Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how much I'll miss all of you.
And how much I already miss you now.
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Photos
Here are some waaaaay long overdue photos.
During the short recess.
One of the defense's witnesses. This guy cracked everyone up with his twitches. (Gotta love team members who come up with the coolest ideas and who actually agree to carry them through!)
With Olivia and Wei Yiing, the prosecutor.
My defendant who was found not guilty!
Taking a breather while the jurors deliberated. (Someone went, "Hey, the opposing counsels shouldn't be talking to each other!" Our response, "Yeah, whatever!")
Supper with the girls after the mock trial. This was around 11 pm, I think. I was ready to crash on the bed right after filling up.
Next up: photos from Penang!
On the day before the mock trial. I was lethargic/stressed/excited, well, pretty much feeling everything at once.
During the short recess.
One of the defense's witnesses. This guy cracked everyone up with his twitches. (Gotta love team members who come up with the coolest ideas and who actually agree to carry them through!)
With Olivia and Wei Yiing, the prosecutor.
My defendant who was found not guilty!
Taking a breather while the jurors deliberated. (Someone went, "Hey, the opposing counsels shouldn't be talking to each other!" Our response, "Yeah, whatever!")
Supper with the girls after the mock trial. This was around 11 pm, I think. I was ready to crash on the bed right after filling up.Next up: photos from Penang!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
In the middle of a study week
It is almost 2 am but I am still quite wide awake. I think this is all because of the roti telur bawang and iced Milo that I had just now. Tonight makes the third consecutive night that I've had supper near or past midnight. Whee! Yeah, I've been pigging out a lot. No, I'm not binging. I just get hungry really fast when I study in very cold areas. (I got hungry before 6 pm after a lunch at 12.30 pm and a donut at 4 pm - I cannot explain it!) And the suppers - well, I'm up for supper almost every night now because we're all just trying to make the most of the little time we have left in this semester.
Err, so let me recap what have been going on since my last update. (I have to take some time to recall the events now...)
Saturday: Pam took me, Karyn, Olivia, and Olerato to the PAWS animal shelter in Subang. It was a great experience! I went into two big cages for 20 or so cats (each) and brushed the cats' fur, cleaned them up a bit, and played with them. I fell in love with a particularly lovable and manja white and powdery gray cat with yellow eyes. She's so adorable! I just loved the cats there. Some of them were really friendly. The moment we stepped into the cages, they came rushing toward us, all meowing for attention. A few were a little hostile, but I managed to pat them and make them relent a little by stroking them under their chins (no cat can resist that!).
After working with the adult cats and going around to check out the adorable kittens nearby, I entered the dog section where Pam, Karyn, and Olivia were working with the dogs. There are so many dogs there! Each of them had a couple of dogs to themselves. I helped bathe two of the dogs. It was a pretty dirty job, but it was kinda fun too. Pam's adorable dog was all over everyone!We left the animal shelter after being there for about 3 hours. We headed to KFC for some food and air-conditioning. :P I came back feeling quite tired but very satisfied. :D
Sunday: The Nilai branch of the church was launched. The hall was packed and the service was good. It was definitely a good start to the church's new branch. :)
Monday: Mugging time began! Had an awesome oblong beef burger and iced Milo for dinner/supper. MMMMMMM!
Tuesday: Spent the day alternating between mugging and doing mindless things. Had supper with Alvin, Olivia, and Wei Yiing. We came up with a brilliant idea that will (hopefully) be translated into action in a couple of days or so. :P Had the very tasty burger and some fries from the van outside the hostel grounds. MMMMMMMMM!
Wednesday: Spent almost 12 hours in school. Attempted to mug for the first quarter, mugged seriously for almost the whole of the other 9 hours. Left the library at 11 pm, went to supper til almost midnight. Had roti telur bawang and hot Milo at Bistro. :D MMMMM!
I'm pretty sure today's pattern will be mug, mug, do mindless thing, mug, eat, mug, mug, supper. MMMM supper! :P
It’s past 2 am now. I think I should turn in for the night now.
Have a good day, everyone! :)
Friday, April 16, 2010
End of semester
HELLO!
I finally have some time to blog. I've been so busy in the past two weeks that I could barely find time to sit down and do what I really wanted to do without feeling the slightest bit of guilt, let alone set aside time to type out a proper blog post. But I have some time to spare tonight because, well, SCHOOL JUST ENDED! More precisely, today was the last day of classes in INTI for us. Last class of our last semester here. You know, when I first came here, a part of me really couldn't wait to leave this place for so many reasons, but right now, I actually feel kind of sad because I have to leave all the great people I came to know here. Anyway, let's leave the weepy things for later.
(This post will be a very long, wordy one - because I'm just like that! And also because I can't seem to upload any photos right now, so all you'll be seeing is words. Ah!)
So I've been preoccupied for the last couple of weeks with this thing that we call a mock trial. Our US History professor holds mock trials for all the classes he teaches. And despite what anyone might tell you, we actually enjoy these things a lot. Well, for the most part, anyway. I lost some sleep over this but I will say that it was all well worth it. I fell a little ill just two days before the trial (and freaked myself and my teammates out a bit), but I refused to let it stop me from doing as I'd planned.
Here's a brief introduction to those who are not familiar with this mock trial thing. What happens is that the class is split into groups (two or four, depending on the class size) assigned one or two cases respectively. The cases are nominated by students and chosen based on votes by students. So, in my class, we were divided into four teams because the class is pretty big. There are an average of 8 to 9 people per team.
One of our cases is about child abuse in a Puritan family (I suggested this and thought I'd end up in this case, but it didn't happen - and truth be told, I wasn't too crazy about this topic because my sociology mock trial was about child abuse too). The other case is about a Puritan priest who hung his wife because, according to him, she was a witch. (Puritans are the people who settled New England and broke away from the Catholic Church with the aim to "purify" the church - less ornate churches, less elaborate services.)
I ended up being randomly placed into the defense team in the priest trial. After a round of brainstorming, we picked out our characters (that made up our witness list) and started work. We met a couple of times every week, normally one day before classes, to discuss the case because we got developments in every class. Before long, everyone started getting into it and developing their own roles. It was quite fun seeing how everyone began thinking about their own parts and coming up with the brightest ideas out of the blue.
Anyway, after preparing for a month or so, we had the trial on Tuesday evening. I'd spent my weekend and Monday typing, editing, organizing, texting, calling, holding meetings, typing, editing, re-organizing. I camped in the academic block from 8 am to 11.30 pm on Monday. Yeah, in the same clothes for 16 hours. I was shocked too. The whole day was spent with minimal food and rest and near maximum freak out mode. Not too good a mix if you ask me, but it had to be done. By the time I'd reached my room, all I wanted to do was sleep. But I had to stay up til 3 am to finalize the evidences. The most tiring part was probably editing and organizing the evidences because we had to make sure that the evidences were fair in the sense that they followed the case developments closely and did not contradict anything else in our arguments (I think I should clarify at this point that we create the evidences - because this is fake, remember? :P)
Come Tuesday, I was a mix of emotions. I was excited, anxious, worried - anything but relaxed, in short. But the clock was ticking and whatever I was feeling had to be shoved to the back burner because suddenly my teammates were coming up to me and asking me random questions like, "Crystal, how old am I supposed to be again? 33? And my WIFE?!". And I assume you know how short my fuse can get when I'm stressed out (I consider myself pretty patient in my normal state, but when I'm highly strung, just don't try me). So there was a considerable amount of forehead slapping and hand flailing done before the trial.
I even managed to catch some sleep in the office (and people from the other case watched me through the glass door - really, is a sleeping figure that intriguing?) before the trial began. I'd planned to get myself dinner at the eatery on-campus but Wei Yiing said that it doesn't serve heavy meals at that hour. So I just had some sandwiches and decided that I couldn't stomach anymore food at that time. I fed on more water than solid food. :S
The trial went very well. There were some blunders along the way (like me cleverly blocking the jurors' view of the screen, laughing uncontrollably while questioning one of my witnesses, and forgetting to use one of our most important piece of evidence - really kicked myself for that last bit), but overall, I was very pleased with the way it turned out. All my teammates were sufficiently prepared (I bugged them about their questions for a week and made them answer questions off the top of their heads whenever I felt like it - I sound cruel now, don't I?). They could answer well even during the cross examinations and I was very happy about that. We'd anticipated and covered most of the things brought up in the cross examinations, but they handled even the unexpected questions very coolly. The best part is, they all got into their roles so well! :D
To cut a very long story short, there were a few objections and a few heated moments, but they just added on to the excitement. The only thing I'm still a bit apprehensive about right now is that since the mock trial ended, my friends have taken to humming the Jaws soundtrack whenever they see me. According to them, I looked scary whenever I approached the prosecution's witnesses. In all honesty, let me tell you that I did not frown or glare. All I did was walk toward them as I would toward anyone else. I guess my jurors and audience were just reading too much into my facial expression. Tsk. :P I guess I shall have to bear with this Jaws reference for just a few more days. (Because this isn't the worst part. That goes to them linking me to somebody whom they think I have a relationship with. Wow, it's like high school all over again!)
