I will be going to the post office to send the receipt back to MOE.
I will be getting a phone plan over there.
I will be traveling to Old town to explore the place.
Hopefully I can then meet up with Jordan and go downtown together.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Dependence
I feel lonely, quite a bit, in this distant place where I don't see my family and friends, maybe this is what homesickness is. Things should be fine. Well, I think Singaporeans are adaptable people, maybe a few weeks later I will start to get accustomed.
Just went for a little bike ride to school with Mandy. It was tricky, since I have never rode a bike on the main road before, I was thrilled yet slightly afraid to be riding and following Mandy on the route to school. (I have watched too much American movie showing how people can suddenly get smashed by an incoming vehicle.) I fell twice, first time because I saw a steep slope at the sidewalk and was worrying that I might fall in there. You know, I tremble and buay steady when I feel scared and so I skid a bit. Hope Mandy din mind me there. After that we did a little turn into the student service center which I wasn't too confident about, hence I fell again. Luckily for today, I din shed blood at all, just some little scratches. Nice to have her to show me around, if not I'll be so lost. I like the school. I went to get my ID card already, with the free bus stamp. I went to pay for my insurance at the cashier's office and we had yogurt.
I freaking love the yogurt here. The concept is totally different from yumi yogurt in Singapore. There are like 10 flavours for the yogurt, from chocolate custard, new york cheesecake to plain tart, vanilla bean. Everything is self service. So I had some peanut butter, berries/passionfruit and peach tart yoghurt. For toppings i had M&Ms, cookie dough, sea coconut, jackfruit and strawberries. It's a pretty and colorful cup of yoghurt (shucks I din take photo!) and cost about 3.50 USD? (38cents per ounce) Peter and I agree that this is good stuff that should be sold in Singapore. Surely it would stir a storm.
Right after the dessert treat, we had a little talk, and then Mandy and Peter dropped me at the Icenter where I submitted my registration form, then went to take a shuttle bus back home, and gosh, the chain of the bike came off, I had to put it back and made my hands all dirty, so I had to clean them on the way. And yay I'm home~! Going for a jog then shop for more groceries later, so I can whip up something at the end of the day.
Behold UCSD, I gonna be an incredible asian boy here.. lah..
Just went for a little bike ride to school with Mandy. It was tricky, since I have never rode a bike on the main road before, I was thrilled yet slightly afraid to be riding and following Mandy on the route to school. (I have watched too much American movie showing how people can suddenly get smashed by an incoming vehicle.) I fell twice, first time because I saw a steep slope at the sidewalk and was worrying that I might fall in there. You know, I tremble and buay steady when I feel scared and so I skid a bit. Hope Mandy din mind me there. After that we did a little turn into the student service center which I wasn't too confident about, hence I fell again. Luckily for today, I din shed blood at all, just some little scratches. Nice to have her to show me around, if not I'll be so lost. I like the school. I went to get my ID card already, with the free bus stamp. I went to pay for my insurance at the cashier's office and we had yogurt.
I freaking love the yogurt here. The concept is totally different from yumi yogurt in Singapore. There are like 10 flavours for the yogurt, from chocolate custard, new york cheesecake to plain tart, vanilla bean. Everything is self service. So I had some peanut butter, berries/passionfruit and peach tart yoghurt. For toppings i had M&Ms, cookie dough, sea coconut, jackfruit and strawberries. It's a pretty and colorful cup of yoghurt (shucks I din take photo!) and cost about 3.50 USD? (38cents per ounce) Peter and I agree that this is good stuff that should be sold in Singapore. Surely it would stir a storm.
Right after the dessert treat, we had a little talk, and then Mandy and Peter dropped me at the Icenter where I submitted my registration form, then went to take a shuttle bus back home, and gosh, the chain of the bike came off, I had to put it back and made my hands all dirty, so I had to clean them on the way. And yay I'm home~! Going for a jog then shop for more groceries later, so I can whip up something at the end of the day.
Behold UCSD, I gonna be an incredible asian boy here.. lah..
