Le Retour

Song of the day:

The Script
"Breakeven"

Like any other comeback, it is special in somewhere.

After a long exile from nowhere, kevlinefm is back on his own blog.

A big HAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPAAAAYYYYYYY NEW YEAR to all.

I've been pretty lazy of late to update my blogsite. Mercy!

I checked back my last entry and it dated back to October 2008, which was a blog about my birthday.

Well, in the next few months, not a lot has happened, BUT those months DID change my life a little.

I'm glad to be able to update my blog now as I thought it's about time to do all the crapping again.

Hehe.

++ Career Check ++

Did I ever mention on my blog that I'm currently working in Penerbitan Pelangi?

If no, I'm gonna say that again.

I've been working there since September 2008.

Work has been averagely okay. Nothing interesting, nothing major, nothing worth noting.

Repetition is the key word to describe this job.

Well, it's January now and that means I've worked as an editor for approximately 4 months plus.

To be honest, and I really mean it, working as an editor is just so frustrating.

Never ending projects, never ending deadlines to meet, never ending proofreading, editing, e-mailing etc.

It's a job for the unambitious; a job for the "I want stability FOREVER" people.

So, it'll be inevitable that I might aim for other things very very soon.

Options?

Option A: Further studies.

I've mentioned this a few months ago in my blog after I graduated.

And now it's 2009.

The story is that, I've intended to apply for a JPA scholarship for PhD studies in UTM.

"Intended", mind you.

But when I was about to send in my application, I've accepted a job offer from Penerbitan Pelangi.

Therefore, I've made my decision to work for a couple of months before reconsidering it.

NOW, the time has come for me to make this decision.

At the moment, I'm busy preparing documents for NTU NGPS scholarship and most likely be involved in electrical engineering again.

Taken from NTU's website for NPGS

There are also other options of location of study: UTM (my own turf), and oversea universities.

After all the "I wanna get out of engineering" claims by me right after I graduated, I think it'll be inevitable that I get back into my own "field" to further studies.

It isn't a rash decision after all.

My main purpose of furthering studies is to pursue a career as a lecturer.

9 to 5 office work is just not for me. What I am referring to is the private sector's 9 to 5 office work.

I just can't accept the fact that I've to work blindly for just some miserly small amount of money everyday.

I want to work for myself, the money and my future.

Myself - my own satisfaction, happiness. Something which I can obtain while working.

Money - Reasonable enough for my use and to support my life (and probably my family's if I ever have one)

Future - The existence of promotion.

My current job as an editor just can't provide me with those stuff.

Option B: Quit my current job and dive into other opportunities.

I'm also currently thinking of teaching tuition as my part time job.

Well, if I were to do that, I might not quit my current job right away.

BUT, I might also further studies on a part time basis, and teach tuition at the same time after quitting my job.

This is an option you know.

All in all, it very much depends on one thing: Study scholarship.

I'm still not sure whether I'll obtain the NPGS (NTU) scholarship or not.

And I'm also very keen to know whether the JPA scholarship thingy still exist or not (because the scholarship is attractive enough for me too).

There're too many "if"s now and I'll definitely provide updates on that.

++ Interest Check ++

Arsenal have had a terrible season, starting from don't know when till the Aston Villa game.

But to be honest, Arsenal fans are pretty frustrated with the team.

I'm frustrated with the team as well.

And to make things worse, a die-hard Arsenal fan friend of mine, Jamie, has been so frustrated with Arsenal that he now doesn't watch the Arsenal first team game very often.

It is THAT frustrating.

I always say one thing about Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger needs to give us, fans a reason to believe again.

"Give us a reason to believe again".

Arsenal fans really need a reason to believe in the team again.

And the winter transfer window proves to be the key to keep the faith in Arsenal.

Since last summer, Andrei Arshavin's name has been linked to Arsenal on and off.

Andrei Arshavin - Arsenal bound?

I've been an admirer of the Russian player from Zenit St Petersburg since his superb performance for Russia in the Euros.

And I always believe that Wenger wants him.

But how much will Wenger want him?

The cost has been a stumbling block ever since Zenit declared that they want 20 million for the midfield playmaker.

