Wishing you a merry lil xmas

Exactly a year ago, I was somewhere in Hong Kong, spending my Christmas with NTUCO. Feeling the festive season, surrounded by pretty lights, the people and the cold weather. This year I'm probably gona spend it sitting here smsing friends, msning people but still feeling good. I wonder when will I ever see snow and get to wear those thick furry trenchcoats, suave boots, mittens and walking on the street wearing them. Well to make up for that I've received lovely Christmas cards from 2 of my juniors today!



Thank you Yishan and Mervyn! That brightened up my night :)

I wonder what's the last crazy thing I did, I can't even remember if I did anything crazy before. Like um shouting in the middle of the street? Er that is crazy and senseless unless I'm shouting I love you or something. Hmm something sensible and crazy would be like.. give random hugs to friends maybe? Go sit on a roller coaster that I'm really scared of? Singing my way home, ok I've done that before but that's not really crazily out of character.

Drive a car.

Make a snowman.

Well that's somethings I've never done before in my 21 years of life. Seems like there's still much to do.

Perhaps life has gotten a little mundane.

Catching up

Thought I should update or at least say something on what I've been doing since my last post. I've been meeting up with my uni friends:

Poly co friends,

juniors and seniors,

met up with friends whom I've not seen for 2 years,
met up with friends for christmas exchange,
met up with friends to celebrate birthdays,
just catching up with people in my life since school seems to usually give me no time to go out with them sometimes. And of course this being the holiday season, more reason to meet up and walk around! Other than that, I've still got things that I've planned to do which are not done. Hmm no gona rant on that for now.

A christmas tree made of shiny tape

Lost my train of thoughts after that paragraph, maybe it's because the zzz monster's coming to get me.

Oh yeah, went to PS's arcade today and tried to look for the pop n'music machine. I remembered very clearly it was there when I last visited PS (months ago), but now it's gone, replaced by a whole new same music-button-smashing machines called the jubeat. Looks like somebody re-designed the look of the machine and got some brilliant idea shaping this like a cube, and a pressable, 16 panel one at that. A descendant of the pop n' music machine maybe? It definitely looks more interesting than its predecessor. Well I haven't got a chance to give it a try cos all the stations were occupied but it certainly looks fun.

Kay me dropping to bed, nighters.

Fatigue

Sometimes I cringe when I read my posts that are written in the spur of the moment.

Guess I tend to post when I get excited watching something.

Feeling drained recently, of responsibilities and tasks I need to do. But I guess I should be glad because I'm at least not idling my time away.

After a hiatus of about 3 months not touching my erhu, I wonder if I had lost interest. After struggling with the instrument and coming this far, how far have I progressed. I was yawning 3/4 of the time during prac today. Maybe I was tired, maybe I didn't like the song. Half of the time I was wishing time to pass faster so I'd be nested in my home resting, watching dramas, or reading those books that I've borrowed from the library which are due soon.

Looking back at the storm that I've passed through this semester, I wonder how I had the energy to do that. Thinking about what to do next for my projects, planning what materials to get so that everything can be done in time. Perhaps I've kinda lost that momentum now that holidays are here, or just that I haven't had a good rest after this storm.

I wonder if I have too many hobbies and drained myself too much pursuing them that I need a break. Not too much, just a day not doing anything that I need to do and I'll remember my motivations again.

Dorama

I just watched the first episode of what may be most probably my most excited drama ever this year and I'm only 1 episode in. I think it's one of the most awesome first episode I've seen in a genre of it's own. I am so so so so excited to see the rest of the episodes! Yes even more awesome than YB.

No this ain't a silly romantic idol drama, it's an Edo period drama, with its beautiful landscapes, kimonos and using honorific/humble forms of the language half the time. I am so glad I studied Asian Art History this sem and can relate to what's been shown, it's almost like what I've read coming alive, presented in front of me. Maybe the japanese probably seen a lot of these already like how I've seen Chinese dynasty period dramas but this is definitely something new for me. Because there's time travelling involved, meaning a person our modern period landed into Edo, it makes this whole drama even the more mysterious and interesting because how he got there involves this unknown man who had a tumour like a foetus in his brain! I was like WTH. How are the writers gona explain this, I need to know.

This is a good epic drama in its most seriousness. Behold JIN, and enter the beautiful period of Edo. Though I'm only one episode in, I can't wait to find out what's gona happen next.

Beautiful beautiful Edo.

On a side note, it doesn't really matter if I fail or pass my JLPT because もっと日本語のべんきょうしたいです！日本の歴史はしりたい！[I want to study more Japanese and its history.] After all that intensive study the past 5 days, I can say that my japanese readability has gone up at least like a 8%!

