updates

23 June 2006, Changi S'pore.

Long haul flights are EVIL.

Singaporeans. *sigh* A backpacker motel in NZ with great view and customer service costs about NZ15. A transit hotel in Changi Airport with common shower facility and horrible customer service (unless you're a Caucasian) costs $125 per night.

I hate myself a little for saying this, but I like NZ so much more compared to Singapore and Malaysia. Sure, there will be racism, cold winter days and expensive prices in NZ.

Looking at the other side of things, racism only exists in 0.001% of the population (usually drunkards) while most of them who don't share the same skin colour treat you even better and are friendlier than those who share the same surname as you.

As for winter, cold weather doesn't seem that bad when you can shop and wear cool winter jackets you wouldn't get caught dead wearing in Malaysia. As far as I know, heaters are man's greatest invention. Cool friends and hot chocolate also help you get by those cold nights. Also, without winter, summer wouldn't be appreciated as much. No winter, no spring (the best season of all)!

Sure, things might be a tad bit expensive there. But a student with no degree can earn an average of $10.00 per hour, so do your maths. That's why I'm planning to stay there over the summer and earn some money.

But perhaps the main reason I chose to study there was because of the freedom it offered. People never judge you irrationally, you can basically walk the streets of Dunedin wearing pajamas or diapers and people will just look at you once and walk on.

I love how the city is just a 10 minute walk from where I live, and that I can just take a walk/jog/run around a park or the botanical gardens minutes away any time of the day, any day of the week. I love how people seem to mind more of their own business yet care so much for a stranger or friend during the right moment. I love how you can just start chatting to any stranger on the street and end up talking to that person for hours without judging or being judged. I love that there are over 10 nationalities in my church, and how I can hug and be hugged anytime without getting a weird look. Above all, I just love how somehow everything seemed much more simpler, out in the open, and sincere.

I don't care what some people say about "unpatriotic" people who leave their home country to live in another country because of the better pay or future. Don't make a judgement when you don't even know what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.

I'm not saying that I'm going to live in NZ permanently yet, but recent events had certainly made me think a lot about the future that I want to choose for myself.

***

25 June 2006, HOME (Kch)

Home at last.

Reached Kuching aroud 3pm, got my new sim card, and went straight to church for music practice. Syokkk. After that, went yumcha with Deb, Agfa, and Stef at aha! I thought I heard wrongly when the girls say they wanna go to a place called aha!, but oh well, there's even another new cafe called bla bla bla. -.-''' What happened after that was so typical of us four. We decided to head home early (at around 11pm), but when we got to the car, Deb realised that she'd left the headlights on. *slaps forehead* After countless attempts to revive the engine, Deb managed to drag her dad who was watching the Germany vs Sweden match there to help us. Eventually we got home half past midnite. Totally embarrassing yet memorable. hehe!

It's good to be back at SFEC, but I loathe church politics. Can't we all just get along, forgive and forget?! Anyway, youth meeting was replaced by a hip hop dance lesson given by John aka bunny. Totally hilarious and refreshing, but had to leave early to attend a farewell lunch for Agnes who's leaving for KL this Friday. Seems like everyone's leaving sooner or later. Meh.

Speaking of which, I'll be in KL for the next 3 days shopping! =)