Luebke in Manila

I meant to start again to write into my journal after Easter. Finally, the end of the trimester was in sight, I was able to finish the first part of my thesis, the thesis proposal. Surprisingly, it went well and I am looking forward to the actual study. Maybe one of these days I will dwell on my chosen topic. Right now, I don’t feel like writing about it.
Also, I meant to describe Baguio, the crowds at Mine’s View and the dilapidated condition of the playground at Burnham Park. I took some pictures and will post them another time. I don’t feel like talking about it, either.
For some strange reason, April is not a good month. Open the newspapers, and you know what I mean. Switch on any news channel, and shootings, gun control debates and interviews with parents of shot students and teachers are haunting you.
Yesterday, I decided to prepare some fried eggs with bacon and toast. The egg white turned out to be kind of brown and crispy…I like bacon crispy, but not the eggs! Bummer. Then, I looked forward to a cold shower. I don’t have a water heater because here in Manila it’s always warm enough to take a nice refreshing COLD (and the water is not as cold as in Germany) shower. I turned on the faucet, and out came … lukewarm water!
Nothing seems to be fine these past days. Then again, my “problems” are just a joke. And the more I have been reading about the incident I am going to write, the sadder and incredibly more surreal life is becoming to me. Sense and meaning of life? Forget it. Don’t even start with any kind of religion nor with the concept of “God.” No need in wasting to make sense of life. There’s none. People are inherently good? Well, I guess I will have to revise it…at least for now.
There are people who give up their comfortable lives in the States on the quest to search for their purpose in life. Julia Campbell, a person about whom I learned from the newspaper I bought when I spent time in Baguio, only wanted to help. She joined the peace corps at the age of 38 in order to get to the Philippine province Bicol. She helped with local development, taught at a College, and much more I am not aware of as of now. Julia kept a blog (http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com/) in which she left evidence of a kind and adventurous woman who spoke better Tagalog than me – and I have been here more than twice as long!!
Julia Campbell’s body was found in Batad, apparently hastily buried by her murderer(s). Batad is close to Banaue and a famous tourist spot with its beautiful rice terraces. It is considered to be the “eighth wonder of the world.”
As if the incident is not tragic enough, politicians have to add their comments. Insensitive, stupid comments that make me wonder how in the first place they got their posts. Or maybe these kind of comments are prerequisites to become a politician. I feel anger toward Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. He made comments right after the body had been found implying that Campbell should have been “more careful” hiking alone along the rice terraces. He currently – and rightfully – is facing lots of criticism with regard to his statements. And if you think it could not get worse, this representative doesn’t even possess the decency and dignity to sincerely apologize:
In the Philippine Daily Inquirer from April 22, 2007, in a little text box next to the updates on Campbell’s death, this bloke (I am tempted to use stronger words, but you get the idea) had the guts to defend his statements. Says Gonzalez: “I am not blaming her. I am just saying she was quite careless.” In response to the heavy press criticism he received, he had the chutzpah to say this: “Ask your editors if they would walk there alone, on that same mountainside, with all their jewelry, without notifying the police.”
Now, this is just outrageous! Not only implying that it was her fault to hike around a place that is well-known as a tourist spot (and that implication alone already makes one speechless), but also saying that she wore jewelry that could attract any criminal. Come on! She was a peace corps volunteer! If Mister Gonzalez had taken his time to check out pictures that have been posted by blogger Christina (http://brklyn-christina.blogspot.com/ ), maybe he would have shut up – and apologized.
Christina is one of the last persons to have talked to Julia. She recalls her conversations with Julia and also posted some pictures.

This has been just too much for me – I cannot stop thinking about the incident, its immediacy; how precious the Here and Now is, and how insignificant personal “issues” are.
Take a look at the shootings, wars, environmental destruction, poverty and so on.
It’s Hobbes.

All right, since I have some time (for reasons, please read today's first post), I thought of talking more about a phenomenon I have not seen in other cities.
Traffic here is bad, and thus to keep the traffic moving is one of the biggest concerns of the METRO MANILA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (MMDA). While traffic lights are used so that pedestrians and cars can cross the wide main streets, the flow is interrupted. So the MMDA came up with FOOT BRIDGES. Those are simple constructions - bridges - with relative steep stairs on both sides designed for pedestrians to cross the road whenever they want. I don't like the pink color and hate the advertisements ("Another priority project by President Macapagal Arroyo") that brainwash the people here; but they are useful and make sense. There is quite a number of those foot bridges in Manila, and some are very nicely done, for instance the bridge that leads from the Landmark mall to Greenbelt 4 in Makati. Some other foot bridges are dilapidated and not taken care of. The biggest problem here, however, is to motivate the people to use the foot bridges. Even though a foot bridge presents itself only ten meters away from the pedestrians, many prefer to play a deadly game: jaywalking in flip flops, with lots of luggage or even kids (or both), hoping to cross the street faster than walking down to the bridge which enables pedestrians a safe walk home (or where they have to go).
Two weeks ago on my way back home, I took this picture:


Finally, the MMDA is going to construct a foot bridge that lets people safely cross the busy street! I am telling you, pedestrian crossing here are worthless, you as a pedestrian have to be very careful when crossing the street. In Germany, you flunk the practical driver's license test if you do not slow down when approaching a pedestrian crossing. Here? Cars are honking the horn without the slightest attempt to slow down. It's crazy!
Now, take a look at the picture particularly at the signs. Funny how the MEN AT WORK sign bears a note that one is not supposed to remove it from the site, and that it's punishable by law. The other sign, in MMDA trademark pink, is a permit that reminds the workers to "maintain good housekeeping" and a "safe construction procedure." I always find this funny. Take a look at the workers. Unfortunately, we cannot see their shoes, but I am convinced that most of them wear flip flops. By the way, where are the helmets? Oh...maybe they do not need them now. But I will continue to observe that location since I always pass by to enter Eastwood.

MMDA has another project: Clearing the sidewalks because it has been a habit over generations for all kinds of vendors to occupy the already narrow sidewalks. Slowly but surely, the sidewalks were rehabilitated and cleared in Marikina, but many other municipalities don't seem to act. The effect: Many people walk along the streets, occupying parts of the lanes for the cars and contributing to the bad traffic.
In order to remind that SIDEWALKS ARE FOR PEOPLE, you can find many reminders in form of a sign or written on the concrete that if you are a vendor, get the f*ck out of here.

I have another advise for urban planners: Construct WIDER sidewalks! Eastwood, one of the more recent developments, is a sad example of urban planning. Light posts or trees are planted in the middle of the sidewalk barely leaving space to pass on the right or left. I will take more pictures, it is really unbelievable!

I am as astonished and surprised by the eagerness of the students who march at the site of an elitist university every Saturday. I have to correct you, though, on the point that the students are required to do the military service. In fact, the students have a choice to go in for the military training or to do community service. When I attended the ORIENT 1 course (basically meaningless course that gives you an overview of the university system and what it means to be a student...), the professor handed out a sheet of paper that presented a comparison of the military option with the community service option. For instance, one "benefit" of doing military service was the "safe university campus environment," that is was held "every Saturday," compared to "visiting less fortunate communities" in the open (you may get dirty and have to commute!!), and "immersion tied up with stay over(s) at the family that one lives with (I actually don't know whether it's for a weekend or more...).
So, the typical 16- or 17-year olds are most likely choosing to go for the "safe, clean and less complicated" environment. I think the list was biased in the first place, and I do not understand why, in the first place, the school even has to give a comparison between the two options. Plus, many parents have a say in their children's university education, and would need to sign a waiver if their children join the community service. Their are instances where parents forbade their kids to participate in immersion activities for whatever stupid reasons. But back to handout. As a university student, it is quite insulting to be shown that you cannot figure out the reasons why you would choose either of those options. Speaking of reasons, as far as I recall, there were not real reasons stated WHY one should do one or the other. It's more of a convenience why many students choose to play with guns, without reflecting about the reason why they are being trained.
Coming to the second (b) annoying point that showed me a biased presentation of the military service in this ORIENT 1 class: They invited one or two commanders explaining the "benefits" one gets and how much one learns when they play soldiers. I had huge problems with this especially because I did not find any representative from the community service. No one from COSCA (the organization under which community service is administered) came to speak and to make the students understand why it could be even more beneficial to join the community service.
I completely understand Dasha's resentment toward the people. But we also have to think about reasons WHY they think it's all ok and cool. If the university supports the training and does not emphasize the social responsibility a "Christian Achiever for Good and Country" (nauseating slogan) is supposed to have and does not even encourage the young students to join community projects, no wonder that indifference stares into our faces almost wherever we look. On the other hand, I am not saying that those kids cannot think for themselves, but if you grow up in an indifferent environment where inquiry is not nurtured (where many rich Chinoy parents give their children a business card of an influential police director with his signature on the card's back for a decent annual additional bundle of ca$h so that they can get away pretty much anytime when they have violated traffic laws) and many "morals" are twisted in the name of the Catholic Church, I am not surprised.
What can we do? Talk. Discuss. Listen. Even if we were able to convince one girl or guy to join the community service instead of pretend-play with guns, we were successful.

I am back. Did not feel like writing for nearly two weeks. Thesis topic search is annoying...more about it later.
Last week, I was supposed to play indoor soccer at a place that is just a stone throw from my place away. I was excited because I hadn't played for such a long time. So, I went to the place only to meet the people who brought the news that we wouldn't play soccer anymore because there were others occupying the area who would stay until late. I was upset about the lack of foresight because the person who initiated the whole thing did not make any reservations!! In other words, that guy took a chance and did not seem to care about the people who made an effort to commute to Libis from Makati, Cainta or Marikina (takes about 20-30 minutes of travel time)! So, I was pissed, other people, too, and the sheer lack of ideas made us go to a possible place at the campus of the University of the Philippines (UP). Needless to say, the UP gym was closed, and we went home. I couldn't believe it. I had wasted about two or three hours not doing anything. I could have slept, watched DVDs or met with other friends.
Come today, another Sunday. I got an sms a few days ago that announced yet another attempt to meet up and play indoor soccer. I was excited because this time I was told reservations had been made. Great! Had a lazy morning, woke up at 11, bummed around a bit, had lunch, went to the grocery store to get basic items shortly before 2 p.m. We were supposed to meet at 2 at the same place. SHOPWISE (the grocery store) is located right next to the gym "Club 650," and I planned to walk from the store to kick some ass (at that point only figuratively). I was about to exit Shopwise when I got another sms telling me that at the very last minute, three players canceled. That practically meant I might as well go home. Which I did. You cannot play with two or three people. Arrgh!! Another upsetting Sunday afternoon which could have been spent in bed, reading or doing whatever... Went home, listened to music, prepared a good coffee and had a great leftover Coffee Bean chocolate cake. Watched some deleted scenes from THANK YOU FOR SMOKING - a great movie, by the way.
Speaking of movie, I watched DEJA VU last night - do not watch it. I was discussing with friends why in the world Denzel Washington agreed to such a stupid movie. It starts all right, gets more and more confusing while less and less credible, then suddenly gets a little bit more interesting when, at the end, it is just ridiculous. So, the first bad movie of 2007 is DEJA VU. There are, however, some other movies coming up in the next few weeks which I am eager to watch...

School has started. I only have two classes Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am still tutoring the children Tuesdays who I think I previously mentioned, plus I have my work from Mondays - Fridays from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. One would think I could dedicate enough time to the search for a good thesis topic. I thought I had one. Last week, I consulted a professor and learned that the gender study on certain Filipino Children's books is being done since last December. BUMMER! From an enormous motivated HIGH I fell to a LOW. I simply did not consider someone else might have (or had) the idea to do the same.
So, the biggest problem right now is finding a topic. I am reading a book by Umberto Eco, hoping his ideas on how to structure a thesis and how to get the bibliography sorted out well would boost my motivation. And it did - only till I learned about the bad news. Now, I talked to another professor and friend who suggested to me some topics, and tomorrow will be the time when I will stay at the library. Eco says that, of course, one should get a topic that is interesting to the researcher (since this is motivating), but he also says that it is not too important. It is rather the fact that you are able to show that you know how to write a thesis, formulate statements that are to be validated or disproved. I don't know why, but I feel that the biggest challenge is not to look for sources or reading them, but to look for a topic that is doable, interesting and scholarly.
Today, procrastination is my favorite term.

It's late. My work schedule changed according to my request. It's great, right after work I was able to watch, finally, a foreign movie again. Thing is, here in the Philippines the local movie industry would not be able to compete with international films. What better way than imposing on the poor audience movies which are so badly done that even my fellow Filipino friends couldn't wait till the "Film Festival," which had lasted for 14 days, finally ended. Don't get me wrong, one may be able to find a gem among the Philippine movies. Mostly, though, it is crap of the kind where you'd rather read a book even though you hate reading, or listen to David Hasselhoff's I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR FREEDOM because one movie I watched with my friend and his cousins called ENTENG KABISOTE 3 should not be considered a movie, but a full-fledged commercial. I am NOT going to buy Ariel, nor will I ever shell out a single Centavo for the Magic Sing Karaoke microphone. I will continue, though, to buy my favorite Pandesal at Pan de Manila, but NOT at Julie's Bakeshop because it was endorsed (and I am not talking about product placement we've gotten used to), for two or three minutes and did NOT have any contribution whatsoever. So, let me tell all Sottos: Shame on you! Shame on the "director" who gives away any decency a director should have. Shame on those lame jokes and shame on the very fact that ENTENG KABISOTE actually got the award of the BEST PICTURE - why? Simply because it was the highest grossing movie shown at the "Film Festival," and that alone counts to 40 percent.
So, what did I watch today? I watched the highly anticipated BLOOD DIAMOND today, and have to say that all in all the movie is ok, however it gets too sappy toward the end, and - without giving too much away - the "bad" guy is not really bad because...well, let's blame the bad childhood...
The scenes are quite brutal and long-lasting, and if there are sane readers here who have diamonds you would throw up because it really is a dirty business.
All right, just wanted to say Hi and that I am still up and about - just never found the time to jot down a few lines.
One more thing: I will really have to start to think about a good thesis topic and hope that some of my professors can shed light on interesting ones...
For now, I just hope I won't be dreaming about BLOOD DIAMOND...or about ENTENG KABISOTE 3...I am not sure what's worse...
Oh, and I had on December 25, when we went to my friend's cousins and aunts and uncles in Malabon, a dish called "Dinuguan." It's a soup made of blood, usually with pieces of pork meat, but this time it was made of chicken (and its blood). So, my friend's father asked me to try it, and since I have tried some other, rather unorthodox food, I checked it out. To my surprise, it didn't taste like blood. More like...chicken...yeah, more like a chicken soup.
Here is a picture of it...and if you want to cook it at home, I am sure you will find tons of recipes in the world of the Internet.

All right...I am off to bed. Again, A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

The phone rang about ten days ago. "Congratulations, you won a Hitachi Washing Machine!" It was a prize raffled by Destiny Cable, and it so happened that they picked my name from the list of subscribers. Finally, I found a ride picked up the bulky piece - I already have a washing machine at home, so I figured I could just give it to someone who needed it.
The past few days were - and I am so proud to say this - extremely unproductive. Aside from the Christmas celebrations with my friend's family on the 24th and 25th (dinner is at midnight on the 24th, and then gifts are exchanged), I slept, ate and watched DVDs. Recently, Superman Returns and, yesterday, I watched Pirates of the Caribbean Part One. Aldwin, my friend who lives and works in Singapore, returned for the holidays, so we both have been lazy, surrounded by chocolate, coffee, Cerveza Negra, and, as I mentioned, DVDs.
Yesterday, I tried a drink called...err...I forgot! Something with "Lamborghini"...anyway, it was kind of funny how the waiters did not seem to know how to prepare that drink. We ate at TGI Friday's, and Aldwin told me that he'd tried it in Singapore, and that he liked it. So, after ten minutes, we were asked to move from our dining table to the bar. Apparently, space is needed when this drink is prepared. Ahh...now I remember its name: "Flaming Lamborghini," I think. So, we moved to the bar, and the boss who has this funny fake American accent prepared the drink. The procedure: First, one glass is filled a little less than half with a brownish drink and some kind of Bailey's and then filled it with Sambucca - while the Sambucca is burning! Then, the barkeeper gives you the starting signal when to drink the mix with a straw, while he continues to pour in the Curaçao. I am usually not a fried of those drinks, but this one was delicious. A comforting warmth hugged my throat!

