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So, I know I have been very negative about my whole stay here but really there are some good sides to it. So today, I'll talk about those,

People here are very willing to give compliments. I'm still not used to it myself in the sense that I do not give out compliments as easily as others do but I try. People will tell you that they like you clothes, they like your hair, they like your shoes, they like whatever. They tell you good job on things, they tell you things like that that make your day. I was uncomfortable with accepting the compliments at first, but now I just say thank you. Usually people pay another compliment back in return... I'm still working on that. It was when I was thinking about Singapore when I realized this. We don't pay others compliments a lot in Singapore. I guess we have a different mentality that we should push them harder, but sometimes these compliments really helps to boost your confidence in working on something.

People are really open in talking to you. I once said a long time again that when I was in Singapore, it took me an entire year to start making friends in Singapore under the same University program. I am that hard of a person to make friends with if not added by the fact that I do not respond to messages and stuff. Here, because everyone talks to literally everyone, it makes it easier to make friends. As much as I am only here for such a short time, I have made many friends here. It came as a silver lining that I fell out with my Singaporean friend because I started to open my network. Many Singaporeans come here and they stick to their own circle of friends and don't open out to the other cultures that are available in this campus. Because I wasn't close to any Singaporeans, I had that chance. I've made friends from Malaysia, from Japan, from Korea, from China, from Russia, from US itself, and this is coming for someone who is like potentially an anti-social (no, I'm just too awkward to make friends and open up about myself).

People are willing to give you a ride if it is on the way. I mean the cars here come way cheaper than the ones in Singapore. You can literally buy a car for US$1500 but people are way more willing to car pool here than in Singapore. Okay, maybe that is part of the reason because if you have a car in Singapore it pretty much means you are at least moderately wealthy and you're scared of getting robbed, but it's really easy to carpool here. I once had this lady who saw me carrying bags of groceries back home and she gave me a ride back. I didn't even know her. I don't know her name. All she introduced herself as was that she worked in UB and would be willing to show me her card if it would make me feel safer to get a ride.

In a way, I guess these are the things that I would miss when I leave this place. That, and the Mexican food here.

Labels: appreciation, buffalo, school, the good things, USA

Let's hope this doesn't take too long because I'm sleepy and I have to wake up early tomorrow.
Well, I have said it before but I'm not a hard person to be made happy. I get happy over the slightest things.
Today, I'm happy because of dance. I have never been recognized to be an excellent dancer. Not even an above average one per se. But I do love to dance.
And the only thing I am capable of doing is working hard and trying my best. When I was taking ballet, my teacher told me that I shouldn't do the exam because I'm just not good enough. There was one period of time she really paid attention to me because she noticed that I was improving in my stretches and my pointes. Then I heard from a classmate that she will give special treatment to those she sees potential in, but then if you're not improving at the speed she expects you to, you get dropped like trash. Dance often comes hand in hand with politics and backstabbings, and I had that thought when I first applied for dance here (not that it stopped me but yea...). My previous dance school in singapore is definitely about politics and looking good. Everyone wants to stand out and do something good. So-called best friends are always bad mouthing each other once the other is out of sight. The teacher was good, I don't deny it, but the environment of that place really made me feel like going to dance was a chore.

Coming here, in a total new environment and knowing that I'd be one of the few Asians - and even then, not even a dance or theatre major, I expected there to be lots of shunning and the play of politics all over again. But it wasn't.

It was one of the first few classes that one of my classmates said "this is a judge-free zone so do what you want!" At first, I felt like it wasn't so. Dance majors are more recognized. But then I realized that it was just that the teacher knew only the dance majors but one thing good about people here are they aren't afraid to give compliments.

Today, after class, they were filming the dance we just learnt and I took the camera (I mean what do u expect, I stand on the other side of the lens) and my teacher was like:  aww, don't you want to dance?

Since I was helping the other singapore girl film, I just said that it's fine, that I would mess up towards the end.

And she said "but I think you did very well."

I mean she doesn't even know my name but it's like been a real long time I felt like, hey, look, I not that bad at this. And it just makes me so happy to know that, to hear that.

