Ok it's been days since I last updated. Anyway this is probably the last entry in Europe. So I guess its time to wrap up my thoughts a little on my experience.
For those who definitely knew better, yes I thought through and learnt a lot during this 164 days of stay in Konstanz, in Germany and in Europe. Met tonnes of new friends, a few new good and close friends despite coming from totally different cultural and language backgrounds, definitely had lots of unforgettable moments with them. Their friendliness and hospitality... I just feel so sad parting with them not because they are my new friends and I dont have other friends - rather, I have absolutely no idea when I can meet them again. 3 years? I wish. 5 years? perhaps. Where would they be in 5 years? Many many many things could happen. But I guess, these 164 days of sweet memories would be vividly stored deep under my cerebral cortex tissues (hopefully) until even after my death. Learnt that there is still warmth in humanity. They made me feel at home in Konstanz and realized I was actually not lonely :)
Thank you very much,
My beloved O-Housemates: Sinem, Ebru, Hanife (Turkey), Florian (France) , Anja, Sasha (Russia), Kurt (USA), Janar (Estonia) and Mihai (Romania)
From Turkey: Fatih, Turan, Huseyin
From Hungary: Anita, Zsuzsa, Christine
From Czech Republic: Lenka, Veronika, Peter
From Sweden: Viktor, Fridde, Joel
From USA: Rafal, Mike, Carly, Annie
From Poland: Lukasz, Rafal (Stuttgart), Jadwiga
From Australia: Claire, James
From China: Jing Jing, A/P Zhou
From South Korea: Dal Hee
From Japan: Natsuki
From Estonia: Kaido, Uku, Sirje
From Romania: Adrian and many more
From the host country Germany itself: Corinna (See you soon in NUS!)
And the list goes on. Sorry for missing out so many names while I try to recall. Just tell me how to forget this wonderful time.
Oh yes, I felt lonely. Haha just imagine going to a place alone to study. I originally thought it would be fun, but it isn't as fun as it may seem. It's like, you'll have to start your life all over again and no one understands how you feel. Furthermore, in a new environment where you do not even really know how the society functions. Of course, there would be friendships being made and being lost, due to misunderstandings and unpleasant events, but all those are I guess life-long experiences that is normal in the adult world. You might feel wasted with certain unmendable strained relationships, but sometimes you would realized it is not really worth while keeping since it was not appreciated.
Anyway, doesn't matter. Now time to really pack up. No need to sleep liao. Haha
Crossed over to the Swiss border town of Kreuzlingen (which serves as a satellite town of Konstanz originally) to visit the Chocolate Factory Bernrain despite the not-too-good weather amidst summer. Naja. Went with the lovely Hungarian girls Anita and Christine. Bought a total of about 2 kg of Swiss chocolates and costed only 20 Swiss Francs (1 Swiss Francs = RM 3 = S$ 1.40) overall. Ok it might sound expensive, but for Swiss standard it can be said as dirty filthy cheap already.
Don't want to repeat the same old sentence how time really passes by, but sigh. Time to pack up again. Also have to make use of the Gutschein gotten after registering residence from the Burgerburo. Lots of admins to settle, both in Germany and in Singapore. So little time left, so much things to do. That's life I guess.
In exactly 2 weeks, I will be heading to Zürich Flughafen and begin my journey back home. Do I look forward to it?
Good question. It is time to go back home yes. But to say goodbye is how easy. The new but true friendships that you have built. Don't really know when can really see them again.
Organometallics but mechanistic studies or Surface Chemistry? Anyhow I have to start from near zero or absolutely zero, based on my survey of more infos of my possible honours year project. Whatever it is, I could see a busy and stressful Semester ahead. At least not yet Academic year I hope.
Don't want to think so much. But still have to face them somehow. I'll just have to stay calm, and assess all the choices and alternatives I have.
Guess thats life and you'll just have to get used to it. Endless crossroads and everything is up to you to decide. Democracy kononnya.
While procrastinating the whole day in the wonderful highly rated in Germany - University of Konstanz Bibliothek trying to study intensively but somehow keep on being distracted, probably due to the presence of the laptop, I came across this video in youtube.
However, I don't feel like embedding the video here. Haha it's a little inappropriate for my blog.
Go to youtube, and type "Negarakuku". Listen to it, you will recognise what original tune it is used from. I must say that I salute the writer of this song. I salute his bravery to voice out the concerns of us as a minority in a country we see it as home, but still treated somehow like immigrants. The lyrics are humorous and satirical, you will have a good laugh but it gets you into thinking too. The singer is in a way teaching us to look positively while being at the same time very sarcastic. I like it. Haha...
