So, the final part of this poorly-constructed and ill-thought-out saga.
Momentous moments at uni.
To be honest, most of the momentous stuff that happened at uni probably shouldn't be canvassed again, as they've probably been discussed to death already.
Here's a few to sate your appetite (in roughly chronological order).
Getting lost on the first day of uni and running into a fellow lostie. That person would later become known to me as 'Stef Lim'. She was officially the first person that I talked to at uni that I didn't know previously. Important for several reasons. Firstly, it made me realise that these mythical 'girls' that people kept talking about weren't all that scary.
I kid. I live in a house full of girls. But I guess it did show me that people in general weren't really all that scary.
Secondly, it showed me how big the uni was.
Gigantic. Enormous. To this day, I've probably only traversed about a third of the place. I thought Melbourne High was big. This was next-level big.
Becoming friends with Irene. She was pretty much the first friend that I made in Arts. Actually, close to the first friend I made at uni. I had a relative heap of friends brought over from high school in Commerce, and a few in Arts, but none in French. She was the first, and pretty much only, until I became friends with Zara. Kinda sad, now that I think about it. This was a year since I'd started uni. In between, I made friends with a couple of Arts kids.
Ambassador Camp. This was off the hook. Firstly (not necessarily most importantly), I busted my knee. It's still giving me problems. More so recently, but you don't want to hear about that.
More importantly, I met, and became friends with, many fantastic individuals, many of whom I count among my closest friends. I think it was here that I sourced most of my uni friends that I actually talk to.
Also during this time, James Cheng and Meng had to put up with me being a cripple. They helped me get places, and were just generally there. I don't really know where I'm going by bringing this up, but as I don't think I've mentioned it anywhere else, I'd just like to say that I was very touched by their help, and I appreciated it greatly, even though it didn't seem like a big deal. But let me tell you, it's a big deal when someone helps carry your luggage for you when you're struggling on one leg, like some kind of...one legged man.
Getting my car. Man, was that liberating. Still is. Cannot believe that I put up with catching the bus for two years. I felt like I had finally properly become a uni student.
Failing a unit. It sucked, mostly because I had to do it again, and overload the next semester, and went through the next exam period thinking I'd failed it again.
Passing said unit. Was pretty elated. Celebrated by going to a pre-booked U2 gig.
Passing the next semester's units in relative flying colours. Yeah!
I'm sorry if I've left any momentous people/events out. I kind of wrote this up in about 20 minutes. Forgive me. I'm sure I have left something/s out, but it can't really be helped, unless you want to remind me. Please do.
All in all, I find it interesting how, like high school, it's not the academic stuff you remember so much, but the other stuff that goes on. All the fun times, the bad times, the sad times, the good times. And the friends that you make and break going through all that.
To close this saga, I'd just like to say that it's been good. Apart from the unpleasant exams business, uni's been pretty fun and enriching. It's had it's bad moments, but I think they were more to do with life, and less to do with uni.
Anyway, I'll probably be back for more next year. So it's not really goodbye. But I just felt like getting something down for now.
So, next up, Occupy Melbourne. I'll talk about the Melbourne High School Asian Invasion a bit after that, because the former is of more pressing concern.
Until next time.
Word of the Day: Momentous
Showing posts with label ambassadors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ambassadors. Show all posts
Monday, 24 October 2011
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Terry Lau leaving Melbourne!
So I've just come back from Terry Lau's going away party.
He's going away for a pretty substantial period of time. Like, at least a few years.
I meant what I wrote on his card. He's one of those people which I wish I'd gotten to know better. It's a real shame. He's a good kid, and I'll miss him. Have a safe trip Terry.
It's also good to see that, almost one year on from Ambassador camp, we can still get this many of them together in one hit, and get along with each other. It's great. I love that common bond that we had.
Anyway, it wasn't all about Terry. I learnt a lot too. Discussions in bars. They're great.
I think everybody thinks I'm some emo depressed kid who doesn't like talking. There were, upon reflection, a few reasons why I wasn't too talkative (in no particular order):
1. The music was drowning out my voice, and my voice doesn't penetrate through white noise all that well, and I don't like shouting.
2. Too busy listening.
3. I had quite a bit on my mind, and was thinking things through in my head.
4. I didn't really want to directly answer the girl question, so I sort of evaded it (although what I said, the part about reciprocation and mutual attraction, was the truth). Just easier for everyone that way.
