daZ'z: April 2005

HI~

I got the most unexpected call from someone yesterday - Karen~!

Oh my, oh my...

and I got the most unexpected news from her too - that the place I am staying in is haunted!

Oh my, oh my...

Results

Web Applications Report: 16/20

I just got back the result of my report for a web based subject. Frankly, I was quite disappointed with the result. I was expecting something higher (maybe 17.5). The result of the report is to be combined with the web site to form 20 percent of the unit's total marks. The report is group work (as is the web site), and I was in charge of the report. That means the entire report was done by me. The difference in marks was down to a few reasons.

Reason 1: The marker. The marker for the report and web site is different. The marker for the site is the Australian tutor whom doesn't specialised in web-based studies. The marker for the report is a Singaporean PhD student whom does .Net and some other IT related units. He was much more strict with his allocation of marks. He was one of the tutor for the Web Application unit. He was much better though. He stand in a practical lesson in the absence of our Aussie tutor and by chance, got to know that he had marked our report. He told us the errors that costed us points and recommended some solutions to us. Effort appreciated.

In summary, the two marks combined, I scored 17.25 out of a possible 20 percent.

Database Systems Test 1: 17/22

I just got back the result of my Database Systems test today too. I must say that 17/22 is an unexpected result. Allow me to explain.

In the first eight tutorials for that class, I only did the first two. That was when I was very enthusiastic about studying in Australia. In subsequent tutorials, I only printed the questions and waited for the answer. Singaporean classmates around me did their homework conscientiously and I was amazed by their consistencies. That did little to pile any sort of pressure on little lazy me. I simply waited for the lecturer to spoon feed me.

My best mate Shawn, whom is my project mate for 3 other subjects (no projects for Database Systems), chose to revisit all the tutorial questions in preparation for the test. I chose to do all the quizzes the lecturer put up on the school's online blackboard. I did not attempt a single question from the tutorials in my preparation for the test. That would sound like a disaster for anyone aiming to excel in the test and it felt like a disaster to me too. I simply could not be bothered to do the tutorial questions! They were too difficult, long-winded, required much calculations and too boring! The quizzes in contrast were easier, to the point, require little calculations and fun to do!

It is human nature to choose the easier path isn't it? I did all the questions in the quizzes while Shawn finished tutorial 1 to 8. In the test, all the questions were taken from the quizzes. Point taken? I scored 17 while Shawn managed 13. Firstly, I must admit that the score is flattering. Secondly, I think my effort do not deserve such a score. Thirdly, I would like to thank my mother whom has always supported me through times of difficulties even on occasions when I do not deserve it.

Mom, thank you.

ANZAC Day

It was Australia New Zealand Army Corps day on 25th April. It is in memory of the 11000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died in World War 1.

"I swear by the souls of the dead ANZAC soldiers!"

That is the cry in memory of those whom perished 90 years ago.

Anyway, there has been little else happenning in this little city of mine this week. More projects are coming up for me. One of them is a 3500 words report. I like writing reports; my forte.

There is a practical class tomorrow. The one I mentioned on the chatterbox about the tutor not knowing anything. I am pondering whether to make the 2 hour class or not. It is really not worth the effort attending it. I don't learn a single thing out of that guy. The practical is simply an excuse to get our ass out of our beds and to school to do our assignments. Well, I would attend the class anyway. It cost about $100 per hour of school time. Plus, I had printed and bind the practical notes already. So well... (shrugs shoulder) morning class tomorrow~!

Just Off The Mark

I just got back the first result on my assignments. A cool 18.5 marks over a possible 20, and given by the tutor I talked about in the chatterbox! Well done mate!

That result gave me more confidence in the quality of the assignments I am producing. Though that is a good start, nothing's taken for granted. Test on Tuesday. Another chance to build on my flying start to university life!~

Take care folks.

Projects outta the way!

I had handed in about 100 marks worth of assignments so far. Thats equivalent to an entire unit's worth! Sheesh.... they do have big projects over here.

Anyway, nothing much to update over here. It's the weekend for me again. The weather's cold with showers expected on all days. But nothing's dampening the spirits here.

It has been more than two months since I had been here, and it will be another eight before I fly back to where I belong.

Conculsion on the past sixty days:

Food: Food here is generally much more expensive than in Singapore. A plate of chicken rice costs an average of AU$8 which is about SGD$10. I had my fair share of cooking at home as well as eating out. Food forms the bulk of my expenditure.

People: The people here, especially Australians, are generally friendly. In Brisbane, there is a good mix of people from all over the world. The only group of strangers that attempt to start a conversation with me are Australians though. The Australians are generally polite and friendly. I enjoy talking to those friendly ones. I did not have any nasty encounters so far and I hope not. I don't want a single incident to tarnish the image of locals here.

School System: There is a lacking of professionalism from certain areas of the education systems. For example, certain tutorials and practicals are held by students studying their Masters degree. The school has this policy of hiring students doing their Masters or PhD to lead certain tutorial or practical lessons. I have got a tutor whom doesn't teach a single thing in practical class. The only good I can see out of this arrangement is that he is going to mark our projects too. From the way our presentation went, I can see that he doesn't have a very in-depth (and therefore not so strict marking criteria) knowledge of the subject. Bloody hell... he better give me a good grade..

