This Christmas, I'm Spending It Alone

I just read Kenny Sia's latest post and the blog title matches my feeling precisely.

It's my first Christmas without celebration with my crazy peeps , no exchanging presents with each other, no party. I channel these activities into something else like sightseeing and skiing.

I'll be attending my housemate's family X'mas celebration on 27th Dec, and most of my friends are either travelling or busy partying with their local friends, it actually means that I'm really really free on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Since it's my first white christmas in Canada, I decided to start celebrating from the point of origin, which is my current living city-Vancouver.

However, it also means that I've more time to do photo hunting in Vancouver. Despite being here for almost 4 months, I daresay I haven fully discovered the entire Vancouver, there are much more attractions out there than those I've already set foot on. What I'm doing this holiday is to find some nice places to chill out and take more pictures ( of the scenery and also myself, I promise). It's only when I'm with myself that I can scrutinize the surrounding and myself.

I've been sick for a few days, therefore not really in the best condition to travel far.Also because of this,I'm keeping my schedule to 1-to-2-day trip within Vancouver and the rest based on my condition on that particular day, I must ensure that the sickness does not worsen.

To be honest, I never think that spending christmas alone must be lonely and only a thing lonely souls would do. Hmm, not when I'm in a foreign country which has so many attractions and activities to offer, I can just hop on and off the bus and randomly stopby some nice streets or simply spend a day out to enhance my cultural and historical knowledge of the country.

I realised I've done a lot of self-travelling this year, especially in Japan and Canada, I'm glad that I accomplished something new in my life, and discovered another form of satisfaction and gain through travelling individually, forcing myself to go beyond limits when needed. I believe I'm mentally braver and becoming a better decision-maker this year, keep confronting hurdles on my own.I used to be very indecisive and I really dislike that part of me. Knowing that it's difficult to varnish its existence, I'm just trying to improve on it. Of course, it doesn't mean that I'm super challenging myself and keep forcing myself to go over undesired characteristics, but I believe if I could change to become a better self and it's within my capability of doing it, why not improve myself ? I wouldn't go for the idea of tolerating all my good,moderate or evil traits forever,comforting myself that it's ok to repeat mistakes which can be prevented, but a slight change as maturity increases gradually would be preferred.

I went to Downtown yesterday to take a peak at the Christmas decorations. Walked past 7-8 streets I suppose, but the weather was comfortable for a long walk, a little freezing and snowing but it was all good. Most of the stores were on sale, unfortunately I was not in a shopping mood that day, so I spent most of my time walking and looking for nice views to capture them down. It started snowing on my way back to the bus stop, I was overjoyed for my first white christmas in life finally came true.


(More pictures uploaded on Facebook)

It's my second Christmas without him.I'm still alright, standing here though, with a calmer mind and steady heart. I hope that he is enjoying his christmas and new year.=)

*El, do what that makes you happy,as your rain storm ends earlier with a happier life.Win and I are always where we are, supporting you in a different way. Cheer up!*

If you were wondering that I only speak to myself during holidays, you can diminish your worries on me,friends.I've also planned a few outings with my Canadian friends during regular days,that makes my holiday not lonely at all to be honest. =) I might be going out for countdown with friends since they're free at that time.

Have a warm Christmas everyone !

Skiing

I went skiing at Grouse Mountain with my friends 2 days ago.I had been far longing for this day to come,being my first skiing experience in life.



Although I'm a totally beginner to kick-off in this sport, I can assure myself that it would be so much fun despite the lack of skiing skills because I've always enjoyed snow. I went to rent a ski pants the day before since I expected myself to fall at least 10 times for a new sport like this.

I was right.



Skiing was difficult to a first timer like me. It was nothing like ice-skating, where you could still hold on to the wall at the side for balancing, I had to make good use of the poles to balance myself. Another exhausting thing about skiing was that I needed to carry the ski all the way up and put them on before sliding down again.It only took me 5 seconds to slide down and fall, but 5 minutes to climb up the hill, which could be really tiring after a few attempts.

On the other hand, my friends tried snowboarding. It seemed to be easier, but I might underestimate the underlying challenge of snowboarding as well, since I have not gotten my hands on them yet. I only concentrated on skiing for the first time.



After a few rounds of warm-ups and practises, we decided to challenge ourselves to move to a steeper hill, where we could get a peak of the Vancouver night view. Considering my skiing skills, I wasn't tempted at the idea initially. However, I failed to stick to my thought and followed the majority who were all so excited about the night view.

Well, just fall all the way down while enjoying the spectacular scene. Perhaps it could be a joy sitting on the snow watching the view , I thought.

" It's a long long journey......."

I was one of the few ones who were far left behind, but it didn't bother me much. I wouldn't give up until I reach the end.

"So I went down a slope after a slope, a slope after a slope, a slope after a slope, a slope after a slope...."

How many times have I mentioned the slope? I even lost count myself because I couldn't see the end after passing so many slopes, this was certainly no joke. I started to get tired as I spent half the time skiing and another half walking with the skis and poles clutched on my arms. There was no turning back, because it meant to be a tougher path to climb up than going downhill.



It was far exceeded the 1.5 km I was told for sure, and the steepness was nothing I could handle as a new skier.There were times where I just sat down and rested while enjoying the snowy atmosphere.I smiled to myself, for the courage in me to take on this challenge, since I was the only girl among the group of us who went skiing/snowboarding. The rests of my partners used up their energy as well.What made matters worse was the freezing air that deteriorated our determination.So we supported and encouraged each other throughout the entire journey.

