SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

Steady, I shall use my kungfu...

Building a snowman

Our cute snowman

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

The first term was quickly over. The weather was turning colder. We expected snow to fall early but I did not expect it to fall in November. I vividly remember the night of November 20th. I woke up at about 2.00 am because I had the urge to go to the toilet. At that time, my room was no. 127. I saw something queer as I looked through the window. There was something floating down slowly towards the ground. It was a beautiful sight. Rain? No! I immediately realized that it was snow. The pale yellow light form the street lamps added to the already beautiful sight. I was so happy because I finally got the chance to see snow which I wanted so badly to see since I was here.

Being unable to control my excitement, I ran to the first floor of the halls. I woke up Augustine (Jayan) and told him about the snow. As we came out of the room to the corridor, we saw Gilbert and Ganesh already at the window. We peered out of the window and exclaimed at the wonderful sight. It was like a heavenly shower of rain except that it floated down slowly. Ganesh who was too happy put on his jacket, shoes and gloves and went out onto the field. He danced, ran about and drew patterns on the road which by then was quite covered with snow.

We, the three of us made a lot of noise. I hoped that the other students were not annoyed by our commotion. The roof of the halls and the trees were already white with the snow. The scene was typical of what I saw on TV programmes and in the postcards back home. And now I had the chance to see the real thing; it was indeed a wonderful experience.

The next morning, Sunday 21st November 1993, after breakfast, we (the Malaysians, Africans and other foreign students) were on the field. We walked, threaded, and kicked the snow on the field and on the road. It was a thin layer but it was our first experience with snow. Suddenly, someone started scooping up snow and throwing snow balls at me. I could remember that it was Jens Handest, a German student who stayed in Room 128. At once we started a snow ball throwing session. It was painful when hit by a ball of snow. The local students looked and smiled at the fun we had. I could picture all the scenes and stories I have read prior to coming here.

After some time we stopped and went to the car booth sales. I wanted to show Jens where it was.

GREENSIDE CAR PARK

Greenside Car Park.

In the days and weeks that passed we came to know of another car boot sale at the Greenside Car Park. The place was enormous and could easily accommodate more than 300 cars. The sale was conducted in Level 2 of this underground car park.

It was a nice experience wandering around and getting to see all kinds of things; antique, furniture, books; tons of them from stories, novels, DIY, comics and magazines, electrical appliances, clothes, shoes, cups, glasses, toys, cassette recorders, CDs, tools and bags.
These CBS or car boot sales start from 10.00 am and end at 2.00 pm. The crowd was fantastic. By the time the sales started, it would be crowded. People would be milling around, touching, looking and asking about the prices but most of the time, the people would be doing window shopping. Some take the opportunity to bring the family for an outing and enjoy the atmosphere.
On most Sundays, I would leave with my friends after breakfast and walk for about 30 minutes to reach this Greenside Car Park. After spending some time, we would return or leave the place at 12.00 noon to the halls to have our lunch.

This Greenside Car Park is enormous because it has 4 levels and the car boot sale is held in Level 2. We had to use a lift to get to Level 2 and just as we enter the area, the air suddenly turns cold. So everyone would be wearing jackets, coats and woolen clothes to keep warm.
During the first two visits I bought 6 CDs at 50p and 2 cassettes (Disco hits) at £1 and some story books; Reader’s Digest Condensed version and some Enid Blyton story books. These are good books especially to learn more about the way of life of the English.
These books would definitely help Florence, Irene and Jensen to inculcate an interest in reading especially in English.

LESSONS IN DETAIL

Phonology of English was conducted in Room C3/4 of Charteris Land.
The Lessons in Detail
1. Phonology of English
In the Phonology of English lessons, I was able to learn more about the correct pronunciation of English. I was corrected and praised at times and I felt that I had learned a lot under Dorothea.
Each time we met, there would be a short lecture on the different aspect of phonology. It would be followed by group work based on a handout. We would practice as a group before having individual practices on the self-recording and monitoring system. Dorothea would listen to me practicing the dialogue or sentences or phrases. We would also listen to our own recording on the tapes.

2. Systems of English
After years of using and learning, Rosemary Douglas really made us dig deep into our thoughts, ideas and books into understanding the various aspects of grammar of English. Now I come to understand that there is no such thing as future tense. It is just a term to express events that will happen in the future. I believe that there are still many things to learn.

3. Information Technology
During the Study Skills, I had the opportunity to use the computers in Demonstration School Room 11. The computers there were the Elonox which were based on the IBM format. At that time, I was really getting into the feel of computers and its usefulness.
During the first term in 1993, I had to attend tutorials and workshops so that I could handle and use other computers like the Apple MacIntosh. These were the better and up-to-date versions. They were easier to work with because they have been installed with Claris Work; a software similar to Microsoft Office now. I did not have any problem switching between these computers. Mike Quickfall was indeed a nice and helpful lecturer. He was ever ready to give us a hand when we needed help. I really had a wonderful time attending the lessons.

4. Reflections on Classroom Practice
This was another topic or module that really brought me out of my shell of assumptions and ideas to the world of reflecting upon all those ideas and make criticisms. From here I was guided to evaluate ideas, hypotheses and views of others.

5. Understanding Organisations
Bob McNie, the lecturer of this module provided us with a lot of facts, figures and information about schools in Scotland; both primary and secondary. All these information were given to prepare us to meet and accept the system of education here. Besides that it wa also to help us in assignments based on facts and information gathered during the visit to the schools.

7. Sports Elective
Every Friday mornings and Monday evenings I chose to attend sports as en elective.
On Monday there was a session on badminton from 3.00 pm till 5.00 pm; usually ending at 4.30 pm. It was really fun knowledgeable learning and experiencing coaching techniques and skills under Alistair Wilson. It was tiring though but it was worth it as a form of exercise.
The Friday session of basketball under Bill; another lecturer was another hectic and tiring session. Skills were imparted and we practiced and played games with the local Scottish students. Chasing, marking and competing with these young local students was really exhausting. But they were always friendly and nice to us. During rest time and in the changing room, there were always chats and friendly exchanges. We would be looking forward to meeting one another in the next session.

The worst part after a module; usually after 4 to 5 weeks was a written assignment or folio. We had to put our ideas about coaching techniques and skills into these assignments. It was a totally new experience. Anyway we created quite an impression by producing wonderful essays with lots of graphics. Here scanning and pasting pictures with the aid of computers were a breeze.

THE CAR BOOT SALES IN EDINBURGH

Apart from all the assignments, lectures, reading and workshops, I still could find time to relax and do my usual visits and shopping.
The one memorable and interesting thing I have seen, witnessed and gone to several times is the talk among the Malaysian students and probably the others too. I mean the car boot sales; or CBS. These are usually held at specific places like a car park. There are several of these in and around Edinburgh.
I could still remember the first one that I went to. It was early one Sunday morning during September. I and several others; in fact the twenty of us boarded a bus and went to an open air car park called Morrison Car Park in Haymarket.
It was early; probably at 9.30 am when we reached the spot after asking around. It was a sight to remember. There were about 10 cars all lined up with things arranged beside them. The Malaysian contingent gave the locals an eye opener. Well, we wandered around from one car to another or rather from one lot to another looking at the goods on displayed. There were clothes for men, women, and children. There were coats, jackets, pants, dresses and others. There were also furniture, lamps, electrical items like kettles, toasters, electrical clocks, radios, TVs, antiques, shoes, bags, books and all sorts of things that the locals wanted to get rid of.
Some were in very good condition but some were rather old and in dire need of repair. Our Malaysian contingent bought bags full of clothes as they needed them for winter. They bought clothes of all kinds, shoes and others.
As for me, I wandered around, touching and examining various articles. I finally settles for an old antique camera; a Kodak that was made in England and which uses a no. 126 film. It is unique in the sense that Kodak is now produced in Australia. It shall be a reminder of my first visit to a car boot sale.
Later as we found out that there were not much to offer, we walked and wandered along Princess Street. It was crowded with people walking along the street or rather the wide pavement. They were just enjoying the walk along the street.