There was a tsunami alert around 4am yesterday, for Fiji and NZ. An earthquake happened of the coast of Tonga. 7.8 on the Richter scale!!!!

ANd now, there's this whole issue about Civil Defense not acting fast enough (or smth to that extend) cos they did not inform anyone about the alert! Most ppl heard about it from the international news (BBC/CNN) and also from calls from relatives overseas! Which reminds me, no one even knew about this, and no "loved ones" called me!!!  Oh well, NZ is so far in the corner of the earth, prob none of my "loved ones" know about it, not until they read this entry! But then again, what if tsunami does actually strike?! This time, the alerts was only for Gisborne (North east of north island), but what if....? Haha..ok, i shall not even think about that. And i guess wellington coasts are pretty protected anyway. 

Thank God NZ was spared and that not many ppl were hurt from the earthquake itself. And I think to some extent, the world as a whole is spared of that devastating disaster 2 boxing days ago. *shudders*

Hmmm...everyone is homesick aka reen and tracy, and mayb ping?

But I dont really feel that homesick. It's good, dont get me wrong, I hate those feelings where ur body is here, but ur heart is elsewhere. I guess the homesick pang never really hits me. THe last I remembered was during my birthday last year. But that was because I was having exams at the same time. And it's no surprise that my birthday is right in the middle of exams this time as well! What fun!

Well, after some thought, I would like to think that my lack of homesickness is because I am contented here. And of course, Jesus! Gosh..I dont know what I'l do without Him! I sure do miss my family, and Dan, and my wonderful friends, but I guess I'm being realistic and carrying on with this part of my life, and making the most of it.

Speaking of my family, Im so happy that I was able to talk to my mum, sis and grandparents thru skype and webcam thru msn last night! Popo was soo excited! And it was fun showing them around my flat, and them meeting Micheal.  I guess sometimes, I do wish I had my mum/grandma's cooking, esp when im too lazy to do anything. But in saying that, Im not enjoying flatting any less! It's also been wonderful being able to see and talk to Dan online, though sometimes the connection stuffs up. And of course I could most certainly do with having my dearest at close to me, but then, we learn to adapt and we've been catching on with the change pretty well!

I'm excited for COnference this year! It's the 70th Anniversary of Tertiery Students Christian Fellowship (TSCF) and we're having a massive conference in Auckland!! Finally, we can visit Auckland beyond airport transit grounds! And think of the people I'll be meeting from all over the NZ! Yay!

OK, that's it, enough procrastination. Still gotta complete my lab report and CHEERS for the sunny day!  It's crazy that it's chilly though, and it shows 13.5C on my digital thermometer! At least I can FINALLY wash my bedding!

 THank you Lord for all that's happening to me! I will sing of your love all the days of my life. With my mouth I will make ur faithfulness know through all generations!

Currently feeling: yipedeedoo!

My brain is officially drained for the day. It's been working hard! It has been put to good use!

Just got back not too long ago from Small Group Leaders' meeting, and also leadership training. 3 whole hours of discussions and brainstorming and pizzas! As the meetings progressed, I felt so encouraged by the commitment of students and staffworkers of TSCF alike! TSCF is totally committed to mission on campus and I have never been in any group that has ben more committed to missions than this bunch! Yes, even more than church! Well, I guess churches have more diverse needs to tend to. It's amazing how our wonderful staffworkers are so into campus ministry, committing their lives to meeting with students, and spurring us towards effectiveness in missions; which is to share the Gospel in a way that is relevant to our culture today! This is awesome! It keeps me on my toes, so i do not rest in my comfy little world! It fies me to join God in His work.

Kudos to God and our wonderful staff workers!

Currently feeling: Zzzz

I cooked pork stew today! And it was yumm!! Though i havnt  really ate it, besides tasting it a bit while cooking. Muahhaha!

Ahhh..It's good to be in the comforts of my room again, without having to rush off to get stuff done. Have been on the go since the morning, and gosh..the amount height that i have to scale to get around in Wgtn, I think I would have been on Mt. Everest on now! Im not kidding! Cheers for toned legs and a healthy heart!

Asian Banquet is in 2 days time! It's a fundraising event organised by ICF. It's going to be massive, it's going to be fun! It's themed "weddings" and we will have 3 weddings frm Asia. The typical, Chinese, Malay and Indian. Though, we have the authentic and original ones, not the Malaysianised ones, cos we got the embassies to help out! And Im going to be a waitress! Ngyeh ngyeh! And imagine, we're catering for about 150 ppl, and we are cooking the eight-course meal by ourselves!! Seniors told me that 2 yrs ago, they had to peel so many onions that everybody was crying! I sure hope to see waht it's like tomorrow, and saturday!

And oooh! Did u knw that I almost got lost the memorial/cemetery today! Well, i went to town, to run some errands, and had to get to elaine's place. And the fastest was to go via Botanical gardens. But from town, u have to go past a cemetery, and then to the Botanicals. I was at 2 fork roads, and couldnt decide where to go! Good thing I found my way out after a while.

Ok, I better head off and get some work done, or catch up on my sleep. Gotta start gearing up for fiinals! All the best to those who are having exams!!

Happy happy happy belated birthday Reen!! Sorry i couldnt wish u earlier, my internet connection have been sooo crappy!

 Arghhh...the weather has totally taken a turn! It's soooooo sooooo cold!! Grr...Was about 7C today, minus wind chill. So, with the crazy southerlies, it would probably be 3-4C! Siau!!! And Im actually typing with my thick gloves on now! LOL!

 Having a metabolism test on this friday which I havnt started studying for! *panic *freak out! Just managed to finish my lab report and spectroscopy assgmt! Aihsz...reen, tracy and whoever else, I so undstand man, stupid uni ppl, giving assgmts when exams are soo near! Grrrrr....

