miércoles, 31 de diciembre de 2008

Year 2008

2008 is coming to an end. and it's funny becos as i'm writing this entry, i'm listening to Little Christmas Tree. i love how christmas songs always make you feel a sense of nostalgia. as if my surroundings have turned into a scene from an old english movie - it's snowing outside but the room is warmed by a fire by the corner.

at the start of 2008, i had a strange feeling that all was about to change. it hadn't been like 2007. somehow i knew fantasies and adventures were about to unfold. and it did. joa and i got together, we travelled to beijing and met so many wonderful people, got married and are now about to have our first child. and just as the same it had been a year ago, i know 2009 holds its own mysteries too. i know that our lives can only get better.

therefore, my new year's resolution:

1. be the best writer i can be
2. be the best mother i can be
3. be the best wife i can be
4. be the best daughter i can be
5. be the best friend i can be

be of good cheer everyone! the best is yet to come!

lunes, 29 de diciembre de 2008

Christmas 2008




Happy Christmas. meals with close friends, gift exchange and feasts with families -- service too: our first cosy christmas together :)

lunes, 15 de diciembre de 2008

updates

job hunting has never felt this disheartening. my job search since coming back home has been futile. five interviews, i've been, and none, if they hadn't minded the fact that i'm pregnant, would have minded the fact that my specialisation in writing simply does not make me the all-rounded and experienced in all aspects executive that they'd like me to be.

so i'm facing rejection in my own country from my own people whom at this precarious time has chosen to lean towards multi-skills and experienced people whom can be paid less yet can manage a several portfolios all at once with little or no guidance.

i'm admiring my friends who are able to go to work everyday, dress up to the nines and have money to buy whatever they like. i'm stuck with shopping at maternity shops, trying to save whatever i can for the baby, and trying to decide what to do from now till next april.

but the days are flying by fast. already, i'm 20 weeks pregnant and due for a FA scan this friday. Dr Cheng will check all of Little J's organs and his facial features. i pray for zero defects and no cleft lip.

now tat i'm (not being arrogant here, but really) "basking in marital bliss", i cannot help but feel distant from all the love woes that my friends are going through. in most situations now, i feel more like a guru, as if a graduate from the school of courtship and romance. still i remind myself that i can still, fall into the same category of heartache and blindness.

i've always believed in love at first sight. and i'm lucky to have experienced it twice. the first was a wonderful, unforgettable experience. the second, a destruction. love can be beautiful and sweet. but it can also steal and destroy. i believe the best kind of love comes with a common understanding, with a mutual sense of humour and principles. love, when it ends, can either bring you a new confidante, or lead in an enemy for life. so love is unpredictable. and it's always good to just cruise on and see where the tide takes you.

christmas is coming. it's next week. but i'm not so excited. there's no christmas mood in the air and simply no money for presents and big feast. but i know, this is the first and last christmas that joa and i will have with each other. next year, we'll have a little elf destroying our peace and quiet.

i'm wondering what kind of a mother i'll make and what will overcome me when i first set my eyes on my little boy. will i cry or will i not like the way he looks?

sábado, 6 de diciembre de 2008

the worst nightmare

i mentioned in the last entry about how i was catching on the tragedy of the Singaporean victim at the Mumbai shootout. watching all the footage and reading all the news about lo's husband and family really reminded me on the pain of losing a loved one. it's almost impossible to imagine facing the loss of either/ both of my parents or joa. just thinking about it makes me feel like dying myself.

last week, W talked about how she'd attended a wake. her co-worker's dad had died of cancer and he was only 55. the touching eulogies reminded her of how much time she'd left with her own dad. hearing her recounting the experience almost made me cry. my dad is 57 this year and the mean age of men in singapore is about 65-70. so that leaves me with less than 10 more years with him. i'd always dreamt and talked about going away to taiwan again to live and work. but after that night, i made up my mind. we're staying put and i'm determined to spend as much time as i can with my parents.

also, i ought to learn to help around the house a little instead of leaving it all to my mum. my room is dust-free (even under the bed!) and so neat. why can't i just make things easier for her by just helping out in little ways like washing my own mug instead of leaving it at the table?! and why can't i just get down to downloading some nice tunes into her new shuffle for her?! it's been almost 3 weeks since she asked me to!

i'm a bad, bad daughter.

with so many unfortunate events going around, it dawned on me how birthday parties, weddings, and get-togethers are such wonderful occasions. i used to hate going to such events where you just had to posed 'happy', but really, they're so much a better cause for cheer than having someone sick or dying. i remember how happy every guests (well, most) were at the wedding. their smiles, their congratulations. i think what really made it so unforgettable was seeing how everyone was in such high spirits, and nevermind that some were obviously drunk.

yeah, i realised how happy we all shd be when invited to a party. esp now that christmas is just around the corner, go gather some cousins, families and close friends and have a merry time! speaking of which, we girls are rounding up a christmas buffet dinner at parkroyal on beach road on the 20th. everyone has to bring a date and it'll be a great evening just chatting over free flow food and a chocolate fountain! can't wait!

jueves, 4 de diciembre de 2008

what do i do when i have nothing to do?

job hunting has never felt this dismaying. first of all, i'm not exactly enthusiastic about going back to work in hectic singapore and two, i'm often feel too sick to send resumes. it's true. the latter is not an excuse. every mid-day noon, i'll be struck with a terribly throbbing heading that feels like a little man pounding a hammer at the back of my brain. it's so bad, i have to lie on my back and sleep for two hours!

but staying at home is plain boring. and frankly, i can't wait to get back to working again.

i'm absolutely crazy over the new 9pm serial, Little Nonya. Jeannette Aw, with her doe-eyes looks a beautiful picture and having her talk or play mute is equally irritating. Joa mimics her sign languages all the time attempting that innocent victimised expression which is quite hilarious. but anyway, i'm hot on the heels with the show, even though reviews say it's a real lousy and unrealistic story plot - like how did yueniang get from singapore to malacca during the war-torn era all by her 8-yr-old self is still a mystery to the both of us.

i'm well into my 18th week - or is it the 19th week - as you would notice, i've lost count. last two weeks, i bought several dresses, 2 maxis, 1 black lil' dress, 1 blue spag dress and a black m'phosis short thing. mum thinks they are all way too small for pregnancy but i think they'll do fine at least for the coming one, two months. i'm unable to fit into my usual clothes, not even my shorts.

i was going to talk about the recent terrorism attack in india (an attempt to sound so on the know about current affairs). anyway, will do next time. i dunno why i ranted on and on and boring you with silly things, but yes, i'm frustrated that i. haven't. got. A. JOBB!!!

ok. there, there.

miércoles, 26 de noviembre de 2008

jueves, 20 de noviembre de 2008

updates

jas commented that S diary is boring in comparison with the old wordpress one. i can't agree more. it's strange how when life is going slightly better for one that you'd just run out of inspiration to write. like there's no heartache, no lonely nights pining for anyone, and also the fact that i'm back in sg and everything around me worth writing about (food reviews, shopping, movies, books, etc) has been written about by my compatriots that i just cannot find a niche anymore. so yes, so there.

just some updates: we're officially married for 12 days and we still talk about how it's so bizzarre that we are actually arre married. and to one another! i wonder if all other newly married couples feel the same? strange, weird, surreal, constantly-have-to-remind-oneself of reality. we're still trying to accomodate both our lifestyles and habits into my room that's good for one. the wardrobe is too small and there's only one desk so either one of us have to sit on the bed to use the laptop at any time. also trying to integrate into each others' families, which has been quite smooth. it's just that joa has to be a bit more candid around my family who are as usual, too welcoming that they make him feel bad.

he said this morning that we need to make this marriage a bit more 'normal' before we can feel like we are married. when i asked him to explain, he said we both need jobs and we need our own place. although i can't agree more, but i love living under the same roof as my parents. i love sitting around and gossiping with my bro and mum and talking about car prices with dad. most of all, i love having joa at the family mealtimes and see him trying to make conversations. it's when i feel most blessed, and at the peak of my happiness. to me, those moments make it more than enough.

on hindsight, joa and i have taken things a bit too quickly. but i realised that's how things in my life go usually. sometimes it's just that i'm the impulsive sort, but most of the times, circumstances just lead things towards that way. i still think about china a lot - the good the bad, the ugly the beautiful. how i can't wait to go back and have xiabu xiabu with mandy again and how i must go back to drag my ex-landlady to prison for cheating us of our deposit.