Transport and Accomodation: Taking the public transport here is a much enjoyable experience than back home. I have to explain the system here for you guys back home to appreciate what i am talking about. The payment system here is in accordance to the zones you are travelling to. For example, a kilometre away from your boarding point is zone one, the next kilometres is zone two and so on. You pay an amount for the zone you are travelling to and within the zones you paid for, you get to travel for free within the next two hours. Pay AU$1.20 to go to Chinatown for a little shopping. Finish in less than two hours and take the bus back without paying a cent more. Cool uh? Same applies to taking the train.

Owning a house here isn't any cheaper than back home. Well, not actually. Allow me to rephrase and elaborate. Buying an unit equivalent to HDBs is about the same or more expensive. It depends on the location and the quality of the block. Buying the equivalent of a semi-detached or bungalow is slightly cheaper. Houses here comes in all sorts of sizes and on a much different landscape. Houses with their own shoreline, riverbank or jetty is a rare in Singapore but not here. These houses are so big, beautiful and expensive! Considering the amount of land here, prices still escalate to millions for a good spot. This is a fact I know since browsing through the posters on windows of property agents.

Rent ranges from the outrageous to the affordable. Live in the sub-urban area and pay between AU$60 to AU$150 per week. Coversion rate is at AU$1 = SGD$1.31. The amount for a room in a sub-urban town averages about AU$100. Again, you pay for the quality and size of the place you are renting and therefore could be forking out double that amount. In the city where I am living. The average number would be at around AU$180 per week. There are cheaper places and there more expensive ones. It could go up to AU$250 per room. That would add up to SGD$1300 per month for a single room! Thank pete I am only paying half that amount!

Botanic Gardens Pictures

Here are some sun shine pictures from the local botanic gardens. The gardens is located just in front of Q.U.T. and it occupys a greater area than the campus.

Some beautiful metal sculpture right smack in the middle of the park.

Beautiful skyline from the middle of the park looking towards the pond.

The scenery is much better than the one in Singapore.

Spot the wildlife.

'Watcha looking at mate?' This bird has balls of steel to engage in a staring match with my camera.

Have you seen so many ducks all in one place?

Walking down the park is such a simple but enjoyable experience.

The clean floor is more of the result of clean people than of care-takers.

Just take in all the fresh air and breathe out your day's troubles.

The grass is perfect for lying down on. Pity the sun is shining just too brightly.

Would make a nice picture for a jigsaw puzzle.

A new week

Ok. Celebrations over. Time to work. Boys and girls, pick up your laptops and join me in the march towards academic success. Don't forget your plug convertors. ;)

Double Joy!

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

TO

FENZ!

HBDTM

Happy birthday to me..

Happy birthday to me ..

Happy birthday to me ee...

Happy birthday to me eee ee...

Busy busy Me

I have been very busy for the past few days and will continue to be so for the next 7 to 10 days. I have got a presentation tomorrow as well as on Thursday. I have a project due this Sunday, one next Monday and another next Friday. I cant believe how hardworking I have been this few days and how hardworking I am determine to be in the coming week.

I have got another series of photographs yet to be posted, but I decided that I do not want to clog up my blog with so much pictures. The presence of so many pictures on my blog as it is now must have been felt on readers with relatively slow connections. It is just that I want to show you guys all the pictures I have taken.

It is getting rainy these few days with frequent but short periods of light showers in the city. Temperatures have been dipping a little too. No worries though, winter is not due yet.

Pictures Galore III

Here's the last installation of the parade's pictures galore. Whew...

It's been a busy week for little old me here. What with projects due this week and the next and the next. You would have thought I am having it easy over here don't you? Well, that is not the case and I am doing a fair share of work over here.

Enjoy the pictures.

Left, right, left, right.

Beautiful blue sky. But it's been rainy this few days.

The drummers get to work.

Just like in the national Day Parade.

There are about 10 contigents of different uniform groups.

Hot wheels.

Watcha looking at dude!?

Throttle, throttle.

The last of the lot.

Pictures Galore II

Here are the pictures as promised! Part III will be coming up shortly. Stayed tuned. Same time, same channel~!

Small wheels, small gun.

See them row down the street in HI-HO army style.

This is where all the din is coming from. The noise ruffled more than a few feathers of the local community.

Blasting their trumpets shamelessly.

Sailors of the carribbean.

Watch your step nigger!

Here are the men in black. Some turned up in shades of gray and stuff.

They couldn't march for Pete's sake!

Nice and cooling day. Beautiful for a morning jog. Pity I was having a stomach upset.

The colour party.

More of them!

Street of Brisbane City. Often refered to as the most liveable place in Australia.

More of the mop squad.

Drum! DRum! Drum! Bang!

Watch the white helmets blop up and down.

The pareade is getting a little boring now eh? More coming up shortly.

Pictures Galore I

Here's some pictures for you to feast your eyes on. These were taken last Sunday morning. The local Airforce was parading down the street in front of my place down to the local City Hall. This is part one of the parade. I caught them as they were getting ready for the moment.