wondering in the big big world

last day of 2011....

2011-12-31T09:31:00.002+09:00

looking back on year 2011....

major changes in the tiny PX's world~

experienced things that i would never imagined....

so surreal to be true....

life's a real drama itself!

i'm grateful that i'm alive and kicking on this Earth~

having given the opportunities to do and enjoy so much....

until now~

going forward into 2012....

wondering on my life journey....

revolving in the tiny PX world....

continuing to explore and appreciating everything!

"unknowingly" there's gonna be a BIG change too~

from a 20+++, turning on to the start of 3!

another phase of life for PX....

embrace the wonders of nature....

live life to it's fullest without regrets.... *if possible*

till it's time to be blown away with the wind~

变调'ed or 变调'ing

2011-12-21T06:19:00.004+09:00

guess it's the same for all type of relationships....

and cos it involves emotions from both parties....

it's complex and changes as time moves on....

maintenance and regular keeping up-to-date or alive....

sometimes it's not the length of time knowing each other,

it's the feeling that matters a whole lot!!

being friends for a long long long time.....

that friendship might become "bland" and no longer feels as close as before....

or the longer the "brew", the "stronger" it becomes....

new found friends for a short period....

that friendship might just feels like meeting a old-time buddy finally....

or the usual Hi-Bye casual friendly acquaintances....

nevertheless i like to keep all my friends....

we all grew up, interacted with many different things and ideas ~ we changed....

something which might not change will be "you are still my friend!"

sometimes it's amazing how comfort it can be....

when you can just ring up a friend whom you have not catch up for awhile,

when the line gets connected.... it seems so familiar once again~

when daily life gets a big part of you that it's always seems so busy.... so tiring....

just to make a short call or a short message to a friend or family~

for family, maybe it just runs in the blood that you are connected always!!

for friends, it's on the trust and faith built upon from the start of the friendship!!

no one should be taken for granted in any way....

it's time to make a call out to YOU~

a little pat on the back....

2011-10-21T22:21:00.002+09:00

first time was a direct feedback from the Japanese teacher (Grade 6)....

was told i had some influences on the students and improved the level of interest in English in some students in her class!

cos those usually quiet students started to raise their hands to participate in the games in during my English class... and they know the answer! (even if they don't, it's really good that they start wanting to be at least active during the class~

second was coming from another Japanese teacher (Grade 3....different school!!)....

said she always like me going to her class for English and asked if my company has any kindergarten cos she wants to send her daughter to a school where they teach English like how i teach in the school! OMG... this is like a praise for me!! *hehe...shy*

i'm really happy to get comments like those....

efforts kinda paid off a little bit for now~

*big grin*

only one... once~

2011-10-21T19:46:00.005+09:00

maybe there is really next life...

which something we really don't know about...

so for the whatever or remaining time i have...

till who? knows when...

PX's rule:

minimum or NO regrets!

sometimes there is only one chance...

ONLY ONCE...

and the fact we only live once~

It's Now or Never!

******

Life is just too short~

a lot of times, it's fragile too~

it's rare for one to have the best of both worlds...

so make the best out of what you have or get...

tangible stuffs are materialistic

yet it's a need for survival...

non tangible stuffs are so invisible

yet the most powerful energy source...

which i feel it the most important!

You will never know what's next to come??

never know who you will meet??

never know what you will do or decide??

never know what's installed for you??

good? bad? challenge? barrier?

You never know~

******

stay true to myself...

always the "direct" one~

when i said it, i meant it...

when i want it, i work really hard for it...

when i'm in it, i give all i can...

so if you know me well,

you know who i am...

good for me and good for you!

if you don't know me,

i don't really care... even if you hate me!

cos everyone is different!

i don't have to please everyone or anyone...

unless they are someone who matters to me...

those who are my precious in my life journey...

You... You... You... are a keeper!

i'll be fine....

2011-09-13T05:32:00.006+09:00

so ironic!

my last post was about moving on....

guessed i did it~

yet maybe again....

moving on one more time....

if you know PX well enough~

but most don't really which is totally fine with me,

it gonna take some time....

*I'll be fine*

simple words simple phrase

do you really know how much it takes??

how much to go through??

how much had/have to suck it up??

how many "walls" would be built??

how many "concealers" would be needed??

how many "buckets would be filled??

******

grown up, matured and old enough~

always able to do everything.... anything....

so strong and independent....

Really?? *LOL*

i wanna be the Baby again!

getting pampered and care for....

being as wilful as i want to....

at the end of the day,

I'm still being loved unconditionally!

******

waiting for the day to be Baby again~

till then....

i promise "I'll be fine!"

******

it's 6.10 am now.... time to wake up~

the dawn/morning sky that i looked out to this morning....

*beautiful clouds*

I like it.... do you??

moving on....

2011-08-10T13:58:00.003+09:00

Well, that's LIFE~

you will never know what you will get,

encounter or experience....

good or bad...it's hard to say~

in a state of surprise and shock....

need to get it out in some way....

getting my thoughts laid out as i post --

maybe for me to remember this event,

maybe for me to see how i grow,

maybe for me to make a mental note,

maybe for me to laugh over it the next time i read it,

maybe maybe maybe~

******

i thought i was prepared for it....

physically i'm strong enough to handle it....

mentally i think i was~ I TOLD MYSELF....

yet Reality proves me wrong again....

just caught me off guard totally~

Today....the news came!

(ironically it has to come when i'm SG too)

and it's happening real soon....

this year's October~

once again it's gonna be in the Autum in Japan....

how different will it be compared to 2007??

just when i'm working so hard,

biting on, one step at a time....*at my pace*

perhaps i'm just taking slightly too long....

i don't know how others did it....

Forgetting is a process;

can/might be difficult and long....

or easy and fast....

plus it depends on individual too!

******

I HEART PEACHY PEACH~

2011-08-03T16:37:00.002+09:00

forgotten since when i just love peach!

not a common fruit in SG....

but in Okayama, it is THE place for PEACH~

especially Hakutou (白桃).... my FAVOURITE type!!

Now it's the best season for it~

only for about three weeks in Summer time....

and i received two big peaches....

from the Grade 6 teacher in Hikasa ES....

she's one of the great teachers in all the ES

that i like to work with....

funny and easy-going....both in class and after class!

those peaches are from her home's garden!

totally organic peaches....

ate some while cutting and during lunch~

so SWEET and DELICIOUS!!

for a record, peaches are expensive too!

even in Okayama....

i was like surprised and happy

when she told me to bring those peaches home!!

*GRIN*

いただきます！

******

happily peachy-ified PX

see the nice yellow-pinky colour on the peaches!!

this lighting is not too bad too....

trying to do some "justification" for those peaches....

comparing the size....

one received from the teacher (left)

one bought from supermarket (right)

(din got my $$$ worth)

those peaches are bigger than a cup of yogurt!

Kousaki Sensei....

yeah~ it's good!!

1st cooking lesson for Hikasa ES teachers!

2011-08-03T15:58:00.001+09:00

Well, not that i can cook alot of Singapore cuisine....

at least when being requested....

YES~ i DO have something to present!

haha~

******

~Menu~

Singaporean PX's style--

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Teochew Orh Nee

******

it's kinda hard to get the right ingredients

gonna play around with names in English and Japanese

translation and pics helps alot!!

but managed to remake those dishes!

haha~ so clever....right?!?

******

"lesson-in-progress"

Orh Nee making

*in progress*

Chicken rice making

*in progress*

Plating the chicken rice for everyone!

Almost ready to tuck in~

Putting on some sauce!

Serving soon....

Fruits cutting

Gonna be a Balanced diet!

Setting on the tables

A complete set meal:

Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice

(with beansprouts, cucumber and soup)

Teochew Orh Nee

Watermelon and Organic Peach

Table 1....

Table 2....

My "students"

we're in our aprons!

yeah...2nd watermelon from Honjo Kindy!

2011-08-03T15:28:00.000+09:00

never expected to receive another watermelon

this time from Honjo Kindergarten....

not from the school directly,

but the principal told me it's from a grandfather

who is always very concern about the kindergarten!

she told him about me giving lesson today....

and he asked her to pass me a watermelon!!

cos summer is so HOT~

though i havent seen him before but...

he must be a really nice grandpa!

*THANK YOU*

******

my day was busy and non-stop in the kindy today

until those cute little fellows had their afternoon nap

kinda tiring cos they were so full of energy~ *sweat*

yet it passed really fast!!

playing with them....

giving them English lesson....

having lunch together (plus feeding some too)....

watching video....

putting them down for nap....

finally saying "Goodbye" with high five!

was a great day with them for the 2nd time~

Maybe cos i was there twice...

felt kinda attached to some of the little fellows....

they still remember me when i went there....

not just my name but also what we did the last time!!

kids are just so adorable and sweet....

love it when they come over to you~

just wanna "high five" with you....

just to hold your hand or touch you....

just to sit beside you or on your lap....

just to tell you some random stuffs....

just to show you what they got....

just wanna play with you....

it's all about giving them your attention!

simple things that make them so happy for the day~

hope i get to go over again!!

******

real ORGANIC produces:

watermelon & cherry tomatoes....

i'm happy!

gonna chill it and eat it my fav way~

FINALLY~ my 1st PAY!

2011-07-21T14:59:00.000+09:00

yeah...after surviving on my "reservoir" since i came over

i got PAID....

not a full month pay cos i didn't worked the full month....

plus deductions of rent for apartment & car, insurance etc....

i though i would be reduced to zero or negative....

yet i still got some back!!

feel not so poor after all.... hehe~

******

start of SUMMER VACATION~

2011-07-20T14:22:00.000+09:00

yesterday marks the last day of Semester One....

today marks the 1st time /day for me....

to teach in Nursery/Childcare/Kindergarten!!!

