EBAY Adventures

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Bidding.... Where shall I start?
I met EBAY when I read my first business textbook in Year 1....
But signing up an account and actually participating in the bidding is a whole different story.

My EBAY adventures started on late January/early February. My friend and I was hanging out in Downtown and we started talking about where to find the good deals. She held up her hand and showed me her gold-chained bracelet with a strawberry attached to the chain. She told me she bid the item for 99cents with free shipping. Considering the ones you'd see in night market, its about 3-4x higher that amount.

Three MUST-NOT-HAVES:

1. Competitive

As a competitive newbie, I like to compete for the highest amount and ends up re-visiting the page every time I got outbidded. One time I won a bid for a $40 keychain! I ended up giving realistic excuses (not being able to afford rent/food) and she was kind enough to reverse the bid. Lesson learned. =)

2. Don't Care, lose track of time

After bidding at 5 things at the same time (different ending times/dates) I gave up checking it every now and then. They were hair accessories/bracelets which didn't matter if I won or lose. Most of these items ended up in the hands of an experience bidder who won the bid for under $2 (and free shipping I might add).

3. Not researching enough

When you bid for an item, usually there are more than three sellers that carry the same item (high demand, high supply). Not researching enough may get you bidding for something higher than the alternative, with a lower price. Some of the time, the "buy-it-now" price is cheaper than the bidding price, ironic eh?

Best of luck to all the brave souls out there! Have you bid on something you regret?


::PS::

My winning bids: 3X cellphone case, 2X couple keychains, 1X oreo portable mirror, 1X bracelet, 1X bag, and 1X Fringe hair patch

Lesson Un-Learned: Procrastination

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When you see filled up seats in the Library, computer lab, and cafeteria, you'd know its midterms week. 

It's one of those times when I start studying 3-4 day ahead.

Attempting to study about 1 chapter per day.

Writing down all the concepts from the book while I recite it out loud in my bedroom.

(Part of the reason why I wasn't able to study in Library, with the exception of math-related exams) 

Eventually when the night before the exam comes, crammed 5 chapters' worth of terminology & concepts. 

After midnight, I eventually give up and climb into my comfy bed for a good night's sleep. 

This treacherous cycle happens over and over again. 

Just to make sure, typing "study tips" on google search engine pops up numerous websites that provides similar advice. The part of me that goes "I knew that since I was in high school!" when I read through them, one by one. By the time I have finished a midterm in class, I'd be like "gosh, I wish I had done blah blah blah..." Regretting too late. 

Does it happen to all students, of all ages? Do you have this cycle as well?

A Sense of Belonging

Came across this inspirational video through a tweet by Vancouver Foundation.
Which sparked a lot of "light bulbs", if you may, on my mind.

Born and raised in a urban city, I developed a sense of independence since childhood.
Being the only child, there wasn't many whom I can depend on.
My parents have been my mentors since I was young, teaching me morals and ethics as I grew up.
I have slowly become the one to depend on, after moving to Canada.
I am blessed have someone depend on, there's always the feeling of belonging through interdependence.
This allows me to see, the real abilities I have within for accomplishments.

Really? You might say.

Yes. I really feel I belong after I have joined my school's business club.

I remember the first event I participated in, we were all a mess. There's the new group of students without manual/instructions/mentor to guide us through. But we worked as a team & able to help out most of the logistics with my connections within the campus. It feels great to solve problems, with my own hands. There's no.1 accomplishment.

On our next event shortly after, I feel blessed to have a group of people who did recognize my presence. More importantly, I was less concerned about the attendees and more about the people I work with. It takes a whole lot of effort and the whole team did a fabulous job at putting it together. I am really happy to be cherished & thought of.

Sentimental value means the whole world to me, more than money can bring.

It doesn't take a whole lot to walk up to a friend and give them a great big hug!
"Thanks for being my friend"  

NY resolutions, SMART this year!

