| first week in singapore |
[Dec. 6th, 2009|09:57 pm] |
I AM SO EXHAUSTED.
There are probably three million Singaporeans out there in the workforce who are going to hurl stones at this lowly intern griping about feeling exhausted after a paltry week at work but I REALLY AM. I'm waiting for my body to get conditioned to it but according to most people I've consulted, this weariness tends to go away only after a year. So I'm thankful this will last only a month and it's only in two years that I will be part of this perpetually stressed and exhausted multitude.
It's been a whole week since I've been back and despite work which saps up most of my time, it's been wonderful seeing everyone again although I haven't quite met up with everyone that I wish to meet. But the prospect of being able to spend time with those I hold most dear in a place which despite all its shortcomings is a place I call home is nothing short of wonderful and exciting. I am ticking off the weeks and soon it will be Christmas! My Birthday! New Year! and then, time to breathe and enjoy my holiday.
So far, work has been great. I feel really really blessed because despite a dismal first day (I was literally the Invisible Intern), everyone has been so incredibly nice and friendly and helpful. They treat me like an intern in a manner such that they understand that I am there to learn, but not a saikang warrior. Most people I've met have taken time out of their busy schedules to speak to me and get to know me even though there is absolutely no onus on them to do so. The work I've done, although waaaaay over my head, has been challenging and I've had so many people to assist and teach me. The only glitch to this is the work hours I am unaccustomed to.
I know I said it before, and I repeat, I AM SOOO TIRED. I am so tired that I think I'm going to shower and then head to bed even though its only... 10 pm. |
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| like sand |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|12:36 pm] |
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TIME IS MY ENEMY.
I don't know which is better - running around doing all sorts of things that makes time zip by or sitting at home doing nothing savouring each little minute. I think we've been doing more of the former although today I am trying to do the latter to stall time before the hump. In the meantime - it's been a series of moments marked by cups of coffee and dog-earred movie stubs, we had the most perfect apple crumble in the most perfect place thrice, and we made the contrived effort to sample new places when I wonder if we should be embracing the old. It's been a beautiful delicious time. Although it now comes with this painful effort that wasn't there before. As the time ticks closer, all I want is to spin back and wrap myself with time frames of when a decision not more pressing than what to eat for my next meal came to mind. |
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| jeepers creepers |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|01:01 am] |
Coming back to emptiness is scaring me. Never more than now have I grasped the importance of a well cluttered room; smeared with the essence of something rather than baleful, innocuous walls that eat you hollow. Two days ago, I'd have been doing the exact same thing in the exact same room at the exact same time, but not have felt bored or restless or lonely, desperately clutching at shreds of something.
All my things are stowed away in boxes, plainly labelled. I feel like I'd just kissed a dear friend goodbye too soon and I'm sore with a rootless and restless ache that probably has everything to do with nothing to do. I came alive with joy during those hours where my fingers were busy and my legs carried me everywhere; and my teeth were sunk in crispy chicken burgers, eyes lapping at moving pictures, the voices of friends and strangers in my ears. But now it's gone again all too soon and the morning seems so faraway.
I really really miss having a camera. This bumpy, precious, poignant year is almost coming to an end and I have aboslutely nothing to show for it.
SIGH, GOD PLEASE GIVE ME A HOUSE WITHOUT HASSLE. I am really stressed and emo without one. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 17th, 2009|12:51 pm] |
I am melting. Why is it so hot? What I wouldn't give for a tall sweaty glass of fizzy pink lemonade and airconditioning. It's robbing me of all my capacity to study. On the upside, exactly 5 hours to my last exam of the semester :)
P.S. it's so unnerving reading an interrogation of the Al Qaeda operative document which is labelled Top Secret with a slash across it (cos it's now made public) and hearing them speak so matter-of-factly about controlled torture techniques. It's almost like it's fake. But it's not. |
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| optimism |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|08:08 pm] |
You know summer is here when you wake up in the morning feeling... dirty. From the film of sweat procured while slow cooking in your overnight filth. Hardeeehar, I am kidding of course. Not about the dirty morning part but the other part. Summer is well and truly here - sun-bleached fields, clear blue skies, and that sweltering heat rising from the bitumen into your skin, clogging your pores. I sit half-glad and half-sad, torn between the sunshiney goodness and sticky sweat.
