Just spent an hour cleaning up my apartment. It has always been a pleasure to clean up this 600 sqft of land, upon which I dwell with a friend of mine (who never fails to mess the place up, though he does clean it occasionally). Since this fella is now overseas, it is my chance to revert the apartment to inhabitable conditions.

It seems, however much I have learnt over the past months, what is tangibly realized is limited to almost nothing. I sometimes wonder if it is only my impatience, or is it the lumbering bureaucracy of giant organizations to limit moving of funds and resources in a desirable fashion.

Again, I have to thank the friends I have here for the emotional and intellectual support, from which I have drawn my energies to perform in these literally hopeless conditions. The “family” here has grown closer over time, and with the discovery that the apartment management is giving out free pots and pans, we have taken the liberty to cook everything we could, conjuring up decent home-cook meals from time to time.

I should be returning to Singapore sometime soon to do up my visa for entering China (the restrictions of the 2008 Olympics). The visa, however, seems as good as nothing, since it only facilitates single and double entry. Whatever the case, we will find a way. Worst case would be China staff coming over for meetings during the 2 months.

Plan B will roll of Plan A fails. It has always been t he case. I am working on it…