Mum and dad arriving in 1 hour! :D :D :D

People should smile more

More photos to come. Just a few for now from the hundreds I'd taken the past few weeks.

Davina's birthday & graduation party at Ron's place. Purple and white balloons! We got her a new camera :) Panasonic I think.

group photo!

Yummy food from Wellington

This one's from Wagamama restaurant (a food chain)- sort of like a fusion of east (Japanese) + west dining; price is reasonable since the food is soooooo good.

more of Welly's artsy harbour

Nothing beats this: Alone with a good book by the harbour (with no wind)

We all need a little bit more colours sometimes

You may/may not know already: I have (informally) said YES to working at the university for an extra year after being offered an additional 6 months on top of the initial 6 month-offer. Not sure about official job title: research technician or research assistant? Would be the same project that I've been working on since November, but summer studentship is still on till the end of February, so it's safe to say I'll officially start working at March 2010 :D It's too good of an offer to turn down: a job guarantee when it's so hard to find one out there; plus it's just perfect for me to use that as an advantage while applying for permanent residence (PR) here in NZ.

Been stressing out about finding a good accommodation for next year, but AMEN I have found one. Signed the lease this afternoon for a studio at George Street (5 mins walk to uni, YUSSS). Costs $170 a week including power and unlimited broadband. Big enough space to put all my stuffs HEHE including Waszowski. The landlady is super nice as well, which is a major plus.

So yes, everything's slowly (but surely) falling into place. Even if I do get a scholarship, plan would be to defer it until 2011. Now all I need to do is pack, find a graduation dress, finalise itinerary for parents' trip here, and submit a mini-report to supervisor tomorrow!

overview

Where shall I start?

I've missed my own comfy bed so much for the past 3 weeks, but had some pretty incredible memories doing random activities and just catching up with May and Janice, and of course touring around with Becky hehe.

Spots on the art gallery is supposedly to promote an ongoing exhibition at the time. I still like Welly despite the crazy wind meh. Not too fond of the head colds from the wind, though.

and of course, no trip is complete without good food.

Introducing Wholly Bagels- yummy bagels with different fillings of choice. They should open a franchise here!

Went on a Kapiti Coast tour and had fun posing with odd/interesting cars at the transport museum

May couldn't join us to Auckland as she's too busy with her research :(

Anyway, we took a 2-day trip down to Rotorua then to Taupo. Weather was sooooo warm then. Rotorua DOES smell of rotten eggs due to sulphur everywhere. Gosh. But it does get better with time

Went to one of the geothermal 'wonderland's- funky colours and smells

 And Janice zorb-ed! So much fun from just watching her do it. The people working there are just so crazy and fun-loving haha! That's next on my to-do-list the next time I visit Rotorua.

We also pampered ourselves at the Polynesian Spa & hot spring pools at Rotorua. BLISS

Took a 1 hour bus ride down to Lake Taupo, and went to the Huka prawn farm to catch some prawns! Random, I know. Becky was the only one who managed to catch any (3), which were then cooked at the restaurant. Wished we had more time there though, never thought prawn-fishing could be this challenging and fun!

Auckland- the city of sails and where I bought my Karen Walker top *teehee*

Met up with Tao and William at Auckland, had dinner at the famous KK Malaysian restaurant at Epsom. The kangkong belacan is to die for. I'm definitely going back for more next time.

Then they drove us to the lookout at Devonport for beautiful views and lots of phototaking ;) A group pic (bless that person who invented self-timers) for remembrance

Also, we attended Michelle and Davina's graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon. Oh, Sarah and Yan who did pharmacy had their ceremony as well. Beautiful day for graduation; even better when we stumbled upon this great secret place to take photos- they look like they've been taken in the studio!

My personal favourite: Xander (about 6 weeks old) drooled while this photo was taken hehe. He has gotten so much bigger since I last saw him: heard that he's already outgrown many of his Ralph Lauren and Gap baby clothes :P He's sooooooooo cute it's impossible not to coo and make baby noises at him. Also, yesterday was the first time I had held a baby ever- feels really good actually :)

So apart from still recovering from the 3-week holiday, I'm getting ready to be back at the lab tomorrow :( Been busy the last few days planning the itinerary for a South Island tour that's happening in a few days. Can't wait for mum and dad to arrive in 10 days! :D

What's more, my own graduation in 12 days! eeks. It feels surreal. And not having a dress yet is a dreadful feeling. The desperate hunt shall begin very soon. Also, time is running out in finding a place to live for next year. I'm not even thinking about packing all my things yet.

But all in all, I'm grateful :) For a safe and awesome trip, for first class honours WOOHOO (who would have thought?! well, I didn't), for parents coming over to see me graduate soon yay, for having the whole flat to myself (just kidding, Sharon hurry come back home!), and for the tv series GLEE :D

Will Schuester is the cutest when he sings/dances *sigh*

Smile, it's summer

These past few weeks have been... hard to describe, really. That (and my laziness in updating) has left this blog quite miserable-looking :P oopsy.

