Wee...another term completed *

2007-03-29 5:18 p.m.

Wow, wee what a term. In a quick entry or so, here’s the whirlwind of events:

First few weeks or so, getting back to the habit of “library raiding.” I should have improved from last term, but seemed to have lost some “grasp” (pun is intended). That and the fact that the books that I seek are also hot sought by other economics/politics students doesn’t make it any better. Oh well, that’s one part of university life.

A couple of weeks later, I had a mini accident (which took place also in the library). Ah, let’s just say I’m accident-prone. Part of which some may attribute to a Singaporean behaviour type. Oh well again….

The Sunday before week six was Singsoc’s annual Chinese New Year dinner. By some twist and turns, I landed up in a really lovely dinner table, where east met west and I witnessed the sum of all conversations. More about that in the next entry or so.

Essay writing took a twist this term as the topics were more inviting and yet equally challenging. It took me a longer time to prep a draft and get around to write them and I finished writing them a few weeks later than I did compared to last term. Mental note: Start early. Still, I must thank all my Politics tutors for their guidance and support with part of my structure. Oh, I’ve grown a little closer to my fellow economics and political science mates. They are by far the best group in my ranking, now placing 4.11 Stephen on a par or in second place. You really get a myriad of views when you listen and participate in all discussions. A notable one was when we were asked which of the Political Economists we favoured best or hated the most. Michaela for the Czech Republic, launched in to a pretty substantiated critique of Marx, which Chris, our tutor, partly attributed to her nationality. I ended up choosing Karl Polyani, whom I figured wasn’t as radical in thinking as Marx or abstract and Smith, Ricardo and to a lesser degree Veblen. That made Chris smile since his thesis was around Polanyi, but well Chris (my tutor) sort of asked me to describe some of Polanyi’s theories in a later class and well, I didn’t I performed that well. Great Polanyi admirer eh? Hmmm…. So anyway, yes, it’s a great group of Chris, Matthew, Sam, Daniel (from Denmark), Jeroen (from Denmark and London)and the others.

Umm, what else? It snowed for two days in winter and about 15 minutes in spring. So it’s the warmest winter by all standards. Tried to get my snowland pictures published on the University website, but lost out to someone who took at picture of an animal underneath the train station bridge. So no free bottle of wine for me.

Principles of Economics class was more, how shall I say, invigorating and well “active” give that the beginning of each class would be a short discussion of current economics news. Few politics topics this term also light up a spark in me like that of globalisation (POL 101--Foundations of Politics and POL 107--Introduction of Political Economy ) and Fair Trade versus Free Trade (POL 107). As for POL 102 (Classical Political Thought), I’m starting to see its relevance towards the structure of certain governments and the behaviour of certain politicians. This is especially with regards to the works of Plato, Machiavelli, Locke and Hobbes.

Oh yes, the UNSoc held its first campaign on encouraging the awareness of the eight Millennium Development Goals in about week four or so. It was a pretty rushed affair with finally only about three or four of us working on it. However, the event turned out pretty great. We had other societies such as the Planet and Earth Society and the Ethical Trade Society. The latter created the spark of the event by selling Fair Trade tidbits, creating a huge crowd. As for my part, some of my posters got drenched in beer but otherwise my stuff on poverty and hunger was placed up. I’m not sure whether those who came gained an awareness of the MDGs and how they can help promote them, but well it a wonderful time nonetheless.

Speaking on UNSoc, I had the opportunity to try out Model UN this term. At first, the resolution was on terrorism and Afghanistan and I thought, oh ok, I can do this, even if I turn out speaking debater style. As some of you may know, speaking in a Model UN conference is highly different from speaking in a WSDC/BP style debate. So I trooped down at 5 p.m. ready to represent Malaysia, thinking that I could add twist being a moderate Muslim nation. Lo and behold, several people weren’t up to the lengthy motion so it was switched to a unique topic on imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe due to its discriminating land reforms.

What on earth does Malaysia have to say about Zimbabwean land reforms I wondered. So I toed a traditional line of supporting the majority view, which was, expectedly lead by the US. I didn’t make any major speech then, just a couple of POIs since it was my debut at Model UN. The resolution was passed in any case and thus I took the first step into the world of Model UN.

On the same organization again, elections came and went, those they can’t be called elections. They definitely weren’t shades of the high-handedness of NJC Debate society elections or the competitiveness of ACS Scouts PLC, but well it’s over. We have a really international committee: Marek (President), who’s from Eastern Europe (I think), Sabarinath (secretary) is from India but studied in Rio de Janeiro, Jonathan (Treasurer) is part Jewish and I the Singaporean am the new Campaigns Manager. We’ve got quite a task ahead: Increasing publicity, getting all members back into action, training for MUN conferences/competitions, organising another campaigns event and socials.

Oh yes was surprised to receive an email one evening from none other than Mr. Alistair Chew, my former Chemistry teacher from ACS. If you read back to some of my entries, you’ll understand I also met his brother. So yes basically the email was one of describing how both of them shared similar traits and such due to their ancestors and he also left his blog address down. So I ventured to it a couple of times and well reconnected to a lovely time in the past. I also established communications with a couple of ACS IB girls who are now under his charge. Ok, from now on, I won’t bad mouth the choice that ACS(I) made on bringing girls into the school. In any case, hello to Jennifer, Vanessa and Rebecca.

Ok, that’s it I think. Have a nice Easter all and do try to remember what Easter really means.

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