My Wish

Rascal Flatts is a good band...

hehe... been taking some time out to enjoy quite a bit of their music.. Love their songs!!

anyway... this is for everyone out there who cares and that I care for... I think I am rediscovering the joy of being able to shed off some layers of that thick outer shell... thanks guys... :)

My Wish

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you’re faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’ ‘til you find the window
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

Chorus

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you
And the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you find God’s grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Engineering Materials

I remember in Year 2 or 3, one of the modules was talking about materials and the strength of materials. And I remember there was something called cyclic loading, which is especially common in testing components used in aeroplanes. The component is subjected to a load, say tensile stress, that increased from zero to a maximum value within a certain time, and then is decreased to zero again within a certain time. So the cycle is repeated many many times to investigate when failure will take place.

Some materials don't withstand cyclic loading too well. They fail quite soon into the cycles. Other materials are a lot better, either because of their natural properties or that they have been reinforced (by material or by structure)

I also remember that there is a method of strengthening some materials which is quite interesting. The material is subject to a load (i.e. stress or heat) and then after that relaxed. And because the load induced more stresses and stress lines within the materials, they eventually prevent further cracks or stress lines from propagating throughout the material. So by subjecting the material to an initial load and initial stresses, the material becomes stronger and can take even more load eventually. So it doesn't mean that initial stress and cracks will always lead to failure of the material; sometimes it makes the material a lot stronger.

I also remember that in crack propagation, while many cracks and stress lines in the materials can strengthen it, sometimes all it takes is just one crack in the material for absolute failure. One crack to start snacking its way through the internal structure, moving quickly through, inflicting simple and direct damage.

I never really liked the materials part of the engineering courses (I didn't take chemistry in Junior College) but one can't deny how relevant it is in the world today...

Chilling out...

If you don't consciously think about it, you never realise how long you've known some of the people around you...

Took some time off yesterday afternoon to meet up with some of the wushu mates ... went for lunch at Wisma followed by a walk-walk around...

key discovery points of the day:
- We've known each other for like 6 years! Since 2001!! Gosh!
- You can never squish the crappiness out of people like us, no matter how old we are



- It feels so fulfilling to be with a group of Singaporeans and be able to have discussions around things like politics, children psychology (thanks to Kunz and his the BBC show "Child of our Time") and environmental issues (marine biologist VS cynical lawyer)
- the flower decorations along Orchard road is an OK move to impress the IMF delegates. But the decoration of trees with red and white polka dots is SO SO SO WRONG!

Anyhow, it was a good outing with good food, good people and good conversations...

Yes! I have a personal life after all! and a bunch of cool friends :)

One Phone Call

It's amazing how much difference just one phone call can make in one's life...

just when everything was going in its usual routine, your phone starts ringing... thinking it's something work related again, you pick it up without really glancing at the number (not that it matters cos I didn't recognise the country code)

when you say "Hello?" this strangely familiar voice answers "Hello!" and a laugh... and you run through the database of names and voices in your head to try and place that... somehow it doesn't work so you ask "Who is this?"

and when you finally know who it is? Gosh that feeling!! It's like walking around on the streets and bumping into someone who means so much to you just like that!

I honestly felt so so so so happy at the moment I learnt who it was...

Thanks for calling! It was a great way for me to voice some of my thoughts, get some inputs and advice as well as to share from one friend to another =)

My IC 2006 Bring Back

Finally decided to take some time out to relax a bit.... I'm now alone at home with the radio on after a shower... and it only seems apt to take some time to think...

This IC 2006 has been an interesting experience, simply because it's like going there wearing a different set of glasses (not that I wear any but you get the point)... things really do take on a different perspective...

so I decided to put down some of the key points that have left an impression on me:

You can tell about people's personalities through the way they take photos
It's amusing how different people look for different things to take photos of. For me, most of my photos contain scenary, buildings, other people, everything except myself... You probably may not even guess that I've been to that country, simply because I hardly appear in my own photos. I look to capture things the way I see it, which is why I am behind the lens.
Yet some people take mainly photos of people; people are the foreground and the background is not that important. Perhaps I should learn from them and be more open about showing the/my relationships with those around me.

Diversity in AIESEC also means Diversity in communication
I love the diversity in AIESEC, not just because it presents so many perspectives on issues but simply because there is so much to learn from others in communication styles. Through the facilitators, the speeches, the conversations with the PAI and AI, the delegates, the chair, I can pick up so many tips on how to address crowds and capture their attention. I pick up pointers on how to bring messages across by using stories and by asking questions.

The impressive and irrepressible nature of the Human Spirit in everyone
At every international conference, I meet people who face the greatest of challenges back home in their AIESEC chapters. I meet people who face challenges at IC itself in being able to understand and communicate with other delegates. And what always impresses me is how these people simply never say die, how their passion drives them on so strongly. Everyone at IC is a hero or heroine in his or her own way and I salute them for that.

The Bonds that Bind
It's amazing how friendships made at a 10 day conference stay the same or become even stronger after a 6 months gap with hardly any online communication. Some may say that it isn't very possible to make very good friends in such a short time but to me, AIESEC is proof that it is possible. I think it stems from knowing how each of us are going back home to fight our own different battles, yet sub-consciously being aware that the battles aren't that different in essence after all. We may feel lonely, misunderstood, super challenged at times, but we can always seek solace in the network that is out there and in the bonds that bind.

for sure the sessions, the trainings and the content have left an impression on me... but let's face it.. life is transient, life is fragile...

More often than not, it's the softer and invisible things in life that speak the most to us, and stay with us for the longest time...

so much has happened...

So much has happened since the last blog posting...

Prep for IC, IC itself, prep for Jump Start, Jump Start itself, catching up with school work, family stuff...

Things always happen for a reason...

I'm blogging randomly it seems...

anyhow, I hope my voice is back by Wednesday night... I have an interview on Thursday morning!!

*sigh sigh*