物の哀れ

There's always a critic somewhere in my head, cursing me, criticising, setting the bar for the things I need to do, for the things I haven't done enough, for the things that I must sometimes force myself to do in order to achieve that shiny cloud of satisfaction when I cross the finishing line.

Sometimes it worked, sometimes it failed because I was distracted, sometimes he wasn't harsh enough.

Don't want a thousand years of regret, for a chance I missed, for the extra hour I could have done to make it better. Saying things like I wished I had, If only I had done_____. It's a repeated cycle, ever so tiring. Time is always an issue. Or rather time management. But at least I want to be happy working hard and of course working smart.

Why do I sound like I'm torturing myself.

I'm running this race again, for my JLPTest. A certificate to mark my understanding in the japanese language. A language I'm passionate for and was so keen in learning when I was a kid. I want to do well. I want to understand. I want to read the book I bought last year. I want to read interviews. I want to go Japan. Can I do it? Will I get at least 60 and pass? With 6 levels of work to comprehend, hundreds of vocabulary to get into my head, a killer listening test, all these in less than 5 days. Other than saying die and give up, I must do what I can. Yes.

~

ok this is how I motivate myself to start studying again. Remember all the reasons I want to pass this test, saying things like must, can, definitely will kick me back to studying again. I must not look down the cliff and keep climbing. I must at least try my best, even if I fail I won't regret for the 5 days of work I put myself through. Yes, ok bring on the next level, I'm ready! Focus!

[Though I'm not sure whether I'll be highly spirited about tomorrow to study again, but heh that's tmr. ok get back to work!]

Monologue

I need to panic if not I wont get my heart still to study.

Why are you not studying.

Because I'm distracted and I'm half in holiday mood and I don't want to.

But you shouldn't be so wilful, you know you'll regret for not working hard enough when you get your results back.
I have some more time, maybe. It's only 12.30am. A few more chapters to memorise and read then it should be.. okay. I hope.

Come on it's your last paper, you're almost done, bear with it!
No it's not my last paper, I have JLPT on SUNDAY. AND I'VE BARELY TOUCHED ANYTHING.

Try to remember how interesting you felt graphic design history was.
It's not interesting today.

Be a good girl, you've watched Dead Man's Chest and you're happy so now get back to reality already.
I'm trying, by talking to myself here.

Is it working?
Hmm not yet but maybe I'll try reading my favourite topics again.

Ok go go!
Ok, after I eat my tau sar pia.

-.-

PIRATES!

As I was trying to start studying again after I had my dinner, I heard a familiar tune of the pirates of the caribbean. Curious to what ads are using this theme again, I walked to the tv and I saw..

A FULL SHOT OF CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW STANDING ON A BOAT.

Surprised I gaped, omg.

Drats if I had known the black pearl's gona show on tv tonight I'd have mugggged really hard in the day. But nevertheless this made my night.

Because I'm still a pirate fangirl through and through. :D

Not studying tonight

Hello Dot, hello Azman

Nice chatting with you two tonight :D

AHH-choo

Studying with facebook, msn and twitter on always cracks me up seeing impending doom statuses like: "is going to buy a coffin and die in it today" or "I want to buy some time please"

or puns associated with AAH [Asian Art History]

like aah I'm dead or aah bang wall or
"omg hoyu-ji muri-ji genji todai-ji simidai-ji?!"

Though I'm not any better, paper is tomorrow and I haven't read at least 50% of the monuments. At least I like studying about Japan, but that's just too much info for 2 nights of study. I need to digest history from 1st century AD all the way to 1495AD, that's like studying 1495 years of history in 2 nights. After that I only have 1 night to understand Singapore society, which is even much more worse. Nah not the worst because I've got friends still rushing projects at the same time, that is the ultimate worst situation. I'm thankful to have cleared my course projects even if it's only 2 days before my first paper.

It's already 10.40am, I better panic now.

Jiayou AAH.

Designer by day, fangirl by night

I am finally done for the semester with my submissions! Well other than exams, the first paper starting in 2 days and I haven't started studying. Somehow after miraculously churning out 2 books in just 2.5 days, I feel I can do anything.

These are the 3 babies that I've made this week with much sleepless nights and temptations from watching the next ep of you're beautiful, I am pleased. I was so bad at paper crafts before but now after 3 attempts at perfect binding, I'm glad to say I've improved with each book I made. So I'm really happy with that, though some pages still seem to be on the edge of falling off if flipped too roughly. Now I wished I took more photos before handing them in.

This's my favourite page in the letter journal. Spent at about 3 hours drawing all those Fs while facebooking, blasting music in the middle of the night but I had fun! They look better photographed actually haha. F for fun! :D

One of my haiku page for type.

Though I think I could have done more pages for the letter journal given more time but I think I did my best in this very short timeframe. And I'm so happy right now I'm finally done with submissions this sem! Oh happy day!

