Today is the fourth day in a row that I take what I call 'convalescent walks' in the Punggol Park. Before last Friday, I have had no strength (physical, mental or both; though I suspect that lack of physical strength played a predominant role as an inhibiting factor) to venture out of the house, let alone take 2-3km walks in the park. I was thus very glad last friday when I woke up feeling reasonably refreshed instead of experiencing the heavy-bodied lethargy that greeted me every morning I woke up, since the Pox. I have managed to sustain a routine of taking morning walks and I wish I could maintain it in the days to come, at least before I am saddled with work from PLC coming July the 7th. Convalescent walks (actually I had borrowed this phase from the book by German author Schindler's book, "The Reader", a riveting read) are great for rebuilding bodily strength. When one's body is telling the brain that it has partially recovered but still needs recuperation, it is best to resume some measure of activity which is good for the body and soul but is not too physically demanding. Walks in the park is such a perfect activity. That aside, I think we are very fortunate to be living so near to a wonderful park.
For the past 3 days, I have been struck by the regularity of human activities and its relativity to how the world works. Believe it or not, I have met the same person (whom I shall call the Cat Lady because she has been going around the Punggol Park feeding the stray cats from the several plastic bags hung on the bar handles of her orange old-fashioned bicycle) at around the same time and at the same spot of the park. Even the cat that follows her and waits expectantly to be fed by her is visibly the same cat! It was mundane the first time I saw it because I've seen the lady do her rounds in the park before, amusing the second time I ran into her at the same spot and quite intriguing the third time round. Such is the predictability (or lack thereof in most instances?) of human life and routine. It nevetheless set me thinking: for how long could this continue? Will I be at the park at around the same time every morning? For how long will the lady do her rounds in the park in fulfilment of what I reckon is a sense of duty towards the stray cats? Then again, how does it matter that there is no degree of permanence in whatever that we do? A person who is at the same job for 30 years goes to work at the same place for every single working day of the 30 years and there will come for a time for him to retire from the daily drone. The trees, butterflies and cats that I saw today will be at the park tomorrow, but there will come a time when the trees will fall, the butterflies will drop gracefully from its flutter and the cats will stop their wandering in the park. There may eventually come a time when the the park is obliterated and replaced by an entirely different entity. Change is the only constant in life. So there is no need to bemoan the lack of constancy when change is the constant itself. Just that the constant is paradoxically not static- we just have to move with it and to a certain extent, let go of the obstinate clinging to the past.
Post-script: Ah mah from next door is using charcoal to boil some ingredients, one of which I am very sure is Pandan leaves from the smell of it, just outside the lift landing. Smells great. It is the third time I have seen Ah mah preparing the ingredients for making rice dumplings. At the same time that I envy them for having the luxury of tasting home-made dumplings and admire the spirit for carrying on a tradition that is quickly becoming a rarity amongst households here, I reminisce the time that our neighbour has spent with us. The first time that I saw Ah mah use the charcoal and clay pot stand to boil ingredients was barely a few months after they moved in. So my witnessing it for the third time means they have stayed next door for at least 2 years. As if to illustrate my musings above about the impermanence of living phenomenons, their impending move just proves the point that change is a part of life and has to be accepted. Otherwise one can never look forward and receive the future with equanimity.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"Good Luck Always Follows a Bad Streak"?
9th June. It has been a long time (15days) since I last made an entry. What has happened to me? I came down with a fever on 29th May and chicken pox broke out the day after. The doctor said I was infected but I do not recall going close to anyone with chicken pox at all! Anyway, I was given 35 Lovir pills to combat the virus. I was appalled at the prospect of having to down 35 pills over 8 days but here I am alive and kicking, after the last pill yesterday evening. The spots are still visible on my face and body and I really do hope they go away SOON. Chicken pox is the worst illness that I have had to go through. The first few days were totally unbearable, with poxes surfacing and I could do nothing but lye in bed and feel miserable.
Because of my chicken pox, Taiqi had to go home for a total of 18 days just in case I would pass the virus to her during the probational period. There are 7 days more to go, including today. I'm alone in the house now. It has been a long time since I last spent long hours at home alone. Although it is very peaceful and gives me a true break, I miss the noises and vibrancy. I also miss being energetic. The house has always been filled with noise and voices of Taiqi and Ah gui when I'm at home. This has been the case for the past 2 years (sans the period when I was in Canada for exchange). The deja vu feeling sort of transports me to back to the days many years back when I was in primary/ secondary school-coming back to an empty home and spending the quiet and sleepy afternoon hours alone at home. Or when it was the holidays. Ah gui and Mic were always at work and it had not even crossed my mind that I would expect to see them at home. I think I am so used to their absence that I still find it strange to be at home with them without Taiqi around.
In the one month since my last exam, I have had three bouts of major illnesses. Fever, bronchitis and now chicken pox. Actually the bad streak began even before my first exam. Imagine having fever just one day before the exam and with two other people sick in the house. I had thought it would be over there and then but things just went on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. And throughout these periods of ordeal, how could I have done without Ah gui? I appreciate having a mother who is always the stronger one when I feel weak. Where does she derive her strength from? The strength to buy and wash each and every mud-covered water chestnut by hand, cook the 4 meals each day for me to eat before taking my medicine, wake up in the middle of the night to feed me nutriact and millennium, and all these on top of cooking for the rest of the family and doing the usual household chores. Her love for her children has far exceeded the limits of her mortal strength and I wonder if I can ever match that high order love if our positions were reversed. At this point 2 sentences from a poem that Taiqi learns resonates in my mind:
“谁言寸草心，报得三春晖".
I am ever so afraid of failing her in any way.
P.S. I hope that what Gwen told me after my fever during the exam period , "good luck always follows a bad streak", will materialise this time around although it didn't one month ago. It is a very comforting thought nonetheless.
Because of my chicken pox, Taiqi had to go home for a total of 18 days just in case I would pass the virus to her during the probational period. There are 7 days more to go, including today. I'm alone in the house now. It has been a long time since I last spent long hours at home alone. Although it is very peaceful and gives me a true break, I miss the noises and vibrancy. I also miss being energetic. The house has always been filled with noise and voices of Taiqi and Ah gui when I'm at home. This has been the case for the past 2 years (sans the period when I was in Canada for exchange). The deja vu feeling sort of transports me to back to the days many years back when I was in primary/ secondary school-coming back to an empty home and spending the quiet and sleepy afternoon hours alone at home. Or when it was the holidays. Ah gui and Mic were always at work and it had not even crossed my mind that I would expect to see them at home. I think I am so used to their absence that I still find it strange to be at home with them without Taiqi around.
In the one month since my last exam, I have had three bouts of major illnesses. Fever, bronchitis and now chicken pox. Actually the bad streak began even before my first exam. Imagine having fever just one day before the exam and with two other people sick in the house. I had thought it would be over there and then but things just went on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. And throughout these periods of ordeal, how could I have done without Ah gui? I appreciate having a mother who is always the stronger one when I feel weak. Where does she derive her strength from? The strength to buy and wash each and every mud-covered water chestnut by hand, cook the 4 meals each day for me to eat before taking my medicine, wake up in the middle of the night to feed me nutriact and millennium, and all these on top of cooking for the rest of the family and doing the usual household chores. Her love for her children has far exceeded the limits of her mortal strength and I wonder if I can ever match that high order love if our positions were reversed. At this point 2 sentences from a poem that Taiqi learns resonates in my mind:
“谁言寸草心，报得三春晖".
I am ever so afraid of failing her in any way.
P.S. I hope that what Gwen told me after my fever during the exam period , "good luck always follows a bad streak", will materialise this time around although it didn't one month ago. It is a very comforting thought nonetheless.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
25th May
Dajie left for China on a study trip with her students today. It is going to last for 11 days! I helped her to pack most things and in the end I realised two brains is still better than one. Had Ah Gui not reminded us, I would have forgotten to help her put in a comb and socks! Dajie has had a rough patch the last few weeks as she laboured to get ready for the trip. I wish her trip would be uneventful (in a good way) and that she'd take good care of herself. Seeing her work so hard for tangible benefits that are starkly incommensurate with the effort she puts in awakes me to the reality of working life, and the preciousness of hard-earned money.
I went for a relief class today at learning continuum. The P5 students are so much more manageable than the P2 students! They responded well and paid attention in class. It was quite enjoyable teaching them English. Although the class was small and I might not have earned much for 4 hours spent (including travelling time), it is better than nothing for a day of idleness at home (that is after dajie left for the airport).
Jo just suggested to Ah gui for her and Mike to attend a Hokkien concert by Taiwanese artistes. I'm really excited for them to attend it, since they haven't attended a concert together at all throughout their 30 years of marriage! We are trying very hard to persuade Ah Gui now but she is her usual self, giving all kinds of excuses and putting up a front as if she won't enjoy the performance. Truth be told, she is just concerned about one thing-money! Even though I'm not really earning and therefore have limited persuasive authority, I still wish she'd just give herself a break this once and go and have a nice evening, for once in a long long time.
I went for a relief class today at learning continuum. The P5 students are so much more manageable than the P2 students! They responded well and paid attention in class. It was quite enjoyable teaching them English. Although the class was small and I might not have earned much for 4 hours spent (including travelling time), it is better than nothing for a day of idleness at home (that is after dajie left for the airport).
