Study Trip to San Franscisco, California, United States of America!

[Monday, 10 January 2011]
2nd week of school and just started to getting used to the new timetable. So, while I was in NKM class on that day, I was checking the school portal for any new announcements and guess what? The newest announcement posted was as below:

Mon, Jan 10, 2011 -- Briefing for Study Trip to Silicon Valley

Dear all,

There will be a briefing (see details as below) for a study trip to Silicon Valley.

Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011

Time: 4.30pm

Location: LT9

If you are interested in the trip, but can’t attend the briefing, kindly get in touch with Teacher A or Teacher B to register your interest.

It's been around two and a half years since I had been studying in this school. Sad to say, I haven't heard of our any study trips for our particular course yet. Some of the other courses have study trips to Japan or France and I am so envious of them. Of course, my eyes immediately zoomed into the keyword "Study Trip" and exclaimed to my friend who was sitting besides me at that time, about "Where on earth is Silicon Valley". Of course, a quick Google search solved that problem. Soon after that, I was totally spazzing with my friend about the study trip...to Silicon Valley! In San Francisco,California! United States of America! Which is literally the other half of the globe!

As you can imagine, my friend and I didn't pay much attention to the class for the rest of the day. It felt like a seriously long wait to the briefing even though it was only a week plus of wait. We kept guessing what we would be doing there.

My friend and I had never went to such a far away country before so you can't exactly blame us for being so excited. Besides that, the only two times which I had been out of the country was:

1)Malaysia - Went for less than a day to visit relatives and also went to Giant. Not exactly exciting since besides their houses and Giant, we didn't go sightseeing and there's Giant in Singapore as well. At least it got me my 1st stamp in my passport though.

2)New Zealand - A study trip with my secondary school in 2007 and it was fabulous. New Zealand was really beautiful and it was an eye opener for a city kid like me. I had totally enjoyed myself there. Plus, the original cost was $3000+ and after subsidies, I only have to pay $1000+ for a 2 weeks stay there and we flew with Singapore Airlines. Totally worth every single penny of mine even if it did take out a huge chunk of money from my bank account.

Yeah. So I was practically researching about San Francisco whenever I am free while painfully waiting for each day to pass. I couldn't stop guessing with my friend about when the study trip will be held etc. We just can't wait for the details!

[Wednesday, 12 January 2011]
It's finally here! The big day of the briefing where they will finally reveal the details! I kept staring at the short announcement in the school portal hoping that they will update more details but now, I don't have to anymore!

Our request for the OOAD class to be pushed up went through so we didn't have to wait for 3 hours for the next class anymore. OOAD class ended early and my friend and I were using the computers to pass time till 4.30pm. One of our classmate left the moment the OOAD class ended. I was rather surprised to see that especially since that particular classmate has shown interest in the study trip. I shrugged it off thinking that perhaps that classmate wasn't as interested in the study trip as I thought she was.

My friend was busy helping one of the freshmen with his work so we were around 5 minutes late when we got into the lecture theatre. Thankfully, the teacher who was presenting had not started the briefing yet. I can't bear to miss out any details about this study trip! On a side note, it was freaking cold in the lecture theatre though.

After another 5 minutes of wait, the teacher went on with the briefing with the help of the PowerPoint slides as well as the Word document. Details were rather brief as they are trying to see how many are interested in this study trip before they finalize everything.

From this briefing, I had learned that:

1) They are hoping to go during June 2011. My school holidays during June will be from 11 - 26 June 2011 so I am guessing that it will be during that time.
2) It's a 8 to 10 days trip. Actual duration of the trip has not been set yet.
3) We will be touring some of the IT companies in Silicon Valley. Some of the companies includes Google and Apple.
4) We will be touring some of the universities there.
5) Of course we will be doing the usual sightseeing and shopping as well!
6) They will arrange for us to do job interviews so we might have a chance to do our internships with the companies there!
7) Total cost of the trip will be S$4200 inclusive of air tickets, taxes, hotel, tour guide, tour buses etc. Of course, it does not includes all our personal shopping expenses, room service, laundry etc.
8) We need to confirm by 20 January 2011.
9) There's no subsidies provided by the school. *WHY?!*
10) Difference of sharing a room with 3 and 4 person is just S$20. =.=^^^

[Today]
Turns up, my classmate got the date for the briefing wrong and that's why she left the moment class ended. She and her another friend are both interested and they had along already confirmed her place for this study trip along with me and my friend. I kept checking my inbox everyday hoping that there's more details about the study trip.

I need more details!

Hopefully they will be able to reveal the full details by mid February. I wonder if they will call for another briefing again or just email us the details though?

