Yay, i just passed my SCWCD exam, so im finished!
Im quite happy i passed, and with a decent grade as well (78%, passing mark is 63), my teacher says i could have gotten way higher marks, but he always keeps bragging on about how easy SCWCD is. Im just glad i passed!
Well, i might do a post tomorrow morning or even tonight, but this should be one of my last posts from shimla
See all you guys in a few days again!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
My day off
Today i decided that even though i have an exam to prepare for for wednesday, i could take some time off. And boy did i need that! Together with some mates from training i went to see the viceregal lodge (all the way across town), which was very nice and interesting, and yes, i did bring my camera, and got some nice pictures along the way.
The highlight of today, and probably my entire stay in india, was lunch. On the way back from the viceregal lodge we stopped at the Cecil hotel (the local 5 star) for lunch, which was probably the most expensive meal ive had in a month, i could have eaten from that for a few days, but it was so worth it. Just sitting there in the lounge with my club sandwich and propper ice tea made me forget all the stress and worries and slight discomforts of the past weeks, it was probably the most luxuious hotel ive ever been in.
So now im back in my hotel (which just doesnt look the same after i spent an afternoon at the cecil), sitting in the hallway to get an internet connection, but im pretty happy.
ah well, back to the books now, ive still got that exam on wednesday!
The highlight of today, and probably my entire stay in india, was lunch. On the way back from the viceregal lodge we stopped at the Cecil hotel (the local 5 star) for lunch, which was probably the most expensive meal ive had in a month, i could have eaten from that for a few days, but it was so worth it. Just sitting there in the lounge with my club sandwich and propper ice tea made me forget all the stress and worries and slight discomforts of the past weeks, it was probably the most luxuious hotel ive ever been in.
So now im back in my hotel (which just doesnt look the same after i spent an afternoon at the cecil), sitting in the hallway to get an internet connection, but im pretty happy.
ah well, back to the books now, ive still got that exam on wednesday!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Starting to count down
The last few days ive noticed myself saying "just one more week and ill be back in holland" increasingly often. To be honest the high pace of going through the material is kind of wearing me down, and the prospect of very little free time (and very little to do in the little time i do have) isnt helping either.
On top of that, my teacher insists on going over every single page of the book, doing every single code example and highlighting every single line, which is really getting on my nerves, im starting to think id be better of just studying on my own (thats what you get with all these education reforms focussing on independent study)
All in all the novelty of being in India is starting to wear off, im getting tired of only eating chicken every day (cow off course, is NOT done, and most indian people really dislike pork as well, and you dont try the fish when you know the nearest ocean is a thousand miles away), and living in a hotel for an extended period of time isnt really all that much fun.
Its probably just the annoyance speaking, but right now im really happy knowing that in just one week (and time can really fly over here) ill be back home in holland
On top of that, my teacher insists on going over every single page of the book, doing every single code example and highlighting every single line, which is really getting on my nerves, im starting to think id be better of just studying on my own (thats what you get with all these education reforms focussing on independent study)
All in all the novelty of being in India is starting to wear off, im getting tired of only eating chicken every day (cow off course, is NOT done, and most indian people really dislike pork as well, and you dont try the fish when you know the nearest ocean is a thousand miles away), and living in a hotel for an extended period of time isnt really all that much fun.
Its probably just the annoyance speaking, but right now im really happy knowing that in just one week (and time can really fly over here) ill be back home in holland
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Keeping busy
Well, what can i say? i have been pretty busy, and will be for the next week and a half. Because we took just a bit longer then expected on SCJP (due partially to the delhi-shimla move) we have to go through the SCWCD material at two chapters a day, which is pretty fast
on top of that, the internet connection at the training center and hotel have been unreliable at best, so it might take a while for me to post next time.
And its nice to read all the comments!
See you guys!
on top of that, the internet connection at the training center and hotel have been unreliable at best, so it might take a while for me to post next time.
And its nice to read all the comments!
See you guys!
Monday, March 5, 2007
One down, one to go
Well, the first certification is in the pocket, this morning i passed my SCJP exam, with an 81% score (passing grade is 59% and above), and im pretty happy with that. Now i was expecting to have a bit of time for just relaxing, but as it turned out, i kinda miscalculated the time, and as it turns out, ill have my SCWCD exam no later then wednesday next week(im flying back friday next week, plane leaves at 1:30 AM, so ill need to travel to Delhi on thursday), and we have only just started today
So it looks like ill be pretty busy, i just hope i can keep sunday free to do some sighseeing around shimla, as i havent had that chance yet, and except for sunday, i wont anymore. But at least im glad i passed my SCJP, which is supposed to be the most difficult sun exam there is.
Well, im gonna try and get some dinner right now (its 7 pm here), so see you guys!
So it looks like ill be pretty busy, i just hope i can keep sunday free to do some sighseeing around shimla, as i havent had that chance yet, and except for sunday, i wont anymore. But at least im glad i passed my SCJP, which is supposed to be the most difficult sun exam there is.