Jo just suggested to Ah gui for her and Mike to attend a Hokkien concert by Taiwanese artistes. I'm really excited for them to attend it, since they haven't attended a concert together at all throughout their 30 years of marriage! We are trying very hard to persuade Ah Gui now but she is her usual self, giving all kinds of excuses and putting up a front as if she won't enjoy the performance. Truth be told, she is just concerned about one thing-money! Even though I'm not really earning and therefore have limited persuasive authority, I still wish she'd just give herself a break this once and go and have a nice evening, for once in a long long time.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
"but life is what happens while we're waiting for it to be perfect enough to live it"
A sentence from Marian Keyes' book, "Further Under the Duvet". It is so true, isn't it? This Irish author has a real sense of humour and a knack for occasional pithy sayings. She wrote this sentence after describing how she has always aimed to do something ambitious at the beginning of the year as part of her new year resolution but always ends up feeling guilt-ridden after she fails to meet her targets. Implicit in it is the acknowledgement that life is never perfect but is a process whereby we are continually seeking perfection. The funny thing is that this process does not have an end to it and we can do nothing but live this 'imperfect life' as it happens. Resignedness? Not really. This is one view of life.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Competition- at home?
I understand that competition abounds everywhere, the strongest of it being felt in workplaces, schools, etc. But competition at home? I really do not think there should be competition at home, the only enclave where one can take a break and just be at ease. Where should there always be an undercurrent brewing when things are being done, in the sense that one is secretly using an invisible barometer to measure how much the other person is doing while one goes about what she does? I believe that if you genuinely want to do something, just go ahead and do it and you should not bear grudges against others whom you think 'should have done what I have just done'. It does not make sense to me.
Is it me being oversensitive, is it that I am really a 'lazy bum', or is it that I have a weird sense of what is right and wrong? I'm really confounded by these matters of human dynamics, curiously, when I'm at home. I do not feel comfortable enough to do what I deem appropriate, that is not right.
What is it that is missing that is making me feeling so unsettled?
Is it me being oversensitive, is it that I am really a 'lazy bum', or is it that I have a weird sense of what is right and wrong? I'm really confounded by these matters of human dynamics, curiously, when I'm at home. I do not feel comfortable enough to do what I deem appropriate, that is not right.
What is it that is missing that is making me feeling so unsettled?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Another Uneventful Day
I feel slightly better today in the sense that I am not feeling as fragile as the day before. The cough is still bothering me. Ah gui brought me to the Wilmer clinic yesterday and I got a shock when I found out that the consultation fee alone is $120 for first-time patients. In the end I ended up paying $357 for consultation, medicine, throat sensitivity test and a jab to clear the phlegm. The huge bundle of medicine given by the doctor will shock anyone. Just the cough syrup alone is twice the volume given by other normal clinics. I do not find this very palatable at all. Maybe that is what is comes with consulting a 'specialist'.
Being sick is the worst thing that can happen to anyone- it drains resources and drains energy. I've fallen sick twice in 4 weeks and I can't help but wonder why I'm so down in luck. Is it a sign that my immunity is deteriorating or is it a sign that my fortune has changed for the worse?That reminds me: at the beginning of the year Ah Gui brought me to the temple to give offerings because my zodiac sign (Tiger) clashes with the 'Taisui' this year, which basically means that many hurdles lie ahead and that my health will suffer. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm taking such fortune-telling things too seriously. Nevertheless I can't help but find some truth in it when these things happen to me.
I wish (again, now fervently) that I will recover soon.
Being sick is the worst thing that can happen to anyone- it drains resources and drains energy. I've fallen sick twice in 4 weeks and I can't help but wonder why I'm so down in luck. Is it a sign that my immunity is deteriorating or is it a sign that my fortune has changed for the worse?That reminds me: at the beginning of the year Ah Gui brought me to the temple to give offerings because my zodiac sign (Tiger) clashes with the 'Taisui' this year, which basically means that many hurdles lie ahead and that my health will suffer. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm taking such fortune-telling things too seriously. Nevertheless I can't help but find some truth in it when these things happen to me.
I wish (again, now fervently) that I will recover soon.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Unsuccessful
My application for the internship was unsuccessful. I just received the email this morning. To be honest I was quite disappointed as I thought the interview went smoothly and I had thought it was overall a very rewarding conversation with the three gentlemen. Well, I'd just have to admit that either my essay was not as well-written, my cv was not as startling or that I had not impressed the interviewers at all. It could be a combination of all three factors really.
Disappointed though I was, I did not feel a great sense of loss. The feeling was more akin to finding out that I had not performed as well as expected in an examination, even though I know that I had put in all I could for that examination. The feeling was not strong enough to be crushing, because firstly I knew that I had given all I could and secondly, it was a rather 'bonus' thing if I could get it and it is really alright if I can't and thirdly, because I'm rather good at overcoming sad feelings associated with these 'worldly expectations'. I'd often comfort myself by telling myself that just because a few people do not think you are good enough does not mean that all others would think the same way. There are always others who would appreciate you in some other way.
Therefore, I continued with the cleaning up of the house after reading that email and found it, as always, therapeutic to expend my energy on cleaning the house when I'm feeling down, confused or lost. I have to springclean after every semestral exams, as soon as I begin on a long break etc. The physical clearing has an intangible effect of clearing my mind of confusion, disoriented thoughts and restore my sense of balance as a being. Actually before I checked the email, I already had an inexplicable unpleasant feeling- a sense of loss and helplessness almost amounting to abject loneliness. I don't know why. Is it because I have just come to terms with the fact that I am no longer a student and will be uprooted from the comfort and familiarity of the school zone; is it because many if not most of my friends are not in Singapore and are on their grad trips and I felt left-behind (quite unlikely to my mind but I think it has just that slightest effect); is it because I miss a good friend?; is it because I had the nagging feeling that Ah Gui has not totally let go of the incident and is likely to haunt my conscience with her insinuations and pointed censures that she'd bounce off with the rest (this sort of materialised just now and I felt really really terrible.); is it FEAR? I don't know, I was suddenly so afraid and felt so lonely and I could almost feel myself trembling within. That was even before I saw that 'unsuccessful' email. Therefore my conclusion is, that email did not have a major impact on my mood today, it was to do with my fears from the past, the uncertainty of the present and the apprehension of the future that is bothering me.
It is ok if you are unsuccessful in an application or even in your career, I think. But you must not be unsuccessful as a PERSON. And more than once in the last few days I have been made to think I am unsuccessful in the latter sense. How can I redeem myself and stand up with my chin high, with a cheerful disposition again? Why is it that I have found it so difficult to be cheerful ever since last week? Is there really something wrong with me as a person? If so I'm not even sure how I could change.
I hope I could be cheerful again.
Disappointed though I was, I did not feel a great sense of loss. The feeling was more akin to finding out that I had not performed as well as expected in an examination, even though I know that I had put in all I could for that examination. The feeling was not strong enough to be crushing, because firstly I knew that I had given all I could and secondly, it was a rather 'bonus' thing if I could get it and it is really alright if I can't and thirdly, because I'm rather good at overcoming sad feelings associated with these 'worldly expectations'. I'd often comfort myself by telling myself that just because a few people do not think you are good enough does not mean that all others would think the same way. There are always others who would appreciate you in some other way.
Therefore, I continued with the cleaning up of the house after reading that email and found it, as always, therapeutic to expend my energy on cleaning the house when I'm feeling down, confused or lost. I have to springclean after every semestral exams, as soon as I begin on a long break etc. The physical clearing has an intangible effect of clearing my mind of confusion, disoriented thoughts and restore my sense of balance as a being. Actually before I checked the email, I already had an inexplicable unpleasant feeling- a sense of loss and helplessness almost amounting to abject loneliness. I don't know why. Is it because I have just come to terms with the fact that I am no longer a student and will be uprooted from the comfort and familiarity of the school zone; is it because many if not most of my friends are not in Singapore and are on their grad trips and I felt left-behind (quite unlikely to my mind but I think it has just that slightest effect); is it because I miss a good friend?; is it because I had the nagging feeling that Ah Gui has not totally let go of the incident and is likely to haunt my conscience with her insinuations and pointed censures that she'd bounce off with the rest (this sort of materialised just now and I felt really really terrible.); is it FEAR? I don't know, I was suddenly so afraid and felt so lonely and I could almost feel myself trembling within. That was even before I saw that 'unsuccessful' email. Therefore my conclusion is, that email did not have a major impact on my mood today, it was to do with my fears from the past, the uncertainty of the present and the apprehension of the future that is bothering me.
It is ok if you are unsuccessful in an application or even in your career, I think. But you must not be unsuccessful as a PERSON. And more than once in the last few days I have been made to think I am unsuccessful in the latter sense. How can I redeem myself and stand up with my chin high, with a cheerful disposition again? Why is it that I have found it so difficult to be cheerful ever since last week? Is there really something wrong with me as a person? If so I'm not even sure how I could change.
I hope I could be cheerful again.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Dusting Away the Cobwebs
I took a look at the date of the last entry for this blog. It was on 31 May 2009, ie almost one year ago. I think this latest entry, or what I shall term the 'resurrection entry', probably makes it seem as if there has been a one-year void in my life. What have I been doing in the course of this one year? This brings me back to last May.
I still remember the night (or early morning) that I arrived in Singapore on a connecting Northwest flight from Tokoyo. It was 16th May 2009, exactly one year ago. Joey and Michael were waiting for me at the airport. The rest didn't come because the car could not carry us all. So I was back in Singapore, feeling quite lost in my own country. (I believe) I collected myself and quickly fell back into the pace of life. I did a few internships in the holidays before school started in Ausgust. Memory of the first semester of Year 4 was quite a blur, except for Prof Loy's IP classes, which are ever so fulfilling and enjoyable. Then came the December holidays where I absolutely could not remember what I did, except for an ugly incidence of face-off with Ah gui at home. Then Adriana arrived with Cathy in late December.
