Without fail, at every end of semester, I get that dreaded feeling that I'm going to fail really badly. This semester is no different.
For one of my geography papers, we have to do a group research project. PANIC! I've actually already "passed" but if we fail the research, we actually fail the whole paper even if the research part is only 20% of the final grade!
For another paper, the teacher put up my marks for a test. I didn't do spectacularly and only got 63.9/85? But she made a mistake and input the number as 36.9. I stared at the screen tiredly and decided I was way too tired and depressed and hopeless to give a shit. I'll deal with it tomorrow or something. This however, didn't ease my insecurities about failing. I say it every semester and I'll say it again now... I should have studied. Regardless, 63 is an abhorrent mark. Seriously. Disgusting.
My other geography paper... it's interesting and all but I do crap when I write about it. I understand the concepts and shit but apparently I suck at writing it all down in exams. I'm SORRY OK. So I've already given up for that paper, I'll be glad if I pass it.
I should be most worried about politics. Mainly because that essay I wrote without doing research first is worth 40%. When I was handing it in, I met this other good looking European guy who was also handing in the same assignment. He chose to do the exact same question I did. Except when I asked him what direction he went in, he started talking about pragmatism or something and a whole lot of other terms. Now I didn't actually sleep more than a few hours that night/morning and I blinked at him incredulously because whatever he was saying was definitely not processing in my brain. He then asked me to join him... to smoke some weed. In my sleepy haze, I almost took up on his offer. I reckon if I had not driven to uni and I did not have work that night, I would probably have agreed.
Anyway, my point is... we did the same question, but seems like he went off in a different direction and now I'm freaking out because it's fucking 40% and whatever the fuck he spouted sounded way more intelligent than the bullcrap I made up.
I think I'm going to fail.
After our group meeting, I went to the 360 office and then did my degree planner with both my degrees. I met the rudest administrator in the science department. What a fucking bitch. I talked to her like you would in a normal conversation. She talked back at me like she was so fucking superior. Well excuse me if I thought you'd rather me talk at you instead of giving you an opportunity to reply. I'll talk at you next time, OK? Also, I found out information system is actually not a "major subject" (i.e. not a subject you can major in) under the science faculty. WTF THEN WHY IS IT IN YOUR FUCKING BOOK? So I guess I'll have to change to computer science as my filler courses. Fuck you, uni.
Getting my ass overseas is looking more and more inviting. Gotta pass with a good grade first though. Not looking too promising. Unless someone gives me a few good tips on cramming and essay writing during an exam? Please, I'll take anything!
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Melbourne!
A few weeks ago, Grabaseat had cheap return air ticket deals to Melbourne from Auckland. At that time, I passed up the opportunity and didn't buy a ticket. After their deal closed, I saw that the prices were extremely high! Over NZ$200 one way!
CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!
Today, just until 11:59pm, they had the special deal again! So I snapped it up. I'll be travelling to Melbourne to see my relatives. While I'm there, I think I might take a look at Melbourne University! I still want to go to HKU though... but I don't know anymore. Maybe I shouldn't bother. I overheard someone telling her friend about the good news that she is heading to Waseda for a year. The amount of jealousy I felt probably is a good indication that I should consider Waseda a bit more...
I'll be going a week after my last exam and will only be going for six days. I already feel it's a bit long for my liking. I want to work!
This morning, I woke up at the usual time and went to uni. It wasn't until I got to uni that I realised my class today actually ended last week and I didn't have any lectures for that class this week!! I can't believe it completely slipped my mind! Then again, it ended up a good thing because I went to the 360 Abroad office and had a look through the HKU information folder. Now I know where HKU is but I'm still not too sure where it is... but that's gonna need to be left for another day! I should start studying or at the very least go to sleep!
Oh a surprise today! I received another letter from HSBC informing me that my "card personal identification number (PIN)" has been changed. I requested them to do this so I can register for internet banking. They sent me a letter dated 16th of May and I used that information. Except it didn't work! Sucks, shitty HSBC. Disgusted, I gave up and decided I'd just wait till I returned to HK and I'd make them do it for me.
The letter I got today was dated 17th of May! It had a completely different pin on it! WTF?! So I figured I'd give it one last try and LO AND BEHOLD! It worked! Thank god. Now all I have to do is go to HSBC in Botany to sign some piece of paper, get my account details updated and I'LL BE GOOD TO GO. Hopefully, I'll finally get the $6000.
I'll be going a week after my last exam and will only be going for six days. I already feel it's a bit long for my liking. I want to work!
This morning, I woke up at the usual time and went to uni. It wasn't until I got to uni that I realised my class today actually ended last week and I didn't have any lectures for that class this week!! I can't believe it completely slipped my mind! Then again, it ended up a good thing because I went to the 360 Abroad office and had a look through the HKU information folder. Now I know where HKU is but I'm still not too sure where it is... but that's gonna need to be left for another day! I should start studying or at the very least go to sleep!
