A Blonde Moment

2251, 9 March 2006 :: Old Vs New

Last night, I was too tired that I forgot to make a short note of my day's 'whats', so I'll just give a brief recap.

Our Korean lessons are getting slightly harder now as we are getting into conversations and reading, so at least it's getting more interesting. I'm also making friends in class as well which is excellant. I love making friends - who doesn't!

After class, Taro, Yuki and I took the subway to Omokgyo (Rhymes with 'Ang Mo Kio' - a place in Singapore - so its easy for me to remember) for our private lessons. Our teacher lives on the 57th floor of one of the tallest buildings in Seoul - Hyundai Department Store. She lives in the apartment above a hugh department store!! And the views from her place is absolutely breathtaking, not to mention, her two adorable dogs!! Awwwwwww. We had a good 2 hours of lesson there. She can't really speak English well, so most of the lesson is in Korea which really helps us I believe as we are constantly exposed to Korean words all the time. However, a great thing is that she speaks Mandarin as well, so if ever we need further explanation, she'll tell me in Mandarin and I'll translate. Yesterday was our first lesson and we all thought it was rather effective. We are going to have these private lessons 3 times a week on top of our usual 11 to 1pm class so I really hope I'll start speaking fluent Korean soon...ish.

Then Yuki and I met Lydia at WorldLink Education Office before going out for dinner. Lydia took us to eat 'Bu Dae Jji Gae' - there's noodles, bakebeans, sausage, spam, dok (rice cake), mushrooms and veges all cooked in a spicy soup in a wok in front of you. It was great fun, though Yuki and I didn't really want to eat that much, we ended up stuffing ourselves once again.



After dinner, we walked some side streets with great shopping. I saw this cool as LIME GREEN Nike shoe - LOVE!! But it's about US$76...to buy or not to buy?? It's completely LIME GREEN, my favourite colour, but I don't really need another sports shoe...I just love the green!! Awwwwwww...HOWZZZZ?? Yep...the shoppaholic's dilemma begins!

When I got home, I chanced upon an opportunity to talk to my host brother, and we ended up chatting till around midnight. Finally, he's opening up to me. At first, he was a little shy and I thought I wasn't friendly or he didn't like me or something like that (coz Lydia told me that he was the one who wanted to host a student), but I guess it takes a while to warm up to a person. We were able to talk that night so it's going well. The parents are very friendly as well, teaching me bits and pieces of everyday Korean phrases so it's going great!

Today, after lessons, Yuki and I had YUMMY toast!! Haha...I don't know how else to describe it. The butter they use has sugar or something sweet added to it, it makes the bread taste so wonderful. But the blonde line of the day?? You see, when I was ordering the toast, I looked up at the menu and as it was all in Korean, it's a little hard to know what to order, so I asked for 'egg' (in english which they understand) 'ha go' (and) ham? I didn't know if they had ham or if they understood what ham was because there could be a Korean name for it...obviously not coz she understood me. And do you know what question I asked next?

'Ham' Mor Ra Go Hae Yo? (Mor Ra Go Hae Yo means 'How do you say...')

And the answer from the shop lady: Ham

I felt so embarrassed!! When we got our sandwich and was standing around the shop eating it (that's what most people do), I took my time to decipher each item on the menu and there it was...HAM (spelt out in Korean characters). How could I have been so blonde and blind??

After lunch, we met Min Hee at Gyeongbokgung Chi Ha Chil Yiok (Gyeongbokgung Train Station). Today, we were doing something touristy - visiting Gyeong Bok Palace. It's so pretty!! I fell in love with it!!

Check out the pictures below...I just fell in love with the building structure... it's so ancient. It's weird though, I never thought I'd like such ancient architecture so I shocked myself as well.



The palace was so serene, making one feel very very far away from the crowded Seoul streets, busy traffic and constant construction of the roads and pavements - though the city was right beside it. I can't really describe how contrasting it felt so I hope this 'Old vs New' picture would tell the thousand words.



Within the palace was the National Folk Museum which we also toured.

After the tour, we split from Min Hee. I took Yuki back to her bus stop near school. On the way, we decided to stop by a roadside store to catch a quick dinner. This was something we've always wanted to do - stop and eat at a roadside stall like Koreans do. When in Rome, you've got to do what the Romans do, and we did exactly that - we acted like a Roman (a.k.a. foreigner in Korea).



When I got home, I chatted with my host family for a while, then Lydia came to drop by our private lesson materials. She ended up staying for a couple of hours, chatting with my host mum and brother. Which brings be to now...I'm finally in my room, completed today's homework and it's almost midnight. I'm tired and I need sleep. Jal Ja Yo!! Goodnight!!

Toilet Seats and Rubber Gloves

2351, 6 March 2006 :: On Our Own

Yesterday, after I got home from the Sauna, I had lunch with my host family and also went for an hour and 40 minutes walk with my host parents and Hee Jin (their 15 year old daughter). We walked by the Han Gang (river) which separents Seoul to North and South, introducing me to things around.

They even invited me to join them for dinner...I don't know why I had the impression that dinner was also provided on weekdays...haha...apparently not. Only breakfast is provided throughout the week. But anyway, yesterday was the first time since I've arrived that I was home for dinner, and we ended up going out to a nearby restaurant to have korean BBQ. I ate the meat the Korean style. Grab a vege leaf, put a piece of meat in it, add some special sauce, and wrap it up and bon appetit!!

It was Ma Shi Sor Yo (translation: delicious)!!

This morning after breakfast, I did some washing too. It's been drying all day long but some are still not dry yet! Sigh...perhaps tomorrow morning. Anyway, today's class was a little more interesting coz I'm not good at pronoucing double consonets so I had to pay extra attention to the teacher. The funny thing was Yuki ended up dozing off in class and the teacher skipped her several times (coz we go around the room to practice reading out loud) and since she was sleeping, the teacher didn't call on her. And after class, do you know what she told the teacher? She told the teacher to wake her up if she ever falls asleep in class (and she said this while the class was only just packing up their things) - OH MY GOSH, we all cracked up! I have never in my entire life seen someone admit that she was sleeping and ask a teacher to wake her up!! Haha...but that's the cute Yuki!

And she was telling a classmate after class where she lived and she had to turn to me to ask for her address again - YUKIIIII!!!! I really worry for her.

Anyway...after class, Taro and the 2 of us went for Italian food. Taro missed western food, so we found a nice italian restaurant which was reasonably priced. It was YUM. Both Taro and I had the lunch special, which included salad, spagetti and a mini pizza for US$5. Yuki had a seafood doria (rice with ingredients and cheeze on top).

Then we decided to spend an hour group studying, testing each other korean words. We ended up spending 2+ hours at the cafe!! Haha...

Today, we hadn't any 'tour guide' (a.k.a. Min Hee or Lydia) to take us around, so we were on our own...and after our group study, we went to the book store and bought things on our own. I bought the new FlytotheSky CD on my own.

Then Yuki and I split from Taro and headed back to the area near the school to have dinner. Yuki did the ordering of dinner - completely in Korean. We can survive in Korea - we can travel around on our own (perhaps not Yuki on her own yet), buy things and order food. That's all we need at the current moment to get us through the day.

Then I walked Yuki to her bus stop near our school before heading back myself. I had to make sure she got to the right bus stop. That's the only bus stop she knows how to get back from, and that's why we ended up having to go back to the area near our school for dinner. Nevertheless...we had a good experience, moving around on our own for the day!

Tomorrow, Min Hee is taking us to Insadong and also to appreciate Korean Tea after our classes. I'm looking forward to that - and I'll wear a skirt!! Haha...today's weather was beautiful. It's getting warmer day by day - IT'S FANTASTIC!!

