A Familiar Challenge?

Gladly took up a challenge today.

Even though the tasks are different, the essence is still the same: the bittersweet of hard work, the test on one's persistence, determination and potential, and the sense of achievement and pride afterwards.

While challenges are usually something new and something that gives me that extra stretch, this one feels both new and deja vu at the same time.

Why?
I feel like a student again.

The wonderful feeling of:
being tasked to write (especially if it is something important),
having readings spread all over my desk and
enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from both the excitement of the task and the fact that tomorrow is the deadline (even though I was given the task only a few hours ago)
---some of the reason why I love and miss being a student, not that I can pull all-nighters the way I used to...

I swear my body was a different one, how can I possibly sleep 2 hours/ day for weeks?!
I must be getting old and getting used to life as a work girl now...

But even so, I am still the same old me. :)

Love,
N

(Hopefully will post a few more updates soon, stay tuned)

A Working Girl or a Superwoman?

'Brunch and shopping? I'm free...oh! I'm not...'
Okay I'd like to think that I am still free for brunch and shopping, but if you read the previous post, it's clear that things have changed.

So, here is a day in the life of...me, March 2013.

I wake up early.
I hear my alarm 30 minutes after it went off at 7, hop out of bed and get ready.
After freshening up, the first thing I is to update my Tumblr  getting some fresh air outdoors and hear birds sing.
Then I have my breakfast quietly, because I still feel sleepy after 8 hours of sleep enjoying the morning calm after a quick shower.
I wanna crawl back on my bed. I'm ready for a brand new, exciting day.

It's 7:45a.m. I get back to my room, open my closet, thinking that I should have picked my outfit the night before knowing exactly what I want to wear.
I spend a minimum of  less than 15 mins thinking of an outfit  dressing up.
As much as I want to wear a maxi dress,  I put on a simple and chic outfit for work, comprise of the first pieces of clothing I see when I open my closet.
I put my hair up in a loose bun or a pony tail, as I have over 50% of chance that I have a bad hair day.
And of course, makeup to cover my dark circles, even though it doesn't seem to work very well.

It's 8a.m. and I leave my place, hop on to the minibus and then the insanely crowded  MTR which drives me crazy.
I get there at 8:30a.m., half an hour earlier than my office hours.
I like my office, it's right above the MTR, so convenient.
Once I'm back in my office, I start making tea  working right away.

It’s 9:00 and a colleague brings me all the newspapers I need.
An email alert pops up to remind me that I have a meeting in 45 mins..
Oh my! I totally forgot about that!  Great! I am totally ready.
In less than 20 mins, I use the speed of light to read through everything do a re-cap with the documents I already prepared.

Then I start getting myself ready and go to the conference room with a blank mind.
I always dash to the conference room when I see my boss coming out from his room  get there early.

After the meeting, I have to re-schedule my priorities of tasks which means I can never finish the newspapers that are piling up on my desk.
I am super productive so I can always finish my morning tasks before lunch, 1 p.m.

Usually at around 12:45, I start counting down for lunch.
Time for lunch!
As soon as I leave the elevator, I see many others rushing for lunch-- damn! Could I still get a seat in the restaurant?! And I have to wait for my food for god knows how long! What a vibrant and lively city!
Since I'm a boring person To simplify my life, I usually go to the same place.
I have quite a healthy diet now.
I still have half of my lunch break left, so I rest and relax in my office and really enjoy some private time.

After lunch, half the stack of newspapers is still on my desk, unfortunately.
While I read the newspapers, my fingers are stained with ink, I wash my hands frequently, so frequent that I'm afraid I'll have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
After the clippings and analysis, I clear them out as I like to keep my office as organized as possible because I am trying very hard to not to be as messy as I naturally am.

Around 4pm, I start stressing myself out because I just realize that I still have some un-finished tasks finish everything and have a break.
If I run out of things to do which rarely happens, I start writing up or even clearing the next day's to-do list, I wish.