Little J is 16 weeks old and at yesterday's measurement, was 11.2cm while in a curled up and odd position. dr cheng got a bit frustrated becos baby was lying bottom up and he could not measure him properly. joa shrieked when he saw some startling movements on the screen and there was that moment there. but otherwise, dr cheng said both our intuition that Little J was gonna be a gal is wrong. i actually felt she was he but i didnt want to seem like i'd favour a boy more becos frankly, i dun quite mind.

joa was really happy at the news and so's everyone even though mum was preferring a gal becos my cousins who lives just down the road has four boys and everyone was hoping i'd have a gal for novelty's sake. now that we're expecting a fifth boy, everyone's picturing a monkey house.

i miss beijing. i miss my walk to work in the mornings and my evening walks home. i love how there's always something to look forward to. something new to do, to see, and to explore. even tho i sometimes hated being there, but there's still a kind of charm to it. i wish i cd be there in winter again. i think it was even different for joa and i there.

miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 2008

martes, 11 de noviembre de 2008

our wedding

okay, i haven't got any pics yet. but soon, it'll come. everyone's been asking me how's married life. frankly, joa and i woke up the next morning feeling the same as ever. the day was like a good dream dreamed. it was exhausting, lots of rushing, and walking gingerly to avoid tripping over. my feet hurt, and i was over-conscious of my heavy make up and backward hairdo.

but overall, it was a wonderful day. everyone seemed to have enjoyed it, although we did notice a few troubled faces. but we wished we cd have sat around to entertain more. the ballroom was awfully crowded, excuse us. becos his dad had so many friends to invite! but it had been a nice cosy atmosphere and i liked it that it was so personal, at least we tried to make it be - hand-drawn portraits, dedications, and entertain wherever possible.

thanks to all who made it so lovely for us. it's an unforgettable experience. my family and my close chums, u all made it such a beautiful day :)

now that the gown fitting days are over, i'm happy to go back to being pregnant and not having to suck in my tummy. little J is about 15 weeks old and i must say it's a wonderful experience being pregnant.

we received some vouchers in an angpow and joa said i cd buy maternity clothes with it. omg, i can't imagine myself getting bigger. but it's a wonderful feeling feeling for my expanding belly in the middle of the nights and in the morning when i wake up.

joa's really envious and wish he knew wat it all felt like. it's an incredible experience, i tell ya! *winks*

lunes, 3 de noviembre de 2008

hen's night

nothing naughty, just close chums over nice food and waffles. it was a quiet night though. didn't get much gossip going - since everyone we gossipped about were present!- and no sex talk since W wasn't too comfortable. we shopped for lingerie and i got two blue panties for the day :)
anyway, back to the previous post. joa and resolved it eventually. he gave me a dressing down for my overreaction. so we made up.
wedding is going on as planned on sunday. still need to confirm the itinerary, and the story montage. i have a zit on the right of my chin and i realised to my horror last night that my tummy is starting to show.
btw, little J is some 7 cm in length and now has a spine and a nose bridge. amazing! i can't wait till sunday gets over with so i can just relax and not worry about having to fit into the gowns.

domingo, 2 de noviembre de 2008

second thoughts

this is my 3rd draft. i'm disappointed beyond words.

domingo, 26 de octubre de 2008

jitters or is it just me.

is it the jitters that's setting in now or is it just my paranoia. i seem to feel nothing is quite unusual about the impending wedding. i'm sure i haven't found the perfect gowns, selected the right colours for my sisters, and made the right choice for the bedsheets. i somehow feel every decision was made in a mad rush. i wasn't given enough time to ponder, to research, and to deliberate.

of cos i'm thankful for the wondrous people who've been putting in the hours to help while i struggle with all these uncertainties. but my body's in the worst shape. my tummy is starting to bulge, my face is breaking out. i can't exercise, i can't eat less, and i can't stop putting on weight.

i dun think i will be the perfect bride i've always dreamt of being. everyone else has the prettiest face, the shapiest body and the best gowns. but not me. suddenly i feel terrified. i'm scared to face the day, the guests, and even receiving the well wishes feels ill-deserved.

viernes, 24 de octubre de 2008

first counselling session

joa and i went for our first counselling session with Jon, the counsellor who saw me through insanity. i think it was a really fruitful time.

we had arrived some ten minutes early so we decided to take the time and list down the challenges that we face in our rs. him, fear of not being able to be a good husband/ dad; me, unwilling to let go of the past and insecurities of the future.

jon was a star and he guided us through understanding each other's behaviour, reaction and finally the various ways to resolve the challenges. the most important of all, jon made us realise that this wedding, although abrupt as it is, has indeed been part of the plan in our relationship. he also helped me to see why joa has chosen me as his life partner and helped joa understand why i sometimes question his love.

as we headed home, we both felt refreshed to embark on this new journey together. marriage is not just positive emotions and hectic wedding preparations. i think after today, i feel more assured that this is the path that i won't regret.

joa was saying he has a feeling our baby is a girl. i'm starting to think so too although i'm really not sure since the odds are the same.

yesterday we were at the bridal shop when the lady remarked aloud that my stomach had since grew "so big, so fast". god, i was dead embarrassed. so i said it might be all the milo and good food i've been feasting on. it's strange how i'm looking forward to the baby rather than the wedding. and i have to constantly remind myself to eat the less fattening food and move about more so i offset the pounds somehow.

i'm a bride-to-be that doesn't have to go on a strict diet and exercise to lose weight. i wonder if it's a pity or a bad thing. but it's official - i'm 12+ weeks pregnant and my tummy is starting to show (as per everyone's remark). oh god, not good for a wedding dress. i'd be 15 weeks by then!

miércoles, 22 de octubre de 2008

me the painter

in face of tensions at home, i decided to stay the night at joa's home. it was just as well too since he'd needed help to paint our new room. together, we selected a light misty pink to coat over the existing slate blue. all in all, we put on about 2 coats, some parts requiring thicker application.
joa was completely exhausted since all i cd do was up to the highest i cd reach (he didnt allow me to stand on any chair). but after two hours, i felt a sharp pain in the back of my hips and actually lost my balance while squatting and fell on my bum. since then, it's been quite painful and have gotten worse now. i can't bend over, squat or sit for v long becos then it'll hurt so bad i can't straighten my legs.

our scanteak bed is arriving tmr and so is the Jewel Box mum bought me - actually, a dressing table with little drawers and compartments and has doors to close up like a jewel box. it's really pretty and i can't wait to put up all my make-up and accessories.

wedding haven't done list:
1. couple video
2. updated itinerary
3. church registration
4. dinner seating arrangement
5. love songs to play during dinner
6. tea ceremony car allocation
7. groom's gift
8. room and house decoration
9. march-in fanfare x2
10. buy new bedsheets & bolster
i'm sure there's so much more. i just can't think of what.

lunes, 20 de octubre de 2008

when family knows you least

i had planned for a quiet cosy night in. my bro was coming home late from school and i had looked forward to just having a casual chat with him as he and mum tuck into their late dinner. alas, everything went awry. unkind words, heavy sentiments of misunderstandings and a flurry of emotions were exchanged over the dinner table.

after storming back to my room and giving the door a big loud slam, tears of fury stung my eyes and spilled over. at this point, i am overwhelmed with anger, immense disappointment, and great indignation. i realised my family perhaps understands me the least. the people whom i hold most dear, my mum and brother, clearly do not appreciate the person that i am, and have demonstrated their total ignorance about who i really am, my values, my principles, my integrity and all the lessons that my past has taught me.

often, my mum and brother use my past to dig into my person. they continue to mock at me, thinking it's some great joke of the century. of course i know my mum love me. but i'm starting to realise my brother's intentions are not just fun-loving.

this is terribly disappointing. during a period which i'd thought they had been the most encouraging; during which i kept telling people how great a confidante my brother was and how comforting my mum has been, and then i realise that i was wrong - that really, they thought i'd brought it on to myself and as a result had been a great burden to them.

my bro, who always almost seem like an honourable decent chap is really a liar, a conniver and an insensitive cold-hearted creature like the ernie toy in his room. he doesnt care about us as kinship, doesnt think to give, and doesn't display form of compassion for my ageing parents. i'm starting to suspect he's disassociated himself emotionally from us and only holds the least respect for our parents simply becos they brought him up.

i'm starting to lose trust in him, lose faith for him. i think i've confided in the wrong person all these years. he doesn't care. and it's time i realised.

i'm hurt. i miss the distance i had from them while i was away. but the child in me ties me to our roots. i want to ring joa up and tell him all about it. but i tink i shd cool down first. i need to pour it out, retreat into myself and calm myself down to carry on with my ongoing duties.

suddenly i wish i cd just pull out of the wedding. i dun think i want to live with them knowing that they see me as this useless fool of the family. i'd rather not marry, return to beijing and live without them. maybe this will help them appreciate me more.

domingo, 12 de octubre de 2008

xephr

Xephr, 16 months old. too cute.

viernes, 10 de octubre de 2008

home yummy home!

we're back. and for the past week we've been doing nothing but making preparations for the wedding. i'm so thankful for supportive parents, excited friends and cousins who have offered to help and all the wonderful people who have been sending us well wishes thru the web.


the flight back was smooth and relaxing. SIA is really the best way to fly. courteous hostesses, satisfactory food (altho they forgot the ice cream dessert), great movie entertainment and a total new makeover! wonderful!

joa and i have been having a great time eating and enjoying the local fare. but i did realise the sausage mcmuffin in singapore ain't as delicious as the ones in beijing. it's somewat sweeter. but otherwise, everything else has been wonderful. chicken rice, nasi lemak, kway chap ... all at my reach!


i'm putting on weight. which is bad. and the symptoms are getting more frequent. i am exhausted half the time and now joa has to do more of my chores for me. but he's been very sweet and attentive. i feel like a lucky girl. it's been a long long time since i last felt this way.

martes, 30 de septiembre de 2008

@Sanlitun Apple Store

final night in beijing.

viernes, 26 de septiembre de 2008

last day @ HighTeam

this is going to be the last time i'm posting an entry from my office on the 21st floor. i can still remember my first day being greeted by the magnificent view from the window where i sit. the past 6 months have been wonderful albeit short. passing grins from colleagues and hostility from some oddballs.
i've grown accustomed to the loud chattering going on in heavy-accented mandarin that i cannot understand 50% of the time, the gossips with the gals, and the privilege of coming in late and knocking off early everyday.
joa and i have an almost perfect life here in china and we'd certainly continue had we more options. we leave on wednesday. in a way, i'm glad i'm heading home and bringing all that i have built here in china. i miss singapore food, the clean air, and the largely non-smoking areas. i miss my friends and little nephews and can't wait to head back and give them all a big tight hug.
after this, i will start to pack up. already, someone's eyeing on my desk space.

Pop! Goes the question

a huge bouquet of flowers had arrived for me at about 5pm. it was accompanied with a postcard which joa had written a lovely message. in it, he said if i was willing to "have him", then would i go to my office lobby so he could ask me "the most important question".

i went down but i cdn't find him. so i went up again and just as i'd reached my desk, he'd rang me and said i'd just walked by him. he was at the door. we went to a secluded stairway where he got down on one knee and nervously posed the question.

he said the five roses in the bouquet represented 'No regrets'. my engagement ring was a gold ribbon lined with small diamonds. *smiles*

jueves, 25 de septiembre de 2008

final week in beijing

it's hard to believe that my whole beijing escapade is coming to an end. sure, this isn't the most glamorous city to be. but at the end of it, i feel it like a second home.

the beginning of it hadn't been easy. there had been wild times and terribly exhausting times. i met some of the most incredible people and gained the most incredible insights to a culture that's so close to my roots yet so distant from my heart.

there are things i loathe about it here. lots of it. the bad service, the lousy food, and the fact that you smell cigarette smoke everywhere you go. but at the end of it, there's so much to see, learn, and assimilate out here. i love the vastness of china, the endless tales of its history, the kindred spirits of the people, and the whole new me that it's brought out.

i feel like a renewed person. i have a newfound self, a newfound love, a newfound career, and a newfound life. perhaps it's really time to return to singapore. i'm starting to miss family and familiar food sorely. this time when i return, i hope to be a better person. to be inculcated with the values and wisdom that this culture has instilled me with.

china is a wonderful country. it's beautiful and the people are amazing. only being an in-between chinese would make you realise this. thomas always lament about how the chinese never want to take pictures with him. instead, they'd rush for the typically blond-haired white man. thing is, mandy also told me that it's the same kind of excitement people would have taking pics with the ape in the zoo.

i'm sometimes bewildered when foreigners tell me how friendly the locals are. the truth is, chinese are extremely nationalistic and rascist in the way that they always only watch out for their own. and i tink that's commendable. if only singaporeans would think this way too instead of esteeming eurasians and overseas chinese who talk with a western accent. now if you ask me, that's despicably hypocritical.

domingo, 21 de septiembre de 2008

lavender!

we walked by some lavenders when we walked between two subway stations. autumn has arrived in beijing and the cool wind and sun rays feels soft and soothing. we spent the weekend mostly browsing through rings at departmental stores and am now happy and proud to annouce that yes, we've found The One and The Pair. of cos it all didnt come without some arguing in front of pushy sales gals who were overly generous with their flatterings.

i'd always dreamt of a heart-shaped solitaire for an engagement ring and a pair of blue as sea sapphires set on platinum for wedding bands. but joa felt solitaires were boring and sapphire rings look too tacky. so in the end, we settled on a matt rose gold diamond band with chinese inspired design for our bands and he seletected an engagement ring that was a little more creative.

work this week will be monotonous as i embark on my final week. joa and i are really excited to head back. and we've even started to plan a simple wedding affair for 9 Nov, sun. it's my parents' wedding anniversary and it's always been a wish to be married on that day. so when i realised it falls on a sunday, i immediately claimed it. most of the nice hotels are fully booked so we're left with little choices. but mum and dad are really wonderful to help out with the inspections and bookings.

