It was nice hearing a familiar voice from Singapore earlier this evening. I received a Facebook message from Des this morning, and decided to call her when I reached home this evening. Haha, it was nice hearing the surprise in her voice when she realised it was me. =p
And it's so comforting to hear a friend's voice, someone I've been hanging out with for awhile and can just talk about topics we used to talk about back at NTU. It's not that there's been a dearth of topics to talk with with my friends here, it's just that the familiarity of all these topics just makes me feel so comforted. The feeling is just like I never left at all and I was just picking up the conversation with Des from the day before.
Friends are different from family and partners. I still love talking to my family and Kok Yong, but friends remind you of the life you had back at home, and how you spent time with them in the canteens and in school just chatting while waiting for class. And memories of you debating over some topics, or just complaining, or gossiping, and the modules you used to take together just... I don't know... the feeling is like snuggling up on the bed with a good book on a rainy day - that kind of comforting.
Come to think of it now, I do miss my friends back home a whole bloody lot. Not keeping in touch with you doesn't mean I don't want to, I still miss you all all the same. It's good that there's Facebook, so I won't be kept out of your lives. Haha, so whoever's still reading this blog, you're the one I'm missing, and I can't wait to go back to Singapore to meet up with you! =) Don't forget me k!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
My Life So Far
The previous post wasn't meant to be up. This one was. However, I was feeling rather emotional when I got home this morning, that I felt an irresistible urge to blog something emotional. Haha. Well, the updates for this new post isn't gonna be new to some of you who have been talking to me the past 2 weeks, so if you're one of them, I think you don't have to read this. Haha...
It's been a rather... tense (?) 2 weeks since I last blogged, and it's been rather trying as well. So many times I wondered if the signs weren't pointing towards it being the wrong decision to embark on postgrad studies, and if I should just throw in the towel and go back home. Much self-counselling has been done to myself, and also much much-needed support has been shown to me via friends and family and Kok Yong, which has done heaps to make me feel so, so much better. To sum it up, life without the Internet is really a very lonely one. Therefore, Michelle, I define existence as the ability to be able to communicate with others to let them know that you are still alive and occupying space on this earth.
So what really happened to make the last 2 weeks one of the most challenging? IT. Our wonderful and all-pervasive information technology jumped out from every corner imaginable and tried to trip me up.
First, was the thunderstorm that occurred 2 weeks ago. Apparently, the thunderstorm was so strong that it caused a power surge in many people's accommodations. I had turned off my power switch, but left my LAN cable connected to my laptop. And thus, the power surge caused my LAN port to get fried, thereby rendering me unable to access the Internet. I had thought the problem lay with the Internet Service Providers, so I called them up many times and even expressed my displeasure, only to find out later that it was my laptop that was causing the problem. -___-"
I had thought my only option was to go to the Toshiba Service Centre, but I met another friend, Tale, who gave me a ray of hope. A USB adaptor for the LAN cable! So I managed to find someone who had an extra and tried it out. Imagine my elation when I realised I could go back online!!!!
But being online was not what I was meant to do. The USB adaptor grew too hot, and my computer could not shut down. I thought it was the adaptor's problem, so I went to get another one. The same problem persisted, and I had to call Tale for help. He was very nice, and tried to troubleshoot the problem for me, finally coming to the conclusion that when my LAN port was fried, it also fried the neighbouring USB port, so it spoilt my USB adaptors. But we were not sure why the same thing happened in the other USB port that was located on the other side of the laptop. So, I was back to square one. I still could not go online.
So the next day, I went to the service centre to get it done. OMG. It was my first time travelling alone, and I was damn apprehensive about it. Well, people who know me would know my sense of direction is almost non-existent, so... yes, it stands to reason that traveling alone would terrify me. But because I believe I was admitted to an overseas university for a greater reason other than studying, I decided to just go ahead and move out of my comfort zone. I managed to find my way there!! All these done by asking around. Ah, the power of asking!
I was then told that if my computer was suffering from a hardware problem, I'd have to wait 10-15 working days before I could get my computer back, because since my computer was bought in Singapore, they'd have to import the parts from there and fix it. -_-" But if it was a software problem, they'd be able to repair it faster, but they'd have to charge me $82.30 an hour (&*%^%^%%^$&%$!!!). But since I really didn't have any other options, I had to agree, didn't I?
And after a discussion with my parents about the feasibility of getting a netbook, we decided it'd be better if I got one, so I wouldn't have to feel so handicapped. So got it I did, and guess what? The next day, I received a call from the service centre saying that they'd got my laptop fixed. And that was a Friday.
And something else happened on Thursday, which was the day my Internet plan was scheduled to deactivate. I was told that when my account was deactivated, I could just buy a prepaid card to recharge it, and my plan would go on as per normal (I was upgrading from a $40 to a $60 plan, and changing from paying by credit card to prepaid). Imagine my horror when I realised the next day afternoon (which was a Friday) that I couldn't access my Internet, instead finding out that my account had been terminated, and that the ISP operates on NSW time which is 2 hours ahead of Perth, which meant that I had called them when they closed. And I couldn't call them on weekends, because they don't open then. I had to wait till Monday.