But what a week it has been! Like a train chugging through rolling hills and blinding tunnels towards some far-off destination, the end is finally near. The countdown to the end of the semester now stands at two days and I can hardly wait. With an 8 day gap between my two last exams, this last week was stuck in a strange limbo of incessant mall-ratting and half-hearted studying. I have bags of new clothes and nowhere to wear them to. I am rid of the stifling restlessness but ridden with the guilt of frivolity. Buttttt, soon I will be free to run and caper and complete all the necessary Things To Do without the weight of exams on my shoulders.
It might be the impending end of exams or something completely hormonal, but I am buoyed by some idea that life is that proverbial journey we're meant to take and embrace. I spent the last week bobbing between weary restlessness and utter destitution (most likely pms-related), stricken by sudden bouts of girlish hysterics which had me bawling over certain trifles and not-so-trifling matters.
But after bible study on Thursday and absorbing the advice of adults more experienced than me, I am encouraged by the prospect of the future. Of the plunge to the unknown which can be so frightening but yet so exhilaratingly unpredictable. (This is saying a lot considering how I am a real chronic planner). I've always been burdened by this need to know, to expect, to stand firmly on the concrete ground of predictability... but it's so true, albeit trite, when they say life is so unpredictable and you should make the most of whatever comes your way. Who can say what is to happen in 5, 10 years? Who can say the path we embark on now will be the path we stay on forever?
I'm still the wimpish girl who frets and worries and feels the need to plan everything, but with such well-meaning advice on hand, the future lures a sweet promise of hope and unexpected results. |
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| SIA pride |
[Nov. 5th, 2009|08:52 pm] |
My Australian services marketing textbook seems to be incredibly fond of Singapore. Every other 'good' or exemplary example cited is Singapore related; like SMU and Singapore Airlines. Particularly Singapore Airlines. Which reminds me of something that happened during the first services marketing tutorial.
Tutor: Some services have created a premium brand for themselves. Let's take the airline industry for example. Do you any know of a premium airline, who can proudly call themselves one of the best in the world?
(Girl raises her hand)
Girl: Qantas?
(awkward silence)
Tutor: Errrr.. yes, some might say it could be. But in this case.. hmm.. erhhm... probably not. Can anyone think of anything else?
Me: Singapore Airlines?
Tutor(looks relieved): YES, Singapore Airlines! No matter where I travel, I always always take Singapore Airlines..
HAHA
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| examrelated maladies 2 |
[Nov. 5th, 2009|02:21 am] |
I'm meant to be dutifully taking notes for the upcoming exam but I feel this restless urge to note down all these superfluous thoughts that are swimming in my head, taking up precious brain space that could be used more effectively for STUDY.
Like how I'm so disgustingly bloated and full, but yet I still want to EAT. To taste, to smell, to savour, to enjoy a sliver of the Epicurean in a very dull and exhausting time of my life. I already had some leftover prawn mee, char kway teow, porridge and soup for dinner. After which I treated myself to some cracked pepper water crackers smeared liberally with blue cheese. And cos I wanted something sweet I ate another 7 chocolate biscuits (I only have 5 left. I'm saving them for tomorrow. I need the sugar). And now I have this horrid desire to cook myself a batch of spaghetti bolognaise simply because I Want To. Oh, and also to get rid of the sticky sweetness coating my tongue and teeth. I don't even mind nipping out to MCDonalds to get something but no one wants to drive me.
Sighh, the crick in my neck/shoulders is getting worse. It now creaks and grates like a rocking chair and I've been repeatedly pounding myself in the shoulders just so the pain will go Go Away. It's not only distracting and irritating, it's painful! I have this fear that I will grow to be one of those athritic old ladies with builging shoulders and a curved back, constantly groaning with pain.
Every tick I make against my to-do list, I feel this frisson of delight. To which it quickly fizzles out as the next empty document comes my way, blinking plaintively, and waiting to be filled. And then the alarm bells start to ring as I realise I only have TWO MORE DAYS. Help.
Aiya, I really shouldn't be complaining. I know deep down that this is all my fault because I've been a chronic procrastinator and wagger and I should really learn my lesson. Next year, I will reform. |
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| examrelated maladies |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|07:23 pm] |
Aurgh I really loathe exam period. The mad scrabbling for time, the relentless amount of work, the onset of fatigue, the sudden desire to do a whole bunch of Unrelated Things (!!!!) .. Even after eating copious amounts of chocolate and pouring cups of green tea down my throat, I am still incredibly grumpy.