At 5: 30, everyone is still working and I start thinking if I stay for another 5 mins  packing up and leave.
I don't know why they always stay behind till late---I am always leaving pretty on time.
I have a life, and even if I love what I do, I need to keep everything in balance.
That said, I turn off the lights of my office, say goodbye to everyone and leave my office with exhaustion a smile.

Dear readers,
Not all the crossed-out parts is what the 'real me' do or think, and of course I can't have my energy up for all day long either.
I'm sure my daily work routine is like a zillion others', but I want to point out one thing:
Attitude changes everything. It really does matter and makes a whole lot of difference.

Having a positive mind means you are more efficient and productive, you do your work better and enjoy it more and you get along with people better--isn't it all we want from work?
So, don't forget to smile and keep your head up!
Remind yourself to discover something new each day and never stop learning!
I do enjoy working my ass off--I believe in the value of hard work and actually EARNING something with effort.

Whether you are a worker ant or a superman (or superwoman), it's yours to choose.
I hope this post gives you a bit of power and support.
Love life. :)

Love,
N

Just Breathe

Every Monday mornings of the next 3 years, I am going to be surrounded by all the newspapers in this city.
Including those from the weekend.
And those from another city.
And the international news.

The smell of ink,
fingertips stained black,
sound of rustling paper,
the ticking of the imaginary clock inside my mind,
thousands and thousands of words that flood me,
pictures of people who tragically died,
crimes that disgust me...

I hear my heart beating fast,
I feel my heartbeat in my eardrums.
My head goes blank, completely blank.
What an ironic contrast with the papers that surround me.

A sudden short of breath,
then I gasped for air.
The surge of air into my lungs awakens me--I'm still alive.

'Did I almost got a panic attack?' I asked myself.

I say to myself,
'it's just some readings. They can't harm you to the tiniest bit.
Slow down. Breathe. One piece at a time.'

Sometimes, even the smallest thing can be overwhelming and suffocating.
And all you have to do is stay calm and just breathe, and disassociate yourself from the stress, panic and anxiety and just do it.

More tasks given to me,
packing almost every night to move to grandparents' place,
parents and brother already confirmed their tickets,
family leaving in just a month...
Bit by bit these stressors, and the immense loneliness, consume me.

Dear readers,
If you happen to be in stress and any kind of overwhelming situation, remember you are not alone.
Breathe, just breathe.
You can do it.

Love,
N

Things I Have Learnt From My Old-New Job

Time flies.
Having lessons, studying and taking exams feel like yesterday.
For the record, I actually like exams.
The word 'like' is an understatement, though 'love' would be an exaggeration.
Spending the entire day reading,
discovering something new that I've missed (always the case),
having a better understanding or a whole different interpretation of what I have learnt,
the half-anxiety-half-excitement thrill that I have right before exam starts,
the sound of scribbling (you know we don't write in exams, we scribble) and flipping paper (particularly true in open-book exams, we flip over notes as if we are beasts!),
the bittersweet feeling when the exam is over--'happy it's over! But wait, did I screw up? I didn't do that bad. No, damn! I could have done much better!

All of these feel like yesterday...or maybe a week ago. :)
I'm now in a totally different environment: workplace.
My 1st job after graduation is better than I thought--no mean and demanding boss, no unfriendly gossiping colleagues, not much office politics, no after hours work etc.

As I am about to leave this too-good-to-be-true job for a challenging-but-still-exciting new job,
I'd like to write down the lessons I have learnt from this job, both as a reminder for myself and for some of you who are having a bit of a struggle with their work.

Here are a few things that I have learnt:

1) Colleagues and atmosphere are more important than you think.
Most of us thought the quality of our work is mostly based on us, our abilities, efficiency, IQ and EQ and all that kind of things.
It's true but having a friendly office atmosphere is just as important.
One thing I really like about this office is that people greet each other, even if they don't know each other.
As long as we are going to the same floor in the elevator, we know we are working for the same organization. You don't see people building walls around them, saying 'I'm from this team and you are from another team'.
People bring in homemade cakes, bake cookies, buy everybody breakfasts or afternoon snacks, etc.
I really like the atmosphere there where people share and treat each other with trust and respect.
Communicate and build relationships!


