Week 2 & 3 in retrospect

Greetings fellow bloggers!

So, this is my second week of lectures for the semester. I haven’t written anything about my journey of discovery in the land of the Kiwis because the events which happened in the past 2 weeks are of marginal interest to most, or so, I presume.

Second week was actually O-week, which is a catchy name coined after ‘Orientation Week’. Otago students are popularly referred to as the ‘Scarfies’ too. Catchy names indeed! The Orientation programme here does not involve the local students, unlike in Malaysia, where it is mandatory for all fresh undergraduates to attend the ‘Minggu Orientasi Mahasiswa’ or ‘Minggu Tekad Siswa’ or whatever fancy names they bestow on these programmes.

I actually skipped the briefing for International students and exchange students on Wednesday (22/03/2012) because I felt that I already have the means to survive the first week of lectures and by that, I’m referring to my younger sister who has been here since last year and who is considered my senior/mentor/guide/consultant/transport. By the way, we’re in the same class for Second Language Acquisition, a 300-level paper. I will explain about the circumstances surrounding that situation in my next post. So, I skipped the briefing which turned out to be pretty irrelevant according to a Danish exchange student I met during the Taieri train trip later that afternoon. The International Office had the police force over to give a lecture about the university’s code of conduct or something. Most importantly, the police officer gave a stern warning against setting couches on fire! Why couches? In the past, there have been reported cases of students setting couches on fire at the front lawn of their flats and my sister even told me that they committed that offence within the campus.

The train trip was a monotonous ride which lasted for about 3 hours. The scenery along the railway tracks was breathtaking but other than that, there was nothing to do other than chatting with the other International students. Topics for conversation were limited and we end up staring at each other in awkward silence. A random fact: the Taieri Gorge Railway is the only railway line in New Zealand and train tickets are extremely pricey. The BBQ was the highlight of the day, I was famished, mainly because it was chilly and I was not covered up in warm clothing. Note to self: A thin cotton cardigan is not the ideal clothing to keep you warm when the temperature ranges from 5-18 degrees. The BBQ was at Abbey College, a residential college for postgraduate students. It was a hearty feast which could have fed hundreds with ease and I did not attempt to exaggerate. They had a sufficient supply of food and they even set up a stall for vegetarian and halal food. I had the urge to go for another round but there were still many students who were patiently waiting in line.

First week of lectures went smoothly without a glitch. I still have problems adjusting to life as a postgraduate student. It involves a tremendous amount of perusing journals, theses, research papers, E books and the extensive resources available at the library. I was in awe of the ease at which all of these academic materials are readily available at your fingertips. This is a far cry from the limited and mediocre resources that my previous institution has to offer. No offense but Malaysian universities should probably consider upgrading their resources so that they are at par with the current research findings. It’s week 1 and the lecturers have comprehensively outlined all the assignments and lecture notes. It will be a tough journey ahead, considering I did not major in Linguistics. Although I did take a few Linguistics papers but those are just the fundamental basics which are taught in 100-level papers here in Otago. Personally, I would rather spend the rest of my life studying, God forbids. I still have 2 years to revel in the ultimate bliss of being a carefree student before I decide on my future undertakings, which will definitely include obtaining a doctorate.

These snapshots attest to the notion that you do not have to be a professional photographer to capture stunning shots of Middle Earth :P

First Week in Dunedin

Kia Ora!
That’s Maori for “Hi” or when translated literally, it means “be well or healthy”.
I arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand exactly 1 week ago, on the 14th of February. So, I “celebrated” my Valentine’s Day solo, onboard the 10-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Christchurch and subsequently at the Christchurch airport while waiting for my transit flight to Dunedin.

