Day 17 - Last Day of IS

The paper-plane made during break time (first).

flying.
My paperplane notes.

shirt that i bought for 40RMB
No Idea why there's strips of newpaper on the inside of it.

Heyyo,

Roommates and I went for class at 1pm after doing our usual stuff (chatting online, bathe, eat etc) as class was cancelled (yeap, hip hip hooray!). All 3 of us slept pretty late the day before to finish up our overdued assignments and were all feeling groggy and kind-of, low-spirited.

I thought Xiao Lin Lao Shi class was getting interesting the day before. Today, Ms Sally talked about ethics and the chinese customs (and cultures) that are still practiced in their daily lives. I was a little more attentive than usual as that was one of the things that I have tried to get to know and has recorded down in my learning plan before I came. 

Unfortunately, I couldnt bring myself to stay long enough after 3pm that day. I tried to get some sleep during the second break but the area I was sitting was not too quiet (as it was break time and it seems like everyone was talking). I decided to went back to bunk the moment I taste bile in my throat. Initially wanted to take panadols but changed my mind and sleep instead.

I felt bad leaving IS class halfway when I woke up to let my roommates in. I hope I wasnt marked down too harshly. Concerned friends/lecturers reading, I dint throw up afterall, please do not worry. 

Something I have to share though: MsXiao Lin Lao Shi actually gave me handouts on the "Muslims in China" and some Chinese Superstitions that I asked for yesterday. I'm very touched and moved that she remembers. Turns out, the whole lot of the others took photos with Xiao Lin Lao Shi and had thanked her personally. Can't believe I had totally forgotten it was the last day. @_@

I'm gonna show her that I've learnt something in her class but for now, nobody needs to know.

Day 16 - First Presentation and the Sixteenth Day

Pretty,pretty, blooming, blooming

Being alone does not mean Lonely kayyyyyyyyyyyyyy (:

Room 220 (Seok's group) presented second.

Room 123 presented third.

Room 116 (Vivian's)

Room 222 (XY) 
The view from the toilet. hahah!

be amazed the cubicles are low
and there's no lock or latch
the act-cute face of wei guang

the slept-at-3am faces
i only now then noticed the pretty lights of the lecture hall. O_O

Whoo~ *Pats stomach*

tall, talented basketball girls at practice

Hello!

10am presentation so the 123 girls woke up around the range of 730 to 8am to touch up and run-through our slides. Almost marked (or maybe already marked) as late though since we got carried away in the midst of our preparation.

Good news: All three managed to get our points across.

Bad news: two of us had to be probed for answers, that shows we did not explain it rather thoroughly right?

Good news: ITS OVER!

Its a ratio of 2:1, that should be a call to celebrate, isnt it? Haaa -___-

I had maggi for breakfast and lunch, maybe maggi for breakfast tomorrow also? (OMG, dear hair, please dont take offense with the plenty intake of MSG and continue growing like normal, okay? I love you~)

Xiao Lin Laoshi starts off the lecture on Queue (the long men's hairstyle) and also the feet binding history. That sets me wide awake. heh.

It was when the Manchus managed to conquer China and they made all of the men (the Han Chinese exactly) to do the queue hairstyle as a sign of submission. The men were'nt happy (although, I think most of them were more unhappy towards the new hairstyle rather than being conquered). 

Infact, I dont think anyone likes to be conquered, thus relating to the NE message: 5. We must ourselves defend Singapore.  No one else is responsible for our own security and well-being.

Makes me miss my little hometown now... 

Just look at the crushed toes. only the big toe was untouched. other than that every other bone in the feet are crushed eversince they are 3 years old! *#&*@ 3-inches feet are considered golden lilies feet. 4 inches-Silver lilies. iron lilies-5 inches. If its gold and silver and iron, how come never show it off?

grr.

It started off from the dancers that were asked by the emperor to dance on a golden lily platform with their feet bounded. Logically, our feet should be big and long enough and of the appropriate shape to withstand our weight. I can only imagine them hobbling around with feets spoilt and cramped. I guess thats precisely why they were'nt It was done to show your a woman of high class. The smaller your feets are the most desirable you are. ouch! imagine someone wanting you because of the size of your feet? Its like wanting you just for the size of your tits. 

*taking deep breaths*

thats my view.

Since in olden days women are known to be more obedient and respectful of authority (esp. towards their parents), I guess they would have no choice and when it determines your future.... sighs. 

-__________________-

IS teacher also covered on the politics (different parties like those PAP in SG) in China... FYI, students involve in communists parties are not as favourable as those who are not in any parties for international students . It reminded me of Nancy, my classmate. I think she's not associated?will ask.

