gin.chee | it's complicated

just because

2011-06-03T19:11:00.004+08:00

because sometimes all you needis a pat on the heada little hand in yoursa toothy smileand the world can be beautifulagainbecause sometimes all it takesis to look upshoulders straightwalk on bravelyand the world can be safeagainbecause sometimes that's all you getno more no lessbut just enoughto get you byand the world can move onagain

Wasting Away..

2011-05-23T10:18:00.000+08:00

Since I submitted my thesis end January and returned to Negaraku, life has been plenty erratic and full of (unnecessary) drama. Besides the mundane 'what am I going to wear for CNY' and the dramatised relationship break-up/make-up.. February to April also included the very stressful and uncountable trips to the hospital as well as the 'will I ever finish that #$^& paper?' question which more or

Thesis 101

2011-03-13T10:49:00.004+08:00

I often stumble when I get asked what my thesis is all about. Not because I don't have an answer, but because I still hadn't figured out how to concise 90,000+ words of material into a single sentence.. But I suppose now is a good time as any to try to simplify?/explain just what I've been up to for the past 3.5years.In a nutshell, I examine "the circulation of 'race' in formal and informal

Starting Afresh

2011-03-12T22:23:00.004+08:00

It's been a long long while since I've last blogged.. blogging used to be my outlet to vent and rant about how tough things were going. And when things went a wee bit better than expected.. which wasn't very often.. this blog was the place to plug a happy note... But with my candidature drawing to a end.. blogging simply ceased to become a priority, as one can easily surmise by the lack of

The King's Speech

2010-12-29T09:36:00.001+08:00

♥♥♥

Completely Exhausted

2010-12-07T08:23:00.003+08:00

Submitted my 2nd thesis draft yesterday.. how badly delayed the whole PhD has been.. should have submitted the first complete draft in September, the 2nd in Oct, and had time for a 3rd and final reading in Nov.. but as it is, yesterday's paper was at least 20-30% short of completion.. Sigh.. =(Taking a breather from thesis for the rest of the week to work on Platform.. it's hard to tell whether

Traffic

2010-12-01T09:04:00.002+08:00

Yesterday as I was waiting for the lights to change.. it suddenly occurred to me to just step out into on-coming traffic. What would happen? What would change? What if I don't die but was warded in hospital? Would someone ring my parents to let them know? What if I lost mobility, or worse, became paralysed for life? And what if I died? Would someone realised I had a half-completed (ok, only 1/3

10days~!

2010-11-26T06:50:00.002+08:00

Til re-submission.. or really first submission of 2nd thesis draft.. and my check list is still pages long.. it goes something like..1. Postcolonialism theories2. Multiculturalism theories3. Revise lit review4. Input new media consequences5. What's wrong with nationalism?6. What is the significance of race?and on and on and on...Not happy. HATE HATE HATE STUPID THESIS STUPID PROJECT STUPID

Sigh

2010-11-10T19:30:00.003+08:00

Only a week after the completion seminar is over.. and I'm back to feeling uninspired, unmotivated.. basically just very blah and angry at myself... might be the relapse of hayfever.. as the day gets warmer and hotter.. my nose itches and it's making me cranky.. Or maybe I'm just running out of ideas.. I don't know.. it's already the final lap.. and I am sick and tired of my thesis. I don't want

Hooray!

2010-11-03T06:30:00.003+08:00

Completion Seminar OVER! Final hurdle PASSED! and so.. assuming I continue working hard these next 2mths+.. there is nothing stopping me from submitting.. so for the moment.. I AM HAPPY.. HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.. Must be the first time in a PhD-related post the word 'HAPPY' appears.. LOL... I'm still riding on the High from yesterday.. so let me stay happy.. cos it won't last.. Especially after this

Thesis Abstract

2010-10-27T14:18:00.004+08:00

I think it's finally quite finalised.. unfortunately "it" is not the thesis, just the abstract. But it's better than nothing! So here "it" is, for your kind perusal:Still on the Margins: Race, Media and the Imagining of Contemporary MalaysiaSince independence, Barisan Nasional (‘National Front’) has been the primary provider of resources for the “imagining” of the Malaysian nation. However,

No, We're Not There Yet

2010-10-21T05:39:00.000+08:00

Since Mon, or Tues? Losing track of time and days.. might have been as early as last week, I've been feeling extreme lightheadedness, to the point where my skull feels ready to topple forward into the computer screen. Which would suck, considering how 3yrs+ of work is currently housed inside.The headaches come and go, but the dizziness remains. Sleeping same hours, but resting less. Dreaming of

I said...

