I want to be an American!

THis two nights have been amazing. I've seen more about life here in America more than the past month, and really felt the warmth of really really nice Americans!

NYC and WAshington I promise I will blog ab0ut soon; there was simply too much to write to get started. *hehx*

ANyway, last night, Larry took me and two cl0se Columbians and a Mesadonian friend down to the VCU campus, and we just played street A.Football in the middle of campus! They basically simplified it to like touching instead of tackling, and it was really really awesome because I was the only girl there and they were huge guys and they were really so nice to include me, throwing the ball at me to catch and like watching out in case they bowl me over..

And A.Football is really fun!! Something like touch except without the backing. We ran about to and fro and really had a good workout..Basically each team has four tries to get the ball to the touchline, and we stand in two rows facing each other, with one of us throwing the ball for all the rest to catch when we run at "Hut!"

Had a ball of a time really, and I found out later Larry only knew like two of the other six or so guys. Boys really make friends easily! And this is their usually hobby; just like how XM and the boys played BBall n street soccer back home..

THen tonight, 16 of us SIngaporeans went to this really friendly American lady's house. SHe's really awesome to have invited us! And we hardly knew her at all except from seeing her at the park; And it was just the lifeguards who knew her first. But anyways, the plan was that she come down to the dorm at about 2pm, and take us to Blue Ridge Mountains. But somehow we went to some Botanical Gardens-like children farm cos she was ill..

THen we headed down to a real house which had a farm; it was her neighbour actually. It was really amazing how the kids from the house ran barefooted around the barns and cornfields showing us the animals; like a baby kitten Juicy, and the horses--ANapony and starlight or something.. and the two beautiful golden retrievers.. and the house had woods and they play in it like hiding Easter eggs during Easter for a hunt, and shooting flying discs with shotguns. It really is the kind of life I wish I grew up in! ANd the House was really really beautiful and big and classic; the kind which had fireplaces and a cookout place and treeswings and a pretty wooden castle for the kids to play with..It was such an ideal country lifestyle!

Then we went over to Rachell's house to make dinner about 5-6pm..her house is damn pretty too!! Three dogs, including her pomeranian Buffy, and a fireplace and a classic piano; and her children are all so talented!! She has four, and three of them hung out with us the whole day..the oldest son (who wasn't there) is an artist/painter gg to take art in VCU, the second son can write music and take pictures, the daughter can make dresses (and I mean the ball gown Victorian or LOTR standard dresses!!) and the youngest can basically do everything!

And they are all home schooled by Rachelle; something like what Emmie's family is doing..I think it's a Christian thing so parents can teach their kids the values they want, and the kids get alot of self-discipline! I really saw things in a different way; I guess it really isn't a bad thing when Emmie moved away and also homeschooled.. They really get a lot of time to develop other hobbies and talents, and character too..

So anyways we had a feast for dinner, us preparing tomato and minced beef and coke chicken, the NTU gang had their steamed egg and spicy cabbage/brocoli, and Rachelle made pasta of two kinds and dessert, which was a chocolate cake and breadpudding and rice pudding and our bought lemon meringue. Super full! And everything was so good you just couldn't NOT have second helpings! :P

Her home was really filled with warmth and I chatted with the daughter and the second son, and learnt so much about their life! Really made me wish I was American. U really have all that land and space and the values to pass on to the next generation, and the kids I saw today were really the kind I love; hugs and kisses and thank yous and all warm and really super friendly! ANd all the people I meet so far have such strong National Spirit, and they really work so hard to earn their keep!

All the kids at the park are like juggling an average of two jobs including school, and mostly support themselves because they know their parents are earning to pay for alot of other things..
I really admire that fact and it's an AMerican thing because they leave their parents at 18 or so and become really independent! I really feel so ashamed that I'm so spoilt and I really really wish I was brought up that way. And of course really appreciate the parents. I just hope I'm not so spoilt I can't deal with hardship!

