Esplanade of Dreams.

heavy.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:37:35 PST

Today Was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift

she's an Angel

before i came to Des Moines, i was Extremely Excited because i can finally Meet my Brother again.

you Know i know That.

now, Two weeks is up and it is Time for me to Leave this place when i Finally began to get Comfortable and Familiar with the faces and the places here.

the People, whom i grew Closer to as Time passes by. those who were so Friendly that made me feel Belonged. i Thank those, whose Hearts were so Kind, Loving and Caring.

you Know that i Feel so Incredibly Nostalgic as time for me to Leave drew Closer Gradually.

during the Sacred Giving and Sacred Receiving Ceremony, emotions ran Wild, self Control almost Gave in. Though, numbers were Less Important.

the feeling of leaving to the US is Back all over Again, which Ironically, True.

Heavy Hearted.

Significance of Absence Prevailed.

Yours truly,

Evelyn

drop dead.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:58:43 PST

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO

Time check: 6.56am

Location check: Drake University dorm front desk

Role check: good sister accompanying brother

Self check: Not very tired

Duration check: Work time 4 hours
Duration due: 7am

Outside is cold.

Current temperature: -13 Celsius

Walking around the neighborhood felt like my brother and I were the last men standing.

Felt like a zombie apocalypse has strike. All dead silent.

Snow and frost remained on the ground. All was peaceful and calm.

Not a sound of a bird, nor cricket. Just, the heavy footsteps that echo in the ears.

I have seen it.

The soft and fluffy snow that makes up of millions of delicate and detailed snow flakes.

Intriguing it is.

I want more.

Here it is again :)

Lee Pei Ning

bruised-

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:12:59 PST

Dota Theme Songs

Oh no, I don't play Dota. This time, I have no choice but to get stuck in between people who do, people like my brother and his friends.

Right now, we are just waiting for Cheng Kang to get off work so that he can treat us to some nice Froyo and off we go to dinner before going to play basketball.

For some of you who don't already know, I am now in Des Moines at my brother's place for the winter break

13th Jan, 2012

a week ago,

Approximately 11.50am...

I stepped down the Greyhound bus as I arrived at the bus station at downtown Des Moines. Spent the last few days in Chicago, IL touring around that windy city. Oh I can tell you the experience was so diverse and intriguing, frustrating at the same time. Updates coming your way as soon as I get hold of the pictures that I have taken.

I was literally exhausted after the last few rather hectic days in Minneapolis, extreme foot walking around downtown Chicago for five consecutive days and dreadfully long bus rides before arriving at this so called cornfield city :D

Thinking that I would be able to drop dead on the bed and rest for the night and the rest of the day of next, I was wrong. I was driven out to Walmart with the guys to get groceries and then back to brother's second home to hang out with the guys. No doubt that they are really fun to hang out with after a week chillin' with them doing things, but I was desperate for some adequate rest.

That was not all. Despite going to bed at about 3.30am, I had to wake up early in the morning because we were all heading out to Seven Oaks near Ames to ski! Rather thrilled with that idea but still doubting my body's capacity for energy drainage.

Skiing seems like a three year once thing to me. So periodical. The first time I was introduced to this sport was when I was in a tour in Korea. Second was when I was in Japan, with my host family and those four young girls. Now, the third, was with my brother and his friends.

They were rather fascinated about the zig zag ski pattern and were trying to master it. Well, I was just testing the waters again after so long and my first slide down the steep slope was definitely exhilarating. Oh the adrenaline rush was incredible! After a while, I was just sliding down the slope without wanting to try otherwise, afraid that I might be injured.

Seeing some small kids being able to do so much better than I, gave me the motivation to want to try the zig zag pattern. After the first try, I was starting to get it and was ecstatic!
As night falls, I decided to do ski one last time before switching to learning snowboarding. While I was sliding down the hill... *WHAM* I fell so hard my chest hurt like crazy. For a moment, I felt like I tergegar my brain and was too dizzy to do anything. All I did was kneeling down on the snow blanket and stare at the ground. I was crouching like a statue for almost a minute with my fist, pressed firm against my chest as if to stop the agony.
From a distance, I heard someone calling out to me, those going up the cable, "Hey miss, you alright?"
"Yeah I am. No worries."
"You sure? You don't look fine."
"Yes I am fine. I'm fine."
When I finally looked up, I saw all my ski equipments scattered all over the place. Tried to recall the fall but all I could remember was me falling facedown and the impact was great.
As I am typing this, my chest still hurts like a bitch when I press slightly hard on it. Still does when I sneeze. Bad. Bad
,

Snowboarding was yet another short episode of this outing. Was hard.
Started at bunny hill and after twice sliding down halfway the slope, I went on to the steep hills.
I guess I could slowly slide down by doing it horizontally, but I certainly do not know how to control the direction I am heading to. Kept on falling down it pisses me off. Sore butt after the whole thing and especially my left wrist, which I kept on using to support my body weight when I fall.
Overall was fun. Enjoyed it. The next time I go I will do snowboarding.
Did I mention?
Girls who snowboard are smokin' hot! Oh nooo... Too sexy :P
.

The next three days was hurting all over. No doubt. Yet, no regrets *:)

great success comes with great determination

EvelynLee

insecurity.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:35:08 PST

You and I by IU

3am. I was walking in the snow with a companion back from Drake University campus.

The occasional wind drove chill, fast as lightning up my spine. I was only dressed in my laced strap, covered by my thin fuchsia pink Nike jacket. The ground was already covered completely by a rather thick layer of even snow. So fluffy as I stepped on it.

That feeling when your conscience is constantly banging at the back of your mind when you are consciously destroying something exquisite and flawless. That was it every time i lay a step on the ground. Whoever feel sad and sorry when stepping on the ground? That was me, yesterday.

Turned around, two sets of footsteps trailed behind. It was just like footsteps in the sand, except this time it was snow instead. We started fooling around, creating funny patterns on the ground despite feeling excruciatingly cold. Walked in circles, thinking that people who will see our footprints in the future will think that we were lost souls. Acted like fools, thinking that the university police will wonder what we were up to at 3 in the morning.

Most of all, there was the feeling of insecurity. It was that if there was anybody with evil intentions out there, our tracks can be easily traced and the bad guy will know where we were heading to. He will follow our tracks and back to our home and...

Well, it was just a thought, but not something to take for granted. I still think untouched snow is dangerous as such.

(picture credit: loveforliana.com)

Pei Ning

two weeks;-

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:38:26 PST

Everybody Knows by John Legend

Two weeks into a brand new year. Have you been keeping up with your resolutions?

Two weeks into a brand new year. Have you had any impressive breakthroughs yet?

Two weeks into a brand new year. Have you experienced any extraordinary events yet?

Two weeks into a brand new year. Have you changed into a better person than before?

Two weeks into a brand new year. Have you loved more?

