New Year's Eve is tomorrow. Time passes by so quickly. It only seems like yesterday when I was in college mugging for my A Levels. Now, here I am, in university, far away from home. This year seems like 2 years crammed into one. So much has happened.
The first milestone of the year was finishing my A Levels. A Levels was the first time that I actually took my studies really seriously. I worked my butt off even when my parents don't seem to see it. I am really satisfied with my results even if my parents aren't. I have learned that I'm not living my life for anyone. To me, happiness should be accessible and not that elusive thing people pursue. Everything can bring you happiness, you just need to know where to look.
Second milestone of the year, I got my first job. An internship at a local bank. People were great. Job wasn't too hard. But to be honest, I wasn't happy with my job. This experience showed me that no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't work for the money, not that I was paid a lot. In any case, it was invaluable experience even if it wasn't what I wanted. I do admire people who can work for the money. I can't. But I do appreciate the money I got from it.
Third milestone of the year? Flying off to a place I have never been to before and staying there for the rest of the year. I am not going to lie, this may be the start of the best years of my life. I may not be studying a course that I really want to, but it's been good. So far in university, I have been able to do so much stuff that I would not do if I was back in Malaysia. I guess that's the benefit of not having my parents watching my back every step of the way. I joined the Glee club and no one judged me. I formed a band with some random people I met at a social and played my first gig. I got drunk, puked and no one laughed. I have non-Asian friends. I found that partying is my best stress-reliever. I learned to cook. I saw a fox. I have learned to be myself in front of strangers. I do think that university has brought out a lot in me. Learn to take the leap, you never know where you'll end up.
Milestones aside, it's time to reflect on other aspects of life. Future career-wise? I am definitely much closer if I decide to get a normal job involving banks or accounting (thanks to the internship). In terms of what I really want to do, there's progress but not as much as I would like. Have to work on it. I really admire the people around who are so motivated to get internships and stuff. They know what they want and are working towards it everyday while I am here juggling preparations for 2 different career paths at once. Still no luck in the love department, but I have managed to open up more to people. Maybe next year will my lucky year?
I still do miss home and the people back home. I don't feel like I'm talking to them as much as I should. I feel so distant (literally). I do want to go home. But there is still so much I haven't done yet.
New Year resolutions:
1. Get better at piano. Don't let my bandmates down,
2. Get an acoustic guitar (with my own money) and get my arse down to learning it properly.
3.Apply and get a spring internship or get an internship in a record company.
4. Talk more to people. (I have made progress this year but it could be better.)
5. Ace my first year.
6. Be happy.
Have a happy new year everybody!
YiJiun
Monday, 30 December 2013
Week 14: LATE!!
1. Sorry for the late post. I am writing this on the Monday of Week 15. I only remembered that I haven't updated this blog when I was just about to fall asleep last night. So, here it is.
2. I spent most of the past week in London. (LONDON!!!) Met up with my cousin and a few high school friends. I arrived on Monday just before noon. I was actually supposed to be the last one to arrive on that morning but someone decided to walk all the way from his bus station to my cousin's place, got lost and took 2 hours. So, I wasn't the last to arrive. Anyway, Monday was a terrible day in terms of weather. It was windy and rainy. AND, the wind was so strong that day. The rubbish bins along the roads were filled with broken umbrellas, courtesy of Mr Wind that day.
The highlight of going to London was Boxing Day. For once, I became a shopping enthusiast. I bought a turtleneck shirt thingy, a scarf, a sweater, a pair of pants (from ZARA!), a bag and almost got a Bershka jacket (Why weren't there any smaller sizes?????). Well, there goes my shopping budget for the rest of the year. I also got a care package sent from home (lap cheong!!). I have another care package sitting with my friend in Warwick (yay!).
3. On the way back from London, my train got delayed because of "crew arriving late". When the train was finally ready for boarding, there were tons of people running towards the platform because the previous train for that destination was cancelled. Anyway, I managed to get a seat and fell asleep nearly right away. When I woke up, the train was on its way. Then, the train just stopped at a station and stopped moving. Apparently, another train hit something near the station we were at and all trains were stopped to allow investigation to be carried out. In the end, it was found out that it was a deer which was hit (Poor deer.). That resulted in me only arriving in Coventry 40 minutes past midnight. More than 2 hours late. Sigh. Had to take a cab back to campus.
Signing off,
YiJiun
2. I spent most of the past week in London. (LONDON!!!) Met up with my cousin and a few high school friends. I arrived on Monday just before noon. I was actually supposed to be the last one to arrive on that morning but someone decided to walk all the way from his bus station to my cousin's place, got lost and took 2 hours. So, I wasn't the last to arrive. Anyway, Monday was a terrible day in terms of weather. It was windy and rainy. AND, the wind was so strong that day. The rubbish bins along the roads were filled with broken umbrellas, courtesy of Mr Wind that day.
The highlight of going to London was Boxing Day. For once, I became a shopping enthusiast. I bought a turtleneck shirt thingy, a scarf, a sweater, a pair of pants (from ZARA!), a bag and almost got a Bershka jacket (Why weren't there any smaller sizes?????). Well, there goes my shopping budget for the rest of the year. I also got a care package sent from home (lap cheong!!). I have another care package sitting with my friend in Warwick (yay!).
3. On the way back from London, my train got delayed because of "crew arriving late". When the train was finally ready for boarding, there were tons of people running towards the platform because the previous train for that destination was cancelled. Anyway, I managed to get a seat and fell asleep nearly right away. When I woke up, the train was on its way. Then, the train just stopped at a station and stopped moving. Apparently, another train hit something near the station we were at and all trains were stopped to allow investigation to be carried out. In the end, it was found out that it was a deer which was hit (Poor deer.). That resulted in me only arriving in Coventry 40 minutes past midnight. More than 2 hours late. Sigh. Had to take a cab back to campus.
