Home via film

If you're my friend on facebook, you probably know that I recently had my first experience with death of a family member. I will never forget how the day of a funeral goes. I won't go on writing too much about it here... I brought my film point-and-shoot with me that day mainly because it's small and compact, I wouldn't want to attract any attention, I simply wanted to document some details of such a day. Along the walk, I also took some images of the neighbourhood I grew up at, the old shophouses that I used to go for tuition classes as a kid (the picture above), my grandparents' house that I used to go every week after my drawing classes... In a way, these are all home. And then of course photographs of bits and pieces of the funeral itself. All the images are straight out of this $75 second hand film camera and I couldn't ask for more. 

Lots of thoughts, experiencing many changes (all the time)(but exciting!), couldn't put them in words at the moment. I love how everytime I develop my film after a few weeks, I'm reminded again of how the month goes since most of the time I've forgotten what are taken in the film roll. Would really like to post and document more thoughts/travels/film. Many more plans in my head that need to be planned out. So much that I'd like to do, so little time. Learning to take a break and recharge. Till then... hope everyone's half of 2016 has been well!

Polaroids from our pre-party at our place

No words required, really. Absolutely one of the best (party) nights - although in a very different way than what I usually prefer. Anita and I had to spend hours the next day cleaning up the mess at our place in our sore body, almost regretting dancing too much the previous night, but to think about the fun everyone had the night before, it was kinda worth it. We all deserved to have some fun, forget about who we are at work and life and not care about the consequences of breaking things and dirtying the house - not too often, but for a night, it was absolutely more than ok.

22 and a half

It's been a long time since I last took my own portrait in the mirror like this with my camera, I remember how much I used to do it when I got my first camera years ago. This time though, I had to tell myself to pick up the camera while I was at home to take this picture of myself (it used to be almost natural and automatic), trying to remind myself to document more personal and small details in life through this lens. It's after all the very initial reason why I wanted to get a camera, now it's become a tool for work. I've almost forgotten how it's like to be taking pictures of everything and anything that makes me... feel. I tell myself I want to live in the moment without having to change or capture it, but sometimes I regret not doing so.

The little things in life - the spontaneous midnight swim, the karaoke session you have in your own bedroom with youtube, the cuddles you have before you sleep, your favourite music in ears, wind in your hair, a hug when you feel cold... These are the little things that warm the heart. I came across this saying the other day "if you want to learn what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph", although with all the social media and instagram #ootd posts these days, I wouldn't say it accurately applies to everyone, but at least for me, it can't be truer. I only have to take a glance at the photographs I take the most to know exactly what I value or fear losing the most. Some days I want myself to enjoy and savour the moments themselves without trying to change or capture them in photographs, people say you will remember them in your memory, but will you really? Many times I wish I've taken more photographs with people/ at places I never want to forget, so I could always be reminded and transported back to those moments that are long gone. They might never repeat again.

Two weeks ago I thought one of my dearest friends who's recently been diagnosed with depression was going to kill himself, a national serviceman who's only about to turn 20 committed suicide, a friend whom I've always admired because of her optimism and hardwork, has also become depressed lately... Reading news on the explosions in China and Bangkok that killed many many families, a few more plane-crash this year... And then few days ago, the very first friend I knew when I came to Singapore, left Singapore for good, many other people I adore have also gone overseas to study... Makes me start thinking what is life but a continuous loss and change of people in it. 

Two third of the year has gone past... I wonder how much time I spent working, talking to the few people I enjoy spending time with, and running. One thing I'm definitely happy about is that I finally started running in a regular basis, never in my life would I have thought that I'd actually think "I feel like running tonight" (after an entire day at work!) and genuinely crave to do so. I was telling Ale how running is actually very much like meditation to me, where I get to focus on my breath, my body and I feel the wind on my face, I get to be present instead of letting the mind wander too much. It sometimes really does feel like freedom. In the past, I used to force myself to run for the sake of exercising, never liked it, but my stamina was never too bad, so I did it anyway. Speaking of which, I've moved in with Anita, the very girl that made me start running early this year and helped me develop this habit of running. She was the one who had to drag me out to run then, now we became housemates and I couldn't be more grateful of her company, especially this month, it hasn't been an easy one for me. But on a brighter note, this past month I've easily cooked more than I did the past 3 years, and it is nice :)

I can't decide if it has been a great year - some days I wonder if I could be any luckier or feel more loved, everything feels perfect and in place, while some days I fight hard to bring myself up, only to feel more broken than I think I can ever be. Some days I'm confident and hopeful and funny, while some days I just want to break, be weak and taken care of, only to be slapped by the hard truth that life isn't always about us. 

