Japan Trip 2012

(2012 is coming to an end soon, but before it does, I want to conclude this very eventful and memorable year with a reflection on my last big adventure of the year. This is a long post because there is so much to be said, but then I'm mainly writing this for myself, in line with this blog's stated aim of preserving as best as I can those unique moments in space and time of my life. May 2013 be just as eventful, fulfilling and memorable as 2012!)

I visited Japan for the fourth time in my life this month. You’d think I’d be bored of Japan having visited several times before, but when my mother first proposed that she and I travel together to Japan for a 15 day holiday during my summer break, I readily and happily agreed. Japan is one of my favourite countries in the world so I’m always keen to visit every now and then.

I shall not give a detailed description of what I did and where I went for each and every day of my trip. That’ll be too long, and besides, that’s not the point of this blog entry. No, I want to talk about why I find Japan alluring enough to visit again and again, drawing mainly from my most recent adventures in Japan.

For my fourth trip, Mum and I covered 5 main places: we started in Kyoto, then went West to Hiroshima, back to the Kansai region to stay in Koyasan, followed by an Eastwards journey to Takayama and finally ending in Tokyo. Most of our time was in the Kansai region (where Koyasan and Kyoto are located).

Religion

Kinkakuji

Nightime illumination at Kodaiji

Rows and rows of toriis at Fushimi Inari Taisha, my favourite shrine among all that I have visited

Beautiful and intricate designs of the shrine in Fushimi Inari Taisha

Votive tablets at the Fushimi Inari Taisha

The famous torii outside the Itsukushima Shrine, in Miyajima

This trip to Japan was a pilgrimage of sorts. Mum and I visited many temples and shrines mainly while we were staying in the Kansai and Chugoku regions. My family isn't really religious; on census forms we usually declare ourselves free - thinkers. However, we do practice some Buddhism, such making a point to pray or burn incense at many of the shrines we visit. The main religion in Japan is Shinto, but we still visit and pray at many Shinto shrines in Japan since Shinto and Buddism in Japan overlap substantially. I enjoy these visits very much because I find the rituals to be followed fascinating: first the washing up done at the purification fountains, then stepping from the realm of the profane into the sacred space of the shrine grounds, clasping my hands in prayer before the deity (sometimes bowing, clapping and ringing a bell as well) and silently articulating my hopes and dreams. The visits sometimes conclude with buying some amulets or shrines at the shrine shops. Next semester being a very important one for me, I bought a few to guide me as I continue to chase my dreams in the year ahead.

The highlight of our "pilgrimage" was our three day two night stay in Koyasan, a sacred mountain in Wakayama prefecture, Kansai region. We lodged at a lovely Buddhist temple during our visit, which was a first time for both of us. We enjoyed very much the peacefulness of the rural and rather difficult to access Koyasan village our temple was located in, as well as the peacefulness of our temple itself (we came during off - peak season so there were very few other guests). A thoroughly unforgetable Zen experience!

Food

Yudofu at Sosoan, a restaurant specializing in soy and tofu located near the Philosopher's Path. Kyoto is known for its excellent tofu.

An array of stewed goodies at the famous Nishiki market in Kyoto. This colourful and vibrant market is a foodie's paradise, and one of my favourite places visited.

Green tea desserts at the cafe of the famous Nakamura Tokichi, a green tea merchant and confectionist based in Uji. Uji, located outside Kyoto, is famous in Japan for its premium quality green tea.

This is one of my favourite meals this trip, called anago meshi (broiled conger eel on rice), a specialty of Miyajima. Anago meshi can be eaten piping hot straight from the kitchen or room temperature in a bento, but I prefer the former.

Maple leaf shaped deep - fried fish cakes sold near Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima. The maple leaf motif is pretty common in the Hiroshima Prefecture.

Another favourite meal, shojin ryori at the temple we stayed in Koyasan. Shojin Ryori is a Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, but while it may be entirely meat free, it is really pretty, delicious and healthy!

Breakfast at the lovely temple in Koyasan we stayed in, shojin ryori style.

Breakfast with grilled hoba miso (on leaf) on the side, in Takayama. Hoba miso is a specialty of the Takayama region, and it is so good with rice and grilled fish!

Hot - of - the - grill Mitarashi Dango is a popular street snack in Takayama.

