Countdown to Starting Work

Another long hiatus from blogging since I got back from Europe about 2 weeks ago. Getting rather tired of this whole blogging / facebooking / MSN-ing business, so haven't really been doing much of that recently. Guess, it's also about time to move on to the next phase in life and enter the work force for real. Another 7 days or so and the "freedom" would be over. Excited about it, but also apprehensive in a sense because of the uncertainty that lies ahead.

In any case, another 1 week to do whatever I have to / want to do. A little tired. Argh, if not for the darned stitches in my mouth (Oh, I pulled out the 2 wisdom teeth on the left, with one of them requiring surgery), I would go for a hard run now. Cool night air and a good run always works wonders. Oh well, maybe another day.

Home, For Real This Time

Hey everyone. Got back from my trip to Europe for a month with Val last Friday. It has been a really awesome trip and amazing experience. Breath-taking sights, good food, great laughs, unparalleled company. Never really thought that I would have the chance to actually go backpack Europe with the girl-of-my-dreams.

Been settling work stuff and also spending time at home, as well as sleeping off the jet lag for the past few days. As you can see, I'm still really nocturnal. Couldn't sleep and went for a run awhile ago to try to clear my head. I guess, telepathy really does work and got home to see a blinking message on my comp from Val. Glad I got to chat with her for a long time but felt really bad because she would be so exhausted on her first day of her internship tomorrow.

Anyways, still a fair bit on my mind, and sleep is eluding me. Have to be up in 2 and half hours time. Best of luck for the internship! To everyone else whom I've not kept in touch with for the past one month, my apologies; it was my last chance at abstinence from internet / facebook / chat programs for a long time (and a thankfully good break from it). I will be starting work in a couple of weeks time. Until then, buzz me or something to try to meet up ya?

I think, a little dose of Disney would help now... Had this song stuck in my head since the day we decided to visit Disneyland Paris.


Wilson
16 June 2008
4:25PM
Singapore

Short update

Been a long time since I last updated this blog. It's been more than a month since I started actually working full time and it has just been an absolute slug fest. Economies collapsing, shit piling up in inboxes, my new toy aka the blackberry, work, work and more work. Been really stretched on all fronts and it's really wearing me out, bit by bit.

Will push on. Take care and I hope all you guys are doing well. Give me a call or something if any of you, my friends, read this and want to catch up. No guarantees on times / days but I will try my best to.

Last but not least, thanks Val, my family, the gang for a really nice birthday. You guys make my day, everyday.

Final Days in Ann Arbor

And so, the day to bid my farewells is finally here. It's been a crazy last few weeks here. Some of the happiest, and saddest times here in Ann Arbor. Before I go into my rant (or hopefully before I go into my rant), I'll first pen down the events that have occurred in my last few days here...

4 May 2008, Sunday
Awoke early in the morning once again and bummed around for a little, clearing up stuff before heading to Argo Park for a kayak at 2pm. I signed up for the Barton Dam trip, the exact same one which I had done with Val barely 2 weeks ago. Being the only one on that trip, I hopped onto the minivan which took me to the kayak launch site at Barton Nature Reserve. As I paddled furiously down the river, I reflected on the past 3 years I've spent here in Michigan.

Like I've said in my previous posts, it has indeed, been a rollercoaster ride in life for me. Coming here sort of against the wishes of my parents, Pat's leaving, being sunk into a hell hole early junior year, and climbing back out, securing my job, making tons of friends, going on life-changing trips, a fair bit of partying (lately), and drinking (also lately), and lots of things Michigan. Words fail me as I try to think of how to summarize the 3 awesome years I have spent here in college. I am infinitely thankful to everyone that had made it possible, especially my parents and family. Extremely thankful for the turn of events that has brought a new someone into my life and a future to think about.

I shut my eyes as I paddled down stream, pausing occasionally to snap pictures, listening to the ducks quacking, the geese, and also little turtles sunbathing on a log. Spring is exceptionally awesome too since everything comes to life. I saw some ducks swimming across the river with baby ducklings in tow as I was kayaking past Gandy Dancer. That was so amazing... Had some wonderful times on this river, kayaking down with buddy Jianwei, and also a magical time out with Val. Going to miss it so much.

Val got back in the evening and finally got to spend a little time with her. Though much of it was spent running errands and packing up / moving stuff, still really glad to see her for a bit. As we concluded the night picking at the slice of chocolate moose cake which I had picked up at Whole Foods, I shut my eyes and counted my blessings for the moment.

