Blessed

It's my 21st this year. I got presents from my family and friends, be it belated or not, it's the thought that counts. 

I hardly receive presents and so when I do, I'll be very happy about it, especially those which are nicely wrapped and I have no idea what's inside. Then I'll have this urge to rip the wrapper off but most of the time I wouldn't....hahaha

Anyway, this year, I received unexpected presents from my family members - grandma and uncle. 

Every year, during chinese new year, my grandma will prepare angbaos for all her grandchildren and give it their respective mums in advance. Then, the mums will give it out on behalf of my grandma on her grandchildren's birthdays. This year, I received one on my birthday and another one on in July. The reason is because it's my 21st, my grandma wanted me to have more. There's no way my mum or I can reject her angbao. She is kinda stubborn over these things. She's already so old and not working too but still gave me 2 angbaos. I just feel blessed for having my grandma around. 

She took care of me when I was young for the 1st year so that my mum can work. After that when my sister came along, my mum became a housewife and I was no longer taken care of by her. When I was young, friday nights are sleepovers at my grandma's house and I'll only leave after I had dinner on saturday. She'll buy breakfast for me and my siblings everyday saturday and prepare dinner for us. I created many childhood memories over at her house. My grandma is very loving to each and everyone of her grandchildren. This is why as I grow up, I also learnt how to cherish her. Although I don't know what kind of topics I can chat with her but I think buying something good for her to eat, visit her, help her when she needs help - carrying her groceries home for her if I'm out or even bring her to the hospital for checkups during my holidays since I'm free - are something I can do for her in return? I hope I can do more....I'm sure I can. 

Next, my uncle. My uncle and aunt gave me angbao too.....during their baby daughter's 1st birthday. It's the day which I should give something to my baby cousin's birthday which I didn't.......end up I got an angbao. My uncle and aunt knew about my 21st through my blog (I was surprised they read it! haha) and thus for the belated present. I was really surprised and again, feel so blessed. My uncle is a fun person whom I think is very knowledgeable and was someone whom I look up to since young. I get to see him everyday friday night at my grandma's house before he moved out. I still remember he was still studying late at night at a table full with books. I remember it so vividly because at that moment, I told myself I must be like him, study hard and be successful in life. I think he succeeded in his life. He got a stable job which he likes, loving wife with 2 cute and pretty kids, what's more to ask for? He's also the one to give my cousins and I advises about life since he's the youngest adult and thus able to click with us better? :D 

I just feel so blessed and I want to do more for my family. However, I look at myself. I'm in my last year for university already and my results is not good enough for me to go for honours. What's worse, I still dunno what I want to do after I graduate. What can I do with this degree? I heard that most jobs don't really look at which major are you in except those specialized ones. So....they will look at your qualities instead. *SIGH* My qualities? It's the worst of all. I have nothing to show people and stand out from others. My personality is kinda introvert, first impression left for people is normally quiet/solemn/fierce/unfriendly. I did try to change. Actually, I did change. I changed a lot when I was in sec 3 and 4. I was a lot more talkative to my classmates as I was the class chairperson when I was in sec 4. It was a turning point for me. When I think back now, I was so glad that my form teacher insisted to appoint me as the class chairperson as I was quite reluctant back then. I managed to stepped out of my comfort zone and *PROOF* a total new shihui. 

Now that no one is here to push me to step out more out of my comfort zone, I did try to push myself. I DID TRY and FAILED. I didn't try once, twice, thrice.....but MANY. I still can't work it out. I still can't be more cheerful and bubbly in front of strangers or new people. As in at least make them want to be my friend? Want to talk to me? *urgh* I tried. I failed. Conclusion: I can't. No choice, I have to accept it. This is why I'm so afraid what's going to happen to me when I enter the workforce. I don't even have good results to start with, what's more for qualities and personality? 

No matter what, it's my last year already. I have to make sure I make full use of it to prepare myself. Change for the better? I'll try. I'll try. I don't want to disappoint anyone, especially my parents. I know they never expect A LOT from me which is  exactly the reason why I demand myself to do something for them in return. 

Change

It's 10th july and it is the day which I lost my virgin..............hair. :D

I'm already 21 so I decided to do something I never do before - a new haircut and to dye my hair. My virgin hair is also 21 years old (like duh) and it has never come in contact with any chemical and hair treatment. I wanted to do my hair over at taiwan but can't since qinning not doing hers. Therefore, I bought a groupon voucher for $49 ONLY! This groupon voucher includes a haircut, dye/highlight, hair treatment, wash and blow. I think it's really worth the money.

SO.........did I get a short haircut in the end?

