My 1st hair cut in London, and it costs a bomb! 24 pounds. What say you? I say I still prefer my stylist in Singapore that costs 1/3 the price and no less the satisfaction.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
A "Memorable" Experience!
It's been some time since I last updated my blog. Anyway, just a quick recap of what has transpired the past week or so (as I can remember). ..
1) Munkeet came to London. Had dinner at Chinatown and the weekend went to window-shop around Picadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Covent Garden.
2) Caught my first musical, Chicago. Wasn't that fantastic.
3) Went for LSE Singapore Society picnic at Regent Park with Yi Fang and realised we were the only Masters student there (quite expected though). Suffice to say, we felt quite old compared to the rest. Din't take photos though.
4) Went to British Musuem but did not manage to see the Terracottas. Quite amazing how many artifacts/relics/exhibits on display and most importantly, it's FREE! Definitely one of the best way to spend an educational and cheap day in London.
1230pm - Went to the library and to my dismay, found that the scanner wasn't working. Met another student there who told me that the only other free-access scanner in school at the computer lab was also down! Undettered, I went to Career Service, Student Union and my department to ask around for a scanner. But I was to be disappointed. Sms Yut to ask him and he joined me in my hunt for a scanner since he needs to send in his application too.
230pm - Went to Student Services Centre and was directed to Federal Express shop near School. Went there and to our horror, the colour scanner was down! Nvm, made our way to another Federal Express shop that was supposed to be nearby but took us a whole lot longer because we were given wrong directions.
330pm - Ended up at Federal Express shop near Chancery Lane. The colour scanner was working, BUT apparantly, they are not allowed to scan offical documents i.e. transcripts, driving licenses, certificates etc. as they might be subject to manipulation! So, we were stuck once again. Anyway, the cost of scanning there is exhorbitant! 10 pounds for the 1st page and 40 pence for subsequent pages. WTF, S$30 to scan 1 page!?!?!?!
400pm - Really desperate and ended up in Argos where we wanted to buy a 3in1 printer just so we can scan the documents even though we already have a printer at home. Yes, that's how desperate we were! It would have caused us around 50 pounds until I thought of Munkeet. So i gave him a call and he said he could help with scanning but I have to go down to his office. What to do? Haiz....
445pm - Reached Munkeet's office after much directions needed. Waited a good 45 mins before the document was finally scanned because his secretary was busy.
615pm - Home Sweet Home
So for those who think that going overseas is very glamourous and fun and cool, think again! And for those who had such experiences overseas before, I totally understand and sympathise with your predicament. Let's just hope it don't happen once too often...
1) Munkeet came to London. Had dinner at Chinatown and the weekend went to window-shop around Picadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Covent Garden.
2) Caught my first musical, Chicago. Wasn't that fantastic.
3) Went for LSE Singapore Society picnic at Regent Park with Yi Fang and realised we were the only Masters student there (quite expected though). Suffice to say, we felt quite old compared to the rest. Din't take photos though.
4) Went to British Musuem but did not manage to see the Terracottas. Quite amazing how many artifacts/relics/exhibits on display and most importantly, it's FREE! Definitely one of the best way to spend an educational and cheap day in London.
Anyway,now to the main point of today's entry. Things gave been quite alright since I've arrived. Though there are problems here and there, there was nothing much to complain as it's just part and parcel of staying overseas. But last week I experienced a major hiccup, something I would probably not experience in Singapore, something that gives evidence to Murphy's Law - Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. And this is something as simple as scanning a document, or so I thought.
It all started when I needed to scan my NTU academic transcript for my job application as the dateline for Goldman Sachs was that very day.
1230pm - Went to the library and to my dismay, found that the scanner wasn't working. Met another student there who told me that the only other free-access scanner in school at the computer lab was also down! Undettered, I went to Career Service, Student Union and my department to ask around for a scanner. But I was to be disappointed. Sms Yut to ask him and he joined me in my hunt for a scanner since he needs to send in his application too.
230pm - Went to Student Services Centre and was directed to Federal Express shop near School. Went there and to our horror, the colour scanner was down! Nvm, made our way to another Federal Express shop that was supposed to be nearby but took us a whole lot longer because we were given wrong directions.
330pm - Ended up at Federal Express shop near Chancery Lane. The colour scanner was working, BUT apparantly, they are not allowed to scan offical documents i.e. transcripts, driving licenses, certificates etc. as they might be subject to manipulation! So, we were stuck once again. Anyway, the cost of scanning there is exhorbitant! 10 pounds for the 1st page and 40 pence for subsequent pages. WTF, S$30 to scan 1 page!?!?!?!
