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I'M COMING HOME!
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What's up pudding cup
The aftermath of the sting.
15 November 2009 @ 04:31 pm
30 October 2009 @ 11:01 pm
Scruffy looking kitten that wouldn't stop to let me take a photo. Every time I squat and try to take a shot it will crawl under my legs haha
On our way to Qi Pu Lu/crowded smelly bus/tamagotchi obsession
Went to the garden near the place we stay.. bunnies for sale!
There were boat rides available and we could drive them ourselves haha motor boats that went really slowly but still quite a thrill(for awhile haha)
30 October 2009 @ 02:08 pm
Back to work!
My 2-day (little)ordeal is over. It really made me realize that I may have grown older, but in some ways I'm still like a little girl. The last time I bawled my eyes out in a hospital was when I was about 8. 11 years down the road and I'm still the same. When I look back at what happened on Tuesday I feel amusement, and a little shame. I could have just faced it like a brave person. But then again I am in a foreign country, sick and without family. I panicked. To be honest, the whole process didn't hurt as much as I imagined it to be. It wasn't the pain I was so afraid of. It was just that at that moment, I suddenly felt very very alone. I felt cornered by the doctor, the nurses... the place. I wished to hell to see a familiar face, or to hold on to a familiar hand. No one in the room understood why I couldn't stop tearing as I sat there, waiting for the drip to be done. I kept thinking of family, the people I love, home...and the tears wouldn't stop.
The aunty sitting next to me was very friendly. She kept talking to me, asking me where I've been to in Shanghai, how I like the place etc. She pointed out the old man sitting opposite me and told me he has to be put on the drip almost every day. Then she told me, “你又高，人长得又漂亮，就是胆子不大。明天我也会来。明天不要看到你再哭了。你要勇敢orh。”
And those were the words I remembered on the 2nd day there when I was there, in the room, queuing up to get poked. I didn't shed a tear, nor hesitate in giving my hand to the nurse(ok confession but I was a nervous wreck in disguise). I saw her in the room later and we smiled at each other. It was a little heartwarming :)
Must also thank Jijie's aunt, who held my hand in the process and encouraged me all the way. Without her company I would probably have had a much harder time. Her heart is made of gold :)
xx
My 2-day (little)ordeal is over. It really made me realize that I may have grown older, but in some ways I'm still like a little girl. The last time I bawled my eyes out in a hospital was when I was about 8. 11 years down the road and I'm still the same. When I look back at what happened on Tuesday I feel amusement, and a little shame. I could have just faced it like a brave person. But then again I am in a foreign country, sick and without family. I panicked. To be honest, the whole process didn't hurt as much as I imagined it to be. It wasn't the pain I was so afraid of. It was just that at that moment, I suddenly felt very very alone. I felt cornered by the doctor, the nurses... the place. I wished to hell to see a familiar face, or to hold on to a familiar hand. No one in the room understood why I couldn't stop tearing as I sat there, waiting for the drip to be done. I kept thinking of family, the people I love, home...and the tears wouldn't stop.
The aunty sitting next to me was very friendly. She kept talking to me, asking me where I've been to in Shanghai, how I like the place etc. She pointed out the old man sitting opposite me and told me he has to be put on the drip almost every day. Then she told me, “你又高，人长得又漂亮，就是胆子不大。明天我也会来。明天不要看到你再哭了。你要勇敢orh。”
And those were the words I remembered on the 2nd day there when I was there, in the room, queuing up to get poked. I didn't shed a tear, nor hesitate in giving my hand to the nurse(ok confession but I was a nervous wreck in disguise). I saw her in the room later and we smiled at each other. It was a little heartwarming :)
Must also thank Jijie's aunt, who held my hand in the process and encouraged me all the way. Without her company I would probably have had a much harder time. Her heart is made of gold :)
xx
Temperatures next week will be dipping as low as 8°, with the highest being 14° oh golly.
P.S. I am witnessing 2 employees being dismissed, right in front of my eyes! I'm trying to be discreet. Sad. Harsh harsh reality. Edited: Okay I was wrong it's not just 2 it's like 5? Or are there gonna be more. And today I just happened to change a seat facing the other direction, that's why I'm able to see it happen. If not, when these sad dejected people walk out, I'd probably still say a cheery "bye!" to them oh gawd.
