Tuesday, July 25, 2006

After 10 days, the German fever is beginning to subside. Although I still smile ever so widely and proudly at my immersion and travelling days, the Singaporean reality is starting to sink in. Life is starting to take its monotonous toll, and I am once again, a victim of the stay-put, hit-me swing.

I seem to have lost the bright beam in my smiles. the euphoria has been somewhat dragged away with time's wings chariot. The routine of everyday life, the sights and sounds, and the daily events have blended in with a strong mix of dullness, slowness, and to an extent, sadness. I have consumed them all.

With almost every single day packed with activities, I dont have much time to reminisce the good ole' days. But one thing's for sure- I felt very--and i stress very--happy when I was there. Sure, I hated those field trips and walking tours, but ironically, those were the events which constituted towards my happiness.

Muenster- Nordsee, the countless scoops of ice cream, house visiting, chess playing, pumpernickel, my friends and their smoking land, frequent beer trinken, my family, swimming, bridges, canals, spaghetti, elmar, santa, seedorf, wilmergasse two... I love them so much. There was always something offered everyday. Each moment, I was presented with the possibility of learning something interesting and of course, taking viel fotos.

In Muenster, I had so many great friends by my side... yesss!! esp the smoking guys. They really, really never failed to make my day! I love their company so much! Thank God all of them will be back really soon! I used to be laughing oh so hard each second of the day. It was like a make belief happiness land kinda thing. Haha! Oh I miss everything.

The grass is always greener on the other side.
Now that I am back in Singapore, I find the weather at night extremely terrifying. Its so humid and hot. I hate it quite honestly. I wish I were back in Germany. Haha! I guess if I were to go back now, I would try riding a bicycle.

I miss topdeck and craig. haha! I miss exploring europe.

Anyway, I wanna keep this blog a happy blog, filled with beautiful memories, childish rantings and bittersweet after-meal thoughts.

Therefore, I am gonna close this blog as of tonight. Okay.. maybe not close-close. But I will stop blogging so regularly as of now, unless it is to do with travel related stuff.
My trip has come to an end. this blog will similarly, come to a close.
Thanks one and all for reading about stuff pertaining to my stay in Muenster, and listening to my rants about how I put on weight.

Actually, I did put on weight. Its just that I put on weight AFTER i returned cause I have been binging quite a bit.

Das ist alles.
Ich liebe Deutschland. Und...
These 42 days, I maintain, will remain a large part of me. They are, afterall, the happiest of days of my life thus far.
For those who have contributed to make it so meaningful for me, thank you.
I dont think Ill be able to credit each and everyone here.. But itll be in my memory.

So auf wiedersehen!
I may update from time to time. But till then, tschues!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

if i have lots of money,
i'll forgo a car.
i want to travel. i wish i were still travelling. i dont like it here in Singapore.
i want to walk around, travel and see the world. i am going to start saving again so i'll be able to travel next year.
i want to go on exchange. maybe for a year in UK. but blame it on my cap, its in a pathetic state and i cant seem to find a remedy to the hopeless situation.
next semester is my final attempt to pull up my cap... if not my dream of going on exchange will be gone.

i realised why im pathetically bored all the time. staying at one place bores the shit out of me. i am bored, truly. bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.

Friday, July 21, 2006

After a week...

Life couldnt have been better for me ever since I touched down! I realised I havent really put on much weight after eating 28++ scoops of ice cream, three big pieces of cafe insel cake and lotsa lotsa german food! In fact, I dont think I put on any weight at all!! Imagine eating all the yummy chocolates and ice cream without any opportunity cost! Thats like UUUNNGGLLLAUBLICH!

RIght now, I am listening to some Deutsch football song. "Its coming home, Its coming home, its coming, footballs coming home". Haha! What sweet nostalgia! Am missing the world cup period so much! But oh well. I am slowly readjusting myself to the Singapore Momentum even though a large part of me is still left in Muenster and the western part of Europe.

I can really say with conviction that the 42 days have been the best-est period of my entire 20 years of life!

But home's good as well.
I love everyone here and I get to do the things which mean the most to me.
Going for weekday mass, playing for mass, being together with people who TRULY care for me.
"This is home. Truly. Where I know I must be" (:

God's really Great.

Monday, July 17, 2006

You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You

I will sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
Im carried in everlasting arms
Youll never let me go
Through it all

The lost luggage will be delivered to my doorstep between 10-1030a.m. tomorrow. They are en route to Singapore.

Today, I told You how much the luggage matter. I would be devastated if I were to be deprived of the pictorial and physical memories. The souvenirs and my photos are the most precious to me; the clothes and toiletries come secondary.

Being the almighty You, you have never left my prayers unanswered.

You kept me under eagles' wings during the past 42 days, shielding and assisting me physically, emotionally, spiritually. You sent guardian angels from above to guide me as I walked on the different pathways; you sent lovely friends to make my immersion programme a memorable one; you put the ever cherished heartlanders in my life to make me feel welcome in Singapore. And how can I ever forget my one and only travelling partner? Thank You for her, cause many things wouldn't have been possible and so fun without her.

