I just sent off a friend who is currently on her way to London for her uni studies. And I can't help feeling a little sad at the thought of not seeing her in church for the next three months. And it'll still be different even she's back during her holidays. Then I started thinking about how much worse her parents must feel. They may be with her now, to help her settle in and everything, but in the end they still must come back, no?

Then, I began to doubt my desire to work overseas. I'm probably overthinking things, but I can't help feeling a little guilty about going overseas to work and leaving my parents here. Although, in actuality, my mum had done it to us. Okay, that makes me feel better actually. I feel a little silly now.

Anyway, to my little friend who is now on the plane either trying to sleep or watching a movie, thank you for the lovely card. Take good care of yourself, keep a lookout for Jude Law (!), have the time of your life, and always remember that God is with you.

The Dream Job

When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a teacher. Mainly because that was the only occupation I knew.

When I was secondary school, I wanted to open a bookshop with a cafe because of a book I read.

When I was in poly, I wanted to plan events and such. I also wanted to be a barista.

When I graduated and started working in an exhibition company, I wanted to be barista again. And a professional photographer.

When I got tired of working from 9-5, I wanted to become a student again.

Now that I am a student again, I want to work in a 9-5 job again. I also want to own a small restaurant. Or maybe spend my whole life working from home as a translator. Perhaps marry the man I love and be a good housewife? Or work overseas in the Singapore embassy, or as a translator and meet interesting people.

When I was young, all I wanted to be was a teacher.

Disappointing Myself

Since 2009, there are two times in a year when I would feel very determined to make myself into a determined person, and tell myself that I will be a conscientious student; attend every class annd spend more than three hours on each assignment. So far, this make myself a determined student plan hasn't been working very well. I rarely attend class, leave my assignments till the very last minute and lose my textbook the night before an open-book examination.

The time has come around again. This is its second and last appearance for the year. Will I disappoint myself again?

Mayhem in May

May has never been so crazy. In the past, Boat Asia would have ended by now and my workload would usually be much smaller by mid-April. But this year is a total different story. My cousin's ROM, exams, my uncle's illness and subsequent death on top of Boat Asia really filled my time to the max. Out of all these though, there is a reminder somewhere inside of me telling me that this is nothing. Compared to my cousins who suffered together with their father and watched him slowly lose his life, I think I'm living it pretty well.

The mayhem has come to an end. I think. And hope. And it's past time to get on with life, to get past Boat Asia.

I want this!



From Aldoshoes.com



Further Consolation

In short, I did not manage to complete my list. I'm still looking for a place to do spa, and Bangkok was simply too tiring.

Things have been crazy at work. I really need God's grace. The number of things happening in May is astounding. Boat Asia, Ling and Qin's ROMs, and my exams and my birthday. I need to find time to study!


My sentences are so short.

Steps to Consoling Joy for her Failed Japan Trip

Step #1: Get my nails done  *check*
Step #2: Shop online  *check*
Step #3: Stuff myself with good food in Bangkok
Step #4: SPA
Step #5: Shop like crazy in Bangkok

Once in a while, you suddenly realise that a decision you made a long time ago actually plays a very important role in what you're doing currently.

It only recently occurred to me that my internship stint in Shanghai played a very important part in the things I'm doing now. Studying translation and doing designing; both started in Shanghai. I would probably be clueless about both skills now if I hadn't gone there. It was really, quite an important point in my life.

Many have asked why I chose to study translation and interpretation. Truthfully, I do not have an answer myself. So, hopefully, I made the right decision.

Love is a Great Thing

Love is a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good.
By itself it makes that which is heavy light;
and it bears evenly all that is uneven.
It carries a burden which is no burden;
it will not be kept back by anything low and mean;
It desires to be free from all wordly affections,
and not to be entangled by any outward prosperity,
or by any adversity subdued.
Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble,
attempts what is above its strength,
pleads no excuse of impossibility.
It is therefore able to undertake all things,
and it completes many things and warrants them to take effect,
where he who does not love would faint and lie down.
Though weary, it is not tired;
though pressed it is not straightened;
though alarmed, it is not confounded;
but as a living flame it forces itself upwards and securely passes through all.
Love is active and sincere, courageous, patient, faithful, prudent, and manly.

-- Thomas A Kempis

The Inspiration to Write - Version 2

It is frustrating, not being able to think of something to write about when you really want to do so. Your hands are itching to type but your mind refuses to churn out anything; you feel like pouring something out of your chest, but you don't know what exactly; you sift through your memories of the past few weeks and even try to remember an interesting dream you started to forget the second you woke up so that you can write about something, but there's just nothing. And it is exactly how I feel right now.

