I know that this is not the best way to start of my college life here, but perhaps you'll understand after I reveal to you exactly how I have spent the past 2 days here.
Wednesday-Walked 30 min to get to downtown for a relatively more decent meal and 30 min to get back to the room.
Sat in car for 40 min from 11 onwards for lack of a better place to hang out(everything apart from the hospital's a&e dept is closed(on second thoughts, that might be closed as well)).
Thursday-Woke up at 930.
Looked for a place to have brunch at at 11. Most shops were still closed. Substandard sandwich which I did not finish.
Went back to bed from 12 to 3pm
Played squash from 3 to 5pm
Typed out inane blog entry at 706pm
Shall go to have pizza for dinner at 8pm
Ok, fine I saw a wild fox running through the grounds as I was walking back from downtown last night and it was really quite magnificent. One silver lining in the oppressive cloud that I fear might be iub. But I'm saving judgment for after the whole rhythm of school kicks in.
Oh and people are quite nice.
p.s. I'm singaporean, not korean damnnit!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Why We Love the Irish
I was walking down Fisherman's wharf today and saw this letter hanging at the window of an Irish gift shop. Hilarious much =)
Dear Son,
Just a few lines to let you know I'm still alive. I'm writing this letter slowly because I know you can't read fast. We are all doing very well.
You won't recognise the house when you get home - we have moved. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen within 20 miles from your home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last Irish family that lived here took the house numbers when they moved so that they wouldn't have to change their address.
This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine. I'm not sure it works so well though: last week I put a load in and pulled the chain and haven't seen them since.
Your father's got a really good job now. He's got 500 men under him. He's cutting the grass at the cemetery.
Your sister Mary had a baby this morning but I haven't found out if it's a boy or a girl, so I don't know whether you are an auntie or an uncle.
Your brother Tom is still in the army. He's only been there a short while and they've already made him a court martial!
Your Uncle Patrick drowned last week in a vat of whiskey in the Dublin Brewery. Some of his workmates tried to save him but he fought them off bravely. They cremated him and it took three days to put out the fire.
I'm sorry to say that your cousin Seamus was arrested while riding his bicycle last week. They are charging him with dope peddling.
I went to the doctor on Thursday and your father went with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and told me not to talk for ten minutes. Your father offered to buy it from him.
The weather isn't bad here. It only rained twice this week, first for three days and then for four days. Monday was so windy one of the chickens laid the same egg four times.
We had a letter from the under-taker. He said if the last payment on your Grandmother's plot wasn't paid in seven days, up she comes.
About that coat you wanted me to send you, your Uncle Stanley said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.
John locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because it took him two hours to get me and your father out.
Three of your friends went off a bridge in a pick-up truck. Ralph was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.
There isn't much more news at this time. Nothing much has happened.
Your loving Mum
P.S. I was going to send you some money but I had already sealed the envelope.
Dear Son,
Just a few lines to let you know I'm still alive. I'm writing this letter slowly because I know you can't read fast. We are all doing very well.
You won't recognise the house when you get home - we have moved. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen within 20 miles from your home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last Irish family that lived here took the house numbers when they moved so that they wouldn't have to change their address.
This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine. I'm not sure it works so well though: last week I put a load in and pulled the chain and haven't seen them since.
Your father's got a really good job now. He's got 500 men under him. He's cutting the grass at the cemetery.
Your sister Mary had a baby this morning but I haven't found out if it's a boy or a girl, so I don't know whether you are an auntie or an uncle.
Your brother Tom is still in the army. He's only been there a short while and they've already made him a court martial!
Your Uncle Patrick drowned last week in a vat of whiskey in the Dublin Brewery. Some of his workmates tried to save him but he fought them off bravely. They cremated him and it took three days to put out the fire.
I'm sorry to say that your cousin Seamus was arrested while riding his bicycle last week. They are charging him with dope peddling.
I went to the doctor on Thursday and your father went with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and told me not to talk for ten minutes. Your father offered to buy it from him.
The weather isn't bad here. It only rained twice this week, first for three days and then for four days. Monday was so windy one of the chickens laid the same egg four times.
We had a letter from the under-taker. He said if the last payment on your Grandmother's plot wasn't paid in seven days, up she comes.
About that coat you wanted me to send you, your Uncle Stanley said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.
John locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because it took him two hours to get me and your father out.
Three of your friends went off a bridge in a pick-up truck. Ralph was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.
There isn't much more news at this time. Nothing much has happened.
Your loving Mum
P.S. I was going to send you some money but I had already sealed the envelope.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Woohoo!
The parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here the parentals are here! And I'm broke no more =)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
More Of
At this very kerb, I learnt my very first lesson in this country. People here are very direct. VERY. Don't feel insulted then, when they offend your finer asian tendencies. Boo. They're still generally good at heart though, and try their best to help you when you do need help.
The Palace of The Legion of Honour was well worth the trek down to the other end of the island. Paintings, sculptures, Trojan amphorae, decorative art. I'm not about to bore you with the details of the exhibits and my uneducated opinions on them, so here are the pictures!
One thing I cannot help noticing though. The eyes. Look at the eyes of the saint in the painting and of the boy that is the sculpture.
Haunting isn't it? Just looking at the photo makes my hair stand.
Now it just wouldn't do to end of this post like that won't it? So, say hello to the double chin! Oh and I'm sorry Liang but when I saw this amphora I couldn't help but draw certain parallels.
on a side note, banana republic here doesn't have the invisible socks.=( I did however, get a pair of loafer socks. No more olfactory assaults when wearing the blue pair of deck shoes!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
More of Francisco
The route for today: Bryant Street-The Embarcadero-Valleyjo Street-Montgomery Street-Grant Ave-Filbert Street-Coit Tower-Greenwich Street-Powell Street-Lombard Street-Hyde Street-Jefferson Street-The Embarcadero-Bayside Village.
Highest Point Reached: 485 Feet.
San Francisco is really THE Hilly City. Having walked a total of 12 or so km today, I am praying very hard that all the walking on highly irregular terrain is helping me stay in shape and burn calories.
Damn sad. Taking a self-shot because I'm alllll byyy myyselllf.
On another note, the mac's coming soon! =)
Monday, August 4, 2008
San Francisco oh oh oh oh.
You've got to love the city of San Francisco. The weather, the waterfront, the gelato and the restaurants, woohoo! I had as well, my first taste of Korean food. Imagine having to travel 9000 miles just to have Korean down in Oakland. Goodness. But it was oh-so-good!
The Farmers' Market down by the ferry terminal was amazing as well. Never have i seen such a large variety of tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, pluots, plums and berries. It's currently peach and tomato season here in California, so as you might be able to imagine, it's quite a piece of peachylicious heaven here.
Off to a great start- The folks at united decided to upgrade me to business on the narita-sf leg of my flight! God bless their souls. The sky was gorgeous, but due to the insane brightness and my not-so-competent camera taking skills, you can't see that here.
The Farmers' Market down by the ferry terminal was amazing as well. Never have i seen such a large variety of tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, pluots, plums and berries. It's currently peach and tomato season here in California, so as you might be able to imagine, it's quite a piece of peachylicious heaven here.
Off to a great start- The folks at united decided to upgrade me to business on the narita-sf leg of my flight! God bless their souls. The sky was gorgeous, but due to the insane brightness and my not-so-competent camera taking skills, you can't see that here.
The highly generous brother is indeed most knowledgeable when it comes to wining and dining(and some, fine, many other things of course). We went for dinner at One Market on the second night and may I say, the food was nothing short of excellent. The wood-grilled lamb that I had, brilliant. Together with the 2005 Tudor Pinot Noir, the restaurant earned my instant patronage! More importantly, it has the approval of the folks behind the Michelin stars as well. Located at the junction between The Embarcadero and Market Street, One Market is a must must go.
Photos from the Farmers' Market that goes on at the ferry terminal building every weekend. So, what goes on here is that the farmers from all over California gather on saturdays to sell their produce, and with California being the home of the hippie-movement and organic farming, the produce is fantastically fresh and yummy!(jamie you'd love it)=)
Lastly, look at what I found at the counter of one of the oyster bars at the ferry terminal. Pretty funny much. Oh, but the shop has pretty decent ahi tuna poke.
p.s. dear all who sent me off at the airport, thank you so so much for the thought and gesture. Even my granny didn't send me off=p The book was an amazing parting gift and I believe I almost shed a tear as I was looking at it on the plane.
Oh, the places you'll go.
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