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