uniluncher.sg

Come join us! Our farewell picnic is ON today at East Coast Park Lagoon from 5pm. Just look for us.
In the same Uniluncher spirit of Keeping It Simple, it's a BYO picnic -bring your own food and drink. drop in and join us for some chilling and hanging out in the sea breeze.

FINAL CALL!
BBQ HAPPENING THIS SATURDAYY! Those of you who have signed up, we'll be following up with you shortly. Those who haven't, don't miss this chance to meet up with other fellow UniLunchers.
:D

Well hello you!

After more than 200 unique users and more than 400 meetups and multiple media mentions(we didn't manage the Tamil and Malay newspaper:P), the team has decided to pull the plug.

It's been a great run so far. From the days of JustLunch.nus, to our expansion to NTU and SMU, to our name change. We sincerely thank all of you for your participation.

We hope that, for those of you who have used UniLuncher to meet someone new, that you have had nothing short of a great experience. The year long project, not only proved that there were so many interesting people around; more so, it showed that people are open and more than happy to meeting someone new.

Well, we wish to do UniLuncher justice and celebrate its achievements. So…. BBQ!

We're inviting all our users to an all-meets-all farewell BBQ. If you're up for meeting the team behind UniLuncher and also the other fellow UniLuncher users, don't give this a miss.To attend and get more details. Click on this link.

http://tinyurl.com/ULBBQ

Here's wishing everyone an awesome summer hols ahead.

Best,
Hakeem and team
UniLuncher.sg

Well hello you!

After more than 200 unique users and more than 400 meetups and multiple media mentions(we didn't manage the Tamil and Malay newspaper:P), the team has decided to pull the plug.

It's been a great run so far. From the days of JustLunch.nus, to our expansion to NTU and SMU, to our name change. We sincerely thank all of you for your participation.

We hope that, for those of you who have used UniLuncher to meet someone new, that you have had nothing short of a great experience. The year long project, not only proved that there were so many interesting people around; more so, it showed that people are open and more than happy to meeting someone new.

Well, we wish to do UniLuncher justice and celebrate its achievements. So…. BBQ!

We're inviting all our users to an all-meets-all farewell BBQ. If you're up for meeting the team behind UniLuncher and also the other fellow UniLuncher users, don't give this a miss.To attend and get more details. Click on this link.

http://tinyurl.com/ULBBQ

Here's wishing everyone an awesome summer hols ahead.

Best,
Hakeem and team
UniLuncher.sg

Well hello you!

After more than 200 unique users and more than 400 meetups and multiple media mentions(we didn't manage the Tamil and Malay newspaper:P), the team has decided to pull the plug.

It's been a great run so far. From the days of JustLunch.nus, to our expansion to NTU and SMU, to our name change. We sincerely thank all of you for your participation.

We hope that, for those of you who have used UniLuncher to meet someone new, that you have had nothing short of a great experience. The year long project, not only proved that there were so many interesting people around; more so, it showed that people are open and more than happy to meeting someone new.

Well, we wish to do UniLuncher justice and celebrate its achievements. So…. BBQ!

We're inviting all our users to an all-meets-all farewell BBQ. If you're up for meeting the team behind UniLuncher and also the other fellow UniLuncher users, don't give this a miss.To attend and get more details. Click on this link.

http://tinyurl.com/ULBBQ

Here's wishing everyone an awesome summer hols ahead.

Best,
Hakeem and team
UniLuncher.sg

A simple video about how social media has distanced us more, rather than make the planet a more livable place
Thanks to my friend liang for this.

The Innovation of Loneliness What is the connection between Social Networks and Being Lonely? Quoting the words of Sherry Turkle from her TED talk - Connected, But Alone. (http://www.ted...

HOLA!

We've gone up on Instagram.

We promise you though, no selfies. Only just profile descriptions of UniLunchers and the occasional featured individuals on McCuriosity Cat's Encounters.
Oh and also, pictures to prove to you we're doing work too :P

Follow us at www.instagram.com/uniluncher_sg

Recycled from 5 May 2013 but apt here, now. REPORT!

Calling all UniLunchers.
Signups for lunches have begun.

