Lalalala...
LALALALA...
Ah...
Ahhhhhhhhhh.......
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....
Kaboom!
End of story.
For a week from tomorrow, I will be in the land of the long white clouds, a place where I was supposed to do my four year undergraduate course, until of course when fate intervened and I found myself Down Under instead.
Will spend eight days exploring the sights of the North Island of New Zealand, spending time in places with weird names like Rotorua and Taupo and Coromandel.
Hopefully the change in scenery can give me inspiration to write more stories. ^^
Results were out yesterday. Quite a relief that did better than expected. Saw a 9 as the first number for the first time since year 1. Too bored and did an analysis of my results.
Happy to found out that my results are quite consistent over the four years, even though there was a drastic drop after the first year. Things do get tough progressively, or I got lazier as the semesters went by?
Anyway, that means only one thing left to look forward to in my Uni life: the graduation ceremony. It will be held 8.00pm 11th December 2008. Just a mere two weeks away..
"For this research, you are going to find out and interview people suffering from chronic illness on their experience." A stern looking Dr. Jennifer Marriott told me when I met her to discuss about my Summer Vacation Scholarship.
"Gosh," I thought then "can I really interview people with my half past six English?" But then I reasoned, it was a good skills to acquire.
Getting the Summer Vacation Scholarship was another highlight of my second year. I was quite surprised because I was only a second year student and I got my first choice project. Most probably only a few students applied that year. It was lucky in a way as now most students are aware of it and hence the competition is stiffer.
During that time I spent 4 weeks in the Pharmacy Practice department. I was supposed to do a research on chronic illness but it only lasted for two weeks as the ethics paperwork fell through. So luckily or unluckily I never knew, I never got to interview people. Hence I hopped into another one, which is health promotion. I was allocated a desk and computer In the PhD room, and it was kind of a good experience feeling like a PhD student for the very first time. I also participated in the journal club where they discuss matters of interest concerning their research.
It was then too that I met Robin, who was the friendliest and most playful PhD student in VCP. It was fortunate that I met him because between us we came up with a plan to do a survival handbook for International students. Our collaboration gave birth to STEPS, a 32 pages handbook on things an International student should know concerning living around Parkville. I'm unabashedly proud about STEPS because it was the first time I initiated something and had it published and given to other people. Hopefully they find it useful.
That year was also the year VCP celebrated it's 125th Anniversary. I felt very fortunate to be part of the campus when they celebrated such a huge milestone. They were a lot of activities on campus to commemorate it but unfortunately I guess I was still too timid to put my hands up to join in. The only activity I joined is the first ever leadership night on campus, where we got the opportunity to have an Antarctica explorer sharing her experience with us. It was also then that I discovered that Uni function has lots of good food and free alcohol.
Second semester 2006 also marked the first time I hang out with other people other than the three girls. It started with Wei Siang inviting me to join them for badminton. From there on I met other people like Woon Pang, JP, Jim etc etc. I found out that they were all very friendly and approachable people, and wondered why I didn't take the initiative to talk to them earlier. It was funny that it was through badminton I met most other people that year. I got close to Galahad also through badminton, and also other PISA members as PISA held a badminton day that year.
I realised that it was hard to make friends in lecture theatre. The best way is either thorough prac groups or club activities. It was this realisation that from my third year onwards, I tried my best to be heavily involved in Uni life. I tried very hard this year to motivate the first years to join clubs. Having a lot of friends really does make Uni life feel like Uni life. It was this realisation that made my Uni life so memorable.
Eremaine woke up, brushed her teeth, changed into a spaghetti strap and shorts and proceeded to walk to the lottery shop near her house.
At the lottery shop, she pulled up a sheet of scratch paper from the neatly stacked pile on the booth. With the blue pen that is attached to the booth via a thin white string, she crossed out the six numbers: 6, 11, 13, 22, 33, 37.
She handed in the paper to the tall man with moustache behind the counter, paid him $1.10, waited a few seconds for him to process it and then got the receipt from him. She neatly folded the receipt and carefully put it into her purse.
She checked the amount of money to be won on the notice board. Good. A cool $2.2 million. That should be enough to do a couple of things.