2216, 7 March 2006 :: Toilet seats and rubber gloves

Today, after class, Yuki, Taro and I went out for lunch before meeting Min Hee at 2pm.

Min Hee brought us to tour Insadong, a tourist street but it's so much more useful when you have a personal guide taking you around and helping you along. And it's for this fact that I'm so thankful I found WorldLink Education. Lydia and Min Hee are doing an awesome job in breaking us in to the Korean culture, taking us to eat local food, to shop where locals do and on days where there's no activities, they still check up on us and ask us what we are doing.

Insadong isn't only for tourists. It's an ART street. Because there's art schools near Insadong, it's famous for it's art...and I don't just mean paintings. There's this entire building of about 4 storeys high, and as Min Hee mentioned, the shops in this entire building is rented out to art and design graduates and students...so everything sold there are artistically designed and made, from paintings to accessories. As we walked around, admiring the art that was all around and taking loads of photos, I saw so many cool things I wanted to buy - but if I do, I'd go broke! Haha...I'll just have to go back there when I'm just about to go back to Singapore. Then I can spend all my remaining money there...HEE HEE.

There was one art work that I especially love, made of many toilet seat covers painted in all different colours!! That's my favourite piece of work that hung from the balcony of the building. Another piece of work that I found real cool was a wall of red rubber gloves. Among these were ONE yellow rubber glove. On every glove, a personal message was written, perhaps wishing on a glove for their dreams to come true.



Another memorial thing that Yuki and I did was write a personal wish on a piece of paper and tie it to a wall of wishes!!! Hope my wish comes true soon!!


After walking down Insadong, we went to a traditional tea house to have Korean tea before heading home. I had this citrius tea which was sweet and Cheong Mal Ma Shi Sor Yo (really delicious)! And Min Hee ordered some mini snacks as well. I think if I had come to Korea on my own just on a holiday, I wouldn't be able to explore Korea in the way I am right now - doing what locals do and yet also being a tourist about it.

I'VE POSTED PICS!!

Hey everyone, I've just posted pics for the last 2 post about my first few days in Korea. Scroll down and have a look!!

I'll post pics soon...

1008, 4 March 2006 :: Another day has gone by...

But it also means another day well spent!

Yesterday, I had another round of fun, apart from lessons which was the usual bore. Oh, I didn't do my homework!! Haha...know what our homework was? It's like writing the basic korean words (vowels + consonents) 3 times...just like they do in primary school. In the end, I did it then and there at class and handed it in - honestly, it was so stupid.

Fun started after class when we went to have Korean hotplate barbeque as a welcoming lunch for us. It was delicious!! And since it was a buffet, Lydia said we must eat till we are so full coz we are not having dinner - way of saving her 'children's money (haha, yep, we are her children from all over the world).

Two other Korean guys who went through Worldlink Education to learn German in Germany joined us as well. They became our 'sa-cheong's (a.k.a. Cousins). Did I tell you previously that we are trying to grow our family?? We had a good time, having lunch and chatting, while learning bits and pieces of Korean which I probably can't remember now - OOPS!! I honestly have such bad memory!! I try to remember korean sentences by repeating them after and after, but in 20 minutes, I've forgotten them.

After lunch, Min Hee (another WorldLink Education staff and our 'Ee-mu' (a.k.a. aunty) left for work, while our two new cousins went off. Lydia Omma (a.k.a. mother), Michael Chakun-O-ppa (a.k.a. younger older brother), Yuki (dong seng, a.k.a. younger silbling to me but I just need to call her by her name) and I went off to buy me a cellphone!! Taro Kun-O-ppa (a.k.a. oldest brother) couldn't make it for lunch because he wanted to go for the harder korean class.

The cell phone I got was a second-hand phone, which apparently works out cheaper if I bought instead of renting. The cell phone cost me US$30, not too bad an investment, plus, I can sell it back when I leave and get a small amount of refund. The sad thing is, it's in Korean. Well, that's also a good way of learning Korean.

After getting my cellphone, we went to telecom to get my line activated (mum, you can ring me now!!). It costs me US$10 per month, which I guess is not too bad, except that I can't text overseas...sorry all you guys, I don't mean to lose touch with you. It's just much more convenient for me if I get lost, or need to contact any of the others throughout this period of my stay in Korea.

Because Lydia had some work to do back at the office, we returned to the office. While Lydia and Yuki returned to the office, Michael and I hanged at a baseball batting cage beside their office, waking a few baseballs into the net!! It was awesome!! I miss softball. I was surprised I still manage to hit the balls!! So pround of me...

When my fingers started to hurt, I knew it was time to quit. Michael whacked a little bit more before we went to find Lydia in her office. Min Hee was there too, working hard in front of the computer.



We stayed there for a while before heading off, taking a walk along the streets lined with shops whlie Michael went home to get a jacket as the night gets considerably colder. We then met Taro and Michael at another station, before heading to Lydia's favourite pub known as the HO BAR (Ho means 'HAO' - 'good' in chinese). We had an awesome time there, drinking (I seem to be drinking almost everyday!!) and chatting. Alex Sam-cheong (a.k.a. uncle) met us there as well.

We had a great time, chatting, talking and learning Korean. Yes, both Yuki and I had our notebooks out on the table and whenever a sentence or phrase that we didn't understand came up, we hurriedly wrote it down. For our all our hard work and eagerness in learning Korean, the pub decided to treat us to a plate of finger food like chips and mini hash browns!! Also, Lydia (being Michael's matchmaker as he had just broken up with his Korean girlfriend) found out what kind of girl Michael likes, asking him to write THE LIST. Then she tried to matchmake him with people around the bar. She finally came down to the conclusion that I fitted the list, and asked me for 'MY LIST'. It was hilarious. In the end, we concluded that we needed more drama, like those Korean dramas, so the script writing began!! Michael and I would be the lead. Michael would have a girlfriend who he doesn't really like, I have a boyfriend too...and somehow, my boyfriend died (illiness or accident we haven't really concluded), and Michael was the consoler...HAHA...and Alex Sam-cheong would be the Korean delivery boy, who falls for Yuki...we haven't really concluded it, but Lydia wants more side drama...so we have to start looking for people, preferably within our family. She also wants to find a wife for Taro!! Haha...so you can see, we kept ourselves really busy last night with scripting writing.

Lydia took Yuki home first before returning to the pub to meet us and the 5 of us went to a 'nu raeh bang' (a.k.a. karaoke room) to sing!! We had an awesome time there...and since I didn't know much songs, I ended up only singing one English song - Sk8ter Boi. Go Avril Lavigne...she did me well!!



By the time I got home and got ready for bed, it was almost 2am in the morning!! I just woke up and no one is at home. Guess I'll just have to give breakfast a skip since I'm not sure of the food tupperwares on the table is meant for my morning breakfast. Better not touch what is not mine, so right now, I'm eating 'wang zai xian man tou' in my room!! Hee Hee...

I'm going out soon, stay on for more exciting reports from Korea, Seoul.

1230, 5 March 2006 :: First time for all things

Hello everyone. Haha, just felt like beginning this entry with a big hello, or should I say 'An Nyiong Ha Se Yo!!'

I've definitely been experiencing Korea the Korean way...everyday's an eye opener. I'm really glad that God has given me this opportunity to explore Korea first hand, and also really glad that He has blessed me throughout these past few days. He's taken very good care of me through the poeple he's placed all around me and the new friends I've made. I'm really glad that I'm enjoying myself and loving Korea and everything about it. I've got Him to thank all the way!!

