MUFFIN TOP TUMMY

I am not fat but I got a muffin-top tummy. Okay, meaning I don’t have a very flat tummy even when I am not fat. I guess this is quite a common problem for most girls which I noticed when walking down the streets.

 

At some point, I did crunches and that’s all I do. No other cardio exercise regime to add on. Did it for a while every night before bed but couldn’t see much changes to that muffin top of mine. So I kind of give it all up since it is not working correctly as what I’ve planned. Signed up gym, then realized just by doing crunches to get a flat tummy is totally not correct, as according to the fitness instructor. Circuit training is equally important to build/tone muscle of the overall body. Which means, strength exercise and cardio work has to incorporated into my exercise regime to get a flat tummy as well as other part of the body shaped nicely.

 

Another exercise which my fitness instructor likes to combine with the rest of the routines is planking and I hated it max. Not as easy as it looks or sounds, but the fitness instructor always tells me all efforts are well worth in order to perfect the body. I still hates it though.

I will be heading to the gym after work later. Hope I can work more on those extra fats.

FLYTOGET then FLIGHTS: OSLO TO SINGAPORE

Had two big luggage from my apartment to the office in the morning. cursing under my breathe that I shouldn't have brought so much things. a couple of presents (made of glass) are heavy. the pavements are made of stone so dragging the two luggage was really tedious, but I only hope the glass inside the luggage were not broken.

after meeting, I left the office. with the help of a very young and handsome colleague, we walked to the airport express train station (flytoget). I hated the express train. not because it was not fast enough, but to get to the train, there are only steps. I had to drag my luggage again. pull and push to put it at the right place. terrible. some paint on my luggage actually tear, so you can image the strength I gather to wrestle around with the luggage. initially wanted to take some picture, I dropped the idea since I was too tired to move my hands.

when the express train arrive the airport station, I have to wrestle with the luggage again to get it off-board. then comes ANOTHER NIGHTMARE, there was no lift from the express train station into the airport. I curse under my breath (again) then took the slow moving escalator. then the nightmare begins... my luggage was the biggest in its size, and I thought I have fasten it carefully with my legs and body when the escalator moved up. and I WAS WRONG. the whole luggage (2 of them) toppled onto me and I fell 3 steps down. my legs hurt like crazy but I couldn't move, as I need to secure and hug on to the luggage. any movement, the luggage move and I move, both of us will fell off and came rolling down the moving escalator steps. I think I hit a lady who stands behind me. if it not her weight, somebody might have to call the ambulance for me, the lady and my 2 luggage. WHY CANT THEY INSTALL LIFT?? when arrive the top, I apologize to the lady continuously then find a chair to look at the damage of my legs. bled a little and few parts of the skin was off. at that very moment, I felt so vulnerable. sat for a while there, calm down a little and off I go shopping at the tax-free shops =)!

below are some photos I took while on the plane. the moon was accompanying me throughout the 1st flight. feel good.

   and yes, I took business class =)

2 SLICES OF CAKE ROLLS

I've returned from Oslo to Singapore finally. Work in Singapore wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be (will update more on Oslo soon). And... unexpectedly, I miss my old office. I miss the warm, the laughter and the humanity. Hub says because of cultural and race differences since there never same between Caucasians and Chinese working styles. I nodded.

At lunch, I met Vivien, the ex-colleague.

She gave me a box with 2 slices of cake rolls from Good and Rich (pandan and durian). The ex-colleagues reserve two slices for me, one of each.

Hungry, and looking at the box, I couldn't eat it. The love and warm from the old office. Everytime I looked at the box with 2 slices of cake rolls, emotional feeling surfaced. Eyes are a little wet.

Did I make the right decision to go then? Is it my another reckless move?

Then, another part of my mind was struggling, reasoning by my own that move on is a part of growing as a person. I can stay put in my old office, but what are the benefits I would have if I stayed on. 5 years down the road, how different can I be? What further things will I be able to absorb? Everytime I run through thoughts like that, I felt better. Am I deceiving myself then? Perhaps right now I still able to afford being blind/emotionless for a while. Because I believe many things happen for a reason, fate and already planned destiny, who could really be able to change it. I am not being pessimistic, only trying to make my feelings more positively when thinking through unhappy thoughts.

Back to the 2 slices of cake rolls...

I shared with hub after our dinner. Looking at it, keeping it in the container will not make much difference. I have chose to forsake the old days and going to emerge in a new beginning. Things may look gloomy now and may not be what I have imagine, but I believe everything will falls into place soon. When that time eventually comes, maybe I will smile more confidently. Every bite on that cake rolls make my future brighter...

OK.. crazy! only I can understand...the nonsense thoughts whirling in my head.

NOT A NATURAL BORNED TALENT

I don't have much confident in whatever I do. I tends to get nervous when I have to try something new, something out of my comfort zone. Anxiety will steps in and I would feel unwell. I will make a u-turn then to avoid facing it. Not very good, a hinder to what I wants to achieve.

Coming to Norway, has been a really big step for me. Perhaps, if I was to go Asia countries instead, the impact might not be as great. Communication is certainly the top problem when I'm in Norway. The culture may be ranked second on my uncomfortable list. I am never a borned country person and more like a city girl. I am from a country that never sleeps with bright lights and unstoppable entertainment. I am definitely a well protected girl, shed from all kinds of danger by my family. In fact, I am never alone, with a sister glowing up with me and a husband I am married to always by my side whenever I meet difficulties.

Before boarding the plane, the stress was huge on my part. It may sound silly, but I never was alone in an unfamiliarised country for such long time. But then, there was no backing out in the last minute already. It is my dream to go to a European country alone and experience the life here so why am I complaining like a child. Even a child might have much more courage than I have. And so, I went boarding the plane with a peaceful heart, a gladful heart to be able to experience what I have always dreamt of.

I guess I lack in a lot of things. Some are natural born talent who may have greater talent than myself. But I believe, not everyone who works hard is rewarded BUT all those who succeed have worked hard. So I should work extremely hard to get rewarded. However, even if after working hard and I am still not rewarded, I'll just do it with pride. In the end, everything accomplished resides in my own hands. Something that not everyone would have the opportunity to try and brag about.

Today is my birthday - 17th September. In a country that I never thought I would be. Being here, might be afterall, the greatest present I've received (in term of experience).

When I am old and tells stories to my grandchildren... your grandmother has been to a country with a vast amount of Viking history, meeting friendly people, feeling the cold temperature and eating moose meat for dinner.

Took this picture when I visited the Ski Jump Tower yesterday afternoon. Moose.

NORMAL DAY OF A NORWEGIAN FAMILY

Vegan (a colleague sitting besides me) was really kind to invite me to his house so that I can experience what a normal family in Norway actually lives. I agrees immediately. While in his car, we talked and throughout, I am mainly asking questions. So here goes...his normal working weekday.

He wakes at 630am and prepared his kids for school together with his wife. He reached office at 8am and starts his working day. Around 330pm, he will goes off work and pick up his kids from school. Afterwhich, together with his children, they will go to the grocery store to buy what is needed for the night dinner. The wife will usually cooks while he take a shower, and his kids will go outside to play with neighbours. Dinner time will sit around the table follow by desserts. The man of this house will usually wash the dishes so the wife can spend time checking on the children school work if any. Kids usually goes to bed at 730pm and husband/wife will have some quality time to take about the days happening before going to bed at 11pm latest.

As you can see, compares to Singaporean husband (or wife), they usually works until 6pm or 7pm. By the time they got back home, they are too tired to do anything, either cook/wash dishes/talk to the wife. No quality time is spent with the family. Even during weekends, some jobs requires 24-7 because there is always a mobile phone to stay contactable. THIS IS NOT HEALTY SINGAPORE.

In a report I read a few days ago, Norway is the happiest country to live and work in. NOW I TOTOLLY UNDERSTAND. And right, Singapore is the bottom 5th country in the world to be the happiest which IS NOT GOOD. Understandable, because the living standard is so stressful. I don't wanna blame the riches who came investing in my country and I don't blame the technology is so advanced that we always have to stay the latest to keep up the trend. I guess I can only blame human greed.

So yes, below are pictures of his house and kids.

The kids are really lively and chatty. They actually live in Singapore for 4 years before moving back to Norway. Authur (the younger boy) was born in Singapore. And yes, he is 4 years old this year. Both kids knows Chinese language (they have Chinese names as well) since in Singapore international school, they have to learn as one of the subject. So after dinner, the boys actually sing the Chinese new year song (gong xi gong xi) and the national day pop rhythmic song that we usually sing while in school. We played games and draw some pictures.

Vegan's wife drove me back. As they live half way in the mountain, it was a long drive to the city where my apartment is. Vegan wanted to take me to the famous ski location (the long ski road used in winter Olympics) on Saturday night so we could have dinner around that area. It was initially part of my plan when I am here, but when I checked the route to travel to this location, without a car, it is really difficult. So Vegan's offer was attractive when he mentioned. And of course I said yes. HAHA!

Singapore time now: 515am
Oslo time now: 1115pm

Packed and sleep. I am tired.

Cant wait for tomorrow. Because Johnny (another colleague) is taking me on a boat trip in his newly brought sailing boat after work. Johnny was telling me how he wish it will be windy tomorrow so his sailing boat will be able to move faster. Right, while writing this, I must remember to wrap myself warmly for tomorrow exciting event.

FIRST TIME BUS TO OSLO OFFICE

I planned the route of taking a bus to the Oslo office before I even touch down Oslo. And, to prevent getting lost, I went walking around the neighbourhood and find the correct bus stop which I have found it within 8 minutes. However, this morning when I went to work thinking I got the same correct path to the bus stop, walk and walk, and it is not correct. I remember it was supposed to be straight route no turning until I see some trees but I couldn't find it. So, I have to walk back and find the apartment and reattempt again. Luckily, I got it right finally and I am on time at work.

The bus was awesome, although it was pretty much crowded due to office hours perhaps. What I am talking about the awesomeness is the system on the bus and at the bus stop. There is a time tracker of how long the bus will be arriving. Unlike Singapore, the tracking time system here is really accurate. Then on the bus, there is a system which shows the stops (names) which as a first time tourist in Oslo, is totally amazing. I was counting stops at first, but realized I don't have to do it since the system will tells which stop (name) I have to get down. Here is a picture to illustrate what I am referring.

I fear not to be able to find the office. I remember my boss in Singapore told me about underpass. So, after getting down from the bus, I merely follow where the crowd is heading. And I am right. I manage to find the office building. The office is huge. I love their pantry because it is always stocked with fresh fruits, sandwiches, stealth and sparkling water or even different selection of tea and coffee to choose from. Canteen food was good too although it was not restaurant standard. At least, I got to eat my favourite smoked salmon. Really, no hot food.

Colleagues brought me outside of the office to feel the cold weather when without the jacket. Cool and windy. Nice old building, beautiful sea and the clouds are shaped beautifully. Here is one picture.

After work, I have to get onto the bus but unfortunately, I got onto the wrong one. Blessing as it is, because I spotted a beautiful yacht parking lot. Besides the walkway, squirrel was running around from one patch of grasses to another. Amazing!

 

 

Picture might be a little small to see the happy squirrel but visible. When I trying to go closer to take another picture, it ran off. HAHAHA! Cute!

 

Overall, a good day today. No rain which is important. Met great and friendly colleagues. Capture a happy squirrel. Spotted yachts when I got onto the wrong bus. Like what my mom told me at the airport before I came here, "担心干吗，命运自由安排!"

 

Singapore time now: 403am

Oslo time now: 1003pm

 

I am going to pack, wash up and suft some more net before heading to bed for a better day tomorrow.