Seriously...without classes, I am a lost sheep
Let's see what I did today:
Watched more "House" (I am finishing season 1 soon).
Made syrup for the grass jelly I got for my birthday. Taste good. Reminds me of home although the weather now ain't so suitable. I am doing a bit more cooking because I bought some new pots from Ikea yesterday. Cost me GBP5.99 for 3 pots. Love it.
Met my professor to discuss about my dissertation proposal. He was ok with it but cautioned that theoretical approach is gonna be more difficult than empirical. I know it's gonna be a tough one to write after reading just two papers but no pain no gain. If I do fail, then fine. At least I have tried. Next step is to convince the professor I want to be my supervisor. Time is running out...
Went to pick up my online book orders from the post room. So excited bout it although these aren't fictional books. I think it's because I shopped and I am finally getting my goods, not so much bout being able to start studying.
Got a belated birthday gift! Environmental Protection Cutlery Set...all the way from Taiwan. What's is that? It's a pair of chopstick and a spoon. According to my friend, it's a common thing to have in Taiwan. As part of the government's effort to promote environment preservation, the people are encouraged to carry their own utensil set to restaurants including lunch boxes. Customers who do so will get 10% off their meals. Disposal chopsticks are being phased out (not sure if there's still any available now). Plastic bags are no longer available in supermarkets. In UK, the supermarkets are also encouraging their customers to use environment-friendly bags. Good for them. Perhaps, Malaysia will follow suit soon.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Price changed in 12 hours
5. "Lectures on Macroeconomics" from GBP25 to GBP27 (8%) - I last checked the price when I was writing the previous blog and when I checked again just now, the price had changed.
Inflation: up, up and away
Goodness! Everything is happening so fast. In just a blink of an eye, prices just skyrocketed. Let's take a look at some price changes:
1. Nissin instant noodles from GBP0.29 to GBP0.32 (+10%)
2. Iceland Pizza from GBP0.80 to GBP1 (+25%) - On 7 March, the price was still the old price but I discovered the new price yesterday.
3. "The Economics of Exchange Rates" from GBP26.59 to GBP27.99 (+5.3%) - I bought the book on 9 March and when I checked today, the price had changed. I should have bought it at the beginning of the year when it still cost around GBP21 but I hesitated as I was running low on fund.
4. Set dinner in Varsity from GBP5 to GBP5.50 (+10%)
I shall attempt to continue tracking the changes in the price of goods.
On another note, today has been a good day. First day of temporary liberalisation. I did nothing in the morning. Took brunch (seriously unlike me as I tend to eat a lot). Watched "House" (totally addicted to the show now). Checked the mailbox and discovered, to my delight, my books from Amazon had arrived. Yippee...and it's all for my upcoming final exam...nothing fictional at all! Then, headed to Tesco for grocery shopping as I can no longer bear eating frozen or instant food. I should mention at this point that my thoughtful flatmate made dinner for me last Tuesday, knowing that I didn't have time to cook. Next, went to the business school to help a friend besides printing journals for my dissertation (Okay, so I am officially a nerd. I have no choice). The day ended with an end-of-term party in the students' lounge. It was quite cool relaxing in the lounge as most of us realised we never took time to appreciate the design of the place amid our rush for classes. Kinda sad that it's coming to an end...
1. Nissin instant noodles from GBP0.29 to GBP0.32 (+10%)
2. Iceland Pizza from GBP0.80 to GBP1 (+25%) - On 7 March, the price was still the old price but I discovered the new price yesterday.
3. "The Economics of Exchange Rates" from GBP26.59 to GBP27.99 (+5.3%) - I bought the book on 9 March and when I checked today, the price had changed. I should have bought it at the beginning of the year when it still cost around GBP21 but I hesitated as I was running low on fund.
4. Set dinner in Varsity from GBP5 to GBP5.50 (+10%)
I shall attempt to continue tracking the changes in the price of goods.
On another note, today has been a good day. First day of temporary liberalisation. I did nothing in the morning. Took brunch (seriously unlike me as I tend to eat a lot). Watched "House" (totally addicted to the show now). Checked the mailbox and discovered, to my delight, my books from Amazon had arrived. Yippee...and it's all for my upcoming final exam...nothing fictional at all! Then, headed to Tesco for grocery shopping as I can no longer bear eating frozen or instant food. I should mention at this point that my thoughtful flatmate made dinner for me last Tuesday, knowing that I didn't have time to cook. Next, went to the business school to help a friend besides printing journals for my dissertation (Okay, so I am officially a nerd. I have no choice). The day ended with an end-of-term party in the students' lounge. It was quite cool relaxing in the lounge as most of us realised we never took time to appreciate the design of the place amid our rush for classes. Kinda sad that it's coming to an end...
Monday, 17 March 2008
Submitted
DONE! At 12.01am.
Deadline is 12 noon. But I can't bear keeping it with me any longer. I need to get rid of it and I did. After working on this project for almost a month, I am finally relieved from the torture chamber. I am amazed how some people can just spend months looking at data set, generating results. Takes a lot of patience. Unfortunately, I am not those kind. I'll rather manipulate my data if I can. Oops.
It's pretty crazy. I started with a simple analysis on the relationship between spot and futures prices in the crude oil market. I picked this title based on my naive belief that since the data is easy to obtain, I will have no problem working on it. Little did I know that it brings me to a whole lot of dead-ends till I have to abandon the project two weeks before due date to start on another topic which is to correct for the problem I found in the first place. Apparently, the non-normality in my residuals are due to the presence of volatility clustering in the series itself (which is proven by a number of findings). Therefore, correcting it is beyond my ability and perhaps the scope of the course.
That was a big risk since the lecturer had just started teaching the methodology. So, I had to do a lot of readings on my own. I just couldn't bear going back to attempting to achieve success in obtaining a correctly specified VAR. It was not a decision to be regretted. ARCH and GARCH is not that difficult after all since I am not trying to re-model the whole regression. Just too bad my lecturer never did went into much details. So, I had a bit of hard time trying to decipher the results.
Nevertheless, it has reached an end...for now as I fear my next two projects could be related to testing PPP or UIP. Sigh...
Deadline is 12 noon. But I can't bear keeping it with me any longer. I need to get rid of it and I did. After working on this project for almost a month, I am finally relieved from the torture chamber. I am amazed how some people can just spend months looking at data set, generating results. Takes a lot of patience. Unfortunately, I am not those kind. I'll rather manipulate my data if I can. Oops.
It's pretty crazy. I started with a simple analysis on the relationship between spot and futures prices in the crude oil market. I picked this title based on my naive belief that since the data is easy to obtain, I will have no problem working on it. Little did I know that it brings me to a whole lot of dead-ends till I have to abandon the project two weeks before due date to start on another topic which is to correct for the problem I found in the first place. Apparently, the non-normality in my residuals are due to the presence of volatility clustering in the series itself (which is proven by a number of findings). Therefore, correcting it is beyond my ability and perhaps the scope of the course.
That was a big risk since the lecturer had just started teaching the methodology. So, I had to do a lot of readings on my own. I just couldn't bear going back to attempting to achieve success in obtaining a correctly specified VAR. It was not a decision to be regretted. ARCH and GARCH is not that difficult after all since I am not trying to re-model the whole regression. Just too bad my lecturer never did went into much details. So, I had a bit of hard time trying to decipher the results.
Nevertheless, it has reached an end...for now as I fear my next two projects could be related to testing PPP or UIP. Sigh...
The end...not quite
Finally, it's the end of the term. No more classes after this. Well...there's one more but that's for research purpose, not for exam.
This term has been a truly hectic term. Yet, there's so much more satisfaction despite the rush. I think partly it is because I am finally adapting myself back to the education environment. Calculations no longer felt impossible, theories no longer senseless. Everything starts to piece together that I am able to appreciate the learning process more.
