My London Nightmare (Part 1)

Most of you, my friends out there, might just see the glamorous side of my study trip to London. Not many of you know what has happen to me here for the past six months or so. This post will be more like a whining session. But I really need to have a channel to pour out my woes.

Since the start of my studies, in the first week of school, my nightmares begin. I got to find out that I was not intended to be admitted directly into year 2 when I requested for my time-table from the student office. After speaking to the administrative personnel in the student office, they told me that the issue will be clarified. Fear sets in! On my part, I had make sure that all the correspondence between UCAS (a body that deals with applications to UK universities) and me or my university and me states that I am accepted into the college as a year 2 student. How come now they are not aware that I am a year 2 student ??? I did not get reply about my status actively from the student office. I had to bug them everyday about this issue. Finally, I was referred to my admission tutor.

My admission tutor told me that he intended to admit me into year 1 instead of year 2 as I had requested. My direct entry was overlooked. He further explained to me that with my Diploma certification and results, I am qualified to be admitted into the college as a year 1 student without any doubt, but to be in year 2 directly, I might struggle with my course work. *damn !!! I feel so cheated coming here !!! I had turn down other reputable universities that also offer me direct entry to be in your college* He even specifically mentioned that I might not do well in modules like physical biochemistry and protein studies. I insisted that the college honour their offer and I got what I want and deserve eventually. But the talk with my admission tutor had made me feel uneasy and insecured. I started to get worried if I am able to cope with my course work ??? This is one of the best college, I am not that smart all along in my life, those students here all mostly straight As ‘A’ level students. Those Singaporean students, 70% are scholars, PSC, SAFOS, A*STAR and etc…….. *what I want to say is that they are smart people, you get want I mean ???* I thought the college had genuinely deem fit me capable and knowledgeable, that is why my request of direct year 2 entry was granted. Now, all the confidence that I had previously, pack from home in my heart, soul and mind are lost.

Did I make the correct decision of insisting to be in year 2 directly ??? But I had no choice; my family financial status can only allow me to be studying in London for 2 years. It was only that my college had accepted me directly into second year will I be able to afford the study here. There is no way back, no exit, no alternative, but to struggle and make the best out of the situation.

I dare not mentioned this problem to my family yet as I do not want them to get worried. If I had discussed this matter to them, I believed they will advice me to do what I am doing now; to stay, to study hard and pull through it. Breaking the news to them will only make them worried for me and nothing will change. I will let them know about this only when I make it through this academic year. My mother is rather old and not in good health conditions. Thus, I do not want to make her worry. I will face this challenge alone *and some friends here who give me moral supports*

To be continued ………….

Difficult, Painful But Necessary Decision

As you can see, I have not been blogging recently. This is because my dissertation has inculcate the fear of typing into me !!! I am sick of typing !!! You guys should try to generate a 6000 words report one day ……. It is hell !!! It makes you don’t want to touch your keyboard for some time. And also, my exams are coming soon…….. Alright, let me tell you about a pain decision I made a few days ago.

While I was going clearing my school email account, I came across an email about a pharmaceutical company advertising its summer placement. With the rejections of my applications for internship in investment banking in UK, and numerous bad news for my internship applications in Singapore, the pharmaceutical internship looks like a pretty attractive offer.

Some of you all might know that I would very much like to jump out of lab work as there are not much career advancements in lab work. But look at the current situation, I am a year 2 student now, if I do not get an internship this year, this is it, I will be graduating next year. How will employer perceive me when I go for interview in the future? They will definitely ask me why I did not go for summer internship during my last summer vacations. Especially those Singapore employers, they might think that I am not up to the mark or something very wrong with me, which is why I can’t get an internship.

Another factor that pushes me to apply the internship is that, the very first reason to come over to UK to study is to expose myself to the UK research culture *that was the very initial though when I apply to UK university, at that time, I was still thinking of working in lab*. What other better ways to broaden my horizon and to be able to tell the differences of UK and Singapore in a whole wide spectrum other than study, living and WORKING in UK ??? So I have to resign my fate and have submitted my application to the company.

