Friday, May 22

Knee Problem & likely operation

Today was a horrifying day. Came back from relief with dear in the afternoon and started unpacking my stuff. Dear was sleeping. Was just trying on clothes for next week when i dropped my hair clip. Bent down, pick it up and the next moment the sound I heard was that of " CRackk, crracckk...cracckk.." My knee gave way and I crumpled onto the floor. Was crying in pain on the floor but didn't wake Yanhan up because was he was so sound asleep. I sat there for a good old 5 mins tearing, finally had the courage to slowly straighten my leg. It felt horrible. The pain was excruciating and I had difficulty trying to stand.

In the evening, told my parents about my knee and we went to see the neighbourhood clinic doctor for advice. He got us a referral letter to Dr. Ravipillay @ Mount E. Hospital. The scheduled appointment is this coming 09 June (Tuesday) at 930am. I cried after hearing what my clinic doctor said and couldnt stop thinking of the worse scenario. He was talking about the high chance of a broken cartilage between my knee bones. And a scope will be necessary if Dr. Ravipillay is not sure if there is even a crack in the cartilage. And if the cartilage is really broken or cracked, an operation will be necessary to take the chipped parts out. However, if the scope presents the finding of a entirely cracked cartilage, the whole piece will have to be taken out and no more intensive sports for me. Not even high heels. After hearing, I couldnt control my tears. I mean it felt really embarassing crying in front of the doctor, my dad and yanhan. It actually felt worse thinking of the sports I cannot play anymore like Netball, Basketball, Volleyball... and what? high heels...

I really broke down that night. I mean Im only 22 and this is already happening? or maybe happening? Somehow, thinking back, 3 months ago, I was walking and felt my knees wasn't pretty alright. I knew something serious is coming but didnt expect it to be so soon. Guessed as much actually, I mean 7 years of intensive track and fields- long/triple jumps, sprints (since primary school when Im going through puberty); this is really just a matter of time before my knees give way. But hey.. isn't it too early? Im too young to lose so many things right now...

But wells, was really touched when dear stayed over to comfort me and take care of me. He consoled me the whole nite and attended to the knee of mine. Thanks dear so much. Love you mum and dad so much too! Dad was really concerned for me and suggested to go for the appointment next tuesday instead (26 May) but i insisted a "wait-and-see" management. Thanks dad for your love. Thanks to yanhan's family for their support too. Thank you yanhan's mum for offering me shorter heels for relief the next week.

And thank you for those who read this and have showed me your concern.
Don't worry guys! Grace will be brave and will live my life to the fullest no matter the outcome.

Yes. I will and can do it. :)

Thursday, May 21

Job Search

No chance of internship this summer...well, due to the 1 week Taiwan trip with dear and his family in June, I lost a chance to land myself in an internship with Boustead Salcon this vacation. Felt rather disappointed because I had planned for a 6mcs workload for this internship and was thinking of using this 6 mcs to stabilise my cap if I can achieve something good and stable by the end of this 6th sem.

Well, looks like I've got to plan something different and worthwhile as compared to an internship to compete with the rest of the people out there.. to boost and colour one's resume you know..

After thinking and discussing with yanhan about it, realized I could actually take on a different route as compared to the rest of my peers who are going through the same route of either SEP or VIP (internship)! I could actually do a "skills up-grading course" this holidays to gain outside exposure and experience in different fields for 2 good reasons! 1- knowing where my work interest lies and which jobs Im good at. 2- beautifying my resume with lots of exposure gained and skills learnt! Hey.. sounds good. haha.

Events Coordinator
So yeap! For the past 1 month, after the end of exams, I had been busy looking for jobs that can guarantee me lots of professional exposure and making sure I gain relevant experience and lifelong skills which I can apply to my permanent job next time. So Yanhan, Hongzhou and I went on searching for jobs in the line of Teaching, Events coordinator and Sales. We went to look for Kelly S. for jobs regarding exposure to the events line. They said they are actually looking for part-timers and students to carry out the work of ushers, booth menders and CSO for business events like World Health Meeting @ Suntec convention hall and the famous G-8 Summit. Thought this exposure will be really good coz it's really relevant to any jobs next time when it comes to client meetings and confidence in serving pretigious business guests.

