A good change

Someone told me an interesting fact last time, she said people generally change when they fall in love. Well, I think that’s reasonable since you’re not alone now, you can’t act impulsively based on your preference purely. So then you have to cater the need of your partner and crack your head to please them.



I’ve witnessed this phenomenon indeed; I’ve seen how my friends change over the time after starting a relationship. I don’t meet up with them as often, mailbox seems to be rather quiet, friends forget their promises occasionally and you see your name appears lesser and lesser on their blog. Then you start questioning yourself, is it your friends who change or is it you who stays the same?

I’m not sure but I just see how friendship starts to fade out a little when a new relationship creeps in. Because nothing stays the same forever, friendship itself will go through several stages as we grow older. We used to spend a lot of time together with our peeps last time, that’s how we define intimacy and a friendship’s strength. However, as time passes by, we may be occupied with other things and our time commitment for each other starts to go on a downhill. Then it gets worse when we start dating and be in a relationship. Just admit it, friends won’t think of you as much as they did before when they have boy/girlfriend and even if they told you that they never change, you know they’re just trying their best to lie to you.



You know they’ve changed when they don’t do what they have done for you in the past. You know when the first few things they tell you is always about their boy/girlfriend, and it makes you feel as if you’ve known their boy/girlfriend for a very long time after every conversation. When you update them about your life, they suddenly feel guilty and apologize.They say, “I’m sorry for being such a bad friend, I never care enough for you”.

Meanwhile, I also understand that if a relationship can’t change a person towards a more loving and caring one, then that is actually a failure. To be a loving and caring person, time spent on each other is the golden key.But that doesn’t mean that we can’t keep up with our friends, it’s just that we’ve changed another way to keep in touch with them. We don’t spend as much time together anymore, but a ‘take care’ or 'miss you' simply means more than anything else. A friendship’s strength is not measured by the time commitment we have for each other, but it’s measured by the love and blessings we have for them in times of separation. It’s not about the sadness which arises when we haven’t been talking for months, it’s about the excitement I feel when they update me occasionally.



Yeap, adjusting your schedule and lifestyle is just a must-change thing in life, so there’s nothing much for you guys to feel bad about, because I know at some point in my life, my friends will have their own lives to be busy with, and also a more important person for them to take care of.At this time,my responsibility as a friend is to compromise with the lack of updates and time spent with them.Also, I'm supposed to give them my full blessings and.... learn more about their boy/girlfriends through our conversations probably.

Don’t have to comfort me by saying that you won’t change, because changing your attitudes when you are in a relationship can be positive. It may turn you from hot-tempered to patient, from impulsive to careful, from a self-centered person to a considerate person.

If I can understand the reason for your sudden change, then you don’t have to deny it at all, since it may be a good thing.



And one day, when you suddenly think of me, just remember that I’m always at the point where I’m staying all the time, watching and haunting you guys, hohohoho!

楽しい夏

3 weeks of summer felt like 3 months, probably it was because that I went out almost everyday for the past three weeks, that’s why everyday seemed to be happening to me. I’ve never gone out that frequent before since I came to Vancouver, there would usually be a reason for me to stay in the dorm last time,if it was not because of assignments, then midterms would be the bomb. Since I’m only taking 1 course this summer, it’s undoubtedly the best time for me to hang out now.

Summer course is a little rushing and intensive considering the amount of materials to grasp within 6 weeks, but that does not make me stay in the dorm for any longer. Okay, I admit I feel slightly bad when I see my friends who are studying so hard for Chemistry when I don’t, but I also understand that I’m just not a person like that. I enjoy the thrill and freshness of studying everything when I’ve fully conditioned myself into studying mood.I know when to do it and how to make it work for me.

No, I’m not a genius, but I’m an efficient ‘camera’. I actually found out my good memory skills a few years ago, when I could write out the whole page of history like how it appeared in the textbook, and I can remember my 16-digit credit card number after looking at it for once. Those things are like photo after photo in my head, and I can actually decide the period of remembering it (long term or short term). I don’t know if you get what I mean, but there’s actually a difference in memorizing things for short term or long term purpose, so you have to decide it before you start remembering things.

For instance, if I just intend to remember some concepts for an exam which will take place on the next day, I will remember the keyword of the sentence and then read the sentence for a few times. If a question which is related to the keyword appears on the exam, I’ll first remember the keyword, and then within a few minutes, the rest of the sentence will just pop out automatically and I can link it with the keyword again. However,90% of these materials will go into trashcan after the exam.

If you want to remember something for a long term, then you may have to start memorizing it a few days earlier and ‘sing ‘ it to yourself everyday just to remind yourself about it. Ask yourself a few concepts everyday and then have all the answers ready in your head. Eventually, all the materials will appear like a nice song on the examination day. Also,70% of these materials will be locked up in your brain for a few years and it will become so familiar to you after that, just like a habit.

Ok, end of my secret sharing. Share with you guys something else next time.

To do things in summer.

I’ve recently outlined a list of to-do-things when I go back home, which is actually a combination of my interests as well as my family and friends’ interests. This year, I want to keep up with my past promises to my friends and fulfill them one by one.My life is never alone and they’re always part of everything I do.

So here’s how the list goes:
1.Learn “Viva La Vida” and “Apologize” on piano. Improve my skills and play with my friend one day.
2. Learn guitar and play “晴天” on guitar.
3.Cook a proper meal for my family especially my parents.
4. Cook for Atlee GG.
5.Think of a surprise gift for Lian’s birthday.
6.Have my very first road trip with the old buddies and enjoy myself to the maximum.
7.Celebrate Val’s 21st and splurge a summer trip with her.
8.Work and save money to visit Susie.
9.Shop till I drop, and bring some back for my fellow buddies in Vancouver.
10.Enjoy myself with the three kids at home.
11.Find Lawrence Tan and witness that night view on the hill which he has been talking about all the time.
12. Some clubbing and drinking time with old buddies, I want to go to the “Library” and "Quattro".
13.Take 1 level of Japanese class and go ‘ a i u e o’ again.
14. Continue with my Giddens-ing. His books are surprisingly good and very addictive.



Lastly, learn to forgive and forget and then drop down all the unhappy memories in the past. Surprisingly, I'm coping with my recent life pretty well, while forgoing the depressing ones. I think, life is worth breaking down and then being overwhelmed with truckload of good things after that,if that's for us to appreciate our life even more.

Most importantly, I actually learned a thing from there:

‘不是每一次的对不起都可以换来一句没关系’

I was totally bummed out a few months ago, but then I took it as a process of growing up and learning more about myself. Eventually, the people around me back me up a lot and gave me tremendous strength to keep me going on with my life. Also I gave a second thought on my life, the things that I’m already given and those that I’m not belong to. If everything is about opportunity cost, then I’ve surely paid for it already. Except for some post-syndromes after the breakdown, everything else happened in a good way, in terms of some healthy updates from friends and family in exchange for a failure. Friends who are fully recovered from illnesses, friends who are doing good in their studies, friends who’ve just found the right one and my eldest sister who’s now pregnant, what’s more better than that?

I’m glad that the storm happened on me in exchange for all the good things which occurred to the people around me. These things bring me up to the surface again where sun can be seen.

And me? I’ll continue to keep myself on the right track, as usual. I don’t dissolve myself in depression forever, and I will ignite the depression and make it disappear from my life, together with all the memories as well.Just get lost!

Yoshhh, wait for me,home!

简简单单的幸福

那天，我一口气做了三碗鸡肉井饭(Chicken Katsu Don)给我的两位朋友吃，觉得超有成就感的！！成就感源自于这张照片，有种看上去就很好吃的感觉。

呵呵，原来我也有点烹饪的天份呐！！

当初想学好烹饪只是想取悦一个人，想试试看亲手煮一餐给对方吃。后来学好后却开始发现好像已经没这个机会了，因为对方从来就不需要这种关心跟这碗Don的温暖。不过也因为这样而造福了身边的朋友，因为不想辜负自己的努力，所以一旦有机会我就会很用心地煮给身边的朋友吃，心想把温暖都传播给他们也许会更好呢！每次看见他们开心的表情，我心里都会觉得暖暖的。

嗯，连Don也要我乖，叫我别再等他了，它也希望会被懂得欣赏的人吃到呢！

我也觉得这样傻傻地等待很笨很可笑很不应该，所以之后的之后，我就渐渐地把心机都放在烹饪身上，并在这段时间里学了一些我从来就没想过会学会的食谱，像是日式煎饼跟白果薏米糖水，并从中获得了很大的成就感。原来，就这样简简单单的填抱肚子也是很幸福的。原来幸福啊，还是会留给容易知足的人。

看看哪天再煮给宝贝们吃吧，我好期待我们明天的牛扒大餐喔!