400pm - Really desperate and ended up in Argos where we wanted to buy a 3in1 printer just so we can scan the documents even though we already have a printer at home. Yes, that's how desperate we were! It would have caused us around 50 pounds until I thought of Munkeet. So i gave him a call and he said he could help with scanning but I have to go down to his office. What to do? Haiz....
445pm - Reached Munkeet's office after much directions needed. Waited a good 45 mins before the document was finally scanned because his secretary was busy.
615pm - Home Sweet Home
So for those who think that going overseas is very glamourous and fun and cool, think again! And for those who had such experiences overseas before, I totally understand and sympathise with your predicament. Let's just hope it don't happen once too often...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thank you...
It's been almost 3 weeks since I arrived in London, and I have pretty much settled in. On top of going for lessons on most days (I have been skipping quite a few of them), there are career presentations to keep me occupied. Other time is spent on routine stuff like grocery shopping, cooking, studying etc.
Would just like to show my appreciation to HL. She has been really great, waking up every morning to talk to me although I know she's very tired. She has also been very understanding (most of the time!) and I really appreciate that. I guess it's never easy on both parties during a long distance relationship but things are going pretty well at the moment, although I managed to piss her off for 2 days straight by not answering her phone call! But cannot blame me right cuz I'm holding on to 3 phones at the moment - 1 for my Singapore line, 1 pay-as-you-go and 1 contract line. So when she calls or msgs the Singapore phone, which is mostly in my bag, I tend to not check it and therefore dont reply or pick up her call. I know the feeling and I'm really sorry! Will check my phone on a more regular basis, promise! Looking forward to you coming in November!!!
Anyway, munkeet arrived from lithuania 2 days ago and I brought him to Chinatown and Picadilly Circus. We also caught a musical, Chicago with Yut and another of his friend. The musical's not really good. Kelly Osbourne is so overrated, to think the posters promote her as though she's so fantastic. Her role was not that important and her singing was ordinary. Perhaps I can even do better than her. Haha. Hopefully there will be better ones to come!
Must really start to catch up on my work once official lessons start next week. Just to let my parents know I have not forgotten my objective in coming here, which is to study hard! Will TRY not to skip lessons so often. Wait for my good news next July... hopefully
Would just like to show my appreciation to HL. She has been really great, waking up every morning to talk to me although I know she's very tired. She has also been very understanding (most of the time!) and I really appreciate that. I guess it's never easy on both parties during a long distance relationship but things are going pretty well at the moment, although I managed to piss her off for 2 days straight by not answering her phone call! But cannot blame me right cuz I'm holding on to 3 phones at the moment - 1 for my Singapore line, 1 pay-as-you-go and 1 contract line. So when she calls or msgs the Singapore phone, which is mostly in my bag, I tend to not check it and therefore dont reply or pick up her call. I know the feeling and I'm really sorry! Will check my phone on a more regular basis, promise! Looking forward to you coming in November!!!
Anyway, munkeet arrived from lithuania 2 days ago and I brought him to Chinatown and Picadilly Circus. We also caught a musical, Chicago with Yut and another of his friend. The musical's not really good. Kelly Osbourne is so overrated, to think the posters promote her as though she's so fantastic. Her role was not that important and her singing was ordinary. Perhaps I can even do better than her. Haha. Hopefully there will be better ones to come!
Must really start to catch up on my work once official lessons start next week. Just to let my parents know I have not forgotten my objective in coming here, which is to study hard! Will TRY not to skip lessons so often. Wait for my good news next July... hopefully
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A busy, busy period..
It's been such a hectic few days and I don't see the end in sight. This week is my pre-sessional course and it's lessons from morning till afternoon everyday through the week, even weekends! I can already foresee this will be a hell month as most of the application datelines end this monthor next month the latest. And for those who have applied for a job before, you all know how much time is spent filling up all the application forms. Probably have to shelve my travel plans till November the earliest.
On top of that, the career presentations and fairs are coming thick & fast. Last night I went to Merrill Lynch company presentation and today was Banking & Financial Services Fair (where all the financial companies from Goldman to RBS to Morning Star to Bernstein Research.... you get the idea) at LSE. The next 2 weeks will see me going for Morgan Stanley, UBS, Rothschild, Fidelity and Citigroup. You can definitely see and feel the difference in the recruitment in UK compared to Singapore. It's like you are paying so much for your education so that you will have a higher chance of landing your dream job.
