Friday, September 21, 2007
Pics
Hey Pple! you can check the pics out at http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/germaine_liu/. I'm in the process of putting more...soon:)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
whoa
WHoops. I didnt realize how long this blog has laid stagnant for.
After 5 consecutive hours of lessons this morning, all i wanted to do was flop onto my nice soft bed and Sleep. but, of course some things are more important than others. like rock climbing:)
I never realized how different and similar artificial rock walls are to the real thing. techniques used are mainly the same, esp when it comes to belaying and top-rope or lead climbing.
what i did with my physical activity group today though was different. instead of going vertically up, many times, we were walking along the cliff, suspended from cables attached to our harnesses and carabiners. more like bouldering i guess.
there are mainly limestone cliffs around here which are great for handholds and stuff like that and the college has equipment and has also brought in some external instructors! the best part abt it is that Nnxt week, there is a long weekend, where we get friday off, and so I'll be going to the Dolomites, a limestone range for 3 glorious days, hopefully!
My thoughts now are quite start-stop and broken, ,probably cos there's so much to say, and so little time. im currently in the study room of my residence, where theres like internet. I was lucky to get a nice and new residence, which although does not have the view of the sea like other residences, does have a separate huge bathroom which only 4 pple share, which is luxurious in comparison to many residences. We have a fully-equipped kitchen, but mainly go to a main school canteen for our meals.
School has been ok with some lessons better than others. For example, what we are covering in math and the sciences now are what i covered in the firs sem of JC, and so thigns are pretty repetitive. not that im complaining though, cos it gives me more time to concentrate on my Italian, which is unfortunately kinda non-existent.
Haha but anyway, got to go now. Take care everyone!
After 5 consecutive hours of lessons this morning, all i wanted to do was flop onto my nice soft bed and Sleep. but, of course some things are more important than others. like rock climbing:)
I never realized how different and similar artificial rock walls are to the real thing. techniques used are mainly the same, esp when it comes to belaying and top-rope or lead climbing.
what i did with my physical activity group today though was different. instead of going vertically up, many times, we were walking along the cliff, suspended from cables attached to our harnesses and carabiners. more like bouldering i guess.
there are mainly limestone cliffs around here which are great for handholds and stuff like that and the college has equipment and has also brought in some external instructors! the best part abt it is that Nnxt week, there is a long weekend, where we get friday off, and so I'll be going to the Dolomites, a limestone range for 3 glorious days, hopefully!
My thoughts now are quite start-stop and broken, ,probably cos there's so much to say, and so little time. im currently in the study room of my residence, where theres like internet. I was lucky to get a nice and new residence, which although does not have the view of the sea like other residences, does have a separate huge bathroom which only 4 pple share, which is luxurious in comparison to many residences. We have a fully-equipped kitchen, but mainly go to a main school canteen for our meals.
School has been ok with some lessons better than others. For example, what we are covering in math and the sciences now are what i covered in the firs sem of JC, and so thigns are pretty repetitive. not that im complaining though, cos it gives me more time to concentrate on my Italian, which is unfortunately kinda non-existent.
Haha but anyway, got to go now. Take care everyone!
Monday, August 27, 2007
day 4
Its been 4 days now.
I arrived in Duino on Friday afternoon *Duino is 6 hours behind Singapore in summer* with like 3 pieces of big luggage and a haversack. Whew.
Am now in the computer room, after coming back from Trieste, the nearest major city, which had its origins as a port in the Austro-hungarian Empire. Lots of history here yeah.
The residence that I have been given is a wonderful one, complete with kitchen, basement and lots of nice rooms. It's more a house than a hostel, with 15 girls and a house tutor. i have 3 room mates, from Hungary, Italy and Norway and other residence mates from countries like Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece... Pretty multinational.
Theres more. We just had a physical activities briefing today and I really really hope to take climbing *real limestone cliffs!!!*, sailingandkayakingandhikingandmusic lessonsandsocialserviceandsomethingtodowithscience! Oh. and did i mention that there are only 24 hours in a day? Whoops.
Anyway, we will see if we can do some magic, and in the meantime. Take Care and Ciao!
Germaine
(my Western Sahara second year insists that Germaine is Jameen, which is a male name, and thus i should be called Jamilah)
I arrived in Duino on Friday afternoon *Duino is 6 hours behind Singapore in summer* with like 3 pieces of big luggage and a haversack. Whew.
Am now in the computer room, after coming back from Trieste, the nearest major city, which had its origins as a port in the Austro-hungarian Empire. Lots of history here yeah.
