Its been really long since my last post. I guess I have been too caught up with work, and hadn't realised how fast time flies. Today is the last day of June. Gosh.
To recap on 2nd year, it was really one hell of a journey. Now when I look back, I had mixed feelings - felt phobic and nostalgic at the same time. Let's see how much I can recall.
October 2009
Start of the academic year. Had my spirits high only to be dampened by the incoming workload, steadily increasing as time passes. Nevertheless, had a fun start to the term with a weekend trip to Oslo, Norway. Love that place. Just cant seem to get enough of travelling. Everywhere I go, there are always new things to be discovered.
Amazing sunset.
However, weather was pretty cold despite me being there in October. Had no idea why so many people made trips there last winter. After me, so many friends when there in winter. Ian told me he couldn't feel his feet and had to beat it to make sure its still there =_=
November 09
Start of our Mechanics Design Project. Totally clueless on what to do at the beginning and came out with many random and useless ideas. Was stuck with no proper design in mind right until before the start of the Christmas Holidays.
December 2009
Germany and Poland Trip. Was really looking forward to this one as its my trip with Premnaath! Has been so long since I've met my fellow secondary classmate. We sat together in class in Form 4. Still remember him dozing off with his pen drawing on his Physics Notes duing Puan Goh Chee Peng's class. LOL.
Munich was white and the town hall was really pretty.
The Christmas markets were also colourful and cosy.
Met Yi En in Stuttgart. Spent Christmas with a bunch of fellow Malaysians who were friends of Yi En. First time baking a chocolate cake too!
Poland was, well, really a new type of country I've been. Its gives a sad feeling with its horrible past. People stare at us because we were Asians. According to Premnaath, they dislike foreigners in their land because it was the foreigners who made what their land look like today. Warsaw was almost 90% destroyed in World War 2. Really sad and tragic place.
Warsaw had a wedding cake - a gift from Russia to well remind them of what happened in World War 2. The older generation really hate the building.
Zakopane is awesome! A cosy little town with skiing resorts and Christmas markets - I just love the atmophere there. Really dont mind retiring there though. Just only the language barrier that matters.
Oh, and I must thank Premnaath for being my translator over there! His Polish is amazing lah. I only know how to say "Jinkuya" (don't think its the correct spelling) when I see people all the time. LOL.
January 2010 - March 2010
End of holidays and start of the term. I guess I was just lost in my academic work during that period. Can't really recall much as my daily life has been going to lectures, doing the Mechanics Design Project and attending Japanese lessons.
Japanese lessons were like a haven for me during the tough times. It was sort of my source of entertainment/relaxation at the same time a place to venture deeper into a new culture. I realised how much I love Japanese culture. I love their healthy food, their polite demanour, their work ethics. I love the beautiful scenery and places they have, their technology, and them taking pride in the culture they have - anime, manga, otaku etc.
For this I must also thank Miwa sensei for her teaching - it was one of the best tutors I have ever had. Ever friendly and cheerful, and never failing to answer any queries I have. Made me amazed and interested in Japanese language at the same time.
I hope I wont fail you, I can still remember some of the things learnt! :p
Mechanics Design Project was the highlight of 2nd year. For my group we were assigned to design an artificial knee, mainly for landmine victims in Manipal, India. It was something I had not done before - coming up with a design and actually manufacturing and testing it. Special thanks to Marcello, Tazeen, Kavitha who had made so much contributions to the group. It was really fun to work with you all and I am really proud with our work. As proven, we won the design project prize! Let's hope the patent can go through.
Still remember the days which I spent hours on SolidWorks, editing tables in the report, doing animations for our design, attending countless meetings throughout the week. It was really both phoobic and nostalgic at the same time. Now when I look back, it was really bitter-sweet - but I didn't regret it.
April 2010
Spain and Portugal Trip with Edmund. This was one of the trips that I enjoyed the most. It was only the 2 of us - we could go anywhere and do whatever we wanted, and we pretty much did.
Barcelona was an amazing city. I just don't know how to put my love for the city in words. Let the picture do the talking.
Las Ramblas, the main tourist street (something like Jonker walk in Melaka)
Port Vell and the amazing beaches - and lying on the lazy chair for free only to be told off by the guards! :P
Plaza Catalunya - my FAVOURITE spot in Spain. Birds flying around and towards the people ready with food, people relaxing, couples kissing, teenagers showing off their skateboarding skills, young children with ice-cream running around.
Madrid was pretty much a city like London - busy people walking without a second look, and nothing much to do.
Gran Via - the heartbeat of Madrid's night life.
Portugal was also pretty awesome.
Portuguese egg tarts which is something very different - I felt out of this world when I tried it - it was just something I had not tried before - really really good.
Lisbon reminded me of Melaka - the forts they have just like A Famosa, and the weather during then which is also bright and sunny all day. A good escape from Nottingham which we previously came from.
Porto is a laid-back town with friendly people and nice architecture.
May 2010
Start of the final exams. Right after my trip, I was so afraid that I was behind until I studied so hard everyday - really everyday from 9am to 11pm non stop. It was also another horrible experience - but we went through together. Special thanks to Kangwen and Siew May here - you guys made my revision period so much more interesting. The contents were so much until we were so desperate - we actually joint effortly divided the notes and made notes separately then exchange and combine them - you could imagine how much of stuff we need to learn for the exams. Revision divided into 3 people! But it was really great to have support from you all.
The language lab (my suggestion! instead of the packed library) is also another nostalgic place in Imperial College from now on. Place where we would meet up for revision and do past year papers together. All the best for the results!
June 2010
Almost reaching the end of exams. Lost momentum towards the 10th and 11th paper - just couldn't care more. Just needed my first class so I meet A*STAR requirements. At the same time my family came over and visit - it was my idea as I could only return home in August and I wanted to see them so badly, so I proceeded to book the air tickets, only then telling Dad after :p
Really glad to see them love London and Paris. To my surprise, they preferred London, which was the opposite for me. London was a hell-hole with sardin-packed tube, and cold faced people.
I guess my busy life made me felt that London wasnt the right place for me. There are so many places I want to live but London - Barcelona, Zakopane, Oslo, Lucerne, Edinburgh... the list goes on.
Their trip made me realised how much I under-appreciated London. Brought them to so many places which I haven't been myself, and find myself loving it. I guess its just a different feel of the place having your loved ones around, eh?
Also got many good food recommendations around London. Tried Japanese, Korean, Thai, French, Italian, Chinese and of course Malaysian. You can really have all the food of the world right here in London. However, I still prefer my wantan mee and chee cheong fun back in Melaka XD
Now that they have returned to Melaka, it is the start of another new chapter of my life. I am currently doing an internship with my personal tutor at Imperial College - finally a chance to take a good look how research in Imperial is like.
My research project has a pretty interesting title - "using small angle light scattering to imperfect bone".
This is my 3rd day of work and I am loving it. Seen the laser machine that I will be using soon. The principle behind is really interesting, and I am really lucky to have such a superb tutor! Together with her ever-dedidcated Phd student, I'm sure this will be a fruitful attachment.
Wish me luck!
7 more weeks to Malaysia! Can't wait!
