Of Homework and Exam !

 Sheffield Hallam University (SHU)... Breathing the air in its compound you'll feel smarter already LOL! I love study life, I'm sure of it because I had a short working life right before my Advanced Diploma and although the company and colleagues are good, working life doesn't have as much freedom as study life. So bounded with the working hours you'll have not much time left for your own. That's why from Advanced Diploma onwards, I appreciate my study life to the max, explore as many as I can, travel to as many places as possible and earn some extra pocket money along the way. 

We were so jakun when we saw our attendance list has our face photos in it! "So advanced leh!" It's hilarious when the tutor tried to read out our names but they turned out as something like Foong Foong and Har Har. I'm sure I didn't messed up my last name and first name, or did I?

I hate Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to be frank, the syllabus was hard and most of the things were in codes rather than words which can be easier to understand. Studying in the UK is totally different than in Malaysia, where most of the info are spoon-fed to us. Tutors in the UK required us to do our own research to look for info, do analysis and produce the result or report. We were not used to it, but it is sad to say that this kind of method is the right method. 

Engineering Product Design required us to produce engineering drawings, and a drawing like the one below can take us about 2-3 hours to complete. Every parts and components drawn with utmost precision and detailed calculation. Thanks to the comprehensive self-research, I can now design a hoist and a double wishbone front suspension for a car! 

Luckily we only have Concurrent Engineering subject in our final exam. More on theory than calculation, my favourite! Stocked up some energy drinks (hear: Monster) and Starbucks' instant latte from the nearby Sainsbury and let the burn of midnight oil begin! It was the last exam in my life so I decided to give it all out! Thankfully I didn't fail the subject or else I'll have to sit for it again in Malaysia!

Here's our last day in SHU! Feeling sad and happy at the same time. Sad because that's the end of our study life and it's time to leave Sheffield, but happy because our vacation begins at that instance!

It was hard to leave a place as beautiful as Sheffield after staying there for 3 months. We purposely took a night walk around the city, to enjoy one last night view of the city before we embark on another journey...

NEXT - Europe Trip: Belgium!

The Unforgettable in Sheffield...

 Many, many fond memories in just a mere 3 months. My study trip to the UK has proven to be fruitful. Experienced happiness and sorrow with friends, shared the stories in the deepest corner of our hearts, My friends know that I'm an addict, McDonalds' addict to be exact! So, on the eve of my birthday, my friends took me out secretly for a supper at McD. We set a time to gather downstairs of our hostel, but they changed all of their Facebook's profile pics into one of my 'atrocious'-looking faces photo while I'm downstairs waiting for them! 

One of the most memorable birthdays I had...

Not knowing they have done that yet (I don't have data plan in the UK), they came down one by one and we headed for a 'walk'. Eventually our last destination is McD, and I know something is up with them! They've ordered few burgers and drinks, their treat, and to the shock of my life, I went online with the help of McD's Wi-Fi, I saw my face are ALL OVER FACEBOOK!

Since we couldn't afford a cake in the UK, so we had burgers to replace cake, accompanied with a birthday song while other people who were having meal in the McD watching! I don't know I want to cry or laugh at that moment, but I'm glad I have a bunch of friends who are willing to sing in the public and sacrifice their FB account to do such a horrible thing haha! 

Next up should be the huge food fest, home-cooked! Done mostly by Chef Darren, the meal has appetiser right up to dessert! While the food is awesome, the most epic must be the photo below, asian at work!

Cooking with friends can be fun too. You get to decide what to cook for dinner, how to cook for dinner and how to mess with the food! Haha! Will never forget how my friends teased me for cutting the luncheon meat into cubes instead of slices! Believe me, there are people out there who cut luncheon meat into cubes too!!!

Another about food is the 8oz sirloin steak that I had right opposite of Yate's. It has similar menu as The Banker's Draft. It was the most scrumptious outside meal I had in Sheffield, steak + beer + drizzling + football match live in a pub, the incredible couple. 

When SHU announced that there will be a photo competition for the Summer students, I knew I will participate for sure! We have to post maximum 5 photos along with description of 100 words or below. First prize get an iPad Mini, so I thought wouldn't it be good and memorable if I get to win a gadget in the UK??!! I gave it a try, brainstormed for a week and below is the result! It was so hard to fit everything into 100 words when I have so many wonderful things to talk about! 

The second when the announcer mentioned the 2nd prize belongs to a poet, I immediately have a hunch that it is mine, and it is! No iPad Mini or any other gadget, but still it's something I'll never forget during my time in SHU! The winning entry:

Seven thousand miles away from home,

checking out Sheffield’s view and wholesome.

Saw a luxury car driver got off his ride,

to help push a broke down car aside.

Force, gears, shaft and ray,

are what we encounter everyday.

These are what mechanical engineers learn about,

and Sheffield Hallam University never fail to reach out!

Weekend trips to some cities in the country,

such as York, Manchester, Cambridge and Whitby.

We will never forget every memorable moment,

like being boggled listening to strong local accent!

There goes my iPad Mini :( Anyway, I received a wonderful (thick and heavy too) book which is all about the happiest city in the UK - Sheffield. Along with a cup, a mini teddy, a mouse pad and a couple of cup pads. 

Believe it or not, we had actually entered a gentlemen's club a.k.a. strip club! It was, well... a new experience where we only have to buy a beverage upon entrance with no entrance fee. The women will strip down and dance on a pole, trying to flaunt their stuff to seduce you to join her in a private room. No no, it's not what you think it is. The private room is just a dance room, where the guy will sit STILL on a chair while the woman will dance nakedly in front of him, with a guard standing by outside of the room just in case of any pervert guy try to force the woman to do something out of her will. Talk about art of seduction! Sheffield has became my land of exploration...

Taking a double decker bus to Meadowhall is a fresh experience. We seldom get to take a ride in a double decker bus in Malaysia, unless it's those long distance journey bus. After paying the fee at student discount rate, sitting high up, we can see clearly the scenery, industrial area of steel making factories should be precise, along the way to Meadowhall. Sheffield is indeed the steel city of the UK, where some of the finest steels are produced there. 

 Human will feel down or sorrow once in a while, even if there is nothing bad happened. When our period of stay in Sheffield is getting closer to the end, we can feel that everyone was reluctant to leave. Everyone gradually appreciate more of what we do while we are still there, appreciate the time that we have, appreciate the companions/friends who we spend time together, appreciate the view and cooling climate the UK have. Sitting in the kitchen with a view of the street below, looking at the passing cars in the middle of a drizzle with a cup of hot choco, and have flashbacks of my time in Sheffield... 

I was able to consume a tab of Ben n Jerry or Haagen Dazs ice cream in just a night, one NIGHT! I told my friends that I can eat a tab of ice cream when I'm feeling down, but actually I can in whatever mood I have! I always paid attention to promotion where I can get 2 tabs at around 3 to 4 Pounds. 1 tab in Malaysia already costs more than 4 Pounds!

DOTA is a game, an online game which many youngster are addicted to. Not good for studies, but good for friendship bonding. A game with friends can improve teamwork (if everyone is on the same page). We used to spend one or two hours almost every night in our hostel playing DOTA 2, fighting AI enemies in hard or advance level! Also, video calls with friends in another hostel were fun too!

Singing my heart out in the hostel room can be a stress release thing, but it isn't if your housemates or the rooms nearby are able to hear it! The hostel rooms aren't actually well soundproofed. Being teased by friends staying nearby is hilarious, sometimes they even join in the singing!

Watching rare automotive brands running on the streets of the UK can be interesting. Noticed many of the cars are equipped with start-stop technology when the cars sprinted off at a traffic light junction. Start-stop technology turn off the engine when it detects the car is stationary. This can improve the car's fuel consumption and gas emission, which will benefit the car owner's because the car's road tax is calculated based on the CO2 emission of the car.

I was shopping in Meadowhall and went to try out a shirt in the fitting room of Primark. A caucasian guy came out of the fitting store room and thus, I entered the vacant store. An iPhone 5, black in colour was spotted on the bench in the store, possibly left by the previous guy who was trying out some clothes. So without a second thought, I grabbed the phone and ran out as quickly as I can to catch up with the owner. His face of relieved made my day.

Finally, it's about can food. My friend brought a can of luncheon meat to Sheffield and we had the chance to saviour it near the end of our stay in Sheffield. I've asked my friends what kind of cutting (slices or cubes) would they prefer but they didn't answer me. So, I decided to cut the luncheon meat into cubes because I thought cube shape is better to go along fried noodles! In the end, my friends made fun of the incident and it's been a nightmare everytime my friends see a can food =_=

NEXT - Of homework and exam!

Day Trip 9: Castleton, Peak District, UK

UK is a country with plenty of huge green land, parks and mountains. No matter how packed a city is, you'll still be able to find at least a park, for instance, London has Hyde Park. It gets better at outskirts, where you get to see how people live happily and healthily. We heard good reviews about Castleton in Peak District, about an hour away from Sheffield by bus, and the reviews are true. 

In our journey to Castleton, we saw a myriad of brick houses with huge backyard. I mean, HUGE! There was still plenty of space left after it accommodated a full-sized trampoline, playhouse and even an area for laundry! 

The bus station located in Castleton was far from all the sights and sceneries. But it's okay, as I enjoyed walking pass through the small town of Castleton before reaching the caverns. Not many shops for a small town, only few cafes and small souvenir shops were available.

You will surely live longer by staying here as a permanent resident! One of my friends plan to buy a house here for retirement because the environment here was so comforting and relaxing! I wish I can have one too... *adding in my wishlist*

No skyscrapers, no air-polluting factories, no industrial development, just pure interaction with the nature. Look at the vast grass land, the continuous hill range and the white blue sky. Only interrupted by a two-lane motorway. Sheep and boars were kept in a compound, and my friend CS tried to get the sheep's attention by imitating the sheep's bleat! "有音的，你要跟", I wouldn't forget this sentence!

We finally arrived at Treak Cliff Cavern after a long walk. After a hearty climb to the entrance, a fee have to be paid to enter, where a tour with a tour guide will be available to guide you through the cavern and explains about almost everything in the cavern. 

There was nothing particularly interesting about all the caverns in Castleton (which has about 4 famous caverns) except for one where you can have a boat tour on the small stream in the cavern. This Treak Cliff Cavern is not huge on the inside, but there's something the Treak Cliff Cavern produces - Blue John stone. It's a kind of shiny blue stones that can be processed into an ornament. 

Stalactites and stalagmites! Calcium carbonate hanging on the roof of the cave. Looks gooey but they are actually solid matter. 

After egressing from the Treak Cliff Cavern, we had a short, self-prepared lunch break before embarking on to the serious task - climbing the Mam Tor Hill! Mam Tor, meaning 'mother hill', it is called so because of frequent landslides in the past created few 'mini-hills' beneath it. I had the shock of my life when I saw the peak of Mam Tor because I had never climbed a hill this tall before, 517m! 

This point is just the beginning of the climb!

Although the climb is exhausting, the view was definitely rewarding, making the tiring climb worthwhile! 

Finally at the peak of Mam Tor! What a great achievement xD

After a pretty long photo session, we descent using a steep short-cut. It's impressive to see sheep living and looking for food while maintaining their balance on the verge of a cliff.

The landslides around Mam Tor was so devastating till the authorities has given up repairing the road! What Asian do when we discovered a crack on the ground! LOL!

Sitting on the verge of a collapse road!

I've successfully climbed to the top of Mam Tor Hill!

NEXT: The unforgetable...

British People

British people are cool no doubt. Not the cold and quiet cool kind, but is the amazing and fascinating cool kind! For starter, I once saw an old man driving an old car which broke down at a junction. A guy in a huge Audi queuing behind the old car got down and offered his assistance to push the car aside. If this still doesn't impress you enough, you'll be when you get to witness the employees working in the shops next to the junction also came out to offer their assistance!

In the first week of arriving in Sheffield, we were looking for Aldi (a supermarket) but were a little confused by a cross junction since we are still not so familiar with the routes. A British guy, who noticed us debating which route to take, asked us whether are we lost and need some guidance or not. 

After a month staying in the UK, we learnt the basic manners and courtesy that most British people has! We understand and learnt their culture, and executed it. British people tend to add in the word 'please' at the end of a request, especially when ordering their food. So, guess what? "Can I have a cheese bacon and egg sandwich, PLEASE?" 

They are gentlemen indeed. No matter male or female, they tend to open and hold the door to allow you, who is behind them, to pass through without any obstacle. If they are coming from the opposite direction, they will open and hold the door for you and let you pass first! Giving us a feeling of warm hospitality. Everyone was also standing on one side of the escalator to allow those in a rush to pass through on the other side, something that Malaysia SHOULD learn!

British accent! Ahhh!! I would love to have some, British accent sounds deep and manly for a guy. Moreover, it will give people an impression that you are speaking the right English tone and words. Some British have simple accent which is easy for us to listen and understand. But some British people in, for example, York gave us a hard time trying to figure out what they were talking about due to their heavy British accent. Thankfully, Jeremy Clarkson's accent is quite British but still can be heard clearly!

Saying "cheers" is a way British people say "thank you". So, saying "cheers" is not only during drinking time but also a kind of good manners. We were not used to it at first, but in the end we were also influenced by this and said "cheers" instead of  "thank you" in multiple occasions!

British people enjoy alcoholic drinks. They will visit a pub for a beer even in daytime. Unfortunately, a very small portion of British people are drunkards. Some zombie-like drunkards will appear in some alleys after 5pm. We've encountered once where a drunkard yelled at us for no reason while we were taking photos of the beautiful Sheffield Botanical Garden. We didn't provoke him.

I didn't experience this myself but some of my friends shared that some British people, especially elderly, shouted some foul words at we Asian on the street. Perhaps their bad experience with World War II (Japanese?) created their prejudice to Asian?

Generally, British people make the UK a wonderful place to stay in. Their generally slower pace in daily activities and also the soothing weather (in the summer) make the UK a good place to live in after your fifties, or after retirement.

NEXT: Day trip 9 - Castleton, Peak District

Day Trip 8: Newcastle, UK

For the first time our bus dropped us far away from the city centre during our weekend day trip. Welcome to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, any Newcastle FC fan here? For starter, we headed to a museum instead of a football stadium first because of the route that we needed to travel from the bus to the city centre. 

For the first time we get to see a swift moving, larger than life-sized robot dancing around the museum, capable of spraying 'lubricant oil' (water) at visitors! The pace that technology is improving can be clearly seen at the robot, almost on par with what we can see in science fiction movie Real Steel!

For the first time we visited St. James' Park stadium, the home to Newcastle United F.C.. Here is the Chinatown arch with St. James' Park stadium in the background!

For the first time we tried bubble milk tea and pancakes in the UK!

While most of my friends went for shopping in Eldon Square, me and 2 friends went on to explore more of Newcastle. 

The very tall Grey's Monument!

Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas has impressive details in its sculptures.

Some structures in Newcastle have weird names, and inappropriate signage make them worse. Castle Keep is one of the oldest structure in Newcastle.

This long bridge is called High Level Bridge, but the 3 tonnes weight limit says the bridge is a 'weak bridge'. From here, we walked across the Tyne River through the pedestrian walkway in the High Level Bridge, and took some photos along the way...

The Tyne Bridge at the rear can be seen clearly from the High Level Bridge, one of the best spots to capture some photos of the former. 

As we crossed the Tyne River, we walked all the way up towards the direction of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. It's a bridge designed for the usage of pedestrian and cyclists only, and can be tilted up to allow ships to pass through! It has few tilt-up sessions each day, so make sure you'll stay for the session to witness the marvel of engineering! 

The Sage on the left is a centre of performances. 

Along the Tyne River has a recreational area where families can enjoy some 'beach' activities. Here's a volleyball court!

Fold-up seats! Just like on the beach!

The sun was strong (but the air is still considered cold) and after the volleyball and all the walking, we went for Starbucks for some refreshing drinks, my treat! 

After the drinks, it's almost time to go head back to our bus which is now even more further from our location! On our way, there was a small roundabout with only paint on the tar road as guidance. 

On the bus and on our way back to Sheffield, we spotted the Angel of the North, the largest sculpture in the UK! Too bad it is located too far away from the city of Newcastle, but we somehow got lucky and get to stop by the Angel of the North while we were on our way to Scotland later on!

So here's the end of our weekend day trip around the cities of the UK. We went to a total of 8 places: York, Manchester, Whitby, Cambridge, Bicester Village, Liverpool, Cheshire Oaks and lastly, Newcastle. There are few places we opted out like Blackpool and Stonehenge. I'm actually a little regret of why I didn't choose to go Stonehenge, as I am fascinated with its wonders and mystery. 

NEXT: British people!