It's a sign...

I am starting to think that it is me. Otherwise how do you explain a second fire within 6 years?

This time it happened a bit after 7pm. I just finished yoga practice in my room and I was lying on the mat feeling totally relaxed. Slowly smoke started creeping up my nostrils and totally pulled me out of my semi-conscious relaxation. I stuck my head out of the window and saw a lot of smoke somewhere below me. People were gathering in the open car park downstairs and a lot people in the opposite building were standing in the balcony watching. All of a sudden I felt a massive rush of deja vu. Not again?! This time around I was so much more prepared though. I immediately reached for my bag and stuffed my wallet, passports, mobile etc in it. I hesitated for about two seconds when I saw my new-ish lap top on the table. Should I take it or shouldn't I? I decided I could not bring everything with me so I left it where it was. I shut the window tight, put on a T-shirt and ran for the door.

I went down nine flights of stairs and saw a fire engine in the car park, among police cars, fire fighters and many spectators. I was prepared for the worst but luckily the fire was not actually that bad. All that was left was smoke, no actual fire. OK, so I was telling myself, this is not that bad. Maybe I won't lose everything this time. I started texting people and calling BaBa as I waited for things to clear, which did not take too long. Before 8pm we were allowed to use the lift to go back upstairs. It was as if nothing had happened, except for that faint smell of smoke in the air.

It was not until recently that I started realising how much my experience in Australia has prepared me for everything. From moving house, finding a new job, making new friends, to escaping in case of fire! (And who would have guessed that it would be an experience to be repeated?!)

Happy New Year!

I really should not be awake now. Considering I only got home less than five hours ago, I should make the most out of my Saturday off and sleep in. But somehow, my circadian rhythm does not allow me to sleep through 9am. Something to do with the heat or the morning sun here maybe.

I honestly do not remember the last night I sat on the side of road in the CBD area in the darkest hours of the night trying to catch a cab home. Or more like giving up trying to catch a cab home because 90% of the taxis were hired; 5% did not want to go to the east side and the remaining 5% could not even be bothered stopping for us. I was not in a hurry to get home though. I was content to sit by the road, or outside a Starbucks that refused to serve us coffee. Traffic was going by us. People were standing literally on the road trying to stop a taxi. The sky was pitch dark and starless. The Christmas lights were still on. It was a rare moment in Singapore when it was not hot and humid and sticky and the streets were free of crowds.

So I did not manage to find the others before midnight and I was watching the first half of the fireworks behind the barricade. The cocktail was not that good and I only got about four hours sleep last night (or this morning). But it was a good NYE. My first NYE in Singapore.

Work finally!

Since leaving Brisbane, I have been neglecting my blog. It's not that I do not want to keep writing. But having no chance to cook or bake I need new writing materials! I thought about doing something like Eat, Pray, Love. Obviously I can't write a whole novel. Perhaps something like a Hong Kong girl in Singapore? Anyway I will have to publish more often or I will end up giving the blog up, which I do not want....

Anyway I finally started work this week! Hurray!!! Surprisingly I was not nervous or anxious or excited at all. I think I was at the point where I just needed to do something. Anything. So when I got the OK from the hospital I was just so ready to jump right in. They started me off with the basic tasks, of course. I have been tech-ing all week and it has not been too difficult. I make harmless mistakes every now and then but everyone has been really helpful and kind to help me. My supervisor is really friendly and laughs all the time. People have been inviting me to lunch to make sure I do not have to sit by myself. Everyday someone will come up to me and introduce themselves. I am surprised at how many pharmacists who only just joined CGH within the last 6 months. It is a really nice environment to work in and there is a good work dynamics within the department.

Tonight we had the pharmacy end-of-year party at a buffet restaurant. I bumped into other colleagues as I was on my way there so I did not have to go alone. Then I sat with the in-patient pharmacists who I have been working with these few days. I had a great time talking to them and participating in the games. I even won the 2nd prize of the lucky draw! And I am one of those people who never win anything! It was great to see everyone outside of the hospital and have a great time. I probably ate too much though, just like everyone else~

I don't want to make this comment too early because I don't want to disappoint myself later. But I have to say that I really enjoying working at CGH. I hope this will be a good start for the next three years :)

The wait is over! My stuff has arrived!

