日本語のpost / end-of-uni-days

いま、わたしひろうかんですね。きょうろくじはんうちにかえります。こんばんにほんごのしゅちょうはにじからよじまでです。それからきのう日本語のてすとはだいがくです（？）。わたしはあしたのあさCystic Fibrosis のかいしゃにいきます。そして（わたしは）くじにうちをでます。こんしゅうのどよう日にゆすみの日です！それからどよ日のあさこうようをみます。:)

六月はふゆです。いま、とてもさむいですね。。

Today was a special day. 31May marks the end of my uni days. Just finished up 3 exams this week , with only one more (Japanese) sometime in June. Yeah if you want early exams, take Arts units :P So relieved to be done with the finals (well, almost) but the days ahead are filled with much uncertainty.

Offer letter from the regulator arrived in the mail yesterday. For the time being, I'm leaving it in the "Jobs" folder-box.. Mentioned in a previous post that I took a break from studying and applied for the big "S" company on Sunday night. Much to my surprise, I got a response the day after. Efficient innit? I've scheduled the interview with the company in bout 2 weeks time. Recruitment this time's done via their Australian office. Will see how things turn out.. This position's also based in KL.

I've previously said I'd be back to KL, but "the only thing constant in change is change itself". Fickle-minded-me might change my mind bout where I'm heading after graduation.

Plans as of today - casual work till late July (possibly till early August if I get into the 2nd project). If I go back for a quick break (as in stay on in Melb), was thinking of heading to Thailand for a short-term volunteering placement. Either teach English or work in eco-tourism (also english-language related stuff eg setting up proper Eng signage & tourist brochures, not tagging wild elephants le friends you all know I'm not exactly at home in the wild hah).. I don't know how many people realise this, but we have to PAY for volunteering :P yeah usually a (large) fixed program fee has to be paid in USD for a placement. Working with smaller organisations would mean the fees aren't so steep. Just a thought for now, will decide within the next coupla weeks.

じゃ、また.

Malaysia-Australia Forum @ Melbourne 2 June

Malaysia Australia Forum
Friday 2 June 2006
1.30 pm – 4.30 pm (Forum) and 4.30 – 6.00 pm (Reception)
The Windsor Hotel, 103 Spring St, Melbourne CBD

A special forum about Malaysia sponsored by ~
Monash Asia Institute (Monash University)
Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Australia-Malaysia Institute (Department of Foreign Affairs)

With support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Melbourne Office), Asia Society AustralAsia Centre and Centre for Malaysian Studies (Monash Asia Institute)

For the program and more details, pls click here. Speakers include Monash's Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins, Malaysia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar, CEO of Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) Dato Dr Michael Yeoh.

Pls note that an RSVP is essential (refer to link above for more details).

#note: All the above information's copyright of Monash University 2006.

Random 4.52am thoughts

~ I got the casual job. Thank you God! Money (or the lack thereof) changes a lot of things, or at least has the potential to change many things for me.

~ Didn't know mushrooms were 'magic' till Saturday night, when we had a funny misunderstanding. And no, I didn't go on a shroom trip! Go google "magic mushrooms".

~ Wednesday was a funny day. I thought of someone, and within the next 5 seconds, I looked up and hey presto - there was the person. And it happened twice within the hour (I thought of 2 people actually).

~ Myer has an amazing range of fishnets. If it weren't for Doreen and Mey I wouldn't even have been in that section :P

~ Two tests in a day (in a few hours time) - why do these things fall on same days?? Nihongo no tesuto (Japanese) at 5pm and the Asian studies one at 9am. aihh..

~ Hurriedly sent in the application a coupla hours ago. Fixed up my resume and did the 2 questionnaires. It got me thinking what type of life I really desire for the future? My first thought was - open a cafe cum bookstore, and a florist next door. Not one of those mega-bookstores ala Borders, but something more intimate and laidback. And why a florist? well, flowers make people happy. So its a combination of my few interests - books/coffee/flowers. Add in some financial freedom to take 3 months of the year off traipsing the world. boy..that would be really neat.

~ After typing the above thought, i realised my imagination's been working overtime. Bah..the realities of life.

~ Volunteered Friday at CFV. Was supposed to stay only till after lunch but ended up staying the whole day cos I could see Natalie was inundated with work. Am quite enjoying the work there..Southbank is quieter than I've expected though, being so close to the CBD.

~ The mornings lately have been absolutely freezing. So foggy in Nunawading that day I thought I was in Genting. After last year's "warmest year ever", this year might just set a record for the coldest one yet.

~ The other day, I mentioned to someone to not call me "darling" anymore. I was asked "why?". Well, it feels wrong. I mean, it is wrong, especially when he's got a girlfriend. That, and some other recent behaviour. Perhaps that was something I should've raised earlier. My bad. I value this friendship and, I hope he does too. We're friends, remember? I'll always be there, tomodachi*.

*meaning friend in Japanese.

Oyasuminasai (good night and rest well)..

middle of the night..

Back to the "middle-of-the-nite" posts which were a regular last year. I'm not as busy as last year, but there's some pressing matters of late. Of immediate concern - Monday's deadline for Asian Studies. Am progressing (albeit slowly) with the essay..

