2 hours ago
I just turned the calendar page to the very last day of year 2010!!!
So many things have happened this year, as usual. Things I don't care to remember, things I have already forgotten, but also things I will definitely treasure for a long time to come.
I ventured on a new academic path with my BA in French, after finally finishing BSc in biomedical science. I kept fit by exercising more, and tried to eat more healthily.
There have been loves, and parties, and lots of good times. Especially so living in a newer environment on the other side of the city centre, with a new Flatmate. Which wasn't all that different considering all the others seemed to have moved with me across the city, but anyhow, the view was different and that made quite an impact on how our lives were run.
I made many new friends, and rekindled old friendships; strengthened the current ongoing ones. There were smiles and laughter, also tears, from happiness, shyness, embarrassment, sadness, foolishness, stress, anger, regret, hope, love, dreams... Sometimes my heart feels like it'll burst with all the love that I can't quite manage to express, it's just too much for me and for you. But gotta share it, gotta share it, right?
Then there were times I couldn't. But I'm working on those as well.
There was a lot of waiting and saving for me in 2010. Waiting for the good news, mostly. Emails from cousins, from the exchange people. Then trying to save as much as possible to let the good news take action, to be able to see my cousins and to spend time in Paris on a year long exchange.
All in all 2010 was an eventful period where new beginnings were made, and preparations for a better 2011. I did most things I had planned to do for the year, at the beginning of 2010, and I am so proud of myself in many ways. For certain, 2011 will be a just as big year for me, if not more. It will start off with a big excitement in the States, where I will be flying to in the first week, and I can't wait!!!
2011, I am ready for you, now!
So many things have happened this year, as usual. Things I don't care to remember, things I have already forgotten, but also things I will definitely treasure for a long time to come.
I ventured on a new academic path with my BA in French, after finally finishing BSc in biomedical science. I kept fit by exercising more, and tried to eat more healthily.
There have been loves, and parties, and lots of good times. Especially so living in a newer environment on the other side of the city centre, with a new Flatmate. Which wasn't all that different considering all the others seemed to have moved with me across the city, but anyhow, the view was different and that made quite an impact on how our lives were run.
I made many new friends, and rekindled old friendships; strengthened the current ongoing ones. There were smiles and laughter, also tears, from happiness, shyness, embarrassment, sadness, foolishness, stress, anger, regret, hope, love, dreams... Sometimes my heart feels like it'll burst with all the love that I can't quite manage to express, it's just too much for me and for you. But gotta share it, gotta share it, right?
Then there were times I couldn't. But I'm working on those as well.
There was a lot of waiting and saving for me in 2010. Waiting for the good news, mostly. Emails from cousins, from the exchange people. Then trying to save as much as possible to let the good news take action, to be able to see my cousins and to spend time in Paris on a year long exchange.
All in all 2010 was an eventful period where new beginnings were made, and preparations for a better 2011. I did most things I had planned to do for the year, at the beginning of 2010, and I am so proud of myself in many ways. For certain, 2011 will be a just as big year for me, if not more. It will start off with a big excitement in the States, where I will be flying to in the first week, and I can't wait!!!
2011, I am ready for you, now!
Hope you had a fantastic Christmas, what did you get up to ?
Were you working on boxing day? scary stuff, wasn't it? I was upstairs when it happened, dived under the staffroom table with the 4.9, went outside onto the shop floor to find all the toys on the floor, apparently plates were flying sideways.. Another jostle sent us reaching for the nearest person, like two magnetic opposites grabbing each other.. Some roof tiles fell, hitting at least one salesperson whose head bled a while.. But nothing too serious.. The ground floor was fine though, people still shopping and so I had to go back in after a while.. Got really paranoid for the rest of the day, with the slightest rumbling sound!
Anyways, hope you have a fantastic rest of 2010, then an even more awesome 2011!!
PS. Sorry it looks like we won't be able to go surfing this time round..
Were you working on boxing day? scary stuff, wasn't it? I was upstairs when it happened, dived under the staffroom table with the 4.9, went outside onto the shop floor to find all the toys on the floor, apparently plates were flying sideways.. Another jostle sent us reaching for the nearest person, like two magnetic opposites grabbing each other.. Some roof tiles fell, hitting at least one salesperson whose head bled a while.. But nothing too serious.. The ground floor was fine though, people still shopping and so I had to go back in after a while.. Got really paranoid for the rest of the day, with the slightest rumbling sound!