Oh a surprise today! I received another letter from HSBC informing me that my "card personal identification number (PIN)" has been changed. I requested them to do this so I can register for internet banking. They sent me a letter dated 16th of May and I used that information. Except it didn't work! Sucks, shitty HSBC. Disgusted, I gave up and decided I'd just wait till I returned to HK and I'd make them do it for me.
The letter I got today was dated 17th of May! It had a completely different pin on it! WTF?! So I figured I'd give it one last try and LO AND BEHOLD! It worked! Thank god. Now all I have to do is go to HSBC in Botany to sign some piece of paper, get my account details updated and I'LL BE GOOD TO GO. Hopefully, I'll finally get the $6000.
Whatever happened to my photo obsession?
I used to take lots of photos! I always had my camera with me and I'd be snapping away. Most of the photos, I'd never look at again or make it past editing to the internet.
That's just my problem right there. I'm too fucking lazy! I attempted to do Project 365 in which you take a photo per day and upload it for the world to see/create a scrapbook. That unfortunately didn't last very long. I feel like I've lost the past three years - undocumented in my blog or forever stilled in photos.
So here's my attempt number 3 - no, not P365, it will end up the same again. But instead, I will endeavour to take more pictures and upload them!
*TRANSITIONING*
Tonight is Monday, the night when there's the Koru Maru Social Club. It is more of a language tutoring exchange. People learning English and Japanese goes to these meetings and we sort of have an "exchange tutoring" system. Tonight, I met this eyes-on-the-eyes Japanese man and got his number. Hahaha. Calm down girl, he's not into you.
Apparently he's going to move to Botany next week where he works in a sushi train type restaurant called Daruma. I've always had plans to go check out that new place and now, I've got more motivation. My friend and I joked about how five weeks later, I'd give her a text saying "...he's gay."
In the end, I ended up catching the 9:17pm train home. On the way down to Britomart, my clear umbrella broke!
Saturday 26 May 2012
360 Abroad
BACKGROUND INFO OTHERWISE NOTHING WILL MAKE SENSE:
I have been studying politics and geography. How this university works is that you need to study a minimum of 8 papers for each major you are doing. But you need at least 24 papers to complete an actual degree. Since I'm such a lazy fuck, I really didn't want to do five+ stage three papers in politics especially since my focus is really just international relations. I have no interest in any other part of it. My interest is so low, I don't even follow New Zealand's domestic politics. Except of course, for the lulz. If anyone here has seen any parliament debates in house, you'd understand why.
So I inserted Japanese papers into my Arts degree, making it a double major. After a year of doing it, I added geography - but under science. This was on a whim and I just kept going with it. So now I'm studying for a BA/BSc conjoint. But it's the same deal with science, I don't want to do a billion geography papers so I'm going to do a few infosys papers to make up the stupid degree. Unfortunately, the university only recognises three majors.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from the Political Studies Faculty informing me that one of the lecturers quit and so the course I enrolled in for next semester will be dropped. I was advised to choose another paper.
I only picked that paper because the other paper clashed heavily with the rest of my schedule. So I sat down and had a look at what courses I have left to do and worked out if I didn't take one politics paper next semester, I would most likely have to drag out my years left in university for one more semester in which I would only do one paper.
In a fit of RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE I started researching other universities in the world. The University of Auckland has this programme called 360 Abroad. At first I passed it off because I figured you'd probably need outstanding grades and due to my laziness, I don't get straight A's.
BUT with each passing week, and with more budget cuts and more student protests which I felt was quiet frankly disgusting, the idea of doing an exchange through 360 was warming up to me. I went to an information session and I've reached a crossroads.
When you apply for this, you need to pick three of your top choices. Now here's my first problem. Logically, there's only one university I should want to go to. This is Hong Kong University. First thing's first, I have residency in Hong Kong, I don't need a visa and thus would be a cheaper option. DUH. Also, HKU actually has an abundance of papers that is related to my degree and that I can take. Another reason is that the restaurant I work in in NZ has a branch over in HK. I'll be begging my boss to work at the HK branch for half a year. This will solve my pocket money issue. Since I am a resident, I don't need a visa to work there.
My problem is, when I went to the information seminar, it sparked a memory from like five years ago and made me REALLY WANT TO GO TO WASEDA AGAIN. Not saying I'll easily get in, but COME ON, IT'S WASEDA. It's JAPAN! This will be such an expensive option to pick up, but considering I have intentions of apply for the JET CIR programme - meaning I will need to have near to fluent Japanese speaking/reading/writing abilities, Waseda would be the best choice to go for. Except I'm pretty much done with my Japanese major and I'd only have politics papers to go for in Japan. Only Auckland University thinks that their level of teaching is lower mainly because it is most likely for me to pick courses that are taught in English.
