Friday, February 26, 2010
26th Feb 2010
Today is a good day. The only bad thing is that the weather is too hot.
Woke up and decided to skip on the 2nd host group meeting and went to do grocery shopping instead. FYI, in Melbourne, as mentioned by Jessica, she says to try to do whatever shopping during the weekdays as the prices of goods are twice as expensive on the weekends. So, I went to Aldi, apparently some things are cheaper here than at Woolsworth—their NTUC, and bought spiral pasta ($0.99), 3L fresh milk ($3.05), Traditional whole meal bread [750g] ($2.49), 1kg vanilla yoghurt ($3.79), whole meal crackers ($1.99), box of 32 pantyliners ($2.39), 14 pads ($2.49) and an eco-bag for $0.89.
Came back around 1pm and put everything down and finished up the remaining milk in the fridge with cereal as lunch. Set my timer for 2pm as I need to make a trip to the bank to enquire about my debit card. Reached the bank and liaise with the customer service officer and he could not locate my card. When I applied, I requested to collect the card from the branch and somehow, the message was not properly relayed and it ended up being sent to my hostel. Luckily, my mail was in the hostel’s mailer corner.
After I went to the bank, I went to the MDHS—Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences Centre to meet my student advisor on my credit standings. As I arrived there much earlier than the appointed time, I used the open access computers and view my time-table. Apparently, I have been given credit for the Chemistry and Calculus. So, I don’t have to study these two subjects. The newly enrolled Japanese is in and there is PRACTICAL for it. Huh?!
Met up with the student advisor and she told me of the credits and I had to fill up a form to indicate that I have reduced load of study for this semester and as I have credits, in the 2nd semester, I have to take two breadth subjects. But, all in all, I have to study here for three years as I have not studied biology before. Is it possible for me to start direct in year 2?
After meeting the student advisor, I dropped by the school bookshop and bought the necessary items for the biology practical package ($28) and the Unwired modem for internet ($39).
Came back to the hostel and put everything down. It was almost 5pm and I had to make dinner. So, I took out the chicken bones and let it thaw. I then started cooking at 530pm. Planned to cook chicken rice for dinner, but I did not have any ginger or pandan leaves or sesame oil. So, I added garlic and added some lemon juice to the rice as substitutes. The chicken rice was tasteless. There was no hint of chicken rice at all. Failed project.
Next, I made cream of broccoli. I boiled some water and added salt, pepper and oil. Added in the broccoli and let it simmer until the broccoli turns soft. Finally, I added some milk to give it a creamy colour and dashed Italian herbs into the soup and set it to high heat to boil and voila, it’s done. The broccoli soup was not bad. I still can taste the broccoli and the herbs.
After dinner, I came back to my room and start to setup all my stuffs. Looked through my mail that I picked up from the mailer room which includes my debit card and the receipt of the rental bond I paid which can be claimed after my stay here. I then activated both my debit card and the internet. The internet plan I chose cost $19.95 per month that allow 5GB of data usage (1GB for peak hours and 4GB for off-peak hours). Why does Australia have this sort of policy to their internet?
FYI, peak hours are from 4pm to 12am and off-peak hours are from 12am to 4pm. Times are all stated in Melbourne’s time. Also note, there will be daylight saving from April due to the coming winter and the time difference will be shorten by 1hr.
Glanced through biology practical notes and saw…. I have to do a dissection of a RAT! Procedures: Collect a rat from the cage. Pin the rat and cut through the centre of it. Faint~ Not only rats. Apparently, there are frogs, rabbits, etc…
Although I have seen live demonstrations of frog, rabbit and rat dissection in my secondary school, I have not done it by myself. My bro was saying that he too had to do dissection in JC. Pray hard that I don’t feel nauseated and better still; do not faint!
Forgot to mention; yesterday by chance when I was watching TV, I saw an episode of the new season of Ghost Whisperer. Wow. The main actress now has got a son in the show. A five year old boy.
So, end of today’s entry. Do see you online!
Be Enlighten | 9:26:00 pm
25th Feb 2010
Today, I went to the campus with my laptop as planned. First, I went to sit for the Japanese exam. The very first thing when I walked into the theatre, they shoved me with test papers—a questionnaire form and a blank paper for essay writing. OMG. Essay writing. I have not written a single one before. The title of the essay was my most memorable experience in 2009. I wrote about my 21st birthday but I had forgotten how to write many of the kanji and ended up writing it in hiragana. The second part of the exam was full of sentences and it was to test our understanding of Japanese sentences. I can understand almost all of them. But, I can’t write and speak. My JLPT exams didn’t require that. In the end, the lecturer graded both my essay and the understanding and had to refer me to another lecturer for consideration—Problem: Very good understanding but messy essay writing. Also, told the lecturer that this was my first time writing. In the end, the lecturer placed me in class 4A. The most advanced level and I am to attend the class and should the class be too tough for me. I will then request for a transfer to a lower level class.
Due to the Japanese exam, I missed the other academic skills lectures and went on ahead with my plan to use the wireless network in my campus. I had problem with the connection and had to consult with the student IT centre in the school library. Just a note, the campus has got many libraries and each subject books are located in the respective subject buildings. Meaning, should you need to borrow biomedical reference books, you will have to head over to the Brownless Biomedical library to borrow and etc. So, should I need to borrow a particular subject book, I will have to head over to the respective school to borrow.
