Echoes of Beijing
POSTED AT 02:25 PM

Despite all of the apprehension and misgivings prior to my departure, I'm really glad that I went ahead with my trip to Beijing. The primary objective, of course, was to improve my Mandarin, and I think I was rather successful in this aspect. But I'm also glad to have made friends from all over the world, experienced China first-hand, and spent some time away from home alone.

Not to mention, of course, it was great fun. I must admit I found it to be a little dull during the first two weeks, mainly because I hadn't made many friends at that time. I guess solitude makes one much more acutely aware of the homesickness inside. But towards the end I was really glad to have the company of friends to enjoy the experience together.

Nothing lasts forever, of course, and the magic has to be broken somehow. Things in the past quickly become little more than distant memories, but I think that the friends that I've made and the lessons that I've learnt will endure the ravages of time.

Unwanted
POSTED AT 07:51 PM

I went down to a SAF e-Mart today, planning to buy myself some new kit to bring to the US. In particular I was eyeing the Goretex boots, which would prove useful when the weather turns cold or for those merry little jaunts into the countryside. After trying on the boots and getting the right size, however, I was shocked to discover at the counter that I had no more credits left to pay for the boots. I hadn't received any new NSmen credits, which wasn't all that surprising, but all the excess credits that I had leftover before my ORD had also been wiped clean.

They were allocated to me free anyway, so easy come easy go, I suppose, but there are lots of things that I could have bought with the 100 odd credits that I had left. I guess this also means that the Singapore Armed Forces no longer considers me to hold their membership. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it definitely has a certain liberating feel to it.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen Goodbye
POSTED AT 10:11 AM

I leave, and heave a sigh and say goodbye.

Hot Hot Heat
POSTED AT 10:17 AM

Arrived safely in Durham. The weather's reasonably nice out but for some reason my dorm room is burning. Maybe because it's on the third (top) floor. I've been told, however, that it only lasts for a month or so, so I think that's bearable. Apart from the stifling heat, it's a pretty big place, and we are the only dorms with a suite-style layout, where 6 people share a private bathroom, so everything's pretty good and fine so far.

People-wise, haven't really met anyone new yet. International orientation starts tomorrow, so hopefully that might yield a few more interesting faces. The Americans move in on Tuesday, so that's when everything really starts to get crowded.

See how it goes.

想说话
POSTED AT 01:33 PM

到了杜克已经快两个星期了，今晚坐在床上读着明天经济课所需要的资料，不禁回想起过去与家乡。

虽说两个好友也一起来到了杜克，但我始终放不下留在新加坡的朋友们。过去，如果想找好友聊聊天，不是传送短讯，就是到街上约会，与这里比起来真是易如反掌。如今朋友们都生活在世界的另一端，简直像地球与外星的距离。

说是缘分也好，说是倒霉也好，事实就是这么残酷。

在北京的袁老师说过：“有缘要珍惜，无缘莫逞强”。为这种事发愁真是浪费时间和精力，算了吧。

很高兴当时决定到北京上课，现在回想起来也绝不后悔。可能说这次的经历和北京的经历相当相似，希望如此。目前在这里认识的朋友，的确不错，但目前无法像北京的朋友如此密切。

可能是因为我不明智，对这里的期望太离谱了。我一向很向往在大学时再学读写多一种语言，我也一向对语言很感兴趣。今天我刚刚从西班牙语的课程退了出来，反而报名读数学。要说“读德语算了”太难听了，宁可说我对德语比对西班牙语更感兴趣。

我还没决定寒假时是否要飞回新加坡。本来是打算不回的，但现在可能改变主意。再看吧。