Oh gosh.. it's been ages!!!! Sorry guys, but I've been incredibly busy. Anyway, quick update.. I am working now as a lab technician in an international school. It's okay, definitely not something I'll do until I'm old. Right now I'm well into my first trimester at ABAC university studying Counselling Psychology. I am having so much fun with my course. It's soooooooooo interesting and I'm meeting new people. I have to say, it makes time go a lot quicker. I love it.

Right now I'm doing my assignment on Katie's Diary. It's a book with real excerptions from the real diary entries left by a young girl, Katie, who committed suicide two months before her 21st birthday. It's very interesting and such an invaluable insight, although reading her diary makes me wish that I could be there for her. She was in so much pain and has so much anger.. I wish I could help her.

I'm also reading things on Ophelia. Such an intersting character and it accurately portrays the struggle of adolescent girls in modern time. The struggle between being her real self or conform to the pressure and expectations from society. Very very interesting.

Anyway.. enough babbling.. really need to get this one. I already asked for an extension!!

Love y'all.

Stains and burns from silver nitrate


Ooh.. gorgeous chicken curry

So much has been happening last week. My course started last Tuesday with Theories in Counselling I. I feel at home in the lecture room (strangely) and yeah, I'm a student again after being a bum for so many months. I only have 3 classes a week, all in the evening from 6.30 to 9.30 pm. No labs (thank God!). I am slowly making friends.

Another news, I got a job and started work last Wednesday as a lab technician in an international high school. I'm replacing the other lab technician which will leave next Tuesday after showing me where everything is kept, the procedure and etc. The job comes with my own "office" basically, a prep room, where all the chemicals and equipment are kept and where I prepare chemicals and etc for the students. It's a small school which makes my job somehow a little bit easier. I never thought that this kind of job is so demanding. I think partly because the students are sooooooo...grrrr!!! Haha..after 2 days of working, I already have something to complain about. Well, they are sooo messy and they don't clean up after themselves. They don't close the bottles properly (they just put the cap on!!) and unfortunately, the other lab tech spilled silver nitrate on her hands, arm and got some on her face. Some of silver nitrate transferred to me as well so now my right arm have stain spots and burns and blisters. Bloody high school students.. altho it's nice to be on the other side. No one is allowed into my "office" except me and yes.. I am free to enter the staff-/teacher- only room during my breaks and lunch time. Bring on free coffee!!!

Do you know that if you got silver nitrate on your skin (clear liquid) it is invisible. It get absorb and react with light then it stains and burn your skin.. and you can see from the photos.. it's not a very nice thing to have on your skin.

My "Apple Crumble Pie" (pre-crumble)



My complete "Apple Crumble Pie" - oh, the best of both worlds (apple crumble and apple pie)



Me with shorter hair



My birthday cake

My birthday presents

Gosh, I love presents. I love the excitment and joy of recieving it and if I got the presents before my birthday, I just love the anticipation of opening it.

Rebecca and Ben sent me presents on this occasion of me turning 21. I've got this wonderful photo frame from Rebecca with photos of: Otago University's famous clock tower, me and Ben dancing at Robbie Burns and me and Rebecca at the Saxman Concert. From Rebecca, I also got a book called "Captivating: Unveiling the mystery of a woman's soul". I know a few of you have read this book. I'm only a chapter of two in and I'm hooked. I think this is a book that all woman should read. Some of the things said in this book really struck home. Rebecca also gave me a serenity kit (with wind chime and a nice little quote book) and a shell necklace.

From Ben, I am amazed at his selection of presents for me. I've got two pair of toesocks, whinnie the pooh little bag and whinnie the pooh hairtie, Easter egg (Cadbury Cream Egg) and some Dutch wafle-biscuit type thing (yummy). Why the presents are so childish? you might ask. Actually it's very thoughtful. He got me all these stuff when he was in Japan. Toesocks for my almost permanently cold feet (but not anymore 'cause it's impossible to get cold feet when the temperature is 30 degree plus everyday) and whinnie the pooh? Who doesn't love whinnie the pooh, honestly!!! Most importantly, I got his letter. What more could a girl ask for right?

Mom bought me pandan-flavored cake white icing on top. Funny thing is, neither of us like icing so we ended up scrap the toppings off (with the white chocolate and pink icing letters written in Thai for "Happy Birthday, Nam" and all). Apart from the icing, the cake is simply delicious.

It's well into the afternoon and I'm still at home. The weather is just too hot to go out. I'm sipping my chinese tea and reading "Captivating". A relax birthday. 21st is not a biggie here in Thailand so I missed out on all the speeches (from my friends, mostly from Jian who might want to get back at me for that speech me and Alana gave on his 21st last year), the dancing and simply the big party. Oh well, I'll have my big birthday one day.

Aaaaaaaand I have an interview with the dean of Counselling Psyc Department today. Just a last stage before I'll know whether I would get accepted or not.

Well, I did!! He offered me a place right there and then!! So yes people, right now I'm a Master student in Counselling Psychology!!!

I passed!!! I passed the entrance exam for Master degree in Counselling Psychology!! Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!

Yesterday, I had a 2nd interview with Wyeth (giant pharmaceutical company). They rang me on Saturday, I was very very surprised because I thought my first interview with them didn't went very well. Anyway, yesterday was good. I think I did good. Answers the right thing. There's 4 candidates left in this round, so I'm glad that I was chosen to be one of them. It's quite an achievment when think of it. The other 3 guys (or girls) might graduate with honors or have a number of years work experience etc etc. Strangely, I should feel nervous and excited.. full with anticipation and waiting by the phone.. but I feel so peaceful about it. It doesn't matter if I don't get this job

Anyway, I have my 2nd interview today with Gymboree at 11 and it's 9.40 am now so I should go...