The unusuals -
It's been hailing in Sydney the past two days and today was brilliant weather - nice and sunny. Then tomorrow, it'd be storming again. It's strange weather... Like Melbourne's just come over here. Haha! But at least when it hails or storms, it doesn't get that cold and I can actually still wear my skirts during that type of weather - but yeah, still a little strange.
Been having to wake at 6:45am to leave at about 7:30am for classes. The first official week of classes just started and isn't actually too bad, because I only have classes Mon, Thu and Fri this week. But today (Tues), I had to still wake early to go and get my TB results and do plenty of errands. A Melb friend also came down with his cousin and we met for dinner in the city, but the traffic was sooo bad with a few accidents along the way that he and his cousin actually had to wait really long. I also dragged one of my Syd friends out. She's like my best friend in Syd - we do almost everything together... most things. And she might end up to be my housemate next year, so I'll looking forward to that happening.
It's going to get busier. The good thing is that my work has been cut down to 1/2 days per week which is so much better than the 3/4 days I used to be rostered on. Perhaps I'll just push it a little further and cut my work hours to just 1 day. See, because I'm still earning a fair bit, C-e-n-t-r-e-l-i-n-k isn't paying me yet (they say if I work 1 day per week, it should be within their earnings bracket and then they'd be able to pay me). Oh well... Tomorrow need to do run more errands - groceries as usual, and uni stuff. Then will probably write up a report tomorrow about the hearing test I had by the 2nd year student.
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Saturday 21 February 2009
What a Week!
Here I am finally blogging away again, with so much happenings.
For starters, I went to Melb for a few days and came back on Vday. Melb was rather smoky and hazy cause of all the fires and TY was so busy with loads of stuff that it was probably a bad time to head down... I flew back on Vday cause the flights the next day were too expensive, plus I couldn't stay till Monday because I had my compulsory orientation course workshop to attend. Anyway, went to the airport to catch my flight back to Syd and found out that due to bad weather in Syd, my flight was the last flight out of Melb Airport. It was also delayed for about an hour and a half... was supposed to fly around 7.15, but we departed at about 9pm. And when I got to Syd, I thanked God that I landed safe - the flight was just really rocky and so turbulentic that I actually remembered praying almost every minute on that flight at least after the first 10 mins of takeoff.
Got back and had a lot of mail - most were bills - haha, the "unwanted" mail. The Internet and home line was still not working, so I had to use my 3G mobile broadband that I bought from Melb - rather expensive to recharge every time though, cause I use up quite a lot of GB... weird that I'd use up so much especially when I don't do massive downloading and often check emails and FB. Well, contacted an electrician who came over and realised that T-e-l-s-t-r-a didn't put a tag on the wires in the main distribution system, so they couldn't tell which wired port was connected to my home phone. So the electrician suggested I ring Telstra instead of him trying to find it which would cost me a bomb. He was rather nice and didn't actually charge me. Rang T-e-l-s-t-r-a and they eventually came. They found out it was the main distribution to the street. So now my phone line works and home Internet which is great! And I don't have to pay because it's a street fault.
So one problem down, another to go... Went to uni and managed to sort out all my applications and student card, so that was all good. Then we had this 3-day intensive orientation workshop - and intensive was intensive! The first day was 8.30 to 5.30, second day was 9-5 (which was better), and third day was 8:30 till 7:30 (that was just insane). But it was great meeting new faces and old. Knew some people from last year, but there were already groups forming.
The semester schedule was released to us on day one. I saw that I had a class test on the Mon morn at 9am on 16 Mar! That's when I head back from M and D's wedding. So yeah, I immediately panicked and emailed my flight agent to ask him if I could change my return flight date, but he checked and the only flight I could come back on, with low-cost fees, reaches Syd at 7:30am in the morn on that Mon. I thought, by the time I clear customs, I'll miss my class test. My flight agent also suggested going to the actual websites of Msian Airlines, Tiger etc... but that same moment, I was at the comp lab and received an email from my course coordinator saying I have to sit a compulsory practical workshop on the Wed, the week during M and D's wed. This meant I had to change my flight going into Spore... was thinking of going to Spore first and then to Msia on my going flight. And because of compulsory attendance in that workshop on that Wed, it means I can only go to Msia from Thu to Sun, but my course coordinator also suggested I not miss the Thu and Fri classes either. It was just all wrong timing... And my course coordinator wasn't too pleased. Sadly enough, I had no choice - tried my hardest, and just had to tell M and D that I couldn't make it to their wed... =( I really wanted to be there - bought the dress, kinda prepared my speech, and wrote up a little poem... I guess I could do a video thing... My cam's got a vid function. By the way, have never done a vid before so I wonder how it'd turn out. But will get a friend to help me hold my camera. Hee hee!
I didn't quite mention the intro workshop of 3 days... One word to describe it - intense! We even have a handbook for this particular course which states all assessments for the year! Not even just for the semester, but for the year. You'd think the probs would have ended, but there were other minor probs such as me forgetting to date my clinica al forms and also not being able to find one of my units on the WebCT... they call it Black-board at Macq. Another minor prob - wanted the student diary and went to get it twice, but they ran out... it was only the third time that I got it. Then Centrelink hasn't paid me yet because I am apparently still earning too much (that's what they reckon)... so until I am earning really really little, then I guess they'll pay me then.
Apart from the 3 days of workshop from Mon to Wed, we also had to attend this P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s bridging course the next two days. Actually a surprise P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s test was thrown at us on day two, and a lot of people complained, especially the ones who have done P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s. They were saying why we still had to do the P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s bridging course when we already did one whole sem of it. Some people weren't very happy and marched to the course coordinator to share their concerns... and the end result was that the course coordinator realised it was a mistake, apologised, said this is the first time ever this year that we were handed a surprise test and it won't happen again, and then said that those ppl who handed the paper in won't have to sit the phonetics bridging course - basically they gave us a choice to hand in the paper, and they said the solution was derived because the ones who handed the paper in would have had the confidence to think that they'd do well anyway, and that's why they're exempted from the bridging course. I wasn't too concerned, but yeah, I handed the paper in, so I was exempted from Thu and Fri classes this week! But I was still busy - Thu, ran some errands, did some groceries, organised for the electrician to come over. On Fri, I had a h-e-a-r-i-n-g test done by a 2nd year student, booked in for the T-e-l-s-t-r-a technician to fix up my phone, and went for my TB skin test too at the hospital for my vaccinations.
Uni officially starts next week, but am so drained from last week, and I know I still have lots to do. This weekend am working both days, plus a friend is staying over - she's bringing me to H-i-l-l-s-o-n-g-s church on Sun. I'm also hoping to go through my lecture notes for Mon and also do more grocery shopping, and try to sort out my weekly planner... Next week, my housemate returns from her c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l placement; it's uni O-week; I have lectures Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri; have to go for doctor check-up; have to go back to hospital to check TB skin test results; have to submit a few c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l documents to my c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l coordinator; watching a light-hearted movie with friends on Tues; donating items to Bushfire appeal at uni... so yeah, plenty plenty things. Hopefully things will get easier...
For starters, I went to Melb for a few days and came back on Vday. Melb was rather smoky and hazy cause of all the fires and TY was so busy with loads of stuff that it was probably a bad time to head down... I flew back on Vday cause the flights the next day were too expensive, plus I couldn't stay till Monday because I had my compulsory orientation course workshop to attend. Anyway, went to the airport to catch my flight back to Syd and found out that due to bad weather in Syd, my flight was the last flight out of Melb Airport. It was also delayed for about an hour and a half... was supposed to fly around 7.15, but we departed at about 9pm. And when I got to Syd, I thanked God that I landed safe - the flight was just really rocky and so turbulentic that I actually remembered praying almost every minute on that flight at least after the first 10 mins of takeoff.
