I learnt how to crochet. I got dressed up for the first time in years for a wedding. I spent a week making my Floreda costume for a birthday dress up party. I found out onesies were quite comfortable despite their oddly childish appearance. I started flossing religiously after an eye opening visit to the dentist. I eliminated soft drinks and I do not crave them anymore. I had the pleasure of watching a movie in an old school styled cinema. I scratched the car while reversing out of my friend's driveway. I taught English idioms to my tutorial class while being assessed. I made a speech. I drank beer at a bar. I ate Pad Thai. I could run 4km three times a week. I know what a Windsor knot is. I tried mug painting.
***
Egg in a hole? Nailed it...
I started experimenting with eggs. My family and I live very close to Ikea so instead of Maccas runs - we'd go to Ikea for food a couple of times a month. Having eaten Ikea's scrambled eggs multiple times, I decided to attempt my own version. My grandparents ate my eggs wholeheartedly, merely uttering anything bad about it. However, I found my eggs overpowering with a milky taste!. I spent the next couple of weeks trying to perfect scrambled eggs. Over time, I had learnt how eggs were exceptionally forgiving in my favour. The versatility of eggs opened me up to newer dishes. Making the first meal of the day would always be an enjoyable learning experience. Thus, I may not be the best cook but I do take my eggs seriously (keeping in mind the cholesterol levels!). I aim to expand more on my cooking skills next year.
Chemist: Are you ready?
I pierced my ears. I remember clearly before my 18th birthday making a promise to my friends to get my ears pierced. They waited, and waited. Before I knew it, the years flew by and the promise of piercing would be dropped into conversation from time to time. My friends would always give me the same reasons to pierce them already, and most were very positive and safe. However, I'd be making the same excuses over the potential pain. A week after my 21st birthday, I was done with excuses. As I watched the chemist prepare, I couldn't back out now even if I wanted to. At that moment, I realised that there was nothing to be afraid of. I was in safe hands, surrounded by two close friends. The pain would only be temporary and then, bam. Goodbye virgin ears!
We should call your dad so he can help me finish this drink.
I saw my parents in a different light. When I had finished VCE, I started to feel closer to my parents. The relief of ending high school and being accepted into university meant that I was no longer tiring myself night after night to make my parents proud of me. They weren't at all the extremely pushy type of Asian parents, yet I chose to base our relationship mainly on academics. As of 2011, I had to become more independent with uni, travel expenses, source of income - all those things. I was fortunate enough to see my parents instilling a sense of trust that I had never felt within me. It was not all about the grades this time, as they knew I would be able to arrive safely home on my own. They knew the new people I chose to be around with would be good people. They knew that I was growing up and I couldn't hold their hand forever.
For the first time this year, my mother suggested that I'd show her a piece of the lifestyle I've created since leaving high school for an entire day. So I took her to uni, to the city and the places I'd regularly be at via public transport. Even though these moments were now mundane, my mother was quite surprised to learn how much walking and time dedicated to travel I had to endure! I greatly appreciate my mother's effort to learn and understand where I am at the moment. Parent's weren't seen to be totalitarian figures that would make or break you over grades. They're human too, showcasing the strongest types of love which I hope to learn one day.
Watch a graphic representation of the digestive system or be in a room full of neuron balloons?
I was team teaching at a secondary school. I was eager to commence placements at a high school this year. I wanted to take my position as a second year pre - service teacher to its' full potential and gain invaluable first hand experiences. My mentor warmly welcomed me during the curriculum meeting and introduced me to the perplexed details of her lesson plans. Moreover, her patience towards the students in her science class inferred that you could not forcefully fulfill the content's objectives without establishing a respectable relationship first. After learning how to use the interactive whiteboard, she gave me the materials to prepare at home for her class the following day.
When the students settled into class, I became anxious as they viewed me as a foreign object. The lesson concluded and was followed by a debrief. She remarked the strong presence I was able to hold during instruction and the aid of physical space to emphasise my authority. In regards to my oral abilities, I had spoken too fast! It seems that I have focused predominantly on what I was going to teach, and had forgotten to consider the student's individual needs especially to those with an ESL background. I hope to control my voice with future practice. Working with my mentor's expertise and commitment to her students was certainly inspiring as I continue to shape my own teaching identity.
Surprise!
A boy lightly kissed me on the head. The Christmas season was nearing its' final days, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than shopping late into the night. Despite the frenzy of consumers swarming around the shopping center, we weren't in a rush to purchase any last minute gifts. I was content with window shopping and so was he. With the night sky overlooking through the clear ceilings, my shopping experience became strangely tranquil compared to daytime. To say that I wasn't heaving sale bags would be the least of my worries, as I didn't exactly come home empty handed that night.
15 minutes before midnight, he draped his arm over me and softly kissed the side of my head. I walked back into the house from his car, more baffled than ever. I, Karen was not a girl who'd be kissed like that...ever. How did he even get the nerve to? Does he do this to all his female friends? Did he just? I washed my hair that night right?!
Merry Christmas, Karen.
You can be sitting right in front of me but that's not going to stop me!
I was in the state before being tipsy? Readers beware: I've realised my tendency to talk LOUDER than usual when the poison kicks in. Not to worry, I'm still harmless as I haven't tried drinking enough to uncover my full - blown alternate state...yet.
***
December || 21st birthday
November || Sahan's birthday party
October || Squires Loft with colleagues
September || Tesselaar Tulip Festival
August || Crochet lesson with year 8's
July || Eureka Skydeck
June || Light sculpture @Fed Square
May || Uy's 21st birthday
April || Coffee after Warm Bodies
March || Visiting Tina in the morning
February || Galentine's day
January || Beach after 1000 Steps
Goodbye, 2013.
I only cut my hair once this year!
Can you believe it's already been four years of k-hameha? I remember creating this blog as a therapeutic outlet for my thoughts during the stresses of year 12. I've grown, loved, lost, cried, rejoiced, infuriated, learnt, hoped...lived through my writing. To all my readers, thank you so much for being with me on this journey. You have witnessed some of the most intricate details of my past, present and future self which many people do not know of, or ever will. For the last time in 2013, thank you for reading and have a happy new year.
"My life, old sport, my life...
my life has got to be like this.
It's got to keep going."
