Skip to main content

One Hectic Week + Pre-Departure Hype



I will be in Singapore March 13th - March 19th for WorldMUN 2012
So, I have a million things to do before leaving for Malaysia & Singapore. Yes, I will be leaving on March 6th til March 22nd for a short return trip to my home country and the WorldMUN (Model United Nations) conference in Singapore.

Before leaving, however, I have to finish two research papers, an economics midterm, complete position paper, draft some talking points for an informal meeting with prominent opposition party MPs in Malaysia (more on this in a future blog post); print out my business cards; dryclean my suits, pack my suitcase, buy new pair of shoes since last pair is a little worn out and do research on Pakistan everyday leading up to the conference on March 13th.

I claim that it is 'hectic' because time management is not my forte. Besides, I have also made some time to hangout with some friends and close one before I leave (for some, I will be missing their birthdays). So, you can say that my schedule is indeed manageable; if anything, I will console myself by saying so.

I will be in KL to meet two Opposition MPs for an informal interview
Some pre-conference/trip thoughts: I intend to observe and learn a lot more about the local polities in the two countries I will be visiting; specifically, my home country, Malaysia. Moreover, I hope to learn a great deal during my visit to Parliament and in my conversations with some of the brightest political minds within the Chinese community. I will also be visiting my grandparents and relatives, and I am quite excited to meet two new additions to my ever-growing extended family!

As for WorldMUN, I am entering this conference with a lack of experience under my belt, having only participated in three other conferences ( 2 as a delegate and 1 as a chair). You can say that I am absolutely looking forward to making my mark in the international MUN scene, and I guess I will fall back on the 2 awards I have won so far in my short MUN 'career'. The idea of competing and debating with some of the world's finest and most intelligent delegates is an intimidating one; but I hope that I will rise to the challenge and perform well. Yes, I am letting the cat out of the bag by saying that I am determined to win an award. I think that is justified considering how far SE Asia is and how much class time I will be missing in my absence.

Do stay tuned as I complete my miniseries on success (possibly during transit time @ at some airport), and as I try my best to blog about my experiences abroad; offering you the vibrant and energetic lifestyles of Singapore and Malaysia.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Part 1: Why I chose to come back to Malaysia

We often hear of people moving to foreign lands to pursue better opportunities, to live more comfortably and to build happier families. Other countries present us with financial security, job prospects, friendlier people and desirable living standards. When I was 14, I embarked on a journey which I regard as the pivotal point of my life. It was a journey undertaken with faith and a hope that the pursuit of happiness will be easier over there, where the grass is greener and the skies blue. It was a journey to come home. As I write this, my journey has brought me home to the country where I was born and it is a place which I can truly call home. My identity is Malaysian, and 9 years in North America has taught me that nothing will ever come close to compromise that reality. I chose to come back because of a confluence of factors, but for this post I'll focus on identity. I'm often asked about why I chose to return to a country in which hope has been dashed by poor governanc...

Walkability

I've spent close to 3 weeks in Singapore for a work trip recently.  The city is a gleaming example of prudent, sensible & effective public policy. Every square-inch of the island has been mapped out, years before, with the room to rework the space if the need arises. Let's talk about walking, specifically, the decision to walk to your destination and forgo other means of transportation. Not enough people in Malaysia like to walk. Many blame the weather, the cracked sidewalks or that it's simply much easier to drive or share a ride there. Their reasons are justified. However, I'd argue that walkability is the end result of many policies aligning to create just the right environment to inspire people to lace up their shoes and make that walk. These policies are, in no particular order of importance: spatial planning, accessibility, public transportation. Using Singapore as a case study, I'll provide some observations and thoughts. Spatial Planning:  S...

First Month

Having been here a month, I'd say that I've acculturated to the pace of life and have gotten into a comfortable routine. On weekdays, this involves catching the trains to school, sticking around after class to get some studying done and then hopping on the evening train back home. Sometimes, I'd opt to eat in the city instead of home, but this usually involves the company of friends or classmates. Otherwise, I'd much rather go home to rest, relax and read. Weekends are fun here in New York. One never runs out of things to do here especially on a Friday or Saturday night, the highlights so far are the bars in Williamsburg or Brooklyn, gallery hopping in Chelsea, eating out in Chinatown or just chillin' and having a meal or drink in the Village. Admittedly, I'm trying to cut down one expenditure so that means less alcohol and eating out. I've also been making full use of my membership at L.A. fitness, since the NYU recreation centre is a little too overcrowd...