I had been looking forward to Adriana's arrival for one whole semester and in a blink of an eye, she is now back home after having spent 4.5 months here. So much could be said about our friendship, the things we did together, the places we have been and the things we have spoken about. So much, that all couldn't be put down on paper without words running the risk of being understatements. It hardly feels as if we've known each other for only 1.5 years. Now that I recall it, having her here had been quite a surreal experience given that she is meant to be permanently thousands of miles away. However, I am glad to at least say that I had not wasted any opportunities for us to do things and to build memories of us together. It had been a good semester mainly because Adriana was here. I still can't put my finger on what made us get along so well and what contributed to, dare I say, such depth of a friendship. Was it just her personable nature that made things work or is it just my own wishful thinking that she is an extraordinary friend? No matter what I shall miss her, the times we shared and the conversations we have had. What goes on from here? Only time will tell.
So today is 16 May 2010, the 10th day after my last exam (international commercial litigation). It hardly feels like that at all. Why does time seem to fly by so quickly, in fact more quickly nowadays? For example, at this time of the day 7 days ago, I was cycling with Adriana at the East Coast Park and it was also 7 days ago that Adriana first came to our house to have dinner. It feels like it was 3 days ago!
So this is partly the reason why I am resurrecting this blog today. As I read through my entries in the previous year and the thoughts that I managed to capture there and then, I realised it is so valuable to be able to go back in time and revisit your thoughts at a certain point in time. It has the effect of transporting yourself back in time to the point where you encountered a certain incident/entertained that particular thought. It is also a good way to keep oneself at the top of things, to keep track of what one has been doing and hopefully, I'll be able to use this blog as a kind of mirror to reflect on my daily behavior, dealings with people and performance in tasks. It would also be a record of my daily activities.
I hope everyday could be be a fresh one from today onwards, free from encumbrances and baggages of the past, even from the past one day. I want to be able to go on a slightly (not radically) different path where I could appreciate the people around me and even myself and my own life better. I want to minimise negative and inefficient thoughts in my mind. I want to be healthy and strong to meet the tasks and demands of each day. In short, I want to have a refreshed mind and start daily new journeys that would sustain me as a better and happier person in the long term.
Well. At least this sounds like a good start, doesn't it? :)
Postscript:
It is raining cats and dogs now. Jo, Dajie and Taiqi have gone to Parkway Parade for Taiqi's weekly classes. I couldn't go with her today because I have been coughing like nobody's business since Monday. I really wish I could recover quickly and be an energetic person soon. I don't want to be like what Jasmine and YY say, seemingly 'perpetually not feeling well'. Things between me and Ah gui have patched up (I hope) since that chinese physician incident a few days ago and it can just get better! Oh yes, and I probably have to start thinking about what I should do for this holiday if I don't get the Stephenson Harwood internship (I hope their belated reply does not mean that I am one of the rejects whom they would only inform last).
I still remember the night (or early morning) that I arrived in Singapore on a connecting Northwest flight from Tokoyo. It was 16th May 2009, exactly one year ago. Joey and Michael were waiting for me at the airport. The rest didn't come because the car could not carry us all. So I was back in Singapore, feeling quite lost in my own country. (I believe) I collected myself and quickly fell back into the pace of life. I did a few internships in the holidays before school started in Ausgust. Memory of the first semester of Year 4 was quite a blur, except for Prof Loy's IP classes, which are ever so fulfilling and enjoyable. Then came the December holidays where I absolutely could not remember what I did, except for an ugly incidence of face-off with Ah gui at home. Then Adriana arrived with Cathy in late December.
I had been looking forward to Adriana's arrival for one whole semester and in a blink of an eye, she is now back home after having spent 4.5 months here. So much could be said about our friendship, the things we did together, the places we have been and the things we have spoken about. So much, that all couldn't be put down on paper without words running the risk of being understatements. It hardly feels as if we've known each other for only 1.5 years. Now that I recall it, having her here had been quite a surreal experience given that she is meant to be permanently thousands of miles away. However, I am glad to at least say that I had not wasted any opportunities for us to do things and to build memories of us together. It had been a good semester mainly because Adriana was here. I still can't put my finger on what made us get along so well and what contributed to, dare I say, such depth of a friendship. Was it just her personable nature that made things work or is it just my own wishful thinking that she is an extraordinary friend? No matter what I shall miss her, the times we shared and the conversations we have had. What goes on from here? Only time will tell.
So today is 16 May 2010, the 10th day after my last exam (international commercial litigation). It hardly feels like that at all. Why does time seem to fly by so quickly, in fact more quickly nowadays? For example, at this time of the day 7 days ago, I was cycling with Adriana at the East Coast Park and it was also 7 days ago that Adriana first came to our house to have dinner. It feels like it was 3 days ago!
So this is partly the reason why I am resurrecting this blog today. As I read through my entries in the previous year and the thoughts that I managed to capture there and then, I realised it is so valuable to be able to go back in time and revisit your thoughts at a certain point in time. It has the effect of transporting yourself back in time to the point where you encountered a certain incident/entertained that particular thought. It is also a good way to keep oneself at the top of things, to keep track of what one has been doing and hopefully, I'll be able to use this blog as a kind of mirror to reflect on my daily behavior, dealings with people and performance in tasks. It would also be a record of my daily activities.
I hope everyday could be be a fresh one from today onwards, free from encumbrances and baggages of the past, even from the past one day. I want to be able to go on a slightly (not radically) different path where I could appreciate the people around me and even myself and my own life better. I want to minimise negative and inefficient thoughts in my mind. I want to be healthy and strong to meet the tasks and demands of each day. In short, I want to have a refreshed mind and start daily new journeys that would sustain me as a better and happier person in the long term.
Well. At least this sounds like a good start, doesn't it? :)
Postscript:
It is raining cats and dogs now. Jo, Dajie and Taiqi have gone to Parkway Parade for Taiqi's weekly classes. I couldn't go with her today because I have been coughing like nobody's business since Monday. I really wish I could recover quickly and be an energetic person soon. I don't want to be like what Jasmine and YY say, seemingly 'perpetually not feeling well'. Things between me and Ah gui have patched up (I hope) since that chinese physician incident a few days ago and it can just get better! Oh yes, and I probably have to start thinking about what I should do for this holiday if I don't get the Stephenson Harwood internship (I hope their belated reply does not mean that I am one of the rejects whom they would only inform last).
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Niamh
Met up with Niamh, Orla's elder sister this evening! Niamh is on her way to Australia for her travels and has stopped over in Singapore for a few days. It was great that I had a chance to meet up with her. Seeing and talking to her reminds me so much of Orla. They have the same eyes, expressions and mannerisms. The encounter with Niamh reminds me of the time Orla and I spent together in Room 508, London Hall.
It was a lovely evening. We had dinner at Kenny Rogers in Marina Square. Then we walked to the Suntec City Mall and the Fountain of Wealth. Then we walked to Esplanade and the Marina Bay waterfront area before walking still to the Clarke Quay area. Niamh is just like Orla, easy to talk to and connect with. At certain points in time the similarities in their mannerisms are just so striking. We had a great time talking about all sorts of things and I think Niamh is a really smart and elegant lady.
My encounter with Niamh made me realise that I miss my Orla and friends in Western. I haven't had such strong feelings since I came back.
Anyway, it's going to be midnight and I should go to sleep and wake up to another day to go to work. I think I have to polish up myself to be sharper and quicker, somewhat somehow. Go-Go!
It was a lovely evening. We had dinner at Kenny Rogers in Marina Square. Then we walked to the Suntec City Mall and the Fountain of Wealth. Then we walked to Esplanade and the Marina Bay waterfront area before walking still to the Clarke Quay area. Niamh is just like Orla, easy to talk to and connect with. At certain points in time the similarities in their mannerisms are just so striking. We had a great time talking about all sorts of things and I think Niamh is a really smart and elegant lady.
My encounter with Niamh made me realise that I miss my Orla and friends in Western. I haven't had such strong feelings since I came back.
Anyway, it's going to be midnight and I should go to sleep and wake up to another day to go to work. I think I have to polish up myself to be sharper and quicker, somewhat somehow. Go-Go!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Second Day at Home
Interview Transcript
Yay! I've just finished the transcript for the CJ interview. It took me longer than expected. Although the interview lasted for only 39 minutes, it is very time consuming to type out word for word. It is (one) big load off my shoulders. I feel much less burdened. However, I still have to write out the actual article which is the real gigantic task!
As I typed out the CJ's responses, I developed more and more respect for her and her views on life and values. I was especially impressed by the CJ's succinct articulation of how she manages difficulties in life and the candid recount of an anecdote:
"I remember one point early on, many many years ago, I gave a speech, I was very nervous. It was in my judgment, anyway, a disaster. It was horrible. And when they brought me the flowers later I was so embarrassed because the speech was so bad, I didn’t even finish it and I worried about that for weeks and months and then I gradually realized I better give more speeches and then I did it more, I got better at it and now I do it without any trauma at all and this is what I think you have to do in life. Sure you are going to have problems, you are going to fail but you have to pick yourself up and don’t say “that is not for me”. Try again."
This is the mantra that I would subscribe to in order to sustain a determined attitude in what I would be doing professionally. Practice and just keep going at something that you think you are weak in and you'd find that you will become better at it. Train your mind to confront your weakness and not hide away.