Tip 1: Always greet your colleagues.
Tip 2: Smile. Be nice. Share. Be human. Not just at work but everywhere.
Being professional doesn't mean you have to be a cold robot.


2) Think and use your common sense.
Common sense is, unfortunately, not common.
Even if you don't fully understand the importance of the task you were given, or for some reason you don't have to permission to understand everything fully, try your best to know what you are doing as much as possible.
Ask as many questions as you can, within the authority that your job gives you.
Remember: Always be careful with what you do and use your common sense.

3) Learn from your mistakes.

People make loads of careless and avoidable mistakes.
Well, to err is human.
But to make the same mistakes over and over again? No excuse.
Expect more from yourself.

4) Resist temptations. Have your own rules.
I meant temptations of all sorts. But here, I specifically mean the temptation to dress down.

With my job, I don't have to deal with clients in person. Just a few times over the counter.
I do have to work around a lot, fetching files, distributing files etc.
But most of the time, I have a typical sit-down office job.
So I see a lot of my colleagues wearing very comfortable clothes, especially on no-meeting days.
For example, runners and sweatshirts.
Sometimes ladies kick off their heels and change into their slippers as they reach their office.

It is awkward to see a manager walking around in her slippers while distributing work to her subordinates.
She is so neatly dressed on top and her slippers just ruined the image in a millisecond.
I know heels hurt like bitches. But to be fair, a good pair of heels hurt much less.
And if you still wanna wear slippers, it's ok but please change back into decent shoes before your feet leave the shades of your desk.

5) Listen and observe.
Just a general rule in life that I always stick to.
People don't always mean what they say and sometimes they don't even know what they want!
Listen and observe. Don't talk back.
Even if you have a good reason to, choose an appropriate way to express it.

6) Expect more of yourself. Work in your own pace and schedule. Don't compare.
Just because your colleague finishes 30 files in a day doesn't mean you can't finish 50.
You don't have to slow down your work, unless your supervisor requests it.
You don't have to speed up in sacrifice of the quality of your work either.
As long as you know what you are doing and you communicate well with your colleagues, stick to it. Competition doesn't always boost productivity.

7) Make yourself home to your workplace.
No I don't suggest bringing a pillow.
But adding a few personal touches while staying professional isn't a bad idea.
Organize your work desk the way it works best for you.
If you could ever see my work desk and my former-colleague-now-friend's desk, you can totally see how different we are.

8) Don't Gossip.
I am very lucky that people don't gossip much and there is only minimal office politics.
If you happen to work in a place full of gossips and rumours (which I guess 99% workplace is), hold back your tongue and stay away from it.
Gossips and rumors are not juicy---they are hurtful and counterproductive.

9) Try to love what you do.
Remember that there is always something you can learn from it.
Discover and focus on the fun part.

10) Learn to detach.
On days when I have bad mood, I can't work properly. So I have yet to master this.
Focus on your job and leave other matters at the back of your head.
Equally important, let work stays in where it belongs---office.
Once you leave your office, try to relax and destress.

I truly enjoyed the time I spent in that job.
It was more exciting than I could have thought.
People are nice and I still remain friends with the other new girl.
We have lunch dates, movie dates, share books. We call each other and text each other often.
I hope my new job is gonna be equally exciting and fruitful.

Dear readers,
What do you learn from your job? Do you enjoy it?
I hope you do.
Keep discovering new things and appreciate life.

Love,
N

International Coffee Day

Have you ever felt like you are not ready to start the day without a cup of morning coffee, be it Espresso or Cappuccino?

Ever want to close your eyes and take a deep breathe when you walk into a cafe where the aroma of coffee is in the air?

Ever felt like a cup of hot coffee warms more than you hands, but also your heart?

