Friday, January 29, 2010
Well, everything has been pretty crazy ever since school started and right now, I'm in the culture shock period.
Although everything has been good so far (see pictures on FB), there has also been some small little struggles along the way. It's quite an experience to go through some of these struggles and I wouldn't say it's all torturous.
Well, in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), everything is done rather differently from the Singapore unis (or at least NTU). Apparently, after speaking to some locals, RPI is a relatively good school (they say it's better than University of Washington) and it's pretty tough here.
As a science student in NTU, I only have to worry about my mid-terms (either once a twice per sem) and finals.
Over here, they have assignments, 10 million quizzes and I am taking two lab modules, so that's like twice the pre-lab plus twice the amount of lab reports per week!!!!!! It's pretty crazy!
Yesterday, the third day of school, I was supposed to have TWO quizzes!!!! Both were postponed in the end, one to today, and one next week.
I broke my own record. I've never ever studied until like one week before a test and here I am, studying on the second/third day of school! haha.... I was mugging in the library for about one hour during my free period today some more (pardon my Singlish, I'm pretty deprived of using it here), going through AGAIN what I studied last night!
Haven't been able to make much local friends yet though, as they all seem to know each other. Talked to a few of them for a while but not much. I really hope I can make friends soon enough as I am quite afraid that I can't handle some of the modules.... The good thing about school here is that there's hardly any final exams. So far, I only got ONE module (out of six which I'm taking) that has a confirmed final exam! There's one that's pending but the rest confirm don't have! Interesting. But I realised that over here, what they are really concerned about is whether you really understand your stuff. They don't just want to stuff your head with knowledge. They want you to KNOW!
In NTU, I hate organic chem because I think I don't really know what the lecturer is talking about. It's amazing that I even did OK for org chem. But over here, I really feel that I am LEARNING! Which I'm really thankful for. I do have mods here which I feel pretty lost too, not understanding what the prof is talking about or not knowing what to do.
For example,my theoretical chem class has graduate students as well, meaning it's a pretty hard class. It's also pretty intimidating. Only 12 people in the class and they all seem to understand what the prof is talking about!!!!!. I even overheard some if the undergrads talking about the graduate schools they have applied to and which ones they have gotten into (Cornell, Chicago, MIT, etc.). Super smart people!!
And then lab is another crazy one. The worst thing is that I'm taking two lab mods. There's 10 million things to do for lab, pre-lab, during lab, post-lab. It's gonna drive me nuts I tell you! I felt so lost in lab today too. Thank goodness there're nice TA's around to help, plus the prof is nice too, helped me with one of the machines.
I must say it's been one crazy ride in the first week of school. Just hope I will get over the culture shock fast enough and adapt to the whole system! Adios guys. =)
- School has started and it's crazy!
by snoopy_lim @ 9:45 AM
Saturday, January 16, 2010
It's a mix of sadness, that I am about to leave my family for the first time in my life for such a long time, that I am going to not see my good friends for such a long time, that I am not going to enjoy eating my chicken rice and durian and all the local delicacies for such a long time!
It's also a mix of happiness, that I am going to be in a whole new different place with lots of adventure waiting for me.
A mix of confusion, as to whether I've really brought all my items and what I am going to do once I reach there.
Yes, all that I am feeling now.
Had a good mass just now in CJ. Felt like I was in JC again with all the organising and singing and coordinating. Really love feeling. Probably, God was satisfying my thirst. And I could hear God telling me to continue attending the mass there and it will be a different experience.
New York, here I come. Don't miss me too much Singapore.
I'll be back before you know it! =)
- New York, Here I Come!
by snoopy_lim @ 8:29 PM