Chewbacca

My dog just died today (16/6/10).

Named after the ugly hairy wookiee beast on star wars because that's exactly what he looked like. We got him in 1996. An apricot coloured shihtzu. I remember we chose him because when they let him out he just ran around the pet store, completely ignored us and jumped into the toy bin. He was so naughty, always doing his own thing, always expecting US to crawl to him for cuddles. It's not that he didn't like cuddles, I think he was just lazy. He would just sit in front of us rolling around, stretching out and looking so cute until we would give in and go to him.

Dad let him get away with so much, when caught out being straight out naughty he would roll onto his back and stick all four paws up in the air. This worked everytime with my dad, but not with me. I tried to unsuccessfully discipline him with various forms of punishment, from smacking, yelling, stomping my feet to trying to reason with him (this one never worked). You name it, I tried it but he was still so naughty. Finally it was dishing out 'timeout' that was most effective. He hated sitting in a corner and would try all he could to get out of it (sneak off, look extremely cute etc) which would work if dad was giving him the time out. But it never worked with me.

He was such a chilled out dog, not a care in the world. When other dogs were around he'd be like 'whatever'. He'd rather hang with us then other dogs (probably because he knew we could give him food). But nonetheless he was so cool.
But now my beautiful, gorgeous and full of character pup has left our family. Thanks Chewii for all the joy and laughter you bought to us, we were lucky we had you for 14 years.

I’m above average

Did you know that it is a statistical fact that close friends are harder to find?

Apparently a study by sociologists at Duke University and the University of Arizona concluded that Americans had an average of ONLY 2 close friends as of 2004. Not that I’m American or anything, but I think this does highlight how precious close friends are.

So I wanted to take this opportunity

to brag,

to boast,

to show off,

to tell everyone just how lucky I am because I don’t have just 1, or 2 or even 3 close friends. I actually have 4. And not just 4 close friends, but 4 best friends.

For the first time in my life, I am actually above average for something.

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Best friend 1: Jenny Tham

Nickname: Jenny Tham

Where did we meet? Highschool

First impression? I thought she was a bitch because she had a bitchy look

One word to describe? Lame

Why is she my best friend? There is noone like Jenny Tham. Jenny is the most beautiful, caring, generous and loyal person I have ever met. She really bends over backwards for her friends. If ever you were down, she’d find ways to cheer you up. She is a fantastic conversationalist and has a heart of gold. What you see is what you get with Jenny Tham.

Best friend 2: Rita Nsubuga

Nick name: Ri

Where did we meet? Highschool

First impression? Damn she's got nice hair!

One word to describe? Feisty

Why is she my best friend?
Whatever Jenny is, Rita is exactly opposite. Just kidding, but Ri is definitely something else. Full of attitude, determination, strong headedness, confident and oh so unique. She may come across as cold and hard but deep down she is unmistakably kind hearted, loving, and is the best person to speak to when you need to see your life in a different light. Most memorable advice? ‘Minh, don’t spend your life sleep walking - wake up and live it!’.

Best friend 3: Huong Le

Nickname: Huongie

Where did we meet? Tutoring classes (outside of high school)

First impression? Generous (she gave me 40c to make a phonecall to my bf at the time hehehe)

One word to describe? Sneaky

Why is she my best friend?
If anyone has a mouth on them, it is definitely Huong Le. You wont meet anyone else who is a fighter like Huong is. Nothing will be left unsaid if Huong is around, especially if it needs to be said (and I totally mean this in a good way). But on a more serious note, Huong has been there for me through everything, especially when I was at my lowest point. We’ve had funny times, cheeky times and some sneaky times. But they have all been good times!

Best friend 4: Thuy Danh

Nick name: Thuy Danh

First impression? Desperate to be my friend

Where did we meet? Master of occupational therapy course

One word to describe? Butch

Why is she my best friend?
Thuy is seriously the most practical and level headed person I have ever met, and she is younger than me. There hasn’t been a time when she couldn’t offer me some sort of solution to some sort of problem. She can come across as insensitive, blunt and straightforward but if you dig a bit deeper you will find that Thuy is one of the most thoughtful, considerate and caring person you will ever meet. 　 　 　 　 　 　 　

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If I was to ever win an award - this would be it.

Being vegetarian

So what is the big deal about being vego anyway? I pay my rent, I work hard at my job, sometimes I laugh at people who fall over, and yeah I eat things I drop on the ground when no one is looking but for the most part I consider myself a good citizen and at least I don’t bomb people. So what if I don’t want to eat cows, chicken and fish? It’s like the biggest insult to any meat eater here in London! What is the problem?!

According to ‘Living vegetarian for dummies’ I am a lacto ovo vegetarian, which means I still consume dairy products and eggs. But definitely no meat. To be honest, it hasn’t been that hard really - I don’t even miss meat. In fact, meat was never the issue, it’s the meat EATERS that are the issue. I almost dread every time a meat eater spots my fake meat (which pretty much looks like meat) at a BBQ or at a dinner party. I honestly don’t know how they know… but they know and before I know it they are on to me like a hound to a fox.

