I was watching this on the news almost a few months ago now, but after about half an hour of research, I have finally found, possibly the best entertainer to ever be found in Australia.
Move out Veronicas, get out of the way Delta Goodrem, dig yourself a hole Guy Sebastian, and get lost Ricki Lee.
Ray Crowe. THIS is Australia's biggest talent. XD
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Surprise! [My Busiest Day to Date in Perth]
I began my day at 8.30, when I went to work. Work lasted till 1.30pm, but that's just the boring part.
For once, I actually had a story to tell my colleagues.
This time, I managed to tell them I was going somewhere after work instead of: I'm staying home.
Usually my colleagues tell each other about what they've done over the past week, and all the parties that they've been to, and here's me, boring homebody with nothing to tell.
Therefore, it is- Good point number one.
Then, I went straight to a surprise birthday party for my mates, Casey and Teo, who turn 17 and 18 respectively. [and if either of them ever manage to come here and see this, Happy Birthday!] It was...chaotic.
It was held at JB's house, but Naz who was co-organising it was late (oooh dear) and I turned up at the same time that Casey did. (luckily for me really, otherwise I would've been driving round in circles and wondering where the hell the place was)
And then poor old JB [who pretty much had no idea how to distract the both of them] blurted out everything before Naz came which, in a way kinda spoilt the surprise.
Party was good, and we all jumped in the 'jacuzzi/spa' [I have no idea which is the correct term to use in Australia] before heading off to the sauna. And seeing as it is winter, I have never before felt so grateful for a sauna.
A lot of weird things came out in the sauna...
Yen: Let's go jump in the pool!
Naz: What??
Yen: Let's...go...jump...in...the...pool!
Naz: OH! I thought you said let's go jump in my boobs...
JB: Wouldn't it be funny if one person was getting out and all the bubbles just stopped then?
Me: I think I'm going to stop sitting in front of the jets.
JB: Why?
Me: Cuz everytime I sit in front of it, it pushes me off my seat...
All in all, it was pretty good. It had a Hawaiian theme, and I'm still laughing at it because only 4 people actually followed the theme. XD
Then I got home, and [yes, this was actually a surprise] I went out for dinner. For the first time in weeks. For Thai food. Cooked by a Cambodian [?] and her Scottish husband who'd been living in Asia all his life and hadn't left it in years [???]. Yeah, the part about the Scottish husband cooking Thai food surprised me the most. Usually we don't go out that often, so this was actually a nice surprise. Although the way things are going, I think I should be worried about the rate at which we are spending our money...=/
Still, good day. And definitely filled with surprises!
Mishy <3
For once, I actually had a story to tell my colleagues.
This time, I managed to tell them I was going somewhere after work instead of: I'm staying home.
Usually my colleagues tell each other about what they've done over the past week, and all the parties that they've been to, and here's me, boring homebody with nothing to tell.
Therefore, it is- Good point number one.
Then, I went straight to a surprise birthday party for my mates, Casey and Teo, who turn 17 and 18 respectively. [and if either of them ever manage to come here and see this, Happy Birthday!] It was...chaotic.
It was held at JB's house, but Naz who was co-organising it was late (oooh dear) and I turned up at the same time that Casey did. (luckily for me really, otherwise I would've been driving round in circles and wondering where the hell the place was)
And then poor old JB [who pretty much had no idea how to distract the both of them] blurted out everything before Naz came which, in a way kinda spoilt the surprise.
Party was good, and we all jumped in the 'jacuzzi/spa' [I have no idea which is the correct term to use in Australia] before heading off to the sauna. And seeing as it is winter, I have never before felt so grateful for a sauna.
A lot of weird things came out in the sauna...
Yen: Let's go jump in the pool!
Naz: What??
Yen: Let's...go...jump...in...the...pool!
Naz: OH! I thought you said let's go jump in my boobs...
JB: Wouldn't it be funny if one person was getting out and all the bubbles just stopped then?
Me: I think I'm going to stop sitting in front of the jets.
JB: Why?
Me: Cuz everytime I sit in front of it, it pushes me off my seat...
All in all, it was pretty good. It had a Hawaiian theme, and I'm still laughing at it because only 4 people actually followed the theme. XD
Then I got home, and [yes, this was actually a surprise] I went out for dinner. For the first time in weeks. For Thai food. Cooked by a Cambodian [?] and her Scottish husband who'd been living in Asia all his life and hadn't left it in years [???]. Yeah, the part about the Scottish husband cooking Thai food surprised me the most. Usually we don't go out that often, so this was actually a nice surprise. Although the way things are going, I think I should be worried about the rate at which we are spending our money...=/
Still, good day. And definitely filled with surprises!
Mishy <3
Friday, 27 June 2008
Curtin University [English Lectures]
I enbarked on my first venture to a university on the 24th of June (co-incidentaly Teo's birthday- Happy Belated!) for a series of lectures on the English language, regarding techniques and genres.
This university so happened to be Curtin University.
We arrived there late (boy oh boy- what a surprise) on a double decker bus (yes everyone, imagine our child-like delight at being able to sit on the top deck) and I headed off for my first lecture.
We burst in (late), and pretty much turned a nice dull shade of red [because everyone was silently staring at their booklets taking notes while we...well, burst in late], but I think this lateness was probably heaven-sent. The lecturer lecturing on Gwen Harwood poetry, was the most BORING lecturer I have ever met. In fact, he reminded me of Marbeck.
