Chronicles of May

Well, this has been an eventful month. I'm going to miss May so much when the new month comes around tomorrow. 

The first and second week of May were marked with examinations and then my birthday. I visited Gardens by the Bay with my mother on the 10th to "celebrate" the summer holidays as well as to see the tulips from the Netherlands. 

On the 11th, I had a post-birthday dinner at Outback Steakhouse with the family. 12th June is officially the start of the summer holidays. 

The much anticipated Star Trek: Into Darkness featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain opened in Singapore on 16th May. I watched it in glorious IMAX 3D at Shaw Lido with my friend on the 18th. It was an awesome experience as we were seated right in the middle of the giant screen. As a fan of his whom main reason for watching this film was because of him, I grinned/laughed at inappropriate moments. There's just this sense of pride in seeing him in his breakthrough role in a Hollywood blockbuster. For the second time, I watched it with my cousin, who is a fellow fan, on Monday, 20th May. 

The following day, I went back to the university to pay the rest of the fees for the Thailand field studies, in cash, I might add. Sometimes, the university can be so rigid and inflexible. 

I had a short and nice meet up with my good friend from secondary school on Wednesday. Ahh, the good, old days of secondary school where stress means doing homework and passing tests/examinations. 

The final week of the month was passed in a frivolous manner. This is my idea of relaxation; of giving my brain a break from all those months of hard work. When June comes around, the countdown for the field studies starts. Of course, I simply cannot wait to get home. I will be literally counting the days till I get back to Singapore, to my comfortable life, home and bed. 

Phobia

Was feeling rather sorry for myself last night and so I cried. Sometimes, you just have to let the tears flow to feel better. My right arm hurts so badly that I doubted I slept a wink. This is why I hate  pain and to a larger extent, needles. I would even further to diagnose myself with Angliophobia. 

This is also why I avoid getting injuries as much as possible, hence, a sedentary lifestyle. This is why I would never go for tattoos or unnecessary invasive treatments. I would rather live with my not-so-nice teeth than to go for braces. Who doesn't like the perfect set of teeth? But the last thing I need is to subject myself to teeth extraction. Life isn't perfect and I am content to be ordinary. 

This brings me to the purpose of this post. Yesterday, I gritted my teeth to go for immunisations as part of the Thailand field studies. The last time I went for an injection was back in Primary 6, when I was 12. Out of the 3 vaccinations, I did 2 in my right arm. As for the last one, I 'chickened' out. 

Sigh, the things I do for studies. This will be the first and probably the last time I will willingly subject myself to the pain of injections. I need that pot of anesthetic cream. 

Soon-ish

2 more weeks of summer holidays before the field studies in Thailand. 

Oh god, this is still too surreal for me. The fact that I am leaving my comfortable life still has yet to sink in. I have a feeling once I left Golden Mile Complex on the bus, the pangs of homesickness will truly hit. 

I don't really put much emphasis on preparing for what will happen during the entire programme, what will always take precedence is the pre- and post-trip activities. That's how I work, be it for leisure or academic.

I think about the small comforts I can bring along with me. I think about what I will do when the plane lands in Singapore on the 27th July night. I think about the plans made for August before another semester starts. 

Post-Examinations

It's kind of anti-climatic actually. One moment I was fretting about the last physical geography  examination and 2 hours later, it was over. Summer is finally here! 

The best part of the examination period is keeping the notes, not quite forever but locking that memory in one of the rooms within your "mind palace". 

Year 2 is over for me. A few weeks from now, I will going for my special semester 2 field studies module. If and when I survive the 6 weeks ordeal, my life will be made slightly easier in Year 3. 

6 weeks of holidays in exchange for one year of easier time is worth it, isn't it? I don't want to sound ungrateful but sometimes, I doubt my decision. Besides, I hate how the committee sounds like we should be falling over our feet in gratitude for the opportunity given. Are you kidding me? It's not as if the whole trip is truly subsidised or that we are staying in some pretty hotels. 

22 years

Now that it is 12.02AM, it's Happy Birthday to moi! 

22 years in existence and I hope everything will just go smoothly for me. 

On a more awesome note, my examinations are finally over, after dragging on for 3 weeks! Liberty has never been sweeter or well-deserved! Regardless of the grades I will get, I am glad to learn many new concepts and ideas and questioned what people have been taken for granted. This is the one aspect I like about Geography as a discipline. It explores areas which can be touchy or "out of sight" to many people. 

I shall enjoy the few days of summer holidays before I leave for a 6-week Thailand trip which is going to my life. 

A Nasty Surprise

I freaking hate shocks or should I say, nasty surprises. When I plan something, it is literally written in stone and to ask me to change the date or time, it is screwing up with my planner. 

And this is why I am extremely pissed off when I saw the latest news about lengthening the stay in Thailand for field studies. It was originally put on 24th July and so, I booked my very advanced tickets for The Phantom of the Opera tickets on the 27th, a Saturday. 

I thought I've given myself enough buffer time but no, I saw that the arrival date has changed, tentatively, to 27th July. Are you f***ing kidding me?! I did not just spend nearly $300 worth of B res tickets to be UNABLE to attend the musical, OK? Not only are those tickets not refundable, they are also considered prime seats! 

Even if I am willing to fork out extra cash, there is no longer any choice seats left. I can't leave that god-forsaken place early so the only thing I can now is to book another ticket on another day. I will just have to work more hours to pay for it. The other 'bad' plan is to hope that it's an early morning flight and I get to arrive to Singapore before 2pm. 

Seriously thinking whether I have made the right decision in going to Thailand for 6 weeks. (6 weeks!) Not 1 or 2 but 6 arduous weeks of toughing out in the countryside. I am a born-and-raised urbanite. Living in the countryside is what I envision for a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life. 6 weeks will be enough to 'kill' me. 

For the greater good, they always say. I am sacrificing my last summer holidays to experience another world altogether, all in the name of education.