2010-09-26T19:57:00.000+08:00

I said I wouldn't blog til Feb 2011, but I needed an outlet that allows me to type more than 140 characters.. and won't disappear when new news feeds come in.I said I would finish my thesis in 3 years, but lots of tutoring, some lecturing, too much facebooking, a bit of platform, a bit of research assistant work, some drama here and there, and of course, who can forget, getting dumped.. taken

Going Offline

2010-07-23T20:18:00.002+08:00

I think I will attempt to retreat offline and avoid all acts of socialising - except those unavoidable ones - until next Feb 2011. Don't know if I will succeed though. The first to go is blogging, then facebook and eventually msn. Or maybe msn first. Who knows?Bye bye social networking tools!

A little Reflective Note

2010-07-13T07:20:00.002+08:00

I guess for the moment, the anger has at least, finally dissipated. While it's not clear skies just yet, at least it's no longer pouring.

I'm So Angry Now And Your Insensitivity Is Making It Worse

2010-07-11T20:45:00.003+08:00

I'm so angry now I could kill someoneI may also break something expensiveand another andanotherthen stab myselfIf you talk to me now I'll tell youto JUST FUCK OFFAnd FUCK YOURSELFDeep breaths has not helpedI still feel angryScreaming has not helpedI still feel angryPushing things over has not helpedI still feel angryI might hurt myself soonif the anger doesn't go awayStab myselfpunch the

Time to Sweep the Cobwebs~!

2010-06-21T20:45:00.005+08:00

Ah blog oh blog, so neglected. But my oh my, so uninspired to write. But let's see what we can do in the next few minutes..If I were to list some key 'moments' of June 2010, I suppose they would look something like this...Ringing Dad to wish him Happy Father's DayLosing sleep over World Cup 2010Missing Ollie+Gubi who have left for HKPanicking over the 3.0 report due in JulyShivering in cold

谢谢五月天！明年再见！！

2010-05-14T23:44:00.000+08:00

... as they promised, Mayday 五月天 returned to Melbourne, a little under a year since their first concert in 2008.it's a weird weird coincidence.. but each time 出席五月天墨尔本的演唱会当中。。发现都有种不大祥的事发生在身边。去年遇见一位朋友的不幸，今年轮到老爸的坏消息。虽然在看演唱会时有 indescribable bliss and 紧张。。但，也有很想很想掉眼泪的时刻。。受到鼓励的时刻。我要《倔強》。。《温柔》。。保护爱人《最重要的小事》。就如阿信所唱的，〈能不能暫時把你的勇氣給我〉呢？maaaan.. my Chinese sucks. T.T

Supervision: Not Bad.. but Not-So-Good Either =(

2010-04-24T07:41:00.003+08:00

Perhaps I should have come home right after supervision and penned my thoughts down so I wouldn't forget.. but really, who in their right mind would want to remember feelings of dejection and disappointment? Not me.But then again, I suppose if I don't record the bad stuff down, I won't be able to look back in say, 6months time and say, "Demn, but despite all that sh*t, I made it out alive".And it

Tagged

2010-04-22T09:05:00.003+08:00

Nat nat tagged me.. so here's a random post.. lolzThe rules:1) Go to your photo files, select the 8th photo folder.2) Select the 8th photo in that folder.3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.4) Then challenge 8 blogging friends to do the same!The pic:The story:Now this is a weird one.. because it's a weird pic.. bet you can't tell what it's all about.. =pAnyways, it was taken in

Play2. The Swimming Club + Play3. Madagascar

2010-04-22T08:02:00.009+08:00

It's very late April now.. so not sure if there's much sense in reviewing/reflecting on Play2 and Play3 since they occurred in early February and March respectively... obviously the lateness is one thing.. and the other... well.. I forget. No pun intended =pBut since I didn't go for any production in April, I guess I could spare a few moments to update the blog (instead of writing my thesis that

Back in Melbourne.. Last Time Perhaps?

2010-03-06T14:27:00.005+08:00

After a very short 19-days break, I am back in Melbourne for what I hope will be the last time... as a PhD candidate that is.. =p Hopefully by the next time I fly out and in again, I'd have my PhD tucked firmly in my pocket.. or more correctly, hanging on some wall =)As noted in an earlier post, I had a to-do list for this trip home, and it consisted of lots and lots of eating. Well, I am pleased

Another Birthday~!

2010-02-25T21:40:00.002+08:00

Happy Birthday dearest Mummy~! ^______^Hope you liked the Gu*ci bag I bought you~ *Muacks*

Happy Birthday~!!

2010-02-18T11:09:00.005+08:00

You know who you are! Enjoy today~!!Lots and lots of ♥♥♥ from Moka and me. *muacks muacks*

36hrs Later....

2010-02-12T09:50:00.009+08:00

After waiting 4 hours in the airport, being stuck in the plane for more than an hour due to bad weather.. and spending another 8 hours in the air, I am finally, finally home. =)And in the past 36 hours, I have...Not slept as much as I usually do in MelbourneFinished (just a meh read if you asked me)Had my yee-sang and uber yummilicious prawns ^o^Watched and(the former is cute.. the latter way

Play1. The Drowsy Chaperon

2010-01-30T12:28:00.000+08:00

Started this post yesterday.. but lost the will to write.. so let's see if I can finish it in the next few minutes..Click here for more screenshots.So, as you might have surmised from the title, this post is dedicated to The Drowsy Chaperon, the first play of a 12-show season produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company.For as long as I can remember, I have been a huge fan of theatre productions,

A Bunch of Updates to Kickstart 2010

2010-01-29T08:47:00.002+08:00

This blog has been a wee bit too inactive of late - so much so that it's getting spammed. Poor blog.So let's dust off the cobwebs, clear away the sprouting mushrooms (for tonight's dinner) and publish a spanking new (and long) post, shall we?First off, an announcement (and self-publicity): After days of playing (yes, it's all play to me) with HTMLs and layouts and a bit of InDesign, I am very

Much ♥ Sherlock Holmes

2010-01-24T08:40:00.002+08:00

♥♥♥♥♥

Celebrating Dong Zhi in Melbourne

2009-12-22T20:27:00.005+08:00

Dong Zhi is once again upon us... reminding all that the year is almost coming to an end... 8 days now to be exact... To celebrate the occasion, I've carried on the tradition of making tong yuan.. from scratch! =) Here they are in their pretty pretty colours:Considering the fact that I'm away from home for Dong Zhi for the very first time of my life, and thus far, far away from Mr Pok-pok-Chui's

I Can't Think of A Title

2009-12-11T09:45:00.003+08:00

I'll like to dismantle my limbs, muscles and fibres and bones and every little cell, then reattach them back again. Maybe it'll help me figure out why my chest? heart is hurting like a bitch.I just submitted 1/3 of the half chapter due today. I end up asking..? begging for an extension til Monday. The emotion is killing me. Maybe that's why I'm hyperventilating and it hurts to breath and the room

Here I Go... Again

2009-11-27T06:59:00.003+08:00

I thought pretty hard (about 2seconds) on whether to blog about my supervision experience yesterday... While I really ought to be spending my time (wisely!) on writing my thesis, I think I also need to write this down, if only to serve as a reminder of the trials and challenges that come with PhD-hood. And to remind me of the dire consequences when I fail to put my foot down.As most of you

Pensive Moka

2009-11-25T08:47:00.002+08:00

Moka had a massive hair fur-cut. He dropped at least 2 doggy sizes. I wished my haircut would help me drop 2 human dress sizes too!

Job Offer

2009-11-20T09:14:00.002+08:00

It's not quite what you think.. my unimelb email got spammed this morning... and with my thesis not looking so hot at the moment.. despite the weather being VERY HOT.. the job offer is thus.. very tempting indeed. Here is the mail in full.Dear Gin,Do you want to participate in the greatest Mystery Shopping quests nationwide? Have you ever wondered how Mystery Shoppers are recruited and how

It's All About The Thesis

2009-11-02T14:03:00.004+08:00

Well.. more specifically, this post is all about the (interpretive!!) findings gleaned from a discourse analysis of the 12th general election.. and from a close reading of focus group discussion transcripts.. Thanks to Esther for inspiring me to put the scribbles into er.. blogspot. XDSo what about them? Well, if we maintain the scribbly format, they look something like this..Part I. Discourse

Moka & Miko

2009-10-19T17:54:00.001+08:00

Moka has met a new friend named Miko! Miko lives on the 3rd floor of Uropa.. and is really the cutest lil thing.. XDDespite a rocky start.. or rather a noisy barky start on Miko's end.. both puppies are now fast friends and as you can see from the pictures below.. they have lots and lots of fun playing together!! ^_______^Both puppies worn out after an hour of play!Moka trying sneak a lil kiss! XD

My Mid-Sem Break

2009-09-25T21:53:00.003+08:00

A week has gone by since the start of the mid-sem break.. and so far it's been a rather good week.For once, by pretending that the impossibly high stack of essays-that-urgently-need-to-be-marked don't exist, I've managed to do some thesis-ing - read a handful of books.. sorted out the newspapers for further analysis.. and fingers crossed, will actually put in some real word count soon. =)Awww..

285 Days Left

2009-09-18T09:27:00.004+08:00

Go forth here and procrastinate! XD

These Days...

2009-09-10T20:54:00.005+08:00

... are kind of busyjuggling between self and othersswitching between the differenthats. and thus, losing oneselfin the crowd... are kind of angrylosing patience over everystupid little thing. don'tspeak to me unless you havesomething good to say... are kind of lonelythe world seems closer yetthe people more distant. themedia breeds distrust andmore doors are closed... are kind of violentpeople

300 days now

2009-09-03T18:32:00.004+08:00

If you had been following my PhD complaints progress, you would know one month ago, on Aug 2, I had 333 days left til my thesis submission deadline. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the ONLY, and I emphasise ONLY task successfully completed in the past 31 days is.. drumrolls please!Moka can now shake paw/hand on command. =DSo much for to-do-lists though!