Today I was genuinely happy. My boxes have finally arrived and they all came in perfect condition. Nothing was broken. Even the clothes were not all that creased or wrinkled. I almost forgot most many clothes I have! It's nice to have more than 1 pair of shorts to choose from.

And I have good news from AHPRA. They are sending my certificate over within the next seven days, which means I am one step closer to start working and getting my employment pass.

I am trying to work things out one by one and it has not been easy. But I am grateful that there are people who are always giving me support. And I always seem to be lucky enough to meet some really nice people who help me through difficult times. Maybe I worry too much but I can't help it. But I will try to make good use of the free time I have now and explore more of the city.

Singapore

It has been exactly one week since my arrival in Singapore. This has not been the easiest time for me. Firstly I found out that I needed a lot of paperwork for the application to the Singapore Pharmacy Council. Then I kept being told that I needed a proper employment before I can get any mobile phone or broadband contract or set up a bank account. These were the things I was planning to do as soon as I flew in. It has been really frustrating and depressing. On top of that I had to go apartment hunting and get used to everything from food and transportation to the language

So far I have not seen much in the city that has wowed me yet. Everything seems to fall between the standards of Hong Kong and Brisbane. I guess it will take a while before I can say I like living here.

Last Saturday I decided I would go and be a total tourist and actually had a good day. I was out in the city, and I was exhausted by the end of the day, and I felt more energetic. I ended up in the Little India district in the morning and visited the Masjid Abdul Gafoor. A volunteer gave us a group tour of the mosque and did a good job explaining. It was interesting and bizarre at the same time that the mosque has incorporated designs from the famous Roman churches. Then I went to the Bugis Street market, which totally reminded me of 旺中, only a little less chaotic and crowded. After that I managed to find two churches in the city area, St. Joseph's Church and the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Both were built in the second half of the 19th centuary and are really pretty architecturally. The Church of Sts Peter and Paul was the only one open at the time so I got to go inside and prayed for a bit. The inside however was lacking maintenance and could use some renovation.

My next stop, also the last one of the day, was the National Museum of Singapore, where a random guy asked whether he could join me for the visit. He was originally from 廣洲 in China and was stopping in Singapore for a few days before flying to Australia. After getting the tickets, we started from the history gallery. Instead of the traditional information board, they give you a portable device that show or read out information when you put in the corresponding number. We split up as soon as we entered the gallery and I began from the very beginning. After about 15 minutes the guy came back and was surprised to find me still in the initial section, whereas he has already finished the entire floor. He was hoping to see the more modern history of Singapore so I suggested him to go to the other parts of the museum first while I continue in the history gallery. After about an hour, he came to look for me again when I was in the Second World War session (still have another 30-40 years to cover!). He did not find what he wanted in the other galleries either and wanted to go out to the shops. And he actually wanted me to go with him!? I, however, wanted to see the rest of the museum so ended up staying. It was probably a good thing that he did not wait for me because I did not finish until 7pm~ I did not expect to enjoy the museum this much but I'm glad that I went. It gave me a better idea of the history and the background of Singapore. The life galleries for food and fashion were especially interesting.

Yesterday was a huge day. I moved into this apartment in Simei that is across the road from the hospital. The owners are a couple in early 30's who also live with the wife's mother. So far they seem nice and my room is nice and spacious. It is quite well furnished and also air-conditioned. I hope it will be a nice home. I went found the church last evening. Of course I had to go off to the wrong direction and an 10-min walk turned into 45-min!!! The Church of Holy Trinity in Tampines is quite a big church, much like St Andrew's Parish at church. It seems quite new and modern. They have a good group of altar servers and a decent choir. It felt nice to attend mass again. It felt normal. And I felt that I belonged there, even though I did not know any of the songs.

There are still a lot of things I need to get used to and a lot more problems to encounter. I hope I can stay strong and take one step at a time.

My last day in Brisbane

So here we are. 26th October 2010. After tonight I will not be back to Brisbane for a while. I do feel bad about leaving in such a haste. I feel like I have not had enough time to properly say goodbye to people I care about and everyone seem to have a million questions I have not had the opportunity to answer.

The first reaction from most people after hearing the news is "why?" I do not have a very convincing reason, other than "why not?" You only live once and life is too short. I want to make mine an adventure; and I want to see the world. As lovely a city as it is, Brisbane never really feels like home and I feel like it is time to move on. The opportunity came along, and I grasped it.

