Sigh. So here I am, at the end of my stay back over here in Melbourne. Sad? Not quite, it's more a dreamy wistful sort of feeling. It's the last night I'm going to be spending in this city, this house, my room, my bed. After tonight, I won't be seeing my old school friends, my family, and now to add on to it any new friends and people I met during my stay here. It would actually be quite regrettable under different circumstances. The renewing factor in all this is the fact that this time around, unlike the last time I left home, I'm not about to be plunged into some facet of malignant chaos, pretty much alone and completely at it's mercy (in case you haven't guessed, <--- perception of NS). But yeah, so thankful and glad for the fact that this time, there are people I can look forward to meeting again, and a place and a purpose awaits that I chose. It's an incredible feeling, in contrast to the last time I was in this position.

Hmm, this week's been comparatively quiet, there hasn't been much that's been going on at all. Which is great: I need my rest before everything starts, whether over here or back in Singapore. I did go shopping though, it seems to have become a necessary ritual for me to undertake before flying somewhere, together with packing my bag and the rest. But it really is fulfilling, if I may repeat myself here. Especially when you know it'll be appreciated =)

Went on Tuesday, down to Glen Waverley (it's a suburb, where my school was (and consequently, hang out spots)). Went together with my mum and sister, who was getting dropped at school on the way to work. Spent most of the morning there pretty much, just walking around The Glen (the local mall), enjoying the space and lack of crowds (really felt refreshing btw, for those who haven't known the joy non-crowded shopping centres, I highly recommend it. Makes for a great therapy experience), meanwhile looking at/choosing gifts. Met up with my sister after school and went to see The Dark Knight. Ok, if you haven't seen this, and you're reading my blog, I recommend you go see it (I have great faith in my reader base!). While the action and effects were definitely up there, it's not even what I would recommend it for. It's for the sheer concept and storyline, and also the depth of ethical considerations it managed to confront and raise with regards to a realm governed by a system such as one employed in fictional Gotham. Serious food for thought, after the show I sort of zoned out in my own thoughts until my sister woke me from my reverie near the end of the credits. Which was when I woke to notice the little tribute they put in for Heath Ledger at the end, in his memory, which I thought was... Right. Don't know how to describe it, but it felt like the right thing to do, which was great.

Wednesday night went out with family for steak, and damn I miss a good steak. Haven't had much of a chance to eat the stuff I like for quite a time... Not that I didn't have a chance per se, but it was more like I had no reason to treat myself or go out with anyone to a nice place for sumptous meals like these. My mum's been making extra effort to cook the stuff that I miss so much from home, appreciate that a lot. I've never considered myself one for food (i'm an eater to live, primarily), and yet it's strangely satisfying to taste my mum's cooking again (Yeah, it's true lol... There's actually a difference! You just don't know it until you've been gone a while >.<).

Oh yes, while I was here, paid a visit to Monash (Berwick) Campus' Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF) on Thursday night, who are actually attached to the church my parents and sister currently attend. Was nice meeting the Uni students who attend there. Won't be able to associate with them much, but it's still nice knowing another group of uni students over here. And they're a nice bunch, really. Good to know the group my sister/parents their going to be attending church with I suppose too =P.

Then Friday, I somehow managed to arrange (Ok I didn't do it, the idea was mine but really it was Ji-yoon who did everything again, she's an angel) a final meeting with most of the group before I fly off on Monday. Met up with David and Greg earlier for dinner, ate at this Vietnamese rice noodle place that apparently Bill Clinton himself had two bowls of the stuff. Honestly, it wasn't bad. Then we went down to Crown! And I went into the casino! For the first time in my life xD (I sort of turned 18 while I was in the army in Singapore... Not only is there no casino in Singapore, but... You get the point =P). It was just for the experience really, walked around, watch money go down the drain (and rarely, come out). Played at a slot machine as well! Too bad I didn't manage to get a Crown card where you can store credit. Apparently it's free and easy to get... Oh well, next time =P. Then we went to play pool/arcade games at Melbourne Central at about 10ish. The parting was the saddest part, always is I suppose. But like anything, it gets easier every time. Maybe once again it has to do with the destination in mind. Spent the night at David's because it was too late to get home by then (I sort of live... A bit far, from Melbourne City). Played WoW, Dota, just talked in general really. It was good though. No sleep once again. That makes the third night now in this trip without sleep for a night, the first being on the plane here, the second at the lan party and the third at David's place. And I anticipate a fourth. Look out for it... I'm actually getting pretty adept at it I think. Almost went the second night in a row after David's place, I only slept at 3am the following night after getting back from his place... But I'll get to that.

