welcome to beijing! i guess this is the most exciting part of our whole immersion program, visiting the famous spots in beijing! i shall just post pictures up of where we went today!

I guess it is -quite- interesting to see the art culture of the chinese, especially their color schemes and how they even take the effort to decorate the beams above.

It's almost goodbye Dalian and hello Beijing (and then yay Singapore)

Last night's Cultural Festival served as a reminder that our stay in Dalian is coming to an end. 45 days have passed and everyone is suddenly struck with nostalgic feelings. What I will miss the most is dorm life; having friends live at such proximity and being able to share our daily lives is priceless. It has been an enriching experience of tolerance, compromise and self-consciousness. Now I understand why my parents wanted me to have a taste of dorm life.

Saturday will see us flying to Beijing and I know everyone is excited to sight-see, shop and simply have fun. Everyone, start packing and save some luggage space!

And oh, I will miss the friendly (though shy) dogs that roam free in the campus.

hey people, it's june the third already. yesterday was critique after the day of submission. crazy, i know, but hang in there yeah? one more submission to sprint through and we'll be heading out for hardcore playtime.

last night's farewell concert given by the students here and the other exchange students were rather cool dun you think? minus some extra harsh lighting and technical problems, it was generally a thumbs-up for the organisers. the korea students' performance were SIMPLY ADORABLE.




amanda.

thoughts @ dalian

Hi all.
After so many days of intensive work on project over day and night and day and even saw how early Dalian’s sunrise will appear, we finally had some air to breathe. Today is critique/presentation day. We had Thierry as our guest critique and Jonathan, our lecturer, grader for this project. We had a very long and busy day however; we head on to the School of Fashion in DPU for a cultural night performance for international students who came to DPU for exchange programs. They put up a great performance for us and fellow people from CLS and DXPD put up a dance and song too. Kudos to them. It was a pity we could not perform due to the heavy load of our project work. But, however, I guess we did enjoy the evening and will head on to party after Wednesday as all submission will be over.
[Jonathan Tan, I totally agree with what you said. They were so quick and efficient during the whole performance and really relates to their lifestyle here. A good point to take back home.]

And whoo! We can shout out ‘Beijing! Here we come! ‘ =D I think it will be really cool and fun to get the chance to go to Beijing and go to all the famous site attractions. Whoo!!! And shopping! =X

Was it fast or was it slow? We actually spent almost 2 months here in Dalian. Will I miss this place? Guess some factors I will say yes. Like the weather here, the daily view of planes taking off and landing. Some food and drinks here I will miss. WaHaHa Hello C-lemon drink, walnut muffin-dalian version, 手抓饼, some of the dishes here were not bad-can’t name all of them out, the glass bottle soft drink, the sceneries here, a lot, a lot a lot. Oh my…I will miss here…..but home is still the best =D Home Home Home, here we come…..=)

Lastly, hope that everyone from DID enjoyed the long stay here in Dalian and had learnt a lot from this trip and take back great experiences to Singapore and mark this trip a meaningful one.
=D Jamie Signing Off =)

cultural night performance

hello, finally critique is over for all of us. today we attended some cultural performance by the school, not sure if any of you found it interesting, but i did especially for a selected few. i particularly liked the wu shu, since it is culturally china. the whole ceremony was quite quick too, show's how efficient and chop-chop they are (just like how they expect quick replies from you, especially when we're ordering food at a chinese restaurant)











some chinese play that...i couldn't understand?





now i guess everyone is looking forward to beijing and then home, although somehow (strangely) and somewhere in our heart/mind, we'll secretly miss this place. you know it, i know it. =P

rachel

crit is over!!!!!! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Submission!!!

Finally, Submission is over.
I guess everyone is sleeping deadly in their own room...
I wish tomorrow's crit will end very fast.
I wish everyone tomorrow's crit will be successfully done!!

Good Luck DID!

rachel

I HATE SUBMISSIONS
I HAAAATTTTEEEE CCCRRRIIITTTTSSSSS


so dead...

Happy Dumpling Festival

These few days are the public holiday for Dumpling Festival here in Dalian.

Happy Dumpling Festival Everyone : )

Project dateline is coming soon and we cannot go out to experience how people here celebrate Dumpling Festival. Yet, it isn't too bad because around the school here there are stalls that sell different flavour of dumplings. It's nice to try but i still prefer and miss that kind that I had before in Malaysia. Also, thanks Jonathan for buying us dumpling. : )

Time flies. We only left about one week in Dalian. Although now i miss the food and stuff in hometown, I know I gonna miss Dalian by the time I went back. The food, the people, the places and the lifestyle here. Anyway, we still have to pack up our luggage and let's bring the memories we had here back with us. Haha cherish the last week here and finish visiting the places that I have missed in last few weeks.