What else has happened? Well, I went with my friend and colleague Kalon to a mall in Divisoria called 168. Yes, that is its name. I guess it is the house number, and famous among the bargain hunters of Manila and its surrounding provinces. We took the new LRT train to the last station (Recto) and walked the last few blocks to 168. You can get virtually everything you want for a fraction of what you would have to shell out at different malls - everything, though, is fake! You can even buy fake iPods, fake Sony mp3-players, fake watches (well, it's a watch, after all, but not from Lacoste or Citizen) and shoes galore. Here is a picture I took on my way to 168, just a few blocks away.


Crazy, isn't it? The crowd of people was huge, but not as gigantic as I expected a few days before Christmas. So, we walked our way through, and Kalon was able to get everything - while I got a DVD set of nip/tuck and a copy of Thank You For Smoking which worked for fifty minutes. Well, what do I expect from pirated DVDs...?

By the way, here are two pictures of fake iPods and other mp3-players:




One wonders why the government doesn't react, and how come that products are sold at a low, low price, yet people still seem to earn money. Fake goods can be found everywhere, especially in Divisoria - the malls are well-known, and the fake goods are overtly sold. It's the lack of will of the government to end this, and the additional sources of income for the officers and higher ranking governmental officials whose measly pay gets an increase... Sometimes, the government closes well-known malls dealing with fake goods for PR. A few days, weeks, or months later everything is "back to normal."

We left 168 when the bulk of shoppers arrived. Going back on the streets and walking to the main street consisted of pushing the people and carefully trying not to step on or to be stepped on by others.
I was the official donkey, carrying some of the bags. Donkey decided to take a pedicab which brought us to the train station. Here a picture taken from the pedicab - the guy sells food, unfortunately I cannot really discern what it was...


The next couple of days will be very peaceful, too. I will be lazy tomorrow and watch one of the Filipino-speaking movies. It's the time of the year again where there are ONLY Filipino movies shown, for two straight weeks! Even though it will be hard to understand everything, I hope to get the gist of the movie. I will watch with Aldwin and his cousins - some kind of a nice cousin-family-reunion.
Then, on Friday, I will go with Aldwin to San Fernando, a province located north of Manila, about three hours by car away. We will meet a friend of Aldwin whom he met London. She is here for a short vacation, so we will meet here in her hometown.
I should enjoy the lazy days - soon, school and work will resume with many responsibilities...

It's been nearly a week since I posted something.
Right now, i am on school break, I will only have to go to work starting tomorrow evening, the rest of the day is mine. I am soooo happy that I have some time to chill!
While I am listening to Radio Bremen Eins via web because WERDER BREMEN is playing against WOLFSBURG, I thought that now would be the perfect opportunity to talk a little bit about the MRT.
The MRT was introduced in the late 90s to ease the busy traffic along EDSA (one of the major roads going from north to south of Metro Manila) and to shorten travel time. For the past four years I have had the "pleasure" to experience this mass transportation. When you ride the MRT, you want to make sure to avoid the rush hours (morning time between 7 and 10, in the evenings from around 5 to 8), or you will have to squeeze yourself inside the train. If you refuse to squeeze as you are "lined up," you might be pushed inside the train by people who don't care how full the train is. They simply push you no matter how much force [uhm...my crazy Physics test comes to my mind again...PURGE!] you apply to control the pushing and the direction into which you are being pushed.
You also want to buy a STORED VALUE TICKET, so that you would not line up and waste thirty minutes of your lifetime in the future.
What strikes me most is the impatience of the passengers who are about to enter the train. Instead of allowing the exiting passengers to get off the train, the waiting flock of people enters and squeezes as if the train would be the last one running that day!
It's kind of funny that I already have accepted so many things. I should have written the blog about four years earlier with all the new impressions. I commute nearly every day, so I really have to recall the oddities I probably encounter on a daily basis and which don't bother me anymore. However, that does not mean that I would not get upset. Especially when people rudely push others, enter the train without letting the others exit; or when the passengers who have just entered, refuse to move toward the center of the train (if there is still space), but they'd stay in front of the doors, thus blocking them and making it difficult for exiting or entering passengers. I suppose, many passengers are too afraid that they wouldn't be able to exit if they are not in close proximity to the door.
Fortunately, most of the time the MRT's air conditioning works, even though it does not help in cooling off the heated arguments of passengers who are pushed and squeezed like sardines:

Certainly, the passengers could help to make commuting a more relaxed atmosphere. But MRT could do their part, too. For starters, MRT should abolish the separation scheme: I mentioned before, the first third of the train is reserved for women, seniors and children, while the other two-thirds are supposedly meant to be for males - although, many women ride in the "male" trains! Now, oftentimes I would see crowded "male" trains, while the "female" train is nearly empty!! That does not make any sense, and if MRT does not have enough trains, they should dismiss this separation scheme! Aside from that, MRT has to increase their fleet.
A picture that shows the info for passengers, found at Santolan Station, Southbound:


In my opinion, many train stations of MRT were ill-designed. One of the best examples of a pathetic train station is Ayala Station. This is one of the main hubs since Ayala is in Makati, Manila's primary Financial Business District. Unfortunately, the platforms are very narrow, and so are the escalators from the platform to the second level! Only ONE person fits on ONE stair:


The crowds are beyond imagination, just to get an idea, take a look at this picture where people are about to buy tickets:


Another upsetting part is the lack of ticket vending machines. I have only seen one at EDSA ROTUNDA station, and most of the time it is out of service. The machines come straight from the 60s - at least, that's what they look like! This picture is a bit blurry, but you get the idea...


After reading this, and after looking at the pictures you probably say "Oh no, I am not going go take the MRT ever!" Let me assure you, despite the hassle of darn good squeezing and despite the problems which should be resolved at the soonest possible time, the MRT is a safe and the fastest bet to commute to Makati or Manila (connecting to LRT, the other train). 15 Pesos (as of today, € 0.23) ist the most expensive fare, categorized by the distance covered by the commuter.
All right, I guess that's it for now. Live Ticker Werder vs. Wolfsburg: 1:1. 20 minutes to go, and then I will go, too - to bed!

Physics is over! I can't help but shake my head in disbelief that the first test (Physics lecture) was easier than the lab one. Probably had something to do with the problem solving questions I've never liked. Oh well, It's done now.
Originally, I wanted to start writing about one of the many modes of public transportation here in Manila. There are jeepneys, tricycles, pedicabs, FX, shuttles, buses, trains (LRT 1, LRT 2 and MRT ). Usually, on my way to university I take the cab and then the MRT to Santolan station. I would take the MRT all the way to the last stop, Taft/EDSA and then switch to the LRT which directly takes me to DLSU. Very convenient, you would think, but there are some major flaws in how the trains are being run, how passengers behave and how the platforms were designed in the first place. On my way back I diss the cab, and after LRT and MRT I would hop into a bus till C-5 where I hop into a jeepney wich takes me to Eastwood.
No train stories today. I've been too sick and tired to continue with my story, but I promise you that I am going to post many commuter stories in the near future.
Yesterday at work I already felt sick. I called in sick at work and basically stayed at home, rested, ate and watched the last episodes of the fifth season of "24." After a breathtaking finale, I am done with it and will have to wait for the sixth season. Knowing the piraccy industry, in a few weeks I would be able to get some dirt-cheap copies of Jack Bauer hunting down the bad guys and torturing them because he is just right - always!
So, nothing much has happened. I am taking this medicine my coworker gave me yesterday. It's a Chinese herbal medicine, and it may have helped a bit.
I will go and rest since tomorrow morning I will meet my group mate to finish our paper - and maybe I will have more new pictures and stories about the trains, buses and jeepneys to write about.

