One Month

Yay! I'm in NY for a month!

Project Diet

ZH's Equation

If you are what you eat....

ZH = Meals

Meals = Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Supper

Breakfast = Coffee + Donut

Lunch = Grilled Chicken Sandwiches + Chips + Soda

Dinner = Burgers + Fries + Plain Water

Supper = Hot Chocolate + Donut

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Supper = Fat

Since Meal = Fat and ZH = Meal,

ZH = Fat

Assuming N=3 months & 1 month = 30 days

Future Value (FV) of ZH weight =Dun wanna know and dun dare to know..

Enough said..

Haiz, to think I used to look like this...

Statue of Liberty

22 September 2006
Statue of Liberty

Don't you feel inspired? haa

Took a ferry to visit the statue of liberty. Whoa, pretty magnificent. This is the icon of New York. The trip to take a ferry would require us to walk along Battery City Park. I can't help but to notice that New Yorkers are pretty lonely people. Most of the time they are just seating by themselves, either having their lunch or reading a book. Perhaps this is how life is all about in a metropolitan. Busy, lonely and impersonal. Kinda sad especially when everything seems so fleeting in this city. Perhaps this is also one reason why so many of the people here have dogs. To ease their lonely hearts or perhaps dogs are really their only faithful friend around.

The Famous Brooklyn Bridge

This dog is damn funny la.. His name is Sparky

Dogs here are pretty vain especially the one above. He actually posed for me. When I walk off, he barked and posed again for me. Hahaha, Sparky likes to take pictures according to the owners. Just to digress abit, Sparky's owner is officially the 10th person to think that I am a Japanese. Best part is, they assume that I am one without even asking for my nationality. Some chinese lady also thought that I am a Japanese and she was shocked that I replied to her in chinese. Haiz, whatever..

Another picture dedicated to Vincent Tan

Ok I am being mean here..but hey, I am suffering from retribution now

Wall Street

18 September 2006
Wall Street


This is an entry which probably Finance students will be interested in. Welcome to Wallstreet, widely touted as the financial capital of the world. Having heard so much about this place, be it from the textbooks, the myths and fairytales where people walked in as a pauper and walk out a millionaire etc.. yup, this is it. Haa, incidently, America's favourite president, George Bush's wife have decided to tour wallstreet with yours sincerely here on the same day. What an honour for me. Enough said, I shall post more pictures of this place.

You're fired!!

New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")

They come, he see, I will conquer.

-Zhenhong-

Cross Culture Lesson 2

Shanghai Power

We exchange students tend to have dinner together and have a nice chatting session after a meal. So one day after dinner with nothing esle better to do, we started coming up with hypothetical scenarios and solicit responses from each other.

Scenario: Suppose you meet someone in a club in New York and he decides to ask you out for dinner, offer to take you out etc... will you go? Assuming he is around 33 years old and is pretty rich.

Response:
Girl from Singapore: Why not, seems pretty ok to me.
Girl from Korea: Yeah, I will go
Girl from Shanghai: Of course I will go

Just to spice things up, the guys proceed to ask the girls if they have a boyfriend. Will they still go?

Response:
Girl from Singapore: Well, just be friends ma, nothing wrong.
Girl from Korea: Probably not, cos my boyfriend will not be happy about it.
Girl from Shanghai: Of course I will go. If I say I want to go, my boyfriend has to listen to me.
Guy from Korea: He has to listen to you? Haha, you mean you like a guy who is submissive to you?
Girl from Shanghai: Of course, a guy cannot rebut his woman. In Shanghai, guys do the housework and earns the money. They are also trained to be submissive to their wife and girlfriend.

Now, I do not know whether this is the general state of affair in Shanghai but another girl from Shanghai attest to this fact.

Cross Culture Lesson 1

"Gay"

For most part of my life, the word "Gay" just simply means a guy with sexual preference for another guy. However, it seems that the word gay has multiple meaning to it.

Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay is a word usually used, as either a noun or adjective, to refer to same-sex sexual orientation; homosexuality.
Source: Wikipedia

Interacting with students from other countries let me realise that people from different country have attached different meaning to the word "gay".

Scenario 1:
Girl from HK: I have a girlfriend who is gay
ZH from Singapore: Huh? You mean your friend is a gay and he is the "female" in the relationship?
Girl from HK: No no, she is a girl and she likes girl.
ZH from Singapore: Oh, You mean she is a lesbian.
(Ok, I am ignorant here, but I didn't know that "She's gay" = "She's a lesbian")

Scenario 2:
(In the middle of my Investment Banking Seminar)
ZH from Singapore: You know what is that guy is talking about?
Guy from Australia: Nah, he is gay.
ZH from Singapore: Huh? How do you know he is gay? He seems like a normal guy to me.
Guy from Australia: (Gives me a puzzled look)

It turns out that in Australia, the word "gay" is used interchangeably with the word "crap".

So for example, a guy who dedicates an entire entry in his blog on the word "gay", he is pretty gay.

And anyone who actually bother to read till this sentence, he/she is pretty gay too!

ZH

Rent

14 September 2006
Broadway Musical - Rent

Haa, went to my first broadway musical today. I shall not elaborate on the story Rent, but all I can say that it was not too bad. Not too sure whether there is any ratings to it but it is generally not recommended for the conservatives. Its a pity that I lost the ticket stub, wanna keep it as a souvenir. Darn.. I'm always so careless. Nevermind, though this is my first broadway musical, it will certainly not be my last.

Studying in NYU has many perks. I bought this tix at 33USD. The original price was 78usd. Whoa, check out the price savings man. I wanna catch Phantom again, but it was sold out. Nevermind, I shall just wait the next release. The second best thing about studying Stern Business School is that, there is no school on Friday. Its the school's official policy and what a good policy that is man. YEAH!! Partying starts at thurday night man. Now this is what I call life.

As requested by Vincent Tan

Sometimes...

Sometimes things in life are beyond your control
Though you wanna think otherwise
Sometimes you just have to manage your expectations
Though you think the world of yourself
Sometimes you just have to control your emotions
Though you just wanna wail and rant like a baby
Sometimes you have to be happy so as not to upset others
Though you wanna hide and cry in one corner
Sometimes you think for others so that they will be happy
Though you wonder if there is anyone in this world that will do the same for you
Sometimes you experience joy
Though it’s empty or short lived
Sometimes you experience sadness
Though you tell others that it’s really ok and you are fine

Finally,

Sometimes, you just have to learn to let go of certain things in life and move on…

Do give me some time, cos I am only a human not a saint...

Thank you

K-Town

7 September 2006

Went to K-Town in NY. Its along 32 Street between Broadway and the 5th Avenue. There is a healthy number of Koreans in NY. My roomie is a Korean but from Australia. My apartment mates are these other 2 Koreans from New Jersey. They invited us to join them at K-Town for some drinking session. Haa, decided to go along since there's no school tomorrow and I thought its time to unwind abit after a torrid first week. They introduced us to this drink called So-ju. Whoa, don't really like the taste.. but they keep saying," Come on, Singapore pride!" One shot after another.. then, they change to Sake.. don't really like the taste again, but no choice, I am carrying the Singapore flag here. The effect sets in much later. Haa, you guys know that I cannot hold my liqour that well. After a few hours, all of us are pretty tipsy. Good authentic korean food with strong liqour.. what a night.

So-ju apparently is Korea's version of Vodka.

Getting abit tipsy here.. My roomie who refused to drink initially but got drunk in the end.

The other 2 ladies that joined us that night. The one on the left is the real Singapore pride. She can really hold her liqour man. The other is a Korean from Korea (sounds stupid I know but there's too many Koreans all over the world). She also got high after that.

