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Being back

Yes, that's the keyword- being back. Back where I have always been besides the 5-6 month hiatus. When I was still in Copenhagen, a group of us friends talked about how we think the exchange experience has changed us, or have we changed in any way? I thought in my mind that yes, I think that somehow, I have. Not that drastic a change I feel, but spending 5-6 months away alone has injected a another kind of colour into me and I've turned out a slightly different shade.

Being away allowed me to let more of the other side of me come out and say 'hi' to the world. It was an opportunity whereby I could feel more unrestrained, be slightly outward. Not that I'm now an extrovert, because I think I'm more of an extrovert introvert. Or introvert extrovert. It's confusing.

I thought to myself that it seems like I'd been quite a bumpkin sometimes, so I'll have to take more notice of the way I dress. And I hoped that I'll continue speaking clearer English that will be understood not only in Singapore- the importance of speaking and writing good standard English. Not forgetting getting used to doing things myself.

Looking back at last semester, it now feels like it was a holiday.. some time off for myself, a breather, and some new experience. Some great stuff. And that still is an understatement.

But well, of course, to be fair, while I was living a different life, something that some others would not have a chance to do so, life back in Singapore went on. One friend said, she knew that she has changed- her way of thinking, of doing things, so her family and friends will have to be prepared to see a new her. But she was also aware that during her time away, her family and friends have also undergone different experiences and she might have to get used to that too.

That logic seems clearer to me now. I've been more centrally-focussed since I came back on how all those wonderful experiences have enriched me. Yes, probably, somehow the 'me' in December doesn't really connect well with the 'me' now in September. I'd seem somehow different to others, just like how some things seem different to me now. But I can't expect things to be how I left them, can I..

The world doesn't stop turning for me, or for anyone so to speak, I've got to understand that, we've got to understand that, and I've got to get used to that, ikke?

30,000 feet above the ground- the flying experience

It's 24 June 11.30am but the flight's delayed. But it's just as well because I'll have more time to stay here i København! I can't imagine that I will be flying to another part of the world. It's been my home for half a year and I really can't bear to leave. Now I'm tearing on the plane but it's funny because the last time I did that it was during the flight from Stockholm to Copenhagen. As I wait for take-off, I'm suddenly reminded of the Asain girl whom we met just now at the airport. I asked if she could help us take a photo, and she gave a curt "No". It was a rather rude shock and it somehow made me feel ashamed. Would it be common to see such disposal in Asia and in Singapore? Next on the plane, a girl blatantly spoke in chinese with her air steward boyfriend that she was sitting next to 2 big guys. She had a short conversation with her boyfriend and of course she moved to a row where no one was sitting. It makes me wonder, really, can behaviour differ so much? Or probably there was a reason behind all this. Maybe it's partly arrogance of taking the national airline.
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Well it's a really beautiful day today- all sun, but probably rather windy.






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11.58am: Oh my goodness I'm really in the air already with the sea of clouds just outside the window. It's really cool to be flying in such a beautiful weather and coming to think of it, this is my first time taking a flight alone, and it's a good experience up to now:)





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12.25pm: Wow.. We're flying over Warsaw now. On the far right it would be Munich and Vienna. Hmm.. strangely I don't feel so much of using the inflight entertainment now.. I just found out that Singapore Airlines serve Tiger Beer, Heineken, Tuborg and Schwapps on board, and gin. I think I will try some later:) Haha. I just got myself an apple spritzer. It's non-alcoholic though. I think I'll get something later in the day, but not so early. It's 9300km now from Singapore. Haha... I think I've never been so relaxed on the plane before:) I'm just taking my time, and enjoying the flight and drinks. I think I'm just spoilt for choice with Krisflyer..
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Lunch while watching Step Up II.. is just great:) And listening to the Low song just makes me wanna move;) It's after lunch now and actually I think this aircraft is very spacious because the ceiling is hight enought for the Danish guys to still have some allowance above their heads:)

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Oh my goodness.. it's 6.15pm Denmark time but we're flying in the night sky. The sky outside is unlike what it was just now. It's pitch dartk but it seems like we're so close to the stars.. magical, that what it feels now. They look like strings of jewels hanging down from high up- a scene that is ever so touching.

