good meat and belly dancers

Sometimes, someone says the right things or you take a step in the right direction and life doesn't seem as dismal as it did mere moments ago.

As refreshing as a breath of crisp, brisk air, the past few days have been cheerful or upbeat, at least. This is not to say that they were without their stresses or disappointments, but they were not altogether depressing so I say it's a cause for celebration.

Last night was the Appreciation Dinner for IED. Honestly, the office keeps feeding the students. haha, first it was the $5 lunch allowance at IED itself (which I didn't get cos I was getting paid), then it's this dinner... Not to mention the Americas tea session next week. haha. Of course, there were the FOUR receptions I had to plan for the Aggies when they were here.

ANYWAY, we went to Ambrosia on either Arab Street or Baghdad Street and to be honest, I was really tired by the time I actually got on the bus but my spirits were lifted once I got some food in me. It's a nice cosy place. An intimate setting which would have been perfect for a group of 6 or 10 at most but for 80 pax let's just say some reshuffling was needed.

The FOOD was an interesting gastronomical experience. For one, it was a buffet in the dark so I was literally not knowing what I was eating and depending entirely on my sense of taste. Most of it was delish, good creamy and rich Middle Eastern cuisine and here is where I wish I were well versed in the art of talking about food so I could say more than the meat sent me through the roof. What I thought was hummus, however, was something much smoother in consistency and sweeter in taste. So it didn't exactly appeal to me. lol. So last night was an experience of how something familiar (pita & hummus looking things and meat) manifested into a different kind of eating experience.

It didn't appeal to Lakon at all, though. lol. What was interesting for me, sociologically, was the fact that it was a First for that whole room of people. And it's interesting to think about why Yuni picked a Middle Eastern place to host dinner for over 60 exchange kids instead of something more obviously Singaporean. :) And the social interactions that emerged from that setting - the distribution of people according to their nationalities/sections/roles of office... How they interacted over the food... The gender roles were interesting though, because it was one of the dudes from the office who was helping to dispense the drinks... haha. "I'm waiting to see how you respond to the food before I try it."

I'm not saying I was exactly sitting there doing non-participant observation as rationalization for sitting there in anti-social silence. Well, although I was (relatively) quiet while eating my yummy food... haha. Truth be told there really is no such thing as a quiet moment around Christine, Limin and Lakon. haha. And Christine's stuffed PIG! hahahaaa

There was a belly dancer and my overzealous booty shaking at IED almost got me implicated but... hehe... lucky I remained safe as a spectator. heheee.

I was reminising about Queens' (again!) with Jun - here's an observation about what happens when NUS returnees meet exchange students from their host uni - they reminisce! haha. :) Anyway, we went for sheeshah, where Jeremy reminded me of the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland (the Disney version).

Still, my frame of mine yesterday has to be credited to someone or something else - an unlikely source. You know, sometimes you forget things you set out to do, things you say, things you intend to do... You get swept off your path. All you need is someone to remind you of what's important in life, and what makes you happy. It's strange but the load on my back got considerably lighter after that. I think life is more pleasant when you know there are people out there who care about you - without obligations. So thanks. :)