Second interview

Suprisingly, I was called up for the second round of A*STAR interview. I thought I had flunked the first round but apparently, my performance was still acceptable. The second round of interview was easier than the first round. There were only 3 interviewers and not so many questions were asked. In total it took only around 10 to 15 mins. The first question the chairman asked me was "Is your father still driving a school bus?". I replied yes and he said "Then he must be very proud of you." In fact, up till now I still have achieved nothing until the results are out next thursday. Im not one to count the chickens before they are hatched. The interviews are more or less done but the next thing I have to do is the dreaded GRE. I haven't even started studying for it and I have to take it before the next term starts. Im already left with so little time after coming back from work and I don't feel like sacrificing my sleeping time. So I guess the next option is to utilise my weekends. Haizzz...... Why do I still have so many things to do even after my exams are over? The GRE is not easy from what I hear. I seriously doubt that I can achieve the required score with just one month of studying. If I can't, I may have to postpone my studies till January.

Joined my colleagues at Fuji Xerox for lunch after the interview since my workplace is only 10mins away from the interview venue at Biopolis. We went to Sean Im food centre at harbourfront for lunch followed by some shopping in Vivocity. In the afternoon, I was "banished" to the other side of the office. Sian, less chances to talk cock and do funny things anymore unless I walk over back to where I came from. Yah, and we found a good time-killer : Sudoko! The first time there was a 6 man challenge and I came in third. The others assumed that I will come in first but I think Im over-rated, as usual. Haha.

Steamboat at Chong Pang

I didn't log on to msn for 3 days! Haha. Looks like I can live without it. The reason for that is because I spent the whole day using the computer at work, so I don't feel like sitting in front of the computer again at home. Everyday is about the same, wake up at 7.00am, leave home at 8.00am, board the packed buses and trains to work (Singapore is getting seriously overpopulated), reach the office around 9.00am ++, leave the office at 5.30pm and reach home before 6.30pm. On tuesdays and thursday, I will go for a run when I reach home. After dinner, will bring Chippy downstairs for a walk, watch TV at 9.00pm and go to sleep after that. It's so easy to get to sleep when the day is spent at work, you don't even think much, especially of the things you don't feel like thinking about.

The first week at work is good. A lot of guys to talk cock with. Don't know why I always end up in an all guys (almost) environment wherever I go. Haha. For these 2 weeks Im under 大姐, a nice person who doesn't speak much but I can always go to her for help. But she told me I'll be under another guy after 2 weeks and that guy has a bad reputation. All the others are telling me "Good luck".

Had the first bonding session last night (after only 4 days at work) when we went to Chong Pang for BBQ steamboat. It's some sort of farewell for the guys who are leaving for NS after next week. I think the amount of meat I ate yesterday was equal to the amount I eat in an average week. Went to paradiz centre to play Counterstrike after the steamboat. That's the first time I played in a LAN shop. Haha. Not my cup of tea, but I just joined in the fun.

Chocolate / First day at work.

Watched Chocolate at PS with Rong Hua, Weiming and Jastinian and their girlfriends. Nice show. Action packed and the girl is cool, hats off to her. I wish I could fight like her, beating up people like that. I saw the advertisement for a new show, "10 promises I made to my dog." Im going to watch that. With who I still don't know.

Don't know what Weiming and Jastinian said to their girlfriends such that their perception of me was so bad. Am I really that bad? I can't answer the question myself. Haha.

Today was my first day of work at Fuji Xerox. I can only describe it in one word, slack. The guys there are very friendly and I had practically nothing to do the whole day. We went to NUS canteen for lunch, taking the free shuttle bus. The rest of the day was spent surfing net and talking cock. My new colleagues are a bunch of fun guys, work won't be boring with them around, I guess. The down side is that there are not many girls but what can you expect from an IT job?

Interviews

Went for 2 interviews on successive days. First interview was for AGS. Flopped, flunked, whatever you call it. I wasn't well prepared and it showed during the interview. I couldn't tell the interviewers much about my proposed research. One of the five interviewers even said "You've got to be better prepared for your interview next time."

