To the city...

Monday, 30 July 2007

Went to the city after lessons to pick up some books that my dad had his colleague ferried over to Melbourne. I made my way to Grand Hyatt and picked it up at the Concierge. Man, they were really heavy! My JC Econs file and 2 uni textbks.

Had dinner at this Indonesian restaurant which my friend, Permadi, recommended. Gave me a lift to the city becuz it was on the way. He lives with his other uni friends in the city. So cool.. I want to live in the city too. After dinner, caught a direct tram back to my appartment. Urrr.. Just burped. Mmm... Beehoon Goreng...

Ok, gotta go shower now. Need to pia on my hw too. Supposed to start on assignments this week but I'm still a little lost as to what I'm supposed to do.



Grocery shoppin with my new S'porean friends

Sunday, 29 July 2007

Met up with 4 S'porean friends to do our grocery shoppin at Boxhill. All of us only met this month and studied at the same campus, doing mostly the same subjects too. As I was puttin up at a different student appartment from them, I wasn't close to them. I only got to know them after I approached a S'porean girl whom I recognised from the Monash Pre-departure briefin last month. From her, I got to know the others.

I sort of volunteered myself to join them. Haha. Not thick-skin, just being proactive in making friends. So that's how I got to tag along. I feel like I know them better after today. I hope they feel the same way abt me too and would ask me along in any of their coming outings. Sch just started for 2, 3 weeks and it's fertile ground for forming new social circles. Everyone is v outgoing cuz they're looking for friends too.

Started on hw after watching tv. Mouth itchy, so specially requested Jared, my younger cousin, to make scones for me. He and I made scones together the previous night. It was our first attempt. But the ones which he just made for me was so good. Texture was just right. Afterthat, Sarah and him, sat at the dining table to read and at the same time, to accompany me while I was doing my hw. Feels great. Feels warm. Family warmth.



Church

Friday, 27 July 2007

Attended a church dinner with Jessica and Sharon. It was located just 5min walk away from campus. A dinner had been organised to welcome the international students at Monash Uni. The 3 of us, we attended it largely becuz dinner was provided and we were too lazy to prepare our own dinner for that night.

Sharon is actually doing her Masters while Jessica and I are still doing our Bachelor degrees. But somehow, we still managed to click with Sharon. I think it's becuz she's only a few yrs our senior. Normally pple doing their masters would be in their late 20s or early 30s, after they've gone out to work. But Sharon continued with her Masters a few months after she graduated from her Bachelor. Crazy I think. Shd have taken a few yrs off, to gain some working experience.

The other reason for attending was so that I could interact with the Australian locals. Tables of 6 were set in the main hall and each table was seated with one from the church. They were so hospitable. I'm sure everyone felt well taken care of. We had great conversations too. They explained abt the ordinary lifestyle in the suburbs and also gave us suggestions on places of attractions. We, the students, also shared with them some of our lifestlyes back in Singapore.

I ate so much that night. Think I had 2 dinners in 1 night. It was a great night! Besides being able to interact with the Australians, I got to know a few Singaporean friends better. I'll even be joining them for their grocery shoppin this coming Sun.

Even though I'm studying in Aus, it doesn't feel like a western place becuz Monash uni is largely populated with asians! Scanning across the lecture theatre, I pick up significantly more asian faces than Caucasians. I'm sure the whites in sch feel a certain extent of resentment towards us asians. We do not belong here and yet, here we are, snatching away their uni places. To make things worse, although they are locals, they are not the majority race in sch. That must really hurt and really make them feel so vulnerable. Maybe not all of them feel so, but if I was in their shoes, I would feel that I was suffering from some injustice.

So fulll, stomach bloated. Feeling sleepy too. But managed to stay up till 3.30am with the help of tea. Had to finish up some of my hw becuz I would be staying over at my aunt's place over the wkend and I'm sure I won't be able to get much done there.



Trouble sleeping ...

Thursday, 26 July 2007

I don't know why, but I always end up staring at the ceiling for at least 15min before I finally fall asleep. I know I am tired, but once I switch of the lights and cuddle underneath my warm woolen blanket, my mind just starts thinking again.

What comes into my mind? Almost anything. I could be thinkin abt the pple I've just met the past wk, or my tutorial sessions, or the fact that my dad will be visiting me in a few month's time. I try to stop thinking, but my mind just seems so active at night, especially in the dark, when it is not preoccupied with finishing hw or chattin on msn.

