Day 0: Paris - New York - Boston - Miami

Spent the day stretching out in bed.

For someone who loves traveling and organisation as much as I do, I hate packing. I can't commit to my outfits. I always think I'm over-packing photo props. It helps none that this time, I'm doing the whole solo traveling so I get so anxious, I stop packing haha.

My mum wound up helping me pack. She prepared an arsenal of medicine and ridiculous amounts of Milo and herbal tea. I think she snuck in some other stuff too. I was too lazy to check haha.

Here's what I packed.

Suitcase:
A huge Samsonite grey beauty

1) 14 sets of clothes: each more impractical than the last. I'm kidding. 80% kidding. I brought maxi dresses, summer frocks, a ton of crop tops, leggings and tiny shorts. Y
2) 2 jackets: an army parka and a faux leather jacket Y
3) 2 sets of home clothes: Gabriel's grey raglan and Avengers shirt, a pair of sports shorts and a pair of pajamas pants Y
4) photo props: ballet flats (LOL 10/10 DO NOT RECOMMEND) (but in my defense, I had a fucking fab photo-op that I got too lazy to see through) and an a6 pack of accessories (I did not use this shit at all) N
5) a waterproof case N
6) 3 sets of bikini (to justify, I thought I could just live in Miami in my bikinis, HOW WAS I TO KNOW) Y (I needed more)
7) random medicine and milo/ herbal tea sachets N
8) sports shoes, sneaker wedges, dinner heels and slip-ons (I only used my sneaker wedges and slip-ons in the end. I think I could walk the world with these two.) 2Y 2N
9) a spare, smaller Balenciaga knockoff for day outs Y
10) a bigass Ralph Lauren weekender Y Fuck me best decision I made

Carry-on:
My ever-trusty Balenciaga knockoff

1) a water bottle (saved my fucking life) Y
2) my bedtime cloth ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ YYYYYYY
3) two portable chargers (this too) Y
4) makeup: an eyeliner, two sets of lippies, a chapstick foundation, sunblock Y
5) my ASUS tablet/ netbook convertible N!
6) the pesky iPhone SIM card slot keypin Y
7) my SJCam (the definition of unnecessary, unless I had extreme sports planned) N
8) boarding and accommodations and activities documents Y
9) a multi-country electric plug and two cables Y
10) Gabriel's keychain from Gold Coast Y♥
11) a notebook N
12) a tripod and monopod Y
13) a soft box of tissues Y
14) Subway sub Y
15) contact lenses case + solution Y
16) moisturizer Y
17) a beach shawl Y
18) my shades and specs Y

Jesus Christ reading this now, I'm ashamed I packed so much. The Y for yes and N for no shows if I actually used it in the duration of my trip. At least now I've learnt what's good for me and what isn't!

My carry-on seemed like it was chock-ful of stuff but it actually wasn't. Most of what I packed was relatively small. The biggest thing weighing me down was the bloody ASUS netbook and SJCam. AND THEY HAD TO BE WHAT I NEVER USED. Lounging the stupid bag across Paris was frightful.

Anyway, my family sent me to the airport! We had a pit stop at my grandma's -- I had to borrow my aunt's suitcase because my shit was too much for my first luggage.

My grandma looked at me with the most troubled look in her eyes while my aunt was talking to me. She waited till my aunt was done then handed me a little red packet. She told me, again and again, to have the safest journey. I nodded a little and went off.

I called her from the van after. My voice was breaking as I told her how she's giving me too much money. I told her I'll be safe, that I won't go out at night and won't swim out to sea. She finally stopped going on about that and wished me, again, to have the safest trip.

My dad couldn't park his truck at the airport so he left LOL, stranding my mum sister and brother at the airport. May Gabriel not turn out like my dad lol. But I'm glad he sent me here at least!

My mum had been super supportive the entire day, helping me pack and tailoring my clothes under my nagging. I wanted to say something to acknowledge I'm grateful for everything she did today but my family doesn't do that so photos sufficed!









We had a quick dinner, wolfing down our food. I don't know how Time bolted past me so easily. I was super nervous for my first ever 12 hour flight, and alone no less, so I couldn't eat much and packed a sub in case.

Right before I walked in:









I have the best family :')

My family doesn't do hugs. We're Asian like that. My mum just touched my arm a bit and told me to have the safest journey. My sister made my brother lean his head in for me to sniff hehe. It was a nice little goodbye.

