WANTED: Caffeine

You know it's time you finished your assignment when you start thinking things like....

Kahlua has caffeine in it, right?

More classic thoughts from Jeannie....

and 2000 words to go.

A Time for QuarterLife Concerns

Today, more than most other days, the question of what to do in life has come up.
I guess it's apt, at twenty, to be asking the questions you do when you are a quarter through your life (rough estimation).
The notion of Love has arisen : does it exist in that 'pure' form that we imagined while we drew the crayon stick figures with the perfect house, perfect lawn, perfect apple tree and perfect dog?
Is there a perfect love or do we just make do? And, of course, the most important question: How do you know?
I think some people at sixty still don't have the answers.
The notion of Work came up too: Do we have to follow this invisible path that states you are hardly ever going to be significant in your lives - that we're about as special as the other 6 billion human beings? It's like being another speck of dust on the face of the Earth - insignificant. Did everyone else feel they were born for something greater?
It's not all that bad, right? Sometimes you just feel so helpless in the whole scheme of things.
I also attended a lecture on Global Poverty today. Not only did it make me feel depressed because I am part of a decadent bourgeoisie that is robbing the rest of the world of their right to live, but it makes you feel that so many people should be doing more than they are (myself included)
So, back to the plan I had before i entered university. Why did i choose arts? Because i had a choice between learning something useful and earning money to donate to other people, or i had the choice of learning what the problems were in the hope I could get down into the business of it and make a difference.
Did i make the right choice? Well, I don't think the distinction was so great, i think i could've done something useful and still tried to save the world. But anyway, I should live up to it, have some guts, take a risk, and do what i said i would. After graduation, work for a while to raise money (by a while i mean a few months), buy a plane ticket to a third world country, and get down and dirty with it.
And love can wait. Love after humanity. =)

~completely rambled, i'm so sorry~

Strike Two

The next dreaded reply arrived - amidst National Night madness and 2 momma-sized antibiotic pills a day- and I think i am getting better at decoding these things.

Thank you for your interest in Bain & Company and for taking the time to submit an application.

With your credentials, you really shouldn't have bothered. All you achieved was giving us x hours more work.

We have received a large number of high quality applications for our graduate program. As a result a decision between well-qualified candidates has been based on relatively small differences in qualifications and experience.

Some of them were heaps better. Not yours.

After very careful consideration, I am writing to advise that we will not be proceeding with your application.

We tossed yours in the bin as soon as we saw you were an Arts student/ non-PR/ undergraduate [replace appropriately]

Unfortunately our process does not support providing further feedback at this level.

Couldn't really give a rat's ass.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Bain and wish you the best of luck for the future.

Haha! Hope you take this shit to our competitors!

What? Bitter? Me? No way... i'll just load myself up on antibiotics! Which also means no drinking while i'm running the party. *sigh* Life likes to challenge me.

Interesting to see where this leads

The Gambian president has claimed that he's found a cure for AIDS - brought to him by his ancestors in a dream. Bringing all my arts training to the fore, I think this issue, as hoax-like as it seems, is actually worth following. Some patients have been taking his herbal concoction for a number of weeks and they claim that they feel stronger and, some go as far as to say, healed. But "experts" are wary, saying that the president has no formal medical training and therefore he is merely giving AIDS sufferers false hope.
What could come of this?

• if indeed he's stumbled upon the cure, the drug companies won't be very happy. Millions in anti-retroviral drugs to be lost. But millions in his cure to be made, for whoever gets the rights to the formula.
• a cure for AIDS would be awesome
• it would scoff the 'professional' medical community. A cure came to him in a dream -i'd rethink my superstitions.
• if the concoction has only functioned as a placebo and has already made AIDS sufferers feel stronger than they have in months, perhaps the disease is all about mind over matter

My prediction is that this story will just ebb and die with the rest of them. In my espionage-induced imagination, maybe the cure is real, and the drug companies will band together to remove this new threat to their livelihoods (think The Constant Gardener) or maybe it will justify this South African professor in saying:

"For a country's leader to come up with such an outlandish conclusion is not
only irresponsible, but also very dangerous, and he should be reprimanded and
stopped from proclaiming such nonsense,"

*sigh* it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't (react to the alarming HIV infection rate). My support's with the Gambian prime minister... just hope that he hasn't just made up the whole deal and paid lots of people to authenticate it.

