University Open Days

This post will be about *drumrolls* University Open Days - this is as obvious as it gets!

As you know, I'm on my summer break now and I'll be back in college for A2 in September. Regarding university? I'll be applying for the 2016 intake and I'll start applying for it in a few months. Many people told me that it is important to visit the universities I'm interested in mainly to get a feeling of the place and bask in the vibe it gives out. True enough, i get why they told me to do so after I visited Bristol University and University of Reading.

It isn't enough to do a ton of research on the university. It also isn't good enough to take someone's word for it. If that someone is respectable, has good knowledge or legitimate ties to the city or university then great! However, if that isn't the case.. then don't. Especially if it's a younger, inexperienced wannabe who voluntarily throws advice at you.

Lesson here : DO go to open days. Or at least visit the university grounds.

Bristol. Absolutely beautiful, lively, colorful and hot! Seriously, it was hot and sunny. I have a hideously ridiculous tan line where my leggings ended and mocs started. Bristol University is a city university- as in 3 in 5 buildings you walk by in the city belong to the university. Literally, the Wills Memorial Building, the beautiful tower in the third picture below is just ONE of many other buildings owned by the university. In a way, the students are exposed to the "Real world". The city itself is darling. The art and graffiti would usually be considered vandalism but somehow it fits in with the city and contributes to the urban, artsy and edgy vibe. It is also home to a famous political street artist/graffiti artist Banksy.

The course I was looking into was just as great as expected. It didn't really take me by surprise. Maybe it's because of the fact that Bristol University is one of the Russell Group Universities. The Student Union got me beyond excited. In addition to the ridiculously high number of clubs and societies they have, they are involved with the environment, charity work and student life. They also have a Cheese Club!

However, one thing that honestly bugged me was the crowd and the traffic. I know they're all about going green but hun, the gridlock did not help at all. Part of me felt like I was back in KL when I was stuck in a traffic jam for about 30 minutes. Another thing is the fact that being a city university/campus, random people or tourists or beggars or unsavoury characters could wander around, loitering even and you can't say anything about it. It is a free country after all. It's probably me being paranoid and probably because I'm so used to North Wales. I just can't imagine the fact that it is too exposed and free that you could be living in the heart of the city, going to classes and your home surrounded by not only students but strangers as well. Literal strangers. It isn't a big deal, but the idea just irks me.

Reading is the opposite of Bristol. It's a campus university where everything is in a specific area. The university has its own lake and that is pretty cool. They have nature trails and clearings where one can sit, be close to Mother Nature and watch the ducks and swans. That. Is. Pretty. Amazing.

I love the fact that the student union in Reading is pretty amazing too, they have their own night club and student hangout spots and club nights. Yes I know I shouldn't be checking out the party life, but I can't help it, it's a bonus. Most importantly, I love the structure of the law course. Honestly, I'm impressed with Bristol but the law course in Reading offers so many different options and has great depth. I love how they approach it at another angle, and how the professor is so direct and honest about the course. In addition to that, the law building (picture below) used to belong to either Oxford or Cambridge, according to Nathalie, my guide around the campus who was really nice. The building - so gorgeous. The red brick walls do not actually make me miserable but it feels homely and "Harry Potter-ish".

I didn't take that many pictures when I was at Reading because we were in a rush. With the support of Christine and Diane, I got through the day. Thank God. After that, we went for an early dinner. We ate in an adorable pub in a quaint little town nearby. Posh, gorgeous and peaceful Henley on Thames. Yes, like the river.

Overall, it was a really good couple of days. Shopping at Cabot Circus after the Bristol open day and a short drive around beautiful Henley on Thames after Reading Open day. I've only been to two open days and I already feel conflicted.

Dear God, help me.

19.

21st June 1996, at 7:36pm Malaysian time, my mum gave the final push and out i popped.

"And thus a legend was born"- in Giovanni's words.

Thank you mummy! Thank you Dad! Happy Father's Day to you and all the superheroes out there. Thank you both for raising me for 19 years. I thank God for absolutely everything, I am truly infinitely blessed.

Happy Father's Day to my Superhero !

I am officially 19 and it was truly an amazing day. I slept around 2:45am after birthday calls from le Ghee Ko & Sharon and then Yenn & Foong. So touched i swear! I woke up after hearing soft, gentle knocks on my door at 8:30am. Yes it sounded creepy because when i called out groggily "who is it?", there was no reply but the knock came again.