If you hear yourself saying 'Yes, yes and yes!', you share an identity with millions of others around the global: Coffee lover.

Today is International Coffee Day.

A day for your beloved (and maybe favorite) beverage.

It boosts your productivity, inspires you with new ideas, helps you to relax, accompanies you for overtime work and leisure reading time...

A cup of coffee might as well be a staple in your life.

So basic that you've never given it a good thought.

Maybe today, you should start thinking about it.

Ever thought about the people who plant and produce the rich-flavoured coffee?

Do you know that coffee production is nicknamed the 'sweatshops in the field' because coffee producers are poorly paid as mega-sized multinational coffee chains swallow up the majority of profits?

Do you know less than 5 coffee companies have the power to control the operation of the whole coffee industry worldwide?

With all that sweat, coffee farmers produce one of the best tasting agricultural goods ever but still end up in deep poverty.

On the other side of the planet, going to cafes symbolizes a quality lifestyle which people sit back, relax and savor the finer things of life.

If this is not 'unfairness', I don't know what it is.

I'm not a coffee drinkers but I have to admit that I'm in love with this alluring beverage, amazingly not with its rich taste.

These little beans have enriched my life in a truly unique way.

For almost a year, I lived with it, read about it, write about it and think about it.

Ripe coffee beans

Coffee has given me wonderful memories and experiences.

I could easily make a list of reasons why my life is related to coffee:

1) When I was a student, I go to the cafe on campus for lunch almost every day. 

The cafe is filled with the aroma of coffee. You can smell that before you even walk into the place.
I smile almost every time as I walk in the cafe, partly because of that.

2) I have some of the most enjoyable conversations I've had in my life with my awesome professor.
In that same cafe, over coffee and sometimes lunch.

3) I'm amazed after my first time having Vietnamese coffee which has the richest of dark chocolate.

4) My baby. 

I read and researched on the bitter truth behind the popular drink.

I shed tears on some of the long quiet nights when I stayed up to work on it. 

Not because of stress, but because of what I read and found out. And because I didn't know what to do to help.

I wrote the longest thing I've ever written in my life, on coffee.

It made me proud. At the same time, it is humbling.

5) I met new people while working on my baby.

6) It gave me the opportunity to work in an NGO advocating for fair trade.

7) The fact that I studied about coffee but don't drink it, was the 'fun fact' about me when I was in Stanford. People remember this fact about me up till now.

8) Some of the best summer memories was me spending evenings at Stanford's CoHo listening to jazz.

The last night I spent at CoHo, the jazz performance was one of the best I've ever seen. 

Dozens of musicians took turns to play an improvised verse with an instrument or just vocal to the same song. 

Young talents like that amaze me, I wish I am a fraction that talented.

With modern technology, I shared the it with someone back at my home city.

9) In general, all those good times I spent in cozy cafes scattered all over the city, with books and/or people I love, for a nice chat or quiet reading time.
The smell of coffee is in the air, it surrounds me and made me feel warm and loved.

How do you like your coffee?

Dear coffee lovers,

Did coffee bring you any special memories?

Does the scent and the taste of it reminds you of some special moments, persons or places?

I don't know how you like your coffee, but I certainly don't like it to be produced inhumanly.

While you enjoy this delicious beverage, I dare you to take your appreciation to a whole new level:

1) Show your appreciation and gratitude by being concerned about the well-being of coffee farmers.

2) Buy fair trade coffee.

3) Turning fair trade part of your habit and lifestyle. Not just coffee. And not just FLO labelled but also those by other certification systems.

4) Spread words to change the world.

Sugar can sweeten the coffee, but it can't remove the bitterness in the lives of impoverished and marginalized coffee farmers.

Good news is: you can!

Next time when you have a choice, go for fair trade. :)

Love,

N

Work the Murderer

Ever wonder how long does it take for life to kill a person?
Ever wonder how long does it take for a society to murder one's inner child?

Faster than you could ever imagine.

