Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Welcoming Committee
Since my arrival in Melbourne, the welcoming committee has taken immediate and consistent action in providing me with the most authentic Aussie experience in the shortest amount of time possible.
To officially mark the beginning of your stay in Australia, you will be provided accommodation which will be strategically located miles and miles away from the city and any convenient mode of transport. Subsequently, you are likely to be stalked by a middle-aged man afflicted with insanity. Large, hostile Australian teenagers may also wave and stare at you from their cars as you walk down the street! And, as an added bonus, you will be overcharged for food, beverage and transport, then have your phone stolen in a shopping mall. You should also look forward to being startled by a woodland creature native to Australia while sitting alone in your room. Be sure to keep your eyes open for drunkards! You will find plenty on the train stations after 9 o'clock at night, and if you're lucky, you may get to see dead and decomposing dogs while walking along the road after dark.
Enjoy your stay and once again, welcome to Melbourne!
-gretl
To officially mark the beginning of your stay in Australia, you will be provided accommodation which will be strategically located miles and miles away from the city and any convenient mode of transport. Subsequently, you are likely to be stalked by a middle-aged man afflicted with insanity. Large, hostile Australian teenagers may also wave and stare at you from their cars as you walk down the street! And, as an added bonus, you will be overcharged for food, beverage and transport, then have your phone stolen in a shopping mall. You should also look forward to being startled by a woodland creature native to Australia while sitting alone in your room. Be sure to keep your eyes open for drunkards! You will find plenty on the train stations after 9 o'clock at night, and if you're lucky, you may get to see dead and decomposing dogs while walking along the road after dark.
Enjoy your stay and once again, welcome to Melbourne!
-gretl
Monday, August 17, 2009
Possums, Loneliness and Rainy days.
I think there was a possum outside my window the other night. And I know that sounds quaint and enchanting and all, but it really WASN'T. The window was open and it was really dark outside so I couldn't even see the thing approaching (which might have actually been freakier). I think it might have been attracted to the smell of my dinner cos I left the bowl next to the window.
Anyway. yes. I was on skype with ma and pa when I heard this weird hissing and gurgling sound (- AGHHH!!). It was so loud. I mean the window is right beside me when i sit at the desk, and it sounded like the possum was sitting on the window pane or something. I can't wait till summer when it only gets dark at like 8 or 9pm; then I won't fall prey to any more of these woodland creatures and their stealthy attacks. Plus I'll be able to do so much more, like stay out late or go for a jog in the park, without having to deal with people worrying about me hanging around while it's dark out. I'm kind of warming up to the idea of staying in Templestowe, despite the distance I have to travel everyday to get to and back from school. I mean i've always been more of a country bumpkin than a city slicker. The only other down-side to being so far from the city is the fact that I don't get to meet my friends as and when. Especially during the weekends.
So it does get kind of lonely up here. Being away from your family is easy when you're distracted by school work or goofing off with classmates, but when you're alone or something crappy happens, you really think about it a lot. I can't wait for December to come 'round. One of the Trinity students from the June extended program just quit school today. I've only spoken to her twice since lessons started 4 weeks ago, but according to rumours she's going back cos she's homesick/can't take the work load/can't stand being away from her boyfriend. None of those reasons seem valid to me because it cost her parents 20-freaking-thousand dollars to send her here. But what do I know right? She's been here 2 months and I only started in July.
Whoever said Melbourne experiences 4 seasons in a day wasn't kidding. The weather is so insanely erratic here it should be a law that everyone carry suitcases with appropriate attire for sun, rain and strong wind. Like every Friday has been unofficially declared "Casual Friday", so I'll open the windows in the morning to decide if it's warm enough to wear slippers to school. Unfortunately every Friday is also "Stay-Out-As-Freaking-Late-As-Possible Friday", so by the time I get home it's freezing and my exposed toes are crying out for socks. Also, wounds take ages to heal cos the air is so dry.
Okay BLAH. I should really get started on some homework now since it's late, and tomorrow night's pretty much gone since I'll be attending a cell group meeting.
(: Will update again later.