For those who don't know him (and fortunately for you too): Marbeck is my old chemistry teacher in Year 11, and the poor soul probably tries to be helpful. (or so I think) BUT! he cannot teach to save his life. He mumbles when he talks, and when he writes on the white-board, he uses the same strategy all the time: Start in the middle, move to the left, go round to the right, and finally squash in any extra information at the top and the bottom. With him, order does NOT exist on the whiteboard. Plus he immensely enjoys reading directly from the textbook.
And this lecturer was EXACTLY like Marbeck. In addition to this [and therefore making him much worse than Marbeck], as Pei Xin pointed out in class the next day: "Does anyone realise how he was emphasising and telling us that only HIS interpretation of the poems are correct?"
But on the better thoughts.
The next few lectures were good. Handmaid's Tale lecture was amazing, I've never taken down so many notes before in my life in 45 minutes so easily or so quickly. The Heart of Darkness lecture lost me a little seeing as I hadn't started reading the book yet, but nontheless, the lecturer was still concise and clear. Then I had to run off for a technique lecture on Argument and Evidence which, to be honest was a waste of time as a Literature student. As a Lit student, if I didn't already know this stuff, then it would have been pretty clear to me that I should not be doing Lit. It was more for the students doing 3A3B and 2A2B English.
And then came the horror of horrors.
If anyone ever goes to these Curtin lectures next year, or for many years after that: I appeal to you here and now, do not go to the Seamus Heaney Lecture. I learnt nothing from this particular lecture, which was, to sum it up in one word, horrendous. The lecturer began by spending 15 minutes on sighing and mooning on about Seamus Heaney and how he affected her life, 10 minutes on the first poem, another 10 minutes on his lonely and violence stricken childhood, 10 minutes on her [imagined] relationship with him and another 10 minutes finally discussing the second poem, all the while continually punctuated with her sighs and gasps over Seamus Heaney's amazing wording.
We at the Morley Senior High School Literature class have finally decided that she was in love with him, and that she must be excused as such, for a terrible lecture, but that we must inform both Curtin University of her crushes affecting her teaching ability, and Seamus Heaney and his current impending danger of her stalking him.
But all in all, it was a good day. =)
Mishy <3
This university so happened to be Curtin University.
We arrived there late (boy oh boy- what a surprise) on a double decker bus (yes everyone, imagine our child-like delight at being able to sit on the top deck) and I headed off for my first lecture.
We burst in (late), and pretty much turned a nice dull shade of red [because everyone was silently staring at their booklets taking notes while we...well, burst in late], but I think this lateness was probably heaven-sent. The lecturer lecturing on Gwen Harwood poetry, was the most BORING lecturer I have ever met. In fact, he reminded me of Marbeck.
For those who don't know him (and fortunately for you too): Marbeck is my old chemistry teacher in Year 11, and the poor soul probably tries to be helpful. (or so I think) BUT! he cannot teach to save his life. He mumbles when he talks, and when he writes on the white-board, he uses the same strategy all the time: Start in the middle, move to the left, go round to the right, and finally squash in any extra information at the top and the bottom. With him, order does NOT exist on the whiteboard. Plus he immensely enjoys reading directly from the textbook.
And this lecturer was EXACTLY like Marbeck. In addition to this [and therefore making him much worse than Marbeck], as Pei Xin pointed out in class the next day: "Does anyone realise how he was emphasising and telling us that only HIS interpretation of the poems are correct?"
But on the better thoughts.
The next few lectures were good. Handmaid's Tale lecture was amazing, I've never taken down so many notes before in my life in 45 minutes so easily or so quickly. The Heart of Darkness lecture lost me a little seeing as I hadn't started reading the book yet, but nontheless, the lecturer was still concise and clear. Then I had to run off for a technique lecture on Argument and Evidence which, to be honest was a waste of time as a Literature student. As a Lit student, if I didn't already know this stuff, then it would have been pretty clear to me that I should not be doing Lit. It was more for the students doing 3A3B and 2A2B English.
And then came the horror of horrors.
If anyone ever goes to these Curtin lectures next year, or for many years after that: I appeal to you here and now, do not go to the Seamus Heaney Lecture. I learnt nothing from this particular lecture, which was, to sum it up in one word, horrendous. The lecturer began by spending 15 minutes on sighing and mooning on about Seamus Heaney and how he affected her life, 10 minutes on the first poem, another 10 minutes on his lonely and violence stricken childhood, 10 minutes on her [imagined] relationship with him and another 10 minutes finally discussing the second poem, all the while continually punctuated with her sighs and gasps over Seamus Heaney's amazing wording.
We at the Morley Senior High School Literature class have finally decided that she was in love with him, and that she must be excused as such, for a terrible lecture, but that we must inform both Curtin University of her crushes affecting her teaching ability, and Seamus Heaney and his current impending danger of her stalking him.
But all in all, it was a good day. =)
Mishy <3
Monday, 23 June 2008
Career Expo [all the right reasons?]
I went to one yesterday.
And I have decided that the only reason people would actually go to one of these, is NOT for the most obvious reason.
A career expo, you are led to believe, is held in order for people to find out more about careers, perhaps see what degrees they need for the job of their choice, as well as to find out what's expected of them in order to excel and to be highly competitive.
I went to one with my cousins yesterday, and as far as I can tell, the only reason I went to it was for the freebies.
Yes, freebies.
The minute I walked through the door, I was handed a free bag and a form telling me I could win a Wii if I poked around the TAFEWA section long enough. Then one of my cousins and I found a Woolworth's stall where they were advertising their careers there and we instantly managed to find free cake. We then continued in a different direction where I heaped about a kilogram of pamphlets into my free bag, and found: rulers, more bags, pens, keychains, tatoos and magnets, all free of charge and readily shoved in my direction- all in order to make me come and look at their stall and what it was about.
