Tomorrow marks my last day in the company that grooms me and provides bread & butter on the table for me from the past 3130 days.

On 1st Feb, Iwill also leaving the room that I have been calling home for the past 2765days.

On 2nd Feb, I will be leaving the country that I have been studying, working and making lots of fantastic friends & colleagues for the past 8760 days.

I hope I will be back…

juskawaime feeling emo after seeing her empty room – with all stuffs shipped over.

“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we’re really not that different, me and you.”

~ Colin Raye

Have done lots of research and planning since donkey mths ago.. and finally the time has come! *Yippees*

I thought it is a bit too fast (time does fly!!), and I was just sick for 2 days (have not been feeling good past 1-2weeks), and one of travel mates – Jing – is also sick!! OH mY! -___-”"

And I have not revise my Japanese language… Oh no! Everything is returned to the sensei already! =( I will be bringing a dictionary just in case, But i suspect we would prob will not use it and will just make do with hand-language, broken english and broken japanese!! =p It will be fun! It has to be fun!! =)

Planning for this Japanese trip – is most challenging travel trip I have ever planned.. Esp the metro/subways.. see already – atama ga itaii desu!! *Headache* Plus the place we covered are big – Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima (if have time, Nara). and the period is long – 14days!! (Yes we are going to be very broke!!) Luckily we take turns in planning *team spirit is strong* And whatever we didn’t plan, hopefully we can find our way around.. All will turn out fine! Amen!

I am going for fabric shopping for 2nd day (all by myself – free day) while waiting for another travelmate – Jo – to join us. I have done some searching online.. intend to really shop till drop!! haha hopefully i have enough $$ to spend! =p

God bless our trip - fun and safe trip and bless us with strong body for this trip.

Cya when we are back!! =)

Mrs Lee Kuan Yew dies at age 89
Posted: 02 October 2010 1933 hrs

SINGAPORE : Madam Kwa Geok Choo – the wife of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and mother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has died on Saturday.

Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, age 89, passed away peacefully at home at 5.40 pm.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the wake is held at Sri Temasek, official residence of the Prime Minister located within the Istana grounds, from October 4-5.

Visitors who wish to pay their last respects may do so on October 4-5 from 10am to 5pm.

Members of the public may call 6835 6614 for any queries.

A private funeral will take place on October 6 at Mandai Crematorium.

The family requests that no obituaries and no wreaths or flowers to be sent.

All donations will go to the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) Health Research Endowment Fund.

Madam Kwa was one of 8 children.

An outstanding student at Methodist Girls’ School, she also topped the 1936 Senior Cambridge Examination for the whole of Malaya and Singapore.

At Raffles Institution, she caught the attention of a young Lee Kuan Yew when she gave him unexpectedly stiff competition for a Queen’s Scholarship.

But academic rivalry aside, he knew he had found his equal, and his soul mate.

Their relationship grew through the years of Japanese Occupation, and by September 1944, love had blossomed.

When World War II ended, Mr Lee left to study law in England in 1946. But he was miserable until she joined him at Cambridge University a year later.

The two married secretly on 23 December 1947.

She had just turned 27, and he was 24.

Mrs Lee said: “You can’t explain these things … He had tremendous aplomb, self-confidence, very jaunty, he was a handsome young man.”

When they returned to Singapore in 1950, they tied the knot again, this time with their parents’ full knowledge.

When Mr Lee got more involved in politics and became Singapore’s Prime Minister in 1959, it was Mrs Lee and his younger brother, Lee Kim Yew, who built up and expanded Lee & Lee – the law firm all 3 had set up in 1955.

Mr Lee once said his great advantage was that he had a wife who could be a sole breadwinner and bring the children up.

That was his, quote, “insurance policy,” which allowed him to play the role he did in Singapore’s history.

In October 2003 – Mrs Lee suffered a stroke while on a visit to London.

Fortunately, she made a swift recovery and was again seen in public at her husband’s side at community events, and on official trips overseas.

And she was there when Lee Hsien Loong was sworn in as Singapore’s third Prime Minister.

Although she had shied away from a high profile, her contributions to Singapore had been most significant, and pivotal to its history.

“If she weren’t an influence, supposing I had married somebody else, I might have become a different person, not that I would be a different person, but the things that I would have been able to do, the kind of backdrop I would have had, family, support, would have been different,” said MM Lee. – CNA /ls

Source: Channel NewsAsia

President’s tribute to Mrs Lee

Oct 2, 2010

PRESIDENT SR Nathan and his wife paid tribute on Saturday night to Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, who died at her home earlier in the day.