Relief Teaching
Then, with the help of Yanhan's mum, dear and I landed ourselves in the job as a relief teacher in Serangoon Gardens Secondary School. This I must say is a perfect exposure gained in crowd control, conflict & anger management and making your mind work every second when it comes to interaction with different kinds of students. Confidence building too! :D

I really love this job. HAHA. Everybody says Im crazy (even my parents), everyone was like shooting me with many many negative remarks of students today, especially a school like what Im taking now. Hey.. But seriously, I love challenges man. Taking on neighbourhood schools like such allows me to gain much more exposure as compared to good and obedient schools like Cedar or Anglican High. Taking on good schools is really a breeze, like really just wasting your time in class and doing your own work because the students are so well-behaved! Try taking on a normal technical class in a neighbourhood school, that is what i call "earning your money's worth"! I love taking on these classes because it really push my limits to "what I can achieve" further and seriously, I have learnt a lot from these classes I've took on for about a week. I love my job!

Everyday is a brand new day for me. I look forward to meeting my handsomes and pretties in class (yes, I call all my students that). haha. Their behavior change everyday, for all classes, for all students. It's weird. These students are like chameleons. Sometimes they are their usual self (the naughty, cheeky and rowdy crowd), then sometimes they behave weirdly well! So this is when your approach to them has got to change and it's not as easy as Im putting it in words now. Ha! I must agree with yanhan's mum that these schools are just day-time zoo and the teachers? Nope. We are called zoo-keepers. Yes. Situation in school is that bad. You can really see some permanent teachers actually give up on most rowdy students because basically they are seen as animals. But seriously, I believe age gap plays a big part. I mean I am a sec sch student not long ago and I really can understand why some students just feel like punching their teachers upside-down. Some teachers are just overly ridiculous la.. I mean if you sit down in hall for an hour listening to boring talks, one will surely be restless and starts talking to people around you right? Guess what a teacher did? She actually shamed her students by asking them to "SHUT UP" and get out and sit beside her. No explanations. Really, if im a student, I would have punched her. I mean all students need respect too what. If you want the students to respect and listen to you, you've got to respect them first and not throw your weights and authority at them! But wells, sitting beside that fat female teacher, looking at how she shame her students in front of many people around them make me IRK! But what can I do? Im just a relief teacher. So wells, I just kept quiet and do my part in making sure my students behave.

Another reason for loving this Job? coz everyday is a fashion parade! I love wearing pretty pretty clothings to work! haha! alright. So yup! 1 more week at work and the June holidays is here. Going to be out of work for relief in June but I cannot wait to be back there in JULY!!! :DD YAy! Schooling rocks! =D

Art Teacher
Ahh yes. Talking about teaching reminds me of this trip HZ, YH and I took to Bukit Timah Plaza (near NUS) to sign up as an art teacher for this company called Kidz' Art! haha.. I thought this is so fun coz they actually have holiday art camps for kids and they need instructors to help coordinate the art programs and all. They said they will call us in June when the camps are starting! But there's a catch. We actually had to commit for 5 months till Dec for a 3 hour art teaching lesson every sat! So yup, thought it will be cool so we went to sign up and guess what? We had to sit through this small test to gauge our drawing capability. So we were presented 3 items on the table (a vitamin pill bottle, a Nescafe bottle and a cup) and had to do a still-life sketching. It was so much fun and HZ and I had a great laugh at dear's hideous work. HAHA! Dear's drawing is horribly terrifying.. should have taken a picture of that drawing man.. lol. I guess I must sign dear up for some art lessons soon. HAHa.

Wednesday, May 20

4 months into writing nothing on my dear blog...

Seriously, I have forgotten what has happened throughout my 4 months of school term from January till now. Haven't really got the free time to do these little updates in life, especially with so much commitments to tv and dear during school. haha. But wells, photos do hold memories dearly and that's why i love taking pictures coz they do speak a thousand words and remind you of events that had happened ages ago!

