Ciao Bella!

Hello lovelyhappycrazybeautiful people,
So much has happened, so much has changed. For better and for worse. But the show must go on, yes? And I must move on. Goodbye. I hope you're all reaching for greater things, but don't forget to keep in touch. You know how to get me, I'm sure.

Much love,
Josh

My Dear Country

By Norah Jones, of course.

1

I was talking with my neighbour and his friend about being away from home, and it dawned on me, quite unexpectedly, that I had been in Manchester for exactly one whole year. I was amazed and shocked. Probably because I had spent the day before in Sheffield with a lot of new friends, I didn't realise the significance of the date until prompted by the discussion.

In a way it seems like just yesterday that I left my small gathering of family, friends and church members at the departure hall in Kulala Lumpur International and, almost 18 hours later, landed onto a cold and very wet Manchester International. Yet, in another way, when I look back, it truly feels like it has been the longest year of my life so far.

In hindsight, it's quite amazing how much has transpired and how much I've changed, from the boy that came out of that airplane a year ago to the person that I am today. I believe I have matured and learned to look at life very differently, and if nothing else, my tolerance for pain and stress has increased a hundredfold.

And now, just like a year back, the new students are here, so freaking many of them! Rabid freshers like hordes of hungry locusts, irritatingly excited and chirpy, happily buying into the dream that was sold to them. They're gawking at the old buildings, crowding the eateries and sidewalks and taking over my quiet spots. It's ironic and funny that I was just like one of them, just 365 days ago, and now I feel like violently clawing them to shreds whenever they get in my way.

I'm probably leaving Manchester again for a large part of Fresher's Week, the mere thought of being surrounded by all those bouncy and energetic campers is really quite nauseating. I plan to be visiting the Lake District; I really think I do need some time out of this city in fresh country air and beautiful scenery to get a breather, release pent up negative energy and charge up for the next academic year, as well as spend some time to reflect on things.

So it's one down, one more to go, no doubt by the grace of God. Here's to the year ahead, may it be a good one, God-willing.

Angel

I've heard this song so many, many times but tonight, for the first time, it actually resonates in my life, on a highly personal level. For the first time it makes perfect and complete sense, every word of Mclachlan's.
I am still broken, in fact today has given me more than its fair share of daggers to the heart. I am still in a mess, but for once in a long, long, long time, I finally feel I can begin to pick up the pieces, and heal again.

Dinner at Eight

The original writer and performer of the song, the one and only Rufus Wainwright, live in New York. Hopefully I'll get to see him live someday.

Here's pretty good cover by British band Keane. This is not the official video as far as I know but it's pretty good nonetheless.

Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copehagen) by Tom Waits

This (very long) song is often called 'Waltzing Maltilda' because it incorporates the popular Australian folk song of the same name, but is officially named 'Tom Traubert's Blues' and is subtitled, Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen. However, Rod Stewart has covered this song and subtitled it as 'Waltzing Matilda'

This song left me breathless when I first heard it, and it still does. It evokes so much emotion and atmosphere, and its ambiguous lyrics make it both personal and universal at the same time, giving it many layers of meaning. Tom Waits is a real artiste.

Yes, ok, putting up random vidoes and then throwing a paragraph or two of comment doesn't count as blogging, not by my book anyway, but these past months have made it extremely difficult for me to express myself here in both legible and, shall we say, agreeable terms. I reason that it's better than leaving the blog dormant (although I admit it's coming close to that) so I'll let others do it by proxy. For now anyway, until I pull myself together, if I ever...

Propaganda

Just a bit more for those coming to Aber.
These clips are made by the university, and as any other university recruiting students, the best view of the place is painted. Obviously everything is scripted and modeled by students. Just remember there are always two sides to a coin. ;)

General Introduction


Life at Aber Uni


Social and Cultural Life at the Uni


Academic Life at Aber


Students' View on Student Life


Student's Views on Academic Life

Gosh, after watching all this I think maybe I should have gone there...