Green, White, Red & The Golden Eagle

So, my Mexican roommate finally moved in on Thursday. His name is Noe (No-ay), I was half expecting a Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos or Rafael Marquez or something. And no, no curly moustache, sombrero, colourful clothes or guitar. He's 32, and taking his Phd at a Medical Institute just behind The Royal Melbourne Hospital and he'll be in Melbourne for a year.

He's a pretty nice guy, very friendly and all. He can't speak English very well though, but still comprehensible in our communication. And every time he has difficulty finding the correct English word, he'll add in a sound effect 'te-de-de' prior to saying the word out. On Thursday after he moved in and settled down, he took out a picture of his girlfriend and showed it to me.

Noe: Hey Andy, do you have a girlfriend? This is my girlfriend.

Me: Oh, she's very pretty. Is she in Mexico?

Noe: Ya, she's working in another state in Mexico.

-after a brief pause-

Noe: She's waiting for me. (followed by a smile)

Me: Aww, so nice and sweet!

Noe: I hope you get one too, erm.. next week. (laughs)

Noe loves eating and food a lot. He went out today and came back filling up the whole of our refrigerator with food. And he offered me eggs, bread and all. He cooked steak just now and asked if I would like to try some. The steak that he made looked absolutely good and smelled just as great. I guess I could pick up some culinary skills from him in future. And I'm kind of suspecting Noe wants to make us some breakfast tomorrow morning because he was asking what time I'll be waking up.

On a side note, I offered him my extra blanket seeing how inadequate he was when he moved in. No pillows no blankets. You just can't help but to feel a sense of benevolence, especially when the person involved is your roommate and a friend. He was very thankful, laughing at how cold it is at night.

So anyway, Noe's steak inspired me to finally cook my own pasta. Yes, finally because Joyce and Charmaine both do not believe that I'll be cooking my pasta that's lying in my refrigerator anytime soon. Here's a picture.

Fusilli Carbonara with Chicken, Crabstick & Fish Tofu.

Proudly Presented by Chef Andy. :)

Noe and I had a nice chat over dinner. We talked about Singapore, Mexico, our countries' climate and food, soccer, gym, conscription in Singapore (he was so fascinated and to quote him, "In Mexico, you can say No, Thank You".), what we are studying, Asians he met, Asians in Melbourne, languages I speak, Spanish (he says that my basic Spanish is pretty good, and I would improve in the next few months with his guidance), etc.

Very nice light-hearted chat. And at the end of it he said, "Oh, I'm getting hungry again." Then he started bursting out in laughter.

Well I guess I'm quite glad that I can get along well with Noe. And we're both food lovers. That's a plus point, I suppose?

Till next time.

EDIT:

There's really breakfast this morning! Thank you Noe! Hahaha.

What Is The Everyday?

Paradox 1:

"The everyday immerses us completely, yet it's hard to grasp as an object of study."

Paradox 2:

"The everyday is excessively familiar, yet difficult to define precisely."

How do everyday practices, beliefs and ideas come to appear to us as 'natural' and unremarkable?

Through processes of socialization and acculturation, through which we are taught that certain behaviours and beliefs are 'normal' or 'true'.

Denaturalize yourself.

Sunny Sunday

The sun was out today, and I probably perspired for the first time since arriving in Melbourne because I was kind of rushing out of the house. Still, it's only 12 degrees odd when it's sunny. Loving it!

Went out with Charmaine to Melbourne Central to shop, well, window shop in my case. Apparently AX was having a sale. But somehow the collection here did not entice me as much as the ones back home in Singapore. And Charmaine felt bad about spending money after buying 3 t-shirts and a necklace, then the guilt lessened after learning that I had spent on a Fossil watch here.

Headed over to Collins Street after to have a look at the LVs, Guccis, Pradas and whatnot. Nice architecture they have on Collins Street, very different from Bourke Street, the shopping district, although they are only a street apart.