Anyway, I got home from David's place roughly at 12pm in the afternoon, had a little time to recouperate, before guests started arriving =O. Yeah well, basically my parents called a whole lot of friends and stuff (of theirs) over for a party, pretty much in my name -.-". I love it when it's my parents' party, and I'm stuck in it for purely obligatory reasons. Did end up talking to people though... Wasn't as boring as I had anticipated, perhaps the whole adult thing is growing on me =P. Yeah, I sort of slept at 3am that night, simply because guests left at 11pm, so my own time that night started from then. Ok fine, I got carried away gaming. But isn't that always the reason. (Afterthought: Not quite! It's 3am right now and still up, with no game in sight!)

But one thing that I'm actually quite sick of! Every other person (and quite possibly more) who I meet and hears I'm doing Medicine has the ingratiating habit of asking what I'm specialising in. And each time, I've got to explain, with more and more teeth grinding each time, that I haven't decided (who decides what they want to specialise in before they've even started their bachelor degree? Even if I did, it was probably a premature and ill-informed decision at best at this point in time...).

By the way, my lips are terribly swollen around their perimeter from dryness, and have painfully been cracking and peeling, and worst of all swollen red around my lips. It doesn't just look odd, it's really irritating. And because I was stubborn enough not to do anything about it, my tongue is now cut and damaged from licking my parched lips. Not to mention the numerous ulcers that have spawned in my gums. Most would blame dehydration due to the difference in humidity and other factors from Singapore to here in Melbourne, but I beg to differ. Somehow, I recall that this has happened on trips the other way around too. It doesn't make much sense, but it's either due to the fact that I'm actually not drinking enough water when I travel (due to the disruption of my usual schedule I mentioned before), or perhaps the stresses of adjusting levels of fluid absorption on my body due to the environmental weather change are just manifesting themselves in this way. Whatever it is, I hope it goes away. Soon. Now.

But yeah, all that said and done, soon i'll be back home, and reunited with my OG (who hopefully haven't outlawed estranged old me). Tonight's the last time I'll see my sister before she comes over, possibly at the end of the year, she has school tomorrow and won't be back home until I've checked in at the airport... And my goodbyes to my parents will be the last, they'll see me off at the airport.

I'm actually feeling terribly irresponsible at this point, because my luggage is still empty and unpacked as it has ever been, and I really don't have much time anymore to pack it, given what time it is. I could wake up earlier tomorrow, and risk being really tired on my flight back (where I probably wouldn't sleep much, if at all), and consequently being knocked out for the rest of Tuesday, thereby missing Rag and my University matriculation and perhaps my long overdue Hepatitis B immunisation, as well as seeing people again.

So you may ask... What am I still doing up? Well, I was writing this a second ago, but on second thoughts I think I'll end it here for now and do myself (and ultimately, everyone) a favour and go now. Wish me a good flight, and I'll see everyone from back in Singapore =).

Au revoir.

Yo. I know it's been a while, actually a week probably since I last posted. But you see, when I get hit by changes in environments, habits like these get killed. Too easily. No matter how many times I've been hit by change, it's one thing I find I've never properly been able to adapt to: being able to shift easily between environments. The individual elements of the change itself could all be overcome somehow, but the change itself still disarms me every time.

Anyway, enough with my excuses. Yeah, I've been in Melbourne the past week, and it's been great. Ok, too many things have happened for me to do full recounts (I probably could have if I tried and blogged regularly throughout my trip, but the thing is, why bother? This blog's dropping lower and lower in terms of priority, which is a bad thing, but probably has to do with the number of people who even read it, and the people themselves. Probably should propogate my blog more), but I'll try my best to give recap, overall view sort of things (which most of you probably realise I'm bad at doing) (I shall attempt to anyway).

Ok, I arrived at some messed up time on Monday (was actually about 1am), to find that my Singapore SIM card didn't have autoroam (which enables it to connect to any mobile network in pretty much any country). Win. Had to find some payphone, get change from some counters, and ring my dad who had come to pick me, waiting in the car somewhere (too much effort to park and come all the way to the arrivals area just to see me walk out of the gate). My sister was there too, warm hugs all round. It was quite nice actually. Didn't occur to me before, but I realise now that it had probably been about 6 months since I'd actually hugged anyone, or got a hug that said "I love you". I don't mean holding on to some person, whether for practical reasons or for some questionable game, I mean actually hugging someone, and getting one in return. It's actually rather sad =(. Ok before I start getting mushy... It just got me wondering, when I come back again, probably next year, will it again be deprived of what I suppose could be called affection, this time for a year? Lets just say I hope not.

