Lost In Translation

Ah... 1st week of uni.

The days have been long, hot, and long. This has to be byfar the longest week after the many months of holidays. And we're not even done for the week yet. I should be thankful, for in the Commerce faculty, we have one of the shortest contact hours among all other courses in the uni, and that's about 12 hours a week only. To think in high school terms, that's only 2 days of classes a week. To think in other courses' terms, that's 3/5 of the average of the rest of you guys. But this week, being an introductory week (you'd think o-week was supposed to be introductory week. heck, no.), we only have 6 hours of lectures as tutorials would only start next week. Pretty cool, eh? Well, not really. Cuz even with only 6 contact hours this week, I'm already starting to feel tired.

It takes about a half an hour walk, if I walk at a normal pace, from my apartment to the uni. 20 minutes if i brisk walk, and the summer-ish weather for the past few days have been unkind. Thankfully, it's been getting a little cooler lately, but only by a few degrees. I just can't wait for the cooler seasons to begin. Then again, it would be another problem then if it starts to rain more often, wouldn't it?

Yet, thus far, the uni life has been pretty interesting. I still can't get over the fact that we actually have our own pub on campus. It adds so much life to the whole uni. Just yesterday on my way to a lecture, I saw 3 drunk girls swaggering together arm-in-arms across the South Lawn. How funny was that? And it was barely 10:00a.m in the morning.
I found that one could meet so many kinds of people in this place. Hippies, punks (no, not the scum-ish punks, but punk-punks), nazi-wannabes, arty-farties, and the list goes on, most of them gathered together, chilling out at the South Lawn. The many facades of a community, painted right across a single lawn, going about their own life in their own little spots. They're ignorant of their neighbours, no matter how close they are, no matter what they're doing, despite their differences. Heh, I'm not too sure why yet, but I find that simply interesting.

Anyways, although I seem to be complaining much so far, I have to admit that I'm still finding uni quite fun. The lectures so far have been pretty easy going, and I've got at least 1 friend from high school in each lecture I go to. How blessed I am to be not alone in this journey. Their presence helps so much. I've now got one more lecture for the week, starting at 2:00p.m today. I think I better get ready to print off some of the lecture notes before I head in later.

Sigh, I feel so (partially) grown up now...
:P

The city boy is falling sick. And I blame it on the city air I tell you. It is so polluted here, you can litereally see thick layers of dust hovering over the streets, swayed from side to side as trams and cars go by, swept away to the sidewalks furthermore by the passing breeze, hence forming a 'breeze of dust'.

Unlike the clean, green suburban air Greensborough offered, the city is a stark contrast and it's taking a heavy effect recently on my dad and I. Our eyes getting itchy, noses irritated, throats sore, and I think I'm gonna be pretty sick soon. Just yesterday, I was walking along LaTrobe St., heading towards the uni for Alex's graduation, when I noticed something that was simply so disturbing, I couldn't ignore it.

See those vents I circled on top, just above the roofs of the shops by the road? It is located just outside and above a carpark building (located behind those shops), so I presume that it's the output of the ventilation system of the carpark. And guess what me and Esther saw while walking pass it? The vents were spitting out dust towards to main road. I know the photo taken can't show it clearly if at all, but it was spitting out dust like fumes out of a chimney on a winter night. And this was just 9:30a.m. Just walking pass it, my nose got itchy and it lasted the whole afternoon.

Sigh.
The price for convenience goes further than the rent, I guess...

So anyway, as I mentioned earlier, that hornbag graduated.

Congratulations, bro. That damn paper's better be damn worth it I hope.
;)

A bunch of us woke up early that Saturday morning just to spend about half an hour taking photos with him in a gown which he couldn't wear properly without his mum's assistance. Tsk tsk tsk... That boy. Hehehe.
But it was certainly a day to celebrate, alright. Our very own hornbag's stepping up to a new phase in his life; to learn to stand on his own two feet alone now, and in time, with fingers crossed, to support others as well. Know what I mean? ;)
I wish you the best, bro. Whenever, wherever.

Sigh... I'm feeling sick. Think I'll sign off for now.
Be back soon.
Adios.

Dr. Ng Kian Seng once wrote, in regards to his marriage:

Twenty years of sand
have plummeted through
the hourglass of our marriage.
I will not allow neglect
to scatter the sands
along the shores of forgetfulness
lest the waves lap them up.
I will invert the glass
& allow the sands of time
to re-enact
the drama of our lives,
the sand-abrasive tiffs,
the sand-castles of mirth,
the arid sands of lean times,
the sand-dunes of the ordinary.
Each particle of sand is a memory
that makes the mortar
to strengthen my love for you.

Dear God,
Teach me how to love like I've never imagined before.
Across the boundaries of necessity.
Above the expectations wafted by imaginations.
To provide an endless ocean
and mountains to follow above the streams.
By faith
I don't need to be perfect.
Just perfect for her.
Amen.

Urgh...

I've been sick for the past few days. Since the early symptoms last week, to be precise. Well, it's not really that bad now thanks to some Vitamin C's and veggies, but I've still got this killer sore throat that's been bugging me day and night. I have never had a sore throat this bad all my life, and I've never drank so much water in a day to soothe it either. The amount of toilet trips I had yesterday just isn't funny.

It was so bad that last night, it brought me down to a point where I couldn't speak properly at all. No, I had not lost my voice. It's just that everytime I speak out loud, it hurts. And believe me when I say this but Strepsils just didn't work!

I've taken them all, but only the Benadryl seems to help a little. It tastes sucky, but it helps soothe my throat for a few good moments, just before my throat starts to feel dry again. *Sigh.
Oh well. I guess this is how it's got to be for the time being. I've still got to go to uni because I've got a test and some work still needed to be done this week. I just can't wait for the weekend to come.

I need a break so badly...

I may still have mucus as thick as pudding dripping out of my nose.
I may still be coughing my lungs out as dry or phlegmy as they can be.
I may still have the sorest(?) throat since Louise Armstrong's time.
I may have the largest, ugliest pimple on the left of my lips that challenges the Mole in Goldmember.

But nothing's gonna stop me from this.

Tonight, for one night only, City Church presents an Easter service featuring Delirious? LIVE!! In Melbourne!! Tonight!! Delirious?!! Free entry!! Service!! Tonight!!
Wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

So God, if You don't want me to spread my contagious germs around in a crowded hall tonight, please heal me quick.
ThankyouandAmen.

God of my storm
won't you calm my boat down
lift me above the water
that i may be able to charge through any wave
slither through the flashes of lightning
and conquer the open sea
that should fall before me
in order to reach
the crystal white shores
and the bay where You stand
awaiting for me.
Amen.

God of my life
thank You for choices
that You've scattered without and within my life;
for the choices
that spoil me
as well as the choices
that tear me apart,
for without them
i would not know the true treasures of my heart
as well as Yours,
so thank You for choices
may You lend me Your infinite wisdom
that i may be able to make the best
out of the choices
in my life.
Amen.

God of my joy
thank You for the simple laughs and tickles
that You bring in my life
for the seeds that You've planted around me
for the seeds that i get to watch grow and mature
into mighty oaks of faith for You,
thank You for fun
the creation of the infectious smile
and its capability of complicating into laughter,
we need more of such a thing in our world
i need more of such a thing in my world.
Amen.