I got up and stumbled over to the door, eyes squinting - asian eyes evident first thing in the morning. It was Jane with presents from the family and Gill and an epic card in her hands! Jon was at the back laughing at the half asleep state i was in. She said "I know it's 8:30 and this is really mean, but Happy Birthday!" I was like "Awww thank youuuuu guys!" Hashtag most epic host parents ever! Long story short, after skyping with my parents, we had a double celebration lunch, Uncle Hiep made special Vietnamese pancakes which were the bomb! The whole family came over and it was so nice! Then the chocolate birthday cake, i was and still am so touched i swear! Alex gave me about 7 hugs today and kisses too! Yes he is so adorable and he turns my heart into goey fudge. HASHTAG LOTSOFLOVE.

#infinitelyblessed

What topped my 19th birthday on the Summer Solstice with strawberries, sprinkles, chocolate, fudge, and magic dust on top of the already perfectly iced cake? It was the birthday wishes, calls and cards and most importantly, the LOVE from both family and friends in Malaysia and UK. I'd like to thank everyone for the warm wishes, calls, gifts, cards and the love.

 I really thank God for absolutely everything as I'm honestly infinitely blessed. I am going to start using the hashtag #infinitelyblessed.

Till the next post!

Countdown to Summer 2015!

Summer is right around the corner.

You know summer is coming when..

Red arrows show in Llandudno kicks off the season?

Barbecues take place.

You can sit on the shore enjoying the sea breeze. Llandudno.

Your summer clothes are out. Llandrillo College.

You can have sunny afternoons by the sea. Rhos on Sea.

It means in the UK, we have longer hours of daylight, which can both be good and bad. For example, the sun is actually up- shining in my face, annoying the hell out of me at 5 in the morning. On the other hand, it gets dark only around 10-ish at night. This i admit, can be pretty cool.

You know summer is around the corner when ^this^ is 9:30pm.

I'm technically unofficially on holiday. Summer break officially begins after the 19th of June. My birthday falls on the 21st of June. It marks the start of a beautiful summer, my first of many summers to come in UK. To make it even more interesting, it is the "longest day" of the year - something about the sun and rotation of the earth on its axis! I have more hours of sunlight on my birthday!

I have tons planned for Summer 2015 and I can't wait to enjoy every single moment of every single day because life is too beautiful to be down, miserable or depressed. Oh, one of my goals this summer is to blog more. And yes, i shall be instagram-ing my experiences *wink wink*

All in all, life has been amazing.

I swear. Amazing.

I have God to thank for everything, for my family and friends, for my life in UK and this opportunity.

Till the next post x

Life after AS.

It's been a few months since I last blogged. Well, a lot has happened since my last post but there are no drastic changes whatsoever. My college lecturers have been amazing, as usual.

It's pretty nice to think that I have no hatred or resentment to any one of them as opposed to the ones back home. I still remember how I had at least two teachers i disliked with a burning passion each year in high school. Some people are just so hard to like. However, there are a number of teachers I've kept in contact with until today. It's fascinating, in fact, I honestly think it's magical that they became more than just teachers throughout the years.

AS just ended a couple days ago. To celebrate, I went for lunch at Hickory's with the group before going to the park and the beach. It was amazing.

Life after AS. It's only been a few days and for now, i can say that..

It's amazing.

It's a breath of fresh air.

It's a countdown to Summer 2015 for me and I'm really looking forward to it.

The best is yet to come.

Sodomy? What.

I just have to get this off my chest.

I don't get how someone can be actually charged or attempted to be charged with sodomy. Not pointing fingers or stating names but I actually pity people who came up with the frightfully bright idea of having sodomy as an offence of some sort. It just shows how uncreative, lousy at their job and desperate they are. I get that it may actually be illegal in the eyes of certain people due to religion etc. Talking about sodomy in this context, I'm excluding the reference to "beastiality" by the way. I understand that it might even be legibly written in the law as a crime but I think what happens behind closed bedroom doors supposedly behind prying eyes between lovers (or a plus one) is no business of the world. Just because homophobic bigots frown upon same-sex relationships and sex between same-sex couples, doesn't mean its a crime.

Everybody deserves a chance to be happy.

Yes, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity or religion. Just because someone finds happiness with a person of the opposite sex, it doesn't mean it should be a fact exploited and used against them in the eyes of the law. But then again manipulation and pathetic, weak lies are the only thing some people can resort to isn't it?

I probably should stop typing now, I might be the one charged with another ridiculous offence of some sort for some idiotic reason.

It's common knowledge that the voices of the next generation will only be heard.. if it is what certain people want to hear.