From Danny.
Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Saturday, 28 October 2006
Entry 08: 一波三折 Part II: 祸从天降！
祸 No. 1
It was a sunny Friday morning before my trip to the Alpine on Saturday. After an interesting lecture on Finite Element Method, my lecturer announced that the date of my mid term exam – 21st Dec, 2006.
Faint~
It falls exactly on my trip to Salzburg!
With an exchange student's mindset, I summoned up the courage to ask if it is possible to change the date of the exam in Deutsch. Well, although he is willing to change the date (In Germany, student can even request the lecture to change the lecture timing due to time table crush), he would not have the time to teach all the material that he wanted test us on. So I ask the most daring question I have ever asked in my life,
“How much % will I lost if I absent myself for the mid-term test?”
“Well, in TUM, if you don’t pass the mid-term, you won’t be allowed to take the final exam.”
无语~
祸 No. 2
After the lesson, I received a phone call from the hospital. I am asked to go to have a blood test because my roommate who has fallen sick last month had caught Hepatitis E; and they suspect that I can become a carrier although I am still healthy.
BOMB~~~!!
For a moment, my mind re-lived the moment when Hiroshima was bombed.
And so, I have now an appointment to the contiguous disease center on Monday and need to re-plan my traveling trips.
祸 No. 3
Hoping to change my mood, I decided to go for a hair cut. To my surprise, in Germany you need an appointment with the salon to get your hair cut even if the shop is basically empty.
晕！
Well, after trying out 3 shops, finally one nice hair dresser decided to cut my hair. With my limited Deutsch, I tell him to make my hair Kurz (Short). I guess a picture tells a thousand word.
It was a sunny Friday morning before my trip to the Alpine on Saturday. After an interesting lecture on Finite Element Method, my lecturer announced that the date of my mid term exam – 21st Dec, 2006.
Faint~
It falls exactly on my trip to Salzburg!
With an exchange student's mindset, I summoned up the courage to ask if it is possible to change the date of the exam in Deutsch. Well, although he is willing to change the date (In Germany, student can even request the lecture to change the lecture timing due to time table crush), he would not have the time to teach all the material that he wanted test us on. So I ask the most daring question I have ever asked in my life,
“How much % will I lost if I absent myself for the mid-term test?”
“Well, in TUM, if you don’t pass the mid-term, you won’t be allowed to take the final exam.”
无语~
祸 No. 2
After the lesson, I received a phone call from the hospital. I am asked to go to have a blood test because my roommate who has fallen sick last month had caught Hepatitis E; and they suspect that I can become a carrier although I am still healthy.
BOMB~~~!!
For a moment, my mind re-lived the moment when Hiroshima was bombed.
And so, I have now an appointment to the contiguous disease center on Monday and need to re-plan my traveling trips.
祸 No. 3
Hoping to change my mood, I decided to go for a hair cut. To my surprise, in Germany you need an appointment with the salon to get your hair cut even if the shop is basically empty.
晕！
Well, after trying out 3 shops, finally one nice hair dresser decided to cut my hair. With my limited Deutsch, I tell him to make my hair Kurz (Short). I guess a picture tells a thousand word.
Before V(^_^)V
After m(T_T)m
祸 No More~
Saturday has come and I went up Alpine the second time. Although we actually took the same route up as we had during the Summer University, I visited the Young Hostel on Alpine and also the swimming pool and had a nice, darling “Sonnebadden”.
Why darling? Because, it is their custom to go in totally naked (no towels) into the same room, boys and girls alike~
None the least, I made the best out of it as this time, I stayed on the peak for an hour admiring the misty Alpine. It is super!!
Like the old saying goes, the rainbow will appear after the rain. It surely does and it comes in the form of a cheaper monthly ticket!
Well, it does not come easy to get that cheaper card. The situation is that since I am going to Garching for school which is on outskirt of Munich, I am to paid 61 Euro a month. But there is actually a cheaper and legal to travel; that is to get a monthly card that cost 29 Euro and extend its range by a “Green Card” which cost 22 Euro. Of course, this legal gap can’t be exploited easily with the rigid German. So after 3 attempts in making excuses to fool the German administrator in allowing me to get the “Green Card” with a monthly card that cost 22 Euro, I GOT IT~~!!