So yup, here are some pretty little memories from random pictures taken from January till now. :D





New collage of art board in my butterflied room














Dad's 08 birthday present



































Frying the peanuts!













































Finally...
Our Mee-Chiang Kuey-->Roti-Prata lookalike

HAHA
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Chinese New Year Festive Moooood.

Went shopping with dear for CNY goodies at Chinatown. We were pestered by this bunch of uncles at the cross junction of some street. We wanted to shake them off but they kept opening jellies after jellies for us to try! We tried to turn those offers down but they just shove them into our hands... Wat the hell! So ridiculous! Like forcing customers to try!.. so after we were forced to eat, we were too embarassed not to buy anything from them and were psychoed by them to buy $20 worth of Taiwan jelly for $1.50 each gram. Then, guess what? as we turned to another street, we saw this group of youngsters selling the same thing for $1 each gram!!!! ARHHH.. just felt like punching those stupid uncles and of course myself..






















These were the cheater jellies




















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Happy 牛 year!

haha.. I love pronouncing this phrase.. so corny!






Bros and I at Ah ma's hse on 初一















Cousins and I at Sentosa's Flower festival on 初二



















































































































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Family's CNY Chalet on the weekend!







At the newly renovated NSRCC, really prestigious looking chalet! So much better than the old version.

















































Dear won $17 from mahjong. Yay! A treat!















End up? Only Dear, bros and their friends and I stayed over that night coz the rest of my relatives were too lazy and dad has to play golf the next morning. So I HAD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING OUT!

Always...
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Career Fair '09






Lugged back to hall with tonnes of brochures and a super HUGE paper bag...







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Valentines' Day '09!

Gave dear 9 little gifts for V'day this year. Why? Coz it's '09! and to spell out "Happy V'Day" is 9 letters in total. HAHA.. so anyway, they are just excuses la coz I ran out of ideas.. so had to come up with lame reasons for those 9 little presents..They are inexpensive yet it took me 4 days to get those things done. Only took pictures of 2 gifts.. (below) The rest are those of Japanese cookies, a pool 8-ball mug, $20 gift voucher and I can't remember already. haha.




















































And dear treated me to Kuishinbo! (A Japanese buffet) :)) The snow crab there rocks! Desserts rocks too! But the rest of the food were just normal buffet style, with Jap food and of course the standard seafood. What I was impressed with was the wide variety! They actually had hotpot and chasoba! These 2 items are not common for a standard buffet. Taste wise was above average. Well, the cost is around $40+ per pax, I would say it's a must-go for once to try. Really must eat the snow crab for money's worth. :)

Saturday, January 17

My affair with...

heyhey! im back with a new outlook! :D
Also, check out my 2nd blog under "my affair blog." on the left pane.. haha! It's so pretty! =D

Really lovin' it!

Ok, the first week of school is gone just like dat! Everything is happening so very fast and Im like still feeling so calm, relax, in a daze...
*WAKE UP GRACE! Rmb your goal!*

Yes. But anyways, Im really happy with my modules and timetable this semester coz for the 1st time in 3 years, I've got a 3 day work week! haha..

-Claps- :D

Alright, now that my blogs are done, i shall go to slp.. like finally! yay...



Wednesday, January 7

New Year's eve '08!


Simple dinner with family and dear
@

Look at that bum.. who refuse to take pictures everytime...

HAHA!
Inside the restaurant
Alright.. just some random pictures :D
On the way back to dear's house... counting down to year 2009 on the bus with TV mobile and the people on the top deck of 70.. haha

First unique way of experiencing countdown! haha

YAY! A new year!

Wednesday, December 31

Counting down to a new year- 2009!


My eventful 2008... Lets go!

.::Overseas trips::.


Redang.
My first overseas trip with friends.. LOVIN it!

Hokkaido.
The first experience with snow. First time to Japan.


.::Sadness::.


Uncle passed away early this year :(

Dennis flew off to Japan to study for 4 years in March.

Nice maid, Aunty Tati, left in October.

Bestie Shuhui flew off to Norway for SEP 2 days ago.


.::Camps::.


Instructor camp for Bedok North Secondary school.