Finally, I have configured my laptop to use the wireless in the campus. Pros—I can go online, watch shows, play facebook. Cons—I cannot access to msn or skype messenger. So, I surf the net and see my student email. This school people like to relay messages via the student email and thus flooding it. I really do have to check it every day. There are pre-lab and lecture hand-outs which I have to go through before lectures and I have to know how to use a compound and dissecting microscope at this stage! Please someone help me! I never studied biology before and I am advancing at such a fast pace.
Checked my email and facebook and logged off to return back to hostel at 2pm since my laptop battery is dying too. Tidied up my place a little as my friend, Jessica was coming to visit my place. Came back and saw that no one was at home. Poked into the fridge to grab some strawberries to eat. Then, my housemate came back with the management. Apparently, she also locked herself out of her bedroom. Lol. Refer to my past incident.
Also, the other tenant came back to the hostel with her mum and I overheard from the Jap housemate that the other tenant was moving out and the mum came to help move the furniture and stuffs. So, that means the entire apartment belongs to just the two of us. Cool. Lots of room to myself. Pray that no one else moves in. Praying hard.
Jessica came by at 330pm and the management called me to pick her up at the office. Apparently, she approached the management and the management disagreed to help her with the security to the block where my room is located. Also, she had a problem with her bond.
She walked around my room and understood why I was so complaining about it. She also agreed. In fact, she also thinks that since I am paying more than her for rent, I should have more facilities and a better environment opened up to me.
We then set-off to the Melbourne city basically QV Square where she show me all the places to buy my stationeries, toiletries and etc. for a cheap and better price. Saw a ‘The Body Shop’ and went in. The prices of the items there are the same in SG but here the prices are in AUD. I will lose out on the conversion rates. She then bought me to shops like Priceline—our Watson’s, Target—our Giordano and the Reject Shop—our Econ minimart. She also told me that I can take the red-coloured tram to travel around the city and it’s free.
After that, I stopped by her place, which is slightly away from the Melbourne city and closer to the quiet areas. I went to her residence in which she is staying and it is a place like a communal kampong. Like those in traditional times where they have low level houses and big central courtyard. She resides in one of the unit’s room. Her unit is shared with five other people and it’s a full house. There are two rooms on the ground floor with the kitchen and up the stairs on the second floor, there are three rooms and the bathroom and toilet. In which, five people have to share one bathroom and toilet. Isn’t it troublesome to climb up and down the stairs to use the washroom or the kitchen?
Stayed at her place for a while and she lent me her goggles and dvds to watch. Hopefully, she remembers to pass to me the equipments and furniture in which she doesn’t need after she completes her studies this year.
Lucky for her; she has got an aunt who is living in Sydney for more than twenty years. So, there will be no problem for her should she have any cash flow problems as her aunt can pay on her behalf first. Also, her aunt taught her many things and in turn she told me about. Like for an example, the tax file number which I am suppose to register. As apparently, she says, the interest of the money earned from the bank will be halved if I did not get a tax file number. So, I guess this number thing must be useful. Although, I don’t think they will tax me when I don’t have that much fund like Jess.
Tomorrow, I have a 2nd host group meeting at 1030am and I have scheduled to meet my student advisor at 330pm for the credit standing results; also, I have to make a purchase for the unwired (internet) modem and my subsequent lab manuals and kits which I have to purchase.
Also, if I have the time tomorrow, maybe I will go to Aldi (Supermarket) to replenish my milk and bread. If possible, buy some pantyliners.
P.S. To my mum: I have not found any face mask that I can buy. I can’t seem to find any local brand and the brands that I see are all the brands that are sold in Singapore for the same price but in AUD instead of SGD.
I can buy the propolis before I come back. I found a shop that sells it cheaply. Do you also need lanolin cream? ~1010pm entry.
Be Enlighten | 9:23:00 pm
Thursday, February 25, 2010
With the dreaded internet connection here, I am using the campus wireless to upload.
Please don't flood my chatbox. Do use the comment function.
Cheerios.
Be Enlighten | 10:17:00 am
24th Feb 2010
Woke up earlier than usual today as I had course orientation and subject briefings to attend. Luckily for me, my lectures hall are all just two streets down from my accommodation, so basically, I need just ten minutes to walk there.
Listened through the entire briefing and realized that I have a lot of online things to do before the lectures, tutorials and practicals go off at full steam. Worse, my internet is not set-up yet. I guess tomorrow, I will have to bring my laptop to use in the school compound after I attend the Japanese proficiency exams. I have got to bring some food along too.
Also, I have got to get lab manuals and microscope kits for the practicals. Just a question, why is the calculator not used in Calculus? Unless, all the questions they have for the exams are not to be solved with an absolute answer.
Asked a girl who sat beside me during the briefings. She came from Hong Kong and that she studied in a high school here before attending the university. That’s a common answer. Even the girl that I know from China, studied in the Australia high school before attending the university. I am so unique. So, I can’t relate to them well. Why is there no one like me who just flew into Melbourne last week to study? The number of Singaporeans is so few too. I can’t seem to find or know any of them.
After the briefings, I went with the China girl—Nancy (let’s drop the offending term), to the computer labs and took down my time-table. Apparently, most of my lectures are overfull and I can’t change them. Took the chance to checked and clear my yahoo mail. Browse through the unwired broadband option.
