Some fun stuff from my lecturer who teaches the tourism module:


What Gets You Through a Stressful Day / Week / Semester?
Views from your Friendly Geography Lecturers
Originally compiled for ‘Geog Soc’ in 2005, updated in April 2008

[Dr Shirlena Huang]
Prayer, the sympathetic ears of friends, and my kids.

[Dr David Higgitt]
Knowing that we live in a tropical paradise. Well, at least it’s a tropical paradise compared to a damp winter in northern Britain.

[Dr Victor Savage]
By relaxing with music, appreciating art and enjoying travel.

[Dr Wang Yi-Chen]
The 3Cs: coffee, cake, and cartoon (especially Japanese animation)

[Dr Henry Yeung]
As usual, a good afternoon nap is all I need to get through a tough week!

[Dr Brenda Yeoh]
Reflect on past times when the going was good, and think of the wide spaces that stretch beyond today.

[Dr Pow C P]
(1) Rummaging through my grad school photos and remembering the bygone carefree days
(2) Stuffing myself silly with honey-glazed doughnuts from Clementi Interchange (at least 3 different stores to choose from); and last resort
(3) Going to Dr Harvey Neo’s room and pulling out his IKEA sofabed and… zzzzzz.

[Dr Lu Xi Xi]
Having short-term and long-term plans written down; then forget them till the particular day/date!

[Dr Harvey Neo]
Hmmm, good question though I never seriously though about how I relax, I guess my answer would be ‘Snack, Shower and Sleep’ in that order.

[Dr Tim Bunnell]
I am a self-confessed former Red-Bull addict. I would not have finished my PhD without the stuff. I’m still know to need a can now and then during semester; I am also still (sadly) partial to the ultimate evil black liquid (Coca Cola). But mostly I now use high-caffeine drinks for clubbing rather than work. Sunday morning matches are my main stress release – I take it out on the ball, and sometimes, opponents.

[Dr Carl Grundy-Warr]
(1) Music, anything by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (cos they don’t pretend to be young or nice);
(2) Wonderful family and friends (though not always relaxing!);
(3) Red wine or dark beer in the evenings (but not every night!) and definitely a Kopi-O (every morning!);
(4) Watching Newcastle United when they play well. When they play badly this is a cause of intense stress!;
(5) Doing work I enjoy is actually anti-stressful (as opposed to the work I don’t enjoy, which has the opposing effect, and I dare not be too specific about this!!!)

[Dr Matthias Roth]
Work hard, play hard. The latter, unfortunately, often comes up too short.

[Dr Lily Kong]
With the help from friends whom one can relax with, laugh with, eat with, play with…

[Dr Lim Han She]
Meeting Porsches on the road and my Russian cameras get me through the week.

[Dr TC Chang]
Any form of physical exercise energises me. Swimming long laps, Saturday morning walks with my dog, yoga, hitting the gym, and then a backbreaking massage. These activities take my mind off teaching, writing and other concerns, and give me a fresh perspective when I do return to work.