P.S. I am witnessing 2 employees being dismissed, right in front of my eyes! I'm trying to be discreet. Sad. Harsh harsh reality. Edited: Okay I was wrong it's not just 2 it's like 5? Or are there gonna be more. And today I just happened to change a seat facing the other direction, that's why I'm able to see it happen. If not, when these sad dejected people walk out, I'd probably still say a cheery "bye!" to them oh gawd.
28 October 2009 @ 06:12 pm
The Chinese hospital put me on a drip.
I freaked out, I bawled my eyes out. The doctor told me "no bargaining" when I tried to ask if I could just have tablets instead. I hate needles! The room of patients (mostly middle aged people) were so amused. The lady sitting beside me gave me some tissue and told me to be brave. I was the only one crying like a baby there. I missed home so much.
Sucks to be sick overseas. Best part: Session 2 continues tomorrow ):
I freaked out, I bawled my eyes out. The doctor told me "no bargaining" when I tried to ask if I could just have tablets instead. I hate needles! The room of patients (mostly middle aged people) were so amused. The lady sitting beside me gave me some tissue and told me to be brave. I was the only one crying like a baby there. I missed home so much.
Sucks to be sick overseas. Best part: Session 2 continues tomorrow ):
23 October 2009 @ 10:20 am
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS;
something to say when you have nothing to say
Every day when I'm about to leave the estate where I live for work, I'll see this little boy, his dad and his granny. There's a little walking distance from the house to the front gates (much like a condominium in Singapore.) The dad would be carrying his backpack. The granny would get on her bicycle, and the dad would carry the boy and place him on the child seat behind the bike. Granny would start cycling slowly, and the dad would jog alongside the bicycle and talk to the boy as they make their way out. I overheard some of their conversation yesterday. Dad asked if the boy had anymore to say to him (they were reaching the entrance alr), and the little boy said "Wait for you to come home papa." And when they reach the entrance, granny cycles to the right and dad leaves for work on the left.
Major sweet. It sounds way sweeter when said in mandarin, plus the whole accent thing. I love hearing the chinese kids speak here, especially when they call their mamas or papas. Can't really describe it but their accents somehow make the language come alive.
I'm loving the language more and more with each day I'm here. Although sometimes it's still quite hard for me to understand what my colleagues are saying when they are talking amongst themselves, I'd like to think I'm improving a little too!
P.S. Obsessed with my tamagotchi. It was selling for 35yuan at the toys'r'us clearance sale here and J got me one! Childhood toy!
something to say when you have nothing to say
Every day when I'm about to leave the estate where I live for work, I'll see this little boy, his dad and his granny. There's a little walking distance from the house to the front gates (much like a condominium in Singapore.) The dad would be carrying his backpack. The granny would get on her bicycle, and the dad would carry the boy and place him on the child seat behind the bike. Granny would start cycling slowly, and the dad would jog alongside the bicycle and talk to the boy as they make their way out. I overheard some of their conversation yesterday. Dad asked if the boy had anymore to say to him (they were reaching the entrance alr), and the little boy said "Wait for you to come home papa." And when they reach the entrance, granny cycles to the right and dad leaves for work on the left.
Major sweet. It sounds way sweeter when said in mandarin, plus the whole accent thing. I love hearing the chinese kids speak here, especially when they call their mamas or papas. Can't really describe it but their accents somehow make the language come alive.
I'm loving the language more and more with each day I'm here. Although sometimes it's still quite hard for me to understand what my colleagues are saying when they are talking amongst themselves, I'd like to think I'm improving a little too!
P.S. Obsessed with my tamagotchi. It was selling for 35yuan at the toys'r'us clearance sale here and J got me one! Childhood toy!
19 October 2009 @ 04:40 pm
A shirt stained by xiao long bao juice is an unhappy shirt.
I finally ate some decent tasting xiao long bao in Shanghai after what - 1 month here? Haha just felt like drawing the above cos that's what happened to my mom.
The macdonald's here have got delicious chocolate pies. KFC has good egg tarts. Lillian's has very yummy cheese egg tarts. I love the popcorn chicken pizza at pizza hut. Ajisen is so much cheaper here than in Singapore. None of these are doing any good to my already disappearing waistline! And I'm not even talking about the local dishes yet.
