bye bye room.. i'll miss you

less than 24hours left..

It hasn't quite sink it yet that I am going to leave my little room tomorrow. At 1015 tomorrow morning, I will be OUT of my room, forever. My little room that has served me SOOO well, that i find so much comfort in the past 7 months. The little room that was my (second) home. The little room with all my photos, where i hosted friends, watched my crunchyroll etc etc.

Maybe it is because I am still working on a piece of (wretched) term paper. There is a reason why I am in Faculty of Science, studying Mathematics. It is seriously killing me. BUT!!! peiyu shall remain strong and churn out that 15-page essay ASAP.

On a lighter note, I got a package!!!!! from my darling friends, Fang, Ling, Shuangz and Jorin. Ling asked if i received something at 1200 or so today and to her disappointment, i said no. She told me that the three of them sent something to me during CNY period. I felt quite bad cos i thought their efforts and love were lost in the mail. BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT!!!! i went to check my mail box just now, and TADAH!! you've got a package to collect!

the four 美女s sent me pineapple tarts and a CNY card!!! I was so happy i started taking pics and sending it to them.



now, i have to start packing my stuff. tear down my wall decor, clear my table, pack my luggage etc. it's going to take some time... will put pics up tomorrow!

if only i can simply remove the battery from the tick tock clock

The clock reads 0020 and it continues ticking. I have entered into the last Sunday that i will be spend in Konstanz. one more week left in this little town which i have called (second) home the past 6 months and 3 weeks.

Exams are finally over although I don't know how I'll fair. One more academic challenge -- a political science term paper, and I'll be done officially for my SEP semester. It's been long, but right now, i really hope it never ends. I like it here too much.

Having experienced it myself, I am amazed how people are able to change locations so many times within a period of years. It is the idea of, you go to a foreign land, you try to adapt, you finally get used to it, you have to leave. Exactly the course of my life for the past months. No, not that I am willing to give up everything in Singapore for Konstanz, but the idea that I have no clue when I will ever meet my friends again, sucks totally. Friendships like these can never be exchangeable and compared.

I was showing Eneli, my housemate, my blog today to explain 'Singlish' and we went through some of the earlier entries. Time has passed so quickly. There are so many nice memories. I am glad I wrote about my exchange. Those entries are precious. Blogspot better not die on me. I shall try to print out all the entries when I return to Singapore and frame it up or something. Eneli is leaving for Paris on Monday morning. *heavy-heart*

Anyway, it's going to be a busy week. Tonight, I had steamboat(like FINALLY) with my chinese friends, Shouwen and Mali. Tomorrow is Soba night with Solene, Joey, Asami and maybe Asami's new friend. Dinner with Miri on Monday. Choi Kwun, who does her SEP in Innsbruck is coming on Tues and I am going to make chicken rice again. One more night for bbq with Christy, Shouwen and Mali (since the weather is so good nowadays). One more lunch/dinner reserved for Lee Ting, the other Singaporean girl in Konstanz. Friday is move-out day. Saturday, I will finally see a family member (and some Singaporean delicacies) after 7 months exactly.

Till I find time to blog, seeya!

pics

since i'm waiting for the bus, i decided to post up 2 pics from yvonne's farewell party.





currently a tense period for me. will write when i'm more settled down.

一重酸酸的感觉

the title describes my feelings right now. a kind of feeling that i can only use chinese to describe. underlying meaning is not very nice...

i just finished my maths exam with my professor. it was an oral exam which i did prepare, but before meeting him, i was totally clueless as to what i should expect. for maths, we usually either have to proof a question or to work out the question based on the algorithm. but this time round, upon entering, his first task for me was to "tell me what you know about chapter 2." *jaw drop*

well, i don't feel good about my exam at all. i mean, there's nothing for me to worry about because he said he'll write a good grade for me. but the thing is, i know i didn't do well, and i don't deserve that grade. it will be totally unneccessary and inconvenient to him to do a re-exam for me as well. ARGHHHHH!!! i feel like shit!

i shall work hard for my VWL exam so i will not face such sucky situations again.

Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's day to all! Hugs and Kisses to all my friends and family members in Singapore, Konstanz, rest of Germany and of course, Australia.

I decided to check my letter box today and was pleasantly surprised by a valentine's day card. felt so loved!!! wheee


Today was also a good day in school. It was the last day of my lectures in Uni Konstanz. sad, but at least, it ended pretty nicely. we had coffee, chocolate cake and chocolate muffins after lecture. It was interesting for me because such stuff will NEVER happen in NUS. Especially when it is with the Professor. I felt that it was nice cos we got a chance to get to know our Prof and Tutor better. It was also a chance for me to take photos with my classmates! for the last time.. they made class more interesting. really thankful for the help they've given me.

tim and andré.

they were the ONLY two people who submitted their tutorials every week without fail. I asked tim for some help regarding the notes today and he said he needed to read it cos he never read it before. and i was like... then how did you do the tutorials? he said he never used them! *impressed*

nina und anne, who always has different hair colour every other week. most of the time, red/ orange.


fabian and i.

