Yeah... On sat my frens have been telling me that people have received their DHL notification letters. However my dad was overseas so i can't check..

My dad just came back today, straight away I asked him for the mail box key.. There's 2 TP letters for me. wondering how come there's 2, duplicate letters??

When I reached home, I opened them.. wow, so happy. I got the DHL and academic prize. Yeah... Finally. but they say AN academic prize. so meaning i only got 1. and they also never tell me what that prize is.. so funny onez...but still very happy la.. Don't know what the prize is? hehe Hope it's best LOM junior award.. however, guess very hard to get ba.. LOM alot of ppl got GPA of 3.9+ also.. so guess subject best also not bad ba.. hehe=]

*Ya, ppl, if i accidentally boast(hao lian) too much to you all, pls stop me and forgive me if it becomes too irritating ok.=]. I always have this problem one..coz too happy liao and sometimes cannot controll...you understand such feeling rite.. =]..just ask me to shut up, and i will, without grudge =]

However, now there's a big dilenma liao.. I actually don't plan to go for the ceremony one.. but if i dun go, i've to wait very long to know what prize i get leh.. I can't stand such long anticipation.. and I a bit scare they might forfeit for academic prize(me kiasu rite, but i don't think they are so bad la.. hehe).. Guess, i'll see first la.. Hopefully they can make special arrangement for me.. like let me stay on the stage and leave thru the stage after taking the award. Really hope la.. coz in my heart, I really wanna go for the ceremony one,, but my physical condition will cause alot of problems.. and I'm afraid will trouble the teacher-in-charge... hai, I really for "stairs-phobia" and phobia tt ppl might see me as "handicapped" sia, actually i admit i'm partially handicapped la.. but i still dun wanna ppl think of me like that.... How I wish i can overcome such phobia

Hehe, really anticipating school re-opening. This year's Director's Honours List(DHL) is out so fast man... Heard that some ppl have already received the notice letter. Well, I'm still not sure if I got it... My dad didn't check the mailbox and he had already flown overseas yesterday( I came to know abt the dhl thingy yesterday night) Well, the mailbox is special.. it is because that mailbox key broke into 2 parts, the tail was stuck inside the lock and the head is with my daddy.. Thus he's the only one who can open the mailbox,, and he doesn't have the habit of opening the mailbox, everyday, think he opens it once a week only.

Hee, I'm getting used to my hair liao, although still find it a little too flat, but it's alright.. hee

The china students are calling me back every now and then to ask me help them do things.. haiyo.. even though I've already finished doing all their important stuff(actually I've already done things beyond what I should do loh).. Maybe I shouldn't add "feel free to call me if you have any problem" during our supposedly last good bye.. Usually it's polite to say that mah. but they don't have to treat this word so seriously ba.

Yesterday, one of them wanted me to bring him to Bank of China and other places. but I told him me not free this morning and ask him if he can go himself... Then he just called me to ask me if there's post office branches in other places like sentosa and bugis. both doesn't have.. oh man, they are treating me like streetdirectory, branches locator for banks, post office. etc etc..

I'm a student afterall loh, need to prepare for school reopening. where got so free to keep travelling around with them.. hope they'll be more independent la..

Ya, I finished everything with the china students at about 2 pm, the during the long interval between, 4 hours to choir, i walked around tampines mall and centuary sq. Then it suddenly struck me, "Why don't I do the long waited hair straightening since there's so much time, and daddy just gave me another 1 week allowance in advance" So me explore around, and found out that Supercut having a 30%, Soft straightening for just $96(performed by senior), that's quite cheap for supercut. However, calculated that I'll only have $50 for last till next friday, should I go into supercut..(actually I use less than $5 a day, i mean non-school days). Pondered for about 15 min, walk here and there, peeking at my hair. haha =P

and tada:



After waxing and some styling


So guess u already know my final decision, haha. Can't resist the temptation la.. hehe..
However, I suffered mild cognitive dissonance after I came out from the salon, and saw myself again in the toilet.. It was actually much nicer and longer before she cut.. After she finished cutting, it looks a bit weird, she layered too much, now my hair so short and looks like so little hair liao. and my fringe is gone, haiz, why the hair stylists always cut away the fringe one, especially chinese lady hair stylist.. so sad.. Well, maybe I'm just not used to layered hairstyle.