Okay back to project. Aza aza fighting everybody! XD



Jew Ping

Happy Dumpling Day here @ Dalian =D

Hi all.
This is Jamie here once again, after a long time. Been busy with project but still today is Dumpling Festival at Dalian. So, I decided to spread the joy to everyone. Happy Dumpling Day I officially announced that I miss Singapore’s dumpling =X Ah!!

Anyway, THANK YOU Jonathan Ho for the dumplings today! =D It is very nice of you to spread the love to everyone over here at Dalian.

Everyone, we are at the last few phases of the marathon! Hang on and very soon, we will be heading on to Beijing and have more fun over there!

ytd was the last day of class! feels kinda sad that i know that we are about to leave soon
anyways.. so much to do yet so little time.. i think if this were an individual project i would DIEEEEEEEE



rach..

ok.. going to try to lump all the things i did in dalian in one post! to make up!
ok..
so basically arrived in dalian
thought it was some country side place but then it turned out to be pretty ok after a while!
there is a HUGEEEE variety of food here! like oily salty food heaven!

hmmm so far we have been brought to places like the beach.. the theme park.. food industries.. shopping centres and etc. we were supposed to go to the 'weird slope' but it was raining that day so didn't get to go. but i really wanna see it b4 i leave dalian! so i can go back and hao lian to my mother LOl

anyways.. its not all fun and no work!
we still have projects to rush for! and.. i really wished we just came here to have fun i think everyone feels the same way!
and i am glad its a grp project because i dun think i can finish everything by myself. its just crazy

can't wait to graduate and BE FREE!not gonna go to uni but gonna open a shop! or go to korea! i am just struggling through this course for the sake of a diplomaaaa

but! it won't hurt to learn stuff like 3d and autocad! can be really helpful!

hmmm back to dalian.. at first i couldn't wait to go back home but now i am not even about to leave and i am already starting to miss this 'green gold' place!
i am gonna miss
-shou zhua bing
-MTR
-cheap ice cream
-shopping
-BUDDIES
-having a room mate and staying with so many friends!
-climbing up the 4 storey high staircase to the classroom.... NOOOOT!!

okay! back to project!(jonathan is the nicest guy ever to extend our dateline!! love him loads!


rachel

17 days left in China

Hi, this is Chew Yin.
DIP only left 17days, finally, the way back home is reaching.

The weather is getting warmer, yet feeling not too bad.

I hope everyone is enjoying their life now. Swine flu doesn't seems to be controlled quite well, to me. The amount of people involved in Swine Flu and Death still increasing.
People, take care of your health.

Submission is due next week, thus today i spent my days in room.

Discovery kingdom

Last friday all of us got to go to the all famous theme park of Dalian-发现王国. Pretty cool with all those games that make you experience an adrenaline rush. Pretty much something similar to Disney land with all those castles and figurines and statues. We spent a good whole day immersed in games and had tons of fun, but it was pretty cold there due to the weather and evetually some of the rides had to stop due to the strong winds.

(images of the games and the place)

I'm so curious to find out why they blocked Blogger. Now it will take almost infinity to upload photos on another server.
On an unrelated note, tomorrow will be interim review. Don't freak out. Ahhh.

Xing Hai

XingHai Square, where the big book lies, is one of Dalian's famous tourist spots to visit. I suppose most of us have visited that place and know how gigantic and huge the "book" is.

Worries....

Recently it became news that a man carrying the swine flu virus came into china and actually had contact with a large number of people and travelled to several provinces of china... How worrying.. =x.. I hope everything gets checked and that the virus gets under control. Its worrying if we would get qurratined when we return to Singapore.... that would mean that 1 week would be burnt from our 3 week long holiday.... =x... sighs... some of us are also wondering if we would still be able to go Beijing...which we wish to... *prays*

hello people... jiamin here again...

The weather's been pretty unpredictable recently for it was pretty warm for the weekdays, with the average temperature of about 27 degrees... pretty much like a slightly cooler version of Singapore. It's cool how you can see clear blue skies here without the scorching heat which one would get in Singapore when the skies are clear. How lovely... =DDD

Anyways, on thursday 7 may, we attended a design talk by a renowned Chinese designer, it was pretty inspiring for he spoke with much experience and much passion for his work and for art and design.

afterwhich, we went to an exhibition conducted by DPU's very own sculpture students...

Hi, this is Chew Yin here again.
Dalian is getting warmer.
The temperature today goes to 30 C/19 C.
I guess the global warming is really getting so so serious.

I recalled the talk by the professor yesterday.
He said what we can do now is the environment,
Use visual communication to affect social, environment.
Hmm. Yea.
Love the world, people.

***
Today is an off day.
The tour to food industry has been canceled for Design students.
Say YEA!!!!

But, project went on.
going off.. see yea!

Check out the food here!

Hello, this is Melissa. Everyone has been posting group photos and stuff, so what about checking out the food here in Dalian? I shall post some pictures of what i've seen in Dalian, esp those in supermarket and 小吃街! (((((:

Ezann been here.

