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Now I’m sitting in my room thinking of how it seemed like just yesterday that I had stepped off that plane in Detroit, feeling all alone, and greeted by a gust of ice-cold wind. It all seems so fresh, yet so distant. I didn’t know how I was going to survive 5 months on my own here, with few friends and little knowledge of the local area….

Yet now I’m here, two weeks before I officially call it a day at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Reflecting on those feelings I had brings a sense of pride and humility, both at once. I’m proud to have been given this opportunity to be a part of the local culture and people. No doubt, I’ll miss this place greatly when I return to Singapore. Even more than that, I’m humbled by the care and friendship I have been offered during my stay here. From strangers to friends, all in the space of a few short months… short months - I would’ve never felt they were short back in January. Memories, fond memories, of snow fights, freezing cold soccer, sharing a cuppa in the snow, and the little parties …. and even the big ones (like St. Pat’s Day) …. sitting on the grass patches - memories which I will never forget, and experiences that will always be cherished.

And then the practical aspect of living alone: self-sufficiency/independence caused by the added responsibility of making sure things that have to be done get done.

I’ve learned a great deal from this little “adventure” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’m very glad I came here. I will be returning to Singapore happy that I’m home with loved ones, but a part of me will always remain in this cold, cosy city that hosts one of the warmest people that I’ve come across thus far.

So here’s to Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan, the friends I’ve made, and the fellow Singaporeans I’ve come to know over this course! Good luck in the exams and hope I’ll have the pleasure of seeing you guys in Singapore soon!

My blog on bryanchen.com will be moving soon to a brand new location and domain! Watch for it!

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Operating+Systems&articleId=9130727&taxonomyId=89

This is a really interesting, satirical commentary on Microsoft’s naming blunders.

I never imagined I’d welcome warmer weather…ever! I’ve always been a cold-weather person, but I’m delighted that the air is warmer, the sun is out, and the snow has all but melted away. I didn’t hate the winter weather, I merely welcome a change in my lifestyle that couples with the advent of spring. I don’t have to walk around in longs anymore, don’t have to wear heavy coats.. I don’t even have to hide under the blanket when I’m at home! The only good thing about winter that I can think of right now is the snow… snow hides dirt……………. and dirt is what the entire road to my house is made of! Stepping on snow is far cleaner than stepping on dirt (duh)! Just the other that I forgot there wasn’t any snow on the ground and when I walked back into the house after taking out the trash, I had to spend the next 10 minutes cleaning the floor!

In another 6 more weeks my vacation will begin. I’m really excited about the whole thing! For three weeks, Candice and I will visit Washington, British Columbia and Idaho. I just hope flights and accommodation won’t burn a hole in my pocket. I haven’t seen the lodge in any season except winter, so I’m looking forward to taking in the sights if I do get a chance to head up there.

Today is St. Pat’s day! Apparently the plan is to meet around 3PM in the diag and sip (I hope) alcohol till about 5PM before heading to a BBQ…but only if I can finish my work. Oh, and because public display of alcoholism (haha) is against the law, we all have to disguise it somehow. I’m gonna pretend mine’s a starbucks iced coffee. Note to self: don’t get such strong alcohol unless I like the taste of plastic.

I just read on New Scientist that suicide accounts for 1.5% of all deaths worldwide. That means that every 40 seconds or so, someone kills him/herself!! Also, anorexia has the highest death rate of all known mental illnesses… someone who is suffering from anorexia is 50 to 60 times more inclined to kill him/herself!

General suicide, however, is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. Women are more likely to attempt suicide, though men succeed more often than women…. ah well.

Introducing Bespin from Dion Almaer on Vimeo.

I saw this video and I can’t wait to start trying it out. I especially liked their ideas on how collaboration and file visualisation should be… Believe it or not, I drew up a little plan about it back in 2003, but like all my plans (haha), it never came to fruition. Thankfully these guys share the same ideas and put in the effort to create Bespin.

So here I am, on a Friday, waiting for my CNY package to arrive by DHL. I was supposed to leave to meet Keith about 30 minutes ago, but I was caught in a dilemma, in which the choice of waiting until the package arrived won. I really wanna give Keith the pineapple tarts today, and I don’t really want them to leave the package out in the cold lest all the stuff spoil. My street soccer boots are in the package too, and I’m going to play tonight, so I’ll probably need it anyway.

I was supposed to go to Keith’s to get some work done (and to play paintball!), and to have a simple dinner based on whatever my Godmother sent me. Today, we were going to have Bak Kut Teh… it’d be awesome since the weather here really suits the hot, peppery broth…or vice-versa, rather.

The morning was spent talking to Candice about her trip here on the 21st… the 22nd being my birthday, we decided to get a train to Detroit to catch the play, Rent, spend the night there, then return the next evening. That would really be a wonderful birthday…the best I’d ever have.

The early afternoon was breakfast time..I had quite a bit of bacon left over, and a dozen eggs, so I made croissants, bacon and eggs for an uber late breakfast. Then I played on the antique piano till it couldn’t take anymore pounding on its delicate keys.

