Forward to my last semester to complete my MSE degree (S2, 2008). Before we go on let me say Shalom College (my S2 2008 lodging at UNSW) is miles ahead of Barker in terms of study environment. I can study all day without getting interrupted other than for voluntary breaks for meals.
Another striking thing about Oz culture is its amazing opennes & acceptance of "foreign" Asian languages & culture (even though it may not really be original!).
Examples:
(1) Yesterday (18 Aug 08), Jian Xian (Shalom mate) knocked on my door telling my it's Karaoke night; feel free to join in the lounge. So I went to the lounge, where Thai & Mandarin songs were being belted out, all of them "modernly" depressive sounding & about breakups! And more than half the listeners didn't speak or understand the language, but they listened! Reminds of the time Bro Kevin & Bro Michael were given front seats at SJI S'pore to listen to a mad-loud Mat Rock band. Bro Kevin & Bro Michael sat attentively for the entire 1-2 hours! Astonishing.
(2) Tonight I came back from Swing lessons & heard more depressing Mandarin rock from the Roundhouse. So I went to see what it was & it was a grunge-punk chinese band, playing Mandarin Rock to a crowd that was more than half Caucasian! Remarkable; I can't think of any group of Malays, Indians or Ibans in Malaysia who would sit down to take an interest in Mandarin rock music, particularly when they didn't speak the language.
(Or maybe they were just looking for loud rhythm at Roundhouse?)
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