Herein lies the story of Daniel the last of the 2nd Year bloggers containing tales of:
(EDIT: it doesn't actually have this stuff in it, but I'll get to it eventually!)
Moving out
Job Hunting
Exams*
Voting
And other exciting matters which may never be reached (due to the incredible size of this post).
But now for some more dramatisation.....
I left you all in suspense an entire month ago, deep within the grasp of final assesment and a week before I began my foray into the depths of my holiday job. I rode their on my bike reaching that fortress of dread doom with a heavy step returning to what I had thought long gone since my highschool days. With a smile on the receptionists face, and a security badge labeling me, I was deep within the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Association, the VCAA. The people responsible for shackling so many to an office desk or table, for taking no small part in loosing my eyesight, for being.....
actually quite exceptionally nice. Seriously I didn't have any of the aforementioned "horror," of working at VCAA it's actually one of the few places that I've enjoyed working at, probably due to the pleasant company of which I hope to meet again. I even brought them chocolate and biscuits one evening, that was nice.
Ahem* I mean it was deceptively nice, though through the barrier of yr 12 I was still a target of the Authority, such was my resistance. So they struck me down as a slave for their nefarious machinations, twisting me to help them sort and number those that were once comrades, but now merely statistics.
I was their's for the exam period, and what's more I liked it. What horror have I become? A slave to the burrecratic machine, as soulless as the photocopiers I fed tree after tree filing an insatiable hunger for more and more scripts until both paper and toner were spent? No I broke free from the shackles of well paid office work (read the exam period ended) and once more roamed the wastes of unemployment searching for those nomadic like tribes called "employment."
It will not be for many months that I return to that place, it's call more alluring than the scent of spring, yet mingled with the scent of warm paper and photocopier fumes. For try as I might it's call beckons beyond the skin, to my very soul, pulling me with such an intensity that it is only now, weeks after the employment, that I realise what I have done.
Had a welcome working holiday/exam period.
Yet that was not all that was to pass during this past month, for while shackled to that employment of suplicated duplication I was sent a message long forgottern in the mystical euphoria of VCAA. A message, pertaining an application for a scholarship to Japan. Naturally, due to the lateness of hour and dullness of wits I thought that it were mere platitudes for applying, when really (and in earnest too I must say) the message said: "You have been accepted into the scholarship program." Well at that moment I could not contain my excitement at all and so (quite regrettably) woke the whole household in my exhubrance. Understandably they were not as enthused as I was and so it was only in the morning that my excitement had a reflection in others. As of now my trip is a little more than a week away and I am still (somewhat amusingly) filled with bouts of joy about the entire endeavour. Even though the trip is merely for a week, I hope to make the most of it and come back with some more tales of another culture.
There was a downside (a foreseeable one though) to this sudden holiday admist the sunny summer of Melbourne. My other second job, that was to take place after exams and after my employment at VCAA, was none to pleased with the information that a weeks worth (as well as two or three days) would be gone. So they let me go to be free to myself for the next 3 weeks, so whilst I do lose the employment, I happily have free time for myself.
Anyway this is enough information to get through for now. So until later, and when I once again get my thoughts in order (read free time) adious!
Daniel [Yoddeuss]
That's what you get when you roll your face across the keyboard.
It was more of an impressive result than if I had smacked my head on it. Final exam is tomorrow. Can't talk now. Must stu*fb*dy.
Well I've finally found my way back to a computer, stumbling across it on one of my many trips to and fro from university. Yet this time! I have free time, which is a surprisingly rare comodity at the end of semester, and increasingly more rare when you factor in Christmas employment, socialising and *brain pops open*
But that's enough excuses for now! I'm here to tell about the exciting adventures of a man at university (me) and how through cunning, guile and generally just studying my arse off, I (almost) have made it to the other side. For it has been an exciting term, filled with both many successes and some (I would say modest) failures.
First of all exciting news if you do a Diploma of Languages (points proudly to self) half of it is paid for by the university, you get a scholarship! AND ITS JUST FOR DOING THE COURSE!! I mean if I researched or knew about this before, I probably wouldn't of thought much of the "half of your course is paid by the university," tagline. So when my HELP debt bill popped up with a subject already paid for, I freaked out about having an unknown benefactor (along the lines of Great Expectations) and so thought I would have to pay it back. But lo and behold, going to the Raymond Priestly building (I think) I was rewarded by the good news that I was being rewarded for my academic studies. So now I have less potential debt, for which my future self will be much much relieved about.
