Just checking in to say that I'm back, and that I'm missing Bangkok already. I so enjoyed Bangkok, so loved the days I spent there. It's such a familiar place--very much like the Philippines--but much more laidback, much quieter, more diverse. And there are definitely less obnoxious people there. In fact, in the 6 days I was there, I encountered only 1 person who really got me annoyed and irritated. Hee. But there's really no time for all these stories right now, as I'm super tired and I really need to get some sleep.
Anyway, I'm leaving again soon--and this time, for home. Yay! Double yay! :D
16 December 2007
09 December 2007
One Week in Bangkok
In a few hours, I'll be flying to Bangkok. Wee! :) For fear of missing my flight, I decided to just keep awake and wait until it's time to go. I also thought I could write (yes, I'm still writing those effin papers!) while waiting, but that was, like, two hours ago. After an hour or so of re-writing a paragraph I must have re-written ten times already and not being able to finish a sentence I'd been trying to finish since last night, I gave up. I wasn't really accomplishing anything. Might as well do something else that I could actually finish.
So here I am. Hee!
My trip to Bangkok is not really for pleasure. Well, there will be pleasure, yes, and I hope lots of it (hehe), but what I'll really be there for is this conference on English in Southeast Asia. I'm proud to report that I'm done with my script (because it can hardly be called a paper--heh!) and my powerpoint presentation. My topic is on gender and call center discourse, which is basically what my research project is about. I'm not sure how it will be received, as I've been told that the conference is more concerned with pedagogical issues relating to the teaching of English in the region. But, whatever. I suppose I'll just do my thing. Then, I'll have fun, go shopping, and enjoy the night life. Haha.
Honestly though, I'm sort of looking forward to the conference and seeing some of the plenary speakers, especially Teun van Dijk. van Dijk is a big name in critical discourse analysis (cda), and one of those whom I read over and over while I was just getting introduced to the field. I have to admit though that I have lost track of his recent works, having moved out of cda to explore other (so-called) 'critical' frameworks, but still, it would be awesome to hear him talk, maybe even meet him--and if I muster enough courage, maybe ask him to have a picture taken with me. Haha.
But I suppose wanting to have a picture with a person who has had some influence on your work one way or other is not really a crazy idea. For instance, when I told a former teacher/mentor that van Dijk would be in the conference, he told me the exact same thing: Pa-picture ka with him. Hee! And I remember I had a classmate in Textual Construction of Knowledge (a primarily cda-oriented module in NUS), who when he reported on Fairclough's CDA (Fairclough's is CDA; the rest is cda--hay!) showed pictures of himself having lunch. With Fairclough! There were two other people in the pictures, yes, but still, I was like, 'OMG, he's with Fairclough. OMG!' Apparently, Fairclough was in his university for a conference at that time.
All I can say is, if van Dijk is major, Fairclough is major-er, probably the major-est in cda--thus, his CDA gets the all caps. Now that I think about it, there are other scholars I'd really just love to meet and, yeah, that picture thing again. Hehe. Oh well, I suppose, we'll see what happens in this conference first.
It's almost time to get ready now. And I'm beginning to get really excited! :)
So here I am. Hee!
My trip to Bangkok is not really for pleasure. Well, there will be pleasure, yes, and I hope lots of it (hehe), but what I'll really be there for is this conference on English in Southeast Asia. I'm proud to report that I'm done with my script (because it can hardly be called a paper--heh!) and my powerpoint presentation. My topic is on gender and call center discourse, which is basically what my research project is about. I'm not sure how it will be received, as I've been told that the conference is more concerned with pedagogical issues relating to the teaching of English in the region. But, whatever. I suppose I'll just do my thing. Then, I'll have fun, go shopping, and enjoy the night life. Haha.
Honestly though, I'm sort of looking forward to the conference and seeing some of the plenary speakers, especially Teun van Dijk. van Dijk is a big name in critical discourse analysis (cda), and one of those whom I read over and over while I was just getting introduced to the field. I have to admit though that I have lost track of his recent works, having moved out of cda to explore other (so-called) 'critical' frameworks, but still, it would be awesome to hear him talk, maybe even meet him--and if I muster enough courage, maybe ask him to have a picture taken with me. Haha.
