University

Going back to UNITEN for 3 straight days and hanging around the university environment was a nice feeling. I like universities. I wouldn’t mind going back to uni just for the experience again. Yet, I know it’d be different – due to age difference, and everything else. Still, the whole university “feel” creates a warm feel in my heart. The vast expanse of space and sky…mmm…hence I feel bad for those in university that’s housed in shoplots :P kinda sad lah – the entire university feel is lost somehow.

I was the pioneer group of a twinning programme established to kick start UNITEN. So it was the transition between a corporate training centre into a university. Quite drastic. It wasn’t even a college beforehand. I’m very grateful and know am very blessed to have been there. Though it lacked quite a bit of the normal university facilities, I loved the “old” feel of the place. It was already about 20 years old I think. The pine trees were tall and elegant and the buildings were made of rather rustic materials, not glass panels or stuff that are too smooth to be natural :P

It’s interesting to think about it now that we survived (rather, thrived!) for 3 years without even a proper library facility. Our NZ lecturers were lovely to have provided all we needed, I suppose.

Now, when I drive through UNITEN, it’s HUGE. Where I was before, it has turned back into the corporate training centre and the newer part is UNITEN. I’ve only lived in the actual UNITEN for half a year. I still preferred the older part – the hostels were the most interesting as it looked like 2 floors from the outside but there’re actually 4 floors indoors and a “dungeon” floor at the lowest level. All the hostels were surrounded by trees and it’s always cool and the top floor is surrounded by balcony that we would walk on to get from one room to another instead of the actual corridor.


Hostel Room

We were able to walk from one end of the place to the other. Now, no way. In the blistering heat, I’ll wilt before even half way. In the final ½ year here, it was a challenge walking to and from class to the new hostel. Now, there are sports facilities (with a POOL!!!) and many many many more high rise hostel buildings. Landscaping leaves much to be desired though – rather boring and plain. And the signage is horrid. Tiny ones and at significant junctions, none at all :P I miss the pine trees near the staff quarters where we could sit on the grass and look out to jungle and some hills and watch the sun set. Now, if we look out from there, it’d be the extension of UNITEN – just buildings and the highway.
UNITEN is even bigger than Lincoln University, my final year in NZ. We could walk from one end to another over there. There were newer buildings and old ones but all fit together rather well. There were also rows of cherry blossom trees that were a joy during spring. I wonder how the refurbished interior of the library looks like now.

Lincoln University Library

I love how we could just sit anywhere – on the grass, on the steps, on the floor.. Relaxed and the freedom to be whoever you want to be. Different culture from here I think – we sit on chairs. I don’t think it’s common to see students here to sit / sprawl on the floor, and what more on the grass – that’s likely due to the tropical weather.

I had contemplated to return to university – either to study again or to work in the library! Haha! Yes, my dream job is to be a librarian in an old looking library building with the most updated hi-tech library system or…. a bookstore owner ;P But bookstores are an endangered species nowadays. Anyway, I guess for now the fork in the road with the university signage is not the way to go. The good LORD knows and He cares, so His plans are the best..

My university years were the defining moments in my life. That’s another story..