University Hall

Living in Uni Hall for close to 1 1/2 years and what can I say? Firstly, meals are being catered for but the meals prepared by the hall caterer does not seem to please the taste bud especially since Tina, the chef, left for another job. Secondly, my eggs have been stolen couple of times! Anyways, I'm glad that the academic year is almost coming to end and I have to tolerate it for another 2 months, I reckon!

Here's a little poem that one of the Hallies wrote for her Hiakus assignment and I thought it would be nice for you to see how living in Uni Hall is like.

University Hall Kitchen by Amy Bartel

Home brand chocolate

Drips into the plastic dish

Coating reduced flour.

Two minute noodles,

Often decorate the bench

In bright sticky clumps.

The stove’s light flickers,

And smells strange, but with a thump

Or two, it will start.

A sunburnt ochre

Rings the blackened hotplates and

Stubbornly stays put.

They’re not mine, she says,

Eyeing the cracked eggshells,

As her omelette cooks.

Someone has stolen

The washing detergent, and

The dishes pile up.

When my mum visits,

She has a horrified stare.

“You make food in here?”

End of semester,

The cleanliness is eerie,

But it will not last.

P/s: Its not that bad!

Recharge or not?!

The 2 weeks mid-semester break is almost coming to end. BOOHOOHOO!! But thank the Lord for 1 extra day of public holiday on Monday (Its Australia's Labour Day)! So, I don't have to worry about returning to school on Monday! Yay! No Monday Blues (Not that I have suffered from it before!).

Haven't really done much during this mid-semester break. What I mean is, didn't get the opportunity to travel and do abit of sight-seeing. Well, firstly, no driver's license so can't drive. Secondly, friend(s) sick so can't concentrate on driving long distances. Nonetheless, a break away from the monotony of school can do good to one. Hopefully, when term starts, I am all prepared to start the battle and continue to persereve!!!

Oh for the benefit of my family and friends in Singapore, I have changed the date of my airticket from 25th Nov to 23rd Nov since I end exams on 17th Nov! So which means, I get to eat all the Singaporean food and enjoy the company of all earlier! However, I reckon I am going to miss Adelaide since I am not sure how long I will be back next year with the shortest being 5 weeks. Oh well...let's not worry about next year's stuff! Alright, I'm gonna to enjoy every bit of the break that is left! Adios!

How well do I know you?

How can we find TRUE frienships in this often phony and temporary world?

Friendship often involves the recognition or familiarity with another's personality. It is often said and heard that friends share likes and dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passion. How then can we recognise potential friendship? Signs include a mutual desire for companionship and perhaps a common bond of some kind. Beyond that, genuine friendship involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life. True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism.

Google the word "friendship" and you will often find that true friendship involves relationship. Many people often say, "Oh, he's a good friend of mine," yet, we never really take the effort to spend time with that "good friend." Friendship takes time: time to get to know each other, time to build shared memories, time to invest in each other's growth.

Trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, and frustrations. We need to be able to share our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will end up on the Internet the next day! Failing to be trustworthy with those intimate secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry. Faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship. Without them, we often feel betrayed, left out, and lonely. In true friendship, there is no backstabbing, no negative thoughts, no turning away.

True friendship requires certain accountability factors. Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

In the bible, there are examples of true friendships. One good example is the friendship shared between David and Jonathon in First Samuel 20. These two men truly cared for each other and had great trust and confidence in one another. David was running for his life from Jonathan's father, Saul. Jonathan recognised that David was innocent. Because of the true friendship they shared, David survived Saul's assassination attempts and went on to become one of Israel's greatest kings.

Real and true friendship involves freedom of choice, accountability, truth, and forgiveness. Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the "packaging." Genuine friendship loves for love's sake, not just for what it can get in return. True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being truthful, even though it may hurt.

God's Word tells us that a friend sticks closer than a brother, and that in order for one to be a friend, one must show themselves friendly (Proverbs 18:24). The question is: what type of friend do you desire to be?

Randomness

I'm still alive! The mid-semester break has started and I am enjoying every bit of it. Nothing exciting has happened, just staying in my room working though the pile of assignments that are due when school starts. Of course, as the saying goes, "all work and no play makes Jo a dull girl!". I'm currently entertaining myself with a Canto drama called Return of the Cuckoo or Au Men Jie. (Yes, soph I know its been ages since I downloaded it from you. I just don't have the time to watch it!).