The prettiest (and most expensive bento) I consumed this trip, eaten along the train journey from Takayama to Tokyo. It was a very well - balanced meal with great variety, but the only fault was that the brown rice on the bottom right corner was a little too salty. On the whole, though, it was a pleasant meal.

Awazenzai (red bean paste with millet), a specialty dessert from Umezono, a popular dessert shop near the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. I still don't know what those peppery tasting seeds in the little blue container is, but it helps to cut through the richness of the awa and zenzai mixture! Perfect!



 I believe that the easiest (and possibly the most fun way) to immerse oneself into a new culture is to have a taste of the local cuisine. Japanese cuisine is popular worldwide and I'm a big fan myself. Some may argue that Japanese food is bland compared to other cuisines such as Indian and Thai with their bold flavours, but the beauty of Japanese food is precisely this keeping of flavours simple. Often, with just a little of the right seasoning, the Japanese can make the flavours of meat, vegetables and seafood shine. Less is certainly more. Other reasons why I like Japanese food is that it is (generally) healthy and the presentation is often beautiful even for takeaway bentos at the train station.

 This trip to Japan, I decided to go beyond the familiar Japanese foods such as teriyaki, katsudon and karaage and focus more on regional specialities. Most of the food featured above are therefore unfamiliar to many including myself before I arrived in Japan. It was great fun eating my way around Japan! Markets are some of my favourite places as they offer an array of delicious street food that can be eaten on the go or plates of food to sample as one explores. Some regional foods I didn't like much, such as Onomichi  - style ramen, which came with cubes of lard on top on the soup noodles ( talk about a heart attack waiting to happen!). My Mum and I also found Takayama - style ramen too simple as compared to more famous ramen varieties such as Hakata's Tonkotsu ramen and Hokkaido's miso ramen (which is our favourite ramen of all). Nevertheless, the fun was really in trying out as much as you can, and discovering what you liked and didn't like so it didn't matter that some dishes failed to impress. My favourite cuisines this trip come from the Kansai region, specifically Kyoto, the regions surrounding Kyoto and Koyasan. Simple yet elegant and delicious, they capture the essence of Japanese cusine so well.

 Nature

Beautiful autumn leaves in Uji

Wild purple flowers in Inari

A rainbow appeared over the snowy mountains in Shirakawa - go

An aerial view of Mt Fuji, seen while flying back home to Singapore from Japan



The road to Okunoin in Koyasan, lined with tall trees (Cedar, I think)

Anyone ever noticed that many Japanese surnames and place names reflect nature? E.g. The 'yama' (mountain) in Yamamoto and Okayama, 'kawa' (river) in Kawasaki and Shirakawa - go, 'matsu' (pine tree) in Matsumoto, 'mizu' (water) in Mizuno, 'aki' (autumn) in Akihabara and Akiko and many more. The importance of nature is related to the significant role the Shinto religion/ spirituality plays in Japanese culture, as Shinto emphasizes respect of nature.

I was therefore unsurprised to observe that the Japanese appreciate nature more than many other cultures do. Why else would they travel just to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Spring and the maple leaves change colour in Autumn? I, too, enjoy revelling in the beauty of nature. One of my best memories from this trip is the walk through the huge cemetery outside Okunoin in Koyasan, weaving our way through graves, memorials, small shrines and towering ancient trees. Melting snow from the leaves and branches above dripped gently upon us like a shower of rain, and shimmered in the sunlight that pierced through the canopy. So beautiful, so Zen.

(Pop) Culture

Hyouka poster commonly seen around Takayama, the town this anime was based on. I liked this poster so much I went around asking many people where I could buy it, and was directed to the strangest of places (folk art gallery? pharmacist?). In the end, it turned out that this was an official tourism poster not available for sale, so I made do with purchasing another really nice Hyouka poster at a toy shop. I've now been inspired to watch the Hyouka anime!

Giant anime ads at Akihanara, Tokyo, the mecca of electronic gadgets and all things anime and manga!

Little boy playing with the water pump at the Ghibli Musuem, Mitaka, Tokyo

 When one thinks of Japanese culture, pop culture usually comes to mind. Japanese pop culture, particularly anime and manga, are very popular worldwide. Being a big fan myself, I always make it a point to stop by any shop I come across specializing in anime and manga merchandise whenever I come to Japan because of the sheer variety many of these shops offer. And if I happen to be in Tokyo, a short visit to Akihabara, that mecca of all things Japanese pop culture, is mandatory.