She began to think about what she can do with the money. Should she spend it on a house? A car maybe? Or a trip to Europe. Oh, who cares, there are still two more days to think about it as the result will only be announced then.
Two days later, Eremaine woke up, brushed her teeth, changed into a white T-shirt and rainbow coloured skirt and proceeded to walk to the lottery shop near her house again.
She took out her receipt from her purse and handed it to the yawning moustached man behind the booth and patiently waited for him to cross match it with the results of the draw. 6..11..13..22..33..37!
"Wow! Congratulations miss! You won the top prize!" shrieked the man, jumping up and down like an excited bunny. He waved the receipt in the air, doing a funny little dance in the process as if he won the top prize himself.
"Yes I know. Thank you." Eremaine replied calmly, while nonchalantly swatting a fly that flew too close to her. "Now can you please tell me how am I supposed to redeem the prize money?"
The man tried his best to explain it to her even though he was still on a high adrenaline rush. Eventually, Eremaine managed to extract the info from him. Since the HQ of the lottery shop is a distance away, she opted to go home and only make the journey the next day.
Back home, she was reading the newest story book by Jeffrey Archer in her bathtub when she finally decided what she will do with her newly-acquired riches. She will just put it into her bank account first until she has a clear idea what to do with it. $2.2 million sounds a lot, but she knew it can be used up relatively easily if she's not careful.
Two people were seated on a wooden bench in a leafy park, a scene straight off the pages of Forrest Gump. The only difference being Forrest Gump wasn't there of course, and there was no epic story of running to tell. But nonetheless the story transpired between them were interesting enough to worth a mention.
On the left was a tall man in his seventies with wispy white hair and whose thin fragile body was decked in a homey olive coloured cardigan. We should call him John.
On the right was a young energetic cheerful guy of just twenty three. Wearing a checkered shirt and baggy shorts, he was whistling to the tune of the newest song by a band the old guy never heard of. And we should call him Ashley.
"Having a happy day 'er young man?" enquired John when Ashley paused to get his breath.
"Yes. In a matter of fact, old man, I just got engaged."
"Congratulations! Ah, this called for a celebration. Here's a toast to your happiness." with that, John raised an imaginary wine glass in his left hand and drank to the health of his young acquaintance.
"Why thank you." managed Ashley, a little taken aback.
A few moments of silence ensued, as they both enriched their senses with the chirping of magpies, the sweet smell of the morning dew and the blossoming flowers of spring.
"Aye, you bought back memories of the courtship of ma missus," John reminisced, breaking the silence. "It was such a sweet time. Got her a stalk of rose for forty nine bloody days before she said yes."
"She was a hard nut to crack, ma Gladys. Hard to please," he continued. "Spotted her on the counter of the grocery store when I was your age. Head over heels I was. Took me three days and ten candies before I mustered the courage to speak to her. And it took me another three years before she said yes."
"It must be an arduous three years."
"Far from it, ma boy, far from it. It was the best three years of ma life. I woke up each day planning and scheming how to win her over. It was exciting. I stole a kiss off her once, made her blush. Still remembered when I sneaked her off under the very nose of her dad to a dance party. Ah.."
"Anyway, I guess you have enough listening to an old man rambling. How's your love story?"
"Well, actually I only seen her in person once. We met six months ago while I was holidaying in Alaska. Got her MSN and had been chatting online ever since. Called her once or twice per week. Found out we clicked. Popped the question online last night after a couple of drinks and she said yes!"
"What?" a look of horror swept through the face of John. "You got engaged to a woman you only seen once?"
"Why not.Everyone seems to be doing that nowadays..."
"But..but...but..." John was left speechless. He picked up his newspaper resting on the bench and stood up. "Well goodbye my friend. I hope your marriage goes well."
"Stupid new generation" he muttered under his breath after being out of earshot. "Didn't know what they missed." With a resigned shake of his head, he continued his journey home to the fresh scones oven baked by his beloved Gladys.
He first saw it when he was at the impressionable age of ten.
There it was, in the torn page of the smudgy magazine, the picture of the Korean doll under the heading Nijaye Collectibles.
He was so fascinated by it, the doll decked in the colourful Korean hanbok costume.
