Closure for 2009

I can only move ahead for the new year. I can't say I regret coming here. I can't say I wish to change lab and start afresh. I can only endure and look on the positive side. Ha! Sometimes I think my heck-care, happy-go-lucky attitude is a merit. Otherwise, I think I will give up and return to Spore like some foreign students whom cannot take the culture shock.

This is solely my feelings and thoughts. Respect it else close this page.

Lab and School

From feeling alienated to slowly adapting. From occasional homesick tears to enjoying a different life here. I can say I've come a long way and I'm proud of myself. I used to feel so bad when I'm asked to sweep, mop and wash pipet tips initially. I really had an urge to just pack up and leave- either to another lab or to KAIST or maybe home. I realise that they have a duty roster and seniors also have to do it. Greeting seniors and bowing and respecting all their hierarchical rules is hard for me initially. Lunch is a quiet 20 minutes with me and my rice. Conversation flew around the table but in Korean. Although occasional superficial questions like: ''Do you like today's food?'' You like kimchi?'' were asked but conversation stops with my answer being a yes or no. I felt isolated and left out. I remember those times when I could pick up a conversation easily and made many friends in my lab and from other labs. Many lines were stuck in my head but I can't project them out using Korean- fluently.

Exploding exhaustion.

However, I shld b glad that I'm not outcast and seniors still remember me and asked me out to lunch. Afterall, what more could I ask from them when I can't do much on my part?

I shld be contented, shouldn't I?

Thinking on the bright side, I have international friends from Jordan, Nepal, China and Thailand.

I learnt to treasure my friends and everything I've had more.

I wish to stop research work after I graduate and proceed to pharmacy MNCs and after a few yrs, I may just proceed to lecturing field. Or perform voluntary work.

I want to travel. A higher cert is my means to earn more in order to suffice my insatiable craving for travelling. I want to be able to dress up nicely and go shopping and have gossiping seesions with my girlfriends once work ends at 6pm. I want to be able to enjoy all my holidays and weekends with no cells screaming for me to feed them.

I'm not cut out for a researcher's life.

Relationships

'' Its good to be falling in love'' Ps: Note of the -ING. Just 3 letters but it makes a world's difference.

Sparks fly, everyday is Christmas, you can't wait to see the person even though you'd just met him an hour ago, hp bills soared, an sms makes your day, butterflies everytime you get to see him, no arguments, no expectations. Everything is perfect.

With status comes responsibilities and expectations.

How long can the -ING remains and where did the butterflies flew to?

Its like a roller coster ride just that this once, you hope it never ends....

I am lucky to have met someone who makes me happy and everyday worth looking forward to. I never dared to ride roller coster ride in my entire life even with much persuasion. But the number of coster rides I took on during the outing in Lotte world surpassed all those that I have had in 23yrs. I exceeded my 3 yrs quota and I HATE vikings!

I tried snowboarding and fell like shit with sprains and brusies all over. But, the thought of being able to board tgt gave me the encouragement. Though he was alwys impatient and will sternly told me to get off my arse and continue. Yes, he is a MEANY!

He likes to ski and ice skate. But I just can't learn ice skating. Tried but failed. I am frustrated with myself. But ice skating and roller blading are just my nemesis.

Someone whose pride is more than the lion's but when atop the mountain, he turns into a MOUSE. ^o^ I can't imagine if I have to carry him down if we ever go on a Himalayas expedition.

I'm glad we shared many similarities and yet differences too. I'll learn to be less petty to everyone around me and lower my expectations of others.

But somehow I just can't help it when the other party is not just a friend.

Relationships are fragile. Till now, I'm happy and contented. If I were to look back on this post any years down the road.... in tears, then I've learnt to love and be loved, memories to keep and Life continues...

My 2009 is indeed full of unexpected events and exciting. I love my life.

~ Happiness comes within me, don't put this responsibility upon others ~

The Last Post

for 2009!

Welcome 2010! I hope everything goes according to my plans & I'm glad as long as my family members are healthy and happy! =)

Can everything really start afresh just because of a numerical change in the date? Human character, relationship, decisions...

A fresh new start. It is psychologically pleasant.

New Year. Another day to celebrate, hang out with your friends and feel happy that you've come so far.

Clock ticks twelve. Booze sessions end slowly as dawn cracks.

2010-01-02.

Life continues to be the same. Back to the same experiment protocols, the same old me, the same school- home routine... The only difference: I get busier. ><

So! I have no special feelings towards 2010 except 2011! OH MY! If its 2011, I will be jumping with glee and shopping like mad in korea spending all my last bits of won and poking fun at korean bi****. I hope I can agitate one of those bimbos and use my long practise line in US-Black accent:

Hey ya bitch! Wadds up?!! Wadya wan huh!!! Fuck you!! (wahaha OMG since when am I so vulgar?!) Must be my fat sister.

Den they'll go prancing to their oppas in their 6 inch heels- wobbling.

Well... I am going to miss Korea's weather and my time over here...The freedom, the independence and the happiness...There'll be so much to look back on isn't it?

2009 Aug - 2009 Dec. 5 months.

My closure on 2009 will be on next post.

Yes, PY is a chatty brat. I just can't stop talking. Since I can't do it verbally, I shall put my words down.

Brief Review

My blog is getting dusty but my life is not.

Well I feel time flies and 24hr is never enough.

Meet ups with Pei fong, my evil sisters and outings with sharkie. Not to mention, lab takes up almost 10hrs of my day everyday except Sundays.

I am so happy that my sisters came and we had so much fun shopping and updating each other. We shopped till sunset and forgotten abt lunch. Its amazing how much I bought when I am out shopping with my sisters or gfs.

Christmas was merry with hotspring trip and a nice japanese dinner. I love cod fish!

Watched Avatar with Lijia and Zw @ COEX. Followed by cook out at Lijia's hse the following day. Fun! I cooked singapore curry chicken while they made chinese dumplings. Tried Jackie's kitchen due to my immense craving for HK dim sum, but I was disappointed.

I NEED TO GO TO HK!

I asked for a date and got one. haha so weird... I actually need to ask for a date!!

Me: How come you never bring me on dates anymore huh?

Dumb shark: Huh?! I thought we go out almost everyday??

Me: Yes, but its different ma!! Date is pre-planned as a surprise! You asked the girl out with places to go in your mind. Surprise u know??

Sharkie: I cant understand girls~Weird

Girls like surprises and unexpected dates or gifts. Well, at least I do.

Oh did I mention Sharkie has no Christmas gift? haha I hope he don't bear a grudge. I told him that I do not need 1 too. Gifts doesn't have to be given only on special occasion( hint: the more the merrier!). Haha but I still got my bag. Don't worry, I remember the wallet.

Sometimes I feel like I can discuss things with him as a friend. Anything under the sun. Its a comfortable feeling.

Watched Sherlock Holmes preview in Sinyongsan. Nice movie. I almost can't recognise Jude Law for he aged so much that he has receding hairline. But still as charismatic.

Hannah and Celine & Inho will be here tomorrow!! YIPEE! I hope we can all go party tgt in Hongdae! Its so much fun clubbing/drinking in a grp and luff at those k***** girls.

PS: Inho! I wan to drink Macoli with you!! haha treat me to hwae if you lose!! ok wait...am I throwing a challenge to a Korean?!! >.<

Lastly I got back my 1st semester results. Not bad. GPA 4.19/5.

2A+ 1A

Next semester will be hectic with more modules- in KOREAN.

My happy times might just end at the beginning of 2010 :(

~ Contentment. Happiness ~

Weekend Getaway

This post has been tucked away in my archive. haha BUSY!!

2D1N Getaway to Incheon and did island hopping.

Need a break from the bustling Seoul, the screaming cars, the blinding neon and the skyscrapers.

Incheon has many outlying islands that one can explore. They are usually less frequent by tourist and is less inhabited as many flock to Seoul.

The rolling waves and the white sand, the seagull gliding with freedom and the dusk that sets the skies ablaze with hues of purple and orange.

Serenity

The reason why I am not the vainest and the bitchiest ^^

His first time setting off fireworks. Poor sharkie has no childhood. The sea must pitch black during CNY. haha.

Seafood dinner. Or rather snack

Familiarity in a foreign land...Hm...I don't like this feeling...

General Mc Arthur

Thanks Qw,Rko & Lijia

Thanks to all my friends agn for the gifts and postage that cost more than the gifts ><

Haha qw rko! You want me to master cooking? So many food packs consisting of different cuisines. From curry to thai to chinese to western. haha =D

The GEEK SPECS is so funny!! haha where did u get tt from? Costume shop?! ^o^
Eh... I think I will only wear it to a costume party. HAHA maybe during Christmas! =D

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! PSR forever!!

ps: I will regain my R status once I grad!! I MUST! ^o^


Gift frm Lijia in addition to lunch and cake. =D

Which should I start with first?

The super uper geek specs that is wrapped in 3 envelopes! Haha!

THANK YOU

THANK YOU TO WL onee, Jae and SC for all your cards n pressies!



I am happy and touched :)


As I open the parcel, I realise how much I miss my previous lifestyle and my outings with my friends. How I wish when I wake up the next morning, I will be at home.


Home....My home where I feel love, where I can be comfortable, where I can be myself....

