Haven't updated here for sometime because simply too busy with school work. Yup, school work, thats right. On exchange and still busy with school work. Whoever said it was all sugar and honey and A's appear magically on your exam scripts when you come here to study on exchange, I can tell you its not true. The fact is that you probably are going to study as hard as you do in NTU as you do here on exchange. It is still a university here, the university still has to teach its graduates to actually do accounting, students still have to study.
While I am not concerned about the outcome of the results, the process itself is already alot. Final exams are only 20-30% so everything is course work and every single week. I think I have to, not want to, prepare more for class than in NTU actually. But not having to die die score well does make life much much easier. You actually can get to enjoy the process rather than just grind it out.
One thing I love about studying here is that the teachers here are probably the best I've encountered in Uni education. They are like totally enthusiastic about what they teach that you think they are crazy and it does rub off on you. Its really not just a job to them. But then you don't pay USD200k back home for Uni education.
Already I don't want to go back!
Los Angeles is perhaps the most exciting place I have visited in California. Because Hollywood is there and how can you not get star-struck. Like when you walk on the stage of the Oscar awards and go to the movie studios where the films are actually shot. Its like hey, I've seen this on TV before! and it is there right before your eyes. But, like they say, nothing in Hollywood is real and that is totally true. For everyone who watches american tv or shows, its a must go.
After hearing of all the wild parties happening in the US and being here for already 2weeks and not going for any, I finally attended one. It wasn't exactly a american party but more like a european one coz there were no americans, just all the ang moh exchange students from France, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Holland etc and the few of us asians. Actually we were not even invited to the party, just happened that a few of our ang moh frens told us that there was a party happening for the exchange students in someone's apartment and we just tagged along and went for it. Maybe its the culture here that everyone is invited or maybe we just crashed the party but thats not the important issue haha.
The issue is that it was really wild haha. At first everyone was just nicely sitting around drinking some free booze but after awhile when the booze took effect people were standing up and people were jumping around on the tables and chair and shouting. I wanted to use the toilet after a few cans of beer but there were already people partying inside of it also. Like dancing around and flicking the light on and off like a disco ball. Then the booze dried out and we moved on to another party to do the dancing haha. After that day, I know I suck at dancing. And the dancing here is really liberal, some of them dancing is really a sight to behold, espcially the blacks. Kind of too explicit to describe here.
Somehow I am looking forward to the next party already. Just this time I'll remember to bring my own booze haha. I wonder what a real american party will be like, probably just wilder I guess haha.
San Diego is a really nice place to stay, but not one to really take a holiday to. The weather is probably the nicest of all the places I've been to in California and everything is really near the sea which is really really nice and peaceful. You get lots of sunshine there too. Not too wild, alittle bit on the quiet side, just nice for me. When I was there, I wonder what if I went to San Diego uni instead for exchange. It would be a nice place to live. Its not really a place to write home about, but thats the type of places you would like to call home.
After many days of living out of a backpack I finally am in Bentley. So good to have a room to call your own and especially your own bed. Even it feels good to type this using your own laptop at your own desk. Weather here is really cold, just about can tahan it but my apartment mate from Ghana says that "I ain't see nothing yet". Still have 2 more apartment mates, one from Somali and one true blue american making 5 in total in my apartment in campus that cost so freaking much.
Currently its orientation for the international students and its really slack and all freedom, nothing like what they do back in NTU. Can actually take afternoon naps if you want to. People who come here on exchange are mostly from Spain and France. The Spanish ones are hot and the French ones are pretty haha. Also got a couple from Hong Kong and Australia. Today is the 1st offcial day orientation and still haven't really got to know them well yet and mostly people are just still in their national cliques. Things should get better as the orientation run its course.
