resolutions + mini tour de germany: flensburg

ok, sorrie that i have been neglecting my blog for the last couple of days... and before i start, here's wishing Singapore a happy 42nd birthday!!!

was doing some serious thinking earlier... what are the things that i would like to accomplish during my time in europe? well, it's certainly not the academic excellence, cos if i were after that, i would have stayed in NTU and finish my PHD studies instead... more likely, it's more of the chance to be able to grow up mentally... as in, as a minority in europe, interacting with people of different cultures is part of adapting in europe... furthermore, the chance to live for extended period of time in various countries gave me the opportunity for much more interaction with people... and looking back at my reactions when thrown into various situations, i realized that i could have handled things much better than the way i did...

well, maybe being brought up in singapore made me think that all things should be carried out in a certain sequence... but then again, i failed to see things from the other parties' prospective... so if there are things i would like to achieve before going back home in singapore, these are definitely the ones:

(i) learn to be more tolerant when it comes to differences in opinions...

(ii) think before speaking...

(iii) self-confidence... constantly looking at others in the eye when engaging in a conversation...

(iv) learn how to judge the situation and choose the right strategy in handling (eg. stefan mentioned to me that the Chinese people are very conscious when it comes to giving "face" to the people they are talking to... but the european way is to be more direct... something that i had encountered and found it hard to comprehend... like my first time in amsterdam, when i asked for a new piece of clothing from the shop assistant, and he said this straight into my face:" why?! why do you need a new one? is there any problem with this one?" cultural shock i would say... )

on a lighter note, i went to Flensburg yesterday to collect my danish visa from the consulate... lots of things happened on the way, like the incident with the train conductor who said that i didnt have a valid ticket... but i insisted that i got it from the train centre, and in the end, i must be appeared to be super-desperate, and he decided to let me off... (incurring a fine cos of not having a valid ticket is very hefty...)

next, 2 policemen appeared on the train and asked for my passport... as i handed mine to them, i asked:" why are you checking my passport? are we near the danish borders? or did i just cross the border??" ha~~~ think it's probably the first time the policeman is being questioned about his authority...

lots of nice pics at the town of Flensburg... too lazy to start explaining the pics... so enjoy...

and on the way back, i saw a couple of hawks, lots of wild hares in the vast open fields (of course, the hawks didnt see the hares, otherwise we will be having lots of hide-&-seek actions), and most funny action of all: ok, you must have seen how little creatures like hamsters trying to mate... the male will try to climb over the back of the female and start humping away... but imagine the same actions from cows... yes, big big cows... amazing how it can try to balance on 2 legs...)