Trotting Across the Globe

Back Again

2009-09-01T20:17:00.002+08:00

So I've been ridiculously lazy about updating this.

But with good reason! I went over to the dark side of life to be tormented by the most dreaded subject known to mankind....accounting!!

It still torments me, but well...it can spare me for a mere 5 minutes. :) I hope.

So many things have happened. So many things have crossed my mind and I have yet to find the time to write them all down.

Blogging happens to be one of my topics of study in communications, and as of the moment, I'm using this hiatus to im,prove my ideas, my writing style, even my blog format! And here's to hoping that I will eventually improve this as soon as I can.

In the mean time, I do actually apologise for not updating. But as there will be a holiday (mid-sems!) next week, I hope I'll be able to post up a lot more.

The first of September, and so they say - it is the first day of spring. Although I have yet to actually see the weather look ANYTHING ike spring. But I guess this kind of change takes time.

But for now - adieu dear readers. Accounting is pulling me back into it's deep, black abyss...

Semester Two...Bring It.

2009-07-22T20:12:00.003+08:00

So ends what may be called exceptionally long holidays. I took the bus to uni with my head held high, my eyes bright and back straight on Monday, the 20th of July. As the university loomed closer before my very eyes, my posture gradually shrunk away in a curve, my neck loosened and my head bowed. I walked out of the bus towards the university, dejected. Almost defeated.
The force was almost too much to bear with, and I shivered, even as I inched ever closer to the formidable buildings. Yet, as I got closer, relief - that wonderful sense of comfort grew with each step. For it was not the very institution that intimidated me you see, but the rain, the thunder and the gale force winds that attacked me as soon as I stepped off the bus.

UWA could not have picked a better day to begin semester 2.

The extract above is somewhat inaccurate, although for descriptive purposes, it looks much better that way. As luck would have it, I was pelted with rain not as I got to uni, but rather almost as soon as I stepped out of the house.

It's been three days since I've headed back to uni, and I can truthfully say that each day has been as torturous as the other. My pants have been drenched for three days, my shoes are no longer fully up to task and my umbrella has been getting quite a work out. I now keep it in my hand as a permanant accessory. Quite the latest thing. Everyone has one nowadays. Just can't live without it. ;)

Meanwhile, I'm glad to be back at uni.
In two lessons, I honestly believe I've learnt and understood more than I ever did in six months worth of lessons at Saints (sorry sir) so I have a weird and sudden sense of hope that accounting might not be a horrific as I once thought it would be. I just have to...keep studying it I suppose.
Statistics looks rather dodgy. There are two lecturers, one indian and one caucasian. The caucasian one seems to be alright. The indian one seems to be technologically illiterate and has a very funky accent. Ultimately, I think I prefer the caucasian.
Debating communications looks very difficult already. Fun, but challenging. Of course, it's only challenging since we have to use a computer. But I look forward to an entire semester with this unit, and already attempting to get my work placement in Singapore. ;)
Asian Modernities looks set to surprise us all once again. This is a pretty sleepy sort of unit, if not for the amazing lecturer who actually knows how to teach.

So bring on the days. I swear I'll get through all of them this time. :)

Insanity Strikes

2009-07-10T23:23:00.004+08:00

That would so be the story of my life right now.

It's hard to believe that I have another two weeks left of holidays before I have to go back and endure all the pain and stress and excitement of uni again.

It's a very depressing thought, I've grown very accustomed to sitting around, reading, playing my music and doing absolutely nothing.

Then there were the exam results. Such a major let down. I was okay with everything. Everything!
Except...the micro marks.
The one I studies for the hardest.
The one Commerce exam I thought I had a handle on.

I failed it.

And I'm not sure if I'm actually coping with it all that well. No test or exam has ever gotten the better of me.

Until now.

Unlike high school, you can't amend it with other marks. You can't just leave it and say 'well, I didn't need it anyway, since I have back ups'.

I don't have any back ups for the one subject that probably made my life hell through the first semester.

Don't get me wrong, I love uni and still do. It maintains my level of stress so that I have just enough to worry about to survive. But Microeconomics is the only thing that has taken so much energy out of me and given me the final let down at the end.

Not to mention, I'm genuinely afraid of the parental reactions. Seeing as my parents are actually paying my uni fees. I have no idea how I will reveal it as quickly and painlessly as possible. To me at least.

That's more or less my educational and mental hell right there.

Then there's the complete and utter boredom of the holidays.
I actually have no idea how anybody is able to deal with this...nothingness for days on ends.
I know it's good to have this break at times. But most days, waking up is just such a pain because I know that there's nothing waiting to face me for the coming day.

I think the lack of stress actually scares me. In a very weird way.

Note to Self

2009-06-30T21:11:00.003+08:00

STOP GAMBLING.

xD

That sounded bad.

Today was the 90 million Oz Lotto draw. It's never actually hit 90 million before, so everyone in all of Australia basically went berserk.
I should know. Working at the newsagency today was no piece of cake. In fact, I was tortured, slowly but surely. When I checked the summary for the day, I found that we'd sold over 2000 lottery tickets today. When people came up to the counter wanting to buy things like 'Monday Lotto', I would look confused. People coming up to buy only cards or stationary definitely got some kind of weird glance from me today. Purely because I wasn't expecting it.

Everybody was investing in today's draw.
Everybody was hoping to win even a bit of it.

Even I was investing in it.

I checked my tickets online just now.

Guess what...?

I didn't win.

Go ahead. Laugh.
What sucks more is this. My aunt from Malaysia also decided to invest in the lottery. I sincerily don't think she could resist the idea of winning 90 million Australian Dollars when she earned everything in Malaysian Ringgit. My parents also invested. And out of all of us - my aunt won AUD$20.45.

SHE'S NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRY AT THE MOMENT!!!

But I SWEAR this is a sign from the Almighty above telling me to stop gambling.

Star Light Star Bright

2009-06-27T22:59:00.003+08:00

Two stars burned out this morning.

Okay, let me rephrase that. I watched Star Trek the other day.

Two of the brightest shining stars of Hollywood passed away on the 25th of June 2009, early morning on the 26th of June in Australia.

First of all, Michael Jackson. I probably don't even need to mention his name in all honesty. And yes, he is/was eccentric. But his songs kind of brought a weird sense of hope. And his song Black or White has stuck with me from the moment I heard it.
I heard it in the morning, and I was completely and utterly shocked. I'm definitely one of those people who believe that his time hasn't come yet.

Second of all, is the death of farrah Fawcet, one of the original Charlie's Angels. I never really knew who she was. That much is certain. But saw snippets of the video she made for cancer patients, and what she was trying to achieve, and I think my heart just bled for her a leeetle bit more than it did for Michael Jackson.

What really pisses me off is the fact that her death is barely being recognised.

After what she did. So her public career may not have been as bright as Michael Jackson's. But that doesn't mean that her death should be mentioned only AFTER Michael Jackson's. Nor does this mean that Michael Jackson deserves more coverage than Farrah Fawcet does.

Nonetheless. The world lost two stars. Let's hope there'll be more to brighten up the days again.

Job Needed. Please Call Me.

2009-06-18T18:33:00.003+08:00

No, I didn't mean that literally.

But I do need a job. A second job to be precise.
I went job hunting yesterday. I was planning on applying until I reached IGA which is just outside the Galleria. But that got kind of screwed up when I headed there and actually ran out of resumés to hand out. =/ And I printed out about 15.

Moral of the story - print out at least 30 the next time. ^^

So I'm planning on heading out to Perth City tomorrow to apply for some more jobs. Because goodness knows, I need it. Plus it'll hopefully keep me busy during my month long holidays.
It's funny how I've got to be perpetually busy, otherwise I'm never satisfied.

Generally speaking, I'm also applying for retail stores only. Mum said I should probably get a receptionist job. But I have absolutely no idea as to where to go for it. =/ Maybe to the dental clinic outside Morley. But goodness knows. It's very painful having to apply to shops where they either tell you they've just hired all the people they needed, or worse yet: 'apply online'.

Funny how all applications happen to be online. Not to mention how annoying they are.

One ice cream parlour manager told me he was sorry, and then proceeded to tell me how he had already employed 14 girls and since it was winter, he couldn't hire anymore. But good luck with my applications.
He was by far the nicest. Although I probably could have done without the story about his problems.

But yes, if anyone knows about people needing employees in Perth City or in Morley Galleria, please comment me. I do need the cash. ^^ And the holiday activities to keep me busy.

