And did you find what you're looking for?

I wonder how many of you reading this post, have heard my recent self-promise to do this. "When I walk into a room of strangers, I will walk towards the guys instead of the girls".

What was that about? That's the self-challenge I set for myself in a desperate bid to even out my male-female friend ratio - a product of my 10 years nunnery and 3 years radical gay-school education.

I've not done it yet. Like Singapore, there seems to be a lacking of males in social activities. And thus far, in all the orientation and dinners, I've only met like male PRCs and EMPHASIS: "Annoying" "Childish" "Unfriendly" male koreans. And one other male local, whom affectionately (Do not read into this) reminds me of Wy's HIM-BO friend. And one other male arts guy from Norway. The others, while I sometimes cross their paths and they have been helpful remain as nameless strangers.

But, as usual, I've made a handful of pretty good female friends. Already programmed for: Gossip-ready.

Back to something more present. Today, I had my 1st high table dinner. In layman terms, I had first Harry Potter Dinner. 4 long tables of food, candles and people in cool green undergraduate gowns with a speaker who sits on the "High" table role-playing Dumbledore giving opening speeches.

I've attended quite a few inspiring speeches so far. Had umpteen time when the guest speaker says things that send multiple rounds of goosebumps up my being. A green gown donned only by HKU undergraduates. (my senior added: don't wear the black graduate gown before you graduate or you never will, very 'pan-dan' hkies. But I believe her anyway) Traditions like this that I would have scorned upon in the past, are now so important to me, is probably a sign of my premature-aging.

Other things I've heard (that I can still remember):
- "Have Fun." Skip classes if you must, go travel. And try everything that catches your eye.
- "You sleep when you're dead"

All these things that I've listed and wanted, I'm pretty sure is waiting somewhere for me in this university. "ALL", probably including a relationship.

I have three years to try everything I can possibly think of.
One year to figure out my future direction
One Sem to confirm my decision of a major.
One and a half months to settle in ON MY OWN. (Before the family visits.)
And TWO DAYS till my first lesson in University.

Need a better ruler to measure the passing of time slipping by. Quickly. Yet so slowly. I swear, in this past 10 days, I did more than I did in 30 days.

And though, I'm glad to be on my own here. I miss everyone back home, including daddy and mummy who just left (to my great relief).

Ps: Here's what I'm taking this sem.
French 101
Marketing (for biz minor)
Philosophy Intro.
Academic Arts Eng.
Canto for non-canto ppl
Modernity & Trad Chinese Thot.

These are not confirmed yet though. I'm still playing around with the possibility of doing Cogn Sci. Though I just realized that I could simply be more flexible and not minor in French (just take the Lang Modules, and leave some credits for Cogn Sci.)

P.PS: I have my iphone back. Well not really. Z-noir is officially dead. Resuscitation apparently did not work and they gave me Z-noir junior as a replacement for my $2220 HKD. Z-noir Junior, however, proves to be a little off the charts. It had a vibrating seizure today. Non-stop for like 20 mins...

P.P.PS: Meet Potter the bohemian tote, a perfect match for Cab the boots.

While you were looking for yourself out there

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?
Was it everything you wanted to find?
And then you missed me
While you were looking for yourself out there
-------------- Lyrics from Drops of Jupiter.

I think my days here struck rock bottom yesterday (Wed) and I'm hoping that it's turning up again. So if I have to suffer 1 really bad day a week for 6 days of peace and bliss. I'll sign on the dotted line anytime, though I'm not quite sure how to draw the ferris wheel of fortune on those odds.

Because, I've probably told you in pieces and I'm sleepy now. Here's a quick update on EXACTLY what happened to Z-noir (yes. that's the name of my iphone).

(Note: Timing are for easy illustration and are not accurate. Since I can't read my DKNY watch and without the i-phone, I'm time-less.)

10.42 AM: Left hall. in FULL Suit of white ruffled shirt and black pants, with my blue heels peeping out. "William" by my side holding my card holder and keys, sunglasses essential pack with cramp med, amulet and stones, Z-noir and earpiece. AND WATER BOTTLE for med.

10.52 AM: In Campus area, frantically conquering stairs, with stomach cramping and heels clicking.

10.58 AM: Found the hall, with Faculty Reception.

----> "Bag's leaking"
---> "Phone's wet", Never mind. Everything's wet.
-------> Curse and Swear at the damn open water bottle.

---------> Curse even more.
------> "Shirt's stained" by William's interior.

---> "Z-noir's running a fever"

-----------> Gave up on Faculty Reception. (11.14AM)

-------> Back at Hall. Borrowed the smallest screwdriver the Hall Office have (Nice Aunty on Duty) But, it's not small enough :X!!!

----> Frantically panics. Google: "Wet Iphone".

-------> Skyped Van. Screams over Skype in panic.
---> Thank God for Company (VAN!!!), Jas and Jo contacted.

----> Emailed Senior. Updated FB.

-------> 破釜沈舟. Cut open dehumidifier Sachet and put Z-noir in Zip-lock bag with dehumidifier crystals.

----> Forget it. Change. Got the Servicing Address. Out to 銅鑼灣.

Then I ate my wonton mee, and after lunch and med. Went to send Z-noir to Professional Doctors, whom told me it's not terminal. But will cost HKD 2 220. Standard Price. So Z-noir should be waiting for me to pick him up on SAT.

That's about it. All I left out was the complete LOST-ness I felt the entire day yesterday, being without my phone, which meant maps, music and company. And you know when you just want to avoid contact with others and fiddle with the phone pretending to be busy. Well, I do that ALOT!! So that's like just a 慘字.

But all wasn't entirely bad. I still did met my senior, bought some stuff for the Harry Potter Dinner, this sun. (I owe you pictures for that) And I met more freshmen. Like about 10 more, including 2 in my hall. And the nice thing is the nicest people of the group are the 2 in my hall.

Putting together the numbers.

I've met: 23 People so far.
No. of Potential Friends: 8
No of nice people: 13.

So that mean's I have About 35% of making friends with people I meet. And if out of the 11,962 undergraduates. I have 4160 friends waiting to be discovered in this place alone. How's that for my latest skill training of looking on the bright side??

Ps: though I find most of the international students (Ah Tiongs included) and most HKies who speak English have this REALLLLLLYYYYY pretentious slang. And quite unfortunately, I'm picking up their influence. Oh dear, will I go back home and be disowned by my fellow Singlish-eans. I miss saying "Sor-li" instead of "Sor-re"...

But above it all and all, I'm falling in love with this new me. I wonder if you are too??

P.Ps: Will get back to the babble box soon. But YES!! There's a decent guy at every turn.

Laundry Nightmare

I left my mind somewhere. // and washed a hole in my T-shirt.

Here's what happen:
J decides to do laundry
-> left room (L4) for laundry room at L19 to check out the laundry room
-> L19: Stomach hurts, no toilet in sight -> Return to L4
-> Takes laundry basket, detergent and stuff, and wallet to L19
-> Oh dear!! Costs 4x $1 Coins to use the washer. Found only 3x$1
-> Return room on L4, hunt for 5 x Coins to L19 AGAAIN
-> Oh dear took $2 instead of $1 coins.... to Ground floor to change coins at recept instead
-> Back to L19. Finally, the clothes go in and start turning. (PS: no idea where the detergent and softener goes, so I experimented)
-> Back to Rm (L4), sorts out coins. All $1 coins go into a ziplock bag for future laundry.

After 1 hr plus

-> Back to laundry room to shift clothes to dryer. Found out that I brought along my wallet, which have NO $1 coins. They were removed to the ziplock bag, remember??
-> Back to Room. -> Back to L19, $1 for 5 mins of drying. Opted for 20 mins. -> L4

After 30 mins plus.

-> Back to laundry room, OH DEAR! Still wet. Forgot wallet. -> L4 to collect wallet.
-> L19, set for 30 mins this time. $6! -> Room

After 40 mins plus.

-> L19: Ok Dried. And I found a hole in my new T-shirt:( -> Rm 407. Set out clothes to cool on bed.

Yes, that's why I'm very tired now. And I think that's also why I went to bathe without bringing in a towel. Had to wear my T-shirt (Thank god it's really long) and come out it.

ps: I realized that the hall is killing my self-esteem. All the lights are yellowish and I perpetually look like I have a kidney disease.

it's 3pm. And instead of exploring the busy streets of hong kong, i'm back at hall, kept indoors by the pouring rain and my stomach cramps.

This early afternoon, I couldn't resist the temptations (despite yesterday's happenings) and got off the bus at Hollywood Road (which according to Mummy is Lan Kwok Fung. It looks perfectly lovely in the day. A eclectic selection of nick-nacks stores and exotic restaurant scattered all over the VERY STEEP slopes.

At every turn, you can pick off ang-moh tourists and european people. I got quite a few stares myself. So I guess, I too, reeked tourist.

As I walked around aimlessly, without a proper camera. I begin to wonder?

I'm alone.
With very little inclination to photograph every thing in sight.
NO plans to SHOP or buy any of the EXPENSIVE nick-nacks that will overload my shoebox.

Then what was I doing there? I wondered about the point of travelling, the idea of sight-seeing. But I enjoyed myself, very much. Just people watching, drinking my sugar cane juice (so much better than those back home), leisurely walking while the locals rush past you to nowhere.

And this popped up in my head as I got to Central. I suddenly remembered another point I wanted to make yesterday.

THE GUYS IN HK!! OMG! There's just so much a HIGHER chance of finding eye candy here than in Singapore. I'll give it a rating of 6 of 10 guys being on the passing mark of 7. Maybe I should seriously consider my KR's suggestion of getting a local BF. And let love conquer my poor progress in Canto.

Ps: Contrary to what travel guides say about locals being appreciative of your efforts to speak canto, I have been 嫌棄 for more times that I can remember and still prefer to use English. Which is BAD!!

p.ps: For my lovely extravagant buy! See below.. In the process of naming 'em. =)Can't wait for summer to end, so they can come out of the box and explore HK with me.

Day 5. A report of nothingness.

Things you see in Hong Kong - U, that seem out of place. (Quantified)


.... ... .. .

The theme of today was to do a quantified report of the above. But i got caught up with store directories, fashion sites and fb. And the numbers and items slipped my mind. One of the pts: 2 firefighting trucks spotted in the PokFuLam district in just 4 days. No wonder, they have shows like 烈火雄心... Firefight actually IS a professional unlike in Sg. That being said, HK probably is a more dangerous place. Mental Note: Read about fire escape details in hall.

So 公休. Pretty much nothing happened today except I got lost (which should not even be news anymore) and had dinner with KR in the neon canteen next to hall.

KR seems to be a pretty nice person and the conversations flow pretty well. While I continue to learn how to build my personal space with a stranger living less than 2 ft away. And most definitely she must be extremely smart or from an affluent background, studying in a Seoul highschool that has foreign language requirements.

I continue to be curious. And (ok I invaded her privacy), when I opened her wardrobe and saw (Mentally counting) 4 pairs of heels - include one in HOT PINK, and 2 Wedges, and 2 pairs of nike hip hop sneakers (like those in street dance and Step UP) AND 2 pairs of converse sneakers. No slippers though (she wears the 13 cm wedge in the room), and she never really bathes at night ( or in the morn i think).. So I'm really wondering what on earth is the korean living habits like...

But overall, no complaints from my end.

I forgot to mention this, ytd. I bought a pair of Grey Calf Boots. OMGGGGGGG!!! Ya. Can't take it out to photograph now, but this one is real cute. I promise a photo.

Experienced my first HK city rain since I got here tonight. Protected from it though, being in the building. I'm on a lookout for new experiences. Come what may.

Technically Day 4. But not quite.

Problems that "are", will sooner or later become "were". A change of tense that come with resolution or new recognition.

MY problems of yesterday like my uncooperative LAN internet, is resolved and LAN is now happily working OT at 1:18AM as I sit on the bed typing. So hopefully, apple will one day come to terms with Microsoft Exchange and allow me to push my HKU Mails on my god-sent Iphone.

Also proving this theory, I have my other problem that is now showing signs of clearing up. At least, clear enough for me to vocalize and describe my feelings of apprehension left over from Day 2's dinner and meetup. (Contrary to mum and dad's point of view: the people were nice enough and I was NOT socially inept)

For more elaboration, please see the below excerpt from a publicity email for a Freshmen Seminar, sent from the school's Welfare Council.

In this seminar, you will get the “right” information from the “right people” (our panel speakers). Their views and advice will definitely help you formulate your own answers to the following “frequently asked questions” by new students:

- When and how can I get connected to the HKU Family, especially prominent alumni?
- How will the HKU network be beneficial to my personal, academic and career life?
- How can I expand my social circle if I do not live in Hall?
- Most of my high school classmates go to different universities. I feel isolated and lonely at HKU. What can I do?
- What is “HKU persona”? What is the typical and ideal “HKU student”?

Having read the mailer, I finally found the perfect way to explain and clarify my feelings towards the HKU students and general climate in the school. Because seriously, the most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION is how to connect to prominent alumni? How to network? And only the last 2 questions sounds familiarly normal.

Maybe Mr M.M. is right about Singaporeans being complacent. In Sg, I used to hear that it is okay to not know every driving motivation towards the actions we take. Even about major things like University Majors. And for those who are "over"-achieving (not that it's bad from where I stand) and do know, we/they're always sneaky about vested interests. NEVER SO blatantly direct.

It seems I have come to the capital of pragmatism to learn how to lead a "in the moment" life.

Culture Shock aside, my new life have passed me my toughest test yet, as I learn to live within a isolating social environment (rejected by the locals in hall and invisible to my fellow floormates from the neighboring dragon state) AND share my space in the shoebox with my KOREAN roommate (which I will refer to from now as KR) whom I finally met after all that mystery.

Things could be alot worst. I could have a partying Caucasian OR be stuck with a half-neurotic P**. At least for that, there's cause for relieve.

On first impression, (not counting the awkwardly friendly return note from KR - which might have brought my hopes for a friend a little too high up) my roomie seems to be a unassuming, quiet, small korean town character. She's neat, probably good in maths (an accounts major) and definitely more academic than bimbotic (though she wears a floral wedge as a room slipper). But she has 2 other high school mates in HKU too, too high a statistic for a small town high school. And her English, too good for regular koreans, no matter how hard one can possibly work. So I'm still holding my opinions for now.

Another homework, to readjust and remember that social interactions is about statistics too. Not every one results in success. This on top of planning my next 3 (hopefully de-parents) days.

More shopping - more grocery and daily use than anything. Banking. And hopefully, i'll further the links set in place on Day 2 with the local seniors of the induction thingy. Shopping with seniors, that for sure will be a new experience.

I'll keep you posted.

Day 3.

People in hall are up early. And "HO"-ing downstairs, outside my window. Apparently I live in a hall with quite a reputation. People often (sample size: 4) mention it with this unmistakable tone of distaste.

Meeting Mum and Dad at the temple to pray for divine assistance. Yesterday's meeting (will elaborate, when I can) have convinced that I will need all I can.

Came back super shagged yesterday, and was in a complete zombie-fied state and didn't skype back home. I miss everyone already. This is a definitely one of those melancholy moments.

Gotta go now. Shall catch back soon.

ps: I have a mysterious roomie that I've not seen yet. But by my amazing skills of deduction, I think she's korean.

