.::. Fight Climate Change .::.

Admittedly, many Singaporeans don't give a hoot about climate change. We are mostly a practical bunch and honestly, we are too deeply entrenched in the 'rat-race' and strive for the better life that nothing much interests us. Not many of us believe in a cause enough to stand up for it, much less to be passionate about it.

It's not exactly wrong to say that I'm one of them. I try to use less electricity and water and that's about it. I know it, just that I don't take much action.

It's quite enlightening to have a roommate who studies about the environment and sustainability. There are issues and stuff she brings up which I have never thought about, things which I might never have came across. Generally, Europe, or maybe Sweden, is rather into such environmental issues. I'm going to take a module on Corporate Social Responsibility next term. There seems to be quite a few events going on all the time.

Today, 24th October, is International Day of Climate. Did you know that? There was an Earth Day but this is more to bring awareness and to lobby for support I guess.

It is organized in Singapore too - 8am at Hong Lim Park. But I know I definitely wouldn't have went there even if I knew about it. That's the way things are back home, we are too busy, too lazy and nonchalant. *sigh. I guess I can only admire those who bother to go and try to make a difference. I saw many pictures of different events going on around the world today. It appears that there are 181 countries and more than 5200 events going on.

Here are some of the pictures in Malmo, Sweden:

The purpose of this event is basically to lobby for a treaty to cut emissions of CO2 in our atmosphere as world leaders are going to have a conference in Copenhagen in December.

According to its website:

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand.Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

To tackle climate change we need to move quickly, and we need to act in unison—and 2009 will be an absolutely crucial year. This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global treaty on cutting emissions. The problem is, the treaty currently on the table doesn't meet the severity of the climate crisis—it doesn't pass the 350 test.

In order to unite the public, media, and our political leaders behind the 350 goal, we're harnessing the power of the internet to coordinate a planetary day of action on October 24, 2009. We hope to have actions at hundreds of iconic places around the world - from the Taj Mahal to the Great Barrier Reef to your community - and clear message to world leaders: the solutions to climate change must be equitable, they must be grounded in science, and they must meet the scale of the crisis.

If an international grassroots movement holds our leaders accountable to the latest climate science, we can start the global transformation we so desperately need.

So yea..an individual can't do much, but we can always try, in our own little ways. Cumulative actions always make a difference.

Visit 350.org for more cool pictures!

.::. Pretty Pretty .::.

I've yet to have the chance to do some serious photography with my DSLR, but even my Ixus does a decent job. Everywhere is beautiful these days.



Romantic.

Artsy.

My favourite.

Are the pictures on the walls actually the trees during fall??

.::. Be Appreciative .::.

That day, I walked past this area while chatting with Flora. My first instinct was to fish out my Ixus from my bag to capture its beauty. Flora was saying that it is beautiful, she took some pictures here too, but the people here don't seem to appreciate it much. To them, it's 'normal', something which happens all the time. But to us, this is so special, something which is very rare and precious. I blurted without thinking "Things don't have to be beautiful for you to appreciate it".

It hit me full force after I said that.

Indeed, things don't have to be beautiful for you to appreaciate it.

Perhaps, the difficult thing is to appreciate things which are not beautiful.

I've become more appreciative and nostalgia since I've been here.

.::. Movies .::.

I watched "500 days of Summer" yesterday night and just finished "My sister's Keeper" tonight.

Both were good, especially "My Sister's Keeper". It made me cried throughout the movie! I thought that the movie was actually as good as, if not better than the book. Admittedly, quite a few parts were missing and the ending was totally different. However, it really captured all the important and emotional parts - the essence of the book. Still, it is a controversial issue, creating a child in the laboratory so that she can be used as a 'spare part' to save her sister. I especially liked how the movie captured all the emotions and struggles really well. It was so realistic and touching. =)

"500 days of Summer" was a special love story, not the normal type I like and it wasn't exactly a happy ending. It was nice too, in a different way, with some catchy lines.

Haven't watched any movies in the cinemas here. Way too expensive. I miss watching movies in the cinemas.

Reading all about accounting rules and development all over the world isn't exactly a nice way to spend my days. *sigh. Need to get this done with. Life's boring. It's always studying and cooking and washing since I'm not into drinking and partying. *shakes head.

