“Know me. Know me not.

Another new school year has arrived. Once again, the hallways lining the University and the expansive lawns are flooded by "freshies" or first-year undergrads trying to find their way around campus. You know that, don't you? It's the funny look on their faces that I once had, totally lost but awed by my surroundings. Asking for directions from their seniors and carrying the Student Diary around as though it were a special compass.

Oh thankfully, I've passed that stage. Nowadays, I can whizz in and out of campus without even me realizing I'm in school or not. In fact, now I'm at the stage of "Know me, Know me not". Well, it's the case of walking around campus and seeing familiar faces whom even I myself can't be sure I know them.

The awkward scene. Yes, it happened to me before and yet again this Semester. Was in the hallways of the Old Arts building on Tuesday, then came this girl strolling down with her reading packs in hand. Faced down looking at her iPhone, she resembled a tutorial mate of mine whom I knew in Year 1. I wasn't sure, so I kept looking, kept looking. Just when I was approximately an arms-length away from her, my senses somehow told me that it was her. So my hands went up into a waving position and I said, "Hi!" with a tinge of reservation. She looked up and gave me a weird stare - the "Do I know you?" stare. An awkward silence preceeded. I could not help but hastened my footsteps and quickly exited the building.

That was so embarrassing! I was certain it was her but she just couldn't recognize me for some reason. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe that was the doppelganger of the person I had in mind. An Australian classmate of mine once quipped that he found all Asians looked pretty much the same. I had similar sentiments of Caucasians too. Till now, I still don't know if I was right that day.

Had a Media & Communications tutorial this week. My only one in fact. Similarly, there were familiar faces in the classroom because I think we met each other before in Year 1. So the usual introduction and ice-breaking stuff came and gone. When we started to break into groups for discussions, the ice really broke and I was right, FINALLY! Yes, some of them were in my class before and thankfully I did raise the question to confirm my doubts.

At the end of the day, there's always this awkward "Know me, Know me not" kind of thing going on every semester. It never stops. Although misunderstandings do occur, there will be times that one is right. I've learnt that when in doubt, just ask and don't be worried that one is trying to chat the other person up. It's just basic courtesy to acknowledge someone's existence isn't it?

Having said that, I am also guilty of not saying "Hi" many atimes simply because we don't meet often and I cannot ascertain if the person was you. So my dear friends, if I do bump into you on campus or in the streets and forget to say "Hi", my heartfelt apologies go out to you.

On a side note, I finally met my Aussie classmates whom I knew from my Media Writing class (last semester) today. In fact, a majority of us are now part of the newly formed Media and Communcations Student Society (MaCSS). Looking forward to see more of them in our next MaCSS meet-up and exchange pointers on our internship experiences/media knowledge.

The MaCSS First Year Guide 2012
Photo Courtesy of MaCSS Facebook Page

Fyi, a quote of mine was featured in the MaCSS' First Year Guide that was given out during Orientation. YAY, very honoured!

I thought the guide was meticulously crafted and contained all the useful information needed by Media and Communcations students. Well done by the MaCSS committee especially Ayeesha, MaCSS' President who has been so passionate in all that she does. May MaCCS continue to grow from strength to strength under her leadership:)!

For now, it's back to the usual networking with my fellow countrymen and catching up with friends over this weekend before the rumble and tumble of academic work sets in. Before I forget, here's a warm welcome to all FIRST YEARS to the University of Melbourne; and have an enjoyable educational journey in Australia's Number 1 University:) CHEERS!