In a statement issued by the Istana on Saturday night, Mr Nathan said the loss of Mrs Lee, wife and life-long companion of Minister Mentor, ‘must be heavy and immeasurable’ to MM Lee.

Here is the President’s tribute to Mrs Lee, who died at age 89.

‘My wife and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, wife and life-long companion of Minister Mentor. We send our deepest condolences to Minister Mentor, whose grief over her passing away must be heavy and immeasurable.

To know Mrs Lee’s greatness, one has to listen to what has not been said of her until now. Mrs Lee was great in many ways – as a legal luminary, as a mother of an illustrious family, and more than that for her stoic presence next to Mr Lee Kuan Yew during times of turbulence and tension in the many years of his political struggle. Many would not know of her quiet but important contributions to the State, as she walked that long road with him.

She followed him faithfully – always by his side – throughout all changes that befell him in his political career. By his side she helped him pursue his chosen path in politics, preoccupied always with the good of Singapore before anything else, which she shared. She was his companion, confidante and counsel, and we may never fully appreciate the impact and influence she had in shaping Minister Mentor’s thinking and life.

There was not a single important event or development that she was not an intimate witness of. Indeed she lived a life that had its fair share of pain and uncertainty, which was not evident in public.

To her family and close friends she has left a treasure trove of memories, experiences, knowledge and personal bonds. There can be no substitute for the place she had in their life, nor consolation for her family. The sorrow and pain must be great for them as well. As it is for us Singaporeans who had been touched by her in one way or another.’

Source: Straits Times

Mrs Lee Kuan Yew has passed away

Sat, Oct 02, 2010
AsiaOne

Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, wife of Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and mother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, died on Saturday at 5.40 pm, said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.

She was 89 years old.

Mrs Lee, whose maiden name was Kwa Geok Choo, was born in Dec 1920 to banker Mr Kwa Siew Tee.

She graduated from Methodist Girls School in 1936 and was the only female student in Raffles Institute where she first met Mr Lee.

Their first date was on Mr Lee’s 21st birthday in 1944, during the Japanese Occupation.

She won a Queen’s Scholarship to study Law in Cambridge University in 1947 and was secretly married to Mr Lee that same year.

She passed her bar exams with First Class Honours two years later in 1949 and returned to Singapore in 1950.

She was admitted to the Singapore Bar in 1951, and founded law firm Lee & Lee with her husband and brother-in-law in 1955.

She was quoted as saying: “I walk two steps behind my husband like a good Asian wife” while on a diplomatic trip to Kuala Lumpur in Dec 1976.

Mrs Lee suffered a mild stroke in Oct 25, 2003 while in London on a diplomatic visit with Mr Lee.

She suffered another stroke on May 12, 2008 and was warded in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She suffered another stroke on June 24 that same year.

She is survived by her husband Lee Kuan Yew, her sons Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang, and daughter Lee Wei Ling.

The wake will be held at Sri Temasek on Monday and Tuesday. Visitors can pay their last respects there from 10am to 5pm.

The Sri Temasek is the official residence of the Prime Minister and is located within the Istana grounds.

A private funeral will take place on Wednesday at Mandai Crematorium.

Mrs Lee’s family has requested that no obituaries, wreaths nor flowers be sent. All donations will go to the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) Health Research Endowment Fund.

Source: AsiaOne

“自己也许会走冤枉路，但是不要怕，因为或许。。因为这些冤枉路让我们以后走的路会走得更坚强。”

God has a plan for everyone of us!

*translation:

In life, you may not walk in a straight line to your destination. But fret not, because these extra journey may be would make our future walk easier.  Nothing is wasted as you gain experiences and wisdom =)

but it seems not so now..

Simon is getting married!!!

Simon Cowell to have girls at bash

Louis Walsh claims Simon Cowell will ”bring along a few girls” to his stag party, his final bash as a single man.

Simon Cowell will ‘bring along a few girls’ to his stag party.

The music mogul – who got engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy earlier this year – has reportedly told pals he wants a low-key celebration of his final days as a single man, but close friend Louis Walsh is expecting to see some female companions at the traditionally all-male evening.

Louis told Britain’s Star magazine: ‘I don’t want to plan his stag do, though. I think his brother Nicholas will be doing that.

‘Simon wouldn’t like to do much. He’s not into going out and getting drunk. It’s not really him. I’m sure he’ll like to go out for a nice meal, a few drinks and a bit of fun. and maybe bring along a few girls!’

Louis still doesn’t understand what Mezhgan sees in 50-year-old Simon, because she is so much better looking than him.

