Use your noodles

It’s hot and humid outside but don’t let your mind go numb!   Here’s a fun brainteaser for you to try:

Instructions

	This is a great logic test, it can be solved and I am sure you will enjoy solving it as much as you will get frustrated while trying.
	The rules are as follows
	“Everybody has to cross the river”.
	You need to move the entire family from the one river bank to the other.
	When you make an error you will be hear a sound and watch the consequences of your action. You can quit but you cannot start over until you have finished. IE you need to find a way to fix your own mistakes.

The Rules

1	A maximum 2 persons on the raft at a time
2	The father can not stay with any of the daughters without their mother’s presence
3	The mother can not stay with any of the sons without their father’s presence
4	The thief (striped shirt) can not stay with any family member if the Policeman is not there
5	Only the Father, the Mother and the Policeman know how to operate the raft i.e. one of them must be on the raft at all times.
6	To move the people click on them.
7	To move the raft click on the pole on the river bank
8	Here it is! http://www.brandstrategy.co.za/brainteaser/riverIQGame.swf Click on the Blue Round Button to start puzzle

“I have the answer in my head. I just havent found it yet”

 

(The answer can be found on the www.brandstrategy.co.za website but do you REALLY need it?)

 

On Exchange, 5am Flights, and Stroopwaffles

 

One of the best things when going on exchange in Europe is the freedom to travel. It doesn’t beat the thumbprint system they have in the HK airport, but hopping from one country to another within a matter of hours was made pretty easy in Europe with an EU passport. Getting accustomed to the local culture is easy despite (and especially) on a tight budget. The people in UCU are usually from different parts of Europe, so they’ve also advised me on which places to go, what to (and not to) eat, and most importantly - the cheapest means of transportation and accommodation. One can assume that their probably the next best thing to the lonely planet. There is also no doubt that being adventurous / getting lost / being mugged is best with the company of friends or even the occasional group of backpackers you meet at the youth hostels. Be prepared though for the notorious 5AM flights, 10 hour bus rides and endless supplies of instant noodles for the unlucky few who need to cook everyday.

 

 

 

During my exchange in one of the top universities in Europe, I have gained knowledge far more than any book can ever impart. Within that semester in Holland, cycling to the city and having freshly made ‘stroopwaffles’ in the market are only some of the many Dutch ways of life that I have grown to love. And although I am bad at remembering foreign names, the laughter and conversations I have shared with my friends on exchange will always be cherished. Despite the language barrier, I’ve come to appreciate that a smile (and Facebook) truly is universal.

 

 

~Alissa Wong, Philippines

(BSc, Biochemistry, Year 3)

Summer’s Here!

Time to work off those extra calories….

A Farewell Message:

“Guess what! It’s a HEART! To my beloved friends, professors and of course HKUST! Although I am leaving soon, I’ll definitely miss you guys, all the stuff here is so memorable, I just can’t think of another place that is better than here except my home. So, I think I will just leave my “heart” at here and pick it up again when I visit HK next time. Take good care of it!!! “  

~Liew Seng Fatt,  Malaysia

(BEng, Electronic & Computer Engineering, 2008 Graduate)

 

 

 

Procrastination?

“Being at UST has been like hopping on a train with no destination”

Now that most of us are trying to wrap up the finals and beginning to list shopping items for the summer, I am amazed how fast a year has gone by at UST.  Being at UST has been like hopping on a train with no destination.  Everyday there is an unexpected excitement – meeting new people, experiencing new cultures from different regions, and discovering favorite hangout spots at UST.  I was truly amazed at the dynamics of different experiences that you can encounter at UST.

 

Of course, it hasn’t always been an easy ride. UST being one of the most competitive universities in Asia, the disciplines can be quite strict for students. Students are expected to cover an average of twelve chapters per subject. The hourly long days spent in the library preparing for exams have become the norm for most of us especially in the upper year. Some people may perceive UST students as bookworms or teacher’s pet who’d rather stay alone working on research papers during the weekends. However, what the people do not realize is the amount of passion and devotion that each student brings out for our community. There are more than hundred student societies ranging from curriculum based societies, university athletic teams to community service societies and leadership training camps. Our university provides various opportunities for students to get involved and build hands on experiences in any scope of field one is interested in.

                                                                           

 

 

For those of you who like to challenge yourself, discover new things, and above all experience a dynamic college life, I’d like to welcome you to join us at Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology.

 

~Jasmine Joo Yong Park, Korea

(BEng & BBA, Dual Degree in Technology and Management, Prep Yr)

Is studying in Hong Kong really that difficult….???

“My classes are so difficult this semester”…. “The means are so high” …. “I just can’t keep up with the locals”…. “I can’t wait to go on exchange”… “Why did I come to UST?”…. are a few infamous lines that I am sure every international student has uttered at one point or another! But as time went by and we settled down in Hong Kong, I heard a totally different tune… “I miss Hong Kong”… “Exchange isn’t all that great”…. “I can’t wait to be back!”

 

So really, is Hong Kong all that bad? The way I see it is, when we first get here we are totally taken aback at how hard it is to keep up in our classes, for we were all used to being the best in our High Schools! Some of us tend to deal with this by working extra hard and locking ourselves up in our rooms studying all day and stressing about how difficult it is. Others tend to give up and say “oh well, I’m never going to be able to keep up anyway, so why bother trying?” But the one thing that we all do is complain and blame UST for being too difficult, because it’s the easiest thing to do!

 

 

 

What we really need to do is take time out to settle down and understand how the system works. True some of us do well from the word go, but others won’t do that great in their first semester, but without complaining about it, we should try and learn from it. We need to strike a balance - to study hard but still take a break and chill out from time to time. Trust me once you learn how to work the system you will see that it isn’t all that bad! Plus Hong Kong is a great country to live in and UST is by far one of the most picturesque campuses around. So as the locals would say “add oil”, and enjoy your university life to the fullest, because it comes around only once! I can’t believe that two years are already up for me… I was one of those who sadly complained at the beginning, but now I can honestly say that when the time comes to leave I will be sad to do so!

~Safra Abdeen, Sri Lanka

(BEng, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Year 2)

Being a Physics Undergraduate in 10 Easy Steps