Last Day in Toronto
It is amazing how favours can come back and reward you. Stanley volunteered to fetch me from the TO airport on the night of May 15 to stay for a night at his house and drove me to the airport the next day. Otherwise I would have to spend a miserable night as a 'homeless' person int he airport again. Stanley's mum was very nice and warm-I'm so lucky to have met so many nice moms of my friends. As Jeff, Stan's brother remarked, it is indeed amazing how we have come one round, after one year since we knew each other in Singapore, to meet each other again in Canada. It put a wonderful full stop to my exchange in Canada.
What have I been doing?
First morning back home-brought Taiqi to Punggol Park for a 1.5 hrs stroll. Taiqi has learnt a lot and is alot more expressive than before I left. She sang Baa Baa Black Sheep along with me, to my surprise! Went to the park again this morning and went to the market to buy groceries and cooked a simple lunch for michael, ah gui and myself. Quite fulfilling. Then nap again. I think I'm still trying to adjust to the different time zone because I became very tired at 3pm (TO time 3am) and slept all the way to 8pm. The same thing happened yesterday too. And it's 2.45 am now but I'm not sleeping. I have to pull myself together and really start to get back into the groove of things, mentally!
Will be starting internship at A&G on thurs, but still bothered by my bad tan. Ar. Will run a couple of errands tomorrow-sign up for driving, haircut and go Popular.
Yay! I've just finished the transcript for the CJ interview. It took me longer than expected. Although the interview lasted for only 39 minutes, it is very time consuming to type out word for word. It is (one) big load off my shoulders. I feel much less burdened. However, I still have to write out the actual article which is the real gigantic task!
As I typed out the CJ's responses, I developed more and more respect for her and her views on life and values. I was especially impressed by the CJ's succinct articulation of how she manages difficulties in life and the candid recount of an anecdote:
"I remember one point early on, many many years ago, I gave a speech, I was very nervous. It was in my judgment, anyway, a disaster. It was horrible. And when they brought me the flowers later I was so embarrassed because the speech was so bad, I didn’t even finish it and I worried about that for weeks and months and then I gradually realized I better give more speeches and then I did it more, I got better at it and now I do it without any trauma at all and this is what I think you have to do in life. Sure you are going to have problems, you are going to fail but you have to pick yourself up and don’t say “that is not for me”. Try again."
This is the mantra that I would subscribe to in order to sustain a determined attitude in what I would be doing professionally. Practice and just keep going at something that you think you are weak in and you'd find that you will become better at it. Train your mind to confront your weakness and not hide away.
Last Day in Toronto
It is amazing how favours can come back and reward you. Stanley volunteered to fetch me from the TO airport on the night of May 15 to stay for a night at his house and drove me to the airport the next day. Otherwise I would have to spend a miserable night as a 'homeless' person int he airport again. Stanley's mum was very nice and warm-I'm so lucky to have met so many nice moms of my friends. As Jeff, Stan's brother remarked, it is indeed amazing how we have come one round, after one year since we knew each other in Singapore, to meet each other again in Canada. It put a wonderful full stop to my exchange in Canada.
What have I been doing?
First morning back home-brought Taiqi to Punggol Park for a 1.5 hrs stroll. Taiqi has learnt a lot and is alot more expressive than before I left. She sang Baa Baa Black Sheep along with me, to my surprise! Went to the park again this morning and went to the market to buy groceries and cooked a simple lunch for michael, ah gui and myself. Quite fulfilling. Then nap again. I think I'm still trying to adjust to the different time zone because I became very tired at 3pm (TO time 3am) and slept all the way to 8pm. The same thing happened yesterday too. And it's 2.45 am now but I'm not sleeping. I have to pull myself together and really start to get back into the groove of things, mentally!
Will be starting internship at A&G on thurs, but still bothered by my bad tan. Ar. Will run a couple of errands tomorrow-sign up for driving, haircut and go Popular.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Good and Bad News
I received both good and bad news this morning. As customary, I'll start with the bad news.
Bad News: Exchange Results
Bad results for exchange semester! I did really badly for Corporate Finance (C+), as expected. The concepts just didn't go into my head, or have I not studied hard enough. I studied hard during the last three days leading to the exam but apparently it is not enough for someone as bad in memory as I am. After having three years of open book exam, my memory seems to be failing me. Perhaps I should not have taken this module since it extra credits? But I think it's good that I took this module because at least I did not run away from it and drop it. I'm also sure I was exposed to finance concepts which I would otherwise be ignorant of. But look what result I've got in the end? How difficult to get around this. Or maybe the answer lies in that I should have worked harder and applied my mind to the subject in a more methodical and disciplined way? Even if the subject is not my cup of tea, I think I could still have worked hard enough on it to scrape a better grade. I think that is my critical weakness: lack of discipline and method. These are qualities which I shall aim to develop from now.
Good News: SAL Litigation Internship!
I received the email informing me that I've been selected for the SAL Litigation Internship! Yay! It was a huge stimulant for me when I saw the email this morning. Seeing that only 12 NUS students are selected for this prestigious internship, it's really quite something to be happy about! I've been assigned to Michael Khoo SC for the three days of attachment to an SC! Michael Khoo SC is such a legend for all students of SLS (only who were taught by Micheal Hor I guess).
"With power brings more responsibilities". I think I should start to think about how I can enhance my legal skills to meet the demands of the programme. I certainly can't let myself go through it with regrets thereafter.
Nervousness
JD just told me about robberies that can happen around this area and this makes me nervous about walking to the bus-stop at 5.20am alone tomorrow morning to catch the bus to Best Western. I wasn't that nervous before I was told of robberies that actually happened near here!
I am nervous enough about making the trip back to Toronto as it is without such horror stories that bring my anxiety level to a new high.
I am really nervous now...please pray for me that I arrive safely at the Toronto airport tomorrow!!!!! (I will!!!)
Bad News: Exchange Results
Bad results for exchange semester! I did really badly for Corporate Finance (C+), as expected. The concepts just didn't go into my head, or have I not studied hard enough. I studied hard during the last three days leading to the exam but apparently it is not enough for someone as bad in memory as I am. After having three years of open book exam, my memory seems to be failing me. Perhaps I should not have taken this module since it extra credits? But I think it's good that I took this module because at least I did not run away from it and drop it. I'm also sure I was exposed to finance concepts which I would otherwise be ignorant of. But look what result I've got in the end? How difficult to get around this. Or maybe the answer lies in that I should have worked harder and applied my mind to the subject in a more methodical and disciplined way? Even if the subject is not my cup of tea, I think I could still have worked hard enough on it to scrape a better grade. I think that is my critical weakness: lack of discipline and method. These are qualities which I shall aim to develop from now.
Good News: SAL Litigation Internship!
I received the email informing me that I've been selected for the SAL Litigation Internship! Yay! It was a huge stimulant for me when I saw the email this morning. Seeing that only 12 NUS students are selected for this prestigious internship, it's really quite something to be happy about! I've been assigned to Michael Khoo SC for the three days of attachment to an SC! Michael Khoo SC is such a legend for all students of SLS (only who were taught by Micheal Hor I guess).
"With power brings more responsibilities". I think I should start to think about how I can enhance my legal skills to meet the demands of the programme. I certainly can't let myself go through it with regrets thereafter.
Nervousness
JD just told me about robberies that can happen around this area and this makes me nervous about walking to the bus-stop at 5.20am alone tomorrow morning to catch the bus to Best Western. I wasn't that nervous before I was told of robberies that actually happened near here!
I am nervous enough about making the trip back to Toronto as it is without such horror stories that bring my anxiety level to a new high.
I am really nervous now...please pray for me that I arrive safely at the Toronto airport tomorrow!!!!! (I will!!!)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Painting Class
Second time that I am crashing JD's classes! I'm now sitting beside JD in her in her painting class in the Seattle Community College of Fine Arts. The journey here this evening was arduous as it was rainy and cold.
The theme for the class today is 'fruits'. JD and Huiyi (friend from Taipei University) have painted bananas, oranges and apple! JD complained that her orange looks like a peach now because the texture that she was supposed to create on the orange turned out to appear 'hairy'. I thought it would have been better if the teacher could demonstrate some of the painting techniques and give more attention to the individual student.
I think it is very good to have some leisure activities outside of school/work so that one can maintain an interest and in the process identify an aspect of oneself beyond the one's daily preoccupation. It is good to cultivate a hobby because I think it is a way to develop a quality you'd like to have eg patience, artistic sense.
Lesson ended. Going back now :)
The theme for the class today is 'fruits'. JD and Huiyi (friend from Taipei University) have painted bananas, oranges and apple! JD complained that her orange looks like a peach now because the texture that she was supposed to create on the orange turned out to appear 'hairy'. I thought it would have been better if the teacher could demonstrate some of the painting techniques and give more attention to the individual student.
I think it is very good to have some leisure activities outside of school/work so that one can maintain an interest and in the process identify an aspect of oneself beyond the one's daily preoccupation. It is good to cultivate a hobby because I think it is a way to develop a quality you'd like to have eg patience, artistic sense.
Lesson ended. Going back now :)
Third day in Seattle
Today is my third day in Seattle. Time really flies. It feels as if I just arrived yesterday.
Cooked dinner at JD's place yesterday and tonight. Now I appreciate Ah gui's troubles in trying to put together the menu from day to day, night to night.
I just booked my flight from Vancouver back to Toronto a few hours ago. My bad habit of procrastination and naiveness/self-delusion nearly got me into trouble again. This is my second flight booking disaster which has made me want to kill myself for being such an incorrigible person when it comes to correcting bad habits. But all in all I think it was a fortunate thing that I did not manage to book my flight with American Airlines (which does not accept international credit cards and only accepts that at the airport counters-can you believe it?). It is quite a disastrous airline company, JD told me, and I'm just glad that divine forces have helped me to avoid a flight with such an airline. All turns out well that I'll be travelling on westjet from vancouver to Toronto. But the transport cost is really expensive for my seattle trip. But I guess I have no choice. I'm still disappointed with myself for not getting everything done neatly and properly.