Life's been awesome!! Yesterday, I walked to Hung De Station to meet Lydia and the rest. We were going Ice Skating and to the Sauna!! Lydia has shown me the way to Hung De Station several times now, but she told me that when I go, even if I know my route, I should practice my Korean by asking (preferably to a good looking Korean guy - yep, that's her suggestion) "Hung De Yoik Orh Di Yi Sor Yo?" (Where is Hung De Station?) The thing was, I was in a hurry as I left the house with only 15 minutes to walk to my station, and I didn't see any good looking guy around. Actually, the truth is, I forgot how to say 'Station' in Korean so I didn't want to look like too much of a fool, asking "Hung De Station Orh Di Yi Sor Yo" and spend the next few minutes trying to explain what a station is, though they should know a little bit of Korean - you'd think.

Anyway, I arrived just in time, and even had the chance to buy Mentos on my own as well!!! I'll give myself a pat on my back, thanks!

Oh, Alex also brought another Korean girl friend, Victoria, along. She wanted to make friends with us and help us improve our Korean!! It's awesome. I'm slowly getting to know more friends.

Oh let me tell you an interesting thing that happened while waiting for the train to the ice skating ring...there were many people getting on the train so we were one of the last few who boarded and guess what? The door shut on me and Michael!!! It's our first time having the train door shut on us. Of course it reopened again, but it took me a while to regain composure!! Haha...it was scary, but funny at the same time. I was kind of expecting it since we did take a whle, but when it really did happen, it surprised me as well.

We had lunch before heading to the ice skating ring. Ice skating was great fun, I haven't ice skated in a while, so it was awesome. The ice skating ring is similar to everywhere else's. Too bad it's currently not right smack bang in the middle of winter, coz that's when outdoor skating is possible! One day, I would love to ice skate outdoors. The weather's getting warmer now, so it's great. But the nights still get quite chilly.



After ice skating, we headed to the Sauna. But first, we had to overcome the insanely long paitence challenge while waiting for the Line #1 Train. Lydia hates this line, and we finally understood why. It took about half an hour to arrive and when it did, it was packed full, but everyone pushed their way through!! We were squashed in and more and more people pushed their way in, though it was already so full and impossible to move.

The sauna was a whole different experience altogether. Both Michael and I (with it being out first time) found the experience...well...there was only really one word/phrase to describe it - "CHEONG MAL Che Me Yi Sor Yo" (VERY interesting/fun - but more of interesting). I shan't give you a complete description of what we did there...too much visual...but basically the Korean Sauna is a place for family, friends and couples of all ages to go. The one we visisted was one of the biggest in Seoul with 6 floors.

Located at the basement was the baths of varying temperatures and shower areas, the first floor was the changing rooms, the second floor was a large meeting area with a play room for younger children, a small cafeteria and several other rooms, like an Oxygen room, two very hot room, one with temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 degrees celcius and another with around 70 degrees celcius, massage parlor and a manicure service. The third floor had a common entertainment area with a large television playing shows on their korean channel, mini karaoke boxes, game room, gym, mini group meeting rooms, a movie room, computer room and another cafe.

On the fourth floor or maybe the third (I'm confused coz there's so many floors), there were other rooms like this salt room, where you sit, lie or walk on really hot large salt crystals, hot pebbles room, a cool room with temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees celcius, sleeping cave rooms, and so on. The female only and male only sleeping rooms were on the fifth floor with bunk beds.

The total cost?? US$10!! And this includes staying over!! Yep, we stayed over at the Sauna. It was really an interesting experience...there were so many people, and so much to do. But it was kind of weird too coz I've never ever seen a public place that allowed people to stay over!!

Oh, we also ate eggs there!! Haha...okay, some of you might be wondering why I'm mentioning eggs. You see, in this Korean Drama called Lovers in Paris, they went to a Sauna and bought hard boil eggs after and used their heads to crack the shell (apparently it's really common). Michael became our designated egg shell cracker!! It was really funny and the sound of the egg being cracked on your head - sounds very painful.

We also had to train Yuki how to go home. She's 20 but her sense of direction is...well...non-existent? She gets lost so easily and it's such a worry. On my first day when Lydia and I met her and took her to school...Lydia showed her the route, I think even I know how to get to school from her place, but she couldn't remember. The next day when she had to go on her own, she got lost and had to ring Lydia. The worst part? She doesn't know how to say the name of her place. So we trained her last night. Alex became 'Mini Stop' (a convenient store), Michael was the 'Family Mart', and I was 'Home' and she pretended to walk from her bus stop to home...it was so hilarious. Because she could see 'Family Mart' (a.k.a. Michael) so she knew that she had to turn left. So we told Michael to cover his face with the towel. Then on her next go, she found 'Family Mart', saying that Michael's ang moh curly hair is easy to spot so she knew it was 'Family Mart'. She didn't understand that Michael, Alex and I were just there for landmark purposes! It was so scary and funny at the same time, teaching her the way to and fro from home to school. On another go, Michael covered his face and hair by putting a towel over his head while lying down on the floor. When Yuki got to 'Family Mart', she double checked to make sure by lifting Michael's towel to make sure he was under it - DOOH!! Michael was giving up, exclaiming that this was hilarious. You see, Yuki remembers her way home by 'turn left then right then left then right', but she doesn't know when to turn, that's why we had to teach her!! It was slightly worrying. By the end of 'class', I think all of us knew how to get to her home and Yuki? Well...her answer is "Yes...MAYBE" *FAINT*

I didn't sleep well last night though. I don't know why, perhaps it was the bed being too hard, or the pillow was weird - square and hard, and perhaps I felt too warm as well. It took me 2 hours before I finally went to bed at 3.30am...and then having to wake up at 8am to vacate the place by 9am. The hilarious thing?? When we woke up, we only saw Alex waiting for us. Michael was nowhere to be found. A text message on Alex's phone from Michael said "I'm going home" at 4am in the morning!! Haha...I guess the bed was too short for Michael!!

This morning, we had Macdonalds breakfast before coming home. Macdonalds doesn't have a breakfast menu!! Well..there's only ONE breakfast burger - normal bun with egg and cheese. The rest were the usual cheeseburger, MacChicken, etc etc.

I'm home now and later, I'm going out with my host family for dinner. They are really friendly and nice. The children are finally warming up to me so it's getting better. I like it here...this morning at breakfast, Yuki said she loves Korea and wants to live here for at least 3 years next time. As for me...though I love Korea...it's not home and though I'm enjoying myself, it's not a place I want to stay for a long period of time...that's my opinion at this current moment. Will update you if I change my mind on this matter. Hee Hee.

KOREA KOREA KOREA

0015, 2 March 2006 :: My First Day

Today is my first day in Korea and it's been AWESOME, WONDERFUL, AMAZING, TOTALLY OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!

Let me explain right from the top.

First, it started out with the plane journey to korea. I ended up watching "Elizabethtown" for the first 2 hours and tried to get some rest in the remaining 4 hours left. The plane ride was pleasant, but I was swimming (a.k.a BASKING) in the wonderful Korean language as Koreans were seated all around me and the Korean airstewardess mistook me for a Korean as well.

When I reached Incheon Airport, and got through immigration, my luggage was waiting for me. Perfect timing, so I grabbed it and headed out to the nearest exit. At first, I didn't spot anyone holding a sign for "Miss Lorraine Zhang", so I pulled to the side where there were benches and before I could even sit down to wait, I saw this lady approaching me with a sign folded up in her hand. The thick marker ink had seeped through the paper and a mirror image of "WLE" was spotted. I gave her a smile and she we acknowledged each other. She had just arrived (late due to traffic) and was about to announce for my name over the speakers when she spotted me. How convenient! God is with me for sure!!

Lydia (that's her name) was very very friendly the whole journey to my new house, introducing me to Seoul and everything about it! The best part was seeing snow lying beside the roads, a white layer on top of all the roofs, a blanket over the green grass and tress, and even on top of cars! It was the best welcome I could get from Korea...

