Reflections on NUS - 2006/2007
And so, year 2 passed again. Towards the end of Year 2, I had to prepare myself to go for my Social Work placement. I didn't get to go to the agency that I wanted to go. In fact, I only got my 9th choice out of 10. Was actually quite frustrated about the balloting system. Turned out that I did my placement at Bishan (which was quite convenient for me), and while I wouldn't say it was always a bed of roses, I think on the overall it was a good placement experience. I'm glad I went there.
Placement came and went, and soon I was rushing to pack my bags to fly off to New Zealand for a semester on exchange. Off I flew, with next to no knowledge of the country, and no idea of who I was gonna live with for the next 5 months except that her name was Rebecca Huang.
Rebs buddy was probably the most amazing gift from God in the form of a 'person' to me in the time I was there. Of course, God gave other gifts too, like rest, scenery, food, travel, but to be honest, these were not persons. Heh. I remember how little things could really help to ease the tensions of living together, like praying together in the evenings, and a little 'shoulder squeeze' in the mornings. It's these things, and working through struggles together, that made us great buddies. Even now, when we see each other, it's just this whole warmfuzzy feeling of comfort with each other that washes over us. I mean, we've seen each other in every emotional state possible, so there's just a deep unspoken acceptance of each other. Gutentag!
There are many many things worth mentioning about NZ, not least the school, the house we lived in, sceneries, cafes. I am really dying to go back again. Masters in Social Work, anyone? Or to work?
Thinking back, NZ was really a very significant time for me. Living on your own without your family has a way of making you grow up. Cooking, washing, grocery-shopping, dealing with unreasonable landladies, and even just getting along with others. Learning to really become real friends with people from other countries, not just people you generally get along with. It helped me to realise, that I actually CAN manage on my own.
Reluctantly and yet willingly, I returned in November 2006 with a flood of memories, many of which still stay vivid in my mind till today. Relaxed a bit, caught up a bit with people, and it was time to start the new semester.
It would be the last semester of many significant friends I had in NUS: JeeLee, Caiying, EileenChee. I remember trying to find time to spend with these people, before they graduated and would potentially disappear from my life. I'm thankful that even now, none of them have. I remember Eileen would come over to my hostel for chats and doing work together. I remember I specifically asked Caiying for lunch and we met at YIH canteen cos it was less crowded. I remember JeeLee and I would talk in the library too. Beautiful gifts from God.
I stayed in Sheares Hall that sem, and I had continued to take up more things outside of school-work time in order to continue to stretch myself. I took up the leadership of the youth group in church, as well as helping to plan expedition trips. Quite crazy man. But it was worth it. Back in school, I took a module called Special Areas in Social Work Practice in which we had to produce a video production. It really was one of the most siong modules I had ever done. Crazy. But in the end, I think it was challenging and enriching as well, learning things I don't think I would have learnt elsewhere.
And so the semester came and went, and things were just cruising along for me..
Placement came and went, and soon I was rushing to pack my bags to fly off to New Zealand for a semester on exchange. Off I flew, with next to no knowledge of the country, and no idea of who I was gonna live with for the next 5 months except that her name was Rebecca Huang.
Rebs buddy was probably the most amazing gift from God in the form of a 'person' to me in the time I was there. Of course, God gave other gifts too, like rest, scenery, food, travel, but to be honest, these were not persons. Heh. I remember how little things could really help to ease the tensions of living together, like praying together in the evenings, and a little 'shoulder squeeze' in the mornings. It's these things, and working through struggles together, that made us great buddies. Even now, when we see each other, it's just this whole warmfuzzy feeling of comfort with each other that washes over us. I mean, we've seen each other in every emotional state possible, so there's just a deep unspoken acceptance of each other. Gutentag!
There are many many things worth mentioning about NZ, not least the school, the house we lived in, sceneries, cafes. I am really dying to go back again. Masters in Social Work, anyone? Or to work?
Thinking back, NZ was really a very significant time for me. Living on your own without your family has a way of making you grow up. Cooking, washing, grocery-shopping, dealing with unreasonable landladies, and even just getting along with others. Learning to really become real friends with people from other countries, not just people you generally get along with. It helped me to realise, that I actually CAN manage on my own.
Reluctantly and yet willingly, I returned in November 2006 with a flood of memories, many of which still stay vivid in my mind till today. Relaxed a bit, caught up a bit with people, and it was time to start the new semester.
It would be the last semester of many significant friends I had in NUS: JeeLee, Caiying, EileenChee. I remember trying to find time to spend with these people, before they graduated and would potentially disappear from my life. I'm thankful that even now, none of them have. I remember Eileen would come over to my hostel for chats and doing work together. I remember I specifically asked Caiying for lunch and we met at YIH canteen cos it was less crowded. I remember JeeLee and I would talk in the library too. Beautiful gifts from God.
I stayed in Sheares Hall that sem, and I had continued to take up more things outside of school-work time in order to continue to stretch myself. I took up the leadership of the youth group in church, as well as helping to plan expedition trips. Quite crazy man. But it was worth it. Back in school, I took a module called Special Areas in Social Work Practice in which we had to produce a video production. It really was one of the most siong modules I had ever done. Crazy. But in the end, I think it was challenging and enriching as well, learning things I don't think I would have learnt elsewhere.
And so the semester came and went, and things were just cruising along for me..
hey buddy i just read this...aww. i wanna say that it realy made a GREAT difference tt i had u in my life in nz...wldnt know what i wld do without.*hugss.and ive really been feeling like gg back to nz too.