Epilogue

Alright...all good things comes to an end, and the whole trip was one helluva good thing. I dun really know how to start writing this. Was thinking of a usual summary but this whole blog itself is more or less a summary. I know it's not a very summarised summary, but so many things took place, so much so that it is really tough for me for give an overview summary. Each and every event brought abt varied varied emotions, thoughts and lessons. Perhaps the best way to summarise this is through Aladdin's "A Whole New World"...I admit that I have a thing for Disney princesses <3 x 10

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
you last let your heart decide

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways, and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place i never knew
But now from way up here
It's crystal clear
That now i'm in a whole new world
With you
Now i'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

(Jasmine:) A whole new world
(Aladdin:) Don't you dare close your eyes
(Jasmine:) A hundred thousand things to see
(Aladdin:) Hold your breath- it gets better
(Jasmine:)I'm like a shooting star, I've come so far I can't go back to where i used to be

A whole new world
With new horrizons to pursue

I'll chase them anywhere, there's time to spare, let me share this whole new world with you

(Aladdin:) A whole new world
(Jasmine:) A whole new world
(Aladdin:) A new fantastic point of view
(Jasmine:) A new fantastic point of view
(Both:) No one to tell us no or where to go
(Jasmine:) Or say we're only dreaming
(Aladdin:)a whole new world
(Jasmine:)Every turn a surprise
(Aladdin:) With new horizons to pursue
(Jasmine:) Every moment gets better
(Both:) I'll chase them anywhere theres time to spare
(Jasmine:) Anywhere
(Aladdin:) Theres time to spare
(Jasmine:) Let me share
(Aladdin:) This whole new world
(Both:) With you

(Jasmine:) A whole new world
(Aladdin:) A whole new world
(Jasmine:) Thats where we'll be
(Aladdin:) Where we will be
(Jasmine:) A thrilling change
(Aladdin:) A wonderous place
(Both:) For you and me

Yeah...I know none of u will go through the whole lyrics but the song really resonates very strongly with me now...each line really do mean something special to me. I really can't expressed how much I'm in love with life...so much to see, smell, taste, hear and feel. Life used to be boring for me...now i can't wait to start on my next little adventure out into the world

So what's next? I'm deciding between Diving in Palau Sipadan, Skydiving in New Zealand or Exchange in Germany. I'll probably do all of them but would need to decide on the order...and of course, I need to clear my 5K debt first...will be living on bread and butter for the next yr. So if u have any leftovers, kindly share it with me! And would probably learn to play the Flute or Harmonica during the year. As for the oven, only have Chocolate Chip Cookie, Blueberry Cheesecake, Pancakes and Tiramisu in mind currently. So this is a short preview to my sophomore year in NTU (someone commented that I'm very free at home...there's actually a lot of planning going on)

And this is the thing which i find most interesting...Why are so many of you so concern abt how different I am in the States? I really thank everyone for their concerns but it's really quite amusing. I know I'm made for the "Guai Kia" role in watever group I'm with...the quiet, bespectacled, well-mannered, courteous and nerdy one. A selected few of u may know me as the outspoken, witty, confident and arrogant one.

So I guess I did surprise quite a number of people with the clubbing, drinking and gambling in the States. The explanation is simple...if I were to fly across half the globe and be the same me, then it would really be a total waste of time and money. I'm here to live like them, drink like them, club like them and gamble like them...it's part of the experience. If I were to say no to all these, I might as well stay in Singapore. But no worries, I'm already back to being the same old boring and nice Mark.

Anyway, i just went on Facebook and there's this post from Cassandra less than an hour ago "Having fun in USA is about daring to do what you've always been afraid of. I'm absolutely terrified of heights, which was why I chose to go for skydiving from 16000 feet in order to face my fears." Couldn't agree more. I've been restraining myself for far too long...and it was time to let loose and do the things which I wouldn't do in Singapore...after all, what happens in US stays in US:)

The bonds made here were pretty unique as well. It reminded me a lot of my time in army, where we are all basically in the same shithole and can only count on each other. It was a similar feeling in Virginia, where everyone is working their ass off everyday, counting on each other for meals, trips to walmart to get necessities and then going on road trips with people who's schedule fit urs and drinking together from night to dawn.

Such bonds feels more natural, where everyone relied on each other to last through the whole trip, be it the sweat, blood, whining and fun. I HATE orientations and camps as things always felt like they were set up beforehand..."u guys are going to be BFFs because we just happen to put u guys in the same group for orientation"...to HELL with this!!! For me, the cause and effect sequence is very important. U become friends (effect) because of the shit (cause) and NOT, I create shit (effect) because we guys need to be friends (cause). Get my point???

Which is why my closest frens are from army...been through hell together and came back...u can't beat that. We have all left KD already, but it's very heartening to know that everyone still wants to keep in close contact. There's a gathering in August and my Facebook is flooded with comments and posts from them...all about the time (mostly abt wine and beer though...haha) in KD. It's very heartwarming:)

Lastly, I would also like to thank you for keeping track of my adventures in USA. It's my greatest pleasure to write and update this blog, both for my own keepsake and your own reading pleasure. I'm also very honoured and flattered by the fact that a few of u (including my own sister) are inspired to embark on a similar trip next yr. I'm not too sure how much this blog plays a part in ur decision but it's very humbling to know that others may be traversing the same path as I did over the past 2 months next year.

Talking abt inspiration...this blog was inspired by another friend of mine as well (www.mystoryineurope.blogspot.com). Hopefully, I can also inspire someone else to start writing...and it would be amazing if this inspiration can keep passing forward.

I guess this is really the end...I wonder how it will feel like if I come back to this blog 10 yrs from now...Ooo, a tear is coming liao

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND MAY WE ALL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

THE END!!!

Mark

A not-so-lonely boy in a foreign land

PS: Will be reverting back to my previous blog (www.hwx-mark.blogspot.com). See you guys there. Ciao