Very belated post

I know this is long overdue. I was procrastinating like crazy and having to update after I'm back in Singapore doesn't make much sense. But now I'm writing because I don't want to leave a gap between the last part of SEP and back to normal life.

Stuttgarters Ballett

Sometime before the end of my exams, Ziming, Yibin and me went to watch Swan Lake by Stuttgarters Ballett at a public viewing somewhere outside Stuttgart Staatstheater. We had Chinese takeaway from the shopping centre in Koenigsstrasse to go with the dancing. Sort of like Ballet under the Stars at Fort Canning but better because firstly it's free and secondly the cooling weather makes everything more enjoyable. However, the rain was slightly irritating, coming and going the whole evening.

Next up! BBQ Party at Pfaffenwaldring (that's where I used to live before I shifted to Annette's place). Though it was held before the exams ended (for some), it was sort of like a farewell party. I haven't got all the photos yet, so it's hard to decide which photos to post. Here is one though.. a supposed-to-be small get-together ended up with so many people socialising!

For the exams, I literally learnt and studied everything during the exam preparation week, as I had hardly paid any attention during lectures held in German. Well ok only sometimes. The lessons were at 8 am, and at that hour, I was still half asleep although I was physically in class. In addition, they were in German and I doubt that I could have understood much when I'm not fully conscious. It was real luck that I could pass Marketing. But for my Mathematical Economics, I have to thank Ziming for his help and not to forget his hell training. He came over and taught me Maths everyday of the week after work. It was quite a shock when I found out 5 minutes before the exam started that calculators were not allowed in that exam. Also, we are allowed a formula sheet, which was personally checked by the lecturer cum invigilator before the exam. Yes.. every single person! Ok so I couldn't bring my calculator and not only did I not memorise any formulae, I didn't have a formula sheet too. On top of that, I realised I had forgotten to bring writing paper (you are supposed to bring your own paper for exams). A bad start, but the results? 45/75. Due to the time constraints, I studied selectively, choosing simpler topics in the past year papers. Despite the bad start, I scored 45 out of the 47 marks that I attempted! The lecturer was so impressed I think. He smiled the entire time we talk when I collected my script and repeated that it was a breeze to mark my paper. HAHA.. only 2 marks gone due to careless mistakes and that makes him so happy :)

Thanks Herr Tong. I owe you one!

After the exams, Ziming, Siwei and me embarked on a road trip to Prague! Yibin hitched a ride from Stuttgart to Munich, during which, we experienced some traffic jams. It wasn't all that bad, we still managed to arrive in Prague safely. Only slightly late. It's thanks Ziming again, for driving, thanks Siwei for navigating and thanks me for sleeping and eating sweets!

The car and us in Munich after sending Yibin.

Almost 200 km/h on the Autobahn!

Siwei looking happy at the German-Czech Border.

Charles Bridge in Prague.

Dinner. Nice? The dish with the rice looks like something from the Mensa though.

Duck with Bread and potato dumplings, with some weird vegetables.

Courtesy of Siwei we had some pretty nice photos of Prague's night view.

*Much more romantic than Paris is*

Fake Eiffel Tower.

Three Dwarfs
ET phone home.

More lousy English-Save the theory? Save me from her please

Dear Lim Shuxian,

here is the Hausarbeit for your Schein:

"Please describe and explain the three paradoxes providing evidence
against the theory of the lexical phonologie. Try also to defend this
theory by finding arguments to save the theory."

I hope the theme of your homework is clear to you enough. We have dealt in
details in our seminar with this subject, I hope you remeber it. You could
also have a look in the book: Morphology (Francis Katamba and John
Stonham).

I will be on holidays from tomorrow until this weekend so that I will not
be able to answer any question. I will check my mail on next Monday again.

I hope all is well and I am looking forward to read your homework.
Best wishes
Katerina Zombolou

There is absolutely nothing that can be use to describe her

Dear Lim Shuxian,

you are not the only student who didn't pass the exam. There is no otherchance for any of you to retake the exam, you can only retake the course.I have already reviewed your paper by myself because I did took intoconsideration your extraordinary circumstances. There is nothing to doabout your paper, it was not enough good to pass the exam. As I told you,my next sprechstunde is in October, if you can come, I will explain youthe details of your paper.

Best wishes,
Dr. Katerina Zombolou>

Dear Dr Zombolou,>> I read your email with great disappointment. As I had mentioned earlier, I> would not be able to graduate on time should I not get the credits for> this course. I believe that I have gained enough understanding of this> course to deserve at least a pass and I felt injustice that I am not given> the opportunity to defend my paper. I had achieved 43 marks and its not> too far from the passing standard. Being an exchange student, I am not> able to retake the exam and this puts me in a disadvantaged position> compared to my peers. I believe that the strict marking criteria had also> taken into consideration the fact that there is always a second chance for> every student, which I am deprived of. I am only requesting for a review> of my paper and as long as you agree, I can mail it to you. I am due to> graduate in 2 semesters and failing this module would delay my graduation.> I sincerely hope that you would reconsider my appeal in view of my> extraordinary circumstances.>> Thank you for your time.>>

Regards,
> Shuxian Lim

Dear Lim Shuxian,

>> I am terribly sorry but I do not have any other Sprechstunde in Stuttgart> until October 2007. I am not living in Stuttgart and I am not every day in> my office, especially in school holidays like now.>> Your test was not good enough to pass the examination. I have done> everything to help you but it was not possible. The only way to get this> schein is to attend the class again up October 2007 until Februar 2008.> But since you are an exchange student and you must go now, I am afraid> that there is no possibility to get this schein, at least not now.>> I hope you will be able to complete your studies without this schein.>>

Best wishes,
> Dr. Katerina Zombolou

>>>> Dear Frau Zombolou,

>>>> I am the exchange student from your class for G2 Basics of Morphological>> Analysis for the Sommer Semester 2007. I have enjoyed your class and>> since>> taking this course, I have been exposed to Linguistics and hence have>> taken an interest in this area. It is thus a shock when I saw that I did>> not pass the course. I am baffled and would like to know what went>> wrong.>> Also, looking back at my own script, I cannot figure out the reason as>> to>> why I failed the exam. As I know, the course has officially ended, but I>> would like to know if you still offer Sprechstunde. Is it possible for>> me>> to see you in your office during the Sprechstunde?

>>>> As I am an exchange student from Singapore, I am required to pass all my>> modules taken here at the Uni Stuttgart. For courses that do not>> contribute to my major modules, I am only required to get a pass in>> order>> to successfully finish my studies and graduate in time. Since my major>> is>> Economics and since this is the first time I attempt at English Language>> (Linguistics), failing this would mean a delay in my graduation. Thus, I>> would sincerely appreciate if you could offer me a Sprechstunde. As I>> would be leaving Germany to return to my home university next Tuesday, I>> hope that I am able to settle all the module matters before my return so>> as to continue with my final year which will commence in he second week>> of>> August. Hence I urge you to consider a Sprechstunde and to review my>> paper>> with me.>>>>

Thank you and regards,
>> Shuxian Lim

This is the kind of English of the person who failed me for an English module and refuse to be helpful in any way. This is not the first time she is TOTALLY NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. How she got her doctorate is beyond me. I wonder which lousy university awarded her the doctor title.

Going home soon

Reaching Singapore around 5pm Thursday. But got to start travelling at 4pm on Wednesday