hundredyearsago.blogspot.com

Monday, July 28, 2014

25 weeks of Europe

I remember the week before I left for Mannheim. Last minute shopping for winter clothes, procrastinating the packing of my suitcase, checking what movies SIA was going to screen, and talking to people I would come to miss.

The first few days were the most tedious. Everything was in German. The bank letters were in German, the signages were in German, the registration forms were in German, the instructions to activate my SIM card were in German, the grocery labels were in German. Manually typing all these into GoogleTranslate was a major pain in the ass. GoogleTranslate became my best friend.

Jetlag kicked in slowly, I spent my nights thinking about everything. About school, about travel plans, about family and friends, about life, about the past, about you. And in the cold winter, with a thick duvet, a couple of pillows, and RainyMood playing in the background, it became painfully addictive to indulge in these thoughts.

Then came the days when I started travelling. And gradually I started to truly understand the phrase "And this too shall pass". Happiness is fleeting, and so is the shit we go through. This endless cycle of uncertainty helped me appreciate every good moment fully, and deal with lemons as zen as I could (it is SO hard at times).

Met so many lovely and hospitable hosts from Couchsurfing, people who were willing to go the extra mile for a stranger. Had the best buddy I could ever ask for, who taught/forced me to be independent and made us feel involved. Saw George Clooney in real life. Attended the Biennale film festival in Berlin. Spent the last few weeks of school studying in Starbucks to escape from the sweltering heat of summer, oh the unpredictability of Europe's weather. Enjoyed their 50% off Happy Hour Frapps. Gained many many calories along the way. Explored more of Mannheim and its neighbours. Went to a church alone. Took 2 hour train rides to the border of France because it is covered under the transport pass. Had monthly cook-outs with the other Singaporeans. Theme parked with my sister. Loved. Lived. Lepaked. In my own room, at Open'er. Caught Lykke Li after she cancelled her show in Germany. Entered a mosh pit. Flirted with death by suffocation. Got carried out by security guards. Met up with more close friends. Enjoyed their company very much. And perhaps the best news of all - passed all my modules.

However, #onlyesther happens.

Got extorted 40EUR by a gang of burly guys in leather jackets. Shared a hostel room with an angsty 60plus y/o German man who walked around fully naked. Got puked on by someone on the 2nd floor balcony while casually walking below it. Had to walk back to the hostel in just a t-shirt in winter's 4deg cold. All within the span of a night.

Then there were the usual printing problems (different school, same problem :(), setting off the smoke alarm in my hostel, losing my wallet, cracking my phone screen real badly, getting locked out of my own room, needing to pay 70EUR for a person to just tap the door open (which i didnt and so, waited another 6hours for my neighbour to return), getting chat up by a guy named U FUk (what in the world), groped by a legit mad guy at Open'er, who proceeded to creepily whisper in my ear "I love to touch..." 3 minutes after I shouted at him, and the worst of all, losing ALL the cash I had for travelling. Special thanks to Monica and Zhai for all the $$$ I've borrowed. And to the asshole(s) who stole all my pounds and euros, I hope you use it meaningfully. Had a terribly long and dreary session with the Polish police, which spanned over two whole mornings, when I had to force myself awake after a whole night at the festival. Assigned a Chinese interpreter, which fortunately was replaced by an English one. Police didnt know the difference btw SG and China. Watched him read it up on Wikipedia. Nothing much came out of it.

Everything was pretty much smooth-sailing after that, which was very very good. Besides the small hiccup of my luggage exceeding the weight by 2kgs, which the counter staff made a huge fuss about pfft.

I can't say for sure if exchange changed me for the better, but I guess I've become more self-aware. Of what i'm okay with, my attitude towards others, my flaws, and my weaknesses. I've also come to realise what a beautiful world this can be, how nature and man can complement yet also contradict each other. It's probably time to go home when you don't feel an immense sadness to leave. And for the whole experience, I give the greatest thanks to God, who has been my source of strength when the going got tough (and boy was this frequent), and for never failing to keep me under His care.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 1:21 AM

Friday, July 11, 2014

Need a holiday.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 7:45 PM

Saturday, May 17, 2014

feeling a sudden surge of
emptiness - what have i achieved these past years?
loneliness - scrolling through whatsapp and i can't find anyone to talk to.
smallness - is she better?
bitterness - she is better.
helplessness - i don't know what to do.
sadness - because you realise happiness is fleeting.

time of the month must be approaching...

anyway i hate it i hate how i cant seem to be able to remember the places i have been and the things i have done on these wonderful trips i made. i make it a point to absorb and really try to just feel a place. to close my eyes and listen. to open my eyes and see. but when anyone asks me "how's (destination)?" I AM STUMPED. i talk about the weather because... that's actually the only thing that's at the top of my head. that would probably not waste too much of your need-to-make-small-talk, why-not-i-pretend-to-be-interested-in-your-holiday time. #FMYMEMORY

and tbh, i dont really listen when people i dont really know talk about their own trips especially during occasions when we have to socialise. 90% of the time i am mentally telling myself to concentrate on what you're saying. i stare at your lips they are moving but i dont hear anything but blah blah blah blah wordcapture blah blah. the other 10%, i try NOT to stare at your lips and look into your eyes because i remembered someone once told me eye contact is important. freak, is that being awkward???

