

all the work in sch is really getting on my nerves.. but... its becoz i did not try to start them earlier... so who to blame?

however, i guess i am really getting used to all these super last minute work... coz i dun really feel very gan cheong now... really... in fact... everything seems to be so......... at peace. =)

i juz realised i might have forgotten my username already.. haha... but why am i not surprised? i really think i am getting old... and yes.. to all my frens out there reading this.. YOU are getting there too... and that's sthg i really wanna ask you guys... wat hav YOU achieve thus far? for me... nthg much really.... at least thats how i feel now... the many years in singapore's interesting education system.... 2 unforgettable years in NS... thats really it... nothing...

Its time to do something DUBO. Stop standing there and think of what to do. Start doing.