Spring is here...

On Thursday the first of September, I played tennis under a clear blue sky. There are now buds and bright pink shoots on the rose bush outside my window, and yesterday I attacked the hedge in the backyard with a pair of shears so that when the weather gets warmer, the spillover area for Wednesday nights can extend outdoors. And, on my way to church, I noticed all the beautiful flowers growing on my neighbours' lawns, and the new leaves sprouting from trees that have been dormant all winter. There's nothing like it to remind me of God's mighty hand; His wondrous creations.

Anyhow, life here is good. Everyday I fall more in love with this city. Coming here I'd never have thought I'd survive at all without internet connection, or without a television; I hadn't met enough people at first to fill the void that my life could fill with technology. I'm now into my 9th week here, I've missed the last episode of Desperate Housewives and put up with the measly daily 1.55MB of netusage I have in school, I've managed to keep myself occupied, and dare I say, greatly fulfilled, in a place that people back home condemn as boring. People who've been here with me right from the start tell me I've become a lot more relaxed. I don't recognise this change in myself, I still think I'm high-strung, but if their testimonies are worth anything then what must I have been like before? I keep reminding myself to seek out a purpose and meaning for this experience, I hope it is revealed in due time.

For now, I have a kilogram of fresh cooked prawns from Matilda Bay to eat. I've got a two week break coming up real soon and I've bulldozed all urgent assignments out of the way. Sui is coming to visit. Life can't get any better than it is; thank God.

posted by beautiful at 7:54 pm

I've finally found something about this place that I will definitely miss when I come home. Barrett's, I give you 4 stars for the pastries. It'd be a perfect 5 if not for the less-than-impressive savoury items I've sampled before, and the slightly rotund minx behind the counter. Today I had the most mind-blowing slice of pear and almond tart, which had a sugary glazed crust sitting snugly on top of a bed of subtle Peckham pears and marzipan-ish ground almond paste. So divine.

Yes, this place does have some form of culture after all. Note that I cannot help but equate food with culture. What do you know, this country might actually have its own national cuisine after all, and it's not a spud deluxe from Jester's. But what I really want at the end of the day... is a mooncake. I want banana mooncakes. I want champagne truffle and ganache mooncakes. It'll have to wait till next year.

posted by beautiful at 4:14 am