Not to mention the curly tresses, small squinty eyes and pouty lips of the doll.
For that day onwards, he decided he will go and find the Korean doll.
Unfortunately, collecting money to buy the expensive doll proved to be a difficult task. Little by little he saved and scrimped. It was not until he was 21 before he got enough money to buy one.
And then there was the problem of finding out how to get the doll. It was virtually impossible to find a doll of any kind in the backwater county he came from, and so off he go to the big city.
In the first city he looked, he found a Nijaye doll in a downtrodden hobby shop. It was lucky he found the shop at all, tucked in an obscure back alley it was. The Chinese Nijaye doll is still in mint condition, its white cheongsam with red cherry blossom print still spotless. The straight fringe, the round eyes, the ruby red cheeks – it was breathtaking.
He was tempted, but remembering the Korean doll is the ultimate quest, he decided to let the beautiful Chinese doll go.
In the second city he looked, he found a Japanese Nijaye doll dressed in a blue silk kimono. Sweet dimples, cat like eyes and dark eyelashes. This time it was in the house of an old couple who were desperate to sell it for some cash.
Even though sympathetic he was to the plight of the couple, he had his sight firmly set on a Korean doll, and with a heavy heart, he turned them down.
He continued to hop from city to city, from a shop to another, a house to another. He found a Malaysian doll in a Baju Kebaya, an Indonesian doll in Sarong, an Australian doll in a Lifesaver costume. There were all beautiful and perfect, and every time, he was tempted to buy.
But every time without fail, the alluring picture of the Korean doll he saw in the magazine more than ten years ago will surface in his mind, and off he went to another city, another shop, another house.
After two years of painful searching, he at last found the Korean doll at a rundown, ready to be auctioned off shop. But unfortunately it was not perfect. The pink hanbok was torn in two places, the tresses full of dirt. The nose was chipped off in a corner, the left arm scratched. He was disappointed, but then it was a true Nijaye Collectible Korean doll, he reasoned. And he wanted it for so long. And he had searched for it for so long.
So he decided to pay the owner the money. Even though deep down he knew that he can use the same amount of money to buy a perfect Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian or Australian Nijaye Collectible doll.
But at least he got his Korean doll.
Kendemeyer glanced at his watch, tapping his left foot on the plush carpet impatiently.
“Damn” he mutters under his breath. “Why does a woman always has to be late?”
His mobile rang as he snuffed out his fifth cigarette of the hour.
“Sorry sweetie I will be 10 minutes late.”
“That’s okay love, you are always worth waiting for.”
He hated himself for saying that.
“Oh, I know you are bored waiting for me sweetie. Why don’t I give you a little challenge to keep you awake?”
“Okie love. Your wish is my command.”
Damn. Why he has to be so weak.
“I expect to have a helium balloon waiting for me when I see you. Don’t disappoint me!”
Kendemeyer looked frantically around the shopping strip. Gosh where can he find a helium balloon at this place at this hour? He paced around the corner. Turned left. Turned right. Turned circles. No balloon as the clock continuously ticked down.
***
Lynette got the balloon as she passed by the pharmacy to admire the make up kit she wished she owned. Apparently they were promoting their newest weight loss program, as the smiling sales assistant gave her a pink balloon with “Fight the fat” emblazoned on it.
Her little girl will be so happy to see the balloon. It was a few months back since she had bought home anything fun for her daughter. Life had been so hard since her husband left them to fend for themselves one year ago.
She was bouncing down the street, happily carrying the pink balloon on a string when he spotted her.
***
Kendemeyer can felt his heart beating faster as the time ticked away. He had broke into a sweat but still no balloon. There was now only two minutes before Vixenne arrived. Last time he failed her task, she didn’t speak to him for one week.
He was on the verge of giving up when he saw the sweet girl with the red hair-band across the street with a pink balloon on her hands. Without thinking twice, he beat a path to her.
“Hi excuse me miss, I was wondering… can you give me the balloon please?”
Lynette was startled by the request. “Err, but I want to give the balloon to my daughter..”
