19th December 2017

Took a train alone, and I am back in Bakersfield again. Something about going places alone gives my comfort. Always glad to be back. Have a few goals in mind to achieve while I'm here, just to keep myself busy.

Had sushi for dinner. Played my cousin's guitar. Got to meet Destiny, finally. Great dog.

15th December 2017

Met up with Kelly at the bus stop again. We took a bus to Barnes and Noble - I wanted to buy that book I saw. Couldn't find it. She ended up buying something tho.

Went to Halu Ramen for lunch. My ramen soup was bomb. Made a trip to The Starving Musicians to check out their guitar prices. Lately I've been wanting to get back into music again. Didn't get anything tho.

14th December 2017

Today was the last day of finals. Economics. It went by incredibly well. I got a 78/69 for it.

I got out at 10.30am. I made a trip to Staples to get some supplies. That made me happy. Went back to school to return my bike and met Kelly. Decided to ditch my plan of going home to hang out with her for a bit. Went to Target and bought some stuff. We went back to my place to kill some time and eat lunch.

We walked back to school because she had English finals. Parted ways with her and went to Target and Staples again. Returned some clothes and got more supplies. I walked 22,000 steps today. Feet hurts but I am extremely happy with today's activities.

I stopped by a park and took this photo.

13th December 2017

Math finals went pretty badly. Well. Got to watch Kelly's classmates sing. I played the song badly. Well. Got some flowers for performing, that made me happy. Regardless of my unsatisfactory playing, I'm happy I was there. Her classmates were so bubbly and nice.

(Her uncle treated me to dinner the night before. A warm bowl of noodles warms me up. Thanks.)

Anthropology finals was a breeze. Gave one of my flowers to my professor. She liked it.

11th December 2017

Had Physics finals today. It went really well. Physics prof told me I have great potential in Physics. That was really uplifting. Thanks prof.

Kelly came home with me so we could rehearse her singing finals. Still can't play the song well. We ate lunch at the school cafeteria. That was a first time for me.

Took a picture of this neatly cut bush on our walk home.

7th December 2017

Kelly had asked me to play the piano accompaniment for her singing finals on the 14th. Nervous. It's right between my math and anthropology finals, and I only have 6 days to master it. Already know it's  not possible, but I had helped her anyways. It would be a great experience. She gave me the piano sheet to Colours of the Wind.

3rd December 2017

Alex and Sming invited Jin (my landlord, they are close friends) and I for a Sunday night dinner. I never pass up free food. Dinner consisted of Malaysian Chinese dishes - I loved it. I'm always happy to be back at their house (mom and I previously lived there for three weeks before Bakersfield). I think we lived there for so long their house feels like home to me. Ken and Winnie were there too. Great company, great food, got to drink wine. The apple cider was bomb. I was given some tie guan yin tea and durian paste. That dinner made my day.

1st December 2017

Friday. Had another study date with Jenn in our school library. The day before was the first time I stepped foot into my school's library. Instantly fell in love with the place (then again I have always had an affinity with libraries or places with calm people). After that we went to Paris Baguette for lunch. Took a bus to a thrift store. She got a bunch of things, I got none. I have very specific tastes for clothes, regardless cheap or expensive. Was still happy I got to visit a thrift store.

Thanksgiving 2017

Kelly invited us to her uncle's Thanksgiving dinner party. I never pass up on free food sooooooo

KF and Louise came by to pick me up. It was really far but the drive up the hills where her house was fun (because I wasn't driving). Her house is HUGE. Scenery outside was amazing. Company was great. Food was bomb. Had ice cream for the first time in a long time so I was happy. Played their piano for awhile. It ignited my passion for the piano again. 10/10 would go back there again.

Friend

Pumpkin soup was bomb

November 2017

1 November

Jenn gave me chocolates today :)

3 November 

Took pictures of my walk to school.

12 November

Went to The Counter at Santana Row to meet up with a bunch of Malaysians. They were cool. Burger was great. Chill day overall. It makes me feel like I have friends now. It's my first time hanging out with friends in the States. Saw a book I wanted to buy. Didn't get it tho.

18 November

Fridays make me happy. Met up with Jenn at Jamba Juice for a study date. I've been helping her with her economics notes. She's sweet. She recommended me Daniel Caesar to listen to. We are very like-minded people, in terms of likes and personality. Definitely hangout material :)

Afterwards I played basketball with some of the Malaysians I met at a park. Kelly was there too. I was a noob. Oh well. We dropped Kelly off at school and went to Gong Cha for bubble tea. Chill day. Got to know each other better. They wondered why I wasn't panicking that I haven't registered for next quarter's classes.

Went back to school at 4pm to do just that. Stayed for an hour. That wasn't fun but got my classes.

Halloween 2017

Mom's friends, Alex and Sming, offered to take me to Los Gatos to experience how Halloween is celebrated here. Had Mexican food before that. People here go ham with their halloween decorations.

October 2017

3 October

Feeling terribly homesick.


5 October

Ate some durian mooncake Alex gave :).

6 October

Went to Westfield Valley Fair mall to meet up with QQ. Ate Japanese food, walked around a bit. The malls here aren't as impressive as back home. On the way back, I took the wrong bus, and ended up in  what looks like downtown San Jose. Made it back anyways. Pretty fruitful day tho.


12 October

I established every Thursday as instant noodles for dinner day. Something about a warm bowl of noodles that just makes me happy. To add to the happiness, on Fridays I only have one math class in the morning and I'm free for the day. I also only walk to school on Fridays (hate cycling in the cold mornings).

16 October

Monday. Started to feel a little dull, so I walked 30 minutes to the nearest 85 degree Bakery to get some bread (I was craving bread). Took some pictures along the way. I discovered my love for taking long walks, exploring the city alone. Houses on the way were so pretty too. Love American houses. 

Also ordered and got my first Amazon parcel today :)

27 October

Made a quiche. Wasn't that good tho. 

31 October

Got really boosting encouragement from math professor today.

45/42 on math quiz

September 2017

3rd September 

Mom's flight back is today. We made a trip to Santa Monica before sending her off at LAX.

Road trip shot

Lunch at fancy french place in Santa Monica. Had macarons too.

Bakersfield

I spent three weeks in Bakersfield with my aunt and cousin before starting my first quarter. In this trip, I discovered my love for thrift stores (I bought two black skirts for $10, that purchase brought me happiness), wrestled with Elphias the German Shepard, and studied Chemistry. At this point I'm already one with the fact that I have left home for the first time in my life. Nothing profound really. It sort of happened gradually before I even arrived here. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, I like being in Bakersfield with family.

I think this was at Home Depot's plant section

Road shot during a Bakersfield evening

17th September 

Went to my cousin's friends' birthday party. Felt out of place but her friend's cat is gorgeous. Lexi the cat is 14 years old.

 19th September 

Took Amtrak train back to Cupertino. From this day to the weekend, all I had was instant noodles, frozen dumplings and pre-packaged salad.


30th September

Mom's friend, Alex, invited me out to have an outside mooncake festival dinner with their group of friends, at a park. Great company, great food. I'm always up for free food. The bees(?) kept eating my meat.

Lake Tahoe Trip

25th to 27th August 2017

Random bird sitting in the grass. I thought it was cute.

Groundshot outside our cabin