I do not know what is awaiting in Singapore and to be honest I am a bit scared. But if we let fear control our decisions, we would never get anywhere. Marc Jacobs once said that people often confuse excitement with fear (or something like that). So instead of being scared, I am determined to be 'cited about this!

And it is not about the money. Soooooooooooo not about the money. I think I am in the wrong profession if I want to get rich. And there are so many things in life that takes priority over wealth - God, family, friendship, life experience, happiness, health... As long as I can feed myself and can afford buying Vogue and chocolates (among other more practical things like rent and the bills) I am happy~

So many incredible things in my life seem to start with me doing something unexpected. I do hope moving to Singapore will be one of them. And if it turns out to be a terrible mistake, at least it is something that I have done for myself and I can look back and say "hey, at least I've tried!!"

Thank you guys for being such amazing people and being in my life. The past eight years in Brisbane have been such an incredible experience and I would not trade anything for it. Nothing will be the same without any of you guys. Thank you for all the wonderful memories you have given me, which will always remain in my heart and I will cherish forever.

Take care, until we meet again.

My name is Zita Chan and I am a chocoholic

There is KoKo Black in Melbourne, Lindt Chocolat Café in Sydney. And finally, Max Brenner in Brisbane.
As a chocolate/dessert cafe, it has quite a decent sized menu. Chocolate drinks are served in 8-9 different styles, all available in dark, milk and white chocolates. There are a large variety of desserts, from the fondue, waffles, mousse to the more unexpected Choc-Banana pizza. Coffee and tea are also included in the menu for those who prefer something less sweet - although I think that would defeat the whole purpose of going to a chocolate cafe! I ordered dark chocolate suckao, which is pretty much a fun way to serve hot chocolate. Warm milk is continuously heated in a small metal cup suspended over a candle. Chocolate chips are served on the side and stirred through the warm milk as you sip the hot chocolate through a metal straw. The drink is rich and thick and is kept warm the whole time, which is what hot chocolate should be!!!
For anyone who wants to bring home a piece of Max Brenner, there is a shop attached to the cafe, selling all sorts of chocolate, giftboxes and a chocolate cookbook.

Chocolate to die for: my favourite shop to get chocolate in Brisbane! Their chocolates smell and taste AMAZING and are so special. The owner is apparently selling the shop at the end of the month though. Hopefully the new ownership will not change the quality of the chocolate!

"God gave the angels wings; and he gave humans chocolate." - Anonymous

Things I will miss about Brisbane...

Not in any particular order

1) Picture-perfect weather
2) Gelatissimo
3) Sourdough bread
4) Gallery of Modern Art
5) Free yoga class at Lululemon
6) UQ (which I have missed for the past 2 years) and Stuartholme (6 years!)
7) A "real" oven
8) Boost Juice
9) Jalna yoghurt
10) Vintage shopping in Paddington
11) Cappuccino at Hudson Coffee
12) Le Bon Choix
13) Vogue Australia
14) St Stephen's Cathedral
15) Looking for the Southern Cross on a starry night

To be continued...

I found these babies at a vintage store yesterday...

I'm in love with them!

Decision. Decision. Decision.

