I’m being a total recluse these past few days, turning down invitations to go out because the weather has been absolutely howling wet raining recently.

Even the weather agrees with me about the end of holidays, it’s mourning too.

I stumbled upon this website this morning by pure accident. Stuff White People Like is a really funny blog about everything caucasian and interestingly enough, the entries do seem to ring true. At least to me. It really does seem like a correct outsider’s observation about the ‘white people’ population. Here’s an excerpt from their site:

They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time). Apple products, indie music, food co-ops, and vintage T-shirts make them weak in the knees.

They pretend to be unique, yet somehow they’re all exactly the same, talking abut how they “get” Sarah Silverman’s “subversive” comedy and Wes Anderson’s “droll” films. They are also down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. They’re organic, ironic, and do not own TVs.

I just did a quick scan through some of the entries, take a look at #111, #120, #122. I think this is gonna be a site to visit when I have nothing else better to do. Just for laughs.

I just realised that I completely forgot to install msn messeger onto my newly reformatted computer.

current obsession with puff pastry =)

Harry Potter New trailer looks awesome.

Looking forward to my next botanical gardens excursion (this time with camera).

I reformatted my computer and I almost lost this blog. Lol, lets just say I usually have my password saved in my browser and so I’ve gradually forgot what my username and password is. =P No worries, I’m writing this which means I got it alright.

I’m trying to tell myself that I haven’t just wasted away a third of my holiday.

Going to be having a massive bakeout day at a friends place this Sunday (YAY) and I made shepherd’s pie =P Having a break from the usual stir fry’s.

Has anyone seen the recent Coach bags inspired by Bonnie Cashin??? I love how they are so bright and colourful!!!

Back to assignments =(

Easter Holidays. What a lovely term. To me it means no endless draining lectures on Friday and Monday, a total of 4 days of freedom.

I was eagerly anticipating this weekend because I was dying to do something that I’ve always wanted to do all along. I left my house early on Friday morning with 2 books in my bag (Bleak House and Scarecrow), bought myself a cup of hot chocolate and a croissant from a cafe on Rundle Street, and made my way to the Botanical Gardens. =) < -- this is me smiling my excited smile. I selected a quite spot under the shade of some trees, not to near the pathway or the ducks and sat down on the bench to enjoy my perfect morning. The weather was just nice and the sky was clear, it was the first day of holidays. I couldn't ask for a more perfect day.

I sat for a few minutes just munching on my croissant and thinking of nothings, absently looking around me. Having not a care in the world, that was the most liberating feeling. I have been plague with the need to always plan ahead, to figure out when (and what) should I eat, when to print the notes, when to do my assignments, when to get my groceries, do the laundry, when to reply this message etc etc... Everything, I need to know them beforehand. An unannounced visit / invite would throw all my beautifully planned timetable into complete disarray and I would agonise about the lost time and immediately (subconsciously) start to reschedule everything in my head, trying to fit the blocks back together. But surely that doesn't mean I am obsessed about organisation. Because I am quite happy to let everything go, like right now, when I don't have to deal with deadlines.

