It has been quite a while, hasn't it?
It's nearly 1/6th of the way into the semester and I'm already starting to actually study. That's a massive change from last semester - this time last semester I decided that I was lucky just to pass my Biology practicals. My inability to draw hindered my prospects of passing practicals that involved drawing things - whether plant cells or digestive systems. The business of near the end of semester and swot vac are gone. So was the horrible exam period where my first 3 exams occurred a day after each other. After the fact I found out that it could've been grounds for special consideration, grrrr. As always, my habit of becoming sick after a stressful period resulted in another really bad cold in the holidays.
All too soon the new semester started. With the new semester came new timetables, which brought with it the system loved and loathed alike by many students, Alloc8. The swap spam became prevalent in many inboxes, which annoyed me to no end. After all, I strongly suspected that many of the emails could have been avoided had the student seen a timetable changing official.
I then had a very uneventful first week. I caught up with friends I had not seen since we had broken up for the holidays. I renewed my tradition of sitting on a peak express train on the floor and studying at 7:30am. I renewed my tradition of sitting on a peak express train floor on the way home with some of my friends. I also got hung from a hydraulic crane.
Then came the business of this week. I proved that I can stay away from Solitaire. I managed to control my MSN addiction. I proved to my physics demonstrator that the only girl in the group was a total airhead, by stuffing wet paper towel down a 100ml beaker. I then redeemed myself in the eyes of the biology department. I managed in my biology tutorial to
a) come prepared
b) actually know something
c) not fall asleep
It was a personal best. Now I'm off to prove to my physics tutor that I can actually complete a tute sheet before the tute, which would be an absolute miracle.
As I always like to say, life is full of ups and downs.
For today, the up was that I didn't have to come into Uni until 4:15pm for String Class which usually runs until 6:15pm but rarely finishes at that time.
The down was that I missed getting my preferred tutorial time for my Musicology subject (Medieval and Early Modern Music) and decided to settle for a 9am session (I wanted 11am) on Monday. That still leaves me with 11am starts on Tuesday-Thursday, so I'm happy. Considering I'm not a consumer of caffeinated or energy drinks, I think that 9am start on Monday would be a good kick start to every week ;)
Anyway, that's going to be something I'll remember in the future: get in early to sign up for tutorials!
Oh, and of course, the Uni semester has started again. Nothing beats getting outside for a reason - I've spent most of my two month break cooped up at home doing odd jobs and playing games.
I also have a few different notetakers for my lectures (as opposed to last semester), but thank god they now have Live Remote Captioning for my Psychology lectures. For those who are unaware, I suffer from a hearing impairment and the Disability Liason Unit at the University offers services to disabled people to help them attend and take notes for lectures and such.
Not that I want to brag about having all my lectures captioned. Sure, that sounds pretty cool, but considering they do send the transcripts of each lecture to my email address, and consider this: five one hour lectures of captions PER WEEK. That's a lot of work I'll need to be consistently doing to keep up. I don't mind the work, but I'm still a bit of a slacker at heart.
I do know one thing though, Semester 2 is going to be a lot busier than I initially thought it would be.
Yeah, I am well aware that I have quite a few posts in this page already, but as the above title suggests, I just have to let this all out.
Today has been full of surprises. Just when I was least expecting it, I received a call from my student centre regarding my mid-year application for a CSP for my course. At the end of the day, I had an offer letter in hand and things couldn't possibly get better. Actually, it did. Apparently because I'll get charged the CSP rate instead of the full-fee one starting this semester, I can either get a refund for the excess fees that I've just paid (oops.. make that my parents just paid) or I'll get monetary credit for next year. My parents decided to get me a new computer using the future refund. I wasn't expecting that. Really. So after years of sharing the computer with everybody else in the house, I'll finally get my own one. Ahhh.. sweet bliss.
I've also gotten myself a volunteering work, which I will start next week. Sure, I have to do it for free, but heck, it's work experience nonetheless. I just hope that my timetable won't change after I re-enrol as a CSP student so that I could still accomodate it within my normal schedule.
With all of that said, I am in cloud 9 right now. It doesn't matter anymore that I've spent almost 6 hours of today on public transport. Don't ask.
Keep on dreaming large folks :)
And we're back in action...
To all the school kids who had to start school this week - have fun! I'm sure your holidays were great 'cause of people like me (who work at school holiday programs). haha. Ok, perhaps not. I was a little scared though when I realised that there were already subjects back up on the LMS for us to view and do 'pre-readings' for, when reality hit that I am studying still. I like study. Learning new things... exploring the world, yada yada yada.
Holidays have been great so far, went to the snow(less) mountains and ended up reading rather than the intentional skiing, however, good books do make up for most disappointments. Cleaned the cupboards under the bathroom sink, watched a couple of DVD's, baked some muffins and got myself 3 jobs (one was the temp holiday program) having decieved myself that I'll be able to handle 2 jobs plus uni. Quite productive holidays.