Been to North Gate Mall and Pike Place Market today. Going to Greenlake Park tomorrow morning. Very tired now, going to sleep.
Cooked dinner at JD's place yesterday and tonight. Now I appreciate Ah gui's troubles in trying to put together the menu from day to day, night to night.
I just booked my flight from Vancouver back to Toronto a few hours ago. My bad habit of procrastination and naiveness/self-delusion nearly got me into trouble again. This is my second flight booking disaster which has made me want to kill myself for being such an incorrigible person when it comes to correcting bad habits. But all in all I think it was a fortunate thing that I did not manage to book my flight with American Airlines (which does not accept international credit cards and only accepts that at the airport counters-can you believe it?). It is quite a disastrous airline company, JD told me, and I'm just glad that divine forces have helped me to avoid a flight with such an airline. All turns out well that I'll be travelling on westjet from vancouver to Toronto. But the transport cost is really expensive for my seattle trip. But I guess I have no choice. I'm still disappointed with myself for not getting everything done neatly and properly.
Been to North Gate Mall and Pike Place Market today. Going to Greenlake Park tomorrow morning. Very tired now, going to sleep.
Monday, May 11, 2009
In UW IBT Lesson
Sitting beside JD in her IBT lesson now :)
Dinner at International District
JD finally made it back to Seattle from Victoria this morning at 2am. As she did not manage to return to Seattle yesterday night due to a bridge closure, I had to spend the night at Darius, Sarah Efrem and Stan's place yesterday night.
It is quite wonderful how things worked out yesterday night. As JD could not make it back in time to bring me home, I went for dinner with the Singaporeans in the house. Stan, a business consultant working in Seattle, is a mature and measured guy who is sort of like a big brother. Sarah, a phd student in geno science, is very cheerful and warm, also like a big sister. Really grateful to her for making me feel at home. Efrem is a phd student in microbiology (I think)- very gentlemanly and tactful. He helped me to lay the futon and tried to get a sleeping bag for me. Darius was my 'main host'- applied math student in UW and a Canadian citizen (we had a little chat about his SG/Canadian citizenship status).
We went to a chinese restaurant in the International District (which, as Darius pointed out, should be more appropriately named 'Chinatown') with two other Singaporeans- Dan and Jacqueline. Dan is in College and is waiting to transfer to UW. He did his poly course in Temasek Poly. Jac is a second year student at UW, one year my junior and a pleasant young lady.
Although the food was not especially nice, it was a good feeling to be around fellow Singaporeans at the dinner table to have hot Chinese food!
JD came to bring me home!
JD came to 'claim' me from the house this morning! hahaha....she kept apologising for letting me spend the night elsewhere but she really doesn't have to cos she has warned me about that she didn't know what time she'd be back on Sunday night. But the ticket on Sunday is US$70 cheaper thant that on Monday- it was just irresistable. Anyway I think I had a good time at Darius' and the others' house and it was an enjoyable night out with them. So I think it worked out really well for me last night.
I'm now sitting in an International Business Transactions class with JD now. The Prof is a Korean who has been educated in SG in his youth. But I'm not listening to him, although I was trying very hard to 10min ago. He is now on "Repudiation or breach of contract by state". I don't think many others are paying 100% attention anyway, cos many are on their emails or other websites from what I can see here. :)
I'm looking forward the rest of my time in Seattle!!
Dinner at International District
JD finally made it back to Seattle from Victoria this morning at 2am. As she did not manage to return to Seattle yesterday night due to a bridge closure, I had to spend the night at Darius, Sarah Efrem and Stan's place yesterday night.
It is quite wonderful how things worked out yesterday night. As JD could not make it back in time to bring me home, I went for dinner with the Singaporeans in the house. Stan, a business consultant working in Seattle, is a mature and measured guy who is sort of like a big brother. Sarah, a phd student in geno science, is very cheerful and warm, also like a big sister. Really grateful to her for making me feel at home. Efrem is a phd student in microbiology (I think)- very gentlemanly and tactful. He helped me to lay the futon and tried to get a sleeping bag for me. Darius was my 'main host'- applied math student in UW and a Canadian citizen (we had a little chat about his SG/Canadian citizenship status).
We went to a chinese restaurant in the International District (which, as Darius pointed out, should be more appropriately named 'Chinatown') with two other Singaporeans- Dan and Jacqueline. Dan is in College and is waiting to transfer to UW. He did his poly course in Temasek Poly. Jac is a second year student at UW, one year my junior and a pleasant young lady.
Although the food was not especially nice, it was a good feeling to be around fellow Singaporeans at the dinner table to have hot Chinese food!
JD came to bring me home!
JD came to 'claim' me from the house this morning! hahaha....she kept apologising for letting me spend the night elsewhere but she really doesn't have to cos she has warned me about that she didn't know what time she'd be back on Sunday night. But the ticket on Sunday is US$70 cheaper thant that on Monday- it was just irresistable. Anyway I think I had a good time at Darius' and the others' house and it was an enjoyable night out with them. So I think it worked out really well for me last night.
I'm now sitting in an International Business Transactions class with JD now. The Prof is a Korean who has been educated in SG in his youth. But I'm not listening to him, although I was trying very hard to 10min ago. He is now on "Repudiation or breach of contract by state". I don't think many others are paying 100% attention anyway, cos many are on their emails or other websites from what I can see here. :)
I'm looking forward the rest of my time in Seattle!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Arrived in Seattle
Seatttle
Arrived in Seattle at Darius' house. Darius shares a house with 5 other Singaporeans. JD will be picking me up once she returns from Victoria tonight.
I left HI Fisherman's Wharf at 4.30am in the cold morning of May 10th to go to the SF airport to catch a plane to Seattle. I only slept for about 1.5 hours and was so tired I think I was in a rather stoned state of mind as I drifted from the check-in counter to the boarding gate and finally onto the plane. It was just a 2 hours plane ride but a whopping $37 shuttle ride from the airport to Darius' house!
I just met Stanley and Sarah, who just came back and rushed out again to catch a football game downtown. I can tell that all of them, Darius Erfem Sarah and Stanley, are very nice Singaporeans. Sarah told me to help myself to anything in the kitchen, as long as they are 'safe', haha.
I guess I will hang around and R&R here until it's time for lunch.
Backlog: Days 2 and 3 of San Fran
Backlog from all the tiring days in San Fran!
Day three (last day) was a fun one as Mica, Liam and I teamed up as a trio to go and take a walk around the Japan Centre area, Mission district and downtown area. We walked alot (almost 7 hours) and had a great day with each other's company talking on the way. Liam is a well-travelled Dutch guy who has a lot of interest and knowledge in geo-political and environmental stuff. He is the second person, after Carlet, that I know who is from Netherlands. He had backpacked Europe and is now travelling West coast N America, NZ and later on Southeast Asia, including Singappore! I've told him to look me up when he is in Singapore. Liam is also easy-going guy who is so easy to befriend and strike up a conversation with. I like this kind of person because despite being a stranger from a different background, there is a no palpable barrier in his attitude.
Day 2 of San Fran was an adventurous outdoor one. As we rented bikes for 24hours, we still had half a day to use the bike on Friday. Mica and I decided to take up the "medium" rated route to the Golden Gate Park. It was a good 32km journey. Halfway through there, I thought I was going to die going up all those slopes. On hindsight, it seems dangerous that I was cycling in the cyclists' lane right next to the vehicle lanes when I am a cyclist who has not cycled for about 10 years and was still nursing bruises from a bad fall the day before. In the end I realized that it's all about control and braking. We had a picnic lunch at the Hippies Hill where groups of 'hippies' looking unkempt and dressed in a rather gypsy-ish way go about their normal routine of making music, dancing in a relaxed and trance-like manner, playing with 'fire-ball' chains and according to Mica, get high on drugs. The last part wasn't quite visible in the daytime but it was an experience sitting at a slight distance and observing these people whom Mica would call, the 'alternative people'.
On our way back, we passed by the downhill Golden Gate Bridge again. I told myself that I must conquer the slope where I fell and of course I did!
We returned the bike at 5.30pm in the evening, 24.5 hours after we rented it from the same shop. Although it was just one day, we felt like we've been through alot already-golden gate bridge, the not-so-well-trodden paths in the golden gate park, the difficult hills and everything. There was so much mutual support and care on the way, well, maybe more from Mica then from me. When the chains on the bicycle gears came loose I was in a loss and didn't know what to do. Mica took control of the situation, casually and matter-of-factly mumbled that it is a very common problem, flipped the bike upside down in a jiffy and fixed it up with her bare hands. Her hands were dirtied by the grease but she non-chalantly rubbed her hands against her tights, smiled at me and told me reassuringly that "don't worry, it is just grease". I felt like giving her a hug that instant.
Mica is a wonderful person. She has such a compelling personality- she is cheerful, fun-loving, sensitive, caring, candid and lucid in her thoughts, articulate, opinionated and maverick in certain ways. It still surprises me how providence and destiny brought us together to meet in HI Chicago and later on to be in San Francisco at about the same time (if I had not had to cancel my San Diego trip, I would not have had three days to spend in San Fran). I can still remember the day when I entered the HI Chicago hostel room and a voice emerged from the sheets in a lower bed bunk to say 'hi' to me- it was Mica on the first day we met and it just went on from there. She said that she'd keep me posted about her San Fran trip and she really did. I shall also remember the dinner she offered me on my first day in San Fran (instant noodles which was so comforting for my empty stomach), the dinner we made together on our second day, the walk back from Safeway in the dark, cold and eerie front yard before the hostel and the secret hide-out places she invited me to go with her.