He quipped to new! magazine: ‘She’s gorgeous! She’s far too good for him. I’ve liked all of his girlfriends, but Mezhgan is so real; so nice. In fact, she’s everything he’s not!’

‘I think Mezhgan could do much better than Simon. She’s a lovely person and so gorgeous – too pretty for him. She could do better than this 50-year-old man with a funny haircut. Simon could pay anyone in the world to cut his hair – he could even buy new hair. It’s weird but he likes it and she must, too. She loves him for being him. She likes his funny heels, his funny hair and his funny face.’

Source

Extracted:

“The message we want to bring to people out there is that life is far from over when you get to your 50s. This is the time to do what you’ve always wanted to do; read more motivational books, join a gym, climb a mountain and travel to places you’ve always dreamed of. Stop worrying about being old and sickly. Every day is a blessing and losing out on making that day a happy one can take years off your life.”

Is there life after 50?

Sun, Jun 13, 2010

New Straits Times

THEIR children have left the nest, employers are counting the months to their retirement and health problems may be lurking around the corner.

However, with a renewed zest for life and ambition to live their golden years to the fullest, people over the age of 50 — the “scary age” according to some and the “halfway point in life before everything goes downhill” to others — are no longer willing to just sit around the house in their pajamas.

In fact, studies have shown that as people get older, stress, anger and worry tend to fade; replaced with a feeling of wellbeing and adventure.

Currently 1.4 million Malaysians are over the age of 60 and by 2020, this figure will rise to 3.3 million, a 210 per cent increase from 1990.

Malaysian Aging Society honorary secretary Ranuga Devy said life is heaps better after hitting the big 50 for many reasons. There is the added confidence gained from experience, for example.

“When you are younger, you worry non-stop about what other people may think and say about you. Everyone’s opinion is more important than your own. Even sitting alone in a restaurant can be intimidating and scary. But as age catches up, people are confident about themselves. After all, how many more mistakes can one make in life?”

She said many older Malaysians have also learnt that life is to be lived and not denied.

“When the kids have grown up and you are all alone, there are two paths to choose from; curl up at home or live the way you want!”

Unfortunately, some older people tend to focus on their regrets.

“Why look back? So what if you have not achieved all that you intended to by age 50? You should be thinking about what you can do when you get to your 60s and 70s. Many also grumble about not being acknowledged or treated according to their age. But if you start to define yourself by your age, others will too and eventually you will feel older.”

Ranuga believes society should adopt the same approach towards aging as Western societies do, because “life is not over just because you are older”.

“Aged people should enjoy quality of life, like in Western societies. They travel, enjoy extreme activities and socialise freely. They are not limited by a number. Here, we are so afraid of what people might think of an ‘old’ person trying to act young. Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey are good examples of older women who are still living life to the fullest; carrying themselves well and up and about. That’s how life should be for all of us.”

She said it’s sad that our country doesn’t provide enough facilities for older people to live independently without having to continuously worry about safety .

“Our facilities are far from age friendly. Older people are forced to depend on their children or friends to drive them around, because bus steps are too steep and our roads don’t provide proper walking paths. It’s almost life threatening to drive alone anywhere.”

Older women, Ranuga said, have it much worse than their male counterparts, as it’s still a man’s world out there.

“A spinster or widow might face a lot of criticism if she is seen socialising at a party, joining a networking group or even just having a meal alone. A married woman usually loses part of her own identity when she gets married, including her name. That can make her easily forget who she is. When she is older and tries to regain her own personality, people are quick to assume she is having an affair or going through a mid-life crisis. There is too much tradition involved in behaving a certain way; we are still behind time. If we don’t start to make changes today, our children are going to face even bigger obstacles when they are in their golden years.”

Ranuga said the Malaysian Aging Society is trying its best to educate the older generation on many aspects of life, including the art of aging gracefully.

“The message we want to bring to people out there is that life is far from over when you get to your 50s. This is the time to do what you’ve always wanted to do; read more motivational books, join a gym, climb a mountain and travel to places you’ve always dreamed of. Stop worrying about being old and sickly. Every day is a blessing and losing out on making that day a happy one can take years off your life.” -NST

Why Everyone Prefers Male Bosses

Re-posted courtesy of Forbes.

by Willow Duttge

27 May 2010, 8:00 PM ET

“You know, you’re not a man,” Akio Morita, Sony’s cofounder and former chairman of the board said to one of the firm’s senior female executives over dinner one night.

“Nope, that’s absolutely true,” the woman, a single mother divorced with three children, replied.

“But you’re not a woman.”

