Barrgh... wanted to sleep about 3 hours ago but ended up procrastinating and wasting time again. To think I just made a #1 resolution 2 weeks ago to manage my TIME properly and be punctual on meetings. Please knock me on the head if you see me getting worse...
evidently this is a sign that I've gotta buck up.
Absolutely zonked! Came back from Budapest and Vienna today and I haven't been getting restful sleep for the past 2 weeks or so; it got worse during travelling because we were literally moving from place to place, walking lots, seeing lots of stuff, and I guess these things get carried into my dreams and I feel like I'm travelling about in my dreams all the time. 'twas worse last night because for most of the night I felt half-aware of my surroundings and half in slumber, so I didn't get good sleep at all. So what am I still doing up at 2 am right... silly me. :)
Feels surreal to be back, because it's already week 1 of the new term and there're responsibilities to face up to. They're not as bad as I expected them to be I guess, but the things haven't really started rolling and I haven't got my academic books yet. Will be gamboling in town with Ailin tomorrow so hopefully I'll get my books sorted and I'll get down to reading on Friday. CU stuff will only start rolling in from Friday onwards, and then ministry-wise I gotta keep praying because I feel like several things are tugging me in several directions. 2 areas jumped out when I was travelling, but practically I'm not sure where they fit in... Lord, guide me.
The trip was eventful. It was interesting and challenging to travel with 7 other girls, and despite unsettling initial group dynamics I'm glad everything worked out fantastic in the end, with nice chats over dinner and desserts, and laughter ringing daily in the air over cheesy catchphrases, silly absurdism and memorable Pepperisms; got to see a more complete picture of personalities - the bad sides along with the good; a deeper connection with people generally because inter-personal similarities were discovered, along with differences. We had a good balance of different personalities - which was very interesting but at the same time challenging to manage - Joy who was good with directions and organising, at the same time energising the group with her crazy sporting-ness; Lin who was always interesting and dramatic, and spiced up the group with her many anecdotes and stories; Pepper who always said priceless lines and added a girly twist to the backpacking experience; Wee Zi the towkay, stoic, certain, calm, but always ready to contribute her witticisms and sarcastic humour; Shiao En with occasional bouts of quietness and bouts of chirpy stories, with whom I've had deep sharings about similar experiences and praises for God about past history, lots of kids' church songs and encouragement; Fauziah the ribena berry! Funky and sporting, yet quietly conforming and understanding despite the sacrifices she has to make while travelling with us; Cui the quiet and loving, the balancing and comforting presence between the extremes in the group, always compromising, always understanding of people (and my absurdist humour) - - -
and above all and over all everyone liked singing, everyday was a playing jukebox; everyone loved laughter, and everyday was a laughing jukebox - coupled with great scenery, sugar-high consumption (pastries, chocolates, crisps, biscuits), snow, heavy snow, and numb toes, the classical music of Vienna, the beautiful Danube and fairy-tale quality of Budapest...
Felt like such a long trip,
but I know when I look back on it a year, a few maybe,
or even many years later
I know I'll be loving the memories of it :)
Ahh. And of course, I met my love in a Chinese restaurant near our hostel in Budapest; and he kept smothering me with kisses. Haha, sounds so wrong... there was this 3.5 year-old boy who was the son of the owners managing the eatery - he was simply adorable!! His laughter was infectious, pure, free; his affection unadulterated, passionate, sweet! All I did was play with him and stoop down to kiss his forehead, and he clung onto me like I was his sister. Once he ran up to me, hugged my leg, pulled me down, then kissed one cheek, my nose, and the other cheek, and gave a silly laugh. Ahh! Was so touched! What an affectionate lil boy!
Here's a picture of him -
Will post travelling pictures up on Shutterfly soon. Here are a few (and by the way, I posted some more pictures of York up. It's on the Petals page) -
Budapest
Vienna
Joy and myself doing a silly shot in Vienna - it's actually a big framed poster behind us but we're actually pretending to ski. Haha :)
ok. to sleep!