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Apparently NOT. Tzumi, I failed my dare! :(

I asked my hairstylist for opinion and she said the shortest I can go is at around chin length. However, she added, "I think you still look better with long hair." -.- OKAY, long hair then. -.- I was so anxious while I was on the way to the salon luh! So I was worried for nothing. -.-

In the end, there's not much change. I still have long hair just that it's shorter and I got a brown dye for my hair. The colour is not obvious, it's more visible under sunlight/light. My hairstylist told me that it's my first time dyeing my hair so it's more difficult for the colour to get onto my hair. That's why it's less obvious?

Anyway, I'm so proud of my virgin hair. My hairstylist commented that my hair is really healthy and asked if I rebonded my hair because it's so straight. HAHAHAHA, I didn't.....:) But I guess after today it will never be healthy anymore. :(

Before.......................AFTER!
My new hair colour can only be seen under strong light....:x

My hairstylist told me that my hair colour will become lighter after a few wash. I hope it will still be okay......:x

Alright, let's move on.......to my new toy!

I got a new camera 2-3 weeks ago. The main purpose is to take pretty and clear photos during my taiwan trip! Of course, I hope I can use it some other time other than just overseas trips. If not, it's kind wasted right? The camera will be there to collect dust before my next trip which will be in few or many years time?

I got this camera online, from Qoo10, for $289.99 with a shipping fee of $13. It's called Canon Powershot SX500 IS. It looks like a DSLR but it isn't. It's just another digital camera with great zooming functions, thus the bulky lens.

Here are the freebies except the installation disk of course.
32GB memory card, screen protector, cleansing cloth, extra battery
and a lanyard which I've attached onto the camera already. 

This is also a freebie, a pouch for me to put the camera. 

The basics for a camera.

Although this camera looks big in photos, his camera is actually quite small in real life.

Huge lens, isn't it?

My very first Intsgavid, featuring my new toy~ :)

Here's a few photos taken by this camera. This is the view I get from my kitchen.

Now, let me show you the zooming power of this camera.

See the black car in the middle of this photo, I'm going to zoom in and have a closer look.

Now, you can see the whole car clearer. Let's zoom in more.  

More?

This is end of the zoom function. I still can go further using its digital zoom
 but photos taken with digital zoom is very blurry. 

Other than it's zoom, this camera has a few special effects/filters to play with. I actually took selfies to show these effects. However, after some thoughts, I think it's kinda weird to post my own selfies, so used my NUS Team Science Bear instead. 

Original, without any effect. 

Fish eye!

Miniature Effect. It's actually blurry everywhere except the lower part of the photo. 

Toy Camer Effect

Monochrome

Super Vivid Effect

Poster Effect

Lastly, how can I not try taking some photos of food with this camera? :D 

It's dinner time when I finished taking all the photos above. JUST NICE! 

Char Siew wanton mee. This is really good. I dunno where my dad bought it but
everytime he goes there he will buy this wanton mee back, either for breakfast or dinner. 

I just love this mee kia! *SLURPS*

Last day of work @ Breadtalk IHQ

Finally, no more keying of invoices to the system, doing receiving of goods, opening bags and sieving out invoices, sorting invoices, looking at codes etc etc etc 

BORING JOB.

What's worse? Colleagues only talk about 2 things most of the time: work (or gossip about other people about their work (again). Why can't they just talk about something else? I had a great chat with my in-charge the other day during lunch time because all others went for training/meeting. We talked about our traveling experiences although she is like 60 plus already? Isn't this good? Can relax our brain and mind instead of drilling them with WORK again. Not like my colleagues are some businessman and women....

I guess this is the worse experience I've had? The full timers are not even interested in who I am and where I'm from. I'm not asking then to chit chat with me while working but maybe at least over lunch? THEY DIDN'T. I'm like non-existent there. Okay, I know, I'm just a part timers. However, truly speaking, I never had such an experience like that for ALL my previous part time jobs. I'm serious. Maybe my colleagues are just too busy over work that they couldn't be bothered. Or maybe it's because the rate of changing part timers is just too high here, so they couldn't be bothered to try and get to know us better. 

I'm glad it's finally over. Nevertheless, it's a new experience for me. :) 

Then again, I conclude that: for data entry jobs, once is enough unless the pay is high. 

Treated myself with maki-san for dinner! California dreaming and Salmon says! I must say, their California dreaming is really good. Salmon says can just pass it, they're not generous with the salmon. By the way, this sushi is damm expensive. 1 house sushi is about $8-$9+ on average. If you get small maki, it's $6.90, which is still expensive. I spent $18.90 for that 2 maki can!  I shall create my own maki next time if I have the chance. 

PS: of course I didn't finish all by myself...I shared it with my mum and brother, almost equally. Although I have this feeling that I can finish them all by myself just that I will be damm bloated after that.