The best bit though, is finding out that I passed physics. Actually passed physics (p..a...s...s...e...d!!!!!!). Shall I say it even slower?! Now earlier posts mentioned that it was a little concern of mine to fail physics, and drum roll please I got 53 woahhh! yeaahhhh! (unlike some other people's 'fail' of 85 *cough cough*...love you still.)
So yea. Long live life! Ciao!
(It's my birthday on Monday. Just so you know)
And no, it's not with some boyfriend or such. Yesterday was officially my 2nd year of calling Australia home. Strange enough, I was the only one who remembered. I told my mum this morning, and apparently she did forget that as of the 4th of July 2008, we can already accurately say that we've been here in Australia for 2 years.
So how was the 1st two years been? Hmmm... Good so far. My English has impoved a little bit, if I may say so myself. However, if I stay at home too long, my fluency in English goes out the window. Also, I feel less weird now about being asked "How are ya?" all the time (whether or not the asker cares for the answer or not) and being called "love" by random strangers. I now know that people mean the hood of a car when they say "bonnet" and the trunk when they say "boot". Before though, it seemed silly to me calling the front of a car a "bonnet"(it's like even a car follows the slip, slop, slap mantra). I still don't like meat pie or footy (I could stand watching rugby on TV when I'm bored but never aussie rules); however, I've developed a sort of interest in test cricket since the time I've watched the last ASHES series. Too bad 20-20 is now gaining popularity. Trying to hit as much sixes as possible within 20 overs just doesn't seem as intriguing as the inner workings, the tactics and strategies, in a test match. But I digress. All in all, it's been a good 2 years.
Cheers for the years to come!
p.s. I used to think that koalas are cute and cuddly. Suffice it to say, I've changed my mind after being able to hold one. And boy, is it heavy... and funny-smelling.
I can't believe it. As of yesterday, I'm already done with exams. That's. just. so. surreal. I was so ecstatic yesterday, even jumping up and down outside the REB. Then last night, it finally hit me. I've got no academic stuff to do, no work, and nothing at all planned to do for the next four-and-a-half weeks(apart from catching up with friends from uni and from year 12 as well). What am I supposed to do??? And if I don't find anything to do soon I'll be spending hour after hour of those four-and-a-half weeks doing household chores(the disadvantage of living at home). Oh crap.
My dad actually got me started already by telling me this morning that he has jobs for me this afternoon - do the vacuuming for the entire house, clean the main bathroom, wash the toilet floor and clean my room. Yeah, I completely envisioned myself happily scrubbing floors after the exams.
On the job-hunting side, the last time I had an interview was during swot vac and I have been sending a trickle of applications during the last few weeks. I've never worked for anything for my entire life (well you know, as in getting paid for some work unrelated to doing stuff around the house) so this whole "selling myself" to the potential employer during interviews is all new to me. It doesn't help that among all the jobs I've applied to this semester, there's only one that I really ever liked (it was for a family-owned arts and crafts shop) and I didn't get the job because of my availability. Every other job is just something I sort of want for the sake of getting a job. Go figure.
So what's next for me? I don't know really... although lately I have been looking over summer vacation student placements for mining. Apparently some companies are taking in undergrad students(even a few 1st year students) in environmental disciplines to work in regional areas(like Morwell or something like that). I was thinking that this might be a nice change of atmosphere after my 1st year of uni. That is, until I read that Victorian students are going to be placed in Nothern Territory. Uhm, okay.. That's too much of a change in atmosphere. Now back to my part-time job hunting then..
Then I'll be a very happy girl. Finally, exams are over! I thought I would never be able to get through them but yes, they're finished. *sigh* Sorry for deserting this site for so long. The last few weeks have been hectice. There's only so much a person can cram into 24 hours and still get a decent amount of sleep. But it's over now and I really don't want to think about it anymore.
Hmm... let's see. The last time I left you guys, it was still teaching period. We had our little get together, which was really nice since that's like the first time we've met each other. As much as everybody else says life isn't all about study and you should stop along the way to smell the roses, in order to do well in uni - forget your social life. I think the one social event I attended (because I had to) was the "prestigious" scholarship reception thing towards the end of the semester. And trust me, there wasn't a lot of socialising involved in it. On the bright side, the refreshments were excellent. Gosh, how sad is my social life if that was the only thing I went to?
Anyway, lectures just kept on coming and the amount of information that we needed to know just kept on growing. I think I've finally figured out the cause of the problem with deforestation in this world - us uni students. For every single lecture, we print out about 8 pages worth of slides (there was one bad week when we had 15). Roughly 9 lectures a week. Times that by 12 weeks and 400 students (and this is just for med) and you get a loooot of paper. But I'm proud to say I didn't print out anything cause I just carry my laptop around everywhere, but you could also factor in the electricity. *sigh* All in the name of education.
