Sunday, February 24, 2008

"A hypocrite is a person who--but who isn't?" - Don Marquis

***

Most Improved Students - "As a form of motivation and encouragement, the Faculty recognizes students who have improved tremendously in their studies." - Wah, I didn't know this existed. OTOH, the award for the Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher (OUR) Prize "must be used towards participation in related activities/programmes which includes overseas/local conferences/workshop, leadership seminars or any such related activity approved by the Faculty/School that are deemed to add value to a student's education and overall development". Wth.

I was walking around in the Kent Vale (housing for NUS staff) supermarket; 454ml of Taiko Golden Syrup (sugar and water) is $4.20, 375ml of Maple-flavoured syrup is $5.90 and 370ml of Grade A Canadian Maple Syrup is a whopping $16.50. They also sell pure ghee, US Pringles (there were no Malaysian pringles) and there was no palm oil on the shelves (typically, supermarkets have at least 40% of their cooking oil being either pure or blended palm oil); even the suspiciously-labelled 'vegetable oil' turned out to be soybean oil. Expats appreciate quality. Irritatingly, though, few items or shelves had price tags.

I was at an AIESEC talk about overseas internships, and they had lots of cheap tricks, like saying they would change us from Ordinary to Extraordinary, where the 'Extra' was EXchange, TRaining and AIESEC. There was also the usual spiel of young people having a positive impact on society, and we were told that those who go abroad come back and don't recognise themselves (which is not necessarily a good thing - if I splash acid on my face I also won't recognise myself). Perhaps the best bit is that there's a 'reintegration program' for you upon your return. Also, when groups of AIESEC-ers are addressed, the person addressing them goes: 'Hey AIESEC' and the people in the audience (usually SACSALs, from the sound of it that day) go 'What's up?'. All in all, it was like a cross between a Self-Help group, a University Orientation Camp and Scientology.

"Please be reminded it is important and useful for you to classify your modules every semester. Classifying your modules not only allows you to track your progress against your requirements, it will also ensure that you will be considered for the relevant subject prizes." - HAHAHA. They need to come up with better incentives.

The new 25 degree celsius airconditioning rule makes many rooms hot and stuffy. Almost makes me glad to be graduating.

Counselling Centre – Men's Group - "This is a group for men. It seeks to create a supportive environment where men can learn from other men in dealing with many of the issues that confront men in modern urban societies." - Wah.

Her World is in the Singapore-Malaysia Collection. Uhh.

I'm doing my second and third Economics module with readings, and the first two where the readings are essential. Hah.

There is a 'NUS Sado Society'. I want a 'NUS Maso Society' (Yes, I know what Sado is).

Science bazaars have less jewelry and skimpy clothes.