November 26, 2015: Books & food

Melbourne’s weather today is crazy! I guess there must be a storm or something that causes heavy rain to, literally!, come and go  within minutes, and makes the wind goes crazy.

I tried walking outside, and it was quite scary actually, so I went back home.

Luckily, at home, I have my fridge stocked! :p

During this holiday, I got to try some recipes at home. Well, not really ‘recipes’, more like recreating things I see on the internet that basically use the same ingredients over and over in different ways :)

Oaty pancakes, parfait, yogurt bowl, yum! And of course, the mandatory hot choccie helps keep myself happy and warm :)

I’ve been reading too! Finally!

Ed Sheeran’s A Visual Journey is soooo inspiring :’) Have so many respect for him, and I know he’s going to be a legend in the years to come :)

I’m also in the middle of reading Jane Eyre, except that I probably should’ve picked up the other edition… The one I have, has a font for giants! SUPER HUGE! But I’m powering through and quite enjoyed it actually. I’ve wanted to read it for quite a while, and I’m excited! :)

The local library is quite awesome ;)

I don’t know if I would want to come back after the holiday (bcs you know, you never want holidays to end!), but I think it’s safe to say that I’ll miss this neighborhood of mine when I’m back in Indo :) Lots of cool places to hang out and have treats :p

Still, I keep getting flashes of places I want to visit and the food I want to eat!! Urgh!

One week cannot feel any longer!

8 days to go!!!

CHEERS!

-*^^*-

P.S.: Some foodie pictures :)

Pancakes, charred banana & mango :)

Yogurt + fruits & oats!

Accounting Exam! :D 6 down, 1 to go!

WOHOO!!!

Accounting is done! :D

Honestly, I've never been so relieved about an exam.
Okay, well not that relieved cuz I have no confidence whatsoever on the result.
BUT!
I've been 'hungover' by accounting stuff & this exam for weeks, so finishing this exam is just so relieving :)
Don't think I'll do another accounting thing anytime soon (or ever..) :p


The next and FINAL exam is in a week's time, so I have a little time up my sleeve to relax :)

Have been passively sitting in front of the TV the whole day though x_x not good!
But I also took a super long walk to Carlton Gardens & Fitzroy and it's lovely :)

Gonna hang out tomorrow and try out some places and things,
Enjoying my last two weeks days in Melbourne :D


YES, YES, YES,
11 days to home!
I'm so ready for all my friends & food :p

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

Expectations, expectations..

This week in iCare we talked about expectations that could lead to disappointment and bitterness.
It got me thinking for a long time about the things that happened  and that didn't happen in my life.

I have so many wants in my life, and when I didn't get them, I nudged God for sooo many times asking Him why.
Then I realized, could this be one of the reasons? To 'save' me, or at least prepare me, for all the disappointments that could follow?

A random example:
I want to make dish A. I've never made it nor tasted it before, but I've seen it done. Yet, when I want to make it, I cannot find this one important ingredient, so I couldn't even attempt to make it at all and have to change the plan. Will I be disappointed? Of course.

However, remembering that I've never tasted it, I only expect it to be super nice and delicious. I have a high expectation of that dish. But who knows? Maybe after I make and eat it, I won't be happy at all with the result. Maybe the effort of finding this one ingredient won't be worth it.

Maybe it's not worth it.


Although my mind still wants to resist the thought, it's a fact. High expectations don't always lead to superb results in the reality. Maybe this is why some of my wishes are not gonna come true --> because my expectations have been to high, and the 'fall' will be too much for me.



But do not fear!
One day, God is going to give all of us something that exceeds all our expectations!
You'll see!
And most importantly, the waiting time is worth it :)


12 days!!

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

Time-Warping

Today was such a relaxing day out of my exam routine! :D

Woke up quite early for a Saturday morning, and rushed to the lovely bakery one block up the road to grab a takeaway lunch, then took the tram to Melbourne Central, before taking a tram to Mitcham station :)

Me and 2 other girls were volunteering in the Samaritan Purse's Operation Christmas Child box processing :)
It was so much fun! And (embarrassingly but fortunately!) we came a bit late, we started the day by watching an instruction video and morning tea & quick devotion! :D Lovely cakes and teas were served, then I helped with the dishes.

I said 'fortunately' not only because of the tea :p
BUT we arrived with another Indonesian church group!! :D
What are the odds? And a lovely vibrant group too!
So glad to have met you guys :)


Time just went so quickly, and we were having fun looking at all the love that went to all these shoe boxes :')
I'm hugely inspired! And even though at the beginning I was quite 'pessimistic' about it (bcs I didn't feel like I'm contributing much..) I was reminded that I can still do something! I can pray for the recipient of the boxes, and add something to the box that could (hopefully) extend the love of Christ through it :)
Definitely will be doing it again! :)

Now, we finished at around 12:30 - 1 pm, and it's a Saturday!
What to do?
Well, since it's a 'Girl's Day Out', why don't we go and shop? So we did just that!

We took the bus to Doncaster Shoppingtown :D:D
And it was HUGE!
It made me feel like I'm back in Indo, especially Jakarta, with all the shops lining up :)
We started by having a Greek feast!
Truth be told: I already had an 'entree' --> I ate half a pizza that I bought this morning, but those Greek food was just calling me. And I cannot regret it; it was superb and warming for a chilly day such as this! :)
One sweet potato chips with rosemary and salt,  beef and lamb moussaka (yum!!), and skewers with pita and tzatziki :)

Then we processed all these food by shopping :D
I didn't plan on buying anything, but as usual, I believe that the right pieces of clothing are hiding somewhere in the world and waiting to be found, and today I found one :) Not only for me, but for my sister too! :)
YAY :)

We walked and walked some more before returning to the restaurant area for a 6.15 pm dessert/dinner :p
GELARE. Yes, that yummo waffle place was there, so I couldn't resist! :p
We had one large waffle with caramel swirl ice cream. De-lish.

40 minutes of the bus ride to home really felt like nothing compared to the amazing day I've had :D

Thank you girls!
We really need to do more of this. Chatting. Food. Pictures.


13 days to home!!

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

HoI Exam down! 4 down, 2 to go!

YAY.
With no exclamation marks, because I still have 2 exams in the next 2 weeks,
but YAY because I have done 4 (or officially 5) exams! :):)

This HoI though...
I really have no confidence in it :')
It will really be God's grace -- no, it will ALL be only by God's grace -- if I get a really good mark.
Seriously, I have no idea what I wrote, I think it's incoherent and weird...
Hopefully my tutor will get what I'm saying? Ugh.


But, yeay!
Time to relax a bit? No.
Well, maybe just a tiny bit ^^
I slept in!! :D 11:45pm to 8:45am !!
Ohh how my body feels refreshed after weeks feeling the torture of early rising >.<
I'm ready for anything now! :)

First, though, the most important meal of the day, breakkie :)

I was planning to make like a yogurt bowl, but changed my mind and turned it into a parfait instead :)
same ingredients --> banana, yogurt, toasted oats, strawberry, a tiny pinch of cinnamon and chocolate and a squidge of honey :)
YUM & filling! :)


Now I'm ready to start revising (or, in my language, reviewing) Accounting & Media :')

What a loverly morning! :)

15 days to go!!!!

CHEERS!

-*^^*-

Now playing: "I Know It's Over" - Jeff Buckley

:p

EAP & Litt Exams! :D

YAY!
2 more exams are down, and I am ecstatic!

While I didn't have so much fun with Math, EAP and Litt were a bit better :)
I finished those two essays on time - in fact, I finished early for my Litt :D

I was soo lucky and blessed, my tutor gave our class a practice question that is very, very similar to today's exam question! :D
So it's just a bit of planning, and all writing today :D:D
Thank God!

It's similar to EAP - The reading was pretty easy, so we can quickly move on from reading & note taking to actually writing :D

YAY!!

Only 1 more exam this week, and then 2 more 'lighter' exams coming :p


I've been sleep deprived and my body is aching,
but still some time for fun!
Like watching the new Food Network on TV, and borrowing more DVDs from the local library :D:D


Okay,
I think I'm making myself a small snack for now.


17 days to home! 

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

Maths Exam: 2 down, 5 to go!

It was hell-ish! >.<
sorry for the strong words, but WHAT THE ??
It was harder, much much harder than the past-papers we got!

Reading and doing the first 2 questions, I was like, whaaa??

I really don't know how well I've done.

But thank God I can finish all the questions
(at least I'll get some points for trying, right? Right??)


Now, back to preparing for HoI, Litt, and EAP, 3 back-to-back exams!

Maybe a cheeky yogurt & shopping later.
Ha!


20 days!

Cheers!
-*^^*-

Drama Exam is down!

Phew. Whilst October was running so slowly, November is flying!! :D:D

Today, I had my drama exam. I know it sounds weird, "How do you 'test' drama?" But it basically means I had my drama performance today.

It was exhilarating and nerve-wrecking at the same time. It was fun to work with these classmates of mine!
(Although, admittedly, the last drama group was somehow a bit more synchronized than this one.. but it works just as well ^^ )

BUT, as performer #12 out of 13, I was pretty nervous watching the other groups!
Most groups presented their poem in this really 'dark and abstract' form. They're bringing us into the poem, line by line.
One group has 4 'teams', and they form like a 'clock' on stage. As they told one story, they rotated so that the group who was in front would perform their story. GENIUS! 
Another group performed this piece where one of the character's mind could 'fly' out of his body. What did they do? The rest of the team carried this guy so that he 'flies'! So cool.
You see why I was nervous?

Our drama is much more 'subtle'; more of a 'musical', with a clear story line and real dialogues instead of using the poem as a dialogue.

HOWEVER, it was an absolutely fun time!
I think the audience laughed at the right times, and got the fun element that we really did want to bring into the piece.

I was dressed like a total nerd. Huge glasses, 2 braids on the side of my head, a tucked in t-shirt with a skirt, long socks and a pair of old-school shoes. It was really fun though !! :D:D
I think I might do this outfit once in a while ;)

To celebrate, I passed by my fav bakery and picked up a chocolate mud scone. Wasn't expecting much, thinking that it was just a small celebration, but BOY IT WAS SO GOOD!!
It has the crunch of chocolate chips, yet some melted as I warmed it up on the microwave. Crispy edges, but soft center. Not far off from the ones I had at Miss Marples ;)
I was really tempted to go back for seconds. Help.
I paired that with a cup of gingerbread mocha latte. YUM ^^
I'll write the recipe down if I have time; it needs to be perfected first, though.


It's 8 p.m., and I haven't had dinner. And I have a 9:30am Math exam tomorrow.
My last ever math exam, ever ever ever.
I have mixed feelings about this; I have a feeling I'm going to miss doing math.
I'm thinking of taking a math subject at uni.
Yes, I'm going crazy now.

Okay,
I'm gonna go and ace my tests.
Will report back asap!


21 days to go and actively thinking about home,

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

Last Day @ Trinity

I remember my first day at Trinity. It was Monday, and I was thinking, "Why so early? This is only one of the many Monday morning classes!"
But then I discovered I had the best classmates and tutor!
One of my Indonesian classmates, I learned, share the same schedule with me the whole day! (Except for 1 period only!)

I remember playing this (weird) game at Litt with a guy who never showed up again :p
Then being quite happy having 2 other Indo in HoI tutorial, being pleased about my EAP class, and ending the day fascinated about Litt in the lecture.

The next week went with further interesting discoveries, but it wasn't until a few weeks afterwards that I realized, man, I'm so lucky.
Literally, I have the best tutors and classmates.

Weeks went by and we got to know each other more,
but now comes the time for it all to end :')

I was almost tearing up at our last EAP class last week, and almost did it again on my math tutorial, which was my last class ever ever ever @Trinity (i hope!)
my 2 favorite & most memorable classes!

I'm just so proud of myself for holding on this far.
I might have not have the best grades, but I have done the best I could, and that's all that matters. I pushed myself to my limits, almost going crazy and depressed at times, but I redeemed myself! (uu yeahh)



And actually, what better way to end the Trinity Journey, then to be rewarded the 'M&C Media Literacy Award 2015' ?? :p
It's not a real award, with no real competition. It was just words on a t-shirt. But I know my teacher is proud and appreciative of what I've done, as I am of her. Congratulations to other recipients as well!


Well..
I can't believe I'm saying it, but it's done! :):)

Next, the exams are waiting, and after I come back from the holiday, Uni is waiting!

I haven't realized how scary it's going to be,
but it's going to be heaps of fun as well. I can't wait!


Thank you to all my friends and my tutors! Thank you for making this year worthwhile :)


CHEERS TO ALL OF US!

& Good luck for our exams!


-*^^*-

S2T4W5 !!

Okay. This is EXCITING!
It's week 5 down already!! ^^ OOOHH YES!
I' m sooo counting down to the day I arrive back in my lovely home country.

Unfortunately, exams start next week, which makes this few weeks full of studying and trying to find time to decompress, just to make sure I don't lose my sanity and went totally mad >.< :p

For yesterday's iCare we ordered pizza. Should be enough for 12 people --> gone within 10 minutes with several people still feeling hungry & me (as a late comer) not getting anything. Yep.
Fortunately we were right across the Southern Cross station where they have food stalls! Including the famous Schnitz with its delicious, crispy, salty chips. What have we done with our lives?
Hehe.

Also, the Katherine Syme library is officially my new fav place around! ^^
I just returned a Heston Blumenthal DVD, and borrowed 3 movies today :p
My fav, The Adjustment Bureau, Invictus, and Burlesque. Don't comment on my movie selections! Those are good movies!! xD


Unfortunately, DVDs are all I can borrow for now --> I can let it play on the background while I study. Books, I will borrow you soon. I have a list already. :)

27 days to home, 7 days to exam..
Still alive but I'm barely breathing.


CHEERS!
-*^^*-

Mt. Dandenong Trip :)

Two days off just two weeks before the exam were MASSIVE.
You could study at your own pace, while taking a deep breath before diving deep again for the next month or so.

Therefore, whilst time is on our side, me and some friends took a day-trip to Mt. Dandenong! :)
Well, to be honest, entah itu beneran di gunung atau baru di kaki bukitnya aja. Yang jelas it was refreshing!


We gathered in Southbank at around 8:30is (a la  Indonesians), then by 2 cars we drove to Sky High lookout :)

It was beautiful up there, and very chilly as well! But thankfully it was also sunny, so there was still some warmth up there :)
We saw Melbourne skyline, and enjoy the beautiful flowers & trees on the garden.

Then, off to the famous Miss Marple Tearoom!
Now, at first I wasn't completely convinced that this place is great. I thought it was just another 'mainstream' place, 'famous' for its scones and jam.
We waited one and a half hour for a place! Luckily it was only one and a half hour, considering it was lunchtime :)
We spent this time walking to the little shop next door which sells lotions, body butter, perfumes, you get the idea. Lovely shop, and the saleslady happened to be an Indonesian too! ^^
The shop right next to this one is a little food shop, selling infused olive oil, jams, cheese, spreads, and marmalade of all sorts, and of course some baked goodies!
BUT I (successfully!) held myself from buying anything, because I want to enjoy lunch.
AND lunch was huge. Like, embarrassingly huge.

We ordered 2 main for 3 girls, 2 serves of scones (4 huge ones) for 5 people, one really yummy and sweet and soft toffee pudding, and garlic bread.
Needless to say, we were very full. Not only that though, I was blown away! This little place really does know how to serve food! It's quite generous, and although the scones are arguable, for me the jam was the main star of that day. Sweet, tangy, fresh. YUM!!
The quiche and cottage pie that we ordered were also yum ^^
It was a pleasant lunch, for a good price as well if I may say so.
Definitely going back here someday :)


After lunch, off we go to Kokoda Trail Memorial, or the 1000 steps!
I had no idea what this place was, and I doubt I will return......
Basically it was a hiking place! It was really pretty with the forest and all, but the hike was just terribly long! >.<
It did warn you that it's going to take at least 2 hours or so to get to the top.... no wonder!
We only got maybe 15-30 minutes in, before deciding to go back. Nonetheless it was fun! ^^

The mountains here and in Indo definitely are different. The serene, natural environment really made me feel like I was transported somewhere else.

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the warm sun, cold air, and good company. We played card games before heading back to the city .... for a Thai dinner!

Another yum meal! I don't know how I'm going to redeem myself after those two meals HAHA.

I had such a fun time, and going back to studying had never felt so good :)


Still, I think the best trips I'll take are the ones that lead me home :)
Can't wait!!!
29 days TO GO?!?!!!!

CHEERS!!
-*^^*-

David Bowie is...

Yesterday, me and my M&C tutorial class went down to ACMI to visit the David Bowie Is exhibition!!!
It was such a great time and an awesome exhibition!

Okay, truth be told, at first I thought this guy is a freak.
Like, he has different eye colors! (Although it's a bit cool, it's a bit freaky as well :p)
And his voice is, you know...
But most of all, his "Space Odity" song! Like, why put up a song like that??

BUT!
Thankfully this exhibition explained all aspects of David Bowie.
We got to see his visions that were then translated into works of art. His costumes, video clips, stage designs..
Do you know that most of those were his own creations? Yes, he collaborated with various designers, but he actually did a lot in shaping his own image!
He's not just some Brits seeking sensation, he himself is sensational if I may say so myself.
He's not afraid to be outside of the box. He re-invented himself; he presented to the world real, living characters that we'll never see again.

I love how he was actually involved in everything. He wrote the songs, designed the  stage, looked for designers to collaborate in making his costumes, he even drew some of his own CD sleeves! WOW. An amazingly hard working artist.

Yeah, I still think he's a freak. But a really cool one.

I'm inspired to do what he does though: to give all that he got to make sure he truly says what he wants to say.

If this exhibition ever comes to your town, give it a go!
It's a well organized exhibition, (although you might got bored at the beginning, when you don't know who he is yet), and we were given this really cool devise with a headphone that could actually detect where you are standing at, and let you hear the appropriate information about that display you're looking at! Very cool.


This is why m&c is really cool. Although we learn lotsa theories for the exams, we get to go to awesome excursions :p

CHEERS!
-*^^*-

October 2015!

I'm stoked.
This month finally ends :p:p:p
I know I'm kind of being ungrateful, but somehow this month feels dragging and unending.
But now that it's over, I can't believe it! :)

I spent the first 3 days of the month in my lovely Indo, 2 even in my second fav place, Bali! :)
It has had a beautiful beginning, and a lovely ending too!
Yesterday, our church members had an Appreciation Night Dinner @Sofia's in Burwood.
Far far away from the city, but we had such a lovely time with food and fellowship!
Lots and lots of food and laughter and photos!! :D:D

I'm very grateful for you guys. Thank you for your faithfulness & eagerness in ministry! :)


I started my revisions drill this month, readying myself for the exams that are merely 2 weeks away. Am I scared? To death. But I'm ready to go home already :p


This month I've been thinking about things I've never thought of before.
I think I hit my lowest point during my whole stay in Melbourne this month. I was homesick for no obvious reasons. I felt the pressure of exams like I never felt it before. I was desperate. But thank God! His Mercy is new every morning. I get up and enjoy His presence everyday, and I got through :)


Also! Another addition to my 'dream list' :) This overwhelms me a bit at first >.< Although also makes me excited like CRAZY!!!! :D:D
But I think this month I learn that I have to remember that my life is not over at 30 :)
See, when I dream of something new, I feel like I'm running out of time. Like I have to accomplish all my dreams before I reach late 20s - 30s.
But I don't :) My life is not over if I can't accomplish my dreams just yet by then. God may want to give me other dreams, or maybe He wants me to wait a bit longer so I can enjoy the fullest extent of what my dreams are. I'll just wait; everything is beautiful in His time :)


As my Trinity journey draws to an end, I'm remembering how I'm very grateful for each and every one of my tutors and lecturers. They're not perfect, but they're just right for me.
You guys help make this one year easier :)


Okay!
That's all for October! :)
Thank you for coming along, October. You've been kind.

November, let's end this on a high! :D

Cheers!!
-*^^*-