“I know this is a big ask, but my daughter was hit by a car this morning. She is now at the hospital. She asked me to give her a balloon but I can’t find one..” Kendemeyer ended the sentence in a sigh, while putting on his most pitiful expression. Desperation always brings up the best actor in him.
Lynette was skeptical but her heart of gold got better of her. “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope your daughter get well soon. Here you can have this balloon.”
“Thank you so much! Oh I will always be indebted to you.” Kendemeyer managed to get a tear trickling down his left cheek as he said this.
***
“Hi sweetie, here’s your balloon.”
“Oh muaks” she pecked him on the cheek “you never disappoint me.”
As they walked down the busy street hand in hand, Kendemeyer felt so lucky because he has a stunning beauty strutting next to him. He loved seeing all those envious glances from other men.
“Aw this balloon says ‘Fight the fat’. Eww. Gross. I hate that word.”
With that Vixenne released the balloon and it flew up into the sky.
At that moment, Lynette was turning the knob of the door into her small room. She heaved a sigh of dejection. Her daughter will have another plain boring day.
"Where's the rest? There were supposed to be 12 right?"
"I don't know... a few fell down"
Second year started off with a trip to Great Ocean Road with the first year International students to visit the 12 Apostles. I got to go as a PISA rep.
I think the highlight of my second year is being PISA's Publications Officer. My job was to maintain the club's web site, churning out all the event posters and writing articles reporting the club's activities. It was a job I like a lot as journalism is something that I have interest in since secondary school.
It was the year when I found out that I loved to be in a position where I can contribute to the well being of fellow students. It was fun being involved. Participating in the great next PISA is the thing I constantly looked forward to that year.
I remembered it took me a while to get used to the people in PISA. I don't talk much in team meeting until much much later. Come to think of it, I was still extremely shy during second year.
The notable activities I took part in PISA is the Hip-hop dance class. It was the very first time I learn to dance and it thought me one thing - I'm helpless at dancing. Nevertheless it was fun. I also played in a soccer game with the med guys. It was memorable because as the goalie I let in 8 goals. I remembered the girls manning the score board was frantically hoping I didn't ship in another because the manual score board only had zero to eight.
On Uni, it started earlier due to the Commonwealth Games being held in Melbourne. As our campus was near the Games village, Uni was halted for 2 weeks for security reasons.
2nd year is more of a transition year. The year in the middle where nothing much happens.It was characterised by long practicals. I used to dread Thursdays and Fridays where we got 6 hours of prac in a day with only 30 mins break in between. Half of them are chemistry based and we spend a dreadful lot of time mixing things in test tubes, purifying our products and do a melting point test to make sure we did it correctly.
We had role plays in Pharmacy Practice. During the time, we got to be either pharmacist or patient in a mock pharmacy. We learnt how to ask the right questions and how to tackle awkward situations. It was the first time I got to experience counselling people and I found it really hard. The first case I ever got was about Morning After Pill. Heck, I don't even know what it was then!
to be continued...
Swish was the graduation farewell party for fourth year pharmacy students.
This year's theme was Arabian Nights - A magic carpet ride.
It was magical. Everyone going into the venue was showered by rose petals.
The event was held at Cossar Hall, which is Uni. However, it was greatly transformed for the night. For instance, there were two tall minarets adorning the stage.
A belly dancer also made an appearance.
There was also a camel resting at the back of the hall. I figured that it was thirsty, so fed it some wine.
It was a great night where we got to mingle and take photos with lecturers and other students.
During Swish they also gave out the Student Community Achievement Award for students who had somewhat made contributions to students life in Uni.
Surprisingly I got one of the award! It was peer nominated and I didn't really thought that anyone will nominate me as the process is very complicated.
To that person, thank you very much for nominating me. I hoped I really did made a difference to students life in Uni. This award really meant a lot.
And here's me posing with the award surrounded by two stunning models.
Now there's only two things left in my Uni life to look forward to: the day the results are released (Nov 28) and graduation (Dec 11).
Till then, it will be continuous partying. ^^
Gosh. Time sped by like a stealthy thief making a run for his life. Didn't realised that I sat for my last ever paper exactly one week ago today.
