Today we had the replacement holiday for Deepavali (which falls on Saturday!) and I heard it falls on a month of ____ (sorry I forgot the name) which occurs only once every 100 years!
and yes, i did nothing today but slack. I decided not to plan anything so that I can have time for myself! It's great and I feel much more refreshed.
I noticed that I am getting a lot of electronic clutter in my room. I have moved back my laptop (which was a tome!) back to JB, so all that is left now is my Desktop, netbook, Ipod Video, Handphone etc. It doesn't look like much but the wires are definitely messing up my place!
Being an IC Designer means that I have a more than average understanding of all these equipment (considering that I am designing a lot of components in these stuff!!!!) and I must say that development in electronics is so fast that you can easily be irrelevant. Which is why it is often difficult for an engineer who changes his career path to come back.
My decision to stay and have a relaxing to-myself day is partly due to my injury. I was running around my area (an excellent and calm area btw, lots of trees and greenery on one side, and development on the other side, a really great contrast), when suddenly I tripped on something. I didn't really fall then, but sort of lost balance and due to the speed at which I was in, I crashed into a metal divider and rebounded onto the pavement. Thus, I have quite painful abrasions on my knees! Ouch!
I guess no more running until it feels less painful. But anyway, this reminded me of a person I met some time ago. Well, he was my canoeing buddy (although I quit after a short while because it was way too time consuming) and apparently, he used to be much fitter than how he is now. Apparently, he said, he injured his leg quite seriously and couldn't exercise for a long long time (a few years) and became less fit).
Monday, 19 October 2009
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Confirmation
It's been slightly more than 3 months since I started working (13th July) and I have officially received my confirmation.
Indeed, this is certainly a milestone in my life (albeit a small one) and it made me think back what I have accomplished and how my goals have changed.
Being an engineer involved in cutting-edge technology is extremely interesting. However, it also means a long training time. Although I was officially productive quite long ago, I cannot say I am a full-fledged design engineer. I think being fully competant in design will take at least 1 year.
I guess I can say that I have accomplished a lot of what I joined this company for. I learnt a lot and yet, the job is not overwhelming.
But then comes the question, should I take a part-time masters or a full-time masters? Or should I not take a masters at all? Do I plan to change my career? I am getting very familiar with how design companies work and wonder whether I should go for a change in career when I find design stale or when I stop learning anymore from it.
I guess part of me is worried about joining a company with a bad working atmosphere given that I am getting comfortable with what must seem to be, a very comfortable working atmosphere.
I guess most people prefer remaining in my comfort zone. I'm like that too, but I find that very often, going out of your comfort zone can be a very rewarding experience. Maybe because I did not step out of my comfort zone enough during my University years, I did not achieve everything which I wanted to during my undergraduate years.
Part of me wants to go back to just finished all that I have not accomplished. Maybe this is an additional reason to take a graduate degree.
Well, I guess I will do that after some time.
Indeed, this is certainly a milestone in my life (albeit a small one) and it made me think back what I have accomplished and how my goals have changed.
Being an engineer involved in cutting-edge technology is extremely interesting. However, it also means a long training time. Although I was officially productive quite long ago, I cannot say I am a full-fledged design engineer. I think being fully competant in design will take at least 1 year.
I guess I can say that I have accomplished a lot of what I joined this company for. I learnt a lot and yet, the job is not overwhelming.
But then comes the question, should I take a part-time masters or a full-time masters? Or should I not take a masters at all? Do I plan to change my career? I am getting very familiar with how design companies work and wonder whether I should go for a change in career when I find design stale or when I stop learning anymore from it.
I guess part of me is worried about joining a company with a bad working atmosphere given that I am getting comfortable with what must seem to be, a very comfortable working atmosphere.
I guess most people prefer remaining in my comfort zone. I'm like that too, but I find that very often, going out of your comfort zone can be a very rewarding experience. Maybe because I did not step out of my comfort zone enough during my University years, I did not achieve everything which I wanted to during my undergraduate years.
Part of me wants to go back to just finished all that I have not accomplished. Maybe this is an additional reason to take a graduate degree.
Well, I guess I will do that after some time.
Monday, 31 August 2009
Working!
I'm working for a mooty company now.
It's quite a fun company. The atmosphere is relaxed and the people plan a lot of activities. Also, the politics is kept to quite a minimum. Currently still in training phase , so work is building up slowly and slowly haha. It's really interesting though. But i think after learning most of it (about 2 yrs i guess), it'll become more boring.
Most people in the company are quite relaxed and happy but I don't know if i'll stay for more than 2 years. :D:D:D
Moo Moo
It's quite a fun company. The atmosphere is relaxed and the people plan a lot of activities. Also, the politics is kept to quite a minimum. Currently still in training phase , so work is building up slowly and slowly haha. It's really interesting though. But i think after learning most of it (about 2 yrs i guess), it'll become more boring.