I think the answer to that question (the direct answer) is fairly self-evident anyway. I think it's pretty clear for everyone to see, except, from what I can see, the person in question. Either that, or they're deliberately ignoring it. Which is fine. It's a lot better than not talking to me. Like, much, much better.
Amongst the many things I'm scared of, I'm scared of being wrong again. I don't I'll be able to get it wrong many more times before I completely lose it. Or give up. One or the other. It's just, when you try so many times, and you end up screwing up every time, it's really kicks the morale out of you.
I think I've sort of come to the conclusion that I'm just not a good person. I don't think there's really any other explanation. You know, not just good, as in a decent person good, like, just good in other aspects. I think I'm just lacking.
Having said that, I hope I haven't screwed it up. But if I have, now you, and I, both pretty much know why.
Also, on a side note, it's good to know I have good taste, in that everybody agrees on who the hottest girl on Ambassador camp was. Was. As in past tense. Once you find out a person's true colours, that either enhances their beauty or detracts from it. In this case, it would be the latter.
Finally, thanks for the 21st birthday speech Meng. Just replicate it on the big day, eh?
Word of the Day: Terry
He's going away for a pretty substantial period of time. Like, at least a few years.
I meant what I wrote on his card. He's one of those people which I wish I'd gotten to know better. It's a real shame. He's a good kid, and I'll miss him. Have a safe trip Terry.
It's also good to see that, almost one year on from Ambassador camp, we can still get this many of them together in one hit, and get along with each other. It's great. I love that common bond that we had.
Anyway, it wasn't all about Terry. I learnt a lot too. Discussions in bars. They're great.
I think everybody thinks I'm some emo depressed kid who doesn't like talking. There were, upon reflection, a few reasons why I wasn't too talkative (in no particular order):
1. The music was drowning out my voice, and my voice doesn't penetrate through white noise all that well, and I don't like shouting.
2. Too busy listening.
3. I had quite a bit on my mind, and was thinking things through in my head.
4. I didn't really want to directly answer the girl question, so I sort of evaded it (although what I said, the part about reciprocation and mutual attraction, was the truth). Just easier for everyone that way.
I think the answer to that question (the direct answer) is fairly self-evident anyway. I think it's pretty clear for everyone to see, except, from what I can see, the person in question. Either that, or they're deliberately ignoring it. Which is fine. It's a lot better than not talking to me. Like, much, much better.
Amongst the many things I'm scared of, I'm scared of being wrong again. I don't I'll be able to get it wrong many more times before I completely lose it. Or give up. One or the other. It's just, when you try so many times, and you end up screwing up every time, it's really kicks the morale out of you.
I think I've sort of come to the conclusion that I'm just not a good person. I don't think there's really any other explanation. You know, not just good, as in a decent person good, like, just good in other aspects. I think I'm just lacking.
Having said that, I hope I haven't screwed it up. But if I have, now you, and I, both pretty much know why.
Also, on a side note, it's good to know I have good taste, in that everybody agrees on who the hottest girl on Ambassador camp was. Was. As in past tense. Once you find out a person's true colours, that either enhances their beauty or detracts from it. In this case, it would be the latter.
Finally, thanks for the 21st birthday speech Meng. Just replicate it on the big day, eh?
Word of the Day: Terry
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Ray's 19th...but not really
Ok, so this was ultra-confusing. But awesomely so.
The 'Ambassadors' had dinner tonight, minus a few non-essentials *cough*Meng*cough*. The occasion was the ambiguous part. Was it for Ray's birthday? Was it a random gathering of Ambassadors? Was it a chance to ditch Meng and talk behind his back? Was it a GMC meeting over drinks?
In truth, I think it was a combination of all of the above.
It was great. I think the only blight upon the night (ha, rhymes) was James being late. God, I hate waiting for that guy. It was raining too. Now everybody knows the truth, James. That's what you get for lying to everybody.
So we met up with Stef with an F at MC, Moonwalked our way towards Ray and into the restaurant on Lonsdale (I think).
Dinner happened, craziness, hilarity and laughter ensued. The waiters were hilarious. Hayley asked for the cake and sparklers to go with it. He thought we wanted speakers. We said no.