Signing off,
YiJiun
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Week 13: Back in Uni (For Now)
I am finally back from the Czech Republic. I can say that I had a very good time there. The place was beautiful and people were friendly. Even a random Aussie dude who shared a room with my friends and I for 2 nights. That guy really made me want to just go off and travel alone. It seems really interesting. Meeting new people everywhere you go. Not knowing who you'll meet. Maybe I'll do it over spring or summer.
I have to say, the highlight of the trip were the random "truth sessions" that we had. I really learned a lot about my friends and also about myself. We would never know so much about each other had we not gone on this trip together. I will upload the photos of the trip on Facebook later. Lovely trip, really.
Now, I'm back on an empty campus with literally no other people left on my floor. Everybody has gone back for Christmas. I'll be heading down to London again in a few days time for Christmas and to meet up with some high school friends.
I really should be getting started on my 2 essays though. I really didn't think about it when I planned my holidays. I didn't think that the essays would take so much time to do. One of them is actually 100% of the module marks, so I should finish that one properly. The other isn't counted towards the final mark so I'll do that after I finish the first one. Sigh. I'll be taking my laptop down to London to try to do my research if I have any free time.
Till next time,
YIJIUN
I have to say, the highlight of the trip were the random "truth sessions" that we had. I really learned a lot about my friends and also about myself. We would never know so much about each other had we not gone on this trip together. I will upload the photos of the trip on Facebook later. Lovely trip, really.
Now, I'm back on an empty campus with literally no other people left on my floor. Everybody has gone back for Christmas. I'll be heading down to London again in a few days time for Christmas and to meet up with some high school friends.
I really should be getting started on my 2 essays though. I really didn't think about it when I planned my holidays. I didn't think that the essays would take so much time to do. One of them is actually 100% of the module marks, so I should finish that one properly. The other isn't counted towards the final mark so I'll do that after I finish the first one. Sigh. I'll be taking my laptop down to London to try to do my research if I have any free time.
Till next time,
YIJIUN
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Week 12: Off to Prague
This is an early post because I will be leaving for the airport tonight to go to Prague!! Yay!
Spent the past 2 days running around trying to find money changers with my friends because we are lousy planners. Anyway, we cleaned out 2 money changers of the Czech Koruna yesterday in Coventry. Haha. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to going to Prague. I heard that it's very beautiful. Since I'll be going for 9 days, I'll be visiting another 2 towns in the Czech Republic too.
Visited Leamington Spa properly on Sunday. Before this, I had only seen Leamington at night. So Sunday was quite fun. Visited a nice park. Had reasonable Thai food. It was a good day. Expensive though. But if it wasn't so far from campus, I wouldn't mind staying there for my 2nd year.
ANYWAY, see you guys in 9 days!! Bye~~
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Week 11: End of Term
It honestly just seems like yesterday that I arrived at Warwick. So weird. Most of my flatmates are leaving for the winter break, so it'll be extremely quiet when I come back from Czech Republic and also after Christmas.
I really had a good time this term and I'm looking forward to the rest of the academic year (not so much to the assignments and exams though). The people that I met here are all so nice and I made so many new friends. I thought that coming to a university with such a big Malaysian population would mean that I'd stick to mostly Malaysians but I actually proved myself wrong. I have made friends with people from so many places that I'm actually impressed with myself. Good job, self (syok sendiri!!!!).
To be honest, academically, I have not done much. So I'll be working through the holidays to finish my two essays and make them as good as I possibly can. I don't want to disappoint myself again.
On non-academic stuff, it has been loads of fun. I joined the Glee club, I joined a band, I went partying, I got drunk. I guess that's quite a good experience of uni life. Next term, I will seriously cut down on partying because it really hurts my wallet sometimes. Only 2 parties max next term. I will do it!
I still cannot believe that my first term at Warwick has already ended. Time passes by so quickly. I haven't even gotten to know so many people properly and now they are going home for Christmas. This is the first year which I won't be going on a vacation with my family but I'll be receiving not one but TWO care packages over Christmas (yay!). I really miss home but I do love Warwick as well. Life is good.
Happy and sleepy,
YiJiun
I really had a good time this term and I'm looking forward to the rest of the academic year (not so much to the assignments and exams though). The people that I met here are all so nice and I made so many new friends. I thought that coming to a university with such a big Malaysian population would mean that I'd stick to mostly Malaysians but I actually proved myself wrong. I have made friends with people from so many places that I'm actually impressed with myself. Good job, self (syok sendiri!!!!).
To be honest, academically, I have not done much. So I'll be working through the holidays to finish my two essays and make them as good as I possibly can. I don't want to disappoint myself again.
On non-academic stuff, it has been loads of fun. I joined the Glee club, I joined a band, I went partying, I got drunk. I guess that's quite a good experience of uni life. Next term, I will seriously cut down on partying because it really hurts my wallet sometimes. Only 2 parties max next term. I will do it!
I still cannot believe that my first term at Warwick has already ended. Time passes by so quickly. I haven't even gotten to know so many people properly and now they are going home for Christmas. This is the first year which I won't be going on a vacation with my family but I'll be receiving not one but TWO care packages over Christmas (yay!). I really miss home but I do love Warwick as well. Life is good.
Happy and sleepy,
YiJiun
Monday, 2 December 2013
Week 10: Hmmmm
2 notices of failure came. Not very happy but it was good experience. Better luck next year. Can't wait for the gig tomorrow. :)
It's December already???
Yi Jiun
It's December already???
Yi Jiun
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