trains.

everyday ever since i've been here.. i've been taking the public transport. at first it was a lil weird because i'm not very used to relying on public transports. back home, without thinking, i call out "i'm going out!" and off i'll go in the boyfriend's car or (rarely) my own car. but here, here.... i have to plan my time and adjust it according to the train's time. if i'm late, i gotta wait. or if i'm gonna make it, i gotta walk faster or even.... run! because why? i choose to torture myself by walking to the train station instead of taking the tram. don't know whether i'm lying to myself that i can lose weight by walking everyday. but oh well... time will tell


last week, our classes finished early than usual. it was too HOT and everyone was falling asleep. so the lecturers said "okay okay... you girls can leave earlier since everyone is falling asleep." normally we would make it in time before the train arrive but one fine day... we were let off just a few minutes later. while we (the 4 of us) were crossing the train tracks to the other side of the platform... my friend shouted "the train is here! run!" and so we ran... i was afraid that the barrier would come down and hit us. so i ran faster. we ran and ran and ran and we were afraid that once we validated our card, the train would leave. but thank God for the people who were taking their time getting on and off. we made it to the train.

we quickly sat down because we were gasping for air. i felt like i couldn't breathe at all. then i realized.... one of our friend didn't run with us. to make things worse, i was the one who was walking together with her. aww man! i felt sooo guilty that we left her behind. but it was a funny experience as well. i've never ran for the train before and we were so silly because it's not like that's the last train for the day. there was another train who was scheduled to arrive bout 10-15 minutes more.

so we've learned our lesson. the next time after class, we're gonna walk faster than usual. we're not gonna take our own sweet time because i'm VERY sure that i'll never run like that (unless it's a necessity) ever again. it's just too tiring. so... that's one of the funny adventure during my first few weeks here =)


written with love at 6:39 pm aussie time

a day at the zoo.

to melb zoo
with father and brother

it was a nice and sunny day

cute lil boy we met on the train
who coincidentally is going to the zoo as well

band of 4 lion brothers






for a moment it felt like we were the "animals" instead

can you see the baby?




lovely pink parrot

posted @ 2:48 pm aussie time

the first few weeks.

think this blog is gonna be alive for the time being. until i start getting lazy. think better start updating it since i will be going through things that are different from home. and it's also easier for family and the boyfriend to be updated with my life. since there is only so much we can talk about on the oh-so-very-expensive-phone-calls


the first 2 weeks here has been loads of ups and downs. i was trying to settle down to a whole new life. doing things on my own. starting to study again. no more lazing and sleeping in anymore. can't see kevin whenever i want to. no hands to hold.

on the first week, i only had 1 day of orientation and then the rest of the week i could go out and sight-see with my father and brother.

koko black

buffet in the crown
only have a picture of the ice cream because it's my fav

this potato thingy is VERY yummy

posted at 2:40 pm aussie time

new year!

ah! 2011!

you have finally come!
i've waited for you for ages
but still you decided not to show up.
now when you finally do,
i'm glad!
however, you took too long to come around.

things have changed.
plans are changing.
everything will not be the same anymore.
why did you come so late?

but then again...
the changes can be good
provided we embrace it with the help of God.
this year is the year of change.

it's a mixture of joy and sorrow.

i still do not know whether i'm making the right decision.

it should be right?
i mean i've always wanted to.
but i never thought it would be this late.
i only have myself to blame...
for playing so much and wasting my time.

but why can't i do both at the same time?
isn't it possible?
many people do it =)
ah!
i wonder if things were that simple

whatever...
i just want to enter into this new year holding on to God's promises.
that is just what i need

over the years.

tmr is yf camp
and as i was packing,
i can't help but reminiscence of the past 10 years of yf camp
yes, you read it correctly.
it has been a decade.
i didn't notice it until i started to think about camp.

i started going for camp when i was 12.
over the years,
there were times where i really did NOT want to go for camp.
it was either the place was really dirty
or i didn't know anyone
or just didn't feel like going.

