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Saturday 29 September 2012

The World of Blogging

It never really came to me why having this blog is so important, it allows you to yes, be yourself and share your ideas and all that. I think that there is so much more to it, it allows you to be free, it is like spreading your wings and flying. Soaring above the clouds, you have been in a cage all your life and now you are free to roam the world, to go out and explore.

I am the type of person that does not like rules, they kind of tighten the knots on the rope you have to climb. It sets too many boundaries and once you step out, it is very hard to get back in the game. With blogging, there are no rules, write if you want, write when you want, write about what you want, do what you want. Post a picture. Leave a comment. Write something. Whatever.

During the day, I always think of things that I want to write about, and if I do think of something, I have to write it that instance, it can not wait another second. All these ideas roam my mind, they are like fireworks, representing the start of a new year. New hopes. New goals. New future. New you.

And although at the end of the day, I am just a girl sitting behind her computer screen with her thoughts going off, I can still be heard and I will. Blogging can also start small and become huge. Slowly and surely, this blog might take off, if the ideas keep coming and the motivation to write is there, then there is no problem. Even if I do not have a point to write, I still will.

they always tell you to think outside of the box but maybe it is time to think in.

and looking at it from afar.

and maybe looking across.

and looking at it from close up but wide spread.

all pictures taken by me :)




Singapore, Through Me

As I look out the window of my classroom every morning, I always see the clear, picturesque view of Singapore. They say that we have the best view in school, I believe it. What I see, is what I get. It is what represents Singapore.

The cranes, representing building and development and a forever changing city. Meaning up. Buildings go up and cranes come down and are transferred to a new spot, to build some more.
This is how I see Singapore ...


Sunday 23 September 2012

Just Life

It is so good to be back. So. So. So good. I missed the world and even though I was still living in it, I turned invisible for five days. The hype when I got back to school Monday morning, fresh and ready to conquer the day. Excitement built as everyone asked you how the trip went, and what to look forward to when they go. What is it like? Was it fun? Was it hard? It is quite overwhelming but it is great to be back so I do not mind.

Even though it was a great experience and I loved it, it was hard and tough but everyone tells you to live dangerously, so I did. I am a city person, not meaning that I love the country, I do it is just that I need to see skyscrapers and people and have connection with the real world. Where we went, it was picturesque and untouchable and that is not what life is about. I needed a break and I have had it, my black rings under my eyes have gone and I am cleansed out, ready to have life thrown back at me. 

When we got back, I jumped off the bus and I knew that then, I was really home and where I belong. That last day in Sibu was tough, everyone knew that it was the end but we were just off it, fifteen hours, the countdown began. Watches were checked and math skills were used. How many hours more? The favourite question that we had in the last kayak was 'what are you going to do first, when you get home?', it kind of wore out after a while. I guess that thinking about home makes you feel better and calms those nerves down a little.




Saturday 22 September 2012

The Getaway

The arrival of us back to where we live has been and goneWe spent the last five days on Sibu island, away from technology and school and civilisation. The days past as we reflected, kayaked and thought about everything. About the trip and how we kayaked across the Indian Ocean, capsizing and trying to egg each other on.

We arrived. We conquered. We saw. We witnessed. We lived. That small (not so small island, if you kayak around it), was our home for the week. We lived there and treated it like our 'real' home. We were together and spent those days with each other, no privacy or personal space needed. The 'paw - wow' sessions at the end of every night gave us the chance to reflect on the time and the chance to hear each other's thoughts and ideas.

The day we arrived we trained up for the big expedition that was going to take place. We paddled in the bay of our cabins and resort, capsizing and learning efficient strokes to use in the real thing.  We were put into our groups, were given our equipment and got our kayaks and we were off. The sun burnt down on us as we took in the atmosphere of where we were and where we would live for the next five days. That night was spent in our cabins, in our groups which were certainly mixed with people that we do not 'hang' with, but thanks to the people that made that possible, friendships were made.

The next day, our expedition started, we paddled around the north face of the island, stopping for lunch in the middle and trying to get to the destination. The five hours that that trip took, we laughed, shouted, screamed and cried. The emotions pouring out as we laughed at the jokes, shouted at each other to keep up with the group, we screamed at how we never ever, wanted to kayak again and we cried when it was all over. Night fell and we camped out in our tents, again pushed to the limit with the living conditions, well maybe not as extreme as that but change is good right?

Morning came and the expedition continued. Tents were packed up, breakfast was served and we were off for another day. This time, longer and harder. Kayaking to another island and camping there over night. It was painful, your arms moving so hard but you had to go on. Camping that night was fun, a bonfire and thoughts and ideas passed around the circle. Once in a lifetime experience.

The last full day rolled around, cleaning day. We cleansed out and everything was washed, packed up and put away. A weight lifted off your shoulders and dinner was served. The bonfire roasted our marshmallows as it burned our faces off but you only live once right?

Throughout the trip I was happy, not homesick or sick in general. I capsized but I got back up and continued on. I was with my friends and I lived life while I was there. The trip gave me the chance to feel what being outdoors was like and really experiencing it.