22, life doesn't feel as easy as it used to be. Life feels harsh and real. I still feel a little too young, emotional and easily defeated at times. Sometimes life hurts because you put so much hope and expectation in things, and they don't always turn out to be the way you want them to be. The next lesson I guess I have to learn, is to grit my teeth, and let things be/go. There are really so much to learn in life. I'm so thankful for people who stick with me after all these while, people who give me very kind words and encouragement, and most importantly, people who take out their time and days to spend with me, creating memories and moments I will miss dearly, reminding me that life can be sweet and warm. Time, time is priceless, it is the best thing one can give another. I know I'm well loved, these are the words and things that keep me going. Things that make me want to celebrate life.

Sunday Well Spent

My perfect Sunday consists of waking up naturally - no alarm clock, impromptu plan to go for a little retail therapy with a good friend, spending just enough time to have a few good buy and realizing they're on sales, grocery shopping for some chocolates, good weather, sushi after sushi, swimming in a pool without anyone else, munching on chips by the pool, doing nothing while lying under the blue sky, watching how the cloud changes in such a short time, slowing down life...

Also, happy belated new year! Whatever 2015 has in store for us - joy or heartbreak, let's learn to embrace them all!

Forgetting Again

Sometimes I spend so long looking for the perfect blog layout that I find it so contradicting because I don't even blog that much anymore. Isn't life sometimes the same? You spend too much time planning the best for your future that you forget the most foundation thing in life - to live. Maybe a small part of me believes that a good layout could inspire me to continue sharing, because I need to constantly be inspired. There are truly too many thoughts that come to me everyday that I fail to pen down, and I let them go eventually.

Anyway, I'm finally back home. After what feels like - just too long. (Not actually that long when I count) But I really needed a break. I had been working nearly every single day, Sunday to the next Sunday, the past 2 months. I wanted to make the best out of 2014, I wanted to push through and hoped the hardwork of the last 2 months of the year could perhaps make it an overall better year.

So, I'm finally back home. I know this is the second time I type this sentence but the "finally" I said for the first time was talking about how long have I not been home, and this second "finally" is to emphasise that it wasn't an easy trip coming back home.

Nancy came over to Singapore on Christmas eve to accompany me on Christmas. The few days she was over, it was nothing but wonderful, to have your best friend's company when you're overseas. I couldn't appreciate it more. The day we're supposed to come back home together, we reached the bus station an hour earlier, collected our tickets, and found a cosy Thai restaurant in the mall full of Thais, ordered some Thai iced tea and talked while waiting for the time to reach. 10 minutes to 5.30pm, we packed and headed to where the coach would be.

As I walked, it struck me. 'Did I bring my passport?', I quietly asked myself. Almost immediately, I remembered where it was - in the camera bag that I carried to shoot few days back. I took a deep breath, trying to figure out what I should do before I told Nancy about it.

10 minutes later, I was outside of the coach begging the driver to wait for me at the custom as I took a cab back home to get my passport. All he said was "Try your best." But he made it clear that he wouldn't wait if the passengers are done at the check-point. I left my ukulele and my sweater with Nancy on the bus, and told her I would see her at the custom, then ran off to grab a cab while it started drizzling.

I texted my sister who had a similar experience (which proves that we are real sisters) and asked the cab drivers who know better of how long I need to get there/ if it is possible for me to catch them. Everyone agreed that it's a safer choice to be taking the next coach home instead of trying to catch up (and if it fails, then what?) So I followed. In the mean time I just kept texting Nancy that I was really sorry for being so forgetful all the time, although I was sure her phone couldn't receive any text messages in Singapore. When she had crossed the border to Malaysia, she read my text and said "I'm sorry too I should have accompanied you" But having her to not be angry and frustrated at me for being so forgetful for the hundredth time and carrying my uku & shoes bags with her around (on top of her own bags) at the check-point, it was enough. More than enough.

