Thursday, December 31, 2009

I flew back from the Philippines about 24 hours ago, and I'm already suffering from post trip withdrawal syndrome.

It's been an awesome 19 days spent in the Philippines with the other 18 team members, NGO members and host families. It really did not feel like we were there to do community work because we were treated very well. The people were very hospitable and made all of us feel at home. Even before we rendered our services, the NGO members were already showing their appreciation by ensuring we had good food and good accomodation upon our arrival at Bago City in Bacolod City.

That of cos, made us want to put in our best efforts for the education camp, games and painting of the school library which we helped to fund. & I think we did a pretty good job. Then came the home stay which I had doubts about even before we set off to the philippines. At first I thought it would be rather scary because we had to be separated into groups of 2 or 3 and go to our own host families - plus it was on christmas day, which means we can't celebrate christmas together as a team. The homestay however turned out to be quite an unforgettable experience really. We got to be part of their family - they really do treat us like one of them and give us the best they can get. I was truly touched. Anws, the filipinos have very strong family ties and rather strong bond within their community. They have extended families living in the same village and it's like as if the whole village is one big family. They can just greet anyone on the streets and help anyone who's in trouble. They say hello to you even though they don't know you. Ohman, I don't know how to describe how I felt then. I'm really just touched beyond words.

At the end of the whole trip, on the 17th day which is before our R&R, we left Bago City for Manila. I didn't expect myself to be overwhelmed with such sad emotions. I thought that these few days spent with them won't mean anything to me but it did - somehow. Amazing isn't it?

Now that I'm back here in Singapore, I feel rather weird. I'm already missing the philippines and the people there. I'm also missing how it feels to live with other 18 people in the same room. I miss the stars in the philippines. We managed to witness a few shooting stars during our stay there. Star gazing in Bago City is amazing because it's so dark there at night you can see the stars shine so bright! I miss the greeen grass and blue sky. I miss the enthusiasm of the children. I miss the love they showered. There's just too much about the place and the people and the team that I miss.

Alright, I'll prolly update a more detailed one with the itinery when I have the time and energy. There's just too much to be said about the 19 days.

There's also much to catch up on here in Singapore. It's only 19 days but machiam so many things have happened and so many things have changed. I've also got a whole chunk of emails to clear zomg and also to tidy up my room!



This is a nice filippino Christmas song. I like the chorus! :D

; TEN FEET UNDER

Dear friends,

I don't care if you are short, tall, fat, skinny, fair, dark, malay, indian, eurasion, chinese, foreigner, big eye-ed, small eye-ed, big nose-ed, small nose-ed, snore when you sleep, fart when you walk, laugh, cry, talk, smoke, cook, sleep, emo, ugly, pretty, handsome, big breasted, flat chested, muscular, sporty, nerdy, stupid, smart, lousy, good, awesome, made some mistakes, achieved some great things, like things that I don't or like the things I like, you're still my friends. Nobody's ever perfect (because being completely perfect itself is a flaw) and that's why I love you for who you are.

We're only just human. We err. But we learn. Emotions may blind us, but given time we'll look back and laugh if off - this one I'm quite sure because just look at what we're doing now. Laughing at how silly we were back then.

So yeah, I just wanted to let all my friends know I love all of you for who you are!

I had a conversation with my mom (or maybe just her talking) & at the end of it all, my dad told me "you're forever a child in your mom's eyes no matter how old you grow". Okay, I q wanted to cry but nawwwwww, I didn't hahahahaha.

I AM FLYING OFFFFF TO THE PHILIPPINES TOMORROW MORNING. WILL ONLY BE BACK ON 29 DECEMBER 2009, NIGHT. TILL THEN, MISS ME :D

AND MERRRY CHRISTMAS IN ADVANCE :D

; TEN FEET UNDER

Congratulations Xiaojie on completing the 2009 Singapore Marathon in a finish time of: 6:12:30

I found some photos on marathon-photos.com HAHAHA. They look quite the unglamz.








shit, caught walking!
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WEISIANG! He has the most photos on that website, like ten over?





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PEH YUZHENG, the long long long long long lost - but still the same haha.






Yuzheng looking so happy lolol!
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YEWSENG, sports camp king yo!


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YEEWEI! The long lost commando and my running partner for the second half.




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WEIMING - PT Best! Running side by side with wilfred! Pro shitz. I found his name under "Nicholas Teo Kian Chong" I wonder why. LOL.








I hope his knee is alright!


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so yeah, I had to crawl out of my bed this morning and WALK to the bus interchange to take a bus to school and had to WALK even more to central forum and dry run all the programmes for the Philippines trip.

CUI AH.

Ohwelz, I finally got to eat Arts Canteen Yong Tau Foo HAHAHAHA :DD But there's still a lot of people in the canteen even though it's the school holidays already. I'm supposed to be packing my luggage naooooo because tomorrow I won't be home and I'm flying on thursday already. But I'm so lazyyyyyyyyyyy, and I'm aching everywhere I just want to sit and rot. Shitz, I still need to go out and buy stuffs, rar!

Oh anw, yesterday while I was running the marathon, I felt like crying. Cos I felt like I was trying really hard. And then I saw those motivational words pinned behind some of the other runner's singlet - some were really inspirational man. I don't know. Or maybe too much running and over exhaustion makes you want to cry. Wooohoooo, mind over body! I love the after-run feeling. It's shiok!

; TEN FEET UNDER

I'll let the peektures do the talking for now - (peekture heavy)






















































Dead exhausted right now. Today after the run, went for lunch with the nh guys, reached home at around 3 plus, laid on the bed until 5 plus and went out for my dad's birthday celebration. Zomgsz, I is cui ttm.

Anw, the run was pretty awesome minus the blisters, abrasions and aching body. Ran the first half on my own and I'm glad I managed to run all the way until the 24km mark before all the walking begins. Met yeewei halfway and so I ran with him LOL. Luckily for him, if not I'll prolly walk all the way until the finishing line. Saw damn many people during the run, it's q cool HAHA. 30++ km is the most terrible part. That's when all the cramping starts. I didn't dare to stretch because I feel it's only gg t make it worse so I just ran with the fatigue in every part of my body. And at the finishing line it felt really awesome, LIKE WOOHOOO, I DID IT I DID IT! HAHA. But uh, the finisher tee q ugly man. ): Oh wels, it's an awesome feeling after the run. I feel like joining again! LOLOL. Okay I'm just keeding, maybe wait another year lah huh.

Okay Im uber tired - I need to get some rest now.

; TEN FEET UNDER

Hola!

Life's been pretty gooooood. Definitely much much much better than school/study/exam week! Less time at home, less time on the computer and more life right now, although this post-exam feeling is waning off q fast.

Love catching up w old friends, supper-ing, squeezing 8 people in the car, tanning, playing frisbee, crubbingz, shopping, moviehs, good food, spending time with my mom, clearing up the mess in my room, exploring various ulu parts of Singapore, driving and learning how to park (altho I still can't do it shitz).

Okay, I am officially not doing anything about my marathon on Sunday. I didn't run and didn't do swimming at all this week. DIESZ.

Actually, I miss how things were the last time. Wish we could still be the same.

; TEN FEET UNDER

I LOVE POST-EXAM LIFE! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

BUT SHITZ, I CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT. INSOMNIA. TWO NIGHTS ALREADY. WHAT IS WRONG?

BLOODY TIRED.

; TEN FEET UNDER