*** This was meant to go up around my Birthday...... the end of last month, but somehow I forgot and it has ended up here, halfway through September***
Yahp, I'm no longer within the period of my life that has been defined as "teen" anymore. Now I'm one big responsible adult.... apparently. I'm not even sure what that's (responsible adult is) supposed to be anymore, as all my major goals have shifted now into the "meh" realm of things. Or rather don't seem to be as pressing. As the years increase so does my apathy? I'm not sure I don't think so.. It’s just I'm really unsure about what I want (the stereotypical reason for starting an Arts course), write a book, a decent job, a nice home life, saxophone and radio to keep me busy.....
Sigh/shrug/snooze* It doesn't seem to press too much on me, the day before my birthday I was too busy worrying about what I'd achieved instead of looking forward to the future. So now, probably with the progress of the week and an increase in sleep, I've managed to de-stress myself into a state of acceptance. That could probably be attributed to the whole idea of anxiety before any "big event," you feel it intensely with a sense of sickness that reaches into your bowels, making you feel as if at any moment all your insides will come out.... and then you do whatever it is that get's you all wound up and its fine. Nothing's the matter; life goes on, Ob-la-di Ob-la-dah, etc. Life feels like that now, that exalted release after a moment dreaded, everything feels pretty sweet.
*Herein lies the post from the start of the month*
Okay so that was then, with some slight (very late) editing, however here I am ready to let forth the good news of:
Employment!
Radio Volunteering!
And! The might matter of Uni (which you may or may not be interested in considering this is a university website).
Employment is great, not only did I get presents for my birthday, but also! Three tutoring jobs! Which was what I wanted for my birthday (well any job but getting what you want on your birthday, no matter if it isn't a present, is pretty swell).
Anyways that worked out ridiculously well, and I mean ridiculously well, I got fed, tea and respect all within my first couple of hours of work (which is more than what I can say for some other jobs). And to top it all off I really enjoy it, there's nothing more satisfying than that moment of "Eureka," for the student you're tutoring, no matter what year level. It's really satisfying. That being said, if one of them decides to cancel my money for the week is * * (gone, vamoose, poof), which is well within their rights, but for poor university student me it is a very sad moment. This has led me to discover, or rather get off my arse once more, to look for yet more work.
My logic for this is rather simple; tutoring is unreliable work that, whilst fun, may not pay all the potential semi-imaginary bills (or money grabbing little sisters). Plus, if you think ahead about the school holidays the allure of tutoring loses some of its shininess; not many children want to do school work on the holidays (perhaps like some certain uni students). In anycase, no rest for the destitute Art's student.
Now what was next on my cleverly implemented signposting? Radio work/volunteering... hmmm.
Well quite simply, I cannot get over how incredibly fun this volunteering is, you get to go on the radio! (With a planned show of course and a certain degree of professionalism). Accompanying this cool, yet oft repeated fact, is another startling revelation: I met with Kyle from the Regurgiators (in the flesh yes). We had a genuinely cool/nice/freakishly awesome (I kept thinking this as we talked) conversation about Japan, music, doing what you want verses what you love, heaps of stuff, until he had to go on air for his interview (as I had already finished with my news reports). In short volunteering (especially on radio stations) comes with perks, plus I can say that I frequent the air waves on a resume (not that I've had too many job interviews where this has come up).
So yah, volunteering, or more specifically radio volunteering opens up opportunities that you would never ordinarily have, and allows you to meet up with some really nice people. Now if only I had enough time to volunteer for ACMI, Melbourne Writer's/Film/anything festival, the young writers festival in Newcastle, Voicewokrs, and a whole heap of other things (like university stuff, e.g. blogging). Oh well I guess I've got a list of things to do after I finish up at SYN Fm (I don't think that will happen until well after university though).
Now I'm going to take a break to qwander? wonder *ahem* about my gratuitous use of brackets (I think it's like telling a secret in something that doesn't really deserve it- *urghk). There we go, no more brackets (Heheh, that's what you think).
Um, apologies for the bits of craziness I think I'm a little bit excited to finally be writing a blog post that (when writing it) doesn't feel like a dog's breakfast. Case in point (and if you're wondering if this is signposted as university stuff, I'm not even sure what this is, bear with me though). *AHEM* Case in point the last month/two or three weeks I have been struggling to write creatively (bad for short fiction), write blogs (bad for this), struggling to write anything. My hypothesis! End of 2nd year blues or, "Wah do I really want to do this course still?" or even better "Wait a second, I'm doing an Art's course, I'm not guaranteed a job." <- That's not necessarily a bad thing.