For this month's trip, I finally made my "pilgrimage" to the Ghibli Musuem in Mitaka, Tokyo! This museum has got to be one of my favourite musuems I ever visited. It has the same magical feel you get from watching the beautiful Ghibli films. Mum and I arrived on a weekday morning before 10am, thinking that it wouldn't be very crowded because it was, well, a weekday morning before 10am. How wrong we were. When we finally arrived at the musuem, there was a massive crowd waiting to enter, consisting mainly of international visitors like ourselves and locals. That crowd was a testament to the immense popularity of Ghibli films, which evidently cut across age and national boundaries. We all entered the musuem full of excitement, were collectively wowed by the very well - thought exhibitions (pity, though, that all the explanations were in Japanese!) and left with bags of lovely Ghibli souvenirs.

 Conclusion on My Experiences in Japan

One of my favourite pictures taken this trip - a man selling Battledores at the year - end Hagoita - Ichi fair at Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo.

Rural mountain villages and bustling big cities. Traditional sho - tengai markets and glitzy malls. A pilgrimage of sorts to various temples and shrines and a pilgrimage of a different kind to the Ghibli museum. Not to mention eating my way through a diversity of regional Japanese cuisines. This may be my fourth trip to Japan, but never once did I feel bored, for there is a huge wealth of experiences to discover and rediscover in Japan.

Japan is definietly beautiful in the many ways I have described earlier, but what made all my trips to Japan truly beautiful was the hospitality and kindness of the local people. Truth to be told, before I arrived, I was a little worried about being discriminated in Japan. Japan is notorious for being an insular country where a clear distinction is made between locals and foreigners, so I was mentally prepared that people would not waste too much time on foreigners like myself. How wrong I was! There have been many occsaions of locals trying their best to help when approached, and service staff offering excellent service to the point of going the extra mile. I felt truly welcomed in Japan. At the end of my trip I realized that a meaningful and positive cross - cultural encounter is when both parties approach each other with an open - mind. For the part of tourists, it helps immensely to show that one is genuinely interestested and curious about the local culture. My own spoken Japanese is basic but I found that simply trying to speak the local language and being interested worked wonderfully well to break down barriers. "Doko kara kimashita  ka (Where are you from)?" " Shingapooru kara kimashita! (I'm from Singapore!)" "Aa, Shingapooru... (Ah! Singapore...)" Smiles are exchanged and a mutual understanding is reached.

Japan in the international news is usually not so positive: frequent changing of prime ministers, rapidly aging population, the aftermath of last year's earthquake and tsunami, gender inequality etc. All these are no doubt very real, but I never got such a depressing sense whenever I visited, simply because there was so much beauty around me to discover and rediscover. Japan will always be one of my favourite countries to visit. Sayonara, for now, I will surely be back again to visit when I can!

...... and there goes half my Honours year

To think that my last post (yes, it was quite a while ago!) was on graduation and embarking on my Honours programme!

Last Friday was the last day of lessons. For majority of my fellow UQ schoolmates, this week is study break and the coming Saturday would mark the start of the exam period. Not so for me. I submitted my final assignment for the coursework I did this semester on Wednesday, and went for my last day of coursework class on Friday. Honours students in my School don't have to do exams (thank goodness, I've done enough exams to last a lifetime!), so while most of my schoolmates are busy studying hard for their upcoming exams now, I've been indulging in some much-deserved relaxation over the past few days.

That's the thing about being an Honours student and not an undergraduate any more: your academic schedule is pretty different. This was one aspect of Honours that I found a little difficult to adjust to when I first started in July this year. My academic schedule is also different in the sense that I do a lot more independent study. The main feature of the Honours programme is the thesis, which I begin working on from the start of my programme and submit about a year later. Save for the occasional feedback sessions on thesis writing organized by my school, the thesis writing process is driven by me. It is up to me to decide how much time and commitment I want to put into my thesis, how often I want to work on it, seek advice and help if needed, what I want to write about, do my own research etc. Aside from writing my thesis, I also have to do two compulsory Honours courseworks, one for each semester. The coursework takes up about 2 hours of my week, which means the rest of the week is entirely up to me to decide how to spend it. This was pretty new to me at the beginning, because for all my life I was used to having lessons planned for me to attend most weekdays. Now, I am "my own boss", as my thesis supervisor likes to tell me.