Religion about Taoism and Buddhism were also covered. Do you know Buddhism orginated from India? i thought it was from China. hurhur.

After class, I asked teacher to cover more on the chinese beliefs that they applied in their daily life now, as that is one of the things I had looked forward to. She told me she will look into it and asked me to help her write down about the Muslims in China as well so she wont forget. I think mr Wong gave her that suggestion.

by the way, mr wong can be a very good Phua Chu kang, dont you agree? LOL. OIP grp has been assigned to do a presentation things on Made in Sg. So far, XY have not delegated any tasks but I guess we can auto- do our research already since its next thursday and we're going away again this weekend. to WUDANG O_O known for their wushu-as said by Hajar. LOL

Highlights for today:

Told ya, I have pretty roommates. 

(They even sleep, prettily)

Hee.

Fridayyyyytessssssssttttttt! 

ARGH

Day 15 - First Industrial Visit

HSM-2 was the exit. HSM-1 was the entrance.
Random. 

What does that sign mean?

They were trying to make a smiley face w the leftover strips of food.
Nothing to do, huh.

If I remembered correctly, Vivian said it reads, "Since the grass is beautiful, please do not step on them". Please feel free to correct me. LOL.
Group E. With do-I-really-need-to-say-who's-that-sandwiched-between-XY-and-Seok? hahaha

The train (probably carrying cargo?) that held us up for about 15-20 minutes maybe?
the administrative building
Opposite the administrative building/looked at hash's tired face.

tsk. 
xh, want fight is it? Haiyak!

haa, about 7AM: we were all just waiting to board the bus.

waiting to board the bus.
still waiting to board the bus. about 7 plus plus AM.

Woots~

Woke up early to catch the arranged-bus to Wugang(Wuhan Steel Mill Industry). That's our 1st industrial visit during our OIP stay. We get to wear those orange construction workers safety helmet and see how steel is being processed from a hot block of stuff to a roll of steel.

The factory produces real loud sounds like BOOM BOOM BAM! You can either be deaf or die of heart attack if you're not used to it. Curiously and also almost quite disturbingly, the workers working in there were not wearing any ear protection at all. I am concern for their health.

Besides the noise, the heat was almost unbearable when the hot block of iron was moved along the conveyor right in front of us. 2000+ degrees celsius beb, you tell me is it hot or not... LOL We were standing at the top but with some distance from the "Oven" and the Line of production but you can still practically feel the hot iron ore tanning your face. 

Its was so hot that we can even still see the heatwaves of the iron ore at its final stage which is when we are ALREADY OUT of the processing area! Phew~

Lunched with JO1s, XY, Vivian, Pei Jie and Zee Min. Xh, weiguang, hash and Vivian shared 4 dishes while the rest of us shared another four. Miraculously (or not?) our side seems to finish eating much much faster than usual that it seems a big deal to comment "That was fast." haha!

just jking.

The whole eight of us went for lecture around 1pm. After which, both roommates and I start to really panicked and become stressed up about the project that we were all on the verge of not wanting to go out to get dinner. We went anyway since I cant seem to stop pestering them about my hunger.

It was short though and since we went out abit earlier than usual, we didnt expect Mo Lee to open his stall already but he had. Even told us, in his strong Hui accent, he was there eversince 2pm.

Its because of these friendly stall owners that China is slowly being imprinted in this closet of mine.

... Finding it hard to deal with leaving and its not even near the time yet.

Day 14 - The First Time I Ate Kuaci with a Lecturer

KUACI

LUNCH-TIME 

And we always complained canteen 1 is packed.

lunch ((:

(Mak, lauk telor dengan tomato sedap tapi Yah rindu masakan mama. )

Mo Lee (donno how to spell his name)'s Satay

Mr Wong peeling Kuaci in his room.

Hello...

BPE Lesson and head off to the Muslim food stall for lunch. Along the way, the other locals must have been released out of their classes around the same time as us. Phew the empty roads are suddenly filled with bodies! Scared the **** out of me. Tempted to clutch my purse and move quickly in other words run away from the crowd, I slowed down my pace instead, swoop my camera out and took the overwhelming scene. I dont think I will complain if canteen 1 is always full anymore. Heh (;

This afternoon Flexsims is one of the most stress-est class I attended so far. Mainly because I could not get my stimulation to work properly even though Ive followed accordingly to the instructions. I just followed WeiGuang pointers and handed in the report that I had. I dont know how I'm going to pass the practical ='(

Dinner was jidan mian (big bowl=ta) and 4 sticks of Satay. I tend to eat more when I'm upset these days. Maybe because i become abit richer in China? haha. maybe. 