So then he brought the cake out. Turns out to be the wrong one. And he'd lit the candle and everything. Poor cake.
Ray cut up the cake into elephant-sized pieces, presumably because he could eat that much in one go. Elephant-sized, as in each piece was the size of an elephant, not as in elephant bite-sized.
Needless to say, my assumption was wrong, Ray couldn't finish his five pieces of cake, so I asked for a box. The girl gave me a box with an over-sized lid. So the logical thing to do, instead of giving us a lid that went over the box, was, of course, to Glad-Wrap it. Duh.
The train ride home was good fun. The car trip back home was dangerous and slightly illegal, yet oddly thrilling. I think I'm hooked on speeding now. Thanks a lot Anna. Oh, and thanks for the lift.
I think I'll try and organise a poker night next. Problem is, my dog is a bit wacko. I'll try and get something sorted out. In the meantime, Elena and James can organise the road trip. Should do this again sometime.
Oh, and Happy 19th Birthday Ray. Again.
Word of the Day: Late
The 'Ambassadors' had dinner tonight, minus a few non-essentials *cough*Meng*cough*. The occasion was the ambiguous part. Was it for Ray's birthday? Was it a random gathering of Ambassadors? Was it a chance to ditch Meng and talk behind his back? Was it a GMC meeting over drinks?
In truth, I think it was a combination of all of the above.
It was great. I think the only blight upon the night (ha, rhymes) was James being late. God, I hate waiting for that guy. It was raining too. Now everybody knows the truth, James. That's what you get for lying to everybody.
So we met up with Stef with an F at MC, Moonwalked our way towards Ray and into the restaurant on Lonsdale (I think).
Dinner happened, craziness, hilarity and laughter ensued. The waiters were hilarious. Hayley asked for the cake and sparklers to go with it. He thought we wanted speakers. We said no.
So then he brought the cake out. Turns out to be the wrong one. And he'd lit the candle and everything. Poor cake.
Ray cut up the cake into elephant-sized pieces, presumably because he could eat that much in one go. Elephant-sized, as in each piece was the size of an elephant, not as in elephant bite-sized.
Needless to say, my assumption was wrong, Ray couldn't finish his five pieces of cake, so I asked for a box. The girl gave me a box with an over-sized lid. So the logical thing to do, instead of giving us a lid that went over the box, was, of course, to Glad-Wrap it. Duh.
The train ride home was good fun. The car trip back home was dangerous and slightly illegal, yet oddly thrilling. I think I'm hooked on speeding now. Thanks a lot Anna. Oh, and thanks for the lift.
I think I'll try and organise a poker night next. Problem is, my dog is a bit wacko. I'll try and get something sorted out. In the meantime, Elena and James can organise the road trip. Should do this again sometime.
Oh, and Happy 19th Birthday Ray. Again.
Word of the Day: Late
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Ninja stars...that you can eat!
Handing out pastry ninja stars was the highlight of my week. That pretty much sums up how eventful it was. I mean, I didn't even get given ninja stars, I was doing the giving, and that was the most exciting thing. Ah, the simple joys of life.
The parties/events are coming thick and fast now. Funny how it coincides with busy work periods. Not entirely unexpected. It's my own fault for knowing people of which 90% have birthdays in the latter half of the year.
It's gonna be an awesome two months, and would be made even awesommer if I were to pass the accounting midsem. Please, please let me pass. Not that it matters that much, but my pride and dignity is at stake. Please. I worked hard for it, I don't know why I did that badly. I'm a good person (deep down). Please let me pass.
I don't know who I'm asking to let me pass. God I guess. Not that He would find my blog remotely interesting or informative.
Dinner with Ambassadors should be a blast tomorrow night. Hopefully safety in numbers in the city eh?
Word of the Day: Partay
The parties/events are coming thick and fast now. Funny how it coincides with busy work periods. Not entirely unexpected. It's my own fault for knowing people of which 90% have birthdays in the latter half of the year.
It's gonna be an awesome two months, and would be made even awesommer if I were to pass the accounting midsem. Please, please let me pass. Not that it matters that much, but my pride and dignity is at stake. Please. I worked hard for it, I don't know why I did that badly. I'm a good person (deep down). Please let me pass.