The stylist, mavis told me that she cut in such a way that if I style it using wax or "mud" it'll look very nice and stylist. I prefer traditional ordinary hair that requires no styling. Tried waxing the hair at home, haha resulted in the pic above, looks a bit funny rite.. haha . I'm newbie in serious hair styling la, someone help me haha. =P

Strange enough, I paid in total $116 for the straightening, and unfortunately, after I grow my hair so long to straighten, she went to cut it short, i saw so many straightened hair on the floor, very xintong(heart pain), crying out inside "My $$$ are thrown on the floor..

What do u all think, is it really ugly? or just psychological influence on my part?.. Someone commented that I look boiboi in this new hairstyle.. but no matter how i look, it just look funny.. haha.. Maybe i just need to get used to it.=]

Yeah, finally finished the things I've to do with the China students..

9am met Zhang Qi and Yilian at Tampines MRT to bring them to collect their student passes, then we took a silent ride to ICA..yeah, really silent, we never talk to each other while on the train, guess probably everyone was tired=]. After we reached ICA, they went to queue up for their numbers and I went to toilet. Webber(another china student under my care, who's not suppose to collect his student pass today.) called me and started to bombard me why he can't collect his student pass today, how come his fren who did it yesterday could collect it today, why there's inconsistency in the system..etc etc.. headache man..Haiyo, how am i suppose to know, the officer asked him to collect on thurs one, not me. Then he asked to me check for him if there's a time restriction for student pass collection. After i checked, I called him back to tell him can collect after 9 a.m, he started to bombard me with questions again. After I explained, he just hung up on the phone, ON ME!! after making an unhappy sound..Aiyo.. So rude, I was doing him favours for so many days already, he should jolly well be at least polite to me. I was a bit unhappy with him, hence I'll not call him to see if he'll have any problem collecting his student pass coming sat, just let him settle stuff himself, since he dun wanna follow my pace.

Then, saw him at ICA, with his other china frens. The..... why didn't he check himself? Guess probably he thought he could collect the student pass earlier if he appear today. Unfortunately, he couldn't.. told him already.. ok, enough of webber, he really got on my nerve today.

After Zhang Qi and Yilian took their number, we went to sit down at the waiting area. We started talking... Suddenly, Zhang Qi held my hand with both of his hands and pulled me to his shoulder there( I was standing behind), I was so shocked and surprised he did that. Then I think I was afraid people might see it and think otherwise, so I immediately, reflex action, withdrew my hand from him,. that instance was quite awkward.. then he turned around and gave me the smiling and act cute face.. haha.. Well, maybe in China this is a gesture of friendship, but I'm not used to it.. hehe

And finally, the collected their student passes and off we went to Tampines central to do their bank account. They're rich guys sia, straight away deposited more than $1000 each, they were also issued atm card.. then very funny, they went to played the atm machine outside, and asked me to teach them how to use... after that, we went to McDonald's to help them complete filling up the enrollment and finance documents. Zhang Qi ordered a fries and a drink, and me a drink also, I paid for them, and he didn't pay me back.. Nvm, just treat them. hehe since they are nice and polite people.

Tada, all the important documents are done.. see follow me get their stuff done so fast.. =P, actually it is one of the shortest time they can complete all their documents. Wish you good luck webber.. =P

Although i finished all their documents, they are free to find me during their study in TP if they have any problem (however, I'll only be in TP for the next 12 months.) Guess with my influence, they definately will choose to come LOM one.. haha just kidding =P

haha, this is hilarious, it it taken from sorta a blog written by an American teaching English in Japan. I think it's a true account of cultural(language) difference between the American teacher and Japan school girls. I was laughing all the way while reading through. haha.

Ops, realized that the author has assumed copyright protection for his content, so pls refer to the following link =]:

"I Say the Darndest Things
http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher40.html


Ya, another thing, just found that that there will be a new Harry Potter series premiering, think it's "Goblet of Fire". You can watch the triller from this link =]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/harry_potter/thegobletoffire/large.html
(note: Apple quicktime required)



Nice, I wanna watch when it's out in november

Well, since I've nothing better to do now, decided to update my blog a little. hehe.

