February 28th
My new roommate Kieron, has finally arrived. He's 24, and doing international architecture in UA for a month. It's funny to see how the people in the dorm cannot understand the English he speaks because of the English accent. I can hear him perfectly fine, and sometime interprets what he says for other people. I've to try to be quiet in the mornings when I wake, and sometimes my Asian tendency to be reserved takes over, and I lose the otherwise social behaviour I try to maintain. I guess sometimes I need some space. I shouldn't have any problem adapting, having come from the Singapore army, where living in close quarters meant having your face constantly in someone else's armpit. This should be a piece of cake. Nevertheless, I know I have to commit it all to God, rather than play the probabilities. We all know Murphy's law.
I received my English paper back today. I did better than expected, and I have a lot to thank God for. So far, my results have been good, and it's not because I strive hard to get them, but I like studying now. I walked home today from my science lab class, and I am convinced that the human mind is capable of understanding infinity, if not bogged down by obstacles like competition, conformism and laziness. I have learnt much since coming to school here. For those of you who think that school here is easier than Singapore, it's not. It's different, not in the fact that grades are easier to obtain, but a level of continuous learning is needed here. Back home it was the hit and run of the exams. Here the game is consistency.
I guess life is getting more diverse for me. English roommate, American environment, Chinese church. Doesn't get more diverse than this. I've learnt a lot of things I never knew I never knew, and I'll include them in my section sometime.
Anyone wants some tea and crumpets?
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February 28th
I just turned to my jukebox page and played this midi. It is one of the themes from the Playstation game Final Fantasy 8. It was the last game I played on the Playstation back home in Singapore before coming to Arizona. Hearing this music brings back so many memories that though recent, seem so far away. It seemed only yesterday when I was sitting in front of the television, with Min and Louelle by my side, and Auntie Lyn popping in now and then to see how the game progressed. I miss my sisters. Of course I don't miss quarrelling with them, or having to ask them to do their homework, but there are so many things that I love about them.
Min has grown up so well. It wasn't too long ago I was carrying her in my arms, or watching her fling telephones in her bursts of rage. Right now she's deciding what to study. I guess she hasn't found what she loves to study, but she's a smart girl who seems to get pretty good results without working up a sweat.
Louelle, my younger sister is turning more beautiful by the day. At the rate she's growing, she should be seven feet tall when I return to Singapore. I remember distinctly one wonderful thing she did for me. It was one of my birthdays, and this girl couldn't have been more than nine years old then, gave me two dollars as a present. I was so touched that tears came out of my eyes. Two dollars to that young girl meant the world at that time. These days, it would probably take all of Bill Gates to make her flinch. Seems like most of our children in Singapore have it good now. I'm not so sure if the shift from the lowly game of marbles to the high tech gameboy is good, and I pray that this lovely sister of mine chooses what is right and good.
Sigh, the music still playing, brings that scene so vividly in my mind. Sitting by my sisters, playstation controller in my hand.
To Min and Louelle, your brother loves you very much. Do remind me often of that fact, in case at times I act like I don't.
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