Ok. I must quit being all over EMO and ACTION.


My parcel contains all the Sg yummies which I can cook!! AND!!! I am super elated to receive the almond paste!! You all still remember my fav xing ren hu!!! =D


Thank you!!


In case you miss my face!! Anw wads's new w/o few pics of my selca?!! haha ^^

A nice 2010 planner

I couldn't resist the beautiful photos and layout. I just have to buy it.

It comes nicely packaged with 2 magnets, 1 post-it, a tin box and my planner! KRW 16,000

Bday card imported from UK. ^.^ Btw, haha having a bf dosn't mean I don't need glove!!! N I will bring you ard when you are here in Apr!! =D

An added member to my soft toys.

Thanks WL onee and Jae! ^0^

In addition to these, I still have a bagful of cookies unopened!!

Haha! Pls DON'T send me FOOD.. I can set up a stall in Dongdaemun ^o^

I will whip up some nice dishes using the ingredients you all sent me, and post some of them online. =D

A+

YIPPEEE!!!! YAY!!! :)

I GOT A+ for my Seminar 1. 97.5%!!!

Woohoo! My hard work pays off.

Though my panda eyes and health have yet to be redeemed.

Its an hour presentation during my cold. And I was afraid my voice sounded weird...like low and nasal-like... haha

I LOVE MY SEMINAR PROF!!! :)

The visit to Doc

Yes, I am stuborn whenever I am down with illness, be it fever or just cold. I refuse to see the doctor unless my immune really cannot recover on its own. But most of the time, it does =)

Natural immunity is always better than popping pills whenever you have a cold.

I finally cant tolerate the mucus and my runny nose. My senior is very nice. He told me how to go to the SNU clinic for students. Cheap. Hence, I went this morning after confirming that they prescribe WESTERN medication.

The doctor is very young. Maybe around 25-27. I think she is an intern from SNU medical school. She speaks erm....ok english.

'' I have a bad cold. There is phelgm in my throat and I can't sleep at night due to coughing.''

'' Phelgm?'' She gives me the puzzled look.

Ok, obviously she doesn't understand what that means. I tried words like, mucus (thinking it might be more scientific so she can understand) But none of the synonyms work.

Wits end, I did the coughing and induction of phelgm voice for her. haha ( try picturing an uncle spitting)

Action speaks louder than words. She understood me at last.

Never told me what's wrong. Just click on her computer to prescribe me med. I wanted to ask if she will give me expectorant but gave up since it will result in another 'mime performance'.

I wanted a higher dosage and I asked her.

'' Can you prescribe me medicine with a higher dosage? ''

'' .......How many days you want? ''

With a puzzled face '' ......Huh...how many days I want? I want higher dosage. You understand? ''

I was like wth. No docs ever asked me tt b4.

'' Yes, I understand what you mean. But how many days you want?''

Blardy hell. &%#& Just a simple request can cause so much inconvenience!!

'' HUH!!!''

'' Well, usually I prescribe my patients with 3 days. If you want, I can give you 3-5 days.''

'' Erm... you mean they recover within 3 days?!''

'' Hm...they get better.'' ( Inside my mind, wts, I want to recover and not just get better)

'' Give me 5 days''.

I gave up. Decided she don't understand higher dosage meaning. They prescribe based on the no of days you want. Meaning I have only 5 days worth of medicine. >.<

Different patients have different diagnosis. I don't understand why they are so rigid-minded. Even in lab research too. Ok nvm. I got my med with no diagnosis.

Anw, I don't really need it. Well...I mean her diagnosis.

Then, outside the clerk knew that I am a foreigner yet still ask me, can you speak korean? ( in korean btw)

I think I am quite unwell and mood is not very good so I retort back:

'' Can't you speak English?'' Look back at her.

'' Oh ok. English ok.'' Super shy and keeps smiling to herself. I duno why. Weird.

I am becoming a bitch.

I take great pleasure in terrorizing koreans by speaking Eng to them.

No choice. An eye for an eye.

You need to be in my shoe to understand my change.

I am afraid...afraid of my change and I know it...but I can't control it.... Phenotypic change? >.<

I cant possibly tell you all my problems in korean dude. I have yet to start taking korean classes. Since you are in SNU, an internationally university, jolly well speak english to foreigners.

You might say since I am in Korea, I blardy well speak korean too. Yes, I will if I am outside and aunties ask me hangul mal arasoyo? I will reply in korean.

I just dislike the fact that when you are inside an international university, you expect foreign students to speak korean- well.

Alright, I will take pictures of my nameless medicine. I dislike moments when I do not know what I am eating (esp med), where I will be heading..it feels so helpless and lost.

I need to be in control.

Total bitch.

Western medication

I am down with a flu.