I arrived at my host family's apartment at 8.30am and they were all home as this is Korea's national holiday. They greeted me politely. The son and daughter, age 17 and 15 respectively, were a little shy, but the parents were very friendly though they spoke few English. They were nice, but communication was a big problem as we couldn't converse unless the shy children helped us. This made it a little awkward at first coz I didn't know what I was expected to do and act, so I felt a little out of place for that moment. They showed me to my own bedroom - nope, I'm not sleeping on a 'tatami' (blanket-mattress) on the floor like they do in some Korea households, I've got a proper bed and new sheets - and let me unpack my luggage. I didn't know what I should unpack, whether I should unpack everything into the cupboard and drawers provided, or leave it in my lugggage and take it out when needed. The unpacking made me realise that I'm here for 3 months, it's no joke. But nevertheless, the scenery from my bedroom is beautiful.

At 9am, I joined the family for breakfast. It honestly didn't feel like breakfast, afterall, I had a little bite on the plane. And the breakfast menu? Chilli squid, many types of side dishes including kim chi and seaweed, eggs fried with seaweed in between, fried/grilled fish, a bowl of super salty soup, and of course how can breakfast not come with a big bowl of RICE (mmmmm, my 'favourite'). The breakfast menu was rather interesting, that's what I would usually eat for dinner was served for breakfast. Plus, I wanted less rice, but I couldn't possibly be rude and not finish my own rice that was scooped for me, so I stuffed it all down - literally.

After breakfast, I adjourned to the livingroom and managed to break some ice between Hee Jin (the daughter) and me as we talked about korean movies, serial dramas, and music as well. Then I decided it was time I picked up my courage and asked if I could borrow the internet for a quick second to fire an I-have-arrived-safe-and-sound email to mum, which they most graciously allowed.

Then I returned to my room for an hour nap before getting ready to go out with Lydia who was picking me up at noon.

And here comes the best part...the day couldn't get any better. I actually like Seoul, every bit of it even down to it's old crummy-looking buildings and dodgy backstreets. Lydia and I were off to meet another Japanese girl, Yuki, who had arrived last night, so we grabbed a cab down to her host family's apartment to pick her up. That's transportation mean #1.

After picking up Yuki, we bused down to our school as Lydia had to show Yuki the way. Transportation mean #2. Buses are always a little more complicated than the subway (my host family lives near to the subway line so it's much easier and straightforward to take the subway).
There, we waited for another student to arrive. He's a Jap who lives in USA, but he's older than us so he's our 'o-ppa'. During this wait, I went online and managed to chat with Pear and Jas, but my mummy wasn't online...

Anyway, after Taro o-ppa came, we headed for the book shop to buy some notebook as Yuki didn't have one. Do you know, you have to pay if you want your things in a paper bag?!! Yep, they are that stingy. Plus, things there aren't super cheap either. Guess you won't see me spending too much. Haha...this from the mouth of a shoppaholic...you believe?

It was almost three and we realised that we haven't eatened lunch (I wasn't hungry after stuffing the rice down) but the others were so we went to this back alley and ate at this restaurant which served gorgeous grilled fishes!! It was an awesome experience, sitting in a Korean 'shik dang' (restaurant), eating like the koreans, except for the fact that I didn't really eat - WAY TOO FULL.

After lunch, we worked it off by visiting another large book shop. I saw some korean CDs for sale - my favourite band at the moment Dong Fang Shin Ki had an album cum DVD for sale, but it was EX EX EX!!! I didn't buy in the end. Maybe by the end of 3 months, it'll be cheaper. Hee hee. Currently, it's priced at 27000 Won, when converted, is around US$27!!

Because we were still waiting on one more 'o-ppa', he's from NZ and he's been in Korea for 2 months now studying the language at Yongsei Uni, we decide to wait for him at Starbucks. Starbucks is SO SO SO EX!!!! Lydia told us that its expensive coz we are paying for the place, teenagers love hanging there and you are allowed to hang for as long as you want - of course after you've ordered an expensive drink. No wonder it was 3 storeys high and filled with people. My little cup of Mocca cost me US$3.80 (apologies, it's so much easier to count in USD now that I know 1000 Won = US$1).

Michael finally came and after hanging for a while till 6.30pm, we went down to City Hall to catch the soccer match - Korea vs some South African team I think. Everyone was getting into the mood, dressed in Korea's red jersey and all. This was a big match and everyone who couldn't get tickets to the match itself were at City Hall. We found a row of untaken chairs and seated ourselves in the freezing cold as we waited and waited and waited till 8pm - kick off time. There was of course prior match entertainment, but none of that could take our minds off the freezing cold temperatures of the evening!! We were shivering and our teeth were chattering. Finally, the game started. We were given free instant noodles, but in the cold, the noodles couldn't cook well either so I just ended up drinking the soup to TRY and keep warm. Note the word 'TRY'. It obviously didn't work. But the game was exciting. Korea was playing really well and attacking all the way. Being surrounded among Koreans and soccer fans who so passionately cheered their national team on was an amazing experience that cannot be described in words!! I was basking and absorbing every cheering moment, every awwww moment, every breath-holding moment apart...aside from shivering in the cold.


During half time, we decided enough was enough. Korea was leading 1-0 but our freezing bodies could not support ourselves anymore, so we headed over to the nearby bar (which was also showing the match on TV), except that this time, the bar was WARM WARM WARM!!! So nice. It felt so good to be out of the chilling cold night air and we ordered beers and finger food to warm ourselves up as well. We drank till 10+pm before taking the subway back home. Transportation mean #3.

So a short but sweet review of my first day in Korea...a great plane flight, a friendly host family, a full breakfast (minus the rice), seeing Korea and loving the feeling of loving every bit about it, riding in all three available public transportation services, learning some korean words as we went along with our day, shopped around, experienced back alley restaurant food, and cheering along for a fantastic soccer team with many other koreans. What more can I ask for??

SNOW!! It SNOWED as I exited the subway station and made my walk back to my apartment. I got to walk in falling snow!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I LOVE KOREA!!!

1455, 2 March 2006 :: Tired and Un-Educated

Ahhhh, I just managed to connect to a random network, but I got disconnected before I could even enter into blogger to post the above entry. Oh well...

I'm home early today. We had one little class today for 2 hours but it was pure beginners and the entire lesson was devoted to learning the Korean alphebets which I know already so it was quite useless. I'm a little disappointed. You see, there are several levels for lessons, like 101 is for the pure beginners, 102 is slightly harder and same goes to 103. Well, here's the problem. My level is between 101 and 102, but of course I would be able to cope with 102 as well so that's no problem except that the class is everyday from 3 to 5pm, which really interrupts our afternoon social activities that WorldLink has planned. Taro O-ppa has opted for full-on 6 hour classes every day from 11 till 5pm, doing level 2 lessons which are INSANELY hard!! So anyway, for this month, Yuki and I are going to do 101 first. Next month, I'll concentrate on 102 and 103, hopefully the timing wouldn't clash.

Despite these set backs, while we are out with Min Hee or Lydia, both of them would teach us useful daily korean phrases which would come in street handy for the future.

Today, I took the subway to school on my own and I'm so proud of myself!!! It's really similar to Singapore's subway lines, so it's not too bad for me. Yuki on the other hand has got the short end of the stick. She has to take a bus, and walk a considerable distance, so it's a little confusing for her at the start.

I've just bought myself a USB storage system so I thought I can save stuff onto that and use the free net service at our school.

Later this evening, I'm going out for dinner with Lydia at her friend's restaurant coz people are going there to film and they want 'customers' I guess (probably for some entertainment show which brings you to places to eat). I don't know if I want to go, but then since I'm in Korea, I must venture out more often, and also coz I don't really feel comfortable eating at home with my host family yet. Still feels a little weird I guess. It'll get better.

