Fall Semester starts

Tomorrow onwards, for the next 4 months is the Fall Semester of 2007.. And officially, my 2 years Master's course starts tomorrow too..

Taking 5 Japanese classes and 6 Masters subjects this semester.. Other than that, I have to study for my JLPT in Dec and then do my translations, so it should be a busy semester for me..

Running nose..

The weather is getting colder and my body is, again, reacting to it..

I should be downstairs practising my Karate now, but yet I am up in my room, sneezing away, feeling miserable, a handkerchief wet with 'you-know-what' beside me.. I am frequently drinking warm water and trying not to let my body get dehydrated.. Wearing 2 t'shirts and long pants, with my windows only slightly ajar so to allow some air in and not let the room be too stuffy..

This means that I wouldn't be able to know my karate promotion result today too.. :( will have to wait one more week... :( :(

Today, I was working on my Senpai's web survey project.. It was one of the first major public survey to be undertaken by my research lab, so lots of things had to be discussed and decided by my Senpai and Sensei.. Me being a 'junior' in the lab, I can only work when I've gotten enough information and instructions from them, although I did offer some of my opinions and suggestions to help them along.. So far, I am able to deliver what they wanted, and maybe more.. :p

Results out!

Today went to school to register for my Japanese classes..

Met up with Chua and Alex first, since the three of us aren't Bekka student. Bekka students are students who are studying Japanese only for a year, like Chris, Raila and the Kang Shifu gang.. Kim-chan is still Missing-In-Action. Haven't heard from her since she went back to Korea after our Kyoto trip in mid Aug.. :(

I signed up for 5 different Japanese classes, as follows:

Listening - Level 3E (Mondays, 9am)
Reading - Level 3E (Tuesdays, 9am)
Pronunciation - Level 3E (Tuesdays, 1pm)
Oral Expression - Level 3E (Wednesdays, 9am)
Grammar - Level 3E (Fridays, 9am)

I took more oral or spoken Japanese classes as I do not have much opportunity to practice speaking Japanese. Since I will be studying for JLPT 2 on my own, so I think the written portion should still be manageable to self-study..

Together with these 5 Japanese classes, I plan to take 6 subjects from my graduate school.. So it should be a busy semester for me.. yet still, I managed to arrange my timetable in such a way that my Thursdays are free and I have only 1 class on Wednesdays!! :p :p So I get to study 3.5 days and rest 3.5 days... ;) Although I must say that my Fridays are super heavy, I have 4 classes and 1 seminar from 9am to 9:30pm!

After registering for our Jap classes, the three of us went for lunch at the school canteen.. think it was one of the few rare occasion that the place was deserted.. I had a teppanyaki hamburg steak and rice.. We ate and talked... Then we went our separate ways as every one of us needed to go back to our labs..

I went to my graduate school, GITS and requested for my results for last semester. The result was out since 14 Sep, but I was too lazy to come all the way to school just for the result. My rationale was that if I did badly for that one Masters subject that I took last semester, I can always NOT transfer it over and just retake it again this semester to try for better result.. but fortunately I was wrong.. :D


When I saw this I did a second take.. Wow.. I've gotten an A for my Masters subject (CIO Strategy) and an A* for my Japanese Language!! Seriously, I haven't seen 2 As together on a result slip for a long while.. maybe not since my SPM (O level equivalent)!! :p Even in NUS, I never gotten 2 As within the same semester... Well, looks like I would need to transfer this subject over after all.. :) This really gave me the motivation to strive for good results for this Masters degree.. Imagine how cool it would be if my Masters transcript is filled with As and Bs.. :p :p :p Think I would need to do more than just day-dreaming about it but I think it is doable...

Hopefully I can maintain this momentum and keep going... :)

I.S.F.J.

Based on the Myers Briggs model that's my career personality type..

Some of the things written with regards to my career personality type from quiz taken at Tickle.com...

You are a strong team player and believe the needs of the group come before the individual. You generally care about the people around you, which allows you to provide a personal touch at your workplace. That sense of caring allows you to feel personal accomplishment and acceptance from your co-workers who know they can turn to you for help. You are generous with your time and spirit and look to make the present moment better for everyone.

Your emotional strength combined with a pragmatic approach to work makes you a strong asset. You don't like juggling multiple projects at once and would rather get one project off your desk at a time. Because of your internal value system, you don't need false flattery from others. You have a strong work ethic and inspire others by your example. Because of this, you are a strong leader on any team. To you, your work speaks for itself.

And according to them, these are some of the criteria that I should look for in a workplace.

• A traditional work environment with established rules and procedures
• A place where work capitalizes on your ability to memorize facts and figures
• A place where you can work closely with a few people who share similar beliefs and values
• A place that demands a minimal amount of networking and public speaking engagements
• A place where you can see your work result in improving people's lives
• A place where practical thinking and judgment are rewarded
• A place that will allow you to devote energy to one project at a time

A few more things...

When if comes to work, you:

• Express and respond to a wide range of emotions in yourself and in others
• Motivate others to produce their best work
• Are successful at serving and assisting people on a one-one basis
• Record information accurately
• Follow through and complete assignments
• Accurately use your five senses to distinguish sounds, shades of color, scents, and tastes
• Have an accurate sense of direction

Having this skill set means you have natural leadership ability, and tend to lead with a sense of emotion. You like to "work with" people and not have people "work for" you. In other words, you appreciate the people on your team, but also encourage independent work. You value personal relationships and enjoy helping people develop their skills for better overall performance.

I must admit that most of the above statements are pretty true and accurate.. I dislike starting a new project before the loose ends of a previous project are tied.. I prefer to deal with a few people rather than a big crowd.. I like to digest information and plan/action based on what is possible rather than speculating what might be possible based on gut feel/6th sense/etc.. I am more realist than a dreamer.. I would tell you the good, the bad and the ugly of things and let you make the choice than to tell you what you should do.. I like to work with a small group of people that I could click and work on a big/difficult project than to have to mediate warring factions within a big group for a small project..

Of course, what I dislike to do might not be the one I am poor at.. what I like to do might not be the one that pays me the most.. what I like to do might not be what is expected of me.. what I like to do might not be what I will get to do..

So in the end, what I like to do does not constrain what I will be doing in future... :p

Mid Autumn's Festival.. 中秋节。。

Today is the 15th of the 8th lunar month in the Chinese calendar, which coincides with the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar in the northern hemisphere... There are many legends and folk-lore regarding this festival and some of the things we eat or do on this day.. but unfortunately, this festival is also one of the most consumerized Chinese festivals.. instead of emphasizing the tradition of family reunion, we are bombarded with the message of giving exquisitely packaged mooncakes that are just an excuse (by the shops) to charge the consumers more for the same old fashioned mooncakes.. It is such a lucrative business that even the hotels are joining the act every year..

《水调歌头》
（宋） 苏轼

明月几时有？
把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？
我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒！
起舞弄清影，何似在人间？
转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。
不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

This is a famous poem by a poet during the Song Dynasty which was composed into a song, sang by Faye Wong in the 90s.. 苏东坡的诗，但是是王菲把它给唱红了。。相信大家对这首诗或歌曲不会感到陌生吧？！

Happy Mid Autumn's Festival, wherever you are..
不管你身处何方，中秋节快乐！