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Sunday, July 31, 2005

I’ve been back in sydney for almost a week now!feels a lot longer than that though..my first week of school was kind of intimidating..my first one-hour lecture of the semester involved anatomy of the oral cavity and a whole shipload of unpronouncable names..

But its also been interesting:) the course for this half-semester is beginnings, growth and development..we learnt about infants and their eating habits in scenario group on Thursday..was thinking of my sister and her baby:) And clinical sessions this semester involve examination and communication with children:) ha I’ve always liked interacting with children..but I guess working with them would be different..and somehow I would feel like I have a bigger responsibility working with children..cos anything you do will affect them for life, in at least a small way:) somehow little kids seem to remember little details a lot better than adults do..

Anyway, I just came back to college from a sleepover at gloria’s..went over to olivia’s last night for a late supper, movies and cards:) Its nice to hang out with people from back home cos it makes me feel like I’m not that far from my family and friends..but of course that’s not the only reason I enjoy time spent with them..think I’m pretty lucky to have the people around me right now:) Its not easy to find people you feel at ease and comfortable around a lot of the time..at times at college I feel like I don’t quite fit in..although everyone is so nice I sometimes feel like I’m not being completely myself..but I guess most of the time life isn’t about finding a life you can be happy with..its about finding the happiness in your life:)

Coming back to sydney has made me think more again..in some way it was even harder this time around to return than the first time I came over..at the airport, I felt so sad to hug my parents and sister goodbye..and I said goodbye to her baby boy as well:) the next time I come back I’ll be able to talk to him for real!:) But I’m really glad for the chance to have spent those 3 precious weeks back in singapore in the company of all my friends and family..just doing simple stuff back home and remembering what it feels like to be back home:) In a way it was like an emotional charging..it gave me enough strength to return back to sydney to start the new semester..but now I look forward to summer break at the end of the year even more..

But I really do feel blessed..coming here has given me the chance to gain experience, learn new things in new ways and to forge new bonds with people I probably would not have gotten to even know back home..everyone’s so different, and its interesting comparing differences but it’s the similarities which bond people I suppose:) Ha sorry I’m in a wordy mood right now..probably a result of reading too much of my textbooks in one sitting:)

Happy sunday everyone!:)
~me~ at 12:32 PM

Sunday, July 24, 2005

A memorable week filled with laughter and thoughts:)

I just returned from a short 2-day trip to bintan with my family..had expected it to be the normal relaxing laze-about-the-beach kind of holiday..I was all prepared with my sister’s copy of harry potter to occupy myself during the 2 days..ha but I think I ended up doing more exercise in my short 2-day holiday than in the last 4 months:)

We went to club med, where all the activities and food are inclusive of the cost, ha so we figured that the best way to get our money’s worth was to cram as many activities as we possibly could in our short time there:) I occupied myself mostly with table tennis, volleyball, dance lessons, archery and the CIRCUS TRAPEZE!!!:)
Ha yes that crazy looking girl with the wild mop of hair is me:) so fun!!ha the only scary part is the moment when I stand at the top of the platform ready to jump off:) After takeoff its just amazing:) The best part is when you hang upside down from your knees in a position ready for a fellow trapeze artiste on an adjacent trapeze to catch you:) At that moment, all you sense is the sky, the wind in your face, and a vague idea of what it feels like to fly:)

I was just addicted to it:) Ha I must have went up there more than ten times:) The instructors were really nice and funny:) and the trapeze is seriously a lot scarier from the ground than up in the air when you're actually swinging on it:)

Yep all in all a good holiday of good food and fun activities:) didn't manage to finish harry potter though :P about three-quarters through!Anyway, I returned from bintan on friday and joined cn5a for a steamboat dinner at marina!They're still as funny and easy to talk to as I remember:) and childish:) somehow I can't picture my aussie classmates behaving as they did yesterday:) Ha but I think thats the part I miss the most about NUS--my very entertaining classmates:) We spent a good portion of the night taking silly photos..and kept up the embarassing behaviour even on the mrt back home..by playing orientation-like games in the train carraige in full view of everyone:) was quite sad to say bye to them but happy for a night spent in their company:)

It still feels surreal to be going back to sydney tmr. Maybe cos I feel like I've just adjusted to being back in singapore and my comfort zone once more. Ruth says people who study overseas lead double lives. I met up with her this afternoon:) Glad to have gotten the chance to catch up with her about our lives and experiences:) I feel that through other people's experiences, I'm learning with them as well, and its comforting to know that although we lead lives so physically far away, we are still able to share thoughts and be mentally in tune with people we care about:) In some ways, I do feel closer to the people I care about since leaving for sydney:) I never used to appreciate the mere presence of my elder sister as much as I do now:)

ok gotta pack now. my suitcase now weighs 30kg and sydney has this annoying rule where a piece of luggage strictly cannot exceed 32kg. Ha and I still haven't packed in netter's and all my last minute stuff. Sigh I hate packing. Packing=leaving home. Yep but there is still stuff to look forward to in sydney:) Guess I'll be going back to the other half of my double life pretty soon:)
~me~ at 1:52 AM

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Its been a great week:) Can’t believe its Tuesday already though..

