to strive, seek and serve? excel?

yesterday, wei checked into the hall of residence to begin her life as an undergraduate in NUS.

her miniscule room doesn't leave her with  space for even a laundry basket, let alone a small fridge as we had thought we would get her. but it was cosy and well thought out. 

a far cry from my single room some twenty over years ago. same hall of residence, different location.

but same spirit, i hope. 

those three years i spent there were, arguably, the best years of my youth. the hall fired, then fueled, my enthusiasm for life and friendship. a small town girl, it was a cultural shock for me to thrown into a boiling cauldron of lovely and strange people, sworn and torn loyalties, grown-up shenanigans and heady romances. 

oz and i believe this experience can only be had at a hall of residence, which is why we encouraged wei to apply for a place.

it's good to know that wei herself believes in new experiences, that she doesn't want to be just another undergraduate working towards her degree and nothing else.

she had butterflies in her stomach during the drive there. i told her it would all be in a blur the moment she arrived.

she stepped out into a welcoming world of seniors who took over completely and swept her into their world the moment the car reached the foyer.

she will have no time to savour all these new adventures until it's all over. and it will run over and over in her head like a well-oiled loop. i still have some parts of the loop in my head today.

it's a new phase for her.

for me, it's like she's flying the coop. already.

so, it's a new phase for mommy too.