I am an island … or so I thought
One of the reasons I came to study here, a thousand miles from home, was to learn about independence. I imagined that I would take care of myself, wash my own clothes, cook my own meals, study .. etc etc. To that extent I’ve succeeded in being self-sufficient.
But I underestimated the extent of the loneliness.
In the first week I made friends with some people in the campus accommodation. Due to cultural difference and/or age difference (they were 18 mostly) I didn’t quite click with them. If it wasn’t for booze and counterstrike, I wouldn’t have much to say to them!
Perhaps it’s the inflexibility of my personality. You see, it’s easy to make new friends, but it’s not easy to bond with them on a deeper level. It was at this time I missed home and my complicated other, Stephanie. I also miss the long and deep conversations I can have with a few close friends. Not to mention the male bonding session that is a Friday night dota game.
Of course, things took a turn for the better here in Brisbane. For instance, I hung out with my house mates at the casino. In the weekends I would meet up with Nabilla and we would do touristy stuff. Then Leon would bring me around the city, Nicholas brought me to a strip club and I bumped into Michelle near where I buy my groceries. The world is a small place after all.
I have to mention that most of the names above are Malaysians. Here I thought that I chose Brisbane over Melbourne because I wanted to avoid the comfort zone of being together only with Malaysians. It was when I was pissed drunk with Leon, Jason and Kenny that I realize that we are who we are and it feels good to hang out with like-minded people.
At this point, I realize that even if you’re self sufficient, you still need the company of other people to stay relatively sane during your alone times. I guess I’m still learning to be alone without feeling lonely.
I’m also looking forward to this weekend, when I bring my laptop to Leon’s place for a good dota game!
Woot! First Post! WEll..its good to know that no man is an island after all , ya Jase?
It was even more so harder for me in the UK at first..no one i kenw went with me…eventhough i had a friends uni about 45 minutes away, i was mostly dependent on random literally random people i meet on the street…all students of course! Some wer OK, others were not so good…i was beyond lonely, got a death threat to boot (some arseholes idea of a joke) sighh..met some stnigy manipulative Hongkee girls….and some nice Thai People…M’sians were far and few between….) BUT I managed to survive really difficult times, bro. You are in good hands and it shouldnt be a problem!
Cheers
LOL, luckily you still have the world of internet and your dota thingy LOL… hais… pergi jauh mana pon ada dota untuk you main kan? *tsk tsk*
Anyway, you’ll learn to be a grown man by the time you come home to Malaysia, hehehe….
I dont like you much Evie!
>=(
Speaking of which, get ready to be smashed next Friday night.
Just try to overcome it.
You already left the confort zone,
and you should take it as a challange for you
in your life, that can mold you to be a better person…
Hmmm, my comment so cacat !
If only I were that lucky. Sedihnye.
well, it seems you’re adjusting pretty well.
it gets lonely for me too. i havent found a bunch of friends that i dont mind hanging out with everyday.
i could never beat loneliness, I would fly back immediately.
hey ! i’d say, enjoy it while it last. when u come back, u are going to be stuck in this crazy life of socialising, routines, and the sleepless nights.
the last time i wanted time alone, i had to lie to my parents about it. But i had my Sunnies, ipod, Book, the Sun, Sun tan Lotion, The sound of the waves,my bikini, My ice box, my beer,ice to chill my beer, and of course the beach boys for my occasional viewing pleasure.
5 fantastic days of it all alone …… i was in heaven ! Came back to work, being more productive then i was ever before !
i know how you feel, after all, it’s best hanging out with the same kind, much easier to click and not as difficult to communicate and click due to cultural differences. Of course you dont feel the same back home, probably trying to get rid of them haha .. but then again, you only realize it when you are far away hehe .. dunno bout you but that applies to me hehe. Enjoy your time there, times like this are not always there
hei hie……oh come on…..come up to Toowoomba la…..
what’s friends for lar? some more don’t give me ur landline number, how to chat on the phone le…..?
but you know, u’d only be there a year or two, so take the time to get to know people from other cultures. Korean, Jap,etc, and learn their language. best way to do that.
i am trying to learn a little korean from my housemates and try their cuisine, and understand a little about the aussie culture. doesn’t ur uni have a “Aussie family” thing, where you get paired with an aussie family who is willing to “adopt” internationals?
Finally, how come they are “18″ ? i tot u are doing post grad studies or something?
Adam:
(
Why?????~~~!!!
[adam]
I came with nobody too. I only met them here …
[evie]
yess , the internet , msn , my blog . sigh , i’m too reliant on technology
Yes, i do hope i’ll be a man when i come back.
[leon]
I hope by smashes you mean, getting stunned or something. not smashed drunk …
[jstrike]
I like how your words are shorter sentence to longer sentence ..
[cazzy]
.. and to think I nearly studied in NZ. Look on the bright side ! You have your significant other!