Met up with Yanting for dinner. It's been quite a while since I last saw her, perhaps half a year ago? We had Japanese food! She recommended the Gyu Tan Don, which is in fact Ox Tongue on rice. I was a bit apprehensive about it but it turned out great! Tasted like beef but with a different texture. And we had dessert at this Taiwan dessert place. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Ox Tongue!

Gyoza.

Honey Peach Snow Ice with Pearls.

And we're going to watch Inception this friday or so. Finally! The much talked about show.

Till next time.

Mee-Dee-Uh

What I'll be studying this semester.

Introduction to Media and Communications

Professional Writing

Culture, Media and Everyday Life

Intercultural Communication

I'm kind of glad that even though I don't have a choice to choose my modules this semester, the last two relates to Sociology, so when I take up Sociology as a second major next semester, I'm more prepared in a sense.

And the semester starts on Monday.

Full steam ahead!

Me@lbourne!

Well, I'm finally settled into my apartment. So I now have some time on my hands for a little update on the beginning of my life here in Melbourne.

First and foremost, and the most unfortunate thing ever. Clarence, my roommate, was diagnosed with Hepatitis A roughly a couple of days before our departure. As a result, he could not make the flight and had to defer to next semester. However, there are currently some issues with the deferment as well because the Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communications) degree that we're taking is having its last intake in 2010. So, Clarence is awaiting a new offer letter which might not be the same degree ultimately and in the worst case scenario, he may head over to ANU in Canberra instead. Of course, I would prefer him to come to UniMelb next semester be it for the same degree or a different one so that we can share the apartment as planned. But then again, I too understand that no matter what happens, it's all up to him now. So I can only hope for the best, for him and for the both of us. In any case, I'm going to have a Mexican roommate who's due to move in on Saturday. And I was making a light-hearted stereotypical joke about how he definitely has a curly moustache, and how he will be wearing a sombrero and colourful clothes and playing his guitar all the time. Let's hope we can get along well.

That aside, it's been a rather busy week so far, settling my accommodation, bank account, internet and mobile lines, getting orientated, etc. And when everything was more or less done, there was the Academic Advice Day which took place yesterday and it was just completely confusing and stressful to say the least. As typical Singaporeans, we want to get things done as soon as possible, so we expect all the administrative matters to be settled in a day, which was not the case at all. It took us quite a fair bit of running around, asking for help, that sort of thing. Even so, we could not complete everything as there were still doubts and technical glitches which prevented us from doing so. Hence, we went back to clarify and to 'settle' all our issues again today, yes the whole group of us Singaporean students; the new friends that I made, I can safely say that we were in full attendance at the University on a day where there were no official activities planned for us.

And Orientation starts tomorrow!

But for now, some pictures to show.

The University of Melbourne. Dream Large.

The Old Arts Building! Pseudo Hogwarts, haha!

My Cosy Little Crib.

Clothes, Shoes and all.

The Kitchen!

And the Bathroom!

With a bathtub!

And I have a balcony too!

It's rebuilt from the Old Melbourne Hotel so the room does look just like a hotel room isn't it?

I guess it's pretty amazing that someone like me who has such bad directional sense (those who know me well enough would know) is now fending for himself in a big foreign city. Sometimes I do take a step back and wonder where in the world did I get the courage from. Perhaps the tremendous emotional and financial support which I received from my family and the never-ending encouragement from my friends had played a big part. Or maybe it's just something as simple as me having a point to prove to myself.

Nonetheless, it's going to be great starting a new life here. I can feel it already.

Till next time.

p.s. It's freezing now at 7 degrees.

Viva España!

Shame on you, Netherlands!

Shame on you, your rough play and dirty tactics.

Shame on you Mark Van Bommel and shame on you Arjen Robben.