~

So I spent my night watching dramas and catching up reading reviews, entertainment news. I really need to shut off from design for a while, tonight at least. "You're Beautiful" is currently my drama dose this season. It's like a fusion of Boys Over Flowers [Great set, great fashion] and Coffee Prince [Great crack, great moments] which screams awesome addictive drama for a fangirl. Then I chanced upon more episodic reviews of Love Shuffle and I went to watch the last episode again. It's almost winter, wondering if Nojima Shinji-san wrote any new dramas next season.

Yes I am so enjoying myself tonight it's almost 2am and I'm not even sleepy yet. I think I'm considered quite lucky to have at least 4 hours of sleep the past few days. I don't really believe in staying up all night to do something, because I find that when you get really tired, you spent the rest of your low energy on keeping yourself awake and then you'll do work half the speed. Sleep is for the strong! Yeah so I'm off to bed now, what awaits is another hectic weekend studying for my papers.

Balloon

It was drizzling, I was sitting on the cold shuttle bus back to school. This sombre little song was playing.

Floating, beautifully, slowly, higher, drifting away and eventually disappears. Forgotten.

Please don't forget.

Don't go.

Maybe

My locker design in school. This's probably my favourite project in graphic design. I hope I made it durable enough to last me another 2.5 years till I graduate. Though one pocket's kinda spoilt now. Hmm maybe it will.

The hope of a yes.

The closest word to translate your impossible dreams to reality.

My favourite word in the dictionary.

Happy Birthday Captain!

Happy Birthday Kimura Takuya-kun! Continue to shine further in your career and stay happy always!

It's been 2 years since I started fangirling about anything Takuya, I guess it still applies now seeing me post this now. And he still continues to inspire me with his performances, keep it this way captain! Well he's the only idol that I've spent most time researching, reading on, think I'll still be continuing to do that for some time though I'm currently bought over by the new korean drama "You're Beautiful" and Jang Geuk Suk! Kimura-kun is still my ichiban and I think everyone in the world who knows me knows that =.=

Maybe I should elaborate a little more why. Have I talked about it before?

It's not just about the looks, there's something about his personality, his coolness, and especially his professionalism, an aura bought me over. Though I wonder sometimes if he were to stand in front of me would I go mad and quickly ask him for an autograph, or would I just stand and watch him from a distance. He is cool definitely, in whichever role he is in, to act as a woman, a nerd, a racer, a murderer, a comedian he excels in almost everything and pulls it off his way. Be it singing, dancing or acting, there seems to be nothing he can't do. He enjoys doing it and he shows it. Stretching his vocals longer, exaggerating his movements, he knows how to flaunt it and he does it well. Take his Gatsby ads for example, which other guy can flaunt such sensual moves and not get awkward goosebumps or people watching feeling he's gay. He's also the first guy ever to star in a woman's lipstick ad. How cool and crazy is that, so bold so confident to pull off all these stunts well. Maybe people can say he likes to show off, being in the spotlight all the time but I'd like to think he's just enjoying what he's doing and not afraid to show it. How many people can constantly break out of the box, tryingh new ideas and flaunt it so boldly all the time. He might be a natural born idol no doubt, but who knows what hell has he gone through to achieve something remarkable like that. I don't think it was easy. To sustain this same attitude for more than 15 years is really something.

I remember there was one video on him suddenly announce that he's getting married just before the concert, how shocking is that to the fans in the audience seat. Standing alone on the stage without the other band members, facing thousands of his fans, he delivered it in a sombre, serious yet apologetic manner. He promised to work hard and staying the way that he is just like before, and he did it. That is one hell of an announcement to kill your fans but it was so honest, so sincere I respect, admire his guts for disobeying his company, facing the risk of losing his career and fanbase to give his wife, child acknowledgement. He said it just like that.

I like how he always handle emotional-wrecking situations in such a cool, rational, sincere manner. Take Mori's leaving for example, Nakai being the leader was already crying buckets singing the song so Kimura took over the mic and initiated to ask what the others wanted to say to Mori. His comment for him was also what I thought the coolest, yet most assuring of them all.