I walked in the gates alone.







Being alone isn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

Months of going for Kfit and Guava alone have trained me to be utterly comfortable with myself. Lonely, yes. Missing my lover, family and friends, yes. But comfortable. And confident.

I formerly wrote that, 'I will update this space daily because (despite said confidence) I am too big of a pussy to stay out till past 8pm so I SHALL BLOG IT ALL!' but it's a lie -- on my first night I was out till 11pm and after that, it was just nights and nights of breathing in New York lol so much for the stupid ASUS.

It's my first time on AirFrance. I don't remember the last time I was on an above-average flight. I've been taking Scoot and Tigerair so much. I know I took a fancy airline to Hongkong with my family but I forgot how it was like.

So anyway, AirFrance was beautiful.



Sob my own blanket.





Sob my red hair.



Sob Modern Family.









Onward to day 1.

Something to come back to

I don't know how that worked out.

But all in all, I'll probably get my answer by the 4th of July. I will celebrate my future with the U S and A! I'll have something to come back to either way so I shall stay positive!

Wound up a whole hour ahead of schedule so I ordered my pretentious hot chocolate and binge-watched House of Cards while waiting for April and Mintao. WHAT A NICE CHANGE OF PACE! I bloody love being early and prepared.





I am still ashamed to take selfies in public.

This is not going to fly in New York. If I don't shamelessly take these, then no one's going to do it for me! Come on Nicole, after the first three minutes of laughing at you, no one is going to remember.

To stress how serious I am about phototaking in New York: I actually bought a portable iPhone external flash and a 1.30cm freestanding iPhone tripod. Shit is serious - I will not let my solo trip go to photographic shame.





I didn't know a $300 ring was that ridiculous.

Discussed this again with them and when they found out Gabriel originally intended to use the $180 to re-propose, they made a show of shock phase 1. When I told them I flipped at him and asked for a $300 ring instead, they went all out for shock phase 2.

"$300?! That's not even double of your current ring's cost!"

"Take out the ring now! Throw it in the river!"

LOL my dramatic friends.

We caught up over everything except what's going on in their actual lives because they're ALWAYS cryptic like that. April is temporarily un-passionate about everything in life while Mintao is fine being a good-for-something haha.





Dinner with the Ngee Ann folks!

Honestly did not expect much of them when Tristal asked to meet. I added on that it would be nice since I'm flying off and lo and behold, everyone came! My God this has got to be the first time since 2013 that we're in full attendance.

I missed this group. I know we used to drink a fair bit (fine, more than a fair bit) but we've evolved so much since then. Tony kept insisting this is the first healthy gathering we had but I'm pretty sure everything on my table was dirty and/ or under-cooked lol.

Today was the loveliest day, seeing so many people I care about at once. It was made all the lovelier when Gabriel suddenly whatsapped about how envious he was of his dad-colleagues with their little girls. He truly is the most dad-ready man I've ever dated.

Also, I got to come home to my parents contently watching The Last Ship with my laptop snugly plugged into the television, without my help at all! Now I can fly in peace knowing they won't be watching prime-time crap on channel 8 while I'm gone!

I'm a lucky person. I truly am.

I covet the position I interviewed for today. To own that position, on top of freelancing for my current two magazines (unless they'd want me to stop, in which case I'd drop it like it's hot), would mean a sharp peak salary-wise. I would be comfortable for a lot of things. I'd be set financially.

But at the same time, I'll be happy to be go back to studying too. I would be happy to study what I love while I work on monetizing my content and shaping the voice of Minicolee as a brand. I would still have my freelancing magazines. I could still chase my fitness goals.

Both routes are routes that are powerfully enriching in their own ways. I need not be too upset for losing either one. The idea of not having it all annoys me to no end but I have to learn to make peace. I know my big picture. I will rise out of my social class and build a better life for myself.

I've been extraordinarily blessed so far with equal parts opportunity and the most supportive family (+ pre-fiance) I could ask for.

I could not want for more.

But I will never settle for less.

What happens here on?

Today was my interview with a local magazine.

I've been looking forward and dreading this since last Friday. On one hand, it is the greatest opportunity I've had in two years but on the other hand, it means forfeiting my degree for at least another year. But I'm sure it'll work out. It will work out.