VERY young and tender little fellows....

though they are learning really simple stuffs...

their responses are really true and direct~

either they like it or not....

as much as i love to play with kids and can handle them....

teaching them especially English?!?

when they speak only Japanese till now....

can be challenging and stressful for me!! *REALLY*

thankfully today went really well....

love those cute little fellows.... and they like me too!

they were so happy with me lunching with them....

my time with them was just too short.... :(

BUT the principal told me to visit them whenever!!

so i will have more time to play with them...yeah~

******

another happy thing was....i received gifts from them!

they were fruits that were used in the "lesson"

and some vegetables grown in school by themselves!!!

it's gonna be so yummy....

i was really happy to get a watermelon....*Haha*

btw watermelon is expensive in Japan!

basically all fruits are expensive....

******

from supermarket:

WATERMELON.... mini yet enough for me!

Bananas(it's still green!!).... Apple.... Orange....

from school's garden:

Cucumber.... Eggplant.... Green peppers

(they were harvested just before the lesson~)

Happy PX with watermelon!!

decisions.....

2011-07-17T12:08:00.000+09:00

when at the crossroads of life....

it's always hard trying to make a RIGHT decision!

no matter how badly you wish for it to happen to you....

when it's finally here,

there's always other factors that pop up....

making you ponder on your "wish" once again....

SHOULD I?? or SHOULD I NOT??

learning from others' experiences is not a bad thing;

but will the same occurrences happened on another???

with the difference of mindset of one!

struggles and indecisiveness would set in for sure!!

regardless how affirmative one can be.....

For me....(not a very good example though)

to end all struggles and indecisiveness caused/due from others

at all times of major milestones decision makings in life....

it all falls back to asking myself why you wanted it at first....

putting aside all other considerations, cons and pros....

if that's what you really wanted....

JUST GO FOR IT!!!

it doesn't matter it's gonna turn out good or bad....

the process or journey would be hard and tiring....

BITE ON & SUCK IT UP!!!

it's important that you did what you wanted....

been though it the hard way or not....

you grow and gain the life experiences....

it's all about not regretting it....

nor harping on it later in life~

which actually sucks big time....

cos you can never go back in time!

DO the RIGHT thing at the RIGHT time~

Opportunity usually knocks ONCE!

AND one thing i learnt -

*When you gain something, you lose something too*

there's always a balance in life....

life's never really perfect for one yet....

it's how one appreciates it!

end of Semester One

2011-07-16T10:31:00.000+09:00

WOW....five weeks and i'm done with one semester in the schools!

43 days of summer holidays for the students...

i have ~+/- 30 days of summer holidays *PAID*

how i wish i could actually choose and arrange the dates myself

but....you never have the best of both worlds!!

so it's better than nothing~

plus i will be teaching only half days in nurseries and kindergartens

those even little fellows will be really fun.... *fingers crossed*

or i will cry together with them!!

though my off days are like slotted in between here and there

i can still manage some short trips around!!

AND a nice birthday celebration.....

which gonna be busy, rush, and short yet fun, exciting and memorable!

CAN'T WAIT!!! *haha*

have to start making plans for my short trips~~*Yuppie*

RESEARCH~RESEARCH~RESEARCH~

(i thought i'm no longer a research scientist!! :P)

My Den.....

2011-07-04T19:40:00.000+09:00

~My humble little DEN~

i remembered i called my apartment in Albany as My Kennel....

a change of location...of course there must be a new nick!

and must be for the "doggie" ....haha~ that's me!

it's not a big apartment like in US....

yet it's something that i imagined for an ideal studio!

*kinda love at first sight*

like it at first but there's nothing much in it....

slowly i furnished it and made it the way i wanted....

my liking...my colour...my lifestyle~

all my friends are all welcome to drop by for a stay!!!

(ps: if you don't mind traveling the distance)

******

take a mini yet pretty detailed tour of my Den....

Please Enter~

Entrance with a "Shoe Off" note....

that note was not by me but the landlord!!!

but i'm not removing it and see how long it will lasts~

there's a flight of stairs....

leading up to the actual living area

the corridor cum walkway cum etc~

the "essential" area...

Left: Laundry area

Centre: Toilet

Right: Bath/Shower room

I got a small bath tub....

it's gonna be so good during Winter!!

I like my toilet....it looks "pretty"!!

i was sooooooo happy when i saw it!!!

small yet good enough for me....

Refrigerator + Microwave

Dried + Instant food storage area....

water jug too...

Plus the note for trash classification!!

i hope i'm doing it well and right....

I REALLY TAKE NOTE WHEN I THROW!!!

my cooking stuffs + snacks storage

top shelf: exploding stock of snacks!!

middle shelf: glasses/plates/bowls

(so you see it...i only have one size each!

if you wanna eat at my place, BYO stuffs!!)

bottom shelf: my usual cooking needs

small small mini kitchen....

cooking + washing

i miss having an oven!!!

Into my Bedroom/Living room....

TV...Wardrobe....

and the fan i got for ~sgd$40!! it's just getting so warm...

My spot....

THE place for me to work + eat + play + watch dramas

AND get connected to the other side of the globe!!

my internet cable is going across the room!!!

yes...crazily troublesome but cant help it....

My BED....

Tatty Bear has his spot on my bed always as usual....

and he's in JAPAN too!!

"essential stuffs" by my bedside....

the decorated area...

it brings up a smile whenever i look at it!!

Storage area...

i think one person can sleep in it too!!

any takers?? haha~

view of the hallway from the other side....

outside of my apartment...

this is my "car"....

yet again it's white!!

old wounds....

2011-07-03T22:21:00.000+09:00

was just trying to stretch my hands.... *snapped*

and it hurts!! *OUCH*

when i had almost completely forgotten about it....

"it" reminded me yet again that it's still fragile!

*needs attention*

i'm so sorry~ my wrist....

******

that moment made me realised or thought of this:

"old wounds" are always there....

you just never know when they would come back....

and say "Hi, the pain's still here!! Forgotten, huh??"~

while some wounds will never come back to "haunt" you....

they leave an ugly scar~

and you will never forget it either!

so true about the phase:

Once bitten, twice shy

maybe that's how and why people have phobia/ fear....

never to do or try it again is the easiest way out....

escape from being hurt again....

yet again~

there will be some who will endure and brave the pain....

so far so good~

2011-07-01T20:36:00.000+09:00

it's been insanely crazy and busy for the past one month!!

(like since when had i been not busy on nothing??? *haha*)

quitting the job cos i just had enough of "nonsenses"....

plus the two years mark was almost up~

bumped on an incredible opportunity to try....

make it or break it~

DROPPED everything else except my "wish"....

not that i had a lot on my "plate"~

yet there were "stuffs" i left behind....

onboard the plane and off i flew~

traveled and moved country once again....

it's all about packing and unpacking~

no one else in the "group" together....

nor friends around nearby...

it's all alone on my own this time~

adjusting & adapting to a new environment again....

starting from the "beginning" all over~

learning another kind of culture....

another kind of working culture too....

yet another kind of targets!! :P

******

the start of 4th week on coming Monday

marks the 1st month in Japan for me~

living in my own humble cosy space....

following a pretty fixed routine from Mon - Fri....

weekends are more of relaxing & house cleaning

of cos catching up with the other side of the world too!

so serene and healthy lifestyle~

******

it's coming BACK!

2011-06-26T22:26:00.000+09:00

today shall be the comeback of my blog....

Part 3 of my journey around the world....

this time in Japan....

a place i always wanted to be working and living....

don't know if it's gonna be permanent....

but at least i done it once in my lifetime....

a dream comes true....

my wait had paid off finally....

wish it had came earlier yet better than never~

never know why....

2010-08-24T14:16:00.000+09:00

when you could have grab it in hand,

you didn't wanna grab hold of it....

thinking it will always be there for you,

taking it for granted....

one day, when it's not within your reach anymore,

you became angry, sad then regret....

angry with yourself for being so selfish,

sad cos you know you have finally lost something that's "always there",

regret that you havent cherish it carefully before....

i realised as one gets older....

there will be more memories;

good or bad, happy or sad

there will be alot more lessons learnt;

enjoyable or painful

they all have an impact in your life....

everything unfolds without any alert;

slowly or suddenly, alone or in series

AND everything happens for a reason!

whether you like or not,

that's almost never within your control limit~

guess one would had learnt or trained....

slowly making the heart mentally stronger and stronger,

unbeatable on the outside...

shutting down closer and closer,

collapsing deep within....

tucking all deeper and deeper into a corner,

unseen by others yet only felt by one self....

at the end of the day, you wonder

"Who are You??"

"Where are You??"

******

pout

2010-06-18T22:16:00.000+09:00

OMG...what's happening??!!??

aaaaaarghhhhh

big big super duper pimples....

red swelling and painful PIMPLES!!

has been a month since the first one....

one after another....popping non-stop!

i never had this situation before....

making me ultimately sad~

what's causing all this??

stress??

poor well-being??

environment pollution??

already a "fatty-boop bom"....

now become "ugly betty" ar~

this year hasn't been smooth so far....

falling sick so often....

random weird injuries....

*tsk tsk tsk*

HELP HELP HELP!!

something's missing~

2010-05-29T22:04:00.000+09:00

it's interesting how things changes....

how one adjust or adapt....

followed by everything else changes....

either gradually or rapidly....

with or without one knowing....

usually it's when one gets a moment,

to jump out of the reality....

that's the time~

you allow yourself to let down your guard,

review and judge yourself....

make yourself accountable to mistakes,

ignorance behaviours and comments....

telling yourself to be the better person

that you wanna be!

back to real life....

with those takings in mind,

taking baby steps...maybe ever small than that

you try~

good or bad?? hard to tell...

those who are constantly around you

might gradually be or already "used to" the current You,

how about those you care about yet not around all the time?

especially your family....those who are always taken for granted....

(maybe it's just me!)

but i realised that's how my family works~

no one will really praise each other

everyone seems to be using "reverse psychology"!!!

everyone cares but never says

for a good intention, there's a "wrong" reaction....

you will seldom heard them in words,

but you will feel it when you see the actions....

actions speaks louder than words~

so true in my family!

******

a recent "discovery"....

some of my closest friends, even family members

(i realised after pondering on the issue)

i had a "time-void" gap....almost 4 years!

i missed out on their happenings....

they missed on mine too....

even with those calls and so-called updates online

everyone's "growing" everyday

with globalisation....

the pace gets even faster without knowing,

exposures to different environments too....

thinking and mindset becomes different,

experiences mold a person differently

transforming the same You to the new You....

yet some things will always retain in you!

how magical is this!!!

with this magic,

you will gain some, lose some too....

for me, i hate to lose anything i had before....

i treasure everything that's a part of my life journey,

good and bad, happy or sad

especially people....

those who had entered at any part of my life

i'm happy and truly enjoyed meeting them

whenever i remembered someone whom i had lost contact with

i felt a heartache deep down without fail....

especially those who could only be in your memories....

not that they passed on,

just don't know where can they can be found or in contact again?

so from now on....

keep friends...true friends is important~

with everyone leading their own lives in this hectic society

your friends and their partners (which might become your friend too)

together with their new family members!

*i love playing and looking at those little "devils"!*

start patching and keeping those puzzle pieces~

if not, i will have alot more missing parts in my life

than what i'm missing now....

ever wonder why people say time flies~

2010-05-02T18:56:00.000+09:00

it's so often that we hear these words....

"wow....times flies!"

indeed every second, minute, hour, day and year flew away

so fast that even before we realised it,

we are already looking back at it....

why do we feel that a year seems to pass so slowly when we were young?

we yearn to grow up faster....

wanting to be able to or allowed to do more things....

and yet~

why do we feel that a year or two seems so fast?

it doesn't matter if it's knowingly or unknowingly....

we are always chasing for more time....

using money to buy time....

even if we do cherish those time,

nothing beats the brutal REALITY!

**now i wish that i was still in my childhood days~**

CHANGE...???

2009-09-06T23:37:00.000+09:00

just read a bdae message for me from Puffy's blog,

she made a cake for me on my bdae too...

it's a peachy one!

something she wrote on her blog strikes me...

"From a timid gal in secondary school times,

we have witness her mature into the PX today."

******

recently i met up with a friend over some drinks..

we chatted about our school days...

when i told him how i was like in secondary school,

he was surprised to hear that

i was a timid one!

and i was quite dependent on friends too!!

so unlike of me...now~

******

What caused the change?

or What made me grow up??

It was a remark from my best friend!

someone whom i know from my first day of school

my true friend since Primary One!!

and she is still one of my best true friends...

though i was hurt at that moment upon her words,

it made me a stronger person now...

able to be independent when i have to...

(of cos i still like to be pampered too!)

everyone changes with time...

it's that good or bad??

it's a tough question to answer...

yet cant help wondering

if the before "me" was better or the after "me" ??

(btw which PX do you know??)

haha~

it's my 100th post too....WHAT A DAY!!!

2009-08-30T02:33:00.000+09:00

now it's 1.34am on 30 Aug 2009...

today's my birthday....27 already~

just got back from a concert!!

all i can say is "MAYDAY ROCKS!!"

i'm simply happy and touched today....

1st: my sis paid for this concert as my bdae present...

for a record, we seldom give bdae pressie to each other in my family

so it's really a surprise!!

plus we always attend Mayday concerts together...

2nd: it's the longest Mayday concert ever... almost 4 hrs

been attending their concert whenever they come to SG,

i was so sad i missed one when i was in US... :(

3rd: they sang all the way thru 12 midnight into my b'dae...

haha...so Mayday "sort of" celebrated for me too... :P

i made a bdae wish during the concert...*SECRET*

4th: glad that i'm in SG for my bdae this year...

i remembered how i felt last year in US,

having to make myself to feel happy on my bdae

by going NYC on purpose...

where i was being stalked by some strange guy

which could end up being in a big big trouble!

luckily i'm safe and well till now....

i should stop here or my list would get really long!!

my emotions are just overflowing tonight....

my eyes turned watery during the concert too...

upon hearing two particular songs...

i don't know why i was so into the songs...

guess i'm touched by those lyrics~

now i gonna bear the "post-concert consequences"...

from all the craziness of jumping and screaming~

*aching arms and slightly sore throat*

yet i'm feeling great!!! *woohoo*

i'm one of those lucky blessed ones...

******

btw i have decided to sponsor a child too!

helping kids in 3rd world countries...

i have been wanting to do this few years ago,

when i saw those appeals for sponsors...

finally i'm going to be one!

******

hmmm~~~

2009-08-24T02:28:00.000+09:00

well...regardless where you are, time files!

i'm back already for 3 weeks...and one more week left~

last week for me to hang around freely...

from September, i'm not a slacker or "maid" anymore...

back to the life of a typical working adult....

not that i don't like it,

pretty much looking forward to it

but what's in store for me?

heard alot of postive and negative stuffs...

i'm prepared for the worst and hoping for the best!!!

will have to see it goes~

chatted with one of my seniors in Albany today,

heard that they miss having me around...

i miss being there too.... :(

not that i don't wanna be back...

i like being around my family...

hanging out with my friends...

at the same time,

being in Singapore feels strange~

familiar yet out-of-place!?!

old yet different!?!

while it's a matter of "re-adjusting" back

which i know i'm of high adaptability....

i can't help feeling LOST!!

not just in terms of directions to places around

it's my life....how to go from here now??

still looking for my standing point yet again...

what i'm used to before i left...

everything or most of them had changed!!

i'm entering yet another phase of life....

kinda pessimistic with this for a start....

priority changes...catching up with life....

brighter side of life is just a smile away~

*SMILE*

finally...it's here!

2009-07-17T05:14:00.000+09:00

now here i am in the Albany International Airport...

waiting for my delayed flight to JFK...

and onwards to Frankfurt...

no red eyes nor tears...

i "fought hard" to keep them in...

and didnt really said goodbyes to many..

which would end up in a mess!!

being it cool and calm...

now looking forward to Europe....

and back to SG in 2 weeks!!

wonder what's in store for me next???

11 Jul 2009 - Farewell BBQ for PX

2009-07-13T12:06:00.000+09:00

thinking back when i first saw the name of my supervisor-to-be,

i freaked out and went...

*OMG! It's going to be some indian guy...seriously???*

(p/s: all due to that super bad experience at last workplace)

i wasn't happy about that but told myself it cant be that bad in US,

indeed it turns out that i had the best supervisor one could wish for!

i'm glad that Feryan was my supervisor!

always composed, clear-minded and smart,

friendly, approachable and helpful,

plus he knows alot from chemistry to travel to food and fun!

patiently teaching and guiding me in medicinal chemistry...

giving me the freedom to explore and learn about research work

made me build up my confidence step by step in the lab...

slowly being more independent...

though i was left under the "care" of the other seniors,

he's always there to help and support...

i'm grateful that Feryan organised this farewell party for me!

it's a lot of work on top of his workload at work and home...

babysitting 3 boys after work can be so tiring~

i had such a great time working in Albany...

like what Joel said...

"She's having too much fun here, time to get real!!"

******

link to pics:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=93292&id=742489079&l=f9cad75849

Random~~~

2009-07-13T11:49:00.000+09:00

it's almost here...

four more days~

i will be heading on my way home...

though my journey home takes slightly long...

eventually i will be back~

not really ready or prepared to leave...

i know i won't be ready even when i'm on the plane~

all good things will come to an end!

it's been really really really great for me~

it's an experience that i never imagined...

moving forward is part of the learning process...

i made my footprints in their paths...

they each made a mark in my heart...

just like anyone i loved and care for...

they always have a special spot somewhere locked in...

i hope we will cross path again...

sometime somewhere in the future...

11 June 2009 - STRAT Seminar

2009-06-12T12:04:00.000+09:00

almost 18 months of training....

more than 2 weeks of preparation....

i gave a presentation today!!

in the AMRI Albany auditorium....

so nervous before going up to the podium...

the stress being the 1st speaker for the day~

i want my supervisor to feel proud...

my team members too...

i wanna showcase my work and feel proud!

*i have done it!*
delivered what i wanted to....or have to...

composed...with loud and clear voice...

scientific and professionally....

i'm relieved and happy!

i didn't embarrassed anyone~

i think i did a good job!

*a pat on the back*

with the support from my team...

******

today i also attended my last teleconference

with my project's customer in Japan!

i still remembered how nervous i was

when i started presenting my chemistry to them...

i practiced and practiced the whole week!

i became better later on....

got more confidence in presenting chemistry

where i start preparing my presentation on the day itself...

*steady ar!!* haha...

i guess they could recognize my voice too...

the only girlie girl voice among those deep manly voice~

though we have to stay till 9-10 pm...

due to time difference the meeting starts at 6 or 7pm...

it's fun planning what's for dinner with the team!

sometimes we get free dinner paid by AMRI...

when it's free, i would go around taking orders for everyone...

make the order for delivery or pick-up,

i like to follow my seniors out to pick up the food...

ride in the car and get out of the office for a while!

guess i'm like the little brat sister in the lab!!

wanna tack along like a kid...

need to know everything going on in the lab...

being bossy in cleaning up the lab....

getting teased by them everytime....

there's gonna be so much i will miss being in the team~

working in the most laid-back yet productive and awesome lab...

already miss working in the lab!!

*sob sob*

a little piece of good news....

2009-06-01T02:37:00.000+09:00

i got offered a job position!

in AMRI Singapore site...

i already accepted the offer~

if nothing goes wrong,

i'm starting in September...

will be back in August,

so about a month of "break"!

