Assignments and Exams in Autumn

31st May 2010

120th day in Melbourne

Sunny (after many days of rain)

Time really flies...in 2 more weeks, my 1st semester in Melbourne would have concluded...i've been staying at home everyday preparing for the many last-min assignments, exams and scholarship applications...This is the time i wish the Australian education system is like Singapore's. I remember when i was in NUS, we were given 1 week exam break prior to the start of exams so that we can have time to finish all the readings and revise for the exams. Here in Melbourne, classes are as usual during the week of exams. So here i am, preparing for 1 presentation and 1 assignment for this coming Wednesday, and 2 assignments and 1 exam for Friday...Gosh! I wish i have more time on my hands now..

I know i should be studying now, but i thought i'll spend some quiet time to myself writing my feelings....it has been a hectic week for me and this and next week will also be hectic...I haven't cleaned my room and the house for 2 weeks..gosh! But it's not that dirty lah...i just don't want to get distracted from the many things i've in mind..and my house-mate doesn't care either...so let's put this on 1 side...I'll do the cleaning after the 8th, after my last exam..

As i sit in front of my desk everyday, i see the coming of autumn, where leaves are slowing turning yellow then red...Autumn's really quite nice here, but i'm anticipating the coming of winter. I want to know how cold will the weather be and will i survive the cold winter alone here in Melbourne? I've bought some winter coats and boots (i love wearing the stylish boots here..it's really keeping my feet warm), but the recent electricity bill is overwhelming expensive, so i'll try to get those oil-heaters to replace the fan-heaters..Wonder how am i going to carry the heater back home from the shopping centre?

During the winter, my house-mate will be back in Malaysia for 2 weeks, and knowing that she's going back home, i suddenly have the impulse to buy an air-tix and fly back Singapore..Having cooled down and trying to rationalize my impulse, i decided to stay here..The main reason i'm here is to achieve my dreams and for the past 4 months, i've done nothing of that...i told myself that i must settle on 1 publication with my research this year before i go back and once the 1st paper is out, the rest will follow...I really believe that!

EXAMS!!!!!!!!!!!

21st May 2010

Friday
Chilly

Today marks the 110th day of my stay in Melbourne....seriously, i've been telling myself to stop counting down on the number of days i'm here and just enjoy myself while i'm here...but i really miss home and can't wait to go back...Especially some friends cooked Laksa and Tau Huay last Saturday...all the more i miss Singapore food...hehe

My class had a meeting with the level coordinator and it really seems like our time for the remaining of this year till 3rd year has been fully packed for us...Annual progress reports, 2-3 progress updates, ethics approval, candidature confirmation, placements etc....although it sounds like i've alot on my plate. but i don't feel the urgency yet...i wonder why? Maybe it's because i've not been working hard?? Maybe i'm unaware of all these??? Why don't i feel panicky??? I really wonder why..

Exams are in 2 weeks time and i feel so unprepared for it...and there are plenty of assignments due as well...Oh Lord, you really got to help me out this time :P The only subject i'm worried about is neuroanatomy...there're just too many things to remember for this module and i really feel that i'm not absorbing as much as i should...maybe i should start to take ginko as a supplement...

I just found out that i'm entitled to 4 weeks of annual leave due to the scholarship and anything more than that has to be applied through formal writing...gosh! Although i've entertained thoughts to go back home this sememster break, think i'll save my leave so that i can go back home for longer during CNY next year! Sighz....so many restrictions due to the scholarship but without the scholarship, i won't even survive here....I'm really loving and hating this scholarship...

HAPPY 100TH DAY IN MELBOURNE!!!!

11th May 2010

100th Day in Melbourne

COOOOOLD

Happy 100th day to myself!!!! Time flies i admit..today's already the 100th day i'm here alone in Melbourne...I'm counting down how many more 100 days do i have in Melbourne before i can go back home and be with my family and friends...It's not that i'm being forced to come here, in fact, i wanted to come here. But, having to be away from family, friends and job to be here, is it all worth it?? Though it's been 3 months, but i have not in the slightest miss home less than 3 months back..but at least, 100 days have passed and i'm really hoping that the many more 100 days will pass soon..

It's getting really cold here in Melbourne...today's 8 degrees and raining...Autumn's here, soon gone and winter's coming!! The day starts to get dark at 530pm and i'm having my dinner the same time cause my brain tells my stomach that at 530pm, the sky is dark so it must be dinner-time...hehe...Autumn's nice, you see all the leaves turning red and falling down...so romantic rite?

Finally my research topic has been finalised and although the data still looks crap, all my supervisors seem to think otherwise..And i got to thank my supervisor CS for being so on the ball on the time, cause she actually thinks that i should go apply for a grant of about 25k...oh my! Is she being too ambitious and she really thinks i'm up to it? Went to NARI (my research place) yesterday and finally i get to have an office to work in and a student badge...It's so silly of me to sound all so excited about something as simple as that rite? But, it's been 100 days of me hanging around and not having my research confirmed till yesterday..To be honest, it's the best i can secure right now at this point in time...i really need to move forward if i really want to graduate in 3 years time..Seriously!

You know what? My research place is near the Zoo, and besides it, it's a public golf course (There's plenty of land in Melbourne)! So maybe i should pick up golfing during my time here!