So yeah that was fun, as well as a kick in the arse for me to get my act together for Japanese- not that I'm bad at it, just I'm sitting around the 60% mark instead of the comfy 70-80% mark of better than average. Which, while probably nothing to worry about, isn't awesome for artsy fartsy snootyness, or future bragging matches. This is probably indicative of one of the many many pit holes of any person, not being happy with what they've got, or rather more indicative of my "always wanting to be better." As long as I don't go overboard with that want I should be fine, though as of lately (due to a heap of Japanese asessments) its starting to get to me. *shrug* I've just got to keep it all in balance, I guess.
Well that's a bit of good news for you: life has many awesome surprises and it's nice to kick back once in a while, away from self improvement (points to this post). What else?
A lotI think, far too much to blurt out all over the internet at once. And besides I'm a tad sick (and so faint hearted). So I'll leave the rest of my experiences for later (read much later, I'll be pretty busy with Christmas employment).
So cya and goodluck for exams!
Dan[Yoddeuss]
... a good post, 'cause it has been nearly a month since my previous update.
Uni is still uni, and what more can I say? Exams are coming up and like the other however-many-semesters I have done, I still haven't learnt how to study smart. Went and saw the Flare Dance production 'Tenth Avenue' at the Union house the other night, they are quite brilliant - and the fact that this entire dance school is run by students for students giving free classes (YES FREE) then they were pretty darn good.
Did I tell you that I've changed my major again? I can't remember whether I have or not. Anywhooo this time it is 'Molecular Biotechnology' (Cell & Developmental specialisation) whoop whoop. Something that sounds smart. This decision was mainly based on the number of contact hours one of the subjects had, and whether there were labs or not. NO MORE LABS EVER. Do you REALISE how EXCITING that IS?!?!?!!
The campus was once again alive with BBQs and sun frolicking, the exchange students forming their own huddle in the corner of south lawn - and I just realised the double entendre behind M.U.S.E.Xs (Melbourne Union Student EXchange Society) catch phrase "go hard before you go home". Great.
So yes, that is all from me for now..
Ciao!
I've just gotten my Provisional Graduation Offer!!!
Yeah, sure, I've known for a few weeks now that I'm going to graduate some time in December but still... I need some reminding. And what better way to remind me than to send an official looking email that opens with:
"Dear Student,
As your Faculty has confirmed that you are due to complete your course
at the end of this semester, you are now able to register your
graduation intention for the 13th - 22nd December 2010 graduation
period."
.... and it goes on with some important points that I couldn't absorb just now. Something about not being able to attend the ceremony if I don't RSVP within one week and all that. Knowing me, if I don't do so tonight, I might just forget. Can you imagine not being able to attend your own graduation because you forgot to RSVP? If that happens to me, I most probably will not ever live that down.
It is holidays and so despite the pile-up of assignments and essays (I'm certain I have more work to do on the 'holidays'.. AND I have a mid-term exam for my mex online subject!) one does big day. Or Big Days. For the past two days I've entertained and procrastinated by conducting big day with some friends. What is big day you say? Glad you asked.
This day is the day for oversized cooking and eating. Giant pancakes. Enormous ravioli. Humongous scones. Inspired by the pizza-sized burger we made last year, a challenge was posed to beat our previous efforts. Beat them we did. The rest of the week shall be only veggies and water PLEASE.
There are few things more exciting than big day. One of them is perhaps getting a casual job after 3 months of searching (with the lovely people who run this blog). Another is finishing an essay which has consumed better parts of days.
Just spent the past couple of hours trying to figure out how many subjects I have left to do in order to complete my degree! Yess… it turned out to be less than I thought, but may require having to undertake one subject until June. Is it bad to choose your major based on the number of hours one has to be at uni?
[hypothetical next year run-down]
Jan-Apr: Global Citizenship (online)
Feb: Wines of the World (summer intensive)
March-June: one of three possible science subjects dep on what major I choose.
Also hypothetically, this means that I'll only really be doing one subject at any one time. I can start full-time employment as of Nov this year?!?
Last week, I received a curious letter from the University. Some people might call it The Grad Letter. Apparently, for the first time ever, all graduations are to be held on December this year. Usually only Science, Commerce(?) and international students (due to visa expiry) get to graduate on the same year when their classes ended. All other students graduate on the following year,usually some time during March. So it was of great surprise to me that my Uni life as I know it will have its definite end in three months. I should be happy.
I've been secretly wishing to graduate earlier than March, so that my life-after-Uni won't be disrupted by finding time to attend the graduation ceremony. However, in all my life-after-uni fantasies, I would always either have a job (preferably a graduate program position) or be travelling (preferably in Europe... the whole rite-of-passage-by-going-to-Europe and all that). In reality, here's the score: a) I've gotten rejection emails for all the positions I've applied for b) I don't have enough cash in my bank account to cover a decent European trip c) I might be able to afford, say, 1-2 weeks overseas BUT I'll come home broke and let's not forget d) I'll be graduating from a rather dubious degree, which according to a couple of lecturers in my faculty, doesn't equip me for employment in my chosen field - unless said employment involves making coffee for a firm. Gee, thanks for that info guys, should've informed me and the rest of the Environments guinea pigs about that... hmm.. I don't know, during first year perhaps? like in O-week? instead of during the final semester of our final year.