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Give me a day and I'll learn more
I've learned plenty today, much thanks to Bill and Jordan. Well, Jordan is my housemate who is taking lower division chemistry now. He was nice and helpful to recommend his bicycle to me, which would be a convenient way of getting around La Jolla. So we were intending to ride from our place to Ralph's, but just a 100 m ride later, one of the pedal of the bicycle dropped out, and I panicked and scratched my toe on the road. There was some bleeding but it doesn't hurt, so it's fine, the sad thing is that I had to push the bike back to the garage, and take bus instead, which cost me 2.25 USD per trip. It's interesting how people communicate here, as back in Singapore, we never greet the bus driver nor we say thank you or what when we alight, everything is about being quiet, trying not to get attention. Well, I greeted the bus driver and said thank you when I alighted, incredible. Thankfully and fortunately, a man whom I meet on the bus told me that I could take the bus for free if I get my student ID and a yellow sticker from the transportation department. He showed me around the supermarkets and theaters, telling me the differences in prices and the things available in different supermarkets, and how he feels that values of American have shifted, as they are willing to pay more for less, seems like spending money is like a thing to pass time. I got introduced to Thomas, who wears a colorful shirt and has an interesting hairdo, Bill says that he is an icon around this area and Thomas said, "go ahead and click me." So we chatted for a while and we parted a while after that, as I return back to Ralph's. Coincidentally, Jordon happens to be there and asked if I wanted to have dinner with him, which I did, so we had chicken and salad from the salad bar, (well, that was his treat and it's a much appreciated friendly gesture) and we went on with grocery shopping. I got myself a gallon of milk and a box of cereal. And then, I used his student card to take the free bus ride home. Well, he highlighted the lonely planet book about places I should visit and lent me a dvd just in case I get too bored. Now I have another one now from Peter.
I realise that people here, they don't just walk past someone they know, either pretending that they don't know, or simply say 'hi' or wave hand, and quickly get away. When they are not that busy, they stop and talk a bit. When they are not free, they would go 'how have you been?' or 'how is it going for you?'. There is no longer a thing called 'hi-bye friends' here. People here make connections. After discussing with XT, I think it would be good that I put behind what I am and the habits I have in Singapore and get accustomed and adapted readily into this large melting pot. Maybe after that, I will start to enjoy the beautiful things America has in store for me.
For tomorrow, I'll be going to school to get my ID card and the yellow sticker, and probably move around the campus.
I realise that people here, they don't just walk past someone they know, either pretending that they don't know, or simply say 'hi' or wave hand, and quickly get away. When they are not that busy, they stop and talk a bit. When they are not free, they would go 'how have you been?' or 'how is it going for you?'. There is no longer a thing called 'hi-bye friends' here. People here make connections. After discussing with XT, I think it would be good that I put behind what I am and the habits I have in Singapore and get accustomed and adapted readily into this large melting pot. Maybe after that, I will start to enjoy the beautiful things America has in store for me.
For tomorrow, I'll be going to school to get my ID card and the yellow sticker, and probably move around the campus.
偶然
在人群中，在你我的身旁，甚至在我们的身上，出现许多的遗憾和早知道。
若我有先知的能力，问我是否希望能够去弥补遗憾，驱除早知道，我不愿意。
有人会问，如果早一点认识自己身边的另一伴该会是的很美好的事。这样一来，就有更多的时间培养默契，享有二人世界，只羡鸳鸯不羡仙的日子。
但是，可曾想过，每一样事情的发生都有准确的时间，人物与地点。只要错过哪一个，事情的后果将回不一样。如果早一点认识，但对彼此不来电，没兴趣，那也只不过是浪费时间。所以，我从没想要去思考，为什么没早点做这做那的，而是如何把握，珍惜眼前所拥有的时间，好好的跟另一半相处。毕竟，人与人之间的关系是很微妙的，世界那么大，偏偏就遇上了在生活里出现的各式各样的人，不是吗？
我想借这个机会去好好认识新朋友，还有这个陌生的环境。更重要的事，我想多了解自己。
若我有先知的能力，问我是否希望能够去弥补遗憾，驱除早知道，我不愿意。
有人会问，如果早一点认识自己身边的另一伴该会是的很美好的事。这样一来，就有更多的时间培养默契，享有二人世界，只羡鸳鸯不羡仙的日子。
但是，可曾想过，每一样事情的发生都有准确的时间，人物与地点。只要错过哪一个，事情的后果将回不一样。如果早一点认识，但对彼此不来电，没兴趣，那也只不过是浪费时间。所以，我从没想要去思考，为什么没早点做这做那的，而是如何把握，珍惜眼前所拥有的时间，好好的跟另一半相处。毕竟，人与人之间的关系是很微妙的，世界那么大，偏偏就遇上了在生活里出现的各式各样的人，不是吗？
我想借这个机会去好好认识新朋友，还有这个陌生的环境。更重要的事，我想多了解自己。
First post from SD
I know, it's crazy. I still can't believe that I'm here. I went out for a walk just now at about 11 am, in shorts and a running tee, to explore La Jolla and the places around here. Only then, I realize how small I am in this big place. Singaporeans are spoilt brats, I get to know this when I found out how eating out is not that affordable here, and people do go marketing and cook their own meals.
