As I begin this series, I thought it might be good to promote a similar series on my Mandarin blog, uninspiringly called "FlashbackT", but will settle on a unified name for it all soon.
Meanwhile, here's a reply to my blog post of August 2012, titled Sem Break. Apt start, seeing that this week marks the (official) beginning of my summer break.
First off, I have not stuck with Musicovery for the longest time ever. Not since writing the post two years ago. I am picky about my songs, and sometimes too much so. Skipping songs I don't like is a bad habit I should get out of, but have yet to do so. Using Spotify these days, it's easy to navigate, and I can instantly save songs I like to a playlist.
Next, I have yet to sort out music organization on my hard disk. In fact, over the past two years I have stopped downloading songs altogether, and have mostly been streaming my songs, or just listening to podcasts.
And I have a new laptop! Sort of. It's been with me since Dec last year, so not all that new.. Bought it with my own salary, with Dad topping up the balance when I went over-budget. Loving the speed of the CPU, but no, Wins 8 is not my favourite OS. Wanting to go back to a Mac sometime before my student discount runs out.
On the other hand, I have picked up ArchiCAD! Two years after viewing my first introductory tutorial, and then giving up two months into the semester, I picked it up again this sem when I got tired of seeing everyone use advanced BIM programs while I was stuck with basic drafting softwares. It was easier than I thought to relearn AC, and I produced pretty decent drawings and renderings IMO. Not the best ever, but I think I did well. Just as a comparison to myself.
Now for the new.
Have got some stuff lined up for summer break, although the fact I can't see beyond the next two weeks depresses me. I foresee a long, hot, and lonely break. But don't get me started on that.
- Yying and Teacher Ngiam is coming to visit me this weekend! That sounds like they're just popping by but they're actually flying 8 hours from Singapore to Brisbane!
- UQ Architecture summer/graduate exhibition. This was my research elective for this sem. More on this later.
- Portfolio and job search! Have got a list of architecture firms I would like to work for/with. Currently working on my portfolio to be sent out two months ago.
That's all for now. Cheers!
ps I thought I'd schedule this for Thursday, seeing it's the day I update my other blog, and they might as well sync so that my readers (what few there are) can read them on the same day. But this Thurs is a special day (ie extra post!), so I'll just post a couple of days early. Just for this week.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
the Walk home
At the end of my last blog post I came up with the idea of a blog series featuring my walks home. A little background history for those who don't know, evening walks are a huge part of my life. It's always a time for me to think, talk to my best friend/bf, sing to myself, and watch the world go by. Besides, I love sunsets, and evenings have just the right temperature to be walking in tropical Malaysia.
When I was little, I walked to school every day. (#interestingfact If I walked really fast I can get to my second-floor classroom in 10 minutes, door to door) In lower primary, my mom would come get me after class, and we would walk home through the neighbourhood park. I had a decent childhood on those swings and monkey bars. And then if dad came home early, he would meet us at the park, or even if he doesn't, I would still look forward to welcoming him home.
When I stayed in the dorms in high school, dinner was at 6pm. My friend JX is (was?) a firm believer ofchewing 30 times for each mouthful after-dinner walks to aid digestions, and because I didn't have much to do anyway, I walked w her every evening. Our walks would take us around the school compound, and depending on our moods we would sometimes walk to (and then stand talking at) the flagpoles right in front, facing the busy highway, or down the basketball courts reachable by a flight of really long and steep stairs, or most times just round and round the academic blocks. These walks usually last 15-20 minutes, which is just about enough time for an installment of the latest teenage saga. We walked our way though homesickness, exam stress, family problems, boy troubles, our future careers (or lack of), and many other topics.
And then in undergrad I started taking public transport after deciding that it's much less trouble to do so than to rely on mom and dad for a ride to and from uni. I was an architecture student after all, no regular hours for us! Thus began the many walks to the bus stops. I chose to travel during those times because 1) Aforementioned cooler temperature, 2) I didn't like walking in the dark, 3) to hitch a ride with dad, and 4) aforementioned love for sunsets. Yes, I sometimes chose to brave the rush hour public transport just to catch the sunset that is prettiest round the corner to the bus stop.
