I am writing this entry in the main library branch of UC Berkeley. So here we go.
Lessons been very fun and interesting down here in Berkeley. Getting to experience more culture shock with each passing day in school, though I love what I am seeing and experiencing everyday. Went for 2 awesome lectures earlier. So now I have been formally introduced to all my lecturers for this semester. 2 of my lecturers here are very cool and funky, something you will never find in NUS. The rest are just more formal and old school style. Generally, lecturers here make more effort to know everybody on individual level and students ask questions during lecture itself, not after lecture. There was once, the two students adjacent to my left and right keep asking questions a couple of times I felt intimidated for the first time, cos back in Singapore in seminar classes or tutorials, I am like the only person asking questions but here there's much more people who are outspoken. Different culture.
This afternoon when I went for my legal module, I saw a white man in casual wear bringing a little girl around the Haas school compound. I thought he was just a tourist bringing his kid around the famous business school of America. Little did I expect the white man that I saw is going to be my lecturer for my legal module and he even brought his kid into the class. Imagine a lecturer wearing plain polo t-shirt, shorts, not even berms and slippers teaching you in class, you will never find this in NUS. Worse still, he's babysitting his kid in the class at the same time. Oh gosh. But when words start coming out of his glib tongue, your perception of him change right away. He has such a an attitude, confidence and coolness, you just simply love and respect him for who he is. And he look handsome and decent mind you, not those kind of bad boy image. I remember a student wearing an Ambrecombie shirt and cap and he scolded him, "You showing some kind of fashion statement?" "I dun know why students pay crazy money for such shirts, they are obsencely overpriced." I absolutely agree with his opinion, never understand why fashion is so important to young adults and teenagers. Other strong statements he made, " Those who watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S and love it shouldn't be in this class, I watch 5 minutes of it and the jokes are bad." Throughout his first lecture as he's giving out the house rules and syllabus for the course, he has been playing around with his daughter. Very comical but he's still professional in his delivery. There's one time he left his seat and his daughter jumped onto it. To get his seat back, here's what he say to his daughter. " You see the big brother there? He has a candy in his hand. Go get it!" Immediately, she jumped off her seat and my lecturer get his seat. Haha. Realising she got cheated by his dad, she tried hard to push her dad off the seat but to no avail before jumping onto her daddy's lap. So my lecturer remarked, " Aren't you guys jealous I am her daddy?" The whole class just burst into a loud roar. In another incident, as he was taking class attendance, he asked me where am I from. I told him I was from Singapore and he asked me if gum is allowed in Singapore now. I told him it's still banned and guess what he did next. He turned to his daughter, " They give you a ticket for chewing in Singapore? Aren't you glad you are born in America?" The class just laugh again. Absolutely glad there's so much laughter in the class and I am going to be taught by a mean but cool lecturer. As a student sum it all up when he was questioned about the lecturer's jokes, "Mean but cool". Damn look forward to his other classes.
Then the next lecture after my legal module is taught by a black man. Initially, I have my reservation how well a black can teach since black is known to be poor academically as shown by studies over the years. He was wearing big dangling earrings on both ears and I wonder if he's making a fashion statement or here to teach. But oh man, when he talk about his background and how he made it to Harvard, my jaws almost drop. It's not always right to make too much presumptions or form prejudice of other people. So next time, dun judge a person by its cover. Another humorous and funky guy who strike the right balance between teaching and entertaining the class. Throughout the class, he strike to me as a rapper giving a lecture with his big dangling earrings capturing my attention most of the time. Haha. Whenever students ask a question, he would firstly reply, "Wassup, what's your name?" Wow, so funky ya. When he teach, he's like rapping to some tune, quite stylish. Then the stunning part comes when he announced his assessment, he's throwing 10 extra points for every CA tests for telling him why he sucks. Very Funny lecturer. So excited to be taught by such cool lecturers.
Well, there's a saying there's 2 sides to a coin, and it's no different in UCB. Only 2 of my modules have an accademic website, which is equivalent to IVLE in NUS, and are taught using power point slides and they are pictures mainly. The rest you guess how they are taught. You won't believe it even if I tell you though I have been forewarned by a friend. The old school method. Yes, just chalk and blackboard, no notes. Not even white board though only my business module uses white board. Notes are what you see on the black board and what you hear from the lecturer. WHAT THE HELL!!!! I am so spoon fed in NUS man. The lecturers here are pretty pro to speak and write so fast on the blackboard they just keep erasing the blackboard. Guess that's how top schools do things to achieve results and produce Nobel laureates. Better adapt fast or I will cry back in NUS. You are expected to read the textbooks here but I got no money to buy textbooks. Textbooks here are over 80 dollars minimum even for used textbooks sold in campus bookstores. Originals are more than 100 over dollars easily. My legal module is 130 for used textbook. WTF!!!!!! Where to find money to buy? Those of you kind souls who's reading this entry right now and pity my plight, please generously donate to support my education or I have to fly back to Singapore soon.