Just attending these 2 events made me realise 1 thing. The students at LSE are so aggressive in looking for a job it's just unbelievable. Just an example, the system crashed when the online registration for the Banking & Financial Services Fair started because so many students were trying to lay their hands on a coveted spot. It's no surprise when I go around talking to people, 95% of them wanted to go into Investment Banking. It's like the holy grail of the finance industry, where all the top students from the top schools yearn for a job in IB. Lucky I'm not so ambitious and would gladly settle for a job in Capital Markets or Investment Management. That means a whole less competition for me. Haha, self-consolation.
1 more thing I realise is how fortunate I am back in Singapore. It's like in NTU, I can really concentrate on studies if I want to and still have time to go shopping, catch a movie, play poker or whatever shit. Here it's so different. All the time spend travelling on tube (MRT) and bus, cleaning the house, doing the grocery shopping and laundry just leaves me with no time to do anything else at all (except maybe for a bit of prison break and heroes once in a while). And through all this, you realise how easily $$ is spend doing all these things. Wonder how much the $$ my dad gave will last. I really do not want to ask for extra money as I really feel bad about spending so much money.
Just today, I settled my phone after deliberating for some time. I settled for a 30 pound, 18 month contract that gives 400 mins and 500 sms. I know it sounds stupid to sign a 18 month contract when I'll probably be here for only 10-11 months, but at least I get a brand new NOKIA N95 free! I did a bit of calculations and concluded that on a pay-as-you-go plan, I'll also probably pay about 30 pounds a months minimum. So the extra 7-8 months when I leave will be effectively the price of my N95, which is not that bad I guess.
Anyway, to end it off, I shall talk about my "virgin" clubbing experience in London. It was a Freshers event organised by some Chinese society of some University in London. And going there made me realise 1 thing. The Chinese are taking over the world! As it was organised by Chinese society, it was mostly attended by PRCs. And all of these PRCs are the next generation of filthy rich teens whose spending power is quite incredible. The crazy stock market must be making all the Chinese too rich and it is so damn apparant yesterday. They all came out decked out in their LVs, Guccis, Pradas bags and designer wear by the hundreds. But the point I'm trying to make is I had such a bad experience because me and my friends queued up for 2 hours and still did not manage to get in. The organiser obviously oversold more tickets than the club could handle. In the end, we left for home without me even getting the chance to step into the club. WTF?!?!?! I probably won't go clubbing anytime again in the near future, unless I am guaranteed entry of course.
On top of that, the career presentations and fairs are coming thick & fast. Last night I went to Merrill Lynch company presentation and today was Banking & Financial Services Fair (where all the financial companies from Goldman to RBS to Morning Star to Bernstein Research.... you get the idea) at LSE. The next 2 weeks will see me going for Morgan Stanley, UBS, Rothschild, Fidelity and Citigroup. You can definitely see and feel the difference in the recruitment in UK compared to Singapore. It's like you are paying so much for your education so that you will have a higher chance of landing your dream job.
Just attending these 2 events made me realise 1 thing. The students at LSE are so aggressive in looking for a job it's just unbelievable. Just an example, the system crashed when the online registration for the Banking & Financial Services Fair started because so many students were trying to lay their hands on a coveted spot. It's no surprise when I go around talking to people, 95% of them wanted to go into Investment Banking. It's like the holy grail of the finance industry, where all the top students from the top schools yearn for a job in IB. Lucky I'm not so ambitious and would gladly settle for a job in Capital Markets or Investment Management. That means a whole less competition for me. Haha, self-consolation.
1 more thing I realise is how fortunate I am back in Singapore. It's like in NTU, I can really concentrate on studies if I want to and still have time to go shopping, catch a movie, play poker or whatever shit. Here it's so different. All the time spend travelling on tube (MRT) and bus, cleaning the house, doing the grocery shopping and laundry just leaves me with no time to do anything else at all (except maybe for a bit of prison break and heroes once in a while). And through all this, you realise how easily $$ is spend doing all these things. Wonder how much the $$ my dad gave will last. I really do not want to ask for extra money as I really feel bad about spending so much money.
Just today, I settled my phone after deliberating for some time. I settled for a 30 pound, 18 month contract that gives 400 mins and 500 sms. I know it sounds stupid to sign a 18 month contract when I'll probably be here for only 10-11 months, but at least I get a brand new NOKIA N95 free! I did a bit of calculations and concluded that on a pay-as-you-go plan, I'll also probably pay about 30 pounds a months minimum. So the extra 7-8 months when I leave will be effectively the price of my N95, which is not that bad I guess.