I think we - which is, my sister and I, have forgotten our stuff (or missed our flights) for so many times that my mom is not surprised by it anymore. "We will wait for you, no worries" I was so grateful, but so frustrated at myself at the same time, for allowing such unpleasant experience to happen when life was good and sweet. Nancy reached about 4 hours earlier than me when her coach was only about 1.45h earlier. But at the end of the day, I was so glad I was home, though it's at 3 in the morning, after being stuck at the custom for nearly 2.5 hours.

Reading about the missing plane from Indo to Sg, suddenly this feels like nothing as compared to all the accidents. My heart goes to all the victims and their families. We need more love.

Black and White

I'm never a 'outfit of a day' person, but it starts to become common to take photos of what you wear everyday lately. So I try to do the same, still extremely awkward in front of the camera though... but I must say it's nice to have more photos of yourself (instead of just taking photos of other people - what I've been doing :p)

For the past month I was desperate for a backpack because I think the weight of my A3 sketchbooks and laptop would eventually break one of my shoulders (or my tote). Few days ago when I passed by Bershka and saw this, I immediately tried it on and paid within 10 minutes. I was that desperate. It is big enough, have quite a few pockets, and everyone knows about the black and white trend that's going on right now. I don't like wearing clothes that are too 'loud', but a statement bag would be good.

Now... time to get back to work! (on a Sunday, yes.)

Instagram / Short Update

1/ Things I like  2/ Just me saying hi :)  3/ Beautiful places  4/ Food 

Haven't been blogging for quite a while, but I don't want this blog to die. I hadn't even finished uploading all the photos taken in South Africa, but I feel guilty spending too much time doing it when there are piles of school works to be done. Can't believe how fast time passes, half a sem is gone, just another 2 months and holidays will be here again. That also means I'd be done with my year 2 in LASALLE, I still feel so new to the whole fashion thing... but I must say I'm throughly enjoying what I'm doing, though sometimes a bit lost. Oh dear, and I'd hit 20 in exactly one month's time.

What I'm up to lately - besides school works, I applied for an apprenticeship programme organized by Noise Singapore where the successful apprentices would have the opportunity to take 10 mentoring sessions from industry professionals (in my case, professional photographers who take photos for magazines, brands, organisations etc) and have their works showcased at Singapore's Art Museum in July/August! I didn't expect much at first as there are hundreds of applicants but was surprised by the email that I was shortlisted by 3 out of 4 mentors that I picked! Feeling really lucky... Had 2 interviews last week and will have the last interview next week, fingers crossed that I'd make it! I'm certain it'd be an eye-opener to me! Wish me luck! :)

Anyway, if you want to follow up more about my life/photos, instagram might be better as I carry my phone wherever I go. So the 4 are the main things I post on instagram - things I like, beautiful places/interiors, yummy (and photogenic) food, and me! (trying to post more photos of myself nowadays)

follow me @kahying_
what's your instagram?

I'm so sorry for the lack of update, but school has been crazily busy these days. I was thinking to cut or perhaps dye my hair before Chinese New Year but I actually rushed my works till the very last second I left Singapore. No time really. And I'm definitely not loving that lifestyle - going home from school at 7 in the morning.

I don't know how I can be very ambitious sometimes, but completely the opposite the other days. I like photography I like photographing people and beauty but I do it often because I like it, not because I want to get awards and show people how much I can do, not because I want to have the highest score for photography in my class, not because I want to compete and win and so I could show off. Sometimes people forget the entire purpose of being in a school - to learn, explore and experiment together with the people who have the same interest, not just to compete among each other. You are there to learn together, no? I'm really not a fan of competitions, I do certain projects well because I like it, not because I want to get the highest mark. Do people see the difference?

