It's the end of the yr again. Told myself I'd do this, so here it is.

This yr passed by in a blur. Soo many things happened that I don't even rmb some of them. Hehs.

Anyway, just realised I said at the beginning of the yr that last passed very quickly too. Maybe every year passes very quickly.

I made the following resolutions the beginning of this yr:

First of all, is to stay strong in my faith.
Secondly, to grab opportunities when they arise.
Thirdly, to give without expecting.
Last of all, to learn to trust.

But I don't think I fulfilled any of them, except maybe for the first one. Oh, maybe the 2nd one too. hehs. I mean, I did grab the oppportunity to go overseas for attachment right?

As I said, many many things happened this past yr, things that I did not rmb until I went through my previous entries. Went through 2 n a half semesters this yr, and I must say that they were v eventful and lessons-rich.

From Sem 2.2 to 3.2, made new friends, lost friends, got super close to some, drifted away from some, saw some in new light, some are still seen in the same light. But I must say that every semester was filled with fun, laughter, a lot of hard work and frustration, and a great deal of satisfaction at the end of each sem. Even got to bid for a proj with a construction company outside of curriculum. Spent a lot of time fretting, worrying, and working on that. All for an empty hope.

Actually I have a lot to say, especially abt sem 3.1's projs. I think it goes for everyone of us in the class, at least most of them. But seriously, this event has put me off event planning, at least for the time being. A loong time. Used to want to be an event planner, having second thoughts even now.

Reading through my previous entries also reminded me of sth I wasted plenty of my time and emotions on. Bothered me for quite some time.

Went for my first church camp in June. Was an enriching time.

Then in Sept, I went to Shanghai for attachment. No need to say, that was the biggest happening this yr. Experienced a lot, met a lot of new friends and ppl.

When I came back I felt really alone for the first time in my life. Nobody to call, nobody to whine to, nobody to call for help, nobody to call for consolation. All in all, nobody.

Then I went back to school for the last semester of Poly. Can't believe 2.5 yrs have passed just like that. Having my exams in Feb, meaning I can start working in Mar. I am seriously very frightened of growing up.

This yr did not end with a bang. Christmas was alright. I've been rotting at home most of the time. Watching DVDs.

Don't feel like making resolutions this yr. Can't think of any anyways.

I feel miserable. Again. My nose is running/leaking non-stop; I think I've used up abt 4-5 pkts of tissue which equals up to at least 40 tissues on my stupid nose. Can you imagine?? Absolutely hate it when my nose acts up. Hope I won't get sick, or rather, sicker.

Anyways, my two weeks holidays is coming to an end. Christmas has also passed. Ironically, my Christmases have always been passed without celebration. I'm talking the day itself. Except for last year. Last year was the best. Not only the day itself, but the entire season. But this year, I only had plans for Christmas eve and not Christmas itself. I was at my cousin's place till early in the mrng of Christmas, abt 5am. But that gathering with my cousins was good! Though I was very tired that day cos I had to wake at like 6plus, and not everybody was there, and I was a 'lil pissed abt my cousin. We went to pepper lunch for dinner (I know, weird. Totally no festive mood.) and Haagen Daaz for dessert. And we had choc fondue!!! It soooo good! (To Jiahong and Corrin: I'm still waiting!)

I love meeting my cousins for gatherings. We always have so much fun together.




Dunno what my sis is taking


THE Chocolate Fondue - ice cream balls, cookies, strawberries, bananas, green apples.. Yum Yum!

Have not really met up with friends this year for Christmas unlike previous years. Not v sure why. Stms growing up scares me. It's not only abt the increased responsibilities, but also the drifting apart.

I think I blogged abt my worries on what I'll be doing after graduation. I'm going to leave it in the good (hopefully!) hands of employment agencies and the more than omnipotent hands of God.

Went to Vivocity with my mum and sis on Tuesday and we explored it thoroughly. From Tang's to the boutiques, to Giant. But after the entire day, we went home with a small bag my mum bought, sausages from marketplace and very full stomachs. Haha. Not that the clothes/stuffs at Vivo aren't beautiful, but they were either out of my very limited budget, wrong for the season in Singapore or didn't catch my eye. But, I managed to spend all my available cash at Bakersin. My sis and I wanted to treat my mum, but I had limited money and my sis who came up with the idea had no money. In the end my mum paid for a small part of the bill. Hehe. But before that we had lunch at Carl's Junior which was very very good. Shld hv let my mum treat us to Bakersin instead of Carl's.

Candy and Flo came to my hse to bake yesterday. The main reason was for Cheng's birthday cos we didn't manage to celebrate it with her in time and style. We baked her a cake.. And it looked fine, until the both of them decided to use the pink icing to decorate the cake... It turned out to be a disaster. Cheng asked if we took photos of the cake.. and I just told her str away that they were too ugly. Haha.