HAHA so from now on, I can save 10 Euro per months!! WOW~
Wednesday, 18 October 2006
Entry 07: 一波三折 + 勇字当头 ！ (Scroll to the end for a good laugh)
一个字，啊~！
This week marks the beginning of the winter semester in TUM.
Nonetheless, the mechanical department of TUM is simply impressive. It is of no surprise for TUM has just been honored as the best technical university in Germany and second best university in Germany.
Fascination about their facilities and laboratory aside, I am caught by a total surprise on the depth of materials covered in their lectures. Making matter worse is that the core modules here are taught in German, a language I learn for 3 months. From a normal person point of view, one can usually understand 50% of what is taught in a lv 3 lecture. And if I factor myself and the language into the equation that I can only understand 10% of what the lecturer spoke in German, it would mean that I can only understand 5% of what is taught in lecture.
To put it simple and straight, I am screwed! If I were to self-study so that I can pass these modules, it would defeats the purpose of me coming to Munich to experience a different education system. it would be equivalent to me holding one stack of lecture notes written in German and study them in Singapore! And worse, since I am self studying the core modules, I may not be able to grasp the principle well and these modules are crucial to an engineering (that is why they are called core-modules). So the price to pay if I were to force myself and self study through the winter semester, I will waste the experience and opportunity here and has a weak foundation for the crucial core modules. The good thing is that I can granduate on time but without my minor in business administration. If I were to make full use of my opportunity of studying aboard, I would take up modules that are taught in English. That way I can experience the education culture and learn something out of it. The draw back is that I will have to do the core modules in Singapore. Yes, I will understand the core modules better this way but it would also mean an extension of my granduation.
To justified the extension, I am looking into the possibility of doing a double degree course with BBA (Business Administration). It is a 5 year course and that allows me to spread my work load, do my core modules in Singapore and most importantly enjoy the wide range of English module here like Satellite Imaging, Magnetic Imaging and other business modules. This seems to be the perfect solution and then I found out that this double degree program is open only to the AY 2006/2007 batch.
And as Danny always do, I am going to appeal and make it happen. As a back up plan, I am considering doing my FYP over 3 semesters since I have to start FYP in semester 1 by right. That would mean that I am extending my granduation by one semester but it allows me to complete my minor in business.
Hai~一波三折! But I will not give up 的！
I still remember when I first take up this Siemens scholarship, I tell myself勇字当头 ！ Chiong ah~~ When there is a will, there is a way!!
The worry-some thing aside, let's have a good laugh at the crazy photos I took in NUS~
This week marks the beginning of the winter semester in TUM.
Nonetheless, the mechanical department of TUM is simply impressive. It is of no surprise for TUM has just been honored as the best technical university in Germany and second best university in Germany.
Fascination about their facilities and laboratory aside, I am caught by a total surprise on the depth of materials covered in their lectures. Making matter worse is that the core modules here are taught in German, a language I learn for 3 months. From a normal person point of view, one can usually understand 50% of what is taught in a lv 3 lecture. And if I factor myself and the language into the equation that I can only understand 10% of what the lecturer spoke in German, it would mean that I can only understand 5% of what is taught in lecture.
To put it simple and straight, I am screwed! If I were to self-study so that I can pass these modules, it would defeats the purpose of me coming to Munich to experience a different education system. it would be equivalent to me holding one stack of lecture notes written in German and study them in Singapore! And worse, since I am self studying the core modules, I may not be able to grasp the principle well and these modules are crucial to an engineering (that is why they are called core-modules). So the price to pay if I were to force myself and self study through the winter semester, I will waste the experience and opportunity here and has a weak foundation for the crucial core modules. The good thing is that I can granduate on time but without my minor in business administration. If I were to make full use of my opportunity of studying aboard, I would take up modules that are taught in English. That way I can experience the education culture and learn something out of it. The draw back is that I will have to do the core modules in Singapore. Yes, I will understand the core modules better this way but it would also mean an extension of my granduation.
