Weekend :D

Quick Snapshots!

Friday - Attended the Future Leaders Forum 2010. Theme was about overpopulation by 2035, its global effects; social cohesion and inclusion; and post-GFC/GEC effects. As usual, it opened up my perspective on many issues and served as an indication of my knowledge level of global issue, or rather, the lack of. Nonetheless, networking was good, met a couple of interesting people :D

Saturday - Attended Chao's graduation ceremony dinner at Kum Den, Chinatown. Her parents came all the way from China, and you could tell instantly, the pride in their eyes upon their only child's graduation. I was the only non-China Chinese there, and was certainly treated like a special guest, the "Gui Bin". There I observed the seemingly similar yet different Chinese culture surrounding the table topics (and table manners), the polite and courteous language (from parents-guest), their affinity to alcohol, pride for their orginins and all-so-merry attitude towards life. It's almost impossible to be uninfected by the warm and jolly spirits of the night.

ALL THE BEST CHAO, I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE BACK FOR MASTERS!

That night, I stayed over at JiaYen and PeiWen's. Always a pleasure, always a kind gesture, always welcomed (I think hahaah). Thank you girls!


Sunday - Resumed my tutoring role this semester. Student's mum gave me a pay rise today! Happy happy Money Money~ hehehe.


**


Okay I really need my study mojo back.. Done with playing MS!


PS: All the best to you, too.

Oh wells.

I just realised that my friends on facebook who are not friends of my Shanghai Industry Project, can't see the pictures I'm tagged in Shanghai. Ah =(..

Yay/nay for privacy?

PS: What you don't know does not hurt.

Of Celebrations and Toastmaster

A continuation of a birthday-thank-you-dedication:

Thanks SIP for the Sunday day out for Karaoke + Oriental Spoon Dinner! Thanks Johnson & Maddy for the bracelet from Thailand! Thanks Olga for Karen Millen jewelry and beautiful card, simply gorgeous! Thanks Eric & Jillian+ family for having me over that night!

Thanks Gloria for the gorgeous earrings - apparently with the Power of Charm! Hopefully it'll work its wonders by 2/8/2011 LOL!

Thanks Azy and Yee Von, for the striking blouse!

Thanks Daphne, for Max Brenner today, and for accompanying me all the way to Clarendon St!

And guess what, came home tonight to a surprise birthday cake from Kor!! Thanks so muchhhhhh *touched* xoxoxo it was such a scrumptious bread-pudding-cake, something new from the usual (but awesome nonetheless) cheese and choc!


**

Anyway tonight was a very special night. Will, Juliany and I went for a Toastmasters evening at a restaurant bar.

It was really interesting how it was a structured night, with agendas such as business talk, table topics, prepared speeches, evaluation and not to forget, good food (chicken parma for me) and red wine! I was impressed with the confidence exuded from the speakers and how eloquently they gave an impromptu speech about a topic as random as Take Away Food.

What really strucked me was the formalities during the evening. For instance, before a member express his/her opinion, he/she would stand up and say to the Chairman, "Your Honour Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that we are tight on the time and move on from the motions tonight?". And how when each toastmasters passed on the MC role, they would first shake hands . And not to forget, an award ceremony at the end of every toastmaster sessions where the best Table Topic, Speech and Evaluater are presented with an award, according to the votes that night. Nonetheless, formalities aside, the mood of the evening was really light-hearted and filled with a good sense of Aussie humour.

Definitely picked up some good tips on public speaking and will want to join more toastmasters sessions!

An eventful day.


***

Need to get back into action with studies!!!!

LMS!

When you're no longer a teen..

you're 20!

Here's a post to dedicate my thank-yous to you, you, you and you! (In order of occurence)

Firstly, to dad and mum + granny, aunts and family, for providing me a loving and nurturing family, for instilling the values I hold so closely to my heart! =) And for the pre-departure birthday cake and the beautiful, precious pairs of earrings!

