Superficial bitch.

it's been sometime i did any reflection and review of my soul-searching thoughts and i'm having quite the thing to write it down right now.

Sometimes i just wonder, are cliche conversations really superficial/ stereotypical? if not stereotypical, aren't they conventional. yet, don't we work on a general and simplified assumption because it is there, it is real and it is true?  I mean after all, many research papers and majors (well, for one, sociology thought I do not clearly know the entire subject of itself, and I do apologise if I have totally contradicted your major) focuses on what is stereotypical, what is the norm.

In my major, economics, we study trends we simplify thinks to follow a general graph or a rule. and these rules and understanding complies only because there are general consensus to it. after all, who is there to support what you write is approved either through the masses or a prestigious, well known individual, whom of course is famous because many people agree with him - ultimately a popularity contest. So because

Then comes the social aspect, many people like showing off on new media, thought catalog pages on what they feel, what makes them special unique, outstanding from the rest. but really, look deeper into these "uniqueness" and you would see it's because many people agree that they have that personality is what made it popular in the first place, what is agreeable to the public and so relatable to them. it isn't something special anymore - if everyone wanted to be special, don't you think it becomes a norm to want to feel special? It a demand, a need for attention, a social aspect of human lives to show someone that "hey, look, I am special [too - and i'm like the rest of you] you should establish a relationship with me"

I see many articles about introverts, horoscopes and zodiac, and I came to my own consensus that every part of each personality we are talked to by the article is just well conversed emotions. They're not something special to you, it's just something you feel to an extent and you agree with it. It is after all what is acceptable, specifically in the social aspect, and it is only acceptable because people have that general relation and idea to it. Perhaps what I would applaud the person who wrote such relatable topics so elaborately and conversely, but not that she is anyone unique. If you are so unique as a person, you'll probably be outcasted or condemned. Just look at people who have weird deformities or weird talents, they just kinda rejected as harsh as it sounds. Like the guy in the class who is a nerd or just freaking weird, he is really special you know that? but he is weird right, so you don't wanna talk to him. so are you really that unique? you're just socially accepted because you are just like someone else, perhaps cooler only because you something like someone else better. BUT, after all, what you did was to do what is conventional and made it conventionally "cooler"

thus, perhaps this is one way of looking at this innate inevitable aspect of humans and I like to think to myself this is yet a beauty in itself that we are so damn conventional and relatable. this is what makes us such social creatures and because everyone's talent to be so conventional, it makes us agreeable to live better in harmony and promote ideas to each other to improve on life as a while.

Personal Thoughts Before School Starts

Hey guys, I'm starting to get really sluggish about posting in this space again. Haha.. Oh wells, but I'll write here once in a while when school starts. So three months of holidays are coming to an an end and I would say these three months had been pretty amazing; from hopping onto the plane to UK after an hour's sleep from Zouk to freshmen orientation week (which just happened). I'm just feeling so blessed for these three months of my life.

Here's just a few highlights of this month I would like to remember in this space:

1. Met so many of my old friends, friends that were with me since primary school, secondary and JC. and church! :)

2. Finally celebrated me and my wife's anniversary, for the first time!

3. Went to Arts camp and met so many people and a few closer ones I could talk so well with :)

4. Tried McSpicy for the first time and OMG IT'S GOOD STUFFF!!!! except that it's CRAZILY spicy!?!?!?!?!

5. Went to Korea with a bunch of friends whom could embrace and compromise with each other when living together!

6. a 20-day around Europe trip!

7. Orientation week! Where the bunch of us grew so much closer !! I'm so glad I got my lazy off and went almost everyday! hahahaha 

Sometimes we worry too much about the future that we forget to live in the present. As a typical Singapore student, frantically worrying about next semester and what I'm gonna do after I graduate is something that is always at the back of my head but I'm always reminded by the people around me that today is worth living. That I should remove all these negatives and look forward to what I would love to look forward to.  To remove people who criticise and condemn me for what I cannot do but instead be with people who could encourage me and bring out the best of my potential. I guess that isn't new, and proving these people who say "maybe some people are just not cut out for it" wrong isn't new either. Hee. 

