Friday, June 16, 2006

This is probably my last blog entry in June

Look at the timeline of my schedule, you will probably know why...

19-20th June: Final Exam - Protein Science (paper 1 & 2)
21st June: Leaving to Prague (for travelling ---early in the morning)
21-23th June: In Prague
24-28th June: In Jena & Dresden, East Germany ( visiting a friend there, and travelling, of couse not for World Cup matches, although i really would like to, if i have a chance)
28th June: Back in London.
28-29th June: Packing and clearing my room
30th June: Moving house, back to last year's student hall (staying temporarily for 2 months)

3rd July: Start working

Up to this point, after i come back from the trip, most probably i will be overwhelmed by the workload (or a huge 'project') of moving house. I don't think i have time to blog. Even if i have time, it's only at the night of 30th June.

Anyway, just wish you all having a good time (whether you are working, studying or in holiday) when i'm not around (or busy). Ya, give me all your luck, i need it badly for the exam next week.
Bye~

P/S: just drop me a message or email, if you wish to tell me how much you miss me. :P

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Just received my Humanities and Language result

Yes. Just today. I got 'B' for both. I don't know the exact marks for my German Language course. a 'B' for me is just fair enough, not too disappointed. I could perhaps score better if i had a better performance in my oral test, and if i did not 'explore' too much in my courseworks (i lost quite substantial marks there, i know).
For my Politics Studies course (registered under non-credit course), i scored 67 marks, a high 'B'. Just another3 marks to 'A'. I'm quite pleased about it. I strongly believe that i could obtain 'A' grade if it's not because of my weakness in the language (English) that could penalize few crucial marks off. So far, this is my best score in Imperial College since the first year i stepped in here. Not even my major course (Biotechnology) could ever reach that score, sad right? This could maybe a good indicator for me, about where my potential lies. Indeed, a genuine interest in the subject could make you perform better in that specific area. I hope i do the same for my Biotech now, looking forward to the next year when i could choose my own favourite options.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Spammer!!!

This morning, when i opened my mailbox, i found that there is a spammer/many spammer sent tons of unrelated comments in my blog, together with their links to promote their Poker website and etc. I felt outrage, then i just deleted them one by one. Due to the issue of blog security and better comments management, i decided to change the setting a bit - to allow word verification, after you type your comments. I don't know whether this is enough done to at least stop the interest of those spammers. Sorry about the inconvenience. Hope this won't discourage you from leaving me comments.

I will talk about some internet security issue someday.

P/S: i have only one week left to my exam. worry, worry... have to work harder and harder liao.

P/S: Yesterday's dance grading test went fine. I have confidence to pass those 2 tests. Although i was not perfect that day, but still i think it is good enough for me to pass. Thank you for your concern. I am so touched~

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

我没有天分,只懂得勤奋。

人是很奥妙的。以前我不大相信,现在不得不承认有些事情是与天分有密切的关系,人也是以‘有天分’和‘没天分’来区别的。你有没有遇过一些情况:比如说,同样一种技能,别人一两下子就把它学上手了,而你花了很多时间,挣扎了很久还是无法(或难以)学会?那种感觉,是不是因为‘没有天分’带来的?很多时候,我自问,到底我在哪方面比较有天分?为什么总觉得没有一样是我特出的技能?天分是不是一生下来就注定的?(如果是基因遗传问题,为什么我的弟弟既有运动细胞又有音乐细胞,而我没有?弟弟和哥哥都可以很熟念地玩音乐,而我总是被缺乏音感和节奏感的问题困扰?)还是因为后天环境(比如说,在小时候)没有好好培养?到底勤能不能补拙?

也许上天会给你一些,不给你一些,以示公平。我一向来都很喜欢音乐和艺术,并懂得欣赏它们。然而,我却不能创作它们。我从小一直很希望自己在运动方面,比如说在我喜欢的项目如羽球和足球能有一技之长,但是事与愿违。姑且说我没有投资大量的时间在那里,也没有受过正式的训练。然而,打从我在中学时期就开始学习吉他(甚至比我弟弟更早)和打鼓,更曾梦想过组乐队写歌创作。我在这方面花了不少时间学习,但没有什么收获,留下了遗憾。虽说勤能补拙,其实我相信即使勤奋,我能进步的速度(空间)依然是很慢(很小)。我其实很不能明白自己为何这世界上会有一些事情总是难以办到,偏偏自己却很在意为何我不能我常常反省,到底是我的问题,还是我学习的问题?到底是我学习的精神和态度问题,还是我学习时不够纪律?我不可以不正视以上这些问题的可能性,而只一味地将它归咎于缺乏天分。

舞蹈是我最新的例子。

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这个周六就是我的生平第一次舞蹈考试。我即将要考的是Ballroom(华尔兹waltz ,狐步 Foxtrot,和快步quicksteps)舞蹈。回想起从踏入大学的第一年至今,差不多都跳了两年,有很多很深的感受。舞蹈比赛也几乎出席了主要的大部分,赢得了两次(第4,第5名次),也曾是去年其中一场大专赛新人赛被寄予厚望的我校代表(虽然那时只止步于半决赛)。能跳到今天的地步是我从来不曾想过的。