What I don't like about the song is, however, that the original tune that is being used. It does not show respect to the beloved nation, and the lyrics do not show respect to the customs and religion of the people concerned. Although sometimes I do agree with what he said in the lyrics but one must realize that those are stereotypes. No matter how hateful they are towards us, and how unhappy we are towards them, respect is still respect. Racial harmony is not just about tolerance, but its more about mutual respect. It is the continual distrust and disrespect towards each other that grows respectively within each community that is leading to the current situation - that religion and race are extremely sensitive issues to be discussed in this country. (This actually also refers to another country. It's the same case. The only difference is that we are minorities, while you are majorities.)
It seems I am getting too far. And please don't get offended by my words. Those are just my thoughts and opinion.
This post is specially dedicated to my old friend Siow Jin:
May you have another year blessed with all the love and care around you. All the best in your studies and stay happy always! Be positive in facing challenges, for whether they are obstacles or jumping boards towards success, depends on how you live through them.
Above all, Happy Birthday! :)
Zum Geburstag viel Glück, viel Erfolg beim Studium und immer gesund bleiben.
Nothing much today. Not so highly productive and now trying to make it back.
Exams are on the corner but still thinking of travelling. Sigh what to do? One more day to spend on Eurail pass. Anyway, was deciding between St Gallen and Geneva that day. But now one more place appeared, maybe this time will give Geneva a miss. :) Wonder how Liechtenstein looks like.
Hard to read? Yeah I myself can't pronounce Liechtenstein properly until I learn to speak German. Even then it is still challenging to pronounce it. Try and see :D
Anyway can make a day trip, and can pass by St Gallen also. Kill 2 bird in one stone.
Meanwhile, back to Fischer Carbene Complexes and Cyclopropanation.
A couple of good news today. Not the ultimate good news that I was expecting, but good enough to cheer me up for the day. Feel much better too after talking to mom over the phone. Always a good thing to call back home.
Sometimes I wonder, if I have made a right choice in taking so much trouble to come for exchange. But recently I realized to even think about it is very idiotic. It's definitely worth it, even if it does cost some money. Afterall, the experience gained is priceless and nothing esle can be compared.
And when one make mistake, just admit it, face it and try to solve it. Life goes on.
Think I still need to work on that. hehe.
Time to mug. Haha this word has not existed in my dictionary since end Nov 2006. Kinda not used to it tho. Lost some momentum but gaining back.
A weekend retreat cum mental and emotional therapy before the presentation in about 12 hours from now really kicks ass. Switzerland is a cool and very very very beautiful place I must say. Just like 世外桃园if you want to escape from your daily commitments and stress and stuffs. Will post some pictures and blog more about it later.
Too bad only have one weekend to spend here. Visited Bern, Interlaken and Luzern tho. All are beautiful cities and I wished I could have spent more time on each of them. Too bad, no time, no money. And Switzerland is really expensive. But I guess this is the quality of the Swiss life.
One more day to spend for my Eurail pass. Am now pondering whether should go to Geneva or St Gallen. St Gallen is nearer but Geneva is more interesting. Argh! and have to use it before it expires.
Realized that my posts since aeons ago have been grey and pessimistic and depressing. Maybe I think too much. Becoming easily irritated and panicked ever since I came over here. Feeling lonely no one to talk to?
Perhaps.
But I still have my new friends. Very glad to have them around though.
And I promise to post something happier soon. I try. =)
Time flies isn't it? Now I wish I can stay here longer. But then again I miss home. Life is full of contradictions. Why do administrative issues have to be so complicated?
Asuming that one month has an average of 31 days, and aince it is July ALREADY,
I will be back in exactly one month.
Must cherish the time. And time to explore the administrative works like checking out, closing bank account, getting back deposit (very important coz thats €300) etc.
And I cant understand well what I am going to present.
And my stuffs back in Sg are still unsolved and in a bigggggg mess.
I should not be doing this now, but today my productivity has been extremely low. Ok not that I have been very productive in doing assignments ever since I am here in Europe on exchange but somehow I just cant really continue on doing my slides. What the hell is wrong with me?
Things are still in a mess and unsolved. How to help Corinna? How to even help myself? Really feel helpless at this moment. But I have to go on. Strong, with self confidence and dignity. I can make it.
And I can't help it but start counting down already. Half a year is really not that slow to pass hor. Maybe have been travelling too much I dont know.
I will be going to Freiburg at least twice again before my return to home. Call me crazy but I really really love this city. This is one of the only 2 cities I feel homely in Europe.
Wondering about Global Warming? I think the climatic system is going haywire owing to the rising average temperature of the atmosphere. Its fridging summer here and it has been raining for a fridging 2 weeks, with average temperature around 15 Celcius. When it was spring it was 27 or 28 Celcius. What the hell is wrong?
But I was lucky enough to be blessed with a perfect weather on Saturday for Rita's 60th Birthday. Thanks to Rita being very well blessed I guess. I miss Freiburg, I miss the Schmid family!
