This is the start of “Week 1”. It is the second week of school at NUS because the semester started with “Week 0”. Yes, how very much like computer people to start counting from zero. Week 1 is where orientation is over and classes officially start. Week 0 at NUS wasn’t overly crowded. Today, I’m seeing congestion everywhere.
The Internal Shuttle Bus services, for example, were completely packed. The new freshmen have not yet learnt that the rear bus door does not close if there are people standing on the steps. It added to the delays as overcrowded buses were held up at the bus stops.
The first bazaar for this 2008/9 academic year was held at the forum. I’m seeing familiar stalls again (see here and here). There will definitely be more to come. There is a different kind of bazaar happening at YIH. They are selling notebooks there.
NUS has an annual notebook tender where they are able to put together relatively attractive notebook offers for students to purchase. This has been running for perhaps a decade. Nowadays, purchasing a notebook has become a given. Once upon a time, you wonder very hard if it is really necessary or beneficial to purchase a notebook. Nowadays, the question is not if, but which notebook to buy.
This is not a peculiarity with NUS, of course. It happens in universities elsewhere in the world too. You can see Apple targeting students with their back-to-school promotions.
Incidentally, some “bad news” for those buying Macs now. There is much speculation that the MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks will be refreshed end September. So now, there is also the big question of “when” to buy, if you’re looking into MacBooks or MacBook Pros.
Happy schooling.
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