Preparations

I haven't updated this blog much recently because in a bid to reduce my spending, I have been staying at home. So I usually just help out a little with the housework in the mornings, then spend the afternoons reading, watching TV, playing some computer games, or just sleeping.

How terribly unexciting.

I did play badminton with some of my friends on Wednesday. It was pretty enjoyable, and a good workout, though my right arm is aching now. I also ran on Monday and Tuesday night, so I'm pretty satisfied with my level of physical activity this week.

I've been calling the travel agent once a day for the past 3 days because they send their itineraries by e-mail, and when I wanted to leave depended on whether I was flying direct to Montreal or stopping over in Vancouver. Anyway, after 3 days of phone calls and e-mails back and forth, it's all sorted out now, and I'll be leaving for Vancouver on the 19th of August. After spending the weekend with my aunt over there, I'll head to Montreal. So that leaves me with about 7 weeks in Singapore. I'm not too sure if I'll be heading back here after my term ends in April or if I'll just go to Vancouver and stay with my aunt, so I might be away for a year and a half or so before I come back to Singapore.

I plan to clean up my room next week. My army gear is still in my duffel bag which is dumped in a corner of my room. I'll probably take everything out and wash the bag before packing everything in nicely again since the bag has been collecting dust since... a very long time ago.

After that I'll probably start packing for Canada already. Somehow I don't feel overly excited or apprehensive about my departure. I'm not sure why I'm not looking forward to this, though I am not reluctant to go either. Whatever it is, I seem to be taking my time about my preparations for going overseas. Stuff like my exit permit, PR documentation and the like. Most of the stuff has been done now though. I've gotten the exit permit, and my PR documentation is more or less done, but that's about all.

When I see my friends who are studying locally, they seem to have so many things to do - decide which halls they want to stay in, send in their hostel applications, sign up for hall orientation, sign up for faculty orientation, and a whole list of other stuff. It's just a little unsettling that everyone seems to be gearing up for university, and I don't feel as if I am.

Maybe I'll feel the buzz that everyone seems to get about starting school again when I arrive in Canada and move in to my university residence.

Right now, I just feel like I'm missing out on stuff, and everyime my friends talk about things regarding universiry, I feel so left out.

It was worth it

30 plus degree heat in scorching afternoon sun.

Just over a day after getting back from Vancouver, where the average temperature was about 16 degrees.

My first soccer game in 6 months.

I am contented.

Despite that fact that we were beaten pretty comprehensively, and overlooking the fact that I didn't really play well, I really enjoyed myself. So I scraped my knee, ache all over the day after and am now limping a little because of a calf cramp.

It was worth it.

Back

I'm back, almost one week earky, from Canada. Truth to be told, it wasn't really much of a holiday. It felt more like a business trip. We applied for our Social Insurance Numbers, got bank accounts and are awaiting our PR cards now. My parents also did a bit of house hunting, just looking around my aunt's area for housing.

Oh, and when travelling, don't wear a belt with a large metal clasp, because it's really inconvenient. Metal detectors these days are so sensitive, and security is so tight, you almost have to undress to get through airport security.

I'm pretty tired now, and have some unpacking to do, so this is it for now.

My bags aren't packed

I'll be heading for Canada on Thursday morning, and am scheduled to get back on the 24th of June, but I might be back a couple of days early if all our immigration matters are cleared up. Those of you who'd like stuff from Canada, sms, e-mail or msn me quick. I know this is late, but well, better late then never.

I have not done any packing yet, hanging the clothes that have to be packed at my door. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update stuff here while I'm in Canada, so this place might be a little stagnant for a while (if it isn't already). I guess I really should go to bed and do my packing when I wake up, so I'll end here.

The night air is still. I lie back on the cool ceramic floor, my heart still racing, my breathing still ragged, my body drenched in sweat, the adrenalin still at the back of my throat. I am exhausted, but deeply satisfied.

I'm going make it a point to go for night runs more often.

My contact lens tore while I was removing it on Wednesday night, and I didn't manage to take it out. What was supposed to be a $10 night at Coco Latte then turned into a $100 visit to the doctor's.

I spent the night waiting at the A&E unit of Tan Tock Seng instead of going to my friend's birthday party. It was frustrating, to say the least, but trust my good friends to brighten up my night. Since we hadn't gotten the birthday girl anything, my absence at the party made a perfect excuse. And trust my friends to duly inform me while I was seeing the doctor.

"Eh Tim, so are you coming down?"

"Erm... Don't think so, depends on what time I'm done here, and whether you guys will still be there. But I don't think I'll be able to make it."

"Oh, ok. How's the eye?"

"Alright, not about to go blind or anything."

"Ok, that's good. Anyway, we told her that the present is with you lah, so if you do come down, just say you left it at home or something."

"Wah thanks, I thought we were going to tell her that she'd get a belated present?"

"We couldn't tell her when we got there, so we just said it was with you."

After the conversation, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. The people around me must've thought I was crazy, grinning like a fool while waiting in the A&E to see a doctor.

My friends never cease to amuse me.