But I suppose wanting to have a picture with a person who has had some influence on your work one way or other is not really a crazy idea. For instance, when I told a former teacher/mentor that van Dijk would be in the conference, he told me the exact same thing: Pa-picture ka with him. Hee! And I remember I had a classmate in Textual Construction of Knowledge (a primarily cda-oriented module in NUS), who when he reported on Fairclough's CDA (Fairclough's is CDA; the rest is cda--hay!) showed pictures of himself having lunch. With Fairclough! There were two other people in the pictures, yes, but still, I was like, 'OMG, he's with Fairclough. OMG!' Apparently, Fairclough was in his university for a conference at that time.
All I can say is, if van Dijk is major, Fairclough is major-er, probably the major-est in cda--thus, his CDA gets the all caps. Now that I think about it, there are other scholars I'd really just love to meet and, yeah, that picture thing again. Hehe. Oh well, I suppose, we'll see what happens in this conference first.
It's almost time to get ready now. And I'm beginning to get really excited! :)
06 December 2007
So NOT My Day
Today, well, yesterday actually, was one of the worst days I've ever had in this country. It rained all day, and it rained really, really hard. I suppose if I had stayed in, it would have been ok (I probably would have enjoyed it actually given it could be the perfect excuse to stay in bed and sleep all day), but I had to be out to meet my supervisor for lunch and do some express photocopying of stuff I just realized I would need for the papers that I couldn't seem to write. Sigh. Then, I also had to pick up something after my errands at NUS.
Anyway, I thought at first the rain would let up after a few hours, because that's how it rains here. 'Pabugso-bugso' is, I think, the perfect word to describe it. But it just went on and on, even gaining strength as the day wore on. I wouldn't have minded if I were to stay only in NUS, but as I said, I had to go somewhere else after NUS. It was just so uncomfortable, quite a balancing act actually, getting on the bus, then on the MRT with loads of photocopies, a bottle of water, an umbrella, and my big black bag with my big, fat notebooks. (I wish I could go digital on everything and not use notebooks, but I love notebooks, big, fat ones, and I love writing on them.)
So I finally reached my destination at exactly that time when everyone else was rushing to get into the train station. I swear I was swept by the current once or twice. At one point, I really had to fight my way against the crowd. Around this time too, I was already beginning to get a little dizzy. My hyperacidity was also beginning to act up. I told myself I shouldn't have had that third cup of coffee and that I should have eaten before I left the campus. But, well, too late for that.
Good thing the person I was meeting up with was there already, so getting the package was pretty easy and didn't give me any trouble. I suppose this would be the highlight of the day, too. Remember the perfect gift I was talking about last time? That was the thing I had to pick up. :) And remember I said I'd get one for myself? Well, I did. :) I got the small red one. Hee! Until now, I can't believe how small it is. And there's actually a part of me that can't believe I paid some good money for it. Oh well, we'll see if it's worth it in a month or two.
Getting back to the flat was definitely easier than all the trips I had to take earlier, but it was still very tiring. Plus, this time, I had two additional packages: the thing--and dinner. I had thought of eating at the restaurant, but I also wanted to just go home and be comfortable, so I decided on takeaway. I thought my arms were going to fall off as I walked to the flat from the MRT station. It was still raining at this point, though not as hard as earlier, and I had to walk real slow, because the roads were slippery. But still, I was inching closer and closer to home, and I could already see my building, so it wasn't so bad.
Finally, finally, I was at the flat. I changed into comfy 'pambahay' clothes and got the food out. I was so looking forward to enjoying my fried mozzarella, creamy mushroom pasta, and ribs. But I suppose it just wasn't my day. While the mozzarella and ribs were okay (note: 'okay,' not 'really good' or 'good'), the pasta was the sweetest creamy mushroom pasta I'd ever tasted. It was like eating some kind of weird dessert. To top it all off, a monster of a headache began to make its presence felt just when I gave up on the pasta.