不合照的关系

中学时期认识了一位朋友，她跟我是邻居，同学，兼死党的关系。起初我们并没什么交流，因为那时她的中文不好，我的英文也很烂，一直到后来我们一起走路上学的时候，才渐渐变成知己。我们无废话不谈，还曾经发过同样的噩梦，那时还困扰了我们很久。想起来，我还曾经帮她那只超凶的德国犬抓过狗骚。她也会逼我看恐怖电影，总是要一起被吓着才甘愿的那种。也因为这样，我们还一起创下30多小时不睡觉的记录。

是的，我们在一起的时间总是既疯狂又好笑。

奇怪的是，我们从来都不曾合照过，也只有在团体照中才会找到我们的身影。
我曾经问过她，“你就那么讨厌拍照吗，拍多一些照留念不好吗？”
她总是说拍照很无聊，拍那么多也没用，所以收个几张团体照留念就好，因为大家都在里头。

一直到2年前，她要到纽西兰深造的时候，我们一班朋友约出来为她践行。她还是一如常往的疯狂，选了一部恐怖片当作离开前吓死大家的回忆。

她走的那一天，我还记得是情人节。原本就打算要送机的我，那天却几乎都在厕所里渡过。也不知是吃错了什么药，泻得双腿发软。狂飙冷汗的时候还收到她的简讯说要走了，而我却只能无能为力地在厕所里祝福她。

结果，我们还是没办法拍张两个人的合照。

后来，在机缘下认识了另外一位朋友，我们是同班同组的同学，有段日子几乎每天都会见到对方，也因此慢慢演变成无话不谈的麻吉。

认识了很久，以为自己了解对方很多，可是我们也从来没拍过张合照，反而团体照倒是不少。每一次被问起要不要一起合照的时候，他都会微笑地拒绝，或是换过来帮我拍独照。虽然我也觉得很奇妙，但我没再把同样的疑惑表现出来，心想也许他就像中学时的她一样，只是单纯地不喜欢被捕捉在镜头下。况且他很喜欢摄影，也许喜欢摄影的人都喜欢捕捉别人的表情，而不是框住自己的回忆。

他跟她不一样，不会跟我做些疯狂的事情，也不会逼我看恐怖电影。但，他们也都有一个共同点，就是很喜欢自创makan day，到外面吃些超好吃的东西然后又一副很幸福的表情。某程度上，他跟她都是同类，而备受牵连的就是这位跟他们不同类的我。

而这些年来，我们就一直存在于这种既熟又不完全熟也没照片为凭的关系。可是，我却从来都不会忘记他们的存在，也常会毫不客气地开对方玩笑。后来我好像开始能够融入这一种不拍照的友情，也开始了解这种友情背后无比坚固的原因。虽然两年多没见，可是我跟她Skype的次数却是最多。就算隔多久的时间没聊天，一旦开始聊起也丝毫不会有尴尬的氛围。

原来，我们照的不是照片，而是烙印在彼此脑海里一点又一点的回忆。看似无聊，看似疯狂，却又非常的难忘。也许，你们要我把心当作照相机，多制造些回忆来保鲜我们的友情。

原来，这世界也还有这样的一种关系，这一种不一起合照却又不会忘记对方的好朋友。

Biking round 2

Thanks to the big big sun, first two weeks of my summer went incredibly well.
Thanks to the big big sun, I can finally wear shorts and skirts out, oh yeah!!!

To me, one of the must-do-things during summer in Vancouver is definitely biking, which is why I went biking for twice in 2 consecutive weeks. I love Stanley Park and biking around it is an absolute enjoyment to me.



This time, 4 of us went together and not to forget the baby dog Chrona. Ok, apparently she has a surname too, which is Kuo, just like my Pluto Chong. This baby has become my new buddy and she’s super nice to hug when you’re cold. I mean, she’s super nice to play with too!!!

Too bad she’s gonna leave soon, following her owner to the States in July.



I’ve only biked thrice at Stanley Park.