Recounting all the events in my encounter with Mica since three weeks ago makes me feel that I am a character in a movie- where a slightly paranoid and sheltered 22-year old student from a backwaters state (almost, by geographical standards) met a 28-year-old hippy, free-spirited and streetwise Australian girl in a foreign land, who then let the innocent and ignorant student into snippets of her slightly more choatic life and opened up the student's eyes to fresh perspectives which the student has never been exposed in her neater and monotonous lifestyle back home.
Contemplative Mood
I am still amazed at how destiny could bring people to cross paths at confluences in life and how such a brief and fortuitous encounters could make an impact on one's overall experience as a human being. This sentiment is not confined to just the San Fran trip, but also to the exchangein Western- Cynthia and her family, Adriana and her family, fellow exchange students and people from all over the world whom I met while on my travels: Jessica and Zoe (in NY), Mica, Sabine, Karen (in UBC), Erin and Clemence, Michael and Liam. For people like Erin and Clemence, I've only met and talked to them a few hours before I left Ottawa and I already feel that I have developed a bond with them such that if I ever visit Taiwan and France, I would surely remember their invitation for me to visit them. And for Michael, the geologist whom I talked to over breakfast yesterday morning-I would really like to look him up in New Mexico City so that he would bring me to go caving as promised.
I guess such is one of the beauty of venturing out and knowing more people. I don't know if I would ever get the chance to do this again because an exchange programme is once in a lifetime and any prospect of doing this kind of carefree and free-roaming travels in the near future is so remote that it is almost non-imaginable. It is not that I think I would particularly relish travelling alone to new places again, but just that I think this way of meeting new friends from all walks of life is an incredibly valuable and enriching experience. I am not even sure whether I would be this lucky if I do this again in the future. The mindset of a being a young, impetuous and experimental novice traveller is an essential pre-requisite for such an appreciation of the experience, I think. I'm really not sure if I can ever return to this state of mind ever again.
Arrived in Seattle at Darius' house. Darius shares a house with 5 other Singaporeans. JD will be picking me up once she returns from Victoria tonight.
I left HI Fisherman's Wharf at 4.30am in the cold morning of May 10th to go to the SF airport to catch a plane to Seattle. I only slept for about 1.5 hours and was so tired I think I was in a rather stoned state of mind as I drifted from the check-in counter to the boarding gate and finally onto the plane. It was just a 2 hours plane ride but a whopping $37 shuttle ride from the airport to Darius' house!
I just met Stanley and Sarah, who just came back and rushed out again to catch a football game downtown. I can tell that all of them, Darius Erfem Sarah and Stanley, are very nice Singaporeans. Sarah told me to help myself to anything in the kitchen, as long as they are 'safe', haha.
I guess I will hang around and R&R here until it's time for lunch.
Backlog: Days 2 and 3 of San Fran
Backlog from all the tiring days in San Fran!
Day three (last day) was a fun one as Mica, Liam and I teamed up as a trio to go and take a walk around the Japan Centre area, Mission district and downtown area. We walked alot (almost 7 hours) and had a great day with each other's company talking on the way. Liam is a well-travelled Dutch guy who has a lot of interest and knowledge in geo-political and environmental stuff. He is the second person, after Carlet, that I know who is from Netherlands. He had backpacked Europe and is now travelling West coast N America, NZ and later on Southeast Asia, including Singappore! I've told him to look me up when he is in Singapore. Liam is also easy-going guy who is so easy to befriend and strike up a conversation with. I like this kind of person because despite being a stranger from a different background, there is a no palpable barrier in his attitude.
Day 2 of San Fran was an adventurous outdoor one. As we rented bikes for 24hours, we still had half a day to use the bike on Friday. Mica and I decided to take up the "medium" rated route to the Golden Gate Park. It was a good 32km journey. Halfway through there, I thought I was going to die going up all those slopes. On hindsight, it seems dangerous that I was cycling in the cyclists' lane right next to the vehicle lanes when I am a cyclist who has not cycled for about 10 years and was still nursing bruises from a bad fall the day before. In the end I realized that it's all about control and braking. We had a picnic lunch at the Hippies Hill where groups of 'hippies' looking unkempt and dressed in a rather gypsy-ish way go about their normal routine of making music, dancing in a relaxed and trance-like manner, playing with 'fire-ball' chains and according to Mica, get high on drugs. The last part wasn't quite visible in the daytime but it was an experience sitting at a slight distance and observing these people whom Mica would call, the 'alternative people'.
On our way back, we passed by the downhill Golden Gate Bridge again. I told myself that I must conquer the slope where I fell and of course I did!
We returned the bike at 5.30pm in the evening, 24.5 hours after we rented it from the same shop. Although it was just one day, we felt like we've been through alot already-golden gate bridge, the not-so-well-trodden paths in the golden gate park, the difficult hills and everything. There was so much mutual support and care on the way, well, maybe more from Mica then from me. When the chains on the bicycle gears came loose I was in a loss and didn't know what to do. Mica took control of the situation, casually and matter-of-factly mumbled that it is a very common problem, flipped the bike upside down in a jiffy and fixed it up with her bare hands. Her hands were dirtied by the grease but she non-chalantly rubbed her hands against her tights, smiled at me and told me reassuringly that "don't worry, it is just grease". I felt like giving her a hug that instant.
Mica is a wonderful person. She has such a compelling personality- she is cheerful, fun-loving, sensitive, caring, candid and lucid in her thoughts, articulate, opinionated and maverick in certain ways. It still surprises me how providence and destiny brought us together to meet in HI Chicago and later on to be in San Francisco at about the same time (if I had not had to cancel my San Diego trip, I would not have had three days to spend in San Fran). I can still remember the day when I entered the HI Chicago hostel room and a voice emerged from the sheets in a lower bed bunk to say 'hi' to me- it was Mica on the first day we met and it just went on from there. She said that she'd keep me posted about her San Fran trip and she really did. I shall also remember the dinner she offered me on my first day in San Fran (instant noodles which was so comforting for my empty stomach), the dinner we made together on our second day, the walk back from Safeway in the dark, cold and eerie front yard before the hostel and the secret hide-out places she invited me to go with her.
Recounting all the events in my encounter with Mica since three weeks ago makes me feel that I am a character in a movie- where a slightly paranoid and sheltered 22-year old student from a backwaters state (almost, by geographical standards) met a 28-year-old hippy, free-spirited and streetwise Australian girl in a foreign land, who then let the innocent and ignorant student into snippets of her slightly more choatic life and opened up the student's eyes to fresh perspectives which the student has never been exposed in her neater and monotonous lifestyle back home.
Contemplative Mood
I am still amazed at how destiny could bring people to cross paths at confluences in life and how such a brief and fortuitous encounters could make an impact on one's overall experience as a human being. This sentiment is not confined to just the San Fran trip, but also to the exchangein Western- Cynthia and her family, Adriana and her family, fellow exchange students and people from all over the world whom I met while on my travels: Jessica and Zoe (in NY), Mica, Sabine, Karen (in UBC), Erin and Clemence, Michael and Liam. For people like Erin and Clemence, I've only met and talked to them a few hours before I left Ottawa and I already feel that I have developed a bond with them such that if I ever visit Taiwan and France, I would surely remember their invitation for me to visit them. And for Michael, the geologist whom I talked to over breakfast yesterday morning-I would really like to look him up in New Mexico City so that he would bring me to go caving as promised.
I guess such is one of the beauty of venturing out and knowing more people. I don't know if I would ever get the chance to do this again because an exchange programme is once in a lifetime and any prospect of doing this kind of carefree and free-roaming travels in the near future is so remote that it is almost non-imaginable. It is not that I think I would particularly relish travelling alone to new places again, but just that I think this way of meeting new friends from all walks of life is an incredibly valuable and enriching experience. I am not even sure whether I would be this lucky if I do this again in the future. The mindset of a being a young, impetuous and experimental novice traveller is an essential pre-requisite for such an appreciation of the experience, I think. I'm really not sure if I can ever return to this state of mind ever again.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Biked the Golden Gate Bridge
I fell asleep while writing this blog on thursday night. Was absolutely exhausted after a long day out with Mica. Had wanted to finish writing this blog but fell asleep on the couch in the hostel lounge at 11.45pm.
Thursday, May 7.
In the morning, we went out, walked along the waterfront and went to Fisherman's Wharf. Fisherman's Wharf was such a disappointment though. It was so touristy- just two stretches of shops and restaurants and pretty much nothing else. There wasn't a strong 'flavour' of Fisherman's Wharf as I had expected- which is maybe some old town feel or a even a 'wharf' ambience. We then walked to the world's crookedest street and had a hard time walking up the slopes. Took many pictures. Then Mica, as she is the way she is, got attracted to a vintage collection store and went inside to look at the eclectic collection by the shopowner. It was an interesting store with such a wide of things on display, spanning from Qing chinese paintings to random exquisite pen knives.
Then we walked to the Marketplace at Pier 1. Just like the Granville Island Marketplace, it was a whole array of shops selling different exotic foodstuff. We bought a $3.50 vegan wrap each and sat on the ground outside the marketplace facing the wharf to have our lunch. It was an experience. Two people actually came up to us and asked us where we got the wraps from because they look so good.
