Results Out!

My exam results for last semester is out.

Considering the fact that I barely attended classes less than 5 times in total for all 3 modules(due to driving lessons and personal training), I think I am satisfied with my results. No 'As' this time, unlike previous semesters, but all Bs. :)

A huge sigh of relieve when I saw the results yesterday!!!

Now that I have cleared the major hurdle, I am just left with my last obstacle before getting that piece of paper.

I have made up my mind, come September, I will really focus on my school, other than work, because these last 3 semesters are heavily project and research based, and I will not have time to fool around. Of course gym is still in my agenda.

I have exactly 6 months to rest now.

Recharge, recharge, recharge!

Children and education.

I am blogging, while on my way to my favourite food stall to buy my dinner, thanks to data roaming.

Just a while ago, I was on the train, fiddling with my iPhone when I heard the voice of a toddler. He was going ,"Mum, iPhone, an orange iPhone."

That caught my attention, and i decided to blog about it.

I glanced down the petite toddler, who was holding on to mum's hand, just to do a quick analysis of his age, and I was pleasantly taken aback, that the boy in question was a three to four year old boy. I was surprised at how street smart the kids these days are, because I remember vaguely, that when I was three, I could probably only yak and murmur nonsensical words.

Are kids growing up faster because of the food they eat, the upbringing (more educated parents), or simply just evolution?

We can now see children engaging in adult-like negotiations with their parents, when situations aren't in their favour. When I was a kid, I had no such luxury! What my parents said was final, I'm sure most of you late twenties and thirties can identify.

With better education, healthier and more organic food, better educated parents, and evolution all factored it, I believe, in the very near future, the education system, the world over, is going to get so complicated, even parents will have a hard time coaching their children.

This is already evident in the Singapore Primary Education System. A few of my friends and colleagues, who have Primary School children, have raised their displeasure with the level of difficulty in their Mathematical Syllabus.

So, is modernisation working for us, or against us?

Exams are OVER!

I am so sorry for the lack of updates on my blog for the last 2 weeks.

I have been really busy, mugging for my 3 papers.

My next test shall be my driving test in 2 week's time. Hehe..

Thereafter, I shall be really really free, at least for the next 6 months!!!

Woohoo!!!

More updates coming soon, including super back-dated pictures of Christmas, New Year's Eve Countdown, etc....

Keep checking back!

Chill Out at Shanghai Dolly

Yesterday, Prof Lau brought the whole class out for a chill out session at Shanghai Dolly, as it was his last day with us.

I totally like the concept in Shanghai Dolly, as it feels like a theatre. For those who doesn't know, Shanghai Dolly occupies the space where ex-Bellini Grande was at, directly opposite Liang Court.

For the first time yesterday, I got a chance to talk to some of my course mates, and got a chance to know some even better.

Heard from Jasmine that Russell is organizing a BBQ session end of this semester.

Looking forward to that!

Yacht Ride

Last 2 weeks had been HECTIC for me!

Just finished 2 tests today.

Tomorrow going for a Yacht Ride with a couple of my colleagues, hope the weather will be sunny all the way!

Its time to R & R!!!!

Break from School

After this semester which ends in january, I intend to take a 6 months break from school, before continuing again....

Should I?

Should I not?

Results Out!

My results for my last semester is out!

I got A, B, B for my three exams. Relieved!

I am off to my first driving lessons now, after my gym, and going to George's birthday party thereafter. A packed weekend!

Yummy Claypot at Joo Chiat

Went for supper with Bernard after classes. This time, he brought me to Yummy Claypot located at 360 Joo Chiat Road.

Have heard a few of my classmates raving about the food there, so I knew I had to try the food.

We reached around 10.30pm, the whole restaurant was empty, except for the both of us. The wait staffs and kitchen staffs were all crowding around, watching TV. Well, you cannot blame them for being bored, with no customers to serve.

We ordered their "Signature Chicken" ($10). My oh my, DELICIOUS!
I am not sure how they cook it, but the seasoning is great!
I seriously have never tasted chicken cooked like this before. SEDAP!


Ordered the "Vegetable's Smoothie". Didn't like it at all, has a very strong Celery taste, and Celery is like Oyster, you either love it or hate it. I am the latter!


Then come the main course. Our HUGE pot of Prawn Porridge ($15). You cannot really tell how big this clayout is from this picture, but the diameter is roughly that of a LARGE Pizza, about 15 inch?


The prawn porride is tasty. Its the soupy type, so if you either like to drink soup or eat watery porridge, you will love this. The other alternative is the Crab Porridge which is almost twice the price of the Prawn Porridge.


One pot can serve about 4 persons, so if you intend to visit Yummy Claypot for the porridge, do bring along more friends, so you can have greater variety!

iPhone

Today, I personally witnessed another benefit of having an iPhone.

Cheating in exams!

Goodness.

NOT ME DEFINITELY!!!

There was this guy in front of me blatantly scrolling his iPhone away for answers to the exam questions. He was literally letting his fingers do the work, and not his brains!

I was so grossed out at his behaviour...

Here I was studying hard to memorise for my exams, there he was copying away.

Life is unfair! FUCK!

PS: I do not hold an iPhone myself.

Marco's School of Theology Graduation

Attended Marco's Bible School Graduation (City Harvest Bible Training Centre - School of Theology) at CHC.

Me, Joanne and Joseph went all the way down to the Expo to support his graduation.

After that, we headed down to Changi Airport Terminal 3 for dinner at the food court, and coffee at TCC thereafter.