To [S][A][M][P][A][T] Clan, for my first ever surprise birthday party, it was really memorable and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the awesome day ever. I didn't expect the gathering to turn out as a birthday surprise and sorry MJ for being mad at you! Especially happy to meet you UK/US/Taiwan peeps (and of course the Msia bunch) some of whom I haven't met for 2-3 years!! I actually wrote a proper post about it and saved it in my laptop, which now - sigh. RIP. Anyway, you guys are the best, I'm so thankful we are one big family - with members around the globe preaching the teachings of SAMPAT hahaha. Welcome Leying, the latest baptised member! And Thanks SAMPAT for the birthday bag, it's my new uni bag now!

To Mengs, because you are Mengs.

To Gugu, for the beautiful bracelet =)

To Sara, for your card and snail mail all the way from Brissie! Was reading it on the morning of my birthday on the train, smilling the widest smile, can you picture it? It was the most beautiful feeling. Catch up soon on Skype!

To Rachael, for your birthday blog post, and our 1-day spent back in Malaysia. Having the deepest heart-to-heart talk with our imaginations of the past and future playing as the landscape, followed by a hearty 10-song karaoke at the cosy, 2-sitter karaoke box in 1U! Thanks Rach for a memorable day.. I wish you the best in the UK.

To Kor and XW, for the gorgeous purse! And to Kor, for tolerating all my ah-forgot-keys-forgot-phone moments! haha! Promise I'll be more careful!

To Eric, Jillian, Julz and Brendan, for accompanying me in the afternoon, just reminiscing about Shanghai, laughing and watching the world go by at Breadtop! Thanks to Bhong, we now talk in a currency known as "Dumplings" and GDP - Gross Dumplings Product! haha, "OMG this AUD 1 donut is actually worth 10 Dumplings in Shanghai!!"

To Xia, for spending the birthday eve with me, am glad our friendship lasted as long as now, you're one of my first International friends from Uni!

To Noelle, for the beautiful clover necklace and sweet notes of wishes accompanying it! We must spend more time together alright, enjoy ur ski trip!

To Jian, for the spending the birthday eve as well with me in Max Brenners and your precious gift - My first ever perfume - Harajuku Lovers Fragrance! And for being a listener, and for your generous advice and care.. And that shoulder to cry/rely on.. Love you.

To Jia Yen, Pei Wen, MC, Andrea, Chen Hao, Jeremy, Kwee Loong, Kuan Jhun, Vern and Wai Kit, for the birthday dinner at Crowns Casino - definitely a different experience, having to take pictures cautiously lest we get caught by security! It was awesome company, food, "speed-dating" lol, psychology tests (the Z - sex addicts haha), bunny ears picture etc! And for the after-drinks at Trunk, thanks MC for the Apple Bramble and Wai Kit, for the beer (though I only had a few sips haha). Sorry I was so depressed after the drink, I told you guys, alcohol is no spirit-lifter for me. Now you believe me! I think I kept talking about being heartbroken. haha. And to the gals for organising the dinner and allowing me to stay over the night! And to Jia Yen and Pei Wen, for your gifts and Andrea, for the birthday cake! THANKS!

To Jeremy, for the precious gift that I still think I don't deserve. And for the audit textbook LOL. Thank you.

To Eric & Julz, my Shanghai buddies, thanks for you-know-what..

To Meng Kit, for calling from Malaysia, lol that was really a surprise! lol you're hillarious! And not to forget our rushy-no-one-cares lunch in Malaysia lol and our ever ever refreshing msn convos haha..

To everyone of you for your birthday wishes via SMS, facebook and MSN! Trust me when I say I take every word to heart and appreciate them lots.. =)

A special dedication to my dearest sister, Mei Ting, for your birthday card - it's so pretty I have it on my table now..love you! And to Mei Yen, my best friend - for your maturity, your coolness, your ears, your tears, your hugs, love you sister, I really do.

