Race With Michael Schumacher!

After 1 hectic month of preparation, the day has finally arrived; go-karting event. I have put a lot of effort in it as this is the first event I have to organise for the international students of The University of Western Australia (UWA). My first individual task for International Student Service (ISS).

On the way to Wanneroo Kart Hire.

Despite some misunderstandings, we managed to depart from the uni on time. Time was very limited since we were going in a large crowd and the track is only opened from 9a.m. to 12p.m. on Saturday.

Some go karts at the entrance to welcome us.

We reached Wanneroo Kart Hire after a 45 minutes bus ride. I was quite excited when I first saw the kart track.

Racing go-karts.

When I stepped into this small building with all the go karts lining side by side, I was greeted by the lady boss, Julia. She is the lady who has helped me with all the preparation for this event.

For safety reasons, helmet is a must.

After all the participants had signed up, we were told to wait for further instructions/briefing.

Wanneroo Kartway Track.

This is the 1025 metres long track where it was used for the 2005 National Karting Championships. Seriously, I couldn't wait to race. You know, the rush to become Michael Schumacher (the most successful Formula 1 driver). :P

Ready?

It was a competition based racing. Each person has 2 laps of practice followed by 3 heats of 3 laps each. The fastest driver wins the race.

Can you guess who's that driver ahead?

After a short briefing, the race started! It is a fun and challenging sports I would say. I could smell the burning tires while racing till my heart almost popped out!

Don't block me!

At first, everyone went slow and steady. After the practice, you could see there's no need for the drivers to press on the brake pedal. Everyone, including the girls, went as fast as the wind.

Not driving? Be the spectators.

Considering only 10 people could go for each laps, most of us had to stay aside to become the spectators. Some even became the cheerleader for their friends.

I couldn't go faster than you but my head is harder than yours!

Some were not interested either, to become spectators or cheerleaders. So, they had to find some entertainment for themselves. Competition outside the track; whose head is harder. :P

"Get lost!"

Poor doggy. Some of them were trying to "disturb" her. But, in a good way, of course.

Schumacher's pose.

The race ended after about 2 and a half hours of race. You can roughly tell, I was not the fastest driver overall but I did enjoy the race till the end. I came last for the first lap (I need to avoid someone crashing into me, that's why ended up last!), third for the second lap and fourth for the third lap.

The winners with Julia.

Came first is David, followed by Eric and Kai Xin. Only the first place winner claimed a trophy from the Wanneroo Kart Hire. How I wish I can get that trophy. Anyway, luck was not with me though.

An Easter egg for Julia.

To thanks Julia for all the help she has offered, I gave her an Easter egg. It's a courtesy afterall. :)

Engineering buddies.

Thanks to all my friends who have been so supportive. Without them, this event wouldn't be that successful.

Group photo.

I have done my best. I hope everyone enjoys the race. I strongly recommend go karting to everyone who has not tried it before. Once you have tried it, you'll want it more. :)

What I have done/Experience
Prior to the event:

• prepared briefing for the committee who were helping me with the sign up. Actually I didn't need to but then, I think it is essential to make sure everything goes smoothly.
• designed and printed out the posters and flyers before sending them to the person in charge for approval (without approval, the posters and flyers cannot be distributed in the uni).
• sent out emails to promote this event.
• called bus company and go kart company for bookings.
• determined a reasonable fee for the students so that the ISS won't lose any money and at the same time, the students can afford to pay it.
• planned additional stuff such as to buy some Easter eggs for the participants to attract them for the next trip/event, to buy a souvenir for the go kart company and so on.
• sent out email reminders to all the participants.
  
• deal with last minute sign up which is what I don't like. The students had two weeks to sign up for the event and I don't see any point why they wanted to sign up last minute.

On the day of the event:

• handled some leceh "customers".
• collected the fees which some of the students haven't paid.
• made sure everyone is happy with the event.

After the event:

• settled the payments with the bus company and also the go kart company.
• prepared an account for the event.
• have to write a report for the event as well.
  

It's not easy to organise an event. Nevertheless, I like the satisfaction when everything has been done well. I look forward for my next event. At the mean time, I have to catch up with my studies which has been left untouched for quite some time.

Happy Easter!

When you see these in the shopping complex,

Cadbury white chocolate bunnies.

Heritage 1kg Easter egg.

Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

Bunnies and teddy bears.

Don't-know-what-brand-Easter-eggs.

Normal Easter eggs.

Special Easter eggs.

Chicken with Easter eggs.

Lindt Easter bunnies.

Pink Easter eggs.

A set of cute Easter eggs.

Artistic Easter eggs.

Some of the Easter eggs and bunnies which were bought by my friend and me.

you'll know, Easter is here!

PROSH is Up!

I slept for only four hours before...

I was sleepy actually.

I had to force myself to wake up at 4a.m. Why, you must be asking...

Everyone getting ready...

because PROSH is up!

From left to right: Su-yen, Nicole and me, selling PROSH papers.

PROSH has been an annual event of The University of Western Australia (UWA) since 1931 . On that day, students (volunteers) dress up creatively or weirdly and head towards uni super early to collect PROSH papers and a money tin.

Super woman and Sailormoon.

For your information, the PROSH papers are written by some UWA students.

Iron board?

Then, the students take the papers together with the money tin to city, Fremantle or Subiaco by using provided buses and start selling the papers.

Spiderman and Ninja Turtle with a bunch of pyjamas girls.

