Phew..haven't written for a while...been really really busy trying to finish as much homework as possible before the hols..so that I won't kill myself in January with all the exams and presentations that are coming up. I managed to do more than I expected last week..and so I felt pretty good about myself for once in a long long time...even if I'm not very academically inclined or hardworking. Haha.

There's so much to tell...but not much time to do so. But let's start with 2 weekends ago.

Marcus had to work on Saturday, so I went over to Leipzig on Friday, after class. I spent Saturday morning writing Christmas cards and then after he came back, we drove to Dresden to see the Weihnachtsmarkt and to attend Fu Wei's birthday party.

It was raining on Saturday evening...and yet, there were still tons of people at the Weihnachtsmarkt...and it was worse really, cos they had umbrellas and it was wet and puddly all over. People simply do not realise how hazardous umbrellas can be. I hope these people also nearly get poked in the eye every corner they turn...so maybe next time they'd be more careful. It was hard for us to really enjoy the place cos of the rain and the walking umbrella hazards...but we did eat quite a lot...a half-metre long hotdog, gebrannte Mandeln, fries, Glühwein, Quarkkeulchen (or were they Kräppelchen..I keep forgetting the difference :( ) I was soooo full...oh, and we also bought this "Bratapfel Konfekt". I got a free sample at the Apotheke and well, this marketing strategy was a good one, because I did wanna eat more. But I suppose you do have to be good in order for people to want to buy your product.

The next day was Fu Wei's birthday. I woke up a little earlier to bake a peach and pear cake for her (which did get some encouraging comments). Then I helped her to make sushi (wasn't so heavy-handed on the vinegar because I have learnt from my mistakes) while Marcus played Neopets and watched tv. A word of advice to those of you planning to make your own party food and organise your own party..please MAKE A LIST of all the things you have to do..you're bound to forget something (or many) in all the chaos...and do wake up earlier...unless you have lots of friends who are willing and able to run/drive around and get you stuff on a Sunday...and if you have the luck to have a birthday on a Verkaufsoffener Sonntag. Also, don't forget the list...in case your guests end up not having anything to drink except for Glühwein and some tea. Still, otherwise it was a fun party, with karaoke and all. There was this guy with his girlfriend there...Fu Wei's tandem learning partner...he's planning to go to Singapore for an overseas semester and internship next year. I only mention him because Marcus says he knows I thought the guy was cute. Haha...how does he know such things? But thinking a guy is cute has nothing to do with really liking him and wanting to be in a relationship. Eye candy really isn't meant for eating...it often rarely tastes as good as it looks. Mehr "schein" als "sein".

All of us neighbours, ex-neighbours and Marcus helped to clean up after that..and then we were kinda tired...so we went to sleep. Marcus was actually planning to leave in the afternoon..but he stayed on instead, and left at 3am. Poor boy...I don't think I deserve such a nice guy like him! But I do not want to look a gift horse in the mouth...so I will just be grateful to have him.

Ok...then after a week full of work went by finally...and I would like to add that I really cannot tahan the Gender Studies lecture...and that I ate a lot the whole week cos of the stress.

Anyway, on Wednesday night, Fu Wei, Mai and I had dinner together, cos Mai was leaving for home for a month. I made mapo tofu...Mai made fried rice, fried chicken and keropok...and Fu Wei made dessert. Yummy!! I miss such a variety of food!

Marcus didn't have to go to work on Friday, so I decided to pon class and go to him earlier...since we'll both be super busy in Jan anyway. We went to nova eventis to get Christmas presents...it was quite fun..and the place really is big. We spent 7 whole hours there...had lunch at the food court and tea at IKEA. I love shopping! We went to all the gift shops..but not into the clothes shops..cos I guess I am trying to stop buying so many clothes...especially since my wardrobe is overflowing.

The next day, we went grocery shopping, wrapped presents and watched a DVD. Somehow time passed really quickly.

On Sunday, we whiled away the morning, then headed to the city centre to watch "Liebe braucht keine Ferien". It was a simple plot with no million dollar special effects...but it was a beautiful story and makes you feel happy afterwards...even though I do not usually like Jude Law and Cameron Diaz. Marcus commented that the ticket seller seemed to love giving out love seats.

Then we walked through the Weihnachtsmarkt and bought some gebrannte Mandeln...which Marcus said he had never eaten until that day at the Weihnachtsmarkt in Dresden. He also said he was really looking forward to our holiday because he hasn't been on a holiday for the past 4 years. The furthest he travelled with his ex was to Berlin, to stay with his parents. But they had cats and I suppose that kinda tied them down. But I suppose Priscilla was right in saying all couples have their own things which they do together...some of the stuff that Marcus and I do now, we never did with our exes...but that's what makes every relationship unique, I guess. :)

Ok, one last bit before I go to bed...the English Department had a Christmas Party today...the theatre group put up a performance and I was the immigrations and custom officer...haha...and thanks to a tip from my favourite lecturer, I managed to be a more convincing one...monosyllabism helps you sound bossier...haha. Anyway, we also had some dancing and it was really funny. Not everyone wanted to dance...maybe when I was younger, I would've found it embarrassing too..but I have outgrown it. Who cares what everyone else thinks...after all, I think apart from Mr Hollingsworth, I doubt anyone really knew the dances, so everyone was on equal footing. Plus, you seriously do not have to be very coordinated...even if you step on other people's feet, they don't really mind. Everyone's too busy laughing and having fun...so sometimes it's really better to forget your shyness and embarrassment and just do something silly for once :)