Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Day 15- Industrial visit and Physiology lesson

Today we gathered at 8am for the Industrial visit-- A steel company. We had to wear helmets when we enter the place-- it's where they make steel.

Hot metal coming through!

We could feel the heat when the burning hot metal was moving past us although we were standing at quite a distant.



lWe then had our lunch in the canteen. And Physiology lesson started at 12pm so lesson ended early too since we started early :) After Physio lesson, YF, Geena and I did our OIE project.. And we're still doing it now :( This is the first time I do a project for soooo long. Hahaha...
Reflection
Today's industrial visit was an eye-opener for me. I saw how the metal is being made and what it is like in a steel factory. Although it's something different from what I'm studying now, I think that it was a great learning experience for me and I can better understand other jobs such as management,etc.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Day 14- OIE lesson and Physiology lesson

Today's OIE lesson is about Chinese Philosophy.And it feels like I've gone back to my secondary school chinese lessons again.. Why? Because we learnt some famous mottos by Chinese Ancient Sages. To write it simply, they're just those chinese phrases I was forced to memorise last time. Hahaha.. Apparently, I've forgotten a lot of them :P It has been more than a year since I last touch chinese.

Below is a photograph of the classroom and my teacher. She's playing for us a video in chinese -.- I couldn't understand it... I only found the cartoon characters amusing. Hehehe...

After lunch, we had our Physiology lesson and after that, went back to our room and do tutorial.

Reflection
Though today's OIE lesson was a bit boring and dry, I was reminded of the chinese phrases I used to learn. That brings me back to how we always remember the phrases because of the story behind it. And it's interesting to find out how people come out with so many different stories and ends up with a phrase that is used to describe something. I think that's one of the beauties of Chinese language; where there are always stories linked to whatever is present now. (Eg. Ancient artefacts or pictures always have a story to tell, the chinese phrases also have a story behind it, etc)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Day 13- Dorm Sweet Dorm

It's time to go back to our dorm! Dorm Sweet Dorm :) [can't believe we were missing it!! hehehe]

But before we set off, we still had one more stop-- to see the hydroelectricity dam (I think.. something along that line.. ya, I know.. I don't even know what I'm looking at, right? :P)

Right at the top, we'll have the bird's eye view of the thingy



The Gang (Dr lau look too kind already! Hahaha)




A high class restaurant for lunch. Very nice food! Yummy! :D

After a nice lunch, we were ready to go! (Finally...) The whole bus ride is soooooooo long!!! There was a jam halfway through because a truck was overturned and all the cabbage was spread on the road!! Jam was about half an hour long :(
We reached our 'condo' at about 6 plus. Rushed to shower and do laundry.. I ran to the washing machine place in shorts, T-shirt, and slippers. The temp outside is like super cold! (even colder than an air-con room!) Hahaha... What an experience!
Reflection
I had a great time chatting with my friends on the bus today. And I'm sure all of us had bonded pretty well.
On the way back, I saw many plantations and farmers. This makes me wonder: What if I was born in this environment? How would life be like? This has really set me thinking. Maybe life won't be as stressful as that in a city. But, do these people living in the outskirts also realise that there are other things that they are missing out? And same goes to people who live in the city. Life in the outskirts is so different. Will city dwellers be able to adapt to the changes? What a difference!

Day 12- Yangtze River Cruise

Today is the 2nd day of our cruise. Below is my breakfast for the day, yummy...


Nice red dates milk (taste like strawberry milk)
As I looked at the sceneries, I marvel at God's creation. Indeed, he has created this beautiful earth. What an awesome God.








Halfway through, we had to transfer to a small boat whereby we sail through the narrower rivers




Melissa and I :)

This was our boat (It's a convertible..top part can open and close.. haha.. just the wooden version)


We got down fromthe boat and walked through a trail



Rani, me, Melissa, Letty and Hana :)


Finally, the last stop is climbing 300 plus steps...


This is just the beginning...

Hana, Eddy and Rani (Kimberley was at the back! Her hands are raised! Hahaha)



Yay! We reached the top!! :D
After such a long walk, we had a great dinner! :)

Reflection
Today, I see hills after hills and all the pictures I took all look so similar. But actually, you can create a picture out of a rock or the shape of the hills. Like, a person lying down, etc. It's indeed interesting to see how these landscapes can also be a form of art. How different people have different ways of interpreting things and how people have various perspectives. The mind we have can be so imaginative!

