Moved!
After So much events in Auckland, I decided to move my blog to
http://sweetsinthesnow.tumblr.com/
for more support on image posting.
http://sweetsinthesnow.tumblr.com/
for more support on image posting.
Loading mode
Wow wow time to pull the horses back alittle. I been proceeding on with my life in a fast pace and its time to slow it down alittle, dun you reckon?
From celede, Banana cup cakes, I decide to try for the first time yesterday haha
My life has been totally out of my gasp these days and I found that my rash has not decrease by a single bit. So in a nut shell, I need to slow things down a little.
Thats not the point, recently I got myself contacts! Yes my friends, I am officially in contacts mode.
So how is it like being in contacts? Loading mode.
what?
Loading mode.
So whats that?
Basically, everything is steaming in front of you like a computer. Its gets clearer as the image starts to load which means that driving at night is a no no for me.
Hence I cant really see faces clear. I still not used to contacts and hence a little shy with that not like me in my specs haha!
Well thats life, you have to try all sorts of stuff that you have not done before.
From celede, Banana cup cakes, I decide to try for the first time yesterday haha
Loading mode
Wow wow time to pull the horses back alittle. I been proceeding on with my life in a fast pace and its time to slow it down alittle, dun you reckon?
From celede, Banana cup cakes, I decide to try for the first time yesterday haha
My life has been totally out of my gasp these days and I found that my rash has not decrease by a single bit. So in a nut shell, I need to slow things down a little.
Thats not the point, recently I got myself contacts! Yes my friends, I am officially in contacts mode.
So how is it like being in contacts? Loading mode.
what?
Loading mode.
So whats that?
Basically, everything is steaming in front of you like a computer. Its gets clearer as the image starts to load which means that driving at night is a no no for me.
Hence I cant really see faces clear. I still not used to contacts and hence a little shy with that not like me in my specs haha!
Well thats life, you have to try all sorts of stuff that you have not done before.
From celede, Banana cup cakes, I decide to try for the first time yesterday haha
Auckland habits
For starters, I have to admit that ever since I came back to Singapore, some of my actions and words are considered weird to the locals. One of which is my usual conversation pick up line that I used in Auckland 'So where you're from?'
I was trying to strike a conversation with a local and this was my first conversation and she looked at me with a puzzeled face and replied after I prompted her again and again 'Singapore lol'. This hit me real hard and for that moment, I realized that I am back in Singapore.
Other habits were the hiking habits that I picked up over there while trying to save money. My latest self record was walking from macperson mrt to city hall mrt. I pretty much proud of my bus 11 strength.
I never realized Auckland has such a huge impact on me, the other day where I let the television run, there was this program hosted by pornsak about the orgins of food and I saw the grey and white goose in the program and my heart is omg! thats new Zealand! but it turn out to be in Austrila.His hiking in the show makes me miss the hiking period that I did and all of a sudden, I just have that urge to hike around Singapore as well. Perhaps its like what May said: 'I'm sure you will find your way back here." which I'm certain am.
The third habit might be my lunch habit as the day is longer than in Auckland, I actually do have the need to prepare my lunch in case of any gastric acting up. My lunch box includes an apple or fruit/ one slice bread and a pack of hot make drink power. To the locals, they were like omg! this is certaintly not enough but to be honest my cravings disappear for the local food sold out there and when mum advise me to intake some rice and carbo as a balance, I actually cooked the dish my self: noodles with apples stir fry. Instead of 2 days, I find myself being able to share that normal portion to 3 days. Yes today is the 3rd day.
Note to self: I so need a mircowave, eating it cold is that awful!
Anyways, up to this point, no one tell me that I am weird but I could feel that to some I am weird. In the past, I would switch back to the norm but now I care less for it.
Life is never a single color but of multiples, this is the same for people in a country. I love my life style and I would want it to stay that way.Welcome to my life!
I was trying to strike a conversation with a local and this was my first conversation and she looked at me with a puzzeled face and replied after I prompted her again and again 'Singapore lol'. This hit me real hard and for that moment, I realized that I am back in Singapore.
Other habits were the hiking habits that I picked up over there while trying to save money. My latest self record was walking from macperson mrt to city hall mrt. I pretty much proud of my bus 11 strength.
I never realized Auckland has such a huge impact on me, the other day where I let the television run, there was this program hosted by pornsak about the orgins of food and I saw the grey and white goose in the program and my heart is omg! thats new Zealand! but it turn out to be in Austrila.His hiking in the show makes me miss the hiking period that I did and all of a sudden, I just have that urge to hike around Singapore as well. Perhaps its like what May said: 'I'm sure you will find your way back here." which I'm certain am.
The third habit might be my lunch habit as the day is longer than in Auckland, I actually do have the need to prepare my lunch in case of any gastric acting up. My lunch box includes an apple or fruit/ one slice bread and a pack of hot make drink power. To the locals, they were like omg! this is certaintly not enough but to be honest my cravings disappear for the local food sold out there and when mum advise me to intake some rice and carbo as a balance, I actually cooked the dish my self: noodles with apples stir fry. Instead of 2 days, I find myself being able to share that normal portion to 3 days. Yes today is the 3rd day.
Note to self: I so need a mircowave, eating it cold is that awful!
Anyways, up to this point, no one tell me that I am weird but I could feel that to some I am weird. In the past, I would switch back to the norm but now I care less for it.
Life is never a single color but of multiples, this is the same for people in a country. I love my life style and I would want it to stay that way.Welcome to my life!
On the job hunt... and the power of reflection
For the past 21 days back in Singapore, I have been attending interviews after interviews. Most of the interviews turned out to be insurances or multi layer marketing.
Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.
The agents were recommending me jobs that pays $6 to $6.50 per hour for temp jobs and on the monthly scale, it was around 1300 to 1400 per month. This is like low. With all that negativeness, it sort of turn me back to what I was before I left for Auckland. Snacking and snacking at the front of my computer trying to drop resumes all the time.
Yesterday was 21 July 2010, I have a messy morning. My job agent send me the interview details last min and I have to take a cab down to science park 2 for an interview. The rocking of the cab made me dizzy and I was suffering from a mess head ache as I was waiting for the interviewer so I did something that I have not done for that long.
I closed my eyes and imagined that I was back in my apartment room 24A in Auckland. I got out of my room, walk towards the lodge area and then exit from the door to the carparks and walk up the slope towards the path to new lynn. But before new lynn, it was the sunday market. I recalled the noisy market, the locals shopping around and then on my way to the new lynn shopping mall where the kiwis were drinking and eating desserts, the stores there as well as the way back, the creek that I walked everyday, Unitec and my friends there. All that brought me a smile to my face as I recalled each of them. I open my eyes again, sure I was still in Singapore but my mind was totally lighter with the burdens and stress disappearing. I no longer feel the stress of the Singapore life and the duties that I have for.
The interview turn out great. As usual I was asked about my accent. Well this was something that I did not notice while I was in Auckland. Back in Singapore, the locals were asking me if I was a Singapore PR or was I a foreigner. Why? To the locals, I speak with an accent that was not the typical Singapore English. So to my peers in Auckland, have fun returning home with an accent haha!
After the interview, I listen to my heart once again and walk around in IMM like I did when I was in Auckland. I walked around Daiso and bought black sugar sweets which is so nice!
Then I took the train to east point and wrote my reflection on my diary. Here's what I wrote for my reflection:
'I decided that since it was so hard for me to re adapt back to the life of Singapore, Why should I forced myself back to the mainstream? I was kind of like forcing myself back to the mainstream til today. Therefore why don't I try to be myself, listen to my heart and try living in Singapore? I was snacking away during that 21 days and if I have not keep a close look out on my weight, it could bounce back easily. It was due to the stress from trying to bend in back the way of life in Singapore and my mind was getting heavier each day and my smile was getting weaker...After imaging of Auckland, my smile turn stronger and my mind turn lighter.'
Well speaking of reflection when I was in Auckland, every morning, I would spend time in front of my computer reflecting on what I did the day before. It was till the 10 days trip with Sunny that I bought a little notebook and wrote my reflection for each day in that book should I be unable to switch on my computer.
Since then, the book has been with me all the time recording my reflections, things i ate and i did as well as the resumes for the job applications that I submit online. Reflection sort of like highlight to the self of what they have been doing and make the individual realized their faults and try to correct it. If not for that book, I would have bounced back in my weight and not lose a kg. The other point that it serve, it keeps me motivated. As I read my past reflection in Queenstown, a smile was brought to my face.
Upon reaching at East point, i walked around the building, have my eyes checked and then walked home from east point. Its my weekly to do for keeping my legs in shape as well as seasoning my legs to enable them to cover further distances so that I could save more on the travel fares haha.