The above statement is just a joke. I will find a way to support myself.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Pre-School Semester Reflections
Yep, I haven't updated for a week, but updates will get more regular when I move into my permanent accommodation next Thursday, 30th August. I have been moving around San Francisco and Berkeley for the past 12 days and tomorrow is the start of a long semester ahead. 15 weeks of continuous instructional period followed by one and a half weeks of final examinations. No mid semester break or reading week in between except for a few public holidays in the middle of semester. When I share our NUS academic calender with the existing UCB students, guess what's their comments? "Won't you forget what you study earlier during the mid semester break?" Huh? The students there must be damn brilliant to make such a comment. Dun think I going to have a easy time studying in UCB though it's on a pass/fail basis for me. They are marked on a bell curve and their system is similar to NUS cos Singapore Universities adopt US education system, the GPA, general education modules, breadth modules etc. As much I would like to travel around during the weekends, I better be careful not to be overtly complacent and later cry over split milk.
Coming on exchange has been an enriching experience for me. If I am in Singapore now, guess I would be a hermit spending time with my computer, books and newspaper. I wouldn't really understand the culture and demographics of America, not forgetting Singaporeans who are very different from me - herein referring to my exchange mates. Both my roommates-to-be are NUS students from Arts and Business faculty and they are smokers, not just social smokers. They each smoke about half a pack a day, which is about 10 cigarettes, and they go clubbing almost once a week back in Singapore. Imagine my astonishment when I learn I am going to exchange with these people. However on hindsight, I learn alot from these people about street smartness. This group of young adults whom I never mixed before, the so-called cool and hippy people. My exchange guy mate, Shaun, told me these people who drinks and smokes are the high fliers or people who have the "rich" connections and these are the people who will bring you far in life. Hmm, I am not entirely convinced but there might be some truth in it. Afterall, this guy is previously from RI and RJ and his brothers who smoke, drink and party with him are fellow Rafflesians whose parents are owners or CEOs of listed companies all over the world. I always understood the importance of networking but I didn't believe I have to go through such sleazy method to get quality contacts, kind of absurd to me. Shaun told me the RI mentality is if they can't work their way to the top, they will work their way to the bottom, why get stuck in the middle. What a attitude? Kinda interesting but ironic as well. He told me he has friends who has been or are in jail for gang fighting. Their philosophy is to lead a colourful and exciting life with no regrets. They rather lead a shorter life with lots of personal milestones than a longer life with total monotony. Hmm, I would rather strike the right balance but currently I believe I am more on the self-improvement side than the networking and exploratory side. Will try to move more to the networking side to achieve the balance I need to succeed in life. All successful people are focused and they work hard to acquire the necessary skills and network in their course to achieve their goals.
Overall, I am pretty happy to meet these exchange mates and glad I made the decision to come to US for exchange, though it's at the expense of extra financial burden on myself and parents. Without Shaun's friends in US who own a car and are currently on NOC in Silicon Valley, traveling to tourist sites would be a arduous task and renting a car is expensive here though car is freaking cheap. 3000 or less and you can get a very decent 2nd hand Toyota Corolla. Though I have been in US for 12 days, I have only been to less than half the tourist attraction sites in San Francisco city as the city is just so big and extremely hilly. We have been relying on our legs and public transport to get us to those venues, so it's slow and tiring. It's amazing how they build a city in such hilly terrain but San Francisco used to be gold mining area, so guess there's where they get their money to build on such incredible landscape. Notable places we have been around San Francisco, includes Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Sausalito. Yet to visit national parks and famous landscapes and will probably do so when shuan's friends come with their car. Impossible to tour without car as public transport is tortoise slow though they have artistic and antique value like the cable car and trams.
Other than visiting tourist attractions, the rest of the time is spent mingling with international students whom we met at orientation programs. No offense to anyone but I have to say Japanese, Koreans and Thai girls are very pretty and cute. Played soccer with the international students and when I scored, the Europeans shouted, "The Korean scored". Haha, so damn funny that my Singaporean friends just burst into laughter. They just blindly label all Asians in America Koreans or Japanese as they are the majority Asians in America. Backpacker hostel is another great place to expose yourself to different people from all over the world. Just switch to another backpacker hostel because of accommodation availability and in a short space of 12 days, we shared mixed dorm room with a Danish couple, Swiss young boy of age 18, and now a white Brazilian. The Danish lady once openly change in our room in front of us and we enjoyed a free nude show. The Swiss guy is currently on a one month tour of US and he shared with us his adventures and scenic photos he had taken so far, spurring us to visit those places during our long weekend or after semester. And our current room mate, the Brazilian guy smoke weed aka marijuana, through a pipe and he offered us to try. Of course I didn't try but my exchange mates, Shaun and Brenda did and now they are lying concussed on their bed in the middle of the afternoon as I am writing this entry. The Brazilian guy even has a friend who has a tattoo on his inner lips. I have seen studs and tattoos all over other parts of the body but this was the first time I seen anybody imprinting a tattoo in their inner lips. Yucks.
Will upload the photos soon once I move into my permanent accommodation.