Kind of useless really, seeing as it's done nothing to change my mind about careers, or to give me more options. Fat lot of good the career expo was.
I was also chased after with a paper bag from the Tourism Industry stall with a whole bunch of quizzes and two really disgusting lollies. If I ever decide to work in the tourism industry [and that's the only stall that's been succesful in making think about a different career] remind me never to do so in Perth. If they're only going to hand me two horrible lollies as a bribe, I'd be better off looking at a different country or even state.
I then went back to the Woolies stall where I found the free cake, and they were giving everyone surrounding the stall a free go at making eclairs and little custard pavlovas. *yum*
So basically, I went to a career expo, so I could make free pastries, and snag all kinds of useless freebies. There was even a little section where one lady was doing free manicures, and I am kicking myself for not going.
As I read what I am writing, I suddenly realise the kind of impact that South Africa has had on me. This is pretty much the sort of person that I was when I was living in Johannesburg, all thanks to my friend who taught me to *ahem* "take what you want and overcome your shyness. Everyone wants to do it, but you're just taking it a step further and actually getting what you want, which is better than just wishing you had it."
And my cousins and brother? They went for the chance to win a free Wii, although one of my cousins actually did bother trying to look for what he wanted and dragged me around with him to help.
Well, some good thing came out of this.
I now know how to take the train to university should I ever need to. [yeah, damn right I will seeing as I still can't drive yet]
My mother no longer needs to steal my personalised magnet to hold her things up on her fridge since MY magnet is meant for MY documents.
And there will now be no shortage of pens and recyclable bags in the house. Nobody has a reason to touch my pencil case and steal my pens now.
Mishy <3
And I have decided that the only reason people would actually go to one of these, is NOT for the most obvious reason.
A career expo, you are led to believe, is held in order for people to find out more about careers, perhaps see what degrees they need for the job of their choice, as well as to find out what's expected of them in order to excel and to be highly competitive.
I went to one with my cousins yesterday, and as far as I can tell, the only reason I went to it was for the freebies.
Yes, freebies.
The minute I walked through the door, I was handed a free bag and a form telling me I could win a Wii if I poked around the TAFEWA section long enough. Then one of my cousins and I found a Woolworth's stall where they were advertising their careers there and we instantly managed to find free cake. We then continued in a different direction where I heaped about a kilogram of pamphlets into my free bag, and found: rulers, more bags, pens, keychains, tatoos and magnets, all free of charge and readily shoved in my direction- all in order to make me come and look at their stall and what it was about.
Kind of useless really, seeing as it's done nothing to change my mind about careers, or to give me more options. Fat lot of good the career expo was.
I was also chased after with a paper bag from the Tourism Industry stall with a whole bunch of quizzes and two really disgusting lollies. If I ever decide to work in the tourism industry [and that's the only stall that's been succesful in making think about a different career] remind me never to do so in Perth. If they're only going to hand me two horrible lollies as a bribe, I'd be better off looking at a different country or even state.
I then went back to the Woolies stall where I found the free cake, and they were giving everyone surrounding the stall a free go at making eclairs and little custard pavlovas. *yum*
So basically, I went to a career expo, so I could make free pastries, and snag all kinds of useless freebies. There was even a little section where one lady was doing free manicures, and I am kicking myself for not going.
As I read what I am writing, I suddenly realise the kind of impact that South Africa has had on me. This is pretty much the sort of person that I was when I was living in Johannesburg, all thanks to my friend who taught me to *ahem* "take what you want and overcome your shyness. Everyone wants to do it, but you're just taking it a step further and actually getting what you want, which is better than just wishing you had it."
And my cousins and brother? They went for the chance to win a free Wii, although one of my cousins actually did bother trying to look for what he wanted and dragged me around with him to help.
Well, some good thing came out of this.
I now know how to take the train to university should I ever need to. [yeah, damn right I will seeing as I still can't drive yet]
My mother no longer needs to steal my personalised magnet to hold her things up on her fridge since MY magnet is meant for MY documents.
And there will now be no shortage of pens and recyclable bags in the house. Nobody has a reason to touch my pencil case and steal my pens now.
Mishy <3
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Living In A Bubble
I had this conversation yesterday with a friend of mine. It started off as usual. The niceties come first, and then everything else comes splurging out [as it always does with the two of us]. It's always the way it has been with any friend of mine, seeing as how every online conversation is either a catch up conversation or a debate for me.
Both of us have left the school that we met in, and, well, things have changed.
Some for the better, and some for the worst obviously. That's the point of every catch up conversation and every debate- to see how much we've all changed, and in which direction. But I guess we've all changed because of our environment.
The stories get told, and experiences come bursting forth, and the memories are rapidly painted with paint that came from no-where- paint that doesn't match the scene that we once knew. You'd be surprised about the kind of words and adjectives we use to describe what used to be the centre of our world. It's like trying to paint a tree with turquoise leaves. It's so different. Of course, some would say it was green, and others would comment it was blue. Such is my situation now.
Back in GIS, I lived in a bubble.
Not just ANY bubble, it was a very translucent, tiny sort of bubble. It was porous, but only with the most minute of holes. I guess, in plain english: GIS is like a protective little bubble. In your own safe world. Things happen this particular way, and you don't question it. You never do. You've got your own entertainment, you've got your luxuries, and you've got your hardships. Your friends are the most important thing to you, and hanging out with them is all that matters. The picture lurking around on the edges of the bubble is unseen, and at best, plainly ignored. This is the system as it is accepted. What happens before, and indeed, what happens after, is something else entirely.
