::Inspiration::

the case of inspiration

It's been 5 days since the successful conclusion of case competition.. it's been 5 days since I met my inspiration...

I remember deciding to join the competition, getting into the final 12 and then getting worried about winning.. (which is absolutely weird coz u're supposed to be joining a competition to win) but for once it was the experience that I wanted.. and I would not forget the 24 hours during which everyone worked so hard, hoping not to win but just not to embarrass ourselves in front of the judges.. I recall asking myself whether I was insane to take it all up in the first place, adding more burden to the current heavy workload I had when i knew that the most I could get out of it was probably only a cert and a souvenier.. Yet once again I did not regret my decision...

It was more than just him, though he was my main inspiration.. It was the whole idea that at long last there was someone or some group of pple I could learn from, there are some aspects in academics that I could improve on, there was someone whom I could look up to and be impressed.. It's been a while in school and perhaps the lack of this feeling seemed to depress me a lot. Pple see me as I see him, which is scary because I feel grossly overestimated and I know the time will come when I become so arrogrant that I forget the importance of humility in learning.. For once I felt good.. I felt that I made the right choice in coming to bizad..

I heard his name mentioned as the number 1 powerhouse to lookout for.. once ending up in the same group as his team, we could forget about winning in the group.. and then I vaguely remembered spotting his name on the dean's list before.. and realised he maintain a cap of 4.9 for the past 5 sems. Much was mentioned about him, his name brought up in our conversations about case competition. He sounded like legend..

Almost everyone I knew braved their exhaustion and stayed on to catch a glimpse of this legendary figure and hear him present his ideas for the case. I recall the anticipation all of us had.. as his group, with him leading the way, walked down the LT corridor to the front. With some pointing to identify him, we quickly quietened down as we wanted to listen in full concentration. As he motioned for the front lights to be dimmed, the group looked almost too professional to be students as all of them wore suits and stood with poise, exuding immense confidence..

I thought I saw him composing himself, then he commenced.. With just the few words he started off with, I knew I was totally impressed. He spoke with the conviction required to convince, he spoke with the passion for his ideas, he spoke with the assurance that he was right.. with the powerpoint slides as intriguing, I watched in awe as all the rest did, and we knew all the talk about him was no exaggeration.. It was by no luck or accident they were there and we were not..

I don't know what actually kept me staying on till the end considering that i only slept 3 hours the night before.. perhaps it was the results that held me back.. or perhaps an opportunity.. As I walked out of the LT, I met with my legal lecturer last sem as she was one of the judges and surprsingly she recognised me by name and face.. it was surprising considering I never spoke up in her class before, unless of course to say I don't know when I was so unluckily called. But it definitely deserves this special mention because I applaud my lecturer for her fantastic memory and her encouraging words of advice..

I didn't deliberately look out for him at all at refreshments.. he was just like a celebrity to me, come and gone on stage.. but as we speak of him once again in our conversation, he was brought over to our group. I can still recall the adrenaline rush in me, a familiar sensation when I see a famous person or a person of higher authority.. I tried to calm my nerves as we did some introduction and exchanged friendly handshakes and namecards.. he fumbled in his bag for his name card after realising he had none with him.. and for once I was so upset with myself for not bringing some along! We then engaged in a rather long conversation, and it was even more inspiring to notice his humbleness in his words and actions, and his respect for all of us even though we were juniors.. and I truly admired him for that.. I did manage to ask a couple of intelligent questions and got him to look my way while he answered them.. haha.. but I did say silly things which I never say normally.. and once again I was upset with myself for that..

Grateful to my friend who brought a camera whom I guess was as excited as I was to stay close to a legend to suggest for a photo taken, it was the evidence of this memory.. (though subsequently i hoped to be able to crop my friends' faces out haha) As he later ended off a conversation with my senior, he smiled a goodbye smile to me as he left me pleasantly surprised..

I hate myself for being infatuated with one at such an alarming rate that it goes unnoticed by myself.. but I assured myself that things would not go that way, although frankly my thoughts did stray the first couple of days.. haha.. He will always stay as my inspiration, one I can look up to and aspire to be.. I wish him the best of luck for the upcoming Copenhagen Case Competition.. =)

[My Group! Suhao, Peggy, me, Yong Ann]

[it's pretty obvious actually.. esp for bizaders.. now i'm a little shy abt this..]

rebec inspired @ 12:19 AM Comments: 5

an undelivered letter...

