Monthly Archive for December, 2003

singapura

I’m home.

It’s strangely familiar.

Familiar, yet strange.

I guess I have to adapt back to life here. It’s quite different from Melbourne. Some things better, some things worse. But, as I always say, it’s still home.

I visited one of my relatives yesterday. My uncle was quite surprised to see me. I think his exactly words were, “I’m surprised you didn’t stay there.” Well, that ’s me. Contemplated getting an Oz PR for about a full two seconds the entire time I was there.

Damn funny, in the supermarket near my place, there’s a corner called “Liberty Market”, selling all the American stuff. Then there’s the “Australian Pavilion”… decorated with Aussie flags and all. It’s just a little corner, but it really transported me back to Safeway. Hahaha… they even have Aussie beers that I never knew existed. Have James Boag. Cascade. Fosters (of course). But no Carlton. =( Hmmm… come to think of it, never checked the prices so probably wouldn’t have bought it anyway. But was good to see all the Australian stuff in one corner… the SPC stuff, the Goldburn Valley canned fruits, the Arnotts snacks, even the hopeless sweet chilli that they have in Safeway!

The New Paper has descended into… well… let me fill in some context first. It’s something like the Herald Sun in Melbourne. Tabloid-size newspaper that people like me read purely for sports news. Now almost half the newspaper is devoted to one of two things: hotlines for football gambling “professional” tips and ads (full page ones) for ringtones and other mobile-phone related paraphernalia. My goodness… Well, at least all the ads are paying for very extensive coverage of the English Premier League.

Another surprise. Loaded magazine on sale at the news stands. What are people here complaining about censorship for? Maybe it’s a local version. I should research that. =P Put it this way, in the world of men’s magazines it’s somewhere between FHM/Ralph and Playboy.

I remember reading in Shu’an’s blog about the service (or lack thereof) here. Personally, I’d rather be sincerely ignored than mechanically greeted. Do the check-out people in Melbourne really give a shit how our days are going?

I’m in between the limbo of the student world and the working world. My friends here talk about jobs, money, houses, cars, etc. etc. Fair enough. I suppose, in due time, I’ll be talking about all these too. I wonder if we will get around to talking about things that really matter.

I’ve been wanting to reformat my computer and do a clean install of everything. I was told that that’s what I’m doing with my life right now. A more or less accurate observation about my return to Singapura.

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swing the mood

Finally have some time off to write a short blog entry. Bringing family around is arduous and tiring. I’m glad to have my parents around and more than happy to show everyone around, but suddenly having to deal with everyone’s idiosyncracies all at once is, well…

Irritating.

This ‘holiday’ is not normal life. I barely have time to do anything. And I’m not really doing anything. Been to most of the places I’ve been bringing my family around too. So much so that I’ve not taken a single photo since graduation. Amazing.

Phillip Island today. But first, have to accompany my sister to the city to get some chocolate.

Somehow supposed to pack all my stuff in an hour, before I meet Denise. Guess I’ll just have to do it after Phillip Island. Don’t see myself arriving home until midnight.

Joanne’s leaving today. Which makes me realise I haven’t had time to write any cards or buy presents or anything. So many things left undone. Seems like the same old story.

Everyone’s either not blogging or blogging that they are happy to get away and be left alone. We all need a break. The COSDU Yahoo Group is gathering dust. (Just vocalised yesterday that the next time the group picks up, I’ll only be an observer from afar. Something I’ve known for some time, but just haven’t said out loud.)

As I’m writing all this, I suddenly realise that I need MY OWN BREAK. Away from family and friends. I’m not going to get it though, unless I keep a low profile when I’m back home. Then it’s the KL trip.

Read Patsy’s crossroads entry. Dunno. Feel that that’s all the things we are supposed to hear, supposed to believe in. Doesn’t make the pain go away. Doesn’t make me feel any better. Grow? Yeah, I’m growing all the time.

Wasn’t intending to write a depressed blog entry but hey, that’s the way I’m feeling at this very moment.

P.S. Re: bachelor of arts - Admin error. Doesn’t say much for the University of Melbourne.

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bachelor of arts

I’m pissed off. I’m tired.

The weather yesterday was unbearable. That made photo-taking quite a pain. And it’s difficult to take proper photos in harsh light. But I went through it anyway, knowing that at the end of the day, life goes on. The ceremony is just a ceremony. I was looking forward more for graduation to be over than the actual graduation itself.

It’s one of the last few times I take photos with COSDUans in Melbourne, at least for the immediate future.

Anyway, I’m not pissed off and tired because of the photo-taking or any of the peripheral activities that surround graduation. I’m pissed off because they got my degree wrong.

I swear I was studying to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communication). As I looked through the programme, I found my name under Bachelor of Arts.

No (Media & Communication). There were about five listed as graduating with BA (M&C). Sarah, Michelle and Chalres were among them. There were a few BA (M&C) students who were in the same quandary.

Could I have been so stupid as to not complete the requirements for BA (M&C)? Worse, could I have filled in my declaration to graduate wrongly? What irony it would be that my first step as a graduate was make this kind of error. Like I’ve never filled in a form before.

Admin error. Admin error. Has to be an admin error. I’ll off to Uni now, hopefully for one last time, to find out.

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airport | celebrity

My family arrived in Melbourne this morning. I was at the airport at 7.10 a.m. Their flight was scheduled to arrive at 6.55 a.m. but arrived at 7.05 a.m. That meant I was only five minutes late. Well, that’s assuming customs didn’t exist.