A movie after 3 chapters of readings is a great ending to a day.

Looking forward to tomorrow night. Emma's boyfriend is coming to visit from France and we'll be going out for dinner! =D

.::. Sleepyhead .::.



I'm such a blur sotong. I woke up at 6am, thinking that I had lessons at 8am. I was even early today. But when I checked which room was my lecture in on the train, I realized that my lessons were at 2pm today!! 8am lessons are tomorrow. *sigh. So I reached Lund before 8am and it was still dark. It's stupid to go home again, and libraries only open at 10am. I ended up in Espresso House, the famous coffee chain in Sweden. There's NO Starbucks here by the way. I miss my Java Chip Frappe!

I had mocha latte, it was not bad! I think it's the first cup of coffee I bought in Sweden since I've a coffee machine at home. But somehow, dripper coffee doesn't taste as good as those with espresso shots!

I spent the next 2 hours reading my text book. *sigh.

It wasn't too bad. It was very quiet so early in the morning and they had a huge basement sitting area.

Then I went to have lunch with my roomate because she helped me to bring my lunch box. I thought I could come home for lunch and do laundry before going to the library to study! I had another cup of coffee at her friend's place - a very nice and affordable place near the train station!

It's the first time I had 2 cups of coffee in a day. Hahs. I still went with Fai and Aom to Graffiti Cafe after class though I simply couldn't take another cup of coffee. They had decaf coffee with marshmallows and baked potato salad. =)

It isn't such a bad day I guess. Gotta make the best out of everyday.

I haven't confirmed my airtickets back, and it's always at the back of my mind. Was thinking of getting Lufthansa airtickets since timetable is fixed, but my dad seems to want to wait for SQ since I'm on the waiting list. And he actually told me "money is not an issue". Wth! How can money not be an issue when I'm spending so much here already and will not earn any till god-knows-when!! My goodness. I hope I won't feel too guilty going home for the holidays.

Lots of thoughts since I've been here. I'll sit down and pin them down someday. Soon.

*Thankful.

.::. Favourites .::.

Brought my Ixus with me and took some photos around school. It's beautiful. Thank god there's relatively good weather this week, it's not that cold. 10 degrees in the day is a 'warm day'. It was freezing last week, about 3 degrees in the day and I was literally frozen.



My favourite of all. It looks like a painting.

Bicycles.

A typical building.

The building where all my classes are.

.::. New Hair .::.

Dyed my hair a darker shade to cover to ugly black roots. My hair grew like 2 inches in 2 months, it's way too fast!



I cut my fringe myself too. So yea...new hair for SGD$10.

I miss my long curls.

I miss my long-straight hair.

And I miss the girls!

The list goes on...

.::. The Cooks .::.

Behind-the-scenes on Anny's birthday.

I reached with Henry at about 3pm to start preparing dinner. Emma and Jessica arrived not long after and we started to prepare the 'feast' for Anny's birthday.



Jessica made sweet spring rools with prawns, pineapple and mayo. Damn nice after it was fried!

Emma made her famous brownie and cookies.

And Hsiao Feng wrapped wasn't too good at wrapping spring rolls and hate being photographed.

And here are most of my ingredients for the night! Menu for the night is krapow (not very authentic without basil leaves and onions and bean sprouts and not that spicy), long beans with carrots and red pepper (without oyster sauce!), curry chicken and tom yum soup (less spicy version which turned out abit too sour for my taste).

So yea...

Jan can cook.

It rhymes!! Hahs. I almost wonder if I came here for a cooking course instead because I suddenly realized that I can cook quite many dishes and I'm practicing alot apparently.

.::. Anny's Birthday .::.

Dinner at Anny's on Friday because it was her birthday!

Emma and Jessica prepared dessert and I was the chef for the day. Somewhat stressed that I might screw dinner up. =p



The nicely set table with lots of wine, cider and beer.

This was the dinner I prepared! My krapow doesn't have real basil leaves and no onions because Anny doesn't like it. I thought that the tom yum soup was not spicy enough though everyone thought otherwise. I forgot oyster sauce for my vegetables and the curry chicken was alright. I reckon it was a success!

