Worth a thought..yes..

I thought that today and yesterday was worth remembering. Here's what I did with Jasmine and Mai:


Yesterday:
At 3pm after our short notice, Jasmine and I followed my hostparents together with their daughter's family down to Baker's Creek. Too bad Mai couldn't come along. We wore shorts and flipflops and walked in the stream. Brr..cold.. But anyhow, it was a fun, mini-picnic (if there's such a thing!)

Then, we went back to their home and had dinner. Right after dinner, a few of us went down to rent a movie. And we watched 'Ultimate Gift'! Have you watched it yet? Well, you SHOULD.

We got back at Potter Hall at 11pm. Guess what?? Our story doesn't end there.

Jasmine and I took a quick shower and we dragged Mai along (together with our blankets) to hunt for a dry spot on the grass somewhere on campus (where the sprinklers didn't succeed in wetting them). In the end, we just gave up and lied down on a random spot where..here's the best part..*drum rolls* ..we watched the stars until 2.40am in the morning!
(p.s. that was actually the second time we did that, except during the first time we went star-gazing, there weren't so many stars, oh my goodness, you should have been there! And we didn't stay that late the first time THANKS TO WORK anyway. What a bummer.)

(YES, WE SAW SHOOTING STARS. I saw four of them! And duh, I wished, of course!)

And that's the end to yesterday.


TODAY:

What a night we had, last night. This morning, we just couldn't get up. Two alarms of ours went off but we turned them off and went back to bed until about 8.35am, someone started mowing the lawn! The windows were open so the three of us sat up on our beds simultaneously when we suddenly heard the awful noise!

And that's breakfast time. Mai and I went to Dillin for breakfast 10minutes before their closing time. Heehee!

And then, we came back, baked a lemon cake (with the decorations and all) and set out from Potter Hall at 12.30pm to walk to my hostparents' home. THANK GOODNESS they were home! We were doing a surprise for them, well, sort of. Their birthdays were on the 17th and 18th of July. That was fun.

Who knew, they just got back from the blueberry farm and the rest of us ended up washing blueberries while nibbling on them until dinner time. Of course, there's dinner!

And *tadaa*, here I am, in my stinky clothes. Hmm..THAT was a lot of talking, wasn't it? I should get out from my stinky clothes. I'll catch up with you the next time! Tata!

Just Seizing One Moment

The world must have heard me saying this for countless times: Time flew!

I'm here just to remind myself how my life is. Okay. Here goes:

Dear Shalyn,

I don't know what to tell you. We pretty much know each other anyway (heck, no one knows you better than I do!). And how we wish someone else would know you better. But anyway, back to reality.

Okay. So these days, you have been working. And working. And..working..okay..hmm..that didn't sound right. T.T

• You made me wake up at 6am every morning, start working at 6.30am, and leave for a break at 9.30am (breakfast shift) or so..and;
  
• back to work at 11am (lunch shift)..and get off maybe before 2pm..and;
  
• back again at 4pm and get off hopefully before 8.30pm (I don't have to tell you what shift).
• And you take a shower..(and laundry if you have to because we only have those few work tshirts)..and;
• if it's not too late, you read what you're supposed to, or work on your discussion, or your outline, or just read comics (I liked Persepolis. Now reading Persepolis 2. Still cool. Maus will be next!). Online class wasn't that hectic, though. *thankful*

Basically, that's life. Right now, I have..3 days to my two-day off! BLD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) til then. Oh yea. By the way, we should protest about not having days off during the weekends. Not even on 4th of July. If you press shift-4, what do you get=$. That explains it.

Okay so about BLD, I'm beginning to get bored with it. Well, it was exciting at first but yeah..I get bored. And I haven't even told you about 'A' which stands for the cleaning shift (8am-5pm). which I only get once in a blue moon. Yeah, they switch us around. 8am-5am would be better but it is also darn boring. (I'm complaining too much. Not like anyone cares.)

ANYWAY, enough about work.

Mom and Dad, I think of you two every single day. Dad, I always remember what you tell me to do. And Mom, I wish you could come here to visit us with Dad. I'm saving money for your flight tickets! (Waiting for a paycheck is a pain.)

I am just so relieved Tajie made it. (See, Sissy, I saw you. I saw everything you had to do, I wish I could be there to do more. I'm sorry I was born 6 years later. But I'm here now! I love you always!)

Fernny, I can't be any more proud. You show 'em, sista'!! I always knew you would do it. I also saw everything you had to do. I saw them. You were awesome (and you still are; will always be!). My inspiration.

YuanYuan (roundround LOL), you just do your best! I'm not there at home, but I'm around. Look for me. I will be there. Take care of everyone, especially Granny! I miss her cooking. I really do. I miss her cooking, Chilli/cactus/etc plants.

And to the Fatty Dragon, bah..don't be lazy, you! A smarty but..lazy like anything! Wait til I get back ("Shania, have you finished your homework?! Shania, have you practised your piano?!). I miss your noisiness. You must be taller already. Don't be naughty!

I shouldn't feel envious, but I wish I could go back home, like some people here. I also wish those who hadn't gone back for 3 years will get to go back as well. It must be so hard.

My First Birthday Abroad:

Thank you Mai. She made me this cake, of chocolate chip cookies stacked, with strawberries on top, and also coconut pecan topping. It was the coolest cake ever!

I have never ever celebrated a birthday alone without a cake and without my family, I am glad Jasmine and Mai were there. Do you hear me? I am glad. Other than that, I just tell you that, "Oh, it's just another day.." (which it is. Not like I'm anyone important.)



For Tajie's Birthday


There we go. The picture below was worth remembering. I love you, Sissy!!!

Mai and I baked a brownie/cake (filled with bananas, topped with lemon icing, surrounded by animal crackers and small marshmallows, decorated with strawberries and lime skin and chocolate chips.) Boy, that was a mouthful. Speaking about a mouthful, we cut a piece and sent it over to Florida. Yes, I can't believe we managed to pull that off. It was fun!!

Well anyways, time's up. Back to work. Lunch shift, remember?!

Eat well and sleep well,
Myself.
(Yeah, together, we can handle anything! ANYTHING.)

I spent my Spring Break at the White's House

Spring break! (3/21 to 3/29)
I have many stories to tell you. Firstly, if you read the title correctly, no, I didn't live at the White House but I stayed with the White Family for the week. I have always been blogging one too many words. This time, I will let pictures do the talking! Here goes! (P.S. Don't fall asleep!)

Friday, March 21 2009
We (Laura, Jasmine and I) reached Fall City(near Seattle), Washington state where Laura and her family lives. Washington is about 4 hours up north from Oregon. Who's Laura? You'll find out soon enough! Patience, darling. Below is a picture of Seattle which I took from the inside of the van Laura drove.

Oh, did I tell you that Jasmine and I spent the first two nights in a trailer? Here are pictures of our place. I don't have much time to edit the photos, so please bear with me! Hang in there! Also, some pictures weren't mine.

Laura's mom and dad (Judy and John) decided to move us into their home from the third night onwards because it was cold outside. So, we moved into the living room! LOL The reason why we don't have a room is because there is another German exchange student occupying Laura's room. Hence, Laura and the two of us slept in the living room.


Saturday, March 22 2009
Today, we went to the Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle. It was supposed to be a meeting for all exchange students, including Nils, the one who is living in Judy's place still. The first pic below shows EMP building. It has a queer shape. Behind it is the Space needle. Oh,in the second pic, isn't the sculpture of instruments cool? I forgot what it's called...something..tree. And there's a picture of the 'duck' van! We saw one on our way out from EMP. This vehicle takes tourists around Seattle, and it can even go into the water to take them around! Usually, the tourists will have this...instrument where if you blow into it, it goes "quack, quack!".

After EMP, since the trip up on the Space Needle was expensive (and the weather wasn't worth the trip) we went to Kerry's Park where we can see the entire view of Seattle. And in the pic with three faces, that's Jasmine, Laura and myself! Look, I have the space needle on my head!


Sunday, March 23 2009
We didn't go anywhere today. Jasmine and I stayed at home to do some homework while the rest of the family went for Judy's friend's 50th birthday.

Monday, March 24 2009
Today, we went for a trip to downtown Seattle. We went to visit the Troll, went to Gaswork Park(I hope I got the spelling right.) , took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, went for dinner at Ivars (which explains the Seagulls) then to Pike Street Market and Starbucks again for me..and that's about it. Whew, what a mouthful! Look at how steep the streets are.In the ferry:Well, the weather is rainy most of the time in Washington. Washingtonians joke that their rainy season is from 1st January to 31st December. Below, we had lunch at Ivar's at Waterfront. The next picture shows the steep streets. There were more roads which were even steeper! I don't even dare to think of driving Kancil on their streets.



Tuesday, March 25 2009

In the afternoon, Judy took Jasmine and I down to CostCo, a huge store selling stuff in bulk, and it has the largest membership in the world. Mom, you will love CostCo. They have yet to expand to Malaysia yet, though. It's okay, Mom. There's still your favourite Sunshine Farlim&Square. Later in the evening around 6.15pm, Judy and her friend went for their quilting class. In the mean time, Laura took Jasmine and I down to Bellevue Shopping mall. We only had 1 hour, though to pick up Judy after her class. Our first stop: Bathroom. Second stop: A music store. We spent like..half an hour in that music store. I have never seen so many music books!! I didn't manage to take pictures of Bellevue Square, though, only CostCo for Mom to see.
Oh yea, people, meet Judy!