I'm also currently nursing a sore left index finger and no your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you! I went to the doctor today to find out what is wrong with it as I woke on Wednesday morning only to find that same finger (yes, it was sore the week before and the pain went away "mysteriously"!) sore! Anyway, I was explaining my condition about my left index finger and how and where it was painful to the doctor (I actually felt embarrassed!). Anyways, she did some little finger exercise trying to diagnose my condition but to no avail! So, at the end of the consultation, she told me that perhaps the tendon may have shifted from its sheath, that's why the discomfort and why I cannot bend and she told me that she has no idea with what is wrong with my left index finger! She presecribed me some anti-inflammatory drugs that cost $31.45 for 12 tablets (thank goodness its covered by my health insurance!) and told me to monitor it, hopefully the pain/soreness will "mysteriously" disappear! I sure hope so!!Its causing me heaps of inconvenience!

Anyway, I reckon next week will be more exciting as a group of us Singaporeans from Flinders SSA are planning to take a short trip to the Barossa Valley! I can't wait with all the endless stops at different wineries, sipping wine and enjoying the sun and not forgetting an early celebration for Mid-Autumn Festival! Haha..And SSA's steamboat with the rest of the committee members. Thanks guys for working so hard for all the events that we have organised! A BIG Pat on the back! Haha..Alright, till my next post and wipe that smile off your face!!!;P

School's out

What a week! Imagine you have all these due just before the term break:

Mon: Small Group Facilitation Assessment & Cystic Fibrosis case study
Tue: Stroke case study
Wed: Type 1 DM schema questions
Thu: Enteral Feeding schema questions
Fri: Needs Assessment Task, Personal Learning Statement & Report for Small Group Facilitation

Well, I am glad that this week is almost coming to an end. And what's more, the long awaited 2 weeks semester break is finally here! No more waking up early in the mornings for 2 weeks, no school routine for 2 weeks, though alot of assignments are due after the term break. Nonetheless, its a good break from the monotony of school work. For the first time in 8 weeks, I am going to get some retail therapy! Alrighty..Till the next one!

Timely

Thanks Baby! It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Also, thank the Lord for the great things He has created. Today while I was returning back from my jog, I saw a rainbow arching across the horizon. The view was magnificent. After seeing it, I felt happy, rejuvenated and hopeful all over again! I felt that God was sending me a sign to ask me to go on and despite all the trials that I am going through and I know that there will be a rainbow at the end of every storm. So, dear peeps..hang in there and thanks for your concern! I'm now charged and raring to go! Can't wait for the term break to come!!!


See its lovely arch beaming?!

Happened to bump into Rowshini who was walking Emma

Nice!!!

Last peek before it "vanished"!

Don't Quit

Dedicated to all in times of trials!

Don't Quit
Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road your trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When they might have won, had they stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victors cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!

Thanks Sophie and Baby!Miss you guys lots!

Losing steam, perhaps?

I don't know what swept over me! Ever since receiving the email with regards to the impending Honours potential project titles for 2007, I have been doing alot of thinking since Sunday. Today, I contemplated with the thought of withdrawing from it. I did my mental sums for my GPA and after calculation, I doubt I have the ability to qualify for it. Even if I score strings of distinctions this semester, I would not be able to "push" my GPA up to a 6. No point crying over spilled milk. I know, I'm not crying and I am not regretting for not doing well because, the results that I obtained for last semester is what I have prayed and asked for. Glory to God for answering my prayers!

Anyway, I was chatting with my younger sister and I was telling her about my thinking of pulling out from the Honours programme. She gave me alot of constructive remarks and advise and yes, she did encourage me to try and if I did not qualify it, I should be contented that out of the 24 who expressed interest, I should be contented that those who did qualify, were true competitors. However, if I chose to pull out without even trying and someone who had a lower GPA qualified, I would hit the roof!

But I am feel that I am beginning to lose steam and need to find sources of motivation to keep me going. I remember telling Liyan that despite being a tough semester, as long as we do not lose steam and complete the race that is set before us, that's all it matters!

When I started writting this entry, I had no idea where this entry would lead to. However, I am glad that there were several lessons that I can take home. I know that I have a supportive family and friends back home that I know I will not be judged based on my grades and whether or not I qualify for the programme, I know I am always and will be welcomed with both arms extended. I thank the Lord for the opportunity for me to be able to pursue a university education.

Lord, I just pray and ask them you will grant me the strength to go through the rest of this semester. I pray and ask them you will guide me through and I want to commit the Honours Programme into your hands. Lord, whether or not I qualify, I just pray that it is all part of the great plan you have for me. Bless those dear to me Lord. Amen