So school has finally and inevitably started for me and the past week was truly one of the most physically draining times I'd ever had. Culinary Practicum is almost identical to being in NS; a second late is as good as an hour late, role call is like a soldier reporting for duty in full uniform with his rifle (whereas we come with our knife sets), every reply is a "yes chef" "no chef", being in the kitchen is like being in a warzone (except that you're battling against time), and on Friday we happy birds went "book out lo!" (I kid you not).
Nevertheless as much as it's tiring, I have enjoyed it tremendously. In the past 5 days I have learnt and gained so much, I'm pretty overwhelmed myself. Every chef and lecturer has a different style and approach to cooking (or at least teaching us how to) but I'm really grateful for them. As of this moment I think I would say that I wouldn't emphasise on my grades for Culi Prac. I don't mean to say that grades don't matter but I think there's no point going all "die die also must score an A for every single aspect of cooking" because 1) cooking, as I have realised, is a very subjective matter and you don't have much control over another person's palette 2) learning from experience is way more important and helpful for my own cooking life 3) it's much more enjoyable to focus on the journey rather than the marks, no? I think my dad would agree with me on this (up-top, dad). Of course I would want to get good grades (duh right?) but then again considering this is my presumably-first-ever-and-official experience in a real kitchen (Home Ec isn't counted), I have no expectations. And you know, do your best and God will do the rest still applies--every single time.
Generally, cooking has been really fun (and stressful at the same time but that's not the point). From learning to cut vegetables the right way to making stocks to chicken broth and onion soup to consomme to cream of carrot to tomato sauce. I'm in contact with food all-day every day ha ha how amazing right. And also other fun bits like learning new French terms, humorous chefs sharing funny stories and giving useful advice, getting to know more fellow batchmates, a very kind partner-in-crime Boon Kuan who helped me to survive the kitchen, Brenda helping me to do my hair every single morning (thank God for you gosh I'm not even kidding), jokes and other nonsense in the girls changing room every time. I am truly madly deeply blessed by just being in school I'm so thankful. Having great friends and being able to make good food pretty much makes waking up at 530 every morning worthwhile.
Words aside, here's what happened the week before this:
Week 0 Orientation was on last Thursday and Friday and I had a ball of a fun! Very unfortunately I wasn't able to take on the CCM classes coz there were too many SLs from the batch so some of us were deported to CMM. But but but the class that I took was amazing; they're so sporting and enthusiastic and more importantly, already so bonded by the end of Day 2! Also thank you Leland for letting my take on your freshies ha ha I really had a lot a lot of fun working alongside you! And believe it or not I went for Jam and Hop with Hazel at the end of Regatta hahaha we were like old punks crashing to some young punks' territory coz we were among the few SLs that went down to the dance floor in order to make up for our lost chance as freshies last year ha ha ha. It was crazy, sweaty and fun!!
Also I'm super glad to have went for dinner with Sharon on Thursday after Day 1! Happy 19th birthday to this very dear girl!!! Even though we aren't super tight but you must know that you have been such a blessing to me and I really appreciate and value you. I really treasure the few times that we had heart-to-heart talks about our lives, God and God in our lives! I'm so thankful for a sister-in-Christ like you (plus also the fact that you're in the PG!?!? oh and #teambraces hahaha) you are a wonderful person hehehe I love you :*
With my fellow April baby, Olivia
(my eyes ah last warning)
Not-so-surprise dinner with my girls last Saturday!! Honestly speaking I'd really thought that it was just the usual three (Kaini, Venus and I) meeting to catch up and all but then their plan had a bit of loopholes so I saw through it hahaha. But I really do appreciate you all making the effort, especially to the two JC kiddos there making time for your fellow sissies aww :* and as always, it was a night of endless chattering and laughing and talking and eating and soooo much fun till we almost forgot the time. 6 years (an additional 3 with some) of friendship and counting! Long live 2F girls hehe ^^v
Also thank you to the CG last Sunday for surprising me with (yet another) cake! Thank you Regina Desiree Lixin Jonathan Joseph and the rest of the church who sang along, I was totally caught off-guard haha it was indeed a successful surprise. Man, I should've gotten a picture haha oh well.
Ok I think that ends this long post. One week down and 17 more to go! Gonna be making French fries and pasta next Tuesday hohoho I'm so excited!! God is good all the time ya hehe ok bye!
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