At least at college it did. I had all my stuff ready in my room to leave for the holidays, much of it in suitcases with my books loose. I go to get my car, get there, and didn’t think that in order to move my car, I would need these things called keys – and not any old key would do! I had to venture back to college, catching the train. I got back to Melbourne Central Station, I had twenty minutes to get from platform 3 to Medley Hall, get my keys, and return for the next train. (I didn’t want to waste time.) I ran, skipping four stairs at a time, diving for green walking men, and rolled between cars. I made it to Medley hall in eight minutes. Luckily I knew where I my keys were, and so had a quick drink, and sprinted back off. Once again I dived for green men, but found no need to roll between cars, and was able to relax by the time I was at Melbourne Central Station. By the time I got back to my car, I’d wasted an hour – just gone into the ether!
Now I won’t exaggerate things. I took my car back to Medley Hall to pack my car – which took over an hour to pack my car. I had to make countless trips, each time closing my room door, opening the front door, opening my car, putting the stuff in, locking the car, then back to my room. Arranging things around my double bass would’ve definitely accounted for much of the time lost.
On Saturday morning I woke up at 4:50am for work. It’s at a local market back at home. It’s just a casual job and would work there sometimes along with my mother and brother. It's figgin freezin! For some reason it's much much much warmer in Melbourne than a little way up North!
In the town where I come from there is a big Easter fair. So on Saturday night there was a torchlight procession and then we had dancing in the street, where they set up a big truck that’s been set up as a stage. The DJ shows us dance moves, and we copy, and there’s a street full of people, half of which can’t remember all the things the DJ said. Fortunately we do well known dances every year, such as the ‘Macarena’ and ‘The Bus Stop’. On the Monday there was a parade which anyone can enter and have a competition in different categories. It’s always nice to see familiar faces and some of the things they’ve created.
The holidays has meant both being able to see both my Mum and Dad, which has been great. But there has also been a tonne of homework. I only had one assignment but I’ve had to revise and even just try to understand the contents of my subjects. I’d like to catch up a little just to get ahead, and also properly understand those bloody limit proofs!
At home we now have two new black kittens, but I still like my old cat best, even though she is more timid. One of our ducks is getting old and having to rest more often, and sometimes just doesn’t bother to hang around with the other ducks. Also while I’ve been away we’ve now got someone else living in my old house, as they are filming a movie in my town at the moment as well, and this person is in the crew.
I also worked on some music. Although every time I start to get into it I have to go back home. Maybe next holidays? I look forward to its release.
Now I’m back at college, and looking forward to tomorrow. Damn it was freezing back home - Melbourne is so much warmer!
G’Day peoples,
As I said I was going to last time, I went to the Socialist Alternative event ‘Marxism Today’. It was quite enjoyable, and felt I got to know the organisation, and am able to form my own opinions around issues whether in agreement or disagreement with the majority of the others. There was definitely a lot of talking between discussions about our own opinions and our reflections on the discussions.
Some time during the week I noticed that someone had left their room on their way to the toilet. Foolishly this person likes to keep their door open, so I walked in, and wrote ‘I’m Watching You’ on their computer on WordPad in a nice 72 point font. (This person spends a considerable time on their computer playing games, watching movies, etc.) Later that night, a few hours later after coming back from dinner, I found my door covered with sheets of paper saying ‘Rick – STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER >:-|>:-|>:-|>:-|>:-|’ (with each word separated by a line). It was quite a sight, and also a bit freaky when I first saw it on my door, then again, I guess my victim probably felt a little freaked out when they saw someone had touched their computer.
As some people may have noticed, the student union’s bi-elections were on this week. There were three people who were voted in last year but didn’t turn up, so they had to be replaced. I spent much of Tuesday helping out to promote the ‘Left Focus’ ticket and what we stand for. I spoke to many people and also found out about a few more people who were going to Melbourne University. At one time I saw my maths tutor and got a comment ‘Oh my god – you’re a communist’ after giving him our flyer. When voting I noticed (by seeing the list), that almost no-one votes! Probably only about 15%! There is also a group called ‘John So’s bro’, and when I first saw it I thought it was the most ridiculous name for a political party and sounds like the idiot club. I later found out that John So is the Lord Major of the Melbourne City Council, but still think it’s the most ridiculous name I’ve ever heard for a political party. I still don’t know who got in.