I don't know who I'm asking to let me pass. God I guess. Not that He would find my blog remotely interesting or informative.
Dinner with Ambassadors should be a blast tomorrow night. Hopefully safety in numbers in the city eh?
Word of the Day: Partay
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Open Day
After my masterpiece of a post on Friday (that was my last post - I highly recommend you read it, I think it's so good it has the potential to become a song - something like U Got It Bad), today's post will be about something much cheerier and happy.
That's right, Open Day 2009.
As opposed to Open Day, 2008. Which I did not go to.
Anyway.
It was good in many respects. For one, I could offer my services to people without being abused once, in contrast to my summer job, where being abused by customers was part of my job description. In fact, most of the people visiting were great. The fact that I got called a "good soul" and a "top bloke" says it all. I mean, nobody calls me those things. And I was just doing what I was supposed to as well.
Highlights (why do these things always seem to involve highlights - probably because I can't be bothered writing a coherent piece) included:
- Helium-balloon-making with Anna, Evonne and James (check that alphabetical order - I knows Engrish). That was pretty mad. But only after we got the damn thing working. The task required fingers of steel and a resolve of iron. Oh, and ability to hang onto a balloon. That's kind of important. Slightly. Also interesting to find out how many people within our society lack the core skill of being able to tie balloons - not that I would mention any names intentionally. Only in passing. *Cough* Stef with and F *cough*.
- Getting involved in awkward conversations with prospective students and their parents. Good practice for future life, navigating through these things.
- Having no clue where the science presentation things were. Always nice to be able to be the focus of comedic relief, even if I am being laughed at.
- Which leads on to finding out more about the uni, as I had no idea where half the stuff I was asked was.
- Spending time with Ambassador dudes and dudettes. Despite the dirt I dish at them, they are top, top people.
I wish this could be my permanent weekend job. Would be better than a lot of ones out there.
Word of the Day: Open Day
That's right, Open Day 2009.
As opposed to Open Day, 2008. Which I did not go to.
Anyway.
It was good in many respects. For one, I could offer my services to people without being abused once, in contrast to my summer job, where being abused by customers was part of my job description. In fact, most of the people visiting were great. The fact that I got called a "good soul" and a "top bloke" says it all. I mean, nobody calls me those things. And I was just doing what I was supposed to as well.
Highlights (why do these things always seem to involve highlights - probably because I can't be bothered writing a coherent piece) included:
- Helium-balloon-making with Anna, Evonne and James (check that alphabetical order - I knows Engrish). That was pretty mad. But only after we got the damn thing working. The task required fingers of steel and a resolve of iron. Oh, and ability to hang onto a balloon. That's kind of important. Slightly. Also interesting to find out how many people within our society lack the core skill of being able to tie balloons - not that I would mention any names intentionally. Only in passing. *Cough* Stef with and F *cough*.
- Getting involved in awkward conversations with prospective students and their parents. Good practice for future life, navigating through these things.
- Having no clue where the science presentation things were. Always nice to be able to be the focus of comedic relief, even if I am being laughed at.
- Which leads on to finding out more about the uni, as I had no idea where half the stuff I was asked was.
- Spending time with Ambassador dudes and dudettes. Despite the dirt I dish at them, they are top, top people.
I wish this could be my permanent weekend job. Would be better than a lot of ones out there.
Word of the Day: Open Day
Monday, 20 July 2009
Wow, no wind at all today
In a sudden reversal of normality, Monash wasn't windy while the rest of Victoria was being whipped by gale-force winds.
That's what I'd like to one day say truthfully.
In actual fact, while Victoria was being whipped by gale-force winds, Monash was caught in a TORNADO. I swear I'm still shivering from the cold. Maybe it was a stupid idea to wait outside the French room 15 mins early.
Uni was a lonely affair during my first break at 11 - 12. No one there. So I did something I normally don't do, because I consider it an utter waste of time, on par with sleeping. I stared out the window in the law library for at least half an hour. And I had my laptop on me as well. Just general ceebs I guess.
So it was that I went to my French room 15 minutes early in the the vague hope that Irene would be there early. Turned out to be a bad idea. Irene, like a sane person, turned up just when class was about to start, and I had been blown five metres from my original standing position by the ridiculous winds.
Reflections from uni today:
- lack of friends during break highlight how miserable uni would be without friends.
