the learning journey never ends
it has been reasonably cold but rather wet in london these few days. haven't been able to bring sunshine to the city with my presence this time (the magic has worn off!). wasn't quite prepared or willing to fly off yet again quite soon after returning from the california trip. to make it worse, the flight into london was quite torturous because of the turbulence during the last hour of the flight. but i was very happy to see my classmates again and hear what they have been up to. the 1.5 day hands-on negotiations class that we had (taught by a singaporean professor no less!) also made the trip back worth it.
i can't believe how fast this week has passed. i'll be saying goodbye to my classmates in less than a day's time, and i'll miss the good fun i've had with them and their honesty. really hope some of them will have the chance of passing through singapore soon so that we can meet up. it's also nice to know that i now have more friends scattered all over the world that i can meet up with when i am travelling.
one thing that has been driven home through my interactions with others during this course is that we operate in such a sheltered world in the public sector in singapore ... negotiations are hardly on the scale of what one would have to go through in the commercial world, and one can still get away with sloppy presentations to an internal audience and half-heartedly justified budgets. it has been an eye-opener for me in many ways to be among peers hailing from MNCs and private sector companies in their own countries. their problems at work are so different from mine, and sometimes i wonder if i am capable enough to handle what they have to go through on a regular basis.
i have had some good food this round ... fusion asian dinner at eight over eight with the team and indian food at mint leaf with the whole group. however, i think the three-course dinner at the bleeding heart tavern that the group went to last time still takes the cake for the best dining experience in london i've had so far.
looking forward to visiting the christmas markets on saturday before the flight home! :D
the long road ahead, california 2007
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which reminds me ... i still haven't achieved my new year's resolution for 2007! no more road runs in singapore from now till the end of the year, so i'll just have to do the 10km on the treadmill one of these days.
i can't believe how fast this week has passed. i'll be saying goodbye to my classmates in less than a day's time, and i'll miss the good fun i've had with them and their honesty. really hope some of them will have the chance of passing through singapore soon so that we can meet up. it's also nice to know that i now have more friends scattered all over the world that i can meet up with when i am travelling.
one thing that has been driven home through my interactions with others during this course is that we operate in such a sheltered world in the public sector in singapore ... negotiations are hardly on the scale of what one would have to go through in the commercial world, and one can still get away with sloppy presentations to an internal audience and half-heartedly justified budgets. it has been an eye-opener for me in many ways to be among peers hailing from MNCs and private sector companies in their own countries. their problems at work are so different from mine, and sometimes i wonder if i am capable enough to handle what they have to go through on a regular basis.
i have had some good food this round ... fusion asian dinner at eight over eight with the team and indian food at mint leaf with the whole group. however, i think the three-course dinner at the bleeding heart tavern that the group went to last time still takes the cake for the best dining experience in london i've had so far.
looking forward to visiting the christmas markets on saturday before the flight home! :D
the long road ahead, california 2007
---
which reminds me ... i still haven't achieved my new year's resolution for 2007! no more road runs in singapore from now till the end of the year, so i'll just have to do the 10km on the treadmill one of these days.