Tuesday, again

It's Tuesday again!!!

FREEEEDAYYYY. But nope, I've got lots of things to do tdy.

1. Complete the setting of the bio exam paper.
2. Complete the Table of Specs
3. Complete the Marking Scheme

Then, once I'm done with that, I can start editing my English Lesson Plan.

OKAY, LET'S GO!

Sangria

I just had dinner of fried rice and char kway teow. YUMMY. When my tummy is filled, I become a happy girl. Of course the opposite can be said for when I'm hungry. And not just the mild 'upset' but anger even.

Today was a pretty ordinary day so perhaps I should blog about what happened yesterday.

Every Tuesday is a free day for me because I do not have any lessons. It's usually the day I catch up on sleep, work, chores, basically everything that needs to get done. It's also ME day where I pamper myself with masks, movies and hobbies (e.g. cooking). Some Tuesdays are also social days where I meet up with friends, and yesterday was one of those social Tuesdays. I met up with my lovely best friend, Nat, as well as Seng and Joash.

Met Nat at 4ish pm before meeting the boys so that we could go shopping! We went to h&m and I bought a lovely lace spag top. I'm so happy with my buy not just because it's such a beautiful top but because it was soooo cheap. It was on sale so I got it for $10. Awesome deal huh?! I think that the best buys are those that are nice AND cheap. They just bring me so much more satisfaction than a nice but expensive top. Cuz you would only have the highest expectations for an expensive top. I mean, you paid that huge amount for that top so you would expect it to be nice, perfect even. But a cheap top that is also nice makes it seem like it went out of the way to make you happy, above and beyond your expectations. And THAT is what makes me really happy, when someone (or rather something) goes out of his/her way to make me happy. HAHA. Okay, I just made that inanimate top animate right?

After shopping at h&m, Nat and I went to a&f. Nat wanted to get a white dress that she previously saw and fell in love with, but unfortunately, a&f was out of stock for that dress yesterday so she couldn't. Poor Nat, it was her pay day so she must have had been really excited to get that dress. Hopefully a&f will restock soon.

Since we couldn't get her dress we decided to head to Cine early. We had planned to meet the boys there are 6ish but it was only 5 plus then. It didn't matter cuz there were other shops for us to browse at! We went to editor's market and rockstar but didn't find anything we fancied. The time to meet the boys was approaching so we went to the movie tix counters and waited for them there. Bought popcorn chicken which was really delicious!!!

Finally the boys came, one of them (Joash) half blind because his specs broke in school. We spent some time fixing it with tape and once that was done we rushed into the movie theatre. We watched Taken 2 and I really liked it! Some of my other friends felt that Taken 2 was not as exciting as Taken 1. Well, to some extent I do agree that it was not as exciting or perhaps, the better word to use would be haunting. Yes, Taken 2 was not as haunting as Taken 1 but I must say it was equally exciting. Does that make sense? I mean, I was equally enthralled watching Taken 2 as I had been when I was watching Taken 1, but I was less afraid for the former. And I appreciated that about Taken 2, that I could leave the movie theatre calm and composed, not frazzled at all. So, I would have to say that I enjoyed the movie on the whole, very much in fact.

After the movie, we headed to Oriole at Somerset for dinner. I love the ambiance though I can't say the same for the food. I had a crab linguine that was a tad too dry for my liking. If there had been a little bit more olive oil, it would have been perfect. I tried their Red Sangria too, now that, I really liked.

After dinner we went for drinks at Baa Baa Black Sheep. I had my favorite red wine and the boys had beer. My babygirl drank guava juice, haha.

Spent an hour there, after which, we headed home. Joash stayed over at my place because it was too late to go home by then.

It was an awesome day... Can't wait to go traveling with them! :)

Okay, it's 9pm now so I should probably start work. Toodles.

Issues

I know I just blogged but I'm back again to rant. Okay, maybe not rant because I'm not angry. But I am upset, sad actually. And I need to get everything off my chest, so I'm back again. Funny how you can have a great day up until something horrible happens that really destroys it.

