I saw the most curious sight at the dining hall this morning. For the first time, and only for a moment, nearly everyone on the Tembusu half of the dining hall was eating alone. There must've been about twelve individuals who sat at a table each. All of them were busy about their own things, either reading, doing assignments or just eating, each having their own breakfasts in their own quiet way. The only couple, who also had a table to themselves, were in soft-spoken conversation.
It was quite strange to see the people so sparsely spread out in the dining hall. I think what was most striking about this morning's breakfast was how settled it seemed. It was so quiet and... peaceful. That moment at breakfast this morning also captured how the beginning of the semester felt like: restful. I think our recess week somehow refreshed that start-of-semester sobriety. Maybe it is also because the realities of the midterms have also sunk in. However, whether or not this tranquility is a good or bad thing doesn't really matter; I am definitely enjoying it.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
On edge today
So reality that is the end of recess week has come knocking on my door and wants to hit me hard in my face. I can't even tell what happened in the last week. One moment it was Monday and the next, Sunday. Today. Now. Okay, chill. I only need to survive tomorrow. I mean, it's just one midterm, right? Who needs to study for those things anyway?
So, serious business now. Sometime during recess week the OHS thought it appropriate to highlight the dangers of ledges in our building. They have pasted these laminated signs that say "DANGER/ Please do not sit on the ledge" at every accessible ledge in the block. I was quite shocked, and honestly, slightly insulted, when I first saw those signs.
So, serious business now. Sometime during recess week the OHS thought it appropriate to highlight the dangers of ledges in our building. They have pasted these laminated signs that say "DANGER/ Please do not sit on the ledge" at every accessible ledge in the block. I was quite shocked, and honestly, slightly insulted, when I first saw those signs.
Friday, February 17, 2012
About last post
So it seems some of the problems I brought up last entry have been raised before! Check out the article by campus observer written in response to it.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The problem with diversity:
As far as I can tell from my stay thus far in Tembusu, diversity is one of the key features that the college prides itself in. I remember during a speech last sem, Prof C (or was it Prof K?), prided Tembusu for having the highest proportion of foreign students among all of NUS's student residences (as being one the many aspects of diversity).
But of course diversity isn't as simple as that. Implicit in our Tembusian idea of diversity is inclusiveness. There's always mention of how Tembusu is a great environment for students across different faculties to mingle. From my own guesses, the college doesn't seem to consider grades so much a factor in enrollment of its residents either. What this means is plainly anybody could be a part of the Tembusu community; one is free – welcomed even – to be his or her individualistic self in this domain. In the world of dreams and cotton candy, these aspects of Tembusu seem to paint an ideal picture: it's dynamic, diverse and democratic.
But of course diversity isn't as simple as that. Implicit in our Tembusian idea of diversity is inclusiveness. There's always mention of how Tembusu is a great environment for students across different faculties to mingle. From my own guesses, the college doesn't seem to consider grades so much a factor in enrollment of its residents either. What this means is plainly anybody could be a part of the Tembusu community; one is free – welcomed even – to be his or her individualistic self in this domain. In the world of dreams and cotton candy, these aspects of Tembusu seem to paint an ideal picture: it's dynamic, diverse and democratic.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Jump start
I must admit I forgot about this blog over the holidays.
In other news, it's already five weeks into the semester! It's remarkable how time flies (I know I said it in the last post, but it still shocks me every time). Sem2 was off to a slow start; things were pretty quiet in the first three weeks or so and people here seemed... lackluster. Things are taking a turn now, though, with the sudden surge of events and activities flooding the Tembusu calendar. The elevators in Tembusu are practically wallpapered with event posters.
Oh, it was nice to see a few changes in our food too. Our caterers have clearly tried to think up new stuff to cook for dinners, and given the breakfasts sliiiight variations... at least there are some improvements there. Apparently they've also been trying to control the distribution of fruit too by giving them out at the food stations instead of the free-flow section. I think that was a good move, although the fruit option seems to disappear from the menu on some nights. It's weird huh, thinking that after they had sorted the distribution method that they'd be inconsistent in their supply.
Anyway, I've run out of things to say for now. I seriously need to get myself organised and hopefully start posting on a more regular basis. Good night folks.
In other news, it's already five weeks into the semester! It's remarkable how time flies (I know I said it in the last post, but it still shocks me every time). Sem2 was off to a slow start; things were pretty quiet in the first three weeks or so and people here seemed... lackluster. Things are taking a turn now, though, with the sudden surge of events and activities flooding the Tembusu calendar. The elevators in Tembusu are practically wallpapered with event posters.
Oh, it was nice to see a few changes in our food too. Our caterers have clearly tried to think up new stuff to cook for dinners, and given the breakfasts sliiiight variations... at least there are some improvements there. Apparently they've also been trying to control the distribution of fruit too by giving them out at the food stations instead of the free-flow section. I think that was a good move, although the fruit option seems to disappear from the menu on some nights. It's weird huh, thinking that after they had sorted the distribution method that they'd be inconsistent in their supply.
Anyway, I've run out of things to say for now. I seriously need to get myself organised and hopefully start posting on a more regular basis. Good night folks.
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