when i was younger,
when it was time for sharing about 'why i came for camp..'
i would have to crack my brains for stuff to share.
it was hard, tough to answer.
in fact, it was hard for me to even open my mouth to speak.
when it came to my turn,
i would just mumble something and pass it to the next person.

and every year...
it would be same.
up until i grew older.
forced to be the 'tai ka che'
because i can never be the small girl that i was,
not allowed to shut up and be quiet.
i had to share, say something, make younger ones feel comfortable.

soon, it was group assistant
then, dorm leader
and next was worship leader.
roles began to change and shift.
it became bigger and bigger.

so ever since i started my diploma,
i either had exams or assignments due during camp
and i would feel weird that i wasn't able to go for full camp.
gone were the days of the issue's: 'going or not going'
now it was: 'why can't i go...?!'

now...
things have also changed.
did not take any major roles because of certain things.
i can't help but face the fact that...
after 10 years or a decade (sounds nicer),
this will be my very last camp
and to add to that,
i get to have the role as a photographer.
to document the special moments in this camp
because i believe that....
many things will change,
and decisions will be made and carried through.


sigh..
writing this post makes me feel sad now
so... on to a happier news


as you know,
christmas is near.
bought my MOST expensive present yet.
why am i so generous you may ask..
guess it is the thing called LOVE.
awww. so cheesy

may i present to you
his early christmas and birthday present

the new touch..
for the best person on earth.

hurdles.

this year is very very different from the rest of the years.
there are more dramas, decisions, and changes.
so far, i'm proud to say that i've passed 1 important hurdle
and have 2 more to go before i get to "enjoy".

this hurdle that i went through was my final year project.
while working in the kindy, i had to collect resources to make a practicum file.
some of the things included were observations and lesson plans.
i've spent countless days and nights working on this never ending file
and finally it's done today!
i've never felt so satisfied.
but there are 2 more hurdles coming my way before i could relax for a while.

Mega 4!

also, it is the school holidays now.
i never thought i would say this but i do miss the children in the kindy.
when i look at the pictures,
i am glad that i got to be a part of their lives for those 3 months.

but for now, i will enjoy the "holiday" that i am blessed to have! =)

more than expected.

plenty of things has been happening.
i'm not really sure whether it's good or bad.
but things has been happening.

*i have 2 more weeks of work then it's HOLIDAY....!
today marks my 240 hours.
me and my friends decided to continue on until the school holiday because it would be unfair for the children to suddenly have a replacement teacher for only 2 weeks.
as i was thinking back from the day i started....
i've gotten used to so many things.

1. waking up early every morning (even on weekends, i wake up at 6 something and i would have to force myself to fall back asleep. also, i'm proud to say that i don't take naps anymore)
   
2. the routines in school. (i'm not as blur case as the first few weeks)
3. having control of the children. (the children wouldn't listen to me in the beginning)
   

*looking at the bank book....
i realized that it's been a year since we've started saving
and the amount is much more than we expected.
(it'll be much more if we didn't take some of the money for him to enjoy a trip to spore)


*i've received good stuff today.
i thought my day was gonna start off horribly because i had my observation today and i forgot to bring the papers for my mentor to evaluate me.
i was bout to have a mental break down.
i prayed.
immediately, i felt peace for the whole day.
my mentor said i did very good compared to my first observation.


the other good stuff i received today was a conditional offer from deakin university.
i didn't really want to mention much before this, just in case i don't get into the uni.
but apparently, every uni wants your money. so why wouldn't you get in?
so anyway... i got this offer way earlier than expected
because they told me that i would hear from them probably at the end of november.
so.... all i have to do now is to complete my diploma and do ielts.
i got much more than i expected as well.
i got a year of exemption.
i'm not sure whether it's normal for my course or any course but it's definitely a lot for me.
since i'm the kind of person who hates studying,
even the thought of studying.


so that's all the update from me...
you'll definitely not hear anything from him =)