IIT Commencement - A Year On

It really doesn't feel like it's been that long, with the memories of that day still vivid in my mind. Just hours before the graduation ceremony, I had slogged till midnight looking to clean-out the apartment for the next day also happened to be our move-out-date. Understandably I was a little panda-eyed at the ceremony on that beautiful morning. Such weather was a bit of a rarity in Chicago, and it only made the whole ceremony all the more memorable. I remember looking out trying to find my uncle throughout the ceremony, although I only got a chance to catch him at the end of the ceremony (with all the rules and restrictions we graduates had during the ceremony).

Truly poignant moments in my life.. and although I did share it with some wonderful people that I have been blessed to come across, it would have been perfect had my parents been there. For that.. for that reason at least I can assertively say I will continue my studies at some point.

The day marked the official end of my time as a student of the university. It's been some time since we parted, and I truly miss walking amongst your walls. Thank you IIT for all that I've gained through you.. the knowledge, the wisdom, the friends, the acquaintances, the experience..

To A New Year - 2011

Just a few more minutes before we usher in a whole new year. I wonder what this really says about me - sitting home and blogging a few minutes away from New Year's Day. As I sit here pondering, mental pictures of my experiences over the last 365 days flash across my mind in relatively random order.

2010. It really has been a very different year in my life. After spending the last 17 years in formal education, this year began with me being officially unemployed: no more the student; just a jobless graduate. It started out with much excitement, as I looked forward to my first job and giving it my all. Things however didn't go according to plan (quite naturally), and I ended up spending a good third of the year pursuing a lot of non-academic interests. I began experimenting quite a bit with my cooking: from the chicken lasagna and masala chicken to the lemon tarts and vanilla pudding. I also began concocting cocktails, where I truly found an enjoyable hobby and am able to express my creative side (which really is quite limited though.. lol). I also began learning basic Spanish, although I figure not having another Spanish speaker to practice it with hurts my progress (damn where are those senoritas when you need em'??)

Then came the trip back home, where I really ramped up my search for a job. After a short stint with my dad's friends' company, I began formally as a process engineer at Aker Solutions. And lo! Gone were the days where my mind ran free while time seemed to creep ever so slowly. Suddenly.. I began to miss my unemployed days in the US, when everything just seemed so much simpler. In retrospect, those truly represent my halcyon days.

The highlights.. The beginning moments of the year at Las Vegas with Julian, Cheng Khang and Kwong Hann. The surprise birthday celebration in my apartment with a few rounds of Dominion. The totally unexpected fine dining experience at what is now America's No. 1 restaurant, Alinea. The graduation ceremony under rather pleasant Chicago skies. The few hours layover in Istanbul on my way back from Chicago. The dozens of interviews where I had a chance to meet some outstanding individuals. Last but certainly not least: The return to where I was born.. the place I call home.

Goodbye 2010.

Happy New Year everyone!!

The Long And Winding Road

Ola!

The semester finally got to me, and once again I've turned into the disorganized lunatic I was during previous semesters. My diary updates have become sporadic, but its still not as bad as my frequency of updates on this blog. Oddly enough, it's the extra classes (Philosophy of Law & Learning Theory) that are draining most of my time..

Anyway, there's always something significant during the weekends, and here's an update on what the past few have been like..

2nd weekend of September

Trip to Six Flags Great America - my 2nd time! Twas' a lot of fun, although we rode less rides this time. Memorable moments include Alex Ong's constant "Why am i here?" quips as well as Esa's application of Physics II to coaster rides. Oh and of course the Roaring Rapids where we all get wet but some more than others.. heh

3rd weekend of September

This is the weekend when I finally got the T400 out of the box for good (Yeah despite it arriving earlier). There was also a nice little dinner and afterparty at HK's new place (I guess you could consider it his housewarming although his hall was as empty as a karate dojo.. lol)

4th weekend of September

It was Homecoming Week at IIT, and it never is complete without its awesome Homecoming Carnival which was no less awesome this year, despite being held indoors due to weather concerns. Seriously, I was having way too much fun I couldn't be bothered to stop and take photos.. To add to the games there were also a lot of take-home souvenirs this time around, as I got myself a sweet little dogtag and.. *deep breath*.. my first caricature!


If that was not fun enough there was a housewarming party at Harry's place right after. That's where I got a chance to meet some familiar faces (some who I had even mistakenly assumed left the school) and discover how much fun Beer Pong can be!

