That's right. I finally said it. I never thought I would, but I am. No More College Parties For Me!
Before I delve into explanation as to why I made that statement, let me just start by saying that my weekend back at Miami was a good one. Fusion 2011 turned out unexpectedly amazing! It was Dong's and my first time watching the show not from behind the curtains, but from the audience seats. And it was a very different experience. No rushing up and down the backstage stairs into the changing rooms to get in and out of outfits. No heart pumping, palm sweating, difficulty breathing from behind the curtains while waiting for the music to start. No rehearsing of dance steps in our heads while watching other dances. No panic moments right before the start of our dance about forgetting a certain dance step. None of those. Just plain ol' enjoying and watching the show, all the while commenting on the dances or the dancers. And cheering as loudly as we could at the end of the show. It was different, being on the other side of the curtain.
The catching-up mini party that the girls and I had before the after-party was lovely. All of us talking a mile a minute, going off on tangents, moving from topic to topic like racecars on a track, screaming and laughing at each other... it was all so so so good! Since I've started grad school, moments like those have been rare. Moments with people whom you know well enough that you can yell and scream and laugh at each other and have so much fun doing it. Moving from topic to topic and everyone understanding each other perfectly, and gossiping about everything under the sun - that's really the bliss of having great girlfriends!
The after-party on the other hand... was *hair-pulling, mind baffling, ear bursting, sweaty people pushing* fun (feel the sarcasm?). The minute I stepped in the venue of the party, it hit me, that I am really too old for this now! This same time, last year... I was so totally fine with crazy loud house parties. This time, this year... I am so totally NOT fine with crazy loud house parties. I hated that the minute I walked into the house, I felt like I could not breathe. And that the air was so hot because of the body heat radiating from the huge party crowd. I hated that I could not hear shit because everyone was screaming at the top of their lungs. I hated that I could barely even move without stepping on people's feet or tipping over on my heels. (Thanks, BO for making me wear your heels to the party. With them, I was able to breathe in air above everyone's heads!) I also was not okay with crazy boys shoving each other in the midst of the crowd.
I'm too old for college parties. Damn. Never thought I would actually say that. But there it is.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Most Awesome Date!
Just had my early-in-the-week dose of The Bachelor. Watching all the drama between the girls, and watching them fall head over heels with The Bachelor kind of makes you wonder why anyone would want to put themselves so out there (on national television) and compete for the "love" of one guy! And then have to watch him go on dates and make out/have special time with other girls, and hear about it from the girls that you become friends with, is just completely bizarre to me.
And the dates that this guy comes up with! Getting on helicopter and flying off to an island to walk underwater on the seabed. Driving out to a winery, and having a picnic in the middle of the winery. Singing a duet in a recording studio and have Seal serenade "Kiss from a Rose" to you and your date. Dinner in a stadium and having Train perform live in front of you. Have a carnival set up just for the both of you. And my absolute favorite: Have a helicopter fly you to the top of a building and repelling down the building with your date.
And the dates that this guy comes up with! Getting on helicopter and flying off to an island to walk underwater on the seabed. Driving out to a winery, and having a picnic in the middle of the winery. Singing a duet in a recording studio and have Seal serenade "Kiss from a Rose" to you and your date. Dinner in a stadium and having Train perform live in front of you. Have a carnival set up just for the both of you. And my absolute favorite: Have a helicopter fly you to the top of a building and repelling down the building with your date.
Just like this, except more romantic and less "army like". Oh, and down a real building. And I'm doing it side by side with a guy that I can trust. Dong would never agree to do this, since he's afraid of heights. I guess a great girlfriend would be amazing too. Anyone up for the challenge?
Now.. if I could just get a helicopter, and find a building that would give us permission to repel down it... it would be perfect!
First the Small Talk...
I had a very interesting conversation with one of my students today. His question to me was "I am not a naturally sociable person. It is very difficult for me to talk to unfamiliar people. How do I start a conversation with someone I don't know?"
