Night

I just went drinking with some investment bankers. It was... interesting.

Quite.

Its so sad

In the 3 or 4 days that I was never completely alcohol free, all I got was a peck on the cheek and a business card from some chick which I couldn't read because it was Chinese. That scored a laugh.

lol.

Ah well.

Hello from China!

Um. I'd write more, but theres no time. Though there is plenty to write about!

Maybe I'll just write when I get back and I'm bored.

Hi from Tokyo, Japan

That is all for now.

Back from China

Its a different blog title because it doesn't happen very often, unlike many of the other blog titles I've been using since this thing started.

So today's post is something about my trip to China, and something about how I think China works, or more accurately, how it sort of works. You'll see what I mean.

I'm not really sure how to start. But I think Alex had it right when he described the country as 'half-baked'. Everything seems to have a bit of Not Quite Right (NQR) quality about it. One large factor is definately their English translations. While I understand that English is clearly a foreign language in China, they would have at least had some native English speaker to proofread their publications before sending them out to the printer, especially when their intention is to entertain Western guests. For one, their spacing is a bit NQR; they don't put spaces in between words, and for another, they seem to have trouble with grammar. I'd write out the examples, but a photo would do it more justice, so you'll just have to wait.

But then, some might ask that if everything is a bit half baked, how do they keep recording such phenomenal economic growth? Well... I think its because they have so much to catch up on. They have the ability to make things that reaches the same standard of quality that you'd expect from a Western product, but they just don't have the right psyche. Actually, its quite similar to Australia. They seem to have the idea that a slap-dash job will do most of the time. Its reflected in the way their rooftop signs are always held up by ugly iron bars that seem to come straight from the time where that NYMEX sign was built in Richmond, Melbourne. Its also reflected in the way they make roads. Theres bumps everywhere... even on brand new roads... and the expressways. That is, bumpy enough to almost lose your stomach when the bus goes over it.

So even though they are building and making things at record speeds, the things they're building aren't that great. It doesn't really matter what kind stuff you build, it seems that if you have enough of them, it doesn't really matter at all. So all they do is build heaps of everything, including giant factories and other random stuff.

Anyway, theres part one, I've only got 5 mins of net left... so we'll leave the rest for another day.

Another day

Today we (or at least some of us) went to Ocean Park, which is one of the theme parks here in Hong Kong. It was quite enjoyable, though we didn't exactly go on that many rides. Apparently all you're supposed to do is go on rides, but we only went on about three, if you don't include the cable car that goes from one half of the park to the other.

Its quite strange really, one half of the park has stuff, and the cable car takes you over a couple of mountains to where the other half of the park has been built. So there isn't really all that much in between, besides hills and err... native fauna.

Anyway, we saw lots of ocean creatures, as you might expect, and we also saw the couple of giant pandas they have there. Don't really know how pandas are related to the ocean, but then it is a tourist attraction, so I guess it doesn't really matter. Theres a video of one of them doing a poo, which I may post on you-tube when we get back. Other notable animals would include jellyfish and giant sting rays.

The other big highlight was Alex's first ride on a roller coaster. In his words, it was "everything I expected". That includes the screaming and blasphemous "OMG" that inevitably comes out during such adventures. If I could have had a video of the event, it would have been enough leverage to get Alex to do anything... well... almost.

Hong Kong

Finally I have the motivation to post. Its been quite a while and a lot has happened, but I've only really posted this time because I'm actually in a different country, and will be for the next month or so.

I'd upload pictures if I could, but unfortunately theres no memory card reader on these PCs, so its a little hard to, but there will be at least one going up when I get back.

We only came up on Monday night, so only been here a couple of days or so. Its been good so far. We have a decent hotel room, and everything is really cheap (though not necesarily good for you). We went around the habour and stuff, saw all these big fat buildings you don't really see in Melbourne, and then walked around some more (and that was just the first day). The second day involved a lot of walking and stuff as well, some shopping, and err... lots of eating.

Did I mention we've been eating? Oh yes...

Anyway, thats it from me so far. Hopefully lots of updates later in the ttip!

Final University assignment

I just finished my last uni assignment!

Well... that is, if I don't do any more post grad for the rest of my life.