Day 1/2

I pulled off my eye mask (like blair waldorf would), this morning of day 2 in HK -U to a bright sunny morning that would have been repulsive at 6.18am back home. My new shockproof (in case it take battering for the dangerous job of waking me up) alarm clock reads 6.45am, after about 15 mins of struggling to get back in bed, so I gave up and washed up.

Starting my first morning routine of Vit C drink, with Vit B and Whatever Gd Bacteria you need for weak tummies like mine, Ginseng and in case I needed a hot pick me up: Ginseng Oolong Tea.

Today is separated from yesterday, from a mere 3.5 hours of sleep. Yet not even the sheer lack of rest can stop me from sinking into the quiet bliss of my "single" room left to me by my unarrived roomie.

You can't rain on my parade.

There's a certain glitz and glam appeal of 流浪ing, or 遠渡重洋... But even if I only did cross a section of the South China Seas, which doesn't quite fit the bill of 遠渡 OR重洋, I never did once regret giving up Newcastle (which equates to Holiday land to me) for HK (which equates to Shoe-boxes of Capitalism).

Yes, not once.
Not even when for the 7th time, Daddy and Mummy interrupted my 情緒 on the plane.
Or when they called for the 4 time in 3 hours to check in on me.
Or when I got lost the 3rd time in 2 hours.
Or when I walked 15 mins in the opposite direction of the hall from school (which should have been a 5 mins walk)
Or when I went back to the Arts Faculty Office and realized that SAME GUY (the one who 'escorted' me out of the office just 4 mths ago) is still as unfriendly and rude.
Or when I entered my room which was a qualifying sauna and didn't have aircon till after dinner.
Or when I realized the wardrobe is the 1/4 the size of mine back home. and room reminds me of a shoebox.
Or when I met my temp neighbors, who knocked on my doors to ask for a favor - take pictures of them. Then never reciprocated my efforts of polite conversations.
Or when they barred my dad from visiting the hall - because hall regulations state: NO MALE VISITORS ON WEEKDAYS.
Or when I had so much trouble understanding the Auntie downstairs who bar people from entering the building
Or even when I was soo stressed I could scream because the internet refuses to work and you have course selection pending.
Or when I missed Tong so much, now. Even as I type this entry.

Because, there's just so much more that makes me glow with happiness.
1) Because, I'm going to find myself now. (Like in the Hollywood Movies - Take that for glitz) The choices I made till now tell me who I was, but for some reason. This new chance is like a new blog entry. So "I" have yet to be defined.

2) Because, I wanted and worked hard for this. And that should be self-explanatory. I should have realized this earlier, hopefully its not too late to now. But the only other thing that gives me such joy is Tong, which I wanted and worked hard to make things work too. (Even if I do know, he prefers his mummy to me anyday or time)

3) Because, it's so near and Daddy & Mummy know the language - so they can be here with me. And there will always be moments that home and family comforts you. Like when you have a great seafood dinner, or when your mum buys you, the hairdryer, alarm clock, dinnerware, and stuff cause she's worried, saves you your allowance. And even when they come to your room and scolds you for 嫌棄ing the room and then invites you to stay with her in the HYATT REGENCY. (I refused btw)

4) Because, I have for the past 1 day and (I intend to today and from now forth) be myself and cheer at everything you want to cheer at and simply be very yourself. As emo as I want to, as expressive, or even in the very BIMBO times.

5) Because, the Hall O camp I heard from my first HK friend (only one in hall now) confiscates your handphone and prohibits internet. So I cannot be more glad to be a non-canto speaker and can skip it:)

6) Because, I had help (SMILES) yesterday in getting around campus.

6) Because, I can go shopping today. at Tsim Tsai Tsui


You get the point. Till later then. It's only the beginning of Day 2.

i wanted to blog today... but it's real late.. so maybe tomorrow:)

Disillusionment

Disillusioned.
Random pickings on the recent happenings.
Just enough, just in time.
Before I take flight.
To who I am?

I probably, can never be the detached, gone with the wind person.
I visualized to be since ten.

Too emotionally in it. To Be.

Hell with it.