And so it is all over. A sense of happiness and relief spread through my whole body when I hear the examiner say "stop writing and put your pen down," for the very last time. The 3 hour Drug Development paper was thankfully not as hard as anticipated.
I looked around the examinations room as I waited for my exams paper to be picked up. Those are faces whom I had spent four years with studying pharmacy, with many of them I don't know their names, and probably will never see again.
It was funny how you don't get to know everyone in your graduating class when there's less than 200 of you and all studied in the same lecture theatre for 8 semesters. Upon reflection, most of my friends I got to know because we were slotted into the same prac groups or assignment groups. If not because of this, I probably would have less friends than now.
I was a bit dazed a few hours post exam after the initial euphoria had subsided. The classic syndrome of post exam depression set in again. There's just this emptiness that render everything that is so fun during exam time being so...un-fun. Watching drama then was so exciting. Now, there's no inclination to watch them.
It is also the time to meet up with friends and say the long last goodbye. This year in particular had been fast, and it was just like yesterday when I started my year as an O-week mentor. Maybe it was because of the 9 weeks placement I had. Everyday now just had to be filled with plans to meet up with someone. Because I will never know when will we meet again.
Going to start working in a couple of months. That seems like another world far far away, or a dream. I need something to knock me back to reality.
Tomorrow will be the Swish graduation class farewell party. Ah, will it be the last ever time I sat foot on the place I called my second home for the past four years? Hopefully not..
Once upon a time there was a commoner who wanted to be prince.
In order to do that he needs to marry the princess of far-far-away-land.
So off he go to far-far-away-land. Along the way, battles were fought with dragons and trolls. Wits and brute strengths were employed endless times to conquer kings and knights.
Each time he prevailed, armed with his strong perseverance and one-mindedness. With that, his aim to become prince became closer and closer to reality.
Nearly four years and 36 arduous task later, he at last reached the castle in which the princess reside.
The king was at the doorstep to receive him.
"Congratulations for getting this far, young man. But before I hand my daughter to you, there's this last test for you to conquer. ... ..."
Right behind the king suddenly the princess appears, in a breathless dress of diamonds and pearls. The commoner was awe-struck by her peerless beauty.
His mind began to drift to the endless possibilities of fun and happiness he can have with the princess in the years to come. He fantasize about going on trips with the princess and whispering sweet nothings to her. He imagined all the beautiful kids they would have, and how green the faces of his friends would look like when brings the princess home. As the happy thoughts circled in his mind, a smile began to spread across his face.
"..and so good luck, my dear boy, I see this task is very easy to you. Ah, confidence! That's the spirit I like! Hope you pass it with flying colours."
With that he escorted the commoner though a door into a dark room and slammed it shut.
The commoner readied himself for what-ever thing will happen.
Then he realised something important.
Gosh, what was the task again??
Adrenaline kicked in early today. Been up since 7am. Last two days to saviour the life of being a student.
Woke up. Brush teeth. Looked into mirrors and counted my pimples. Ah, great, no new ones.
Coffee with froth. Breakfast with eggs.
Online checked news. Nothing much happened. Except Newcastle won! Yeah now we are not at the bottom of the table.
Notes up. High lighter in hand. Pen on paper. Read. Write. Read. Write.
Read. Memorise. Agonise.
Re-read. Re-memorise. Why that darn info never wanted to get in?
Youtube. Facebook. My sis superpoked me again. Too free izzit?
Back to notes.
Last chance to score a 9 in exams. I must persevere!
2 days to first paper of exams!
I had been busy studying. Here's the proof. Group study was kinda fun. There were so much laughter and unconcerned banter but we do get the things done in the end. It was akin to taking a longer route with lots of sidetracking but prettier sceneries.
I guess we all treat exams differently. Some prefer study alone, some in groups. Likewise, some of us very stressed, some still happy as if exams very far away:
But we are very lucky coz got Santa Claus bought Mamee Mee for us.
And Santarina who baked us cheese cake tart and lots of "happy food".
How I wish my exams are tomoro! Now I need to be stuck with my notes for two more days.
On a brighter note, my first blog post was finally published in the Monash Pharmacy Blog! It was quite a challenge to actually promote the campus on a subconscious level, ie. to promote it while not really looked like that I'm promoting it. And if you see the photo accompanying my post, I'm actually in it. =)
Anyway, for everyone taking an exam, best wishes!