ARGH. The third problem is, I don't actually want to go anywhere else. I've only researched HKU and Waseda. Perhaps the last one, I'd just put some England university. I don't really give a fuck, to be honest. I think I only want to go to HKU.
So with my hand over my beating heart, I say "be still, my dear fluttering heart. Apply for the 360 under HKU, if you even get in, go. When you come back, finish your degree and during the summer go to Japan for that intensive language training then head off to the UK because you can only apply to JET through there anyway BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN."
After all that, I might not even get accepted.
I have been studying politics and geography. How this university works is that you need to study a minimum of 8 papers for each major you are doing. But you need at least 24 papers to complete an actual degree. Since I'm such a lazy fuck, I really didn't want to do five+ stage three papers in politics especially since my focus is really just international relations. I have no interest in any other part of it. My interest is so low, I don't even follow New Zealand's domestic politics. Except of course, for the lulz. If anyone here has seen any parliament debates in house, you'd understand why.
So I inserted Japanese papers into my Arts degree, making it a double major. After a year of doing it, I added geography - but under science. This was on a whim and I just kept going with it. So now I'm studying for a BA/BSc conjoint. But it's the same deal with science, I don't want to do a billion geography papers so I'm going to do a few infosys papers to make up the stupid degree. Unfortunately, the university only recognises three majors.
MY DILEMMA:
A few weeks ago, I received an email from the Political Studies Faculty informing me that one of the lecturers quit and so the course I enrolled in for next semester will be dropped. I was advised to choose another paper.
I only picked that paper because the other paper clashed heavily with the rest of my schedule. So I sat down and had a look at what courses I have left to do and worked out if I didn't take one politics paper next semester, I would most likely have to drag out my years left in university for one more semester in which I would only do one paper.
In a fit of RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE I started researching other universities in the world. The University of Auckland has this programme called 360 Abroad. At first I passed it off because I figured you'd probably need outstanding grades and due to my laziness, I don't get straight A's.
BUT with each passing week, and with more budget cuts and more student protests which I felt was quiet frankly disgusting, the idea of doing an exchange through 360 was warming up to me. I went to an information session and I've reached a crossroads.
When you apply for this, you need to pick three of your top choices. Now here's my first problem. Logically, there's only one university I should want to go to. This is Hong Kong University. First thing's first, I have residency in Hong Kong, I don't need a visa and thus would be a cheaper option. DUH. Also, HKU actually has an abundance of papers that is related to my degree and that I can take. Another reason is that the restaurant I work in in NZ has a branch over in HK. I'll be begging my boss to work at the HK branch for half a year. This will solve my pocket money issue. Since I am a resident, I don't need a visa to work there.
My problem is, when I went to the information seminar, it sparked a memory from like five years ago and made me REALLY WANT TO GO TO WASEDA AGAIN. Not saying I'll easily get in, but COME ON, IT'S WASEDA. It's JAPAN! This will be such an expensive option to pick up, but considering I have intentions of apply for the JET CIR programme - meaning I will need to have near to fluent Japanese speaking/reading/writing abilities, Waseda would be the best choice to go for. Except I'm pretty much done with my Japanese major and I'd only have politics papers to go for in Japan. Only Auckland University thinks that their level of teaching is lower mainly because it is most likely for me to pick courses that are taught in English.
ARGH. The third problem is, I don't actually want to go anywhere else. I've only researched HKU and Waseda. Perhaps the last one, I'd just put some England university. I don't really give a fuck, to be honest. I think I only want to go to HKU.
LOGICAL BRAIN:
GO TO HKU FOR AN EXCHANGE. You will not be overly poor, you'll enjoy it regardless, there are more papers for you to choose from, you don't need to spend the entire semester doing politics, most of which will probably won't be international relations. You can do a few geo papers and to top it off, most likely can be GIS related. You will probably be able to find an infosys paper so that will be good. And if you go there and your boss lets you work every week, you can learn Japanese from him.IRRATIONAL HEART:
I WANT TO GO TO WASEDA. *Throws tantrum*.So with my hand over my beating heart, I say "be still, my dear fluttering heart. Apply for the 360 under HKU, if you even get in, go. When you come back, finish your degree and during the summer go to Japan for that intensive language training then head off to the UK because you can only apply to JET through there anyway BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN."
After all that, I might not even get accepted.
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Strange way of doing research
Perhaps it's not just me, but my last post was about how I procrastinate etc. I find that my best work is produced in one sitting, under stress and most of the time, in the early hours of the morning. WHY??? WHY must I always insist on starting assignments after 11pm?!
This morning, I decided on the research topic (due in about two days). I planned to think about it all day and then as soon as I get home, I'd start my research. Is that what I do? NO! So what did I do? Well, went to uni and passed my day like every Tuesday.
Went to the first class - although it's the last lecture for the semester so we had a fun time. The funny Indian (I ASSUME OK!) boy from last post got a prize for the best performance. Since he represented an iwi, his prize was a bag of kumara. Excuse me while I go LMAO.