Anyway, I couldn't have asked for a better and more entertaining team. I had to spend more than usual on my phone credit. And my phone was constantly running low on battery. But it was okay. I had to forgo a few hours of mugging time to meet everybody to discuss their roles, but I managed to work around that. Most importantly, I got to know my classmates better and discover what awesome people they are. That was really the highlight of this experience. :)
Oh, wait. My defendant was found not guilty. You cannot imagine how I felt when the foreman announced that. Seth (my defendant) looked genuinely relieved and, boy, was I relieved. It redeemed all the time and effort we'd put in. At times, it felt like the case was never going to play into our side because he looked so bad what with his extramarital affair and questionable actions. I mean, he hung his wife! I was initially worried because I didn't think I could defend a priest who took it upon himself to kill his wife because he thought that she was a witch.
People congratulated me after the verdict was out. They said I did a good job - with the interrogation, especially. But I don't want or need the credit. I played my role to the best of my abilities as did everyone else. Every member of the team deserves credit. I think people tend to overlook the big picture and focus on the lawyer, but it is really the small things that can make all the difference (it doesn't really matter how awesome your lawyer is; if your witnesses suck, chances are the jurors won't be impressed and might get a bad idea of your team anyway).
Working on the mock trial was taxing, but it was well worth it. I knew it when I was sitting in the front row, listening to my witnesses during their cross examinations. I can't believe how seriously we took everything, but it was kind of heart-warming to see that. I do feel like a proud mama now! :)
I'd love to show you photos and videos (and major bloopers in a few videos!) of my team, but I can't upload anything here right now, so I think that will have to wait until I can get a connection that is stable enough to allow me to post photos. You may check them out on my Facebook profile. They're all there - from Wendy's and Olivia's cameras. Thank you, my dear photographers. :)
If anything, this mock trial showed me that I did have a very good time in this college (or university, whichever you prefer - by the way, I'm considered a university student because this program goes toward my degree) despite the times when I complained about small stuff. This trial wrapped up this semester just nicely.
And I am happy to say that my social circle has expanded a lot thanks to this place.
Can you tell how happy I am right now? I'm happy to the point of being sappy. :P
This was an awesome experience. :D
I finally have some time to blog. I've been so busy in the past two weeks that I could barely find time to sit down and do what I really wanted to do without feeling the slightest bit of guilt, let alone set aside time to type out a proper blog post. But I have some time to spare tonight because, well, SCHOOL JUST ENDED! More precisely, today was the last day of classes in INTI for us. Last class of our last semester here. You know, when I first came here, a part of me really couldn't wait to leave this place for so many reasons, but right now, I actually feel kind of sad because I have to leave all the great people I came to know here. Anyway, let's leave the weepy things for later.
(This post will be a very long, wordy one - because I'm just like that! And also because I can't seem to upload any photos right now, so all you'll be seeing is words. Ah!)
So I've been preoccupied for the last couple of weeks with this thing that we call a mock trial. Our US History professor holds mock trials for all the classes he teaches. And despite what anyone might tell you, we actually enjoy these things a lot. Well, for the most part, anyway. I lost some sleep over this but I will say that it was all well worth it. I fell a little ill just two days before the trial (and freaked myself and my teammates out a bit), but I refused to let it stop me from doing as I'd planned.
Here's a brief introduction to those who are not familiar with this mock trial thing. What happens is that the class is split into groups (two or four, depending on the class size) assigned one or two cases respectively. The cases are nominated by students and chosen based on votes by students. So, in my class, we were divided into four teams because the class is pretty big. There are an average of 8 to 9 people per team.
One of our cases is about child abuse in a Puritan family (I suggested this and thought I'd end up in this case, but it didn't happen - and truth be told, I wasn't too crazy about this topic because my sociology mock trial was about child abuse too). The other case is about a Puritan priest who hung his wife because, according to him, she was a witch. (Puritans are the people who settled New England and broke away from the Catholic Church with the aim to "purify" the church - less ornate churches, less elaborate services.)
I ended up being randomly placed into the defense team in the priest trial. After a round of brainstorming, we picked out our characters (that made up our witness list) and started work. We met a couple of times every week, normally one day before classes, to discuss the case because we got developments in every class. Before long, everyone started getting into it and developing their own roles. It was quite fun seeing how everyone began thinking about their own parts and coming up with the brightest ideas out of the blue.
Anyway, after preparing for a month or so, we had the trial on Tuesday evening. I'd spent my weekend and Monday typing, editing, organizing, texting, calling, holding meetings, typing, editing, re-organizing. I camped in the academic block from 8 am to 11.30 pm on Monday. Yeah, in the same clothes for 16 hours. I was shocked too. The whole day was spent with minimal food and rest and near maximum freak out mode. Not too good a mix if you ask me, but it had to be done. By the time I'd reached my room, all I wanted to do was sleep. But I had to stay up til 3 am to finalize the evidences. The most tiring part was probably editing and organizing the evidences because we had to make sure that the evidences were fair in the sense that they followed the case developments closely and did not contradict anything else in our arguments (I think I should clarify at this point that we create the evidences - because this is fake, remember? :P)
Come Tuesday, I was a mix of emotions. I was excited, anxious, worried - anything but relaxed, in short. But the clock was ticking and whatever I was feeling had to be shoved to the back burner because suddenly my teammates were coming up to me and asking me random questions like, "Crystal, how old am I supposed to be again? 33? And my WIFE?!". And I assume you know how short my fuse can get when I'm stressed out (I consider myself pretty patient in my normal state, but when I'm highly strung, just don't try me). So there was a considerable amount of forehead slapping and hand flailing done before the trial.
I even managed to catch some sleep in the office (and people from the other case watched me through the glass door - really, is a sleeping figure that intriguing?) before the trial began. I'd planned to get myself dinner at the eatery on-campus but Wei Yiing said that it doesn't serve heavy meals at that hour. So I just had some sandwiches and decided that I couldn't stomach anymore food at that time. I fed on more water than solid food. :S
The trial went very well. There were some blunders along the way (like me cleverly blocking the jurors' view of the screen, laughing uncontrollably while questioning one of my witnesses, and forgetting to use one of our most important piece of evidence - really kicked myself for that last bit), but overall, I was very pleased with the way it turned out. All my teammates were sufficiently prepared (I bugged them about their questions for a week and made them answer questions off the top of their heads whenever I felt like it - I sound cruel now, don't I?). They could answer well even during the cross examinations and I was very happy about that. We'd anticipated and covered most of the things brought up in the cross examinations, but they handled even the unexpected questions very coolly. The best part is, they all got into their roles so well! :D
To cut a very long story short, there were a few objections and a few heated moments, but they just added on to the excitement. The only thing I'm still a bit apprehensive about right now is that since the mock trial ended, my friends have taken to humming the Jaws soundtrack whenever they see me. According to them, I looked scary whenever I approached the prosecution's witnesses. In all honesty, let me tell you that I did not frown or glare. All I did was walk toward them as I would toward anyone else. I guess my jurors and audience were just reading too much into my facial expression. Tsk. :P I guess I shall have to bear with this Jaws reference for just a few more days. (Because this isn't the worst part. That goes to them linking me to somebody whom they think I have a relationship with. Wow, it's like high school all over again!)
Anyway, I couldn't have asked for a better and more entertaining team. I had to spend more than usual on my phone credit. And my phone was constantly running low on battery. But it was okay. I had to forgo a few hours of mugging time to meet everybody to discuss their roles, but I managed to work around that. Most importantly, I got to know my classmates better and discover what awesome people they are. That was really the highlight of this experience. :)
Oh, wait. My defendant was found not guilty. You cannot imagine how I felt when the foreman announced that. Seth (my defendant) looked genuinely relieved and, boy, was I relieved. It redeemed all the time and effort we'd put in. At times, it felt like the case was never going to play into our side because he looked so bad what with his extramarital affair and questionable actions. I mean, he hung his wife! I was initially worried because I didn't think I could defend a priest who took it upon himself to kill his wife because he thought that she was a witch.
People congratulated me after the verdict was out. They said I did a good job - with the interrogation, especially. But I don't want or need the credit. I played my role to the best of my abilities as did everyone else. Every member of the team deserves credit. I think people tend to overlook the big picture and focus on the lawyer, but it is really the small things that can make all the difference (it doesn't really matter how awesome your lawyer is; if your witnesses suck, chances are the jurors won't be impressed and might get a bad idea of your team anyway).
Working on the mock trial was taxing, but it was well worth it. I knew it when I was sitting in the front row, listening to my witnesses during their cross examinations. I can't believe how seriously we took everything, but it was kind of heart-warming to see that. I do feel like a proud mama now! :)
I'd love to show you photos and videos (and major bloopers in a few videos!) of my team, but I can't upload anything here right now, so I think that will have to wait until I can get a connection that is stable enough to allow me to post photos. You may check them out on my Facebook profile. They're all there - from Wendy's and Olivia's cameras. Thank you, my dear photographers. :)
If anything, this mock trial showed me that I did have a very good time in this college (or university, whichever you prefer - by the way, I'm considered a university student because this program goes toward my degree) despite the times when I complained about small stuff. This trial wrapped up this semester just nicely.
And I am happy to say that my social circle has expanded a lot thanks to this place.
Can you tell how happy I am right now? I'm happy to the point of being sappy. :P
This was an awesome experience. :D
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Alu suk aih
I've got a mini debate thing going on in class in the morning. I came back to my room after rehearsing less than an hour ago, thinking that I can squeeze in some reading time before turning in for the night. But, honestly, I'm so awake right now. Not because of the text or anything of that sort. But because someone's all loved up right now. I can't help it. The heart of steel has finally melted! I feel like reaching through the screen and hugging said person. But I can't. Ahh, distance.
This calls for a hearty breakfast over which juicy details will be exchanged. Ooh, yes. :D
This sort of makes up for the earlier frustration. I'm willing it away. Go away, you're not worth my time. Let me be this giggly college girl who feels like she's back in high school, asking stupid questions that are met with snorts and throws of the head. Like the good old days. :)
This calls for a hearty breakfast over which juicy details will be exchanged. Ooh, yes. :D
This sort of makes up for the earlier frustration. I'm willing it away. Go away, you're not worth my time. Let me be this giggly college girl who feels like she's back in high school, asking stupid questions that are met with snorts and throws of the head. Like the good old days. :)
Friday, March 12, 2010
First time
It's been a crazy week. And there may be more crazy weeks to come!
As of now, I am already overwhelmed by work (alright, in all honesty, I've been caught in a bigger flood). Tonight will be devoted to my major speech outline. And then there's that mini debate going on in class to prepare for. (I am thrilled to get another feel of debate - it's been too long.) On top of that, there are other deadlines to meet, persuasive speech topics to come up with, and other tests to take.
My answer to the question posed in the photo is TODAY! I agreed to be the defense attorney in my History class' mock trial. I remember going through my Sociology mock trial in my second semester. I regretted not signing up to be the lawyer because I ended up doing most of the lawyer's job and I enjoyed it (but it did not come without many sleepless nights and head-cracking brainstorming and script writing sessions).
Oh, and guess what takes the cake? My opposing counsel is... Wei Yiing. In case you don't know, she happens to be... oh, just one of the people who know just about my every movement and feeling practically around the clock. And I happen to treat her room like my own. Which might drive this point home now. I'm coming head to head with a close friend. We did not plan for this to happen! I think I shouldn't have looked too shell shocked in front of the whole class when the opposing counsel was announced, though, in my defense, she had an equally disbelieving look on her face. Our professor laughed and said he'd bring in boxing gloves jokingly. And the whole class knows that we come to class and leave it together every lecture. Kantoi or not, I ask you? Anywayyyyyyyyy, that's it for trials. Gonna be interesting.
In other news... um, the vacation plan? It isn't going so well. There's a big snag in our plans (and it involved a lot of anger that eventually simmered to frustration and then finally resolve) but we're coming up with alternatives now. Hope all goes well from now on.
That's all for now. Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
As of now, I am already overwhelmed by work (alright, in all honesty, I've been caught in a bigger flood). Tonight will be devoted to my major speech outline. And then there's that mini debate going on in class to prepare for. (I am thrilled to get another feel of debate - it's been too long.) On top of that, there are other deadlines to meet, persuasive speech topics to come up with, and other tests to take.
My answer to the question posed in the photo is TODAY! I agreed to be the defense attorney in my History class' mock trial. I remember going through my Sociology mock trial in my second semester. I regretted not signing up to be the lawyer because I ended up doing most of the lawyer's job and I enjoyed it (but it did not come without many sleepless nights and head-cracking brainstorming and script writing sessions).
Oh, and guess what takes the cake? My opposing counsel is... Wei Yiing. In case you don't know, she happens to be... oh, just one of the people who know just about my every movement and feeling practically around the clock. And I happen to treat her room like my own. Which might drive this point home now. I'm coming head to head with a close friend. We did not plan for this to happen! I think I shouldn't have looked too shell shocked in front of the whole class when the opposing counsel was announced, though, in my defense, she had an equally disbelieving look on her face. Our professor laughed and said he'd bring in boxing gloves jokingly. And the whole class knows that we come to class and leave it together every lecture. Kantoi or not, I ask you? Anywayyyyyyyyy, that's it for trials. Gonna be interesting.
In other news... um, the vacation plan? It isn't going so well. There's a big snag in our plans (and it involved a lot of anger that eventually simmered to frustration and then finally resolve) but we're coming up with alternatives now. Hope all goes well from now on.
That's all for now. Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Being
So what have I been up to?
1. Mugging - My History mid-term is on Friday. The word mugging itself has just been fortified in my vocabulary, given the amount of grey matter contributing to this activity as the mid-term approaches.
2. Crafting and celebrating - We all contributed to making Sher Minn's birthday card. I enjoyed making the covers a lot. Here's the front cover:
Doesn't look like a 19-year-old's birthday card, I know, but the three animals just had to be there! As for the pastel colors... well, we had to make do with the color papers we had. :P
And this is my personal page:
We celebrated her birthday last night. The surprise plan was foiled, but we had a good time anyway! :D
3. Organizing and reorganizing - My list of priorities, that is. Suddenly all the work came rushing in like a dam just burst. And the deadlines are all looming one after another. It's sort of like taking a train ride into one of those spooky mansions. Alright, that might be an odd and inappropriate comparison, but do excuse me because I just reluctantly got up from a nap in the best weather possible to sleep in.
4. Planning - Our post-finals vacation! I'm excited about this. I have a new found respect for people in the PR field. Trying to keep even a few people completely happy is difficult, what more a big group of people. Let's just say that I can't wait to get all the logistics down to the last detail ticked off the list and just relax and have fun.
5. Reconnecting - The more time passes, the easier it is to lose touch with friends. Sometimes in the late of the night, before I go to sleep, I wonder how you're doing. All of you. And sometimes I kick myself for not making the effort to say hello and catch up. So now, I'm doing my best to do that. (And you, thank you for saying hello.)
Alrighty. I might as well get a bit more reading done before I head out for dinner. Hungryyyyyy. Okay, I probably should stop here.
Have a good week, everyone!
1. Mugging - My History mid-term is on Friday. The word mugging itself has just been fortified in my vocabulary, given the amount of grey matter contributing to this activity as the mid-term approaches.
2. Crafting and celebrating - We all contributed to making Sher Minn's birthday card. I enjoyed making the covers a lot. Here's the front cover:
Doesn't look like a 19-year-old's birthday card, I know, but the three animals just had to be there! As for the pastel colors... well, we had to make do with the color papers we had. :PAnd this is my personal page:
We celebrated her birthday last night. The surprise plan was foiled, but we had a good time anyway! :D3. Organizing and reorganizing - My list of priorities, that is. Suddenly all the work came rushing in like a dam just burst. And the deadlines are all looming one after another. It's sort of like taking a train ride into one of those spooky mansions. Alright, that might be an odd and inappropriate comparison, but do excuse me because I just reluctantly got up from a nap in the best weather possible to sleep in.
4. Planning - Our post-finals vacation! I'm excited about this. I have a new found respect for people in the PR field. Trying to keep even a few people completely happy is difficult, what more a big group of people. Let's just say that I can't wait to get all the logistics down to the last detail ticked off the list and just relax and have fun.
5. Reconnecting - The more time passes, the easier it is to lose touch with friends. Sometimes in the late of the night, before I go to sleep, I wonder how you're doing. All of you. And sometimes I kick myself for not making the effort to say hello and catch up. So now, I'm doing my best to do that. (And you, thank you for saying hello.)
Alrighty. I might as well get a bit more reading done before I head out for dinner. Hungryyyyyy. Okay, I probably should stop here.
Have a good week, everyone!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hmm
I've been yawning every few minutes since about half an hour ago. It's only 9.39 pm! This is ridiculous. Last night, I gave up trying to keep awake and went to bed at 10.45 pm. 10.45 pm! I can't even remember the last time I went to sleep at that hour. I'd been getting comments on how tired I looked since after lunch yesterday. And tonight, here I am, yawning like nobody's business.
The puzzling part is I don't even know why I feel so lethargic. I didn't go for a jog. Nor did I spend 4 to 5 hours straight mugging. In fact, I had a free day (cheers to Wednesdays this semester) and it was spent hanging out with Olivia, getting more laughing and talking done rather than mugging. And we fought over chocolates - for about all of 10 seconds, before I said, "But we can just split them half each!", after which we proceeded to launch into a loud gale of laughter. Our maturity astounds me.
And today, I am happy to say that I'd found renewed motivation. :)
The puzzling part is I don't even know why I feel so lethargic. I didn't go for a jog. Nor did I spend 4 to 5 hours straight mugging. In fact, I had a free day (cheers to Wednesdays this semester) and it was spent hanging out with Olivia, getting more laughing and talking done rather than mugging. And we fought over chocolates - for about all of 10 seconds, before I said, "But we can just split them half each!", after which we proceeded to launch into a loud gale of laughter. Our maturity astounds me.