Anyway, fast forwarding to January 2009, the latest news are reporting that Arshavin's arrival at Arsenal is "imminent".

I for one will be very happy if that ever happens.

Just to sum things up at half way of the season, Arsenal's season have been hit hard by injuries, lousy refereeing, negative football and Wenger's lack of ruthlessness in the summer transfer market.

Injuries?

Walcott's nasty one during preparation for England; Fabregas' nasty one by Liverpool's Xabi Alonso (whom we were supposed to get in the summer); Rosicky's never ending visit to the hospital (what's wrong with him!) and some niggling "here and there" injuries.

The new Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas is injured for a few months

Lousy refereeing?

I don't want to comment on that.

Negative football?

We have just had one example last week when Bolton travelled to the Emirates Stadium. Imagine teams playing 10 men in the box, defending in "kamikaze" style just to get a point.

I think only yesterday Manchester United are starting to feel that way too while playing against Bolton. So, don't say Arsenal are moaning about negative football.

Negative football is... NEGATIVE and that's it!

Wenger's lack of ruthlessness in the summer transfer market?

He should've bought a defensive midfielder. That's the sentence that will be repeated over and over again, especially when we might not win a single title at the end of the season.

Xabi Alonso was available in the summer. If he spent that 15 m, we might have a lot of stability in the middle of the park. Even if Wenger doesn't wanna buy Alonso for that sort of money, there are also other options.

That's my half season report though.

++ Summary of 2008 ++

2008 has been a pretty good year for me.

If I were to pick the best year out of my four years in UTM (that is from 2004 to 2008), 2008 should be the best.

Why?

Firstly, it has a lot of emotional ups and downs, which has made the year interesting enough.

Secondly, I've finally achieved something which I think I couldn't possibly have done, that is to graduate from my course (which I totally have no interest in).

Thirdly, I've managed to find a job in a short period of time when I want to. However, whether I like the job is another question.

Here is the month by month summarised events in 2008:

1) January - The last semester of my entire 4 year course started, which also meant that the final part of my final year project started too.

2) February - Basically the same as in January.

3) March - Job hunting began for me as UTM had several career carnivals for students. I've a few offers from different companies but eventually I rejected them.

4) April - My final final examination in UTM. Testing times as I've to endure and live in piles of notes and books for the first and the last time throughout my whole university life.

5) May - Singing Vitamin C's "Graduation (Friends Forever)" while sighing at the same time about me not getting a job YET.

6) June - Holidays for me. Lazing around while surfing the net everyday, anticipating Arsene Wenger's first signing.

7) July - Holidays continued. After a long wait, Wenger's first signing has arrived and he was none other than the kid from Marseille, Samir "The New Zidane" Nasri. And also, Euros kicked off and I basically watched most of the games.

8) August - Convocation! I've attended the pre-convocation ceremony at my faculty and also the convocation ceremony. Took lotsa pictures with friends and family as well as my juniors. Very thankful to see them again. And also attended several interviews after convocation.

Me and Dy during UTM's Convocation ceremony

9) September - Eventually I started my "career" as an editor.

10) October - It's my birthday on the 19th of October! And that's the only highlight I could ever remember during this month, besides from my dad's birthday too.

11) November - My training trip to Bangi, which lasted about 4 weeks, starting from mid November. Love the office in Bangi. And the people. And the surroundings. Starting to feel annoyed about JB office.

The reception area in Bangi office of Pelangi Publishing Group

Not forgetting my first time experience of driving along highways. Now I feel the "velocity" in my blood. Hehe.

12) December - My company's annual dinner. I've managed to win a lucky draw prize which I think is pretty useless. Then, return to Bangi for the last 2 weeks of my training before getting back to JB office with heavy heart.

Kelvin with the arsenal on top of Penang Hill

Later in the month, I went to Penang for vacation during Xmas period. Visited a lot of places and took lots of pictures too. (I'll post pictures on my facebook soon too.)

Basically, that's my 2008.

I don't expect anything in 2009 though. But something gives me the feeling that 2009 is the turning point of my life.

Whether my life will be better or worse will surely be determined by the next step that I'm going to take. :)