It's been quite a while since I last blogged here. So I decided today, since I'm having a week off, to write up an entry on my life so far to keep you updated.
Academic mattersI have just ended a month of Semester one, Year one. The units I'm taking this semester are:
Engineering Foundations: Designs and Processes 100
Engineering, It's Evolution, Successes and Failures 100
Engineering Mathematics 140
Engineering Programming 100
Electrical Systems 100
In my university, we take a common foundation engineering year and every engineering student in his/her first year completes the same units.
The first two units are assignment-based units, which means to say there are no exams for this unit. However, much research has to be done for each. EM 140 - Math. EP 100 - very basic programming with C language. ES 100 - fundamentals of Electronics.
Lee Choong Wei & His Silver Medal
As the Olympics culminate, I ponder upon this question today: Does it really matter that Choong Wei brought a silver medal instead of the much anticipated gold medal home for the 2008 Olympics?
Although still behind world number one Chinese player Lin Dan, Choong Wei is Malaysia's number one and the mention of his very name is a source of pride to any Malaysian, myself included. He gives himself no excuses and is determined. We can all learn from him. He is a prime exemplication of the saying, "If you put your mind to it, nothing is unachievable."
A few days ago, The Star ran an article about how the world number two shutter was able to unite Malaysians in a way few politicians are able to. I agree with the author - nobody really cared if he was bumi or non-bumi, tall or short, married to a politician or not; all that mattered was he was from Malaysia and represented the whole Malaysian race. And this is how I think Malaysia should be - united by similarities; and not torn apart by differences.
So, thanks Choong Wei, for bringing home a medal purer than gold, by the name of harmony.
Karate
I have joined a Karate club here in my new university. Unfortunately, what they have here is not shotokan karate, but shitroyu karate. For those unfamiliar with karate, shotokan and shitroyu represents two different schools and is represented by dissimilar organizational bodies.
Having come from a shotokan background, I found the kiong kata of shitroyu totally unfamiliar - despite the same I-shaped leg movements and kiyai sounds. For instance, punches and stances are smaller and different. However, similar rules and styles apply for kumite.
According to my sempai, it takes only a minimum of two to three years for anyone to acquire a black belt in shitroyu. This is totally unlike shotokan where I was told that it would take the same amount of time to acquire a brown belt! I don't technically care about the colour of my belt but it does matter to me because it represents my eligibility to participate in some national competitions.
The only drawback about karate here is that unlike in Maktab Duli, I have to pay for each karate lesson here. I suppose this is one thing I have to get used to.
Shout Out
Before I leave, I'd like to say good luck to all of my friends who are now in UBD, ITB, US, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia! It was great knowing you in SMSH/MD. You have my blessings!
To those who will be leaving for UK in a few weeks, good luck to you to. Make sure you pack all the things you require and take lots of photos with you 'cause you're gonna be a bit homesick in the first week or so. And I suppose enjoy your holidays while you still have 'em!
To those who are having a gap year, good luck to you too!
I would love to hear from you. If you happen to be free, leave me an email at greenblueyellow@gmail.com