Examination Merdeka

2009-06-17T16:06:00.002+08:00

So ends the first of many exams to come.

Surprisingly enough, I wasn't actually overly stressed about it. During the TEE, I was on full-on hyper drive mode. Yet, when I got to uni exams, I more or less turned up with a 'meh' attitude and did my best.

First up - ECON 1101, bright and early, 9am on a Saturday morning.
I swear Microeconomics will be the bane of my existance. BUT - this was the exam which I had stressed over since the beginning of my time at university, so I walked in, and actually felt prepared!
Of course, all my micro information flew out of my head the minute I heard the words 'set down your pens', but I was more than alright with it.
Next came ENGL 1112. I practically ran out of this exam about 15 minutes early. I was amazed at how much I was able to write and how much I was actually able to remember. However - I reserve all judgement...UNTIL I get my results back. :) English is never a topic you can be too sure about unfortunately.
Then ECON 1111 attacked me and more or less abused me for approximately two hours. I sat down, did the multiple choice questions, and then stared in complete and utter horror at the first short answer questions. After forcing myself to go slowly and to think about it, I finally got something that looked a bit more like a correct answer. I have no idea what I did to it, but all I know is that I will be reporting it for harrassment...
Finally, ASIA 1101 rounded off the exam. I also all but ran out of that examination. it wasn't too bad. But it also wasn't a bang-on exam either. So I shall leave comments on this one for now.

Moral of the story - never leave understanding lectures till the last minute. It'll drive you crazy. And possibly insane.

But for now, I'm on holidays. So bring on cold bursts of wind, rain and temperatures, blissful emptiness, late morning in bed, and...a whole lot more working hours?
I wish.

Tong Hua

2009-06-10T23:14:00.006+08:00

The mandarin (and proper) name for the song is 'Tong Hua'. Translated into english, it's called 'Fairytale', and was written by Michael Wong, a Malaysian Chinese artist.
My brother gave me the song a while back. And being the banana (Chinese version of a coconut for those in Africa/America) that I am, I didn't actually understand the lyrics. ^^" Just thought that the song sounded nice.

But then *Chris did an english translation of the song a few weeks/months back? I have no idea.
Then the song made more sense.

Today I had a sudden, and very weird urge to youtube the video for the song.
My gosh. Biggest mistake ever.

I.am.ready.to.cry!

And I'm probably not going to sleep for a while now.
It's a lot better with the video. And yes, despite all my banana traits, the song actually takes on a meaning when you watch the video.

I've forgotten how long it has been
since I've never again...
listened to you telling your beloved fairytale
I've thought for a long time
I start to panic
have I done something wrong?

You said to me full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

You said to me full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I want to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I will be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

Let's write our ending together

That's the lyrics of the song translated into english. It's probably a very crude translation, since I realise that sometimes meaning can be lost this way. And poetry is just sometimes better explained in mandarin. But it's the best I can give. I hope you enjoy it. I'm just going to go bawl my eyes out now...

Freedom of the Mind

2009-06-09T21:34:00.005+08:00

I just wrote my english exam today.
You know that feeling? How when you haven't written huge amounts in a long time, you somehow just 'forget' how to write?

I got that today. It was so ridiculous.

My hand ached for a good two hours. Then I had to run and was almost late for my maths exam. Which I'm pretty sure I bombed. But I shall reserve judgement and pray for the best. No exams has ever gotten the better of me...and I won't let it now!

So in the course of my wandering, I headed over to the TCKid website. It's been a while since I thoroughly explored it...and the new changes make it look amazing! Unfortunately my technological illiteracy means that I'll have to spend hours toggling all the links to figure out just how it works properly...
But I found this passage on one of the discussion topics:

If you consider where your sense of self has always been located—in the idea of roots, the idea of coming from a place, the idea of inhabiting a kind of language which you have in common and the kind of social convention within which you live—what happens to the migrants is that they lose all three. They lose the place. They lose the language and they lose the social conventions and they find themselves in a new place with a new language—and so they have to reinvent the sense of the self. This is, after all, the century of the migrant as well as the century of the Bomb; there have never been so many people who ended up elsewhere than where they began, whether by choice or by necessity. And so perhaps that’s the source from which this kind of reconstruction can begin. People who are no longer caught in the old definition of the self, but capable of making new ones.‘

Excerpted from Imaginary Homelands

After going through my english exam, the passage made sense. My mind is in analytical mode right now. I need to destress and allow my cells to rewire itself back to normal functioning mode.

ABC Interview on Third Culture Kids

2009-06-06T22:51:00.003+08:00

Brice from TCKid.com sent me an email about this. In fact, he all but sent me postcard about this interview with ABC, an Australian news network about our TCK status.
So I finally listened to it. Partly to spite the exams I so dearly hate. And partly because I was curious as to what could be said on radio about our issues.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2009/06/lms_20090604_0921.mp3

So that's the link to check out if any of you are interested. I know it's a little bit long. About 10 minutes worth of interview? But I listened to it, and once I started, I couldn't stop.
It was like going through the TCKid forums, but through sounds rather than through reading.

I was so excited, thinking that I would catch the interview on TV, but I guess that will have to wait.

Till then though, it's great that Brice is getting to this stage. If you ever come by Brice: two thumbs up!! But that's only because I have two thumbs. No strange externalities on my fingers.

For those of you who are too lazy to listen to the interview: Ruth van Reken (co-author of the book: Third Culture Kids), Brice Royer and Daniella Tudor were being interviewed by presenter Richard Aedy about what a TCK was and what the implications, both positive and negative were.
Ruth shared her research and emotions that one went through as a TCK, since she speaks from personal experience. Brice and Daniella both shared their personal stories, and how they dealt with the pain of not belonging.

I think it's the personal touch that helped to make the story so compelling.

Brice suffered from chronic pain in his hands for several years before realising that it was with-held emotion that caused all the pain. (listen to the interview for a full understanding of how bad it was. Allowing myself to imagine it gives me the shudders) Since then, he has retained full use of both his hands, for which I am eternally grateful for. Who else would run the TCKid website as well if not for Brice?! :)
I know Brice's story seems a bit extreme, but after listening to his story, I realised that there were many others who shared Brice's symptoms. Although I don't think I have experienced pain to the extent that Brice has, I also remember having experienced some form of pain in my hands. Clichéd as I know it sounds, it has gotten much better since I came to have a better understanding of what TCKs are and how I might be able to cope with it.

Daniella suffered from depression and extreme loneliness until she was introduced to the term 'TCK'. Since this is probably the stage at which most TCKs are, I think most of us can relate better to Daniella's story. I've been in Daniella's place before and in some ways I still am.

I guess it's a challenge I'll just have to overcome.

I don't exactly have much of a personal story to share. But even so - now is not my time. But I hope I've managed to help out any TCKs reading this as much as I can for now. Ruth, Brice and Daniella have helped us all so much through the TCK forum, so I hope it can help you too. :)

Sleepless Nights

2009-06-03T22:51:00.003+08:00

I can feel my eyes burning out the back of my head. Any minute now, you're going to see two large amd fizzled out masses falling out from the back.

And much as I wish I could blame partying and late nights out for this - that's not the reason.
I've been trying to get into WebCT for the past hour or so...and I am being constantly LOCKED OUT!!

Staring at the computer is going to make me blind.
But I'm going to have to risk it.

I've got a good reason for trying this hard though. My microeconomics lecturer didn't actually give me any mocks exams to do in preparation for this exam. But he did "very kindly" (I'm drowning this in sarcasm) leave some multiple choice questions for us to do online.
So. Much as I dislike having to rely on these questions, they're all I have available to test myself with. Problem with these questions is that I can't practice any graphs. Or force myself to put everything down in words. Especially since he's mentioned that I will need to blurt out everything I know to get any marks whatsoever.

But I guess today's need to test myself is going to the dogs...since I can't actually access my last bit of hope for Micro!!!

I wish he'd given us a test. At least then I'd have no excuse for blogging. :(

In Malaysian News [I]

2009-06-01T19:47:00.003+08:00

Teen model escapes 'abusive' Malaysian prince

By Presi Mandari – 5 hours ago

JAKARTA (AFP) — A teenage US-Indonesian model has returned to her family in Indonesia with tales of abuse, rape and torture at the hands of a Malaysian prince, after her dramatic escape with the help of Singapore police.

Manohara Odelia Pinot, 17, told reporters she was treated like a sex slave after her marriage to Tengku Temenggong Mohammad Fakhry, the prince of Malaysia's Kelantan state, last year.