I miss home…but not as much as when I first got here. I mean, the magnitude is probably the same, but the fun and entertainment of Ann Arbor and UM are really slowly getting to me. Of course, this has everything to do with Keith and Caleb. Really, I’d probably be in a very bad state were it not for them and their concern… Keith, who’s always driving me around everywhere and having dinner with me on Fridays, and including me in fun activities involving other Singaporeans..and Caleb, whom I got to know, thankfully, through the EECS 483 class, and who’s a great project group mate (who has shown more responsibility and know-how than any other group mate I’ve paired up with in Singapore) and who’s always including me in his little gatherings of really fun and caring friends. I wouldn’t consider myself a very religious person, but I’m really thankful, from the bottom of my heart, that God sent them to help me.

Well, today’s quite warm, it’s 2 degrees Celsius! I’m sitting by the glass panes in the living room, and all I see is the stillness of winter, interrupted by the occasional gust of wind that blow the brown and lifeless leaves across the white sheets of snow and ice. It’s surreal.

Keith has offered to pick me up from my place..he went to get the groceries for our dinner. I really hope the DHL courier comes soon. It’s getting quite dark, but I don’t think it’s the sun setting just yet. I think it’s the mist and fog coming in.

DHL just came! Happy days!

I arrived in Ann Arbor, greeted by a gust of wind so cold that I almost hopped back on the plane! =P When I reached the house on Jorn Court, I was more worried than excited. It appeared quaint at first glance, and from the outside, it almost seemed like the perfect match of my human character. I had reservations about the place and feared that I would “suffer” for the next 5 months had I made the wrong choice. Taya, the landlady greeted me at the driveway. We entered the house and the first thing that struck me was that it appeared that things were falling apart. Honestly, at that very instant when I stepped into my room, I was very disappointed and feared that my nightmares living there were about to begin. Mind you, this wouldn’t have been the first time that I’ve made the wrong decision on something so important and necessary.

Looking back now, I think Taya sensed my initial distaste towards the house. She didn’t try to hide anything from me and reflecting, I think she even appeared embarrassed about certain parts of the house. It was an old place - maintained, but only just. I was introduced to Matt, the other person staying in the house. It wasn’t long before I grew tired from the lack of sleep on the flight to Detroit, and I retired to my room to lay down and call home. I told Candice the situation and we both tried to come up with ideas to end my lease and find a new place ASAP. I left a message on MSN for Keith to let him know I had arrived in Ann Arbor… I was expecting to go out with him over the weekend. Later that evening, Keith sent a reply asking if I wanted to go out to the store. Excited about being able to see a part of the city, no matter how dark it was by that time, I said “yes”.

Keith took me to the Meijers where I bought loads of stuff that I thought I’d need in the next few months, and a slab of beef so large it could’ve fed an entire army (exaggeration of course)! We cooked a simple hot dinner at Keith’s, and I felt welcomed by his hospitality. It definitely made my first day (and the next few days) more comfortable and less worrisome. Even though I would have stayed all night catching up with him, I was already semi-conscious by the time dinner ended. He graciously drove me home and I fell asleep the moment I laid on my bed.

I awoke in the wee hours of the morning. Afraid to make the slightest noise to disturb Taya and Matt, I crept around my room and whispered on Skype to Candice. For some reason which I still find amazing, I decided that I would make the best of my stay. Candice encouraged me in my efforts to make my room comfortable and to my liking. That morning of Day Two, Keith came to pick me up and we walked around campus. We walked around a bit till the mobile shop was open, where I quickly got my mobile line sorted out with the help of the meticulous and extremely helpful staff. We walked around a little more, and while I cannot remember most of the places we saw, I was grateful and I knew no matter what I could do, I’d never be able to repay such kindness and generosity. Buying lunch for Keith and Xin Yi (his girlfriend) was the very minimum I could do to try to repay him. I hadn’t had an appetite since I left Singapore, and couldn’t even finish the sampler platter that I had ordered. One thing I had noticed though is that here in the US, waiters actually split the bill individually. I wish this would be a habit that would, in the future, catch on in Singapore. Nothing is more complicated and awkward than trying to collect money from friends at the table to pay for the bill in its totality. Keith and I then went to the Krogers nearby and to an Asian minimart that sold all sorts of stuff from Asia. Keith invited me to dinner at his place again, but I felt I had intruded enough for the day, so I declined his generous offer. In addition, I had wanted to make it home on time to meet Taya’s son, Luke, who would be driving in for a couple of hours. I missed him - when I came home, he was already gone.

Day Three - Saturday, started very early again with the routine call from home and Candice. The plan for that day was simple - go to the outlet mall at Birch Run and stay there for as long as possible, with a possible intermission at the mall’s A&W. It was a trip out of Ann Arbor that would take close to an hour, but it was well worth it. I bought stuff that would make my stay a warmer and nicer one. =P On the way back, it was getting dark, and by the time we arrived at Kerrytown for dinner, the sky was black. We ate at Zingerman’s, which was a little expensive (my meal was $11), but well worth it. I bid my hosts good night, and I forced myself to stay awake till 11PM before I allowed myself to drift to sleep. Like the previous night, however, I woke up at 2:30AM, and then again every hour. It was getting colder, and while I didn’t have to break another heat pack, I had to lie under three layers with my laptop running on full power to act as a makeshift heater. Also like the previous night, I stayed on Skype with Candice. It was the one thing that made me feel less homesick.

