Comments on ppl who are supposedly more qualified than me

Its been a while and I have got a feel of all the lecturers and most of the tutors. Apparently not all the tutors are doctors, so who are they? Masters students? Funny, I thot everyone teaching is supposed to be a Dr... Appears there arent enough doctors around.

Anyway I must conclude that I really love my English lectures. The Portuguese lecturer is really interesting. I think she knows who I am now since Im the only one in the whole lecture who responded to her call to attend the "Learning thru Play" talk. So sad that she is not my tutor. I met my Eng tutor today and, well she said she was cold and having a cold. Ok.. But she seems to be rather "at a loss of words" sometimes. Somehow I really think my lecturer is better off tutoring my class than her but who knows; maybe my tutor just needs a time out from her cold and more time with us. One thing is for sure, she better clarify our doubts. There are numerous doubts hanging when class ended.

Psychology lectures vary cos diff lecturers every wk. We even saw certain undesirable "Animal Planet" scenes in lecture. Apparently people dun see rats on top of each other very often, as I can tell from the number of "eeks" I heard. Sadly to say, I really hate Biopsych.. Of cos, cos its Bio; an abstract extract of Psych which I have hardly heard of.. I even fell aslp thru the first Biop lec, but that was my own sin cos I did not do my readings thus I did not understand shit...

Philo lecturer is definitely engaging. Never fails to make us laugh with his rhetoric. However the nature of the subject turns me off a little so I think its the last I will see Philo after 1101E.. (Actually maybe not cos USP mods have Philo too)

USP doesnt provide lectures but instead give seminar classes. So much more effective that way. Lessons are abstract, same goes for the concepts coming out of Prof's mouth, but a little adaptation shld do. The most homework comes from USP but I derive much joy... Really glad that Im in it somehow..

Social work is rather common sensical at many pts of the lecture. The lecturer seems to be providing real life examples to entice us into the profession. Well and good really, but I can hardly find much application up till now. Its sth nice to know about but it probably stops there. If the occasion, and vibes are favourable, I may consider.

Basically thats it.. I havent seen a single graded work of mine yet thus I wont know uni expectations of their students.. It better not be higher than my own expectations.. Otherwise I can just roll over and play dead...

I can feel the force..

For one thing, Im not imitating "Star Wars".. And for the other thing, the "force" seems to be self-afflicted. I havent felt academic stress for like years and it takes a while to adapt to it again, especially when its much more prodigious than before.

The mid-module assessments like term papers, tests etc are giving me a major headache. I know that there is the Recess Week to play with but I think it is insufficient. Thus Im already doing prep for such stuff now already, and stressing myself up voluntarily. Somehow much as I hate to admit it, but Im probably nerdified, again....

Someone asked me if Im gonna start looking for a gf in this academic phase. Considering the fact that I turned off my efforts for the past previous phases, this is the last round (I do not consider Masters to be an academic phase now). Well I think I am making (I probably should too) some effort but somehow studies still cloud my mind and tempt me to be a nerd. I haven been going out enough recently, and I hate this transmogrification into something that I so hate to be.

I think its all in the mind, ie its all my own doing... Maybe after all my nerd work this sem and I get decent grades, I will tone down a little and get myself new experiences... Maybe... Its now or never to get sth non-grades from school.

Just an academic update: I havent read enough of my textbooks and lecture notes. Haven created my own notes (my tradition) for numerous lectures. Giving too much time to USP writing module (having to find a bloody text for critique)...Placing my impt modules ie USP, Psych and Eng mods, much above exposure modules ie PHilo and SW.... I can hardly remember the time I really put effort in PH and SW... However these disciplines cant really be studied; even if they can, I havent mastered their applications....

There's the irritating worry that Im way behind many ppl in terms of work but maybe Im not that far back, probably in front of many in fact... But somehow there's no gauge to look to. I have seen how ppl went crazy over studies (both literally and metaphorically)... And I can also see myself dangerously treading along that line. Nonetheless, I know I wont end up in any undesirable state. No worries ppl.

What's good...

Luckily for me, the good stuff beat the bad stuff hands down. And Im not so lost in school anymore.