Headed to two back-to-back yoga lessons to clear my head.



















Hatha was a good run. We did a lot of inversions and I'm stable for both for pincha and handstand now, but I still can't do it without a kick-off. I'll work on that a bit longer.

The second class was just me alone so me and the instructor had a joyous time together! At the beginning of the lesson, she was going on about how I'm one of the fittest students she had. By the end of the lesson, she officially declared me the fittest student she ever had heh heh.

Did a press up one-legged tripod headstand today for the first and I nailed it!





After that was the interview.

I was so nervous that I couldn't pick an outfit. I ended up throwing on this shabby top, this cheap leggings and, worst of all, slipper wedges. I entirely forgot I was wearing them till I was halfway there and by then, it was too late to change.

But somehow, that worked out and I got myself a second interview tomorrow. I GET A SECOND CHANCE TO IMPRESS! My God, gone were the days where I'm the best dressed in every crowd. Fitness has reduced me to leggings and wedges. At least I get to sheepishly call it athleisure.

Met Siewsia after work!





It's been a good 6 months since I've last seen her and today's dinner was out of nowhere but aww I'm glad we got to meet. Almost one year down and we're still eating at the same restaurant :) Glad my original bridesmaid line-up is still on!

Now to ace tomorrow's interview and my trip to New York would be suitably flawless.

My parents were binge-watching The Last Ship when my mum realized she hasn't swept the floor. My dad dismissed it, saying, 'Aiya don't need la the floor is clean, I show you,' and he starts rolling around on the floor lol. My mum then retorted, 'Ok then you roll the whole place' and my dad laughed and got back up.

I think Gabriel and I are going to become like that one day :)

Body of steel

Today, I found out my degree actually starts on the 18th July, not 11th July as I kept believing.

This means I worried the past two weeks for nothing. This means I could even come home after my trip and rest happy for a week before going back to school! You see what I mean? I am unbelievably lucky in all things. Or maybe it's because I keep believing I am hahah.

Headed for more classes today after two days of zero activity.

Had such a good stretch at Samasthah and Yoga Mala that I continued at home, much to my grandma's annoyance hahah.







My wheel is finally slightly different!

Spent the afternoon being fed senseless by my grandma heh heh. We watched a bit of her favourite shows and my granddad tried to force me into accepting $10 for my travel fund. Grandma then brought me out to play!









My ribs are odd.

I saw this pose a while back and wanted to recreate it. I've been practicing hanging upside down on my yoga hammock and L-sits on the pull-up bar but I didn't really think I could do it, till I hung upside down on the bar.





From there on it was a breeze heh heh.

I think the trick is switching the grip. The split isn't tough since gravity is stronger than ever on the legs in this posture. I forgot to try lifting my legs off the rails! But this isn't impressive if I redo it SO TIME TO FIND MORE SURFACES TO SPLIT ON!

I'm itching for a door frame split. Can't wait to try that in New York!





My parents watch tv in the same pose hahah.

They didn't realize it till I took a photo. My mum says it looks like they're both surrendering heh heh. It's so cute. I don't think Gabriel and I match resting poses, but we match grossness levels and that's as magical heh heh heh.

I miss him.

Scraping the sky

Photoshoot with Sathia in the morning!

I usually save Tuesday mornings for rhythmic gymnastics and this is the first time I've missed it in two months but it was so worth it! The view was breathtaking, the air was fresh, the lighting was soft and I looked amazing hahaha no shame.

I packed three tops just in case there were multiple views and they all came beautifully into use.

Leaving house was spectacularly uncomfortable for me. I don't wear makeup often but today I had lips and eyeliner and my top was tiny BUT seeing the photos on Sathia's camera made it all worthwhile.

Christ I'm so excited for the photos, it's unreal.















The last one looked like something straight out of tumblr.

And it should, because I basically ripped this pose off a photo I saved. He painstakingly guided me into the shot while I had to hold that uncomfortable pose. But the end results; I can't even! May the photos reach me soon!

Spent the rest of the day clearing the last batch of Carousell meetups before New York. This is day two of me not attending a single Guavapass but at least I've done all my necessary errands. The last one is Thursday. The final dealbreaker.

Met the ex-colleagues after!









Everyone's jetsetting and having a good time. I hope I'll have the same in New York!