My answer: "Well, first say 'Hey, how are you?' - it's annoying and I used to wonder why the heck do Americans always ask how am I. But just do it. It makes people feel comfortable, and Americans are very used to it. Then make small talk. Ask about the class, about school, about the weekend.."
"Yeah Americans always ask me how am I. And I think that's a very stupid question! Don't you think asking all those questions are boring? It's not interesting at all!!! " he said
Honestly, I hate small talk too. Had to do so much of that in the beginning of my semester at Purdue. It was torture. Asking everyone their names, and where they went to school for their undergrad. Where they were from. yada yada... and the worse part, not being able to remember much of anything that they told you. Not even their names. But I guess that's the first step to any relationship/friendship. The surface first. Then peel the layers to get to the core. :)
My answer: "Well, first say 'Hey, how are you?' - it's annoying and I used to wonder why the heck do Americans always ask how am I. But just do it. It makes people feel comfortable, and Americans are very used to it. Then make small talk. Ask about the class, about school, about the weekend.."
"Yeah Americans always ask me how am I. And I think that's a very stupid question! Don't you think asking all those questions are boring? It's not interesting at all!!! " he said
"You're right, it's not interesting. But if you don't know someone and you straightaway ask him a personal question, or an 'interesting' question... it's going to be a little awkward because they don't know you well enough and may not feel comfortable."
"Yeah. I think questions like that are so boring and uninteresting. But you are right."
"Just start with small talk. And work your way from there. You have to first talk about 'on the surface' topics and then move into deeper topics as you know them better. I know it sucks. And I hate it too. But then when you think about it, when you first met your lab mates you had to make small talk too and then gradually you start moving to deeper topics as you get more familiar with each other."
"Sometimes I get so lazy to talk to people. Coz I'm like, 'This is so boring! Asking all these stupid questions to get to know people'. But I guess I should start doing more of it to get to know more people."
"Haha, I understand. I get like that too. I hate making small talk with people and asking stupid questions. But it'll be worth it when you make a friend right? Plus it's not like you have to do it all the time. Push yourself to do it at times for practice and to get to know more people. But you don't have to do it all the time!"
"Okay. I will listen to you and take your advice."
Honestly, I hate small talk too. Had to do so much of that in the beginning of my semester at Purdue. It was torture. Asking everyone their names, and where they went to school for their undergrad. Where they were from. yada yada... and the worse part, not being able to remember much of anything that they told you. Not even their names. But I guess that's the first step to any relationship/friendship. The surface first. Then peel the layers to get to the core. :)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Long time no see!
Yay, I had the best conversations with you today! It's been sucha long time since we've chatted face-to-face (virtually of course, since physically it's sorta impossible at the moment).
Miss you much Jovi dear!!! You're gonna be an awesome dentist, I can tell. Next time I go back home, will definitely come and seek services from you! Just for the heck of it! :)
Friday, January 21, 2011
Out in the Field.
This semester's clinic experiences have really given me an idea of what I would like to focus on or specialize in in the future.
Working with Alzheimer patients in Brainbuilder's on Tuesday, I can tell is going to keep me entertained throughout the semester. Have you ever gotten hit on by an old man? Like about 80 years old, old! Just had my first experience last Tuesday. "My my, you're just about the prettiest thing in the room!" and something else along those lines came out of the mouth of one of the clients. How can you not laugh at that! When I told my mum that I got hit on by a 80 year old man, she said: "Aiyo so dangerous! Did it hurt?" I was so confused, and then realized that she thought I was really getting hit/whacked by an 80 year old man. Now that's a sight to be seen! Oh mum!