Hay. I should sleep now.
Anyway, I thought at first the rain would let up after a few hours, because that's how it rains here. 'Pabugso-bugso' is, I think, the perfect word to describe it. But it just went on and on, even gaining strength as the day wore on. I wouldn't have minded if I were to stay only in NUS, but as I said, I had to go somewhere else after NUS. It was just so uncomfortable, quite a balancing act actually, getting on the bus, then on the MRT with loads of photocopies, a bottle of water, an umbrella, and my big black bag with my big, fat notebooks. (I wish I could go digital on everything and not use notebooks, but I love notebooks, big, fat ones, and I love writing on them.)
So I finally reached my destination at exactly that time when everyone else was rushing to get into the train station. I swear I was swept by the current once or twice. At one point, I really had to fight my way against the crowd. Around this time too, I was already beginning to get a little dizzy. My hyperacidity was also beginning to act up. I told myself I shouldn't have had that third cup of coffee and that I should have eaten before I left the campus. But, well, too late for that.
Good thing the person I was meeting up with was there already, so getting the package was pretty easy and didn't give me any trouble. I suppose this would be the highlight of the day, too. Remember the perfect gift I was talking about last time? That was the thing I had to pick up. :) And remember I said I'd get one for myself? Well, I did. :) I got the small red one. Hee! Until now, I can't believe how small it is. And there's actually a part of me that can't believe I paid some good money for it. Oh well, we'll see if it's worth it in a month or two.
Getting back to the flat was definitely easier than all the trips I had to take earlier, but it was still very tiring. Plus, this time, I had two additional packages: the thing--and dinner. I had thought of eating at the restaurant, but I also wanted to just go home and be comfortable, so I decided on takeaway. I thought my arms were going to fall off as I walked to the flat from the MRT station. It was still raining at this point, though not as hard as earlier, and I had to walk real slow, because the roads were slippery. But still, I was inching closer and closer to home, and I could already see my building, so it wasn't so bad.
Finally, finally, I was at the flat. I changed into comfy 'pambahay' clothes and got the food out. I was so looking forward to enjoying my fried mozzarella, creamy mushroom pasta, and ribs. But I suppose it just wasn't my day. While the mozzarella and ribs were okay (note: 'okay,' not 'really good' or 'good'), the pasta was the sweetest creamy mushroom pasta I'd ever tasted. It was like eating some kind of weird dessert. To top it all off, a monster of a headache began to make its presence felt just when I gave up on the pasta.
Hay. I should sleep now.
02 December 2007
Still
still unable to write. and it's not like i haven't tried. it's just that i feel as if all the stuff i have to do are closing in on me, and there's no way i'll be able to finish everything on time. all i really want to do now is sleep, but no: "the woods are lovely, dark, and deep/but i have promises to keep/and miles to go before i sleep/and miles to go before i sleep."
*****
in other news, i have found the perfect gift. i don't know if it will work, but i sure hope so. operative word: lomo. i'm actually very excited about it. i'm thinking of getting one for myself, too, but i'll get the 'baby' version, the 'pa-cute' version. in RED. hee!
*****
i played tour guide yesterday to my father's sister's family. they were here only for a day--they just hopped over from KL is why--so we had to move on a very tight schedule. it was very tiring walking around, but it had been quite fun, too. my achievement for the day was, i didn't get them lost. well, uhm, maybe once. hehe.
*****
i guess i have to go and try writing again. i know i just have to keep at it no matter how slow i go. as a friend said, "just don't let go. never let go." i suppose writing is, in a lot of ways, like being in a relationship. right now, it's a relationship i'm not really happy about having. sigh.
*****
in other news, i have found the perfect gift. i don't know if it will work, but i sure hope so. operative word: lomo. i'm actually very excited about it. i'm thinking of getting one for myself, too, but i'll get the 'baby' version, the 'pa-cute' version. in RED. hee!