Bloody Meat

2009-09-03T08:36:00.004+08:00

This post may offend. You have been warned. Scroll down for the rest.First I take you homethen I let you eatAfter which I sever off your headand drag it through the streetsWhen the people ask, oh,what happened to all the meat?I'll tell them it's processedinto tiny little treatsCooking both your insides andoutsides was no simple featLuckily you had no brainand only two left feetSo that saved me

52 now

2009-08-30T21:49:00.004+08:00

Since 2006, I've blogged about the country's day of "independence" from British colonial rule.. and personally, it doesn't feel like the country has improved much in the past three years. Although March 8 was touted as the beginning to the end.. or the new beginning to something or another.... but with things (appearing to) go from very bad to uber worse.. it really makes you (me) wonder why

Dis/Unity of Malaysians in Melbourne

2009-08-19T07:57:00.006+08:00

As if I don't already have enough things on my plate, I went ahead and committed to yet another "weekend project" (see poster above), which on the one hand, is seriously going to further increase the possibility of me NOT completing my thesis in <300 days.. and on the other hand, will be further dividing my attention across PLATFORM, blogging, tutoring, facebook-ing, msn-ing, eating and most

On Politicans and The Future of the Media

2009-08-10T07:57:00.006+08:00

UPDATED:Recently attended two presentations by three very (in?)famous politicians: The first lecture by Australia's former Prime Minister, the Honorable John Howard, and the second by two Malaysians, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, right here at the University of Melbourne. If I may, allow me to share with you my post-lectures thoughts on the three similar, yet

333 days left til...

2009-08-02T20:13:00.000+08:00

what else but the final submission date of my PhD thesis.. =(SIGH. It's been a crazy crazy uber stressful two years, and gosh! how time has flown.. only one remaining year left to wrap up the thesis..Yes, I know my math is bad.. but not thaaaat bad.. I still know one year = 365 days, but - [(today + yesterday) + 30 days of CNY annual leave] = 333 days left til July 31, 2010.So without wasting any

I Miss You

2009-07-23T15:59:00.000+08:00

Kor Kor, when are you coming back?

International Communication Association Melbourne 2009

2009-07-20T00:11:00.001+08:00

I must confess, I've been writing this post on and off for several days now, mainly cause when I was excited to write I had no access to Blogger, and when I did get access, I was too tired to write anything. But here is it, finally. As they say, better late than never! XDDay 00: Salmon anyone? (15 July)After weeks of stressing whether I'd ever get the presentation ready, or if I'd actually have

Ganache Chocolate Lounge

2009-07-19T18:37:00.006+08:00

Lemon Cointreau CakePassion Fruit & Mango Mousse (F); Hazelnut Fan Slice (B)Raspberry Chocolate MousseDouble Mousse Delight (L); Strawberry & Almond Sensation (R)Black Forest Slice (L); Hazelnut Fan Slice (R)So have you had your Ganache fix today? ^o^P/S No, I didn't eat all of the above at the same time, nor did I eat them just by myself. If I did either, I'll quite definitely already be on an

Missing

2009-07-05T14:25:00.004+08:00

Humid sunny rainy daysEven the unfresh air seemspleasantly comfortingright nowThe funny post-dinnerconversations. Even ifthey sometimes end inshouting matchesLong lunches with friends that always seem too short. The gossipsto-be-continuedMalls infested withhumans. Karaoke, cheapmovies and even thefunny accentsMy bed my table my ownthings. Even if I moveeverything - it's notthe same

Conferences Conferences Conferences!

2009-07-04T10:16:00.003+08:00

Come mid-July, Melbourne Uni will be buzzing with intellectual discourses (haha!) as the uni get swamp by hundreds and hundreds (?) of super-super-super nerds. ^^;;First up will be the 2009 Melbourne Conference on China themed "60 Years of the People’s Republic - Transformations and Challenges", which will take place Monday 13 and Tuesday 14.Then comes the "Journalism in the 21st Century: Between

10days!

