i’m back. have you missed me?

it’s been ten months since I arrived in Tassie; where have all the time gone? Cliche as it sounds, it only seems such a short time ago that I left Singapore. Yesterday, while sending dear Alfred off to the airport, the car ride was a little emotional for me. Looking at the scenic beauty of the lands didn’t help the mood, either.

You see, it’s the last day we have with Alfred as housemates. We won’t be staying in Charles Street next year.

Zooming across the highway pass field after field of green grass and sheep/cows/horses, it reminded me of the first day here. The weather was about the same, perhaps slightly warmer. I still remember everything I felt, every new scene I witnessed.

I remembered how I met Alfred & the other housemate, and I remembered how we found the house. Being in a strange, new, foreign land has a way of bringing people together in the most unexpected ways. I have experienced so much in the short ten months. Things I would never have experienced in Singapore or anywhere else, or with anyone else. I remember the first week, the first month, our first car, our first meals, our first day of school. Our first road trip, our first obstacles, and everything in between and thereafter.

It seemed such a short time ago when I first met Alfred, but now, it’s as if I’ve known him for such a long time. Having to cohabit before getting to know someone was really difficult, but it’s been a whirlwind of adventures and discoveries, and I haven’t started missing him yet, but I will soon enough.

In the short trip to the airport, I also realised how fond I’ve become of Tassie. Boring as it may be to majority of the people, I’ve come to love the place. I prefer the cold to the heat; I love that complete strangers on the streets can smile and say “Good Morning” to me when I walk to church. I love that I get to walk to church and have breathtaking views every where I go. I love that it’s quiet and dark. I love that I have my own room here, and I love the awesome queen sized bed all to myself (heh).

And even though I really am excited about going back home, a part of me know that the moment I reach Singapore, I will start missing it here.

Having mixed feeling about going back. But it’s going to be Christmas, and I can’t wait to celebrate it with loved ones.

Til then, see you all back in Singapore soon.

I’m coming home.

— my 21st birthday: had a couple of surprises from the people i’m coming to like here in Tassie. it wasn’t a big hoo-hah, which was how i liked it. received love from back home, and i guess that’s what made it special for me.

— major submission is over, and it’s the final leg of this year’s race. i’ve managed to sleep more than i had expected, which was a half-blessing and half-curse; but since it’s over now i’ll consider it a blessing instead.

— self-reflecting, self-exploring, self-discovering. change, change, change. i wouldn’t say it’s the only constant, though. for me, God is a constant, too. looking for ways to be a better person, daughter, friend. it’s hard, but i’m trying.

well, have to begin my walk to church. how i cherish these solitary moments.

til then.

met a few “bogans” some days ago while on a school field trip; there we were, innocent asians crossing the road at a traffic light like law-abiding international students.. and they rolled their car window down and shouted “konichiwa!” acts of immaturity — we all learn to live with some. in fact, i’d take it as a compliment, tis better to be mistaken as a Japanese than, you know, an AT. but i secretly think they can’t tell asians apart and they might just think “konichiwa” is chinese.

would i say i’m affected by it? nah not really. this must be karma for all the AT jokes we used to make in Singapore. who knew i’d one day be labelled as one. ohwell. sometimes it really is a blessing to be staying with some guys. added security. heh.

in the blink of an eye (or maybe the lack of, since i haven’t really been sleeping all that much) the 6th week of school is already ending. before i know it, the 2nd semester will be over and that will mark the end of my first academic  year in Tassie. time really whizzes by when you’re not paying much attention to it, huh? like fine sand slipping through your fingers.. you can’t help but wonder where all the time’s gone.

just had a really awesome night at some friends’ place for a half-FOCUS, almost-all-Asian gathering. i really do enjoy the company of the FOCUS group; they’ve been like a second family away from home. a church family. it’s always good to be in the company of Christian friends..

well, life’s been pretty great here in Tassie; half of me can’t wait to get back to Singapore, but there’s a part of me that really likes it here and wants to stay. humans. forever wanting the best of all worlds. it’s been pretty slack, though, and i must buck up, and find more time to spend on spiritual things.

i hope everyone in Singapore’s doing fine, and hopefully i’ll get to catchup with everyone when i’m back home.

loves. <3

I must admit; I never really felt much toward you. If I were to be completely honest, I had always had a very strong urge to leave your sunny (and very very humid) shores. Don’t take it too personally. I just didn’t like the weather, and also the trainloads of ah tiongs you let live inside you (or you know, at least the People who look after you, did). You weren’t the friendliest or warmest country, and I never got smiles from strangers. Everybody wears black faces to work; I don’t blame them, especially after having their faces smashed on the glass on their ride to work, or having their queues cut by inconsiderate people. I don’t blame them, because they have to wear long-sleeved shirts and suits in the sweltering hot weather. I don’t blame them, because I know they paid a lot for their bus or train or ERP fares. I don’t blame them when they give me funny looks when I smile at them.