On another note, since I'm taking contemporary, I have been doing a lot of tumbling rolls. Yesterday, after my night dance club thingy, I was walking to the bus stand when I tripped and fell and on instinct I just went straight into a tumble roll and then sat there in position thinking: did that just happen? Looks like all that tumbling does have some use after all.

I'm a very clumsy person I must say. Andrew's roommate was like: you're very clumsy for a person who dances. And yes, I am. When I was in secondary school, I used to always trip over the last step of the stairs and then my friends would just go: again? Seriously?
It's no longer even a surprise for them to see me trip somewhere somehow even over flat surfaces. And that was the period when I ran rather quickly (I lost all my stamina now though) and it just doesn't make sense to them how I can come out top in all the sports meets events and yet continue to fall and stumble when I walk normally.

Anyways, time for bed now. I learned how to write my name in Katakana today~ kekeke.
Today has been a rather good day for me I must say.

Labels: buffalo, daily activities, dance, school

It has been an entire month since I first stepped into this very campus from which I am typing this post. Well, I usually only write in the comfort of my home where no one can see what I am typing, but since I have time while I am waiting for my group project meeting, I am doing this in the Computer Lab with an almost invisible font (which I will change before posting). But that's another thing.

1 month ago, exactly on the 23rd of August, I stepped into the school for orientation completely not knowing where anywhere is. time seemed to have passed... hmm, it was fast at some points but then again it was slow at some.

In a nutshell, I have joined a bazillion clubs and I'm going for the Dance one tonight. It starts at 8.45 and ends at 10.45pm so I'll probably reach home close to midnight as it is held in the other campus in the South.

I have the greatest satisfaction from Japanese classes, so I have to say that Japanese is my favorite class for the semester. Those classes always seem to pass so quickly especially from Mondays to Fridays when Sakamoto sensei is teaching. It is very early in the morning and I have been late several times but always only by less than 5 minutes. We also have tutorials with Japanese students studying here, and it is really helpful because there are only a maximum of 3 students with 1 Japanese student and we can ask questions we did not get to ask in class or clarify things with them. The amazing thing is that they don't receive any credit and yet they volunteer to help other students taking Japanese. We also get extra credit if we attend a certain number of tutorials so that is a major motivating factor.

I am really bad at making friends and I think about a lot of things before I even call someone a friend. So if you ask me if I have made new friends here, I would have to say that I am on friendly terms with some, but I wouldn't exactly call them my friends.

Japanese classes are really interactive so I have spoken to pretty much everyone in the class. I have spoken to some about animes and what we watch. I have spoken to some about general stuff like homework and weekends. I have spoken to some just to practice our Japanese. And then, there is Dance were there is another Singaporean (we are pretty much the only ones there) so we got to small talking and stuff like that. It started out because of a partner floorwork, and my hair color. There are people in my Outdoor Adventure club that I talk to but, again not on the deeper level. We usually just talk about how Singapore is different from Buffalo, and what we see in Buffalo and such. Things like how we do not see deers crossing the roads in Singapore or how lands are reclaimed there.

I have set the smoke detector off once but otherwise managed to make food for myself pretty decently. People party a lot here. Like every week there would be someone partying around the estate.

The weather is getting colder but still kind of crazy where one day it could be 3 degrees and the next it is 22 degree. Internet here is pretty good but torrenting is taken a lot more seriously than in Singapore.

And after the entire month, I still have one more day of the vacation trip we took in US and many more days from the Italy trip because I'm a lazy ass like this. Till next time, ciaos. I'm hungry.

Labels: buffalo, daily activities, school

I'm not going to make a long post today because it's getting late and I have early class tomorrow.

1. Despite all the freedom America claims to have, I feel so controlled here. 

2. I had an argument with my roommate's friend from the first day I moved in.

I was already in a bad mood before she texted me, that I would have to admit. But she was being really rude and demanding because she wanted to live with her friends (my roommates). But the thing was that she didn't even bother asking me, but instead went straight to demanding. She literally texted me, quote, "I need you to change apartmeny with me" (yes, she typoed)

Like there was no introduction to who she was, and why I have to change with her, nothing. She just asked if I was who she was looking for and demanded that I changed with her. She didn't even bother to email me earlier to mention she wanted a change (our emails were all shared to our roommates in the email when we received our addresses) and I had already moved all my stuff in. Not only that, I was on my way to Canada with my family but she just went right on demanding that I started to get really cheesed off by her attics.