To justified the extension, I am looking into the possibility of doing a double degree course with BBA (Business Administration). It is a 5 year course and that allows me to spread my work load, do my core modules in Singapore and most importantly enjoy the wide range of English module here like Satellite Imaging, Magnetic Imaging and other business modules. This seems to be the perfect solution and then I found out that this double degree program is open only to the AY 2006/2007 batch.
And as Danny always do, I am going to appeal and make it happen. As a back up plan, I am considering doing my FYP over 3 semesters since I have to start FYP in semester 1 by right. That would mean that I am extending my granduation by one semester but it allows me to complete my minor in business.
Hai~一波三折! But I will not give up 的！
I still remember when I first take up this Siemens scholarship, I tell myself勇字当头 ！ Chiong ah~~ When there is a will, there is a way!!
The worry-some thing aside, let's have a good laugh at the crazy photos I took in NUS~
That's YOU, my dear~
Pls don't kill me dear~
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Entry 06: Nobel Peace Prize -Attack the causes of poverty and you remove the roots of conflict?
I was reading the news recently and an article caught my eyes. “Nobel prize links poverty reduction to peace”
The report pointed that instead of using “conflict resolution” as the awarding criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel committee “is increasingly taking the fight to the fundamental reasons for which war is waged”.
"Peace is not just the absence of war but also the absence of reasons for having a war. The committee has been good at updating its concept of peace," Lodgaard said.
I would agree on that the Nobel Prize should go to the person who made the most influential effort on eradicating the reasons for having war. However, I am surprised by what the head of the Nobel committee said later,
"Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty.” head of the Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjoes, said.
Although it is a negative statement on lasting peace, I think that Mr. Mjoes has over simplified the “reasons for having war”. War, in my opinion, is a large scaled, “politically-justified” act of robbery. I do not agree that poverty is the “root-reason” for having war. Fundamentally, I think it is greed, hatred and lack of 抱容that drives all war. Poverty can be one of reasons that drive greed and hatred into people but it is definitely not the “root-reason” of having war.
If the focus of the committee is shifting towards the core fundamental driving force of war, then I think that the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to educators working in third world countries whom instill positive moral values into the people living in poverty. I would agree that such educational work may not be as influential as the work of Mr. Muhammad Yunus’s micro-credit scheme which benefits millions in Bangladeshi. However, I believe that such educational work has a longer lasting effect and its influence is subtle but fundamental to the upholding of peace. To “cure” the world from war, I believe the best method is to teach people how to face loses and view reality positively. It is difficult and almost impossible to change the environment as there are simply too many factors affecting it that are out of your control. The best way, I believe, is to equip yourself with a positive attitude. For example, if you cannot swim, one way of preventing you from drowning is to put you on land. But as unpredictable as life always is, sometimes in your life you are forced to get on a boat or go out at sea and you may drown. Hence, the best way to prevent you from drowning is to teach you to swim! So in order to prevent people from being driven by their greed and hatred, the best way is to teach them to see reality positively and be accommodating to others; upholding your right but at the same not to invade into other people’s right.
Of course, instilling these positive attitudes into others is not as easy as teaching them how to swim. As such, in order to not let the war-zone-educator’s efforts go unnoticed and undermined, I dedicated my time to write this and although I cannot give you wonderful people a Nobel Price, I would prey for you.
To all the educators out there: You guys and gals are GREAT!
The report pointed that instead of using “conflict resolution” as the awarding criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel committee “is increasingly taking the fight to the fundamental reasons for which war is waged”.
"Peace is not just the absence of war but also the absence of reasons for having a war. The committee has been good at updating its concept of peace," Lodgaard said.
I would agree on that the Nobel Prize should go to the person who made the most influential effort on eradicating the reasons for having war. However, I am surprised by what the head of the Nobel committee said later,
"Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty.” head of the Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjoes, said.