I tot I found the solution - Don't think abt anything once lights go out. Take a deep breath, close my eyes and breath relaxingly... Used to work a few months ago when I was working in an admin job in a tuition centre. The job was quite repetative. So maybe that's why I got into the hang of start work, end work, have dinner, rest, go sleep. And the cycle would begin again and again.

Hoping that this entry would serve as a platform for all these tots to exit my mind. Like to deal with them, so they wouldn't keep coming back. I want my sleep, my precious, beauty sleep!!



Christmas in July

Wednesday, 25 July 2007

Missed the first half an hour of my accounting workshop becuz I couldn't wake up. But luckily i didn't miss anyting. The time was spent introducing amongst themselves. When I got there, the teacher just started going thru the first qn. This is a voluntary workshop, but i'll keep attending becuz I've nv done accounting before.

Attended MID-WEEK SOCIAL NITE. Tonight's event was CHRISTMAS IN JULY. As Aus experiences their summer in Dec, they can't experience the white christmas that comes with winter. Pple who have immigrated from the northern hemisphere to Aus, miss the white christmas. So gradually, there's this custom amongst some, to actually celebrate Christmas in July.

First part of the activity was singing christmas carols. The organisers managed to invite the nearby church's choir. Most of us didn't sing, but i sang becuz i miss singing christmas carols. The last time I sang carols would be when I was in Pri. Sch. As I came from a Catholic Pri. Sch, we have a hymm book and we say prayers. Morning assembly consisted on 1) National Athem 2) Pledge 3) Sch Song (weekly) 4) Daily prayers 5) A few hymms. It was quite enjoyable to sing hymms actually. Especially when they are melodious.

I attended the activity mainly for the roast turkey, which was the main course for dinner. There were also baked potatoes and pumpkins and christmas pudding! Went for 2 servings of sliced turkey and some baked potatoes. Not much actually, but for a small eater, it's enough to feel satisfied. Almost every wed, there'll be free dinner provided. But they do ask for donations, so depending on ur conscience, u can choose to have a free meal or at least donate some money. Of course I donated money. Not 10cent, 20cent, I gave a few dollars yea..

Made 2 new friends today, 1 from Shanghai and the other from S'pore. I chat with those sitting beside me and who are my friend's friends. But this kind of circumstances, it'll be hard to develop real friendship. Instead of making as many friends as possible, I try to focus on those few that i feel have the same freq as me. Then I'll put in more effort to improve our relationship.

Plan to attend it every wed if I can make it. Can meet new pple. Though most will just end up as acquaintances, I think it's still worth it. I'll nv know, who'll end up being my gd friend.



Pork chops for dinner

Monday, 23 July 2007

Had pork cubes for lunch and pork chops for dinner. Actually, the cubes were in slices but I decided to cut them into cubes. Marinated both the same way, but dinner was better becuz the pork chops had a few more hrs for the marinated to penetrate into the meat.

Think I ate relatively more veg than usual for lunch. Cooked asparagus and carrots. Hmm.. But no carbohydrate intake. However, for dinner, I boiled a baby potato and mashed it with some magarine. This time no veg though. Instead of pork cubes, it was pork chops. Thick, juicy slices of pork chops. Mmmm. I made sure they were medium so the meat wouldn't be too tough.

Gotta rush on my COMMERCIAL LAW tut tonight, now that I've purchased the textbk. Got it 4th-handed for $15. It would have been more ex if there wasn't substantial highlightin. A v clean one would have caused $45. Yea, and the seller specially came down from Clayton campus to my Caulfield campus. Not worth it for him, I feel. Especially, after selling it at $15. But nvm, cuz it's a YEAH for me.

Tut hw. kempate!



Sunday

Sunday, 22 July 2007

Feeling stressed. I have only gotten 2 out of the 4 uni textbks that I need for this semester. Without the books, I can't do my hw. And my tut is next tue. Tmr, at 5.30pm, I'll be meeting a person to purchase my COMMERCIAL LAW textbk. Which means, I've Mon night and Tue morning to complete my tut hw. Still gotta take into account the time to understand the content. To make it worse, I skipped this lecture last fri cuz I couldn't wake up. So I have no idea what this topic is abt.

