Week 2

I learnt quite a bit of stuff this week in school. From Finance 101, I learnt about CAPM - Capital Asset Pricing Model. My prof said, 'I took 1 month to mathematically understand this equation. Now, i'm going to take 10 minutes to explain to you using common sense.' Pretty much the best quote of the week, but the again, the week isn't over yet.

I spent a substantial amount of time in school alone. Most days, i arrive in school at 8.45am and study. What a mugger! I wish I had more foresight earlier then I would have bidded my modules more in line with Amanda's. Then we could have more emo talk, then we wouldn't have to wait for choir time to start emo-ing. For the record, she pretty much does the emo-ing. Sorry, manda!

Another module I'm taking is called Intercultural Communications, or ICC for short. An anecdote of what we learn: An American exchange student was shocked when her Singaporean SMU classmate said, 'This morning, I was so stoned.' Do you get it?

For a school whose majority of students are girls, my finance and corporate reporting group mates are all guys. Weird. And I just noticed, on average, guys in accountancy are cuter. I think.

I've finally finished reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I recommend it! Next book up, Who moved my cheese?

Read if you can understand

Quote the Banker "Watch Cash Flow"

Once upon a midnight dreary as I pondered weak and weary
Over many a quaint and curious volume of accounting lore
Seeking gimmicks (without scruple) to squeeze through some new tax loophole
Suddenly I heard a knock upon my door
Only this, and nothing more

Then I felt a queasy tingling and I heard the cash a-jingling
As a fearsome banker entered whom I'd often seen before
His face was money-green and in his eyes there could be seen
Dollar-signs that seems to glitter as he reckoned up the score
"Cash flow," the banker said, and nothing more

I had always thought it fine to show a jet black bottom line
But the banker sounded a resounding, "No.
Your receivables are high, mounting upward toward the sky;
Write-offs loom. What matters is cash flow."
He repeated, "watch cash flow"

Then I tried to tell the story of our lovely inventory
Which, though large, is full of most delightful stuff.
But the banker saw its growth, and with a mighty oath
He waved his arms and shouted, "Stop! Enough!
Pay the Interest, and don't give me guff"

Next I looked for noncash items which could ad infinitum
To replace the ever-outward flow of cash,
But to keep my statement black I'd held depreciation back,
And my banker said I'd done something rash.
He quivered, and his teeth begin to gnash.

When I asked him for a loan, he responded, with a groan,
That the interest rate would be just prime plus eight,
And to guarantee my purity he's insist on some security -
All my assets plus the scalp upon my pate.
Only this, a standard rate.

Though my bottom line is black, I am flat upon my back
My cash flows out and customers pay slow
The growth of my receivables is almost unbelievable;
The result i certain - unremitting woe!
And I hear the banker utter an ominous low mutter,
"Watch cash flow."

By Herbert S. Bailey Jr.


What a wonderful (and nerdy) poem of an accounting story!

Week 1

1. 1st week of SMU was great. Very shiok. I love the energy in classes, the diversity among students in terms of nationality and race, and morning breakfasts with my Dad where we spend half an hour each reading. (I read Time, he read Straits Times)

2. Vivace's over. It's basically a CCA day where all CCAs in SMU showcase its CCA through booths.

3. Youth Alive's carnival was pretty fun today. My favourite stall was the Fish SPA!!! It's so cool, these little special fish come around your feet and start nibbling at it. It wasn't painful, it felt like lots of kisses.. on the feet! Very ticklish. Abi and I kept screaming in spurts.

Sophomore year starts tomorrow

From tomorrow, I'll no longer be a freshmen. I'll be starting my 1st semester of my 2nd year in SMU. There's dread and excitement, mostly dread actually. I'm starting the miss holidays already.

Ok, get a grip, Anna! Looking on the bright, I've never regretted choosing SMU. I love the culture, the people and the place. And no, this isn't psychoing myself. It's just that, when the going gets tough, the tough HAS to get going. Well, me just likes to nua.

Anyway, it's off to school tomorrow. It's gonna be a great day. :D

Tablet drawing

I haven't got my friend's permission to show this, but oh well. The above image was drawn by a friend using my tablet notebook. Who says tablets are useless?

Nice? I think so too.

UP and about

Up, the latest 3D animation movie, is super super good. Animation is totally my genre. From Finding Nemo to The Incredibles, Shrek to Bolt, I loved them all. But UP is one of the best! I think what makes it different is that it's not all funny, there are some parts which are really sad. And when it's funny, it's really funny.

Go watch it!!!!

HTHT

The buzzword for the my summer is HTHT - heart to heart talk. Having much more spare time during the holidays, I have met up with some old and current friends. I've come to value quality time spent with family and friends. To me, there's nothing more comfortable than seating down at a nice place, chilling and just pouring out your thoughts to people you trust.

My GFs and I like to discuss why people act in a certain fashion and why we have certain reactions to certain people. I think like 65% of the time, we always analyze why boys do what they do. Why do some send the seemingly suggestive signals and act all personal, when it's really just nothing? (2 theories: He really likes you but hasn't said yet or 'casting a wide net' theory) And we always analyze our own behavior. Over-analyze, probably. 'What does it mean if we always SMS each other?'

We have a few main conclusions. One, single women like us tend to be emotionally needy. The Bible says that the pursuit of pleasure will never be satisfied. And until we find our spirit and soul filled with God's love in our lives, we'll always be hanging on to poor second-bests. Now, I'm reminded that we cannot never imagine how deep, how wide, how long and extravagant is God's love. His grace and mercy is unmmatched.

HTHTs with close friends are certainly satisfying. But how much more I need that HTHT with God.