I think I'm going to get some rest now before I go out for dinner. I'm a little tired at the present moment. Nights!!

2215, 2 March 2006 :: TV Stars

I'm so glad I decided to go out tonight!! I had fun!! I met Lydia and Taro O-ppa at Burger King outside Sincheon train station. From Taro, I found out that today's lesson for him, even 102 was far too hard for him to handle. He honestly looked beaten and disappointed at the end of the day. Tomorrow, he'll be joining Yuki and I for 101 lessons.

So anyway, Taro wasn't coming along with us for dinner. He was meeting his host brother instead. We were still waiting for Michael O-ppa, who apparenlty had gotten lost. Michael's Korean friend, Alex Sam-Cheong met us at the meeting point as well. He was also joining us for dinner. (Please note that sam-cheong is not his name, but rather, it means 'uncle' - it's an internal joke of Lydia's. She wants to start a big family, with her as the mother, Yuki and I as the little sisters or her daughters, Taro and Michael are our brothers, aka O-ppa, and we joked that Alex who is only 2 years older than me, will be our uncle!!)

Then we went to hunt down Michael. Yuki was tired so she couldn't make it. After finding Michael at the other Burger King, we hopped onto the train and headed towards 'Seong Su'. The train ride was rather long and we chatted and learnt bits and pieces of Korean from Lydia and Alex.

But the best part of the night was at Lydia's friend's Japanese restaurant. There was a single cameraman who was busy moving around, filming people eating. Everyone put on their very best act, going 'wwwoooowwww' when the food arrived, and saying 'ma shi sor yo!' (meaning: delicious)

He also filmed our table, filming Michael (an angmoh) squeezing sauce on top of the food and eating a piece of baby carrot. Then he asked for Michael's opinion and initially, Michael used Korean to reply, but he got the reply wrong and we all laughed. We even dared him to say 'I'm looking for a girlfriend' in Korean (as he just broke up with his Korean girlfriend today). In the end, Michael gave a 'sincere' English phrase about the food. Why do I have inverted commas for the word 'sincere'? Because he looked like it was hard to digest the carrot though he said, "The veges and the chicken Katsu goes well together, it's delicious".

But that wasn't the only funny bit. The cameraman filmed Alex as well, asking if Alex liked the veges. The hilarious thing was when the cameraman told Alex to reply that "The baby veges are as cute as my girlfriend" when Alex has no girlfriend!! We cracked up when Alex actually said that for the camera, and Alex was blushing and laughing at the same time, embarrassed by what he said because, one, he has no girlfriend, two, his friends know that he has no girlfriend, and lastly three, his family would be wondering who is his girlfriend!! Haha...he blushed so badly after, regret and embarrassment must have been going through his mind at that time. We were told, tomorrow at 6pm, we could catch them on TV!! This is one we can't miss!!

Wait, there's more. Talking about 'waiting'...when we returned to Seong Su train station to catch the train back to Hongik, the train was just pulling out of the station. Michael shouted out something (in Korean) after the trainwhich I presumed in that context was 'wait for me'. Alex and Lydia cracked up, revealing to us that Micheal had just shouted 'I'm Waiting' instead of 'Wait for me'. The joke was on him this time!!

The evening was well spent. I truely enjoyed my second day in Korea, especially when dinner was on the house as well!!!

My Big Adventure starts here

I'm at the airport now, waiting for my seat number to be called to board so I thought I'd make a quick blog!!

I'm off on my big adventure to explore Korea!!

All the best Raine!! AJA AJA FIGHTING!!

20 Kg Limit

AHHHHHHH...I think I have too much I want to bring...but I can't eliminate anything to the "not necessary" pile either!! HOWZ!!!

But then again, I am going for 3 months...and the thinking behind everything I'm bringing, especially the perishable necessities is that they won't be contributing to my baggage weight home coz I would have finished using them by then, which gives me shopping allowance!!

What are these? Things Pear and I bought at Toa Payoh Central when I stayed over at Pear's on Friday night or should I say Saturday late afternoon when we just woke up and decided to give Orchard Road a skip and just shop around her place. These basic necessities include massive bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 20 packets of tissue paper (shopping like they don't sell it in Korea), bottles of contact lense wash, and stationery!!!

Plus, I can't rule out any of my clothes either...it's freezing cold in Korea right now, I need my winter clothes!! I also need some nice spring clothes too for April and May...so what I'm bringing is really minimal - and a girl's gotta look good on holiday as well!! She'll never know who she'll bump into...a considerable standard of dress code is necessary. Plus, it's Korea!! Koreans dress really well when they go out!!

And I wanna look good in photos toooooooo. But I wanna shop shop and shop in Korea as well!! AHHHHH...decisions decisions decisions. What stays and goes...I need help!!

The solution to my problem: increase my baggage limit plueeeeezzzeeee!!

My Grandfather's Road

Singaporeans are very scary drivers!!! Okay okay, I don't mean to classify everyone into this category, I'm sure there are exceptions. Or maybe I'm basing this all on one guilty party and my experience riding in his car.

Take One: Love for the Horn
He honked at a cab pulled up at the side of the road who is picking up passengers...and the catch? The cab wasn't really in his way. He could have easily driven past it without cutting into the next lane.

Take Two: Road Tax = Road Ownership
He loves occupying both lanes!! And it's not as if there's no cars around. And he's not changing lanes either. I don't know why!!

Take Three: Eating Bends
When he's going around bends, he 'eats' into the lane beside him without even looking if there's a car beside him!! HONKK.

Take Four: Two Becomes Three
When there's only 2 turning lanes, he magically creates a third and squeezes his way into the lane. Of course he receives a honkkkkkk.

Take Five: Wasn't Me
This time, he's in one of the 2 turning lane. When turning, he seems oblivious to the turning car beside him and cuts into his lane. That was freaking scary coz I could see the bonnet of the other car right beside me. AHHHHOONNNNKKKKKK. His reaction...how can he be there? (translation: I'm not at fault)

Despite all the above examples and 50+ years of on-road experience, he's still very alive and healthy...so I guess it's safe!?!?

Visa Update FINAL

Approved.

Visa Update AGAIN

I rang the embassy this morning at 10.30am to check if they received my letter and guess what?

The lady I spoke to reverted back to her previous statement the day before, telling me that the institution I've applied for is private, so they cannot grant me my visa.

I am so irritated at the moment, I just wish I didn't apply for a visa in the first place - just go into the country with the intention of going on a holiday. If I don't tell the immigration office I'm studying, and no one finds out, I should be fine - but then the other guy said yesterday that if I am going to Korea for the purpose of study, then I should or it's best to get a visa!! WHAT CONTRADICTIONS!!

Right now, all I can do is leave it in God's hands. Only He has the solution to my problem. I should try not to be so angry and wanting to solve it myself, and leave it up to God.

Visa Update

I'm getting closer. This time, they accepted my passport and documents. All that's left is a letter of admission from my Korean language institution. I've emailed my Korean program advisor on the spot and asked them to fax a letter directly to the embassy, so the ball is in their court now!!

All I have to do is sit and wait. Tomorrow, I'll know the verdict.

The jury contemplates...

Life's a contradiction

...one day, it can be awesome, the next day may just be plain sucky! Today's story tells of an in-between and on-holiday young adult called Raine and her journey as she discovers this truth.

Raine's Monday was spent tidying her new bedroom, making it habitable - it wasn't anything special. The day took a better turn when she accompanied her grandparents to Carrefour, a big departmental store in Suntec City. Actually, I should have said it the other way around. Raine's grandparents were the ones accompanying her to buy a shelf she had seen in a newspaper advertisement.

