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Monday, January 28, 2013
guess it's finally time to bid goodbye to this endearing place.
thanks for being around for the past seven growing up years.
moved!
http://sophjourney.wordpress.com/
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
1:06 PM exactly one month before I'm home (:
And I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come
Your light could still shine through
And though at times it’s just enough to cast
A shadow on the wall
Well, I am grateful that you shine your light on me at all
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Well, 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
And the more I sing that sweet old song the more I understand
That I do not comprehend this love that’s coming from your hand
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
Amazing love, now flowing down
From hands and feet that were nailed to the tree
His grace flows down and covers me.
And covers me, and covers me, and covers me, and covers me
And covers me, and covers me, and covers me, and covers me
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Lord, who am I, yeah?
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Wednesday, May 04, 2011
10:24 PM close to a month's time
yes, it's just close to a month before i'm back home (:
time truly flies, and I can't help but thank God for His wonderful grace for me, all these while.
i know i haven't been updating this blog, as I wished i could. Well I have a backlog of expense records and photos to upload, waiting for me.
but right now, i just feel like coming here to say thank you Lord. came across this song, with really lovely lyrics.
Jesus will still be there
things change, plans fail
you look for love on a grander scale
storms rise, hopes fade
and you place your bets on another day
when the going gets tough
when the ride's too rough
when you're just not sure enough
Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
when no one else is true
He'll still be loving you
when it looks like you've lost it all
and you haven't got a prayer
Jesus will still be there
time flies, hearts turn
a little bit wiser from lessons learnt
but sometimes, weakness wins
and you lose your foothold once again
when the going gets tough
when the ride's too rough
when you're just not sure enough
yes, He's been here with me all along.
Labels: exchange
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Friday, March 18, 2011
11:08 AM Rouen - a short yet heartwarming trip
If I'm to use one word to describe this trip, it's -
heartwarming (:
As I type this I'm sitting on tgv back to reims (:
It was not a planned trip in fact I just thought of heading Rouen on sunday night. Why not? especially when there is no class on Tuesday and that lemin and mingrue will be ending their term soon in end march! well I really do want to visit them before they leave Europe.
On my way to rouen, I was really thankful for the opportunity to meet Arbi suksuk, Ahluan yiyi, Janice and their family in paris (: it was really an amazing feeling to meet them in paris! the fact that I only decided on Rouen the night before and the fact that they are in paris just on that day too (: they bought duck rice and char siew and to top it all bread from belgium which were altogether lovely!
During transit Zach and I stopped at Macs at st lazare and 'twas the most bizarre Macs we've seen with many mirrors and cellar alike on the interior; painted in gold and colorful crystals. shared duck rice and char siew and I almost teared eating duck rice cos it was so nice and I miss home food so much! it's funny how I used to take duck rice for granted yet now I treasure it so so much! 'twas zach's first time eating duck meat too, haha.
So we found our way to gare st lazare and took TER to Rouen. met Rouen natives on the train who had went skiing in the alps and it's cool how they taught us to pronounce Rouen the right way. 'twas one half hours of nap which followed after.0051: mingrue lemin and Roger came to fetch us at the Rouen gare and that was really sweet of them (: I still couldn't believe that I got to finally meet them (: and we took night rider bus - which had a crazy bus driver who sped like no other and 'twas funny when Ming said perhaps he just finished partying too and thus high before his night shift driver job, haha.
Caught up for a bit before tasting the night in Rouen (: Ming was really nice to let me squeeze on her bed! haha
We woke up ultra late and poor Aileen waited for us at the bus stop /: alas we still made our way to Rouen down town close to noon!Rouen downtown is really cosy quaint and beautiful (: especially the cottage alike houses! was telling Ming and lemin that Rouen seems to be Reims' twin cos these 2 places in France are so alike! but the houses architecture differs' with the wooden planks embroidered in cement walls.
Joan dArc was our first stop and it was a church of a scaled fish architecture! but voila the interior is amazing, feels like a protestant church though! and I can imagine papa preaching at the pulpit. guess I really miss hearing papa's sermon.
We headed on to buy Rouen's most famous Auzou macaroons (: bought caramel and vanilla and I prefer the vanilla (: bought another box of 14 to bring to Italy in 2 days' time for des, mel and jiaqi! Voila! the astronomical golden clock of Rouen! and Aileen and Zach figured out that the silver portion of the ball embedded at the centre determines the shape of the moon tonight and it indeed was that shape that night (:
As we're heading towards Hotel de Ville, the sun made its awesome appearance with its heat, warming my skin which has been much concealed beneath my coat for the past one half month (: Zach loved the sun too, and Ming said we're really lucky cos 'twas rare for Rouen to have such warm sunshine! We're so blessed! (:
We had the most chill coffee break at one of the cafes! loved their cafe creme served with a minute but sweet piece of chocolate from Belgium (: Zach was playing with the sugar cubes to see how coffee seeps into each sugar grain and he got 4 cubes in out of mere playfulness haha! we just sat there enjoying the hues of the sun and I almost forgot the wonder of sun's warmth till that moment - it vaguely rekindled memory of how hot sun at kallang be during my water trainings!
We headed on to a road by the stream beneath a stretch of cobbled street.it's amazingly cooling close to feet as you tread slowly along this street (:and entering this close to castle church is an amazing feeling, with the vast green field - white flowers seemingly floating and chestnuts scattered on the ground. caught an smu jump just right there with the girls! the beautiful church completes the close to perfect scene. notre dame alike but empty cos of the installation art exhibition held when we're there.We didn't enter hotel de ville in the end, just stood outside in awe of the building complete with a lonely France flag flying in rhythm to the light wind. napoleon statue was there too, and Ming commented how short Napoleon was! haha well I've no idea how tell he's supposed to be.
Rouen's Notre Dame Cathedral was lovely too, albeit the greyish black parts of the wall and this is the first cathedral I've seen with such a pointy tall structure. went inside and a man told me that one of the tomb houses ricardi who is the heart of lyon! and we caught the pipe organist playing the wedding march (: hearing the wedding march in such a place brings a feeling of hope and bliss!
The top view near the hostel was nice (: it overlooked the river siene, the cathedral and Rouen houses from afar (: sunset was amazing too!
Dinner was truly a feast (: I've never had such nice dinner for a month and a half already! curry cap chai, sausage egg and broccoli from kailee and Aileen, tom yum chicken soup from Roger, leek chicken from Ming and charsiew from me!! :D feels like im home again! and Aileen even made waffle nutella with apple slices and rum and raisin ice cream ((: yummy! was really touched! loads to talk about, and we played a pretty long monopoly deal game! zach's first time playing it!
Another night, and this time I crashed lemin's bed!
Bye bye Rouen (: tiny city, lingers much warmth in the heart.
Labels: exchange
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Wednesday, February 09, 2011
second weekend in france j'aime paris.
it is quite a magical place, with the eiffel tower which i have always dreamed of. and the real thing is much more majestic than what I have imagined it to be. went Paris last weekend with about 13 of my exchange mates. and it's really an awesome experience, cos everyone are pretty new to each other, there's no obligations and accountability but we took so good care of each other. the feeling is quite hard to describe, but i fully enjoyed their company, and will look forward to more of such short mini travels with my exchange mates.
the first place we visited was Sacre Coeur and it's a majestic cathedral with a really huge picture of Jesus right at the centre of the cathedral as you step into the interior. when you look down, it was a breathtaking scene of almost the entire Paris, and i love the sound of the church bells; I always wonder how the little clinks of bells always tug at my heartstrings. the lourve museum - the place where every artist must visit. it was so astounding to see the real size of all the paintings which I have learnt about in AEP in hwachong back 3 years ago. it's like as if they all come alive before your eyes - the tone of skin, the shades of paints and the love and passion the artists have devoted into every piece is amazing. we wallked past this artist who tried to imitate a painting on the wall. it's lovely too, but nowehere near the real thing. I guess replicas are but replica, just like how some people in your life can NEVER be replaced and always have a special place in the pocket of your heart (:
the eiffel tower - what can i say. it's taken me off my feet, the architecture, the grandness of it all. i couldn't help but delight each time i see the eiffel (: and smile like a silly idiot. there is also an ice-skating ring on the second level of eiffel! i wish that i can ice-skate... maybe i can master it! there's an ice-skating party coming up this thursday so perhaps I will learn and go back to eiffel to skate (: yes, and up we went to the very top via a lift/elevator - or so they call it. LOVELY. lovely scene and wind at the top of eiffel. anyone should go there at least once in their lifetime, really. and it's even better because of the humurous and simple company of all my exchange mates, laughing over silly matters and talking in various languages that even though you don't understand it all, you still have that smile lingering at the corner of your lips. dinner was kebab, but it wasn't as nice as the DURUM kebab back in Reims! had my first original kebab in paris and i love their fries (: very crispy on the outside and warm and a lil juicy at the inner bits! oh I AM SUCH A PIG.
we headed on to SHOWCASE club there after. the queue was mad, and at first i was wondering where the club could be cos' i dont see a single building. but viola, it's underground! haha though the music could really be better, it was quite an eye opener to see the parisians club. they weren't that wild, but they danced perfect to the rhythm of music in their different sways. cabbed back home cos it was close to 5am when we went back. woke up early in the morning to pray at the Sacre Couer cathedral, and it is a feeling of serenity and peace. we checked out and off we went to the TGV station.
the train ride home was nice, and it was a nice train we took - comfy and with exhilirating scenery captured outside the window as the train zoomed along the pastures on the railway track.
bye Paris, and I'm pretty sure i will be back really soon (:
Labels: exchange
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Friday, January 28, 2011
6:17 PM in God's precious hands, and His little miracles for me - Reims, Champagne
am officially one week in France.
finally had the chance to blog tonight, it's gonna be a long entry, but one with many little moments i would never want to forget (: details fade when not scribed, so i'll be here often now to tape the chords of exchange so that I have something to look back, and smile.
before i type anything, i just wanna say that:
ABOVE ALL, thank you Lord for bringing me to Reims;
for keeping me safe and secure, with nice companionship of the rest of the exchange students and some others from CIS, BDI and RMS.
(:
for allowing a smooth SMUSA AGM with not even a single question to our Council. that to me, says a lot about how much our council and exco have achieved. an unspoken acknowledgement, and how God has kept us all together as one even though we'd had our squabbles. and how the school has grown and will continue to grow as Ryan lead SMUSA (: a sweet ending, with bittersweet memories. I will definitely miss my exco, esp those who have fought so closely alongside me, thankyou. t'was my last speech too, and yes no matter what purpose you have in SMU, it's not what you have in life, but who you have alongside you that truly matters.
for changing the Reims orientation day from official 27th (email sent since october) to 28th (email sent in january!) when SMUSA agm has to be on the 26th. how often does official orientation day changes? (:
for all my lovely friends (feli, liwei, nicholas, sam, elendreus, alex, matt, gladys, caleb, des, carol, claudie, bekah!) and of course my dearest dad, mum and bro to send me off at the airport until the moment i stepped into the departure hall.
for the airport lady who allowed 34kg in when the limit's 30-32kg max. it's amazing, cos I wouldnt know how to remove things off my big luggage at the airport!
for giving me an SMU friend, Candera, on the plane to Paris, transit at Dubai, when all along I thought that I'm travelling alone. She told me she almost booked the flight next day but somehow she just booked a day earlier. How often does that happen? And we'd safe flights and nice company at transit though we'd no trolleys to lug our really rock heavy backpacks! Thanks to her watching after my things and getting me to the right gates and all.
for the shuttle to Reims that finally came!
i'd to wait for 3 hours at the Paris airport for the shuttle to Reims, and I called the Easy Navette shuttle in France frantically. The lady who picked up could only speak french and i panicked cos by then Candera had left to take train and I was alone. Luckily there's another guy on the phone who could speak english and he found my register for the shuttle. I'm glad I've a working singapore line, but after the first call, I realised I only had 3% left on my phone battery! I'd to quickly charge my phone using my laptop; and at that very moment, I'm thankful that I've placed my iPhone charger in my backpack though I'd almost packed it into the big luggage. I called papa cos I was so afraid there's no shuttle and papa told me to just wait in faith, and true enough, the shuttle did come, and it was a very nice driver who helped me carry my luggage all the way to the front of CIS hostel.
the scenery on the highway to Reims was so beautiful, the vast green land and the blue sky with coniferous trees and smoke from houses' chimney now and then. I fell asleep about twice or thrice, it was a private shuttle so there's no one except for me and the driver and I could lay flat on the second row. haha. I cannot explain the feeling when I finally saw REIMS sign and the shuttle swerved smoothly into the land that I've been dreaming and preparing so much for.
the houses, the cobbled streets, the gates, doors of houses; i felt like I was in the moving pages of a storybook, dreamland storybook. (: it's an amazing feeling to be - in Reims.
for CIS hostel. Pedro, then i just knew as the reception guy when I just arrived at my temporary hostel, helped me carry my 34kg luggage up 2 levels cos my room was on the second level and I was at the block with no lift. And the moment I entered my room, I feel so blessed because it's such a cozy pretty room, the kind that I've always imagined - small, yet full of warmth when the wind is blowing hard outside. that night I met a girl from China, Violette, who showed me where the kitchen and i boiled drinking water for the night before I sleep. Am so thankful that she's an exchange student to RMS too and we set it then to go to school at 8 together with everyone else. God provides, always and everyday.
for a wonderful orientation day at Reims.
it was a rush to get to school the next morning, and I was glad I met Susana from Mexico and we went down the cafetaria together, only to see everyone there ((: met Zach from US, and the rest of the chinese girls - there are 12 of them in total! was worried there'll be no asians earlier on!
we walked 25 minutes to school, and where everyone gathered and got to know each other. there's a countless number of administrative things we'd to settle, from money matter to identity validation, but the walks from one room to another gave time to knowing our fellow exchange mates. we'd a Pommery wine cellar tour which was lovely -i've always liked wine, and all about it. and I finally got to see, touch and feel a real cellar, and tasted my first champagne! (: Got to know Barbora from Checzh and Kevan from BDI alongside champagne toasts.
for a simple yet warm dinner with almost all exchange students at the pizza place! thankyou BDI for organizing (: had a 5.50 euro huge MAYA pizza, it's ham with honey and special fromage! lovely! and getting to know each other session yet again, haha.
for an amazing first weekend in Reims.
early morning Violette brought me to Inter Marche, a supermarket 10 mins away from CIS to buy grocery! I was overjoyed from the affordable price and wide variety of things! it's about the size of any ntuc just that it's one big vast floor selling almost everything. Mummy don't have to worry cos' there're plenty of meat, vegetables, cheese, everything you name it you can almost find it, no chilli and singapore cuisines of course! am thankful Violette showed me the way there (:
explored the heart of Reims city with Violette, Barbora and Martina and it's really such a joy! We'd little cafe break at MacDonalds haha and the cappuccino's lovely! (:
the kitchen was a comedy at night! everyone were gathered there, cooking together, enjoying each other's companionship as we're all away from home and adapting to Reims!
following nights, the kitchen was always alive, we'd red, white wines, rose, a special Chezch concoction with 60% alcohol made by Martina's parents and tequilla! but none of us got drunk, and we chattered till late! (: breakfasts been nice too, with baguette plus butter and strawberry jam, cereal and mil, yoghurt, cappuccino and cafe creme, bananas, and off to school we go by foot altogether on monday! met a french american guy chris who just came to france for soccer, and another aussie guy josh who have went bagpacking trip for 4 months and he's 11 more days to go before home. interesting exchanges of experiences (:
for the opportunity to worship at Notre Dame Reims Cathedral. I was truly happy to have Barbora to go with me the first sunday here in France. It was a catholic mass, with its full procedure. But knowing His overflowing grace for me during holy communion was a moment to cherish. I will be here every sunday if there's no other christian church in Reims. thank you Lord, for Your presence.
for a safe shift to ACOBHA Residence. tuesday morning was a mad, mad packing moment! Had a shuttle to drive us to ACOBHA, and at the end we could only leave our luggage at the lobby! came to shift into room finally after class and SURPRISE! Barka, the lady in charge, told me that I'm lucky to get a fully renovated room! It's brand new, and no one has lived in the renovated room before. The kitchen wares are still in their packagings, the toilet sparkling clean. It's amazing how God cares for me, so, so much!
for being able to finally unlock my luggage! yes i think i was too frantic while packing that morning when we'd to shift, and i accidentally changed the lock on my big luggage. it was horrfying, messaged bro and it was such an assurance from him that if I just try all the numbers from 0-999 the luggage will be fine! so the first thing I did in my new room was to meddle with the lock conscientiously from 0,1, ... and I finally got it at 7 hundred plus. almost cried though, cos I cant imagine what to do if it can't be opened, and was so careful cos was afraid I'ld miss a number or two. It's these little bizzare incidents that can truly strengthen me and force me to grow.
for french lessons with french professors and all the humours in class! (: yes, and one teacher made me go to the front while she spelled out the numbers in French and I'd to write the numerals. I almost died. Apparently my class is a beginner class (about 13 people) and the rest of the exchange students are in intermediate and advanced! but there are only like 5 REAL beginners and I'm one. so the teachers love to ask me to read and all that, so classes had been pretty pressurizing at the start! but am really getting used to the pace and tones of french language now. Though i still can't believe I'd to say the word J'aime 20 times to get it right in front of everyone! -.- But in all, french is really a beautiful language!
for chinese new year! celebrated by cooking chinese dishes with exchange friends from China! and we invited Barbora and Martina from Chezch too and it's nice when they like the chinese cuisines too! i really miss mummy's dishes and soups and daddy's charkuaytiao, steamed fish and seafood galore ):
for pina co lada concert which we'd the chance to go up and sing "freedom", haha, and for a lovely crepe party "le chandelier" (: so we rushed down to the party after CNY mini little celebration! Luckily we met the guys at the bus-stop lest we may get lost to the place! T'was at someone's apartment on 4th floor, and BDI made crepes and i tried cider, love it (: I love the crepe with strawberry and little icing sugar! oh and I made a deal to make springrolls ohmy, gotta practice and perfect it by next week hopefully!
and tonight, I feel truly blessed to have this time to finally quieten down a little and count the many blessings I've had thus far. nights are pretty chilly in my room, even though there's a heater.
but i still love WINTER a lot, cos it truly lets me understand how precious warmth is.
for all that've happened, and all that's to come, everything is in God's perfect plan; and I always wonder at all the miracles He'd in my life.
i feel more than blessed
i'm missing home so much right now - papa, mama and philo, especially when it's chinese new year and I've never spent this festive season away from home.
a new beginning, yet another exciting learning journey awaiting me - with faith.
ps: complete photos on fb (:
Labels: exchange
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
ohmy, i really can't sleep. Am freaking out from the thought that i'll be flying off soon ALONE ): what should i do!
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since i can't sleep, i might as well use the time to note down what else i'ld need to do.
right?
cos' lying down in bed super aimlessly feeling scared of exchange is really useless.
SOPHIA'S TO DO LIST as of 16th jan:
1. buy cross necklace, my current one broke )):
2. change euros (on mon?)
3. apply citibank euro account (on mon?)
4. check posb and ocbc balance, and need to deposit enough money in there
5. check if need mummy's supplementary credit card from stan-chart
6. finish AGM speech (by tues)
7. finish annual report designs and layouts (by tues)
8. photocopy important documents
9. buy all the things i still need to (which is another long, long list)
10. farewell meals with friends
11. more family dinners at home, cos' i'm gonna miss mummy's cooked food so, so much
12. thread eyebrows (on 25th jan)
13. buy iphone (on 20th jan) and i need to learn how to use and download all the apps! SOS
14. print photos to be brought to exchange
15.
okay im sleepy now, au revoir
a short one, rather than none.
Labels: thoughts
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5:22 PM i want my voice back - and flying off in 12 days' time.
my voice is slowly coming back (yes it is!)
after all the "gurgles" with weird-taste liquid and antibiotics. seriously, inflammation. from talking too much, haha. hard to believe. but all in all, i just want my voice back fully!
it's such a scary feeling to not be able to talk.
like i went to mr.bean and it was so hard to even order a warm soy bean drink. that's just one, of the many 'huhs' and weird looks from people when I try to speak, or whisper, or gesture what i needed to say. i was so scared i'ld lose my voice forever, i know it's kinda silly to think in such a way, but that fear's just immense whenever nothing comes out of your vocal chord, even if you tried clearing your throat umpteenth time. went for all the AGMs and bondue bash croaking and whispering funny noises. i wouldn't pass as a good mime.
mummy's pretty voiceless now too ): and she'd got to teach sunday school and lead dorcas fellowship tomorrow. really hope that she will have her voice back, and strength from Him to survive tomorrow. I've let mummy tried gurgling the med doc gave me, hopefully it will help!
went to Tiff's house last wed night to have a 11pm-6am non stop catchup session (part of the reason why i lost my voice) but it's all worth it. haven't seen my bestie for more that 1.5 years! and am truly glad she's been safe and sound in berkeley, and heartened to hear that she's coming back singapore after graduation ((: we may end up as future colleagues too! exciting (: will be sending her off tomorrow at the airport, bon voyage bestie, will wait for you to come back again (:
and, france in 12 days' time.
i can hardly believe it, and im fearing it more than anything else.
got my visa finally yesterday (after going to embassy thrice, and bank to get mummy's statement of accounts etc)! thank God, and thank you mummy and daddy who've been praying for me all along! mummy's gotten me most of the medicine i need for France (medicine's really of utmost importance cos no one's gonna save me when I'm sick there - scary)
many asked if i've packed. well everything's either strewn on my study table, or messily arranged in my huge luggage so far! feel kinda lazy to pack all of them neatly, but I know i better get them down on monday morning/ tonight! excel sheet of packing list is still incomplete, better get it done soon too. sigh, wish I'm not going alone now, then maybe I'ld have someone else to share the load too - i got to bring mini pots and pans so that I could at least cook for the first week or something! i hope. oh yes, i haven't bought all the premixes!
oh yes, gonna teach the kids with Des for the first time tomorrow! Jesus is light (: and we'll have the 'follow the sound, guess what you eat/drink' game and treasure hunt! complete with 'give me oil in my lamp' song! (: am really looking forward to it, hopefully the kids learn and treasure the lesson too, and that it stays with them for a long, long time to come!
gonna sleep, been really tired working on annual report designs, can't wait for it to be done (: jiayou Van and Em who are still burning tonight and tomorrow night and many more nights editing it, come on' it's the last lap. for the best aye girls!
night world, i've got to learn to stop waiting sometimes.
was hopeful, still am hopeful. maybe
got to learn to be truly independent when i'm alone
"alone? you're never alone"
cos' Jesus' watching over you, always and always
(:
Labels: family, thoughts, tiff
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
no more fever finally! (:
thankyou Lord, cos if fever lasts i wouldn't have been able to finish annual report layout and statement...still have my report to redo cos of many overlaps by everyone else /: hope i can finish by tomr, am really tired of it already. Very tired and exhausted from it.
insomnia now, must be too many hours of sleeping so that fever goes away, and now i can no longer sleep /:
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Monday, January 28, 2013
guess it's finally time to bid goodbye to this endearing place.
thanks for being around for the past seven growing up years.
moved!
http://sophjourney.wordpress.com/
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Over time you’ve healed so much in meAnd I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come
Your light could still shine through
And though at times it’s just enough to cast
A shadow on the wall
Well, I am grateful that you shine your light on me at all
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Well, 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
And the more I sing that sweet old song the more I understand
That I do not comprehend this love that’s coming from your hand
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
Amazing love, now flowing down
From hands and feet that were nailed to the tree
His grace flows down and covers me.
