Start of something new?

Posted 17 Oct 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

Right then, I’ve officially ended my stint at Youth.SG for now. I’ll still be a contributor writer but for obvious reasons it can’t be full time anymore and that means… NO PAY!

I must say though that it’s been tremendous fun writing for a youth magazine for a change.

(disappears for 9 hours)

(reappears)

Okay so I’m back! Where was I. Right, tremendous fun writing for a youth mag. Well it was nice to be able to write in a relaxed fashion (which I never do except on my blog) and more or less not have to worry about style or tone.

Anyway, school starts on Monday. I guess I’m prepared. Not much else I can do I suppose, that’s what I mean. I only have a couple days of freedom though, and today’s already over so just one left.

I did a terribly awesome bit of shopping today. Okay it was hardly a bit, but shopping with Mum makes it all better!

It’s a long story though so I’ll cut it short. In a nutshell I ended up buying 3 things: a shaver (‘cos mine broke), a dry cabinet (‘cos they’re awesome and keep my camera stuff dry and HELLZ YEAH) and a voice recorder (as an investment ‘cos well, I’m tired of writing. So there)

On a separate note, may be time to update my wishlist. But no rush on that I guess. Not like I’ll ever run outta things to want.

So yes! I’m all set for the new and last semester. Kickass! The next post might just be the back to school first day post. Not that I’m obligated to write one.

Meeting Denise Keller

Posted 30 Sep 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

For some reason I feel compelled to blog about this experience, because I find it quite amazing and I’m truly excited about the things that I get to do as a journalist. But lest this blog become a list of the things I get to do at my job (although I don’t really know who reads anyway), I shall hold back.

Anyway, on to the story.

Yesterday, I attended the press conference for this year’s World Contraception Day where shocking results of a sex survey were released (for more details look here). Fast forward to the end of the press conference and Denise Keller was picking out name cards for a lucky draw. Now I was switching off by then because the Youth.SG name card is smaller than usual name cards but somehow or other, mine was picked.

Once that happened (because it rarely does), you won’t easily forget our card because it’s so unique and special. In fact, everyone who receives one of our cards comments that it’s very cute. So it was nice and memorable, I guess, and I got a $50 Supperclub voucher for it, which was nice.

So I thought that was it, the end. After all there wasn’t anything left to do right? Wrong. Somehow or other, the PRs managed to get me to stay and take a picture with Denise. And after an interview with Mobtv (because I indicated I needed to leave), I stepped up to take a picture with her and lo and behold, she remembered my name!

We chat a little, and finally snapped a picture before I left, but it was really quite an interesting experience, especially because she seems like the bubbly enthusiastic kind, but she got so solemn and serious when talking about sex education (the topic at hand).

Once again I’m gonna brag (at least for now) about the things I get to do at my job. And this post must end now, but I leave you with a picture. The only one that matters, really. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of World Contraception Day 2009, Asia Pacific

And it was all yellow

Posted 28 Sep 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

At the risk of wasting money on this domain because I’m not blogging, hello!

Life’s been a rollercoaster these last few weeks, last week especially because it was F1 week and there were events going on left right centre. It’s been two weeks since I last wrote a post but the time’s really gone by phenomenally quickly. So here’s my life in a nutshell.

I’m into my fifth week working for Youth.SG and am totally having a blast. Despite the long hours (9.30am to 6.30pm daily), I feel pretty good about what I do and what I get to do. I mean just on Sat I took a media tour of the Ferrari F1 Garage (read more here). Who else gets to do stuff like this?

Of course it’s not all peaches and cream. I do feel an almost depressing shortage of rest and a social life these days because I spend most of my time working. Am also contemplating cutting short my stint by a week so I can get at least some break before school starts. But I don’t quite know about that. Seems too late now if you ask me.

Contemplative matters aside, I’m really getting the hang of doing an online magazine. I think it’ll really help if I get online journ for one of my electives. But y’know, we’ll see in a couple weeks. By then I think timetable would be out? Hopefully.

In other news, Canon has announced the EOS 7D and I have to say I’m excited. I probably won’t be able to get it anytime soon (if at all) but it sounds really good to me, and no surprises here, I want one. It’ll even put off my upgrade to a FF right now. That’s how good it sounds to me. Only thing is it’ll probably be around S$2.5k when it’s out. Bummer.

That lens looks pretty good too, but let’s not get carried away here. I do have my 24 – 105L and that’s not going away. I just need to get it fixed and it’s a pain that Canon’s service centre is only open on weekdays. Not cool.

