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Friday, January 28, 2011
6:17 PM in God's precious hands, and His little miracles for me - Reims, Champagne
am officially one week in France.
finally had the chance to blog tonight, it's gonna be a long entry, but one with many little moments i would never want to forget (: details fade when not scribed, so i'll be here often now to tape the chords of exchange so that I have something to look back, and smile.
before i type anything, i just wanna say that:
ABOVE ALL, thank you Lord for bringing me to Reims;
for keeping me safe and secure, with nice companionship of the rest of the exchange students and some others from CIS, BDI and RMS.
(:
for allowing a smooth SMUSA AGM with not even a single question to our Council. that to me, says a lot about how much our council and exco have achieved. an unspoken acknowledgement, and how God has kept us all together as one even though we'd had our squabbles. and how the school has grown and will continue to grow as Ryan lead SMUSA (: a sweet ending, with bittersweet memories. I will definitely miss my exco, esp those who have fought so closely alongside me, thankyou. t'was my last speech too, and yes no matter what purpose you have in SMU, it's not what you have in life, but who you have alongside you that truly matters.
for changing the Reims orientation day from official 27th (email sent since october) to 28th (email sent in january!) when SMUSA agm has to be on the 26th. how often does official orientation day changes? (:
for all my lovely friends (feli, liwei, nicholas, sam, elendreus, alex, matt, gladys, caleb, des, carol, claudie, bekah!) and of course my dearest dad, mum and bro to send me off at the airport until the moment i stepped into the departure hall.
for the airport lady who allowed 34kg in when the limit's 30-32kg max. it's amazing, cos I wouldnt know how to remove things off my big luggage at the airport!
for giving me an SMU friend, Candera, on the plane to Paris, transit at Dubai, when all along I thought that I'm travelling alone. She told me she almost booked the flight next day but somehow she just booked a day earlier. How often does that happen? And we'd safe flights and nice company at transit though we'd no trolleys to lug our really rock heavy backpacks! Thanks to her watching after my things and getting me to the right gates and all.
for the shuttle to Reims that finally came!
i'd to wait for 3 hours at the Paris airport for the shuttle to Reims, and I called the Easy Navette shuttle in France frantically. The lady who picked up could only speak french and i panicked cos by then Candera had left to take train and I was alone. Luckily there's another guy on the phone who could speak english and he found my register for the shuttle. I'm glad I've a working singapore line, but after the first call, I realised I only had 3% left on my phone battery! I'd to quickly charge my phone using my laptop; and at that very moment, I'm thankful that I've placed my iPhone charger in my backpack though I'd almost packed it into the big luggage. I called papa cos I was so afraid there's no shuttle and papa told me to just wait in faith, and true enough, the shuttle did come, and it was a very nice driver who helped me carry my luggage all the way to the front of CIS hostel.
the scenery on the highway to Reims was so beautiful, the vast green land and the blue sky with coniferous trees and smoke from houses' chimney now and then. I fell asleep about twice or thrice, it was a private shuttle so there's no one except for me and the driver and I could lay flat on the second row. haha. I cannot explain the feeling when I finally saw REIMS sign and the shuttle swerved smoothly into the land that I've been dreaming and preparing so much for.
the houses, the cobbled streets, the gates, doors of houses; i felt like I was in the moving pages of a storybook, dreamland storybook. (: it's an amazing feeling to be - in Reims.
for CIS hostel. Pedro, then i just knew as the reception guy when I just arrived at my temporary hostel, helped me carry my 34kg luggage up 2 levels cos my room was on the second level and I was at the block with no lift. And the moment I entered my room, I feel so blessed because it's such a cozy pretty room, the kind that I've always imagined - small, yet full of warmth when the wind is blowing hard outside. that night I met a girl from China, Violette, who showed me where the kitchen and i boiled drinking water for the night before I sleep. Am so thankful that she's an exchange student to RMS too and we set it then to go to school at 8 together with everyone else. God provides, always and everyday.
for a wonderful orientation day at Reims.
it was a rush to get to school the next morning, and I was glad I met Susana from Mexico and we went down the cafetaria together, only to see everyone there ((: met Zach from US, and the rest of the chinese girls - there are 12 of them in total! was worried there'll be no asians earlier on!
we walked 25 minutes to school, and where everyone gathered and got to know each other. there's a countless number of administrative things we'd to settle, from money matter to identity validation, but the walks from one room to another gave time to knowing our fellow exchange mates. we'd a Pommery wine cellar tour which was lovely -i've always liked wine, and all about it. and I finally got to see, touch and feel a real cellar, and tasted my first champagne! (: Got to know Barbora from Checzh and Kevan from BDI alongside champagne toasts.
for a simple yet warm dinner with almost all exchange students at the pizza place! thankyou BDI for organizing (: had a 5.50 euro huge MAYA pizza, it's ham with honey and special fromage! lovely! and getting to know each other session yet again, haha.
for an amazing first weekend in Reims.
early morning Violette brought me to Inter Marche, a supermarket 10 mins away from CIS to buy grocery! I was overjoyed from the affordable price and wide variety of things! it's about the size of any ntuc just that it's one big vast floor selling almost everything. Mummy don't have to worry cos' there're plenty of meat, vegetables, cheese, everything you name it you can almost find it, no chilli and singapore cuisines of course! am thankful Violette showed me the way there (:
explored the heart of Reims city with Violette, Barbora and Martina and it's really such a joy! We'd little cafe break at MacDonalds haha and the cappuccino's lovely! (:
the kitchen was a comedy at night! everyone were gathered there, cooking together, enjoying each other's companionship as we're all away from home and adapting to Reims!
following nights, the kitchen was always alive, we'd red, white wines, rose, a special Chezch concoction with 60% alcohol made by Martina's parents and tequilla! but none of us got drunk, and we chattered till late! (: breakfasts been nice too, with baguette plus butter and strawberry jam, cereal and mil, yoghurt, cappuccino and cafe creme, bananas, and off to school we go by foot altogether on monday! met a french american guy chris who just came to france for soccer, and another aussie guy josh who have went bagpacking trip for 4 months and he's 11 more days to go before home. interesting exchanges of experiences (:
for the opportunity to worship at Notre Dame Reims Cathedral. I was truly happy to have Barbora to go with me the first sunday here in France. It was a catholic mass, with its full procedure. But knowing His overflowing grace for me during holy communion was a moment to cherish. I will be here every sunday if there's no other christian church in Reims. thank you Lord, for Your presence.
for a safe shift to ACOBHA Residence. tuesday morning was a mad, mad packing moment! Had a shuttle to drive us to ACOBHA, and at the end we could only leave our luggage at the lobby! came to shift into room finally after class and SURPRISE! Barka, the lady in charge, told me that I'm lucky to get a fully renovated room! It's brand new, and no one has lived in the renovated room before. The kitchen wares are still in their packagings, the toilet sparkling clean. It's amazing how God cares for me, so, so much!
for being able to finally unlock my luggage! yes i think i was too frantic while packing that morning when we'd to shift, and i accidentally changed the lock on my big luggage. it was horrfying, messaged bro and it was such an assurance from him that if I just try all the numbers from 0-999 the luggage will be fine! so the first thing I did in my new room was to meddle with the lock conscientiously from 0,1, ... and I finally got it at 7 hundred plus. almost cried though, cos I cant imagine what to do if it can't be opened, and was so careful cos was afraid I'ld miss a number or two. It's these little bizzare incidents that can truly strengthen me and force me to grow.
for french lessons with french professors and all the humours in class! (: yes, and one teacher made me go to the front while she spelled out the numbers in French and I'd to write the numerals. I almost died. Apparently my class is a beginner class (about 13 people) and the rest of the exchange students are in intermediate and advanced! but there are only like 5 REAL beginners and I'm one. so the teachers love to ask me to read and all that, so classes had been pretty pressurizing at the start! but am really getting used to the pace and tones of french language now. Though i still can't believe I'd to say the word J'aime 20 times to get it right in front of everyone! -.- But in all, french is really a beautiful language!
for chinese new year! celebrated by cooking chinese dishes with exchange friends from China! and we invited Barbora and Martina from Chezch too and it's nice when they like the chinese cuisines too! i really miss mummy's dishes and soups and daddy's charkuaytiao, steamed fish and seafood galore ):
for pina co lada concert which we'd the chance to go up and sing "freedom", haha, and for a lovely crepe party "le chandelier" (: so we rushed down to the party after CNY mini little celebration! Luckily we met the guys at the bus-stop lest we may get lost to the place! T'was at someone's apartment on 4th floor, and BDI made crepes and i tried cider, love it (: I love the crepe with strawberry and little icing sugar! oh and I made a deal to make springrolls ohmy, gotta practice and perfect it by next week hopefully!
and tonight, I feel truly blessed to have this time to finally quieten down a little and count the many blessings I've had thus far. nights are pretty chilly in my room, even though there's a heater.
but i still love WINTER a lot, cos it truly lets me understand how precious warmth is.
for all that've happened, and all that's to come, everything is in God's perfect plan; and I always wonder at all the miracles He'd in my life.
i feel more than blessed
i'm missing home so much right now - papa, mama and philo, especially when it's chinese new year and I've never spent this festive season away from home.
a new beginning, yet another exciting learning journey awaiting me - with faith.
ps: complete photos on fb (:
Labels: exchange
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
ohmy, i really can't sleep. Am freaking out from the thought that i'll be flying off soon ALONE ): what should i do!
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since i can't sleep, i might as well use the time to note down what else i'ld need to do.
right?
cos' lying down in bed super aimlessly feeling scared of exchange is really useless.
SOPHIA'S TO DO LIST as of 16th jan:
1. buy cross necklace, my current one broke )):
2. change euros (on mon?)
3. apply citibank euro account (on mon?)
4. check posb and ocbc balance, and need to deposit enough money in there
5. check if need mummy's supplementary credit card from stan-chart
6. finish AGM speech (by tues)
7. finish annual report designs and layouts (by tues)
8. photocopy important documents
9. buy all the things i still need to (which is another long, long list)
10. farewell meals with friends
11. more family dinners at home, cos' i'm gonna miss mummy's cooked food so, so much
12. thread eyebrows (on 25th jan)
13. buy iphone (on 20th jan) and i need to learn how to use and download all the apps! SOS
14. print photos to be brought to exchange
15.
okay im sleepy now, au revoir
a short one, rather than none.
Labels: thoughts
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5:22 PM i want my voice back - and flying off in 12 days' time.
my voice is slowly coming back (yes it is!)
after all the "gurgles" with weird-taste liquid and antibiotics. seriously, inflammation. from talking too much, haha. hard to believe. but all in all, i just want my voice back fully!
it's such a scary feeling to not be able to talk.
like i went to mr.bean and it was so hard to even order a warm soy bean drink. that's just one, of the many 'huhs' and weird looks from people when I try to speak, or whisper, or gesture what i needed to say. i was so scared i'ld lose my voice forever, i know it's kinda silly to think in such a way, but that fear's just immense whenever nothing comes out of your vocal chord, even if you tried clearing your throat umpteenth time. went for all the AGMs and bondue bash croaking and whispering funny noises. i wouldn't pass as a good mime.
mummy's pretty voiceless now too ): and she'd got to teach sunday school and lead dorcas fellowship tomorrow. really hope that she will have her voice back, and strength from Him to survive tomorrow. I've let mummy tried gurgling the med doc gave me, hopefully it will help!
went to Tiff's house last wed night to have a 11pm-6am non stop catchup session (part of the reason why i lost my voice) but it's all worth it. haven't seen my bestie for more that 1.5 years! and am truly glad she's been safe and sound in berkeley, and heartened to hear that she's coming back singapore after graduation ((: we may end up as future colleagues too! exciting (: will be sending her off tomorrow at the airport, bon voyage bestie, will wait for you to come back again (:
and, france in 12 days' time.
i can hardly believe it, and im fearing it more than anything else.
got my visa finally yesterday (after going to embassy thrice, and bank to get mummy's statement of accounts etc)! thank God, and thank you mummy and daddy who've been praying for me all along! mummy's gotten me most of the medicine i need for France (medicine's really of utmost importance cos no one's gonna save me when I'm sick there - scary)
many asked if i've packed. well everything's either strewn on my study table, or messily arranged in my huge luggage so far! feel kinda lazy to pack all of them neatly, but I know i better get them down on monday morning/ tonight! excel sheet of packing list is still incomplete, better get it done soon too. sigh, wish I'm not going alone now, then maybe I'ld have someone else to share the load too - i got to bring mini pots and pans so that I could at least cook for the first week or something! i hope. oh yes, i haven't bought all the premixes!
oh yes, gonna teach the kids with Des for the first time tomorrow! Jesus is light (: and we'll have the 'follow the sound, guess what you eat/drink' game and treasure hunt! complete with 'give me oil in my lamp' song! (: am really looking forward to it, hopefully the kids learn and treasure the lesson too, and that it stays with them for a long, long time to come!
gonna sleep, been really tired working on annual report designs, can't wait for it to be done (: jiayou Van and Em who are still burning tonight and tomorrow night and many more nights editing it, come on' it's the last lap. for the best aye girls!
night world, i've got to learn to stop waiting sometimes.
was hopeful, still am hopeful. maybe
got to learn to be truly independent when i'm alone
"alone? you're never alone"
cos' Jesus' watching over you, always and always
(:
Labels: family, thoughts, tiff
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
no more fever finally! (:
thankyou Lord, cos if fever lasts i wouldn't have been able to finish annual report layout and statement...still have my report to redo cos of many overlaps by everyone else /: hope i can finish by tomr, am really tired of it already. Very tired and exhausted from it.
insomnia now, must be too many hours of sleeping so that fever goes away, and now i can no longer sleep /:
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Sunday, January 09, 2011
2:07 PM we're together again
welcome home
yinghan and carol (:
haven't seen both of them for a full 5 months, and glad that they are back with us safely!
finally preparing my final packing list right now on excel sheet!
Labels: thoughts
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Friday, January 07, 2011
6:06 PM 20 more days and i'll be in france
had a lovely jap lunch at itacho sushi, and a haircut finallly! (love the fact that it's short now, it's way lighter!)
walked the entire bugis street with mega and vero for their last day shopping in singapore before they fly back!
is it for real, or is it just an illusion?
Labels: thoughts
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Thursday, January 06, 2011
5:06 PM family love back in indo, and for always.
Once the plane touched down, I knew I’m home. Smiling, I could’t take my eyes off the padi fields outside, complete with the small worn down attap houses and scarecrows in all costumes.
The smell of the dusty air, the conversations all around me in Bahasa, the slow officers at the airport, all are part of the place I’ve spent my amazing childhood.
Met with 4th uncle’s family (Xian, Yangyi), Vero and dad’s bestfriend for a sumptuous lunch before taking the ride back to grandparent’s place. It will be a mystery if I don’t put on weight when I’m back home, with the amount of things I eat, along with bits of sambal chilli with every bite!
4 hours of journey back to Pemangkat was exhilarating. The whole time, I just looked out of the window, with coconut trees, padi fields, telephone wires stretched parallel to the road we’re on, many attap houses and colourful villager’s cement houses planted all around.
Now and then, I see GKKB churches at every village, and I will make a small little prayer for the villagers residing there (: The Lord’s grace is sufficient for me, for them, for the world.
