Just Go With It (photo post)

Hello everybody!

Today (or rather yesterday) I met up with my crazy, lovable, funky ALISON KOH SU-LIN! I missed her so much. Anyway, my brain is not really functioning at its best right now at 2:40 in the morning so I'm going to cut down on typing and just let the pictures do the talking ;-)

Ally and I :-)

Ron, Ally and Me 

Awww hug~

Here are some cool gifs we made! Lol they're all pretty awkward actually....

Till then, 

fang rong xx

You have to take the good with the bad.

2011 was indeed a roller-coaster. Not only was 2011 one of the best years of my life, it was easily the worst as well.

This year was tough. Schoolwork was a reason, being my nostalgic self was another. I am a really sentimental person and I live in the past more than in the present. But replaying memories in my head did me no good at all. I had my "emo phase" some time in July as I just couldn't move on from the 2010 memories. Desperately trying to make things return to the way they once were in 2010, I ended up confused and emotionally distraught.  I constantly found myself trying to identify who I was and my ultimate purpose in life. I questioned life and the need to go through what I was facing then. Had millions of H2H talks, cried buckets. As grueling as this year went, looking back at it now I actually feel accomplished and more mature. I grew not only mentally, but spiritually too. I discovered a lot about myself and I also managed to get over a lot of issues that once caused my sleepless nights. Well what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, no?

It's amazing how I managed to pull through this year. Of course, I couldn't have survived without the few people who were always there to give me moral support :-) I guess we are quite easily identified in school. The noisiest clique with the angmoh girl, always laughing like they own the whole school hmm? Unlike other cliques, we never had much to quarrel about, even though there were a few mini bickers here and there, they were quickly resolved. We laughed together, cried together, sang together, had fun together, went through tough times together. I honestly cannot imagine 2011 without them. I'd probably still be dwelling in my issues. It is a blessing when you have friends who know every flaw you possess and still love you for who you are. When you give them shit and they still give you their love and concern in return. When they give the best advice you can possibly expect from someone you only knew for a few years.

Another group of people I can never be more thankful for is my class. We're a really fun and noisy bunch :p They are the reason why I could bring myself to go to school everyday. Without them, school would have been a drag. We had haters, we had problems, we had disappointments. But somehow, we managed to be ever so positive and encouraging :') It's safe to say that we're one of the happiest classes in this level. Their company throughout this whole year was a sheer delight. There's just so much I can say about my class. I love you 3D minions! Special love to Kim, Ron, Sof, Lauren, Shing, Gab, Mae, Dwee and Jo ♥♥

So was 2011 a good year or not? 

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It was a mixed blessing.

Yeah, there were depressing moments and times when I just felt like giving up. But then, I also had people who were always behind me, supporting me. Not forgetting how they also made my 2011 amazing :-) And if it hadn't for those setbacks, I wouldn't have gotten to know them like how I know them now. Without those bad times, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the good times fully!





Alrighty till then,
fang rong xx

Took some photos of my adorable dogs!

In case you guys were wondering, these were taken with my iPhone 4s. I love the picture quality ^^

Euphoria

10/11/11-19/11/11

I spent these 9 days in Eastern Europe on a school trip called ROCs! These 9 days felt more like a dream to me instead of reality. Like wow, "It's finally here!!" Then it was over in a blink of an eye. Hehe anyway, we went to four cities namely Berlin, Leipzig, Prague and Krakow :-)


Day 1 - 11/11/11
As I was on the plane to Berlin, I looked out of the window and I was amazed at the beauty that I was witnessing. The view was stunning. The clouds were like the sea and the mountain tops were the tiny islands.

We landed in Berlin at around 7:45am and we begun with our busy itinerary for the day right from the airport! That feeling that I felt when I first stepped out of the airport into the coldness was so enchanting. It was 1 degree at that time :')

Our first stop was Romain-Rolland-School Berlin. We got to learn more about the German education system and youths. It was a pretty fun few hours in the school as we had a chance to attend one of their english lessons and we had a tour around the school! We also met new friendly German friends \(*^o^*)/

Time for lunch! Yumm yumm German sausages with fries :-)

After lunch we met with our specialist guide (I forgot his name..) and we went to the Jewish Berlin walk. We learnt about the Jews in the past and how they enriched the culture and economy. Berlin wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Stasi museum were some places we visited! We ended the afternoon with the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and Brandenburg Gate ^^

Day 2 - 12/11/11


Our first stop was the Reichstag......

Jumpshot with Ron!

History quick fact: The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany. It used to be the parliament from 1894 to 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire (27th February 1933). And that fire was pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany! 

We were allowed to enter the Reichstag and we went up this glass dome that was built on top of the Reichstag. We could see the entire Berlin from up there! A beautiful sight.

Next, we had a Jewish guide to explain to us more about the roles the Jews played over time and the rights of the Jews. We went to this park where there was a memorial of an event where the wives of the Jewish men staged a protest against the Nazis. Basically, these women wanted to help fight for their rights. Even though the protest wasn't successful, these women were remembered to be courageous and strong. This was also one of the first protests during the Nazi period. WOMEN PRIDE.