Feeling down too. I think it's becuz I'll be leaving them and returning to my appartment and continuin with my solitude. Ok, I'm exaggerating.

Had steak again for dinner. Jared, my younger cousin, grilled it for me. Mmm.. I love steak. If only it was slightly towards medium rare, it would have been perfecto. Had ice cream again. Sianz.. I think I tend to overeat when I'm there becuz it feels like a break for me.

Gotta print my lecture notes for the coming wk later. Gotta remember to buy print credit when I'm in sch nexxt wk too.



To my aunt's place, I GOooooo...

Saturday, 21 July 2007

YES, SATURDAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! I'm so looking forward to going to my aunt's place, where I can see my relatives. Started to feel lonely last night... :(

Rushed to complete my ACCOUNTING hw last night. This afternoon, rushed to finish whatever MICROECONS hw i could cuz i predict I won't be able to sit myself at the table to do my hw. For lunch, I had PHO at the Viet-Thai restaurant below my appartment. Was too lazy to cook. After I washed my dishes from last night (yes, I left it overnight at the sink), I just didn't want to go thru all that effort again.

Left my appartment only at 6.30pm. Took tram, then train, and finally, I was waiting for the bus at BOXHILL that would take me directly infront of my aunt's hse. So I waited in the cold, starving and just starving. It was already 8.30pm. After waiting for 35min, I felt v cold, so I got up to hop around. Gd thing I hopped around, cuz when my sight landed onto the bus service information, I REALISED THAT THE BUS HAD ALREADY STOPPED SERVICE FOR THE DAY. OMG! So dumb! Why didn't I check? I just assumed the bus service was still running. Took things for granted. Cuz in S'pore, bus services only ends at midnight.

After my aunt picked me up and fetched me back to her place, I was super famished!! I ate voraciously my dinner. Even gorged myself on 2 cups of ice-cream! Was so bloated afterthat and regretted very much for that extra servin of ice-cream.

Watched 'FUN WITH DICK AND JANE' with Sarah at midnight on her comp. Funny show.



Sleepy head

Friday, 20 July 2007

Missed my 9am Commercial Law lecture this morning. Just couldn't get myself out of bed at 8am. When my phone alarm rang, I just switched it off and jumped back into bed. Somewhat similar to ytd morning too. Just that I managed to pyscho myself into getting up right at the last moment. Ended up running to sch. Panting after a while, totally lost my stamina.

Been thinking of to kick myself out of bed every morning. I've 2 days with morning lessons. Really gotta work it out. Maybe I'll throw my alarm clock into a small box, tape it up many rounds. So when it rings the next day, I'll have to spend a min getting the ringin clock out. By then, maybe my mind would have woken up and I wouldn't be as tempted to go back to sleep.

Another way, can be to think of how expensive my lectures and tutorials are. One tutorial is abt $200. Yes, so if I don't get up, I'll be throwing away $200 into the drain. Better not let my dad know abt it. AHA.

Made a few more friends today. From Accounting tut, Crystal, who by chance got to meet one of the 2 friends I've been hanging out with, Michelle, from their Microecons tut. And then, coincidently, my grp member, San San Han, from Microecons tut, knows Crystal, from their Business Stats tut. Haha. All 4 of us, sat together for Business Stats lecture. There was also another Indian girl, from my microecons tut grp, who joined us. Looking forward to next Fri again, when hopefully, all of us can sit together for Business Stats lecture again :)

Quite concerned with my unit textbks. Haven't bought any of the 4. I want to get a second-hand one, which is abt 40% cheaper than first-hand one, sold in the MONASH BOOKSHOP. My dad says that if S'pore sells it cheaper, he'll buy from there. However, even if he manages to buy it, it can only arrive here, earliest, end of this month. Which would be quite late becuz I've got tut hw to complete and the MONASH LIBRARY has loaned out all of them. Maybe I can borrow from my new friends, but it doesn't feel right. I only have known them for less than a wk. It would reflect quite badly on me too.



Trying to be proactive

Thursday, 19 July 2007

After my Business Stats tutorial, I was done for the day. I stayed back in the library to read up on my accounting whilst waiting for INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONNECTION PROGRAMME to start at 2pm.

