First Year at HKUST

Dear jumjum...

  This post marks the end of the freshman year.

  A week before the start of Fall term 2013, I remember the four of us sitting in HY's and my room, and we were scared sh*tless of the stories and rumours about how hard it was to get a good grade in UST. HY was looking at me and warning me not to do anything stupid, she said she didn't want to come back to the room and find her roommate lifeless...

  About a year ago we were preparing for A2 exams and everyone was asking what my plans were after A Levels. I dreaded that question because I had applied to some unis after AS results were released but had heard back from none. I remember that night after another Starbucks-math session, I drove home and everyone was already asleep. I was sitting on my bed checking my email, and read this:

(23/4/13)
'Dear Jacqueline Theeng Mei,
Congratulations, we are delighted to inform you that your application for admission to The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is successful.  '

  You have no idea how happy and proud and relieved and excited I was...I had never been to HK and it was so foreign to think I would study here. I woke Mummy up and showed her the email and she gave me a big hug but I could tell she was sad. Even when she accompanied me here in August I think she had a challenging time taking in that I was moving out to study in another country.

  I came here because I lived in a small town, and I've always wanted to see how it would be like and how I would fair in a relatively good university. UST seemed not too far away from home, and I've always wanted to live in a city. Before the semester started, I told myself that I will do my best but I should be prepared for the worst. To be honest, my goal was just to pass each course because I really didn't know where I would stand among my peers. It wasn't as bad as I had expected- although I can safely say that I have never studied so hard in my life, but I have never enjoyed studying as much either!

  I think (so far) the difference between being in university compared to secondary school is that you really can't do it all. Choices and sacrifices have to be made. I devoted the Fall term to studying and dancing, but my friends and I decided that we had to drop it. It was a hard decision, but I'm happy I did (also, I doubt I would have passed the 2nd auditions). I really really really enjoyed dancing and performing again, and have meticulously saved all the videos for memories. Anyway, if I didn't quit I would have absolutely no time for iGEM! I enjoy iGEM not only because of all the Bio-y stuff but also because I finally have a mixed group of local and international friends. Also, guy friends. I'm not very sociable at all and during the entire Fall term I had no guy friends save the few Malaysians, and very few girl friends- which was a huge difference from the healthy blend of dudes and girls I have back at home. 

  Roommate drama! HY got accepted into her dream university during the Fall finals, so she left very suddenly. I was quite upset as we were such a perfect pair: We influenced each others' diets because we both knew the other was trying to eat healthy, we both have long hair (and contributed to hair all over the room), we took turns cleaning (unlike some of my friends' roommates I hear of), we didn't like to talk while in the room but when the mood was right we could talk the time away, and we had similar and constant sleep patterns and habits (YT right before bed with the lights off, and official sleeping time at 1am). Anyway in the Spring term I had another roommate, aaaand it was drama from the start. The initial problem was soon settled, but we never clicked and never had proper conversations with each other. Then out of the blue she stopped coming back, and she told me she was actually not my real roommate and she got caught. =.=

  When I first arrived in HK I didn't even know how to say 1-10 in Cantonese, and yesterday I attended the Catholic Society's mass for graduates and the priest said his sermon in Canto and I could actually understand (with intense concentration and thanks to Canto class)! I need to speak it more though, still not fluent at all. 

  I like that UST is not exactly in the city, therefore more conducive for studying; but it isn't too far away from 'civilization' either. My aunt always refers to me going to her place as 'coming out' and it makes me laugh every time cause it sounds like I live in the jungle xD 

  Experienced my first winter...bought my first winter coat and eet iz maroon in corour! Also, electric blankets rule the world.

  I'm so grateful for HJ BONNIE (hahahaha), my neighbour and the first friend I made in uni. We both did A Levels and are majoring in Biochem and Cell Bio, so 8 out of 10 of the courses we take are together, and she's so dedicated and driven that she makes the perfect studying partner and motivator. I seriously cannot imagine my uni life without her- I would be doing so many things alone if I never met her. Studying in the library for over 12 hours doesn't seem so miserable with someone else beside you. She is my blur, adorable little uni-daughter. I knock on her door to wake her up most mornings, keep track of her weird eating diets, I'm her navigator and she never needs to know where her exam room is because she just tags along xD

  The first year has simply flown by, and according to the seniors time will seem to accelerate as each year passes. I'm so grateful for the 7 gorgeous girl friends of the Jji jjis; for having an aunt who takes care of me here; for having the stream of cousins, friends and siblings visiting me; for the bunch of Malaysians to speak rojak language with; for the experiences big and small- humorous, educational, sad or otherwise; and for not failing any course so far! xD God's blessings have been abundant indeed. 