(i don't know her name!), and tim

me, irina und nina. my sitting partners, who always makes me feel at ease that i am not the only one who doesn't understand lecture.

andre and i. super thankful for his help in maths. and it feels much more comforting when he reassures me that i am not the only one who doesn't understand the prof's notes.

me n sabine. my first friend in this lecture.

me and my prof, Herr Hoffmann. I have my exam tomorrow... so i decided to be more friendly with him today first. hee hee..


that's about it! i shouldn't be blogging really. i have my exam tomorrow and i should study. fare ye well!
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Heute ist den lezte Tag der vorlesung von Optimierung und wir haben in die zweite Hälfte der Vorlesung Kaffee getrunken und Kuchen gegessen. Ich finde es interessant und auch wunderbar, dass wir eine kleine Party mit dem Prof am Ende die Semester gemacht haben. Nicht nur hatten wir Essen und Trinken, sondern auch die Möglichkeit den Prof besser kennen zu lernen. In Singapur ist das unmöglich, weil wir haben für einen Kurs mindestens 50 TeilnehmerInnen. Ja.. haben wir dergleichen kleinen Party in deutsche Sprachkurs. aber für Mathe, nie und deshalb gibt es selten eine gute Beziehung zwischen Profs und Studenten. Als Folge habe ich am meistens Angst, mein Prof zu finden, um etwas zu fragen. Eine Ausrede für meine schlecten Noten. haha!

Auf jeden Fall habe ich oben die Fotos von heute hochgeladen. es wird kommisch und dumm sein, wenn ich wieder die Fotos hier stelle ein. somit mache ich nicht. morgen habe ich meine erste Prüfung und bin ich jetzt in Bibliothek. Ich habe mich schon zu viel Zeit im Internet verbringt. ich sollte lernen! Also... bis bald!

first post in German

ich bin SOOO müde obwohl ich gestern fast neun Stunden geschlafen habe. ich war den ganzen Tag in den Bibliothek aber leider habe ich nicht so viel gelernt. mein Skript ist auf Englisch aber der Prof hat alle so verwirrend gemacht, dass ich nichts verstehen kann. das ist so nervenaufreiben! ich habe mein mündliche Prüfung am nächsten Freitag und bin noch nicht bereit!

Andererseits habe ich die andere singapurische Mädchen endlich gefunden. wir sind schon in den letzen Woche die Semester!! es ist aber auch besser als wir uns durchaus nicht finden.

ok... ich sollte öfter auf Deutsch schreiben! ich bin immer selbstzufrieden wenn ich auf Deutsch kommuniziert habe. also doch bin ich in Deutschland.



PS: Miri, bist du nicht stolz auf mich? hee hee...
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i am so tired despite having slept for about 9 hours yesterday. was in the library for the whole day but was not very productive. my notes may be in english, but my prof just has to make everything so confusing to the extend that i understand nothing. it's nerve wrecking cos my exam is next friday and i'm so not ready.

Nevertheless, it is a happy day today cos i finally found the other singaporean girl, lee ting. we were in contact before the semester and lost contact through sem. at least we found each other..

just a short update in german and it makes me happy when i communicate in German be it written or spoken. i shall do this more often. after all, i'm in germany and should take this chance to improve my german.

last but not least, today's daddy's birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD DAD! i'll bake a cake for you ok?!? come to think of it, i haven't had a cake nor blown any candles for my 21st yet! so i'll blow a candle and eat the cake for you ok?!

new year celebrations.. at home and in Konstanz

it's a unique Chinese New Year for me this time round. For 20 years of my life, I never missed a single CNY in Singapore. This year is different. I am in Konstanz and preparing for my exams. Feels weird but no worries. I ain't sad or anything. I can still feel the festive warmth from home.

Miri was so sweet. She drew this for me! I was so impressed with her chinese, i told her i HAD to put it up on my blog. so here goes!

Then yesterday, on 初一(first day of CNY)，I was at Christy's place and we made dumplings! I finally know how to wrap the dumplings.. but still not skillful enough.

Ma Li and Christy squeezing the water out of the chinese cabbage.

Ma Li was the head chef of the evening. she just finished a paper.. which accounts for her tardiness.

the combination of ingredients for the 'inside' of the dumpling. minced meat, ginger, onion, cabbage, seasoning(五香粉), pepper, salt.

jiaozi waiting to be cooked!

jiaozi waiting to be eaten!!

and so, that was how i celebrated CNY in Konstanz. Now I shall show you guys how CNY was celebrated at my place this year! Like always, I am proud of what my mother can whip up. I am still far from her cooking standards.
Let's see... i am making my guesses from the picture. ain't 100% sure what food they are.
one bowl of shark fins (maybe it's fake one) per person,
(in clockwise direction)
next to the alcohol, we have steamed fish,
onion rings (or sotong rings?),
vegetables,
steamed chicken,
prawns with ketchup (one of my favourites!!),
braised abalone with those fa cai(black black hair-like stuff), sea cucumber and long straw mushrooms,
in the centre, we have already-tossed yu sheng!

