✈ Venezia Travelogue

Milano ✈ Venezia   We kick started our long-anticipated two weeks backpacking trip in Italy with the city of wonders - Venice! Weather in Italy in August can be really sunny, which makes a great setting for awesome photos (natural sunlight is the key). Despite the sun, with Venice being surrounded by water, traveling was pleasant as we were constantly blessed with cool breeze ^^

On board Trenitalia to Venezia Santa Lucia.

Throughout the entire journey my eyes were fixated on the clear blue skies and vast land, indulging in the beautiful landscape along the way - such a lovely shade of blue and green!
It was a sight so precious to us urban dwellers!

Friends who are exchanging in Dublin are joining the Italy experience (spot the Conductor!)

Our accomodation for 4d3n was at Plus Camping Jolly, 15 minutes ride away from the city center (shuttle bus service provided). Its cool campsite concept was definitely a pull factor for us - we ate, bathed and slept in caravans how awesome is that! Gotta love the gypsy hipster vibes!

Venice, being the city of canals, bridges, gondolas and masks is really picturesque. I fell in love with the place immediately. Many a times after sightseeing, we simply chose to dine al fresco - with just a pizza and beer, we could people-watch and soak in the atmosphere for hours. It was a good three days spent just admiring the architecture, scenery and soaking in the Venetian culture!

Vibrant coloured buildings!

Fruit boats are commonly sighted along the canals in Venice

La dolce vita

Squid ink pasta. Bon appetit!

Pretty Venetian mask displays in one of the quaint little shops

Basilica di San Marco

Bell tower of St. Mark 

Piazza San Marco

The Grand Canal ♥

Lo and behold, with a postcard-worthy view like this, how can one not stop and marvel at its beauty? I remembered it to be a perfect moment; the waves of tranquility, gondolas and motor boats cruising by the Grand Canal, oblivious of the hustle and bustle along the streets.

Beautiful city of Venezia, I'll definitely be back for you. ♡

Settling down in Milano

Greetings from Milano!

The 17 hours flight (inclusive of 4 hours of transit in Dubai) was unbearable really, even though the 13 hours of flying time was thankfully split into 7 and 6 hours due to the transit. We were just too restless from the overnight long haul flight to be excited by Emirates' in-flight entertainment or food, which I must admit have pretty good standards.

We cabbed from Malpensa Airport all the way to our apartment since we weren't familiar with directions and it was impossible for the poor guy to carry our 60kg luggages. I could almost swear the meter jumped faster than my heartbeat. The cab fare amounted to approx. freaking 100 euros for an estimated half hour ride!

Found a small but cosy enough for two apartment via airbnb - peektures time!

Our Milano apartment for the month of August before we move closer to school
Love the random frames on the wall
Decent kitchen with an oven!
Proof of city kids - dining table cluttered with gadgets ;P
The next day we took a bus down town to the city center... and I finally got to see the Duomo up close in real life!

Duomo di Milano

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

On the beautiful streets of San Babila

Castello Sforzesco


Ti Amo Italia ... I'm falling in love with you already! ♥

Singapore ✈ Milan, Italy

Thanks to everyone who came to send me off at the airport! ♥

And so the day I have been waiting and anticipating so long for has finally arrived!

Ciao Italy for the next 5 months, it's gonna be once in a lifetime awesome exchange experience!

Farewell

12 weeks of internship, finally over!

It was an unexpected surprise, to be able to make my first baby step into a bank. Being my penultimate year, this year's internship application was way more competitive than that of last year's. While I had gotten my internship offer by March last year, this year's application process left me feeling disheartened and bleak. To be able to get this internship, I really got to count my blessings for it.

To be honest, as much as I wanted to, this internship wasn't a steep learning curve for me, but I have learnt that not all bank positions are glamourous and work-life balance is REALLY important (at least to me). As always, it was the people whom made work more bearable. 12 weeks, when you think about it, is really pretty long. That constitutes to a quarter of a year! And the fact that I'm going on exchange two weeks after my internship made the counting down process even more torturous. Yet, even though I was the only intern left in my department after the 8th week, I am really thankful for the group of fresh graduates colleagues who made me look forward to lunch everyday despite going to the same place and eating the same few dishes over and over again, as well as to laugh myself silly at the screen while IM-ing them in our conference chats. They know interns like me come and go, but they still put heart in making my internship a better experience. Aww!

Peektures of the other interns in other departments! A pity we didn't have the opportunity to know each other better since we were all working in different departments. I think we would be a fun group together!


Our second internship together!

22

As with last year, this year's birthday also falls during my internship stint, where many of my friends are interning as well. Being in the same position as them, I know exactly how it feels to be mentally exhausted after work. In fact, I must admit I sulked a lil over how I had to push myself to go out every night for celebrations even though I am tired, just because this internship has robbed away all my day time.

Yet for the same reason, I felt so much love from my friends, because I know they had specially taken their time off their precious after-working hours just to celebrate my birthday with me. These dinner celebrations, though simple, have certainly warmed my heart. I could see all their efforts from how they chose japanese cuisine over others and how they have tried to make the dinners less like a meet up or gathering even though I really don't mind at all. And my colleagues whom I knew for less than 3 months but still made me feel special and treated me like their little sister. All the smses, facebook wishes… I will remember. And the presents which coincidentally were all gotten for my overseas exchange, I will certainly fully utilize it! Thank you each and every one who made my 22 such a heartfelt one! :)

Giving thanks

*credit to source

Things couldn't get any better now. I've got my exchange and internship by grace- despite everything, I did get what I prayed for in the end. :) Never felt so blessed!

