| Thursday, November 30, 2006 |
| Announcement: |
| will be back on the 12th. |
posted by wenster @ 2:24 AM  |
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| Tuesday, November 21, 2006 |
| The Amazing Race... |
Is tomorrow. Well, it isn't really amazing, just that its something that is of importance to me (and 7 other people who have been waking up early with me) - its the annual Christchurch Regatta! The funny thing is, one year or even 3 months ago I wouldn't have known or cared very much about the "ChristchurchRegatta" it would probably make me think of some kind of crew thing which I wasn't involved in and as such wouldn't really be bothered with. Ah.. how much has changed. I confess to knowing the lingo and using it - and feeling a certain connection with anyone who rows. There are 3 women's crews on the Peter's team (thats my college) - and they're kind of ranked by how good we are - my boat is in the middle: we're not too bad, but not too good either. Thats the thing about rowing here - its a lot more inclusive than most sports (surprisingly) but that also means that there has to be some kind of ranking system whereby those who are better will be able to receive more advanced instruction. As such we now have 3 boats quite different in quality. Hm. This rather reminds me of the (abolished?) streaming system in primary schools. But yes - it takes 2 losses for us to be completely out - so I'm hoping that we'll advance at least a round. On a side note, we'll be wearing green football socks and a green tee.. and have ribbons and whatnot, which includes facepaint. Now that will be a sight to behold.
2 weekends ago I was in Italy: pisa and florence to be exact. It was wonderful. The trip was totally spontaneously booked, and in retrospect we were utterly unprepared and if i may, foolish. At one point we made a decision to hike from the train station in Pisa to the airport. At 2am in the morning. Not knowing how far it was and whether or not we'd get there in time for our flight. Honestly - it is God's grace alone that made the distance a mere 2 km (imagine trying to walk to changi from city hall!) and there were no muggers/sketchy people around.
But on to the good stuff: there were MOUNTAINS of gelato - honest! There was waaaaay too much good food all over the place- even eating a ham and cheese sandwich or a simple pizza was really good. And we ate at 2 halfway posh, nice places too, and that was great. I do refuse to think about conversion though... We went to the Uffizi gallery, where I learnt a load about Mr Leonardo Da Vinci and his work, saw the Birth of Venus and Spring - basically pieces that I've become so familiar with due to reprints and stuff. But there I was, in front of the real thing. It was waaay cool. In the beginning, I wondered about the italian hospitality, because the people at the airport were quite crabby. Perhaps it was because it was early in the morning. But towards the end of the trip, I can see why people say that they're friendly - they really try to communicate when they see you trying. Met a lovely little italian professor of art who kindly showed me some of the best places to see the sights. He also told me cool stories behind the buildings and bits and pieces of history that only a true florentine would know. Suffice to say, I was enchanted by the country. So much so that I now have a hoodie of it. |
| posted by wenster @ 4:09 PM |
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| Wednesday, November 01, 2006 |
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In honor of beating the urge to have a kebab, I am here writing a post. So much is so different over here.. its been slightly over a month since I began calling this part of the world "home" - you know how we always say~ I'm going home now~ well.. I figure that every place I'm in for longer than 2 weeks becomes home.. just because. We just got back from halloween at the bridge -a pretty nice club that has waaaay good soundproofing. Honestly. There are two levels and the music is completely seperate, which is pretty amazing given that the decibels are definitely in abundance. You can even hear yourself think when in the bathroom.
I think whats nice about being here is that (a) it is a change and (b) I'm finding out more about myself and my views. Wellesley was and is great - I still love it and miss it (especially the food), but Oxford: I'm so glad I'm here. Its still a bubble, all places are - but its a very large, quaint, odd and lovable bubble. It grows on you. Demographics wise, there aren't as many asians here (contrary to what I believed) and the usual women > men ratio in my classes is still upheld rather faithfully (contrary to what Maria told me). Maybe there never is a perfect mix.
Probably should go through a day... like today! Woke up at 6.15am. This happens only once a week, in the great honor of going out to row on the river. WHee! Biked down to river, narrowly avoiding pedestrians and the odd van. Get to river, wait around for people.. get boat out etc etc.. bike back for breakfast, which ends at 845 - but I refuse to not eat breakfast. So I pedal really hard and pray that all the buses see me and not squash me. Get there in time for a bit of cereal + yoghurt + pastry. Yum. Steal cereal+yoghurt out (they're really strict here about it.. but a girl needs to snack! ) Pass by Steve my cox on the way out.. decide that he needs my snack more since he's got a heck a lotta lectures to attend. Walk back to where I live. Stop by supermarket with Hannah and watch while she picks out a loaf with the squeeze test. Shower, wash some clothes (laundry is SO expensive here! 1.20pound for a load? that is like near S$4 for one tiny wash). Settle in, try to do some work (I have an essay on the cerebellum and its role in motor learning to finish). Get distracted by the guitar I borrowed from Lee. Try to practice. Doesn't really work. Check email, get distracted again... and Doug comes in to talk about getting bus tickets to the airport for our mass group trip to Florence. Work a teeny bit, walk out to lunch. In luck. Bridget, the sometimes scary dining hall lady who I try to be really nice to allows me to have the veggie option (you have to be a registered veggie if you wanna have it normally). It was pita with roasted veggies. Much better than what they call curry in my humble opinion. Head off with Doug to go enquire about the bus. Get annoyed with ticket person.. but it is all good. Go for a spot of shopping.. I still need a black pea coat! Cycle to lecture. Meet Becky my brain-buddy at the bike park. Sit for an hour listening about vision and motion detection. Cycle back to room, try to get more work done. Doesn't happen. Yak with Becky about how her essay (on marriage in the world) is coming along. At around 430, head out with Nancy to look for a halloween costume for her... had a brilliant idea of getting a red beret hat so she can be an artist. Go for dinner. Got the veggie option again. Score! There were crackers and cheese. Yak yak yak over dinner.. and then go print my paper at the MCR comp room. Walk upstairs to see if Sam is in. He was.. more yak about happiness and my use of british and american english. Go back. Come upon a bunch of people from my floor talking at the bottom of stairs. Can't help but join in. Arrange to go to the bridge.. got tickets so we don't have to queue! And now.. at 2am in the morn.. I bid you goodnight. *yawn*
Looking forward to the open market (food!) and christian union meeting tomorrow :) |
| posted by wenster @ 1:43 AM |
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