SINGAPORE+CHRISTMAS+NEW YEAR
OMG! I haven't posted since before Christmas...oops.
Christmas was good! It was interesting to leave for Singapore on Christmas day. haha
Anyway, being back here ROCKS!!! Camp was not as impactful as I thought it would be, but it was still really good. I learned more than I figured I would. But, yay anyway! Highlights (randomly):
1. MRT!!! C2, you gettit right? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
2. Worship on the 3rd day for me was like really bad. I couldn't focus, and my mind was wandering everywhere but where I wanted it to be...
3. I realized how much I love my friends. (not that i didn't know before, it just seemed different)
4. Last day was sooo fun!!! I was like going crazy. It was also kinda sad, like, I kinda wished I could've been able to make it for the first day.
5. I had an
super fun talk with JM. Since I haven't talked with her for a while, I caught up with her and heard of all the current events ect...haha
6. The AMAZING last few moments of camp. It was like floating on air. (i know i'm insane okay!)
Then after camp I got a few days of rest. I went to Avatar 3D with some old friends I haven't talked to/hung out with for like 2-3 years? Almost 3 I think. Anyway, Avatar started at 11:45pm, and it ended at like 2+ I think. So, when we (our families+us) got out of the theatre we were like "happy new year!" "have a good 2010!". FUUUUN!!!
Then, went to Natalie's house for sleepover. It was really fun! Like, first night after watching "The Clique" we went to bed. Next day, I got into serving for worship. IT WAS SO FUN TO BE IN WORSHIP PRACTICE AGAIN! IT WAS GREAT TO SERVE AGAIN! After ML me, Natalie & Vanessa took the bus back.
Today I served, and danced. It was great! Hung out with the band. Went to my grandparents place. Didn't regret not begging off, not that I would have succeeded anyway. (Or that the thought even crossed my mind till now) My ah kong (grandfather) makes such good food! He's really like my dad: strong, likes to whistle, is GREAT at cooking, and enjoys serving people. haha. Quite funny only now I notice it...I am quite observant. About everything except for what's right in front of my nose. haha!
[am i making things worse for myself?] [NO!!! don't forget about it!!!] [i don't wanna go through this all over again, but i can't stand not to] [guy: i don't know if i should jump. girl: please jump] ["hey" *stare*] [quiet competition. who can keep their silence longer? i think you'll win] [whenever i try to forget, it gets shoved in my face]
OHMYGOSH!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS/SINGAPORE!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
haha.
Anyway, yea. Had a good birthday yesterday. Though round the end it was becoming over-run with kids. So many people still have exams. A whole bunch of the young people had to leave earlier so it was pretty much 10 and under kids left...
That's all I gotta say.. so yea.
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO WISHED ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (even though I know almost no one reads my blog anyw)
there's gonna be a suprise when I go back! and only if you beg me really hard will I tell. (and you might not even like the suprise anyway) but i might not too. teehee.
Thanksgiving/weekend
Thursday was thanksgiving!!! And we went to Mr & Mrs. Caldwells house for it. They had what Mrs. Caldwell called a "desert party". It was very interesting. They had crackers, cheese, chicken, homemade rolls and sausage (from America. you could never find that kind of thing here). Then, there was: apple pie, pumpkin pie, cheese cake, an-apple-and-pear-thing, lemon pie. All delicious and homemade! I don't think I've eaten that much desert since I was like 10 or something. haha.
Yesterday it was like 16-18 degrees outside. It was about 6:30 or 7 o' clock when it was that temperature though. So I foolishly put on a long sleeved/thick hoodie shirt thing...and in the end I was hot later that afternoon.
christmas is round the corner!
why don't I feel excited/happy like I usually do?
I could care less if I got anything for Christmas, or if there was Christmas at all.
I just wanna finish all my schoolwork by the end of the year.
I think I'm really screwed up sometimes.
This week has been okay.
Friday-We went out grocery shopping. And while we were in Spar, I was just standing there. And suddenly this mouse ran right past my foot! When I saw something moving I got a shock and screamed/jumped. When I saw it was just a mouse, I felt so lame...
Saturday-Nothin much.
Sunday- Church, choir practice same old same old. Except in the morning it was SUPER COLD! I sat in the hall with a jacket and still hugging myself/Zoe, and still felt cold!!!
Life hasn't been the most exciting. So...this post will be kinda boring too.
Last weekend choir practice was good. But -maybe it's the way I'm singing or something- my voice would like crack at the high notes, and I had a serious sore throat the whole time. (Been a long time since I ranted on singing. haha)
I got my haircut last saturday morning. We walked to the salon super close to our house, like 5 minutes away, and it's right next to the Domino's pizza place. (which, I'll admit, we order from often) We told the guys exactly what we wanted. "Just a trim about to her shoulders", my mom said. She even SHOWED the guy with her hands where. And it turned out awful. My hair is WAY above my shoulders, and I have so many layers it's sickening. Before my dad restyled/cut it for me, I looked like some froufrou fluffy freak or something. (and I've never ranted about my hair before!!! hehe) Anyway, I still wish I'd have waited till we went back to Singapore.
i'm gonna make a christmas list with my siblings just for fun. i miss bubbletea/sushi
0.0 now what?
Oatmeal & Mashed Banana
Oatmeal & mashed bananas:
2-3 spoonfuls of instant oatmeal (but follow the istructions on the packet)
1 small banana
Basically all you do is make the oatmeal, with as much water or milk it calls for. (I use the microwave-able kind, so I add some milk afterwards so it's more creamy) Once your oatmeal is cooked you cut up the banana, and put it into the oatmeal. Take a fork and mash up the banana and mix it all up!!! I know it probably looks kinda like oatmeal with big pale yellow lumps and kinda gross. But it's super good!!!
Oh yeah, if you need to, add sugar. It depends on how ripe your banana is.
Then you DIG IN! ;)
Just a random recipe I happened to try this morning.
WARNING: only banana lovers can eat this, so if you don't like bananas, it's advised you don't eat this.Labels: Random Recipes
So not the norm
There are so many thing to write about! How bout Calcutta first? Okay!
First day we arrived was very nice. We went to see the Mother Theresa's house. Part of it was a museum, and we saw her grave too.
Saturday- We went to William Carey museum/college. I didn't know he'd translated to much!!! Like 20+++ Indian dialects!!! So cool right??? He was also into science, and the guy there said he started science-based education here. I was all, "This guy learned an TRANSLATED 20++++ dialects? And I can hardly speak English! Sheesh."
After that Uncle Rajah took us to see a Banyan tree. When we first got there I thought, "So we're drving though a WHOLE FOREST to see one tree? This better be one cool tree." Turns out the forest WAS the tree! It was so cool! The compounds the tree was in was actually like a botanial garden, a lot of natural stuff. Got some great shots there.
Sunday-Went to church with Uncle Mohadeb. Then later on before we went to the slum churh Reagan said he felt sick. So mom and him stayed home and me, dad, Zoe, Uncle Mohadeb, Uncle Rajah & Akash went. It was like so packed inside the small hall...with all the kids. Then when we taught them how to dance to "Woohoo!" they all were jumping around and screaming cause they kept stepping on each others' toes. haha. They were all so cute though.
The adult service was interesting to watch. There was this really good guy playing the tabla (sp?). (The tabla is the Indian drum)
Then on November 1 was World Sunday School Day. It was fun/scary/interesting. So yea.
Now I am trying to finish my school-year before heading to Singapore for about a month.
I don't really remember you. If reality worked the way we wanted to, it wouldn't be reality anymore.
Just some stuff from past week(s). Hmm...okay, begin with this:
Last weekend the choir sang a song during communion. We sang Agnus Dei, it was sooo good! Though, we had trouble hearing the parts, we being the sopranoes. Then everyone the basses said they couldn't hear us! Probably cause we were on the opposite side of the stage...
Also last week, there was youth competitions. Mom & dad were the judges, so of course us kids went too. There was solo singing, group singing, dancing, and a Bible quiz. The Bible quiz was really funny cause there were only 3 people: all the Campton kids! So it was sibling rivalry for a good reason. Haha.
Then Thursday, we went to the Camptons' house for dinner. It was really fun! The Campton kids (they're not really kids...but anyway) are all so talented! They could play piano, guitar, drums, harmonica (all three of them!!!)...and dunno what else. But I know there are a few more. So cool right????????
Then today went to a marriage prayer celebration? I dunno what it's actually called, but it was pretty cool. There was introduction to family, preaching, and then prayer. In the end they did this cool thing: They cracked some kind of thing on the bride-to-be's head, then also on the groom-to-be's head. Turned out to be a sweet, it tasted like cotton candy! They had a big bag of it and gave one to everyone. You'll never guess what happened next!!! Instead of flower wreaths, they put wreaths of money on them! Mom said, "How interesting...." Me, "Well, at least they're not nearly as heavy as the flower ones!" They're seriously heavy! And at the last wedding, they put 3 on the bride and groom!!! ouch.
Dinner was after the ceremony, and we sat on the roof. We as in: Mom, dad, Aunty Radha, me, Zoe, Reagan, Renita & Ricky. I became a living dolls' head for Renita, she kept taking down and doing up my hair. It was okay, though she kept poking my eyes whenever she grabbed my hair that kept falling forward.
Tomorrow we're going to the actual wedding. Yea....back to the beginning I guess.
Dark Era
The weekend seemed like 2 years instead of 2 days. Me & Katie past the time hanging out, talking and doing homework of course. Katie asked if I'd like to go to the youth group again. I thought, 'Well, who'd it hurt?' Even though Noah sometimes made me uncomfortable I guess it would be fine.