*yeah yeah*

Random~~

2009-06-01T02:20:00.000+09:00

back from a long trip....

the longest vacation i had taken until now...

Albany -Seattle - Yellowstone / Grand Teton - Seattle - Albany

in 10 days...coast to coast!

fun yet tiring...

1st camping experience in US...

in the open wild and cold...

the 1st and the last!

will take a while for me to upload those pics!!!

******

now counting down to home-coming~

everything now seems to zoom pass without fail!

from work to play...

it's all about cherishing that moment....

or you missed it...

i feel that things been going too fast for me...

before i know it...

i was there and it had just gone by!

*scary*

maybe before you know it...

i might be back in Singapore already!!!

hahaha~

09 May 2009 - Albany Tulip Festival 2009

2009-05-11T07:56:00.000+09:00

yeah...it's Tulip Fest again!

one of my favourite flowers blooming...

i was so upset last year...

cos i had no camera to capture their beauty...

this year i cant missed it!! haha~

now that i'm living nearer to Washington Park,

i went there a few times for a walk in the evenings...

watched those tulip patches turned from green leaves...

to pretty colourful flowers~

this year the weather in Albany got warm faster...

some tulip patches already bloomed and died...

i remembered it was colder last year during Tulip Fest...

now it's a real Spring season...

i had my fair share of American junk food...

fried dough, ribbon chips, gyros, cinnamon bun...

and cherry Italian ice!

it's bad eating those fried food but they tasted so GOOD!

especially when you go to a fair or festival...

never ever miss them!!! haha~

the one and only not-so-cool thing happened...

when we are watching the concert at the lawn area,

some crazy, drunk, young and stupid Americans

started lifting their friends up and tossed them around...

my friends and i got hit twice which made us so pissed!

we walked out of the concert...to avoid getting hurt~

*stupid party-poopers!*

******

pre-festival link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81010&id=742489079&l=edff526fe4

flower link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80780&id=742489079&l=0afa2659e0

08 May 2009 - Yves's farewell dinner

2009-05-10T08:47:00.000+09:00

two more months for us - the girls...

but two more weeks for Yves (a.k.a. ex-housemate)

just in time for the downtown restaurant week!!

dinner in Marche @ 74 State

one of those fine restaurants in Albany,

well-known in my department too...

cos the executive chef is my director's son!

how can you not heard about the restaurant??

it's the time to go when they offer a 3-course dinner

for only $20.09... it's a steal!

(excluding taxes & tips)

still it's worth it...

nice dining ambiance....yummy food...

and it's been a while the whole group got together...

this should be /is our last gathering in US!

*sob sob*

Yves will be the 1st working in AMRI Singapore!

from being one of the pioneer STRAT trainees...

to the pioneer employee in M&B department!!

while the rest of us are still waiting on a verdict...

******

the girls...

waiting at the lobby for our table to be ready

*hungry*

the bar dining area at 2nd level...

not-too-bad view looking out to the streets...

the menu...everything looks good!

my drink...Midori with Sierra Mist!

Starter: Wild ramps and Mushrooms Risotto

Entree: Grilled Salmon with Spring Pea Risotto

Dessert: Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel sauce

Finally...a group pic as usual!

02-03 May 2009 - New Jersey and NYC

2009-05-10T07:28:00.000+09:00

i braved the risk of swine flu....

made my way down to the city!

haha...not that i don't care~

actually i'm already in the affected area!

it's all good and under control here...

1st time exploring around New Jersey area!

it's really fun meeting up a friend over a weekend...

in somewhere both of us know very little or nothing about!

the drivers in New Jersey are simply crazy!!!

fast...aggressive...impatient...dangerous...

an eye-opener for me...

still an inexperience driver compared to them...

found some interesting places in NJ...

one of them is a huge Japanese marketplace

of course...which i spent quite abit of time...

eating...shopping...it's like Meidi-ya or Isetan...

yet a different name and location!

i realised how much i missed having those food!

ohhh...the best thing was...

i found my favourite peach water from Japan too!!!

"JT Momo no Tennesui"

it's so much like a small Japanese town there...

makes me realised there's alot of Japanese in US....

especially in NJ~

or maybe it's just the place....

where they can get stuffs like home

i think if there's a Singapore eatery around,

there will be a lot of Singaporean too!

it's just not happening in Albany...

******

in NYC, with the swine flu alert...

nothing is stopping tourists going around!!

it's still packed with people...

things are still up and going...

only the weather was bad for us....

raining...raining...raining...

i guess i can never get bored with NYC~

everytime i just feel everything's new or changed...

having not enough time to explore...

don't mind doing the same things again...

there always something i have to go back to NYC for!!

AND....surprise~surprise~ i find new things EVERYTIME~

well, if only Orchard Road could be the same...

it would be so boring....

easier to find things to do or places to go!

******

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80756&id=742489079&l=768056ddd2

25 Apr 09 - Snowhole hike

2009-04-27T11:00:00.000+09:00

one of the hottest days in Spring!

so much like a Summer day or...

Singapore weather minus the humidity...

"simply too nice to be staying indoors!"

that's what most pple would say on a day like this~

embracing the spirit of going outdoors...

hiking to a snowhole sounds really fun!

this might be one of my last hikes in US too...

******

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=78549&id=742489079&l=7b72c6801d

Random~~

2009-04-18T10:37:00.000+09:00

Spring's here in Albany!

today's a nice day out...

warmer temperature at last~

Albany is located slightly up north,

so it's always colder than other place!

Spring comes really slow....

Summer is really short....

Autumn cools down really fast....

Winter stays really long....

imagine we had some snow flurries last few weeks ago....

when it should be Spring in most places.

i'm happy to be outdoors....

enjoying the breeze under the sun!

for the 1st time this year,

my team went out for lunch and sat outdoors...

though it felt slightly chilly under the shade...

everyone was feeling good to be out!

i went out jogging on the streets too!!!

i feel so alive...not cooped up in the gym

hmmm....actually come to think of that~

i havent been to the gym since *i-don't-know-when*!!

hehe...the cold temperature makes me lazy~

just wanna stay in, keep warm and eat...

so i have one less excuse not to exercise now...

plus the ice cream shops are back in business!

in Albany, most ice cream shops do not operate whole year long

*interesting, huh!*

they start when weather turns warm like now...

stop when it turns cool in Autumn...

i had my soft serve cone today too!!

i was shivering slightly when eating it...

cos the sun was setting, temp dropping plus strong breeze~

on top of it, i forgotten my jacket in the car!

*act strong lah~*

ordered too big a cone....forgotten US serving is big!

well, we finished it cos it was yummy~

have to check out more ice cream shops around....

******

now we can see the greens~

the ice cream shop...see lots of people around enjoying~

two big cones....

hehe....we are half-done with it!

knock.... knock.... who's there??

2009-04-15T07:50:00.000+09:00

kinda wonder who is or if there's anyone reading my blog??

i'm just whining~~

Aaaaaaa....

starting to get a tiny bit of stress kicking in...

actually quite a big one!!

One: a "causal" interview meeting next week...

what a short notice?!? *i hate interviews*

no interviews = no job = no $$$ = BROKE = no trips or travelling!

NO...NO...NO...

bite on it and go lor~

Two: prepare to give a short talk about my chemistry in June!!

the one and only thing for me is....

DO NOT FREAK OUT STANDING UP FRONT!!

it will be so easy if i'm asked to talk about fun in US~

ya....fat hope!

i have to stop procrastinating....

start working on both NOW!!

03-05 April 2009 - Washington, DC

2009-04-13T01:21:00.000+09:00

waited for a year for sakura to bloom again in DC...

driving down there for 7 hrs yet stayed for 2 nights,

it's really a short and rush weekend trip.

i felt it's worth it to see sakura in US...

it's totally different!

Spring time in Japan,

everywhere and anywhere there's traces of sakura...

Spring time in US,

only specific areas would have time...

now it's also Easter time in US,

so Easter eggs and bunnies are the main focus.

hmmm....didn't really feel much excitement on that,

maybe cos i'm not a big fan of Easter...

Spring for me is blooming flowers...

especially sakura and tulips!

they are both short-lived flowers...

yet they bloom to the fullest everytime~

Albany's famous Tulip Festival is coming in May!

can't wait to visit the park....

******

Washington DC - Part one:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=74897&id=742489079&l=f6c1488062

Washington DC - Part Two:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=74972&id=742489079&l=99d0bfed25

28- 29 Mar 2009 - Easter Eggs Painting

2009-04-09T00:00:00.000+09:00

trying out Easter eggs painting at Sarah's friends' place,

a nice time out in the city too!

well, i attended an interesting concert in an interesting location!

Sarah's friend is a trombonist playing in 2 bands...

haha~ i used to play trombone too!!!

makes me kinda wanna play trombone again~ :(

and i know i will sound so horrible...

hehe...at least my Easter eggs came out pretty nice!

full concentration for more than 3 hrs yields only 2 eggs~

sheer hard work and planning while dyeing those eggs...

******

Easter eggs painting fun:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=74892&id=742489079&l=01c08646a8

20-22 Feb 2009 - Winter at Lake Placid

2009-03-19T11:07:00.000+09:00

for a record of stuffs i did during this Winter,

especially Lake Placid which such a wintery place!!

totally love that small cold yet warm town...

snow was falling the whole weekend when i was there!

though it makes driving hard and dangerous...

it's an experience! haha~~

wonder when i will have such a winter again??

i'm not the strongest person during winter season...

i caught a cold so often that it become a norm!

i think i grew stronger now~

how i like to be lazy staying indoor,

tuck under the blanket with heater on...

looking out the window hoping more snow will fall...

snacking with a cup of warm drink in front of TV...

being crazily outdoor in the cold,

wrapped up like a sumo wrestler...

behaving like a child upon seeing snow...

falling like a Humpty Dumpty trying to ski...

having an adventure of a lifetime...

so I do like Winter too actually!

