Let's continue and sorry to end my post suddenly.

Anyway, we went to walmart and then did some after christmas shopping. I bought a pair of jeans and a fleece for my lil sis. I wanted to buy a pair of shoe, but since I still have 2 sports shoes at home, i decided to buy it next time. Tomtom said that we would be going to OKC later, but it's drizzling now. I hope it would stop raining. It's dangerous to drive in the rain, especially for beginners!!!

What's else about 2006??? Oh,
- I worked for the first time in my life, earning money from my own hard work!!!
- I learnt alot from being a housekeeper. Not all that glitter is gold. A hotel that looked nice in the outside, many not be a hotel with the best cleaniness :P And I was able to have the first hand account of the people of working class, how they behave and stuffs.
- I learnt how to cook lots of things :D
- I have great professors at OSU

IN all I was very thankful of all the things that God has given me this year. I hope 2007 would be as great.

I haven't thought of a new year resolution. But i think there's a couple of things that I would definitely include:
- join a couple of organizations to boost up my resume and make more friends.
- shed some weight 'cause I would definitely gain lots of weight when I go back to indo and s'pore in the summer.

Liverpool won!! After a loss against Blackburn, it's time to win again!!! Garcia scored before stoppage time. Win marginally, but it's a win. An away win!!! Couldn't watch. Not enough peer to connect to the channel :(

I didn't do much today besides catching up with some sleep. I woke up at 8am to watch liverpool only to realize that the match started at 9am, so watch a little of the aston villa match, then sleep a while till 9am and then couldn't connect to the channel :(

Then, I looked through the letters that my friends gave to me before I left for US. It brought back memories and tears. But I didn't cry as much. I think this shows how much stronger I have grown emotionally. I really miss you guys!!!!!!!! Oh, Monica, where's the letter (with lots of stamps on it) that u promised to send to me??? Haha...

It's going to be 2007 soon. Without a doubt, I would be spending the first day of 2007 at home! Anyway, lets talk about 2006. It was a life changing year. I officially graduated from high school, went to TJC for 2 months, and then went to US. I got to taste of independence, a taste of what it was like to be away from home, from my family and friends, and a taste of what it was like to be staying in Uncle Sam's country!!!

Ok, my stupid twin cousins were now downstairs to fetch us to go walmart. They said that they won't be coming!!! Continue with my evalutation later. Ciao!

Liverpool lost!!! I hate it when Rafa said that "we should have won". Liverpool didn't win period! I know it's just an encouragement, a way not to blame your team. But if you said this almost everytime u lost a game, it's irritating!!!

I had my History exam today. And i'm done!!! My right hand was aching from all the writing. I had to write 2 essays!!! I didn't sleep till 1am last night. I survived with 6 hours of sleep and luckily, i managed to remember almost everything I "squeezed" into my brain last night. I hope I did well. I would be extremely disappointed if I didn't get an A!!! Then, went to Tomtom's home. This was the first time I went there since I moved. Sung took his driving test while I waited at Tomtom's home. The four of us actually wanted to go shopping after sung's test. But didn't do so. I watched Death Note and wanted to watch it till the end. Besides, sung and thomas got a headache from the lack of sleep the previous night. haha.. The After Christmas Sale was on. I wanted to buy some outerwear,and my mum wanted me to help her buy a coat. Well, Death Note's quite interesting. I couldn't believe that Light killed his gf!!! He's a real devil!!! Ok, so Sung passed his test. This means that he would have a car soon and weekends would be more fun!!! Yeah!!!