And in a way, I'm glad I left. I was completely clueless. I was in over my head with everything. I had no idea what I was doing, or why. Sure it's disciplined. Sure it's organised. And it's always going to be one of the best schools I've been to. But any longer and I may have turned out to be someone else, not the person I am today. Possibly a bit of an air head with no aim and my nose constantly being higher than the rest of my head. And it's not just GIS, it's pretty much any international school I've been to.
BISM in the Philippines was also another bubble. The campus I went to closed down recently, almost six years after I left, and operations are now running in a different part of the city. And looking at all the photos from the reunion that I was unable to attend, I see now more than ever the kind of world that I was isolated in. The campus was so beautiful- it's possibly, easily the most extravagent school campus I've ever been in. And it was my little world. It was my mini universe. But life wasn't really like that. Did I ever really know much about the Philippines? Did I ever know much about its culture? Did I even care? And to be really honest, do I actually know why ex-President Estrada was jailed? Or why the Philippines is so poor?
I'm so into politics and culture now, that I'm choosing - hoping - to make it the career of my life. I can't imagine a life away from travelling and writing. If I'd stayed in GIS, I can pretty much guarantee that I'd probably be there for the rest of my life. Refusing to move. Refusing change. Most international school kids have no idea what kind of life other people have. Most of them are rich. As an international school kid, I had everything paid for me. My education, my house, my car, my petrol- all paid for by my dad's company whom I blame solely for my constant country hopping. When you suddenly stop being an international school kid- what happens then?
I have a casual job now, in Australia. Most of my friends seem to think I am now working to feed my family whilst attending school. And that's not the reason. I'm working to earn extra cash. And it's not as if I'm the only one doing it. It's just an accepted way of life in Australia, but of course, would an international school kid really know that unless they tried to move out of their bubble?
My bubble has burst, and in doing so, I've finally learnt to breathe the fresh air that's been kept from me. I've made new friends, seen new places, had new experiences. And looking back, it's like watching a play. Running around in their daily lives, having their little problems, encountering the same experiences time and time again. Their sights are confined to that one area on the horizon, that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And once that's achieved, what else is there to aim for? Will they know how to move on? Will they know what to do with that pot of gold? And will it in fact even remain the gold that it should have and could have been?
It's a little ironic while I'm at it. International school kids have the most diverse upbringing in any country. Coming from so many countries, and meeting so many different races- are they really as ignorant as that? I have to say yes. I know [and unfortunately still have to deal with] the ignorance of kids in a public high school [my cousin asked me if Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe was Australian- go figure] and I can easily, and faithfully say that the ignorance will only last so long as you let it. I have friends who've never even left the town that they're living in, much less the country, and they have an incredibly acute sense of what's happening around them, and the event surrounding them.
So many questions, so little time. But moving away has indefinitely solved some of life's questions for me, and I know I can tackle whatever come ahead. I have a finer appreciation for what's around me, and an acute sense of anything going wrong. And as a bonus, if I ever need to move somewhere, I will have contacts in whatever country I do decide to live in. =)
Mishy <3
Both of us have left the school that we met in, and, well, things have changed.
Some for the better, and some for the worst obviously. That's the point of every catch up conversation and every debate- to see how much we've all changed, and in which direction. But I guess we've all changed because of our environment.
The stories get told, and experiences come bursting forth, and the memories are rapidly painted with paint that came from no-where- paint that doesn't match the scene that we once knew. You'd be surprised about the kind of words and adjectives we use to describe what used to be the centre of our world. It's like trying to paint a tree with turquoise leaves. It's so different. Of course, some would say it was green, and others would comment it was blue. Such is my situation now.
Back in GIS, I lived in a bubble.
Not just ANY bubble, it was a very translucent, tiny sort of bubble. It was porous, but only with the most minute of holes. I guess, in plain english: GIS is like a protective little bubble. In your own safe world. Things happen this particular way, and you don't question it. You never do. You've got your own entertainment, you've got your luxuries, and you've got your hardships. Your friends are the most important thing to you, and hanging out with them is all that matters. The picture lurking around on the edges of the bubble is unseen, and at best, plainly ignored. This is the system as it is accepted. What happens before, and indeed, what happens after, is something else entirely.
And in a way, I'm glad I left. I was completely clueless. I was in over my head with everything. I had no idea what I was doing, or why. Sure it's disciplined. Sure it's organised. And it's always going to be one of the best schools I've been to. But any longer and I may have turned out to be someone else, not the person I am today. Possibly a bit of an air head with no aim and my nose constantly being higher than the rest of my head. And it's not just GIS, it's pretty much any international school I've been to.
BISM in the Philippines was also another bubble. The campus I went to closed down recently, almost six years after I left, and operations are now running in a different part of the city. And looking at all the photos from the reunion that I was unable to attend, I see now more than ever the kind of world that I was isolated in. The campus was so beautiful- it's possibly, easily the most extravagent school campus I've ever been in. And it was my little world. It was my mini universe. But life wasn't really like that. Did I ever really know much about the Philippines? Did I ever know much about its culture? Did I even care? And to be really honest, do I actually know why ex-President Estrada was jailed? Or why the Philippines is so poor?
I'm so into politics and culture now, that I'm choosing - hoping - to make it the career of my life. I can't imagine a life away from travelling and writing. If I'd stayed in GIS, I can pretty much guarantee that I'd probably be there for the rest of my life. Refusing to move. Refusing change. Most international school kids have no idea what kind of life other people have. Most of them are rich. As an international school kid, I had everything paid for me. My education, my house, my car, my petrol- all paid for by my dad's company whom I blame solely for my constant country hopping. When you suddenly stop being an international school kid- what happens then?