This post will be a brief but concise account of how I spent my first week in Dunedin (pronounced as: Duh-nee-din), I will spare the mundane stuff for another day.
Well, I arrived at Christchurch at around 3pm NZ time (11am Malaysia time). Upon disembarking the plane, I was greeted by the icy cold wind and a slight drizzle. The security check at the airport went smoothly without a glitch. To those who are not aware of this, the security inspection at NZ is one of the strictest airport inspections around. They are particularly fussy about biological items such as food which are transported through international tourists because the NZ authorities wish to prevent the contamination of biological items from other countries which might bring harm to the local produce. We had to fill in a form which was distributed onboard the flight from KL to Christchurch regarding the items that we carried along in our luggage. The entire aircraft was even ‘disinfected’ before landing. Well, you get the idea...

The airports in NZ are different from the airports in Malaysia. You need to print a copy of the ticket which you purchased online and scan the barcode on the upper right-hand side at the check-in kiosks. Then, the machine will print a copy of your boarding pass and a bag tag for your checked-in luggage. You have to attach the tag to your luggage before placing it at the checked-in baggage counter.

By the time I arrived in Dunedin, it was almost 8pm NZ time but it was not dark yet. Apparently, nightfall is around 8.30pm during summer. Well, the weather is quite extreme for me, it’s summer and the daily temperature can range from 10-22 degrees. My sister and her bf took me out for Indian food which was quite good and the portion was big. We could not finish our food so we packed the leftovers.

Something unexpected happened after I have moved in to my flat that night, there was a blackout while I was blow-drying my hair. The electricity supply in NZ operates though prepaid credits so once you have used up your credit, the power will be cut off automatically. My flatmate and I had to fumble in the dark to read the instructions posted on the bulletin board in the living room and we went out searching high and low for the electric meter box to key in the pin number we received upon purchasing the prepaid credit using a credit card.

I went to the university on the 16th to settle course approval and registration. I applaud the university for their efficiency. It was not a tedious and long-winded process. I settled everything within an hour including obtaining my student ID card. On the 17th, I went to the International Office with my flatmates to sign up for the Taeiri train ride cum BBQ party which is a part of the orientation programme for new international students. I will provide more details about the orientation which is popularly referred to as “O week” in the University of Otago.

On Sunday, I went to the Holy Name Church for Sunday service and went shopping for groceries thereafter. In the evening, I met up with Rachel, an American friend and we explored the campus and made our way to the new gym UNIPOL. The gym is massive and well-equipped. I reckon that I will be spending a bulk of my time working up a sweat there.
Well, I think that’s all for now. I will post snapshots of the city and the university campus soon, stay tune!

The campus map

The welcome pack I found on my desk when I moved into my flat. Chocolates!

The goodie bag

2012: The Outset of an Exciting Journey

Greetings fellow bloggers!
As I gladly bade my farewells to 2011, I was overwhelmed by a rush of euphoria and excitement as it dawns on me that 2012 has finally arrived! As the initial feelings receded, a retrospect glimpse into the past year provided the golden opportunity to do some soul-searching...

365 days had passed us by; the day to day work commitments and pursuit of ambitions have turned us into oblivious creatures, so engrossed in our daily affairs that we were somehow consumed by them, oblivious to the passing of time. Here I stand, a year older and presumably a year wise.

2011 was a year of personal accomplishments. Graduating with a First class honours, obtaining an almost perfect band score on the IELTS exam and finally, securing a place in the university of my choice were the milestones in my life. These humble achievements pale in comparison with the success stories of high achievers.

I have never been firm in executing my New Year resolutions. My recollection of years past has reaffirmed the fact that I’m merely making an empty pledge for self-betterment, a feeble attempt which ultimately fails. As the end of each year approaches, the thought which lingers is whether I have progressed or regressed in the self-improvement department.

Change has never been a easy; it is an arduous task, a feat, demanding a tremendous amount of patience and determination. The events of yesteryear attest to my lack of emotional intelligence. Petulant is a befitting description of my temperament. Easily affected by even the slightest provocation, a relentless tirade ensues. I was never a master in masking my annoyance or distaste since my feelings are painted vividly on my countenance. A trait which will certainly scare off acquaintances and invariably being perceived as a sign of cockiness, a holier-than-thou attitude. It will take a lot of willpower to keep my temper under control.