Her mother, Daisy Fajarina, said she would press charges against the 31-year-old prince, and blamed the Malaysian and Indonesian governments for trying to cover up the alleged abuse.

"The things I've been afraid of were revealed to be true. Manohara has suffered physical abuse. She's got several razor cuts on her chest," Fajarina told AFP on Monday.

"No parent could be silent if their child was treated in such a barbaric way."

The Malaysian government had ignored her pleas for access to her daughter and had blocked her from entering the country, she said, while the Indonesian embassy had said that Manohara was fine with her new husband.

But the young woman -- a well-known socialite in Jakarta -- said her life at the royal palace involved a "daily routine" of rape, abuse, torture and occasional drug injections that made her vomit blood.

She said she was usually held under guard in her bedroom at the palace and was injected with tranquilisers whenever she complained.

"I am still traumatised by all that happened and it has left an impact on me," she told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday, after escaping the royal family during a trip to Singapore over the weekend.

"Sexual abuse and sexual harassment were like a daily routine for me, and he did that every time I did not want to have sexual intercourse," she was quoted as saying in The Jakarta Globe.

"I could never think a normal man could do such things," she said, adding: "Some parts of my body were cut by a razor."

The teenager whose fairy-tale wedding to a prince captured the imagination of Indonesia said she would be tortured if she did not appear to be happy when she attended social functions with Fakhry.

"Every time I went for events they forced me to smile and would torture me if I did not do what they said," she told the press conference.

She said she secretly called Singaporean police and pleaded for help after the royal family took her to the city state when they accompanied Fakhry's father, Sultan Ismail Petra Shah II, for medical treatment.

"The police told Fakhry that he would be held in jail if he did not let me go. No one could force me against my will in Singapore and I knew I had a chance to escape," she said.

The model once voted as being among Indonesia's "100 Precious Women" said she escaped her guards by pushing the Singapore hotel elevator's emergency button.

They were reluctant to chase her because they knew the scene would be captured on security cameras.

She blasted the Indonesian embassy in Malaysia, saying: "They made it worse by telling lies, saying that I was fine while I was suffering in Kelantan."

A spokesman for the Indonesian foreign ministry insisted the embassy had done everything it could to help Manohara and said the government would assist her if she wanted to file charges against her husband.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would not investigate the claims.

"I think this is more of a personal matter. To date we have not been dragged into it, so we want to leave it as it is," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's royal rulers used to enjoy immunity from criminal and civil charges but the privilege was removed in 1993.

There has been no comment from the Kelantan royal family.

Manohara's lawyer, Yuri Darmas, said she would have a medical examination to back up her allegations of abuse.

"We need one to two days to gather evidence before we file a lawsuit to the Malaysian police," he said, adding that he intended to pursue both criminal and civil lawsuits against the prince.

Manohara has already filed for divorce, her mother said.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Not to post this up would be a crime. To keep silent while this kind of torture occurs on a daily basis. Mentally and morally, it would be a crime.
It's sad how in this day and age, this kind of thing can happen.

This is one that occured under a pretty public eye. But imagine the amount of abuse that goes on for other women? The women who keep silent while their husbands or their boyfriends beat them everyday. Or sexually abuse them. Doesn't matter. It's all wrong.

The refusal of the Malaysian government to intervene just simply sends a message to all of us saying that they will condone such stupid and offensive behaviour. More than anything, it says that the rulers are above the law and whatever they want to do is condoned.

Looks like some things in Malaysia don't change. In which case, neither will my opinion of the government in Malaysia. My faith in Malaysian politics decreases with each passing day, and this just caused the biggest drop.
The country I was born in. The country I should love and try to protect.

Marred by the idiots who run it.

Screw politics. Screw you UMNO. Screw you.

A Missing Piece

2009-05-30T20:48:00.002+08:00

It's kind of strange how I'll always miss home.

Home.

What an obscure word. I've never really had a 'home' per se. But somehow 'Malaysia' and 'home' have come mean the same thing. To resemble similar connotations.

Why?

I haven't been 'home' for so many years. Holidays barely count. I can't speak the language(s) and if I were to ever go back, I know several foreigners who could and actually do fit into Malaysian society better than I ever could if I tried.

So why does the name 'Malaysia' still ring a bell for me, everytime I hear it?

I can look at a Tourism Malaysia advert with orang utans on it advertising Borneo and still feel sad. I've never been anywhere near Borneo, and I don't even like orang utans!

Listening to my friends talk about 'going home' always gives me a heart rending pang. I've never liked it, but I endure it all the same. One friend told me he was going back 'home' to Singapore during the uni holidays and it hit, just as hard and painful as it always did back then.

Everytime I go home, I feel a sense of relief, yet a sense of restriction. I want so much to be there more than anything else. But I could never live there permanantly. Like I know I could never live like that.

I watch the wandering locals as they shop to their hearts content and bargain at the market. And then every morning, watch them head off to their dreary '9 to 5' jobs without any reassurance of 'after hours pay'. Not there is really such a thing as a '9 to 5' job in Malaysia. Most jobs tend to be 12 hours a day or longer.
I can think of the fruits I miss. Jackfruits, papayas, mangoes, korean pears, cikus...all the very best in one country. And then my mind wanders to the enduring humidity and the unbearable period before a storm breaks over the crowded metropolitan KL.

It's like I know of something better. No matter where I am. I want the best of both worlds. Or several for that matter. A whole new world. Created just right, fitting my every need and want.

But it's not going to happen. There's no such thing as a perfect world. Only close to perfect. You can only try to be satisfied with what you have. Because what's the point in coveting what you don't have?
The grass is always greener on the other side. But your grass may just be greener than somebody else's.
Home is where you hang your hat. But my hat needs to be constantly moved.
I've always thought that the reason I could never stay in one place is because I needed to fulfill every aspect of my life. To get my share of something that I knew was better, even if it was on the other side of the world.

So is this the way it's going to be? I'll travel my whole life searching for the missing piece?
I've been asked if my global-nomad status will ever come to an end. Whether I'll ever be satisfied with staying in the one place. One guy I met even asked if I managed to stay in one place long enough to make any friends. My answer to that was to remain silent and to finally say that I was never really sure.

In which case, I can only hope that my perfect jigsaw can be found within this world. Or that I can find something better to fit the missing piece.

The Fear

2009-05-22T20:31:00.004+08:00

I just got jabbed today.

The Australian government is giving out a set of 'free' injections that aim to prevent cervical cancer in women. The injection is known as Gardasil.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I managed to put it off for quite a while. Until this week when my mum asked if I wanted to get it (even though I'd asked her 6 months ago if I should go get it...she scoffed at me that time) and decided that I should go get the jab before it stopped being free and I would have to fork out AUD$200 just to get poked in the arm. Today just had to be the day.

My face looked something like this as the doctor jabbed me:

(>_<)

I. Hate. Needles.

Especially if I don't have anythng to numb it. She told me what the purpose of the shot was, and then told me about any after effects that might occur.
She said the worst was that I would have a sore arm.

That didn't help.

She poked me with the cylinder first, but that didn't exactly help me to deal with it. It just made me get even more nervous.

So that's when I scrunched my eyes up into a million tiny wrinkles and grabbed onto the arm of the chair, hanging on for dear life and squeezing any life it had out of it.
Rest assured, the chair is very much dead. But I've walked away from it alive - a survivor with a very sensitive arm.

Let's just say if you touch it now, my other, much stronger arm will put you in a headlock and attempt to strangle you.

Mishy <3>

Opinion and Controversy

2009-05-21T21:33:00.005+08:00

Because, you know what? Everyone is entitled to their own. And just because it doesn't match up with yours, doesn't mean that it's wrong.

Carrie Prejean.
I salute you.

Not because she's beautiful and can wear a string bikini better than most women can.
Not because she was dazzling and charismatic enough to get to the position of Ms. California.
Mind you, I didn't even know Ms USA was on until all the fuss and noise came on the news.

It was because she spoke her mind. For sticking to her morals. For refusing to follow whatever was supposed to be politically correct.
Even though she knew it would offend people. Even though she knew it was controversial.

So I'm pretty sure that everyone knows the story of Carrie Prejean - Ms. California.
Perez Hilton asks her if she believes that every state should follow Vermont and legalise same sex marriage. Her exact words:

'Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offence to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.'

Following that, Perez Hilton calls her a 'dumb b***h' on his blog.

