reality really bites

Sparkles at the “snow-covered-backyard”!

NYE was spent having probably the best lasagna in this city. Found out the city had its fireworks at 6pm and of course I missed it because I was still half-awake then. But I still went to possibly my favorite-st part of the city hoping to catch some fireworks. Well, we saw a few and some even light up wish lanterns. One didn’t make it though and hit the freezing water.

My 2009 was arguably slightly better than 2008.

I moved to a foreign country, lost both my granddads, lived and still am living on my own, able to cook a simple meal, traveled….

The only time I was hit with homesickness was in early April, before the Easter Break and I was this close to booking my flight back for the break but instead I went to Amsterdam. I had a lovely time there though I think I never got around to blogging about it. I was sick of this country, sick of the bland tasteless food (seriously wtf), sick of the general politeness here and I missed home. But somehow, I got over it and that was pretty much the only time I felt homesick. If I don’t take into account all those cravings for my asam laksa, chicken rice, hokkien mee, the list goes on.

I think one of the main reasons I actually survived this long is that I have a great bunch of friends here. All of us are from different countries but somehow we get along great. I remembered I was on the phone with my mum once and she asked if I have any Malaysian friends here. Before I came here, I have about two malaysian friends here. I was and still am very close to one of them but he left in July. I think I know why some of the students overseas stick to the people from the same country as them. The familiarity of home, food, manglish etc but I will never see the point of students coming here and preferring to speak in their mother tongues instead of English. In case you are wondering, I can count the number of Malaysians I know here with one hand. Quality over quantity, I say.

2009 was also the year I got seriously drunk till I have no recollections whatsoever of the events that took place. I was feeling ill for a few days after that and the next day when I saw the wine list at some restaurant in Durham, I wanted to puke. I stopped drinking after that, well, till couple of days ago. It was a scary feeling, being not able to remember what happened.

There is another thing that I learned in 2009 but since this is not a private blog, I shall not mention it.

I wish I can say I did some growing up in 2009 but nah I don’t think I did, apart from the moving to another country. If all goes well, the reason I am here in the first place will be accomplished soon.