G result

I got 440 for Verbal and accepted after a few hour of uneasiness after the test on 11 Aug. But I got another blow when I found out thta I got only 3.5 for AW which I felt I was doing fine. My expected result for AW was between 4 and 5.

I would definitely to take another one before the end of this year. It is no longer just a test to get the a better result but also a chance to wake up and face the challenges which I did not deal with seriously before.

A changing Shanghai

The test day is approaching. Once again in the past few months, I did not accomplish the plans. Therefore, I have to cram in the last three days before the test.


I wanted to share something I saw on TV today, as a means of diverting my attention from the test preparation.
1. CEIBS
There was a news report on CEIBS, a business school located in Shanghai. According to the report, it's ranked in top 10 by FT this year for its unique MBA programmes. Unlike other MBA programmes in mainland China, the school is very international. Indeed, one of the founders is from Europe. And less of 40% of the faculty members are from China, about a third from Europe and another third from United States. As for international students, there is also a large portion. This cleared a misconception I used to have on this business school. I thought it was an CHINESE business school - set up by Chinese and attended by Chinese.

2. Shanghai metro network
Another report is on the Shangai metor network. It's been quite a number of years since the last time I took the metro in Shanghai. There was only a few lines. So I was stunned to learn that the total length of metro network would be over 400km by 2010, and there would be 8 lines in operation before World Expo in 2010.


It's quite amazing to learn all these facts and changes in China. There is no doubt for anyone that China keep changing in a very fast pace. For someone like me who have lived abroad for some years and don't go back very often, it's time to reflect. Would I be better off to go back there and develop my career?

Life is still

Life is still. There are a few ripples, but not significant enough to divert the course of life.

The people we meet, the places we visit, the videos we watch, the music we listen to and the articles we read, are all ripples. They can become significant, but none of them has made it so far.

The recent one-week trip to Bali was great. I did feel that there is something changing in my head after the trip. It's refreshing indeed. Physically, I became more tanned, which is not a surprise for myself at all. Who wouldn't after being exposed in the hot sun for long hours? I did enjoy the days riding on the scooters, breathing in the fresh air and indulging the magnificent view of the country.

After some time, the temporary impact fades and everything returns to the previous state. Such feeling sucks. Life is still, again.

currently

How time flies! (I really like this expression. :) )

It's already March of 2009.

Life has been really static.

Not much change at work.

GRE preparation is undergoing slowly yet steadily even though I haven't registered and I am not really sure whether I will need the results if I take it.

As for the part-time job on Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon, it is tiring but fortunately not boring. I am not into teaching/tutoring, but it seems quite fun to do it on part-time basis.

I spent over two weeks in China - 2 days in Shenzhen with a close friend. It was relaxing but not very eventful though. As for the rest days spent back at home during Chinese New Year, it was as routine as it used to be, with no surprise. 

More junior high school classmates had got married and some had started to have babies.

Yet for me, getting married and having a baby seem quite distant from my current life. Not to mention that I am still single.

Being a single, life can be lonely most of the time. In the meanwhile, there are moments, I feel good about this. There is less contraints when I am thinking about the upcoming tracks in the life. I can have  a high mobility.

Currently, life is being busy but extremely routine. I guess I need a vacation before 'the summer' to break the routine for just some time.

Christmas & end of 2008

It is Christmas. I had to work only half day yesterday, which put me in the mood of holiday. For me, the real holiday is Chinese New Year, and I seldom have the festival mood even though there are many public holidays for different kinds of festivals - for Muslim, Buddist, Indian and Chinese.

I was in the mood, but it didn't necessarily lead me to enjoy myself. On the contrary, I was bored since I got back home since 2PM yesterday. Fortunately, I have a house party to attend later, which hopefully could put a good ending for this public holiday. I will work tomorrow.

I didn't remember what I did during Christmas last year. This reminds of the importance of keeping a journal/blog. Hence this update.

As a check on October resolution (w.r.t. last post), I only complished the first 2. 

I was working madily for the entire November. I went to Malaysia with CouchSurfing group for one-day 'glutonny' trip and I had a great house party for my birthday, which is kind of a house warming as well. In addition, I started to have a part-time job of teaching basic/intermediate English in Chinese. It was not bad, and I was motivated to earn some extra cash every month.

As for December, I went to Malaysia again, with another group for 2D2N. It was a fun trip, we did rafting and go-karting. It is also my first time to visit KL. Nothing much else happened.

Right now, I look forward to the 2-week holiday starting from 21 Jan. Before then, I need to keep working hard to finish the project on time.