I discovered that I have a passion for writing since I started my blog last year, though my posts were infrequent and rare, I have always relish in the entire writing process. Perusing the posts of my fellow bloggers has inspired me to pen my thoughts for all to share. Although it is major feat for me to express my innermost emotions in a poetical manner, I will endeavour to improve my writing ability and attempt to experiment with creative writing genres.

2012 is a year of boundless opportunities and possibilities, a year of novel experiences and adventure in a foreign land, thousands of miles away from home. It is a golden opportunity that I vow to cherish. A new chapter of our life starts now, as we unveil the first pages in the new chapter, take a moment to reflect on the story which we wish to inscribe in those pages, ascertain our goals and aspirations, and strive towards them. The year-end outcome of 2012 is in your hands, seize the chance at a brand new beginning and make it work!

Cheers to a fruitful and prosperous 2012!

Exploring the Melaka Heritage Trail

Hello December!

November was an adventurous month as I had the opportunity to set foot on two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia, namely the Kinabalu National Park & Melaka, the latter being the renowned historical melting pot of the famed Malacca sultanate which dates back to the 1500s.

Malacca or Melaka has always been one of the top must-visit places on my list but as luck would have it, I did not have the chance to visit the city even though I was studying in the Peninsular for 3 years. I planned the vacation earlier this year and convinced my mum to bring two of her colleagues along for our Melaka/KL trip.

We arrived at Melaka from the LCCT airport at around 12 noon on the 21st of November. We left our luggage at our hotel, Aldy Hotel before we headed off to Jonker street for lunch. After a hearty lunch of the famous chicken rice balls, we set off exploring the neighbourhood. Jonker street offers a variety of local delicacies, souvenirs, handicrafts and trinkets. There are also several antique shops located along the street and tourists are not permitted to snap any photographs at some of the shops. The buildings along Jonker street looks shabby and dilapidated but that is part of the charm and appeal of the city. According to one of the articles I have read before, there are not supposed to be any changes to the architecture of the city. In any occasion that the Melaka government fail to comply with the strict requirements and regulations legislated by the UNESCO World Heritage committee, the latter could revoke the status of Melaka as a World Heritage Site.

Lady luck was clearly not on our side as there was a heavy downpour in the evening just as we were halfway through the Melaka river cruise. We had to take shelter at the river cruise ticket counter and stood there soaking wet for nearly an hour. Mum made a joke about getting an umbrella just to ward off the supposed “bad luck”. We were camped in at our hotel as it continued to rain till nightfall. Since we had only one umbrella among the 4 of us, my mum’s colleagues went out to get dinner. Everyone retired to bed early that night.

We started our tour of the city early the next morning. True enough, the weather was sunny for the entire day after we bought an extra umbrella the previous day. Here are some of the places we visited along the Heritage Trail:
1. The Stadhuys
2. Christ Church Melaka
3. St. Francis Xavier Church
4. A Famosa
5. Maritime Museum

There were other museums apart from the Maritime museum but we opted against entering them since we had to shop for souvenirs. We also decided not to go on the Menara Taming Sari (Taming Sari Tower) because the ticket was a bit pricey. So we spent the afternoon and evening shopping and admiring the architectural design of the ancient buildings as we stroll along Jonker street and the Melaka river. Even though we missed out on exploring some of the tourist attractions which were not located within walking distance of our hotel, I had an awesome time there. My only regret was not being able to taste the local delicacies dished out at Jonker 88, a restaurant which was featured on the popular tv show, Ho Chak which means scrumptious in Hokkien.

The ruins of the A Famosa fort, built by the Portuguese to fortify the Melaka town from the attacks of enemies

A replica of the Portuguese ship 'Flor De Lar Mar'

Menara Taming Sari

Our hotel

Chicken rice balls...yummy!

Melaka is indeed a place worth-visiting!