And covers me, and covers me, and covers me, and covers me
And covers me, and covers me, and covers me, and covers me
Who am I that you would love me so gently?
Who am I that you would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that you would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Lord, who am I, yeah?
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Wednesday, May 04, 2011
yes, it's just close to a month before i'm back home (:
time truly flies, and I can't help but thank God for His wonderful grace for me, all these while.
i know i haven't been updating this blog, as I wished i could. Well I have a backlog of expense records and photos to upload, waiting for me.
but right now, i just feel like coming here to say thank you Lord. came across this song, with really lovely lyrics.
Jesus will still be there
things change, plans fail
you look for love on a grander scale
storms rise, hopes fade
and you place your bets on another day
when the going gets tough
when the ride's too rough
when you're just not sure enough
Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
when no one else is true
He'll still be loving you
when it looks like you've lost it all
and you haven't got a prayer
Jesus will still be there
time flies, hearts turn
a little bit wiser from lessons learnt
but sometimes, weakness wins
and you lose your foothold once again
when the going gets tough
when the ride's too rough
when you're just not sure enough
yes, He's been here with me all along.
Labels: exchange
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Friday, March 18, 2011
15-16 march 2011If I'm to use one word to describe this trip, it's -
heartwarming (:
As I type this I'm sitting on tgv back to reims (:
It was not a planned trip in fact I just thought of heading Rouen on sunday night. Why not? especially when there is no class on Tuesday and that lemin and mingrue will be ending their term soon in end march! well I really do want to visit them before they leave Europe.
On my way to rouen, I was really thankful for the opportunity to meet Arbi suksuk, Ahluan yiyi, Janice and their family in paris (: it was really an amazing feeling to meet them in paris! the fact that I only decided on Rouen the night before and the fact that they are in paris just on that day too (: they bought duck rice and char siew and to top it all bread from belgium which were altogether lovely!
During transit Zach and I stopped at Macs at st lazare and 'twas the most bizarre Macs we've seen with many mirrors and cellar alike on the interior; painted in gold and colorful crystals. shared duck rice and char siew and I almost teared eating duck rice cos it was so nice and I miss home food so much! it's funny how I used to take duck rice for granted yet now I treasure it so so much! 'twas zach's first time eating duck meat too, haha.
So we found our way to gare st lazare and took TER to Rouen. met Rouen natives on the train who had went skiing in the alps and it's cool how they taught us to pronounce Rouen the right way. 'twas one half hours of nap which followed after.0051: mingrue lemin and Roger came to fetch us at the Rouen gare and that was really sweet of them (: I still couldn't believe that I got to finally meet them (: and we took night rider bus - which had a crazy bus driver who sped like no other and 'twas funny when Ming said perhaps he just finished partying too and thus high before his night shift driver job, haha.
Caught up for a bit before tasting the night in Rouen (: Ming was really nice to let me squeeze on her bed! haha
We woke up ultra late and poor Aileen waited for us at the bus stop /: alas we still made our way to Rouen down town close to noon!Rouen downtown is really cosy quaint and beautiful (: especially the cottage alike houses! was telling Ming and lemin that Rouen seems to be Reims' twin cos these 2 places in France are so alike! but the houses architecture differs' with the wooden planks embroidered in cement walls.
Joan dArc was our first stop and it was a church of a scaled fish architecture! but voila the interior is amazing, feels like a protestant church though! and I can imagine papa preaching at the pulpit. guess I really miss hearing papa's sermon.
We headed on to buy Rouen's most famous Auzou macaroons (: bought caramel and vanilla and I prefer the vanilla (: bought another box of 14 to bring to Italy in 2 days' time for des, mel and jiaqi! Voila! the astronomical golden clock of Rouen! and Aileen and Zach figured out that the silver portion of the ball embedded at the centre determines the shape of the moon tonight and it indeed was that shape that night (:
As we're heading towards Hotel de Ville, the sun made its awesome appearance with its heat, warming my skin which has been much concealed beneath my coat for the past one half month (: Zach loved the sun too, and Ming said we're really lucky cos 'twas rare for Rouen to have such warm sunshine! We're so blessed! (:
We had the most chill coffee break at one of the cafes! loved their cafe creme served with a minute but sweet piece of chocolate from Belgium (: Zach was playing with the sugar cubes to see how coffee seeps into each sugar grain and he got 4 cubes in out of mere playfulness haha! we just sat there enjoying the hues of the sun and I almost forgot the wonder of sun's warmth till that moment - it vaguely rekindled memory of how hot sun at kallang be during my water trainings!
We headed on to a road by the stream beneath a stretch of cobbled street.it's amazingly cooling close to feet as you tread slowly along this street (:and entering this close to castle church is an amazing feeling, with the vast green field - white flowers seemingly floating and chestnuts scattered on the ground. caught an smu jump just right there with the girls! the beautiful church completes the close to perfect scene. notre dame alike but empty cos of the installation art exhibition held when we're there.We didn't enter hotel de ville in the end, just stood outside in awe of the building complete with a lonely France flag flying in rhythm to the light wind. napoleon statue was there too, and Ming commented how short Napoleon was! haha well I've no idea how tell he's supposed to be.
