First Week at School

Firstly, my new timetable is out.. dropped earth and ocean science to settle for 5 papers.. not bad i guess.. but i've got 8am lectures everyday!! argh..

Monday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture
3-4 Music Tutorial

Tuesday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture
3-4 Design of Research Studies Tutorial

Wednesday:
8-9 Bayesian Statistics
9-10 Bayesian Statistics
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture

Thursday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
9-12 Biological Physics Lab
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture
2-3 Regression and Modelling Tutorial

Friday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lab
12-1 Design of Research Studies Tutorial
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture

haha.. totally slacked through my first week.. ended up nodding off at some afternoon lectures since i've 8am lectures everyday!! eekz.. but tess and i are really living it up.. strolling around during our long breaks and enjoying ice-cream on a warm day, or sitting at ST David's cafe enjoying our morning tea.. or even having tea and biscuits in her apartment or mine!! we're like so slack as compared to the other students here.. many pple here are really mugging and its only the first wk of sch!! eekz..

workload seems heavy.. stats gotta read journal articles!!! yucks.. nv liked doing readings and stats nv had readings in NUS!! yikes!! and bayesian stats gotta lead discussion on readings.. sianz!! hope its not my turn next wk..

tml is march 1!! yay!! and in another 3 wks it'll be easter holiday!! i'll be able to go travelling den!! haha!! looking forward to the trip!! tts wad sep is for rite?? =p

we're so settled in tt we're kinda shocked tt we have only been here for 3 weeks.. we felt like we have been here for ages!!! guess tts bcuz we're so used to the relaxed lifestyle now.. anyway!! tess and i are proud tt we cooked tau-suan yest!! we were esctatic tt it looked and tasted liked tau-suan.. lol.. and next wk we're gg to make sushi!! haha.. we decided to make sth new every wk.. need to improve our culinary skills.. it was quite funny tt we were busy in the kitchen area while our flatmates were busy with lessons in school.. and earlier in the day.. everyone was rushing about for lessons while both of us had the time to walk to a rather far convenience shop to get our cheap ice-cream!! oh!!! the one scoop of ice-cream here is equivalent to two scoops of ice-cream in spore!! and the taste is juz deliciously satisfying.. totally wonderful!!

super busy wkend ahead.. lots of activities gg on.. hopefully can get enough slp to wake up for 8am lectures and not doze off at any of my lectures next wk.. oh!! and we plan to go town during our long breaks to have lunch and shop around!! and if the weather is warm and sunny.. we'll be gg to the beach!! hopefully there will be a sunny day next wk.. a rather slim chance since autumn is nearly upon us!! tts why it has been rather cold and rainy and dreary.. muz visit the botanic gardens again to see the changes of the plants.. many trees have their leaves turning red already..

on a sidenote.. seriously putting on too much weight cuz i've been eating alot and not exercising.. eekz!! the weather is getting colder.. who wants to exercise?? and the gym is so far away!!! gotta walk like 20 mins from my flat.. too lazy and not motivated.. gosh.. shld sign up for tramping organised by toroa to get myself in shape.. ehz.. dun be surprised if u all see a plump me when i return to spore.. i did put on weight when i went to NZ in JC 1 and i was onli there for 2 wks!! now i'm here for nearly 5 months and i'll definitely put on lots.. tammy darling is already calling me piggy.. yikes!!

missed playing the piano!!! i went to try out the music room at toroa and i realised tt i miss my music lots!! eekz!! shld have asked my dad to ship over a few music books so tt i can still practise my piano.. mebbe i shld go visit a music shop to get a music book or sth.. hope my piano isnt rotting at home!!

oh!! and to all my friends back in NUS, all the best for your mid-term tests!! jia you jia you!! i'll be here giving all of ya mental support!! =)

School

Starting lessons at a different environment is always exciting as i do not know what the style of teaching is like and the student life is like.. hence i was rather excited for my first class at 8am yesterday!! i was up early, and yt and jy were there online to accompany me till i went to sch! thank you so much!!

the LT was packed.. and i guess it was bcuz it was the first lecture.. but what amazed me more was tt many students came to lecture prepared with notes and lecture pads to take notes and stuff.. haha.. tess and i brought out a few pieces of foolscap but did not write anything in the end.. many others were furiously copying notes.. ehz!! we could get a print version of the lecture slides at the uni printshop!! anyway.. i enjoyed the lecture, which was a physics paper, cuz the lecturer was animated!! he even did a demonstration towards the end of the lecture which i secretly took a video of.. hehe.. too much free time on hand.. lol..

