happy is a yuppie word.

(Its gonna be a long rant.)

It's been a whole month since I've been here. A whole month since I've been away. Time passes by so fast when something is new. There is so much to be thankful for and yet so much that I miss. Being here makes me appreciate home a lot more, and yet see what it misses. Who says it can't be paradoxical.

Living in another country, even for a month, expands your horizons indefinitely. More so, for Jonkoping, because the university is so international you get to meet students from all over the world. I have met students from France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bosnia, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Canada, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, America, Holland, Pakistan, India, Sweden, Finland and countries that I never knew even existed. And everyone, I repeat, everyone, does things differently. The French always give kisses, the Bosnians are really friendly, the Italians are romantic, The Finnish boys drink better than anyone (maybe cus I haven't met any Irish), the Middle Eastern boys are too protective of where they come from, the Mexicans and Spanish make fantastic food and the Australians are always the most fun. 

One thing they all have in common, though. They all speak English but they can never understand it when we Singaporeans talk amongst ourselves. Its like our secret code.

That brings me to what I wanted to write about. I am so thankful for the Singaporeans that are here. There're two groups of us, the group from SMU and the group from NTU. Mostly, the NTU people stick together because we like them parties. More so than the students from SMU. Ironic eh. 

I love you, Jamie, Daniel, Marilyn and Syida. Its odd how we are almost family when we didn't even knew each other a month ago. Its true that human beings flock to their own kind. Initially there was admitted apprehension. I thought that the Singaporeans only wanted to stick together, and didn't want to mix around. And I am not on exchange to be hanging out with Singaporeans. But I was wrong. Syida, Dan and Jamie are one of the most friendly and nicest people that are amongst us international students. 

I knew I started to appreciate them when there was this once, after a long day of school and superficial conversations (I'm not complaining, I know this is part and parcel of meeting new people), the only thing on my mind was "I need my Singapore fix". I needed the 'la's and 'lor's in my conversation and somebody that understands when I say "I miss horlicks", or dances mambo with me when Summer Rain is playing.

You don't know how important it is to have something, someone from home. Especially when it is so easy to be another person when you are here. They remind me of home, keep me grounded and sane. I love it that we are all so alike, partying every Wednesday, fags together, drinking lapin at night, celebrating Chinese New Year together and attempting to go to church on Sunday mornings. I know they probably think that I like hanging out with the other international students more because I am not with them a lot. But truth is, I cannot do without them. I would go insane.

Honestly, I have been thinking about staying. (Mummy, don't freak out. Its just a thought.) Because university here is free, even for the foreigners. And that money saved could go to the higher living standards here. Only downside is that I would have wasted 1.5 years of NTU. But Singapore is such a huge part of my life. So much so that if it were taken from me, I don't know if it would be the same angela. That is why Syida, Dan, Jamie and Marilyn are so important to me. Because if it weren't for them, I don't know what I'd be or how I would change. Its not easy when nothing is familiar.

Dan, me, some weirdass, syida, jamie and carlos.  Sorry Marilyn!

Okay. End of Rant. :) Hit me with a tag if you read through all that junk and my paranoia. You are my true friend ;) I know sometimes the things I write don't make any sense. But I always have to write good thoughts down because they are so easily forgotten. 

On another note, why are boys so possessive? So much so that they still want to keep the things that they can no longer have? Why aren't girls ever that territorial?