Anyway, to end it off, I shall talk about my "virgin" clubbing experience in London. It was a Freshers event organised by some Chinese society of some University in London. And going there made me realise 1 thing. The Chinese are taking over the world! As it was organised by Chinese society, it was mostly attended by PRCs. And all of these PRCs are the next generation of filthy rich teens whose spending power is quite incredible. The crazy stock market must be making all the Chinese too rich and it is so damn apparant yesterday. They all came out decked out in their LVs, Guccis, Pradas bags and designer wear by the hundreds. But the point I'm trying to make is I had such a bad experience because me and my friends queued up for 2 hours and still did not manage to get in. The organiser obviously oversold more tickets than the club could handle. In the end, we left for home without me even getting the chance to step into the club. WTF?!?!?! I probably won't go clubbing anytime again in the near future, unless I am guaranteed entry of course.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Long Awaited Photos (Part I)
Me fixing up the study desk
My messy bed
A corner of my room
My house from the outside. It's 3 storeys with a garden and garage at the back. Shall take more photos and post it up again.
Dinner with Celine & parents, Yi Fang. Yut did a wonderful job with the cooking. Had my most sumptious dinner in London yet - Japanese curry, soup, vegetables, eggs...
Typical Dinner (Rice + 1 dish)
Extravagant Dinner (Rice + 2 dishes)
My version of fried rice (tastes quite good too!)
Posing with my dinnerLong Awaited Photos (Part II)
At Covent Garden with Celine & parents. It's like a market place with many street cafes and retail shops. Very crowded on weekends and there's a store inside - Ben's Cookies which sell fantastically good and sinful cookies at an exhorbitant price. 6.50 pounds for 7, which works out to about S$3 per cookie!
At Covent Garden with Yut
Chinatown with all the lanterns as it is around Mid Autumn Festival
1st taste of chinese food in london at some Chinese restaurant in Chinatown - Char Kway Teow!!! quite oily but tastes so good... Not cheap though. 6 pounds = S$18
Leicester Square at night, where most cinema premieres are held. Come down to catch a glimpse of your favourite celebrities! Cinema tickets ranges from 4 - 11 pounds (i think) depending on the cinema and time.
Passed by theatre showing Billy Elliot. So many musicals to catch but tickets are not that cheap though... There are limited half price tickets which poor student like me have to settle for when I do want to catch a musical.
Statue at Piccadully Circus
Piccadilly Circus aka Singapore Orchard Road
This photo is a small part of the amazingly huge store of Abercrombie & Fitch in London. It's so big you just have to come and see for yourself to believe. The store have no signs outside and it's in quite a secluded street, but nonetheless it's still crowded with people. Must congratulate the marketing guys on a job well done. Interestingly, there's a half naked male model at the entrance for people to take photos with and the people working there are so gorgeous that the guys look so gay and the girls are just so hot! Inside the shop, it's quite dim and the music is so loud that I swear they can convert it into a nightclub at night and make more $$..Long Awaited Photos (Part III)
A picture of the maestro and LSE Director, Howard Davies. Interesting talk where Greenspan gave some of his insights into world events. Definitely once in a lifetime experience for me..
Ticket for the talk
The super long queue which stretches all the way from inside the building to outside the building and around the corner. Highly likely that most of these people din't manage to get the tickets. Lucky me..
Queueing up with some fellow Singaporeans for the tickets early in the morning at 6 plus with already a queue developing behind us although tickets are only given out at 8. Kiasu Singaporeans.. haha
Some snapshots of LSE. It's quite similar to SMU, a university right in the centre of the city. It's really crowded now that school starts since the compound isn't very big and there are over 8,000 students.
One of the many streets leading into LSE
During Fresher's Fair aka Orientation Week where all the students can sign up for the various clubs and societies on offer. I personally signed up for Jitsu (self-defence classes), Asian Career Society and Finance Society. Do not know how much time I have for them though because there is just so much to do for a MSc student - study and job-looking. I already signed up for 4 company presentations in the next 2 weeks with Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, UBS and also some career skills workshop. Hopefully all these efforts pay off and I can secure a job well before I graduate.Took some time off to visit Buckingham Palace too. Here are some snapshots..
Went to the town of Windsor and Eton with Leo, his gf and mom to see Windsor Castle. Din't manage to go to the ultra-exclusive Eton College though. Really like the town. Although it was quite small, but it quite well-equipped with many shops and cafes. Everything is so relaxed here it feels like weekends the whole year round.