Sometimes I think I want to travel around the world photographing campaigns for different fashion brands/magazines, other times I just want to set up a business and shoot weddings, move to different countries once in a while to photograph people's love. (And I will definitely limit the weddings I can do each month just so I'd make sure I'll have enough time and effort for each set of photos I take) I want to feel more love from people in the world. And occasionally visiting talents and photograph their life and them. A wedding + lifestyle photographer. You see the difference between the two goals? First one, you take photos that make you proud because of the brands/exposure, but you are shooting things other people want you to, stress level would be reaaaaaaally high. Second one, it's more like helping people to capture those biiiiiig and important moments in their life. Based on my current personality, I'd go for the second because I don't find a meaning big enough for me to do the first, yet. I need to feel like I'm helping the society, that I make a difference, and the first doesn't seem to give me that. I like fashion, but it's never the first thing in the list, I appreciate branded goods very much, but I don't see why it should be the most important thing on earth... Sometimes I feel displaced when I'm in Singapore, because I really just want a much simpler and easier life while doing what I love. Also the reason why I enjoyed New Zealand and South Africa so much. And I don't want to be ashamed of what I feel.

I remember when I was in high school, I joined chess club because I'm so interested in everything about chess but after taking part in a chess tournament i sorta stopped playing because i couldn't handle the stress of the competition. To me playing chess should be something to keep your mind active but relaxing at the same time, it shouldn't be so stressful. I would continue learning different things about chess but trying to defeat people just to feel accomplished is never my main intention. It's just me...

i hope someone is reading this. and give me some of your thoughts about it. I'm a bit lost.

by the way, happy chinese new year! may 2013 will be a year full of good surprises for you and i.

Monday blue

Every once in a while, when I wake up from my sleep and find myself being alone, I'd still feel a little sad to realise (again) that I'm not in South Africa anymore. For the past month, when I was in South Africa and back home in Malaysia, I was showered with so much love, my time -  the minute I woke up until the moment I slept, was all spent with people I love. I guess that's why I'm not used to being alone all over again. School has officially started today, which means I'm away from my family again. I'm still trying to get myself back to the 'working mode', I know I will do fine soon! Monday blues, go away.

The Beginning

In case you wonder, the photo above was taken when I was in South Africa. The sky was extremely crowded of stars that night, it was incredibly beautiful. The trip to South Africa was full of surprises, laughter and love. I couldn't believe the amount of love people are willing to give to others whom they haven't known long enough. I've had so much fun! For your information, I did the highest gorge swing in the world!

Anyway, I spent my new year eve counting down at a pool party in South Africa and spent the first day of 2013 taking 17 hours of flight back to Malaysia. And then these few days were spent sleeping in, fixing my body clock, catching up with my childhood friends and so on. I haven't even unpacked all my clothes from the 25kg luggage, but I'm going back to the airport again tomorrow, this time back to Singapore, back to school life, back to reality. I remember during November I started losing all my motivation for school, thus I did quite badly for that assessment. I was so glad holidays came at the right time, now I've had enough rest, I believe I will be able to cope better this sem!

Here's a status I posted few days before I came back from South Africa...

I'm surprised to see how much I fell in love with South Africa and the people in the country.

I actually wanted my first post of 2013 to be post like "2013 resolution" or reflections or anything that seems to be a good beginning, but I haven't seem to start thinking about them yet. I'm not sure why but I'm not exceptionally excited that it's already 2013, but also not really sad that 2012 is over. In fact I don't really feel the difference like I did the past years. I wonder why! But well...December is over, January is here, it's time to resume back to my school life.

Happy New Year people! <3

Year 2 First Semester

First semester of year two is officially over. Next year some of them will be in fashion design, some - fashion management, while some - like me will be in fashion communication. While I'm excited about studying only fashion communication (mainly art direction, fashion photography, styling), it's a little sad to think that some of them will never be in the same class with me anymore! I must admit when I first came to LASALLE, whenever I saw the fashion students, I got intimidated, they look confident (and maybe a little arrogant hehehe), but most of the time after you know them, they're totally different from what you think. I'm glad they're all very nice people - not only talking about my classmates, but all the fashion students. Thankful for all of those who were there for me when I needed, you might not know when I needed you but your sole presence and companionship have helped me get through some hard times. Recently I know I have disappointed a friend whom trusted me, not only I disappointed her, but also myself, I know saying sorry won't help and I've read so many quotes of how trust is like a mirror, once it's broken, it'll never be the same anymore. But I've learned the lesson, and I hope over time I will prove my change. I have absolutely no desire to repeat the same mistake or disappoint anyone I care.

p/s: tonight is the last night I'm in Singapore before 2013. So ready to travel. Ciao Singapore! May everyone will be enjoying an eventful and lovely December!

