I have news! A couple of days ago I got an offer to study medicine at the University of Newcastle (2+ hours north of Sydney), which I accepted! After getting over the shock I am now beyond ecstatic. Basically what this means is:

- I'm going to move out and live in Newcastle for most of 5 years

- I'm saying bye to all the amazing friends I made in my 1 year of uni

- I'm giving up my presidency of my medical science students society

- I'm not going to be seeing my family as much

- I'm not going to see R very much either

BUT IT ALSO MEANS:

- I finally get to fulfil my dream of becoming a doctor.

I know it may sound lame/stereotypical (especially considering I'm asian) but I'm beyond glad that the past couple of years of worrying, trying, 'failing', almost giving up, being unsure about where I was going, how I was going to get there and if I was even going to make it has been put to rest by this little miracle. I do believe it is a miracle because as R has said, my marks were 'woeful' (thank you dear). 

I even remember complaining and in hysterics to R on the phone the night before I had the interview about how I was going to fail again, how the uni didn't want me, how I didn't even deserve the interview, and how the whole interview was stupid and I just wanted to go home.

He pretty much told me to shut up and go to sleep.

Which was probably very good advice, because here I am now! Lucky...

Anyhow, speaking of R, it is quite scary/sad to be doing the long distance thing. I can still come back home to Sydney at least once every other week and for holidays, but when I think about how it is going to be like that for 5 years it is rather intimidating. However if we can't make it through this, then we might as well give up now. Which is clearly not an option. I am unbelievably lucky to have him in my life, to have him believe in me unfailingly and support me without question through anything and everything. Do your best, forget the rest. That's all we can hope for.

Other than that, aside from the nightmare of finding a place to live and having to tie up a million loose ends, I am pretty excited for what's to come. 

P.S Hope you like the photos of sparklers from NYE. I'm kind of obsessed with them. Sparklers I mean.

Recently (ok, not really) I attended the birthday parties of 2 dear friends. One was at McDonald's! I can safely say that reliving those childhood days of catered parties at Maccas with the icecream cake, party bags and happy meals all in a sound-proofed room was sinfully fun.

Especially as a bunch of 19 year olds.

One guy dressed up in a suit! I know all the strange looks from the patrons outside were jealous ones, especially considering KT the birthday girl was pretty much bouncing up and down with excitement at the words "BALLOONS" (see photo below).

I also ate at Kazbah for the first time, for Jonny's birthday. The majority of the food was pretty fantastic (we had the Ottoman banquet), and if you happen to visit you MUST have the fried cauliflower with the eggplant jam. Anyhow...


The photo above reminds me of the awful scene in District 9 (good movie, watch it!) where they are unbandaging Wikus' arm in the hospital and this massive alien arm writhes out. I tried some of it anyway (the food I mean). Turns out their "BBQ Garlic & Harissa Marinated Octopus" tastes like soot.

The highlight of the evening definitely has to be this:


"If the knife comes out dirty...you have to kiss Nas!"

So this is how I spent New Years Eve. Getting fried in the day and being frozen by night, waiting for hours and hours amongst children, families, large men in deck chairs, mini BBQs and music coming from someone's tinny radio. 

 | Thanks R for making me wait at this station for over an hour! |

| Summation of the evening: We sat around eating |

| City in the afternoon |

 | Getting ready for the fireworks |

And finally!

Sorry about the quality of the fireworks photos. I can tell you there were many times when I had the sneaking urge to steal the various unattended tripods around me, just to get ONE unblurry shot no thanks to my shaky hands. 

But its hard to think about anything when everyone starts jumping, shouting and laughing and counting down those last 10 seconds. I live for that moment. There is a reason why New Years is my favourite day of the year and it has probably got to do with the atmosphere, of having thousands of people flood out in happy flocks, having people jostling, bickering, lazing around in the heat but all waiting to welcome the New Year. Strangers cheering, dancing and clapping drunkenly together as the fireworks go off. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE IT?

Plus fireworks are pretty. So sparkly...

Anyhow, I won't bore you with anymore details; I suspect there may be people out there who don't share the same sentiments that I do! But I hope you have had a lovely first week :)

Welcome, 2012! May you be full of new adventures, surprises, opportunities. Wishing everyone a fantastic New Year; let this be an excuse for you to go out there and chase your dreams.

P.S Took this photo yesterday after freezing my ass off waiting on a hill/rocky outcrop during the customary 8+ hour wait. BUT MORE ON THAT LATER.