Part One of Lake Placid -

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68106&id=742489079&l=d30f15e515

Part Two of Lake Placid -

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68135&id=742489079&l=cf46360578

Random~~

2009-03-19T10:36:00.000+09:00

the 1st Spring rain was here today~

smell of the fresh rain and mist in the air

marks the end of Winter i guess...

as much as i'm anticipating the Spring to come,

especially those pretty cherry blossoms;

hoping the white snow could stay a while more,

cos i'm yet to make my snowman!

Spring also marks the last season for me in US...

coming Summer i will be heading home~

happy or sad?? i don't know...

all i know is to treasure the time left,

appreciate what's instore for me everyday,

enjoy to the fullest!

******

a short trip back to SG makes me realise a few things -

my parents miss me big time!

though nothing was said but i felt it...

yet they let me do whatever i want~

i had taken some or alot of things for granted!

i missed out quite a bit of things too...

especially happening around friends that i care...

i feel bad not being there or nearby

when they needed some help or support...

well...maybe some things cannot be avoid...

when one's being selfish, to pursue one's desire...

*you win one, you lose the other*

******

11-16 Mar 2009 - Xinrong's Big Day

2009-03-17T10:49:00.000+09:00

though it's a week off from work,

i'm physically in SG for 2 1/2 days....63 hrs!

rest of it, i'm up in the air,

jetting back and fro around the globe...

*sheer craziness*

tiring and exhausted from all the events going on,

a total of max. 6 hrs of sleep for 3 days,

seriously i don't know how i did it??

but i managed to keep myself busy and awake,

not "wasting" any time on "resting"...

i'm still glad i made this trip back...

at least i know my presence was appreciated,

my parents got to see that i'm well and fine,

had lotsa fun helping out and participating the wedding!

i'm really happy to be there for her special day too.

cant wait to see the photos...

for now, i need my beauty sleep....A LOT~

******

Congrats...Mr and Mrs Ong!

******

28 Feb 2009 - A New Phase

2009-03-01T15:11:00.000+09:00

it's the 1st night in a new place again...

i'm feeling really tired now!

all the packing...moving...cleaning...

unpacking...cleaning...setting up...

pretty excited staying with 2 new housemates!

instead of an apartment, it's a house...

and i have a new cute little room...

other 4 months to go...

feels like i will be flying back home in a blink...

time just seems to zoom pass~

i don't know???

not that i don't wanna be back in SG,

guess i just haven't had enough of US

or i like it here already...

but i'm now a neither-here-nor-there situation...

i'm at life's crossroad again!

sometimes i wonder if my choice is/was right or wrong?

having experience a life differently

from the majority of my peers,

others envy my experiences,

having so much which i would have never expected,

yet i ponder....

what will i been now if i had not taken that 1st step?

would i be equally happy and enjoying the life path

like most of them...simple and settled~

27 Feb 2009 - Last night in 104 Patroon Drive, Apt 12

2009-02-28T11:35:00.000+09:00

though it's a total rip-off rent in Heritage,

it's a nice neighbourhood to live in...

having an apartment that's "yours",

feels really good...

you can have decorate it the way you like,

making a crib so comfortable...

that you sleep like a baby,

a place i called "home" for the past one year!

well, since it's the last night...

i should head home and snuggle in my crib!

*SWEET DREAMS*

14 Feb 2009 - Happy Singles' Awareness Day!

2009-02-15T04:01:00.000+09:00

a new way of saying Valetine's Day...

Singles' Awareness Day!!

heard it over lunch at work yesterday,

it's really an innovative way of turning the tables around

nothing much going on over here...

no partners....no dates...no plans...

all the girls are slacking at home...haha~

i'm over at Winnie and Joelle's place to do my laundry

mostly to tap onto their internet connection!

keep myself updated around the world...

got some tulips for the girls and myself too!

yuppie...makes everyone happy~~~

HAPPY V DAY!!

Random~~

2009-02-01T14:20:00.000+09:00

it's a rush...but it's final!

i'll be moving out from my "nice" apartment...

to where??..... i'm not really sure yet too~

another month in this apartment....

my home for the past one year....

not a bad apartment...got so used to it already though~

like my big queen-size bed...better than my SG one!

will miss having a room with walk-in wardrobe...

gonna start packing my stuffs...

got tonnes just from a year....oops!

guess all girls have this problem...big problem~

having too much stuffs from shopping!

******

no more internet at home during the last month!!

DUH!!!

i think i'll either be so bored that mushrooms start growing on me,

or staying out at till late since there's nothing i can do at home,

or watch tv and read some books etc

then go to bed super early every night...

it all depends on my daily mood~~

i don't wanna think about it!!!! :(

For my housemate....Weiyee

2009-01-15T13:19:00.000+09:00

it's been almost a year...

just one more night...tomorrow will be the last night!

i just said "good night" to her and closed my room door...

it has always been the same repeated actions,

yet it felt so uncomfortable...

so much so that tears just roll down my cheeks...

the sadness has been settling in since last week...

trying so hard to ignore and pushing it away...

avoiding talking about it...mininium!!

cos i hate it...hate the fact that she's leaving so soon...

hate that she wouldn't be around the apartment when

there's funny stuffs from the lab to tell,

complains and anger to whine about,

news or gossips to share,

ideas of places to go or things to do,

food to be sampled and share,

going shopping at the mall or online,

sitting on the sofa looking through catalogs etc...

just realised how much we did together in a year!

how "used to" i had became...

how her "jab" of postive attitude simplify things in life...

her dose of encouragements from time to time...

and frustrations with her mess around the apartment at times...

there were lotsa fun, laughter and craziness....

mixed with bits of disagreement, anger and unhappiness...

i don't know if i'd been a good housemate to her,

i felt she's been a great housemate to me...

there might be no other chance in future that we'll be living together again,

it's an unique one and only experience in life for both of us...

glad that it's you...THANKS FOR A YEAR OF EVERYTHING, WEIYEE!

will miss you and remember "WYPX" only in Albany, NY!

******

01-03 Jan 2009 - Snowboarding at Gore Mt (Video)

2009-01-05T11:34:00.000+09:00

finished uploading the xmas stuffs...

it's time for my latest adventure!

now it's WINTER~

with lot of snow falling lately,

it's a good time for some winter sports

did both downhill ski and cross-country ski,

this time i had a go on snowboarding!

it's more fun than skiing...

the basic skills are much harder to master...

i fell down more too...

in the end, i bought home two bruised kneecaps and a sore bum!

to learn the heel-side turn...

i fell so hard and many times on my bum that it hurts abit when i sit...

and to get the toe-side turn...

i busted my kneecaps...

practice makes perfect is the way to go~

even though it hurts, it didn't stop me from continuing...

and i cant get enough of snowboarding...

i wanna go again again again!!!

hahaa~~

******

some videos of my snowboarding skills... :P

**more pics to come soon**

1st entry of 2009

2009-01-04T12:39:00.000+09:00

usually this should be a new year's resolution(s) entry...

but for PX...it's gonna be different!

haha...who cares for the norm anyway??

shall list down my major "booking" plan for 2009...

and some thoughts to be ponder on...

******

JAN: more of winter sports actions??

just came back from my 1st snowboarding fun...

though with all those bruises on both my kneecaps and my sore bum...

cant get enough of it!

FEB: even more of winter sports actions...

a bobsled trip to Lake Placid

MAR: a very-much-looking-forward-to trip back to SG

yes...it's gonna be so short, crazy, "waste-of-money", busy, tiring etc

it's a promise....i will be BACK!

APR: it's Spring...guess what??

Time for Sakura at Washington DC...

MAY: Road Trip!!

air ticket already booked to Seattle for two weeks...

my 1st road trip in US to Yellowstone National Park from Seattle...

JUN: time to pack up~

seeing the rest of Crazy Eight flying back home...

JUL: i don't really want it to come so fast but....

it's time to say GOOD BYE~ 16 Jul is it!

hehe...a stopover in Frankfurt for 2 weeks too...

AUG: BACK HOME!!

mark your calendar...01 Aug!

i cant wait to attend the MAYDAY concert too...

SEP - DEC: hmm....will i have a job and be working already?

******

so much for all the fun listed above...

there are still a few things in my mind to be think about too...

actually those questions been lingering around...

putting it aside cos i havent been able to decide for myself...

yes...i'm a procrastinator at times!

and it's also because I DON"T KNOW!!!

one of them which is until now i still cant give an answer to myself on:

"What do see yourself to be in 5 years time?"

it's a typical interview question... maybe that's why i hate interviews!

i have no idea on that...

could only think mostly 1 or 2 years down the road

as always i'm going with what i like or feel like doing...

but sometime ago someone had enlighten me that

i should ponder on this so that i wouldn't be "hanging-in-the-air"

sort of a wake-up call to "grow" up and put on some responsibilities~

*sigh* i guess i have to ask myself "What do i ultimately want in my life?"

should be on the very top of my resolution list...

stranded at the crossroads of my life...

signs of getting old??? *duh*

signs of maturing??? *a better word*

or just thinking too much...

******

gosh~i'm crapping abit too much for a start of a new year!

before 2008 goes away~

2008-12-31T13:55:00.000+09:00

little did i realised that i had almost been through 2008...

it's time to reflect on what i had done in a year~

i would say it's a good year!

probably one of those special years for me too~

me accepting an offer for overseas training program

(thinking back.... this was what i really really wanted to try for,

when i didn't even had the chance to apply for it without a degree)

being able to fulfil my initial target now...

AND i got the opportunity to come to US...