So Joash and I have been looking at HDB flats recently because we feel it is about time to plan for our future. I'll be graduating soon while Joash has about another three years before he completes his studies. He insists on working for at least a year before tying the knot because he wants us to be financially stable before we begin a new chapter of our lives. So if you do the math, it would take another four years before we get married. And of course with marriage, it is important to have a place of our own to settle down in. BTO flats which stand for Built-To-Order flats take approximately fours years for completion so if we apply now, everything would come nicely together. In four years time, we would be financially stable, emotionally and mentally ready to tie the knot, as well as have a house to make a home in. The problem, however, with this seemingly perfect plan, is that sometimes these flats are ready because their due date. And upon completion of the flat, we would have to submit our marriage certificate to the Housing Development Board before getting our apartment. Now if the house is ready before WE are ready to commit, a lot of problems would surface. Firstly, he would just have finished his studies (or may still be studying) and so we would not be financially stable if we relied only on my income to pay for the house as well as for our wedding celebrations. That would be taxing and extremely stressful for the both of us, an unfavorable situation that we hope would never face. The solution seems easy, apply later so that if the flat is completed before its due date, we would be financially stable. However, bidding for a flat does not equate to getting a flat. Some people have had to bid for many rounds before they obtained a house to call their own. If we wait longer to apply for a flat, we may find ourselves in this unfavorable situation where we are ready to tie the knot but there is no house available. Let's be honest, my biological clock is ticking and the longer we have to wait to get a house, the later we marry, the faster we have to have kids and the lesser we get to enjoy married life just the two of us. But you know what? This is just the least of our concerns. The one thing that is upsetting me the most is that there is a flat location that I really like which will be released in the coming November sales launch. There are good schools nearby for our kids in future, or for me to even work at because I teach. My big boss (MOE HQ) is right next to me should I ever feel the need to work there. It would be tres convenient. The house is ten minutes walking distance to the mrt station so it would be easy to get to places. The apartment is near amenities like supermarkets, wet markets and the like... It is not a mature estate so in terms of density, it is low. It seems the perfect place to stay at.

BUT. Now here comes the big BUT. If we bid, if we do get the house, and IF the house is completed in less than the four years would render us ready to make our next move in life, WHAT WOULD WE DO? I mean, we could solemnize our marriage at the Registry of Marriage, just to get the marriage certificate to obtain the house, BUT I'm not comfortable with that. My solemnization has to be on MY wedding day, in a church. It is a special occasion with daddyGod, to make a covenant with Him and him (J). Sigh, it may seem trivial to others but to me this is a big issue. Coupled with the fact that if we get the house early, we would be financially trapped. BIG SIGH. So on one hand I want to bid now for that wonderful location, but on the other hand, keeping in mind the factor of early completion, I feel that I should wait.

I prayed. And I got an answer. Will share once Joash tells me what God spoke to him. Will see if it is a confirmation to what I received from God.

See ya'll soon. Hopefully.

Nostalgia

Reading my old posts brought tears to my eyes... I didn't realize this blog went back all the way to 2009. It's basically a history book of my university years- minus Year 3 when I completely forgot about this blog, maybe because I was OVERWHELMED with work...

I'm having my recess week now, a nice breath of fresh air. Not that this sem has been difficult. In fact, it has been the slackest sem I've had in all four years. Cuz I'm only taking 3 mods! :D Life's good like that, you struggle for the first two years in uni to clear modules that by the time you reach your last year everything is a breeze. That said, I still have lots to do. Am I contradicting myself? Maybe.

Work Schedule For The Week:
1. Set Bio Paper
2. Mark Scheme
3. Table of Specs
4. English Lesson Plan
5. Rubrics for Bio CS
6. Bio CS Essay

It's already Wednesday, night. I've got two more days till the end of the week. Will I be able to accomplish all that I have set out to do? I will try!