*****
i played tour guide yesterday to my father's sister's family. they were here only for a day--they just hopped over from KL is why--so we had to move on a very tight schedule. it was very tiring walking around, but it had been quite fun, too. my achievement for the day was, i didn't get them lost. well, uhm, maybe once. hehe.
*****
i guess i have to go and try writing again. i know i just have to keep at it no matter how slow i go. as a friend said, "just don't let go. never let go." i suppose writing is, in a lot of ways, like being in a relationship. right now, it's a relationship i'm not really happy about having. sigh.
30 November 2007
Oh, by Dave Matthews
The world is blowing up
The world is caving in
The world has lost her way again
But you are here with me
But you are here with me
Makes it ok
I hear you still talk to me
As if you're sitting in that dusty chair
Makes the hours easier to bear
I know despite the years alone
I'll always listen to you sing your sweet song
And if it's all the same to you
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell
Love you oh so well
And it's cold and darkness falls
It's as if you're in the next room so alive
I could swear I hear you singing to me
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell
The world is blowing up
The world is caving in
The world has lost her way again
But you are here with me
But you are here with me
Makes it ok
Oh girl you're singing to me still
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven overflow and fill hell
Love you oh so well
_____
I love this song. I really love this song.
"The world is blowing up, the world is caving in, the world has lost her way again, but you are here with me, but you are here with me, makes it ok."
I can listen to this song over and over and not get tired of it.
"I love you oh so well, like a kid loves candy and fresh snow."
Apparently, Dave Matthews wrote this song for his grandmother. He must have really loved her.
"I love you oh so well, enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell."
Imagine someone loving you this way.
The world is caving in
The world has lost her way again
But you are here with me
But you are here with me
Makes it ok
I hear you still talk to me
As if you're sitting in that dusty chair
Makes the hours easier to bear
I know despite the years alone
I'll always listen to you sing your sweet song
And if it's all the same to you
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell
Love you oh so well
And it's cold and darkness falls
It's as if you're in the next room so alive
I could swear I hear you singing to me
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell
The world is blowing up
The world is caving in
The world has lost her way again
But you are here with me
But you are here with me
Makes it ok
Oh girl you're singing to me still
I love you oh so well
Like a kid loves candy and fresh snow
I love you oh so well
Enough to fill up heaven overflow and fill hell
Love you oh so well
_____
I love this song. I really love this song.
"The world is blowing up, the world is caving in, the world has lost her way again, but you are here with me, but you are here with me, makes it ok."
I can listen to this song over and over and not get tired of it.
"I love you oh so well, like a kid loves candy and fresh snow."
Apparently, Dave Matthews wrote this song for his grandmother. He must have really loved her.
"I love you oh so well, enough to fill up heaven, overflow, and fill hell."
Imagine someone loving you this way.
29 November 2007
My Daemon
Yup, that's my Daemon. Actually, it's my second daemon. The first one that I got, Klitus, a Gibbon, was a result of me cheating--that is, I didn't answer the questions truthfully--so I retook the exam, and now, I have Aradion, a Fox. I'm still not sure if Aradion is really my perfect match, but I don't think it reflects well on me to take the exam a third time. Hehe.
I've been excited about this movie for some time now, though I haven't read the book. I wish I could read the book before seeing the movie, but that is simply not possible. I have papers to write and paperwork to take care of and lots of packing to do. Hay. I guess I'll just have to see the movie first then read the book later. I'll make sure to read the next two books right after the first though, so I'm better prepared when their movie versions come along.
My excitement for the movie is at its peak tonight, because I just saw the full trailer. I went out to see 'Enchanted,' which was okay--hilarious in parts and nicely reminiscent of the Disney movies of my childhood, but not as entertaining as I thought it would be--so it was really the preview of 'The Golden Compass' that made the whole movie experience for me. Plus: I had one of those yummy Lindt Lindor Balls just before the movie. Hee!