I joined Xh and Weiguang to chat w Mr Wong. Thats why he offered us some of his Kuaci, I guess. Thanks, Mr Wong. I think I will avoid disturbing Mr Wong in the future because it seems like we are disrupting his night and especially when...

My group and I have not yet finish our assignment presentation 1.

Or the Report.

damn stress, can.

Day 13 - Coming back Home (Dormitory)

The lift looked like a cable car, only bigger.
rice cake (traditional)
my tour-for-the-dam ticket
my sampan ticket (:

...

Woots~

We went off the boat before the clock strikes 9 (i think).Haha. We climbed the long staircase instead of paying 2Rmb for the big-lift that could carry the whole occupants (okay most) of the cruise ship. 

We went on our way home the same as we went before (I think). I cant confirm with you as I have the tendency to doze on and off in transportation, right, Dad? haha.

Main point is we reached home (our dorm) safe and sound, had our dinner and took our rests... (:

Highlights:

I CANT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY MISSED THIS ROOM OF OURS WHEN THE CRUISE BEDS ARE MUCH THICKER THAN OUR MATTRESS BED LARH! 

...almost like home.

Day 12 - Three Gorges Tour Part 2

Our Cruise boat 

(we're In the smaller ship)

look at our background; the staircase~ whoo 

(damn long, can?)

Roommates.

It was hot and sunny but the wind is cold and chilly.

Hot and cold.

Vivian (my groupmate) and I.

Xh looking thoughtful?
Benedict missing home? Or missing Icy?

(actually he felt asleep with his position like that) Haha. 

Lucky never fall.

let me play among the "mountains"

Transferring from a smaller ship to a sampan
Civilisation on high-land
the old-fashioned way when the water is not deep enough to row

PULL! 

our small boat local tour guide.

She sang some of the local songs, it's so nice that I fell asleep.

The boat is rocking and her voice was super nice can?

the construction in the background captured is on purpose

They are going to build a bridge right there. Fascinated, I am.

Civilisation on high land again
Yellow flowers~

Reflection

Later on in the afternoons:
Tried to capture the sunlight

The supposedly Goddess of Mercy

captured

a souvenior from the mountains? 

cool,huh?

cave~

"frog" mountain 

Potential photographer in action...

Angel figure?

Trying to capture far-offs shot

The view when we alight for more sightseeing

Hello again..

Waked up a little late for the ship's breakfast. Supposed to wake up at 6am for 7am breakfast but both Hash and I woke up to almost 7am and discovered breakfast will only be served at 7.30am

funnyyy~ LOL

Almost half an hour after breakfast, (we had porridge and mee Hoon and pau:) we were assembled to go change to a smaller ship to cruise along a river that could lead us to the "SAMPAN" ride at the SHEN NONG STREAM!

(okay Im not very sure if the name is correct, though)

Along the way, groups and individuals (including yours truly) took a lot of photos (I will try to post up everything I have) Some of the photos are grabbed from my OIP mates, so enjoy them okay? 

((:

 

Later on in the afternoon just about after the 2 (or 3pm) lunch, announcements were made to informed us about "Scenic Views"

Honestly, after the heavy lunch and the adventure we had in the morning, the four of us (JO1s) were quite reluctant to leave the comfort of the ship's bed. Reason: sleepy and lazy. LOL!

We dragged our lazy bums up though. Lucky, we did, if not we would only lose out on the rare and breathtaking sceneries. (Refer to the pictures above) I apologise firsthand that I fail to capture all of the glorious scenes that we were able to see. I have 2 eyes and only 1 camera lens therefore everything I captured on camera will only be like half of what Ive seen. heheh, makes sense right? =)

Honestly, I just find it really hard to capture everything that my eyes did with the lens. I guess those are just the memories that make it more special for us, who have seen it. Dont jealous okay? It could be yours in the future...

The Jo1s slacked around in the cabin I shared w Hash. We talked about our days in Polys so far, the friends we made and shared our expectations of the trips. Xh, hash and I was quite close once, somehow we drifted... Unexpectedly, we're together in this trip. It's nice to just sit and chat and just let the world go by sometimes (or in our case, sail by). captured moments.

We went sightseeing about 6.30pm later on. Mostly to see the 'town' area and also for a night tour. 3 things I remember distinctively about the night tour was THE LONG, steep, dark staircase, the night scenery with stars,fog and the sea, and the temple where the believers are suppose to pay to pray. like wth? hahah

Highlights for the day: 

1) Everyone was practically queueing up for Dinner.

2) Listening to conversations till I fell asleep.

Heh.

all in all... the cruise ....

...its not that bad, afterall.