I've made a lot of mistakes recently.
Stupid things said to friends. Silly things done. Bad decision making. Terrible time management.
Take yesterday for example. I went into a 3 hour engineering workshop unprepared without practice with the computer program matlab. No problem, I thought; my other two work partners would be able to help me out and we could accomplish it together.
Neither one of them rocked up.
There I was stuck there with a program I couldn't get to work for me and I was at the mercy of a computer screen which made no sense to me and questions which I could not answer. It was me against matlab, and matlab was owning me left, right and centre.
I've rarely felt so helpless in my life; only chinese exams which I hadn't prepared for could possibly compare with yesterday.
I ended up answering two of the five questions, with one of the questions requiring only excel.
The culmination of all these mistakes was today when a friend told me an assignment was due yesterday and I hadn't handed it in yet because I thought it was due next week. I was hoping he was wrong, but the assignment boxes were taped over with paper saying
'LATE ASSIGNMENTS TO MICHAEL BRAK ROOM 195'
He's the lecturer in case you were wondering. It actually wasn't that bad; he wasn't terribly intimidating and said matter-of-factly that I would get a 0 for the assignment, unless if i scored a 48 or 49 overall, upon which it would be counted and I would pass. No sermon or rhetorical questions designed to force you into a corner of shame, which I was immensely grateful for. I do wonder why late assignments have to be handed to him to deal with personally though- so he can remember our faces and be less forgiving towards us during his lectures perhaps?
I'm not posting this in a grab for sympathy, for indeed I deserve none; my mistakes have been my own and mine only. I just feel a compulsion to post this as a record of my waywardness, and hopefully with a combination of willpower and perhaps some luck this will never happen again.
On a more positive note, thanks to adhi and edi for a fantastic party! happy 18th birthdays to you both :)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
walking
Apparently someone in my neighbourhood complained about not getting the melbourne weekly magazine last week because I was on holiday. The manager had sent someone to replace me but it seems like they didn't do their job.
It's nice to know that my work actually has a positive impact on other people's lives, no matter how trivial that may be.
It's nice to know that my work actually has a positive impact on other people's lives, no matter how trivial that may be.
Friday, March 19, 2010
pancakes
Since I haven't blogged in a while so don't really know what to talk about, I have taken viv's advice and will try to blog about...pancakes.
Truth be told I have no idea how to make pancakes, or for that matter have much knowledge about them in general, except for the fact that they are nice to eat when combined with nice toppings like icecream and syrup.
...and that is pretty much all i have to say about this topic.
I also got chased by a dog at work which was kinda freaky. It was making a racket when I was delivering junk mail on its side of the street, then when I was delivering on the other side I see a white dog bounding across the street right towards me barking the whole way.
Okay in truth it probably didn't look as aggro as that but it was still pretty freaking having a free dog rush at me like that. It didn't exactly chase me all the way down the street but it was enough to make me ditch my trolley once i realised it wasn't just going to stay near the house.
From that point on I kept seeing/imagining wierd things in the darkness, like a rat or some kind of wierd creature, to the point where my yelp actually scared some girl who screamed inside their front yard or something.
Uni is draining.
Truth be told I have no idea how to make pancakes, or for that matter have much knowledge about them in general, except for the fact that they are nice to eat when combined with nice toppings like icecream and syrup.
...and that is pretty much all i have to say about this topic.
I also got chased by a dog at work which was kinda freaky. It was making a racket when I was delivering junk mail on its side of the street, then when I was delivering on the other side I see a white dog bounding across the street right towards me barking the whole way.
From that point on I kept seeing/imagining wierd things in the darkness, like a rat or some kind of wierd creature, to the point where my yelp actually scared some girl who screamed inside their front yard or something.
Uni is draining.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Orientation
Orientation was...interesting.
In terms of actual information intake, I'd rate today a failure. All I really got was another vague tour of patches of the campus, some more info on union/club pricing, and a few random flyers promoting anything from non-atheism to same sex marriage. The only lecture I went to was a new low: about 'academic expectations', it had just about every study cliche you could think of- active learning, get enough sleep and exercise, and some other random stuff. In truth, the most beneficial information I got today was where I'd get newspapers from.
On the whole though, today was a good day. I caught up with a few old friends from school days and saw other classmates around the place, and heard about science O-week camp 'events' which were shocking and funny in equal measure. People said that I should've been there, but I think listening to the stories I was better off at home, and besides if I went I would've missed an awesome party on Saturday night.
Finally sorted out my uni timetable, which is looking good despite having to go in 5 days a week and having straight lessons from 11-4 on monday.
Work is also getting better; I've finally figured out how to stack my papers in the trolley so I don't have to wrench out magazines, and with a consistent route i've minimized time wasted pushing an empty trolley home. It also seems far less strenuous than it used to, so perhaps it has increased my fitness!
not a bad day at all.
In terms of actual information intake, I'd rate today a failure. All I really got was another vague tour of patches of the campus, some more info on union/club pricing, and a few random flyers promoting anything from non-atheism to same sex marriage. The only lecture I went to was a new low: about 'academic expectations', it had just about every study cliche you could think of- active learning, get enough sleep and exercise, and some other random stuff. In truth, the most beneficial information I got today was where I'd get newspapers from.