My pants were so tight yesterday that I think it disrupted the blood circulation a lil bit and I felt giddy. Either the pants I bought from Qi Pu Lu were the wrong size, or I've gained one pound too many. Sitting on my butt in the office for hours on end isn't gonna help me either. I need a plan pronto!
And thank you dear for bringing me the 5 copies of 8 days I've not read since I left. Definitely felt a lil closer to home reading that stuff today on the train. Chris and Fann's wedding shoot at Maldives looks awesome. They look too cute in their matching straw hats and bags.
P.S. Starting to watch HK dramas dubbed in mandarin to improve my horrigible mandarin.
I finally ate some decent tasting xiao long bao in Shanghai after what - 1 month here? Haha just felt like drawing the above cos that's what happened to my mom.
The macdonald's here have got delicious chocolate pies. KFC has good egg tarts. Lillian's has very yummy cheese egg tarts. I love the popcorn chicken pizza at pizza hut. Ajisen is so much cheaper here than in Singapore. None of these are doing any good to my already disappearing waistline! And I'm not even talking about the local dishes yet.
My pants were so tight yesterday that I think it disrupted the blood circulation a lil bit and I felt giddy. Either the pants I bought from Qi Pu Lu were the wrong size, or I've gained one pound too many. Sitting on my butt in the office for hours on end isn't gonna help me either. I need a plan pronto!
And thank you dear for bringing me the 5 copies of 8 days I've not read since I left. Definitely felt a lil closer to home reading that stuff today on the train. Chris and Fann's wedding shoot at Maldives looks awesome. They look too cute in their matching straw hats and bags.
P.S. Starting to watch HK dramas dubbed in mandarin to improve my horrigible mandarin.
14 October 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Brought some candy to give to my colleagues today, and many of them gave me shocked expressions haha. I just learnt that in China, people distribute sweets and candies when they are getting married. It's called 喜糖(xi tang). Haha! So I did some quick googling and found out why:
1.希望大家都皆大欢喜,更是图个喜庆希望以后的生活甜甜蜜密,开开心心
2.糖是粘的，有夫妻二人和好美满之意,永远在一起不分开
3.想把自己的喜悦和甜蜜分享给每个人
4.发喜糖其实更多的这是一种传统从古到今都有这个习俗,所以人们也就一直延续下来了
It's actually a chinese tradition from way back. There's an idiom in mandarin that uses the words sweet (甜甜蜜蜜）, which can be used to describe a couple very much in love. By giving candy to others, they want others to share their happiness and celebrate their union, and hope that their lives together ahead will be loving and full of happiness. Couples also hope to be "sticky" like candy, never to be separated from each other.
Interesting. The mochi I gave out is very sticky ah.
1.希望大家都皆大欢喜,更是图个喜庆希望以后的生活甜甜蜜密,开开心心
2.糖是粘的，有夫妻二人和好美满之意,永远在一起不分开
3.想把自己的喜悦和甜蜜分享给每个人
4.发喜糖其实更多的这是一种传统从古到今都有这个习俗,所以人们也就一直延续下来了
It's actually a chinese tradition from way back. There's an idiom in mandarin that uses the words sweet (甜甜蜜蜜）, which can be used to describe a couple very much in love. By giving candy to others, they want others to share their happiness and celebrate their union, and hope that their lives together ahead will be loving and full of happiness. Couples also hope to be "sticky" like candy, never to be separated from each other.
Interesting. The mochi I gave out is very sticky ah.
13 October 2009 @ 03:41 pm
I like the boldness and daringness that comes with being overseas. It's like suddenly you're brave enough to do anything.
02 October 2009 @ 08:59 pm
Had a nasty case of diarrhea which woke me up this morning. The rest have minor cases of it too and we suspect it was the ice cream we had yesterday (no prizes for guessing who ate the most haha.) So it's China's 60th National Day, and so begins our 8-day long holiday! I am lovin' it!
Ok, some pictures I've been too lazy to post.
This was last saturday at a restaurant after our shopping trip at the bargain mall. Look at Jijie's aunt's cute expression. She is made of love.
