Graduation

From Excitement...to Neglect...to Graduation. These four years have been terrific. And quite unforgettable. Thank you Brown, I love you :)

Home

Ok I'm not really sure if anyone still comes up here, but thank you very much for your concern I am quite well and quite happy back home in Singapore! Life has been seriously undramatic, which is something I am sincerely grateful for given the stories I have heard these past couple of months, and I must say I am very thankful to whoever's up there who must be taking special care of me and my family and friends because everything's been going well.

Sorry for being so unspecific, but I suspect if you read this blog you should already know what I have been doing, and if you don't then you are really kaypoh - why are you here?!?! Stop being a stalker and ask me in person if you really care.

I'll be leaving in a week's time to go back to Brown. Yes I will remember and savor those last precious moments of student life and irresponsibility (in the no-responsibilities sense). It's scary and yet exhilarating to think that I have no idea where I'll be in a year's time. I'm not the sort who needs to plan every step of the way, and it seems like that's a good attitude to have in times of uncertainty such as this. But yes we shall see, we shall see.

LA

Ok so sorry I totally skipped like 2-3 months due to laziness. Sorry to anyone who actually still comes down!

Kinda busy with work right now, but I promise I will be back shortly!!!

Take care everyone!

About a month...

About a month before I return to Les Êtats-Unis, and then home. I do miss Brown - her classes, her people, her greens. And I do miss home. But I have also fallen in love with France. It's such a beau pays after all. Everything's just so pretty here - the language, the trees, the old European buildings, the food. I'd be happy to go back, but I'm not looking forward to leaving either. Maybe I just find things worth loving everywhere I go :D

My friends and parents, ahem, remark that I don't seem to be studying here. Well I am not. I even regret registering with a school here. There's so much happening out there, outside, I feel silly staying in the classroom, listening to the teacher drone on for four hours about grammar rules and other boring matters.

I'm in France, in Europe, I have one more month, and I'm going to make the best of it. And that, generally, does not involve teachers or classrooms.

1:32

It's 1.32am, I intended to go to bed at 11, but ended up watching TVB dramas till late, hee hee. Jessica Hester Hsuan, I guess probably better known as Xuan Xuan, one of my favorite TVB actresses and Imperial alumnus. Catching up on her old stuff, my childhood and really, wasting time. And to think I'd be doing tons of reading here, haha!

So sorry that I've been lazy with photos, I haven't taken a single photo in Lyon. It's embarrassing taking photos like a tourist when I'm trying to blend in and pretend I totally belong here. The city is intoxicatingly beautiful, perhaps not at first sight, but I grow to like it more and more everyday. But frustration also grows when a different school means a different pace, different habits and rules. Like no eating in class? Seriously...Clearly a rule meant to be broken.

Also trying to get used to storeowners taking long, 2 hour lunch breaks, when banks take Mondays off, when restaurants close at 2pm, when Sundays means NOTHING is open, when sending documents overnight to the US costs 56 Euros and when faxing 5 sheets of paper costs 30 Euros. A different pace of life, different costs too.

I think I still prefer having everything available immediately and readily heehee.

Happy Chinese New Year by the way, I really miss nian gaos!

Lyon

I realize I only blog when I have stuff to do i.e. exams and stuff and that's quite a bad habit, so I am determined to stop that habit and blog when I have stuff to say/update.

After a long and eventful month of travelling in the many and various parts of Les Etats-Unis and Londres I have finally arrived in Lyon. I can't say I was not worried when I arrived at the airport see immense amounts of fog and deserted/dilapidated cityscape, but luckily the main city area is beautiful. It's in one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and has over 2000 years of history.

Well like any student in a foreign country I haven't done much exploring - been doing the necessary shopping for food, towel and bolster etc. Omg you have no idea how much difference a bolster makes. I actually stop waking up throughout the night!! Amazing!!

24 More Hours

Time Left: 24 More Hours

Pages Done: 6.5 pages. At least 8.5 more.

Snow count: Tons.

Food count: 1x microwaveable lagsane, 1x Steph's tasty biscuits, 1x Steph's crab biscuits, 1x bowl of cereal with mistakenly bought low fat milk (UGH) and Nx water (where N is not that much).

i.e., thank you Stephano.

頑張ります.

Have Not Written A Word

I have 48 hours to write 2 papers. 15 pages at least.

It will be done.