Hanging there, quietly and not moving, as if many angels are looking over us from hight above. As the minute passes it seems suddenly that even more angels have come out to join in the fun. Amazing, calm, undescribable wonder of heaven.
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Well, I was told that we would be landing in about 2 hours' time and it's almost 9.25pm Denmark time, or 3.25pm Singapore time. It hasn't seemed like a long 12-hour flight though. So far I've watched Step Up 2: The Streets; Definitely Maybe, KungFu Dunk and Before Sunrise. A total of 98+112+99+110min, and I've been trying to sleep the rest of the time..

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It's 5.07am Singapore time and we're approaching, actually above Singapore. it's good to see the brightly-lit city once again because at this time the sun has not risen yet in Singapore. Way different from Sommer i København.

Vi ses

I'm leaving for the airport in half an hour's time.. it's quiet at home now, because there's only me around. Boy am I going to miss Copenhagen and everyone whom I've met here... my 'Friends' list in Facebook has grown so much because of all the peope I've met.. Love them lots:)

This few days have been passing so quickly.. Friday was good, because I met Cindy for some shopping and went to her place with her and Wanshan to eat some lasagne that Chiara made.. the really first time that I spoke with her and it was nice:) I felt a little better after some talking.. had been feeling so tired during the day.

Next was partying at Renome.. it was surely a fun night as quite a few of the rest were there: Dany, Julie, Chiara, Tiziana, Lucia, Bart, Javier and Federico. I didn't get to talk much with them, but it was just nice to see them all again. Not forgetting my new-found danish friend that I met that night:) I'm not sure if we'll keep in touch; but it was nice making a new friend=)

Really.. what's my feeling now? I hope to see all my friends again. Even though I've only met some of them once I love them just the same:) I think of all of you.. It's been a wonderful time here and I like this place a lot. Thank you everyone.. I'm glad I came here:)

Counting down..

It's 21st June today and it's officially count-down day. Finally, we've got no more exams!! Regardless of how badly I think I did, or will do, I'm glad it's over and I can finally moooove on:)

Officially count-down day too, because for the whole today, 22nd June, 23 June I will be home alone because Ruo Wei's just gone for her nice Belgium-Porto-Munich trip and will only be back on 3oth June. So I won't see her anymore, and she won't see me anymore.. until we meet in Singapore again. Such a strange feeling..

And then, my flight back to Singapore is on 24th June, 11.20am so by around 9.30am or so, I'll be at the airport already.. Time really passes so fast! Just awhile ago, Ruo Wei and I came into a wintry Copenhagen, and just even a little while ago, it was 3 weeks before my last exam. And now my last exam is over, and it's time to do whatever I can in Copenhagen. Seems like someone had just pushed the fast-forward button. Rewind!

First on the list, starting from today:
- Say bye bye to Ruo Wei, and Jacky who came for a visit for 1-turned-into-2-nights
- SHOPPING! with Cindy at Field's because the Summer sales have begun!!!!
- Pack my luggage again for the nth time. Because I've decided I should ship some of my stuff like notes, winter sweaters and boots back to get some empty space for some shopping:D
- And actually, I think I will find some friends to spend some time with.. like have coffee by the glass window and people-watch hurhur..
- And I will continue the list when more concrete plans have been made.

I've not slept for 18 hours now.. have been up since 8am on 20th.. because we went out with Umair to Tivoli and to drink some stuff at a cafe.. Had some fun playing 'Black Magic' and guessing riddles.. I'm really horrible at them.. My brain doesnt work well.. or rather I don't think :S

So anyway, I shall go catch some winks now and wake up 2hours later to go to the flea market at Norrebro and then to SHOPPING~!!