This Wednesday I got hit with two tests in the one day for Maths (Mid-semester) and Physics (one of three during semester). Not fun, especially when you find proving limits the most bizarre concept and never seem to know where to go. I think I managed it at the last minute, but unfortunately I think my physics revision suffered. The moments of inertia question just confused me! I felt exhausted after.
Later that day (Wednesday still there was a rally against VSU at 1 O’clock. It was advertised on the concrete lawns but was held on the south side of Union House. At about 1:35 we headed off down the street towards the state library. We probably had about 200 people marching down, and even managed to pull a few people who saw our march. There were a bunch of chants we used, all of which I can’t think of at this time. We got to the state library just after two then moved over to the RMIT city campus. After a round of speeches I held a banner and we marched off to parliament. I eventually let someone else have the banner as I found working with the other person to keep it taught and not make me run into the Ute. While we were walking about fifteen Liberal people came in with their banners, probably trying to provoke us into attacking them, as so the media would focus on that rather than the meaning of the rally. (If they were attacked it would’ve ended up with some people arrested as usual there are police everywhere.) When we were at the state library I saw someone from Monash that I know from the Young Scientists of Australia, and talked to them for a while.
That night there was the show ‘The Mathematical Revolution’ for the comedy festival. I was planning to go this night and had encouraged one other person to come with me. Unfortunately all the tickets were sold out, so I’ve had to wait until next term, but on the up, I’ve managed to find three other interested people.
On Thursday night I went down town to Melbourne by myself just because I wanted to see if any Sammy-J tickets were still available for that night. Unfortunately they were all sold out but on my way back to college I saw a guy dressed in Silver rapping out songs about the fact that ‘The Martians are coming’, and somehow wasted half an hour watching him. I found it somewhat amusing and entertaining. I’ve just found out from his website that he was involved in the Regurgitator song ‘My Friend Robot’ of which I am quite a fan. I’ve doubled checked this with what it says on the CD slip for the album ‘Mish Mash’, and indeed it mentions ‘The Sonic Manipulator’. Have to go see him again one night, and although he does have an album, his really just someone worth actually seeing.
Normally I’m quite good with not locking my keys inside my room, but this week I had some rather strange incidents. The first time I thought I’d taken my keys when going for a shave, but when I came back, I couldn’t find them, and had to get the duty tutor to open my door. After looking for them in my room and being bizarrely confused, I found them in the smaller section of the right pocket of my jeans. A few days later, I was heading back to my room and realised that I didn’t have my keys once again. I was able to see through my window that the keys were not in room. (Unless I had them in a very unusual spot.) After looking all over college (not literally) I got told someone had put my keys in my door. When I saw them they told me I’d left it in the door just before my room, and so when I got to my room I didn’t know where my keys were. I just wonder why I didn’t think about how I’d gotten to where I was! (Although the door I did go through was for a fenced off area, and is locked just so no-one who jumps the fence can get in.
Now I’ve been getting free Blu-Tack from all those sheets of paper that were on my door as they seem to like falling off. Hope you all had a happy Easter, I’ll mention that next time.
Happy Easter everyone!
I hope everyone has managed to find some time over this break to relax a bit and for a moment, leave the excessively busy routine that university life forces you into.
On Thursday I wasn’t feeling 100% and when more than one of my friends commented that I looked tired (They meant it in a caring way!), I decided to postpone the social events I had planned for the coming days until next week. I did that afternoon manage to briefly catch up with one of my closest friends, M, whose company I have very much missed over the last few weeks. I met her in her familiar haunt - Borders, and just being around her made me feel better from the apprehension towards the inevitable cold I felt coming on. I am looking forward next week to meeting a friend of hers which should be rather interesting. We are possible combining this meeting with a dinner featuring two of my friends I want her to meet. If we can organise it, it should be a great night
Yesterday I enjoyed a very lazy day mainly consumed of research for my management essay and calling up old friends whom I owed time to.
I decided to write this entry tonight as my schedule after tomorrow becomes very busy again. I have a lot of assignments coming up that I need to start/continue/finish, so though I have the week off university, it is anything but a vacation.
