Poverty

It's been awhile since I've experience what used to be a regularity: bank account going below the minimum to be withdrawn ($20) and wallet having only $2...

So I went to the back and couldn't afford any supper except to buy 3 slices of fruits for $1.80 and I can't even buy a drink to go along with it. Tomorrow's lunch is going to be a challenge but I guess I'll just need to find the money I've hid at various different random places; hopefully I'm as good at find as I am at hiding, even though that'll somehow result in a paradox. 

Ahh, grumpy (hangry) man ranting on and on again...

Real (cruel) world

Yesterday went to meet prof and fellow TAs for the new mod I'm teaching and was taught a real life lesson; I would say it's really a prelude to the working work. 

So five tutors and three of them are year 5 (two of whom have been teaching this mod for the past few sems) while me and this other guy, let's call him L, are year 4s. All of them are DDP and I'm the only single degree tutor; also the prof is a new prof who just got her PhD. 

When I arrived outside the office, Senior (laojiao) A was already with L, so I went to them and self-introduced myself before being joined by the other two TAs to enter the office. The seniors also decided to just settle the tutorial slots and office hours there and then, to shorten the balloting process, and so chaos ensued. I was kinda afraid that I'll have little say to protect my two-day work week, and indeed the three seniors were vehement in their choices. But good thing this life lesson doesn't come at a cost to me: A was super critical of everything L was saying, from why he was teaching even though he's on a local exchange, to why he was given three slots by the prof while the rest of us two. And so with the excuse of scheduling issue, L's initial plan to conduct three consecutive classes was butchered up beyond recognition (made worse by me in my bid to have nicer schedule instead of having to come back for one lesson on Wednesday), even though he's lucky I bargained with him with a proposal that'll keep his 3-slots arrangement with Prof. 

And after the fiasco, I found out the main reason behind the whole episode between L and A: L ignored A when A initiated a conversation outside the office prior to my arrival; and A also found out that L emailed Prof privately to negotiate the 3-slot arrangement while the rest of us were discussing other issues on a common thread. 

明人不做暗事

And I guess it's always nice/beneficial to be humble and friendly, especially when you're dealing with people who are (or think they are) superior (for a lack of better word). 

People, 过来!

For starter, the title is really because I'm missing Lucio and the Brazil days but it kinda fits too! 

I must say I really like the starry ceiling on Emirates and other overnight flights I've been on. Reducing claustrophobia is one thing, a very relaxing mood is another...

First thing after landing is to find my princess haha 

And then my drug 

Next day was meeting this sexy and cute gang of 7 (as well as meeting Jiejing's plus one for the first time, and also invited other classmates to join us, amongst them Hongchew, Jingyang, and Hans turned up! Nice seeing everyone again) 

Next day was Xmas countdown with the Bball bros, who still all acted like kids, while having no problem making friends with the older uncles sitting at the table beside. 老少通吃

And talking bout 吃, this is what happens at Grace's house every Xmas and CNY with the VJ babes and hunks. Food. And also the gambling that's not shown. But this time round we changed to playing non-poker card games. Issit trying to go back to teenage days? Also, it feels good being one of the younger ones in a group again. Haha! 

And finally some Me-time with my real princess. And this is in celebration of the fantastic results Ms Architect had, beating Mr Economist for the first time and hopefully not too many more times to come

And an impromptu meet-up with the A5 people that started with a "meet up soon" in the afternoon. More people have graduated in this photo than not. We're really going into the next stage of life but some things just don't change...

Somehow manage to drag my ass up early next morning (this jet lag took really long to recover) to head down ALL THE WAY to Hougang sports hall to watch Singapore's Invitationals for Handball. The Japanese were really sick. And typing this amidst IHG season makes my fire within heat up 

Headed down to Haji lane after for Ms Blur to get some photos for her work and happen to take the Downtown Line Part 2 on the inauguration day! Also, bumped into the Japanese handballers haha. 

Next day was camping in the library with Ms Blur to research on thesis topic before dance and all the other training starts. Kinda miss this December life... Wish I had time for more of this! 

Then YTF at Deck for three consecutive day! Also, met my thesis Prof for the first time in 2.5 months and thesis proposal(s) is/are looking promising! 