Hope RuoWei will have a good and fun trip with Addy, Caryn, and Jackie!:D Soooooo niceee..

~tata

Last exam!

My last exam is finally tomorrow but I've still got to study. The lesson has been learnt from my Game Theory course, and I hope Industrial Organization would be better tomorrow.. Sigh.. not too prepared though..

But it's hard to concentrate when I keep dozing off now and then, and get stuck at some mathematical working.. Or when I just can't sit still.

I'll be home in less than a week's time and goodness knows how it'd be like? Frankly speaking, it kind of seems like it's time for me to go home after I've had a great time here in Cph. It probably won't be the same if I'd stayed on because everyone else is leaving too, but there're things that I like here but I probably won't be able to find in Singapore. For example, listening to the random people speak in Danish on the bus, on the streets and outside the window. True enough, I've grown comfortable with listening to just the language being spoken and it might be strange for me not to hear it anymore.

Some guy I met somewhere asked me: Do I want to know more about Denmark, about the political scene etc? Do I want to become a Danish citizen or live in Denmark? It was at the strangest place and with the strangest person to have such a conversation, and sure this sounds far-fetched, but it makes me think that while I like my stay here a lot, I'm probably not so willing to put everything else aside and come into another environment. If I picture myself speaking Danish, voting during Danish elections? Hard to... I think.

Well, that's all for now, these musings.. At this point, things that are more important to me are to: Study for my exam (note to myself), pack my luggage for the nth time, go shopping on Sat and Mon when the shops are open, meet some friends to spend some good time with, and maybe go to a club/look-a-like one last time.. Enjoy the company and place more when I'm still here!

:) Study.

Slowly, it's sinking in.. slowly i'm realizing, coz i'm slow.. will i be able to see these people again?
these whom i've seen every now and then for half a year, whom i didn't know at first but now feel familiar with?
i like to listen to you talk..
i like talking with you..
i've not talked enough with you...
can i talk with you again, on video maybe?
will i remember the times i spent with you, what we all spoke about, the things we did,
will i have the same feeling when i get back to where i have to return far away?
i want to. i will.. keep those in me.

can we meet once again maybe tomorrow or before you leave? dinner or coffee or something else? or at night?
can we have another hug, one more picture?

for the first real time it seems i won't see someone again? will i, or will i not? will i? i'll have to try harder. i want to see you again, all.. Not from your photos in facebook. but in real person

addy says her guide suggests having farewell parties to round up the exchange, but it feels like all these makes me feel more uncertain about what comes next, and more reluctant to go back

but i must, to where i come from, because we're all going to have a holiday together!

but it's still unreal
and it's gonna continue

Too little time, too much to do

Argh, there's too little time but too much to do! I want to study, and I want to go out and have fun with my friends, and I don't wanna go back to Singapore so early now....

It's really been a great time since the last time i left off and there's so much to share. But right now, some of the things that have made me feel great are:

-Having Evans over at our place for a few days
-Going to Tivoli and attending the friday rock concert- it was really great=)
-Going to the Amager beach
-Meeting Edlyn and her friends, and of course her so very friendly danish friends.
A danish tongue twister:

Rødgrød med fløde :P

-The wonderful weather- It's so warm that I can just wear a tank top with a cardigan, and jeans/shorts so it's really perfect. It just feels so 舒服to wear a tank top. We seriously don't have enough summer clothes to wear so I'd so very like to get some! :D
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The good weather is infectious- it makes everyone's mood good

Good morning!

Morning! I've been up for just awhile and it feels like a good day today because it's Friday and I've got Fridays free(:

Well I've just been surfing and I came across a blog that shows the theme song for Rhythm of Life. I'm so out of touch with Singapore Chinese dramas that it felt a little strange watching it initially. The only Asian dramas I watch are from youtube and they're Taiwanese and Korean dramas;) I can't imagine going back to Singapore to a life of watching Channel 8 dramas every night; it doesn't seem like a good activity to channel time into. Nevertheless, I must say that this new serial looks good- the story and the actors(:

Ok! Plans for today:
Amager Beach with Addy and the rest
Dinner at Addy's friend Edlyn's danish friends place
Tivoli!