On the whole though, today was a good day. I caught up with a few old friends from school days and saw other classmates around the place, and heard about science O-week camp 'events' which were shocking and funny in equal measure. People said that I should've been there, but I think listening to the stories I was better off at home, and besides if I went I would've missed an awesome party on Saturday night.
Finally sorted out my uni timetable, which is looking good despite having to go in 5 days a week and having straight lessons from 11-4 on monday.
Work is also getting better; I've finally figured out how to stack my papers in the trolley so I don't have to wrench out magazines, and with a consistent route i've minimized time wasted pushing an empty trolley home. It also seems far less strenuous than it used to, so perhaps it has increased my fitness!
not a bad day at all.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
jobs
Been pretty lazy with blogging lately.
and job hunting
and dealing with holiday photos
Come to think of it I've been pretty lazy since coming back from Egypt/UAE about 20 days ago. True, I've been sick, sometimes a fever so bad I wear three layers of clothing when others are in T-shirts. But I can't shrug the fact that I have been lazy.
I couldn't find a proper job after some insipid searching (google) and decided to cop out and try for a walking job. No interview, no resume required; just a name and address, then account details so they could pay you. The real thing started last monday, collecting and sorting junk mail and local magazines.
I stacked them on this child's play pram, on top of which I tied a massive box and metal frame stuffed full of papers. 'the more the better', I thought.
I start wheeling it, feeling its weight.
I roll it slowly down the slope, backwards so it wouldn't run away
I change it's angle so it rolls out to the driveway instead of the roses
....and the whole thing just completely collapses and folds away in front of me.
The papers are everywhere on the driveway and garden. I've trashed the pram and have not even delivered a single one of the 354 i've been given.
I had to completely rethink how I was going to do the job and resorted to carrying some in a luggage wheelie roller thing which didn't carry many more than 30 copies. I feel like i spent a lot of time wheeling the thing and carrying some more in my arms going past houses i had already done. Then even more time wheeling the thing back empty because it ran out.
Childishly, I thought getting a job was like pokemon; they're hard to get sometimes, but once you get it it's good fun because even though it's hard work that pain is tempered by knowledge of money flowing in.
I was so very wrong. It is quite simply hard work which left me exhausted for hours afterwards. When I tell my mum about it, she replies with a knowing smile. She know's i'm soft from years of not having to work.
This job isn't the best. As a friend said, a job as a cashier or something like that would be much better. As the old saying goes though, 'beggars can't be choosers'. In the professional world, I am not much more than a beggar. For now.
and job hunting
and dealing with holiday photos
Come to think of it I've been pretty lazy since coming back from Egypt/UAE about 20 days ago. True, I've been sick, sometimes a fever so bad I wear three layers of clothing when others are in T-shirts. But I can't shrug the fact that I have been lazy.
I couldn't find a proper job after some insipid searching (google) and decided to cop out and try for a walking job. No interview, no resume required; just a name and address, then account details so they could pay you. The real thing started last monday, collecting and sorting junk mail and local magazines.
I stacked them on this child's play pram, on top of which I tied a massive box and metal frame stuffed full of papers. 'the more the better', I thought.
I start wheeling it, feeling its weight.
I roll it slowly down the slope, backwards so it wouldn't run away
I change it's angle so it rolls out to the driveway instead of the roses
....and the whole thing just completely collapses and folds away in front of me.
The papers are everywhere on the driveway and garden. I've trashed the pram and have not even delivered a single one of the 354 i've been given.
I had to completely rethink how I was going to do the job and resorted to carrying some in a luggage wheelie roller thing which didn't carry many more than 30 copies. I feel like i spent a lot of time wheeling the thing and carrying some more in my arms going past houses i had already done. Then even more time wheeling the thing back empty because it ran out.
Childishly, I thought getting a job was like pokemon; they're hard to get sometimes, but once you get it it's good fun because even though it's hard work that pain is tempered by knowledge of money flowing in.
I was so very wrong. It is quite simply hard work which left me exhausted for hours afterwards. When I tell my mum about it, she replies with a knowing smile. She know's i'm soft from years of not having to work.
This job isn't the best. As a friend said, a job as a cashier or something like that would be much better. As the old saying goes though, 'beggars can't be choosers'. In the professional world, I am not much more than a beggar. For now.
Monday, December 14, 2009
sunday service
Recently, a friend invited me to church.
Having considered myself an atheist since at least year 6, I had misgivings and was naturally doubtful about attending a religious service devoted to something I do not believe in. However, having not much better to do I decided to give it a try and tag along with my sister who is a regular there.
I think the first thing that struck me was the niceness of the people. It wasn't a fake 'paste on the smiles and act happy' nice; they seemed genuinely compassionate, welcoming and willing to talk to me. As a person generally uncomfortable in 'meet new people' situations, I was quickly engaged in a relaxed conversation with a guy my sister only introduced to me moments ago.
