"I am as you see me. I can be as light as a breeze or strong as a gale, it depends on when and how you see me pass." - Clarice Lispector

I've been called an independent, intelligent young woman. And yet others make me feel like I'm a dull little girl.

People who don't know me think I'm way too quiet, but I can talk and talk and talk to those I'm comfortable with.

My new friends seem to think I'm a genius, top of my class and everything. Which made me laugh, hard. I take notes, listen in class and everything that comes with the good girl package, but I've never been the girl with the highest mark in everything. Maybe that's why I work hard.

Interesting isn't it, to see what kind of impressions you made on some people? Sometimes I wonder which ones are true, which ones are just part of the mask.

Labels: thoughts

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So Melbourne's got a holiday for the Melbourne Cup, aka horse racing. How awesome is that? I have zero interest in horse races, but it's fun to see people wearing fancy clothes - girls with their dresses and hats and guys in sharp suits. And they were on the trams and trains too. XD

Most importantly though, I get Monday and Tuesday off. Just in time for a busy week too: I've got a Media and Communication assignment, Lit test, and Math practice test (meaning the mark doesn't count toward our final grade). Don't forget the History of Idea essay had just been announced as well. I'm slightly nervous, because this means school is really kicking into gear. I've seen relatives and housemate suffering under the final exams stress, I just hope my time won't come just yet.

Speaking of relatives, I hung out with cousins and niece last Saturday. It was nice; their being here is one of the reasons I'm not crying my eyes out for home. Still, I didn't say much. I am quiet by default, I'll admit that. But I can be talkative. Those who are closest to me will tell you that. So I'm guessing I'm not that comfortable around them just yet.

Sunday was spent hanging with friends. Had to get up earlier than my normal hour on weekend to go to St. Kilda's beach with a quarter of the intake. Not really worth it. Too windy, boring, nothing special. But afterwards, my friends and I headed back to the city and had Hungry Jack for lunch. Nothing like a good burger on a Sunday I guess. And the day got better when we went to Harbour Town, a nice shopping center at Dockland. Diana seemed very happy, and it was fun. The boys seemed to enjoy it too, though I think Dixon looked a bit bored. =P We might go back again one day, because the shops were getting ready to close down by the time we got there, and Candy didn't come with us.

Today was spent a bit more... productively, I guess. Went to the library with the gang to study, and actually did some studying. So proud of myself about that. :) The day went downhill after that, when I'm stuck in a gathering where everyone speaks a language I don't understand. If I had known, I wouldnt' have gone. It was just uncomfortable and unpleasant, feeling very much left out, even though they didn't intend to do it. But the day ended on a good note, having dinner in a Chinese restaurant with my friends, sharing food and joking. Candy said it reminded her of her home (in a good sense, not in a I'm-suddenly-homesick kind of way), and I kinda felt the same.

Tomorrow, Melbourne Cup's day, will be spent revising. That's the plan anyway, and I do want to stick to it. Wish me luck!

Labels: family, food, friends, melbourne, Trinity

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That is how long I've been in Melbourne. Doesn't look like a long time, but as they say, time is a funny thing. On one hand, it feels like I've been here much longer. On the other, it's as if I blinked once and an entire month had gone by. Suddenly we're approaching essays, tests, exams... And suddenly there's this conversation again about trying to get scholarship. Talk about getting my head in the game.

I'm not complaining. I have looked forward to going to uni ever since I was in year eleven. I've planned for this year - and the ones ahead - for a while, and so far I'm loving each moment. I get up every morning actually looking forward to class, I don't feel like curling up in bed and forget about school. High school was wonderful, but for me, it was mostly about getting to this point: Get good grades to get into the good uni. Which uni? Which major? Be independent. Get ready. Grow up. For once I'm ready to agree with Stephenie Meyer. I don't remember the exact quote but it's something like: High school is to be endured. College is to be enjoyed."

I sure hope it'll stay this way for a while.

Labels: Trinity

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So you'd think that having just moved here to Melbourne - well it's been a bit over three weeks actually - I'd have lots of stories to tell. And I do. I just don't really know where to start.

