Of Exam, Optimisation and Dreams

Exam sucks. The preparation is even worse.

People said that graduation goggles might help to relieve a little, and fuel your drive and motivation, but in fact, looking at my current progress, this revision isn't going anywhere. With the current speed, apparently it's not optimised enough to prepare for the Optimization exam this coming Thursday.

All the past year papers, notes and some random sheets of formula are secretly forming a maze on my table. Hence, while I can't search for my missing calculator, I turn to my blog, and decide to write something totally random.

So, I am sitting at a random space in this stress-packed central library, facing some computers and people, or zombies, I am not too sure. But yeah, at the very least, they are still breathing. More like gasping for air, I suppose.

After you exit the library, you will see the Queen's Lawn. Sometimes you don't know why the lawn is even there at the first place. Most of the time London is so cold, so that means most of the time you don't use it. When the warmth and sun are out, they build some temporary buildings on the lawn. So, you don't get to use it as well.

When are we supposed to use it then? Since young, I have always thought that a university without a beautiful lawn ( to use) is incomplete. Now, getting closer to graduation, I sigh for myself and hope for the best for the juniors.   

I think this Optimisation subject really intends to optimise your brain power. You know the scientific study that says you only use 5% of your brain? Yes, this subject is pushing the boundaries. The notes are from some research labs on Mars, and the past year papers is the only source of information to keep hypnotising yourself that this is the subject that will be beneficial for your future.

Well, that's the only reason I took it few months back anyway.

With intense pressure, comes great daydreams.

Time to sign off. May the luck be with me, and of course us. 
 

On the 7th Street, I saw a coffee house.

It was a foggy, wet morning in San Francisco. The streets were crowded with the absence of people, and some cars would pass by occasionally to get the street to cheer up a little under such weather condition.

I walked down the street. Some old theatres and neon signs can be seen, struggling to withstand the flow of time and people, from the yesterdays. It was said that in situations where the time passes and history stays, the memory lingers, like an old man who walks up and down along Bridge Theatre on 3010 Geary Boulevard, reminiscing the past like his own baby in the cradle.

So, I was looking for this independent coffee house. It was posted by a photographer in San Francisco on Instagram. Many hotel receptionists around haven't heard the name before. This intrigued me, even further.

Usually, miracle happens in a minute or two when you're about to give up. Then, I saw the coffee house.

The cashier took my order, after recommending me one of their house coffees. A pretty simple layout, with some gunny sacks and boxes around. The Californians love the green concept, and hence they practice it in their daily lives as well. Most of the things in this coffee house are recyclable.

One thing I love about being in an independent coffee house, is to be able to observe the world of personalities. I saw an Asian-American couple, each taking a mug of coffee, sitting down on a bench, with some cute algae-like decorations behind as the backdrop, watching the world goes by.

Then I saw a grumpy designer, with his metallic grey MacBook Air, staring into space while developing new ideas for his project. And of course, the calm artist, who sat at the lower floor, looking out to the street, while sipping the coffee from his mug.

I was told that the coffee house used to be a neon signs manufacturing factory. Now, the neon signs business is gone, hence they try to make something out of this empty warehouse. It's quaint and hippie, like an outcast from the elegant Starbucks chains.

As I stepped out, I was thinking, 4 years ago, when I started writing, I wished that one day I can do these three things all at once -- travelling, photography and writing. Each of them is like an element in an equilateral triangle, fuelling each other with different perspectives, but of equal importance. I am thankful for having the opportunity to do that.

Of course, a cup of latte from an artistic coffee house will always be the best fuel for all three of them, to continue the journey of  globetrotting.