Coming on exchange has been an enriching experience for me. If I am in Singapore now, guess I would be a hermit spending time with my computer, books and newspaper. I wouldn't really understand the culture and demographics of America, not forgetting Singaporeans who are very different from me - herein referring to my exchange mates. Both my roommates-to-be are NUS students from Arts and Business faculty and they are smokers, not just social smokers. They each smoke about half a pack a day, which is about 10 cigarettes, and they go clubbing almost once a week back in Singapore. Imagine my astonishment when I learn I am going to exchange with these people. However on hindsight, I learn alot from these people about street smartness. This group of young adults whom I never mixed before, the so-called cool and hippy people. My exchange guy mate, Shaun, told me these people who drinks and smokes are the high fliers or people who have the "rich" connections and these are the people who will bring you far in life. Hmm, I am not entirely convinced but there might be some truth in it. Afterall, this guy is previously from RI and RJ and his brothers who smoke, drink and party with him are fellow Rafflesians whose parents are owners or CEOs of listed companies all over the world. I always understood the importance of networking but I didn't believe I have to go through such sleazy method to get quality contacts, kind of absurd to me. Shaun told me the RI mentality is if they can't work their way to the top, they will work their way to the bottom, why get stuck in the middle. What a attitude? Kinda interesting but ironic as well. He told me he has friends who has been or are in jail for gang fighting. Their philosophy is to lead a colourful and exciting life with no regrets. They rather lead a shorter life with lots of personal milestones than a longer life with total monotony. Hmm, I would rather strike the right balance but currently I believe I am more on the self-improvement side than the networking and exploratory side. Will try to move more to the networking side to achieve the balance I need to succeed in life. All successful people are focused and they work hard to acquire the necessary skills and network in their course to achieve their goals.
Overall, I am pretty happy to meet these exchange mates and glad I made the decision to come to US for exchange, though it's at the expense of extra financial burden on myself and parents. Without Shaun's friends in US who own a car and are currently on NOC in Silicon Valley, traveling to tourist sites would be a arduous task and renting a car is expensive here though car is freaking cheap. 3000 or less and you can get a very decent 2nd hand Toyota Corolla. Though I have been in US for 12 days, I have only been to less than half the tourist attraction sites in San Francisco city as the city is just so big and extremely hilly. We have been relying on our legs and public transport to get us to those venues, so it's slow and tiring. It's amazing how they build a city in such hilly terrain but San Francisco used to be gold mining area, so guess there's where they get their money to build on such incredible landscape. Notable places we have been around San Francisco, includes Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Sausalito. Yet to visit national parks and famous landscapes and will probably do so when shuan's friends come with their car. Impossible to tour without car as public transport is tortoise slow though they have artistic and antique value like the cable car and trams.
Other than visiting tourist attractions, the rest of the time is spent mingling with international students whom we met at orientation programs. No offense to anyone but I have to say Japanese, Koreans and Thai girls are very pretty and cute. Played soccer with the international students and when I scored, the Europeans shouted, "The Korean scored". Haha, so damn funny that my Singaporean friends just burst into laughter. They just blindly label all Asians in America Koreans or Japanese as they are the majority Asians in America. Backpacker hostel is another great place to expose yourself to different people from all over the world. Just switch to another backpacker hostel because of accommodation availability and in a short space of 12 days, we shared mixed dorm room with a Danish couple, Swiss young boy of age 18, and now a white Brazilian. The Danish lady once openly change in our room in front of us and we enjoyed a free nude show. The Swiss guy is currently on a one month tour of US and he shared with us his adventures and scenic photos he had taken so far, spurring us to visit those places during our long weekend or after semester. And our current room mate, the Brazilian guy smoke weed aka marijuana, through a pipe and he offered us to try. Of course I didn't try but my exchange mates, Shaun and Brenda did and now they are lying concussed on their bed in the middle of the afternoon as I am writing this entry. The Brazilian guy even has a friend who has a tattoo on his inner lips. I have seen studs and tattoos all over other parts of the body but this was the first time I seen anybody imprinting a tattoo in their inner lips. Yucks.
Will upload the photos soon once I move into my permanent accommodation.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sunny cooling San Francisco
Hi Guys,
I know you people are waiting patiently for all the photos I have taken, but it's hard when you are out the whole day and only back in hostel in late night. I will try to set up a photo web album using Picasso as soon as possible once I found my permanent accommodation. Everyday is a new experience and I love the weather here except for the glaring sunshine in the afternoon and sunset. You can even get sunburn while walking on the streets of San Francisco and Berkeley despite the cooling weather. Been walking miles of streets scouting for off-campus accommodation these few days. It's really inconvenient going around Berkeley without a vehicle and taxi is crazily expensive after fare plus tips, starting price is already $4. Average meal cost is between $4-6 before 8.25% tax plus tips. There's no such thing as canteen in American, everywhere is cafe or restaurants and if you wanna save on meals, the best deal is one big slice of pizza which cost about $3 plus. In conclusion, if you wanna live here, you gonna earn here or else you going to be a street beggar soon. Even rent here is expensive as well, about 500-1000 per person per month pending on the housing you are looking for. Met a group of nice friendly pretty Asian American girls who invited us to view their apartment when we are for looking for units in the same apartment. They came from Taiwanese, Japaneses and Koreans decedents. Generally, Asian Americans are nicer to their foreign Asian counterparts but they can't or hardly speak their native languages which is shame in my opinion. To those who think Singapore is a multi-racial society, it's nothing compared to American where there's lots of different immigrants from all the over the world which make up quite a sizable percentage of the country population. I can safely say Asian make up about 30% of the population in San Francisco and Berkeley, so it feels pretty much at home except these Asian Americans speak like other white and black Americans with the same accent. We can understand their English but they can't understand our English. Yep, it's quite funny and I often need to fine tune my accent to make myself better understood. Think in no time I might pick up the American accent if this continues, who knows? Going to Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz Island tomorrow. Yippee!!!!