Every Nat-Day holiday was an excuse for my family to travel to Malaysia for a short vacay with the relatives. I loved these times, because we get to spend hours sitting in the car happily chatting away or dozing off on each other’s shoulders, and then spend the night doing family things at some remote bungalow. I loved eating the awesome and affordable food the next day, and then the hours spent shopping at Jusco. We never watched the NDP. So, for me, Nat-Day was more of a family event than a national one. I admit, I am the most unpatriotic person I know.

Now, here in Tasmania, I miss the good food, that’s for sure. And my family, and friends. I don’t really miss you that much. I didn’t, until tonight when we went to the uni campus to watch the NDP (first time in years) together with other Singaporeans. The NDP was still lame, but seeing that aerial view of Marina Bay certainly evoked emotions in me. Nostalgia. Sentiment. And also, a strong desire to visit MBS because I’ve never. I miss the Esplanade, too. When we saw Sharon Au we all cheered. Here’s a local who disappeared from Singapore for ten years and decided to show up again! We started shouting “Ah Hao Hao Jia Shao!” and even singing “Cheng Ren Zha Zhi!”. We had a great time ridiculing the performances (seriously, spinning ketupats and dim sums?!) until the last bit when Sharon Au sang and looked like she was crying. I think, at that moment, I really missed you. After all, you were predominant in twenty years of my life. Seeing as how I’m not even twenty one yet, that’s a lot. Seeing Sharon Au cry made me nostalgic. She may be an actress, but her tears felt real. Perhaps she understood, having been away from home for so long.

And the fireworks? Pretty awesome. This is the first time I won’t be hearing the noisy jets blasting pass my HDB flat (during rehearsals, since we’re always in Malaysia on the actual day), or catching the fireworks. I have never missed you as I have now.

So Happy Birthday, Singapore. See you in November.

Whaddaya know, it’s been 5 months since I left Singapore, and I have 3 months left before I return to Sunny Island. Sometimes I still get overwhelmed by everything and I have to just proclaim out loud that God is wonderful for giving me so many opportunities and so many blessings, all beyond my deepest, wildest imaginations.

Sure, there are ups and downs. Sometimes the downs go so deep that I wasn’t sure I could get out of the abyss ever, but then I very wisely decide to trust God, and things become better every single time. The days are short and the nights are extremely, extremely long, and even the days are cold now, with the sun in the sky and everything. I hope winter passes quickly, and then everyone’ll be happier again!

I finally got sick, too. Nose started weeping nonstop and throat got sore and I started coughing like there’s no tomorrow.. I slept most of Saturday away, only waking up for 1 hour for a quick lunch and before I know it, my housemate woke me up at 9pm for dinner. He was so sweet, cooked porridge for me! Thank God for awesome housemates. And then after that I went back to sleep. Until the next morning, and the same routine happened. So I’ve been hibernating (literally), and now I feel all better! (:

TIme to get back to work though.

Can’t wait for this semester to be over!

Three months’ not that long of a wait!

Am back in Launie, after a very awesome 18-day vacation with beloved relatives, family and friends. Having some bad withdrawal symptoms now, but it’ll pass. (hopefully before school starts next Monday!)

The 18 days have been so surreal. I don’t remember having gone on a holiday for this long before, seeing as how all my family vacations usually span only 7-12 days. And again, I am reminded of just how blessed I am to be here in Aussie living my dream, and have all these awesome opportunities to travel. (haha I Have A Dream is playing on my iTunes now! so apt!) This has also become the most awesome trip I’ve been on (SO FAR). Thus the bad withdrawal symptoms.

Oh awesome holiday, how I love thee so. Let me count the ways..

Part 1

Went to  meet my awesome relatives at Queen VIctoria Market in the city. This awesome family was holidaying in Melbourne with a close family of friends.. Spending time with them was really cool; they were such funny people. On the last night before they left we all sat around the dining table & breakfast counter and chatted. Being the ‘outside person’ here allowed me to observe them.. and I saw just how kind and good these people’s hearts were, and it proved my point that all humans are selfish wrong. I was so touched by their kindness. It’s true what they say — that it’s all in the little things. I also loved that their families are so closely knitted. Although not related by blood, their families seem to be closer and more intimate than most blood-related relatives. The parents have been dear friends from a long time ago, and now their kids are BFFs, too.. and I wondered if I will ever have this kind of relationship in future. Totally envisioning it now.

Part 2

So my awesome relatives left early on Sunday morning, leaving me sad and empty for awhile. My brother’s BFF Henry came to pick me up to go to church, and who should I meet there but a dear old friend! The world cannot get any smaller. It’s also amazing how God arranges opportunities like that. Really funny. Church service was great, and I met alot of new people. Henry was really sweet to bring me around to places in the midst of his mugging regime, and I spent 3-4 days with him and his really funny friends. Hanging out with them was very entertaining, they behaved like a family of kids! I guess four years in a foreign country really brings people close together.