Rouen's Notre Dame Cathedral was lovely too, albeit the greyish black parts of the wall and this is the first cathedral I've seen with such a pointy tall structure. went inside and a man told me that one of the tomb houses ricardi who is the heart of lyon! and we caught the pipe organist playing the wedding march (: hearing the wedding march in such a place brings a feeling of hope and bliss!
The top view near the hostel was nice (: it overlooked the river siene, the cathedral and Rouen houses from afar (: sunset was amazing too!
Dinner was truly a feast (: I've never had such nice dinner for a month and a half already! curry cap chai, sausage egg and broccoli from kailee and Aileen, tom yum chicken soup from Roger, leek chicken from Ming and charsiew from me!! :D feels like im home again! and Aileen even made waffle nutella with apple slices and rum and raisin ice cream ((: yummy! was really touched! loads to talk about, and we played a pretty long monopoly deal game! zach's first time playing it!
Another night, and this time I crashed lemin's bed!
Bye bye Rouen (: tiny city, lingers much warmth in the heart.
Labels: exchange
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Wednesday, February 09, 2011
second weekend in france j'aime paris.
it is quite a magical place, with the eiffel tower which i have always dreamed of. and the real thing is much more majestic than what I have imagined it to be. went Paris last weekend with about 13 of my exchange mates. and it's really an awesome experience, cos everyone are pretty new to each other, there's no obligations and accountability but we took so good care of each other. the feeling is quite hard to describe, but i fully enjoyed their company, and will look forward to more of such short mini travels with my exchange mates.
the first place we visited was Sacre Coeur and it's a majestic cathedral with a really huge picture of Jesus right at the centre of the cathedral as you step into the interior. when you look down, it was a breathtaking scene of almost the entire Paris, and i love the sound of the church bells; I always wonder how the little clinks of bells always tug at my heartstrings. the lourve museum - the place where every artist must visit. it was so astounding to see the real size of all the paintings which I have learnt about in AEP in hwachong back 3 years ago. it's like as if they all come alive before your eyes - the tone of skin, the shades of paints and the love and passion the artists have devoted into every piece is amazing. we wallked past this artist who tried to imitate a painting on the wall. it's lovely too, but nowehere near the real thing. I guess replicas are but replica, just like how some people in your life can NEVER be replaced and always have a special place in the pocket of your heart (:
the eiffel tower - what can i say. it's taken me off my feet, the architecture, the grandness of it all. i couldn't help but delight each time i see the eiffel (: and smile like a silly idiot. there is also an ice-skating ring on the second level of eiffel! i wish that i can ice-skate... maybe i can master it! there's an ice-skating party coming up this thursday so perhaps I will learn and go back to eiffel to skate (: yes, and up we went to the very top via a lift/elevator - or so they call it. LOVELY. lovely scene and wind at the top of eiffel. anyone should go there at least once in their lifetime, really. and it's even better because of the humurous and simple company of all my exchange mates, laughing over silly matters and talking in various languages that even though you don't understand it all, you still have that smile lingering at the corner of your lips. dinner was kebab, but it wasn't as nice as the DURUM kebab back in Reims! had my first original kebab in paris and i love their fries (: very crispy on the outside and warm and a lil juicy at the inner bits! oh I AM SUCH A PIG.
we headed on to SHOWCASE club there after. the queue was mad, and at first i was wondering where the club could be cos' i dont see a single building. but viola, it's underground! haha though the music could really be better, it was quite an eye opener to see the parisians club. they weren't that wild, but they danced perfect to the rhythm of music in their different sways. cabbed back home cos it was close to 5am when we went back. woke up early in the morning to pray at the Sacre Couer cathedral, and it is a feeling of serenity and peace. we checked out and off we went to the TGV station.
the train ride home was nice, and it was a nice train we took - comfy and with exhilirating scenery captured outside the window as the train zoomed along the pastures on the railway track.
bye Paris, and I'm pretty sure i will be back really soon (:
Labels: exchange
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Friday, January 28, 2011
am officially one week in France.
finally had the chance to blog tonight, it's gonna be a long entry, but one with many little moments i would never want to forget (: details fade when not scribed, so i'll be here often now to tape the chords of exchange so that I have something to look back, and smile.
before i type anything, i just wanna say that:
ABOVE ALL, thank you Lord for bringing me to Reims;
for keeping me safe and secure, with nice companionship of the rest of the exchange students and some others from CIS, BDI and RMS.
(:
for allowing a smooth SMUSA AGM with not even a single question to our Council. that to me, says a lot about how much our council and exco have achieved. an unspoken acknowledgement, and how God has kept us all together as one even though we'd had our squabbles. and how the school has grown and will continue to grow as Ryan lead SMUSA (: a sweet ending, with bittersweet memories. I will definitely miss my exco, esp those who have fought so closely alongside me, thankyou. t'was my last speech too, and yes no matter what purpose you have in SMU, it's not what you have in life, but who you have alongside you that truly matters.
for changing the Reims orientation day from official 27th (email sent since october) to 28th (email sent in january!) when SMUSA agm has to be on the 26th. how often does official orientation day changes? (:
for all my lovely friends (feli, liwei, nicholas, sam, elendreus, alex, matt, gladys, caleb, des, carol, claudie, bekah!) and of course my dearest dad, mum and bro to send me off at the airport until the moment i stepped into the departure hall.
for the airport lady who allowed 34kg in when the limit's 30-32kg max. it's amazing, cos I wouldnt know how to remove things off my big luggage at the airport!
for giving me an SMU friend, Candera, on the plane to Paris, transit at Dubai, when all along I thought that I'm travelling alone. She told me she almost booked the flight next day but somehow she just booked a day earlier. How often does that happen? And we'd safe flights and nice company at transit though we'd no trolleys to lug our really rock heavy backpacks! Thanks to her watching after my things and getting me to the right gates and all.
for the shuttle to Reims that finally came!
