12 May, 2010

A note to self

Third month.
Still feeling surreal.
I think I quite like it here.
The quietness in particular.
And. The freedom.



Third month.
Feeling a little homesick.
I think I miss the family quite a bit.
Little sugar in particular.
And. Everyone else.



Third month.
Feeling a little lost touch.
I think I miss Jun and our JB outings; butt and her messages; Hao and his love affairs.
Friends in particular,
And. The bond we used to have.



Third month.
Feeling a little independent.
I think I grow up a little this period.
Nothing in particular.
But. The whole process of doing things without lovely mum.



Pictures. My house. My virgin cooking. My trip to Washington. My trip to Baltimore. My first hike in USA.




My house. Most things are second handed. Except my bed. =)




My virgin cooking. And it tastes marvellous.





Washington DC during Cherry Blossom.




Baltimore in the morning.




Baltimore at night.

PS: Family and friends are missed. Badly.

16 March, 2010

真实感

两天了,却还有点梦幻的feel。
觉得这一切都有点不真实的感觉。。。

走前, 恨不得时间快点到来。
走后, 却有点想家的感觉。

想妈妈煮的汤。
想老豆好好抱的肚子。
想姐姐的关心。
想哥哥的互相吵闹。
想小勋勋的可爱模样。

这里的一切都还好。
地方, 有点 countryside。
人, 很友善。
车, 还可以handle.
STRAT peopke 还相处的融洽。

希望这18个月是一个很好的学习机会。。。

07 March, 2010

About gatherings and us

This week saw me meeting up with the people I loved for some farewell lunches, dinners, etc. And seriously, I will definitely miss their presences... =(

And such gatherings always makes me feel so old. Haha...

I'm actually amazed by how the topics we chatted about today is so different from what it used to be many many years ago. Long long time ago, all of us were worrying about O levels, thinking that's the most important thing in the world. Then we started to ponder, pondering about what course we should take in polytechnic or which junior college to go to... Then about six to eight years back, we started to mug hard together so that we can have grades that were good enough for us to make it into a good university together (after our grades fall tremendously for joining camps). Eventually, most of us didn't get into the same university, but we had and shared our army greens and university blues....

Yet in the blink of an eye, the girls had graduated and the boys were "officially men"... Our topic then changed to careers and love. And then soon after, we, these bunch of bankers, army officers, lab officers, researchers started to talk about marriage. And now, some of us are father, mother or parent-soon-to-be.

It's amazing isn't it? Looking at the things we had went through together, and the things we are going through together now. I thank you peeps for sharing your lives with me. Like what Sam said yesterday, " Few years later, we will have our gathering in IKEA, so that the kids can play the play ground there". You know it's so funny and yet so scary to learnt that we are already grown ups. =)

And growing up is no fun. =)

04 March, 2010

Countdown

9 more days and I'm far from being ready. I haven't buy a happy green coloured luggage bag yet though I've been planning for like months. Samsonite green 29" one is damn chio can but it is far too expensive. =( so I guess I will settle for other green alternatives. heh.

I was waiting impatiently for this training to start, but as the time draws nearer, I start to develop some withdrawl symptoms... especially when I'm so emotionally drawn to little Bryce these few months.

The flight changes to 12th March instead of 13th March, which make it a friday. Many friends who promised to sent me, might not be able to make it due to work when I broke to them the news today. One even got exam lo! lol. But peeps, it's okay =) I guess it's better off this way... At least the chances of me crying at the airport will be smaller, hahaha. My mum could be a potential threat for me to open my water tap though. She cried as if I'm-leaving-forever-loh when I confirmed the date with her the other day.

I can't really describe how I feel now...

Nervous? A little.

Excited? YesH!

Happy.? Yup. =)

With a tinge of 舍不得? I guesss so. Would definitely miss my folks, my silbings and the lovely friends.

9 more days to go. Shrugs.

10 February, 2010

Predicted Typical Questions for CNY 2010

CNY 2007
Q1. Ah boy, so big now ah. What are you doing now?
A1: I am now studying in NUS.
Q2: NUS ah, I see i see. What course?
A2: Life Sciences. *a fucking fake smile*
Q3: I see. Got girlfriend not?
A3: Don't have leh. *smile*

CNY 2008
Q1: Wow, ah boy, become an adult liao ah. What you doing now?
A1: Oh *with a damn fucking fake smile*, I'm schooling at NUS.
Q2: I see i see... NUS like not bad hor. (I replied: okie lah). So what course you taking?
A2: (Oh yeah, fuck u, as if u care) *faking another smile*, I'm taking Life Sciences in NUS.
Q3: Life Sciences like not bad hor, got girls in school not? Got "yao hao" ones?
A3: Haha, got lah my course got quite a few pretty ones, but biz and arts got more pretty girls. Haha, no leh.

