Cornettos make you toothless

Today we had our last session of coaching. A huge thank you to Michelle for organising and coming up with the brilliant idea to coach the BK students! I had a lot of fun (esp since most sessions involved eating/ I had two ice creams today) and it was really great being able to help coach the new teams! 

Also check out my new chrome theme. Toothless is so cuteeeeee hehehe. 

Overall, a good day today. 

3rd joining package + a visit from my cousins + Wild Swans!

The third joining package arrived today! Loads and loads of medical and personal documents/forms to submit but I'm super happy to have something concrete from the college. Oh they also sent us the college handbook!  It's a brief summary of the college facilities, the seasonal weather and general rules to tell us roughly what we should expect from everyday life there. It also contains a great packing list with helpful tips from the college staff on what we should/shouldn't be bringing.

And I've finally finish this book. Wild Swans. The profoundly poignant story of 20th century China told through the perspective of a lineage of three Chinese women.  It's got so much history, so much content, so many feelings.
Let me just say that this book made me proud to be Chinese. It's help me realise the struggle and strife of my people and I'm just so proud to be a member of one of the most resilient and determined races in the world. This book is one of the greatest odes to the bravery and courage of the Chinese ever written. Jung Chang is my new heroine. 

Also, my relatives from Johor Bahru came alllll the way to Ipoh to visit us today. Took my cousins to Plan B for dinner and boy, did my stomach thank me. 

Not all of their dishes are great though some of them are definitely worth a try. Their drinks are 😍 

of subject choices, whatsapp groups and leaving home

Days left till UWC: 39

Prep has been going alright so far. Flight tickets have been booked, my e-visa application has been approved and I've already started stocking up on winter clothes. So far, I've got a few winter pieces (thank you Aunty Bee Chin!) and a couple of extra sweaters and jeans (a result of two KL shopping excursions oh yas).

And I've finally made up my mind on which subjects to take. After much discussion with dad and mum (where we both got supremely annoyed with each other) and thinking, I decided to go with: Eng Lang & Lit HL, Bio HL, Chem HL, Math SL, History SL, and Spanish ab initio SL.

The good thing about these subject choices is that it leaves me with a lot of doors open for whatever uni course I wish to pursue in the future. I had a lot of trouble choosing because I honestly have no idea of what to do with myself. What kind of life do I want to lead? What do I want to dedicate the rest of my life to? Vague ideas of philosophy, medicine, political science and theology fill my head but hmm I'm still not sure. I'm hoping that I'll find some answers at UWC. And with everything that I'll be exposed to, I think I will.

Recently, I've been talking to some of my co-years over whatsapp and I'm glad to say that we get along quite well. We have a whatsapp group that we use to talk to each other with. It took me a while to get used to it because, well, I've never encountered such an enthusiastic, smart and thoughtful group of students. Conversations ranging from topics like the Holocaust (Obi from Syria), Indian cricket and the dry spell (Madhoor from India), religion and racism issues, the UN,  fooood (i have so many pictures of yummmmy food in my my phone), time differences and cultural affairs. It's especially interesting when we have conversations about the World Cup because you actually get to hear from the people whose countries are playing and listen to them as they talk about their teams. It all gets very heated when someone scores a goal or when someone wins or loses. Another interesting thing is finding out about whats happening around the world even before it gets reported in the news. Like the earthquake in Turkey that happened in May and the car bombings in Syria. I got to know about these happenings minutes after it occurred. It's a good feeling; being able to connect with so many people in the world, being able to share in their joy and grief, being able to give motivation and consolation and getting to know the lives of other people. It's great, it really is.

I'm really, really excited to go but at the same time I'm quite reluctant to leave because I'll miss everything here. Mum, Dad, Oli, Pip, Boo, curry mee, ha mee, nasi lemak, indian rice, tea, the church, Wednesday night bible study, my friends, all the funny uncles and aunties here, brekkie club, yumcha, having ice cream at McD's with friends and sometimes mum- it's been a long, unforgettable 8 month holiday. But at the same time I feel relieved to finally be getting my hands on some work. It's been a long time since I've opened a bio reference book and I haven't done a single math sum in like 8 months... I wonder if I even still remember how to do most of my math hmm. Anyways, it'll be good to finally be able to do something and feel productive again!

39 days to go. Loads more to do before I actually get there heh.

I can't wait.

(:

The Letter

Just thought that you guys should know that roughly two weeks ago, I received THE email.

You know....THE EMAIL.

...The email from UWC Dilijan containing my official letter of acceptance (!!!!!!!!) and the welcome letters from the principal to the students and parents as well as my first set of joining papers!!11!! 

Yeappp, they finally came.

As you may very well suspect, my elation at having received this email was not short-lived. Neither was it very well contained, or expressed.

Because what happened next is this: I went up to my room, shut the door, and had a solo dance party, swaying my hands and hips awkwardly to the entire MAMMA MIA! movie soundtrack. 

It's only the most natural thing to do once you get the official news that you'll be going to UWC, ain't it?

Thought of the night: I AM the dancing queen, young and sweet, only 17 (okay I'm 18 but that's not the point here).

The Beginning

It is both incredible and bewildering to realise that in approximately 70 days I will be leaving home for good, well on my way to Armenia to begin the next chapter of my life at United World College Dilijan.I've known this since March but it still hasn't really sunk in that I will soon be leaving family, church, friends and my home -basically everything I'm familiar with- and heading to college in a land that I know almost nothing about.

I still feel very, very amazed at the opportunity I have in my hands now. The chance to go one of the best schools in the world with other kids from all around the globe. Getting to know their cultures and lifestyles first-hand by living with them. Discussing politics, news and global issues with people who represent almost every possible opinion and perspective in the world. To make lifelong friends with really amazing, passionate and driven people. Where else would you get such a chance? 

Here are some pictures that I took from the UWC Dilijan College facebook page.

 

And for this, I am thankful. Thankful to God, my family and to everyone who's supported me. Really, I can't be grateful enough.