2009-06-24T07:46:00.006+08:00

Only 10days to complete + edit + print + submit my 2.0 Review Report.In more words, only 10days left to complete the ethnographic chapter.. the same 10days to edit the whole report (inclusive of compilation of past chapters.. and other misc. details like thesis timeline, chapter outlines etc)... print the whole report and submit it to the chair aka the Big One.Once that is successfully done, will

Big Little Mini

2009-06-17T18:12:00.005+08:00

Having itchy fingers and want to shop! But been sick + have a report to finish + conference paper to begin... soo.. all is not good not good not good..But with me mom around.. took some time out anyhow for some mother-daughter quality time + retail therapy. ^^;; It was during then that I spotted the cutest pair of Converse-like sneakers by Osh Kosh:Despite the baby mini version costing almost as

What You Need

2009-06-03T20:58:00.003+08:00

Another scar, anothertiny mutilation to showoff, my utter devotionto youAnother bruise, anotherblood vessel brokenpress against it, andit hurtsAnother cry, anotherscream swallowed backbut the tears, stillfall silently

9 Things I Learned From Moka..

2009-06-01T11:07:00.000+08:00

1. Good things come to those who wait.2. You can never have too many toys.3. Really, you can never have too many toys. ^^4. Drink plenty of water.5. Naps are good for you.6. Read.7. Bathe. Regularly if possible.8. Explore. Be curious!9. Being cute IS everything. XD

Mayday Mayday!!

2009-05-29T10:43:00.003+08:00

It's Mayday here in Melbourne! Woohoo~!Ok, it was Mayday here in Melbourne, only cause I was too exhausted last night to post pix.Set-up is not as kua-cheong as Jay's, but much more ops to JUMP JUMP JUMP!! and scream L.O.V.E =pCan't wait for them to come back again next year~~! Live concerts are still the best way to enjoy music. Ah, let my thesis be damned, I wanna gooooooooooooo sing K!!!Yeah.

San San Xin Xin

2009-05-22T13:11:00.005+08:00

Still stuck on coding + making sense of my fieldwork findings, but going ahead with writing anyway. Maybe I can somehow force some common sense into the chapter, or at least, convince myself that I've done/am doing something productive.Named one of participants, "San San", and the school "Xin Xin". When I put them together, I realised it became San San Xin Xin... lolx.Written one thousand words

A Bruise on the Heart

2009-05-21T06:25:00.005+08:00

Meeting you is likea slap in the face.The cheek swollen,the skin stings a little.It's hard to chew,even harder to swallow.An ice-pack might help numbthe pain; but then I startto feel cold all over.Knowing you is likea pain in the neck.I rub and rub, butthe hurt still stays.Can't turn, can't bend,No comfort even in sleep.A neck brace might help keepthe head in place, but what'sthe point in not

Exciting Exciting News!

2009-05-16T09:17:00.004+08:00

A conference in Austria (read: Europe!) happening this coming November 2009, and the theme of discussion - Pluralism, Inclusion and Citizenship - is one that is very very closely related to my current study.OMG OMG OMG!! I wanna goooooooooo~!But first I need an abstract! And then I need it to be accepted! And then I need lots and lots of $$$$$!!!OMG OMG OMG!!Most likely will be aiming to present

Globalisation and Cultural Diversity

2009-05-13T14:30:00.002+08:00

Was pretty excited when I received notice of this (now passed) public lecture by Dr Dominique Wolton, Director of the Communication Sciences Institute at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)The gist of the presentation: Although globalisation was perceived in the 1980s as a fantastic opportunity to overcome North-South and East-West divides, the counter-globalisation movement that

Happy Mummy's Day! ^^

2009-05-10T09:51:00.005+08:00

I was originally going to title this post "Childhood Dreams" when I realised it's Mummy's Day so I changed it.Woke my mom up at 8am today to wish her.. but she didn't appreciate the morning call so she hung up on me. T.TYes, don't worry, I'll ring again later when she's more awake and less (likely to be) annoyed with me.Anyways, yes, going back to childhood dreams, or more correctly, childhood

No More M&C :(

2009-05-02T18:46:00.002+08:00

Well, no more Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communication) anyways. From the Dean's office: From semester 1, 2010 Media and Communication will be offered as a major within the new generation BA, while semester 2 next year will see the final intake of students in the heritage degree. The Faculty is currently working to ensure the transition will offer a wider body of students an even more rewarding

2 Things In Life That Never Fail To Make Me Cry

2009-05-01T07:02:00.003+08:00

Slicing Up OnionsYasmin Ahmad's AdsAutism:Funeral:Family:Go Google for more if you're in the mood for a good cry. T.T

Getting Somewhere Absolutely Insane

2009-04-24T09:18:00.003+08:00

Transcribing and translation finally completed after weeks and weeks of being a pain. Methodology chapter revised too so that's one more to-do successfully done! Just need to see what my super makes of it, fingers crossed it'd be satisfactory. =)Moving on to my coding now. Books to read, books to return, books to borrow. And then the best part comes: the writing! Hahaha.. bleh.Three things on my

One School = One (United) Nation?