Last night I was going through my calendar after promising an old friend we would catch up. I found out the weekend we had tentatively decided to do something would in fact not suit at all due to university assessments -it made me upset to realise this. So much of the time it seems that when I am free she isn’t and vice versa which causes frustration on both sides. It is difficult as well because she doesn’t get along with any of my other friends, so I can’t invite her out in group situations either or it would be awkward. :-(
I know I must work something out to suit both of us but I hope she can understand if it isn't her ideal scenario...nowadays we seem to enter into conflict about everything. I only now just realised we have in fact been friends for 5 years....I really hope we can somehow work things out.
Tuesday morning I felt annoyed during my morning classes to realise I had left my printed out slides and overhead notes at home (all of which I had diligently prepared the Monday before!). This meant I had to revert to the old-fashioned way of taking all notes by hand in lectures! Still, this is always a good experience to practice now and again so you always have the ability to be a fast writer when the time calls. My QM 1 tutorial was yet again, an amusing experience. My tutor does the most amusing things on occasion (from jamming the whiteboards together, to falling over the projector), and this class was no exception. A mistake he’d made in writing a formula on the board, and his subsequent response to my quiet and polite questioning of what he’d written, led to the class being doubled over in fits of laughter. He then made it even more hilarious when he made a statement in reference to our laughter along the lines of “I hope you all don’t think I’m an idiot but the fact everyone one of you is laughing at me right now probably means you do”. I will always hold a significant fondness for his tutorials!
Tuesday afternoon I met up with a dear friend, L, who was down from ANU in Canberra for two weeks. We always have an amazing time in each other’s company discussing the most deeply intellectual, to the most trivial, matters! We share a very similar sense of humour which extends our mutual adoration. She is a true friend in every sense. I immediately feel so relaxed in her company and it was the first time in a few weeks where I had felt that way. We shared a delightful meal at a Café at QV- the name has escaped me for the time being, but it is across from the chocolate place and thoroughly recommended! The waiters there are very honest and charming - one told me he hates vegetables and because of this wouldn't reccomend the Mediterranean vegetable dish! Lol. I love vegetables so I ended up getting this, so throughly appreciated his 'non reccomendation!'. After ice-cream at Trampoline (which no proper meal is without!), we checked out a stunning exhibition at the Ian Potter Gallery featuring the designer, Martin Grant. I have a fairly wide knowledge of designers, but for some reason his presence had slipped by my view. I am thrilled I had the opportunity to learn about him and some of his designs as they are very much ‘my style’ – very tailored, elegant and sophisticated. Some day I would love to purchase from his Paris store. After the exhibition we decided to walk along the Federation Square side of the Yarra. I find this side to be much more relaxing and peaceful than the constant noise and excitement of the Southgate/Crown side. We contemplated the existence of the monarchy in Australia, whether or not Australia should become a Republic, then finally – what if instead of a President, Australia had a King?! (All in jest of course!)
Wednesday was what could only be called an ‘insane’ day at Uni, where I barely had time to eat. Every hour I was at one thing or another because due to no classes on Friday I had to attend some substitute classes. I attended a wonderful Microeconomic tutorial with a tutor who was very easy-going yet knew his subject so well. I really appreciated his teaching style and he explained to me a question I had been struggling to understand with my usual Micro tutor. He was so thoughtful to even give the class (and his non-regulars) little Easter eggs at the end of the class. I left feeling disappointed that my usual Microeconomics tutor (though intelligent and of around the same age and experience) was not up to his caliber. My usual Microeconomics tutor speaks so fast that most of the class has trouble understanding her, and she goes so quickly over things not realising that for us first years we haven't done the concepts a million times before. Perhaps it is easy but we have no comprehension of the subject when we can’t grasp what she is even saying! I find her quite stand-offish and unapproachable as well. Maybe I am the only one who feels this way? I am not sure. I guess you can’t be lucky in having all your tutors being amazing.
My favorite part of Wednesday was of course, my Political Interest Society meeting! The main discussion was over Iran and the US (unavoidably with the latest reports) and it was fascinating to see the variety of views in the room. I find it interesting in particular to see how some people have much more of a short term focus where as others seem to base their opinions on a longer-term strategic focus. It is a great feeling to meet other people who have opinions which challenge your thinking, or at other times provide you with a feeling of: “This person gets exactly how I see the world!” It was quite amusing while waiting for the meeting to start, to have a discussion with a few guys in regards to the lack of female attendance! Plenty of times I have been the only woman there, or at most maybe one of 3 or 4 females compared to 20 males! Does anyone know why this lack of female attendance exists?! SURELY men cannot care about politics more than women?!