CNY 2009
Q1: Ah boy, wow getting "bigger" huh. So old liao, what you doing now?
A1: Ohhh, haha, I am now in NUS.
Q2: I see I see. What course huh?
A2: Life Sciences. *Zzzzzzz, oh yeah* I'm majoring in Biomedical Sciences. *fake smile*
Q3: Not bad hor, Life sciences is like the "in" thing hor? Anyway got girlfriend now not?
A1: (Yeah right, after the "life science conundrum, you tell me is good?!?!) *faking the-most-fake-smile-of-the-year( No lah, no girlfriend. =)

Lukily this year, I graduated. =)

CNY 2010

Predicted Q1: Wow ah boy, getting bigger and bigger and bigger huh. What you doing now?
My pre-planned A1: I just graduated. Found a job. Starting in March (Yes, yours truly finally graduated. Thanks for "asking" me this three years).
Predicted Q2: I see I see. What school you graduated from? What industry you in now?
My pre-planned A2: I graduated from NUS with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. I will be working in the pharmaceutical industry soon (how many fucking times you need to ask huh? One day I will tell you that I work as a pimp so that you can remember it for life).
Predicted Q3: I see. Pharmaceutical Industry earns big bucks hor. Got girlfriend now not?
My pre-planned A3: *faking the-most-fake-smile-for-the-year-again* Hai hao lah, I'm fresh graduate (please do not compare me with your son who is now working in bank, or/and your daughter who is now working in the petrochemical company and has 13 months bonus). *faking the-next-most-fake-smile-of -the year*No leh, I'm still single. (and I spent my Valentine Day with my dad, mum, sister, brother, brother-in-law, and nephew and SOME OF YOU in Chu Yi).

And the same old story will repeat the year after. -_-"


Superficial questions. Superficial answers. Superficial me. Superficial relatives which I seen only once a year (or a few more if there's weddings or funerals). If anyone of them can remember what I told them a year ago, I can go and buy 4D. =) Cause I will probably strike first prize.

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The idea of having steamboat and playing blackjack for the whole night with the siblings and cousins make me smile though. Red underwear, red bra, no underwear, two oranges in front of the table. I wonder what they can come up with this year. =) It is never the earnings that matters... It is like a bunch of grown up kids having a yearly gathering, appreciate one another presences, reminiscence those days when we have weekly gatherings at ah ma's house. The thrill of winning one another, trying to find lame ideas to ke the biggest winner or dealer make it marvellous.

I'm getting myself a red boxer. Period.

27 January, 2010

Pre-Working Status

Sleepless night (cause i slept for more-then-enough-hours-to-call-it-a-day prior to that). *Counting the days on the calendar before it marks 15th March 2010* 47 more days more, and that's it!!! =)
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NO WAIT, 47 DAYS MORE???

Agrhhhh. Sigh. If only the program is on Feb as scheduled... Isnt it a little too late for me to get a temp job now???? =(

I'm like having a taste of retirement even before I start working. This break seems to get a little boring. Haha, and I can't imagine myself retiring 37 years down the road (that's is if I work till 62). This kind of life is really toOoOooOooo monotonous!!!

Okay, I'm not actually complaining, if by then I have a nice house by the sea, a Volkswagen to drive, a garden to grow some durian trees (yeah right!), a one-room sized built in wardrobe with lots of branded clothings, and strike enough lotteries and 4Ds to go travelling every year...

Okay, I am complaining now cause these are FAT HOPEs!

I just did a 5 years plan, like I usually did at every 5 years intervals, like when I was 10, 15, 20 and now. And the plan is *empty*.

I know nuts of how I should proceed my life with... I'm not ambitious enough to make it big... I'm not positive enough to think that everyday-is-a-beautiful-day... I'm not thinking about getting hitched since I have no gf yet... I'm not thinking about having kids since I have no wife yet... So I reckon that there's nothing much in my life from 26-30 years old as compared with some fellow same aged man.