It was not about the destination but how we got there, from start to finish and the process we took.  It was how we lived, the experiences we had, what we shared and why we did it. A journey to never ever forget but always one to remember, you only live once and you must try and do everything possible. Live. Love. Laugh. Scream. Shout. Cry. Enjoy ...

Just loving Sibu ...

Kayaking, another day gone ...

The jetty, storm approaching ...

Tide in, tide out ...

Go TEAM ... 

In paradise ...

The sunset ...

Another day, another dawn ...

Credits to Ms. Paula for all the awesome pics!!


Saturday 15 September 2012

When You Go and Come Back Different

Thoughts are going through my head as the days count down to the departure date. What will this experience give me? How will it be beneficial? Will I be a different person because of this trip?
I am off to Pualu Sibu in Malaysia, an island where we spent five days, kayaking and getting to know each other more. To build our trust bonds and to find out if we really are meant to be.

The trip does not daunt me but I just wonder what it will be like. There are only so many photos you can show someone for them to get an idea. Sigh. I am quite excited about the trip. The chance to take a break and just chill out. The stress of being like a lion, cooped up in a cage in a big, wide city will go away. The idea that those black rings under my eyes and my sore muscles will be gone forever. It will kind of be like a de - clutter activity. Throw it all out. Breath. Relax. Chill.

A week away from technology, to go offline and pretend you are invisible, will I miss it. Quite. I am a technology junkie and find it hard to balance, well, doesn't everyone? They learn to give it up, take the computer away from yourself and just learn to cope. Wait, that whole thing was a lie. I will miss it, as I tip - tap on the keyboard, multitasking, doing homework and seeing what my friends are up to. But life throws you in different directions and I can let go and breath, chill, laugh and live. If I am away from school, I can manage without the computer.

This blog post has gone in different directions but I feel that one of the main reasons for setting this up is so that I can have a place where I can let my thoughts roam into cyberspace and you can read it, if you want or not. Life is not all about a straight line that you have to follow and it throws your curveballs that you have to dodge. Think of it like a tightrope, trying to stay up and not looking down and falling off. Live life the way you want to, the question that I am imposing is, if you go somewhere or do something, will it change you? If you stop doing something for a period in time, will it change you? Let's find out ...


Friday 14 September 2012

Focusing On Africa

I do not know a lot about the country but I am very eager to find out. I do not have a very wide general knowledge on Africa but I think of it as a place that is diverse with many cultures and people, vast deserts and saharas with wild animals walking the land. It is a place that would like our help and I think that we as a group can listen to their stories and hear what they have to say and we can make connections and be there for them. I do not have a big connection to Africa, I have never been but I would love to go, one of my friends is from Africa and she tells me a lot about it and I also studied the country last year in Humanities. My study was on Ghana and I loved learning all about it and finding out information and people’s stories and what it is like to live there. We also in that study had to pretend we were living in Ghana and we had to create a real family with real names and it was a good opportunity to really connect with the country and put yourself in their shoes. As a member of this group, I would love to do something with education as I think that everyone deserves a right to an education. I have not heard of any smaller organisations that help with Africa instead of the world and also help in Africa but I would love to find out about them.

I have looked a little deeper into the organisations and I have found that I would love to help with, http://www.schoolsforafrica.org/, this organisation helps build schools in Africa in order for everyone to have an education. This is a sub organisation in UNICEF but I think that it will be a useful source.

Educating one child at a time ....

Do it for the country.


Thursday 13 September 2012

Thinking About Learning Through Blogging


The way I learn is that, the classroom is a place that is friendly, happy and people want to learn and they feel the need to. In the last five weeks, I have learnt about blogging and the world of blogging besides just doing it for fun. Making it a place where I can learn through other people, continue on with conversations that happened that day, to write what I am feeling or anything at all and talking to people through words and making sure that you are getting your message across and showing people your best side. 

Learning, in the new way is fun and exciting. As you look around the classroom and everyone has their laptops open, you feel as if it is a device that can really take off your learning, your work and who you are. Soon there will be no books and pencils and writing stuff out, it will all be done digitally. Shaping the world, one bit at a time.

I have found having a blog is useful as it activates your learning so much more, it allows you to make your learning, break your learning. Spread your wings and fly. Soaring through the skies. Being able to post something is a way of thinking and learning that I have never encountered before and that is because it is a new way of doing things. Technology. Taking over.

I have also found that having class discussions is a good way to understand each other and make sure we are all on the same page by the end. It is a good way to understand people's perspectives and how they think and then share your ideas as to how you disagree or agree with what people have said. Being able to see your peers, as you look around the room and the conversation just flows is something amazing. You never interrupt or ignore people's comments. You never say no, you might disagree but that is your opinion entirely. The table, as they call it, is a place for laughter, happiness and sharing thoughts and ideas, in the process of learning. 

Thinking back to all the ideas and creativeness that I have experienced in the four walls of the classroom and thinking about what we did. I think that we should not have done anything differently but I think that the teachers should have egged us on more in order to write more blog posts. Although that is a good thing to get it started and this space that we have up in the clouds,  is not so formal and if you want to write, you can but I think that because some people do not even have a blog post, it is a shame as this exercise is supposed to help us and not just be put on a page and nothing is done with it. 

