Orientation+ Free and Easy! (Day 4 – Sept 4th)

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So today, it was mainly just orientation around the school. Met up with the students from the other divisions at the void deck of our hostel before setting off together for the orientation. We were mainly led by a China lecturer who showed us where our classroom was located.

WUST Admin Block. (a littleeee bigger than NP's admin block 1 ya? =X)

South Campus which is located directly opposite our Foreign Language School.

Our dear Mr Loh enjoying the strong breeze.

Inside our Foreign Language School.

Our Classroom.


Inspirational quotes.

Female toilet with toilet doors no taller than 1.4M. Hmmph...

Some interesting pictures:

What is an English Salon??? (o.o)

A short orientation and it was free and easy time for us again. =)


Came out of the school and we decided to take our classic JUMP SHOTS ONCE AGAIN!



Walked around the campus taking pictures everywhere. This was our first tour around the school. So we were actually acting like tourist. Taking pictures at every single place.



A little garden along the way which allows us to have a bird's eye view of the school.

Here's a little mischieve happening in the garden:

Group shot! =)

Jarold! 不要做傻事!


We did not stop Jarold in time. (Nice lag time due to professional photographer -me)

Roy doing 'i-dont-know-what' =X

1st Year students have to go through a compulsory military training. (similar to our S & W)

Went in the library to have a look, but we could not even find a single book because the library had small little sections at each level. But none of it was for browsing of books. So we just loitered around for awhile before leaving the place.

While we were standing outside of the library, we saw this poor man carrying 3 heavy stacks of books behind his back. Most of us found this view quite heart wrenching because in Singapore, we will never see people using manual labor till this state. When I walked past him while he was making his way up to the library, I could really see his cramped up face and sweat dripping profusely down his forehead. Couldn’t they use an invention named as a ‘trolley’? I wonder how much would he earned by carrying books up and down the library. When we took a look into his delivery truck, there was nearly close to 9 to 10 stacks of books. I think this is more to abusing than using manual labor.

After our own little tour around school, we headed for lunch. And and and we managed to discover a stall selling Wonton Noodles that are much less oily than all the food outside. It was quite nice =)

Green Bean drink. (it was very thick in texture and felt like you were drinking green bean soup).

白菜鲜肉馄饨

Never forget dumpling with the best companion… VINEGAR!

We just had to take photo of this dirty looking chopsticks. All of their utensils were all covered with a layer of black coating.

Chestnut!
After lunch, while walking back to our campus I spotted chestnuts. Decided to purchase a pack. The size of their chestnuts are so huge compared to Singapore’s chestnuts. One more nice factor would be that China’s chestnuts, the shells had been cracked open for you already. Ease of convenience.

Reflection

China people really earn through blood, sweat and tears. Due to their massive population, many were left unemployed or not suited for the job. Thus, many such as this uncle are left unemployed. In worst case scenario, they had to be hired for manual labour.
Although it is only the 4th day of our OIP trip, but I can feel that we are slowly forming strong bonds among each other. We started out in cliques of our own and we are now gradually becoming one whole OIP clique. Soft-spoken ones are starting to open up and more outgoing ones are pulling each individual together as one. That is how friendships are formed. With no family members to depend on overseas, friends are now becoming an important part of our lives. Without them, I believe that we would not be able to enjoy the trip fully. It just needs one party to take the initiative to open up and start talking before the other party would slowly be influenced and open up too. Do you call this the joy of forming friendships? Maybe it is =)
Friends are an integral part of a joyful life!

Albert Schweitzer:
‘In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.’

(Cherish your friends like how you cherish your love ones. Because they will be the one holding your hands and walking through the time of your life together with you and vice versa.)

xanier!

City Shopping (Day 3 - Sept 3rd)

SHOPPING! :)

For today, it will be shopping, shopping and moreee shopping in the city!

Before we setting off in the morning, our dear Miss Eshlyn started doing her laundry. She was quite happy doing it though. So anyone who is interested to hire a happy maid please call: 123456789 =DDD

Next on, we gathered at the bus stop outside our campus and took Bus 903. (Up up and away to the cityyyy)!

All I can say is, WHERE IS MY SBS BUSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I MISS YOUUUUU!!!!