First Week of School

5th September

School started on the 5th September 2006. It was a tuesday after the labour day holiday in the states. It has been a torrid week for me. Its a week when I feel that my confidence has exceeded my capability. Trying to juggle so many things at the same time just did not sit in well for me. For all my modules, the Japansese one was the worst for me. I guess I just don't the possess the lingusitic ability to master Japanese. Its especially demoralising when she keeps going," Zen Hon San, Dai Jo Bu?" (I don't even know the correct spelling.. This means Zhenhong, Are you ok?) Haa, at least she call me Zen Hon san rather than Tan San. Tan San??? Sounds pretty crap to me. By Wednesday, where I have attended my second lesson of my Japanese module, I throw in the white flag. I drop the module and change it Theory of Microeconomic Analysis. I called up NUS Arts Economics Coordinator and ask her for the permission to map the module. After a few hours, her reply goes

Dear Zhenhong

I am pleased to inform you that the Department has approved the mapping of Micro Economics V31:0011 to EC2101 Microeconomic Analysis I. However, our SEP Coordinator would like you to note that V31:0011 covers material not only in EC2101 but also in EC3101 Microeconomic Analysis II, which you may find challenging if you have not done EC2101. We understand from Assoc Prof Xing Xiaolin (currently EC3101 module coordinator) that one of the textbooks used in V31:0011 (Geoffrey Jehle and Philip Reny, Advanced Microeconomimc Theory) is a 4th year text.

With best wishes,
Sabrina TanDepartment of Economics

Yeah, I really need her best wishes if I am to pursue this course. I have checked out the mathematics involved.. Way beyond me again. After a long while, I have decided to pursue Corporate Finance Topics. Then, the Coordinator in NYU said, you are now currently taking the course Financial Management in NYU which is the pre-requisite for Corporate Finance Topics. But, the thing is, when I look through the materials in Finanacial Management, it is almost exactly the same as what I have learnt in Finance in NUS, just that I do not know why it is being mapped over as Corporate Finance in NUS. I tried stating my case and she decided to give me a shot. Oh well, since I am on a S/U basis, I am not going to bother about this anymore. Case close and back to good days I hope.

Haa, studying in the States is freaking expensive. Here's the cost of the Textbooks needed:

Financial Statement Analysis - USD$159

Financial Management Lecture Notes - USD$13

Financial Management Case Studies - USD$17.25

Fundamentals of Corporate Finanace (Customised Version) - USD$117.50

Investment Banking (NYU Version) - USD$149.50

Strategic Management Theory - USD$101

Yookoso, Invitation to Contemporary Japanese - USD$140.75

Thats a whooping USD$698, convert it to Singapore dollars, that is S$1116.80. Haa, no way am I going to spend that amount on textbooks in NY. I can buy all my 4 years worth of textbooks in NUS man.. Crazy amount.. I am just going to photocopy certain chapters and heck the rest of the textbooks...

For those who have tried to help me source for the textbooks in Singapore, thank you so much for your help. I will repay your kindness for sure.

Zhenhong

Mid Manhatten

3 September 06
Went round Mid Manhatten yesterday. There's really lots of attractions in just Manhatten alone.

1st Stop
United Nations (1000hrs - 1200hrs)
Haa, went to visit the United Nations HQ. You always hear and see from the news about UN etc... Get to see it for the first time man. Went to the security council, general assembly etc.. The gifts from the various nations to the UN are also very exquisite and impressive. I think I took around 100 plus photos there.

Security Council

2nd Stop (1200hrs - 1300hrs)
Little Brazil

Accidentally stumble onto this actually. I didn't know there was some massive celebration going on at "little Brazil." It was a really massive affair, encompassing the whole of the 6th avenue. You see all the brazilian roast meet, players doing all the soccer tricks etc.. I have actually got that on video. Pretty cool. Had a slice of pizza for lunch. Pretty cheap. 2 bucks only. Also had some Brazilian Grill... Super unhealthy. At this rate, I am going to catch up with my dad in terms of size. Haiz..

But still...yum yum!!

