going to NY

Hi everybody!

As i am packing my luggage for Rochester, New York, I'm inspired to share how this miracle happened.
I was really excited to blog about this for sometime, and i did mention about going US once or twice, but i didn't explicitly explain what it was, because it was too good to be true and i was afraid somehow i wouldn't be able to go!

ANYWAY, NOW THAT IT'S CONFIRMED AND IM FLYING IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, I WANT TO SHARE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED :D

During my Germany trip in March,

It was one of the most amazing experience of my life and I came across so many wonderful musicians in The Knights, who inspired me so much. One of the violists, whom i took a masterclass with, told me about this viola event that would be in Eastman sometime during summer this year. I kept it at the back of my mind, since I've wanted to go to Eastman since forever, and this sounds interesting.

After my trip,

I came home and google about this event. Turns out it was called,
International Viola Congress 2012

Sounds like such a big event! International! All the world's top violists would be there, and i was dying to go too.

So i emailed Ms Yang, and asked whether if the school could subsidise me.
Of course, nobody has ever asked so atrociously and shameless before, so i know i was pushing it and prolly not going to get anything lah.


But to my amazement, she wrote to Dr Kelly Tang and Dr Yap, and THEY SAID  
NO PROBLEM!!!
even though the sch didnt set aside any money, but they managed to find it somehow elsewhere and sponsor me for the trip!!!!

so they are sponsoring me the air tickets and the viola congress, which costs 3.5k!

As this was my first time going to US, and with my malaysian passport, the school was quite worried i couldn't clear the custom somehow, so they even agreed to SPONSOR MY VIOLA TEACHER TO GO WITH ME!!!!

I can't say how grateful i am at this point.

I know you're probably thinking, not cool. travelling with a 60 year old man.
But Mr Lim, is the most gentle man I've ever met, and he is so wise and tactful and full of connections and understanding that it really feels absolutely normal to talk to him and even take a 24 hour flight lol. 

Also, we would be staying separately, me at the dorm (as i requested!) and him at hyatt hotel, so it wouldn't be awkward or anything.

the school really went through quite a bit to get this for me, so i'm superbly grateful!!!

I NEVER, NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD GO OUT OF THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR ME.
INSIGNIFICANT ME, WHO CANT EVEN GET A 30 FOR PREVIOUS Y5 IB GRADES.

and after when i shared this most amazing story with a classmate of mine, she also daringly submitted her artwork for a prestigious competition and actually won!!!!

BEST PART, THE SCHOOL IS ALSO SPONSORING HER TO GO JAPAN, WHERE HER ARTWORK WILL BE DISPLAYED IN TOKYO ART MUSEUM!!!! the most prestigious art museum in japan i heard!

So conclusion is, TAKE A CHANCE!

you never know what could happen! I never, never ever imagined such good things will happen to me, I never thought i deserved anything like this becaue i don't think i'm a brilliant musician or anything, BUT!

you never know what could happen, and you would never know, IF YOU DONT ASK. 
whatever it is that you want to do, GO FOR IT.
Otherwise you would live your life either filled with regrets, or thinking you're not good enough.

It's never too late to change, or start being daring.
If there's something you've always wanted to do but never dared to take a leap, DO IT!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!!!!

cheesy as this is, but i truly hope that reading this would also inspire you, and not just be jelly of me k! I'm super thrilled to be going to US for the first time in my life!

Here's a picture of my luggage packing so far, and happy holidays everybody!

remember to do something that will make your life good today!

updates

watched Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists on friday night,
yes the day when i was rushing my lit essays before 5pm and i managed to! hand up, change out and head down to dinner at thai express :)

i loveeeee thai food!
i can have tom yum everyday!!!
anyway,  the performers were really good obviously, but unfortunately because i was sitting in circle 3, therefore the listening experience wasn't that good.
the repertoire was quite a let-down also.

but it was a good thing that the next day, i had a chance to meet Yuri Bashmet upclose!
He's my number 1 favourite violist, and i was really hyped about this for quite a while.
however, he wasn't in a really good mood that day, and he proved to be quite an eccentric musician, as i've heard... so i didn't learn much that day :(

it was a good experience though, with the media and people and all.

finally, managed to do some shopping today!
spent only about $100 and i got a dress, 4 tops, a shirt for my brother, and 2 pairs of shoes!
i love bugis street omg
anybody who condemns it can continue shopping at fep for the same items and double the price

striped ribbon top, psychedelic vintage print top, cosmic galaxy top and patterned top with metal tipped at collar. and i love it that they are all sheer and super light! :)

okay the photos totally doesnt do justice to these lovely clothings, ahhh cant wait to wear them out!
i finally have new clothes omg

currently starting on re-doing my entire world lit comparison essay, because i am a perfectionist.

also currently very pissed with a lot of people, and i am in my judgemental mood.