To not let down for all those people who are supporting you, you must work hard. I also feel the Mori san from here on is a strong man, don't ever give up okay.

~~~

Watching him has always been inspiring, driving me to work well in my life too.

This is why Kimura Takuya is my idol.

Happy 37th Birthday Captain!

/end fangirl mode

Anyway I had a great day with my Photo Imaging classmates today, we could just keep on talking and talking and talking. Best class I've ever taken this semester and to think I chose this initially thinking it's about photoshopping. We've come a long way, from the start hating all the troublesome processes I have to go through just to develop a photo not to mention the huge amount of money and time spent. But the times spent in the darkroom with my classmates and fellow mates who take photo imaging was priceless, valuable and irreplaceable. It's a little sad that we have to part ways so soon but I'll remember all the times we've spent.

Yeah. Mushy. -.-''

Ok back to reality, back to graphic design!

Kubs.

Short Break

For supper tonight, I bought this!

Because I saw this being featured in the ADC Annual Book I borrowed.

One of the rare times I buy snacks for myself, what I like about this caramel corn is while finishing the packet, I discovered roasted peanuts ! There weren't a lot, can't say it's too little too. But it's still nice like this's some kind of sweet surprise packed in only to be discovered after finishing the corns, though I wonder whether they're intentional or not.

Back to the book, what's surprising for me's seeing SMAP's Concert merchandise, posters etc being nominated for the Annual Director's Club too! [So I just had to borrow this!] Then flipping a few pages more, I saw this:

The infobar poster and phone! I first saw this a few years ago [blogged abt it before too] and till now I still think it's best looking phone I've ever seen. I still want it even if it's outdated, no camera, no bluetooth, those buttons are just too itching me to press them. There's infobar2 now already but I still prefer the look and feel of the first version. Perhaps I'll borrow a book on Naoto Fukasawa next. Yeah I will. Ok just reserved it.

Time for bed. Rare that I completed my work and can sleep early. Just tonight.

Nostalgia

A search for old ephemera in the house for my graphic design project had me dug up my long forgotten stash of metal tin boxes I've kept since I was in primary school. Containing things I've wrote during my primary school days: class lists, who's my best friends, cards, letters, 2 liners of what happened in class that day, little gifts that I've kept from my teachers back in children's day, unused, wrapped in a transparent plastic bag and labelled, a paper crane from a boy who was my desk partner back in primary 4...

I wanted to remember everyone in my class.

And I remember them all now, always.

Work in Progress

One of my favourite prints for my final assignment for photo imaging. Darkroom is probably one of the best places in school to know people and build stronger class bonds. It's time-money-consuming but I had a lot of fun talking, going in and out, turning the swivel door.

The haiku I'm working on for my haiku book project, playing with variations of letter form with it. Chose this because it had the word moon in it:

Sedge hat of the night

Ah, so the moon wears one as well-

thinks the scarecrow

I'm Distracted, but cool. No stress. Though usually I think I'll be panicking now

Hang on there a little more, cos I'll know I'll miss all this when it's over.

Mission Impossible

Hello this is mission start of mission impossible going to be made possible.

In 2 weeks I will have to give birth to

A nature conservation graphic design project. 0%

A solid process journal of my graphic design journey this semester 20%.

A haiku book exploring the forms of typography. At least 20 pages? 2%

A letter journal of Fs photographed, drawn, pasted etc of 20 pages. 5%.

A solid process journal of my typographic progress this semester, DESIGNED. 5%

15 black and white photographs, in fiber paper mounted. 2/15

Zeitgeist exibition proposal and invitation 85%

After that is exams probably just days away.

It's sad that I'm scoring badly for all my written modules like art history and understanding singapore society when I really enjoy what I'm studying. And I can't SU them.

Why.

I have no time to study.

I don't know what I'm writing and I can't write things that I have little knowledge about thus squeezing every ounce of my vocabulary and limited flowery words to boost my reports.

Cui.

But I'll survive somehow, I have to.

I'll never lose my things again

I must be the clumsiest person alive to lose a laptop, now bearing the consequences because I need a movable computer to go to the library to do my research and type my report at the same time.

"My friends laughed when I told them about it" My Mom said.

"Usually it's people steal. Nobody will believe, how can anyone lose something as important as a laptop so carelessly."

Sigh. It's not like I want to lose it on purpose eh. Now I've lost persuasion power to get my parents in buying gadgets for my needs especially a laptop, not even borrowing my bro's laptop.

How many things have I lost, dropped due to my carelessness. A mp3-player, a handphone, textbooks, a laptop? It's embarassing to say this now that I have to bear the consequences of my blur-ness, and learn this lesson the hard way, always check your things before you move on to the next destination and be more mindful of your surroundings.

Now how am I gona finish my zeitgeist today...

Oh please don't spoil the night.

I am so tired but

I love school today. Just today.