Well, im gonna try and get some dinner right now (its 7 pm here), so see you guys!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Halfway there
Thats right, my stay in India is halfway over, and to be honest im getting quite comfortable here. The hotel in Shimla is great, i havent had any trouble with food yet (some hasnt been that great, but i havent been sick), and yesterday, to offset the absence of BBC television, i purchased a magazine featuring my favorite brit (yes, Jeremy Clarkson, host of Top Gear) along with some chocolate cookies and stuff.
So all in all im getting quite comfortable, the drives along the mountain roads dont disturb me anymore, this morning i actually found myself thinking that the cab driver was going a bit slow, he could have easily driven faster.
Tomorrow the festival of Holi (festival of colors) is celebrated across India, im not entirely sure what the festival is about, but practically it boills down to people throwing paint and dye at each other and drinking lots of booze (and even some weird opium/water mixture i have been told). My teacher said though that it isnt very safe to go out on holi, as some indian people apperently lose control of their violent tendancies and start hitting each other with sticks (odd fellows these indian people you know?) and besides, i have to study tomorrow as well, as i have my SCJP exam on monday morning.
Ill see if i can post tomorrow, the hotel im staying in is experimenting with wireless internet, and even though they havent granted public acces, trying to keep your wireless secure with a hotel full of smart IT people (there are like 12 dutch guys here, and some brits as well, all for training in some computer course) is an excercise in futillity, so i should have internet acces.
See you guys!
So all in all im getting quite comfortable, the drives along the mountain roads dont disturb me anymore, this morning i actually found myself thinking that the cab driver was going a bit slow, he could have easily driven faster.
Tomorrow the festival of Holi (festival of colors) is celebrated across India, im not entirely sure what the festival is about, but practically it boills down to people throwing paint and dye at each other and drinking lots of booze (and even some weird opium/water mixture i have been told). My teacher said though that it isnt very safe to go out on holi, as some indian people apperently lose control of their violent tendancies and start hitting each other with sticks (odd fellows these indian people you know?) and besides, i have to study tomorrow as well, as i have my SCJP exam on monday morning.
Ill see if i can post tomorrow, the hotel im staying in is experimenting with wireless internet, and even though they havent granted public acces, trying to keep your wireless secure with a hotel full of smart IT people (there are like 12 dutch guys here, and some brits as well, all for training in some computer course) is an excercise in futillity, so i should have internet acces.
See you guys!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Snow!
When i woke up this morning (and i nearly overslept, one guy from my company is going back to delhi today, so we had a little going away party last night) and got down to the breakfast hall, i noticed it was snowing outside. All the roads and roofs in Shimla were white, and no cars were driving at all. After waiting (in vain) for our car for an hour, i decided to go back to my room and study.
Then half an hour later, the hotel desk phoned up to say there was a cab coming to pick me up, as the main roads had been cleared. The taxi ride over was pretty cool, im getting used to being driven round tight bends at insane speeds, and the snow today made it all the more exciting. The driver we had today is pretty good and he drove one of the best cars around here (a hyundai santro, which is roughly the equivalent of a hyundai atos, and great compared to all the small suzuki altos everyone around here drives), so that was quite a nice experience.
Ill try to take some pictures of shimla covered in snow, i already have a few of a snowman sitting on a bench. Some other dutch guys built it this morning, and all the indian people walking by were just amazed, i guess they arent used to just playing around when it snows.
Im gonna go and study a bit now, even though my teacher isnt here (he is stuck up in the hills in this tiny hotel on a mountain road, which obviously isnt important enough to be cleaned), so see you guys!
(by the way, everyone hoping for pictures of the taj mahal (yes you geert) i dont think ill get to that. as you might know the taj mahal is located in agra, which is quite away from delhi, and im not even sure how many time ill hae in delhi to begin with)
Then half an hour later, the hotel desk phoned up to say there was a cab coming to pick me up, as the main roads had been cleared. The taxi ride over was pretty cool, im getting used to being driven round tight bends at insane speeds, and the snow today made it all the more exciting. The driver we had today is pretty good and he drove one of the best cars around here (a hyundai santro, which is roughly the equivalent of a hyundai atos, and great compared to all the small suzuki altos everyone around here drives), so that was quite a nice experience.
Ill try to take some pictures of shimla covered in snow, i already have a few of a snowman sitting on a bench. Some other dutch guys built it this morning, and all the indian people walking by were just amazed, i guess they arent used to just playing around when it snows.
Im gonna go and study a bit now, even though my teacher isnt here (he is stuck up in the hills in this tiny hotel on a mountain road, which obviously isnt important enough to be cleaned), so see you guys!
(by the way, everyone hoping for pictures of the taj mahal (yes you geert) i dont think ill get to that. as you might know the taj mahal is located in agra, which is quite away from delhi, and im not even sure how many time ill hae in delhi to begin with)
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