Day 1: She's Here!

The wait has finally over. She's here! After ten years, we finally made it. It was a bit awkward at first, but then the ice was broken within a second. Her plane landed on schedule, I got to the airport just in time as she walked out the arrivals gate. We hugged tightly and for a moment it felt like a dream. We bumped into two European guys who looked completely out of place on our way; one is here to work at the Cirque de Soleil, the other is on working holiday visa. Soon they joined the two of us and I helped them with their travel route.

We took buses and tram to get to my place. She cooked me some eggs for a brief lunch. With her being exhausted after twenty-seven hours of travel -- from Portland to San Fransisco to Shanghai, then Melbourne -- we stayed home after we went out to do some groceries and had an early dinner. Oh, we also had some kangaroo steak. The meat was... chewy. I don't think I fancy the meal, imagining a cute kangaroo... That would be the first and last I ever eat kangaroo meat. I, then, called Mum and introduced her to my entire family, even to my one-year-old nephew. She's passed out now. Soon I'll be gone to sleep as well. Pretty much enthusiastic for tomorrow's NYE. 

 Oh, and she bought me some gifts, too. 

Until next post.

In 2015, I Will...

Credited to a colleague

I still can't sleep. So I'm just going to write some more.

Have you seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? You should if you haven't. It's a great and inspiring movie. Watching the movie make me think about what I have and have not done in my life.

"To see the world, things dangerous to come,
to see behind walls, draw closer,
to find each other, and to feel.
That is the purpose of life." - Walter Mitty

The quote still lingers in my head. To be honest, it's the things that I don't dare to do that bothers me. I don't dare to see the world, to face the dangerous things to come in order to do so. I don't dare to find what's behind walls and it pulls me away.

With the year approaching to the end, everyone seems to be listing their resolutions. I've been pondering if I should list a New Year's resolution. I'm not a fan of it, mostly because I'm too lazy to give it a thought. But then, after watching the movie, I realised I've been giving too much of a thought of useless shit that don't do me any good. This time I think I could really use a list of resolution for the year ahead. It could probably get me to sleep, anyway.

So, here is my 2015's resolution:

In 2015, I will GRADUATE.
In 2015, I will BE MORE GRATEFUL.
In 2015, I will GET BETTER.
In 2015, I will WORRY LESS.
In 2015, I will ENJOY MY LIFE THE WAY I WISH.
In 2015, I will FIND A BETTER JOB.
In 2015, I will TREAT MYSELF FOR ALL MY HARDOWRK.
In 2015, I will HAVE A TRIP SOMEWHERE.
In 2015, I will DEFINITELY GO TO STEREOSONIC.
In 2015, I will RAVE.
In 2015, I will READ MORE BOOKS.
In 2015, I will RE-CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.
In 2015, I will SET MYSELF FREE.

That, indeed, will be my reminder for the coming year. I will always come back to this. This should be a good vibe to start a new year. And hopefully this wouldn't be 2016's resolution. Right?

Until next post.

P.s. I'm writing this post while listening to the soundtrack of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Good songs.

Counting the Hours

Christmas has passed. Turned out my second Christmas was just the same as last year; I stayed at home and slept in, cooked some meals, ate, watched some movies, called Mum, and then back to sleep. I was going to open a bottle Smirnoff Ice -- the weather seemed perfect for a beer -- that I've been keeping in the fridge, but I had an upset stomach. So, I decided against it and keep the beer for next time.

Boxing Day was the day after Christmas. It's similar to Black Friday in the US; big shopping day, big discounts (although, I reckon the price wasn't so cheap). Every single shopping center was overcrowded. People were cramped inside the building, elbowing their way to fill in their carts like predators hunting for the same prey. I was one of them, although I was less enthusiastic. I went to a shopping center that was less crowded, walking around mindlessly with no particular need to buy anything. After forty-five minutes I walked out the store with a bag in my hand. I bought me a pair of sandal, 5 pieces of panties (hipster cut), and a pair of bikini. Yes, I bought a bikini and I'll wear it to the beach. As Q said when I told her I got a pair of bikini, "good, so we can go to the beach as soon as I get there."

Or maybe not.

Speaking of Q (I really need to find her a better name, don't I?). She's on the plane from Shanghai as I'm typing this. Her plane is going to touch down by 10 o'clock in the morning. I'm going to pick her up at the airport, and I'm such a nervous wreck right now. It must be from the excitement of meeting her for the first time. But it's a good nervous I'm feeling and a good panick attack I'm having. I spent the day cleaning up my room and the entire apartment. I did my laundry, changed the sheet and everything. Housemate is out on a trip since before Christmas, so we're going to have the place by ourselves for a little while, at least. I've checked online the arrival time and the gate number she'll be coming in from, and I'm going to stand there waiting for her. Also, I've planned my trip to the airport and back with PTV Journey Planner. I got everything scheduled on my phone. It's very OCD of me, I know.