I also went ice-skating with Henry and another group of his friends.. and discovered that 2 of them were my AHS seniors! And discovered that while skating around the rink with them. The world just got smaller, lol. Either that or all AHS people eventually end up in Australia or sth!

Part 3

Spent an entire day with my dear old friend walking around the city. Had two cups of coffee (AND FINALLY HAD MY STARBUCKS) and some really awesome coffee conversations. Nothing beats catching up with an old friend, and discovering what’s changed and what hasn’t. I guess I’ve really missed being able to talk to people at such a level, face to face. Something about familiarity that makes me feel comfortable again.

It was a day spent eating non-stop and drinking and walking miles and miles. I’d like to believe I walked all the calories off, but who am I kidding haha. Anyway I saw alot of Melbourne that day (actually, most of it) and I really love the city. It may be boring to most people (apparently, to everyone I asked), but I really loved it. I loved how the night scene isn’t noisy but isn’t dead like Launie’s either. I love the weather there, and I love love love the buildings. And what’s with all the artisan coffee places? They’re just calling out to me, waiting for me to try every single one of them. My personal conquest, bucket list. One day, Melbourne City. I will come back. Wait for me.

Part 4

My beloved brother arrived on Thursday morning with his friends! I was so happy. I haven’t been this elated for a long time, and I was able to completely be myself again. Not that I’ve been trying to become someone else, but there’s just some inexplicable feeling you get when you’re around family. You can totally be your whole, unbridled self. Go crazy. Wild. After all, he’s known me for 20 years and then some, and I’ve lived with him for that long, too.

From here on we had road trips and road trips. Drive, stop, eat, drive, stop, take photos at scenic spots.. and eat some more. I enjoyed every moment spent with my bro.

Part 5

Brother, his 2 friends and I then flew to Hobart for Road Trip part 2. It wasn’t as awesome as I had imagined it to be. Blame the gloomy winter, taking away all the autumn colours with the cold winds. But it was still awesome. I got to sit in front with my brother, and I’d like to think we bonded over the hours of him driving and me navigating, listening to Fifi & Jules on the radio (which reminded me of us listening to V.Lo, FD & Glen on Class 95 back in SG).. and just taking in the really beautiful landscape all the way while the 2 girls slept at the back.

He’s also been really sweet,paying for everything, making this my 21st birthday present (and the most awesome ever). Along the way, he kept surprising me with his itinerary. It’s really in the little things.

2 days ago, he dropped me off back in Launie and flew back to Melbourne. It made me really sad and depressed. The sudden solitude after weeks of being in people’s company really got to me. I also realized that I missed him immediately after he left, perhaps more than at the airport. This 2nd feeling of loss felt greater, and I can’t wait to see him and my family again.

I <3 my brother.

I can’t wait for October/November to come, so that I can see them again!

Sorry for this really boring post. I didn’t want to forget anything that happened on this awesome trip.

Apologies for the really cheesy title. Came from the car license plates (they have really cheesy taglines for every state, it seems.)

Anyway, it’s been fun here in Melbourne! I really love the city, but there are times when I am a little overwhelmed by the busy-ness of it all. It seems that I have been country-bumpkined by Tassie! It’s so much bigger, the buildings are taller, there are so many more people, but it is warmer. I really missed the night scene of a city.. where street lamps light up the night and I can see through every shop and restaurant.. I really love the eclectic mix of buildings, too. Kinda miss looking (or peeping) into pretty houses at night. However, I kinda miss Tassie, too. Miss the quiet, the peacefulness, the friendlier people.. (and of course my queen bed)..

So today I went to the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere (it is bigger than Vivo and I got lost a million times).. the first five minutes felt surreal.. to be in a big, polished building with shops all over.. I thought I had missed shopping (not that I ever did it alot in Singapore) and I realized that I really didn’t. Either that or shopping alone just ain’t fun. Anyway I spent most of my time in Borders, where are no good books left, and they’re trying to sell the furniture inside, too.. I felt really sad, as if I’m seeing a close friend dying. Okay, not that kuazhang but the feeling comes close. Now that drinkmalk isn’t working, too, I have no idea where I will go to for cheap books. sigh.

My brother’s good friend brought me around and we had lunch and dinner together. Spent most of the time talking about my brother, and I really learned more about my brother today. He may be very annoying sometimes and I complain about him quite abit, but I know deep down that he loves me alot and I him, but today I learned a little more about the extent of his love and care for me, as well as some other things, and it really makes me smile inside (: my brother’s awesome, and he’s still my hero. And he’s going to kill me when he comes cos I mentioned his hernia incident to this friend, and it turned out my brother didn’t tell him. Well, how was I to know that my brother never told his BFF, especially since he’s in the medical field?! Still going to die :/

I’m very excited that he’s coming, CAN’T WAIT FOR THURSDAY!

It’s late and there’s a huge gale outside that’s howling and just being noisy, so imma try to sleep now. Going ice-skating for the first time tomorrow! Then going to have steak. HEH. can’t wait for steak! (: