Phew. Just finished clearing the cobwebs on this blog.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come...
Boy am I excited at the impending holidays; christmas, going home and taking a break from everything:) After talking to Foong yesterday, I realised how out of touch I was with everything and everyone. Life here seems to work on a totally different time zone(nevermind that it actually is), and it frankly seems like I've been here forever.
Not that i'm not enjoying myself, I mean with climbing and activities every minute and hour, it's almost impossible to ever feel bored. Making pancakes at 2am in the morning? Heh:) And, tomorrow's St Nicholas Day, which is an excuse good enough for the Commune to hold a christmas party in the main piazza, complete with hot wine and performances:)
It's not that we don't do work here, why any of the second-years (and some first-years too) can probably write an extended essay just based on the things that they need to do, but then they'll never finish, because the work never does too. I'm taking time now to enjoy my first year, when i dont have to worry about university apps, ees, tok, basically all and sundry.
The thing though is that despite the work, there's just so much else on offer. And I mean activities:p MUN club tomorrow, carolling practice today, concert on Sunday, street bazaar, SOSudan, anything and everything. The only thing about many of the official events is that lots of it is in italian and so I don't understand all that I would like to. I mean seriously, speeches are often quite interesting?
And yet, at the same time, many of us seem to wonder why we deserved to get this chance. It's definitely not only about bringing young people from all over the world together, and allowing them to have a cultural exchange. Why, if that was so, it could be done in many more less costly ways.
United World Colleges makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures to ensure peace and a sustainable future.
Personally, much of what we contribute back to UWC and the sponsors will take place after we leave the college, while in our different environments, spreading the simple messages of greater understanding and an interest in the world in those around us.
But that should also not stop us from doing something while at the college, making use of the vast talents and expertise of everyone here. Something that is able to effect a practical change in a situation that needs help. Something that must be sustained and constantly and persistently worked on.
We need to do more.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
HEH
Whoops.
I kinda promised to update this blog at least once a week, but it's been almost one month now.
It's 8pm now, and im sitting in a classroom, procrasting. Was supposed to have a meeting half an hour ago, but could not find anyone. hmmm.
Life's been good. Just returned from Villach, an Austrian border town about 2 and a half hours away from Trieste. It was really nice, especially since autumn has arrived and the trees are turning colour! Time is passing soooo quickly, and yet it seems like i've been here forever. The feeling's just so wierd.But i am enjoying it haha
I was supposed to have a math test tomorrow, but found out that i need to go down to register my fingerprint for the permit thingy. Alone. Goodness knows how im going to communicate with my barely-there Italian:p.
Have lots of homework including 2 lab reports to do, and yet i still find myself sitting in front of the computer, hoping that the reports will do themselves (nothing suggestive here)
I look forward so much to thursdays cos that's when we go climbing! Unfortunately, there's no climbing this week since all saints day falls on thursday...We will be going to Rome and Milan in 2 weeks time! I think i'm more excited about going together with everyone else rather than the idea of going itself. Furthermore, since our tutorial group will be staying with several other interesting tutorial groups, i reckon we might just have a mighty interesting time...
Congrats to all who finished promos and I really hope that you all are happy with your results:) School is ending for so many and barely starting for me....
I'll be back in Singapore on Dec21!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see everyone again:)
I kinda promised to update this blog at least once a week, but it's been almost one month now.
It's 8pm now, and im sitting in a classroom, procrasting. Was supposed to have a meeting half an hour ago, but could not find anyone. hmmm.
Life's been good. Just returned from Villach, an Austrian border town about 2 and a half hours away from Trieste. It was really nice, especially since autumn has arrived and the trees are turning colour! Time is passing soooo quickly, and yet it seems like i've been here forever. The feeling's just so wierd.But i am enjoying it haha
I was supposed to have a math test tomorrow, but found out that i need to go down to register my fingerprint for the permit thingy. Alone. Goodness knows how im going to communicate with my barely-there Italian:p.