Ok, some pictures I've been too lazy to post.
This was last saturday at a restaurant after our shopping trip at the bargain mall. Look at Jijie's aunt's cute expression. She is made of love.
That's us today at Cheng Huang Miao. Lotsa touristy stuff, and lots of people! There was a Starbucks there as well, looking very out-of-place surronded by old buildings and temples.
Work days. That's me with an ice cream a colleague brought for everyone the other day :)
Random MSN drawings I like.
Looking forward to the day my mommies and Jeremy come over!
Looking forward to the day my mommies and Jeremy come over!
27 September 2009 @ 01:57 pm
Saturday was a good rest day. I definitely appreciate the weekends more now that there's work. We (the 4 of us, plus Jijie's 2 aunts and cousin) went shopping at the bargain mall again. Hmm, we seem to go there every week! Haha. Jijie's aunts and cousins are really something when they're bargaining. Bargaining is an art every woman should master (I wanted to say every woman and every man but that would mean less peace in the world, so just the women ^^).
And I used the toilet at the mall (I haaaad to, girly emergency) and the cubicles had no doors. Reminded me of my last visit to China (Kunming) where the toilets had no doors, but I've never actually used one where there were sooo many people. Jijie was very cute la, she paid to come in just to stand near the entrance "to give you moral support ok Nat!" Haha she is love.
Anyway we had dinner at a restaurant Jijie's cousin recommended. And we secretly foot the bill as our way of saying thanks. Haha should have seen their expressions when they found out. And I've been seeing many toy poodles here. I think it's an expensive breed back in sg. But here, I see one almost every other day! One little hyper one licked my feet when I went to pat it. I tried persuading her aunt to get one too haha imagine a toy pood in the house... perfect.
We gave Kailing a birthday surprise at midnight last night. It was so funny cos we tried to get her boyfriend's msn, but we couldn't figure out her laptop password. It was damn exciting cos she was bathing and Ryhn was trying all the funny passwords like shushu (ah shu her hamster) and pink monster (her huge soft toy she talks to like it's alive, but I shall keep that for another post haha) and I couldn't stop laughing. In the end we just got his number from her phone haha. Hope the little surprise made her feel happier! ♥
And I used the toilet at the mall (I haaaad to, girly emergency) and the cubicles had no doors. Reminded me of my last visit to China (Kunming) where the toilets had no doors, but I've never actually used one where there were sooo many people. Jijie was very cute la, she paid to come in just to stand near the entrance "to give you moral support ok Nat!" Haha she is love.
Anyway we had dinner at a restaurant Jijie's cousin recommended. And we secretly foot the bill as our way of saying thanks. Haha should have seen their expressions when they found out. And I've been seeing many toy poodles here. I think it's an expensive breed back in sg. But here, I see one almost every other day! One little hyper one licked my feet when I went to pat it. I tried persuading her aunt to get one too haha imagine a toy pood in the house... perfect.
We gave Kailing a birthday surprise at midnight last night. It was so funny cos we tried to get her boyfriend's msn, but we couldn't figure out her laptop password. It was damn exciting cos she was bathing and Ryhn was trying all the funny passwords like shushu (ah shu her hamster) and pink monster (her huge soft toy she talks to like it's alive, but I shall keep that for another post haha) and I couldn't stop laughing. In the end we just got his number from her phone haha. Hope the little surprise made her feel happier! ♥
25 September 2009 @ 10:27 am
A happy birthday song at midnight - hip hop style. I love you baby. Have a happy dappity birthday and celebration tonight ♥
You're loved!
24 September 2009 @ 04:04 pm
I like the smoked chicken salad at Starbucks. It shall be my favourite lunch until I get sick of it. I've been blogging a lot lately thanks to this internship. I'm so glad I get to use MSN openly, if not I would have probably shriveled up and died of boredom and restlessness! My supervisor's from TP too, and he just showed me his wedding album shot at TP. Had a good time browsing, laughing and chatting about the photos.
Omg, there is sunlight streaming in through the windows! I have not seen bright sunlight in days (not exaggerating.) I regret not bringing novels over to read. So far the only bookstores I've seen only have chinese books. But their Japanese fashion magazines are good, and much cheaper than in Singapore.
