Friday is forever.

welcome

Let's share worlds.

profile

My name is Irene. ~~Fourteen~~ Seventeen,26thJanuary
Dunman High 2Kiron(!) 3MIA! (: 4MUACKZX 5C33
Green Day, All-American Rejects,
The Maine, All Time Low, A Rocket To The Moon ♥
I'm pretty cool.

To-Do/Wish List:

Learn tones of photography
Update my ipod/get itouch
Find someone
Return books and magazines
Clear junk

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Freshman year! (Sunday, August 9, 2015)

Hello electricfridays!!!

I'm writing in here as a 20-YEAR-OLD now… So much feelings hahaha. Well, my intuition of pouring out my feelings onto this virtual space while being abroad did not really realise - because, experience has told me that I will always be too busy for something if I have not set my heart to do it in the first place. Nonetheless, I will attempt to document my first freshmen year in the span of a few days starting from right now, 5.00am in the study (Singapore soil) with a restless, jet-lagged mind. I can't wait for sunrise!

As a continuation from the previous post, the moment of my parents' departure from the UK was indeed met with so much trepidation. I was drenched in homesickness but simultaneously in constant wonder at what London could offer. Though thankfully, and surprisingly, the natural uneasiness and unfamiliarity, ebbed away fast and furious. First of all, I have to declare that the people who knew me best and whom I can always depend on were all breathing in the same air as me!!! - Ryan, Clara, Ya Jun and Alisa. There was so much comfort knowing that we were either going through the same experience, or that you will be there whenever I needed you. (My deepest gratitude esp to R for being the best best best support ever). The strong support network also came from Newman House, a Catholic Chaplaincy for London University students just across the street AND the huge group of Singaporeans/Asians @ College Hall (the hall I was staying in).

lifestyle

There were about 10/11 Singaporean Law students in the same hall, out of the total of 37 Sgporeans enrolled in UCL Law 2014/2015 and it's awesome when all of us can just head to lecture together (within a stone's throw) everyday or have lunch at times. On Sundays, and also on many weekdays, I find myself at Newman attending mass, bible study, Sycamore (an outreach dinner/discussion program to non-Christians), and occasionally helping out at some volunteer programs. On Wednesdays, I attend UCL Law Netball training sessions/friendlies here and now, and on Fridays, pursuing the volleyball dream in social sessions @ Somerstown Sports Centre (UCL Vball). Though I've to say that while I had the opportunity to meet many new European friends through all these, I naturally gravitated towards Asians and would not go the extra mile to forge a friendship beyond that of acquaintances!

And I have been on a few amazing escapades throughout the year

Within the UK - Nottingham (Nottingham Games, Sing Soc), Canterbury (Newman pilgrimage), Bath and Stonehenge (during my first ever reading week with Ryan), Cardiff in Wales (with the loveliest friends for a day trip), Manchester (with WYL & C.Khoo for a Xmas Market day out!), York (with Shuying!!! A 2D1N thing), Oxford (for the Oxford Africa Conference),

Lisbon, Portugal before 2nd Sem began - 3D 2N/ with the church bunch

Venice, Cinque Terre & Rome, Italy - 5D4N during Easter Hols/ with my IRAS friends and Claraaa

Zermatt, Switzerland, Lake Como and Turin in Italy/ with a smaller church bunch, specially to see the Shroud of Turin

faith

(post continued after 2 weeks in SG!)
To learn and to grow in faith in the UK is just like paradise… That occurred to me today.

(1) Personal space
Every morning, I wake up to the sound of my alarm and I continue to be immersed in silence and calmness. And I made it a point - the first thing I think of each day shall be you O Lord. Occasionally, and especially for Lent, I took the time to do morning prayers, Lauds, or just random snippets of prayer without needing to feel conscious, or be disrupted..

(2) Daily masses
Almost everyday during Easter holiday, when we were studying for the exams, our days would revolve around 5.30pm masses at Newman House.. They served as a daily dose of God's words and a dear reminder of the ultimate purpose of our academic pursuits.

(3) Events, events
UCL Cath soc with their weekly Monday talks/socials, Bible study, and Sycamore (Alpha-like program), and a strong, approachable and brilliant chaplaincy team.. Beyond blessed

(4) Finding a community

studies

Studies for the first year was really at a quite relaxed pace. Even though I'm always behind reading for tutorials, the one month long of Easter break holidays was a sufficient, but intense period to catch up for the exams.

Also feel blessed for having renowned academics as our lecturers and they are all passionate as well. Sometimes it's quite a joy to be able to learn from them and to bask in some humour at times!!