Not only was it a fruitful evening for Raine, her grandparents didn't return home empty handed as well. They bought even more than her. Eating out with her grandparents was also a refreshing change. Raine was being a good girl by spending time with her grandparents.

At night, Raine's best friend, Pear, came to stayover. They had a nice girl bonding time - chatting, looking at photos and crazy videos of Raine jumping out of planes, blogging and doing some things you wouldn't expect two girls to do at 2am in the morning, i.e. fixing up a shelf.

After finding the tool box, work started as Pear screwed while Raine held the pieces together.



But the end product was a rewarding new clothes shelf for Raine - by the 2 proud builders!!



The next morning, after a painstaking struggle to pull themselves out of bed and out of the nice comfortable air-conditioned room, Pear and Raine finally managed to overcome the lack of sleep. After breakfast, they got ready and went down for a late morning swim, doing laps.

After laps and lunch, round two of activities started for the two girls as they went to the karaoke room. Little did they know they had to bring their own karaoke vcds. It was a hilarious 15 minutes as the girls wondered why they couldn't find the channel with the karaoke system and an even more hilarious moment when they read the terms on the wall and discovered they required their own songs. They returned home and chilled there, surfing the net for songs and taking photos.



Pear didn't stay for long after as she had tuition in the evening. After she left, Raine occupied herself with the internet, and more organising and that was her eventful day of fun.

However, the next day took a turn for the worst, with a lot of wasted trips and information that wasn't what Raine wanted to hear.

At 8.30am, the day began for Raine as she dragged her tired self out of bed. She had to go down to the Korean Embassy that morning to apply for her Korean visa. However, before she could apply, she needed to hunt down an instant photo booth as well.

Thankfully, with the help of some msn friends, she managed to track down a possible lead - just beside Sakae Sushi ouside Heartland Mall, and made it to the Korean Embassy early. Of course, her grandpa did her a big favour by driving her around as well.

Her luck changed at the embassy. At first, the lady at the counter said her Language Academy was a private institution and they only grant visas to students at government schools like universities. After a strong refusal from Raine, who said she had already paid her fees and had been told by the academy to apply for visa, the lady went to check and returned with an answer.

She required to see Raine's bank statement/bank book which Raine so conveniently left at home to approve a 90 day visa. Raine wasn't prepared to show any bank statement. She thought all she needed was her approved application form, air ticket, passport and photo. Apparently that wasn't enough.

The second problem soon followed. They couldn't only issue a 90 day visa. Raine would be in Korea for 92 days, but they said no, they couldn't extend. Their advise to Raine: the only way is to fly out of the country and fly back in to extend your stay another 90 days. That just pissed Raine off. Why couldn't she get a 2 day exemption??!! It was a wasted trip and Raine had to return again the next day with her bank statement.

After the embassy, Raine and her grandpa went to pick her grandma from church before heading to Thomson Plaza to have lunch and purchase a new luggage for her. Just her luck, they didn't have the design she liked and purchased 2 years ago from that same shop. All they have are the heavy, semi-hard-case, pull-along bags which Raine doesn't like. Raine wanted the soft-case luggage that didn't weigh a quarter of the allowed baggage weight.

That was another wasted trip to Thomson. This called for a change of plans so to Mustafa Centre they went. As her dad had mentioned, Mustafa did have the bag she wanted and a purchase was made then and there. Finally something good came out of this trip.

But her luck didn't last too long. When she got home, Raine grabbed her bank book and went to the bank to update it. It's strange how she managed to waste another trip as no transactions was made within the past few weeks and her book didn't need to be updated at all.

Lady Luck wasn't on her side today. We could only wish for her presence with Raine tomorrow.

Naughty Girl

AHHHHHHH.

My Grandpa thinks I'm a naughty girl.

Okay okay...he didn't directly say I was a naughty girl, but he implied it. I'm sure he was implying that - who knows the inner workings of an old Grandpa please tell me.

Here's what happened...

We were having dinner and he asked me if I was staying home tonight. I replied with a yes...and then he added...he added...added...(*breath Raine breath*), "Good, be a good girl and stay home tonight."

So you see, by saying I'm a good girl if I stay in, he's implying I was a bad girl for all the times I go out - but I don't like being cooped up at home - there's ABSOLUTELY nothing to do except thinking about my mummy (mummy meaning daddy and Laura - the whole family) and using the net. I'm sure there are plenty of negative consequences of using the computer all day - like a bent spine, wrist problems, and eye sight problems to name a few.

So I asked back (pretending to be joking), "So you mean I'm a bad girl when I go out?"

And know what his reply was?? A smile and a Grandpa giggle. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!

SOB, I'm paranoid. I don't want to be a BAD GIRL. And don't tell me he doesn't mean it Laura, coz this is not the first time I've heard it!! 2 years ago when I was back in Singapore, he said the same thing when I decided to stay home for the day.

SOB SOB SOB!!

A Full Full Girl in her Big Big Bed

I'm currently waiting for my hair to dry before I can go to bed, so I thought I'd report on today's "current affairs".

At 11am, my alarm clock went off and I got out of bed. The Novena people were coming to deliver my bed and mattress between 12 and 2.30pm, so I had given an hour for me to get washed and get my bedroom ready.

However, at 11.15am, the door bell rang. It was my mattress. They were early and the guard house didn't page us in regards to this delivery!! Just as well I was awake.

After the 'mattress people' left, I went online and chatted with mum for a bit. At around 12.30pm, my bed frame arrived!! As the men assembled my bed together, I saw how my new room was embellishing. It was quite cram with a narrow walkway between my new queen-size bed and my TV shelf, but the furniture looked awesome!!

After the assemblers left, we had lunch. The workout begun after lunch as I organised the furniture, rearranging my TV and wires, shifting the shelf to make more space for the walkway.



Mum rang in between the organising and I got to talk to the whole family, including Laura, Dad and Zac!!!

More organising occured until Mama's niece and family arrived. I didn't know we were expecting visitors. They had 2 little children, one boy and a younger girl. They were cute. The boy started asking me questions. I couldn't really understand what he was saying as he mumbled, but when I returned to my room to get ready to go over to Pear's place, he stopped at my room door and said something which I didn't catch again. I asked him to repeat but he ran off. Then I went to the next room to get something from the drawer and he appeared at the door again, mumbling something and running off again. I was getting a little weirded out then...but he's a little boy, perhaps just wanting to make friends.

However, just as I was about to leave the house, he grabbed on to my hand and asked me where I was going and he wanted to follow me!!! WEIRD!! So strange! I didn't know what to say until the parents saved me by telling him that they were going out after this so he can't come along but they'll come visit again. I'm a little freaked but maybe he just wants to be friends.

I went to Pear's place and even helped with the bee hoon that Pear was cooking by cutting the eggs!!! When we were all ready, I drove Pear's mum and her aunty and uncle to her other aunt's condo for the BBQ birthday party while Pear took Junren's car.

The BBQ was awesome!! Pear's family is so friendly and jolly, I felt absolutely comfortable around them. The food was FANTASTIC. I love the chicken wings best - babe, you've got to teach me how you marinated it!! Not only did we have chicken wings and her bee hoon, there was also pork slices, squid, mussels, stingray, satay, prawns, fish cake and fish balls, pineapple and grass jelly dessert, and not to forget the 2 birthday cakes coz we were celebrating both Pear's and her Grand Aunt's birthday.



I'm a full full girl. After the BBQ, we returned to Pear's house only to find out that neither Pear nor her bro Josh had keys so we waited patiently outside the house for her parents to return. That's us, being pathetic outside their own house.



We chatted till 1am before I left for home.

I think my hair is almost dry now so I shall get ready for bed - in my new BIG BIG BED with NEW NEW SHEETS!! So exciting!!

