Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

Time flies. It is already the seventh week in this short semester. Yesterday was the last class for ECS. We had presented our speech in the last class. I was in the second group and my candidate number is 13. There were 14 candidates in the group.

The public speaking started at 3.30pm in 1.03A. I sat at the second row and listened to my friends' speeches. Everyone was performing so well. I guess it is because we knew that was the last activity we had for ECS.

When I stood in front of the class and ready to deliver my speech, I was quite nervous. I took a deep breath and started to deliver my speech. I did not know how was my performance. I hope it was OKAY. :)

I love ECS class because I met nice lecturers and many new friends. I learn a lot of new things through this class. This is really a good memory in my life. :D

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

Slappy Hooper!

Who is Slappy Hooper? Well, Slappy Hooper is the best sign painter in the world! I bet you are curious about what I am saying here. :p


Topic of yesterday ECS was "Enactment of Short Stories". The script of my group is "The Legend of Slappy Hooper". We were asked to take a particular role and read the script in front of the class and we were assessed on that. The main character, Slappy Hooper is the only guy in my group, Terry.  I always have fun to be in this group because we have different races of group members and even international students!


Although we were disappointed by the result, but the learning process is the most important, right? Cheer up! =D


So, it's time to continue practising my speech now. The public speaking is on Monday! 


Good night! =)

10 New Words (Fifth Week)

1. Boffin
    (1) A boffin is a scientist, especially one who is doing research.
    : The boffins of Imperial College in London think the may have found a solution.
    (2) Very clear people are sometimes called boffins.
    : A computer boffin is set to make 5 million dollars from his revolutionary photo
      technology.

2. Lampoon
    (1) If you lampoon someone or something, you criticize them very strongly, using humorous means.
    : He was lampooned for his short stature and political views.
    (2) A lampoon is a piece of writing or speech which criticizes someone or something very strongly, using humorous means.

3. Perilous
   (1) Something that is perilous is very dangerous.
    : ...a perilous journey across the war-zone...   The road grew even steeper and more perilous.

4. flare-up
   If there is a flare-up of violence or of an illness, it suddenly starts or gets worse.

5. Masseuse
   A masseuse is a woman whose job is to give massages.




6. Typology
    A typology is a system for dividing things into different types, especially in science and the social sciences.

7. Gigolo
    A gigolo is a man who is paid to be the lover of a rich and usually older woman.

8. Sulk
   If you sulk, you are silent and bad-tempered for a while because you are annoyed about something.
  : He turned his back and sulked.

9. Exasperate
   If someone or something exasperates you, they annoy you and make you feel frustrated or upset.
  : The sheer futility of it all exasperates her.

10. Repository
     A repository i a place where something is kept safely.
    : A church in Moscow became a repository for police flies.

10 New Words (Fourth Week)

1. Imponderable
    : a thing that cannot be precisely determined or measured


2. Apoplectic
    : intense enough to threaten or cause a stroke


3. Agnate
    : a relative whose connection is traceable exclusively through males


4. Enchiridion
    : a handbook ; manual


5. Glutch
   : to swallow


6. Instauration
    : renewal; restoration; renovation ; repair


7. Ravelment
    : entanglement; confusion

8. Pilikia
    : trouble

 9. Mewl
     : to cry, as a baby, young child, or the like ; whimper

10. Histrionics
      : behaviour or speech for effect, as insincere or exaggerated expression of an emotion

Children and The Snow

Do you know what is "Shape Poem"? Well, today Miss Sheba teaches us on how to shape a poem. She begins the lecture with many of the poems that are done by our seniors. This actually gives us so many ideas on what is this topic about.

We are allowed to work in pair or alone. So, I actually work in pair with Pui San (Keryn Kok). At the beginning, it is really difficult for both of us to shape our poem. After discussion, we have come into a conclusion. As the title shows, we choose to write "Children and The Snow". We spend time to make our sentences so that every sentence got the same rhythm and this is really challenging for us.

Have a look on out first try shape poem.




Children are looking out of the window
The town is covered with snow
Children want to play with the snow
The mother's heads nod
Excitement in children showed
Children are standing in a row
And preparing a battle of snow

10 New Words (Third Week)

1. Confiding adj.
    Showing trust; showing that you want to tell somebody a secret
    : a confiding relationship

2. Encapsulate verb
    To express the most important part of something in a few words, a small space or a single object
    : The poem encapsulates many of the central themes of her writing.

3. Profligate adj.
    (formal, disapproving) using money, time, materials, etc. in a careless way
    [SYN] WASTEFUL
    : profligate spending

4. Coracle noun
    A small round boat with a wooden frame, used in Wales and Ireland by people catching fish

5. Baglady noun
    A woman who had no home and walks around carrying her possessions with her

6. Predestines adj.
    (formal) already decided or planned by God or by fate
    : It seems she was predestined to be famous.


7. Predispose verb
    1. To influence somebody so that they are likely to think or behave in a particular way
         : He believes that some people are predisposed to criminal behaviour.
         : Her good mood predisposed her to enjoy the play.
    2. To make it likely that you will suffer from a particular illness.
         : Stress can predispose people to heart attack.

8. Homage noun
    (formal) something that is said or done to show respect for somebody
    : The kings of France paid homage to no one.

9. Holler verb
    (informal) to shout loudly
     [SYN] YELL
     
10. Desideratum noun
      (formal) a thing that is wanted or needed

Film Review - Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

Directed by : Hana Makhmalbaf
Cast : Nikbakht Noruz (Bakhtay)
Abbas Alijome (Abbas)
Abdolali Hoseinali (Talib boy)





This film is based on the war in Afghanistan. The girl, Bakthtay lives in the caves under the remains of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan. Bakhtay has a dream. She becomes obsessed to attend a newly opened school because Bakhtay is fascinated by Abbas' schoolbook. She wants to know to read. However, she does not have money to buy stationery.



In order to go to school, she has to raise the money for a pencil and a notebook. Abbas asks Bakhtay to sell the eggs of the family's chicken. Bakhtay takes four eggs to the market but two eggs are broken. However, she does not give up to earn money by selling the remaining eggs. She exchanges the eggs to a bread and sells it at ten rupees. With ten rupees, she only gets enough for the notebook, but takes her mother's lipstick as a writing pencil.


On her journey, a gang of boys who is playing a game in which they are Taliban fighting Americans terrorise Bakhtay. They rig the pages from her book to make "paper aeroplane", take away her irreligious lipstick, put a paper bag over her head and pretend to play a stone game with her by burying her alive. "in God's name, let me go to school," Bakhtay pleads.

When Bakhtay meets the gang of boys for the second time again, Abbas pretends that he is dead and he asks Bakthtay to "die" if she wants to live. Bakthtay hesitates. She stands still and she is about to cry. In the end, she realizes that in order to live, she has to die. "Dying", is the only way to be set free.

The symbol used in this film is Bakthtay's notebook. This shows the effects of the war in Afghanistan on the local children. In order to attend to school, the children face many obstacles such as financial problem and bad study environment in the open-air school as well as home. Children could not get a good environment to study especially girls. Girls' school is located in a very far place where it can only be found where they have to walk by following the river direction.



The message of this film is to tell people about the bad effects of war to the society, and the country. War is definitely bringing more disadvantages to this world. As a viewer, I personally think the message of this film is conveyed well because it tells people how hard the life is for the children after the war in their country. This film also makes us to think deeply and teach us to appreciate everything that we are having in our life now.



Rating for this film ★★★☆☆