Later, I had to drop by Wilson Hall to get my student diary and my student card. My face is horrible; and why can’t the photographer let me know that my glasses are tinted and have them taken off? So, you can basically imagine how my card looks like. The student diary? It’s like my primary or secondary school diary. The difference is that, instead of having printed quotes or proverbs on every page, there are all sorts of advertisements in place of it and I really do mean all sorts of advertisements.
Then, I was given a slip of outstanding school fees for the semester. Damn. Isn’t 10k enough? Now, I have to feed them with another 1.5k to top up by the first of March. Now, my funds in Aust. Dollars will not be able to last me for five months. It would be shorten to three months, I estimate.
I had to attend a course briefing at 1.30PM for the Calculus 1 module that I enroll for. Reached the theatre ahead of time and had to wait outside the theatre. Then, I heard Aussies discussing and the sudden mention of biomedicine bachelors being not useful. I was pretty shocked and actually I was swayed by it. Truthfully, though I have a keen interest in the medical sciences, I didn’t really like the idea of coming here to study. First, it’s expensive. Next, it is a complete different place, culture and lifestyle. Finally, I have to look over everything by myself. But, there was no other place to get a Bachelor as I was not able to enter any of SG’s Universities and the Bachelors are like the benchmark in occupations nowadays.
I like travelling to places and countries to learn their culture and lifestyle from time to time though. But, one will get first-hand experience if they lived here for a period of time and I have ruled out Melbourne.
So, I will have to grit my teeth and face through it. The days here are pretty boring. I don’t understand how the people live here and what they do. I don’t mean to offend but if you are in SG, you will understand. Though they have the mixed cultures and vibrancy, the vibe and feel of it is different in SG. There is a missing element which I can’t seem to pinpoint out.
The Calculus module in which I have enrolled is still in doubt and the student advisor has not gotten back to me yet about my credit standings. What am I going to do? Lectures are starting soon and I’ve got to get lecture notes and etc. and the modules I am to take are not confirmed.
Now, I am back in my room and I am having a headache caused by the outstanding school fees. I can’t pay them yet either as my debit card is not ready. Argh, I hate money issues. Money really messes up everything. Worse, the inflow is cut and the outflow has got leaks.
I hope my three year can be shortened and I can go back soon with a Certification. ~8pm entry.
Be Enlighten | 10:17:00 am
23rd Feb 2010
Today is the orientation host group day. Thanks to mobile phones and my mum, I managed to locate my host or I will be wondering here and there.
Apparently, in my group there are majority Aussies, I suppose. Since most of them are not of my skin-tone. We started off with a tour around the school campus and she showed us the building and libraries of each specific type of reference books. And in the midst of the tour, I got lost with the directions of certain locations like the tennis courts and areas like the professors walk.
Made an observation of the people in the group and realized that the Aussies have very typical Asian characteristics---Kiasu-ism and fanatic about freebies. During the orientation, there are many booths set-up and students gathered about in flocks queuing for the freebies of pens and candies. It’s not a bad thing that they know how to save their money on stationeries.
Another note of observation; why does joining clubs and society costs money? In SG, I believe I didn’t pay that much or any at all to be a member.
There will be another host group meet-up on Friday at 10.30AM. I will be attending to see if the others have queries since I have none that I can think about at the moment.
Last note of observation; there are many Hannahs and Sarahs in Aust. Finally, my name is unique here. For better or for worse, they can’t pronounce my name and it’s not even a Chinese name in the first place. In SG, every year, there are like three or more Charmaines in the level. ~ 1.35pm entry
There was leftover rice from dinner yesterday. So, I decided to make fried rice to eat. My fried rice was full of garlic so it was not that good.
My co-tenant then lent me her dvd of Japanese anime—Baccano! The characters were many characters in this anime and a lot of gruesome scenes too. Basically, it’s a movie that involves mafia, murder and the immortal elixir.
Then, it’s sleep time. ~10.45PM entry
Be Enlighten | 10:16:00 am
22nd Feb 2010
Today, I had to make a trip to the campus as I have made an appointment at 2pm with the student advisor for the modules I am to enroll. Also, I need to ask if I can be awarded with credit standings. Hopefully, I can get it so that my term here will be shortened.
Breakfast is bread as usual. My co-tenant will be making dinner tonight. She says she will be making hamburgers. Not the western style but the Japanese style, meaning just pork patties with vegetable salad and miso soup. ~1pm entry
Met with the student advisor and is back. She told me to fill up some forms for credit standing and told me to come find her in a few days later as she need to review the forms and with the syllabuses which I had previously submitted when I enrolled. Hope for good news.
Still haven’t decided on any internet providers yet. Called my mum and asked her to help me google search for some providers and their plans available.
Oh. My co-tenant just called me out for dinner. It’s 6.15pm and I didn’t realize it. Bon Appétit. – 6.17pm entry
Just showered and packed my stuffs for the orientation host program tomorrow. The hamburger patties were okay. Like meat balls that my mum usually make sometimes. Questioned her about the miso soup she made as the Japanese make the soup not only with just the miso paste only (I just found out some time back while watching some food program in SG). She didn’t add bonito flakes but another fish known at katsuo (direct pronunciation). Apparently, you can add whatever you like into the miso on top of just the miso paste; but never the miso alone.
Oops. She made a big pot of miso. Most likely I will be eating it tomorrow again; refer to the curry story.