Had lunch with my mom, aunts and grandma yesterday..ha my mom’s side of the family is particularly loud..quite embarrassing at times but also quite cute:) imagine a table-full of chattering ladies laughing and talking:) I hope when I get older I’ll still get together regularly with my sisters and mom like my mom does with her sisters and mom:) Its so easy to lose touch with the people close to us in our busy world.

Spent a bit of time with my mom after that at a coffee shop nearby her workplace..I still feel bad at times for studying overseas at her expense..ha but she keeps assuring me that she’ll be happy enough knowing I end up doing something I want to do with my life and that I can repay her in the future with a karaoke machine. She says she’ll be kept happy as an old retired lady with karaoke and mahjong:)

Met Lynn at holland village in the later part of yesterday afternoon..felt so great to be able to talk to her, even for such a short while..it feels like I can never run out of things to tell her and it felt sad to say goodbye to her..I think its cool how there are certain friends I only see a few precious moments in a year yet I still feel like I can tell them anything on my mind:)

She accompanied me to orchard where we parted at wheelock and I met phin peng at sakae..ha it was his first time dining at a conveyor belt- style sushi place:) ha so ulu:) he kept asking what the different dishes were and was so indecisive in deciding what to eat:) But I had a good time catching up with him:)

Today was another fun day:) went to NUS in the morning to be nerdish and look for textbooks..found a good histology book:)think I should go to NUS co-op instead of Yun Nan next time..afterward joined my sister and grandma at crystal jade for a good lunch:) my grandma was so sweet, wanting to treat me to lunch before I head back to sydney..spent the afternoon shopping in good company..heh feels nice to be doing simple stuff back home once again:)

Met cindy and xinli at gelare for waffles and ice cream!Ha Tuesday is waffles-half-price day at gelare:) and had a short birthday celebration for xinli:) happy birthday xinli:) yet another year has passed..

ah we’re all getting old..ha I still can’t picture my mother as a grandmother. Ha my sister was talking to us during dinner about preparations for the baby..she’s gonna buy a cot and pram soon and my room’s probably gonna be converted to the baby room. Ha. So I might be sharing my room with my nephew when I return in november. Oh well. Hope he likes the stars on my bedroom ceiling:)

Xinli commented how it felt like I had never left. I remember lynn and even pips saying that as well. I guess thats cos even back before I left for sydney, everyone was each busy with their own lives and we never got to meet up that often anyway..Meeting up with all my friends these past few weeks has just made me more aware of the fact that everyone’s leading such different lives now..yet I’m glad that we’re all still able to talk like before, and to share experiences we have in the different lives we all lead..

5 more days of hols left:)
~me~ at 1:53 AM

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Yawn. Dunno why I'm so sleepy now..probably a combination of the rainy weather, being out the whole day, and pigging out. :) anyway, 8 days left to sydney.

The days just seem to be flying by..well I guess thats good it just means I'm happy to be home:) but sad cos it means next sunday will be here before I know it :( I'm not exactly sad to be going back to sydney once more, but I know I won't be happy to leave home again. Sigh I feel like I'm just starting to get used once again to the humid weather, waking up late in my nice comfy bed, having my mom spoil me with an endless supply of snacks, listening to my sister play the piano during saturday evening masses, sunday family brunches, giving buster his weekly baths, maneuvering through the crowds of orchard road, childish behaviour in the company of old friends..I could go on but think I should stop thinking so much for my own sake.

There is stuff to look forward to back in sydney as well:) My new timetable just got posted up on UNSW emed:) the lectures and classes sound pretty interesting:)

Tuesday 26 July
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- Lecture
- Oral cavity and pharynx anatomy
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Lecture
- Exocrine glands of the upper GIT
11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Science Practical
- Oral cavity and pharynx
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
- Scenario Group Session
- Introduction and images of childhood illness

Wednesday 27 July
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- Lecture
- GIT development
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Communication Tutorial
- Communicating with children

Thursday 28 July
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- Lecture
- Upper GIT anatomy
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Lecture
- Upper GIT histology
11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Science Practical
- Embryology of the gastro-intestinal tract
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
- Scenario Group Session
- Nutrition through the ages

Friday 29 July
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- Lecture
- Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins B
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Lecture
- Enzyme catalysis B1
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Lecture
- Enzyme catalysis B2
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
- Lecture
- Virtue Ethics, is it still relevant?

