A dream

 At times, I feel like I'm living in a dream, a dream where my father is gone. If only I can wake up from this dream, to see, to listen and to hold my father again.

Can we really meet again? I can't wait to have you with me again.

李光耀 ，一路好走

千言万语也无法表达我对李光耀先生逝世的难过。

人总是那么矛盾。在他生前也许没有那么多人表示对他的仰慕和感激，但在他去世后大家才纷纷在各个社交媒体上感谢他对新加坡的贡献。我也不例外。

这几天更深入地了解了他为新加坡所做的一切，为新加坡努力不懈的态度。我明白了纪念李光耀先生最佳的方式就是加倍努力向上，做事认真积极，立志为世界、国家、社会和家庭做出贡献。

李光耀先生，谢谢！新加坡不会让你失望的。

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you

As we grow up and start to be more aware of things happening around us, we may be disappointed by what we see. The world, is not that perfect after all. And growing up, is not that awesome after all either.

But don't lose hope. Have faith because...

"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you."

 

Missing last summer

Summer is here again. I'm suddenly overwhelmed by how much I'm missing my time in Yale University last year. I still remember how uncertain I felt after the selection interview at the NUS International Relations Office. I knew that competition was stiff, but I had performed better than expected by not letting my fear and anxiety get me down. I wanted it really badly, because it was Yale. In the United States. You couldn't have imagined my ecstasy when I received the offer email.

This summer programme is not like any other. It is one of the many initiatives of the International Alliance of Research Universities, where students from the 10 prestigious universities globally are given the opportunity to study at the university of their choice, coupled with other unique exposures specific to the selected course every summer.

Till now, I cannot believe how blessed I had been able to study at a university as established and renowned internationally as Yale. What's more, to take a course (International Economics) so related to my major and interest all the way in the United States, the global powerhouse. And to top things up, alongside motivated and intelligent international students who are the creme of the crop in their very own reputable universities. (And sorry I'm still not done) The extremely rustic and beautiful school campus, with an excellent faculty and exuberant students, definitely made this experience the highlight of the 19 years of my education.

I would love to elaborate more on this memorable experience. But I shall leave it to another time. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this possible for me, particularly NUS IRO, IARU, Yale University, Banco Santander, and my family and friends who were so happy for me and supported me in whatever ways they could.

Not to forget, the people who had shared those times with me, rushing to meet numerous deadlines and complete piles of readings amidst our weekend travels, surviving grueling and challenging seminar-style lessons which lasted more than 3 hours, twice a week, going for meals in the gorgeous dining halls and engaging in random leisure activities in different corners of Yale (playing table tennis and pool in Berkerley and Caulhoun's butteries, chillaxing on the hammock and tire swing at the secret backyard, going for our colourful flavourful toppings-ful froyo fixes, etc.). There has got to be so many people and so much to mention. But yeah, I really love you guys and I'm missing the times spent together.

It feels so surreal right now, it was such a beautiful dream. Everyone is all over the world right now and I don't know when we'll meet again. Yet for sure, I know that the 6 weeks we've been through, albeit short, will stay forever in our hearts.

IARU GSP Yale 2012 <3

I want a ship, to keep our memories afloat.

All relationships have their ups and downs.

But here's something both you and your partner can do to keep yourselves happy in your relationship- write your unhappiness in sand and carve your joy and blessings on stones. ;)

Let me end this post with a "polaroid" from our recent day tour on board the Diamond Princess cruise. Happy weekend everyone!