In the evening we decided that we want to bike the city and so went to hire the bike for $18 for 24 hours. It was not a bad deal at all. I was surprised that I still remember how to cycle! It's been at least 12 years since I last properly cycled. We cycled along the coastline, past Alcatraz and the park to the golden gate bridge. Biking the Golden Gate bridge was such a terrific experience. It was exhilarating to see the hills and sea below as we cruised across the bridge on the awe-inspiring piece of architecture. It got really chilly as we were coming back though.
My most memorable experience of biking golden gate bridge would be the embarrassing incident of falling off my bike on the slope! The wheels were too close to the kerbs and I just got thrown off my bike when the wheels brushed agains the kerb. Mica later told me had I see what happened from her view behind me, I would be terrified too. I wasn't shaken after the fall but felt lousy for being such a lousy biker.
Note: To be continued. Very sleepy now and going to leave the hostel on an airport shuttle to SFO tomorrow morning (in about 3 hours' time). I will continue with day 2 and 3 of San Fran tomorrow when my eyes can actually remain open.
Thursday, May 7.
In the morning, we went out, walked along the waterfront and went to Fisherman's Wharf. Fisherman's Wharf was such a disappointment though. It was so touristy- just two stretches of shops and restaurants and pretty much nothing else. There wasn't a strong 'flavour' of Fisherman's Wharf as I had expected- which is maybe some old town feel or a even a 'wharf' ambience. We then walked to the world's crookedest street and had a hard time walking up the slopes. Took many pictures. Then Mica, as she is the way she is, got attracted to a vintage collection store and went inside to look at the eclectic collection by the shopowner. It was an interesting store with such a wide of things on display, spanning from Qing chinese paintings to random exquisite pen knives.
Then we walked to the Marketplace at Pier 1. Just like the Granville Island Marketplace, it was a whole array of shops selling different exotic foodstuff. We bought a $3.50 vegan wrap each and sat on the ground outside the marketplace facing the wharf to have our lunch. It was an experience. Two people actually came up to us and asked us where we got the wraps from because they look so good.
In the evening we decided that we want to bike the city and so went to hire the bike for $18 for 24 hours. It was not a bad deal at all. I was surprised that I still remember how to cycle! It's been at least 12 years since I last properly cycled. We cycled along the coastline, past Alcatraz and the park to the golden gate bridge. Biking the Golden Gate bridge was such a terrific experience. It was exhilarating to see the hills and sea below as we cruised across the bridge on the awe-inspiring piece of architecture. It got really chilly as we were coming back though.
My most memorable experience of biking golden gate bridge would be the embarrassing incident of falling off my bike on the slope! The wheels were too close to the kerbs and I just got thrown off my bike when the wheels brushed agains the kerb. Mica later told me had I see what happened from her view behind me, I would be terrified too. I wasn't shaken after the fall but felt lousy for being such a lousy biker.
Note: To be continued. Very sleepy now and going to leave the hostel on an airport shuttle to SFO tomorrow morning (in about 3 hours' time). I will continue with day 2 and 3 of San Fran tomorrow when my eyes can actually remain open.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Supreme Court of Canada
Follow-up
I had said that I wanted to follow-up on my third day in Montreal. The third day was eventful. Cynthia's parents drove us to Chinatown to buy some breakfast. Auntie then bought one whole loaf of bread and a packet of muffin for me to bring to Ottawa the day after. I had to insist that that I didn't need two loaves of bread so that Auntie won't push two loaves to me! Then we went to Uncle and Auntie's factory outfit to have breakfast and after that I helped to do something very meaningful: to help fold the clothes and pack them into boxes. How often and how likely is it for one to get a chance to go so close to the lives of a friend and her family? I am a fortunate person.
After that Uncle drove us to the Mont Royale Parc. It is a nice park- not nearly as beautiful as Stanley Park in Vancouver but it's nice to have take a walk inside. We then walked to Mcgill, where we chanced upon a rugby practice match at a stadium. We then met up with Emma at the Mcgill campus and went to visit the campus museum (don't know the name) together. We then took a metro to the chinatown area to see the old town. On the way we passed by the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is an impressive piece of architecture. I found that there is nothing very old about old town montreal. Cynthia noticed an out-of-use railway track, which we exploited to the fullest to take photos. Also saw people use the special and fun vehicle, "segway" in the area. We then went for dinner with Cynthia's parents, Weiye andd Derek at 'Kum Feng'. I felt so bad that Auntie prepared a whole bag of biscuits and food for me to bring with me on my journey. I had a very insightful last chat with Auntie that night. I feel that Auntie really has a heart of gold and is so enlightened in her thinking. She is a typical 伟大的母亲。No wonder Cynthia and her siblings love their mum so much.
That was the last day in Montreal/Brossard.
Supreme Court of Canada and CJ
The much anticipated day for the interview with the CJ arrived. To think that I first requested for the interview about 7 months ago! It has finally materialised. It was so stressful just thinking of the interview yesterday night. I felt so stressed up this morning as well. Met Adriana for breakfast and I think I was so nervous that I accidentally threw the plastic bag containing my earrings away.
The Supreme Court is just minutes from the Parliament Hill and has a neat and gothic feel. We sat outside the CJ's office for about 15 min before she suddenly swept out from her office and apologised for having kept us waiting. She walked off briskly and came back to show us into her office again. It was a good conversation, although at times I was expecting her to talk more about some things. In all, it is just amazing that she had 40 min to talk to us and plus photo time, 45 min. Adriana and I both agreed that it was not as bad and that the whole thing went through well!
We then went to the Parliament house and surrounding areas to take photos. It was a beautiful day in Ottawa today. What an experience! I think it is beyond words to describe how fortunate I am to be able to do so many things with Adriana. The Hicks moot, this interview etc. We are more than the regular exchange buddies who just go out for dinners. I'm glad that we built up a strong and valuable friendship!
Leaving
Anyways, this is my last day in Ottawa. Leaving for the airport at 10.55pm tonight. I'll have to hang around in the aiport until about 4am. I found Ottawa not bad a city at all! Byward market is a nice chill out area and the general feel is good-organic food shops, many restaurants, some character. Will arrrive at San Fran to meet Mica tmr :)
I had said that I wanted to follow-up on my third day in Montreal. The third day was eventful. Cynthia's parents drove us to Chinatown to buy some breakfast. Auntie then bought one whole loaf of bread and a packet of muffin for me to bring to Ottawa the day after. I had to insist that that I didn't need two loaves of bread so that Auntie won't push two loaves to me! Then we went to Uncle and Auntie's factory outfit to have breakfast and after that I helped to do something very meaningful: to help fold the clothes and pack them into boxes. How often and how likely is it for one to get a chance to go so close to the lives of a friend and her family? I am a fortunate person.
After that Uncle drove us to the Mont Royale Parc. It is a nice park- not nearly as beautiful as Stanley Park in Vancouver but it's nice to have take a walk inside. We then walked to Mcgill, where we chanced upon a rugby practice match at a stadium. We then met up with Emma at the Mcgill campus and went to visit the campus museum (don't know the name) together. We then took a metro to the chinatown area to see the old town. On the way we passed by the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is an impressive piece of architecture. I found that there is nothing very old about old town montreal. Cynthia noticed an out-of-use railway track, which we exploited to the fullest to take photos. Also saw people use the special and fun vehicle, "segway" in the area. We then went for dinner with Cynthia's parents, Weiye andd Derek at 'Kum Feng'. I felt so bad that Auntie prepared a whole bag of biscuits and food for me to bring with me on my journey. I had a very insightful last chat with Auntie that night. I feel that Auntie really has a heart of gold and is so enlightened in her thinking. She is a typical 伟大的母亲。No wonder Cynthia and her siblings love their mum so much.
That was the last day in Montreal/Brossard.
Supreme Court of Canada and CJ
The much anticipated day for the interview with the CJ arrived. To think that I first requested for the interview about 7 months ago! It has finally materialised. It was so stressful just thinking of the interview yesterday night. I felt so stressed up this morning as well. Met Adriana for breakfast and I think I was so nervous that I accidentally threw the plastic bag containing my earrings away.
The Supreme Court is just minutes from the Parliament Hill and has a neat and gothic feel. We sat outside the CJ's office for about 15 min before she suddenly swept out from her office and apologised for having kept us waiting. She walked off briskly and came back to show us into her office again. It was a good conversation, although at times I was expecting her to talk more about some things. In all, it is just amazing that she had 40 min to talk to us and plus photo time, 45 min. Adriana and I both agreed that it was not as bad and that the whole thing went through well!
We then went to the Parliament house and surrounding areas to take photos. It was a beautiful day in Ottawa today. What an experience! I think it is beyond words to describe how fortunate I am to be able to do so many things with Adriana. The Hicks moot, this interview etc. We are more than the regular exchange buddies who just go out for dinners. I'm glad that we built up a strong and valuable friendship!
Leaving
Anyways, this is my last day in Ottawa. Leaving for the airport at 10.55pm tonight. I'll have to hang around in the aiport until about 4am. I found Ottawa not bad a city at all! Byward market is a nice chill out area and the general feel is good-organic food shops, many restaurants, some character. Will arrrive at San Fran to meet Mica tmr :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Goodbye Brossard, Hi Ottawa
It was a sad goodbye to Cynthia and her family this morning. Before I came, I had not expected myself to cry when I said goodbye to people other than family. But I did that twice in Montreal-after saying goodbye to orla on friday and today to Cynthia and family . But I did not shed tears until after I'm alone. Well a little retarded in reaction.
Arrived in Ottawa and staying in the backpackers inn. Sitting in the lounge area now, accompanied by guitar and drum music outside. Backpackers are entertaining themselves with improvised music and alcohol. Alex, one of the staff, is among them. Such a laid back lifestyle.