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 5:21 AM

Saturday, May 3, 2014

something creeped me out this morning when i woke up.

there was this mega most happening party happening in mannheim last night at my hostel. but being a homebody and not a particular fan of parties, i didnt go. wanted to stay up late to work on this social media marketing project which is due... today. so i made a cup of coffee, drank it, did some random stuff like watch youtube videos and everything else besides my project. and then i decided ok ok let me make myself comfortable and start on this. so i went to sit on my bed. as usual and i never ever learn, bad idea. coffee, u dizappoint me.

woke up at 330am ish to the shouts and loud voices of partygoers. wowz the partaye is still on. looked out of the window and there are people just in the middle of the road dancing, squatting and just being wasted. and i was quite sure i might just witness a car accident anytime because they were literally just in the middle of the road, and it was dark and there were cars just coming round bends.

yeah anyway i got back to bed and had this dream of the partygoers coming to my door and knocking it profusely. tried ignoring but they started to creep in. and i was trying to shove them out and they were kinda like elastic idk??? so they just kept creeping through the small door gaps. even when i locked my door im not sure how they managed to unlock it. pushed my table against the door and went to sleep but they still managed to come in wth it was quite scary and they were all drunk. i think the posters that were pasted on our doors asking us to lock them played a big part in instilling some morbid fear in me, that my subconscious had such a weird dream.

ok so the creepy thing was when i woke up this morning MY DOOR WAS AJAR OPEN WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT

can't really differentiate between dreams/ reality anymore

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 5:57 PM

Sunday, April 27, 2014

ever since Singapore Day in London, i've been travelling a heck lot, to places like Amsterdam, Zurich, and eastern europe. Also managed to visit Silvana and had a very enjoyable time at her place in Cambridge. halfway through travelling i guess i got really sick and tired of it, and became pretty moody. came back to mannheim to rest and recharge for a few days, a much needed break from the break. probably gonna gain lots of hate from this post hahahah. anyway i couldnt have asked for a better travelling companion. thanks for putting up with all my demands, attitude, insults and laziness hahaha i can be such a bitch man :( and im sorry.

dont really know the point of this post. maybe just to tell whoever who still reads this that im alive.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 4:52 AM

Monday, March 3, 2014

The best thing about having my personal space, which hall and travelling alone give me, is the freedom to do anything I want any time I feel like it. So right now I’m in Ciampino Airport, a budget airport in Rome, 6 hours early for my flight. It sucks because wifi is chargeable and expensive. But then it allows me to stay disconnected from the rest of the cyberworld, which is very inconvenient but something I actually don’t mind escaping from. No pressure to answer Whatsapp messages, no need to follow conversations, no stalking people haha. Perhaps when it gets a little boring I’ll watch Modern Family on my com. Perhaps when my laptop’s juice runs low I’ll find a power point. And perhaps when I wake up from my nap I’ll move out of this toilet cubicle I’m in right now.

Yes, being alone, there’s no one to judge me (until now when you read this). Found the toilets big, clean, FREE and empty (so rare man). So here am I now, my luggage on my right, my com on the baby seat rest (an ideal table), my coat on the hanger and my butt on the bowl. Perfect. May sound disgusting but I think I’ll take a short nap soon since this is probably the safest place – locked in a cubicle teehee. I could actually just not wear my bottoms and pee whenever my bladder feels like it but that’s taking laziness/ convenience to a whole new level and I think I’m not ready for that yet. The only gripe I have is that the toilet bowl flush system goes off every minute it’s kinda noisy L

On a side note, I’m wearing 7 tops and 2 jeans because my luggage has probably exceeded the 10kg limit. I look like a blob lolz thank goodness the weather is quite cold or I’ll be sweating like a mad dog. Ok i’ll rest now so that I won’t miss my flight. I’ll probably have an Italy post coming up; the past 10 days with Samuel and Zhai were fun and eventful but the crazy amount of walking we did has left my body aching and sore.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 5:48 PM

Monday, February 17, 2014

Movie night. Tickets cost like $26 but it comes with a huge tub of popcorn and a drink ok on hindsight i cant believe i spent that much on a show. This would probably be my first and last time watching a movie here.

This morning i set off my apartment's fire alarm because of my cooking. Now i have a severe phobia for the kitchen. My unfriendly apartment mates came out and accused me of attempting to kill them before scolding me. Felt so sad and alone and hungry :( useless in this aspect guess ive to rely on take out more now.