Finally, day four, which is today (Sunday here), I woke up intending to do the laundry and clean my room a little more. I also wanted to walk around the neighbourhood or take the bus to campus to check it out some more. Well, I came out of the room to be greeted by Taya, who was just leaving for a breakfast appointment. I poured myself a bowl of Apple Jacks and downed it with some water and raisins. Next, I decided to be adventurous and attempt to use the washing machine and dryer myself. I had a pail semi-filled with clothes that I wanted to wash, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to hand-wash all of them! After an hour or so, intermittently watching the Manchester United game live on internet streaming, my clothes were done. After an extended while, I decided that it was a little late to be exploring campus, since it was already almost 2PM. I put on my thermals and jacket to take a walk around the neighbourhood. This time, I bumped into Taya coming home. I stepped out of the door and immediately slipped on the ice that had formed on the walkway. Thankfully, I didn’t fall, and I managed to regain my balance. I slipped a couple more times during my route as it was difficult to differentiate ice from pavement at certain points. I was delighted to find out that there was a pizza place, Marco’s Pizza, just round the corner, and two blocks down was a coffee shop, Carribou Coffee, and a small grocery/prepared food store. I bought some Ghirardelli chocolate to make hot chocolate, and Folger’s instant coffee. I got a bowl of Greek salad for lunch and a can of carpet cleaner. The walk back to the house seemed longer than the walk out. I don’t know why, but it did really seem longer. When I did finally arrive, however, Taya presented me with a music CD by her daughter, Lila, titled “Letter Home”. I was surprised yet thankful for such an unexpected gift. It was also nice to see a mother who was so proud of her daughter. I immediately put it on and found that the music suited my taste and was perfect for how I was feeling. I ate my salad outside in the breakfast room while Taya showed a potential tenant around. I felt like telling them not to judge a book by its cover. I felt sure that the would be filled with the same thoughts of negativity that I had felt when I had arrived on the first day. I wanted so much to tell them that it was a wonderful house to live in. Somehow, the place just grows on you. It has a wonderful rustic charm to it, and the atmosphere is one of warmth (despite the freezing temperatures) and dare I say, love, which was almost certainly imparted to it by a generous, kind and motherly land lady.

I have just finished setting up my laser printer, which was generously offered to me by Matt, and while I started writing this post more than an hour ago when the sun was still out, I am still anxious and excited about the prospect of living here and sharing my experiences as much as possible with my friends and family.

Well, it’s only 5:30PM now, and it’s already dark. Tomorrow will be a busy day at school. I wish the weekend was just a few days longer.

It’s been hectic this last week. Buying the air ticket, finalising the accommodation, collecting my visa and generally just rushing to prepare… Sounds kinda like when I was serving in the army. Spent Saturday morning at Shangri-la filling up on breakfast treats. I think the standard has dropped somewhat. The place was kinda dirty and the service not fantastic. My recommendation is that if you’d like something good, go to the Four Seasons or Fullerton, although I heard the spread at Four Seasons has been reduced. St Regis is classy and modern, but the food’s just not that great for the price they’re charging.

I went to Stagmont camp today for a medical review… the MO didn’t say more than 3 sentences throughout the review and gave me a 3-month slack-pass and a date for a medical board review. It was nice to see the camp again after 2 years.

My folks are leaving for Korea in just about a week, and I’ll be home alone till they return on the 27th, then on the 28th we’re having dim sum at Club Chinois. I can’t wait for Christmas! Candice and I decided to cook a little for Christmas eve, and we ordered a bone-in ham from Nicole..although she hasn’t sent a confirmation yet. I’m thinking whether we should make a gingerbread house.

I wanna check out the meat shop at West Coast Plaza, cos I heard it sells all sorts of top quality stuff! If it’s fresh enough, we could probably make a tartare or something.

Okay, time to go.. sleep beckons.

One more paper to go, which is on Saturday - Design & Analysis of Algorithms. I really need a good pass for the paper to do well.

I slept 3 hours last night… yet I’m still awake. Had to go to the bank with my dad to settle all the financial stuff before I leave. Then about 2 hours ago I just realised my I-20 had been processed by UMich, so I diligently filled out the numerous forms, paid the SEVIS fee, prepared my application and booked an appointment with the embassy for next week. Man… I just wanna get it over and done with. As I said in FB, there are so many reasons why I’m so excited to be going to the US for such a long time, yet one reason why I wanna stay here… I know it’ll be just as hard on Candice as it is on me, but I know everything will be fine.

Next week, I have all sorts of appointments till Wednesday. I think immediately after that I’ll go shopping for stuff that I’ll need over in the US. That should be quite fun. In fact, maybe I’ll go this Saturday.

Okay, my eyes can’t be voluntarily opened anymore… I gotta go sleep. I’m gonna get a toffee nut latte first thing tomorrow morning at Tanglin Mall. =)