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Funny day

Too funny.

I have a friend called Narima, who lives in Jurong, the same area as me. We could have met with the conveniences of a shopping center in Jurong, but noooo, we had to go all the way to Rome just to meet each other.

It was Sunday, and we were to meet each other at the Porta Portese fleamarket for a ‘just us’ get together, at around noon time. Cartcart dropped me off at one of the road junctions while I confidently walked down the road. “I’ve been here before”, I thought to myself. Finding Narima would be a piece of cake.

What I failed to remember was the sheer size of the place. There were rows and rows of makeshift vendor carts that the eye can see. I walked aimlessly and wondered where to head to in the sea of people, pushing against each other.

Narima started to sms me.

“Where are you?”

“I’m right here at this brown building with white ledges”

“I’m deep in the market”

“How do I meet you?”

“I dont know”

“I dont know either!”

“Call me, Marina. I dont know how to make overseas call”

“My prepaid card doesnt allow me to do that”

After more sms being passes back and forth, Narima finally managed to call me.

“Which street are you at?”

“I’m at this street called the Renella Modena”

“Huh? How do you spell it?”

“R.E.N…”

BEEP!

My prepaid card was completely used up. I tried to sms her. It still didnt work. There was absolutely no credits left in the card. I panicked. I couldnt call anyone for help. What am I going to do now?

I stood there at the corner of the street and just froze up in the warm noonday sun.

Fortunately for me, by a chance of miracle, about an hour later, I saw Narima and we were so relieved to see each other. We had a walk along the beautiful streets of Trastrevere and we talked quickly and animatedly about our experiences so far.

Narima told me that she arrived in Italy on Friday (I arrived Thursday) after being stuck in Doha for about a day, waiting for the transit flight. It was most tiring, she said. I asked her why she didnt book using direct airline like KLM or Airfrance. She answered that it was the ticket that the agent gave her and she couldnt change it.

Narima invited me back to her dorm just to chill out. I thought it would be great to see things on our own. So we took the Circo Massimo Metro to head to the Termini Station, where her dorm was. I still remember the biglietto that had to be purchased to be used for public transportation.


The ticket needed to travel on public transportation

There were alot of people in the metro.


Scene of the metro

When we reached the Termini Station, I felt like a salmon when they need to swim against the waterflow. Everyone pushed me to go to the direction of the exit. And I had to comply. I couldnt see Narima anywhere! Maybe I’ll just wait at the exit and see if she’ll turn up.

There were three policemen at the exit for some reason, preventing people to go up the steps into the station.

Every time someone tries to go up, they will say in a loud voice, “No! No! Venga! Venga!”

After 30 minutes, Narima still didnt turned up and I panicked again. With no way to make calls, and no way to make sms, I really felt helpless. It really is frightening to be in such a huge place with no idea how to get around. I still wasnt very fluent with the language and thus making the situation even more difficult.

Fortunately for me, I saw a payphone that accepted coins (usually they accepted cards only) and I called up my dearest.

Me : Icantbelieveit!I’mlostagain!Idontlikebeinglost.Thisisscary!Helpme!

Him : What? Slow down, I cant understand what you are saying!

Me : I cant find Narima! Now I dont know where to go!

Him : Where are you right now?

Me : I’m at the Termini Station

Him : Wait for me at the Via Giolitti exit. I’ll pick you up.

So I headed up to the exit and saw the crowds coming and going. There were many different people, all speaking in a language that I was not familliar in. It was so surreal. And I wondered about Narima, where is she? Will she be alright?

Cartcart picked me up after a while and I felt so relieved to see a familliar face. I used his mobile to sms to Narima not to worry about me and that I’m heading back.

—

A few hours later, Narima called Cartcart’s mobile phone and talked to me excitedly.

“I’m so worried for you!”

“Where were you? I waited for you!”

“It must be scary to be lost in a large foreign country like that!”

I was really touched by what Narima did and said. That was extremely sweet of her to stay while her companions left without her to head back to their hotel. I invited her for dinner with Cart and me. Thats the least I could do.