 I have mentioned this once, and I'll mention it again. I can't stand it when people just use vulgarities like it means nothing. I would not stoop to her level and act all barbaric. She had the guts to threaten me that her "cousin" (my roommate) was diabetic and if she had an attack, it would be my fault.

Well, guess what? Lies. All of them lies. Her "cousin" is not her "cousin" and her diabetes with medical equipment is also all a lie. She also said that they applied to stay together and the management made a mistake. Guess what. MORE LIES. 

I may not have many connections, and I may not have many friends but I trust my friends and unfortunately for her, Andrew was right there when they were texting me. Well, congratulations. Even though I did not exactly know that all she said was lies, I rejected her and found out the truth the next day from Andrew.

All I can say is, I have never been more glad I rejected her. She doesn't even deserve to change with me.

Thank god my roommates (her friends) are okay people and they seem rather nice. I'm fine with them and we talk but we pretend the incident never happened.

After that whole argument, I started to thinking about it. Was it really right of me to do that? But thanks to my friends, every single person who I spoke to about this incident have been very supportive and it makes me a little relieved that I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

3. My mum is controlling me all around the globe. 

I guess this relates back to number 1. I can't stand being controlled. I really need my freedom. When I was in Singapore, my parents let me do whatever I want because I am close by. But now that I am far, my mum wants to keep me in check and stuff. I'm very good at one thing, and that is ignoring text messages. So, she decided to text Andrew instead. Like telling him to tell me to give him stuff. Or telling him to tell me to do stuff or even telling him to help me with stuff. Like, I understand that she is worried and all but I can handle my own stuff. Why must you tell him to tell me to give him stuff? I don't mean to be selfish, but that is my stuff. It's not even that. Telling him to do stuff for me, makes me uncomfortable. I don't know about you but I like to do my own stuff. If I have to build a bookshelf, well, I'd like to do it myself (the whole part of being independent). I bought hair dye, and she keeps asking me why I haven't dyed my hair. Well, I'm sorry I have been in school? And when I tell her stuff, she just refuses to listen. I'll explain more about that in one of my posts of my vacation.




But the purpose of this post isn't to complain. 
The point of this whole thing is to say that I have found a sort of an outlet for me. 

I have tried many things. I swear. I watched tv shows, I watched performances, I watched youtube videos, I tried to hang out with people (why did I even try? That just made me more upset), I tried to go to school events, I even bought crayons to just vent on something because trust me, I don't like being upset.

1. Cycling 

 Before my parents left, we got a bicycle from Walmart. I used that as an excuse to get away from people. I mean when I walk or take the shuttle to school with people, it is just expected that we talk or something. But with cycling, I have my little alone time and the breeze against my face is just an added bonus. I feel like I can finally do something on my own. Well, that and because Andrew doesn't have a bike so it means I can even get around places on my own. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but really, after all that constricted environment, it means a lot. 

2. Dancing 

I don't really know if it is a total coincidence that both are exercises (probably not) because I usually don't like to exercise. I have been wanting to dance for a very long time. I had quit Jazz (which I took for 2 years) and Ballet (which I have learnt for 10 years) because of my major exam at that time. The classes were really time consuming at that time because I had a very strict teacher. We would go to class 3 times a week and stay there for hours after we were done with school. I never really got back to dance after that. I did join 1 dance course in a community center but honestly, I did not even break a sweat in those and it just didn't feel like I accomplished anything.

I knew I had to get back into dance. I went to the club fairs in the orientation set on just joining dance (and I did apply, but I'm waiting for an email to come). Because emails were not coming (not even from the other clubs I joined), I got impatient, and added a course into my schedule.

3. Japanese

 This one really struck me halfway while I was typing. Jap classes and learning Jap in general. I get this sense of achievement when I can read a word, or when I remember how to write a character. It's like creating something out of nothing (in my mind), and that sense of achievement just makes me happy. It's similar to dance - creating something out of nothing. And even though I have to wake up early for my Japanese class, I still don't mind. It allows me to cycle to school alone (bonus!!) and it gives me more time alone after class too.