Studying my favourite country's art history and seeing links from the Shinto monuments to my favourite games and movies. [[[I can't believe tombs in the Shinto period is in the SHAPE OF A KEYHOLE, like in Kingdom Hearts, every town in the game has a keyhole to unlock it. It's just so fascinating. How people in Japan a few hundred BCs ago had haniwas [guardians of the tomb] shaped in the style that totally reminds me of Hayao Miyazaki and Totoro. ]]]

Having lunch with my funny foundation classmates is always my favourite meal of the week.

Saying crazy things out of the most random fixing photos moments.
Bitching about the mountain high load of school work,

Laughing at the most random joke

Asking opinions about prints

Complaining

The Halloween scary mudra.

I love adm today.

Maybe just today.

Door of your dreams

A few nights ago I had this most brilliant dream ever: I discovered a magical door that leads me to Hong Kong.

Then I can go shopping and buy all the things I ever want just by opening the door! Happily I shared this moment of discovery with a friend and we went in there, touring around the neighbourhood. But when we were about to head back home, the area around the door was under construction. I didn't want to alarm the rest of the people of my discovery so we made a round-a-bout to look for the other side of the door, some branded clothing shop. At last we found the shop and went in to look for their back door which I presume is that magic door and we opened...

I woke up and it was 9.45am, time when I should already get ready for school.

Think it'd be nice if I can make a movie/short film out of this adventure dream..

hen stress leh

Learn to be stress-happy.

Despite all that, I still like all my work that I've come up with so far. It's just the time constraint versus what I want to do that irks me so much.

That aside...

If I could have my own photo series what would I want to take?

Rant

I feel like a worker in a production factory. Everyday I'm squeezed dry to produce the finest quality of goods.

I want a break. Seriously.

School hasn't been so heavy to the point I'm either working on my assignments or studying China Art, graphic design history 3/4 of a day. 1/4 for sleep. The only days I can relax is a weekday Wednesday or Thursday night. Weekends are the worst. Sigh.

No matter how I organise my schedule, new work just keeps piling up every day and I have exams every month. I have to remember artefacts, the period they exist, the long names and write an essay. This is crazy. Maybe it's the combination of modules I took this sem, 1 photo imaging is enough of a killer. Spending at least 1-2 hours sometimes up to 3-4 hours if unsuccessful to print 1 photo. I've only printed 2/15 so far and they're due in 3 weeks. Madness madness. I thought year 1 was bad but I could still manage if I organised my time well. But this time, I just don't have ample time for everything. 24 hours is not enough.

I don't understand why uni life has to be this stressful. I like what I'm studying but throwing them all on my shoulders is just too much. I believe this is not the worst week yet, 1 more month of hell to go through before holidays. It's the photo module that's draining my soul and it's just an elective. Holy.

Wished I was "enlightened" enough to swallow all this shit with a big open heart still smiling and say good day. [But sometimes I just need to let this out] Yes I'll show stress my abhaya mudra.

Schedule

What's up this week:

Fri

Meet up with A,B and D

Sat

Futura presentation slides 12.17pm.

Futura souvenir 50%

Go Fancy papers to get paper.

SK's post birthday celebration.

NTUCO poster [20% of new development]

Sunday

Typography animated

Typography in the environment 4 panels

Graphic Design text in the image [40%]

Shoot at least 1 roll for photo assignment =___=

Monday

Finish up Futura presentation and souvenir

Return Camera, renew if can't finish

NTUCO Poster [....]

Must finish graphic design.

Tuesday

Prepare for ppt

Finish the rest of the type assignments

Wednesday

Type: Animated

Type in the environment

Futura presentation

Thursday

Class end at 12 but probably will work on photo essay due the next day

Friday

Photo image essay due

Develop negatives and print contact sheet, touch up on printed prints that didn't make it.

Germaine's bday party and Jasmine's bday.

Concurrently:

China art history exam next Thursday. - [Only started studying 1 monument T.T]

Zeitgeist assignment due on 27th, 3Nov

JLPT exam in less than 2 months

Work faster.

I feel better striking them off when I'm done. So yes, work faster.

What.

For one thing I'm sure of: I can't stand being cooped up at home with the 4 walls for a long period of time without socialising.

These 2 days being cooped up at home to finish up my assignments have been rather bad, getting depressed by inproductivity, the hot weather. I want to go out and have some fun. And I miss my friends. I'm itching to head out for a movie. At times like this, what's the best alternative? Watch a jdrama. Hmm. yeah. That's what I'm gona do now.

Oh yes one more thing, giving me lots of time to do things at home doesn't mean I can come up with something better. Sometimes I think I work better when I'm pressed for time going out/watch the next ep of some exciting drama. Hmm yeah.

Note to self: play more and not submerge myself under my work pile. Getting all stressed up and kanchiong wouldn't make things solve itself faster. Though sometimes it does. But this ain't another hell week, yet.

Recess

It's been a while. The past 2 weeks have been a mad rush, much tougher than before. With countless readings, 3 papers along with 3 assignments. I'm year 2 already after all. Kinda miss my youth playing with friends, going out or even having my own space to think. Like now, times when I can just sit down without worries and catch up on my hobbies seems to be getting lesser.