To sign up for a lunch: http://bit.ly/10esnqC
New FAQs : http://on.fb.me/12HmHKS

We're closing this round of lunch meetups real soon! This is your chance to add a pinch of randomness.

If you're new to UL, what are you waiting for? Register at http://tinyurl.com/newuluser

If you've already registered, sign up for a lunch here at http://tinyurl.com/unilunchersg

For those of you wondering what and who we are. This should answer any queries that you may have.
http://tinyurl.com/UL-FAQ

Matching Elves busy at work on a Saturday. Join in the fun and sign up for lunch at http://tinyurl.com/unilunchersg

If you're new to UL, what are you waiting for? Register at http://tinyurl.com/newuluser

Have an awesome weekend UniLunchers!

- aditi

If there's anything you are going to need to read today for 3 minutes or less. It's this.

This dude right here is starting a revolution to take over the world. My fellow countrymen and women, pay heed.
?

We spent some time hanging out with Rovik, the mastermind behind The MP3 Experiment Singapore and a whole list of other things you'd have never guessed, and being the busybody we always are, asked him a few questions. We hope this gives you some insight into the mind of a fellow change maker. He shares with us his vision of an ideal Singapore, his plans to take over the world and what goes on inside that head of his.

1. In a nutshell, what is The Hidden Good?
The Hidden Good is a movement that challenges conventional beliefs and shapes a "better society". By discovering what's possible, we discover "The Hidden Good".

2. In a slightly bigger nutshell, what is The Hidden Good?

The Hidden Good has grown from a simple initiative to a full-blown platform with around 60 youths across various projects enabling all of them to collectively shape their future society through videos and activations. We believe a good idea that can shape perspectives should have an opportunity to shine and we find the best way to bring them out.

3. Confess! How do you intend to take over the world with The Hidden Good. (read as what are your future plans)

I actually do intend to take over the world haha. I think the world needs its youths to activate its ideas , and there's a demand for interesting concepts. It doesn't have to be held in the chambers of the high and mighty ad companies - The Hidden Good develops these concepts to positively impact society and to be sustainable . Each society needs to give its youth a voice to build a better society ; to discover their "hidden good". Over time we hope that organically similar movements can startup aiming to demystify myths and build their own better societies.

4. How old are you?

I'm 21 in June (birthday presents can be sent to ....). It's true - I'm severely underaged by most standards to be doing what I'm doing but I think people need to realise that in most societies , an idea is more powerful than anything society can tell you. I realise I'm lacking in lots of experience and worldly wisdom though - so I have strong mentors who guide me patiently and wisely. at the same, I work with youths older than me plenty, and that's because I work on the principle that people who do certain things better than you deserve all the more to be on your team. I respect them a lot as they add value to our vision.

5. What goes on inside that head of yours ?

I'm an idea man. You cannot imagine how many ideas lie dormant in my laptop waiting for the right time to pounce. I activate them together with my team who are an amazing bunch of people - to create huge scenes and create conversations.
together with that excitement also lies a silent sadness. there's a saying that goes "choose your pains in the world". I've chosen a few pains to carry - the fact that there's still inequality, the fact that dreamers get shot down by irrelevant structure , the fact that hate exists in our world. I'm constantly thinking of ways to solve these problems in new and innovative ways. with my life, I want to solve problems and create beautiful things.

6. Ideally, where do you see Singapore headed to in the future?

I see Singapore becoming more open to conversations - people being able to talk to one another freely and without resentment or awkwardness. We know that despite our differences we're still under the same flag. My dream is for everyone to be able to walk out of their homes to work , and not being stared at for smiling at people and having a well-timed conversation or two. And this is applicable to everyone, even the marginalised and lost. They deserve this all the more.

7. What's your advise to anyone who's reading this article?

Your perception of your inhibitions, is your greatest inhibition. If you're worried about the things you have on your plate, ask yourself what do you want to be known for having spent your time on. Being active in a CCA you never cared less or about, or championing a cause/ leading an initiative that boldly spelled your character for the world. Break out of your comfort zone, choose your pains and decide to do something about them. YOLO isn't meant to be taken selfishly to make full use of your time to satisfy your every whim - YOLO is meant to be an opportunity to realise you have one chance to make a difference and this is it.