Although it is a negative statement on lasting peace, I think that Mr. Mjoes has over simplified the “reasons for having war”. War, in my opinion, is a large scaled, “politically-justified” act of robbery. I do not agree that poverty is the “root-reason” for having war. Fundamentally, I think it is greed, hatred and lack of 抱容that drives all war. Poverty can be one of reasons that drive greed and hatred into people but it is definitely not the “root-reason” of having war.
If the focus of the committee is shifting towards the core fundamental driving force of war, then I think that the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to educators working in third world countries whom instill positive moral values into the people living in poverty. I would agree that such educational work may not be as influential as the work of Mr. Muhammad Yunus’s micro-credit scheme which benefits millions in Bangladeshi. However, I believe that such educational work has a longer lasting effect and its influence is subtle but fundamental to the upholding of peace. To “cure” the world from war, I believe the best method is to teach people how to face loses and view reality positively. It is difficult and almost impossible to change the environment as there are simply too many factors affecting it that are out of your control. The best way, I believe, is to equip yourself with a positive attitude. For example, if you cannot swim, one way of preventing you from drowning is to put you on land. But as unpredictable as life always is, sometimes in your life you are forced to get on a boat or go out at sea and you may drown. Hence, the best way to prevent you from drowning is to teach you to swim! So in order to prevent people from being driven by their greed and hatred, the best way is to teach them to see reality positively and be accommodating to others; upholding your right but at the same not to invade into other people’s right.
Of course, instilling these positive attitudes into others is not as easy as teaching them how to swim. As such, in order to not let the war-zone-educator’s efforts go unnoticed and undermined, I dedicated my time to write this and although I cannot give you wonderful people a Nobel Price, I would prey for you.
To all the educators out there: You guys and gals are GREAT!
Thursday, 5 October 2006
Entry 05: End of Summer Uni
It has already been one month since I arrived in Munich. The TUM summer university program had finished and soon, my winter semester will begin. During this one month, I made many good friends from many countries. Braberka, Nitin, Balargi from India, Paul and Julia from Belgium, Kenny from the USA, A.J. and the twins from Korea, Yi Pin, Kelvin, Deen and Mr. C from Singapore.
Summer University Group Photo
If not for you guys and gals, the course will just be dead and dry. Thanks for adding colours to my early Munich experience!
Time really flies. Looking back I have visited so many places, I visited the 3 campus of TUM, cycled along the Isar River, visited the Deutsch Museum, the Herrenchiemess Castle, the Audi Museum, The Alps…
Time really flies. Looking back I have visited so many places, I visited the 3 campus of TUM, cycled along the Isar River, visited the Deutsch Museum, the Herrenchiemess Castle, the Audi Museum, The Alps…
The Slide @ TUM Garching. 4 Floors high. In and out in ein sekunde!
Getting in... 00:00:00
And out. 00:00:01
Where am I? (-_- )L 
The Pope @ Marinan Platz
When I am single...
When I am married...
When I am a father...
When I retired...
When you are in Munich...
When you are drank...
When you first learn to cook...
When you are done with studying...
And you look back to find that you have made the friends of your life.
Thanks for the wonderful time
Paul
Balagi
Nitin
Barbalaka
Tusar
DJ
Now that you guys (and gals) have moved to Sudentenstasse, I can only wish our friendship would stretch forever.
Mr. C, although for some unknown reason, we have not been able to become friends, you are not a bad person. I wish I have found out why but we will definitely meet one another since we are taking the same course. I hope we give each other another chance. After all, we are in a foreign land and we should look after one another.
Hai, so sentimental now~ this is those time when time seems to get stuck on its track. 2 more months, and I can finally see my girl friend again. Girl, I miss you so much! I promise you that I will not go so far away from you any more.
This trip has make me realized how important you are in my heart. I have never miss a person so much, not even when I was attached in the army, digging trenches or dragging myself up a mountain or cross a swamp. I miss you.
You asked me if the girls in Munich are beautiful. They are. But none of them are as beautiful as you in my heart. Ich Liebe Dich. I love you.
Ich Liebe Dich
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