we're likely to do away with the holy matrimony and tea ceremony and just hold the ROM before the dinner/ lunch which mum prefers it to be a "family affair" that's cosy and meaningful. there's so many things to prepare and we're so pressed for time. atm, we've shortlisted Goodwood Park and Raffles Hotel. my parents are not keen on sentosa even tho both of us are. and they hope we'll have a traditional chinese fare. joa and i were talking about giving it a theme - like oriental-inspired theme. so everyone has to be dressed 'mandarin'. he even quipped about calling it 'My best friend's wedding' since we're kind-of marrying our best pal. cute.

anyway, anyone has any suggestions? i wish i cd invite a 3-man band for entertainment. but that'll be extra costs and i'm not sure. oh, and i was also tinking of my fantasty of having free-flow bubble tea. but that's just out-of-the-world funny and unglam. haha. any ideas?

sábado, 20 de septiembre de 2008

10 weeks

i feel so bloated. and i know it's not 'it' and is all the junk that i've been stuffing my face with. nauseaness reassures me that everything is ok. meanwhile. i'm often tired, and have to take an afternoon nap.

also, i'm starting to miss singaporean food. wooh... and all the bubble tea i want. joa and i went shopping for an engagement ring yesterday. it's quite cheap in china. he's thinking of buying me this ring shaped in a ribbon bow. it's cute but i'm unsure if i want to deviate from the classic solitaire which in his words is "so common".

viernes, 19 de septiembre de 2008

teddy bear of a boss

today is my team leader, brian's last day at HT. i tink i'm really fortunate to have met such a wonderful person. it's all thanks to him that i got this job in beijing. in fact i'll never forget that thursday afternoon when i received a call from him inviting me to the interview. i felt a sense of familiarity and comfort. at first i'd thought it was because he was malaysian but it turned out he's one of the best boss i've ever had.

in 2 weeks' time, it'll be our turn to leave beijing. joa is obviously v excited while i'm dreading the transition and the 'music' i have to face once i land in changi airport. but i'm anxiously waiting to return as i worry about the baby's condition. it seems i've facing a risk of 65%. i dun even know if flying is even safe. i feel like a worrywart already. i've to make joa avoid certain 'positions', and i'm suspending my jogging routine. i've not had much morning sickness since last week and that scares me.

overall, i'm eating too much and gaining the pounds. not good if you ask me. too early to be gaining that much. joa tries to stop me but give up when i swear i've no cravings but it's just that i'm really having the hunger pangs. i feel tired all the time. and i've sworn off chinese food. the spicy fumes sickens me and it just occured me i haven't had rice in almost 3 days.

i'm going to miss everything and everyone at HT. u know u get that feeling that everything around u appears foreign once u made ur mind to dislodge? i'm getting that strange, alien feeling now. like i'm misplaced or something. i dun want to pack. i'm too tired to pack. hopefully joa's enthusiasm will help cover my share.

goodbye brian, and good luck!

martes, 16 de septiembre de 2008

macdonald refused to give me sugar in my tea!

china has the worst macdonald services in the world! this morning, i ordered the discount set of a sausage mcmuffin and a coffee - only that i had coffee changed to tea and had to pay an addition 50mao for it, but nvm. and then, they had the nerve to refuse to give me sugar! and that was from the manager. so i asked to see her superior who was this fatty man who told me that sugar only comes with milk tea which is an additional 2kuai and i will get cream and 2 satchets of sugar. this doesnt make sense! but then again, i've been refused no more than 2 satchets of ketchups several times so i've given up on trying to make any sense to them. obviously, they didnt go to macdonald's university for training!

had to remove the last entry becos joa freaked out when he saw it. he has the impression that the whole world reads my blog and our unplanned pregnancy was nothing to be proud of. now that the idea is settling in, our parents have been informed and we've mapped out a plan, we're feeling a lot more optimistic.

i informed my HR yesterday and she said my coming to beijing had been a good thing afterall. that i'm not as sure yet. i mean, i'm still jittery about everything that's to come. i rang up my gynae in singapore to ask him if i shd continue my medication for pcos and he said i shd try to make a trip back to sg asap seeing it is a crucial trimester, esp for patients with pcos.

that afternoon, joa and i went to the hospital to get a first ultrasound scan to make sure 'it' was in the right place. while i was waiting in the room, the lady before me was having her scan so i looked into the monitor and heard the radiologist say she cd not find the heart. i got really nervous but was relieved when she said she located a heartbeat on mine. when i told joa this, he almost cried. he's an emotional wreck now. but he's been really, really sweet to me. making my side of the bed for me in the mornings, being really gentle and considerate and even braved a thunderstorm last nite to fetch me from work becos he wasn't sure if i had a brolly.

we're looking to make our return in early october altho dad is still not talking to me. i'm opting to wait it out here so our families can come to terms with it without having my belly to remind them. but joa is adament that going back is the best thing to do. he even came up with an excel sheet to weigh the pros and cons of us staying on for a year longer which resulted in a breakeven really. but anyway, i'm won over by the thought of better medical care and familiar food.

so i have to relook for a job, and face the music when i get back. but i'm really looking forward to kway chap, hor fun and all the bubble tea that i want. omg, and really, really good service!

miércoles, 10 de septiembre de 2008

mid-autumn weekend

after weeks of isolated weekends at home, i'm really looking forward to heading out this weekend and running wild. joa's ankle is lots better altho he still has to avoid sports of all sorts. work has eased off a little and i feel i really deserve the break this time. it's a long weekend this coming becos of mid-autumn festival. everyone in the company received a mini food hamper with imported goodies: a box of cereal, shandy, sparkling juice and a tin of butter cookies. joa will be delighted when i take it home tonight.
i haven't been feeling tip-top of late. my menses is late (again!), i feel bloated like a cow, and i'm terrified of chinese food. as i'm writing this, i'm feeling really nauseous. i'm not looking forward to lunch, can't think of what to eat, and feel sick in my stomach. i think i need to see a doctor again. but medical in C is really, really lousy. they charge sky high for medicine and the doctors can speak any eng and are not capable of answering my questions.

miércoles, 27 de agosto de 2008

love chips, love you!

our new blog: Love chips, love you

all about chips and all about us!

in shenzhen


my client invited us to shenzhen to attend a conference on monday. they put us up at a luxury hotel where the conference was being held. it was pure bliss. i rang joa, who was nursing a sprained ankle at home, and told him that i'd finally found where i belong. he snapped back and said i shd stay on and never return.

i didnt get to see much of shenzhen. all i know is that the roads are clean and there's lush tropical greenery everywhere just like singapore. in fact, it was the first time i saw palm trees in china! the conference was plain boring so i snuck back to the hotel room after the first hour to nap.

we ate lots of cantonese food. and it was a good respite from the northern oily and salty palate that i'm still not used to. '粤菜' they call it, taste close to home. lots of ginger and garlic flavour, shrimp sauce, salty fish ... e-fu noodle, char siew pau ... all my favourite things!

breakfast was a spread. pancake, crepes, waffles, french toast, sausages, hashbrown, porridge, cereal, fruits, muffins, and so much more. i had a soak in the jacuzzi spa in my hotel room with the TV in the toilet on. i rang up the concierge and made silly requests just to have the chamber ladies run up to my room to deliver more shampoo, fruits and water.

saw the picture above? that's not a beach. that's the swimming pool in the hotel that is actually a mini man-made beach with a life-size ship squirting water in the day and is a pub/bar at night.

me in the tub!

martes, 19 de agosto de 2008

i'm not cheering on.


this was scribbled on a dust-smeared rear window of a van.

cousins and friends have told me that they were trying to look out for me on tv every time they catch a broadcast of an Olympic event. it was sweet of them to be reminded of me as they watch live happenings of what's really going on around me. the thing is, no i wasn't at the opening ceremony, and neither was i at the table-tennis finals when singapore won the silver medal, and no, i haven't attended a single sport event and doubt i will at all.

