UWE named it as Independent Learning Week. Some lecturers referred it as Reading Week. But we, students, rather call it HOLIDAYS. Two targeted cities: Oxford and Manchester.
Oxford
Awesome. When you enter the city you will actually find yourself pulled into the 13th century. The university buildings (a collection of more than 30 colleges) are preserved until the present day to keep its historicalness and uniqueness.
The guide told us that back on those times, book was one of luxury goods. Books were so expensive that the lecturers would always read the book out-loudly to the students. Then the students would be taking notes? No. This cliché was not applied in Oxford. Since books were expensive, so the papers were. Instead of taking notes using the precious papers, the students would be listening to the lecturers and..and.. memorising (it really took me sometime to type this word. The idea of cramp-everything-into-your-head-without-writing-it-down is insane) all the knowledge. So if you want to see what those geniuses really look like, then you gotta go back to these old times.
There are certain things that you can only regard them as your dreams. I mean, really as a dream full stop. And to be a student at Oxford University, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, is one of the examples. In short, Oxford University and City are so dreamy. After the trip, I went home and had a dream about myself walking down the street, heading to Oxford library and passing by some other student who greeted me, "library eh Hermione?" and I gracefully nodded at them and replied, "I'm in the middle of research". An absurd scene of mine.
Manchester
Some highlights about the Manchester trip:
1. Sleep for less than 2 hours before a trip could be disastrous 
2. Come late when everyone is already at the bus station and tell some cliche excuses would surely wake a lion lady up from her grave
3. The Yatton case (please refer to the previous post 'Let's take a Bath') would become an inherent risk if you travel with Her Majesty Cecep Gorbacep. Because we actually stayed in a hotel (won't disclosure the name) that was far from anywhere and located in what the taxi driver regarded as 'dangerous neighbourhood'. But the hotel was not that bad though and the second day we moved to another hotel that was near to the shopping centre in Manchester. 
4. Expert always does what he feels necessary everytime an opportunity is given 
5. Do not tell anybody if you have just had a trip to Manchester if you did not visit the football stadium in Oldtrafford. Even though you are not a fan,just like me. 
More photos? Visit http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9956389&op=1&view=all&subj=569454630&id=780690511#/album.php?aid=122516&id=569454630&ref=mf
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Autumn Getaway
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Signs
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the cloud is brightly white. Wind is waving smoothly and not too cold. No raining except at night these days which is good. And the fact that the night time is getting longer and longer (it is already dark here at 5pm), makes me cherish every single daytime. This is the beginning of autumn and I am glad to experience it myself. I love how the green grass at uni is blanketed by those fallen maple leaves. I love the shape of these leaves and the reddish-yellow colour they have.
Something special began the day this morning. At around 6am when it was still dark outside, I saw a black crow through the window of my room when I opened the curtain. He (let me regard it as a 'he') was just so black that I could still him in the dark. He was flying low and finally landed on the grass. Maybe there is nothing special about seeing a crow. But somehow I felt it was special. He was like the first thing that appeared before human entirely woke up from their dreams.
First class in Wednesday morning (8.30am) is Corporate Reporting Theory and Practice (CRTP). The lecture hall is in block Q which is the nearest block I can reach from my flat (Quantock court).It only takes me about 5 minutes to get to the lecture hall but I left home 15 minutes early. You can call me a geek. That's really am but I've discovered that walking without rushing to the class will actually quite determine my focus to the lesson taught in the class. If I walk rushing (or almost run) because it is just 5 minutes before the class started I usually end up leaving something important at home e.g. (most likely to least likely) room key card (so basically I lock my self out), stationery (could be calculator, pen, highlighter, or even the whole thing: the pencil case), notes, or glasses.
But if I walk 20 (or even 30) minutes before the class began, I can enjoy the weather, enjoy inhaling the fresh air, enjoy the cute guys (if there is), and just enjoy the surrounding. I find this enjoyment will then stimulate my brain and hence I can study more relaxed and absorb the knowledge better. I really haven't done any practicum to support this finding but believe me, it does work for me. So, as usual, I left home early. One second after I opened the window I could feel the fresh air. I breathed deeply so that the air of autumn could really fill my lungs. Then I felt myself cleaned up and just ready for anything.
Near to the Q block I passed this beautiful scene of autumn: leaves were falling and the wind was landing them smoothly onto the grass. And again, I saw a bird. Not a crow, this time was a white pigeon. She (let me regard it as a 'she') had beautiful fur that looked as soft as white cotton and I found that her eyes were smiling. She seemed to be enjoying her time.
And now, when I remember the black crow earlier, I can see both of them as manifestation of Yin and Yang. Dark and Light. Man and Woman. These two birds are seemingly different and yet, they are interconnected and independent to each other. This coincidence just makes me smile and again proves God right. He said in Quran, surah Al-Jathiyah 3-6(سورة الجاثية), that verily in the creation of human and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth) and in the alternation of nigh and day were Signs in order for us to mirror and learn from them.
I love Him for letting me see His Signs.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Croeso i Caerdydd!
Last Monday, Ivana dropped a message to Nands and me via FB asking: "Hey girls!Do you fancy joining a trip to Cardiff next Saturday?" I certainly had nothing to say other than a big yes to her invitation. I mean, what could be a better option than doing a road trip to Wales?
So, at 11.45 am, we, Ivana, Adrian, Tanya, Nandya, and me departed from UWE bus stop. We were supposed to meet up at 11.30 am, but I made myself a delayer when on athe half way to ATM I turned back home to grap my jacket and went back again to ATM before finally met the others at the bus stop. So sorry guys!>.<
Then here it was. A multicultured car rocked the road. I named it so because there were 5 poeple with different nationalities inside the car. First was Ivana, a Serbian girl who was born in Spain and grown up in France. So basically she nails speaking in both Spanish and French beside English. Smashing isn't she? Second was Adrian. A PhD student who is doing research and teaching at the same time in Biochemistry. How cool is that! And this English man should be praised more as he sincerely let these four girls ask about possibly everything throughout the trip lol. The next was Tanya, a hilarious girl from Canada. The trip was cheered up even more with her humourous way of talking. And the laaaast ones were Nandya and me. Two girls from Indonesia who are trying to be their calculator's best friends and yet in some cases they forgot to bring it to their Accounting Class.
Reached Cardiff at about 12.45 pm, we were heading straight to the Cardiff Castle (Castell Caerdydd). Just by looking at it, you will agree that it is marvelous. Here are some pictures taken from the castle.
Satisfied with the castle, we continued the trip to the Cardiff Bay.
How refreshing the trip was. And the interesting part was that the trip was supported by the nice-sunny weather which was totally opposite with the rainny couple days before. Even today was cloudy and quite dark. So, yesterday was absolutely a perfect road trip with perfect weather with perfect mates! read it more...
