Back in the States

This post marks my first foray back into the USA after having so much fun at UCLA whilst on exchange.

Right now I'm at Purdue University and loving it.

Will update more with pictures and thoughts soon!

In a Sentimental Mood

It seems like a long time since I last blogged. And its come to the time where my stint at UCLA is almost officially over. And it really seemed like yesterday I just moved into Hilgard, whereas I'll be checking out soon.

Finals Week came and went. I did pretty well on the exams I've gotten back thus far, they are really efficient in churning out results and grades on exams. Gets it out of your system fast so you can spend your winter break either playing in glee, or trying to forget terrible grades, whatever rocks the boat.

I've heard the UCLA jazz combos and jazz ensembles putting up free concerts in school, and I must say they sound pretty good. There's always opportunities here to allow you to express yourself, I guess something I'll miss when I'm back home.

I guess I finished off my stint participating in another UCLA tradition, the "Undie Run", hahaha, I'll leave it your imagination what goes on, but its hawtttt, I tell you.

So saying my goodbyes to the ppl at Hilgard, having a little party, just hanging out, and closing the chapter on UCLA.

Its been awesome.

Santa Barbara

Drove up to Santa Barbara to visit Justin and to see Santa Barbara. We thought it'd be the good thing to do, to kind of return the favour and also to see UCSB and how he lived in SB.

I thought that Santa Barbara was really a quaint little town. Bustling where its supposed to be bustling, quiet where its supposed to be quiet. Its really different from LA where there is lotsa hustle and bustle almost all the time, whether in Westwood, or Hollywood etc etc. It seems really more relaxed in SB, plus the air smells fresher too.

This is the second time in the space of the week where I kinda experienced apartment living, with Singaporeans. Food wasn't like the meal plan that I have here in LA living on campus, they usually cooked. They live about a 10min bus ride from school, ordinarily a luxury for living in Pasir Ris me, but the convenience of Hilgard from school is unbeatable. Living in an apartment with 4 other Singaporeans, must be an interesting experience. Although I wouldn't know if it was for the better or the worse. I'm thankful though, living in Hilgard, knowing Americans and other international students have made it easier for me to hang out, and look for fun stuff to do!


There's this vast space in SB that Justin spoke about, and that I finally kind of realised that was lacking at home. There's this freedom to think, to live, and to go out and just be overwhelmed by the grander aspects of life. Looking off the coastline from the top of a mountain, or just staring at the vast expanse of the ocean, somehow it just fills you with a sense that there is so much out there, something you cannot find back at home.


Visited UCSB, downtown SB, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Missions, and St Mary's Seminary on top of the mountain. Got quite alot of stuff done in a short space of time. But lets not kid you, amidst all the quiet serenity that I have described, SB is a party town at night. People thronging the streets, jacked up, going house partyhopping and all. I don't know if that's a good balance, but it sure makes for an exciting life if you indulge in it.




UCSB Lagoon



Rim Walk UCSB



Santa Barbara Missions



Coastline off the Highway




The setting sun, epitomising my time in the U S of A.

Beat SC Parade, Bonfire and Rally

BURNINGG...

Attended the Beat USC parade, bonfire and rally yesterday. Hordes of students thronged the streets in school to catch the floats and parade down to the center of school for a huge bonfire and rally in anticipation for the biggest game, football, UCLA vs USC at the L.A. Coliseum this Saturday.

Its been Blue and Gold week here at UCLA and there's been many interesting activities this week lined up to show how you bleed blue and gold! There was a "trojan" car smashing event, trojans being USC, there was a "get the red out" blood drive, exchanging red tees for blue ones, an even a Bruin Bear security force for the whole week in case those stinky USC students came down to vandalise our mascot!

I think these are great traditions to have in the school, and what makes studying more fun and enjoyable, that identify that you have as a Bruin, irreplaceble I guess. Hahaha. Running down the streets trying to catch photos of the marching band in the parade, masses of ppl screaming Beat SC, f*** SC, etc etc. drunk ppl, sane ppl, fun ppl, just hanging out, screaming for the Bonfire to burn.

And so it did.











And now for Santa Barbara!

Switchfoot

That's the name of the concert that Switchfoot and Relient K played in at the Bren Events Center at UCI. Now I can say that I've been to the OC and to Irvine! Hahaha. It's really quiet in Irvine, serene, peaceful. Its a good place to stay, although I imagine it can get a little dull at times. Still, if you have a car, it gets you everywhere in the OC.