Got back and had a lot of mail - most were bills - haha, the "unwanted" mail. The Internet and home line was still not working, so I had to use my 3G mobile broadband that I bought from Melb - rather expensive to recharge every time though, cause I use up quite a lot of GB... weird that I'd use up so much especially when I don't do massive downloading and often check emails and FB. Well, contacted an electrician who came over and realised that T-e-l-s-t-r-a didn't put a tag on the wires in the main distribution system, so they couldn't tell which wired port was connected to my home phone. So the electrician suggested I ring Telstra instead of him trying to find it which would cost me a bomb. He was rather nice and didn't actually charge me. Rang T-e-l-s-t-r-a and they eventually came. They found out it was the main distribution to the street. So now my phone line works and home Internet which is great! And I don't have to pay because it's a street fault.
So one problem down, another to go... Went to uni and managed to sort out all my applications and student card, so that was all good. Then we had this 3-day intensive orientation workshop - and intensive was intensive! The first day was 8.30 to 5.30, second day was 9-5 (which was better), and third day was 8:30 till 7:30 (that was just insane). But it was great meeting new faces and old. Knew some people from last year, but there were already groups forming.
The semester schedule was released to us on day one. I saw that I had a class test on the Mon morn at 9am on 16 Mar! That's when I head back from M and D's wedding. So yeah, I immediately panicked and emailed my flight agent to ask him if I could change my return flight date, but he checked and the only flight I could come back on, with low-cost fees, reaches Syd at 7:30am in the morn on that Mon. I thought, by the time I clear customs, I'll miss my class test. My flight agent also suggested going to the actual websites of Msian Airlines, Tiger etc... but that same moment, I was at the comp lab and received an email from my course coordinator saying I have to sit a compulsory practical workshop on the Wed, the week during M and D's wed. This meant I had to change my flight going into Spore... was thinking of going to Spore first and then to Msia on my going flight. And because of compulsory attendance in that workshop on that Wed, it means I can only go to Msia from Thu to Sun, but my course coordinator also suggested I not miss the Thu and Fri classes either. It was just all wrong timing... And my course coordinator wasn't too pleased. Sadly enough, I had no choice - tried my hardest, and just had to tell M and D that I couldn't make it to their wed... =( I really wanted to be there - bought the dress, kinda prepared my speech, and wrote up a little poem... I guess I could do a video thing... My cam's got a vid function. By the way, have never done a vid before so I wonder how it'd turn out. But will get a friend to help me hold my camera. Hee hee!
I didn't quite mention the intro workshop of 3 days... One word to describe it - intense! We even have a handbook for this particular course which states all assessments for the year! Not even just for the semester, but for the year. You'd think the probs would have ended, but there were other minor probs such as me forgetting to date my clinica al forms and also not being able to find one of my units on the WebCT... they call it Black-board at Macq. Another minor prob - wanted the student diary and went to get it twice, but they ran out... it was only the third time that I got it. Then Centrelink hasn't paid me yet because I am apparently still earning too much (that's what they reckon)... so until I am earning really really little, then I guess they'll pay me then.
Apart from the 3 days of workshop from Mon to Wed, we also had to attend this P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s bridging course the next two days. Actually a surprise P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s test was thrown at us on day two, and a lot of people complained, especially the ones who have done P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s. They were saying why we still had to do the P-h-o-n-e-t-i-c-s bridging course when we already did one whole sem of it. Some people weren't very happy and marched to the course coordinator to share their concerns... and the end result was that the course coordinator realised it was a mistake, apologised, said this is the first time ever this year that we were handed a surprise test and it won't happen again, and then said that those ppl who handed the paper in won't have to sit the phonetics bridging course - basically they gave us a choice to hand in the paper, and they said the solution was derived because the ones who handed the paper in would have had the confidence to think that they'd do well anyway, and that's why they're exempted from the bridging course. I wasn't too concerned, but yeah, I handed the paper in, so I was exempted from Thu and Fri classes this week! But I was still busy - Thu, ran some errands, did some groceries, organised for the electrician to come over. On Fri, I had a h-e-a-r-i-n-g test done by a 2nd year student, booked in for the T-e-l-s-t-r-a technician to fix up my phone, and went for my TB skin test too at the hospital for my vaccinations.