Shucks all this American influence has really got me intrigued. Twenty days or less here! I don't wanna go back! It's gonna be so hard because i'll have to tear myself away.. I don't know if this is a good thing or bad but exposing myself to this side of AMerica has made me really rethink my life steps. There is so much to work on internally, and time is really short for me because I'm 22 in a month! :(

OKay anyways I should stop here since it's 6am here and I have work at 330pm later. Adios!

Saturday's Fun day!

As promised, this entry will be about my off day on Saturday, and my first ever outing out of dorm grounds alone with an American! :)

The 4 of us!

Our pretty merry-go-round

Shockwave! Where u stand up throughout the rideHere's abit of the park from the Eiffel Tower. The orange stick is Drop tower! :)

In e morning I went to the park while YH went to work, together with some THais to play the park..Finally got to play the Dominator, which I'd promised Murat who works there, that I'd go visit.. It was awesome btw! It's a super tall ride, and really fun! I'd definitely go back. And I tried for the first time, the Drop tower too! It's like the highest thing in the park, and at first I thought, once u do that, u pretty much can do anything else. But surprisingly it really is nothing! Not much of the drop feeling, just a really cool rush of wind. I like!! :))

And the best part is this. SPongebob!

Bwhahaa oi mei u must show this to T.hui okay?

Anyway so at night as promised, my colleague Matt took me to HOoters. It was really nice! I like the whole American, one-floored, sign-filled walls with pictures and frames of the hooters girls.. The setting was really American!

It was really awesome, and we had hotwings and crablegs, which really rock! Damn shiok! Okay but it cost me 20bucks so it is abit ex. Cannot spend such money anymore because I've to save for the NY trip and prolly more after I end WAT! Here's how he looks like. Leornardo right! Anw we're just friends. :)

Okay, won't blog too much now. THere's been some stuff going on, but i'll leave those to private convos w sis. Sighs. Life. Anw I'm starting to miss peeps back home :( Justin, I don't want u to leave so soon!

Week 3 in KD!

So much happened this week! I decided I should stop procrastinating my blog cos there's so much to write, so I decided to write now since I woke up suddenly at 4am. haha. Anw this is gonna be another long entry! *grins* Hm. Lemme start off w some pictures..

HEre's how me n YH look on typical work days, early in the morning at about 9am.

Totally like nerdy school kids..

My red uniform is for rides and her checkered green is for F&B! We're both wearing shorts I think, but there's a pants version which I didn't get..Abit regret cos it's been awfully wet and cold these few days.. :S

Anyways, so the Thais left the early part of this week, most on Monday night, and it was a really sad parting..I went around getting all of their numbers and addresses and contacts, and taking pictures with everyone! It's been so nice having them around and we got pretty close, so most likely when I go to Bangkok I'll be visiting! Especially since two of the closest are from BK! I'm really happy about it cos now i'll have friends in BK who can take me around to e most authentic BK places! :DD

The Thais are really damn cute! THey are one of the most si wen yet noisy and party-loving people in the dorm, and they all have one syllable names which are totally different from their real names! So they have to leave them in brackets beside their real names for me to recognise. I can never remember!! Which I felt abit apologetic for. haha.

So that was Boy, *, Jeeze, Mai, Kwan(Pinky) & Ying (who's in my ride), Kel, *, Noom, and Beau(Bow) and Ging. Damn I should learn how to do a collage. ANd i swear i will find out the names of the *s soon. :S

And these two are Aof and Nat, who work at the lobby counter!

Most importantly this is Goi and Tong. They've been the closest I guess. Goi worked with me the first day I got here, and Tong, who's mostly friends with everyone and super super funny, spent lots of time chatting and laughing with me n YH.. He's a self-confessed confused. As in he doesn't know if he like phuu ying or phuu chay. haha okay decipher yourself. I'll miss them bad. Thank goodness they both stay in Bangkok!

And then Tuesday was Potomac Mills shopping day!! WOots! I was so happy I could go at e last minute cos Brittany, my colleague took over me for the day! Damn happy can. If i had to work then I would so totally be miserable. Anyway. I spent like 160USD on mostly American Eagle and a pair of $5 flipflops! HAppYY! I found perfect fits! :D Will take pics of my booty soon~

Anyway, Wednesday was work day again, and the night before, it stormed madly here in Doswell! It was a lightning storm; something we all never saw before. It was all cloudy and dark and flashes of lightning without rain, and us Singaporeans were so suaku we crowded around my window and took videos of it. haha! Like as if it's fireworks lidat. I will upload once it is edited.

Oh yes. And the dorm had a blackout! Apparently all of Doswell did cos the lightning hit the main transformer somewhere in the city, so very jialat. WE lost power at about 12am, and were stuck in the dark and without hotwater til 3am. So we ended up chilling around the dorm! :D Here's a pic of people outside my corridor! Some of e angmohs did a rain dance and pulled me in. Damn crazy! :D

My two Chio and wifey roommates! I swear if I was a guy I'll marry girls like them. They cook, clean, are pretty and smart, and damn good company! :D

Some of the Ukrainian girls in the corridor

I took this pic from my door! Anw Murat is the guy on the far right, a Mesadonian, and was pretty chumchum w me but now he like fa pi qi sometimes so now i'm like not talking much to him. But he's pretty cute. :)

Us in the corridor! :)
YH!! HAHAHA just had to put this up.
Me and Jade! My namesake!! Die lah both chinese n english namesakes are guys. :S Anw he's one of the few remaining Thai's staying til June! :)

We decided to go out and enjoy e cool night air and watch the lightning!
And take some cheesy poses.. The raindance group,made of columbians and a Brit and the Ukrainians.. :)

OKay so this was pretty much the first half of this week. But I got a few more things to update, and I'm dying to tell sis but she must come back from Taiwan first!! Arghh eh read alr quick call me or msn k. Dilema sia. I'm not gg to blog cos it's abit private. Alrightey!

Oh yes! so it's Saturday 6am now, and it's my off day!! YAYNESS! I'm pretty much gonna slack awaay the time, go swimming in e morn w YH til she works in e pm and then maybe go play in e park abit. But at night, I've got a date with my colleague! He's like been here 4 years or so, so i thought he was like 23 or smth but I just found out yest he was 19!! Walau. He really look damn old can. Anway he said he'll take me to HOoters which is down the road to have hotwings cos we were both hungry on one closing evening and the convo just started..haha yay!! It's gonna be my first trip outta the dorm with an American to see something in Doswell for real!

Okay ma if u are reading this don't worry la he is really damn nice and like normal. Not the pyscho will take me out in the car and do things after dinner one. don't worry don't worry okay. I post a pic of him soon to show u how he look like. HE's the Leonardo Dicaprio who I mentioned in my previous entry. :D

Yay can't wait! Will update again soon in a week or so! :P

More updates from KD!

So, Life in KD is pretty much mundane now, work is 6 days a week for me, and i'm pretty frustrated that I am missing all the employee trips this week to VCC, Walmart (sighs fresh groceries!), and most of all, Virginia BEach today!! :(( I was really really super upset kay.

Anyway. I enjoy going to work in the end cos I've really made good friends with my American colleagues, telling them alot abt Spore and also listening to them tell me things about themselves.

There's this white guy, Matt, who looks abit like leonardo dicaprio, who's pretty close with me, and on e first day, we had super lots of fun making fun of this other black guy, Darrel, calling him black and joking around being racist...that's how I got to know Darrel, and he's super funny and blackish and he's always making me laugh with his funny laughter and "i know u like me man" jokes..I think I make friends much faster with guys. Must be cos I'm so boyish. DUnno gd or bad. :S

Oh there's also Britany, this small-sized girl who's a manager or smth, and she's quite close to me too. They pretty much think I'm cooler than the rest of the Asians they see so far, cos I can speak American and I get their jokes pretty fast, like e dirty ones; just like i do back home. haha. I'm also pretty happy that i rose in levels pretty fast! Like from role to role, which supposedly takes some time I think. I'm already spieling thru the speakers to the audience! Spieling, btw means to speak really fast to interact w e guests.. :)

Today, I made a new friend in a black guy called Rashad, who's also from Virginia, and he was like, if i wanted to, we could come back to the park and play together or go clubbing if i don't mind him taking me to where he hangs out. YAY I was waiting to make American friends who could take me out to play! Sighs but really, I just know him for a day..I really dunno who I can trust so it really is a risk I mightn't take up. ANyway sadly he's from another section of the park so i prolly won't ever see him again lah. Unless I added the right guy on facebook. I hope i did!