“Uh, OK. What am I?”

“You’re in a third category.”

Right, she’s a woman boss.

It was some two decades ago that Barbara Annis, now of Barbara Annis & Associates, a firm that advises blue-chip companies on gender diversity and inclusiveness, had that conversation with the late “god of Sony.” But not a lot has changed in terms of how we view female leaders.

Clear preference

The real surprise came when the ForbesWoman Facebook community community was canvassed: “Would you rather work for a man or a woman?” The majority replied, “A man any day of the week,” to use the words of Stephanie Rovengo.

Are men actually better bosses? Are women doing something wrong?

It’s not just anecdotal that male bosses are perceived to be better at their jobs. “It’s a general cultural phenomenon, the preference for men leaders and bosses,” says Alice Eagly, Ph.D., a social psychology professor at Northwestern University.

In the most recent Gallup data, from 2006, 34% of men preferred a male boss while 10% preferred a female boss, while 40% of women preferred a male boss and 26% preferred a female boss. (The remaining respondents of both genders had no preference.)

One explanation for the across-the-board preference of male leaders may be deeply instilled gender stereotypes held by both men and women. “The cultural model of a leader is masculine,” says Eagly. “Leaders are thought to be people who are dominant and competitive and take charge and are confident. Those kinds of qualities are ascribed to men far more than women. Women are ascribed to be nice. We are, above all, nice.”

Like a man

As a result, many executive women have adopted male personality traits. This is what Annis, who is chair of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, did in the early 1980s as she worked her way up the corporate ladder at Sony. “They thought I wasn’t assertive, and so they sent me for assertiveness training for women, called ‘guerrilla war tactics for women in business,’” she says, recalling how they taught to lower and project her voice.

Twenty years later, through her firm’s work, she still notices women distancing themselves from their female identities, just trying to be one of the guys.

But when women take on male characteristics,they are viewed more negatively than a man doing the exact same thing, says Robin Ely, Ph.D., a professor of organizational behavior at Harvard Business School. She references an experiment where M.B.A. students were asked to evaluate the likability, style, competence and hiring appeal of the main characters in two case studies.

The results were striking. Even though the two case studies were exactly the same except for the gender of the main character, the male character was found to be more likable and more likely to be hired. The woman was considered power hungry, and the more aggressive students perceived her, the more they disliked her. It’s tired but true: Executive women are damned if they act like men, and damned if they don’t.

Tricky ties

To complicate things further, female boss-female subordinate relationships can be particularly prickly, especially in firms with few women at the top. In the male-dominated professional service firms Ely has studied female executives universally condemned the most senior women. “They described them as poor role models; they felt no ability to identify with them on the basis of shared gender,” she says.

But in firms with partnerships composed of 15% to 20% women, the women leaders were universally applauded. Ely attributes this phenomenon in part to the stress of being a token. “You’re always going to experience heightened performance pressure. You’re going to be a lot more visible … I think the junior women look up, and [their] expectation is that these women need to be everything.” In addition, female leaders in a male-dominated firm may not be comfortable lobbying for gender equality out of fear it could compromise their own success, she says.

When there are fewer women at the top this communicates to lower-level women that only a small percentage of the opportunity in the firm is available to them, says professor Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell, Ph.D., an associate professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. This heightens the competition between women as they all fight for the same few spots.

Perception problem

None of this, though, means women are actually worse bosses than men. And they just might be better. The January 2009 issue of the Harvard Business Review looked at how female and male leaders were rated in 360-degree feedback reviews on leadership competencies as defined by Insead’s Global Leadership Center in Fontainebleau Cedex, France. The eight competencies were envisioning, energizing, designing and aligning, rewarding and feedback, team building, outside orientation, tenacity and emotional intelligence. It ends up female leaders were rated higher on every dimension but one. Envisioning is “the ability to recognize new opportunities and trends in the environment and develop a new strategic direction for an enterprise.”

It’s well worth noting that the leadership competencies measured in the study were not traditional masculine-associated traits such as competitiveness, self-confidence and dominance. This could be an example of a new trend. There is some evidence, says Eagly, that the “cultural model of leadership is becoming more androgynous … the old top-down style, command-and-control is no longer as popular.”

The bottom line is women don’t necessarily make worse bosses. It’s just that they are more easily perceived to

Source

Love to sing this song. Hope you too. =)

Good morning, Lord Jesus,
Thank You for today.
Thank You for my spirit,
Thank You I can pray.
Good morning, Lord Jesus,
To You I love to sing.
Thank You, Lord, for everything.

Click here for the music