I recall the existence of this undelivered letter.. and a forgetten infatuation..

*** December 2004 *** A Letter ***
Merhaba! Nasilsiniz? I hope you would say ‘iyiyim sagol!’

As I munch on those delicious Turkish nuts, while watching the video and looking at the photos taken in Turkey, I had the sudden urge to send a note to you. Unknowing, it’s been 5 weeks since I came back to Singapore from Turkey, but the fond memories are still so vivid..

Honestly, Turkey did not seem an especially appealing place for me to visit, and when my family courageously braved the terrorism and earthquake threats on this trip, I had my reservations on how interesting it’s going to be. But honestly again, I felt sadness more than anywhere else when I had to say goodbye. I knew I was going to miss everything there..

The daily doses of history and turkish lessons which I dutifully listened to word for word, of gunaydin greetings every morning, of elma cay in tulip cups everyday..

The sight of magnificent mosques and palaces built in Istanbul and Bursa, of ruins of an amazing city once built in Ephesus, of beautiful geographical formations of white terraces in Pamukkale, of breath taking views of caves and fairy chimneys in Cappodocia, of grand monuments built in Ankara, of snow upon the pine trees with bears and honey in Bolu we imagined, of fruit trees and cotton fields and towns along the bus journeys, of sunrise upon the Aegean sea and sunset upon the ‘golden mountain’..

The sound of rooster calls and cow bells which attracted attention,

The smell of lemon cologne so distinct and awakening,

The taste of Ayran, Raki, yogurt with honey and opium seeds,

The touch of the sand and stones which existed so long ago..

The jokes of tamales and hodja in which I thought your attempt to make us laugh was all more humorous,

The feeling of being millionaires, and at the same time math illiterates having so much difficulty in exchange rate conversions

The fun we had in my first 2 nightclub experiences dancing and drinking and laughing, saying selefe and happy new year to almost total strangers even on the streets,

The new experiences of swimming in sulphate filled waters, of walking in calcium filled cold waters, of duck walking in underground caves, of shopping in the grand bazaar busy saying ‘yok sagol’, of cruising along the Bospherus looking at the 2 continents of Asia and Europe together, and of the greatest guide accompanying us on the journey..

*** A tribute ***
Turkey wouldn’t have been one bit the same without you. It was you who made all the difference. Along the bus rides those lessons on the country’s language, history (which I didn’t quite get everything right), geography, culture, and even modern day economics and politics (which was interesting to listen to from a local’s point of view) made me momentarily attached to the Turkish way of life and even be part of it for that period of time. It was as if we were all professionals at answering whatever one would ask about Turkey. At the same time those Chinese phrases popping out between your explanations as well as those almost Singaporean Singlish was definitely entertaining and made us all relate well and feel more comfortable in a foreign land. Not forgetting the Chinese and Singaporean songs as well. For all that and the amazing memory remembering those facts and figures which no one dare challenge, you have been crowned ‘the best tour guide ever’ in our family. Congratulations on getting your award! Haha..

It is interesting how your name can pop up somewhere along our daily conversations. In talking about our trip, in talking about Troy and greek mythology, in talking about tour guides. Even when having Turkish delights it reminded us of your ‘yao yao’ way of eating it which made all the difference in taste. And it is not only us. Just recently when we went to another tour agency to make payment for our South African holiday, your name popped up once again when we mentioned our Turkey trip and it seems as though you’re rather popular in the tourism industry of Singapore. Feeling flattered? Or are u just too used to it? U

‘All good things must come to an end’ in your words. And so must this e mail full of praises. Life wouldn’t be the same again. For one, Turkey and you have become a passing in my life. Though short, but definitely unforgettable. I’ve become the so-called ambassador of Turkey, trying to promote and more importantly clear many misconceptions about the country, namely the politics with neighbouring countries and the secular system which many would mistake it as Islam based. And another is that the men and women there all look rather good!

rebec inspired @ 12:53 PM Comments: 3

The Launch

It's officially Valentine's Day.. and it marks the landmark beginning of this portal to my life..
It will encompass the happy and sad moments because only when there's one will the other seem especially so..
Perhaps that is the beauty of life..

I would like to dedicate this blog to a great friend before she leaves for Australia..
True friends are never separated; maybe in distance but never at heart.
And never ever forgetting those who shared the laughter and tears of my life with me for the past 7 years...
Love ya all MYJARS!

~Be Inspired...

rebec inspired @ 12:00 AM Comments: 0