Disclaimer: Not meant to offend anyone!

In Psychology class today, while discussing about what intelligent people (the examples included Mozart and Einstein) have in common:



Naoto: They all die young.

Jorge: That's why Japanese live for such a long time.



xDDDD


Everybody broke out laughing, including Naoto. The lecturer looked at us like we were all nuts. We weren't, we were just tired from doing HOI essay.

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It's not all fun and games.

Hell no. This is fast track after all. We do a year worth of work in eight months. We juggle 3 essays, a drama performance, and a presentation. Some do it like a pro, and others (like me) flail and moan and proscrastinate and go into panics, but pull through anyway. At least, I hope I'll pull through. Sometimes it feels like swimming through an ocean; one day you've got your head above water and the current's not dragging you down, but other times you kick and fight to keep from drowning.

Yes, I like the classes. The lessons still hold my attention and I don't dread school. But assignments? They're an entirely different story.

I have a terrible habit of lying back once I've got good scores, and I know it. Which is why I'm trying to keep myself on track, making sure I don't rely on those scores I've already got. They only count for 35% at most after all, and I'm aware of it. I just have to find my drive again, and I think I know what it is.

This time I'm fighting for myself.

This time this is for me. Sure, I'd like to make my family proud and show that being here, the second option, is not a mistake. That I can be in a place so completely new and not fall apart like a porcelain doll. That I'm not a baby. But above all I want it for me. I want to get into Psychology. I want to be here. And I want to pass with flying colours.

I just have to tell myself that all the time.

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Term 1 reports are out! And I am pretty happy about it. There's that tiny feeling of disappointment about not getting those spectacular marks, but I did well. That's enough for now. And the comments are my favourite part:

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School's in! Never thought I'd be happy about that. =P I loved xmas holiday, but classes aren't bad. The routine of getting up early, doing homework, and squeezing into a rush hour train is the only downside. Really. It's not like high school where I'd stay in bed for an extra five minutes after my alarm goes off wishing it were a Sunday.

But it's not just classes I look forward to. It's my friends. Lunch time and the time inbetween classes when we're planning the weekend and complaining to and pep-talking each other about exams and assignments. That's one of the perks of going to school, isn't it?

Assignments, however, aren't one of them. Literature already has us reading a novel, which I'm not really complaining about, except it's not that easy to read. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is the first novel that we have to read this term. The plot? A future without books. Firemen don't put out fire; they set the fire. Guy Montag, the main character, is a fireman who - after an incident - starts to wonder if books are as bad as they thought. My summary's not doing it much justice, but it is quite fascinating. Especially for a bookworm like me; I can't imagine a world where you will get arrested for having a book in your house. Sounds horrific.

Believe it or not, I actually bought more books this weekend. One is Meg Cabot's Airhead: Being Nikky, and the other is Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. One light-hearted, the other depressing. I don't know when I'll finish reading them, but I know I want to read them. I've been wanting to read Airhead for a while, so when I saw a copy in St. Andrews market (for $7!), I bought it right away. And my host mum took me to this street with awesome bookshops with the prices far cheaper than Borders, so I couldn't resist getting Second Glance when I saw it.

And if you wondered why Becky Bloomwood is in the title, that's 'cause those books, they're not the only things I bought. Me and vintage markets and cheap things = me buying stuff. I felt a bit like Becky (Confession of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella), who simply can't resist a good sale. The difference between me and Becky? I don't go for brands. It's good things under $20 that I can't say no to. From Boxing Day up to Sunday, I've bought skirts, tops, a cardigan, a vest, scarves, a pair of flip-flops, a pair of flats, a belt, a bag, bracelets, a necklace, and an iPod.

*blinks*

It didn't look that many when I bought them.

Though fortunately, unlike Becky, I didn't break the bank. Half of those things I got very cheap in vintage markets and during Boxing Day sale. Besides, I only shopped during that time period, so I actually could splurge. Now that the sales are over, I can turn away from the shops quite happily and focus on homework again.

Labels: books, holiday, melbourne, Trinity

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So Melbourne's got a holiday for the Melbourne Cup, aka horse racing. How awesome is that? I have zero interest in horse races, but it's fun to see people wearing fancy clothes - girls with their dresses and hats and guys in sharp suits. And they were on the trams and trains too. XD

Most importantly though, I get Monday and Tuesday off. Just in time for a busy week too: I've got a Media and Communication assignment, Lit test, and Math practice test (meaning the mark doesn't count toward our final grade). Don't forget the History of Idea essay had just been announced as well. I'm slightly nervous, because this means school is really kicking into gear. I've seen relatives and housemate suffering under the final exams stress, I just hope my time won't come just yet.