So wait till Monday I did, and I did so many things that made me rather proud of myself. Haha!! I first called up the ISP, and told them what had happened. I was getting ready to show my displeasure already (and I think the customer service guy was too), when the guy took the initiative to find out what I'd done to my account and graciously set a new one up for me with the value I had put inside the day before. So that was done! Next was Toshiba. I was worried that the reason why they had managed to solve the problem so fast was because they had found a software problem, and would thus charge me. So imagine my pleasure when they said I didn't need to pay! And I later found out that my LAN port is the same as that in Australia, so they didn't have to wait for the parts! And they also said that it was likely the USB adaptor was faulty, so I went back to the seller and got a refund. Wow, that went smoothly too! They just accepted my reason, and gave me my money back without questions, so I was $50 richer again, which meant my pocket money for the month is more reasonable again! =D
The past 2 weeks made me realise I can actually survive on my own, and all I have to do is just to ask. =) So I will be stronger, and I will conquer the odds. =)
It's been a rather... tense (?) 2 weeks since I last blogged, and it's been rather trying as well. So many times I wondered if the signs weren't pointing towards it being the wrong decision to embark on postgrad studies, and if I should just throw in the towel and go back home. Much self-counselling has been done to myself, and also much much-needed support has been shown to me via friends and family and Kok Yong, which has done heaps to make me feel so, so much better. To sum it up, life without the Internet is really a very lonely one. Therefore, Michelle, I define existence as the ability to be able to communicate with others to let them know that you are still alive and occupying space on this earth.
So what really happened to make the last 2 weeks one of the most challenging? IT. Our wonderful and all-pervasive information technology jumped out from every corner imaginable and tried to trip me up.
First, was the thunderstorm that occurred 2 weeks ago. Apparently, the thunderstorm was so strong that it caused a power surge in many people's accommodations. I had turned off my power switch, but left my LAN cable connected to my laptop. And thus, the power surge caused my LAN port to get fried, thereby rendering me unable to access the Internet. I had thought the problem lay with the Internet Service Providers, so I called them up many times and even expressed my displeasure, only to find out later that it was my laptop that was causing the problem. -___-"
I had thought my only option was to go to the Toshiba Service Centre, but I met another friend, Tale, who gave me a ray of hope. A USB adaptor for the LAN cable! So I managed to find someone who had an extra and tried it out. Imagine my elation when I realised I could go back online!!!!
But being online was not what I was meant to do. The USB adaptor grew too hot, and my computer could not shut down. I thought it was the adaptor's problem, so I went to get another one. The same problem persisted, and I had to call Tale for help. He was very nice, and tried to troubleshoot the problem for me, finally coming to the conclusion that when my LAN port was fried, it also fried the neighbouring USB port, so it spoilt my USB adaptors. But we were not sure why the same thing happened in the other USB port that was located on the other side of the laptop. So, I was back to square one. I still could not go online.
So the next day, I went to the service centre to get it done. OMG. It was my first time travelling alone, and I was damn apprehensive about it. Well, people who know me would know my sense of direction is almost non-existent, so... yes, it stands to reason that traveling alone would terrify me. But because I believe I was admitted to an overseas university for a greater reason other than studying, I decided to just go ahead and move out of my comfort zone. I managed to find my way there!! All these done by asking around. Ah, the power of asking!
I was then told that if my computer was suffering from a hardware problem, I'd have to wait 10-15 working days before I could get my computer back, because since my computer was bought in Singapore, they'd have to import the parts from there and fix it. -_-" But if it was a software problem, they'd be able to repair it faster, but they'd have to charge me $82.30 an hour (&*%^%^%%^$&%$!!!). But since I really didn't have any other options, I had to agree, didn't I?
And after a discussion with my parents about the feasibility of getting a netbook, we decided it'd be better if I got one, so I wouldn't have to feel so handicapped. So got it I did, and guess what? The next day, I received a call from the service centre saying that they'd got my laptop fixed. And that was a Friday.
And something else happened on Thursday, which was the day my Internet plan was scheduled to deactivate. I was told that when my account was deactivated, I could just buy a prepaid card to recharge it, and my plan would go on as per normal (I was upgrading from a $40 to a $60 plan, and changing from paying by credit card to prepaid). Imagine my horror when I realised the next day afternoon (which was a Friday) that I couldn't access my Internet, instead finding out that my account had been terminated, and that the ISP operates on NSW time which is 2 hours ahead of Perth, which meant that I had called them when they closed. And I couldn't call them on weekends, because they don't open then. I had to wait till Monday.
So wait till Monday I did, and I did so many things that made me rather proud of myself. Haha!! I first called up the ISP, and told them what had happened. I was getting ready to show my displeasure already (and I think the customer service guy was too), when the guy took the initiative to find out what I'd done to my account and graciously set a new one up for me with the value I had put inside the day before. So that was done! Next was Toshiba. I was worried that the reason why they had managed to solve the problem so fast was because they had found a software problem, and would thus charge me. So imagine my pleasure when they said I didn't need to pay! And I later found out that my LAN port is the same as that in Australia, so they didn't have to wait for the parts! And they also said that it was likely the USB adaptor was faulty, so I went back to the seller and got a refund. Wow, that went smoothly too! They just accepted my reason, and gave me my money back without questions, so I was $50 richer again, which meant my pocket money for the month is more reasonable again! =D
The past 2 weeks made me realise I can actually survive on my own, and all I have to do is just to ask. =) So I will be stronger, and I will conquer the odds. =)
To My Family and Kok Yong
This is for standing by me through everything, and supporting me when I needed it most. Things haven't been easy, but now that they are starting to fall in place, I'd like to thank you all for being there. Everything you've done has been appreciated and remembered. =)
Because you Loved Me
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
Because you Loved Me
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
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