Then swotvac rolled along, which pretty much equated a week of procrastination. Nothing of interest happened. Although I'm happy to report that it was around then when Hillary Clinton FINALLY suspended her bid for the Democrat nomination. Silly woman, she knew she lost it ages ago. All she's accomplished now is create a massive divide in the Democrat votes, which is not going to end well for Obama. Notice I said the word "suspended" instead of quitting. Why? Cause she's got ~30millions in debt and if she suspended her nomination, people can still donate money to her race. *sigh* And this woman made 180 million dollars over the last 8 years.
Exams were interesting to say the least. I always thought we were going to do exams in classrooms (like good old high school). Ha, what did I know. Turned out we had to all go down to the REB and sit in the massive hall with 2800 other students. It was a weird experience but for people who have sat the UMAT, it's sort of similar. Just trying to remember your own seat number was a problem for me, much to the amusement of my friends. Finished off my exams with an OSCE (don't ask me what it stands for. All I know is that E standards for exam and C probably stands for clinical.). Basically, I walk in to a "patient' and interview her for 4 minutes. It's harder than it sounds. Try to cover all 8 cardinal features while maintaining a empathic facial expression, make soothing comments and not interrupt the patients all within 4 minutes. But the good thing was I had a really friendly examiner and the actress was really nice :D I think I went okay.
I celebrated the completion of exams by going to one of my friend's 18th birthday celebration. We ended up going iceskating. It was my very first time. I fell on my butt 5 times, lost count of how many times I went around the rink, clung to the wall at all times and still haven't managed to get the hang of it. Oh well... It was fun, a bit. My butt's still sore.
I haven't got much planned for the holidays. All my Melbourne friends are going overseas. I can't go back and meet up with my Brisbane friends cause, well, they're in Brisbane. And my parents are on the other side of the world. So.... am going to enjoy a long long rest.
Until next time!
P.S. I noticed this is more of a list than a blog so apologies. My creative mind is not working tonight.
I've finished, I've finished! *does a little dance* and i'm going off skiing tomorrow.. hoping there will be snow when we get there... leaving @ 4am.. and i haven't packed. *gasp* better do that now.
for all those who are still enjoying the pleasures of exams, I wish you all the best. And for the rest of you, a blog update shall be happening when i return from 'the grand snow trip'. with snow.
Ciao!
One of the things that's annoying about being a Music student (especially one heading for a Performance major) is probably finding suitable environments and times to practise. As a person who regularly gets up around 6-7am even on weekends, I'm constantly frustrated at the fact that I can't practise anywhere in this house in the morning without waking up my brother - and once he's up I have to deal with a constant stream of noise in the house, be it whether his giggling at the latest anime he just downloaded, or the consistent tapping of keys as he plays Counter Strike. It just seems so frustrating to have to centre practice time around everyone else just for convenience, but then that's something I guess a lot of musicians who live with friends or at a college have to deal with.
But I shouldn't complain, because I can at least bring my cello to places - so I'm just going to direct my sympathy to the pianists who have to deal with the added problem of dealing with a variety of out-of-tune pianos (which really hurts my ears, because I have perfect pitch) wherever they practice.
I'm not one to study in the mornings or at least right after waking up. One time last year, I picked up and read a Biology book after getting out of bed and started studying - it felt like I was drugged on coffee for the rest of the whole day. Two weeks ago I swore off having a cup of tea every morning and changed to having hot milos. Sleep is underrated, if you ask me. Now I understand how people enjoy having ten hours of sleep. Usually a few hours on the computer doing something that doesn't require much intensive thinking (I normally play games) and then I'm pretty much set for the rest of the day.
Study wise - apart from being flat out trying to memorise scales of keys which I absolutely hate, it has been going pretty well in general. I do have a fairly easy exam schedule, though, and two of my exams don't have much one could study for. Wish me luck for Monday though, three hour Psych exam and then my music Technical Recital.
Oh and just so I don't sound so self-conceited - I hope everyone's faring well for Exams and studying!
you're having fun. Or so they say. If so, I definitely am not having fun now. I found myself looking at my bedside clock a few too many times while studying early this morning, counting the minutes until I could go for a walk at 9am in the neighbourhood. It went something like this: 8:48- *sequential landscapes are blah blah blah* 8:52- *how did this granite rocks come about yada yada yada* 8:55-*the following factors ontribute to weathering...* 8:58- *mass wasting blah blah blah* 8:59- *ah shoot, I can't be bothered anymore reading a minute's worth of lectures*. I guess having 2 weeks worth of study time before my first exams have spoiled me a lot. By the start of this week, I figured if I went through 4 lectures a day, I'll be done studying by Saturday for my Monday exam. And guess how many I did yesterday? A meagre two! I wouldn't have beeen in this kind of situation if I didn't spend almost the entire swot vac just procrastinating (and going for one job interview). Ah well, too late for that now. Sometimes I wish there were 30 hours in one day. Of course if it were so, I would probably spend half of those hours doing what I'm really good at: procrastinating.
Best of luck to those who already have exams this week :)
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