She could've said what Perez Hilton wanted her to say. She could've gone with the flow. But she voiced her belief out loud. She stayed true to herself. So UP YOURS Perez Hilton. Don't put this all on your gay status and call her biased and backward. No one cares if you're gay. You asked her a question, and she answered it as best as she could. Just because you didn't like it doesn't mean she should immediately be labelled as a homophobe.

She's entitled to her opinion and no one can take that away from her. Even though she didn't win the title of Ms USA, I still think the fact that she was brave enough to say what she thought was more commendable. The Daily Mail reports that she believed that God was testing her on stage by allowing Perez Hilton to ask her that question. Test or no test - what would YOU have done? She's gone through months of rigorous testing and modelling, and pampering, only to be at the final step to gaining the title of Ms USA. To throw it all away simply because you wouldn't lie.

Now THAT is beauty.

So Perez Hilton can go crown anyone else he wants. The person who kisses his ass the most and tells him they love gay people like a good American citizen should. But Carrie Prejean certainly was the 'dumb b***h'. She was a prize winner of a different kind. And she didn't need Ms USA to be one.

To be honest, I support her view. I honestly believe that marriage was meant to be between a man and a woman. Although if I am not against gay people either. After all - they are just that. People. I have gay friends and bisexual friends. But it doesn't mean that I have to join them or insist on their behalf that they all get married and have one big happy family. If it so happens that gay marriage is in fact legalised in whatever country I live in, then so be it. Just don't expect me to fully understand the celebrations.

There's been news that people even want to take away her Ms California title. For goodness sake, she won it fair and square. She should keep it!
It was a difficult situation, and just because she didn't follow the other mindless sheep who would have given the politcally correct answer and said 'yes' to such a question doesn't mean she should be stripped of everything else.

She's given the rest of the world so much hope that we're not all turning into mindless politically correct drones.

I've said it way too often, but again - well done Ms California. You deserve it.

Mishy <3

No.

2009-05-20T17:42:00.003+08:00

No. No. NO. NO?!?!

HOW did Perth ever make it to such a vote??
Can the added benefits of Daylight Savings not be seen?
Such as the fact that I won’t have to walk home in the dark when summer time comes around?? Or the fact that I will be able to wake up at 6am instead of the insane, ungodly hour of 5am when the sun will rise if Daylight Savings is not put into place??

What is WRONG with these people???

For the past five years, Western Australia has been undergoing a ‘Daylight Savings Trial’ where the clocks would be turned forward an hour every summer. Until that point in time, WA was the only state backward enough not to see the benefits of daylight savings.

A referendum (or a vote concerning the constitution/nation’s state of affairs) was put to the people on the 16th of May 2009.

And after five years of enjoying more sunlight and waking up at reasonable hours, THIS is the result we get??

The ‘no’ vote was tipped to win even before the referendum votes were counted. And it was close. Very close. Although I think the votes are still being counted, results currently stand at 45.3% 'Yes' votes and 54.7% 'No' votes. According to this website: http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/live.php, the count has progressed by 82.89%.

I just want to say ‘thank you’ to those who voted yes. And despite knowing that it will be another friggin twenty years before another referendum concerning this comes up, at least I know you’ll probably vote ‘yes’ again.

There appeared to be a trend in the voters. Those who were younger than 25 generally wanted Daylight Savings to come in permanently. All the older people and the farmers wanted to continue going about their daily lives waking up at 5am. Just because it was too “troublesome to change the clocks every summer”.

%#*$@!*&#&

After finding out the result I locked myself in my room and plotted about a million ways to get myself out of the state as soon as possible. However, due to university requirement, I won’t be going anywhere permanently for a while.
Thankfully I will be out in another 4 years. I don’t think I can live with waking up at 5am every summer all that long. I already forsee a very tough 4 years ahead of me. Guess I should try going for holidays every summer then…

Mishy <3

The Electronic Project From Hell

2009-05-17T21:21:00.005+08:00

One of the highlights and most stressful times I've ever had this year.

Under my Communications degree, I had to take ENGL1112 which is a Screen Texts and Print Texts unit, compulsory during first semester in my first year.
I had essays, readings, and never ending books to read. Which was great, since it's generally what I enjoy doing.

Then they threw us:

The Electronic Project from Hell.

That's the real name.

Formally, however, it's known as:

The iPod Project.

What we basically had to do was to use one of our texts: Patchwork Girl or Donnie Darko (I used this one), find a theme that ran through one of those texts and then do our own hypertext explaining our opinions and thoughts about it.

A hypertext is basically something that conveys a message electronically. It's like trying to write an essay using powerpoint. Only you've got to use words (if necessary), pictures, songs, audio, anything that conveys your meaning as creatively as is possible. An essay in pictures and audio.

I guess the pictures you use really do have to say a thousand words.

I can only say thank GOD that referencing isn't necessary. Otherwise I'd have a lot of trouble finding the artists who took the photos that I'd pinched off the internet. And the people who said/wrote the quotes I used. I even stuck in something that looked like poetry just so it would look like I'd done some work. It might be construed that way, but I never know since it didn't even rhyme. Ah well, poetic licence and all that.

My biggest problem though was having to do all the html referencing. I didn't even use bright colours or fancy fonts. It was just the absolute basics - having to link one slide to another, and making sure the video actually showed up when the link was pressed (which it didn't, the first time I tried. I eventually figured out that the video had to be in the iPod hard drive and not just iTunes before it would play up)
I feel rather bitter about this though. Why? Because my lecturer can't even switch on the computer without help, and she wants us to do...a hypertext project on an iPod??

Initally, we were all taught how to do the linking on an apple mac computer. Which I hated. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike the mac? I have never used anything so complicated and annoying in my entire life. Although it doesn't help that my PC doesn't have the most recent Quicktime Player for me to format and edit video clips.
Thankfully, one student who shared my thoughts was generous and kind enough (I sincerely hope he knows it's him if he ever reads this) to post up instructions on how to do the entire project on PC. Which I gratefully followed. Step-by-step instructions really are a bonus for someone who left everything to the last minute and didn't even realise to what extent the full potential of an iPod was.

This task was set almost a month ago. But I finished it tonight, and finally, I can hand it in tomorrow morning before the 4pm deadline hits and all chaos in the Arts Building at UWA ensues.

To be honest - I had fun on this project. It was the canvas I never had. The blank space on which I could do absolutely anything I wanted. All that space, so much to do, so much to say. I believe I've definitely gone over the quota necessary - I only needed to create 10 slides and I think I have at least 15. The only think I hated about it was the html referencing I needed to do, just to get one stupid point across. But, well, that's art.

Thus ends the Electronic Project from Hell. :)

Mishy <3>

Pressure

2009-05-13T16:38:00.003+08:00

I know I said I wouldn't start blogging during this month.

Unfortunately, according to the rules of my OCD nature, it is virtually impossible for me to leave my blogging quota for this month at 'one', and for this reason, I'll need to at least make up the number of posts to three. If I remember to make it up to the number three.

Nonetheless. I have TWO essays to hand in this week. One of which (the microeconomics one) I've already handed in. Hence the reason I feel safe enough to be typing this. The other (Asian studies) is due in on Friday.

And then I have an ipod project due in on Monday.

Ipod project?

Yes, ipod project. I have to give my opinion on a certain theme that runs through one of the movies I've been doing in my unit in as creative a way as possible. This means that I will more or less make my opnion look like a real live television show. Or a very complicated slideshow.
Whichever works. Either way, the idea of an ipod project is making me bushed.

.pressure pressure pressure pressure.

Funny how everything just ends up being due in the month before exams.

I got my exam timetable. I can only say I wish Microeconomics was one of the last exams rather than the absolute first. Of all the days I have to do the exam, it has to be a Saturday. Morning.

Life really should not get any worse. I've been nice enough to it as it is.

Mishy <3

Entrapment

2009-05-06T21:51:00.001+08:00

So I got my results back for my Microeconomics mid-semester exam.
The one I've been killing myself over for almost a month now.

And...I didn't like what I saw.

Needless to say, after this post, I am grounding myself until mid-June. When all my projects and my units officially finish.

And while this is probably of no great concern to anyone - that's just my explanation for my absence of posts till then.

Thanks for understanding. :)

Mishy <3

Zimbabwe Cartoons

2009-04-30T22:26:00.000+08:00

After having gone through some of the Madam and Eve cartoons a few days before, my severe interest in South African politics came right back. And I found some really great ones on Zimbabwe which I can't help but laugh about. Especially the one on Robert Mugabe. I don't like Robert Mugabe. But making fun of him through these comics is just wayyy too entertaining!
Have a read and laugh. I hope they entertain you as much as they have entertained me. :) I really do miss South African comics and comedians. (Leon Schuster!)