Anyway, after I finished my croissant, I selected 'Bleak House' from my bag (because somehow, the setting seems quite apt for the atmosphere of the book). I was soon lost in the story and the sun and breeze alternately came to warm and cool me. I was quite contend to just sit there for the rest of the morning. I only had to meet up with some friends in the afternoon so I was free till then. I made good headway into my book. Occasionally, I would stop and watch the ducks waddle about their businesses, oblivious to the wider world outside the park. There were others like me at the other benches as well, here to spend some quite time in contemplation or reading. There was a guy walking around, small notebook and pencil in hand, ready to sketch any interesting bits of nature that caught his eye. Joggers, couples and families taking a stroll. Even a patient on a wheelchair, taking a break from the stark cold environment of the hospital, no doubt hoping this brief respite would provide some pleasant memories into which she can bring out again later at night, when she is left alone, to indulge in. It was all peaceful and quite in the park, until we were jarred out of our reverie by a loud cracking and splintering noise. I looked up only to see a whole tree come crashing down across from where I was sitting. O_O Lets just say that I was shocked. =P How often does one get to watch a tree falling down right in front of them? It was a rude awakening. My immediately question was 'why'? At the same time, I was thinking, how fortunate I did not chose to sit on that bench before. Since I arrived early at the park, I had the choice of seats and was contemplating which ones were the best. Had I sat on the other bench, I would probably... needed some quick reflexes. =P The old couple who were nearby probably got a shock of their lives as well. Some people immediately walked over to check the damage and basically start a conversation with each other. Human nature, curiosity. The park rangers soon arrived and courdoned of the area. After a while, the people grew tired and went back to their own spots, leaving the fallen tree alone. For a full 20 minutes, that tree had is moment of glory. While it stood, it was ignored by most, no one stopped to wonder at its height, at the number of its leaves or even the wonderful texture of its bark. It wasn't until it lay broken on the ground, fallen from glory, that people looked down at it and said to each other, 'what a big tree', 'so many leaves and branches', 'it must have provided some very good shade'. But nobody could remember how it looked when it was standing. Nobody remembered resting or playing under the shade that it provided when it was standing. After this, the tree would be carted away, piece by piece, and soon in its place another tree would be growing.

I seem to have rambled a fair bit about my time in the park. I never thought that it would turn out this long. =P My apologies if I put some of you to sleep. Basically, the rest of my day was spent at a friend's place where we all congregated to just hang around and do nothings. It was just a chill out time where we got to draw out our goodbyes to each other as people left to go back to their families for the holidays.

Today was spend trawling up and down Rundle street and mall. Met up with Ruxing (who had to fly back in the evening) for breakfast at ETC. Then we basically just went shopping while I tried to show her Adelaide at the same time. I found a couple of very lovely winter coats as well which I absolutely love (an amazingly nice peacoat that fitted me (wonders!!) ) but did not buy because...... I don't know. It was 119 and relatively speaking, not THAT expensive. Plus it fits nicely which is not something I can say often with coats and me but I guess I could do without one anyway so I regretfully did not buy it (look at me trying to convince myself, even now!!! -_-"). Ruxing however bought herself one with faux fur lining, super warm, and nice. =( <-- that sad face is for me, not her and technically, it's supposed to be a wistful look. Also saw an amazing array of Onitsuka Tiger shoes (they collaborated with the artist Tokidoki!!!!!) which I cannot justify buying right now. I'm so wanting a pair though, any pair of Tiger. *sigh* We walked around for some more, visited the uni and the Torrens river, had Russian Caravan tea at the Tbar and finally said goodbye to her at 2pm. There were promises for a second trip. =p And on my way back home, I stopped to sigh at my coat again. Oh dear, I am turning into a pitiful fashion victim. I need to snap out of this SOON. I blame it on my getting proper boots because now I had the shoes to match the clothes, I'm just itching to have them. Before it was just sneakers and nice coats do not go well with jeans and sneakers so there was no point of me having one then.

Great. I just spent almost an hour writing all these. It's almost 12 and I'm thinking of sneaking in a few more pages of my book before I turn in. I have vouchers for Borders and I'm so itching to get myself some new books. I like the picture they had on their catalogue, I imagine I could do that with my book collection at home. Although it does make retrieving books difficult, and one would have to worry about knocking the whole carefully constructed 'table' over. I shall keep that in mind though.

I’ve allocated the greater part of tomorrow to re-organise my whole cupboard (see, that’s me planning away again).

Happy Easter to everyone. Hope the easter bunny paid each of you a visit.

Looking forward to hopping bunnies, hidden chocolate eggs and a pair of chocolate-y pink striped fingerless mittens –> EASTER!!!!!!

For now, I am contend with gazing at my little ‘cute’ zone under my study lamp.

