i came back to a lovely surprise when i got back to Singapore. I am utterly surprised by my family and friends, for the belated 21st bday party that they had organised for me. I am quite touched by their efforts.
When i was looking at the powerpoint slideshow that they had prepared for me. Looking through my 21 years, from when i was a newborn baby to when i was in secondary school, poly, and now, in Perth.. there was only one thought in my mind - I am so blessed to have all these people in my life. My family, my church friends, my secondary school friends, my poly friends, and definitely my perth family and friends. I couldn't help but teared when i was watching the slideshow, cos i was really touched.. and at the same time, well, i have to admit, when i saw the photo of me and my perth family - Em, Jocelyn and Kim.. i do missed them quite a bit and wished they were here too.
When i was given that 2 minutes to say something. I really didn't know what to say. There's just too much to be thankful for and yet at the same time, words are not enough to express how i feel. All i could say was "Who i am today, how far i have come, 21 years of my life, it isn't because of who i am or what i've done. But it is because of each and everyone who matters in my life. And i am blessed, because i am given the privilege to be your friend.. and i am blessed, because i am given such a wonderful family, who believed in me, gave me such a good environment to grow up in, and for giving me the chance to go overseas to study.. "
I truly am touched by their gesture and efforts. It was good to see everyone again..
and it made me feel really torn apart... What do u do when on both sides of the world (okay, not really at both sides.. since technically speaking, perth is just a little bit downwards on the map from singapore), there are people who mean a lot to you? That no matter where you are, you'll always miss them.. *sigh*
It's amazing how God has given me the chance to know these people in my life, and those especially close ones whom have made such an impact on my life and make my life pretty much complete.. They are the ones whom i will cherish for life, no matter where i am.
Leaving Perth to go back to Singapore.. it feels very much like im leaving my home, for home. Yes, Perth is very much a place i call home now too. Not so much the place that makes it feel like home, but it's because of the people, my friends, or rather i should say, my family here in Perth that makes Perth feels just like home.
I remember, when i first came here, whenever people ask me "where are you going now?" i will never say "i'm going home." i would usually say "oh, i'm going back to my apartment." or even when i first came to college at the beginning of this year, i would say "oh, i'm going back to college." but then, after getting to know my amazing group of friends, i've started to say "i'm going home now."
there so much of a mixed feeling inside, not that i would expect most people to understand. i guess only a few would be able to understand what i mean by mixed feelings. Going back to Singapore, in a way, is something that i do look forward to abit, but as much as i am looking forward to seeing my family and friends in Singapore again, i really do miss my family in Perth - my close friends.
It just feels so weird... from being able to see the 3 of them everyday - Emma, Jocelyn and Kim, having our meals together, going out to have fun, having late night chats, studying together, our cluedo sessions, our movie nights in college, etc etc.. there's just so much stuff that we do together throughout this semester.. and then to the sudden change of not being able to see them everyday, not being able to just go up one flight of stairs to find Jocelyn or Kim or to go across the building to find Emma, or being able to just call/msg them whenever... or like whenever one of us is in need, we can't just go to their room within 3 mins to find them.. and there's just so much more..
I know Emma, Jocelyn and Kim will be able to understand what i am talking about.. there's just so much about Perth that i miss.. No doubt, definitely there are things and people in Singapore that i miss too.
it's just a kind of mixed feelings.. but well, 1.5 mths and then im back to Perth again. I shall enjoy my time back home.. and make the best out of it.. Time for meet-ups and catch-ups with everyone.
Soon, it's going to be the end of the semester. How fast time flies.. it's unbelivable that i've already been in Perth for almost 1.5 years. Thinking back, so much have changed - my thoughts, perspectives, etc. I remember my mum telling me before i left for Perth in July last year. She said that coming to Perth would be a turning point in my life. Indeed, it has been. Coming to Perth has opened up my eyes in so many ways and taught me many many lessons.
When i first came to Perth, i only had one goal in mind - study and graduate with my commerce degree and then return to Singapore to work. That's it. I never thought more about it. But now, my mindset has changed completely. Of this 1.5 years so far, what i've gained is so much more than just a degree. The life experiences, the different challenges that i've went through, learning how to be independent when you're far away from home, how to make the best out of whatever situation i may be in, stepping out of my comfort zone, getting to know different people, making friends that i know will last for life. There's just so much that i've gotten out of this whole "overseas study experience".
I am thankful, utterly thankful, for having the opportunity to come to Perth to study, and for having to the opportunity to be in St.Cats. This year has been amazing. Coming into St.Cats is probably the best thing ever that has happened to me in this 1.5 years. The different experiences that i've gained, the different events i've attended, the different people that i've met, and those special few close friends who have now become my family in Perth.
Just the other day, one of the girls in college was reading my palms (not that i believe in palm reading.. but for the fun of it.. why not?) and she said that i'm a blessed person. There was one thing that she said that stayed in my mind til now. She said "You're blessed, though in life, you may meet with difficulties, but you always make it through somehow, either because you have the strength in you to push yourself through, or you've got a strong support system."
This, i do agree with her. I do know i'm blessed. God has blessed me so much indeed. Wherever i may be, whatever circumstances i may face in life, i know that somehow, whether the circumstance is good or bad, God will bring me through. And God always places some "angels in disguise" in my life to help me through it.
When i meet with difficulties, rather than thinking that i have the strength in me to push myself through, i actually think it is more so because i have a strong support system in my life - my family and friends. To be honest, who i am today, how i've come thus far, it is because of them. Even when i'm in Perth, God has given me a family here too, my family of close friends and i wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They can turn my bad day into a good one. They are always there whenever, in good times, bad times, happy times, sad times, etc.. and you don't have to have a reason too, they are just there. There really is nothing more that i can ask for. And i really do hope that God blesses this friendship of ours, that it will be one that last, no matter where the 4 of us may be, Perth, Singapore or wherever.
I really do think i'm blessed, very much so. I don't mean that my life is all smooth-sailing. But as much as i am a worrier (yes, i do tend to worry quite a bit and i do tend to think too much at times...), i know that in every situation, in every thing that happens, there is a reason behind it and it is always for the good. For example, before coming to Perth, i thought that maybe it is a bad thing for me to be coming to Perth, somewhere that feels like it's so far away from home. But then, if i never did make that decision to come to Perth, and if i didn't decide to stick to it, then i wouldn't have gotten to know my amazing friends here. As what one of my friends back home said "If going to Perth was a wrong decision, then God wouldn't have let you go to Perth in the first place." And yup, i'm glad i didnt give up halfway :)
I feel that i sound like a broken recorder or something.. But truly, coming to Perth, being able to experience all these and getting to know some of my close friends here is one of the best thing that has happened in my life.
