Updates

It's been more than a month since I last updated, but yes, I'm still alive (or at least I think I am ;) So much has happened in between, and I'll try to post more details and updates over the next few days. For now, a short summary of some of the things that have been happening over the past month...

Chinese New Year -
2 full weekends of gatherings, feasts, and spending time with various groups of friends... filled with good food, good company, and good fun. And not surprisingly, as with any celebrations involving Asians, we also had more than enough leftovers to last more than a week :) It's so inherent in our culture to prepare so much food during elebrations, that I'm starting to wonder if the trait is actually a part of our genetic makeup... the "Asian make-sure-your-guests-have-more-than-enough-to-eat " gene ;)


OCF -
Meeting and getting to know new friends during orientation night and activities, over the many meals that we've had (potlucks, BBQ, cockle-dinner... it seems that a lot of activities revolve around food :)
Celebrated Yoshimi's baptism on Sunday. Baptisms are always special occasions... it's an intimate yet public moment, a declaration of faith and dedication, as well as a time of joy for both the person baptised, and the family and friends who come to support and celebrate with them.
Had our first bible-study last Friday, which most people enjoyed, and Pastor Craig is speaking this Friday, so will be looking forward to that too.

Experiments, Reading, and Writing -
Which have been quite intense the past few weeks. For the first time in nearly a month (except weekends), managed to have lunch before 3pm today, and left the labs before 8pm. Had to run experiments on some of the weekends (even during Chinese New Year... argh), but thankfully, haven't had to do that every weekend, and trying to keep weekend experiments to a minimum :)

Tutoring -
Facilitating 2nd year Basic Metabolism tutorials again twice a week, as well as tutoring two other students in other Chemistry and Biology topics.
It's amazing how much information I still remember (and horrifying how much I've forgotten :) from what I'd studied a couple of years ago. Therefore, I've also been re-reading my notes and brushing up on metabolic processes, biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemistry. Basically, the 'tutor' is studying just as hard as the 'students'... doing lots of reading and revision just like everyone else :)

Meeting up with Friends over the Weekends -
Catching up and hanging out with friends, meeting new people, celebrating birthdays, eating, chatting, laughing, eating, chatting, and laughing some more... :)

Dinner at Raj on Taj

And the memory card is back, which means that the camera is back in action. Therefore, hopefully there'll be more photos to come soon.

In the meantime, there's so much to do, and so little time... need to make the most of it! :)