Talking and interacting with these adorable old men is really worth waking up early for. Hearing them reminiscence about their past and what their life was when they were younger makes me wonder what my story will be like when I get as old as them. Will I have a life as wonderful and worth retelling over and over again just like they did? I'm sure I will, but I wonder what my story will be like. I wonder what pictures would be in my memory book, if I ever did have to make a memory book. I wonder who in my past life that I would remember and who wouldn't. Alzheimer really is a disease that hits close to home since my grandmother was diagnosed with this disease about 7-8 years ago. It is a dreadful disease and I wouldn't wish it upon my worse enemy. Just interacting with these old men, and seeing them work hard to retain their memory and cognitive function for as long as you can really just captures your heart. And seeing their spouses actively taking care of them, makes you really believe in the 'for better or worse' vows.
Wednesday mornings at the nearby hospital for my swallowing placement is even more exciting! This is my first exposure to what a speech pathologist in a medical setting would be doing. This is the one aspect of the field that I always wanted to learn more about, and now I finally have the opportunity to. Learning to read xrays and figuring out what part of the larynx and esophagus that the food is headed towards is really very tough. But damn it is fascinating! Everyday brings a new patient and a new case. Figuring out all the medical jargon and having to remember all that medical terms/diseases is truly a challenge. I wonder, a few years down the road if I will be as good as my clinical supervisor in reading swallowing xrays and pinpointing problems immediately. I hope...!
Friday evenings for this semester are now going to be filled with Teen's Pragmatic Club.. a social club setting for teens on the Autism spectrum. I had my first session today and it was a mess!!! Put 6 teenagers and 5 clinicians into a small room, and really.. it's a mess. 4 teenagers who are boisterous as teenagers can be, cursing, talking really loudly to each other, making dirty jokes about balls, and attempting "Yo mama!" jokes... really really a little overwhelming. And then there's the quiet one in the group that gets overlooked, who only prefers to talk to the clinicians, whose soft voice gets drowned in the noise. And then there's the one who sits in the corner, because there's too much noise and a sensory overload to his system. Now, add about 3 more teenagers to the group... and that will be my Friday evenings! It makes a crazy bunch, but they are all so brilliant and have so much potential within them! They have so much knowledge within them it just blows me away.
It's going to be such an eventful semester!
Working with Alzheimer patients in Brainbuilder's on Tuesday, I can tell is going to keep me entertained throughout the semester. Have you ever gotten hit on by an old man? Like about 80 years old, old! Just had my first experience last Tuesday. "My my, you're just about the prettiest thing in the room!" and something else along those lines came out of the mouth of one of the clients. How can you not laugh at that! When I told my mum that I got hit on by a 80 year old man, she said: "Aiyo so dangerous! Did it hurt?" I was so confused, and then realized that she thought I was really getting hit/whacked by an 80 year old man. Now that's a sight to be seen! Oh mum!
Talking and interacting with these adorable old men is really worth waking up early for. Hearing them reminiscence about their past and what their life was when they were younger makes me wonder what my story will be like when I get as old as them. Will I have a life as wonderful and worth retelling over and over again just like they did? I'm sure I will, but I wonder what my story will be like. I wonder what pictures would be in my memory book, if I ever did have to make a memory book. I wonder who in my past life that I would remember and who wouldn't. Alzheimer really is a disease that hits close to home since my grandmother was diagnosed with this disease about 7-8 years ago. It is a dreadful disease and I wouldn't wish it upon my worse enemy. Just interacting with these old men, and seeing them work hard to retain their memory and cognitive function for as long as you can really just captures your heart. And seeing their spouses actively taking care of them, makes you really believe in the 'for better or worse' vows.
Wednesday mornings at the nearby hospital for my swallowing placement is even more exciting! This is my first exposure to what a speech pathologist in a medical setting would be doing. This is the one aspect of the field that I always wanted to learn more about, and now I finally have the opportunity to. Learning to read xrays and figuring out what part of the larynx and esophagus that the food is headed towards is really very tough. But damn it is fascinating! Everyday brings a new patient and a new case. Figuring out all the medical jargon and having to remember all that medical terms/diseases is truly a challenge. I wonder, a few years down the road if I will be as good as my clinical supervisor in reading swallowing xrays and pinpointing problems immediately. I hope...!
Friday evenings for this semester are now going to be filled with Teen's Pragmatic Club.. a social club setting for teens on the Autism spectrum. I had my first session today and it was a mess!!! Put 6 teenagers and 5 clinicians into a small room, and really.. it's a mess. 4 teenagers who are boisterous as teenagers can be, cursing, talking really loudly to each other, making dirty jokes about balls, and attempting "Yo mama!" jokes... really really a little overwhelming. And then there's the quiet one in the group that gets overlooked, who only prefers to talk to the clinicians, whose soft voice gets drowned in the noise. And then there's the one who sits in the corner, because there's too much noise and a sensory overload to his system. Now, add about 3 more teenagers to the group... and that will be my Friday evenings! It makes a crazy bunch, but they are all so brilliant and have so much potential within them! They have so much knowledge within them it just blows me away.
It's going to be such an eventful semester!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Good foooood!!!
Was visiting the cousin this weekend at Mishawaka, Indiana.
Now that I have a car, I'm like "Oh let's visit this person, let's visit that person!!" I can no longer ever say that I am unable to do things or visit people due to lack of transportation.
My 2 hour drive to see Cindy was well worth it. She fed me good food and I got to watch some tv over the weekend.. Finally watched The Social Network together, and caught the Golden Globe Awards on my last night there. Bought a round loaf of sourdough bread that taste amazing - already finished half the loaf. Cindy taught me to make currypuffs and I packed a bunch home with me. Also came back with my stash of vitamins that can last me for 2 years (or more!), thanks to Mummy. Finally can say that I have had the "tubing down a snow hill" experience - twas cheap cheap fun! Had a little scare and thought I lost my credit card, while watching a NotreDame vs Alaska ice hockey game. *** I'm just rambling off stuff from the weekend, in sentences that don't even connect. Oh well! *** Oh here's pictures to add to my rambles!!!!****
Now that I have a car, I'm like "Oh let's visit this person, let's visit that person!!" I can no longer ever say that I am unable to do things or visit people due to lack of transportation.
My 2 hour drive to see Cindy was well worth it. She fed me good food and I got to watch some tv over the weekend.. Finally watched The Social Network together, and caught the Golden Globe Awards on my last night there. Bought a round loaf of sourdough bread that taste amazing - already finished half the loaf. Cindy taught me to make currypuffs and I packed a bunch home with me. Also came back with my stash of vitamins that can last me for 2 years (or more!), thanks to Mummy. Finally can say that I have had the "tubing down a snow hill" experience - twas cheap cheap fun! Had a little scare and thought I lost my credit card, while watching a NotreDame vs Alaska ice hockey game. *** I'm just rambling off stuff from the weekend, in sentences that don't even connect. Oh well! *** Oh here's pictures to add to my rambles!!!!****
Helper to the chef, wrapping up the curry in puff pastries. Then Voilaaa!!!!
Cousin cooked Mee Soto for me.. nyum nyum!!!
I don't think I'll ever be as good a chef as she will. :( I need some cooking lessons from Daddy.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
This reminds me of you...
Dong, this reminds me of you!
I guess all the weight that I have lost in the past year went to you? :) teehee..
Reminded me about this past weekend. :) I'm so loser like that. Actually more loser, coz... I don't want to explain why. You know why! haha.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Gonna feel like a doctor this semester....
Now I know what it feels like to be a doctor.. and I do love the feeling actually. Woke up at 6.30 this morning to get to my clinic placement at Clarian Arnett Hospital by 8am this morning. My first day with two other graduate clinicians was a-mazing. I loved it. And I learned a lot. Aside from how tired I was due to serious lack of sleep last night, I still managed to learn so much and keep focused.
The three of us graduate clinicians trailed behind our clinical supervisor who's a Swallowing/Dysphagia specialist all the way till 12.30pm. We looked up patients' medical history, reason for a swallowing assessment, then made rounds to in-house patients. Squirting sanitizer into our hands everytime we walk in and out of a patient's room. Watched our supervisor do an oral mec exam on patients, count and time consistencies of swallowing of food, figure out diet consistencies for the patients... We even managed to observe an outpatient barium swallow. We had to wear lead protective clothing and watched live on an xray, the swallowing patterns of the patient. We had to observe for presence of aspiration and residue or any abnormal swallowing patterns. I loved it! Haven't had a swallowing class, so was pretty much clueless on the anatomy part of it the whole time, but I learned so much in four and a half hours!
It really felt like we were student doctors on Grey's Anatomy or something.. Who trail after the doctor in charge, with clipboards in their hands, desperately flipping through forms to fill up, desperately writing every word of the doctor's commentary about the patient, trying to answer related questions whenever asked to, at the same time awkwardly standing by the bed of the patient trying but failing to seem inconspicuous, non-intrusive and non-curious. Of course, my experience is probably waay less stressful than that of a real medical student... but nonetheless, it was pretty substantial.
Did I also mention that we wore lab coats, with our own name tags? With a clipboard, a black pen and a pen light each?
It's only 4.41pm and I'm already so tired. With my clinic demands this semester, I am going to have to develop that dreaded "sleep early, wake up early" habit that I used to have as a young kid in school that I left behind after I grew up... the habit that my parents always wished I still had. Gah! I'm going to have to be a morning person from now on!
The three of us graduate clinicians trailed behind our clinical supervisor who's a Swallowing/Dysphagia specialist all the way till 12.30pm. We looked up patients' medical history, reason for a swallowing assessment, then made rounds to in-house patients. Squirting sanitizer into our hands everytime we walk in and out of a patient's room. Watched our supervisor do an oral mec exam on patients, count and time consistencies of swallowing of food, figure out diet consistencies for the patients... We even managed to observe an outpatient barium swallow. We had to wear lead protective clothing and watched live on an xray, the swallowing patterns of the patient. We had to observe for presence of aspiration and residue or any abnormal swallowing patterns. I loved it! Haven't had a swallowing class, so was pretty much clueless on the anatomy part of it the whole time, but I learned so much in four and a half hours!
It really felt like we were student doctors on Grey's Anatomy or something.. Who trail after the doctor in charge, with clipboards in their hands, desperately flipping through forms to fill up, desperately writing every word of the doctor's commentary about the patient, trying to answer related questions whenever asked to, at the same time awkwardly standing by the bed of the patient trying but failing to seem inconspicuous, non-intrusive and non-curious. Of course, my experience is probably waay less stressful than that of a real medical student... but nonetheless, it was pretty substantial.
Did I also mention that we wore lab coats, with our own name tags? With a clipboard, a black pen and a pen light each?
It's only 4.41pm and I'm already so tired. With my clinic demands this semester, I am going to have to develop that dreaded "sleep early, wake up early" habit that I used to have as a young kid in school that I left behind after I grew up... the habit that my parents always wished I still had. Gah! I'm going to have to be a morning person from now on!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Growing up and Tying the Knot!
Yup, the two best friends are engaged! Both going to tie the knot by the end of the year. This picture of us was just taken 2 and a half years ago and so much has changed, yet nothing has changed since then! So much in that, the three of us have finally graduated from university. Fasyah has moved back home from the UK, and is now on her way to becoming a full-fledged teacher! Yuyee finished her one year exchange to Australia and is now earning the big bucks as a PWC Auditor back home. Me? Finally got out of Ohio and moved to a new state to begin grad school from scratch, knowing no one. So much has changed in each of our lives, and yet, my friendship with them still remains the same. Maybe we don't talk as often, and obviously we don't get to see each other (at all!)... But I still know that the both of them will always stand by my side and be there for me when I need them. I think back to our Sri Aman days, and I can't pinpoint the time when they started becoming my best friends. But somehow, and some time, they became the ones I look forward to meet the most when I go back home. They're the ones that I play 'driver' to all the time when I'm home. They're the ones I shop with, or pay cellphone bills with, watch movies with, do random stuff with... They're the ones I want to cry to when things over here gets rough.
Now she's engaged. And ready to be married on 9/9/10. Fasyah, when you and Riza have your own place, when I'm back, can I still come over whenever I can? Can I still be your driver? Will we still go to TGIF for mocha mud pies? We have to okay?! A holiday back home for me will never be complete if we didn't get to hang out - just like last year's. Let's never have a repeat of that, hopefully! Remember in Sri Aman when we did so much together? - PRS, Prefect, Ketua Barang Rampasan... those were the days!
Simmie, you're going to tie the knot some time in November. And then you're moving to Australia. And you're never coming back because I know how much you hate flying. Promise me you will come back, especially when I'm back home! What if we never see each other again? If and when I make a trip to Aussie, will you bring me sightseeing and introduce me to your new life? Remember in Form 1 when you thought I was a stuckup snobby biatch... I didn't mean to be one.
I hope the both of you know how difficult it is to give up a part of both of you to your men. Riza and Marcus are the luckiest men alive. And I really mean that. Riza, you have the most caring person by your side. Fasyah is always loving, never judging and always happy. She may be silly at times, and say the weirdest things but I know the both of you will be very happy together. Marcus, Yuyee has a hot temper, that I am very aware of. She hasn't shown that to me, but I know of its existence. Both of you, give in to each other sometimes, give and take, and choose your arguments... Yuyee hates to admit it but she's sensitive and emotional, yet always supportive and never afraid to stand up for what's right. She seems like she doesn't need someone to take care of her, but really she does, and I know you, Marcus, will take care of her.
It kills me that I can't give the both of you hugs of congratulations and best wishes. Kills me even more that I won't be there on both your special days.
Know that I love the both of you oh so dearly!
I wish I had Sri Aman pictures of us to put up. But I guess this will have to do! :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
In a little of a panic now...
I just opened my inbox to read and reread emails from this semester's clinical supervisors and currently experiencing minor, just minor come-and-go panic attacks.
My first week of school is going to be a right ol' round of Busy. Meetings every single day for the first week - Teens Pragmatic Group meeting, OEPP tutor and staff meetings, Brainbuilders' Orientation.... I'm just being a little overly paranoid. I mean I have only 2 classes for the first 8 weeks of the semester, and 3 for the 2nd 8 weeks, and tutoring of course. I'm going to be fine. I really am. I'm just a teensy bit nervous.
Drove my ass to campus today all by myself. Didn't get lost or take a wrong turn. Didn't even use the GPS to get across the river to campus! :) I'm so proud of me.
My first week of school is going to be a right ol' round of Busy. Meetings every single day for the first week - Teens Pragmatic Group meeting, OEPP tutor and staff meetings, Brainbuilders' Orientation.... I'm just being a little overly paranoid. I mean I have only 2 classes for the first 8 weeks of the semester, and 3 for the 2nd 8 weeks, and tutoring of course. I'm going to be fine. I really am. I'm just a teensy bit nervous.
Drove my ass to campus today all by myself. Didn't get lost or take a wrong turn. Didn't even use the GPS to get across the river to campus! :) I'm so proud of me.
Back to the Real World, hunny!
Yup. I'm back in Lafayette, Indiana. Back to the real life. My 2 hours and 45 minutes drive from Ohio back to Indiana accompanied by Westlife's new album, my favourite Korean songs, and occasional bouts of snow and flurries was smooth, thank God. Nothing bad happened. I even managed to make a stop to the grocery store and get some fresh groceries before coming back to my apartment. BT aren't you proud of me? I surpassed what you expected of me! :)
Before leaving for Indiana, I drove the brother back to Miami with Dong sitting in the front passenger seat. The brother isn't too nervous with my driving. Dong on the other hand, gets a nervous fit whenever I drive. He has criticisms for every "road-move" I make: "Your turn is too wide! It's dangerous!" "Why are you slowing down for the green light? That's dangerous!" "Don't look in the opposite direction too long when you're turning. You should be looking in the same direction as your turn!" "At the red light, remember to stop and check for cars before you turn right!" "Do you check your speed when you're driving? Make sure you check it often and don't go past the speed limit!" and the list goes on... sigh.
Aish. My driving really isn't all that bad! My friends don't really have any qualms about me driving! Plus it's not like I'm all that new of a driver. Tsk tsk. What is it about guys thinking that they're always better drivers than girls? Well maybe they are, but some of us girls aren't all that bad of drivers!! Then he tells me: "For as long as I'm around, you're not driving. It's too scary!" Guys always over-exaggerate our supposedly horrible driving skills!!!! Then when I explain why I slowed down even though it was a green light because we're supposed to slow down since traffic from the left side of that road is also green and since I'm turning, I'm supposed to see if there's cars from the left side yada yada (I sounded so confident too!)... he tells me "No! It's only for oncoming traffic that you have to look out for. It's only when there's oncoming traffic and you want to turn across that oncoming traffic that you have to wait for the oncoming traffic to clear and then turn! Oncoming traffic only!" My reply sheepishly, "Oh, it's green light for us and only oncoming traffic? Not for other directions, only oncoming traffic?! Ya hor.. I should know this!" Then he says "This is why 52% of men think that they're smarter than women. And this is why 90% of that 52% really are smarter than women!" Hmph.. we heard this on the news a few days ago and he's been using it against me ever since! Since I'm famous for making silly bimbo comments without thinking.
After my "clever" demonstration of US driving rules... he says, "You always make me worry about you! You know that! Bodoh!"
Before leaving for Indiana, I drove the brother back to Miami with Dong sitting in the front passenger seat. The brother isn't too nervous with my driving. Dong on the other hand, gets a nervous fit whenever I drive. He has criticisms for every "road-move" I make: "Your turn is too wide! It's dangerous!" "Why are you slowing down for the green light? That's dangerous!" "Don't look in the opposite direction too long when you're turning. You should be looking in the same direction as your turn!" "At the red light, remember to stop and check for cars before you turn right!" "Do you check your speed when you're driving? Make sure you check it often and don't go past the speed limit!" and the list goes on... sigh.
Aish. My driving really isn't all that bad! My friends don't really have any qualms about me driving! Plus it's not like I'm all that new of a driver. Tsk tsk. What is it about guys thinking that they're always better drivers than girls? Well maybe they are, but some of us girls aren't all that bad of drivers!! Then he tells me: "For as long as I'm around, you're not driving. It's too scary!" Guys always over-exaggerate our supposedly horrible driving skills!!!! Then when I explain why I slowed down even though it was a green light because we're supposed to slow down since traffic from the left side of that road is also green and since I'm turning, I'm supposed to see if there's cars from the left side yada yada (I sounded so confident too!)... he tells me "No! It's only for oncoming traffic that you have to look out for. It's only when there's oncoming traffic and you want to turn across that oncoming traffic that you have to wait for the oncoming traffic to clear and then turn! Oncoming traffic only!" My reply sheepishly, "Oh, it's green light for us and only oncoming traffic? Not for other directions, only oncoming traffic?! Ya hor.. I should know this!" Then he says "This is why 52% of men think that they're smarter than women. And this is why 90% of that 52% really are smarter than women!" Hmph.. we heard this on the news a few days ago and he's been using it against me ever since! Since I'm famous for making silly bimbo comments without thinking.
After my "clever" demonstration of US driving rules... he says, "You always make me worry about you! You know that! Bodoh!"
Thursday, January 6, 2011
It's the end of Winter Break!