Today(I mean sunday) woke up at around 5 p.m. wah, was a little shocked, because I actually slept at 1 a.m the previous day. So I slept for 16 hours in total. That's slightly scary. Probably my body is overworked from bring the China students around, settling their documents. Thankfully, I still have Monday to rest. I'm bringing them to collect their student passes on Tues at ICA, then hopefully can open the bank account for them. I hope that they dun wanna make ezlink card.. hehe then tues would probably be my last day of doing the mentorship, provided that another student who is collecting on sat, would not meet with any problems, like can't get hold of a cashcard with $140 topped up. basically, for this whole week, i did not have a life of my own, everything evolved around these china students. Actually the experience wasn't that bad afterall la, just troublesome and tiring. Anyway, they showed that they are quite appreciative of what with do..i think they said "thank you" indirectly. =]

Recently my crazy enthusiam for anime seems to be fading off. which is a good sign, especially when school is re-opening soon. but I'm still waiting for Inuyasha, which cheng you is still holding on.. hope he'll pass to me on the next choir practice..

My throat giving me problem for the past 1 week. Recovered on Thurs(as least i still can sing high notes) then started coughing again.. Hopefully I can get completely well by tmr=]

The "mentorship" thingy is so tiring.. I've been doing the stuff almost everyday from Monday to Today.

Mon, met up with the China students, too late for medical check-up so just brought them to walk around, bring them to their respective houses, show them the travel route. etc..

Tues, met them early in the morning to go to Raffles Hospital for their medical checkup. After that brought them shopping around bugis junction, went to tampines to help them change something. In the evening I went for choir.

Wed, finally can rest..

Thurs, went to Raffles Hospital to collect their medical results, went back to school hoping to find them, but they went home. So went to check with Jimmy Yeo about some documents.

Friday, went back to school to arrange date and time to make student passes. Also brought them around different offices in TP to settle some of their documents. Went library to check on bank requirements and chatted for a while there.

Sat, today. Met them at 7.30 am to go to ICA to do student pass. They reached at around 8 a.m. One of them didn't bring along an important embarkment card, so went back to take. Reached ICA at about 9 am, the queue was very long. After everything, realized that have to wait till next tues to collect the student pass. Then called webber(another china student), he just collected his medical report and on his way to ICA. So Zhang Qi and Yi lian went home first. Me and cheryl waited for Webber. After settling it, realized that Webber can only collect his pass next thurs. Different from the other two. Headache.. However, he's ok with collecting himself. Unfortunately, can only pay by Nets or Cashcard, which he doesn't have. Suggested him to buy a cashcard, and ask one of the lecturer to top up for him. ( will see back, maybe i've to go down with him another time afterall)

Then in the evening went for Grandpa's birthday celebration at his place. Felt very distant and unfamiliar with my relatives, not good man,,,

Argh. the mentorship thingy for the new china freshmen is so tiring sobz sobz. The lecturer really misuse the word, felt a bit cheated, but guess I can't back out. It is really just "Tour guide" and their agent for all their important documents: Health checkup, Student pass, Ezlink card and POSB bank account.

Yesterday went into the lt 17 for the briefing shocked. Mr Daniel Yeow was talking about the checkup and etc thingy and I was like "huh?! isn't it suppose to be mentoring?". I only know Cheryl there, she was also quite shocked haha. Like must do so many things one. Somemore it's a 2 days thingy. So long.

Cheryl and I took a group of 3 china students who are going to take LOM. They are quiet and we are also quiet type. haha But we managed to interact later la. First stop, went to Raffles Clinic at DBS, Tamp to check out the service. They don't have X-ray, and somemore must wait 3-4 days for results, and they said they had too many appointments for the day liaoz. No choice, then I called Raffles Hospital to check. Not good either. The receptionist said: " Can la, you can come down. But we have 80 patients in queue now, are we're closing at 5.30 sharp" It was about 4 something then. The.... just tell me cannot take in anymore mah. But not bad la, just nid to wait 1 day for the result. So I'm bringing the China guys there for checkup today.