-gretl
Anyway. yes. I was on skype with ma and pa when I heard this weird hissing and gurgling sound (- AGHHH!!). It was so loud. I mean the window is right beside me when i sit at the desk, and it sounded like the possum was sitting on the window pane or something. I can't wait till summer when it only gets dark at like 8 or 9pm; then I won't fall prey to any more of these woodland creatures and their stealthy attacks. Plus I'll be able to do so much more, like stay out late or go for a jog in the park, without having to deal with people worrying about me hanging around while it's dark out. I'm kind of warming up to the idea of staying in Templestowe, despite the distance I have to travel everyday to get to and back from school. I mean i've always been more of a country bumpkin than a city slicker. The only other down-side to being so far from the city is the fact that I don't get to meet my friends as and when. Especially during the weekends.
So it does get kind of lonely up here. Being away from your family is easy when you're distracted by school work or goofing off with classmates, but when you're alone or something crappy happens, you really think about it a lot. I can't wait for December to come 'round. One of the Trinity students from the June extended program just quit school today. I've only spoken to her twice since lessons started 4 weeks ago, but according to rumours she's going back cos she's homesick/can't take the work load/can't stand being away from her boyfriend. None of those reasons seem valid to me because it cost her parents 20-freaking-thousand dollars to send her here. But what do I know right? She's been here 2 months and I only started in July.
Whoever said Melbourne experiences 4 seasons in a day wasn't kidding. The weather is so insanely erratic here it should be a law that everyone carry suitcases with appropriate attire for sun, rain and strong wind. Like every Friday has been unofficially declared "Casual Friday", so I'll open the windows in the morning to decide if it's warm enough to wear slippers to school. Unfortunately every Friday is also "Stay-Out-As-Freaking-Late-As-Possible Friday", so by the time I get home it's freezing and my exposed toes are crying out for socks. Also, wounds take ages to heal cos the air is so dry.
Okay BLAH. I should really get started on some homework now since it's late, and tomorrow night's pretty much gone since I'll be attending a cell group meeting.
(: Will update again later.
-gretl
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Zicheh's Shoes
Hi Zicheh!!! :))))) Auntie Florence asked whether I could have your shoes.... because she thinks that it is too small for you, so......... ya.........
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Liesl: Red Hair
I have red hair now!! Just on the left side.
Everyone thought I dyed my hair. My friends were like "You finally dyed your hair!!!" and Ma was like "LIESL!!! D=<"
But it's not real hair. It's just clip-on hair extensions. -_- Drea and I decided to try it out while shopping for Joe's birthday present. She's got red and purple streaks in her hair. xD
Ma and Pa don't like it =( but my friends think it's RAD!!! Hahaha!!
Anyway, that aside, I've bought a new pair of white platforms! This is because I realised the flowery sandals are more "smart casual" as opposed to just casual. Like I can't wear them with shirt and shorts.
But these platforms are quite "flexible". As in I can wear them with a casual outfit, but they can also match smart-casual and maybe even semi-formal.
I'll show them to you next time we webcam Gretts! :D
(Pa's like "NOOOO NOT ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES!" @_@)
Ok Pa I won't buy anymore! That's all. All the shoes in my list of necessary footwear are officially accounted for. =)
- Boots (For rainy days and to look rad.)
The boots Ma and Gretts got for me from Australia.
- Slippers (For "slippery" situations like making quick trips down to the laundry room.)
My apple green Crox slippers.
- Sports shoes (For sports activities/ lots of walking.)
Skechers!
- Formal shoes (For formal occasions/ presentations.)
Charles & Keith high-heels.
- Converse sneakers (Because it's Converse.)
Yes.
- Casual sandals/ platforms (For casual outings where you wanna look good but not overdo it.)
Flowery sandals and white platforms!
It is DONE! -Attempts to stuff shoes into luggage-
Aaahhhh kkk I'm supposed to go for cell now. Gotta sign off!
Byeness! \m/
Friday, August 14, 2009
My post for the day and message to Jonyl
your entry titles are always almost the same.
ANYWAY. I am so tired.