But assuming that he's not, and that profit is put above human lives (as indubitably has occurred before), a brilliant quote:

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles
and misguided men.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Really people, all we need is love.

a bout of eeyoreness

Is it just one of those things that i go through ever so often?
As i sit here alone sipping on my Vodka, Lemon, Cointreau, Cranberry and James Blunt chooses to play on my ipod, i realise that i am not happy.
Nothing's really pissed me off in the past few days. I am just more attuned to things that make me sad. No, not even laksa could stave off the sadness.
I dunno what's wrong. Just be nice to me in the next few days, ok? Maybe i'm over thinking again. How apt - the song playing now is Lifehouse, and he says Take me Away...

Reeeeee..... jected

Dear Jeannie

Thank you for your recent letter of application for a position with The Boston Consulting Group.

As you may be aware, we have received an overwhelming number of applications for our graduate recruiting program. We have carefully considered your abilities, experience and fit with our requirements and while we were impressed with your application, we have decided not to proceed further.

We appreciate your interest in our firm and wish you all the very best in your search for a challenging position.

Wahsai, first job rejection ever. First of many you think? BCG still sounds like a great place to work. Am a little consoled that Regine mentioned they only narrow the hundeeds of applications to 50 for interviews. Can't really compete with the Eng, Com, and double degree students.

It was worth a shot. At least I'll always have my backup


Now i really want my laksa king. =)

Need i convince you about dinner too?

*Phew*
Just submitted job application number 3. Have also written scholarship-convincing letter. I'm getting pretty good at this letter writing thing. Blow smoke up my own ass. It's hard doing that 'cos everyone knows I'm the humblest person in the world. But for a job, Yarh, I can do it. It's hard to talk about me, me, me, but if they want to....

Anyhow, all this applying business means I need motivation.Does it look yummy? Curry laksa? Laksa King on Friday night ok? 'Cos hot stuff is good when it's cold. And 'cos otherwise i'll spend another sad Friday night home alone.
On to next job application. *sigh* and the constantly asked question in final year - So what are you going to do next?

A Week in Review - Midsummer Night's Great Ocean Moomba Adventure!

Wah.. i've been slacking off my blog for a week. But it's been a busy week, i'll console myself with that.
The first half of the week was rather boring, but come Thursday and I was itching to go out. Thank goodness Tas makes a ready activity partner (that sounds so code word for date, but i assure you it's not... not on my part, anyway). So, went to watch A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Been meaning to watch it since first year and finally have 2 years later. Better late than never? Chose the coldest day of the week but it was still really good and funny! Better than i expected really. It just so happened that I was there with Tas the somewhat Anti-Christ and we saw the Mountain District Christian School bus parked right outside. Oh dear. haha.. I must commend his control and say that he didn't cause too much of a ruckus apart from shouting God doesn't exist! a couple of times. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but it's Tas after all. They didn't let us snap pictures, but it really was a good performance if anyone still wants to catch it. About a week left in this year's run or catch it again next year.

Friday was a sad stay at home night but Saturday i went to the Great Ocean Road... finally! Sheanee randomly said on Friday that she was going and there happened to be a spot in the car so i said why not... i should really go there in my final year anyway. and yay! It was a lot of sleeping in the car for the most part but the scenery there really is worth it.
We drove about 5 hours to see 8 rocks in the middle of the sea. But, i think the pictures are gorgeous and in any case, i got to do my first hook turn in Melbourne that day too. So it's all good!

some random stop we made.. it's.. the first one?
i found the great ocean road!
view from our lunch spot.. pretty hor? but lots of sand in our fish and chips!
Lunch time - HUGE serving of chips

Cape Patten Lookout
Our trust steed - the first one, AN07JO
The twelve apostles - except there are only 8 that i could count. It's not hazy, but the sun's too bright in the photo
i don't know the names of these places, but how insanely beautiful is it? The photo doesn't do the place justice...
Silly shots on Jeannie's camera - thanks Sheanee's friend. =)
The Arches - just looks so purh-dee...
crazy but nice lady who helped us take picture.. and yes it's a steep drop from where she's precariously balanced
London Bridge is falling down.. soon! this is called London Bridge

Sunday was a great day in IH sport. What was meant to be half an hour after brunch turned out to be a 3 hour affair when i watched IH knock out Trinity in men's (+2 girls) volleyball! muahaha! Farking jester had nothing to say then. [in the words of Calvin and Hobbes] *PppPPBbbBtTtTt!!* It was good though, i think everyone had a good time cheering and, if nothing else, watching the Trinity team get more and more frustrated. Plus our team put up an awesome fight. Good matches to watch! (Finals next week!) Sunday night was Moomba night! Armed with camera to capture the fireworks, I made my way there with Ashley and met up with the ex-IHers (they're ex now!) We got there just in time to hear someone say The fireworks got cancelled cos of bad weather. Bah! It was fun just walking around though. See the many ways to rip off silly people, doting parents and egotistical boyfriends. All in all a full week. *phew* back to mundane life

