A mug of cooling herbal tea

yeap.. that's what i'm having now. the black icky thing.

About the Retail Reality Challenge
We failed to advance to the semi final. We had a cash variance of $6.80 which is not less but in excess of our sales. Come to think of it, we were quite gullible in the sense that we invested too much money in free gifts which we hope can entice customers. Other teams attemped gimmicks like appealing to sex (having girls dressed scantily), or appealing to sympathy (having everyone beg customers for sales). These are things i find beneath my character. My bf thinks that i'm too proud. but so what? Even though sex always sells, I am not going to betray my body for $0.80. Neither am i going to BEG anyone to buy something that is so cheap. sigh. i am not derogating those poly student. i just feel that i would not endorse these methods if i'm the organizer.

Prior to the challenge, the journalists on one of the local newspapers mentioned things like the RRC is a street smart vs book smart competition (just like the Apprentice). The result is that only poly students aka the street smart managed to advance to the next stage of the challenge. Hence, this brings me to think about what the organizer meant by creative selling? *omg* do they mean appealing to sex and sympathy?

If it was a social entrepreneurship, if the sales goes to helping some worthy charity, i might just beg for sales. anyway, subsequently, i saw on the papers things like having a diploma is much better than a degree etc...

... education in Singapore is quite depressing.

About Commencement 2005
Wednesday was the commencement of the pioneer batch of Accountancy students. I didn't decide to attend the commencement until the very last minute.
The story began as the school office called me up on tuesday to attend the commencement (even though i am not graduating) because they need scholars to help make VIPs feel welcomed and comfortable. So being a scholar (who is very unscholarly) i was ambivalent about turning up on that day since i would have to talk intelligently to partners from the big 4 accountancy firms. what if i say something stupid and none of them want to hire me when i graduate?

Eventually, i took it as a challenge and forced myself to Raffles City. Guess what? i met only 4 other scholars (i was told that there'll be many scholars there) who are on totally different frequency from me. besides not being able to communicate satisfactorily with them, i got cheated by the school office because none of the partners who confirmed their attendence attended the commencement.

I got blisters from running in my hush puppies court shoes. it's so depressing.

About a friend
In this time of the year when many couples suddenly decide to break up together, she broke up with her bf recently. her situation is almost exactly like what happened to me 3 yrs ago. it hurt me so much to see her in her current stage when she is almost exactly like how i was 3 years ago. i don't know how to help her, but i struggle to find words of comfort.

In the process, I feel that I'm still very much haunted by my past. as if the hurt is still fresh. It's painful yet i don't dare to tell my bf cos i think he'll feel hurt at my feeling hurt about the past. so i endure it, as i always do.

I don't exactly know how prayers work (she hopes everyone will keep her in their prayers)... i just believe she'll survive her loss. like i believe i will eventually digest all my unhappiness.

still, it's so depressing.

About my family
I haven't spoken to my mum for the fifth day. An unintentional event ruptured a long healed wound in my heart. but because i refuse to recall the bad feelings which i had in the past, i choose to keep quiet about it.

it seems that my mum doesn't want to talk to me either. so all is well and mutual. I like mutuality. but this mutuality is depressing.

About current affairs
the NKF, the hacking of xiaxue's blog, the Huang Na case, the sale of Raffles Hotel, the explosion in London...it's all too depressing

It's too bad that the herbal tea can't to cool off any form of depression.