Holloween and more...

Halloween started early for me. I went to a get together organized by my friend Brian on Halloween eve at his place off campus. We walked to his place at around 9.30pm. People were dressed up in different costumes. There were witches, devils, lumberjack and others. A few of the international students including myself did not dressed up but mixed and match our cloths and came up with something. We played Wii and card games. I was introduced to different card games that were played all over the world. There were games from Finland to Ethiopia and of course American card games. I learnt a whole need set of card games. Later we left the party and wanted to go back to the dorms.

When I was resting in my room, Sully called me to join her at another party that was organized by the Maverick Bullpen which is the game room area. It was open day where we get to play pool and bowling for free. People were all dressed up in different and weird costumes and it was funny in some of them. One guy was a stripper while another cross-dressed. There was even a group of friends who dressed up in the whole complete set of characters from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ including Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, Cheshire cat and the Queen of Hearts. It was really cool. There was a costume completion, lucky draws and a band playing. We play pool for a while before the announcement for the costume competition was announced. Not surprising the winner for the competition was the stripper. It was so funny when after he was awarded his prize; his friends took a photo of him being hand cuffed in all kinds of positions. We left after the party and that was when I realized I lost my phone. I went back and tried looking for it but could not find it. I tried calling it but the battery died soon after as there was not much battery left. I really hope someone would find it and give it back to me. I posted notices around the campus so I can only hope that it will be returned to me if it is found as soon as possible as I really need the phone for a lot of other functions like for time and alarm clock.

Overall Halloween was fun but the bummer was my lost phone. It was great to dress up and see people going all out in their costumes. It sucked as I now have to buy a new phone and phones here are exp. I love Malaysia more now....

Till then...Ciao=)

A take at Mankato on Labour Day

As I was stuck in my room for 2 days straight as there was nothing to do in Mankato but eat, sleep and study in mr room, I decided not to make Labor Day another day in my room. I was not as lucky to be invited to anyones house like Zully nor was my plan of travelling to Milwaukee to see Chin Chin Che Che came to past as because of the stupid bus schedule. Can u believe that there is only 1 bus that leaves from campus at 7.30pm daily!!! then the landtoair express only leaves from campus at 3&6pm. WTH!!! people wants to leave in the morning has to go all the way downtown which is a 20 minutes walk(as u will find out later) at 4.30am as the bus leaves at 5am. STUPID!!!!

Anyway I decided to do some exploration. Low and behold, the bus does not operate on Labor Day. Great!!!! Determined not to spend another day of Fall confind in my room, I decided to WALK to downtown of North Mankato. Armed with my map, my water bottle and my camera, i set foot and WALKED!!!!

I went down the hill(MSU is built on a hill) and saw a park. I went and explored the park for a while and then found a Vietnam War Memorial. It was so cool!!! and opposite it are houses. I left and continued my journey of trees and fields and about 20 minutes later, I reach town. It was a different feel there. There were Cherry trees along the road on Cherry Street. People having family barbeques, family outing, neighbours sharing life stories. Then I stumbled upon the Mankato riverfront trail which saw the Minnesota River=) Next to it was the train station and learnt that that was where Mankato was founded, along the rivier. Opposite it was the North Mankato Memorial Library. It had a plaque outside stating that it was in Mankato that 33 Dakota Indians were executed while 303 were pardoned by the then President Abraham Lincoln here. It was apperently a dark chapter of the Native American History. So cool to be in such a hsitoric city=)

When I reached MSU, It was only 1.30pm. I heard that there was a sale at River Hills Mall so I decided to check it out. Man was it a mistake! It looked so near on the map but in reality, it was actually a 7KM walk!!! Determined not to give up half way, i soldiered on with my map, almost getting lost, and reached the mall within 2 hours. I enjoyed my accomplishment for an hour and started my journey back so not to miss dinner at 6pm. The journey was long and I was praying all along the way that someone would see me and offer me a ride but too bad I'm not attractive enough nor lucky to enjoy the Northern Hospitality. Everybody just zoom by, pointing, laughing and drovw off. SUcky!!!

Throughtout my journey today, I saw another side of America that I did not see when I'm on the bus. For one, the ecomony has really hit hard on Americans. Many shops are closed and rented out because of it. People use bicycles more too to save on gas and at the Salvation Army, there were a number of people lining up for free lunch. Everybody is trying to safe a buck and make their lives a little better. People shop more on the clearance section, Parents refusing to give in to their children's whims and fancies and only buying things that needed. It was an eye opening sight compared to what was shown on TV.

Another thing is that Minnesotans really appreaciate the sun a lot. They would air their garage, play catch in the sun, biking along the trails and have barbeque just outside the lawn with the family. Anything just to be in the sun. This is so much different then back home where everybody runs away because its too hot. We take sunshine for granted as its always there, 24/7 whole year round. Here, they are doing all they can when the sun is around especially when winter is arriving soon. They are planning and doing things that require the sun soonest before winter arrives. The sight of this makes me nervous sometimes as I do not know the extend of what winter has to hold in Minnesota.

It was so tiring after the long walking of 22KM!!! I wish I have a car here or I was in Minneapolis where everything is within reach. where even though stupid bus would stop on holidays, there is still the LRT or walking to a great new place. Even to catch a bus is easier there as all buses stop at the University of Minneapolis. Mankato just sucks wei when I wanna go out of this place to see more of US. Everything is so inconvinient.

The International Student Office also same. They should make la a trip out of Mankato for exchange students. NNNNNOOOOO!!!!! Instead we are all stuck in Campus and seeing each other everyday.

and that was how I spent my Labor Day...Caio

I'm an exchange student...GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!

I feel so trapped here. I wanna get out but buses here are so in convinient. They only leave for the cities 2 a day. 3pm and 6pm. What abt the ppl who wanna leave in the morning? This is shitty wei. I wanna get out 2 Milwaukee on Labor Day also cannot. If i leave i will hv 2 skip class but when i come back on manday, i can only reach at 11.30pm, and thats in Downtown. hv 2 find way 2 my dorm somemore and it cost USD$150 This sucks!!!

I need 2 find ppl who has a car. It is so much more convienient! here without a car is like cutting of ur legs,literally. U can't walk at night cause it would be freaking cold. Temps at nite can go as low as 5/6'C here.

I need friends who can make me around!!! or at least hv an interest going out and not just staying in campus. Im getting bored of campus!!! these 4 walls are KILLING ME!!!

ARGH!!!!

WTH????!!!!

If you have something about me that u dun like,say it!!!

Confront me if u don't like what i did, dun hide and sulk, that's just stupid!!!

U run the whole day, skip class, won't return my sms, WTF???

When i told u about it, u said u were fine. U said it was an open competition. U TOLD me not to worry. I took ur word for it and didn't probe further. Then now u suddenly turn, run n hide. whats the matter wif u, huh?

Man up man!!! Talk n solve the problem when u have 1, dun run n hide in ur gf's house. Confront me!!! Let me know ur un happy!!! Then u'll know y i did what i did!!!

So damn angry rite now that i'm using those words initials that i normally would not use. WTF!!!WTH!!! SHIT man!!!