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A New Scheme

13 Nov

There is a reason for M2’s new found efforts to do well for the exams. I initiated this new rewards program after the mid-terms disappointment, that one another story by itself. The new scheme worked out well for the 3rd exam of the year and she was totally motivated. So we are hoping for the same results or better for the year-end finals.

It’s very simple, really. Since we have stopped going for long family vacations, trips are no longer the incentive, the last one being the Great Road Trip Adventure under the Carrots Reward Program in 2012. Also it’s just odd to travel afar so soon without M1. Maybe next year…

Anyway, it’s all about what you do is what you get.

For every ‘A’ achieved, my payout to M2 is twenty dollars; a ‘B’ would be ten and a ‘C’ nothing. But if a ‘D’ is obtained, she has to pay me back a twenty. I think this scheme works out well as M2, at 14, is old enough to understand the meaning of working hard to be rewarded besides appreciating the value of money.

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Exam Week

6 Nov

This whole week M2 is facing her final exams, postponed to this week because of the haze two weeks ago. She has been hard at it, I can see the efforts and determination. Every night after dinner, she would sit at the dining table pouring over the books.

She has also woken up every morning at 4am, an hour better than what M1 used to do, to try to cramp in some last minute studying. This I am not sure works but I can see the efforts. I was never like this even when facing the biggest exams in my life!

I hope all this will not be in vain. Today is the last day.

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Not Clear and Crisp

22 Oct

The epic hazy condition continues! Schools remain closed for the fourth day consecutively, an unprecedented record. The only time school is off is when there is a holiday stretch or a scheduled break, nothing like this before.

This shows the severity of the unhealthy conditions that has enveloped the region. Just imagine, every time when I am out, especially driving, I feel the need to clean my glasses constantly because things are not clear and crisp. The opacity percentage in the atmosphere is as if someone’s fooling around with the opacity level in Photoshop. Let’s add another ten percent! Make the background building be gone! Whee….

When will our misery end?

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Holiday’s Over

28 Sep

After a week’s break, M2 was supposed to return to school today but school’s closed because of the haze. M1, on the other hand, started Fall term last Thursday after a lengthy summer break.

It had been a somewhat unproductive week for M2 at home, watching videos mostly. Looks like this may extend for another day. Hopefully, she goes back to school tomorrow and no more videos for her. As for M1, she did some traveling afternoon one summer session and thoroughly enjoyed her break away from campus. With Fall starting, M1 has a busy and hectic term ahead.

While one is not quite back in school and one already started classes, as far as I am concerned, the holidays are over and it’s full steam ahead with studying until the next break.

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Chat

I Want to Lay Eggs

4 Sep

When M2 was young and exposed to Science in school, it fascinated her so much that she wanted to be a Scientist then. However, when lessons touched on the human anatomy and briefly the reproductive system, it became a traumatic discovery.

She swore off pregnancy. Oh dear. She declared vehemently, “I don’t want to get pregnant! I want to lay eggs because it’s easier!” If only…

I can only attribute this to the innocence of young child’s mind… Thank goodness, that young child’s mind has matured. In her recent Science exam, she aced it. Phew.

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On the Right Path

18 Aug

Unlike M1 who chose the path to be a Librarian at school, M2 opted to be a Prefect, which is perfectly fine as well. I was a Prefect too in high school.

Being a Prefect means a lot to her and we are proud that she was recently given a post as ‘Disciplinary Officer’ in the prefectorial board. Good for her!

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College is Tough

14 Aug

I listen with awe every time when we Skype with M1 on how she’s doing. Paper after paper to write, little quizzes here and there, meetings with TAs (Teaching Assistants) when necessary and group work efforts. I could never do what she’s doing.

I don’t recall my workload during my college days to be such. But then again, it could be the major that I was pursuing versus what she’s taking now, Graphic Design versus declared Food Science & Technology.

I remember my Typography class where the professor would come into the class for just ten minutes or so. He would mumble some project to the class and then disappear into his office to smoke his cigar, leaving the classroom of students to their antics. Some students would leave, others would just chatter. I was diligent, sat there with my headphones in place and did the work though.

I also remember sauntering into Design class on time but leaving early, informing my professor I had to go home to watch my soap opera, Days of Our Lives, before my scheduled work slot at the bookstore.

Ahh… Those were the days. I never had that many papers to write nor did I ever met up with any TAs. And what’s this clicker thing that they use nowadays? Maybe times have changed. I seriously think if I ever went back to college, I would fail miserably. 

The workload would be too much. So I am very pleased that M1 is coping well and holding up okay at university. Summer classes ends today and she flies off for a well-deserved break, heading two states away to spend some time with my girlfriend who lives there.

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Summer Days

10 Jul

M1’s first summer is going on well, with classes keeping her busy. Weather-wise it can be hot and sometimes still cold.

Comparing her experience with mine, I came home for my first summer after a year away. Unlike M1, starting as a freshman, I started as a Sophomore, transferring a year’s liberal studies from the local community college. Anyway, Mom and Dad thought I should come home and I did for a whole 16 weeks. Sure I enjoyed the food, friends and family but I felt it was too long. Towards the end of my summer, I was agitated, bored to death and couldn’t wait to get back to college.

So by the time my second summer came around, I decided to continue working at the bookstore and took a summer class. Painting. It was very laid back and fun. Needless to say, I aced it.

And prior to my third summer, I engineered an internship opportunity in New York City. That summer came and I interned with WBMG, Inc. under the watchful eyes of Walter Bernard and Milton Glaser. The exposure and experience were priceless and the best time of my life!

Ahh… Those were the days.

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Can I Skip College?

16 Jun

I never expected this but M2 recently proclaimed that she would like to skip college. I was horrified but thank goodness, I did not faint. I thought with M1 now at college, it would inspire her but no.

This came about after her stress of studying and sitting for her mid-term exams. She had been complaining and asking why she has to study all those subjects that are irrelevant to her in her life. What is the point of learning stuff that will never be of use anyway? And in college, this whole process will be magnified even more. Although she’s only 13, coming to 14 soon, this studying business does not appeal to her.

Oh dear. How to deal with this?

So I asked what will she do instead if she didn’t choose to go to college. She said she will help animals. Ah hah… An opening.

I pointed out that if she wants to help animals, all the more she has to go to college. Otherwise where would she obtain her knowledge to help the hapless animals? As animals can’t talk, it would be tough to figure out their problems.

“I can google up!” she exclaimed.

“You can’t trust everything you find on the internet!” I pointed out to her. And we left things as is for now without things getting blown out of proportion. But I can tell you, this topic is still hanging and am pretty sure we will talk about it again.

Stay tuned.

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Summer is Here!

5 Jun

Spring term is ending for M1 soon. How time flies. It seemed like just yesterday when we sent her off at the airport. By the end of next week, she would have officially completed a term at university. But she will not be coming home. It’s too soon as she just left for the Spring term. She will have summer classes instead.

When I went off to university, I started in the Fall semester and by the time summer came around, I came home for a good 16 weeks. However, by my second summer, I took one summer class. Yes, just one – an oil painting class. It was fun. I worked at the bookstore as the in-house designer while also tending to the Counter selling art equipment and supplies, attended classes to paint daily and once a week, went off to the bar with my American ex-room mate for margaritas and buffalo wings. That was my summer.

Well, M1 will not have it so easy like me because she definitely has more classes than I did! But she will be fine and will do okay.

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