I had lunch at Westfield UTC eatery after walking and looking lost for an hour. I must have looked stupid, thinking that I finally saw an oasis in the midst of a desert, or something along that. I walked in, looked around, and to my surprise and delight, chinese food is available, at a corner I see Pho and Vietnamese cuisine, but wait a minute, a bowl of Pho for 8 USD? I could have 4 bowls of this if I go Vietnam. Finally I settled down with a lamb/beef kebab flatbread with a cup of diet coke. Not too badly priced, 7 USD and the portion is real big. Halfway through the meal I thought I was really full, and so I observe the people around me (sound like some stalker or something). So I saw this dad and his two sons, having burger king, and another two kids who are having lunch together, and they tried to join two tables together. So the boy instructed the girl to push the chair while he pull the table. Both of them looked cute doing that. Finally I finished my lunch and moved on. Took some photos of the iceskating place right in the middle of the eatery.
From there, I continue my little asian boy's adventure. Looks like I have under dressed myself here. I accidentally crossed the street and saw the executive square, having big firms like ernst & young, with people wearing formal wear there. I walked back to UTC and shopped around. I went into Macy's, A & F, and GAP. And relieved to see Starbucks and Ben and Jerry's, shops that I'm familiar with. Even seeing Chinese along the way brings me some sense of relief which I can't explain. Perhaps I am still adapting to this place (few hours after waking up, I felt tired and wanted to get back to bed because it is freaking wee hours in Singapore). Anyway, I see products that I consider cheap, like Levi's jeans silvertab selling at 32.99 USD, perhaps the most 50 USD, which is much cheaper as compared to 100 over dollars back at home. Other goodies are like CK jeans tees for 30? Or even Guess? Oh well, I wasn't in the shopping mood yet so I merely looked around.
I gotta go to the supermarket one of these days, and also around the campus to see what goes around the school.
I had lunch at Westfield UTC eatery after walking and looking lost for an hour. I must have looked stupid, thinking that I finally saw an oasis in the midst of a desert, or something along that. I walked in, looked around, and to my surprise and delight, chinese food is available, at a corner I see Pho and Vietnamese cuisine, but wait a minute, a bowl of Pho for 8 USD? I could have 4 bowls of this if I go Vietnam. Finally I settled down with a lamb/beef kebab flatbread with a cup of diet coke. Not too badly priced, 7 USD and the portion is real big. Halfway through the meal I thought I was really full, and so I observe the people around me (sound like some stalker or something). So I saw this dad and his two sons, having burger king, and another two kids who are having lunch together, and they tried to join two tables together. So the boy instructed the girl to push the chair while he pull the table. Both of them looked cute doing that. Finally I finished my lunch and moved on. Took some photos of the iceskating place right in the middle of the eatery.
From there, I continue my little asian boy's adventure. Looks like I have under dressed myself here. I accidentally crossed the street and saw the executive square, having big firms like ernst & young, with people wearing formal wear there. I walked back to UTC and shopped around. I went into Macy's, A & F, and GAP. And relieved to see Starbucks and Ben and Jerry's, shops that I'm familiar with. Even seeing Chinese along the way brings me some sense of relief which I can't explain. Perhaps I am still adapting to this place (few hours after waking up, I felt tired and wanted to get back to bed because it is freaking wee hours in Singapore). Anyway, I see products that I consider cheap, like Levi's jeans silvertab selling at 32.99 USD, perhaps the most 50 USD, which is much cheaper as compared to 100 over dollars back at home. Other goodies are like CK jeans tees for 30? Or even Guess? Oh well, I wasn't in the shopping mood yet so I merely looked around.
I gotta go to the supermarket one of these days, and also around the campus to see what goes around the school.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sidenote
Just after I completed a mile, it started raining, and so I went to buy stuff for breakfast tomorrow instead.
At the cashier,
Cashier: 这个现在有promotion。*holding to pringles*
Auntie: ya lor. 我上个礼拜买两个，一个要四块多 (now S$2.80)。我吃完了，被我儿子骂，所以我又来买了。
Me: *roll eye*
And when I stepped out of the supermarket, the Sun came out again. -_-
At the cashier,
Cashier: 这个现在有promotion。*holding to pringles*
Auntie: ya lor. 我上个礼拜买两个，一个要四块多 (now S$2.80)。我吃完了，被我儿子骂，所以我又来买了。
Me: *roll eye*
And when I stepped out of the supermarket, the Sun came out again. -_-
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