Photo credit: Training Journal

SMART is a marketing term that stands for:


S-pecific
M-easurable
A-ttainable
R-ealistic
T-ime realistic/specific


I never think thoroughly about making goals every year. In fact, I make short-term goals as a form of motivation to get me "through" challenging times. On my last week's business club meeting, our chairman asked each one of us our goals for the spring semester/2012. 


And?


I thought of goals that require little effort, and would be achieved within a short time. What's one of them, you might ask? Here's a list I've come up with so far:


1. Drop some pounds, weigh less than last year
2. My list of drinks to conquer: 

• Margaritas (CHECK!) 
• White Russians
• Bushwackers
• Rum Punch
• Vodka Punch
• Coconut Rum & Pineapple Juice

3. Achieve an acne-less skin (a little difficult..)

4. Finish all my core courses this year

I have been a "workoholic" for a long time. I am a competitive/ambitious person. When I put my heart into something I have faith in, I won't give up until I've accomplished it. Which brings me a lot of stress and expectations for myself. Its time for change, rather than putting my health at risk.


So if I can't achieve them all, then I might GET A LIFE.  
Goals are meant for motivation, and if it stops you from moving on then its not doing you any good. 

Stereotypes in Vancouver Males/Females

Photo Credit: MAC

An interesting discussion sparked on my facebook wall feed, guess what it is?

War of genders: "Vancouver" Females & Males

Here are the articles:

Do Vancouver Women Suck?   VS. Do Vancouver Men Suck?

Before giving my own opinions on the article "Do Vancouver Women Suck", I shall start by giving an overview of my background.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, which was governed by the British colony then.

My dad worked for the HK government and my mom was a housewife. 

Without any siblings, I pretty much learned everything independently. 

Going through countless mistakes, with scars and injuries on my body.

I was proud, because they mark my experiences which I learned myself.

Still staying on topic, I grew up with female friends all my life. 

Starting from kindergarten (got poked with a pencil lead by a BOY), elementary school (almost got a detention getting into a fight with a BOY), till high school (got a compliment of being fat by a BOY).

My experiences with males in general were not very pleasant. These are probably all I can recall from "BOY" encounters before high school graduation.It seemed like I became neutral (feeling like a nun, haha), when I started my post-secondary institution. AND the "cooties" feeling disappeared. 

Usually, I don't talk with strangers on the bus because you don't know who you will meet. Stalkers are creepy and you don't want one following you home..... But when I get people asking for directions or making compliments on my clothing, I will happily continue a conversation with. However, its pretty difficult for me to start a conversation due to the feeling of embarrassment when they don't respond. I do smile when people look at me, to show I am a friendly person =)

I love the beach! Joining my Vancouver Beach Volleyball meetup group this year has got me to practically all the beaches in Vancouver. I love meeting new people, but you don't usually see people going to the beach alone. Quiet common, you'd see at least two people lying on the beach or one person walking around trying to find their friends. Circle of friends are usually confined with an invisible bubble, so no "intruders" can invade. The awesome thing about my meetup group is, we welcome people to join us in playing volleyball! Making changes, bit by bit. 

No comment on the park, I rarely go there :P

As for Yaletown, I rarely know the place to comment on it. But its another area where you'd hang out with friends more than going alone. Meeting guys at a bar, there's no long-term friendship in that category, Sadly. 

I definitely agree with coffee shops, and even breakfast places! I once went to a breakfast place alone. Ordered a huge meal, and it looked super delicious! Since it was my first time trying western breakfast, i wasn't able to finish it all. But a gentleman about the ages of 20-30s came in and sat beside me. (I was sitting at a small table, and he was sitting at a small table beside me as well) He started complimenting on how delicious it looked. But I didn't really continue the conversation because I wasn't feeling well. Oh, did I mention this happened in Seattle?

Nevertheless, I do agree with the gents that Vancouver is a hard place to start a conversation in the middle of nowhere. But don't give up hope! You might be able to catch "one in a million" with your courage! Ladies, like myself, its time for another evolution.