Chronological Order of Events

*These times are rough but close estimates

@ 1130 :: My day begins
@ 1135 :: Breakfast - leftover hor fan
@ 1200 :: Go online to check mails and chat
@ 1230 :: Lunch
@ 1245 :: Get ready to go out
@ 1315 :: Leave the house for Orchard
@ 1400 :: Pick up M1 Giro form at Paragon
@ 1420 :: Meet Pear at Heerens and the shopping begun
@ 1530 :: Wanted to leave Heerens but it was pouring so we remained indoors
@ 1545 :: Bought a pair of purple earrings shaped like a cocktail glass
@ 1615 :: Rain finally stopped and we stopped by Old Chang Kee for snacks
@ 1630 :: Went to Cineleisure to shop around
@ 1730 :: Went Taka to shop, tried on several skirts at Zara
@ 1815 :: Went Ding Tai Feng at Wisma to satisfy our hunger with Xiao Long Bao and Ja Jiang Mian
@ 1915 :: Went back to Zara to buy the cute pink skirt
@ 1940 :: Went Paragon M1 shop with Pear to look at phones
@ 1950 :: Stopped at a roadside shop to look at Nikon cameras as a salesman convinced us about the Coolpix S3 digicam (quite a good sales pitch)
@ 2010 :: Went back to Cineleisure to buy Pear her birthday prezzie - the bag she likes
@ 2040 :: Returned to Heerens to rest our tired legs for a while and contemplate about the camera (I'm a little wary now when buying cameras - don't want to make the wrong decision again)
@ 2045 :: Returned to the store and continued asking questions about the camera
@ 2100 :: Made my camera purchase after a good bargain before heading back to Pear's Place
@ 2135 :: Return to Pear's Place
@ 2200 :: Pear and I played with my new camera
@ 2230 :: Junren arrives and we continue taking pictures
@ 2300 :: Played 3 rounds of Spinergy - AND I WON!! Hee hee.
@ 2345 :: Decided to go for supper with Pear's parents, Junren and Pear
@ 0020 :: Ate YUMMY Tim Sum at Geylang, near Lor 17 - SO FULL!!!
@ 0115 :: Went to this cheap grocery and bought stuff for Pear's party tomorrow
@ 0140 :: Left Geylang for home
@ 0220 :: Reached home and washed up
@ 0234 :: Blogged about my awesome day - a fruitful shopping trip and glorious good food - and I couldn't possibly sleep on a bloated stomach so had to let it rest!!

I'M BORED!!!

That's why I dread the nights...I'm bored and it's only 7.20pm.

That's why I'm blog spamming tonight...I'm bored and it's only 7.21pm.

That's why I'm losing weight...I'm bored and I keep pacing around the house!!

Matchmaker, matchmaker...

Dinner Topic: Lorraine's boyfriend (to be)

The Matchmakers: MY GRANDPA!!!

Shedding Calories

I just had a good swim today - haven't swam in months - and it feels GREAT!! I love feeling good about myself. You just feel healthier, more awake, and definitely very much slimmer (even if it isn't true in the mirror). It's just the feeling of treating your body to something nice - not that a good chocolate cake won't accomplish this as well - but a healthier and less remorseful option.

This wasn't the only workout I had today!! When the clock struck 12am this morning, I was dancing my arse off with Jo and Rach at the Ministry Of Sound (aka MOS) - Singapore's hottest club! Okay...technically, I was just bopping and trying to keep up with the beat. I don't like dancing. It's one of the 2 things I never feel confident in.

A feeling of self-consciousness consumes my mind and body, making me feel like...
1) a tone-deaf idiot
2) shaking and bouncing out of beat
3) bare and naked
4) every pair of eyes on the dance floor are directed at me
5) the subject of all giggles and laughter

Yep...it's not a nice feeling at all.

But, I would have looked even more like an idiot if I just stood still on the dance floor beside the dancing Jo and Rach. On the positive note...at least I liked what I was wearing and I must have lost quite a bit of calories - a result of perspiring in the over-crowded dance floor and from all that bopping around, plus, we've got awesome pics!!

THIS IS A CONSPIRACY!!

I think my grandparents are on a secret mission to feed me fat!!! They are just stuffing me with food - HELP! They think that because I'm not home so I don't eat. I need to get out of this house more often.

Better?

As a perfectionist, I didn't give anyone anytime to absorb my previous blog entry before making the changes...don't know if it's any better, but at least this fits neatly on our desktop with a smaller screen resolution of 1024x768. Perhaps it'll fit better for you too!!

A Blogger's Anguish, A Perfectionist's Goal

I miss you...

I'm looking out the window
Where we sat to watch the stars
There's a chill within the air
It makes my heart long for your touch
You may be miles away
But as I kneel to pray

I see the same side of the moon
That we'll be looking on when the world turns blue
And know that time and space
can't come between me and you
We share the same side of the moon
And though you'll never see all my tears shine through
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon.

I picture you across the oceans
In your corner of the world
I pray the wind will blow my voice
And gently whisper in your ear
Your night may be my day
And though the seasons change

It's still the same side of the moon
That we'll be looking on when the world turns blue
And know that time and space
can't come between me and you
We share the same side of the moon
And though you'll never see all my tears shine through
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon
I know I can't be that far from you
If we're both looking on the same side of the moon

::Written and Sung By Corrinne May::

1st Anniversary!!

One year ago today, I started up this blog. I can't believe it's been 1 year...

So today, I decided to spend some time pampering my blog and giving it a new skin for the new year!!

A year ago today, I wrote "Am I pathetic or AM I pathetic? This is yet another Valentine's Day that I'm spending all by myself, the 21st one in a row."

This year, I'm not going to harp about it - not because I've got someone, but because time won't stop for me to sulk. I've got to keep up as the seconds tick away and keep adapting to whatever comes my way.

Well...that's my wise words today...out and over!!

Every coin has two sides...

The Changi Airport Control Tower has always been a welcoming landmark for me up until today. I know I'm home and it brings a smile across my face whenever I see the welcoming tower standing proudly as the plane lands - our loyal welcoming party.

Today, I saw it in a different light. Driving towards Terminal 1, I turned to look to my right and saw the foreboding architecture growing bigger and bigger. Playing the role of the last landmark of Singapore to those leaving the country, it saluted "Goodbye and Farewell".

Just like some signs as you cross state borders, on one side it says "Welcome to blah blah" and on the other it bids farewell to you.

Just like how I saw today as "my family is leaving me alone in Singapore", while mum saw it as "you are leaving us to stay in Singapore."

Just like how I was afraid of being alone and away (long term) from my family for the very first time while dad introduces it as a challange and experience for me to grow and become independent.

Just like one door shuts and the other door opens...I'm currently stuck inbetween the front door and the metal gates, where everything behind the front door is familar and comforting, while everything beyond the gates is unknown. At presence I'm only able to peek through the gaps in the gates and see what's in my close proximity, but anything beyond is a mystery - a scary and unexplored territory.

The New Pink: GREEN

Yesterday, my professional painter helped me paint my wall Lime Fizz. His helpers were incompetent, making a mess of the wall with uneven shades of green and he had to salvage it after, slogging longer than estimated. Nevertheless, the first coat was completed before dinner.



After dinner when we returned and the paint had settled, I realised that it was a little to bright to my liking. The colour was very strong and in my face (but I liked it too and that's why I chose it) however I made a decision that it was far too bright to live in. I contacted my painter and seeked his advise.

Early next morning (at 10am), the painter came knocking on our door and I was kicked out of bed to help around. The painter mixed the previous half can of Lime Fizz with his newly purchased white paint. Then the first coat was up and I panicked. It was too light!! But the professional reassured me that it'll blend with the brighter background, so I put my trust in him.

The final product was a brillant success!!! I LOVE IT!! I LOVE MY GREEN WALL!! It's so fresh yet sweetish.