went for the stats 400 level meeting after the lecture.. gosh!!! tt was scary!! only 7 students were taking the paper including tess and i.. and the others were postgrad diploma holders or had already completed their degree and were continuing with honours.. yikes!! my workload for this will be terrible!! i've no programming background at all, and i've a programming project to do!!! eekz!!!

we missed our next stats lecture at 11 cuz the stupid timetable said tt lecture only started next wk.. and we were walking happily and browsing things at the bazaars near the central library.. only found out tt we missed the lecture when the lecturer sent out an email... guessed many other students missed it too cuz of the timetable and also cuz he changed the venue!! oh well..

went for earth and ocean science and music lectures after tt.. both were alright.. but ocean science has lots of reading to do!!! and the lecturer turned off all the LT lights to use his projector.. wonder how students can copy notes in the dark.. but it was quite an interesting lesson =p

met up with tess and maly to discuss some travel plans.. hehe.. will be having a super long wkend in march.. easter holiday + otago holiday which will see us having no sch from fri to tue!! anyway seetoh!! i know where to go do ur activities already.. its at queenstown!! but i think i'll pass on bungee jumping.. i value my life!! =p

went for new zealand night organised by toroa.. had a taste of some kiwi culture and kiwi food.. it was quite interesting as everyday phrases used by the Kiwis were finally explained.. finally managed to taste the national dessert, pavlova! it was so sweet lar!!! also had a taste of L&P, a drink world-famous in NZ, not too bad!! haha.. boss!! managed to taste ur recommendations liaoz!! any others?? =p

it was a very fun day but tiring.. and another 8am lecture was in store for us the next day.. hehe.. but we made plans to have a gd breakfast of pancakes after the lecture!! so there was an incentive to go for the 8am lecture even though we were super tired out.. haha..

anyway.. in conclusion, my 2nd day at sch was quite ok too.. hehe.. only fell asleep at the earth and ocean science lecture.. couldnt be helped since the lecturer loves to switch off the LT lights, which would invite me to go to dreamland =p

would be attending lectures for all 6 papers before deciding which paper to drop.. sigh.. anyone has any suggestions?? =p

Super busy

haha.. muz be wondering why i'm super busy today.. lots of stuff to do!! tts y!!

went to shop for flat stuff, had flat cleaning and will have flat cooking later.. my flatmates are nice and friendly!! very fun pple to stay with.. and i realised tt my neighbouring flats are mostly asians too!! roto, aroha and wahinetoa rox!! hehe.. these are the names of our flats, and roto is the maori translation for lake.. cool!! tts where i'm staying =)

gonna be busy writing postcards too.. gonna send out the first wave of postcards first b4 the sch workload gets heavier.. first batch shld be mailed this wk.. anyway.. i decided to get the postcards of the town where i'm staying.. and decided against the purchase of postcards of other towns and cities and sights and scenery since i haven done much travelling.. so the postcards should either bear Dunedin or Otago or the famous animals of NZ!!! anyone looking forward to mehmeh postcards?? =p

eekz.. my flatmate juz told me tt the postcards will take about 2 weeks.. ehz.. hope to send out the postcards this wk.. haha =p i'll blog abt the postcards again when i have sent it out!! =P

On a side note.. i woke up with my skin super red!!! i'm so sunburnt la!!! my poor skin is feeling so painful now.. eekz.. serves me right for not wanting to put sunblock.. =(

Skype is finally working!!

haha!! went to the IT helpdesk at the Central Library to get my computer fixed.. hehe.. finally managed to get my skype working!! add me!! lim.thiow.koon.cindy

hahaz.. actually spent 1 hour yesterday at the helpdesk getting my wireless up and working.. eekz.. think i'll have problems when i go back to NUS.. different proxy settings etc.. so ma fan.. oh well.. only think abt it when i go back i guess..

anyway!! so happy to finally be able to see the pple i tok to!! haha!!

geck.. finally able to see u in US.. hehe.. although u dun like ur pasta but still gotta bear with it lar.. lol

zk!! u finally cut ur hair!! haha.. finally see u after nearly 1 yr.. hehe..

grace!! finally get to see ur face.. bet u missed me lots.. haha..

managed to tok to my parents and brothers and nephews and nieces!!! lol.. its so different toking to pple on the phone and seeing them and toking to them.. haha!! skype rox!!! =)

guan ying!! nice seeing ya on skype too!! missed me and all the japanese outings rite?? lol.. jia you for mid-terms!! =)

Toroa Outing

had so much fun today!!! it was toroa's photo taking day and beach bash!!

we had to assemble at manawa, the main common area at 10.30am, but the RAs were gg around to the different flats at juz past 10am to make sure everyone was up!! with a watergun can.. my gosh!! haha.. i was shot at cuz i was waiting for my flatmates..

