Adios

I've come to a decision to move to tumblr for real since I am increasingly treating this blog like a tumblr.
So to go to my tumblr, just click 'tumblr' above there.

Alternatively to make it easier, click this picture.

 

Just for laugh & food for thought

Stumbled upon this article

VINCOLI: No student freedom at NUS

produced by Daily Yale News. Basically written by an American exchange student to NUS and attending political science lectures in NUS. Main purpose of article is to express his views on the academic restrictions in NUS, lack of freedom and his horror in not being able to express his views during examination in fear that the PAP would arrest him for it. Posting this up because it is such a funny read because of his sweeping generalizations made from unreliable anecdotes. :p

Reading the comments is even better than the article...

"The example about being "threatened with arrest" for standing at an airport terminal is absolutely ridiculous. As a US citizen who has lived in Singapore, I'd like to make the simple point that you are way more likely to be threatened with arrest at a US airport than in Singapore. 
I wish people would stop complaining about the whole Yale-NUS thing. Honestly, if you want the country to open up, then start this liberal arts institution and HELP THEM move in that direction. 
Don't do the same old American cultural imperialism bullshit and just vindicate other countries and concoct horror stories just to validate yourself as a self-appointed moral arbitrator."


hahahaha

CNY #2

Spent the whole of 2nd day CNY with a bunch of guys. I think the nice thing about spending time with guys is that you can just sit there and watch them kick ass on xbox or get wowed by skyrim, don't have to do much. I thank God I'm a girl who loves watching people game and am interested in gaming (:

So CNY started off with Jeff, Nathan and Joel coming to my house to visit. Jeff was amused with how 'taiwanese' my dad can be, more so than his own mother who is the real Taiwanese. Saboteur together before all 3 of us travel to Nate's place only to watch him play skyrim while I go gaga over the game's graphics. awesome graphics. awesome gameplay. Highly recommended game. Booked our flight to Korea together as well, so that's one thing done (: Two other came over, trashed them in Street Fighter until I played with Joel and he trashed me. sigh. Dinner together there with the parents as well before we all went to Joel's place to visit.

CNY is pretty good this year. Can't wait to meet my girls this Sunday for visiting too though a little sad that I'm missing lunch at the hawker near my JC with them - It's suppose to be our nostalgic lunch. Still, can't wait to meet them (:

CNY #1

My cousin's wife already gave birth to three kids so far and is still slim and pretty. I hope when I give birth to my own kids in the future, I can still stay pretty and not be fat.

My two nieces, bubbly girls at 4 & 6 years old, are so intelligent and cute. I think the older sister is even smarter than some of the primary 1 kids I have at the student-care centre I work in. My cousin is definitely doing something right in bringing up his daughters. (: Can't wait for the youngest baby nephew to grow up.

Someone dear reminded me today that each Pineapple tart worth of calories require 2km of running to burn off. Coupled with how my relatives said I look more plump this year and the fact that stepping on the weighing machine these days no longer gives me as much satisfaction as compared to sometime back, my new Resolution for the year is to end 2012 looking slimmer, healthier and fresher.

I envision myself at the end of 2012 being less fat than now, with auburn hair that is as long as before I cut it recently (because I'm dying to dye my hair in Korea for the thrill of it), hopefully happier, healthier and fresher after a nice SEP. Shall make that happen!

Actually I like this color but no idea if it is nice on me. Definitely not with my current hair length, but if it is much longer...?

Crushed Garnet

Frivolous post. I'm just bored.

novelty lost is not happiness gone

one month!
simple one, not even a single frill. Glad for that because I prepared nothing myself hahaha

Its strange how this doesn't really feel that short; doesn't feel like it is one month. Maybe too many 'transitions per se' happened last year over a not too long stretch of time from the start of the year to the end, such that the novelty and thrill is not really there as compared to how it is like when people first started out.

Despite so, I won't deny smiling from ear to ear when the first thing I heard upon meeting is that happy one month. Imagine how it would be like after 10 months of LD, after returning to Singapore from South Korea in time for one year, if that happens, if God intends so. That day would mean so much more I guess, just in time before the world 'ends' according to the Mayan Calender

exchange

:] Some friends may be going to South Korea just before school starts in NUS, to travel with me for around a week?