Well, for starter, it's not as bad as I thought it would. I keep waiting for the wave of homesickness to take over. And I'm still waiting. Haven't curled up in bed crying over missing home, though I do miss it. I miss the family, I miss my friends. Heck, I miss my dogs. Still, there are so many things to do and see here that I find myself distracted and hardly ever lonely. My house mother is perfectly lovely, and my house mate is too. I feel right at home. There was a tiny bit of drama at the start, but it's over now and I don't feel like bringing it up. Let's just say my gut feeling about someone was right from the start.

Getting on the public transport was a bit nerve-racking at the start. I totally gaped at the tram, nearly toppled over inside it once, and the numbers and the train lines just ran gave me a headache. I've been driven around for most of my life, so it was understandable that I was a bit freaked out. Right? Thank God for my cousins (and niece) for showing me around. I'd probably feel lot worse if they weren't here. I used to say I've got way too many relatives - and I still think I do, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. ANYWAY... I'm used to the transportation now. Haven't gotten completely lost in two weeks. =P And once I'm less nervous about being in a compeletely foreign place, I don't freak out so much. =D

I think I can safely say I've found my friends. Not just people I sometimes hang out with, but people you can confide in with your problems. They're all from Hong Kong, but we all speak English (obviously), so it's fine. Awesome, in fact. You'd think I'd connect better with people from my own country, but I don't. Not really. They're perfectly nice, but we don't click that well. Still, I miss my girls. I don't think anyone will ever come close to what I have with them, not as far as I can tell.

As for school, classes are going well. I'm following lectures well, and I'm actually enjoying some of the classes. So far I haven't dreaded school at all, which is awesome. =D My electives are Psychology, Media and Communication, and Maths 1. And I don't think I made the wrong choice at all. Still have to establish a routine though; five months break from studying does nothing to help with my studying habit.

So yeah, that's the past three weeks in a nutshell. Will be posting more, I think. Mostly because I will probably need the rant space, especially once homework builds up.

Labels: melbourne, Trinity

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Just a small note to say that I am coming back to this blog. It's been too long.

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Yes, I broke 20k. I wrote 20,000 words in 10 days. HA!

And now I'm tired. Still have 30k more to go, but it can wait for at least half a day. I can barely think about where I'm going with the story right now.

Ooh, btw, I have a Twitter. It's www.twitter.com/priss21. I thought it was silly, but it's actually quite fun. Follow me there if you want to. ^_^

Labels: julnowrimo, twitter

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6,385 words.

Have never written so many words in three days. And I haven't even gone past the first chapter. It's a little crazy, but it's fun, writing without rethinking myself.

Here's something that made me panic: I've already outlined 16 chapters, but an hour into writing, new characters are popping up! An ex-boyfriend, another best friend, grandparents, AND the boy my main character would fall in with later went from being the stepbrother's best friend to a careless driver who was involved in a car crash.

O.o

I've never outlined before. I usually just plan as I go, so sudden twists like those are to be expected, really. I'm hoping to be able to call myself a novelist by the end of the month, so wish me luck!

Labels: julnowrimo

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So I haven't updated this blog in forever. I don't really know what to write.

Well, there is one exciting news. As of last Friday, I am officially a high school graduate. It should be exciting, but it feels rather anti-climatic. We already said our goodbyes to the school (and the teachers) months ago.

Getting my diploma was a big problem though. You see, we already scheduled a weekend getaway and suddenly they announced that we have to take the diplomas on Friday. So what we did was: the family drove up to Malang, dropped off my mom and sis at the hotel, then my dad and I (and the driver) drove to Surabaya. Right after the whole ceremony was over, we drove back to Malang. I spent at least 8 hours on the road, listening to the songs on my phone over and over and over again.

Anyway, I'm back in my hometown... and starting to take daily Chinese lessons. I can say some of the simpler sentences now, though I'd probably pause here and there to remember the tone. =P And I'm cooking! Well, only once, but it turned out okay, and I'm going to cook more.

And July is almost here! Wish me luck as I attempt to write 50,000 words in 31 days! *nervous*

Labels: chinese lessons, graduation, julnowrimo

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