Saw the news on TV. The weather will be slightly cooler tomorrow; lowest at 15 degrees and highest at 25 degrees. Also, on another note, the Aussie dollar seemed to have rise. Made a calculation on budgeting and calculated that my funds in the bank can last me for another five months; be it rental or telephone bills. Now, it’s the internet that matters the most. What plan am I going to get?!
Just a random thought for the day; how do others, like me, feel when they are studying abroad? ~11pm entry
Be Enlighten | 10:15:00 am
21st Feb 2010
Today, as planned, I made a trip to Chinatown. Purposely made a detour and finally found Chinatown. Went to a Chinese grocer and stocked up on geiji, nanxin beixin, a packet of soup mix and dried mushrooms. I can finally whip up soups with the condiments bought.
As usual, ate toast with cheese and tuna with a bottle of milk for breakfast before going out.
Now it’s 1.50PM here and I’ve marinated chicken to braise with the mushrooms for dinner. It’s my turn to cook dinner tonight. Hopefully, I can make something decent. I tend to be an over-imaginative cook and once I am in a trance, the food can come out disastrous.
It’s much cooler today. Maybe someone heard my complaint and made the weather better. Thank you whoever up there. ~2pm entry.
Just set my chicken and mushrooms to braise. Hopefully, it turns out well. Changed a step though as I didn’t have any ginger and added in Italian herbs instead. Next, I will be boiling the broccoli and toast the diced capsicums. I have never tried this way of cooking before either. Shh…don’t tell it to my housemates.~6.20pm entry.
Finally, it’s food tasting time. My food is bland. The only heavy tasting food is the mushrooms in the chicken and the toasted capsicums. Also, my co-tenant didn’t like the taste of geiji. I became an expert with the broccoli as I boiled it in a wok of water and some oil. After the broccoli is cooked, I took it out and soaked it in iced water; like the pro chef on the variety cooking show shown in SG. A note of observation, the Western chef should infuse some Asian cooking methods and ingredients to their cooking.
Whoever heard my complaint has finally showered me with a cool evening. I can feel the breeze and my mum messaged me to tell me that it’s 4.50PM over in SG and she is heading to my grandmother’s place when I have finished taken my dinner at 7.50PM and preparing to bathe in two hours time. ~ 8.21pm entry.
Be Enlighten | 10:15:00 am
20th Feb 2010
Today is Saturday. For the Chinese, today is the 7th day of CNY; and they will gather around to eat yusheng. Too bad, there isn’t such a tradition here.
Anyway, as I did not have anything planned for today, I stayed in the hostel the entire day; except the time when I left the hostel for the management office at 1030AM for the orientation briefing which ended at fifteen minutes to noon. Basically, the manager went through the rules in which we have to follow.
Then, I went back up to the hostel for my lunch of toast and cheese with a bottle of milk. Before I went for the briefing, I grabbed a muesli bar and ate it along the way to the management office. It’s good to stock up muesli bar, as you will not feel hungry easily and as these high fibres foodstuff take a longer time to be fully digested.
After lunch, I came back to the room and switched on my laptop to complete the past few day entries in which I had completed halfway. Now, I have more or less settled down here; and the only thing that is unsettled is my internet. There are many providers here and it’s hard to decide on which one. Also, there is a download limit here in Australia. Even just opening up internet sites, the download counter will start running.
The weather is fricking warm. I guess its 35degrees today too and I don’t have a fan in my room. Bear with it. I don’t intend to buy a fan as I find it’s meaningless; since I will only be here for three years and I will be heading back to SG in Dec this year. Meaning, I will be able to avoid the summer here.
It’s dinnertime. Finally, my entries are on the dot now. I have just taken my dinner. My co-tenant whipped up spaghetti tonight. The Japanese curry mania is over. I sort of feel bad about myself as I have just been eating the food she cooks for days and I really do mean it as all I do is eat when she finish serving up the food. She still helped me wash my plates and bowls up too.
During dinner, we watched TV. The channels are boring and the news only comes on at 11PM. At that time, I am almost getting ready to sleep.
Anyway, my planning for tomorrow is to drop by Chinatown and stock up on some dried foods. So far, I managed to buy red dates from a Korean supermarket yesterday.
Please quickly issue my bank card, as I need it to install my internet.
Night.
Be Enlighten | 10:14:00 am
19th Feb 2010
Today is Friday and there is no school. My co-tenant and I had planned to visit Queen Victoria Market, since I have not been to Melbourne before (Recall 1st day when I got lost). We planned to go at 11AM. She also mentioned that if you go later in the day, just before their closing at 2PM, the items there will be sold cheaper.
Again, we walked there. It was quite a distance. As all markets, it has got the dry and wet sections of the market. The dry section sells salads, tortilla wraps, beans, kebabs, pharmacy, etc. The wet section, you should know, the usual as markets are. However, the stalls in the market have similar items and are sold at different prices in each stall. So, do make a list of what brand or type of food you are intending to purchase and then, at the market, walk around and make mental notes of the vary prices and quality of the item you intend to purchase before settling down to buy from one of the stalls. Eg. Endowner Apples—some sell at AUD$2.99 per kg or AUD$2.50 per kg, etc. Please also note that cheap prices doesn’t equate to good quality. The cheaper apples may be of bad quality too; being too ripe or bruised.