Since we are most probably to be going there during June, I was rather worried since it's during the summer and that means just flying from one hot country to another. However, to my delight, I was incredibly happy to find that even during summer, it's very rare to have the temperatures in San Francisco to rise higher than 21°C and during the evening to night, fog might roll in and the temperatures will drop to around 12°C. That's very cooling and might be even cold for me coming from a country with average temperatures around 31°C all year round!

However, before I even dream about flying there, raising S$4200 is going to be no chicken feet as well since I am from a dysfunctional family and I can only rely on myself. I still have some savings left in my bank but I am hoping that I will not have to touch that amount of money. It seems to be rather hard though as if I don't use that sum of money, chances of me being able to go to this study trip will be virtually impossible.

I had started working in the hotel with another friend as a waitress yesterday. It was not easy as there's no training provided and I had to actually kept relying on the rest of the staff for help. Plus, I had not been exercising for some time now so my arms are rather weak and all that carrying of heavy big porcelain plates/bowls along with glass glasses is rather tiring. Plus, anyone who knows me knows how much I hate going out and coming home late. The pay is rather low for all the work we have to do as well. Not much choice though. This is the only job I am able to find under such a short notice and what's more, it provides me the flexibility of being able to work on which day I want. I am able to receive my pay the moment I had finished my work for the day as well. I am hoping to find another job during my school holidays with higher pay. I am planning to work on all days except for during Sundays when I have my Japanese classes. I want to be able to have some shopping money as well. >.<

I was speaking to my mother today about a plan of mine...it's going to be rather hard to pull off but I am determined to do so! I am planning to hide the fact that I am going on this study trip from HRATH! Meaning that HRATH wouldn't even know until perhaps HRATH ask:

A) Why I am not at home
B) Why there's no need to buy my dinner

ETC.

Of course, by then, I would be already at the airport, checking in or already on the plane flying to Silicon Valley...but no matter what, I wouldn't be there where HRATH is able to find me! It's not going to be easy to pull off. HRATH is always taking MC and whatnot. HRATH has a high tendency of being at home or coming home unexpectedly. This means that even when I am packing or bringing home my study trip related purchases such as suitcase, coat etc., I have to be extra careful to do so when HRATH is not at home and be ready to hide them. Plus, Mum and brother has to cooperate with me as well, by simply not mentioning any single thing about the trip at all when HRATH is at home. Not a single peep. It's sounds like hard work isn't it? Seriously speaking though, the reason why I am going through all these, is because, believe me, HRATH's wrath is even worse. Seriously, I cannot, I repeat, I absolutely cannot stand listening to HRATH's questioning and nagging. HRATH really has stupid questions. My days would be ruin. I will be in a bad temper all day because I know HRATH will find any opportunity to pretend like the know-it-all. If I succeed with this plan and I know I will, I am able to avoid all that annoying situations altogether. Sounds like heaven!

Sigh. Guess that's all for today. Please dear teachers reveal more details soon! I can't wait!

First post in year 2010

Yes, I know...I couldn't believe that it took me till February 7 before I am finally writing my first post of the year. In my defense, I had to say that I had been busy with school and that's the truth. Project submissions deadlines, tests, presentations bombarded me senselessly. It is amazing that I am still alive. I have been pretty much not getting enough sleep for the past several weeks. Many of the nights were spent rushing through my projects to meet the deadlines. I can't say that I have enjoyed my past one month plus. In fact, the last month was utter hell, something which I hope that I would never have to go through again. Unfortunately, life doesn't work like that.

Still, I am happy that things has started to slow down for last week. Most of my stuff have already been submitted so I was able to start reading the novels that were due soon. How I wish that I am able to relax all day, not needing care about school and yet, get paid to do so!

I have to enjoy while it last for I have two OOPG test next week. One OOPG lab test tomorrow (February 8, 2010) and the other OOPG written test, on the Friday (February 12, 2010). Even though I have the OOPG test tomorrow, I don't feel like studying for it at all. In fact, I haven't even look through the materials. A bunch of jumbled materials that doesn't really makes sense to me. Why oh why? As I ask myself again. Why on earth did I even put this course into my list of choice when I am not even sure of what it is in the first place. If only all I have to do was HCI. That was something, at the very least, I had enjoyed it pretty much. From what I see now though, that aren't happening any soon. I seemed to be making mistakes through my whole life. No matter big and small, they are all the choices I had made. Some which I had made even when I had given much considerable thought, and some which I had made due to me not wanting to think about it anymore. I always regret later. I always do. I seem to be doing a lot of regretting as well...*Frets*

*Sigh* back to the topic...so, after the two OOPG tests, I have to prepare for my CMSK presentaion on Thursday (February 11, 2010). I don't really mind much about that presentation since talking about my report doesn't seemed to be too hard, though I have to be mindful of the 3 minute time restriction. Sometimes I talk too much.

