Days at Nottingham Trent University

I guess I have forgotten to blog about my classes in NTU so far so now, I'm going to talk a little about what am I experiencing in NTU, for the past 16 days.

The first week is a total chaos. I have no idea which classes to go and where the hell there are. But, weird enough, I enjoy it. Xian says that she can't stand it. She doesn't like the feeling of insecurity, of not knowing what and where. However, I tend to enjoy exploring this little place. I mean, it is once in a life. Even I'm going to spent the next many months here but the feeling of being NEW is only ONCE! ^_^

So, the first week, with the help from Xian's friend, Carine, I manage to find my way to my module administrator and she provided me with the information I need to know. Eventhough I get those timetables, but things are always changing. Which makes me go crazy. I do not know whether which class I'm suppose to go to as it does not written clearly and I have no one to ask. (Xian and me is in different course)

Anyway, I manage to survive the first week well and make some friend at the end of the week. We are the late comers. Haha.. As you guys know, I am late for a week and therefore, everyone already know everyone and started to do some group projects. Luckily for me, there are also few late comers as well and we stick together since we do not have group. And that's how I get to make some friends and feel much more happier.

Going into the 2nd week, I'm much more sure of my time table. Confusion started to evaporate and I know I should check my email every hour of the day as changes often happened.

Monday - 4pm to 6pm - Generic Lecture (Whole School of Art and Design  MA students together)

Wednesday - 11am to 1pm - Language Support Class (Separated into Groups.. I'm in D)

Thursday - 2.30pm to 4.30pm - French Part 1 (I've enrolled in a French class.. ^_^)

Friday - 9am to 12pm - Product Design (Lec, Tut)
             2pm to 4pm - CAD (Solid Work cad class)

This is mostly what I will be going through for the coming weeks. There is always changes here and there and there are some open lecture series which I can join and I will join. LOL

Oh, and fyi, I have gather up my courage and enrol in a French class. This is 100% optional but I thought since I will be here why don't learn something new? (I need to pay though.. ) Furthermore, I don't think there is a better place to learn a foreign language than in a foreign country..although I'm not learning in France.. Haha.. but I think it's still better than learning in Malaysia right?

And on Wednesday, I would have the language support class which is English class in brief. The lecturers are so afraid of us getting annoyed or what, she keep saying that "everyone of you here have good English background I'm sure since you are here, and this class is just to support you all in your language and essays and to improve them more. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that your English isn't good but these classes are to make them even better."

Personally, I don't really mind that we're having English class. My English certainly need 'polishment' and since I'm in a English speaking country, I should really grab the chance and 'eat' as much info I'm feed. Haha.. Furthermore, I realised that I could always write in English but when speaking with them, I always feel my voice fail me. I would stop half way or err.. ahh.. something like that. I couldn't speak fluently. I guess I have neglected my English for too long. So, you guys back at Malaysia, don't forget to speak in English. Speaking in Cantonese everyday really spoil my English. T_T

Hmm.. about my course, Product Design, there isn't any REAL lecture about it yet.. I hope to get more lecture soon. Anyway, I just found out that my fellow classmate in product design all have background in product design. Only me from interior. I feel a bit.. worry. Haha.. (FYI, there are 50% of the students in School of Art and Design MA studying fashion and most of them doesn't have a background in fashion. So why does mine all have background in product design???  =.=")

I'm currently enjoying my lesson though. So far, the 2 tutorials I went to are nice, informative and fun. I hope I will still feel fun after a month and when deadline is creeping nearer.. Haha.. there's a 1st assessment right before Christmas..

Oh, btw, since arriving at NTU, I have been looking high and low for a piano. I even went to the Student support counter to ask for it and they direct me to the student union and I went and ask the office lady and she direct me to the student-in-charge and he gave me the music society president and ask me to email him to ask. In the end, I did not do that but email directly the Director of Music at NTU and he told me there is practice room at Clifton campus.. quite far from my City site.. but at least I know where to go if I really need it. Haha...

