CAPpy issues

I feel a lot better knowing that if I had s/u-ed my german this semester, my cap would still have been at 4. oh wells, at least my major doesnt suck too much. I'm now considering 1. dropping out of the language programme and pay the 3k from this trip, 2. exchange to somewhere else. We'd see.

What have I been up to

Because I'm dating a guy who's really a little kid at heart, I've been searching for gummybears as requested.

This is found in the large bookstore on the main shopping street in Stuttgart (Koenigstrasse). Incredible huh?

We at Schwaebish Hall.

This is quite cool :P

The Kirche at Schwaebish Hall.


Some of us were really bored in Stuttgart, so we went to Karlsruhe yesterday (Public holiday!)


And yes, it was raining. Sehr kalt.





And because I'm too lazy to type more, this is it. hehe.

results

my cap went down. it doesnt even start with a 4 now. =( i just killed my entire day.

Von Stuttgart.

All the national university people here.

Me being retarded in the Ludwigsburg Palace. Its one of the largest baroque palaces in germany. More pictures next time when I feel like it.

Outside the Staatgalerie. artwork was probably interesting, but with all the explanatory notes auf deutsch, it was really boring.

This is for all of us swaku tropical people who have never seen a real live ladybug.

I just like this picture. The colours are really brilliant. =)

Some of us sitting on the grass patch doing our Hausaufgabe. It was 30 degrees celsius. (This line is especially for the one in montreal who was complaining that 24 degrees is hot.) I got a tan line from this. Can you believe it? Zzz. I should have brought more clothes for warm weather.

Blogger is in german, so i'm struggling to navigate round the pages.

hello from stuttgart

the blog owner is blogging from stuttgart. she misses montreal very much. she is dying from the german lessons, which only just started today. she has someone else staying with her at the same host family, which she is glad about. she has very limited time online and so will only update sporadically. she is a bit unhappy about not being able to visit heidelberg because the excursion is after she leaves. she would like to wish zhixuan a happy belated birthday and waisan a happy birthday. she appeals to all not to msg or call her because it is FREAKING expensive. she says bye now tata~~~

Das Regenwetter. (The rainy weather)

Its 4 degrees out now on this lovely morning and humidity is 100%. I am torn between opening the window for some of the water vapour to come in and keeping it closed to keep warm.

I went out shopping by myself to get a coat since hs was busy mugging away for his midterms today. Boy. Its a good thing I found a decent coat, because the trip back was cold.beyond.belief. The winds were really strong - I thought nothing could beat walking through a tropical thunderstorm. I realise my mistake. Although there wasn't large heavy raindrops beating down on me, the winds were very strong and I saw my umbrella assume shapes I've never seen it take before countless times. (I also lost count of the number of times it flipped over) The rain, although light, never ceased. When I finally made my way back to his place, I was greeted by the news that there was a CHANCE of snow last night. -Inserts pause to remember that this is spring going on summer- Thanks to my jacket, my body was nice and warm (I was perspiring mildly, in fact) but my limbs were cold and wet and miserable.

However, if the rain ceases by the afternoon (and we both don't feel exceedingly lazy), we shall be going up Mont Royal! Its just behind McGill (which includes this residential house) and the view should be good, even if the wind chills.

(It doesn't warm my heart to see that its currently raining in Stuttgart too, and the predicted low is 2 degrees. I see I won't be defrosting any time soon - Oh wait it looks better for the next few days. Maybe I'd feel warm again soon.)

I'd need to pack my stuff once again for Stuttgart soon. I'm reluctant, frankly. =(

Spring.

Its 3 degrees here now. Brrrr.

Walking around

Its raining outside now and the temperature's about 12 degrees Celsius apparently, but it feels like a warm 20 degrees to me. Maybe I'd be singing a different tune if I go out later, but since both the window's open and the fan's blowing and I still think its warm... perhaps not? Heh.

Anyway, I woke up too late to make pancakes for both of us, so as usual hs' at a lecture now while I laze around in the room. I didn't mess up the pancakes too badly - in fact, I think they're edible. -Inserts cheer- I've to decide if I should go out alone later because he needs to study for MIDTERMS *(*&^&%%$#$#$. Any suggestions?

Yesterday was good. My baggage came to me~~~!! so I finally smelt of myself again after happily taking a shower using my regular shampoo and shower gels. Sounds really bimbotic I know, but at least it gives me a sense of normality after some time. While I'm really happy here, there's no escaping the fact that there has been many changes in my surroundings since Friday night sg time, some really bad ones, and I guess it has taken a toll on me mentally and physically (jet lag) despite my best efforts.

(blogging in progress)
So we headed to Old Montreal after a pizza lunch where the cashier only spoke French to us after we repeated our question a few times in English and stared at her blankly until her colleague pointed out that we don't understand French (not a nice feeling, really) The walk was quite far and the temperature seemed warmer than the day before and I really still don't remember the names of these buildings and I know this sentence really doesn't make much sense but erm, here are some pictures for those who are interested. This is me... somewhere.

And us... at the same somewhere. (okay I think I'd ask him when he gets back)

At the Old Port! Montreal started off as a port city. The buildings here are well preserved, I think, at least they retain their original architecture and flavour and aren't painted in ugly garish colours unlike the old shophouses in Sg's chinatown. The disused railway is really pretty! (well, at least I think its disused)

The weather was so lovely, there were many people lazing around on the grass patches and under trees enjoying the weather watching seagulls fly and squawk around. It was nice, idyllic and peaceful...

Until a bird pooped on me. Birds are evil.


After a while we decided that we really had to get going for groceries or it'd be too late to make dinner and we'd starve so we left Bodyworlds 2 (Its at Montreal's Science Centre now!) till I return from Germany. And because it wasn't worth it to take the Metro (that's the MRT) because every trip costs $2 no matter the distance, we did some more walking. He sure looks like he's trying very hard to sniff the flowers or erm, fart. I think this place is amazing. This is in the middle of downtown and there are lovely spots like this. Of course the lovely blend of cool air and warm sunshine plays a part.

This is... me.

This is just next to the court. Little squirrels abound. and we saw a lawyer/judge sans the wig taking a smoke.

Outside an expensive looking hotel.

MORE baggage woes

After BA told me that I could only check in ONE lousy piece of luggage, THEY DIDN'T PUT IT ON MY FLIGHT TO MONTREAL. 12 hours of transit in Heathrow, and they just couldn't find the time to put it on the plane. Its the world's busiest airport, but come on! Sheeeeesh. Plus Montreal's colder than what hs described it last week, so I've been quite cold without the thicker jacket in the luggage. Thanks man, BA.

At least they didn't LOSE the luggage, just DELAYED to the next flight, so here I am sitting at the window watching the world go by and looking out for a delivery truck/van/whatever with my luggage they said they'd deliver by 12pm today. I am determined to withdraw the CAD$70 compensation they gave. Hmph. I really need to answer the siren call of nature, but hs is at class and if they come over when I'm in the toilet and nobody is around to claim the luggage/open the door and they send it back to Dorval Airport I think I'd cry.

Sidenote: the McGill Family Medicine building is just opposite. Its just like a house in a row of shophouses, so I really wonder how big it is and how many students can it accomodate at a time. Hmm. The red brick building.

(Ambulance here is greenish-yellow it seems, one just passed by)

Anyway, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm not exactly adequately dressed for a tropical animal in Canada, I'd really be enjoying the lovely weather now. Its springtime, so there's lovely greenery and flowers lining the streets, plus the warm sunshine while the cold wind blows. The sky's unbelievably blue (well okay I see some wisps of clouds now) and it sometimes sure doesn't feel like I'm in Canada because all the signs are in French. Okay I expected it from the guide books I've been reading, but it sure is another thing to see it for real. Plus there's really this cultural and artistic feel to this area because there are artists and musicians every few streets plying their crafts. I like the cat drawings, will get it if I see it again. A couple on the clarinet and cello was playing Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, and a small jazz band (I THINK its jazz) was playing in a shop window. Literally. There was another artist who was using a magnifying glass to burn pictures onto wood.

I saw a really cute T-shirt too. It's white, with 3 black dots in a triangle with the caption "Polar Bear in Canadian Winter." I would have gotten it if it wasn't hanging in the shop window of a blatantly touristy shop which I was adverse to visiting.

hs is going to be busy for the rest of the week studying for midterms, so I'd have loads of time to wander around, get lost and take pictures.

This picture is erm, of the ice crystals which formed outside the plane window at cruising altitude. Its specially for cons, because I want to mention crystallisation, nucleation barrier, homogenous and heterogenous crystallisation blahblahblah... 1326 the best mannnnnn =P

Hello from Heathrow

Am typing this in London! Bag's really heavy and this keyboard is a bit screwed so I won't say much. Internet costs one pound per 10 minutes (^&$%"£"£$^) so I'd go soon. Can't find sien. =(

Baggage Woes.