In Retaliation

Conversation with Steph about Allegory of the Cave:

it’s like virginity la.
I think it’s a better allegory
Allegory of the Hymen
Yea
at first you lead a sexless life
wandering around silly-ly
and maybe you watch porn
imitation
and then you have sex for the first time
at first it’s painful and disorienting
and then you cannot accept that this is sex
and you are like omg
but then after a while you get used to it
and you can’t go back to your virgin state anymore
porn doesn’t make sense anymore
when you have found the Truth

I personally think it's a much better allegory than the cave. But I guess Plato wouldn't have known it since he didn't have a hymen.

Or did he? What is an author?

OK enough.

Colt1210 Fail

Alcibiades?? Seriously??? And the sonnets again?

And now I know it's Geog WILHELM Friedrich Hegel and FREAKING FRANTZ FANON. Useful information indeed.

WIN ALREADY. But I can't afford to linger.

Onto HAMLET

Finals

Stupid COLT 1210 Final tomorrow - 10 identification questions, cumulative i.e. read and remember everything we did this semester. Started yesterday, been reading Jacques Derriblah, Kant the C*nt, Spitvak, Hegel Bagel, Plato Potato, Aristotle the Turtle - all my old enemies of the semester. But have already forgotten .

All jumbled up inside. Allegory of the Cave, stare at sun, eyes painful, unable to adjust to new knowledge etc. Speech is son, writing is orphan. Patricide. Pharmakon. Remedy. Poison. One is not born a woman but rather, becomes one. Lesbians are not women. Beauty. Judgment. Taste. Interest. Master and Slave. Consciousness. No violence, still slave. Commitment. Inside and outside. Form. There is no outside of the text? Sun. Heliotrope. Turning around the sun. Metaphor. And Metonymy. Signifier and Signified. Literature before resistance, or resistance before Literature? Subaltern. Can they speak?

And I've been borderline so I need an A on this final. Win already.

Steph and Nick have gone home so I have usurped the former's room. Conclusion is solitude doesn't guarantee productivity. Sounds emo but I am not, just quite saturated with a whole lot of nonsense in brain. Ah. I think, I am. Je pense, donc je suis. I am sitting here, in front of Steph's reading light, typing this. But how should I know that I am typing this? Because I think. No, nobody can deny that I am thinking. Therefore I must exist. What about the tasty biscuits in front of me? My senses tell me they are there. Therefore I judge that they are there.

But ah, judgment. Kant. One judges that the sun is beautiful, but not because one has an interest in it. Free beauty, or something. Purposiveness without purpose.

But purposiveness without purpose? Committed art? Form within and content without. Doesn't it suck then? Reactionary writers?

But writing. Orphan. Pharmakon. Poison. They shouldn't give us books then, for this class, since writing makes us false wise men and women.

But do men and women exist? Social construct? What is a lesbian if not a woman or man? Marx - the "people" fight for their groups, not for themselves. No subjects. Women not encouraged to do their own thingamajig. Divisive. They belong to men. So women think - wth. Less individualism better? With divisions come classes? Homosexuals inferior to heterosexuals because of divisions?

History of sexuality. Speech. Power exerts itself by discourse. Labels, categories, assigned.

Power not in the hands of one. Pervasive power. Institutions.

Yawn. enough.

In the meantime, other things swirling in my mind along with the rest of the trash: rara aaa, romaromama, gaga ohlala...

First Snow

First snow of the year, and I had the misfortune to discover it only when I ran out in shorts to the gym. Bloody tree outside my window, blocks everything from sight. But luckily that was before it was gross and slushy, so I wasn't that cold or wet.

Everything's covered in the purest white. How pretty. I like it when it's all white. The Rock looks better that way. Everything seems to look better. Until it becomes ice, that is.

I'm gonna miss Brown so much when I graduate sigh.

Strike

Hello, hello, back from Montreal, thrown back into a a flurry of work and papers (bloody colt1210) until 22nd Dec (somebody's birthday...) when road trip will commence!! Can't wait!!

But till then...20 pages of writing, 2 final exams and 1 oral exam to go. I want to go on strike! I don't want to face my potential Bs ughhh Good luck everybody

Mindy: Didn't take any photos, waiting for my friend the official photographer to upload them on facebook haha. Though she didn't take many either - the weather was kind of shitty when we were there.

Montreal

MM...it's 4.20am, eating Steph's cake and preparing to leave...