Life's pretty fine here cos these people make things much better! Will post pics of them soon if I ever manage to take them!

K gotta cook now, tata!

Day three of labor

Man. Exhausted. I just got back at 11pm from work...12 straight hours! And my dinner now is like cereal, milk and banana..too tired to cook!! Work's boring now that the park's open man. We really stand 12hrs straight noe!! Lei dao bao!! :(

I'm in two rides, Anaconda and Backlot stunt, which are level 5 rides; the most thrilling level! The ride's cool, but boring to man. Made good friend w the colleagues and supervisors, who were really friendly, and younger than me! One looks like leornardo dicaprio, but chubbier. Talked abt hot girls and hot guys and what kind we both like.. haha he damn gd! Let me slack w him for like one hour...in the aircon box they use to control e rollercoaster!

But work still sucks. I'm so afraid I'll fall asleep standing halfway thru work. Choichoichoi. It's really fullsteam ahead, 12hrs from 10-10 again tml!! ARghhh sucks! I actually rather earn less money man. lol. ok, no i NEED e money la. Otherwise after work will spend alot. Sighs. Okay so here's the start of a really hard time to come now. :(

okok so tired, shall sleep now!! :))

Week 1 :)

I have so much to blog!! But I have no idea where to start. OKay. Let's start from the beginning.

Basically, it has barely been ten days here, yet I've grown pretty fond of the people here and life in America. Not good. I'm supposed to nurture a home-sickness so I wouldn't feel like this is an escape from Singapore!

Sunset pinks from my window. Sun sets at 8+ here..

Anyway, I've made really close friends with the Thais here in the dorm, and truly, this is the one time I feel thankful of a module I've studied in NUS!! Basic Thai 1 is really the most useful mod I've ever taken man! The Thai people were all surprised I could speak, and very happy too, cos someone not Thai can speak their language. We made fast friends, and I've of course, made a few favourites, and a few I can laugh the days away with; conversations I will really miss having. Of course, that made me stand out abit with the Singaporeans, who bunch up usually in predictably Singaporean style, but thank goodness the lot of them are pretty amicable too, so it's not too bad..

Me n YH, Som(Thai), Weibin and Jialing (NUS)

Roomies n YH in kitchen!:)

Sadly, the Thais are leaving in a week or two; I really really will miss them!! They are the most friendly nationality here in the dorm already, readily making friends with everyone with their half-bucket English; even the Singaporeans have slight politics here and there within cliques, something I really don't relish very much.

Dang. I'm supp to start from e top, meanign Day 1 of work. Okay here goes. :)

Day 1 of work was exhausting; today was Day 2, and all I can say of the work I've done here so far is that I'm doing Bangla work for a fee of 7.25USD, emptying huge trash bins on the first day and lining them again today, and also wiping down dozens of sunchairs in the hugeass waterpark with rags. KD is proud of its literally squeaky clean floors and facilities, and I must admit, they do put quite a pinch of passion in their cleaning!

On the first day, Monday, I worked with Goi and Ying, two really friendly thai girls whom I got really really close with, especially Goi. They taught me the ropes around most of the work that day, which, I realised later, usually given to guys. :S

Anyway, it's been unimaginably hot, and chilly sometimes too, when the wind blows. Hardly the best combination. I love it when it rains! Most of the Asians here I know hate the cold though. I seem to be the only one who really love it when it's cold! They all like the sun cos it's e only source of heat, but I really hate it beating down on us especially in the afternoons; this is one of the reasons why I was looking forward to leave spore! I'm really like one of e few who's always in shorts. The rest wear jeans and long stuff to work! Well. Anyways, it means everytime I've got work so far I almost always toast my eyes in the UV rays and end up with stinging cheeks and eyes. My lips too, have gotten it bad, and they're really smiting now too! :(

Oh yes, then on Tuesday, there was this trip down to Walmart and VCC:Virginia Centre Commons, which was really much anticipated because it meant we would all get fresh groceries. People like me n YH barely had any fresh food the entire weekend cos we just arrived on Thursday, and had been surviving on bought stuff or cupnoodles. Ergh.