Following this, I had a break and in this break I met up with my group and we decided on how to proceed in doing our group assignment. I like group assignments. Why? BECAUSE I'M LAZY AS FUCK. If I could ride on other people's coattails all the time, I would. Unfortunately, I start getting obsessive and paranoid. Then I'll freak out and then do extra work because I don't to fail. NOT THIS TIME! Feels like a responsible and reliable group. Don't think I'll need to do more than what is required. Sweet!
*insert transition here*! After the meeting, I had about 20 minutes till my next class and I spent it panicking about how I'm going to fail my exam for this class. Seriously, this subject used to be easy! I never had to put any effort into it and now... now I actually have to work hard. I fear I might actually get a C for it. Then class started and we played Chinese whispers. WTF? Yes, what a fun learning experience. =D
My next class was a geography class and I actually managed to stay awake during the entire lecture. We had a guest lecturer and she was amazing. Considering she held my attention for the entire class, it's pretty impressive. I can get distracted even on the internet. It was about Auckland public transport. Lol, laugh all you want but I see great developments planned for the future of public transport in Auckland. Just gotta pray that it actually comes true.
For lunch, I met up with a couple of friends and we walked down to the Viaduct and had Mexicali Fresh. It's Taco Tuesdays so they were selling tacos for $3 each. It's a messy experience, but yum! I'd definitely go back again eventually. Actually, I have been intending to try it out for a while but never got around to it. However, I don't think I'd pay full price for it - freaking $7 each and they aren't gigantic either! Should probably have took a picture but I dug too fast.
On our way up, we stopped by Kapiti and bought an ice cream. At first, I was like "hell no! $4 for one scoop of ice cream!" Then I tried a few flavours and my mouth had mini foodgasms one after the other so I gave in and bought one scoop. Imagine my surprise when that scoop turned out to be quite a generous serving! I got some dark chocolate chilli raspberry flavoured one. I actually wanted the other chocolate one but feared it might be too sweet by the time I finished it. I'll try it next time!
This post has once again gone off on a tangent. I slept on the train ride home then instead of starting my research like I'm supposed to, I just watched Youtube and had dinner. Grocery shopping followed before I finally started my research.
.............................
JK. I had a shower, went on Facebook and then at about 11:30pm I opened a word document and started typing out an outline but some how the bullet points I jotted down (usually I jot down bullet points that seem vaguely familiar so I can go research it later) turned into rough paragraphs. I pretty much wrote my essay... just need to go do research and find quotes from scholarly articles/books/etc to back up my bullshit. Wish me luck!
This morning, I decided on the research topic (due in about two days). I planned to think about it all day and then as soon as I get home, I'd start my research. Is that what I do? NO! So what did I do? Well, went to uni and passed my day like every Tuesday.
Went to the first class - although it's the last lecture for the semester so we had a fun time. The funny Indian (I ASSUME OK!) boy from last post got a prize for the best performance. Since he represented an iwi, his prize was a bag of kumara. Excuse me while I go LMAO.
Following this, I had a break and in this break I met up with my group and we decided on how to proceed in doing our group assignment. I like group assignments. Why? BECAUSE I'M LAZY AS FUCK. If I could ride on other people's coattails all the time, I would. Unfortunately, I start getting obsessive and paranoid. Then I'll freak out and then do extra work because I don't to fail. NOT THIS TIME! Feels like a responsible and reliable group. Don't think I'll need to do more than what is required. Sweet!
*insert transition here*! After the meeting, I had about 20 minutes till my next class and I spent it panicking about how I'm going to fail my exam for this class. Seriously, this subject used to be easy! I never had to put any effort into it and now... now I actually have to work hard. I fear I might actually get a C for it. Then class started and we played Chinese whispers. WTF? Yes, what a fun learning experience. =D
My next class was a geography class and I actually managed to stay awake during the entire lecture. We had a guest lecturer and she was amazing. Considering she held my attention for the entire class, it's pretty impressive. I can get distracted even on the internet. It was about Auckland public transport. Lol, laugh all you want but I see great developments planned for the future of public transport in Auckland. Just gotta pray that it actually comes true.
For lunch, I met up with a couple of friends and we walked down to the Viaduct and had Mexicali Fresh. It's Taco Tuesdays so they were selling tacos for $3 each. It's a messy experience, but yum! I'd definitely go back again eventually. Actually, I have been intending to try it out for a while but never got around to it. However, I don't think I'd pay full price for it - freaking $7 each and they aren't gigantic either! Should probably have took a picture but I dug too fast.
On our way up, we stopped by Kapiti and bought an ice cream. At first, I was like "hell no! $4 for one scoop of ice cream!" Then I tried a few flavours and my mouth had mini foodgasms one after the other so I gave in and bought one scoop. Imagine my surprise when that scoop turned out to be quite a generous serving! I got some dark chocolate chilli raspberry flavoured one. I actually wanted the other chocolate one but feared it might be too sweet by the time I finished it. I'll try it next time!