Wednesday, March 26 2009

Today, it is all about planes. Yes, BOEING. All of us including Nils, Brian (Laura's younger brother), and Kevin (Brian's friend), went to tour the Boeing plant in Everett. It was about a 40 minutes drive from Fall City. We saw the last 747-7 model in the assembly line for..was it Kuwait, I don't remember. And, a couple of 777 and also their newest model, six of 787 planes in the assembly line. They were so darn cool! We weren't permitted to take photographs inside, so we only have photographs of us in the Future of Aviation showroom. We can see the Boeing building which is the largest building in the world from on the roof top of the showroom. "If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!"The squarish building with blue stuff at the walls (in the picture above) is part of the Boeing plant.

After Boeing, since it was such a gorgeous day, Jasmine and I decided to go out for a walk at the surroundings of their home. We went nuts and took funny pictures of ourselves. You'd have to agree it was an awfully amazing day!
Cute, right? Wait til you see the picture below. When I saw this building I was like, LOL!Oh yea, someone was being funny below:Meditating, Jasmine?!! Oh,a shadow picture! And, mind you, Jasmine, I DO NOT look like Godzilla!
Thursday, March 27 2009

Today, Judy took us on a long drive towards eastern Washington where there is a dramatic change in the landscape. It was like going from the evergreen state up to the Cascades, Snoqualmie Pass (I ate snow) to Saudi Arabia then we went to Leavenworth, a German village. At Snoqualmie Pass, we stopped by Alpental to see people ski. It was a scenic drive! I love the part at the Columbia river. It was so stunning! Oh yeah, Jasmine and I hiked up this hill to the horses. I thought I'd never make it!Oh boy, I LOOK fatter. Hmm..sheesh, I was wearing two jackets underneath, alright!Behold, the Columbia river! Ain't it gorgeous?! Wait til you see the view from the top! Jasmine and I hiked up a small hill to the horses. I made it to the top!! Oh, and on the way UP, two guys on dirtbikes were going DOWN. I was like...&^%. How could I forget!Now wasn't that worth the hike?! Okay, moving on!The picture above, we were at Leavenworth, the German village I told you about.Nils is always sleeping!! He slept like half the way!

Friday, March 28 2009

In the morning, we went to Snoqualmie Falls, Mount Si High School to see how an American high school is like (we even sat in in one of Laura's ex-high school teacher's class. I can't remember exactly what class it was called, it has something to do with the law and court), Boppa and Grandma's home(Boppa used to be a Captain pilot for Delta Airlines. He has the coolest toys!) , and then Nils made us all Schnitzel (pork fried with bread crumbs, they were yummy!) Judy made us Blueberry Cobbler, which we ate with ice-cream! That dinner was a fun and delicious one! Boppa and Grandma was there, John, Kevin, Nils in the kitchen, everyone! I hate to eat alone so I love dinners with the people I know. I miss having dinner with my family! Mommy, shall we go to Genting Highlands again when I'm back? We'll drag Shafern along, and Tajie, if she decides to come home!
Judy's yummy blueberry cobbler. She cooks really delicious food!
That's Boppa(Laura's Grandpa) having his turn to the food.And that's my main course. It's mashed potatoes cooked by Judy and Nil's German Schnitzel! Below are pictures at the dinner table. There's John, Grandma and Jasmine in the first one.Below there's Nils and Boppa. Laura and Judy are around somewhere. The diet coke belongs to Laura. She loves Diet Coke!


Saturday, March 28 2009

Oh..nothing much happened today. The White Family went up to Arlington where Judy works to help in the preparation of the Aviation show where airplanes will perform stunts, all done by volunteers. Jasmine, I and Nils stayed at home. In the evening, we went to the cinema and watch Duplicity. It was a confusing, but good one! Then we went to Barnes and Noble nearby. I almost went nuts seeing so many books! If you know me, I can spend hours and hours being lost in a bookstore.


Sunday, March 29 2009

Unfortunately, every beginning has an ending. Dutch (the doggy) is driving us home. Nah, just kidding! Laura is! Oh I didn't have a picture of their cat, Whiskey, who scared Jasmine and I most of the time. Whew, and just as every beginning has an ending, every ending is the beginning of something else. It is time to get back to my books, in small, cosy McMinnville!
DutchEe!!! I'm going to miss that big guy.


Whew!! You made it!! I told you it was an amazing trip! A big thank you and hug to the White Family for taking us around!