1. I love music - classical music, jazz, blues, bossa nova, some pop, little rock, a little alternative... nothing metal nor trance. I'm not a big fan of rap/hip hop. It's imperative for me that someone likes the same music as I do. Things would not be pretty otherwise.

2. I'm an incredible home person. It's true. I absolutely love to spend time at home with my family.

3. I'm predictable and boring. But I love to travel. I love to try crazy things like sky diving (not base jumping!!), paragliding...

4. I can devote my life to playing the piano and learning languages. I'm currently spending my summer dabbling in music, learning French... ignoring German a little. ;)

5. I love cities, but would really like to go to some place less developed. On my list are some countries in Asia, and going to other exotic places like South America and Antarctica. I definitely HAVE to go to Antarctica. It's one of my must-dos before I die things.

I want to be with someone that none of my friends know.

This way, I don't have to live up to anyone else's expectations. I never had to, but I always end up having to.

A close friend's celebrating his girlfriend's birthday this week. I think this distance is doing me good; I'm far away from my close, best friends but it's the distance that brings us together. I care more about their lives. Anyway. What he's planning to do is so damn romantic no guy has ever done that for me before which probably shows the quality of guys I date.

That said, I retract my earlier remark. I do miss home a bit. I miss my family. My bed. I miss the ones I love. I miss my best, close friends. Although someone is telling me not to miss home and take this as a break. And I awfully hate how I missed the first F1 Grand Prix.

Plans are to travel with XY for a week in December, then she will fly back from London. I'm flying a week after, and have no idea what I'm going to do then. I'm scared of spending the time alone; Christmas with XY, that's awesome, but New Year's Eve? Then maybe it isn't so bad; last New Year's Eve was spent in Manhattan counting down with a million other people, so it probably should be fitting that this New Year's Eve will be spent alone. I'd imagine myself reading a book, and, when the clock strikes 12, go to the nearest window and wish for 2009 to be as amazing as 2008 was.

I can't believe earlier this year, I spent 8 months of my life slogging and working until 2, 3AM. Dinners were at 2AM. I skipped lunches sometimes. Work was my whole life. Now, I have all the time in the world. And you get a bit apprehensive as to how you should spend your time. You have no idea how calm and at peace I feel here; back home it's always about deadlines, about dealing with people.

I know decisions will have to be made once I fly back home. Sometimes, before I sleep, I think of all the conversations I will have back home. But I'm not afraid. I've decided already actually. You could ask me now and it wouldn't change four months later. Just so you know, all my decisions proved to be right so far.

You know, with all my time, I've been dreaming of the future. Some people have dreams to marry someone rich and live comfortably, but I've been brought up a little differently so I dream about making my own money, and drive my own destiny. Mom always says "Find someone who loves you more than you do him", but that's impossible. I always, always love the person more than he does me. Otherwise it just doesn't work for me. I wonder how it's like to have someone who loves you more?

Earlier in August with Mom's crazy idea I wrote down 21 characteristics that I look for in a guy. Sounds intimidating huh. Funny thing is, my best friend came out tops but I don't like him, and then I rated someone whom I was dating then and realised that his score was much lower. It goes to show that the heart doesn't always follow your head huh.

An incredibly long post, but I'm unfortunately feeling the effects of having a long afternoon nap. Going back to sleep now. I'm out!

Labels: living in switzerland, reflections

Here for pictures and travelling posts.

Here for my thoughts, cos not everyone should access them right.

Life here has been good. I'm adjusting well; classes are okay (I hope) and the weather is good (winter go away!). The people here are friendly and fine. What else?

I don't miss home. Not one bit. Not yet, anyway. I do miss my cow Howard, a bit. I'm used to seeing him lazing on my bed and now when I look at my bed it's just my friendly blanket.

I got a sore throat yesterday, went to the pharmacy (Apotheke in German if you will) and got ridiculously expensive lozenges (CHF 12 for 24 lozenges). Thankfully, they DO work. Hallelujah! But now I'm down with a nasty cough and itchy throat. Seems like I got it from someone, although how I don't know.

Living and studying overseas is a sure novelty, and it really gets you to be independent. What I love is the tremendous amount of time you can have to yourself. You do whatever you want to your room (mine is often in a mess), you cook whenever you want, study whenever you want, go out whenever you want. But of course all in moderation. Perhaps the novelty might wear off after a while, but living in this country has been nothing short of fantastic. The standard here is way beyond anything; they're all so patient, and even someone as impatient as me, well, I also learn to be patient.

They're polite too. A bit reserved, but still friendly (ironic huh). And they're PUNCTUAL. Never in my life have I been more punctual than now, when everything follows the Swiss clock and timing. I think my friends in S.ingapore will agree that I have always been late in ALL our appointments (natural S.ingaporean behaviour). But they're punctual. Their trains are awesome - frequent, and to many places. The pace is slower than S.ingapore's; but that doesn't mean that people here aren't hardworking; they are, they're hardworking AND smart.

Which brings me to the following point: I don't want to go home. Really. I know S.ingapore food is cheap and good, and obviously the food here is different and not as spicy/good as back home, but I'll trade char kway teow for heaven any day.

It's worth it. Really.

Labels: living in switzerland

Genève

Everything happens for a reason.

*

From the script of When Harry Met Sally;

An old couple on a loveseat.

WOMAN
What happened was I went to the movies. A matinee of "It Happened One Night." And just as the scene where Claudette Colbert hikes up her skirt to get a ride, the projector broke. If that projector did not break then, I would never have been on the 3:13 trolley heading home, which I was, and who should sit next to me but my friend Louise. She says to me, let's go get an ice cream soda at Walgreen's. We always went to Walgreen's. So we get there, we sit down at the counter and I say, let me have a black and white, that's a chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream, and you know what the guy says to me? We're out of vanilla ice cream. How can you be out of vanilla ice cream? So Louise says, order something else, but my heart is set on a black and white. So we go over to Armstrong-Shroeder, where you should know I never went in my whole life before or since. So there we are, drinking my black and white, when who should walk in but my brother's friend Stanley, who's just bought a new car. A Deusenberg, he tells me, come to the street and see it. So there I am, looking at the car, when who should come up but this handsome man --
(indicating the Older Man beside her)
-- who says, "That's a beauty, what kind is it?" A Deusenberg, I tell him.
(beat)
So if it wasn't for a broken projector, I would be sitting here talking to you alone.

MAN
I was just walking down the street.

Labels: living in switzerland, men

I wish when it's winter it'd be cold so I can hold you as we walk together, for many mornings and nights.

Cos all I want is someone to hold; someone who can be true to me, and someone who's happy to have me and not go around shopping for someone else.

Labels: living in switzerland, men

The world spins around us; but we're held constant by time. So what? Time stops for us alone in this moment, and I'm locked deeply with you.

*

I linger outside your door for what feels like the longest time.

After all, there's no harm trying right?

My finger reaches to press your bell, then retracts. How odd, and how weird you'd find me if you were to open your door now.

I look at what's in my hand, then, with resolution, press the bell.

I hear a few steps, and you open the door.

Labels: living in switzerland, men

zurich, switzerland
today

Labels: living in switzerland, summer

I think you disappoint sometimes.

Sometimes, you go beyond your usual nice-ness. That's when I feel touched, and loved.

Yesterday, my whole heart was glowing because you made me so happy.

But sometimes, I feel like I give more than you do. I don't understand why you must do things to please someone else who means nothing to you rather than I.

I don't think privacy is the issue, and I don't really want to see the word 'sorry' flash across my screen again.

Then again, what does it matter what I think, or how I feel?

Labels: men