Songdo City research paper

My patience needs to be tested more. A few days ago, much to my anticipation, I decided to send the IWC an e-mail regarding the internship application process. I did get a speedy response. However, what they said was that they were still accepting applications for the time being and would start the selection process in mid- to late-May. I just have to wait a little longer and constantly hope for the good results. I keep telling myself that it is a really good opportunity not to let it pass by. Until now, I keep on thinking of the great benefits that come with it. How wonderful it would look on my resumé. So, I have around two more weeks before I can start to get nervous. I'll start to wake up every day and the first thing I'd do would be to check my inbox.

Aside from that, I'm in week 9 of my Masters course. I've been thinking if I should transfer to Monash University to take up Masters in Asian Studies, which is for 1.5 years. Or, I could go to University of Melbourne and study Masters of International Relations for 2 years. The great thing about Monash University is that they have a very strong Korean studies department, and I can guarantee myself and exchange program at a Korean university. The only downside is the fact that I have to travel far to get there and I'd have to pay more for public transport because it is located right after zone 2. However, I'm considering to apply for the Endeavour Awards, which is a very prestigious scholarship that provides full support from the Australian government. A lot of hard work will be needed for the application process, and I should start getting in to it as soon as now.

This year is a difficult but fascinatingly challenging time in my life.There are many important decisions and opportunities to grab at as soon as they present itself. My boyfriend, in the mean time, is facing the same kind of challenge is his busy job-hunting period. I am confident that he will eventually be accepted into a good company. In the meantime, I keep my fingers crossed for both of us. It's a trivial and big year for us.

I've also been considering on a possible thesis topic of Songdo City, a new emerging aerotropolis city in Incheon, South Korea. Many concepts have fascinated me and I will be tackling more of it in my research paper for one of my subjects. As I wait for these results, I will be keeping myself busy with my demanding coursework.

Alliance!

When I want a break from coursework, I usually find myself upgrading my command centres and defense facilities in the beta version game of the upcoming Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances. It's an online beta-game so it's not going to last for long. I've been really enjoying the game, and it's time-limited aspects helps to keep me off the game for several hours at a time.

Korea, bogoshipo.

I'm missing the cultural beauty of a different yet engaging and fascinating culture like Korea. I find myself dreaming of bring back there, and this time under different circumstances. I want to be working with a respectable and international company as well as making good money along the way.

These days, I feel like I've been hanging loose and waiting for so many things. At the moment, I'm waiting for my application outcome for the internship in Daegu. It's been more than a month already. It does suggest that, perhaps, there have been a huge number of applicants, which makes me even more demoralised at my possibly not being accepted. There's goes my hope out the window. Without it, I can't really make a decision on what I want to do next. I was able to find an interesting award/scholarship for postgraduate students called the Prime Minister's Australia Asia Award. So, I get paid to study at my chosen host university, get allowance, and whatever allowances I am entitled to. It seems like such a great opportunity, but it requires a long application process. Elsewhere, I'm interested in some internship opportunities at Accenture in South Korea. Obviously, I'm interested in any interesting and paid opportunities to get over there to South Korea, and find some new challenge in life. I am really glad that I've already started my postgraduate studies.
I'm also waiting on some biddings on eBay...

My new baby

Well, words won't be necessary to describe my new muse.
Speedy and powerful beast for its size and portability.

Sleek and sexy is the Samsung way.

When I took the Saeumaeul from Seoul back to Daegu, it was a long three hours' worth of travel time. Fortunately, I got to sit next to a middle-aged businessman who seemed busy on his, yes, Samsung laptop. Busy working on a powerpoint for a business proposition maybe, I was rather intrigued by his computer. Samsung does manage to produce some pretty good-looking premium laptops, but at a steep price. Surprising as it may seem, this little baby of a picture that is below is my next computer! Arriving in a few days' time right after Easter break, this notebook will be my next brand new device. I bought this for a bargain, seriouly, a bargain. Usually sold in retail stores for around $1,500 Australian dollars, I bought this on eBay for $680. It was an unwanted gift, and having initially lost out during the bid, I was offered a second chance to get it. After a long time of deliberating, I decided it was too good a deal to pass and one that I wouldn't see happening again in the near future.

As I patiently wait till the days pass by, I have been doing a bit of research and familiarising myself with this new notebook. I've read that a lot of Samsung's bloatware is taking a lot of space on the SSD, so the first thing I would do is get rid of all of that, replacing it with better softwares such as CCleaner, iTunes, Google Chrome, and AVG antivirus. This is my first premium "notebook" so I am quite eager to get my hands on it and start customizing it to fit my needs.