Valentino Retrospective: Past/Present/Future

The Gallery of Modern Art is officially one of my favourite places in Brisbane. Out of all the capital cities in Australia, Brisbane gets to host the "Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future" exhibition at the GoMA! I went to see the gallery last Saturday with Karen and it was the best exhibition I have ever seen (Yes, it trumps the Pixar 20th Anniversary exhibition in Melbourne in 2008).
The exhibition is really well laid-out. It starts with what Valentino does the best - an evening gown in his signature "Valentino red" from his very first collection in 1965. It then opens up to the first gallery, where garments are grouped according to textile (eg feathers, leather and fur), prints (eg floral and animal prints), colours, silhouetts and techniques. When I walked into this hall, it literally took my breath away I had to gasp. The enormous space is filled with so many different colours, patterns and shapes it is like couture heaven. The second section is a display of documentory videos, fashion magazines from different decades and a huge picture board presenting the history of the Valentino house. The second gallery is arranged mainly by colours; white, black and red. One section is dedicated to pieces from his last collection while the exhibition finishes with the 2009 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.
Unlike the Les Arts exhibition in Paris, all the garments are displayed in the open space (on specially made-to-measure mannequins belonging to Mr Valentino himself, of course). I felt like I was having an intimate experience with the couture gowns. You can see every stitch, every sequin, every inch of the fabric. The craftsmanship and the details are so amazing. Looking the clothes from a distance (or on style.com on a computer screen) simply does not do them justice. For the whole four hours that I was there I was just bombarded by beauty and colours. The combination of colours and the juxtaposition of fabrics are so creative. I think I saw a few colours that I did not even know existed ?! Each garment has their own unique character. His designs are so classic, so elegant, so feminine and so timeless. There are pieces from his 60's or 70's collections that are completely wearable today.
I am surprised that Alessandra Facchinetti was not even mentioned at all in the exhibition. Personally I love the few collections that she has done. I thought they were romantic, light, young and elegant. I guess that can be the exact reason that got her dismissed. Too approaching for a couture house maybe?
The new duo definitely have a different direction from the traditional Valentino. They are tougher and more modern. When compared to the collections designed by Valentino himself, their garments seem to be lacking femininity, class and delicacy. Whether they can uphold the Valentino legend is still questionable. But one thing is certain; Mr Valentino is an absolute legend and we will always love his talent!

Pintxo

I did not bake this weekend and I am using my having a cold as an excuse. I worked through Thursday and Friday with a splitting headache and a slight fever. I still had to talk to people even though my throat was burning and my nose was running. I could not take time off because another staff was already on sick leave. Plus I was testing Barney's theory on being sick; I kept telling myself to stop being sick and be awesome instead, which, by the way, did not really work!
But after sleeping for 9+ hours every night for the past few days I feel like I am slowly recovering. Nose is still running, my throat is still sore. I still feel really tired all the time and I am still coughing at night. But at least the headache has subsided. Let's hope I will not die from exhaustion from work this week.

A few days ago I went to Pintxo, a Spanish restaurant in New Farm specialising in tapas. The place is split into two areas, one of which is the normal sitting area and the other half is set up as a "tapas train". Basically like a sushi train. Except they serve tapas, instead of sushi. I actually like this set-up because you get to see all the dishes that they are serving and it made the dining experience more fun. It made the restaurant look bigger than it was too (plus the mirror covering the entire wall on one side).
The menu is set out quite nicely and the descriptions of the dishes are very clear. For people who are not familiar with Spanish food, like us, it was not hard to identify what tapas were on the conveyor. They were mostly cold tapas, eg bread slices with various toppings and skewers. There were also hot ones that are made to order. We avoided most of the pickles and olives tapas but really enjoyed everything else. There were a few funky stuff like blue cheese mousse, quince paste and pickled garlic but they were actually quite tasty! I ordered a Red Sangria, which was delicious. The dessert menu was not huge but what was there seemed pretty good. We wanted to try the Crème Caramel but was too full !! We went on a Tuesday when the 2-4-1 deal was on so we only paid for the cheaper half of the tapas, which was a really good discount. The waiters and waitresses were helpful and friendly. They approached us a few times to make sure we were happy with everything. After around 9pm the waitress did start trying to make us leave - clearing our plates, sending us the dessert menu, giving us the bill etc. But she still kept refilling our glass and was not pushy at all. The restaurant had good music and a nice relaxing atmosphere.
Overall I enjoyed the food and had a really nice time. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. I probably would not revisit so soon as I have tried pretty much everything I wanted to on the tapas train menu. If the menu gets updated then it is definitely worth going back again - probably on another Tuesday!

The West End Market

Out of all the outdoor markets in Brisbane, the West End Market is probably the most talked of. From so many people I have heard of how good the stalls are. It's not just the local residents who live in the south or around the CBD who go there regularly. People from the north seem to think it is worth the travelling to go there every Saturday morning as well. So I did have high hopes when I went there today for the first time.
And I did enjoy it a lot. It's got a real mixed variety of stalls eg fruits and veggies, flowers, seafood, hand-made jeweleries, vintage clothes, preserves and jams, sweets, fresh coffee, food stalls etc. Despite the mix-up with the buses etc I had a nice time!

Funny-looking cinnamon rolls

Spinach & cheese puff pastries,
a very delicious Hungarian dish that is cooked with an iron!!