US was really not on my travelling destination list,

(UK and Europe are always on my list even now)

until i know i'm going for this training in US and not UK...

i'm glad i'm here....

blogging this entry with temperature outside to be -6 degrees Celsius!

it's a norm for me now...cos it's winter~ haha....

i'm not totally adjusted to the cold though...

*sigh* i'm still catching a cold on and off...

i'm experiencing another totally different climate, culture, people

exploring almost everything around me...

as much as i could reach out to within my limits...

been learning from the 1st day i arrive...still learning,

taking in, understanding and exploring every new thing that comes by~

there's alot of things that had became usual for me here too...

cooking meals for myself and for the group,

enjoys baking cakes, pies and new recipes,

driving a car to work and errands,

going to work in a lab which i feel so comfortable with,

going to a different place for sightseeing over the weekends,

events/activities/festivals going on somewhere at anytime...

there's always something to do...

something to plan on the list next....FUN~

******

when you have pros, there will be cons...

i missed out on many things that happened back in SG too...

nothing stops for you when you are not around~

a few friends' weddings that i wished to be present,

feel and share their happiness at that very moment on that special day!

even for my sister, i wished i had been around to "comment" on her bridal gown and not having her to email me pics of her gown fitting session...

(seriously...there's always more weddings going on when i'm away than when i'm in SG! the SAME phenomena happened when i was studying in Aussie too!!)

so next year when i get back to SG,

most of my friends might either be married or having kids already...

the thought of this is pretty scary!!

eeeeeee....i don't want my friends' kids calling me "Auntie" before i'm married...

i don't mind playing, entertaining or babysitting those kiddos though...

maybe i should be a nanny instead of a chemist!

******

25-26 Dec 2008 - Christmas Day + Boxing Day

2008-12-30T12:35:00.001+09:00

it's almost like a dead town outside during Christmas Day...

shops are closed...lighter traffic...fewer people...

most of the people will staying home or flying back home,

spending family quality time catching up together...

unwrapping presents under the xmas tree...

having nice and delicious homemade meals...

for us...we had a surrogate family to spend the day with!

Joli who's the overall coordinator for our training

and assistant director for my department,

invited us to her house on Xmas day....

her family was there too...warm and friendly people!

we all felt very comfortable around them...

eating Filipino dishes, singing Karaoke,

listening to stories of Joli's family in Philippines

White Elephant gift exchange with presents all prepared by Joli...

Rules of the White Elephant gift exchange:

everyone will draw a number,

the 1st one will get to choose a present first and opens it,

followed by the 2nd person to choose another present and opens it,

but now the 2nd person gets to decide after seeing the present

whether he/she wants to exchange it with another person or keeps it.

this goes on with the 3rd person till the last person,

the one with exchanging power can exchange for any present opened,

and after the last person decides on his/her present,

the power of exchanging goes back to the 1st person for the last round!

it's a game full of twists...

now you got it, but next moment it might be gone~

so you wouldn't know till the game ends...

i think it's a pretty fun idea...

maybe i shall do it in SG next time!

******

*25 Dec 2008 - Christmas Day*

all the food prepared by Joli and her sister...

Rum cake bought by her niece, Jomina...

Xmas tree with presents....

the group getting ready for food!

i made my exchange with Winnie...hehe~

Jomina exchanged with Winnie...

all of us with our final presents...

us sitting around Joli as she tells her stories and photos...

our xmas present for Joli....

an aromatherapy neck wrap!

exploring the basement of the house....

laughing while singing Karaoke...

******

* 26 Dec 2008 - Boxing Day*

there's no such thing as Boxing Day in US...

only in UK, Canada, Australia etc...

it's a holiday anyway,

so those of us who are around in Albany

decided to go for a fancy nice dinner at The Creo!

we made reservations way ahead for it...

heard it's a busy restaurant to get a table at peak hours.

******

here's The Creo...

See we are all dressed up...

care for some wine??

i'm up for a Blood Orange Margarita...

the appetizers came in time...*HUNGRY*

hey...there's an orchid on the dish!

my pricey dinner order...

awesome seafood stew....totally worth paying for it!

a quick pic with my food before it's gone~

Waitress: Do you want me to take a group pic for you??

Reply: Ohh...Okie!

(actually i cant wait to start on my food!!)

*stomach grouching*

all the girls...happy and satisfied customers!

the "photograher" needs to be in the group pic!

don't i look so dumb??

standing straight like a woodblock!! haha...

cos it's sooo cold that i'm not moving....brrrr~

24 Dec 2008 - it's all about the Joy of Christmas!

2008-12-27T23:31:00.000+09:00

it's for all my Christmas spirit in US...

decorations put up in my apartment, office area and lab...

festive cookies baking...xmas gifts and card making...

writing and sent out xmas cards to special people...

did the mininium compared to those who went all out...

Americans spent and do alot in prep for Christmas...

inside and around the house in the front yard...

******

lucky enough, we got invited to a tree trimming party

where family and friends get together to decorate the Christmas tree!

here's the actions at the party...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57158&l=fb103&id=742489079

******

one of the best places to be during Christmas will be NYC!

the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center...

beautiful holiday window displays...

busy holiday market booths...

and everyone totally embracing the Christmas spirit~

New Yorkers LOVE Christmas to the core!

see my pics...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57174&l=92dfd&id=742489079

******

**Look around my apartment!**

Welcome to 104, Apt 12!

"Put your presents in the stocking!"

we have no letter to Santa though...

our xmas corner~

Snowman from my housemate,

mini Xmas tree from me...

our angel on the tree!

Cute, huh?

my room door...
mini xmas wreath and stocking~

doorknob hanger with a bell...

my housemate's door...

a brunch of jingle bells~

her stockings inside the room...

my office desk has got some festive mood too~

my colleagues did dropped some small gifts into my stocking!

Santa window cling on the lab door...

(finally people stopped messing up Santa pieces!

if not, i gonna hunt and put it back in shape~)

got some printed window clings on my hood sash...

i got everyone in the team one too!

haha...don't care if they think it's too girlie for them!

isn't it so sweet?

doesn't it melts your heart when you see that??

******

**festive baking**

i picked up and started baking alot since i came...

was initially influenced by Agnes, with an oven available too...

i became to like baking cakes, pie and stuffs...

so when Christmas's here,

the 1st thing on my mind is GINDERBREAD MAN!!

and i wanna decorate each and everyone myself...

decorating all those cookies was abit of work...

******

Red Velvet cupcakes with festive sprinkles...

Mini sugar cookies...

Mini butter cookies...

my Gingerbread men!

no one is the same...cos everyone's unique~

Mini gingerbread men...

When the Big meets the Small....

Handmade mini Xmas cards with mini ornaments....

goes in a tin with chocolates or a bag of cookies~

Christmas is all about sharing joy...

this year i hope i brought some joy to a less fortunate child,

being a Secret Santa with this "shoebox" filled with presents...

the special Xmas gift for Crazy Eight...

personalised Snoopy sock stocking,

stuffed with a "I heart NY" glass ornament and candy cane...

hanging by the window on Xmas's eve...

all the presents under the Snowman...

Yeah~ everyone got their exchanged presents...

i'm ripping off the wrapping...

cant wait to see what i got??

a cocktail shaker!

*hehe...more reasons for drinks~

my xmas presents for my housemate...a beanie and Tee~

kisses from the girls~

all my presents for Xmas!

i think i got alot more this year~ hehe...

a digital photo keychain, a shaker,

a pair of earrings, a pair of home slippers,

a photoframe, a pack of Eggnog mix, a teddy bear,

a set of handmade keychain and felt ornaments

i'm happy with everything!

Photos Links......

2008-12-20T13:50:00.000+09:00

Photos for Med Chem Bowling Party....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=54224&l=a5e04&id=742489079

Photos for Team's Secret Santa....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=54234&l=31451&id=742489079

18 Dec 2008 - Department Holiday Bowling Party & Team Secret Santa Gift Exchange

2008-12-19T12:19:00.000+09:00

ohhh...i just cant wait to share this....

i will have to upload pics soon too....

today was such a fun day....

too bad it's a Thursday...there is still a working day tomorrow~

and i just came back from a 3 hrs webconference!

(it started at 6pm...yes, it's at night!!)

tired but happy at the same time~

******

attended the department annual holiday party

which is a bowling session this year!

i'm not a gd bowler at all...

i had fun bowling with my "bowling team mates"

drinking beer... cheering...laughing...taking pics...

it's a really good time for all of us...

good time to interact with other colleagues too~

******

before the conference and after the bowling party...

our project team had a Secret Santa gift exchange...

of cos... as usual i'm the "master mind" in getting them into this!

hehee...i get to call the shots as the organiser...

setting down the "rules"

getting everyone to draw a name

forcing them to write their wish list on their hood sash

putting Xmas window clings

making sure everyone gets their gifts on time

and being the ONE ever so excited about it....

seriously i'm like the small little kid in the team!

hmmm....i'm the youngest in the team, though i'm not that young!!!

my 1st gift exchange for Xmas from my Secret Santa....

i got a digital photo keychain!

(i wrote it as one of the items on my wish list)

my Secret Santa happens to my supervisor, Feryan!!

haha...

everyone in the team had their Secret Santa revealed...

so much laughter and "surprises" in the room...

i'm glad the whole team had fun...

enjoyed the Secret Santa game...

and cupcakes baked by me~

******

more Xmas fun coming up...HO HO HO!

Random~~

2008-12-13T04:38:00.000+09:00

1st winter snow storm of the season last night,

causes power outages in most parts of Albany,

even AMRI gave us a day off from work today~

though it's a day off, most of the people are staying at home

ice and snow covered roads making it slippery to drive on,

ice-covered trees that became so heavy that fell onto the roads,

bringing down the electric cable lines,

so it's kinda "unsafe" to be out now...

plus i'm down with sore throat and cold again since yesterday!! duh~

been sleeping at home even before the storm started...

luckily Agnes came over this morning with some bread with jam,

together with herbal tea that she brewed before the power outage,

as we waited for the power to come on again~

as soon as the power came on, she started cooking porridge for me!