I couldn't really pay attention to youth service, even though Katie kept nudging me whenever I spaced out. "And Faith," the pastor said. I jumped slightly, shocked. "Is not immediate. Faith needs to be grown, for some it will grow at a staggering rate, while for other it might not grow at all. There needs to be hope for faith, and love for faith. Hardship makes faith grow too, but you need to seek God for the answer, instead just looking at the problem" 'Faith.' I thought to myself. 'Is not immediate, it need hope and love...and...hardship?' I thought.
After youth group Katie's mom came to pick us up. While we headed to my house Katie's mom asked, "So, Faith, how you feeling? Nervous?" "Yea...I guess there's lots of things to think about. Whether I win or loose." I said quietly. She drove into my driveway, "Well, it's alright, everyone gets that way." I stepped out of the car, and was about to close the door when Katie's mom called out, "We'll be praying for you!" I stepped back, closed the door, and watched the car drive away.
'Praying? For me?' I wondered, 'What does THAT mean?' There was kid in our class, and she always said she'd pray for people, and everyone thought she was weird. She wasn't normal, not like Katie was, I'd talked to her once or twice. She was part-Catholic, she'd told me, (meaning she didn't exactly go to church, but she believed in God) and prayer does work, she'd also said. She relied on it better than she relied on her own hands she'd said. 'Prayer...' I wondered, 'Will that help any? Will it make the judges think my paintings are better than anyone elses'? Would make them think I deserved to go to the art classes? The ones I could never, ever afford without this prize? Maybe?
Labels: Dark Era
I wanna change my blog name. But I cannot think of anything.... My creative brain juice is giving out. So my blog is going nameless till I can think of something.
shoot. why can't I think of anything????Any suggestions?????again, expect things from me!!! not presents though, saving that for when I come back in December. Keep guessing!!! I'm dropping clues everywhere!!! Guess, guess, guess!!!Labels: Just Writing
Memories of weeks past ;)
Memories of weeks past. (Warning: SUPER LONG POST)
Starting with when the RL team came to India. We ordered pizza from Dominoes down the road and some other stuff. There were like 20-25 people in the house, so it was kinda noisy. Randolff [sp?] passed me all the notes, cards & gifts you all gave me.
THANK YOU!!! IT WAS SO NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! EXPECT THINGS COMING FROM INDIA 2 YOU!!! :D
Then was the sports camp. Gosh, was it tiring. Woke up 6+ in the morning, went off to the OM base, and did worship.
This is the kids status during worship.
First day: okay. Second day: GOOD. Third day: even better! Fourth day: kinda distracted. Fifth day: REALLY REALLY GOOD! Sixth day: EAR BURSTING LOUD!!! they are so responive.
Now, my status.
First day: Nervous, okay. Second day: Good! Third day: Encouraged by the kids enthusiasm. So did very well! Fourth day: Slowing down. Fifth day: Slowing down even more. Sixth day: Smack myself, jump around and everything to get more enthu. So, did good.
Haha, first day they gave us the flower wreath! Heavier than expected. Like, just flowers, but lots and LOTS of flowers.
The sports camp, all in all. Was really good!!! Go RL team!!!
Went to an "Indian Amusment Park"! Soooo interesting! Rode a camel, watched a puppet show, a magic show & had some awsome food.
The dining experience in itself was amazing to start with. We got there, sat down on cushions on the floor, infront of a little wooden table. On it was a plate: a plate made of leaves, sewn together, that looked like a typical, everyday plate. There were 3 little tin-foil cuppy things, with chutney, and some little Indian chip-things on the side. The Indian chip-things were salty-ish, nice. They started by giving out some sugary looking thing, almost like gula malacca [sp?]. And these little chapati [sp?] looking things, then the waiters (which were dressed in local Indian outfits) put curries in the tin-foil cuppy things. Then they served...actual chapadi [sp?], and gave a little fried piece of bread. It looked like a donut hole, except, it wasn't sweet, and there wasn't much flavour.
When my dad asked the waiter what to do with it, he signalled to dip it in one of the curries. Which I'm guess wasn't an actual curry CURRY. Only looked like it. Then he asked the waiter what to do the brown sugar/gula malacca looking thing. He signalled to the spoon and said something like, "Just eat plain sir. Just eat plain." My dads eyes got big (he can't take sugar) and said thank you. When the waiter walked away I tasted the brown sugar/gula malacca looking thing; it was like eating sugar! I scrunched up my nose and told my dad just to taste it, or he might half-die eating a while spoonful of it.