Most people in the company are quite relaxed and happy but I don't know if i'll stay for more than 2 years. :D:D:D
Moo Moo
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Salut mes amis!
Cher tout le monde,
Salut!
Bon soir!
Aujourd'hui, je vais ecrit ma blog en le francais. Mais, j'ai etudie la future prosche et la present tense seulement en ce moment. J'ai etudie le francais pendant trois mois seulement et mon francais n'est pas bon. Mais je vais chercher ecriter la blog un fois par semaine.
En ce moment, je voyage en l'Oest en l'Etat-Unis. Je vais visite Boston en ce moment. J'ecrite mon blog dans l'autobus. Il y a cinq monde dans l'autobus seulement. Il est retard. Je vais coucher en dix minutes. Il est minuit seulement mais je suis fatigue. J'ai voyage beaucoup aujourd'hui.
La francais est un langue interessant. J'espere que je vais etudie mieux francais en la future. Ahh la francais, pourquoi est-il tres difficile?
J'espere visite Francais, j'espere manger dans les brassieres, les patissieres... j'espere visiter la Paris et regarde le seine parisienne. Et la tous Eiffel!!! J'espere aussi visiter autre francophonies.
En mon course la francais, j'ai un B+. Je suis heureuse (mieux que n'est triste pas) parce que je n'est pas travailleur en mon course la francais.
J'espere que demain, je vais m'amuser.
Bon nuit! A bientot!
Tout les bisous,
Xiao Chuan
Salut!
Bon soir!
Aujourd'hui, je vais ecrit ma blog en le francais. Mais, j'ai etudie la future prosche et la present tense seulement en ce moment. J'ai etudie le francais pendant trois mois seulement et mon francais n'est pas bon. Mais je vais chercher ecriter la blog un fois par semaine.
En ce moment, je voyage en l'Oest en l'Etat-Unis. Je vais visite Boston en ce moment. J'ecrite mon blog dans l'autobus. Il y a cinq monde dans l'autobus seulement. Il est retard. Je vais coucher en dix minutes. Il est minuit seulement mais je suis fatigue. J'ai voyage beaucoup aujourd'hui.
La francais est un langue interessant. J'espere que je vais etudie mieux francais en la future. Ahh la francais, pourquoi est-il tres difficile?
J'espere visite Francais, j'espere manger dans les brassieres, les patissieres... j'espere visiter la Paris et regarde le seine parisienne. Et la tous Eiffel!!! J'espere aussi visiter autre francophonies.
En mon course la francais, j'ai un B+. Je suis heureuse (mieux que n'est triste pas) parce que je n'est pas travailleur en mon course la francais.
J'espere que demain, je vais m'amuser.
Bon nuit! A bientot!
Tout les bisous,
Xiao Chuan
Thursday, 12 June 2008
First and Last
I'm feeling a sudden surge of sadness now... When I finished my final paper in UC Davis - French 1 today (11th June), I suddenly felt sad.. I was ok before that, but as I handed in my french paper to my french professor, andrea, it was like a tug that would wake me up from my dreams.
My stay in UC Davis is indeed like a dream. It felt so surreal and everything went by so fast. I can still remember vividly the times when we were trapped in the apartment due to the storms. I could fully explore without much inhibitions in UC Davis. I took courses like French which would be deemed 'too difficult' in NUS. I had lunches with the professors and learnt more about the world of academia and the life of an electrical engineer in the united states. From my peers in class, I learnt that there are indeed people who are really passionate about what they do and that it is not true that the US is less competitive. UC Davis is certainly more competitive than NUS from what I have seen.
My favourite class of my whole stay turned out to be French. My tutor, Andrea, is one of the most passionate and funny tutors I have ever seen. I started taking French to explore and I did not really think that I would continue with French. But from this class, I have now a genuine interest in French. As i have written over and over again, J'aime etudier genie electrique mais J'aime mieux etudier francais.
I have travelled almost every weekend in Davis and I can say that I have been to most parts of california. I really miss this lifestyle of travelling every week to new places. I miss the people in Davis too.. I will miss so many things... and now I have to leave it all... I will miss San Francisco.. It is such a beautiful city that embraces everyone. You will never feel left out in San Francisco (and the shopping is great too). Vacaville, monterey bay, san francisco, morro bay... I know that once I leave, it would be different when I visit (i am sure i will) these places again. It is really truly different to live in a place than to just 'visit'... It is different to return to an appartment which you call your temporary home, than to return to a hotel...
I must say that I have learnt a lot from my stay in Davis. I know more about the lifestyles of americans, 'californians'... of the melting pot that the US is so famous for. The US is indeed an amazing country.
We did lots of crazy stuff like driving to grand canyon... the drive was tiring but fun and indeed, arizona is so different from california... the people... the landscape.. the speed limit!!
