Reflections =)
At some point in time, there will be sometime in our lives when we will like to take a step back and view our lives from the 3rd person perspective... It has been 3 months plus ever since I arrived in DownUnder... It was my first trip abroad via plane to a country that is an ocean away... It wasn't a smooth journey applying for this exchange program as I was juggling a lot of stuff when the application was opened... But I guess I wanted it bad enough deep in my heart that I already have the relevant documents prepared... Even after getting the nod from my faculty and UQ that my application was approved, I had the mammoth task of convincing my mum that I will be able to take care of myself... Next came the financial segment when I need to show UQ that I have sufficient funds in my back; and for this, I really want to express my god-sister, Madeline. Despite no blood relations, she has went the way to get the bank approval for me, giving me tips on life in Australia and even taking the time off to drive my family and I to the airport. I really appreciate for all that you have done... I wanna say a big 'Thank You' to you. =)
The trip was definitely an eye-opener... I got to see and experience things that I will never had in Singapore... Australia has a rich history and this can date back to the time when aborginals were still living in the caves. They have a strong culture and sense of nationhood here. While I was standing in awe of the magnificent General Post Office (GPO) in Sydney City, a middle-age bearded guy approached me and started explaining to me the history of the GPO and its significance... It is such 'live' lessons that had made my stint here extremely enriching... In fact, everyday was a different experience even in school... When the student community is not satisfy with a new legislation (such as implementing VSU - Voluntary Student Union), they take immense action to prevent it from happening... Petitions were signed, demonstrations were organised, brochures and and postcards were printed to convey the disadvantages of VSU and it calls out ot the student population to make their stand... The rejection of VSU (something that PM John Howard is going to implement) is certainly making its voice heard in the campus... Nicely designed posters and banners were hung all around the school to convey the message... I wonder what will happen if one defy any policy of the government back in Singapore... Feedback? Yea, some may send anonymous feedback through the government website, while the braver ones will put their names to it... But I guess many will just follow the decision made... That's the way it has always been... I still vividly remember the demonstration against USA launching the war against Iraq... Students and demonstrators were shouting: Down with John Howard... with the police opening the roads up for the demonstration (Oh, the socialist groups here can actually apply for a demonstration permit and the police will be available to keep the traffic in track during the demonstration)... But I guess the culture in different countries are different so we cannot made an absolute judgement on the level of acceptance of such public vocalness.... But the point I am getting at is that Singaporeans need to be more vocal in relating what they really want from the government... A good place to start will be to question the lecturer in the middle of the lecture when you have a query or if you think the lecturer is wrong... :-}
Plene and Cat were in Crown Casino last night when I called them... Do enjoy the last 2 days of your stay in Melbourne... and have a great time playing with the penguins in Phillips Island... =)
Being to many places for the past 3 months... Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney... Saw the spectacular works of Mother Nature (esp the 12 Apostles) ... Felt the insignificance of myself when I was along the highway in the semi-desert area of Adelaide; we are nothing but just a speck of dust on Earth (this is how you will feel when you have vast pieces of grassland around you and mountain ranges in the horizon... But I guess what differentiate the different specks of dust is how it braves the unpredicatable weather conditions out in the wild...
Exams looming and time to revise... But before that, there are still assignments to be completed... Got to go back and work on my part of my group presentation on Friday... Gonna work on the process description too... If you were to ask me if I will miss Australia when I return to Singapore in July... My answer will be a yesh and no... Yesh: Coz there are still many parts of Australia that I have yet to visit and experience... No: Coz I have treat my life in phases; when one phase is completed, a new one continues... =) I have, to the best of my effort to make full use of the stint here... Though not all goals are accomplished, some have been jumpstarted and I guess I have a clear idea of my schedule for the rest of this year... =) Last but not leaast, I am really amazed by the level of design standards in Australia, gonna bring back lots of their free postcards and brochures and hopefully ithey will be helpful resources for SCC.. =>
CiaozZz...
The trip was definitely an eye-opener... I got to see and experience things that I will never had in Singapore... Australia has a rich history and this can date back to the time when aborginals were still living in the caves. They have a strong culture and sense of nationhood here. While I was standing in awe of the magnificent General Post Office (GPO) in Sydney City, a middle-age bearded guy approached me and started explaining to me the history of the GPO and its significance... It is such 'live' lessons that had made my stint here extremely enriching... In fact, everyday was a different experience even in school... When the student community is not satisfy with a new legislation (such as implementing VSU - Voluntary Student Union), they take immense action to prevent it from happening... Petitions were signed, demonstrations were organised, brochures and and postcards were printed to convey the disadvantages of VSU and it calls out ot the student population to make their stand... The rejection of VSU (something that PM John Howard is going to implement) is certainly making its voice heard in the campus... Nicely designed posters and banners were hung all around the school to convey the message... I wonder what will happen if one defy any policy of the government back in Singapore... Feedback? Yea, some may send anonymous feedback through the government website, while the braver ones will put their names to it... But I guess many will just follow the decision made... That's the way it has always been... I still vividly remember the demonstration against USA launching the war against Iraq... Students and demonstrators were shouting: Down with John Howard... with the police opening the roads up for the demonstration (Oh, the socialist groups here can actually apply for a demonstration permit and the police will be available to keep the traffic in track during the demonstration)... But I guess the culture in different countries are different so we cannot made an absolute judgement on the level of acceptance of such public vocalness.... But the point I am getting at is that Singaporeans need to be more vocal in relating what they really want from the government... A good place to start will be to question the lecturer in the middle of the lecture when you have a query or if you think the lecturer is wrong... :-}
Plene and Cat were in Crown Casino last night when I called them... Do enjoy the last 2 days of your stay in Melbourne... and have a great time playing with the penguins in Phillips Island... =)
Being to many places for the past 3 months... Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney... Saw the spectacular works of Mother Nature (esp the 12 Apostles) ... Felt the insignificance of myself when I was along the highway in the semi-desert area of Adelaide; we are nothing but just a speck of dust on Earth (this is how you will feel when you have vast pieces of grassland around you and mountain ranges in the horizon... But I guess what differentiate the different specks of dust is how it braves the unpredicatable weather conditions out in the wild...
Exams looming and time to revise... But before that, there are still assignments to be completed... Got to go back and work on my part of my group presentation on Friday... Gonna work on the process description too... If you were to ask me if I will miss Australia when I return to Singapore in July... My answer will be a yesh and no... Yesh: Coz there are still many parts of Australia that I have yet to visit and experience... No: Coz I have treat my life in phases; when one phase is completed, a new one continues... =) I have, to the best of my effort to make full use of the stint here... Though not all goals are accomplished, some have been jumpstarted and I guess I have a clear idea of my schedule for the rest of this year... =) Last but not leaast, I am really amazed by the level of design standards in Australia, gonna bring back lots of their free postcards and brochures and hopefully ithey will be helpful resources for SCC.. =>
CiaozZz...
posted by RyanzZz at
3:07:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home