Anyhoo, I've been very distracted these past few days. There are just so many things that need to be taken care of. As already mentioned above: Papers. Paperwork. Packing. And in addition: Gifts. Visiting Relatives. My Slayer, Werewolf, Vampire, and Zombie Armies. Grrrowlerrr and other Fluffs that are now in danger of being eaten by one CONFUSED and very HUNGRY Fluff (hahaha). And 1001 more Apps. Indeed, there is no rest for the wicked. :D
On top of all these, I'm always getting sleepy these days. Must be hibernation season again. Hehe. Thing is when I get sleepy, I have to give in and sleep, because if not, I won't be able to function properly and work anyway. I'd like to to think of these moments when I give in as powernapping--you know taking those little naps that stretch up to 3 to 4 hours. Hehe. Sometimes, I wonder how I can ever go back to work after this stint. It'll be quite an adjustment to have a schedule again and to not be able to powernap whenever I feel like it. Oh well. I'll cross the bridge, la, la, la.
Ok, got to go. I'm so sleepy right now I can hardly think straight.
26 November 2007
On Being An Adult (Then Again, Maybe Not)
There. I just emailed my supervisor to let her now I'm not taking it. 'It' means an opportunity to be in Canada early next year (beginning in either January or March) for 4 to 6 months to connect with scholars in the University of Toronto and do my work from there. It means a sizable stipend, on top of what I'm getting now. It means a chance to get to know another culture, meet other kinds of people, and experience, at least 2 of the seasons again.
Why am I not taking it? I'd like to think it's because I'm being an adult about the whole thing. Taking this opportunity will take a lot from me. There's paperwork, making arrangements for my stuff here, setting up a new place there--all of which should be accomplished within a short period of time. Then, there are the other specific concerns: which books do I pack, which clothes, what kind of clothes, would I have friends there, would it be easy to go around town, how does the library work, etc, etc. I suppose it's just too much for a rather short stay, and it may not be worth it.
I also don't want to get distracted at this point in my life. As it is, I'm already distracted--by the Bangkok conference, Christmas, buying gifts, thoughts of going home, the little everyday things--and this is going to be a major distraction. My fear is that, I won't be able to do any work at all, because there would always be something needing my attention. Moreover, I'm already between countries. I suppose I don't want to add a third one and make things even more complicated.
But these are just, well, inconveniences, right? There has to be an academic reason. Well, I also did a bit of research on the University of Toronto, and while it has good academic programs, the scholars I want and need to meet and talk to are not there. But even if they were there, I'm also at that stage in my work where I need to figure things out on my own and for myself first, so connecting with other scholars is not really a priority right now. I suppose I just don't want to go out there with half-baked ideas and poorly constructed arguments.
So a new country and a sizable stipend and seasons notwithstanding, I have decided to pass this one up. There will be other opportunities later on. Preferably, in the UK and in the fall. :)
Why am I not taking it? I'd like to think it's because I'm being an adult about the whole thing. Taking this opportunity will take a lot from me. There's paperwork, making arrangements for my stuff here, setting up a new place there--all of which should be accomplished within a short period of time. Then, there are the other specific concerns: which books do I pack, which clothes, what kind of clothes, would I have friends there, would it be easy to go around town, how does the library work, etc, etc. I suppose it's just too much for a rather short stay, and it may not be worth it.
I also don't want to get distracted at this point in my life. As it is, I'm already distracted--by the Bangkok conference, Christmas, buying gifts, thoughts of going home, the little everyday things--and this is going to be a major distraction. My fear is that, I won't be able to do any work at all, because there would always be something needing my attention. Moreover, I'm already between countries. I suppose I don't want to add a third one and make things even more complicated.
But these are just, well, inconveniences, right? There has to be an academic reason. Well, I also did a bit of research on the University of Toronto, and while it has good academic programs, the scholars I want and need to meet and talk to are not there. But even if they were there, I'm also at that stage in my work where I need to figure things out on my own and for myself first, so connecting with other scholars is not really a priority right now. I suppose I just don't want to go out there with half-baked ideas and poorly constructed arguments.
So a new country and a sizable stipend and seasons notwithstanding, I have decided to pass this one up. There will be other opportunities later on. Preferably, in the UK and in the fall. :)
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