And today, I am happy to say that I'd found renewed motivation. :)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Undertones
We've just started Week 4. There's a part of me that is still going huh, where did the past three weeks go to? And then there's the other part that's soaking in historical facts, solving linear systems, and reciting speeches. Yeah, that's what I've been doing because I'm taking US History I, Linear Algebra, and Public Speaking this semester. You might be thinking, what an odd combination (if you're not in or familiar with the American education system), but that's just how we roll here. :)
Now for something unrelated. I've been having weird dreams. Like one involving our dog turning into a white and light brown Collie-looking dog when in actual fact, it's going to grow into a dark brown and black dog. Even in the dream, I was confused! (I'm starting to think this may be due to hugging Dodol too much. Now I'm starting to mix his color up with Lassie's... huh.) And I hate that stupid too-big contact lenses dream. I know I'm not artistically inclined, but can't I be just a bit more creative in my dreams? My subconscious deludes me.
If you're wondering if I still do have a life filled with more than just facts, numbers, and me talking to myself while staring at objects lined up on my desk and bed (this technique actually helps me... although it does start to get a little creepy after 10 minutes or so of doing it in a room alone), and weird subconscious thoughts, yes, I do.
With Ji Ding and Ruth at MidValley a couple of weeks ago. :)Now on to being a fact sponge again.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Exploring Melaka
Hello!
When we arrived in Melaka, we were rearing to go and explore the place and not to mention try the food! Our first stop was the Stadhuys where the bus stopped. After the obligatory touristy photo taking session, we headed to St Paul's Church where we looked at old tombstones and took more touristy photos. From there, we moved on to A Famosa, where we had fun with the neat looking floor and the cannons. More photo taking ensued.
The journey back to Seremban was filled with peals of laughter caused by weird and funny photos in both cameras that were brought along. Despite all the laughter, I could feel tiredness really getting to me, so I decided to take a nap. I did manage to doze off for a while, but when I woke up, there was a pain in my neck because of the position of the head rest. I was really thankful that the bus is comfortable and clean, though. Apparently, everyone felt a tad bit refreshed after cat napping on the bus because we were back to being noisy on the train on the way back to Nilai. This time, we did not play charades, though. :P
By the time we reached hostel grounds, it was already 10 pm. We grabbed some burgers for supper (strangely enough, we got hungry even after all the food we'd consumed) and then headed back about half an hour later (shortest supper session ever). I couldn't wait to jump into bed and sleep, but there was still some packing to do for school. My eyelids were heavy and my legs were tired. I searched high and low for my tube of Flanil but I couldn't find it (this morning, I found it in my bag), so I went to sleep with all the aches.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable trip, as I'd expected. Not only did I get to try authentic Melaka food, but more importantly, I got to spend some quality time with friends who made me laugh so much in just one day and who totally made my week. I think that's just awesome. :D
To start off, I'd like to say that I had an awesome week! It really feels like I've been back here for more than just a short two weeks, because I feel like I've already done so much more. I have to say, realizing that this is our last semester together here has injected a new sense of adventure in us. Or maybe it is just me. Either way, I think it's quite enjoyable. ;)
Yesterday, Wei Yiing, Bee, Olivia, Shervin, Yat Sin, Poh Yee, Ei Leen, and I set out from here to Seremban at 6.10 am. That is really, really early because I can't even remember the last time I woke up at 5.00 am, took a hot shower, had a complete breakfast, and stayed awake and alert for the whole day after that. Despite the terribly early hour, I was psyched for our trip to Melaka. I initially expected to nod off in the train on the way to Seremban, but we occupied ourselves by playing charades. I think the train does not usually have so many laughing college kids in one carriage at any time before 6.30 am.
Yesterday, Wei Yiing, Bee, Olivia, Shervin, Yat Sin, Poh Yee, Ei Leen, and I set out from here to Seremban at 6.10 am. That is really, really early because I can't even remember the last time I woke up at 5.00 am, took a hot shower, had a complete breakfast, and stayed awake and alert for the whole day after that. Despite the terribly early hour, I was psyched for our trip to Melaka. I initially expected to nod off in the train on the way to Seremban, but we occupied ourselves by playing charades. I think the train does not usually have so many laughing college kids in one carriage at any time before 6.30 am.
When we arrived in Melaka, we were rearing to go and explore the place and not to mention try the food! Our first stop was the Stadhuys where the bus stopped. After the obligatory touristy photo taking session, we headed to St Paul's Church where we looked at old tombstones and took more touristy photos. From there, we moved on to A Famosa, where we had fun with the neat looking floor and the cannons. More photo taking ensued.
After walking around the hilly area, we decided that it was time for lunch. We walked along flat land to get to the bridge heading to Jonker Walk. Our food quest was certainly the highlight of our trip. We stopped by a chicken rice stall that Karyn had recommended. The chicken rice balls were good. It's not that much different from normal chicken rice except that it has a denser texture and it is more sticky. The shape is really cute, too. :P The asam fish we had was awesome. I'm not one for asam dishes, but that one got me. I actually enjoyed eating fish! To top off our lunch, we crossed the road to a cendol stall and had some good ol' cold cendol. There is really nothing better than an icy dessert on a hot day! The guy operating the stall even took our photo and told us that he'd upload it on Facebook! (I've yet to look his page up.)
After our makan session, we did some window shopping. We entered almost all the souvenir shops along the rows where the chicken rice and cendol stores are. Jonker Gallery got us girls hooked. We entered all but one of the stores. :P We found some really good bargains on accessories, and, oh, how could we resist? Thankfully, we spent very little on souvenirs. The bulk of our expenses came from transportation and food.
After souvenir shopping, we took a time out by having more dessert - this time, at a really cool stall that offers durian-flavored ais kacang and cendol. I tried the durian ais kacang since I'd already had cendol earlier and I totally do not regret it. It tasted so good that I think I could've easily had another bowl of it! Once we'd decided that we'd had a long enough pit stop, it was on to the temples. Me, Ei Leen, and Yat Sin spent more time in another souvenir shop while the rest toured the oldest temple in the country and then another temple opposite the road. We sure made full use of our umbrellas yesterday as it was scorching hot.
More walking followed as we made our way to three museums. I don't remember all their names, but I do remember that one of them is the navy museum. The first one that we entered is the one housed in a replica of a ship. That time, I was already feeling worn out, so I took the time to unwind as we walked through the belly of the ship, looking at the exhibits. Two museums after that, it was time to whet our appetite again. (Don't we sound like complete gluttons now? Uh-oh.) After a quick call to a Melaka resident, we made our way back to Jonker Walk. We dined at Nancy's Kitchen following Sher Minn's recommendation, where we had authentic Baba Nyonya food. We had two chicken dishes, one vegetable dish, and a fish. It was a really scrumptious dinner that left me sated and really happy.
We were hoping to catch the 5.30 pm bus back to Seremban but by the time we piled into the uncle's car (he owns the restaurant; he offered us a lift - for a fee - to the bus station), it was already only 10 more minutes to 5.30 pm. We missed the bus by a few minutes, so we spent the next hour in McD where we split all the tabs and carried out all our monetary transactions. I couldn't resist getting myself a sundae (oh, I can hear Wei Yiing going you pig now). I guess my tired face must have lit up when I scanned the menu because Yat Sin said, oh, aren't you happy to see ice cream? I should've just stepped away from the counter! Meh.After souvenir shopping, we took a time out by having more dessert - this time, at a really cool stall that offers durian-flavored ais kacang and cendol. I tried the durian ais kacang since I'd already had cendol earlier and I totally do not regret it. It tasted so good that I think I could've easily had another bowl of it! Once we'd decided that we'd had a long enough pit stop, it was on to the temples. Me, Ei Leen, and Yat Sin spent more time in another souvenir shop while the rest toured the oldest temple in the country and then another temple opposite the road. We sure made full use of our umbrellas yesterday as it was scorching hot.
More walking followed as we made our way to three museums. I don't remember all their names, but I do remember that one of them is the navy museum. The first one that we entered is the one housed in a replica of a ship. That time, I was already feeling worn out, so I took the time to unwind as we walked through the belly of the ship, looking at the exhibits. Two museums after that, it was time to whet our appetite again. (Don't we sound like complete gluttons now? Uh-oh.) After a quick call to a Melaka resident, we made our way back to Jonker Walk. We dined at Nancy's Kitchen following Sher Minn's recommendation, where we had authentic Baba Nyonya food. We had two chicken dishes, one vegetable dish, and a fish. It was a really scrumptious dinner that left me sated and really happy.
