Way of Life

Current location: Strasbourg, France

I discovered the reason why Europe holds such importance in me.. It's their way of life that attracts me honestly.. I am currently staying with a French family in a small town located near to Strasbourg.. I met this friend when we were backpacking in Vietnam anyway...

She lives with her parents and they have a beautiful house with 4 bedrooms, 2 showers and toilet, a decent living room and kitchen, a nice garden, swimming pool and a nice guestroom :)

My friend's Sophie anyway. She's a nice girl and if she ever goes to Singapore, I'll make sure she receives twice the level of treatment she's providing me now.. First, she took time off her lunch break from work to go to Strasbourg train station to pick me up and drove me to her house and prepare lunch for me. Everything had to be done within 2 hours!

Of course she had to go back to work and she gave me directions to go to town by myself but I didn't. So, I stayed in her house with her mother and her little brother. It's pity I couldn't speak French because her family members do not really speak English. But that did not stopped any form of interaction. Her little brother and I exchanged conversations using an online English-French translator! Isn't that amazing? As he's still young, his sentence structure isn't too good so he can't reallytype sentences but with my little knowledge and exposure to the languqge, I could make out what he was trying to say. We discussed about him going for vacation in Morocco. Both of us like the place a lot..

We played French version of UNO (they call it Solo here) and I taught him how to play SNAP. We exchanged magic tricks, played memory games and even attempted to do a jigsaw puzzle together but it was not completed as Sophie and I had to go her friend's birthday party..

The party was just a small gathering between their small clique but it was really nice... They spoke French all the time as that is their first language and also the language they are most comfortable with.. However, I really appreciate their effort in trying to make conversatios with me in English... Sophie looked like mother at the gathering because most of the time, she was trying to take care of me and translate for me..

With that and my promise to her younger brother that someday I will communicate in this beautiful language with him, I will start to learn my French when I get back!

From the conversations, I realised that people in Europe are really passionate about living that's why this region attracts me so much.. They are students like us; study and work during vacations and not some rich kids who live off their parents.. They knoz how to take time off their busy schedule to spend time with their family and friends, enthusiastic about accomplishing things in life, most of them do at least 2 sports or speak at least 2 languages, and they don't whine about life all the time unlike Singaporeans.. Furthermore, everyone respect another person's freedom and will..Thar's why I love Europe..

Everyone has their own path and destiny so they don't care what their friends are doing.. As long as they are doing what they like, leading the lifestyle they want, all other things are secondary.. Many people think that these Europeans are able to do so because their country is rich, they have a welfare system so they don't have to slog and zork as hard Asians but I can tell you that's not true at all.. Their currency gives them a higher spending power only when overseas.. Otherwise, in their own nation, it makes not much difference..

Think about this..A lot of people always think about having tons of money in their bank account, being able to live a luxurious life is the best thing one can accomplish in life but in order to have lots of money, you will have to slog your life out first.. More often than not, you get caught in a rat race become money's slave.. That shouldn't be the way.. Humans are the most intelligent animals on earth so instead, we should let MONEY be our SLAVE!! Yes, no one can survive without any money but so what if you slog your life out to earn lots of money? The outcome will most likely be that you don't have a life, you fail to appreciate things in life, you never stop complaining due to the stress you have to cope with and at the end of the day when you have to take your attendance with GOD, you realise you accomplish nothing..

I can say that the Europeans are successful because they never ever let themselves become money's SLAVE.. :)

Push-and-Pull

4 days away from my return. As I sat on the train journey back from Paris city to the suburbs today, I thought about return again. I chatted till 3 a.m with the Singaporean guy who is providing me with accomodation last night. Our conversation was definitely a fruitful one. Sometimes, interacting with smart people really gives your brain a good stretch. Why do I say that? They provide me with insights and impress me honestly. He is really looking forward to going home and seeing his excitement about returning home, I reflected upon myself once again.

My family members and friends are all looking forward to my return (maybe it's because of the presentS?) but what about myself? I do miss home and look forward to home but it seems like a large part of me has integrated with Europe. I like the culture.the lifestyle.the people etc here a lot a lot. I am still trying to convince myself not to feel upset about leaving Europe in another 4 days. This place is just too beautiful. However, too bad I am not born a European, and I don't belong here. Frankly speaking, I've had enough of fun in the past 6 months. Like what the Portuguese guy I met on the bus said, "I had a beautiful life in the past 6 months." Exactly! It is this luxury that I get here in Europe that makes me reluctant to leave!

But like what my roomie says, "All good things come to an end." I should really start packing up my holiday mood and be back to face reality! :) Cheer up a bit, my girl! :)

Interesting conversation-Why do Men LIE yet Women choose to BELIEVE?
"I don't understand why people can promise something or say something if they never mean to do it? Why can't you just not give someone else false hopes and shut up? At least that will make them feel better?"

"Men often lie and even though women know that they are lying, they still choose to give them the benefit of doubt. Women are SMART yet STUPID in this case. Smart because they know the guy is lying. Stupid because they still choose to believe the guy who's lying."

Are you a woman like this?

Paris overnight....