Anyways, after that, we started baking cookies. The both of them wanted to bake cookies to give us, their friends for Christmas. But the thing is, they were baking cookies in my kitchen, which are supposed to be for me. Haha.
The first batch of cookies were.. let's just say that the girls were toooo ambitious. They molded the dough into shapes of teddy bears, snowmen, christmas trees and snowflakes. THe dough looked nice. But the end product......... was bad. The second batch was much much better.

Hmm, not much to blog on.

This is my 2nd week of school only, and I'm already feeling tired. How to tahan the rest of the term? But at least I've adjusted myself back from the holiday mood I was in during the first week.

Anyway, I really hv no idea whether to work part-time or not. My school hours are pretty short, just that I may need to do proj often. Anyway, the part-time job thing is minor, when compared to what I'm going to do when I graduate. I seriously do not know what I want to work as 3mths later. I mean, I know I'll definitely be working, but as what? Corp comm? Admin? Events? Tourism? What???? Am feeling quite lost now. In the past I nv seriously pondered over what I will work as in the future. I just took each day as it is. But now, the future seems to be too near.

Anyhow, this year's Christmas came in a blink of an eye. I still remember last year's Christmas vividly. It was the best Christmas I ever had. This year's sort of a blur and rush. Cos I just started school, so half of me is occupied with trying to adjust from coming back after being overseas for so long and starting school.

-- If I could relive those times..

These few days have been very eventful, particularly Saturday and Sunday. Too long a story to say here, but let's say that it was a unforgettable experience.

Anyway, sprained my ankle on Sunday. Have not been to the doctor, crazy and stupid I know. But my parents are not in Singapore and my sis only got home last night from Ireland. And my kookoo sister is suffering from jet lag; she only went to slp late this mrng and woke up at 5 in in the evng. So there hasn't been anyone to accompany me to the doc's. Sad hor..

No matter what, I'm glad to be home. Though I'm not feeling v good.. But oh wells.

First things first, I hv not been able to enter my blogspot website bcos this wonderful country that I'm in has blocked the website.. So I can't read or see what I've written or even the tagboard, so forgive me if I do not reply you.. And, I can't read what you have written in your blogs, so I do not hv any idea what's going on in your lives right now..

BUT.. I only hv 8 more days to go! 8 more days to warm weather; 8 more days to shorts and slippers; 8 more days to delicious hawker fare; 8 more days to my bed; 8 more days to a clean street and air (you shld see their streets when it rains); 8 more days to family; 8 more days to Singapore; 8 more days to you!

Saw your nick yday and just now.. I wish you had a blog so that I can at least know what's happening...

Personality Test

Your view on yourself:
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education:
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

My sister called me last night and told me about stuffs.. And I suddenly realised after the phone call that I am so blessed.. I can't believe I even dared to complain to God about my situation here.

Actually, before I came, I already knew that my friend and I were getting a better deal than many of the other students who were coming to Shanghai/China. We have the highest pay, accomodation, lunch provided... And because there's only two of us, getting along is so much easier than those who came in bigger groups. But the realisation of the blessing was only a little.

It was only until yesterday night that I "woke up". My problems with my friend is so minor compared to hers cos I know how hers can be.. And even before they came I was sort of wondering if there might be conflict between them cos let's just say that I know the both of them. And, I am getting along well here with my friend.. Our working style and living habits may be different, but it has nv caused any conflict between us. And most importantly, we have fun together..

I feel homesick, and can't wait to go home.. But at the same time, a small part of me will miss this place when we go back to Singapore.

Have been busy the past few days incldg last week working on the menu for the company and some event.. Only found some breathing time today cos the laptop I have been using is missing. Heh. But we just received some new tasks to do the day before yesterday.. So will hafta start working hard again soon!

It's getting quite cold here.. Around 16-21deg.. Definitely temperatures that Singapore will nv get to experience.. But I'm quite enjoying it.. Cos as my family can tell you, I prefer cold to hot.. But I'll nv prefer the weather here cos they have 4 seasons! And I'll nv be able to tolerate their summer though I love the autumn and I bet the spring too..

During the one week holiday here, we went to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium! It's by a Singaporean, FYI..


Colourful fishes!




Nice shot!




Nice shot 2!


中秋夜晚，在他人异乡。。


artistic photo!


An afternoon shot of starbuck in XinTianDi


Lunch with the Thai girls before that..

Rmb to tag!!

Erm... I don't know what to update on.. Actually, lots of things are happening, but I don't know where to start, and I don't really rmb all of them, and if I tell them all it'll get quite boring... Heh.

