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.