This post has once again gone off on a tangent. I slept on the train ride home then instead of starting my research like I'm supposed to, I just watched Youtube and had dinner. Grocery shopping followed before I finally started my research.
.............................
JK. I had a shower, went on Facebook and then at about 11:30pm I opened a word document and started typing out an outline but some how the bullet points I jotted down (usually I jot down bullet points that seem vaguely familiar so I can go research it later) turned into rough paragraphs. I pretty much wrote my essay... just need to go do research and find quotes from scholarly articles/books/etc to back up my bullshit. Wish me luck!
Monday 21 May 2012
Other than procrastination...
I have this really annoying habit of falling asleep in class. And it's ALWAYS the same class. Geog202!!
The thing is, I'll be sleeping but I still hear the lecturer and every now and then, I sit up and scribble some notes down then plop back to sleep again. I did it today and the girl beside me got a fright, especially since I went straight back to sleeping. I did this a couple of times in class today and by the end of the lecture, she got pretty used to it. She probably thought I just had my head down and was actually listening to the lecturer.
HA! I wish. Never again will I take 8am classes. Today was the final 8am geography lecture we had. I don't think it was compulsory to go. Nevertheless, it was actually the most entertaining one! We were role-playing a council meeting about the distribution of water on Waiheke Island. Funnily enough, the 'residents' and the 'environmental' group didn't bother turning up. The award for the most in character/best performance would definitely go to the cool Indian (I'm assuming?) guy who role played an iwi representative. He was amazing and so into it. Everyone was too, lots of funny things flying around, although to an outsider would sound completely insensitive and racist but we all know it was done in good fun!
Also, I wish that my attention span could last just a little bit longer than a couple of minutes. I'd finish my assignments at a much faster pace.
I still haven't started my research. Ugh.
The thing is, I'll be sleeping but I still hear the lecturer and every now and then, I sit up and scribble some notes down then plop back to sleep again. I did it today and the girl beside me got a fright, especially since I went straight back to sleeping. I did this a couple of times in class today and by the end of the lecture, she got pretty used to it. She probably thought I just had my head down and was actually listening to the lecturer.
HA! I wish. Never again will I take 8am classes. Today was the final 8am geography lecture we had. I don't think it was compulsory to go. Nevertheless, it was actually the most entertaining one! We were role-playing a council meeting about the distribution of water on Waiheke Island. Funnily enough, the 'residents' and the 'environmental' group didn't bother turning up. The award for the most in character/best performance would definitely go to the cool Indian (I'm assuming?) guy who role played an iwi representative. He was amazing and so into it. Everyone was too, lots of funny things flying around, although to an outsider would sound completely insensitive and racist but we all know it was done in good fun!
Also, I wish that my attention span could last just a little bit longer than a couple of minutes. I'd finish my assignments at a much faster pace.
I still haven't started my research. Ugh.
Sunday 20 May 2012
Happy Wedding
Yesterday, on the 19th day of May, our head chef got married in Japan. Unfortunately, I was not able to travel there and participate in it due to time restraints and budget problems. Heartbreaking! I was so keen to go as well!
I saw some pictures of the event and he looks so handsome and happy. His new wife looks stunning! She's beautiful on a normal day and she looks absolutely gorgeous in the photos. I'm sure they do her no justice though. I can't wait for him to come back to New Zealand so we (head chef and I) can gossip about everything!
Congratulations sir! Can't wait for you to get back!
Ok, *insert transition here*. This week has been slow. Business has been down after last Sunday's Mother's Day craze. However, uni work has been piling up. I am so hopeless with doing assignments early! I have a lab report to do (about coffee and coffee shops) and another mini research thing to do about water supply and disposal on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. Basically, I have to outline the potential water supply and disposing options available on the island. That one is due tomorrow, the coffee one on Thursday but here I am blogging. *le sigh*
To top things off, I have a test tomorrow as well. I'm not yet ready for it! The one thing I'm starting to worry about is the politics research assignment that's due on Friday. I have not even started researching it! Actually, to tell you all the truth, I haven't even chosen the topic.
Right, excuse me while I stop this entry and go do that water management thing.
I saw some pictures of the event and he looks so handsome and happy. His new wife looks stunning! She's beautiful on a normal day and she looks absolutely gorgeous in the photos. I'm sure they do her no justice though. I can't wait for him to come back to New Zealand so we (head chef and I) can gossip about everything!
Congratulations sir! Can't wait for you to get back!
Ok, *insert transition here*. This week has been slow. Business has been down after last Sunday's Mother's Day craze. However, uni work has been piling up. I am so hopeless with doing assignments early! I have a lab report to do (about coffee and coffee shops) and another mini research thing to do about water supply and disposal on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. Basically, I have to outline the potential water supply and disposing options available on the island. That one is due tomorrow, the coffee one on Thursday but here I am blogging. *le sigh*
To top things off, I have a test tomorrow as well. I'm not yet ready for it! The one thing I'm starting to worry about is the politics research assignment that's due on Friday. I have not even started researching it! Actually, to tell you all the truth, I haven't even chosen the topic.
