Monday, June 27, 2011

ACAS

Hey Everyone (but really, the ACAS Girls) (and Teacher Grace),

It was great seeing everyone one last time at the banquet before I move to Singapore this year. Leaving ACAS has officially been the hardest thing I've had to do so far in my life.

 I joined troupe four years ago and was terrified that since I didn't speak Chinese, no one would talk to me. That first year was a lot of watching, observing how graceful the other girls were, and wondering if I could ever be just like them. I remember that lovely pink flower costume with the lovely gold bodysuit that I wore for "Dream of Red Chamber", and feeling very special that I got to do chaînés next to Stevie. I highly doubt anyone but Angel remembers that. For some reason I don't really remember my second year, but I think I was a fish. My third year was being in the "Colourful Butterfly" dance, and a few others. For some reason, all the years blend into one long stretch of waking up early every Saturday, dragging myself into the car to go to Woburn,  and moaning about how much stretching hurt This Early in the morning. Then dancing, watching, wishing and working to be as good as those "Big Girls" with solo parts and pretty costumes that did not involve bodysuits.  


So now, as I sit on the floor of my bedroom looking back, I realise how far I've come. I'm definitely still watching and learning, but I'm no longer a little girl (I think) desperately trying to catch up to the music, wondering what the heck Teacher meant when she told us to "dance from your heart". ACAS has taught me the true meaning of dancing from the heart, never giving up, and always looking forward because there's something else to work for once you've achieved one goal. 


Little girls, who may or may not be reading this, and if they are, are probably a bit bored by this point, I'd just like to tell you to never give up no matter how hard that movement seems or how fast the music is. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything because honestly you all are some of the most talented kids I've ever met. 


Okay, I'm done trying to give advice, and I'll try to stop being so darn mushy. If you can't tell by now, ACAS has really helped me grow up as a person and as a dancer, and I'm really sad to have to leave. 


Lots of Love,


Natalie


P.S.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKAw9R2AP7E

Friday, June 24, 2011

Surprise Party

Hey,

So today was my official last day of school that was very enjoyable with my physics exam. Haha.

Afterwards, my friends Aishwarya and Ronia took me to the mall. We made a build-a-bear (that was actually a bunny) and just did some general shopping. Then, we saw Green Lantern, which I highly recommend to pretty much anyone. We got picked up at Barnes and Noble then...

I walked into Ronia's house with my shopping bags and everything when roughly 20 friends of mine jumped out of no where screaming "SURPRISE!'

Still kind of amazed that they managed to pull off the surprise, considering it was apparently last minute and everything. We had a really great time hanging out and stuff.

I suppose tonight's party has really made the I'm-moving-to-another-country-half-way-around-the-world-and-this-is-the-last-time-I'll-see-some-of-these-people-again sink in. I've caught up a bit with some old friends and hung out with some newer ones tonight. I really appreciate that the party was thrown tonight.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

23 Days

Hey there,

Oh goodness. If I've counted right, I'm only here in Bedford for another 23 more days! Naturally, that means a lot of packing and getting ready, while trying to hang out with friends before I go. Here's the problem... I'm not done with finals yet! My last final is tomorrow thankfully but honestly this whole thing is slightly crazy. I was supposed to be out Thursday of LAST week! Silly snow days.

Quick update: Mom is still trying to fix up the house as fast as she can. None of us have really packed up our rooms or anything-there's been way too much to do. Instead, we're multi-tasking as a family to finish off my end-of-the-year Tsai Centre Chinese dance performance. Which I really need to practice my dances for. I guess I'll do that after I finish studying.

There's a lot that has to be done in practically no time at all, the movers are coming some time next week and then we're in a hotel until we go. Once we're in the hotel, there will hopefully be hang out time instead of panic time. We'll see how it goes.

Sorry I've haven't really been posting, as you can tell, life is just hectic, but not actually that interesting. Don't worry, it'll get more interesting once I'm actually in Singapore :D

Friday, June 17, 2011

Tick Tock

Hey everyone,

So it's basically just hit me that it's June, and that I'm  moving in UNDER A MONTH! I guess this realization is from locker clean-outs... it just kind of made everything final. Speaking of final, I have Finals next week, which I really need to cram for. Goodie.

The house has been painted and boxes are in the process of being packed. We had our front stairs re-done so now they'll all grey and smooth instead of falling apart and sand colored. Our kitchen is mostly for storing things that we don't know where else to put, and our couches have been long gone, making watching TV significantly less laid-back. I don't have a chair for my desk so I've been using boxes and the floor for a school desk, which is kind of annoying. There's a lot I want to do before I move, which is mostly hanging out with friends before I leave. And celebrating a friend's sweet 16 practically 2 months early.

Yesterday was my last time helping out in the CASE preschool and today was my last time helping out in the LABBB classroom. I'm really missing it already and hope I can find a similar program in Singapore.

If the LABBB kids are reading this, I hope you guys know that you are quite possibly some of the coolest kids I have ever met in my life. I've learned so much from being in your classroom, and you've all really helped me grow as an individual.  I'm going to miss you all so much!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Packing

It's been a while... again

I mean, there's not that much to say about SINGAPORE, so I didn't feel the need to post. It's probably worth posting something now though. We have had painters this week doing pretty much the whole house, including my room, the dining and living room. I'll post pictures eventually. Since the paint fumes were awful we were at a Marriott, which made homework rather complicated!

Everything is in boxes now. We did a lot of sorting for the painters, which is kind of a major pain because we have to sort again for the movers!

On an unrelated note, I was in my school's Multicultural Assembly performance on Friday. I did my competition solo 3 times because there were three shows, one per grade. Then this really cool African dancer/drummer guy did a drum/dance demo-class with the performers (because we missed the regular grade demo). It was awesome... though I have to say, African dance is really different than anything I've ever done.

I'll post again when something interesting comes up, or when I actually take pictures of the newly painted house. Whichever comes first.