While many whip out their calculators annually to pay their taxes - students here we take out books, pencils, rulers and camp out and study away. Ever since coming to Hong Kong and seeing what it is like to be living in a cramped apartment and having limited space, I understand the reasons why the locals all go out to study.
The library system in Hong Kong is fairly interesting; the fact there is are specified study rooms is great. It varies from library to library, some with nice desks with lots of space, others three glass walls and a 19 inch desk. More of a cramped style... What I recently found out, during public examinations whether it be the HKCEEs, IGCSEs or in my case IB, that you have to sign up and then if you're lucky then you are allowed to study from April to May or from May to June. If you're rather unfortunate then you're in a dilemma. Meaning that you would have to go out and pay for a cup of coffee to study.
The problem arises for others where one is trying to enjoy their cup of overpriced coffee and don't have seats. It's that season again and where I go study is to be determined. Perhaps just staying in the comfort of my own home or at school.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Recount of a Hectic Week
It's that time of year again, 7s 7s 7s 7s 7s!!! Thousands of tourists flood into Hong Kong for the annual event of HK rugby 7s. Since it's introduction in 1976, it is one of the first rugby union tournaments with major sponsorships mainly funded by Cathay Pacific. For those who love the sport, South Stands is the place to go and head out to LKF during the weekend. Midway through Seven's interesting encounters have been accumulating, from the sober to the drunk, crazies to buisnessmen. Anything goes when it's the last week of March in Hong Kong. For others who don't attend the annual event, it's rather a hassle. Waiting lines are already long during rush hour at restaurants, they are usually doubled during this time of year. Not to mention the traffic congestion throughout the whole weekend. Takes triple the time to get anywhere you want to go.
On retrospect, it's the time of year to let lose and enjoy a major sporting event that is often a miss in HK. Unlike North America attending a sporting event is just that much harder. It may be an influx of thousands of tourists for the week, but it raises profits for local businesses and helps the economy. It's kind of a win-win situation eh?
Drifting off into another realm of things going on, tests are coming to an end and its soon to be the start of study frenzy season. School is about to end - it's even more exciting to think about all the things I am about to do. Travel abroad and seek some new experiences perhaps make some new friends on the way. The prospect for this year has been scaled down to Hong Kong. It's about time I actually explore the entity of it, beyond the urban skyscraper façade. Hiking trail one day, camping the next - who knows what I'll do - it will be a definite change from the regime of study, study, study.
On another note, HKU is very hard to navigate, other than the fact is that I know you walk down to find Bonham Rd. from any building, I'm completely lost. Anyway, spending three hours there kind of exploring but mostly completing what needs to be done. It's rather a shabby campus that's undergoing lots of change. Probably won't end up getting accepted, but who would turn down an interview?
On retrospect, it's the time of year to let lose and enjoy a major sporting event that is often a miss in HK. Unlike North America attending a sporting event is just that much harder. It may be an influx of thousands of tourists for the week, but it raises profits for local businesses and helps the economy. It's kind of a win-win situation eh?
Drifting off into another realm of things going on, tests are coming to an end and its soon to be the start of study frenzy season. School is about to end - it's even more exciting to think about all the things I am about to do. Travel abroad and seek some new experiences perhaps make some new friends on the way. The prospect for this year has been scaled down to Hong Kong. It's about time I actually explore the entity of it, beyond the urban skyscraper façade. Hiking trail one day, camping the next - who knows what I'll do - it will be a definite change from the regime of study, study, study.
On another note, HKU is very hard to navigate, other than the fact is that I know you walk down to find Bonham Rd. from any building, I'm completely lost. Anyway, spending three hours there kind of exploring but mostly completing what needs to be done. It's rather a shabby campus that's undergoing lots of change. Probably won't end up getting accepted, but who would turn down an interview?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Another Week Goes By...
It's back to square one of the beginning of the week and I'm still in the Sunday blues. Still in the warm, fuzzy feeling inside where we all realize that the last week that went by might quick. Weekends definitely have to be longer!
School should have 3/4 day weekends for the mind, body and soul to recover from the 4 days of stress, anxiety - everything else in between? Besides the fact that weekends are a day to cram all the undone homework it's also a break where TV plays a key role in procrastination.
We all go, 1 more episode, but it's even more painful when there is no more 1 more ep, or when your favourite shows are on BREAK! Personally, I have mixed feelings toward this but its good for my study habits. I should have planned out how to study over the weekend, but I will do it now.
Random Note - what's up with this severely messed up weather, it's 26˚C one day and then it suddenly drops back down to 14˚C.... Climate Change People...
Another thing, I'm very happy for you CH; OK we all knew you would get into uni!! ACAD - Calgary is not your thing. Weather is even crazier than T.dot. The wait for NSCAD is going to be long, but we better travel together or I kill da you.
Time to go plan the months ahead of me...
School should have 3/4 day weekends for the mind, body and soul to recover from the 4 days of stress, anxiety - everything else in between? Besides the fact that weekends are a day to cram all the undone homework it's also a break where TV plays a key role in procrastination.
We all go, 1 more episode, but it's even more painful when there is no more 1 more ep, or when your favourite shows are on BREAK! Personally, I have mixed feelings toward this but its good for my study habits. I should have planned out how to study over the weekend, but I will do it now.
Random Note - what's up with this severely messed up weather, it's 26˚C one day and then it suddenly drops back down to 14˚C.... Climate Change People...
Another thing, I'm very happy for you CH; OK we all knew you would get into uni!! ACAD - Calgary is not your thing. Weather is even crazier than T.dot. The wait for NSCAD is going to be long, but we better travel together or I kill da you.
Time to go plan the months ahead of me...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
It's Rather Boring
Today would have just been another day at school. But it wasn't something had changed. Class was the usual had a test, but it was the last test for Chemistry. Again, there were the questions where I was like "huh?!?!!" and another where I stared at the page for 10 minutes. Whatever, it's all over now, and let's just hope I did well. ( :
Yes, today was an odd day. It started as I woke up and realized that I had 15 minutes to get out of bed and head down the elevator. Nothing new, it was the same. Then it comes to my breakfast when I reach school. Again nothing out of the ordinary as I gave my order to the cafeteria lady who always seems to be yelling at every student at school. I sat down and started talking to some people. Many left and I was left into a situation where I was alone with another person. This is where my space oddity of the day begins. But it is perhaps this peculiar dialogue that has been got me pondering throughout the day and obviously till now. We began talking and it was simply about school and how boring it was. Well it was also about how 煮飯 can't really teach. Anyway, the conversation tangents to a subject where I really wonder why we are having this conversation. To conclude this short encounter, I begin to wonder how well people actually know me.
Evidently, people have very opinionated views and I was rather surprised that people can't see through the surface. Maybe some intuition would help?
So this thought perpetuates through my head, and I go on pondering how the world goes on judging people and sometimes, they are wrong and only see the superficiality and never what's really there...
Anyway, the day goes by... rather boringly. Nothing special.
Yes, today was an odd day. It started as I woke up and realized that I had 15 minutes to get out of bed and head down the elevator. Nothing new, it was the same. Then it comes to my breakfast when I reach school. Again nothing out of the ordinary as I gave my order to the cafeteria lady who always seems to be yelling at every student at school. I sat down and started talking to some people. Many left and I was left into a situation where I was alone with another person. This is where my space oddity of the day begins. But it is perhaps this peculiar dialogue that has been got me pondering throughout the day and obviously till now. We began talking and it was simply about school and how boring it was. Well it was also about how 煮飯 can't really teach. Anyway, the conversation tangents to a subject where I really wonder why we are having this conversation. To conclude this short encounter, I begin to wonder how well people actually know me.
Evidently, people have very opinionated views and I was rather surprised that people can't see through the surface. Maybe some intuition would help?
So this thought perpetuates through my head, and I go on pondering how the world goes on judging people and sometimes, they are wrong and only see the superficiality and never what's really there...
Anyway, the day goes by... rather boringly. Nothing special.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
If I Didn't Have to Sleep.
Imagine, a life where you don't have to sleep. There is simply no getting tired, and the 6-8 hours I spend sleeping everyday are put to some other use? On average, we spend a third of our lives sleeping, that's ridiculous [1]!
I'd be saving so much time by not worrying that I have to sleep before my test, have more time for my vid games, getting a life. All instead of working 4-5 hours a day after school trying to cram as much work done as possible. I'd be glad to have a few extra hours just to myself to do anything I want. A walk, a jog, anything away from my desk!
It's no wonder the light sleepers are millionaires. They are simply capable of a few hours less sleep than the average human being and can do so much more in that time.
I'd be saving so much time by not worrying that I have to sleep before my test, have more time for my vid games, getting a life. All instead of working 4-5 hours a day after school trying to cram as much work done as possible. I'd be glad to have a few extra hours just to myself to do anything I want. A walk, a jog, anything away from my desk!
It's no wonder the light sleepers are millionaires. They are simply capable of a few hours less sleep than the average human being and can do so much more in that time.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Look Beyond the Number Scribbled
Many of us get back an assignment, flip to the back, cover the front page or whatever and look for that number scribbled in red ink. It's interesting, this one number (specifically a fraction) determines the mood we are in for the rest of the day. Whether it's high or low, we all complain about it. This happens for every single assignment.
When will we ever learn to look beyond the scribbles of our teachers or professors. So what? You fell below the average or median of the class, next time just spend some more time focussing for the test or exam. It's not the end of the world! You did above average, that's great! But did you achieve this grade by crossing sleep off your regime? Then there is some serious considerations, sleep < studying. That never works out in the long run. Anyway, it's a mere number.
The psychology surrounding these percentiles and numbers is fascinating. Everyone immediately judges how smart you are. The common hearing, 'omg I got an asian fail!!' Please, moving into university if you're getting 90+ you're a pure genius. Numbers don't rule your life, they are just what everyone believes to be justified testing to see whether you know your stuff. They don't determine whether you are to succeed in life so what's all the fretting about?
Sadly, they aren't disappearing anytime soon to relieve tensions many of us suffer from mais... c'est la vie!
When will we ever learn to look beyond the scribbles of our teachers or professors. So what? You fell below the average or median of the class, next time just spend some more time focussing for the test or exam. It's not the end of the world! You did above average, that's great! But did you achieve this grade by crossing sleep off your regime? Then there is some serious considerations, sleep < studying. That never works out in the long run. Anyway, it's a mere number.
The psychology surrounding these percentiles and numbers is fascinating. Everyone immediately judges how smart you are. The common hearing, 'omg I got an asian fail!!' Please, moving into university if you're getting 90+ you're a pure genius. Numbers don't rule your life, they are just what everyone believes to be justified testing to see whether you know your stuff. They don't determine whether you are to succeed in life so what's all the fretting about?
Sadly, they aren't disappearing anytime soon to relieve tensions many of us suffer from mais... c'est la vie!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Oh Geography
Geography is an interesting subject, learning about the world and the social issues associated with it. It kind of shows, well not kind of, it shows how ignorant we are even though most of us now come from an 'educated background'. It's true, in the last year and a half I have probably learned more about world affairs, politics, how we as the future generation of the world are simply ignorant. It is right in front of us and all this STUFF just happens.
A recap of the last two year's major events.
Earthquakes - Top Deaths
7.0M - Haiti (~230 000 deaths)
6.9M - Qinghai (~2 600 deaths)
8.8 M - Chile (~521 deaths)
+ one from this year
6.3M - New Zealand (~163 deaths)
Droughts - Recent
- China's drought, is said to be the worst in 200 years [1]
- Pakistan's drought, shortage of wheat and threatens subsistence farmers [2]
Flooding - Recent
- China's floods, where tens of thousands were moved [3]
- France Flash floods, 19 dead and worst in 200 years [4]
- Pakistan's floods, affecting 14m people [5]
- Brazil's flood and mudslides [6]
Human Induced
- BP oil spill
Civil Unrest - protests against the government prominently in Northern Africa and Middle East. It now threatens consumers <-- not a big surprise? As it is predicted that oil can rise up to $220 /b if Algeria and Libya stop their pumps. [7]
The world is a depressing place, so many things happening simultaneously, it's all shocking. If I went out of the door at the moment, asked 50 people what was the most shocking thing you've heard in the news lately, I'd probably get a response regarding the 6 000HKD the gov is giving out or Donald Tsang being attacked with rice. Yes, as much as those things are important, we loose the perspective of some bigger events that cause great suffrage around the world.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuck another into my Pocket
The feeling to get something accomplished and tucked some marks away into my ever growing pocket is awesome. Although the passage wasn't what I hoped it would be who the heck cares, it's done and over, one more thing done and one thing less to worry about.
It all comes down to working on all the other work that has been piling in the back of my room. The ones got neglected over the last two weeks need some attention from me now. I really wished I hadn't done that, but I do it every single time. Well not true, shows how much putting some effort and planning will save a bunch of time.
So it comes to the end of the day, it's 12:11 AM 3-4 homeworks not done, test tomorrow on dumb dumb integration.. just because we're obviously going to use that in our everyday lives. "Hey look, I'm going to take the derivative to find the slope of tangent, at point x, y. I'll use integration to reverse this process!"
Calculus, the one course where we really question, do we even need it. OK, I can hand it to you, that you need it if you're entering one the sciences as you need in your year 1 pre-req or whatever. Of course engineers and physicists, you would need it as well, but everyone else out there in the world who gives?!?! I found this process a phenomenon since grade 9. In a daily situation I would be required to pull out my trigonometric identities and functions to solve for the angle, and to calculate the conditional probability! Don't think so... My thoughts on math. That one course that I dread through, not so much this year even though it's calculus. That's just due to a pretty good teacher that keeps me entertained. Record 11 minute lesson for a whole unit <--- other than the fact that I came to school 15 minutes late and missed the whole lesson.
Again to reiterate it's great having finished my internal oral commentary, long live Hamlet!
It all comes down to working on all the other work that has been piling in the back of my room. The ones got neglected over the last two weeks need some attention from me now. I really wished I hadn't done that, but I do it every single time. Well not true, shows how much putting some effort and planning will save a bunch of time.
So it comes to the end of the day, it's 12:11 AM 3-4 homeworks not done, test tomorrow on dumb dumb integration.. just because we're obviously going to use that in our everyday lives. "Hey look, I'm going to take the derivative to find the slope of tangent, at point x, y. I'll use integration to reverse this process!"
Calculus, the one course where we really question, do we even need it. OK, I can hand it to you, that you need it if you're entering one the sciences as you need in your year 1 pre-req or whatever. Of course engineers and physicists, you would need it as well, but everyone else out there in the world who gives?!?! I found this process a phenomenon since grade 9. In a daily situation I would be required to pull out my trigonometric identities and functions to solve for the angle, and to calculate the conditional probability! Don't think so... My thoughts on math. That one course that I dread through, not so much this year even though it's calculus. That's just due to a pretty good teacher that keeps me entertained. Record 11 minute lesson for a whole unit <--- other than the fact that I came to school 15 minutes late and missed the whole lesson.
Again to reiterate it's great having finished my internal oral commentary, long live Hamlet!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)