After coffee at TCC, we went down to George's grandmother's wake.

Book Shelf

Needed a book shelf for all my textbooks and files, so sis accompanied me to Giant to get one.

It costs $50, plus I paid additional delivery charges of $15, since I didn't want to lug it all the way home in a taxi!
So cumbersome!

Pretty cheap since its a 4-tier book shelf, and has covers at the bottom tier.

The only con is that its a DIY shelf, and me being a very Un-DIY person, I took 1 freaking hour to fix up the shelf.

No regrets, since my books and files are so much more organized now!

(By the time I end my course, 3/4 of the shelf should be filled with books!)

Statistics

Is Statistics a really difficult subject, or is my lecturer just plain lousy?

It seems like this is the first time that I am having real difficulties understanding the lecturer's explanation.

I find him extremely disorganized!

Work and Study = TOUGH!

Took up a Part-time Marketing degree last year around September, and never looked back ever since.

Sometimes I ask myself, what have I gotten myself into, because I find it really tough juggling between work and studies. The hectic course schedule does not make things any better as well.

This semester I am concurrently taking 3 modules, and my lessons are packed at 3-4 times per week.

1.5 years more, and I will be done with this course.

I just have to keep telling myself "I CAN DO IT"!

Some random photos during my preparation for my exams 3 weeks back.

Notes...... When I write, I tend to remember the concepts better.

10.51pm, and I was still mugging for the exam the next day.

Well, they say Essence of Chicken helps improve memory, so just drink lor.

Results for my last 2 exams will be out 10 July, pray for me!

Study Room of Punggol Community Club

During my Financial and Managerial Accounting Exams, I called up Punggol CC to enquire if I could make use of the Study Room (using my PAssion Card) to do my revision.

Fortunately, the lady told me I could. But unfortunately, at the same time, that was the last time I could use it because they would be renovating the entire Community Club, and afterwhich, they would be charging fees for the CC Membership again.

Using the Study room brought back a lot of memories for me, because throughout my secondary school days, this was the place I did my self studies, especially during my O Levels days.

Some random photos during my exam preparation:

Goodbye old Punggol Community Club. Hope the new Community Centre / Club would be nicer, bigger, better, and have more activities!

Looking forward!

Goh Tong Pak

Met up with an ex-schoolmate for coffee and found out that my ex principle, Mr Goh Tong Pak, is the current CEO of Breaktalk! When I reached home, I immediately did a Google search, and its true! OMG!

Mr Goh has been appointed the CEO of Breadtalk since Jan 2008. Some of you may not know who he is, but I admire Mr Goh, because he was the one who turned my Secondary School from a neighbourhood school, to what it is today, autonomous and top 20.

The school I am talking about is Xinmin Secondary School.





I remember when I graduated from Xinmin Secondary School, Mr Goh was also promoted to take charge of 10 schools in the MOE HQ. And not to mention, before he joined Breaktalk, Mr Goh was already Deputy Director for the MOE School Appraisal Branch.

I don't know why, but I feel so proud of Mr Goh, somehow I feel like his hard work has really paid off!

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

ACTUAL NEWS:
FOOD company BreadTalk has roped in an education veteran for its senior management team.

Mr Goh Tong Pak, the deputy director for the Ministry of Education's (MOE's) school appraisal branch, will be made group chief executive officer (CEO) with effect from Jan 1.

The newly created post will require him to oversee BreadTalk's entire operations, including those in China and Singapore.

'He will also strategise on systems and talent development within the group,' the company said in a statement yesterday.

The group is best known for its six-year-old chain of bakery outlets in Singapore, which started the craze over pork floss buns in 2001.

It now has more than 150 bakery outlets in Singapore, China and other countries. It also runs the popular Din Tai Fung restaurant chain and eateries at St James Powerhouse.

Mr Goh, 61, has more than 30 years of professional and educational management experience. He headed Xinmin Secondary from 1992 to 1997 and was known for turning the underachieving neighbourhood school into one of the top institutions in Singapore. (I was in Xinmin 1994 to 1997) As deputy director of the MOE's school appraisal branch, he was responsible for monitoring, evaluating and improving more than 300 schools in Singapore.

He also lectures part-time for the master's degree course in educational administration at the National Institute of Education.

Mr Goh holds an honours degree in arts from the former Nanyang University and a post-graduate diploma in education from the National Institute of Education.

He told The Straits Times yesterday that BreadTalk chairman George Quek - an old boy of Xinmin - approached him about two years ago to join the company.

The two men got to know each other when Mr Goh gave a talk to a study group formed by various bosses of some small and medium-sized enterprises. He said he had been due to retire from the ministry in about a year but decided to do so earlier as a replacement for his post has been found.

He will use his experience in administering the schools monitoring system to enhance BreadTalk's quality control procedures.

'I was approached by another one or two companies. But I joined BreadTalk since I knew George and I was interested in this. This is my second career,' added Mr Goh.

Mr Quek told The Straits Times that Mr Goh's strength lay in his ability to develop talent and hoped he would be able to rally BreadTalk's around 2,000 employees to meet the company's objectives.

Having someone from outside the food industry will also bring a fresh perspective to the firm. 'I need someone to think outside the box,' he said.

Mr Quek added that having Mr Goh in BreadTalk will free him to focus on aspects like brand development and sourcing for new markets.

(Article from Asiaone)

Mugging

I am mugging for one more paper now, and I am feeling so stressed!

This module is so dry, and so theoretical!

I am going crazy!