Steph: Nooooooooo

Mindy: Who says travel means must see 1 million things one

Jiadi: I miss you guys too!!!!! Keep an eye out of Shit for me haha in case her new No Abs bullies her. Don't miss TB too much too k

Thanksgiving

Doubt anyone still comes here, but hello hello, sorry I've been missing for so long haha I'm just such a lazy person that blogging doesn't come natural to me. Duh.

But it's November now, we're a couple weeks away from the end of the semester. So what have I been doing? Reading, sleeping, hanging out with my dear neighbours Stephano and Le Petit Nicolas, playing polo, traveling here and there...that's about it really.

So I'll be going to Montreal with said neighbours on Wednesday - it's gonna be cold but it's gonna be so much fun. I can't wait to sink into those sheets for at least half the day seriously, and no Stephano you are not going to drag me out of Paradise. Unless it's for food of course.

Mmmmm

August!

Wow it's August and it's been ages since I wrote. I doubt anyone still reads this but if you do I want to tell you that I'm not dead. I've just ended my internship (a terrific one) with 8 Days and am now lounging at home, hanging out with friends and family and just chilling out. Life can't be much better than this.

A Month to Home!

I realize I don't really say much about what I do in school over here, mostly because I'm afraid it will bore all of you, and plus I don't have any pretty pictures or anything. But just to explain why I haven't been blogging that much, I've been quite busy this semester, been spending most my days doing mostly Japanese and French homework, preparing for upcoming, once again, Japanese and French tests and exams, playing polo (twice a week now and I'm getting better at cantering), working for a professor and other miscellaneous activities.

This week, for example, is the Ivy Film Festival, the largest student film festival in the US and I assume the world and I'm going to watch a movie tonight - 500 Days of Summer. Should be interesting. A couple days ago I spent the afternoon playing polo and then tomorrow I have dinner at a Prof's place, on Saturday a couple of us will be going down to MIT to meet the other Singaporeans in the region and to play some games. So even though I don't have a lot of regular work per se I've been doing a lot of stuff like that.

But even so I've found time in between for my favorite pasttime - watching dvds on my computer, like this one:

I suppose everyone already knows what this movie is about - a dog and his life with an average growing family, basically. Of course the "average couple" = Owen Wilson and Jen Aniston and seriously how can they be average. I watched it thinking it was one of those sweet, funny movies and it really was sweet and funny but also incredibly, incredibly SAD. I cried so hard at the end I actually had to pause the movie to take a tissue and I swear my face and eyes were swollen by the end. Goodness!! I guess this movie really deserved all the boatloads of money it got at the box office even if it wasn't supremely impressive if you really must be anal about it.

On a sidenote, also watched Quantum of Solace, and even though Daniel Craig really is a hot piece of ass, and it's a good thing that M (Judi Dench) has a lot more screentime in this movie, everyone was right - not worth watching!

Ueno Juri + Oscars

So here's my new discovery - Ueno Juri.

I don't think she's a new discovery for the Japanese but well I have most recently discovered her in the RongRong recommendation Nodame Cantabile and Keisuke (suitemate) recommendation Last Friends and this woman is an AMAZINGLY versatile actress!!

I mean it's how difficult to act as a xiao zha bor in one show and then a brooding motorcross rider lesbian in another?!? And she's totally unrecognizable if you don't look for her name, she's that good. I think give her another few years and she'll rival Meryl Streep.

Which brings me to...

This is actually the first time I've watched The Oscars live and in its entirety!! Actually I wanted to watch it because Hugh Jackman was the host this year (great job he did but I think Ellen did a better job a couple years back) and I sat at my computer and waited for what must have been for a couple hours for the traditional host's opening piece and then after having dinner I went to the bathroom and chatted for 5 minutes with my suitemate Sarah AND THEN THE DAMN SHOW STARTED and half his opening number was over by the time I got out. Luckily I still managed to see the part with Anne Hathaway.

Which reminds me...my favorite dresses of the night:

Anne Hathaway's was quite sweet I thought, and one of the best in the crowd this year though everyone was wearing quite normal stuff not like Bjork's swan suit a couple years ago.

But my favorite is still this:

Now I'm not normally a fan of dresses cos they are so troublesome and itchy but this is really beautiful. This dress is apparently (according to the interview prior to the ceremony) 60 years old and Penélope Cruz chose it 8 years ago at a store and she went back this year and found it still there waiting for her. Isn't that sweet? I think it's amazing and I'm glad she won Best Supporting for Vicky Cristina Barcelona even though I haven't watched it but I will.