Chap Goh Meh - iH Style

Whee! My first house party! sort of...
It started out with Grace saying we should do something for Chap Goh Meh - mee g lou sang to be precise. Well, since we can't get the real thing, right?
We spent about 40 minutes preparing everything, our "lou sang" of Mi g, fried egg, luncheon meat, carrots and ... nachos. A crowd of mostly Malaysians and our random non-Chinese Evan came along and we all stood around my newly cleaned kitchen table to lou (or mix for the unacquainted) our strange amalgamation of ingredients. [oh, special mention, just before that, kenny, pat and allen having itchy fingers as they do managed to fix my wardrobe! But the shower's still leaking.]
There would be pictures of us mixing, but all I have is this damn long video of what is mostly people's backs (the camera having been mounted onto the fridge). Anyhow, many random conversations later, we have a little guest who decides to gatecrash.

this spider is really on the ceiling, but i forgot to rotate the picture

And i find out that there are arachnophobes around us. Most notably Evan. Yes, that scream was classic.
Brownie points to Aaron for doing the gallant thing and catching and subsequently throwing the spider in the courtyard. However, as we all found out, sympathy seems to do the trick much better.
*sigh* and i thought you were in, mate.
In the end, it was probably the most fun i've had on chap goh meh.
Grateful:

• that there were people around when that large spider decided to rear its head
• that i have good friends to celebrate with
• that Joe bought mi g
• that i bought random snacks and juice
  
• that at least some of us learned that the oranges are thrown by GIRLS, and the boys are meant to RECEIVE them. Right, Eddie?

p.s: if aaron, ck, veron and i end up having stomach trouble tomorrow, at least we can take the pressure off by blaming it instead on our Gastronomic Adventures on Sydney Road! or, as Tas and Ryles choose to call it... Diarrhoea Tonight!
~i just diarrhoead in your arms tonight.....~
p.p.s: we tried lots of random food at the Brunswick Street Festival - stuff like borek and gombele (?) Something like that.. all really yummy though! good day! back to the books though.

Farking Apartment Armageddon

AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
FARK FARK FARK FARK FARK
my apartment's falling apart! and the farkers don't want to fix it.
The shower is dripping - and i can hear the bloody drip drip drip in my bed
The sliding door of my wardrobe just got stuck - so i can't get to half my clothes
The air cond still doesn't work. STILL!
The bloody toilet flush won't stop flushing unless i jiggle with it.
The coffee table still has a broken rack.
The wall light won't farking work.
The TV has shit reception. And it's midget sized anyway.
The freezer door won't close cos it's iced over.
Fark fark FARK!
It's times like these you rely very heavily on waning patience.
I stress the WANING.
and i pay $454 a week for what?

The year Commenced!

Day 3 of birthday celebration!
Isn't it a coincidence that there's a formal dinner the day after my birthday?
i'm pretty sure iH just wanted to acknowledge how great i am by throwing me a party, but calling it Jeannie's Dinner would be too blatant, so they called it commencement instead.
Haha... Ego's aside, it was a really fun night. The iH-ers together, booze, and me not running the party! Ended up sitting on High Table - free flow wine! Which meant Jeannie had a good 3 glasses in the course of 2 hours. (that's a lot for me, ok? somemore had to make decent conversation with tutors) Anyway, won't bore you with details. The food was yummy
and proceeding to the pub after was great fun! Lots of ex-iHers that i haven't seen in a while - Buckley, Sally, Chingy! All good =) And, the band still plays the same old songs ...
Lots of pix from the night!

1/1 of our Japanese students in iH. What the heck?!?! Japan National Night man! (p.s: i was NOT stepping on his foot despite the anguished expression)
Naomi - my favourite fresher! (i know we're not supposed to have faves.. but what the heck)
Nelson and I in royal blue. Trad all the way!
Girly shot! Me, Brittany, Heenal and Jinitha
I'm sorry Damien, I jumped your brother. Haha. And he turns all red too.
More freshers - they're everywhere! The Chinese dude on my left won the Fucking Joe Fucking Zhang Fucking Award Fuck! His comment upon receiving it : What the Fuck!??!
American Joe from my O-week group. He has terrible fashion sense but is a real nice guy =)
Just 'cos i think Andreas on the far right is cute. Like a Spanish football player. Really!
More traditional baju - i'm pretty sure Su looks so gorgeous with her new hairstyle
Me-as-Lamppost picture. Luckily Rahul jumped in.
Seniors only picture - aren't we snobs?
The new Malaysia-China gang. So cute cute hor?
Lou ALWAYS looks hot. *sigh* jealousnya
Frances (a.k.a Fraces) a little birdy told me Rahul and her ONS! or on the way lah.
Afromen picture! Nish (in the middle) is our Dimmy 2007. Hot favourite for Bootyshaker too
Poh Sheanee! F4! Hamtaro!
Pat Tan and Me - midgets united!
Nat Tan and me! Cam-Whoring with the Tan family

At Puggs:

*Ahem* *Ahem* 'Nuff said...
Brush with fame - Me and Jack Bla.. i mean Rory
Some people just can't let go of iH. Brenton, My Love, and i.
Look which couple i bumped into!