Anyway. Took me a few days to get hold of a local number, just so I could get in contact again. It actually was pretty traumatising, if I may use such a strong word, being out of contact. I was on MSN 24/7, checking my email constantly etc. I somehow don't think that's a good sign, neither is it normal. Hmm, I wonder. Another topic filed away for further exploration some other time. Hey, I guess it was because Ji-Yoon, who was probably trying to contact me before (on my old Australia number, which I have lost/probably expired anyway), had to resort to calling my home just to get hold of me. Good thing she did though, I was plesantly surprised to hear that she had organised a gathering for my friends on the Wednesday for dinner already, just awaiting my notification.

On Wednesday, I actually was dropped in the area earlier in the afternoon by my dad, so I took the opportunity to visit my now old school, walking distance from where I was going to be meeting everyone. It was really nice seeing my Year 12 teachers again, each one of them welcomed me with open arms, started chatting non-stop, pulled me right in. Probably spent about 30 mins talking to each one that I met. But I must admit it, it was really nice. Telling them of my endeavours and accomplishments thus far, and where I am now, in turn hearing how their classes are this year. Heart-warming and pleasant time, I'm glad I brought the presents for those who wrote testimonials for my application to NUS too, on such short notice and from overseas.

After that, I just went to the LAN shop nearby and met up with David earlier... Got him to play my druid, after our countless arguments on how I could have done something better. To put things simply, he did it better. I guess I learnt a bit from that experience... He also rebound my keys, something which I should have done a long time ago, but never got around to it/was too lazy to get reused to the amount of control I had. Was probably for the better though.

The restaurant was just next door, and it was really wonderful seeing everyone again, the old gang. Same bunch of them who saw me off when I left... Feels like no time's passed at all since I saw them really, as if the last 6-7 months didn't happen. But then when I say it, it all comes crashing in. Well, what actually comes crashing in is my time after the army, with my OG and the good times. What happened in the army has been shoved into some remote crevice, so it won't be dug out by accident. It was... Unpleasant. That's how I felt, anyway. Still do. But dinner was great, had steamboat/hotpot (they call it different stuff in different places) buffet. Like we used to do. Brought back the memories, and company I sorely missed. Everyone's grown sort of apart after this time though, probably because of the different unis and courses people are in. Still, it was nice getting together. I actually over-ate by a long shot by the way, and had that terrible feeling in my tummy you get when you eat to that extent. We did go for drinks after, and I couldn't finish mine ><. But it was nice talking to everyone again. Glad once again for the gifts I managed to get, would have felt odd going empty handed.

The next thing that happened was on Friday, and into Saturday. Went for an overnight LAN with David and the rest of the Dota guys in the city, but the turnout was shocking. We just ended up playing WoW after a while, when there was like barely anyone left. Still, it was fun. And then at like 6am, caught a train from the city to a train station near my place, to get picked up by my parents for a trip to Mount Baw Baw, to see the snow (it IS winter here in Melbourne, though it doesn't actually snow in the city, it does on the peaks nearby). Went with the church group my parents and sister are in at the moment, which consisted largely of uni students. It was cool, literally as well as figuratively, and I got my hands on a snowboard for the first time. Quite proud actually, I reckon I picked it up pretty fast =D 2 hours in, no one teaching, I was tackling the basic slope pretty well, even got the ski trail (that thing took ages to get... It's actually a lot harder than it looks >.> I had to hike up and fall down the hill until I did get it for practice lol). I was just starting on the harder slopes when we had to go. Great fun by the way, especially after you get it. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't had a chance to try so far.

Also, just to point out something you might not have realised... After spending the day snowboarding, I only realised after I stopped: I hadn't slept since Thursday night. It was fast approaching Saturday night, and after an afternoon snowboarding. It sort of kicked in as we were wrapping up. Kicked in hard, especially because of the dehydration too ><. But I was ok after skulling 1 litre of water. And then suffering in the long car ride back all the way to some restaurant where we went for dinner, which upon alighting, I made a beeline for the toilet. That aside though, I was pretty much revived after that. Would have managed that night without sleeping if I had wanted actually, if I was crazy enough (No, I wasn't... Relax).