The way I see it, my immediate future is quite bleak. Hence, the above news makes me anxious and worried, instead of jump up and down in joy. This is certainly not how I envisioned how I'll be feeling leading up to graduation. But without any definite future prospects, I can't see how I could be anything but worried.
The fact that my last post is not on the first page any more has been gnawing on my guilt, and a new post must therefore be in order. So, here goes. In the five months since my last post, I have:
- gotten my yellow and then my green belt in taekwondo.
- settled into my research assistant job
- been eliminated from the IHL moot (shortly after my last post on the topic - must've jinxed it :S)
- retired from MSS presidency
- gone to Geneva for a winter subject, had the time of my life, hobnobbed with diplomats and visited the UN, WHO, WTO etc etc and accumulated some debt from going to the Montreux Jazz Festival
- gatecrashed the UN Department of Public Information/NGO Conference on Global Health thanks to that subject
- rehearsed and performed a run of Sweeney Todd as a pit band member for Union House Theatre
- been elected MJIL Editor for 2011
- installed a coffee machine at my house (just a two cup drip machine, nothing fancy) and developed a severe caffeine addiction on top of my preexisting internet addiction
- gone to Music Cruise, Music Ball, the MJIL cocktail party, and a few more social gatherings along the way; and
- written nothing for this blog, even though we theoretically are supposed to post once a week.
So, um, sorry for the lack of postage. I realise that some of you might actually have wanted full posts for each of the bullets above (lol, stalkers), but unfortunately, were it not for the 5000 word essay I have due in two weeks one week, this post itself would never have existed.
Never fear, I still have two years of uni after this semester thanks to my six year undergraduate degree (Hear that? It's the sound of my youth disappearing into the mists of academia while my relevance to the mostly first year and pre-uni readers of this blog sliiiides.) You might get four or five new posts out of me yet ;)
And you don't want to do anything! You want to enjoy the holidays like holidays... instead of cleaning up after everyone else in your family, running around for job applications, and finishing assignments. Which you do anyway because you're a good busy up-to-date person, or you suffer guilt trip after guilt trip leading to.......
Anyway! As per complained about from on high (the previous paragraph) my holidays have been busy, busy busy busy. So busy infact that rightnow at this very moment I am attempting to write and sleep at the same time. In all seriousness though, this is not how the holidays should end up, but due to my overtly large desire to be "doing something," (read procrastinate from writing) I am inextricably booked out (or have things I need to do) for the next week and a half, constantly going out, it's almost more than I can bear to take... I'll probably need to have another holiday after this one just to get me ready for university.
Linking on with that thought (in a patriotic wallaby type fashion) it's so easy to get stuck into a cycle of doing stuff, over planning, over working to put it simply. Yet is this the call of laziness I hear? To put aside thought for the future and training for tomorrows gain?
****Maybe... in anycase this will be saved as a draft (hopefully) as I , as if making a point to myself, am off to let this page sink under a deluge (I think that is a word I can use there) of my very mushy brain.....*****
Continuing on from that finish yesterday... I have gone straight to mushy brain space and am currently chilling not doing anything. And it's all okay! I think the holidays should be like this.
Enjoy the holidays! Don't work too hard. Unless you have group assignments, work, normal assignments, cleaning, and whatever else pops up............University + life sure make things busy.
Anyway till next time, make sure you smell the roses.
Dan
It is a strange and scary place that I find myself in. Quite novel, quite unique and one does not know what to do in the land of 'up-to-date'. All assignments done, all reports in, all lectures memorised and even my room(s) is/are clean! [rooms: my brother went on exchange to Michigan a few weeks ago, so I've helped myself to his bedroom] It feels like holidays already, so I've taken the liberty of not going in to uni.. which saves me 3hrs on a train - to er. do stuff. If you could see my face right now, all smiles :D not because of no public transport, but just because. It has been a happy week. It will be such a fantastic week ahead too. But a hobby would be nice. Having nothing to do is a little weird. Job hunting doesn't count. I'll give you a breakdown of my week to show you just how exciting it is.. 'cause I bet you all want to know that.
Mon: don't go into uni. listen to an online lecture. do stuff. apply for a grad job. do more stuff (ironing?). go out to dinner w/ bf.
Tues: maybe go into uni if bored. listen to online lecture. apply for casual/partime job. look in the fridge 50million times. go to friends house for dinner.
Wed-Fri; repeat.
oh and does anyone know what happened to Suzanne? I miss reading her posts, they make me feel inspired and inferior simultaneously.
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