Pilates class :)
After weeks of inactive-ness I have decided to do something that may require me to perspire. There are FREE pilates classes in school and i have decided to give it a try though its conducted in Polish. I have done pilates in Singapore and i thought that the session here wouldnt be too different. The physical movements were challenging (maybe cox i have not been exercising for quite a while :) but the most interesting thing to me was to attend a class that i have totally no idea what the instructor was saying. With the amount of food i eat everyday... I have decided to go for this class every week.
This is the second week of school... it has been pretty enjoyable so far. In fact, i feel that i enjoy studying much more over here than in Singapore. It could be that im interested in the subjects that i have chosen.. it maybe cox its a new environment.... Most of the european friends that i know are Master holders. The intention to taking on a master's programme was never so strong when im in Singapore. But after being in Europe for awhile and looking at those job requirements it seems that having Masters maybe necessary soon. But how useful is it? And when should you take up the programme? Straight after Bachelors like most europeans do and have a higher chance of getting employed? Or after a few years of working experience and you would like to make career switch/ take a break etc.
Im also this book right now: What colour is your parachute by Richard N. Bolles. I have gained a few insights from this book and i will blog about it on the next entry.
Thats all for now... Ciao!
jaded ja ja ja jaded
Just got home from clubbing, and feel immensely jaded (and hungry, am indulging myself in the coffee cake I bought today as I type, one of the few indulgences I have here. J)
It could be the weariness, could be PMS-ing, could be the bad music, could be me really jaded. Tonight’s party was boring with a capital B, unlike yesterday’s with all the exchange students from my university. And it was really nice, cos you kinda now most people in the club and its nice just to mingle with people you are more or less comfortable with, thought I wouldn’t say totally comfortable. It’s like no matter what, you have to make an effort to make conversations (not always a chore though) and to look cool. Yeah, people long for acceptance everywhere they go and to be the minority in such a big group really sets you apart – in a good and bad way.
But anyway, I think there are too many Singaporeans. If you combine the students from both universities, there are like 8 or 9 of us. We are a contingency man. Its good and its bad. Sometimes when you just wanna relax and be totally comfortable with a group of people you dun have to impress at all, they are there. And really, nothing beats having people from the same country as you cos that’s a really strong bond you share. But then again, it makes it harder for you to blend in with the rest of the exchange students. The Singaporeans tend to clique together, and its not like we want to – we just do. But in the case of me and jace, its not that bad cos we arrived earlier and have already blended in pretty well with the rest of the exchange students, and we are living on the most happening floor of the hostel. Woohoo.
I’m trying to get the root of my jaded-ness. (I still don’t know) That’s why im here writing down my thoughts instead of heading straight to bed after partying, like I usually do. All these partying.. I dunno la, its quite unfulfilling. And people here party so much, they party for everything and drink beer like its water. It’s the culture. It’s fun no doubt, and I love partying myself. But when u party too much, you just wonder why u do it.
I always knew that im an individualistic person, sometimes I end up being selfish (it’s a thin line), unfriendly and very ‘dao’. Actually im quite like that, jace calls me ice queen. To be honest, I like the term but its not exactly the best thing in the world to be. Nobody is going to bother about an ice queen, UNLESS you are a super gorgeous hot babe. Which im obviously not. I just do what I like what, there’s nothing wrong. But no man’s an island, im friendly but im not always friendly. And I usually am not very kpo or take interest in the business of others ( a trait I think some girls should inherit) and cos of that, I dun usually judge others or gossip also. (ITS TRUE..haha) cos I dun care. But this thing about me not caring ah…really puts me in a bad light sometimes. Pple think im damn bo chup and damn dao, and that makes it harder to make frens. And the thing is, I don’t know if I should try to change. If I don’t care, I don’t care right. But..
Nothing. Nothing is ever about just you. I believe however small your action is, it’ll always affect someone/something else.
Im really tired. Tiredness overwhelmed all trend of thought.
Good nite.
1st week of school
School has started! This first week of school has been somewhat hectic cos we’ve just been busy looking for classes to attend. Hah, cos they keep changing the schedule. But so far, the courses I’ve been attending are really interesting (except for a few boring ones, which u can be sure im dropping).I feel quite motivated to learn here actually, its all so interesting learning about things that are happening here in Europe. Like unifying Europe to be the United States of Europe, and it has actually been an age old issues plaging the continent since before WWI. But I’ve never really considered these issues. They are the ideals of certain leaders, but at the same time, wars have torn the continent apart and many smaller countries are all wanting to gain independence. Like the previous Yugoslavia and czech & slovakia. And then when you split up and become independent, as a small country you’ll have to worry about defence and other issues which Singapore faces.
Countries like Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, Belarus were all like Greek to me. Now, I know where Greece is and Greek do not sound like that. Haha. And there’s more, wait till u hear all the piao piao names of towns and cities in like France and Germany. Like lille, which you know only cos you watch soccer. :P bleah.
We met 2 french guys here from lille, thanks to JE. Florent and Franck, whose names I have still not mastered to pronounce it the right French way. Its quite amazing how we get along, cos Flo’s English can be quite confounding sometimes. But then we can still joke and talk about politics. Haha. I think its quite amazing..really. And I laugh at his English all the time. And I have a tiny suspicion he’s younger than me. Umm.. I’ll ask him soon. But anyway, we are the buddy buddy type of frens la. You have no idea how happy me and Jace were when Franck talked about his girlfren. Haha. I think we xiao… but then its really great, cos then we really can be buddies. J
I wish I could tell u guys each and every person I’ve met here. Cos I have a story to tell for each of them.. the Slovenian who’s curses in the funniest way ever, the argentinian Harry potter who makes me laugh all the time, the GERMANS, oh my gosh, the germans. They remind me sooo much of Adrian. They are a smart and witty bunch, a bunch I like a lot. But ah.. ummm.
Anyway ah, I cant upload pics leh.. I dun have that ‘toolbar’ on my screen to upload pics. L
CNY pics....
Not having CNY in singapore is really q different. Well.. at least we have each other here in Warsaw... here are some pics...
Our Jelly....wahhaha
Food....
More pics of Warsaw.....
End of Soviet Union in Warsaw
New Town..
Old town....
Rabbit Hunting....
Clubbing.. (Antonio, Elayne, Jace, Emily, Zoe, Alberto,Oihana)
Gong Xi fa cai
Happy CNY everyone! :) Its my first CNY spent overseas..and it feels very very different here. In fact,it doesnt feel like anything at all. Everything goes on as usual and nothing is red in the atmosphere, in fact, its all white and snowy.
So we.. wore red and partied at Elayne's (another singaporean exchange student) place. :) We cooked curry, bak kut teh, konyaku, bee hoon and to cater to the polish guests we had salad and rivoli. haha. its was nice.. we even had mini fireworks! The kind that shoots into the sky.. SO it was pretty nice after all.. :) Except its totally with ang baos..
Greetings!
Hey guys!
Finally I’m writing something. It’s already been close to 2 weeks here and i’m getting used to the life here already. The cold, the people, the hostel, shared toilet, cooking my own dinner, blah blah blah.
I guess the life of an exchange student can be summed up in a word.
Party.
It’s in the programme.
And its everynight. Every single night of this week, but this crazi-ness will water down after orientation week I guess. Its been pretty fun so far, and believe it or not, its been pretty clean partying fun at the parties. Im quite surprised myself, I thought there would be more hanky panky and outrageous stuff at the clubs, but there’s nothing you wouldn’t see at a Singapore club. Or…umm…maybe pple are warmed up.
I’ve met and talked and socialized with so many many pple from all over the world these past 2 weeks I think its quite amazing. And with all that socializing and exposure, you tend to think a lot more about the things around you.
I think the 1 thing I really wanted to get out of my exchange experience was Self-discovery. (besides all the fun & traveling) I constantly remind myself of that so I won’t go off track, and so far its been great.
Haven’t had that much time as I’d love to do all the self-reflection, because of allll that parties during orientation week, but sometimes you just take a step back and look at all the people around you (especially at parties) and voila, its like a new revelation of pple.
I’ve wanted to throw myself into the deep end of the pool and see how I swim, well, but actually I already did that in India. But well, somehow there were people around who took care of me. Im always blessed with such great pple around me, I think maybe God knows this woman really cannot take care of herself. (Well, God I can. I think I can. Hehe) And here in Poland, I have my life buoy of some sorts Ms Chong Jace. Haha.
She’s quite motherly. Always nag at me to drink water.
Anyway, I know pple look for different experiences on exchange. Some pple just want lots of fun and to escape from the bondage at home for a while. I’d say exchange is great for that, you can do WHATEVER u want. The only person you have to answer to, though is, yourself. (and God.. but later though. Hehe)
Meeting so many people just opens your eyes on the different KINDS of pple there are in this world. Really..i mean, it sounds cliché and it sounds like yah, I meet a lot of people in Singapore too. But its different. People from different countries really act differently because of the upbringing, culture and history they bring with them. Some people can really be very innocent and happy, some are really smart, some are plain nice from the bottom of their heart, some just wanna get fresh with you, some are just racist, some seems like bad pple at first but are actually nice and vice versa and so on.. its hard to imagine there are so many types of people sometimes. I mean u know it, but its hard to imagine.
Ok, other heavy stuff for another time.
Happy CNY everyone. And I dunno how to add a tagboard, so leave comments k.
Love ya all
@ Poland... 1st entry!
Emily.. where are u? Anywayz im going to enter the first entry of this blog.. too bad for u :P Hey wanna thank all those who came to the airport to see us off. Its just a pity that we didnt have much time to talk to all of u. The excess baggage was a huge problem for us, before we even depart we fumble like mad. I will show u my 37 kg stuffs in a while :)
My family!
Ping, Jace, Cher
Liwei, Jace
As promised the 37KG pic
I think emily and i just have no luck with the airports. In poland airport we made a huge blunder too but it will be kept as a personal joke! hahaa
Its great to have someone to take care of you in a foreign land. I was so happy to see Jingen at the airport. JE thanks for everything- from picking us up at the airport to carrying out heavy luggage... THANKS :)
Jingen, Emzie
Jace, Jingen
New mall in Warsaw~ snow patches on the floor :P
Just moved into Sabinki yesterday. Its really interesting to stay in the dormitory. My roommate is Ruth and shes from Germany and my neigbours are Spanishs, Hungarians, Greek, etc... Woohoooooo
Before
and After!
The ability to speak the same language is powerful. Here in Poland, i experienced so some difficulties in getting things done because I do not how to speak Polish. Everywhere you go, you need a Pole to get you around- its so hard that I cant even pronunciate the street name!
Hey emily... start writing something!
