Things to do when I'm back:
1) Eat all that is tasty
2) Lose weight
... that can't be right
Just as an additional footnote to anyone who cares, my sg number has been suspended/not used from August last year. So if I did not reply your sms it is not because I dont love you. But I'll be back to reclaim my number so dont delete it just yet
Saturday 24 May 2008
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Student House - Where It All Began
Going to the Student House on your own is both a joy and a dread. Its a joy when you see lots of familiar faces and people you can catch up with; its pure crap when no one you know is around. And the sheer anticipation of not knowing what you'll get.. priceless. I dare say I'm not the only one with such a state of mind (cant remember the word i was looking for) which explains why people start going there later and later as the semester goes by.
So anyway I was there last night for the Farewell Party, lured by promises of free food. Food in the cultural context means hot dogs and potatoes, in many ways Denmark is not too far off from Germany. And while thankfully there were a few people I knew, more than half of the people there were unfamiliars. Or, Semester 2 people. It's a bit like JC days where the people who were together for the "first three months" did not readily integrate the "2nd intakers". In this case, said Semester 2 people (hereafter S2P) had formed their own groups, cliques, bunch and were quite settled. Me on the other hand, most of those I knew from the previous semester were either home, or had outgrown the childish idea of meeting in the student bar on Tuesdays.
Sure enough Student House was where the socialising began, since there was an (almost) infinite amount of beer to satisfy everyone. At the beginning when groups had not formed, and people were all cheery and excited at this magical realm of exchange, it was wonderful. And I'm happy for the S2P who had it too.
And as much as it would be great to know more people from all over the world with the simple step of saying hi, I guess it seemed sort of meaningless to say Pleased to meet you and farewell in the same evening (one night stands excluded).
So there. Thanks for the memories Student House, you were a great place with the right company.
So anyway I was there last night for the Farewell Party, lured by promises of free food. Food in the cultural context means hot dogs and potatoes, in many ways Denmark is not too far off from Germany. And while thankfully there were a few people I knew, more than half of the people there were unfamiliars. Or, Semester 2 people. It's a bit like JC days where the people who were together for the "first three months" did not readily integrate the "2nd intakers". In this case, said Semester 2 people (hereafter S2P) had formed their own groups, cliques, bunch and were quite settled. Me on the other hand, most of those I knew from the previous semester were either home, or had outgrown the childish idea of meeting in the student bar on Tuesdays.
Sure enough Student House was where the socialising began, since there was an (almost) infinite amount of beer to satisfy everyone. At the beginning when groups had not formed, and people were all cheery and excited at this magical realm of exchange, it was wonderful. And I'm happy for the S2P who had it too.
And as much as it would be great to know more people from all over the world with the simple step of saying hi, I guess it seemed sort of meaningless to say Pleased to meet you and farewell in the same evening (one night stands excluded).
So there. Thanks for the memories Student House, you were a great place with the right company.
Monday 12 May 2008
Meaning
Dreaded exams are here.
In some way I guess the meaning of exchange would be lost if I did not have to study or have to pass any exams. Yes I know some people who have to do neither, either cos they're here just to write a thesis (i.e. do it at your own pace), or they have no credit transfer whatsoever.
But yes the end of exams would seriously mark the end of exchange for me for my actual work here would be done. Right now I'm just seriously feeling the pressure of reading a ton of backlog and memorising chunks and chunks.
Help!
In some way I guess the meaning of exchange would be lost if I did not have to study or have to pass any exams. Yes I know some people who have to do neither, either cos they're here just to write a thesis (i.e. do it at your own pace), or they have no credit transfer whatsoever.
But yes the end of exams would seriously mark the end of exchange for me for my actual work here would be done. Right now I'm just seriously feeling the pressure of reading a ton of backlog and memorising chunks and chunks.
Help!
Thursday 8 May 2008
Scenic Ireland
This trip was by far the best I've had in terms of coastal scenery, mostly the Glens of Antrim in the North (near Belfast), and Glendalough / Wicklow Mountains in the East. If I ever do go back, please remind me to rent a car and go crazy.
Spanning a chasm some eighty feet deep is the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, it's construction once consisted of a single rope hand rail and widely spaced slats which the fishermen would traverse across with salmon caught off the island... The area is exceptional in is natural beauty, to the left as you come down the steep hill is Larrybane headland which once stretched out towards Sheep Island and had a promontory fort on the top dating to 800AD, underneath large caves once served as home to boat builders and a safe resting place from winter storms.
- http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm
At the Giant's Causeway
The coastal scenery adjacent to the causeway is some of the most beautiful and awe inspiring that you are likely to find anywhere. The majestic cliffs and inaccessible bays combine with myth and legend to inspire, but look carefully amongst this breathtaking landscape and you will find echoes of another reality, isolated ruins, kelp walls and shoreline fields bear testament to the harder life of subsistence farming and fishing endured by past generations.
- http://www.northantrim.com/causeway.htm
Behind me was a location which was used in the filming of Braveheart. Our tour guide (cheeky Irish man) entrusted a bottle of Jameson's Whiskey to Liz to pour for the rest of us weary travellers. Needless to say, it served as a nice social lubricant. Very beautiful scenery.
Glen-da-lough, Irish for Glen of two lakes.
Round Tower, standing 110 feet, standing strong and erect since the 7th century. Apparently many people come here to be inspired by it.
Only thing I knew about Glendalough before this was because of the Viking Ship Sea Stallion of Glendalough, which made the journey from Roskilde (in Denmark, one of my super early posts) to Dublin, where it is exhibited at the National Museum of Dublin currently. I do think it would be an experience of a lifetime to have been part of the historical voyage.
Ireland is truly a wonderful place to visit for its sheer amount of natural beauty. I just can't really put it down in words, the whole experience being magnificent, and knowing that this would forever be embedded in me.
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