And because of all that chocolate and tea, I now have two big red pimples on my cheek and have been hopping to the toilet every hour! Plus, I have an awful crick in my neck.
I'm really hanging on by the grace and mercy of God. Having attended minimal classes for my first two exams plus only a week to study for both of them, PLUS worrying about getting all my documents ready for rental applications this saturday (which is unfortunately also the day of my first exam), I NEED A MIRACLE.
It's so self-indulgent to come online just to vomit a whole slew of exam-related maladies but HAIYA, I need to destress very badly. I keep having visions of tulle skirts and slouchy tees coupled with chunks of steak. But I'm keeping my bottom firmly planted to this chair.
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| my very first white-roux |
[Nov. 1st, 2009|11:29 pm] |
Every time exam period rolls around, my fingers get all twitchy, my mind starts to wonder and I start doing all these random things - all in the name of procrastination.
Anyway, I was craving some cream (ish) based pasta tonight but I didn't have any cream! So I thought I'd try and make my own roux-based sauce. I remember seeing the recipe for it once a long long time ago while waiting for a friend at Borders (I even remember surreptitiously typing the instructions into my old phone) and all I could remember was equal parts butter/edible fat and equal parts flour and milk or water, but I thought I'd go ahead and try it out anyway.
And it was a real success! I don't have any pictures because I was too hungry and gobbled it all up. And I don't have a fixed recipe for it because I was kind of hunting around my house looking for relevant ingredients. And I kind of just popped things in as I found them.
But it's really simple. Click for ( recipe )
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| Spaghetti with a Simple Creamy Tomato Sauce and Banana Prawns |
[Oct. 28th, 2009|05:45 pm] |
Time for another food post! Even though it is possibly the worst time for one because the internet is strangely slow and laggy. Hmm... anyway, here goes. Food Post of the Day is: Spagetti with a Simple Creamy Tomato Sauce and Banana Prawns.
That was a bit of an unelegant mouthful (no pun intended), but maybe a picture will make it look a teeny weeny bit better:
I don't know why the picture turned out so fuzzy and weird but let's forget about trifles like that and move on. I made this a couple of days ago but was too lazy to post it. I've been fiddling around with a creamy tomato sauce for quite a while, but out of all my efforts, this one has been The Best So Far and it's also the first time I blanched and crushed my own tomatoes rather than using the tinned ones, so it deserves a post all on its own! Hmm, although to be honest, I kind of prefer the tinned tomatoes because they add some kind of preservatives to it that makes the sauce so much tastier, even though blanching my own tomatoes is supposed to be lighter and fresher. Kind of like baked beans I suppose, no baked beans ever tastes as good as those out of a can.
Anyway, if you're interested, here's the
( recipe )
And for the requisite study update: 238/3500 words. I am making good, albeit slow, progress. Okay back to work!
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| raquelissima |
[Oct. 27th, 2009|03:15 am] |
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Raquelissima
I wish I could paint or draw just so I can reproduce such whimsical lovelies. I particularly like the deer and zebra one a lot.
I'm supposed to be working on my assignment. But the cases are so long and dreary I find my eyes involuntarily wandering to pretty pictures online, so perfectly captured, framed, and hung. In the meantime, I'm drinking from the new Berry Storm Pumped and it tastes like liquid raspberries on my tongue.
Despite all the slight oddities of today (like several awkward stilted conversations and the mad rush to hand in my assignment), it was quite the perfect rainy day. With the wind whipping in our hairs and the grey clouds gathering overhead, we sped home just in time to the first clap of thunder that erupted in sheets of heavy rain. For once, I was not cold and sodden or trapped in leaky bedrooms, but I was in a house, airy and bright, idly deciding what to cook for dinner as the rain drummed all my assignment troubles away.
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| so would you say your pesto is the besto? |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|11:56 pm] |
Went down to the supermarket today to get some groceries because I felt like treating myself to some prawn pasta (hardly ever buy prawns cos they're expensive for my student budget). Ended up spending a good 15 minutes by the herb aisle, holding up bunches of thyme, basil, dill and what have you up my nose and smelling it. I ended up buying some basil because I hardly ever play around with it.