I have a casual job now, in Australia. Most of my friends seem to think I am now working to feed my family whilst attending school. And that's not the reason. I'm working to earn extra cash. And it's not as if I'm the only one doing it. It's just an accepted way of life in Australia, but of course, would an international school kid really know that unless they tried to move out of their bubble?
My bubble has burst, and in doing so, I've finally learnt to breathe the fresh air that's been kept from me. I've made new friends, seen new places, had new experiences. And looking back, it's like watching a play. Running around in their daily lives, having their little problems, encountering the same experiences time and time again. Their sights are confined to that one area on the horizon, that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And once that's achieved, what else is there to aim for? Will they know how to move on? Will they know what to do with that pot of gold? And will it in fact even remain the gold that it should have and could have been?
It's a little ironic while I'm at it. International school kids have the most diverse upbringing in any country. Coming from so many countries, and meeting so many different races- are they really as ignorant as that? I have to say yes. I know [and unfortunately still have to deal with] the ignorance of kids in a public high school [my cousin asked me if Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe was Australian- go figure] and I can easily, and faithfully say that the ignorance will only last so long as you let it. I have friends who've never even left the town that they're living in, much less the country, and they have an incredibly acute sense of what's happening around them, and the event surrounding them.
So many questions, so little time. But moving away has indefinitely solved some of life's questions for me, and I know I can tackle whatever come ahead. I have a finer appreciation for what's around me, and an acute sense of anything going wrong. And as a bonus, if I ever need to move somewhere, I will have contacts in whatever country I do decide to live in. =)
Mishy <3
Friday, 20 June 2008
Leavers Week
Leavers week!
It's the one week that the whole of Australia prepares itself for all the graduates to pour out of the tiny door frame of legislation and never ending schoolwork which hold them back from adult responsibility and, of course, the real world.
Leavers week is well...essentially a week when Australia gets hit with parties EVERYWHERE, and places like Rottnest, and Mandurah and Margaret and Moores River are overloaded with Leavers from all over Perth. In Victoria, no doubt, I'm sure there are other more exciting places to go to, but in Perth, I guess these locations are pretty cool too. =)
Problem is: I don't know where half these places are. =/ Being a foreigner in a public school is not the most reccommended situation in any country.
Therefore, I have left it to my friends to decide, seeing as they actually do know what they're doing. Even JB has actually taken up some responsibility in trying to organise it by arguing with Teo over where to go, and what is more fun: kayaking with 3 foot sharks, or kayaking at the mouth where the river meets the sea. :P (at the moment, the sea meeting the river sounds a lot more appealing to me)
So far, THEY are arguing over: Moores River, Mandurah and Pemberton.
All I have to say is, so long as they let me know where it is, how we're going to get there and what there is to do there, I'll be fine.
Oh, and they'll have to convince my parents as well while they're at it.
Moores River is apparently not as crowded as most are, and there's loads to do there (so they say) and it's 45 minutes away (yayyy!).
Margaret River, (and I should know this) is reeeaally pretty, and I know this because UWA is right opposite Margaret River. :P
Mandurah is wayy down south, and I'm not entirely sure what there is to do there.
Pemberton is also all the way down south, and is apparently about 3 hours from where we are.
But well, any advice on where to go, what there is to do there and what it's like would be good to know. Especially if you've been there before. And if you know what the rates are like as well as any good beach houses, that would be such an extra added bonus because I'm not sure if I want to stay in a tent/caravan park with a bunch of strangers. When JB mentioned this to me, my eyes (inertly) began to pop out. Yes, I went for Trek, and yes, I went camping and hiking for a week- sleeping, not even in a tent, but next to the firplace! But! at least I was alone with my mates in the wilderness and here...goodness knows WHAT will happen to me here!
Anywho, thanks! =)
Mishy <3
It's the one week that the whole of Australia prepares itself for all the graduates to pour out of the tiny door frame of legislation and never ending schoolwork which hold them back from adult responsibility and, of course, the real world.
Leavers week is well...essentially a week when Australia gets hit with parties EVERYWHERE, and places like Rottnest, and Mandurah and Margaret and Moores River are overloaded with Leavers from all over Perth. In Victoria, no doubt, I'm sure there are other more exciting places to go to, but in Perth, I guess these locations are pretty cool too. =)
Problem is: I don't know where half these places are. =/ Being a foreigner in a public school is not the most reccommended situation in any country.
Therefore, I have left it to my friends to decide, seeing as they actually do know what they're doing. Even JB has actually taken up some responsibility in trying to organise it by arguing with Teo over where to go, and what is more fun: kayaking with 3 foot sharks, or kayaking at the mouth where the river meets the sea. :P (at the moment, the sea meeting the river sounds a lot more appealing to me)
So far, THEY are arguing over: Moores River, Mandurah and Pemberton.
All I have to say is, so long as they let me know where it is, how we're going to get there and what there is to do there, I'll be fine.
Oh, and they'll have to convince my parents as well while they're at it.
Moores River is apparently not as crowded as most are, and there's loads to do there (so they say) and it's 45 minutes away (yayyy!).
Margaret River, (and I should know this) is reeeaally pretty, and I know this because UWA is right opposite Margaret River. :P
Mandurah is wayy down south, and I'm not entirely sure what there is to do there.
Pemberton is also all the way down south, and is apparently about 3 hours from where we are.
