Reflection

Hey!

First year is gonna end soon, aren't you happy? Aren't you homesick?

Well, get back to the topic, but I am not talking about how to write reflection for my Pharmacy placements.

Time sure flies very fast. 9 months have passed, and I am gonna finished my first year after 'a few' exams. Nervous? Worried? I don't feel so at the moment.

I can still remember the day when I first came to Brisbane, running around to find a room to rent. That was hard, considering that I have just arrived here for few days, and there are tonnes of activities for the O week. I can still remember the horrible days when I stayed as backpacker in the city, struggling to adapt to the western lifestyle.

I was happy to find a room that is reasonably cheap, and my life as a student in UQ starts. And then, and then, without much difficulties I sailed through my first semester. About studies, hehe, not a problem. I also made some friends too, but not 'real' friends

After first semester, I started to think. I need some private life. I always dream to live by myself, slow and steady. I moved to another place. I am not sure if my decision is the best, but at least it would be better. It would be the first time to make such a hugh decision, a decision that may separate me from my friends from INTEC, a decision that may change my life in brisbane in the following years.

I feel much happy now. I started to make more friends. Friends are nothing more than just people that take advantage of you, at least this is how I think. I bet everyone has heard this before -> 有事钟无艳，无事夏迎春. Friends here will just bother to talk to you if you are useful to them. To make more friends, you just have to make yourself to be more useful, this is what I have learned in my life here.

Living alone also makes me more independent, to the extent that I never thought I will achieve so early. Independent means taking care of yourself (obvious), standing up after you fall down, facing problems by yourself. I feel very good now, being alone in a peace surrounding that I started to fall in love with. I would say I finally the kind of life that I desired.

My old friends always laugh at me and say I age faster than normal people. Or I should say I understand things before other people do? Living alone also means you have to learn to protect yourself, and of course no one will bother about your problems. They will come to you only when they have problems. But realizing this makes me feel better. I need more friends, and to do this, you have to have more to offer. Of course make sure you are not that stupid to just offer, expect some return as well!

One of my old friends also said I 'wear a mask' in front of people. Yes I did, and why not if that makes other people happy, if I will benefit from that later? Uni life is a transition between school and real life, so it is time to be prepared now.

Nine months in brisbane really changed me a lot. The solitude me become even more isolated, and I am not complaining about that now, nor I feel sad about it. I am happy to be alone, and of course occasionally meet and chat with friends. Apart from this, I also become a more 'well-rounded' person, from cooking to laundry, or from study to communication.

Studying overseas really isn't that easy, but it is not hard either. Willing to accept failure, and willing to stand up again after each failure is what you need when you live by yourself. Don't be afraid that you are lacking of friends, friends will naturally come to you when you live your life to the fullest. Constantly improving yourself is the key for success. I am glad that I am given the opportunity to study overseas. Should I be stranded in local uni, I am very sure that life would be different, and I wouldn't be a person like who I am now.

Though my life alone here is boring, I am contented. Studying and watching anime everyday, without much social activities may sound boring to most people, but that is enough for me. Life needs not to be meeting with friends everyday, going out every night or chatting with friends through msn every night. I love simple life, and I don't mind if it is monotonous.

Anyway, life wont be exciting if you don't add new things to it. I have basically finished my first year now, and of course I am looking forward to my second year. Plans are all over my head, including working as a uni tutor or as a part time assistant in nearby pharmacy, becoming more engaged in exercise, travelling all around australia and more! All these will have to wait until next year, but I am sure I will add more excitements in my life, even it is monotonous to begin with!

Arghhh... my exam is gonna start in half an hour! Wish you all well in your studies. Later.