You delight me in so many ways. I feel loved by You, my friends and family. I just want to thank You for giving me all these people and for answering my prayers so faithfully. I don't deserve all these good things, but in Your abundant mercy, you still love and provide for me.

Thank You, Jesus.
-My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God-

Sunday, July 16, 2006

I am feeling so full. I cant sleep. It is 930pm in Muenster and I wonder what my family is doing right now. The dad should be talking to the mother in the garden or on the couch. Since it is Saturday, Esther's boyfriend should be staying over as well. Arghh. I am still thinking about that place even though it has been 11 hours since I touched down.

Singapore's great, but its not the utopia land. I love everyone here, but I love my life there better. No offense to anyone.. But its just a preference kinda thing lah. Thankfully I didnt feel like that when I was in Paris. Being home sick really sucks.

Hopefully it'll be a better day tomorrow as Im slowly adjusting myself to the Singapore Momentum of doing stuff.

I want my luggage damn badly.
Although I feel germany sick and am missing the people and the food there, I am really happy to be back in Singapore. I love the warm welcome and the great food. The only bloody thing which happened was beyond imagination..... I. lost. my. luggage. Yes. That includes all the souvenirs for you guys. Apparently, I heard the luggage are still stuck at the Frankfurt airport. But then again, its only a probability. Its not confirmed at this point in time. Sq is so damn bloody screwed up. So much for being renowned as the best.

But there are so many other things which made my day.
- Eating Singaporean food. I had a bowl of Laksa and a bakchormee. One after another.
- After raiding my house's fridge, I had an entire box of durians.
- My nicely decorated room
- The phone in my room. I have been dying for that!!!
- Coming home at 1145 today. Not that I enjoy coming back late, but I was really glad I could do more stuff.
- Knowing that I will be going to the car carnival tomorrow.
- I love how my mummy always switches on the aircon before I reach home to keep this freaking hot room cool.
- The lovely welcome home message
- Smses from friends
- Just being in Singapore makes me really happy.
Meeting people who truly matter to me lifts my spirit!

Perhaps reality hasnt struck me and I am still in my lala land, thinking its germany time. I guess come Monday, I will have to start losing weight. Some said I put on weight haha! And I know I did. But oh well. How could I resist the barchormee and the laksa today? I am deprived of Singaporean food.

I havent really spent much time with my family. Reserved the entire day for them tomorrow. I hope SQ wont spoil my day too much by declaring a "confirmed lost baggage".
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Leaving Muenster has been way too touching for me. I am so glad to have made such nice friends there! I will never forget the happy moments as they slowly seep through the memory spaces and plant themselves right in the heart of the things I hold true.

Muenster and my friends. Muenster and my family. Muenster and the place. Muenster and the food. I love them all.

Friday, July 14, 2006

My last night in Otto Hersing Weg, my last night sleeping on the bed, my last night typing on this keyboard, my last night in Münster. Come tomorrow, I will be rushing to pack all my stuff into that 60litre backpack, climbing stairs upon stairs, changing trains at different stations, finding my way around Frankfurt airport, praying my heart out for a smooth custom check in and enduring a 12 hour plane journey.

Home. Singapore. It seems so strange and far now. I feel so attached to Münster and my life now, I can scarcely remember what it is like to be in Singapore. Maybe I am exaggerating, maybe I am not, but I will definitely miss everyone here.

I felt really sad (apart from the terrible headache) during the grillabend. Elmar (this teacher nicknamed Santa. I usually make fun of him.. and he knows it) came up to each one of us to bid us goodbye.. I felt really touched (yes, yes, I am acting like a true blue girl right now). For three weeks, he has been this 'integral' part of my life.. Bringing us around different parts of germany, explaining the political system and education system, and waiting long hours for us all because we wanted to shop, stuff like that. I'll really miss him and his humour.

Frau Seedorf is one of the kindest souls I have ever met. Really enjoyed the time associating with her and listening to what she has to share with us. Initially, I didnt quite like her. But time changes everything. Her goodbye hug was extremely warm, and once again.. I was damn sad. I didnt really know how to say goodbye.. So I kinda gave a big smile and walked away.

Münster- Its always gonna be a place of memories. The new friends I have made, the company, the knowledge gained, my family and how I have learnt to appreciate them over time, the food, the travelling, the care, the love are so priceless!

On one hand I am looking back to returning to Singapore. Yet, I really cant bear to leave this comfort zone. But I know I have to. People are looking forward to my return in Singapore. Thats my reality and I have to face reality sometime somehow.

At some junctures during the past 42 days, I know I have so often looked forward to this day. All I wanted then was to return to warm old Singapore. But now, when this day is finally arriving in a matter of hours, I feel like I dont want it to come. I wanna stop time.

Sigh. But oh well. On a brighter note, I'll be going home. Singapore, I am going home. And home is where the heart lies.