The residence that I have been given is a wonderful one, complete with kitchen, basement and lots of nice rooms. It's more a house than a hostel, with 15 girls and a house tutor. i have 3 room mates, from Hungary, Italy and Norway and other residence mates from countries like Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece... Pretty multinational.
Theres more. We just had a physical activities briefing today and I really really hope to take climbing *real limestone cliffs!!!*, sailingandkayakingandhikingandmusic lessonsandsocialserviceandsomethingtodowithscience! Oh. and did i mention that there are only 24 hours in a day? Whoops.
Anyway, we will see if we can do some magic, and in the meantime. Take Care and Ciao!
Germaine
(my Western Sahara second year insists that Germaine is Jameen, which is a male name, and thus i should be called Jamilah)
Friday, August 24, 2007
the first hello!
It’s been 5 days since that last glance.
Nothing has changed, and yet all has.
Spending the last few days in a land where fountains literally flow aplenty, the eternal city has indeed much to offer; both to the common and discerning alike.
I spent an entire day in none other than the Vatican City, walking under countless frescoes, ornate rooms, peering intently at century-old artifacts, trying (note: try) to decipher all that meaning behind these great works. However, dense as I am, the one form of culture that I probably gained was a yoghurt.
It’s been nice so far though, especially on Tuesday, when I went up to Castel Gandolfo, a little town overlooking some great scenery. If it sounds familiar or famous, it’s not just because I’ve been there (cue: choke) but ‘cos it’s none other than the summer residence of the Pope.
It was a great 5 hours spent with a great friend, one whom I look up to, really and whom has in her own unassuming way taught me so much. It was really, really nice to see her and have one of those long (and meaningful) conversations.
I have never been one of great sentiment, always believing that it’s so much easier to untangle oneself when the knot is not so tight; and continuing correspondence really made me realise that little things like a short email or letter to stay in touch make such a difference.
I hardly had the chance to thank every single person who means so much to me. I’ll briefly try and include as many pple because this is really really important but I’m also quite lousy at many important things.
Thanks to everyone, really.
Sec 4/1! I really didn’t expect all that and it was really so heart warming to see everyone again. It was almost as if we had never parted, and I had a wonderful time listening to and playing all those funny, silly yet great games. Although you all probably had to move mountains and seas to collect badges and book the room, you all did it, and I’m really want to thank everyoneJ.
Sec 2/2! It’s been 3 years since we were together as a class, yet it seems the ties have never frayed. It was great to see you all on national day, although it was a small group of us, which was nonetheless really good. And of cos my “greek partners-in-crime”, thanksJ
IJ councillors! Thanks for the reminder on which country I’m fromJ I think that I must do something to change my image because everyone seems to think that I have the memory of a goldfish! Haha I really remember everyone who wrote, and many more! To last years sec 4s, thanks for everything, it was great seeing everyone (well not everyone, I mean, well I didn’t see everyone, not it was not great seeing everyone. I should keep quiet. You get it.) that day!
08S03Q! Although I seemed to have the emotions of a stonefish, I’m really touched by all the things you all did for me. The party, candle light in the field, pizza, book… my goodness, the things done are endless! No point saying it now, but I really couldn’t and can’t bear to leave everything and everyone behind. Work hard (that I prob don’t need to say), play equally hard, and stay together yeah?
Odac! 23! Yikes, I really really am so sad at not being able to go for EOY and other trips. Every single activity was such great fun, and all probably would beJ I know that there are so many Odacians who are full of passion and love for the club, and I really can’t see anything greater for Odac to have than passionate members. Thanks for everything, especially the cakesJ Although they were fattening, especially at 12 am 2 days in a row, they were really really nice and meant a lot.
L’abbits! Esp the 3 best OGLs in the world! Some people take years to find a few great friends but It took only 3 short days to get such a great group of friends (pretty worth it, huh?) No one would have even dreamed that something like that would have happened. But it did. No one might ever truly get over it, but as long as we are there for each other, as we were at that most crucial time, everything will be fine. Oh! And Thanks for the board tooJ
All my teachers! From my IJ teachers, to my RJ teachers, to my piano teacher, to non-former-teachers- of-mine! Thank you for everything. Really.
All my friends and everyone whom I haven’t mentioned specifically. You all matter and will always.
Ok I had better stop here for today. Will write more when the time comes to. In the meantime, if anyone is making plans for holidays… come visit!
My Address is:
Collegio Del Mondo Unito Dell’ Adriatico
Via Trieste 29
34011 DUINO (TS)
ITALY
Well, at least I think that that is what it is?