Dr. Logan, my history teacher, was funny today. He said matter-of-factly that we would forget all that we have learnt as soon as we leave the room, but he didn't mind. At least he's successful to instil in us chronological things ( forgot the word he used). Like at least we know that the Civil War did not happen in the 1990s. It happened way back. Haha...
What did I learnt from this History lesson?
- The Civil War was btw the North and South,and was largely caused by slavery issues.
- Pearl Harbor was a bad history movie ( according to my teacher). He was disagreed with how FDR was depicted and how the nurse seemed to be everywhere. She was either an army nurse or a navy nurse, she couldn't be both!
- The story "Wizard of the Oz" was about populism. Dorothy was from Kansas- a populist state.
- Cheerleaders were used to distract the oppossing football team, and to cheer the team. This was modelled after the warrior theory (forgot the correct term). The warriors would always have women behind them.
- US can be considered an empire and it has colonies, such as puerto rico. However, they were not called colonies, but "protectorates".

there're many more things that I learnt. History may be boring, but it helped to make sense of things that people do or create today!

Night at the museum was funny. But too much graphical things which made it very unreal. But it's funny! My first trip to the cinema here. The cinema was very small. And it's free sitting. I didn't know this at first. And i was wondering where's the no. for the seats as I looked at my ticket. That's so stupid of me!

I'm so full now. Went to eat buffet after the movie. Well, there's not much option. Almost every shops and restaurant closed!!! And Stillwater is like a dead city! It's so quiet it's creepy! There wasn't much decorations, it didn't feel like christmas at all!!! U know Orchard felt more like "America" than Stillwater. I think when people think of America, the America they had in mind was New York or LA. What u saw in most movies and american tv shows are always set in these two places. So that's the America that we, asians or non-american, are exposed too. I watched a food show, one of Rachel Rays' show. I think she's in Philadelphia, and was about to take a train. The conductor asked where she's from, and she said "New York". Then, the conductor told her, "Welcome to America!". Rachel Rays just laughed out loud at this. But this shows that the America that we are exposed to or thought are America, it not really America. In fact, in small cities and states like Stillwater, oklahoma and Philadelphia, u can see the real america (don't ask what's the real america is. I don't really know. This is just purely my thought). But what I'm trying to say is America is a big country and it's not as glamous as we thought it is. That's my point. If u don't get it, then forget what I have just said.

Halfway thru History lesson! 4 more days of that and it's all over!!!

Wish all of you MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Liverpool won again :D!!! I couldn't wake up to watch them play :( I woke up at 7.30am to go to the toilet and was so sleepy that I went back to sleep. If only I woke up at 8.30, then I would watch. Anyway, they won and that's the most important thing!!!

Jing Hean was going to watch ManU played on Boxing Day! I was so jealous of him!!! He could watch his favorite team play live!!! It would be some time before it's my turn! For now, I would just wait patiently for my bank accout to grow!

A few minutes ago, I decided to buy myself a chrismas present(or b'day present since I migh received it end of Jan or early feb!) . I decided to buy myself Steven Gerrard's autobiography. There's no need for santa to drop it in my "chimney"!

I'm going to watch movie with my cousins tmr! Watching a night in museum! At least I dont' have to rot at home for Christmas!!! I wanted to buy a small christmas tree and decorate it, but what's the point when there won't be anyone coming. And I don't want to hold another party. So troublesome!!!

Well, that's all. Want to cook dinner! Oh, I tried to cook porridge last night and it turned out to be quite delicious. I don't really like porridge as it always tastes bland, but for some reason, I craved for porridge and decided to cook it. I put lot's of soy sause and seasoning, and it turned out to be quite nice :D But I didn't put enough water at first and had to keep adding water so that the rice would turn soft. haha... At least I would know what to do next time!

Sorry, I haven't been blogging for a while. My post exam activity was watching ou xiang ju and han ju! :P I was bored and didn't know what to do. Besides, I missed watching chinese show, so I decided to go to youtube and searched for some ou xiang ju. I watched a total of 3 shows. I watched The Magician of Love (ai qing mo fa shi- boring show), Rock Paper Scissors ( jian dao shi tou bu -- I like the theme song) and K-drama- My lovely Sam soon (very funny). So that's what keeping me busy!

Started my History lesson on Monday. So tiring!!! Lots of stuffs to memorise! But the lessons weren't as boring as I thought. The teacher was great, well, at least he doesn't have monotonous voice! And it's rather interesting to learn about the american revolution( I will talk more about this later, when I know my facts better). And having a teacher who can crack jokes now and then helped too!