Day 11- Yangtze River Cruise

Today is the first day of the Yangtze River Cruise. Was quite excited initially because there won't be lessons for 3 whole days. Haha.. Anyway, we gathered together at 12.15pm. And, off we went! The bus journey was super duper long! I think it's even longer from Singapore to KL! :O

Finally, we arrived at our destination :D And here are some photos:





Yan Fang and my room


The very small toilet (like airport toilet)


The city


Getting ready for ship lock!


Ship lock in action! The water is rising....


Yay! Water has risen to a certain level and the gate is going to open..
Ship lock was at about 9.40pm. After seeing the ship lock, we went back to our own rooms.
Reflection
Today, I've learnt about some history about the Yangtze River. And today was also the first time I experience a ship lock. Something new I learnt today.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Day 10- Physiology quiz and bye Da-jie...

Felt really sad today when I woke up because Da-jie will be leaving for Shanghai in the afternoon :(

Woke up early to have breakfast at the hotel. Food was not too bad.

Had a nice morning walk from the hotel to the classroom with Da-jie :) Reached the classroom super early, but I studied for the quiz while waiting for class to start.

Physiology quiz was quite ok because Dr Lau went through with us what he has taught before quiz started. Then, after quiz, he continued with the lesson. And today, he cancelled the afternoon class again. So some of us went out with the china students to eat the xiao chi while others went back to the hostel to rest and pack for tmr's cruise. As for me, I met Da-jie at my classroom block, went back to my room, put down my stuff then went out with her for lunch.

After lunch with her, we went to the bakery and the supermarket. Then, took a bus back to her hotel and check out. After that, walked to my school and put down her things in my room. We left hurriedly to the place we went last night because Da-jie wanted to buy a thick, good jacket for her tibet trip. Finally, we reached the place and bought one which I thought looked quite pretty :)

Then, we had to rush back to the hostel so that Da-jie can catch her train back to Shanghai on time. Reached the hostel, quickly packed everything and I left with her to the main road outside my school. Managed to catch a taxi quite fast (Didn't take a bus because she might not have enough time) Said my goodbye to her and watch her leave in the taxi :( See you again next year.

First and foremost, really want to thank Dr Lau for allowing me to stay with my sis for 1 night and entrusting me into her hands.

Thank you Da-jie for keeping me company. It's been great having you around :D Will remember what you told me and all your encouragements. And to always count my blessings that God has given me.

Thank you Father for providing this opportunity for Da-jie and I. And thank you that Da-jie managed to make it on time to catch her train. I pray that you continue to keep both of us safe and that as we're away from our family, in a foreign land, we can learn to always depend on you and to be the salt and light of the world wherever we are. May we always be reminded of the verse in Joshua 1:9 that says :" Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Amen.

Day 9- Physiology lesson and presentation; Meet up with Da-jie!!!

Today, I woke up feeling both nervous and excited. Nervous because of the presentation later on. And excited because I'm going to meet Da-jie later in the afternoon! :D

When my friends and I walked out of the hostel, we were surprised! Wuhan is finally raining and the temperature has dropped a lot!! Wow, it's now even colder than air-con! Haha.. Here are some pictures outside my hostel:


So Physiology lesson started at 9am. And my group was the last to present because we were the most unprepared :P Anyway, it turned out quite ok, I guess :)

Dr Lau also cancelled the afternoon class which means I get to spend more time with Da-jie. So, after class, Dr Lau and I waited at the hotel that Da-jie will be staying at. Waited quite long though. But, glad that Da-jie managed to find her way to the hotel on her own :)

After checking in, we went out for lunch at the soup stall. It's nice to drink a bowl of hot soup in a cold weather. Haha. After lunch, we went to the bookstore nearby and bought a few things for my friends and mummy's bible club kids. Hope they like them.

Next, we went back to my room to pack my stuff as I'll be staying with Da-jie for 1 night in the hotel :D After packing and everything, we had a nice walk from my school to the hotel. And the next activity was dinner and a bit of shopping. Because Da-jie said on her way to the hotel, she saw a few shops and a big supermarket so we decided to take bus 551 to that place. Journey was only about 10 minutes. Saw a few shops (mainly sports shop which reminded me that I need to get a jacket for Rhoda) Anyway, we walked around and found a resaurant selling beefsteak set meal for 29 yuan. Thought was quite ok as it came along with bread, soup, egg, pasta/potato, and free flow of salad.

I had a great talk and dinner with Da-jie :D

Da-jie :)
After dinner, walked around a bit more and headed back to the hotel (took a taxi). Because I have Physiology quiz tomorrow, I had to study at night :( If not, I will definitely watch the DVD Da-jie brought. So, while I was studying in the hotel room, she was doing her own things then took a nap. After my studying, she woke up and we talked a bit more then fell asleep at about 11.30pm.
I had lots of fun with Da-jie today!