gearing up

Blog inactivity is predominantly caused by the dawning of the exam season. Oh wait, the FINAL EVER exams ever to be undertaken *big fat smile*

So the stakes are high. Even more determined to do my best ever in my 4 years of uni life. Definitely a huge sigh of relief when I saw the 'A' written on top of my BIOC453 assignment- which I didn't have much time to complete after micr oral exam and all. Interpretive exam was last Friday, I think I did terribly :( Praying for a miracle to be honest; crossing my fingers that my crazy-as answers about Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA will somehow make sense to the markers.

And of course, the hype of having Alexander Yeo being born into this world :D He's definitely a big boy, doesn't cry much, and sleeps in the cutest way (he has his cute little hands curled up to his face). hehe. Ray looks so proud as a dad and Michelle, you're just so amazing to have gone through all that. :) Not going to post photos on blog or facebook for now due to privacy requests.

My first exam is next Thurs, next and last ever on the next day Friday eeks. But yay I can't wait for all this to be over!

future, undecided

HEHEHHEHE. So cute.

I'm not sure if I want everyone to know this yet, but here is the latest news regarding my phd/work bla bla indecisiveness: I met with my supervisor yesterday, and he offered me a job at the lab- for 6 months at the time being.

I know I should feel a sense of relief/joy, instead I'm still as indecisive as before. I mean, being offered a job (while not the best for an honours graduate) even before graduation, and knowing that it's there for me as a fall-back plan is VERY comforting.

So I should smack myself for replying to him that I'm not too interested in the topic of research if I were to stay there next year, right?

And then he offered another option: to try out the job by doing a summer studentship at the lab for 10 weeks first, to find out if I really want to commit to the 6 months. Summer studentship = $$$ during holidays :) But many other issues are involved if I do agree to take on the studentship, e.g. accomodation (for another year?). But then again, those 6 months would do well on my cv in work experience. GAH.

I hesitated for a moment, but I know that opportunities like these don't come by often. I didn't say yes rightaway, but said I'd think about it, and we'll also think about PhD/masters proposal for scholarship application (due early Nov).

Part of me still want to get the "perfect" job somewhere in the North Island. Part of me is thinking if I'll regret letting go of this opportunity.

So for now, I'll apply for postgrad scholarship and see how that turns out. I'll apply for jobs soon. SOOOON. Oh sigh. Can't my future just be laid out perfectly in a 5-year plan for me to see?

sataaaaaaaay

Bill Ricchini has such a smooth, satiny voice *sways head from side to side*

First heard his song "A Cold Wind Will Blow Through Your Door" from the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.

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It's the baby boom season, seriously! I knew that 3 of my cousins are pregnant (1 even with twins), then mum just told me my cousin-in-law is now expecting too.

Anyway, went to the Raya open house event this year. I don't attend many OMSA events I admit, so didn't know about this particular one until this year :P

Thumbs up to the organisers. The food didn't run out (almost) when we got there after church. Awesome food hehe I didn't realise how much I had missed eating Malay curry, rendang, satay etc. We were all kinda shocked at the sheer amount of Malaysians gathered altogether today too :P

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it's been a while since I last said "Selamat Hari Raya"- it sounded funny coming out from my mouth heh

crowded!

Esther's going back to Malawi this Friday having completed her thesis last week. She attended cell group last year, always helping out with ushering, and always smiling :)

We'll miss you, Esther. Safe journey throughout the 26 hours of travel (eeks)!

happy bday Louise!

Happy bday to Louise in advance! (it's tomorrow)

She hosted a tea party at her place this afternoon, even made yummy food all by herself! Oh yea I have a big weakness for cream puffs :P gobbled down at least 3 just now.

the pony bday cake!

collages since I'm too lazy to upload them 1 by 1...

the food was AMAZING. so full but couldn't stop eating
not only they tasted good, they looked really good too

And then, as usual, we went a little snap-happy. The weather was wonderful (though pretty windy) + beautiful balcony = fantasticrazy photos haha. The Raybans are not mine- Chyi kindly loaned it to me since she has 3 *gasp*. Oh la, one for her sister.

They do look nice :P Especially the one in violet. Hint hint I do need a new pair of sunnies for Welly trip! ;)

this is IT

I'm handing in my MICR490 dissertation tomorrow!!!

13,588 words (68 pages) per copy, 4 copies = over $50 in printing of the coloured pages to show my pretty graphs haha. It better be worth it. Thanks to Agnes for the b&w printing and the many drafts (and to all the trees that were chopped down to make this possible).

that's how thick the unbound copies are!

weeeeeeeeeeee :) *high 5 Ron*

oh, and just in case you're wondering what the heck my dissertation is about: the title is
"use of inhibitory agents to facilitate entry of antisense molecules into Gram-positive bacteria" :P not that you'd even know what Gram-positive bacteria is without prior science bg but nyeh the title deserves a mention here ok

for intellectual property reasons I can't show you guys how the pretty graphs look like

99.9% done now! 0.1% is to bind the 4 copies and hand them in before 5pm tomorrow.

All in all, I'm surprised at how organised I've been about this. This year in general. The exams and assignment due dates can't be helped, so considering all the super crammed schedule, I'm still happily sane!

For now (till end of October), just need to keep studying + doing assignment (1 more stupid biochem left) + keep applying for jobs/scholarships + drinking coffee + more studying. No rest until I see that "1st class honours" printed on my certificate.

Ok, back to my daily routine of studying until 6am and waking up at noon.