This goodbye is long overdue.... I've been back in Singapore for a couple of months already, and have said my lasting goodbyes to staying in Sydney.
While the year lasted, life was good. I had scholarship money, parental support and best of all, obligations to no one. I only had to study, pay the rent on time and make sure I survive Sydney. But all that has come to an end.
I think now that I look back, perhaps I didn't grab the opportunities I had in Sydney as hard as I should have. I regret not taking the notion of studying honours more seriously, I regret not travelling more often, and I regret my 'lavish' lifestyle. But travelling and saving money is not exactly mutually exclusive non? If you travel, its nearly impossible to save.
But enough of regrets... I have had good times. I learnt more about myself, what I stand for, the culture in Australia, and I picked up better communication skills for all that. Some people say I've changed since being in Australia, but perhaps it's only a temporary change influenced by what I've seen, heard and experienced in another country across the ocean. Perhaps being back in Singapore will cause me, over time, to revert back to the Weiie of the old.
Perhaps, perhaps not. When I next meet my good friends, I should ask them if they think I've changed at all for my time in Australia. It will be an interesting session.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Weirdo? Me?
I think I'm anti- social, but tonight, I truly am. :D
I'm actually happy that nobody's around in the entire apartment! It's just me, my lappie and my current fav song playing on WMA.
It's actually 2am right now... and it feels great!
It's a true blessing to be alone... nothing to think about, nothing to worry about and listening only to music that you're currently into.
Bliss.... Utter bliss. Perhaps this explains my limited success in making new friends and boyfriends? LOL!
-dances to the music-
I'm actually happy that nobody's around in the entire apartment! It's just me, my lappie and my current fav song playing on WMA.
It's actually 2am right now... and it feels great!
It's a true blessing to be alone... nothing to think about, nothing to worry about and listening only to music that you're currently into.
Bliss.... Utter bliss. Perhaps this explains my limited success in making new friends and boyfriends? LOL!
-dances to the music-
Thursday, May 1, 2008
What a lovely day
I'm bored from researching breast cancer for a upcoming presentation, so I thought I'd just blog for a little while about how riding went yesterday.
The title probably gives it away, but riding was pretty fun yesterday. After 8 long lessons in 2months, 1 lesson per week, I have managed to get Bob moving at a good pace without struggling with him. Allow me to do a small dance of celebration here. -yay-
In the first few lessons, it always felt as though I was going nowhere, even if the instructor was yelling 'Get Bob moving! Come on Weiie, you can do it!' or 'Show him you mean it' (i.e. thump him harder). You know, when you first start to ride alone, it's pretty difficult to show/ tell the horse you want him to move on, because the horse is always smarter than you. I mean let's face it, he's been teaching beginners longer than you've been around. He doesn't give you more than what you're asking for, and if you don't mean what you're asking for, why should he work for you?
So anyway, yesterday was a good day. Perhaps it was the cold weather, perhaps it was because Bob was fresh, or perhaps I made a decision early that morning to get rid of all negative thoughts before I rode, or maybe it was because Gussy gave me the magic pink stick early on, whatever it was, it was a good lesson. Bob was more responsive to my legs, and I could get him going actively without much of a struggle. I didn't need to thump him, I could squeeze and he'll walk. And if he tried slowing down after 2 paces, legs on, and tadah... he walks better. What a big difference from 2 months ago weiie... 2 months ago, a squeeze wouldn't have gotten you anywhere!
I thought I rode better in the rising trot as well, because Bob was going so forward, I didn't need to rise higher in order to fit his rhythm. I could just rise small and easy, and give my legs a rest. When I realised how easy the rising trot seemed to come, it was great. Throughout the lesson, I could obviously control and change the speed of the trot. I squeezed once, and the transition happened from walk to small trot. When I wanted him to go faster, I managed to squeeze him into my hands to make him go foward more. It's a notion that you have to feel for yourself. I used to feel like even if I squeezed with all that I had, he wouldn't go forward for me, but yesterday, I just squeezed him into my hands... like squeezing a lemon of all the juice. And he went forward beautifully.
