Lit Trip: Pre-Trip briefing and sample packing list

The Lit Trip briefing is on 19 May 2007 (Sat): 0830-1000

If your parents can make it, they are most welcome to come as the travel agent, Mr Raymond Wong, will be there to help answer ALL the questions they may have.

In fact, I will highly encourage them to attend if they can make it so that we will not have questions too near the trip.

Start packing and buying anything necessary NOW:

Check out the info on the New Packing regulations on Liquids and Aerosols

Reminder of following group rules: anyone compromises their safety or someone else's safety, it is going to be very unhappy after that. We want to have fun, NOT have people pickpocketed, mugged or worse.

2 weeks before trip don't eat anything strange, GET ENOUGH REST.
--you need time to acclimatise
--if you are the kind to get cold easily, you may wear thermal....
Below is a sample packing list from a friend who had gone to Europe 3 times

Rule no. 1: Pack LIGHT. You'll be moving around and we'll have to use the Eurostar. You won't want to lug heavy trunk luggage up steps, trust me.

1 backpacker's backpack: preferred to luggage due to mobility: but if you don't already have one and don't plan on getting one, it's ok.
3 Basic tops
1 black pants
1 pair of loosely comfortable jeans because of pockets and durability
2 set of sleepwear
1 Jacket: make sure can withstand 10-12 degree Celsius (ask shop staff which jackets meet this criterion: at night it could get cold)
1 cardigan for layering
1 handbag/small haversack + 1 foldable bag
1 sports sandal
1 sturdy walking shoe: converse may not be sturdy enough: cobbled stones in Paris are very hard on the feet. Sports shoes are better than coverse shoes
some bags to pack dirty clothes
personal medication
at least 4 pairs of socks
sunblock
Hat

MOST 3 impt things:
1. proper footwear: shoes are very expensive in Europe: you don't want your shoes to conk out on you
2. jacket
3. sleepwear

If they are bringing Mobile phones, bring International Adapter: can buy from electronic/travel shops
YOU should have a packing list YOU should check against BEFORE they leave hotel everyday.

Liquids: get the travel pack in pharmacies so that it's less than 100ml
Just bring facial wash, basic makeup, comb and shampoo--small, lip balm

ALL SHOULD NOT wear belts To BOARD plane.

They should have ONLY one bag with them. If bringing belt, put in check in luggage.
Bring backpack, NOT luggage, if possible

True test of light packing: only 1/2 of backpacker's backpack is filled up.

Tag the backpacks: make sure it's easily identifiable.

Pack the foldable bag into handcarry for emergencies.

Check that YOU don't leave valuables in safe when they finally leave Hotel

Blogarians

This site is very graphics heavy. The posters are all artists of some sort and they do cool stuff like CD covers, Rolling Stone illustrations. Check it out on the right under "Cool and tangentially related"

The Seagull

Lit Trip people, we are going to see what might be one of the great performances of The Seagull.

However, before we can get the full effect of Chekhov's play, we have to READ the play first.

You can get the play in the NLB (for sure) and probably the VJC library. Or if you are a fan of e-texts, just click on the right.

For TSD students, the synergistic working relationship between Chekhov and Stanislavsky is something to chew over...

Check out the links on the right!
And pls add new relevant links. You know the password.... :)

Musee D'Orsay

Just wanted Lit trip people to check out the Musee D'Orsay. It's a gem of a museum. Of course, there's the Louvre but the D'Orsay has one of the most unbeatable collections of Modernist art.

lit trip prep: salivate.haha

Well, since we are going to the fair land of France, I think some gourmandising is in order. haha.

Check out Chocolate and Zucchini--a French foodie's blog. The food and pictures are swoonsome. Ok, I'm planning to eat till I'm quite silly in France. haha.

Under the Lit trip section, I will be adding links by and by till we leave on 30 May.

All Lit students, even those NOT going for the trip, pls feel free to recommend good links that will help the Lit trip people have a fun, safe and educational trip. :)

Dear 07A12 and 07A15

Lit lesson tomorrow 26 April 2007 will be in V30 for both classes.

Your goal:
There is a play production of Great Expectations coming up for Drama Nite 2008. You are auditioning for a role in the production.

To make all things equal, the audition piece for EVERYONE is:

Chapter VII, from p. 44, "One night I was sitting in the chimney corner with my slate" to end of Chapter VIII, on p. 64.

YOU can only play one character in that scene. Choose your character well.

Everyone MUST play one character, with the exception of:

1. Christine, Dir 1, another TSD student, Dir 2 07A15
2. Nadia (Dir 1), another TSD student, Dir 2 07A12

Because they are the student directors. Other than Christine and Nadia, everyone must prepare a role tonight.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

1. 0800-0830 hours: 2-3 students auditioning for each role that's up for grabs. ONLY one actor for each role will make it to first team.
2. 0830-0900: student director 1 works with the first team cast
3. 0830-0900: student director 2 works with the understudy team (those not in the first team)
4. 0900-0910: First team presents
5. 0910-0915: Understudy team presents

If actors, directors are INEXPLICABLY sub-par, Ms Chia will query all involved. It will not be a pleasant experience.

Advice:
1. Read VERY CAREFULLY Chapter VII, from p. 44, "One night I was sitting in the chimney corner with my slate" to end of Chapter VIII, on p. 64.

2. Choose ONE character
3. Know the lines spoken by the character, understand their motivation
4. Act out the lines at home one through, paying attention to mannerisms etc
5. Anticipate the other actor's action. Be aware of them too. Factor that in.

Additional Advice:
Click on the select links on Characterisation and Family theory on the right, and of course, the Overview Page.


Regards,
Ms Chia

no shame in PTSD

Doing the research for this lecture is pretty depressing, I must admit. It saddens me to see people die because they were too proud or macho to admit that they are suffering from PTSD caused by the war.

We were never meant to endure modern warfare for sustained periods. Anyone could go mad if there were fighting for long enough. If only people were as alert to mental wounds as they are to physical ones.

At times, I think we are all capable of being calloused by the rigours of daily living. I know of a friend's friend who attempted suicide. We knew she was quite depressed but we never thought she would take such a drastic step. Like the war veterans always say, civilians can't really understand the war. Similarly, in some ways, those of us who are fortunate to be not depressed may not truly understand how the depressed feel, especially if they don't tell us. But thank God she did not die.

So, please, if you are ever feeling down, please say something now. Don't wait till it's too late.