Anyways, hope you have a fantastic rest of 2010, then an even more awesome 2011!!
PS. Sorry it looks like we won't be able to go surfing this time round..
Clean Christchurch air + Healthy Mum's cooking + No study stress = CLEAN SKIN!!
My skin has never looked better :) Let's hope this keeps up!!
Boxing day madness tomorrow, going into battlefield at work early in the morning. Hopefully it won't be too bad!
My skin has never looked better :) Let's hope this keeps up!!
Boxing day madness tomorrow, going into battlefield at work early in the morning. Hopefully it won't be too bad!
Expectation. Disappointment. Blame.
If there is too much expectation for something or someone, it is likely that we will get disappointed to some degree, because our anticipation hasn't got fulfilled. But don't go blaming the other person or thing. You are the only one to blame. Sometimes it pays not to expect too much, for it brings back less pain for all around.
Attente. Déception. Faute.
Something a bit serious on this beautifully fine Christmas day, but it's just something I heard last night at church. This year's Christmas has been very relaxing and a happy time for me. Lucky me :)
If there is too much expectation for something or someone, it is likely that we will get disappointed to some degree, because our anticipation hasn't got fulfilled. But don't go blaming the other person or thing. You are the only one to blame. Sometimes it pays not to expect too much, for it brings back less pain for all around.
Attente. Déception. Faute.
Something a bit serious on this beautifully fine Christmas day, but it's just something I heard last night at church. This year's Christmas has been very relaxing and a happy time for me. Lucky me :)
I was in a ballet class with other kids, boys and girls alike that are around my age, 13 or 14. It wasn't exactly a classical ballet school, we didn't all wear tights, especially not the guys. They are ever so sensitive about that at this age. I got into this school by writing a letter to the headmaster, who is a middle aged man with a balding headline and a belly like Santa Claus. He apparently looked once at my photo and granted me a full scholarship. I'd taken it just after getting off my bed, still in my crampled baggy clothes from the night before, with black bags under my eyes. I must have looked a sight.
We had a park at the back end of the neighbourhood from the dance school where the big kids used to hang out. It was a shady place, damp and dark. Mr S put a stop to that. He used to send us kids there on detention, to clean up the place. I remember us spitting cherry pits to his motorbike in spite, at his favourite parking corner on the way to the park.
Later on, we had cleaned the park really well. Us kids changed at that school. We became dreamers. Mr S helped sow them in our heads. The park is now our's, and after classes we all go over to take care of it. It's well protected from harm from malice, but has a nice green environment for pleasure's sake. Mr S got a compromise for us to only spit out the cherry pits into the garden, so now we have a nice cherry forest corner. On the outskirts are pots of greens that are really interesting. Seeing them grow is so amazing.
We are going to fundraise with the cherries from our park gardens so we get to go to Russia to have workshops with the famous ballet dancer there. It's all sweet :)
We had a park at the back end of the neighbourhood from the dance school where the big kids used to hang out. It was a shady place, damp and dark. Mr S put a stop to that. He used to send us kids there on detention, to clean up the place. I remember us spitting cherry pits to his motorbike in spite, at his favourite parking corner on the way to the park.
Later on, we had cleaned the park really well. Us kids changed at that school. We became dreamers. Mr S helped sow them in our heads. The park is now our's, and after classes we all go over to take care of it. It's well protected from harm from malice, but has a nice green environment for pleasure's sake. Mr S got a compromise for us to only spit out the cherry pits into the garden, so now we have a nice cherry forest corner. On the outskirts are pots of greens that are really interesting. Seeing them grow is so amazing.
We are going to fundraise with the cherries from our park gardens so we get to go to Russia to have workshops with the famous ballet dancer there. It's all sweet :)
Three weeks today I will be boarding the first plane on my way to Paris. Am I counting down already? Not really, Christmas has to come first, which is already next week!!
Was my day off, so made macarons, reorganised my luggage a bit, and had a nice chit chat with Sis.
First off, the macarons.
