http://sassyurbanite.blogspot.com/

That will be the new site for my musings and everything in between henceforth.

Merry Christmas!

(Brendan, random epiphanic moments are what you should be grateful for. absolute excess now, yea!)

My love is like the sun that warms me when I am cold,
And like the cool water of the brook that refreshes me.
My love knows the secret pleasures of my soul,
And delights with me in fulfilling them.
Who is my love but the soul of my soul,
And the reason for every beat of my heart.
Who fills me with life in the joy of presence,
And returns to me more than I have given.
Come to me, my love, I die without you.
Each day is eternity, waiting for your touch.
Remove the tears from my eyes and the ache in my heart,
Be closer than my breath, all my days, all my nights.

An amazing poem that I came across today, that encapsulates the very essence of what I believe love should be.

A hopeless romantic I am, I know, yet regret not - unchanged, even by Larkin.

For life is short not to love with passion and open your heart to be loved.

Perhaps finding your one true soulmate may be pushing things too far, but at the end of the day, it's about finding that compatible partner who adores you for all that you are, and with you, forms that nourishing and fulfilling relationship that brings out the very best in the both of you.

"For I will keep you safe and warm, my dear."

ps: back from Paris, and with some amazing snapshots to reveal, patience my loves! The Traveller's Diary, in due course!

And yes, before I get back to law (I cannot believe we have exams after the break!!whyyy!) Merry Christmas!

- Francis Bacon

Moments get lost in this abyss of nothingness.

I bask in the beauty of this freedom,

yet miss so dearly what remains sincere.

"Do you believe, in what you see?"

It's absolutely freezing outside.

I wrap myself up in a woolen sweater, and cozy up with a glass of Merlot in hand.

Term is finally coming to an end, and I'm pleased with what has been done so far. Despite the bumpy start, the foot has somehow found its way in the door; and it's merely a matter of taking those steps further.

The thing about law in University is that there is no smooth transition from A levels where it was simply enough to state cases that give authority to a principle - more than that is expected. The full understanding of the case is needed, and the critical analysis of the reasons behind the judgement. It surely does not help that the jurisdictions are interlaced with unnecessary rhetoric and conflicting arguments that go on for 9 pages or more. At times, I've doubted myself and cursed my rigid mind that has been accustomed to the Malaysian education system of regurgitation. Nonetheless, with hours put into the 8 essays (yes, per term- explains the unannounced hiatus?), I'm slowly picking things up; and hopefully heading in the right direction. (First class baby! One in the bag, just today!)

But what has really stood out to me about doing law right here in London, is the absolutely competitive nature of it all. In the first year already, we are introduced to the great concept of the 'Magic Circle firms' i.e the top of the top law firms with international prestige, and urged to be forward thinking in our career paths. By the second year, applications for summer schemes are expected to enable the chance of employment at one of these top firms, and if all goes well, a training contract is secured in the third year- thus, solving all questions about life. This applies in the relatively same manner for investment banks, accountancy and consultancy firms.

And I sit down and ponder. Where lays the truth in the pre-conceived notion that University is the time for easygoing fun and self discovery?

Times are certainly changing. Added with the stress from the global economic downturn; the career path has become even more competitive and benchmarks are being set higher and higher.

So what if you're a straight distinction achiever, if you've represented your nation in an event of importance? You're now competing at a global sphere, where so many others are just like you. It's about building something unique, and greater than the average top achiever.

And I ask myself- if everyone is caught in this spiral in proving to be better than the rest; or at least the best that one can be, and works towards the expected development thus – is this really self-discovery? Or is it merely pushing the ideals of the rat race down the throat?

Have we restricted ourselves and the freedom to mature intellectually- in whatever way we choose?

Yet, ultimately the choice of how we choose to live is in our hands, and fulfillment is a definition that differs for each. What can't be denied is the myriad of possibilities here that can be embraced, should there be the will to.

.."the shadows in the cracks and all that's in between.."

There's this sense of self victory that comes from the knowledge of improvement.

Just got back from cheer training, and I actually managed a few good stunts with the team. Slowly building on the confidence to ride it higher each time I'm being thrown in the air.

Other than that, things have been fine and dandy. Still have to finish up 3 essays before my week off ends, and also settle some deals with the companies that I've been working on with the business club. Not to mention the laying out of plans for UKEC (yes, I've just got elected onto the board with the support of the supreme council at the weekend's Annual General Meeting, whoopee). A lot on my plate for now, but I'm extremely happy that I'm immersing myself in the tasks at hand, at learning a whole lot along the way.

And the funny thing is this.I've come to learn not only the way in which things are best done, taking into account also the inevitable politics involved in certain matters; but more importantly, I've come to learn so much more about myself. Following the conversation I had with my brother recently, I must agree that living independently allows you to look into yourself, and discover little things that make you uniquely, you. The time alone, the empty spaces between one meeting and the next reveals the silent thoughts that never are fully realized within yourself - and the eventual acknowledgement of such, simply is amazing.