This week was rather eventful. I shall start with today. Despite my serious sniffles and incessant cough, I attended a new media talk on "Learning through Play". It was recommended by my Eng prof and apparently I was the only one in her lect grp who was interested. I think she was pretty happy to see a familiar face. The talker, who is a supposed renowned game designer, was ok, but I could not get his points sometimes. Basically I have four great take-aways:

Four Freedoms of Play: Freedom to EXPERIMENT, freedom to FAIL (or to BREAK), freedom to TRY ON IDENTITIES and freedom of EFFORT (ie how much effort and time they wish to devote to play). Given these four freedoms, and the right lessons and methodology in play, the player will learn even more than by pure instructions. I believe in these freedoms too, but he just put it in concrete words for me. Also he added a new point. That play shld have no time pressure, and the same applies for education. Thats one main reason why education is failing us sometimes. The time pressure is a greater menace than we expect. At least now I have more insights on games.

Going to a choir concert with my cousin on the coming Sunday at the Esplanade. She was a member at the choir and somehow I seem to be the only free one to accompany her. The tickets dun come free though, at around 20+ but I believe I will enjoy it.

Last but definitely not least, will be Mom's bday. She shares the same day as me thus I always remember it. Just that this time, we have two more participants in the celebration this year. And I must thank them for making my mom so exceptionally happy this yr.




I gave mom seashells. It was an easy present cos I just packed the shells I took from Redang and placed them in nice containers. (The koala is not included, it just looked apt to be sitting there). We had Thai (my mom's fav) but the price is nowhere near her fav. Well its a rare event so splurging once in a while is fine. The cake was heavenly, arguably the best tiramisu in SG. Things are still doing well. There's a silver lining in every cloud.

What's bad...

Ok its been a long time again, so I will play it "heaven and hell" style.. Im gonna bitch in this entry and be nice in the next,

First and foremost I failed driving, with an I.F. and 38points. Much as it sucked initially, I was laughing over it hours after I failed. I really shld watch out for oncoming cars before I do my right turns (not doing so will result in I.F.) and someone shld really drill me on the safety measures to take while in circuit, parking etc. Cos nearly half my points were deducted due to safety measure. And for once I can safely say that its not just my fault that I was not safe (read btw the lines). Ensure that yr instr (especially if u are under priv) teaches AND DRILLS you all the safety measures REALLY REALLY hard. Cos the testers are real ANAL over it.

Uni life is taking its toll on me. All the term papers and important assessments are happening at the same time.. Well actually there's little homework, since I dun have tuts yet, but seriously I rather have hw than have to probe in the dark on what I shld do. I havent really the slightest idea what I can do besides hw. JC and sec edu only stressed on hw and thats abt all that Im expecting now. Things like external readings and research etc dun really ring a bell. I think reading the textbook first is the safest way out. And I must say I really suck at research. If not for Google, I think Im screwed. And I have yet to learn how to use the RBR yet. Gotta learn it soon. And the RP for PL modules are breaking my momentum, having to participate in experiments and all.

Anyway I think school just needs a little getting used to. Then there's CCA. Its rather irritating that there are still welcome teas and everything, which I hardly attend. I havent firmed up on a CCA to join but even so, that will have to wait till I get more settled. I think Im gonna have to rethink my resolution on not having a CCA in first yr. I mean, its now or never.

And I must say IVLE and NUSmail is really stressful sometimes. The amount of posts and post (that was a deliberate spoof of words) on both channels can really piss ppl off. I spent one whole afternoon commenting on my tutor's qns, which actually are similar. If not for participation points, I will probably not bother typing them out.

I havent really made friends yet since there are no tutorials till next wk. Missed a few gatherings here and there due to schedule glitches and all. Made a few hi-bye friends but despite everything, Im more glad that my old ones are still around.

When will it come?

Went for driving today. Its an 8am lesson as usual. Been having such early slots for the whole week and Im sick of waking at 730 when my earliest lectures start after 10. Today's my second last lesson before the test on Thursday. Got screwed today cos he thot I did badly at changing lanes and all that. Apparently he thought I focused more on the blind spot than the car in front. Ok I admit there were some such cases but then I was certain that I was mindful of the front car.

Then there was a time when I checked blind spot le then wanted to strafe right when he suddenly turned my steering wheel left, saying that there's an oncoming car. Then I got accused for not checking blind spot. Arrggh!! What shit logic is this? Can I help it when certain, if not many, SG drivers suck? They either park their cars at the double yellow lines, or refuse to give way, hardly signal and......... The list goes on and Im sure my peers know the driving condition more than me since they probably already have more experience.

I hope today's shitty luck means that I have less shit luck tml. Cos I really need to get a license so I need not spend money, and more importantly precious time which can be spent on sleeping and mugging, to let someone screw me and face the potential risk of a car accident.

If I do get my license tml, I swear that I wont drive unless absolutely necessary..At least for 6mths.

And I just discovered that despite the apparent need for a laptop, I actually need a printer more urgently. Lecture notes have to be printed by ourselves now, unlike JC times when we can print as a class. Given the perpetual crowd EVERYWHERE in school, I prefer printing stuff at home. Thus I need a printer, preferably an all-in-one, so that I can scan, print, copy, photo-print etc...

I just checked my email and found out that I have an assignment due five hours later. And I do not even have the materials printed out.. Today was a bad day for the first half. Things better improve, especially for tml. Assuming I get my license tml, the next acquisition will be the printer...I need a Brother, now.....

Somethings I gotta get off my chest...

I went to school for lunch with my cousin, after which I roamed the school for a bloody computer so that I can check out my email and know more about my first lecture. Apparently every PC terminal in the school which is attached to a printer is perpetually occupied, if not always. Eventually, I decided not to be fussy and just find a PC.

Central Lib is always crowded and the queue never fails to resemble a snake. The same goes for the MM room in ADM where some people will rather play games on the Net than let me do something more useful. Eventually I found a "secret place" where I finally managed to satisfy my need. After the search, I had half a mind to purchase a laptop.

Then came the suggested readings. Apparently the lib has little copies of my mod's readings so its a first-come-first-serve thingy. Nothing more is needed to exemplify the need for "kiasuism".

The first day of school was more of a journey than learning. I bumped into crowded places with never-ending queues, be it the bookshop or the PC terminals. Reminds me of the GSS really.

NDP and beyond

Attended the NDP on Thursday. Went to the stadium but we stood outside, due to the lack of tics. Got a few pics but there's more smoke than fireworks in most of them, so I just uploaded a few. I like the first cos its REALLY BRIGHT.. So glad I caught it. I thot last yr's fireworks were better, with more variations; maybe its cos Im standing in the stadium.

Having a hard time now, trying to get my tutorials. Basically I go to school everyday but its good so that my lessons arent so packed together like JC. And my writing module lecturer gave us pre-lecture hw. Like huh... Interesting how these U Serious Professor profs think. I think balloting for tuts is much more irritating than bidding. Maybe its cos we are protected in bidding so I need not give much of a hoot.

It sucks having to survive on allowance, especially when half of them will probably be spent on textbooks. Then there's driving on Thu. Im taking early morning lessons everyday at 8am till Thursday, all in the hope that I will pass. I hope I pass really, so that I need not waste my time and money on the car. Its cool that my relatives initiated the idea of buying me a car when (if?) I pass but Im glad my mom forbade them, cos I doubt I will wanna own a car till 30.

I knew many ppl during orientation. It amazes me how uni students can get so wild in orient. O well... Spent my last wkend going out with diff ppl. Watched like 3 movies within 2 days.

Just a quick summary. "The Simpsons" is worth watching cos it kept me laughing every minute, literally. "Rush Hour 3" is pretty short, predictable storyline but more farcical this time. Appears more like a comedy half the time, not worth a wkend...

I watched the "Secret" too by Jay Chou. The gals are chio la (and probably act better). Jay cant really act as usual; I preferred him in "Curse of the Golden Flower". The storyline for "Secret" is cool, some time travel thingy which was SO unforeseen. I thot it will be like a deja vu from the movie "Shutter" but apparently the plot proved otherwise. Despite some unanswered qns after the movie, I thot it was an ok, yet ambitious attempt to pull off the time-travel thingy. The best (and probably only good) time travel flick I watched was "Back to the Future", if Im not wrong.

I think there's another show I watched but I cant really remember. O well. Will update again

Whats happening??!!

First and foremost I just found out that my old blog is accessible, somehow. Nonetheless Im gonna carry on with this and that will be an archive. Its gonna be a new life from 21 so this blog will be the cornerstone.

As for my HK entry, I think I will never get to it. Moreover I probably told enough people about my HK trip already. The hiatus in entries will be due to sloth and biz (so wats new?) Anyway I will be updating more often now, especially after tml. Its my 2.5 day in orientation after tml, whereby the highlight will be "Project Shoot-It". Its a FOOD HUNT cum CAM WHORE session.. OMG!! Lady Luck is staring at me!!

So I will ensure more pics tml, and beyond. The entries will keep coming in. Ya for those who are curious, CORS was ok for me. I got my 4 modules. The 5th that I will be going for is a GEM or maybe SS. Whoever my faithful readers are (those tagging and hoping that I update someday), really appreciate all yr support ;-) I hope this uni life will bring an even more positive change in me, as have JC and probably army in some (rather little) ways.