I know you people are waiting patiently for all the photos I have taken, but it's hard when you are out the whole day and only back in hostel in late night. I will try to set up a photo web album using Picasso as soon as possible once I found my permanent accommodation. Everyday is a new experience and I love the weather here except for the glaring sunshine in the afternoon and sunset. You can even get sunburn while walking on the streets of San Francisco and Berkeley despite the cooling weather. Been walking miles of streets scouting for off-campus accommodation these few days. It's really inconvenient going around Berkeley without a vehicle and taxi is crazily expensive after fare plus tips, starting price is already $4. Average meal cost is between $4-6 before 8.25% tax plus tips. There's no such thing as canteen in American, everywhere is cafe or restaurants and if you wanna save on meals, the best deal is one big slice of pizza which cost about $3 plus. In conclusion, if you wanna live here, you gonna earn here or else you going to be a street beggar soon. Even rent here is expensive as well, about 500-1000 per person per month pending on the housing you are looking for. Met a group of nice friendly pretty Asian American girls who invited us to view their apartment when we are for looking for units in the same apartment. They came from Taiwanese, Japaneses and Koreans decedents. Generally, Asian Americans are nicer to their foreign Asian counterparts but they can't or hardly speak their native languages which is shame in my opinion. To those who think Singapore is a multi-racial society, it's nothing compared to American where there's lots of different immigrants from all the over the world which make up quite a sizable percentage of the country population. I can safely say Asian make up about 30% of the population in San Francisco and Berkeley, so it feels pretty much at home except these Asian Americans speak like other white and black Americans with the same accent. We can understand their English but they can't understand our English. Yep, it's quite funny and I often need to fine tune my accent to make myself better understood. Think in no time I might pick up the American accent if this continues, who knows? Going to Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz Island tomorrow. Yippee!!!!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Mr Berkeley Giving You Live Reporting from San Francisco
Hi Fans of Mr Berkeley,
Sorry for the late updates. I would like to report to everyone I have landed safely in San Francisco. Yeah. Thanks everyone who has prayed for my safe landing, I almost thought I couldn't make it after vomiting in my transit flight to Tokyo. I felt so nausea I prayed hard I would survive another tortuous 9hrs 45min of connecting flight to San Francisco. Thank god nothing happened to me and I live to talk to you today. Haha.
I got so much things and pictures to show you guys about my adventure in San Francisco and Berkeley but right now I still stuck without permanent accommodation. Been boiled down by this concern admist the endless fun and excitement exploring the streets and people in this new land. San Francisco is a shopping paradise, whatever brands you are looking for, you will definitely find them as a single merchandise shop house. Culture shock? Well, not totally cos I know American is a different society from Asia. San Francisco is so much more cosmopolitan than Singapore, there's really a good mix of races, lots of Asians, Europeans and of course blacks and whites. Talked to lots of friendly people from all over the world in the backpacking Hostel I stayed in, people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, France, Denmark etc. Saw lots of interesting things, not sure if I can recall and tell them all to you. I will upload the pictures hopefully by this weekend when more things are settled and then share the settings and life in San Francisco and Berkeley. Absolutely an eye opener the things you see in San Francisco but not in Singapore.
Sorry for the lack of real substance in my content but I really dun know where to start and I have been too tied down searching my permanent accommodation that I am too weary to blog my adventure now. Will get back to you people soon. Oh I just saw a black being caught for shoplifting 4 digital cameras in a mini super mart, Walgreens, and the cashier told me such incidence happen everyday and it's always a black who do it. That explains why it's not safe to walk in the streets in American alone at night even if you are a guy. They even have a call-in security service where a police accompany you to your destination if you are traveling alone in the streets of Berkeley. Guess I can't think much of enjoying nightlife in Berkeley. Haiz.
Sorry for the late updates. I would like to report to everyone I have landed safely in San Francisco. Yeah. Thanks everyone who has prayed for my safe landing, I almost thought I couldn't make it after vomiting in my transit flight to Tokyo. I felt so nausea I prayed hard I would survive another tortuous 9hrs 45min of connecting flight to San Francisco. Thank god nothing happened to me and I live to talk to you today. Haha.