Thought it is insane enough to be given an entire long-term project on my first day of work.

When today, my supervisor said, 'arrange a brand new vending machine in a local uni campus on the coming Thursday', I know I was wrong--it only gets worse.

To make things much worse, no instruction was given on how to do that. 

Just a pile of contacts and product list and the project is all mine. 

Given that I only work 2 days per week, this means I only have 2 more days to make it happen.

So I spent the day contacting the vending machine company, machine packing and decoration artists, traders, making sales log and stock log templates and arranging logistics.
Still a lot of phone calls, arrangements and co-ordination to be made next Monday.

It's challenging but I love that I'm in charge of this whole thing and it feels good to be in control.

 

See? 

Caution no.1 of how work life destroys a person: turning a woman into a man. 

Being efficient, strong and capable shouldn't mean the loss of femininity--unfortunately many of us got too occupied by work that we suffocate ourselves as women.
And that is absolutely wrong. Big mistake. HUGE mistake.

I'd like to share with all of you my favourite quote which goes like this,
'Nothing is so strong as gentleness and nothing so gentle as real strength.'  

Reminder to self no. 1: A woman who loses her femininity is nothing. 

Strength of a woman comes from the fact that she enjoys being a woman.

Step 2: how a person is silenced by exhaustion.

I hate it when locals make phone calls using a typical 'work voice'.
They all have exact same patterns of pausing, use of same useless words that create this weird 'work tone/accent' that make their voice terribly annoying and fake.

I know we have to sound nice and efficient, but that work voice is so freaking annoying.

And it's even more annoying when once the person gets off the phone, he/she speaks in a whole different voice again!

I hope I don't have a work voice.
And for the first 15 mins my colleagues finishes their calls, I don't wanna talk to them at all.
After making 1-2 dozens of calls, I don't wanna speak anymore.

So exhausted that I kept silent even when I went out for dinner with my bf and have not talked since I got home.

Note to self no. 2: don't let work destroy you so quickly.
Recall your happy, positive times at school, when you are with your family, friends and loved ones.

Even though there are things that you dislike, suck it up and be an adult.
Be mature and nice.

My dear readers who have already started working,

Please forgive me for being rude, but allow me to ask a question?
Have work destroyed you? Or the opposite, that you managed to be yourself under stressful work?
If you belong to the latter, congratulations and please, I beg you, tell us how you did that. 

Lessons to learn for work-life balance (if there is such a thing...):  <--unintentional sad face!

Be yourself.
Strength comes from embracing your femininity, or masculinity.

Be aware of how life could destroy the best of you, never let life murder your inner child.
:)

Love,
N

Welcome to Adulthood

Adulthood.

Well, I'm way old enough to be called an adult.
But university life is so carefree and happy that I panicked about today: my 1st day of work.

Nothing much, just a part-time job and today I'm only supposed to work for a couple of hours.

Still, I was being so miserable today that I tried all means and excuses to escape from it.

Believe me, I was really miserable and I have a witness to that.
I kept on listening to one song after another, packing or walking slower than a 90-year old lady, almost glued myself to the chair, refusing to go to work.

 

Not that I dislike the job, I chose to accept it.
Not that I'm such an idealist who thinks what I do now could change the world.

Probably I was miserable because I don't want my student life to end.
I miss classes. I miss lectures. I miss intensive reading. I miss writing. I miss the long chats.
I miss my day-offs. I miss procrastination, even though I shouldn't. I miss the people. 

I miss my withdrawing room. I miss the smell of it. I miss the 'spying'.
Never expect myself to miss university life this much, but now I can make a long list of things I will miss.

To put it simply: I have found my new comfort zone in life, this year particularly, and I'm scared to step out of it again.
I'm actually terrified.

Still, missing my university life is not a good enough reason to be so miserable towards my first day of work.
It is actually so not cool to be like that even on the 1st day, when I haven't even start working.
Not proud of that, bad example.

So I got back to my love-life-as-hard-as-possible attitude.

Well, I like that this is a challenging job and I'm given much responsibility and some freedom for individual work.

Surprised by the workload of my first day; made dozens of calls, sent about a dozen emails, did some translation and...I was already given a project to be in charge of!

I like challenges but I can't help but think of myself as: cheap labour.

Terribly exhausted when I got home, and it's just 4 or 5 hours of work!

Okay, okay. I know you all have busy lives and tiring job, so I'd better stop bitching about it.

Now I know why work rips people of their lives, their smiles, their creativity, their curiosity, their positivity and their happiness.
And I hope you (and me, also) try all your best to guard yourself from getting ruined by work.

Even though you're tired and there is still tons of never-ending work waiting for you, please don't see yourself as a slave. If you feel that way, you will really turn into a slave of it.

Excited about what the future unfolds.
A lot of challenges and crises, but also opportunities and blessings.
Stay positive and love life as hard as I possibly can.

Dear readers, let's try our best to enjoy our work, even though it's boring/tiring/too much of work/too challenging/low-paid etc.

I'm going to work hard and learn as much as I can, in this new workplace-not-school-anymore setting.

Remember: YOU are the boss of your work and career.

Love,
N

P.S. Something very awkward happened when I was doing groceries after work.

I thought this sort of thing only happens in the movies. Guess what happened. 

Working for a Cause

I'm very much sleep-deprived lately.
I know most of us do, but as a person who typically needs 12 hours of sleep and now having only 4, this is something.
My body is protesting against this by having poor skin (worst skin condition ever!), gaining weight, water retention, backache, shoulder aches. As if it's not bad enough, a fever.

But then, I am happy.
Yes, call me a masochist or a workaholic, I love working my ass off.
Today didn't start off well. Fever all through the night, nightmares, left my phone at home, etc.
Then it got much better after a chat with my prof.
I love how my negativity vanishes & I get my energy back every time we chat.

Did an interview, the 2 hours passed very quickly. Glad to meet people in the field.
I couldn't believe it when they say they want my work for their policy-making and campaigns, and that they think I'm sort of an expert, ask me to keep in touch and consider working with them!
The only thing I wanted to say is: Wow!
But then of course, as a typical city-dweller, I didn't appear to be too excited or happy. (even though I AM!)

I can't believe that my research has brought me this far.
Come on, I don't even drink coffee! And I can't remember why I started researching about coffee a year ago!
My only explanation is: 'everything started with curiosity'.
My research which will end in just 10 days brought me on a journey: meeting new people, exploring in a different world, working for what I believe and aspire to.
A journey so enriching that I don't want to end.

And I'm still no expert. I'm just someone who is curious and who believes in the love for humanity.
Yes, the hard work is still on-going, tons of work needed to be done (actually I should be working now), but I am proud to say: I am doing this with love. The love for humanity.
This journey is definitely humbling, partly because of the inspiring people I met.

Whenever I feel like my project is challenging and I'm paralyzed by stress or exhaustion, I remember how hard other people work and then feel like I have nothing to complain. They empower me.
Salute to those who are the minority, working hard for a worthy cause.

I think I have found my religion: the love for humanity.
It is the cause I am going to continue to work my ass off for. : )

My dear readers, what is your cause?

Yours with Love,
N

Thoughts On Fairness

Since the start of my 'adventure in the world of fair trade', I have been trying to figure out what fairness the notion itself is.

Asking 'does fair trade work?' or 'is fair trade fair?' is way too early, perhaps the question should be: does fairness ever exist?
I'd say fairness is an ideal that rarely exist in the reality of human society, let alone on the international arena.

1)  When a person, or a state, says a situation is fair, most of the time it is because they are the ones getting an upper hand.

2) Suppose both sides made a deal and got satisfied with what they can get out of it, it is still possible that fairness is irrelevant.

A consensus just means a compromise between the two parties, the final outcome is not necessarily fair.