My solution to this is to think about the boring alternatives and then realise (perhaps when having a bath so you can yell "Eureka" and do a nude run), that you're doing what you want (hopefully) resulting in much happiness.
Though truth be told a suspicious amount of people are having these 2nd year blues, which is interesting and insightful. Interesting because it shows that they're giving their futures a bit of a grey matter pounding. Insightful, because it shows that even in 2nd year (and all through your life) you're going to have a wee bit of doubt, which you'll have to work through.
Anyway this, and other things I'll talk about further at a later time as it is late, and blogging for too long is just asking for trouble (I'll try to upload this and my computer will crash losing all of my work + this blog).
Anyways night, enjoy the break!
Dan
Friday (aka Sleep-in-day or Barely-sleep-day depending on project deadlines I have on) has been more or less eventful. As usual, I started the day with the Student Union cooking demo class within the bowels of the Union House basement. Of course, I had to dodge campaign people on my way to the Union House from the big tram stop. Oh, and horror of horrors, there was even a lone purple-clad campaigner in front of my dear architecture building. Isn't there any place sacred to these people anymore? Luckily A) they all wear brightly-coloured shirts that make it easier to avoid them and B) it's the end of election week. Sigh of relief all around. Normality recommence, or whatever can pass as normality during this time of the sem anyway. Moving on. As with other weeks, there's an Asian theme going on in the abovementioned cooking class. Ironically, all attendees of said class were Asians. Asians learning to cook (westernised) Asian dishes... might be bizarre to some, but hey, it's not like all of us were born with a wok in our hands.
Studio class was a bit draining as always. Nothing against the tutor or the subject itself, and everything to do with the scheduling. Scheduling a four-hour class on a Friday afternoon/evening is an act of cruelty; so cruel that such practice should be banned. It's the first time in three years that I've gotten a class on a Friday afternoon. So the Uni waited till I'm in the last semester of my course before slapping me with the worst class schedule ever. Thanks for that Melbourne Uni, I can surely feel the love. Oh well, at least we got some free fingerfood in class today. Apparently some catered event in the my faculty had lots of leftover food, and my tutor didn't want to let it go to waste so voila! snacks all around. And it's not even QOT season. Tutors in my breadth subject almost always have sweets in class come QOT (Quality of Teaching survey) period. But that's another story altogether.
And oh yeah, I met someone who apparently has never heard of Freddos before. So that has been my one amusement of the day - explaining to someone what a Freddo is.
Week 6 or something (can't remember.. i'm taking subjects from 3 different universities and we're all in different weeks) and it is getting kinda busy. On top of that I got a bit of work experience doing a risk assessment with ANZ, which is great. Exams and assignments, reports and essays, but that will always be there! I am finding it quite hard to coordinate three different universities though, three different ID's, three different email accounts yada yada.
The Med Revue is happening this week, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sep - 'The Dalai wears Llama' - so go along! Its $13 for students, and happening at 8pm. I'm endorsing this only 'cause I know that two of my friends are in it, and that as med students they're all a pretty talented bunch. Overachievers. You know who I mean.
... is currently dealing with an avalanche of projects. Final semester of undergrad and all that. It's like all my subject coordinators conspired to have all assessments concentrated on the four weeks before mid-semester break. Will do a proper update soon. Btw, is anyone following closely the whole Gillard-Abbott-Independents debacle? I'm glad I didn't have to vote; if there's one thing I don't like, it's to do with not having enough choices (or worse, not having good options).
No, not really. I kid, I kid. In actual fact I'm procrastinating (as all should do once in a while) from doing philosophy readings (Huzzah!).
Yet my procrastination, while certainly distracting me from doing said readings, has uncovered a surprise! Job searching (as the unemployed are prone to do), a brief 10 minutes ago, I was surprised to find that there was yet again tutoring work nearby. I could scarcely believe my luck, another tutoring job in my neck of the woods, preposterous! ..... turns out unfortunately that said job was preposterous.... it was from my previous tutor haggle nemesis, that only arranged for 2 tutoring lessons! And get this! She put up the price per hour up to 22 dollars an hour! So now all my haggling will go to the next tutor/tutess, while I measly me am still unemployed.