Anyway, Jessica's spring roll with sweet pineapple, prawns and mayo tasted good!

Emma made her famous brownie, which was great as usual.

And here's the birthday girl. =)

Happy Birthday Anny. May happiness and luck be with you.

Happy 58th Month Anniversary darling!

I'm thankful to have him in my life and thankful for all the encouragement, support and happiness he has brought into my life. I wouldn't have been the same without him.

It's weird, cuz it's already the 18th back home but still 17th here. I miss the boyfriend so much. But well, I'll work hard and be back soon. =)

.::. Freezing .::.



It's very sunny outside. I'm thinking of going to the library to study. But it's freezing outside. -1 degrees on a sunny morning. O.M.G.

.::. Thoughts .::.

Finally got all our reports and presentation done. *phew. Think we should be fine. It's time to start preparing hard for exams.

It's so cold, too cold. 0 degrees when I left house this morning. 6 degrees in the day. I'm already wearing my thickest coat, I think I need to wear leggings below my jeans and wear boots to keep my leg warm. My face is frozen.

Autumn colors are beautiful, went around campus to take some pretty pictures yesterday. I'm really thankful, for having known a few really nice people here. Things ain't perfect, but I think this year is going to toughen me up. I'm going to be strong.

Thank you for the support back home to. It's great talking to family, Chinook, the boyfriend and keeping up with gossips with the girls back home! Keep me updated!

It's Anny's birthday on Friday and we'll be celebrating for her. I'm the cook of the night and the menu consist of Thai and Asian food! I'm looking forward to Emma's cake and desserts. =)

.::. What?! .::.



Zero degrees outside now. But I'm in my warm bed, it's not too bad because the heater's great.

But...negative 2 degrees in October?!

Now I see how it can be negative 8 degrees during winter.

.::. Cold .::.

We're in a great mood today, having finished all our reports. =)



Carbonara for dinner tonight. It was not bad!

The 2 boys. =)

And the freakin' cold weather. 7 degrees in the day, 2 degrees in the night. I think I'm seriously going to start hibernating at home already. I've no desire to be out in the cold wind. None.

I miss big shopping malls. I miss 'Ion'. I miss city life.

.::. Yayyy!! .::.

I've finally finished all my reports. It's been a really long and tiring week. Finally, I can relax and feel alot 'lighter'



It's hitting zero degrees in OCTOBER. Crazy or what?! But maybe I'm getting used to the cold. It's not that bad if it's not raining and windy. Still, have to be really prepared before going out. It's a hassle. I miss pulling on my shorts and spag top, slip on flipflops and head out without worrying about being cold.

Went to my roomate's party with her classmate on Saturday. The seniors invited them for dinner. And the food were mainly salads, all types of salads. It's not that bad, but I can't imagine eating this everyday though.

Sadly, my camera battery died on me. *sigh. But they always have parties, simply bring some drinks, off the lights, play music and start dancing and drinking. Her classmates are nice!

Our lunch on Saturday. Braised fatty pork which my roomate made. *sigh. I know, unhealthy. I'm so brain-washed by my mum that I don't really dare to eat too fatty and oily stuff these days. =_="

.::. Friday Dinner .::.

Had dinner at V.E.S.P.A. on Friday night. Our one-meal-out-a-week meal.



It's a cozy little restaurant.


The pasta was great. The linguine-like pasta I had was so 'springy'.

The painting on the wall inside.

The usual gang with Flora, minus Henry who's STILL traveling Europe.

Then we went back to Anny's place to have cookies and banana chocolate muffins baked by Emma. Delicious!!

Just my favourite way to spend a Friday evening. Really precious relaxing time, considering that it has been a really long and tiring week.

.::. Mid-autumn festival .::.

Went to a moon cake festival event organized by the Chinese last weekend.



It's quite amazing to celebrate it in Sweden. But the dinner was a burger meal. =_="

Had a mooncake each. Mooncake here in Sweden!! But I miss my durian mookcakes so much.

It was held at a school which we took really long to find - when it was raining and really windy.

One of the programmes was the usual exercise my dad does every weekend. Even the music is similar.

We didn't stay long apparently.