My great grandmother passed away last Wednesday on 26 January. She was 96 and I guess you could say that she was finally called home to be with the Lord. Been attending the wake at Harum over the past couple of nights, and it was pretty comforting and heartwarming to see all the family reuniting together for support. It was nice to see everyone again, especially since I wasn't around last year for CNY and that, apart from Lao Ma's annual birthday dinner (which come to think of it, its been three years since I last attended it), that's the only time in the year when I get to see my mum's side of the family. Its nice to see that all my grand aunts are still as jovial and crazy as ever, and it was awesome to catch up with Sam and Pei Ling again.

I wasn't close to my great grandmother at all, and like I said, the only times in a year when I'd see her would be during CNY and at her birthday dinner. But it was during those times when I did that she'd always hold my hand tightly and say two words to me whenever I saw her, and that was "Very pretty" in Hokkien. Obviously, as a young child, and as someone who can only manage English fluently, I had to get my grand aunts to translate what she said, but I remember being very happy and pleased whenever I heard her say that to me. After that I'd run off and play with my brother and cousins, but she'd always sit there quietly observing the family around her. I guess you could say that she was a staple figure in my mum's side of the family, someone who was always there and seemed to live forever. God really blessed her with such a long life, and a healthy one at that. Its also because of her that the whole Koh family is so close. Everyone coming together to visit her and catch up with one another. I guess its a gift that she left with all of us. And even though I didn't really know her, looking back now I'm truly thankful for her. I just hope that the family will still remain as close, and that we'll all continue her legacy and meet up consistently with everyone.

So goodbye, Lao Ma. I'll really miss you. But I know you're having a ball of a time up there in Heaven with your husband, God, Jesus and the angels. Thanks for everything you've given us, and till we meet again, I love you.

xoxo

If its one thing that 2010 taught me, its that freedom really does taste sweet. That kind of sweetness that once you're used to it, you don't ever wanna go back to that level of blandness that came before. I think its because of the time I've spent living abroad in Melbourne. I had nobody around to control my life, to set curfews or to nag. In an obvious way, its awesome because I could run my life with minimal restrictions from my parents. But I guess it was so sweet and enticing that I'm so used to it now. My life in Singapore just totally suffocates me.

But anyway, 2010 was a fantastically ass-whoopingly awesome year for me. I enjoyed it so much that I think I'll elaborate on the main highlights below.. (:

University
I finally embarked on my real journey in studying abroad. I don't count foundation as much, since it felt like I was taking the easy way into university.. Ha. So yeah, my real journey - university life. I must say, when I first started Year 1, it was a whole new experience to me. Wasn't used to how the classes were run (tutorials and lectures) and how you can go to class late and nobody gives a whoot. HAHA ok well, its all really independent-based learning, and the tutors don't spoonfeed you at all! So different from what I'm used to in Singapore where the teachers basically give you whatever info you need to know. Over in university its like, you need to know this, so go to the library and do your own research. Oh, and we call our tutors by their first names too, so that was a big hurdle for me to cross. Felt so rude calling them by their first names! But I guess since I was studying in an angmo country, I gotta do what the Romans do.

Chisholm
Chisholm was also a great milestone in my life overseas so far. Moving out of the sheltered life in Glenn and into the more mature Chisholm certainly made me realise the importance of being able to fend for yourself. In other words, cook. Haha yeah you could say that by making the move to Chisholm I threw myself into the deep end of the pool because I never really cooked much prior to that. Apart from Home Econs in my Lower Secondary school days (I still remember my awesome-tasting but shitty-looking mee goreng that I made hahaha) and occasionally helping my aunt stir fried rice in a wok, I didn't cook. But I discovered that I fortunately was not one of those people who, despite being thrown into the deep pool, still cannot cook even if their lives depended on it. I still remember my first meal cooked in Chisholm - stir fried bok choy in oyster sauce, tamagoyaki and the bestest tasting stir fried beef in oyster sauce. Haha call it beginner's luck, but at least I didn't burn anything! And being in-charge of cooking meals for not only me, but for Tine, Gen and Polly made me realies the importance of a chef. HAHA idk if that made sense but whatever. I did have fun cooking for them and trying out new things (:

I'm pretty happy I moved to Chisholm, anyway. Its more homely and welcoming than how Glenn felt when I stayed there. I guess its mainly because there are so much more locals in Glenn, and they're not exactly the friendliest bunch. Over at Chisholm, the internationals to locals ratio was probably like what, 5:1? But even so, the locals in Chisholm were so much friendlier. Also, the people in Chisholm were mostly slightly older than those at Glenn, so that made the environment in Chisholm more mature. People knew how to party and drink too, but everyone did it pretty much more responsibly than at Glenn.

I think the best part about Chisholm was getting to meeting so many new friends. And I was blessed with the most awesome floormates one could ever have. Though I guess we were pretty much a bunch of mis-matched people, but put together we rocked 12C. (: Paolo with his ability to fix whatever computer problem you have (and also produce whatever movie/TV show you want), CJ and his random pranks on everyone, Clo stabbing at her potato kids (LOL), Steven forever being a loser (hahahaha), Shelby and her Asian jokes whenever she's had one drink too many and Christelle being perpetually bubbly and bouncy and radiating happiness. Really had fun with those guys. And I miss them so much! ): But I thank God I had the opportunity to live with them. (:

SingSoc
Joined the SingSoc exco committee for 2010 and took on the role as social representative! Saw me organising outings, events and sending out e-mails to the members. Learnt how to use Google Documents and create forms too, which is something pretty cool, I must say. (: Anyway this was my first stint as part of an exco, so it was a nice new experience. I really had a lot of fun working with the other excos, and I'm sure we're all really proud of our achievements, however unrecognised, as a team. And hopefully we've done enough to leave behind a legacy (lol) of awesomeness in SingSoc!

I do realise that social rep is pretty much quite an enjoyable job for me hehee (:

Road trip to the Gramps
In the mid-semester break of Semester 2, Tine, Gen, Lynal and I went up to the Grampians for a 4D3N road trip. Tine, Lynal and I initially planned to go to Sydney, but since Tine's mum didn't allow for it, we settled on the Gramps instead and Gen tagged along. I can't remember why I didn't do a post on this trip, but let's just say that it was simply amazing and something I will never ever forget. From long drives and chats in the car, going on whatever hikes we could squeeze into each day, horseback riding, restaurant hunting, star gazing and cam-whoring in the middle of a pitch-black country road, prancing around fairy flower fields, basking in God's creation, and basically just enjoying each others' awesome company. I really miss those times, when we could be so carefree and happy out there in the middle of nature. Plus it was my first ever road trip. (: Thank you God for the amazing experience!

God
Another highlight of 2010 was that I think my spiritually dry period somewhat ended. Or at least it began to not look so bleak (what horrible grammar, omg). Though it happened in the second half of the year, I guess its better than nothing. Due to some people, I suddenly realised the importance of living a Godly life and walking close to Him. And I felt that I had to set an example, and that fueled me with the drive to want to do something about my situation. So that kinda led me to make the move to change church, to attend FOCUS again (after what, a year?) and to read the Bible and pray more. My prayer for 2011 is that my wak with God will not falter, and that He will use me in ways that I never perceived possible.

you
And then there's you. I wouldn't say I'd ever regret meeting you. I've never really been so close to anyone, and even though its only been a short period of time, there's always that longing to be with you. We fight all the time: I get angry, you get annoyed, and so many times I wanted to give up. But I tell myself that there's more to this than our grievance, there's the little random moments when you make me so happy and vice versa. When you hold me and make me feel like I can take on anything the world throws my way. I really don't know what the future holds, especially when it concerns the two of us. And even though I want it to happen this way, I doubt it will. But I just thank God for blessing me with the chance to have shared some really special moments with you. ilu.