Uni officially starts next week, but am so drained from last week, and I know I still have lots to do. This weekend am working both days, plus a friend is staying over - she's bringing me to H-i-l-l-s-o-n-g-s church on Sun. I'm also hoping to go through my lecture notes for Mon and also do more grocery shopping, and try to sort out my weekly planner... Next week, my housemate returns from her c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l placement; it's uni O-week; I have lectures Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri; have to go for doctor check-up; have to go back to hospital to check TB skin test results; have to submit a few c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l documents to my c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l coordinator; watching a light-hearted movie with friends on Tues; donating items to Bushfire appeal at uni... so yeah, plenty plenty things. Hopefully things will get easier...
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Loads!!
Got lots to blog about, but will do so as soon as I get a more quiet day... Been scurrying too much and too little sleep with a 7am wake since Mon and sleeping at about 10:30pm or 11pm - definitely not enough sleep...
Friday 13 February 2009
Starting Classes...
Can't believe I'm starting classes on Monday. I'm feeling quite anxious about the units I have to do. I checked the uni blackboard and I already have a few subjects listed with unit contents from last year and I'm just stressing a bit. I have to tackle some really dry content about waveforms and freq and a-c-o-u-s-t-i-c-s that I don't really want to learn about. But then it's part of the course, and in sem 2, it gets better because I get to do h-e-a-r-i-n-g a-i-d-s. I guess I'll just have to try and do my best and ace all the units. Plus lots of people in my class are quite smart, it'll be a challenge. And I found out that one of my presentations is in the week that I'll be away for a friend's wedding. I'm just hoping it'll all work out and my presentation group doesn't fall within that week... It can be the week before or the week after, but just as long as it's not within the week I'm away... And yeah, my course coordinator actually got really confused about the dates of when we officially start, but it's next week, the 16th!
Still Devastated...
Still shocked by the bushfires... it's really indescribable. Melb's actually got a lot of nice scenic locations and it's been a nice few days for trekking... but unfortunately, we can't go anywhere cause most of the places are closed or burning. I really wanted to visit Bunyip, the national park there... =(
And I'm amazed by the number of firefighters that have been constantly battling the blazes since Sat. They must be extremely exhausted. I wanted to volunteer and help in some way but when I googled, the sites already said they had too many volunteers. So just donated a little.
Apparently my uni - Macq Uni - is doing something for the bushfire victims and going to open up a stall during O-week for clothes donations etc... so when I head back to Syd, on Sunday, will probably pack up some boxes for them.
With all the devastation and despair happening, am sure many people will have mixed feelings, many blaming God of course. But ultimately, God is a good god. How could he let it happen, lots may ask... but if someone's to blame, it would be people. People cause harm on people even from the days of Adam and Eve. God protects souls. And the devil is just as powerful - he can't take our souls, but he can cause people to inflict harm and damage in many ways. I guess from this dreadful situation, it's how people will cope, how they will feel from this, how they will manage - and they could really either turn towards God or turn away from Him...
And I'm amazed by the number of firefighters that have been constantly battling the blazes since Sat. They must be extremely exhausted. I wanted to volunteer and help in some way but when I googled, the sites already said they had too many volunteers. So just donated a little.
Apparently my uni - Macq Uni - is doing something for the bushfire victims and going to open up a stall during O-week for clothes donations etc... so when I head back to Syd, on Sunday, will probably pack up some boxes for them.
With all the devastation and despair happening, am sure many people will have mixed feelings, many blaming God of course. But ultimately, God is a good god. How could he let it happen, lots may ask... but if someone's to blame, it would be people. People cause harm on people even from the days of Adam and Eve. God protects souls. And the devil is just as powerful - he can't take our souls, but he can cause people to inflict harm and damage in many ways. I guess from this dreadful situation, it's how people will cope, how they will feel from this, how they will manage - and they could really either turn towards God or turn away from Him...