I had this tinge of sadness when I left taiwan but I think i feel sadder now... I can't help but think what if I went to Cornell... I am very sure I would be a very different person and sometimes I think that I made the wrong choice...
I really hope that I can repeat this experience in the future and learn more about myself and the world around me... As I proceed on to another phase of my life, I hope that I can learn more about myself and become more aware of myself... What will happen in my travels in the east coast now? We'll see...
My stay in UC Davis is indeed like a dream. It felt so surreal and everything went by so fast. I can still remember vividly the times when we were trapped in the apartment due to the storms. I could fully explore without much inhibitions in UC Davis. I took courses like French which would be deemed 'too difficult' in NUS. I had lunches with the professors and learnt more about the world of academia and the life of an electrical engineer in the united states. From my peers in class, I learnt that there are indeed people who are really passionate about what they do and that it is not true that the US is less competitive. UC Davis is certainly more competitive than NUS from what I have seen.
My favourite class of my whole stay turned out to be French. My tutor, Andrea, is one of the most passionate and funny tutors I have ever seen. I started taking French to explore and I did not really think that I would continue with French. But from this class, I have now a genuine interest in French. As i have written over and over again, J'aime etudier genie electrique mais J'aime mieux etudier francais.
I have travelled almost every weekend in Davis and I can say that I have been to most parts of california. I really miss this lifestyle of travelling every week to new places. I miss the people in Davis too.. I will miss so many things... and now I have to leave it all... I will miss San Francisco.. It is such a beautiful city that embraces everyone. You will never feel left out in San Francisco (and the shopping is great too). Vacaville, monterey bay, san francisco, morro bay... I know that once I leave, it would be different when I visit (i am sure i will) these places again. It is really truly different to live in a place than to just 'visit'... It is different to return to an appartment which you call your temporary home, than to return to a hotel...
I must say that I have learnt a lot from my stay in Davis. I know more about the lifestyles of americans, 'californians'... of the melting pot that the US is so famous for. The US is indeed an amazing country.
We did lots of crazy stuff like driving to grand canyon... the drive was tiring but fun and indeed, arizona is so different from california... the people... the landscape.. the speed limit!!
I had this tinge of sadness when I left taiwan but I think i feel sadder now... I can't help but think what if I went to Cornell... I am very sure I would be a very different person and sometimes I think that I made the wrong choice...
I really hope that I can repeat this experience in the future and learn more about myself and the world around me... As I proceed on to another phase of my life, I hope that I can learn more about myself and become more aware of myself... What will happen in my travels in the east coast now? We'll see...
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
I'm in taiwan!
I reached Taiwan last night carrying lots and lots of luggage (4 pieces in total....) I think I carried the most luggage in the entire plane LOL...
It wasn't that cold as I expected. We were picked up by a van arranged by NTUST which brought us to our dorms in the campus.
All 4 of us will be sharing the same dorm. Its really interesting. The room is very dirty ( I think its not used for many years) and we spent most the time like cleaning up the room. There are no mattresses and such and we just bought a very thick blanket (which is used for winter) as a mattress (since we are only there for a month, there is no point getting mattresses and such). The plus point is that I think it is free, it is of reasonable size and the furniture is great (I like the arrangement better than RVR ones). Btw, the dirtiness is about the same as RVR.
Our hosts are phd students. They are really great!!!!!! We rode on their bikes (this is my 2nd time on a bike, the first time in vietnam, it was MUCH slower)... Only then did I feel the coldness (but its not that cold)...
After buying locks and everything, we slept and woke up at about 8:30am. (We are meeting one of the phd students for breakfast at 9am). I think my chinese is going to improve by a lot from this trip. I am like forced to use Chinese to converse and read Chinese (fan ti zi) everywhere I go.
It wasn't that cold as I expected. We were picked up by a van arranged by NTUST which brought us to our dorms in the campus.
All 4 of us will be sharing the same dorm. Its really interesting. The room is very dirty ( I think its not used for many years) and we spent most the time like cleaning up the room. There are no mattresses and such and we just bought a very thick blanket (which is used for winter) as a mattress (since we are only there for a month, there is no point getting mattresses and such). The plus point is that I think it is free, it is of reasonable size and the furniture is great (I like the arrangement better than RVR ones). Btw, the dirtiness is about the same as RVR.
Our hosts are phd students. They are really great!!!!!! We rode on their bikes (this is my 2nd time on a bike, the first time in vietnam, it was MUCH slower)... Only then did I feel the coldness (but its not that cold)...
After buying locks and everything, we slept and woke up at about 8:30am. (We are meeting one of the phd students for breakfast at 9am). I think my chinese is going to improve by a lot from this trip. I am like forced to use Chinese to converse and read Chinese (fan ti zi) everywhere I go.
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