I guess its customary for people overseas to blog about their experiences, so here goes!!

I've been here for around 3 weeks now, and finally I've decided to force myself to come up with an entry. Its been packed to the max past few weeks of settling in, travelling around, road trips, and lessons. Have definitely been shopping here, AHH the shopping here is sooo good.

School here is very much different from back in Singapore and I guess living here for purposes other than travel has, may I put, made me even more aware of how caged and controlled we are in Singapore. Here, liberal ideas, creativity and openness is appreciated and not put down. There is room for appreciation of the arts, music, culture and even the sub-culture like the hippies. I've learnt to appreciate this alot whilst here. Since I am here, I wanted to take modules that would really broaden and challenge me in my ideas. Haha but my values and beliefs still stand, of course. Taking a religion class was indeed something interesting. We have a room full of people who believe in different religions, and of course not forgetting those who openly proclaim that they are atheist. Now, I understand how Americans find it tough to be a strong christian, or even to belive strongly in a particular religion, because the opposition and the mocking is sure to come. Perhaps this is due to the strong individualistic nature of Americans.

Being here makes me appreciate as well as dislike the asian culture, kind of paradoxical but true. There's plus and minuses I guess. Appreciative of the fact that people are not afraid to voice their ideas, and not afriad or ashamed to be who they are. I have students in my class who unashamedly admit that they are single parents and have kids while studying to complete their degree. Teenage pregnancy is like so real, and things are obviously so liberal around here that even the prof talks about sex almost every lesson and scolds the f** word occasionally. If a teenager were to be pregnant in Singapore, she would probably be stigmatized for the rest of her life. Not that I condone teenage pregnancy, but I mean the fact that it would ruin the rest of her life and her life cannot go on as per normal anymore saddens me.

rights that's quite abit for a first post in Berkeley. Anyway, have been visiting all the various places of interest, enjoying the sights and sounds of Berkeley and San Francisco, and that said, I WILL MISS BERKELEY SOOO MUCH!!! walking down haste street and along telegraph avenue and having bagels to go for breakfast!! heh will update more soon.

nights peeps! here's one or two pictures, just for fun. :D



UCB campus
( peeek tures!  )

Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

the line between individuality and conformity.
to what extent do we keep our individual uniqueness, seemingly but yet completely aware that if we dont conform, we're regarded as deviant, different, and not adhereing to the social norms?

to keep our individuality we may be thought of as stubborn, weird and having an 'attitude problem', of saying that, 'that's just me.'
and to keep conforming to the society's standards, of whats in and whats not, are we, more and more losing our unique-ness, and just blending in into the crowd? 

If you have the time; check this out. :) a talk by Bono on his call to fight for social justice, and end poverty, hunger, and disease in Africa

woke up and took a morning jog to clear my mind.

the importance of words. the words we use reflect the type of person we are, and determine the pre-conceptions other people have of us. words can make or break a relationship, and has the power to hurt as well as uplift another. the need to choose the words we use wisely.

lately i've been guilty over several instances of using the wrong words to express what i feel/think, maybe becuse i couldn't find the right words that fit. misunderstandings and over blown-up situations. events that i didn't want or expect to happen. perhaps some things cant always be explained with words. but then, silence can also be a killer.  

sometimes its just hard to explain. requires understanding and patience, and knocking out of our own little worlds and putting our mind and feet in another's shoes to understand the problem; whole.


find things to thank God for. thank You, for putting me through 2008.

This song has been making my days :)

Joy unspeakable that wont go away
In just enough strength to live for the day
So i'll never have to worry what tomorrow would bring
Cause my faith is on solid rock!

with God, we can.
exams are starting next week already! which means holidays are too. hah.

righty, back to studying Durkheim! my fav classical social theorist.

the ideal vs the will. soceity imposes the ideal way of living/being on individuals. when there's holes in the ideal; the state, it causes the will of individuals to be unleashed ---> causes chaos ---> people cannot integrate into society ---> leading to suicide. HAHA.

the world is going to change.

have you wondered how it'd be like if your parents read your blog?