going home in sep

Will be going home tomorrow.. it's not a routine nor my annual balik kampung. It's to help my sis in her new venture.. Will be in Msia for 2 months and back in TW in Dec as I still have classes to attend..

Looking forward to this unexpected trip home.. :)

Sunday Serenade: my life

Sometimes songs don't have to be too complicated.. no need for 'deep' lyrics or fancy arrangements, simple words can be as captivating as well.. that's one of the reason why I really like Best Coast.. So this week, I'm gonna share another of their songs.. Enjoy!

My life
When I go on airplanes, I listen to your voice
And when I go to sleep at night, I'm wishing for a choice
To go back in time
Makes what's wrong feel right
To go back in time
Makes what's wrong feel right, feel right

All the things I'm taking are making me insane
And when I go to sleep at night, I'm wishing for a change.
To go back in time
Makes what's wrong feel right
To go back in time
Makes what's wrong feel right, feel right

My mom was right
I don't want to die
I want to live my life
My mom was right
I don't want to die
I want to live my life
My life, my life, my life, my life
My life, my life, my life, my life, my life. 






Have a great work week! Stay healthy!

Sunday Serenade: writing to reach you

This week I am sharing another song by Travis called 'Writing to reach you' which I really like. Enjoy!

Writing to reach you
Every day I wake up and it's Sunday
Whatever's in my head won't go away
The radio is playing all the usual
And what's a wonderwall anyway

Because my inside is outside
My right side's on the left side
'Cos I'm writing to reach you
But I might never reach you
I long to teach you about you
But that's not you

It's good to know that you are home for Christmas
It's good to know that you are doing well
It's good to know that you all know I'm hurting
It's good to know I'm feeling not so well

Because my inside is outside
My right side's on the left side
'Cos I'm writing to reach you
But I might never reach you
I long to teach you about you
But that's not you
Do you know it's true
And that won't do

Maybe then tomorrow will be Monday
And whatever's in my head should go away
Still the radio keeps playing all the usual
And what's a wonderwall anyway

Because my inside is outside
My right side's on the left side
'Cos I'm writing to reach you
But I might never reach you
I long to teach you about you
But that's not you
Do you know it's true
And that won't do
You know it's you
I'm talking to 






Have a good week ahead! Stay safe!

Poetry Solace: of mother nature

One last poem from Emily Dickinson.. Next I'll move to ..

MOTHER NATURE
Nature, the gentlest mother,
Impatient of no child,
The feeblest or the waywardest, - 
Her admonition mild

In forest and the hill
By traveller is heard,
Restraining rampant squirrel 
Or too impetuous bird.

How fair her conversation,
A summer afternoon, - 
Her household, her assembly;
And when the sun goes down

Her voice among the aisles
Incites the timid prayer
Of the minutest cricket,
The most unworthy flower.

When all children sleep
She turns as long way
As will suffice to light her lamps;
Then, bending from the sky

With infinite affection
And infiniter care,
Her golden finger on her lip,
Wills silence everywhere.



Have a great weekend! Enjoy but stay safe!

Europe 2014: erasmus

My EGOS conference was held in Erasmus University Rotterdam. Didn't manage to take a lot of photos of the campus, but here are 3 of them.

statue of Desiderius Erasmus

I prefer universities to have proper (well-designated) campus instead of being situated within or close to CBD or other neighborhood. I like to know where the campus starts and ends, and have a clearly defined school grounds. The campus of Erasmus University reminded me of NTU with its location far (far is relative in the small island of Singapore) from the city, its sizable campus and its abundant greenery (trees, gardens and ponds) between buildings.

Would have loved to explore the university more if not for my itinerary. I didn't allocate enough time for a comprehensive tour as I was too preoccupied with visiting the city of Rotterdam and The Hague. Anyway, I will ensure that I list campus tour as one of the itineraries for my next international conference!

Europe 2014: EGOS

I think it is about time I write about the conference that made my Europe trip came true. My adviser mentioned this conference during one of his classes last year. The 30th Colloquium organized by European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) was held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Since I've yet to visit The Netherlands, I've decided to submit a paper for it and see if I could be accepted. After about 5 months of reading, researching, and writing, I produced, first a short paper of 3,000 words which was accepted and then a full paper of 26 pages for the colloquium.

This was my first truly international academic conference. Although I've attended a few while in Japan and Taiwan, they were only 'international' in name as most of the attendees are locals (meaning bad English, both oral and written) and/or 'old boys' club' (where the same few faces turn up every year and sing each other's praises unashamedly). The EGOS Colloquium resembles more of what I thought a truly international academic conference should be. There were more than 1500 attendees from over 100 countries!