Oh well, now that half my Honours programme has been completed, I'm pretty used to this kind of independent study. I also think more like an Honours student, in the sense that I am aware of the wider debates and contexts of my discipline. All thanks to the compulsory course I had to do this semester, which is concerned with the Philosophy of the Social Sciences. It's mind-bogglingly deep, complex and challenging, and occasionally a source of frustration because I was never good with philosophical and abstract concepts to begin with. At the end of it, however, I was proud to be able to go up to my lecturer and tell him that though I still did not understand the nuances and details of some of the debates we learnt about, I did understand the gist of the course as a whole and could see how it was relevant and useful to  myself as an Honours student and the thesis I am working on.

All that's left for now is to focus on my Honours thesis this summer holidays. I have not yet started the 17 000 word journey actually (yep, that's how long my thesis is supposed to be!), because I first had to submit a detailed Statement of Intent and get feedback on it. I've got my feedback already and my supervisor reckons that I'm ready to begin writing. Now if I could just muster the willpower to get started and stop myself from sinking too deeply into the holiday mood ......

Graduation

20th July will be one of those days in my life that I look back upon with immense pride and fondness. It was the day of my graduation, a day that marked a closing of one highly memorable chapter of my life and the start of a new phase that promises to be just as exciting.



The day was highly charged with a mix of emotions. I woke up that morning all excited, nervous and determined to look perfect on my big day. Two hours of fussing over my hair, makeup and clothes later, I was on my way to university accompanied by my parents, looking just as gorgeous and grown-up as I wanted. The first thing I had to do when I arrived was to collect my academic gown, trencher and the pearl-white hood all graduating undergraduates wear. I swear, when I put the full regalia on, I felt utterly transformed. It's hard to describe, but I felt like I had indeed become the mature and confident young woman ready to take on the world that I always aspired to be. The nervousness about going onstage or making embarrassing mistakes was replaced by a cool confidence and fierce pride in myself.


The hours before the ceremony were spent taking many photos of myself and myself with my parents in various parts of the school. It was, most thankfully, a beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky, perfect for photo-taking. We had fun taking photos, but there was an underlying anxiousness about being there in time at the designated venue for the big ceremony, so we reported half an hour early. My parents and two friends who I invited to attend my graduation then left to find seats in the hall and I went to join my fellow graduates.



We graduates were the stars of the day. We entered the hall in a long procession, and the audience erupted in cheers and flashes of camera lights. So this is what it feels like to be a celebrity, I thought to myself. An opening speech was made, the first batch of students went up to receive their scrolls, the valedictorian gave a speech, the presentation of scrolls resumed and all too soon, it was my turn. This is it, I told myself as I watched by the side of the stage as the person before me received her scroll. Some of the nervousness I felt in the morning returned, but before I knew it, I was walking across the stage towards the Chancellor upon hearing my name being called. We smiled, shook hands, and I received my scroll with both hands and thanks. My moment in the spotlight was over in less than a minute. I then proceeded to a desk at the back of the hall to collect the remaining documents, which included my academic transcript and certificate. On my way back to my seat, I caught sight of my parents and friends smiling and taking photos of me. I beamed and stopped for a moment to show them my scroll and documents. The ceremony ended with a speech by the guest-of-honour, an alumni member. His speech, which was basically about how success is a journey and not a destination, struck a chord in me the most. I could not help but shed a few tears. The graduates then left the hall in a procession, this time with the precious rewards of all those years of studying and learning clutched in our hands. By then, I was overwhelmed with rapture.



I didn't want to remove my full academic regalia. The gown, trencher and hood were all markers of my new status as a graduate, and I felt so mature and sure of myself when I had them on. I spent a long time after the ceremony taking as many photos with my friends and parents as I could, while I was still able to keep on my full academic regalia . I did crazy and playful poses, looked serious for the more formal shots, tossed my trencher into the air and caught it, and reveled in the festivity and joy of that very special day. All too soon, I had to take off my full academic regalia and return it. For a moment, it seemed like the magic of the day had faded a bit. Then my parents suggested we head to a popular cafe in my favourite suburb for an afternoon tea celebration, a suggestion that was well-received.



As we made our way to the cafe, the words from one my favourite songs, 'We Are Young' by the American band Fun and featuring Janelle Monáe, entered my mind:

"Tonight,
we are young.
So let's set the world on fire,
we can burn brighter
than the sun."