With that, the study week begins which unfortunately, clashes with Chinese New year. It has not doubt, dampers my spirits for Chinese new year and in fact, I have already decided not to visit my relatives this year in favor of studying. Aren't I a good girl? of course, the usual reunion dinner at my grandparents' house will still be carried out as per normal. At least it means that I will still be able to get some red packets! Hoho. $.$

Examinations will begin after the study week. Although I only have three papers, they are spread out so my last paper will be on a Thursday. I hope that I will NOT make some silly mistakes like remembering the wrong time or venue for the paper again. Once is definitely enough for me. I can't wait for the holidays that comes after examinations!

My room certainly needs a good dusting and throwing. I had procrastinated my time away last holiday and I am not going to do it again. After all, I do need more places to keep my textbooks and novels! Plus, my poor deck of tarot cards is buried under so many copies of Seventeen and Popteen. Besides that, my mum has been nagging me to get started on the cleaning too. I will never get her to stop nagging if I don't do it. Plans must be made and actions must be carried out! No more procrastinating!

Anyway, I have been toying with the idea of having a Chinese blog for a long time. By that, I mean that the blog post will be fully written in Chinese text. There are times when I find myself being able to express myself better in Chinese so I will update the blog as and when I like it, just like my current blog which you are reading. However, I don't think that I will be doing double posting, such as translating my English blog post into Chinese and vice versa. I don't think that I will be choosing Blogger as my Chinese blog host so I am currently look at three different blog host. They are namely, 新浪博客(Sina Blog), 痞客邦(PIXNET), and 无名小站(Wretch). Could anyone tell me which blog host is better and why? Thanks~

I guess that that's all for today!

A busy week ahead...and should I watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen?

The weeks ahead of me are certainly not a slacking/relaxing period for me. I had tons of relaxing time. After all, I had almost totally ignored all school projects during the two weeks break. What had I done during the two weeks break besides reading novels, shopping, surfing the net and watching Absolute Boyfriend? Nothing much.

Yes, go ahead, if you wish to take lessons on slacking from me, just contact me. I will tell you if I still have a class available.

If it wasn't for Makiyo asking about the Java Assignment, I wouldn't even have known that such an assignment existed.

I can't afford to slack now though. Two weeks wasted and I have got to buck up.

The projects submission dates are coming soon. I don't wish to get zero marks.

This week is officially known as Week 10.

WDS Proposal due Week 11. CARC presentation due in Week 14. Java is due in Week 12. iHCI is due in Week 16.

Horrors of horrors!

With all of the projects due date so closely packed together, there's no way that I can spare any extra time for play. Enough of play. My motivation~ My motivation for studies~ You have been missing for more than ten years~ Come back to me~!!!

My brother suggested that by focusing on a goal will help. Alright. Let's hope that it works.

I am most worried about the Java assignment though...it is the current hardest assignment I had ever encountered. I had no idea on how to start.

Goodness. Looks like I really need to buck up and pay more attention in class!

On a sidenote, after reading the review for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, in which the reporter gave it only two out of five stars, I wondered if I still wanted to watch it. The way the reporter described it, there's nothing much worth in it. Just like another typical Hollywood movie. Behind all the explosion and stuff, it's just an empty shell inside. I had actually wanted to watch it together with Adelyn this Friday but seeing that my WDS proposal is due soon, and that the review is so bad, I wondered if I still do wish to spend $6 on it. Even if I do, perhaps I might push it until next Monday, after school, after the submission of my WDS proposal. At least I can chill out a little for that 150 minutes.

Hmm....~

Scott Westerfeld has talked to the Uglies producers and it seemed that everything seems to be fine so far. I will define fine in my next-not-so-soon post. I do wish that they will make a good movie out of it. Not just another attractive Hollywood packaging with nothing inside. The story has depth in it. It has an essence in it. I hope that they will portray it well. If nicely done, according to the Uglies novel, I supposed that it could have easily been given four to four and a half stars by those picky reviewers.

Yes, Uglies novel is that good. So they better not fluke it. Or us Uglies fans are going to be very angry indeed. That's not a pretty sight they want to see.

School's starting again...and it sucks.

School will start again on 20 April 2009.

On the day of my birthday.

Such bad luck isn't it?

I am not looking forward it.

Yes, I know that it's a blessing to actually be able to study when tons of kids are not able to afford to do so.

Still, I can't help being in a bad mood about it.

Just let me rant, will you?