South Africa for December 2012

finally a photo of me on my blog. taken by Sam, in her parka.

Yes, as stated on the title, I am going to travel to South Africa this December for about a month! In case you're wondering, this is not a family trip, I'm not going with any of my family members, it's the same programme as the one to New Zealand two years back - a youth exchange programme.

Many people are surprised when they hear that it's a youth exchange programme. I always get lots of questions related to the programme when I mention it. So here is it, it's an international youth exchange programme under a service organisation called Lions Club. Malaysians should be familiar with it because we have Leo Club in most of the schools. (Leo Club is only for youth while Lions Club are for the adults) Sadly they don't have Lions Club in Singapore, or do they? I have never heard anyone who came Singapore for the exchange programme. It just so happened that both my parents are very active Lions Club members, so 2 years ago my mom encouraged me to take part in this programme since I would be having a half-year holidays after my SPM. I did and I loved it.

I think some people might be interested to know more about the programme, so here you go:

1. It's only for youths from 16-22 years old. That's why I'm planning to take part again before I reach 22, because after that I wouldn't be able to join anymore! Italy would most probably be my next choice :)
2. You'll be having a test and interview, you need to be selected to be able to take part. But it's not very hard to get in, especially if any of your parents is Lions Club member, they do prioritise Lions Club members' family, unless you choose countries other than Japan, Japan is the most famous choice among the Malaysians and they have limited slots, so it's harder to get in.
3. You'll be staying with a few host families when you're in the selected country. The families are usually Lions Club members, they have to apply to host an exchangee too, so no worries it's not some random families that would be hosting you! 
4. The host families would be taking care of you, bringing you out, cooking for you, etc. Basically you just do whatever they do and follow them wherever they go. Most of the time they're very nice people, they'll always take time to plan before the exchangees reach and bring them to some famous attractions nearby.
5. All you need to pay if the flight tickets, insurance and medical fee. But of course you might need to pay for some tickets or entrance fees when you're in the other countries, you can't expect them to pay everything for you! But I was extremely lucky that my host parents back in New Zealand were nice enough to pay most the things for me, buy me christmas presents and treat me like one of their daughters. I miss them so much. 
6. The price varies depending on which country you choose. The cheapest one from Malaysia is Japan, it costs RM2k-3k if I'm not mistaken. New Zealand is more expensive - around RM7k, while for South Africa, it'll be around RM8k if I'm not mistaken. It may sound expensive, but remember that you'll be there for a month! You learn and see things you can never get from books, it's totally worth it to me.
7. Other countries that are famous among the Malaysians include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, France, Belgium, Finland...
8. More informations of the programme, here's the official page of it.

So many people might be curious - Why South Africa?

cannot find the source, please let me know if you know whose image is this.

It's interesting how people react when they know I'm going to South Africa this December. Some might turn "Really? Kahying? South Africa?" To people who don't know much about the country, you might be surprised to hear that some cities in South Africa are as developed as Kuala Lumpur.

While the activities and weather might not look so appealing to some of us, I insist on visiting the country at least once in my life. I believe there are some trips that would really open your eyes and change the way you see your country, and I believe this would be one of them. And so there are lessons that you can't get out of a book at the other end of the flight. Enough gorgeous views and only gorgeous views of nature, it's time to see something different, eat different food and experience different cultures. Plus, I like animals, wild animals. My sister and I often wished we were like Tarzan, staying in a jungle with all the animals that somehow won't harm us (which is not possible...)

Anyway, I haven't got the full details of the trip yet. What I know is I'll be traveling from Johannesburg (largest city in South Africa) to one of the east coast town (Port Elizabeth or Durban) and then to Cape Town! Honestly, I can't wait for it already. I'll make sure I take lots of photos and share with all of you about the trip!

