I'm so darn tired. Haiz.

Seriously, I shouldn't be. I should be going on about how great SDD was (which it totally was!) and how my new lease of life makes everything looks sunny and bright.

But no, I can't. Because I'M SO FRIGGING SHAGGED.

And there's no bloody reason to be either. Physically, I'm very sedentary right now. I think I'm just burned out. I haven't a single piece of work for nearly 2 weeks. Argh!

Those R-papers look awfully close.

I'm sick too, and I keep getting worse. I seem to have a limitless supply of yellow phlegm, and I'm coughing like somebody with severe pneumonia. I think everyone at SDD could tell.

Finally gave up this week and went to the family doctor. And you know what? He was having a holiday.

Waited a miserable hour at the polyclinic, then talked to some doctor who didn't seem to particularly care about what was wrong with me.

He dumped antibiotics on me and more cough syrup (I'd already bought some from NTUC, he sais this was 'stronger').

I really feel like s**t. Maybe it's the drugs. I could barely make it to feco meeting today.

Forgive me if there're no updates for a while.

Andreas

War isn't about who's right - it's about who's left - Anonymous

Hahahaha!!

Someone wants me to post on my 'mundane studying life'.

Aiyooo. Like what's so exciting and groundbreaking about trying to finish the chem syllabus? I'm just trying to catch up a wee bit for next year's R-papers (HAH! Got you there, didn't I? Stop slacking!).

So what's the 'study life' of a Bushman like?

I have (or had) chem and maths tuition twice a week. EACH. I kinda stopped when I woke up one day coughing non-stop and not being able to walk (that part is actually coz I'm not fit and I went for a 3K run. Hehe).

From then on it was once a week each. And that's more than good enough actually.

And for all you fellow slackers out there, here's another reason to study during the academic year itself: TUITION FEES WILL BURN A HOLE IN YOUR PANTS' POCKETS AND SCORCH WHATEVER'S UNDERNEATH (!!!)

Seriously. It's like $45/hour for maths and $50/hour for chem. And each lesson has to be about two hours to be effective. Eeeekkkk! My dire financial situation has prompted me to call the ATM the A**hole Tuition Machine.

I AM SO BROKE.

Ya, and that allows me to continue on to another point. What to wear for SDD??!! Nikhil so very easily puts it as: 'Guys should wear black jacket and pants. Shirt whatever colour'.

Wah. I'm such a poor and humble fashion hobo that I have nothing of this sort le! Ok maybe I have that dowdy suit that my dad made for me like 2 years ago. But it's so...work-like!

Maybe I've been watching too much Goong also. The bloody princes get a fashion makeover everyday. I hoping I could at least try to pass off a semblance to that.

So off I went to Topman and U2 to check out prices.

AAARRGGGHHH!!! WHY CAN'T FASHION RETAILERS HAVE RESPECT FOR A TEENAGER"S STATE OF FINANCES??!!! HMMMM???!!!

My dad regards any piece of clothing above $15 as 'overblown' and 'not worth it'. A decent Topman shirt costs $69.

This is gonna be so fun. Maybe I'll come in a singlet and sarong. ><

Andreas

P.S: FECO guys are not gay!!!

What do you call a man who's been lucky in love? A bachelor - Anonymous

True in some ways...but not in all ways =P

HELLLOOOO EVERYONEE!!

Whee! Back after a self-imposed 4-month hiatus. 4 MONTHS!! Haiz.

I really must learn to start coping with JC life better.

Anyway to be honest I wasn't actually planning to start posting again, but I kinda got inspired really, and felt like recording my thoughts just this once so I don't forget it. And when I saw the poor old blog I felt recharged.

I hope some people will still check out my blog after so long.

Moving on! Ya, I feel like a brand new person with a new purpose in life and clear steps ahead of me. AND I LOVE THE COUNCILLL!! Omg I never actually realised how much these people meant to me. My life in JC without them would be like a black and white movie, a monochrome poster.

I actually cried to sleep thinking of them. Emo I know, but that's me.

And like I've met a person who inspired me so so much! As in honest, genuine admiration. I feel so driven everytime I talk to her. I thank God for letting me get to know such an individual.

Also, there was this commentary in The Catholic News by Father Ronald Rolheiser that really touched me. Especially this segment: 'We are mature when love is a decision that's not based upon an emotional pay-off for us but on the intrinsic goodness that's inside the other'. Nice right? That came from the below paragraph, which really sums up my feelings in the pretty recent past

(He quotes from another author, Henri Nouwen) 'Today the small rejections of my life are too much for me - a sarcastic smile, a flippant remark, a brisk denial, a bitter silence, a failure to be noticed, a coldness from a colleague, an indifference from someone I love, a nagging tiredness, the lack of a soul mate, a loneliness that I can't explain. I feel empty, alone, afraid, restless, unsure of myself and I look around for invitations, letters, phone calls, gifts for someone to catch my eye in sympathy, for some warm gesture that can heal my emptiness. And right now I don't particularly want God, faith, church, or even a big and gracious heart. I want simply to be held, embraced, loved by someone special, made to feel unique, kissed by a soul mate. I'm empty, a half-person. I need someone to make me whole.'