All in all, i think everyone had a good time. =)
Sorry for overdoing the photos, but i figure they're just great to look at! Catching up on the 1 week of no photo taking in O week (cos too busy stressing)

Turning Twenty

It was a great birthday!
I haven't quite recovered from all the O-week madness so i guess my body didn't have a routine to be thrown out of.
What have i been up to?
Monday night I felt like going out (and basically a break from IH) so ended up spontaneously going to Bennett's Lane Jazz Club. Kind of isolated and the musicians talked like they were on some kind of speed (or from another planet, same difference) but the music was mostly good. No complaints about the chivalrous company either!

Tuesday Night: What was touted as Games Night after Oppie's Floor Supper was revealed as a grand master plan for Jeannie's Surprise Party. I guess i expected Kai to bring CC and Ken and Izy over 'cos i DID live with them for a year. What i didn't expect was the number of people that eventually arrived.

first flow of people whom i thought was it. before the cake and like 20 other people arrived! p.s: already v touched at this point.

random people shots - wish i'd taken another proper photo... but i was busy getting hugs!

I was very touched by my O-weekers and my O-week group (yes, the freshers) who not only came to the forgotten side that is Avenue to wish me at midnight, but also took the trouble to get me presents! So Shweeeet! I really do love them even though all i could manage was the gigantic grin plastered on my face. Tears were honestly somewhere behind it all.

genuine surprise, really! Brunetti's cake which Dam-o chose! =) thank you to whoever paid!

For some untold reason, I got a massive amount of pigs this birthday. Thanks to the O-weekers who will never let me forget my name - Jeannie Pig. 5 different piggy presents: earrings, a cushion, a clock, a photo frame and piggy mugs. *OTT guys* And CC got me the Piglet too. Apart from that, my Stella friends got me Kenzo perfume while Damien, Kee and 24 got me Morgan perfume.

(-_-") there's a message to be gotten from it all. i am a SmeLLy Pig.
A special thank you to Ck, Veron and Jason who hosted my surprise party in their apartment. Thanks for letting me mess it up, make noise in it, herd about 40 people inside and also for making you sleep later at my expense. Big *HuGz*! if it's any consolation, i'll lend you my sugar, i AM your neighbour.

Well, they all left at 3.00 am. Which is perfect timing for my 9 am class! I did attend all my lectures and tutes though, which i am supremely proud of.

Birthday dinner was a place i've wanted to try out for a while - Bimbo's on Brunswick Street. $4 pizzas baby! And really yummy ones too! Plus chocolate pizzas. Yum yum! Noone in the group complained about the slight squishiness (it's hard to find seats in a pub) cos the pizzas made up for it. So i can definitely foresee going back there! didn't take any photos of the pizzas - No! Warrants another trip to photograph the salmon pizza and Blonde Bimbo's Deluxe Ale! Anyway, there were like 16 of us.. Thanks for coming! Extra special mention to Kee Win for calling from Malaysia - while at work! Miss you lots! big *HuGz*We forgot to take a nice group photo - but it was strange enough taking photos around all those after office people. And reading the menu was a challenge in itself cos it was sort of dark there. We stood out a mile - the only Asians in the joint squinting over a menu using our phones to illuminate the words.

The plan was to go to San Churro for the best chocolate ever but everyone wanted to head to the night market cos it was the last night so i obligingly followed. It was, as Eddie loves to say, an IH reunion cos we kept bumping into IHers past and present everywhere we went. First time i didn't spend any money on food but ended up with a cigarette burn on my hand [stupid bitch! another reason to hate smokers! if anything, you could've at least held it more carefully], a plastic ring that cost me laundry money and a $2.50 kimono as a birthday present. [thanks kenny] Random, but awesome!

Finally, poker night at the really beautiful Verve 20 -01. Makes me jealous i didn't move out!
I have to get ready for Commencement Dinner soon. Free booze at high table = 2nd round of birthday celebrations = it's time to get WaStEd!!
but i'll be good, i promise.

Love to all the world and thank you for a wonderful 20th birthday! I really appreciate every single well wish i had and the presents are an added bonus. Growing older is fine with me if i can feel this loved. =)

and yes, i'll drink to that