In the afternoon my buddy invited us to iceskate in a rink. Fell a couple of times and now as i lay on the bed typing this, my wrists and butt hurt. Anyway enjoyed myself, along with zy, matt and the smu girls.

After that on our way to dinner, we met a bunch of youths in the tram who kept yelling and chanting "Asians!! Asians!!" so loud that the whole bus were kinda staring at that but afraid to hold their gaze. And then they threw a plastic bottle at us like woahwoah what shallow minded racists. My buddy reassured me that its probably a single case thing. Anyway most of the german youths ive met so far are pretty cool and nice~

Then later on on another tram, i sat facing this woman, who was very displeased that she had less leg room after i took the seat. She made a displeased pfft and proceeded to kick my legs like w.t.h?! And then she starting "discreetly" but obviously snapping photos of matt (who was sitting next to me) and me. Saw a series of photos being sent on whatsapp when we alighted. She also kept scowling and glaring at us.

Not sure whats wrong on sunday nights but we met with two other groups of angsty people. Do weirdos surface on sunday nights???

After dinner we caught Wolf of Wall Street which was too damn long and had many unnecessary sex scenes and vulgarities i feel. At least 65% of the show was abt it? But leonardo di carprio is some serious eyecandy... ya anyway school tmr again sianzzzzzz

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 8:49 AM

Thursday, February 13, 2014

it's 1.35am and im manually typing out the mails i received with regards to my bank opening, university enrollment, and phone plan into google translate because everything is inconveniently in german. these are the sort of stuff they dont tell you about exchange. and sucks to be in a land where every single thing is in german and even english may not be understood.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 8:37 AM

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Got a shock of my life when i came back from school today. There were people moving out furniture from my apartment. I'm too traumatise to even think coherently everything is scattered on the floor right now because the new furniture will only come tmr and i have no idea if i will be in since it's the second day of school and I have classes. and if im not in i have to pay a hefty fee like 75 to 100 euros ugh annoying oh daym.

my room for the night:

Before: dont know how much effort i put to reshift my bed and wardrobe T_T the new furniture better be worth it.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 9:51 AM

Sunday, February 9, 2014

So it has been a week since I came to Mannheim for SEP. it's much bigger and modern than i expected. Kinda expected quaint towns, a small town plaza, brick walls, friendly people who know each other by first name, but it's not really like that. nonetheless it's a lovely city with barely anything tbh. that's what you get when the number one attraction is ... your school.

the first few days we've been settling down, cleaning up our rooms, decorating it (ok mainly me because im all about ambience lolol), buying groceries, eating cheap food, exploring the town and its vicinity, getting our sim/ prepaid cards, drinking cheap beer. every night im just too damn shagged to go partying/ clubbing/ socialise haha im an anti-social loner.

Headed to Berlin on the weekends to catch the Berlinale, an international film festival. I thought it would be my biggest mistake when i reached there on Day 1. The series of unfortunate events as follows:

1. Phone flew out of my hands when the train jerked. Screen is badly terribly cracked.

2. 8 hour bus ride to Berlin with the driver and every one else on board speaking german. basically i had no clue what was going on throughout the journey. when they got off for a rest stop, all i did was stand near the entrance and keep watch, lest the bus leaves without me.

3. got ambushed and cheated of 40 fricking euros by 3 big guys in leather jacket. idk whether to blame it on being female or being asian or just being really suay.

4. checked into the budget hostel. oh wow my roommates are a taiwanese guy escaping from his girlfriend because of a quarrel and an old man who walks around NAKED NOT KIDDING everything hanging out for the world to see.

5. went to sit in the railway station alone in the cold because i was just too damn uncomfortable and scared.

6. went for a walk after yingyan came. got puked all over by a drunkard. had to wash my coat and walk in the already freeezing cold coatless with just two layers of shirts. amazing i survived that.

#onlyesther #shitcantgetworse

which was true because the next day in berlin would be one of the best days! my dreams for going to berlin all came true! i met George clooney who is oh-so-goodlooking in real life, and managed to catch a sold out film God Help the Girl as the director released more tickets half an hour before the show. It's really a nice show about music composition, indie framing, great acting and ambiguous love. i loved it a lot and i really recommend anyone who's into music/ non-mainstream linear narratives to watch it. ah what a sem of Singapore Film has done to me hahaha. the tickets were damn cheap too, and with student discount, they were only 2 euros!

after the film, there was a Q&A session with the director and producer of the show. I took a picture and had an autograph with the director Stuart Murdoch who is a very cute and nice scottish musician hehe. and after that i basically felt like the happiest girl in the world. and all the shit i went through yesterday, was, worth. it.

Labels: #exchangeineurope

at 9:19 AM