And of course the stars of the show are:

Angie and Brad!!!! Woohoo!! Okay they were being quite stuck up and not talking to anyone on the red carpet but come on la they are Angie and Brad and even though they didn't win anything at the Oscars they're still huge. And Angie was smiling and laughing this time even though she didn't win! Unlike in the previous Critics Choices Awards when her face turned black when Anne Hathaway won the award (alongside Meryl Streep). But if you have watched Rachel Getting Married which is what Anne won the award for I think you'll know why la, it's not very spectacular and we all know Anne's more capable than that.

And more of Brad and Angie cos I like.

Oh Goddess!

Awards wise the pace of the ceremony was quick so it was quite fun to watch. Also pretty glad that Kate Winslet and Sean Penn got the best actress and best actor awards, even though I haven't watched either of their shows I fully intend to and I believe they were brilliant in them. And of course I guess no one would disagree that Heath Ledger fully deserved his best supporting actor award. It's really really too bad he's no longer here, sigh.

So now I have a list of absolutely must-watch movies by the end of this year:

1. Revolutionary Road (Because of Kate Winslet)
2. The Reader (Kate Winslet)
3. Milk (Sean Penn)
4. Doubt (Meryl Streep!!!)
5. Entre les Murs or The Class (Winner of the Palm D'Or and nominated for Best Foreign Film)
6. Changeling (ANGIE)
7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVEN'T WATCHED THIS)
8. Slumdog Millionare (Just cos)
9. Departures (Japanese film, won Best Foreign Film)

To Appease my fans!

My very free suitemate whom I shall not name has most recently complained about the lack of activity on my blog. Well it's not my fault that I am too busy right?

Anyway it was my birthday N days ago and I turned 21 without much fuss or fanfare. Actually it was quite the crap on the day itself because I had to mug for the test and presentation the next day. But anyhow thanks to all who remembered, I do appreciate it especially because I took it off facebook and all. And thanks to those who actually bought gifts haha, I do like the Myléne Farmer CD you bought Suitemate, it's very suite/sweet (haha) of you.

And Shit you still owe me a present don't think I have forgotten.

But Suitemate and I did go for an expensive French dinner (combined bday celebrations) which was quite nice but tasted like Chinese food (?!). She tried the veal and I ate the bouillabaisse (how to spell) because Hermione mentioned it and I wanted to see what it was like haha. And then we ate the Crême Brulee which was très bien très bien and damn sweet but very nice! Quite worth it I think even though it was ultra ex.

Other than that I've just been watching Japanese dramas. Keisuke, my other suitemate recommended Last Friends which I am watching now. Jiadi recommended Proposal Diasakusen which is quite cute (the guy is at least). And I re-watched some parts of Hana Kimi because Ashiya Mizuki is so pretty! And Nakatsu is also pretty good looking.


The people from Hana Kimi (Nakatsu's on the left)
(Dude from Proposal Daisakusen)

Hey don't think I'm doing all this for leisure okay, I'm trying to work on my Japanese. You think I so free to watch tv for fun is it.

Someone's Birthday

Today's somebody's birthday. Her name is Shitty Chen. Who is Shitty Chen?

Sometimes she thinks she is a goddess.

And that we'd believe she is one if she wraps herself up in some leftover cloth.

Sometimes she thinks she is a very ugly ghost.

Sadly for her she looks even uglier in the photo cos of her beautiful friend on her left.

But actually she's King Shitalongkorn.

Her favorite pasttime's hanging out with honyizabeth, her royal halfie.

What else does Shitty Chen like to do?

She likes to qiang jing tou and say "yeah!" for the camera even if she has to do it with a grimace because the water is damn salty other people are busy spitting seawater out.

She likes to flirt with random men, even those she meets on public transport.

She likes to enslave her friends and lord over them like a bossy old woman.

She even picks fights with good little girls on the street.

But mostly she just has very low selfesteem because of her terrible looks. Some say her jaw is too wide, while some say her mouth is too crooked. Truth is, she just looks like Mr Potato Head.

Okay la okay la Shitty's my very funny and wonderful Halfie, and it's her 20th birthday today!!! She's a very funny, cute little girl whose bright eyes have captured many hearts (including random bus guy's)! She may be stupid stupid at times but she's actually quite smart, but I can't think of any examples to back-up my claim.

Hope her 20th year on Earth would be a happy, bruise-free one, and she'll have lots and lots of time and money to spend with/on me!! Happy Birthday Halfie you're the best!!!!! Love you!!