Tuesday 10 February 2009
My Heart Goes out to Those in Vic...
I really feel for the people in Victoria with the extensive number of casualties from the bushfires... It looked really really bad. Couldn't help thinking about those who were trying to get out via their cars and ended up in a collison and chaos with other cars before dying in the extreme heat. It's like a firebomb just engulfed the towns around Victoria... It's sooo sad. But I guess there's always a reason why some leave us and some don't in a diaster like that. The stories are quite heart-wrenching, and some are really touching too.
My uni here is actually going to organise a clothes/food donation to the victims of the bushfires, and I've also donated to the vic bushfire appeal. Still shocked at how M-a-r-y-s-v-i-l-l-e and K-i-n-g-l-a-k-e are gone. My parents said I've actually been to M-a-r-y-s-v-i-l-l-e before when I was really young and it's a really pretty place. Some of my friends have also been there and said the same... and I know a friend who has friends in the area...
I pray and hope the victims will find God through this tragedy...
My uni here is actually going to organise a clothes/food donation to the victims of the bushfires, and I've also donated to the vic bushfire appeal. Still shocked at how M-a-r-y-s-v-i-l-l-e and K-i-n-g-l-a-k-e are gone. My parents said I've actually been to M-a-r-y-s-v-i-l-l-e before when I was really young and it's a really pretty place. Some of my friends have also been there and said the same... and I know a friend who has friends in the area...
I pray and hope the victims will find God through this tragedy...
Saturday 7 February 2009
Back To the Books!!
Can't believe uni starts in a week and a half... It's too fast!! I don't think I'm ready for uni to begin yet! In fact, I just paid about $600 for seven textbooks!!
Went for a clinical observation last week and it was exciting. There were already patients around and I think it felt strange with me being on the other side of the platform and these patients were all really nervous and shy and scared... I think the most daunting thing of all was when my friend, the a-u-d-i-o-l-o-g-i-s-t who I was observing, said that our clinical pract exam in first semester of this year involves a few dummy patients and diagnosing them. What's more is I spoke to a few of my s-p-e-e-c-h p-a-t-h-o-l-o-g-y friends and they said that their placements in first year were part of the uni clinic. This is for both M-a-c-q-u-a-r-i-e and S-y-d-n-e-y Uni... the two best unis for s-p-e-e-c-h... and they don't actually commence c-l-i-n-i-c-a-l p-l-a-c-e-m-e-n-t-s at actual companies/medical centres/hospitals/schools until second year. But for a-u-d-i-o-l-o-g-y, at Macq U, we actually get to practice in April!! That's sooo soon. Even Melb U starts their actual p-l-a-c-e-m-e-n-t in second semester. Yeah, it's a scary thought... Am fairly nervous, but I'm sure I'll get through it somehow.
Poor Melburnians
Today I saw the news and can't believe it! Melb actually went up to 46!! I guess it's a good thing it was on the weekend and not a weekday when everyone's commuting to work... Sydney is still the coolest state even though today reached 40. I was still really hot and couldn't sleep very well last night... Then again, my house had a lot of body heat cause I had two friends staying over. And for some reason, my cooler doesn't seem to work as well...
Anyway, am back to Melb for a short few days just for Vday... flights were expensive to travel on the 15th so I'm actually heading back to Syd on Vday itself. =( Hoping the weather would cool down a bit... Maybe I'll bring back some cool weather from Sydney. Hee hee! But can't wait to see TY again! Because it's a short trip... I'll see if I can squeeze some catch-up with everyone else k?
Anyway, am back to Melb for a short few days just for Vday... flights were expensive to travel on the 15th so I'm actually heading back to Syd on Vday itself. =( Hoping the weather would cool down a bit... Maybe I'll bring back some cool weather from Sydney. Hee hee! But can't wait to see TY again! Because it's a short trip... I'll see if I can squeeze some catch-up with everyone else k?
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