Yep thats my timetable for the first week:) Hard to imagine myself back in sydney right now though. Oh well there will be stuff to look forward to:) walks to the beach, cool weather, starry skies and creston outings amidst all the mugging sessions:) But at the same time, I have the feeling things will feel different next semester..

Anyway, I've had a good couple of days:) I went to visit my grandmother yesterday morning..felt a bit bad cos my cantonese has degenerated to the point where I can't speak a coherent sentence to her :( but at least she gets a rough gist of what I'm trying to convey to her:) and at least I understand her:) Ha thank goodness my elder sister was sitting next to me helping me to translate most of what I was trying to say:)

Had a nice lunch in the company of my elder sis at a nearby cheese and pasta place:) I never used to enjoy cheese that much before I left for sydney but since going there I've learned to appreciate cheese a lot more:)I never knew this but my sis was telling me how pregnant women should try to avoid foods high in bacteria content..ha for example stuff like sashimi and cheese..apparantly dangerous for the development of the foetus..so she hasn't eaten sashimi for the last 5 months and she's really missing it :( poor thing.

I kept her company to the supermarket, then went off to meet cindy in town:) We spent a decent amount of time trooping around town..meetings with her usually involve a lot of walking and ducking through crowds which I'm used to by now:) Ha well I had a nice time catching up with her but she had to rush off to work in the later part of the afternoon..

I spent the most of today birthday present hunting..at least mission's accomplished and I had good company:) went for evening mass after that..the father was talking about commitment to God, and how so many people are afraid of commitment..not only to God, but to other things in life as well..I think commitment scares me. Hmmm...

~me~ at 12:52 AM

Friday, July 15, 2005

amelia and me and HUGE bowls of lamian:)
~me~ at 11:53 AM

ruth, michelle, amelia and me after our satisfying lamian lunch at crystal jade:)
~me~ at 11:51 AM

amelia, a very sian-looking chengyee, and me at jack's place during so3L class dinner at Jack's place:)
~me~ at 11:49 AM

Ah friday again..thats 2 thirds of my time back in singapore gone :(

Had a great time yesterday with michelle, amelia & ruth:) spending time with them always makes me feel like a kid once more:) and so happy to see ruth again!:):) We were sharing our experiences of medical school in different parts of the world..mich and amelia in NUS, ruth in london and me in australia. Quite cool to think how we're all doing things so differently but hopefully will all eventually work together back in singapore.

We had a leisurely lunch at crystal jade la mian, then took a sampling tour of the taka food fest:) Michelle and amelia are shameless when it comes to free food:) I got a pleasant surprise in front of the bread shop where xinli jumped me from behind:) Ha was so happy to see her:) was sorry I couldn't stay long to chat with her but will hopefully meet her again next week:)

Think singapore really is just tiny:)Had a couple more pleasant surprises along the way from taka to borders as I bumped into jiamin, then later Livia:) Everyone's so different yet the same as I remember them:)

We took a slight detour to scott's picnic to settle ruth's craving for yami yogurt!We were parked there for a measurable amount of time, (most of which michelle was raving to me about the current singaporean food fad rotiboy-some bread with coffee cream or something) scarfing down yami yogurt and jaffa's cakes (some orangey chocolatey cake thingies.very nice!Ruth imported them all the way from london for us to try:) ). To top off our afternoon of pigging out, Amelia ended up licking her plastic spoon clean then putting it into her bag, explaining that she collected spoons. Oh well, at least she collects plastic spoons:) My mom has accumulated a considerable collection of metal SIA cutlery in her cupboard:) And I was wondering on the plane ride back to singapore from sydney why SIA had switched to using plastic spoons and knives..
Michelle explained to me that plastic knives were a safeguard to prevent terrorists from using metal knives as weapons on planes. Er. Well I guess that kind of makes sense but somehow just sounds funny.

Its really hard to imagine all of us as doctors in 5/6 years time..I wonder if we'll still get together and behave/talk as we do now?Ha well I guess as doctors we will have to exhibit the more professional parts of our personalities:)Its amazing to think how many different sides there are to a single person..I show a different side of my personality to each and every single person. Some people probably know me more than others but I wonder if there will ever be a single person who knows me entirely. Thats actually a scary thought.