So while certainly humorous in a black way, I find myself suddenly quite annoyed at the world, or to be more exact at employment. For job application after job application I have sent into the workforce, all I seem to be receiving from the overfed resume beast is little paper dribbles out from the side of its mouth that proudly, and yet so unfortunate to me, say that I will not be receiving employment.
Me thinks I have a fatal character fault that will always lead me astray in job applications..... that or there's a conspiracy against me. In any case I'll still be chugging out applications left, right and center hoping that eventually they'll jump into somebody important's hands and get me a job. That or continuous unemployment for the rest of my life *cue melodramatics*
Shrug* Que sera sera, something will happen, besides it's not like I'm wasting all my time searching for jobs........... I'm doing university study, doing the housework (damn lazy goodfornothing sisters leaving me 3 nights worth of pots to clean), running, radio, this, that and the other.
Yet without the security of finance, oh so impressive payslips, an increasing bank account I feel myself looking less and less sufficient. It's not like I get handouts for anything (I already tried, and failed), or leech off my parents (actively refusing money is kind of hard from them), or refuse work (points to scavenger Esq. frenzy of job applications), it's just..... I dunno dehabilitating to be perfectly capable of things and still not be employed. I have work history, I have experience, and I have charisma.... just not luck. Haroom!
Perhaps I should start handing myself out arbitrary pieces of paper for each "hour of work," I do to start feeling more capable? Truth be told I don't really need that much more on my plate (as I have enough to do already), yet I want to escape this feeling of inadequacy.
Getting a job probably won't help fix that feeling anyways. As happiness comes from within, and all that jazz. At least I have radio which is always impressive/fun to do on Thursdays. There's really no need to be so hard on myself.... then again there's that damned feeling.
Anyways, that's enough from me for now, as too much mulling makes for really sour wine... or some sort of analogy. More cheerfulness to come! (I'm leading you on in eager anticipation for the next post... really!)
Jyane,
Dan
Happy Open Day everyone. Although I didn't go, I hope it was much fun for all. 4 weeks in and I've had no assessed pieces (I lie, I had one blog to write which I forgot to do. So bye bye good marks), I've changed my subjects YET AGAIN and now am enrolled in 6 subjects with 8 contact hours. WHAT?! you say? yes indeed, although one of those subjects I'm so sure I've dropped already (but am still receiving emails) and another I'm going to drop soonish, probably Monday. Oh, and two of those subjects are online.
In a nutshell:
- Plant Biosomething molecular something technology blah blah [has labs = lab reports = bad] ON CAMPUS
- Developmental Neurobiology [no labs = good; haven't done any of the prerequisites = bad] ON CAMPUS
- International Peacekeeping ONLINE [The University of Queensland]
- International Business Negotiation ONLINE [Tech de Monterrey - Mexico]
So now you all know kinda what I'm doing, perhaps that will help you to follow my ramblings. I joined the gym as well - and trying to become a gym junkie. What's the best machine for kinda doing light exercise/reviewing notes? I'm thinking the stepper or bike. Aaaannd looking for a job at the moment, anyone know of a part-time reception/admin job that's going? I'm free anytime except thurs arvos (those labs!). Oh, if anyone is interested I'm leading a discussion group for StudentAlpha on Thurs nights in the city, it is a forum for discussing and asking questions about Christianity.. like 'if God is good, why is there still evil in the world?' we can't promise answers but hey - sometimes its good to ask the hard things. On that Christian note, I'll leave you with a verse from the Bible (taken completely out of context)
"Much study wearies the body" - Ecclesiastes 12v12b.
For is this a case of lost or found before me, or merely the faulty memory of the mind?
I have amongst Shakespeare misquotes managed to! Or somehow, unforeseeably! Lose my Blue and Black DS accompanied by treasures of all treasures my kanji dictionary!
This treasure, found in a far off land full of sushi, shinkansen, and... onsen, is my one and only source of unlocking the secrets of the most mysterious script of kanji. With it I can at will scrawl down the shapes I see and get an instant translation/thesaurus/analysis of what ever it is that confounds me. The ramifications of this technology has sped my Japanese learning to almost unthinkable distances! And now... through no fault of my own I have lost it to the winds of fate.. time... some wind. All I did was bring it into university in my bag and suddenly! It has disappeared with nary (or no) trace at all!
At first I thought it would be at home, but lo, I, looking high, looking low, could not find a trace of it. My mind filled with denial screamed out a no to the fact presented before me, that the DS was lost.
No, it must surely be displaced, I am a forgetful person, yet not to the point of leaving anything behind when I go out. It should surely be home.
Unfortunately it is not, and so after a week, I have expanded my search to encompass all the places that I could have possibly left it and come up with naught.
So I ask you faceless internet will you provide me with a boon? Of unforeseeable luck? That a passerby may have seen my Black and Blue DS from Japan with a game card that acts as a dictionary?
Please?
In anycase I'll live in hope. Something other than my DS will most assuredly occupy the next post.
Adieu,
Daniel
So... that's week 1 of my final semester gone and we're all now heading into week 2. All of my tutorials, especially the three hour ones have either been postponed for this coming week or finished early. It made week 1 passed so swiftly but at the same time, it made me think that I've sorta been cheated of one week's worth of tuition fees. Anyways. I love at least half the subjects I'm taking this semester, which is more than I can say for my other five semesters at Uni. I feel like I'm finally going to learn something practical that I can use once I graduate. E.g. I'm taking I site engineering subject called Site Tectonics (I groaned at first seeing the subject title, thinking it's just another geology/geography subject) where the tutors will actually let us get down and dirty with glue, knives and cardboards. When I was in first year, I did have a subject that required building cardboard models but we did not do any actual cutting and pasting in class due to coordinators'/Uni's fear of liability - apparently, there's a high enough number of cases of students getting too intimate with their exacto knives.
In other news, I'll be having my citizenship appointment this week! Apart from some standard checking of my eligibility and identity, I'm supposed to answer 20 multiple choice questions about Australia. Apparently, if I can get 15 out of 20 I'll be considered Australian enough to become an Australian. A bit dubious, I know. It sounds all too easy that I feel like I might have missed some memo from the immigration office. Surely it's not that easy to become an Australian citizen? I have expected a whole lot of hoop-jumping. Oh well, I do hope it all turns out alright. It's just too bad that they took out that Don Bradman question from the citizenship test; if they didn't, I would have had one guaranteed point at least.
Changed my major yet again, the joys of being a third year - and of course, the guinea pig year of the Melbourne model has its advantages. I'm writing this blog now and multitasking by listening to a neurobiology lecture that is hardly hearable in the background because the lecturer wasn't standing behind the mic at the time.
Currently I am somewhat eligible for 2 different majors (don't ask) which had something to do with going on exchange, being short by 1/2 a subject, doing an extra semester.. yada yada.
So. Plant Science. Cell & Developmental Biology (developmental or plant cell). choices choices. oh and I'm doing a first year bio subject this year; Flora + Fauna and haven't been able to register for any tutorials yet. The internet thingy won't let me go into any either - apparently they are all full. I suppose I need to spend hours queuing up at the student centre.
Now is also the time for vac applications (Aus/NZ) and Grad applications (Nth hemisphere)... so should probably take advantage of the extra time I have 'cause I don't have a job at the moment. ramble ramble..
Shall I buy that gym membership?/ does anyone want to pay for me?
Ciao!
Well my first week of University is officially over and dusted (much like my aforementioned tutoring job eeeep!) with me sitting next to a slowly dying fire, head rolled back in a position of exhaustion. The weight of knowledge (or much more likely morning runs) is just soo much upon my untainted holiday brain. But I'll persist, mainly because I know after this post I have another to do somewhere else (yah I know spreading out, weird huh), saxophone and then shifting through a bunch of short stories to find something suitable for tomorrow’s final date of submission for........ ABOVE WATER writing competition.
So if there are any budding writers out there hoping for a chance to flaunt their stuff, here's one of many chances to see if your story is actually good/rings true for whoever is judging. Anyways I need to have something for tomorrow... and so far....... huff* it looks like I'll have to put a bit of work in to be happy with any submission I give to the Farrago people that run the show.
Speaking of shows I've been presenting the news on Syn FM which has been an exciting experience... especially today after I got tongue twisted from Japanese and general tiredness. I managed not to make too many mistakes on words and to find some interesting stories (even though I was short on time) and in the end it worked out reasonably well.
And.... university seems much the same as it always has been, readings, lectures, tutorials and more readings. I must say though Story, Ideas and Meaning (I think it is) is a really good education/broad arts subject that deals with a wide variety of mediums in which story is presented in. And to boot it's interesting, so I'm very happy that I've found a good breadth subject (as from the rumors that I've heard from education some subjects can be a bit trying).
Anyways exhausted beyond my 2nd year of uni years, I'll be off to do some more stuff!
Stay updated for more coherent and exciting adventures of Dan.
Cya,
Dan
Number of posts found:
575