Easter Break/ USA

So right after my most dreadful assignment submission at the end of the month, I decided to get a return flight ticket to Arizona to visit John and his family/friends for Easter.

It was my first time travelling the US so I was really stoked about it. Besides, the trip was also a self reward for finally being done with statistics and EBNP. Never want to touch them ever again (which I highly doubt it's possible). Ugh gross. *thumbs down* I also thought it was right of me to go over because Papa and Mama Bear needed to know who this girl John is currently dating! 

Let's be honest the main reason why I flew over was because LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS STINK, and the only way we could make this work is to actually make the freaking effort to see each other despite the distance. Still, fuck that. 

Had a 7hr40min layover in Tokyo so I took the chance to head out and explore the town a bit. Japan is B E A U T I F U L. Hats off to the Japanese people. Everywhere I went I was greeted with wide smiles and 45 degree bows. They make good manners so overrated! I would have to go back to the land of the rising sun just because the people are amazing and their TOILETS. Jaw. Dropping. I shall stop here because I could go on and on for the next few hours. This blogpost should be about America not Nihon. 

Grand Canyon is basically out of the world. For once I was happy to feel small. It was also my first time camping out under freezing conditions, and I did not like that very much. The campfire was probably the only legit justification for me to suffer in the cold like that. Nevertheless it was still really memorable. I needed to surround myself with nature for the longest time and by then I my poor Singaporean soul was greatly satisfied. 

I also really appreciate that there's a wider variety of vegan foods in the US supermarkets as compared to Singapore, which made me so happy. Vegan restaurants serve the most mouth watering dishes, even meat eaters cannot resist. This is probably going to be one of the main reasons why I need to move there. 

Let the pictures do the talking. 

It was great to be able to see Paul again! Been 9 months since the last time we met in Nepal!

-

Here's another three more agonising months that we both have to endure before seeing each other again. Counting down as always. 

Dear John

Dear John,

Never would I have imagined that this would happen to the both of us. Never would I have imagined that a random meet up at a bar in the small town of Pohkara, Nepal would eventually lead to something so much more than just establishing and cultivating international friendships. 

Words cannot describe how wonderful it was to have met you back in July 2015. Life may throw us some surprises along the way, but you were definitely not one of the many expected and predictable ones. Up till this very moment I am still filled with awe and amazement that something so magical could happen to the two of us. How two very normal human beings from two very different parts of the world are able to create such a strong connection with each other despite being separated by continents and the vast distance; I would never have imagined them all. 

From your love for the outdoors to your passion for travelling to your enthusiasm towards learning new things everyday; you have done nothing but inspire me ever since I got to know you. You make me grow, and every day you ignite this part of me to never fear the unknown, and to step out of my comfort zone in order to achiever greater things in life. You give me your utmost support in whatever I do, and with this I aim and strive to become better, whether it be doing well in school or just generally as a human being. I do not know what I had done to deserve you, but thank you for bringing out the best in me and for showing me that life should be taken a little less seriously and that happiness is dependent on our self perceptions.

This distance that currently separates us, will not be war.
Thank you for being crazy enough to do this whole commitment thing with me. Thank you for constantly expressing your love for me through actions and never just plain sweet nothings. Thank you for being such a crazy motherfucker for believing in us, and thank you especially, for believing in ME.

Thank you for your everything, John Bunnell.

I love you.


Pearlie

CHRISTMAS 2015/ END OF YEAR REFLECTION

Here's wishing all a very Merry Christmas 2015! 

So once again, the year is coming to an end in less than a week and I want to take this time out to do a bit of reflection on what I did this year. 

Can we just say that 2015 has been nothing short of amazing? I was looking back at my previous 2014 reflection post whereby I talked about how I would probably never experience a year like that again and I was SO WRONG. 2015 raised the bar even higher for the Best Year Ever title and I truly am filled with utmost gratitude for this. 

So much happenings in one year. I graduated from Poly, got into my dream University, travelled to different parts of the world and gaining wonderful experiences, celebrated my 21st with a blast together with my closest family and friends, and also took a huge and positive change to my diet and lifestyle. I met SO MANY new people, built amazing friendships, strengthened old ones, and lastly gained so much insight about life itself. It has been real incredible. Really. 

Being able to see myself grow; words cannot describe how thankful I am to have life throw me countless opportunities (and obstacles) along the way, testing my boundaries and allowing me to achieve greater heights in everything I do. I am glad to have come out wiser and (hopefully) also a better person in overall. 

Here I am, genuinely smiling whilst typing away because of all the wonderful memories going through my head right now. 

I am happy. 

And turns out happiness isn't really that tough to achieve after all. Seek peace in yourself and ye shall find. :) 

And this time I shall once again embrace the new year with positivity! 

WELCOME 2016! BE KICKASS <3 font="">

Friendship.

''I know that sometimes people believe that friendships are forever, but I believe that friendship is fleeting. Because, you change as a person, and if you change or the other person changes, they're not really the same person and so.. how can they really be the same friend? Part of friendship is also knowing and understanding when to leave. They probably have families, they have a significant other, they have other people they wanna hang out with and so, it's really important for you as a friend to respect their boundaries too. Friendship is not life. Friendship is PART of life. It's part of your personal development because as you make friends, you gain new perspectives, you gain new experiences, and you find different parts of you that you never discovered before. That doesn't mean that you can only discover that with only one person.'' - Michelle Phan

Funny how some people still possess the same mindset and perspective of who I am in character, and also as a person 3 years ago. I am no longer that Pearlie you once knew when we were 16, and I will never be able to go back to being that Pearlie. I am sorry, but I am not sorry.  

Time to move on, old friend.