"Two things that prevent us from happiness: living in the past and observing others."

Okay some pictures :)

N2A3 Comeback

Ministry of Food Dessert Yumz

Phew, after months (again!) of planning a meet up, we finally had a really delightful and delectable one last week in the evening; though I really wish we had more time to have a heart to heart session! Oh well, beats not meeting at all :) Well, this bunch of people had been stuck with me through junior college and are still here talking about anything under the sun - our lives, our future, guys and typical girly stuff. They've been the most innocent yet least judgemental friends I have in my life, such an irony! These people are hard to come by and I really appreciate how we can be so open to each other and be so willing to help one another.

I still remember how we had like such awesome talks like "how much we have changed after being in J1 and J2" and stuff like "opinions of each other" that we learn to work on and always tried to motivate one another to do their best. Ahh, I really missed the times we just sat in North Point's japanese food court at the top story talking till 11 plus and always heading back feeling like "man, today was a really good day!" As cliche as this sounds, but despite such differences we have, especially me whose the english speaking one who isn't a fan of Kpop HEH!, we really know how to have a simple yet good time together.

Damn, am I blessed to have you guys :)

Side note, I can't wait to see Poo Er's puppy!

Greenwich Park, England

Painted Hall | Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

I didn't make it a point to frivolously take plenty of photographs in greenwich since I didn't really see a purpose in doing so at that point of time and also probably due to my obsession of playing with Emma. Hehe.

If you're in London or heading there, do make it a point to go to Greenwich located slightly at the outskirts of London. An afternoon's worth of time would be most certainly sufficient! Do visit Greenwich Park, an enormous and well-known park there. You'll probably see a familiar sight of people laying on the grass field but this time, people of a different race heh! Singaporeans will relate. Also, many squirrels and annoying pigeons looking for homo sapiens in hopes to grab an easy bite. Despite it being a tourist attraction there, there's many quiet places in the park to stroll along and it's just really peaceful and pleasant to enjoy the weather there. 

And for those art enthusiast, you should probably visit Greenwich before heading to museums or Paris. There's really really gorgeous looking pieces here but there isn't really that many! The Painted Hall in  Old Royal Naval College is certainly captivating and alluring to look at. I'm not entirely sure about the periods of art pieces but it does look romanticised in some sense! Truly a darling work of art. If only Singapore had such deep-seated art work and architecture. Aw.

5 Typical Things a Girl would during Finals Week

Hotspot for students during Finals Week

Finals week, also known as hell week to most university students. Long hours and trying to recap of everything that was jammed into our brains for 3 months is certainly not easy. An outlet for stress can be pretty useful during this week of "torture". Ergo, Here are 5 Typical Things a Girl would during Finals Week.

1) Flood any social media platform with thoughts on Finals
"UGH can finals be over now?!" "it's a mental battle of endurance and perseverance" and all that sort of stuff. Usually complaints of how much she hates school and wants to quit on Facebook. Even if it's not on Facebook or twitter, it's bound to be somewhere. New media has enabled her to let it go let it go, can't hold it back anymore, LET IT GO LET IT GO, Turn away and slam the doooor! (adapted from the song FROZEN) Don't be too annoyed with these whiny entries because we, girls, need a listening ear and our best friend is social media.

2) Take lots of selfies
Studying 8-14 hours a day is no joke. It bores our asses off, especially if we're studying alone. We girls find entertainment within ourselves by finding the perfect angle and taking pretty pictures. Most captions would be related to being bored off studying and it is the 100% truth, don't judge hehe.

3) Go all naturale
She wouldn't give two shits about her appearance anymore because studies comes first and you'll see her in her most natural form, be it inner or outer beauty. PMS goes to a whole new level and lack of sleep aggravates any form of visible panda eyes. She would come in her most comfortable outfit to the library and wear the geekiest specs anyone in school has ever seen on her. Perhaps not a torture to look at but not the prettiest version of her to see either. If you can love her during this time of "hell", what I can say is that you really are a true lover.