But well, any advice on where to go, what there is to do there and what it's like would be good to know. Especially if you've been there before. And if you know what the rates are like as well as any good beach houses, that would be such an extra added bonus because I'm not sure if I want to stay in a tent/caravan park with a bunch of strangers. When JB mentioned this to me, my eyes (inertly) began to pop out. Yes, I went for Trek, and yes, I went camping and hiking for a week- sleeping, not even in a tent, but next to the firplace! But! at least I was alone with my mates in the wilderness and here...goodness knows WHAT will happen to me here!
Anywho, thanks! =)
Mishy <3
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Which Major?
When earning a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree in UWA, you have to choose a major to follow. Which is good. Because I can choose what I want to do. And it's also confusing. Because I have so much choice!
It's not as confusing as the pure Bachelor of Arts degree I suppose, where you have to choose four majors in first year and then take two of those in the second year.
Anywho, the majors I found in the prospectus (which coincide with the ones I'm considering)are as follows:
Anthropology- the study of past societies, their religion, culture, landscapes etc etc, basically their lifestyles and how they survived. A good one to take if I wanted to be very general.
Archaeology- the one I'm dying to take right now, but am not so sure if I should. Involves the study of remains, old architecture and fossils. Has a practical element to it which I like, but I guess I can't really be digging up graves for the rest of my life can I?
History- basically the study of revolutions, the fall of regimes, and is basically just modern history, something like what I do in school.
Ancient and Classical History- the study of Greek and Roman history. I am a little wary of this one, because it pretty much limits job choices to caretakers and curates.
Psychology- helping people overcome mental illness. A good one to take in case I ever decide to become a psychologist and don't want to have to repeat uni! But I'm not really as into it as say Anthropology.
Political Science and International Relations- also a good one to take, considering how important politics and international relations is.
European Studies- generally, a study of Europe. Tres importante if I want to be a journalist in Europe, but I am not so sure, and am very much torn between this, Anthropology, Archaeology and Asian Studies.
Asian Studies- generally, a study of Asia, which is also important seeing as what giants India and China are becoming. Plus as an Asian, I would probably have an upper hand in being able to operate in Asia. Again, I am torn.
There were a lot more, such as Industrial Relations, which sort of falls under Marketing and Commerce, but generally, these are the majors I am considering. Some of them I find to be a little useless in the real world, ie Classical and Ancient History, which I sort of learn in my spare time anyway without really needing to take a university course on it too. So basically, I'm really only looking at Asian Studies, European Studies, Psychology, Archaeology, Anthropology and Political & International Realtions.
Advice on any or all of these are greatly appreciated. Especially if you are out there working in the real world and should happen to know something about one, or some of these majors. =)
Mishy <3
It's not as confusing as the pure Bachelor of Arts degree I suppose, where you have to choose four majors in first year and then take two of those in the second year.
Anywho, the majors I found in the prospectus (which coincide with the ones I'm considering)are as follows:
Anthropology- the study of past societies, their religion, culture, landscapes etc etc, basically their lifestyles and how they survived. A good one to take if I wanted to be very general.
Archaeology- the one I'm dying to take right now, but am not so sure if I should. Involves the study of remains, old architecture and fossils. Has a practical element to it which I like, but I guess I can't really be digging up graves for the rest of my life can I?
History- basically the study of revolutions, the fall of regimes, and is basically just modern history, something like what I do in school.
Ancient and Classical History- the study of Greek and Roman history. I am a little wary of this one, because it pretty much limits job choices to caretakers and curates.
Psychology- helping people overcome mental illness. A good one to take in case I ever decide to become a psychologist and don't want to have to repeat uni! But I'm not really as into it as say Anthropology.
Political Science and International Relations- also a good one to take, considering how important politics and international relations is.
European Studies- generally, a study of Europe. Tres importante if I want to be a journalist in Europe, but I am not so sure, and am very much torn between this, Anthropology, Archaeology and Asian Studies.
Asian Studies- generally, a study of Asia, which is also important seeing as what giants India and China are becoming. Plus as an Asian, I would probably have an upper hand in being able to operate in Asia. Again, I am torn.
There were a lot more, such as Industrial Relations, which sort of falls under Marketing and Commerce, but generally, these are the majors I am considering. Some of them I find to be a little useless in the real world, ie Classical and Ancient History, which I sort of learn in my spare time anyway without really needing to take a university course on it too. So basically, I'm really only looking at Asian Studies, European Studies, Psychology, Archaeology, Anthropology and Political & International Realtions.
Advice on any or all of these are greatly appreciated. Especially if you are out there working in the real world and should happen to know something about one, or some of these majors. =)
Mishy <3
Monday, 9 June 2008
-The End-
OF EXAMS!!!
And just as I used to do in Year 7/8 with my mates in Malaysia: I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Well, for the next today and tomorrow anyway, but that's good enough for me. =)
Today has been excessively rainy today. It began at about 1am this morning in a perfect gale outside my window and progressed into an unbearable storm by the time 7am came around. It's currently 5pm now and although the rain has stopped, the clouds still remain and it still looks like it's going to rain. Bah humbug. South Africa was never like this. Johannesburg had the most perfect weather- raining in the summer and raining in winter so that it remained a perfect combination or both cold and dry or hot and wet.
Yes, I still miss Johannesburg weather.
I started work again recently last Saturday, and it's been crazy. It's been quiet, but at the same time pretty busy. Maybe I'm just out of touch from working after exams and all, but in a way, it's nice to be back. Even though I dislike having to go to work at 8.30 in the morning. At least at school I could get there a relax a bit before class started, but with work, it's get there, start working. I don't like the rushed atmosphere I guess.
