I have a growing laundry list of quibbles about my experience with the Australian higher education sector in general, and with Australia’s premier institute of higher learning in particular, but so far, only one has made the national headlines - read this article and then this article from the Australian newspaper.

As the reports suggest, either the government is discriminating against foreign students or its discriminating against domestic ones. Either way, I don’t think it’s very sound, very coherent or very wise policy.

Posted on September 26th, 2005 by jl
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In our globalised societies, you can wake up just about anywhere in the world and use the same toothbrush (Oral-B), toothpaste (Colgate), shower gel (Lux) and facial wash (Clinique). Slap on the same body moisturiser (Nivea) with a spray of your favourite international-brand eau de toilette (Gucci, Polo, Chanel, Versace, Christian Dior) available at any departmental store worldwide. When you dress, you can wear the same Levi’s jeans and Nike shoes. Then, have the same breakfast (Kellogg’s) and drink the same coffee (Nescafe).

If you ever have to move anywhere in the world, you can furnish your home with the exact same furniture from IKEA, shop in the almost identical atmosphere of generic modern shopping malls (where you’ll almost inevitably find a Body Shop), and buy clothes all made in China. When you’re tired of shopping, sit down in very familiar surroundings while sipping the familiar coffee of Starbucks. If you want something local, go to a cafe but when you sit down, you’ll realise that the cafe culture is almost the same all over the world - you can always order a cafe latte from the same busy and brusque waiters and they’ll know what you mean.

While you watch the world go by, plug into your locally bought but globally popular white iPod and listen to what everyone else is listening to - a mixture of mostly American and British popular music with some local idiosyncratic selections thrown in. If you prefer to distract yourself with some light reading, grab a copy of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code (translated into the local language of course) or any other popular fiction by similarly global authors. If you want to know what’s going on in the world, turn on the TV and watch CNN - if you’re lucky, you might get BBC World and if you’re really, really lucky, you might even get Al-Jazeera these days. Fancy watching a film/movie? I’m certain you’ll find a selection of Hollywood’s most popular films being screened in your local theatre, wherever in the world.

Hungry? There will almost always be a McDonald’s. Thirsty? Try Coke or Pepsi. Peckish? Stuff your face with Snickers or Mars bars. Don’t care for junk? Prefer something healthier? Well… there’s Nestle yoghurt, Campbell’s canned soups, and Lipton and Twining’s teas.

At the end of the day, before you turn off your bedside lamp fitted with Philips light-globes/bulbs, you may find occassion to use Durex condoms and Johnson’s KY Jelly. However, if your partner is suffering from a headache, Panadol, like Durex, is available from your friendly local chemist.

It’s amazing how living in a foreign country can feel so much like home.

Posted on September 26th, 2005 by jl
Filed under: blah blah | 4 Comments »

The time is 1445H. Dressed in beige capri, a white collared tee and a pair of grey thongs (as a nod to the Australian culture), I stepped out of my flat for the 5-minute trek to the office. With a Lindt nocciolatte chocolate bar in one hand and a travel-mug of flat white coffee in the other, I looked up at the clear sky. The sun is belting down at a reported 22C, but it feels so much warmer, hot even. Fortunately, there’s a breeze in the air to take off some of the heat. I slip on my Gucci sunnies and began that slow walk…

this is the life…

Posted on September 23rd, 2005 by jl
Filed under: blah blah | 1 Comment »

I was looking at myself today and I figured that I am a paradox in a conundrum in a puzzle that is sitting in the heart of a Russian doll.

I have the intellectual ability and skills to do great things but I’d gladly give it all up for that illusive lurve that cannot be bought, acquired or possessed.

I was top two of my class in Hotel Management & Catering and I have a first class honours degree in Economics from this rather humble institution.

I study the principles and importance of accounting and balance budgets but I have no control or restrain on my personal expenses.

I can wax lyrical about the dress - this season’s “in”-thing according to the fashion industry - one minute and then discuss the ethical underpinnings of cosmopolitanism.

On any day these days, you’d see me carrying a book of knitting patterns and one on the political economy of financial sector reform.

I can make sugar flowers and decorate bridal cakes just as I can punch numbers and perform statistical regressions.

I speak, read and write four “European” languages but I can barely hold a conversation in what should ostensibly be my “mother tongue”.

I can help others work out their problems logically and sensibly but I am rarely ever rational about my own - but is that any wonder?!?

—

friend: but why are you talking to him at all, thats my question
me: oh i don’t know…. why am i doing this PhD… why do i want a nano… why am i gay… why do i find CH sexy
friend: cos your mad, cos its so cool it hurts, cos its more fun, cos your sick
friend: respectively

Posted on September 22nd, 2005 by jl
Filed under: Life! | 2 Comments »

When you’re stressed and you develop a major chocolate craving, you buy a 710g bucket of M&Ms. When that’s not enough, you mix in a large bag of Malteasers. When you notice that you’re going through that bucket at a rapid pace, you decide that it would be sensible to buy the 1kg bucket on your next shopping trip…

Objet du désir
I finally saw an actual physical copy of this product in a shop today… I want… I really want… one in black please…

Another objet du désir
Can someone please explain the Sony PSP to me? Are there such things as cracked (or mod) versions? Is it any good? Is this something I want? How much would it cost in Malaysia?

The introductory “value” package costs AUD399 in Australia and comes with one unit PSP, a battery pack, a power adaptor, headphones (with remote control built in, I believe), pouch, wrist strap and 32MB memory stick duo.

But the real objet du désir, the one I want above all else, cannot be bought with money. It can’t be acquired nor possessed… and it’s something I fear I will never find…

—

UPDATE: I just discovered that I can buy the 4GB Nano for only AUD323 in Australia. The same would cost MYR1219 in Malaysia (30% more expensive), SGD438 in Singapore (5% more expensive) and GBP179 in the England (30% more expensive)… this is not good, is it…???

Posted on September 20th, 2005 by jl
Filed under: blah blah | 4 Comments »