Have lots of homework including 2 lab reports to do, and yet i still find myself sitting in front of the computer, hoping that the reports will do themselves (nothing suggestive here)
I look forward so much to thursdays cos that's when we go climbing! Unfortunately, there's no climbing this week since all saints day falls on thursday...We will be going to Rome and Milan in 2 weeks time! I think i'm more excited about going together with everyone else rather than the idea of going itself. Furthermore, since our tutorial group will be staying with several other interesting tutorial groups, i reckon we might just have a mighty interesting time...
Congrats to all who finished promos and I really hope that you all are happy with your results:) School is ending for so many and barely starting for me....
I'll be back in Singapore on Dec21!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see everyone again:)
Thursday, October 4, 2007
This past week and weekend in particular has been simply fabulous. We had this long weekend last week, where we got friday off, in addition to sat and sunday, making it a 3 day holiday. Together with about 15 others, I went to this mountain range called the Dolomites. It's basically part of the Italian Alps, on the border with Austria. The best part about it was that it happened to be snowing the day before we arrived and so we couldnt do what we originally planned to do, which was to climb a mountain, about 2500m using this other system of rock climbing called the via ferrata system, and so we kind of spent a whole morng walking up a mountain with snow up to almost our knees. some pple were really experienced, but for tropical pple like me, it was really quite an adventure. i think i spent more time falling in the snow then i did walking in it.
The best part was probably going down the slope. Because it is usually used for downhill skiing, its not too steep nor too gentle. Instead of walking down in a dignified manner, we all ended up running down the slope, trying to pretend that our hiking boots were frictionless. THat was seriously FUN. the snow was still fresh and soft and perfect for sliding down on. It was about 3pm when we got back to our mountain refuge, which was this cute little rustic house kind of in the middle of nowhere. We played board games and tried to warm up while some pple went by van to the nearest village. Crazy as i was, i decided to join some others who were taking a "short walk" up a mountain, which was actually quite nice. As it was pretty late, we could only walk for abt an hour before we had to head back for dinner, which was prepared by our guides. And then, after dinner, i totally lost my mind and agreed to go on another walk, despite having already walked pretty much the whole day.
That was the icing on the cake. Seriously. About 5 of us took a 5 minute walk to a nearby stream, where we spent abt 1/2 an hour in silence whether lying down or standing up, simply thinking. Indeed, its moments like these that remind you what life's about. aNyhow, it was a great weekend as expeditions always are. oh we also finally managed to do a bit of rockclimbing cum hiking up this ~2200m mountain called ponte fiames, which was tiring but great. Inshort, expeditions ever fail to brighten my day, week, month, year, and this certainly didnt break the trend.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Pics
Hey Pple! you can check the pics out at http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/germaine_liu/. I'm in the process of putting more...soon:)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
whoa
WHoops. I didnt realize how long this blog has laid stagnant for.
After 5 consecutive hours of lessons this morning, all i wanted to do was flop onto my nice soft bed and Sleep. but, of course some things are more important than others. like rock climbing:)
I never realized how different and similar artificial rock walls are to the real thing. techniques used are mainly the same, esp when it comes to belaying and top-rope or lead climbing.
what i did with my physical activity group today though was different. instead of going vertically up, many times, we were walking along the cliff, suspended from cables attached to our harnesses and carabiners. more like bouldering i guess.
there are mainly limestone cliffs around here which are great for handholds and stuff like that and the college has equipment and has also brought in some external instructors! the best part abt it is that Nnxt week, there is a long weekend, where we get friday off, and so I'll be going to the Dolomites, a limestone range for 3 glorious days, hopefully!
My thoughts now are quite start-stop and broken, ,probably cos there's so much to say, and so little time. im currently in the study room of my residence, where theres like internet. I was lucky to get a nice and new residence, which although does not have the view of the sea like other residences, does have a separate huge bathroom which only 4 pple share, which is luxurious in comparison to many residences. We have a fully-equipped kitchen, but mainly go to a main school canteen for our meals.