Anyway I've enjoyed myself these 2 days, celebrating birthday, going to Bollywood veggies, shopping with my classmate. You know, design and media has become such that it's become part and parcel of my life. Getting excited seeing neatly displayed shelves, interesting forms in shops' interior, going woah at colours and packaging, Probably turning into a design geek already. School has been fun, learning lots of things but mentally taxing too. Getting particular how I make things because the sound at the back of my head will keep reminding me, this line is not cut straight enough, this looks cui, I have to wake up earlier so that I can get more things done.. Things like that. Trying to do this at a professional level is still quite a far goal now but I'm working towards it!

I wonder how many people still persist to blog considering there's less motivation to update about life now with fb. Hmm. But I still enjoy reading long entries!

I just finished watching Buzzer Beat today. [yes finally get down to complete a decent series on my first weekend of recess week] Starring Yamapi and Kitagawa Keiko, something about pursuing your dreams, working hard and of course love. I am now a sucker for signboards.

Because it so reminds me of the good old days watching Long Vacation! Directed by the same director and the ost done by the same people. This drama pulls my heart strings, with simple 90s style drama plot.

The signboard in Long Vacation

Someday maybe I'll get to go to Japan and take photos of these signboards at the filming sites. It'd be nice if I can design my own signboard and inspire people too~ Gambatte miru yo!

zzz

I woke up early to study and catch up my homework.
But I'm too distracted playing last year's China's trip songs and thinking about them flying to China now. T.T
I wana go overseas too!

Have fun! And take lots of photos!

Ugh. *pops dream bubble* Cannot, I have tonnes of work to do. FOCUS. FOCUSSSSSS.

Something to share!

I had just finished eating my dinner and randomly picked up one of the 8 days magazine that's lying on my sofa and began reading. Then I came upon this page about this illustrator who drew the mural in the new Bishan circle line.

eeshaun

Curious I went to his website and boy was I amazed! Such cheery, quirky and really awesome illustrations coming from a local artist, going this far and he's young! Never expect a random read from 8 days had me discovered a new source of inspiration! If he can do it, we can do it too!

---

Maybe I'm quite easily excited.
Yesterday during USS, the lecturer was pointing at us asking whether we could design/create something of Sg context. And today's AAH tutorial asked a similar question too, why we're studying Asian art history.

I'm gona try to be elaborate for once and justify why I like a certain something. Sometimes I really hate it when I keep using words like cool, interesting, awesome all day and can't explain more in detail why, What's the reason. Today's Asian Art tutorial had me realise this again, well seeing I haven't really been writing much for a long time.

We had our 1st lesson today by this outspoken young tutor who studied architecture and the lesson started with an individual introduction and course objectives. But what's different about this module this year is we don't need to do mindless memorising for presentations anymore! But rather discuss, understand and then perhaps we can use this context to apply in our art works next time. She spoke about how people can do awesome design works and stuff but have no depth. That and living in this garden city of a very young history, it's important to know our asian roots. Considering we're quite influenced by the west and they started design and all that, we've kind of neglected asian art and values.

Yesterday's understanding Sg society class addressed a similar issue, about this Singaporean identity. What's the Sg identity? Kiasuism? Sharing ups and downs with my family and friends who grow up together with me in this land? This bo chup, apathy to politics, and speaking up in class? Can we create, design something cool of this sg context if not asian context? I've never really thought about this till I had this class.

I think it's important that we know our roots well, in fact, I'm more interested in Asian history than Western history because I live here, in Asia! Because we have a young history, there isn't really much that we can look back on, other than how we gained our independence, WWII. What's our identity, being Singaporeans, being Asians, being Chinese?

I think I'm always excited when teachers have a strong interest in the topic they teach and share them so enthusiastically. I like my course this sem!

Sometimes I think I'm so just easily inspired and excited about these little things..
It'll be my drive!

snapsnap

Try too hard to be happy, you get disappointed.

Try too hard to chase, you fall and it runs away.

Try too hard to win, you'll fail even harder.

Try too hard to be cool is just lame.

Try too hard to be nice is just too fake.

Try too hard to think, you don't get anywhere.

But I think I'll still try because I don't want to regret not doing anything about it.

My long delayed first Holga prints! Most of them are blur though, and these are the only few good ones. Many shots were repetitive because I tend to shoot the same subjects a few times before I move on like I do with my digicam. I'm taking a photography module this sem, so hopefully my skills'll improve. Better shots next time!

Things in my kitchen

At Sentosa beach

Perhaps the best shot in this roll.

I like the blue light here

With Jasm!

The only picture that's got mine and Jasm's face in frame.

Just point and shoot. Whatever I aimed and shot didn't really turn out what I expected. Can't really remember them anyway unless I write it down. Time for bed and then more work on my assignments.