I just hope I could memorize as much as I could and regurgitate everything for this Friday exam! The good thing about winter intersession is that you don't have to suffer for a long time, only two weeks, and there aren't much homework. And the bad things are there's so much to cover in such a short period of time, u had to have lesson for 4 hours everyday, with a total of 15min breaks in between, and u have exams at the end of every week. Since it's history, I don't mind. I hate history :( Bad experience from sec. sch.

Let's talk about Liverpool now. LFC vs Arsenal match was cancelled today due to heavy fog. Benitez and Wenger complained that the match should not be cancelled, but just look at the fog!

I understand why both managers wanted the match to be played, but they should think of the players and supporters. It would be difficult for the players to locate their teammates and the ball and it would be extremely difficult for the spectators to watch the game, and wasting their money! Anyway, Liverpool defeated boston 3-0, and Gerrard scored again :D

But their Champions League hope seemed bleak now! Of all team, they had to meet Barcelona! I would rather they meet REal Madrid than Barca! Barca is like the best team in the world! They're my fav. spanish team, but of course they're only second to liverpool for me. But I'm not stupid and I don't want to deny the truth- Barcelona are a way better team than Liverpool. They're in a whole different level! All I could do now was to hope for a miracle, like the Istanbul Miracle. But I know better. All the best Liverpool!

Finals are over!!!

Two days of exams. That's all!!! I'm really enjoying my first freshman semester :D These were the most relaxing final exams I had ever taken in my live!!! Honest! I didn't have to study for English. I just have to write essay and better still, I know what's the question was. I even did a draft a. So, all i need to do was to edit the draft a a little to make it better and that's my essay!! Geology. I think it's the most "stressful" one. Had to memorized whole chunk of notes. Then, today, I had sociology and elementary cal. I didn't even need to take the Sociology exam cause I had already gotten an A. The beauty of american education system-- extra credit! But I still took it though. I just feel strange not to sit for the exam and it's kind of disrespectful too. I mean, Ms Hough set the paper and printed the paper alr.,and she's such a great teacher. So the least I could do was to sit for the final exam and showed her that I learnt a lot from her lesson. For Maths... let's just say that i'm confident I will do well :D

Oh, James and Taylor won the Amazing Race. Rob and Kim nearly won. Anyway, they went to Paris, the Eiffel Tower. The clue box was at the third floor of the Eiffel Tower. I'd been there. I realized that even though I felt like nothing great when I went up to the Eiffel Tower (as I mentioned in my last last...post), the effect of such "great moment" will only be felt much later. When I saw the places I been, the buildings or structures I had climbed, and the rivers I cruised before on tv or newspaper, I felt this warm and nostalgic feelings. The times I spent with my family on the holidays. It's so great!

Just watched Chealsea vs Arsenal match. It's a draw 1-1. Chealsea could have stolen all 3 points but I guess they're unlucky. Essien and Drogba hit the post, Drogba, Lampard kicked the ball wide. Well, it's not meant for Chelsea to win!!! The last few minutes of the match was so exciting. Chelsea attacked most of the time. I didn't want chelsea to win, but I also didn't want Arsenal to win as if arsenal win, they will threatened Liverpool's position in the league table. So, draw is the best, I think. I hope! But overall, it's a good match, very physical and competitive I would say. Lots of fouls. Ashley Cole was on the hot seat having to play his former club, but arsenal didn't specifically target him or anyting. That's good.

I'm looking forward for the finale of the Amazing Race. I don't really have any favorite. I just don't want Rob and Kim to win! Well, see tonight!

The semester is nearly ended. Two days of exams and that's it! End of Fall semester. I really enjoyed my lessons. The professor and teaching asisstants are the greatest! I hope I would be blessed with the same teachers again next semester.

I learnt a lot in Sociology. Firstly, I would like to thank my teacher, Ms. Hough. She's great! And I really admire her. She's been through a lot in life, especially as a mother. She has 3 sons and on of them, her youngest son was disabled. I can't remember what his illness, but i know it takes a lot of courage, determination and patience to raise a disabled child. Moreover, she has to juggle school and this!