曾经在竞赛队里有一位中国朋友(今年已不跳了),她坦率地告诉我,说她看得出我在舞蹈是没有天分的,但是对我的勤奋弥补先天的不足,赞许有加。当时,我听到她这么说,其实一点都不生气,因为我有自知之明。坦白地说,去年的我确实很努力地提升自己。一方面是来自我前舞伴的压力,再加上老师的谅解和耐心地教导。我看到了,也感觉到自己的进步。从第二年开始,事情就不那么顺利了。首先是那位舞伴‘另谋高就’(确实她有本事和天分),少了一位主要的压力和纠正者。另外,老师分配于我另一个舞伴。她本身是初学者。她就像我,没有一定的舞蹈天分。当时,她很努力配合及加紧脚步赶上我的水平,我也相当有耐心地协助她。奈何,我们并没有受到老师的器重,派遣加入学校的主队竞赛。她遇到了进步的障碍,再加上时间的局限(她是硕士生,很忙碌),难于兼顾舞蹈。老师开始对她不耐烦了,刻意冷落了她。那时的我其实也眼看着其他的新人都赶上来了,甚至比我跳得更好。而我却感觉在原地踏步。而本身的‘天分’问题又再重现我始终无法把握舞蹈音乐的节奏,还有我天生学习东西比较慢(尤其是我没天分的东西)。加上从本学期我平均每星期用在舞蹈的时间大大减少(自从休赛后),一开始我就很吃力地跟上silver medal水平的舞蹈课的进度,原因是上个学期因为忙于为比赛练习和忙课业,很多东西仍在学习着,包括了这次的考试舞步。不知为何,老师开始也对我很不耐烦了,到了现在好像放弃了我。她总是以我已有跳舞两年的资历,又是参加比赛的选手啦为理由,质问我为什么可以跳得比第一年新生还不如?她不明白,她所教的舞步,比如说‘狐步’其实我才在上个月才接触而已。近来几个星期她一直在课里数落我,针对我,大声骂我,到了现在连纠正我,回答我的疑问都省了,让我自身自灭。首先,‘狐步’的节奏我之前根本没有接触,自然不懂何去何从。我总得花一些时间搞个清楚。还有,当我连一些舞步都还没有完全确定时,我更难‘一心二用’跟着节奏。现在的情况,我跳得一点都不开心,每次都带着战战兢兢的心情上课(终于了解到我的那位硕士生舞伴的感受了),信心被老师大大打击了。我知道她没有义务每时每刻都体谅我,了解我的处境和感受。可是,她的方法一点都帮不上我。(或者她也许现在都不想帮我了)不明白为何不能好声好气,耐心地教导我?难道她是真的不知道我需要花时间学习和熟悉它吗?我做错了,或做不好,或没听懂你的意思,她可以不要用那种面孔,那种语气对我说话吗?haih~ 没有天分的我,我还能说些什么了呢?

Sunday, June 04, 2006

对鸟弹吉他


一只鸟对一支破吉他情有独钟,惺惺惜惺惺。他们互相对望,相映成趣。
原来对艺术的欣赏是可以跨越物种的界线的,无论这只鸟儿是否真正听得懂吉他音乐。意义在于,听者/观者能从中得到了什么,和呈现者能表达些什么,大家从而能得到满足。对艺术的诠释不只是单元的,它可以让人从多个角度去欣赏不同的美。艺术的美,是需要用心去体会的。


*这是在我大学的艺术走廊角落的摆设。感觉很奥妙和有趣,挺有意思的。虽然我的大学是科技院校,但是他们保留一条走廊为艺术纺,让学生自由参展。

Lost love


这是我在其中一条伦敦街后巷发现的涂鸦壁画。本人觉得蛮有意思和艺术的。所以拿来与大家分享。到底它要表达什么,就留待大家去诠释吧!涂鸦壁画有时是可以很 有艺术的,或传达某种讯息,不一定是破坏市容的。希望大马的涂鸦者可以有多一些艺术和文化气息,不要整天都只写或画粗口或色情的东西而已。

Thursday, June 01, 2006

汪洋中的一艘船 Sailing in the sunset

夕阳斜下,一艘帆船卸下风帆,任由漂泊在茫茫的海中央。风平浪静,也就是歇一歇的时候,休息片刻欣赏短暂的日落西山美景。人生岂能要求一直都是一帆风顺呢?没风时,岂能强求?风舵在你的手上,你掌握你的船要去的方向。每当风一吹起时,你就要立即决定是否要扬帆起航。就像命运,有时你是可以有选择的,记得要把握每一次的机会!即使风没来,也不需感叹,或许你可以坐下来换个角度看这世界,其实这世界还有美好的一面。

You can decide your own fate. The direction that you steer your life-journey yacht is in your hand. Remember to seize every opportunity when it comes. Even if there's no luck at the moment (no wind blows), you do not have to be upset. Just sit down and take a look around -- this world is still wonderful.