The awareness of the finer things that disturb you - (unarranged plates, unalligned papers and a messy bed), the funny habits that you subconsciouly practice (like how I insist on having my floor vacuumed even if its clean before I rush out in the mornings, and how I always have a to-do list), the strange reactions you get (like how my fingers and toes get extremely cold despite the warmth), the emotions that overwhelm you (the sudden dissapointment at not having things dealt with, the frustrating confusion over 5 pages worth of case studies,the self doubt, the overexcitement at any package received: latest Richard Branson's: Business Stripped Bare, which I will devour, devour!) ; all of which never really stood out until now.

And this comes as a rebirth of the self; seeing the good, the bad ;in a whole new light. For at the end of the day, at the threshold of tomorrow, it is you alone, and the whole world. It is you that you are responsible for- each action bears a consequence,it sees through in everything : your self management, your work, your relationships; and it is your choice to make things better, or worse.

"Strip me naked, and let me see, let me find myself, and be confident in all my nudity."

.......one last thought : what is this about banning Yoga for Muslims in Malaysia?!!

Andy Mckee, Rylnn is playing in my ears as I walk along the Waterloo Bridge that brings me towards the campus over at the Strand.

Wind is blowing in my hair, and I feel that slight warmth of the London sunshine that I've been longing for this morning. And I look over my shoulder to take in the beauty of the River Thames, the serenity that breathes out of it and flows upon the rich architecture of the land.

And I smile to myself; at the sense of awe that overwhelms me everytime I make my routine journey across. Even with the occasional honking, the mad cyclists and the guy who bumps into you on the streets, there is this sense of peace in finding familiarity in a foreign land.

With the tons of reading work on my plate, essays, corporate meetings upon my election into the board, social gatherings and further self organisation ; it is this very moment of nothingness as I take my steps to the melody of the song that relieves me.

I've made it here, and it's time to make the best of what I have here in my hands.

"The cost of borrowing is down,  but house price declines will continue in many areas.However the trend towards lower interest rates should mean that recovery arrives rather earlier than expected, probably 2011"

This summarises the consensus of views after the rate cuts- but still nothing is quite as it seems on the streets in Britain.

The housing market has been seen to reveal some surprising activities- a result of a phenomenon I've just learned to be "the Icesave(reference to the Icelandic bank) effect" - where the belief is that investments in property is better than in a savings account.  Despite the government's pledge to the depositors, savers are already unnerved by Llyods TSB's takeover of HBOS (UK's formerly reputed top investment, savings provider and mortgage group) and other such worrying events - the bailouts etc.

The biggest factor that I think sparked the extent of which the credit crunch has affected so many, is the PERCEIVED threat to deposits from bank instability, much more than house prices. Buyers are still putting their money on their terrace houses silently waiting for recovery, totally avoiding anything to do with banks as such: hence, exploiting their purchasing power, knowing that aspiring purchasers are struggling to obtain mortgages at this PERCEIVED ideal time. Deadlines are set, and the agreed price cannot be renegotiated. And this leads to another slug in the market.

Will the 2012 Olympics rebound prices as expected? Or is it again- mere speculation?

Latest: US follows Gordon Brown's move to save the banking system- governments to put money into struggling banks AND offer similar guarantees worth hundred of billions to persuade banks to lend to each other again.But will this be meaningful at all?

On another note, I've just read that Abdullah Badawi will be stepping down in March, with Najib next in line - will Malaysia recover from the political mess that has built up over the years?

Today I stand

and wonder

what more can one say?

when all is done and passed

living moments that become

history; fragments of which splinters

to fine grains of memory

experiences once precious lost

in this train of time

ever-moving, unforgiving

and today I stand

I wonder

will truth reconstruct

in the abyss of tomorrows?

It is now 9.52 pm, and I'm inspired to blog about the past week that has flown right by, mostly thanks to Terri's email that DEMANDED an update

To begin with, an overview of the LLB course here at King's and how the systems work:

In the first year, I will have to take on 4 compulsory modules, ie: European Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, and Public & Administrative Law; of which each will be examined throughout the term. Papers in the first year now count for 11% of the total degree, when before grades in the first year did not play such a role at all in determining whether one graduates with first class honours, second upper, and so on. (Perhaps because the freshers tend to slack off earlier on!)

Weekly, I have about 13-15 contact hours: divided between plenary sessions/lectures with the entire group of 400 law students and small groups/tutorials for each individual module. These tutorials are made up of focus groups of 8 people, which then allows more attention to detail in understanding the various aspects of the law: and with that it means, reading and assignments due fortnightly! Already, I have a few chapters to read up, and cases to think about.

-when does the contract come into place?is there implied acceptance upon such an offer- or is it a mere invitation to treat?-

The beauty about studying law at King's is that there exists a diverse range of viewpoints by students which enable you to look at the philosophies of the law differently; and further, the lecturers (in which many of them are authors themselves) are able to present both sides of the case as persuasively which stimulates much thought beyond what is laid out in the textbook. And as it usually is with competitive law students, the discussion never really ends just there- it is carried on online on a forum on the King's server itself! I'm definitely glad I studied Law during Alevels - information is seeping in so much easier!