I got so much things and pictures to show you guys about my adventure in San Francisco and Berkeley but right now I still stuck without permanent accommodation. Been boiled down by this concern admist the endless fun and excitement exploring the streets and people in this new land. San Francisco is a shopping paradise, whatever brands you are looking for, you will definitely find them as a single merchandise shop house. Culture shock? Well, not totally cos I know American is a different society from Asia. San Francisco is so much more cosmopolitan than Singapore, there's really a good mix of races, lots of Asians, Europeans and of course blacks and whites. Talked to lots of friendly people from all over the world in the backpacking Hostel I stayed in, people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, France, Denmark etc. Saw lots of interesting things, not sure if I can recall and tell them all to you. I will upload the pictures hopefully by this weekend when more things are settled and then share the settings and life in San Francisco and Berkeley. Absolutely an eye opener the things you see in San Francisco but not in Singapore.
Sorry for the lack of real substance in my content but I really dun know where to start and I have been too tied down searching my permanent accommodation that I am too weary to blog my adventure now. Will get back to you people soon. Oh I just saw a black being caught for shoplifting 4 digital cameras in a mini super mart, Walgreens, and the cashier told me such incidence happen everyday and it's always a black who do it. That explains why it's not safe to walk in the streets in American alone at night even if you are a guy. They even have a call-in security service where a police accompany you to your destination if you are traveling alone in the streets of Berkeley. Guess I can't think much of enjoying nightlife in Berkeley. Haiz.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Farewell my friends
In less than 12 hours time, I will be on my way to US. Woohoo. As much I am excited to go, I am starting to miss my friends and family. Thank you so much for all the farewell gifts, cupcakes, meal treats, well wishes, and companionship for the past few weeks. They have been absolutely fantastic and memorable. Through this blog, I would like to express my appreciation to you guys for your friendship all these years and share my experience in US with you people. Take this a platform to contact me in case you guys dun find me on msn and you guys are wondering how I have been. Dun worry, I try my best to give you people up-to-date happenings in my life and do tag me or drop a comment under each post when you are free, let me feel your presence, I will reply to your comments as soon as possible. Hehe. Take care everybody. Have a great semester ahead. Look forward to seeing you guys next year when I am back. Yep, I will start semester 2 in NUS with you people. Adios.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
I walked out in the middle of a movie for the first time in my life!!!!
Yes, I walked out of the theater halfway through a movie for the first time in my life, not because I am fainted hearted, but because the movie was absolutely too painful and gruesome to watch. Hear me out before you call me a chicken. I am a fanatic of horror movies and friends who have watched horror movies with me can vouch for this. Even war movies are acceptable and still watchable despite all the violence and bloodshed, but R21 gore movies are far too sickening to catch a mere glimpse of the gross scenes.
I caught my second movie, Hostel 2, within 12 hours in the same cinema as a midnight movie with my good friend, Irvin, just a few hours ago. It was rated R21, but what follows once I stepped into the theater is an experience which will deeply etch in my mind. I have watched R21 gore movie before, Apocalypto, but this movie is no where near as gruesome compared to Hostel 2. In fact, Hostel 2 is absolutely inhuman and it depicts the worst torture ideas which can ever cross your mind.
The story basically describes how innocent people were lured into this hostel in Slovakia where no one came out alive. These innocent people were then auctioned to their secret society members who are well-established rich people in their normal lives and the winning bidders get to capture and torture their respective "prizes" won. The torture camp is a highly guarded area with lots of layers of gates, cameras, ferocious hound dogs and electric wire that ensure no captives have any possibility of coming out alive even if they manage to outwit the first obstacle. Inside the torture camp, the torturers were given all kind of tools to torture their victims, ranging from chainsaw, laser burner, scythe, axes, whatever evil tools you can think of. There's one scene which was super erroneous, absolute out of my wildest imagination. One victim was first hung upside down absolutely naked. A naked female torturer then stepped in with a large scythe and lie at a convex floor directly underneath her helpless victim. Using her scythe to reach out for the victim hung above her, she started her foreplay with some mild brushing of the blade across the victim's body before scrapping hard with the sharp edge, causing blood to gush all over the victim's body whose blood bathe the naked body of the torturer. To add insult to injury, the final blow came with the slit of the throat in which the sudden spurt of blood was drank by the torturer to quench her thirst. Absolutely humiliating and inhumane. It's not just the sight of the gruesome scenes which freaks you. The helpless shrieks and cries of the paralyzed victims make it hard for anybody to enjoy the movie unless the audience is a sadistic man. Of course, there were other gruesome scenes, but my friend and I left near the end of movie when we thought it was not worth giving ourselves more goosebumps and possible nightmares for the rest of our lives. In short, this is a movie for sadistic people. I don't understand how people can enjoy such movie, is it a test of their courage to withstand horridness? Unless the movie has a good story plot or moral like that of Apocalypto, it really makes me wonder what's inside the wrapped mind of those who enjoy watching such movie. The challenge shown in the movie trailer sums it all up, "I dare you to watch it?" Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage to last ten more minutes to the end of movie. Haiz.