Hopefully I can squeeze in some time to read some stuff again.. I'm not sure if I have enough time to finish what I want to do before the exams, but I certainly hope so. But I must say that finally doing some studying and not procrastinating is making me feel less bad and better. Now I understand why my Danish teacher says women talk and talk and talk while men hardly talk compared to women. I was studying at some place yesterday and 2 ladies were sitting at the table next to mine. They had papers and books in front of them, but on and on they went, and there was hardly any silent time! haha. Oh my.. it was good that I couln't understand them so I could just continue reading. Otherwise it'd be so distracting! :P

Berlin

The first big thing that happened to us was that we missed our bus to Berlin! We were scheduled to take the bus in the morning but we went to the bus terminal the LONG AND ROUNDABOUT way so we had to run with our backpacks. It's certainly not anyone wants to try and here's a word of caution: Please aim and do reach the departure venue early!

Luckily we could take the overnight bus and it was there I met Adrian, a guy from Romania. It was nice talking to him inside the dark bus and we talked about where we come from- Romania and Singapore, and what we've been doing. There are 2 lines he said that I remember most clearly:

" You don't know how lucky you are.."

and

"Your voice is so angelic."

Haha.. yes, he said that and it's quite embarrassing. I guessed it also meant that my voice is high pitched. But still, it's funny and nice to hear that. Lol.

Berlin is a really nice and beautiful place to go to, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone. It's hard to give a place with such deep history and beautiful sights a miss. You have to experience it yourself.

I guess besides the attractions and the history, what left a deep impression in me was that I had to use some German (just a tweeny bit) when talking.. It was fun, but it also made me feel that it's such a pity that I can't speak German well. There's so much to learning a language- the grammar, the so-important vocabulary and speaking it yourself.

** Einsteigen bitte, zurück bleiben bitte**

I also had the chance to speak with this Siberian guy who had stayed in Copenhagen for 30 years. We spent some time chatting and I found out that
- he has 2 passports and he drove from Berlin to Copenhagen
- he has no children
- he says he speaks good danish:P
And we talked about my learning danish. Of course, I spoke to him in broken danish because I hadn't revised my danish! Hehe..

All in all, it was a good trip=)

It's been a long time

It's been a super long time since I've updated; my little sister has asked me to update this blog, and this I will do. Many things have happened since the last time I wrote here on April 17, both in my mind and physically. I shall aim to blog whatever I can in 1 hour??

I've felt that I probably won't miss Copenhagen when I go back to Singapore where all my friends are and where I can be comfortable within my own group of friends. But now I'm glad that feeling is gone and I think I will once again miss Copenhagen and the way of life here, including the friends I've met here. I can't say that I have made strong friendship with all of them, but it's a good feeling to get to know friends from the OTHER parts of the world so far from Singapore. This, I will cherish.

Events that have occurred and I still remember:

Gatherings:

• Coffee with Burcu at Robert's Cafe

Burcu is a friend from Turkey I got to know initially in my Industrial Organization course. We're now following different courses but we try to meet up every now and then. It strikes me that there are so many kinds of people in the world and it makes me feel warm inside when people use their hearts to feel other people.

• Berlin with Ruowei and Huishan (Kate)

Now, Berlin is really a good place to go to, and this trip has made me like Germany even more. It was an eventful trip in a good way and I enjoyed this trip a lot.

Details of this trip will be in a separate post, but here are the hightlights:)
-Missed the bus!
-Met Adrian
-Screwed-up hostel system
-Free Berlin tour and great guides
-Einsteigen bitte, zurück bleiben bitte
-Rechnung!
-Danish revision

• Curry night at Yock Song's place, Bicycle!

