The End

"From this moment, this has became a part of my life story - My bits of History. Reluctantly, I signed off 'My survival in UK' with a full stop. It might be 'dead' yet able to convey my life and thoughts as long as it survives in the technology world. In all these time, I would like to thank all for being a part of the journey of 570 days!"

Leaving Cardiff...

I was on the coach leaving Cardiff...

Passing by the green fields, overlooking the horses, cows and sheep... that was it! When would I see the same scene again? It would probably be a few years later when I come back for holidays. Throughout the journey, sadness swept into me as images came into my mind. That's the end! That's the end!! I can't believe it!

Attachment could be so difficult to break...

Graduated

My journey as a student has finally ended. I can't tell you how relieved I am to be released from hell after 20 months. The worst time of my life was the initial 4 months. For the first time in my life, I realised how incompetent I was in so many ways. Being a "handicapped", I struggled to catch up as much as I could to be in sync with my coursemates. It was very difficult.

I knew how genius my coursemates were from the beginning. More than 90% of them were graded at least 2:1 and above, which made me even more incompetent. Many times, I questioned myself about the choice I had made. I had inflicted unnecessary sufferings upon myself, which was puzzling.

Having geniuses resulted in my final exam marks being scaled down to my disadvantage. I was devastated. Being released from hell doesn't seem to be relieving after all.

The journey of being a student has ended and soon I will be heading back home. A new journey has begin... I knew it is going to be another challenging path...

Cambridge

Mood: Excited Health:Good Weather: Cold

Sighs... it was raining heavily as we made our way to the bus stop for our 4am coach to London. At London, the weather was not optimistic at all and it was cold at 8 deg. What was the matter with UK in the summer?? We filled our hungry stomachs with early breakfast before our next coach to Cambridge.

After arrival, Woon picked us up and drove us to the venue where Ling had her meeting. It was great to see her after so long. Shortly, the three of us parted for 'dim sum' lunch at 'Charlie Chan' :)

One prawn dumpling missing (Jeff was the thief)

As a 'siew mai' critics, I was glad that it tasted better than the previous ones I had in other restaurants.

After such a great lunch, Yan Qin, a Taiwanese postgraduate in Cambridge University (Ling's friend) brought us around the school. The highlights of Cambridge were the prestigious Cambridge university and its 30 over colleges!!

The bridge of Mathematics

The colleges are also hostels to the student there. Wow... I would love to stay in such antique centuries old buildings!! The following features some of the beautiful colleges there.

A clock with a bug that strikes many controversies

Ooo... seemed like a butcher stall!!

In most of the colleges, there were signboards to inform visitors to keep their volume down due to exam in progress. Hmm... even on a Sunday?? And also signboards to ask people to keep their feet off the neat 'carpet- like' grass except the birds.

Continuous stream of lake and boats rowing is evident in many areas of the colleges.

An engraved stone dedicated to a China scholar.

The significant of the poem and information about this poet were quite puzzling as there was no signboard for explanation. Guess I have to do a 'google' search then.

Antique clock

Standing on the wrong side of the sun!

Jeff acting cool on a sunny weather... hmm...

Flying hair...

This man was always mentioned in my course - Newton's law

Sculpture of famous scholars

One of the chapels (name can't remember :X )

Flowers blooming beautifully in Summer.

Notice anything about these flowers? The petals seemed to be the other way round!

The bridge of Science in the background

Yan Qi and Woon told us that this bridge is also nicknamed 'the depressing bridge or stressful bridge' as all students need to pass this bridge in order to get to the examination hall.

Boat rides are common around the university.

Nice town

Anyone fancy Peking duck or roasted duck? I was joking about if the students can be so poor that they captured the white ducks and slaughtered them for food!

With more than three hours of walking, Woon brought us to have tea and some rest at the orchard tea garden in Grantchester, which was around 10 minutes of car ride from the Uni. It also has a small museum dedicated to a good looking WWI hero - Rupert Brooke. He was a graduate of Cambridge University and was a famous poet, who stayed around the orchard. He died of food poisoning at a young age of 27 years old during the WWI while traveling to war site.

The tea garden was started by chance when a group of Cambridge students asked if they could be served tea beneath the blooming fruits trees instead of the front lawn of the house, which eventually became a popular spot for many famous people and scholars including Brooke.

Grantchester tea garden where drinks and cakes were served

The tea garden was over a century year old and its originality was maintained. Woon treated us afternoon tea and after that, we met up with Ling, Yan qi and Song Hee for dinner at a korean restaurant. Dinner was a complimentary from Woon. Thank you.