I went to pharmacy. Everything is in korean. No western med in sight. TKM? (traditional korean medicine which is essentially TCM)

It progress into a BAD flu. The med is useless.

Cough turns from dry to wet with runny nose and thick mucus stuck in the middle of my throat till I have difficulty sleeping and breathing at night.

I hate this. I experienced once b4 in Beijing and cried for home and papa. haha yea..I'm a weakling when it comes to illness. When I am at home, my parents are there to take care of me. But alone in a foreign w NO EFFECTIVE medication is torture.

There are no GP clinics. Everybody goes to the hospital for ALL kinds of illness.

I am abit worried about my flu now that it worsen. My lab mates are quite worried too cause I practically cough every 3 minutes. Long and painful to hear I guess . It is painful for me too. Everytime I cough, my stomach tightens and tried to expell the thich mucus out but to no avail. Tts why I end up gagging in the toilet most of the time today.

I hate this.

H1N1. Tts what they are afraid of. Suddenly I felt frightened too.

I will visit the hospital tomorrow and they better prescribe me with WESTERN medication with a HIGHER dosage.

I heard from my friend that korean medicines are low in dosage! Wads the point?!

HELP!! What should I do?

PS: No lemons are avaliable in winter.

A walk to remember

Let it snow...let it snow....let it snow......~

I am happy!! Why?

End of a semester, start of a new season.

Parents n sisters n friends coming during Dec.

My BIRTHDAY!! 15 DEC!!

Christmas getaway in plan.

New Year 2010 countdown.

How can I not be happy with all these events in lined for me? ^^

I ended my seminar smoothly (credits to sexy IT geek for asthetic view & last min changes). Since I am the last presenter for this seminar and everyone is eager to see how I present in English, I had a great deal of stress. They had high epxectation for me and I have even higher for myself.

>.<

Professor said I did a great job and I'm really pleased with what I delivered coz the journal/topic I've chosen is not really within our field.

I have to read up on proteasome and their structure- X ray crystallography >.< My head almost exploded. N as usual, I am too detailed and my Introduction section took up 30mins. haha.

I do not know why, but this ''too detailed'' comment has been told to me thrice. Once during my undergraduate honours thesis. Infor overload.

Given a topic, I'll read alot of journals and try to piece everything tgt, or rather my work should contains everything. Tts why I spend alot of my time reading and having a headache over those infor. I knew it but I couldn't help it. HOW!!

Anyway, the professor is very nice and treated us to lunch since its the last class for the semester. Lunch today was nice with grilled seabream in creamy mushroom sauce and potato. Kimchi was silently sitting there as usual. It snowed during lunch!! Facing the hill, trees, and snow, I had a good lunch and conversation with my prof and classmates.

I hope I get good grades for my subjects =D and the tuition scholarship....

I walked in the snow after lunch to my reality- the lab.

Though my stay in Korea is a large bowl of mixed emotions, it will be a walk to remember for the rest of my life ~


~ Simplicity is happiness ~

Hectic Week

I AM BACK!

Finished an exam and a 1hr seminar presentation.

Alrighty! So wads up last week! =D

Met up with my Pharmacology professor who commented that I did a good job on my pharmacology presentation- PI3K and PTEN, Role in Tumorigenesis and progression.

Also, I did well for my Pharmaco exam 2 but exam one was not too good cause I was too detailed and never pinpoint the qns. Guess maybe USA style doesn't like beating ard the bush?

I attended lab meeting (as usual in korean) and a seminar by invited speaker. Hm... boring?

I watched NEW MOON with Lijia in SNU subway's EGG YELLOW shopping complex. She brought me to eat JimDak and we had a fun time chatting and rushing for the movie. haha. I will be so sad once she goes back to China- for good. =(

New moon was quite disappointing. No major action. Lack of Edward. Still, the storybook + imagination is the best. haha

Anw, I never once thought Robert Pattinson was hot. He is too fair, too scrawny, no Edward Cullen feel. >.< (Sorry, fans out there, this is my personal view)

After movie, we went for chill out at a coffee hse. It was cold! 10pm+ and we left for home.

It feels so nice to be able to hang out w frens whom you can relate to in a familiar language and culture. We spend our time gossiping and discussing abt stuffs. =)

She invited me to her hse for cook-out session bt I was down w flu =(

Outings with Pei Fong

Here are the pics from previous I LOVE SNOWBOARDING post =)



2 yeppos and 1 isang!

The lift which makes her cry. haha

Its really slippery!

So excited not knowing the bruises and falls that is coming.

That is not our trainer. ^^

After missing 11 stops, we are lost >.<

Brought PF to try my fav ramen in Hongdae!! Mouth watering agn... ^^

Hongdae streets.