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As I looked into her eyes — I saw a glimpse of what our past used to be. She used to either sit in front of me or next to me in class, eating, and lighting up the faces of everyone around her. I’d be sleeping and while everyone ignored me, she’d find some way to get me to talk. Little did she know, I was glad she did. She might’ve never known what was going on during that time but those little moments with her was all I looked forward to. Eventually, we came to realize that although we’re from two different worlds, we always had each other’s back. At that moment, I thought to myself: since when did we get so busy that we forgot how big of an impact our small actions can be? Some connections, outlast others. This is one of them. She brought me back to life when I needed someone to be there. I knew I owed her one. But, after her special day, I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing her a favor because she deserves it, always. Because I didn’t want to get all choked up before walking her down the aisle, all I could say was, you look beautiful today as you always do. And as she laid her head on my shoulder — I finally knew how much it took for her to ask me to step in for her father. She used to only rest her head when she was tired or she had asked me for help and that was her way of saying thank you. So when I placed her hand with the one she’ll hopefully be with for life, I told him one thing. For the amount of times I purposely did something whether big or small for her own benefit and found some excuse to cover it up so she didn’t know — he will do the same too. I never grew up in a healthy environment, and the only way I could express that I cared was to go to extents beyond my limit to accomplish something for her. As long as no one was hurt in the process and no crime was involved, nothing’s impossible — I want him to understand that. We all wish for the best for the ones we care about and she’s no exception. 「陪伴是什麼? 我想對我來說,大概就是妳看透了我這個人,還依然站在我身邊,陪我走過每次風雨。」 Though I was neither a best man or a maid of honour, walking her down that aisle, heads turned, people clapping, ring bearer and flower girls in front — nothing beats the smile she had on her face. And I hope that smile never fades. Like my trust in her at the end of every day. She’s my day one and if he’s the right one, he’ll treat her the same way too. Japan | May 21 - May 27, 2019 more or less six days in japan — not enough & more than enough time to see what 1/4 of the Kansai region has to offer. First stop, Nagoya! Flying into Chubu International Airport via AirAsia’s newest route for Taipei-Nagoya (and the only one), I fell in love with Japan’s landscape already. In the city, it’s oddly quiet and deserted looking even during rush hour which was a nice change of pace for the past few days. Felice was kind enough to let me stay at her house. After picking me up from Fujigaoka Station, her mother prepared the best misokatsu (special red miso paste used in Nagoya + tonkatsu) I’ve had. Homemade food is always the best :) I also got to experience what it’s like living in a Japanese household and funnily, they were showing a special on TV about Oahu. It gave me a chance to share a bit of aloha and remind myself there’s a couple things in Hawaii I’ve yet to do too. Woke up bright and early the next day to beat the crowds at Nagoya Castle. Since we bought the one-day metro pass (740¥), admission to the castle was 400¥. Next was to Sakae district to eat a special type of pasta called Nagoya’s Dera Shiro Meat Sauce Pasta. Having been in Asia all semester, I barely eat Western food so it was quite surprising to see Nagoya turn it into something unique to their prefecture. I definitely recommend anyone going to Nagoya to try it :) We took a detour to Shirotori Garden and again used the pass to get a discount. The inside of the garden would be the perfect place to relax after eating a huge lunch if it wasn’t so hot. Afterwards, we shopped around at Osu Kannon, had some takoyaki, and visited the shrine. Because I didn’t plan anything for Japan, we didn’t realize Nagoya Tower (at Sakae) was under construction or it’s usually lit up :( But, if you watch the sunset from Oasis 21 — it’s really pretty. We had abura soba from Kaijiken which is another Nagoya specialty for dinner, then it was back to Fujigaoka because I had to leave early the next morning. The next day, I departed on the earliest bus I could for Kyoto. Prior to arriving in Japan, I already booked the JR Tokai bus for $26 but I heard it’s actually cheaper if you book it in Japan. Although I was sad to leave Nagoya, I had to eventually make my way to Osaka. Without knowing, I booked a guesthouse close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple which is where I went first and then I roamed the streets packed with little shops along the way to Yasaka Shrine. Ended up grabbing a quick lunch/dinner around the Gion District before moving on to Fushimi-Inari Taisha. When it comes to these places, I really suggest getting there right at opening hours because as the tour groups come in, it spoils the fun :( On top of that, I somehow got really sick after Nagoya and I had a hard time enjoying the rest of the trip. But, when I had a few moments to each place for myself, I made sure to appreciate it. Despite feeling unwell, I decided to make a trip to Arashiyama the next day anyway. Living close to Kiyomizu-Gojo station on the Keihan Line, it was easier for me to transfer at Tofukuji for the JR line