Engin Camp. (Councillor)

Chess camp. (Asst. House head)- there's where i know the ICE CREAMS! :)

O week 2008. (committee member)

...accomplished!


.::21st Birthdays::.


Planned, organised and saw through bestie Trace's, Dear's, Cindy & Junkiat's 21st.
and no doubt mine own too! haha

Went to many best friends' 21st party and realized we have all grown up.


.::Experiences::.


Staying hall with dear. (Made me realize how much i do miss home and my family.. LOVE THEM!) :)

Joined 'Zussamen', a sports event, and achieved 3rd ($75) with my besties trace and tingfeng and other friends :)

Many field trips with the class (felt more bonded with them in 3 years)

The period of frequent quarrels with dear when he first stayed hall made me realize how much i cnt do without him and really cherish him and most importantly learning the real meaning of trust :)


.::Surprises::.


Cap of 4.7 for 4th semester. It was a miracle.

Dear and his humungous.......... mango cake! HAHA for my 21st birthday!

Mervin joined the group of meanies! :)



Yeap! So it has been a year of simple ups and downs, fun and laughter, sadness and tears, experiences and surprises...

Going to keep these as memories of 2008 and embrace the coming of 2009 with much anxiety and love.

Happy new year people!

Tuesday, December 30

Junkiat and Cindy's Hawaii 21st!

room number: 2214
So coincidentally, 2214 when permutated can become 2412, which is their birthday! And yup, meanies bought 4D on it..but wells, the number didnt come out though.. haha

remaining 4 meanies attending the party + mervin and junhan
The night of stayover before the party the next day
I love these letters! my accomplishment! whoohoo! :D

morning of preparations!

my bestie's finally 21! rocks! ;D

gift exchange!! ;D

picking of number for the gift

finally, everything ended :))

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EVE clique outing! :)




This is most wonderful clique outing ever in 3 years! It seriously beats those mundane klas outing organised by our rep.. haha..but still that stupid Shuhui flew us kite again!!

We met at Sushi Tei (Vivocity) for dinner then played silly games at arcade and had many photoshoots at the top deck! (the arcade game really amused me..haha.. it was plain throwing balls at the screen to achieve a certain target.. so yeah.. we managed to get 40 tickets with just 2 plays and so we exchanged for 4 pencils.. -.-.. haha...). After much discussion, we decided to drive to Bukit Timah Plaza to play pool at 10pm..(and oh..tingfeng seriously sucks at pool! hahaa)

About 1230, we drove to Huixian's house so she could take her make up stuff then lastly drove to Thomson's crispy prata place for supper at 115am! :D Then heroic shaun offered to fetch Yongbin and I home after the whole thing!

hooray! Shaun, you rock! haha

We spent the night driving and exploring many different places! Well, although the time spent wasnt very long, but it is the quality that counts!
Yeah! So it was fun-filled nite with the right mix of company, unlike those boring klas outing where we will all be screaming for help to leave the company asap.. haha


Tuesday, December 23

Im still lovin' it..

This year's xmas gift is really a 'expectedly' bad one. Now i can really use my favourite phrase " 去死吧!" Results this sem was horribly butt-hole bad... much worse then i'd expected man.. just hoping no more of such nonsense with the coming of a new year...


I must admit this sem I studied the least as compared to the past 2 years and had many changes to my life that I've to adapt to.. like staying in hall with dear, taking part in the whole season of IFG, 21st birthday plannings, bashes and these sorts of activities.. well.. but glad to say, I didnt regret it! It wasnt a plain studying kind of life i lived.. but rather, a fulfilling, satisfied semester 5! I played hard and certainly studied hard! and Im loving the way I spent it! -claps- and yeap! Though my results are really disappointing due to a not-so-smart-me who couldnt manage so many activities and wells, it didnt complete the whole rainbow of happiness, thinking bout it... at least it wasnt so bad it destroyed my entire rainbow..haha.. and yay!

No regrets! :)) Cheers!~ coz im still lovin' it!

So right now, just hoping 2009 will be a good start to more loving it-s! and come on grace! I know u won't be beaten down that easily!
yeah..
RArrrr!
:))

certainly...' me and my lionroars'!