HELLO SUNSHINE!

(please disregard my weirdness. i don’t know what i was doing there. haha)

For God’s sake there are couple of serious bits I am currently working on. which are:

• keep all my clothes neatly folded or hung on the hangers (seriously).
• no munching on chocolate and stuffs (i.am.suffering), well twice a month as an excuse.
• save one pound a day to afford shopping life, apart from food or daily needs.
• apply cleanser before soap and face cream.
• turn off the light before sleeping as I often fell asleep first.
• not let things in the fridge exceed the expiry date.
• think of “first thing first”,  dear me procrastinator!
• be at church and (all) classes ON TIME.
• no snoozing when the alarm has on.
• do the bed everytime  before leaving house.
• drink more water and eat an apple everyday!

the end.

Happy birthday to my superhero daddy.

I love him as much as I love mom.

He is my super superhero. He teaches me to be a real man. How we have to manage all the goods and the bads happen to our life. He teaches me to fight and struggle. He taught me math and physics everyday afterwork in my last year of high school back then that I got accepted at the best university. He is the smartest daddy. He wants to see the children to be far better than him. He has a very simple yet broaden way of thinking. He is handsome (i mean it). He always reminds me to eat an apple and drink a lot of water everyday, until now. He wants us the children to get all the best life. He spoiled us still in a positive way. He is silly. He taught me to not afraid of failure, but beat it. He is strict yet tender in heart. He says yes when it is right, no when it is wrong, very straight forward. He has a good sense of fashion. Duo mom and dad’s jokes always crack the the whole family up. He sacrificed a lot yet never moan. He is very supportive. He always says that money isn’t the happiness in life, family and love are. He always says “I have great children, beautiful daughters and handsome son”. He always wants to see us (me, mom and sister) dressed up. He is a dad you can always talk to. We love him.

Daddy is my truly superhero (I know I’ve said it like thousands times).

I cry now. I miss my mom and dad more than ever, I’ll always do. I know I am here now, I am all I am now its just because of their love and prayer. God bless my parents, and all parents in the world. They deserve the best.

Aston Webb Building, University of Birmingham.

Today I have no class. and quite surprising, i feel bored having nothing to do! haha. I suppose you still remember my moaning about oh-how-i-want-to-have-my-freedom-from-assignments-and-exams few days ago. I am there now but I feel so unproductive and crap! haha.. well, second term just started last week and I haven’t been given a lot of assignments (ok I intentionally forget the business report I must hand in next month. LOL). So, as I’m workless (that word doesn’t exist seriously!), I think it’s quite a good idea to share some matters about studying in UK, in particular my university and my department because it’s a bit too early to make generalisation here. here we go:

• for my master study, I take 180 credits consist of 11 modules and 1 research project (60 credits). they say, 10 credits equals to 100 hours of study, either in class or independently. to be honest, I don’t think I study that much. therefore i said (again), they say! haha..
• each module is taught in a week, only. the good thing: we concentrate only to certain subject in a week, give more understanding I assume. the bad thing: not a good method for an-easily-to-forget-things-and-deadliner one.
• A lot of presentations. scary at first.
• There is a free week named consolidation week: no class. the main purpose is to provide time for students to catch up the previous lectures. teachers often open tutorial class during this week. for me, I spend this week for assignments, groupwork, and presentation (if there is one). otherwise, I just do nothing. well, sometimes studying. sometimes! LOL. but I never travel during that week though I kind of love to.
• Thousands words essays and reports. I think any master have this kind of thing as well.
• Plagiarism is a serious crime here. well, we know that copying someone’s work exactly the same is a crime. but it doesn’t stop there. cropping sentences from many sources without referencing it, is a huge crime (I did quite a lot at my bachelor haha). so what should we do? paraphrasing (use our own words) the sentences with a good understanding and put our own ideas in it. if then we have to use the words exactly similar to the source, put into quotation and reference it clearly. I think I like this idea. originality is something priceless and we can’t just steal someone’s work and make it as it’s our own work. it’s just unfair.
• there are three terms here autumn term, spring term, summer term.
• winter break: 1 month, spring break: 1 month, summer break: 3 months.
• Grades are divided to three categories: Distinction (>70%), Merit (60-70%), Pass (50-60%). I haven’t got any of my marks until now and I’m so afraid. Argh! I hope it won’t be that bad. wish my luck! they say, teachers rarely give 70% or above. my goodness.
• the classes are often mixed with students from MEng, PhD, EngD, MRes. a lot of native that makes me excited and worry at the same time. haha..