Yesterday walked till my leg pain, till i nearly drop-out. keep walking and walking. and I was sick yesterday, serious sorethroat, then still have to talk and talk and talk. We bring them to buy the things they want. They just can't buy at tampinese mall. everything want cheaper(but they are nice guys, so dun blame them, they are tight on budget also). They dun know how to take bus from school to their house, and from their house to school. We have to identify their blocks on the map and try to bring them to their block. Then told them how to walk to sch and what bus to take. blah blah blah. Do till 6 something.

Today meeting them at 9 am at tamp mrt, hope they remember how to go there.. haha

Today's program. 1) Health check-up @ Raffles hospital, 2) Apply for Student pass @ ICA, 3) Apply for Ezlink card(which seems not possible).

I checked out the ICA website, the procedures for foreign student pass changed liao. Now must apply through internet, and must have a few more documents in order to apply online, which i don't think those foreign students have or know about. Working days needed: 3 days. Actually can apply by going there la, but need 5 working weeks, siao ah. The school needs to fill up a form,(which mr Daniel yeow didn't tell us yesterday, if not we would have printed out and complete it yesterday. The briefing was so brief and like "anyhow do one". The instructions by mr yeow mentioned tt just nid to bring 3 documents down and 1 day can get liaoz. Cannot be the ICA website is wrong right.

This is problematic. Without the student pass, ezlink card and bank account cannot be completed. And now, I've to bring them for check-up first to avoid the long afternoon queue, then after that go back to school to complete the neceesary forms. and then go to ICA in Lavendar to apply and wait(actually i can apply online for them in school la) so no choice.

Hope I'll survive today. I just still have to follow up with them ba. since the student pass needs to wait for quite long.

I barely slept. Kept waking up to go to the toilet. Guess I drank too much water while taking medicine and trying to lubricate my sorethroat. Strange, I had cough syrup and 2 flu tablets, of which both are drowsy type, I should be sleeping very soundly.

At 5.30 my bro's alarm clock rang, but my bro didn't wake up. I was woken up instead. He has some important ns stuff at the Padang, for NDP one, he told me he would be confined if he's late for it earlier. Seeing my bro still sleeping like a log in the midst of the noisy alarm, I decided to wake him up. After he woke up, he went to sleep at the sofa again. So I ended up spending 30 min to wake him..

Just took another round of medicine, hope I can sleep for a while later. Saint Seiya Heaven's chapter download still has 1 more hour to completion. Yeah..

Ok, it's about 14 more days to school re-opening and I've not done anything significant to self-secure my internship. Guess probably I'll just let the school allocate me to a company. Guess internship in any company is more or less about the same. It's mainly a matter of the distance to be travelled and type of job. I think it should be mainly office job. Furthermore, I can only do office job. haha.

Actually I've identified a few companies to send my resume to: DHL, FedEx, UPS, Schencher logistics, UTAC and Dell. However, I'm just too lazy to draft out resumes and coverletters for each of these companies. Perhaps I should ask Mrs Gan for help this afternoon, since I'm going to sch for the mentorship thingy.. Yupz, I shall do that, maybe she can help me shorten the troublesome procedures..=]

S'pore student shuts down blog after threat of legal action By Valerie Tan, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE: Blogs, or Web Logs, are electronic replacements for the good old pen-and-paper diary. But the similarities end there.

While a diary can only be read by its author, a blog can be read by anyone anywhere. One Singaporean scholar recently got into hot soup for making allegedly racist comments. Now, Channel NewsAsia found out that another Singaporean blogger, studying in the United States, has had to pull off his blog. The ex-scholar, pursuing his Masters in the States, has shut down his blog after apparently being threatened with legal action.

Lawyers say bloggers need to understand they can be sued for comments in cyberspace. Blogs are popular ways for the internet community to express their thoughts online. But Chen Jiahao, a Singaporean studying in the United States, might have taken it too far. He allegedly criticised the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)'s scholarship system, in his blogs.

The former Public Service Commission scholar is said to have criticised some of its policies requiring scholars to meet certain standards. Chen claimed he was threatened with legal action, in emails from A*STAR's chairman Philip Yeo. But A*Star has not confirmed or denied the incident.

It told Channel NewsAsia that its chairman was away until June 7 and could not give a camera interview. The blog was shut down last month. In its place is a note from Chen, under his blog name of AcidFlask, apologizing for making remarks "which Mr Yeo felt were defamatory to him and A*Star". He also promised not to mention the agency or Mr Yeo by name again at the website.

