Time to say Goodbye

This is probably my last post before I leave Singapore tomorrow afternoon. 

Despite all my pessimism, misgivings and doubts, as long as I remember I chose this path because I am exchanging 6 weeks of summer holidays for 2 semesters of easier time, I should be fine. As the saying goes, "as you made your bed, so you must lie on it". Nobody forces me into making this decision and I vow to be brave about it. On the other hand, "bravery is by far the kindest word for stupidity". 

Seriously though, why am I crying as I write this entry? I am prone to histrionics and am melancholic in nature. 

That's why I hate goodbyes, more so, long goodbyes. But now, it's time to say goodbye to Singapore, to my family, to my home, to my room, to my bed and all the things I've taken for granted. This will be the first and last time so I shall try to cherish it. I won't fail, will I? 

Catch you on the flip side. 

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. 

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. 

Back to Reality

My summer holidays has officially ended and the next summer couldn't come fast enough. It's back to reality, back to being a student, back to being a zombie.

Has it really been 3 months since I last touched study notes? Has it really been 3 months since I last stepped into the University. I can scarcely believe it! Oh, how the weeks fly! I now fully understood the phrase "in the twinkling of an eye".

Sighs. Yes, I'm already sighing and classes haven't even begin.

I've had to be a better student now, spending less time on Tumblr and fanfiction. If I thought that 3 months is enough to wean me off Sherlock and its related media, I am sorely mistaken.

Accurate Post is Accurate

1. Am I excited for the new semester?

2. Am I thrilled that the summer holidays are (nearly) over?

3. Am I happy to go back to the University?

Lovely July

Today is the last day of July, a bittersweet ending.

August will herald in the new semester where I'll be a Year 2 undergraduate. Am I ready? Not in a million years.

So, in this entry, I shall bid adieu to July, a very lovely month, where the Olympics is taking place and I am fortunate enough to catch lots of events on television.

Olympics on Holidays

I love the Olympics. I love holidays.
Therefore, to be able to catch so much action of the Games for the first time ever is like a dream come true. I'm free to do what I like whenever I want. It's really fortunate that I get to stop working during this period too.

Alas, dark clouds are looming on the horizon, for the day the Olympic Games end in London is the last day of my summer holidays. It's so apt, isn't it?

But for now, I intent to cherish whatever little time I've left to make merry and be happy.

Master in Procrastination

This is the last week of July and I'll miss the summer holidays. I've approximately 2 weeks of holidays left and I intend, must, make the most out of it.

 I still have tasks left undone after putting them off for so long. What can I say, except that I'm a master procrastinator. To be honest, this word does not exist in my dictionary because I think everyone procrastinate from time to time. After all, tomorrow is such a beautiful word.

My lovely, carefree summer days will soon be replaced by stormy seas and chilly Autumn winds. Sometimes, I asked myself whether going to the University is such a chore and I often found it to be true. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything else, well, maybe for happy times.

I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop, that's all.

Pay Rise

I'm getting a pay rise starting from August. It's actually not a lot, but any increment is better than none at all.

I'm currently getting $5.50/hour and it shall be increased to $5.80/hour. I was thinking along the lines of $6.00, to be honest. Oh well. It just means that I'll have slightly more cash to save and maybe, spend.

Anyway, by August, what with the new semester starting, I'll be back to working for 2 days in a week.

Time in a Bottle

Why?!

If only Time can slow down.

The arrival of July means it's nearly time for August and then I'll be back in classes, again. The problem is I've grown too use to all carefree and decadent days.

End of June

Le sigh. It's now the end of June and I'm dreading going back to the University. It is as in these time of fun and decadence, I've forgotten what it is like being an undergraduate.

This June, I've been clocking more hours than it is healthy (for me) in the workplace. Well, I need and want the extra cash where possible. I have to seize the oppotunity to earn more money so that I can have an easier time when it is needed.

I'm not saying I hate the job. Oh, how the mighty has fallen. I just dislike spending my precious holidays on work when I can do better things.

Time is a-wasting

I'm a little guilty and ashamed to be wasting my time during this holiday but hey, this is probably the only chance I'm getting.