i'd to wait for 3 hours at the Paris airport for the shuttle to Reims, and I called the Easy Navette shuttle in France frantically. The lady who picked up could only speak french and i panicked cos by then Candera had left to take train and I was alone. Luckily there's another guy on the phone who could speak english and he found my register for the shuttle. I'm glad I've a working singapore line, but after the first call, I realised I only had 3% left on my phone battery! I'd to quickly charge my phone using my laptop; and at that very moment, I'm thankful that I've placed my iPhone charger in my backpack though I'd almost packed it into the big luggage. I called papa cos I was so afraid there's no shuttle and papa told me to just wait in faith, and true enough, the shuttle did come, and it was a very nice driver who helped me carry my luggage all the way to the front of CIS hostel.
the scenery on the highway to Reims was so beautiful, the vast green land and the blue sky with coniferous trees and smoke from houses' chimney now and then. I fell asleep about twice or thrice, it was a private shuttle so there's no one except for me and the driver and I could lay flat on the second row. haha. I cannot explain the feeling when I finally saw REIMS sign and the shuttle swerved smoothly into the land that I've been dreaming and preparing so much for.
the houses, the cobbled streets, the gates, doors of houses; i felt like I was in the moving pages of a storybook, dreamland storybook. (: it's an amazing feeling to be - in Reims.
for CIS hostel. Pedro, then i just knew as the reception guy when I just arrived at my temporary hostel, helped me carry my 34kg luggage up 2 levels cos my room was on the second level and I was at the block with no lift. And the moment I entered my room, I feel so blessed because it's such a cozy pretty room, the kind that I've always imagined - small, yet full of warmth when the wind is blowing hard outside. that night I met a girl from China, Violette, who showed me where the kitchen and i boiled drinking water for the night before I sleep. Am so thankful that she's an exchange student to RMS too and we set it then to go to school at 8 together with everyone else. God provides, always and everyday.
for a wonderful orientation day at Reims.
it was a rush to get to school the next morning, and I was glad I met Susana from Mexico and we went down the cafetaria together, only to see everyone there ((: met Zach from US, and the rest of the chinese girls - there are 12 of them in total! was worried there'll be no asians earlier on!
we walked 25 minutes to school, and where everyone gathered and got to know each other. there's a countless number of administrative things we'd to settle, from money matter to identity validation, but the walks from one room to another gave time to knowing our fellow exchange mates. we'd a Pommery wine cellar tour which was lovely -i've always liked wine, and all about it. and I finally got to see, touch and feel a real cellar, and tasted my first champagne! (: Got to know Barbora from Checzh and Kevan from BDI alongside champagne toasts.
for a simple yet warm dinner with almost all exchange students at the pizza place! thankyou BDI for organizing (: had a 5.50 euro huge MAYA pizza, it's ham with honey and special fromage! lovely! and getting to know each other session yet again, haha.
for an amazing first weekend in Reims.
early morning Violette brought me to Inter Marche, a supermarket 10 mins away from CIS to buy grocery! I was overjoyed from the affordable price and wide variety of things! it's about the size of any ntuc just that it's one big vast floor selling almost everything. Mummy don't have to worry cos' there're plenty of meat, vegetables, cheese, everything you name it you can almost find it, no chilli and singapore cuisines of course! am thankful Violette showed me the way there (:
explored the heart of Reims city with Violette, Barbora and Martina and it's really such a joy! We'd little cafe break at MacDonalds haha and the cappuccino's lovely! (:
the kitchen was a comedy at night! everyone were gathered there, cooking together, enjoying each other's companionship as we're all away from home and adapting to Reims!
following nights, the kitchen was always alive, we'd red, white wines, rose, a special Chezch concoction with 60% alcohol made by Martina's parents and tequilla! but none of us got drunk, and we chattered till late! (: breakfasts been nice too, with baguette plus butter and strawberry jam, cereal and mil, yoghurt, cappuccino and cafe creme, bananas, and off to school we go by foot altogether on monday! met a french american guy chris who just came to france for soccer, and another aussie guy josh who have went bagpacking trip for 4 months and he's 11 more days to go before home. interesting exchanges of experiences (:
for the opportunity to worship at Notre Dame Reims Cathedral. I was truly happy to have Barbora to go with me the first sunday here in France. It was a catholic mass, with its full procedure. But knowing His overflowing grace for me during holy communion was a moment to cherish. I will be here every sunday if there's no other christian church in Reims. thank you Lord, for Your presence.
for a safe shift to ACOBHA Residence. tuesday morning was a mad, mad packing moment! Had a shuttle to drive us to ACOBHA, and at the end we could only leave our luggage at the lobby! came to shift into room finally after class and SURPRISE! Barka, the lady in charge, told me that I'm lucky to get a fully renovated room! It's brand new, and no one has lived in the renovated room before. The kitchen wares are still in their packagings, the toilet sparkling clean. It's amazing how God cares for me, so, so much!
for being able to finally unlock my luggage! yes i think i was too frantic while packing that morning when we'd to shift, and i accidentally changed the lock on my big luggage. it was horrfying, messaged bro and it was such an assurance from him that if I just try all the numbers from 0-999 the luggage will be fine! so the first thing I did in my new room was to meddle with the lock conscientiously from 0,1, ... and I finally got it at 7 hundred plus. almost cried though, cos I cant imagine what to do if it can't be opened, and was so careful cos was afraid I'ld miss a number or two. It's these little bizzare incidents that can truly strengthen me and force me to grow.
for french lessons with french professors and all the humours in class! (: yes, and one teacher made me go to the front while she spelled out the numbers in French and I'd to write the numerals. I almost died. Apparently my class is a beginner class (about 13 people) and the rest of the exchange students are in intermediate and advanced! but there are only like 5 REAL beginners and I'm one. so the teachers love to ask me to read and all that, so classes had been pretty pressurizing at the start! but am really getting used to the pace and tones of french language now. Though i still can't believe I'd to say the word J'aime 20 times to get it right in front of everyone! -.- But in all, french is really a beautiful language!