2009-04-08T10:37:00.004+08:00

Part 1| One School System for all?Part 2 | Malaysia's education system polarises?These videos are really very much related to my thesis, which is good. So thanks heaps to Edmund for bringing them to my attention. =) My only concern now is that people are already "saying" it, so does "proving" it with academic references fulfills the requirement that my thesis is "original" and "adds value to the

Re Translations

2009-04-05T16:15:00.002+08:00

Having collected my data, I am now working exclusively on transcribing and translating my script from Mandarin speech into comprehensible English text. During this very, very, very, very tedious process, I've picked up a few important (?) lessons.1. Translation is difficult. IT IS SO *BLEEPING* DIFFICULT.2. People who want to appreciate the uniqueness, the nuances and the beauty of language(s)

April's Agenda

2009-04-01T12:05:00.000+08:00

It's the first day of April.. and with my 2nd year review coming close, I have get myself really, reaaaally organised if I plan on writing a good report.So here's the plan for April:Complete transcription - including translation + input of transcript symbols for conversation analysisDeveloping an explicit code for analysisBegin analysis and/or drafting of chapterSounds simple? Well, the plan

Do you know your ABCs?

2009-03-31T16:25:00.000+08:00

EDITED AGAIN:The above was floating around Facebook.. and the first thought that came to my mind was, what an absolutely fantastic way to determine our level of media saturation.. or if you prefer, how brand-conscious we are! =p And in case you were interested, it's call Corporate Alphabet by Dutch artists Amoud van den Heuval and Koert van Mensvoort. And it's not quite a 2D image, but is in fact

学姐

2009-03-18T22:55:00.003+08:00

How would you translate "学姐" into English?In Japanese they have Senpai as a close equivalent.. but in English?Well, according to Babel Fish which does direct word-for-word translations, it's (and I quote) "studies the elder sister".And you wonder why I'm struggling and coming close to tears.. T.T

Me and My iPod

2009-03-05T09:50:00.006+08:00

Woke up earlier than usual this morning to go renew my passport. There's still 10mths worth of travel left, but wasn't sure if I'd be back in KL within this period.. and since I wasn't looking forward to camping out in Canberra... thought it's best to get it done while I'm still on Malaysian soil..Anyways, long (and unnecessary) intro aside, while waiting for my mom to get ready, I plugged in my

Fieldwork

2009-02-25T16:14:00.005+08:00

Fieldwork: Going into the field to do work.. anthropologically speaking, that is. Which is exactly what I've been up to for the past 3mths and counting.But as far as the older generation is concerned, I'm back for 'holiday'.. it's too difficult to explain 'fieldwork', particularly to those who don't even grasp the concept of 'postgraduate studies'... I know I sound pretty mean.. but trust me..

Reflecting...

2009-02-16T14:23:00.005+08:00

On how I spent.. have spent? and will be spending my fieldwork/annual leave.. If I were to sum up each month with several key words... it would go something like this:Dec.08: Wedding (not mine, of course~ =p)Grandpa's birthdayFieldworkPACA paperMamma MiaJan.09FeverPACAFieldworkCNYFeb.09CNYPLATFORMFieldworkTranscriptionMarch.09FieldworkTranscriptionTranscriptionSo much for wanting to have fun...

Results of My Thesis...

2009-02-13T15:26:00.004+08:00

Hahaha.. no lah.. where got so fast know? Hadn't even finish writing how to submit?I blame being at home too long for the uber Malaysian lingo.. =pAnyhow.. was looking up information on graduations for a friend when I stumbled on this unimelb FAQ regarding how examiners generally respond to a PhD thesis.. and well, there are 5 recommendations:That the candidate:1. Be awarded the degree without

Happy Chinese New Year =)

2009-02-09T23:03:00.012+08:00

祝您在新的一年一帆風順二龍騰飛三羊開泰四季平安五福臨門六六大順七星高照八方來財九九同心十全十美百事亨通千事吉祥萬事如意！！！

Nat Nat... This Is What You Missed...

2009-02-08T00:04:00.000+08:00

Lolx... Never mind.. there's always next time! XDAnyways.. congrats on your show~! You are by far the cutest and hottest "bird nest" I've ever seen... hehehehe... Now you can join us in pigging out without feeling guilty!还是很喜欢你这个发型叻。。。有种辣妹的感觉！！

I Am...

2009-01-31T13:22:00.003+08:00

... very, very happy to be hometo be among family and friendsBut not so happy to be gaining weight =(... frustrated with InDesignBut working hard to better understand itthrough studying web-based tutorials andasking for advice online... stalled on thesis-writingBut still very muchie in-love with my project =)so don't worry... I'm not about to call it quits...yet anyways! ^^;;;... very much behind

happy 牛 year! (^o^)/

2009-01-25T10:55:00.003+08:00

恭喜恭喜！新年快乐！小牛们来向你拜年哦！嘻！So this pix is a wee bit out-dated.. but it's still somewhat related.. after all, it's a mooooo-tastic looking Xmas Special Ed. Milk-flavoured Tohato.. yummmz!Have more cowabunga pix to show.. but they'll have to come at the next post. Til then.. wishing you all a Happy and Moooooo-tastic 牛 Year! Don't forget to drink a glass of milk everyday for strong bones and teeth! \(^o