- friends seem to come in floods. I either don't see anyone for a whole hour, or I see friends from all different social groups in one place, whereby I have to talk to multiple people who don't know each other.
- Some one at Monash must have upset the wind gods once upon a time.
ANYWAY. In keeping my current fascination with time travel, I'm now going to talk about the dinner that happened last night.
Before that, I'm going to go on about my lost scarf for a bit.
So on Friday, I left my scarf outside Nando's at Melbourne Central. I called them a couple of hours later, told them I had left a black and white striped scarf out the front, they said no worries, we've got it.
I rock up there yesterday arvo, spirits sky high, then I get shot down because not only do they bring out a scarf which isn't mine, but it's a girl's scarf. I mean sure, it was black and white, but it was checkered. And girl-like. I knew I couldn't be so lucky.
So "Ambassadors" dinner, and pre-dinner snacks, and more pre-dinner snacks was a blast. It was so awesome. I dunno why. I mean, I could still barely walk.
What happened is as follows. James and I (yeah, correct grammar, take that!) caught the Glen line, headed out to MC and to Nando's (worst Nando's ever by the way). Scarfgate occurred, I had a sulk, hardened up, and we met Hayley up there. A few moments later, who did we espy but Elena and Stef with an F downstairs. They told us they were coming up. However, girls' attraction to shoes will never cease to amaze me. On the way to meeting us, they manage to stop off at a shoe shop and try some out. And we're all like, "Sooooo...where are they?"
We ended up looking for them, found them and walked to Myer so James and I could buy ice-cream (random much?) The girls then decided they wanted Max Brenner/Bubblecup/Grill'd, so where else but QV next. James, Hayley and I bought chips, Stef with an F bought waffles (I think) and some strawberry stuff with Elena, all of which made us very full.
AND THEN. Kevin Hu sneak attack! The guy full ambushed us in Grill'd. He just HAPPENS to wander into Grill'd. So we ended up having high times with Big Kev and the rest of us.
So back to Melbourne Central to meet with Kanji "I was half an hour late" Low and David "I'm twenty minutes away from MC" Meng. Meng ended up being about 20 mins off his ETA, while Kanji...met us at the restaurant.
AND THEN. The 5 billionth random thing of the day happened. Ran into Orrin and Cathy AND Tom at MC. They decided to join us for dinner cos their friend Kate didn't rock up.
So off to Chinatown we went. Meng and I got lost because Meng has no idea where he's going at the best of times, and I was following him. Also because we were seeing Kevin off while the rest of the traitorous scum left us. So after about 10 minutes sauntering (or, in my case, shuffling awkwardly) around the bad streets of Chinatown, we got there.
For some strange reason, there were stairs everywhere in that restaurant. Food wasn't too bad, we'll leave it at that.
Afterwards, caught up with Ray at Fed Square, and also met Seb. On the way, guess what, something random happened. Michael Phan popped up out of nowhere. Good times all around.
The girls wanted to go Maccas, Tom wanted to go Starbucks. We went to Maccas first, I entertained everyone with my trademark humour, then we went our separate ways because Tom has shares in Starbucks so he only buys food and drink from there. Bye Orrin and Co.
After chilling at Maccas, went to Flinders and randomly met Ray and Co there. All the cool people caught the Glen Waverley back (James was reflecting on whether it would pay more to bet on a triple in the dice game at Crown or me catching the Glen twice in a day), and more good times ensued, mostly due to Ray and his awesome English ("Wait...what you just said...was that in Latin or English?") If only more people had turned up *cough* not naming anyone because I'm a nice guy *cough*, would've been an absolute highlight of this half of the year...because it's been so long since this half of the year started.
I'm sure I didn't do the night justice, as I definitely left stuff out. Probably all my awesome jokes and all the bad ones that Meng made. Should do it again sometime, but not on a Friday.
Word of the Day: Dinner
That's what I'd like to one day say truthfully.
In actual fact, while Victoria was being whipped by gale-force winds, Monash was caught in a TORNADO. I swear I'm still shivering from the cold. Maybe it was a stupid idea to wait outside the French room 15 mins early.
Uni was a lonely affair during my first break at 11 - 12. No one there. So I did something I normally don't do, because I consider it an utter waste of time, on par with sleeping. I stared out the window in the law library for at least half an hour. And I had my laptop on me as well. Just general ceebs I guess.
