A brand new day!

I had my first class today. Its so cool. Its only tutorial which is a small group class. Only 18 attended today. However, there is a wide variety. 18 students from 12 different countries. Ranges from Argentina to Afghanistan. I can only use 1 word to describe, COOL! We had some discussion on a topic and then class ends. I had only 1 class today compared to Jasmine who had 3 classes today. Pharmacy is not as hectic as Physiotherapy.

After class, we went home to Richmond to get our stuff and we 'pan zia'. Thats how Jasmine always say. She will never say we are moving out. Its a really nice place here I would say. I am loving it. Atleast now I feel that I am in a foreign country. Only 3 of us instead of 8 of us in the previous house. 5 sharing one toilet. Nightmare! Its so much better now.

After settling down, Jasmine and I came down to the games common room. They have table tennis and snooker. And a music area. So we get to online here as there are wireless connection. There are a total of 4 common room. 2 study common room, 1 games common room and another movie common room. This place is a nice place although many would say its not worth for the price. However, the most important part is it only take us 10 minutes walk to campus rather than the 7 minutes walk to bus-stop, 5 minutes waiting for the bus and 20 minutes bus ride. Save so much time!!

Games room.. with Jasmine there!

Finally, it’s the orientation for the Bachelor of Pharmacy. I had been longing for this to see how many Asians are there in this course. Especially Malaysians. It seems to be very popular among Malaysians. I was actually expecting it to be like 80% asians and the other 20% to be non-asians. But it was actually better than what I thought. It’s more to like a 6:4 ratio. Today was all the boring talks. Listening to Jasmine’s advice since she had her orientation a day earlier, she suggested that I should sit infront as those professor does not like to speak on the microphone. So I sat on the first row. Excited. Ms Libby Hotham is the program director and as she speaks, I can feel that I am dozing off.

Tick tok tick tok, end of talk. Lunch time. We are going to have barbeque. Great! Asked Jasmine to come along so she can have free food too. When those seniors asked what course are we doing, she just spontaneously answered, PHARMACY! Good job Jasmine. Way to go! That’s also when both of us decided to take a picture of Aman’s hand while he is talking to some other girls. Scary! He got bitten by bugs..not mosquitoes. ADELAIDE CHANGED HIS SKIN!!

I thought Ms Libby is quite stern but during the barbeque, she came and spoke to us and I found that she is a nice lady. Very friendly indeed. All the lecturers are so friendly and that really make us feel comfortable. That’s a good sign. Regarding course mates, so far I had met some Vietnamese, Japanese, Australians and of course Malaysians.

Then the second day. It was about each and every subjects that we are going to take. All the lecturers are so friendly. But everyone said the same thing. THIS IS UNI. NO SPOON-FEEDING. U HAVE TO PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE COMING FOR LECTURE/TUTE/PRACT! But they also said, its not only studying. Ensure you have A LIFE!! of course. However the main puspus is to study. (jasmine taught me.. dont say purpose, say puspus). Free lunch.. We had pizza today and I had 3 slices. Hungry la.. I am a big-eater.

One last thing, we did jelly today. Strawberry flavour. It may not look nice but it is delicious!

strawberry jelly. Taste good!

Aman's hand. Poor him.

Central Market

u can easily get some kangaroo meat

bubble tea-pose! camera!

botanic park..so beautiful.just a walking distance from uni.

UniSA, City east Campus!

It has been 1 week + since we were here and so far everything went well. First day here, we already got most of the things done. Thus we have got nothing to do. Not to say nothing but I mean less. So we have been waiting for the orientation week which is on 16 and 20 of February even though our housemates said it’s boring. At least we will have something to do. Before this was just movie marathon. One Taiwanese drama and 7 movies. All in one week! One of our housemate said we ‘gila’. He don’t know how we can stay infront of the TV for hours. Duh la.. Nothing to do seriously. Sleep they complain, TV also complain, fine I shall just dream, sit and do nothing. Is that what they expect us to do?

Then FRIDAY, 20th FEBRUARY 2009. Morning, international students’ orientation. Then we plan to stay in the city till 7pm so that we can get to the OCF meeting. The whole orientation process only took like 2 hours. So by 11+ we can leave. Went to check out UNILODGE@METRO. It is just a walking distance. It’s a very nice place but the location is the problem. Lots of pubs and stuff so it will surely be dangerous at night. Then we went to the railway station to get my bus tickets changed. Stomach growling. Walked to Rundle St. and had KFC. CHEAP + FILLING. Stomach full, walk again to our campus. Since we have so much time, went to the computer room to online. Jasmine and I were there for around 1 hour or more then we decided to hop on the free bus to Chinatown to get her rice vermicelli which is mee hoon in short. Then Central Market to get some strawberries for my jelly!!

Of all things, we can’t resist our urge for BUBBLE TEA!! Its $2.80. So expensive! Usually it’s like RM2.50!! However each of us got one. Enjoy and indulge ourselves a little bit. Sat and drink. Suddenly some gang came over and they started to smoke and speak loudly. Cannot take it so we left. Again at the bus stop waiting for the free bus to get back to campus. Board and here we go. Out of a sudden, Jasmine came out with a brilliant idea that we go for two rounds since it is free and it’s not time yet. Why not right? Take a look at the city. Saw a few interesting things. Microphone was switched on and “The next stop will be my stop of the day” said the bus driver. We just looked at each other, puzzled and started laughing. He stopped at the Chinatown, the place where we first board. So sad. Sat and waited. But this time was a quick one. So finally we got back to our campus. Still on time.

But lesson learnt, do not go for a second round.

Condolence

A phone and an sms from my mum is something very common as she, the night before, for the first time since I arrived in Adelaide called me. But I received the message around 6+ am which is Malaysia time around 4. She wouldn’t have messaged me around that time if it is not something urgent. In that particular sms, she told me that she can’t sleep as his brother which is my uncle passed away. He was in Guongzhou due to some business meeting and yesterday night, he fell down and that’s how he lost his life. Although I wasn’t close to him, but he is indeed a nice guy. I stayed with him since young. I just hope everyone at home will be alright. I am feeling sad as I am not around to comfort them. It’s a great lost but if you guys think back, at least, we had a wonderful time together early this year. It’s been the first overseas trip together with them. He has done so much for us and I want to say thank you. May everyone be strong to go through this tough situation and hope his body can be brought back as soon as possible so he can rest in peace in the land he grew up.

Uncle Thomas, everyone misses you.

Transformation

Hi guys, here I am posting my first blog from Adelaide. I am here safe and sound with Jasmine SX Chan. Haha.. I reached yesterday, 9th of feb and its a long journey. One of our housemate took us around the city showing us the bus route and also the free tram around the city taking us to the Uni, Rundell mall, Bank and Central Market. REally helpful and kind of him. So today Jasmine and I went out to the city by our own. Not bad. We managed to find our way and came back to the house. Of course we still cant completely recognize the road, but everything went fine. Today, I really had a clear look at UniSA Ciy East Campus. Then only I realise it looks really nice. So much better than Uni of Adelaide. Till i get the pictures uploaded, then u guys can check-out!

Love.

Leaving

I am leaving tmr, 9th February 09 with Jasmine. Adelaide is where we are heading. I dont actually feel anything. When my friends ask me whether am I feeling nervous or excited, I really dont know how to answer. I think I will only know it tmr when we are at the airport. So far, I only know that two of my dearly counsins will be sending me off. So sweet of them. So friends, hopefully we can meet again end of this year. Will get chocolates for u guys too!!!

Love.