Apart from the LLB course, I have also registered myself to undertake the A.K.C(Associate of King's College London) in which is an additional title (along the lines of M.B.A, M.S) to one's name upon successful completion of the course. This has been a tradition in King's for many years-in which the area of focus is Theology & Religious Studies. Since I've always been one to enjoy the exploration of the many beliefs of the world, I thought that it would be a good idea to study in depth this term : The Good Book: the Bible and its impact , and Dead or Alive:the search for God inside and outside the church. A non-Christian myself, this would be an opportunity to further increase my understanding of the religion, and as the titles themselve reveal: so much more than that. My first lecture is tommorrow- hope it works out fine!

And yes, I've succumbed to temptation to do even more! (Brend, stop rolling your eyes and saying "chihuahua!")

I've signed up for a few extracurricular activities in which I hope will give me a sense of balance during my time here - cheerleading went well: had my first training last Wednesday where we did some stunts and cheers already(it's been so long since I last cheered, and I was glad that the King's squad is a substantial one- the Lions championed the competition last year!), UKEC's (The United Kingdom and Eire Council for Malaysian Students- remember the Malaysian Student Leaders Summit I emceed?) elections shall be soon, still deciding between the Law or Bussiness Society (because many of their events are of greater benefit in the 2nd year) and yes, the home away from home - the Malaysian Singaporean Society which organized an awesome Indian dinner last night at Bayswater!Also pondering on joining the Triathlon team but time is short! (what more with the fresher's socials every so often!)

Ah well, time management will be key here - since now, I also have to do my own laundry, ironing, cleaning.

Random confession before I end here with pictures: I've plasters all over me - from walking around extensively around London in uncomfortable shoes (I've bought myself flatties!), from accidental cuts while chopping my carrots and fruits!

#1The teeny closet. #2 The decorated noticeboard-with a little bit of home!      

#3 The teeny toilet- with a trolley to put my things! (rolled in and out)

#4 The bed and an ugly lazy chair revamped! 

#5 Where she sits =p

#6, #7 Ministry Night

#8, #9 : Because dancing is incipient poetry

#10 On Anon

...an interesting thought I'm exploring in this book I'm devouring, by Thomas Friedman: "the splintering of media makes for a lot of incoherence or selective cognition, but it also decentralizes power and provides a better guarantee that the complete truth is out there..somewhere in pieces".

 For those celebrating Raya soon- Selamat Hari Raya!!

night.

Yes, finally, an update from me, almost fully settled in my tiny apartment in London.

After a few trips down the grocery store nearby, a tube down to the Ikea in Edmonton, and a few other stops here and there - it would sufice to say that I'm well-equipped for my life away from home. Although it has only been a week, I'm gradually comprehending the real meaning of independence; and how much more I have to learn to attain the level of maturity I desire, to be able to stand tall, on my own two feet. It certainly does help that my apartment mates (five of them on my floor- we share only a kitchen and living space; otherwise it's en suite where I have my mini bathroom) are extremely willing- be it to teach me how to cook asparagus, to laugh over my incompetency over a glass of wine or walk me through the best deals in the city.

London as a city, is a great place to live in- despite minor hiccups here and there, that exist in every cosmopolitan anyway - the transport system is so well connected that I can get from one point to another without too much of a wait, the service in general is top notch, the people come from all walks of life and hence present a diverse range of individuals that expose you to so much! The weather hasn't been too gloomy, and the slight breeze of extremely cold air is a good change from the humidity of Malaysia. Of course, I do have my heaters in hand to keep me comfortably warm.

And yes, I'm definitely enjoying my time at university itself.

King's College London not only offers a great line-up for the LLB programme,their highly accomplished professors are also able to relate the subject to each student in a way that makes the subject so much more refreshing- they've even created an online system whereby plenary discussions go onto a forum called the Blackboard Vista, to encourage intellectual discourse among the 400 undergraduates enrolled.The social life here is amazing - taking into account the fact that everyone comes in knowing hardly anyone, the University itself and its constituent societies make a commendable effort to organize multiple fresher's events which allow for networking, relationship building, and well, pure fun! 

I've got a Criminal Law lecture in another hour, so I'll leave you with some pictures to share with you my experience here so far.

Till then, cheers, and take care.

Everyone, please get skype, so we can catch up!(search:sassyurbanite) Alternatively, do not hesitate to email me at sarahc@asia.com , or facebook me at anytime. Qiki has done that already!

I miss you all.

Lovelove

Sarah, Jack, Dora and Daniel

King's College London- Waterloo Campus

King's Maughan Library - my dream library!

Daddykins and I-doesn't he look so cute with his backpack!

More of our library-inside. The books!!!

A glimpse of Venice

Camilla, Becky and the crazy dancers that night

Familia in London

My awesome apartment mate from Luxembourg ,Claire!

"Dry up all your tears, swallow your fears

For tomorrow is here

To reawake, unlearn and discover

Breathe in your victory

Dreams to be fulfilled with glory."