1st weekend of October (oh heck that would be last week)

Our good old friend Sam paid us a visit from Wisconsin. We had dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, although I ordered something quite ordinary. Kinda wish I could have spent more time with him though after such a long time, but hey.. it's a small world after all ain't it?

As much fun as it has been during the weekends, my weekdays have been quite the opposite as my only claim to entertainment lies in that very series that has kept me going in the past - Bleach! (Speaking of which the subbed version of the 3rd Bleach Movie - Fade To Black is finally out and I must say it is quite awesome.. serves as quite a reminder of what Bleach was in the beginning, and what it always will be)

On a side note, I'm still on the lookout for a job, although my hopes are slowly fading into that bleak gap that is creeping towards me. Uncertainty is annoying, even for a fickle mind. Why am I getting this feeling that my environment is slowly shifting back to a not-so-distant past? It is almost like I'm anticipating déjà vu...

Great! Now that I'm done with this post, you won't be hearing from me again till the semester's end - or you will. Either way, there's still a long way to go before I can even think 'end of semester' and 'winter break'... Goodness gracious me! I don't have a plan for the winter break!! Ah just keep me posted if there are any good, economical plans I could join, although I'm already having this vision of a poor, drab me sitting at home, still scouting for jobs.. *sigh* As for now, I shall return to ponder over my pathetic fall break (and life's irrepressible ironies wtf)..

Hasta' luego!

Reboot

Less than a week to go before I jet off back to the States, and suddenly an overwhelming list of things to do has popped up, and it keeps growing. Unlike last summer, this year's trip home has been rather laid back, as I've been able to put all that time into appreciating the simple pleasures in life. I haven't gone out and met too many friends this time around, let alone relatives. I have been keeping myself up to date, though, on a number of issues - ranging from the H1N1 outbreak to pre-season football scores. I've also done some research on energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, trying to see if I could implement any such measures at home.

The Camera Blues
It's been confirmed that there will be no DSLR for me, at least for the time being and I'm not complaining. The Canon I've been using seems good enough for me, and I don't wanna be just another kid getting carried away by the current DSLR hype. Seriously.. way too many people carrying those 6 pounders nowadays! (I just heard a voice reminding me of the 'fox and grapes' story.. or maybe I've just been watching wayy too much House these days)

The Future Blues
A few more days and I'll be starting my final semester. "What then??" - that's the question that has been plaguing my mind in recent times, and will continue to do so till the year's end, unless of course I find a job. What worries me is that I still don't have a vision of what I'll be doing come next year, and it scares the crap outta me. The unemployment rate that's expected to keep rising isn't helping either. This uncertainty is killing me. Help me..

Yearning for Warmer Days

Just 2 weeks in, and I'm feeling the heat already.. Well I wish I was literally feeling the heat though, coz it's been friggin' cold outside! Chicagoans (Chicago-ites? Chicagones? I give up.. you get the point) have told me it's the city's coldest winter in a long time.

Anyway, this semester I've decided to do something interesting.. push myself to the limits with 19 credit hours.. couple this with commitments to ISO and AICHE and my hunt for a summer internship and that's pretty much what's boiling up my bums this semester. At first I figured it wouldn't be too bad really seeing my schedule.. after all I've got my Fridays completely free and only 1 class on both Tuesdays and Thursdays.. The painful parts are the Mondays and Wednesdays.. I leave home around 11am and only finish at 9pm. Oh well, I figured I'd seen worse so I went ahead with the plan. What I didn't really take into account was the 2 online classes I'm taking.. both are integral Chem E classes so catching up isn't really a piece of cake. At this rate I can't imagine what will be of me come the midterms and end of the semester.

On another note, Man U is having an incredible season.. but if you want to find a better team at the moment, look no further than Barcelona, who are on a record-breaking season! Their season's stats-to-date says it all..

21 games - 18 wins, 2 draws and a loss

Goal difference of +50

Goals - Eto'o (19-league leader), Messi (14-3rd), Henry (12-4th)

Never has a team had better stats than this midway through the season. Amazing.

Then there's the Australian Open which recently concluded with Federer being brought literally brought to tears (wth??!) by yet another classic 5-set loss to Nadal. You gotta feel for the guy though.. so close, yet so far..

Whatever it is, I'm in for one heck of a semester.. and NO, I'm not gonna cut down on my sport craze, Bleach or even ranting here for that matter. No compromising those.. :D

Over and out!