Mishy <3

Photoshop

2009-04-28T12:00:00.001+08:00

I can use it!

I got told by the Multicultural Week group that I had to get photoshop and learn to use it. Sharp sharp. And while I am computer literate, I am no Bill Gates. Which ultimately meant this would be a challenge times 2 to learn how to use it.
But then I found out I would need to learn how to use photoshop for my Communications degree anyway, so it made sense for me to get a head start now.

And okay, so I encountered some problems. But eventually, I got there! Not to mention, I've been fiddling around with like a bunch of tools while I had time.

And yeah, call me crazy, but I'm pretty impressed with what I've done so far. :)

So here's some of the pictures I ended up playing around with for the MCW Society's Proposal.

Mishy <3

South African Elections 2oo9

2009-04-27T20:43:00.004+08:00

So South Africa had their elections on Wednesday, the 22nd of April.

It sounds pretty random, but it had some special significance for me since many of my own friends voted in that election. Hoping for change. Thinking they could make a difference.

Another reason why it held such significance for me is the fact that Jacob Zuma would be running for president under the ANC party. And...you guessed right. I don't like Jacob Zuma. In fact, I detest the man.

It's a very long story. But living there for two years has given me enough reason to dislike the man forever more, and to be severely horrified at the thought that this man could be running the one country I've been able to call home.

As far as I can tell, the election results aren't out yet. I am however almost certain that Jacob Zuma will win this election. How much by is a different matter. Since the ANC would need two thirds of the vote in order to change the constitution. I do not want Jacob Zuma to achieve that two thirds. I don't even want him to achieve half the vote! But I guess South Africa must speak for itself.

*UPDATE*

Zuma won the elections.

-_-"

As I probably should have known would happen. But on the plus side - he didn't win the two thirds majority. And I sincerely hope this spells out future trouble for the ANC.
Or at least warns the ANC to buck up and spend tax payers money on helping the poor. Unlike past attempts to change the names of the roads and the airport. I mean, what was wrong with Johannesburg International Airport? Why O.R. Tambo Airport? And nobody calls Pretoria, 'Tshwane', it's still Pretoria to us!
Funnily enough, when I read the news report in The Star (Malaysian version) people were arguing about which one of his two wives would end up being known as the First Lady.

Could we get anymore ridiculous??

Mishy <3

Inspiration

2009-04-22T23:40:00.002+08:00

It's gone. Every bit of it. Almost anyway.

Which is why I more or less went on an impromptu hiatus.

I can't think of anything to write.

If you look through my blog archives, there's quite a few posts which I have yet to post. But I can't. Purely because they don't look ready for publication. I start them off. But the first line looks wrong. Or I could add something in the 5th line, but what was it again??

I can't believe I'm wracking my brains on what to write on my blog. It simply never happens!

I need a muse. Or a new theme. Or something that will get the rusty old cogs in this brain of mine ticking away.

It's funny how I thought a change of location would help the cogs to unwind. But I guess the change of location became too familiar to be called 'inspiration' anymore.
And what of a new educational institute? All it's done is made my posts boring, repetitive and mundane.
Write about my friends? But I can't keep writing about them. They know I appreciate them already.
Or what of current events? Global recessions and war and terror?

I recently read the blog of a lady who lived in Perth (of all places...) and somehow, she made her life sound so...adventurous? I guess it doesn't help that she's got her own income and can jetset to Singapore whenever. But still.

I need inspiration. A muse. Something that can get my imagination worked up all over again. The way I see it, all the change has done is to make me dull and mundane. Something which shouldn't be happening.

Oh how the mind boggles!

Mishy <3

A Long Absence

2009-04-12T20:15:00.001+08:00

Apologies are in order for my almost inexcusible absence.

As we all know, university was going great until we [meaning I] realised that assignments had to be handed in and done and dusted and that there wouldn't be much leisurely time until I handed it all in.

So this week alone, I did an Asian Studies presentation, finished an English essay and immediately after, ran to the lecture room to do a Maths test. I was almost late, but I think I did pretty well! But I'll leave my comments on this test till AFTER I get my marks...

I'm currently on 'study leave' which means I should be studying...but I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. Since I somehow managed to extend my break a bit longer than I'd like, since it's causing me no end of trouble *shifty eyes*. But hopefully I'll get through it.

It was the 10th of April when I started typing this post up. On Ntombi's birthday! So happy birthday love, should you ever deign to read this.

Meanwhile - it's Easter! Finally headed to church after weeks and months. -_-" God is most likely looking at me and wondering how I turned out to be such a heretic. But I know He's there for me, so I try my best.
Riverview Church is where I went, and I actually like the church. I thought it was going to be another caucasian monopolised gathering, but it turned out to have a very even mix of many nationalities. Which is all good and great, except that we have to drive 20 minutes to get there, but pfffft, who cares! I like it! Hopefully this means we've finally found a church.

Mishy <3

Behind the Wheel

2009-04-04T18:33:00.002+08:00

So. I sat behind the wheel of the car for the first time in years.

And this time, I didn’t just sit there dangling my legs, pretending I was a Formula One Racer.
I didn’t sit there thinking I was James Bond and would flip the car over the edge of a cliff and somehow miraculously survive.
And I certainly wasn’t there trying to rev up the car for my dad like I used to do.

Nope. It was more serious than that.

Trembling, staring dead ahead whilst desperately trying to watch my rear-view mirror, I sat there, ready for my first driving lesson.

AndIpanickedlikeI’veneverpanickedbefore!

So dad was trying to teach me how to configure my mirrors, reach the pedals, which gears I had to push and pull, etc.

That was easy.

Then he told me to drive.

I wasn’t even sure if the car would follow my lead. But surprisingly enough, it did. After the initial false starts and near misses of the curb.

Mind you, I was doing all this in an abandoned car park. And I was already afraid.

I hope my driving improves significantly and that I will not be banging into things out of sheer fear. [rhyming bonanza...]

Mishy <3

The Day of Reckoning

2009-03-27T18:45:00.001+09:00

I never actually thought a day like this would ever come.

My parents had decided that now I was 18 and technically should learn to survive by myself, I should get a Medicare Card. Just in case I decided that crashing a car sounded like a good idea. Or that drugs would be the highlight of my life.
It’s a good idea though. Medicare provides a lot of assistance and a 0.01% chance of getting you into a hospital if you’re in an emergency.

Knowing the health system in Perth.

However, I also knew full well that because this was a government initiative, they would scrutinise my entire life and comparatively give me peanuts in return.

Although I didn’t quite realise how detailed Medicare wanted my life story to be as well!

View Full Album

This, to me, is a pretty hefty price to pay for medical peanuts. Imagine the shock and horror on my face when I saw exactly what it was they wanted from me. I must’ve gone through at least four passports during my entire life. There was (and is) absolutely no way for me to remember the exact dates of when I left and entered each country, especially in my earlier years. It was quite a struggle for me to remember all the years we moved in, and to ensure that I got the spelling for the ~~Phillipines~~ ‘Philippines’ correct. [you’d be surprised how many times I’ve gotten it wrong] University assignments, move aside. I’ve found something better to challenge me.
And to add salt to the wound, I needed to add an extra piece of paper [not photographed here] because they hadn’t given me enough spaces to fill in all the places I’d lived in before.

This is quite an upsetting discovery.

Mishy <3

A Twitter Away

2009-03-25T22:53:00.003+09:00

No, I don’t actually own an account from this much publicised networking website.

Or should I refer to it as a ‘stalker site’?

Twitter [for anyone living in the jungle, or stranded on a deserted island, or who has simply been left out of the loop] is a site where a person can update their ‘status’ by sending a text message to their site, and it will update itself automatically. Then whoever happens to be looking at your profile page at that moment will know exactly what you’re up to, where and why.
It is amazing that anyone would want to publicise what they were doing at any minute of the day from wherever they are.

Twitter would be perfect for the busy, headline hitting celebrity. Begin the day by proclaiming to the world that they are ‘Heading into the studio/film set’.
Later on in the day, they could hail Gaston, their hired French cook as the ‘most amazing chef in the world’.
Then give it that nice finish by letting the world know that they are well and truly on the way to ‘Producing the next biggest blockbuster/hit, by the grace of [insert name of god/goddess here]’.
Ironic, as to why these celebrities would want more publicity, considering the amount they complain about the already severe invasion of their privacy.
Nonetheless, celebrities and even politicians have a reason for the use of Twitter, if nothing else, then simply to build up their fan base.