School has been ok with some lessons better than others. For example, what we are covering in math and the sciences now are what i covered in the firs sem of JC, and so thigns are pretty repetitive. not that im complaining though, cos it gives me more time to concentrate on my Italian, which is unfortunately kinda non-existent.
Haha but anyway, got to go now. Take care everyone!
After 5 consecutive hours of lessons this morning, all i wanted to do was flop onto my nice soft bed and Sleep. but, of course some things are more important than others. like rock climbing:)
I never realized how different and similar artificial rock walls are to the real thing. techniques used are mainly the same, esp when it comes to belaying and top-rope or lead climbing.
what i did with my physical activity group today though was different. instead of going vertically up, many times, we were walking along the cliff, suspended from cables attached to our harnesses and carabiners. more like bouldering i guess.
there are mainly limestone cliffs around here which are great for handholds and stuff like that and the college has equipment and has also brought in some external instructors! the best part abt it is that Nnxt week, there is a long weekend, where we get friday off, and so I'll be going to the Dolomites, a limestone range for 3 glorious days, hopefully!
My thoughts now are quite start-stop and broken, ,probably cos there's so much to say, and so little time. im currently in the study room of my residence, where theres like internet. I was lucky to get a nice and new residence, which although does not have the view of the sea like other residences, does have a separate huge bathroom which only 4 pple share, which is luxurious in comparison to many residences. We have a fully-equipped kitchen, but mainly go to a main school canteen for our meals.
School has been ok with some lessons better than others. For example, what we are covering in math and the sciences now are what i covered in the firs sem of JC, and so thigns are pretty repetitive. not that im complaining though, cos it gives me more time to concentrate on my Italian, which is unfortunately kinda non-existent.
Haha but anyway, got to go now. Take care everyone!
Monday, August 27, 2007
day 4
Its been 4 days now.
I arrived in Duino on Friday afternoon *Duino is 6 hours behind Singapore in summer* with like 3 pieces of big luggage and a haversack. Whew.
Am now in the computer room, after coming back from Trieste, the nearest major city, which had its origins as a port in the Austro-hungarian Empire. Lots of history here yeah.
The residence that I have been given is a wonderful one, complete with kitchen, basement and lots of nice rooms. It's more a house than a hostel, with 15 girls and a house tutor. i have 3 room mates, from Hungary, Italy and Norway and other residence mates from countries like Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece... Pretty multinational.
Theres more. We just had a physical activities briefing today and I really really hope to take climbing *real limestone cliffs!!!*, sailingandkayakingandhikingandmusic lessonsandsocialserviceandsomethingtodowithscience! Oh. and did i mention that there are only 24 hours in a day? Whoops.
Anyway, we will see if we can do some magic, and in the meantime. Take Care and Ciao!
Germaine
(my Western Sahara second year insists that Germaine is Jameen, which is a male name, and thus i should be called Jamilah)
I arrived in Duino on Friday afternoon *Duino is 6 hours behind Singapore in summer* with like 3 pieces of big luggage and a haversack. Whew.
Am now in the computer room, after coming back from Trieste, the nearest major city, which had its origins as a port in the Austro-hungarian Empire. Lots of history here yeah.
The residence that I have been given is a wonderful one, complete with kitchen, basement and lots of nice rooms. It's more a house than a hostel, with 15 girls and a house tutor. i have 3 room mates, from Hungary, Italy and Norway and other residence mates from countries like Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece... Pretty multinational.
Theres more. We just had a physical activities briefing today and I really really hope to take climbing *real limestone cliffs!!!*, sailingandkayakingandhikingandmusic lessonsandsocialserviceandsomethingtodowithscience! Oh. and did i mention that there are only 24 hours in a day? Whoops.
Anyway, we will see if we can do some magic, and in the meantime. Take Care and Ciao!
Germaine
(my Western Sahara second year insists that Germaine is Jameen, which is a male name, and thus i should be called Jamilah)
Friday, August 24, 2007
the first hello!
