signing off from singapore

i leave tonight, or early morning.

there was a scare earlier on, coz there seems to be a problem with united airlines (like, when is there not a problem with united) so they seem to have shifted all of the passenger on that particular flight to JAL. so the tickets are going to be re-issued and that caused a moment of panic coz we werent sure whether we will get our seats or get a delayed flight. but it seems to have been taken care of at the moment, we will know the final decision at 4AM.

yesterday was pretty good. rained a lot, but i spent most of the day at nabil's place for lunch. didnt get to see jennifer, but spent a bit of time talking with nafis and nabil. and then we went to queensway, coz hasib needed to get boots and other things for his soccer. he better get into the team, if not, all that would be a waste. since i wasnt gonna head to peninsula plaza area anytime soon, i thought i might as well get the newcastle home jersey there. they were on sale for 80 bucks. with the names, it would cost between 130 to 140, depending on who, which was clearly not worth it. i wanted to put my name and the number 25, i was not gonna pay 50, 60 bucks for that.

i watched what would most probably be my last newcastle match on television. and not surprisingly, we lost, 1-0 to sporting lisbon. but that was decided by an excellent goal, so ive got nothing to complain. got to see the 3 new boys in action, butt, milner and kluivert. i just realized they have a pretty good squad; given, bernard, woodgate, bramble, dyer, jenas, milner, butt, bowyer, shearer and kluivert, if everyone is injury-free and fit, which rarely happens. imagine the onslaught if that potential can be realized.

and also somehow managed to watch all the films, im pretty disappointed with kolya, kandahar and color of paradise, very anticlimax, but spanish apartment was quite funny and interesting.

anyway, to be main point today. last entry from singapore, i think.

i have had a great 1.5 months here in singapore, my adopted home for almost 12 years. im really going to miss this place, and i really hope that i get to come back next year. i wish that all of you guys take care and excel and whatever that you do, and please please do not lose touch. i might not reply very fast, but i definately do read your mail, so keep those emails coming to -deleted-

i really feel guilty for the part that i didnt get to meet a lot of my friends, especially the SA cricket team, my SA class, my QSS classmates, and a whole lot of other people ive gotten to know by many means throughout the years. if i do come back next year, i will make sure that i get to see everyone. im very delighted that i got to see a lot of you guys, although we didnt quite get to spend that much time, but i really do appreciate whatever time that we shared, be it during parties, or during the night over dinner, or at the movies. these times will never be back, ive gotten past another stage in my life to become an adult, but the bonds we forged will hopefully remain as strong as ever. it'll be funny to imagine that i might meet some of you after 10 long years, only to realize we've changed completely. but im looking forward to days like that.

keep reading this blog, i almost decided to end it next month, after the first anniversary, but since its one of the means of communication between my friends, i'm gonna keep it active, so that you guys can read what im up to and all. some content might be toned down, since now that i'll be enrolling in university, some of the things i mention can be taken against me and such, but i will try to write as much as possible about events surrounding me.

just two lines that goes through my mind as songs play in my head...

i remember the look in your eyes, when i told you that this was good-bye ('ocean avenue' by yellowcard)
i think about you all the time, but i dont need the same... ('name' by goo goo dolls)

okay then, take care and see you around everyone. maybe i'll blog at tokyo, if not, look forward to another travel log when i return to chicago.

til then, neaz, out! (okay that doesnt sound nice at all...)