Sooo, once I got home, I decided to make my own pesto! I loooove pesto on chicken, pasta, fish and and have always cheated, by buying the expensive $6 teeny tiny bottle once in a while to treat myself. By the way, I had no idea it was so incredibly easy. I thought I'd have to spend the whole afternoon making it, but as it turns out, I finished it in about 10 minutes flat. And it tastes 10x better than the kind you get in a bottle, and I've tried a whole lot of bottled pesto.
So here are the steps to creating your own pesto:
Ingredients
A bunch of fresh basil
1/2 clove of garlic, chopped
Olive oil
Grated parmasan (about a handful)
Pine nuts, lightly toasted
(I didn't have pine nuts so I used toasted almonds instead; and some random nut I found)
Some sea salt and freshly grounded pepper
1. Pluck the leaves off some fresh basil and chop it up.
I used about 3 good handfuls because I wasn't sure how much I wanted to make.
2. Put the chopped garlic, basil leaves, and some salt into a mortar and start pounding away at it with your pestle. If you have a food processer, it will save you the energy. 3. Add the pine nuts into the mixture and continue pounding. Since I didn't have pine nuts, I used some almonds and a random nut I found. As they're relatively big compared to pine nuts, I chopped them up before adding them to the mixture. 
4. By the time you've finished pounding, it should look something like this  5.Turn the mixture out into a bowl and about half the parmesan and a little bit of olive oil, stirring gently. Add more olive oil as you see fit, before adding the rest of the parmesan. Keep adding olive oil and stirring until the mixture reaches an oozy consistency. Add some salt and pepper to taste. The final product should look like this: 
It tastes unbelievably fresh and I can't wait to start mixing it into my pastas and spreading it all over my chicken! Pestos can be kept for quite a while so put them in a container and refridgerate and use it whenever you want. |
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| food and fashion faux pas? |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|12:01 am] |
I never thought I'd ever get to say this, but I just noticed that what I happen to be wearing tonight is truly Ris Low stylezZz:
Khaki greeeen shorts with a RADE zebra preents top. So boomz.
But nevermind about that, I really like what I'm wearing. Haha.
And since I'm in a bit of an uploading mood, here's a picture of the risotto I cooked the other day. It was my second time cooking risotto and I tweaked the old recipe a little as I didn't have some ingredients/had more of others. I also remembered to cook the rice a little longer so it was nicely al dente and not slightly crunchy like it was the last time. I think I'm good to go for a third try.
Chicken and Mushroom Risotto |
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| house shopping |
[Oct. 22nd, 2009|03:21 pm] |
There are times when I really dread the responsibilities of growing up. I've bumped into a little hiccup while house hunting and can only pray that it will all be fine and the house I took so long to find will be ours. At moments like these, I always remember and am encouraged by my ex-housemate David's quiet confidence in house-hunting that God will provide and come hell or high water, a house will be his eventually. So a good hour of pondering later, I'm somewhat mollified and feeling a lot better about these dreadful house-hunting issues.
Anyway, productivity's been at an all time low today because I haven't done a speck of work since waking up and cooking some green tea soba. Vacant eyes staring at the flapping curtain while lying flat on my back, the back of my legs growing warm and sweaty in the hot airless room... I'm becoming exceedingly good at doing absolutely nothing. I've also been feeling extemely guilty since yesterday, having been reprimanded by my parents about tightening my belt. It coincided tragically with the day I decided to let loose and go on a frenzied shopping spree, coming home with ARMFULS of stuff. They were all surprisngly cheap, but also very, very unnecessary (another little black dress? Sequined shorts?!). Though I must admit I adore all my new bargains; I even unfolded all of them and lined them up one by one on the bed, before folding them back again. Sighhh.. time to be a penny-pincher.
Next year's going to be such a difficult year. I just hope a nice, God-given house will come our way to soothe the maladies of an awkward, lonely year.
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| restless resource |
[Oct. 16th, 2009|05:05 pm] |
I've been absolutely teeming with restlessness all day. Like a little dumpling steaming in its own boredom. I even had a few offensive encounters where I literally forced tears out of my eyes just so I could create some sort of event worth mulling or even stewing over. Which is, in all honesty, just a little bit of unnecssary prima donna melodrama that I am not proud of.
