hello, Lent Term

we're all forever arriving and departing, but that's a luxury we forget to acknowledge everytime we reluctantly board that long-haul flight. i've been back in Cambridge for almost a day. i expected to feel quite low upon coming back to English weather and an empty room, but so far, i feel quite content. decorations and photos up, lots of snacks, organized my clothes (brr it's quite cold in Cambridge though temperature-wise, nothing like Providence!), and i bought a radio/ipod dock station thingy. i love it :). i realized the last week of Michaelmas term that one of the reasons i felt so lonely in my room was because there was never any sound (after living with a roommate, then suitemates, i've gotten used to constant companionship), which is why i resorted to writing my last essay while listening to Edward Said's lectures on youtube. now...behold glorious sound! the radio sounds really warms the room.

anyway, winter break was wonderful. every day was spent with the family (yes, every single day even though i met up with dear friends during the daytime) - i don't think i've appreciated them more! i tried to organize fun family things so we had a Wii golf/tennis tournament, played tennis for reals the day we got back to singapore, had movie nights, and i went to see Ponyo with my brother and mom. hmm and hong kong was FANTASTIC because of the food (yong kee's siu mei!!), visiting relatives from Toronto, and the glorious 18-20 degree, sunny 'winter' weather. on Christmas day i took bus 6 to Stanley, and it felt like returning home. going down Repulse Bay Road was the usual rockety double-decker ride - lots of perilous curves alongside the cliff next to South China Sea - all of which i've memorized after spending a good 8 years going up and down that road to school. i say all this to assert that feeling that resides partly in the heart, but partly construed by the mind, telling me that hong kong is still home. phew :). come august though, we will have resided in singapore for 8 years, matching our time in hong kong. quite scary, especially since my dad intially told us that singapore was only a 3 year stint.

well, back to Cambridge. i've gotten very good at repressing all thoughts of academics, but now it's time to confront Literary Criticism and my Portfolio straight in the eye, no flinching allowed. hope you all are well! and those who are studying abroad, safe travels and happy settling-in!