Yup I’m actually currently still in Milan, meeting up with some relatives who live here, and will be going down to Duino, Trieste today.
Ok! I had better end this here today! Till then, ciao!
Nothing has changed, and yet all has.
Spending the last few days in a land where fountains literally flow aplenty, the eternal city has indeed much to offer; both to the common and discerning alike.
I spent an entire day in none other than the Vatican City, walking under countless frescoes, ornate rooms, peering intently at century-old artifacts, trying (note: try) to decipher all that meaning behind these great works. However, dense as I am, the one form of culture that I probably gained was a yoghurt.
It’s been nice so far though, especially on Tuesday, when I went up to Castel Gandolfo, a little town overlooking some great scenery. If it sounds familiar or famous, it’s not just because I’ve been there (cue: choke) but ‘cos it’s none other than the summer residence of the Pope.
It was a great 5 hours spent with a great friend, one whom I look up to, really and whom has in her own unassuming way taught me so much. It was really, really nice to see her and have one of those long (and meaningful) conversations.
I have never been one of great sentiment, always believing that it’s so much easier to untangle oneself when the knot is not so tight; and continuing correspondence really made me realise that little things like a short email or letter to stay in touch make such a difference.
I hardly had the chance to thank every single person who means so much to me. I’ll briefly try and include as many pple because this is really really important but I’m also quite lousy at many important things.
Thanks to everyone, really.
Sec 4/1! I really didn’t expect all that and it was really so heart warming to see everyone again. It was almost as if we had never parted, and I had a wonderful time listening to and playing all those funny, silly yet great games. Although you all probably had to move mountains and seas to collect badges and book the room, you all did it, and I’m really want to thank everyoneJ.
Sec 2/2! It’s been 3 years since we were together as a class, yet it seems the ties have never frayed. It was great to see you all on national day, although it was a small group of us, which was nonetheless really good. And of cos my “greek partners-in-crime”, thanksJ
IJ councillors! Thanks for the reminder on which country I’m fromJ I think that I must do something to change my image because everyone seems to think that I have the memory of a goldfish! Haha I really remember everyone who wrote, and many more! To last years sec 4s, thanks for everything, it was great seeing everyone (well not everyone, I mean, well I didn’t see everyone, not it was not great seeing everyone. I should keep quiet. You get it.) that day!
08S03Q! Although I seemed to have the emotions of a stonefish, I’m really touched by all the things you all did for me. The party, candle light in the field, pizza, book… my goodness, the things done are endless! No point saying it now, but I really couldn’t and can’t bear to leave everything and everyone behind. Work hard (that I prob don’t need to say), play equally hard, and stay together yeah?
Odac! 23! Yikes, I really really am so sad at not being able to go for EOY and other trips. Every single activity was such great fun, and all probably would beJ I know that there are so many Odacians who are full of passion and love for the club, and I really can’t see anything greater for Odac to have than passionate members. Thanks for everything, especially the cakesJ Although they were fattening, especially at 12 am 2 days in a row, they were really really nice and meant a lot.
L’abbits! Esp the 3 best OGLs in the world! Some people take years to find a few great friends but It took only 3 short days to get such a great group of friends (pretty worth it, huh?) No one would have even dreamed that something like that would have happened. But it did. No one might ever truly get over it, but as long as we are there for each other, as we were at that most crucial time, everything will be fine. Oh! And Thanks for the board tooJ
All my teachers! From my IJ teachers, to my RJ teachers, to my piano teacher, to non-former-teachers- of-mine! Thank you for everything. Really.
All my friends and everyone whom I haven’t mentioned specifically. You all matter and will always.
Ok I had better stop here for today. Will write more when the time comes to. In the meantime, if anyone is making plans for holidays… come visit!
My Address is:
Collegio Del Mondo Unito Dell’ Adriatico
Via Trieste 29
34011 DUINO (TS)
ITALY
Well, at least I think that that is what it is?
Yup I’m actually currently still in Milan, meeting up with some relatives who live here, and will be going down to Duino, Trieste today.
Ok! I had better end this here today! Till then, ciao!
Friday, July 27, 2007
so much to tell
I have so much to tell. But So little time. Suddenly, I've found a part of me that I thought I had lost for a long while. The excitable, effervescent, silly, toooo outspoken part of me. I took so much for granted, never realizing many honours that had been bestowed upon me. It was so refreshing knowing that I made a fool out of myself in the way i used to.