I've noticed something extremely frustrating lately. I can't take short naps in the evening before bathing or whatever... because for some reason, I just won't get back up till the next morning. I mean, of course that would be ideal if I was ready for bed and all, but in most instances I just want to rest a little before continuing with my nightly routines.
This week hasn't been a good week for me, sleep wise. I need to come up with a plan to ensure that I get like 9 hours of sleep and still be able to finish all my homework and crap. No easy feat I tell you. Some lucky ducks living in the city get to wake up at 6am to go to the gym, but I have to get up at 6am just to get to school on time. DANGIT.
Whatever. I have other, more interesting things to tell you guys.
Apparently students from China are allowed to give themselves English names while they're here, instead of having to listen to the Australian teachers butcher their chinese names over and over again (I understand the pain). Now some of the names they choose are relatively normal... like Leon and Megan... etc etc. But I mean, who wants a normal name when you can come up with something totally unique and full of meaning right???
"RIGHT!" say the Chinese folk.
Examples of my classmates' carefully selected names include Nature, Smile and Draco. I don't know how they come up with these, but they do. Like one lesson sees the aus teacher struggling to pronounce a chinese name with an Xie or a Jie and failing miserably at it, and when the next class come around, the same teacher's taking the roll and XieJie says, "Oh, you can call me Nature." D8
Amazing I tell you.
What's more amazing is that the teachers don't bat an eyelid when they hear these awesomely mod names. They're just like "alright", while I'm like... "Did he just say Nature??!"
Actually, there is this one girl from China who refuses to give herself an English name... but the ironic thing is that she has probably the most undesirable chinese name possible, and SHOULD change it for her own benefit. I spotted her name while the student attendance list was being passed around the lecture theatre once, and when I pointed it out to the others, they (very nastily) laughed out loud while I contemplated the mental stability of her parents.
On the list, my name is TAN, GRETL.
On the list, her name is DING, DONG.
I mean maybe doorbells in China don't sound the same as doorbells in the rest of the world. I'm just saying.
Anyway I have to continue with some homework... so I'll stop here. More updates later (:
-gretl
ANYWAY. I am so tired.
I've noticed something extremely frustrating lately. I can't take short naps in the evening before bathing or whatever... because for some reason, I just won't get back up till the next morning. I mean, of course that would be ideal if I was ready for bed and all, but in most instances I just want to rest a little before continuing with my nightly routines.
This week hasn't been a good week for me, sleep wise. I need to come up with a plan to ensure that I get like 9 hours of sleep and still be able to finish all my homework and crap. No easy feat I tell you. Some lucky ducks living in the city get to wake up at 6am to go to the gym, but I have to get up at 6am just to get to school on time. DANGIT.
Whatever. I have other, more interesting things to tell you guys.
Apparently students from China are allowed to give themselves English names while they're here, instead of having to listen to the Australian teachers butcher their chinese names over and over again (I understand the pain). Now some of the names they choose are relatively normal... like Leon and Megan... etc etc. But I mean, who wants a normal name when you can come up with something totally unique and full of meaning right???
"RIGHT!" say the Chinese folk.
Examples of my classmates' carefully selected names include Nature, Smile and Draco. I don't know how they come up with these, but they do. Like one lesson sees the aus teacher struggling to pronounce a chinese name with an Xie or a Jie and failing miserably at it, and when the next class come around, the same teacher's taking the roll and XieJie says, "Oh, you can call me Nature." D8
Amazing I tell you.
What's more amazing is that the teachers don't bat an eyelid when they hear these awesomely mod names. They're just like "alright", while I'm like... "Did he just say Nature??!"
Actually, there is this one girl from China who refuses to give herself an English name... but the ironic thing is that she has probably the most undesirable chinese name possible, and SHOULD change it for her own benefit. I spotted her name while the student attendance list was being passed around the lecture theatre once, and when I pointed it out to the others, they (very nastily) laughed out loud while I contemplated the mental stability of her parents.
On the list, my name is TAN, GRETL.
On the list, her name is DING, DONG.
I mean maybe doorbells in China don't sound the same as doorbells in the rest of the world. I'm just saying.
Anyway I have to continue with some homework... so I'll stop here. More updates later (:
-gretl
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