In the past

For a moment my mind took me back to the past.

It was an art project in the early years of primary school, probably when I was at the age of 8. We were given wooden clothes pegs to make a 3D object. I had big complicated ideas, ideas that I hoped would impress the art teacher. I spent hours trying to make something wonderful and impressive. My thoughts were too confusing and I couldn't express my idea in a physical form. At the young age it frustrated me. For once I didn't want to resolve to my mum's help in art. I wanted to complete the project solo. I walked around the house trying to get inspiration. I looked around the bathroom staring at the shiny marble tiles. I spotted an empty role of toilet paper, those brown cylinder roles. I took it and went searching for another one. I then broke the pegs in 2 and glued the peg pieces around the brown cylinder roles. Finally I glued the two cylinder roles together. Walah, a binoculars! It was the first time I had gotten an A in art. I was proud.

I'm not sure why I thought back on this memory. It might be the intense amount of supplements I've been 'trying' to write for my US University applications. It might be my need to write something on this blog. It could be the want to go back to those carefree days; that looking back now makes me chuckle. Time is flying by so fast; and I'm growing older faster than I wished for. I remember times when my best friends and I dreamed of studying overseas and being in University. We're here and I kind of wish we weren't. At least not yet. But this is life and I'm thankful for how my life has turned out. It might not be the best life but it's been a very ideal one so far.

Ying

Tiramisu - egg stuff with cinnamon

Camden town with the fellas!

omnomnom

'The first years are so ADORABLE I just want to EAT THEM'

Second year - August started out pretty depressing but it was also really nice to hang out with just our year group, reminiscing about the good times and dreadng but also looking forward to the first years arriving. With tiring days of service (thankfully including a trip to bath), August went by in a flash. 21st of August, exactly a year since we've started our endeavor at AC was the start of a new challenge - first years arrival. We spent the few days before making posters and flags for the new baby sunlites. We woke up that day to get all excess work done and brought pots and pans to the main gate, tagging along our Sunley flags.

One by one strange new faces arrived, we made first impression judgements that I would say now were mostly wrong. Helping them settle in and playing 'tradition' games, we slowly started learning their names. We brought them night riding, taped Eliza and Cecilia to the wall and terified them with blueberies during our 'Sunley tradition' movie night.

I got to know quite a few first years through fosball matches. In less then a week the students became better than the teacher.

Going to 'Second Year Challenge Camp' I was excited to spend quality time with my year group and to leave the first years behind. Strangely enough, I didn't realize how close I was now to the first years that I actually really missed them over the course of 3 days.

Walking through the dayroom that night after the exhausting 'jolum-ning' though challenges. I was warmed by the love I got from the first years. (they actually missed me too :]) Getting hugs and kind words, I knew I was going to be just fine without second years after all (although I really really really do miss them - the first years get me through it).

Today it's been 2 months since their arrival (1 year and 2 months for us)but just like last year I feel like it has been so much more.

With Maxim (the adorable) little brother of mine and his sweet talk (makes me feel like I'm actually a second year) Daniel and his humour, Prabana and her thinking she always looks like she's drunk, Antoinette that crazy soul sister, Jack oh Jack so cutee and so easy to talk to, Guillaume and his funky facial expressions as well as his ability to make everything he reads sound so dirty, Audun (oh poppycock) and his late night guitar playing + singing, Viktor <3, Co-co haha , Audrey -we're having a cupcake date soon, Federik naww - stop going on a diet, Sarunas and our crazy love hate relationship (love you really), Mike the adorable American and so many more that I can't list out.

It's OCTOBER break just 9 days but I am truly going to miss seeing those faces (although maxim and I are defiitely hanging out, and arman and I are going to hunt down good asian Satay).

SECOND YEAR - you're turning out to be not that bad after all.

Home is whenever I'm with you.

oh boy, the past 5 months that I haven't been updating this blog has been one hell of a ride. To be honest I can't recall all the bad times because through those bad times I had friends who kept me sane and pulled me through. I am so thankful for that.

I've never threaten suicide until I've met the IB, I've never ran around barefoot in the snow until Wales, I've never hug so many people until AC, I would have never thought I would lose all my processions in a room I so carefully crafted to make my own, but then again I've never thought I would have fallen so deeply in love with my friends I can proudly call my family.

The last few days of first year at AC has been one of the best days I've ever had, even if it included going to the pub, standing near smokers, falling 5ft and more from the ground, witnessing a friend fall from a tree, climbing hundreds of steps everyday, jumping from top lawn to second lawn and hurting my ankle in the process.

Honestly the best days when it's spent with the people I love.

I couldn't even cry until the last 20 mins of 2nd term. Even then it was a little bit of a forced cry. When I cried for real it was tears of joy. I've never cried for joy ever. I was just so happy to have met these wonderful people and to have them in my life.

Standing outside the bus was the most terrifying thing I had to do. To know that in a few steps everything will never be the same. Leah, Meghna, Rosemarie, Arisa would never be at the breakfast table, Tuka, Yifan and Naser would never be living in dorm 3 my second dorm, Tedi wouldn't be on his computer working on his 'programi' or nearby for a hug, I won't have Chrissy there anytime for a little special handshake we made between us ever since camp, Lady Jojo wouldn't be there to call me Lady Jaja, Hannah wouldn't be right next door with the chirpy smile of hers, Bubo wouldn't be coming into our dorm randomly and dragging us away from work, Raisa wouldn't be there to be my holiday homie and me her IB buddy, Loic wouldn't be in the dorm below us to play his guitar and sing every Friday nights, Wonga wouldn't be there to analyze and impersonate people, Pedro wouldn't be popping into our dorm to ask where India is, I will be deprive of my very strange love for Harry's hair and Jons death glares. How about Lina's drunken state, Jemi and I, Alif and Nadya's counseling sessions, Anette and Tim every Monday with cakes, scones and tea. Not forgetting Metjon who thinks I'm the most amazing girl for not swearing ;) or Jens awesomeness nearby to cheer me up. Fahmy? the love he has for everyone warms my heart. JP's sweetness and love for Rocky chocolate. Nicole's attempt to be an awesome second year! Viktor's cheerfulness and huggable hugs and crazy motivating rawrs. Who else am I missing? Henry oh dude, I'll never forget that one specific conversation we had. Jon jon, haha your not 'useless' and your 'alright's' I'll always hear that in my head.

Even if it isn't ever going to be the same ever again, I'll always have these memories engraved in my heart because all of you have made an impact on me one way or another and I'll never forget that.

Thank you second years and know that I will always miss and love you guys ~ always.

Someday we will meet again.

[The first year you thought should have been in your year group - but if it was so it would have never been the same.]