I know that some of you may have already started a new school year or even a new semester. If you haven't, I believe you will soon enough. Mine will start in two weeks time, that leaves me another half a month. This winter break as some of you may have already know through my previous posts, that I have flown from Plattsburgh to the midwest, Minneapolis, Minnesota to visit my friend. For that, I get people asking me why.

"Why Minnesota? Seriously? Don't you know that it is much colder over there?"

Also, I get people giving me funny comments.

"Minnesota? A lot of Vikings there." (you'll understand if you watch American football frequently)

"Oh Minnesota. Mall of America!"

Well, my reply would be that the residence hall closes so I had to go somewhere and I am taking this opportunity to travel around the US and am starting with somewhere I have place to bunk in.

Two weeks after, I decided to explore more of the Midwest by taking the Greyhound bus down to Chicago.

I would say this trip was a very well planned one as we carefully scanned through all the potential touristic spots and slowly prioritize on those which we can nicely fit into our itinerary. Of course, we did not forget about checking the weather forecast and decided to arrange for more indoor activities like visiting the museum for colder days.

As of the end of my Chicago trip tomorrow, I will be heading down to Des Moine, Iowa to where my brother is, approximately 7 hours bus ride from Chicago. It is a small town as well, but I guess it is spending more quality time with the brother and his friends while we do fun and silly things together. Time will eventually be well spent over there perhaps

Two weeks into a brand new year. It is all going great except for a few blue moments, which I think only takes up a small percentage of my overall happy moments :)

What about you?

xoxo

Evelyn

panic-,

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:35:48 PST

Mendelssohn piano Concerto No. 1 by Yuja Wang

I believe this year is going to be interesting.
Started out great, then few days into a new year, I got locked out of the apartment room. Great eh?
It started with Amanda's apartment having no wifi at all so I had to go down to the lobby to have internet connection. At first, she came down with me with the reason of her liking the environment there. After approximately an hour, she left me and went back up. I was so engrossed with browsing the internet especially listening to songs on YouTube that I totally lost track of time. When I checked the time at my watch, it was showing 3.00am (New York time), which means 2am already! I panicked! Oh you don't know how badly I panicked.
I turned off everything at such great speed and flew back to the room just to find it locked. I braced myself and knocked on it a few times, harder as I went. Besides the sounds of my heartbeat thundering against my ribs, all that was there was the faint sounds of the vent coming from inside of the apartment room and the echoes of the roaring sounds of my knocking.
I was seriously petrified. I was afraid that someone might hear my knocking and gets irritated by it and file a complain that might get Amanda into trouble. I was fearful about the unfriendly, forever scowling security guard who makes his rounds and happen to bump into me, an unauthorized resident making noise at such hour. I was terrified that I might get Amanda into trouble in whatever ways that resulted from me being locked out. At the rate of my knocking goes and the outcome of it, I was completely apprehensive about me being able to get in and sleep on the bed that night.
I went back down and tried using Gmail to call Amanda's phone but it kept on diverting into voice mail. That pissed me off a lot because that was the only other way to get in besides knocking, which was not a very wise move. I then logged on to Facebook to see if Derrick was on so that he can try too but he wasn't. Mitchell was though. Totally dragged Mitchell into the water asking him to call Derrick.
Jimmy was being nice though. Talked to me and understood my situation, offered me to stay over at his place and even offered to come get me. Well, wasn't quite a big fan of doing that actually. Decided to give another try, hoping that it will not yield the same result.
Again, I prepared myself to another failure. Took a deep breath, held it in for a while and exhaled heavily. There goes. I knocked as loudly as I could, feeling my knuckles hurt so incredibly from the immense impact against that wooden door. After a while, I heard responses coming from the inside. My heart skipped a beat. I continued knocking just to make sure I was not imagining anything.
Oh how relieved I was when I heard "What's going on?" a rather sleepy voice. I literally smiled to myself. At the back of my head, I was screaming with joy!

So apparently, Amanda left the door open for me but somehow it mysteriously closed.
The whole experience was rather traumatizing for me. It was tragic.
Here I am sitting at the same place and the creepy security guard just past me o.O

*jeng jeng jeng*

LeePeiNing

peeps *:)

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:01 PST

Heartstring by Clara C

Hola!

Currently having my mood lifted up by listening to a whole playlist by Clara C.

Suddenly have this bad craving of star gazing. I just want to lie down on a fleece blanket laid over the soft grass in your arms under the beautiful moonlight while we admire the milky way. I want a getaway with no other, just hope that you will hold me the entire night.

We Could Happen by AJ Rafael

New Year started with waking up earlier than my usual wake up time. Went over to a2f pastor's house to make dumplings. It was really fun when you make dumplings with so many other unexperienced people as there was no one to judge our skills. We got to be creative with the square and round dumpling skins and everyone had a blast. Eating the self-made dumplings was a blast and was never as satisfying. We had a choice of fried and boiled dumplings. Well, personal preference, boiled dumplings were better tasting and healthier :)

Good Day by IU

Am pretty aimless now. Emotions rather disturbed as of the something that i went to just now. People there somehow made me feel a little uncomfortable. Well, just glad that it is over as of now.

Offbeat by Clara C

Just found out how useful YouTube playlist is, now that I can't download songs as i like. Well, just arranging and creating my playlist right now since I just learned how to use it. Kinda late and slow isn't it? Well, nothing's too late.

Really scraps of thoughts that I have right now. A great post to the start off the year eh?

As the cold is intensifying,

Till more inspiration comes,

Evelyn

overflow;

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:08:54 PST

If We Ever Meet Again by Katy Perry ft Timberland

Ironic, perhaps this is. Common, perhaps this is. Overrated, perhaps this is.

Heck I'm still going to write about it.

As a new year is approaching, 2012, and some say the year when the world is coming to an end, still everybody talks about creating a new year's resolution, everybody talks about a chance to a fresh start, a new beginning, a new chapter, bla bla bla (you can pretty much sense the negativity in this post already. you're wrong).

The past year, I didn't expect myself to gain as much as I expected from the previous year. I did feel myself growing up, not much physically but mentally. A common saying would be - when you study abroad, you will have a whole new experience, see so much to learn from and grow up from within. I thought it would be a cliché. Nonetheless, I was rather taken aback by the outcome
.

