Dear Oklahoma....

Dear Oklahoma,

It's been 12 days since I'm here. You weren't exactly nice to me but you weren't particularly bad as well.

I wanted a penthouse before we came, but I ended with a studio instead because of some irresponsible people who backed on their words. Now, I'm glad I ended in this small but cosy room with 2 of the best room-mates I could ever have. We were always looking out for each other, making sure that everyone is taken care of all the time. We stay in harmony and I simply love them both. It couldn't have been any fun without them.

Just on the second day, we were already waiting for our transport we were promised at the Wal*Mart entrance, but it never came. It was a torturous long wait of 1 1/2 Hours. In the end, we had no choice but decided to try our luck out in the open with a trolley of 2 weeks grocery, hoping we could get a taxi. We called the person in charge for help but she said theres nothing she could do. Five gals were left stranded out in the cold with the trolley out on the road junction, with weird looks by passerbys, after another 20 mins the taxi we called finally came. I was really pissed at you and your people. But after we got home, we unpacked and I was really glad that we got what we needed and everything was in place. The shopping at your huge supermarket was actually pretty pleasant.

We popped by the strip club just opposite where we lived on the third day. It felt a little weird at first, to be surrounded by naked women and hungry men, but it slowly turned out bored. We left promptly after 30 mins. I saw how men actually enjoy the cheap thrill, and also came to know that a lap dance cost 20 USD each. And... they do it on women too. I nearly got forced into paying one to do it for me but I escaped. I saved 20.

The very first module my group was arranged to take was Environmental Science. The lecturer is a nice lady but the lessons were really too boring. I fell asleep almost every single lesson(except during group work) no matter how I struggled to stay awake. But the field trips we had were wonderful. We have been to the stinkiest place, which is the sewage system but we also went to the place with one of the most beautiful scenery. The wildlife park was wonderful. Unforgetttable.

There were a total of 5 groups, 91 people, for this study trip and we were the only ones ended up being forgotten. Everyone has got their student cards and graduation gowns before hand except for my group. We ended up worrying about wearing crumpled gowns for our graduation day, and indeed it happened. We didn't get our gowns till the very day cos the Person In Charge said theres nothing she can do. Although we did ended up in wrinkled gowns, the troubles seemed to float away the moment we put on them. Everyone was helping each other with their hats, tussles and gowns. Making sure we all look our very best. We had fun taking pictures, congratulating each other, all looking smart and formal.

And it's weird that everyone has got all their past assignments back and it's only me with the missing one. Again I was told theres nothing they can do. It seems like your people can't really do much on anything.

The post graduation party at Bricktown was wild and crazy, but ironically you left me crying and pouring my heart out to my only sober friend after the partying. And of cos, we had to settle a sad, drunken friend who couldn't stop mumbling before she slowly slipped off to dreamland. Do bless her cos she deserves so much more and better.

I'm kinda broke too.. Thanks to all the fantastic shopping you have over here. 'Ross' has the cheapest and best things around. And the outlets in Dallas really burnt a hole in my pocket. Too many shops, too little time. I was rather sad when I couldn't find 'Hollister'. I knew it was there but I just can't find it. However, when I got back and took whatever I bought out, everything look so good. It's worth the money. No regrets.

The visits to the lecturers were great. Especially the one to Dr. Ellen Jane's house tonight. She really made an effort in preparing a wonderful meal for us. We were singing Christmas Carols and I just found out Elijah, the vainpot, plays great piano. Woo Hoo.. Surprise surprise. I should really learn to know people better.

You opened my eyes too. I have learned not to judge too quickly. Those who always appear to be cool, ain't that cool after all. I heard so much, and they apparently suck in many ways. Those who suck, still do suck. No matter what, I'm glad that during this trip I got to know those whom I don't really communicate with initially much much better. They apparently are rather nice people, can be fun and silly too.

Dear Oklahoma,

theres still 10 days with you. Still a long way ahead and much to learn. I look forward to it, and will stay strong. Theres really not much more to ask from you. I miss my family. So just do bless them with a wonderful Christmas this year.

BTW, thank you for the snow. Its Beautiful.

Yours Sincerely,
Jo

New York New York

I'm here in Oklahoma now as I'm writing this. Jus finished with the New York trip and this trip is like some sort of an amazing race. It was rush rush rush all the time. But we had great fun. All five of us. Karyn, Michelle, Preeya, Huiling and Moi. So many funny and silly things we have done. And so many problems along the way. In the end we conquered it all. If I were to write down the full details of this trip, think it can simply take up the whole page, so I guess i'll just highlight on a few things, which, let me remind u, is still not gonna be short.

From Singapore to Tokyo to New York. It was a long tedious flight. And I felt like a glutton, cos all we do is eat, sleep, watch video, play game, eat, sleep. Horrible, felt as if I put on a few kilos even beore i stepped into United States. We had lunch in Narita airport during transit, cos we figured out that we wouldn't be having Asian food for a long time to come. And so, we enjoyed the short Japanese meal during our 2hr stop in Japan. Finally after another 12 hours of flight, and irritating screaming kids torturing my ears, we got to NY. Karyn and Michelle was jumping up and down like shaken up coca cola when they saw the snow right outside the plane as we landed. They were like 2 children who didn't get their sweets when they realised that it had stopped snowing by the time we arrived, what we saw was actually what I would call "leftover snow". But they were still thrilled to see the snow at least.