It’s been 5 days since that last glance.
Nothing has changed, and yet all has.
Spending the last few days in a land where fountains literally flow aplenty, the eternal city has indeed much to offer; both to the common and discerning alike.
I spent an entire day in none other than the Vatican City, walking under countless frescoes, ornate rooms, peering intently at century-old artifacts, trying (note: try) to decipher all that meaning behind these great works. However, dense as I am, the one form of culture that I probably gained was a yoghurt.
It’s been nice so far though, especially on Tuesday, when I went up to Castel Gandolfo, a little town overlooking some great scenery. If it sounds familiar or famous, it’s not just because I’ve been there (cue: choke) but ‘cos it’s none other than the summer residence of the Pope.
It was a great 5 hours spent with a great friend, one whom I look up to, really and whom has in her own unassuming way taught me so much. It was really, really nice to see her and have one of those long (and meaningful) conversations.
I have never been one of great sentiment, always believing that it’s so much easier to untangle oneself when the knot is not so tight; and continuing correspondence really made me realise that little things like a short email or letter to stay in touch make such a difference.
I hardly had the chance to thank every single person who means so much to me. I’ll briefly try and include as many pple because this is really really important but I’m also quite lousy at many important things.
Thanks to everyone, really.
Sec 4/1! I really didn’t expect all that and it was really so heart warming to see everyone again. It was almost as if we had never parted, and I had a wonderful time listening to and playing all those funny, silly yet great games. Although you all probably had to move mountains and seas to collect badges and book the room, you all did it, and I’m really want to thank everyoneJ.
Sec 2/2! It’s been 3 years since we were together as a class, yet it seems the ties have never frayed. It was great to see you all on national day, although it was a small group of us, which was nonetheless really good. And of cos my “greek partners-in-crime”, thanksJ
IJ councillors! Thanks for the reminder on which country I’m fromJ I think that I must do something to change my image because everyone seems to think that I have the memory of a goldfish! Haha I really remember everyone who wrote, and many more! To last years sec 4s, thanks for everything, it was great seeing everyone (well not everyone, I mean, well I didn’t see everyone, not it was not great seeing everyone. I should keep quiet. You get it.) that day!
08S03Q! Although I seemed to have the emotions of a stonefish, I’m really touched by all the things you all did for me. The party, candle light in the field, pizza, book… my goodness, the things done are endless! No point saying it now, but I really couldn’t and can’t bear to leave everything and everyone behind. Work hard (that I prob don’t need to say), play equally hard, and stay together yeah?
Odac! 23! Yikes, I really really am so sad at not being able to go for EOY and other trips. Every single activity was such great fun, and all probably would beJ I know that there are so many Odacians who are full of passion and love for the club, and I really can’t see anything greater for Odac to have than passionate members. Thanks for everything, especially the cakesJ Although they were fattening, especially at 12 am 2 days in a row, they were really really nice and meant a lot.
L’abbits! Esp the 3 best OGLs in the world! Some people take years to find a few great friends but It took only 3 short days to get such a great group of friends (pretty worth it, huh?) No one would have even dreamed that something like that would have happened. But it did. No one might ever truly get over it, but as long as we are there for each other, as we were at that most crucial time, everything will be fine. Oh! And Thanks for the board tooJ
All my teachers! From my IJ teachers, to my RJ teachers, to my piano teacher, to non-former-teachers- of-mine! Thank you for everything. Really.
All my friends and everyone whom I haven’t mentioned specifically. You all matter and will always.
Ok I had better stop here for today. Will write more when the time comes to. In the meantime, if anyone is making plans for holidays… come visit!
My Address is:
Collegio Del Mondo Unito Dell’ Adriatico
Via Trieste 29
34011 DUINO (TS)
ITALY
Well, at least I think that that is what it is?
Yup I’m actually currently still in Milan, meeting up with some relatives who live here, and will be going down to Duino, Trieste today.