Of course, the year started by all the crazy things applying for universities in the US. I would say I have never done such a thing and that got my hands, fingers and brain nerves all tangled up in the process. When that part of the chapter was over, I felt the HUGE relief and I could finally exhale to a never-ending exhalation that I pushed out all the air I could from my lungs. Then, I started choking on another complicated chapter. It is true that nothing comes easy.
True that I had heaps of fun after my last semester at HELP ended that I went off to an adventurous backpack trip to Europe with my family and several other road trips in Malaysia. Next thing I know was that the universities were starting to send their replies and me getting to know that I have gotten accepted into all of the universities that I have applied to. What a waste of time and money if I were to know that getting accepted into these universities will be easier than expected.
Deciding on the university to go to wasn't easy at all. Loads of things to take into consideration. In the end, I landed my choice on a university located in the peaceful suburbs near the Adirondack mountains approximately 7 hours up North from New York City close to the border of Canada at Montreal side. Preparation to come to US seemed so surreal at that time.
Also, it changed a great deal of who I was, a well protected chick who remained under the wings of my lovely parents for many years. Finally, I was preparing to take flight. Each step I took, each attempt I made did not go as well as I would like it to be. Being the emotional self, of course, I broke down. I remember locking myself in the room, plunged into the bed and cried my pillow wet. Oh how hard I cried, till my head was dizzy, till I hyperventilated, till I see little sparks suspended in the middle of my vision, till I needed oxygen so badly. Then, comes papa to the rescue. Talked me through all my sceptical view points. At least I didn't decide to give up there
.

The Summer went past so swiftly and unsoundly, from which, I outgrew some of my fears. When it was time for me to leave, I left, almost quietly and calmly, leaving behind the nest where I was born, grew up and learned from, leaving behind the people I love, the memories built. It was all nostalgic, but I knew from the bottom of my heart that it was all for the better. I left with a determined heart. I left strong, shedding scarcely a tear on the aeroplane when I gazed out the tiny window to a golden sunset.
Here I am in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, enjoying the winter break after a confused semester that past. Did not regret my decision to go to SUNY Plattsburgh, did not regret the past semester. In fact, I ended the semester with a bang, scoring myself a proud 4.0 and made it into the Dean's List. So what? Most importantly, I enjoyed my Intro to Public Speaking class with Nora and my classmates. Even though the class was small, the nerve to give speech was always there. Nevertheless, I am proud to announce that I have finally managed to overcome the extreme nerves before giving a speech. You might wonder how? I wonder too, but all I could say was that with sufficient preparation, provided with clear guidelines on the process to preparing a speech was crucial. In the last class of the semester, we were required to give an impromptu speech based on random objects that we drew from the plastic bag that Nora walked around the class holding. I think I did surprisingly well. Nora agreed as well, said after all my speeches throughout the semester especially the persuasive speech, that I was an extremely good speaker and hope that I would be able to join her public speaking team. An A++ I scored for my persuasive speech, according the Nora, a score that she seldom even give unless the speaker is incredibly impressive. I should be pretty damn good I guess.
College Writing class was another challenge. I broke down in the middle of the semester, totally confused and lost, clueless about what my lecturer wants. Till now at the end of the semester, I wouldn't say that I clearly know what she wants, but am slowly figuring out closer to the end of the last class. Really, she was a hand full. At the beginning of the semester, I was seeing my A in that class through an open cylinder. After going through all the hard work and tough time finding my way out the complicated maze, I saw my A through a labyrinth of journey. Planning to be a tutor for next semester's College Writing class in hope to earn some extra dough.
For other subjects like Gen Psych Lab and Psych Stats, I wouldn't say that they were easy, but they were manageable for me and I put a little more effort to make sure that I secure my grades. Would probably say that the results were unnecessarily strong, but still glad and proud of myself
.

As we are turning the page to a new year, I would just like to say that life, does not necessarily have to start all over from the previous year. Somehow, 1st of January is just another day to me and the day goes on. So if you feel the need to change your life at any point of the year, please do so. You certainly do not have to wait for a new year to do so. However, many would like to go with it since the year and the semester has gone by and for some of you, the school year has ended. Just want to point out that it is unnecessary to wait for a new year to change yourself to be a better person than before.
Also, some of you may have the habit of making a new year's resolution. Or, some of you are probably starting to pick it up due to the hype about it. Please please please, make one that is realistic to you, make one that you think is achievable and make sure that you follow your heart when making one. If you have a very ambitious dream that you don't think is achievable within a year, don't be too disappointed! Set a short term goal that you can achieve that clears a path towards your long term goal! Of course also, resolutions are something that you can always make any time in the year, not only during new year. It is just like a to-do list. Once you have completed one, check it off your list. You'll never know the extreme satisfying feeling that you get whenever you get to check something off your list. For starters, like me, I'll always stick with a big goal in mind, but make a small list in Note on my phone that I can check any time any where so that I make sure I do whatever that is necessary to achieve my final goal
.

I know this is a lot, but I am going to need you to trust me just this once.

Have a blessed and awesome new year everyone!
2012 may be the end, but just live on anyway. You'll never know the future.

Signing off for the last time in year 2011,

with much love, x

Pei Ning

High Falls Gorge & Lake Placid.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:09:18 PST

Black or White by Michael Jackson

Credits to ISS Plattsburgh for organizing trips for international students, I get to explore more of Plattsburgh and the places around this beautiful town.

Last Saturday (Sept 30th), I joined this trip that brings us up to High Falls Gorge of the Adirondack Mountains at Wilmington. Not quite expensive for such a beautiful scenic place, it cost $15 per person. The scenery along the way there, at the place itself and back are just captivating. My heart skipped beats when I see the beautiful and colorful trees filled the surface of the mountains. Almost every single angle you see, even along the road, the trees were so colorful. There were the yellow, orange, red, green and all the transitions between those colors. The whole place was filled with this calm, relaxed and refreshing ambience. Suddenly, I feel like I can just lie down on the grass and fall asleep just like that.

The waterfall was amazing and magical. Seeing how it slowly develops and create naturally perfect holes like they were drilled were just amazing. I even have chills thinking about it. Mind blown.

Since the tracks at the waterfall was really short, Jaafar, one of the ISS staff and one of the drivers who drove us up, decided to bring us to a nearby village, Lake Placid. This was where the Winter Olympics used to take place at.

The shops along the road was really unique, each having its own design. Some even look like they were fake or like a painting. I really like those shops around. The sight of these shops actually reminded me of those in Amsterdam (Edem and Volendam specifically) and makes me wonder 'why can't Malaysia have special designed shops like those?' #fail

The lake was so lovely and romantic. I love it to the core of my bones.

Dropped by few shops as well including some random apparel shops, shoe shops, souvenir shops, hat shops and also one of the franchise for GAP. Bought a beautiful pink hoodie from there. I love it so much its so comfy and fluffy!! *snuggles snuggles snuggles* :D

Long due and finally, x

Food :D

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:10:10 PST

More by Usher

Letting yourself go hungry on purpose is a crime. Why not treat yourself to nice food whenever you feel like it? Why not restrain from eating nice food when you are low in appetite? Why not find another way to help yourself if you are forever having good appetite? Please don't resolve to bulimic act though. It is equally disturbing, stupid and disgusting.

Today was a stay at home day. However, we took the effort to walk to nearby Arby's to treat ourselves to some nice food. Oh I can tell you even though it is a fast food franchise, the burgers they serve there look so healthy. Feels like I was eating healthy at least. Yum to curly fries :D

All the catchy little slogans for Arby's.