Guten Morgen!
I've just seen Gobefish's entry - thanks a lot! Although, I have to disappoint you because even if I flunk Physcis, I will be able to stay in schedule and graduate by August '07.
I got up at 5:15 a.m! I got Pandesal! I've just eaten and decided it would be best to take the cab all the way to DLSU, Taft. Traffic won't be bad at 6:30 a.m., and I would be able to study in the library. Successfully? We'll see...
By the way, Globefish, I can write short entries, too. This is the proof!
I hope the day won't represent the results of the final exams. It's cloudy, rainy and cool, maybe 20 degrees - in other words, a sad December day.

And now off to Physics...yikes!

So, I guess this is the start of my journal. Well, I have been quite busy recently due to university and work. Today, Aldwin, my very good Filipino friend, and two Germans, Jens and Marlene from Dresden, went back to Singapore and Germany respectively. I got to drive the Ford Lynx along C-5 - no traffic! A rare delight!
Right now, it's past ten p.m. and I am trying to understand Newton. Not Helmut Newton (who, by the way, took NICE pictures of many women), but the guy who came up with the three fundamental laws of motion. I think I understood the concepts of these laws, but when it comes to translating the words into formulas or - worse - finding out which formula to use when confronted with questions, I get the hives. Check out this little problem:
"Suppose a golf ball is hit off the tee with an initial velocity of 30.0 m/s at an angle of 35 degrees to the horizontal. (a) What is the maximum height reached by the ball? (B) What is its range?"
Arrrrgh! I assume, dear reader, you might abandon me after you found out that I am sooo dumb when it comes to Physics. Sorry. I really can't do anything about it.
The other day I studied and studied at a nearby coffee shop. By the way, if anybody has ties to THE COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF, please make sure to open some stores in Germany. Just price you designer coffee a little bit lower than Starbuko (that's a local Pinoy joke..."buko" means coconut, and you see some college kids running around with spoof shirts of all sorts, one of them bearing a STARBUKO print - but I am digressing). Uhm, where did I stop? Oh yeah, Physics and coffee shop. Well, I was pretty enthusiastic since I'd failed the first exam and did not feel like flunking the second. Doing so would pretty much mean to repeat this course. It's a basic education course, I am 27 and yet not able to get through this? Shame on me! I studied for three days, each of them for about six hours. I has colored highlighters, index cards, I even noted down problem samples and, what got me going the extra hour, I thought I actually understood what I was reading!
Come exam's day, I was able to solve most of the multiple choice questions which did not contain any computations; in the second problem set, though, I took some uneducated guesses.
What was wrong? Didn't I study enough? Was something in my coffee? I swear, I did not contact Litwinenko! Is my study habit not good enough?
Perhaps, it boils down to the lack of motivation on the one hand, but the struggle to pass this annoying course on the other hand. Heck, I am supposed to write the final exam tomorrow, but I don't even know whether I made it in my second test because my slow prof slacks off, taking her sweet time checking the papers. Plus - let me do some teacher bashing - our prof did not get to cover the other fifty percent of our Physics course. Maybe I am really good in thermodynamics or light, but I am not able to show off because we got stuck with Centripetal Acceleration, Inertia, Torque etc...
Instead, my head is spinning due to all those formulas. The force of sleepiness attracts me to my bed.
And so I'll try my best. I won't panic. I will rest now. Will get up at 5 a.m. Or try to do so. Study for three hours. Hopefully. Then, I'll have a good breakfast (Pandesal from Pan De Manila is the best!). And try not to flunk.
I mentioned Helmut Newton before. We could have examined the law of gravitation by looking at some of the pictures he took.
I would have been a top-notcher.
But then again, it's Physics...