It is 6 years into the new year of 2011. Happy New Year everyone! Did you make any resolutions? I haven't really. Well, actually, Dong forced me to make the resolution of exercising more. It's a good resolution. Since I am horrible at exercising and keeping fit. I guess another resolution of mine is to be better organized financially. Especially since I am pretty much rather broke. Bank account content reduced dramatically immediately when I made the payment for my car. A 2005 Honda Civic. Silver. 59,000 miles. Found it online 3 weeks before I bought it. It was on the market for 3 weeks and maybe longer, so I decided that it was meant for me. It's been on the market for that long... because it's been waiting for me. :) Hence.. I claimed it. Paid for it. And bought it. Peekture of my Honda to come soon!
This 3 weeks of break came with so many happy occasions. The first being Dong's graduation. I am so proud of you my love. I know this diploma has been more of a challenge to you compared to all of us, and I am so so so happy for you.
Christmas with the Vus in California was amazing. Spending a week in California has made me want to move there if I ever stay in the US in the future. It has just the right amount of 'city' feel to it. Not too much to the point where it's crazy crowded. Awesome scenery from just about everywhere you look. The shopping there is a plus too! haha. And the not-bitter-cold winters, oh so appealing! And the food! Oh the food. :)
It was so wonderful to spend Christmas with family. To see Rachel and Chinh together as newlyweds for the first time was weird, and happy at the same time. It's so weird to think that she's married. Somehow my cousins will always just be young girls to me. Sure, she's older than me... but I will still just always think of all of us as little girls holding hands with each other every time we meet up. Young girls who parade their poofy-sleeve, can-can, lacy dresses during Chinese New Year. It's weird seeing one of us all grown up and living a new life, a life away from home and all that is familiar. Seeing my cousin now making a home for her husband, keeping house for the both of them and making new friends and family makes me so proud of her. Love you cousin!
So.. three weeks of break has gone by and it's almost time to get back to the roll of grad school. I have successfully completed my first semester of grad school and I am relieved. And excited for not just surviving it, but actually doing great in it! :)
Second semester is not going to be easier that's for sure. Language Disorders in Adults, Motor Disorders of Speech and Stuttering. Should I add the Autism class to my list? Hmm... I might just end up doing so.
No more talk about break. Now it's just going to be talk about work work work.
This 3 weeks of break came with so many happy occasions. The first being Dong's graduation. I am so proud of you my love. I know this diploma has been more of a challenge to you compared to all of us, and I am so so so happy for you.
Congratulations BT! :)
Dayana's wedding was next. Drove 7 hours to Carbondale, Illinois with Joliana and the bro to attend Dayana's kenduri. My first time driving on the highway in the US. And what more, for 7 hours! I finally finally conquered my fear of driving in the US. Dayana my dear, I am so so so happy for you! I wish you and Zharif all the happiness in the world.
Thank you for letting me be a part of your happy occasion!
It was so wonderful to spend Christmas with family. To see Rachel and Chinh together as newlyweds for the first time was weird, and happy at the same time. It's so weird to think that she's married. Somehow my cousins will always just be young girls to me. Sure, she's older than me... but I will still just always think of all of us as little girls holding hands with each other every time we meet up. Young girls who parade their poofy-sleeve, can-can, lacy dresses during Chinese New Year. It's weird seeing one of us all grown up and living a new life, a life away from home and all that is familiar. Seeing my cousin now making a home for her husband, keeping house for the both of them and making new friends and family makes me so proud of her. Love you cousin!
Great California cousin love!
So.. three weeks of break has gone by and it's almost time to get back to the roll of grad school. I have successfully completed my first semester of grad school and I am relieved. And excited for not just surviving it, but actually doing great in it! :)
Second semester is not going to be easier that's for sure. Language Disorders in Adults, Motor Disorders of Speech and Stuttering. Should I add the Autism class to my list? Hmm... I might just end up doing so.
No more talk about break. Now it's just going to be talk about work work work.
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