Just after lunch, Ikea delivered my TV shelves and I contacted my builder. He immediately came and work started. Piece by piece and nail by nail, the shelves came up.



Finally it was done...I love the shelves...but it's not complete without the flatscreen TV so I won't be taking any pics right now till the very very end.

But wait...before I end this entry, I've got another green surprise for you!



Like it? Say yes or DIE!!!

An insight to my dialect!!

Hokkien is easy. Just remember:

Children is gina kia

Bird is chiao kia

Korean Car is Kia

Give birth is seh kia

Furniture is Ikea

Police is mata kia

Small house is chu kia

Country name is Czechoslovakia

Puppy is kao kia

Kitten is ngiao kia

Chicken is kuey kia

Pig is tu kia

Handphone is nokia

I'm Hokkien kia

Malay is huan na kia

Hindu is ke leng na kia

Kuai lou is ang mo kia

Chinese is t'ng lang kia

Japanese is jit pun kia

Bad Guy is phai kia

& Good Guy is ho kia

Person who reads this message is Gong Kia

If you laugh, you are Siow Kia

(to those who do not understand...I apologise, it's kind of an inside joke...only hokkiens and most Singaporeans would understand)

Some Kim Sam Soon Mini Bites

I don't want to give away the entire storyline for this awesome Korean drama serial 'My Lovely Sam Soon', so here's just some snippets from the show:

Snippet 1:

The reason why we can't find ourselves a decent guy...

First, nice men are ugly.

Second, good looking men are not nice.

Third, good looking and nice men are already married.

Fourth, good looking, nice and single men are incompetent.

Fifth, good looking, nice, single and rich men are not interested in us.

Sixth, good looking, nice, single, rich men that are interested in us will most probably cheat on us.

Seventh, good looking, nice, single, rich men that are interested in us that are not likely to cheat on us are gay!

...Then tenth! Good looking, nice, single and rich men that are interested in us, who do not cheat and are not gay and are still interested even if we approach them first are...

...There's definitely something wrong with them. They're abnormal!!

Snippet 2:

Jin Heon: But...I have a favour to as you.

Sam Soon: What favour's there to ask at the toilet?

J: Could you pass me the toilet paper?

S (lying): Gosh, I'm so sorry, but I'm out of toilet paper too. Who's in charge of cleaning the bathroom anyways?!!

Do you know that different blood type respond differently in this situation?

The strong willed and patient blood type A waits until the janitor comes along.

Blood type B that has strong love for oneself will use two of those. Two of those...being your fingers.

The rational blood type AB uses the tissue in the bin that someone has thrown away after using.

Blood type O that doesn't bother itself over trival things just walks out. Why? Because he can always wipe himself later.

Which type are you?

Next in turn: Daddy

Once upon a time (yesterday evening), Daddy went shopping with his two daughters. He followed them into a VCD shop, browsing though the many drama serials on sale.

At the same time, Girl was also looking around the shop with Boy, her boyfriend. She sipped at her drink while studying the many VCDs on sale. She decided to share her drink with Boy, holding out her drink to the figure of a person standing on her right, assuming it was Boy standing right beside her.

Daddy stared strangely at the drink that was trusted in front of him, then he turned to look at Girl, who was still looking intently at the VCDs on the table.

After a whlie, Girl realised that who she assumed was Boy wasn't taking the drink from her and she finally looked up. Blushing in embarrassment, she hurriedly apologised to Daddy and went over to Boy where she shared her embarrassment while Boy laughed. Daddy did likewise as his daughters giggled at the cute incident.

Countdown to the moments

Five.

Fifth on my list is the wonderful and intriging Singapore English.

How would you say 'Farrer'? We (Singaporeans) pronounce it was 'fairer'.

I DON'T GET IT!!

Sorry, that's what happens when you've got nothing to do while travelling on the train. You end up studying the train route too closely.

But honestly...
How do you pronounce 'Fa'?
How do you pronounce 'Far'?
How do you pronounce 'Farr'?
So...How do you pronounce 'Farrer'?

A Singaporean in the background shouts out, "Fairer!!"

The second moment occured when we went out for dinner. I wanted to order a drink so I stood in front of the stall but there wasn't a list of drinks available. I pointed to a familar can of Crysanthum tea and went back to my table.

But that's not the point. Another group of customers order Kopi-O Sui Dai Tei Bieng Tei and it wasn't on the list - THERE WAS NO LIST!! Anyway, dad said it's understood that every drink stall will sell those basic drinks, you don't need a menu. Moreover, there's too many options for coffee and tea which led us to our next conversation about what options there are.

Kopi - Flat white with sugar
Kopi Si - Flat white with carnation milk (Si is carnation milk)
Kopi-O - Long black with sugar
Kopi-O Sui Dai - Long black with less sugar ('Sui' means less and 'Dai' means sweet)

So from the above, I announced my favourite coffee drink: Kopi-O Bo Dai!!!

*bish*poing*bong* (my family faints)

My explanation: Bo means no, so therefore, Kopi-O Bo Dai refers to long black not sweet.

But I was enlightened. The correct way of asking for a long black without sugar is...Kopi-O Kosong!! (Kosong meaning 'nothing' or 'plain')

Four.

Having fun with some Spinergy, Risk, Barcadi and the company of great friends is third on this list. On Friday evening, I met Pear and Junren for dinner, stuffing our faces with seafood at Fish & Co. Then, we adjourned to Junren's place for a game of Risk (I came in second out of the three, which I reckon is an accomplishment for a beginner), some mahjong 102 for beginners and some Barcadi with cola.

Yesterday, Pear, Junren and I were supposed to play tennis at my place but it was raining so they came over and hanged instead, playing this new board game I bought called Spinergy. We all enjoyed ourselves as we formed silly sentences with randomly chosen words (there's more to this game but I'm too lazy to explain) so much so that we continued round two with Junren and friends over at Pear's place.

Three.

I drove...on my own (of course by following behind Junren's car and with Pear as my navigator but when I say 'on my own' I mean without daddy's supervision)...to Pear's place!!! And then I drove back home by myself - and I didn't get lost!! I miss driving. I miss my baby snow princess. I DROVE ON SINGAPORE'S CRAZY STREETS (but in the 2am morning traffic).

Two.

The theme of this moment is 13 going on 51!! We went over to Aunty Lay Hong's place this evening for YUMMY food!! The best part was seeing 4 mums laughing over old secondary one class photos, while the group of us children were laughing at them in the photos. It's amazing how they are still so close after almost 30 years.

One.

The winner of today's moments goes to Laura and her 'boyfriend' - A classic 'Just for Laughs' moment.

We had just alighted from the bus and was walking towards Ikea when this guy walked up to Laura and took her by the elbow. While I was witnessing this guy take Laura's arm, it took me a while to register in my head that this was a complete stranger. Laura took a while too.

Only when mum asked in an accusing and protective tone, "EXCUSE ME?" did Laura realise and pull her arm away while the guy literally jumped in embarrassment and started apologising profusely for this mix up. That was such a kodak moment - his shocked, stunned and embarrassed expression. He quickly disappeared.

While entering Ikea, we noticed the guy in front of us as he caught up with his girlfriend and took her by the arm like he did with Laura and then moved to hold her hand. I almost cracked up laughing as a flashback of his expression appeared in my mind.

NUMBER ONE MOMENT OF THE DAY!!

Endeavour to never...

Have you ever
...tried on an expensive item many times and return it to the shelves?
...only to discover it's sold out when you finally decide to purchase it?

Have you ever
...used an expensive item and have it lost or stolen?
...knowing that you've only used it for a short period of time?

Have you ever
...bought an expensive item and kept it at the back of your cupboard?
...only to dig it out after 10 years and find mould on it?