21st June will be a day etched in my memory forever.
I was at the Eiffel Tower area from 8p.m-1.15a.m.
It was the Fest La Musique (Music party to mark the beginning of summer) in Paris..
Everyone on the streets were playing music and having fun!
I love it...
The Eiffel Tower should definitely be one of the 7 wonders of the world honestly..
It's just amazing..
I don't know how to describe the emotions that were going through me last night.
Perhaps if I were to die today, I honestly have no regrets..
All my life, the place that I've dreamed of..
Tonight, I will be going out of Paris city to stay so I can't spend the night at the Eiffel Tower anymore..
Sigh...
I am contemplating of coming back on 24 June, the night before I leave and spend the night at the Eiffel...
But it's just thoughts..
I have my luggage with me and it's not too convenient honestly...
So what happened last night was I roamed the streets of Paris...
Eiffel.Champs Elysees.Arc de Triomphe.Moulin Rouge.Seine River...
Everything was simply amazing!
I reached back the hostel at 4.30 a.m.
Initially I wanted to stay at the Eiffel till morning and try my luck to see if I can catch the sunrise at the Eiffel.
However, there were 3 main considerations.
1. I wasn't certain if I could see the sunrise.
2. My eyes were SUPER DRY and UNCOMFY.
3. My bed kept bombarding me with SMSes and MISSED CALLS which I refused to pick up.

However, yesterday was indeed PARIS OVERNIGHT for me!
A week more... to HOME SWEET HOME......
I LOVE PARIS!

Paris day 1-19/20 June 2008

Yes, I am in Paris like I mentioned yesterday but I am not doing that well... A series of misfortunate things strike me while I was here...

When I was at the Arc de Triomphe, a passer-by who took a photo for me dropped my camera and after that, it didn't work well anymore! Come on, I am in Paris and my camera had to die on me! I was so upset and I didn't really enjoy the ADT. I merely took a few photos... :( I headed to the Louvre shortly to meet a Singaporean friend whom I met in Morocco. Well, I will talk more about him when I get back I guess...

The 2nd disaster was my glasses BROKE! Now,I am so dependent on my contact lenses and i can't do anything without my glasses.. When night time comes, my eyes get really dry and I feel really uncomfortable... WTH is going on? I really can't believe on my luck...

This morning when I woke up, to my biggest HORROR, one of my camera's battery no longer works!! Now, i only have 1 battery left!! God... Which means I need to charge it every night and I am not even sure if that one battery is sufficient to last me for the whole day... Could someone send some aid to Paris right now?

Sigh sigh.. now I am waiting to go to the Notre Dame and Montmarte.. Hope everything in the next 4 days go smooth and well...

Not to forget, PARIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL... I sat by the Eiffel last night for 2 hours. However, no one could help me take some good photos.. I guess it's because of the lighting and all that... But Paris is just beautiful.. The whole city is just full of life... Now I can understand why are the Parisans such a snob... If you have a city like theirs, you definitely deserve to be snobbish... :) Everyone must come to Paris....

Paris.

Yes, I am in Paris!
Well, I can only use a word to describe this place
FABULOUS!
I passed by Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe at night.
The place is so well-lit.
The buildings are just so beautiful.
Honestly, PARIS is HUGE.
It seems like getting from one place to another takes ages.
I had quite a rough time though.
Shall update more when I have time..

Post from Barcelona...

I spent the past 2 days in barcelona.
Lots of things happening but I have no time to blog
The internet is always occupied.
Just a quick one I guess.
I am heading to Paris tonight!!
MY DREAM CITY all my LIFE..
Eiffel, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe
HERE I COME.

Anyway, Congratulate me GUYS
I PASSED BOTH MY EXAMS!!
I am so HAPPY..
All the SHIT that I had studied out was worth it.... :)

Birthday List!

To all those whom I will miss out your birthday... Here's my wishes...

Happy 21st Birthday Sharon! *Dated 12th June*
I don't know if you have decided whether you are going to hold a party yet and I haven't been reading your blog honestly due to exams, moving out and traveling. Sorry. However, I know you will still enjoy this joyous occasion! Hey, it's a mark of adulthood! So wishes should be 'Find a cute and rich guy soon so you can sit back relax and be a taitai', or 'Graduate and find a dream job of yours, A POST IN CLEO maybe?'.

Happy 22nd Birthday Zihao! *Dated 13th June 2008*
It's only these 3 years that we got closer and built a stronger friendship but I actually miss your birthday twice in a row!! haha.. I am so terribly sorry.. I know you, as a gentleman will not blame me since I've already got you a present.' Anyway, please get a girlfriend, stop your ogling and of course, ace in your studies. Ah, hope you can visit Bella Italia asap too! :)

Happy Birthday Bihong! *Dated 22nd June 2008*
I know you hate birthdays because that will mean you are a year older but we all have to face it somehow or another. Stay pretty, good luck with your job and studies and save up enough so we can go on our Tibet.Beijing.Mongolia.Russia trip soon. Don't back out last minute!! :) Ah, Why did you stop calling me from your OFFICE nowadays?

Happy 22nd Birthday Iatfai! *Dated 26th June 2008*
The arrival of your birthday will signal the return of me back to Singapore in another 3 days. So I don't know if it should be a joyous or a saddening event to be wishing you Happy Birthday from another continent. Anyway, no special wishes I guess. HAPPINESS is all that we all need so I hope you have a bottle full of Happiness every single day. :)

FOR IATFAI

I saw your post to congratulate me on the change of status!

71 SHOUTS: "THANKS A LOT IATFAI! THAT WAS REALLY SWEET YET FUNNY!"

I hope you enjoy this last month of your work in UOB and the all the best in your transition from FULL TIME WORKER to FULL TIME STUDENT!! :)