Spanish is killing me slowly.

Down to the final 2 exams, well one, considering I s/u-ed the last one. I thought five full days would be sufficient time to study for this spanish finals, but no. omg no. all the words look the same to me, and I still cannot do without my beloved Google Translate.

The exam is in 6 hours, and I haven't finished revising. URGH URGH URGH! can't wait for it to be over!!! :(

*Note to self: DO NOT take up any more languages again!

Its.. year 3 sem 1. WHAAAAT???!

In a blink of an eye, I'm back in NTU, starting a new semester ahead. 

Things have been such a blur since I returned from BKK. Left on another mini trip to Genting a few weeks after, love traveling with the parents. Brought our baby piano there and got some awesome polaroids! The food was still as awesome, but the unique thing about heading up to Genting this time of the year is the durian festival! Nobody can resist a durian buffet. 

Also, we stayed at the Highland Hotel this time around, and had a room with a beautiful sight overlooking the cable cars. Lovely to wake up to the misty mountains! Didn't hit any of the theme parks this time, so this freed up more time for the casino, food, and photo-taking. The best meal of this trip was in New Orleans restaurant, located deep in the heart of the casino i.e. Only 21 and above. It was a western cuisine, but the best part was that it was located in an outdoor-sort-of coffee house, and what I presumed were large glass panes were in fact non-existent. It was an open air concept, overlooking the theme park. Ideal as well because the restaurant serves up grilled/barbequed meats, and my clothes didn't smell as bad as it would if it were to be in an enclosed area. 

On our last day, we headed down to KL Damansara for a shopping trip, didn't get much stuff but got lost plenty of times due to all the clonfusing North Wing, South Wing. That very shopping mall houses a really good peranakan eatery, that serves up one of the best char kway teow & tom yum fried rice! A good thing we traveled by plane this time, so it was a mere 45-minute flight home instead of the usual 6-hour drive. 

Anyways, the first week of school has just begun, hardly considered a first week. I managed to get a 4-day week after all, anything to save even one day from having to travel down. Its a real pain, and it takes about 2 hours both ways. An awful waste of time, but nothing can be helped when there's so limited hall spaces. Plus, the new halls aren't gonna be up until 2014, I would have been long gone by then. 

Taking a few interesting modules this sem, forensic science is one of them. Been waiting ages to take this module and the first lecture lived up to my expectations. That is until the boring bit comes along, which is all the sciency parts. :[

And I've finally plucked up the courage to do a language module, Spanish! Inspired by my semester in TCU, I decided to relive that little bit of exchange through this mod. A good thing this is in alphabets, I nearly died learning Japanese because it was characters! 

The third mod is something which I applied for during my semester in TCU, not expecting to get it due to my lacking in journalism background, is SOJOURN. It will be based in Sabah this year, and the theme: conservation. The itinerary looks awesome, but I still draw a blank on my story ideas. Sure, I want to cover certain aspects of conservation, but that's just going to be plain boring to read. This is why I am not in the journalism field, but the whole idea of conservation in Sabah just drew me in so strongly. 

As a result of my decision to take SOJOURN, I am now registered under COM221, the most talked about module of last year. I've heard stories but it is not until you are seated in the first three rows of LFLT as a registered student that you question your sanity. Nevertheless, I found the lecture to be thought-proving, stimulating even. It is going to be my most interesting module yet, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. I do believe there is much to gain from this module, simply because of the teaching style and the degree of challenge it presents. 

As much as I would love to write about my 3-week trip to NY and Orlando, I have yet to finish editing 1/3 of the pictures. Its so time-consuming, and I'll probably just postpone it till the next holiday. Another semester begins, and this is going to be the most diverse semester of them all. Previously, I've concentrated mostly on modules within my concentration, and the only divergence are my GERPEs, which I suppose are their main functions.  No psychology modules this semester because it clashes with everything else! :( 

Long weekend ahead! Oh how I love public holidays.

Work work work.

That's the sad fate for one who has overspent and burnt through years of savings for that 3-week long holidays in the states. Its been so much fun, no doubt, every single cent was well spent! But upon returning home, reality slaps you hard! I'm broke.

Well, that's not all true, I have $600 worth of THB waiting to be spent in the next 4 days, then I'm really broke. Real grateful to have found a holidy job that wants me even for a month, at least I won't be so dirt poor for the rest of the semester! Plus, its an awesome experience when I get to travel and work in the same company as style! :)i wish the holidays would never end!

Or, there is another alternative. Months ago, mommy booked a short trip to Genting on end July. Sure, its Genting again, but i missed going there for the new year, and i'm officially 21 this time round. Although our main objective is the durian fest (yum!), I'm sure there may be a chance that I am endowed with truckets of beginner's luck and strike my first jackpot whilst I'm there. Oh, I won't ask for much, perhaps a few hundreds of thousands, or that bright gleaming car sitting right smack in the middle of the casino. :D

Short getaway tomorrow with the one & only! :) first time there, excited!

To the Big Apple!

Been waiting my whole life to finally write a post like that, and the day has finally arrived when I'm going to NYC! :D 

The past few weeks have been a mad flurry of emotions. From visiting one of the prettiest city in the world, San Francisco, to returning back to fort worth and settling all that last minute packing, to flying off to Houston to meet up with babyboy, to finally spending the night in Houston awaiting that flight that will bring me to that city which I've always dreamed of visiting. 

Had a 12pm flight to Houston this morning, and got a lift to the airport from karen, not forgetting malu who had woken up bright and early just so we could have breakfast! :) Went to the corner bakery cafe, and had ourselves some panini. Awesome breakfast food to start the day! By the time we were done with breakfast, we just had enough time to wander around the area and then it was time for me to leave for the airport. 

We hugged and said our goodbyes, and it wasn't until I was on the plane that all my emotions started spurting out. I had to be that retarded tourist that wears sunglasses on board the plane because I didn't want anyone to see my puffy eyes. It was a really sad goodbye, because looking out the window as my plane took off, all I could think of was 5 months before, when I first landed here. Fort worth was a foreign city, it didn't take my breath away the first time, unlike cities like San Fran, but I grew to love it so much over the past 5 months. And its more than just the city, but the friends that I've met here. They have helped forged some of the most unforgettable memories in my college life, and for once in my life, i truly felt what it is like to enjoy my college life. There was a healthy balance, something which I could have never achieved back home. Then I started thinking of all the awesome people that I've met here, and how they've all been so welcoming and friendly, and it wasn't easy at all, having to say goodbye to all of that, that life which I enjoy so much and would give anything to turn the clock back again. 

Years ago, when I had first started studying hard for A levels, I remembered the very reason why I studied so hard, and exchange was one of my goals in life, to have this overseas experience, and I can say I'm truly blessed for I do not believe that I would have gotten a better exchange had I chosen anywhere else but TCU. Sometimes, our choices in life may not seem the best at the moment, but they all happen for a reason, and had I not been guided to selecting TCU as my exchange choice, I would have never met these fantastic friends today, and that, that would have been my greatest regret. 

As fort worth slowly loomed into the distance, I fell asleep to the whirring of the plane engine, and 15 minutes later, the captain announced our arrival into Houston. I immediately headed for the restroom upon landing to freshen up. babyboy's plane had already landed by the time I arrived, and it took him a full hour to get through international immigration. When he walked through those gates, all I could think of was how much I missed him. Emotionally overwhelmed again, I haven't seen him in 5 months, and for those who think skype counts, it doesn't. Its a completely different feeling. He has slimmed down so much over the past 5 months, and different as he looks (in a fnatastically awesome way), he was still the same as I remembered. :) 

The shuttle took us to our hotel, and we had chinese takeout. Pretty big portions but yummy nonetheless. I missed having these simple meals with him so much, I was all smiles tonight. The 25-hour plane ride zapped all that energy outta him, and he fell into a deep sleep straight after dinner. I, on the other hand, just enjoy the presence of him beside me once again, haven't had this in 5 months, and oh how much I miss it. So I got down to editing photos for SF, and as much as I really wanted to do a long entry on SF (which I eventually will when I get back home), a grand total of 4 hours later, I'm only done editing 1/4 of the pictures.

Golden Gates at the Golden Hour.

SF definitely deserves more than just a single picture, with a few liners. Its a beautiful city, and it allowed me to learn so much about myself as well. While this trip may have been a part of my desire to travel to every single state in the USA, it was also a trip of self-discovery, and its amazing what one can derive from such travels. Its truly opened my eyes to so many things, and all the experiences which I come across are the best souvenirs that I could bring home from my time spent here in the USA. Its been a fun ride, but it doesn't end here. 

I'm guessing I wouldn't have much time to blog for the next 3 weeks, but oh boy, will I have many pictures and stories to share upon getting home. I have no intention of neglecting this space again, which I have done so repeatedly. Its a great way to remember all these tiny details that helped forge so many beautiful memories, and there is no way I'm going to let those go, not without some form of record to help me relieve these moments years down the road. 

HOLIDAYS FOOO!!

FYEAH!

YESYESYES! :D Woke up bright and early to print out my cheat sheet and do some final revision, and before I know it, I'm sitting for my second last paper. Had a 25m question, no idea how some managed to finish it under an hour! Very good summarizing skills I guess, takes me forever to get to the point. :( Only left after 2 hours, which left me 1.5 hour to revise for lighting. 

Lighting exam was the one I was least prepared for, because there wasn't any guidelines, hell, we didn't even know if it was going to be multiple choice or written. But, turns out to be 30 multiple choices, which is kinda unfair, given that we were told to study so much! :( The questions were all vague, and hardly went in depth too. 

But the icing on top of the cake came after I was done with the exam. Went to pick up my model. got an A! :D 

This was the very model I was bitching about, and nearly considered giving up the 30m, and earning it back during my finals. Not a very wise choice, now that I think about it. My efforts paid off! That two sleepless nights was so worth it! The only sad thing is that I will not be able to bring my model home, so I'm thinking of 'donating' it for future references for this module. Spent so much time on it, it'll be so painful to throw it away. 

Getting psyched for the awesome weekend ahead and SF on Monday! :D 

In 8 hours..

Down to the last final hours, in 8 hours, I will start with my 2nd last paper, and two hours later, my final paper! WHY MUST MY FINALS BE ON THE LAST DAY??!

Had an extremely long dinner, an extremely long shower, all in the hope of delaying as much time as I can! Not to mention my mind's preoccupied with planning on the places I wanna see! Now I really wish I had taken the chance to travel more, yet I enjoyed every single one of my weekends here in FW.

I came here to fully experience the education system, and having to go for classes, and being a perfectly normal student, instead of the typical skip-classes-to-travel exchange student. Of course I have skipped the occasional classes here and there, missed a few quizzes, but that's about it. Perhaps what I want is a longer summer holiday here to travel to more places. :( Maybe that can wait until grad trip. 

It is decided. Avengers 3D tomorrow, followed by Dark Shadows! Too many things to squeeze into the weekend, I really wish I had more time here. :( 

 

truly brain dead.

I cannot understand why I feel so mentally exhausted after my papers today, I have had to survive 3 papers in a single day, each with easily 10x more content than the exam I've had to take today. So, I have arrived at the conclusion that over the past 4 months, my brain has truly gone on a holiday. It has not been worked, not to say that the syllabus here isn't challenging, but it has not been pushed to its maximum capabilities like back home. Lazy brain!

But yeah, two papers down! Only started on my sex&violence exam this morning, and worked through all the way till the very last 15 minutes. I'm going to miss this course a lot, its been a really fun module, not to mention the amount of movies we have watched. Not only films, but TV series as well, and considered them from an intellectual viewpoint. Its like asian horror all over again, taking something so commercialized and entertaining, and applying theories/concepts to them. I like! 

As usual, I was the last one to submit my exam. Students here complete their exams as if they only have an half hour timespan. Before I have even begun shading on my scantron, zoom, first student leaves his/her seat, and is out the door. It is either I am just extremely slow when it comes to these sort of things, or I just wanna appreciate having spare time to leisurely check through my answers. This is a privilege that I have not savored since I graduated from primary school. It is only in those rare exams that I have spare time. Often, I am rushing against the clock, writing until my hands are so cramped up I cannot even release my pen after the time is up. 

But being the last student today was good too, cos I had a little time to talk with the professor. He asked if I enjoyed the class, and did I learn much. Is he joking? I adored his class, and I am still so grateful to 4 months ago, when I sent him that email, pleading him to let me join his class, and he agreed. This was a module I would not have missed for the world! I also enjoy his teaching style a lot, he brings in many relevant examples, and always has supporting videos to reinforce his points. He also has a quirky sense of humor, and I can safely say I looked forward to every Wednesday's lesson, even though I know how much I hate afternoon classes. 

Headed back to the library after, and I had 2 hours before my next paper. Never felt more brain dead in my life. I stared and stared at my notes, but my eyes just seem to glaze past them. My brain was refusing all that information, and then I realized why. Low on energy. Ran over to the cafe to grab sugared tea and then my brain cooperated a little better after. 

Intercultural communications started off great! Jeff (Papa Smurf, as he likes us to call him) was awesome, but he fell sick halfway through. :( It was real sad that he couldn't continue taking our class, but we got another equally qualified professor. It was a fun class, but night classes were never my thing. Given that Wednesdays were always my longest days, a 6.30pm class was no fun at all, I was often exhausted and cranky after a long day. 