The journey back to Seremban was filled with peals of laughter caused by weird and funny photos in both cameras that were brought along. Despite all the laughter, I could feel tiredness really getting to me, so I decided to take a nap. I did manage to doze off for a while, but when I woke up, there was a pain in my neck because of the position of the head rest. I was really thankful that the bus is comfortable and clean, though. Apparently, everyone felt a tad bit refreshed after cat napping on the bus because we were back to being noisy on the train on the way back to Nilai. This time, we did not play charades, though. :P
By the time we reached hostel grounds, it was already 10 pm. We grabbed some burgers for supper (strangely enough, we got hungry even after all the food we'd consumed) and then headed back about half an hour later (shortest supper session ever). I couldn't wait to jump into bed and sleep, but there was still some packing to do for school. My eyelids were heavy and my legs were tired. I searched high and low for my tube of Flanil but I couldn't find it (this morning, I found it in my bag), so I went to sleep with all the aches.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable trip, as I'd expected. Not only did I get to try authentic Melaka food, but more importantly, I got to spend some quality time with friends who made me laugh so much in just one day and who totally made my week. I think that's just awesome. :D Saturday, January 9, 2010
Out and about
Ah, so the first week of school has gone by. Honestly, it feels as if more than a week has passed. I guess it's because I've gotten so accustomed to my routines here that it doesn't feel like I'd just taken a long break from it. In fact, this time, I settled back in much more easily that I'd thought (of course, that excludes the more frequent hunger pangs that I experience as a result of all the pigging out at home). And a big part of this is also contributed by the fact that I've been out and about more than I'd planned to. All the previous semesters, the first week had always been the most relaxing, but it used to consist of just chilling in the room, maybe going out once. But I've outdone myself this time.
On Tuesday, we went to Seremban on a whim. Before lunch, the idea to go karaoke popped up. A half hour later or so, we found ourselves on the way to Seremban. By the time we got back, my feet were hurting quite badly (guess the old pair of shoes I wore had hardened or something - this is what I get for forgetting to pack my sneakers and flats - argh). Results of the day: a lot of singing, some chicken, three painful blisters.
On Thursday, I spent my time zoning out in the bus as I travelled to Subang for the concert. There was some rushing around done on the day. Results of the day: a lot of singing again, a lot of excitement, a lot of sweat, and fatigue.
Yesterday, I met up with Ruth, Eric, and Ji Ding. We spent some time in Diva (it's as if almost every time I go to MidV, I'll end up in that store) and in Sushi King (yes, I actually eat sushi - but don't make me try the eel yet). I saw photos taken from the last time all of us met up (AHEM, Ruth). There was a funny exchange of gifts outside MNG. I was the only one who was clued in to all three exchanges - I do not want to be in such a position anymore. It was hard to figure out what to say to who when opposing sides talked to me at the same time.
JD and I spent some time feeling like displayed animals in the zoo when we were busy scribbling in cards in the ladies' room because of the way everyone was staring at us so blatantly - even when they saw us looking behind our shoulders. The girl beside JD had her eyes glued on us the entire time she stood at the mirrors (it wasn't like we took up so much space that no one could check their hair and make up!). But anyway, all in all, it was a good day out. :D
Right now, I'm taking the time to complete my public speaking task and catch up on some reading. It feels good to sit down and have some time to myself for a while. I hope you'd had a great week too. And have a better one ahead! :)
On Tuesday, we went to Seremban on a whim. Before lunch, the idea to go karaoke popped up. A half hour later or so, we found ourselves on the way to Seremban. By the time we got back, my feet were hurting quite badly (guess the old pair of shoes I wore had hardened or something - this is what I get for forgetting to pack my sneakers and flats - argh). Results of the day: a lot of singing, some chicken, three painful blisters.
On Thursday, I spent my time zoning out in the bus as I travelled to Subang for the concert. There was some rushing around done on the day. Results of the day: a lot of singing again, a lot of excitement, a lot of sweat, and fatigue.
Yesterday, I met up with Ruth, Eric, and Ji Ding. We spent some time in Diva (it's as if almost every time I go to MidV, I'll end up in that store) and in Sushi King (yes, I actually eat sushi - but don't make me try the eel yet). I saw photos taken from the last time all of us met up (AHEM, Ruth). There was a funny exchange of gifts outside MNG. I was the only one who was clued in to all three exchanges - I do not want to be in such a position anymore. It was hard to figure out what to say to who when opposing sides talked to me at the same time.
JD and I spent some time feeling like displayed animals in the zoo when we were busy scribbling in cards in the ladies' room because of the way everyone was staring at us so blatantly - even when they saw us looking behind our shoulders. The girl beside JD had her eyes glued on us the entire time she stood at the mirrors (it wasn't like we took up so much space that no one could check their hair and make up!). But anyway, all in all, it was a good day out. :D
Right now, I'm taking the time to complete my public speaking task and catch up on some reading. It feels good to sit down and have some time to myself for a while. I hope you'd had a great week too. And have a better one ahead! :)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Ne-Yo in KL
The Ne-Yo concert last night was amazing. It was my first real concert and I must say that it was worth attending. Ji Ding and I had been wanting to go to a concert together, but somehow our plans failed to materialize, until the end of last year when she asked if I want edto see Ne-Yo live. Of course I jumped at the opportunity.
We stood in line at around 6 pm. We were only allowed to enter the concert venue at 8 pm. The 2 hours of standing in line was quite tiring. Not only were we sandwiched amongst sweaty bodies, we also had to endure cigarette smoke swirling around and also someone complaining loudly for a long time behind us. Oh, well. We entertained ourselves by people watching, talking, and taking a few photos. We instantly regretted not borrowing someone's camera when we realized that we could've brought one in. :( Ahh, what to do.
Anyway, the opening act started at about half past 8. The crowd was trickling in and getting hyped up. After five songs (if I remember correctly), the crowd was hyped up and ready to see the man himself. The hosts came out and entertained the audience for a while, getting everyone to chant Ne-Yo's name. Once the crowd was sufficiently geared up for what we had all gone to see, Ne-Yo walked onto the stage, causing a mad wave of screaming to ensue. It was then that I realized why it feels so great to be at a concert to watch an artiste that you really like perform. I was positively euphoric throughout the first song, Because of You.
Everyone was sweating buckets but no one seemed to care once the show got rolling. I do not remember the set listing, but I do know for a fact that his performance was really entertaining. He not only sang, but also got the crowd ooh-ing and aah-ing at the littlest things. In between songs, he interacted with the crowd and got everybody hanging on for more. The crowd was mad.
The concert ended around 11.15 pm after he performed Closer, which I think is a brilliantly fitting end to the night, what with the choreography and excitement level at the time. We left Sunway Lagoon, we were like ecstatic little girls who had been given a free lifetime supply of Barbie dolls. Walking out of the Purple Zone and turning back to look at the stage, all I could think was WOW.
I loved every single bit of the concert. And I am glad that we went to the concert, even if it meant sweating like I'd run 6 laps, worrying if waterproof make up really does its job well (it did - whoever invented waterproof make up, thank you so much), sleeping at 3.20 am (after supper and a period of a big adrenaline rush) and waking up at 6.00 am today to come back here. I walked into the hostel area feeling dog tired but still excited. And thank goodness for caffeine that gave me just the right boost that I needed to keep me going until 12 pm. Much to my own surprise, I only caved in and paid off my sleep debt at almost 3.00 pm.
Here's a big, big thank you to Ji Ding for the hospitality and awesome company. Also, not forgetting our patient driver, Kingston, who waited and waited as the crowd went by without signs of us anywhere. (Kings, we told you to go there later ma. Hmmmh.) As a treat, I let him listen to a minute or two of the concert through the phone. (I still think he should have just bought the ticket and came with us.. Hah!) And thank you to Jonathan for his softer hair which I loved and his same ol' sarcastic remarks (and should I say inability to pick up hints?). You all made my night!
It was one of the best nights I've ever had. :)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Rawr
Oh, lookie. It's almost 1 am and I'm still awake when I'm supposed to collect sleeping hours when I can. Facebook = cute guys = stalker alert = a lot of time wasted. Go figure. :P Yeah, I know, what am I doing checking guys out on Facebook when I'm supposed to finish packing up? (I need a real good cuci mata session, though. Sigh.)
Oh yeah, I'm going on a short trip. :D
Why didn't I talk to this guy when I had the chance to? Missed opportunity yo. Whatever possessed him to add me on Facebook, I don't know. All I remember is that he was in one of my groups during... okay, no further information will be disclosed. :P (Pssssst, Ding...)
Whoops. Karyn just reminded me to pack my toiletries. ZZZ. How could I forget those? Aiyo!
Have a good weak ahead, everyone! :)
Oh yeah, I'm going on a short trip. :D
Why didn't I talk to this guy when I had the chance to? Missed opportunity yo. Whatever possessed him to add me on Facebook, I don't know. All I remember is that he was in one of my groups during... okay, no further information will be disclosed. :P (Pssssst, Ding...)
Whoops. Karyn just reminded me to pack my toiletries. ZZZ. How could I forget those? Aiyo!