We decided we should have a curry night- to do something different and at the same time use up our curry pastes and powders. We went to Yock Song's place after the Sakura Copenhagen Festival, but before we did any cooking, we tried to ride Yock Song's and the city bikes! It was so fun and I finally rode a bicycle in the land of bicycles:P Curry night was a success- we had 3 kinds of curries all with veggies and chicken so we could compare and decide the curry we liked the most. As we had cooked a tad too much, we brought the leftovers back and (lol) Yock Song took 3 meals to finish the not-so-nice curry! (We're sorry!! :p)

• Dinner with Addy and Yiling at our place

Once again it was a nice dinner. We had brocoli and cabbage soup, braised chicken, prawn paste chicken and red wine, and it all sumed to a wonderful sunday feast(: It was a different night as we talked about girl stuff and more about ourselves and our expectations of some issues(: Girls talk!

• Meet-up with Umair, Nic, Markus, Kevin and Ruowei @ Cafe Ali Baba and the 40 thieves

This is a cafe unlike those I've been too. It doesn't sell alcohol, and there are those water pipes that you can smoke, and try different flavours like honey and licorice? Nah.. but I didn't try smoking the water pipes. It said on the menu that there was 0.5% tobacco and no tar, but I just didn't feel the urge or curiosity to try it. So yups.. the cajoling by one of my friends didn't work:p But it was good meeting the others.. and sharing the experience of chilling out in the cafe.

Copenhagen:
Demonstration by day care center and healthcare workers

Copenhagen Sakura Festival

Our new high-tech washing room

Still to come:
Fellow NTU guy from Linkoping comes to stay (today)

Labour day event at Fælledparken (May 1)

Exams:
Argh.. the horrible 'E' word that I so dread but must brace myself for. I will be taking 3 papers, respectively on 27 May, 30 May and 20 June. Two 4-hour long papers and one 3-hour long paper. It seems that most of my friends in NTU have (almost) finished all their papers and once again it's holiday! I'm not envious of them because I've had my fair share of 1 month holiday brought forward, and I've got to come here to Copenhagen(:
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Sometimes when I read through others blog, it's really amazing how different people blog (or write differently) There are some really thoughtful ones, and in general blogs really let me know how that particular friend has been doing, and what he/she has been thinking about. What's my style of blogging then? Randomly typing what's there to say? Simple or sometimes truncated sentence structures?

^/ That's all for now, to be continued**

I'll be going to Berlin tomorrow, 18-22 Apr.

Vi ses!!


Darn.. I really must study..

The same sky?

I see little stars and a bright crescent in the deep blue sky tonight.. Are we seeing the same?

Es geht's. Ich denke.

Finstere Gedanken

Ich habe einen Problem. Es ist vielleicht, mit selbst, und Ich denke, dass es am meisten meinen Problem ist. Es geht manchmal aber selten es geht nicht. Wenn es nun anders wäre, Ich habe keinen Ahnung.

Ahso, mein Deutsch ist sehr schlecht. Das ist schlimm.

I'm back from 4 days in Stockholm. It was nice company and now it's time to stay put for awhile.

Not just the sun, but sunshine

I'm glad there's sunshine now(:

Easter holiday

Dear all, it's been awhile since I last wrote in here. Everything's going on fine, at least I can't remember now anything that didn't. Since the last time I saw flurries, I think it snowed last week. Haha. At least I got to see real snow fallling for once. It was quite exciting because it started snowing when I was still in class and I could see the snow fall outside the window! And there I lost my attention in class:p

I've been learning quite a few things in Danish class- pronunciation, how to order at a cafe, how to count, and how to say where I live etc. These are, of course, very basic things, but now we've learnt to catch some words and numbers here and there in the streets and during tv programmes. Believe me, Danish words can be quite a mouthful:p