Hi all, I'm now blogging from Changi Airport. Screwed up baggage restrictions, so I'm now lugging a ridiculously large and heavy bag for hand carry and hoping that security/airline isn't going to tell me that the bag is too heavy. Wish me luck for the next 32 hours, and with the Lord's help I'm going to get through the longest journey I've ever undertaken alone with my very first travel mistake. Oh, and the strength to put it in the overhead cabin too.

I can't believe I made this error. But I triple checked the restrictions! Sigh. Either I seriously misread the page, or the page wasn't updated last I checked.

That aside, I think I look nice in my outfit. Bwahaha. I've always loved travelling and a heavy bag for the next 32 hours isn't going to rain on my parade. Hmph. So the next you'd hear of me will be in Heathrow if I find reasonably priced internet access, or else it'd be Trudeau. Wheee~~~

Toodles!!

I can't believe it. I'm almost off. After weeks of waiting, I'd be on the plane to Heathrow, then Montreal.

Might blog from the airport if I have time.

Pre =Travelling Madness

I sure hope this post turns up in the correct blog (mine). Blogger seems to be a bit screwed up these days (well, at least on my laptop and the home desktop) with the alignment of buttons messed up, list of blogs and options and my default blogging language changed to RUSSIAN. I'm sure I can understand and converse in it, really.

So the exams ended on 2nd May and I have been uncharacteristically quiet on my blog. Well, its just 2 days before I fly on th 11th (Today and Tomorrow), which coincides with Mummy Dearest's birthday. 1.5 weeks to prepare stuff seemed too long to me when booking the flight dates: in fact, I had intended to go off earlier but eventually settled on the 11th because I wanted to watch hcco's syf TOMORROWWWWW. I'm not feeling the anxiety I felt for nyco before their syf because the hcco juniors sound on track to honours in my personal opinion PLUS I never had to listen to UNDESERVED bad results for hcco unlike a certain year for ny. (Don't tell me to "get over it" because I will never accept it. The only difference is whether I am currently brooding over it, and the answer is not at the moment.)

So what have I been up to these few days? Its been a mad, mad rush from one thing to another. Right after the paper was lunch and time wasting with the LS people, Thursday was Food and Slack day with swim and ym, Friday was with hs mum and later the cf people, Saturday was spent back at hcco, Sunday was lunch out with mummy and dinner with hc130, Monday was the CLOSEST thing to a rest day except that I went to buy various things for travel and bread delivering at the later part, Tuesday was lunch with 71 and The Chemistry Tutor (who somehow knows that the time difference between hs and I is 12 hours and who thinks that NOW I look like Ms Tan. Great. Will I ever stop resembling various female teachers of hc's chemistry department?) and dinner with constance and VOILA its Wednesday and Tomorrow's Thursday for syf and wai and then comes Friday and I'd disappear from this part of the world for 2 months.

My packing has stalled because I need another bag and some things can only be packed on the day itself. I sure hope I don't mess up any part of the procedures required for flying.

Off to do some stuff.

Food Glorious Food

I need to stop eating heaps of food at every meal. So far, I've visited Seoul Garden, New York New York, Hagan Daaz (whatever way you spell it), Din Tai Fung and Kenny Rogers. And I didn't count in the numerous snacks and drinks in between. I should be saving some fat gaining for Germany, where I just might be staring at meat and potatoes on a really regular basis.

Also, I'm mildly bored from slacking. Unfortunately, I also seem to be inching towards Illness. Which.Is.Really.Bad.News and just what I DON'T need right before flying off.

Things to get:
Small bottles for liquids I intend to carry on the plane
Swimming costume (^&%$#@)
Decongestant
Hello Panda biscuits
Socks
Possibly a webcam for the home desktop
Toiletries

Methinks I need bigger luggage.

The Sweet Scent of Freedom... ALMOST!

Wikipedia is soooo family friendly.

I searched "non-penetrance" in GENETICS and i got this. Note the number of relevant results: 0, and the number of vaguely X rated results. (Well, to some extent, they educate... -cough-)

Its less than 24 hours to The Final Paper, followed by sweet Freedom. Of course, I guess how sweet its going to be will depend on how much I understand and remember and answer in the paper later...

All this mugging has been doing wonders to my back. I think my back muscles don't exactly relish me mugging - its starting to feel just like the days after the LBP incident.

Its almost time to dig out my To-Do list for the post exams as the numbers left to montreal approach the single digits =)