*atm*

Near Tantrum in the Library

Dear jumjum...

  There is this dude playing some game on his laptop next to me in the Learning Commons. He doesn't have a mouse pad and for some reason he feels the need to bang his mouse on the table every time he moves it. And for some reason he has to swear aloud and sigh at his stupid little game. I've been throwing him dirty looks but he doesn't seem to notice/care.

  LITTLE BOY, I'm trying to study. I slept at 3am last night and my earphones are not working. I suggest you keep it down or go somewhere else because I am THIS CLOSE to throwing my water bottle at your fat head!

*atm*

Virgin Clubbing Night

Dear jumjum...

  Patricia has been trying to get me to go clubbing with her since last semester, and I kept promising her but never actually going. Since I will be downgraded to  Hall V next year (Shared stall bathrooms! I can't go to bed without showering and no way I'm showering in Hall V at 4am), and since Patricia won't be here during the summer, I finally gave in when she said we should let off some steam a week before finals. Also, part of the reason why I yielded was because Chris was giving me an earful when I was back in Kuching for not doing any fun uni stuff. =/

  I spent the whole day in the library, going back to the hall around 11pm with my books and all, then coming out again half an hour later in a dress and with makeup on =) aaaaand I bumped into a couple of Malaysians in the lobby. 我的好名声毁了! They looked, err, very shocked and disbelieving. 

  There were 5 of us girls, we shared a cab to Lan Kwai Fong. It was....an eye opening experience. I had only ever been to bars and pubs, to play pool with dad, but never to a club. Also, I don't drink, save the occasional festive wine and shandy. My friend and I had agreed that we will stay sober and keep an eye on the rest. It was Ladies' Night we could drink for free (yes I can be very kiam ji sometimes). I only had one shot and one and a half glasses of flavoured vodka but I realised I was starting to spill my drink slightly so I stopped. In hindsight, I don't think I was drunk, probably just a bit disorientated from the music and the strobe lights. I really did enjoy dancing with the girls, but not the male attention. Especially as it got later and everyone became less inhibited...and came closer. Some random dude came up and held my hand and I sort of decided that was it, and stood in the corner for the rest of the night, joined by my other sober friend. And we were discussing whether or not we were drunk LOL.

Sober friend and I's 'drunk test' shot! Supposed to examine it the next day to determine if we were indeed drunk.

  I...don't know how much the girls would let me say about that night. But rest assured that nothing really wild happened, and my friend and I managed to rally the girls out and into a cab at 3am sharp. 

  I think...I won't go again. Not to Lan Kwai Fong anyway, unless I was with my brother or cousin or bf (someday??). But then I was video calling Freddy the next day and telling her all about it and she said she really wants to go there when she visits. So. We'll see. I haven't had the guts to tell my parents yet...I don't think they'll mind but it's hard to explain to them why I went a week before finals...heh heh. So if you're reading this, sorry Dad! xD

*atm*

I love my uni companion!

Dear jumjum...

  I was researching for iGEM in the library, as I have been for the past few days with no clear result and endless disappointments. I'm not used to all this, so I told HJ I'm so depressed that I'm gonna cry.

  Her way of preventing me from crying? "Oh nonono, this is the library. I'll be so embarrassed!" with the most serious face possible.

  Gotta love HJ Park. What would I do without her!

*atm*

...

We used to play
On Saturdays
But now all we do is study.

From morning to night
We delight 
if we get even a bit of sunlight.

We look forward to holidays
Just for some extra time to grind away,
cooped up in the library.

All we can do 
is our best,
And hope and pray 
that He takes care of the rest.

But somehow, through it all
we derive some satisfaction.
Isn't this, after all,
what we signed up for during our application?

*atm*

Proud and Happy!

Dear jumjum...

  For the first time in a long time, I feel like a small winner again and I'm proud. =)

*atm*