Secondly, I learnt a lot about the society that we live in, human behaviors and subsequently, I learnt a lot about myself- why I behave certain way,etc... On Wednesday, we discussed culture. She asked about the significant of white wedding dress. In the past, white symbolises purity--- virginity. Hence, if you're marrying for the second time, you could not wear white. But now, white doesn't necessarily mean virginity. Brides wear white wedding dress cause it's the tradition. We follow traditions, but this does not necessarily mean that we know what the traditions mean.

She showed us a catalogue from Walmart. It's advertising some kid's toy and in the advertisement, we could see that a boy was playing with a kitchen set, while a girl was riding a big motorcycle(not sure what it's called). This shows how the society is changing. Girls no longer have to play with dolls and boys can play with dolls if they want. Then, she gave an incidence when one of her professor encountered a father who was ashamed of his young son and his son kept saying that he likes Dora (she's a cartoon character Pandora's box or something). Although changing, we still have the mindset that boys who likes Dora or some girl's stuffs are girly. The prof. approached the father and told the father that his grandson also likes Dora and he taught him to say, "Dora's hot!" I thought it was funny. But Ms Hough pointed out that we always think of women as sex symbol. Why couldn't the boy likes Dora because she's smart? Good point!

We were to read about an article about the Nacirema tribe. I realised that there's no such tribe! if you read it backward, u will get American. So, the article was actually about the Americans in other people's perspective. Like how they value body so much- plastic surgery...

"Every household has one or meor shrines...The focal point of hte shrine is a box or chest wihich is built into the wll. In this chest are kept the many charms and magical potions without which no native believs he could live" ---- This "shrines" refer to the medicine cabinets. When people are sick, they always go to the medicine cabinet!

"...belive that a strong relationship exists between oral and moral characteristics... the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along wiht certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures."--- talks about going to the dentist and how we mend the cavities in the teeth.

"...The medicine men have an imposing temple, or latipso, in every community of any size...No matter how ill the supplicant or how grave teh emergency, the guardians of many temples will not admit a cilent if he cannot give a rich gift to the custodian."--- symbolizes the hospital and how some hospital will not admit patients who cannot afford their medical bills.

I can't believe I missed this out. I mean the writer wrote the rituals of the "Nacirema" in a really barbaric way. He made the people sound masochistic. Unknowingly, this is what we put ourselves through. I don't think it's just the Americans. If fact, it's everyone in the world (well, many are Americanized anyway!). The dentist part, I could figure the similarity, but I just though that this tribe really exists and their rituals are more or less similar to ours! But it's realy interesting to look at the things that we do in another point of view!

LIverpool trashed Fulham 4-0!!! I watched the second-half only cause I couldn't wake up at 8am to catch the start of the match :P But it didn't matter, the goals were all scored in the 2nd half!!! For the first five minutes or so, Fulham ran the Liverpool defense amok! Kuyt missed strings of chances and then there's a handball by a Fulham player whom I didn't know (and he received a yellow card). Penalty for Liverpool! And... Gerrard took it!!! Gerrard!!! Y not Alonso!!! Oh, I didn't believe that Gerrard would scored that penalty! I'm his fan, that's y I know he isn't a good penalty taker! As I expected, he missed the penalty (the keeper blocked it), but thankfully, he scored on the rebound. Yeah!!! Since then, Fulham was rather subdued and Liverpool attacked with more ferocity. Gerrard nearly scored again, but the keeper blocked it :( Throw in for Liverpool and Carra scored!!! His first premiership goal since 1999!!! He totally deserved that goal. I was so happy for him! Garcia headed ther third goal for LIverpool. It was a nice and well-placed goal to the top right hand corner of the goal post, beyond the fully stretched Fulhan keeper. Liverpool continued to attack and defended well. Goals boosted your confidence!!! In the injury time, Mark Gonzalez scored from a free kick. It's a nice goal too. But I still prefer Garcia's :P

I'm so happy I could watch Liverpool in action again!