Another highlight: I didn't know that the chutney was an Indian pickled thing. Kinda like acha, only a million catrillion times saltier. So me, being the food-adventure-girl put a big piece in my chapati (just forget the spelling okay?) and put it into my mouth. My mouth.....was.....exploding. So salty!!!! I'll never eat chutney again!!!!! Dad laughed at me later when I'd told him I'd taken a HUGE piece of it. -.-"
Then just yesterday, we went to a wedding celebration ceremony. Mind you, we were going to the brides house. We just figured we'd wear out punjabi suits, and dress all nice...kinda a mistake. We got there, and the girls from the worship team (the worship team was invited) were all just wearing jeans and shirts, or simple punjabi suits. I felt real stupid, wearing my bright red and green suit, with all the sequins and embroidery. 'Shoot', I thought. 'I could've worn my jeans instead of this silly getup.'
Soon after hanging out there for a while. They started taking tumeric paste, and putting on all the ladies neck and feet. (My feet are still a bit yellow now) Then me & Reagan (who were inside the house) heard some screaming and yelling from outside. We looked at each other and figured the worship team people were playing around with the tumeric paste or something. Then the sister who invited us asked us to come outside to play with everyone else. Explaining she was talking all the kids outside to play. We came outside....and there was water flying, screaming, and obvious yellowish-orange stains on the whiter shirts the boys were wearing. Three words: TUMERIC WATER FIGHT!!! Me, Reagan & Zoe (who'd been staring for a while already) just stood and stared. We were obviously invisible to the tumeric water warriors chasing each other and tossing buckets of yellow water on each other. We didn't dare go close in case mom later killed us for getting our clothes yellow stained or anything. Mom, and all the ladies, came out though, and we were allowed to play. Only with plain water, but still. As a welcome to our joining, we got a full bucket of clear, cold water poured on us. After that we just got splashed slightly. So it was okay.
We all stopped to watch the actual ceremony. The bride-to-be, sat on a low, low, low stool, holding her knees. Then the family members and pastors (one by one) poured rice on her head, shoulders, knees and feet. They also smeared tumeric paste on he face and arms. It was a real interesting day.
Photos on FaceBook!!! Titled: Incredible India.
EXPECT A LETTER FROM ME!!! i know you all wanna hear from me ;)
In honor of 9/11
Whenever I hear of people dying, I first think of the mother, the father, the brother, the sister, the grandmother, the grandfather, and the uncle or aunt first. How they feel about losing someone they love.
Is that bad?I dwell on the past, and sometimes I don't think it's worth it. Sometimes we dwell more often on the bad parts of our life than the good.
Am I an awful person because if it?Labels: Just Writing
Dad got me keyboard! It's not like the Casio, but it's just good to have it. So, yaaay! He and mom also taught me some...circle of keys or something. It'll totally help with my playing for the church. (If I ever play)
Last weekend after church mom and dad taught their vocal training with the worhship team. Normally, I just sit in the back of the room, but mom & dad wanted me to sit up front. I sit in because Zoe & Reagan are out playing with their friends, and mom & dad want me to be in the worship team. Because all the musicians are also taking the vocal lessons, dad asked all the people who played an instrument to step to one side in groups: guitarists, pianists & drummers. In the end there were only 2-3 people left!!! So the singers will sometimes be musicians, and the musicians will sometimes be singers. Dad says it helps to make them appreciate each other more, and know how the other side works/feels. Also, we can have back-up people for emergencies.
Beriyani & curd for lunch-again! It still tastes as good as when I first had it. haha!
Yesterday we walked out to Secunderabad, which is like 30+ minute walk away. Normallly dad will walk there for buying tendorii & naan when we don't have time to make dinner. This time he took us to a different "hotel" (restraunt) and there were all kinds of nice stuff! Though we all agreed the tendorii and naan still tastes best. *hehe*
The RiverLife team is coming next week for a sports camp! Me, Reagan & Zoe are all helping with a skit, and worship actions. So next week will be pretty busy I think...
i can't even remember the last time i saw you. playing the keyboard is addictive you know. when you forget to remember, someone always gets forgotten.
Ooops.
Sorry, haven't posted for a while. I'm okay! Not dying of any disease or gotten hit by a car yet!
Lately been interesting. I'm gonna post some random photos on FaceBook, so can look there.
Well, yup...okay. I dunno whatta write. So yea.
and then, and if. AS IF!!! i guess it's okay. back to square one.
[so yesterday, so yesterday. haven't u heard that i'm gonna b okay?]
*sniff sniff*
I'm missing my keyboard!!! *sniff sniff*
Anyway, yesterday we went gorcery shopping. Only go like every 2 weeks here. It's not easy to get around to the city. We don't have a car, and mom doesn't really want dad to get a motorcycle. And dad's not very sure about driving in Indian traffic. So yea...
Today having some people over for dinner. Mom is making bread and dad is making stew!!! Brownies too!!! -yumyum-
Amberlie-J
i can't believe i'm almost half done with my literature composition!!!! hahas!!! YAAAAAY!!!