4) Do online shopping 
It would take a considerable amount of time travelling and going out to shopping malls to get some retail therapy out of academia and that would be too much of an opportunity cost. The next best alternative would be online shopping. Even in lectures and tutorial, she would be scrolling down Asos.com, Zalora or some blogshop, picturing herself in that pretty or slutty dress if she bought it and discussing with her friends if she should be getting it. Of course, why wouldn't she not be doing this during finals week?

5) Create a bucket list of things she wants to do after Finals but never go about doing it
1) Gonna party like no tomorrow 2) Go skydiving (everyone's favourite) 3) Shop til you drop 4) Travel the world and get lost 5) Hang out with all my friends 6) Go exercise and get really fit and hawt 7) Do my hair nice nice the list goes on..

The most probable and doable thing that the female of the human kind would do is number 3, but only after she works for a few months. The rest are just overly excited thrills that would sound cool but usually never happens unless already paid for. So don't get too disappointed if you had planned something with her during finals but it never happened.

YEP!

Miaow {DELAYED}

Inspired by the wallet Andy gave me lol

I made this little feline card for my dear jc friend Jane, which was partially adhoc (haha sorry jane! I got pretty busy since end of June :D) so I decided to whip up a simple belated birthday card for her. Teehee. I'm honestly pretty surprised by the end result of the card. I know self praise is no praise but I really think it turned out superbly adorable! Haha! I'm sorry man but I really do think so :) I feel like selling hand made cards myself! Heh, holidays make you think of such imaginative things to do, alright not exactly ambitious but something new right! Like some little shop to earn a little and do what I like - draw and paint. Hehe. I have been contemplating whether people would actually purchase 'em but oh wells, heck if no one does I'm going to use the cards I made myself! HAHA! Alright look out for this space to see any updates of a new online shoppe! Yeap.

Do check my future stall out. Hehe.

Hi! from Korea

Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, Korea

Hello :) Ugh I'm currently at Korea right now with three other seoulrority sisters but I have yet to upload finish my UK Trip, heh! It's my fourth day out of nine days here and I must say, it's been pretty pleasant, especially the shopping hehehe. I'm super sucked into the shopping spree here because all the clothes are really prettieee and affordable *squeals* Plus, the quality of the material is reasonable! Haha.. enough retail talk! Places I had visited are Dongdaemun (also the location I'm staying at!), Donghae. Ewha, Gangnam and Everland (theme park!). Need to take more pretty pictures <3 UGH MY WHOLE ENTRY CONSISTS OF ME BEING SO BIMBOTIC! Embrace it people, embrace.. Teehee. I feel really blessed :)

Well, hope you guys are having an awesome summer break too! School's starting in August, sigh! Can summer break never end :( 

First Night in London

King's Cross and Piccadilly Square

Didn't make it a point to take many pictures since it was quite a hectic manoeuvre from Edinburgh to London with the hustle and bustle of the crowd. I didn't manage to take a photo with platform 3/4 because my train was at the other terminal, ah well!

I really love broadways but I only managed to catch Les Miserables which was really a last minute thing. Despite the restricted view due to the seat I got, I really enjoyed the whole show. Definitely gonna go watch it again with a better view! If you're planning to watch a broadway, book the tix way way early and you get the best seats and the cheapest price, if not you gonna get them from last minute shops that sell tix that are pretty pricey in my opinion. Also, be sure to know the full story of the broadway before watching else it's get pretty confusing to follow because of the difference between the language usage of the past, and since everything is sung, it can be able hard to follow. Hehe.

The hotel I stayed in was Princess Hotel which was really convenient! A bed and breakfast. It was close to Underground (London's MRT) and easily accessible to amenities. The catch is that it is really small with no lifts and limited movement space. No air conditioning but with the weather in London, you don't exactly need aircon heh! It would be really cozy for one person's stay but with two people, it's already quite a squeeze (unless you opt for a family room). Yea la, but I was only there for two nights so that's all!