A Kimmidoll that I got for Christmas, mini chair that I made out of the cover of a champagne bottle (what are they called???), crystal paperweight with engraved name (b’day present), and a christmas tree ornament that I picked up last year (because they were on sale and because I never had a proper one when I was younger. I know, there was a 4 year old girl beside me choosing hers as well that time -_-”). Did you also noticed that their colours all matched?

Nick moved into his new home last week after his old lease expired. I got a chance to check it out last sunday after I visited the Gilles Street Market. Side note: I scored an amazing buttefly clasp belt for free!!! I was so happy. =) Admittedly the belt only cost a dollar but since neither me nor the store owner had any small change, he decided to let me have as a goodwill gift. (Haha, coincidentally, my anthropology tute last week was about garage sales and gift giving) So yeah, after such a bad week, that small gesture made my day. =)

So back to the topic. I went to check out Nick’s place later in the afternoon and omg, his town house is awesome. It was relatively large with lots of space to spare. They even had a roof top courtyard!!!!! I immediately thought of all the possibilities one could do with such a great space. Having dessert while gazing out into the night sky, barbecue party, reading a good book while sipping lemonade etc…. Anything!!! I would even camp out there just for the sake of it. =P Actually, I was at his place because we were going to move his old cupboard to my place. Yep, I am inheriting his old wardrobe which he got from his housemate last year. O_O The top drawer broke when he stepped on it the last time and there are all the usual wear and tear from use but it still stands and it has doors and a top ‘roof’, something which I do not have. All I have is a metal rack to hang my clothes. -_-” So, Nick doesn’t need it anymore because his new room has a built-in wardrobe along one entire wall. And it is a lot of space because his room is huge. He has an en suite bathroom, a HUGE worktable (seriously, I have never seen such a work table before, 2 people can use it comfortably), and even with the bed, bookshelf and vanity bodoir, there is still enough floor space for multiple bean bags and what nots. O_O Plus he has a cool balcony as well. Now, not complaining or anything, but why is everyone moving into such nice places this year?!?!?! Everyone’s moving closer to uni. Its either North Terrace or Rundle st (cept Nick but he has the courtyard) and they all have such cool town houses and apartments. =P

I managed to have the whole cupboard set up before dinner and apart from being a little wobbly (there was much betting between ourselves as too how long before it will fall on me when I’m asleep), it looks good. Poor, impoverished student like me cannot complain. I’m thinking of ideas to decorate it during the coming hols to make it look better and less dull. But yay, at least now I don’t have to worry about dusts and I’m not sure what else.

[edit] I opened the cupboard again just to admire it after I got back from dinner and the screws from the middle hinged just shot out of their holes and pinged the wall behind me. O_O Talk about hazards. I’m beginning to wonder how safe this cupboard is. Oh it collapsing on me while I’m asleep is the least of my problems (what’s the probability of that?), now getting punctured by little screws going at bullet-speed???[/edit]

Yes yes…. This time, I would like to release all my pent up frustration on Bank SA. The one bank that I truly support while I am here in Adelaide. Simply because I naively put all my savings into this one bank and staunchly back them up whenever any of my interstate friends drop some disparaging remarks about them.

Alas, it will all stop now. I am extremely disgruntled and dissatisfied with my recent wrangle with them and as of now, I will no longer make any effort whatsoever for them. Hmph, take that.

See the situation was something like this. Bank SA has this freedom account service where it does not charge an account service fee to students, the condition being that you present your student ID to them every year. I was never told that I had to do this when I first opened my account. No letters, no email whatsoever. Whereas my friend even had a letter mailed to him with a reminder from the bank. I concede that it is partly my mistake for not reading through all their policy etc when they changed it last year. No worries.