But let's put all that aside for now because I'm trying very hard to channel all this pent-up, useless, energy into something positive (ie my ASSIGNMENT). My research tells me that back in the days of the 1700s to early 1940s, resources were viewed as "stuff" that is static and to be captured for advantage. But over the past 50 years, resources are not only just mere "stuff", but are also dynamic functions of human creativity. A new perspective is emerging, that everything is neutral until humankind learns what to do with it. So essentially, resources are not, they become. So now, I am going to figure out a way to tap into this figidity, snivelly Resource and translate it into a pure ingenious Marketing Essay through my Human Creativity.
Hmm, I guess, sometimes all you really need is something in your day to look forward to, some sort of chronological milestone to hurtle towards in order to get things done. Because I've just been told that we're going to visit the cramped little goodness-knows-where Italian restaurant that I found on the Internet tonight and I am excited and ready to hit at least 700/2500 before scoffing down some warm hearty fare!
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| rainy sunday |
[Oct. 11th, 2009|03:32 pm] |
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The heat has returned for over a month now, and I'm missing the cold. Fickle much? I don't miss the cold per se. Just the beautiful crisp trans-seasonal weather so I can deck myself out in sheer tights and soft drapey cardigans without feeling too warm or overdressed. This weather seems to have eluded us entirely because it went from freezing (relatively, note place in question: Brisbane) to hot in a flash. Plus, warm weather simply begs for some variety of glowing rosy skinny-ness which I currently do not possess. Thunder thighs and muffin tops; flasher fashion of another sort. Ohwell. Maybe my wishes are answered because there's a grey chill in the air today caused by the intermitten rain. Minus dirty puddles and cold wet feet, it's the perfect Sunday weather now that I'm indoors. |
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| just a thought |
[Oct. 5th, 2009|12:33 am] |
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Sometimes, I feel very stupid when I read certain journal articles. |
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| just because I don't feel like doing any work |
[Oct. 4th, 2009|02:49 pm] |
I love waking up for breakfast, when I do wake up for breakfast. It's such a rare affair, but I took them to my favourite breakfast spot the other morning. We got off to a bit of a late start, and with the oppressive heat and a snuffly nose, it wasn't the best of mornings. But we ended up having a terrific brunch basking in the sunrays (we got the window seat!) over sweaty glasses of juice and french toast and eggs cooked in three different ways. Anyway, that's my french toast (pictured above): brioche, caramelised bananas, crispy bacon and pecans drizzled over with maple syrup. Oh and a side of hash cakes because they do the best hash cakes ever.
And, just because I was uploading pictures from my phone, here's one of the day Brisbane was bathed in orange dust. It was quite spectacular if not for the dust coating my lips and skin and getting into my nose and throat the entire day.
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| sneezywheezy |
[Oct. 2nd, 2009|08:46 pm] |
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I've caught that dreadful once-a-semester flu bug. Caused by lack of sleep, over-exhaustion, weather changes, lack of fluids; whatever it is, you name it, you got it. I've been slowly nursing myself back to health by popping my drowsy meds obediently after every meal and drinking copious amounts of water. I haven't eaten anything fried or oily (except breakfast at Gunshop this morning) and I'm blowing my nose in aloe-vera&vitaminE infused tissue that's supposed to be moisturising. Hmm, why am I not getting any better? Everything's got a drowsy, sickly tinge to it now. With deadlines looming and no work done whatsoever (I realised I've skipped a tad too many lectures this semester augh), I can only hope this yucky flu bug will be stamped out for good! And soon, I hope.
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| AUG, augh. |
[Sep. 29th, 2009|09:48 pm] |
I am sunburnt for the very first time in my life. Years of capering around in the mild humid Singapore sun during camps had me thinking I was immune to the rays. But the Australian sun seems to be another thing altogether. It has been an exhausting three days under the scorching rays. I also never want to smell another cookie, fix another cup of milo, or organise a food stall ever again. At the end of it, it seems trite and almost useless to launch into a spiel about my weary week. So, I'm just incredibly happy and relieved it's over. There are lists and lists of things to do floating at the top of my head and it makes me gag just to think about it. But for now, I just wanna roll around in bed, watch the episode of gossip girl that I was saving and sleep.
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hopetocope's journal