Have a good weak ahead, everyone! :)
Friday, October 30, 2009
The LPB strikes
My room is kinda like a shipwreck now. My belongings are all over the place. It's like KABOOM and my stuff went flying everywhere! Okay, not that dramatic lah. It's more like I climbed on the chair to clear the top of my wardrobe and chucked all my things into the box and one luggage bag. I was struck by the sudden urge to start packing while having my lunch of free nasi lemak. :D
So everything came out and got sorted into (not so neat) piles of things. I even stuck labels on the walls and desk to indicate what each pile is. I don't really trust my organizational instincts to do other stuff when my mind is so occupied with things that involve ions, equations, and the like, so, yeah, labels it is. I employed the very quick and relatively pain-free technique of sorting my clothes. I simply picked them up one by one and chucked them into wherever I thought they should go. Often times, I find myself keeping clothes that I don't actually wear, so I figured I might as well stop lying to myself and start sorting them out appropriately.
The thing that gets to me most besides the lack of storage space (should've gotten two big boxes) is the copious amount of paper that I have collected over four semesters. After taking about 13 courses here, I've managed to hoard A LOT of paper. Calculus made me consume the most paper, I think, judging from the height of the pile of Calculus notes, tutorials, test papers, and whatnot. Thank goodness for wonderful friends like Karyn who was willing to come upstairs and spend some time sorting through all my papers and organizing them. She even left them in neat piles on the bed, arranged by order of exercises, tutorials, tests, etc. and threw out the stuff that I don't want to keep. Oh, what would I do without such willing friends? :D
As of now, the only section of the room that is still pretty much the same way it was when I woke up this morning is my desk. It is still cluttered because I have textbooks, exercise books, and loose sheets of paper everywhere. That's just how it is when I'm deep in work. I think it's safe to conclude that the level of atrocity of the mess that I create is directly proportional to the amount of work that I'm doing. So I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I just can't be bothered to clear up the mess when people come over to my room. (I'm so sorry, my dear friends, but you know well enough that you can just move the stuff around if you need somewhere to sit!)
So everything came out and got sorted into (not so neat) piles of things. I even stuck labels on the walls and desk to indicate what each pile is. I don't really trust my organizational instincts to do other stuff when my mind is so occupied with things that involve ions, equations, and the like, so, yeah, labels it is. I employed the very quick and relatively pain-free technique of sorting my clothes. I simply picked them up one by one and chucked them into wherever I thought they should go. Often times, I find myself keeping clothes that I don't actually wear, so I figured I might as well stop lying to myself and start sorting them out appropriately.
The thing that gets to me most besides the lack of storage space (should've gotten two big boxes) is the copious amount of paper that I have collected over four semesters. After taking about 13 courses here, I've managed to hoard A LOT of paper. Calculus made me consume the most paper, I think, judging from the height of the pile of Calculus notes, tutorials, test papers, and whatnot. Thank goodness for wonderful friends like Karyn who was willing to come upstairs and spend some time sorting through all my papers and organizing them. She even left them in neat piles on the bed, arranged by order of exercises, tutorials, tests, etc. and threw out the stuff that I don't want to keep. Oh, what would I do without such willing friends? :D
As of now, the only section of the room that is still pretty much the same way it was when I woke up this morning is my desk. It is still cluttered because I have textbooks, exercise books, and loose sheets of paper everywhere. That's just how it is when I'm deep in work. I think it's safe to conclude that the level of atrocity of the mess that I create is directly proportional to the amount of work that I'm doing. So I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I just can't be bothered to clear up the mess when people come over to my room. (I'm so sorry, my dear friends, but you know well enough that you can just move the stuff around if you need somewhere to sit!)
I cannot wait for my second and last final paper of the year to be over! I can't wait to be liberated! Because then I can finish packing up and sit back to enjoy the shows that are waiting to be feasted upon! AHHHHHHHHH.
Can't wait to be home too! (Though I might start saying how bored I feel in the first week... Just ignore me if I do...)
As for now, I shall just ignore the joyous cries that occasionally reach my ears from outside my room and the many Facebook statuses that proclaim other people's freedom from the clutches of exams and focus on my own work. I have kept my butt on the chair to study for a big portion of the day. Just a bit more, and then I shall join them in their joyous cries! (Though, actually, most people have already gone back or are going back tomorrow.) But it is okay! Because, woohoo, HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!
(Yeah, it's the last paper bug getting to me.)
Can't wait to be home too! (Though I might start saying how bored I feel in the first week... Just ignore me if I do...)
As for now, I shall just ignore the joyous cries that occasionally reach my ears from outside my room and the many Facebook statuses that proclaim other people's freedom from the clutches of exams and focus on my own work. I have kept my butt on the chair to study for a big portion of the day. Just a bit more, and then I shall join them in their joyous cries! (Though, actually, most people have already gone back or are going back tomorrow.) But it is okay! Because, woohoo, HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!
(Yeah, it's the last paper bug getting to me.)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Treasure trove
Look what I found in my old photo albums!
Debbie and I at Julita's birthday party.
Fateen and I during Raya '06, I think.
When digital cameras were all the rage. (By the way, that's our 3A1 shirt.)
BB/GB carolling at our home. :)
Christmas carollers from BB and GB. :D
BB/GB Annual Gathering '06 - Hawaiian Night - uhhh, yeah. :P (I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT SKIRT IS ANYMORE, DON'T GIMME THAT LOOK!)
At the Friendship Park when it was new. (Oh, the days of zits... ARGH!)
Chia Hsin and I when we were so young and innocent at 14. (I don't think either of us can imagine looking like that again!)
Keeping up our Lantern Festival tradition at Chia Hsin's home. :D (I forgot when this was taken.)
Debbie and I at Julita's birthday party.
Fateen and I during Raya '06, I think.
When digital cameras were all the rage. (By the way, that's our 3A1 shirt.)
BB/GB carolling at our home. :)
Christmas carollers from BB and GB. :D
BB/GB Annual Gathering '06 - Hawaiian Night - uhhh, yeah. :P (I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT SKIRT IS ANYMORE, DON'T GIMME THAT LOOK!)
BB/GB Annual Gathering '06 organizers.
Nett and I. :)
Nett and I. :)
At the Friendship Park when it was new. (Oh, the days of zits... ARGH!)
Chia Hsin and I when we were so young and innocent at 14. (I don't think either of us can imagine looking like that again!)
Keeping up our Lantern Festival tradition at Chia Hsin's home. :D (I forgot when this was taken.)Ah, the good ol' days when digital cameras were so new and amazing! Now that we all have cell phones with built-in cameras that can contend with real cameras and dSLRs (no, I don't know what it stands for) that can make amateurs take photos almost like professionals, gone are the days when digital cameras are all the hype.
I love these photos, even if they do make me cringe sometimes, and go 'the hair! the zits! the eyebrows! the atrocity!'. (Well, I've already discovered hair care techniques, facial products that work, shavers and tweezers for eyebrows - and yes, they hurt, but whatevaaah - so thank goodness for all that!)
If you're wondering what possessed me to go dig up all my old fugly photos (okay, so I'm not completely over the eyebrows... can you blame me?), well... I just felt like it. :)
I love these photos, even if they do make me cringe sometimes, and go 'the hair! the zits! the eyebrows! the atrocity!'. (Well, I've already discovered hair care techniques, facial products that work, shavers and tweezers for eyebrows - and yes, they hurt, but whatevaaah - so thank goodness for all that!)
If you're wondering what possessed me to go dig up all my old fugly photos (okay, so I'm not completely over the eyebrows... can you blame me?), well... I just felt like it. :)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Taking a breather in the city
I had the whole day free to do anything I please today. So my shopping partner and I headed off to 1Utama with the guys and a car. Do you know how happy we are to venture into civilization every once in a while? :P
Lunch and dinner were mediocre. My first Italiannes experience could have been better, I guess, but I ended up forcing myself to finish up my plate of spaghetti because the tomato flavor was getting really overwhelming. Remind me not to eat anything tomato-related for the next week or so. A Carls Jr burger made for a quick dinner. Also a first for me as the only thing I'd ever tried in Carls Jr before this is the wedges. All in all, not the best meals I'd had outside, especially between shopping walks, but they were alright la.
We watched Surrogates after lunch. It is an okay movie, in my opinion. The parts with a lot of action were exciting and intense. But there were a few confusing parts when one character acted in several roles. Go watch it and you'll get what I mean. Not being a fan of action movie may make my views slightly biased, but I think it isn't anything to shout about. You get to see Bruce Willis acting as a depressed, frustrated man who plays out his life as an FBI agent through his surrogate. And everyone else is just as fake because no real humans are actually going out of their homes to live their lives on their own. Instead, they just sit at home in their pajamas and control their surrogates. It's kinda creepy, actually. My rating is a 3/5.
We did plenty of walking but much less buying than I'd expected. I forgot to buy a brush for my broken lipstick. :( And I originally wanted to get a new ring but I just couldn't find one/a bunch that I liked. We entered so many stores but ended up empty-handed. What is this la... On the other hand, it didn't make me feel so guilty for splurging on another pair of jeans. This is the last pair I'm buying this year. (Yeah, two more months to this year, and I say this.. Heh) But I can justify! :P Dorothy Perkins stocks reasonably priced jeans that fit me, so buy I say. :D
So that wraps up today. I actually have a lot of other things to mention, like the orchestra concert that I attended two weeks ago, but there are some things that need to be done at the moment.
Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
Lunch and dinner were mediocre. My first Italiannes experience could have been better, I guess, but I ended up forcing myself to finish up my plate of spaghetti because the tomato flavor was getting really overwhelming. Remind me not to eat anything tomato-related for the next week or so. A Carls Jr burger made for a quick dinner. Also a first for me as the only thing I'd ever tried in Carls Jr before this is the wedges. All in all, not the best meals I'd had outside, especially between shopping walks, but they were alright la.
We watched Surrogates after lunch. It is an okay movie, in my opinion. The parts with a lot of action were exciting and intense. But there were a few confusing parts when one character acted in several roles. Go watch it and you'll get what I mean. Not being a fan of action movie may make my views slightly biased, but I think it isn't anything to shout about. You get to see Bruce Willis acting as a depressed, frustrated man who plays out his life as an FBI agent through his surrogate. And everyone else is just as fake because no real humans are actually going out of their homes to live their lives on their own. Instead, they just sit at home in their pajamas and control their surrogates. It's kinda creepy, actually. My rating is a 3/5.
We did plenty of walking but much less buying than I'd expected. I forgot to buy a brush for my broken lipstick. :( And I originally wanted to get a new ring but I just couldn't find one/a bunch that I liked. We entered so many stores but ended up empty-handed. What is this la... On the other hand, it didn't make me feel so guilty for splurging on another pair of jeans. This is the last pair I'm buying this year. (Yeah, two more months to this year, and I say this.. Heh) But I can justify! :P Dorothy Perkins stocks reasonably priced jeans that fit me, so buy I say. :D
So that wraps up today. I actually have a lot of other things to mention, like the orchestra concert that I attended two weeks ago, but there are some things that need to be done at the moment.
Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wrap-up
Hello. It is the last day of September 2009. According to Malaysian time, there is approximately 11 minutes left to this day.
I turned 19 this month. Celebrating my 19th year of life was nothing big, as I'd expected. After all, the whole birthday hype gets played down more with age. But this year I got more than I'd wanted. Here in school, I had my own little pizza/birthday cake celebration a few days before the real day. I also got to go home and celebrate my birthday by waking up late and doing whatever I wanted for the rest of the day that ended with a big, scrumptious dinner. And then I returned home to resume my position in front of the big box, I think. That was pretty much it.
Oh, presents. Che che brought me some stuff which I love (and a whole lot of chocolates that kinda scare me when I see them all at once). Friends here got me two muffins, a black and white pashmina, a bottle of body lotion, and a box of blueberry puffs from M&S that I love. And just yesterday, Sher Minn delivered a banana key chain she made out of felt cloth. (Get the symbolism?) :D Thanks for the gifts, everyone. :)
Ah, September. How it whizzed right by.
It's past midnight now. Into October we roll.
It has been a month of (mostly) relaxation. Entering a short semester felt different from starting another long semester. For one, I took subjects that I hadn't been in touch with since July of last year. It took some readjusting and recollection before my gears started turning more smoothly. (Does knowledge really go away? Or is it stored somewhere we don't know how to fully access?)
I turned 19 this month. Celebrating my 19th year of life was nothing big, as I'd expected. After all, the whole birthday hype gets played down more with age. But this year I got more than I'd wanted. Here in school, I had my own little pizza/birthday cake celebration a few days before the real day. I also got to go home and celebrate my birthday by waking up late and doing whatever I wanted for the rest of the day that ended with a big, scrumptious dinner. And then I returned home to resume my position in front of the big box, I think. That was pretty much it.
Oh, presents. Che che brought me some stuff which I love (and a whole lot of chocolates that kinda scare me when I see them all at once). Friends here got me two muffins, a black and white pashmina, a bottle of body lotion, and a box of blueberry puffs from M&S that I love. And just yesterday, Sher Minn delivered a banana key chain she made out of felt cloth. (Get the symbolism?) :D Thanks for the gifts, everyone. :)
Ah, September. How it whizzed right by.
It's past midnight now. Into October we roll.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Woohoo!
It's been quite a week!
I've been wrecking my sleep pattern - again - so what else is new? I have also discovered that sometimes, it's okay to do what you want to do and not give in to outside influences, as long as it is a good decision and it pays off in the end. And I'm regaining my skills in conducting Chemistry experiments! Having not done any natural science subjects in over a year, I knew that whatever knowledge that I'd acquired prior to my time here might have more than just evaporated from the crevices of my mind. But I'm finding myself slowly recalling the things that I'd already learned and done before. Now if only I can find my old Chemistry notes...
Now that both my tests are over and done with, it's time to kick back and relax for a bit. We're already halfway into the semester; I really didn't think that time would fly by so much faster in this short semester. It's kind of scary sometimes when I take a look at the calendar and realize that we're nearing the final exam dates faster than I'd thought we are. It's like a time warp took place.
Yesterday was a lot of fun. In the afternoon, I managed to indulge in a McD meal, watch 4 episodes of House back to back, paint all my nails, and do nothing else that is remotely productive. I couldn't have felt more contented, just bumming around in my room, filling the air with the smell of nail polish and the sound of House picking on his team of doctors.
In the evening, I ordered in pizzas for dinner. While I was wolfing down the last bit of my pizza slice, a cake was placed on the pantry table. I stared at it blankly for a second too long before realizing that it was a birthday cake - my birthday cake! It turned out that the girls had planned to have pizza to celebrate my birthday (the funny thing is that I placed the order and paid for the food... hello, where's my reimbursement? Haha!) while they hid the cake in Beng Yen's room. I didn't suspect a thing. Sneaky, you all! But a big thank you goes to Wei Yiing, Karyn, Beng Yen, Wendy, Olivia, and Bee for the celebration! :D
I've been wrecking my sleep pattern - again - so what else is new? I have also discovered that sometimes, it's okay to do what you want to do and not give in to outside influences, as long as it is a good decision and it pays off in the end. And I'm regaining my skills in conducting Chemistry experiments! Having not done any natural science subjects in over a year, I knew that whatever knowledge that I'd acquired prior to my time here might have more than just evaporated from the crevices of my mind. But I'm finding myself slowly recalling the things that I'd already learned and done before. Now if only I can find my old Chemistry notes...
Now that both my tests are over and done with, it's time to kick back and relax for a bit. We're already halfway into the semester; I really didn't think that time would fly by so much faster in this short semester. It's kind of scary sometimes when I take a look at the calendar and realize that we're nearing the final exam dates faster than I'd thought we are. It's like a time warp took place.
Yesterday was a lot of fun. In the afternoon, I managed to indulge in a McD meal, watch 4 episodes of House back to back, paint all my nails, and do nothing else that is remotely productive. I couldn't have felt more contented, just bumming around in my room, filling the air with the smell of nail polish and the sound of House picking on his team of doctors.
In the evening, I ordered in pizzas for dinner. While I was wolfing down the last bit of my pizza slice, a cake was placed on the pantry table. I stared at it blankly for a second too long before realizing that it was a birthday cake - my birthday cake! It turned out that the girls had planned to have pizza to celebrate my birthday (the funny thing is that I placed the order and paid for the food... hello, where's my reimbursement? Haha!) while they hid the cake in Beng Yen's room. I didn't suspect a thing. Sneaky, you all! But a big thank you goes to Wei Yiing, Karyn, Beng Yen, Wendy, Olivia, and Bee for the celebration! :D
After dinner, it was karaoke time! I sang for three hours (with mini breaks in between when I either wasn't familiar with the song or just tired) with Wei Yiing and Olivia. We left the place with clothes and hair that reeked of cigarette smoke. Ergh. But I really enjoyed the karaoke session! That made my third time K-ing here. I wanna go to a better place next time. :P
Right now, I have a big load of laundry to do. I've got to pack up too because I'm going home tomorrow for a short break. I've been waiting for this for so long (not the break itself, but something else). I'm so excited! :D
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Friday, September 11, 2009
I'm pretty amazed
You know something is a bit off when I blog at 2.02 am. But then again, seeing as how my sleep cycle has gone a bit out of whack since this semester started (classes begin at 10 am or 12 pm for me, with the exception of one 8 am class on Thursday), maybe this shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Hmmm.
I had a refreshing start to Friday by relaxing. (Yeah, I know how dissatisfied some people must feel right now. I'm so sorry.) After lunch, I stepped into the music room to be greeted with the sight of a full-grown cockroach running around. Now, I am proud to say that I do not run away or scream at the sight of a cockroach anymore, even though I admit that I still feel a very deep sense of anger and hatred for the creature (sigh, I can't help it). I couldn't bring myself to step on the dirty creature because 1) I didn't want to have to clean its remains off the carpeted floor, 2) I didn't want my shoe to be stained with roach remains (URGH!), and 3) IT'S BIG. Yeah, how reason #3 is relevant isn't very clear to myself either. I just scared it off the low stage in front and then lost sight of it after it scurried beneath the big chair. I think it might have gone into the wastepaper basket. Double URGH.