Okay this is a lousy random entry. On an even more random note, Kris called and said that, "Shawn, you have a damn good life now huh!". *middle finger to that best buddy!* Haha, and man, better meet up soon huh! =)



Signed off to the pool.



23 January, 2010

逃离

很多人都觉得我很幸福。。。有一个疼爱我的家庭, 大学毕业后又找到一份还算不错的工作, 可能除了一分真挚的爱情, 人生也没什么好渴求的了。。。 从客观的立场来说, 这些人说的没错, 我确实有一家让我疼爱万分的亲人, 也有一群永远守在我身边的“猪朋狗友”, 还有一个未尝试的工作等着我 去摸索。



但他们对了吗?
我只能说人生有许多的无可奈何吧。昨晚与友人聊天,他说我正在逃离, 也许会有出国做工的念头就是为了逃避。。。 (认识他那么多年, 他总能看出一些“常在我心深处”的“心事”吧。 宇, 你这个死老友没白交啦)!他说得没错,我正在逃离, 正在逃避 。。。


逃离? 逃避? 逃开什么。。。?

逃离家人的“十万个为什么”? 逃避对未来的“渴望与恐惧”? 逃开对人生该有的“喜怒哀乐”, “悲欢离合”? 我想我自己也说不上来吧 。。。


逃离是为了要正面去面对,
面对生命中的不可承受之轻。
逃离日常的, 必要的, 重复的,
试着去找回那颗清明的心。

沉澱是献给我们自己最好的礼物,
静静地待在心中的那个角落。
悲伤, 哭泣, 软弱全都在这里,
这是属于自己的秘密角落。

单独是逃离与沉澱最好的朋友,
独自一人, 什么也不做, 什么也不想。

才不管外界的热闹与喧哗,兴高采烈地向自己招手,
独自地品味享受这一路上的精彩,
聆听自己内心真正的朋友。
聆听自己内心真正的自我。

三月要来了。人生的下一个阶段也将要开始。
我会开心吗? 我会幸福吗?
选择踏上这条不归路是正确的?
选择逃离这现实的城市是正确的?

幸福, 真的在下一站吗?



17 January, 2010

I'm sorry

Few days ago, a good friend called and said I've been neglecting her.
Jokingly she might sound, but it hit me hard.
I do not know how to reply,
But a sense of guilt filled up in my brain in that twink second.

Do . I. always . neglect . people . ?

I used to have many friends at certain stages in life.
Some of whom I held dearly to.
But as the show ended, the chapter closed,
These nice little friends start to leave my world.

I manage to keep a few,
But I lost plenty.
Is it just my fault for not taking initiative?
Or is it both parties?

Sometimes I really don't know.
But it seems like i am enclosing myself in a little bubble.
Messages received but I didn't replied.
Phone calls missed but I didn't returned.

Friendship could be taken so lightly?!?!

No, I appreciated friends.
But I guess friendship is just like any relationship.
Like love relationship.
Like kinships.

Like sands in the hand.
If you held the sands too tight,
they will dropped off between the holes of your finger.
If you held them too loose.
You will lost them as well.

I think, there should be a balance.
A balance? But who can define balance?
Sometimes, things lost cannot be return.
Love over cannot be rekindle.
The same applies to friendships too.

I'm sorry to those who think I neglected them.
I will try my best not to, anymore.
For those I've already lost,
Goodbye, and do take care.

Sad? Yes Iam.

But eventually,
I know the good friends will still be here, with me.
And I will still be there, with them.
It just a matter of some others that I have already lost.


I know friendship need two hands to clap. You know?
Sorry babe. I'm claping with you now.

=)

14 January, 2010

下一站,幸福

A song I like from 下一站,幸福. Nice.

It came to a point when things are getting mundane and I basically do the same old things over and over again. Sleep-eat-out-sleep-eat-poo-sleep-eat-out. Aimless. Sometimes, I do appreciated this little break with a good book on hands, siting in the cafe alone with a nice cuppa. Friends are busily studying or working. Babies on the strollers are busily crying. Cars on the roads are busily moving. Tourists in the streets are busily snapping (pictures). And I seems to be the only one in the world doing nothing.

Life gets a litte bored here, so I decided to engaged myself into a series of Taiwanese Idol drama (agaiN!). 海派甜心 and 下一站,幸福 are equally good; and I wonder what's next.

March is coming in two months. Looking forward and yet wish that it won't be here so soon. Weird thinking; weird me.


下一站我会努力的找我的幸福, 希望你也一样。。。


10 January, 2010

Beautiful People, Beautiful World

Just a thought.