3rd Stop (1300hrs - 1630hrs)

NBC, Rockafellar Centre, St. Patrick's Cathedral & Empire State

These are some of the major attraction of Mid Manhatten. The St. Patrick's Cathedral is really grand and impressive. Have yet to see one like this in Singapore. Probably will get to see lots of it in Europe. Its also really interesting cos, the church is right smacked in the middle of the fame 5th Avenue of Mid Manhatten. This stretch is where all the designer clothings stores are at. An old church in between all the modern boutiques. Pretty interesting I thought. Next I went to Rockafellar centre and NBC. Didn't really enter though they say the view at the top of the rock is breatheless. I probably will go up one day. But not now. The americans are also big on tennis. US open is now on. Outside Rockefella plaza, they are showing it live on the big screen. Loads of people are there watching. There's also a mini carnival going on with people playing "mini tennis", doing the serve and see the speed of the serve etc..

Alright, I think I better stop rattling on where I go etc lest it becomes like a travelling blog or something... Shall show you people the pictures when I go back home. As you can see from the picture, I have put on weight... NY is a sinful place... everyone eat and eat.. Face and tummy have become pretty round.. Round is the shape here. Started jogging today. Shall ensure that you guys still recognize me when I return. Suppose to catch a baseball match today but I lost my tix.. Haiz...luckily its just the Metz that is playing ... Shall catch the Yankees' match.

ZH in "Donut City" (Big Apple my foot!)

Sin City

Went to Woodbury today. Now I know why they say NY is shopping heaven. Trust me, its that good. Its not dirt cheap but its definitely cheaper than in Singapore. I arrived at Woodbury at round 1100 and left at 1800. There's the Labour Day Sales going on. Whoa... 7 hours of non-stop shopping.... 220 designer shops in a shopping village...This is crazy man.... Its at New Jersey I think. USD38 for the bus ride. I busted my account with 7 hours there. Its worse than when I am in Hong Kong...I almost bought the Tag Heuer...its USD838 when I know its about S$2000 plus... Its massive savings.. I am not really a person who goes for designer stuff... but when things are cheaper.. your greed starts kicking in...damn.. I am not going to reveal how much I spend but its painful as I am rolling out the receipts now.. Basically, I bought stuff from Burberry, Armani Exchange, Polo Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Guess and FCUK. Thats a lot of stuff but of course half of them goes to my family members... There's hotels for avid shoppers. Jean, if you are reading this, you are probably gg to stay there man.. There's your favourite Dior etc...



Thats Sin City...

Chinatown

Haa, went to Chinatown today. Its pretty smelly and messy. Most of the chinese residing in Chinatown are Cantonese. Its really weird in NY. When you order chinese food, they only give u a fork...no spoons. When I request for one, they gave me the "why-you-need-a-spoon-face." The taste are stronger and I don't really like it. Its either too salty or too sweet. Oh yeah, to let you guys have an idea of the cost of eating a meal in NY. It ranges from USD$5.50 to USD 8.00. These are the normal meals. If you want higher end stuff....I will let you guys know more when I ever try them. Convert these prices to Sing... painz....

First Chinese Meal I had. Fried Rice with Beef Broccoli

More pics of Chinatown...

Orientations

There are a couple of orientations which I have to attend. One being the Stern Business School orientation and the other is the OISS (Office of International Student Service) orientation. As NYU is a city campus, all the buildings and faculties are located in different avenues and streets. Pretty confusing at first, but will get used to it in a while.

These are my SEP buddies.

They have been pretty helpful and they have guided me well to ease into life in Manahatten. Frankly, life in Manhatten is not hard to adapt to. The streets are pretty organsied and easy to navigate around. The subway though are abit filthy and messy. I get the impression that everything is a "add-on" from the past rather a well planned structure. The architecture in NY is pretty cool. A mixutre of the past and modern. You have to come to see it yourself to really appreciate it. Till now, I still marvel at the nice blending of the tall modern buildings with the historical buildings.

26th Residence

Pretty nice view I feel
Yup, thats where I am staying at the moment. Check into the dorm on the 27th August 2006 (US Timing) 23rd floor with seaview. Not too bad I feel though the locals told me that this is the worse dorm around NYU.