Today I had a project meeting. It was held at SMU because we don't have school this week and 3 of my group members stay in the East so it would've been heartless to have made them travel to the WEST (our school) as per normal. Time to give em a break!

Project meeting was fruitful. We still have lots to do but we're making progress so that's good. Then I met Joash in the afternoon because he had classes in school (SMU) till 3pm. Went back to his place and napped till 730pm? Yes, when I nap, I reaaalllyyy nap.

Feeling refreshed, we decided to cook dinner. But because we have got lots to do and were feeling lazy, we decided to have canned food. Not the healthiest of options BUT, it's alright once in a while. And I really mean once in a while because we've never had canned food nights together before. :)

I bought Mustard and Dill canned herrings which had an acquired taste to it. Did not really know how to appreciate it. How do the Scandinavians survive on these kinds of food?! Yes I know, I know... It's their cuisine, a part of their culture, how can they NOT like it?

Alright, I've gotta leave Joash's house now because mommy's texting me asking where I am.

GOT SO MUCH TO DO WHEN I RETURN HOME. Had a fun day nonetheless.

BYE.

Fast forward

This feels so surreal. I actually forgot I had this blog. The only reason it resurfaced in my life is because I was going to start another blog, and as I logged into blogger.com I realized I had an existing blog. So here I am, a year and a half later, to continue filling in the pages of my life.

In the last post I was a Year 2 student, struggling with grades. Almost two years on and the goals are still the same. Good GPA, good Honors. HAHA. In Singapore it's all about the grades and the certifications. Without both, you'd have a hard time living here, sadly.

So much has happened in the past year and half, God has been so good. Which is not surprising as that is His nature. Even though I did not get to go on an exchange program which I dearly wanted to, I embarked on a month long trip to Europe with exceptionally wonderful friends that He has placed in my life. I guess it goes to show that where we fail to understand, God never fails to surprise. One word to describe the trip- Phenomenal.

Words cannot fully express all that I took in and learnt in that short span of time, but I will try my very best. If you Google-d pictures of Europe, you'd find breathtaking ones that blow your mind away, but that's nothing compared to being at those places in reality and experiencing for yourself the extent of magnificence as you stand awestruck and in disbelief. You view, you breathe, you take in everything that that place has to offer and it's not enough. You don't want to leave, ever. But you have to and you do so with dread and sorrow, and even a little frustration. Then there other remarkable places that captivate, inspire and broaden the capacity of your mind. Like a bullet to your heart, you stand shell-shocked, paralyzed before you could even begin to comprehend what just happened.

Paris

Venice

Austrian Tyrol

Rome

And those were just half of the feelings I experienced in Europe. I strongly believe that everyone should visit that side of the world at least once in his life. It is a melting pot of cultures and diversity, full of excitement, passion and life. I really had the time of my life but I know that it wasn't just the places I visited that made this trip such a lovely one for me. It was because of the friends I traveled with. There are so many unexplored and unchartered places in this world, I hope we get to travel to those places together in future! :)

Alright, I'll blog till here for today.

Toodles!

I feel like getting a tumbler account. I'm not quite sure what is it but I think it's like a picture blog? I went to a friend's tumbler page and it was pretty cool! She uploaded pictures that she liked and I think I got to know her style and just a little bit more about her simply from her pictures! I'm a visual person too so I like looking at pictures and there are already so many pictures that I would love to share and just let them do the talking, about me. Not that anyone reads this blog though, haha.

So I haven't blogged for a really long time only because the semester's been really hectic and tough. I'm in the midst of my exams now, two down... two more to go. :(

Ok the real reason why I'm blogging is because I have to get a load off my chest and blogging just allows me to do that. Today I had a molecular biology paper which I thought I studied real hard and sufficiently for. Turns out, I was not quite prepared. I've been counting the marks that I think I've lost since the paper ended in the afternoon and the count stands at thirty marks. I feel so devastated you know? Some of my friends felt it was real tough too, which is hope, because that means there'll be moderation of grades, BUT there were others who felt the paper was manageable as well. I don't hate them but I keep wondering to myself, if they felt it was ok, and if they could do those questions, why couldn't I? What made me any less capable than them during the exam? Was it my preparation? Was it exam anxiety? When everyone feels something is as tough as you felt it was, there's an assurance that you're not the only one who's having problems and going through them. But when everyone else seems ok with it, that's when it gets scary.