Well, I will leave it on that note for now,
I must sleep - tomorrow I will no doubt be awoken at the crack of dawn by my younger brothers gorging themselves on chocolate!
Take care everyone,
Enjoy this weekend with your family and friends.
Sophie
Oh my goodness. I.. don't know where to start. How can one introduce a post where they are going to spill everything? I'll tell it in chronological order, despite wishing to jump straight to the juicy/scary/sad/strange part.
On Thursday night, I found myself in a strange sort of limbo. All of my housemates were going out to goth clubs, not really my thing. I was asked along, but I don't like clubs generally, so I declined. I minced around the house for a long time, wishing for a friend... then I suddenly decided to call my friend Jasmine. She was in Year 12 when I was in Year 11; because I did accelerated VCE, we were in Drama and Philosophy together. Now she lives literally two blocks from my house. As soon as I called her, she asked me over. Then she told me to come over. Then she passed on the drink orders from her two housemates, who I shall give psuedonyms!
20 minutes later, I arrived bearing two clinking shopping bags full of extremely cheap alcohol. I didn't have a clue in the bottle shop, so I grabbed a bottle each of about 10 types of beer, many bottles of white wine (some cost only $4.. wince and cringe inducing!), and a couple of random cruiser-esque type things. When I arrived, there was the delightful Jazz, and her two housemates were delightful. There was Cassia, a lovely girl, but this story mostly concerns Lucien. Let me describe him - an actor who doubles as a butcher, late twenties, with the beauty of Ralph Fiennes, black hair touched with silver, lounging on the verandah and smoking a cigarette, calling me 'darling' in an incredibly low voice with hard French consonants....
Back to him later. Jazz, the others and I decided it was a good night to get alarmingly intoxicated, because there was no work and no school the next day. We listened to French house music and Massive Attack, sitting on the verandah eating figs and drinking ourselves into oblivion. Let it be noted that I rarely drink, but when I do.. I have a very low tolerance for alcohol. A little while later, Jazz and I decided to make a little excursion to Lygon Street to gather some more supplies. None were to be found, but I did experience my first ever cocktail in a bar - a raspberry midori. After that, I was well and truly happy. Upon arriving back at the house, Jazz and Cassia disappeared briefly for some reason and I found myself in the kitchen, alone with Lucien and stuck in a corner. He kissed me. The unfortunate part was that I was so drunk that I kissed him back.
You can probably imagine the rest, but don't imagine it to that extreme. We didn't do that. I just feel so tragically terrible for.. well, making out with another guy. There, I have bared my soul... I kiss-cheated on my boyfriend.
I am not happy mentally. .......
A SELF DIALOGUE: SOLVING PROBLEMS
First i am stuck on my essay, putting my plan onto paper. (well i can ask lecturer for help on email. Think harder get back to the logic of the idea. where is the origin, then what comes next, come on i can do it. It is all about communicating the idea CLEARLY)
SECONDLY i feel i am prisoned mentally. All i worry about is how to study more and be more efficiently at it. Thinks like a robot, isn't it. this sucks. This sucks out my sense of humour. I restrain myself behaving funnily or at least freely, because i worry i look silly to the other people. For the sake of being seen as responsible!
(man, why would you care about image? The important thing is the goodness of one's heart. Chill out, Live your life. Experience the moment of it. hang on, actually being funny is beneficial to urself and others. Being funny is putting on A live comedy free show. Dont' count the last point. Perhaps got to manage my time better. Be happy of what you've acheived. Pushing urself without acknowledging what you have put in already is totally unfair! Set a bloody standard. Be happy once u achieved it. Look what is happening to you now? You are depressed every now and then because of it. )
But pushing the limit means i can do better. I am doing something meaningful. study=acquire knowledge. I am spending time achieving something positive. This is what uni is for: study. Also I go to society and event to have fun in uni. other time means to study.
(READERS PLEASE help ME WITH THIS ONE. LOL. FEEL FREE TO CONTRIBUTE)
I am feeling much freer now. Good to be crazy. :) Talk to u next time.