June is almost coming to an end and it's really a pity I didn't put in enough effort to maintain this blog or do anything remotely constructive. At the very least, I've a part-time job.

I kind of dread July because it means that my happy time will be ending soon. I really dread going back to the lather, rinse, repeat procedure of University life.

Volunteering

On Saturday, I volunteered my service to an old folks' home in a joint effort to beautify the place. The project is conducted by the volunteering committee from the University.

A few months ago, I made a decision to do some volunteer work and I did. Once I made up my mind, I don't expect to retract it. It doesn't matter much if I went alone, of course, I did wish that I've friends whom I can chat with. But, you can't always be together with your friends and you can't hold back what you want to do because you don't have friends around. I believed that one cannot expect to work around the schedules of others all the time.

It was a one-off project so there is less of a commitment for me.

By the middle of the day, I was all worn out from the stencilling and painting. In words, it seemed so easy since it was only painting. Well, let me tell you, it is not just painting. It is squatting down and painting around the designs stencilled on the bottom half of the walls. There's also the lining the tiles and windows with masking tape and newspapers and white-washing the walls. My legs had gone all wobbly at the end and I can hardly walk up or down the stairs without experiencing sharp bursts of pain. My back hurts too.

Yes, I could have sat down and paint and I did, occasionally. It's just that the floor is lined with newspapers with splotches of paint on them. Besides, one always have to haunch the back to fill in the paint nicely.

Overall, it was a good enough experience even though it was tougher than I thought. There is a good chance that I will do it again next year so that it could be more consistent.

I've my own motives for wanting to do volunteer work and it's not all that innocent about merely wanting to help the less fortunate. I need something to boost myself with.

Pinch

One will only feel the pinch when one is spending one's own money. It's the holidays which means that the pocket money has ceased and I'm "living" on my savings. Thank goodness I have a part-time job or else the situation will be worse.

After spending a sum on painting stuff and books, I have to earn back what I spent. As much as I hate working for longer hours, 4 days a week, I've not much choice. If I want to have the autonomy to buy what I want, then I've got to work for it, isn't it?

It's the third week of the summer holidays and I'm slacking at home, which is good as it is what I want and have been dreaming of. When else is there a chance for your brain to shut off completely? This is what I call a holiday; less worries with less burdens and full relaxation. I have more control of how I want to spend my time and my activities, which more or less means sitting in front of the laptop.

Unfortunately, there's no plans of going overseas this holiday. Else, it would have completed my goals. I'm 21, and I've yet to fulfil my goal (going to Florida).

I guess I have shifted my perspective a little. It's still on my agenda but now I'm more interested in Europe, in particular, England. This interest is of course, brought on by my love for Sherlock (BBC) and the upcoming Summer Olympics. The places which were shot in the series look inviting and beautiful. It is inevitable that people are going to gain awareness about London from these 2 events.

Summer Time

It's finally SUMMER!!! In this joyous occasion, I think it is a must to insert 3 exclamation marks to show my obvious elation.

The finals are said and done. It felt like eons ago since I sat for the papers on Wednesday. My mind have been blissfully blank from then. Truth be told, I cannot recall what I've studied for the exams.

In the morning, I had to deal with Methods in Geography. The definitions section was good, the memorisation paid off. Section B was tough and Section C was ho-hum. Hopefully, I will be able to do ok.

In the afternoon, I'd a paper on Lifespan Development. I'll never arrange for 2 exams in one day again. Seriously. It is enough to stress anyone to tears. Can you imagine the feelings that while the rest of the students were cheering and going home, you have to get ready for the next exam? That is pure torture. Not to mention, the stress it puts on your brains. It's like taking an adrenaline shot, twice.

Anyway, I've never been more relief for "mid-life crisis"! I think, in same dark corner of my mind, I've known that this topic will come out after a not-so-subtle hint by the lecturer. But one can never be too sure about this kind of matter. The 60 MCQs were more or less alright, I supposed. Some choices made me laugh though.

So, that concludes the summary and the first year of my miserable life in University. Time does pass so shockingly fast.

This is my first summer holiday and of course, I can do what I want and relax.