Anyway, yep all-in-all a typically amusing afternoon spent with michelle, amelia and ruth:) I ended my day of pigging out with a seafood dinner courtesy of my mom:) She pampers me too much. Ha she was telling me and my sister how her colleague at work jokingly told another slacking colleague "You better watch out or else I'll durai you to the boss!" Didn't know whether to laugh or to be sad over the whole situation. Its pretty sad to think that these things happen in singapore as well..

Oops gotta go now. Busy day ahead. Yay lunch with my elder sister, meeting with cindy in the afternoon, and gotta settle my textbook situation:) Happy friday people:)

debs: Ha ok fine. JOLLY maaaah. :)
~me~ at 11:35 AM

Thursday, July 14, 2005

the dubbo gang learning how to throw boomerangs!not as easy as it looks:)
~me~ at 11:59 AM

Community service trip to dubbo during easter break!:)Ha I face painted butterflies on this sweet little girl:)The boys asked for dragons and chinese letterings:)
~me~ at 11:57 AM

me and louisa at sydney harbour bridge!see the ant-like figures at the top of the bridge?those are the rich folks who can afford to pay the $100+ fare to walk up there:)
~me~ at 11:52 AM

me and the HUGE adorable dog at the winery:)
~me~ at 11:50 AM

Hunter's Valley roadtrip during midsem break!well known for its vineyards & cheese:) And the first and only time I drove in australia:)
~me~ at 11:48 AM

Fun day yesterday with the rgs gang:)Pretty sad I won't be able to see most of them again until the end of the year again, but nevertheless really glad to have gotten the chance to meet them yesterday:)

Its really pretty amazing to think how far we've come from the small innocent sec ones we were before:)Everyone's leading so different lives yet its a relief to know everybody's still retained at least some part of our younger days:)Everyone says I haven't changed since I left for sydney. Debs says its just cos people kind of expect change when you leave for a foreign country to lead a totally different life. If you think about it I was only away for 4 months..ha but somehow it feels a lot longer than that..at the same time I feel that this year has really flown by..I can never understand how time can seem so long yet short at the same time. Even my time back home thus far has felt both long yet short. So much has happened in the last week already, but I feel like I have yet gotten the chance to meet so many others..as of today, my holiday back home is already more than half over :(

I was reading past entries of my own blog earlier..Life is really so unexpected, this time last year I was getting ready to enter NUS and medicine seemed like a far-off dream only..Someone mentioned to me how life resembles the rhythm of music:)Right now I'm coursing through the faster paces but there will also be quieter times when I can just follow the slow beat of life:)

meeting amelia, michelle and cheng for crystal jade la mian today!:)happy day everyone:)

oh and I figure I should post up more pictures of life in sydney now that I have internet access at home:)Ha yep so look out for more pics guys:)
~me~ at 10:48 AM

guess who?:)
~me~ at 10:43 AM

Everybody but the birthday girl!plus johnny mah the sheep:)
~me~ at 10:41 AM

Happy belated birthday dear debra!:)you're a big girl now:)
~me~ at 10:39 AM

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Been wanting to blog a nice long post for awhile now:)Sorry its been such a stagnant blog of late but I guess I'm not that used to updating as I did before sydney..It feels like I have so many thoughts in my head I don't even know where to start.

The past week has been great:)I'm starting to remember what I felt like just before I left for sydney in the beginning of the year, when I was so sad to leave and so scared of what I was to face in australia..Ha well except I guess I'm not that scared now..just sad to leave my family and friends once again..But I guess this whole experience has just made me appreciate my loved ones more:)and appreciate the good food in singapore more:)

My mom was telling me how she feels closer to me although she sees less of me now..and I do feel closer to my elder sister as well, although I know I can't fully understand what she's going through right now..She's still the same bigger sister I admired and respected, just that I'm only know realising how 'old' she's getting..still can't fully take in the fact that she's going to be a mom!and I'm going to be an aunt.gosh I feel old. I went to cine yesterday and suddenly felt so OLD in the presence of all the surrounding school students. Ha not that I'm very matured or anything, just that I realise how fast time is flying and how far we've all grown from the little kids we used to be..I still recall times when me and my sisters would be playing silly games and argueing over the silliest things, and now we're suddenly moms and aunts:)

Yeah I'm gonna be an aunt probably by 20th november. Sigh pretty sad I won't be able to be here when she gives birth..She told me if I happen to be here, she wants me in the room with her to hold her hand when she gives birth. Oh well I'll definitely be there with her in spirit:)And I know Chris will take care of her:)

Ok recollection of the past few days..
Saturday:
Breakfast at Tiong Bahru!:)It was hot and humid and crowded but I wasn't complaining:)Good food and good family company made up for everything:)
Evening mass at St Ignatius was enjoyable..I really miss the big congregations, the singing, and my sister's piano playing:)
And I met S03L at Jack's Place sat night:)Was nice seeing everyone again:)and although it feels just like old times laughing with everyone, it feels different too, cos we're all leading such different lives now..

Sunday:
Weekly sunday brunch with my family:)and I got the chance to catch up with my driving skills again:)somehow it feels a lot less scary driving in singapore now after seeing the scary drivers in sydney:)
Then swimming in the afternoon!:)I really should swim more:)Felt pretty invigorating:)Rounded off the night with a nice dinner with my sis and chris:)

Monday:
Chem eng orientation camp at NUS/sentosa!I'm really impressed with the efforts my NUS class put into the camp:)They really did a great job:)Ha plus I got a free T-shirt and ride to sentosa:)Lotsa silly typical orientation games and it was nice seeing cn5a once again:)Sorry I couldn't stay for fright night but I think you guys really put in a lot of hard work into the camp and I know it was a success:)ha special thanks to yongxiang for letting me be his fellow OGL for the day:)

Tuesday:
Thanks to Jon for helping me lug 4 textbooks all the way to my place:)ha and for the nice book wraps:)I currently have a total of 8 books to contribute to my 30kg limit on the plane ride back:)Yep but I'm now all set for my next muggerish, nerdish semester:)
Ha pigout of the day took place at Marche, followed by Fantastic Four:)I decided that after cycling, kite flying and sentosa, I missed doing normal, boring stuff in singapore as well:)Fantastic Four wasn't a bad movie:)was a bit surprised by how much injected humour there was but thought it was a good touch:)all in all a day of good food, company and small talk:)Sometimes its the simple stuff that make our day:)

Ok gonna give buster his weekly bath that he hates me for, then off to meet the rgs peeps:)see you guys soon!
~me~ at 11:01 AM

Friday, July 08, 2005

yo people!

wow can't believe I've been back for nearly a week already..somehow i'm still adjusting to being back home..it feels as if I never left and that the last 4 months was just a dream..like I'm just picking up from where I left off. Its great being able to see my family and friends again:) ha and of course it feels great to be pigging out on singaporean food again. And i've missed the feeling of being pampered by my mom back here:) yet a part of me actually also 'misses' sydney. Maybe I don't quite 'miss' sydney, but just that I spent the last 4 months trying so hard to adapt to living in sydney that I did feel quite settled, and now its gonna take me some time to adapt to being back home once again:) but its really feels great to be doing all things I've been thinking of doing for so long:)

Ha I've missed just walking along orchard. Sydney shopping is good only if you have the $$. And I've missed being able to get a meal for $3. Ha I went cycling at East Coast park yest and kite flying today at marina:) so at least my mom can't nag at me for my physical inactivity in the last 4 months. yep its been great meeting up and talking to everyone once again:)

Only complaint : its so HOT!!and HUMID. thats one part of sydney I definitely miss:)
~me~ at 12:13 AM

Saturday, July 02, 2005

I'm baaack!!!:)

everything looks so familiar yet different at the same time:)but it feels great to be able to see my family again and to enjoy blogging in my room once more!!

hard to believe the exam was just yesterday morning..it wasn't too bad..Lots more microbiology than everyone expected but I think in the end everyone was just glad to be done with the paper:)went back to college to pack right after the paper then went out at night for thai food!!:)very nice:)then watched war of the worlds..it wasn't as scary as it was sad :P depicted a lot of the human nature and how desperate an act we're willing to go to.yep but in general a good movie.although the ending was just kinda abrupt and displeasing.but believable:)oh well shan't ruin it too much for pple who haven't watched it:)

yep I ended the movie near midnight last night then had to rush back to college to resume packing!ended up saying goodbyes and talking to my college friends till about 2am..think everyone was just so excited at the thought of going home!!ha think I was one of the earliest med students to leave in my college..my flight was at a bleary 8am this morning so I had to leave the college at 530 to catch the hourly bus :P wasn't too bad cos I had company at least:) anyway I was so jittery think I wouldn't have slept much even if I could:)

ended up reaching the airport at about 6 then had to queue for an hour to check in!ha but I wasn't complaining:) I was just geared up by the fact that I was home!and tada I'm home now!ha think buster's forgotten me already.and the weather is so freaking HOT and HUMID. ugh. I could feel the immediate temperature change just by stepping into the airport terminal. going for mass this evening then dinner with my elder sister!!4 months pregnant now.and we just found out its a boy!:)

I'm home home home!!:)
~me~ at 5:58 PM