Gonna do a shoutout here to everyone since if you're still reading this space, you must have cared to a certain extent. Thanks everyone! Whether you've been physically there for me or giving me moral support or just saying a lil prayer, thank you for bearing the antagonizing wait with me all these while!

Milan, Italy

It has been a long, torturous wait. And an emotional roller-coaster ride.

In fact just yesterday, less than 24 hours ago, I had a strong inkling that the email would come. I thought the intuition felt pretty strong. But as the clock ticked past 6 in the evening and signalled after office hours, I knew I was disappointed again.

I even thought to myself, maybe all these waiting and agony isn't going to be worth it. Maybe I shouldn't be giving myself pep talks and ignoring the sinking feeling I've been feeling all these while. It's not like I don't know how few placements there are in the second round. I felt like a big fool, waking up everyday to check my mail religiously and have my phone 24/7 by my side so that I won't miss any calls. And as weeks passed, the status still remain questionable.

And then the email came today when I least expected it.

Milan, my first choice
*credit to source
What a miracle. Thank You :)

*credit to source

Last night was.. terrible.

A part of me was clinging on to some hope. Yet while I desperately fished for any kind of affirmation from everyone, another part of me already knew the outcome. When the final verdict came, I did feel my heart sank but that moment was not too hard to bear.

Because it all just seemed too familiar.

It actually felt like another routine.

Disappointments after disappointments. I'm torn, I'm worn out, I'm helpless already. I don't know how much more of these rejections I could handle anymore. Can I not be the one to pick up broken pieces anymore?

I need everything to stop crumbling. I need a miracle.

And maybe.. I need a hug.

Family

♥

Goodbye 2009

*credit to source

Looking back 2009 in retrospect, it almost seemed like 2009 was a rather forgettable year, despite an entire year of 21st birthday parties and celebrations. Of course, I am still thankful for the people who are still in my life, people who recently entered my life and made the year more bearable, and certain events which made me learn and grow. Yet, there was just something inside me that wanted more- something else and something different.

Since it was the year that marked my independence as well as my route to adulthood and responsibility, I would say I did set out to make 2009 a positive bang. I don't want to be just a common face. I tried to improve, change, give myself pep talks, but sadly it wasn't any different. I should know by now that with expectations come disappointments and some things are perhaps simply beyond my control. However, like what a friend said, as we grow older, years just keep rolling and we cannot segment them anymore. We shouldn't keep ourselves on our toes all the time and try to accomplish everything within a year's span. So come 2010, I am going to quit setting resolutions and pray only for a better year. It's going to be an important and exciting year for me, and I know it. :)

Happy new year everyone, have a blessed year ahead!

Picnic @ Botanic Gardens

✈ 上海、无锡、苏州、杭州

Back from 上海、无锡、苏州 and 杭州!

The business study trip to the YRD region was certainly an enriching learning experience. We visited more than 10 companies in total. It was certainly a privilege and eye-opener having able to have exclusive access to companies, especially reputable ones like OCBC, Stone Forest, APB, GM Motors, Ramatex, and we were even given the opportunity to tour around their manufacturing plants. Getting to know and exchange namecards with VIPs whom I'll never foresee myself interacting with during the three networking dinners. Went to the Expo 2010 Exhibition Centre which showcases impressive pavilion structures of the participating countries. Felt that there was so much to learn, so much to absorb within 10 days.

Yet there's always the flip side. Disappointing moments where you see your classmates engaged in class politics during meals and networking dinners, and how it became a prisoner's dilemma for your group to follow suit. If our school has already been notoriously known for its "competitiveness" within the campus itself, then this trip probably took it to greater heights. To me, no doubt the different dynamics and composition of the class already made us difficult to bond, it was the condone of such actions that result in the high barriers throughout the trip. Or perhaps it was just my group who felt that way, since the rest seemed to be able to mingle along just fine.

I would say I liked Suzhou the best and Shanghai the least. Perhaps my expectations was too high after hearing from friends who interned in Shanghai, that it became disappointing when I was actually there. Very developed city especially with the incoming Expo 2010, but sadly in my words, uncivilized people were aplenty. The gap was just too great to overcome. In the end, I felt like if people are rude, I will "just rude back". There was simply no other way. Suzhou was beautiful. People are genuinely nice and offer to help you out of kindness. Simplicity still works best for me.

Ok peektures time:

Flew off on the same night I ended my last paper.

Awesome friends came to send me off and waited with me
Groupmates
Shanghai





Of work



Of play!



Will miss the 小笼包s、锅贴s、汤包s and the likes!

Travelled to Hangzhou for 西湖. Beautiful, picturesque scenery even in the foggy and cold weather which took a further dip. Love the weather even though the wind could be unbearable at times!







It wasn't the most memorable trip- in fact I would think other business study trips would be a lot more fun. But I must say I learnt a lot from this trip even though they were more bad than good- made me grew a little I think!