Speaking of relatives, I hung out with cousins and niece last Saturday. It was nice; their being here is one of the reasons I'm not crying my eyes out for home. Still, I didn't say much. I am quiet by default, I'll admit that. But I can be talkative. Those who are closest to me will tell you that. So I'm guessing I'm not that comfortable around them just yet.

Sunday was spent hanging with friends. Had to get up earlier than my normal hour on weekend to go to St. Kilda's beach with a quarter of the intake. Not really worth it. Too windy, boring, nothing special. But afterwards, my friends and I headed back to the city and had Hungry Jack for lunch. Nothing like a good burger on a Sunday I guess. And the day got better when we went to Harbour Town, a nice shopping center at Dockland. Diana seemed very happy, and it was fun. The boys seemed to enjoy it too, though I think Dixon looked a bit bored. =P We might go back again one day, because the shops were getting ready to close down by the time we got there, and Candy didn't come with us.

Today was spent a bit more... productively, I guess. Went to the library with the gang to study, and actually did some studying. So proud of myself about that. :) The day went downhill after that, when I'm stuck in a gathering where everyone speaks a language I don't understand. If I had known, I wouldnt' have gone. It was just uncomfortable and unpleasant, feeling very much left out, even though they didn't intend to do it. But the day ended on a good note, having dinner in a Chinese restaurant with my friends, sharing food and joking. Candy said it reminded her of her home (in a good sense, not in a I'm-suddenly-homesick kind of way), and I kinda felt the same.

Tomorrow, Melbourne Cup's day, will be spent revising. That's the plan anyway, and I do want to stick to it. Wish me luck!

Labels: family, food, friends, melbourne, Trinity

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That is how long I've been in Melbourne. Doesn't look like a long time, but as they say, time is a funny thing. On one hand, it feels like I've been here much longer. On the other, it's as if I blinked once and an entire month had gone by. Suddenly we're approaching essays, tests, exams... And suddenly there's this conversation again about trying to get scholarship. Talk about getting my head in the game.

I'm not complaining. I have looked forward to going to uni ever since I was in year eleven. I've planned for this year - and the ones ahead - for a while, and so far I'm loving each moment. I get up every morning actually looking forward to class, I don't feel like curling up in bed and forget about school. High school was wonderful, but for me, it was mostly about getting to this point: Get good grades to get into the good uni. Which uni? Which major? Be independent. Get ready. Grow up. For once I'm ready to agree with Stephenie Meyer. I don't remember the exact quote but it's something like: High school is to be endured. College is to be enjoyed."

I sure hope it'll stay this way for a while.

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So you'd think that having just moved here to Melbourne - well it's been a bit over three weeks actually - I'd have lots of stories to tell. And I do. I just don't really know where to start.

Well, for starter, it's not as bad as I thought it would. I keep waiting for the wave of homesickness to take over. And I'm still waiting. Haven't curled up in bed crying over missing home, though I do miss it. I miss the family, I miss my friends. Heck, I miss my dogs. Still, there are so many things to do and see here that I find myself distracted and hardly ever lonely. My house mother is perfectly lovely, and my house mate is too. I feel right at home. There was a tiny bit of drama at the start, but it's over now and I don't feel like bringing it up. Let's just say my gut feeling about someone was right from the start.

Getting on the public transport was a bit nerve-racking at the start. I totally gaped at the tram, nearly toppled over inside it once, and the numbers and the train lines just ran gave me a headache. I've been driven around for most of my life, so it was understandable that I was a bit freaked out. Right? Thank God for my cousins (and niece) for showing me around. I'd probably feel lot worse if they weren't here. I used to say I've got way too many relatives - and I still think I do, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. ANYWAY... I'm used to the transportation now. Haven't gotten completely lost in two weeks. =P And once I'm less nervous about being in a compeletely foreign place, I don't freak out so much. =D

I think I can safely say I've found my friends. Not just people I sometimes hang out with, but people you can confide in with your problems. They're all from Hong Kong, but we all speak English (obviously), so it's fine. Awesome, in fact. You'd think I'd connect better with people from my own country, but I don't. Not really. They're perfectly nice, but we don't click that well. Still, I miss my girls. I don't think anyone will ever come close to what I have with them, not as far as I can tell.

As for school, classes are going well. I'm following lectures well, and I'm actually enjoying some of the classes. So far I haven't dreaded school at all, which is awesome. =D My electives are Psychology, Media and Communication, and Maths 1. And I don't think I made the wrong choice at all. Still have to establish a routine though; five months break from studying does nothing to help with my studying habit.

So yeah, that's the past three weeks in a nutshell. Will be posting more, I think. Mostly because I will probably need the rant space, especially once homework builds up.

Labels: melbourne, Trinity

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