NARS

This entry is probably completely unnecessary and is nothing more than a show-and-tell. Anyway I'm going to go ahead and announce that I finally have my first NARS blush! In fact my first NARS anything. I am not a huge make up junkie and most certainly do not buy a lot of expensive make up. But a NARS blush has always been on my list of lemmings and Karen has kindly bought it for me all the way from Hong Kong.I was deciding between Orgasm and Taj Mahal at first. Orgasm is probably the most popular blush in the entire world. It is a gorgeous shimmery peachy pink that is designed to complement any skin tone. I have to say when I tried it on it did live up to its reputation. It gave my skin a healthy and natural glow and made it look smoother too. On the other hand Taj Mahal is a golden shimmery orange that you don't see very often. The colour of the blush looks extremely vibrant and is probably a bit intimidating at first. But after I tried it on I just fell in love with it! This shade looks gorgeous on olive / tan skin. The golden shimmer gives the skin extra glow and instantly lifts up the cheek bones. No wonder they named it after Taj Mahal. This orangey gold does remind one of the shining but soft sunset at the magnificent Taj Mahal. I also like how different Taj Mahal is from most of the pink / coral / rosy shades that you normally find in blushes. So that is how I settled on Taj Mahal, which is no doubt my favourite blush at the moment :)
And what made me even happier with my new purchase is that I have rediscovered one of my older blushes, the Evening Out from Everyday Minerals. It is deep peachy pink colour with intense golden shimmer. Sounds familiar doesn't it? In fact I found it to be really similar to Orgasm, probably just half a shade darker which is great for darker skin tone. Since it is mineral make up it is extremely pigmented so you only need to use a very small amount each time and it is very easy to build up to the intensity that you want. And it is great for what it claims to do - perfect for a night out!Gift from Japan from Karen - 六花亭 strawberries coated with white chocolate!
I'm usually not a big fan of white chocolate - I always think they lack the richness and and depth of "real chocolates". But these strawberries/chocolates are just divine! The chocolate coating is thick and creamy and infused with the flavour from the strawberry. The strawberry in the centre is frozen, much like the ones you get in Haagen-Dazs ice-creams and its freshness and crunchiness goes really well with the smooth chocolate. Plus they come in the cutest paper tub that you can keep after finishing the chocolate (which should not take long!) Thank you so much for the present Karen!

Iron Man 2

Today was one of those days that started off with a huge panic and finished with a good ending. Just before I left the house for work, I could not find my keys. I took everything out of my bag, looked at it inside out, went through the several piles of clothes in the bedroom, looked under the cushions of the sofa in the living room, searched all the pockets of my jackets, my pants, went through all the drawers and my keys were nowhere to be seen. Less than 9 minutes before my train I had to leave home without my keys and on the train ride I said my prayer to St Anthony and asked him to help me find them. And when I arrived home at night and tipped everything out of my bag, my keys just dropped out of nowhere and appeared right in front of me. How can it be that they have been in my bag for the whole time and I could not find them all day I really can't explain. But once again St Anthony saved my day and, being such a careless person, I am so glad he is the patron saint of lost items.

Upon the invitation of Winnie we went to see the film Iron Man 2 today. Thinking that it was a "boy movie" I have not seen the first one and I did not expect to enjoy this one either. My lack of expectation may have contributed to this but I actually liked this film quite a lot. No I have never read the original comic so I cannot compare. And yes it is still a boy movie. The car racing, the explosions and the robots fighting each other are probably a bit of a overkill. And it really is not necessary that we see Scarlett Johansson change clothes or that she always wears something either tight or low-cut or both. Plus the ending seems a bit abrupt and illogical. But the script is full of witty dialogues and the cast is fantastic. Robert Downey is terrific as Tony Stark/Iron Man. He is arrogant, self-centred and narcissistic but absolutely charming. There is great chemistry between him and Gwyneth Paltrow, who by the way looks amazing in whatever she wears. Scarlett Johansson on the other hand does not have a huge role apart from a few matrix-style actions and sexy-looking outfits. Overall i find the film funny, quick-paced and really entertaining.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Paltrow's outfits in the film!!!!

When did we stop being kids?