Last night at around 8pm, I suddenly had a craving of the worst sort - I wanted to play World of Warcraft, the hideously geeky game my boyfriend used to be a fan of. It was horrible - I ran down to Kmart in my pajamas to see if they had it. They were out of stock. I went home again and felt all forlorn, but then came another idea! I'd go back, buy a trial pack, and use it at the internet cafe down the street. They were out of stock of those too.
Finally, my boyfriend said that I could borrow his account. I was all set to go, I entered his password, and ALAS - the server was undergoing maintainance. I could have cried...
Chinese wasn't half as bad as it has been previously... the teacher asked me to read out an entire paragraph in Chinese, which I did, word perfect. I felt all smug. Then in my listening/comprehension class, our tapes didn't work, so we watched an old Ang Lee movie instead. I love Ang Lee films, especially Eat Drink Man Woman - it reminds me of Taiwan. Between 1995 and 1999, I lived in Taiwan and went to an international school. I didn't pick up so much Chinese, but the Taiwanese system incorporates phonetic learning for small children. I guess it's given me some kind of edge.. even if I am still in the bottom half of the class. It's just so strange watching Ang Lee films and seeing places from my childhood - in Eat Drink Man Woman, one of the main characters works in the kitchen of a hotel where I spent my last week in Taiwan, a hotel that was next to the country club where I spent most of my spare time.
I have decided to coin a new term - well, it's not actually mine, but I thought I should introduce it. A friendship-crush. Alix (friend from last year) told Jess (same) that she had a frienship-crush on her, and I completely understand. Have you ever thought somebody was lovely and cool and wanted to be their friend? That's a friendship-crush... I have a couple, but I'm too shy to make anything happen. And these people are out of my league as friends. Grrr... *sulks*
Violin lesson last night! Was particularly annoying because my finger is all bandaged up and I kept accidentally hitting the wrong string, but they fill me with such satisfaction. It's so nice to do something where you can actually see how much you improve every single week. I'm still only doing very basic children's songs on two strings, but apparently it's pretty amazing for somebody who has only had 4 lessons. Music is something that is just.. 'in' me. I've sung and played piano since I was about six, and we have a dedicated music room in my house - piano, two cellos, bongo drums, pan flutes, two guitars, two violins, and I used to play clarinet. I wish I was still at home... I feel a bit empty without a piano near me.
Enough! I'm going home to write the assignment that is 6 days late!
So i just returned from walking to uni to hand in a form for special consideration, having a massive craving for chocolate all the way home. Must be the endorphins i am lacking much of lately. I thought i'd check the hole where my mail is put, as i'm expecting a letter from a friend. Instead i saw a blue parcel slip, so i took it to the office and alas- a parcel from First_year@UniMelb... and what was it? Easter chocolate...woop woop time to go do mind bending puzzles and eat chocolate to attempt to get my mind off everything...Thank you, First_year@UniMelb, and Happy Easter to you too :).
It's been a while since my last post, largely because I am so tired and lethargic these days that I can't really construct sentences particularly well. That last one was a challenge. So was that. I guess I've bitten off more than I can chew these last weeks, working at least 20 hours at Myer and trying to balance that with University work and a social life. While I've made a considerable amount of money and am not going to struggle with rent or food this month, I was disappointed to get 6.5/10 for a test in one of my subjects. It was a very stupid test on the Harvard system of referencing, thankfully only worth 10%. But still, I can't help but think it's a bad start to the year. There's an assessment I'm getting back on Thursday too, for creative writing, and I have no idea how well I went in that. All will be revealed shortly, it seems. Although, unfortunately, I'm not going to have a chance to write during the Easter break as I have no access to the Internet at home. Anyway, I feel like Mr. Death who has already died several times over and will proceed to do so repeatedly. I haven't had a decent sleep for more than six or so hours for around a week. The extensive amounts of coffee I consumed at work over the weekend certainly didn't help. I'm going to have a sleep after the creative writing lecture, and maybe not even get up until tomorrow morning! Dreamy...
A line from one of my favourite songs, Night and Day by Ella Fitzgerald. It gets double points for being written by Cole Porter too. Gosh how I love musicals. Anyway, the title of this post doesn't really mean anything - I just wanted to try to convey the rhythmic goodness and lovely slinkiness of the song, but words failed.