In conclusion, this woman here needs her freedom. If I lose my freedom, I am more than certain I will get moody, snappy and depressed. I just can't be told that I'm not allowed to go to the mall alone because it is dangerous. I understand that it may be dangerous but it's just how I have grown up till now. I have been going out on my own since I was 9 or 10. I would go out the house and buy snacks from the store 10 minutes away and walk around my house estate without a care in the world. Suddenly telling me that I need an escort and bodyguard like I am - what? - a 6 year old? Well, I just can't accept that.

Labels: buffalo, daily activities, dance, life, me, school, things about me, things I can't stand, USA

Back to New York

I had mini chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries. They tasted fine but honestly, how can you ever go wrong with chocolate chip and pancakes?


And we had 2 orders of waffles. They tasted really good because the outer layer was crispy (I like it that way).

After breakfast, we walked to the Subway again and took it back to the same station we went the day before for the Union Square.


They're all wearing red. I teasingly said that they were celebrating a late National's day for Singapore.



My mum appreciates being able to talk to someone who knows how to cook because apparently I'm useless for that.








A tomato in a tomato. Tomato-ception!


Carrots in all sorts of colors

We finally found a place to rest and sit around while planning for our next destination.

We decided to go our separate ways and Mike, Andrew and I headed off on our own while my parents and Liyen went back to the central park to relax.


We took a taxi down to the Brooklyn Bridge since it wasn't too far.


We came back the Court House quite near to the taxi landing.


And tada! We have stepped onto the bridge. The weather was really hot and sunny but the bridge wasn't that crowded (I mean in comparison to other tourist attractions)



If we looked back from the bridge, you could see a skyline of the city.




Have I mentioned how much I love blue skies? I adjusted my own camera settings for the skies to come out like this. The auto settings just does no justice to the colors.


The 2 boys found a bunch of strings tied up on the grills of the bridge and one of them even had a currency note type on to it.


Caught red-handed in the act of curiosity. Nah, I'm kidding, we tied it right back after that.






Mandatory sun shots again


We finally walked to the other side of the bridge into Brooklyn!


We walked past this park? in search for the subway back downtown Manhattan where we had planned to go to the shopping street.
We did find the Subway, but in front of it was a hotdog stand so we decided to settle our lunch there and then.


So we sat under the trees and just munched on hotdog and chucked down coke.





Here's me in superdry taking pictures of evidence while the 2 are shopping around.



This was probably the only thing I was interested in purchasing - CHOCOLATE
They are really cheap here where like 5 bags of Lindt chocolate was $50? That would have bought us only 2 in Singapore. We wanted to buy it but it would have melted at the rate we were going so we ended up not getting any.



We also went to Hollister, a branch off A&F that we do not see in Singapore. It was here that I realized I had a problem. I'm so glad I brought quite a number of jeans over from home because I can't fit into any of them here.
Let's just make things clear. I don't have an eating disorder or anything of that sort. I eat, sometimes more than my other friends even, but I simply don't gain weight. I eat the entire pizza on my own as a meal and with sides but I don't gain weight. I'm not saying this in a bragging manner. I am trying to put on weight and I very much like to gain some but I just don't. In part, some reasons might be that: I don't like ice-cream, I don't like gassy drinks and I don't like deep-fried stuff much either. 1 major reason would definitely be: High metabolism rate.
So, anyways, here, I found out that size 0s = 24 inch for jeans. And in rare stores like Hollisters that holds a size 00 = 23 inches. Hurrah. I can probably buy a 00 and it will still be loose. Let me go buy some kiddie clothes now. In other stores like SuperDry, their smallest size is a 25 inch so there is definitely no hope for me buying bottoms there.
I bought a hoodie from my school store, and I took the smallest size and it is still huge for me.
I don't even that that is my fault because I am not that short for an Asian girl, but the sleeves are still too long for me. I like my hoodies loose though, so that's completely fine with me.


We continued roaming around randomly after all the shopping (only Mike bought stuff actually) and finally came to a rest at a Starbucks near Rockerfeller.

Labels: brooklyn, buffalo, Manhattan, me, NY, Pictures, school, travel, USA

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Residing in: Here, There, Everywhere.
School: University at Buffalo
Birthday: 9th December
Status: Who really cares?




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