Undeterred

So i woke up this morning early and on the backdrop of a misty morning. I had intentioned to write a nice little blog about how i am safe and well in singapore. And after all the troubles of bringing back my CPU from the states, i did hooked up the computer to the monitor, speakers, keyboards and what have you. So after that was done, with all the enthusiasm in the world, i turned on the power to see my beloved cpu again.


but with the flick of a button, a loud bang came from inside the CPU, soon to be followed by a crisp burnt smell...

there happened to be a small red switch that changes the voltage from 115 (US voltage) to 230 (Singapore voltage) just under the CPU's slot for the power cable. Ah what a way to welcome me back to the sunny state. This is truly a clean clear cut from my past. hahaha.. But hey the worst i can do in this situation is to get angry and blame the USA for trying to be different... but i will not bring myself to that level. I shall bring my CPU to Sim Lim tower, try to get it fixed. If thats not possible, i can go to a data recovery company and pay them some money to retrieve the data i have in my harddrive. So i basically fried my CPU, if anyone of you knows how i can remedy the situation, a little advice would be much appreciated.


But despite this, i refused to be brought down. Bring it on.. theres nothing that can deter me.

20 mins for 4 USD!!

Right now in the internet cafe of my san francisco hotel. Been doing my two week graduation trip with my family, thus the long delay in updating. Its been fun so far, been to las vegas.. grand canyon.. lake tahoe.,.. not to mention my graduation and all the farewells i have had. but anyways, just a quick note to let ppl know i am alive. Will be back in Singapore on the 30th of Dec. So friends... u know what to do... free meals for the graduated student... no... the graduated alumni!

Buzzed!

wow, my family is here and i am having the time of my life. Its so good to see my family after 1.5 years and seeing them enjoy themselves with the wonderful weather that has been bestowed on us. But in the midst of all of this, i am still trying my best to live out the very last moments of my life as a college student. Drinking sangria and get buzzed... man this is the last few bursts i have before the reality of my situation. So now i am buzzed with a liberal amount of the red elixir of life and my graduation ceremony is tomorrow! Erm.. life is good...but i really can't bear to leave my lifestyle just yet. TO COLLEGE!! last few moments!

Family arriving in 19 hours!

wow, they are coming in a few hours time!! really excited! woohoo!! wanted to do the blog on tailgating and american football. but really not in the mood right now. haha i actually spent that entire day taking pictures and trying out different angles.. so much so that my friends were weirded out by me. haha.. as for now.. all i can think of is seeing my family. Its been 1.5 years!! Oh my goodness. My brother must be taller than me now... the last time i saw him, he was 13 years old.. now 14.5... hhmm..

Yay! La Familia!

Bye Srini!!

Another of my farewells, Srini a good friend of mine, is leaving for India tomorrow which means it will be a long time before i get to see him again so we all went out for a goodbye dinner at a good ole fashioned steakhouse.


This is my 2 lb / 1 kg worth of porterhouse steak


Which i very successfully finished


Zhenlin's mum commented that he looked handsome, any admirers please contact me for his number

I got home after the dinner and movie, it sort of hit me that i have not really gotten anything for them. So i decided to make a photo video thingy for them. Its not the best choreographed, but its the thought that counts and the fact that i only started doing it at 2.10 a.m.



Bye Srini. Come visit me in Singapore!

A Letter to Clifton

Wow, time is coming so fast at me, 13th of Dec seems to be on a collision course with my reality. One week and my family will be here.

Had to attend one of the graduating senior receptions earlier, the main reason i went was to eat the free food. Unfortunately, i think the food in my pantry probably tastes better than what was served. But no matter, i was also given an award in a nice plaque so i can't really complain too much.



I also could say goodbye to the many professors that have truly added depth to this otherwise empty head of mine. It feels like the luggage is packing itself and everything seems to move so fast. But my mental state somehow just doesn't seem to want to be a part of it.
I think its probably me having a hard time letting go of the four wonderful years i have had and the knowledge of the work to come.

