i had my first philosophy tutorial class today at 9AM, and i was 20min early for class
i drove along the stretch of clementi road to school at 830AM, vigorously weaving in between cars thinking i was running late, fervently praying that traffic would not negate my wish to make a good first impression in class
but it was only at one of the stoplights nearest to NUS that i realized i had reached school in less than 10min, a feat that would have been nearly impossible just last year
for anyone unfortunate enough to require the perusal of clementi road in the peak hour mornings to work/school, they would know that traffic there is BRUTAL - it simply does not move; always had for the past 10,000 years.

WHAT happened to all those cars with incessant honking and drivers cursing below their breaths?!

dont get me wrong, i am delightfully relieved that the traffic has somehow evaporated.
but at the same time, the severity of this economic downturn finally struck me hard.
i read it in the newspapers (be it in Singapore or the USA) a lot - about retrenchment, the slowing of GDP growths, the worrisome fall of major financial banks, etc, but i havent really felt the impact of such, being sheltered within my safety bubble of ongoing tertiary education and a family that shields me from the rippling effects of recession
there have been talks of job credit schemes being able to alleviate the crisis, but perhaps Singapore has not been spared from the global job loss trend as our leaders claim.

i cant do anything about the situation; i dont think any single individual can.
but it definitely makes me feel more appreciative and thankful of what i have
i probably cant understand fully the worries and problems of a retrenched, but i will definitely pray - for faith, love and motivation.

on looking back

mac said something that rang my nostalgic bell this afternoon
and as it follows, i went to my blog, and re-read entries dating back to 2005, and remembered why it is that i still have this blog in the first place
this portal encompasses the bits and pieces in my life - things i'd like to remember, for good or bad, so i can look back and witness my own growth and changes within myself
its like a scatterplot of points in my life; one that i can finally plot a line through to see the ups and downs, and unveil the journey that i have taken
i write today, so that one day i can return to this exact page, and be in the moment that i am now, remember the thoughts that i held, and relive this time.
i write today, so that i may give thanks and be appreciative of what i have or had
i write today, because i want memories to last forever

-

on writing, i've completed a 13-page research paper on the evolution of prehistoric art ytd
its a paper written for my UCLA anthro class, for the credits that i've yet to attain
although it wasnt easy writing this paper (esp since i left my textbook back in UCLA), it was prolly one of the most enjoyable, and best paper i've written
the topic was engaging and interesting; i actually felt like i was learning while writing that paper

on school, i actually have a 3.5 day week this semester
its pretty amazing, the turn of events
i screwed up my CORS bidding because of garmisch's lack of internet in germany, but i ended up with one of the best term schedules i've ever gotten in my entire NUS education
God does have a way of working things out in the least expected manner or time

i am twenty-two

it's my birthday again today - it seems like ytd that i had my 21st birthday celebration
there's so much to be thankful this year; for the things that have passed, and the things to come.
2008 was a blast; so many new experiences, new friendships, and new journeys
even the end was a culmination of the new and interesting - i set off fireworks for the first time in my life in germany! that was exciting
and 2009 was kickstarted with ski thrills and family bonding, elements i hope will last through this year and more (:

this birthday has been really simply - plans were made, but plans were foiled
by sickness, by some miscalculations.. but in the end, the time spent was well worth it, and also alot more meaningful (:
i came back to singapore, and to my life, feeling rather apprehensive of how things were going to be like
it felt like i forgot how it was to have a life here, after i've delicately built up the life overseas
but i realized, esp today, that i've worried for nothing, because amidst all the changes and times, everything back home has been the same old, same old
and i'm so thankful for that.

i return back to school @ NUS tmr, its the end of the honeymoon 8 months
it's sad to say goodbye to something so precious and wonderful, but i know my journey there has ended, and now i tread onto a new one that will be filled with its own adventures and lessons to be learnt

onward, onward