I flew to Singapore and began one of the greatest adventures in my life so far. And I want to believe it’s only the first of many. God is beyond awesome! His surprises never fail to amaze me! Thank you God for 2011! :)
The semester is officially over for me. Today, I finished my last two final exams - consecutively. My brain has been fried to crispy strips of bacon. Right after, I did the laundry for the last time. Now, I’m starting to pack. *teaars* I’ve accumulated so much stuff over the past four months so I’m sending a box home ahead of me. Heehee. But my room is a mess and the closet is almost bare now. I won’t take down my polaroids and lanterns. Not yet.
I need Mcdonald’s.
I have the whole day and night to study and read fourteen chapters of Communication Management for the exam on Monday. But instead I’m on tumblr, twitter, observing others studying, straightening my pens and highlighters on the desk, listening to Ludovico Einaudi and Bieber, typing this.
I don’t know. I just keep thinking about how soon I’m leaving. I can’t. I’ll miss how everyone is so diligent. How the library is usually full that there’s no place to charge my laptop. I’ll miss watching the sunset from my favorite desk - one of the many wide and beautiful desks. Eating popcorn chicken at The Deck after class everyday. Seeing so many Europeans haha. The high tech printing room downstairs.
I’ll miss the lecture-tutorial format. How all professors send us their powerpoint presentations a day before the lecture so we can prepare. How they make sure we’re learning and catching up with lessons by emailing us regularly.
It’s such a blessing to have been able to study here at NUS, even if it was for a while. But no, no goodbyes yet. I have to study for finals first!
Kinda-not-really tweaked my theme again. My Wednesday:
I don’t know.
How I usually look on campus. Only a couple of months left to dress however I want (before complying with DLSU’s dress code again). NUS changed the way I dress in some way. The students are so laidback: slippers, shorts, hoodies. The campus is huge too, so I have to wear comfortable shoes. Another factor is the weather here. One minute it’s scorching. The next, it’s pouring. I miss dressing up.
ETA: hoodie, Forever 21.
Today was pretty productive. Even though I woke up terribly late.
Perhaps it was the jog that made me feel so productive. Or it could also be the fact that I shared my day with so much people in just one afternoon. I’m making a conscious decision now to spend the time I have left here like earlier. Because everyday is one day closer to flying back home to Manila. *tears*
Especially when the parcel is huge! I found myself in that moment today. I ran back to my room hugging the package like a loony. It all began when I opened a bank account here last weekend. And yes, you now know the first thing I did.
I think it’s my first time to receive anything by mail in a decade! More more more!
You see, we have a common kitchen and restroom for about fifteen people per block. The other week, my Norwegian neighbor told me that somebody stole her bars of chocolate which she brought from her home country.
Today, that same somebody must have stolen my GIANT bar of Hershey’s milk chocolate that dad got me when we went to Universal Studios last Monday. :( I know it’s just Hershey’s. But it was gigantic! Plus, I’m running out of money everyday before my allowance liquidates.
NEED CHOCOLATE TO SURVIVE.
You get that feeling that you’re not alone. That you’re all in it together.. But. Not. Whuuut?! And my view is always breathtaking from my favorite desk. Something’s missing though..
AH! A chocolate waffle!
For the first few days, I played it safe with all the food I was eating - Mcdonald’s, carbonara, tempura. It wasn’t until my second week that local Pinoy friends let me in on katong laksa, prata, and chicken rice (I’m addicted) that pretty much sum up Singapore in cuisine.
After accomplishing our student pass requirements and NUS registration, we headed straight to the Yusof Ishak House for the International Students’ Welcome Party. “Live band” and free food! We met Frances and Leal there, also from Ateneo. And you know, we like stayed by the buffet the whole time. Sinulit na para hanggang dinner. Hella Pinoy. :>
When sundown came, we made our way to Anchorpoint, Alexandra because Karen and I saw the Cotton On sale signs the day before. We just had to!
Heaven.
I woke up on the 4th of January with an aching back. I don’t know if it was the hard mattress or that I missed my bed (and aircon). Either way, Karen (from DLSU as well) and I went to IKEA on Alexandra Road to go shopping!
Later that day, we attended the International Students’ Orientation (wasn’t able to take photos) and the Temasek Foundation Orientation. It was there that we found out we Lasallians were not the only ones from Manila. Haha. We met Karina and TJ from the Ateneo. :) And of course we got to meet the other scholars from many different countries in Asia!
The NUS shuttle! Our mode of transportation to and from our dorms and all around campus. It gets pretty full during peak hours though. (Oh how I miss Erjohn buses.)
Central Library. Just one of the seven! It’s where you’ll find me during my breaks. Haha. I love how it’s in the vicinity of all my classes.
My room - still a work in progress then. And as you can see, I brought a bit of home with me. Well, a whole lot of home with me! Went about 20kg over the baggage limit. :D
(Source: beamarquez)
The goodbyes began the morning of January 3. It was the first time I felt it. The sense that you wouldn’t see those close to you for so long. It only began to sink in when I was all by myself. Heehee. But I knew time would fly by so quickly anyhow. :)
I arrived a little before six in the evening and queued for a taxi. It’s been rainy here and will remain to be until next week. I now live at Prince George’s Park Residences on campus! I have a single room with a common bathroom and kitchen. But there are just so much amenities and places to eat inside PGP. There’s also a supermarket. (I’ll dedicate an entire post to the new look of my room! Haha) :)
That night, I was terrified to find that there were no sheets and pillows. I grabbed my bag and hurried out to find the nearest IKEA. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to the internet to get to Alexandra Road. I ended up going by foot to the nearest MRT station which was an extremely long walk. It was worth it though. IKEA is one of my favorite places. ;) I had dinner by midnight (couldn’t find Mcdo!) at the snack shack place at PGP, where I met up with Karen and Roanna from La Salle too. :)
I’m in Singapore. I still couldn’t get around to believing it! I remember mentioning to Pastor Larry at the Every Nation Conference last July about my interest in studying here. And it’s finally happening - just a few months later. :)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps 37:4)
Bea is a 20-year-old Communication Arts student and beautiful-things hoarder from De La Salle University, Manila.
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since October 2010