[angelo]
yes I am …
[claudine]
so you have friends you only wanna hang out with , sometime ??
[amy]
hehehee . so you’re saying you would never fly to a place where you didn’t know anyone ??
[stephanie]
the grass is always greener on the other side eh ?
[michy]
Yes I am enjoying myself ! hehehe ..
[cy]
I don’t even know my own landline number. yes , I will learn a lot ! Today was hanging out with Colombians, met a german ^_^
No I wont’ go homestay, not really taking care of myself there, would i?
I was staying on-campus with foundation year students as well ..
[evie]
oh don’t mind him. dono what’s he on about ….
You know, I feel 100times more than what you feel. If only I can find one Malaysian, or at least even 1 like-minded asian here that speaks english instead of chinese then….
I know.
Let’s just say you should bring your clothes and a lot of water. And your laptop.
Bro, true Malaysian at heart. Remember, merdeka is around the corner ^_^
And dota, come play in blueserver. my nick is fuki.
Me>Evie: Ohh Jason’s right…..im coming clean!
No worries Evie…….it was just one of my randomness!
=)
Cant dislike a person if you dont know them right?
haha homesick boy :p
Wai: Hey! Have you ever been away from home b4?
Being homesick is NORMAL ler for anyone who is away from their
country! SO~ Haha to you, bucko!
Adam:
…………….. okiees
Jason Phoon:
*scratches head*
I feel your pain, Jason. But think about what happens when you stay on after graduation (for work or living on the dole … KIDDING!) and the other Malaysians have gone home. Think about it, man.
jason, there are many different type of friends. this bunch is a good company for having fun but we dont necessarily share the same sentiments.
[crysV]
Are you the only Malaysian in Milan ? Or are the ones you met are not like minded ?
Oh, then you know what ?
[leon]
The way you put it, it sounds like I’m going to get gang-raped or something …
[voch]
haha , i used to play on blueserver, my nick was Jason ! But now connection too slow to blueserver, we play on boredasians now … haha.
[wai]
shutup you ! Just wondering, did you go study alone ? or with friends ? did you know people here already ?? oh well ..
[evie]
is your head itchy ?
[su yin]
Actually, most of the friends I know here are here for the long-term … Some are working already. But yeah, I think I know what you’re getting at … was that the case for you in NZ ?
Oh by the way, one other reader is from NZ here, her name is Cazzy. There ! one other malaysian ! haha.
[claudine]
hmmkay, yes I need a girlfriend here as well. Good idea !
Me>Jase: thats what i said to Wai as well…sheesh dude, if ya dont know how or what if feels like being away from home, like seriously…….dont take and make fun of others ppls misfortunes, ya!
Heck, some people from diff states in MALAYSIA, hello-!Yeah imTALKING to you Wai, FEEL HOMESICK AS WELL!!! GOSH!!!!!!!
aiyo..i am not talking abou homestay..that’s a different thing. i mean, an aussie family offers to “adopt” you, in the sense that they meet up with u evry couple of weeks, and bring u around like “a son”. but u don’t stay with them.
Oi Jays! Hang in there! I totally understand each inch of your entry…Things will get better…this is probably reality that has struck…a bit like the end of a honeymoon period. When the REAL thing hits, it hits hard. I guess you could take this opportunity to appreciate people around you more. And yes…the pastures are always greener on the other side!
Hang in there ya?!?!? =)
Ei ?
Is that a compliment ?
Anyway, this is my style of messaging.
Haha !
Jason, you’re just feeling home sick. It’s normal. It’s a valuable skill to mix with different people. Challenge yourself to learn that. You’ll never be truly sophisticated without it.
Me>thelastnoel: QFT!! Well put, man! Btw, are you Malaysian?
Its nothing to be afraid of being in a different country..you just have to
adapt your skills to face certian hardships and feelings. Having his younger bro in Australia also helps with the adapting process, eventhough
they are far apart. Man, do i wish i was back in the UK! I miss it loads!
The freedom and not having your parents holding you back is the best thing ever, Jason….enjoy it while you can!
well i was thinking of asking you out for lunch on tomorrow but since you’ve mentioned dota………
ick i always hate typing typos and i can’t edit it. Meant to say on saturday which is tomorrow. yes. im anal. so sue me.
Sue her…come on …sue her….
[adam]
oh stop picking a fight with everyone …
[chea yee]
ohhhh . i never knew there was such a thing ..
and no , i’m not suing anyone
[michelle]
Thanks for bringing me around ! I really had a lot of fun ! Made my stay here easier tooo
[jstrike]
argh u don’t it again ! haha
[thelastnoel]
Thanks, I will try to mix with different people more. It’s easy to get to stay comfortable with like-minded people ..
[nabilla]
okay ! lets do lunch ! hmm . what to eattt …
OK! I wasnt picking a fight….waaah!
Jason! I was just making a point la…
=’(
im sad…..