After moving to Brisbane earlier this year, I treasured my evening walks even more. This was surprisingly because of the lack of regularity in my life. I have only three days of contact hours, and some of them depending on tutorial slots, so I never knew when I would spend the whole day hanging around in uni, or not step foot outside my place for days.
That's the background. Back to the series. I thought I'd share some of my observations on the walk home.
When I was little, I walked to school every day. (#interestingfact If I walked really fast I can get to my second-floor classroom in 10 minutes, door to door) In lower primary, my mom would come get me after class, and we would walk home through the neighbourhood park. I had a decent childhood on those swings and monkey bars. And then if dad came home early, he would meet us at the park, or even if he doesn't, I would still look forward to welcoming him home.
When I stayed in the dorms in high school, dinner was at 6pm. My friend JX is (was?) a firm believer of
And then in undergrad I started taking public transport after deciding that it's much less trouble to do so than to rely on mom and dad for a ride to and from uni. I was an architecture student after all, no regular hours for us! Thus began the many walks to the bus stops. I chose to travel during those times because 1) Aforementioned cooler temperature, 2) I didn't like walking in the dark, 3) to hitch a ride with dad, and 4) aforementioned love for sunsets. Yes, I sometimes chose to brave the rush hour public transport just to catch the sunset that is prettiest round the corner to the bus stop.
After moving to Brisbane earlier this year, I treasured my evening walks even more. This was surprisingly because of the lack of regularity in my life. I have only three days of contact hours, and some of them depending on tutorial slots, so I never knew when I would spend the whole day hanging around in uni, or not step foot outside my place for days.
That's the background. Back to the series. I thought I'd share some of my observations on the walk home.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Replies
... taking a break from work, because having worked non-stop since last week, I knew I needed a break lest I just stretch till I snap. It has happened before, and we all know a grumpy sarah does not a designer make, don't we?
After the lengthy blog post last week, I am reminded of why I loved writing. There is just something satisfying about fingers flying across the keyboard, watching ideas become sentences before I think about them (and without looking at the keyboard. Yes I am proud of the fact I can type without looking). Hence I resolve to pick up writing again... but what do I write about?
Like all good creative types (ha ha), I know the value of precedents, and what better than to read my old posts? I'll have you know I have written 160 posts on this blog, 86 on its predecessor, and at least 8 years worth on my official, public (Mandarin) blog. So I looked.
I'm not sure I liked myself. I whined and complained a lot. Like seriously A LOT. I refer to my final year in undergrad Architecture (2012), where majority of the posts are homework lists or posts about crying, with a few crushes thrown in.
Then again, I suppose I still do that. Me being me, I present a stoicexpressionless poker-face to the world, leading them to think Sarah is always calm, dignified, and never needs help, while privately (again, see my older blog posts), and to my close friends, I freak out at the littlest things.
"I forgot to eat dinner, breakfast, and lunch!"
"I don't think I can finish my work before the deadline!"
"I can't find my Go Card!"
I guess I'm like mom in that way. She seems very organized and easy-going, but my, how she carries on when calamity happens.
So I was saying, I read some of my older posts, looking for inspiration, and thinking I should really update some of the posts to reflect wishes granted, or plans unfulfilled.. *lightbulb moment*, I decide to write a series called "Replies!" Which is like FlashbackThursday, except I'm replying to myself... Nah, it's exactly like FlashbackT. Except "Replies!" sounds better, or maybe "Pingback!"...
ps Just before I hit Publish, I came up with an idea for another series called "the Walk home". #mentalnote
After the lengthy blog post last week, I am reminded of why I loved writing. There is just something satisfying about fingers flying across the keyboard, watching ideas become sentences before I think about them (and without looking at the keyboard. Yes I am proud of the fact I can type without looking). Hence I resolve to pick up writing again... but what do I write about?