Highlights i.e. TLDR i.e. got assignment to rush.
"Next thing I knew, I was face down, holding on to my last breath. I could not move."

"...they had to drill a groove into my head to stick a metal frame to hold my head up. "
"During this period of time I started losing drastic amounts of muscle mass as I could not contract my muscles. "

"I believe that you can choose how you feel. And I choose not to feel angry and frustrated. "

"When we met him, he was rolling his own wheelchair with the use of his wrists. He still has difficulties with his fingers so he is unable to grip. "

The UniLuncher team is more than pleased to have had the chance to sit down for lunch with NUS Physics student Wong Zi Heng one afternoon after his physiotherapy session. Having followed his story since I first got the email in my inbox a few months back and hearing him share his story from when it all started to how he has progressed thus far in his recovery sure was an amazing experience. The Science Camp 2013 Orientation House Leader and former Science Pageant contestant has got to be one of the strongest and most stubbornly optimistic person I have ever met.

This is his recollection of what happened along with a couple of other questions.

What happened?
It was the 2013 Science Orientation Week. I was a Senior and it was close to the end of the beach games segment. I was diving into the water at palawan beach as a self dunk to earn more points for my house.
Next thing I knew, I was face down, holding on to my last breath. I could not move. I could not get up so I just lay there holding on to my breathe. I thought initially that I'd gotten stuck in the sand. It was a strange feeling as I did not feel any pain nor did I remember hitting anything particularly solid while diving in.

According to my friends, my seniors had thought I was playing a prank. They started shouting for me to stand up. I was about to lose my breath but my seniors pulled me out just in time and carried me to the shore.

My friends called the ambulance. As I was conscious and able to talk, I called my dad to tell him what had happened. At that point in time I was still unsure of what was going on. All I knew was that I couldn't move my limbs. Then I realized that it wasn't only that I had lost motility. I had also lost all form of sensation and all sense of touch from my neck down.

As it was a Saturday, I had to wait till Monday for an operation to replace the fractured bone in the spinal chord. They had to take a bone from my hips to replace the one that ruptured in the dive. While waiting for the operation on Monday, they had to secure my head so that there was not too much pressure being put on my neck. In order to do this, they had to drill a groove into my head to stick a metal frame to hold my head up. The process was grueling. I could feel the vibrations of the drill as it cut through my skull. The first time, they had accidentally cut a blood vessel and blood started spilling out so they had to quickly stitch it back. It felt really painful but I was too weak to have any form of reflex.

I spent the next 20 days at Singapore General Hospital before transferring over to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for therapy.

During this period of time I started losing drastic amounts of muscle mass as I could not contract my muscles.

What stage of recovery are you at?
Currently, I have no sensation from the chest down. It's a huge improvement from when things first hit. I rely on an abdominal binder to regulate blood pressure. My therapy now is aimed at helping me regain strength in my functional muscles and independence.

I understand that there is no guarantee of a full recovery even though my friends and family are very hopeful. I am prepared to face both sides and take things one step at a time.

How do you deal with difficult situations like these? Who or what keeps you going?
I believe that you can choose how you feel. And I choose not to feel angry and frustrated. For 6 and a 1/2 months, I didn't shed a tear but one day after therapy, I broke down. Happiness is a choice. Also, I don't wish to let my family and friends down.

What do you miss most about having full motility?
The difficult part for me was losing my independence. I can't even do things like showering by myself. It's also frustrating when you tell someone to do something but they do it differently and usually you'd correct it but given the state that I am in, I can't correct it myself now. For example, I am a very neat person so when it comes to tidying my room I like for things to be exactly where they are.


When we met him, he was rolling his own wheelchair with the use of his wrists. He still has difficulties with his fingers so he is unable to grip. We also had the pleasure of meeting his supportive mom and aunt who accompanies him for his therapy sessions.

The UniLuncher team wishes to thank Zi Heng for sharing his journey so far with us and we wish him all the very best in his pursuit to full recovery. Should any of you wish to get acquainted, please do not hesitate to drop us a message.

Currently, he undergoes therapy sessions three times a week and is on absence of leave for a year but taking one module as independent study.