Back to studying again now.

I totally forgot to watch Liverpool yesterday!!! Oh, I'm so ashamed of myself! I was so pissed with the spoil heater. I was left freezing inside the house!!! Then, at the time when I was supposed to watch liverpool match, I went to do my laundry. Haven't had time to wash them for 3 weeks!!! After that, went to meet my Geology TA to get my assignments. So, Liverpool was totally forgotten, until I reached home and on my laptop. By then, the match was already over and liverpool lost :( But they still qualified!!!

I decided to work on Sunday. Since the weather was nice, and it was my last day, I decided to go. And it turned out that there're more than 16 rooms and only me, Sung and Yoshi worked!!! So, I don't think Tommy would let me off! WE took our time cleaning 8 rooms. I think we took around 5 and the half hour. We went to Subway to take a break. Coincidentally, we ate Subway the first time we took a break together and our last meal was Subway too!!! I am not back to being full time student!!!

On Monday, during Sociology lesson, we've got company. A tiny company with long tail. Yes, there's a mouse in the classroom. It's very small and rather cute! But I was still scared when it came near me. The other time, there's this huge cockroach during Maths lecture, now a mouse! What's next? a squirrel?

Monday night, JJ, Glorick, Sung and I went to play badminton, but there's lots of people playing basketball, so we couldn't play. The place used for badminton court is also basketball court. So, we decided to play table tennis instead. I had never played table tennis before. Glorick taught me the basic- how to hold the handle and serve the ball. After mastering those, I think I did rather well on my first training! I just need more practices to sharpen my skill! Table tennis is rather fun! Then, while JJ went for a drink, Glorick played with Sung and I was left watching them playing. There's this rather fat American guy asked me to play with him. I declined at first. I didn't want to embarresed myself, ok? But I played a while, like 4o sec and then I saw JJ. I asked JJ to play with that guy instead. They ended up playing 5 sets of matches. The American guy kept kicking the wall when he made mistakes. POor wall! We played for 2 hours and then went home.

Had to work today. It was sooo foggy in the morning. I didnt' want to go to work, but if we didn't go, there would be a shortage of housekeepers. So, we went and there was snow everywhere on the walkway. The snow was ok, but some has turned into ice and that's the problem. It was so slippery!!! I nearly fell thrice and in the carpark, I really fell down. My left buttock was so painful and I think the fall hurt my tailbone. My back hurt now!!! I will see if I want to work tmr. May be. It will be my last day, but I don't want to walk on all those snow and ice!!!

Then, I took some more photos of the campus covered in snow. It was a pretty sight actually :)

When we reached home, Sung and I made snowman!!! This time, it turned out in a pretty nice shape. Not very big, but don't u think my Mr. Snowman is adorable??? He even had eyebrows. I used the seeds of some fruits to make the eyes and nose. I should have brought a hat, but he's still cute, right?

To my family and friends in S'pore and Indo,
I really wish my family were here with me to share this snowy day. I'm sure they would like it. The last time we were in Austria, we didn't really have time to enjoy the snow covered scenery. And I also wish my friends were here. Then, we could play snow together!!!

It was a sunny day today. A perfect day to build snowman and have a snowball fight. School was closed and lesson canceled again! I guess my wish came true. But again, not many people were seen outside. I really miss my family. If they were here, my bro, sis and I will be outside playing with the snow in no time!!! The three of us will build snowman, throw snow at one another and our parents would be watching us, taking photos of us!

Well, I did tried to build snowman, but it was difficult. I couldn't get the ball into shape!!! So, I gave up. May be i will try again tmr on my way to work provided the snow doesn't turn into ice (yeah, i have to work tmr :( my last 2 days!) Then, I made an "angel". Lying down on the snow and move your legs and arms up and down and ta da an angel! Sung and I had a mini snowball fight too, but I would be so much more fun to have more people! Then, Tomtom and Kokogi fetched us to the Walmart.

Yeah, that's all. Here's some of the photos. Enjoy!

More photos will be uploaded on my Kodak album :)