.V

Just felt that it is a nice breather that befits the updating of my blog. ~phew.
okie. latest news first. I just cui-ed my 7th( and final) mid term just 10minutes ago. but lets not dwell on it.

okie. American election. wah. From the perspective of a Singaporean, the stark difference is obvious. Most Singaporeans are probably not much into politics. Students are apathetic. Well, its amazing the unity and views expressed by the students here over the fight between Obama and Mc Cain. My neighbour was celebrating and cheering with each win of Obama (well, they are supporters of the democrats) and burst into an off-tuned American National Anthem after the final results were released. (never really heard the anthem before, but it just... cant be the way they sang it.. ). And so, the results showed triump of Obama over McCain in this election. The next day, this girl came into the study room with her friends and was agitatedly sharing how she felt that supporters of the Democrats could at least show some respect for the people who wanted Republic. No jeering at Mc Cain and stuff like that? About how America is the most diverse of all countries and they pride themselves for having the right to choose WITHOUT infringing on others' right. yada yada yada. and she WROTE a paper to express her views (i bet she must be from political studies). But yup, point being that, here, people actually care much more and actively seek the way they think things should be. Passive Singaporeans just doesnt seem so right anymore. I'm not going to comment on the political circle (because im one of those people who don't know much about it and couldnt care for it in the past), just saying here that its inspiring to see the way the Americans are.

AND on the 7th of November, my elder brother did the sweetest thing ever by sending me a parcel WITH A NOTE to wish a early happy birthday. I just held it and cried for 1 entire minute. haha.. I guess I was just very touched. Thats family.

Trip to San Diego!!! 8th to 10th November. Worked like crazy before going and worked like crazy again after going. San Diego is very much of a BIG peaceful city. Not much activities and energy in that place I think. Disclaimer: its just a personal feel. It might differ from people to people. But the transportation system was pretty comprehensive though.

okie. day 1 spent in a place called OLD TOWN. Old town, as the name suggest, is very much of a natural heritage conservation site (much like our Chinatown, Little India etc etc). Its predominantly Mexican because in the past, California used to belong to Mexico (so obviously the conserved sites should be technically Mexican). Small shops and displays with slot of Mexican designed clothes, accessories and food, music and stuff like that. Lunch was Mexican as you might have guessed. and MY. the drinks are like... if i had to say, it is at least a E or F cup.haha.. And then, we moved on to the Seaport Village in Downtown. The thing about downtown is that it is too similar to our Shenton way. Business District, with alot of EXPENSIVE hotels like Hilton, something and something (I cant rmb, but it was impressive then and there), side by side. Its one of the time u yearn to be able to stay inside there. haha.. Seaport Village is another place near the pier where you can see the sea, the cruises etc etc. Too many beaches over here and too many piers. But they remained nice to look at. Ben and Jerrys ice cream had been heavenly especially this new flavoured peanut butter stuff. Like omg. totally satisfying.

Day 2- More exciting because we went to the SeaWorld where there are the dolphins, seals, whales, sharks yada yada yada. I really have to say that the shows there are GOOD. The best out of the few that I have seen. Friendly Dolphins, Magnificent Whales, cheeky sealions. It is amazing, the interaction between the trainers and 'their animal'. I guess every trainer has only one animal and there is this trust that u can feel as u watch their performance. Its just COOL. If i ever go back to San Diego, it would be for the Seaworld. haha.. Going to let the photos do the talking here.

but IF you are going there for the rides and stuff like that, as far as I recall, there was but ONE roller coaster and 3 kiddy flying space craft and rotating.. erm. cups? I was going to take photos of screaming people as they come but end up getting a whole lot of water splashed onto me instead. and knowing me. of course i didnt do the roller coaster. haha... its THAT obvious.

Day 3- the zoo. the second zoo that I have visited this year. This place is definitely bigger, with more animals and species. best of all, they have koalas and pandas. haha.. but alot of the novelty of the zoo was rubbed off by the trip to the singapore zoo after a whole 10 years. but anyway, back to koalas and pandas. haha.. the lazy animals were mostly sleeping or hiding somewhere in the caves and I really had this urge to take photos and post them as :" spot the animal in the picture". Because I REALLY COULDNT find them! I would have loved to sit there for one afternoon and just taking photos. haha.. Im still a photo freak. Just look at the little koala here (spent so long trying to take this shot):

haha.. everything seem just nice and relaxing until. TADA. POOOOOO~~~ the amtrak went right past us without stopping. haha.. wow. hmm.. thats the last train from San Diego bakc to Goleta. so this is what happened:

1) yayoi (japanese friend)'s friend from San Diego drove us to Solana Beach to change our tickets

2) Solana Beach amtrak to LA amtrak

3) transit from LA amtrak to an amtrak bus at 910pm

4) reach santa barbara (last stop) at 1220am

5) American friend drove us back from amtrak station to Home at 1230am

（Thanks Hugh for driving us back)

6) home sweet home at 1245am

- all happened because we didnt realise that the amtrak only stops in that station during wkends and hols.

How does that sound? haha.. interesting and exciting right?? I was pretty.. ok at that point in time, making calls, checking schedules, thinking of options (maybe we should stay one more night? ) etc etc etc. Slow reaction again. haha. the next day at home, i started to feel panicky and the anxiety just built up. wah. super scared! haha.. slow reaction to the ultimate already=p

So technically, we reached home 'tomorrow' which is a holidays (Veteran's Day) which is a day to commemorate all the soldiers that died in the war etc etc etc. but its really just a very nice holiday for me to study for my mid term the next day. haha.. and i was working like nuts for the n times since i came to America. Mid term, programming project, mid term. and now im done with all my mid terms (the last one was the one I messed up)!

Of course, there were the parties over the weekend: Party at Miki's place where I stayed only for 45min to rush to a BBQ organized by my Buddy. Observing how people from different culture interact is kinda interesting. haha.. the bbq was organized for members of this SB MEDIA group that does marketing (ie. publicity) and stuff like that and they were like Pro-Business-class sorta people. (few business classes available in UCSB) Now i realise how fortunate I am to be in the DDP and comprehen the opportunities that were opened up for me.

okie. the GREAT DAY~ My BIRTHDAY (gerbuerztag??)

this is kind of a dilemma. This Singapore time and American time thing. It seemed like my bday was exceptionally long (which explains my lo efficiency for the whole wkend and my messed up mid term).haha.. So it started with alot of wishes from friends in singapore. and then a chat with my family (when my dad ask me to draw numbers for 4D- super high tech right? ) and a chat with some friends from singapore ( who wished me at the american 12am- one of them was faster than my roomie!) and then lunch out with my 3 roomies at Silvergreens (pasta) and a party at night that showcased Lawrence's, Xiao yu's and Shinji's cooking abilities. Its really a vast improvement for Lawrence =p of course there was alcohol which i didnt really touched alot of (stinks and is bitter- hate it). Vodka with coca-cola (I don't like both, separate and together). pizzas, music, and erm. a personalised hairdying session schemed by Lawr, executed by Shinji and recorded by Kevin? omg. if its not for the fact that so many people were onlooking and waiting for the show, i wouldnt have let them do it. but well, its now erm... gold/brown in the center of the head and black on the sides. much like a circle within a circle. Indeed a birthday that I will not forget.

二十一岁的感想：很多人问我觉得二十一岁有什么差别吗？我总是不知道该怎么回答。现在想想， 成年人的定义就是必须为自己和周遭的人负责吧！觉得不能再蹉跎岁月，过虚无缥缈的日子了！实在是觉得，染了头发，虽然幼稚得可以，但却象征似的让我摆脱很多的枷锁，很多觉得想做的事，现在都觉得可以那么做了。束缚减少了，责任变重了。头发自然是要染回（喜欢深色），只是象征嘛！苇琳长大了！从今儿后，孝顺父母，友爱兄弟，尊敬师长。。。。。=)

现在距离期末还不到一个月。。很快就必须离开这里，回家去！要懂得珍惜开阔视野的时机！

Friends having exams, JIA YOU!!! and good luck!

因曾拥有过，才发现空缺- 没得就没失？

当没人能给予鼓励，可式着去拥抱自己。