One year in Shanghai

2007-03-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been blogging for a very long time. Have sort of forgot what I have done for the past few weeks.

For last week, 14th March to 16th March, I was away in Nanjing, for a high-end bath equipment. It was an enjoyable trip with my colleagues and boss. We had a lot of good food and nice massage. Thanks to my boss for giving me the opportunity to go for a work trip out of Shanghai. I hope to go for more of such work trips in future. The Nanjing people are nice people, even models are nice. The food is nice too. Everything about this place is quite nice. No time to travel but the work experience there was good enough.

I made some mistakes in this event and I shall learn my mistake.

I think I really have a lot a lot to learn in this one year of internship. I really want to make the best out of this one year. I want to learn things fast. Hate it when I am a slow learner but I will put in a lot of effort to learn and excel.

Work so far for me has been fine. My company will be shifting to a new office soon in April. Hopefully, I can still walk to work, to save money and to exercise. The only exercise I do is to walk walk walk.

I want to do a lot of things here in China. 1) do well in my work and learn a lot. 2) learn from the modules in Fudan 3) I want to travel a lot 4) do social work, community work in China 4) I want to pick up new skills. 5) Learn management 6) Be involved in SHEN.

Basically, this one year is a great learning journey for me. I hope I can find a lot of time for all these!

After Nanjing trip, I got to know a friend from Shanghai, who was the emcee for the event. I went out shopping with her. Nice girl. I hope to make more friends, of different nationalities here in China.

My housemates and I should be going to Xitang and maybe another place, water towns this weekend. I want to travel a lot in my free time.

Really miss Singapore. My family, bf and friends and their company.
One of the skills I really need to learn is to be independent and go out on my own, be at ease at enjoying time by myself. Afterall, this is a good time for self development and self discovery.

Weekends

2007-03-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

Weekends are the best.
Sleep late, wake up late, no worries, no stress.
Just chill around and explore the rest of Shanghai.

Sharon and I didnt wake up early and we met Kaiyin, Henghui and Shane alittle late.
We didnt get to view Sun Zhong Shan exhibition but took pictures outside.
With our student cards in future, we will be able to enter at a cheaper price, instead of 20RMB.
Nevertheless, the walk along the street to the Sun Zhong Shan's villa was nice.
The street is filled with nice houses.

Then, we walked to Xintiandi. Finally, I went there. Wanted to go there in 2005 but didnt get to go. Xintiandi is like ClarkQuay, Boatquay, Far East Square. Filled with nice cafes, bars and restaurants. One day, I will like to go there to chill and reward myself a little.

Dinner was at Seraliya, a Italian- look-alike restarant. Food was nice. company was nice. Price was reasonable. But queue time was unreasonable. Waited for about an hour to get in.

Had to crawl out of bed early this morning to go to Fudan to matriculate and register for modules. Very gloomy day. Heavy rain, strong wind, wet, soaked feets. Saw many international students there. Was a little worried that I may not be able to finish my course on time when I get back to Singapore. I need to do some mapping properly before I mess out my last year in NUS next year. Sigh.sigh.sigh.sigh.sigh. Intend to take about 3 modules if possible. Hope I can take social work modules and China's economy in Fudan since Geography is not offered in Fudan at all. I miss Geography modules, Human Geography. Hope the modules will be very fulfilling and interesting.

I have been eating alot alot. Feels hungry very often.

Today is the last day of Chinese New Year. Fireworks are everywhere now. Shanghai is like a warzone now. But I love it.

2007-03-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Check out http://wildanimus.cn/ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Party for everyone in Shanghai!!!!!!!!

Work's tough as usual for me. I really must try to be smarter.

I hope to travel more. So far, I have only gone to Harbin.
People on SEP travels so often.
But then again, I am not on SEP.

Hope there will be more weekend trips! and Public holiday trips and work trips!

2007-02-28T07:06:00.000-08:00

Work's tough or am I incompetent.

I wish I have more money to spend on. I dont want to spend my parents' money.
It's scrim and save month.

Going Fudan this Sunday to matriculate. Finally a little small break from work.

Auntie Li Eng and family coming to Shanghai from 10th to 17th March 2007. I hope I can meet them before I go to Nanjing for work on 13th to 16th March.

I miss home! and everyone back home!

Lazy Sundays

2007-02-25T01:37:00.001-08:00

Simple things in life are beautiful and nice.

Just like sititng in my living room, using my laptop, watching a nice dvd.

I love lazy Sundays

Time flies

2007-02-24T06:17:00.000-08:00

Time flies and it's already end of February soon.

Happy 2nd month to Dear and me!

Soon, on Monday, I have to start work again. Sigh.

I enjoy my 1 week of Chinese New Year holiday alot. Of fireworks, firecrackers, Harbin, good rest, good sleep, going out, shopping, good food.

Thanks to Charlene and Peiyun for accompanying me out.

Arrived back in Shanghai on Wednesday afternoon. Did some unpacking, washing of clothes, nap, and dinner with the Harbin group.

Thursday was spent with Peiyun and Charlene - Shopping and shopping. Bought things for myself, and for mummy and jiejie. I always like to get things for my family and Dear when I come across nice things for them.

Friday was spent with Peiyun and Charlene and Haojie and Wilfred. Wilfred's colleague brought us to a famous Peking Duck restaurant in atas Huaihai road, akin to Singapore's Orchard road. I shall bring my family there to eat, if they ever come to Shanghai. I bought first day covers for Papa. Hope he likes all the stamps and first day covers I got for him.

Today was spent with Peiyun and Charlene. We went to Long hua shi, a famous temple. I prayed for my family and Dear's family. May all of us be blessed forever. The trip to the temple made me feel more at ease. Ate alot of food today. After the temple, we went to a was memorial, nice peaceful place. Then, we were off to Ikea for the nice hotdog bun and the 15 RMB ( 3 sing ) meal of 10 meatballs and fries! I love it!

Tomorrow, I shall spend some time at home, getting more rest and maybe to watch the DVDs I got for myself. And also to go to the post offices to get letters, photos sent to Dear, my family and Andrew.

Time for work soon. Sigh. Tired. I guess I have lots to do when I am back to work. Lots of quotations to be confirmed for the event.

Heard that this coming Sunday, we will be going to Fudan to register, to matriculate. I be back to a student, partially, soon.

Been at home for the past few days. Finally! Housemates are back home! They just got back from Bejing. Now waiting for Sharon and Kevin to be back.

Thanks to Kaiyin's brother for helping us to clean up and tidy up our house!

Harbin trip

2007-02-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Back from shopping with Charlene and Peiyun just now.

Just back from my short 4 days 3 night Harbin trip yesterday afternoon.

Harbin was nice.

Small simple place.

Nice cold temperature , about sub 2 to sub 17 degrees.

It was a pity we didnt get to see snow. Sigh. but we saw fallen snow, ice.

I will remember Harbin forever.

I love the place.

I want to bring my loved ones there in future and enjoy the nice winter place.

I took over 600 photos and I shall pick one of the nicest ones.

I shall upload more pictures.

2007-02-16T08:31:00.000-08:00

Just showered and threw in my clothes into the washing machine. About 1 week 's supply of clothes. Feel good to get dirty clothes washed.

Today I was feeling a little moody, right from the beginning when I couldnt open the office's door. Even the security guard couldnt. I guess it's some problem with the key.

As I planned to leave office around 2pm, I tried to hurry with more of the phone callings of vendors etc etc, and also to see what Emmeline wants me to do. Was quite a mad rush. Also, it has been raining these days. My lousy umbrella from Thailand is really lousy. Soon, I will throw it away.

I was left alone in the office for some time. I hurried off to hail a cab to Qi Pu Lu to get my snow boots and also to look for a bag for an event. Chatted quite alot with the cab drive.

The cut on my fingers are really bad. I cant bend my fingers well. Sigh.

Qi Pu Lu is my shopping heaven. I went there by myself for the 1st time and bought some neccessities. Snow boots, a bag, socls and umbrella. I couldnt really find the bag but at least I tried.

Towards 5pm, many vendors were already busy packing up.

I am quite happy with what I bought but perhaps they still can be cheaper.