Smiling grandpa and grandma welcomed us. Dinner, where dad cooked paku vegetables. And many sharings. Told grandpa that I’m going Europe, and his eyebrows spelled his tinge of worry for me, but the light smile was a reassuring one that I’ll be alright (:
And t’was the lingering family warmth that accompanied me to sleep that night, on the wooden bed and thin mattress, but comfy, with the rustic smell of village.
And a prayer, that this trip back home will be a blessed one.
Day 2 back home - Friday (Pemangkat 17.12.10)Sitting at the backporch of my grandparents’ place now, is a feeling i can never describe.
I’ve grown up playing at this backporch everytime I’m back here in Pemangkat village. From cooking games when I was little, reading novels, till recording my thoughts on my macbook now, oh how time flies!
Many things have changed. All my aunts used to live here, but some have migrated to Jakarta. Breakfast was classic Pemangkat char kway tiao by 5th aunt (:
Grandma showed me the tapioca plants which she has planted especially just for us, and we’re gonna eat them tonight (: It takes 3 months for the tapioca to grow, and it dawns on me how long have i not been planting anything. Used to help daddy plant kangkong in Pontianak last time. But in Singapore? No way am I gonna plant anything I guess ): There isn’t even a speck of soil for me to start with.
Daddy drove us to eat bakso sapi for lunch, super yummy (: Ate the whole bowl, and they gave us 10 bakso each! GASP! And the chilli’s amazing!
We then visited 5th aunt’s shop, followed by 1st aunt’s bicycle shop where I’d my cup of authentic Pemangkat coffee. And lastly, 6th aunt’s place where we had coconut juice and her hand-made goreng pisang, fresh, hot and crispy from the wok! ((:
We head on to Sambas to find Ko Wery (RSU St Elizabeth Hospital) adn we’d a tour of Sambas! Pasar of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia where there’re this big snake and 2 chameleons for sale! Followed by Ko’s private clinic (4pm-9pm every weekday), afterwhich charkwaytiao at the pondok opposite Koko’s hospital!
Was really glad to see Koko after 6 years, really (: Daddy preached at Pemuda’s service at night on Amazing Grace, and it helped me ponder how unworthy I am to receive His amazing grace.
At night, we ate noodles again cos I was far too hungry, ohmy! haha.
Day 3 back home (Friday 18.12.10)
Went to 6th aunt’s house to see mama and kuku made “choypaupan” followed by “choypaupan” fiesta for lunch! Yummy (:
Then I really just slacked at kuku’s place and had a short catchup with cece Afun, whom I’ve not seen for 2 full years ever since my last trip to Jakarta in 2008! Lovely!
went to buy stationery for France too! 10 books which cost just $4 in total and 12 pens for Rp. 22,000 ($4)! cheap and simple, just enough for taking notes in France I hope!
Went for crabhunt (: and it’s amazing to see daddy and 6th kuku went into the crab pool to pick the crabs! Daddy was joing as tour guide the whole journey back and forth! We’d crab party at night! AWESOME :D
Daddy cooked crabs, tapioca leaves, and of course the most wonderful chilli with belachan and “kim khiuk fan” (special nice smelling leaves)
(: internet cae after that for one hour with bro, and off to sleep!
Day 4 back home (Sunday 19.12.10)
Went to church, and played song for dad and mum’s singspiration!
Lunch at tanjung batu with Djimin sukgong and sukpo - not a very healthy lunch though cos of all the fried stuffs, but nice nevertheless!
Spent the entire afternoon making christmas cards! Played with stamps, red and green. The more I draw, the more ideas I have and the happier I am...
Celebrated grandpa’s 86 birthday today! Loads of people in the house, chitter-chatter non-stop! but best of all, it’s catching up with Koko Wery and ce Afun (: Love my cousins to bits, really! The feeling of being together with them and all the little things we shared with each other are just so simply laughable, and lovely - family warmth, as always, amen (:
Day 5 back home (Monday 20.12.10)
Waited the whole morning for people to help us shift house! (and they only came at 4pm! oh my) Got the chance to drop by internet kiosk again, but it’s so steaming hot i felt like I was burning, plus the countless mosquito bites, haha.
Ate yam mian and our favourite rojak with extra apples from daddy (: whoah! seriously, spicy and crispy at the same time!
When the shifting finally happened, there were akin mini chaos here and there. 5th aunt’s house’s really huge and majestic. It costs $10,000 overall and 3 years to build (we’ll never get a house as big as this in Singapore with such a cost, really). Had a wonderful dinner with 5th aunt and uncle, Ce Rini and Ce Suny’s families and their lively kids!
Went out with Ce Rini at night to buy fruits and milk to make ‘chendol alike’ but with fruits and sago-like ingredients (: Ate Apam Kachang (yummy!) too.
Ce Suny sang for us the song which she has written for the choir in church, and it’s a beautiful song- entitled “the best present”, which is Christ our Lord. Her passion to write music, and her passion to serve the Lord, never failed to inspire us to continue staying strong in our walk and service to our Lord.
Had another round of bakso outside 5th aunt’s shop! Ce Suny said the bakso stall’s the best in Pemangkat and it’s as old as Ko Wery! Haha, it’s his favourite bakso too! Philo ate 2 big bowls, oh my, with loads and loads of kechup (black sauce)!
Had a peaceful night (shared the same room with bro), with a little prayer that grandpa and grandma may adapt fast enough into this new house, and stay joyful, everyday, every moment.