It had been of sorts, a very atypical swot week.
Usually I would spend the week before exam cloistered in the comfort of my room, using the previous time preparing for storm to come.
But this time it is so different.
For the first time in history, the week was punctured with some many fun days that I started to feel as if that the exams was already over. It all started last Sunday when a bunch of us decided to go shopping at Essendon DFO. It subsequently was followed by dinner at Boxhill and then movie at Knox City. So my study week really went off with a bang. If that was not enough, Wednesday saw us going off for dinner and then Gelati. Yesterday we went Karaoke, dinner then dessert at Brunetti.
But I didn't regret having all those fun because this will be probably the last few times we may see each other. Next year, everyone will be going their own ways pursuing their own dreams. As one of my friends said sometime this week, after this it can be either 再见 or 永別, meaning "see you again" or "goodbye forever". Friends are always more important than exams.
Keeping with the friends theme, it is also a bit of an emotional week as I said goodbye to a lot of people whom I may never cross path with again. Lucky that there's something like facebook and MSN nowadays. Nevertheless it had been really hard.
I also went library hopping to study this time round. I went with different libraries and studied with different people, and every time it is a different experience. I find that I can learn so much from other people, even though it was not academic-wise. Its a bit hard studying in the Uni library though, there's just too many people to catch up and speak to.
Even though my study speed had been a bit slower compared to previous years due to these "diversion", it was definitely sweet to spend swot week with friends around rather than by myself. Friends really makes the world go round and round and round...
And I will not regret my decision to spend my swot week this way.
When you start moving the rusty bearings in your brain, its like opening a tap and the water can't stop running. More and more long forgotten memories kept resurfacing in my mind in the last few days.
I came to realised that I had completely forgotten to write about a much hated but integral part of a student life: exams.
In our Uni, 80% is enough to get a High Distinction (HD). Sounds easy initially, so I vowed early on that I will get HDs in all the subjects I take in Uni. Unfortunately, like so many things it is easier said than done. In the first year, I fall short by one subject each semester. In the second year, it was short by 2 subjects per semester. In the third year... I can't bear to finish it. The interesting fact about exams result is that we receive it by SMS. So there's usually no time to prepare myself mentally reading the results.
The exams consume a whole lot of my life. Its like two whole month each year dedicated to study for them. It was so hard to condense 12 weeks of studies into 2 or 3 hour papers. Luckily most of the answers require rote memorisation, which is a skill I'm relatively good at. Many thanks to the Malaysian education system. but actually, the Australian system is not that much better. Memorisation is still the key to high scores. It was something I am a little disappointed about.
A lot of my friends assume that I got good results all the while since I am a JPA scholar, which is far from the truth. They will be amazed by how mediocre it really is. But anyway, I had slowly learnt that having good results doesn't mean anything much in the real world. There are so many other components for growth that is far more important.
There are really a lot of different people in Uni who can change your perception on things. I started to question my obsession to get high marks when I realised that they are some people who are just happy to get a credit. Getting high marks doesn't mean that I will be a better pharmacist; just that I'm better at taking exams.
One of my friends recently said something which made me pondered a lot. "You know Boon Phiaw, sometimes you do things that doesn't mean anything to you but meant a lot to the other person" How true. I was at the 'other person' end a few times during my first couple of years in Uni.
One such moment that stood out was in first year when a 3rd year student approached us and introduce himself to us. It was sometime in April during an informal meeting where a group of them wanted to introduce PISA to us. Up to then, no seniors had made the effort to speak to us. Even though he only asked us our names and where we are from, his action left a deep impression on me. For once, I felt that I'm not an insignificant freshie but someone who is worthy enough to converse with. I was made to feel important, like how it was put by Dale Carnegie in his famed book How to Win Friends and Influence People.
I believe all the efforts I made nowadays to get to know juniors and assist them when the need arises stemmed from this encounter. I did it based on my own desire last time to have a senior to mentor me, someone whom can be my role model. I am of the opinion that being a senior student, there's a responsibility to try and guide younger students so that they can reach their goals in life. I don't really know whether by doing this I made a difference or not, but at least I am doing something I believed in.