Which means if all goes well, I'm leaving Singapore in end July, once their trip is confirmed (pretty much so) and once I get my KU admission package and book my own one-way flight. :) Can't wait! Hope to get my letter from KU soon. Will be staying at Myeong-dong for the trip, which is a happening place (: yay

School is over for me till after CNY (: Pretty good so far except having many more readings which are not like before anymore - more demanding and harder to absorb. Just hope all goes well in 2012

First Week

The first week of school is effectively over and I am already lagging behind my readings. So starting from this week onward, I'm going to school at 830am even if lecture is at 12pm, just to catch up since I somehow don't ever use weekends to study.

Went for Foster The People Live in Singapore at Fort Canning yesterday. At the end of the concert, the first thing that came to my mind was "this is way more tiring than clubbing". Nevertheless, the gig was awesome. (: Would be better if Houdini, my favorite song by them, was not played first, but Pumped Up Kicks as the ending song was definitely a good one. Loved their musical interludes and transitions between songs - nicely weaved between songs to create a beautiful tapestry.

Wedding on 7 Jan

Pictures courtesy to other people, because I took them off facebook. :p

Their JC photo

Page boy and flower girl 'walk' the aisle with style

School has been alright so far for the past two days. Tons of readings to do so soon, many which I have to search myself from LINC (the online NUS library server) or visit RBR (reserve section of library) to find the specific book and photocopy the specific chapters, really troublesome. I wish I have a laptop because it is getting harder to keep everything organized and not have to kill too many trees :(

However modules are promisingly interesting and just glad I don't have to stress over Korean this semester.

End of Holidays

First day of school today!

It had been a good holiday; a busy one at first, but ended off with many relaxing and fun things to do. Liangfu and Yuan was married 2 days back and I feel so happy for them. After 9 years of being together since JC1, they are finally married and you can just sense everyone's joy for them during the wedding. Wedding was held at the Chapel of Holy Spirit in SAJC, the school where they first met, which makes the place all the more special. The wedding on Saturday was so sweet and heartwarming; self-written vows memorized, a video confessing how they met, first kiss, what they think of each other...and a very funny and handsome groom with a very bubbly and pretty bride. (:
More pictures soon

God first love us, and that's why we can love others and live a life of love.


Watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo recently, not realizing its a R21 show till upon entering the theatre. Thankfully I was not checked, must be due to the heels I was wearing and the one with me in business attire after visiting a career fair. The movie is a good one so I'm glad that my first R21 is a good show, and just glad that I watch all the traumatizing scenes with someone I trust, which makes watching a R21 movie less traumatizing.

For this holiday I...
Watched the same movie twice
I watched 6 movies (in cinemas or videos): Apple of My Eye, One Day, The Classic (Korean show), Sherlock Holmes, Summer Wars (Japanese animated show), The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo
I ran very little and put on weight because I was sick
I was sick
I fell down at Pulau Ubin and so I can't exercise again till my injuries are healed -.-
I went for 3 retreats altogether
I celebrated a great Christmas
I had a quiet NYE
I got into exchange and submitted my applications
I gained something

Right now, I feel so thankful after all the honest (and a tad emotional) talks recently. I really hope by God's grace and favor, we can go through whatever. I pray that I am good and become better.

“That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it and think how different its course would have been. Pause, you who read this, and think for a long moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on that memorable day.”

—	Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

So on the second day of the year, I went to Pulau Ubin, lost control of my bike and fell badly. The first dive to the floor I've ever made in life. My mommy teared when I removed the plaster covering my chin and showed her my bruise. I didn't expect that.

Just glad I didn't break any bones, fall off a cliff and lost my life. GLAD TO BE ALIVE! :D

2012, you sure start on an exciting note.

Kindness 2 retreat this year felt short because all the guys have to book-in or attend classes. It felt different to have them leave the retreat earlier. Nonetheless, had a good time of steamboat, taboo, sharing, encouragements and so on. (: 

Starting to feel bored with my holiday and can't wait to go to school. First month of school always feels like holiday especially for the second semester, thanks to Chinese New Year, so I'm not complaining even if school starts next Monday. With my awesome timetable next semester, I'm going to live through a semester of long weekends that can be as long as 4 days :)
This semester is going to be way better than the previous one.

