Notes of a student

Today I devote myself entirely to studying. At least I attempt to do so.

Currently reading chapter on Corporate Social Responsibility in the book on Corporate Communications. Now, throw the stones onto me, but I wonder why is it so extremely boring, if it is considered to be so extremely important. Or are we just trying to pretend, that we care, although deep underneath we are still all after old good profit and maximization of shareholder value. Is Gordon's Gekko "Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good" still adamant for us?

To be continued... went to bore myself more ;)

Update:
From discussion about negotiations: what is crucial  for negotiation between two parties:
1. Both parties should be in a position to move from their initial standpoint into the zone of mutual agreement.
2. Empowerment - person negotiating should have power to take a decision.

I have recently started with course on "Negotiation skills" and this one promises to be one of the best ever! Lucky me! :D

Remarks on Singapore

Spirit of Kiasu

This is one of the features of Singaporeans, something, that on the one hand drives them forward, but on the other hand may prevent them from doing what they really want to do - or even asking themselves, if what they do is what they want to do.

This is what Wiki says about Kiasu:

Kiasu is a Hokkien (a Chinese spoken variant) word that literally means 'fear of losing'. This word is so widely used by Singaporeans and Malaysians that it is incorporated into their English vocabulary (in the form of Singlish). It is often used in describing the social attitudes of people, especially about South East Asian society and its values. Its widespread use is often because these attitudes are common—to not lose out in a highly competitive society, or to the extent of parents imposing heavy study labour on their children in their wish to make them at the very top of all other students.

Most popular professions in Singapore are lawyers, investment bankers and doctors. All those can bring one to the top of the society, in term of financial success and recognition. But does it really make them happy? What I personally have observed, is that even when going out and having fun, many locals have this certain tension inside, as if they can never truly relax, let it go and just be themselves... I don't make any value judgments here, but just reflect on some of my brief observations...

In the zoo: taking care of each other 

Island Tioman in Malaysia

After sightseeing weekend in KL, we decided to have some rest and pump up some energy into our souls, minds and bodies - in beautiful Tioman island on South East part of Malay peninsula.

It took us just a bit over 6 hours to get there - by bus to the sea city of Mersing in Malaysia, and then by shaky boat to Tekek, capital of Tioman island - and here we are, my roommate Paula and I, in Berjaya resort & spa, in a little paradise close to equator.

What did we do during the weekend? We relaxed by the pool, watched the sea by low tide and went snorkeling, where we saw incredibly beautiful colorful fishes, a huge turtle, some unrecognizable sea creatures and all in all had lots of fun under tropical sun (and even managed not to get sunburn;)!

Sea at low tide

Pool joy

Trying out snorkeling

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

This post is about weekend in KL - September 3-6 2009

I just returned from the extended weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. What can I say? It's definitely worth it - to visit, to see, to taste and to smell :) Once. And I don't feel coming back there again. At least not in the nearest future. Although the trip was great.

Petronas tower is indeed impressive, and it was worth it to wake up at 6 in the morning to secure the ticket to the sky bridge on the 41st floor of the tower, with a nice view to the city and to the gardens around the tower. And than again, just in less than 2 km from the masterpiece of modern architecture - shabby old houses, chickens in the dusty streets and rubbish on the pavements...
For someone it will be a charming combination of the ancient and raw with new and aspiring, maybe it is... But I didn't feel it this way - it's just disturbing.

Sky bar in the Traders' hotel with a swimming pool in the middle and a fantastic view to the lights of Petronas twins is a must: house music, delicious cocktails, international crowd and just a nice place to spend couple of hours on the weekend eve.

Batu caves, located a bit more than 10 km away from the city, is one of the tourist attractions...But also this place feels like man-made, with claimed to be world tallest goldish statue of Murugan, a Hindu deity (42 smth meters), lots of wild monkeys and smaller Hindu temples. This caves become epicenter of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.

Over 60% of population of this country is Muslim, and as white western woman I definitely didn't feel myself comfortable over there. After all, I was happy to come back to Singapore - and I am sure that culture shock would have been much greater (since I am still waiting for it to come here in Singapore), have I decided to go for exchange to Malaysia...

Petronas twin towers - view from our hotel room

Watch out for moose in Finland, and monkey - in Malaysia

Always on the run

and I truly enjoy it! Today I've done bunch of things (booked tickets for beautiful Tioman island in Malaysia, exchanged money, made some purchases etc. etc.) and even managed to the library, to read for my thesis.
I am looking forward for the weekend in the amazing Berjaya Resort in Tioman: if pictures reflect reality at least to some extend, we'll definitely have fantastic time over there.

Every time, when I see the Singaporean crowd, I am amazed by this multicultural but predominantly  Asian mix. Every now and then you see some Westerners, especially at the City Hall or financial district Raffles Place, or at touristic Orchard - but still, great deal how all all manage to live together in peace on this small tropical piece of land.

Singaporean crowd - Independence Day 

View from Singapore Flyer

 

Famous Singapore Sling

First impressions Singapore

Time flies - indeed! I've been 3 weeks in Singapore for now, but it seems that just few days ago I was sipping Starbucks coffee in London Heathrow, waiting for connection flight from Helsinki to Singapore. And at the same time, it seems I've spent here a tiny piece of eternity! New everything and everyone: people, impressions, sights, smells, tastes, get-together, parties, conversations - just compressed and squeezed into these 3 emotional and exciting weeks.

Humid heated air of this island-country-state struck me at first after leaving air-conditioned ultra modern terminal of Changi airport. 20 minutes taxi ride on the modern highway through, as it seems, always-under-construction city, and I've reached my new and you-better-like-it-for-the-next-4-months home: residential hostel at Havelock Road, near Toing Bahru metro station, just 10 minutes ride from the city center, my school SMU (Singapore Management University) and major attractions of Singapore.

Overall, it's been amazing and exciting time. More is still to come...