San Francisco is called the windy city and its hard to argue with it. Just that maybe they should also add in cold windy city. No matter where we stand in San Francisco, we are assailed by cold wind. The wind blows from East to West and North to South and probably in a circle too. Just no place to hide. Low temperatures are actually not too bad but when the wind comes its worse than bad. Somehow one of the most memorable thing was the three of us waiting for the trolley to come and all of us shivering together and cursing the weather. It did started to get warmer as we got to the other cities.
San Francisco is after all a nice city and XY says she would like to come back again. A little bit touristy but the streets are nice and its not too busy like those in New York. The streets are also very steep I think thats where you actually drive around in Crazy Taxi. Also, theres an entire pier there that caters to visitors and thats where we took a cruise out to see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. And you can see lots of sealions just climb up to the jetty and just take in the sun there. Its like a tourist attraction in itself and everyone is watching but they dun seem to care.
Thanks to the people who sent me off and to those who sent me those nice messages. I will miss all of you.
Currently typing this from New York City and its is really what it is in the story books and the movies. Run an update on it again when I have more time. Gotta sleep early to catch an early flight to San Francisco tmr.
See you again next year
Today soccer resumed so I am happy. Man Utd won so I am happier. Liverpool lost so I am happiest. All in all a happy day.
Had a fabulous dim sum buffet at Fullerton hotel after being on the wait list for 3months. After eating, I knew why it had such a long wait list. Service was good and Food was very good. And only $28++ pax, damn good. Think if I make reservation now, probably just nice when I come back can eat it haha.
Reached home not too long ago too. My dear friend had his heart broken so he dropped by and dragged me off somewhere for a drink. Usually guys don't talk about such stuff, all we do is drink ourselves silly and wake up the next day feeling much better. But I guess somehow it did cut quite deep so I was there being a bro for him and also eating my hot apple pie. Wasn't much I could do except to sit there and listen but then again thats probably also the best thing one could do.
My fellow exchange mate was telling me that the emotions were setting in now that she was going to leave this place. Somehow I didn't really felt that way till when I met all my friends lately and Angeline calling me to say bye that I realise that I am going to fly off. I always thought it was going to be very fast and its only 5 months. And then I realise 5months ain't that short either.
5 months and many kilometres between us. Shh...
Typing this at 5am again, having ended another research and planning session. But at least its all booked and done. Just gotta have one last tie loose ends session before seeing them on at the airport. I want to say finally things are falling into place but I know that along the way, even the best laid plans are not what they seem. But whatever it is, am all prepared for all the crap that will inevitably crop up and also all prepared for what I will inevitably enjoy.
Met Sebastian and David for supper just now and we really talked for quite abit, reaching home at around 2am. Quite glad that I am able to catch up with them and being able to meet them outside of school for nothing else but to relax and chill. Something that I feel that we all seldom do as Uni mates. But then again, we already spent more than enough time seeing each other in school and for projects.
Sitting in on the 205 lesson on Thurs and telling myself that I cannot imagine doing another sem of this seminars, projects etc etc. Have always enjoyed school so I don't know why I felt that bit of sianess. Maybe not in the right frame of mind for it. So I guess its a right time for this. Many people I know are applying for exchange in one form or the other. It maybe easier for some, tougher for others. End of the day I think its worth it, if for nothing more than a breath of fresh air. So jiayous.
Everyday it justs gets more surreal.
p.s. if you do read this, please write a blog too. I would really enjoy it. thanks!
I must admit that applying and going for Instep has been the single most mafan thing in my Uni life (at least so far). Since doing research and planning for the application stage till doing research and planning for the holiday, I am still doing research and planning. If this ever was a project, I would have scored A with a plus for it just going by the raw amount of time and effort spent on it. Right now for just 10days between 21st-30th August, it will involve taking the plane 6 times (all budget=steam), staying in 4 different cities and flying across the whole of United States 2 times. More taxing than tax as you would say.
I am also not making it any easier on myself (since when do I actually do). Was planning to go on this 5 month break carefree and leave very xiao sha-ly. But right now, a little bit of me is starting to worry what this 5 month will bring.
hmm 5am already, will continue with this post again