Update of Various Things

2009-01-21T21:43:00.008+08:00

Such an emo-post the last piece was.. apologies if I worried anyone.. but ah well.. sometimes you just need to let things go and vent a bit... it comes with being sick and feeling totally useless...The meds I had to suffer through.. yuck~!Fortunately, I am no longer sick.. at least.. I'm much much muuuuch better - can sit and talk and any signs of a cough is almost all gone. I'm certain by CNY

Sick Sick and Very Annoyed

2009-01-12T13:38:00.004+08:00

I realised when I get sick.. I get really annoyed and angry.. mostly at myself for being so useless.. then at the doctors for not making me well asap.... and when I'm sick.. I end up thinking a lot and getting angry at things that normally don't really annoy me..Like selfish people with selfish requests which normally, I'd just be nice and let it be.. but when I'm sick I feel really angry at them

Thanks Pork-Chop!

2009-01-03T16:14:00.001+08:00

You know who you are.... ^^;;

You know you're writing a thesis if...

2008-12-29T13:26:00.004+08:00

You spend 12 hours a day at the library. Guilty!You keep a local coffee shop in business.You keep a local liquor store in business.Doing work for other classes feels like taking a break.Doing work for other classes feels like a complete distraction and waste of time. Guilty!The Inter-Library Services people (probably) hate you.You’ve written eighty pages. Guilty!You’ve written zero pages.You find

Crack..

2008-12-28T11:02:00.008+08:00

Click on the clips below to preview examples of pure nonsensical crack.. if the video doesn't load.. try the hyper-linked titles. =)Beauty and the Beast Cinderella and my absolute favourite - Snow White Yes, you ought to feel sorry for yourself for not understanding canto.. cause you've just missed out on some of the funniest fairy-tales parodies ever created.Happy New Year everyone!

A LIttle Sweetness...

2008-12-27T16:09:00.004+08:00

So what do you think of the new banner/images? Thought it'd be good to mark the end of 2008 and welcome 2009 with a little sweetness. ^^;;Though to be quite honest, I'm not 100% satisfied with the choice of images.. but since I don't have much time to dig even deeper into my picture albums to locate other equally, if not more kawaii type of sweets... the ones above will have to do for now..

Merry Xmas.. Eve!

2008-12-24T16:30:00.008+08:00

When I let my brain wander.. I realise that more often than not.. it tends to go awry.. For instance.. Q1. Why is it that peoples give and/or receive gifts during Christmas? I asked LM but she never got back to me.. so I'm still left wondering.. Q2. Why is it that "Christ"mas can be abbreviated to "X"mas? Why not 'Y'mas? If it's the latter.. then that would suit today's theme pretty well... =pAnd

And 2008 Draws to an End....

2008-12-21T23:44:00.002+08:00

Well.. almost anyways... =p Once the Winter Solstice hits.. you know it's only a matter of days before Christmas is onto us.. then New Year's Eve.. then my favourite time of the year.. Chinese New Year~~~~! ^^;;;;Anyhow, I ought to be busy writing my paper.. so I leave you with this year's homemade 'tang yuan'.. Happy holidays everyone!

Best of Both Worlds

2008-12-20T00:16:00.003+08:00

Hah.. bet you didn't see this coming - the new skin that is. I mean, when you consider the fact that all I've been doing in the past weeks since I arrived back in KL (yes, I'm home in case you didn't already know!) is whine about my (lack of) writing.. then why in the world did I waste spend precious time doing up a new skin?The short answer to the potentially long blahness, is because I needed a

Frustration

2008-12-18T16:37:00.000+08:00

Arguably the most frustrating thing about studying a PhD in humanities (or more specifically in 'media') is the inability to bounce ideas off people who can offer constructive criticism and suggestions 24/7. As a result, so very, very often I end up banging my head against the wall and/or emitting cries of frustrations. Such acts of stupidity however, means I end up pissing off my family (or

Journalism in the 21st Century

2008-12-15T10:56:00.000+08:00

I got accepted to present at the Journalism in the 21st Century: Between Globalization and National Identity conference, to take place in Melbourne, 16-17 July 2009.Actually, I learned about this good news more than a month ago.. (today makes its 1mth+1day) but had been too lazy busy to blog about it. =p Click on the link above to see who's speaking. I'm confident it will be an excellent

Congratulations!

2008-12-09T10:58:00.004+08:00

Dearest Weilin,You deserve the very best. If CH doesn't live up to expectations, we'll help you kick his a*se. After all, that's what girlfriends are for. lolx~ ^^;;;Muacks muacks~!

Just Rambling...

