Snow!

Not that I was anticipating it, but it snowed last night, and again today! The campus was white and beautiful.

Was thinking about how each snowflake is structurally different from another, just like each unique individual.

"If I'm unique and you're unique,
what's so unique about it?"


Ever truly reflected from God's perpective?

Special, and unique...in His eyes, and held in His hands. That makes a world of a difference.


"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices." - Psalm 37:7

gRacE =)

TsingTao, QingDao, 青岛

Week 2 here in PKU, mid term break just over for NUS and NTU. Headache.

Yupz, mama and I have safely returned from TsingTao after 3-4 days. Thank God!
















Let me begin from our train ride at Peking Station.

For those of you who are not aware, there are 3 classes available for train rides in China. The soft and hard berth, and the hard seat. Having slept in the soft berth on our last China trip to and fro Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, mama and I decided to give the hard berth a try.

We got the cheapest upper berth for privacy sake.

Yupz, it is amazing. First it is a challenge to climb up from the lower berth, via the middle berth to reach the top, then you can't sit upright in the upper berth! What an experience! Mama and I spent the first ten minutes laughing so hard, those passengers below us must have thought we were nuts.

Day One

Upon arrival at TsingTao, we headed off to the nearest beach.






























After much persuasion from a middle-aged woman, whom mama spent some time talking to about her son who's studying in Peking, we boarded a ferry for a coastal tour.
















This is 栈桥，TsingTao's symbol and what you see on the TsingTao beer can.
















Up on 信号山














Hmm, huge banners along the road said that if we didn't visit the TsingTao Underwater World, we couldn't say that we've been to TsingTao. And so it was - 100rmb per person.












































Underwater world was OK, but I was quite upset by the way they kept the seals and penguins in the 海兽馆. Sigh.


Day Two

I think the guide said this sculpture was called "The Wind in May". Famous, so take lor...but couldn't find more info in my guidebook about it.
















崂山, the Mount Lao range, was known by the ancient Chinese as the "Premier Famous Mountain on the Sea". Its main peak is about 1132m above sea level, and it is one of the main cradles of Taoism.






























Random pics @ night.

Tsingtao's known for its seafood, both fresh and dried. Erm, but it's still cheaper in Singapore...
















Shopping district where we stayed. Mac is everywhere in China!!!
















Catholic church built by the Germans in 1934.




















Aha...we love strawberries!





















Day Three

Off we went to 黄岛，a 开发区 of TsingTao.
(Can someone translate that for me??)

Yupz, it's beaches and seafood again.































On our return train ride, we were in the soft berth.




















No more laughters, but a very happy and contented mama. =)

gRacE...zzzzzzzz......

Off to TsingTao

乒乓球的灵魂在于速度；球有如一道白色的闪电。

It's amusing, how people curiously ask if I''m unwell whenever I close my eyes to say grace. =)


Ok people, exactly at ten tonight, mama and I will set off on a train to TsingTao. We will return on Monday morning. Please pray for our safety. Duo xie duo xie!

At this very moment, all I know about TsingTao is this:
















Till the next time,

gRacE ;)

Grading System

Relaxing day.

What kind of grading system do you prefer?
60% examination and 40% for quizzes, presentations and discussions?
No examination, with the entire percentage from report papers and class participation?

The Chinese students from my South East Asian Culture class opted for 100% Examination.


My Mongolian roomie is back!!!

gRacE =)

Mama and Her Love for PKU's food

Due to the high concern and demand of uncles and aunties asking about my grandmother, the following's gonna be about Her Royal Highness.

Peking University is a food haven for my grandmother. Every other day, she craves for ...

Pork and Yam Dumplings
Mind you, not one or two dumplings, but she took TWELVE for one meal. That cost about 3.5rmb = S$0.60.

and

Fried Chicken Drumsticks
These are considered ex to the locals, at 4rmb each, but mama keeps saying that meat is important, it helps to keep one full and the body warm... So it's meat meat meat everyday. Mama says when she return to Singapore, she's gonna turn vegetarian for a while. ;)

Hmm, food aside, she has also been writing and re-writing her song lyrics while I am at class. Diligent eh...

Erm, weather wise, it is still the winter season here, but mama thinks it's a lot better than when we were here in December. I guess it's also a lot of getting used to...

Hmmmm...what else do you want to know about mama??? I take good care of her ok, so any other enquiries or if you have words to convey to her, feel free to email me.

Just a final note, mama intends to return in May or even earlier! Ha...my exchange here's really becoming a holiday! So yupz...anyone wanna come please take leave yar...

Alright, time for makan again...

gRacE =)

Tsing Hua University

Hello whoever is reading my blog...I can't believe it, I can't READ my own blog!!! You see, access has been blocked. Sigh, which also means...Julia, Pei Ting, Dith, Daniel...blah blah...I have no clue what's going on in your lives if you don't talk to me!!! Oh well...















Last Saturday, all the Singaporean students were invited over to Tsing Hua University for dinner. Our head chef was from HCJC (there are soooo many of them here!), and he whipped up dishes and dessert for a hearty gathering.















Among the exchange students present,
6 were from NUS Law;
2 from NUS FASS - Chinese;
2 from NUS Engineering;
1 from NUS Business;
1 from NUS School of Design & Envt
and...
erm, 1 from NTU Comm Studies.


School has officially started yesterday.

What I thought was Desktop Publishing turned out to be entirely on BOOK Publishing, and I couldn't figure out what the lecturer was talking about...accent and content-wise.
Thankfully, the 2nd class that I attended - China Cultural History, to replace Selected Topics in Humanities, was oh-so-interesting! One subject fixed. Yeah!

Day Two - Yes, I finally got my internet access and my food card ( Additional 15% charge if you pay by cash here). Aha...and I enrolled in a self-defence course. Wheeeee! The instructor made us gather and she shouted commands like "Li Zheng!" and "Xiang Hou Zhuan!" Culture shock ok...I must have looked the silliest trying to figure out where to turn, how to stand and when to stop moving. Blah.

Mama attended the course on International Relations and South Asia Security with me at night. Amazing...she slept through more than half the class. I AM NOT TAKING IT. Yikes.

Ok...Back to the hotel...

God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1

...gRacE =)

THANKSGIVING!


I am determined to stop whining. So, my deepest apologies to those few unfortunate ones who ran into me on MSN. Yes, please do keep praying for me, but life will get better. Hooray! ;)

My first entry’s gonna be all about thanksgiving! Yupz…here goes!

Family
First off, to my dearest father, uncles, aunties and cousins. Thank you for the fantabulous dinner at Alexandra Village! I truly felt the warmth of family as I looked at each of you, and while there weren’t tearful goodbyes or touching words, I know I’ve been blessed.















To Uncle Kok Beng and Aunty CC: Thank you for the laptop. I’d be severely handicapped without it.

To Uncle David and Aunty Merin: Thank you for the backpack. It’s of excellent use.

To Uncle Alson and Aunty Diana: Thank you for the fund tranfer. Money…practical need for survival!

To Uncle Desmond and Aunty Ruby: Thank you for the camera. Helps keep my blog interesting!

To Daddy, Aunty Li Hua, Aunty Mary, Aunty June, Uncle Jay, Uncle Ron and Aunty Agnes: Thank you for your prayers and concern!

To my cousins! Miss you all. Thanks for all the smiles that you girls and guys bring to me!

While mama may not get to read this in English, no words can express how grateful I am that she’s here physically with me. Thank God for her.
















Ok, next. Church peeps! Thank you for taking time off for the farewell lunch at AV (again… =P ). Especially to Ellysha who will be returning to Korea in March. Dear friend, I’ve been blessed by you!
















Airport

Finally…to the airport! . Aha…I didn’t cry!!! Cheers…! Well, not till I got on the plane ;) Every single one…thank you for coming.

Thanks Tim, mere words really do not suffice.















Thanks May, for the photo frame, and of course the photo of 2 beauties inside! Haha…















Thanks Julia, for the letter and tissue (ok, will keep a look out for cuties for YOU!) Ah,
thank your mum too! Will savour her laksa when I come back! Or…erm…can she come in July and cook for us? Hee, kidding!
















Thanks Watson for all the technical support! Can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks’ time!

Thanks Chong Kai for calling! Was so so glad to hear a familiar voice.

Thanks SQ for both letters and memory verses. Week 1: Thanksgiving! That’s precisely what I am doing now! Thank God for you.

Thanks Dith for calling, and Cynthia for your email. Rmbr to update me about meow and a*b*e*! ;)

Argh, I have so many more people to thank!
Xiao di, Leow, Ernest, Wendy…
Hmm, hope I didn’t miss out anyone…















Last but not least, thank you Lord Jesus for placing me here. It’s been rough, but Jehovah Shamma – You are here! Jehovah Jireh – You are my Provider. I am praying for God’s strength and empowerment each day. =) Woohoo…and somebody’s gonna go through 40dop with me! Praise God!

Till the next time peeps…stay tuned!
















... gRacE =)