That night, I went to bed like old times at 8 plus.
Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.
On the job hunt... and the power of reflection
For the past 21 days back in Singapore, I have been attending interviews after interviews. Most of the interviews turned out to be insurances or multi layer marketing.
Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.
The agents were recommending me jobs that pays $6 to $6.50 per hour for temp jobs and on the monthly scale, it was around 1300 to 1400 per month. This is like low. With all that negativeness, it sort of turn me back to what I was before I left for Auckland. Snacking and snacking at the front of my computer trying to drop resumes all the time.
Yesterday was 21 July 2010, I have a messy morning. My job agent send me the interview details last min and I have to take a cab down to science park 2 for an interview. The rocking of the cab made me dizzy and I was suffering from a mess head ache as I was waiting for the interviewer so I did something that I have not done for that long.
I closed my eyes and imagined that I was back in my apartment room 24A in Auckland. I got out of my room, walk towards the lodge area and then exit from the door to the carparks and walk up the slope towards the path to new lynn. But before new lynn, it was the sunday market. I recalled the noisy market, the locals shopping around and then on my way to the new lynn shopping mall where the kiwis were drinking and eating desserts, the stores there as well as the way back, the creek that I walked everyday, Unitec and my friends there. All that brought me a smile to my face as I recalled each of them. I open my eyes again, sure I was still in Singapore but my mind was totally lighter with the burdens and stress disappearing. I no longer feel the stress of the Singapore life and the duties that I have for.
The interview turn out great. As usual I was asked about my accent. Well this was something that I did not notice while I was in Auckland. Back in Singapore, the locals were asking me if I was a Singapore PR or was I a foreigner. Why? To the locals, I speak with an accent that was not the typical Singapore English. So to my peers in Auckland, have fun returning home with an accent haha!
After the interview, I listen to my heart once again and walk around in IMM like I did when I was in Auckland. I walked around Daiso and bought black sugar sweets which is so nice!
Then I took the train to east point and wrote my reflection on my diary. Here's what I wrote for my reflection:
'I decided that since it was so hard for me to re adapt back to the life of Singapore, Why should I forced myself back to the mainstream? I was kind of like forcing myself back to the mainstream til today. Therefore why don't I try to be myself, listen to my heart and try living in Singapore? I was snacking away during that 21 days and if I have not keep a close look out on my weight, it could bounce back easily. It was due to the stress from trying to bend in back the way of life in Singapore and my mind was getting heavier each day and my smile was getting weaker...After imaging of Auckland, my smile turn stronger and my mind turn lighter.'
Well speaking of reflection when I was in Auckland, every morning, I would spend time in front of my computer reflecting on what I did the day before. It was till the 10 days trip with Sunny that I bought a little notebook and wrote my reflection for each day in that book should I be unable to switch on my computer.
Since then, the book has been with me all the time recording my reflections, things i ate and i did as well as the resumes for the job applications that I submit online. Reflection sort of like highlight to the self of what they have been doing and make the individual realized their faults and try to correct it. If not for that book, I would have bounced back in my weight and not lose a kg. The other point that it serve, it keeps me motivated. As I read my past reflection in Queenstown, a smile was brought to my face.
Upon reaching at East point, i walked around the building, have my eyes checked and then walked home from east point. Its my weekly to do for keeping my legs in shape as well as seasoning my legs to enable them to cover further distances so that I could save more on the travel fares haha.
That night, I went to bed like old times at 8 plus.
Vegetarian Tian at Tcc: At the bottom is fried tofu, potato, carrots, cheese, mushroom, pumpkin, bamboo shoot and then mushroom again with salads at the sides.
Life back in Singapore
Today is 19 July 2010, its more than half a month since I touched down back in Singapore. I done a couple of meet ups with my peers here as well as rushing my butts off to and from one interview to another which turns out to be either insurance or multiple level marketing or data mining jobs. Job aspects was not that fruitful for a marketer inspirer, the openings are mostly for people with exposure in that area and the stress and reality of Singapore were falling on my shoulders, urging me to plunge back to the very world that I once left and to accept the way it is. At some point of time, it got me stress and snacking a lot. But luckily, I have my little note with me that has my reflections in Auckland as well as my thoughts at every moment in my life which allows me to maintain and lost one kg since I got back here. It acts as my motivation to stay strong as well.
In my next post, I might discuss about the power of having time for self reflection. But back to the topic that I want this post to have: The life back in Singapore.