3) Fairness is not the same as equality.
True that sometimes the two are exchangeable.
For example: equality before the law. Ok, that is fairness and justice.
But two people holding same position, getting equal pay but putting different amount of effort, even a child knows that it is not fair.

4) The origin of fairness is respect and appreciation.
Now it's getting even more abstract, but it's actually just common sense.
Why would you think a person deserves more?
(Well, given that your opinion is not partial and your judgement is sensible.)
It is because you recognize the effort and abilities of that person.
It is because you respect that person enough that you think he/she is entitled for the better.

As I explore the world of fair trade, question marks kept popping in my mind:
Is fair trade really fair? Is it working? Will it ever succeed?
How much could it change people's lives for the better?

It could only be fair that I make judgement after considering different or contrasting thoughts.
So, what if fair trade, at least what it is now, is no longer about the pursuit of ideal and ethics?
This afternoon, I came up with an idea: Fair trade might as well be fueled by middle class guilt.
It might have started off with good intention, but it might be transformed into a huge marketing ploy that cashes in on the guilt among people in wealthier countries
People feel guilty about earning at the expense of other human beings, so they invent a new way of doing charity while getting what they want.
Getting coffee in a slightly higher price and having a much better self-image.
Now, that's rational! Perfect demonstration of what it means by 'one stone kills two birds'.

Well, it's just a thought. Perhaps it is not true or maybe it is, I don't really care.
Whether the idea itself is right or wrong is not much of my concern.
After all, it's just a random thought, not that I'd put it in anything serious.
Most importantly, thinking amuses me. That's what matters.

Scholars or, in general, experts like to make predictions, as if everything works according to logic.
And most of the time, we listen to them and act accordingly, like sheep or dogs taking orders.
But let's not forget that they are human beings, just like you and I.
True that they are knowledgeable and intelligent, but intelligence doesn't make a person flawless.
No matter how hard one tries, it is just a fact that no one could be certain of the possible consequences or outcomes.

It is not even about our reasoning process or level of intelligence.
It is just a fact reality doesn't always work the way we think/expect/predict.
It just doesn't, that's it, fortunately or unfortunately.

Regardless of the future development, the idea of fair trade itself is a commendable one.

I believe that the farmers do deserve better or more, for the labor and effort they put in.
And simply because they are human beings like us, they are entitled to be fairly rewarded.
No one knows if fair trade could achieve that, but I would love to see situations improve and lives change.

Working on an interesting topic is not the only thing that keeps me going or passionate. (I don't even drink coffee.)
Perhaps it sounds like an overstatement, but I do get inspired from my research.
I respect those who are advocating and supporting the cause.
The pursuit of an ideal (any ideal) is never easy, especially when it involves such massive number of people and countries.
It is a battle.
Although it is not fought by guns and bullets, it can still costs lives.
It is not appropriate to compare death, but judging only by the duration of sufferings, dying of poverty is perhaps even more torturous than being shot.
I admire people's courage to speak up and step up for change.
I admire their creativity for innovations to tackle problems, or at least try to.
I learn that success does not always comes from winning, but from the courage to fight for what you believe in.

Who says research has to be confined to enrichment of knowledge?
I love all the inspirations and life lessons I got during my 'journey'.
That's what keeps me going. And I wish the research can last longer.

Dear readers,
Life is not fair.
But it doesn't mean we can't love and embrace it the best that we can, right?
Expect the unexpected. Find inspirations from even the most unlikely sources.
If you want to be inspired, you can always be.

Love,
N

Home Decor Ideas: Home Office

We have a long desk in the study room.

It is long enough for 3 people working together, with plenty of spaces between them.

But if I can re-furnish the study in any way I want, this is what it could be like:

1) Bright room.
Lighting is of utmost importance when it comes to home office decor.

2) A big desk, not a long one.
I like to lay and spread everything on the desk and still having them within an arm's reach when I work.
(which is why I am now surrounded by nearly 20 books and piles of paper)

Sometimes size does matter, the bigger the better, not the longer the better.

