keep believing

yusita, me, shoofei at hoa

random fact #1:
i skipped iscf meeting and the bible study, heavy-heartedly, for family dinner at no signboard seafood restaurant. i think the food is overpriced, so nice meh.
and i almost got my parents lost in vivocity with me! that’s how long i haven’t been out shopping..

random fact #2:
i got a little haircut at hair etc clementi. they are having branch opening promotion, 40% off. i’m a cheapskate, point at my hair and shout: cheap haircut!

random fact #3:
i went to ikea to fetch shoofei last sunday, i had dinner with family at ikea this sunday, and i’m going to have lunch at ikea next sunday.

random fact #4:
second sister ‘gave’ me her body shop strawberry puree body lotion. it smells so sweet i lovee!

random sentence of the day:
lalalaa.

-my utmost for his highest

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing. Margaret Thatcher

i love no school days. there is no fixed timetable, though i still need to study for my upcoming midterms, the three of them. my parents are here, i fetched them at the airport yesterday. i promised myself not to neglect them while they are here, but it seems that they’d prefer me doing what i am supposed to do, and they are good just the two of them. and i just found out yesterday that i am not their main purpose of coming here. i’m not sad don’t worry. my parents and my two sisters are having buffet dinner tonight, while i have to go for a meeting.

the movie screening went well. it was really good actually. a swiss who speaks bahasa indonesia better than many indonesians i know, ‘bottled tea’ without bottles, real good real indonesian food too spicy for some, two indonesian movies which portray indonesia in perspectives that are different from the way the world, including myself, views it as.
the first movie is somewhat political and artistic, it’s the kind of movie that either brings you to sleep, or touches you real deep, it’s the kind of thinking, meaningful movie. the second one is funny and blunt, with some mature scenes. this is more enjoyable to watch, with less thinking needs to be done. the first movie takes place in papua, the second, jakarta. i’m not doing movie reviews here, go and watch them yourself. both movies are worth watching!
overall, it was a success i would say. and the diversity of lifestyles, cultures, and people shown in the two movies justifies a line quoted from the birdman tale: Indonesia, a world on its own.

a lot of other things have come and gone. there was a $15 failed interview, a 30% of the total marks presentation unprepared, two charity sports day that i only managed to show face, my first exxon mobil event, a comforting ktb meeting, a lot of confusions, and a continuous struggle of learning and growing in faith, with support from my favorite people in the fellowship ;P

ok, it’s either meeting my parents, or studying now.

I know Whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

unlike the increasing rate of the emissions of greenhouse gases, or the double helix nebula near center of the milky way, which are unprecedented, singapore climate has always been warm. but it was only two months ago that i found the heat unbearable, i’m talking about my room here, and decided to get a portable air-con, which was recommended by a number of friends.

to make the story short, basically i found out later, that portable air-con is not allowed here, it has never been. there are so many reasons that justify me keeping the air-con, and so many excuses to make me feel not guilty. but the fact is i know that it is wrong to keep something illegal, and shutting up my conscience will just make it numb..
well, it’s still unsettled, but i’m trying to legalise my portable air-con.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

they played this song with flute guitar and piano on sunday in church, and i was almost brought to tears..

Put your music player on shuffle and press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense. No cheating. With the answers, give your own comments on how it relates to the questions.

How are you feeling today?
I Love You Came Too Late, Joey McIntyre

Will you get far in life?
Smiley Faces, Gnarls Barkley

grin. grin. grin.

What is your best friend’s theme song?
Dangerous, Michael Jackson

oo.. i didn’t know that.

What is the story of your life?
The Adventure, Angels and Airwaves

oh yea no more tintin, it’s now the adventures of erlin!

What was high school like?
Never Had A Dream Come True, S Club 7

oh so sad.. i never saw it that way. i enjoyed my jc life nevertheless :)

How can you get ahead in life?
Victory In Jesus, Various Artists

amen!

What’s the best thing about your friends?
Holy Holy Holy, Paul Baloche

what? who? haha.

Describe your grandparents.
Ilmuwan, Project Pop

scientists. hmm.

How’s your life going?
Grace Alone, Various Artists

how true.

What song will they play at your funeral?
Now or Never, Josh Groban

that’s alright.

Will you have a happy life?
Oh Mother, Christina Aguilera

oh mother.. i’m pretty happy now.

What do your friends really think of you?
Love Me Tender, Elvis Presly

so they love me tender!

Do people secretly lust after you?
More Than That, Backstreet Boys

ok.

How can you make yourself happy?
Intro, Michelle Branch

lalala..

What should you do with your life?
My Friend, Plus One

Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

Will you ever have children?
Way Away, Yellowcard

way away away from here i’ll be..

What song would you strip to?
Sure Thing Falling, Yellowcard

maybe the question should have been ‘trip’ instead of ’strip’. if i trip, i should thing fall right..

What does your mom think of you?
Track 14, Karl Ritcher

i love you too mommy..

What is your deep, dark secret?
The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, Selah

i believe in the cross. it’s not a secret.

What is your mortal enemy’s theme song?
Afraid, Nelly Furtado

i don’t have a mortal enemy.. and if i do, he really should be afraid :p

What is your personality like?
Cinta Putih, Kerispatih

direct translation: white love.

What song will be played at your wedding?
Karena Kita, Jeffry S Tjandra

because of us.

i didn’t do much studying this weekend, but i did learn plenty, outside the classrom.. during mrt and bus trips, during a visit to the sisters’, at the supper table, during a beautiful service in church, an honest gtalk conversation, and a one hour phone call.

It’s easy for the light of a candle to die.. But when it dies, a nearby one can light it up.
thank you, thank God :)

i would blame sherly and pat for the way i speak bahasa indonesia now. these days, people are guessing that pat is from jakarta, while me, medan, from the way we speak bahasa. it’s nothing discriminating, i just feel that it’s almost like losing an identity. it’s true that i do not know much about jakarta, but hey i’ve never even been to medan! oh and it’s also true that pat knows jakarta better than i do. shame on me.

but well, i do hope that people do not confuse who i am, and they could tell where i stand, from the way i live my life.

i remember seeing this video while having lunch at mcdonalds in beijing! and i really felt like marching, too.

“Without the show, I have nothing!”
“Having nothing builds character!“
hairspray is funnyy. i was laughing throughout the whole movie. i wished pat was there and laughed loud loud with me. the guys loved nikki blonsky, the girls, zac effron(aaahhh!). i especially like christopher walken, his character, his dance and the song he sang for john trovolta’s character.. so sweet.

Styles keep a changin’
The world’s re-arrangin’
But Edna, you’re timeless to me
Hemlines are shorter
A beer costs a quarter
But time cannot take what comes free

You’re like a stinky old cheese, babe
Just gettin’ riper with age
You’re like a fatal disease, babe
But there’s no cure
So let this fever rage

and back to my own life, another week has passed. school went as per normal. i learnt how to do a website from hartanto and pat, and immediately forgot most of the things they taught me. had a night walk around nus with a few posters and a tito. didn’t see reren, or sherly for the whole week, had no sushi either. had ktb at kgourmet, learnt about carrying my cross, and persevering and staying faithful.

how, and when, does an acquaintance turn into a relationship?