I went to the venue, Erasmus University, the day before the conference to attend a pre-colloquium workshop. The EGOS Women's Network Meeting was a wonderful opportunity for women academicians to share their experience and knowledge. I joined the round table on publication strategy which I really thought was very useful. Most of them are from European and American universities and seemed to know each other. As someone who is not very apt in socializing in a big group, I just observed and absorbed the entire experience.

The opening ceremony was held in a two-level lecture hall which kinda reminded me of Victoria Theatre in Singapore with its steep steps and cramped seats. The ceremony had the usual - a couple of welcome speeches by the organizing committees and one keynote speech. The keynote speech was interesting and not too dry. Also, I really like that they incorporated some jokes about the World Cup in their speeches and kinda ribbed the Americans for their failure to reach the quarterfinals. Another surprise was a modern dance performance by Erasmus students with live music (maybe their symphony band). It was kinda long and repetitive after a while but I gave them full marks for their enthusiasm and passion.

There were many diverse themes being discussed in this colloquium. We were grouped according to our sub-themes so that we can benefit from those who are doing similar research. Each sub-theme group was allocated a small conference room for participants to present their papers. The rooms were scattered all around the Erasmus campus in different buildings. It was a nice way for the participants to get to see the university. Most rooms can accommodate around 20 participants and it was a rather intimate setting. We were all seated around tables arranged in a U shape which I prefer. Unlike in a big lecture hall, this arrangement forces everyone to pay attention to the presenter.


Usually, there were 3 papers scheduled in each 90 minute session. This meant that each author will have about 20 minutes to present his/her paper and 10 minutes for Q&A. I was scheduled in the last session on the first day, from 16:00 to 17:30, with another group from China. Unfortunately, they didn't turn up, so I was the only one to present during this time slot. In order to be fair, I was given the same amount of time to present and was not expected to fill that entire 90 minutes.

My adviser didn't register for the colloquium but he came with his wife to give me some support. They were travelling around the region so he dropped by to cheer me on. I met with them at the registration booth during the short break before my session. I took them to the conference room where my session was being held. They decided to sit outside and listen to my presentation. He said that he would bail me out if I got stumped during Q&A.

Frankly, I managed to calm myself down before I met my adviser. Although I had been practicing my presentation in my head many times, I was quite nervous the night before because this was after all my first international conference. And I was somewhat nervous during earlier sessions too but when it was time for me, I kinda became numb. The nervousness reached its highest when I was introduced to the group and then it was gone once I got into my grove. I told myself to just winged it cos what was the worst that could happen, right? I've handled worst situations and more hard-to-please people than a handful of scholars.

In the end, I think I did a fairly good presentation. ^.^ Everyone in the session was very attentive and supportive. Just the fact that some of them actually read my paper and found my research 'angle' interesting already made my day. And the icing to the cake was that they provided some really good suggestions and very constructive comments. That I think is the main reason to attend and/or present in an international conference(s), no? :)

Seriously, after attending a REAL international academic conference, I really can't stand going to a 'fake' or 'pseudo' conference that is only international in name only.

Sunday Serenade: in my time

Gonna share this 2nd song from Kurt Vile, 'In my time' with you all this week. Summer is kinda drawing to an end and autumn is coming, if it hasn't already in some places.. Hope you'll enjoy this song as much as I did.. :)

In my time
In my day I was young and crazy
Sure I didn't know shit, but now I'm lazy
One day I won't even know what was better
Then again and now I want much of nothing anyway

Two of us, one on each shoulder, I'm tryin' to turn
We're pullin' over, on this shoulder, ain't driving
I know when I get older, I'm dyin'
Well, I got everything I need and now
And it's fine now, it's fine now, it's fine

In my time I was whack and wild
I was just being myself then
But then I sat there just tryin' on faces
Wanna erase how discreet disgrace is

Pulling over on the shoulder, ain't driving
Put two of us, one on each shoulder, I'm tryin' to turn
I know when we get older, I'm dyin'
Well, I got everything I need and now
And it's fine now, it's fine now, it's fine 





Have a productive week ahead! Live long and prosper! :)

Europe 2014: canals @ amsterdam

Another thing that Amsterdam is famous for is its canals. I am totally in love with the canals, the boat houses, the bridges and the houses that lined these canals. So please forgive me for sharing some of the many photos I've taken.. :)

See? I really can't get enough of these canals and the sights it presented..

school in a weeks' time

School is gonna start next week. Time flies when you're having fun and I sure had lots of fun this summer holidays. Think I am still coming down from the high of my Europe 2014 trip the whole of August. :P

These past 8 weeks since I came back from my trip, I didn't totally neglect my research. I read more than 20 papers and about 16 books of all sorts. Reading is never the problem. My hang-up is to stop reading and start the actual writing of a paper. Hopefully the start of a new semester will force me to start writing....

