Saturday, March 04, 2006

雨慨 (Lament of the Rain)

樱树枯萎 雨继流,
落花没意 水无情;
闪电交叉 雷欲羞,
雨过天晓 再幻晴。

Reader: "What the??! What does that mean????"

Just curious.. what do YOU think this means?


For the non-Malaysians, non-Chinese, bananas and semi-bananas, here's a terrible translation:

Sakura tree dying rain still pouring;
Fallen flowers no meaning water no feeling.
Lightning across the sky thunder feels shy;
After rain the morning calls sunny sky is again false.

Reader: "WHAT??!"

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Vision Statement Prep

Okay, I've decided I want a vision statement for myself.

In my 3 years of college, only a handful of classes truly inspire me. FINANCE 102 IS DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THEM. Business 195: Business Strategy and Policy is. I don't know what other people think, but imho Anthony Paustian is a very interesting and funny professor. And quite a motivational speaker.

We were talking about vision statements and goal setting on Monday. Our reading for the day included the following:

"A graduating class of students were surveyed. Only 3% had set goals for the next 5-10 years. 10 years later, the same class were surveyed again. Those 3% had achieved more than what the other 97% had achieved collectively."

Hmm.. if that doesn't make you want to set your future goals, how about a million dollars? Yes? Okay, after you set your goals, you'll have that one million dollars. :P

Anyway, I've made my mind. I'm gonna think up my vision statement for the next 5 years and set financial, spiritual, mental, family, career, social and physical goals.

Just when I'll actually get around to doing it is another matter. Perhaps after our next class when he talks about time management. ;)

Friday, February 10, 2006

An Apology

"I am sorry", Jean said to Tina. No reply. They were close friends. Three months ago, Jean yelled at Tina over something petty, and Tina promptly stormed off. "You always liked to speed when you were angry." "Please forgive me", Jean looked back one last time, and left the cemetery.

Guess how many words are there? ;)

Monday, December 05, 2005

A Letter for Santa

Dear Santa,

I might not have been sugary nice this year, but I've tried. I might have said some things I shouldn't have said, and did not say some things that I should have. I may have been unkind or selfish occasionally, and even lied once in a while. But I neither robbed nor killed, so would you please grant my requests this Christmas?

You gave me a lot this year, and I want to thank you for that. You gave me a wonderful summer and introduced me to a world I'll soon join. I've met some great people, people whom I hope will remain my friends for life. You brought me to many places, and showed me what I could achieve. You sprinkled pleasant surprises along the year, and revealed some long-lost friends as I strolled through time.

But Santa, for all your gifts, I arrive at December's door an unhappy child. You showed me the paths I could take, and I've strived to travel as far as I can. In my journey, I dropped some items in my backpack, yet I feel more burdened by the loss. I dreamt of frolicking with deers, diving into waterfalls and running with leopards, but somehow I ended up taking the shortest shortcut possible.

I wanted to do my best in whatever I did, but now I think my priorities have been terribly wrong. Although I've done well in the things I know I'm good at, I don't feel the sense of accomplishment after reaching my goals. I swore never to let my goals become my life, but I think I've been too single-minded in my pursuit. If we are climbing towards our peak in our 20s, then why is a part of me already dying?

I lost my traveling partner this year, and I can only blame myself for losing him. In the month that followed, I relived countless memories and shed silent tears. Why can't life remain simple as it was years ago? A time when choosing where to go or where to eat were the toughest decisions we made. Our map says we'll meet a fork in our journey soon, and I'm afraid that we'll take separate roads then. I cannot bear to travel further without knowing when our roads will merge again. You've been to every chimney on earth. You know the way to every place. Won't you point out how far after the fork would the two paths meet?

Dear Santa, if you do make dreams come true, won't you show me how to turn back? My backpack is starting to tear, and the items I need to fix it are lying on the road home.

This Christmas eve, I'm going to sleep early. No matter what noises I hear that night, I'll not open my eyes and catch you leaving gifts under the tree. When morning comes, I'll unwrap my gifts. Hopefully, in one of those colorful gift boxes, I'll find a new map. A map to return home.


Love,

Sheau Chin

Friday, November 18, 2005

Java Chip Frappuccinos

Here's my first attempt at a 50-word story!

This story was inspired during a long walk from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 in Chicago O'Hare airport. There's a pretty interesting neon light sculpture in the tunnel linking those 2 terminals. The lights range from green to orange to purple. The whole thing is hanging above the walk-alator so you can look up at it. And there's some sort of music playing. It's one of those things that is supposed to have a very 'deep' meaning. Anyway, I was walking on the walk-alator, holding a Starbucks coffee, and suddenly thought of this story. Not very nice one la, but hey, can't expect much from an exhausted person waiting for her 4th delayed flight in 2 days.

I read that there's a competition by some newspaper (I think it's New York Times, but am not sure). This competition asks people to submit stories that are 50 and ONLY 50 words long, then the best stories are published. I read 2 examples, they are very very good. It is so hard to write concisely while retaining every point you want to make. Which is why the story below has a lot of missing points.

Btw, the story was not meant to be 50 words long only. But then I got tired of the story halfway through, ran out of ideas and decided people might ask me questions about it if it was too detailed. Plus I don't want another story as long as 'Elena-the-witch'. So anyway, after a super long-winded explanation of my story, here goes...


She loved Frappuccinos. He drank Espressos only and disliked Frappuccinos. They met in New York. A month later, she fell for him. He was attached, so she left for San Francisco. She couldn't forget him. She started drinking Espressos for the memories. One day they met again.

He was holding a Frappuccino.


Yes yes, corny I know.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

风中的哀悼

后来还是走了。

一时狠下心来, 说走就走。

或许忙得什么都没时间想, 所以我的决定能坚持到现在。

也或许没有时间, 所以还没有好好的哀悼一下。

我自己觉得过得还好, 可是却会在外面径自发呆。

脾气比平时还要难以捉摸, 一时沉默寡言, 一时又很多话。

你还会习惯性地在晚上跟我说声晚安。

有些话我们不说了, 可时彼此还没到客客气气寒嘘几句的地步。

我想, 我还会依靠你, 直到你自己放手的那一天。

我们用泪用心用坚持换回来的点点滴滴, 如今就记忆在我们心中。

你走进我生活的第一天, 犹如往湖中间丢了一粒小石子。

波澜慢慢往外移, 我的规律也慢慢变。

但和最后又恢复平静的湖不一样的, 是从此我不会变回以前的我。

我永远都爱你, 只是我不是爱情万能主义者。

也许多几个月, 我们又会在一起了。

可是我有一种感觉, 有一天, 我们还是会分的。

四年的风风雨雨, 分分离离,注定了我们的生活永远都会纠缠着。

因为我们是两只跳不完舞的蝴蝶。

Friday, October 28, 2005

Grumble Grumble

So here I am, doing my Statistics homework in Excel without much grumbling. Completing assignments minus complaints or throwing tantrums is a rare occasion, my roommate can easily tell you that.

I started on this noble task around 9 pm. 3 questions to do, brain thinks: "hmm.. probably can finish this before body sleeps tonight." Right? WRONG!!

It is now 11.30 pm, guess how many questions have I done? 1st question finished, and 1/3 way through the 2nd one. :'(

After 1 hour of struggling with 2nd question part (i), I'm finally done.

Brain thinks again: "finally!! Ok, that stupid part (i) is done, finally can move on to part (ii)!!"

Hands grab textbook, fingers flip to correct page.

Eyes proceed to read: (ii) REPEAT PART (i) for equation (8.18)."

:S

Mouth announce that it's time for bed. Head nods.