to Kyoto before transferring again onto another JR train towards Sago-Arashiyama. I did this route instead because it saved me money but you could also alight at Arashiyama Station which is not apart of JR. There’s a Kimono Forest at that station, though I wasn’t well enough to check it out unfortunately. Since I arrived around 10 am, I went to the bamboo grove first before it got too hot. Then, I hiked a bit along the river until you hit a shrine in order to avoid all the tourists. I spent a good 2-3 hours just sitting at the river bank watching the green, clear water crash onto shore. Found a hole in the wall okonomiyaki joint and ordered a modanyaki (okonomiyaki + yakisoba) right before they closed. Afterwards, it was back to Kyoto to visit Nishiki Market before they closed for the day. And to end my time in Kyoto, I watched the sunset along the Kamogawa river before grabbing some ramen for dinner. Onwards to Osaka! Since I stayed on the Keihan line, it’s a good 300¥ cheaper just to take the limited express (red train) to Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka. From there, I transferred onto the metro to get to Namba station. After dropping off my luggage, I explored Ktown (Koreatown) and had yakiniku at a joint my friends and I used to frequent in Osaka. Walking along the JR line and enjoying the quiet streets of Ktown was something I didn’t know I needed. There’s just something about watching the trains zoom by over you while you observe the daily lives of Japanese people. Ended back at Dontonburi and had some gyukatsu (fried beef cutlet) to wait for nightfall. The glico sign was lit up by the time I finished dinner which I’d say is a main attraction in Osaka. Called it a night afterwards so that I could fight off my fever which got worse as the trip went on :( The day before I left, I received a call from an old friend & next thing I knew, I was on the earliest train I could bound for Nara. Her father passed away not too long ago and I knew she had a wedding coming up. However, out of respect, I was never going to attend in the first place because we all parted on bad terms. Who knew I’d be the one to walk her down the aisle? But, no questions asked & I was on my way. I spent much of the morning exploring Nara since I was pretty excited to finally be able to see the wild deers. Aside from their pellets scattered all over the streets, they’re quite cute :) Just do take the be careful warnings to heart, if not you’ll be chased and headbutted for food. First stop was Kofuku-ji Temple where there’s a couple of national treasures for all to see. The most pictured part would be the three-story pagodas off to the side. Around this temple is where you’ll start to see the deers & if you’re lucky, some of them will be laying there for you to take a quick picture with. Next was Todai-ji Temple, famous for the Great Buddha. Although the entrance fee was only 600¥, there was way too many tourists & I still wasn’t feeling any better from my sickness so I had to skip it :( But, seeing the deers & feeding them made up for it. On my way out from the temple, I took a detour to Mount Wakakusa. A short 30 minute hike for you would be a good hour half for me but I suggest climbing past the first plateau until you get to the peak. You’ll see people picnicking & more deers too. Then, walk back down to the plateau to get a better view of Nara. For only 150¥, you could definitely spend a good 2 hours there just enjoying the view. The mountain/park closes at 5:30 pm but I’m pretty sure you can stay there past that time so if you do go during summer after the end of March (closed end of Dec-Mar), it’s a great place for the sunset. Feeling quite hungry, I found a nice little shop in the alleyway that sold Kitsune Udon (a must-try in Osaka). Then it was off to Kasuga-Taisha before I made my way to the wedding venue. Next morning was my last day and I made an extra effort to wake up at 4 am in the morning to go back to Kyoto. When I visited Fushimi-Inari Taisha the first time, I could barely get through the crowds. I wanted to catch those emojis in the wild one last time so after eating my last famichiki from Family Mart, I rushed to catch the 5:30 am metro to Yodoyabashi Station. Made it to Kyoto right at 6:45 am and besides a couple foreigners here and there, finally had the place to myself :) You don’t realize how nice it is to have some peace and quiet in these type of places until you’re there all by yourself. As you walk through all the torii’s, it becomes a hike up to the summit (sign said 25 mins but I didn’t believe it). The round trip should take you 2-3 hours though. Once I got all the shots I needed, it was time to say goodbye :( Honestly wished I could do the whole hike but I’ll save it for next time! All the snippets of my Japan adventures are under the “Candids” tab, just hover over it and click Nagoya, Kyoto, or Osaka :) I’m still feeling weak and nauseous so I’ve been trying to take it slow back in Taiwan. Family Mart’s famichiki is the best, but I missed Taiwanese breakfast just as much. Can’t go wrong with piping hot soy milk, some you tiao, and a side of egg pancakes for the weary soul. As much as I don’t want to think about it, however, Japan is officially my last trip during this semester abroad due to my current health conditions. My next flight will be on an airplane back to Hawaii homebound. Not now, but soon and it’s been a mix of emotions ever since the semester ended in Singapore. Still waiting for my grades to come out and that will be updated soon too.