An hour went past. This, I thought, was normal. The first time I arrived in Melbourne, it took me about an hour to clear customs. I was not duly worried. 8.30 a.m. approached. I was supposed to collect the house keys from Ming Yin’s sister at this time. But I was still at the airport. Msged to say that I’d be late. Also told Joanne that I’d need the car a little longer than expected.

8.30 a.m. came and went. Sometime or other, the flight was off the arrivals board. I tried calling Denise and Mum. Phones not available. Hmmm… couldn’t be that I got the wrong date. Called home. No answer.

After nearly TWO hours of waiting, I finally catch sight of Denise. The story is that the airplane landed but had to REVERSE or something. Probably missed the gate or was reassigned to another gate. Problem: Impatient Singaporeans already standing up, waiting to de-plane. Aircraft couldn’t move until EVERYONE was seated.

So that took some time.

This delay caused a jam at customs because there were two or three other flights that arrived at the same time. Actually, they arrived later but the standing up fiasco caused most of the passengers from the few consecutive flights to turn up at the customs desk simultaneously. Further delay.

Meanwhile, SQ baggage goes round and round the mulberry bush.

More flights and baggage arrive, so SQ227 baggage get downgraded from mulberry bush to floor.

Meanwhile, I go take a dump and place my clip-on sunnies on the toilet paper dispenser. Reminder to self: Take clip-ons after doing business.

I come out of the toilet, and finally see my entire family!

Almost forget to pay for parking. Suddenly remember that I left my clip-ons in the toilet… too late!

40 km/h traffic on the Tullamarine Highway. Thank goodness for small mercies. If I had been in a cab, the trip would have cost a bomb.

——————

We have an early lunch at Stalactites, a Greek place on Lonsdale. Good Souvlaki! =)

Bump into Michelle and her mum on Swanston. Bring my parents to the Rialto, then to the Shrine and to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Pass by rehearsals for ‘Shakespeare in the Park’. Lead actor not bad.

After going around a bit, pass by the actors again on the way out. Take closer look at lead. No. Can’t be. Hugo Weaving???

a.k.a. Agent Smith (in the Matrix)

Someone told me before that he’s Australian. (I thought he was British.)

Family debates about actor’s identity. I argue that he looks the same as the character in the Matrix, what’s more, he’s wearing sunnies and bears an uncanny resemblance to Smith. Just have to picture him in a suit instead of the Outback outfit (complete with cowboy hat) that he was wearing. Denise said that his voice was the same (once you ignore his native Aussie accent).

Hmmm… the last time we were on holiday, we saw a man in Venice who looked exactly like Antonio Banderas. He vehemently denied it of course.

——————

Tommorrow is graduation! I think it’s finally sunk in… =)

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countdown

It’s on.

First, a few apologies. Sorry for not updating my blog. I’ve been away on holiday in Queensland. The Sunshine State. Our of eight days there, only two could be considered sunny.

I also suffered a relapse of my back injury after a few rides on the first day of our ‘Worlds’ visits. The Lethal Weapon ride caused quite a bit of discomfort and another ride which brought us upside down quite a number of times did my back in.

After my backache subsided a bit, my body decided to react to the weather by coming down with a bad cold and sore throat. It really tired me out, and the on and off headache didn’t help either.

So, Florence, Joanne, Michelle, Adrian and Hobart, sorry for being a pain in the arse/neck/back. My bad back and my cold didn’t do wonders for my temper or my driving. I know I was snappy and just not very nice. I apologise… sorry. I hope I didn’t ruin the holiday for all of you.

The trip was still good overall. I enjoyed the driving I when it wasn’t wearing me out. I enjoyed the Tamborine Mountain the most. I wish I had gone to the Australia Zoo though. We drove right by on our way to and from the Sunshine Coast. Steve Irwin’s zoo! Oh well, another time… But there were lots of funny little incidents as there are whenever a group of COSDUans are together. The Polar Bear exhibit at Sea World was the thing I enjoyed most during the trip. There were two polar bears. One was a recluse, but the other was so playful and intelligent. A really showoff! The polar bear was cute, rubbing his eyes like we would once it surfaced from the water. And it played with one of its toys, alternately hiding it in a crevice under water and retriveing it, letting it float to the surface.

Brisbane and the Uni of Queensland were beautiful. I must go back there one day.

Today was spent packing and getting back up to speed on the latest happenings. Blogs are wonderful. My suitcase is already 30kg and I haven’t even finished using up all the space. Guess I’ll have to take out some heavier items and pad the bag with lighter stuff. Probably will get in touch with Jetta Express. (How’s that for plugging for a company/service that I’ve never used before? Speaking of plugging, the Coca-Cola bit in the Sea Lion show in Sea World was sooooo bad I can’t believe they agreed to it. I suppose they really need the money from sponsorship to take care of the wildlife.)

Back to the trip…

The driving reminded me of my times driving with Damian. Rather, me sitting in the car while he drove.

The reef fish in Sea World reminded me of Felicia.

The Champions Rugby store in Surfers Paradise reminded me of Celine and Christine.

Two people I care about dearly were at Niagra Falls within a few days of each other, and both told me about their trips there.

And I have been reminded that I have been truly loved.

Right now, my mind is all over the place. I’m thinking about packing. I’m thinking about what needs to be settled. I’m thinking about how I’m going to maximise my time over the next few days before my family arrives. I’m thinking about so many disparate things…

It hasn’t really sunk in that I’m GRADUATING.

outside UQ
outside UQ

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