However, last week, I'm rushing to an open lecture in Bonnington and I'm nearly late. It start at 5pm and when I reach there it's already 4.55pm but I do not know where the lecture theatre is. Once I'm inside the building, and I'm looking frantically left, right and top, I hear the piano sound. Someone is playing the piano. And it is very very near. I thought it's coming from the 2nd floor and I rush up the stair. But the sound started to fade. So it's not there. Being very urgent as I'm late for the lecture but I still want to look for the piano as it is an opportunity I couldn't miss. Cause by hearing the sounds I could find the piano. Without the sound I wouldn't know where to look. So I choose to follow the sound of piano and ignore my time. ^_^"  I walk back down the stairs and walk to my left. The sound is getting louder. I'm getting more excited. I push open the door and there it is. Right smack at the corridor is the piano. Someone is playing a sonata and he sounded great. I wanted to stop and listen but then I look up and I saw the lecture theatre I've been rushing to.

Well, well, well. So I found my piano and my lecture hall. If I don't follow the sound, I wouldn't find both. ^^"

 I believe that the God of Music is helping me. ^^"

Xian say I think too much. Haha..

I still haven't get the chance to play on that piano yet but at least I wouldn't need to go to Clifton campus to get my hand on a piano. Oh.. I'm so happy. ^^


Oppsss.. I just realized that this post is getting too long. There's so much to say. Haha.. I hope I did not bore you guys. For those that read right down until this word, I really appreciate that you are so interested in knowing my life here. It shows that you care. Let me know you read this by leaving me a msg k?

Muaks!

Google translator is the best!

"So far in August, a lot of things happen, there is music, an evil, pregnant, in their hearts, just want to feel, do not want to say. "

I went to one of my favourite blog just now, (I will not reveal which but if you happened to read my blog.. I hope you don't mind me taking your words ya... ^_^) and she writes in chinese. I can read some and some words are hard. The words she choose to write is so difficult that I had no choice but ask Google to translate it for me. And this is one of the sentence I read which makes my eye goes BIG and ROUND...


I don't understand so I select to see the original words. And this is what she originally written..

"从八月至今，很多事情发生，有乐，有悲，有喜，在心头，只想感觉，不想说出。 "

And I went

And then

And thus I plan to blog. 

It's really a wonderful translation. 

For those who doesn't understand, 有喜 in chinese means happiness and often when someone is pregnant, they will say 有喜 coz it's a happy occasion. I never know Google really translate that. Haha.. 

The correct translation of what she writes is suppose to be there is joy, there is sad, there is happiness. Ya ya.. I know joy and happy is suppose to be different, but in chinese writings it's a different expression. Haha.. Oh well, I'm not a qualified translator, I'm just translating what I understand. Haha..

Anyway, thumbs up to google. I thought Google often direct translate a word.. not expecting it to translate 有喜 into pregnant. Google is not wrong. It's too smart. ^_^

Procrastinating

Dear friends,

I am writing to inform everyone that I am procrastinating. Everytime I have some assignment due or needed to practice for exams or whatsoever, I always find the mood to blog. I feel that blogging at this time is very very important. Like what my lecturer in today language class said : everytime there is a deadline, cleaning the house suddenly seem to become very very very important. It's so true.

Last Sunday, I suddenly make up my mind to vacuum my floor, pack away my clothes and organize my table. Finding more things to do so that I can avoid sitting down and starting on my mind-map.

This is absolutely unforgivable, since I'm the one who make the decision of studying. Why am I avoiding the assignment now???

This is a nightmare. It's not that I don't want to do.

But can you tell me what in the world is a Grantt Chart?

Ok..

I know what is a Grantt Chart.. but how in the world can I make my own Grantt Chart when I don't know for sure what to do???

Help me friends..



Cheers,
the procrastinator..

 

After 9 days at Nottingham

This is the plane that brought me from KL to Nottingham.. ^_^


Alright... I exaggerated a little.. This is actually the plane that brought me to Manchester from Amsterdam. Haha..

Today is my 9th day in Nottingham. Being away from my family is really lonely. I realised it the 1st day. Thanks to the majestic internet, I get to meet my family everyday. At least, I feel I am still connected to the life at home.

So, I promise that this post will be more cheerful than the previous. So, I'll try to keep lesser words and more photos + description ya..  ^^

This is my 1st meal in my room. I don't really like it though. The soup.. or more like the gravy is too thick and it taste quite bland eventhough it smells good. Haha.. Anyway, the 1st night is really.. sad. I'm tired.. of the long journey and jetlag. After reaching my room and dumping everything in, we went out for grocery. After that, we went back to our own room and I made this cup mee. And I feel sad. I'm alone. That's the 1st time I feel so lonely.