Yes, on my graduation day, a fire was lit in me and I shone brightly from within. I am now on the verge of starting a new chapter in my life, my Honours year, and may those flames of passion, pride and confidence continue to burn fiercely from within and propel me through the rest of my life.

Living in Brisbane

My parents will be visiting really soon, for the main purpose of attending my graduation (see previous post), but while they are here in Brisbane I do intend to show them around. A number of fellow international students studying in Brisbane have remarked that Brisbane is a boring place to live in. Well, I guess it's true in the sense that Brisbane, being only the third largest city in Australia, does not have the big city vibes and excitement that can be found in Sydney and Melbourne, which are probably the two best-known and popular Australian cities. Indeed, when I visited Melbourne with a couple of friends recently, I could sense a difference in the 'feel' of the two cities. Melbourne was bigger, more crowded and more urbanized. My visit to Melbourne was a very memorable and enjoyable one, but I did also find myself being glad to be back in Brisbane and missing good 'ol Brissie.

I for one do like to live in Brisbane. What I like best about Brisbane is that it has a good balance of the urban and the country. That is, Brisbane has a thriving city centre and financial heart, but there isn't an atmosphere of stress and fast-paced living that you often find in many other major cities around the world. People are generally laid back and know how to achieve work-life balance. Also, beyond the city centre, the various suburbs and neighbourhoods have a nice, peaceful community feel to them.

As for the criticism that Brisbane is boring, my response will be that interesting activities and lifestyles don't fall from the sky onto your laps. There are interesting things to see and do in Brisbane, you just have got to look out for them, sometimes by going off the beaten track. Notging ventured, nothing gained. I also think that any city or country will eventually get boring, especially if you finish all the must-sees and must-dos promoted by tourism campaigns. The next stage would then be to immerse yourself in the local life and learn to appreciate local culture.

I do have my favourite hangouts in Brisbane, particularly the suburbs of West End and Fortitute Valley. At the same time, I enjoy discovering new places to hang out, the most recent being the suburb of Paddington, which has many excellent cafes and is a good place to go for vintage shopping. A favourite activity of mine is to go out for a delicious weekend breakfast, which seems to be a popular thing to do among locals, aside from going to the pubs and clubs for a drink and watching a footy match. When my parents visit later this week, I am definitely going to show them Brisbane as I know and enjoy it, and hopefully they'll fall in love with this great city too.

June holidays!

Now that I'm completely done with my Bachelor degree, I've been soaking up the sweet, sweet freedom the June holidays bring by chilling out as much as I could.

First, some updates on myself: I will be graduating next week (gasp! so soon!) and am gearing up for the big day. My parents will be coming over from Singapore to be present on this special occasion. Unfortunately, my younger bro is unable to come as he is busy with schoolwork. After graduation, my Honours programme will begin! Yes, I have been informed that I met all the requirements to do my Honours and am looking forward to getting started :D

Meanwhile, I have been enjoying my precious free time as much as I can. Unlike previous holidays, I did not go back to Singapore to visit this time as I felt that it will be better to stay behind to settle the various Honours application stuff. Also, a few good friends of mine are graduating and returning to their home countries for good, and I wanted to spend time with them since we may not meet again. There's not a whole lot to do in Brisbane so I've given myself little projects to do over the holiday. My aim is to pursue my hobbies as much as I can now that I have free time, as I know the Honours programme is going to be a busy one. So far, I've completed Book 1 (Game of Thrones) of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Game of Thrones TV season 1, made Chinese steamed bao and pounded a new batch of Thai green curry paste, kept in touch with some people important to me, caught up with good pals of mine, ate at my favourite eateries and discovered new favourites, did some shopping, resumed manga-drawing and finally got a chance to travel to Melbourne! Yep, life is good, really good!

Keep an eye out for more posts, I'm hoping to blog more about my life in Brisbane :D

Shake it out, shake it out ...

Someday, if I ever get to meet the amazing Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, I want to thank her for her song 'Shake It Out'. It's one of the most powerful and moving songs ever, and it's basically about shaking out your fears, letting go of your regrets and bravely embracing a new beginning. The song has helped tide me through many dark days of fear, uncertainty and self-doubt.The lyrics (especially the lines "It's always darkest before the dawn" and "It's hard to dance with the devil on your back") and Welch's powerful vocals somehow help to soothe my emotions and make me feel braver.