Word of warning to anyone who decides to get a part-time job: it's not all as it seems, and it usually isn't that much better than school, even IF you are getting paid for being there. Working in a supermarket is absolute terror because you're usually on call all the time whenever you're in the supermarket, and working in retail shops, ie. like me, gets boring after a while because there's only so many places you can walk around to. I pretty much have the grand selection of: the lottery counter, the post office/cigarette counter, the stationary section, the card section and the office. I am able to walk through ALL of these sections when I do vacuuming. Which isn't as great as it's made out to be. Generally, it's a boring job. Unless of course, you really love doing the lottery that much.
But on to happier thoughts: Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Mishy <3
And just as I used to do in Year 7/8 with my mates in Malaysia: I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Well, for the next today and tomorrow anyway, but that's good enough for me. =)
Today has been excessively rainy today. It began at about 1am this morning in a perfect gale outside my window and progressed into an unbearable storm by the time 7am came around. It's currently 5pm now and although the rain has stopped, the clouds still remain and it still looks like it's going to rain. Bah humbug. South Africa was never like this. Johannesburg had the most perfect weather- raining in the summer and raining in winter so that it remained a perfect combination or both cold and dry or hot and wet.
Yes, I still miss Johannesburg weather.
I started work again recently last Saturday, and it's been crazy. It's been quiet, but at the same time pretty busy. Maybe I'm just out of touch from working after exams and all, but in a way, it's nice to be back. Even though I dislike having to go to work at 8.30 in the morning. At least at school I could get there a relax a bit before class started, but with work, it's get there, start working. I don't like the rushed atmosphere I guess.
Word of warning to anyone who decides to get a part-time job: it's not all as it seems, and it usually isn't that much better than school, even IF you are getting paid for being there. Working in a supermarket is absolute terror because you're usually on call all the time whenever you're in the supermarket, and working in retail shops, ie. like me, gets boring after a while because there's only so many places you can walk around to. I pretty much have the grand selection of: the lottery counter, the post office/cigarette counter, the stationary section, the card section and the office. I am able to walk through ALL of these sections when I do vacuuming. Which isn't as great as it's made out to be. Generally, it's a boring job. Unless of course, you really love doing the lottery that much.
But on to happier thoughts: Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Mishy <3
Friday, 6 June 2008
Fueling Outrage
It's the sensation that's been gripping the world. We hang on to our seats every night, gazing at the news, hoping - praying, that the change isn't too great. It affects us all. It affects the economy. It affects every bit of our lives. Will it go up? Will it go down? Not likely, but is there even the slightest chance that it will at least stay the way it has been for the past week?
I am, of course, refering to the fuel prices of today. And it is, yes people, an outrage. The only word I can actually come up with for prices like these.
In Malaysia, the fuel has increased drastically by 70sen. 78 sen, as I am told by a source who was actually there at the time to read the newspapers. I am only a spectator, suffering very much the same fate in a different country. Malaysia's petrol prices normally stay quite low- when the price increases do happen, they normally happen every month or so, and usually only in about 1-2sen increases. Unfortunately, the government can no longer afford to keep the price so low, and as a result, a backlash has occured. I can already forsee the end of many governments at the end of their terms, and all because of these fuel prices.
In Australia, the price isn't as low as it is in Malaysia. The government doesn't really try to keep things to the absolute minimum, as in a country like this where Australia can't naturally produce it's own fuel, it would be economical (and political) suicide to keep it so low and then have it spring up on us like a rebellious kangaroo. I think both the government and the opposition can agree on this much. What does happen though, is that prices fluctuate everyday, depending on the index figures at the end of the day. This then gets posted up on the internet, proclaimed over the nightly news and printed in every newspaper possibly found to inform as many people as possible. My mom keeps one ferocious eye on all of these [while using the other on us unruly ones], and as soon as she loses faith in the price ever going down and finally decides to go and refuel the car- the next day it goes down. XD I find this a little funny the way it happens week after week, but these savings of about 20 cents a litre every week really can accumulate. Especially for someone whose life savings all happen to unfortunately be in RM.
Personally, I believe that there's just not enough fuel and too many people. In a world like this, we're becoming too dependent on cars. Nobody walks anymore. And who can blame us? We are [naturally] a lazy civilisation. We try to find a gazillion other ways of doing things. It's both a curse and a blessing. The world is more efficient, and it's more expensive. It's becoming smaller- an 'easier' place to live in, and infinitely more crowded and dirty.
You know, I haven't really been thinking about driving too much. In fact, if I had started earlier, and not been lazy during the holidays, I could have been half-way through finishing my practice hours for my L plates. But after this- do I really still want to go driving? People are buying smaller engined cars, or are just not driving at all. [well, in Australia anyway, in Malaysia, I can hardly blame anyone for wanting to drive] Still, this is something to be thinking about. It'll affect us - and the generations to come - for a long, long time.
Mishy <3
I am, of course, refering to the fuel prices of today. And it is, yes people, an outrage. The only word I can actually come up with for prices like these.
In Malaysia, the fuel has increased drastically by 70sen. 78 sen, as I am told by a source who was actually there at the time to read the newspapers. I am only a spectator, suffering very much the same fate in a different country. Malaysia's petrol prices normally stay quite low- when the price increases do happen, they normally happen every month or so, and usually only in about 1-2sen increases. Unfortunately, the government can no longer afford to keep the price so low, and as a result, a backlash has occured. I can already forsee the end of many governments at the end of their terms, and all because of these fuel prices.