well, so far there are no big problems (hope there aren’t any forever!). I like studying here. quite difficult and a lot of things to adapt at first but I think I’m getting used to them. Wish I can take a lot of advantages of studying here, at the end when I’m graduated.

photo courtesy of {manda}

seriously simple things often have an enormous power to bring happiness. just like my list:

• christmas songs, christmas decoration, all christmas things!
• vintage pictures
• a lazy sunday, watch movies all day
• the smell of just-baked-cookies-or-cakes
• sibling’s war, teasing and joking all the way
• sunny day in winter
• finding the perfect outfit
• a quality time with mom
• trying a new restaurant and bakery and later find it delicious
• coming to new places and taking a lot of pictures

I don’t know if you would interested in my idea of outfit posts, which i’m about to do in this blog. haha. To be honest, be more dressed up (and stylish. oh so embarrassing to spill it here) has become one of my resolutions for this year. I know I’m lousy at dressing up that’s why I think I have to change a bit. and I’ve been reading fashion blogs a lot (bad student) for some inspirations. click here and here if you care to know my favourites.

dear winter, i have had you enough. let the spring come!

(dress  – miss selfridge, grey long cardigan – H&M,  belt – H&M, tights – new look, boots – Dune, bag – topshop)

I was so tired of wearing coat that I dare to not wear coat in such bloody cold weather. I’m desperately longing for spring.

I had a beautiful weekend at Warwick Castle. The sun was great, though it was windy and terribly cold (winter has not gone yet), still. I think it has been so long since I saw such massive sunshine during winter. A lot of beautiful pictures were captured by my lens. I simply love it.

Warwick castle has been built since 1068, then some re-construction followed. It was at first used for military importance at 14th century and later was used as the residence of Earls of Warwick until 1978. Now, it is opened for public and has become one of the most famous castle in United Kingdom for tourist attractions.  Warwick itself is actually a town near mine, about 45 minutes from Birmingham by train. It’s a small town, but very classic. name it the old buildings, city arrangements. For more information about this town click here. Oh well, Stratford-upon-avon (Shakespeare’s town) also belongs to Warwickshire county. Haven’t been there but it’s on my top list. Below are pictures from Warwick Castle.

(well, the sun was a total trick! it was even colder than snowy day, i suppose)

Heart this weekend! and now thinking about where to go next. haha. anyway, new term starts today. I’m so excited! (ok, i know it’s unbelievable me saying that. haha)

when i was cleaning my room, i found this card. and i even forgot i had this! haha. guess i bought it in Alice in wonderland shop in oxford. ok, now i’m above excited cos i have this cutie.

well, sometimes i do wonder if i can ever grow up.

my craziness about disney and all that stuffs related seems to be endless.

yeayyy finally submitted all the essays, and exams have passed too. this month has turned me into a geek. i have no life but study study stuffs. i’m a geek by accident, i might add.

this is my whole life for a month

now, i’m back on my feet. i really thank God! well, one more groupwork due next tuesday. but at least it’s not thousands words essays, or ‘amazing’ exams problems.

well, i suppose this weekend would be great. i’m planning to go to warwick castle as a reward for myself.

image from here.

but the thing is, at some points we might feel tired. all we need are rest, drink something, or eat, lay down on the green grass then continue biking. argh i’m soooooo crazy lately. well, no it’s not just about the campus thingy. it’s the whole things happening to my life lately.

but no matter what, i need to balance my bike. i’m the only one who can ride my own bike of life. ok. i’ll deal with it. J’ai besoin de Dieu.

I have been living here in UK for 5 months by now!