I caught my second movie, Hostel 2, within 12 hours in the same cinema as a midnight movie with my good friend, Irvin, just a few hours ago. It was rated R21, but what follows once I stepped into the theater is an experience which will deeply etch in my mind. I have watched R21 gore movie before, Apocalypto, but this movie is no where near as gruesome compared to Hostel 2. In fact, Hostel 2 is absolutely inhuman and it depicts the worst torture ideas which can ever cross your mind.
The story basically describes how innocent people were lured into this hostel in Slovakia where no one came out alive. These innocent people were then auctioned to their secret society members who are well-established rich people in their normal lives and the winning bidders get to capture and torture their respective "prizes" won. The torture camp is a highly guarded area with lots of layers of gates, cameras, ferocious hound dogs and electric wire that ensure no captives have any possibility of coming out alive even if they manage to outwit the first obstacle. Inside the torture camp, the torturers were given all kind of tools to torture their victims, ranging from chainsaw, laser burner, scythe, axes, whatever evil tools you can think of. There's one scene which was super erroneous, absolute out of my wildest imagination. One victim was first hung upside down absolutely naked. A naked female torturer then stepped in with a large scythe and lie at a convex floor directly underneath her helpless victim. Using her scythe to reach out for the victim hung above her, she started her foreplay with some mild brushing of the blade across the victim's body before scrapping hard with the sharp edge, causing blood to gush all over the victim's body whose blood bathe the naked body of the torturer. To add insult to injury, the final blow came with the slit of the throat in which the sudden spurt of blood was drank by the torturer to quench her thirst. Absolutely humiliating and inhumane. It's not just the sight of the gruesome scenes which freaks you. The helpless shrieks and cries of the paralyzed victims make it hard for anybody to enjoy the movie unless the audience is a sadistic man. Of course, there were other gruesome scenes, but my friend and I left near the end of movie when we thought it was not worth giving ourselves more goosebumps and possible nightmares for the rest of our lives. In short, this is a movie for sadistic people. I don't understand how people can enjoy such movie, is it a test of their courage to withstand horridness? Unless the movie has a good story plot or moral like that of Apocalypto, it really makes me wonder what's inside the wrapped mind of those who enjoy watching such movie. The challenge shown in the movie trailer sums it all up, "I dare you to watch it?" Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage to last ten more minutes to the end of movie. Haiz.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Movie Reviews: Secret and Rush Hour 3
I watched 2 movies in the short span of 3 days, the first movie Secret on National Day eve, and the second movie, Rush Hour 3 this afternoon, both at The Cathay cineplex. Both movies are enjoyable though I think Secret has been highly over rated due to the lack of originality in its plot.
Though the movie Secret received rave reviews, the twist in the story is not original. For those who have watched the movie, Lakehouse, starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, you would understand my point. I shall not divulge the Secret so as not to kill the suspense for those who have yet to watch the movie. Overall, the lovey-dovey scenes in the movie were very sweet and makes you want to fall in love. It's a good show for boring guys to pick up a few tricks on how to "pao niu" too. Haha. The piano pieces played in the movie were splendid and mesmerizing, so piano lovers should listen out for those piano pieces played.
As for Rush Hour 3, it's one of the most hilarious movies I have watched. I can't recall the number of times I suffer stomach pain from the endless laughter I enjoyed throughout the movie. A definite delight for anybody who wants to have a good laugh to forget all your troubles and worries for a moment. I like the way the movie mocks at Asian and American stereotypes and culture and the mere humorous accent of Chris Tucker makes you laugh even before he cracks a joke. So people, go catch this movie before you get tied down with your busy schedule in the upcoming semester.
Though the movie Secret received rave reviews, the twist in the story is not original. For those who have watched the movie, Lakehouse, starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, you would understand my point. I shall not divulge the Secret so as not to kill the suspense for those who have yet to watch the movie. Overall, the lovey-dovey scenes in the movie were very sweet and makes you want to fall in love. It's a good show for boring guys to pick up a few tricks on how to "pao niu" too. Haha. The piano pieces played in the movie were splendid and mesmerizing, so piano lovers should listen out for those piano pieces played.
As for Rush Hour 3, it's one of the most hilarious movies I have watched. I can't recall the number of times I suffer stomach pain from the endless laughter I enjoyed throughout the movie. A definite delight for anybody who wants to have a good laugh to forget all your troubles and worries for a moment. I like the way the movie mocks at Asian and American stereotypes and culture and the mere humorous accent of Chris Tucker makes you laugh even before he cracks a joke. So people, go catch this movie before you get tied down with your busy schedule in the upcoming semester.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Eden Cafe - The Flower Restaurant
Have you guys eaten flowers? Ever wonder how does flower petals taste like? Are they palatable in the first place? Here's one intriguing restaurant to wet your taste buds with different edible species of flowers. What's more? They brew different combination of flowers for tea which bring about different desired effects, ranging from relaxing, sensuous, radiance, dreamy etc, as described on their menu. For more information on this cafe, here's the URL, http://www.edencafe.sg/.