This was so cool!!! Took a picture then *ring* :D

Was waiting for the clock to tick by while reading my Roahl Dahl.

Kind of feeling hungry and made my usual salad with Thousand Island as dressing.

Finally it is dinner time! Experimented with a new way of cooking spaghetti and going Chinese. Never really cooked in my life but mum used to cook it this way when I was young so decided to give it a try using the limited ingredients that I have in hand. Guess what? It may taste better with the fish cake slices, but I still pulled off at my first try. Have to pat myself at the back :D

Will have my yogurt later at night as usual :D Yum!

Love,

food craving satisfied,

PeiNing

productive :)

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:51:09 PST

Today was productive. Today was satisfying.

Woke up feeling very well rested and had some awesome nightmare before. Woke up to some extremely yummy breakfast (corn flakes and milk and pao). Got ready and headed out to the bus stop. First stop was Metro Transit to get my refund on my unnecessary Go To Card. Then we proceeded to the mall, Nicollet Mall and several malls around it.

Target was after.

Strolled around Target for groceries was never as satisfying. While I picked out my stuff, I was already imagining the food that I am able to prepare with the stuff that I have gotten. So yummy already from Target itself :D

Spent more than my budget, but I guess it was all worth it after tonight's dinner :)
SPAGHETTI!!! :D

I really didn't think I was able to run my errand all within 2 and a half hours until Amanda reminded me about it. 15 minutes before it expires. We power walked through probably two or more blocks carrying the superb heavy groceries. On the way, being such a kind person calling out for a random guy who dropped his iPhone accidentally. Managed to jump into the bus just two minutes before it expires like a boss :D

Rested for a while and filled the rather empty stomach before heading out to the mysterious looking tower about 15 minutes walk away. The Witch's Hat Tower. Took so many pictures and slowly discovered how British looking the tower was and how beautiful the neighborhood around the tower. Rather disappointing to find out that we can't climb to the top of the tower.

On the way back, stopped by a random place just to find out that it was actually The National Fabric Center o.O More meaningful than what we thought it would be. What luck.

Today was satisfying. I love days like this and hope every day will be as satisfying as the food i prepare myself every day here in Minneapolis :D

Love,

Pei Ning

A non-white Christmas.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:47:36 PST

Back to December by Taylor Swift

Hey there! Guess what? I am excited, rolling in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Amanda's place!

In less than three weeks time, I will be happily heading further down the middle and exploring the midwest. Definitely not fearful of the extreme cold I will be facing. Bold and naive.

It was Christmas Eve just thirty minutes before and now, it is Christmas Day according to US midwest time, 12.30am. I am just sitting on Amanda's desk, facing the window decorated by a beautiful pink and white shade of curtain, tied at the middle by a sophisticated dragonfly looking silver hair pin.

Opposite of me is just another solar powered apartment called Solhaus. All but two of the windows are dark. Everyone has gone home to reunite with their families, except "some of the poor international students who has nowhere to go", I quoted John, a Korean who led the bible reading at a Pastor's house the day before Christmas Eve

I have never experienced Christmas in such a meaningful way before. Well, one of the more interesting way that I celebrated Christmas was with my parents and one of our used to be close family friends. On Christmas Day, we would gather in my house's living room with all the lights turned off. We will sit around the table where a few candles were lit, just bright enough to see each other's faces. We will then start the intriguing 'present' hunting using merely the torch light and a strip of clue that my father will provide us with. All was really fun as we got to experience the suspense of hunting for the present and opening the beautiful Christmas present wrapper so gently, with the fear of destroying the adorable prints on it. I love it I love it I love it! I just miss those times and I miss my family terribly now. My old man and my loving mother, slowly I realize as I was leaving to the US and now finally, a great deal miles apart from them, that they are slowly growing old as my age gradually increase from a single-digit to two-digits then the first numeral turns from one to two.

I digress.

This year for winter break, I decided to drop by Amanda's place and check Minnesota out. Indeed, it is a great experience, despite my only first week here and haven't really done much (since Amanda was having her finals). The first night I was there, I was brought downtown to a holiday parade sponsored by Target, a parade called Holidazzle. It was rather ordinary for me but it was really heart-warming to see families, college students all gathered at the side of the road, anticipating enthusiastically in the bitter cold weather. I was shivering all the way. Did I not mention how I was stuck in the cold for one whole hour in front of Plattsburgh International Airport at 4 in the morning? I was amazed to find an airport closed, especially one that is called "International". I guess the cold got to me and I was left feeling cold no matter how warm it was indoor. It was one hell of an experience though.

I digress.

The following night, I was invited by Cassandra to a Christmas service. I did not feel very belonged there as the people there did not really attempt to spark a conversation with me except for David, another Malaysian guy doing his PhD at U of M. However, I did not regret going there as I was exposed (in detail) to how Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as according the Bible. Yesterday night, I was joined by many other international students for a bible reading session. In there, I felt welcomed. After the session, we headed downtown to check out the Christmas Lights. It wasn't very awesome, but the company was incredible. It was also the day where I discovered that Minneapolis is actually a birth place for Peanuts. You know, snoopy, kinda thing.

Today was special. I met up with Qing Han in the afternoon at Tea Garden. Tried some rather overrated Bubble Tea (but it was still okay).

At night, with the company of Darren, who looks so unbelievably like Phil Seong, we went for dinner at one of the few restaurants that remained open. Even McDonalds was closed for Christmas Eve. Can you believe it? Well, the restaurants that were open were majority run by Chinese, efficient people.

Hahahaha... After that, we attended a Christmas Mass at a Catholic church called St. Lawrence. It was all cool!! Great experience except when everyone started doing the same gesture except for Amanda and I. Well, Amanda haven't really attended Christmas mass before.

JoJo and Darren :)

It was overall a great experience! Met awesome people including Darren, JoJo, Ceria and a few others. I am really satisfied with my experience in Minneapolis so far. Gonna tour around the place soon!! After everyone revive from home due to the Christmasy thing thing going on :D

Oh well, it is kind of late right now. Till then??

Merry Christmas again!

Toodleloo~

EvelynLee

the first.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:03:29 PST

Way Back Into Love by Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore

I was clueless. Then, I was speechless.

My beautiful angels, despite their finals day, went through all the hassle just to make sure I get my beautiful fairytale birthday surprise. And so I heard, these angels took their exam in the morning, went straight to Walmart to purchase all stuff needed, got stuck waiting for the shuttle for incredibly long time, got stuck picking flour over the million types of flour laid on the shelves, trouble baking my Elmo Birthday cake in that unbelievably small rice cooker (I am still wondering how they managed to pull it off), rushed through all the decorations in Yee Jin's room, rushed to their evening exam, rushed back to continue preparing for my surprise. These angels, whom I admire more compared to those Victoria Secret angels, my wonderwomen, Hao Tian and Kate Kim Myung Joo. Why they so nice lah???