And a break from the library and basketball court, a meal with Junyang and Kangster to welcome Mr Philosoher back from Europe (and going back there again real soon). Still impress you didn't fail to disappoint year on year when you come back without a skirt on 

Hipsters continued hipping from Paulista to Dakota and really found a gem in this part of Singapore. I'll definitely be back. And nice seeing everyone adapting well to this weather back at home! Oh wait, it's the same climate. See you guys on court during IHG, haha 

New Year's Eve steamboat at Xue Er's place with the usual gang less Mayer. A quiet affair which isn't exactly a bad thing but most of the noise was made by her brother Rooney, who really tested my resolve to be a parent HAHAHA. Then fireworks and movie and a sleepy me

New year, Old us 

1st Jan meet up with the wine and dine people reminiscing our Senso and secondary school days and swopping alcohols with teh-o and milo. And the photo on top is already 3 years old! Time really flies by... I really hope our trip together will happen too!!! 

Next day's grandma birthday celebration and a rehearsal for CNY which is to be held at my place this year round. Apart from the brief moment of cake cutting, everyone and every corner of the house is split up into small groups of people surrounding mahjong tables, some with food in the mouth, others with tiles in the hand. It's gonna be more chaotic come February. In other note, look at my grumpy grandma getting tired of this cake cutting shit haha. I hope deep down she'll appreciate the gathering and many generations of kids she's made possible... I guess perhaps when one reaches that age and with many physical issues beyond our control, it isn't that joyous celebrating adding that one additional candle anymore, though victorious nonetheless. 

On a happier note, I rushed back for this: sister's homemade tiramisu; setting the benchmark for a good tiramisu since the first bite I had years back. And good thing no one got to it before me hehe 

And cute little mini cupcakes that my photo made bigger. Oliver had a hand in this, literally, by making the icing top using pastry moulds. Nice but nothing beats tiramisu! 

Rushed over to Sirat to meet this gang, no alcohol (except the moscato I brought over) for the first Xmas. Instead, this:

And evidently, Group B wasn't the last!!! Would have been a surprise if you didn't know both Yicheng and Weehoe don't play FIFA, whereas I have Macus on my side. Apparently next one is a real-life basketball 2-on-2, I really hope Macus will tank as usual haha

And after the festive season, it's back to library...

And court. And here we have Sia-ge "warming up" for basketball training lol 

Friday night was spent with the YCKPS bros less Darren (but Ken joined at the end). Everyone's everywhere: Brazil, Korea, HK/China, Taiwan, Bangkok and everyone's also busy working almost everyday, so it's really heartening to see everyone coming down together (though we live really near each other, except Darren who moved recently). Also, Laoda is finally getting married and even getting his new house before that; marking down my calendar, bro! And also also, teh-o and milo signifying laoda's stepping into the big 3-'0' 

Saturday morning's spent playing friendly with the hall Laojiao alumni, who I will be joining next year. Match wasn't as important as for us to find out our best formation, but even more to see the working people actually having a life. That was heartening. Haha

And then finally we see some alcohol. Wine Connection with the FHAG Butter Boys less Ah neh and Nic Ng; this group can't seem to get away with alcohol no matter how hard we try. And since Tham is used to entertaining clients and colleagues while banker Gab needs to start rehearsing for his banker life, beer and hard liquor were traded for Red and White Wine, and this place is really cheap while offering reasonably good quality wine! Also, things we discuss really vindicated our exit from the young, wild, and free days... Still, happy that everyone's doing pretty well in life! Hope we'll get to suffer together again the following ICT lol

And just before school started on the very last day of the vacation, met up with these people whom I "parted ways" with almost exactly a year ago. Visited the Swedish Fika Cafe for Fika to reminisce the Swedish days and spent some time lamenting how the Swedish food in the Singapore cafe isn't exactly what we had in Sweden (I guess everyone and everywhere people goes, this happens)... And I really want an overseas trip with this gang to happen! It'll be the first time we "go overseas" together hahaha 

And even though school started on Monday, we still found time to escape the reality and took Ms Blur out to Orchard for a midnight escapade to watch the Danish Girl (not Dutch Lady! But legit quite a nice show, especially since true story), marking Ms Blur's first "pontang" from Uni life. Lol. Unbelievable! 

And yet another escape on Tuesday. These free time kinda made me decided to drop my Monday lecture so that I can have a long weekend for more me-and-free time. Also, say hi to Bird, who works in Queensway, and whom we went down to that part of Singapore for. (Kidding, went to get shoes, and it was nearby, really. Lol) 

And now, back to the grind!