Like all good creative types (ha ha), I know the value of precedents, and what better than to read my old posts? I'll have you know I have written 160 posts on this blog, 86 on its predecessor, and at least 8 years worth on my official, public (Mandarin) blog. So I looked.
I'm not sure I liked myself. I whined and complained a lot. Like seriously A LOT. I refer to my final year in undergrad Architecture (2012), where majority of the posts are homework lists or posts about crying, with a few crushes thrown in.
Then again, I suppose I still do that. Me being me, I present a stoic
"I forgot to eat dinner, breakfast, and lunch!"
"I don't think I can finish my work before the deadline!"
"I can't find my Go Card!"
I guess I'm like mom in that way. She seems very organized and easy-going, but my, how she carries on when calamity happens.
So I was saying, I read some of my older posts, looking for inspiration, and thinking I should really update some of the posts to reflect wishes granted, or plans unfulfilled.. *lightbulb moment*, I decide to write a series called "Replies!" Which is like FlashbackThursday, except I'm replying to myself... Nah, it's exactly like FlashbackT. Except "Replies!" sounds better, or maybe "Pingback!"...
ps Just before I hit Publish, I came up with an idea for another series called "the Walk home". #mentalnote
Friday, November 7, 2014
The White Wedding Dress aka Convention or Blind Tradition
Just had a long, long talk with le bf regarding traditions. The following are my notes and personal thoughts on our conversation. They are by no means to be taken as the absolute truth. Even the ones pertaining Christianity. I love God, but I am still (and possibly thinking that I would never be able to finish) learning about Him.
Wearing red during Chinese New Year is auspicious and symbolizes bringing prosperity.
Does that mean by intentionally following this tradition, we are secretly wishing for luck to come to us? Following this thought, well-wishes and prayers ("May God grant you a clear head for your exam tomorrow").
Folklore and ethnic traditions.
Ok so Halloween is evil, because "there are always more evil rituals, animal sacrifices, desecrations of cemeteries and thefts of sacred bones at the time of the 31 October" (quote a Catholic exorcist). Hari Gawai promotes animism, which is totally in opposition to Christianity, never mind that Thanksgiving holds the same meaning, that o being thankful and giving thanks to (God, forefathers, the rain god, etc). DuanWu Festival, a day to commemorate the death o Qu Yuan (a faithful advisor to an emporor o China), should be banned, because QY actually committed suicide, and the original dumplings were made to be thrown into the river to deter fishes from eating his body, which makes it an extremely pagan festival; even though this story holds many morals (ie faithfulness, kindness).
It is not about the content at all, is it? Life is not about moralities and good values.
Tradition of cleaning ancestral graves, lighting candles and bringing fresh flowers, in remembrance o our ancestors.
I agree wholeheartedly that they would not be smiling down from heaven because we do that. I argue that following this (family) tradition does not affect my ancestors a jot, but matters a lot to the people left behind. We take this day to remember our forefathers, what they did during their lifetimes, how they helped us; we teach our children to emulate the kindness o Great-Aunt Sally, we remind them that Cousin Matt was a cheerful young man before cancer took him from us.
These stories show us the light o Christ, or the darkness o Satan, is within each o us, and how life can throw us curve balls.
Why a special day set aside when one can easily do that any time, you ask? (Celebrating Easter, birthdays and anniversaries comes to mind. But I shall not presume.)
Baptism and Christianity.
So Baptists practice full immersion in baptism even if God did not decree it so. Traditional Anglicans follow (most o) the Roman Catholic liturgy and a lot o their traditions (saints, Eucharist, modified 'Hail Mary's). Pentecostal Christians call to the Holy Spirit, when they should be devoting 90% o their energies to understanding the Gospel. (This last is just the basic assumption o a lot o my friends). Some churches (denomination unknown, but Protestant) even preach that good works is necessary (in addition to Jesus' D&R) for salvation.
These are the same people who identify themselves as Christians. They (mostly) acknowledge each other to be brothers in Christ.
