Past - Present

: learn_and_live; November 11th, 1:00

Current Location:: North Yorkshire

Current Mood:: yet joyful

Current Music:: Still - Hillsong United

Yet I feel exhilarated. Despite my body crying out for sleep, tension headaches & aching arms, I am still up and going. I know where my source of strength comes from - it can only be from God. Actually it's not 'can only be', it is really. It's a wonder I'm not ill.

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength

All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore

-None But Jesus by Hillsong United

Take yesterday. Slept at like 1am the night before and had to get up at 7.30am to make packed lunch & have a shower, then biked to campus and basically project times for Tristram Shandy run from 9.15-3.30pm. SO so tiring. As usual, overran slightly and then headed off for YSIS (York Students In Schools) inductions from 4.30-5.30. Then bumped into Nadia there & we chatted about stuff & I went back to her place for a short while before leaving for small group bible study at 6.30. When that ended an hour later, I had to head back to Music to help out with making props for the production. Finally at about 9.15, I was free of my commitments but had yet to do piano practice.

@.@

SOOOO I practised till 11.30 and was gonna cycle back but it was foggy. Whyyyy?!?! So I slept over at Alice's place on campus. Today wasn't as hectic but I'm worn out. But I know that most of the other 2nd and 3rd years involved in TS are just as tired because we each have our individual commitments beyond TS, be that writing for the student newspapers, or being chair of other societies, or being involved in ton of unrelated music rehearsals or performances. Music students are some of the most hardworking people I know. I salute the likes of Vanessa, Ellie, Karl and loads others - for having their finger in almost every single pie there is in the department and beyond haha.

Sometimes it's like being trapped in this bubble I know as York or university. But in a good way :)

Tags: life in general, music

There's something hiding under my bed

: learn_and_live; November 1st, 23:59

Current Location:: My 'ome in Yorkie town

Current Mood:: hopeful

Current Music:: Lillibullero bullen a la

I never had that fear as a child really. Until I read Calvin & Hobbes, THEN I went, "Crap, is there something underneath my bed?!"

And I was at least 12 by then.

Silly, right?

Maybe the reality is that as I get older, I get more scared of things. Or people. Or the unknown. It's like, when I was young, Sunway Lagoon was terrifying at first but after the first few rides, the snake ride was a piece of cake. NOW, erm, I'll still go on it but I would think twice and also the mental preparation I will put myself through first..... But what I don't understand is: why?

Surely now that I'm older, I know the ride is safe and there isn't any possible harm which can come to me because it's all been safety-checked. Things I didn't know as a child - but it didn't faze me. I digress.

Maybe knowledge isn't power, not always. Knowledge cripples, or even strips away innocence. One thing which really riles me up about England is the government policy about sex education. No, I'm not a prude - I do believe that it is important, but you know what, I'm really glad that I learnt about the birds and bees only in my teens.

To the British government:
Is it really that essential for sex education to be introduced to children from as young as five? REALLY? As it is, so many children are growing up far too quickly. How is mandatory sex education in primary schools going to curb the rise of STDs or lower teenage pregnancies?

I completely agree with what Geraldine Smith, the Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, told the Telegraph:

"To start sex education at primary school is to rob young children of their innocence. I know children seem to grow up faster these days but to start formally teaching them about sex education would be quite wrong and would encourage under-age sex. Being exposed to this sort of thing at such an age would put an awful lot of pressure on very young children."

It will probably fail, just like how making morning-after pills, condoms and whatnot more easily available has failed in actually minimising STDs, underage sex and abortions. Especially the morning-after pill. Just oh, get it prescribed from your doctor, no questions asked. What they don't tell you is there are side effects. Because one day maybe, when you are actually trying for a child, you might have an accidental abortion. Or how about, it can really mess with your body and cycle like what happened to someone I know who has something which works similar to the morning-after pill by releasing certain hormones implanted onto her forearm and now it has to be surgically removed. It cost nothing because you only had to inject it, but to remove it you need an operation!

I have gone so off-topic >.< Or rather, it doesn't. Because it leads back to my question of: is knowledge really that good?

Adam probably had regrets about eating that apple. Ditto the scientist who invented nuclear power.

Fun fact #1: Tristram Shandy wasn't called 'The Life and Times of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'. 'Twas called 'The Life and Opinons of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'. With good reason, because what you get of his life is so little but what you get of his opinions AHA. The man just jabbers on about his dad's opinions, his uncle's and everything else under the sun but his own life.

Fun fact #2: Lemony Snicket is one of the many authors who have been inspired by Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy. Don't believe me? Compare his Series of Unfortunate Events with Tristram Shandy. There are definitely certain parallels. I find Lemony Snicket fascinating.

-Disclaimer: Both fun facts are distilled from talks by Patrick Wildgust, curator of Shandy in Coxwold.

I love listening to Patrick Wildgust talk. He's got the gift of a storyteller; it's like magic.

Tags: life in general, opinions

Resurrection

: learn_and_live; October 29th, 0:41

Current Location:: somewhere I'd wear PJs in

Current Mood:: awake

Current Music:: 3 Ways To Vacuum Your House - juice (comp by Stephen Hatfield)

Funky music.....yeah.....I like them! That was juice trio I was referring to. I'm just listening to them on myspace and you can to here!

Anyway, I haven't touched my blog for nearly 9 months now. It's practically defunct, but I tak sampai hati* to close it.

*tak sampai hati=can't bring oneself to do something (that's for you, dichohecho)

And I really think my blog background is actually ugly so I WILL change it, because this blog is gonna live on so it better look good. I'm quite happy letting the absence of the 9 months speak for itself.....silence can be really loud, but maybe there was nothing worth writing about in those 9 months. Or maybe too much happened and I didn't have the time or patience to blog or journal about it. Because I haven't been journalling much either which was a bit sad. I don't quite understand even now, why the usual creative urges to write suddenly disappeared.....

Oh well, they're back.

=)

Really, what I should be doing is channel my creative juices toward composing some music for Tristram Shandy. >.< I will probably have to answer for this later. First though, let me promote the fact that the University of York Department of Music is realising and producing a musical theatre piece based on the book "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" written by Laurence Sterne. Also, pretty much we are doing it within 6 weeks, actually less. Maybe you've watched the film A Cock And Bull Story starring Steve Coogan......it's based on the same book, only it's about the impossibility of making a film of the book. Definitely true to the spirit of Laurence Sterne!

Because. Tristram Shandy is no ordinary book. It is essentially an experimental book, with very little plot, a lot of digressions and non-sense but what plot there is, it's hilarious. More on that in my next post.

Here, check out some of this clip from the film......you might get a better feel for what I'm talking about.

Tags: life in general, music, university

Vikings uniteeeee

: learn_and_live; February 19th, 1:02

Current Location:: My little sanctuary

Current Mood:: excited

Current Music:: Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

Love was in the air on the 14th of February, but there was more to Valentine's Day than that in the ancient city of ~~YOKE~~ ~~YOLK~~ YORK! It was the day RAG (short for Raise And Give methinks) organised the annual RAG Parade into town, raising money for the various charities it supports. Bedecked in full glory, all the colleges - Vanbrugh (yayyyy), Goodricke, James, Alcuin, Halifax, Wentworth, Langwith & Derwent vied for the title of best-dressed.

It was an absolutely mad, brilliant day.

Only managed to capture a fraction of the masses of students gathered at Parliament Street in front of the stage set up there before the actual parade began.

Due to my height and the late arrival of some colleges, I didn't manage to grab pictures of all the colleges but let me assure you that the costumes were quite attention grabbing. Introducing the college which won best-dressed --- ALCUIN!

I'm not bitter they won. They kind of deserve it, being half naked and all in the freezing cold weather.
It's a wonder they're dressed the way they are even though their theme was cavemen. Yours
truly was garbed in at least 2-3 layers :)

Next, Vanbrugh because I'm biased and I heart my college.

Behold the vicious vikings......

......and some more friendly ones, namely axe-brandishing & face-painted Alice & Stephanie (moi).

This is Derwent......

Dressed as Romans hence they look like a bunch of centurions. Not my favourites but saving the best for last.

.....followed by Wentworth (which are placed directly in front of Derwent in the pic above).

Check out the Victorians (did I mention Wentworth is the college all the postgraduates belong to?),
especially the guy with that trumpet.....trust me it was very noisy!

Actually, I do have pictures of all the colleges yay! Next ones are James, Goodricke and Langwith in that order.

I'm not quite sure what that doll is supposed to be but they're dressed as Celtics and some of the
guys are in kilts. James College there people!

As the banner says, 'Goodricke Goes 20s' . Not exactly the best shot but they
didn't have a massive turnout either.

Last but not least, my FAVOURITE college fancy dress.....

LANGWITH LIGHTSPEED!!!! Lightspeed being the theme and here we have a bunch of
ecstatic aliens alighting on Planet Earth. Don't they look so cuuuute?!?! Love it.

So yes, all seven colleges in their full glory. A few more special pictures left to put up now.

Before the balloons were released.....

.....and after. Wonder where they went......

How kewl is this! "I'm a BOAT!" Mind you, it comes with paddles too XD

Me and Anne

RAG Parade raised a lot of money that day!!! Not sure how much but dressing up for charity was definitely fun! Oops, I left out Halifax. Ok here's the final picture of all.

Tie dyes and colourful headbands complete the Halifax Hippie look.

I love the University of York. No doubt about that. Probably have never had so much on Valentine's Day before, or cried as much either (from watching a Taiwanese serial Fated To Love You). Yes, it is was so so good! Because I've finished watching it hahaha, it made me laugh, made me cry, I totally recommend it! To my valentine who has yet to appear or identify yourself, hope you didn't feel too lonely 'coz I didn't for once ;P

Tags: celebrations, rag, university

That bubble

: learn_and_live; February 18th, 3:32

Current Location:: Vanbrugh

Current Mood:: pensive

Current Music:: Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

You know about the recession? Yeah, the one that's so bad that it makes the one that happened in the 80s look like nothing.....so I was told anyway, by one of the people I met during a careers event last week. She was from the BBC, yup. My head knows that it is bad, but I still feel detached from this whole thing. With the exception of the third year soon-to-be-graduates people, i doubt most anyone else studying at university are really affected by the storm outside. Sometimes when I look at the way students keep spending their loans on drinks, clubbing, shopping, I just go, "Recession? What recession?" Because whoever it's hitting, it's not the students. In fact, we're benefitting off it.....minus the looking for jobs. I shall not go into how tough it is to snag a job in York but it's only got worse since this whole business started.

Anyway, how are we 'poor' students benefitting? Take, for instance, Topshop. Walk into it now (like I did two days ago) and there's quite a lot of items on sale. Jeans - lots and lots of them - going for 10 pounds. TEN pounds. I bought a pair, which coupled with my student discount makes that NINE pounds. Can I find that price in Malaysia's topshop? Maybe, but I doubt it. Then there's the drinks deals everywhere on campus. With the newly opened Courtyard in Langwith, drinks on Friday nights are a pound a pint after paying a one pound entry. That place is absolutely flooded with students and in a few short weeks, has become the bar of choice for most students already.

Studying at York which has its own campus is kind of like a separate world of its own. It is all about the students. If I wanted, i can not go into town for a few weeks and survive. Heslington village nearby has 4 banks, some pubs; Costcutters and Blackwells is on campus; it's quite self-sufficient really. So we are caught in a little bubble of our own called university. The outside world is interesting but much of what is happening isn't quite affecting our existence in a negative way.

Sometimes, I feel quite selfish for feeling that way but when something as big as the recession isn't impacting my life in a direct way like it is back home or everywhere else in the world, I really don't know what to think. No one I know here has lost a job, is struggling to make ends meet so it isn't something I think about on a daily basis. Yet, I am more conscious of the need to spend less, work more, save more. Funny huh?

"I am so deeply immersed in the life of the moment that I feel disconnected from my past."
This phrase is something a dear friend wrote me in an email. For me, I feel that I am so deeply immersed in the life of the university that I feel disconnected from the world. The past too is quite disconnected from my present but every now and again, something surfaces and sets off a flood of memories. Like Amy's wedding invitation arrival in the post triggered a host of things which happened in Austria: water fight, girls' slumber party in the tower, swimming and attempts at diving in the lake and so on.

I don't know what the purpose of this post is anymore. 4 am. I should be in bed. Thank goodness for reading week.......

My next post will be about RAG Viking Parade last Saturday with lovely lovely pictures attached aha!

Tags: general, university

Caffeine day

: learn_and_live; January 23rd, 17:51

Current Location:: Computer room

Current Music:: tap-tap-tapping of the keyboard

For the record, I did not mean to end up monologuing over food in my last post. I just completely forgot about what I wanted to write initially that's all. So, I just wrote whatever came to mind.....or sight. Those boxes of Crunchy Nut and noodles are on the shelves above my computer.

Ooooh just got this from an email someone sent me! Little kids haha.....innocence.....

(Here's the reply the teacher received the following day)

Dear Mrs. Jones,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.
I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.
From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith

University of York is in the top 10 universities in UK. Honestly, I don't know why. Because if it is, why are there so few Malaysians here? Compared to the number who flock to London, Leeds.....ok, maybe it's the allure of the big city. But York is cheaper haha. It was the cheapest hence my first choice, yeah. All things considered, I'm really glad to be here. Anyway, I read that in Nouse which is a student newspaper given out for free on-campus.

Front-page news was a really good read actually because it concerns international students, aka me. It is titled, Induction lecture brands home students as 'lazy and unhelpful'. Strong words indeed, and then I saw Adam's comments (the dude is Malaysian ok....and he's International Students' Association President.....quite impressive AND raising profile of Malaysia haha) saying that it was “trying to isolate international students and giving certain preconceptions about home students.” Yeah, I really think that comments like this will help people settle in better yo. Not that I attended the lecture 'coz I thought it was a waste of time.....hours and hours sitting there......and I figured it wasn't really for me since I'd already been here 1.5 years. So I kaput-ed to do something else.

But yeah, if you are interested, you can read the article here:

http://www.nouse.co.uk/2009/01/20/induction-lecture-brands-home-students-as-%e2%80%98lazy-and-unhelpful%e2%80%99/

In my experience, university life is so much better than college because no one knows no one haha. So everyone starts all over and because there are more BBCs (british born chinese) around in uni, people just assume I'm one of those. Har har. I do get a kick when other people look surprised that I'm from Malaysia or that I've only been around since my A-levels. Currently working on perfecting an Irish accent. Sarah yesss you will have a dose of THAT haha. I actually cannot help it. And next year, it'll be worse because housemates are from Leeds (Yorkshire accent), Sweden (dunno what accent he has), Northern Ireland and last one somewhere in England. The resulting mix of American, Yorkshire, Irish, possible European and a general British one will be wonderful I'm sure. Right, I should really be practising. Now.

Tags: general, university

Introducing.....

: learn_and_live; January 21st, 17:25

Current Location:: Yokkkk

Current Music:: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz

.....my new phone which I haven't named yet. Suggestions anyone? But behold:

Isn't ~~she~~ he the coolest??? Ok, it's a he because there's a pink version and I very nearly chose it but didn't only because this is black and GOLD. I love the gold bit......and just when I thought most of the phones on the market look ugly or everyone has one....FINALLY I find this beauty. Credit goes to Pat haha.....if you hadn't come to York, we wouldn't have gone into Carphone Warehouse and I wouldn't have gotten this phone. Lol. My phone plan is awesoooooome too but no, it didn't come with the phone because I'm only paying 10 quid a month for the new monthly plan which is 500 texts and 75 mins. Not bad at all. (The phone cost 58.88 pounds INCLUDING 10 pounds credit hehehe)

My old phone has been cast aside......kind of. If it could write its own autobiography it would go something like, "I was made in some factory in China but am a very popular model with Nokia. Unfortunately my owner decided to get a new phone despite me being her first phone at the age of 17 (yeah I know. How sad....) and descended from her dad's phone - I am her dad's phone's great-grandson/daughter." In other words, my phone is fairly ancient. But, it isn't the only item which has been cast aside. Last Thursday, or was it Friday... was the fateful day my penguin bowl was last seen.

What happened?

I - dropped - it. It smashed into smithereens on the table before hitting the ground. In the process, I received some ugly cuts as it exacted revenge on me for committing accidental bowl-slaughter. Yeah. To be honest, losing the bowl was more of a bummer than getting cut.....until it hit me that um, yeah, quite a lot of blood on my finger - better do something about it. Now I have no penguin bowl = lesser rice/cereal/noodle portions = more helpings = hard to keep track = eating more = putting on weight. You get the drift. I did try scouting round town for one of a similar size but found none. Mr. Penguin came from Woolworths which has now closed down so I can't get an exact same one even if I wanted. He was also a Christmas present from Anna. I still mourn his loss....and the increase in my weight.

Maybe it's just me, but if it's even possible, I've been eating moreeee. But I'll never go hungry even if I don't do any more shopping for carbs-based food. BECAUSE I HAVE:

1) 9 kilograms of oats/oatmeal
2) 4.5 kilograms of rice
3) 2 kilograms of spaghetti
4) 1.5 kilograms of pasta
5) At least 30 packets of instant noodles

....and this is not including the erm, hehe, 6 boxes of 750g of Crunchy Nut I bought. I am mad - I do realize that. Today has been a nice relaxing day - after the self-induced worries (stress) of the past few days. I forced myself to take a break and watch a movie.....Dan In Real Life. Good stuff.....now I'm off to Malaysian Soc meeting at a senior's place =)

Tags: general, shopping

Do or no sleep

: learn_and_live; January 11th, 1:07

Current Location:: The establishment commonly known as 'university'

Current Mood:: thoughtful

Current Music:: Random Korean poppy song

Haha.....that was my previous facebook status. Since then it has been changed to: the end is actually ACTUALLY in sight! Verbatim.

Do what? My essay. Am I doing it? No. I'm posting something on my blog

*sigh*

.....the distractions of having a blog. Still, it's a good place to rant about whatever, whoever (provided they don't find out hee) and even whenever. The spirit which moves me to blog is usually when I'm lying in bed, cosily snuggled up beneath my duvet and think about the day's happenings. THEN I go, "Aaaahhhhhh......that's good to blog about." By which time, I ~~can't~~ don't want to get out of bed and succumb to the comfort of my bed and fall asleep soon after. Ok, to be honest, I always think that no one reads my blog anyway.....besides Sarah and my parents. That makes 3 people. Pretty sad.

However, after installing LiveTraffic something, it's like 'hey, people do actually visit my blog'. Wonder of wonders. XD My only gripe with LJ is I can't have a chatbox like bloggers on blogspot. Other than that, I'm happy.

Y'know, today, or rather the past few days I was feeling slightly unhappy......maybe emotional is a better word. The prospect of missing my third Chinese New Year at home was depressing. It is my favourite festivity (yes, Christmas comes second!) I miss the super long trip down to Singapore.....NOT. No, I miss the part where we get off the car at my uncle's condo and we see faces we haven't seen for as long as a year sometimes. Meeting all my cousins again who are around my age (and for the one who is the youngest of us all, David - meeting his cheeks gives me joy :D), hanging out with the extended family was always such a good time.

Chinese New Year was the time I learnt to cycle when I was nine, I think. And HAHA.....even though us older ones started feeling we were getting a bit old for playing 'catch' round the massive swimming pool area (Ok I DID but hang appearances! It doesn't matter since I was in Singapore heh) we did anyway. Especially when there's no one else there except us five. Oh yesss did it all the way up till the last CNY I was home. Did I mention that my dad also used to join in on the fun? Haha good times....good times.

The 'reunion dinner' was great too.....all the delicacies.....and my aunt & I having a go at the raw salmon. Usually just the two of us having that. And not to forget the tea ceremony on the New Year itself.........great for laughs. Here was, is and always will be the chance to butter up your elders before receiving your angpaus (red packet with money). Rachel was brilliant at this. I'd be all boring and wish Mama long life, good health and happiness and then Rachel comes and shows us all how it's done.

With a very loud voice, she goes, "MAMA, I wish you.......a VERY long life, AND increasing beauty with each passing year and that you'll get whatever your heart wishes for. " Yeah, the first and third are classics of CNY wishes but the second always has my grandma smiling from ear to ear. Of course, it sounds weird in English but she says it in Cantonese.

I thought writing about this would make me emo-ey. Surprisingly I don't. It's been three years I think....since I last saw my cousins. *wistful*
Just for once, I wish I could go home during Chinese New Year. We're really growing up now - Daniel's entered National Service now, Cheryl & I are at university, Rach is in her last year of high school and David is a teenager.

Here are some pictures of past Chinese New Year times:

Posing for pictures during Chinese New Year visitations - we're dolled to the nines.
Check out our uber cool sunglasses XD

I'm not actually sure if this was during CNY but it was definitely in Singapore. Sadly my shortness was already
apparent from a very young age. Moi on the far left and the one in the yellow overalls is my cousin
who's actually the same age as me ='(

Reminiscing is good.....but won't get my essay done. Off now to finish up the LAST few hundred words......

Tags: general, memories

A New Beginning

: learn_and_live; January 4th, 20:12

Current Location:: Vanbrugh kitchen because there's wireless =D

Current Mood:: cheerful

Current Music:: Gershwin - An American in Paris

It doesn't feel like one for me. 2008 is still lingering.....maybe it's the sensation of my first birthday and Christmas in somewhere other than what I know as home. This year's was better than what I expected, for which I am grateful.

Argh. Can't wait to have my shower so I shall leave a quote I found today on Straight Dope:

"Life is little more than a loan shark: it exacts a very high rate of interest for the few pleasures it concedes." -Luigi Pirandello

This year's was better than. Also, if you have the time, go here and watch these. They are absolutely recommended!!

BBC's Wallace & Gromit's Christmas Special

A Boy Called Alex

Both are free but A Boy Called Alex has quite a lot of adverts so bear with it but it is very impressive. Seriously he's like a music prodigy......I think he's reading music at Cambridge now. Anyway, it IS a documentary but it's worth watching because it ~~features Eton and the guys there are so fittt~~ really shows how this guy is really going for his passions despite being saddled with a life-threatening disease. Lesser mortals would have probably given up and just be like, " Yeah I think I'll just sit here waiting to die." Hurry, it's only up for another like twenty days!

Tidbit: Since this documentary appeared on telly, he's received three marriage proposals LOL.

Tags: general, quotes

"Lack of bloggage"....said she

: learn_and_live; December 15th, 2008

Current Location:: My beloved room

Current Mood:: dorky

Current Music:: Radiohead - Paranoid Android

When was the last time I blogged? Getting caught up in this madness that is university life.....but I've relished ~~every~~ ALMOST every moment of it. There's so many things to be doing, seeing, learning, can one still get bored? Yes. Because laziness overtakes me sometimes. Then I start to faff around doing nothing in particular.

Ever since Prac Proj ended, the general feeling among us first-years was one of relief. I suspect it was only the third years who suffered from 'withdrawal symptoms' as they put it. Still it was amazing, staging Bach's St. John Passion in 6 weeks was incredibly hard work but just as rewarding. Singing in the choruses was tough, but even more so for the soloists who were mainly third years. I mean, the pressure of performing......it counts towards degrees for them so I can't imagine what it must have been like. Especially since the (in)famous fresher's flu was making its rounds everywhere - I fell victim to it in Week 3 of the term.

Here are some of the pictures from rehearsals:

That's Jesus standing there on the cross. Disciples sitting on the ground and guards and Pharisees standing behind.

Yes, that's the full chorus I think. Look how enthusiastic we are (not)!

This was taken by one of the lighting guys. It's the final scene of our actual performance where Jesus has died and we come to pay our respects to him singing "Ruht wohl" (Rest well)

When I look back at it now, there's just such a sense of satisfaction of being a part of this. Endless rehearsals were such an uphill task but there were redeeming moments, especially in our warm-ups. We had 'funky chicken', 'surfing moose', 'hot potato' and even 'jesus walks' dance moves haha. Prac Proj was also such a great way to know everyone else in the music department......by that I mean my seniors in the years above and also all the other freshers. When I look round at other departments, you just don't get that bonding between the seniors and freshers so the music community is really tight-knit.....partly because it is a fairly small department too. Only about 50+ freshers and so 160+ undergraduates then. History Department is hiaoooge.....like 300 freshers alone so there's at least 4 historians living along my corridor in Vanbrugh.

Enough about Prac Proj. It's Jazz Studies Project for me now.....which is finishing yay! I'm feeling like there's such a learning curve =.= So many things to absorb in such a short period of time because of course I have to work on it in my own time. I've borrowed at least 8 books out of the library now about jazz........do I have to read it all? Not really. I want to buy some of them now though. Never knew there was so much to jazz and I can't just let it slide. Determined to learn all I can practically & theoretically & also historically. The historical bit is where my essay is going to be based on - 'How Sociopolitics Influenced 60s Jazz'. Very, very interesting but the information needs to be distilled into a 2500 word essay. How....I don't know, but I've got Christmas holidays to work on it so it should be fine.

Mannnn tomorrow I have a job interview!! Exciting-nyer. Hopefully I get it....then I can save up money to go for the New Word Alive Conference in Wales during Easter break which is gonna cost a lot. If not, I'll survive off bread and 'taters to scrimp enough money to go for that conference. I am going no matter what because I get to live in an 8 people caravan!!! How awesome is that XD

Ok, I should head for bed now. 'Tis only 4 more days to the end of term whoohoo

Tags: general, music, university

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