This is my dwelling for the following 1 year. The 1st week sees me walking up and down, in and out of Nottingham. Being so busy settling down. I'm busy going to the Uni to settle my enrolment and announce my late arrival to the coordinator, finding my way around the Uni buildings, looking for my class and busy finding the right people to ask questions.

Besides that, I'm busy with going to Tesco and Wilkinson to buy my things as well. I'm looking for daily food, grocery like salt, sugar, pepper, dark sauce, oyster sauce, etc etc, floor mat, cups, tissues, pillows, etc etc.

Everyday after a hectic day rushing around the Uni, I will pass by Tesco or Wilkinson to get my things and will then lugged a heavy and super heavy and damn heavy plastic of goods back to my room.

That's my 1st week.

This is the road taken by me for the week. Walking to and fro for 2 days, I already got myself familiarise with the road and did not get lost.

This plate of rice was cooked by yours truly, ME! This is the 1st ever plate of rice I ever cooked. Yea.. I did not need to cook at home. Really.. I feel myself successful as this plate of rice is edible and it taste not bad. Haha..

I once bought some little mandarin oranges here. And it taste really really really great! So sweet and juicy. I just have to buy it again.

This is the view near the Old Market Square. This place is always crowded with people and mind you, it's a really great place to hang around.

This is me at the square. See those people. There really like it there. And so does the pigeons. All the 9 days I have been in UK, the only bird I saw is the pigeons. And they are damn fat!

They walk around, fly around and eat around. They aren't afraid of people. No wonder they are fat.

See all those nice nice buildings there? I'm really in cloud 9 when I saw them. The moment I arrive at Nottingham train station, walk out and saw my surrounding, I have already fall in love with the city. It really is a nice little place. It's like a dream come true, being able to see these buildings, and actually walk into them.

NTU have some of these old buildings as well and sometimes I just feel like Harry Potter.. LoL.. Pictures of NTU later, as I still haven't snap them yet.. haha..

"DANGER: DEEP WATER KEEP OUT"

"where's the water mama?"

If it's not for the buildings I will feel miserable. Actually, I don't feel miserable during the day as I have things to do, people to talk to and scene to see. It's only the night. When I am alone, nothing to do (but assignments), family are asleep, inside my room, I will feel bad.

Anyway, don't worry. I will be alright. I am going to get many many new experience and learn many many new things here and come back to Malaysia as a brand new me! ^_^


ps. I've started to do my assignment already last weekend. It's still the beginning and as you guys know, the 1st word/step is always the hardest. I couldn't seem to make up my mind on what topic to focus on. And now I have to do it alone. Haha.. Ling ling.. you better on9 more..


See ya!

I am lonely.

I have been in Nottingham almost a week already. Things kinda happened very fast. From KLIA to Amsterdam to Manchester. All in 15hours. Reaching Nottingham before 4pm on 26th September 2010.

Now, I am officially an International Student majoring in MA Product Design in Nottingham Trent University. Coming here is a dream I previously wish for. Departing to Nottingham is excited and in the mean time, I feel depressed. I wouldn't be able to be with my family and friends for 1 year. I couldn't see my favourite toys/books/piano/etc etc for 1 year. I know I will miss everything tremendously. Especially my family. The longest I've been away from them is 2 weeks.. that's when I went for holiday in Hong Kong.. Even that, I will keep thinking of going back home. I hope I know what am I doing now. Coming to UK for furthering my studies.. am I really here for my studies or am I here to see what how does the British live? I don't really feel like working on my assignments now actually.. I am homesick. I miss my family. Sometime, I think if I am here with just one of my close friend, I wouldn't be so lonely.. at least we can laugh together and cry together. But now, I am here with no one. Everyone tells me that I would be able to make friends but I don't think those friends are the ones I have back in Malaysia. It's different. That's because we have different backgrounds. I feel different.

I heard one of the other student said that day..

"I come to Nottingham only for 1 reason. And that couldn't be achieve in my home country. That is to be a foreigner."

I feels that she said it very well. I come here to be a foreigner. To learn and experience new things. But all I wish for is only a friend.

Sorry for the depressed update. I am really upset now. I just need to rant it all out.. I hope I can overcome this or I wouldn't be able to do any work...

Pictures are available in my facebook.

I promise that my next post will be something cheerful or I wouldn't post it for you guys to get worry about me. Sorry.