Ok, i need to sleep. My head is throbbing, and there's soo many things in my head. So many things to get done!! Argghhh!

That's it! After my test tomorrow, I'm going to study my butts off, and no more playing catch-ups! Man...how i hate doing that, and I somehow always doing precisely that! I shall conquer METABOLISM!! Yes I will!

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!! MUM  GOT ME AN MP3 PLAYER FOR MY BIRTHDAY!! AND IT'S THE ONE I WANTED!!!  I'm so excited!! Thanks mum!! love you lots!

A picture speaks a thousand words. So..there you go! THe things that have been happening to me since i got back here!

Drag netting! Look! Crab!! 

Micheal's Birthday!

Mua Flat! Common Area and Kitchen! 

My First "walk-in" closet..almost!

 

Patriotism?   

Standard meal!(not always the wine though!) 

 

And sometimes, we have happy meals!

Retreat at Raumati! Lamb Roast! Yumm!

 

Chocolate Fondue! Double yumm!!!

That's it! I've decided to retire here! How could anyone not want that?! I havnt even started working, who am I kidding man!

Oriental Bay

 Family Portrait: Take One

Family Portrait: Take Two!

 

 Family Portrait: Take Three! (Finally!!!)

Easter Camp at Feilding!! Some Auction we had! Some got their hair shaved

 Before

 After!

 

While some got some pretty moustache!! 

(Apparently i look pretty with a moustache!! It took 3 days to get off!! )

Vikings with Moustaches?!

 

W-I-C-F

 

 

 

ASIAN (wedding) Banquet! 8-course asian meal + wedding performances! Superb! 

Chinese wedding!)

 

Bersanding! Accompanied by the Kompang troup! 

Indian Wedding! A tad too solemn. That's how it's meant to be

And they eventually cheered up!

Hats off to the kitchen hands!! Amazing! An 8-course meal, all home cooked! (you wouldnt want to knw the amount of onions and garlic they cut!)

And of course, the well-trained waiters and waitresses!

And Jas was awesome as the emcee!

Phew* That was a long and tedious entry! Thank God for all that's been happpening around me! He's blessed me indeed and I want to be a blessing to others around me!

(Grr!! this entry better be fine!! )

 

I am hungreeeeeeeeee!!!! The aroma of honey-soy sauce chicken is wafting into my room! Cheers to Andrew! Plus, all i had for lunch was a sunny-side up, and cheese toasty.

We have Sky (equivalent of Astro, though not as good), wireless broadband at maximum speed, cordless phone and a microwave. Im not bragging..continue reading. 

1. When the cordless phone is being used, the wireless Broadband gets disconnected immediately! And it connects instantaneously when the phone line is free.

2. When the microwave is on, the cordless phone has crappy reception!

It was hillarious how, last night, we had to coordinate our times for using the internet (without disconnecting), cooking instant noodles in the microwave, and using the cordless phone!

Currently reading: The curious incident of a dog in the night time

I cooked steak steak steak! Pretty easy, stick it into the oven, and leave it for 45mins! And we had mash with gravy that I made myself and "pak choy". haha..I know it doesnt really go together, but oh well..we're students. Anything goes! And speaking of being students, gosh, we're on such a superly tight budget for this month as we had to pay the power bill that only came every 2 months! So yeah..we were that pathethic that we didnt even have milk, bread, potatoes, rice, or cheese in the pantry last week. Until we decided to top up on the a/c to get the essentials! But im enjoying poor student life no doubt.

Hmm..and im also considering changing my job when the term's over. 2 hours a week at the library 45 mins walk away is not exactly a very ideal job. Please pray that I'l be able to find a decent (interesting) job that pays well, and is nearby!

Work is piling up, and I have 7 Blackboard assignments to be done by 4th June. And 3 exams next week! *shudders* There goes my birthday! Oh well, I guess turning 20 is nothing much. PLus, I already got wonderful pre-bday gifts from mum and dan!

Ok..i shall procrastinate no more. Oh, did I mention that I got Micheal to be my "trainer". He checks on me every hour, to make sure I'm study! And blogging is definitely forbidden! Feels like Im at military! 

happy happy happy 20th

birthday JO!!!!!

I sat in front of the tv for 80mins watching burly men play rugby in thick fog!! And we all spent half the time asking "where's the ball???!"  Ok, fine, I heard they play rugby in all weathers, storm, hail, snow and all, but still!!! I'm amazed that the players can even see the ball!! And listen to the commentators: "And the ball is somewhere up there!"  *throws head back and laughs*  Well, Micheal and I were actually intending to go for the games if the Bulls had won semis against Crusaders, which meant that the finals would be played at Westpac Stadium, Wgtn instead!!! I want to go for a rugby game!! Oh well, for this particular game, I'm glad I was watching from the comforts of our couch, with hot chocolate to sip on, and Old Jamaica Rum and Raisin to nibble. And I bet you three quarters of the spectators at the stadium couldnt see what was going on either. It was pretty fun though, cos Michael Forde was supporting the Crusaders, and we were supporting the Hurricanes.  No doubt, we lost

And Wgtn airport is closed bcos of the fog. It's actually fun to have guys in the flat who are so enthu about sports! Should have seen the atmosphere in the flat during the Commanwealth!

Ok..back to boring ol' books! 3 econ assgmts down, 6 to go! And 3 exams to go. Oh what fun! But I thank God bringing me here to NZ....to study! that's what I ought to do! Adios amigos!

Euodia: thank you for the wonderful wonderful handmade bookmark!! It was a pleasant surprise! So chun!! And u knw, it looks like a wedding invitation, the gold and the silver. Luv u!