—

In the evening, we picked them up from the Metro station and headed to the L’antica Roma restaurant that we’ve been to (and I liked) last year. Narima was amazing. She made friends with a Japanese girl from her dorm a few hours before and invited her for dinner with us.

And we had a rather interesting time getting to know her.

Satako was her name and she lived in Tokyo. She’s amazing as she was only 19 and here she was travelling around the world (alone) with the money that she earned herself! Narima and I remarked at how brave she was. At 19, we were still both the goody type of person in school.

Me : Bah! Cant stand you! You’re doing all these and you are younger than me, taller than me, prettier than me …

Narima : Skinnier too

Satoko ordered pasta, Narima ordered a pizza while Cart and I had the Gnocchi each.

Me : The pizza is going to be quite large, Narima

In time, the food arrived and as expected, the single portion pizza was rather huge. Narima was very surprised at this. Back in Singapore, this type of size would be for 2 – 3 people.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun joking and talking over dinner.

Narima : Wow! All these Italians are so noisy over dinner!

Me : Lets join in too!

(We both speak animatedly in Malay)

Narima : You know what? We can even curse in our language and they wont understand a word!

Me : £$%/%!”!!!

Narima : You )(£%&”%/&!!!

It was just too funny.

—

Anyway, got to go off soon. Meeting Cart’s family in a few minutes. I wonder how it will turn out.

P.s European keyboards are so wierd. It takes ages for me to find the symbols that I want to use.

To be continued

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Tonight I fly again

Its here again, the same feeling as I had last year – the wretched combination of butterflies in my tummy, nerve wrecked feeling and euphoric excitement all at the same time.

Tonight I fly, please wish me a safe journey

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My battle with Acne

Warning : This post may contain disturbing graphic images

Though I don’t think of myself as a model-worthy person, I do think of myself as a relatively attractive woman.

I have to thank my genes, both my parents being good looking – my mum of Bugis descent while my dad is 1/4 Indian.

When I wake up and look in the mirror, most of the times, I’m quite thankful to see that even without the aid of make-up, a relatively clear face with a hint of pink on the cheeks, shiny and abundant black hair.

It hasn’t always been like that though.

Growing up as the eldest child, in a neighbourhood full of male peers, I was a tomboy and I didn’t care about how I looked like.

As a toddler

At 8 years old with the world’s best brother

At 12 years old, with my cousin Noreen

But as I grew out of my childhood, and puberty kicked in, I started to have acne. At first, it was quite tolerable, the acne was small-ish and it was infrequent. I started to use a fair bit of my pocket money to buy loads of over the counter face wash, to try to control the zits. I tried brands like Neutrogena and Oxy-10.

Some of them worked fine, while others didn’t work very well and even made my face crack and burn. In time, I learnt which brands I needed to avoid.

But the worse was to come.

During my pre-university days in JI, the zits flared threefold and I started to have larger and angrier pustules. It was probably from the stress that I was experiencing while in school. It was extremely disconcerting to see the zits.

Being a student, and unable to afford a dermatologist, I decided to go to the government subsidised polyclinic. I was prescribed an anti-biotic called tetracycline which I had to take regularly.

After a few months my face was clear and I felt pretty again.

Jurong Institute, Racial Harmony Day, 1998

Several years later, I started working as a part time trainer. I started to have small zits on my face. This time, I decided to use a facial set called ‘Proactive Solution’. To a large extent, it was beneficial in controlling my zits, but after using it for a length of time, it began to irritate my sensitive skin. My skin felt stung and raw.

I tried going for facial sessions. I hated the visits though. They have this technique called ‘extraction’ where they poke your face with a metal device and squeeze the zits out. That was excruciating pain! Many a time, I’d be crying out of the pain.

I couldn’t continue with the treatments any more.

I then went back to the government subsidised polyclinic and had a referral to the National Skin Center. I was prescribed with a stronger version antibiotics called doxycycline. After a few months, my skin was clear again and stayed clear till late 2004 and to which I think, started one of the lowest point of my life.