Below are some pictures I took on my trip to Eden restaurant last Tuesday.
This is the Yellow Vegetarian Pasta, cooked with yellow capsicum. The flowers taste sappy if eaten alone, but gives a rich taste when eaten together with the pasta. Smell like Indian food with a strong flora aroma emitted from the yellow capsicum.
This dish is the Portabello Mushroom Sandwich. I like the juiciness and tenderness of the huge Portabello Mushroom, taste heavenly as it "melts" in your mouth, better than any steak that I have eaten. Absolutely love this dish!!!! Yummy!!!! Tasted Hibiscus flower petals which is even more sappy than yellow capsicum.
Here's the tea set in which we are served. The teacups are those cups used as tea lights found in Hindu temple. And the tea is free flow once you ordered a tea set. The tea we ordered is called Uplift, which is brewed from the combination of rose, lemon verbena, lemon grass and linden. Love the fragrant aroma of the flowers diffusing from the tea. aaahhhhhh............
Last but not least, I had my hands on their hibiscus cheesecake. Taste great too. The owner even brought us to his little garden and plucked off some leaves from the candy grass for us taste. I couldn't believe its leaves can be that sweet as its name suggest after tasting all the sappy flower petals. It's really unique and I wanted to buy the seeds of the candy grass right away and grow in my home garden. Unfortunately, the owner jested that many customers have the same request as me and he doesn't keep stock of candy grass seeds. So sad, if not I can share the sweetness of candy grass with my friends.
Below are some pictures I took on my trip to Eden restaurant last Tuesday.
This is the Yellow Vegetarian Pasta, cooked with yellow capsicum. The flowers taste sappy if eaten alone, but gives a rich taste when eaten together with the pasta. Smell like Indian food with a strong flora aroma emitted from the yellow capsicum.This dish is the Portabello Mushroom Sandwich. I like the juiciness and tenderness of the huge Portabello Mushroom, taste heavenly as it "melts" in your mouth, better than any steak that I have eaten. Absolutely love this dish!!!! Yummy!!!! Tasted Hibiscus flower petals which is even more sappy than yellow capsicum.Here's the tea set in which we are served. The teacups are those cups used as tea lights found in Hindu temple. And the tea is free flow once you ordered a tea set. The tea we ordered is called Uplift, which is brewed from the combination of rose, lemon verbena, lemon grass and linden. Love the fragrant aroma of the flowers diffusing from the tea. aaahhhhhh............Last but not least, I had my hands on their hibiscus cheesecake. Taste great too. The owner even brought us to his little garden and plucked off some leaves from the candy grass for us taste. I couldn't believe its leaves can be that sweet as its name suggest after tasting all the sappy flower petals. It's really unique and I wanted to buy the seeds of the candy grass right away and grow in my home garden. Unfortunately, the owner jested that many customers have the same request as me and he doesn't keep stock of candy grass seeds. So sad, if not I can share the sweetness of candy grass with my friends.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Updates on Exchange Matters
Honestly speaking, as much as I am excited to fly off for exchange, I am feeling very apprehensive right now. Other than the lingering thoughts of having to be independent and possibility of loneness, there's another more pressing issue at the moment.
"I haven gotten my permanent accommodation."
For those who suppose NUS IRO will settle most or all of your exchange matters, you guys have been very naive. Overseas University do not care too much of your welfare, or put it nicely, they expect you to be more independent. I have been placed on the waiting list for hostel application despite they guaranteeing exchange students have a priority in the assignment of rooms. Furthermore, by the time I received my offer letter from UCB, the window for hostel application has already been over, so of course, I have so no chance to apply in time even if I want to, thus i applied late. So effectively, I have to look for off-campus private accommodation.
However, off-campus private accommodation is not an easy piece of meat, especially if you are looking to rent a whole apartment. Most landlords are looking for one year lease or 6 months lease as it's difficult for them to find tenants for the winter break which falls between mid December to mid January. My initial plan is to rent a whole apartment with my exchange mates but that's seem impossible with the above restriction mentioned since we are only staying there for 4 months. So, the best alternative right now is to source for accommodation which require me to cohabit with the landlord or other students who rented the whole apartment and sublease out since they are more flexible in their rental and would allow rental on a monthly-basis.
I am crossing my fingers I get my accommodation fast before term starts or I might need to sleep in the streets or train station. This might not be a bad idea since accommodation in Berkeley is freaking exorbitant. Haha. Please bless me. =)
P.S. For those concerned about my welfare, I will be staying in temporary hostel for the first 10 days while I seek out my permanent accommodation. Temporary hostel is not cheap and ideal for their conditions though it might be my permanent accommodation in worst case scenario and it is far from my campus.
"I haven gotten my permanent accommodation."