For this semester, I am going to...
1) The beach
2) Gym after class with cherie
3) Visit Butter
4) the usual commitments
5) try not to lag behind my readings
6) improve my CAP before it freezes for SEP

E of NYE and NYE

Eve of NYE

Went to the Night Safari with 9 others yesterday :) LOVE THAT PLACE! We sat on the tram and oh boy, when we went pass the wolves, the howling was so intense and blood-chilling, yet strangely luring and beautiful in a gothic way. The moon wasn't even a full one. Night Safari is better than the zoo in my honest opinion. And this is said by a girl who went to the zoo twice last year, the jurong birdpark this year and twice to the night safari in about 3 years. Dear Singaporeans, when was the last time you visit any of these zoological conservation parks? :p

The only Polaroid I took that day

Loving my sis's Christmas to me which is an instax mini 7s.

 

So today is NYE and the day to tie loose ends. Don't feel like I have any loose ends to tie which is great, so here are some resolutions I am making for year 2012.

1) Be still and live in quiet contentment often

2) Be chill and cool

3) Be an understanding, thoughtful, supportive and encouraging ...

4) Be a good friend

5) To achieve greater independence or learn to be even more independent (I have to anyway, when I go overseas...)

6) Be daring to try, willing to learn, ready to absorb and eager to explore

7) To have a good prayerful life, intercede, read the bible, trust God.

Christmas

ITS NYE! but before I type my resolutions, just feel like posting some sneak peak of my Christmas.

    

Looks nice isn't it. I felt like a lucky girl that day. (:

End of year ritual

I possess so much sentimental junks, I should really sit down and force myself to throw them away. It is when looking at some old stuff that makes me realize how much I've changed over the many years. For example, I was reading a diary I wrote when I was secondary One and I now think I sounded like a brat; very judgmental. Saw old photos and I looked like a nerd. hahaha. Never ever will post those pictures up but...its a humbling experience to realize how richly God has blessed me with as I grow up.

I promise myself, I will throw away stuff and do a proper spring cleaning before I leave for Korea next year. There will come a point in life when you just have to throw away the distant past and embrace the new future; even if throwing away old stuff can result of a bit of a heart pain but that's part of seeing who are those that entered your life, and also those who stays. Guess that day is catching up on me with my overflowing messy cupboard and drawers

I'm entering the new year with very messy shelves, tables and blahs. time to stop hoarding and start throwing

2011 is quite an interesting year.
I entered the year with a broken heart that was on recovery. I'm ending 2011 with a heart that's thankfully still intact.
I entered the year not knowing I would meet anyone important. I'm ending 2011 with one more important person to the list
I entered the year with straight hair. I'm ending 2011 with wavy and longer hair.
I entered the year still liking songs that are not in English. I'm ending 2011 loving indie English songs.
I entered the year with a neater table. I'm ending 2011 with a messier table and notes that I haven't cleared.

and I think there can be more to the list. Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to 2012 (: Actually looking forward to experiencing more, so maybe throwing away stuff is not that bad a thing.

Gimme Sympathy

Modules that I am doing next semester:

Social Thoughts and Theory

Ethnographic analysis of visual media  Urban Sociology

Religion in society and culture

Gender, space and place

Science of Music

No Korean! :D

I enjoyed last year's Christmas, and I definitely enjoy Christmas this year as well (:
Really had a good dinner and a nice-but-lazy-and-chill Christmas. It's the company that matters I guess.
Thank you God for the many blessing; sometimes I wonder if I deserve it because I doubt You so often. But you are great that way (:

A Merry Mixtape

Love this mix-tape for the season. (:

This year the Christmas songs in my iPod are so good, I'm going to leave them in my iPod all year round. May a bit of Christmas follows me all the time - most importantly, may the joy of Christmas last.

Even as we get cooped up with the whole flurry of Christmas when we rush to buy presents, hurry tidy the house and fill up the schedule with Christmas plans, it's always good to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christ came to Earth to die for us so that we can be free. God first love us so that we love as well.

Even when the weather is cool, the fairy lights are up, the Christmas trees are decorated and the kitchens are filled with goodies - remember that somewhere out there a family is starving, a kid is freezing, people are dying..

Not to make us feel morose with the festivities and jaded with the joyous occasion, but to get out of apathy and be thankful for the blessings we have.