Winter 2016 : Harry Potter

Apart from having Quidditch as one of the sport activities for the students, our University bookstore also sell Gryffindor's, Slytherin's, Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff‎'s neckties and magic wands. Harry Porter is really a thing here.

Winter 2016 : Innocent juice

I did my work at AGLC as usual. A guy sitting at my back says Hi and hand me a bottle of antioxidant juice. He said there was a free giveaway at the cafe downstairs and he took extra bottles for me.

He just arrived from Malaysia and now doing study on branding and marketing strategies. We chatted for a while and he let me continue with my work because I keep checking my watch lol.

I cant remember his name after one hour. Anyway, thank you for being thoughtful. So, those were my lunch that day. Serius kenyang sampai malam.

Winter 2016 : Another round of debate

The reading list. I am the proponent.

The afternoon session at the Arthur Lewis Building preparing for the debate and other essays. 

At this point of time, my eating habit has changed. I just take hot chocolate and cereal bar for my lunch. I am full until I go home.

Winter 2016 : Launching of Global Development Institute

I am truly honoured to be part of the crowd that night. To witness the Official Launching of the GDI and listen to the inspirational Keynote Address by Winnie Byanyima, the ED of Oxfam International.

I donned a baju kurung in a shivering cold winter night, just to celebrate the diversity in the international development community. When my husband dropped me near the entrance, I just left my jacket in the car and try my best to compose myself while walking towards the building in the cold. Sometimes, I just had enough wearing thick jacket and bringing it everywhere inside the building (since you are not wearing it inside).

Winter 2016 : Critical Reading workshop

I registered online for a Critical Reading workshop offered at My Learning Essentials. They have 3-4 interesting courses/workshop/seminar everyday, held in AGLC. It is free. You could just walk-in.

This was my first time. Once I walked-in, one lady, a facilitator, asked me to swipe my student card at the reader on the table to record my attendance. Then, she asked me to find my seat, anywhere and help myself with cookies and drinks (there is a coffee machine and various types of cookies at the corner of the room). I took two packets of chocolate chip cookies and I made myself a hot chocolate.

The workshop went well. They taught us theories, followed by a few individual and group exercises. The first exercise was for us to identify the main argument and evidences in a few academic articles. 

I love the facts that this exercise uses laminated A4s. We could jot down our thoughts, underline the arguments and circle the main points using a whiteboard marker, which, could be wipe-off and recycle afterwards.

Then, there was a group exercise.

We didnt know each other but we got along very well in one hour! 

At the end of the workshop, the facilitator requested to take a photograph of my graphic note.

And after the workshop ended, the facilitators went around the classroom with iPads, for us to fill in the online evaluation form. I love the hi-tech part of the workshop - the swipe part for registration, the online evaluation part, as well as the delicious cookies and free drinks :)

Spring 2016 : SUPER THURSDAY!

Today is Super Thursday where millions of UK voters will go to the polling stations. There are local elections in England and Wales and votes for Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish assemblies. London, Liverpool, Bristol and Salford are voting for new mayors.

Spring submission update 03

I managed to submit the final essay earlier than expected. 

Alhamdulillah.

It is good to be surrounded by kids while doing essays.

Instead of sitting in front of the laptop doing the essay non-stop, I STOPPED a lot. I cook, I went out to play football with my kids and their friends (like, realllllly play football), I do laundry, cook again, clean the house, play with the snow (yes, there were snow in spring!), cook and do other things. I can constantly reflects on my readings (and connecting the dots) while doing other things. That makes me write quicker.

I hope I could maintain this momentum for my dissertation.

Spring submissions update 02

Now I am less than 3000 words away from completion.

When the progress was really slow and I was stucked in defining things that I am not familiar with i.e. hegemony, counter-hegemony, organic intellectuals and other Marxist things, I started to wonder why I am here at the first place, studying a totally different field from my bachelor degree. Why I did my Master here after 11 years working?

But when I progressed a lot, I started to think I should pursue my PhD after a couple of years (I have to work for at least two more years and apply for PhD after that). 

I have this love-hate relationship with academic.

Tonight, my husband stay up with me. Until now, he has made me two cups of coffee and brought two slices of cheese cakes he bought for my birthday today.

I hope I can do more than 2000 words tonight. I want to spend more time with my kids on the Bank Holiday.

Fall 2015 : Supports by the University

Anything you need to know about registration, payment, letters for bank/council tax exemption, to name a few, you could go to the Student Services Centre. They are very efficient and extremely helpful!!

You are into active lifestyle? You are going to love it here!!

What about learning new languages? See it for yourself!

Need ICT support? I went to the learning commons to get technical assistance in setting up my mobile phone and laptop, to access the university system. 

Knowledge management? Libraries are everywhere. 

They also have My Learning Essentials which offers useful workshops, online resources and drop-ins sessions, if you have question on your assignments. 

Getting around the campus? You will never get lost. There are maps everywhere on signboards. I keep mine handy in my pencil case.