College Life

Well, with life back at college getting back into the groove of things again after a three week holiday, it is time to recount some things that I have been up to for the last week and a half.

We have, as part of an intercollegiate competition, something called the Sir Frank Kitto Cultural Competition between the seven colleges at UNE. This competition is to encourage students at Uni that aren't into sport or other activities like that, but are more into art, craft, public speaking, debating, writing poetry or stories and acting. So far this year, the competition has had the public speaking section (already discussed in a previous post). This term is full of activities, such as Art and Craft, Theatre Sports, Short Story and Poetry and Small Music Ensemble.
Because I enjoy both the cultural and sporting competitions I enter in events in both that I know I can help the college with. That is why I have given the co-ordinators of this college a couple of pictures that I drew a week ago, hoping that they might be accepted into the inter-college part of the competition after the competition in college to get a place. They are pencil sketches of my left hand. Sounds boring, but let me assure you, drawing your left hand with your right is a fairly hard thing to do, with the light changing, let alone your hand wanting to cramp up every now and then.
Along with this, Small Music Ensemble rehearsals have begun. I don't know whether I will be accepted in among the singers (there are only going to be 6 singers - 15 people only allowed to be on stage for the performance). If I'm not, though, I won't be pining, as I have been in it for the last three years, and I think, with a couple of seconds and a third, it's alright that I won't be in it if that is what they wish - there were 8/9 of us trying out.

I, with two other people, have a group critique that we have to 'present' to the class tomorrow for education. This group critique is to generate discussion about the social justice distinctions in society. Sounds boring? Well, it is. Some of it. It's actually quite interesting in some respects, but when you are reading the same thing over and over again, you get tired of it, as no doubt some of you have already learned. This critique tomorrow is about social classes, and the problems of them in the classroom. I had a good reading to study as part of the group, and the questions I have made up to start discussion on it, I hope will inspire people other than the usual conscientious few take part in discussion. If not, then tough luck. They won't learn to open their mouths to take part in discussion is their own decision. Can't force them.

Anyway, apart from this dreary life of mine, college food has been interesting, and, sometimes, even edible. J/k. Tonight, though, was Indian Night (the kitchen likes to have a theme night every now and then), and it wasn't good. I'm not a huge one for spicy food...and they had chilies in each dish! Woohoo!

Oh well. Life does go on...or so I've been told...
Ciao!

It's Alright!!! I'm Still Alive!!! :)

Just to put you at your ease, Peter.

Life for me has been interesting over the holidays. I went to the Football at Cronulla (I had to back the Sharks that day - they were versing the Bulldogs!) with my friends from Sydney. We had a great time, the Sharks beat the Bulldogs very nicely, and the Bulldogs are maintaining a wonderful form at the moment - losing most of their games! Yay! Unfortunately, St George hasn't won more than one game. Oh well...life goes on.

Last Saturday I got together with my best friend, Emma, and we had a good little browse around Gymea shopping centre, buying a couple of things necessary for life - clothes. Some nice light trackpants for me, so that I don't freeze here in Armidale while going for a walk in the morning (or afternoon). We then went on to Southgate, and I bought some pants for prac. - very necessary.

Prac is about seven and a half weeks away, and then I have my interview, which is booked (just did that) for the 29th of June. It was either that date or the 27th. I still don't know where my prac. is at the moment, but no doubt I should be able to get one of the places that I put down for - Maitland, Singleton, Port Macquarie, or Coonabarabran. Very diverse range of places, I think.

Anyway...back at College, if you hadn't figured that out. Life is going on just the same as usual, pretty boring, and full of work. Anyway...as time is running short, I shall leave you now.

Seeya' round!

Holidays

There have been no developments in the last week of anything exciting happening around here. Lately, I have been on holidays, having driven down from University last Thursday, stopping off at a relative's house for dinner before completing the journey at night. It was an enjoyable trip, and I was happy that I was able to sleep in my own bed after the college bed for the last four weeks.

Hopefully I will be getting together with a few of my Sydney friends, as I have not seen them in quite some time. That should be this weekend some time, as I know that at least one of them is coming to Sydney after having a bit of an absence from here for a while.

Apart from this, and the fact that I have an assignment to finish from Uni, and have been reading my favourite books instead, like is pretty uneventful at the moment. Shall post something when life gets a little more exciting. Ciao for now.

Nearly Time to Go Home Again...

At the end of this week there will be a mass departure from Armidale of all students who wish to go home for the holidays. Yes, that time of the year is upon us again - the time when first term has come nearly to an end. But hey...can I complain about my first term of my last semester? No. It was only four and a half weeks long. Yes, thanks to the early Easter holidays, Uni didn't start until it's usual time this year, but decided to break for the normal Easter holidays - and make term two an awfully long one. Yes, we still have the (roughly) sixteen week term, so...you do the maths for how long term two is.

Over the last two weekends I have been to two graduations which have made me realise how much I am looking forward to graduating myself. It should be great, to finally get out of college and move back home. Oh, wait! That's not what I'm supposed to do. :) But to see good friends depart from Armidale, and me not knowing when I am likely to see them again (not for a couple of years, at least, in one case, I know), it was good to be able to wish them good luck and all that for the future.

I can apply for an interview with the Department of Education and Training anytime this week pretty much so that after my last practicum in June I can go straight into teaching from the beginning of term 3 this year. That will be exciting...interesting...and a bit scary. But it should be good. I might be able to earn a wage soon. Woohoo!

Anyway...nothing else really exciting has happened.

Back at Uni

Well...I've been back at college for the last two weeks. Like is really exciting, I can asure you that.

I have five hours of school a week, and unfortunately, four of those hours are two nine o'clockers on a Wednesday and Thursday. Oh joy. Sometimes, the five tips out to seven, but that will only be some times.

The last couple of weekends, the college has had a couple of functions. Those have been Commencement Dinner, on the first Friday of March, and Thunderbolt's Ball, held just last Saturday. Thunderbolt's Ball is to celebrate the infamous Captain Thunderbolt who terrorised the New England region during the nineteenth century. So, the college inhabitants dress up as country local (or is that yokels?), and have a blazing bonfire, and a band, and lots of alcohol, and a jolly good time.

Since then, there hasn't been much else to write about, except that we have started the year well with the Sir Frank Kitto Cultural events, receiving =1st in the first event - public speaking, held tonight. Well done to our representative.

So long for now, though.