Felt so out-of-place because I was the only undergraduate present among the 10 who turned up. I also don't know why only 10 turned up and the speaker had even anticipated that no. It's a weekly programme whereby the student and the staff teacher allocated to her, would meet up for 1/2 hr. We could approach them for advice on Aussie culture, tips on the fun activities to do in AUs and etc.

My main objective of joining is so that I will know how to get myself involved with the uni's activities and to be aware of the interesting places to be. Since I've paid so much money to fly all the way here, I shd grab every opportunity that comes my way to make this experience the best it can be.

Cooked fish fillets for dinner. Tasted somewhat weird. I marinated it w salt, garlic, ginger and some mixed herbs. Must have been the herbs. Got my starch intake from a handful of fettucine. And to end it off with a sweet note, a cup of yoghurt and choco.



Free on Wednesdays!!

Wednesday, 18 July 2007

Wed is the day when I do not have any lessons. The next slack day would be THU w 1 hr of tutorial. Travelled to Melbourne city today in search for second-hand textbks. My new friend and also my neighbour, told me that she managed to buy her txtbk at 50% off from tat bkshop at 259 Swanston Street.

Took a direct Tram no.3 to Flinders St Station. I shd have stopped further down but I mistaken Flinders St to be city centre. So I spent 20min strolling down Swanston St, finding for shop unit no.259. Actually it was a gd thing tht I walked, becuz now I knew what are the streets in the city too.

Finally found the bkshop but there weren't any stock. No stock for all the 4 textbks which I was looking for. So my next option is to get my Dad to buy from S'pore, provided that it's cheaper. He'll check out the place this wkend and if the price is lower than the Monash Bkshop retail price, he'll purchase it, pass it to his colleague who's flying to Melbourne at the end of this month.

Had lunch the the Chinatown in the city too. Beef brisket Noodle, typical HK dish. After that, I walked back to Flinders St train station and take the same tram back to my appartment. I could have taken a train and then switch to a tram, but that would require some walking. Since I would not be late for my appointment, I took the tram back.

Met up with Jessica and Michelle, my new friends, to attend MID-WEEK SOCIAL NIGHT. It's some activity held on Wednesdays for students to socialise and take time off their studies. Made a few friends there too, but only acquaintences. THey provided dinner there, PIZZA. It was so delicious!!

I slacked the whole night on reaching home. Showered at 1am and then read thru my accounting for 45min. SLept quite late, abt 3.



bad dinner ...

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Struggled to wake up again, even though I already slept for over 8 hrs. I think I must have went on to another sleeping cycle.

Marinated my chicken chops with BBQ sauce. It'll be for dinner later. For lunch, I cooked rice and egg w luncheon. Rice tasted awful. I added too much water and don't know why, the rice is not totally soft even though the rice cooker has already switched 'cook' option to 'warm'.

Checked the weather and my class location online while eating. Immediately after lunch, I changed and headed for sch. Left the washin of the dishes to be done at night. I wanted to go sch an hr early so that I could read up for the COMMERCIAL LAW tutorial which I would be having at 4pm. But I just didn't know how to use the library catalogue and after half an hr of futile search, I found a cosy study table to catch some Zzz.

Shopped at Coles with Jessica and walked back to our appartment together. I gave her a few of my potatoes becuz she needed them and I had many to spare. Dinner was a disaster! The chicken chops which was supposed to be the highlight of my dinner, was inedible. Not becuz it was overcooked, but becuz the plastic cover for microwave use melted onto my chops. I shd have guessed that the plastic cover couldn't take the grill. Haizz..

Luckily, I still had fried rice with the aspargus which I just bought. So sad, so I went to snack on potato chips to comfort myself over my loss. And I gotta buy a new grilling plate becuz it's dangerous to use the microwave again with the melted plastic on the grilling plate.

Going to slack tonight then pia on revision tmr. No lessons on Wed for me. In the evenin, Jessica and I would be attending the MID-WEEK SOCIAL NITE. I tot it'll be a gd place to make new friends and hopefully I will.



1st day of lesson

Monday, 16 July 2007

Struggled to get up today. Supposed to wake up at 10am but ended up snoozin till 10.45am. And that was becuz my new friend, Jessica, knocked on my door. She arranged to meet me and then go for our Microeconomics lecture together.

