On another note

I shall now adopt a different mood to the sombre tone now.

1. I will be going over to England this June and while I am flying by Emirates, I shall stop-over in Dubai for a day or two. I can only afford a day or two because Dubai is such an expensive place! Dammit! The hotel rates are like New York City or London or worse(we are talking reasonable and non-dodgy ones). Looks like I have to eat sand while I am there and drink off the Gulf Sea. And I haven't even talked about shopping. Either you have to be earning plenty of money to survive there or you own an oil field in the Middle East. Otherwise, it's crazy.

I heard my Dad telling Mum about that region and yes, I do remember Mum telling me about her friend from there. It sounds all so ironic - they seem pretty conservative but yet live so lavishly. I was told that the (western) expatriates in the region are treated with some sort of suspicion even though they go in there with good intentions with their expertise such as in engineering and finance. Dad said that foreigners who work there are mostly 'high-end' people with plenty of experience in their field (haha..as good as telling me 'Better not try going there to work unless you really are something and someone' :p)

I wonder how I will be viewed and treated since I am hopping by there on my own for the 1-2 days. Seriously speaking, how much damage can I possibly cause? Of greater concern though, is my safety. Then again, in such a world and in such a time, can anywhere be safe?

2. So after months (and perhaps, even years) of deliberating, my Dad has finally given me his blessing to go back to Leeds to pursue my Masters :) While I may seem like someone who is never at a loss for words, I always lose the words when I am in a truly heart-strung moment. It is through times like these that I realise how bad I am with words. I wanted to say 'Thank you' but the words couldn't come out - I could have cried. I am Weepy Hollow. But really, I don't think it was an easy decision for my parents to make. I really appreciate the fact that they are willing to sacrifice part of their retirement funds for me to pursue my Masters. Just saying 'thank you' isn't good enough.

Sigh..I am the daughter that cost them so much, even before I was born and up till now, I still am quite a bit of a burden.

That aside, it's time to get down to the application and yes, I have to start writing an essay as part of the application process.

In case anyone might be wondering to what I will be applying to, I will be taking the MA in English Language and World Englishes. Surprise move again, considering that Law was my first degree. Again, my Dad put sense into my head - with the experience I have in teaching, and teaching the language, what more suitable programme is there than this? I was initially, quite adament about going back to Law School but being an 'obsolete' lawyer, it might put me at a disadvantage if I ever went back into the legal fraternity. That's why Dad said that I should bank on my current experience and knowledge to gain something that will give me an edge over others.

The School of English is an excellent one and yes, JRR Tolkein was part of it before (eons ago, darling). The most recent and familiar figure who passed through the doors of the School of English in Leeds is Corinne Bailey Rae. Sorry everyone, I think I will be a disappointment. I can't sing and I can't write songs/music. I will never be a hit.

It is exciting to go back to Leeds. Great music and arts culture, plenty of opportunities to breathe fresh air that is often stale in cities (in the physical sense and otherwise). But I shall have to cut down on that shopping thing and perhaps even earn extras by working in the library *yawn* or The Library (hehe..this is a different one at the corner of Hyde Park and Clarendon Road)

3. While I am there in the European continent, I must make it a point to visit Auswitcz. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time and I must not miss the opportunity to do so. I was just reading an article on the Holocaust recently and I thought to myself that I have neither blonde hair nor blue eyes so I would have been sent to the ghettos, and on to the camps to be gassed to death! So out of respect and in the name of humanity, I *MUST* while I can, make a trip to Auswitcz. I suppose it is legitimate to be a Weepy Hollow there then.

Aye, aye, enough from me. This is another note too many. Zip.