This year, in January, the moment I enrolled myself and got a new student ID, I immediately went to the nearest branch and presented them with my student ID. I don’t want to be charged again every month. With that done, I put the matter out of my mind. However, when I next got my statement, I noticed that $7 has been debited from my account, with the description saying ‘Account Service Fee’ attached to it. So I thought, hm… funny, maybe I should check it out. I told my local friends about it and they were like, oh yeah, just tell them and they’ll refund everything for you, cos that was what happened to one of them. No worries, I thought I’d wait to see if they will charge me again or probably this first one was a remnant from last year. Come February, I was again charged for the same thing. So off I went to Bank SA to clarify things with them. -_-” Guess what, the teller that attended to me was very rude and belittling. Hmph, before I could finish my explanation about how I’ve already updated my status, she immediately cut across me saying that I did not show them my student ID (and I have a vague feeling that she was the one who attended to me last time)!!!! *speechless* To be directly accused like that!!! When I said that I did, and I could remember the date because I enrolled that day (I said 19th January when it was actually 12 but because I was thrown off by her), she immediately said ‘Yes, which is after the 28th’ (which is when they charged me). O_O She obviously wasn’t even bothering to listen to me. How is it possible that 19th comes after the 28th??? The number doesn’t even come close to 28. -_-” I was just so discouraged then. When I repeated myself, it was obvious that she made a mistake and she just looked at me for a moment. She then proceeded to say that she will refund the $7 to me. When I asked to be refunded for the January fee as well, she said she could not do it. That it was my responsibility and by not coming to them, I am accepting to be charged. (!!!!) What if I didn’t have time to come chasing after them in January??? So that’s it??? Not even an apology for the mistake made but to actually make me feel responsible for all these and not listening to me properly as well, dismissing me as some idiot Asian international who doesn’t know better??? (argh)

The next day, I went back again to talk to the manager, trying to sort things out. I was again met with the same thing. No refund, I should see them earlier about it, she won’t do anything for me but they have updated my status and so I won’t be charged again. I left but I felt really down and stupid after that.

Wait, the story isn’t over. Yesterday, I had to transfer some funds and so I just happened to glance at my online statement. Imagine my shock (and disbelieve) when I saw the same thing happening to me again. Again, the service fee was being charged. What is happening here? Is this some sort of April Fool’s joke??? After going personally to the bank THREE times over the past few months to try and settle the same problem. Nothing has been done about it!!! Just this morning, I had to rush between classes back to the bank (how would I have coped if the branch wasn’t near uni??) to tell them again that I have been charged. Again, I was asked the same useless question ‘did I come and update my status??’ Hello??? I was talking to the manager, who I just spoke to the last time and here she is parroting the same question back at me. When such a disgruntled customer comes and see you, you would probably guess something is wrong already right. Anyway, she just looked surprised when I told here that this is my FOURTH trip to the bank about this and after looking at my student card, she updated my status, refunded the money and that’s it. Again, no apology, no reassurance that it won’t happen again etc etc… Not even after I told them how dissatisfied I was and how I don’t have all the time in the world to coming running round every month like I have nothing better to do. It was just like ‘okie, its done now, so run along, go back and play.’ Ugh!!!! I have half a mind to just shut my account down and move everything to Commonwealth bank. The staff at that university branch should really be reprimanded. The way they treat the students, especially internationals are really shameful. Talking to the customer on the other line while you’re attending to me??? As if I am so insignificant. Manners!!! How rude would it be if you’re in the middle of a conversation and the person you’re talking to suddenly breaks off to speak with someone in another group???

I really really hope I don’t have to deal with them again. I’ve seen them so many times, I even noted their names. Usually I never bothered with this kind of things. I guess it is useful to note down names and dates so that you can support your case.

Still…. ugh. I feel just like the title of the book I’m currently reading ‘Bleak House’ by Charles Dickens. Bleak. Although the characters living in the house aren’t bleak at all, I keep waiting for some tragedy to befall all of them (pretty cruel of me) but as of yet, their prospects seem pretty promising. One of the characters has just started his surgeon’s apprenticeship. Granted, surgeons weren’t that respectable a profession during that times, but it was already acknowledge (at least by the author) that it is a noble profession to commit oneself to.