I have been meaning to make these French delicacies, ever since J had sent me her photo of the ones she'd made. Argh, mine went horribly on all steps possible. I didn't want to make a large batch, so divided the ingredient amounts to a half. Good. I only had one egg left, anyway. But then, I found that egg white HAVE to be made stiff with an electric beater, not manually. Plus, I'd added sugar too early, so it didn't even get that stiff in the end. When I added the dry ingredients into the white egg, it was still too dry. Don't know why. I couldn't get the mixture through the icing tube, because it wasn't runny enough. So ended up making little balls by hand then squashing them onto the baking tray. Fine, though, I thought at that moment. In goes the tray into the oven. The baking paper starts burning. Drat! Oh well, just leave it to burn. I'm going to get started on the chocolate filling. When I am getting the butter from the fridge, I somehow manage to take the plate full of salad leaves as well... A quick clean and the leaves into the bin. I splash chocolate onto my top. Oh gosh, really not making me any happier, is it? The batter turn out all right in the end, more like cookies, but sweet and edible... even if the baking paper got stuck a bit.. But Sis for the first time this summer allowed herself to taste some of my (failed) cooking, at least..
Luggage.
I have been kind of living out of my luggage that I'd brought down from Auckland, because it has everything I need for the moment and I will be taking them overseas again in a few months' time. Have to be mindful of the amount of stuff I take, though, so I try to cut down on things from time to time. At the moment things are looking cosy and comfortable, but that's without any of my clothes, and the selections of those I want to take with me is acummulating in my closet by day. I have no idea how I will fit everything in! I will have to make a day of serious packing, soon.
Was my day off, so made macarons, reorganised my luggage a bit, and had a nice chit chat with Sis.
First off, the macarons.
I have been meaning to make these French delicacies, ever since J had sent me her photo of the ones she'd made. Argh, mine went horribly on all steps possible. I didn't want to make a large batch, so divided the ingredient amounts to a half. Good. I only had one egg left, anyway. But then, I found that egg white HAVE to be made stiff with an electric beater, not manually. Plus, I'd added sugar too early, so it didn't even get that stiff in the end. When I added the dry ingredients into the white egg, it was still too dry. Don't know why. I couldn't get the mixture through the icing tube, because it wasn't runny enough. So ended up making little balls by hand then squashing them onto the baking tray. Fine, though, I thought at that moment. In goes the tray into the oven. The baking paper starts burning. Drat! Oh well, just leave it to burn. I'm going to get started on the chocolate filling. When I am getting the butter from the fridge, I somehow manage to take the plate full of salad leaves as well... A quick clean and the leaves into the bin. I splash chocolate onto my top. Oh gosh, really not making me any happier, is it? The batter turn out all right in the end, more like cookies, but sweet and edible... even if the baking paper got stuck a bit.. But Sis for the first time this summer allowed herself to taste some of my (failed) cooking, at least..
Luggage.
I have been kind of living out of my luggage that I'd brought down from Auckland, because it has everything I need for the moment and I will be taking them overseas again in a few months' time. Have to be mindful of the amount of stuff I take, though, so I try to cut down on things from time to time. At the moment things are looking cosy and comfortable, but that's without any of my clothes, and the selections of those I want to take with me is acummulating in my closet by day. I have no idea how I will fit everything in! I will have to make a day of serious packing, soon.
- Think positively
- Focus on your pluses rather than the minuses
- Relax
- Learn to feel good about yourself
- Stop comparing yourself to others
- Reward yourself from time to time
- Smile
- Posture - body language
- Change how you think
- Say YES more often
- Make wise choices
- Listen to happy music, happy people
- Try something new
- Set goals, however small, and focus on achieving them
- Overcome your fear - fake it until you do
- Create
- Learn from your past
- Improve your social skills
An advice - un conseil
- Find the right moment and place
- Listen
- Be honest
- Avoid judging
- Don't make promises
On the mezzanine floor with two girl friends, hiding away. A group of school children come into the room, with their Indian teacher. She spots us, and greets us in Fijian, then asks us to go away. We wrap ourselves in bright scarves, then sneak into the public toilet. But it leads to the watch shop next door, where a friendly looking old man with silver white hair manages the store...
"You should [look up] more often," W told me at work one day.
"It shows a sign of confidence."
"Confidence. The secret to a man's success." - Barack Obama's Grandfather
"It shows a sign of confidence."