Memory

I logged into blogger a few hours ago wanting to blog how much I enjoyed my understanding sg society class today until I got distracted reading and now I can't remember what I wanted to say.

Hate it when I forget my feeling of the moment, failed to jot itdown and when I finally have time to sit down and write about it, it's gone. Goes to show how easily distracted I am.

Anyway the prof showed us Tan Pin Pin's Invisible City. I remember 2 years ago, my video production lecturer showed us some of her works and we even have Tan Pin Pin in person to talk to us in one of our lectures. I probably never realise how lucky I was back then. We were shown "Moving House", "Gravedigger's luck" something that touches a rare topic too. She does Sg related documentaries by the way and her works often show a side of Sg that we've often neglected, don't see.

I can't wait for the next lecture!

---

Came up with this for my project on making souvenirs for the class based on the designer I'm supposed to search on. Well I got Katherine McCoy. It took me a while to come up with this idea of playing with the sides of the cubes, inspired by one of the posters she designed. Divided into 3, each side of the cube represents text, image and colour of opposing elements. So you can play with them, stack them around and see different results which can be quite interesting. Something fun to fiddle with when you're bored or out of ideas.

I really enjoyed making these, but now they're all gone and I'm only left with 3 cubes extra. But I guess I can always make some more.

One of my classmates did balloons for the project :D I got the black one.

Last but not least, everyone gotta check this site out http://www.stevelawler.com/ Awesome play with interactivity on web.

I hope this interest keeps up!

Random babble

It's strange that I'm starting to take an interest in learning Japanese properly again because these 2 days at school, my teachers mentioned Tokyo, Japan at least twice? They worked there for a period of time before! And then looking at the books in the ADM library there's also quite an amount of Japanese graphic books that's only in Japanese! 読んで見たい！

After taking Japanese for 7 months almost weekly, I think my readability level's only 30%, most of the time stuck at the kanji. Usage of the language even worse, 10%? Can only use the basic verbs I learnt in ele1. Sucks.

Sometimes learning all these and when you never apply them, you forget. I probably forgot um 35% of what I've learnt?

With so many things going on, even if it's holidays I can't finish doing them, like watching dramas, animes, reading certain mangas, facebooking, chatting on msn, the latest movie, going out, keeping up to date with JE news, design stuffs, earning money, practising what I learnt, remembering names especially.

"Must remember the names of the creator who made the work", my teachers repeat this quite a lot these 2 days, which makes me think back how many names can I remember from what I learnt during Foundation? *thinks hard* John Berger, Samuel Beckett, Issey Miyake... I don't think I can remember much of the math, science from secondary school either.

In the end it comes down to: What's the point of learning if you're gona forget about it anyway? But if one day, I were to come across these subjects again, these people's names I've seen before, I think I'll remember, at least a vague impression. That's when you need to use it again. Yeah. That's it, they're at the back of my head.

Babble babble babble.

Goodbye Holidays, hello Vis Comm

Thought I should post something before I start school.

Hmm something like a reflection of what I've did during the holidays? Whether I'm regreting whatever I didn't do during my holidays? Whether I'm excited, nervous or dreading that I'm starting a brand new year at the no day no night school of ADM tomorrow? -.-

This holidays of 3 months plus, counting the day since I last handed in my 3D project, I did:

• SPCO Concert 2009, a success and I got some of my classmates to come. Can't believe I did!
• Saw Nobuo Uematsu for the very first time and got his autograph!
• finished my Japanese intermediate course, in return getting to know good friends with similar interests.
  
• celebrated many birthdays, including mine
• played a role in this year's FOC and getting to know some future classmates, seniors and more admers
  
• went out with friends many many times
• 2 Japanese karaoke sessions with Horin
  
• A lucky chance to go NDP ...
  

Definitely played a lot, spent a lot and perhaps learnt a lot? The only regret is not being able to earn more money to battle this new semester and I didn't finish reading any fiction book and practising design...

New year, new courses, new classmates, new challenges tomorrow. I think I'm ready. Not ready also must be ready -.-

As for resolutions... Relax, but don't be blur.
Speaking of blur, I bought 2 rulers instead of one and I only realised that when I reached home and open up the bag. Thinking back I was charged the price of 2 rulers and I didn't suspect anything! They were stuck together! Zzzz. If I can cure my own blurness I think I have to be on constant alert 24/7...

Huiling Fighting!!
もっと頑張ってします！

Staying awake so my hols seem a lil longer

Can't twit anymore.
For a moment, can't comment on fb.
Couldn't log in blogger in my other browser.
Random ants invading my table.
Frustrating.

Level 21

And so the day has come whereby I turn twenty one, an important milestone in life. Gone are the days where I get amused and excited easily, well not totally gone. To be honest, it's just like any other day, just that I got a little of the birthdayshinydust when I feel the world's eyes are on me and I can do whatever I want or want my friends to do. Yes! haha. I enjoyed myself a lot this week, going out almost every day.