We've just had 2 dinner gatherings consecutively at our place and it was not bad at all. The first was on Friday and we had 2 guys from SMU at CBS, 3 Korean girls from CBS, and 2 Hongkong girls at my uni. It was quite a nice gathering since now the nationality is somewhat more of a mixture. All Asians though:p The next was on Saturday, yesterday, and we had a Hongkong friend and a Turkish friend over for dinner! It was a sumptious meal- both the taste and the spread and I learnt much about Turkey. It's good that Turkish people feel so much about their history and leaders(:

Anyway, Ruowei and I will be leaving for our Easter Holiday this coming Wed, Denmark time around 7 plus am. Places we'll be going to are:
12-14 Rome
15-16 Venice
17-18 Barcelona
19-20 Madrid
21-22 Lisbon
23 Porto
24 Lisbon, Back to Copenhagen

It's quite a packed trip and I'll be missing some lessons! But I hope we'll catch up when we come back.. I've not done ANY studying until now and that's not too good.

Thank goodness we've got an Italian friend in Rome who should be meeting us some time when we're there, and a friend from Lisbon who so generously offered to help us plan our trip! I shall learn from such generosity and warm-heartedness(:

I hope we'll both be safe during this trip, both physically and financially! We've heard some not-so-nice stories and we're reminding ourselves to be careful with our belongings. Hope for us! (: In the meantime, I'll be looking forward to seeing a different side of Europe and experience travelling independently(:

Take care everyone! Hej hej (bye)!

Feeling nice

We've just come home from dinner at Addy's and Yiling's place and it was really a wonderful dinner(: We cooked laksa and pineapple rice using the food mixes and had stir-fried veggies (dangou i think), and nuggets! It was really nice because the food turned out good. Chatting a lot about their travels- past and soon-to-come made me realize how inexperienced I am about planning such things. Travelling requires quite detailed planning, at least you'll need to check up on many things, and bear safety in mind. I really hope that our trip coming soon in mid-march will be good and safe! Once again I must say having such a cosy dinner together feels good(:

Berlin seems like a really good place to vist. It's not just castles and stuff to look out for; there's a rich history to learn about both the city and the country and there're lots of things to imagine, learn and experience there. It'd be a valuable visit when we go there in April.

One big thing that happened today was that we saw flurries tonight! I'm quite happy because prior to this, we've only seen light flurries once. It was quite a magical feeling although it was just flurries and we were so excited! The one today was quite heavy for probably a minute and I'm happy four of us got to see it together(: Hopefully we get to see real snow falling from the sky!

On leap day last friday night we went to the Semesterstartsfest where there was quite a lot of drinking and dancing. Well I didnt drink much and we spent more time on the floor- it's really not something I do back in Singapore. In a way, it felt good, but somehow certain things make me suddenly more sensitive and introspective. Well, it's not that all bad, but I'm reminded that my mind thinks about things quite a bit and I hope I'll find an answer/settlement/resolution within myself.

Anyway, it's the start of the week again, this time we're in March. Soon we'll be leaving for our trip to Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Portugal. There're lots things to be done still- flights and accommodation to book (no, we've not booked everything yet!) and I've got to get myself a travel pouch and a small sling bag. Work to be done but not done... I think I'll have lots of backlog to clear! Hope everything goes on fine!

I'm far from Singapore but somehow the news get to us. Or rather, we check http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ for Singapore news. About the most highlighted piece of news, I've heard about the police and stuff and hope everyone is still getting by fine! There was a windstorm just the past Saturday but it wasn't as bad as the one in Germany. It's hard to believe how bad it was, but it was. Well, I've also heard there're lots of projects and tests to be done for those in school.. Jiayou guys! Study hard okay! Miss you all! (:

I've been wearing the scarf some friends gave me and yep.. I still like it! (:

Eating

Oh my my.. I think I will just become fatter because actually the stuff here is quite nice:D I'm tucking into a meal of salad and its soo nice :D

I'll write some more soon! Because I've got internet at home now! :D