(:
i am so blessed. thankyou, Lord.
Labels: family
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Friday, January 28, 2011
am officially one week in France.
finally had the chance to blog tonight, it's gonna be a long entry, but one with many little moments i would never want to forget (: details fade when not scribed, so i'll be here often now to tape the chords of exchange so that I have something to look back, and smile.
before i type anything, i just wanna say that:
ABOVE ALL, thank you Lord for bringing me to Reims;
for keeping me safe and secure, with nice companionship of the rest of the exchange students and some others from CIS, BDI and RMS.
(:
for allowing a smooth SMUSA AGM with not even a single question to our Council. that to me, says a lot about how much our council and exco have achieved. an unspoken acknowledgement, and how God has kept us all together as one even though we'd had our squabbles. and how the school has grown and will continue to grow as Ryan lead SMUSA (: a sweet ending, with bittersweet memories. I will definitely miss my exco, esp those who have fought so closely alongside me, thankyou. t'was my last speech too, and yes no matter what purpose you have in SMU, it's not what you have in life, but who you have alongside you that truly matters.
for changing the Reims orientation day from official 27th (email sent since october) to 28th (email sent in january!) when SMUSA agm has to be on the 26th. how often does official orientation day changes? (:
for all my lovely friends (feli, liwei, nicholas, sam, elendreus, alex, matt, gladys, caleb, des, carol, claudie, bekah!) and of course my dearest dad, mum and bro to send me off at the airport until the moment i stepped into the departure hall.
for the airport lady who allowed 34kg in when the limit's 30-32kg max. it's amazing, cos I wouldnt know how to remove things off my big luggage at the airport!
for giving me an SMU friend, Candera, on the plane to Paris, transit at Dubai, when all along I thought that I'm travelling alone. She told me she almost booked the flight next day but somehow she just booked a day earlier. How often does that happen? And we'd safe flights and nice company at transit though we'd no trolleys to lug our really rock heavy backpacks! Thanks to her watching after my things and getting me to the right gates and all.
for the shuttle to Reims that finally came!
i'd to wait for 3 hours at the Paris airport for the shuttle to Reims, and I called the Easy Navette shuttle in France frantically. The lady who picked up could only speak french and i panicked cos by then Candera had left to take train and I was alone. Luckily there's another guy on the phone who could speak english and he found my register for the shuttle. I'm glad I've a working singapore line, but after the first call, I realised I only had 3% left on my phone battery! I'd to quickly charge my phone using my laptop; and at that very moment, I'm thankful that I've placed my iPhone charger in my backpack though I'd almost packed it into the big luggage. I called papa cos I was so afraid there's no shuttle and papa told me to just wait in faith, and true enough, the shuttle did come, and it was a very nice driver who helped me carry my luggage all the way to the front of CIS hostel.
the scenery on the highway to Reims was so beautiful, the vast green land and the blue sky with coniferous trees and smoke from houses' chimney now and then. I fell asleep about twice or thrice, it was a private shuttle so there's no one except for me and the driver and I could lay flat on the second row. haha. I cannot explain the feeling when I finally saw REIMS sign and the shuttle swerved smoothly into the land that I've been dreaming and preparing so much for.
the houses, the cobbled streets, the gates, doors of houses; i felt like I was in the moving pages of a storybook, dreamland storybook. (: it's an amazing feeling to be - in Reims.
for CIS hostel. Pedro, then i just knew as the reception guy when I just arrived at my temporary hostel, helped me carry my 34kg luggage up 2 levels cos my room was on the second level and I was at the block with no lift. And the moment I entered my room, I feel so blessed because it's such a cozy pretty room, the kind that I've always imagined - small, yet full of warmth when the wind is blowing hard outside. that night I met a girl from China, Violette, who showed me where the kitchen and i boiled drinking water for the night before I sleep. Am so thankful that she's an exchange student to RMS too and we set it then to go to school at 8 together with everyone else. God provides, always and everyday.
for a wonderful orientation day at Reims.
it was a rush to get to school the next morning, and I was glad I met Susana from Mexico and we went down the cafetaria together, only to see everyone there ((: met Zach from US, and the rest of the chinese girls - there are 12 of them in total! was worried there'll be no asians earlier on!
we walked 25 minutes to school, and where everyone gathered and got to know each other. there's a countless number of administrative things we'd to settle, from money matter to identity validation, but the walks from one room to another gave time to knowing our fellow exchange mates. we'd a Pommery wine cellar tour which was lovely -i've always liked wine, and all about it. and I finally got to see, touch and feel a real cellar, and tasted my first champagne! (: Got to know Barbora from Checzh and Kevan from BDI alongside champagne toasts.
for a simple yet warm dinner with almost all exchange students at the pizza place! thankyou BDI for organizing (: had a 5.50 euro huge MAYA pizza, it's ham with honey and special fromage! lovely! and getting to know each other session yet again, haha.
for an amazing first weekend in Reims.