Just got off the phone with Gill. Its 3 plus a.m. dy..she's the only one who sleeps at my kindof odd hours these days. We were supposed to be out yesterday (Sat) but both totally ter-overslept hence no yamcha!

Haven't been updating this blog much. My (now) regular weekly update:
~ Been for interview with Maybank on Tuesday for their management trainee program. Have a letter of undertaking, but imo it doesn't mean much as it doesn't amount to an offer letter. Offer's dependent upon results of assessment testing, final results and medical. But results're out only in mid July so it leaves things kinda hanging halfway.
~ Networking event in city last Monday - didn't gain much. Talked to KPMG's rep, they're hiring for the Spore office (if anyone's interested). I-banks weren't really appealing cos they were in the market for interns, not graduates..
~ Briefing at Pearson a coupla days ago. I'll know by next Tuesday whether I get that job. ::dear God, I reaaaalllly need this job!:: if it goes well, the job'll end on July20th. And I'll be back in KL shortly after.
~ Spent half of Thursday in conversation. Sigh.. I'll miss these when I go back.

As can be gathered, I'm quite reluctant to be going back. But back I shall be, due to financial realities. Leaving friends/lifestyle/clean air/efficient public transport/uni/my books! So lazy to move on, but the immediateness of it is getting to me.. I am counting down.. and the weeks are getting shorter. sobb.

Next up - graduate applications -- i promise, i really promise to myself -- i'll get in those 3 applications within the next 7 days. Am waiting for news on others, 2 of which i'm particularly keen on. But no news is good news eh.. Will have to wait till the end of their application period, so it shd be within the next coupla weeks. ::dear God, forgive me for being selfish but I also realllly need to get one of those positions i'm "targeting"::hopefully my "target" and yours match, but if You say otherwise, I concur::

ahh caffeine and music from "Brown Eyes" goes very well together. Current album is "Back to the Soul Flight". Its korean R&B with a jazzy feel to it -- perfect for late nights!

Back to the readings I go..China China China its all about you this weekend..

Turning 23

Last Saturday was eventful, and meaningful. T'was my birthday, and it was slightly different. Spent the better part of the day volunteering at Chadstone for "The World Greatest Shave" event. It went smoothly and we extended the hours till almost 4pm. Wondered how much we raised that day, never did find out. Last year all over Australia they raised over 46million (!) hopefully this year that amount's exceeded. It doesn't mean I didn't get to celebrate though, cos I did :)

Whole event's very well-organised. Tables were all set up and ready to go, the actual people who did the shaving/haircuts/coloring came from the Shaver Shop and a salon in Chadstone (no not me!). Also had a lively MC who kept going "so who's our next victim..er participant.." hahhh... Generous sponsorship also meant we had raffles for 2 large hampers (pic below) and auctions for items such as DocMarten shoes, kiddy clothing voucher/bear, eskies and camping gear, hardware stuff etc. Pretty attractive stuff..

Bummed with Gillian at Fed Sq for awhile once I got to the city, too cold to take any photos.. just chatting about how far we've come, and what lies ahead..complicated sometimes. Met up with the rest for dinner @ Soul Mama StKilda. Apparently they hv a nice view facing the sea and all but TOo bad it was soo dark we couldn't see anything :( its dark by 5 plus these days.. and the cold!!! omg it was so windy that night its not funny.

Dinner was fine, company was great. Most of my friends don't know each other, so this's basically the first time some of 'em get to meet each other. Unfortunately MinHui couldn't make it for dinner so we adjourned to Starbucks for awhile to "visit" her. Crazy-crowd meant we didn't even have time to talk..

So.. Di's turned 23.
Thanks for all your kind wishes/messages/gifts.
Thanks for night out @ SoulMama.
Thanks for the CDs - you knew, and remembered.

36-hour-days, where art thou??

I am in serious need of 36 hour days right now. It doesn't help when I spot MORE interesting books left right and centre. With only a month or so of uni life left, I still have absolutely loads of books to go through. Its all for own interests hence it is in addition to the readings for Asian Studies.

alamak aku dah nak pengsan.

Monash's libraries' like my version of Borders. You name it - they have it. Current reads in order of priority:
~ World is Flat (yes I've just begun..been finishing up something else) -- I'm definitely getting the expanded 2006 copy. Amazon's got it on 40% off! arhh at these times I lament my lack of a credit card. KL already selling the paperback one (thanks SK!), while in Melb apparently they don't stock it (one has to order) hahh so weird.
~ A World of Nations (Keylor)
~ China, Inc.
~ The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy (interesting title huh)
~ Winning (Jack Welch)

Wonder how many more I can finish by next month..?

*On a sidenote..I have a question for all my friends. What does "friendship" mean to you? Have u actually spent time thinking about what it actually means to your relationship with the people around you? Are you "friends" with them for conveniences' sake or do you truly value the relationship? People here are increasingly taking things for granted, at least I feel they are. I get the feeling many people around me are going "ah we'll be friends always", when I think the relationship (close as we may seem on the surface) has degenerated into that of "acquaintance" instead.

I don't mean I feel that way about ALL my friends. There are exceptions of course. ie with MH and me, after being friends for more than 20 years, we're still going strong. But how many friendships inspire that sort of confidence?