I bought a broccoli, capsicum x 2(both plus broccoli, $2.50), lemon ($0.70), pumpkin ($0.55), 3 punnet of strawberries ($5), lettuce ($1).
A note of observation today, most of the vegetables sellers in the market are Asians and I highly suspect that most of them came from Hong Kong as they are often see speaking in fluent Cantonese.
After shopping at the market, she brought to drop by a supermarket that she recommend for cheap goods—Aldi, that was just around the corner from the market. Bought some cereal, oil and muesli bars. I have decided on eating food with high carbohydrates so that I will not feel hungry easily.
Another note of observation, in Aldi, all things purchased have to be placed in the eco-bag.
Carrying lots of stuffs, we went back to the hostel and rested for a while. Just before I went out, my bedroom was accidentally in locked mode and I was locked out of my room. I then had to go down the flight of stairs and walk to the management office to help me out. Unlucky timing I had. They had all went out for lunch. I then had to go back to my hostel and wait while watching TV with my co-tenant until 2PM, before I went down to retrieve the keys from them. Down and up the flights of stairs. Unlocked my room and I took my keys out of the room and went to the office to return the keys. Finally, then I can set off myself to the Melbourne Central to get a pre-paid card for my mobile. I then signed up with Optus.
Later, I went to QV Square which I went on the 1st day by chance. I am getting to understand Melbourne better. Maybe on Saturday or Sunday, I should plan on dropping by the Chinatown of Melbourne. First, I went into one of the pharmacy and bought Vaseline Lotion with Cucumber, Aloe and Vitamin E extract ($7.50 for 750ml). Next, I went into Woolsworth and bought rice (5kg for $12.49), tuna which was on offer (5 for $5), fruit and muesli bread ($3.99), chicken lovely legs = chicken drumsticks ($3.31), mixed vegetables mix ($1.59) and 6oog of mozzarella cheese ($4.98).
Carrying a big baggage, I walked home. Again, up the many flights of stairs with I guess ten kilograms of baggage, due to the rice.
Settled down and rest for the day. Curry udon is on the menu today. Finally, the pot of curry is cleared. There will be new food tomorrow.
The day of flighty stairs—8 counts of ups and downs.
Be Enlighten | 10:12:00 am
18 Feb 2010 (Day 2)
A brand new day. I set my alarm as I have to attend the International Student Briefing and my consecutive briefings of the course I will be undergoing. Though the school is of walking distance to the campus; nevertheless, I lost my way. The building in which the briefing was held was just a very direct straight path ahead from my hostel. Yet, I couldn’t identify the building and the entrance. Thus, I ended turning up late by almost fifteen minutes. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one who was late. There were others who where even later than myself; turning up only towards the end of the international briefing.
They went through basically what I’ve went through online back at SG. Just an observation point, I noticed that majority of the people in Melbourne at usually from China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Furthermore, the Chinese make up the majority of the foreigners here. Also, regardless of whichever background one come from, they all speak with the Australian accent in which there tone and sentences are so slanged. Hopefully, I don’t end up being like them. I still like the way I speak English in SG. I just hope that I don’t stutter and be able to convey out my points and ideas to them clearly.
Next was the course briefing, this time round, the Australian students came in and joined us for the briefing. Basically, the briefing was to let us know which modules are required to fulfill in order to get into a particular major chosen. From what I have heard, the bioengineering systems major require lots of Mathematics and Physics modules to fulfill.
Ended the briefing and I have made an appointment with the Student Advisor for my course to discuss which level of Calculus I am suppose to enroll into. Again, I stuttered when I requested for an appointment. FYI, my appointment is on the Monday, 22nd Feb at 2PM.
Do come visit my school campus. It is a really old school and the buildings are mostly from the Victorian Era. As you walk along the hall to find the theatre for the briefing, there will be long aisles and passageways like those seen in movies of the olden times.
Came out of the theatre and was thinking where should I go enroll for my course modules when I do not have any access to any internet connection. Saw a China girl studying the same course as me having the same plight. Chatted up with her and got one of the lecturers from the briefing to guide us to a computer lab. The lecturer was from Hong Kong. She guided us to the computer lab and told us that the user ID and password is written on the whiteboard. Just another observation, in the lecture theatre, they have 2 boards but it’s not used with markers but chalks instead. I am back to primary school.
At the computer lab, we filled up all the enrolment papers online. Can you picture it? The school buildings are like those in the Victorian Era and the computer lab is filled with Apple iMac. The fusion between the Renaissance and the Futuristic is impeccable. As we filled up the enrollment papers, the China girl had a problem with her enrollment procedures. Is it a coincidence? As I helped her to solve the problem, I saw that her birthday falls on the same day as mine; the only difference is that I am two years older than her.
By the time I complete with the enrollment process, it was already 2PM. The items that I have planned in my agenda were all skipped. Even the free lunch that was provided. Damn. We then went back to the Wilson Hall where we had to get the student diary and card, but was not able to as the enrolled modules are not authorized yet. In the same venue, there were booths by banks—Commonwealth and NAB. Without consideration for the NAB bank, I opened an account with Commonwealth; since it was mentioned that all transaction fees are waived as student privileges. I opened a savings and debit account.