So yeah, here I am, Sunday night (though it's actually Monday morning by now). Went to the new church my parents and sister are attending, since the time I left for Singapore. I had met some of the people on the snow trip yesterday, but there were a few I hadn't. All in all, it was a nice church, lots of pleasant people, as well as those I could talk/relate to. It's colonised by people from the nearby University (Monash University (Berwick)) since their Overseas Christian Fellowship is linked with this church. Met lots of nice people, who, if circumstances were different, would probably make close friends. It's odd though, meeting these people, yet knowing that you wouldn't be seeing them again, probably for another year, that you were just on different paths. Interesting feeling, the subtle brushing of other's lives, knowing that you pretty much won't be a part of each other's lives, except remotely, of course.

Well, it's really late, and I've got some stuff to think about seriously since tonight ;) especially in terms of actions I should be taking as a result. It's a weakness of mine, and I don't plan to let it be my downfall this time.

So with that, I'm off, I'll try to post more frequently, though I don't really have much planned out for this coming week. This is by no means a promise. If you don't see another post for the next week... I'm sorry, that's just the way it is. Any other communication/arrangements prior to then deemed important enough to me will be settled on a personal basis~.

/wave.

SodoI.

Hiya everyone! I'm back from Medi-Camp~! I couldn't do this post earlier because when I actually got home from camp, I was so far gone I couldn't even bring myself to watch an episode of anime. I knocked out for 17 hours straight (probably a record for me). After which, realising the time, I then rushed off to the University for my medical checkup. After that it's just been non-stop until I got home at about 1am. And 4 hours later, I present this!

Ok, I'll start off saying this. I've never been a person for Camps, especially of the orientation/ice-breaker sort. Simply because they generally resulted in activities that I am... Not too partial to. In the past (although none of my previous camps could ever really compare to this one), what I basically ended up doing was emo-ing at a corner watching people pwn each other. Wasn't much fun, not for me, and I doubt it was for them.

Medicamp was different. Medicamp rocked. The theme was Medagascar, so we ended up having groups named after the Genus of various animals.

There were a few fundamental differences with this camp, I must say. The one huge determining factor which probably made the camp for me was my OG (orientation group), just a shout out to them here, HARPIA FTW~ (If you haven't guessed, it's an eagle)! During the pre-camp I didn't really get to know much about my fellow M1s in my OG aside from their names, and for most not even that. But the most interesting thing is how we just somehow clicked. Everyone just sort of fit in perfectly. It's something extremely hard to describe, up there with the most difficult this blog has faced. I don't know if it could be attributed to the common focus and goals of the group that naturally brought the cohesion, or simply the open character of everyone. There was synergy almost right from the beginning, definitely with the powerful aid of our all-knowing OGLs (Orientation Group Leaders) (who were pretty much all M2s). It was just... Amazing. I'm actually speechless. As you have probably realised if you read the above senseless paragraph.

Well I'll go from the start. On day 1, the moment we got to the place and settled down, the first game pretty much started. It was sort of an amazing race spin off, with stations around the island which we travelled around performing stations and following clues to our final destination, which would be our chalets. It was pretty fun actually, and a great way to get to know everyone just one step up from the introduction phase. We were the first group out of the auditorium once the clues were issued, first team on the first bus, first team out at the first station which was within the university itself. It was like this Captain's Ball challenge, where you took on the next team to arrive, played off, and the winner continued on while the losing team challenged the next one etc. So we waited for the second team, kicked them, were the first to get the next clue and on the bus again.

The whole race pretty on went on like that, with our team topping each station not only arriving first, but hi-scoring the challenge. The sad thing was that we didn't win first position in terms of arrivals, it was grabbed by another team who decided they were very rich, and cabbed the entire race away. They were even third at the last station before the final one, and won by cab. Oh well, by score we still pwned face. It was about this time after the race that our bonds as an OG really began to form. With blinding speed. By the time the night was out we were pretty much well into getting to know each other. But apart from that, you could just feel the sort of glow emanating from the group as a whole. Like I said earlier. We just clicked. It was at about this point that I realised that I probably landed up in the coolest OG in the world. And it wasn't about to stop at that.

The second day consisted of station games in the morning, where you basically got really wet (not just from clean water) doing stuff ranging from daring to downright disgusting against other groups. I guess it was at this point where the mutual respect for/from each member began to grow, and then show. Though we didn't do as great at station games, we still managed to maintain our lead as the highest scoring OG in the camp thus far. I believe it was sheer synergised willpower that took us that far. Another concept and source I was not truly aware of before this.