Life is always full of ups and downs. In the past, no matter what I did, I'm always hurt by something immaterial that stands in the way. A thing called obstacle. But today, I tried to learn; to encounter that obstacle, overcome it, and be a better man. And tomorrow, I will live positively, open my heart and soul to welcome new beautiful things in life. Work, people, friends, etc. I will no longer be that lost man that live with agony and hatred, jealousy and regrets. If I ever be such a new person, I believe that the world will be a more beautiful place to live in. Even the sun will smile back to me. =)

Anyways,

Yesterday was hell fun!!! It has been a long time since I enjoyed myself so much, so wholeheartedly. True friends make wonders. We laughed like nobody biz, talked without filtering through the brain (and heart), and MJ-ed till dawn broke. Hahas, thanks for the facial masks, pineapple tarts, taiyang bing, ocarina from Taiwan. I love them.


Smile, and the whole world will smile back at you.



05 January, 2010

End of the year. Start of the year. It's like a cycle.

I didn't write anything to commemorate year 2009, and I have nothing new to say (aka: resolution) for year 2010. I just wonder can I leave everything behind and move on.

Okay, I wrote something, but didn't published. You know, there are times when you got lots to write, but when you look through that entry, you know you can't publish that. It's too personal. =)

25th birthday includes a few simple affairs with friends over some lunches and dinners. Nothing fanciful, but I love it that way. As we grow, we start to get busy on our own stuffs, and don't have the time to meet up with the dear friends who we once shared our lives so closely with. Birthday celebration is one good reason to gather around, and have a massive update about one another life. Frankly speaking, birthdays become less and less of an affair each year as I grow older. To me, it's just another day of the month. I would like to think that that’s because I have slowly come to learn more and more about life.

Pitstops.

Yes. Birthdays become more like pitstops, markings which highlight each different juncture of your life at constant intervals and which tell you to stop for a while to have a rethink, about the past, about the past one year. You know, it's like a cycle.

It's hard not to think of the past sometimes, I keep wondering was i like this always or was it only the recent years? Yesterday I went for a spin cause I was having a serious insomia. And I came up with many thoughts.

I thought about the old days. I sometimes still think about drinking graveyard while going clubbing with Darren, cause that's one of the cheapo drink to get high when I was younger (and I haven't touch on that for at least half a decade). An classic example of the random thoughts that are wandering in my mind these days. Small, insignificant moments I once shared with people I loved, and still love. But it's not like there's anything I can do. That's gone. Those days aren't coming back. There are many times where there are people entering your life, and people leaving, it's like a cycle.

I thought I was just unhappy. And then I realized I'm just a little sad and it's also like a cycle. You know people get unhappy at times, and then overjoyed on the next, just like a cycle. I felt like crying for a person, felt like crying for my father, for my friends, for my lost new year, for 2009. What was 2009 anyway? It felt like it was the split of past and present, that there were so many significant moments but all i can remember is the slow passing of days, like there was no future. And it was like a low humming through time. And I just thought that the whole reason we need to keep moving forward be filled with jobs and work and study and goals is so we don't ever have to stop and seep through the empty brain and heart.

I thought about my parents too. I thought no matter how much my parents love me, how much my dad was good and kind to me, I still decided to leave after his countless objections. I don't know when I'll ever be this constant part of their lives again, that they were with me through my first steps and days but I'll be gone soon for a good 18 months. But I guess they have Bryce now, and even many more grandchildren soon when brother gets marry this year. Eventually, I will come back, I will get marry, I will bore them some grandchildren too. But it' seems different.

Mum always told me how Bryce's little action looks like my sister, my brother or even me. But I look at that little fellow, he's an unique hyperactive boy on his own, nothing that looks significant like his parents or his uncles except maybe some genetic trademarks. I discovered she is trying to reminiscence those moments when my brother, sister and I were still kids. When we were were younger, when we still won't talk back to her, when we wouldn't disappear from her eyes for more then a minute.

But those days were gone. Just gone and thought if they slowed down and thought about it, it'll be kind of sad. I hate to think about the future, hate to think about they aging, hate to have the idea of them leaving me in a few decades time. I wish that time would stop at this moment, when things never change again.

But the reality is real, that nothing really stays with you forever. It's like a cycle. People coming to the world, people leaving the world.

Before this cycle ends, I would do my best to love them.

Cause they are nothing, but the love of my life.