Everyones get together to sell as much papers as possible for one reason. CHARITY! Yea, all the money from the papers will go to charity. A really good reason for me to get up so early to help, eh?

April and Anny selling the papers till they took off their pyjamas!

Since International Student Service (ISS) decided to take part in this event, I decided to follow. My final year (if no "accident", hopefully) this year. If I missed it this year, I won't be able to have a chance to take part anymore.

Again as usual, one guy all girls...

After 3 hours, we finally finished selling two stack of PROSH papers. Good job, everyone!

I didn't regret dragging myself to the uni early in the morning as I know, I have another experience to show off and the most important, I did this for charity! :)

World's Greatest Shave

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, people. I'm kinda busy and the internet connection isn't working at my place.

Anyway, I am going to write something today. :)

Why are there sitting outside the engineering building?

I know today, there's an event going on. So, I purposely rushed back to uni earlier after lunch to witness the event. Can you guess what's that?

World's Greatest Shave.

It's the World's Greatest Shave today! I have actually seen the posters all around the engineering building.

Be brave and shave!

What's that you might ask. It's all about shaving your head to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation.

Waiting patiently for their heads to get shaved!

There's people walking around to get donation while these people getting their head shaved. All the money will go to the patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.

All done.

The World's Greatest Shave is one of the biggest fund raising project across the country (Australia). About 100,000 people participate in this event.

"Can I have a look at the mirror?"

It's actually a challenge to have your head shaved. Some of the people just couldn't take it but there are people willing to shave off their head just to raise funds for charity. I salute those who are brave enough to shave off their head.

You look cool, mate!

Anyone is welcome to participate in this event. Even if you don't shave, you can colour your hair. If not, you can...

Do something like this guy did.

wax your legs! Some guys even waxed their chest which I didn't manage to witness. I know why they had their head shaved but, colouring their hair and waxing their legs and chest? Can anyone tell me why?

Anyway, good job to these guys. I was just not mentally prepared for this. If not, I would have my head shaved off as well. One, I can do this for charity. Two, I can get a free hair cut! How nice right? ;)

Busy Bee?

As most of you have noticed, I update my blog less often these days. I have too many things to catch up and 24 hours a day are not really sufficient for me.

Basically my daily routine is like this. Everyday, I wake up at about 9 a.m. (most of the days but sometimes as early as 8a.m.). Then, attend lectures from morning till afternoon. Of course, in between, I have an hour, or if lucky, have two hours of lunch break. One hour lunch break, I'll most probably have my lunchbox with me. Sandwiches, which is prepared earlier, would be my lunch. For two hour lunch break, I'll walk back home and have lunch.

Sometimes when I have break in between lectures, I'll try to make full use of the time for the preparation of go-karting event. Yea, I'm organising a go-karting event for some 50 international students on behalf of International Student Service (ISS). I have to send emails, prepare poster and flyers for promotion, contact bus company, contact go-kart company, discuss with the other committees about the event, and so on. Easy? I don't think so.

You'll see me walking non-stop from a place to another, mostly to deal with this go-kart event. I couldn't believe myself that I can walk for so long in a day. To go to school, I need to walk for 20 minutes, and in uni, I think I have to walk here and there for at least 40 minutes (more than that actually), and to go back home, I need another 20 minutes. If I'm going back for lunch, I have to walk again. And at night when I have to go to uni for some group meeting/revision, I have to walk again. Now, you do the calculations. :P

If I'm not busy with the preparation of go-karting event, I'll try to read some of the text required by the lecturers/tutors in order to complete some of my assignments. I can remember there's one day, it's from 9a.m. to 5:30p.m., without any break and only 30 minutes of lunch break. It's worse than working!

After going back home from uni, I'll prepare dinner if my housemates haven't done it. If I'm too late, I'll have to wash the dishes. Done with the dinner, I'll take an hour break. Then, I'll take a bath and again, go back to uni. I spend more time in uni than at home. Almost every night, I'll stay till late in uni to do some assignments or revision with friends. We also discuss our Final Year Project. One of my biggest worries now. Normally, I'll stay in uni till 11p.m. or 12a.m., before walking back home and call it a day.

Despite having fully utilised my time, I still find it not enough for me. I still have a lot of revision to be done. Hopefully I can have more time to do my revision after the go-karting event is over.

Today is the end of daylight saving. Time will revert back to normal. That's mean I have an hour extra! I can have more time to rest now!:)

Till then, I'll still try to find some time to update my blog.

P/s: After walking so much everyday, I still find no improvement in my waistline. *Sigh*

New Members of My Family

After two or three weeks using

Two buckets.

and

A brush brought all the way from Miri.

to wash my dirty and smelly clothes, finally, let us welcome a new member of my family in Perth to take over this task, Wishy the washing machine! *Clap clap*

Salute!

Wishy was adopted by us from his previous owner for only Aud$100. Date of birth was not known but according to his look, I guess he's only two or three years old. I hope he can serve us well.

Wishy's previous owner also introduce us, Fred the fridge!

Muscular Fred.

Let us welcome him with a round of applause! *Clap clap* Fred was adopted by us for Aud$160. According to his previous owner, he's only two years old. Although his body has several scratches, he's still strong and fit. He stores all our food inside his brain and tummy. However, he's still consider small in size.

Now, with Wishy, I don't need to hand wash my clothes anymore. And with Fred, I no longer need to survive ONLY on instant noodles and canned food! (Of course, I do consume them once in a while :P)

So, isn't it great to have two more new members in my family? ;)