Let’s get high.

Trouble got the best of me since Monday, well it was something similar to the scenario i tried to illustrate yesterday. Ever since, i’ve lost every single bit of my appetite (lost some weight), i’ve became extremely embarrassed (eating lunch in the corridors instead of the staff tea room), living in fear/anxiety and constantly waiting for the final verdict.

No no, sneaking around in the pantry and globbing down cakes is absolutely not what i did, but instead i was involved with a case of using the University’s internet extensively.

The School of Chemical Engineering Department was billed by the University’s internet service provider, with the bill spiked up by more than twenty folds courtesy of my room mate and i.

These two months of blissful watching/downloading shows online, storing them for the nights/weekends wasn’t free afterall because apparently each gigabyte of download cost $30 AUD/$39 SGD. So much of being thrifty during trips/meals, when we were actually burning cold hard cash everytime we downloaded anything.

Everyone was left dumbfounded by the price the department is charged for each gigabyte. For your information, the internet connection wasn’t that spectacular, it was especially dodgy.

Anyhow, i choked up 22 gigabyte of bandwidth usage, which shall cost me $660 AUD/$858 SGD.

Above is my internet usage plotted against the days. The days with the highest spikes, is the days i bled the most unknowingly.

However, i was nowhere near the undisputed download champion, my room mate. He used a total of 76 gigabyte (estimated), which shall rob him a total of $2280 AUD/$2964 SGD. With the whole department added up, they might be able to get near my usage within two months, but definitely light years away from the undisputed download champion.

The issue was brought up today during the weekly staff meeting. My supervisor, Dr Bremmell managed to speak up for the both of us and after some serious discussion, the Head of Department decided we will not be liable for the charges since there are some flaws noticed with the system.

Conclusion

1. The following batch of internship students will not be issued a staff account like we did anymore, which we abused unknowingly. They will be most probably handed a capped account, with limited usage.
2. The punishment for now, will be the banned account, which i can get back later. It’s wise just to lay low in prone position till they totally forget who the heck are we. Yeah, the record breaking download manics.
3. Our grades will not be at stake, since our supervisor gave us their words and they are a two whole different matters.
4. We can un-cancel our planned Christmas Melbourne trip, yayness.
5. Singapore residential/school’s internet service providers might be providing unlimited usage for anyone, but never assume it works the same for any other parts of the world. You might be monitored and tracked constantly.
6. Always make sure you ask, and double check before you go ahead and approve yourself to use anything, be it for work or personal.
7. I must take back the countless times i shouted Adelaide Sucks! It’s not going to be that bad, since we were saved.

I would like to take this time to Thank God, for seeing me through this, giving me understanding/loving parents, the peace and words of knowledge that i was able to find in my bible, to help me fall asleep. My friends here, especially Janice, who stood by me with what i needed most these few long horrendous days. Oh, thanks for original splendid donut, they were exceptionally great and i felt very guilty to make you run after your bus.

Thank God it’s Friday, and most importantly, Free.

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