Anyway. It was a doozy. 1600 words in about 2 hours. I think that tops my previous record of 1500 in 4 hours. It helps that it was made up of a few questions, so I actually had stuff to talk about instead of running out of things to say and having to sit there staring at the screen for hours on end before realising it was too late.

It was actually pretty late for this one as well.. It was due at 5pm. Just had less motivation than usual.

Damn Socialists

I find it really annoying how loud mouthed socialists go around preaching crap. This is especially true when walking around uni. If its not about student rights, its about the war on terror/Lebannon. If its not about war, its about prisoners of war. If its not about POWs, its about how its so unfair that people such as George Bush control the most powerful army in the world and use it to further their agendas. If its not about that.. well.. I'm sure they'll think of something else. Whine whine whine.

Lets deal with the last point on the list. Its not really unfair that a stupid monkey like George "Dubbya" Bush gets elected president of the United States of America. Despite the rather exhalted name, citizens of the US of A can be extremely dense. Or maybe they're all just monkeys and voted in the King Monkey.

Though when you look at elections of this type. That is, elections that are meant to pick the leader of an entire country, you're effectively giving them free reign to further their own agendas. It would also imply that the majority of people who voted in the election would agree with that agenda, or at least some part of it. So the socialists should stop blaming Dubbya for the war on terror, the war on everything, and start blaming the American public. Blame the rednecks in Texas for raising a president who can't speak properly. Blame the other Mr. Bush for giving his son the basis from which he could launch a political career. Blame John Kerry for not making a big enough effort. Finally, blame the intelligent Americans who didn't turn up on election day to vote against George.

Sometimes it makes me feel happy that Australia has compulsory voting. All they need to do now is to make it online so we don't have to go and write something on paper and get handed flyers by politically motivated people at polling booths. Though if they do, they should still have a 'donkey vote' option.

Oh btw: GG

Woof

Okay so it hasn't exactly been the most frequently updated blog recently, but I'm sure I've got an excuse. Just because I can't think of one doesn't mean there isn't any.

Well no. I've got it. I only really update this blog when I'm bored, or when I really have something to say. However, neither of those criteria have really been met recently. Its good that I'm not really all that bored, and its good that I've been keeping my blogging mouth shut to slow down on the exponentinal growth of blogging. Doing my part to slow down the pollution of cyberspace so to speak.

To sum up life in the past month or so:
- More munny!
- Lots of working!
- Some uni work
- Lots of DOTARRRRR
- Not much sleep

Though now the theraputic effects of blogging are starting to kick in. Its a bit different typing things when its not for work and not for study. I'm typing things I normally wouldn't type, and its kinda good. It FEEEEEELLLS good.

Um. Yeah.

Nudie Run

I saw my first nudie run at uni yesterday. Not exactly the most pretty sight in the world, but it was a first. Trust a bunch of guys to run through a 80% female lecture in the nuddy.

Legs

I think I understand why girls spend a lot of their time shaving their legs or wearing pants or other types of clothing to cover them up.

Hairy legs on girls are.... *shudder*

I was nice today...

Offered a similarly sick person on the bus a strepsil...

Two things

1. I bought two cheeseburgers from maccas for $1.95 today. I think they gave me the wrong change.

2. Theres this new hot chick at work. A welcome change from all the old people there...

Christian reincarnation

I know I keep coming back to this. But its just interesting how twisted some things can be. The other day, I found out by talking to a family friend that somehow, the Christian faith decided some day to stop the teaching of reincarnation. Granted, this was a long time ago, but I just thought it was worth sharing.

It was during the Council of Nicea in about 325 A.D. where all the bishops decided to get together to decide on a few things. Essentially, all they wanted to do was get their story straight. Fair enough, if I was trying to preach salvation to the masses, I'd like other people doing the same thing to tell the same story. I guess thats one of the reasons why theres been so many religious wars. But I digress...

Personally, I don't really see how reincarnation fits in with Christian teachings today. Theres no place for it. Well actually, theres no real place for a lot of things in it, but oh well. Makes me wonder how they used to do it back then, and how they got it. Perhaps its just my preconceptions of the faith, and how its evolved over the years.

Me, Not me

Stressed, Emotional, Sick. Normally not words you would associate with me. But alas, probably what you would say of me these past few days.

