here i am, travelled from the land of all things good and cheap, where family is everywhere, and where frens are few but great, to the land of unlimited internet access. haha. enjoyed myself thoroughly in my hometown and more. i see more smiles, hear more Ps and Qs, and basically i thought the air was much friendlier and comfortable. of course there are terrible, evil people to be wary of and litter and pothole-d roads. despite of that, i must say that i enjoy the break from singapore's uptight and fast-paced lifestyle. i got to make new friends, who are so warm and welcoming to me the newbie. and although my indonesian language is soooo bad, they try to understand and somehow we do click quite well. it's the first time that i have friends to hang out with in my hometown. sounds pathetic doesn't it? but that's the way when i've been overseas for almost my whole life. i got to spend time with my family, and that was the greatest, and most treasured experience that i had. the family warmth, sharing of problems and looking for solutions together, the solidarity bound by blood that's unfound in friendships. i enjoyed that, i loved that, i treasured that. the love, the hate, the joy, the pain, it was all worth going through.

i got to try zillions of new things. like having a ballet photoshoot (and realising that i have a lot of fat storage), going for aerobics, taking up ballet major classes, going to bali, making dresses, cross-stitching, being a businessgirl-in-training, haggling for lower prices, staying over at cousin's house, playing with dogs ( I LOVE BRUNO!!!! and Lovely too =D),etc. it was fun, real fun. long trips home makes the reality of what 'family' means clearer and larger than life. usually i could escape when my family meets a problem becoz my stay is short, but this time i can't and i have to face it. but what i did i did without regrets. and that's all that matters, to live without regrets, and to live in the moment.

i did miss friends i've made in singapore, but i've learnt to not let such emotions overwhelm me, and just make the best out of the given situation. and i guess, i've learnt to better value the 'now', the 'present', 'at this moment in time'. that's what living in the moment truly means. i like myself better now. perhaps i'm a little calmer than i was before and i would like to keep working on it. i like that i'm less prickly, less tired of things. one thing i've learnt while helping out in my parents' business is that, be nice to everyone but trust no one. i'm not more trusting than before, but i guess i'm better able to socialise with others. and that's the summary for now. details will follow.

Sleeping Cat Spotted on the Way to Tuban