But think about it. How many ordinary people, going about their daily lives, actually have something worthwhile to publish?

Picture this. Enter Mr/Miss/Mrs Ordinary. He/She would have a nine-to-five job. Most likely have ridiculous pay. And not very interesting work to do.
So presuming, that like most of the young generation today, Joe Sloe a 25 year old shmuck decides to procure a Twitter account for himself. What would he publish?

These are just some of the things one can imagine:
“Got out of bed. I hate 6am starts.”
“Heading to work.”
“Tomato and cheese sandwich for lunch. Not bad.”
“Need the bathroom real bad. Blame that T&C mush. Back soon.” [Like anyone would want to know this!] “10 minutes till work ends. W00t!!”
“Train is late. What a bore.”
“Cracked open a Guinness. Best in the world.”

Not very hard hitting headlines that make a person’s life.

So really, what use would Twitter have in Joe Sloe’s life? And what about all the Mr/Miss/Mrs Ordinary’s of the world? We have no fan bases to build. Nor do we lead amazing lifestyles that we must immediately let the world know about. If it were that amazing, the networks would report it for us.

Twitter is nothing more than a site that allows all of us to stalk one another, in a more intimate, effective way than Facebook apparently allows us to. It’s quite a detriment to person’s dignity when one realises that everyone within a 100 mile radius is being constantly updated on what updater is currrently doing or thinking of, every minute of the day!

So really, what IS the point of Twitter??

Mishy <3

Attack of the UWA Mascot

2009-03-16T21:28:00.003+09:00

This got sent halfway through my second lecture today, and I found it rather hilarious when I read it:

oh my gosh i nearly died! went 2matilda bay n this gigantic (ok mayb nt bt it ws big) black swan bird thing tried 2eat my chips n ws followin me then it swam away. i'm gonna write a book followin my near bird-induced death called 'wen swans attack-by a survivor' k i'm done

*hee hee*

I reckon I may have passed out from lack of air directly after that. Not because it was such an exciting episode, but just because of the lack of punctuation and endless translations from sms english to normal english being done in my head.

I will now do a sequel to the book and call it ‘When Breathlessness Attacks – attempting to master the SMS’.

For non-UWA students: UWA is situated on a piece of land that has these massive black swans roaming around the campus, along with ducks and the one random peacock and the three peahens. The black swan, in fact, features on the emblem of UWA.

Matilda Bay is one of the cleanest bodies of water I’ve ever seen [I come from Malaysia – expect nothing less] and is a really great place to just sit and relax and study is you really need a quiet moment. Because of this, people like to go sit there and eat. Hence it attracts all kinds of crazy birds who are just about as well fed as the pigeons at St Stithians College.

So *Monzi getting attacked by one of these swans was probably no big surprise. HIs over dramatisation of her encounter with one of these ~~increasingly violent~~ err…highly ferocious animals however, is. ;D

On a less dramatic note – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEE DAWG!

Mishy <3

* UPDATE* - 25 March 2009
I was sitting outside Matilda Bay [without food] and a dolphin leapt out of the water. I only regret not doing my usual happy snaps at that time, because the picnic-ers would've looked at me really weirdly. But it is officially my favourite haunt in all of Perth. :P Need to find me? Most likely in class, on the bus or sitting at Matilda Bay...just watching. =)

New Discoveries

2009-03-13T15:53:00.002+09:00

I have news. And it is amazing.

I finally, FINALLY have my laptop, right here with me now.

And in doing so, I’ve discovered this nifty little software called ‘Windows Live Writer’ where I can simply type my blog posts from my computer desktop and I won’t even have to log onto my page anymore. Or well, I will, but I won't be doing it as often as I normally do. Hence, this will allow me to stop having to go to my blog page first and lying to all my readers whenever they see my Traffic Jam meter. :D

So no, guys, I do not in fact have that many readers from Perth. I’m sorry for having misled you all this time, but it for the good of the blog.

I've just realised how jakun I sounded typing that out. Software engineers and computer fanatics everywhere must be shaking their heads at me, even as I type.

Meanwhile, I’m currently going through all the programmes that are on my little miracle and praising the high heavens that after all the panic the stupid company gave us when they informed us of a late delivery, it finally came earlier than the expected date. =)

I’m still looking for a laptop sleeve/glove for it though, as well as hopefully a skin so that the rather ultra shiny surface of the laptop won’t get scratched. And come to think of it, it is pretty shiny compared to other laptops. Or maybe I’m just comparing it to the Lenovo Thinkpad. Which is a rather dull, heavy ass laptop mind you.

I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned what it is – it’s a Dell 1310. I actually really wanted the Studio 15 laptop (*sigh*)and was pretty persistent about it despite Dad trying to hammer in the fact that I would have to carry it with me.
Then I did some research and had a good think about it. And I realised that carrying 2kgs worth of electronic device for 8 hours around a campus about as big as KL city itself wasn’t exactly the smartest thing to do.
So in spite of the overbearing weight of the Studio 15, I ended up chosing the somewhat lighter Inspiron 1310. I have some regrets about choosing this one because it's not the one I had my heart and mind stubbornly set on. But I think that'll be the only regret I have because I think I still want my spine upright, and in it's usual curved S-shape by the time I hit 30.

Anywho, back to playing around with my New Discovery…

Mishy <3

Following the Trend

2009-03-09T23:07:00.003+09:00

Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see crowds buzzing around the streets, shopping, working, generally going about their daily activities. Once apon a time, that used to be enough. Once upon time, we were satisfied to concentrate on our lives and to leave it at that.

Not any more.

Now, the milling, buzzing crowds remain the same. Mix that with the newfound inventions of the ipod, the mp3, mp4 or walkman and voila - you have the Y2K crowd. Suddenly, the new generation is not satisfied to simply get on with life on a daily basis, but must now add these confounding distractions in order to get through the tough 24 hours, seven days a week.

We've been told that we will be the deaf generation [along with being the pampered generation, the rich generation, the technological generation...] at the rate that we listen to all our music devices.

How can we help it though? In todays world of instant gratification and impatience, we cannot simply wait for things to happen, or wait for life to pass by as it happens anymore. While we obviously have no control over how fast our world spins on it's axis, the least we are able to do, is distract ourselves from daily life, and to pretend that life is not really as humdrum as it seems.

Whilst I was still in secondary school, I regularly forgot that I owned an ipod as life was about as crazily busy as you could want it to be. Not to mention, I was also getting picked up from school by a parent.
Sad to say, once I got into university and started taking the bus as my mode of transport, the reasons for regularly sticking two earbuds into my ears have rung true [pun not intended] and I have now become a follower of the trend.

Speak to me in another 5 years and you may find that I am unable to hear you. :P

Dear God, please give me patience to get through the day. And please give it to me now.

Mishy <3

Global Recession

2009-03-08T20:23:00.012+09:00

I am markedly afraid.

Kevin Rudd just went up on TV and more or less said nothing about how we're going to get out of a global recession, or how we're going to fight our way through it. Instead, we got lots of other people coming up to talk about it and to give suggestions. We even had some funky commercial with little kids singing 'It's a hard knock life for you' and an advertising about a Lentil Restaurant in Melbourne [why do they do this is us poor freaks in Perth] where you have a choice on whether to pay or not. And Kochie from Channel 7 going on about housing mortages and saving money by bringing your lunch. Yet Kevin Rudd was supposed to be the highlight of this interview.

I've begun to rethink my opinions on people who head the country, and that the position of Prime Minister is not quite as intelligent and demanding as I once thought it would be.
If anything, all Mr. Rudd did was to blast away at the opposition and beat about the bush on the topic of global recession, as though this were merely another session of Parliament and not an interview in which he was supposed to give information, assurance and comfort to the people who had lost their jobs at Bond's factory.

Whom in my opinion should be rioting in front of the factory and beating on the door of the owner of Bonds right now demanding a fat paycheck as retribution for their troubles. Same goes for any others who've lost their jobs.

Save money save money save money.

Why is is so hard to save up once you get to student level?

But, point of the fact was - it's here, in my face, and it won't go away. There's so much I want to do, want to spend on, so much I have to save up for etc etc.
Suddenly, Singapore looks like very much the ideal place to live.

I have a clear memory of my New Years Resolutions, and that one of them was to stop spending so much money this year. I am not sure how succesful I've been with that recently. =/ But I'm starting to think that it may not be as easy as I hoped it would be.