Finally it's Friday today. HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR EVE!
And I get to sleep more unlike last weekend. Weekends are always so precious to people who work

Yesterday, some of us went to play firecrackers. All thanks to the guys for braving the rain to start the firecrackers and guiding us girls how to play. Eye- opening experience! I only managed to video a little of the firecracking and my battery went flat. It is really fun and exciting to see and hear firecrackers and firework. I saw a firework afar just now! Breath-taking indeed!

Tomorrow, NOC people will go for a steamboat reunion dinner near our place. I predict tomorrow many people will be firecracking! So exciting! In fact, I havent really sensed much of Chinese New Year festive seasion and mood yet, except for seeing and knowing people who are rushing back to their home town. Firecrackers and fireworks really make a difference. I hope to see and hear more of them!

I think I am getting more and more comfortable and confident of walking alone , instead of in a group. However, I will still prefer walking together as a group.

HAPPY HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

2007-02-15T02:29:00.000-08:00

I shall blog alittle more about what I have done and been doing in Shanghai.

Now, I am waiting for a contract to arrive. My colleague needs me to help to read the contract. Hence, I have to wait alittle aimlessly for it. Hope I can find my snow boots tomorrow. If not col Harbin wind will seep into my feet.

This Monday, my bosses treated us to Tepayaki. 1st time to such place. It's really nice of cos. And I ate quite some Sashimi. Yumyum. However, the treat did not stop at the nice food, but it came with a price. Sake, wine..... I know I am a poor drinker. but I still could not escape from drinking. Eventually, I felt slightly better after I threw up a little with my boss's help. The entire dinner was quite fun and hilarious, a break off busy stressful work days.

There seems to be something wrong with my blogspot, cant change the postion of the pictures so I have to make do with what I have. Sigh. I am still waiting. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can find the boots. If not I will just try my luck with my not totally sealed boots.

My office is a little small and dark. It is actually cosy, but the room is not fully lit. I am used to brightly lit rooms, so I have to get myself adapted to the light. Work is getting alittle busier for me. I will try my best to perform well.

Yesterday was Valentines' day. I webcammed with mummy, jiejie and brother in law! Great to see all of them! And jiejie received my parcel! At that time, I guessed boyfriend also recieved it! And he did! So happy! Since my boyfriend is in Singapore, I dont have anyone to spend Valentines' day with. Housemates decided to have a nice dinner out at a shopping centre together but it was too crowded and hence we ordered pizzas at home. Then, Yun mei and me decided to go for the Vodka launch party. We changed and hurried hailed a cab down. Smart alec me wore spagetti top and short skirt there with a coat and pumps without stockings. Luckily, I could manage a little. We drank a cocktail and about 3 shots each. I felt a little drunk! haha. We had our 1st attempt at networking! haha I think I am really lousy but we managed to get some namecards. The happiest parts of 14th Febrauary 2007 were to webcam with my family, chat with boyfriend and them receiving my parcels with love! Also, Charlene and Kevin and Yun mei and Kaiyin were very nice to spread their love around with roses and food!

2 days ago, after work, I decided to make a trip down to People's Square, Nanjing bu xing jie. I took alot of nice photos. Sometimes, venturing , walking alone can be good too. However, it was also on that day that I realised that my cheap snow boots are not properly sealed. There was heavy rain and quite strong wind on that night. My umbrella got blown up, inverted and rain water seeped into my boots. Sigh. Hence, I think I may most probably need a new pair of slightly better boots to protect my feet from the cold.

I miss Singapore and all my loved ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I shall try to blog and post more pictures more often.

I miss Singapore

2007-02-13T22:06:00.000-08:00

Today is 14th February 2007.
Wesdnesday.

I am sitting in my office now. Just had my lunch.

I am going to continue with my work.

I miss Singapore.
I miss my family.
I miss Dear.
I miss my friends.

I am still trying to settle down. but more or less settled I think.

I shall try to blog more and upload more photos !!!!!!!

Take care everyone!

My 1st post! IN SHANGHAI!

2007-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have been in Shanghai for about 1 month already, since 15th January but I always dont seem to have time to set up a new blog for Shanghai.

Now, I decide to set up one and I shall try to post more conscientiously!

Time does fly.

Happy Valentines' day

and

Most importantly, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

Happy Belated birthday to Dear jiejie too!

I love all of you!

I am going to Harbin on 18th February.