Tell me again why Christians tend to reject Roman Catholics outright, and refuse to see them as followers o Christ?
The White Wedding Dress.
I have not had time to look up the origins o this tradition, but Google tells me, "It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, and in reverence to God. It is also a picture o the righteousness o Christ described in Rev 19:7-8".
If it is just symbolism, can I dispense w it? If I refuse to wear white to my baptism, would they still baptize me?
Did God tell us exactly what we do in our lives, or did he just give us guidelines?
Wearing red during Chinese New Year is auspicious and symbolizes bringing prosperity.
Does that mean by intentionally following this tradition, we are secretly wishing for luck to come to us? Following this thought, well-wishes and prayers ("May God grant you a clear head for your exam tomorrow").
Folklore and ethnic traditions.
Ok so Halloween is evil, because "there are always more evil rituals, animal sacrifices, desecrations of cemeteries and thefts of sacred bones at the time of the 31 October" (quote a Catholic exorcist). Hari Gawai promotes animism, which is totally in opposition to Christianity, never mind that Thanksgiving holds the same meaning, that o being thankful and giving thanks to (God, forefathers, the rain god, etc). DuanWu Festival, a day to commemorate the death o Qu Yuan (a faithful advisor to an emporor o China), should be banned, because QY actually committed suicide, and the original dumplings were made to be thrown into the river to deter fishes from eating his body, which makes it an extremely pagan festival; even though this story holds many morals (ie faithfulness, kindness).
It is not about the content at all, is it? Life is not about moralities and good values.
Tradition of cleaning ancestral graves, lighting candles and bringing fresh flowers, in remembrance o our ancestors.
I agree wholeheartedly that they would not be smiling down from heaven because we do that. I argue that following this (family) tradition does not affect my ancestors a jot, but matters a lot to the people left behind. We take this day to remember our forefathers, what they did during their lifetimes, how they helped us; we teach our children to emulate the kindness o Great-Aunt Sally, we remind them that Cousin Matt was a cheerful young man before cancer took him from us.
These stories show us the light o Christ, or the darkness o Satan, is within each o us, and how life can throw us curve balls.
Why a special day set aside when one can easily do that any time, you ask? (Celebrating Easter, birthdays and anniversaries comes to mind. But I shall not presume.)
Baptism and Christianity.
So Baptists practice full immersion in baptism even if God did not decree it so. Traditional Anglicans follow (most o) the Roman Catholic liturgy and a lot o their traditions (saints, Eucharist, modified 'Hail Mary's). Pentecostal Christians call to the Holy Spirit, when they should be devoting 90% o their energies to understanding the Gospel. (This last is just the basic assumption o a lot o my friends). Some churches (denomination unknown, but Protestant) even preach that good works is necessary (in addition to Jesus' D&R) for salvation.
These are the same people who identify themselves as Christians. They (mostly) acknowledge each other to be brothers in Christ.
Tell me again why Christians tend to reject Roman Catholics outright, and refuse to see them as followers o Christ?
The White Wedding Dress.
I have not had time to look up the origins o this tradition, but Google tells me, "It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, and in reverence to God. It is also a picture o the righteousness o Christ described in Rev 19:7-8".
If it is just symbolism, can I dispense w it? If I refuse to wear white to my baptism, would they still baptize me?
Did God tell us exactly what we do in our lives, or did he just give us guidelines?
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Youtube crawl- my list
... reminds me o the days long ago in primary school when we would write lists o our favourite things to our friends in what we used to call "autograph books" (our version of a yearbook).
Anyway, after spending 20 years o giving people blank looks when they ask what kind o songs I like, which bands I follow, etc, I thought it is time for me to get my thoughts sorted, and where else but outside o my head to do that?
Recent Youtube history saw me listening to
1. Avril Lavigne. Older songs such as "Smile", "What the hell", and "Complicated".
2. Kurt Hugo Schneider. He's an awesome, awesome music producer who works w Sam Tsui, Max Schneider, and any number o good Youtube artists. He's a whiz w a good number o instruments, and has a nice, mellow voice.