Mishy <3

PS. On the topic of spending - I've just realised that my calendar is full of people with birthdays in March. And due to migration patterns of people coming to study in Perth, it appears as though I will be very broke this month.

A Crap Week

2009-03-06T22:17:00.004+09:00

I have a confession to make.

When I enrolled for uni, I knew it would be a lot freer. And that there would probably be a lot of work to do. And that travelling time would tire me out even before enduring a series of 45 minute classes would.

But I wasn't ready, nor was I informed of the crazy amount of reading I would have to do!!

I just went in for my english tutorial today, and before that, I had to read 18 pages for text. Eighteen pages. And the writing wasn't set at a nice humane font either. It was inhumanely small and all 'times new romans-y'. With lots of words I'd never even heard of before, and an unhealthy amount of pre-1950s movies that I'd never even heard of before, being used as examples. All of that put together just made english class suddenly seem worse than usual.

I already miss Mr. McInerny's teaching. And it's only been two weeks of uni. How will I survive like this??

So majorly uberly jealous of MSHS kids who're hogging Mr. Mc's amazing talent all to their greedy, underserving, unappreciative little selves right now.

I was also completely unprepared for the way I would have to go after my own assignments rather than letting the assignments come to me. I've never had to rely on a computer so much in my life for my work. To the point where I would rather be away from the computer than near it. This is quite a difference from what I was doing in high school!

Then, I tried to change my service provider. I was previously on Telstra which was alright all through high school because I barely messaged or called anyone, and could therefore survive on AUD20 a month. [And when you're working and paying for your own credit - suddenly 20 bucks a month is actually a lot...] Then, in February, I somehow managed to use up AUD50 of credit in about 4 weeks.

50. 50. FIFTY!!

I'm still trying to figure out how I even reached that amount. But I decided that if that was how much I was going to spend at uni from now one [and hey, March hasn't ended yet, but it's very likely], I needed a better service provider.
I bought and attempted to install an Optus sim card three days ago. I still haven't been activated under Optus yet.

I'm ready to kill both service providers.

I was told I'd be able to use it by 10am tomorrow. If not, I will go to someone, complain and most likely abuse whoever is in charge of Optus for such crappy horrendous service. I've been wandering around Perth without a way to contact anyone for 3 days. This should be illegal!

On the plus side - I found the most amazing spot to sit, relax and even study *sigh* if need be.

Better start hoping my friends will always be available to enjoy it with me then. =)

Mishy <3

PS. Refering to my last post - I've just realised how many people at uni are old friends.

I'm afraid. This is quite a number. =/

Reason

2009-03-01T22:01:00.003+09:00

BECAUSE THE AUSSIE GOVERNMENT FINALLY SAW IT!!!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Doesn't exactly take Einstein to see I'm utterly, mentally and definitely excited and estatic all at the same time.
I reckon I may have just said the same thing in about two or three different ways, but who cares.

I'm happy!

My Zimbo friend has finally been given a student visa to come here. And after so many trials, so much tribulation, and definitely more trouble than it's worth, she's FINALLY reached the shores of WA.
Dancing, singing and general festivity, here I come!
I've been praying for this for a long time now, and so for that, I give all praise to God for helping her and for giving a friend back to me. Amen.

I've actually just realised that I know a lot of people at my university. People I met back when I was born. People I met in Malaysia. People I met in South Africa. Even people I met in Australia. And suddenly, they're all being forced into one concentrated space that is university. And it's scary.
I am aware, however subtly, that some part of me changes everytime I move to a different place. I am strongly influenced by the country, it's history and it's culture.
I feel a need to go back to the way things were with people, which is fine if they all stay in their separate places. But when they come together in one space...suddenly I feel a little more than a fake. Because I've changed.

And something about them has not.

I don't know how to act, how to feel...I don't even know what accent to use! And it's weird. People want to know where my loyalties lie, which country I now belong to. How does 'new me', react to what should have been the past? Deciding whether or not I am even the same person my friends once knew so long ago is difficult enough.

Like all my worlds are colliding into one big heap that is my life.

Help!

Mishy <3

A Kick in the Arse

2009-02-27T21:15:00.003+09:00

I refer to my uni timetable that is.

I was of the mistaken belief that I would only require one lecture per unit, and as such, I was all set for free days galore. [two, to be exact]
Then I asked the lecturer whether these lectures were compulsory lectures or repeats. The little fairy-land I had managed to build around myself in my euphoria, slowly crumbled away to ashes, dust, fire and hell when I heard the answer.
So now I have no free days, and one random little lecture in the middle of Thursday. Which more or less takes out 5 hours of my life to travel, listen to the lecture and get back home again.

Uni so far has been alright. People are amazed that we have thing like a 'film class' [only for amazing english students like me though]. On the bad side, it ends at 5pm...thankfully, it only lasts for about three weeks. People are even more shocked once I reveal that watching part of the 'Simpsons' series is included in the film class. One would think we watch more intellectually stimulating movies at university, but apparently not.

Nothing much else to write. But that really is my kick in the arse for the week. =)

Mishy <3

A New Beginning

2009-02-22T22:39:00.008+09:00

Tomorrow is the first day of university. The 23rd of February is the day that the University of Western Australia officially opens.

NERVOUS!

What was pure excitement during Orientation Week has slowly dribbled away into pure nervousness.

I have a good timetable. Or as good as one can get it to be in any case. Classes on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, but I have Wednesday and Thursday off for me to relax, finish assignments, go to work, etc.

I'm crazily nervous for tomorrow. Because I don't know anyone who's doing the Arts or more specifically the Communications degree with me.
I envy people who've got the most amazing verbal communication skills because they can get places.
Sure, I'm doing the Communications degree. But my skill lies in my writing. Not necessarily in my speech. Certainly not in my social skills.
It feels as though I've been getting through by relying on one friend. Who has the most amazing verbal communication skills. And he's not even doing communications!

I'm rambling on. But it made me have a think through today. It made me wonder if I knew what I was doing, and whether it was the right thing.

University is a new beginning. For me. For a lot of people. The gateway to a life you never knew existed or could exist.

The future depends on it.

Most of it would be my own fault. I don't know how to relate to people. Small talk is a mission for me. I read a health article where the writer advises you to look out for symptoms of Aspergers in yourself or in your child.

I've decided that I'm slightly 'Aspergic'.

But whatever. New beginning.

I just hope I make the most of it.

Mishy <3

O-Day Festival '09

2009-02-20T21:56:00.001+09:00

This is the day that culminates an entire week's worth of information session, events and crazy meet ups that is UWA's O-Week.

And it's been an absolute blast! Well, O-Day has been I guess. Some of the FACFind Days were a little dreary. This week alone, I've been heading to uni every single day of the week. It does get rather tiring.

Ironically enough, although most of my interest lies with my Communications course, I know more people doing Commerce, Engineering, Science, Medicine and Architecture than I do the people doing Arts!

First up - I had to go for the Commencement Ceremony where we received our...*drum roll* commemorative keyring! *crash cymbals*
Somehow, the words 'commemorative' and 'keyring' simply don't go together. I at least expected a statue. A plague. But a keyring??

Meanwhile, I have been conned into joining almost 6 clubs during the UWA O-Day today.
Okay, so I intentionally joined the Malaysian Student's Union and will hopefully be going after the AIESEC organisation. However, I was most definitely conned by the Singaporean Student's Society, sorely tempted by the ASIA group[and eventually gave in], amazed by the United Nations Youth Organisation and rather daringly pointed at and dragged to the Arts Union.

Okay, so maybe the others weren't such a waste of time. But the Arts Union maybe was. And I wasn't kidding about the SSS since they more or less hijacked me and my friends and wouldn't let us go till we joined.
Most clubs were giving out 'freebies' as well. Take MSU, who included a pack of Indomie in their goodie bag. My dad is of the great belief that I was won over by a simple pack of Indomie. I told him I wasn't 'simply bribed' by the Indomie because I had no idea that we were getting freebies. If I'd known, I would've haggled for a pack of Maggi Mee first. Like any ordinary Malaysian would.

All in all, a good week. My shoulders are hurting from all the freebies the clubs gave us. Although the Guild has more or less managed to dosh out my lunch in that time span.
So thanks to the Guild. =)

Mishy <3

O-Week [Day 1]

2009-02-16T20:12:00.005+09:00

Okay. So uni orientation week has officially begun.

My feet are tired, hehe. And I've never met so many Malaysians and Singaporeans in Perth before in my life!