It's weird how when life gets to a certain stage, things start repeating themselves, only in the opposite direction. I remember when I was still in primary school, I would call my mum all the time when she worked at the hospital. It might be problems with homework, complaining about my brother, hoping to get Drumstick ice-cream for dessert. I would ring the hospital whenever I needed anything and I would get a little disappointed if she couldn't get to the phone straight away. And about 10 years later, I am the one answering the call and trying to get off the phone 'coz I have to go back to my job. All of a sudden your parents are the ones with all the time in the world while you work 48 hours a week. They are happily living off their retirement pension and you are the one with a mortgage. They are travelling everywhere whenever they want to when you don't even know when you can get your next annual leave. Instead of a tag-along of your parents, you are getting wedding invitations with your name on it. Not long ago you were a student and then you got a full-time job and you are officially an adult.
Growing up is not easy, but it is inevitable. You can try delaying it for as long as you want but eventually you'll have to bear the responsibility and just make that jump. But lucky for us there's that little bit of freedom and independence to make adulthood at least bitter-sweet.

Blood Donation

It is true that being able to give blood is a gift. It means that you are perfectly healthy and you are able to share that health with someone else. For the first time since I weighed enough to donate, I was rejected 'coz apparently my Hb is too low. 104 g/L was their reading. Never thought I might be anaemic but apparently I am! I guess I have been feeling tired and breathless at times but I thought that was just due to not sleeping enough and me being unfit. I'll probably need to book an appointment soon to get a blood count. And no more blood donation and more red meat in the next six months!
And if you are one of the lucky ones who are healthy enough to donate, please make time to do it every 3 months. It really doesn't take that long (about 30 minutes in total each time) and you are sharing the gift of life with someone else. And it really doesn't hurt that much. It feels a bit uncomfortable when the needle goes into your vein but that usually goes away within half to one minute. Plus it's kinda cool watching your blood being collected in a bag. It gives me a strange sense of achievement as the bag slowly gets filled up and the machine reaches 400. And if the sight of your own blood freaks you out, you can always look the other way and watch TV or have a chat with one of the Red Cross staff members, who are always lovely and will happily feed you after each donation :P

Just me complaining about people complaining

It is true that we often don't realize how blessed our lives really are. We complain about our bosses, our parents/kids, the bills, the traffic, the government, the weather, Gen XYZ, the relationships we are in, how boring the news are, the neighbour's dog that wakes you up at 5am, the person at the other end of the phone line whose accent you can't understand etc etc etc. Many people seem to be addicted to lengthy but pointless discussions that are based on nothing but negativity and criticism. While most of the time I just respond with a smile, all I want to tell them is that the world will be a much lovelier place without their complaints and negative energy. Just because you are an angry old (wo)man, don't spread your anger to other people. It is annoying, counterproductive and completely unnecessary. Our society is noisy enough without people dumping their frustration on each other. Don't complain about your job. Be thankful that you have a job to complain about. Don't complain about having to get up early. Be thankful that you wake up at all. Don't complain about your neighbour's noise. Be thankful that you can hear. Don't get annoyed by your parents' nagging. Be thankful for having a relationship with them. Don't take things for granted. Show gratitude. Learn to appreciate little things in life. Because the world can be as beautiful as you want it to be.

Moving in

There is something so homey about the act of putting up a painting. Finding a special spot on the wall for the painting almost signifies that you have also found home at the same place. Just like Rose puts the artwork of "something Picasso" around her first class suite on Titanic, I decorated my wall with Chanel, Burberry, Valentino, Prada and Hermes. I put Rome, Milan, Florence, Berlin, Morroca and Malaysia around my dressing table. Second day after moving in, with my things scattered on my study desk, I feel slightly more at home.


Simple lunch with Karen: Salami, semi-sun dried tomatoes and olives on pita bread pizza
Thank you so much for the present - I can't wait to try out the recipes!!!

Train in Brisbane

Taking the train can seem like such a routine. The same people, wearing the same clothes, carrying the same backpack, getting on and off the train at the same station at the same time each day. But every now and then it gets a little unexpected. You bump into people from uni that you haven't spoken to since graduation. You start sharing stories about weird customers, whinging about work, reminiscing about life before responsibilities. And there was that girl who carried a snake around her neck like a necklace and sat right in front of me and the snake looked almost as thick as my forearm. And then there were those that you haven't thought of for a while, and you don't even know whether you want to see them again.
Don't ever underestimate the effect of your presence and your behaviours on the people around you. Just by being yourself, you can make all the difference in the world for somebody. To borrow my dad's words, 生命影響生命.