During the reception, the management department head sort of gave us an 'assignment'. He wanted us to write a letter to ourselves ten years from now and congratulate ourselves for the achievements we have done in that ten years. Sounds weird, it sort of does make sense for me. A beginning to detract myself from the memories of past and look forward into what is to be. So here goes.




Dear Clifton,

Hey you did better than i expected, even thought you have been placed in a situation what you did not truly want, you still managed to make the most of it all. You still was able to grow as a person and not stagnate like those commonly in your position do. Thank you for being able to be positive and not blame circumstances for what you are in. Instead, thank you for being able to turn around what the environment has placed onto you and made it into something that you OWNED, something that you were comfortable in and something that you enjoyed and even to a certain extent had a passion for.

Thanks for being able to balance your life and not totally submerge yourself in work to the extent that you neglect the most important things in life, friends and family. Thank you for being able to be above petty material wants and treasure the most important gifts you have.

Thank you for being able to still remain yourself, despite external pressures and situations. Thank you for being able to differentiate your professional efficient side and your happy jovial and relaxed side. Thanks for learning the lessons of practical management and becoming a better person. Thanks for putting the extra effort in and in the process gaining brothers that will gladly lay their lives on the line for you.Thank you for maturing and becoming a man of men, a leader among brothers.

Thanks for taking the time to understand yourself more and learning how to manage your shortcomings and yet illuminate your talents. Well, thanks for finding your talent, what you are truely good at. and after finding this out, thanks for doggedly pursuing how best put these talents to the best use.

But most importantly, thank you for finding out what you really want to do in life. Finding out what you can do, what you like to do and what you want to so so badly. Well done clifton.
:)


Cheers,
Clifton - 7th Dec, 2006

I hate goodbyes

I had been in student councils for the longest time i remember. For most of my adult life (aka 17), i have been involved in student councils. First in Singapore, with the Nanyang Junior College Student Council, where i served for one very enriching year as the president. It was really the first time that i got to know people on such a deep level and develop lasting friendships. Not only has the student council developed me on a social level but also it made me realise a lot of flaws of that i had. So when it came time to end my term of office, it was naturally emotional and hard to let go. Because i love these people, they really made my life so much more than it was.


thats me receiving the flag from my senior president


22nd student council in the student lounge back in the day.. i think it was circa 1999 - 2000

So when it came time for me to leave Singapore for my studies abroad, it was really difficult for me to say goodbye to all these friends that i have been through so much with. Fast forward six/seven years, and i am saying goodbye to my councilors in the Eller College Student Council. Another student council and yet another difficult farewell.


22nd student council sending me off at the airport in 2003

I just got back from my farewell banquet with the student council and i know that i am probably not going to see some of them for the rest of my life. Yes, so sad but its true. With me leaving Tucson in less than 2 weeks and leaving for Singapore in less than 4, the chances of seeing some of these enterprising faces are slim to say the least. I am lucky to have crossed the paths of these talented individuals. Some of them i am sure i will see on the frontpage of Time magazine some day. But yet again, i have to say goodbye to friends that i am sure to miss.


At a management and technology function


Santa's little helper


With the gang!


The goodbye dinner


People actually think i am inspirational. what has this world come to...


argh, its the beginning of the end. dec 16 i am graduating and i am already starting to say goodbye to the friends i have made here in Tucson.

:(

Thanksgiving Weekend 2006

Usually this time of year, i would be eagerly anticipating the after thanksgiving sales without any regard for the holiday of thanksgiving. But this year, being my last year, i decided i had to experience a thanksgiving for myself. The specific reasons for thanksgiving, i am not too sure about. Its something about the white men sharing dinner with the native american indians... but to my knowledge, the white ppl killed them not long after right? i really do not know so pardon my ignorance.

So i went to Globe, good food, time with friends and a whole lot of turkey. See for yourself




After the intoxicating overload of turkeying around. I travelled up to Phoenix to see some of my friends. As graduation draws nearer.. the time i have left with my friends are becoming scarcer. So dinner.. drinking beer.. clubbing... and singing... all part of the fun times i have with Daysha and Brenna that weekend.



I like posting videos so much more ... tells so much more eh?