All of you might think what is so hard to make such decision ??? Well, you must understand that I am a homely person. To take up this summer placement means that I will be away from home two years straight. This is tough for me and my mother *who is rather old and dotes me a lot. I am kinda her everything right now in life*. Next is that I miss you guys back home……. I WANNA COME HOME !!! Not to mention the food and COST OF LIVING !!! I have been living like a really simple man here…… no movies, no going to places that need entrance fees, no good food, no dating, no nothing ………. Just keep study, rot in my room and occasional visits to my favourite National Gallery of UK. The only thing I do not miss is Singapore weather.

With so much I miss back home, I have made a difficult, painful but necessary decision, to apply for the summer placement……….. *sob* *sob*……..

*Sob* *Sob*

Six Tooth

History Lesson Number Two

And yes, the second blog is still on introduction, introduction about myself; my nick. Why I call myself six tooth. This is a nick name given by a few friends of mine. To commemorate my daring act; to pull out six teeth at one shot. Yes !!! Six !!! Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five but SIX !!!

You might wonder where on earth do I have so much teeth to spare ??? Four of the six teeth are nuisance; the wisdom teeth. The other one is an adult pre-molar that is blocking the other pre-molar that is coming out, since there is some time left before the next patient comes in, the dentist decides to pull it out for me (just joking). The real reason is to prevent any complication in the future. The last unfortunate tooth to go off is a baby or milk tooth. As I have been taking care of my teeth well, they like me so much until they don’t wanna leave me. So, I have to invite the security guard (in this case, the dentist) to escort the trouble maker (my milk tooth) out. As you can see…… most of my dental problems are caused by my milk teeth (I got a few of them last time, and I get rid of them one by one by one by one ……….).

Therefore, upon hearing that I am going to pluck six teeth out in one go, my cold blooded, inhuman, insane, unfeeling, heartless and evil friends (You all know who you are ..........) burst out laughing……… *ha ha ha …..*(in my mind, i can still hear their evil laughter until today) *POOF* That is the birth of my nick: SIX TOOTH. You might wonder their (my friends) command of English…… since it is plural; shouldn't it be six teeth then? The use of tooth is just to make nick sounds cute (don’t u think so too ???) I am trying to act cute here also la ……..

At some point of time, you might notice I use this nick: milktooth, as well……. That is a nick I give myself between the time I know my milk teeth are giving me a lot of trouble and the horrible idea of parting with six teeth of mine in one day *sob sob*. Because I need a cute and creative nick for myself to register an email account and things in the internet. It takes me some time to come out this unique nick, MILKTOOTH!

In conclusion ………. I am now known as SIX TOOTH (most of the time) or MILKTOOTH (some time).

Six tooth signing off …….. Cheers ………

My First Blog

As I am a systematic, boring and old fashion guy, my first blog will be why I decided to blog. *sounds boring already huh?* *even the title of this blog is old fashion and boring* *can't think of something new and creative* Well, that is how I chose to start ……..

1) Age has caught up. *thanks for this reminder time and again arh Mr. Malcolm Ngiam*

For most of my friends, they have already realized that I can be rather forgetful at times (or most of the time). I can for one moment call my friend name, but then forget what I want to say to them. Or, when talking to them, going through point by point with them, and at the mid of the conversation, forget what is the next point I want to say. It is like seconds ago when I have that thought in my mind.

So, my blog will serve as a storage place of my memories and things that I like but left at the back of my mind collecting dust. *And mind you, it can really be way back my mind with tons of dust.*

2) A place to pen down my thoughts finally

I constantly have thoughts coming to my mind but never pen them down in diaries or what. This will be my diary I suppose. Used to try writing diaries, but I was thinking where to keep them (once they grow in numbers)??? So I stop writing after a few days. It seems to me technology has its advantage now. I am a man with very little secrets; those secrets of mine will still be in the old warehouse (at the back of my mind collecting dust and their final destination: is with me into my grave). The best way to keep a secret is not to leave it in any physical form.

My thoughts are usually about life. My life and life as a whole. Some people termed it as feel. Feelings……. *Visit my blog often, and you will know what is that*

3) Because currently I am miles away from home. A way to keep my family and friends inform about my life.

This reason only arises recently as I am currently studying in London. This is a strong push factor as you can see. That is why I start blogging now and not back in Singapore. *But saying this, wonder who will actually read my blog* * Aiya…… do not think so much lah……*

Think I should stop at this 3 reasons if not I will just carry on blah blah blah ………. *Wonder who actually have the stamina to hang on and read until this point???*

Alright then……. This will be the end of my first blog…….. Cheers……..