disclaimer.
Navigations above the posts
Enjoy your stay here,
&hope something would inspire you.
Keep everything that's here just between you and me okay ;)
Friday 27 January 2017
@20:23
Happy CNY from Indo!
It's my first time celebrating chinese new year back in my home town in Tebing Tinggi, Indonesia. Everyone's busy with cleaning the house, preparing stuff for praying etc. And I feel like a guest sometimes, rather than part of the house/family? Because I wasn't asked to help much with anything until today.
Yummy yummy food for reunion dinner!
We also had our reunion dinner today. Reunion? My ass. Everyone can't even sit to eat and finish together. I thought we would. Guess I expected too much from this cold family of mine. I know it's not a very happy thing for the lunar new year but I felt the need to record this here so that I'll remember this forever. Anyway, not everyone has arrived (my aunt and my cousin haven't) but the rest of us (mum, dad, sis and me) just ate first. At first my mum didn't want to eat because she hasn't bathe yet and my dad just went to take his rice and utensils and started eating first. I told my mum to bathe later and so she did and the four of us ate first. We ate quietly at the table and then my dad was done and he left just like that, leaving the three of us at the table. Then my sister was done, and she left. My mum was done, and she left. And then I'm left.
I don't know. I kind of expected us to wait for everyone to arrive, and we start together and leave (the table) together. Maybe this is too high an expectations for a family reunion dinner? This dinner just felt like it was any other day - everyone scattered in their meal times with no talking whatsoever.
I feel guilty for saying this, but I suddenly felt like I'd rather be back in Singapore if this is called reunion. I don't even feel reunited with my family like this. LOL. I (still) hardly have conversations with my dad and I hardly get to talk to my mum because she's so busy.
Life.
Anyway, I got myself a haircut today! Trying out fringe again in the longest time ever :)
Yay or nay?
&the pages keep turning.
Monday 23 January 2017
@01:23
It's been a busy and fulfilling week! I'm really happy that my time was well-spent through the conversations with friends and catching up with people whom I haven't seen in awhile :)
Started off the week with dinner with Wenz at some cheap food place at Bugis. If you want to know any places with budget food < $8 but with aircon and all, can always count on her HAHAHHA. She just knows where to go.
Tuesday, there was an i-Intern fair at UTown. I went to help out at the KidsGlobal booth - the company that I was interning at when I was in China. I had a nice catch up with Calean and Jinjia who were at the booth too! I also went to other booths to see see look look when we didn't have much "business" and thankful to speak to someone from WorldVision and they are offering internship positions! Shall go apply ASAP. And the guy that I spoke to seemed really friendly and keen? I hope I left a good impression on him. Haha
I then went to JB with Emm on Wednesday. Ate and shopped till we dropped. Hahaha :D Super duper fun! Next is shopping for work clothing? HEHE
One of my favourite dark blue dresses that I bought :D
I also met KY to have Tendon lunch on Thursday and the food was yummy and the company was awesomeeee. She has so many insights about life. It's really nice to chat with her!
NY pangseh-ed me for dinner and I was really upset about it but he ended up appearing at my houseeee. Omggg.
On Friday I went over to Jac's house to cook. IT WAS SO MUCH FUNNNNN AND LOOK AT OUR FOOD AND CAFE LEVEL PHOTO. Hahahah. Erm, I need to improve my cooking skills though. Jac's mum end up helping us a lot ._. I think we were somewhat a burden hahah oops.
I got to meet Val, Yi Jia, Ethan and Joshua this week too! And Wen Yi and Jingqun in the next two days. Blessed to be able to meet all of them before I head home! ^^
Anyway, I tried putting on lipstick. HAHA see the difference?
This coming week, I'm gonna go back to Indo to celebrate CNY. It's my first time celebrating CNY in Indo ever since I came to Singapore when I was 5+ years old :) Anyway, I'm slightly looking forward to going home after 2.5 years too! And I'm flying back on Garuda for the first time in 10 years ^^
So many things to look forward to~!
&the pages keep turning.
Sunday 15 January 2017
@18:19
They say that the pupils dilate when you're looking at the person you're attracted to.
I felt so happy and assured when NY looked at me today because his pupils dilated by a lot (apparently mine didn't dilate that much haha). 小感动 because I always feel that I like him more. Well, this dilation of pupils thingy doesn't say much about who likes who more, but at least I know he really really really likes me hahahaha. Now need to see his pupils when he talks to other girls hahahahah.
#physiologyoverpsychology
&the pages keep turning.
Saturday 14 January 2017
@23:54
"Post-graduation bumming around" - Yep, that's what I'm doing these days - Indulging in the freedom of time, space and freedom in general.
Met up with these student assistants lao jiao and had yummy korean food at Yoogane. Would recommend this place! But don't be so crazy like us; we ordered 4 portions of noodle + topeokki side dish on top of the cheese galbi. Ate till we cannot take it already la. Then after that we went to eat rainbow snow outside of Plaza Sing and it was really yummy! Each rainbow layer had its own flavour. Would recommend this too! Before JH and ZH came, I met Chings and we had a nice catch up about our holiday and trips. I think the older I get, the more comfortable I am with talking to this guy. Funny huh, in a good way.
Finally met this girl after my one month hiatus!! I think a lot has been going on for her in the month I was away and I'm thankful that she would still be willing share with me :) I had udon (again) for lunch. Missing Japanese food. Couldn't psycho her to like udon though hahahahha. Anyway, I always have so much fun talking to her. She's really interesting and bubbly. It rained soon after and since I didn't have an umbrella, she agreed to stay to accompany me until the rain subsided! SO WE WENT AROUND TRYING COSMETICS. HAHAHAHA. And guess what, I just bought some recently. LOL maybe after applying once it'll get chucked somewhere in the cupboards again. Tsk. Impulsive buys, really. Sigh.
Last night, some of us went back to CAPT for the alumni dinner. Most have graduated and are holding stable jobs, and some are even engaged (like Carol & Abi). I'm feeling so heartened that everyone seems to be well or fine at least :) and I sincerely can't wait to attend friends' weddings or go for their house warming or something haha! The alumni dinner got a bit awkward at some point though because I'm generally not close to people other than our gang and NY's gang. But everyone went to talk to other people whom they wanted to catch up with, sometimes, leaving me without anyone to talk to. Haha. But well, that's who I am now, not so sociable anymore.
Looking back at my 4.5 years of Uni education, I don't think I made many close friends especially in my senior years. But I'm not regretting that or more like if I were to study all over again, I'd still choose to make friends the way I did. I think in my senior years, I was a lot more focused in maintaining old (primary school, secondary school and JC mates) and new (CAPT and other friends I made in Year 1 & 2) friendships. And I think that's what I'm doing now as well.
And I want to keep doing that in 2017 - maintain contact with these friends.
I haven't really written a closure for 2016 and wishes for 2017, so here it is.
2016 wasn't exceptionally eventful other than the travelling that I did.
School
2016: School was alright. The first half was crazy but second half was really lax for me - which explains the grades that I got too haha.
2017: Since school is out, next, I hope to get a job soon and that I'll like and find challenge in.
Family
2016: My aunt caught NY in our house one day and she didn't speak to me for 6 months because she was angry with me for bringing him to our house (My aunt really dislikes people coming to our house which explains why I don't invite anyone over). My relationship with my mum and dad are getting better I guess. With wechat, I chat with my mum slightly more often. And I talked to my dad more often when he's here in Singapore too. The huge change was my nanny and sis' departure - going back to Indonesia for good. I wrote about it in my previous post already so I shan't elaborate here anymore. I guess I'm feeling a little better since that evening I cried in NY's embrace. He must have been shocked. I was just casually telling him about my sis and I suddenly couldn't hold back my tears.
2017: I hope to continue to improve my relationship with my parents and hopefully give some support to my sis by chatting with her on the phone, buying for her useful things that can stimulate her brain. I would like to visit and chat with Dagu and Uncle John more too!
Friends
2016: I think I put in effort to meet up with friends *a pat on my shoulder*
2017: I would like to continue making effort to maintain old friendships!
Ni Yi and his family
2016: I enjoyed the stability in our relationship :) Somehow I felt like I talked less to his family though. They used to be chattier and talk more to me during dinners but not so anymore? Haha I don't know if it's a sign of comfortability or they really have nothing to talk to me about...
2017: I would like to maintain this stability too and continue to grow together!