Random: I love love love the movie "500 days of summer"- the perfect "not-so-love" story with a quirky/nostalgic feel throughout the movie with awesome music by Regina Spektor and The Smiths (mmmm brit pop is awesome).

I love this one in particular. It screams "SUMMER!!!"

Anyway.

This week marks the 2nd week of summer studentship at the lab. Same lab as honours, with same supervisor, so it's all familiar faces. One thing that's different though, is it feels more like a JOB now than just a project I have to score at. Well mainly because instead of having to pay tuition fees before, now I get paid. :) No more studying at night, though to familiarise myself with the new project I do need to constantly read a lot of literature and get the techniques right. Thank God for commercial biotech companies who come up with genius kits to make our lives much easier. The project is basically based on using genetically modified bugs in to generate biofuel woohoo!

Feeling pretty bummed today and yesterday as Amy, my flatmate this year, has left for Christchurch yesterday morning :( She's been such an AMAZING flatmate- from the late study nights during winter at the lounge with the heatpump on, the yummilicious seafood chowder and ciabatta that she makes, daily routine of putting away the dishes at night, to paying the bills on time hehe. I'm the oldest of the gang, but I do feel like she's the big sister of the flat, and keeps Sharon and I from killing each other :P Amy, I know you don't read my blog, but hey miss future doctor, you're just an amazing person to be with and I miss you already!

 Group photo taken at Amy's farewell/end of exams dessert night last Friday

Oh, and you all (especially May May) would be proud to know that I baked cream puffs with custard fillings for that night! First time ever attempting to bake that, and it was YUM :D I also just made kacangma (a green herby chicken soup) last night, mainly for Michelle. It's crazy how west Malaysians have never heard of it before.

Val's post-it notes & crumpets for Amy, sitting on the front porch one beautiful morning.

awwww... isn't she the sweetest?

The baking talent runs in the flat, what can I say? :P :P :P

The latest below are Sharon's creations: cute little sheep/roses made for Jackie's baby shower about 2 weeks ago

Aren't they just TOOOOOO cute?

Pink roses oh-so-pretty

October/November- the months of crazy amount of birthday celebrations.

The latest was last Saturday: Hsiu Ping turns a year older! We all hid in her room while she showered and surprised her when she walks in (with a towel in her glorious self teehee), had lots of junk/good food :)

Late October: Glenn our Filipino/American-BK manager-silver lining leader's birthday.

Surprised him by filling up his room with 200 balloons (one of them filled with Influenza as claimed by Ron) and had dinner at JRS restaurant.

Last but not least, Alexander Ethan Yeo was born on the 17th of October, 2009 :) Fondly known to us as Xander. He's a heavy boy (almost 4kgs!). Gave us a scare last week as he was admitted to ICU for serious jaundice, but all good now. He's been keeping Mich awake at night, naughty boy. See that cheeky little smile? I can just imagine him growing up to be a charming, beautiful boy.

This photo was taken just before he dozed off. It was luck, really, so hard to catch him smiling to the camera!

The "I know I'm cute" look :)

So there is definitely a lot of things happening (even if it's summer in Dunedin), yea shocking right? Chyi, have a blast in Singapore/Brunei (as you most definitely will) I AM JEAAAALOUS! It's nervewrecking waiting for results, knowing that it will also determine my scholarship result, which will only be out just before Christmas GAH! 

Tonight's going to be a good night *cue music*- we're celebrating Ron's 21st at the posh & fancy Luna Bar. Also, I can't wait till Sunday when I leave on a plane to Welly (again)- I can't say I will get sick of that place. Yeah it's windy but gosh, have those people that complained ever been to Dunedin before? :P

ooh la-la

The worst is over. I've done my part (not the best answers oh sigh) but I'm believing for the BEST to come to pass. :)

So last exam was yesterday afternoon, and immediately I came home to my recent addiction.

*wink*

Watching "So You Think You Can Dance Canada". Of all the reality TV shows, I admire and love this one the most. Their talents are unbelievable, outfits were great, songs were perfect for choreography, and the best part- the yummiest dancer of all - Nico :D

Oh btw he also won the first season (last December).

I quote from one of the judges: "(he) you are the reason why boys want to dance". Not only is he an AMAZING dancer (not one of his performance was so-so, all of them GREAT), he has the charm, body, humility, and did I mention the part about him being super hot?

Here's evidence. Link.

Oh, that's not the only time he gets shirtless. Hmm how do I write this blog post without me sounding like a pervert :P Watch the series and you'll see more of where that came from. He may not have the most well-defined six-pack, but BOY look at his passion and technique...

photo credits http://cathyblog.jean-cathy.com/

Oh, and he's the cutest when he speaks French. And it's hard to believe that he's half deaf! That just makes him so much more adorable *sigh*

Now I feel like taking a summer school French course :P AHHHH, jealousy Julianna, jealousy! My high school friend who's still enjoying her exchange at Paris. Go find a hot French dude and make me proud! hehehe.

Summer is dawning upon Dunedin & I'll drool all over Nico all I want while I'm not busy shopping/preparing for the ultimate trip up north/thinking about exam & dissertation results. But for now, life is still good.