early morning Violette brought me to Inter Marche, a supermarket 10 mins away from CIS to buy grocery! I was overjoyed from the affordable price and wide variety of things! it's about the size of any ntuc just that it's one big vast floor selling almost everything. Mummy don't have to worry cos' there're plenty of meat, vegetables, cheese, everything you name it you can almost find it, no chilli and singapore cuisines of course! am thankful Violette showed me the way there (:
explored the heart of Reims city with Violette, Barbora and Martina and it's really such a joy! We'd little cafe break at MacDonalds haha and the cappuccino's lovely! (:
the kitchen was a comedy at night! everyone were gathered there, cooking together, enjoying each other's companionship as we're all away from home and adapting to Reims!
following nights, the kitchen was always alive, we'd red, white wines, rose, a special Chezch concoction with 60% alcohol made by Martina's parents and tequilla! but none of us got drunk, and we chattered till late! (: breakfasts been nice too, with baguette plus butter and strawberry jam, cereal and mil, yoghurt, cappuccino and cafe creme, bananas, and off to school we go by foot altogether on monday! met a french american guy chris who just came to france for soccer, and another aussie guy josh who have went bagpacking trip for 4 months and he's 11 more days to go before home. interesting exchanges of experiences (:
for the opportunity to worship at Notre Dame Reims Cathedral. I was truly happy to have Barbora to go with me the first sunday here in France. It was a catholic mass, with its full procedure. But knowing His overflowing grace for me during holy communion was a moment to cherish. I will be here every sunday if there's no other christian church in Reims. thank you Lord, for Your presence.
for a safe shift to ACOBHA Residence. tuesday morning was a mad, mad packing moment! Had a shuttle to drive us to ACOBHA, and at the end we could only leave our luggage at the lobby! came to shift into room finally after class and SURPRISE! Barka, the lady in charge, told me that I'm lucky to get a fully renovated room! It's brand new, and no one has lived in the renovated room before. The kitchen wares are still in their packagings, the toilet sparkling clean. It's amazing how God cares for me, so, so much!
for being able to finally unlock my luggage! yes i think i was too frantic while packing that morning when we'd to shift, and i accidentally changed the lock on my big luggage. it was horrfying, messaged bro and it was such an assurance from him that if I just try all the numbers from 0-999 the luggage will be fine! so the first thing I did in my new room was to meddle with the lock conscientiously from 0,1, ... and I finally got it at 7 hundred plus. almost cried though, cos I cant imagine what to do if it can't be opened, and was so careful cos was afraid I'ld miss a number or two. It's these little bizzare incidents that can truly strengthen me and force me to grow.
for french lessons with french professors and all the humours in class! (: yes, and one teacher made me go to the front while she spelled out the numbers in French and I'd to write the numerals. I almost died. Apparently my class is a beginner class (about 13 people) and the rest of the exchange students are in intermediate and advanced! but there are only like 5 REAL beginners and I'm one. so the teachers love to ask me to read and all that, so classes had been pretty pressurizing at the start! but am really getting used to the pace and tones of french language now. Though i still can't believe I'd to say the word J'aime 20 times to get it right in front of everyone! -.- But in all, french is really a beautiful language!
for chinese new year! celebrated by cooking chinese dishes with exchange friends from China! and we invited Barbora and Martina from Chezch too and it's nice when they like the chinese cuisines too! i really miss mummy's dishes and soups and daddy's charkuaytiao, steamed fish and seafood galore ):
for pina co lada concert which we'd the chance to go up and sing "freedom", haha, and for a lovely crepe party "le chandelier" (: so we rushed down to the party after CNY mini little celebration! Luckily we met the guys at the bus-stop lest we may get lost to the place! T'was at someone's apartment on 4th floor, and BDI made crepes and i tried cider, love it (: I love the crepe with strawberry and little icing sugar! oh and I made a deal to make springrolls ohmy, gotta practice and perfect it by next week hopefully!
and tonight, I feel truly blessed to have this time to finally quieten down a little and count the many blessings I've had thus far. nights are pretty chilly in my room, even though there's a heater.
but i still love WINTER a lot, cos it truly lets me understand how precious warmth is.
for all that've happened, and all that's to come, everything is in God's perfect plan; and I always wonder at all the miracles He'd in my life.
i feel more than blessed
i'm missing home so much right now - papa, mama and philo, especially when it's chinese new year and I've never spent this festive season away from home.
a new beginning, yet another exciting learning journey awaiting me - with faith.
ps: complete photos on fb (:
Labels: exchange
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
ohmy, i really can't sleep. Am freaking out from the thought that i'll be flying off soon ALONE ): what should i do!
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since i can't sleep, i might as well use the time to note down what else i'ld need to do.
right?
cos' lying down in bed super aimlessly feeling scared of exchange is really useless.
SOPHIA'S TO DO LIST as of 16th jan:
1. buy cross necklace, my current one broke )):
2. change euros (on mon?)
3. apply citibank euro account (on mon?)
4. check posb and ocbc balance, and need to deposit enough money in there
5. check if need mummy's supplementary credit card from stan-chart
6. finish AGM speech (by tues)
7. finish annual report designs and layouts (by tues)
8. photocopy important documents
9. buy all the things i still need to (which is another long, long list)
10. farewell meals with friends
11. more family dinners at home, cos' i'm gonna miss mummy's cooked food so, so much
12. thread eyebrows (on 25th jan)
13. buy iphone (on 20th jan) and i need to learn how to use and download all the apps! SOS
14. print photos to be brought to exchange
15.
okay im sleepy now, au revoir
a short one, rather than none.