When I read that I just said: 'This guy is pretty f***king good!' (ya, I cursed, I was so touched. LOL). It stirred up a lot of things inside me. That's exactly how I've felt for 2 entire years. And I never knew why. This article answered that. I have rediscovered my friends, the treasures that they are.

THANK YOU GOD. Finally. He has answered my prayers. If you want the article, just ask me for it. This and Coach David's leadership workshop has so refreshed and renewed me. I can tackle the new day with vigour!

To all my dearest friends and loved ones, enjoy your life and all the best to you. I hope you're having a great time too.

This has been a great first post after such a long period of frustration.

Andreas

P.S: Oh great! My eyes are moist after typing this. Haiz. Too emo.

Don't try to get everyone to love you. Instead, try to love everyone you know as much as you can - Jesus

*Deep breath* I will now swallow my pride (gulp gulp) and post some very humiliating pictures of myself.

Heh.


Don't ask. LOL.


On the bus to Maastricht. I just woke up I think -_-' I struck up that pose coz the bus bell reminded me of the bell that they use in boxing at the beginning of a round. Hahahaha.


Some casino in Aachen. Can't remember why I stopped there.


LOL. That's me on the train to Antwerp.


I look like an idiot. Yay!

Andreas

Sometimes in football, you have to score goals - Thierry Henry

Somehow I can't agree more...

All righty then. I guess this will be my last post from Germany.

I just finished uploading the pictures to the computer. 632 in total! OMG. I'm so gonna have fun sorting them out. Not that the quality is all that good. I was using a videocam mind you, so the digital camera function was really just added by the manufacturer as an afterthought. Sort of like the icing on a cake. I couldn't upload the video itself. It would've killed the hard drive. It's about what, 25 GB of data? (the camera stores video on Mini DV tapes, not DVDs or a digital memory; the pictures are stored in a Sony memory stick). But I'll bring it around and show it to whoever wants to see it. It's nothing spectacular really.

And now I'm supposed to elaborate on the pictures that I've uploaded. But it's 1.14 am in the morning here and I just don't have the energy. Bleargh. Besides who would want to post hundreds of pictures? And who would want to see them? I guess it'll have to wait until I get back.

I already got all the souvenirs I wanted to get for all my dearest friends. Unfortunately I worked off a list, so I may have forgotten somebody. If you are that somebody, please please forgive me!! And perhaps I couldn't have done anything anyway. I had a limited budget, and I paid for that plane ticket to Maastricht myself. Boy, wasn't that a drain.

I also bought chewy sweets for everyone. Sorta like Yuppi, but the German type, and some chocolates. I hope you'll enjoy them!

Here, though, is a little selection from those belated 632 pictures:

I was wearing a Stasi cap btw. That's the name of the secret police in the old East Berlin. Got it off the streets for 10 euros. The guy originally asked for 25. MUAHAHA. I'm a master cheapskate. Yaaay!

And isn't that bear soooo cuutee? And so huge! Lol. I wish I could bring it back.

That's all for now. Yeap. Until later then.

Andreas

It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! - Anonymous anti-gay slogan

'Nuff said =)

Andreas

Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato

Haha. A little diversion from current events.

A little food for thought for all my closest friends:

Andreas, you are a Supportive Sidekick

You know who we're talking about — the champion consoler, the person you can always count on, the person who knows how to clean up even after the biggest emotional superspill of your life. This friend gives you a one-on-one rush like no other. This confidante for all seasons can probably even read your mind just a little. Or don't you remember the last time they finished a sentence for you? Lucky for you, your supportive sidekick can probably guess what your next dreams will be before you even do. It must be nice to know you have a tireless supporter and coach in your midst, someone you can tell anything to who always has your best interests in mind and a smile to cheer you up. How sweet!

True/False? Tell me what you think. Hehe. And be honest please.

I got the quiz from Tickle. Just in case you want to know.

Andreas

'Let them eat cake then.' - replied Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, when told the French people had no bread. The French Revolution started shortly afterwards.

OMG OMG OMG!!!

Totally forgot to blog for like a whole week la! There's been so much happening since my last post! Forgive me my dear readers (if I have any. LOL)

Where to start? Ah yes, about those darn photos and videos. I can't upload them!!! AAARRGGGHH. Ok, relax. Sorry my emo self took over for a while. I think I should be able to do it in a few days but I can't be sure. Yeah anyway the wear and tear of the camping trip has completely disappeared, just like this:

Cute right? Haha but I'm still tired actually.

You know why? Right after the day I got back I had to book a plane ticket to fly to Maastricht (in The Netherlands) so that I can see my sister. She's an exchange student there. So immediately after unpacking one bag, I'm repacking stuff in another bag. Sheesh. But the trip was super interesting. We managed 3 countries in 3 days! How cool is that? The Netherlands, Belgium and back to north Germany for a short while (Berlin's somewhere in the centre). And all this was done using the good old railway. So, a short summary:

Maastricht (Holland)/Aachen (Germany): Not much; Maastricht is where my sister lives, Aachen is where her boyfriend is -_-" So naturally I was in both cities. Oh and I tasted raw herring with onions in Maastricht. Kinda salty and squishy but nice. Like very fishy sushi. Haha. FISH-Y SUSH-I. It rhymes! Ok so I'm retarded. Heehee!

Cologne (Germany): The Cologne cathedral, final resting place of the remains of the Three Wise Men, known as the Magi by Christian pilgrims. Built before 1000 AD, so it's over a thousand years old!!! (debobanana and elise, there were very beautiful painted-mural crosses that I wanted to buy for both of you from the adjoining gift shop! but we were rushing and I totally forgot when my sister told me to hurry -_-' Forgive me! I'll try to get something as nice for you yea.) The cathedral treasury underground was also full of stunning Christian relics. Too bad I couldn't take any pictures. Then we went to the main shopping street, although we didn't actually buy anything. LOL. Too expensive la!

Antwerp (Belgium): We had to take a Belgian bus from Maastricht central station to a sleepy little village called Tongeren o_O Weird name, but it was barely a village. They had a supermarket, LAN points and the latest cars. But the train station there was still pretty old-style (and deserted too). We had to take a train from there to Antwerp itself, and the trip takes nearly 2 hours. Bleargh. That's 4 hours of traveling alone.

In Antwerp we only managed to visit the local diamond museum (in case you don't know, you poor people who mug nonstop =P Antwerp is the world centre for diamonds). It was a super interesting museum, and they also had some brilliant jewelery on display. Naturally I couldn't take pictures. Idiotas. Then we went to see the city centre. They had some kind of palace there which was supposed to be super famous/grand/breathtaking. I sat down for like two minutes staring at it. 'You don't want to take pictures?' 'Oh ya hor'; so then I took a few pictures and then we walked off. LOL. Totally lame place actually. And then we tried to find a chocolate shop that my sister had found the last time. The darn thing had closed though, replaced by a barber shop. Whee.

Amsterdam (Holland): The biggest and with the most places visited! Amsterdam is about 1-2 hours by train from Maastricht itself. We visited Anne Frank's House, the Rembrandt Museum, Van Gogh's House, the Dutch Resistance Museum and of course the red light district! Haha Amsterdam is Europe's capital for drugs and sex, and naturally that area must be visited. But there's really nothing so attractive (except of course all the semi-naked prostitutes standing in the windows and the erotic advertisements; guys will be guys). But mostly it's just people doing catcalls and and smoking marijuana (it's legal there). Weird smell, though I didn't get high, thank God. We also visited a 'weed' shop; they had everything from marijuana biscuits to marijuana gum.

As for the museums I can't seriously put them all here. It's all too much. When I can actually upload those eternally un-upload-able pictures I'll try to write something more.

Yeap that's all for my tour of Europe. Been there done that. Or whatever haha.

Oh and I visited a nude beach in Berlin today. Tell you about that more in my next post ;)

For all my dearest friends who are mugging (don't pretend to look the other way elise =P) here's a little something for those bad days when you need a booster to finish that last impossible chapter or equation:

LOL. Enjoy. Until the next post or when I get back, whichever is sooner.

Andreas

P.S: Due to my lousy knowledge of blog skins and tag boards, there are none of the aforementioned things on my blog. If you want to 'tag', just write a comment or something.

P.P.S: Hey Noddy I not buaya la! Girls rawk! Deb and Elise thanks for actually reading yea. Presents are (hopefully) on the way for all my dearest friends. Isn't that just sweet? *bonks self on head* My gory eye is fine now, and Paul's about 1.92 m tall (!!!). It's hot here now btw. Thanks for your selfless concern, dearests. Keep 'tagging'.

'Nuts!' - Reply by American Brigadier-General MacAuliffe to the official German request for his surrender after his unit, the 101st Airborne, were surrounded in France 1944