Guess what! My week of bad luck came to an apex... actually I haven't quite described my bad-luck-week yet. In short, I poked myself in the eye with the corner of a piece of paper, I alienated my philosophy tutor, I *still* haven't handed in my archaeology assignment even though it was due on Thursday, I managed to ruin a new pair of black silk stockings, Isaac was glaring at me and being horrible again, etc etc etc. Then, on Friday I was gripped by a sudden desire to cook - so I made some little spinach and feta pies in a Texan muffin tray. They tasted fabulous, but tragedy struck when I was chopping the spinach - I sliced through my finger. It was a pretty deep cut and I almost fainted when it first happened and it just started gushing blood. I think I cut through an artery, because there was a rhythm to the blood flow that matched my pulse. So it was all highly dramatic and I should have gotten stitches but didn't because I was too scared.
Alas.. the only tutor that I thought was relatively cool and got along relatively well now hates me. I'm not exactly sure whether he does or not (he could be angry, nonplussed, or even feeling rejected) but I do know that I have alienated him to the point where emails from him are curt and abrupt. He invited me to his office to hand back my essay, and during the brief interview, the other tutor in his office started talking to me. At first it was blatantly obvious flirting, but once he discovered that I was well and truly attached, we started talking. Not just talking, but getting along like two old friends... it was actually the happiest thing that had happened to me at university so far - somebody being friendly and talking to me! Alas, my tutor started being incredibly unappreciative of my presence and I eventually dragged myself away, despite the other tutor asking a new question or bringing up one last topic each time I tried to leave. So, I have alienated my favourite tutor. *sigh* Not a good feeling.
I went home on the weekend and spent most of my time moping in my pajamas, knitting, eating real food, sulking and being an absolute shadow on everybody elses day. However, I got to see my friends! Ingrid, Elke and I went out and ate nachos, potachos and churros at Mexican Grafitti and then laughed until we felt sick. We came up with a concept for a game show - "Food or Bjork?". (Bjork, as much as I love her, is unfortunately the euphemism of choice for vomit here). The object of the game is to show a meal to an unsuspecting person and ask them whether it's food or bjork. If they think it's food, then they have to eat it for $5. If the food was originally bjork, it's now doubly bjorked...... probably makes no sense, but it was so hilarious at the time. We stumbled up the street like we were drunk (we weren't - simply relishing the experience of being a teenage girl), and met Matthew at the cinema where we saw "V for Vendetta". I adored it.. it struck a chord with me. Afterwards, I had plans of cosying up to Matt at the Bended Elbow (quaintest pub ever), but it was not to be - we ended up under the harsh fluorescence at McDonalds. However, our friend Nathan visited us there, albeit briefly, so it wasn't a complete waste of a destination.
Nobody here knows me, so I might as well give a little history. In Year 11, I played the lead in the only school play my school ever did that was worth mentioning, George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four". I played Julia, a fiery, headstrong but naive idealist, opposite Winston (played by a girl, which was an interesting experience). At the time, the role consumed me. I have never played a role before or afterwards which I put so much into, and it took so much from me.. I felt like I was a different person as soon as the lights went up, and it would take me hours afterwards to shake off the character. So, needless to say.. the play, the story, the idea all mean a lot to me, and it was nice to see them repeated in "V for Vendetta".
I still haven't handed in my Archaeology assignment. I can deal with the 5% penalty I'll now have to bear, but it's just the whole idea of handing in something that's not perfect that I can't bear. I had to do it for Philosophy, but I conceded defeat on that one because I decided that it is impossible to write a good 500 word essay. I got a 73 on it, and was completely crushed.. it's so strange to come down from getting A+'s to suddenly having to deal with only slightly above average.
Anyway, it's 1:35am and I have to wake up in about 6 hours... goodnight.
This weekend has been a bit quieter than usual but nevertheless very enjoyable.
Tennis consumed a lot of my spare time between working down at the club and playing Sunday Social Comp at Melbourne Uni. After such a long break over last year due to Year 12 commitments I am slowly attempting to get back to my old standard. I am so glad I joined the Tennis Club at Melbourne because I love all the people I have met there so far. Two friends from there and some other people I know are doing dinner later this week which I am avidly looking forward too.
Saturday night was lots of fun with a close friend of mine who helped me baby-sit my younger brothers while my parents had a night out.
Study also found itself into my routine this weekend (a good thing!) and tomorrow I am planning to hit the books hard for the entire day with no distractions.