I'm really sad to leave my present school, esp with the improving ties within my class and those in my cca. and of course I hate to leave my friends alone:( but i'm excited all the same. it just seems so interesting. I always gave myself the excuse that it would seem like bragging but I guess it's also about letting people know they matter. Sigh
I'm really sad to leave my present school, esp with the improving ties within my class and those in my cca. and of course I hate to leave my friends alone:( but i'm excited all the same. it just seems so interesting. I always gave myself the excuse that it would seem like bragging but I guess it's also about letting people know they matter. Sigh
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The need that has to be addressed
i have run away from reflections for so long, trying to fool myself into thinking that they were of minimal importance. Perhaps its the blankness of my mind and yet the myriad of thoughts that swarm through, untouched yet not unnoticed. Life in such an fast-paced society has had its effects. Anything that does not directly contribute to self-benefit immediately becomes an after-thought. Subconciously, i thought that all this could be stored away by detaching myself from reality, from the bare facts of life that surround me.
I was lost for words. There it seemed that the surroundings were perfect for reflection. A simple question. and yet, i had no reply. I didnt want to give a pc answer, that would seem so artificial, andd cliched to boot. And yet, i had reservations about revealing too much. Why?
I started with hopes, dreams, BIG visions. Save the world. or so it seemed. Yet, as days went by, nothing was accomplished. I wished to do more. I still wish to do more. And yet, i hit hard ground again. So many things undone, yet leave is to come soon. The enthusiasm for life, lost while study-numb, was somewhat rekindled through the outdoors. I have hardly felt this much attachment and love for a club ever, or so i think. Unaware perhaps.
I'm supposed to write a speech, but every word seems so hypocritical. Do i practise what i preach? Can I preach what i practise? An awareness is the first step towards inner beauty. And what a difficult step.
I have learnt so much, so much that it cannot be quantified. From places expected, and many unexpected too. Coincidence has made a large impact on me, with its enthusiasm for life and all that matters to me too. Frankly, everyone seems to have noble character in them. Unfortunately, the gap between action and deed is simply so complicated. No, not too complicated, for it can be overcome. But only if we try. And yet, are we willing to put down all we have thought to be important, and follow our hearts? That shall be our question for today. What do we want to live life for?
I was lost for words. There it seemed that the surroundings were perfect for reflection. A simple question. and yet, i had no reply. I didnt want to give a pc answer, that would seem so artificial, andd cliched to boot. And yet, i had reservations about revealing too much. Why?
I started with hopes, dreams, BIG visions. Save the world. or so it seemed. Yet, as days went by, nothing was accomplished. I wished to do more. I still wish to do more. And yet, i hit hard ground again. So many things undone, yet leave is to come soon. The enthusiasm for life, lost while study-numb, was somewhat rekindled through the outdoors. I have hardly felt this much attachment and love for a club ever, or so i think. Unaware perhaps.
I'm supposed to write a speech, but every word seems so hypocritical. Do i practise what i preach? Can I preach what i practise? An awareness is the first step towards inner beauty. And what a difficult step.
I have learnt so much, so much that it cannot be quantified. From places expected, and many unexpected too. Coincidence has made a large impact on me, with its enthusiasm for life and all that matters to me too. Frankly, everyone seems to have noble character in them. Unfortunately, the gap between action and deed is simply so complicated. No, not too complicated, for it can be overcome. But only if we try. And yet, are we willing to put down all we have thought to be important, and follow our hearts? That shall be our question for today. What do we want to live life for?
Friday, April 13, 2007
hope
waiting.
waiting.
waiting.
its confusing. life is. is it worth the trouble to plan the days ahead, i wonder. think ahead, yes. it gives hope.but putting it together just seems tiring. its all with the final goal in mind. its easy to lose ourselves in our conquest for what might seem to be our dreams. hope gives us something to believe in, something to look forward to. yet, can hope delude and bring us away from what it is to be.
there are so many things that have changed. priorities perhaps. what i feared will come to happen if change does not take place. its when novelty wears off that i realize wwhat i had been thinking of it. hopefully the goal will not be that. i hope this waiting is not a form of escapism. it shouldnt be. not emo. just thoughtful.
waiting.
waiting.
its confusing. life is. is it worth the trouble to plan the days ahead, i wonder. think ahead, yes. it gives hope.but putting it together just seems tiring. its all with the final goal in mind. its easy to lose ourselves in our conquest for what might seem to be our dreams. hope gives us something to believe in, something to look forward to. yet, can hope delude and bring us away from what it is to be.
there are so many things that have changed. priorities perhaps. what i feared will come to happen if change does not take place. its when novelty wears off that i realize wwhat i had been thinking of it. hopefully the goal will not be that. i hope this waiting is not a form of escapism. it shouldnt be. not emo. just thoughtful.
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