Ah Kong

I pushed a full cart pass the laxly policed scanners before finding my way into mummy's embrace. The joy at having finally arrived in the land that I called home, and relief at the end of a long and tiring year, dissipated upon hearing the uttered words.

"Ah Kong is in the hospital."

"We didn't want to tell you because you were having your exams."

Time is experienced subjectively.

A stressful year seemed, to me, a long time. That, and the fact that the move to another country was a high stakes one. A do or die kind of thing (I exaggerate of course. But it sure felt like that).

Yet a year for Ah Kong seemed to move too rapidly. How could a person who appeared so in control of his mind and bodily functions at the start of the year deteriorate so much by December?

I would like to believe that Ah Kong waited for me to come home. Thank you for giving me the chance to see you for the last time. You lived a long and fulfilling life.

Rest in peace dearest grandpa.

Thought provoking documentaries

I am thoroughly enjoying every bit of my three week break by spending just a bit more time snuggled under layers of blankets (the reverse Princess and the Pea due to the chilly nights), and borrowing films to watch from the school library (I paid so much in school fees so I might as well make the most of it!). That's what I did during my time in National University of Singapore and in Leeds University as well, and it exposed me to and made me fall in love with a whole new world of film outside the typical Hollywood types.

This time however, I stuck with American-centric documentaries that I have been wanting to catch, Walmart, the High Cost of Low Prices, and Food, Inc. After watching those, I am reminded of everything wrong about our current capitalist economies and wonder when things will unravel to make way for a new system.

So let's talk about Walmart first. It was definitely not unbiased and felt like a revenge against big multinational corporations at times. But it was a thought provoking film that made me think about all the times I smugly patted myself on the back after scoring something on the cheap with not much thought given to the origin of the goods.

The evil that is Capitalism

I particularly enjoyed the end of the documentary, which showed people power at its finest. Ah, so we are not powerless after all. It makes my heart sing that a big MNC's plans can be thwarted.

Moo.

Next up was Food, Inc, a documentary that is close to my heart due to my love for food. This was an enlightening and at times, scary, film tracing the sources of our food and how (again) big corporations and government policies predict food prices that shape food culture. And how human greed is skewing our food system and ultimately killing us.

Do you know what goes in your food? 

I love my farmers markets and hate the thought that they will one day become a thing of the past as these big corporations drive them out of business and replace our whole foods with processed ones, so I'm taking a stand and choosing to be an educated consumer and choose whole food for the sake of my earth, my fellow human beings, my loved ones, and my health. 

"Why is it that you can buy a double cheeseburger at McDonald's for 99 cents and you can't even get a head of broccoli for 99 cents?"

Food memories

Growing up in a food loving Peranakan family, I have always been just a little bit food obsessed. My yearly family calendar is dotted with events surrounding food, such as Chinese New Year, the yearly National Day lunch that mummy single handedly accomplishes with lots of compliments and admiration from those invited, and the Christmas and New Year feast at my cousin's place. My earliest memories are images of my mother and grandmother chopping up vegetables and frying all the colours of the rainbow in a hot wok, the sounds of mummy's trusty kenwood fluffing up egg whites for her signature chiffon cake, and delicious food smells (particularly the fragrance of frying rempah or sambal belachan) wafting out from the kitchen.

When I was younger, more idealistic and fiercely feminist, I took the side of the bra burning feminists (not literally) and rejected the traditional female role as the nurturer and home maker. Hence, I never did take hold of the opportunity to learn first hand from the masters of the kitchen, a decision I regret today. My interest in cooking to preserve cultures,excite the senses and nourish the body only developed later in life when I started working. Being in a mindless 9 to 5 environment with a daily nightmarish journey on the public transport that was operating at a 100 times over its capacity (in my dramatised mind) made me seek out alternative hobbies to make life less dreary. So I began baking, experimenting with bread because I fell in love with the hard European types when I was in the continent during a semester exchange programme.