Also, this semester is the last one that I need to attend classes. Although I've accumulated (more than) enough credits, there is still one class that I need to attend. Yes, it is one of those attendance-required-but-credits-not-counted kind of class. Anyway, I will be going to school most of the days as I've gotten a room in the library again for this coming semester. What can I say, I love my library! :) Hopefully I'll be able to produce a paper or two before the end of this new semester.

Sunday Serenade: wakin on a pretty day

The third artist that I was introduced by my CS hosts is Kurt Vile, an American musician.  Again, just a guitar strumming accompanied by a simple backup band. This is one of my favorite songs from his album, Wakin on a Pretty Daze, called 'Wakin on a Pretty Day'. Enjoy!

Wakin on a pretty day
Wakin in the dawn of day
I gotta think about what I wanna say
Phone ringin off the shelf
I guess he wanted to kill himself
Wakin on a pretty day
Don't know why I ever go away
It's hard to explain
My love in this daze

You can say I've been most all around
But honey I ain't goin nowhere
Don't worry bout a thing
It's only dying
I love along a straight line
Nothin always comes to mind
To be frank, I'm fried
But I don't mind

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah

Been diggin
Layin low, low, low
I'm diggin
Layin low, low, low
Dig, dig in
To these lives that we are livin
Livin low
Lackadaisically so

Risin at the crack of dawn
I gotta think about what wisecrack
I'm gonna drop along the way today
Phone ringin off the shelf
I guess somebody got somethin they
Really wanna prove to us today

Wakin on a pretty day
For any place
No use sayin nothin
To explain it
To my loved ones today 





Have a good week ahead! Be productive!

Poetry Solace: of returning

Another poem from Emily Dickinson..

RETURNING
I years had been from home,
And now, before the door,
I dared not open, lest a face
I never saw before

Stare vacant into mine
And ask my business there.
My business, - just a life I left,
Was such still dwelling there?

I fumbled at my nerve,
I scanned the windows near;
The silence like an ocean rolled,
And broke against my ear.

I laughed a wooden laugh
That I could fear a door,
Who danger and the dead had faced,
But never quaked before.

I fitted to the latch
My hand, with trembling care,
Lest back the awful door should spring,
And leave me standing there.

I moved my fingers off
As cautiously as glass,
And held my ears, and like a thief
Fled gasping from the house.


Have a great weekend! Enjoy the last weeks of summer! Be safe!

Europe 2014: cook

I cooked for all but one of my CS hosts because I want to show my appreciation. One of hosts actually said that I am brave to want to cook in a kitchen that I'm not familiar with. I know I am good in improvisation and concocting dishes using whatever I can find in their pantries. I was more worried/afraid that I might mess up their kitchen. Houses here aren't very big so the kitchens are relatively smaller too. But if compared to Japanese houses, they are about the same - small but well-equipped.

Here are a few of the kitchens I've cooked in.

Not a pub-crawler/party-person, I kept all my evenings free so that I can cook/eat, interact and get to know my hosts. I was very happy that they liked my dishes (or they are just being nice). I also showed them some of the recipes/tips I have. Some of them also cooked for me so I was very fortunate to have had more home-cooked food than restaurant food during my trip.

After dinner, we usually talked over a cup of tea or some nice (Belgian) beers or wine... we cheered for the same team when we watched the World Cup matches together (ps: Clockwork Orange is now my 2nd favorite team after Die Mannschaft ;) )... we watched some classic movies together.. or we just made conversation over some nice indie music at the background..

We shared, we exchanged and we discussed. We might not agree with each other but at least we now know one another's perspectives and views. I've learned many interesting things from each and every one of them. So these chitchat sessions are definitely the one thing I love about couch-surfing..

Europe 2014: sleep

As I've mentioned before, I can sleep in almost any places as long as it is flat and has a pillow (or two) and a blanket. So sleeping on my CS hosts' couches/sofa beds was never an issue. In fact, I can truly say that I didn't have a bad night's sleep throughout my 23-day trip! And it did help that I was dead tired by the end of the day after so much walking and sight-seeing. :)

So here are some of the 'beds' I've slept in..

the only hotel bed that I've slept in @ Rotterdam

As you can see from photos above, these were all very nice sleeping arrangement, so you now know why I didn't have problem sleeping soundly. :) I didn't take any photos of my 'beds' in Brussels and Utrecht cos I forgot. Those were my last 2 cities which I think I must have been so used to sleeping in a non-conventional bed and/or bedroom that I forgot to take a photo of it.

Once again, I would like to say a big 'Thank You!' to all my fabulous CS hosts!!