“What is THAT?”
“Oh you know, just some quorn sausages”
“You mean fake meat” (at this point they usually wrinkle their nose as if I am eating dog shit)
“Yes”
“You mean you are vegetarian” (here we go…)
“Yeah I am actually”
“But why? why would you do that to yourself??!!” (they say this like they're horrified... as if I am punching myself in the face right there and then!)

This is where I then have to calmly explain that I love animals and that I really don’t want to participate in killing them. Simple right? Wrong. This explanation is never enough. So I am always subject to one or two or three or even all of the following in one night:

“You‘re crazy, no really… there is something wrong with you” (this actually came from a guy who hunts for his meals as sport).

OR

“What do you mean WE are killing them? They live because of US! Animals are only bred for us to eat them! In fact, if you really loved animals you would be supporting them by eating them to ensure their survival . You‘re contributing to the extinction of animals! You actually hate animals” (I actually didn’t know what to say to this fucker at the time. I wish I had kicked him).

OR

“But meat is so tasty….mmmMMmm Chicken…smell the goodness, you know you want some. Look at me eating the chicken” (This is Thuy trying to tempt me to eat the bloody chicken)

OR ( and I have to say this is personally my favorite one so far)

“But what would pigs do without us to eat them? They would lead such meaningless lives, all they would do is live in their filth, eat their own filth and just be plain dirty. We give them purpose!” (Yes C, what would pigs do without us to eat them because without us they would definitely build themselves a pig pen with mud and then lock themselves in it to live in their own filth, eat their own filth and just be plain dirty).

OR

“No you may not cook your fake meat on our ‘BBQ for meat only!’ You’ll contaminate the meat!” (meat eaters can be so cruel)

OR

“Vegetarians are stupid” (Ok so no one has actually said this one yet, but I know you meat eaters are all thinking it!).

Being vegetarian is no piece of cake.

Chapter 2: Right. Down to business.

The holiday (short lived) is over. Now to get me a life here in London.

I thought I’d initially focus on sustainability and making new friends, two components which I feel are essential to having a successful life in London.

1. Sustainability

I guess having a source of income would be a good idea.

London is expensive and I am a girl who likes to spend. I can tell you a comprehensive list of things I need to buy (note the need, it isn’t ‘wants’ it’s ‘need‘) but unfortunately I can’t tell you a comprehensive list of occupational therapy assistant (OTA) positions going in London. Until my HPC goes through (to work as an OT), I am stuck in a rut. Fortunately, I managed to score an OTA position with the hounslow wheelchair service. This will do for now. (I know I don’t sound appreciative, but in reality I nearly cried with relief when I got the position and practically kissed their hands and feet! Phew! I can continue to financially support my eyelash extensions!).

2. Making new friends (housemates don’t count)
This might be problematic since I can be quite shy, not much of a talker and apparently when I do speak, my stories are not interesting (thanks C for the critique). I think I solved this problem by installing the shut up button on my iphone.

The second potential problem which I can foresee is the reliability of my ‘friend’ filter. When alcohol is involved, everyone is my friend. Yes. This includes the crazies too and there are plenty of crazies here in London. I obviously need to set up some sort of system to sort the crazies from the not so crazy from the normal. If only there was an iphone application which could do this in a second. Some sort of face scan. It would save the unnecessary investigative conversations ( ’Soooo… are you into killing people, like random oriental people you meet in pubs?’) . With the iphone scan I could just walk up to potentials and be like ‘Please look directly here. Now keep your head still and your eyes wide open, you might feel a burning sensation as the laser scans your eyes. Not so long now, just keep still a little longer…a little longer. Oh damnit I moved, I’m sorry we need to do that again’. All the application would then need to say out loud is either ‘Warning! Crazy person ahead!’ or ‘Safe for befriending!’. I guess for those of you (like me) who would like that extra bit of confidence in managing difficult situations (where a crazy person is involved) - you could opt for a deluxe version of the app where it could offer advice like ‘1. Wait until subject has his/her/its back turned. 2. Make your escape quickly, quietly and preferably with style through the back door. 3. Whatever you do, do not look back.’ I think this could be a potential niche market. But until that app is developed, I guess I’m going to have to rely on my not so reliable ‘friend’ filter. Lucky I have Thuy around.

Down below is a picture of the first friend I made at Clapham North pub. I found her on her own. She then followed me to the next bar and gave me her number. I think she was normal, she was just alone, dancing alone and I think I saw her talking alone. That’s normal right?

My first friend Carmela and me (obviously drunk happy)

Starting to miss home

I hate emotional stuff. It usually involves being serious, you generally look really sad, nothing is really funny, it sometimes can include a swollen, ugly, puffy face (from crying) and you often feel like shit. It definitely is not fun. A completely undesirable state of being if you ask me.