I began the morning of a brand new week by playing this song aloud on my laptop. This week is significant, because I've two final exams, probably my last school exams ever for the rest of my life. As mentioned in the previous post, I'm applying for my Honours degree, which I hope to begin next semester. These two final exams will count towards my overall grades, which my Faculty will use to assess my final Honours application, so I'm determined to do my best. I've prepared as much as I could for these two exams already, but every now and then I still find myself panicking about them. As always, 'Shake It Out' reminds me to let go of my anxieties and just embrace the exams without fear.

Do have a listen to the video above (lyrics are included). I find that this song resonates most powerfully when played loud while your eyes are closed. 'Shake It Out' is definitely one of my favourite songs and I have a feeling I will continue listening to it for comfort and strength for a long time.

Have a great week everyone, and wish me luck!

Soliloquy on the end of school

Well, it's not exactly the end yet. I still have exams in a couple of weeks' time. Also, should all go well with my Honours application (I sincerely hope so!), I will be commencing my Honours year the following semester. But it is officially the end of lessons here at UQ, and until I receive an official letter from my Faculty confirming my successful Honours application, I can only assume that the 'student' chapter of my life is coming to an end.

Lessons officially ended last week, but till now my mind is still a whirl of thoughts and feelings about The End. I mean, I have been a student nearly all my life, beginning when I first started nursery and till now at the end of my undergraduate studies. While I do have some working and internship experiences, being a student is the only real job I have ever done all these years. So now that I am on the cusp of entering the real working world, I can't help but feel a mix of sadness, nostalgia, fear and excitement.

My Mum likes to tell me that being a student is the best time of one's life. That's because for all the stress homework, exams and tecahers give, coupled with the trials and tribulations that come with growing up, a student's life is still a shelthered one. Most students will depend on their parents to varying degrees for financial support, for one thing. Also, when you're young, people are more forgiving when you make mistakes. Once you become a full-time working adult, there're more responsibilities to take on and expectations of you are raised a notch. For perhaps the first time, you are truly on your own when it comes to supporting yourself.

For me, I feel the pressures of finding a job after I graduate more and more. It just doesn't help that the International Labour Organization recently warned that youth unemployment has become a serious issue worldwide since the Global Financial Crisis. I fear that I too might be one of those millions of qualified, educated but frustrated young people who either cannot find a job or end up being under-employed. The unemployment situation in Singapore isn't as bad as in Europe and USA, but with increased immigration of late the competition for local jobs have intensified. Ideally, I would like to get a job here in Australia as I feel Australia has more opportunities for my areas of study, but so many other international students also want to find a job here, which means greater competition for the permanent residency needed to apply for most Australian jobs. Probing deeper into my fears, I think I am basically afraid of leaving the comfort of student life and entering the uncertain, fast-changing territory of the working world.

I do have my dreams and aspirations, which I have been working very hard to achieve, but in the face of the unknown, there is no guarantees that they will definitely be attained. But I take comfort in the fact that at the end of student life, I have no regrets. I fought for and got to study the subjects I was interested in, my passion for my two main fields of study at university has been nurtured greatly and I have had the privilege of attending wonderful schools and learning under knowledgeable academics. Student life has been stressful, no doubt, but it had also been fun, fulfilling and comforting. I wish I had appreciated this more earlier.

Special mention must go to my University, for it was here at the University of Queensland that I really and truly blossomed academically and as a student. Until I joined UQ, I had only been an average student in Singapore. I worked hard in my studies, but so did everyone else, as that was how you survive the highly competitive education system in Singapore. I did manage to attend a couple of prestigious and popular schools in Singapore, but I wasn't one of their alumni who left with stellar grades and would be featured as 'high-achievers' in school magazines. I never had stellar grades in Singapore. I couldn't even get into the Faculty of Arts of the National University of Singapore because it was so competitive and my 'A' level grades were just decent. All this changed when I was accepted into UQ. At first, I had a big academic culture shock when I started university as the environment, responsibilities and expectations of university students were quite different from what I was used to in Singapore. It took me a few months to get used to everything and settle down. After that initial difficulty, though, everything was mostly smooth-sailing to my surprise. At the end of my first year, I received a Dean's Commendation from the Faculty of Arts. Subsequently, I have received a Dean's Commendation for nearly every semester except the first semester of last year when I went on exchange to the UK. In addition, I managed to go on exchange to the University of Leeds last year and I recently completed an internship at a public sector organization here in Brisbane. I'm still surprised that I achieved so much here as compared to my student days in Singapore, but I believe I can attribute my success to the academic environment of UQ. There is more academic freedom in UQ,  exams are not the be-all and end-all as is often the case with education in Singapore and I got to learn under many academics who are passionate about their areas of expertise. I also received a lot of social, emotional and academic support here at UQ (and from my wonderful parents back home), without which I am sure I would not have achieved as much as I have today.