For now, if you’re in Taiwan — hit me up! If not, I hope you continue to join me through this last month of random adventures I’ll have when I’m feeling better. Cheers to you & thank you for sticking around. — Irene
Taipei, Taiwan | May 08 - May 13, 2019 Three years ago, I traveled with Anna to Taiwan. It’s already been three years & a lot has happened since then — but, nothing’s changed. For the past week, Anna and her roommate, Qiuyi, visited Taiwan which gave me a chance to explore too :) After dropping off my TAS kids to Taoyuan International, I waited for them to arrive at Terminal 1. First stop was Gongguan (NTU) for some traditional Taiwanese milk tea & gua bao. Then, Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall where they were setting up for the Mother’s Day Ceremony held every year by Tzu Chi Foundation. Can’t end the night without some night market food so we went to Raohe Night Market for their famous pepper buns & other delicious treats! The next day, I met them at Taipei Main Station bright and early to do a day trip to northern Taiwan. I like to catch the train to Ruifang before the 10 am train to Pingxi so that we could have breakfast at Yonghe Soymilk. It’s usually 49 NTD to Ruifang if you buy a physical ticket but 44 NTD with your yoyo card. And 17 NTD to Shifen. Since it was raining that day, Shifen Waterfall was quite a sight! (only a short 20 minute walk from Shifen Station). To kill time, they wrote their wishes on sky lanterns which I hope do come true. Jiufen was next & you can catch a bus from the police station in Ruifang. Famous for their taro balls dessert & A-Mei Tea House which inspired part of Spirited Away, you can’t miss this place! To squeeze in a night market per day, I took them to Keelung Night Market which is only a 40 min. bus ride from Jiufen. This night market is known for their seafood dishes and pao pao bing (a type of shave ice). We managed to catch the sun setting as we hiked up Xiangshan and then to the Taipei 101 Observatory (540 NTD w/student ID). There are four mountains that interconnect with Xiangshan, but it’s the most easiest trail and shortest out of the four beasts. If you’re ever lucky with nice weather, do go up Taipei 101 for the sunset (especially if this is your first time to Taiwan). On the way home, I took them to Ningxia Night Market (@Shuanglian Station) which has the best sweet potato balls :) Taipei has many cheap breakfast joints wherever you stay at, but sometimes I like to go to Loco Food for their famous egg pancakes. And that’s what I did before heading to meet up with Anna & Qiuyi at Tamsui. By the time we got there, the sun was just about to set. Normally, if you have time I’d suggest going to Fisherman’s Wharf (via the R26 bus) to watch the sunset. But, if you walk all the way to the back of Tamsui Old Street and sit at the pier, it’s just as beautiful. I always warn against going to Shilin Night Market but it’s not a bad place if you really want to grab a quick bite. If you really like soy milk and youtiao (fried breadsticks), Fu Hang Soy Milk is the place to go! Since it was their last full day in Taiwan, we went hiking again but this time up Junjianyan (Battleship Rock). The rest of the day was just lounging around Taipei and visiting Ningxia Night Market one last time. I had to leave for Hong Kong the day after them so I couldn’t drop them off to the airport :( — love you 3000. Those short five days was enough to pack in most of Taipei, but if you ever want to take your time and not feel rushed — a week is the ideal amount of time. Although I was only around to guide them through the places they wanted to go since it is their trip together, it was nice to force myself to get up early, and be adventure-ready :) I don’t always have time like these to take people around and with close friends, too. So to say that I miss traveling is an understatement. Every day is a different decision and my mind is distracted left and right. Life as I know it. But, I couldn’t have asked to be around a better crew than Anna and Qiuyi — I just hope y’all enjoyed Taipei despite all the ups and downs along the way. Thank you both. For giving me a reason to smile again. For letting me be myself though I know I’m a terrible tour guide. I could rant on and on but next time, hopefully I’m a little better. At least, thank you for the few happy moments I didn’t know I needed. Cheers for the nudge as always. Hong Kong pt.03 | May 14 - May 17,2019 After Anna and Qiuyi left Taiwan, I departed for Hong Kong on a short three day trip. There were some important things I had to take care of; however, that didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun! Although Tsui Wah is one of the more expensive cha-chaan-teng in Hong Kong, it’s open 24 hours and has just about everything you need. My favorite is always the crispy buns drizzled in condense milk with a hot steaming Hong Kong style milk tea after a long flight. The weather was extremely nice, so I took a chance and watched my last sunset in Hong Kong at Sai Wan. And nice weather