Didn't expect this post so be so words-heavy. Not sure if anyone would actually finish reading it, but if you do, thank you! :)

New friend - Kindle

Meet my new friend - Kindle! I am quite certain that many of you are clueless about what Kindle is. At least for what I know, it's not so popular in Malaysia or Singapore. If you think it's a phone or pad, no, it's not. 

Kindle is an e-book reader. Why can't I read books from phones/pads if I want something convenient, you ask? 

• Because Kindle offers something that neither phones or ipads could do - it uses e-ink electronic paper display that simulate reading on papers while not hurting your eyes. Unlike the usual display of phones which emit light, electronic paper displays reflect light like ordinary paper. I sometimes feel like we're all staring at weak light bulbs when we stare at our phone or computer screens, but it's not the same for Kindle. It is a lot more comfortable to read on it than conventional displays. 
• Moreover, it allows you to store an enormous number of books in such a small device. While I love the idea of reading real books so much, sometimes it isn't very convenient for me to bring all of them everywhere.
• It has built-in dictionaries (both U.S and U.K version the Oxford dictionary) that allow me to search the meanings of the words that I don't understand easily. There's no need to exit from the books you're reading to search the meanings, all you need to do is to move the cursor to the words you don't understand, a small window with the meanings will pop up. And if you want to read the full definition, you can, too. This is extremely helpful for me because sadly, I vocabulary is very limited at the moment.
• Besides that you can also bookmark, highlight and add notes to relevant contents! 

I haven't used it long enough to be able to give a complete review of it, but so far I love it! It's not expensive too. I'm confident that it will make me read a lot more books that I always wanted to read because of how convenient and comfortable it is to read from it :)



p/s: I was trying nuffnangx conversation, for some reason I decided to change it back to the original blogspot comment system, so all the comments are gone, sorry :(

What am I studying?

Here are some instagram photos of my life and what I'm doing lately. 

Sorry the first two images are not relevant to the course I'm studying. haha

1. apple crumble together with brother in SG       2. peking duck crepe together with Sam

3. Pattern drafting of a shirt     4. Technical drawing of a designer's coming collection

So, a lot of people - including my friends/teachers back in Malaysia have been asking me "So what course are you actually studying?" So many people have asked that I need to create a blogpost just to talk about it. Honestly, I had never expected myself to be doing what I am doing right now. I first came to Singapore to study Fine Arts Photography for my love of conceptual photography. But, halfway through, after a lot of thinking, I decided to switch to Fashion for my growing love of fashion photography, illustrations and the glamour side of the fashion scene, but I hate to tell people that I'm studying "Fashion" because it's kinda misleading to people who are not in fashion schools, they'd most probably think that I'm going to be a fashion designer, which I have no desire to, at least for now. 

Here's the course that I'm taking - Fashion Media and Industry, we normally call it Fashion Communication, although right now, we have to learn some basic sewing, pattern drafting and dressmaking techniques (which are more towards Fashion Design). 

So what is Fashion Media & Industry about? I heard you asking.

"The programme focuses more on the business side of the fashion industry and the areas of media and communication relevant to the consumption of the fashion image." (taken from LASALLE webpage) 

You might still be confused. So is it business, communication, or fashion? The answer is - everything. Right now we have to do machine sewing as well. At first I really had trouble dealing with the industrial sewing machines, it could be scary before you get familiar with it. But, after putting in more effort and time, I'm happy to be able to see the difference and improvement.

left - first try (few weeks back)    |    right - last night

Currently we're not only learning technical skills like machine sewing, we do fashion photography, technical drawing (you can see the image on top), digital visualisation (it's similar to technical drawing, but using Adobe Illustrator, we create digital flat pattern that factory workers could understand in order to make the clothes out). For what I know, we will start learning more about different types of layout of magazines next week.

I realised it's so much easier for me to show what is it about by showing part of my works.

Also, we do fashion illustrations. (I didn't draw any of these, it was just quick demo by my lecturer - Jon) Fashion illustration is a lot more expressive than technical drawing, which I adore from the deepest of my heart. One thing you should know about me is my obsession over beautiful faces, thus the love of fashion photography and illustration, makes sense, yes? (Here is one of the works I posted some time ago) For the past weeks we have been drawing nude models - but note that fashion illustration is very different from fine arts life drawing. Instead of drawing realistically, we elongate their legs, necks to make them look perfect.