Labels: thoughts
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my voice is slowly coming back (yes it is!)
after all the "gurgles" with weird-taste liquid and antibiotics. seriously, inflammation. from talking too much, haha. hard to believe. but all in all, i just want my voice back fully!
it's such a scary feeling to not be able to talk.
like i went to mr.bean and it was so hard to even order a warm soy bean drink. that's just one, of the many 'huhs' and weird looks from people when I try to speak, or whisper, or gesture what i needed to say. i was so scared i'ld lose my voice forever, i know it's kinda silly to think in such a way, but that fear's just immense whenever nothing comes out of your vocal chord, even if you tried clearing your throat umpteenth time. went for all the AGMs and bondue bash croaking and whispering funny noises. i wouldn't pass as a good mime.
mummy's pretty voiceless now too ): and she'd got to teach sunday school and lead dorcas fellowship tomorrow. really hope that she will have her voice back, and strength from Him to survive tomorrow. I've let mummy tried gurgling the med doc gave me, hopefully it will help!
went to Tiff's house last wed night to have a 11pm-6am non stop catchup session (part of the reason why i lost my voice) but it's all worth it. haven't seen my bestie for more that 1.5 years! and am truly glad she's been safe and sound in berkeley, and heartened to hear that she's coming back singapore after graduation ((: we may end up as future colleagues too! exciting (: will be sending her off tomorrow at the airport, bon voyage bestie, will wait for you to come back again (:
and, france in 12 days' time.
i can hardly believe it, and im fearing it more than anything else.
got my visa finally yesterday (after going to embassy thrice, and bank to get mummy's statement of accounts etc)! thank God, and thank you mummy and daddy who've been praying for me all along! mummy's gotten me most of the medicine i need for France (medicine's really of utmost importance cos no one's gonna save me when I'm sick there - scary)
many asked if i've packed. well everything's either strewn on my study table, or messily arranged in my huge luggage so far! feel kinda lazy to pack all of them neatly, but I know i better get them down on monday morning/ tonight! excel sheet of packing list is still incomplete, better get it done soon too. sigh, wish I'm not going alone now, then maybe I'ld have someone else to share the load too - i got to bring mini pots and pans so that I could at least cook for the first week or something! i hope. oh yes, i haven't bought all the premixes!
oh yes, gonna teach the kids with Des for the first time tomorrow! Jesus is light (: and we'll have the 'follow the sound, guess what you eat/drink' game and treasure hunt! complete with 'give me oil in my lamp' song! (: am really looking forward to it, hopefully the kids learn and treasure the lesson too, and that it stays with them for a long, long time to come!
gonna sleep, been really tired working on annual report designs, can't wait for it to be done (: jiayou Van and Em who are still burning tonight and tomorrow night and many more nights editing it, come on' it's the last lap. for the best aye girls!
night world, i've got to learn to stop waiting sometimes.
was hopeful, still am hopeful. maybe
got to learn to be truly independent when i'm alone
"alone? you're never alone"
cos' Jesus' watching over you, always and always
(:
Labels: family, thoughts, tiff
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
no more fever finally! (:
thankyou Lord, cos if fever lasts i wouldn't have been able to finish annual report layout and statement...still have my report to redo cos of many overlaps by everyone else /: hope i can finish by tomr, am really tired of it already. Very tired and exhausted from it.
insomnia now, must be too many hours of sleeping so that fever goes away, and now i can no longer sleep /:
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Sunday, January 09, 2011
welcome home
yinghan and carol (:
haven't seen both of them for a full 5 months, and glad that they are back with us safely!
finally preparing my final packing list right now on excel sheet!
Labels: thoughts
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Friday, January 07, 2011
had a lovely jap lunch at itacho sushi, and a haircut finallly! (love the fact that it's short now, it's way lighter!)
walked the entire bugis street with mega and vero for their last day shopping in singapore before they fly back!
is it for real, or is it just an illusion?
Labels: thoughts
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Thursday, January 06, 2011
Day 1 back home - Thursday (Pontianak 16.12.10)Once the plane touched down, I knew I’m home. Smiling, I could’t take my eyes off the padi fields outside, complete with the small worn down attap houses and scarecrows in all costumes.
The smell of the dusty air, the conversations all around me in Bahasa, the slow officers at the airport, all are part of the place I’ve spent my amazing childhood.
Met with 4th uncle’s family (Xian, Yangyi), Vero and dad’s bestfriend for a sumptuous lunch before taking the ride back to grandparent’s place. It will be a mystery if I don’t put on weight when I’m back home, with the amount of things I eat, along with bits of sambal chilli with every bite!
4 hours of journey back to Pemangkat was exhilarating. The whole time, I just looked out of the window, with coconut trees, padi fields, telephone wires stretched parallel to the road we’re on, many attap houses and colourful villager’s cement houses planted all around.
Now and then, I see GKKB churches at every village, and I will make a small little prayer for the villagers residing there (: The Lord’s grace is sufficient for me, for them, for the world.
Smiling grandpa and grandma welcomed us. Dinner, where dad cooked paku vegetables. And many sharings. Told grandpa that I’m going Europe, and his eyebrows spelled his tinge of worry for me, but the light smile was a reassuring one that I’ll be alright (:
And t’was the lingering family warmth that accompanied me to sleep that night, on the wooden bed and thin mattress, but comfy, with the rustic smell of village.