meant good hiking weather too. It took me a while to climb up The Peak from HKU but I made it :) By the time I got back to TST, it was almost midnight but I decided to grab some pulled chicken rice. Macau | May 15,2019 My important things to take care of meant a impromptu trip to Macau for the day. Exchange rate from HKD to MOP is 1:1 so you could pay in HKD but change would be in MOP. I had some breakfast at Australia Dairy Co. then rushed to barely make the 9 am ferry from China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon. Be careful when purchasing the round trip ferry tickets from Kowloon because the last ferry back from Macau is at 9:35 pm (370 HKD or $50 total). After an hour, I arrived at Macau Ferry Terminal. I took a short detour to Tempolo A-ma and Ruins of St. Paul's via bus which are pretty easy to catch, but just make sure you have exact change ($6 MOP). From there, I took another bus to Coloane Village to visit the original Lord Stow's Bakery — famous for their Portuguese egg tarts :) Nearby was a place that sold serredra (sawdust pudding). Next was to the Parisian and the Venetian in Cotai before I walked 20 minutes to Old Taipa Village to grab the best Pork Chop buns I’ve had and also my favorite from Sei Kee Cafe (don’t forget their clay-pot coffee, milk tea, and lemon black tea). Nearby was the Galaxy Macau where I took care of what I had to before taking the free shuttle back to Macau Ferry Terminal to see the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. Qiuyi recommended that if I’d yet to hike in Hong Kong, Dragon’s Back would be the perfect place. After having breakfast at Chrisly’s Cafe (best place for scrambled eggs), I took the tram all the way to Shau Kei Wan and then the #9 bus up to To Tei Wan. For someone with poor health, I was surprised I made it up to the top in less than 30 minutes. It’s like Makapuu Lighthouse back home with mountains one side, beach views the other. Only difference was how low the clouds were due to the approaching monsoon season. I actually bumped into an old friend up at the top of the Shek O Peak. Two polo baos, a few egg tarts, and a bunch of Hong Kong style milk teas later — he dragged me all the way down to Tai Long Bay which concluded the whole Hong Kong Trail. Dragon’s Back should only take 1 hour round trip but 3-4 hours if you go all the way down. A couple friends had been raving about eating pigeon so I decided to try it before I left Hong Kong too. Spent the remaining of my last day just sitting down at the pier, watching the stars, and listening to the waves crash against shore. Couldn’t leave Hong Kong without having one last breakfast. At Wan Chai, there’s Kam Fung Cafe which is famous for their chilled Hong Kong style milk tea (they never put ice so it doesn’t dilute) and polo baos. Then, I had some lunch at Mak Man Kee for wonton mien and a last bowl of steam milk from Yeeshun. Also, Yeeshun fixes up the best hot ginger lemon coke if you’re ever sick :) A quick hike up the Peak again and that concluded my last HKG trip for the semester. As expensive as Hong Kong is, it’s always been easier for me to get used to another country’s lifestyle. Because of that, I pick up a lot of habits despite only being there for a couple days each time. And I guess that’s what makes me love HKG so much. On a side note, in about a week, I might be back in Singapore again but as a tourist. I forgot I promised my old, old friend that I’d do one last trip to a certain place in South East Asia with her. Though she’s there, it’ll mostly be a solo trip by myself again which means more endless but breathtaking walks :) Better late than never! Time just flew by. Currently at Hong Kong International Airport. Leaving Hong Kong today. This might be my last trip too so I’m feeling all the feels again. Goodbyes are never easy and I hate them, so I always say see you later because I know — I’ll be back in these countries that have captured my heart — chaotic streets, delicious food, beautiful scenery, vibrant culture, & most importantly, catching up with my talented best friend or two :)
Until next time. — Irene
By the time this blog post is fully up, I’m in Taiwan running around with friends which means finals are done and so has this past semester at NUS :( Right now, I'm slowly trying to recover from last week's no-sleep sessions at HSSML in Biz. It's been brutal these past 3-4 days, a bit scared of what my final results will be when June hits but as what everyone reminds me - take it slowly, day by day. In the previous blog and a few others, I’ve shared some things on NUS and the final words that my professors have left for us. For this blog, I'll give a final reflection on all Singapore has to offer to me since I will not be back in Hawaii for another month half. To start, Asia is the gateway to a lot of things, especially Singapore. Although I can truthfully say I was not in Singapore at least 25% of the time, but for the remaining 75% where I had classes, assignments, and places to visit/do - I finally realized something. I realized