Knowing that I have such an odd fetish for Elmo, they baked me a beautiful Elmo birthday cake, bought me a beautiful Elmo helium balloon, which I currently let it sit on the edge of my bed.

Can you imagine my reaction when I walked into my surprise?? I actually cried profusely like a sad sad child. So they said, it was really depressing. I was actually hyperventilating. I had to give my thank you speech. It was sad as well, as I struggled to spill words of thanks in between irregular breathing periods. It was tormenting. Some of them found it funny, I now find it funny as well, but gentleman Kyle took my tears seriously. That man can be so amazingly funny sometimes.

My first birthday party. My first birthday celebration with friends. My first birthday surprise. My first birthday card from my friends. Joey, the weird double-jointed one, predicted correctly as he wrote in my card saying that he bet I will be crying when I read the card. Did I mention how badly I wanted to smack him in his ice-skating wound? He's still the best, despite the fact that he refused to say hi to me at the beginning of the semester. Yukari likes my smile? :) :D

What more I can say about my best man? My Elmo impersonator? Bought me some adorable Elmo bedroom slippers which eyes wobble around when I walk :)

This present was accompanied by a bad joke, though it was acceptable - one side for birthday, one side for Christmas. Okay, I get it. Still, thank you heaps ♥

I hope everyone will have an enjoyable winter break, Christmas holidays and New Year before we meet again. Oliver and Sangsupa are among those that I won't be meeting again but I really hope we can meet each other again. Oliverrrr :'( Such a great person. Great classmate too. Will miss him. Sangsupaaaaa :'( Why she so funny?? So naughty too. I will miss her :'(

Not to mention that I am flying to Minnesota in a few hours time to meet Amanda Panda!! My Elmo came from her :)

Till then~

Love,

happy Pei Ning

nothingness.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:06:55 PST

Don Omar by Danza Kuduro ft Lucenzo

Feeling of nothingness brought me here.

It is Thurday, November 24th 2011. It is Thanksgiving night in the United States. It is a holiday season.

Tomorrow, November 25th 2011 is Black Friday, the biggest shopping spree of the year in the United States. I am in my dorm room, all alone in my section, along with a hand full of a few others in the whole of Adirondack Hall, along with a few more others in all the other dorms of SUNY Plattsburgh, all minding our own business, trying to entertain ourselves while time passes by.

I had my laptop volume turned to the maximum, blasting music all the way, seeing that there is no one around to be disturbed by my extremely loud music. No one. Just me.

I am just waiting for time to pass. Dinner time. Bed time. For tomorrow I shall wake up extremely early in the morning, where some night owls will still be awake then. I shall wake up and get dressed; in my winter coat, in my winter fur boots. I shall walk out into the cold dry air, where white snow lingers, on the pavements, on the tree branches. I shall seize my chance and catch the shuttle that brings me to the crowd. The crowd, such a big contrast to the people left in my dormitory, for it is Black Friday. The crowd, too big that it is annoying. The crowd, unwanted. I shall walk into the mall, walk around aimlessly while i search for the best deals I can ever get. If all else fails, I shall walk home empty handed, for i am too late, for all the best deals are gone by the time i arrive.

Till then, I shall come home, all by myself again. I shall wait for time to pass again. Meal time. Bed time.

The next morning, I shall wake up to the same cycle, but this time, some of the people will begin to return. I will then meet up with some of my friends who will return. But till then, I will still be waiting.

I am waiting. I will still be waiting, for the best gift to return. Better than any gifts in the world for that gift is irreplaceable. That one and only.

Happy Thanksgiving lovelies ♥♥♥ :)

Toodleloo~

love,

evelyn

Trick or Treat!

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:54:26 PDT

Captains and Cruise Ships - Owl City

31st of October was Halloween. That was something that i know from coming to the US.

Yes. I did not know the exact date of Halloween before coming to the US. Just three weeks before Halloween, my RA began to put up some cool stuff decorations along our hallway

Well, there's still some in the bathroom...

Anyways, the highlight of Halloween was all about looking out for awesome costumes to put on for that big day. Well, for some girls, slutty and skimpy costumes despite the numbing cold weather out. Yes. People are this crazy in the US.

Being new here, I wasn't quite into the getting a costume thing. Plus, they cost quite some money and I have already exceeded my budget for the previous and present month. So no costume over there. We went to the mall to hunt for costumes though, and I took some pictures with the possible overpriced stuff that I would like to have.
Elmo for the most of it :)

Too bad Halloween falls on the Monday, or we get to stay up late and enjoy some of the candies that we harvested and chat all night long. It would be fun.

Four hours before heading out for Trick or Treat, I was still indecisive about what I was going to be. I was thinking maybe work on my formal outfit and be a school girl? Or just go straight out like that. It was down to three hours before and I had to get ready for my last class of the day, Critical Reading class with Bryan. When I was tying my hair up into a pony tail, I snapped out of the fog of indecisiveness and decided that I should tie my hair up into a pony tail that hangs down on the right side of my head. I shall be a little girl then!

"So any of you doing anything tonight? Trick or Treating maybe?" Bryan asked at the end of the class.

I went "ME! ME! ME!" Oh shucks, the typical me. Of course, flashing that brilliant smile of mine all the time while saying that and after.

(in fact i went "ME! ME! ME!" yesterday on a Networking event, so loudly that i won myself a nice pair of t-shirt. great job girl)

The moment my class ended, we headed straight out for Trick or Treating. In the dark, in the cold, merely relying on the dim street lights and the lights penetrating the sheer curtains of those houses, we walked the neighborhood Trick or Treating.

So, how would you know if the houses are available for Trick or Treating? Apparently, if the lights of the houses are on (the house is bright enough), they should be participating in Trick or Treating. Well, at least giving out candies for people like us.

So, how would you collect the candies?

Uncle Joey said,

"You can use your pillow case!"

True enough, it was more than enough to contain everything. The Halloween bucket that you can buy from Walmart or Target is not too bad as well. Some Halloween feel to it, but not quite practical if you were aiming to get a whole loads of candies *shakes head*

The whole Trick or Treating went extremely well. I was skipping around happily, feeling glad that I actually decided on being a small kid than anything else because I simply can be me! How easy that was! But most of all, I was kind of starving, deprived from food since the afternoon when I last ate a piece of garlic bread and some non-filling small slice of pizza. Algonquin Dining Hall's food sucks to the core. I swear it does.

Living up to the spirit and fun of Halloween,

Hahahaha...

Pei Ning

fire alarm!

