okay Zara, you've procrastinated for long enough. if you keep putting it off, you're gonna majorly regret it later. it's been like a million years...
--
WOW. this summer has been incredible. hong kong... where do i even begin? i did wayy too much every single day in the 4 week (ish) period that i was there. i shopped like crrrazy, taught english, saw many friends from home, spent a lot of time with relatives, celebrated my 18th birthday in style, went on not only one but TWO vacations during my big vacation, and to end it off nicely, i did more traveling, shopping, and visiting family in san fran on my way home.
i kind of wanted to blog every week or so on my trip but it was really, really hectic and i had absolutely no time. and i think that the memories in my head are sufficient because there's no way i will forget those amazing weeks away from home. whenever people ask me how my trip was, i have no way to answer but "it was great! i did this and this and this... but i'm glad to be home". yes, i'm glad to be home, but i also miss hong kong. but i was homesick too. to tell you the truth, i don't know if i'd rather be here or there because being away from home allowed me to be (more) carefree and less stressed, while being at home causes me to panic juuuust a bit (ha, understatement) because of prepping for school and stuff like that.
to wrap it up though, if i had the choice, i wouldn't have stayed at home for the summer. yes, i missed my friends and family back home along with all the events and activities that took place, but the memories made, relationships bonded and time spent in hong kong really made it worthwhile.
--
last week was insanely busy! once i got back from san francisco, things have been happening nonstop, like BAM BAM BAM. also have been spending soo much time figuring out school stuff, like packing lists and tuition fees and RESP's and textbooks and etc... argh!
monday - UW CCF BBQ! thank you JENNY for organizing it! i really had a great time. at first when i got there (arrived by myself... it was kind of scary!) i was like, uhhh i feel so out of place/awkward. but as the night went on, more people started arriving and kristy and kevin wong came, i felt comfortable amongst these strangers. well actually, these strangers became more like friends!! for real. everyone was soo friendly and welcoming and they actually talked to us! the icebreakers were actually helpful and broke the ice haha :P i'm excited to go to ccf now. the bbq was also such a blessing because now i know older people who can help me out with stuff like textbooks and all of that haha!! i also never expected it, but when i got home and for the next few days after the bbq, some upper years and incoming frosh added me on facebook! and they even started talking to me hahaha. i can already tell that it's going to be a good year cause at least i won't be lonely LOL.
tuesday - mommy's birthday and cooking class! chako dinner right before i went to cooking class LOL. but i learned how to make curry and i actually still remember how to make it YEYE. tonight is the last cooking class... the food we're making sounds yummy :) and Steve says it's not hard to make at all :D
wednesday - buuuusyyy day. i went from my doctor's appt straight to softball practice. oh myyy practice was tiring! firstly, it RAINED like mad right before practice so the diamond was nasssty. i did some BP so i had to step in the big puddle where the home plate was... got my shoes all muddy hahaha. i got so sore from practice, how sad haha! i hadn't played softball (nor exercised) in a month so i was reaaaally out of shape :P then right after practice, i went to the milliken reunion with Kristy and Andrew! that was fun and it was so awesome seeing everyone again, after like 10 years! i didn't know like half of them cause i left after gr3, but the ones i did know i got along with very well and it was like no time had passed at all :) so happy to have seen everyone again. i hope we have another reunion sometime along the road again!
thursday - busy day againnn! after another intense practice during which Andrew made us practice for dinkers and stuff, i went to the committee social. oh and the practice's devo was so good!! it's like one of the devos that will stick in my mind forever. i was sharing with Vicky, Joelle, Julie and Pauline, and we talked a lot about the devo and prayer items. i'm so grateful to have these great sisters in Christ. although we don't get to talk often, when we do, we're comfortable sharing and opening up with each other. i didn't get to stay long at the social, but it was nice being able to usher in the new committee! then i went to bbt with my high school friends... i'm going to miss them so much :( they are people that i don't want to lose touch with. even though we're all very different people and i might not be super close with all of them, they're really special people to me. LOL i sound so cheeeese right now.
friday - dinner with the big man Gabe. and Justin cause we saw him in the parking lot and stalked him lol! then didopalooza/goodbye grads :( OH MY, so sad. SO SADDDDD. didopalooza was fun and the videos were fun to watch. the goodbye part was so hardd though. the gr9 and 10's each did a presentation for us which was soo so sweet! i'm gonna miss those kiddies :( i got the "always bullied" award... LOOOOL. ahem. it is true, which is the really unfortunate part. the counsellors did some impromptu nice-words-about-you speeches for each of us. that was also super nice of them because they had no preparation whatsoever. Kristy made me cry! haha she was so cute when Justin said something about her and she just couldn't hold it in. when Tim spoke for me, apparently he was blinking really fast... aw!!! his words were very kind and touching. he definitely made me cry although i tried soooooooooo hard not to!!! stupid Tim :P then Justin made it even worse when he said more nice things and then i really could not stop crying. ahhh i'm going to miss everyone so much. there are NO WORDS to express my gratitude to these counsellors that have helped each of us in the 4 years of didomi. not only were they counsellors but also friends. and when i got home that night, i cried even moooore cause i read Vicky's letter to me, then i read my cell group's birthday wishes to me, then i read the encouragement notes that the fellowship wrote! hahahaa. and then the next morning i read the email that Tim sent to all of the RK leaders and i cried again. hahahahaha
saturday - PLAYOFFSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! sanctified did AMAZINGG this year. 7-3 regular season! we lost in the playoff game against seraphs, but that's okay. sure, we were sad and heartbroken, but we were good sports about it and i believe that all of us had an incredible time regardless. sanctified has been such a blessing to me this summer, too. although i only got to play like 3 or 4 regular season games, i had a TON of fun. everyone was encouraging and leadership did an awesome job. the devos component was great as was bonding with everyone. they were extremely patient with us. they were super encouraging and uplifting. we all had fun no matter how well or badly we were doing in games. we were super spirited and pumped up for God! i don't know how i can put my feelings in words... sanctified is really something special :)
sunday - elim grad! hahaha the pictures were embarassing :P but it was soo nice for so many people to come out just to celebrate our graduating from high school! reflecting on that luncheon, i realized how close i've grown to my fellow elim kiddies, especially this year. i know that they are people that i can always trust and depend on, and it's a really great feeling :) we went from being surface, almost obligatory friends to friends that can talk about almost anything. i think that there are unique, special bonds between everyone and it's a super cool thing to have. anyway after the grad, i went to Yotin's to chill for a bit, then sanctified social! had some gooddd quality time catching up with a special friend of mine. :) :) veryyy happy about that!!!
--
this week, i'm starting to wind down and prep for school. i'm nervous but excited. i know that i'll always have a network of support no matter where i go, and i'm so thankful to God for that. i wonder how i'll come out of this year...
No comments:
Post a Comment