One thing that kept me going on was the attractive night view, with all lights brightened up the city. It was really tranquilizing.



I believe every city has its side of beauty, which is differently defined by all of us.To me, the beauty of Vancouver is its tranquilizing effect and stress-free environment. I need not to hold my handbag tight 24/7 while I'm in the crowd; I receive smiley faces from people everyday. I enjoy living in this friendly community where I can fully relax myself outside school. Yea, I'm actually glad I'm in Vancouver, despite some rate it as a dull and boring city.

Finally after an hour plus, I reached the end and took the cable car up to the mountain where our point of origin was.I was urged to yell out loud as I just unleashed my mind power subconsciously to achieve something which seemed to be unattainable to me.

I just realised the guy side of me, which could be so strong and determined. I dislike being treated like I'm a fussy girl in which everyone has to tolerate and take special care of me due to my gender,and I always believe in equal sharing and support.



19.12.08 was such a special day, I just coloured my personal experiences with something new and adventurous.

My friend asked me if I were to try on skiing the next time.

Definitely. There are 3 more Winters for me to improve on it!!

To fart or not to fart?

I'm in the midst of finals, just finished my 2nd paper so far, and I have 3 more papers to go. Anyway, that's not the point of it. As I was revising for my Biology final exam, one of the question asked about humans farting and cow's farting. To find out the answer, I started clicking around and browsing through websites to look for additional information, which then drenched me into a few new fun facts about farting.

Incidents about how people fart in lift annoys you is a dull-enough story to be told. It doesn't matter where farting takes place, as long as it's in a small crowded space, I'm sure all of us will be well informed about the presence of this "nonverbal" message quick enough. Strange enough, I usually burst into laughter when I find out the person who just farted.Depending on my strength with his/her relationship, I only poke it out when the person is my closest, because then only we'll be clickable enough to react on it in our usual humorous ways.

So,here was the result of my tiny research:

• On average, a fart is composed of about 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 4 percent oxygen. Less than 1 percent of their makeup is what makes farts stink.
• The temperature of a fart at time of creation is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Farts have been clocked at a speed of 10 feet per second.
• A person produces about half a liter of farts a day.
• Women fart as much as men.
• The gas that makes your farts stink is hydrogen sulfide. The more sulfur rich your diet, the more your farts will stink. Some foods that cause really smelly farts include: beans, cabbage, cheese, soda and eggs.
• Most people pass gas about 14 times a day.

14 TIMES?? 14 TIMES?? 14 TIMES??

Despite global warming is also caused by farting cows and sheeps, it never really comes across my mind that this little poo-poo in our daily lives will have the power to contribute to greenhouse gasses. So what should we do then?Should we fart it and waste it, or burp it and taste it?

In New Zealand, there are actually researches to investigate methane-free sheep. That's poor thing though, maybe sheeps and cows shouldn't be made to fart out methane gas, to save all the troubles after all.

WHY IS THERE 13 TO 20 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN FARTING AND THE TIME IT STARTS TO SMELL?

Actually, the fart stinks immediately upon emergency, but it takes several seconds for the odor to travel to the farther's nostrils.If farts could travel at the speed of sound,we would smell them instantly, at the same time we hear them.

This fact entertains me even more, in a way it means that I've to listen to farts instead of smelling them to begin my escapism, since I have less than half a minute to react on it.

IS IT TRUE THAT PEOPLE NEVER FART?

No, not if they're alive. People even fart shortly after death.

Bwahahahahahahaha. Perhaps when one dies, nothing should be left with her. What entertains me more is the thought that the last thing we actually leave on the earth is fart, out of all the things, this is quite an unexpected answer for me to welcome it.

DO MEN'S FART SMELL WORSE THAN WOMEN?

Scientific studies of farts show that women's farts have higher concentration of odor-causing gases than men's fart, but men's fart have a larger volume.The two factors equalize out, so the odor is about the same.

There are much more interesting underlying facts about farts (http://www.heptune.com/farts.html), something I would barely be aware yet it is so close to my life.Well, it's no harm knowing the gas my body is excreting after all.

Mugging time !

My life as a full time book mugger officially begins as I'm off for a study week since last Friday.I'm just glad that I've completed all the lectures and am able to keep myself to most of the lectures so far. Having said that, I will need to focus intensively on Calculus since it's my weakest subject for now. I just can't help but to keep traumatizing myself of how I'll end up staying for a summer course in Vancouver next year if I fail it. So, this is the time I prove to myself that it must not happen.

Dear friends, I really appreciate your trust and the confidence you guys injected to me, when I have uncertainty on my ability to excel. I never really worry working on things individually, keep trying it out until I level up my satisfaction if more time were given to me. It's just saddening when reality clashes with my ideal learning way, I start to qualm. You guys are just being extremely nice to believe on my ability.

Please please, work harder PM!!

On the other hand, I went on my first movie outing in Canada last Friday, for the recently-most-discussed film " Twilight". I'll withhold comments on this movie, but I can sense the fever is heating up here, when I was accompanying my friend to get the books, there were about 3 people getting the full book collection at the same time, I mean, 3 sets of books were sold off within my 15-minute- stay at Chapters.

Alright, I'm going to take a break and resume studying later.=) Take care everyone !