I should have gone to bed by now because I have to wake up early in the morning to get ready. But I'm too excited, like a kid having too much sugar. Guess I'll wait a bit.

Until next post. 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

It's Christmas Eve.

This is my second Christmas in Melbourne. Soon the year of 2014 will come to an end and we'll welcome the 2015. How fast time flies...

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick — even when you're home." -Carol Nelson

Holidays always make me feel homesick. I picture my little hometown in time like this. The street and houses must be filled with colorful, flashing lights. Christmas songs fill the air, bringing the smell of holiday. People are busy preparing for the festive season; decorating Christmas trees, cooking lots of food, making pastries, buying new clothes, pimp up their looks.

I remember, years ago, I would come home on school break, celebrating the Christmas and New Year with my family. Weeks before the holiday, my uncle, being a great cook he is, would be busy decorating the Christmas tree at our house, making pastries (some were for us, the others were for people's orders), and I would help him in the kitchen. On the 25th we would have an open house for most friends and relatives to come visit and have a meal. Mum would be busy attending the guests, while me and my brothers, well, we would be certainly busy eating all the food and drinking the soft drinks. When Grandma was still alive, she would slip a red envelope in my and my brothers' hands with some money in it. Angpao. Although, I knew she barely had money left and no matter how many times I refused to take it, she would always insist. You can save it for something useful, she would say.

Admittedly, I miss all those things. I miss it so badly that it hurts.

Christmas is slightly dull here. Maybe it's because I'm celebrating the holiday by myself. I mean, I have my friends and all here but it still feels different. The spirit is different, I just can tell. I don't have any plan for Christmas. I'd probably end up staying at home, cleaning my room and preparing for Q's arrival. Or maybe, I'd go to the city and visit Tab at work and have an impromptu Christmas celebration at her workplace. We'll see.

In spite of my dull Christmas, I'd like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love." -Ada V. Hendricks

 Until next post.

Nana's Graduation

Yesterday was Nana's graduation day. Along with the other 6,600 graduands, she celebrated the graduation held at Etihad Stadium. I was there as a Stage Marshal, being part of the ceremony staff and therefore I was able to celebrate the moment with her. Her parents couldn't make it to the ceremony but her godfather was there for her, too.

Having be able to complete her study of Master of Engineering in Telecommunication and Network Engineering (whatever it is), must be such an accomplishment for her. She's admitted the degree with distinction and that somehow makes me so proud of her. I really am happy for her. Although, at the same time I'm a little sad because starting next semester I wouldn't have my study buddy. We used to stay at the postgraduate lounge until late at night to study; me doing whatever it was that is related to accounting and her doing journals or assignment reports. There were days and even weekends we spent at the lounge to study. But granted, I still am happy and excited for her.

It was my first time attending a graduation ceremony. The ceremony was grandiose. Held at the biggest stadium in Australia, along with around 25,000 attendants that evening, I witnessed the unforgettable memory of all graduands and their families. It was such a colorful night, with red and white color lights dominated the ceremony (that's my university's colors). There was a moving main stage at the center of the field for PhD graduands, filled with bright lights. There were also 14 stages for Diploma, Bachelor and Master students, one for each discipline (I was stationed at Stage F) surrounding the main stage. The ceremony started with PhD graduands, Academics and the Chancellor entering the field, walking on a red carpet. Followed by speeches, recognitions -- where the graduands receive their testamurs -- and then an after party.

With all the glorious nuance, I couldn't help but feeling excited for them all. Although, I reckoned half of the graduands clearly have no idea of what they're going to do after graduate. But it was a night to celebrate after years of hardworking and suffering. I also bumped into some other friends and acquaintances who were graduating last night. After the ceremony, I was out of duty and fled to meet with Air and congratulate her. We took pictures and celebrated a bit. I was invited for a party with some other friends afterwards but I was exhausted and decided to go home.

I now know what to expect when my own graduation comes next year. There was a little thought of how amazing it would be if I could be one of the Honorable Doctorate graduands. I imagine how proud Mum would be of me, seeing her only daughter getting honored. I'd definitely dedicate my speech for her. Well, it's not totally impossible but it might takes a very, very long time. Master program itself is a really bumpy road already. I just can't wait to graduate. Yet, until then, I still have another year to go. Another semester to battle on.

Until next post.