:: When the time has finally reached its end...

Time indeed flies fast, and now we've reached the end of October. And for me the last October has been something really great. Many things have happened; my constant boredom in a new country, graduation, new friends, holiday, Melbourne, trips, and many else.

1. I had my first national holiday week in China. And I used the most of it :) My parents came to visit me and we were off together to Melbourne to attend my graduation.

2. Before Melbourne, I and my parents went to visit HongKong for 3 days. I had old relatives there and it was very nice to meet all of them. HongKong itself is very amazing and this city is very cool. I stayed at Miramar Hotel on Nathan Rd. The situation of the hotel is perfect, you might want to try this hotel if you had a chance to visit HK. From what I've experienced, I guess people would hardly get lost in this city because they are very generous in providing signs! The signs are everywhere and provided in bilingual, so you won't get headache trying to figure out chinese characters.

And ohhh, HongKong Disneyland is a disppointment, but it's good enough for someone who has never experienced Disneyland in other countries...like me...

3. A week in Melbourne was definitely way too short for me, but I was trying hard to enjoy every second of it. Melbourne, as always, is beautiful :) On the first day I reached Melbourne, I went to Dockland to have lunch with other 6 girlfriends of mine. We had lunch at this western restaurant, I had duck risotto and a cup of flat white, as usual. I REALLY enjoyed that moment. Good weather, good chat with good friends, while accompanied with good foods and drinks. Does anything else matter? I don't think so :)

4. And the thing that makes my stay in Melbourne unforgettable was that I tried to lead a normal life like I used to have when I was staying in that city. I went to gym, I had late dinner, I walked here and there most of the time, oh..I went to uni..by train and Monash shuttle bus..haha! I also went to several cafes in city and Laygon St, grabbed take away coffee, shopping, and took some photos. It was engrossing that I had fun while I was trying to lead my normal life.

5. Oh, I also had some special ocassion like had a fine dining with a friend *oyster,oyster,oyster* , had breakfast at Port Melbourne under a sunny and beautiful day and had last minute shopping at Bourke St. And graduation and its after dinner was actually good and memorable. I loved every bit of it.

6. And I came back to China. I started school again and had my normal activities back again. But at the end of the week, another trip was coming. It was a trip to Mutianyu Great Wall with our teachers and class mates. Here for stories and photos. I also finally received a heartwarming email from Mase, my dear virtual friend from Melbourne. It really made my day :)

7. Guess what, after just less than two weeks, me and some friends decided to join another tour to one of China's province, Xi'An. So I, a girl friend and other 2 guys decided to go during last weekend and spent 4 days there. We departed from Beijing around 4 o'clock and had spent almost 13 hours on the train. It was really really a trip I won't forget forever. Four international students whose chinese are far from perfect, decided to go to other province in China with its completely different chinese accent, foods and everything! I, myself still couldn't believe that we actually did it :D I'll post some photos and stories later on, atm go and have a look at here.

Till this very moment, I reckon October 2006 will be a good reminiscence. AlthoughI had too much good trips and holidays lately-according to some people-, I think those things are good for me in order to balance my stressful and depressing moments along with my efforts to adapt in this new city.Life might never be an exactly picture perfect like you've always wanted, but still, life can be beautiful.

At the end, I hope you have a beautiful day today...beautiful start of the new month. Take care :)

:: My Final Graduation Night

T'was a perfect graduation day. The weather was warm, although it was a bit windy. It was a lil bit hard to deal with flying dress *oh,forget about the hairdo* things, but everything was under control. On the other hand, everybody was there, my beloved parents, family and friends were all around me. Somehow I felt so special, rewarded and blessed. I couldn't stop smiling :)

Some friends came to drop by, while some attended the whole ceremony with my family. Friends from overseas gave me calls and sent me some congratulation messages. Unfortunately, one of my ex-housemates couldn't make it to come, but she sent me beeyootifuuulll flowers via courier few hours before the ceremony :D It was so nice, I literally had it with me all day long :)

Apart from wrong pronounciation of my name *as usual*, the ceremony run pretty smooth. Although this was my second graduation ceremony, I still had this hard thumping heart inside me while trying my best to attentively listen to the person who called out my name.

Afterwards, we had a pretty late dinner together with the families of my fellow graduant. We had wines, good chats and laughs. We called this a celebration and it was good to celebrate it together.

After all, it was a fine and perfect graduation night.

[I might not be able to reach this stage without my beloved supportive families and friends. Million thanks for each one of you. ]

:: Someone said I've been Westernized

Yesterday in the class, my Thai friend asked me whether he'll see me next semester in school. Then I said yes, because I don't think 4 months would be enough to learn a language. And since I'm here anyway, I'll finish what I've started in oder to fulfill the purpose of my existance in this country.

Then he said, "But it seems hard for you for being here. " And I gleefully answered, "It's not I don't like it to be here. But I just found it hard to get adapted in this country, everything is so completely different." And then he quickly replied, "I think you've been Westernized already."

Maybe yes, maybe not. To move to other country is like moving from your own comfort zone. We can't complain but to accept and learn how to blend with locals. Yes, I admit I've found it hard to do. It's a inconvinience thing to deal with. Different people with different orientations. Different habits and different tradition.

Regardless of what people saying, I am, however, still an Asian.

:: in melbourne

all the sudden, all the familiarities of this city came back in.

same weather i used to keep complain about. but not now.

same route i used to walk to uni. but it feels different now.

same foods i ate. the same foods i still enjoy.

same ambiance i used to take for granted. now i precious every second of it.

same friends. same room. same apartment.

same laugh. same wild imagination with friends.

it does feel like coming back home. not 'visiting', like what is written in my passport.

...3 more days i should cherish.

i'm going to melbourne...

i'm going to melbourne....

i'm going to melbourne...

i'm going to melbourne...

i'm going to melbourne...

i'm going to melbourne...

i'm going to melbourne.

i'm going to melbourne!!!