In addition, I think I have changed. I am less lazy compared to last time. I make an effort to read before and after lectures as much as I can. Books, journals, papers...I try to read it all (I feel so bookish...goodness, what is the school doing to me???). And I also attempt to understand what I learnt and if I still can't understand, I seeked clarifications from the professors. These little meetings have been truly beneficial. Take my last monday meeting with a maths professor for example. Had I not gone to see him, I would never have figured out how to solve the complicated differential equations he set for us in the second seminar (OK, I admit I still slack but there has been tremendous improvement). After more than an hour working on the question (it was only ONE question), I managed to arrive at his answer. At that point, maths does not feel like an enemy anymore.
Had I not make a point to meet this macroeconomic lecturer of mine, I would never have gotten an interesting idea for my dissertation proposal. It's interesting to note how things will turn out sometimes. This idea makes me want to work as hard as I can to get it through. It's not going to be an easy journey. Like my professor said,"It's a challenging topic". Up till now, I have only a vague idea on what I want to do. But, I am convinced, if I work hard enough for it, something will turn out. Strange how I sometimes like to take the road away from norm eventhough I like being in the norm. Not entirely my own choice though...
The course has also made me realise how intelligent the phd students are and how hard and dedicated they are in pursuing their interest. I know it was a tough journey but now I know it takes a lot of passion and perseverence to be able to complete it. Having to face irritating students just compound that painful journey. And yet, these people seem to face it with such optimism. So too do lecturers who are sometimes bombarded by rude remarks or silly questions.
This whole program has certainly changed my outlook towards the academia world.
p/s: Not quite the end as I have not submitted my econometric project which is due tomorrow. I am just waiting to click the send button now.
This term has been a truly hectic term. Yet, there's so much more satisfaction despite the rush. I think partly it is because I am finally adapting myself back to the education environment. Calculations no longer felt impossible, theories no longer senseless. Everything starts to piece together that I am able to appreciate the learning process more.
In addition, I think I have changed. I am less lazy compared to last time. I make an effort to read before and after lectures as much as I can. Books, journals, papers...I try to read it all (I feel so bookish...goodness, what is the school doing to me???). And I also attempt to understand what I learnt and if I still can't understand, I seeked clarifications from the professors. These little meetings have been truly beneficial. Take my last monday meeting with a maths professor for example. Had I not gone to see him, I would never have figured out how to solve the complicated differential equations he set for us in the second seminar (OK, I admit I still slack but there has been tremendous improvement). After more than an hour working on the question (it was only ONE question), I managed to arrive at his answer. At that point, maths does not feel like an enemy anymore.
Had I not make a point to meet this macroeconomic lecturer of mine, I would never have gotten an interesting idea for my dissertation proposal. It's interesting to note how things will turn out sometimes. This idea makes me want to work as hard as I can to get it through. It's not going to be an easy journey. Like my professor said,"It's a challenging topic". Up till now, I have only a vague idea on what I want to do. But, I am convinced, if I work hard enough for it, something will turn out. Strange how I sometimes like to take the road away from norm eventhough I like being in the norm. Not entirely my own choice though...
The course has also made me realise how intelligent the phd students are and how hard and dedicated they are in pursuing their interest. I know it was a tough journey but now I know it takes a lot of passion and perseverence to be able to complete it. Having to face irritating students just compound that painful journey. And yet, these people seem to face it with such optimism. So too do lecturers who are sometimes bombarded by rude remarks or silly questions.
This whole program has certainly changed my outlook towards the academia world.
p/s: Not quite the end as I have not submitted my econometric project which is due tomorrow. I am just waiting to click the send button now.
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
More than I bargained for
It's exam week again. But this time, I thought I should make an effort to meet some of my lecturers to clarify my doubt. Little did I know that a simple meeting as this will result in a dissertation title. While this is not exactly my forte, the topic is certainly interesting and feasible and fresh although it may involve more research and diagrams than I may want to do in two months. So, the next step is complete my tests and econometric project before starting work on the dissertation. Amazing how things will work out sometimes.
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