Right, excuse me while I stop this entry and go do that water management thing.
Monday 14 May 2012
Weekend of fun. Yeah right.
As a female, I should be pretty well accquainted with the woes of the monthlies. Only I'm not. For about two years, I didn't have regular periods and this pleased me greatly. Although at one point someone pointed out to me the unusualness of it all which made me worry for about two hours. In that two hours I went to the doctor to get answers. I got a blood test which came back showing normal signs of everything. Only I had elevated testosterone levels.
Apparently it's normal for a female to have some testosterone, mine were just a bit higher. And by a bit, I mean by double. But it wasn't high enough for my doctor to give a crap about it. So I left and half a year later I went to another doctor for another unrelated problem. I don't even remember what happened but in the end, this doctor sent me for a blood test to see why I'm so irregular. Tests came back exactly the same. Doctor came to the same conclusion. I'm apparently just manly. Too manly be a chick but not manly enough to be a man. What? It wasn't like I was hairy either.
At the beginning of this year, I went to Hong Kong. I got sick there and my uncle asked why I don't go to the doctor. I was like why bother? I'll eventually get better. Only we ended up at the doctor's and I experienced the quickest doctor visit I've ever had. I don't think I had sat down for more than two minutes before it was over. Oh that reminds me, perhaps Asian people have a thing about being naked/semi naked even at the doctors. Or even, being touched. This doctor was trying to use a stethoscope with minimum contact and without me taking off my jacket. I found it hilarious and suggested to him "how about I just take my clothes off?" to which he enthusiastically agreed in a manner of disbelief and also relief. I took off my jacket and was about to continue taking off my shirt. My uncle who was with me had an expression that looked similar to this emoticon: O___o and he looked like he was thinking "omfg wtf is she doing?"
The doctor told me that's enough and did his testing without me getting semi naked. I don't know if this is just because I grew up in a mostly European setting, or because I studied health science which often required me to get naked/semi naked in front of strangers or a whole lot of other people, but I certainly feel that taking off your shirt in front of your doctor isn't a big deal at all. Seriously, they've seen it all. After the fastest consultation of my life (seriously, doctors in NZ pretty much take 15 minutes per consultation. It's so they "establish a connection with their patients, create a trusting bond" or something.), I was prescribed a bagfull of drugs. Seven to be exact.
Only these drugs made me worse. Except I thought I was getting better. Ha. One morning, I took some and went out. I was basically roaming a strange city by myself and I was high on a concoction of legal drugs. Eventually I met up again with the same uncle who came with me to the doctor and we were talking and eating. I remember talking a mile a minute. I don't even know if he understood what I was saying. At one point he asked me why I don't have a full body check up. I was like wtf for? And he was all well first things first, you don't even get periods. Second is you get sick for months.
I went silent for a while because a) I was high and my brain had already moved onto a different topic and b) wait what?
So a few more days passed, I went to the hospital because I got worse and the same thing happened again at the doctors my uncle had this "omfg not again" expression and he turned around as I started stripping.
Ughhhhh omg this post has off into a tangent. Anyway, the point of this story was that my mother used to buy me ........ Feminine supplies if you will but we both got used to the irregularity. I had more than enough stock at home so my mother stopped buying them. I eventually ran out. I had it last month so I assumed it'll be another couple of months later before I would need to go buy more. Only it seems my body has decided to be normal again and I was caught surprised. I also had work on the weekend. I have never been in so much pain in my life while working. To top it off, yesterday (Sunday) was Mother's Day. One of the busiest day of the year for our restaurant. Never in my life have I wished so much to be a man.
Ok, I'm going to stop here. This is way too long.
Apparently it's normal for a female to have some testosterone, mine were just a bit higher. And by a bit, I mean by double. But it wasn't high enough for my doctor to give a crap about it. So I left and half a year later I went to another doctor for another unrelated problem. I don't even remember what happened but in the end, this doctor sent me for a blood test to see why I'm so irregular. Tests came back exactly the same. Doctor came to the same conclusion. I'm apparently just manly. Too manly be a chick but not manly enough to be a man. What? It wasn't like I was hairy either.
At the beginning of this year, I went to Hong Kong. I got sick there and my uncle asked why I don't go to the doctor. I was like why bother? I'll eventually get better. Only we ended up at the doctor's and I experienced the quickest doctor visit I've ever had. I don't think I had sat down for more than two minutes before it was over. Oh that reminds me, perhaps Asian people have a thing about being naked/semi naked even at the doctors. Or even, being touched. This doctor was trying to use a stethoscope with minimum contact and without me taking off my jacket. I found it hilarious and suggested to him "how about I just take my clothes off?" to which he enthusiastically agreed in a manner of disbelief and also relief. I took off my jacket and was about to continue taking off my shirt. My uncle who was with me had an expression that looked similar to this emoticon: O___o and he looked like he was thinking "omfg wtf is she doing?"