Had dinner in a cafe in the city yesterday. 新天地is so beautiful and happening at night. Pretty lights and old buildings. Loved it!
Omg, there is sunlight streaming in through the windows! I have not seen bright sunlight in days (not exaggerating.) I regret not bringing novels over to read. So far the only bookstores I've seen only have chinese books. But their Japanese fashion magazines are good, and much cheaper than in Singapore.
Had dinner in a cafe in the city yesterday. 新天地is so beautiful and happening at night. Pretty lights and old buildings. Loved it!
24 September 2009 @ 09:28 am
Tomorrow's your special day. I wish to be back to celebrate it with you. Well I hope you'll have a great time anyway :)
Halfway around the world, that won’t stop me from loving you
23 September 2009 @ 04:11 pm
It has finally stopped raining. YAY! I'm supposed to do my task but it's so difficult, so I surfed some photography sites. Ended up saving a lot of pictures. I'd love to take an album of black and white photos someday. I think black and white makes nice people photos too.
Had a very bad scare this morning but I guess I was just being too paranoid again. Ate healthy today - chicken salad and bananas (and some malteses oops.) I think working here has made me a healthier person cos I drink a lot more water... and subsequently use the loo a lot more too haha.
Looking forward to meeting the homies for dinner later!
20 September 2009 @ 09:48 pm
My camera has a smile detector mode where it just snaps photos when it detects smiles and we were trying it out before heading out. Don't think I'll use it often cos ended up smiling so widely like an idiot haha. That's Jijie's lovely aunt with us by the way.
On our way to Qi Pu Lu for some cheap shopping. I didn't get much but the rest did! We have to go there earlier next time because we only combed the basement before all the shops started closing.
The 4 of us tried a lot of bargaining today and there were quite a few successful attempts! There was one shoe shop owner who quoted us a ridiculously high price for the shoes and I didn't really like it anyway so we walked away. He kept shouting and asking us for our price, and when we just ignored him and continued walking, he shouted something rude. Jijie told me he scolded "fuck you" but it sounded like "fang pi (fart in chinese)" to me haha, hilarious. Cranky shop owners.
The 4 of us tried a lot of bargaining today and there were quite a few successful attempts! There was one shoe shop owner who quoted us a ridiculously high price for the shoes and I didn't really like it anyway so we walked away. He kept shouting and asking us for our price, and when we just ignored him and continued walking, he shouted something rude. Jijie told me he scolded "fuck you" but it sounded like "fang pi (fart in chinese)" to me haha, hilarious. Cranky shop owners.
Work tomorrow. The weather's getting colder.
20 September 2009 @ 01:53 am
17 September 2009 @ 10:57 am
Best breakfast I've had ever since I've been in Shanghai. Vivian brought me Shanghai's signature breakfast pancake with soya bean milk today! She's my shuttle bus mate, always telling me all the nice places I should go to in Shanghai on the shuttle bus after work. And Frankie brought meat mooncake for everyone too. Yummy!
Traveling to work is slightly better now with the shuttle bus. Still 1 and a half hours of traveling but now it's just 2 train lines, 17 train stations, and a guaranteed seat on the shuttle bus!!! Today's crowd in the train was especially bad, and the air conditioning kept going off. Some cranky people started arguing about who-pushed-who too hard. Fierce.
Traveling to work is slightly better now with the shuttle bus. Still 1 and a half hours of traveling but now it's just 2 train lines, 17 train stations, and a guaranteed seat on the shuttle bus!!! Today's crowd in the train was especially bad, and the air conditioning kept going off. Some cranky people started arguing about who-pushed-who too hard. Fierce.
15 September 2009 @ 12:02 am
I miss him so much(that's monkey the hamster up there btw.) Skyping with him every (other) night makes my day :)
Webcam snapshots are the bomb.
12 September 2009 @ 12:37 pm
The colleagues brought me to lunch for some Shanghai dishes. I like how a lot of the bistros and restaurants here are stand-alone and can be found in every corner, or among the bushes. And when you're eating, you look out and there's grass and trees. It's like finding secret places haha. Definitely something Singapore doesn't have much of! Most of our restaurants are in malls, or crowded streets.
Good colleagues make all the difference.
The weekend is here!