Still the weeks continue to fly by, it is now 4 weeks until the end of semester. Exams start on Friday 25th October. I started to cut back on the ammount of reading I was doing for my subjects and giving myself a bit more time, but then I realised I only had 4 weeks left so it was worth keeping up the pressure just for a few more weeks. But I'd already got a little behind so having to play cath up again, which is not fun. I think I'll take less subjects next semester.


Been doing lots of filming lately. Doing a program about lack of sleep, I did a written survey of 80 students that showed that they get an average of 5.9 hours sleep per night and 66% sleep in lectures. Used this to do voxpops street interviews of people on what they thought of the results, should be good once edited. Filmed our final project for BAV basic audio and video production, doing a culture clash between a market and a supermarket, it's looking really good. but linear editing, so it's taking a while to do.


Thinking of going to Indonesia in the 8 weeks holiday over xmas. If anybody wants to come over and visit then you are welcome to, can find something good to do and somewhere nice to stay. Next May is the other time to come over when I leave Singapore and go to Penang in Malaysia.

This evening we filmed the 2nd episode of Nanyang Spectrum, the TV magazine program we've been making the smaller packaged programs for. First episode was launched on Saturday. I'm producer for episode 3 which will be filmed next wednesday. Went to Jurong bird park with LiLi, LinYan and Da Peng on Sunday. my chinese is getting better, trying to get a chinese room mate to practice with though. Da Peng has moved in with Johan who is going to overtake me in chinese soon...

Bye for now,
John

I stopped writing down my dreams when I realised how much crap they were full of. It used to be an incentive to wake up and write down what was in my head, but too much rubbish came out so I've put that idea on hold for a bit. My room mate Quan has gone back to Frankfurt and I have the room to my self now until Nov. I've asked to stay here another semester and that should be ok, and I've been accepted to study at USM in Penang, Malaysia starting in May 2003, so looking forward to going there.


This week I spent studying chinese, I can now write a passage about my family and understand what people are talking about on the radio, so it feels like I'm getting somewhere. I'm going to start putting in more effort into my chinese from now on, as that is the best thing I can pick up from here that I can't easily pick up in the UK.


I got to Chapter 4 of the Selfish Gene and then had to give it back to the library because someone else reserved it, will have to wait 3 weeks now.... Was thinking of reading the Lord of the Rings, but not sure if I have that much time... Quan left a book of short stories by Oscar wilde, very good, especially The Happy Prince, which I remember watching as a cartoon when I was off school (quite a lot).


Only 6 and a half weeks left until exams, so I'm already thinking about what to study next semester, I don't think I'll take any more business modules, but will try and do more media practical stuff, international relations and keep up the chinese, maybe try another language if I can. Intersted in biology, there is a general elective in life sciences as well, that looks cool. They are building a new faculty here for that.
John

This week I chatted to Tony Blair, Liam Gallagher and a couple of characters from the Bill. I always thought I didn't dream much, but I'd love it when I woke up and could remember a dream, but this didn't happen very often. Now, as soon as I wake up I grab the notebook by my bed and scribble down what ever is in my head.

One morning I wrote 5 pages about a very strange dream with a headless dog in it. I have no idea where it all comes from but I'm determined to find out. I have a theory that our brain lives through as many possible scenarious whilst we sleep each night, in the hope that it can then think quicker when we come to that scenario in real life.

It's amazing all the information that would fade to nothing (and perhaps it should) if i did not write it down when I wake up.

Friday night was night cycling around singapore night. About 50 people, maybe more, rented bikes and cycled accross singapore to East Coast Park. 60km later at 5am we arrived at the park and then got the bus back at 6am. A good night, but very tiring, and too many stops along the way.

Just had a call from Amy, she's at Singapore airport, but ill and she's run out of money so isn't stopping over unfortunately. She's been in australia for two months and is heading back. sounds like she's had an intersting time in Australia, but i think she regrets not coming to Asia for a bit now. She'll be back in Hull soon for her third year.

This week is the start of the mid-semester recess. I have no big travel plans, It's good to have a bit of time off. But I'm a little bit bored already and it's only Sunday night, so I may go to Malaysia for a couple of days at the end of the week. I no longer too much free time. I tend to only get things done when I am under a bit of pressure, I feel like I've done nothing all day. Where as for the last 7 weeks I've hardly had an hour free. now I have too much time free. I plan to do some more chinese, read some books and catch up on e-mail. But I'm sure that will get boring as well...

Just started reading the Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. 2 chapters in already. very good. more to follow.