Anyway, I had a good 2-hour practice session after that. I'm looking forward to mastering the whole 6-page piece soon. It's been so long since I played the piano very seriously (except when it comes to a few pieces that I really like) and it's been a good 3 years or so since I last performed in front of an audience. So, yeah, I've got to prepare well for my music presentation. Despite feeling as if my pinky is falling off after practicing the whole piece over and over (and making myself rather bored of the melody in time), I feel a sense of satisfaction when I complete the piece, knowing that this time was better than the last one.
I have to keep reminding myself of my piano teachers' words, that before I run, I must learn how to crawl and then walk, and also that I must sit my butt down to practice until I get it right, regardless of how long I must do it (or something to that effect; you catch my drift). Anyway, this is the product of 6 years of piano lessons and theory and aural classes. I think I've gained a greater appreciation of all that by taking up music this semester.
The evening was spent at the pasar malam where I indulged in some jagung, keropok lekor, and apple and chocolate chip cake. Dinner was Hainanese chicken rice. The rice is soooo gooood. YUM. But I was quite disappointed because there seemed to be fewer food stalls there, probably because some of them moved to the Ramadhan bazaar not too far away from the pasar malam. I noticed that even the man selling balloons (really cute ones like Spongebob and Doraemon!) wasn't there tonight.
After spending a bit less than an hour at the pasar malam, we proceeded to crash Karyn's room to eat. And then we stayed there to talk for 4 hours. Until 1 am. I AM BEYOND AMAZED at how much we talked tonight. I completely lost track of time until I caught sight of the clock that read 12.45. ARGH. I can get really absorbed in a conversation that I totally forget about the time, even though my body gets tired and I start yawning. Such is my determination to talk! But, hey, it's not all fluff between the ears kinda talk. We had a rather enlightening discussion on religion which I enjoyed. I find that I'm beginning to become more interested in more serious topics like religion and philosophy nowadays (thanks, Chia Hsin, for the insight on the stuff you learn). I really do find theories and speculations interesting especially in science (did you know that some people believe that water has feelings?) and the unknown. I guess it stemmed from a deep curiosity of the workings of the world.
Why am I talking about this now? It's 2.25 am. Off I go to sleep. All this deep talk will need to wait for another day.
Oh, hang on. Guess what I encountered when I entered the bathroom at about 1.15 am? Another full-grown cockroach! This time, it was running under the row of sinks. I sprayed generous amounts of insecticide on it before it gave up its frantic escape and fell onto its back. Yes, I kill cockroaches. And I do so with less apprehension now. Phew. (What's all this cockroach talk, you ask? This is me churning out my thoughts in the wee hours of the morning.)
Okay, lights off!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Part 2
Monday
Off to the beach! We checked into our room that overlooked the beach in Damai Puri. The view was breathtaking. Given how long it had been since I'd last been to a decent beach, I was overjoyed at the prospect of having a whole day to frolic in the sun. As soon as we reached the room, I officiated the bed (I love doing that!) and we proceeded to chuck our belongings around. After some light snacks and a few rounds of card games (and not to mention marvelling at the huge shower head that is more than enough for two persons to use at once... go figure), we decided to head down to the real deal. (But before that, we just had to snap some photos after stopping by the reception desk to make a few inquiries.)
Off to the beach! We checked into our room that overlooked the beach in Damai Puri. The view was breathtaking. Given how long it had been since I'd last been to a decent beach, I was overjoyed at the prospect of having a whole day to frolic in the sun. As soon as we reached the room, I officiated the bed (I love doing that!) and we proceeded to chuck our belongings around. After some light snacks and a few rounds of card games (and not to mention marvelling at the huge shower head that is more than enough for two persons to use at once... go figure), we decided to head down to the real deal. (But before that, we just had to snap some photos after stopping by the reception desk to make a few inquiries.)
Flufffffffyyyyyyyy *muffled voice*
Kiddy pool outside the room
I initially wanted a spot near the deck but we spotted a vacant spot not too far off. Walking on the scorching sand, even with slippers on, is not recommended. I hate walking on hot surfaces like sand that has been baked under the sun for a good 5 hours, so doing that was a big discomfort to me. But there was no way else to reach the sunbathing seats with the umbrella. I was kinda transfixed on the umbrella because the heat was crazy (yeah, were not that fond of the sun, ya know?). But we were determined to just go ahead and get into the water before the heat got too overwhelming. I think the ang moh beside us must've been puzzled as to why we were so impatient to run into the water when the heat was so inviting to him. I don't know how people sunbathe and no, I shall not do it here.
Ah, 'tis the life!
One of my favorite photos. It's postcard perfect. :)
We spent a good few hours dipping in the water. I wanted to collect sea shells but there were none around. :( But I gotta say, I think Damai Puri has the nicest, cleanest stretch of the beach. Plus, we went there at an off-peak time, so the beach was not packed and there was more than sufficient space for everyone to pick their own spots. Throughout the few hours, I alternated between splashing around, wading deeper into the water and letting the waves break around me, sitting on the still baking sand to make a cute-looking tortoise (I can say it looks cute because there is no photograph to prove it otherwise), taking photos, and just enjoying the view. Here are the photos before we headed to the pool to wash off, feeling dog-tired (okay, so that was just me and Wei Yiing. Wendy still had plenty of energy in her because she didn't join us in the water... yerrrrh.*gives the look*)
At night, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant and were left unimpressed by the service. The food made up for it, though, because we left for our room feeling stuffed. My chicken teriyaki was really good, although I'd have preferred it to be a bit less salty. After a few pieces of chicken, I felt so full that I kinda dreaded eating the basket of fries that I'd ordered. (My declining capacity sure isn't translating to a healthy reduction in weight and size. That's just plain irritating. Sigh.) After dinner, we came back to a cut in the water supply. I thought that it was just a problem in our room, but a call to the reception desk confirmed otherwise. And what is the last thing you should feel like doing when there is no water? Shitting. Because if you shit, no one else can pee or shit or do anything in the fancy hotel bathroom, thus resulting in not only a terrible smelling room, but also roommates who try very hard to ignore the existence of any sort of excrement.. and, well, that is just a really bad scene. Yeah, I know, too graphic. Deal with it. :P
Since there was nothing else to do, we played cards again. It was a good night to learn more card skills so I won't be such a noob when it comes to card games that just about everybody else knows how to play. Following the card games was a short discussion over who got which side of the bed and how much of the blanket each person was supposed to get. But I don't remember being an active participant in the "discussion" because, well, I just did my signature fusing and that was that. XD
Tuesday
In the morning, we woke up early (and had some hot water - thank goodness) and had a very filling breakfast. After breakfast, it was on to the Cultural Village. Having not been there for, I'd say about 10 years, I'd forgotten the layout of the place, so we just had to follow the brochure that we got. We only got brochures and not the passports that visitors normally get because only visitors who pay the full-price of RM60 for adults and RM30 for children get the passports, while visitors who pay the discounted price for students at RM15 get the brochures. Oh, well. I didn't mind because at least I got to tour around the place at a quarter of the price I'd have to pay otherwise.
At the entrance to the Sarawak Cultural Village
Near the entrance
Wendy and me walking on the Bidayuh bamboo bridge
At the Bidayuh house
Orang Ulu house - look at the motives!
Outside the Orang Ulu house (we actually wanted the guy to get the decorated poles into the photo as well)
Playing the wooden xylophone
The tour around the Cultural Village was good. It was eye-opening, even for myself, despite having been there before and having lived here all my life. It was enlightening and fun to see the different houses that the natives live in. And it's especially neat to see familiar things that we have at home as well. The highlight of the tour for me is the live performance that lasted for 45 minutes. It was worth watching every minute of it. The dancers performed songs and dances from the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Melanaus, Malays, Orang Ulus, etc. It was really cool to watch them onstage. It's the kind of performance that you can rarely get anywhere else because most of the time, the traditional dances that we watch outside are shorter. My favorite part of the whole show is when one of the male dancers climbed a pole that three or four other men held and spun. He actually spun at the top of the pole. Is that awesome or what? :D
Iban warrior dance
Bidayuh dance - gotta love those colors.
The spinning guy
Follwowing the show, we visited three more houses. We stopped for a while at the Malay hosue to play congkak, a delightful game that I hadn't played in years. It was my first time playing congkak with real stones (yeah, like so sakai la). After grabbing some food at the end of our tour, it was time to head back. Evening came and went quickly. And then it was dinner at Fook Xing. YUM. After dinner, we stopped by Friendship Park at Jalan Song.
Representing our own states :)
And then we stopped by Hui Sing Garden to buy some pork satay. I'd been craving for the pork satay from that stall for so long. And eating it that night for supper (yeah, weird but true) was sooooooo good. You gotta taste it to believe it. XD
Wednesday
It was time to bid goodbye to Wendy and Wei Yiing before we meet again in college in a couple of weeks. I had a good time testing out perfumes in the airport. :P And then I came home to crash on the bed and sleep. (I know, how anti-climatic... muahaha!)
So that was the beginning of my holiday! :)
All photo credits go to Wendy. More photos are on Facebook.
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