Gabriel's shared items

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Another Sunday

Ah, a very unimaginative title, but wattahack... The title is just as boring as i feel today was... Somehow gotten used to life here, so don't feel so excited.
Academically, I've attended 3 days of lectures so far, and I haven't felt the same excitement of learning like I did in JC. I think there are two contributing factors:
  1. I don't really know what i'm in for, and
  2. I don't really have any mathmo friends.
I'm taking a risk here by listing down my problems, cos my biological (as opposed to subject parents and college parents) parents are reading this blog and they will start worrying =S, but I shall try not to let this affect my blogging style yet, until I receive reports of the worrying getting out of hand back home.

Being the only year one undergrad mathmo from my college, I find myself unable to strike a fulfilling conversation with many people from my college, as they are all very mature, and many taking subjects quite different from me. I also feel deprived of mathmo companion as the other mathmos have formed their own cliques according to their colleges. The only people I enjoy and feel comfortable being with are the singaporeans, but it's unhealthy and it wont do me any good academically as there are no year one singapore mathmo's either. I find that it is essential to have someone to discuss the lectures with, I guess most other people do discuss what is learnt to some degree, although I am told that in university, people do not usually study together, and I feel deprived of such company. So, I'm taking steps to remedy this issue. I will make attempts at socialising by joining more academic societies, as well as trying to assimilate into a church. Today I did a bit of both.

Attending StAG
Had a service this morning, surmon was on my favourite verse, Romans 12:1-8! On worship. A points taken from the surmon were that the people who go to church for a good surmon or to look to benefit themselves usually are not as fulfilled as those who go to church with the intention to serve others. I guess this can be applied to my current situation... Perhaps I should not try looking for mathmo company, rather I will be the mathmo company other lonely mathmos. But it's going to be a bit hard to find such lonely mathmos.
Lunch was provided, and it was such that the discussion of the surmon was facilitated on our individual lunch tables, with one church staff at hand on each table to initiate the discussion, and someone on stage to facilitate discussion among the entire congregration. Quite an interesting concept! Table I was on had 5 chinese and 3 ang mohs. Chinese came from Hongkong and malysia, not sure where the ang mohs were from.
I think I'll try to get more involved in church also, maybe attending their cell group on tuesday. Now considering between CCCF and the cell group with StAG.

Here's an interesting quote from the surmon...
To live in love with the saints above,
that will indeed be glory!
to dwell below with saints we know,
that’s quite another story!


CUMSA Squash
Proceeded to St Caths for cumsa squash, lotsa biscuits. Had a chance to catch up with many people whom I haven't seen very often. People like Kaiting, Nic. But nothing really special happened there. Did business with Sheila, sold her some wares.

Science Society Squash
In a deliberate effort to know more people, I visited the Science Society Squash and joined it for life. Paid £7, but I guess it's an investment on my academic life. Struck conversation with some other freshers, one of which introduced me to the assasins guild. Think I'll join it to spice up my life.

Other Societies
Top on my priority is to join the trinity math society, as adviced by my DOS to supplement my need for mathmo company. Squash on Monday. Also joining the Astronomy Club, though not so important. Squash also on Monday. Joining the CCCF, Squash on Monday. Ham Society. Going to "the shed" this saturday after lectures. Something about morse code. Cool.

Academic Initiatives
And to remedy the problem of not anticipating my lectures, I shall go explore my college library and read up on the topic I'm doing. I also need internet connection from my room so that it'll be more convinient to check out the topics I'm doing, will bug the administration to get my computer and plug fixed, shall threaten not to pay the £35 computer charge if they dont get it done soon.

2 comments:

houseowner said...

oh man... cambridge sounds ultra fun! esp the assassin's guild.. we shd start 1 in spore hahaha

Rex said...

Man you need a tagboard! Sometimes there are some stuff which are too irrevelant to post in comments!