From her, I was also introduced to her friend, Michelle, who was with her at the college doing foundation studies. Both of them could speak Cantonese but I couldn't. So sometimes I feel a little left out :(

After lecture, we headed to the library and borrowed a few textbks. Jessica and Michelle had already bought most of them while I have none!! I still can't bring myself to buy the textbks becuz they're freaking expensive. Even after 50% discount when getting a second-hand one, it still costs a freaking $50!

We headed for a bite at this nearby Japanese restaurant. Luckily Michelle is sociable and can speak eng fluently and so, talks to me too. So I didn't feel so neglected. She stays an hr away from sch so I only get to see her during lesson time. When headin to or returning from sch, I get to hang out w Jessica cuz we are neighbours.

I walked home with Jessica after lessons that day. On arriving home, I did my final round of packing. Took me over an hr to finally get everything in place. This was the 4th round of packing already. Jessica cooked a small portion of steak and asparagus that night :) I also popped by her place to get her external hard disk drive. She was going to lend it to me becuz there were some cantonese dramas that she wanted to reccommend me. At the same time, I could pick up some cantonese. Most of the asians here speak cantonese, excluding those from China, Korea and Japan. Otherwise, even Malaysians, speak cantonese.

Read up a few chapters from the Accounting textbk and went to sleep ard 1am. Same thing, toss and turn for 45min. Don't know why I always can't fall asleep. It's like wasting my precious time. I could have read thru another chap during that 45min of tossing and turning.



Preparing for my first day of sch :)

Sunday, 15 July 2007

Woke up at 12.30pm and was home alone again. The others had attended their weekly Sun church session. This time I was alone as long as last Sun. Aunt Jessica came home to pick me up to join her for lunch at Aunt Jennie's place.

I had porridge at Aunt Jennie's place. It was super tasty. There were many ingredients in the porrigde too, like dried oyster, dried baby abalone etc. I asked her how she cooked it and found out the magic lies in the stock, which she had broiled for over 3 hrs.

Later on, Aunt Jessica and I headed to SAFEWAY to do our grocery shoppings. We've been doing many of such shopping, buying some things at a time and then transporting it to my apartment. I slept at my appartment that night becuz sch starts tmr. Uncle Peter fetched me to my place, at the same time bringing along all the stuffs I had purchased.

When we reached and it was time to move all the stuff up, I realised I had so many things. Big boxes, plastics bags, luggage etc. By the time we had finished carrying the stuff to my room, we were almost panting. I thanked him for the ride and gave him the grocery money, but he didn't want to accept it. I'll insist the next time I see him becuz I'll be doing grocery shopping with them almost weekly and after 3 yrs, it'll definitely add up to a large amount of money.

Spent an hr unpacking my stuff and rearranging them into my room. Still, I couldn't finish. So, same thing, I would continue the next day after coming home from sch.



Grocery shoppin at Preston market

Saturday, 14 July 2007

Uncle Peter, Aunt Jessica and I drove up to Preston market to do grocery shopping. It's supposed to be cheaper there cuz they like to sell in bulk.

Grabbed poultry, beef, seafood and some vegetables. My aunt will buy the stuff for her family then I'll just take a little of it since I'm living alone and my freezer compartment is kinda small. I tried to remember the price of all the purchases so I know how much to pay them back for the quantity that I take.

For lunch, we had PHO at the nearby Vietnamese restaurant. PHO is a v popular vietnamese cuisine (beef rice noodle). Tasted so gd!! I actually have one Viet-Thai restaurant near my appartment too, but it's standard can't compare to the other one.

Slept at 4am as I was online and blogging that night.



Orientation day

Thursday, 12 July 2007

This is actually the faculty orientation. I missed the uni's one 2 days ago, becuz it was too early and I was at my aunt's place. Struggled to wake up this morning. I was so tempted to skip it and go back to bed. But I tot to myself : "Hey, I intentionally slept over at my appartment so that I'll be able to attend the orientation."

Made a few new friends today. The one from Macau, who did her foundation yr here, also lives in the same building as me. I was overjoyed when she told it to me. Now, I've a friend who takes somewhat the same units as me and lives so close to me, same floor too. There were 2 other guys from Singapore and 1 from China. We exchanged contact details too.

After the orientation, I went back to my appartment to continue my unpacking. After an hr plus, I was still not done. I decided to continue the next time I come. Didn't want to leave for Aunt Jessica's hse too late becuz it's winter now and it gets dark quite early. Super difficult to spot the bus stop in the dark, especially when all the houses, trees and junctions look the same.