That, I think, is very important.
Haruki Murakami, the famous Japanese writer wrote a story titled "On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning."
I first read it in Hsiu Yinn's blog, and she gave me the link to the story last time.
It was the most beautiful story I had ever read.
One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.
Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.
Today, I have the same feeling. The girl was young and not the most pretty girl I had seen, but there is this something about her that attracted me, that gave rise to the feeling that I should know her. That I should go and talk to her. The urge was just so strong.
"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?"
"Nah. Just passed her on the street."
But like the protagonist in the story, I didn't do it. I don't know how to start the conversation. I just let her walk past me. And probably live to regret it. And I am quite angry with myself now. How in hell did I let my fears overcome me again? I still think too much.
Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart.
Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards.
How can I approach her? What should I say?
"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?"
Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman.
"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?"
No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that?
Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me."
I am supposed to be well trained by now to talk to girls. I now felt like a soldier who had endured all the hardships in training camp, spending years learning to be the best soldier, only to froze at the first moment of battle and got shot on the head.
I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd.
Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical.
Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?"
Well, I don't know how to end this story. Perhaps fate will intervene one day and I will see her again. If I did, I'll swear I won't let the chance go. There is the risk that I may find my preconception about her is not what I think it is after I talked to her, but at least I would have talked to her and put the matter to rest. Not knowing is the probably the worst state to be in.
If I didn't, probably I will write it into a story like Haruki Murakami did.
I can't seem to recall my first ever lecture in Uni. It was Elizabeth Yuriev's intro to Med Chem, at least that was what the timetable say. But I can't place her in front of the lecture theatre during the first lecture. All I remembered was that we were late, and when we reached the lecture theatre, it was full. I had to sit at the very last row. This was in stark contrast to this year, where the lecture theatre is never even half filled.
I liked Elizabeth because her lectures are easy to learn and very systematic, and she was rightly voted the best lecturer by the students that year. She taught us a total of 37 lectures in just one semester. As she taught two different subjects, a sentence she said which stuck in my mind is "now lets take off our med chem hat and put on our pharm chem hat." She said this when the lectures are one after the other. She also loved saying something about "turn off your mobile phone" and "no drinking in lectures".
The only intro lecture that I remembered is the one by Roger Nation, which is the Head of Pharmacy Practice. This is because his lecture material is about the same as the one Louis Roller gave in O-week. Roger really got overshadowed by Louis as he was not as charismatic. Nevertheless he is quite a good lecturer.Most of the lecturers are good, only a couple who-should-not-be-named should consider spending the rest of their live cocooned in the comfort of their lab.
I recalled that the thing which impressed me most in first year was the ability of lecturers to blurb out names of medicines in machine gun fire fashion. David Kong, the Malaysian born lecturer is a pro in this. In lectures about medication safety, he loved to let off a string of medicines with similar names, like Zyrtex vs Zantac, Losec vs Lopid, Zocor vs Zoloft, Indocid vs Inderal... I was often left in awe: "How in heaven does he do that? Will I be able to do that when I finished my degree?" Now after four years, I can safely say most of the names ring a bell. So I do learn something after all.
I missed only a few lectures during the entire year. It was a commendable achievement considering we had four 8.30am starts per week. We used to motivate each other by saying "Hey, a lecture costs RM100!"
The very first presentation I made in Uni was in Week 6. It was assessed and I presented a talk on health and exercise. That was the first of many presentations in Uni. I always elected to go last in presentations - that was my trademark. The presentation was memorable in that I managed to regurgitate the entire memorised speech out. Luckily Uni taught us well. I didn't do that now.
The thing I live to regret during my first year is not taking enough initiative to talk to people and befriend them. I was saying to the new International students in a speech at the beginning of this year that "During my first year in Uni, I was this sort of people whom in a party, you are likely to find standing alone in a corner, pretending to be invisible." It generated a few laughs but it was true. I just stick with a small group of people and only talk when spoken to. I was still too shy and introverted then I guess. It was funny now that I know more students in younger year levels compared to people in my own year.