Stressed - Damn industrial project stuff.

Emotional - Well. I don't know actually. Maybe the feeling is coming back after all this time.

Sick - Ditto.

The next stage in life

So I accepted the job with the big investment bank. And no, I'm not actually in investment banking, I don't do a commerce course. Nor would I actually want to do investment banking if I were. It leaves a lot less time for the finer things in life, such as sitting around, sleeping, and eating.

Its a big relief to have the next stage of your life set for you, especially when you've been worrying about it for a while, and you don't want to be a bum. While the idea of being a bum appeals to me a lot, I think the lack of things to do, not to mention the lack of good things to eat (due to the lack of money) kind of overcomes that.

I think the point where you start working also brings into focus the other things adults probably think about. That is, moving out, a mortgage, loan repayments, etc. Its kind of sucky, but also a bit of an eyeopener as to what my parents kind of went through when they did the same thing.

Theres also the thought of kids and stuff. But then, thats not really an issue for me since I can't seem to get over my lack of effort to find myself a girlfriend. Well, at least my pseudo-girlfriend will do for now =)

Funny

Everyone seems to be leaving this one building in the city. Its the Australian Stock Exchange building in Melbourne. The worst thing is, even the Australian Stock Exchange are moving out of the building, into the building across the road. How ironic is that?

To quote from The Age:

"AAP [the news company] is the third company to leave the Collins Street building. The Australian Stock Exchange movies to the Rialto in September."

Maybe its time they tear it down, as soon as all the law firms move out.

Headhunting, or just having a big head myself?

I just had the most random call. It was the recruitment lady at the company I got offered a job at. Since I didn't actually remember her name the first time she called, I've got it down as -insert company name- grad recruitment. So when this name came up in my phone, I thought maybe I'd put the wrong number down and it was some other random debt collector in NSW (I had another call last week from some gas company... cos you know... I use lots of gas). Also keep in mind that its about 7:15pm...

So anyway, I pick up. NOTE: Below's transcript is NOT ad verbatim.

"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Alistair?"
"Yes, it is."
"Hi, its -DAMN FORGOT NAME AGAIN- from -insert company name- .... Have you had time to consider the offer etc."
"Yeah been thinking about it a lot..."
"Did you manage to talk to -insert other company with last round interview- about stuff?"
"Yeah, they can get back to me on Friday after my interview."
"You wanna go have coffee with someone who can tell u heaps more about the company?"
"Err.. yeah alright!" (thinking its free coffee :) )
"Okay, when you next free?"
"Oh, well.. I'm in tomorrow, like.. to come work for you guys..."
"OK cool, I'll get someone, and call you back tomorrow!"
"Alright, ttyl! lol" (thinking I'll get paid for drinking coffee)

Wow. Like the first time I've been called ON THE PHONE, for coffee. At least that I can remember. Not to mention the fact that it MIGHT BE FREE!!! Damn I'm a cheapo.

So headhunting me? or maybe I've just got a stick up my butt... Either way... Here's hoping for free coffee tomorrow!

EDIT: Yeah, its just me with a big head.

Recent things

Lots of stuff has been happening.

The week of the interviews was kind of breezy. One half of the reason why I haven't been posting much is because, if I remember correctly, there was wayyy too much DOTA and nothing productive happening at all during that week.

Half the reason why I haven't been posting is because I really haven't had that much net access. A few friends and I went to Sydney for a short holiday. I don't think I'll say too much about it because its already been covered here. But in a nutshell, we kinda went up on Sunday, went around doing some toursity stuff, and sat around some more, then came back home on Thursday. There were Krispy Kremes involved somewhere in there as well.

Also, the company which I said I did alright in the interview for offered me a graduate role, which is great news. I can finally breathe easy about next year and not worry so much. Dad was quite happy to hear about it. He was more worried about me having a job than I was. Poor guy.

The company which I said I did pretty badly in also invited me to their next round of interviews. This is with a senior executive ... and they let me know if I get offered a place for next year on the day, which is pretty good. Though I think to work for this company, they'd have to pay significantly more than the previous company. The work is a lot harder too, and a lot more boring. Coding all day... *shudder*

But yes, in a nutshell. Hap hap happy!