(Gosh! I didn't realize how dirty-minded it sounds, until I re-read the post!
Disclaimer: it's not a freudian slip.I was just thinking about desks. And I couldn't stop laughing now.)

3) Everything organized and filed. Everything labelled.
Don't think I can keep it that way for a very long time, but ideally I do want neatness and order.

4)  An entire wall of bookshelves, of course with books.

Reading and filling bookshelves are my obsessions. And they are good ones.

5) Little somethings to spice it up: glass bottles, small ceramic things I made, 

inspiration board with quotes I love, decoupage and collages I made,

framed pictures (or quotes!) and my own paintings on the wall.

Inspirations I found online:

Functional and practical, but the monotone makes it a little dull. I wouldn't paint a wall grey.

J'adore! Bright, a wall of bookshelves, huge storage spaces. The only thing is that I don't like sharing a desk.

Used to have the exact bookshelf on the right! Don't like the dark grey wall, even though the room overall is simple and gorgeous.

Love the wall! It'd be nice if the desk is bigger.

A pop of yellow! How nice this looks! But don't like the butterflies and I think I'd fall down that chair/ stool. And bigger desk please.

I would want this if I got married: being able to work together yet still able to focus because we couldn't see each other. But no grey wall please. And perhaps not those chairs too.

So vintage-y! Love the wood and combination of different textures!

C'est super! Among all the pictures, I like this best. So many of my favorite elements: beige, golden decor, pops of colors, turquoise, a comfortable chair, fashion magazines piled orderly. I really should arrange my fashion magazines that way! I wish the room is brighter, more art/deco displays/ bookshelves and a larger desk.

I have always wanted to display framed pictures that way.

Not really a home office, and not what I'd do in my place. But it's pretty. Kinda reminds me of Sherlock Holmes, the movie. Perhaps a detective/ serial killer/ spy/ an insane fan would have a room like this? Oh my thought just ruined the picture now!

Interesting, but I can already imagine myself sticking out my head to peep at the person sitting opposite to me. And making funny faces.

Dear readers, do you like the idea of a home office?

What is your ideal office like? Any must-haves?

Happy working!

Love,

N

My Dear Bed,

For some reason, tutorials are over and I got a day-off from school today.I really need a quiet day at home to clear things up.
Woke up feeling contented this morning after hours of sleep.
Wake up in a warm, cozy, soft bed is probably one of the best moments in life.
At the exact moment when I was feeling great, my lengthy To-Do list just popped into my mind.
That's probably one of the worst feelings in life too. Argh.


I think I really heard a soft voice in my head, 
'The bed is so warm and soft and cozy,
the feeling of cotton sheets against you skin,
the warmth that feels like a gentle embrace...
And you're having a sore throat now.Maybe you need extra time in bed. Just an hour or two.'


There is something faintly luxurious & sensual about having a whole day of no school.
Plenty of sleep, messy hair, the sweet seductive fragrant in the room, the warmth, the sweet dreams from the night before...
All of these create the illusion: Take your time. You can afford to feel lazy.
I have been tempted too many times.
And no, I can't afford that, at least not these weeks.

Temptation is always sweet and gentle, like a mistress.
And fortunately, I'm not a man.


Smiled & thought,
'My sweet gentle bed, thank you for such a good night of sleep.
I'm gonna leave you, work hard & rock it. See you tonight.'
Smiled again, for the sillyness in me of actually talking to my bed,
even if the conversation is only in my head.


To whoever reading this: (more like advice for myself though)
Stop feeling powerless in face of daunting tasks and endless work! 

Nothing worth doing is easy
You can do it, one step at a time.


That's right.
First step to fight procrastination: Leave your bed.
Second step: just start doing what you're supposed to. 


Smile,
dive in,
try to love what you're doing,
stay focused & enter a state of mind:
Flow.


Note to self: Ok, break time's over.
Get back to work and rock it, girl.


Love,
N

Photos: Emily Smith by Robert Harper for Naag