for chinese new year! celebrated by cooking chinese dishes with exchange friends from China! and we invited Barbora and Martina from Chezch too and it's nice when they like the chinese cuisines too! i really miss mummy's dishes and soups and daddy's charkuaytiao, steamed fish and seafood galore ):
for pina co lada concert which we'd the chance to go up and sing "freedom", haha, and for a lovely crepe party "le chandelier" (: so we rushed down to the party after CNY mini little celebration! Luckily we met the guys at the bus-stop lest we may get lost to the place! T'was at someone's apartment on 4th floor, and BDI made crepes and i tried cider, love it (: I love the crepe with strawberry and little icing sugar! oh and I made a deal to make springrolls ohmy, gotta practice and perfect it by next week hopefully!
and tonight, I feel truly blessed to have this time to finally quieten down a little and count the many blessings I've had thus far. nights are pretty chilly in my room, even though there's a heater.
but i still love WINTER a lot, cos it truly lets me understand how precious warmth is.
for all that've happened, and all that's to come, everything is in God's perfect plan; and I always wonder at all the miracles He'd in my life.
i feel more than blessed
i'm missing home so much right now - papa, mama and philo, especially when it's chinese new year and I've never spent this festive season away from home.
a new beginning, yet another exciting learning journey awaiting me - with faith.
ps: complete photos on fb (:
Labels: exchange
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
ohmy, i really can't sleep. Am freaking out from the thought that i'll be flying off soon ALONE ): what should i do!
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since i can't sleep, i might as well use the time to note down what else i'ld need to do.
right?
cos' lying down in bed super aimlessly feeling scared of exchange is really useless.
SOPHIA'S TO DO LIST as of 16th jan:
1. buy cross necklace, my current one broke )):
2. change euros (on mon?)
3. apply citibank euro account (on mon?)
4. check posb and ocbc balance, and need to deposit enough money in there
5. check if need mummy's supplementary credit card from stan-chart
6. finish AGM speech (by tues)
7. finish annual report designs and layouts (by tues)
8. photocopy important documents
9. buy all the things i still need to (which is another long, long list)
10. farewell meals with friends
11. more family dinners at home, cos' i'm gonna miss mummy's cooked food so, so much
12. thread eyebrows (on 25th jan)
13. buy iphone (on 20th jan) and i need to learn how to use and download all the apps! SOS
14. print photos to be brought to exchange
15.
okay im sleepy now, au revoir
a short one, rather than none.
Labels: thoughts
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my voice is slowly coming back (yes it is!)
after all the "gurgles" with weird-taste liquid and antibiotics. seriously, inflammation. from talking too much, haha. hard to believe. but all in all, i just want my voice back fully!
it's such a scary feeling to not be able to talk.
like i went to mr.bean and it was so hard to even order a warm soy bean drink. that's just one, of the many 'huhs' and weird looks from people when I try to speak, or whisper, or gesture what i needed to say. i was so scared i'ld lose my voice forever, i know it's kinda silly to think in such a way, but that fear's just immense whenever nothing comes out of your vocal chord, even if you tried clearing your throat umpteenth time. went for all the AGMs and bondue bash croaking and whispering funny noises. i wouldn't pass as a good mime.
mummy's pretty voiceless now too ): and she'd got to teach sunday school and lead dorcas fellowship tomorrow. really hope that she will have her voice back, and strength from Him to survive tomorrow. I've let mummy tried gurgling the med doc gave me, hopefully it will help!
went to Tiff's house last wed night to have a 11pm-6am non stop catchup session (part of the reason why i lost my voice) but it's all worth it. haven't seen my bestie for more that 1.5 years! and am truly glad she's been safe and sound in berkeley, and heartened to hear that she's coming back singapore after graduation ((: we may end up as future colleagues too! exciting (: will be sending her off tomorrow at the airport, bon voyage bestie, will wait for you to come back again (:
and, france in 12 days' time.
i can hardly believe it, and im fearing it more than anything else.
got my visa finally yesterday (after going to embassy thrice, and bank to get mummy's statement of accounts etc)! thank God, and thank you mummy and daddy who've been praying for me all along! mummy's gotten me most of the medicine i need for France (medicine's really of utmost importance cos no one's gonna save me when I'm sick there - scary)
many asked if i've packed. well everything's either strewn on my study table, or messily arranged in my huge luggage so far! feel kinda lazy to pack all of them neatly, but I know i better get them down on monday morning/ tonight! excel sheet of packing list is still incomplete, better get it done soon too. sigh, wish I'm not going alone now, then maybe I'ld have someone else to share the load too - i got to bring mini pots and pans so that I could at least cook for the first week or something! i hope. oh yes, i haven't bought all the premixes!
oh yes, gonna teach the kids with Des for the first time tomorrow! Jesus is light (: and we'll have the 'follow the sound, guess what you eat/drink' game and treasure hunt! complete with 'give me oil in my lamp' song! (: am really looking forward to it, hopefully the kids learn and treasure the lesson too, and that it stays with them for a long, long time to come!
gonna sleep, been really tired working on annual report designs, can't wait for it to be done (: jiayou Van and Em who are still burning tonight and tomorrow night and many more nights editing it, come on' it's the last lap. for the best aye girls!
night world, i've got to learn to stop waiting sometimes.
was hopeful, still am hopeful. maybe
got to learn to be truly independent when i'm alone
"alone? you're never alone"
cos' Jesus' watching over you, always and always
(:
Labels: family, thoughts, tiff
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
no more fever finally! (:
thankyou Lord, cos if fever lasts i wouldn't have been able to finish annual report layout and statement...still have my report to redo cos of many overlaps by everyone else /: hope i can finish by tomr, am really tired of it already. Very tired and exhausted from it.
insomnia now, must be too many hours of sleeping so that fever goes away, and now i can no longer sleep /:
