10th December 06, 13:34

Christmas is coming!!! I'm so in the mood for Xmas.
Had a field-trip to Antwerp yesterday & all I can say was that it was great! This was more guided & I learnt more than last week, moreover, Antwerp is the 2nd largest city in Belgium. It was filled with people and there was a Xmas market going on. It's a much smaller Xmas market than Liege, which I visited on Friday, but it has some nice stuff - chocolates & pasteries. I bought a bought of chocolates & a pastery with a whole apple inside plus some nice sauce (the apple was boiled & it tastes damn gd).

On Friday, we 3 Singaporeans went to the Liege Xmas market (the supposed largest in Belgium), but it was completed in one and half hours. Haha...we had alot of fun man, & alot of hot wine too. It was super windy that day, with things flying all over, the vendors had to come out to prevent their shelter from flying-off. So with hot wine, it really warms up the body & it tastes so damn good - had 2 cups of that plus a choc-o-lait chaud (hot milk with a piece of chocolate that melts in it); super duper nice! While drinking our hot wine, we met 3 locals (they speak French) and are super friendly cum crazy. They invited us to a club, we went and had a look at the local club scene. Then club-hopped to another where we drank (me had Baileys + beer), haha & I didn't have to pay for any, one of the guys bought me drinks. Hee hee...good to drink for free huh? I had lotsa fun....

I'm so in a Christmasy mood. Oh! Something to share with all of you. Nice Xmas songs from this link: Xmas Songs - courtesy of Amy.Enjoy!!!

7th December 06, 20:19

Today's cold, windy and rainy but no snow. I don't like rainy days except when I feel like I wanna be a couch potato. Otherwise, I prefer the sun. The sun makes me happy! Since it was raining, and feeling tired too, I took a nap after talking to Leow on msn.
Then I went for a run after I woke. Nice! I feel more conditioned this time coz I ran further, pant less and felt I could run longer after the 20 min mark BUT it had to rain. Damn! Although I'm feeling more refreshed, my stamina is still not there yet (probably on 30% back). No skipping today coz I was feeling lazy & cold. Hee hee!

Also, heard from Leow that today didn't seem a good day for most during training. Most feel demoralised. I have to say, "It like that one lah!!!". If you dun feel low, maybe you can't find the motivation to push, to achieve more to a higher level. If I was there with you gals, I think I will face such similar situations...so 加油！ You can decide to let the obstacles hold you back, or think of a way to overcome it. Decide for yourself!

Sinter Klasse Dag!

Today's Sint Nicholas Day, synonymus with our Christmas Day of Santa Claus. It's Sinter Klasse Day! Today's like a Xmas day for the Dutch. From what I was told, this Sinter Klasse Day is way before Santa Claus ever appeared. Today, Sinter Klasse will go around giving sweets to every little children & people he sees. If you've been naughty, no goodies for you! Parents give prezzies to their kids & friends exchange prezzies on this day...I wanna give you peeps prezzies too ;p Sinter Klasse came this morning. Before I headed for class this morning, I got a knock on the door & when I left, I saw sweets & biscuits on the ground. So happy to receive it!

During Dutch, our class watched a snippet of a video of Sinter Klasse. Nothing much lah juz that this video is meant for lil' children...well we're lil' kids learning Dutch. After that, I saw Sinter Klasse on the streets with Kwarte Piet (Black Piet), the one carrying his prezzies for everyone. Coincidentally, today's the day I chose to cook dinner for a German I made in class so it's part of sharing & giving for me too. Today's my 1st attempt in cooking BEE HOON!!! Tell you the truth, it's always scary & nervous to try something new as I'm afraid of failing (sounds familiar???), yah but I juz prayed for the food to turn out fine. My friend, Kristina, tried it and she liked (although it could be out of courtesy) but I took it positively. Not bad for the 1st attempt. Anyway, for those who tried my mum's cooking, damn good rite? Her Bee Hoon is one of my favourites and definitely mine's not comparable, but when I go back Singapore I shall cook it for all of you (whoever reads this lah!!!). At her place, she offered my hot wine (something from Germany) and I have to say that the sweetness of the wine juz comes out (ok I dunno the technical term for this) after heating it. So nice!!! It's really great have the Christmasy feeling though I have to mug for exams but I'm so looking forward to share the joy with family & friends when I'm back. Anyway we have 12 days of Xmas rite? and one of this day is reserved for my bims. Everyone try to make it okie? I would greatly appreciate your appearance.

Anyway...my dear BSR, since you have my blog addy, leave a msg when you pass by okie? Wanna try nice, yummy food? You're invited during CNY or maybe earlier since we're leaving in the same GRC. Looking forward to that : )


Happy Sinter Klasse Dag!!!!!

A Time To....and I Miss

It's been some time since I blogged. Well nothing much has been happening since I've been studying & sleeping but the weekend was fun!
On Friday, the few of us who met during the previous Ghent trip met up again for an International feast - the French prepared desserts (sleeping bears, log cake, chocolates); the Italians (no prizes for guessing rite, yupz Pasta); Kinyew prepared curry veg & we prepared Bak Kut Teh + broccoli with mu-er - and I totally enjoyed myself!!!

Then on Saturday, I had a Flemish Art fieldtrip to Brussels. I felt it's quite disappointing coz our teacher didn't really bring us through explaining the places to us, it's more of a self-guided trip. And so came Sunday, the day where I studied Dutch and almost dying studying for it.

Over the weekend, I did my daily bread and learnt this verse:

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Now for me, I feel it's a time for me to embrace. Why?
For as long as I'm in Belgium, the only constant is change. I can't help feeling afraid when I'm faced with the changes thats gonna be right in my face when I return. Can I handle it well? That's what I keep thinking in my mind. It's not that I dun welcome change, I do, it's me that I doubt; I doubt that I can adapt fast when the situation requires. I juz need time to think and understand.

Someone once told me before I left for the US last year, that once you leave, it's true that you'll be missed BUT it'll come to a point when people get used to you not being here. That's the sad truth because everyone MOVES ON! I totally agree with him but can't help feeling sad when I think about it coz this is the period where I feel that effort to maintain contact with people pre-exchange is less enthusiastic; not that I dun want too but I've come to realise that my friends in Singapore are moving on so much in their lives that I'm afraid of holding them back (if I ever am). They're used to not having Char ard and Char is used to not having close ones around her, Char has to be less dependant on them.
Which brings me to the fact that...

I miss my mum's cooking. I dun have to worry abt having nice home-cooked food;
I miss my ah ma, I miss saying good morning to her and her "Good morning" reply in her chirpy morning voice, I miss her saying "dng lai liao" whenever I return home saying "ah ma I come back already";
I miss having my ah ma giving $$ to me out of the blue;
I miss my weekly dinner gatherings at home;
I miss bring Andrea & Nigel for movies/going out;
I miss having Aunty Fongwan bringing breakfast for me before school (since I always wake up on the dot);
I miss talking to Sa gu abt the news that's been happening ard the world;
I miss my cousins - Amber, Kieran, Adalia....etc
I miss Sa yee buying groceries for the family & nice food for us;
I miss being able to give tuition, to help them to love math;
I miss the Clique, the monthly dinners, the girls' nite out at Leen's, the talking & sharing which is such a luxury now;
I miss asking Cheryl out for supper near my place;
I miss driving & driving people ard (eventhough some of you told Hsing that she's a better driver than I am);
I miss being able to call anyone or sms anyone whenever I think of them;
I miss playing bball with the Sunday bunch;
I miss playing bball with the Thursday bunch;
I miss having Hsing telling me "射高一点, you shld move this way, aim higher,...etc";
I miss talking to Leen, she never fails to tell me to not give up;
I miss playing bball with Runli coz she's always challenging me, making me wanna improve;
I miss playing bball with Liying, coz she nv fails to impress me with her improvement which makes me feel ashamed of myself at times for not improving - a success story for anyone who perseveres;
I miss the 1st time LY said "Char you know I didn't have a gd impression of you when I saw you, but it's good I knew you that way coz the impression juz got better" - you are one of the few whom I felt understood me which I appreciate for that;
I miss going for movies whether it's alone of with friends;
I miss Amy & Pheiyi - doing projects with them, makaning with them, catching a movie, listening to music...etc. My best pals in SMU!!!
I miss...juz too many to state...

30th November 2006, 16:03

Forgot to post it yesterday: I've Got Mine Intership with Infineon. Yeah!!!
That was one happy news that made me smile really wide yesterday.

This morning, taking the usual bus no. 2 to classes, we boarded a bus no. 2 with so many balloons & decorations. Know why??? The driver was driving for his last day & his colleagues decorated his bus. So sweet rite? Why do we not have that in Singapore? No wonder they say we are not creative...hee hee! It's his last day of work before receiving his pension (yah it's printed on papers stuck over the bus). How interesting!

After class, lucky me sat diagonally across a cute Belgian and to make things even better, his twin came up a few stops later sitting across me. I'm not shy, I juz took my time staring at both of them. They're so cute...OMG! Twins! How often do I meet a pair that good-looking sitting across me.

Having received so many nice happenings, there is definitely the not-nice things to happen. I'm getting sick which I hope not, I just hope my throat doesn't get too inflammed over the days. The bug is trying to be my good friend, but I'm trying hard to keep it away...