What else, we have a class called 'the fashion product', where we learn more behind-the-scenes of the fashion industry, analysis of coming trends, forecasting trends, etc. To be frank, I had never thought about what goes behind fashion. To a girl who came from a small town like me, it's something very new, I find it very interesting. Besides, we also study fashion history, it turned out to be so much more interesting that I expected, it's not dull at all! Also, we learn about the design process - where we're taught about different techniques to get inspirations, and turn the ideas into something else.

These are what I'm currently doing. What else are coming? We'll learn art direction, fashion journalism, styling, marketing, fashion retail branding, fashion curation, basic advertising principles and so on. What jobs will we be doing, you ask? Examples include stylist, fashion buyer, fashion writer, fashion photographer, fashion critic, fashion curator, creative director, fashion editor, personal shopper, trend forecaster to name a few. I hope by now you have a better insight on what Fashion Communication is about! Basically it's more about images, text, magazine layouts, plus some business side of fashion.

To be honest, I'm really surprised by where photography has brought me to, and I never regret, I enjoy the learning process so much. So thankful for my parents who give me the right to make my own choice and decision, and trust that I would do well though I was uncertain of what to expect to be studying in an art/fashion school at that time. Also feeling grateful for the good friends and classmates to make school such a nice place to be. I feel blessed.

"Wow everyone come and check this out, see this excellent, fantastic work."
"If I show this to the lecturers, they'll just...die, you know."
The lecturer continued - You could have easily gotten an excellent mark Kahying, too bad you aren't well prepared :(

Was totally surprised by the lecturer's reaction when he saw my illustrator work, so motivating and... flattering, too bad I have very bad time management skills - always doing things at very last minutes. I need to change that or I'll disappoint myself in the future. Like deep inside you know that you can produce some really good works, you know your works could stand out, but in the end they don't, because you do not put in enough effort, time and love. It's such a waste.

It's already Week 7 in school. Time really flies.

Something new for the fingers

1. New everyday-rings. I like small & simple accessories. 
2. Times flies during weekends, Monday is coming again, I feel like there's a heavy rock in my chest, I need to plan and manage my time better. And be focused. I'm so easily distracted :(
3. This is random, but I miss New Zealand. Although school has only started for a month, I long to travel and have a getaway so so much.

Saturday In School

Is anyone curious about how a fashion production studio looks like? I think some people might be interested to see the places where all the beautiful garments and designs are materialized and produced - though the school only has a small one, I decided to bring my camera together with me to school today. That's where I'd be spending most of my time this academic year. It could be pretty messy sometimes, lots and lots of fabric, calico and threads on the floor.

The pattern drafting tables is my favourite - huge, clean white table with great lighting, nothing beats that for a designer or artist. It's Saturday but it didn't feel like weekends at all. I stepped into the studio and was totally surprised by how many people were sacrificing their dear weekends for school works, for learning, for fashion.

Bad Things Happen, Accept It

You will not believe it, I could not believe it, it turned out that the cost that is needed to repair my MacBook is even more expensive than a brand new MacBook. Yes you're right - I might as well get a new MacBook because I never know if there'll still be any other problems after they fix it. I felt like I just threw the money down the drain, it was bought only one week ago. I don't like to feel like a spoiled brat, wasting parents' money all the time when I still couldn't earn mine :(

After I messaged dad about it, the next thing that my phone received was a message from mom,
"Please do not feel too sad over the laptop, as sometimes things just happen - out of our realm to control, alright?"

They always understand (or at least try to), and never blame me. Now, you have such loving parents and family, if that's not the best reason to be happy and content, I don't know what else is. I'm really really thankful about it.

Latest family portrait we took at home, I like how we love traveling & doing silly things together :)
By the way, my family doesn't only consist of only 6 members anymore, but 8! yay.

Things will get better soon, I believe.

Back to School, Again

My messy table right now, I took it right before I started typing.

It's 10.45am now and I'm sipping a cup of milk, blogging! Can't remember when was the last time I blogged in the morning. Yes school has started again, thus I'm trying to get back to the habit of sleeping early and wake up early.

