Stressed

I just received the CFA level I textbooks. Just one glance at the textbooks and all my stress stimulis are vibrating. I am currently examining my brain now. Am I kind of pushing it when I am just starting on a new job where I need to pick up everything from scratch?

Guess I will be fine. I have till December to study. That is a whole 8 months! That shall be sufficient time if I can somehow overcome my bad procrastinating habit.

X decided not to take it this round. So, I am on my own. Gosh! I have not touch Econs for the past decade. Wonders if I remember anything beyond the basic demand and supply. Think I will start with textbook 3. After all, it is more relevant to my job. Hopefully, all that reading will help me on my job too.

First thing first. I need a study plan and a schedule.

Studying thoughts

One week into the new year. I am already missing my classes. I realised how much fun I had in classes last year. It was a nice refreshing change to go back to studying after so long. I like the stimulation and the additional reading up.

The thought of advancing my course entices me. But, CFA will have to come first after I am settled with a job.

What have you achieved this year?

E was asking us what have we achieved this year.

I guess my biggest achievement this year is in studies. I am one assignment away from completing my course. It is an achievement because this is my first step to a new area of specialization I am truly interested in. Nothing to do with my foundation in business or finances. I have enjoyed the classes and what I have learnt. I have attained reasonable grades. Oh, I got a distinction for my practical assessment 2 days back. I am holding registration for the next level till I confirm a job. That will probably be the july intake.

On the work front, there is really not much achievement since I am cruising on my past efforts and have started job hunting.

Backpacking europe alone is another small achievement since it has been on my list of to do for the longest time.

To me, facing you again is another small achievement.

I guess the most significant achievements that I have this year are small accumulations of things I experienced this year. Experiences that give me the courage to step out of my mould and comfort zone. I am taking small steps.

The differences in lecturers

When you have a lecturer who is well endowed with all the relevant knowledge with a wealth of experience to share and is able to share these in an interesting manner, class is a delight to attend. I find myself looking forward to class and actively asking questions or sharing my views.

When you have a lecturer whom you feel is lacking in both knowledge and experiences, I find myself dragging my feet to class. When in class, I am distracted and bored. When the lecturer displayed an incompetency to take questions and give sensible answers, you wonder if you should just cut class instead of wasting your time there. Which is a pity when the subject is an interesting one.

This semester I have one of each type. I look forward to Lesson 1 with zest and contemplate cutting class for Lesson 2 on a weekly basis. And I miss M’s class but Lecturer 1 is quite good too.

Lonely+busy=social utility networks

Why do we logged on to network like facebook to hug each other virtually, tease each other, send each other virtual gifts, etc, etc? Or try to find long lost friends or make friends with friends of our friends? Some people happily add hundreds of friends (or almost strangers) to their profile. ??? Popularity contest?

Is it because we live in a hectic world that we have no time to keep in touch?

I think it boils down to the fact that most of us are still overwhelm by a sense of loneliness despite our busy schedule. I mean, seriously. It is really quite bo liao to logged on to your account to buy each other virtual rounds of drinks, etc, etc, isn’t it? 

These networks exist to fulfil our needs for companionship and to help fill in the gap in moments of loneliness. Cos’ the virtual world is really there for you 24 hours every single day as long as you have internet connection but your friends are not. Just logged on and you see friendly faces. It feels like your friends are there even if they are not. It is like having 24 hours accesss to your friends and family.

The question is, is this a good or bad thing? Are we substituting the real world with the artificial environment that we create to our convenience? Is this healthy? Are there more pros or cons?

I guess the same questions can be asked of the blogsphere. It is good to read other people’s thoughts and opinions. But, when I realised that there are days that I prefer to stay at home and read blogs than to go hang out with friends. I start wondering why. Is it just pure laziness or a need for quiet reflective time or it is because some of thoughts are honestly more revealing than what most of us are capable of sharing in our day to day lives? And I seriously think I actually know more about what is happening in the lives of some strangers (halfway across the world) whose blogs I read regularly than some of my personal friends who I see every few months. Sad but true. This is the power and attraction of the internet. It is reducing the need for actual human contact, the necessity of actual face time that we have with each other. Yet, it is also helping human bonding on another level, in the virtual world. Are we slowly shifting our inate need for human interaction from the actual world into the virtual world? Maybe the creator of Matrix is wise after all???

End of module and hopefully the start of a new friendship

Today is the last class of this module. This has been the most enjoyable module ever. I really enjoy M’s class. I like her crankiness and candidness. I also like the way she is always getting us to question and test our beliefs and everything else. We had alot of fun in class. Will really miss these classes.

Was touched when as a parting shot, M reminded me “You! Please remember to stay in touch and update me on your progress and what is happening.”

Yes, I will keep in touch cos you are such a kind soul as well as being an absolute good sport. Somehow, you remind me so much of MH. For some reasons, I find myself liking and trusting both of you instinctively after a few initial meetings. The connection came almost instantly. MH has been a wonderful client turned into a most wonderful friend. I hope such a wonderful friendship can bloom with M too.

Fun in class

Yesterday in class,

A few of us confused people were taught how to remember these signs:

Female= Cannot erect                               Male=Erect

So now, we can all remember.

Lecturer: What happened if you have the YY chromosome?

Us: buzz of noise…

Lecturer: Then you spend the rest of your life asking “WHY? WHY?”

Q: When can’t men wear skirts? Who said they can’t? And what about tight shorts? Why it is only acceptable on females?

A: Cos there is a bulge in front. Looks awful.

R: You wear tight t-shirts, no bulge is it? You have two bulges, it’s double the bulge, isn’t it worse? 

Homework for the week-26 Feb 07

Topic: Question, ask and observe yourself. “What do you step back in disdain from?”

How do you judge people? Is it by nation, race, gender, education, wealth or by look? Or by other factors?