After all these procedures, it was fifteen minutes past 3PM. Another item on the agenda missed. There is only one item left in my agenda to attend at 4.30PM—Japanese. FYI, for my course, it is required that in each semester, on top of the modules that I will be studying, I have to take an extra breadth subject, similar to the GEMS module in SP. So, in the meantime, we rested on a bench and I started planning the agenda for the orientation in the coming week (P.S. Yiwen, the diary for each week planning is too small for each day. My agenda for one day practically covers half the page).
By 4.30PM, I, myself went to listen to the Japanese course briefing. Obviously, the lecturer-in-charge of this course is a Jap. He talked a lot about the stereotype impressions others have of Japanese and the purpose of this Japanese course is to break these stereotype impressions. The first thought that came to my mind was “What is he trying to imply?!”
In a nutshell, I have to take a short Japanese test to evaluate the level of Japanese I should take.
At 5PM, it’s the end of the lecture. I am heading back to my hostel. As mentioned earlier, in Melbourne, most of the places close at 5PM. It’s back to climbing the many flights of stairs. I guess I can cancel out my jogging regimen that I had planned, when I already have to exercise myself every day, and twice too.
Back to the room and opened all the windows. It’s stuffy with the windows all closed. Overall, today is pretty cool, probably around 20 degrees Celsius?
It’s time for dinner and to start typing the entry in Words so that I can upload all of them at once when I have my internet connection set-up.
Dinner was Japanese curry rice, as mentioned earlier, my co-tenant is Japanese. She cooked a big pot of curry and is eaten for over three days. Tomorrow, the third day, it’s going to be curry udon.
Cheerios!
Be Enlighten | 10:11:00 am
17-Feb-10
Today, I arrived in Melbourne. Taken a long haul of flight from SG. Upon the customs at SG, I was the last few to reach the customs and I was delayed at the customs as my laptop was placed in the midst of my filled hand-carry luggage. I had to unload the top pile of the deck and retrieve my laptop. On top of that, the laptop still had to be removed from its case to go through the scanner. After the customs, I had to try placing the laptop back into the hand-carry;, when intially I had a hard time putting into the bag to reduce the number of bags I have to carry, besides my twenty-over kilograms of luggage.
During my flight on BA from SG to Sydney, my seat was in the middle of four seats. For worse or for good, my seat was in between of foreigners---meaning Causasians. In fact, the entire cabin as I walked through was filled with them. I don’t really have a personal distaste for them; it’s just that I can’t speak coherently in front of them. I tend to stutter and stumble over simple words and sentences which I did not seem of a problem in front of my friends, family or even strangers. Weird isn’t it?
As I approached my seat row, all of the other passengers beside me have all already taken their seats. Lugging along the rows to my seat with the hand carry, the guy—which I realised later was a French, helped me to put the hand carry in to the upper cabinet. As he was putting the bag up, as it was so big in size—due to the laptop being reshuffled and placed on the top of the pile, he was tugging onto it to put it into the cabinet. At that moment, I was so worried that my laptop was going to be a goner by the time I reached Melbourne. The recollection of how my camera spoilt in Taiwan flashed in my head. Luckily, it slid in after two tugs. The lady seating beside me helped to clear my seat as I shuffle my way through. I never like the idea of people helping me. However, it does not mean that I dislike the intentions of people who are trying to help me. It’s just that like in the airplane situation, I felt so embarrassed when they helped me; and it was just ONE hand carry and my clumsiness that caused the commotion. Another thought; do you know that I dislike to the one that is stalling everyone who is behind me and just because I got caught with the straps of my shoes, bag, etc or like placing the hand-carry up into the upper cabinet?
On board the flight, WOW. The drama unfolds. First, the plane had only some of its engines switched on and the pilot only realised it after I have settled down for some ten minutes; when I was perspiring through my shirt. Next, the stewards have problem closing one of the upper cabinets diagonally in front of me. The stewards then unload the baggages of passengers from the spoilt cabinet, placing them into the other cabins will available space. Ironically, the emptied cabinet was then able to shut tight and the lock was in working order. Woofus. The flight duration is seven hours and the plane only took off after 830pm.
It’s 10.45PM. The lights are back on full and it was time for dinner. Just a note, my mum fed me dinner at 5.45PM. On the menu was Stir-fry beef noodles or chicken curry rice. Luckily, I took the chicken. The noodles didn’t look too appetising. The rice was the main course, with rice noodles as salads—did not suit me, sago jelly pudding with coconut milk—interesting idea and a bun. I took my time to enjoy the meal as I watched a movie, An Education, from their in-flight entertainment. Go figure the movie. The moral of the story is to place education first and foremost before having a partner of a lifetime. The French guy, who sat beside me was busily wolfing down his chicken meal and finished his in a matter of minutes. You should ought to have a look when he ate the bun. He practically threw it into his open mouth like how I flick peanuts into my mouth for the fun of it. This is no funny business. It’s a BUN. How I saw it? ‘Cause I was seating back in my seat enjoying both my meal and film, when I saw something like a spaceship flew across from the corner of my eyes.
After dinner, the lights were out again and by that time my movie ended. How did the film and its cast got nominated in for the Oscars? There was nothing extricate in its production and there was no impression that I can make of it. The French was down after the meal. As usual, I can’t sleep in planes. So, I basically rest my eyes.
Now, it’s 5.30AM. Forty-five minutes before landing. It’s breakfast time. How am I suppose to eat, when I have not burn off much of the calories in which I have taken in during dinner? For breakfast, the meal comes in a box with a cold, stiff Danish, orange juice and Meiji strawberry yoghurt. Again, the French aced me in eating while I was struggling with the Danish.
Finally, I have landed in Sydney. The French helped me bring the hand-carry down before I even thought of asking him. Thanks a bunch.
Went through and passed the Sydney customs smoothly. The custom checks here are really strict. Luckily, I didn’t have to open and filter through all my baggage. If they were to do that, I will take quite a while to pack them all back in again. Pushed my baggage and checked in with the domestic. Again, custom checks. Unloading the laptop in and out. Overheard that there was a recent scare somewhere with bombs hidden in biscuits and was being overlooked at customs. For crying out loud, the bombs can now be in biscuits too! Where’s next?
Checked my baggage, took my hand-carry and boarded the shuttle to the domestic terminal. Apparently, in Sydney, the international terminal is Terminal 1, budget airlines such as Jetstar, Virgin are at Terminal 2 and finally, the domestic flights of Qantas are at Terminal 3.
Reached the domestic terminal at 7.45AM. My flight out from Sydney to Melbourne is at 8.10AM initally and was delayed until 8.45AM. Thanks to the BA---my flight, that arrived late?! (My guess is that there was passengers that got caught at customs). Apparently, in Australia, there are many domestic flights with working people or travellers travelling interstate as the flight frequency is of approximately thirty minutes interval. It’s just almost equivalent to the waiting time of some buses in SG. Taking planes as if they are common buses, think about that.
Through the PA system, the pilot introduced himself and his crew. Further adding that due to the delay, he would try to reach Melbourne in the scheduled time. LOL. There you go, you have speeding planes. FYI, it takes approximately 1hour to fly from Sydney to Melbourne. Sorry, about the mistake I have told you. Then, it was the stewardess turned to explain the emergency procedures. As usual the same procedures as per normal. But, with one exception. This time round however, I observed that in this flight that almost all of the passengers except the few ones, including myself, were not listening the her explanation. They were either engrossed in their own personal heated conversion with their colleagues or dozing off in their seats. They only became slightly quiet and alive again when breakfast was served.
The calories are increasing in me and I have not burnt off much. This breakfast was better in taste and healthier. Yet, there was a complain about it. This breakfast served a bowl of cereal from Sanitarium, a bottle of milk, a bun, orange juice and a packet of sliced apples. I cleansed the entire plate except the bun. Sick of it—the bun.
Here’s the complain. When the stewardess came round to clear the trays as couple of the passengers didn’t eat much of the meal and only ate the apples. They complaint that in future they would like to have apples and such only as the other selections on the tray was not to their taste. They would prefer to have a trayful of sliced apples and the stewardess replied that the meals are set and they are not able to alter the dishes to be served. A trayful of sliced apples? I would rather opt for variety. Moral, please give good feedback.
Finally. Really finally. I’ve reached Melbourne at 1015am. No customs to clear at Domestic. Came out to collect my luggage. OMG. This is Melbourne? The airport is so old. I thought maybe this sight only end with Domestic. Instead, it was the same with the international. They seriously need to upgrade their airport. It can’t be compare to neither Sydney nor Changi. Curious to know how I got my arm muscles strained? As I collect my baggage from the Domestic terminal, twenty-over kilograms of luggage with the eight-over kilograms of handcarry and backpack, I had to push them to the escalator and up to walk over to the International Terminal as my shuttle only waits at the International Terminal Arrivals. Walked through the rows of shops with me pulling the luggage behind me without the aid of the trolleys as there were none in the Terminal (only outside and it was quite a distance) and trolleys can’t be used on escalators. Took turns to pull the heavy luggage on one hand and the hand carry on the other and by stacking both luggages and pulling it as one. Reached the Departure Hall of the International Terminal and have to go down another flight of escalators to the Arrival Hall. Took a while before I found the representatives who are to take me to the shuttle and damn to Starhub with the prepaid roaming services. I could not call out or sms. It was a pretty desperate time. I was so worried that they might have left without me. Luckily, as I walked to the END of the Hall, I saw them, messed up with their schedule. I had to wait for a while before they register me to board the shuttle. Saw many other students like me having to wait and that they have more luggages than I do. But, they have trolleys as they arrived at the International Airport itself. While I had to lose the trolley because of the escalators.
Board the shuttle. It’s a MERCEDES… bus. The bus carried three other students besides me. The bus was pretty much automated with the auto speed, airconditioning and updates about the status of the vehicle. The sights of Melbourne? Nothing to compliment. It will take many years before they can reach SG standards. It’s pretty much like California for the suburbs and Bugis-Chinatown for the town area. I have yet to travel to the beaches. Weather-wise, not too cold or hot. Pretty dry, heard there is a drought ongoing.