The Inspiration to Write

So I went to Ho Chi Minh City a few weeks ago.

Before I went, many people asked me what I was going there for and there were basically 3 reasons. First, I was quite desperate to travel somewhere. Second, my mother wanted to go there. I really cannot explain the first reason; I just had this deep hankering to go somewhere, to visit a foreign country. So I decided to tag along with my parents, who being my parents, fully sponsored my trip. Which is really my 3rd reason.

So off to Ho Chi Minh I went.

It actually is quite a nice city. It reminds me of Bangkok maybe 10-15 years ago, before the huge influx of tourists and expats, before the BTS, before they all started to learn English. There is no doubt that there are places that are obviously set up for tourists, but it isn't as painful. We chose not to stay in town, District 1, and booked a hotel that is (duh) out of it. My mother kept lamenting about that fact that we should have gotten a hotel that is in town and while that would have been much more convenient as almost all of the places we wanted to visit were in District 1, we wouldn't have had to chance to eat the very fresh and succulent mussels and clams, the Vietnamese cendol, or visit the market.

So as you can see, it was another food-filled trip.

Which really, should fill every one.





The REALLY good buffet

 



I love cendol!

  

He really was one of a kind

No one else sings, dances, and gives the smouldering look like Elvis did.

Black Gold

This is the most wonderful time of the year

I really like Christmas. The songs, the gatherings with the people I love, and the food. Hahs.
During this season, everything just seems better. It's as if whatever hardship you experienced in the past 11 months is no longer significant and you just want to celebrate. Like everything can wait till Christmas is over. Like it really is magical.


Or maybe it's just me.

Of Weddings and Photos

You know how sometimes there are certain things you only like to do with certain people only because you just know that it will not be as fun with others?

Well, I like to attend wedding dinners with my relatives. It's one of those rare times when we can get together as a family. But I think we really got carried away taking photos at my cousin's wedding in Sept. The worse thing is, we totally ignored the bride and groom. I think we took more photos than the couple.

我寻找爱，因为它能使我欣喜若狂。这种喜悦之情如此强烈，使我愿意为了几个小时的喜悦而牺牲生命中的其他一切。我寻求爱，因为爱能解除孤独--那个可怕的孤独像是一颗颤抖的心灵站在世界的边缘注视着下面冰凉、毫无生气、望不见底的深渊。

I want to go on a holiday!

Preferably to Italy!

Recently I have been having this deep deep hankering to go for a holiday somewhere. I've just been feeling so itchy and fidgety. You know? It was probably brought on by my sister's recent trip to the U.S. Plus, from Facebook, it appears that many many of my friends either are overseas on exchange, or went somewhere for a vacation. I want that too! I would lurrve to go somewhere to live for a while, although I know I'll miss Singapore like crazy.

Japan next year seems so far away. I need something this year. Anywhere.

Do you mind...?

I realise I have not written in a long while. Write, as in more than a paragraph long, other than taking down notes in class or filling up forms kind of write. I miss penning my thoughts, telling stories and even scolding ppl in words. I haven't been updating the blog regularly, and when I do, I'm uploading photos. Nothing wrong, I know, but I just miss writing. Guess that's one of downsides of Facebook and Twitter.

This reflection was actually brought about by playing Sims 3. Weird, I know, but it did. The characters in the game can actually write novels and sell them to earn some money.

Anyways, I have a question. What do you answer when someone starts a question with "Do you mind"? If I ask you "do you mind if I take this chair", what would you answer? Yes or no?
I experimented this with a cashier one day. She was asking if I would mind topping my bill about 50cents more to donate the excess to a charity. And these were her exact words, "Do you mind if I top up your bill to $20 blah blah blah?" I decided to reply, "No". And guess what, she returned me the 50cents. The same thing happened in Dome the other day. I really meant, "No, I don't mind." Why do people ask questions in the way that will not get them the answer they want?

The Icing Room

My sister and I decided to get a cake for my mother on her birthday from the Icing Room last month. It was really quite fun decorating the cake! Plus the cake was quite tasty.

If I were a Pharisee

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) is studying the Gospel of John this year. After 4 months of study, I really wonder which way I would have gone if I were a Pharisee. Would I be Nicodemus? Or be part of the rest of the Pharisees so bent on getting rid of the one Man who dared to rebut their teachings?

I would wonder from time to time if I would be a believer if my parents weren't. Would I have believed in what the Bible says? Sometimes I find it hard to process the idea that all the Bible stories actually did happen many many years ago. Like there really was a flood that nearly wiped out all mankind; the Red Sea really did part; Mary really got pregnant without doing it; and Jesus really did die and resurrected.

But then, I guess it really just comes down to one thing, faith.