The official service began in a casual manner, with a fair amount of singing. Everyone sang with gusto, and even I couldn't help but contribute my wobbly tones while reading off the projector. The songs were Christian, but not all that different from the hymns sung at school.
The youths conducted amusing skits which often had the audience in stitches, partially tongue-in-cheek while also delivering a subtle but clear message: believe and trust in God. The sermon (not sure if its called that) by a pastor enforced this in no unclear terms by providing biblical and anecdotal evidence
After a few more songs it was off to lunch, where the members of the church once again showed their kindness and generosity. Many would introduce themselves in a friendly manner; others went further, coming up and chatting with me when I was too shy to approach anyone.
By the end of the whole thing, it was as my friend said: no one there tried convincing me to 'convert' and instead simply tried making my stay as comfortable as possible. I left feeling a mixture of happiness and relief; I was terrified of the thought of being in a room full of people I never met and leaving it after having hid in the corner for most of the time. The reality was far more pleasant and rewarding, making me glad I went on that sunday, and experiencing an aspect of church life.
Many of these people said they hoped to see me later, but for now, I think not. The service reinforced my view of church- it's welcoming, it's friendly, it's inclusive, but it is ultimately built on a religious foundation. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the people there; had it been a non-religious group I would've joined in a heartbeat. The fact that it is based on Christianity, something I do not believe in, makes it all but impossible for me to attend these services regularly. At the moment, I do not believe in the bible and its teachings and thus it makes no sense for me to go to church. As my sister would say,
'I am not ready for it yet'
Having considered myself an atheist since at least year 6, I had misgivings and was naturally doubtful about attending a religious service devoted to something I do not believe in. However, having not much better to do I decided to give it a try and tag along with my sister who is a regular there.
I think the first thing that struck me was the niceness of the people. It wasn't a fake 'paste on the smiles and act happy' nice; they seemed genuinely compassionate, welcoming and willing to talk to me. As a person generally uncomfortable in 'meet new people' situations, I was quickly engaged in a relaxed conversation with a guy my sister only introduced to me moments ago.
The official service began in a casual manner, with a fair amount of singing. Everyone sang with gusto, and even I couldn't help but contribute my wobbly tones while reading off the projector. The songs were Christian, but not all that different from the hymns sung at school.
The youths conducted amusing skits which often had the audience in stitches, partially tongue-in-cheek while also delivering a subtle but clear message: believe and trust in God. The sermon (not sure if its called that) by a pastor enforced this in no unclear terms by providing biblical and anecdotal evidence
After a few more songs it was off to lunch, where the members of the church once again showed their kindness and generosity. Many would introduce themselves in a friendly manner; others went further, coming up and chatting with me when I was too shy to approach anyone.
By the end of the whole thing, it was as my friend said: no one there tried convincing me to 'convert' and instead simply tried making my stay as comfortable as possible. I left feeling a mixture of happiness and relief; I was terrified of the thought of being in a room full of people I never met and leaving it after having hid in the corner for most of the time. The reality was far more pleasant and rewarding, making me glad I went on that sunday, and experiencing an aspect of church life.
Many of these people said they hoped to see me later, but for now, I think not. The service reinforced my view of church- it's welcoming, it's friendly, it's inclusive, but it is ultimately built on a religious foundation. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the people there; had it been a non-religious group I would've joined in a heartbeat. The fact that it is based on Christianity, something I do not believe in, makes it all but impossible for me to attend these services regularly. At the moment, I do not believe in the bible and its teachings and thus it makes no sense for me to go to church. As my sister would say,
'I am not ready for it yet'
Monday, November 30, 2009
Model Cars
I bought a model Nissan GT-R in hk at the start of the year,
but havent got around to building it until after the
exams had finished.
After several days of concentration, patience and occasional frustration, here it is!
The finished product is hardly perfect, with smears of paint and cement everywhere, but the whole process gave me a consistent message: If it isn't that bad, don't try and fix it; you may end up making it worse than it was before.
It's my fourth model car, after a Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and a Ferrari Enzo. Its interesting how even though the failings of each car reminded me not to r
ush, I still tried to get through as much as I could in one go; I'd often start working on something even though the paint or cement had not dried.
Overall though, I'm pretty happy with this result, which I think is the most polished yet: it lacks the glaring blunders of the previous 3.
Hope you like it!
Any comments are welcome :)
but havent got around to building it until after the
exams had finished.
After several days of concentration, patience and occasional frustration, here it is!
The finished product is hardly perfect, with smears of paint and cement everywhere, but the whole process gave me a consistent message: If it isn't that bad, don't try and fix it; you may end up making it worse than it was before.
It's my fourth model car, after a Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and a Ferrari Enzo. Its interesting how even though the failings of each car reminded me not to r
ush, I still tried to get through as much as I could in one go; I'd often start working on something even though the paint or cement had not dried.Overall though, I'm pretty happy with this result, which I think is the most polished yet: it lacks the glaring blunders of the previous 3.
Hope you like it!
Any comments are welcome :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)