Took the train back to BOXHILL station all by myself. It was my first time on the train alone. I even knew how to take the express train (skips some stops). Had to take from CAULFIELD to RICHMOND, then change train for BOXHILL.

Aunt Jessica waited for me at BOXHILL and shopped with me for some cooking condiments. Another day, we'll be shopping for raw meat and groceries at another market.



My first night in my appartment alone

Wednesday, 11 July 2007

Aunt Jessica and Uncle Peter fetched me to my appartment tonight. At the same time, shifted the bulk of my stuff from their place to mine. After an hr unpacking my stuff, I decided to go sleep and continue tmr. I didn't want to turn in too late becuz I'll be havin a faculty orientation first thing in the morning at 9am.

I felt quite terrified sleeping alone. Firstly, there was the door which I wasn't sure was locked or not. Becuz regardless of turning the lock clockwise or anti-clockwise, it could still be opened from the inside. So I wasn't sure which was the side to lock the door from the outside. I opened my eyes at the slightest noise, fearing that some stranger could have entered.

Secondly, was the darkness. Although I had my nite light on, I was still afraid. So I allowed myself a gradual process. From nite light and TV switched on, to nite light and mute TV and finally just the night light.

I tossed and turned from 1 to 2am plus. So much for trying not to sleep late. There was still the roaring of engine noises once in a while. Still, I think it's a gd thing for me cuz it would be even scarier if I had dead silence.

Finally, I managed to fall asleep...



My Appartment!!!

Monday, 9 July 2007

Collected my room keys today! Whoohoo!! My own room!!

I had to get my own place cuz the uni was too far away from my aunt's place. Think it takes for than an hr to travel there. Have to wake up v early if I were to put up at my aunt's place.

Here's a brief description on how my room looks like. I live alone. Coming in from the main door, toilet is on my left. Nice toilet actually. Outside the toilet is a kitchen table. There's the basic drawers, cabinets, fridge, sink, microwave. Taking a few steps further in, is TADAH... My room. Bedroom/ study room/ dining room/ living room. A long study table beside the windows, a TV on it, a bed behind the study table and a built-in wardrobe behind the bed. Quite cool actually. Big mirror on the sliding door of the wardrobe. Plus, the place is fully-furnished. Plates, cutlery, cooking utensils...

Anyway, it's a great experience to live on my own. Can learn to be independent. I gotta settle my own laundry, meals and everything. No more maids at my service. -weeps- Gd thing my relatives are here in Melbourne too. At least, there is someone to approach to for help or smth.

Still don't know how it'll feel like to live there alone. Currently, I'm still at my aunt's place and would be here till 16th July, when sch officially starts.



Home Alone ...

Sunday, 8 July 2007

I woke up at 1.30pm and found myself home alone today. Empty hse and no food. Aunt Jessica, Uncle Peter, my cousins (Gabriel, Sarah, Jared & Arella) were at church for their weekly Sunday sessions. Hah, luckily I don't have to becuz I'm not a Christian. Extra hours of Zzzz...

As I was lazy to cook my meal, I just had a piece of bread and Milo. Yea, that was my lunch. Watched TV as I skyped Mum and Dad for an hr. 4pm and no one came home yet. Started to feel lonely...

5pm and finally, my aunt and uncle were home. Slacked the whole day, mainly blogging. So free now cuz term only starts next mon. Ok, what to do tonight......





On the mountains!

Saturday, 7 July 2007

Me trying to 'blow smoke'

Besides watching Uncle Peter frying kway tiao, eating and takin pic w sarah, my cousin, there was nothing else better to do. Sarah and I ended up watching Princess Hours in the computer room. When a family had to go home early, Sarah and I grabbed that opportunity. After dozing off in the car, we were back in the cosy home, continuing our Princess Hours.

Shopping at Smith Street

Thursday, 5 July 2007

Smith Street is a long street in Melbourne City where lots of shops sell their stuff at a much lower price. Something like FACTORY OUTLET. I'm not sure why they're much cheaper, but I'm quite sure they're still authentic.