I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and thoughts as life goes on and I hope that everyone will start using the blogs for other things and writing posts and everyone will be living through it. Love it. Share it. Live it. 


Share your ideas. Love it. Live it. 


For The Love Of Life

The world seems to be changing, people come and go and their mood changes, their way of life changes and how they act changes. The people around you may act strange and different that how you know them, they may act different for another person or just because they are feeling down.
They may not be friends with you anymore because of what happened and they may be friends with your worst enemy. Someone who was your best friend, is now your worst. Someone who you thought was always going to be there for you, slowly is not. The world changes but remember, friends are forever. Keep them close and love them. Hold them and make sure they are okay.

Life is forever, well at least until your passing and although your best friend now is probably not going to be as you move through school and move away, as you move around the globe and hang out with different people. You are probably not even going to know them when you graduate and go into the big wide world and find a job and live reality.

Make sure that you continue to love life, live your dreams and accomplish everything great. Look at the people around you and take in the changes, notice them but continue to be there for your friends or anyone in particular and be there, as a person that they know will always have their back.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Finding Your Identity

This blog will show my identity by reflecting who I am, it will show who I am and how I think. It will show my uniqueness and how I different, my thoughts and ideas can be let free. They can roam cyberspace and it can be an extension of who I am, away from who I am in person. 

This blog will help me form an identity and show who I am, it will best reflect me as it will be there and even though it is me typing and talking, it is different then getting to know me face to face. In another world. Sigh. 
So, welcome to the journey that we all must take, the lonely road that we must travel, an undecided future ahead and the rest is history. For none of us to know and for all of us to find out. Let's begin!


Thursday 6 September 2012

Losing Friend's Through an Expat's Eye

We get the chance to meet so many people, people that we would not have got the chance to meet living in our home country. The expat world is a bubble in which we roam, enjoy experiences, meet people and see the world. When someone leaves a country to move on to a new place, a new journey, a new experience it saddens the people around that person. We all know that living in the expat world provides realism, you are happy and you are sad, you meet a person and love them but eventually you both have to move on.

It makes you understand that the friendship does not have to be broken but the friend is losing you and you are losing the friend. It is all the experience, I guess. Ever heard of the saying, when one door closes, another two open. Well, when that friend leaves, you may find a best friend that stays with you all through school and keeps in contact with you whenever apart.

Having this experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it is a good life, you find yourself living every aspect of what people should live like. You go to a great school, have tons of friends, you partake in different activities to emerse yourself into as many different things as possible, you are able to help people and find out their stories and take that and share it with the world. Something that everyone should experience but because the world works a certain way, everybody can't. Never take it for granted and always love life ...

Tuesday 4 September 2012

When Technology Takes Over

When technology takes over, when you no more read and love books. When you are solely focused on that little computer screen that you look at day in, day out. What has the world come to, we no more read books, as you slide your hand across the rough page as your eyes dart around the page taking every word in.

Well, that is a lie, we do read but not as much as the world used to, soon enough, bookstores will not exist, your books will all be bought online. It is not the same feeling as feeling the page, on a computer you flick the page across, there is no excitement as you look down to see how many pages you have left.

I personally enjoy the feeling that you have when you read a book, you smell the freshness of the pages, knowing they have never been turned before. The cleanness of the words on the page, all perfect and neat. It let's your mind wander with the powerful words used. Imagine yourself, you are propped up in bed with a good book, the duna wrapped around you, one of the best feelings.


Over Commitment

Is there such thing as over commitment, can you ever be too committed in something that you can not stop? I think that you can only be over committed if you think you are. I believe that you can only be in this position in something that you do everyday and most of the time it is something to do with sport.

Sport. Something that I could not live without. It gives you a sense of freedom as you roam the field yelling to your team to pass you the ball, it is thrust at you and you drive the ball forward. It gives you a sense of accomplishment as you haul yourself out of the pool after a long, hard set.

Over commitment is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. If you are run down and sick and can not go on but you push yourself to, then it is a bad thing. If you are fine and happy and you can go on, then you should. I think balance is the key in this, you have to enjoy it but you can stop if you want to. It is a choice and it is your decision to make.

The people that surround me say that I do to much, I am a young and growing girl and they say that I need to stop. The thing with me is that I can't. I am too worked up and I feel that if I commit to something then I can never bail out on it and I always have to do it correctly. I am a strong believer in, if you are going to do something then do it correctly and not just do it because you have to.

Push yourself but not too hard that you are burned out. Live life and love it ... experience everything that you want to and just enjoy.

Live life on top of the world


Saturday 1 September 2012

The Inspiration


"The Grass Is Always Greener on The Other Side" 

- where you ignore all positive and look at only negative, where you always look at all the opportunities out there and thinking they are better. you are uncertain and curious. you miss out on a lot of things but you have to remember that the grass is always greener no matter which side you are on ... 

Look at the positive and not the negative ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dtkb29/2190984004/
Editing - PicMonkey