That afternoon, there was a cook-out where basically OG's were given a range of themes, and based on them were to prepare a meal, a play, and decorate their chalet to the theme, to be assessed by judges, competition styles. This was possibly the first real test of the mettle of our OG and an assessment of our efficiency in accomplishing cooperative tasks effectively. We passed. With flying colours. Ok fine, we pwned it. Once again, everyone just somehow seemed to know what they had to do, where to do it, how to do it, and just fit in just the right places. Myself I found in the kitchen, helping out/co-supervising with the cooking, while holding a minor role in the play. We managed to skillfully fuse the play and presentation of the dishes, that, honestly, left me in awe, let alone the judges. I would actually upload the pictures of the food to perhaps try to show how we got a perfect score, but my photos sort of suck... I'll post once the real photos come out =).

The theme was 300, so we had a skit depicting a shortened version of the movie (very well, might I add, complete with key lines, even breaking the 4th wall down in the process). Greek food to suit the theme. We had an appetiser consisting of Greek salad and onion soup, pita bread to go with Tzatziki dip, then a main course with pan-fried beef patties with cheese-melt centres, and a yogurt honey nut dessert. We even had decorations like carved tomatoes and chillies to make the presentation even more spectacular. The impressive part is that whole thing was pretty much made from scratch, with a $40 budget and about 3 hours to do it. It was so good we finished the rest of what the judges left behind when they left.

Oh yes, that night the seniors orchestrated a grand plan called "fright night", which involved setting the mood by telling ghost stories, and then sending us to be bundled off, blindfolded, on a truck, to what was supposed to be a haunted place. (The truth was that there was actually one of the more famous haunted places in Singapore nearby, the Old Changi General Hospital). They then told us we were going there. Then they split us up into pairs of guy/girl within our OG and sent us into this building, telling us just to follow the light sticks on the floor. Basically the M2s did this grand decoration of the entire chalet (which was what it turned out to be, another chalet at another place), full of perfectly made up ghosts and zombies and the like jumping about, screaming, making horrific noises, and setting the scene really well. The effort they put in could really be seen, and I think they did a great job. The stupid part? Our OG has more guys than girls. And due to random (rotten, as usual) luck, I got the other guy. In short, completely ruined the whole thing. Seriously going into a haunted house with another guy just completely defeats the purpose. You just aren't even scared anymore, because neither of you are, and it just becomes dumb. No girl to set the ambiance, and believe me it makes a huge difference. Still, they effort they put into doing up the whole chalet and costumes/make-up should really be applauded though. Great route too. Sad that I could actually notice things like these. This is what happens sigh.

The third day morning was war games, and then we sort of realised for sure our team's weakness... Rough games. We just can't beat other teams when it comes to them, since our OG seems to consist of the milder sort of people, if no less skilled, loud, and plain 1337 players. Coupled with the fact that all the other OGs pretty much alliance'd to take us down, being the top ranked team. The results... Were disastrous. Ok, not that bad. We still managed not to come in last. But it did spoil our score... We ended up at about second or third place at the end of camp.

Well hey everyone, this one's going to be a terribly short post, probably my shortest. I know everyone's probably disappointed (lol!), but it can't be helped really. In about 15 minutes I leaving for Medi-Camp~!

On Saturday, I went for the Pre-Camp tea, where the people in the course got divided into "Orientation Groups" (OGs), which consisted of one group of us M1s (Med First Years), and another group of M2s, who were there to sort of act like mentors, there to introduce us to everything there is pretty much. I sort of appreciate the idea, like sempais being the ones guiding us around, showing us the haunts, and also the places of ph34r. Anyway, haven't got to know much of the other M1s in my group, but I do realise that our M2s really are quite a nice bunch of people, and their actually really close as well, for people who've been in the same OG for a year (to me, anyway). So yeah, we'll be doing camp with this group, hopefully I'll get to know more people and stuff.

Camp's from today (Monday morning) until like Thursday I think, so I won't be around until then. But it should be fun. Maybe. (Though I'm really not the type for these sorts of camps where it's all icebreakers and activity sigh).

Oh yeah, sorry my flight timings still aren't out... I only know that at least my trip is confirmed =D, flying off on the 13th of July, and then back on the 28th. It's a very hectic period for me, but at least I think we managed to pull the timings off. Hopefully. I think by now any stuff-ups I'll find out quite unpleasantly.

Will reflect more after coming back from camp, I find it a little unfair to pass judgements on people based on first impressions. I find it harsh, really. Perhaps it's because I make terrible first impressions too. Sympathy, you know.

Alright, I'll do a post when I get back, so look forward to it (really, I'll try to do a post on either the Thursday or Friday haha).

Bye.

Apprehension.