3. Ellie Goulding. Getting there. "Burn" really got me though.
4. Lindsey Stirling. A recent addition too. Nad recommended "Rather Be" to me, and it just escalated from there.
5. ThePianoGuys. "Beethoven's 5 secrets", "Love Story meets Viva la Vida". Nuff said.
6. Taylor Swift. Sorry not sorry, guilty pleasure.
7. A Great Big World. "Say Something", "Already Home". Emo night just got teary.
8. SHE <3
9. Sam Tsui. "Just Give me a Reason", "Just a Dream".
10. Jayesslee. So they've gotten married and had two adorable baby boys within months o each other. And have yet to get back to singing. But their harmony is always amazing and their bubbly personalities never fail to lift my spirits.
*Jayesslee and SHE are the only two singing groups that I follow personally, ie reading about their doings, following their social media, etc, and feel confident about their characters. Others I just liked their voice/songs.
Anyway, after spending 20 years o giving people blank looks when they ask what kind o songs I like, which bands I follow, etc, I thought it is time for me to get my thoughts sorted, and where else but outside o my head to do that?
Recent Youtube history saw me listening to
1. Avril Lavigne. Older songs such as "Smile", "What the hell", and "Complicated".
2. Kurt Hugo Schneider. He's an awesome, awesome music producer who works w Sam Tsui, Max Schneider, and any number o good Youtube artists. He's a whiz w a good number o instruments, and has a nice, mellow voice.
3. Ellie Goulding. Getting there. "Burn" really got me though.
4. Lindsey Stirling. A recent addition too. Nad recommended "Rather Be" to me, and it just escalated from there.
5. ThePianoGuys. "Beethoven's 5 secrets", "Love Story meets Viva la Vida". Nuff said.
6. Taylor Swift. Sorry not sorry, guilty pleasure.
7. A Great Big World. "Say Something", "Already Home". Emo night just got teary.
8. SHE <3
9. Sam Tsui. "Just Give me a Reason", "Just a Dream".
10. Jayesslee. So they've gotten married and had two adorable baby boys within months o each other. And have yet to get back to singing. But their harmony is always amazing and their bubbly personalities never fail to lift my spirits.
*Jayesslee and SHE are the only two singing groups that I follow personally, ie reading about their doings, following their social media, etc, and feel confident about their characters. Others I just liked their voice/songs.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Again a lapse
... of days since I've written. Then again I suppose my excuses are justified- the crazy submission period and then a camping trip at the beginning o summer break.
Just started reading the book "Fiddler in the Subway: The story of the world class violinist who played for handouts.. And other virtuoso performances by America's foremost feature writer" by Gene Weingarten. It's a book about journalism. Or feature articles. Or life and death. Or maybe a mixture o each.
I've gotten as far as page 22 (this being an ebook on my iPhone), and it's prompted me to write. That, combined w some good blogs I've been following recently, challenged me to resume blogging. Really blogging, not just jotting down random words.
Starting w more pictures I guess. And proper legible sentences.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Mid sem crit
It was hard. I stayed over at my classmate Nad's for four days, eating mechanically and sleeping only a few hours a day. Until I ko-ed at 6am on presentation day.
But it was worth it. For once I really loved my building and though I did a great job. Not that I didn't make little mistakes here and there, and that I would love to have had time to photoshop a bit more, but all things considered, I guess I should give myself a pat and say well done.
Posted this on fb, but I really just want post my thanks again to-
.. Nadeera. For putting up w me, feeding me, and listening to my "in your honest opinions, dyou prefer..".
.. my boo. Dear, I have tried to be strong and independent but sometimes I need a shoulder to lean on, or someone to give me a boost now and then. Thank you for your support the last few days.
.. Ivy. For bringing me food and being a good friends.
.. Helen. For your prayers. Comforting especially at 3am.
.. Guo Yi. For 'proofreading'.
Also, thank you God, for everything.
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