Early 2004

August 2004

December 2004

I used to have a job where the managers mishandled finances, and they decided to suddenly cut my pay in half, and didn’t pay regularly. With the stress of having to make payments for the bills and my upcoming course, my face flared up again. I had to watch my money very carefully and not make extravagant purchases.

I tried to use the internet for advice and took the tips from a forum. It claims that through the correct consumption of food, acne could be controlled.

I gave it a try. I didn’t consume complex sugars and oil and avoided milk. Once a week I did the salt water flush which was supposed to be beneficial for clearing my kidneys to prevent kidney stones that affects the condition of the skin.

I shudder when I see this picture of me in January 2005

It might have worked for a lot of people, but it didn’t worked for me. And my skin continued to be bad till I decided that I’ve had enough and went to see a general practitioner about my face. He prescribed doxycycline. Additionally, he told me that I had to continue with my topical skincare antibiotics even after the internal antibiotics because a woman’s hormones more or less balances out when they turn 30.

Prescription only topical antibiotics

It took longer for my skin to become clear. It has been about two months now that I’ve stopped taking the antibiotics. I still have zits every now and then. But its certainly not as bad as last year. I am starting to feel more confidence about myself now.

I really hope that I don’t get my flare-ups again. No one should go through all that emotional trauma. Even if people say that physical appearances doesn’t matter, it still hurtful when these same people gives out gestures or even worse, comments.

My face is relatively clear at the moment. But lets see how it turns out in time.

By the way, I am not proud of my zits picture but its been part of my growing up. Its part of life, that builds me.

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Learn@Singapore 2006

The place where I worked at, Shuqun Secondary School participated in the Learn@Singapore competition. It was a yearly affair hosted by the ministry of education to promote the use of technology in daily life.


Jeerin, Jean and Darshan

We went to the Singapore discovery center for this year’s event. This year, we are supposed to complete a teasure hunt and the clues are given through 3G messaging.

It was loads of fun trying to decode and find the clues and getting to the next challenge. It was interesting to note that we took our time and breeze through the clues while other teams were so frantic and pushed each other while trying to complete theirs

We completed it earlier than most teams anyways 😉

Many participants from various schools

Opening ceremony

Little George is a robot with artificial intelligence

One of the stations we went to

Sending the answers and then receiving clues through the 3G phone

And at the end of the event, the team are supposed to create a moblog and blog about their experiences, what they have learnt and about the theme of the event.

There was a similar competition last year while I was attached to another school. But due to certain events, I didn’t pursue it any further. But I wonder how the team will do this year.

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Hungry hungry rinaz

I checked out the website again today:

From 1.7k down to 1.3k … Oh I give up

—

The place where I worked at had a sandwich making competition and it was such a visual and gastronomical treat!

Feed me …

The mother of all sandwiches.

Top it off with the thoughtful gift that Hanna gave me


Coffee? Yum!
Chocolate? Yum!
Chocolate in coffee? Mmmm heaven …

Burrpppp!

—

In other news, Kevin Kern had a concert in Singapore. Oh my! He’s one of my favourite pianists!

He had me from “In the Enchanted Garden” and I’ve played and played that cd till that cd practically got worn out.

Ooh I’d love to watch him in concert!

But instead, I’m stuck in night class… 😐

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Airline Ticketing Stress

I really do believe that airline booking system induces stress and panic to anyone who wants to book a ticket.

This is the online booking for KLM on Sunday


Almost $1.7K

And this is the same booking for Monday


About 1.4K

My goodness … almost a 300 dollars difference!

I sympathize with the poor people whom already booked on Sunday. I imagine that they must have been frantic – trying to book the airline ticket, afraid that the prices will rise again. Only to see the price went down the very next day.

I’d be stressed out myself.

Luckily for me, I booked a ticket as soon an Zuji returned my refund money. Less than 30 days now to see my dearest 🙂 I cant wait!

I really miss him alot …

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Life’s probabilties

In mathematics, there is something which is called the ‘Probability Tree’ in which it measures what your chances and odds are in a situation.

If you dont do something, there will be a fair chance that something else will happen as a result.

—

Back in Jurong Institute, there was this boy which I was friends with. We both met as we were both from the science stream and would share the same lecture so eventually it would be inevitable that it would be that we stop for a while and talk about school matters.

I liked to go to class a little bit early to recollect my thoughts and to get ready for the day. One fine day, he joined me and accompanied me. From that point onwards, it became a daily routine. I’d meet him in class in the morning, and we’d talk about all sorts of things.

“Look at this assignment Mar, do you remember what Mr Cheong said?”

(Someone opens the grill windows)

“Argh! The sun’s shining on me. I cant see!”

“Aha! God’s shining on you! You’re the chosen one!”

“Hahaha! I’m the chosen one? Chosen for being a slave in class you mean”

I’ve always liked reading poetry. I dont know if he picked up on that, but there was a time when he’d bring a book of poetry for me to read. It was full of sad poetry but I remember being impressed because no one ever did something like that for me.

Then he started to wait for me after school to take me home which I thought was such a nice gesture. And I went back together in complete and full oblivion that maybe perhaps, he actually liked me.

But I didnt know about it. I wasnt aware. There was a time when he asked me to meet him at the library to pass him some malay language notes. It was so hillarious. I waited, saw him coming and said “Here’s the notes you wanted. Got to go now. Bye!”

It took me a couple of years later to actually understand that he was actually trying to ask a date from me! How naive and straight minded I was at the time. (But why cant some guys be more direct about things? If you wanted a date, say that you wanted a date, not say that you wanted some set of notes and then expect us to decipher what you are talking about)

But the routine carried on, we’d meet in class before school started, he waited for me at the bus stop, I guess by then, I took it for granted that I’d have someone to talk to and to confide to. I told him that I admired another guy from the arts class. He nodded his head in his usual quiet demenour and that was that.

My best friend Pam was having her birthday party and she invited her close friends. Her birthday coincided with my month so we decided to have a joint event. It seemed that he gave me complete attention during the occasion. He gave me a stuffed bunny (I still keep it for the good memories)

Suddenly Siva, my classmate blurted out.

Siva : Prove your devotion to Marina!

Him : Dont put fire to the oil.

It was then that I was jolted out of my oblivion. Devotion? Put fire to the oil? Whats going on? Is there a story that I wasnt aware of? What what what?

—

The end of the year, he left for Turkey for a vacation and when he came back he acted much much cooler than how he was to me before.

“Hi, how was your trip to Turkey?”

“It was alright”

“What did you see there?”

“Loads of stuff”

Slowly our friendship drifted apart as he went to do his own things and I continued with mine. I see alot of similarities in his character with my dearest. He was sweet, a gentleman, polite and very kind. Never once was he ever mean to me or said anything hurtful.

Sometimes I wonder alot what would happen if I had chosen the other path. If I had stayed a while longer with him instead of just handing him the pile of notes. To actually realise what he was trying to say to me. For us to actually be more than friends.

Will we be together? Will we eventually be married? Will I have kids with him? Will I be happy?

I’m not sure if he’d be reading this blog but if he was …

Dear Halim,

I still wonder how you are and what you are doing now. How are you? Thank you for the wonderful memories that you gave me. Thank you for being the kind and sweet person that you are and for the attention that you gave me. It really did made me feel special.

I’m sorry that I was such a blur-sotong at the time. Actually I did have a little inkling, but I was secretly hoping that you’d asked me anyways. It would have made it more concrete.

But we were young … But I still wonder about the different possibilities that could have been …

I’m sure by now you’ve probably have a wonderful lady friend to accompany you. Maybe you’re married and have kids now even. If so, congratulations! I’m happy for you. How is she treating you?

Here is my sincere hope that you’ve gotten what you’ve always aimed and achieved. Life is such a vast puzzle.

Fondly remembering you,
Marina

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Pretty shoes makes me go crazy

I don’t think I am a very gentle person, especially with shoes. Moreso with incidences such as this, this and this.

Guess what? I’ve already broken this one. Poor camel suede shoes from Mondo. May you rest in pieces.

So today, when the rubber heel came apart from this pair of shoe which I bought about a month ago. Incidentally I bought that while out with Juli because the camel suede shoes decided to die there and then.

Luckily for me, I had extra rubber heels that I could attach to the shoe. I decided to buy another pair of shoe before it got too damaged. I stopped by this shop called Moda Paolo which was near my workplace.

I thought to myself, “Get sensible shoes Marina. Nice flat ones. Something that you can walk comfortably in”

And in the end, I got this:


Undeniably, it was beautiful and stylish. With beautiful gold trimmings and I love the lovely details in the front. But what on earth posessed me to get a stiletto? This was the tallest shoe that I’ve ever owned in my lifetime. This isn’t practical shoes! I would never be able to wear it at work!

I was remorseful. I felt guilty. So I decided to buy this:

Looks pretty simple right? But when I put it on, I was taller, more attractive. Suddenly I had the legs of a goddess.

Oooh! Sexy! Ooo laa laa! Tres Magnifique! Mi piace molto!

Oh gosh. Practicality and sanity all thrown out of the window. Manolo Blahnik here I come!

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The beautiful face

According to research as shown from ‘The human face‘, a beautiful face constitutes to a face that is symmetrical.


Yoanna House, winner of America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 2

I, on the other hand, do not have a symmetrical face.


I’ve had a wonky eye since birth

But on the other hand, I think I look freaky if I were to look like this :

or this :

So what exactly constitutes to someone being physically attractive?

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One wedding and a fun-o-coffee

A couple of things to observe at at a Malay Wedding :

a) Try to dress up during these events. Shirts and pants for men and dresses for the ladies. Denim shorts and slippers arent appropriate.

b) Before sitting down at the table, if you are a woman, try to recognize the mother of the bride/groom to say hello to her.

Shake her hand and bring it to your heart and only sit when she, or any family member invites you to.

Same thing with the father of the bride/groom if you are male.

They are usually dressed alike in matching clothes.

c) Enjoy your food and be merry 🙂



d) After eating, you take leave by saying your goodbyes to the bride/groom if they are there by slipping a small envelope full of money discreetly with your palm. If thats not possible, the mother or father of the bride.


Its supposed to say “Selamat Pengantin Baru” but I dont have any of those at hand. Doesnt really matter (I hope)


One of the rare times when I use makeup

—

I really didnt want to go to the wedding alone and out of desperation and boredom, I started to text Vai, an old classmate of mine.

MarinaSMS : R u free 2 accompany me 2 a wedding lunch 2day?

Couple of minutes later he replied back

VaiSMS : R u serious? Where is it?

MarinaSMS : Yalah. Feel v lonely if go alone. Its at chua chu kang.

VaiSMS : Ok. Wat time I meet you?

MarinaSMS : I wait for u at cck mrt at 1pm how?

VaiSMS : How about 1.15pm instead?

MarinaSMS : Sounds good! Thanks! You’re a lifesaver!

VaiSMS : Anything for an x wife.

MarinaBrain : Ex wife??? You Crazy gila pazzo.

Vai and I were friends since our Jurong Institute days. He was a nice guy – funny, witty and easy to get along with people.(Plus he was tall, dark, and handsome! Hahaha!) It was very comfortable for me to express myself with him as he wasnt judgemental and was rather open minded. Its hard for any stranger not to like him. He has this charm to make anyone feel special.

I dont remember what was the first thing we said the first time we met, back in school. But I had an great impression of him as he’s always nice and polite to me. Heck! He even tried to teach me physics and mathematics even though I never asked him to, since he knew that I was weak in these subjects.

Eventually we became good friends and confided in each other in numerous agendas. 8 years has passed by since we started our friendship, sitting in a classroom. Thats amazing.

After the wedding luncheon, we went to have coffee together and catched up with each other and talked about different things like some updates with our ex classmates, and just life in general. It was just nice to do nothing but chat with an old friend.

“How’s life man?”

“Did you know that Doris is getting married?”

“I just talked to Yue Heng the other day – he’s a teacher now”

“I met this incredible girl … ”

“I’m so happy for you! Marina, tell me all about your guy”

It was such a lovely afternoon.