Last but not least, although it's totally unglam, I decided to put up this family photo that I received. we never ever took family photos on reunion dinner nights.. but this year is special! cos of me!!! It compensates for all the things i missed out.


You guys will never be able to imagine. Because of my stupid web cam that is not compatible for skype for mac, and the fact that there's no web cam at home, i have not seen my family for 6 months. ok.. only pictures. but nothing in motion! today's the FIRST time after 6 months i could see my family members in MOTION over webcam at my sis' place. It's quite a surreal feeling. Feels like I have never left Singapore before. So far yet so close to the heart. It was worth being woken up at 7am despite only a mere 4 hours sleep.

Anybody want to help me photoshop?? put my head into the family photo.

overview of feb

time is passing too fast!

i just fixed my maths exam date with my prof today. i'll see him for my maths oral exam next friday, 15.02. one week later, on 23.02, saturday, i will sit for my econs paper. on 29.02, i will be saying goodbye to my lovely room of 7 months. meanwhile, i will have to make a 2x9 hour train trip next monday, squeeze in a 15-page political science term paper. and also, most importantly, to have meals with my dear friends here in konstanz!!!

i don't wanna leave!!!!!!!!!!!! sobz....

last but not least, to everyone back at home. GONG XI FA CAI!!! take more photos and show me ok??? i got no yu sheng to eat. but i'll make a nice meal for myself for dinner on 年三十晚 (night before the lunar new year). and yes... another chance of 饺子 (chinese dumplings) on 大年初一 (first day of the lunar new year)!!!!

savour the goodies for me!!!


now, back to the library to mug.

Fastnacht!!!

FASTNACHT!!!!! also known as Fasching, Fastnet, or Mardi Graz. I tried looking it up on Google. There was too much information and i can't remember them in detail. so you guys can go read it up yourself.

anyway!!! it was GREAT FUN!!! everyone was dressed up on Thursday. It seemed that the people in Konstanz plan their whole year around this day. Bands start marching around the whole city from 6am in the morning, playing music and making a heck of a noise. and DO not complain. cos they will come back and irritate the hell out of you again. ON PURPOSE.

there was a party in school, with everyone all dressed up. of course, i was dressed up too!!! how not to be part of it?? you'll be considered a weirdo!

band performers in the traditional outfit

a housewife. (spot the things on her)

that's what i call elaborate dressing up

me, bunny azzurra and michelle, who just came out of the toilet.

a huge afro and a... i have no idea what.

me and azzurra again.. but main focus here is my new coat from h&m which i got for only 9euros!!! it made me a very happy girl.

Evening was spent at Pascal's place. As usual, beer, food, games and just laughter. loads of german too!! so i was learning well there. It was fun!!! we played a game called Commando Bimbole(or something close to that) which was more or less the same as Simon says. It was hilarious cos Pascal is really good at tricking people.

pascal the birthday boy as FBI and resi, a ladybird

the devil sisters!!! me and ariane.

miriam (she had no idea what she was as well) and lars, a mouse!

playing games with beer as forfeit


After which, we went to town, and it was CRAZEEEEEE!!! jam packed, with music, beer and costumes. there was a pair dressed in UHU glue. unique and interesting! bunnies, cows, lions, leopards, ladybird, devils, angels, etc etc.... who says u need to go to Venice or Cologne for Karneval?! just come to Konstanz!!! and now, i have German music in my head. i'm so motivated to learn German pop songs now. esp cos EVERYONE could sing along to the songs. fun fun fun!!!

[i didn't bring my camera along.. so no pics!]
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Weiguang came on Friday, and i went to Zurich to welcome him at the airport!!! It was SOOO nice to meet a familiar face! i was soooo happy!!! plus plus plus, he had Ba Kwa with him!!! hur hur hur.. i was happy cos of the ba kwa too. cos i have been craving for it for quite some time. pineapple tarts too. but he doesn't eat pineapple tarts. so don't have.

It was warm n friday, and when we woke up on Sat, it was snowing!!!! what a pretty welcome. I brought him and his friend, Hong Jun to Konstanz so that they could take a look at Fastnacht celebrations here. The swiss don't celebrate Fastnacht. It was a nice day of walking around Konstanz. I got bullied by some small kid. I bet he was being mean cos i'm asian. [#(@*&$@] but ok lah! small kid. i forgive him.

family of knights

scary people. if they came to me, i would have burst out crying.

the traditional outfit. they have bells all over and walk around rather noisily. the small kid who irritated me was dressed in this... roar.

we were supposed to 包饺子(wrap chinese dumplings) for dinner. but my friend pangseh(played us out). so we had Spaghetti carbonara instead. Hope it was a nice trip for my two guests!!

to end it off, me and weiguang at the shore off my school's sailing area.