went to the clocktower building for toroa photo-taking!! hahaz!! it was so fun and nice!! the different flats had their flat photos taken also!! we had many candid shots.. roto, aroha and wahinetoa rox!! we had like combined flats photos.. will be having a combined flats picnic soon!! yay!!

went to the beach after that!! the sea was so blue!!! and the sand was so smooth!! but the water was really cold lar.. my feet was nearly numbed.. haha.. but it was great!!

had a bbq by the beach.. bbq bill again.. lol.. but it was nice =p but now i'm sunburnt cuz of too much sun.. but muz really say tt the weather these few days is very gd.. lots of sun!! miss sunny weather!!

its a gd day b4 sch starts on monday anyway.. had lots of fun! glad i'm staying in toroa!! =)

Prelim Lectures

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanna cry already can.. went for prelim lectures expecting it to be quite slack and stuff.. din expect to hear so much abt tests and assignments and blah blah.. guess previous cohorts muz have many pple ponning lectures and not handing up assignments and stuff.. so they're deciding to go tough.. eekz!! there goes my slack sep.. boohoo!!

a glimpse of my timetable, without 1 of my modules as i will only have the timetable confirmed on monday.. i am so going to drop 1 paper.. eekz!! And as usual, my wednesdays are quite slack.. not a free day though.. sigh

Monday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lecture
12-1 Earth and Ocean Science Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture
3-4 Music Tutorial

Tuesday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
12-1 Earth and Ocean Science Lecture
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture

Wednesday:
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lecture
2-3 Music Lecture

Thursday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
9-12 Biological Physics Lab
12-1 Earth and Ocean Science Lecture
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture
2-3 Regression and Modelling Tutorial

Friday:
8-9 Biological Physics Lecture
11-12 Design of Research Studies Lecture/ Tutorial
12-1 Earth and Ocean Science Lecture
1-2 Regression and Modelling Lecture
2-5 Earth and Ocean Science Lab

oh manz.. gd luck to me.. 1 more paper to fit into my already hectic timetable.. now muz go think which paper i wanna drop.. eekz!!

=)

Dear Diary,

Feeling super tired rite now but gotta take down my happenings as often as i can so as to keep a record of my life here in NZ, and before i go out a second time today.

Had a long but fun day yesterday! It was the international students' orientation, and had to go for the morning talk at 9am!! eww.. haven been waking up so early for a long time, but surprise surprise! i was actually the most punctual among my friends.. hehe..

The talk was rather interesting.. the mayor of Dunedin was there to welcome all the international students, and he surprised us by singing!!! and he sings rather well, i've gotta say.. another highlight of the talk was culture shock, which was given by the international students' advisors.. there are a few stages in culture shock, one being the honeymoon period, and the next is realising the differences between our homes and NZ, thus leading to culture shock and homesickness, followed by accepting these differences and etc etc.. hehe.. i know its the honeymoon stage for me lar.. since sch hasnt started yet.. but i hope the honeymoon period will last for 5 months!! or mebbe 6 months if i'm onli coming back end july cuz of some stuff.. programmers!! dun hate me if i dun get back in time k?? i may have some impt stuff on tt will onli see me back in spore juz b4 NUS starts...

Went on a free Taieri Train Ride!! the ticket usually costs nearly NZD60, but it was organised for the international students for free.. saw hills and hills of greenery.. haha.. but tts expected of NZ rite?? rmb LOTR.. and the weather yest was so sunny!!! the funny thing was.. the train left all the international students at this desert like area for 1 hour!! it was scorching hot can.. and my nose is now sunburnt.. and we had a bbq in the middle of nowhere.. the train juz stopped at this plateau which overlooked a stream way down the hill.. so scary!! but it was fun!! quite an experience i muz say.. seetoh!! bet u wanna fly over now rite?? =p

had flat meeting last nite to discuss the flat agreements and flat dinners etc etc.. i muz say tt my flatmates are great!! hope tt we can all have fun together!! =) tammy is super cute.. cooked supper for me last nite somemore.. hehe.. we'll try the battaya rice the next time!!

went to look for textbooks this morning.. the textbooks are so expensive!!! have to get 2 texts and they cost 117 and 127 respectively... eekz.. hope i can get 2nd hand ones and den sell back again.. prelim lectures starting tml!!! 3 out of my 6 papers have lectures.. but slack.. since the prelim lectures onli range from 15 mins to 1 hour.. hehe.. so i shall get my skype fixed in sch tml!! and my msn also.. lol..

ok!! time to go out with tammy now!! may go for the party tonite if i'm back in time.. hehe.. =)