Roundtable 2006

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Department Retreat

I went to my future employer department's retreat yesterday and it was quite an eye-opener.

It was at Swiss Club and thanks to me not checking actual distances ahead of time, I spent a good 30 minutes walking up Turf City and then retracing my steps to Swiss Club. GAWD!

My entrance to the room was slightly awkward but I think the people there are very friendly. I immediately jumped into this opener game which is more like passing the message. Quite silly but oh well fun nevertheless! We had to choose a 'feeling-good' word (which ended up being a colleague's name instead of an adjective which according to others seem to have its distinctive place in the dictionary..) and we had to pass that name quickly from one another. It was a lot of shouting which I thought got everyone to loosen and relax.

Then since I was late, everyone was supposed to get a reflection journal of sorts and I could only choose this since I was late:



It was then a series of presentations on what the department has achieved for the past year. Then it was lunch! Lunch was quite a sumptious spread (though the coffee breaks were quite paltry, sadly)

We played 2 other games and they were pretty fun. However I'm now sure if it's me that's having an oversensitive barrier but there seems to be undercurrents of office politics amidst the wonderful friendships pouring all over the place. Really not sure about that... but on the whole the vibes were positive.

We had this interesting moment when we end where all of us got our books to be scribbled by others who have been randomly selected and it really brought me back to the good old days of autograph books. Mine were nice, and really kind. It really brought me closer to affirming that my decision to want a place that values relations in a genuine sense is right for me, although in comparison with my present company, I have to admit that the conditions are not up to par. Quite far, really.

What to do! We can't have the best of everything!

My dream list for Christmas - A PS2 and a new iMac

Maybe I'll wait till I officially enter RP and for Boot Camp/Mac OS X Leopard to be released before I consider an iMac. I realised we don't need a fantastic new computer as my brother can use my laptop to play his PC games and having a Mac at home as an entertainment system as well as a computer is a refreshing change from the humdrum of the PC/Windows. Just in time for Vista as well to iron its kinks out before the next computer.

I'm also dreaming of a new PS2 as well, then can play all the games that have been on hold since it came out and I refused to buy.

A list!

Feeling pensive

Alright! The event that I've been so busy with for the past 3 weeks is going on next Monday and Tuesday.

Yesterday was pretty rushed, though it didn't feel as... exciting as the time when I was part of the managing team for the graduation team in AT. It's like, it felt that it was work as usual and it didn't feel quite personally gratifying.

Time to look forward and definitely looking forward! Time is definitely an essence in the journey of life.

Feeding fish & having fun!

Why do you wake up each day?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmAfQ-GgtCQ

Let's see... hmm...

What Works: William J. Bennett's Research About Teaching and Learning

Another book to check out!

http://www.amazon.com/What-Works-Bennetts-Research-Teaching/dp/1888683279/sr=1-9/qid=1163299171/ref=sr_1_9/103-1919863-4278224?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://media.hoover.org/documents/0817929320_ix.pdf

Searching for a Japanese course after JLPT3

PYAESS 6327-1377
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~pyaess/

• 10 terms over 2 years (Level 2 Intermediate)
  
• $200 per term ($2000 in total)
• 10 weeks per term
• 3 hours per class
  
• Starts Saturday, 6/1/07 2.30 pm - 5.45 pm
• 新日本語の中級　（main textbook, with 2 other supplementary texts)
  

JCS 6338-3428
http://www.jcss.org.sg/jls.html

• 6 terms over 2 years (April, August, November / Advanced 1, Advanced 2)
• $512 per year ($210 + $150 + $150, $1024 in total)
• 
  
• 2 hours per class (+ 10 min break)
• Starts Dec/Jan (to revert mid December)

Ikoma 6238-0288
http://ikoma.com.sg/

• Pre-advanced class - 1 year, 2.5 hours a week, 12 lessons each term = $320, 48 lessons in total (4 terms), covers 新日本語の中級 x 2 books (?), Starts 4/12/06
• JLPT2 Preparatory Course - 1 year, 2.5hours a week, 10 lessons each term = $290, starts 2/1/07

At the rate I'm going I think it's going to be PYAESS. However I think a visit back to NUS is proper to ask what is a good text for intermediate studies.

:)

Gambarimashyoo!

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/w/index.php?title=Selecting_a_Japanese_Textbook

An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
http://www.thejapanshop.com/product.php?productid=16239&cat=256&bestseller=Y

Reading Japanese with the Asahi Newspaper
http://www.thejapanshop.com/product.php?productid=16242&cat=256&page=2

Pedal Ubin!

Welcome to Pedal Ubin!, another volunteer project brought to you by the NUS Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

Today, HM and I went to Pulau Ubin for a 3-hours morning ride!

Our guide.



3 exchange friends from University of Hong Kong.


Finally we reached and I didn't puke from sea-sickness. HM raring to go.


I am trying NOT to go.


Cowabanga!


Are we lost or something?


Toilet right above the water. *shy lah...


One of the MANY drinks stalls along the trails of Ubin.



Oh look! Mudskippers! Dorsal fins up to signal territory (and for females to come and do-'em-in!). Near us are lots of a species of crabs that have a large claw which they use to wave above the soil to show territory as well! So cute!




The infamous quarry where many have met their end!






The group admiring the great expanse.



Another pit stop - a Thai Buddhist temple.



I just love people who vandalize for their creativity!


Such clear, undisturbed waters! And in Singapore!








Careful not to fall! It's deep all the way down and not gradual at all!



You! Yeah you! What Are You Doing!


Yeah, that's definitely a flagrant disregard.


Ohh! Very cute fruit that can be eaten.




It tastes pretty sweet and like sago seeds.


We also went to the German Girl Temple. We also went to the Sensory Trail and saw lots of scarecrows there clad in various costumes.



Pssst... secret!




This is some Camomile leaf that smells a tad like lemongrass and YT is obviously addicted to it.



So friendly! The writeups in the sensory trail have braille text on them for the blind.


Indeed! We had!



It was low tide when we came. According to the guide, if today's low tide is at 9am, it will roughly be 9.500am the following day. Look at the mangrove now!





Oh I just love my Transitions glasses!







We only got to travel the north and the west parts of the island and not the infamous Chek Jawa. Maybe weshould go again next time! :) Thank goodness we didn't stay after the gathering ended as the rain came.

Very fun! Again, again!

To find out more: pedalubin@yahoo.com