that I have so much room for improvement and NUS is like a boot camp where you will go through many, many periods of self-doubt. Yet, it is all a part of the learning process and it also reminded me that no one is perfect. Through it all, however, I knew I was perfectly where I wanted to be despite all the imperfect moments that tested me to see whether I would make it through. And I did. Since grades are not out yet, I cannot 100% say that I kept all the promises I promised, but I would not have wanted to study in another country besides Singapore. It's true that the weather is terrible, though the brightly lit red sunsets are the best (especially from the PGPH kitchens where I'll study at & the Helix Bridge at Marina Bay). There were many places that I could not squeeze in to visit during my last three days in Singapore; however, if you hover over "Candids" and click "S'pore", you'll find that I explored as much as I could when I wasn't studying. To the North of Singapore, you'll find forests and undeveloped land. To the South, you'll find Chinatown, Harbourfront, and Marina Bay. To the East, you'll find Changi and the National Stadium as well as East Coast Park. And to the West, lies NUS. Scattered throughout Singapore will be the endless shopping malls/department stores where you'll probably visit just to beat the heat. Definitely can't forget about the hawker centers and public libraries where you can fill up your stomach then head over to study. Lastly, Singaporeans have their own unique culture and history so don't forget to make a few Singaporean friends :) It's true the modules are hard - even harder when you barely have much of a choice on what you can take and it's not an introductory course either. I took two upper-division management courses and introduction to marketing without any previous knowledge on any of the concepts that I learned throughout this semester. Although this meant extra work, I walked away from every single module with a fresh set of knowledge that I know will be crucial to the last few semesters I have at Shidler. The group projects I took part of challenged me on how important it is to be a good teammate. If it were not for my teammates and coordinating every single task, I would have struggled much more than I already was. It's true you will stay up for a couple days before your final exams trying to cram a whole semester's worth of notes into the little time you have. Prior to leaving Singapore and after the official last day of classes, I still had my marketing final to take. There were 80 questions, one hour half time limit, and 17 chapters to read. Most of the final exams are taken at the Multi-Purpose Sports Hall but always double check via EduRec. At the same time, do remember to take breaks as well. As much as grades are important, so is your health. Most importantly, it's true you'll have fun regardless. From eating out at the hawker centers to monthly or weekly theatre/concerts at the Esplanade to lounging around at the public libraries around Singapore, I'm sure my definition of fun is different from yours. But, Felice and Jonathan kept me company throughout the whole time at NUS and I managed to meet up with Anna in a couple of places which is enough for me. In the countries I did solo trips to, the local people all had a story to tell and I was there to listen. Because I know that a year from now, I will look back at all the pictures I took and remember all the stories I lived to hear. There are many things I still want to say, but right now I'm not sure how to formulate it into words - all these emotions that I feel. And I'm sure I have said a thousand thank you's up until today, but thank you. I thank the Freeman Foundation for funding and giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity to study abroad. I thank the Shidler College of Business and the University of Hawaii at Manoa for providing me with the rigorous education I needed to be on par with the curriculum at NUS. I thank my close friends and the new friends I met for being there for me every step of the way. I thank myself for getting through the unspoken challenges I faced during the course of this semester. And I thank you, whoever is reading this, for supporting me as well. It's also impossible for me to name everyone, but the Freeman Foundation, the Shidler College of Business, the University of Hawaii of Manoa, the National University of Singapore, and everyone else has left a lasting impact on me that I will forever be indebted to. Though some things I wished I did a little differently, but we can't always get what we want. And if things don't work out in the end - I've accepted that some battles aren't meant for us to win. These past few days in Taiwan, however, I'm just trying to take it day by day. I miss Singapore, but I miss the eerily quietness of home, taking care of my cousins, and being a tour guide around Taipei. Thank you, I appreciate you, and I'm going to enjoy the remaining time I have left with my family and friends in this country I love. Singapore | My Final Days. Once my finals were done, I finally had the time to go to Marina Bay. Unfortunately, the Merlion Statue was receiving repairs and I am unsure when it will be open to the public again. But, the road along Esplanade opened up so it was much easier trying to access the Helix Bridge. As I slowly walked from Raffles Place to Marina Bay, the sun began to set. So I found a spot down at the pier and waited for my last and final sunset in Singapore. The sky lit up red, then purple, then orange pink and all I could think of was, "wow". Singapore sunsets are definitely something else. I'm just sad I couldn't go out more as much as I wanted to. After that, I caught up with Jonathan for one last meal before he goes back to Florida and I Taiwan. Did a few last minute photo shoots on top of the carpark at the People's Complex in Chinatown. Ate at Maxwell's for some chicken rice and Old Airport Road for Malaysian cuisine which I miss (if you have a heart for tofu beancurd, Whampoa has the best). And that concludes my one semester in Singapore :( However, upcoming will be Taipei and the many different cities/counties in Taiwan so stay tuned! Life as I know it - I hope all is well. - Irene a small side story:
Walao! Five months ago, I touched down in Singapore and now I'm leaving to go back home :( The very first day I arrived in Singapore, I dragged at least 60 kg worth of luggage to NUS because I couldn't afford Grab at the time. Mind you, it was a good 20 minute walk up-hill then down-hill before you arrive at PGP if you walk from Kent Ridge, 40 degrees celsius weather too. After check-in, I realized I had no idea how to get out of the building because they only ever tell you how to get in. That's when I met Felice. Gradually, we bonded over the random events that PGPH held throughout the semester and toured quite a bit of Singapore together. I have a habit of observing people and I noticed that while Singaporeans are really nice, it's hard to fit yourself into their friend groups. Most of the time, either you meet other exchange students during the few social events they have at the beginning of the semester or you'll be stuck in the library by yourself. And that is something I know I should've taken more initiative of when it comes to meeting people, but it also helped me meet a few people I knew I could rely on even after we part ways. If you're capable of forging friendships easily, good for you. But, if you're like me then it does get a little harder especially when everyone is already under a lot of pressure at NUS. And for that, I am grateful I met Felice as well as my group mates who kept me afloat this semester. One of my group members, Charmaine, likes to joke whenever she sees me and asks, "Did you go back to Hong Kong for a day trip again?" Although I know she's joking, it made me realize just how much I've been traveling too. Whether it be by myself, with Anna and Jonathan, or just a quick trip home - I stumbled into a lot of things that I would have never imagined before arriving in Singapore. Waking up to sunrises in Penang, going home for Lunar New Years in Taipei, photo shoots with Anna in Hong Kong, almost freezing to death in Seoul, trying not to get attacked by monkeys in KL, unknowingly ended up in Bangkok during Songkran with Jonathan, and watching the most beautiful sunsets in Bali - the highlight of everything is definitely the close friends who were with me and the new friends I met along the way. I can truthfully say that these trips were not as cheap as I'd like to make it, but it was well worth these past few years of savings. It's been rough, too - none of these trips were a smooth ride, neither was this semester at NUS. And I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with either. I guess my point is, hustle hard but remember to slow down too. Because it's not everyday we get chances like these where I can travel, while worrying about school, cheesing from cheek to cheek. It's sad to think that I might not have another opportunity like this, at least I made the best of it. Though I didn't make a lot of friends in Singapore, I made up for it throughout the places I traveled to with the realest people I know. Familiar faces, unfamiliar faces - they've all been nothing but supportive :) Ask me the day I arrived, I would never have known that I would travel to these few countries around Asia the moment i sat down on my bed in PGPH. Now, I'll be reminded of all the crazy shenanigans in these countries that have become so dear to me. And Singapore has become home as well, maybe not somewhere I'd live the rest of my life at but I wouldn't mind returning a few days a year. If that happens, I'll be at the hawker centres catching up on all the chicken rice and carrot cakes I already miss :( Feeling all the feels. |
Apa Kabar, Ni Hao! My name is Irene Chen. I am currently a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa pursuing a BBA in Accounting & Finance. Join me on this journey through Singapore!
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