First of all I celebrated with my friends from SPCO! These people who played a dominant part in my life for 3 years in my poly life. Thank you for dining with me! I've got a hot red Holga, a bag I can carry in 3 ways, 5 SMAP cds 4 K2C original 2nd hand cds kept in very good condition that I thought for a moment was new. Got a shock of my life that I'm now owning 5 of SMAP's album, one of which's their old first album! I like them all very much and I'm using them already ^^

We had a good dinner~

I was really shock when I saw what contained in the plastic bag is this shiny red toy camera.

Had a little drink after that @ Night and Day.

Next was these bunch of my poly classmates, who got me a very good wallet, a hand drawn umbrella (because I have a fetish for transparent umbrellas and they knew) and a balloon. Thank you! :)

Left a place for Jia who couldn't come :P

It's still floating above me right now ^^Thought of hanging this umbrella on my room's ceiling but it came down. Haven't thought what to do with it yet cos it looks best opened. Kept aside for the time being but not forgotten! Wished I'd taken more photos with the umbrella!

Last but not least, spent my birthday out with jx and kets for a good bowl of pork katsu curry
and exploring Ion Orchard.

My funny friends!

And I got some facial masks from my uni classmate PT. ^^

Thank you to the people who wished me well too, some unexpected like my poly java lecturer thanks to fb which was really a nice surprise.

It said:

Hey! Happy 21st, young lady. May your wildest dreams come true. :)

I was talking to J about it then she asked me what's my wildest dream.
I thought for a while and said: Be a hot chick driving a sports car? "May my wildest dream come true" eh ;)

Haa.. Think I haven't really done anything wild enough for as much as I can remember so maybe I could try that few years down the road when I earn enough money! 3 more years to go that is...

So I'll treasure my youth while it lasts and be as crazy and doing things I've never done before. Years later I'll look back at my early adulthood days and reminsce all the sweet, fun and crazy things I've done. For life is only this short and I'm at the prime of my life!

I am level 21 now! *plays ff victory music*

Share your thoughts

I'm kind of inspired by a friend's post. That made me think blogging isn't dead, having fb and twitter in my life now. That feelings and thoughts still can be conveyed through long strings of words, and that it's okay to say them.

"I didn't know somebody else feels the same," I thought.
And that made me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside.

Now if only I can write like that...

Memories

I was moving my things from my old wallet to a new one thanks to my bunch of poly classmates and uncovered lots of neoprints hidden in a corner of my old wallet. Brings back lots of memories when.. I'm still a teen? haha. Well the latest one seems to be taken during May this year. Not too bad! And the machines they have these days can do a lot of shiny pattern one.

This one's one of the rare photos where the six of us were present in an outing. Probably taken last year during one of our birthdays.
And a neoprint to commemorate 20082008! I think I just started uni not long ago.

This one! A rare one taken with my juniors in SPCO. I think it was during an erhu outing when last year's concert ended not long ago. We were all still so high and happy after the concert. When we still call each other ahma, mama, jiejie, didi, meimei and maria.


And then this one with Kets when JEC was still around. Can't really remember what we did but looks like we had a lot of fun taking neoprints. haha.

Me and my friends frequent there almost every week when the arcade and neoprint shop were still around. Now that we've grown up, and this being the digital age, people use digi cam more often now. Not that I'm complaining because I still take a lot of photos. Neoprints are... my retro teen memories.

Totem!

This's a.. happy ugly witch. haha. Didn't really think much and just let my hand draw whatever comes. Not fantastic but I'm gona submit this for Scribble Project anyway! Check it out, it's a really cool scribble website and they update really regularly!

All along I thought school's gona open next Mon, first wk of Aug until I met my friend today who told me.. No we have 1 more week! So.. yay! 1 more week =D

Yes, hello

I'm gona move my works to a new place: http://yuna-ling.livejournal.com/
So whatever personal will be posted here while anything artsy, drawings will be posted there.
Mm. Time to put my lj to good use.


For now I'm thinking of posting an original picture done from scratch per day until the end of my holidays. A mini project to keep me occupied and thinking till school starts. After that, we'll see how it goes. Hope I stay consistent!

To live,

I was bored and wanted to do something productive, so I started playing with a little typography which leads me to playing with dots, and then lines. Everything started from the word create and this is how it turned out...

Anyway today I tried to start watch 2 new series of anime but it didn't motivate me to watch on episode 2. I can play my bro's wii, or psp if I want to but I just don't seem to feel interested in my usual pastimes anymore.

Me says:
I need a new interest
Friend says:
get a guy
> . >
Me says:
other than getting a guy
Friend says:
i just ran
out of ideas
Me says:
there's gotta be more to life
.
.
.
Friend says:
but well.. besides that, theres nothing else
to do,
really
go drink more. go club. go party. go out.
play games. read.
watch tv
wat else is there to do normally?

THERE'S GOTTA BE MORE TO LIFE.
Can I pilot an Eva?