Thank you so much, Agnes!

i realised one thing: gas stove is better than electric stove....

cos you cant do anything without electricity...

******

good thing i went to an auto shop the night before

and got 2 new tires of the car,

if not, it will be so dangerous for me to drive in these conditions!

my 1st trip to the auto shop cost me about $110.

gonna learn more about car maintenance~

******

27 Nov 2008 - Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in NYC

2008-12-01T06:54:00.000+09:00

One of the top events to go for in US during Thanksgiving...

other than eating turkey and pumpkin pie,

that will be the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in NYC...

it's also shown Live on TV too...

but there's more fun if you brave the cold weather,

get your butt out the door early in the morning...

we left home at 2.30am in the morning to catch the bus!!

sleepy and cold...brrr~

if you think we are crazy,

then there are crazier people than us!!

they were out in the cold from midnight,

out to secure the best view for the parade...

Americans' are "kiasu" too!

******

i got back to Albany from NYC on the same day.

went over to Rose's place for a Thanksgiving dinner!

a Thanksgiving dinner by an authentic American...

she's such a good cook that i don't wanna miss a chance on that~

yummy roasted turkey with stuffings and gravy

salad and homemade mini crescent rolls on the side

apple pie, pumpkin pie and jelly to complete the full course

washed down with a glass of festive white wine cocktail....

******

Here's my pictures....

Part One

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52247&l=395f0&id=742489079

Part Two

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53005&l=ce248&id=742489079

******

a 4-days long weekend on Thanksgiving also means

some resting period before the busy Xmas celebration...

can't wait for Xmas to come!!

Random~~

2008-11-24T12:50:00.000+09:00

though there's one more month to Christmas...

everywhere seems to be preparing for it already...

i'm always excited about it as usual...haha...

my housemate's a "Christmasy" person like me too!

it's a good thing that both of us in the house love Christmas~YEAH!

thus a slacking weekend this week,

turned into a Christmas decor shopping spree...

we were thinking of checking out the mall,

ended up getting quite a few items!

we just cant help it...

one, everyone's doing their shopping...

two, it's cheap to buy now with all the crazy discount...

three, there's sooooooo many cute, pretty, nice and unique stuffs...

simply cant resist them....it's just totally insane!

it's totally different from SG...

hey people, Christmas in US is really CHRISTMAS time!

******

my apartment is already decorated slightly....

i think we will have more coming...haha!

ohh...i will be putting up stuffs in my lab too...

will post pics when we are done!

******

Psst... it's time for you to get into the festive mood~

DON'T FORGET MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!!

Random~~

2008-11-22T22:57:00.000+09:00

it's November...the cold is coming into Albany already...

as i'm making this blog entry, it's -7 deg Celsius outside!!

brrrrr.....

i think now is the period where it's really cold,

snow hasn't fall much...only some flurries during the week...

so not much activities going on too...

too early for skiiing,

too cold to be out,

indoor activities are the best to keep warm and have fun...

so somehow i'm "trapped" in for now! *duh*

******

Thanksgiving coming in a week's time,

everyone is preparing for it!

most of the American will head back home for Thanksgiving dinner,

it's like CNY in SG but western version of it!

hmm...might be preparing turkey for Thanksgiving to get into the mood,

gonna find out how to make a nice one,

and the turkey here are HUGE!!

luckily we can share among the trainees...

******

After Thanksgiving will be Christmas and New Year!!

Christmas is my all time favourite celebration...

OHHH...a white Christmas this year~*woohoo*

Xmas decor, lightings, gifts and making Frosty...

so looking forward to Christmas!!

Secret Santa gift exchange with project team on 19 Dec...

Crazy Eight gift exchange and Xmas Day dinner on 25 Dec...

HO HO HO

******

year end is always so full of festive holidays mood...

it's fun, exciting and joyous...

at the same time, emotional and sentimental...

makes one thinking about the past and coming year,

thinking about your life,

family and friends...

*missing warmth in the cold*

******

24 Oct - 06 Nov - Karen's visit

2008-11-08T11:06:00.000+09:00

it's nice to have friend visiting you overseas!

Karen flew over for a short holiday...

of course...we had a blast hanging out~

Albany, Vermont and NYC...

too bad i cant take more vacation time from work.

******

Rented a car for the weekend...

1st time using my driver's...

guess what!?!

they gave me a pretty awesome car....

it's a convertible!!

cool, huh~

it cost me $120+ to rent this car for 4 days!!

where can you get such deal???

heehee...lucky me~

1st stop: Thatcher Park

Been there in the Spring and Summer...
now in Fall, it's totally a different view!

Karen's enjoying the pretty foilage...

seriously those leaves are fun to play with...
they are dry and crispy...
the rustling sound from the fallen leaves can be soothing to ears!
******
Adventurous road trip to Vermont.
it was my longest drive up till now...
a day out with crazy weather conditions...
and as a freshie driver that's harsh!!
heavy downpour,
foggy and dark road through the national park,
plus getting abit lost along the way...
but was a gd "training" for me!

at last we got onto the ferry crossing over to Vermont!

Our 1st stop in Vermont...

Vermont Teddy Bear Company

What a nice parking lot!!

The three happy girls...

excited to start running around the place!

we were "trapped" in the car for more than half the day...

going in to the Teddy Bear World...

this is the biggest you-are-allow-to-touch bear i have seen!!

the bear could hug me instead of me hugging the bear~

other huge Bear along the tour...

but no Touching!!

yeah~i got my teddy bear pin patch!!

2nd stop: Ben and Jerry Ice cream Factory!

in time for the factory tour...

i don't usually see so many varieties in stores...

hmmmm...they are hiding the nice ones!!

me in "pint-of-ice-cream"

well...flavour of the season!

******

I went to NYC with Karen for sightseeing too...

it's better to have someone together to do stuffs...

so i was there with her for 2 days...

here is the STRESSFUL to be in now...

all the finanical crisis around the world will be reflected in this place,

New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street!

We went on a free ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty...

the orange ferry that we rode on and...

the tiny statue that got everyone coming!

Brooklyn Bridge

one of the nicest place to stroll along slowly...

taking in the night view...

though the bridge is pretty busy with tourists and traffic!!

How could you miss a chance to go on a "Sex and the City" site tour?!?

here's our guide...Lou!

it's a very girlie girl tour...cos the show was for girls!

90% of the people on the tour were GIRLS...

all ages from all over the world...

one of my favourite spots...

the Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes!!

nice simple warm shop at a street corner...

Bleeker Street Park

a park in the city during the Fall...

don't you feel those fallen leaves makes it so unreal like a scene on TV??

Any place in NYC could be a scene that you had seen on a movie, drama etc...

but when you are actually at the location....

WOW...it's different!

you will be passing the place for Nth times,

you will not realise till someone told you so!

Maybe that's the power of NYC being able to transform itself through camera~

having yummy cupcakes by the park...

it's early to hit the bar in the afternoon...

since they bought us...haha~

time for a small drink!

nice Cosmopolitan at the bar...

well well well...

you don't get to see this often in US,

the presidential election!

we are lucky to be in the city when the action happens~

not a big fan of politics...only for today...

it's fun to watch all the happenings around!

30 Oct - 01 Nov 2008 - Happy Halloween~

2008-11-03T06:45:00.001+09:00

Halloween is a big thing here....

everyone from young to old are involved in the halloween act.

preparations starts way a month earlier...

even in schools, they have Halloween celebration!

i got into the Halloween spirit too...

how can i miss the fun!?!

embracing the American culture,

i did a little bit of everything....

craving a Jack-O lantern,

making roasted pumpkin seeds,

Halloween night-out at the club,

and a Halloween dress-up party!!

the only thing i did not do was to go Trick-or--Treat 'ing!

hehe...too old for that... :P

******

*Part One*

make my 1st Jack-O lantern

i got a pumpkin to crave from my PYO apples trip...

printed out the stencil...

outlined the "face" on the pumpkin...

dug out the "guts"....

and with the pumpkin saw and scoop...

i made it!!

it was easier than i thought....

i think having a lighted Jack-O lantern

really creates the feel of Halloween at home!

see pics....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1101161&l=39164&id=742489079

******

*Part Two*

checking out the club at Downtown Albany...

Jillian's one of the happening club around...

the club was so full of funny characters for Halloween!

sad that we weren't dressed up at all...

we had a fun and interesting night,

the live band, Ten Year Vamp was totally awesome!

one of the best costume for the night....