I realize I neglect my blogs when times are good but always crawl back to vent whatever frustration I'm feeling whenever I'm down in the dumps. Blogs are good in this aspect, that you won't be venting out your emotions on someone and hurt them. Although I have to admit, I think I've been venting out on a particular person for quite abit the past few weeks. Sorry b, my emotions always have a way of getting the better of me. I need to change in that area, I know. And I'm trying hard!

So moody now and I've got two more paper to study for! I've only got two days to cram everything in so I'm feeling really nervous. So then, why am I even wasting time blogging? Haha. Because, I always engaged in counter productive stuff when I'm stressed. Could this be the reason why I was unprepared for today's paper? That I was distracted whilst studying? Come to think of it... I believe I was very distracted. I always give myself the excuse that I need to rest and not burn out when really, all I'm doing is procrastinating.

I need to get my motivation on, I need to be disciplined and persevere! But it's so very hard when all you want to do is give up. The pressure is just crazy and weighing me down. I've got my gpa to pull up, so that I can go on an exchange program. I've got my gpa to pull up, so that I would still obtain an allowance from the govt for the next two years. I've got my gpa to pull up, so that I can attain a better class of honours. So many things running through my mind, the burden is just so hard to bear sometimes.

I guess times like these really bring me kneeling at the foot of the cross. God, I've always said I submit all to you. I think you're really teaching me how to let go of the things that I hold dearest to my heart by putting me through such hopeless situations. So that all my hope is pinned on you. Then you show your Glory, then you show your might, and my faith level increases because I know I serve an awesome, most faithful and loving God. I am willing Lord, that you teach me, no matter how painful God. Because you've brought me through real painful situations before and you have shown me that you never leave me nor forsake me. So if this is another one of those situations where you're sandpapering all the rough edges of me, I allow you to do so God. I give all my rights, all my will, all my choices and decisions to you because you are the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. There is no one whom I would surrender my life to, except you. You have shown your goodness to me and I am already eternally grateful. Sorry God, if I ever once blamed you. Who am I to say anything when you hold the world in the palm of your hands and every circumstance has been orchestrated by you because you know the big picture? Who am I to question your sovereignty? I am so humbled right now dear Lord, mould me when I am this vulnerable.

On the bright side, there are so many things to thank God for. One miracle that occurred today is receiving the reply from my prof that she would be lenient and not mark me down for a late submission of my research paper. There was really no valid excuse for that. I was so distressed the whole weekend because I did not receive a reply for the email I sent her and seriously thought she was going to mark me down for that... But today, she replied a favourable reply stating "ok, no problem" to my request that she overlook my late submission. I prayed so hard God, and you have just worked your wonders again. I praise and bless you!

Alright then, I'm feeling so much better and geared up to work hard again. I'm not going to let my past mistakes/failures dictate how the rest of the papers are going to be. I'll work doubly hard so that I can say the next two papers were a breeze and I'd be able to at least enjoy my vacation with a peace of mind. God, I believe you're going to work wonders again and I can't wait to see them.

Cheers!

Lab Reports

I love Biology, but honestly, I hate lab reports. It sucks the life outta me! SHEESH.

Okay Charmain, time to have a change in attitude about lab reports and learn to love em!

I love lab reports. I love phrasing my objectives and discussing my results. I love my results even when I don't understand why they turned out like that. I love my results even when anomalies surface. All in all, I LOVE DISCUSSION!

Ah yes, I fweel so much better.

Love work, hate procrastination.

Gotta go now. Toodles.