Woke up at 1.30pm today. Gabriel, my cousin, the eldest one here, brought me to Smith Street. We took a train and then the tram to the city. He was scouting for track pants and got one in the end - Puma track pants at $29. Thanks to me, cuz I suggested to try out that sports shop. I bought a Converse jacket at $30 and a pair of outing Nike shoes at $90. We both were satisfied with our harvest.

Took a straight bus back home. Quite a long ride. Slightly over an hour I think. It was quite dark outside that we couldn't see much clearly. I was a little afraid that we would miss our stop. Plus, Gabriel had dozed off. Luckily, we got off at the correct stop and was back by 6pm plus.

Watching wimbledon now. So deprived of sports tv back in S'pore. Cuz my family didn't subscribe to SCV. This Australian tv station is broadcasting the entire Wimbledon game. Everynight, there will be a few matches on. They show a lot of rugby here too. Getting to appreciate the game better :)





Wednesday, 4 July 2007

Visited Monash Uni today for some official enrolment procedure. Quite satisfied with how the campus looked. It had a modern touch to it. Although smaller than the main Clayton campus, which was 5 times larger, it looks newer. The colours look just right too. Haha.

Aunt Jessica drove me to my campus. She also accompanied me to do my enrolment. Attended a briefing by a few course advisers. After briefing us thru some impt issues, the course advisers met us personally to help us with the choosing of the units for our 1st semester. Not much brain-wrecking involved cuz I had to choose from a list of compulsory units since this will be my first year.

We had Pho (Beef rice noodle) at this Viet-Thai eatery under my apartment. Tasted quite alright. Wanted to pick the tab, but I was kinda slow. After I took my last mouth, my aunt was already on her way to the counter. Will make sure I'll be faster next time.

Got back to my aunt's place and just slacked. Nothing to do anyway. Just eat, watch tv, go online and sleep like pig. I told my aunt that I was quite scared of the darkness on my first night that I couldn't sleep. So she gave me a torchlight. LOL. Haven't used it, not even once. Not scared now. However, there was one night when my room's heater just switched on by itself. Scared me to death man! After I managed to muster my courage, I got up, switched it off and pulled out the plug. Hah, if it had still turned on, I had it planned that I would run into my cousin's room. Gabriel, 16 years old, tall and strong. Shd be safe there. Haha. Fortunately, nothing happened. Phew.



So cold......

Monday, 2 July 2007

It's winter here in Melbourne so the temp has been ranging from 8 to 14 degrees Cel. Still manageable cuz I've been wearing 2 - 3 layers whenever I'm out. Although my dad bought me a winter jacket, but I preferred to use the 2 that my aunt bought for me. Looks more decent and trendy. 1 of them has the white fur, lining the hood.

My fingers are freezing from the cold. Even though I'm in the hse now with heaters on, it still gets cold at some point of time. Especially when someone opens the main door and leaves it open. The coldest rooms are the kitchen, dining room and living room because they are the closest to the main door. Fingers now stiff too.

Didn't shower for the 1st day I arrived. Hahha. So cold, couldn't bring myself to go shower. Yes, there is the hot water, but just thinking abt how freezing it is when I just come out from the shower, I try all means, cross my fingers and hope that no one recalls that I have yet to shower. Luckily, no one recalled! Yay!

My family knows I hate showering. They said that I was fortunate that living alone overseas, no one was going to keep an eye on me. They were absolutely right. Hmm.. Shd I break my personal record by not showering for a few days? Hahha...



My 1st day in AUS



Plane touched down in Melbourne at around 6.20am. Had to go thru immigration and security checks all by myself. I wasn't sure of how to fill up a few portions of the arrival form. Was afraid that if I had filled in up incorrectly, I would have to go redo the form and queue right from the back again. Passing thru the security checks was also nerve wrecking. Although I didn't bring anything illegal with me, but the thought of the officer going thru my luggage feels real intimidating. Luckily nothing bad happened and I cruised thru all the procedures smoothly.

Me
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Hui Ying here. A simple and sporty gal with v picky tastebuds.

Likes
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I LOVE food! BUt I'm a v picky eater who eats only the tasty stuff. My greatest love is steaks.
Favourite pastime: Daydreaming and hanging out with my closest buddies.

People
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Many Thanks
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Designed by: Slayerette
Picture from: Google
Hosted by: Imageshack
Last but not least, Ben. For without him, I'll still be blog-less.

Precious Words
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Past
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March 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
April 2008
May 2008
July 2008