After that we had a brief visit to the Jewish museum. 

An aerial view of the museum

There are two buildings to this museum, the older and more fancy one and the more modern one. Quite cool right? We only spent about 45 minutes in there as we had to rush off to Leipzig in the afternoon. 

Had a big pork knuckle with potatoes for lunch.....it was pretty HUMUNGOUS!

Day 3 - 13/11/11

This was pretty much what I woke up to that morning. How stunning? European skies are different.

That morning, we went to Schumann's house to learn about his life and his works. We reached Schumann's house about 30 minutes earlier that we actually should so we were given time to take some photos at that beautiful garden :-)

Here's a gif of me throwing leaves ^^

Anyway after we finished a tour around Schumann's house, we had a mini concert featuring our very own talented pianists ;-) We were entertained for a good one hour with their melodious tunes!

German sausages for lunch again but whoop whoop it was good ^^ 

                                     

After lunch, we were free to explore Leipzig's Old Town Hall in our groups of fours! And do I even need to emphasize the beauty of Europe? 

  

We had a really long period of free time so my , we headed for dinner at a restaurant that used to be a train station! That restaurant also happened to give me food poisoning.... 

Chicken with potatoes topped with liquor sauce

I suspect it was the whipped cream in this apple strudel >:(

I went back to the hotel that day feeling completely beat and exhausted. At first I thought it was just because of the long day out but when I woke up the next morning, I was feeling way worse than the previous night. I felt queasy and really weak. As a result, I didn't eat anything for breakfast, lunch or dinner for that day. 

And I wasn't the only one who felt nauseous. Almost half of the group (35/69 people) fell sick and we all ended up puking really badly.

Day 4 - 14/11/11

This day was a rollercoaster for me. I felt horrible when I woke up but after I ate the vomit pills in the morning, I felt better momentarily. So I went ahead with the activities that were planned for me that day.

We visited Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre for a specially arranged talk and mini concert showcasing works by Mendolssohn and composers such as Bach and Schumann. Even before the concert begun, I couldn't take the queasiness anymore and therefore I left the room. I rested in the coffee lounge for an hour or so and I felt better again..

The next stop was *SHOPPING* at the Leipzig train station. Maybe it was just a girl thing, maybe it was the few hours of rest I had. But whatever it was, I was feeling great and ready to shop my ass off! 

It's a really big train station right?

Then came lunch. My body began to feel weird again. I lost my appetite and was nauseous. (I didn't take photos of the food because it didn't look good...LOL)

After lunch, we set off for Prague! Puked once at the petrol station during our 4-hour long ride to Prague.

Day 5 - 15/11/11

I basically spent the whole day in and out of the hospital. Thank God I had Ron with me :')

Day 6 - 16/11/11

We traveled to Krakow via coach for the whole of today!

Here's an awkward photo of me hehe

Day 7 - 17/11/11

We made a morning visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. It is remembered for the genocide that took place there in WWII. We went though the gas chambers and numerous blocks where we came face-to-face with the grim reminder of the darkness of man's heart, in a place where humanity gave way to brutality beyond out comprehension. 

I took a lot of photos whilst I was at the concentration camp so I'm just going to 'public' my facebook album for y'all to see the photos there haha :p http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150391555898237.362925.646998236&type=3

After this, we went to some really huuuge shopping mall for a few hours of shopping!! \(^0^)/

Day 8 - 18/11/11

Last day in Eastern Europe :'(

We spent the morning on a tour around Krakow! We visited the Jewish Quarters and learnt about the living conditions and the treatment of the Jews.

In the early afternoon, we went to Krakow's Old Town Square! We were given free time to shop for souvenirs and CHOCOLATES :3 It was an interesting experience, to be given the opportunity to walk around the Old Town Square and witness the Polish lifestyle and their cultures :-)

We then headed to the airport. This was it, the end of 8 amazing days. It indeed felt like a dream, so surreal! I still remember that feeling I had once I came out of the exam halls on the 10th of November. End of Chinese Os = Eastern Europe in a few hours!! These few days were easily the best few days of 2011.

Thanks papa for paying for my trip, without you, this trip wouldn't have been possible. Thanks for all the sacrifices and I love you. I couldn't be more grateful :')

Thanks mom for the love and concern you showered me with when I was sick in Prague. I wouldn't have pulled through positively without you. Being sick in a foreign country made me realize how important family is in my life.

Thanks ron for always being there for me throughout this entire trip even though I'm so annoying. Thanks for being understanding and for taking care of me when I was sick. You're the epitome of a good friend. Without you, ROCs would have sucked.

Thank you my sexy foursome and Backstreet Girls for the crazyass fun we had in Eastern Europe. Without you guys, ROCs would have been dull and boring. 

Thank you to all the teachers! Without you all, we would all be lost sheep in a foreign land. Thankss for being so understanding and caring. Mrs Chong, Mrs Chan, Mrs Ng, Ms Tsien and Mrs Chen.

Last but not least, Thank you God for blessing this trip. Without You, all this wouldn't have been possible.

I'm close to tears. 

Till then,

fang rong xx