Lawyers say bloggers need to be aware that they need to be responsible for what they say online. "I think that if the writings in the blog were indeed defamatory, then the person who has been defamed can actually take legal action against the blogger. In other words, he can be sued," said Gilbert Leong, a partner at Rodyk & Davidson. - CNA/ir

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Wow, we can be sued for defaming comments on our own blog, which might inhibit people from putting what they strongly feel about certain stuff in their blog. What if the comments hold some truth in it. You know, you u felt strongly about something, especially something bad, you tend to write it a bit more extremely, with extreme opinions, sometimes even with tiny tiny trace of distortion. This is human behavior, self-serving bias. Well I don't know much about civil laws, perhaps the contents in the 2 blogs mentioned in the news are really too extreme. I guess, if they were to do a serious investigation of all the blogs. Many bloggers would be sued.

However, on the other hand, it's true that we have to be responsible for our speech, especially when blogs are becoming so popular la, with potentially high frequency of public access. If people utter untrue statement that affect other thing adversely, that other thing will suffer innocently. Without proper protection, blog might be misuse for evil action with the intention to malign the victims.

All in all, some level of legal liability for blog is appropriate, but human rights and freedom of speech must be taken into considerations too. There's must be a balance between legal intervention and people's liberty to express their heartfelt opinions in their very own, personal blog. Guess there might be a need to define the red line between defaming and criticizing. Bloggers should also be responsible enough to use blog for the right intention, and not for their selfish and harmful motives. This is to maintain the integrity of blog culture..

Haha, first breakthrough to the regulation of my biological clock. Finally woke up early in the morning since the past 1 month. Actually not really that successful though. Fell asleep at about 1 a.m after having 2 flu tablets(drowsy type), and for no apparent reason, woke up at 5 a.m suddenly.. Tried to go back to sleep after that, but don't seem to be able.. So might as well wake up.. Hopefully I'll be tired enuff tonight to sleep b4 12. Ops.. no today.. perhaps sleep at 12.30.. hehe got to watch Saint Seiya Hades Chapter Sanctuary final espisode at 12.. I'm not going to miss it man.. haha the most exciting part.. =P

An andes mosquito died horribly after sucking my blood. haha.. Saw the mosquito coming near my body and then disappeared.. then it appeared again within my sightline.. I reckoned it just sucked my blood. It seems to get too full from my blood, that its movement became retarded. I smacked it flat at the sofa.. Yucks, it's full of blood. My finger and sofa both gotten a smear of blood.. Hopefully that mosquito was not a degue-infected one..

Going to parkway later to meet my poly frens, for lunch and ktv.. hehe quite long never go KBox liao.. I can sing to my delight.. haha Perhaps I shall go there earlier to explore parkway parade a bit by myself.. think I've not been there for 10 years already. wow..

Hee, a good morning habit is to watch news.. I go watch channel news asia now=] byez..

School is going to start soon, hee 20 more days, Yeah, so happy.. I know you must be thinking that I'm weird.. Seriously, I rather be in school than slacking at home. At least I can get meaningful for life in school. Furthermore, each day in school is enriching..

So what have I been doing for the past few days? I had been bothered by everything about network marketing, seriously. Have been reading forums about network marketing, particularly DW(Dolphin Warrior, which just doesn't admit that it is a networking marketing firm. They call them a 3-level marketing firm, something like that. Hello, it's a network marketing or MLM firm loh, just that they called it a nicer name to avoid association with the notorious mlm term)

Why am I looking at DW? My best fren joined this firm. I don't know what they said to him or how they impress my fren. My friend just believe that they are so good, that he can really strike rich there. They claim "in the future, all household will own a magnetic mattrass (which costs, $2.4K, and without official scientific evidence, heard about the electrostatic or magnetic therapy provided by some clinic, which was on the news recently? Based on scientific research and testing, that product does not have significant medical benefits. It was reported that perceived benefits felt were largely psychological. I hope that the magnetic bed will not be something similar to it. Perhaps, the experts should start to research on this too. Come on, I don't think any smart, educated consumer would want to pay $2.4 K for just psychological benefits rite.. Anyway, heard that their cost price is only abt $300-500 (might be lower) Isn't that profiteering? For a company with very low overhead costs, literally no marketing effort. Just commission, so that the agents can draw commissions at many levels.

