How do you battle a 200 year old curse?

Had the worst tutorial ever this morning. Not because the students were bad, unattentive, unprepared etc, but the reverse.

*Flashback*

7.45am: I am on the bus to Bullcreek train station. I tell bus buddy that I'm feeling good because I've worked out my tutorials for the day, prepared visuals etc.

7.55am: We reach the train station. We miss the train by around 5 secs. That's ok, the next one is coming in 7 mins time. The overhead display says so.

8.02am: We wait. Displays says 7 mins still.

8.10am: Display says 7 mins, voice comes over the speakers at the station saying that the train has broken down at an earlier station. Train services will be delayed, and they apologise for any inconvenience caused.

8.40am: The train finally arrives. By this time there is a huge amount of people waiting. I can't get the people in the office to tell them that I'll be late. In 15 mins there will be about 10 students waiting and wondering where the heck is their tutor. Bus buddy shoves me into the train. She doesn't manage to get on. I am jammed into the train, holding her file, unable to stand straight as I am locked into an awkward position. Hold it there for 10 mins.

8.50am: The door opens, and I stumble out. My calves are cramped from standing in an awkward position for so long. I run to the bus stand.

8.53am: I miss the bus by 5 secs. Damn. Next bus at 8.58am.

9.03am: I alight the bus and hit the ground running preparing for take-off.

9.08am: I reach the stairs to my office. I fall onto the ground in my haste. 3 students and a curious lady at the student centre watch on.

9.10am: I reach my office, grab my transparencies, my transparency marker, check the venue, and run to the tutorial venue.

9.15am: I reach the venue. The damn place hasn't got a projector. I run back to the office to grab whiteboard markers.

9.22am: I take 2 mins longer to reach back office cause I am exhausted with the sprints. I grab markers and start heading back.

9.45am: I complete my tute, thankfully with all questions answered. I promise my students I won't be late next week*.

*If Transperth trains don't break down again

9.55am: I reach back to the Economics building. I almost trip and fall at the bloody stairs again.

It's been a hectic day. Darn Transperth and their train breakdown.








I almost fall down the stairs on the way home. What's with me?

It's the start of another semester. And now you can see students walking all over the place. It's about time to start hiding again.

Met up with an old friend for lunch today, and she told me that she overheard students gossiping about me. I'm shocked at the details they know about me and my personal life. It's really scary knowing that your life is under scrutiny. I kinda feel sorry for Britney Spears, Gillian Chung etc now. Not a nice feeling.

I'm already feeling overworked and bogged down. This semester I'm teaching 4 different units, and they are all new to me. To be honest, I feel kind of overwhelmed. 2 of the units I'm teaching are there because I need to satisfy my workload requirements. I sent an email to the Deputy Dean asking for another meeting because I feel it's rather unfair that I am taking on so much while others in comparable positions are taking on way lesser than me. =( Elisa said I am too nice and didn't reject enough. I hope she's right...

I've been hitting the gym regularly, so hopefully I can improve my body fitness soon! I feel way too sluggish. It's been too long... Zzzzz....

On a negative note, the iPod shuffle Jean and Gabe gave me broke down. Sadness... Gonna bring it to the apple shop tomorrow to see if I can get it fixed.

All right, that's enough updates for now~

... everyone returned from the East, they went on camp. Luckily it's a busy period for me. Exam results are out, and I hope everyone did well. I've gotta deal with the appeals in the meantime though. One girl looked at her paper, and when it became apparent that she has no chance to get any more marks (and hence still fail), she burst into tears. I went blank.... Last time when girlfriend cry, whatever thing also she win already. This time... cannot be just because she cry so let her pass right?

Another student appealed, in the end I deduct marks, as I realised that another marker added up marks wrongly, therefore making her final score 2 marks higher. Haven't re-mark and her paper lost 2 marks. In the end she gave up.

On another note, I've joined the gym! There's this new 24 hour gym that opened near my place. Quite shiok, since that means you can go gym at any hour of the day. I need to zhng my body a bit liao. Sigh... been feeling so unfit. Climb stairs also pant liao... Better go and workout more before I become an invalid... =)

And the gang is coming back from camp today. Whee~

It's been too long since I blogged! Sorry about that!

Well, since the last post, I've been busy marking papers, doing some administrative work, and also starting research. I am still looking for a PhD topic to write on, but nothing has really caught my attention yet. I'm grateful though to the professors and some colleagues in my department who are giving me plenty of suggestions, feedback, and discussions to help me find my chosen topic. Last Friday I went to speak to the deputy Dean regarding some scholarship matters and she also gave me a suggestion regarding a prospective topic. I really feel blessed with all the help given to me.

I'm currently staying with 2 other housemates. Mel has moved in for the final 2 weeks before she goes back to Singapore after completing her final semester here, and Duc, another lecturer who is having house trouble has also moved in. My fridge has never looked so full before. =P

Something interesting happened when I was out with Dwi Jin, Basil, Mel, and Amelia one night in Northbridge. After some drinks, we went to Pot Black to play pool. After our games, we went outside to split the cost when this caucasian fellow came up to me and handed me a driver's license. Apparently he thought I was the bouncer and was checking ID. Darn funny. And Pot Black didn't even require ID as there's no age limit.

Oh, and there was this period of time when everyone just left for the Eastern states, leaving me with few friends left here. But they're all back so I'm not that lonesome anymore!!! Yay!

On a down note, my internet and phone is down! Phone's totally shot, so call my mobile if you need me while internet is pretty fickle. It works on and off so if I stop replying on msn, that's probably when it decides to die. I'm not being "tao" ok?

Looking forward to steamboat at Joel's place later. Steamboat in winter is the best!=D

Semester 1 is finally over! I must say it's been fun, busy, tiring, frustrating and at times just plain darn aggravating. But work has been a real eye-opener to see how things work on the other side of the education experience.

I must say that I'm just super glad to be finally done with marking. =) It's a darn relief! Phew~ Now I've got holiday work to look forward to!

This is not gonna be a long post since I'm uber exhausted. A song that's currently playing on my Ipod touch (or as Joel puts it, that $700 thing) is this song "Always be my baby" by David Cook. It's nice. Go get it and have a listen when you're in the mood for a love ballad.

"Always be my baby"

We were as one babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine

Now you want to be free
So I'm letting you fly
Cause I know in my heart babe
Our love will never die
No!

You'll always be a part of me
I'm a part of you indefinitely
Girl don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

I ain't gonna cry no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave girl
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably you'll be back again
Cause ya know in your heart babe
Our love will never end no...

I know that you'll be back girl
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder oooohhh
I know that, you'll be right back, babe
Ooooh! baby believe me it's only a matter of time