4 months

Tomorrow marks 4 months. Will come to that in a bit but hmm, blogger has changed it's layout on the back end. Still getting used to this!

Anyway, I'm tired. I've been having back to back assignments - one each week since mid-May. And the frenzy will only come to an end on 5 July. Sigh. I'm not doing as well as I would like to and having assignments return like that time and again has eventually gotten to me. Sometimes I have doubts as to whether or not I even belong here or if they took me in because as an international student, they earn 3-4 times more for admitting me.

Am I working as hard as I should? I guess not. I know I can push myself harder. But I'm tired of that. I just want to learn. But how can I when I get disheartened when I don't perform as well? What a pickle.

I have an exam tomorrow. It's 20%. I need 14/20 so I won't have to recycle (retake). Then a case presentation next week. And then the final of finals for this sem - the MSAT. Multi-station assessment test which I have no clue what I'll be assessed on.

Did I mention that on top of all these, I have my clients? I have 5 active ones at the moment. God, I hope I'm doing right by them. If anything, client work is more important than assignments and la di das. These are people. Lives.

La hawla wa quwwata illa billa.

I shall leave how things unfold to God.  

Away from home

I've been here for almost a month now and I think I can safely say that I've more or less settled into Brisbane.

School is alright. I do feel that I'm learning a whole lot. I love how the focus here isnt so much as content, but on skills/competencies. After all, in this day and age, there is no need to cram all sorts of information any more since info is literally at the tip of our fingers with the internet.

My classmates are great. A mixed bunch of mature and young students. Was a bit out of place in the first 2 weeks because I wasnt sure how to interact with them and vice-versa. But after 2 intensive weeks of classes culminating in a whopping 40% competency assessment, I think we've bonded a fair bit :)

Brisbane weather is weird. I mean it was really really hot when I arrived and it's now so unpredictable. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes its hot. No wonder Im having a cold now. Oh, and sunrise is SO early. Its as bright as 9am in Singapore when its only 630am. Sunset is at 6pm.

Foodwise, there are halal options, and my housemates would take turns to cook so I save money on that. Most things here are expensive. In fact, except for Tim Tams, I dont think Ive found anything here to be as cheap as back home. Hmm.

Social wise, well, Im happier now. I mean, I can get on with my classmates, and I made some friends with a few of them..shopping, running even :) I'm getting along better with housemates. I mean it is hard living with people who arent your family and who well..arent as warm as the people youre used to hanging around with. But you know what, just as my classmates, I think we're all adjusting. At least in the last couple of days, ive been hanging out with my housemates and getting to know their friends to so that's great, eh? :) And thank goodness for skype, fb, whatsapp, etc. I dont feel so far from my family and friends!

One thing at a time. Patience and all will fall into place, Insha-Allah.