The places are HUGE btw!! Barely enough time to finish looking through stuff in both places! Hopefully I'll go back again!

Then Wednesday we had the NYC trip, and me n YH travelled the a small part of NYC tog; our little sightseeing adventure! I was so tired halfway I kinda zombied out for a bit, and thank God YH was there or else I'd have collapsed on the street halfway! NYC's awesome! I really really adore the skyscrapers and humongous billboards, the uncountable electronic ads and broadways in Times Sq and Broadway St, the way carved walls and entire, reflective buildings can merge so uniquely in the city that never sleeps. Me n YH had a tiny adventure, insisting on walking instead of transport; we had famous cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, my fav Bubba Gump, Krispy Kreme, pissed off a Black guy who tried to sell me a bag for 20USbucks, and most exciting of all, got conned into this "15min movie" by one of the pamphlet givers on the Broadway, which we later found out was a cult trying to promote Scientology!!

THank goodness we had the mind to leave halfway. We were brought to this "Museum of Scientology", where we were taken to a dark room with a screen. There was only the two of us, then they started to screen this movie abt a guy who got paralysed hip down and was like introduced to scientology apparently. We were so paranoid- I thought we would get chlorofoamed halfway from behind, I kept looking around in the dark room, and we took pictures so we could get evidence. Couldn't take it after 5 mins and we left. Haha! Damn scary can. dunno wad shit we got ourselves into. But it was an experience lah. bwaha. heng nth happen.
Empire State Building! Under reconstruction.

The cakes n cookies along the strip of NY!

Me n Roadside coffee @ Times Square!

M&M world!
Poseing with M&M tablemats!Really wanna buy these baby suits for ZMgor n Agnes jie! How ah.

And Last night, Thursday, after we got rest from the 8hr trip back, the Thais had a farewell party in the BBQ area because they were leaving soon. They cooked so much food; like naam tok muu: Waterfall pig in direct translation, tomyam soup, tomyam noodles, fries and burgers even! Took so much care and effort in cooking it! It was really heartwarming, and they invited some of the closer people in the dorm to join in. REally awesome. They totally know how to party man. There was Thai music, and even a balloon stepping game, which ended with a beer-chugging competition btw e winners. Super funny! I hung out alot with Goi and Thong, this super funny guy with a secret. :) will super miss them when they're gone man. Life in the dorm will be so different!

The rest of us, stood in a half-circle laughing and being amazed at how TOMMMY (yes tommy, my KR friends), went from girl to girl, flirting and touching, and basically being a playboy. It was really jawdroppingly, goosebumpily gross. Me n YH tried to save her hot ukrainian roommate from him, and like dragged her away at one point, but he seems to not get it at all, and went to HOLD HER HANDS for the balloon game. So thick! Se dao siao! We were all pretty disgusted.

Ooh my two roomies just came in and we danced to Nobody from wondergirls! haha they are so cute! Cos they all know I can dance and they wanted to learn. I'm so glad they're my roomies!

Kk anyway down to today, Friday, Day 2 of work. Not much, just lining the trashbins, and I made good friends with this cute Mesadonian, Murat, who's super friendly, and maybe a tad flirty. Yes okay i admit he flirted with me the entire day in the park, but well u don't get such treatment in Spore right. haha! His English isn't so good, so I helped out abit, just like I did with the Thais. I think I've got to know so much more about cultures I barely know about; met people from countries I've barely heard of and would never in my life imagine I'd meet; and learnt so much about getting to know people from other cultures better! It's amazing, and I'm really enjoying this trip!

I realise now I'm much better on my own and that I really love getting to know new things. I hope though, that I don't lose my roots and my patriotism but instead find something about it to be really proud of. :)

Will insert pics soon! I'm damn tired! STarting tml it's fullsteam ahead, opening to closing! Die leew!!