Anyway school’s starting in about 3 weeks’ time. I guess it’ll be nice to see everyone again. But it just draws on closer to the end and we all know what that means. National Service!

Right so I guess I’ll come back here every now and then to lay down the word but most of my time is (again) spent on Youth.SG (bold and orange because that’s the website’s housestyle) so you can see my stuff there. I could always blog twice though. I do so prefer my own blog’s admin interface.

Until next time then.

Howdy.

Posted 14 Sep 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

It’s been about four weeks since I came back to Singapore and the time’s passed way too fast. In the true spirit of trying to kill myself, I haven’t had a proper break since I started working. First weekend was spent working and second weekend was spent at NTU with pro-ams. But it’s all good. This week I’m resting.

Anyway, I just want to indicate my life. You can read my work at Youth.SG, including blog posts because we blog as well.

Ooh, black, white and orange.

Posted 24 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

There you have it ladies and germs, I got bored of my old template (mostly because it’s kinda wide) and decided to change my template. I can actually see myself getting sick of this template soon but ah well, doesn’t really matter.

Maybe I should change my header photo. Design my own or something. Oh I’m also on Tumblr now. I almost wonder why I do it, but I think it’s mostly for kicks.

In an unrelated note (because I’m feeling that random today, KICKASS!), I got an email from MCYS telling me that I’ve been accepted to work at Youth.SG and I officially start this coming Monday (31 August). So I am officially a civil servant (again) which is pretty cool I guess. Plus I don’t think I get paid enough to contribute to CPF. And here’s the best part: I’m officially considered an intern. Again. Ah well.

So here we go again, back to being busy. It’s gonna be amazing trying to keep up my gym schedule + working + going for debate training. I suppose this isn’t the first time I’ve tried to kill myself.

Hunger is a dangerous feeling.

Posted 22 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

Me: Bro, I want a mini pizza. You want a mini pizza?
My bro: There’s only one left.
Me: I thought there were two boxes yesterday? What happened to the rest?
My bro: I had two for lunch and one for dinner.

I still think Hongkong’s warmer.

Posted 19 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

So it’s been almost a week since I got back and right about now I feel confident enough to blog something that would’ve been quite scary to fathom had it actually been true. It isn’t.

On that last night when I was in Hongkong I made a shocking discovery. Stepping on the hotel room’s weighing scale registered a weight of 95kg, 20kg more than when I left. Even though I didn’t quite believe it, I ran off immediately to the 24-hour gym (at about 11.30pm) to try and redeem myself, but because the weighing scale was spoilt, it still read 95kg after I got back.

Of course that’s not my real weight. But I did put on more than I should’ve so since I’ve gotten back I’ve been going to the gym. And eating as well I suppose, but then I’ve still gotta do that regardless.

And so I’ve completely deviated from what I initially wanted to write (which is nothing anyway) but it is possible that I’m staying home a bit too much. Beats me as to what I really should be doing though. Which reminds me, anyone wanna go for dinner? Oh shit, eating again.

Home sweet home.

Posted 14 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

After 21 weeks overseas I am finally back and sitting (iconically) at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf of Changi’s T3. Still waiting for Pap and Cabe to come get me but a buncha friends came to meet me earlier. Fantastic to see them all again.

I think I might blog again later (though no point actually) so I shall just sign off here. Singapore air smells so good for some reason.

Damn I love my job.

Posted 13 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

If you don’t already know, I’m staying at the Regal Airport Hotel for my last night in Hongkong. The PR was nice enough to bump me up to the Executive Club Floor and I’m having the time of my life here. This really is the way you should stay.

It really is a very, very nice hotel and no wonder BTUK ranked it as the best airport hotel in the world, and my own publication, BTAP, ranked it as the best airport hotel in Asia-Pacific (sorry Crowne Plaza Changi T3).

So while I’m staying here in room 1270, I took some pictures of the place to show what an Executive Club Floor room looks like. They’re not exactly artistic or anything but thankfully my kit lens is wide enough to catch the important bits.

Read More

Blogging again!

Posted 11 Aug 2009 — by jotwein
Category Jotwein

Today I’m almost officially free. Except for burning the CD and sending the package to FMS, I’ve finished, printed and bound my final report and am ready to go home.

Thinking about it, tomorrow’s my last day in this apartment. Really fast! Why last day? Because as a final treat, my editor’s given me a voucher for a one night free stay at the Regal Airport Hotel with free dinner and spa treatment so I’m going for it the day before I leave so the next day there’s airport shuttle to the terminal.

Ah, I’ll be home really soon. Just hope all my stuff can fit into my bags.