This is also the class that I had worked on 2 papers, only to be told that we would just be given As. Not that As are not awesome, but if I had known, I wouldn't have invested so much time and effort into it. Perhaps that time could have been spent otherwise. So, I concluded, I only like an easy A if I were given feedback or validation for my efforts. 

I had expected between 60-75 questions for the exams, but was shocked to realized it was a 100-question exam. OMG. No joke sitting through 100 question. By 50, all the words were mushed together, I couldn't make sense of the sentences, and all the theories were just swirling around in my mind. It was painful, and I felt myself zoning out so many times. Finally completed them, and I was the 2nd last one to leave this time. I thanked him for taking our class, and he also wished me all the best. Although I do not know him well, he's still a part of my TCU memory, and I felt sad to say goodbye. 

On the way out, a classmate of mine whom I've never spoken before randomly asked me how the exam went. It was his last paper, and I felt happy for that random stranger. Then I felt sad again, for he was sucha nice guy, yet I never took the time to really get to know him, or any of my classmates. There is this girl I always smile to, and right before she left, we exchanged smiles (because it was under exam conditions) and I guess that is sorta our goodbye to each other as well. So many goodbyes, I'm not liking this feeling.. 

 Met S for dinner, market square, my second last dinner at market square, yet another goodbye. This is more painful than I thought. Headed back to her place, and then to the library again but I didn't last long. My power nap was useless, and so here I am, trying to release all that stress and tension today to get ready for my final studying day tomorrow. In a way, I'm glad my Friday paper's in the morning, so I get the afternoon off! MOVIES~ 

Watched trailers while waiting for S, and there are so many great movies coming up I can't wait:

1. MIB 3

2. Ted

3. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

4. The Dark Knight Rises

5. Snow White and the Huntsman (this one I'm really looking forward to it) 

And.... off to bed!

chhhhhyeah!

Disappointed.

Gahhh, first grade of the semester is out and its so demoralizing. Maybe this is a sign I should study harder for my other papers. Don't understand why I did so badly, exams are supposed to pull my final grade up, not drag it down! :(

I only wish there were some miracle and more points can be added. But otherwise, this is a good wake up call!

P.S: I will not check anymore grades until all my exams have ended.

insomnia!

My favorite kitty with my pet peeve.

Couldn't even sleep until about 1am. Its so normal, this happens all the time, but its a bad habit. Maybe I should take to workout out the evening before my first paper.

The rest of the week is gonna be long.. two papers tomorrow, two papers on Friday. Just realized I could have taken Intercultural on Saturday so I won't have two papers tomorrow. But I remember my Saturday being so tired from the night before. I wouldn't have been able to pass if I had taken it then anyways. :( 

4 days more!

Everyone's starting to pack up and move out, these lucky people are prolly seniors or they are done with their finals. grrr.. not that I wanna pack up and leave this place. Last night, I took a good look at my room in the dark and realized I've been living here for the past 4 months, and I'm gonna miss how it looks like. In another 5 days, I will leave and probably never see this room ever again. :( 

I DON'T WANNA LEAVE TCU!!!!

First exam tomorrow, XCITES!

Okay... no idea why I went through that drama mama thing back there.

Now its finally the finals week, last week of the semester. EXAMS! My very first paper is tomorrow, 8am. I CANNOT COMPREHEND WHY ON EARTH THEY WOULD WANNA SET THE FIRST PAPER TO BE 8AM?! brains are not awake yet.. So used to the first paper being at 9am at least. 

Its my law paper tomorrow, much revision to do in the morning, but going to have an early night so that I can get my 7 hours of sleep for my brain to be fully functional. And of course, as always, my paper ends on the last day. But I cannot wait for Friday to come. Avengers & Dark Shadows! Johnny Depp my love, haven't seen you in a new film for the longest time! So excited for it! :D 

This weekend's going to be mad hectic, and a sad one too. I really wish I hadn't chose to leave for SF so early.. Cos S is flying off just when I'm arriving. no time no time. We've still got so many things to do. Called AA to check if I can change my flight, but the fantastic thing about budget airlines is that I gotta pay another $150 just to push the dates back. Perfect. 

Getting reaaaally excited for the summer holidays. Babyboy's flying in to Houston in exactly 15 more days! :D Its gonna be an awesome trip! We're only heading to two places, but spending 1.5 weeks at each place. These type of holidays are the best, no rush, and we get to explore the places in depth. I honestly don't think there's enough time in NY, but lodging is so expensive we can't afford to stay any more than we already have planned. 

The countdown begins! Time will fly by once my first exam begins, it always does!