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:30:35 PDT

Footprints in the Sand - Leona Lewis

first of all, sorry for the long hiatus. thanks to my English writing lecturer my writing spree has been severely damaged. the experience was not a pleasant one. i used to cry insanely many times over it, even just thinking about it makes me tear profusely. so many times that my eyes was puffy the entire Saturday. that is what you get when you have a crazy lecturer like mine, always laughing at her own jokes despite them having no humor content at all. weirdest laughter in the universe that makes her sound like she is having the most difficult time catching her breath and breathing. weirdest shit ever.

recently, the fire alarm has been going off very frequently. thanks to irresponsible Adirondack residents. of course people are pissed, including me. because of those people we had to leave our comfortable room, stopped everything we were doing and were left stranded out in the cold, possibly small drizzle as well. the experiences were not fun at all.

first, someone burnt the popcorn in the microwave. i still wonder how much more infinite human stupidity can be. by merely pressing on that "popcorn" button on that darn microwave, you can successfully cook your popcorns without taking the risk of burning the entire building down and possibly kill someone out of it. i still wonder what is so hard about that.

then the next day, it has to be our RD (residence director) to have that same evil intention of burning someone to death. it was so tragic. apparently she was trying to cook something in the beautiful extremely big apartment of hers and the oil had gotten way too hot that it started smoking like crazy. guess what? the entire hallway still stink despite the past of the incident two days ago.

yes, it is that bad. plus, you can imagine how bad the air ventilation is in this building. boo...

this post, obviously is a rant post. besides ranting about the fire alarm going off, of course i would like to add more about my english lecturer but right now i am controlling the flooding of my brain so as not to appear like a total bitch bitching about my lecturer. that will be so low (well i already sorta did at the beginning, oh wells).

pinkie promise the next post will be a happy one (insert smiley as you please)

love,

pei ning

words of art-

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:25:13 PDT

You Make Me Feel - Cobra Starship ft Sabi

"Love is the opposite of fear."

"The universe is our reflection."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"What God created, we fully destroyed it."

"It's time to wake up from hibernation."

"It's snowing in the desert, something is wrong."

"Profits was made from disaster."

"What would you do if you were you?"

"Who has the power? The money, people or the law?"

"We are in the midst of disaster."

"We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children."

"Reality is made out of 6 billion thoughts."

"Everything is nothing."

"We can be what we give ourselves the power to be."

"I doubt, i think, therefore i am."

"Wonder rather than doubt is the root of all wisdom."

"It is racist to erase racism."

food for thoughts. Sleep for now.

PeiNing *:)

momentarily;

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:48:01 PDT

Together - Ruben Studdard

this is a perfect song. perfect vocal. perfect song to drive the turbine of emotions. i get chills listening to this song every time without fail. i still wonder why doesn't he get famous after American Idol though

today, i realized, life can be so fragile. so vulnerable.

just two weeks back, my Critical Reading lecturer, Bryan, introduced me to this remarkable person, Wangari Maathai. at first, i was completely baffled by this new topic and this new person. she was introduced to me with such great impact that i was immediately impressed become envious of her achievements. she was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution in sustainable development, democracy and peace. she was well known for her Green Belt Movement that aims to create a better environment for our future generation.

today, i was devastated. i was flabbergasted to the news of her death. i felt that i have not enough time, to embrace her presence on this earth, to accept the fact that i am sharing this planet with such a great person who came out with so many great master ideas, so powerful, rhetorical and influential in her personality. just as she came into this earth silently, she left quietly, bringing with her nothing else, instead leaving back with us a great legacy.

September 25th, 2011 is when the world will mourn for the departure of another great soul, someone who made changes to the world.

"We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, instead, we borrowed from our children."

Something to think about.

An event that i attended, the Peace and Justice Conference lead by the Poetree. It was really inspiring and touching. The two women from Brooklyn, how they showed and taught me things that i never was aware of, things that i took for granted, things that i neglected. they reached out and touched my heart through the words from the poems they recited. the words, so powerful and strong that made me cry.

Vy, the vietnamese girl who was sitting beside me, criticized me for crying at their poem. "such a cry baby." she said. at the back of my head, i was thinking "Just because you don't understand or appreciate the poems, doesn't mean that i should not as well." I really thought she was shallow that time. yet, i took pity on her for missing out on such a great thing. it meant so much to me and i believe, their words touched many others in the events they had before and will have in the near future, and many other people around the world they travelled to. it was really overwhelming. the pieces of scraps containing messages by people all around the world that they sewed together to form long strips of cloth. the messages, so powerful with different messages of people of different skin color, different backgrounds, no stereotyping, no discrimination, just plain unity, humanity, all aiming for the common goal. people are brought together just by the strong faith and believe in something. it was incredible.

Of course, i wrote a message as well, hoping to inspire another soul or many others with my words.

from the bottom of my heart;

signing out, proceeding with the work i have in hand,

love,

evelynlee

white.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:51:53 PDT

Untouchable - Taylor Swift

I just had the most emotional hair clip search. And I admit- I am a very emotional person.

I came back from dinner, took out my laundry and somehow, i remembered that i had to look for my Plattsburgh special edition badge because i haven't seen it in a while. Then i began searching for my beloved white hair clip that i was using this morning because i simply want to use it.

i searched around my study desk, in the drawers and i couldn't find it anywhere. That was when i began to panic. I checked the trash can right beside my table but it wasn't there. Roommie told me she took the trash out this afternoon. I went out searching for it. Yes that was right. Rummaging through the rubbish in the hallway looking for my hair clip. I looked like a fool. Someone threw ice cream over my trash and it was so disgusting. There was some food crumbs, banana skin, loads of tissue, dust and hair. I looked through all of them. Still, I couldn't find it :(

I went back to my room to continue my search, but no matter how much and detailed i looked, it was all in vain. I broke down and cried. Even though it did not cost me a bomb getting that hair clip, that white thing was my favorite clip of all! I cried. I was sad. Someone walked away because i was acting all silly. Well, I treasure my things. That was why i care so much. That was why i cried :'(

I wrote "mourn for my white hair clip" on the board hanging on my door. I was sincerely sad.

Just when i was about to give up and "die", a short and sharp thought pierced through my sorrow like an arrow shot by an archer, i literally attacked my pyjamas which was folded neatly, lying on top my cupboard. I dug through the pocket and there it was!! I was overwhelmed with the joy of recovering my white hair clip. So overwhelmed that i cried. Much more than when i thought i lost it.

I guess right now, Tian and Myung Joo officially think that i am such a small kid, crying over my lost stuff, crying much more when i found it back. That's who i am. I still remember all the important things i have lost that i never recovered. Those that i still feel guilty and mourn about.

Anyways, drama all out.

Its over.

I found my white hair clip.

The End

emotionalLee

PAGE Zumbathon

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:26:00 PDT

Get Back (ASAP) - Alexandra Stan

Obviously, this was an on campus event. It happened yesterday night at 7pm at the ACC Ballroom. It was definitely a blast.