The bus was super duper cramped, crowded and stuffy. They do not have the EZ-Link card service, so we had to actually pay our 2RMB coins to a lady who will be walking up and down the bus collecting bus fares from each of us. She would give us our ticket slip in exchange of our money. After collecting, her job would be to stand in the middle of the bus and kept shouting: 有没有人要下车啊? Plus her voice was super sharp and loud. Approx 30 Minutes ride.

Ticket Slip.

The bus ride was very bumpy and the bus driver likes to step on the brake every now and then. Everyone was finding for a pole to grab onto. And I realized how ‘well-maintained’ their facilities are. But what to do, we still had to grab on to the one end attached pole for balance.

Broken Pole! O.O

Bus.

Bus Chair.

Group Shots outside the shopping mall.

JUMPPP!!!

Inside the shopping mall.

Something nice.

After walking around for awhile, we decided to find a place to settle down for our lunch. Compared prices among a lot of flyers that were given to us, and finally found a one that is cheapppp. Name: 天天见
LUNCH TIME! =D

See the layer of oil? Oil seems FOC in Wuhan.

After lunch, we had nothing much to shop because the prices there were almost similar to Singapore and it was just a normal shopping centre that does not have much unique items which could attract us. So, they decided to get a new haircut! Hair salons there were plentiful. All were beautifully furnished and we had a hard time selecting which one should not produce not-up-to-standard haircut.

Shop Name: YES I DO.

Shun Qing & Alvin: Haircut + Straighten.
Me, Roy & Eshlyn: Wash Hair + Blow.

I can say that their service is SUPERB. The square area of the hair salon was MEGA HUGE compared to Singapore’s salon. They had approx 20 hairdressers, 20 apprentices & 6 Counter staffs.

The layout of their salon was so appealing to ladies as it looked very princess like with dim shades of yellow & gold with dangling shiny stones at the window. And the tables and chairs were black. Classic I would say. Though they had plenty of customers and you had to wait, but while waiting their staffs ensured that you are well-taken care of. Informing you every minute that it will soon be your turn, and apologizing for the wait.


While washing of hair, their staff will strike a conversation with you to keep you entertained, unlike Singapore. That was my longest hair washing session with all the talking. Haha. After that, the staff would follow you around and keep you company till you get a seat for blowing dry of hair. After handing you over, the hairdresser is another one who will talk to you and keep you entertained throughout the whole session.



Service: EXCELLENT! (The only shop in Wuhan that has excellent service that wins Singapore).

Before

After

After their hair cut, we were left with an hour for some last minute shopping. And we walked into this hidden food area which was deeppp inside the shopping mall. Foods there was quite unique and are all those food which you would see on China Drama shows. How special~~~ =D tried a few different food.

红豆chua冰

Beef Balls

Finally, ending our shopping trip at 6PM. Once again, the bus was packed like sardines. But all of us managed to get up the same bus using some special strategy and tactics. =D

PACKED LIKE SARDINESS!

Reflection:
Comparing the hair cut services of Singapore to China, Singapore really lose out by a lot. From the behavior and attitude of how they serve their customers, we can see their passion for their work, to bring the best out to you and ensure that you walk out their door satisfied and with a smile on your face. Although those in white were hairdressers while those in black were just apprentices who helped to wash, colour and straighten hair, they still treated their work seriously. This is one attitude that the younger generation in Singapore should learn. To always take your work seriously no matter how small it is.
A little effort goes a long way.
Talking about the facilities on the bus, shouldn’t they at least change the metal bars? I realized that China people like to do things without thinking through the consequences. It may sound harsh, but in many incidents which I experienced, I am left with no less harsher words to describe them. They like to wait for something to happen before something is done, instead of preventing it.
Overall, passion is what brings an individual far in life. Never live your life without a passion or goal. Only with these would your life be fruitful and fulfilling.

T. Alan Armstrong:
If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, let it become you and you will find great things happen for you, to you and because of you.

(Many teenagers in Singapore gains passion fast & loses them even faster. Passion is something which keeps me going and is a form of mental support within me. I do hope that teenagers out there would be able to discover your true passion, stick to it and achieve something out of it. You will never regret sacrificing just to keep your passion burning.)

xanier!