The guys from the Staffordshire University Karate Club (Shotokan): From Left: Andy, Keith, me, Will (squatting), Nick, Richard, and Daniels.

Staffordshire University- Memoirs from Stafford (Part 2)

Shafiq, BSc(Hon) Computing Science. The most eligible bachelor in Burton-Upon-Avon.

Photo taken in Derbyshire.

Ren Yeo of Echleshall House (Halls of Residence).

The Staffordshire University Karate Club
I had the opportunity of joining the SU Karate Club. I only started coming for lessons in the beginning of November.It was fun and it helps me sweat. But what was important was that it calms me down. I felt a lot better about myself after taking up Karate; more relaxed. I guess it affected me somewhat when I stopped martial arts training. And when I took up Karate, I felt more comfortable inside for I'm doing something that I'm familiar with; martial arts. They practised Shotokan style of Karate. The club is affiliated with the Midlands Shotokan Karate Association, one of the martial arts associations in Staffordshire County. The instructor's name is Nick Mellor. Apart from the Japanese terms, I didn't have any trouble following the class.In terms of basic techniques there is no problems at all.

There are opportunities for tournaments and such while I was there. Unfortunately, the tournament dates clashed with my exam periods. There is no way I'm able to prepare for the competition and actually study at the same time, so I skipped on all of them. I came to study, not to compete.

As Time Goes By...
Things got better as spring came. In fact, I began to love it there. I live alone, but I don't feel as lonely as when I first came there. I met new people and get to know some of them quite well. In fact I enjoyed it most of the time. Still, I do miss the feeling of having a family by your side. And I guess that's why I felt happy to be with Elaine, Ren, Amy, and the rest of the girls. In effect, I regard her as my foster mother. I sometimes visited Mei and Jim at their house at Waterside Court. They were only too happy to have me around. Once I stayed with them overnight, during the Chinese New Year. At the time they had a boat that goes along this small waterway. I got to ride on it before leaving Stafford for Singapore. They've sold it now, and use the money to buy a campervan. They intended it to roam England.

I enjoyed the feeling of independence that I felt when I was there. Although I have to do everything myself, like laundry duty, cooking, cleaning my room and such, nobody's looking over my shoulder and nagging at me telling me when I should do what (I'm talking about my mother lah). But with freedom comes responsibility. You can't live comfortably in a pig sty; it's just not "conducive to a learning environment". You have to do your laundry, for you don't want to go to lectures smelling like a durian. And of course you have to manage your money properly, for if you don't you'll starve to death.

Ren Yeo
Ren had been in Staffordshire University for quite some time. For me, I took my Staffordshire University's Higher Diploma in Singapore through TMC Computer School. I worked for one year, and then proceeded to Staffordshire to complete the final year for my degree. Ren, on the other hand, took his Higher Diploma in Staffordshire itself. At the time I was there he was only on his second year. He was allowed to skip his one year Industrial placement in his third year, so at the time of writing he should be in his final year. Wonder how much he'd spent by now.

I find it easy to get along with Ren. He's polite, to a certain extend. And he can be rough, but only to a certain extend. I guess that's why I like him; he's not extreme in any direction. I met him because he was a student warden there. He volunteered to become a student warden because that way he can get a discount on his rent in the Halls of residence.

Ren likes cars; WRONG! He loves cars. I guess that's why he took a course in Transport Management. He's got a web page about cars, and actually written about cars in one of the magazines dedicated to cars. In his room he's got pictures of cars, and a big map of Britain so that he knew where to go to once he had a car. The time we went to Birmingham together is to see a car show. And in his second year he bought a second-hand car for 400 pounds. Unlike me; I just rent one.

Other Characters
There are many personalities encountered while I was there in Stafford. So many that could write a book about them. Some of them are Greeks, French, Germans, Malays, Pakistani, Arabs, Chinese, Indonesian Chinese, Iranian, and many more. I had some good times with them, as well as bad times. When there is a football game at the pitch, one can see all sorts of skin colour and body types. We don't really know one another well, but we played together nonetheless. Not once was there any incident involving racism and such. Yup, those were good times.

Still, I should be truthful to you. Not everything is pleasant when I was in Stafford. There is a darker side to life in Stafford. While I was there I had borne witness to several incidents that may not be good to put on a web page. I guess in life where there is 'white' there'll also be 'black'.

Some of the procession of a festival in Derbyshire

Cute girls, too bad they're too young.

It's not just by playing football that I had contacts with other races. I was the only International student in a class of white guys in Karate class. The only other International student was a Greek guy by the name of Aristotles. I never felt isolated or alone. After class, we sometimes stop for a drink at the nearest pub and have a good laugh before we head for our residence. We talked about a lot of things, some of them private stuffs. I guess we ended up to be good mates.

Tony and Tim are my group partners when it comes to group assignments. All except one of my group assignments was carried out with them. And we produced good results, too. Of course I get to know a little about them, and a lot of interactions besides academic concerns occurs between us. The end result is that I had the opportunity to experience and appreciate a different culture from mine. And it enlightens me.

The girls from China:
From left: Lily, Amy, Bessie, Kelly.

Made in China...
One of the most important development in my stay at Stafford is the arrival of 4 students from China in January. Of course they're Chinese. I met them through Elaine at the Chaplaincy. They were nice girls, and we became friends. Nevertheless, they were of very different personalities. Lily is petite, and in every way a lady. Bessie makes a good clown. She's got attracted to Ren and became "the best of friends". Kelly is the most beautiful of the girls, and it's not long before she acquired some male attention. I understand that she ignored them, through Elaine's advice. But the most distinguished of the three is Amy. There's something about her that I cannot explain. I think it's her fierce spirit. Or was it her charm. Anyway, we get to know each other well enough to make it hard for me to part company with them, and in fact that's just it; it's almost time for me to return home.

The view from my house
I really miss Aston Hall and Stafford

Going Home...
I postponed my trip home 3 times (or was it four) before I finally stepped into that Lufthansa airplane that will take me to Frankfurt to another plane to Singapore. Even that only after Ahmad said he'll beat me up for asking him to send me to Birmingham Airport and then cancelling my trip. Honestly, I didn't want to leave. Even at the time of writing I still wish that I was back there in Stafford. And to think that I was wishing that I never came the first days I set foot in England.

I take back everything I said about England. I love Stafford, and I love staying there. I love the freedom of living on my own, being responsible for myself, mingling in the crowd at Stafford town, and especially being away from a HDB flat. I especially love the way the Christmas tree was lit up that one evening, which I witnessed at the town square with my friends. It was a wonderful experience, and sometimes I think it was a mistake to come back. I had good memories of England as well as bad ones. But on the whole, I can honestly say that I love Stafford and all the people living there. I love the trees, I love the Morrismen Pub, and I especially miss my good friend Gareth Higham who should be starting his second year at the University by now.

I was sad when I came to Stafford, but I was crying inside when I was about to leave. A part of me will always be there in Stafford for as long as I live.