For those who suppose NUS IRO will settle most or all of your exchange matters, you guys have been very naive. Overseas University do not care too much of your welfare, or put it nicely, they expect you to be more independent. I have been placed on the waiting list for hostel application despite they guaranteeing exchange students have a priority in the assignment of rooms. Furthermore, by the time I received my offer letter from UCB, the window for hostel application has already been over, so of course, I have so no chance to apply in time even if I want to, thus i applied late. So effectively, I have to look for off-campus private accommodation.
However, off-campus private accommodation is not an easy piece of meat, especially if you are looking to rent a whole apartment. Most landlords are looking for one year lease or 6 months lease as it's difficult for them to find tenants for the winter break which falls between mid December to mid January. My initial plan is to rent a whole apartment with my exchange mates but that's seem impossible with the above restriction mentioned since we are only staying there for 4 months. So, the best alternative right now is to source for accommodation which require me to cohabit with the landlord or other students who rented the whole apartment and sublease out since they are more flexible in their rental and would allow rental on a monthly-basis.
I am crossing my fingers I get my accommodation fast before term starts or I might need to sleep in the streets or train station. This might not be a bad idea since accommodation in Berkeley is freaking exorbitant. Haha. Please bless me. =)
P.S. For those concerned about my welfare, I will be staying in temporary hostel for the first 10 days while I seek out my permanent accommodation. Temporary hostel is not cheap and ideal for their conditions though it might be my permanent accommodation in worst case scenario and it is far from my campus.
My Temporary UCB Timetable
As seen from my timetable above, I have morning lessons everyday and would be free by mid-afternoon for most days except Wednesday, when I got an inconvenient lesson in the late afternoon at 4pm. So what's the significance of this timetable? The significance is that I might not get to meet my friends in sunny island on MSN since my morning lessons coincide with their most active time - night. Check the "Clocks" on my sidebar for time zone difference. Meaning, I might only see you people on MSN on weekends unless you people log onto MSN in the morning which is rare considering you guys have to go for school. Well, you guys can always drop me a message on my tag board when you are bored, let me know your presence k. =) For those who want to know what modules I am doing in UCB, here's the list.1. Exercise Physiology - map to LSM3212 Human Physiology - Cardiopulmonary System
2. General Endocrinology - map to LSM3214 Human Physiology - Hormones and Health
3. Biophysical Neurobiology - map to LSM3213 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology
4. Molecular Immunology - map to LSM3223 Immunology
5. Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants- map to LSM3253 Plant Physiology
6. Legal Aspects of Management - map to BSP1004 Legal Environment of Business
If you guys are thinking if that's the normal workload in UCB, you guys are wrong. These 6 modules make up 20 units in UCB while the normal workload in UCB is 14-15 units. So does this mean I am crazy? Go on exchange still take on such heavy workload. Well, it's not easy to do module mapping especially for science modules which are so university-specific rather than generic across all universities like business modules. Firstly, I want to S/U all my life science modules because I am losing interest in this subject, so to maintain my CAP, I decided to go for this strategy. Secondly, I aim to take on my interest modules, especially finance and economics modules in NUS when I am back. I am hoping I can successfully apply for my second major in management, i.e. business. If that's the case, I will extend my graduation by one semester since I would have completed about 9 modules out of the 12 modules required for a second major by year 3 sem 2.
Point to note: The above timetable is temporary since I have not officially enrolled into my 3rd and 6th module listed above. I am still placed on the waiting list for these two classes. The above timetable is my desired timetable if everything goes smoothly in the end. Really sucks! Since last semester, I have to go through the trauma of appealing and praying for the approval of my modules and now I guess I have to go through the same shit once again. Please pray hard for me that I get all the modules I want. Haha. I really dun have much back up plans considering I am planning for double major, really no room for error.
My Blog is Up!!!!
Dear buddies and friends,
My blog is finally ready for viewing. Hooray!!!! This blog is specially created upon your request as well as my personal wish to archive my wonderful memories in the land of dreams. Yep, that's right, the United States, US. I promise to feast your eyes with interesting and majestic photos and provide up to date first hand experience of life in US. As much I am excited to go, I will definitely miss all of you who have played some roles in my life, be it giving me valuable advice, playing games and having fun, standing by me when I am down etc. You will all be treasured and wonderful gifts awaits you when I returned, I promise you. Wow, I think I made a lot of promises, better remember and fulfill all of them. Haha. 7 days left to departure on the 14th of August, 2007, Tuesday, 6am.
Cheerios,
Zhong Hong
My blog is finally ready for viewing. Hooray!!!! This blog is specially created upon your request as well as my personal wish to archive my wonderful memories in the land of dreams. Yep, that's right, the United States, US. I promise to feast your eyes with interesting and majestic photos and provide up to date first hand experience of life in US. As much I am excited to go, I will definitely miss all of you who have played some roles in my life, be it giving me valuable advice, playing games and having fun, standing by me when I am down etc. You will all be treasured and wonderful gifts awaits you when I returned, I promise you. Wow, I think I made a lot of promises, better remember and fulfill all of them. Haha. 7 days left to departure on the 14th of August, 2007, Tuesday, 6am.
Cheerios,
Zhong Hong
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