While it may be true that a couple of decisions went Spain's way unfairly, for a team that had almost every single player yellow-carded (that was some record, mind you), you don't deserve to speak. If there were to be less leniency shown by Howard Webb the referee, you would have more than just one player sent off. So shut up with your absurd comments, Arjen Robben. If Carles Puyol should get the red card, Mark Van Bommel would have showered, reached back to his hotel room and fallen asleep, all before the end of the first half.

You're truly and utterly disgraceful for a nation playing in a World Cup Final.

A kung-fu kick in the chest?! You're lucky you got away with it.

And quit whining like a pussy (are you even allowed to do that to the referee in the first place?!), even England didn't complain so much when they were denied a clear goal. And the replay clearly showed that the Spanish goal was not offside and totally legitimate, I seriously have no idea what The Netherlands was so unhappy about. Yes Dutch fans, there WAS a replay. What's this about having no replay when billions around the world actually saw it?

There you have it. ONSIDE. This was shown right after the goal was scored. Sorry Netherlands, nobody appreciates you guys being sore losers when you shamelessly confronted the referee at the final whistle. You're digusting. Not the mention the looks of dissatisfaction when you had to shake the hands of the Spaniards, unwillingly that is. I've lost all respect for you, what that's left of it anyway. You need a lesson in graciousness, make that ten.

Finally, the worthier team lifts the World Cup! This is justice prevailing over evil for you.

Official FIFA statistics have proven that The Netherlands is the dirtiest team in the World Cup this year, with the most number of yellow cards and the most number of fouls (126). Uruguay is not even at a close second with 99. And if you say that they played all 7 matches to arrive at this statistic while other teams played lesser as they were eliminated earlier, then let's compare them to the Spaniards who played 7 matches in total as well. Spain received the FIFA Fair Play Award for the least number of fouls committed and the least number of yellow cards received. A gentlemanly team indeed.

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has also heavily criticized the Dutch team for playing ugly, vulgar, hardly eye-catching anti-football and felt that The Netherlands should have been down to 9 men. Now that says a lot coming from the former Dutch captain himself.

At the end of the day, I'm happy that my favourite team won.

Viva España!

There's Nothing Like Australia

A new ad campaign launched by Tourism Australia in May this year.

Some say it's a rip-off of Discovery Channel's 'I Love The World'.

What do you think?

Pre-Departure Jitters

So, I've more or less settled everything that needs to be settled and I'm just waiting to fly. Now I'm left with packing my room and my luggage, which I haven't really gotten down to actually doing it. Such a procrastinator when it comes to packing. And somehow we're all experiencing this strange situation where we're eager to start a new lease of life in Melbourne, at the same time we're sad to leave our friends and family behind. On the other hand, we're just a tad apprehensive about the uncertainties we might face there. Okay, maybe it's a pretty normal situation after all, but it hits you hard nearing the date of departure.

In any case, I've met up with Clarence's friends for dinner the other day; Kenneth and Geraldine who are also heading over to Melbourne. Just learned of it not too long ago and they're great company to have. And I have mutual friends with both Kenneth and Geraldine, how small this world is. I guess it certainly helps having friends whom you actually know beforehand going over with you. Clarence and I are sure going to have quite an experience living with each other.

Agenda for Pre-Departure:

- Buy stationery.

- Set up iMac for Mom.

- Apply Exit Permit.

- Read up more on my intended subject combinations and orientation package.

- Plan timetable.

- Farewell Lunches/Dinners.

- Pack! (oh the horrors)

Post-Arrival:

- Set up bank account.

- Hunt for the best internet service provider & telco.

- Buy daily necessities.

- Set up apartment.

- City orientation.

- Ask for more credit exemptions at Academic Advice Day!

- UniMelb orientation.

- Meet up with Melbourne friends;

Job Hunting - Siokhui

UniMelb - Lynette

Monash - Lucien, Yu Mou, Yanting & Jessica

RMIT - Dale & Blessann

Wow. Now that's a hell lot of things to do.

Till next time.