The thrill when that happened. Wow.
That's not all... I've managed to get into a canter for a few lessons already, but I still have problems getting into it, because the horse wasn't respecting my legs. Yesterday was the first time I got into a canter pretty ok, and the first time I worked to keep it. A Day of firsts. Awesome.
I know I still have a long way to go before achieving my goal of being able to ride all sorts of horses with a reasonable amount of skill, but this is the first step to my goal. It's good to be able to stand on this step, and look back and appreciate everything that has gone into this step.
Of course, I wouldn't have made it without the efforts of my wonderful instructors Gussy and Claire, nor without the good temper of Bob and Monty, who don't hold grudges even with an inept rider who hauls on their reins and gives confusing signals. I cannot say how much I attribute this step to everyone's patience and hard work. Thanks everyone, and every horse. :D You guys are the best.
The title probably gives it away, but riding was pretty fun yesterday. After 8 long lessons in 2months, 1 lesson per week, I have managed to get Bob moving at a good pace without struggling with him. Allow me to do a small dance of celebration here. -yay-
In the first few lessons, it always felt as though I was going nowhere, even if the instructor was yelling 'Get Bob moving! Come on Weiie, you can do it!' or 'Show him you mean it' (i.e. thump him harder). You know, when you first start to ride alone, it's pretty difficult to show/ tell the horse you want him to move on, because the horse is always smarter than you. I mean let's face it, he's been teaching beginners longer than you've been around. He doesn't give you more than what you're asking for, and if you don't mean what you're asking for, why should he work for you?
So anyway, yesterday was a good day. Perhaps it was the cold weather, perhaps it was because Bob was fresh, or perhaps I made a decision early that morning to get rid of all negative thoughts before I rode, or maybe it was because Gussy gave me the magic pink stick early on, whatever it was, it was a good lesson. Bob was more responsive to my legs, and I could get him going actively without much of a struggle. I didn't need to thump him, I could squeeze and he'll walk. And if he tried slowing down after 2 paces, legs on, and tadah... he walks better. What a big difference from 2 months ago weiie... 2 months ago, a squeeze wouldn't have gotten you anywhere!
I thought I rode better in the rising trot as well, because Bob was going so forward, I didn't need to rise higher in order to fit his rhythm. I could just rise small and easy, and give my legs a rest. When I realised how easy the rising trot seemed to come, it was great. Throughout the lesson, I could obviously control and change the speed of the trot. I squeezed once, and the transition happened from walk to small trot. When I wanted him to go faster, I managed to squeeze him into my hands to make him go foward more. It's a notion that you have to feel for yourself. I used to feel like even if I squeezed with all that I had, he wouldn't go forward for me, but yesterday, I just squeezed him into my hands... like squeezing a lemon of all the juice. And he went forward beautifully.
The thrill when that happened. Wow.
That's not all... I've managed to get into a canter for a few lessons already, but I still have problems getting into it, because the horse wasn't respecting my legs. Yesterday was the first time I got into a canter pretty ok, and the first time I worked to keep it. A Day of firsts. Awesome.
I know I still have a long way to go before achieving my goal of being able to ride all sorts of horses with a reasonable amount of skill, but this is the first step to my goal. It's good to be able to stand on this step, and look back and appreciate everything that has gone into this step.
Of course, I wouldn't have made it without the efforts of my wonderful instructors Gussy and Claire, nor without the good temper of Bob and Monty, who don't hold grudges even with an inept rider who hauls on their reins and gives confusing signals. I cannot say how much I attribute this step to everyone's patience and hard work. Thanks everyone, and every horse. :D You guys are the best.
Friday, March 28, 2008
After the long break....