Passed by a Ferrari showroom on the way to Windsor and Eton. Anyone want to sponsor me
Monday, October 1, 2007
My Thoughts for the Week...
I'm ashamed to say this, but I am in the process of converting myself into a fully-fledged house husband! Much of my time at home is spent doing grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning up the place, doing laundry, fixing up the desks and house. It's definitely things I won't or seldom do back in Singapore. But guess it's good, and part of the experience of living abroad. At least, I'm still enjoying it, for the moment at least.
Don't know whether it's the weather or what, but I'm really eating alot over here. Think more energy is needed to keep myself warm due to the cold weather. It's like I just had dinner and I'm still looking for food. Therefore went to do some groceries shopping over the weekend to buy some snacks to satisfy my cravings (which isn't exactly a cheap thing to do)! And rice in UK just tastes so good, probably because I have it here less often that's why I learn to appreciate it. But it's good i guess. You definitely learn to appreciate the things you used to take for granted back home. Life in Simgapore is just too comfortable.
Today, I woke up real early to go LSE to queue for tickets to hear Alan Greenspan speak later in the evening. Yes, it's Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve Chairman is coming to LSE to speak! It should be an eye-opener and this is probably part of the reason why people pay so much to come LSE to study. Probably just one of the many distinguished speakers that will be here during my short 1 year in LSE. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to hear from more of such pre-eminent speakers. Definitely looking forward to the talk later. Met a few groups of Singaporeans during the queuing up. Guess the kiasu-ness of Singaporeans really show as most of them turn up quite early including me! Most of them already knew one another, either through the Fresher's Camp in Singapore or in hall, of which neither I am involved in. It's good though as most of them are really friendly . Hopefully I will get to know more people once my school starts this weekend.
Will be quite busy this week, with school and department inductions followed by Fresher's Fair (sth like orientation) before school starts on Saturday. But guess it's good, must make full use of my time in London!
My internet and cable TV at home should be set up by today hopefully. It's really difficult keeping in touch with the world with no internet and TV. Really hope that all the house stuff can be settled asap.
Ling told me today that she can probably only take a week's leave during the 2nd week of December, which is my last week of school term. Not sure whether she can do something about it but guess we have to work something out around her schedule. Really hope she can come during year end for a longer period of time so that we can travel to more places and spend Christmas and New Year in some part of Europe. So many things to do but so little time! Really looking forward to her arrival though although it's still some time away. Haha, although time will fly once school starts and December will arrive very soon! Look forward to seeing you in December...
Don't know whether it's the weather or what, but I'm really eating alot over here. Think more energy is needed to keep myself warm due to the cold weather. It's like I just had dinner and I'm still looking for food. Therefore went to do some groceries shopping over the weekend to buy some snacks to satisfy my cravings (which isn't exactly a cheap thing to do)! And rice in UK just tastes so good, probably because I have it here less often that's why I learn to appreciate it. But it's good i guess. You definitely learn to appreciate the things you used to take for granted back home. Life in Simgapore is just too comfortable.
Today, I woke up real early to go LSE to queue for tickets to hear Alan Greenspan speak later in the evening. Yes, it's Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve Chairman is coming to LSE to speak! It should be an eye-opener and this is probably part of the reason why people pay so much to come LSE to study. Probably just one of the many distinguished speakers that will be here during my short 1 year in LSE. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to hear from more of such pre-eminent speakers. Definitely looking forward to the talk later. Met a few groups of Singaporeans during the queuing up. Guess the kiasu-ness of Singaporeans really show as most of them turn up quite early including me! Most of them already knew one another, either through the Fresher's Camp in Singapore or in hall, of which neither I am involved in. It's good though as most of them are really friendly . Hopefully I will get to know more people once my school starts this weekend.
Will be quite busy this week, with school and department inductions followed by Fresher's Fair (sth like orientation) before school starts on Saturday. But guess it's good, must make full use of my time in London!
My internet and cable TV at home should be set up by today hopefully. It's really difficult keeping in touch with the world with no internet and TV. Really hope that all the house stuff can be settled asap.
Ling told me today that she can probably only take a week's leave during the 2nd week of December, which is my last week of school term. Not sure whether she can do something about it but guess we have to work something out around her schedule. Really hope she can come during year end for a longer period of time so that we can travel to more places and spend Christmas and New Year in some part of Europe. So many things to do but so little time! Really looking forward to her arrival though although it's still some time away. Haha, although time will fly once school starts and December will arrive very soon! Look forward to seeing you in December...
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