Currently I am having a fiery discussion online with an old friend about whether or not the US will bomb Iran. He is Iranian (and a Muslim), very well read on these issues (and studying law!). I enjoy hearing his opinions on things which often challenge some of my own thoughts, while at the same time I do my best to challenge his ideas about things.
So I guess I should get back the subject matter of this entry – my life at Uni last week! Everything went very smoothly for most of the week and nothing too exciting happened.
Wednesday I had great fun at the Political Interest Society meeting as we went from quagmires of topics such as China to the current education system in Victoria. Education is one of my ‘passion’ areas and I feel very strongly about the need for major reforms within the public education system. I could discuss this issue for hours, but it was thoroughly reviving to see so much interest during the meeting about this topic and some great innovative ideas. Sometimes I wish the vision of youth could translate into government more often.
On Friday we had our Microeconomics Tutorial in which we were having a debate with the topic “Government regulation of peer to peer file sharing of sound recordings and movies is necessary”. We’d all had to prepare and the speakers were to be chosen at random on the day. As I have not yet had the chance to participate in a formal debating occasion at Melbourne, I threw myself with enthusiasm into the topic, thoroughly preparing strong cases for both sides of the debate. I entered the room on the day with the firm affirmation that I could win either side convincingly. The general class feeling was that the affirmative side was the easiest (my personal opinion went against this)…and so I was thrilled to be given an opportunity to begin presentation of our case as first speaker on the Negative. My most favoured position is third speaker, where I can have the opportunity to face the greatest challenge of thinking on my feet with nothing prepared, yet I still embraced first speaker position. I motivated our team and organised our group case, ensuring that all team members fully understood the position we were arguing. (Our main point being that in fact the true market failure of the situation was NOT that ‘free-riders’ were allowed to exist with the proliferation of P2P software -like the Affirmative were arguing, BUT that the music and film industries were inefficient because they were not responding to the changed needs of consumers – access to music and film via the internet, and hence were creating a failure of the market. One which would only be furthered through government protection and encouragement of monopoly based distribution rights.) Once I got up to speak I couldn’t stop! I realised how much I’d missed debating and how much I enjoyed speaking in front of people, trying to convince them of my case. Audience members were assigned roles of asking additional questions after we finished speaking, all of which I clearly and logically argued our case’s superior standard. I felt like I was on a roll and understood how some people said that to be a truly great debater; it must be in your blood. It’s definitely in mine, particularly when I think to my grandfather’s amazing public speaking skills and my grandmother’s strength and vitality as a lawyer who helped fight for women’s divorce rights in New Zealand.
I know I may be rambling, but I just get so excited about this. (I think everyone in my class thought I was absolutely nutty getting so worked up over what many may view as an extraordinarily dry debate topic!). Anyhow, needless to say, our side won. I was so pleased with the efforts of my two team mates who performed really well too.
This week is set to be crazily busy. (But what’s new?!).
I am considering whether or not to attend a comedy fesitval act "What's New Peter Costello Whoa Whoa! (Politics is showbiz for the ugly)"
It sounds hilarious...the Political Interest Society is going as a group together. I am leaning towards going along. Any opinions people?
I have a lot of things I need to organise over the next few days, and have generally been feeling a medium level of stress over everything the last few weeks but I am coping fairly well. Mainly it is just the reading, which has the ability to pile up by stealth and then it is so easy to get behind. I also have quite a few social events I have organised and I am looking forward to spending some time with one of my dear best friends, M.
M doesn't attend Melbourne and it has been hard to find time when our schedules don't clash. I am going to introduce her to some of my new friends at Melbourne which will be fun. She is the best company ever!
I am also hoping to get the chance to visit one of my favourite restaurants, Sugo, at some stage in the next two weeks. The food there is amazing, though mid-price range which means it's not exactly the kind of place a poor uni student could afford all the time, but I like to go there as often as I can. Its close proximity to a Trampoline icecream store is also a massive benefit!!
On a side note, and a rather trivial matter: I am wondering how the Commerce Society’s ‘Booze Cruise’ went the other night? The theme sounded like fun but I’m afraid drinking parties are not my kind of thing. (Perhaps one way I vary from the average uni student?).
Must run,
Sleep desperately calls me,
I am absolutely exhausted.
-Sophie
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