"Confidence. The secret to a man's success." - Barack Obama's Grandfather
It's course enrollment time, finally, for the papers I'll be taking during my upcoming exchange year in Paris. The system at Sciences Po is that you have a small window of time within which you apply online. For us exchange people, it's from 15h of the 6th Dec to 11h the next day. PARIS TIME. Which, of course, means I have to be ready at the corresponding NZ time, which is why I have set my alarm to just before 3AM! I have just had a quick snooze, but I was so scared that I'd just sleep through the whole thing, that I kept waking up to check the time... It wasn't much of a sleep... I have no idea how it'll be, but since the places into courses are first come, first serve, and I only have a handful of course approvals from which to choose from.. and not all of those approved are being taught this semester/year, just to make things more difficult for me. But quite exciting, isn't it!? Only 5 minutes to go! Wish me luck!
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.. I was only able to enrol into 2 of the 6 courses I need for this semester... This means I have to get approvals for the other four, and I don't think we have equivalent courses at my home university... C'est vraiment chiant! :(
_________________________________________________________
.. I was only able to enrol into 2 of the 6 courses I need for this semester... This means I have to get approvals for the other four, and I don't think we have equivalent courses at my home university... C'est vraiment chiant! :(
Finally got round to baking a clafoutis, a French cherry tart. X had sent me the recipe when we were still penpal-ing years ago, must be about 7 years ago now, but I have only just got round to it! Shocking! Anyways, maybe should have used rising flour instead of the normal standard one, but it was still very nice. Very cherry, which is appropriate given the warmer summer weather in the Down Under region of ours.
Air Asia is finally coming to Christchurch!
Cheap overseas flights!!!! Yay!!!
Cheap overseas flights!!!! Yay!!!
Hands can hit, punch, to break, smash, and even tear, but they cannot cut. To be able to do that humans had to invent knives, in the face of civilisation. Knives and scissors, therefore, may be the most basic, but hence the most useful, of our inventions.
Train, Family reunion, Cousins, TOP, Art gallery..
Run! Run! Run!
Where is everyone? I bought the tickets, spoke French with the ticket seller at the window, the train is due soon, where have you all gone?
I had come down, round and round the square staircases, from the brick building of a hall of residence, a maze of a place. Now I have to find you guys!!
Run! Run! Run!
Run! Run! Run!
Where is everyone? I bought the tickets, spoke French with the ticket seller at the window, the train is due soon, where have you all gone?
I had come down, round and round the square staircases, from the brick building of a hall of residence, a maze of a place. Now I have to find you guys!!
Run! Run! Run!
I'm back in Auckland. The semester has started again. Since my first lecture of the day is at 4pm - thinking to myself, it is at 4pm, right? yea, it is, all my courses start at 4pm this semester (Actually, most of my Summer work times start from 4pm) - I go for a run towards Mission Bay, my usual course. I see the blue rolling waters weaving and waving in the horizon, and the clear blue sky just above. Looking at the sea always makes me feel so good, so alive. I run so fast. Then worry that I will sweat too much for uni, where am I going to wash up? I don't want to go back home.
At uni, I am currently doing a project under the supervision of a professor. Am I a Masters student already? My project needs a lot of calculations and sitting in front of the computers. Am I back to studying Science? But why is my supervisor a Russian HOD (Head of Department)? I have on my left another professor, this man one of the medical school staff. He goes through my calculations, then tells me I have not put in the working steps, as I should. How can I have forgotten? Oh, no, now I have to do everything all over again! Lots of CDs, presentation slides... I am just so tired!!!! The secretary comes in to ask if we want any drinks. I ask for coffee. I fall forward spreading out on the desk in front of me, exhausted...
I need to get back to sleep..
At uni, I am currently doing a project under the supervision of a professor. Am I a Masters student already? My project needs a lot of calculations and sitting in front of the computers. Am I back to studying Science? But why is my supervisor a Russian HOD (Head of Department)? I have on my left another professor, this man one of the medical school staff. He goes through my calculations, then tells me I have not put in the working steps, as I should. How can I have forgotten? Oh, no, now I have to do everything all over again! Lots of CDs, presentation slides... I am just so tired!!!! The secretary comes in to ask if we want any drinks. I ask for coffee. I fall forward spreading out on the desk in front of me, exhausted...
I need to get back to sleep..