Smile because you can

Back from Penang! Not much of a festive mood there, but it was still fun with the relatives nonetheless :D We took a plane there and back. And while there, we had a driver-cum-guide for the nine of us.

First day after we landed, a few of us went to sleep, and the rest went to walk by the beach and then we went out for dinner and walked at the night market.

Second day we went up Penang Hill. Took this tram-like thing which went up a very very steep track. And we went to a floating village, which was also a unesco world heritage site. Third day we went across Penang Bridge and spent the entire day there. Took a boat ride to look at mangroves and swamps in the afternoon, and another one at night to look at fireflies, so pretty!

Last day was the most amazing day of all :D The four kids plus my really cool uncle went to do water sports! :D :D

All ready to play!!

Banana boat! Which was really very very safe and fun.

Parasailing! :D So fun to be up in the sky and overlooking the hills and mountains and sea and beach. Got a scraped knee and foot after that though. And my cousin twisted her ankle. But it was definitely a good experience.

And my very cool uncle went jet-skiing! After that we heard lots of stories about water sports accidents from the vendor, but I don’t think I’ll stop playing if I had another chance haha.

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Managed to meet Alison for lunch and just catch up before going off to Penang. That girl is so sweet, she’s been getting me xmas gifts every year hahah but I give her random gifts too, so I’m not too bad a friend.

Hopefully in the first half of January before my dad comes back and we get busy with cny and family time, I can find time for Jerdine, MaoJia, Jonathan&the rest, Dayna, 602clique and sixeighters’05.

To infinity and beyond.

I’m typing this before Christmas, but scheduled this post to be published right after Christmas, when I should be in Penang with my relatives. So MERRY X’MAS everyone! And a HAPPY NEW YEAR too! :D

2011 is almost over. I think this year has been about discovering myself, thinking about what I want to do in the future, and working towards it. Because graduation scares people into doing that.

Proud to say, my passion for flying is still burning(: By the time this post is published, the SMS(W) provisional interview will be over, and it will take another 2 weeks before I know the results. After a year-long application process (in fact more than that), I am so happy with myself. I didn’t let all that trouble and hassle keep me from moving closer and closer towards my dream. If it doesn’t work out, I think I’ll be sad, but I suppose I can just take up flying as a hobby when I become rich. And I’ll just settle for the next thing I want.

My life’s been full of amazing people. Have been meeting people from school less often after graduation, but I’m sure the friendship remains strong(: Dad’s been away for half a year, thank god for phone calls and webcams. Feels like this home is going to get quieter and quieter. Especially grateful for having Mr Cheong around this year, always giving me his most honest opinions and advice, and always concerned about his students.

New opportunities. CAAS YAA, getting to interact with people with similar interests, going on site visits, spending lots of time in the east. MPS, meeting people who I probably won’t meet elsewhere. Beyond, letting me do something I enjoy – teaching. SAC mentoring, mostly full of frustration, but I guess it’s a learning opportunity as well. UQ OSAP, mainly having fun, but also discovering what I don’t want to do.

Obviously, every year has its downs, but no one should constantly dwell on them(: Just shape your thoughts and actions such that the year ahead will be better than the last!

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us. – Hal Borland

The urge to ignore.

Last week

On Monday, after we finished the rituals for my grandma’s death anniversary, my two of my cousins + my sis + me went to JP to watch Apple of my Eye! And we had starbucks too cos they were having the one-for-one xmas giveaway :D Still prefer coffee bean though. Met another cousin at the cinema, watching the exact same show at the same time with his friend. After the show, the four of us went to Causeway Pointto have dinner with another cousin @ Ajisen! :D

Food expedition on tuesday after tuition. Went to eat dim sum, then went to Gelare and just lazed there for the rest of the day. We always end up at some comfortable air-conditioned place instead of following our plans hahaha.

Wednesday and thursday tuition, and no more tuition for Mann for the rest of the month.

SMS(W) briefing on friday. So scary. Some of the other people looked quite intimidating. And the timeline seems so packed. From the interview date to the signing&enlisting to military training, uni studies and continuing training afterwards. But that’s only if I get through, of course. Interview this friday omgomg. Better prepare myself well. I really really want to get this and fly my life away hahhah. After the briefing Jerdine and I went to Tiong Bahru Plaza to have lunch at some place which was not bad except for the cheese fries.

Sunday. Yesterday. Went out the entire day. Evening onwards was at Danielle’s house for a not so christmas-y xmas party, but it was fun. Taboo is quite fun!

Today is the start of another week. Going to run with people, meet Alison and meet Shaqillah. And the big interview on friday!!

Lack of sleep and feeling completely emotionally drained now ):

If you benefit from the flaw of a system, will you criticise it for being an unfair one?

The elixir of laughter and life

Sent Alister off yesterday, and he’s coming back in jan. Jonathan got his hamster. A hamster with a broken leg. Was supposed to sleep early last night cos we were meeting very very early in the morning today (waking up at 6.30am on a non-school day gosh). But ended up sleeping at 11.30pm cos one of my best friends decided that his problem is my problem and we were trying to simulate a conversation which was supposed to take place last night too, but never happened.

Anyway. Jonathan Jerdine MaoJia Tang Elston and I met this morning. Only Jerdine Tang and I were punctual. The rest were late! Went off to enjoy our wonderful day, and the photo below sums up most of the day(: Except the sun was shining so brightly and we were walking in not-so-comfortable shoes. So happy :D

Saturday Sunday and Monday with the relatives(:

Undefined boundaries

Giving tuition can be so draining. But still makes me happy(:

Someday I’ll definitely join VSC. Too bad now’s definitely not the time to, since it requires 8 months of training and lifelong commitment, many hours each month.

Going to complete NUS and NTU apps by Saturday. I hope Mr Cheong finishes my UCAS reference soon D:

Had lunch with Alister on Monday, then he came up to print and scan stuff, and stayed for dinner as well. Going to send him off tomorrow afternoon. He’s the only foreigner friend I have. Hope he enjoyed his four years in spore. No idea how long it’ll be before we meet again after that.

For the rest of dec + jan, I’ll continue giving tuition, try to get a hospital attachment for a few days, learn something new like rockclimbing, exercise regularly, go to penang with my relatives, meet people.

It’s a want, not a need.

Photos from convocation(:

With the family. And the week spent with the family was great. Visited many relatives, but also managed to spend some time alone, just the four of us. And the eleven days my dad was back has already past. We sent him off on tuesday evening.

With my dad. He’s back in China now, and the next time he will be coming back is during cny. Just two months this time!

Life’s back to normal after that one week plus break. Tuition, exercise, uni/scholarship apps.

 

Sometimes you just have to trust that people will not do what is not right. It’s a big word, but I think we’ve all got what it takes.