the truth is, it's very regrettable. and even though joa's absolutely keen to watch a basketball game with the US team playing, and i did get a free ticket to the hockey semi (AU vs UK) yesterday which i didn't go, but that was the closest we got.

we did contemplate buying tix of the black market, but these tix would cost at least S$120. the cheaper ones would be events that we're totally not interested in: sports like boxing. so we just made do watching them off the tv. but then it occured to me last night after joa had mentioned that cctv channels only broadcasted events when there was a china team playing.

so yes, other than seeing the streets unusually litter-free, being given a free china flag at the grocery shops, and people on the streets chanting "中国加油", nothing's quite different. it's hard. i mean, since forever, singapore has never made it anywhere in the Olympics. so this is the first, and before this, Olympics have always been something that was far-fetched, impossible and nothing to do with our puny island.

today's wednesday. after work, there's no gym, no badminton, and no kookas, so joa and i decided to hit town in the evening, have a nice dinner and shop among the glitz of the city. plus i want to check out the Olympic souvenir shop and boots for winter.

miércoles, 13 de agosto de 2008

random complains

work is boring ass these days. i seem to have lost the enthusiasm to write anymore proposals. all i want to do at work is to reply emails, chat with friends and watch a video. i get frustrated when i'm called to meetings that waste too much time and people who hold their nationalism even in copy slogans. hate cliches like 'a win-win future', 'a boundary-less world for a boundary-less future'.

that's my desk. and nathan, my american colleague and mentor who sits opposite.

martes, 12 de agosto de 2008

tuesdays badminton

joa loves to play badminton on tuesdays with some of our friends. but it's far and it's a weekday. plus i dun really get to play becos i'm bad at ball games so i'm not keen.

we got into a fight about it last week. and i'm tired of arguing about it week after week. so we came to an agreement that he'd go every 2nd week.

today happens to be the week he wouldn't play but a friend asked so he was contemplating. he asked and i reminded him of the agreement. it wasn't so much about whether i'd have to spend a lonely time at the gym. it was just about him honouring our agreement. it took me 2 email replies to assure him that i wasn't upset and he cd go if he wanted. eventually, he decided that he'd prefer to honour our agreement. and reading his email, i felt almost too proud.

so it got me thinking that maybe i shd take badminton more seriously so i can play with him every week. but what's more impt here is us learning to give and take.

gym tonight. *smiles*

domingo, 10 de agosto de 2008

hotpot

i'm starting to enjoy beijing hotpot. disliked it the first 4 times i had it. beijing hotpot is boiling lamb, veg, potato, vermicelli in tasteless herbal broth and dipping it in sesame sauce. now that i'm taking to sesame sauce, i'm starting to enjoy the local hotpot now. still, nothing beats my mum's steamboat.

btw, this is mika, my housemate from poland. finally, i have a pic with her.

jueves, 7 de agosto de 2008

2008 olympic games opening day

it was only on my way out to work that i realised i'd forgotten to take my camera along with me so i can take pictures of the day of the "once-in-a-lifetime festival" in China.

i'd been meaning to take pictures of the decoration landscape plants, the city voluteers, and the unusually clean and empty streets. today, the streets i tread on everyday were at their tip-top condition. there were few cars and few people. the traffic even stopped to let pedestrian cross during the green man light. strange.

i came to work as usual. even though today is a stipulated public holiday. my HR announced that today would be considered an annual leave day since the rule didnt apply to private enterprises. i didn't think it was fair, and so i 'applied' to resume work. so here i am, alone in the office. trying to decide what to do for the opening tonight.

it's going to be a crazy nite. sitting in the empty office i already feel the anticipation of tonight's opening ceremony. everyone's asking around where's everyone heading to. a bunch of friends are going to the park to watch. and joa's keen to go becos there doesnt seem to be any where else. but i'm hesitant at the thought of the crowd, the heat, 3-hours out sitting on the grass, and the trouble we'd be going thru getting in and out of the park.

heading home for a quiet night in front of the tv seems to entice me. but of cos i dun want to miss out on the party fun. so yes, i tink we're prolly gonna head out. and maybe i will take my camera with me.

suddenly i feel happy to be in beijing. yesterday joa said the day has finally come. the day we've been anticipating, to be part of the olympics is finally here. we're right here, in the midst of all the action. quite exciting really. and i didn't think i'd ever feel this way but i do, right now.

beijing welcomes you. and for once, i tink the country has really put up its best form to welcome the visitors. this is indeed the best time to be in beijing. although i dread all the security checks at the subway. but i like it that at least the city is almost clean, has less crowd and is at least quite a pretty sight to see.

just received a call from my colleague. it seems i can head home for the day. woohoo!

bizzare news

my favourite part in the english paper is CHINASCENE. it reports snippets of interesting news published by small-town publications in the country. often the stories of the countryfolks are so bizzare that i'm amused to a point i laugh it like a joke. but they're true stories.

i selected a few of my favourite ones in yesterday's papers:

Husband robs wife to repay gambling debts
Li Yinqu, 32, was taken to court on Wednesday in Huixiang county, Henan province for a public hearing of the charge of robbing his wife Lu Li to repay his gambling debts.
Li owed his fellow villager Wang Lei 900 yuan (S$180). When Li's wife Lu refused to help him repay the amount, Li decided to disguise himself as a mugger and rob her.
Li, wearing a mask, attached his wife with a baton on the evening of May 19 as she rode home on her motorcycle. He was detained after Lu reported the incident to police the next day.
Li made a full confession in court, and awaits its ruling.

Reconciliation plea makes splash in local paper
A young man's half page advertisement on the front page of a local newspaper last Wednesday pleading wiht his former girlfriend for a reconciliation has stirred a controversy among locals in Changsha, Hunan province.
Certain readers applaud this romantic gesture; others deplore it as extravagant.
The newspaper does not reveal the advertiser's identity, mentioning only that he is in his 20s and the son of a local businessman. This romantic gesture cost around 100,000 yuan (S$20,000).

Paranoid younger brother goes on a stabbing spree
A young man surnamed Ding was arrested on Monday for inflicting serious injuries on three members of his elder brother's family.
Ding's brother invited him for dinner on June 21 at his courtyard home intheir village nearby Lishu, a county in Jilin province. When, after returning home, Ding began to feel ill, he thought that his brother and his family had poisoned him.
Acting upon his suspicion, Ding took a knife and returned to the courtyard, where he viciously stabbed his brother's family members before fleeing the scene of the crime.

Police drawn into marriage fee dispute
Police officers at Chengnan police sub-staion in Wenchang, Hainan province, have recently become involved in a dispute over the payment aspect of a marriage contract.
A 70-year-old man surnamed Liang claims to have been duped by a woman surnamed Wu, 21, whom he met last year through a matchmaker. Liang promised to pay Wu 80,000 yuan (S$16,000) upon her agreement to marry him, and both parties signed a contract to his effect.
Liang says Wu disappeared after he had paid her the agreed amount.
Wu, meanwhile, argues that Liang is the guilty party because he paid her only 42,000 yuan, almost half of the amount ageed.
Wu explained her side of the story to police, who were willing to mediate between the two parties. Liang, however, refused to argue the matter out with her at the police station.
Police at Chengnan sub-station have consequently been unable to start a file on the case.

Official dissuades couple from suicidal jump
Huang Dagong, deputor director of a public security bureau in Lanzou, capital of Gansu province, spent one hour dissuading a man and woman from their intent to commit suicide on Monday morning.
Local police arrived on the scene after receiving a report about a middle-aged couple threatening to jump off a bridge over the Yellow River. Huang came within speaking distance of the pair and reasoned with them for more than one hour until the couple agreed not to jump and, with the help of firefighters, got down from the 10-m high pier.

lunes, 4 de agosto de 2008

bad mood

i think that fellow colleague saw that i wasn't paying attention and deprived me of my mystery gift. so now everyone else has either an hermes handphone strap, a coach keyring and i have nil. i tried to sound her out about it but she brushed me off in a most hostile way. wat a bitch.

took up my entire lunch hour and the least she cd do was to give me the gift i deserve. i shdn't be this petty and normally i wdn't. just tat i'm in a real lousy mood today and i want everything that was initially promised! F***!

stupid, stupid.

i'm once again at a point where i find myself unmotivated to work. it's not so much of feeling disappointed towards a superior who spoke too quickly of a career progression, rather i feel out of place and disoriented with my portfolio.

i'm writing this at a meeting. a fellow worker has taken up our lunch hour to present a workshop on retail luxury brands. the problem with being singaporean is that i'm so used to a structure that explains why i have to do things and the problem with being chinese is that they are used to not explaining why they make you do things. so i'm sitting here, with a piece of pizza, some cheese sticks and a coke that they'd supplied for lunch, totally clueless what is going on and enduring the mundane video clips while wishing i'm somewhere else. so i secretly blog.

but of course, it isn't as bad i ramble. we will all receive a mystery gift.

we won't be moving to shanghai afterall. the big boss is optimistic about PR business in beijing and the VP has assured me that there will be opportunties here too. it's a letdown. but i know i will get over it. i just need to mull over it, sulk about it, and eventually see the good in it. so ignore me while i pout, whinge and go all moody.

the weather sucks. i hope it rains all through the olympics. i want to storm out of the meeting room now, head to macdonald's and eat a lot of fries.

i'll be fine. i just need time.

sábado, 2 de agosto de 2008

happy 27th birthday

i had my wish this year: a big chocolate cake (albeit it was really blackforest). but it was a cosy dinner with friends even though the central air-conditioning in the restaurant was too warm. i finally had pancakes. stack of 3 with a sausage patty and two sunny-side ups.

just before bed time, joa casually mentioned that he had a little surprise planned. he was grinning all the time so i decided not to probe and let him work it out at his plan.

at 12.04am. joa nudged me firmly. i was already fast asleep and tried to brush him off but then he held up a little chocolate pudding cake from beard papa - i could see he had microwaved it so the pudding had spilled over the top and had stuck a candle. he started singing 'Happy Birthday', kissed me all over my face, pushed the plate of cake into my hands and said he was going to get the camera. all the time i was still in my lying down position, perched on one elbow and trying hard not to drift back to sleep. so i rejected to take the picture and tried to go back to sleep but then he put a little brown paper bag in my hand and said it was his gift and he wasn't sure if i'd like it but he thought i did when i first saw it. it was a pair of earrings and i had a hard time trying to make out its shape becos my eyes were blurry. thinking that i didnt like his surprise, he got quite disappointed. i assured him that i was just really tired, gave him a quick thank-you kiss and went back to sleep.

we had planned to spend the day at Happy Valley. i was really looking forward to it becos i figured it wd be a good de-stress for joa too. but it rained heavily in the morn and i was having the runs. so joa decided that we'd go to the aquarium instead.

it was disappointing although we did enjoy the huge, enormous fish. but the experience just didnt justify the admission fee becos the premise was really small. we wanted to catch a movie but i fell really sick on the bus so we got off, hoped into a cab and headed home. at night we had porridge buffet on guijie. not great.

on the whole, this year was a blast. most importantly becos joa's by my side and he's been really sweet. i hate turning 27. i'm tinking crap, next yr i'll be 28. age is catching up too fast. i cannot be 27 already. i'm too young to be so old! OMG

lunes, 28 de julio de 2008

good mood

DIY facial.

i'm in a really good mood today. the weekend was wonderful - though we didnt do any touristy thing. joa was too tired from the trip so we just shopped at carrefour, went for a massage, church and stayed home for the rest of time. i felt most refreshed to start a new work week.

it's my birthday tomorrow and we took the day off to spend a day at Happy Valley. frankly, i'm terrified of the rides and will prob give the extreme ones a miss. but i'm excited to gain a new experience with joa and especially, look forward to a memorable birthday. i just hope for cool weather so we dun take the heat out on one anor.

tonight i've invited a couple of close friends for a birthday treat. and i'm gonna have a huge plate of flopjacks :))

jueves, 24 de julio de 2008

happy day

my 8-yr old nephew has a blog. and his most recent entry is soO funny! read it:

"When I had a SGEM* contest in school, the teacher said the prize was candlelight dinner for two. I was very happy, not until today came and it was prize ceremony for the contest. Guess what they gave? I won, but the prize was............. two packets of Magee mee and a candle (While stockslast! ) . I am super mad!"

joa arrived home earlier than expected. i was still in bed at about 7.50am when he rang for me to unlock the main door. and he bought me hotcakes! we took a shower, went back to bed, unexpectedly made love, and i went to get some work done before we went out for lunch.

it looks like we won't be making yanjiao this weekend afterall. frankly, i was hoping to go and get it over and done with. but anor program just came out and two of our friends seem to be more keen on that leaving the guy who invited us to yj slightly pissed.

strangely i didnt feel a need to rejoice about it. even though i was a little amused by how things turned out without me having to play party pooper.

i'm really looking forward to next week. joa and i took leave on my birthday so we could go to the aquarium. but when mandy suggested that we shd go to happy valley instead, i knew joa wd enjoy it more. also, i'm trying to organise a birthday treat and invite a few close friends. mandy is on the list, together with thomas and mel. if i had more money, i'd invite 4 more friends. but that's about all i can afford for now. plus, i wanted dinner to be worthwhile for them to make the trip and time.

i can't wait to leave work and start the weekend. oh, and yes i know there are a few fellow Leo gals who are celebrating their birthday these two weeks! To Pris, Celia, Ann gee, and some others i may have forgotten, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

we Leos rock!

miércoles, 23 de julio de 2008

fat banana


mandy, the new intern in my team was fascinated when the fruit guy gave her a gig-omous banana. she's been most adorable, filling my days at work with childlike humour and jests.
i took up joa's suggestion and am watching The L Word. it's engaging but i find lesbian sex bizzarre. first of all, i cannot understand how pleasureable making love to anor woman when it's just masturbating. it's quite provocative but i love the nude scenes. it's no wonder it's not screening in sg.
joa comes back from shanghai tmr morn and i'm absolutely happy and looking forward to it : ))

martes, 22 de julio de 2008

shopping

finally. i found some decent clothes to buy! seems like a 50% season so joa and i decided to spend an afternoon at wudaokou shopping at U center. the reason why he was interested in tis mall was simply becos it was singaporean and as we entered, the sterile smell and bright lights really did make us feel so at home.
so that's wat i bought. u prob can't see much becos i'm really bad at taking pix of clothings. 2 esprit tops, 1 esprit dress, 1 'Fishing' blouse and a giordano shorts. i love summer clothes. they're so pretty and comfy.

lunes, 21 de julio de 2008

viernes, 18 de julio de 2008

stressful week

i've been feeling stressed out tis week - and it's all due to silly reasons.

the thought of the visit to yanjiao in two weeks' and unexpected happenings over the weekend.
i tink it's the age. turning 27 feels like i'm turning 72. sometimes i feel i deserve to wake up on a weekend for once not having the alarm ringing in my ear, miss gym and have a say to do whatever i want and splurge however i want. there are pple i love to hang out with and pple where i dread to meet.