Firstly, I did not really find Singapore the same back as the way I left it for Auckland. I mean things seems different. So what does it feels like? Here are some illustration:
1. Switching on the television for the first time since you return only to find the very channel that was familiar to you has a feeling of being foreign to you.
2. Totally piss off by the language that the locals speak and feel like shutting the television off after hearing them speak for some time.
P.S: Before I get bashed by readers, it is a fact that our English need to improve. When I was in Auckland, I came across my friend's blog and in her blog was a post about what a local choose to introduce to the class, Singlish... not the magnificent structure of our esplanade, our casino to be at Marina Bay Sands, our newly universal studio or our largest shopping center Vivo. Singlish was introduced to the class about the uniques of Singapore. Well I did not really want foreigners to remember Singapore this way. The way we speak with the la, hor, ar all that stuff. I want people to remember Singapore for its culture of how people treat each other or its world class buildings that somehow one could feel proud of. The other point of view as feedback to me was that Singaporeans spoke like a train with no stopping and lump their words all together. In Auckland, I was always to prove myself different and that I am from Singapore, a country that has more to offer and unique than Singlish. But, there is no denial that Singlish is what makes us unique and we could not bash the very aspect of it.Well for me, I will continue improving the way I spoke as I am more comfortable in speaking english now as well as confident in it.
3. Finding the main meals here too full for my consumption and hence it will be more worth off for me to cook at home.
4. Missing the english spoken in New Zealand as well as the servings of food there.
5. I miss my walkings there! and finding it hot in Singapore and cold in some of the shopping centers which i never felt that way.
6. Feeling unfamiliar with the streets of Singapore which I am suppose to be familiar with.
7. Finding clothes expensive and miss clearance of clothes in New Zealand but then I actually could save alot as my mum's old clothes could be worn by me now which save me lots!
8. Cotton on is my to shop list since it would be easier for me to find the size of clothes.
9. Fruits, vegetables has it cravings on me but not the others.
10. I snack at home but not when I am out as there was no crave for snack when I am out.
In a nut shell, my stage of life back here was like realizing how much I have changed, so much so that my views and values were different. Sometimes different from the main stream. My dress codes has changed and my old habits were minimum. I was finding work to do! Cleaning the house all day like what I did in New Zealand. Was it boring, not at all, it just give me a sense of satisfaction and that mum could rest more. Its been hard on her taking care of all the housework as well as my ever playful Ban! Well he matured too but still as playful and sometimes you just laugh at him.
Smile was like an everyday must do. Smile at my reflection or in the mirror, taking self portrait and smiling at the photo that I have taken. The best thing in life was to be able to smile again. Once you like your smile, you just love yourself each day even more. This is what keeps me motivated. Because I love who I am now, I will not do things that I do not felt happy with. The ability to smile again and pass that warm to others is dear to me now and I would do all I can to have that ability. Think about it give a smile to anyone and lighten up their life, as they smile back to you, your spirits gets lit and you feel good. It does not cost much to smile but its priceless to feel happy and good.
As feedback, I might have a slower readapting ability but facts are that I just not want to move back to the mainstream and be back at square one. Its my weapon to fend off the negative aspects of this very country. People tend to bend to reality and its negativeness and at times, its unhealthy to your soul and heart. I learn that whether a day turns out to be happy or sad, its really my choice.
So what are my new habits you might ask?
Well firstly, I spend less time on computers and more on housework.
Listen to BBC news to the very english accent that I missed.
Have a target of breaking to a smile everyday.
Oats, yogurt, milk for breakfast. None for lunch or a beverage during lunch and then some side meals such as buns or vegetables for dinner. No fast food, fried, oily or junk food (its good for the skin okies)
Reading Eat, Pray, Love currently. Yes I bought that book from popular. Reading it out loud to pratice my English.
At least jog, climb the stairs each day. A fruit a day or two?
Writing my feelings in my by the side notebook so that I know what I feel and what I want to be able to not bend myself into reality.
'Today is a fairytale' is my everyday must listen song because it brings smiles to me and to remind me to seek living life each day as a fairytale and that how bless life is for me. Life does not need to be in reality, it could be in a fairytale with positiveness and smile at situations. Nutshell: Enjoying moments of life as much as I can
More time with my family as I realized how much they mean to me when I was in Auckland. Life's never been this great!
Frutti salad from pizza hut: Well do away with the mayo I would say!