And lastly to METLINK Melbourne, for the free public transportation all day! hahahah

Hope I didn't leave anyone out!


****


Daddy says, birthday is also a day to reflect.

I have to say, I am a blessed person with allthe love and care from family and friends, and a life that has been nothing but blissful. Surely I go through ups and downs, just like everyone else, but never alone, never for long. Sometimes I wonder how lucky I am to earn these blessings..

I hope to be a better person:
1. Be stronger mentally,
2. Love and laugh more, and
3. Spread the love - stay in touch with loved ones and always give a helping hand!


Personal goals -
1. Studies - cruise through my final sem with upmost spirit!
2. Career - be more proactive!
3. Health - errr.. exercise more?


Birthday Wish:
1. Me + family + friends find happiness always.
2. Undisclosed..

*****

haha ok la enough of 30th JULY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY AND DAPHNE!

LOVE YOU DAD!

You're the greatest dad ever, keep being the cute, simplistic, sampat you ok?

hehe. Much love..

MEISHAN

Greetings!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for not updating whilst in Shanghai, blogger/facebook and pretty much most Western social medias are blocked in China!

Shanghai Industry Project, in a nutshell, has been an awesome experience.

The culture, people, gettin' around with the most efficient Metro system, working in a creative ad agency, getting a hang of how "guan xi" works in China, tasty xiao long paos, being all touristy, doing the "Asian squat", experiencing the hustle and bustle of the city that never ever sleeps etc etc and WORLD EXPO - memorable experience, one wonders why all you get from others are complaints. & Most importantly, getting to know, work, live, laugh and explore a foreign land with a diverse, fun-loving, caring, adventurous amazing group of people from Uni in Shanghai.

On another note,

Shanghai - is no doubt a future workplace for those looking into banking. It's rapidly developing into an international financial hub, but not with Hong Kong being in the lead for the time being. But one day it shall be. Ten years?

Oh dear, this post doesn't do the experience any justice at all, does it?

But seriously, where should I start?

PS: I'm annoyed the spacing is screwed up big time.

Talking to whom?

"eh lmt, 你那天叫我买的present, 很难找啦.."

"你在 INTERNET找啦!"

"Internet ar? 我不会啦.. 还有什么present 吗?"

"随便啦! 你买什么玩具我都会玩的啦.."

"Huh, 随便? 像以前买那些小小的masak-masak, ok 吗?"

"Aiyorrr.随便啦! 我什么玩具也会玩..但是不要买..那些baby玩的啊!"

"你不是baby 咩?"

"我 five years old 了, 你懂吗?"


**

Lol. Like some auntie lidat.

5-year-old auntie.


PS: Mao says it'll fade over time.

Call

Just got off the call with my family, specifically my two sisters.

Asked them what they wanted from Australia and was amused with their answers.

The elder sister:

"Hair accessories that have big floral designs. And basically anything floral la.."
"Floral??"
"Yar. You know, anything with flowers."
"Yar I know floral. But you, floral?"
"Yar. They look nice and er.. decent."
"Seriously, you.. floral?"


Okay good that my floral sense is getting into my turning-decent sister hahaha =p
Can't believe you said "decent", you wild child, I mean wannabe wild child hahaha


Baby sister:

"Arllooo lowmeiting"
"Hmmm.."

Initially she didn't wanna talk because she's "too tired".

"你要present吗?"
"我要你回来.. 我写了一个letter 给你, 还没有post 给你!!!"
"要什么present吗?"
"Barbie doll toys.."
"Aiyo..that one you buy at home la.. Any present you want from Australia?"
"Australia ar...I want Barbie doll castle!"
"Huh!! Castle ar.... 很难勒..还有吗?"
"我要..Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck 的 ribbon"
*Scratches head*

Elder sister
"Aiya she's not making any sense la, she's falling asleep on my lap. Remember my floral arrr!!"

***

Hahaha. Shopping shopping!!!!

3 more days 3 more days!!!!

:D


PS: So long you tried your best.