Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile.

This surely has been a tough decision. I can't really come down to ONE picture as there are folers upon folders of photos that freezes wonderful memories into a rectangular sort of pixels.
Here as just some of my favourites (I would've added more, if I wasn't so busy working at my dad's office right now)

1.

 Christmas in Hokkaido.

Look at my giddy face. It was my first time seeing snow firsthand and I guess I got a little too overexcited, so I ran under the freezing snowfall and begged my already shivering sister to take this photo. Worth it :)

2. 

 Christmas Caroling.

I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is actually one of my favourite photos of all time despite my terrible haircut (not to mention acne!)

I really have a great time with them singing carols and just laughing so hard in the school bus.

3.

 Cupid Strike/Ultimate Blackhearted

Yeah, we actually named our group :P 

But these wonderful ladies have coloured my life with hilarious memories of primary school.

I'm so glad we're still in touch even though one's in Nottingham, the other just left for Australia..

and it's just Honovi(left) and me. 

Come back soon guys!! (LIKE REALLY SOON)

4.

 Just Us.

Behold the world's craziest girls in one picture. 

They're honestly so amazing and wonderful that sometimes I wonder why they're even friends with me (cause you know, I'm lame).

High school would never be the same without these girls in my life. 

5.

  Senior One Xiao '12

Meet the most awesome class I've ever been in. 

Although there's 60 of us, I can't believe how well we got along. 

Seriously, I am truly honoured to be your monitor this year, you amazing peeps :)

I'll pray and wish upon every shining star that we'll end up in the same class next year because only we can get 100% pass the whole year right?? 

FOREVER A XIAO '12

An amazing escape to Oxford

Well, I've finally had the motivation to blog. I've been having an amazing time in a summer programme and it was worth missing 2 weeks of boring Malaysian class.

Spent 14 days at St. Catherine's College in Oxford learning English Literature and Experimental Psychology and also did an afternoon workshop every other day walking around Oxford and admiring it's art and architecture. I must say, I've become a semi-expert on Classical, Gothic and Renaissance art in Europe.

Met so many people from all around the world in the ORA course and everyone's been really friendly and I don't feel like the awkward turtle. The Junior Deans and counselors have been just the most amazing people making us feel comfortable in a very unfamiliar environment.

I'll let the photos (and the mini captions) do the talking.

 A really cool London2012 ad :) 

 The Sun was out, for a while :) 

 MMMM LAVENDER <3

 Graffiti on Cornmarket Street, cool beans.

 Just a glimpse of the campus I spent 2 weeks staying at. 

 The prison-turned-hotel near St. George's Tower. 

 Radcliffe Camera. by Gibbs, built mid 18th Century 

(yes, my art&architecture knowledge flowing through)

 Looks familiar, but where? (Hint: First Year, The Sorting Hat)

 The Great Hall, without the magic ceiling. 

The Sheldonian Theatre, with a split pediment. 

 A day out in London! 

(L-R: Abbey (USA), Sophia (CHINA), Sonja [son-ia] (GERMANY) and me)

 The REAL FOOD MARKET at Convent Market yumyumyum!

 They were filming! Doesn't she look like Kate Middleton? *gasp*

 At the Disco Party! 

L-R: Sophia, Sonja, me, Tessa (DEN), Abbey & Roxy (CHI)

Front: the amazing Charlotte (DEN)

 English Literature Class Photo :) 

 Experimental Psychology Class Photo :) 

 Gothic stained glass in the Keble College Chapel.

 Our regular lunch stop. 

You'll never get sick of sandwiches. 

(Recommend: Caesar Wrap, the Salmon Bagel, any Panini and FLAPJACKS *drools*)

 Grad Night dinner! 

That's Izzy in the middle from the States 

We have graduated :) 

 So, I saw Tom Daley :) He was posing at Boswells. 

and yeah, I had to take a photo!

 Holywell Road. Lost my lipgloss and most of my weight here. 

 I really had an amazing time here. I guess I did the right thing, or at least, did the unexpected thing coming here. Would love to re-live it the same way! No regrets. 

Life should be full of unexpected things right? I just wanted to do something entirely different from the usual way of life, don't get me wrong, my usual life is interesting but getting to explore and see the world has definitely opened my eyes about the possibilities in life :) 

This was written in my cert :) Everyone got a different one and I know this is perfect for me. 

I shall do my best to live with it. :)

and may you always be in peace

Life, so recently

As everybody on the world knows, it was 11.11.11 yesterday.
To some, it's a day to make epic wishes and celebrate this historical day.
To others, it was just a normal day.

To fellow schoolmates, it was also the last day of school before the holidays start taking over, but to a few, it was a reminder that their biggest challenge is on the way--SPM. Really, we have to give them the props, it's hard to have exams when the rest of the world is celebrating the end of the year.

So yeah, had a lot of things going on for the last week of school. Football matches, training, reunion, GDOs, chasing Purple Myvi and Gala Dinner. Lost a lot of sleep thanks to them, gonna take back my beauty sleep when my hibernation starts! Don't know when. 

Here are some photos!

 Junior 2 Ping 2010 Reunion

(we were trying to keep a straight face, I guess it didn't work out for some of them) 

Sorry for the blurry photo, used my old camera.

Me and my crazy sister at my cousin's wedding. 

(Like my earrings? I do!) 

Chased down the Hitz Cruisers for the Greyson Chance's showcase. 

It was indeed an adventure. 

11.11.11

(Chinese Cultural Festival)

 Yu Tian Long, 余畑龙

famous Hakka singer, know the song " 不要去英国" ?

Saw him LIVE. 

Gary Cao Ge, 曹格, he is a Sabah-born international Superstar.

He is from my hometown, Kota Belud too!

 

Yeah that was pretty much the events that happened recently. Wanted to do an individual post for each, but that would have to wait. I hope this would keep you entertained for the moment. I hope. 

Well then, I'm off to have dinner with my family.

ALL THE BEST to all who are sitting for their SPM this year. You guys can do it! :)

Finally!

After 3 years of no meet ups, Honovi, Natalie, Abigail, Cassandra and me finally got the chance to catch up. 

Natalie, who went to Nottingham to study towards the end of Primary 6, finally came back! 

Missed her so much.We had meet ups every other day/week, and now that she's left, I'm already missing the times.

 First meet up! From left, Honovi, Me, Natalie and Abigail 

(Cass wasn't in the photo cause she was busy when we first met up)

Nat and me. 

As you could see from my funny look, I was actually tip-toeing to look as tall as her in the photo. 

Attempt failed.

I wish I could say there are more photos but most of them aren't with me right now. :( 

Brother took the memory card to Vietnam.

Just what have I been doing

I'm actually still on hiatus mode but I just wanted to give a little insight about what I have been doing for the past couple of weeks. Skipped school, went to the island, my first job as an interviewer/photographer, Raya and the visits from Oxford and Nottingham. Doesn't it sound exciting? Yes, it was.

Low line with the Internet so I might just post some photos and not blog for another couple of weeks. 

We did charades and here's our team photo:

 My awesome team with our awesome pic

from left Lezlee, Razi, Sabah and Me

 They're just trying to be cool

from left Carl, Zulfi, Leon and Lois

Group photo! 

 With the adults. 

Now for the MICSS photos: (took only girls volleyball photos because was working there the whole competition)

These are a few of my favorite shots:

(there were more photos but the uploader was taking too long indeed, might try again later)