Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

was lying awake all night last night, not being able to fall asleep because I was so worried about enrolling for classes next semester and not being able to catch up in my HIV class as I missed a week of it. As for now, I have no idea what my group is talking about on in the discussion board and I can't watch the DVD the school sent me from Sydney as it only plays on aus. dvd players!
Anyways, thoughts were jumping everywhere in my mind and all of a sudden I realized that exactly 365 calendars days ago, I began my big journey to the US of A!! Then the song "seasons of love" from RENT began to play in my head....

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure -- measure a year?
In daylights -- In sunsets
In midnights -- In cups of coffee
In inches -- In miles
In laughter -- In strife
.....
It's time now - to sing out
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

I think I should dedicate some space here to this anniversary :p
Here are some memories of Spring Semester 1 on top of my head:

1. Meeting my "twin" Viv..
so here is a typical greeting when we introduce ourselves..
She'd say "Hi, my name is Viv, and I am an exchange student from Australia...I live in Daniels Hall and my major is CS..."
I'd say "My name is also Viv and uhh, I am an exchange student from Australia too...yes Daniels Hall - ohh BUT on DIFF floors..ummm yes...and same major" (i'd feel pretty lame by then).
Who could tell us apart?

2. Learning that I could actually live WITHOUT the following:
TV - i watch MOST american tv show in sydney, but none at all in the US...how did i survive?! (but i will admit to netflix/blockbuster in S2)
Cellphone - I never once left my house in syd without this device. First week in the US, I'd be reaching into my bag for my cell only to realize - i dont have one!
Shopping - although champaign-urbana does not exactly offer the most exciting shopping experience, I actually realized that I don't like retail therapy after all.

3. Our weekly girls night playing pictionary and taboo! :) So much laughter :D

4. Walking to 6-pack for dinner when it started snowing...someone began singing #let it snow.........

5. Joining Ballroom Dancing classes...hmmm very interesting experience. Who knew that that many people from my CS classes were secret dancers?

6. Looooong Sat. morning breakfast/weekday dinners with Viv at ISR...talking about the "politics" :p

7. I went to Todai

8. Going to 6 flags JUST before finals :p

9. Attempts to grow daisies in my room

10. Car breaking down on the way back from Chicago...changing tires in the middle of the night...should i mention it was -20C?

11. Missing all my Monday classes for 6 weeks because I didnt know about them

12. Arguing with desk clerk that i DONT have a phone port in my room. The RA saw it within a second he entered my room ><

13. Being the "tour guide" for Engineering Open House...uhhh

14. NCAA basketball finals!! experience of a lifetime....its not everyday you see EVERYONE wearing BRIGHT orange shirts on campus.

15. Arghh...the midnight breakfast with Viv, Memo and Marinella :) Oh, and lobster dinner too with Cassandra! Seeing crazy people with 5 lobsters on their trays.

16. Morning devotions with Jess and Viv during S1 :) It's amazing to see how God brought us together so that we could all grow in Him and start the day with His words in our heart. 17. Monday prayer meetings...definitely the highlight!! and chi-der's generous heart for preparing us dinner.

18. Mom's day on Campus!! Also headed to Springfield that day and saw a lot of people who like to dress up as Abraham Lincoln.

19. The farewell dinner at Cafe Luna...and dealing with the bill at the end ><

20. Fiddler on the Roof and Les miserable.... I <3 Broadways!

21. Thunderstorms at the Homer Lake park picnic...EVERYONE got totally drenched!!

22. Egyptian Coffee night at Cosmo Club?!?!!?!

23. Realizing the power of prayers!! He taught me to have faith in Him through praying. I was confused with my future (well i still don't know for sure what I will do, but I am so much clearer about certain things), and was given an opportunity for job interview at my dream company! He provides and orchestrates everything in our lives for His good purposes! Ok, so I submitted my resume days late, and copy/pasted the wrong company name on my cover letter...and really said something I shouldn't have during the phone interview...but still..EVERYTHING is possible through God!!

24. Me and Cindy enjoying the ride...:p Who knew that the 2 guys in our cs411 project group were such hard workers?!

25. Libary opened 24hrs during finals ><

26. Ice hockey game with Amanda and all these offensive chants!!

27. ICCF (fellowship)..really rewarding Bible studies.

28. Was surprised to find out my neighbour (person i shared bathroom with) was this woman older than my mum. I guess I watched too much of Felicity in Sydney and was expecting some crazy american college student rather than someone who'd come knocking on my door in her nightgown at 10pm to ask whether I was vacuuming "at this crazy hour" (I wasnt).

29. Viv's surprise bday party at Daniels Hall lounge! I had to make sure that she doesnt leave the dorm....praise God for the tornados that night that stopped her from going out!

Wow, I've been typing so much already....this could go on for ages...so I should stop.
But two verses that really stuck during S1:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."I Samuel 16:7

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:21

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On another happy note, I've been receiving a lot of emails from my 'long lost' friends these days! They really make my days!! It really sucks when people lose contacts as years go by...

Oh, and did you make those New Years resolutions? It's been 10 days and are you finding yourselves sneaking that extra piece of oreos or 'accidently' missing a gym class? I found this website very useful: click here!