Cupid's chokehold

Windsurfing class has disappeared & poofed into thin air because the slots were taken up on the day I wanted. hmph. I just signed up for a mentoring & counseling workshop - who knows when it might come in handy, especially since I know quite a number of people with drama in their lives, who like to use me as Aunt Agony. Learning that might save me some frustration which i feel deeply on their behalf. Unfortunately, there's a beach volley ball clinic at the same time, which I cant go because I just signed up for the workshop. oh well. How strange, now that I'm actually doing some kind of school-initiated/related activities only after 2+years here and my peers are all burying their noses in books in the libraries.

Being in town on a friday night on a Valentine's day weekend is not a good idea, especially if you're me. It's hideous. Bouquets of flowers, cutesy helium balloons and pink hearts are all over the world tonight. Save my soul. It's one of those days when you're among a million people AND still feel alone. Spare me! Not even Guinness could make me feel better. 16bucks (slightly less than 7quid, given today's exchange rate) for a pint!!!!???? What a rip off. :(

Anyway, I really need to start on my negotiation journal. The first thing which I've realised in lesson one was that I would never ever want to be in the situation to make moral decisions, so thank god that I am not a doctor or a judge. Secondly, the most glaring takeaway is that I have realised that I'm a really lousy negotiator. Cunning & shrewd ones are able to manipulate me at the negotiating table because I assume that everyone is probably going to be honest and also because I like to trust people. I guess I have a new-found appreciation for negotiation efforts especially so in prickly international political situations. Even a theoretical commercial classroom- simulated conflict is so difficult to tackle, much less a real conflict between two historically-incompatible warring parties. I am rather intrigued by the intricacies of negotiation, but it's too difficult for my frail heart.

My only & best V-day present today. I've PASSED!!!
YAY, considering how much/little work I've put in at UniS. Haha.