Sista & my story in the news

Our MBA testimony were featured in The Star Higher Education & News Straits Times!!! Woooohoooo!!! Excitednya!! :) :)

** I know its a tad microscopic, just right-click to open in a new window to read ;)

Strathclyde MBA graduation Nov 2010

Finally, we've made it to the finishing line!!! Graduation!!! Woohoooo!!!!
More photos on fb... hehehe... too lazy 2 post all here.

Finally got my scroll! :)

Thanks 2 hubby for being understanding

Thanks to my whole family for their encouragement!

Thanks to Sista for sharing this wonderful journey with me!!! :)

The crazeeee MacRitchies!!!

Congratulations Class of 2010!!!

From Glasgow with love

Been too busy to blog lately. Posting photos up on fb has made thing much simpler to share ur life with ur friends, don't you think?

Anyway, Glasgow has been pretty sunny since we arrived. Apparently, this is not normal. Guess we must've brought d sunshine with us when we came! :) :) :)

Here r some random pics! :)

Bitch-fit!!!!!

Recently, I've been forced to crack d whip on some people who had no sense of urgency in finishing a task. I don't like throwing these bitch-fits but this time my patience finally ran out.

For those who know me well will know that I always play nice when I need something done. I may use feminine wiles or even inflict guilt but I ALMOST never play the bitch card. My philosophy is, we are all adults and we all know what needs to be done, whether at work or in any other areas of our lives. You would think people doing a Masters degree would be mature enough to research, read and do what they need to do without being pushed but boy, was I soooo wrong!!... not only did these people not have the sense of urgency, when they finally do the task, they don't read through what actually needs to be done. Instead some of them just fill up some slides with statements pluck from thin air!!

We are NOT doing things for the sake of doing. Every step has a purpose and needs to be supported by facts. This is not a kindergarden project. This is not writing up a fictitious story. This is an analysis!!

Instead of thanking me for pushing them to do it, I get snide sarcastic remarks about throwing a bitch-fit temper. HELLLLOO!! You are NOT doing this assignment to appease me. This subject is for ALL of us to learn and to hopefully pass!! In case they haven't notice, ALL of us are in this boat together.

We have so much holes in it, so many ideas pluck from thin air, I'm not even sure I know how to lead them to fix this mess. :(...
I really don't know what to do anymore, the deadline is close by... and I have sacrificed enough time & effort on this to pull out & just defer the bloody subject.

Was it a mistake to want to venture out of my comfort zone this semester? I had decided not to stick to my usual group of friends for all assignments this semester. Was that a bad decision?

I don't think so, it's still a good experience. At the very least... I learnt 2 things:
- that it is crucial to have good team mates. People who work for the same purpose and are equally committed. People who are proactive and need not be pushed as they see the goals as a benefit to themselves as well. So, choose carefully if you have that option.
- that if you do not an option, you need to manage people and manage the circumstances. You need to be strong & get emotional even when you feel like crying. You need to bring out any personality that can get the job done even if it not the real you. You don't need to like it, and neither do they. Coz it's business and not personal.

Wish me luck... God knows I need lots of it.

Mission Indulgissible

After our exams last Tuesday, it was celebration time for us Strathclydians. Our komplikated family decided to take a makan trip up north to indulge in some sinful food and celebrate together. There is Uncle (Chong), cousin (Jack), Ah Gor (Allan) and my sistas (Hazel and Jun Yi). Chris & Chloe, and also Vicky was suppose to come with us but ffk-ed at the very last minute. Hah!! Looking at what we've achieved in this mission, I'd say it it is definitely their loss... hehehe.

We left KL at about 7am and made a pitstop in Ipoh Old Town for some yummy Ipoh Hor Fun, Pork Satay and of course their famous White Coffee. Heavenly stuff!!


Sista enjoying her satay

After filling our stomachs we left Ipoh for Penang. The mission agenda was to have stomach refills every 2 hours. So, 2 hours later... we reached Penang. 1st stop was Bangkok Lane for the best Mee Goreng on earth!! I don't normally eat mee gorengs but this one is my favourite food on the planet! I never go to Penang without having it.


mmmmmmm


sista loves it too!


Ah gor & Junyi shared coz they wanted to cover more variety not quantity

For me, without the quantity, it won't satify my craving! Sista too! Gluttons!! But we deserve it as we've been really rajin to go RPM lately. ;)

The houses on Bangkok Lane are really nice and charming. Some were converted to shops and beauty parlours. One must be owned by someone with a green thumb, it was converted into a hutan belantara!


Sifu, me & sista in front of the hutan belantara wannabe

After checking in to the apartment we rented, we were out again... on our food trail. Next stop was Penang road.

Cendol, Char Koay Teow and Assam Laksa!

We even made the usual compulsory stopover at Ghee Hiang for some of their famous Tau Sar Pneah and Sesame Oil.

Ang gu gu... koochi koochi koo...proof that men never grow up! hehehe

You are only as old as you wanna be. And in this trip, I think we were all acting like 6 year olds. Hehehe. I think after the exams, we left our brains in KL to truly enjoy the trip to the max.

Later that day, we had dinner with Chong's friends and family at this place on top of the hill near Paya Terubong. Coolest parents we ever met... both with a crazy sense of humour!


Pretty sunset


We had seafood.... crabs are a must!

We then took the longer road less taken to Batu Ferringhi for some shopping. Nice quiet drive there. After shopping.... back to food!!


O'chien and otak-otak somewhere in Tanjung Tokong area...