HELLO, Ezann is here to update a lil. Well, reading Alice's post kind of set me writing. Yay, life is great here, to a certain extent of course. The food here is great, the people here especially my assigned buddy is great, my room is great, my stress level is reduced.

The below picture is us at the golden beach. Enjoy.

Day 17 has come about.

Hello People, It's Alice here to post an entry for the DID Group blog.

It’s already the Day 17 over in Dalian, How is people in Dalian feeling? Having some sort of mixed feelings or something. Or is anyone missing their families and friends in Singapore already? Is everyone coping well with everything here-from food, weather, environment, people, hostel, school and more? Well for me I am getting quite used to the life over in Dalian already, maybe because somehow the stress level in Dalian is lesser as everything is convenient and makes everything accessible easily. Everything seems so near together, living in the hostel definitely makes a great different as living outside of school. At least one would know they will never be late for school and that they would be able to sleep until dawn before heading up and about for school (as the studio is only 8-10minutes walk from the hostel). Everybody is also living very close to each other, everyone on the same particular block which is very near to the library as well. When one would need project discussion, having dinner together, chat together and everything, it has gotten everyone so convenient in a way of living. Where friends lives merely a few steps away from you.


The living environment is great for sleeping, working, living and more. How could anyone asked for something more when it’s already a lot out there. Another thing about living in the hostel is that no crowed MRT or buses in the morning ( yea), no long travelling time ( which leads to time wastage and stuff), no late dinner ( image having to reached home after one hour plus) where in Dalian, one gets food within minutes perhaps. Also no heavy stuff to be carried from place to place for school every day, I mean even if its heavy, it’s only a 10 minutes’ walk( how heavy could one gets).

At least, for now my home-sick level is doing alright, from day 1-17, I guess I have merely talk to my family maybe less than 10 times? Only through the programme call Skype, other than that is merely msn-ing with my sister and that’s about it.

Every week we would have a similar routine of having

Monday – class in the morning. Lunch. GEMS

Tuesday – Class from 9am until 6pm.

Wednesday - Class from 9am until 6pm.

Thursday – Class. Lunch and 1-2pm would be a half-day touring trip around Dalian to better understand the culture and everything around the city.

Friday – Touring for the whole day


Saturday – Depends on individual. But for my group of friends, we will head out with our Dalian Buddies like shopping and more.

Sunday – Become a hostel-stay-in-students. Where projecting stills continues.

I guess by the end of the Dalian study trip, everyone would have gotten more independent or two. Where everything is done by ourselves, with no mummy, no maid or whoever that would be helping us at home. I am getting so used to getting everything in place for myself. From Laundry, daily food supplies, living-hood, money management, cooking, eating out and so much more. In fact I love such independent live, that’s one or the reason why I have chosen to come over for overseas study trip and not be in Singapore, somehow it helps in making me think and ponders over several things that people would be making several mistakes on. I have learnt something precious and close to heart which could never be removed in a way or two.

It’s an experience where one would take it with him or her along the way in their lives.
The remaining 1 month or so is still there for more exploration in Dalian, in oneself, in one’s thinking, in one’s feelings, emotions and more ahead.

If anyone is feeling home-sicked or anything. Don’t be. I guess each and everyone’s family would love to see us doing great in terms of everything in Dalian. Being several miles around from home, guess both parties misses each other. However such experiences only gets once or never. Cherished it perhaps.

May everyone be doing great for the remaining days. Take care woo! =D

Take care and till then.

Hi all.
This is Jamie here, in the class studio now, doing work. It has been 17 days since we touched down on Dalian, China. The weather now is generally sunny in the day and cooling at night.I guess and hope everybody had settled down and used to everything here in Dalian. Everybody, drink more water, eat fruits and keep yourself as healthy as possible okay!Those who miss home or everything in SG, hang on there, in no time, we will be taking off, heading back to home sweet home.=D

in the studio now, trying to do work. due to some reason, the afternoon class is cancelled. so, it's free period.. been trying to catch up with my theorectical plans for work these few days...

________________

living away from home's rather troublesome without the comforts of someone else doing the chores... guess the effects of over-reliances kicks in now eh?


as for the H1N1 spread, people everywhere, please try to keep yourself safe and take no risk in your ingestion kay~


sealed for the moment.
L.Amanda

:)

hello all! 大家好！

hope everyone is coping well with the new environment, weather and food.

just two days ago (saturday), a group of us went out shopping in the city area with a local buddy who later showed us her dorm at the end of the day. unfortunately i was not allowed to enter, but anyway, here are some pictures of the locals dorms, with credits to chew yin.

this is a dorm shared by four students:

notice how small and cramp their working space is like:

i guess we should be really thankful that we're living luxuriously now.

alright, ending off here.