But that's not the purpose of the post. Its to say how much I loved the concert that was put up. Soooo much fun!!!!! Can't believe I finally got to hear Switchfoot live after so long, and they were amazing. Soooo amazing. They were tight, they were energetic, the music was good, they had good interaction with the crowd. Jon Foreman ran into the crowd and I couldn't believe I was so close hahaha. Star Struck! From the awesome soliloquy before singing "Meant to Live", to screaming in the guitar during "This is Your Life", it was one hell of a rock show. The only thing was they didn't play "Dare you to Move", ahhh! COME TO SINGAPORE YOU GUYS.

Relient K was quite good too, but punk rock never really is my thing. Still they got grooving real good, and there was even a foam shower when they were doing their christmas tunes.
Noticed that lotsa parents accompanied their kids to the concert. I wonder how that feels for the kids. I guess its interesting that parents here want to indulge their kids, or should I say, be around their kids for stuff like concerts. Somehow, I appreciate the little freedom I get in choosing concerts that I want to go to I guess hahaha.

I lucked out because I only got tickets for the seats but not the floor where ppl were standing. However, someone sitting just above me managed to get a whole bunch of wristbands and she very kindly gave me one for me to run down to the floor, into the mosh pit for Switchfoot!! WOOOO!

Ppl were wearing Tee shirts that said "I love hardcore christian girls" ahhahahaha. Thought that was amazingly funny. There was even talk that Kutless was performing on Sunday, and ticket stubs for this concert could get you Kutless at 10 bucks!

Seriously, I don't know what it is about christian bands that appeal to me, but its good music so I shan't complain. Wei Lin would have absolutly loveeddddd being here for this concert, especially when the encore was the cello guitar duet, Only Hope, from the movie, a Walk to Remember.











I never fail to be amazed at how much fun concerts can be, and letting loose and jumping in the crowd just brings you to a high. No need for drugs, no need for alcohol, just friends having fun together.

Thanks to Karen for putting me up for the night!

Las Vegas - The Sin City

Vegas is interesting. Its interesting because it is the city of vice, and in truth, a place where I could have gone really wild. But I didn't.

Somehow the city seems empty to me. Amidst all the bright lights, the partying, the gambling and women, there's something about the city that actually made me feel pretty uneasy. I wonder if its because the glam factor just puts me off? I may never know, but I must admit to have been pretty impressed with the first impression of Vegas definitely.

This is not to say I didn't enjoy Las Vegas. I did. It was definitely an eye-opening experience to be walking down the streets of Vegas, watching the monstrous Bellagio musical fountain, watching people fixated at the slot machines etc etc etc. Maybe its because I didn't go clubbing, or watched any shows, which might have clouded the experience abit, but no matter, I don't think I missed out on all that much. And there's always next time, with other ppl :P

But, I really enjoyed the drive to the Grand Canyon. A road trip with friends is definitely something that I will not forget, even though it was only a day trip. And the sights that greeted us, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the vast expanse of the desert, tumbleweeds, and the awesome majesty of the Grand Canyon definitely made this trip worthwhile.











And now. For Switchfoot.

Singaporean Weekend.

Justin and Ru De drove down from Santa Barbara for the weekend to visit Los Angeles. It was a good way to spend the weekend with SG ppl all over again. As much as this is a cultural exchange and immersion here in the States, and I've been blessed by meeting so many great people here, but it's great to see good friends after a few months!

We went to Downtown LA the first day they were here. Walked Chinatown and to Little Tokyo. It was alright. Downtown LA just isn't the best place to be I guess, but the company made it worthwhile, and the food that we got at Chinatown was good. I guess its just natural that we made a beeline for chinese food since we were all together. Hahaha.

At night, we went to a club to check out the scene. I reserve comments on the clubbing scene in LA, since we went to a club that admitted 18 yr olds, cos Fel's suitemates brought us there.

The next day, we dropped Ru De off at Universal Studios, and we headed off to Hollywood to check out Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. Justin and Fel headed off to mass while I came back to the house to catch a nap. Lunch was another chinese affair, beef noodles, fishball noodles, curry and rice. Hahaha. Then we headed out to Universal City Walk at night.











It was a great weekend. A short study week because of Thanksgiving, and I'm off to Las Vegas!