This is why I so badly want to do my Honours year the following semester. I love studying in UQ, and I have an area of interest I want to pursue more deeply in an Honours thesis. And having studied abroad in two countries, I realize that the world is such a vast place that is uncertain and ever-changing but where there are still opportunities that await. Singapore will always be home to me, but as I have said before in this blog, Singapore is small in more than just the literal sense.

But maybe I need not fear so much what the future brings, for I do have rich and fulfilling school experiences (especially the ones I had in UQ) to speak of that would no doubt be of use when I finally start working. I cannot say with certainty what will happen in the future for me, but no matter what job I take on or wherever in the world I end up working, I have these precious student experiences that have greatly shaped me to become who I am today.

No matter what happens in the future, no one or nothing can ever take away the things I experienced, learned and loved during my student days for they are all in my heart and mind now.

Thank goodness for the mid-semester break!

Because I really needed it, and really deserved it.

If you were wondering about the lack of posts in March, it's because that month was a CRAZY one. One assignment after another, and an internship to juggle with as well. Honestly, I have never been so busy and so stressed out since the times I took my 'O' Levels and 'A' Levels in Singapore. This is without a doubt the busiest semester of my entire undergraduate life (the most relaxed being my study abroad at the University of Leeds). I deserve a medal, for surviving March without falling sick once, though I did nearly go nuts from the stress.

Enough about Mad March now. You can imagine how relieved I was when the mid-semester break finally commenced. Needless to say, I used that precious one week break to chill out as much as I could. I met up with friends I haven't seen for ages, watched The Hunger Games with my housemates, pounded a batch of green curry paste and made an authentic and very flavourful Thai green curry with my neighbours (did I mention that I love cooking?), explored a suburb I have been wanting to visit for so long, shopped, ate out at new eateries and rediscovered old favourite eating spots and resumed reading my Game of Thrones novel. Not bad at all for one week, though there were some things I wanted to do but didn't have time for, like starting a new anime series (last one I watched was, like, a year ago). I did study and do academic work during the holidays of course, but a significant chunk of my holiday was spent recuperating from the madness of March and doing things that I have been putting off for so long because I was too busy.

The second half of semester started on Monday, and already I'm feeling somewhat drained. Yesterday and today was spent completing a good chunk of the admin work needed to apply for my Honours year next semester. This month is pretty relaxed as compared to March actually, because I only have one big assignment due. That's great, because I could finally get started on my Honours application. There's also my birthday to look forward to sometime in end April and I can't wait to take a whole day off on that special day :D

I survived March. If I can do that, and if what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger, then I will surely be able to conquer what remains of April and the major assignment deadlines May will bring.

Here I go!

Japan, one year on

Today, exactly one year ago, a terrible 9.0 Magnitude earthquake struck North-East Japan. The earthquake was so powerful, it caused a tsunami that swept away whole costal towns and triggered a nuclear crisis when several nuclear power stations broke down. This was not merely a tragedy, but in fact a trio of tragedies, which gripped many people all over the world in the weeks that followed.

I still remember clearly the moment when I first heard the news of the disasters. I was doing my exchange studies in Leeds at that time, and that day, I visited the blog of a Japanese lady who lives in Perth. Her latest post was about a major earthquake in Japan and in her writing, she seemed shaken. However, I did not realize just how serious the earthquake was until I visited the BBC website and saw terrifying reports and pictures of the destruction. Shocked, I immediately logged on to Facebook and visited the Facebook profiles of every single Japanese friend I had. It seemed I was not the only one to turn to Facebook, many other people had flooded my friends' Facebook walls with questions like 'Are you ok?' and 'Where are you?'. All my Japanese friends had replied to say that they and their families were fine. I then checked the Youtube channel of a Japanese cook I had been following closely for about a year (in case you want to know, it's 'Cooking with Dog'). The cook, the narrator and their dog were fine as well. I was so relieved to learn that every one I know was alive and well that I cried.

