310812

by

my favourite number - 9

today was rather interesting! i set my alarm to 8.30 because i had my orientation at 10... i probably didnt need my alarm in the end because i kept waking up in 2 hour intervals anyway (im not used to my pillow).

anyway... so yeah, took a quick shower and what-not and decided to check my mail.. only to find that the upcoming events at my uni needs me to keep Saturdays free... and in the end, i would prefer to have Saturdays free so i can at least free up some days to see friends... so i am in need of changing my courses, again. =[

so on the way to the orientation hall at the Graduate School of Business building... i ended up taking a very steep and tall set of stairs (much worse than UNSW's Basser steps). you see, my university is on a hill so it is quite annoying getting around to my classes because my dorm is kind of on the peak of the hill whereas my classes are mostly at the bottom... sigh.. 
BUT with great altitude comes great scenery (... wut.)

from the top of the stairs
from the 7th floor of the building

there were so many foreigners at the Orientation.. mostly either Europeans or Chinese... i dont think there are any other Australians, but that's okay i guess.
so i sat down with a friend who i met last night at the dinner.. he stayed behind after dinner to drink some more (the bar trip that i didn't go to) and the consequences were quite clear - he was hungover and so were most of the other guys who went... including this guy.


during the orientation... most of the crowd was noisy, talking out of turn and making inappropriate remarks/sexual innuendos at everything they saw fit. i guess the most uncomfortable part was the degree of approval from everyone who heard the comments around me.. girls included. but it's nothing new.

the orientation talked about student unions and clubs...

the biggest was the Global Student Union... an independent program run by the students for fellow students.. this included events designed to encourage networking and relationship building. innocent? sure... until you take into account the fact that all these events would be drowned in alcoholism and, literally, a 'drink until you faint' mentality.

i told myself pre-departure to be careful with this 'Membership Training' because I knew it's not what it sounded like.. you see it is a 2 day 1 night trip away from the city to a private location where they 'have fun'. games, getting to know each other.. and excessive drinking. i'm fine with the first two, but i've always been careful with the people i choose to drink with (and for good reason). 

this event is planned to take place on the 22nd September... A LOT of students are already interested in this trip because it would mean FUN FUN FUN for them... i thought so too.. but in the end, i chose the safer option... the 2 day 1 night Cultural Trip to a rural village that is run by the International Office on the same weekend - without the alcohol. not sure if im being stupidly careful, but id rather be stupid than to act foolishly in intoxication. 
the thing i am worried about is that this Cultural Trip has limited spots and i hope i can secure a spot in time... 
although, i am very keen on going! as mentioned before, we will go to a rural village to make traditional rice cake 'Ddeok' and also make tofu =O.. it will be the same thing as the Daniel Henney Family Outing episode!



after the Orientation, we had pizza... very nice pizza ! Korea has a supreme type pizza, hawaiian (with huge pineapples) and a potato pizza.. =O it was nice though!


afterwards, we had a rush of mentors/buddies come in and pick up their mentees... my friend met up with his and a lot of my other friends did too... i felt a bit lonely because my mentor wasn't there... but i don't blame her, we didn't agree to meet up after all =].

so instead, i decided to go to the Bank and check my account to see if my money came in!.. and it did >=D
i can now say that i am a Korean millionaire.. >=D


i managed to capture some more nice shots today.. great weather!




after that, i went back to my dorm and just watched stuff on my laptop .. missing dinner at the cafeteria because i thought it started at 7pm.. but no, it FINISHED at 7.. LOL.

so i ate gummy worms for dinner.

my student ID... didn't know they'd be using this photo for my ID.. 
thanks again for the letters guys.. i read some of them again tonight =D


overall a moderately exciting day.. now i can go shopping!!! woo!

i am meeting with Min tomorrow.. a friend who i met during high school in Australia.. he lives in Korea and has been living here for a long time.. so it will be a helpful opportunity to meet and chat =]
tomorrow night is the official exchange students welcoming party - at a club/bar. i am sorry but i won't be going to that because i've never been a clubber XD.

the feeling of homesickness is slowly dissipating and it's not as bad tonight... things are looking up again and i guess all i needed was time. im sure it would be hard for anyone in my shoes right now.. but im also sure it would be a rewarding experience with much to learn.. for that, i am enduring and remain open to what God wants to show/teach me this year.

i hope to come back to Sydney as a man, independent by being completely dependent on God.

i thank you again to whoever is reading/keeping up to date with my blogs and i hope it is interesting for you to read =].

God bless.

Thankful: There is always a more sensible option in every decision I make. It could be going home 2 hours earlier than everyone to avoid getting drunk.. or it could be going to a village full of wise elderly people to escape the folly of youthful exuberance. 

Prayerful: That my decisions are ultimately God-centred and wise. Not influenced by my fleshly desires but rather by the Spirit.

Dangers: These people are out to get me. They know I don't drink/party, and for that reason, they want me drunk all the more.