I will be leaving in like 4 hours.. *..* don't really know what I feeling right now but I'm sure it will be quite an adventure.
You can contact me by emailing, msning, smsing/calling (I'm not too sure about the charges tho' so just do next best thing =>) or skyping & by snail mail (it's primitive but I like it because it carries the surprises and thoughts which travelled miles and miles just to get there). Anyway, I should be updating here quite regularly =) New Haven is about 14 hours behind Singapore's time
Packin' is such a whacking time.. you seem to need everything that you want to bring but the elimination rounds are definitely a yes-yes even if your luggage is 29''..
Pray for my flights, spanning over 30hrs!!
SAT 31MAY DEP SINGAPORE 0600
ARR TOKYO NARITA 1400
SAT 31MAY DEP TOKYO NARITA 1630
ARR MINNEAPOLIS ST PL 1325
SAT 31MAY DEP MINNEAPOLIS ST PL 1905 ARR NEW YORK JFK 2246
Tada
I will definitely miss the local delights (pray that the food there will be tasty to my buds heh), my bed and of course people ;)
Just last year, an aunt was telling me past memories with her deceased husband and how he felt which she never knew till she read his diary. As she recounted, amidst the smiles of remembering him, the tears rolled down the cheeks as the bittersweet reality kicked in.
Writing a journal might be therapautic for yourself but you will never know how precious and soothing it will be for your loved ones too. So, write down the happiest and sweetest memories down for our brains work in such a way that the unhappy moments always pop out and false memories are aplenty.
So, with that in mind and my parents' constant worrying about my Penang trip, I became paranoia about the travelling that I prepared my last words, well just in case. This really sounds silly. But I can't swim, neither can I fly like Nathan and I definitely don't want to be struck in mid-air, etc penning down my last thoughts on a piece of paper that no one will ever get to read and feeling regretful of the things I didn't do or the words I haven't say! Of course, having the fear doesn't mean that I believe it will happen and that's why I only wrote halfway because it was a impromptu decision and well, packing my luggage is practically more important lol.. this time maybe I will complete it?
Upon reflection, I think everyone should prepared such last words, not just for those going overseas because anything can happen any time. James 4:14 "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." We should always be ready and seize the most out of everyday. Perhaps it is for our individual need that the things one have not say or done due to pride, lack of assurance or not knowing whether it is still status quo will finally be revealed. On the other side, it will also be comforting for those who will know and need not guess further. That's what make Gerry in ps i love you so sweet to get his wife on track in her life though I don't like how she resumed her life.
2 years ago, I told my parents that I want a white (white's beautiful, isn't it?) coffin and that nice&tasty food must be served (let's do away with the red strings, peanuts and melon seeds). Perhaps it seemed unfilial but it's never too early for such discussion, I mean the first 2 wakes I went were my peers. Not sounding morbid, but it is always good to have some expectations. Take pictures with me.. it's your last chance, so smile and make sure I look good in the pictures. Don't use my wake as a family gathering or to catch up with other peeps..It will be my wake, make sure I'm the topic of discussion haha. & while you can cry, be happy for I will go home to be with the Lord =)
As I was saying, I won't be able to watch Euro '08 (no, SCV you can't earn the exorbitant fees from me).. because I will be going to New Haven, Connecticut for a summer school session!! =) & pending is a 5-month SEP next year..
Always wanted to leave & now that suddenly I'm really going to places, well I'm hesitant but still very much excited!! Perhaps cuz I be going alone and independence is a new word to explore.. Sometimes I wished that I have a close relative living overseas and that I could just leave everything here and join him/her there.. Carefreeness or irresponsibility? I couldn't care less.. okay maybe not but having memories (be it good or bad) in such a small place can be painful
Thank God for this opportunity. His presence was throughout the application process: giving me hope when I was making excuse not to do the essay (because I won't get into the program esp when priority given to Y2s); encouraging me through different people's prayers when I was faithless; granting me a place in this program when my interview was like so inadequate & for the current exchange rate =)
When others asked me about the interview, I could only lament how horrible it had been. Then a voice asked "Why do you have so little trust in Me?" "But I really didn't do well in the interview.." The same question was asked once again. When I was asked about the interview repeatedly, this question kept popping out.. Until when I reached home and my dad asked me about it, I just replied "I don't know.." Then out of nowhere, my mum congratulated me when she knew how 'well' the interview had been and she isn't exactly the encouraging type.. & I know it was a sign that I will be selected. During cell group, I was prompted to share with them. But you know, to share this before I knew the selection result would be quite embarrassing if I didn't get in later & the 'i' in my pride is quite strong. However, I responded to the second prompt and by faith I told them what happened before the results were known :) It's not about getting what I want but Him showing and reminding me to have faith in Him and what it means to do so.
Oh and if you haven't hear about it, there's a new donut outlet called j. co in town. Almost everyone is flocking there.. How fickle people can be? Anyway, also probably because the donut craze is fading, one can now get his/her donuts from donut factory immediately donut. Haha as for me, donut factory is where I will get my Singapore dosage but I am looking forward to dunkin' Krispy Kreme donuts heh!!
Left 2 weeks.. must try to eat all my fav foods before I am overwhelmed with bacon, burger and bread. Eg.
GWP durians! Don't try the brownie or the crepe combination tho', doesn't taste well tgt.
& now the long-waited (?) promised photos of Penang.. well, I only got all the pictures 2 months after the trip lol
the urge to post the pics is gone but this picture struck me the most
a good reminder not to begrudge my one-hour bus journey to school when children travelling by foot to school is still very real.. her home is up somewhere in Penang Hill.. can you imagine up and down the hill everyday is like us taking the lift up and down our flats - only the beginning of our daily journey
Another striking thing: This lady is a talented henna artist. She took right only 3 mins to complete my intricate design and she drew it so easily when I have to put in effort to write nicely, not to mention doing other stuffs.. (me in a awkward position trying to show you the artist and her design together) I'm the one with the design on the left foot
Some interesting stuffs:haha my screen was working but not c's.. & it was about a 10-hour ride lol.. I watched Narnia and Stardust - fantasy shows which I thought I wouldn't like due to the movie trailers previously but I was proven wrong =) don't be deceived by this scenic picture.. it was actually very smelly b/c there was a sewage nearbyit was supposed to be a picture of us and penang hill, not the banner!! Now, for the foodie's moments!! How can I miss out these? A&W, when art thou coming back to Singapore? (tho' by right, I have to avoid such stuffs amap) the sisters' char kway teow (the portion is too little though and they open for a few hours only in the afternoon) this chendol stall can certainly beat Bedok's Hollywood When I first saw the stall and the uncooked ingredients, I was actually very unimpressed.. but I found them to be so crispy, so nice, awesome. It was in a ordinary coffeeshop but food in Penang is probably nice everywhere.. from the same coffeeshop.. I had expected fried hokkien noodles but they only served it this way in penang *thumbs up* the famous penang laksa at kek lok si.. we walked about an hour from penang hill for this and had to decide between 2 stalls which one was the real one.. I still prefer the Singapore version (read: coconut, read: unhealthy) though, not this asam typethis is not a chinese medical shop.. it's the famous tau sar pias! remember it's Him Heang, & not the other Heangs a friend drove us to this isolated seafood place (about 30 mins out of buttertown).. the locals sure know where the cheap and good stuffs are..the condiments used for the crab dishes here are unique from those used in Singapore and taste differently shiok =) guessed how many of us polished off all the food?
When I saw Lampard picking up the ball to take the penalty, I was bit worried too (yesh!! I watched the match.. tells you how anxious I am about my exams). After all, we all know what bereavement can do to our mental state.
He scored the penalty with such composure and competence and then let loose his emotions as he dedicated it to his late mother.. gosh my emotions went with him too. Give me sports over music anytime.
As usual, I need to neutralise the above touching moment. Take a look at this:
Well, all I can say is no sportsmanship and probably no referee there too..
it's okay if you can't see the road ahead, just make sure God is still in sight!!
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautful in His time.
Lord, please show me every day,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.
In Your time, in Your time,
You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring.
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time.
Words and Music by Diane Ball
Th3 b@bY iN mI
vette
15 Sept 88
child of God
likes: zzz
dislikes: waa waa
Pray for my flights, spanning over 30hrs!!
(me in a awkward position trying to show you the artist and her design together)
I'm the one with the design on the left foot
haha my screen was working but not c's.. & it was about a 10-hour ride lol.. I watched Narnia and Stardust - fantasy shows which I thought I wouldn't like due to the movie trailers previously but I was proven wrong =)
don't be deceived by this scenic picture.. it was actually very smelly b/c there was a sewage nearby
it was supposed to be a picture of us and penang hill, not the banner!!
A&W, when art thou coming back to Singapore? (tho' by right, I have to avoid such stuffs amap)
the sisters' char kway teow (the portion is too little though and they open for a few hours only in the afternoon)
this chendol stall can certainly beat Bedok's Hollywood
When I first saw the stall and the uncooked ingredients, I was actually very unimpressed.. but I found them to be so crispy, so nice, awesome. It was in a ordinary coffeeshop but food in Penang is probably nice everywhere..
from the same coffeeshop.. I had expected fried hokkien noodles but they only served it this way in penang *thumbs up*
the famous penang laksa at kek lok si.. we walked about an hour from penang hill for this and had to decide between 2 stalls which one was the real one.. I still prefer the Singapore version (read: coconut, read: unhealthy) though, not this asam type
this is not a chinese medical shop.. it's the famous tau sar pias! remember it's Him Heang, & not the other Heangs
a friend drove us to this isolated seafood place (about 30 mins out of buttertown).. the locals sure know where the cheap and good stuffs are..
the condiments used for the crab dishes here are unique from those used in Singapore and taste differently shiok =)
guessed how many of us polished off all the food?