i'm not making a good impression.
it's easy to identify me as a devil when i'm constantly with kind-hearted joa. joa doesn't say no and often he is too indifferent towards things around to appear offended. i, on the other hand, am tired of appearing sweet and only accomodate when the situation/person is deserving. so i say no when i dun fancy a certain ideal and i say no when i dun think i want to do a favour.

sick of low self-image, low self-esteem, and low self-respect
tis is a prob i've been dealing with for the longest time. no, i do not think i'm pretty. no, i do not think pple like me. and yes, i think it's normal that pple are never fond of me. fuck this.

trip to the hospital today
with all these. an old ailment kicked up again. so after some deliberation, i decided it was time to seek a professional opinion.

first of all, it began pouring madly in the morning. i held a small brolly, but strong winds were blowing in all direction so in the end, my sneakers were squishy, my blouse stuck to my skin and my hair was totally wet. have i ever told u about the hospitals in beijing? ok, they're huge. and the various depts are segregated in blocks. and all of them are spelt out in the most legible sense so u dun have to guess who goes there. for eg, Tumour dept, Liver Disease dept, Cancer dept, Internal Dept, etc. u get the idea.

so i rushed towards the biggest building i saw and found myself faced with an open life half filled with rubbish bags and a horrible stench. a man was taking the bags out and he looked as if he hadn't seen me. when i asked how to get to the main lobby, he gestered a flight of stairs leading down to darkness. so i trotted down. it was dark, silent and there was a stench. finally, i reached a long corridor, dim-litted and there were rooms on the side. they were not wards. i tried not to look for fear it might be the morgue and just tried to listen out for human voices.

after the longest time, i was directed to the elevator, sent up to various floors only to realise i was in the wrong building. then after being told that i was still in the wrong block after about 8 blocks, i finally found the gynaecology.

at the reception, the unsmiling nurse made me pay SGD1.30 for registration and directed me to the nurse counter. The nurse asked me what's the problem, handed me a form and told me to go back to the same counter to pay up. at the same counter with the same unsmiling gal, i paid SGD3 to see a doc and then went back to see the nurse. she instructed me to a room where 3 young ladies in doctor's coats sat gossiping. i had to shout over their conversation so the doctor who was sitting inside could hear me, sometimes even repeating when she missed out on what i was saying becos she got distracted in the juicy gossip.

she gave me a form, told me to return to the counter and pay for my testing. SGD15. i didnt even know what tests they were. went back to another examination room and i was made to sit on a chair with leg rests so my legs are spread wide. two of them walked in, carrying on their conversation, swiped me with lots of iodine, stuffed a metal thing in and yanked at something. it must have been a pap smear. then one of them stuffed her finger in, and pressed hard on my abdomen, left center right. it hurt like hell. she must have been checking my uterus and ovaries.

10 minutes later, they sent me to pay for a urine test. SGD1.60. negative. went back to the doctor's room and they gave me the diagnosis in mandarin. i didn't understand. and she didnt know how to describe except to giggle. i guessed it was a vaginal tract infection. then finally, she sent me off to collect the medicine at anor building.

of course i had to pay up first. standing in front of me was an old lady. her blouse was torn and she had a plastic bag for a bag, another plastic bag for some stuff, and another for a wallet all in that bag of a plastic bag. her prescription filled up about 10 pages and her bill was SGD250. i was tinking thank God i'd get over with SGD10. she didnt have money so off she went and it was my turn. the bill was SGD120. i gasped, repeated the amount aloud, and then found myself tellinthe cashier to forget it. so i left without any medicine. i realised this trip was a complete waste of time.

walking out, i was more convinced than ever that this is one of the worst place to live in. there are too many people and there's no way to care for everyone of them. then suddenly mum rang and i cdn't contain my homesickness. i miss being able to saunter into my GP and gynae's clinics whenever, their gentleness and their enthusiasm in answering my endless questions.

at work i've had quite a fruitful week. wrote 3 releases, 2 speeches, several letters, and two proposals. i love writing speeches and feel a great sense of achievement whenever i read through a finished release. i've been assigned on a new project which may take up some time over the weekend. but this is the best part about work: it helps me to forget where i am and remember who i am.


martes, 15 de julio de 2008

uncle simon in beijing

i noe mum would love to see this.

fake LV slipper










bought it during lunch-time shopping. SGD8. anor colleague reckons i cd get it at half price. looks hilariously fake. it's comfy. it's now my office slipper.

viernes, 11 de julio de 2008

TGIF!

i want to pour out all my frustrations. but saying anything now would be a biased opinion. i need to cool down, buy some shoes (which i did. 2.) and go for a facial tonight. i miss all my friends in singapore. for some reasons they are able to accept and enjoy the way that i am and not judge me in a negative light. i think the story is too long to be retold again and again.

martes, 8 de julio de 2008

quarter-life crisis. i've past it.

there's been a bit of talk about this and maybe T has finally nailed it down to quarter-life crisis. the thing why i'm the least affected is perhaps becos i've really gone past it and sometimes i forget that i'm the oldest in the ring of people.

the year i was 25 had been the worst year for me. paul left me, joa hurt me. it was hard to stay at a job and all i cd write about was how painful it was. they say i was a shadow of myself. i spoke in circles, i could not decipher right from wrong. i lost my self and looking at old pictures of me when i was 21, 22 and 23 felt it like i was looking at a total stranger. she seemed happy and glowing. and when i looked into the mirror, all i saw was dread, rejection, and hopelessness.

i gave up writing. i felt i didnt want to do it anymore. maybe never again. i stopped reading too. so i just concentrated on watching dramas and getting lost in that fantasy world where there was no sylvia. for the rest of the year, i worked at a boutique and found joy cajoling with rich old ladies, flattering their ageing figure and finally getting their cash. that job was 6 days a week and took up all of my days and evenings in exchange of a pitance pay. for a while i felt contented yet i was most embarrassed. i was afraid of running into familiar faces. i was afraid of pple seeing signs of pity, less gloat at my misery.

but i went on, day after day, bracing the smile on my face and lamenting to all those nice older people who lent me understanding ears and a comforting shoulder. many of them have become intimate friends with me. till today, they ask about me and they're nosy about my oh-so-dramatic life. they always tell me, "it's like that. u'll get over it", like it was oh-so-simple. and they were right. it was.

i got out of it after i got into a job that i wasn't cut out for. i had a most flirtatious superior and motherly art directors (i love them!), and a pig-head for a boss. i wrote little ads everyday and by and by i got back on track. then i planned my big escape. and here i am in beijing. it's not ideal and my life is far from perfect. but joa and i mended the bridge and we live like an old couple. he tells me off everyday for not switching off the lights, and i am pissed with him for turning off my mp3 charger everytime. i earn a little more than i did at the boutique and everyday i find new things to feel pissed about. but it's no crisis. it's just another way of life.

joa is lost and he's insecure about things. i had two persons professing their fondness for me in the last 3 weeks. it's funny and moving but i'm already in love and this love makes it wretchingly hard for me to give it up. just having joa looking blue makes me anxious. i want to draw on that smile on his little face. since he's come back, he keeps randomly flashing this picture of him as a baby in my face. he's proud of it and i still love that baby although he's lost all that chubbiness now. tell me how to make him smile again, please. i'd like to draw on my own experience but my own was horrible. it was two years wasted to the quarter-life crisis! but it was no biggie. i walked out of it, a more resilient person, more aligned with my dreams. i'm proud of it. i'm out of it.