And a prayer, that this trip back home will be a blessed one.
Day 2 back home - Friday (Pemangkat 17.12.10)Sitting at the backporch of my grandparents’ place now, is a feeling i can never describe.
I’ve grown up playing at this backporch everytime I’m back here in Pemangkat village. From cooking games when I was little, reading novels, till recording my thoughts on my macbook now, oh how time flies!
Many things have changed. All my aunts used to live here, but some have migrated to Jakarta. Breakfast was classic Pemangkat char kway tiao by 5th aunt (:
Grandma showed me the tapioca plants which she has planted especially just for us, and we’re gonna eat them tonight (: It takes 3 months for the tapioca to grow, and it dawns on me how long have i not been planting anything. Used to help daddy plant kangkong in Pontianak last time. But in Singapore? No way am I gonna plant anything I guess ): There isn’t even a speck of soil for me to start with.
Daddy drove us to eat bakso sapi for lunch, super yummy (: Ate the whole bowl, and they gave us 10 bakso each! GASP! And the chilli’s amazing!
We then visited 5th aunt’s shop, followed by 1st aunt’s bicycle shop where I’d my cup of authentic Pemangkat coffee. And lastly, 6th aunt’s place where we had coconut juice and her hand-made goreng pisang, fresh, hot and crispy from the wok! ((:
We head on to Sambas to find Ko Wery (RSU St Elizabeth Hospital) adn we’d a tour of Sambas! Pasar of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia where there’re this big snake and 2 chameleons for sale! Followed by Ko’s private clinic (4pm-9pm every weekday), afterwhich charkwaytiao at the pondok opposite Koko’s hospital!
Was really glad to see Koko after 6 years, really (: Daddy preached at Pemuda’s service at night on Amazing Grace, and it helped me ponder how unworthy I am to receive His amazing grace.
At night, we ate noodles again cos I was far too hungry, ohmy! haha.
Day 3 back home (Friday 18.12.10)
Went to 6th aunt’s house to see mama and kuku made “choypaupan” followed by “choypaupan” fiesta for lunch! Yummy (:
Then I really just slacked at kuku’s place and had a short catchup with cece Afun, whom I’ve not seen for 2 full years ever since my last trip to Jakarta in 2008! Lovely!
went to buy stationery for France too! 10 books which cost just $4 in total and 12 pens for Rp. 22,000 ($4)! cheap and simple, just enough for taking notes in France I hope!
Went for crabhunt (: and it’s amazing to see daddy and 6th kuku went into the crab pool to pick the crabs! Daddy was joing as tour guide the whole journey back and forth! We’d crab party at night! AWESOME :D
Daddy cooked crabs, tapioca leaves, and of course the most wonderful chilli with belachan and “kim khiuk fan” (special nice smelling leaves)
(: internet cae after that for one hour with bro, and off to sleep!
Day 4 back home (Sunday 19.12.10)
Went to church, and played song for dad and mum’s singspiration!
Lunch at tanjung batu with Djimin sukgong and sukpo - not a very healthy lunch though cos of all the fried stuffs, but nice nevertheless!
Spent the entire afternoon making christmas cards! Played with stamps, red and green. The more I draw, the more ideas I have and the happier I am...
Celebrated grandpa’s 86 birthday today! Loads of people in the house, chitter-chatter non-stop! but best of all, it’s catching up with Koko Wery and ce Afun (: Love my cousins to bits, really! The feeling of being together with them and all the little things we shared with each other are just so simply laughable, and lovely - family warmth, as always, amen (:
Day 5 back home (Monday 20.12.10)
Waited the whole morning for people to help us shift house! (and they only came at 4pm! oh my) Got the chance to drop by internet kiosk again, but it’s so steaming hot i felt like I was burning, plus the countless mosquito bites, haha.
Ate yam mian and our favourite rojak with extra apples from daddy (: whoah! seriously, spicy and crispy at the same time!
When the shifting finally happened, there were akin mini chaos here and there. 5th aunt’s house’s really huge and majestic. It costs $10,000 overall and 3 years to build (we’ll never get a house as big as this in Singapore with such a cost, really). Had a wonderful dinner with 5th aunt and uncle, Ce Rini and Ce Suny’s families and their lively kids!
Went out with Ce Rini at night to buy fruits and milk to make ‘chendol alike’ but with fruits and sago-like ingredients (: Ate Apam Kachang (yummy!) too.
Ce Suny sang for us the song which she has written for the choir in church, and it’s a beautiful song- entitled “the best present”, which is Christ our Lord. Her passion to write music, and her passion to serve the Lord, never failed to inspire us to continue staying strong in our walk and service to our Lord.
Had another round of bakso outside 5th aunt’s shop! Ce Suny said the bakso stall’s the best in Pemangkat and it’s as old as Ko Wery! Haha, it’s his favourite bakso too! Philo ate 2 big bowls, oh my, with loads and loads of kechup (black sauce)!
Had a peaceful night (shared the same room with bro), with a little prayer that grandpa and grandma may adapt fast enough into this new house, and stay joyful, everyday, every moment.
(:
i am so blessed. thankyou, Lord.
Labels: family
