That last post was kind of a cop-out. I'm finally making attempts to write about my life here in Singapore. I guess one reason I haven't been keeping up is because I feel like this whole blog thing is a cop-out. It keeps me from having to send individual emails to friends because this way I'm killing, like, six birds with one stone. And it keeps my friends from talking to me. It makes me feel disingenuous. But the time difference is quite significant (I'm 15 hours ahead) and I suppose there are a few somewhat personal things that have happened that I don't want to make public, which I'll save for the emails to my closest friends. In fact this blog is more for my own account, than for anyone else to read. So this blog in no way means to replace actually talking to or emailing friends. If you are my friend, you know how to reach me.
So first I've got to rewind almost two months. I flew to Singapore on July 26th. Actually, July 27th at 1:20AM. On the 26th there was a mixed tournament at Stanford. I heard BAG was playing so I went to go see Miller before I left the country. LA Metro was playing too but Enway had told me she wasn't going, and I didn't see Sam there unfortunately. But I did get to see Miller, Roeder, and Matty so that was nice.
I drove home from the tournament late afternoon, did a few last minute things, and waited around until 9PM when my parents and I headed out to SFO. I said goodbye to my siblings and our pups, Madi and Emmy.
My parents and I pulled up to the Cathay Pacific terminal. I hugged my dad goodbye. My mom came into the airport with me, and got as far as the security check, where she waited until she couldn't see me anymore.
I am studying abroad through UC EAP - University of California Education Abroad Program. There are two other UCI students in this Singapore program, Tina and Ray. The three of us planned our flights together, along with two other UC students from UCSD. I met up with Ray and Tina at our gate. This was only the second time I had met Tina, and the third time meeting Ray, although the three of us kept in touch through email and phone over the summer.
While waiting at the gate I was simultaneously getting to know Tina a little bit (Ray was off talking to someone one his phone), and texting a few friends telling them I was about to take off and that I will see them in December/January. I called Weslee who gave me some words of wisdom as he is a vet when it comes to studying abroad. I texted a few of my closest friends up until the moment I sat down in my seat on the plane and had to turn my cell phone off. I didn't exactly feel sad saying goodbye to my family and friends. Everything was surreal.
I was nervous and excited. But really I didn't how I felt or how I was supposed to feel about being abroad for five months. I guess as I was leaving my house, leaving Pleasanton, even as I was on the plane, it still didn't hit me. Tina and I were partly joking how, as corny as this sounds, we were excited to see how our lives would change because of this experience.
While applying to study abroad I did have my qualms about leaving. I would miss my friends at home and at Irvine. As for the team, fall quarter isn't huge in terms of tournaments, and I wouldn't be able to play what with my fake ACL anyway. But it is important in building the foundation for the '09-'10 season. Plus the guys have their Huckfest tournament in the fall so I'll be missing out on watching them play. Mostly I will be missing out on all the initial bonding and when I come back I think I might feel even more disconnected from the team than I already do.
But I think I need a change. And I needed to get away from everything for awhile. And what better way do that than to spend five months halfway across the world.
So first I've got to rewind almost two months. I flew to Singapore on July 26th. Actually, July 27th at 1:20AM. On the 26th there was a mixed tournament at Stanford. I heard BAG was playing so I went to go see Miller before I left the country. LA Metro was playing too but Enway had told me she wasn't going, and I didn't see Sam there unfortunately. But I did get to see Miller, Roeder, and Matty so that was nice.
I drove home from the tournament late afternoon, did a few last minute things, and waited around until 9PM when my parents and I headed out to SFO. I said goodbye to my siblings and our pups, Madi and Emmy.
My parents and I pulled up to the Cathay Pacific terminal. I hugged my dad goodbye. My mom came into the airport with me, and got as far as the security check, where she waited until she couldn't see me anymore.
I am studying abroad through UC EAP - University of California Education Abroad Program. There are two other UCI students in this Singapore program, Tina and Ray. The three of us planned our flights together, along with two other UC students from UCSD. I met up with Ray and Tina at our gate. This was only the second time I had met Tina, and the third time meeting Ray, although the three of us kept in touch through email and phone over the summer.
While waiting at the gate I was simultaneously getting to know Tina a little bit (Ray was off talking to someone one his phone), and texting a few friends telling them I was about to take off and that I will see them in December/January. I called Weslee who gave me some words of wisdom as he is a vet when it comes to studying abroad. I texted a few of my closest friends up until the moment I sat down in my seat on the plane and had to turn my cell phone off. I didn't exactly feel sad saying goodbye to my family and friends. Everything was surreal.
I was nervous and excited. But really I didn't how I felt or how I was supposed to feel about being abroad for five months. I guess as I was leaving my house, leaving Pleasanton, even as I was on the plane, it still didn't hit me. Tina and I were partly joking how, as corny as this sounds, we were excited to see how our lives would change because of this experience.
While applying to study abroad I did have my qualms about leaving. I would miss my friends at home and at Irvine. As for the team, fall quarter isn't huge in terms of tournaments, and I wouldn't be able to play what with my fake ACL anyway. But it is important in building the foundation for the '09-'10 season. Plus the guys have their Huckfest tournament in the fall so I'll be missing out on watching them play. Mostly I will be missing out on all the initial bonding and when I come back I think I might feel even more disconnected from the team than I already do.
But I think I need a change. And I needed to get away from everything for awhile. And what better way do that than to spend five months halfway across the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment