It's been quite a week. One full of emotions, and happenings.
Wednesday had to be the climax of it all. I had the best and worst moments in two straights hours.
That morning, I found myself scheduled for an interview on my cow story that evening - 15 minutes after classes were to end. So I booked myself an audio recorder - it's the dua zhong professional broadcast radio kind, not those tiny ones print reporters use - and got myself excused to leave class earlier so that I could arrive for my interview in time.
I rushed back home in between lessons to pack my batteries and my memory card, got a new set of clothes since I didn't think interviewing a professor in T and berms and slippers was quite appropriate. Then I rushed to class.
When I got out, I rushed to collect my audio recorder only to realize that I didn't have my batteries and CF card to test it - I had left them in the car. So I bolted to the car and tried testing it only to realize that my CF card was not in its case. I had no idea where it was!
After trying not to panic, I decided to try using my SLR's 4GB card. "Unformat" the recorder read and none of the buttons worked. Ok, so as we had been warned, the recorder had issues with 4GB cards. So I scooted over to Columbia Photo to buy a 2GB card. Thank goodness there wasn't a line. By now, I was ten minutes late for the interview.
Got the card, ripped it off its packaging, ran to the car, slotted it in to see "Unformat".
"This had to be the worst day I've ever had here," I thought to myself. "Please God, help me."
There was simply no more time. I was late and had to make do with the little Olympus recorder I carry in my bag when on assignments - regardless the medium.
So I arrived 20 minutes late, and found myself profusely apologizing to a pleasantly rounded lady who had such a nice smile on her face.
Dr Lisa had to be one of the nicest interviewees I've ever met. She was chatty, had loads of anecdotes and even offered to have me over to her place - she owns a woods! - and said she will pass me some chillis soon.
Then I was reminded that I was going to be late for dinner with Sam and Aleks. So I scooted over to HuHot - a Mongolian BBQ restaurant - and had a wonderful conversation and meal, albeit short. The Thai group happened to be there to and I finally got to meet Kim again!
So, despite all the above, I've had hardly anything else to pre-occupy myself with. Not having work in a newsroom means I've quite a bit of time to myself, which hasn't been quite a good thing. There's still a dreadful sense of loneliness mostly. And it's making me homesick. Again.
The really depressing season premiere of Grey's didn't help. And did I mention that I was watching Flash Forward, this new drama on ABC where the whole world blacks out when my entire apartment block also lost power. I was left stunned in the dark for a moment, with the rain pouring like mad outside. Thank God I found my emergency torch. Thank God I bought one.
I want to be with the BB officers, the Sat gang, jogging with KL, Starbucks with N*at and J*arron. I want to have BS with the primers and my peers. I want to eat the braised pork Pa cooks, and have Ma to talk to.
So I've been bugging people, like S*am and R*intaro. And I wonder if they are getting irritated with me. I think they are. I would if I had someone constantly trying to invite himself into various parts of my life. I try not to bug Ll*oyd at all cause things are different now that he's engaged and he's started work on his dissertation. It's been hard not to try and compare the experiences I've had from the previous time I was here. Last time, Ben was just across the hall, Lilian and others were always around. Christine and Eugene were here and Lloyd was there to hang out with.
As much as I enjoy times when I'm alone, I realize that I need to be around people. Even if you're doing your work and I'm doing mine, I feel more comfortable with people around me, mostly.
So yep, I'm trying to hang in there, assuring myself that I can always talk to God. I'm trying hard not to compare and live this experience as it is.
And just for record sake, I got slapped with a parking fine because I accidentally threw away the coupon I was suppose to display when I trashed the old coupons. And AND.... I received my utilities bill that read US$220 that same evening. My heart almost stopped.
James 1:2-4. Persevere. So that you will become whole, not lacking in anything. If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask for it.