Met Adriana for dinner in the evening at Byward Market. We went to Tucker's Marketplace. Discussed the interview questions tmr and pretty much settled it. I'm very tired now but nervous about the "converation" with the CJ tomorrow morning. I really hope it'd go through smoothly!
I really should sleep now, therefore I am writing this in a rush. Shall update (retrospectively) on my third day in montreal and the interview with CJ McLachlin tmr.
Arrived in Ottawa and staying in the backpackers inn. Sitting in the lounge area now, accompanied by guitar and drum music outside. Backpackers are entertaining themselves with improvised music and alcohol. Alex, one of the staff, is among them. Such a laid back lifestyle.
Met Adriana for dinner in the evening at Byward Market. We went to Tucker's Marketplace. Discussed the interview questions tmr and pretty much settled it. I'm very tired now but nervous about the "converation" with the CJ tomorrow morning. I really hope it'd go through smoothly!
I really should sleep now, therefore I am writing this in a rush. Shall update (retrospectively) on my third day in montreal and the interview with CJ McLachlin tmr.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Montreal: Best Memories
TO Airport
After a hectic move-out from London Hall and a hectic journey to the Toronto airport, I bid a last farewell to Stefy and Elian and boarded the plane to Montreal. I think I was too tired to feel too emotional about saying goodbye to the girls- perhaps it was also because at the back of my mind I just knew that I would see them again and that it would just be a temporary goodbye. It would be ridiculous if we do not make the effort to see one another again given that HK and SG are just a few hours away.
Cynthia
Arrived at the Montreal airport to the extremely pleasant greeting by Cynthia. Cynthia is such a wonderful friend that the word "thanks" is just woefully inadequate to encapsulate my gratitude to her thoughtfullness and generosity. Cynthia's dad also came to pick me up from the airport. Cynthia hasn't changed much since we last went for the legal clinic last semester but now I feel that I know her so much better. Cynthia and her family live in Brossard, a town just 20 min from Montreal which reminds me of the relativity of Richmond Hill and Toronto. Brossard is a quiet and serene residential neighbourhood. Cynthia lives in a nice and cosy three storey house with everything necessary in it. It is home to a total of 6 children and 2 parents. The plush sofas, piano, neat living aeas, the general atmosphere and the family member photos on the fridge TV radiate warmth once I set foot in the home. Mrs Chen and Cynthia made me feel so welcome and at home. Until now, I am still overwhelmed by the kindness that this family has showered me in these two days.
First Day
Talked for a couple of hours with Cynthia at home, Cynthia is just like an old friend whom I have so much in common with although we have been so far and apart in the past few months. She is a rare gem with such a lovely personality, characterised by all the good qualities one can possibly think of.
I then took a shower and went to take a nap on the comfortable bed I had beside Cynthia's in her sister's room. Ghosh I was so tired I slept from 3.30-6.30pm, waking up to the dinner time bustle and friendly family talk upstairs. I had a wonderful dinner with Cynthia's family- heart-warming home cooked food! I had dinner even though I had to meet Orla and Carlet at their hostel for dinner at 7pm because it was just irresistable to have dinner with Cynthia's family!
The Jonna's boyfriend Tony was kind enough to drop me at the HI hostel to meet Orla and Carlet, before driving Cynthia Jonna and Lois to shop elsewhere. Orla and Carlet cooked curry and rice - yummy! It was so nice to have dinner with them- our first dinner together and the last that we'd have together in Canada. After dinner, we sat together in a couch and just talked...reminiscing starting from our arrival, how we met, what we did, our common memories and what we thought of our semester here. It was such a close talk. Reminds me of the 成语“促膝谈心”。It was the perfect farewell setting- sitting idle, talking about our genuine feelings and putting together our pieces of memories, one by one. There was so much reminisicing and although all of us did not say it out loud, I knew that all of us were reluctant to let these memories slip through our hands as much as we know time will dilute all memories. We want to grasp and hold these memories tight while we can. We just can't let go just yet.
It was a teary farewell at the front of the hostel before I left. Hugs and best wishes. So much memories came surging back as Orla and I gave each other hugs. I will forever remember the sihouette of Orla and Carlet as they waved goodbye to me in the distance. I was still crying when I was in the car. It was a beautifully sad night.
Second Day
Woke up late, settled the interview stuff, wrote an email home and booked ottawa hostel. After that went out with Cynthia to the neighbourhood mall, which reminds me of Masonville except that it has more and better brands.
Then Mr and Mrs Chen picked us up to go to an Asian market, after which we went for a dinner at a chinese restaurant. There were 7 dishes and I was totally stuffed after that. Mrs Chen kept apologising to me for not treating me to a better dinner last night and I was incredulous- here I was having difficulty expressing my enormous gratitiude for such kind treatment that I do not really deserve and Mrs Chen is apologising to me for not treating me well enough!
After dinner I had a great chat with Mrs Chen as she worked on her T-shirt embroidery. Mrs Chen exudes the impeccable motherly aura and reminds me of Ah gui. I also had great talk with Derek- Cynthia's precocious little brother. He is so confident, articulate and innocent; so sure that he wants to be a doctor. His assertiveness, expressiveness and confidence made me think that I actually have something to learn from this little boy who is 12 years my junior.
Goodnight.
Tmr Cythia is bringing me around Montreal. Cheers to Cynthia!!
After a hectic move-out from London Hall and a hectic journey to the Toronto airport, I bid a last farewell to Stefy and Elian and boarded the plane to Montreal. I think I was too tired to feel too emotional about saying goodbye to the girls- perhaps it was also because at the back of my mind I just knew that I would see them again and that it would just be a temporary goodbye. It would be ridiculous if we do not make the effort to see one another again given that HK and SG are just a few hours away.
Cynthia
Arrived at the Montreal airport to the extremely pleasant greeting by Cynthia. Cynthia is such a wonderful friend that the word "thanks" is just woefully inadequate to encapsulate my gratitude to her thoughtfullness and generosity. Cynthia's dad also came to pick me up from the airport. Cynthia hasn't changed much since we last went for the legal clinic last semester but now I feel that I know her so much better. Cynthia and her family live in Brossard, a town just 20 min from Montreal which reminds me of the relativity of Richmond Hill and Toronto. Brossard is a quiet and serene residential neighbourhood. Cynthia lives in a nice and cosy three storey house with everything necessary in it. It is home to a total of 6 children and 2 parents. The plush sofas, piano, neat living aeas, the general atmosphere and the family member photos on the fridge TV radiate warmth once I set foot in the home. Mrs Chen and Cynthia made me feel so welcome and at home. Until now, I am still overwhelmed by the kindness that this family has showered me in these two days.
First Day
Talked for a couple of hours with Cynthia at home, Cynthia is just like an old friend whom I have so much in common with although we have been so far and apart in the past few months. She is a rare gem with such a lovely personality, characterised by all the good qualities one can possibly think of.
I then took a shower and went to take a nap on the comfortable bed I had beside Cynthia's in her sister's room. Ghosh I was so tired I slept from 3.30-6.30pm, waking up to the dinner time bustle and friendly family talk upstairs. I had a wonderful dinner with Cynthia's family- heart-warming home cooked food! I had dinner even though I had to meet Orla and Carlet at their hostel for dinner at 7pm because it was just irresistable to have dinner with Cynthia's family!
The Jonna's boyfriend Tony was kind enough to drop me at the HI hostel to meet Orla and Carlet, before driving Cynthia Jonna and Lois to shop elsewhere. Orla and Carlet cooked curry and rice - yummy! It was so nice to have dinner with them- our first dinner together and the last that we'd have together in Canada. After dinner, we sat together in a couch and just talked...reminiscing starting from our arrival, how we met, what we did, our common memories and what we thought of our semester here. It was such a close talk. Reminds me of the 成语“促膝谈心”。It was the perfect farewell setting- sitting idle, talking about our genuine feelings and putting together our pieces of memories, one by one. There was so much reminisicing and although all of us did not say it out loud, I knew that all of us were reluctant to let these memories slip through our hands as much as we know time will dilute all memories. We want to grasp and hold these memories tight while we can. We just can't let go just yet.
It was a teary farewell at the front of the hostel before I left. Hugs and best wishes. So much memories came surging back as Orla and I gave each other hugs. I will forever remember the sihouette of Orla and Carlet as they waved goodbye to me in the distance. I was still crying when I was in the car. It was a beautifully sad night.
Second Day
Woke up late, settled the interview stuff, wrote an email home and booked ottawa hostel. After that went out with Cynthia to the neighbourhood mall, which reminds me of Masonville except that it has more and better brands.
Then Mr and Mrs Chen picked us up to go to an Asian market, after which we went for a dinner at a chinese restaurant. There were 7 dishes and I was totally stuffed after that. Mrs Chen kept apologising to me for not treating me to a better dinner last night and I was incredulous- here I was having difficulty expressing my enormous gratitiude for such kind treatment that I do not really deserve and Mrs Chen is apologising to me for not treating me well enough!
After dinner I had a great chat with Mrs Chen as she worked on her T-shirt embroidery. Mrs Chen exudes the impeccable motherly aura and reminds me of Ah gui. I also had great talk with Derek- Cynthia's precocious little brother. He is so confident, articulate and innocent; so sure that he wants to be a doctor. His assertiveness, expressiveness and confidence made me think that I actually have something to learn from this little boy who is 12 years my junior.
Goodnight.
Tmr Cythia is bringing me around Montreal. Cheers to Cynthia!!
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