After packing my bags for a move to yet another continent for further studies and a career switch, I found myself longing for more time in the kitchen, recreating familiar recipes. I guess my homesickness manifested in the longing for food that was more readily available back home. While I am thankful to be in a place where  farmers markets are aplenty and people are as conscious about sustainable farming and cooking according to the seasonal produce available, I still hanker for the colourful and bustling streets of South East Asia where food is available at every corner and at any time of the day. Cannot wait to be home next week, even if it is only a short trip! 

One semester later

It has certainly been a long while since the last post. The first semester is over and I cannot quite believe that I survived it, while working part-time, with my sanity intact. I am so thankful for a nice long (?) break to just rest and catch up on some good reads and shows. These three weeks will be a good time for some consolidation of the past semester and preparation for the next one.

Despite the rigours and demands of the course, I am enjoying it. The challenging and intensive nature of the course makes me feel truly alive! This is my passion and I am glad to have stumbled on to it relatively early in life. Now, time to sit back and enjoy the break.

What a term!

6 weeks have flown by and I am now enjoying my mid semester break. It was a crazy first term, trying to juggle school and work (yes I have a part time job now!), while adapting to a foreign place and experiencing an entire spectrum of emotions. Despite the demands on my sanity and my brain, I do enjoy the learning process and the new career. 

It is difficult to describe the settled and peaceful feeling of setting my heart on a career that I enjoy. And I am thankful that I have the chance to be exposed to this, and the opportunity to be in this place at this time.

A few weekends ago, some of my course mates and myself went to the German town, Hahndorf, for a day. The pretty town really reminded me of my travels around Europe while I was on a semester exchange in the UK. Our first stop was at Beerenberg to pick some strawberries. Those babies were the sweetest I have ever tasted (beats the bunch I bought at Nikko, which were really good!). Beerenberg also has some of the best tasting jams and relishes for really reasonable prices. It was all too much of a choice and I eventually chose a bottle of plum jam that would pair well with peanut butter on toast.

Trooping along to the berries

Fields of strawberries

Gorgeous globes of sweetness

Our next stop was the Hahndorf Inn to satiate our meat cravings. The meat platter had a variety of meats that were wonderful with mustard. We got a little carried away and ordered a metre long sausage and wings for lunch (that is why one should never buy food when hungry!). Needless to say, we ended up having to doggy bag the leftovers. 

Cheese and pickles. Always a good thing with bread.

Our table of 8 were defeated by the amount of meat!

If it were up to me, and time and money were limitless, I would be travelling somewhere every weekend, like I did in the UK. And not being able to do so with such regularity is fine by me. Oh the places I'll go after this goal has been achieved! 

One month on

This is what I have been trying to do everyday since I got to Adelaide. This whole moving countries and draining my entire savings thing still scares me. Considering that the course and the culture is still new to me, I still get intimidated on an almost daily basis and am out of my comfort zone for most of the time. But I'm trying to just enjoy the journey and breathe, and to always always keep the goal in sight! 

Writings from another land

Exactly a month ago, I packed the last of my items for a new adventure in a new country. The act of dumping and arranging clothes to fit into the rectangular confines of the luggage signified a consolidation and the beginning of an unknown step in another totally different direction.

And now here I am in beautiful Adelaide, studying for my Masters degree in an area that I truly feel passionate about. I cannot even begin to count the number of times I doubted my decision or cried at the strangeness of things. But I can only look ahead and keep the desired end in mind. A stagnant career in a office job just did not suit me and drove me close to depression. So I am glad I decided to make the move even if it means leaving behind a stable income and starting my career all over again. 

The monthly night market

Despite my initial concerns about the city and the idea that most have of Adelaide as a boring place, I'm growing to enjoy the place and the many great neighbourhoods around South Australia. I can't wait to share more about my little adventures on this space! Until then!

View from my new home

A new adventure

The part time wanderer is currently a full time student in an exciting new place!

I am slowly settling in and finding my routine, so any updates will come at a later date. Although I am living off my savings until I find a casual job, I still hope to continue travelling and exploring the beautiful country in between school.