We had their chilli and sweet chicken wings and seafood pancakes for appetizers. For main, we had rice, hotplates of beef, ginger pork, fried chilli rice cakes, dolsot bibimbap, and tofu and kimchi. The outcome of our dinner ... empty dishes...

Finally, it was dessert time! We had tofu ice- cream!! Special right?

Tofu ice- cream which doesn't taste like tofu to me

Then we had complimentary mint ice- cream from the boss :)

The day was almost gone. We ended our dinner after 8pm and travelled back to Cardiff at 9.15pm. We have to thank a few people for making our Cambridge trip so pleasant; Yan Qi for being our colleges guide, Woon for driving us around and bringing us to places and food, Ling's for her hospitality and snacks on our way home. Also, thanks to the weather for stopped raining once we stepped our feet in Cambridge.

Farewell present from coursemates

Mood: Surprise Health: Good Weather: Raining

Oh... Kate and Hayley are so sweet! They got me a farewell gift!!

Talking about horseshoe, I think I really need a lot of them. Few weeks ago, I accidentally washed down one of my earrings which I brought from U.S. in the sink. I couldn't retrieve it as there was no access to the pipe. Sighs... the earrings was made from my birthstone and in gold. The moral of the story = never buy expensive earrings unless they are huge that they can't be washed down the sink :)

So I went to look for a decent pair of earrings on the last day of my exam and I spotted horsehoe design! I was delighted!

Ok, got to have some rest! My coach to Cambridge is at 4am, got to have some rest. Hope that the weather will turn out good eventually! The weather was forecasted to be raining in Cambridge later :(

Happy Gathering

Mood:OK Health:Good Weather:Great

It is always like that... Before you leave for good, you are bound to put on weight with all these farewell meals. This afternoon, I met up with two of my asian schoolmates for 'dim sum' at 'Happy Gathering'!

Sighs... I guess I have to put the 'lose a kg' plan behind.

My favourite dim sum is 'siew mai' and I am so disappointed when it doesn't taste good. However, at least some other dishes are good especially the fried carrot cake. Others include the stream prawn dumpling, the egg tarts and 'phoenix claws'. 'Dim Sum' at home is still the best! However, I am so not looking forward to go home...

One of them is going back home to Japan and the other will be staying for her 'M.Eng'. I hope she will have an enjoyable course in the next academic year. Dr. M. J. already warned those who are continuing M. Eng about what to expect from him. Phew, I am glad that I have finished my course. Dr. M. J is a very harsh and strict lecturer. Many times, he had been rather sacastic to me which really got off my nerves.

What's next? Hayley's birthday and a trip to Cambridge on Sun... So busy even after school term...

Went to the university career service this afternoon to seek guidance...

I felt extremely negative with the whole thing. And I kind of predicted my outcome without even trying and seeking. Unlike me, the consultant was positive and he drew a beautiful picture of me, which questioned my doubts. I was thinking if he was truthful or like most of them, who prefer to act politely in the most adverse situation...

Mood:Lost Health:Good Weather:Great

It is all coming back to me now...

Once again, I experienced the same kind of 'longing' from everyone in SGI- Wales. It was probably the same type of attachment as compared to Aug '07 when I decided to leave home for my UK studies. This made me ponder about being a stray cat one day.

As the days get closer, I found myself walking deeper in the forest and increasing lost. I realised how much I hate about adjusting my life all over again. And then, it all comes with fears as well. What should I expect?

I haven't been giving much strategy about what is coming next, all I know is that, I would be in the biggest catastrophe if opportunity comes slow. Halfway through my course, I have already feel the burning fuel, which resulted in a 360 degrees change of my perspective and tonnes of disbelief and disappointment. It was probably the most ugly scenes I have ever seen.

With current unfavourable condition, I foreseen that the ugly will become deform. I felt so sick thinking about it...

Farewell lunch!

Mood:Great Health:Good Weather:Great

It was ladies afternoon! I have gathered a few of my closest WD & YWD for my farewell lunch! Alisha made a good choice for the venue - a Japanese restaurant 'Wagamama' at the Cardiff central library. It was sleek, clean and has good service! I like the generous portion of the vegetables on everyone plates!

My yaki soba... if only I have chilli sauce...

OK gorgeous! Ready for a shoot?

I should have been in front...

I really appreciate how much they try to make it for my lunch on a monday afternoon! It was a wonderful meal. Thank you for your turn up and also the beautiful cards and gifts!