5 May 2008, Monday
Went for an early morning run and had my favorite Subway for lunch. Met up with Val after to run more errands and ship stuff over to Duke, and also took a short trip to REI. Thought about some stuff while driving... Anyways, we went for a brief snack with her parents at Panera before I took my leave for the Grand Canyon final (for now) reunion. Picked up Brian and went over to Missy's new place for pizza and some beer. Cute little house, except for the lack of electricity. It was also then that I found out that the change in facebook status hadn't been as discreet as I thought it was and got quizzed somewhat by the bunch of them. Haha... Val arrived a little later and we sort of managed to avoid their intense quizzing for the most part. After Val left to go keep her parents company and to pack up, we messed around a little more at Missy's place before heading over to Dreyson's house (once again).

Beer Pong, drinking, laughing and just regular Grand Canyon madness. Gosh, I'm going to miss all of them so so much. One by one, they took their leave and with final hugs and goodbyes (after an extremely long night of Rockband on their XBOX360). I sent Mark, Brian and Michelle home before taking a short drive around central campus. Had some important stuff which wanted to say, but I guess... oh well, never mind, just didn't work out as planned. Headed over to the b-school for a bit, took some pictures went home. I went online and chatted briefly with some friends who were online but just had way too much on my mind. Went out once again and this time, for a long drive around campus and even north. Ann Arbor is really beautiful and quiet at night. Went into Starbucks at Washtenaw (sweet memories...), and got a hot chocolate for free since the barista took an awfully long time to prepare it. Drove around for a little more, to places where I frequented, before heading home to sleep...

6 March 2008, Tuesday
Woke up pretty early this morning and messed around a little before going to Mac to grab some breakfast for Val. Drove over to Lynn's place at Willow Tree where Val was going to leave her car to pick her up. Loaded all the luggages into Lynn's car and my car before sending Val and her parents over to the airport. Said our farewells for now before they walked into the terminal as I watched from my rearview mirror.

For the last and final time, zoomed into Detroit City to take some random pictures from the road. GM buildings, the old forgotten buildings which have not-so-long-ago been the pride and joy of the booming Motor City, now stood forgotten. Went over to Gallup Park to take in the sights one more time, and to AAA to end my insurance coverage and also to the union to settle bank account stuff.

Returned to my apartment for (my second most dreaded) part, which is packing up everything into my two suitcases. Didn't take all that long since most of the stuff had been shipped back already. Headed over to Outdoor Adventures Center (OAC) to bid farewell to Jeanette and to my surprise (and delight), Dreyson and Andrea were both there. Chatted with all of them for a little while before I had to leave. =( Really hope that our paths in life would cross once again in the near future.

Dinner at Asian Legend with Lucy 姐, Jack and Ming. Haven't seen them in forever and it was nice to have dinner with them before I leave. Memories of freshman year, when Ming and I went for our fall break trip to Toronto with all the Taiwanese grad student girls, with Lucy 姐 are still so fresh in my mind. Time has really flown past.

And so, my three years of undergraduate studies in Michigan is finally coming to an end. Departure back to the real world looms ahead. Much as I love Ann Arbor and would doubtlessly love to spend more time here, I know that at the end of the day, I still have to head out into the real world, where I'm no longer sheltered and comfortable like in Ann Arbor. As we all walk on in life, into the working world, to pursue higher education, or to chase our dreams, I know that there will always be this place, halfway around the world, that I can also call home.

Thank you everyone, thank you University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Take care all, and no matter what you do, or where you are, Go Blue.

Wilson
6 May 2008
7:00PM
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Last Weekend in Ann Arbor

It almost pains me to say this but entering the final weekend here in Ann Arbor makes me wish that time would stop, so that I can linger here for a little longer, and be with my friends and get to see my gal (when she returns) a little more Ann Arbor has certainly grown on me, from the quaint shops lining Kerrytown, to the "happening" Main Street, and the regular hangouts which I walk past on a daily basis on South University, every single place holds so much memories, some happy and some, not so magnificent. But they are all the little pieces that have formed the awesome Michigan Experience which I would not trade up for anything else in the world.