Travels
2016: I travelled 1/3 of the year and I feel blessed for being able to do so. Getting an overseas internship opportunity, travelling in China for a month and realising the beauty of its people and the country as opposed to the stereotypes we hear about, going back to Laos to visit the villagers and kids, going to Vietnam and Japan for the first time, checking in and arriving at T3 for the first time, be in Vietnam twice in less than 24 hours (haha), trekking overseas, riding bike again after the accident that I caused back at home in Indo - I'm really privileged to be able to go on these journeys and I'm so thankful for everyone I met on my trips, the houses/hostels/hotels that I stayed at, the company and colleagues that I interned at, the friends that I made and went to the trips with and I'm just thankful for being able to experience what I experienced.
2017: I probably won't get to travel as much this year, but I hope to continue to be thankful for my journeys, wherever they may be and whatever they may hold.
2017: I want to read more news and books this year. At least one book a month, aim is 12 this year!
Reading
2016: I started reading BBC news towards the end of the year thanks to Ni Yi. Yup I think I do need to know more about worldly issues.2017: I want to read more news and books this year. At least one book a month, aim is 12 this year!
Personal Growth
2016: I think my biggest takeaway for personal growth is completing the treks that I did - Longji rice terraces, Tiger leaping gorge, Sapa rice terraces. I never knew that I would be able to complete them, and in fact, completing them with little complains. Okay the hike for tiger leaping gorge was so tough for me that I cried but at least I didn't whine or complain. These hikes make me realise that I really like challenges and I can do it. Even though I complain (before the trips) about how I don't like hiking/trekking, but I always end up doing it anyway and I feel good when I complete them.
I feel that I learnt to be less uptight too - about time and about planning. Sometimes the fun is in the impromptu-ness and the flexibility.
I feel that I learnt to be less uptight too - about time and about planning. Sometimes the fun is in the impromptu-ness and the flexibility.
2017: Maybe challenge myself to some running? Haha. I hope in 2017 I would continue to take up challenges and not let challenges bring me down. Instead, let challenges be my motivation take up something new, and/or look at them in different perspectives.
Cheers to a year filled with more bravery and adventures!
&the pages keep turning.
Saturday 7 January 2017
@17:13
Recently, my sis gives me calls quite frequently (more than once a day is frequent), considering that she's back in Indo and has little business with me.
The kind of questions she asked me are "where are you," "what are you doing now," "where is xiaogu/daddy" etc. I think she really misses them now that they're not by her side. And I asked what she's been doing and she said "watch TV."
My heart shattered a billion pieces.
Up till now, I'm filled with so much disappointment towards my parents and their decisions about my sister's future. She got into a vocational school and had initially asked me to submit acceptance to her enrolment and then in the end they decided to pull out. And now, she's just rotting at home in Indo with no one to talk to, no one to teach her anything new, no one to stimulate her brain, no one who can make her feel useful. And that's what they call 'protecting her'
It must be so awful for her to feel like nothing in this world.
Although I love the fact that I have the room to myself now, but after thinking about her not having anything to do in Indo and just rotting her life without any opportunities for self-actualisation, I feel so much unjust for her and I'd really rather she be with me in Singapore.
Wish my parents could rethink their decisions.
&the pages keep turning.
Thursday 5 January 2017
@00:50
Hi and happy new year! I'm finally back from my trips and here are some nicer looking photos to 回味 my experiences. I will try to blog more in the upcoming week or so about my trips (if I don't get too lazy), 2016 reflections, and my plans in 2017. My trips in a nutshell:
The first sunset that we caught upon reaching Mehsir's place. Still as stunning as ever.
The boys that I used to teach were playing soccer when we reached the school. Feeling touched that the first batch of kids that I taught still remembered me, maybe not my name but my face. And this boy on the left even gave me a rock on hand sign 🤘 when he saw me. Hahahaha.
Placing orders on our bbq food
Looks so yumz right. This reminded me of the 串串 that I love to eat when I was in China
Picture taken right outside the guesthouse that we were staying at when we were at Vang Vieng. Simply beautiful.
Sapa trekking - Never thought that I'd hike again after saying that I would absolutely not do it after the difficult hike I did with NY last May. But it was a good hike and I want to continuously challenge myself.
Such a picturesque view of Mt Fuji taken at the Fujisan train station. Fujisan is well-known for its exceptionally symmetrical cone and is snow-capped several months a year
Just a shot of Emmeline that I'm proud of :)
&the pages keep turning.