And from various sources of readings, seems like they practice hard-selling, which is like a flaw network marketing concepts. The most powerful weapon in MLM is word-of-mouth publicity, which is one of the most effective promotional tools. It is essentially soft-selling, through reccomendations to friends and relatives, because the agents are using the products and believe that they are really good. This soft-selling essence is supported by top mlm firms in American and European countries. From the forums, it was said that DW and some other mlm firms in singapore teach their agents hard-selling skills. E.g Don't let customer have time to consider buying, pressure presentation to close deal during the first meeting with prospect. They even teach them to kneel to beg prospect to buy as desperate measure..many more lah...

According to Direct Selling Association of Singapore(DSAS) regulation, customers should be given 7 days cooling period to allow customer to consider if they wanna buy, that means no pressure tactics to close sales. Apparently, DW and some others are not registered under DSAS.. Isn't this questionable? Well the above with consumer as the stakeholder.

Right now, from the perspective of the agents themselves(NOT the top mlmers/Boss). I believe the mlm firms are so enthusiatic to recruits so many people because they are the firm's money-trees. I think the agents are something like their customers. The agents will sell to their relatives, family and friends, which they are draw commission. Then the person who recruit the agents, the recruiters can also draw commission from the agents sales, i think for some firm, the recruiter actually draw higher commission than the agents, who painstakingly sell the product.. Confusing huh?.. Ofcourse the residual profit, which is still a very high profit margin goes to the bosses of the firm.

Especially for products that are only sold one, inparishable products. The magnetic beds do not need to be replenished. Thus each relatives, friends will only buy from you once, that's all. Furthermore, probably each family will only buy one(unlikely they will buy 2 in the family, due to the exorbitant price) furthermore, it is unlikely that all your friends will buy from you.. about 30-40% will buy, that is if you're lucky to have supportive and rich network of people you know. So what happen if you are exhausted of prospects that will buy from you. Recruit more people so that you can draw their commission? most probably.

My fren couldn't sell the product, guess what the firm suggested? They asked my fren to put in money into the company. My fren don't wanna tell me the details. From what I read, seems that to buy the product themselves so that they can earn enough points to promote. Means buy promotions la, which is not compensated by salaries, just that they can draw higher commission. So what happens if still cannot sell?

Actually for my fren's firm, you need to maintain the sales level or what they call point value in order to stay at that position level. If you don't, your downlines who sell more than you will climb over you and you get demoted. Means that you cannot draw commission from the ones you recruited. So are you going to pump in more money into the firms? Probably the mlmers call it investment ba.. I call it willingly letting the firm suck you dry... Anyway, seems like my fren is putting in all his savings, I'm really worried for him. I seriously hope that he won't be conned or rather, no be influenced to put in more money.. It's like gambling, you keep thinking that you'll earn back the money some time, some day, just need to continue gambling ("investing" more money).. so what's the outcome? You continue losing and ended up losing more money, worst, you borrowed alot alot of money for the "investment" and ended up in heavy debts.. I hope that my fren will realised the Cons and lopeholes soon..

I'm not saying that all networking marketing is bad. Just that in Singapore, there are very few ethical network marketing firms. Many of them are breakaways from the existing network marketing firm..break and break and break, till mlm firms are so saturated. Many of the bosses do not really have very long experience in professional distribution and selling, many of them are young and main concern is profit.

Network marketing is a relatively modern and good concept, however mismanagement or misuse will cause alot of problems, especially socail and community problems. DW some other firms like NTI has appeared on newspapers a few times for recruting young, gullible, easily impressionable by money opportunities and then influence them negatively. Some of them condemn education and stress than education is not important.. according to some news articles. Some of those less ethical firms really exploit the concept to their benefits, from what I see...

Companies like NuSkin does not have negative feedback from the agents or people. It's a world-wide company, owns the product and product research and development, produce their product, charge resonable price. etc..

If you wanna do network marketing, be sure to find a good firm. A bad mlm firm will definately harm you more than it benefit you.....