Spent Friday bumming around, walking around campus a little and went to REI's store opening (darn... why did they have to open only when I am leaving Ann Arbor!) to try to get free nalgene water bottles but apparently, people had camped out there overnight for the store opening, so that didn't materialize. Ming and I went for breakfast at Benny's and I went back to REI after to browse the backpacks and interesting stuff they sold there. Ming's dad and sis came over for the weekend, so we went over to his uncle's place at Novi to hang out for a bit and had dinner at Cherry Blossom in Novi. Decent food but after the two huge salmon steaks which I had to finish, I think I'm going to stay off salmon for quite a while. After dinner, we headed back to their house to play Guitar Hero and eat some home-made "Cold-stone" style ice-cream made by Juliana, Ming's cousin. Thanks for an awesome night! Haven't been back to their place since start of sophomore (or junior or I should just call it second) year, when we crashed in their basement upon our arrival in Michigan because our apartments wasn't ready until the following day. Thanks uncle and auntie!

Later that night, headed out to meet up with Mark, Brian and Michelle at Arbor Brewing Company, and we headed over to Vinology, which brought back sweet memories when I saw the same little corner table. Had some port, which was wine with pretty high alcohol content, and it tasted pretty awesome. Smelt kind of pungent with a very strong alcoholic sting, but tasted delicious. Took an early leave around 1am and hurried home to try to squeeze in an opportunity to chat with the gal in Memphis.

Saturday was pretty uneventful. I took out Sadako (probably for the last time) and went to Gallup Park to eat it. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining (thankfully during lunch hour), and with the ducks quacking, the birds chirping, and the huron river flowing by in front of me, it would have been perfect had I had the desired company. Nonetheless, one of my favorite eating spots in Ann Arbor. A lovely day out. In the evening, decided to grab my last burrito for awhile from Chipotle, my favorite Steak Fajita Burrito. Simply delicious!

With my laptop, trusty Nalgene, iPod and camera, I drove over to the business school as the sun was setting. Standing outside the business school building, it suddenly struck me how much I missed being here already. The executive residence, the flowers and trees blooming in the courtyard, the library where I had spent countless hours of my weekends in, my favorite study rooms in Sam Wyly hall, the classrooms E1310, E1540, E0540, the Tozzi lab and trading room, I missed every single one of them. Taking a slow walk around the building, I paused to take pictures and remember the great times that I've had in the b-school, and how lucky I was to have had the opportunity to pursue my undergraduate degree here. Without my friends around, the business school was oddly quiet and didn't seem the same anymore. It really is the people that make the difference.

After taking numerous pictures, I trudged up the spiral staircase into Sam Wyly hall, entering a study room facing out towards East University and holed myself in for possibly the last time. The feeling of burning a Saturday night in Wyly hall returned and it felt so familiar and comforting. The one place where you could be alone and not feel lonely. As I sat down, plugged in my computer and worked through our Europe travel plans, I felt completely at home and wished that time would pause for me to spend more time there. Had the chance to catch up with Jianwei who is now back home in Singapore, and realized that it has been way too long since I've had the chance to chat with a good friend. Thankfully, also chat with Val for a bit while working on the Europe hostel bookings, and am infinitely thankful for that, as always.

As everyone went offline, and people vacated the business school, I was probably the last person left there as I sat in my study room, listening to my favorite songs and looking out into the streets where drunk kids were shouting and laughing; just like how it always is when we are working on case studies and other kids are partying and getting drunk in the weekends. Finally pulled myself out of the room, turning off the lights and walking out into an empty business school. The lights had shut off automatically, and I walked out into the cold night, for the quiet drive back home.

Boy, do I miss Ann Arbor and my beloved Business School already... and of course, most of all, the girl who is on her way back here. =)

Wilson
4 May 2008
1:00PM
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Packing Up

The moving company sent an agent over to do the packing today around noon. Wrapped and boxed up most of my stuff, less the items which I would be carrying with me in my suitcases when I return to Singapore. Digging up the items in the huge storage boxes, and letters and cards sitting idle in my drawers, I reflect on the three years spent here and enter a daze of sorts.

Uncertainty awaits after I depart from Ann Arbor and enter the working world. Choices to be made, commitments to be upheld, and work which needs to be done. I wonder what awaits in the near future and start to worry about tomorrow. But also, snapping back into today and reality, I'm thankful for everything that I have. Definitely happy to count my lucky stars. Had a great time talking to Val today about stuff today. =) Thanks gal.

Going to go to bed soon (at an absurdly early hour). So, good night and take care everyone.

Wilson
2 May 2008
1:02AM
Ann Arbor, Michigan

A Penny For My Thoughts...

On second thoughts, I don't even know what to say, so forget it... Good night...