In Australia, the price isn't as low as it is in Malaysia. The government doesn't really try to keep things to the absolute minimum, as in a country like this where Australia can't naturally produce it's own fuel, it would be economical (and political) suicide to keep it so low and then have it spring up on us like a rebellious kangaroo. I think both the government and the opposition can agree on this much. What does happen though, is that prices fluctuate everyday, depending on the index figures at the end of the day. This then gets posted up on the internet, proclaimed over the nightly news and printed in every newspaper possibly found to inform as many people as possible. My mom keeps one ferocious eye on all of these [while using the other on us unruly ones], and as soon as she loses faith in the price ever going down and finally decides to go and refuel the car- the next day it goes down. XD I find this a little funny the way it happens week after week, but these savings of about 20 cents a litre every week really can accumulate. Especially for someone whose life savings all happen to unfortunately be in RM.
Personally, I believe that there's just not enough fuel and too many people. In a world like this, we're becoming too dependent on cars. Nobody walks anymore. And who can blame us? We are [naturally] a lazy civilisation. We try to find a gazillion other ways of doing things. It's both a curse and a blessing. The world is more efficient, and it's more expensive. It's becoming smaller- an 'easier' place to live in, and infinitely more crowded and dirty.
You know, I haven't really been thinking about driving too much. In fact, if I had started earlier, and not been lazy during the holidays, I could have been half-way through finishing my practice hours for my L plates. But after this- do I really still want to go driving? People are buying smaller engined cars, or are just not driving at all. [well, in Australia anyway, in Malaysia, I can hardly blame anyone for wanting to drive] Still, this is something to be thinking about. It'll affect us - and the generations to come - for a long, long time.
Mishy <3
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Semester 1 Exams
The joy.
And, well, to be more serious- the horror.
Exams started on Tuesday and I am officially more then half way through.
My timetable looks something like this:
Tuesday [3rd]- Political and Legal Studies
Wednesday [4th]- English Lit and then History
Thursday [5th]- Human Biology
Friday [6th]- Maths
Monday [9th]- Chemistry
And you know what, this timetable actually does look okay. I have enough time [or I hope I will] to study and rave and rant for chem, and all the essay subjects are out of the way first, the ones which literally tell me what's on the exam before I head in.
Unfortunately, not quite so.
For P&L, I answered a total of 5 questions, and 2 essays, which wasn't bad. Then for Lit, which was the next day, I wrote 3 essays. Also expected. But then I had History after and had to do a document study AND 2 MORE ESSAYS! So in total, I wrote 5 essays, with a document study being the near equivalent of an essay, in one day. Plus I had the two from the day before. I had officially written 7 actual essays and one substitute essay if you want to count the document study in. =)
My hand fell off after History.
If you've ever tried to keep your hand straight out, without bending your fingers, it's actually quite easy. Observe it now: it's not hard. But after the History exam, I tried to straighten my fingers, and they just bounced back into a nice curve. My hand was shaking, and it would not straighten. Potential arthritis patient perhaps?
I had Human Biology today, which was alright. I didn't quite know what hormone the thyroid gland secreted and stimulated, but that was, admittedly, my fault for not studying it- I guessed it though. I think I did alright for the extended answers though, because I drew lots of pretty diagrams and wrote about a page and a bit per long answer. Of course, it didn't quite help that the pain from the essays came back during the long answer questions.
So tomorrow, I have Maths exams and Chemistry on Monday. Oh the joy. Maths is alright, just need a bit more practice today, and for chem, I will need...a multitude of practice? Rats, doesn't help that I have to go to work on Saturday as well...Ah well, just gotta use the time wisely.
Anywho, back to the grindstone...
Mishy <3
And, well, to be more serious- the horror.
Exams started on Tuesday and I am officially more then half way through.
My timetable looks something like this:
Tuesday [3rd]- Political and Legal Studies
Wednesday [4th]- English Lit and then History
Thursday [5th]- Human Biology
Friday [6th]- Maths
Monday [9th]- Chemistry
And you know what, this timetable actually does look okay. I have enough time [or I hope I will] to study and rave and rant for chem, and all the essay subjects are out of the way first, the ones which literally tell me what's on the exam before I head in.
Unfortunately, not quite so.
For P&L, I answered a total of 5 questions, and 2 essays, which wasn't bad. Then for Lit, which was the next day, I wrote 3 essays. Also expected. But then I had History after and had to do a document study AND 2 MORE ESSAYS! So in total, I wrote 5 essays, with a document study being the near equivalent of an essay, in one day. Plus I had the two from the day before. I had officially written 7 actual essays and one substitute essay if you want to count the document study in. =)
My hand fell off after History.
If you've ever tried to keep your hand straight out, without bending your fingers, it's actually quite easy. Observe it now: it's not hard. But after the History exam, I tried to straighten my fingers, and they just bounced back into a nice curve. My hand was shaking, and it would not straighten. Potential arthritis patient perhaps?
I had Human Biology today, which was alright. I didn't quite know what hormone the thyroid gland secreted and stimulated, but that was, admittedly, my fault for not studying it- I guessed it though. I think I did alright for the extended answers though, because I drew lots of pretty diagrams and wrote about a page and a bit per long answer. Of course, it didn't quite help that the pain from the essays came back during the long answer questions.
So tomorrow, I have Maths exams and Chemistry on Monday. Oh the joy. Maths is alright, just need a bit more practice today, and for chem, I will need...a multitude of practice? Rats, doesn't help that I have to go to work on Saturday as well...Ah well, just gotta use the time wisely.
Anywho, back to the grindstone...
Mishy <3
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