Anyway, 50 days to go b4 I can go home to Singapore. Often you hear abt Singaporeans who have lived overseas for a period of time wanting to come back to Singapore. I know a lot of us just cringe at that and think how can anyone prefer London/US over Singapore? But after living here for a while, I feel just like the overseas Singaporean. It's not only that your loved ones and friends are in Sg, and not only that you are used to the things in Singapore. It's more of, not appreciating what you have and always hankering after things outside, things you don't have, things belonging to others.

After staying here, I feel that Singapore is good. The transport system is one of the best in the world, perhaps the best, there are only so many road hoggers, drivers don't horn at everybody they see on the road, the air is clean, the public toilets are relatively clean(=P), ppl queue up orderly, they don't shout at each other in public, you can get food anywhere, the airport is also one of the best in the world, the taxidrivers are polite, ppl esp girls don't spit everywhere they go, smoking is prohibited in lifts, bus stops, air-conditioned places, coffeeshops and hawker centres, the salesppl look at u when they talk to u, even the staff at Mac's act as if they are happy to see u, the handphone numbers have only 8 numbers and not 11, and so on.....

Shanghai may be more advanced than Sg in some ways, but Sg is much more advanced than them in so many other ways! So I don't understand why ppl are saying that Shanghai is so good, so advanced, etc etc.

Another thing I don't get is why ppl, esp youngsters want to move out and not stay with their parents. Accomodation with clothes washing, whatever meals you want, love, care and concern.. All that, and we are even given money! So why on earth do ppl want to move out? The only motive I can think of is for freedom, and if your parents are control-freaks or treat you like u're 10 instead of 20, then I have nth to say la. But for the rest, WHY?

From the paragraphs above, i guess you have alr figured out what I'm going through here. It's not totally bad.. I have nice colleagues, good housemates and all that.. but it just doesn't make it up.

One big headache my friend and i have been having is meals. Breakfast is ok, but dinners are really bad. And because the past week was holiday week, lunch was included in our headache. For those of you who don't know or don't rmb, the company provides lunch, and the food's not bad. So it's ok to have to think abt dinner every day, though we can run out of ideas quite often. But last week, we had to think abt both dinner and lunch, so it was quite bad. Now I understand my mother's fustration whenever she asks me what I want for dinner and I say I don't know. Mostly she asks me when she doesn't know what to cook. So when I say I don't know.... Haha.

Gratitude is being more aware of what you have than what you don't have - Max Lucado

Photos from Shanghai..

My company..


My company 2..


The company bldg from the outside..
Will have more photos of the company in future la..

The starbucks near my office.. nice right??


The chandelier in my current apartment...


Bldgs along the Bund


Their "Clarke/Boat quay".. More european feel though..


A bldg selling watches and all that.. See Chopard?

Got lots of pictures to blog!!

Firstly... at dinner with Denise, Corrin, Jiahong and Bryne the day before I left..


Denise and Corrin..


Grp photo!


with Jiahong..


While waiting for Denise to write my card secretly in the toilet..


So jiahong acts cute too... haha


with Denise..


you shld see the other one..


We have no hair worries!

Second, a surprise visit by Cheng, Meihui, Florence and Candy..


with Meihui..


with Florence..


with Cheng..


After a dozen tries..






After another dozen tries..


That's all.. I am touched.. Thanks guys..

Hey guys.. Greetings from Shanghai. Haha. Promised to update my blog regularly while I'm here.....

Probably wouldn't be able to upload the photos i took wit the camera v soon.. Cos i need a SD ready to do that, and I don't think my com has one.. So would probably have to wait for quite some time. At most 10weeks.. :p

Not really doing anything in office actually.. Just teaching Eng to some of the nurses and customer service ppl. The health centre's supposed to be 5star and super luxurious and all that; but not really impressed la... haha.. Maybe by the price of the checks la.. haha.. they can go up to 5 figures lor..

We went sightseeing with my boss on Sunday, but I'll just photoblog on that la.. Else it'll be quite mundane.

Don't have much complains.. except abt my bed.... Hehe.. having a hard time slping at night cos the bed's too hard. I want to buy a mattress!!!

I think I promised to photoblog as I was too lazy to verbal blog about what had happened. And I have not updated for almost a month, not bcos there's nothing happening in my life, I just feel lazy la..



The first deadline - Press Conference


Singapore Board Games Championship Qualifiers


Finals


Mini class photo


Painted Hands - all for tourism presentation


Calvin & Bryne acting gay.


Jiahong & I


At the reception counter of kampung ubi's National Day Dinner with Bryne and Denise


Yeah. Our first class photo..


Before we went for the cls party. It turned out quite sleazy actually.. haha.

Okay, that's abt all that happened for my cls.. Lots of lost photos here and there, esp photos of my event. But, no choice.