1. just because you add a :) after your self-righteous comment, doesnt make you friendly pls
2. it is not cool to poke or slap someone playfully. it is also not funny.

in other words, pls have some basic social etiquette. i dont believe you cannot behave like a normal human being after so many years in sch. afterall, we do live in a world with other people.

asking for it only dafug

things i want right now....

it's been too long since i want anything, and all of a sudden now i feel like splurging on many many things! here are a few things im into right now,


this beautiful pair of ballerina flats by chanel!
my friend bought the black one which is really classic but i love this one so much!!!
and i love flats. if i ever go back to primark one day, i'll buy ALL the colours of ballerina flats they have there! 

flowering tea that my classmate showed me!
the tea leaves come in a bundle, and when you put one of those tea balls in hot water, they unfold and bloom to become like this!
so beautiful!!!
unfortunately i dont think singapore sells this anywhere...

spinach quiche! I'VE BEEN WANTING TO EAT/BAKE THIS SINCE FOREVER

asymmetrical dress/skirts! i especially love this floral one, and the colour is so sweet!
perfect!

and also very interested into DIY cosmic/ombre tops nowadays, cant wait to get some fabric dye and try it on my own!

such a wonderful feeling to complete ALL my work for once!
and so the entire Y6 music students will celebrate with a pizza party after sch tomorrow YAY!!!

heehee goodnight!

good morning everybody!!!

i just wanted to tell everybody that if you're going through a very hard period right now, or if you're feeling super unmotivated about life, i hope reading my blog will encourage you to work harder, or inspire you somehow!!!

today i woke up as another normal day, sunday morning off to math tuition, and even though i still have a lot of work to finish, but i also remembered that i also have completed a lot of work!!!

and everyday i give thanksgiving for simply being able to be me!!!

really very thankful and i hope that when you read this, you'll also remember everyday to be thankful for the little things that make you happy, or lucky things that you have received and really feel like you dont deserve it! 

OKAY HERE'S TO A MOTIVATIONAL WEEK EVERYBODY! 

one more week to the end of school term! 

just look at my pinned up fringe and hair tied back, you'll know how ready i am to start work right now so let's go!

from the bottom of my heart,

edit: updated on 20th may with photo!

so tired i could die, the past few days omgggg.
my sleeping routine is seriously O.O

slept for 2 hours on one day, and 12 hours on the other. constantly tired, constantly working.
shit it's 2.20am now, so another vicious cycle of tiredness tomorrow...
i can only hope that all these will stop after next week, for good, for real,
and i can finally focus on revision.

looking back now, i can see countless of lit and tok essays i've screwed up.
i wish i could re-do, i really do. i wouldnt mind going through all the sleepless nights and emotional verge of breakdown all over again.
i want to finish IB well, i know that there's no problem into going a music conservatory, but i dont want to just leave my studies to die too.

maybe it's too late.
i've already handed up so much work, for good.
70% of music is done, all that is left for music is 30% of written paper end of year.

ms lim's words to me/my mum during PTM today was a good wake up call for me,
time to go all in. if i havent already. i dont know, i think i have, but i dont want this to be all in because it's not enough.
and it's surprising to myself, that i took her words as heartfelt words to help me, instead of dismissing it as i usually would.

in other news, thank you to all of you who have left me such kind and wonderful comments/likes on my facebook! i really dont feel like i'm a very accomplished musician because of going on the news and all, but it is truly encouraging to have compliments like this :) thank you everybody!
i dont intend to post up the videos here, because
1. they are boring!  2. i've already shared it on fb  3. i dont think it was thaaat good lah

but anyway here's a picture of wenrong and me with the newscasters at channel news asia! (because i realised that this post turned out wordier than intended and it looks so boring...)

photo credits to channel news asia

also other updates on music, i'll be playing in yuri bashmet's masterclass this coming saturday (thrilled!!!), new york the monday after that saturday!!!! performers' festival in june, goh soon tioe scholarship audition in july (thank god 2 more months, because the repertoire requested is so weird that i actually have to learn new pieces) and also going on berlin tour with snyo in august.

auditioning for royal conservatoire of scotland and new zealand school of music in july/august too!


the good thing is, although im tired and working my guts out, but im not unhappy. i complain about stress a lot, but at the same time i feel good churning out these works/words and when i hand up these upcoming essays, they will be work of pride, really.

my faith has also been deepening, i have grown so much in these past few months, i cant even. ;)
so thankful for everything in my life right now.

sometimes i feel like deleting all my social media to maintain the impression that actually i'm a very nice demure girl :(

"Never reveal all of yourself to other people; hold back something in reserve so that people are never quite sure if they really know you" - Michael Korda

 

you are always so good at this, not me.