My room. I have become an attic cat. My room is on the so-called “5th” floor that they made out. Worse, there is no lifts. I have to climb ten flights of stairs up and down daily. The hostel workers helped me to carry the luggage to the room and along the way up, my bag gave way. The strap holder broke. What a day I seriously have and it didn’t end. Into my room, there is a big row of gap under the window that I can’t get in or out with ease. What is that wasteful area for? Hide-and-seek? And for heavens’ sake, my telephone point or the internet point is in the middle on the inside wall of the gap. Do I have to bend and crawl my way just to fix my internet point? Even so, the cable will be dangling by my dress cabinet and onto my laptop on the table. So, on top of the hide-and-seek corner, I now too have a jumping “rope” corner. Jeez…
Patches here and there. Hardly any ventilation, very humid room. I could no longer bear my room. I have the urge to pack and go look for a better place. But, I have very tight budget on my rentals so I can’t afford the expensive ones. To me, this hostel is already slightly over my budget. Instead of staying in the room and mop in the room for the reason of why I have to be living in such a place after my tiring flights and desperate time at the airports, I decided that there was no point in grumbling. To allow myself to live better and comfortably, I can make the changes to the room. The room is dead and aching for a change, but, I am alive and kicking, I will do the change to suit myself. So, I put down all my baggages, put aside the spoilt bagpack, changed into something more comfortable and went out to explore the city.
The city is a stone-throw away from my hostel and school. I’ve never been to Melbourne, not to say Australia, and I am walking on my own with a map and phone that I can’t call out to. By that time, I was pretty thirsty too. Thanks to the liquid regulations on plane, I did not have a single drop of water with me and my co-tenants were not in. Along the way, I saw a shop selling Asian foodstocks. Consider this, a bottle of Pokka Green Tea cost here AUD$2.50 and similiarly for canned mushrooms or food, when all this can be simply purchased at a dollar or less in SG. I then bought a drink that cost AUD$3.50 (expensive), but I thought to try; since I have not tried their homebrand stuffs before. Interesting mixtures and variety of flavours of drinks they have. The one I bought was Goji and Green Tea enhanced with the fragance of Acerola and Passionflower as claimed to have the effects of de-stressing.
Took note of the prices as I walked in and through the malls, the clothes very pretty expensive even when they are discounted as compared to the SG currency. I have yet to find the Melbourne’s Watson. Walked into one of the malls when I saw Kmart—their IKEA. Bought a bowl, plate, a thermal cup, some table cloths, wrapping paper, disinfectant, super glue, a stack of Tupperwares in varying sizes that was on offer, a can of Cadbury chocolate drink powder and a box of muesli bars that both was also on offer. Spent a total of AUD$65. Came out of Kmart and saw Woolsworth—their NTUC on the opposite. Went in and took a bottle of two-litre fresh milk (the largest size is five-litres), a box of their house-brand cereal and two packet of garlic breads that was on offer of two for five dollars. Total spending of AUD$12. FYI, in Melbourne, their fresh produce are slightly cheaper in comparison to SG. The apples and oranges here cost AUD$5 – 7 for a kilogram, a bunch of maybe 7-8 long and yellow bananas at AUD$4.75.
Carried five shopping bags and on the way home. Took note of the mall—QV Square. Definitely lost my way back. I had strayed off to at least two streets away from the actual path I am suppose to go by. Thankfully, I had my map. I took it out and analysed my current location and walked in the correct direction. Just a note for people coming to Melbourne; all shops here closes at 5pm sharp, except night places such as pubs. Reached back my place at 6PM. My co-tenant is back.
No time for rest. I set my bowl, thermal cup, plate to soak and wash in water. Kept the foodstuffs that I bought into my allocated kitchen cabinet and took one of the cloths to start cleaning the cabinets and table-tops in my room. Once the cleaning was done, the disinfectant came to work. Once all was done, I settled outside in the kitchen for a glass of milk and cereal. Rinse and dry up all the cutlery I bought and placed them in my room cabinet. Didn’t place them outside as the table-tops looked dirty and dusty to me. I guess my co-tenant is not into keeping the place tidy or clean. Off to work again as I shifted around the movable furnitures in the room and finally placed the my bed linen on the mattress. The study chair had blotches of cotton balls on it and it is so unsightly to me that I dare not sit on it until I get a seat protector for it. Sat on my bed, the only sightly and comfortable spot, I start to work on the wrapping paper I bought. Realised the wastepaper basket was stained and had strands of hair and used cottonbuds in it, I filled the wastepaper basket with water and drained it all down the urinal. Left the basket to dry and continued with the wrapping paper. As the cabinet drawers did not have a covering base and traces of the previous tenants were left in the drawers, eg. Strands of hair, rubber waste, dust. So, I measured and cut the wrapping paper to the dimensions of the inside of the drawers and placed them over before I put my own stuffs.
Finally, after setting everything in place, I felt much better, although the room is still pretty spartan. I took a bathe. Again, my bathing liquids and toothpaste and brush are all placed in my room due to the limited shelvings and dust. Coming back to my room, I felt the room was very much liveable as compared to before. Settling down, I finally figured out how to call out and called my mum. The calls are freaking expensive, SGD$1.50 per minute, my call got cut off almost to the end and I have yet to get an Aussie number and internet connection.
Just before I turn out for the day, I super-glued the strap holder of the bag.
For tomorrow, there is school at 10am.
The day was Damnation Day.
-Charmaine-
P.S. I placed the photos and albums on one of the shelves. Wow. Yiwen really put in lots of effort for the album. Thanks for the hardwork. Thank you Yiwen, Huiyi, Hanni and Desmond for coming to see me off. Do take care and pursue your own dreams.
P.P.S To my family, do take care and I will do so for myself too. Not to worry too much. I guess before the contract ends, I try to look for somewhere else. Btw, is your friend’s house there available for homestay? Hopefully, it is not too far from campus.
Be Enlighten | 10:10:00 am