So it was that I went to my French room 15 minutes early in the the vague hope that Irene would be there early. Turned out to be a bad idea. Irene, like a sane person, turned up just when class was about to start, and I had been blown five metres from my original standing position by the ridiculous winds.
Reflections from uni today:
- lack of friends during break highlight how miserable uni would be without friends.
- friends seem to come in floods. I either don't see anyone for a whole hour, or I see friends from all different social groups in one place, whereby I have to talk to multiple people who don't know each other.
- Some one at Monash must have upset the wind gods once upon a time.
ANYWAY. In keeping my current fascination with time travel, I'm now going to talk about the dinner that happened last night.
Before that, I'm going to go on about my lost scarf for a bit.
So on Friday, I left my scarf outside Nando's at Melbourne Central. I called them a couple of hours later, told them I had left a black and white striped scarf out the front, they said no worries, we've got it.
I rock up there yesterday arvo, spirits sky high, then I get shot down because not only do they bring out a scarf which isn't mine, but it's a girl's scarf. I mean sure, it was black and white, but it was checkered. And girl-like. I knew I couldn't be so lucky.
So "Ambassadors" dinner, and pre-dinner snacks, and more pre-dinner snacks was a blast. It was so awesome. I dunno why. I mean, I could still barely walk.
What happened is as follows. James and I (yeah, correct grammar, take that!) caught the Glen line, headed out to MC and to Nando's (worst Nando's ever by the way). Scarfgate occurred, I had a sulk, hardened up, and we met Hayley up there. A few moments later, who did we espy but Elena and Stef with an F downstairs. They told us they were coming up. However, girls' attraction to shoes will never cease to amaze me. On the way to meeting us, they manage to stop off at a shoe shop and try some out. And we're all like, "Sooooo...where are they?"
We ended up looking for them, found them and walked to Myer so James and I could buy ice-cream (random much?) The girls then decided they wanted Max Brenner/Bubblecup/Grill'd, so where else but QV next. James, Hayley and I bought chips, Stef with an F bought waffles (I think) and some strawberry stuff with Elena, all of which made us very full.
AND THEN. Kevin Hu sneak attack! The guy full ambushed us in Grill'd. He just HAPPENS to wander into Grill'd. So we ended up having high times with Big Kev and the rest of us.
So back to Melbourne Central to meet with Kanji "I was half an hour late" Low and David "I'm twenty minutes away from MC" Meng. Meng ended up being about 20 mins off his ETA, while Kanji...met us at the restaurant.
AND THEN. The 5 billionth random thing of the day happened. Ran into Orrin and Cathy AND Tom at MC. They decided to join us for dinner cos their friend Kate didn't rock up.
So off to Chinatown we went. Meng and I got lost because Meng has no idea where he's going at the best of times, and I was following him. Also because we were seeing Kevin off while the rest of the traitorous scum left us. So after about 10 minutes sauntering (or, in my case, shuffling awkwardly) around the bad streets of Chinatown, we got there.
For some strange reason, there were stairs everywhere in that restaurant. Food wasn't too bad, we'll leave it at that.
Afterwards, caught up with Ray at Fed Square, and also met Seb. On the way, guess what, something random happened. Michael Phan popped up out of nowhere. Good times all around.
The girls wanted to go Maccas, Tom wanted to go Starbucks. We went to Maccas first, I entertained everyone with my trademark humour, then we went our separate ways because Tom has shares in Starbucks so he only buys food and drink from there. Bye Orrin and Co.
After chilling at Maccas, went to Flinders and randomly met Ray and Co there. All the cool people caught the Glen Waverley back (James was reflecting on whether it would pay more to bet on a triple in the dice game at Crown or me catching the Glen twice in a day), and more good times ensued, mostly due to Ray and his awesome English ("Wait...what you just said...was that in Latin or English?") If only more people had turned up *cough* not naming anyone because I'm a nice guy *cough*, would've been an absolute highlight of this half of the year...because it's been so long since this half of the year started.
I'm sure I didn't do the night justice, as I definitely left stuff out. Probably all my awesome jokes and all the bad ones that Meng made. Should do it again sometime, but not on a Friday.
Word of the Day: Dinner
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