Truth

The truth is, I have learnt a lot in my last semester. Albeit my worst semester ever, it was the semester where I got the best results. But of course, nothing is ever measured in terms of results, apart from grades which seem like everything to most of us. My commencement is tomorrow so it'd be good to recollect the memories for a truly new beginning tomorrow.
So here goes, just want to recall everything I can, both good and bad. I know I emphasize 'alone' quite a bit. Because I am kind of afraid to be alone.

1. Travelling to school and then back home alone almost everyday. I know this isn't that big a deal to anyone, but I was used to meeting a friend everyday at woodlands mrt and then boarding the train to school together. Everything. Together. Same modules, same everything. Well, almost.

2. Taking a module(s) alone. Almost alone anyway. I don't really consider people who make use of me as friends at all. But the good thing(s) that came out of this was making new friends. Not just hi-bye friends, at that point in time, but people I can actually talk to with little restraint. And I actually enjoyed lectures sitting alone, and interestingly, lectures were or appeared to be more interesting when I was alone. Maybe I was less affected by people surrounding me, or maybe the lecture was really interesting and got me thinking about things like cancer treatments, how they can be modified for better efficacy. I know I'm just thinking on the surface since what I know is barely the tip of the iceberg. But the fact was that I was really upset during the semester over having to take modules alone and having no one to discuss assignments and scientific papers with. Never felt so desperate before, not knowing how to do an assignment and not even knowing if what I wrote was correct. 

3. Days in the library with four leaves' sandwich and soya milk. Because I started dieting this semester after being realising I gained a lot of weight throughout my 3 years of non-exercise. I would leave house to reach school at about 12 to study alone (haha emphasizing it again) before my only lecture at 4 on Tuesdays. Buy a sandwich and soya milk from frontier for lunch and head to the library. Sounds so no life and foreveralone right? Okay nevermind, back to the sandwich. I actually really like it because it's egg and ham, and the bread (wholemeal) is so soft and healthy. And soya bean milk became one of my favourite drinks after I learnt in FST2201 that the amount of protein in bean products are comparable to those in meat. Healthy food made me kind of happy, knowing that I was being healthy and I could step on the weighing scale without dread the next morning. Silly I know.

4. Modified notes. Hmm don't know if I should even be saying this here, but this is my blog so anything goes. I can't believe I actually did something like that, but I did. To people who simply make use of me, sorry you're not even my friend. And why do you even think you deserve my notes? They make themselves out to be so noble, to 'accompany' me in taking this module, but you're not even here half the time. And truthfully, I didn't need your 'accompanying' because I didn't even enjoy your company. Ironic much.

5. Falling asleep at the table with my highlighter on my notes. This actually happened many many many times, when I would be reading research papers and nod off because I either don't understand them or they are too boring. Then the ink would penetrate through the entire stack of papers and I end up with one big splotch on the paper. Then I would show this to my friend the next day and she would laugh at me. hahaha.

I need faith

And I guess what is meant to be will be, right?
Time will make things right again, I just need to keep the faith.
Then things will fall in place.

Not a want but a must, a need.

Everything reminds me of what is past.
To move on I need to face them and not run away. All I am doing is just running from them.
How can I face them?
How can I?

도와주세요.

Random quote from rooftop prince

"As long as you have the memories, you can be with that person forever"

Sounds very nice and noble, but I don't want just memories, I want the person as well. hahaha.

Housewife

Okay this is something I'm very embarrassed to talk about - cooking, because I absolutely cannot cook, apart from cooking instant noodles, frying hot dogs. But I'm no longer embarrassed because I can cook now! Haha I've been learning from my grandma to lessen her load. Some photos of my cooking. They don't look very presentable but it's my first time cooking so I think it'll improve over time. If I continue cooking, that is. Some photos of what I tried cooking. 

Fish in sauce.

 I think fish has got to be the most difficult dish to cook. Mostly because I'm very scared of the oil sputtering all over the place, especially on my arms or face. And also, the fish has the tendency to stick onto the wok so it's quite difficult to flip it over considering that I'm so afraid of the oil. So it's really difficult to fry fish. But the job is mostly done when the fish has been fried. After adding the sauce and stuff the oil won't splash anymore so it's okay! Most of the fish I cooked is in this style because I love this sauce! It's the only style of fish I know apart from just frying it.

Potato with pork

 Potato is also quite difficult to cook because it involves frying it beforehand as well. Again the same problem. After watching how my grandma cooks, I'm so full of admiration and she just brushes me off, saying it just comes with experience. I think it's really not easy to cook everyday, so we should all show some appreciation to people who cook for us daily!(: Okay not trying to self praise or anything but I just think that we shouldn't take things for granted, or food on the table in this case.

Mushroom soup with fishballs and meatballs

Luncheon meat with baked beans

One of the easiest to cook because you don't really need to prepare anything much since both are canned food. I think instead of baked beans, potato can be used. Healthier choice maybe? Since potato is not canned or processed.

Tomato omelette

My favourite dish! I like cooking and eating this as well.

Cabbage with shrimps

Bittergourd with pork and black beans

Fish in sauce (again)

Don't know the english name of this. But it's jie lan in chinese. One of my favourites

In general, vegetables are not that difficult to fry/cook because for one, I don't need to stand away from the fire because of the oil, and the steps are the same for most if not all the vegetables and different seasoning can be added for different tastes. Not trying to be an expert since it's been only about 2 weeks since I started cooking a little with my grandma's assistance, but just a beginner's point of view.

Chicken in spicy gralic sauce from a packet

Tomato with egg (again)

 Cooked Korean pancakes some time after I got back from Korea. It doesn't look anything like the ones we had in Korea but at least it tasted a little like the ones we had.

Cooked army stew as well. It's my favourite stew because it contains all the unhealthy processed meat that I like such as hotdogs and luncheon meat. Shouldn't be eating so unhealthily but since I don't cook this often and I don't drink a lot each time, I guess it's okay^^. And it's quite easy to cook as well. Oh I actually cooked bulgogi stew as well, but I forgot to take a photo of it.

Other than cooking, I also baked a little. Red velvet cupcakes again. I got the recipe from browneyedbaker and I think it's the best recipe. I tried once using another recipe and it was a total flop! I really like her recipes and the results were good too.

My babies. hahaha. Before adding the frosting

And after

Tried baking brownies too and it was quite a success because I like brownies gooey and sticky. Might try other brownie recipes if I'm feeling adventurous.

Before entering the oven!

Ending off with food I had from TCC! I keep going back because of the one for one that they're having now and I keep ordering the same thing. The seafood aglio olio is my favourite! It's so spicy and it's under the healthier choice.