2008-11-25T09:46:00.001+08:00

I think I've reached the point where all I can think about is my thesis.. and I can't make conversation that doesn't revolve around what I've been up to.. where I'm going with the paper.. and why and how I'm stuck... which is kinda pathetic when you think about it.. yet I have to honestly say I've never felt more excited to be where I am today. ^^;;Hahaha.. ok la.. so I'm a nerd.. so what else is

400 news and counting....

2008-11-23T08:59:00.000+08:00

Yes, that's how many news stories I've had to read and dissect.. decipher?.. analyse so far.. and the numbers might climb if I don't get enough materials to break down into 5 key issues to deconstruct for my textual analysis..And to think the 400 is only a fraction of the hundreds and hundreds published during the 8-day period. No wonder young people aren't reading newspapers... with their uber

When the Music Starts....

2008-11-16T18:37:00.004+08:00

Feeling very homesick because people are singing Elvis' hits outside my window.. well.. not literally outside - it's an event happening on Lygon Street and as most of you probably already know.. I do live very, very close by.. and besides, I suspect they've got really massive speakers.. amplifiers? so I won't be the only resident disturbed tonight.At least the singing's not bad.. so much better

Almost There...

2008-11-16T18:14:00.000+08:00

Almost done with the marking of essays~ just a handful left (simply because I've yet to receive them) to go and I'd be officially done with Semester Two, 2008. =)Looking back, I must say it has been an amazingly crazy journey.. full of ups and way too many downs for my own liking.. quite honestly a very, very, veeery different experience compare to last year's. Can't be too sure if it's the

My Thesis Argues That....

2008-11-12T08:32:00.000+08:00

Yes...Globalisation affects us all - and it is transforming conventional understandings of state and sovereignty (politics), and by extension, our identitiesInternet has the potential to empower, while giving new meanings (and discourses) to identitiesBut...Not everyone can be a "global citizen" - cosmopolitanism can be framed as "elitist" and "Western-centric"Our (transforming) identities (will?

Poorly Designed Websites

2008-11-09T09:53:00.000+08:00

In recent days I've been surfing the net (and flooding peoples' mailboxes!) to assist with sending out the Call for Papers for the inaugural issue of PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication (click here for more details).In my quest to better familiarise myself with the online presence of various journals and associations, I discovered that the WWW is saturated (through more cynically I am

PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication

2008-11-05T08:58:00.000+08:00

Introducing PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication, a new postgraduate journal to be (officially) launched in June 2009. Started by the Media and Communications Program, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne, and fleshed out by a group of uber dedicated team members (yours truly included~ ^^;;) PLATFORM is a biannual open-access online publication and it is envisioned

Network Society?

2008-10-31T08:20:00.000+08:00

Worry not, this post isn't about Manuel Castell's (impossible to understand) Network Society, although credit must be given to the man for popularising the term. ^^;;In this post, I'm more interested in the idea of "destined networks". Not very academic la.. it's really more to do with the idea that there are no coincidences in life, just hitsuzen (必然). The concept of hitsuzen can be loosely

Reminder to Self pt2

2008-10-31T08:14:00.003+08:00

Some "dedicated" Phd student I am.. I neglected to addPrepare for fieldwork - letterheads, questions etcBackup my workAnd should I get a haircut too?

Reminder to Self

2008-10-30T19:57:00.004+08:00

Before leaving Melbourne.. I hope to have accomplished the following:Listen to Jay Chow's 2004 Incomparable Concert ^^;;Watch Blueberry NightsReturn all the DVDs I borrowedClean up my closetBake - else my butter will get moldyTidy up my desk + floor - otherwise my brother will throw a fit (and other things too~!)Catch up with people I hadn't seen for awhileFinish marking 60 essaysPack my

All Done~!

2008-10-30T19:28:00.000+08:00

And the teaching period is finaaaaaally over~ wooohoo~! Time to celebrate~ ^^;;Oh wait.. there's still 60 essays to mark. Demmit~!

And Then...?

2008-10-24T14:48:00.000+08:00

With the days now getting longer... well, we are approaching summer here in Melbourne.. one is easily tricked into slacking off and being complacent. Thanks to the (occasional) burst of sunshine, of late I've been awfully tempted to run away from the stuffy halls of university (and my apartment!) and throw myself at the mercy of Melbourne's biting wind. Heh. So I failed miserably at being poetic.

Funnies...

2008-10-23T13:54:00.014+08:00

Because we all need a laugh to clear the air.. to get the endorphins running.. and well.. because happiness is contagious~ ^^;;; So here we go~~~!~sings~ How much is that doggy.. on the roadside?!!Yes, that is an actual dog.. well.. not quite a 'real' breathing living dog, but a giant-sized stuffed toy dog indeed. Not sure what it was doing sitting there.. maybe it wanna 'kao' some hot chicks