In the weeks that followed the disasters, there was a outpouring of grief and support from all over the world. I was touched to see so many people of so many nationalities stand by the Japanese people in the aftermath of the tragedies. There were all sorts of innovative donation drives, from the selling of bento equipment on eBay by food bloggers to the publishing of a cookbook to raise funds to the folding of paper cranes. For my part, I was one of the many people who donated to the disaster relief.  What happened in Japan made me particularly upset, not only because I have friends there, but also because I had visited the country three times (and am more than willing to do so again) and am quite fond of Japanese culture. I also took part in a fund-raising activity organized by the International Student Office in my university, which involved the folding of a thousand paper cranes (supposed to make wishes come true, according to Japanese belief). Many people turned up to help, and we exceeded the target. All donations and the paper cranes were then sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

One year on, there has been recovery in many respects but some say that the pace of recovery is too slow. There is one thing that I am sure almost everyone will agree with, however: the strength, will to survive and cohesion displayed by the Japanese people, even in the face of disasters of catastrophic proportions. I believe this strong kizuna (meaning 'bond') demonstrated by the Japanese nation as a whole was what moved so many around the world to contribute so generously to recovery efforts. Today, I dedicate the beautiful and uplifting song 'Fields of Hope', sung by Lacus Clyne (Rie Tanaka) in the Gundam Seed Destiny anime, to the Japanese people.

The world is still with you, Japan.

Gambatte.

Third year, second semester

This semester is the second semester of my third year. It is also the final semester of my undergraduate degree.

I am astounded at how time seems to have flown by in a flash. It really did not seem so long ago, only in 2009 in fact, when I first entered university in Australia. Two years were spent here in Brisbane, one semester in Leeds and now I am embarking on the last phase of my undergraduate journey. A friend recently asked if I looked forward to graduating. I admitted that I felt more sad than excited because graduation would mark the end of my undergraduate life, a life that I only began to settle comfortably into not too long ago. It has been a life of joy and discovery, save the occasional setback and difficulty, and I am sad to think university life might come to an end. There is also the prospect that, having graduated, I might have to leave Australia to go back to Singapore.

I probably won't be returning so soon, however. After my undergraduate studies, I firmly intend to embark upon my Honours year. It is both my parents' and my wish. I want to do my Honours badly, because it would give my degree that extra edge and it means that I can study in Brisbane one year longer. After my Honours, I'll look for a job in Australia or the Asia-Pacific region.

You may wonder why I seem so reluctant to go back to Singapore. It's not that I dislike Singapore; Singapore is deeply sentimental to me as the country where I was born and raised most of my life, where friends and family are and where good and cheap Singaporean food can be found. Yet, having travelled quite a bit and having lived in two countries already, I realize that the world out there is vast and many opportunities beckon. Singapore is small, not just in the geographical sense, but also in the sense that the local politics and social culture can be quite stiffling and constrained. Fellow Singaporeans would know exactly what I mean and I think many would concur. Singapore, I have come to realize, is too small for my dreams.


No, I won't be returning so soon. The greater world beckons and I am drawn to it. I will work hard towards my dreams and be the best that I could ever be. Second semester of my third year, watch me now.

Leap Day!

Today is 29th February, a Leap Day!

Happy Chinese New Year!

新年快乐!

Today is 初一, the first day of the Chinese New Year festive period.

This Chinese New Year is special for me because it is my first Chinese New Year spent at home in Singapore with my family in 2 years. In 2009, I missed Chinese New Year because it happened a bit later in the year and I couldn't celebrate it as I had to return to uni in Australia. Last Chinese New Year happened while I was on exchange in Leeds, so again, I had to celebrate on my own (by preparing a steamboat reunion dinner all by myself and taking a day off the next day). This year, Chinese New Year is pretty early, and it so happens that I'm in Singapore to celebrate it! It feels great to be invloved in the Chinese New Year preparations, eating the reunion dinner with my family the night before the New Year, visiting my relatives' houses on 初一 and eating New Year goodies while chatting with everyone.

Since Chinese New Year is celebrated by the majority of Singaporeans, today and tomorrow are public holidays (if only all 15 days of the Lunar New Year period were public holidays...). My family's done with visiting already, so for tomorrow we will most likely be going to see the New Year flower exhibition in Sentosa island.

Here's to a wonderful Year of the Dragon! 恭喜发财，万事如意!

Happy 2012!

My first post to mark the start of a brand new year :) Happy new year everyone, and here's to an awesome and memorable 2012!