******

*Part Three*

was invited for a Halloween party at Chris's place...

so excited about it~

1st and the only party for Halloween!

wooohooo~

Theme: Ultimate Dallas

(http://www.ultimatedallas.com)

Location: Southfork Ranch

******

i have never watched any of the Ultimate Dallas series...

had complete no idea on what i should dress up as...

so all i could think of was being a cowboy or cowgirl!

cracking our brains (got Weiyee to help!) on it,

doing shopping with Weiyee at the last minute on thursday night after work,

it was so much fun with everyone in the mall

all with one thing common....

getting the right costume for Halloween!

i was happy to put together something to wear...

going around the mall in circles,

finally i got a cowboy hat, shirt and wig!

the best thing when you do your shopping at the very last minute...

there's sale everywhere!! i like it...

~~~~
here's my costume profile -

Before: Dark hair Asian Cowgirl...

After transformation: Blondie Cowgirl...

Which one looks better?? hahaa....

not much difference...cos it's still me!

******

yee haw~ check out more of the Southern style Halloween...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46654&l=1d0d1&id=742489079

For my sis....Ling~

2008-10-31T12:35:00.001+09:00

Yeah~ CONGRATS!

she is officially not Ms Tay anymore....

my second sister whom i have been sharing room with since young...

GOT MARRIED!! woohoo~

******

hmm~~thinking back...we had those crazy times together~

maybe cos we are family,

we tend to talk to each other in a very direct way...

pple sometimes think that we are quarreling...

haha....NOPE...we are not....it's just our way of communication!

as we grow older...we have our own life...

i don't see her as much...partly cos i was away in overseas...

but she is always there to help whenever i need her!

THANK YOU~~

******

Random~~

2008-10-29T11:10:00.000+09:00

the 1st snow had fallen in Albany today!!

which in another way means WINTER's coming~

partly due to the cold front coming in,

causes the early snow storm...

it's not even Nov yet...at least 3 more days to go!

1st was rainy...2nd turned colder...3rd SNOW...

wasn't really excited to see the snow this afternoon...

cos i only wore a not-so-thick jacket to work!

no beanie...no scarf...no gloves...

Brrrrrr.....

cold weather makes me restless and sleepy!

plus craving for ice creams....hahaa...

just wanna tuck myself in bed~ *yawn*

For my bestie...Xinrong~

2008-10-23T20:50:00.000+09:00

Congrats!! Mrs Ong~

the 1st to get married among the three~

wishing all the best in your married life...

enjoy the new phase of your life!

feel extremely happy for you to find your love of life~

******

hey....Don't you forget us too!!

make sure you make some time for us once in a while...

good for you that i'm away now...hehe~

will see you back in Singapore soon.... in 09~

******

having to see you preparing for your wedding stuffs (thru your blog)...

makes me so envious....simply blissful~

will wait and see when's my turn??

hmm.....

Random~~

2008-10-23T08:22:00.000+09:00

wondering why am i always so weak as cold weather comes along...

yet i like the cooler weather....

maybe it's just the crazy cold in Albany...

again... i caught a chill

on my way to work in the morning and...

i was down that very afternoon!

in fact i was bundled up...

keeping myself warm...

well protected from the sudden freezing temp...

i guess that wasn't enough~

ARGH!!!

I HATE TO FALL SICK!

hehe...but i got a day off from work...

slept like a baby the whole day~ nice!

18 Oct 2008 - Halloween Corn Maze

2008-10-21T08:21:00.000+09:00

one of the best things to do this season...

a visit to corn maze~

it gets spooky with HALLOWEEN!!!

a day at the farm for a group of big kiddos...

farm games at the barn for the city kids~

a taste of country life!

when the night falls,

the farm was transformed into a haunted corn maze!

"live monsters" living inside maze...beware!!

entering the corn maze in total darkness,

not knowing what to anticipate was kinda exciting though...

grab and cling on tight to your partner or anyone beside you!

scream, shout, laugh and fall together~

you can never expect what will appear next~

even when you get to the end of the maze...

there will be surprise awaiting for you too!

heaps of good fun, laughter and screams~

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1069610&l=3b50f&id=742489079

12 Oct 2008 - PYO Apples and Pumpkin

2008-10-20T11:16:00.000+09:00

after picking strawberries in Spring...

raspberries picking the day before this..

it's the season for apples picking in the Fall...

Fuji and Golden Delicious got their spot in my bag~

with Halloween around the corner,

how can you miss the pumpkin sitting in the patch~

see what i had done...hehe....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1054337&l=cee6d&id=742489079

*post-event note*

too much apples in the house...

been making apple pies...puffs...juice...jam...

maybe apples cakes...pork chops with apple sauce coming soon~

need to find more apple receipes!

11 Oct 2008 - Vermont Foliage Trip

2008-10-18T11:32:00.000+09:00

heard from someone that Northeastern part of US is famous for it's foliage views

seeing is believing!!

a day trip to Vermont was really not enough...

cant get enough of the rich colours...

simply just so amazing!

fall in Japan gives me a sad feeling....

fall in US makes me feel that i should appreciate life...

taking in everything around me...

no matter how simple they are...

every little things around can be rich and colourful at it's prime!

good things never stay for long...

within 2 weeks, all will be over!

the leaves on the trees displayed their best colours...

fall like petals to the ground as the chilly Fall breeze blows...

the naked trees are preparing for the coming Winter ~

take a look of the pics i took of the beautiful Fall...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=43530&l=73c8c&id=742489079

10 Oct 2008 - Joelle's Bdae Dinner

2008-10-17T07:10:00.000+09:00

the last birthday celebration of CRAZY EIGHT...

the month of Oct is Joelle!

her housemate, Winnie planned a dinner at Mezza Notte...

a nice fine-dining Italian restaurant

which is almost a stone throw away from our apartments.

so it's a night to dress up and enjoy!

Yves, Weiyee and I got a dress for Joelle,

which she wore it to the dinner.

a simply perfect dress for her!!

though we have to rush home after work,

everything was cool.

it's a Friday night anyway~

******

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOELLE!

******

a jacket to keep myself warm...it's getting chilly!

ready for the party~

the night just started...

*Yum Seng*....

at last some starters came!!

hungary lah....

a kiss for the Bdae girl!

***

when the starters were gone,

time for some pics while we wait, wait, wait and wait

for the main course~~

that's what you get in fine-dining...

be patient!!

a pic with Yves...the only guy at the table!

*6 vs 1*

Agnes and me

acting greedy for drinks!! *happie happie*

i only had a glass of champagne...

my main course...

Diver's Scallops with Autumn Squash Risotto

*yum yum*

Everyone in for a pic!!

Random~~

2008-10-03T10:25:00.000+09:00

it's Fall already in Albany...

colour of leaves changing...

refreshing chilly wind blowing...

average temperature been in the lower 10++ deg Celsius...

feels like Spring yet it's not...

it's my 1st and last Fall in US...

the season of Fall never fails to make me feel down...

maybe becos of this sadness makes Fall special too...

the captivating foilage views....

Halloween with the pumpkin Jack-O lanterns...

Thanksgiving coming up too...

Enjoy the richness of colours in life!

25 Sep 2008 - Driving Road Test

2008-09-26T12:21:00.000+09:00

YIPPEEEEEE~~~

I PASSED IT!!!

so i'm an offically licensed driver...in US!

it's really one big step for me...

a huge milestone achieved!

i'm becoming more independent in a way i guess!

at least that's one of the "challenges" Jarrod thought i'm not going to make it....

i didn't want to bow down on that...

i haven't been interested in getting my license cos

1) i don't think i will get a car in SG

2) been driven around by other is really nice

3) i had been too lazy lah...hehee!

anyway....i'm happy...super duper happy that i had done it!

14 Sep 2008 - Block Island, Rhode Island.

2008-09-18T09:57:00.000+09:00

Block Island is smallest town or island in the state of Rhode Island,

which is the smallest state of US...

isn't this so funny yet interesting??

******

Block Island is really a nice place to relax....

to get away from the crowd city life....

actually Albany is not crowd at all...at least not where i'm in!

maybe a getaway to somewhere so different...

to unwind and appreciate the simplest things in life that we missed out...

it's has got beaches, lighthouses (only two),

nice house galleries by the island artists themselves,

warm and countryside residential areas with farms.

it's such a small island village that everyone knows everyone,

so much like the kampong that Singapore once used to have.

******

i think i don't mind staying on an island,

or a small village town like that....

peaceful, quiet yet warm,

nice neighbours and friends,

~~~

View some of my pics under this link...

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40303&l=371af&id=742489079

wondering in the big big world

last day of 2011....

变调'ed or 变调'ing

a little pat on the back....

only one... once~

i'll be fine....

moving on....

I *HEART* PEACHY PEACH~

1st cooking lesson for Hikasa ES teachers!

yeah...2nd watermelon from Honjo Kindy!

FINALLY~ my 1st PAY!

start of SUMMER VACATION~

decisions.....

end of Semester One

My Den.....

old wounds....

so far so good~

it's coming BACK!

never know why....

*pout*

something's missing~

ever wonder why people say time flies~

CHANGE...???

it's my 100th post too....WHAT A DAY!!!

hmmm~~~

finally...it's here!

11 Jul 2009 - Farewell BBQ for PX

Random~~~

11 June 2009 - STRAT Seminar

a little piece of good news....

Random~~

09 May 2009 - Albany Tulip Festival 2009

08 May 2009 - Yves's farewell dinner

02-03 May 2009 - New Jersey and NYC

25 Apr 09 - Snowhole hike

Random~~

knock.... knock.... who's there??

03-05 April 2009 - Washington, DC

28- 29 Mar 2009 - Easter Eggs Painting

20-22 Feb 2009 - Winter at Lake Placid

Random~~

11-16 Mar 2009 - Xinrong's Big Day

28 Feb 2009 - A New Phase

27 Feb 2009 - Last night in 104 Patroon Drive, Apt 12

14 Feb 2009 - Happy Singles' Awareness Day!

Random~~

For my housemate....Weiyee

01-03 Jan 2009 - Snowboarding at Gore Mt (Video)

1st entry of 2009

before 2008 goes away~

25-26 Dec 2008 - Christmas Day + Boxing Day

24 Dec 2008 - it's all about the Joy of Christmas!

Photos Links......

18 Dec 2008 - Department Holiday Bowling Party & Team Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Random~~

27 Nov 2008 - Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in NYC

Random~~

Random~~

24 Oct - 06 Nov - Karen's visit

30 Oct - 01 Nov 2008 - Happy Halloween~

For my sis....Ling~

Random~~

For my bestie...Xinrong~

Random~~

18 Oct 2008 - Halloween Corn Maze

12 Oct 2008 - PYO Apples and Pumpkin

11 Oct 2008 - Vermont Foliage Trip

10 Oct 2008 - Joelle's Bdae Dinner

Random~~

25 Sep 2008 - Driving Road Test

14 Sep 2008 - Block Island, Rhode Island.

I HEART PEACHY PEACH~

pout