Ok! I had better end this here today! Till then, ciao!
Nothing has changed, and yet all has.
Spending the last few days in a land where fountains literally flow aplenty, the eternal city has indeed much to offer; both to the common and discerning alike.
I spent an entire day in none other than the Vatican City, walking under countless frescoes, ornate rooms, peering intently at century-old artifacts, trying (note: try) to decipher all that meaning behind these great works. However, dense as I am, the one form of culture that I probably gained was a yoghurt.
It’s been nice so far though, especially on Tuesday, when I went up to Castel Gandolfo, a little town overlooking some great scenery. If it sounds familiar or famous, it’s not just because I’ve been there (cue: choke) but ‘cos it’s none other than the summer residence of the Pope.
It was a great 5 hours spent with a great friend, one whom I look up to, really and whom has in her own unassuming way taught me so much. It was really, really nice to see her and have one of those long (and meaningful) conversations.
I have never been one of great sentiment, always believing that it’s so much easier to untangle oneself when the knot is not so tight; and continuing correspondence really made me realise that little things like a short email or letter to stay in touch make such a difference.
I hardly had the chance to thank every single person who means so much to me. I’ll briefly try and include as many pple because this is really really important but I’m also quite lousy at many important things.
Thanks to everyone, really.
Sec 4/1! I really didn’t expect all that and it was really so heart warming to see everyone again. It was almost as if we had never parted, and I had a wonderful time listening to and playing all those funny, silly yet great games. Although you all probably had to move mountains and seas to collect badges and book the room, you all did it, and I’m really want to thank everyoneJ.
Sec 2/2! It’s been 3 years since we were together as a class, yet it seems the ties have never frayed. It was great to see you all on national day, although it was a small group of us, which was nonetheless really good. And of cos my “greek partners-in-crime”, thanksJ
IJ councillors! Thanks for the reminder on which country I’m fromJ I think that I must do something to change my image because everyone seems to think that I have the memory of a goldfish! Haha I really remember everyone who wrote, and many more! To last years sec 4s, thanks for everything, it was great seeing everyone (well not everyone, I mean, well I didn’t see everyone, not it was not great seeing everyone. I should keep quiet. You get it.) that day!
08S03Q! Although I seemed to have the emotions of a stonefish, I’m really touched by all the things you all did for me. The party, candle light in the field, pizza, book… my goodness, the things done are endless! No point saying it now, but I really couldn’t and can’t bear to leave everything and everyone behind. Work hard (that I prob don’t need to say), play equally hard, and stay together yeah?
Odac! 23! Yikes, I really really am so sad at not being able to go for EOY and other trips. Every single activity was such great fun, and all probably would beJ I know that there are so many Odacians who are full of passion and love for the club, and I really can’t see anything greater for Odac to have than passionate members. Thanks for everything, especially the cakesJ Although they were fattening, especially at 12 am 2 days in a row, they were really really nice and meant a lot.
L’abbits! Esp the 3 best OGLs in the world! Some people take years to find a few great friends but It took only 3 short days to get such a great group of friends (pretty worth it, huh?) No one would have even dreamed that something like that would have happened. But it did. No one might ever truly get over it, but as long as we are there for each other, as we were at that most crucial time, everything will be fine. Oh! And Thanks for the board tooJ
All my teachers! From my IJ teachers, to my RJ teachers, to my piano teacher, to non-former-teachers- of-mine! Thank you for everything. Really.
All my friends and everyone whom I haven’t mentioned specifically. You all matter and will always.
Ok I had better stop here for today. Will write more when the time comes to. In the meantime, if anyone is making plans for holidays… come visit!
My Address is:
Collegio Del Mondo Unito Dell’ Adriatico
Via Trieste 29
34011 DUINO (TS)
ITALY
Well, at least I think that that is what it is?
Yup I’m actually currently still in Milan, meeting up with some relatives who live here, and will be going down to Duino, Trieste today.
Ok! I had better end this here today! Till then, ciao!
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