Much missed

You know, part of my coming back home mission for this month long winter break was to listen to the views and opinions of other people (in this case, family, friends, and strangers who care), check books off my incredulously long to-read-list, spend some time on the internet doing research on topics that interest me, probe into my own head... In short, do things I miss and enjoy doing, things that inspire me on a daily basis in the most subtle way that it is sometimes hardly tangible, things that could rarely be done in my tight studying schedule in Taiwan while I fight like a brave girl for academic excellence, the main requirement for a if not prestigious Taiwan University, one that resonates with my beliefs on the true purpose of education.

So, how did I do? Not that good. In the first week I was seen to be slumping around, although serving as quite a company to my family. Company to Pasar Pagi, company to morning jogs, helping with house chores, playing Barbie with (nah, more like nagging at) my niece. Truth be told, I wasn't up for anything because I was pretty worn out. I think a semester of being submerged in such a competitive environment, one like the NTNU's preparatory program, has made me really rigid. Needing to live independently in a foreign place for the first time in my life has also harden me up. How the whole experience has made me stronger, tougher and more capable goes without saying, but the whole change in both lifestyle and culture has also led me into my battle-mode. And like any animal who knocks out after a life-threatening/demanding situation, all my walls just melt away the moment I fell into my family's embrace. I was just curling up in comfort of being taken care of, after the whole mental exhaustion.

The second week also went away without much accomplishment. All I did was yumcha yumcha yumcha, I was sucking up the attention and company of my friends. Going out going out going out, from the moment I was awake to the moment I went to bed. I was even seeing them in my dreams. At one point I was so sleep deprived and sick I thought I was going to die. Nevertheless, it was something I needed, not because my social life in Taiwan is desperately pathetic due to the constant ringing in the brain on the need to improve academically, but because it was something I didn't get to do after high school, with my knee injury and then, my immediate disappearance to Taiwan. So yeah, that was how the second week went away with a blink of the eye. Me and my favorite people, doing our favorite thing, and probably for the very last time in Malaysia because most of them are leaving soon for Australia or wherever place that they can blend in as bananas.

As for the third week, I am again, back in my hometown Seremban for the Chinese New Year, meant to spend time with family, all in the name of bonding and reunion. (very cina indeed) And only in this week, the third, I have had time devoted to myself. I can't say I've done a lot this week, but at the very least, I am a lot less belligerent. I've been quite mental since the beginning of 2011, having a constant urge to leash out on someone (but I didn't, cause normally I just design some evil plot in my head lah)

Anyway, what I am trying to say is alas, I get to say I've got some important things done and some essential issues sorted out with the ending of my third week here at Malaysia. I've got a new range of feelings for Chinese New Year this year as I walk in and out catching up with my family and relatives. I've read some books, some articles, that has given me a lot of new perspective. Spending time with the elderly has also given me a lot of insight. This is exactly what I need lah. To recuperate. ( as you see I am keeping things short because I have a feeling that this post is turning a bit draggy for your sore sore eyes)

So, yeah, I should keep this up so that when I go back to the city on Tuesday/Wednesday I'll have a good week before I head back to Taiwan on the 15th. Fyi, I was just blabbering about my lousy first and second week lah, I've come to conclusion that that was probably  what I had to do before coming to this point of my holiday. Okay, yes I know this post is very looooooooong, aha, so, bais :D