We had to purchase our rubber bracelet as our entrance fee from the sponsor group Alpha Sigma Phi at a minimum donation of $3 for keepsake and I have gotten me 4 beautiful glow sticks for $1 as well. It was a black light party Zumba style and the whole hall was like a club with loads of booty shaking, catchy music rhythm, zumba professionals leading on the stage, disco lights, cool DJ at the front. It was all good and fun. I had a damn good time, with the lights dimmed down, everyone just shaking their booties along with the rhythm, suddenly i wasn't quite self-conscious at all!!

This was a charity event of course. That was why I was willing to pay $3 for a rubber bracelet and everything else just to have fun and for the sake, in the name of charity. All the profits will benefit P.A.G.E. (Program for African Growth through Education), a non-profit group based in Plattsburgh. These funds will directly aid in the construction of schools and the purchase of school supplies in Burkina Faso, Africa.

I thought, why not spend a little money, a little time and have a whole loads of fun, meet awesome people, exercise for fitness, try out new thing, zumba, something i have not come across before yesterday. I was actually rather excited for this event! Despite having no one to accompany me to that event, i did not hesitate about attending it at all! I just went for it, alone. It is not what i usually do because i dislike being all alone and pathetic but it was a great experience. Little did i expect to see Sandu there. I wasn't close to her before, but we sort of got closer to each other just by attending that event. It was great!

Coming to the near end of the event, we had this Bollywood feel to the whole event where we did dance battle in groups and take it the zumba style. It was awesome. The whole time i was checking the watch for the time as i still had Stats homework due the next morning, but the urge to stay till the end was way stronger than going back to the dorm, all sad and unhealthy and pathetic to do my work. I would rather stay till the end, satisfied, confident and proud of myself for giving back to the community and dance like never before in public. That feeling was awesome. Well, the cliche saying would be 'work hard, play harder' and also another saying would be people who play hard are the most productive people around. Well, I couldn't agree with that more this time because I felt all hyped up for my work but crashed almost immediately after i finished it. It was as if i took an energy drink or something like the moment the energy drink stops putting effect, you just crashed like crazy immediately. I KO-ed, just relying on my own will power and the exercise i had in zumbathon. I have never felt anything better than I did after the event that night. I really loved it!

So, as i said, everything was conducted in the dark with glow sticks around everybody's wrists and necks and of course, UV lights around. It was really awesome. Those professionals can really shake their booties. I admit, it was my first day of period that day but i didn't care much. I just did what i had to do there, which is dance my heart out.

Here's a little picture taken by Sandu at the end of the event :)

See that glow sticks shining so brightly in the dark? Boo yeah!

That's my watch in another wrist. Yeah buddy!

Signing off feeling so tired, back to my best bed ever with my new memory foam and pillow, my comfy late night getaway where dreams are made of *:)

till the next time i update about tonight's event...

leepeining

the beauty.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:07:32 PDT

Con Te Partiro - Andrea Brocelli

It was so mesmerizingly hypnotizingly amazingly incredibly beautiful out there tonight. the scenery is just captivating. so picture perfect that i stopped my foot pace in the middle of the night on the dark pavement, cold and alone, just admiring the beauty.

the moon, so bright it appears, although not as round. mooncake festival is coming next Monday. the idea of not being able to celebrate this special festival this year with my family is just heart wrenching. reminiscing how we used to set up party tables outside in the car porch of our house, eating mooncakes, drinking Chinese tea, while the young ones will just play along with candles, fire and beautiful lanterns of different shapes.

it was then, the past, when there were children in the neighborhood. just almost every house will have beautiful lanterns and candles lighted up. the atmosphere was completely filled with warm and relaxed ambience. nothing to worry about. just the beauty of the Chinese tradition.

this year, i will be seeing the moon from a 180 degrees turn from where i came from, some place where my loved ones are waiting patiently for my return one day, somewhere a part of my heart will always remains, somewhere i call home.

just tonight, the moonlight was so bright it felt like a different day time. oh how it shines brilliantly in the midst of the dark blue sky where little stars are blinking adorably around it. oh how it dazzles me by hiding shyly behind the beautiful pine trees. oh how it compliments the white lights along the pavements. oh how it looks so perfect hanging above the beautiful red bricked building. oh how all the aforementioned combined is simply flabbergasting and fresh.

this is a sight that i have never came in contact with but one that i fell in love almost instantly the moment i lay eyes on it. completely overwhelmed.

till fall creeps a little more closer to me, before the winter comes, it will be extremely beautiful, with maple leaves all over the ground. in fact, i am already seeing some, little maple leaves outside my residence hall where there's maple trees and pine trees.

i bet it'll be beautiful. with some winter sonatas playing in the background, you will find me dancing along the campus with that little hoodie that i'll put on and my new blue canvas shoes. that little girl whose smile never gets old. the little girl that resides in me forever.

till the day comes,

i will be waiting.

love,

peining

ms inappropriate.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:02:28 PDT

Classical Radio

i do not know what is with my life that almost every single thing that i do, has to go wrong at some point.

and it has totally nothing to do with me!

it is like getting my mails or packages. others get theirs without much trouble, while i have to go through a whole bunch and more waiting before i get them.

or, my name doesn't seem to be on the list whereas everyone's is. whatever happened to my name when i submitted along with everyone else?

or, my stuff is always wrong when everyone has no problem with theirs.

why do i always have to do the extra steps to get things right?

it is like the probability of my things getting right is so low that i actually cheer with joy every time it does. can you imagine how tragic that is?

i am so sick of this.

extremely tired of it.

i get run over anyways, even though i am running away.

i am sorry i get emotional all the time. i am sorry i feel sad all the time. i am sorry i isolate myself when i do. i am sorry i act like a total freak in front of everybody. i am sorry i appear to be a weirdo to you. i am sorry i am forgettable. i am sorry i am not significant. i am sorry people don't appreciate me and the things i do. i am sorry. i will try to be invisible from now on so that i won't become such a nuisance to everyone's life. i am sorry i am causing you all the misery.

often, when i have cried to the point that i am exhausted and about to shut off?

i remind myself before i black out, that one more tear i shed, is one more tear closer to feeling alright again.

ning

disconnected.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:23:54 PDT

The Best You Never Had - Leona Lewis

home,

Somehow, whenever i log on to Facebook and enter the homepage, i feel like there's this boundary between my home, my friends back home, my life back home. As they talk about the most random things, even going to an island like Redang, i have this deep temptation to join them, mainly because i am not able to. Of course, you will understand how when you are interdicted or deliberately deprived from something that you crave for it badly.

Some people ask me if i am experiencing or have experienced any form of home sick feelings. My response? Simply stare at them with this completely clueless facial expression and shake my head.

Nope. Nothing. Nil.

No! It wasn't because i don't love home or not close to home or not family oriented. I am!

The wonders of technology has played a crucial role in bringing home closer to my heart despite me being more than 10,000 miles apart from home. I am literally on the opposite side of the earth, seeing that I am exactly 12 hours behind the Asia Pacific time zone.

Skyping with my parents when they are at home can be really comforting at times. With the occasional cuckoo sounds are just simply nostalgic. Just the sounds of those are enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Nevertheless, knowing that i am not the only one experiencing this, some may be even worse, the people in Plattsburgh, the ISS staff, the lecturers, the admin, the workers, the students etc. Literally everyone around me are so friendly and open. People around me are always smiling so cheerfully, wishing each other a great day ahead, asking each other about how their days went when they bump into each other. Whether this is an American thing or is everyone just so perfect and radiant i do not know. But, the positive aura here is just constantly exploding and renewing like nuclear energy.

Unlimited. Forever. Constantly. Never ending.

No reason to feel blue. No reason to feel depressed. As everyone's here for each other.

Furthermore, the amount of reading and work given just in the first two weeks are just overwhelming, leaving no room for emotions and procrastination. Just working the ass off.

Of course, not forgetting fun. Playing Mario Kart with them people are just fun. Kyle and Jeremy? They are just extremely friendly people you'll even get addicted to hanging out with them.

I love my roommate for we still maintain very good relationship and she really likes me. Hope this goes on of course. Need to clean the floor though heh...

Night is settling. Just in a few more hours the sun will come back up and take over the world.

Shall be heading to bed then. Will miss the playlist and the amazing headphones.

the hand dryer in the toilet is very scary. it triggers by itself even when there's no one there. lets just pray hard its just the screwed up machines inside or we'll have to call the ghostbusters.

Oh how i love my RA and how she jokes around. She reminds me of Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. Watch out for those amazing smiles!

Goodnight toodles!

evelynlpn

rain,

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:20:34 PDT

let silence sink in once in a while, that way, it'll get you to think
.

It has been raining all day long. The temperature had a rather but not quite drastic drop compared to Sunday. It is rather chilly outside, much more after the sun goes down. Actually, the sun never really came out from hiding behind the rain clouds. It was just there, behind them, giving out very faint light energy, just enough to make buildings 1 mile out visible.
Maybe it is taking a break. A break for Labor's Day.

The occasionally strong wind reminds me of the hurricane last weekend. As I struggled a little keeping the balance of my fragile and aged umbrella, i silently wished that i have brought a better umbrella over to the States.

I wore my new canvas shoes for the third time perhaps. The more steps i take across the pathway, across the roads of the parking lots, the more i take pity on my new shoes. As the front side of the pretty blue fabric turns darker when the rain drops splatter on it, water from the floor that bounces off along with my feet and lands gracefully on it, i silently wished that i didn't have to go through all of these with my precious little one.

It has been raining all day long. Maybe it is just nature taking pity on the students and lecturers and everybody in the university, or anyone outside of the university, for having to commence on our activities after the weekend, despite Labor's Day. Perhaps.

Bryan, my Critical Reading class lecturer, said something about the differences between work and job. Of course, Labor's Day is a day off of one's job; but it is certainly not the case for work. In fact, he looked forward to his work, hence, nods in agreement with the university's decision to not call a day off for this supposed to be a rest day for everyone.

A wise comment. A philosophical one.

While you think more about the content of my writing, or dozing off in the midst of it, i shall resume to my reading for Public Speaking class.

Or, grab some dinner if YeeJin comes by and knock on my door.

Till then~

leepeining

a new way. a new life.

noreply@blogger.com (Evelyn Lee Pei Ning) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:21:04 PDT

Come Round Soon - Sara Bareilles

Music comes into play when silence is deafening

I apologize for not updating my blog despite many eager readers, wanting to know what has become of me after I left Malaysia. I am sincerely sorry.

Well, I have been trying to adapt to this new life, more to finding a rhythm and trying to keep up with the pace of it. I love how there's increased opportunities for leisure, being all independent right now (not entirely true actually but i am certainly trying), breaking off my comfort zone, dipping my toe then submerge my entire body into the frozen lake (just a metaphor). And what's greatest is that my appetite has greatly increased ever since I set foot in the United States.

Well, everything here is big in the US, even my campus, it is big. I do have to speed walk about at least 10 - 15 minutes to reach the farthest building in my campus from my residence hall, which is the opposite end. Loads of non-deliberate exercise and you'll somehow grow fitter and gain some stamina because walking is inadvertent here. Hence, I have learnt the lesson of leaving at least half an hour to get ready to walk to class. Just in case there's a change of venue and you'll be so dead if you were to rush to class just to find a small notice pasted at the door notifying a change of venue.

It was a bad experience, for my first day of class. I thought class was at this building close to my residence hall so i took my own sweet time walking there. Then when i was smack in front of the entrance of Yokum, i recalled the email i read last night and there was a change of venue. I ransacked my bag through the things and checked my notebook once more. I felt myself turning pale as i stare at the new venue. It is almost 15 minutes walk from where i was. So i speed walked there due to time constraint and still had trouble looking for the classroom even in the building itself. That situation sucks a big time.

Listen - Beyonce Knowles

I am enrolled in 6 classes this semester. 15 credits in total. Still, i love critical reading class the most. Reason was because my lecturer, Bryan, reminds me a lot of Joe's class. The lecturer was bald as well, just like Joe. The way he conducts the class is also somewhat similar to Joe. Really relaxing. Plus, I love how there's always discussion and critical thinking involving when class in session. College Writing class, in the meanwhile, even though the syllabus is almost the same, but the lecturer, Marcia, is a very peculiar lady. Hence, her way of conducting the class is odd as well. Not quite my thing.

Psychological Statistics class is more to like Add Math in high school and Statistics in college. Very much the same. Still can cope with it so far. Hope things stays the same like that. Lecturer gives very clear explanation and examples as well though. Public Speaking lecturer gives me a hard time when she contradicts herself though. Saying that we can retain our accents because it is our roots, yet she commented on the way i'm pronouncing "say". And she said the right way to pronounce it is the American way since I'm in America now. the toot?

This first week is long. But so far, it has been good. Having I guess a funner class later, International Experience. If we were to pass the entrance test, we wouldn't have to take that class. But it is worth one credit, so I am going to take it anyways. Why? Because i am not a Japanese student. Somehow being Japanese, they have this thing against this class! Hahahaha... Many of them studied to make sure they pass the test to be exempted from this class. How adorable :)

When We Die - Bowling For Soup

I really love it when i get lucky and the door for the access to the performance grand is open. So far, I only got to play on it twice, but the experience was beyond describable. There's this feeling of satisfaction when my fingers run freely on it. The first time i did, I was overwhelmed with this particular feeling, which has got nothing to do with playing the piano, but the resonance of the sounds was in sync with my feelings and my eyes started to blur out and i cried. I was depressed that day. Hence, getting all emotional on the piano.

The rest of the upright pianos in John Myers Fine Arts Building were in terrible condition though.

The ones in the game rooms in residence halls Adirondack and Whiteface are just okay. Well, talking about pianos, i better get going and play myself some nice music before my next class.

Toodleloo~

Till then, folks.

Pei Ning