Team retreat

my third company retreat this month. this time it's with the BD team and the V-crew. a 2D1N stay at a australian winery. our first stop was at 黑龙潭, a nature reserve with beautiful mountain ranges, waterfalls and a breathtaking view. we didn't manage to hike all 3 hrs first becos my colleagues weren't keen, and even when 3 of us pressed on, we found the trail difficult. it was hard to climb steps and ladders (yes, ladders) in the caves and we were told a rain was coming. but it was a good workout. i had enough of stairs.

so this is where we lived. charming little mansion that has rooms with juicy looking apple-green walls. i suspect it was to hide the moss growing on the walls. i had a room all to myself becos my roomate decided to quit (the job) the day before. we had a feast for dinner. not great food. but at leas they were amazingly fresh. there was also karaoke and mahjong lined up.
loved looking at the wild plants and the animals that was reared nearby. an ostrich farm and a horse range. thats a pony i'm trying to touch. they're awfully friendly and now i so want to ride a horse!
it's been a long time since i felt this close to nature. great scenenary, fresh air and lovely animals. i think i shd visit the aquarium soon.

jueves, 3 de julio de 2008

reflection

it's our 6th month in beijing. a lot of things have happened in between. we've got lost, confused, pissed off, conned, fought; and we've also been blessed, learned, grew, and saw. definitely being here has made me realised how fortunate i am to be singaporean, as well as how fortunate i am to be away from singapore. C is a huge country. not in size, but in its traditions, living, and mindset.

the past few months have been emotionally draining. making new friends and seeing them off. joa and i seem to be a constant in all of these. saying goodbye now means less to me. i realised i've learned to see the good of not having my friends around. so it's easier and sometimes, saying goodbye is just a painful ritual and it's better not to have it at all. so i let many of them leave with just well wishes in an email. it doesn't matter whether we will meet each other within this year or next. we've got a whole lifetime to run into each other again, be it in singapore, china, taiwan, australia, or even anywhere else. and when we do meet, we sd tell about how great our life is.

contrary to popular belief, i do not crave for a globe-trotting life. but i crave for new experiences and new insights to people's lives. my family thinks i'm too wild for my own good and my cousins think i'm just a different child. but the truth is all i really want in life is a beach wedding, an apartment on a high floor and quiet weekend nights.

our experience here has helped bring on new meaning to our aspirations. a home is very important and being near our parents and having our children grow up with them is ideal. i miss home. miss the smell of mum's cooking and making silly puns with my bro. i miss driving in night and getting lost with joa next to me. i miss waffle tuesdays with chums and having them rally behind me when i bitch about other pple. and i miss my adorable nephews. at the end of everything, i realise nothing in C compares to what i have in singapore and i'm not just talking about the government.

it's hard making friends here. partly because i've got my best friend here with me, and that everyone just seems so different. i can't talk to them about jealousy, insecurity or tell them what i just heard from God. at least joa does. but it's different now that he's playing the 'masculine' role and he cannot be compared to a girl chum.

i miss all of you. i'm sure u all know who you are :)

miércoles, 2 de julio de 2008

monday brunch















not having to work on mondays felt like i was on top of the world. joa and i spent his last day in beijing having a nice brunch at la tavern and he remarked at how relaxing it was.

i like how this little french restaurant has a dining area in the small courtyard. suzette crepe was terribly bitter. but the profiteroles was just splendid! that one's for pancakes *wink*


lunes, 30 de junio de 2008

first up: home-cooked meals

the new camera is real peachy. took some mean, peachy pix over the weekend but later realised there might be something wrong with the SD card when the cardreader on my notebook cd not detect it. the day before, a friend was also unable to open it on his notebook.

so since i dun have the latest pix with me atm, i thought i'd put up pics of our proud cooking. to be honest, we haven't been cooking at all for the last 3 weeks becos of our gym regimes after work. but i hope we'd resume cooking soon, esp after joa gets back from sg.

btw, these pix were taken with the old camera.


my favourite: joa cooked singapore-styled oyster omelette (without oysters), stirfried long beans with salted egg (a recipe we modified from bellagio restaurant) with white porridge.
not tv dinner but 'pps dinner': our dinner accompaniment of free online stream movies.
i cooked baked fish, steamed egg and stirfry spinach with mushrooms



my version of singapore 'bak-chor mee' but replaced egg noodles with chinese ramen (only one i cd get from the nearby supermarket). stewed the mushroom in vinegar (since our prev housemate left us with more than half a bottle), sugar and shoyu. made a hot pot of fishball soup with egg, and chinese lettuce. it was like 'xiaoguomian'. joa said it was yum.

sábado, 28 de junio de 2008

new camera flashing away!

finally bought new CANON IXUS 80IS in camel gold after locating a genuine canon authorised dealer at chaoyangmen who had 5 manly looking women salesgirls aggressively pushing the sale. paid up SGD440 that came with a leather canon leather pouch and 4GB SD. then came home, looked up tis website of the IT market at zhonguancun and realised i cd have paid for only SGD360 but at the risk of it being a watergood, and not come without the added accessories.

i also realised a gd reason why i shd have bought it from singapore instead was so i cd have the user manual in english. anyway, i looked up for a pdf online.

was up at 8am and it hit me that tonight would be the last night together before joa leaves for sg for a week tmr. how serenely sweet he sleeps (if u disregard the snoring). nice cloudy weather today. i must remember to set my camera right.

more pix coming right up :))

martes, 24 de junio de 2008

a ghost spa resort

it was a retreat that we've been looking forward to. our first actually - to get away from the city and into the outskirts and spend days with a group of local friends (act, they were my colleagues and clients). what was most exciting was the duck feast at 全聚德, which is known for its 180-year old establishment since the Ming dynasty. we were urshered into a private room and had so much peking duck we cd puke. we were also given a certificate that had the serial number of the duck we ate. the duck feast was all about ducks: duck soup, fried duck, steamed duck liver and pate, deep fried duck heart, duck tongue in broth, stir fry duck innets, braised duck webbed feet, and of course, peking duck. both of us thought this was the best peking duck we've ever had (approx: SGD 60, and cut into 180 slices: incl. skin and meat)!


after the feast, we packed into my colleague's, indiana's, car, and drove on through the dusty roads for another hour to changping district. here we are, arrived in our suite. it was huge and had a bathroom equipped with a spa tub and two rocking chairs that was as huge as the room itself. joa was so happy. it was a good break from all his troubles. we checked in at 10pm, played jenga and mafia with the rest, had a game of pool and the both of us headed off to bed at 1.30am to check out the jacuzzi in our bathroom.

the jacuzzi was just a huge bathtub with steps where u can sit on. we turned on the tap and while the water was filling up, soaked our feet. half and hour later, the water level was just mid calve. we decided to heck it and just enjoy a shower with the enormous shower head. that was good enough.

we fell asleep only at 3am. the tv had bad reception but joa still managed to get engrossed in whatever program.



had another nightmare and woke up to joa snoring in the other bed. it was 7am and i managed more sleep until i heard joa fooling around in the bathroom. it was 9.22 am. there was no water and all i felt dried out from all the soft drinks from the night before. we lazed in bed a bit for chat, had a kit kat and decided to check out the surrounding areas. bad choice. it was burning hot, and we realised, this was a dead town and we were in a deserted resort that was only four-star in the room. we got to take this cute picture by the pond though. also checked out the run-down spa which didn't come cheap so it was a spa retreat without a spa. at least we got a footbath.

had xinjiang for lunch. disgustingly meaty and spicy. but joa had too much to eat. and everyone kept passing him the lamp legs because he really looked like he was enjoying it.