The doctor told me that's enough and did his testing without me getting semi naked. I don't know if this is just because I grew up in a mostly European setting, or because I studied health science which often required me to get naked/semi naked in front of strangers or a whole lot of other people, but I certainly feel that taking off your shirt in front of your doctor isn't a big deal at all. Seriously, they've seen it all. After the fastest consultation of my life (seriously, doctors in NZ pretty much take 15 minutes per consultation. It's so they "establish a connection with their patients, create a trusting bond" or something.), I was prescribed a bagfull of drugs. Seven to be exact.
Only these drugs made me worse. Except I thought I was getting better. Ha. One morning, I took some and went out. I was basically roaming a strange city by myself and I was high on a concoction of legal drugs. Eventually I met up again with the same uncle who came with me to the doctor and we were talking and eating. I remember talking a mile a minute. I don't even know if he understood what I was saying. At one point he asked me why I don't have a full body check up. I was like wtf for? And he was all well first things first, you don't even get periods. Second is you get sick for months.
I went silent for a while because a) I was high and my brain had already moved onto a different topic and b) wait what?
So a few more days passed, I went to the hospital because I got worse and the same thing happened again at the doctors my uncle had this "omfg not again" expression and he turned around as I started stripping.
Ughhhhh omg this post has off into a tangent. Anyway, the point of this story was that my mother used to buy me ........ Feminine supplies if you will but we both got used to the irregularity. I had more than enough stock at home so my mother stopped buying them. I eventually ran out. I had it last month so I assumed it'll be another couple of months later before I would need to go buy more. Only it seems my body has decided to be normal again and I was caught surprised. I also had work on the weekend. I have never been in so much pain in my life while working. To top it off, yesterday (Sunday) was Mother's Day. One of the busiest day of the year for our restaurant. Never in my life have I wished so much to be a man.
Ok, I'm going to stop here. This is way too long.
Saturday 12 May 2012
Waitressing
I've worked part time as a waitress for over three years. When people find out this has been at the same restaurant they often show surprise and sometimes shock. Then they find out I only get paid once a month by cheque as this is how they pay wages and the conversation usually turns into something like a 20 Questions game.
Is the pay good? How can you survive (if don't get paid every week)? Why are you still working there? Is it busy/is there lots to do? Why don't you get a better job? A job that pays better and more frequently? Why are you STILL working there? Do you get free food? Do you get discounts if you eat there? YOU WORK THERE AND YOU EAT THERE? Are you there like EVERY day of the week? Oh you only work there once or twice a week? If so, why bother, it's not like you get paid a lot. And so on.
And I just think, "eh wtf?". A job is a job guys. If I've been there for so many years, you'd think I'd like it to some degree. I probably wouldn't be working there if the restaurant didn't generate enough profit. So that's probably the most logical answer to why I'm still working there. As for the other questions... no, I don't get paid megabucks, I'm a waitress, not a high class escort. Everyone knows waitresses probably get paid around minimum wage. Unless you work in one of those high class five star restaurants, then I have no idea. I still work there because I don't see a reason to leave yet. I'm still a student, I still need a somewhat flexible part time job. This job is as good as any other job. Jobs don't just fall into my lap, when anyone first goes into the workforce, there aren't a lot of options to go into because there's a lack of experience. Retail and hospitality are probably the ones to start from.
But it's true. Why should I stay in my current job at this restaurant when I clearly have experience and could probably get a job at another restaurant that pays more? The answer is simple really. You don't keep a job for over three years and not create/build a relationship with staff and customers. If I left, it'd probably sever a few relationships there. Especially with the customers. I never see them anywhere else. I only ever see them when they decide to come for dinner and I just happen to be working that night. Regular customers aren't just another customer. Their faces have a permanent residence in my memory, along with their face, I know their names, their jobs, their partners, their favourite dishes and drinks and preferences. These are people of slight importance to me. When I haven't seen someone for a few months, I start wondering where they've gone to. If they are still in Auckland, have they moved, did something happen?
Then there are those who started coming to the restaurant with their partners. Newly weds/near to be wed couples. I see their relationship grow (and sometimes breakdown). I see when regular customers change partners and I wonder what how their ex is doing. Then I see when couples get pregnant or when they get a baby. I've seen a few babies grow up. Back before they were born, when they were still in prams, when they start talking, start walking, start eating solids, start eat restaurant foods... it's like watching a timeline of someone's life and I know what their favourite ice cream flavour is at age three. These are the people I've come to know and will probably never see or hear from them again once I leave this job.
Just last night, a elderly regular couple came in. The wife told me all about how her silly husband rolled his ankle and he is still going to play golf today. She told me how she bargained with him. He can have the last prawn which he so loves as long as she can get her calamari for lunch on Sunday.
It is hard getting paid once a month. By cheque to top it off but it's a matter of perspective. Regardless of whether I get paid weekly or monthly, I still will get paid the same amount since the amount of hours don't just magically change. However, sometimes it feels like being paid like this makes it easier to save money and budget. So I prefer it this way. I had a job that paid weekly and I was spending nearly as much as was coming in. But being paid in bulk, you sort of adopt this ration personality and sometimes end up saving a couple hundred dollars a month.
The issue surrounding tips kind of suck though. In New Zealand, it is not customary to tip. Sometimes we get customers who pay by cash and they give us the change (coins which usually add up to under $5). Most people pay by Eftpos (debit cards) or by credit cards so there's no loose change to hand back. On the counter, there's this clear class container in which customers can dump their unwanted loose change in. That becomes the tips that will be eventually filtered to all staff in ways such as staff events/dinners. That being said, I have had customers who have personally come up to me and handed me money, specifically saying it's for me. This isn't like loose change. These are notes: $5, $10, $20 and once on a very rare occasion, $50. I am grateful they feel enough to give so much, but it does pain my heart when I put it in the tip jar. LOL. Although these customers usually stress that it's for me to put into my pocket and not to share around all staff, it is still company policy. If I didn't care at all about it, I'd just take it. I know a lot of other staff don't get this chance at all. No one has heard of $50 tip. Rarely do they even see $10. It's funny though, customers who go out of their way to tip in whole notes usually catch me off guard. They've paid their bill, why are they still shoving money into my face? Sometimes I stare blankly and blink stupidly. Other times they save me the humiliation of responding by saying something like "and this ten is for you, darling" and walk off.
Lastly, I thought it's pretty obvious why I eat where I work. The food is om nom nom worthy, that's why. Duh! I'm not about to go to another restaurant that's probably going to sell similar dishes when I know very well most of the food comes from the same supplier.
So that's why I am still working at the same restaurant and since the food is nice and at a fair price, I go there for dinner when I'm not working.
Wednesday 9 May 2012
Public transport
The only reason I take public transport to uni is because I know the 20 minute walk up from Britomart (what Aucklanders call the terminal in the CBD) is probably the only exercise I'll get for the day.
Ok so perhaps there is a second reason: parking is atrocious and petrol costs a [insert choice of body part here]. Regardless, the main reason is for that 20 minute exercise. Taking public transport costs in other ways. I cannot sleep in if I take public transport. This isn't too bad if you take into consideration that it's likely you will make it to class on time. Or half an hour early, like I do on a Monday morning. I usually pass the time sitting outside the lecture room on the surprisingly comfy couch in the foyer of the engineering building. However this is assuming you manage to take the earlier train/bus. Otherwise you'll be late to class by about 20-30 minutes.
For me, it takes approximately 30 minutes by train or 40ish minutes by bus. During rush hour, that 40 minutes could very likely turn into 70 minutes. If you only have a one hour class, you have to use a good three hours of the day to attend that one hour class.
Last year, I had two jobs. It was more "economical" for me to drive and park at uni than to take the bus. After class, I could leave instantly and drive to work. I had no time to do anything else other than work and school. Sure, it cost me a lot, but I was earning more than enough, with not a lot of time to spend the money. Now, I'm only working one part time job. Taking public transport is really the only option I have.
Sadly, this usually goes hand in hand with being soaked if it happens to be raining.
Ok so perhaps there is a second reason: parking is atrocious and petrol costs a [insert choice of body part here]. Regardless, the main reason is for that 20 minute exercise. Taking public transport costs in other ways. I cannot sleep in if I take public transport. This isn't too bad if you take into consideration that it's likely you will make it to class on time. Or half an hour early, like I do on a Monday morning. I usually pass the time sitting outside the lecture room on the surprisingly comfy couch in the foyer of the engineering building. However this is assuming you manage to take the earlier train/bus. Otherwise you'll be late to class by about 20-30 minutes.
For me, it takes approximately 30 minutes by train or 40ish minutes by bus. During rush hour, that 40 minutes could very likely turn into 70 minutes. If you only have a one hour class, you have to use a good three hours of the day to attend that one hour class.
Last year, I had two jobs. It was more "economical" for me to drive and park at uni than to take the bus. After class, I could leave instantly and drive to work. I had no time to do anything else other than work and school. Sure, it cost me a lot, but I was earning more than enough, with not a lot of time to spend the money. Now, I'm only working one part time job. Taking public transport is really the only option I have.
Sadly, this usually goes hand in hand with being soaked if it happens to be raining.
Sunday 6 May 2012
Return
I remember the last time I actively blogged was back before LiveJournal was sold to a Russian company. This is me returning to that life, I miss the company, friends and community I was part of. Perhaps this time will also create the same ties!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)