I also didn't take part in any club activities. Even though I promised myself to be involved heavily in social activities before the start of Uni, there was this something keeping me from raising my hands up during clubs election time. To start off, there wasn't many clubs to join compared to now. Missing orientation played a big part too, as I was quite hazy what clubs were there on campus. I had no idea about MPSA, VPSA or other As those students were promoting at the front of lecture theatre. I was too busy marvelling at their ability to speak in front of nearly 200 students. That for me, was the epitome of self confidence, and I really did wish I can do it one day.
Luckily I did manage to force myself to join PISA's committee at the tail end of the year. PISA was the International students society on campus, and it was just established in April. Hui Bing was already on the committee, and she encouraged me to join. I still remembered that the meeting was at 5pm. I spent the whole afternoon tossing and turning in bed, weighing up my decision on whether to join the club or not. I reflected upon my Uni life, and really felt that up to that time, it was not what I envisioned, and I didn't try my best.
In the end, I decided to walk the 20 minutes to Uni for the meeting. Not many people turned up for the meeting, and I got elected to the post of Publications Officer for the next year. That moment was the whole turning point of my University life.
Footnote: Sorry Lucky Guy is always behind schedule. Life been busy. And thx to the cute girl who suggested that I can find out from my timetable what was the first lecture in Uni. Lecture notes were consulted for writing up part of the post.
A mixture of emptiness and disbelief that time flew by so quickly.
That was it.
I was neither happy nor sad.
Just a bit dazed.
Throughout the entire week, I had been wondering what would I be feeling at that precise moment when the lecture say: "That's it. It's the end."
Now I knew.
This was be the last time four of us sat together in a lecture theatre. Gosh we had been sitting together for nearly four years.
The day started with a morning tea of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
The theme is 80s, hence a number of people dressed up accordingly.
The last ever lecture of the entire 4 year course was given by Kevin McNamara. This was probably the only time a rock star was here to give us a lecture. He only lasted 20 minutes -
Before being replaced with a cowboy -
who was also giving his last ever lecture after a staggering 50 years at the campus.
It was quite an emotional speech (but he didn't cry!!) as he went through the changes in the campus in his half a century here and gave us some advice. At the end of the speech, everyone gave him a standing ovation.
It was apt that the lecturer who was the first to gave us a speech in orientation was there to gave us the last. It somehow bought a sense of closure to everything.
Well, now all that are left are 3 written paper and a prac exam.
One day Tai Ko very bored. He got an idea: "Lets go see Twelve Apostles in Great Ocean Road!"
He think think think... then say "eh, need friends leh..."
He saw some Tin Soldiers in Geelong. "Adabakadabra! Be my friend and go to GOR! Heh heh heh.."
"Blink!" Like magic, friends began to appear from the Tin Soldiers.
"See what see? Everybody follow Tai Ko to GOR lah."
Evil evil...Steal some money from Mum so we can all go play..
"But, Tai Ko, very hot leh!"
Tai Ko: "What I teach you? Go eat the sun lah!"
"O... yummy!"
We row, we row, we row...
Yeah reach GOR liao...yahoo!
Wah so beautiful...
Hehe..tickle tickle.. izzit itchy? hehehehe...
Tai Kah Che "Aiyoh, so pretty mah bring home la..."
Wah got lighthouse also...
Waterfall..
and tree-top walk!
"Tai Ko, we all tired liao leh..."
Tai Ko: "Okay lah lets go back to my mansion."
and BBQ!
Yum...such a fun trip!
Today will be the start of the last week of Uni. Beside lectures, will have photo taking session and group discussion for assignments.
Practice exam on Tuesday.
Oral exam on Wednesday.
Will sit for last ever lecture on pharmacy on Thursday.
And it will be the end till exams on 24th October.
One week holiday was too short.
Three barbeques in a week.
Three days two nights trip to Apollo Bay and Great Ocean Road.
The other time busy finishing assignments. Add a little bit of study.
One month from today, I will be sitting for my last exam paper.
It will be a hectic end.
And one hour of my precious time got eating due to the end of daylight saving. Now the difference between here and Malaysia will be 3 hours. Take note, Mum.
Updates on Lucky Guy and pics from trip when I find the time.