Right before I came back to Singapore on Sunday, I had one of the most painful moments of my life - I opened the car door and saw the seat was flooded by water, together with my laptop bag, of course with my laptop in it. Why was that so painful - because it's a new computer. A MacBook Pro that I had been yearning and longing and craving, I finally bought it, and what happened next? It got flooded. I might need to pay the amount of a new laptop to get it repaired. I couldn't stop blaming myself that day, it's not even the first day of school yet. I'm glad I finally calmed myself and accepted that nothing I could do to rewind the time, I must focus on what I should and could do. I'd hate it if I allowed it to ruin my entire week. I hope I learned the lesson and be a lot more careful to my laptop and phone and camera, wouldn't want anything similar to happen ever again.

So, I had been living without a laptop for a few days. And I survived. It feels good not to stick with the computer all the time. I finally unplugged myself for a few days - though I still have my phone that could go online, I have school during daytime so I don't use it so often too. Now I'm using my sister's laptop, it's a little annoying that she doesn't have Photoshop here, I can't survive without it. For the first time in a very long time, I tried using online photo editor, it's actually not that bad! The photo on top was edited by using it.

So how has school been? Great. We have some really cool lecturers - I've mentioned this on my facebook but I still wanna say it again, my photography lecturer was a celebrity photographer and he shot Elijah Wood, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Snoopdog, etc. Isn't that cool? The Illustrator lecturer is an art director of a company that has done lots of branding & advertising jobs, some works we see in the MRT and billboards here are done by them! Fashion drawing lecturer will probably be one of my favourite lecturers. David Downton is my favourite fashion illustrator and that's the main reason why I started using watercolour last year, coincidentally the lecturer is also his fan and was a watercolour illustrator! I really like that he emphasized that we should all be honest to him, and could ask the simplest questions to him & he promised he would answer and not laugh because he believed in progress. I like them all, can't wait to produce more works that I'd be proud of.

All in all, school has been good. As usual I was a little shy during the first few days with the new classmates but I believe it will get better. The next big thing is to get the momentum back to work on the school works. icandoiticandoiticandoit. I can't bear to see my blog with so little photos, I need to share more exciting photos, I promise I will.

Oh dear I just couldn't have short blog posts, eh?

Jayesslee's Concert Tomorrow!

Will be going to Jayesslee's concert tomorrow together with the besties and I'm so excited! :)
In case you do not know who Jayesslee is (how can you?!), they're Janice & Sonia - a pair of Korean twin sisters, born and raised in Sydney, Australia. They have been rated as top performing YouTube musicians since their first debut on 2008. Check them out now!

I couldn't decide which video of theirs should I put on the blog because I like so many of them.
The latest video sort of blew me away because the song's recorded in a studio and the quality is...wow.

But some people think those songs recorded in studios must/might have been edited so they sound perfect,
I'm not sure about it but I love their songs that were not recorded in studios very much too, very real and original :)

Talking about Jayesslee, a few years back the besties and I stumbled upon one of their videos - Officially Missing You in Youtube and we immediately fell in love with them.

Until now we still always sing this song whenever we go K-box, and we love singing their version (the mood of the original one is a little different). Sara and Nancy loved it so much they even performed the song in Jayesslee's version during one of the school events back then :)

They're not only talented, pretty and happy (at least they look very cheerful and kind to me!),
but also extremely adorable and funny in some of the videos.

Sonia :" You silly! Picasso is a basketball player." I literally LOL-ed. 
Aren't they adorable?!

I'd actually love to draw or paint them something and hand the artwork over tomorrow but sadly my inks, paints and brushes are all in Singapore now :( I think the reason I like them so much is because of their personalities (though I do not know them personally haha), seeing cheerful and kind girls always makes me want to be one, so I think they're having a very positive influence on me. haha.

Recently Sonia just got married and we were all so excited for her. haha. We always keep ourselves updated with any of their wedding videos or photo slideshow. Duh, we sound like mad stalkers now. But we are really happy for them! :)

Some of my favourite songs of theirs are Breakeven, I Wont Give Up and You Raise Me Up :)