First time with the speedy Snail, and he was running all the way.( I know it’s kind of ironic, but Snail actually can run faster than a human like me, Snail is just an adjective, speedy is the noun.)
Second time with Eu,WX and the gang, and Eu was walking all the way.
Third time with Isis,Wayne and Codey, and Wayne was roller blading all the way.

I wonder why not everyone bikes also, since biking is so nice there. So, I’m going to walk the whole park next time also, just to understand the reason behind it (Yes Eu, I’m gonna WALK!).


Life has been wonderful with the excess free time, right bunch of people and weather, and not forgetting a sunny mood inside.

Remember the experiment I told you guys last month?

I think it works, provided that you work your promise. I’ve been telling myself that I’m good for 3 times daily, but I’m not hypnotizing myself just by saying that 3 words, I’m actually doing things to make myself feel good. I utilize my free time in making myself blissful. I think, if you wish someone to be happy, then you should first start with yourself, because happiness is contagious, it can be spread on quickly.

Yeah. This year’s summer will never look the same.

Chinese

I’ve been hanging out a lot with some Taiwanese and Chinese friends lately and that makes me realize the difference between the levels of our Mandarin proficiency.Why? Because I’m so used to speaking Rojak language, I like to add a few English words in between my mandarin sentences since young. Everyone besides me seems to be fine with the way I speak, so I never bother to even figure out the Chinese words of those English words.

Until recently, I noticed this habit has become a minor problem of mine. I realized I can’t express myself spontaneously in complete chinese sentences.

For instance, I was cooking for my friends yesterday and I mentioned out the ingredients verbally. I said:
我需要洋葱，蒜，青葱，soy sauce，鸡胸肉，麻油，corn starch…..

And then I paused for a while to think of the chinese word of corn starch.
玉蜀黍粉？Hmmm, that’s not it… what’s corn starch in Chinese then?
After much hesitation,I decided to ask my friend what corn starch in Mandarin is and she told me 太白粉！

太白粉….I never knew that!!!!

This is just a typical situation I’m confronting though, I’ve learnt more Chinese words everytime I’m with them, because the way we speak Mandarin is just so different. It’s like I hardly say 机车 to describe people who’re annoying and ostentatious, and I usually use串 instead. Also I don’t say 屌 but I say 酷.

Hehe, it seems like I’ve to cope with listening these words from now onwards, while improving my Chinese simultaneously.

Share with you one word that I’ve just learnt from Isis-断袖分桃. ^.^ Have fun figuring it out, lol.

Too sad to come back to UBC

I’ve been enjoying my time with friends so much that I feel sad to start school tomorrow. I spent 4 nights with Isis and what I did in the past week wasn’t very productive and it was nothing more than biking, movies and girls talk with her. Apparently we also created this foursome movie gang (with Isis, Wayne and not forgetting the baby dog Chrona) whereby we watch movies together at night. Frankly, I haven’t been feeling this comfortable in a while and I suppose that’s a refreshing start for my first summer in Vancouver.

Thank you friends.


We tried on the tandem bike. Fun but shocking was all I can say since the wind was so strong that day. An accident nearly happened to us when we were biking along Stanley park, there was a small tree trunk which was just within 3m when it fell down from the rock.

I think that was the only time I biked so fast and screamed for so long.
PHEWWW. Thank god we’re still here.

^.^ Alright, enough about some surprise, summer school will start tomorrow at 9 a.m.

I know what you're thinking, having class at 9 a.m for 6 weeks must be very boring, but I can do it. Dekimasu! See you guys in K.L 6 weeks later.

Oops

I know I haven't been doing a good job in catching up with you guys recently. Finals were officially ended and I'm now having a short 10-day break right before summer school starts.

Although it's break now, I feel Like I'm even more exhausted than those times when I was cramming my head with all the book knowledge. But trust me, it all happens in a good way as I'm having heaps of fun with my friends everyday.

WX is leaving in a short while, I'm going to cook for her before she leaves.

Dear 许可欣，

My second year in dorm was really great because of you and Eu.Both of you've turned 2614 into a lovely unit and I feel like I'm going back home everytime I step in our dorm. It feels so friendly and intimate and saves me the worry to be anxious about undesired housemates like how it happened in my first year. Words are beyond description and I sincerely hope that you feel it through my daily concerns and actions. Thank you for making it a good and memorable one!

Have a safe trip back and come to K.L okay!! Lol, I can go to Miri anyway.=P