After the long summer break, which was totally enjoyable, I have come back to Australia. I was really reluctant to leave Singapore, my family, my friends and my cats, and when it came time to board the plane, I felt like if someone offered to give me a device that could turn back time, I would use it without hesitation.
But time marches forward relentlessly and I had to board the plane to Australia, the land down under. When I touched down, Australia felt familiar. I didn't experience the displacement stress that I felt when I first arrived in this foreign place last year. Perhaps it was because the sight of the international airport in Sydney was so familiar to me already. But the familiar sight didn't lessen my longing for my bedroom at home, nor my nostalgia for my cats. I was already missing my Danny and Millie despite being less than 5 mins on Australian territory.
It's been 3 or 4 weeks now since I arrived again in Australia, and while this return home should have been less stressful for me, this past 3 weeks have seen me labouring under more stress than ever. I've split sesame oil on the carpet, and now it's stained quite badly... I've searched for 2 housemates within 2 weeks consecutively.... I've got tough school work... I've got a project to do... All these daily stresses seem just to pile up, and suddenly, I find that I'm not so resilient to these stresses anymore! I become paranoid, tired, and I worry endlessly. I worry about money, I worry about my schoolwork... Sometimes, these past 3 weeks seem like an endless round of worries.
There were times of enjoyment of course. Being a seasoned traveller in Sydney, this time round, I am more out-going. I have taken up riding lessons once a week, gone to the gym for cardio workouts and pilates classes, and have occasionally gone out to auburn to eat, and lounge at serene's pool when the sun is out. I've held a party at my apartment, dressed up, made a few friends, strengthened more than a few friendships, and at the moment, have my own room to quietly recuperate my strength and resilience.
Well, the surest thing to overcome worrying oneself to death over hassles is to decide on a plan of action, act on it, and well... Just to entrust the rest to God above! And in the meantime, to count my blessings, and make full use of my time in Australia.
I keep forgetting that I will never again have this chance to live in another city as I am doing right now. The path that I chose before, has led me here, and really, I ought to put it to full use!
God willing, I will make a life here that will be pleasing to Him.
But time marches forward relentlessly and I had to board the plane to Australia, the land down under. When I touched down, Australia felt familiar. I didn't experience the displacement stress that I felt when I first arrived in this foreign place last year. Perhaps it was because the sight of the international airport in Sydney was so familiar to me already. But the familiar sight didn't lessen my longing for my bedroom at home, nor my nostalgia for my cats. I was already missing my Danny and Millie despite being less than 5 mins on Australian territory.
It's been 3 or 4 weeks now since I arrived again in Australia, and while this return home should have been less stressful for me, this past 3 weeks have seen me labouring under more stress than ever. I've split sesame oil on the carpet, and now it's stained quite badly... I've searched for 2 housemates within 2 weeks consecutively.... I've got tough school work... I've got a project to do... All these daily stresses seem just to pile up, and suddenly, I find that I'm not so resilient to these stresses anymore! I become paranoid, tired, and I worry endlessly. I worry about money, I worry about my schoolwork... Sometimes, these past 3 weeks seem like an endless round of worries.
There were times of enjoyment of course. Being a seasoned traveller in Sydney, this time round, I am more out-going. I have taken up riding lessons once a week, gone to the gym for cardio workouts and pilates classes, and have occasionally gone out to auburn to eat, and lounge at serene's pool when the sun is out. I've held a party at my apartment, dressed up, made a few friends, strengthened more than a few friendships, and at the moment, have my own room to quietly recuperate my strength and resilience.
Well, the surest thing to overcome worrying oneself to death over hassles is to decide on a plan of action, act on it, and well... Just to entrust the rest to God above! And in the meantime, to count my blessings, and make full use of my time in Australia.
I keep forgetting that I will never again have this chance to live in another city as I am doing right now. The path that I chose before, has led me here, and really, I ought to put it to full use!
God willing, I will make a life here that will be pleasing to Him.
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