But nonetheless, I can’t escape it. WHAT THE HELL.

Up until today, I was living in bliss. Carrying out the usual work, eat, rest and play routine. Pretty much living the life I did back home except for the minor difference that I am in London and it is the most awesomeest city (yes I know that’s not a word), and that there are endless opportunities for fun and so many more people to meet and so many new places to explore and…well that’s just it! The list of things to do here never seems to end!!

Well…
Those thoughts and feelings of excitement died today. Actually, I’m surprised it survived for this long.

In any case, I now miss home.

I perhaps (just maybe) got a bit teary eyed. Ok so there might have been the rare tear drop or two… or three or four, alright I bawled my eyes out. I don’t suppose listening to ‘All by myself’ (by Eric Carmen) really helped things much either. But there you go I’ve said it.

I miss home.

Only 6 weeks in too.

What an emotional pussy I am :)

Big white house

Riddle:
There once was a big white house on paradise rd. Inside this big white house, there were four rooms. Inside these four rooms there lived...?

Answer:

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Housemate one :Thi Cam Thuy Danh aliases Thuy Danh

Description: Very short
Well known for: aggression
Star sign: Sagittarius
Likes: Eating, meat, animals, Riley, seafood
Dislikes: Fake meat
Interesting fact: Thuy is secretly a oompa loompa. True story. I saw her dance like one.

***

Housemate two: Charith Davinda Gunawardena aliases Black man, C, Chazza

Oops sorry wrong photo... this is the real Charith (below)

Description: Very black (and very bald)
Well known for: body rolls
Star sign: Virgo
Likes: Talking, Steve
Dislikes: losing in scrabble, mint and dark chocolate (I might add that this is not normal)
Interesting fact:
Charith’s surname (‘Gun’ ‘a’ ‘war’‘den’ ‘a’) tells of a violent story: something to do with a gun, a war and quite possibly a den (which I‘m assuming was for hiding in).

***
　
Housemate three: Patrick Mann aka Paddy, giant

Description: Very tall
Well known for: incoherent speech (mumbles)
Star sign: Capricorn
Likes: Hanna
Dislikes: Losing in scrabble, when Hanna goes back to Sweden
Interesting fact:
Paddy can consume copious amounts of food in a very short amount of time. Record stands at 1 large Pizza in 3 minutes.

***

Housemate four: Minh Ngoc Tran aliases Minh Tran, Minhie

Description: Very cool
Well known for: Scrabble champion
Star sign: Scorpio
Likes: Thuy, eating, being regular, beating everyone in scrabble
Dislikes: Sam (our landlord)
Interesting fact:
Minh can eat all night.

Chapter 1: Independence

This week has been so busy for me, setting up things like bank accounts, oyster travel cards, sim cards, work interviews… the list goes on. The most exciting part of this journey so far was when I first walked into the room that will be my room for the next 6 months.

My room

Scared? No. Anxious? No. Sense of pride and independence? Hell yes. Sure, I have been free of my parents apron strings for at least 5 years now aswell as been self sufficient with a decent mortgage at home. Well… when I say self sufficient, I mean I have managed financially. I’m lucky to have a fantastic job and a boyfriend who is super smart and manages everything else, I just have to make sure I pay bills when he tells me too. But this is different. I am alone here. There is no one to guide me through this, no one to manage my finances or tell me where I should stay or even how to decorate my own room. I get to do it all myself and that is the most wonderful feeling.

Anyway, the house looked like shit when we first went to visit prior to moving in. It had recently undergone a big makeover …actually it still IS undergoing the makeover, which explained the mess it was in. Nothing was complete, no carpet, dust and dirt everywhere, no washing machine, tiny bathrooms and toilets (as in I could have a shower while going to the toilet at the same time).

My tiny but sufficient bathroom


I couldn’t even lock my room because the lock and hole were misaligned and to make things worse there was a gigantic spider residing at the front door.

Ok so it doesn't look that BIG here, but it was I swear.

But you know what? this place had me at hello.

In a nutshell, it is a two storey heritage house that is sitting directly across a church. Apparently, this house used to be a safe house for priests during King Henry VIII’s reign. At that time, there was an order to wipe out any religion that was not ‘Church of England‘. So the priests would then access a secret underground tunnel connected to this very house where they could hide. Interesting history hey?


So there are four bedrooms in total, with three being upstairs and one downstairs. I am sharing the house with one of my closest friends plus two other flat mates (who are both best mates with my friend). For those of you who know Thuy, she could easily be mistaken as a hobbit. So she got the dwarf room with a dwarf door (unfortunately, not by choice).

Dwarf Thuy

So here I am, finally settled, working and learning to become truly independent. How do I feel?
Freaking awesome.