Back home!

This is definitely one of those times in life I want to freeze. I am so grateful.

I have my best friends. I've enjoyed a fantastic holiday with my family. Dave is back. Everything is going well with school and work. I have 10 new pants and 3 shoes.

The only complaint is that I don't have money left after japan.

Tis the season to be reminiscent and emo. It's been some fucking year for me. Transfers, internships, pulling up my gpa.

There have been wars. Sparta moments. Questioning who I am and what I believe in.

2007 was the year of the Ian. The year the boy finally grew up.

Coming back from Japan I realised we've got to snap out of thinking we live in a small village. We've got to go out there and find out what makes us really happy. This year has been that for me. Making big decisions for my life. In a big city like Osaka, you're just one little shit in the pond. The only way you stand out is if you chase something you want, not something that someone tells you to do. It could be a dream to pursue your passion, to live somewhere, to try something, to find real love. Whatever it is we're sometimes in the fucking matrix and we swim like tuna fish in a school. We just swim and swim cuz everyone else is swimming.

If you're reading this, maybe you know me or you don't. But just know I mean it at the bottom of my heart when I say to go and fucking chase the thing you want the most. Fuck the matrix. Find yourself and be happy.

The last few days have been so great.

Got to catch up with Shiqin over supper. Hungout with Dan to buy more CDs. Watched the Golden Compass with Lionel and Min. Supper with poon and bnut. Da paolo's with Eric and Gabe. Barracks with Dz and Sil. Arab street with Cheryl Chloe and her omg DAMN cute baby boy. I am so so glad I've finally had the time to see all my good friends and have solid chill time to catch up with them and enjoy some time together.

I mean seriously what is more important in life that the people you love.

The icing on the cake is the trip to Japan next tues. I can't wait to hangout with dave and mike. It will be the first time in months we'll get to hang out in a complete set. I cannot wait.

It was so good to sit around with eric and gabe in silly santa hats and just talk nonsense over good pizza. Later at dempsey when me, sil, dz an di finished dinner ]we took a walk to Ben & Jerry's. Dempsey was lit up with fairy lights and the huge christmas tree, and I was carrying a Christmas tree lolipop that sil and dz gave me, only then did I realise how close christmas is. Tis the season to be jolly.

I went to bloomberg for the training course today. OMG THEIR PANTRY HAS FREE FLOW KETTLE CHIPS, YAKULT, MEIJI MILK, FLORIDA'S NATURAL, CUP A SOUP AND HERSHEYS. Did I mention the kettle chips?

Haven't had time to rest the last few days. Have so much to do. Sunday went for the Sony Ericsson concert and GOT TO GO BACKSTAGE TO SEE WANG LI HOM. *fangirl scream* Ok that was actually my mom, who said she wanted to marry him when he started playing the violin. I hope my dad doesn't read my blog.

Sent a cover letter and resume to Bain yesterday. Got a ultrafast 24 hour turnaround reply:

"Dear Ian,

Thank you for your email application to Louis.

After a careful assessment of your application, we regret to inform you that we are unable to initiate discussions with you at this time.

We have been fortunate to have received a large number of applications from outstanding candidates like yourself, and have had to make a decision on whom to interview based on relative differences in individuals' skills and experiences.

I want to congratulate you for your past accomplishments and to thank you sincerely for allowing us the opportunity to evaluate your credentials. We wish you all the best in your career"

They sound so politically correct its like you almost want to thank them for giving you the boot. Oh well. Let's be realistic. My grades aren't above 3.5 and SMU is definitely no ivy leaguer. As they say, whatever doesn't kill you makes you want to earn more money. Wait a sec.

I got my sociology results back! A-. K la abit lower than i expected but whatever. Just damn glad its over.

Anyone for a china trip next year? I'm thinking of doing this LSE-Bei Da (peking university) program. Will be so fun if I can get Shiqin or Ben to go with me.

http://www.oir.pku.edu.cn/LSE/index.html

Yesterday we just finished our exams. So today can sleep in right? NOT.

OMG Ann Vogel emailed us to say we have to come to school in the morning TODAY to check our grades and see our papers because she's leaving on tuesday. So grudgingly I got out of bed to go to school.

When I got there, there was this oh-so-hostile DO NOT DISTURB postit on the door so I did a keblakangpuseng out of the office area until I saw a carboard box near the door. Lying inside were our piles of exam papers and essay papers abandoned like baby kittens. mew.

So I took a look at my exam paper. K la not bad. Then I saw my essay paper, which had a madhouse weightage of 35%. 35 marks it read. Ok la not bad since it's upon 50. As I flipped through the other papers I realised no one got 40 and above. Huh wtf her marking is so strict I thought.

Then I saw the grading outline and I realised it was upon 35. HUH??!!!! WTFFFFFFF YOU MEAN SHE GAVE ME A PERFECT SCORE????!!!!

And there it was. My little oh-so-spartan moment of glory. My spotlight-on-mr-bean second. My mini happy new year party.

I was especially proud because I FUCKING WORKED my ass off for this paper. Ann Vogel also happens to be one of the most demanding professors in the history of demanding professors. I can tell you honestly she's very intimidating, but I am grateful to her because really gave me excellent advice for my paper. I'm also damn happy because although I normally do better at my business modules, I made a commitment to improve my social science skills, and finally my effort has shown. For a social scientist, a research essay is probably the most important tool in explaining a theory, and I'm quite proud of this one I wrote.

It's been a term to test my stamina because social science isn't like a math or science or business module. There's no hard and fast rules, and there's no telling if you're on the right track during the term because the research paper carries so much weight. I never thought I could do well at it, but this term has really made me optimistic.

I have worked so hard this term. And I am praying that its going to translate into my results. We'll have to wait and see.

SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA