Managing to spot one question out of 5 guesses isn't so bad i guess...
1) what is the difference between immunogenicity and antigenicity? 2) what is the difference between serum and plasma? 3) what is the difference between isotype, allotype and idiotype? 4) what is the difference between precipitation and agglutination? 5) what is the difference between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies?
although i'm rather proud of myself for learning how to spell ataxia telangiectasia and myasthenia gravis, this was one of those papers i really should have started studying for earlier. i also should have started answering the last 3 essay questions earlier, before the "you have 15 minutes left" announcement would have been more comfortable.
but you know what? i'm done with exams already. don't know what to do with myself now. it's so strange not to have any sort of pressure at all.
Are these times contagious? I've never been this bored before Is this the prize i've waited for? Now with the hours passing Theres nothing left here to insure I long to find the messenger
Have I got a long way to run? Have I got a long way to run? Yean, I run. I run.
Is there a cure among us From this processed sanity? I weaken with each voice that sings Now in this world of purchase I'm gonna buy back memories To awaken some old qualities
Have I got a long way to run? Have I got a long way to run? Yeah, I run. I run.
today i shrieked at a lizard that ran over my foot. but actually i don't know why i shrieked at it; i like lizards. i'm sorry, mr lizard. i'm glad you ran over my foot and not under it. and i'm glad it was a lizard and not a car. or worse, a cockroach. it felt kinda cold and soft, in a squishy kinda way. not the pokey exoskeleton of unpleasantness that is cockroachhood.
cloudless day turns to cloudless night i'm still waiting for the sight of something beautiful
I was revising my thai, just for fun, with this song. if you read thai, you'd realise that the words are incredibly sweet. (well, he did say ฉันจะมอบแต่คำหวาน) Now, usually i balk at this kinda thing, makes my hair stand. but the song is very nice, strong sense of melody and a compelling rhythm, and the delivery so honest. somehow seems more sincere when its in thai. when i saw the video on youtube though, the karaoke version no less!, the singer looked so young, can't be much older than skin dog. what put me off was all that posturing and posing, trying so hard to act all cool and emo. ah well. i shall pretend i didn't see that.
you know what else i think is really sweet in a way that doesnt make my hair stand? how much sam looks up to his older brother. here's a video from sam's brother's blog which shows you how anyone can be a musician!
Writing centre gathering over a while ago. Special guests who came to lavish us with praise and ply us with food. Ate too much. Now that everyone is gone, there are too many chairs. And it's too quiet.
And i'll be gone soon.
And when I get back, Charmaine, Michelle, Stasia and Zineng will be gone!
But my acceptance letter from Birmingham is finally here.
Gone.
Here.
Torn.
I was thinking how it might be comforting to have some sort of bizzare send-off ritual for the arts canteen, no, not like kill a frog at 11:59:59 and drink its blood or something, but maybe like walk once around the perimeter, backwards. Why? cause it's never been done before and you won't get to do it again. Or go round shaking the hands of all the canteen stall operators. Or order one dish from every stall and take a picture. Or do cartwheels along the corridor. Something.
A little closure is always comforting I suppose.
Or if you're nostalgic like me, it could fill you with a sense of longing and of how many other things could have been done.
The future marches relentlessly forward, dragging me by the heels, half-willingly, into another tomorrow.
In the space of 3 months, I've made a presentation to the high commissioner of India and seen the President of the United States of America. Reflecting on it, I've had a lot of opportunities and exposure throughout my university life, a great deal of it thanks to USP. Thailand, to work with a youth theatre group regarding HIV/AIDS issues; India, to work with a world-class NGO on environmental issues and development. And the friends I've made, people who understand me, who challenge and engage me, some of whom I've come to love deeply. And the profs I admire and respect, Dr Don, Dr Lo, Prof Teo, who know you by name. And as if that wasn't enough, employment too! A dream job that lets me do what i'm good at, and gives me so many insights on issues i haven't studied before. And in a few days (eep!), a chance to take flight in a foreign country, testing out my underdeveloped wings. It hasn't all been perfect, but, NUS, you've won me over.
I'm not so sure about the decorations for today though. Story by Clem coming up methinks, stay tuned. Other than that, no comment, though I'd gladly share my thoughts with you in person. Though i'm always, always suspicious that no one is really interested in me as a human being, much less my mind. Wallflower-wallpaper mood i was in today.
At the talk by Prof Alatas this morning, he drew an insightful parallel between data and prostitutes. Was a thought-provoking session, in sharp contrast to the binary worldview that followed. Which one do you think I took notes for? Should have done it for both though, on hindsight. So many priceless quotes.
I think the juxtaposition was profound.
I'm admittedly a bit of a recluse. Would anyone take the time and surmount the awkwardness that it involves to get beyond the sugar-coated front? I'm really not that plasticky and smiley when you get to know me. I feel helpless sometimes, because I can't seem to be real, open, easily read, and you can't possibly expect to make friends properly unless you are. But thank God for the friends who somehow do see beyond the surface. You are the antigen-specific T-helper cell to the MHC class II on my B-cells.
i've figured out why i'm so unmotivated. i'm just not engaged with what i'm studying, it doesn't set my mind on fire, it doesn't make me what to find out more. bleh. i think all that lab work just numbed me, i don't feel anything anymore. these are interesting topics, just presented really badly. must. get. over. it.