The we headed back to the apartment and freshen up before heading out for some drinks and partying. However, we only stayed for drinks as none of us smoke yet the clubs there were all so smoky and full of la-la's. Hehehe... I think we will stick to partying only in Euphoria where we needn't suffocate while we dance! :)

This morning, we headed out back to Penang Road to Line-Clear Nasi Kandar. It was seriously good!! It was orgasmicly GOOOOD!!! I had nasi briyani with the mutton and some super sinful telor ikan!! It was the best nasi kandar I had for ages! Beating Kayu and Pelita hands down!


Coronory-disease on a plate! Mmmmmmm

We then left Penang using the more scenic mode of transport, ferry! Brings back a lot of old memories.

Sista feeling nostalgic


me & sista time-travelled to the 60's


The entire gang... ah gor howcome pose so girly one? hehehe

On the journey back, we stopped by Ipoh again as the gang craved for durians.... except for yours truly. Tak suka!! They had durians the traditional Malaysian way...

squatting by the roadside!

I just had some crispy apam balik and more white coffee! Our journey on the highway (both ways) was a mobile karaoke session!! So fun!! We should do this more often. Hhmm, imagine, just the end of a semester we feel this liberated.... I wonder how crazy will we get when we finally complete the MBA??? ;)

Mission accomplished!!!

Life as a student

What do master's students do when they're not stuck in a class or doing assignments???


Celebrate classmate's birthday


Eat


And eat some more...


Mamaking a.k.a eat some morrrre!!!


Eat & bodek lecturer @d same time ;)

OMG... am gonna be FAT when I graduate if I keep this up!

I guess studying is quite fun after all... hehehe. What am I doing???...assignment due on Monday, better get back to work!!!

Lolijin

I really need to take a break from reading all that HR stuff or I will go mad!!

Hmm... now I wonder why did I ever wanted to study. If only I didn't decide to commit to this MBA:

1. I'd have an additional 50k to spend on my new home and my wedding.

2. I would have the time to workout like mad and get a killer figure for my wedding.

3. I would have the time to build my stamina and practise for the Bodyjam training.

4. I would be able to enjoy my new role at work and focus on doing all d new exciting things so well I'd get an award! It's been a long time since I've received one :(

5. I would not feel so stressed out that my skin get hideous breakouts!

6. I would have more time to blog and facebook.

7. I would have the time to watch my favourite DVD series.

8. I would have the time to catch up with good friends at the mamak.

9. I would have the time to learn how to play and sing all my fav Marié Digby songs.

But I have made the decision to study and I will stick to it. As they say, lolijin. Now, I just gotta rough it out these 2 years.
- Thou shalt not defer.
- Thou shalt not be distracted by thy hobbies.
- Thou shalt finish it in 2 years.
- Thou shalt get back thy life in 1 and 1/2 years time.

I can't wait!!!

- Oh, and thou shalt stop blogging now and get back to work on assignment!! :(

Celebrate good times, come on!

Right after our last exam, which happened to be the killer Finance paper... we went out for a celebration dinner. We surely deserved a celebration after a torturous semester!!

Had seafood at Lala Chong near Subang Airport.


Da guy on da phone: Lala Chong... flanked by 2 lengluis Chloe and Vicky

Just kidding... his name happens to be also Chong and he seemed soooo familiar with the place he was in charge of ordering all the good food! :D


My Sista in her signature pose and sifu Chris beside her



Phan, Allan a.k.a. Chimui and sifu Jack


where's da food? in our stomach!


Crabs....yum! I think I had the most crabs

Mmmmmm, I just love seafood!!! Kenyangnya!

High flying me?

Been so busy lately with both work and my studies, my poor poor blog was neglected. But I've just submitted the Finance assignment today and I feel as light as a feather! In fact, I suddenly feel smarter about money... all these while I was too chicken to ever invest as I didn't have the guts to face the risks. But now that I can analyze the risk... that'll take the gambling bit out of investing wouldn't it?

However, because of this MBA, my disposable income is not enough to invest significantly enough to see results. So I shall wait... have a feeling good things are coming my way this year! Somehow am feeling very hopeful and excited this year!

My income is not the only thing this MBA is robbing me of, there's also time, sleep, brain juices...etc. But the ranking of my university has improved tremendously this year.

30th in d world!! Bangga....

143% increase in salary upon graduation?
Salary of USD113,071/year?

Oooh.... I want! I want!!! Would be worth all the stuff above the MBA's robbing me of now. It's all for a better future. I can see it now, nice house, nice SUV, nice holidays and a whole wishlist all struck off!!

I can't wait!!!

Déjà vu

Having started my MBA for more than a month now, it really brings me back to my good ol' studying days. All these things just seem too familiar;

There's the studious ones who trail the lecturer around, come to class well-equipped with a tonne's weight of textbooks and notes... and of course, who can forget, colourful highlighters


The crazy ones who doodles and instant message in class without paying much attention to the lecturer.

The kiasu highly-driven ones who aims for a distinction in every subject.

Those who come to class with hidden motives of looking for their other half.

Those who stick to their own clique and "chop" place for their mates. (Hey, these people are late 20's - late 30's still doing this kind of thing???)

My personal favourite... (ah, d social butterfly in me) meaningless, unproductive "discussions" that ends up at our all time favourite lepak-place, the mamak stall!!


All tooooo familiar... gives me the déjà vu feeling. And just when we thought we have grown up and matured into something more, we realize that you can take us out of school but d schoolkids are still in all of us.

Fun hor?