The hostel we lived in wasn't too fantastic, nothing fancy, rather squeezy but it was good enough. The location itself beat all other things. We were just 5 mins walk away from Times Square. How cool is that?! We planned our tour to many places for each day, although in the end we accomplished maybe just about 60% of it (Most of it was due to the delays from umm..... shopping?), we had a great time. We explore this cold city with a map in hand and off we went, on foot or taking the subway. Credits to Michelle, our professional map reader. She provided all the directions due to her talent in map reading. HAha..

We saw wonderful architectures like the New York library and the St. Patrick church. I was really amazed by such detailed work from just the bare human hands. You really have to see it to feel it. We visited the Statue of Liberty as well, it was the most unforgettable and coldest trip for us. I swear I nearly lost my ears when we took the ship there. Freaking cold at the top of the ship, but we gotta see the most beautiful scenery. We even had a snow fight right in front of liberty. We saw snow and we jus started attacking each other. We were dorks... Haha.. but it was hilarious. Went to the fifth avenue too.. Lots of the rich and powerful. Limousines pass us by for like every freaking 5mins. I really suspect the people there just have clothes for lunch or dinner. We couldn't find any food at all along the way except for branded shops, and almost everyone is holding at least one shopping bag. oh! and I saw the Trump Tower. His "Trump Tower" was plated in Gold. Eww......

Hmm.. New Yorkers are practically as cold as the weather. I feel it's not racism or anything, they jus have an attitude problem. They are just being..... New Yorkers. Simple as that. If you think the service in Singapore is horrible, come to New York, then you'll know Singapore's Service ain't that bad after all. We had problems druing the trip, realised our irresponsible, stupid, idiotic, no brainer, scheming agent got Mich and me a different flight to OK. We argued wif the bitchy agent for like hours so that we can make that change without having to pay. Mich did most of the arguing, and boy! She was really good at it. In the end, we din manage to get what we wanted. We still have to take the early morning flight instead of the noon one like the rest. We were really pissed. We got up at about 4.30am to catch the flight and guess what! It jus suddenly snowed!! Now, we were really perked up and we couldnt stop looking at it. We went out with the snow falling on us. It was a wonderful feeling. We even stuck our tounges out to taste it. Preeya started with it. Eeeeeeeee..... Haha..

The trip in New York ended with the snowing and we thought it wasn't so bad after all.. It was all worth it. We forgot the the problems we had with the tix. When Mich and I got to the airport, we realised our trip was cancelled due to the snow storm. And.. we were automatically transfered to the noon flight which is the one the other 3 are taking. How nice... We nearly fainted on the spot. The noon flight is seven hours away for your information. If we were to wait, the 2 of us have to be stranded at the airport for that long. Fortunately, this kind lady at the counter (which was rare), got us tix to OK early, but we have to transit at Minneapolis. We never even heard of that place before! But we dun really have a choice.

To end this, let me tell u about the five people of this trip.

Karyn - Always nice, like a lost, curious, excited little kid in a big city. Always losing things. Doesn't know her way. Very blur.

Huiling - an auntie always on the wrong frequency. Always interpret our conversations into something that we can never understand. And shes got a really contagious laughter! A funny character. Doesn't knowe her way or even the adress of the hostel. Very very Blur.

Preeya - Always crack tickish jokes, a fun person. Blur, but compared to the above 2, shes much better lah. Haha.. at least she knows the way back.

Michelle - A PIG. Always hungry. Gets cranky when shes either tired or hungry. Always looking for food. Takes about 6 meals a day, which she says its very little compared to what she takes in Singapore. The time she wakes up is the time shes hungry.

Jolene (Me) - Always thinks she lost her stuff but finds it somewhere eventually. Took people things and slips them in the back pocket and think shes returned them in two occasions. Makes idiotic jokes.

This Party of Five Had The Best Time.

What Is This I'm Feeling?

In another few hours time, I'll be flying to US.
Boy.. Its finally here. It was just like yesterday when I first met TaiTai and Mich. We were talking non-stop about the trip like excited little girls. Now, after 1 1/2 years, it has finally arrive. So much has happened during this period, how time flies. Certain things have changed for the 3 of us, though least for taitai, but its just all so different. Especially for Mich I think, I'm more like in the middle. This trip just simply reminds me of how time can pass at the blink of an eye. Unexpected do happen without us knowing.

I feel rather weird now. Though many said, " You must be excited!!". Its really not only that. I'm excited of cos, but at the same time I'm nervous (yes, I'm having cold feet and my hands are trembling at the same time as I'm typing this), happy, sad and I'm missing my mum and dad and Bret Boy already. This is not my first trip without my family, but it just feel so different this time. 1 1/2 month without them, no mama's good food and I'm so far away... Boo hoo!!!! I'm very confident I'll be just fine in USA, and hey! We did everything for this trip on our very own! From planning to flying to the staying and the damn troublesome Visa. Everything's going as planned and it all seem so perfect now. So I'm really independent enough base on that! Haha.. ok.. Enuff of bragging.

I just feel so mixed up now.. Hmm... And one weird thing I just found out is.... I expected myself to feel a certain way for a certain thing (I can't tell you what), but it actually didn't happen. So I think its good. It's a good start. In the end, I just hope this trip is gonna do me good, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Wish Me A Safe Trip. And,
Bon Voyage To Myself!

See You People In 2006~!

Love,
Jolene