The interview today was for a temp job at Fuji Xerox, a contract job from 20th May to 4th July. That was a success. I'll be going down to the agency to sign the contract tomorrow. I was supposed to go down and sign it today but I went to somewhere happy with Minghui, Cal and Minghui's friend. Minghui said happiness can be bought. I agree now. Haha. It's just how you define it.

Anyway, the first interview was the more important one as it determines my future while the second one is rather insignificant. Never mind, one out of two is better than nothing.

The sun loves me.

Did another part time job and guess what? I have to stand in the sun again, damn it. Im already tanned enough, I don't need anymore tanning. It's an SMRT roadshow this time and we are the traffic marshallers for the test drive of the new taxis. Have to stand in the sun whole day, my whole face is red now, just for $50.

The only perk of the job is that there are show girls and dancers. Even had a chance to talk to show girls. Nice. Haha. Too bad didn't take photos with them. Only took these photos.

That's me and Thong Loon. We may be smiling but we were damn shagged out.

Downtown East

Went to downtown east for may day cum mother's day celebration. Had free tickets to wild wild wet and escape theme park. Nothing much in wild wild wet except a lot of people. A lot of aunties and kids, not many bikini babes.

After that went to escape theme park with Cindy, Candy, Audrey, Amelia, Isaac and Ronald. Tried most of the rides including Pirate Ship, Rainbow, Inverter and others. The most exciting should be the pirate ship but it's nothing compared to the rides I tried at Taiwan during my NS days. Those were thrilling. The rides at Escape are more for kids, I should say.

We had free food coupons too and I had a Big Mac for dinner. Yes, one of the few times that I ate fast food. I didn't eat any fries though. Managed to forget my troubles momentarily but I guess Im going to go back to living the life of a hermit soon, just as I was before.

Don't I deserve a break?

Quarrelled with my mother soon after I woke up today. I don't know what she wants. She just don't like me to stay at home or go out. She wants me to go and look for a temp job, those kind that requires me to go to work everyday. It's not as if I've not been doing anything. I've already done the Starhub roadshow and there's another incoming ushering job this tuesday. There's also another job assignment at Lianhua Primary School on the 22nd and the 23rd. But she's just not happy, she just wants me to go and work everyday. But my FYP presentation has just ended and I have studied hard for four years, don't I deserve a break for now?

I've been doing part time for all my holidays except the last which I have to do my FYP. And all these years in school, I have tried my best to get good results. Why did I do that for? It's not because Im afraid that I will not be able to have enough money to enjoy in the future. Im only afraid that I won't be able to provide a comfortable life for my parents just like they did for me. I motivated myself using this fear. I know they have worked hard, scrimped and saved to put me and my sister through University but have I not done my part? I have never asked them for any money except for the weekly allowance that my father gives me. I have never spent my money wastefully either. Now what do I get in return? Get treated like a good for nothing, by my own mother. Well, maybe Im really a good for nothing. Never mind, I shall just quickly find the job, go and work and work and work then back to study, then back to work again. Till the day I die. Forget about the phuket trip, forget about having fun. Just go and earn money, if that's what she wants.

I didn't want to stay at home and quarrel with her, so I went out. Went to the library and read some magazines. Then met Tooter for the first time at Jurong Point. She looks just as she is in the photos, so skinny slim. We first went to Sakae Sushi, then to the hawker centre near her home, then to IMM. Just walked aimlessly, not knowing what to do. I just didn't want to go home so early. If this happened a few weeks ago I might have gone out with spongeboob, but she has also stopped contacting me recently. Guess she must be busy and I don't want to disturb her also.

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I made my mother cry.
Im an asshole, a piece of shit, a good for nothing.
I've been fooling around too much. I've forgotten my purpose in life.
I feel bad and miserable.
Why is so much shit happening to me? One thing comes before I can get over another.
It's time I go back to my normal life and stop having fun.

Dinner at Bugis

Went out again yesterday. That was the third consecutive day I went out with friends. This time round, went out with Rong Hua, Jastinian and Weiming to town. Me and Jastinian went to Plaza Singapura first before the other two came to meet us.

After that, walked to Bugis because we wanted to look for something cheap to eat. But in the end, went to some 来来 for dinner and it was not cheap also. Haha. Had shredded chicken rice with peanuts. The taste is okay but the serving is so small, even for me.

Went to walk around Bugis junction after that then ended up in MOS Burger again, as usual. Haha. Talked cock on and on, what else can we do? Talking cock is really an enjoyment. But.... I missed my 9pm show! Shit. Need to get a cheap dvd recorder soon.

Graduated

Im an undergraduate no more. I have finished my FYP presentation and that's all folks! I didn't really prepare well for my FYP presentation. I had too much slides and didn't manage to present all of them as I would have liked. Luckily, the examiner didn't really ask many questions to make things difficult for me. He was also okay with the demonstration. I have to thank my cousin Alson for lending me his laptop. I didn't know who to borrow from and he offered me his.

So fast.... four years gone. I will miss the friends I hang out with during this time. Talking cock, looking at girls in canteen A, playing soccer and other things. I've never stuck to any particular group all these years, just like to hang out with any group who I see. There's the Chinese High group with Zhiyong, King Sen, Jun Han, Daniel, Jun Hao, Jun Wei and Yin Hao. Then there's Daji's group with Daji, Jiehe, Sicong, Zhen Wei, Junqin, Feng Cheng, Ryan, KC, Chin Siang, Eddie, Sihan and more (this is a big group, I may have left some out). Next there's Rong Hua's group with Rong Hua, Weiming and Jastinian who I hang out more often with in the final year. There's also Thong Loon and Azhar who I hung out more with during the earlier years.
Did I miss anybody out? Too many people to mention. Most of them will be leaving NTU except a few of us who will be staying back to do post-grad. I think I will miss them.

Went to 6th Avenue for ice-cream yesterday after the presentation. Went back to the same place again today. Don't ask me why we went back to the same place. That was the question on everybody's minds. Anyway, it's the company, not the place isn't it?

This time last year....

It's been one year. 1st of May, Labour Day. I will never forget this day.
One year ago, on this day, my parents and I brought Chippy to my grandmother's place like we usually do. The day went on just like any other visit to my grandma's place. We left around 9pm as the next day was a working day and I was also doing my industrial attachment during that time. My father will always park his bus at the opposite side of the road and we will cross the road to board his bus.

While we were crossing the road, Chippy's harness broke loose and she dashed across. At the same time, there was an incoming car and she dashed in between the front and rear wheels. What I saw next is going to haunt me for years; the right rear wheel of the car rolled over her and left her wriggling in pain. Even after one year, I still shudder when I recollect that moment. My mother quickly picked her up and we sent her to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital. On the way to the hospital, I cried. Not teared, not sobbed, cried, like a child. I thought we were going to lose her on that day, I was very scared. We had to leave her at the hospital that night.

When we were back home, I couldn't sleep and the tears won't stop. Over the next few days, we went to visit her at the hospital everyday as she had to stay there for 1-2 weeks. Everytime I saw her in that sorry state, lying down and unable to move her lower body, tears rolled down my eyes and my heart was broken. That was the most painful moment in my life so far. I was the one who brought her on her walks most of the time and I knew for quite some time that the harness has been spoilt. But I didn't replace it and thought that it wouldn't be an issue, I feel very guilty.

Im not a strong believer in religion as I feel that most of the time, a person's destiny is held in his own hands. But during that period, I asked god to make Chippy well again, make her survive that ordeal and walk again. Even if god has to shorten my life or make me single and lonely forever, I am willing to accept it.

Today, Chippy is well again. She can walk and even run. She limps on her right hind leg and there is a barren patch on her back where no fur will grow. These are the only signs of the accident. I vow to take care of Chippy all my life and if I don't, I wish I will suffer a fate worse than hers. With her around, I will not be lonely.