The day began with a 'Big Breakfast'. I have no idea what kind of meal I was expecting to be honest, but we were served with a piece of flour-like thing that slightly resembled a pancake. Or, well, they said it was a pancake. That came with honey. Which definitely tasted better than the so-called 'pancake' did.

Later, we moved on to the 'O-Quest' where we were made to go on some random treasure hunt a la 'Amazing Race'. I was grouped in with a bunch of lovely people, thankfully. And from there, we raced across [or rather, slowly strolled across] the campus answering questions and partaking in all kinds of random group activities. Such as the one where we had to form the letters U-W-A [no prizes for guessing why] with our bodies. *Leow attempted to convince our Senior student that by forming the letters with a pile of leaves, he was using his body anyway. He also attempted to convince her that the whole group using their hands would definitely still count as using our bodies. To no avail, and after several minutes of debate, we finally settled into this shape:

Yeah, it might've just been easier to get to this stage without all the fuss and bother, lol.

If you can't make it out entirely, it IS meant to be a U-W-A. Not very nicely made though.

Then there was a free lunch. Which, after the episode at breakfast, I decided not to partake in because really, the half-hour long wait wasn't worth it. Mind you, they were serving freshly barbequed hotdogs, so not as bad as expected.

After, I was about to head home, but was persuaded by unyielding friends to stay for UniMentor. Even though I didn't sign up. But I headed on down anyway. I'm glad I did actually, cuz my mentor's cool and actually really helpful. Not that I realised this before. :P Anyone heading to UWA, I actually recommend it. I didn't realise I had so many unanswered questions until I was forced to go to the session and have a talk. So yes. Go. regardless of whether you want to or not. Cuz you might find that you actually need it.

Anyway, that's Day One over. Next day, here I come. =)

Mishy <3

Single's Awareness Day

2009-02-14T09:00:00.003+09:00

Just for you all to know - I am going to be slightly emo again.

But on a good basis. I mean, if I were attached, I'd be celebrating Valentine's Day. But I'm single, so it's Single's Awareness Day.

Like everyone else, I believe it's all just a commercial farce. And who can argue? If you loved someone, you wouldn't only be showing it once a year. And if you're one of those people who do believe that you can only show affection once a year, it's a miracle you've still got your partner with you.
I mean, just looking at the price of roses jump during the February month is killer! My aunt has a rose bush, growing in her garden. And a little boy of about 12 knocked on her door and asked her if he could have one of her roses because he wanted it for his girlfriend.

His girlfriend!

Dude...you're TWELVE!
Okay, maybe I shouldn't be so shocked, this is Australia and we are a new generation.

Twelve!

For Valentine's Day, I am celebrating it spectacularly with...a day at work!! Hoorah!

Not.

But because Lotterywest decided to hop on board the commercial bandwagon on Valentine's Day, I will be forced to endure near death conditions at work serving people who are desperate to buy the winning tickets for the 14 Million Mega Draw on Valentine's Day.
I love the staff at work, don't get me wrong. I work with great people. But I am not happy about serving some smelly customers who don't know how to queue.

Geez, it sounds a lot like China.

And we at work have risen to the occassion by dressing up in red and white for V-Day. Come one, come all. We promise to entertain the masses. :P

Hmm, interesting thought. How nice of Lotterywest to set the prize pool at 14 million on the 14th of February.

On the other hand, this day is probably a good excuse to consume chocolate. How many women don't like chocolate, it's almost imposible to find one who doesn't! Funny though, how attached women try not to eat chocolate for fear of getting fat, but single ones eat chocolate to get through their non-attached depression. Irony much?
So really, why do men still give their girlfriends chocolate on Valentine's Day?

Moral of the story - Don't waste, give your chocolate to single women!!

But yes, Happy Valentine's Day to those who are attached. And Happy Single's Awareness Day for those who are otherwise.

Mishy <3

Friday the 13th [of February]

2009-02-13T20:50:00.003+09:00

Woe is us.

Well, nothing bad has happened to me today, but I guess I'd better not say anything, cuz it might catch up with me tomorrow instead!

Sad to say March the 13th also falls on a Friday.

Hopefully, this means that if I have to work on a Friday next month, almost no one will come to buy lottery and will stick with the safer cards. I hear heaven calling already.

Well, orientation week [or O-Week as it's called at UWA] starts next week on Monday. Which is good. Because the four walls of the house are starting to get all too familiar. I'm starting to wonder what it'll be like and whether I'll be able to cope. I mean, I'm no stranger to having to cope with making friends. But come on. This is university. Not school anymore.
Needless to say, school and university are two very different ball games. We're taking the difference between cricket and baseball. [for people who don't follow sports at all, there is a substantial difference I assure you]
Yeah, I do know some people who are going. But not nearly enough though. And not the people I'm all that close to either. Make closer friends? That's difficult though.

I'm going globetrotting again. I'm not that excited. Again.
Some people will have already guessed what I'm on about. But ah well.
I'll see. I can't wait to start eating and going out again. :P

14 Million Superdraw on tomorrow. I can hardly wait.

Mishy <3

Going Back

2009-02-10T19:55:00.002+09:00

So.

I'm going back to school tomorrow morning.

Shock. Horror. Nauseated face.

Not for a bad reason at all to be honest. Certainly, I'm not repeating Year 12 again. [the Good Lord forbid...] And I've definitely returned all my library books. :P

Nope, I'm going back for a 'Welcome Assembly'. Or a 'Come-back-and-brag to-the-School' Assembly as I like to call it. I don't want to do the bragging, but I do want to see friends again, especially since it's been a while. :P

Then I've got an entire day of work to look forward to. Whoop-dee-doo. But working Wednesday is great, so I'm not overly bothered. :P

AUD$40 Million draw tonight...who will win...?

ME?

Wishful thinking.

Oh my, I'm turning into a gambler! Mustn't play with lottery. Gambling, bad, very bad. Must...resist...urge...

Oh who'm I kidding. 40 million bucks!

And you're not going to win it.

I'm happy to win 50 dollars so that I can reimburse all my lost money when I spent it shopping.

That's what all the gamblers say.

No they don't!

Yes they do.

Oh alright, maybe. Some. So what?

Stop gambling!

Working at the lottery store is a dangerous gamble.

Pun not entirely intended.

Mishy <3

...On Being Emo

2009-02-08T19:55:00.006+09:00

Okay. So I've been kinda sorta depressed for a while. Not that anyone knew that.

Crazy things've been happening, and they're all things I obviously have no control over.

So first up - Ms. Rames's death.
She was the Malay HoD, back at my old school in Malaysia, and she passed away due to a stroke if I'm not wrong.
I didn't know her well. She was never a teacher of mine. But she was a strong woman, who did things with great dignity, and I felt it during my time there. Her death came as a great shock to me, personally. Because I had no idea that she had any medical problems at all. But then again, I haven't been a part of the school for years now. Nontheless, any kind of death upsets me, even though I believe that we all go to a better place when we pass on. I guess it's just the shock that 'so-and-so' woke up one morning, only to pass away tragically. Or another scenario I always imagine is 'so-and-so' going to sleep and never waking up the next day. I get more upset whenever it's someone I know, however distantly related.

Whatever. I just don't like death.

Next up - Australia's kooky weather.
And I take this on a more personal level cuz it's threatening me too! Rising floods in the North East and raging bush fires in the South East. I can't imagine what's happening to everyone there.
Most of Victoria is being destroyed by fire after fire. When I watched the special news reports on raging bushfires in Australia just now, the latest was that an 80 kilometer wall of flame was headed for one of the towns in Victoria. Eighty kilometers. Who's going to be able to escape that quickly now?!
And then there's Queensland, battling wave after wave of floods. And now threats of crocodile attacks in the flood waters? I knew there had to be one con of living right next to the Great Barrier Reef.
And of course, Perth is getting by quite nicely without too many disruptions. [as usual...*sigh*] But we're still getting bushfires, such as the one in King's Park. And the one at Whiteman's Park. [both lit by humans, the buggers] And then the one closeby to my house. My house. I'm starting to freak out, and wonder where I should run and whether I can take anything and what would happen if both my parents are out of the house [which occurs rather frequently] and are unable to drive us outta there quick. Especially since I live right next to bushland! Hmm, better start getting my sneakers ready...

Also there - New immigration regulations against Zimbabweans.
So. I had high hopes for one of my friends, *Monzi a Zimbabwean girl, in joining me down here. I've missed the girls from South Africa, and having even one from the pack around would be thrilling.
But guess what? The government's being difficult now. Apparently all Zimbabweans must now have a sponsor who is a relative and a resident in Australia who owns over AUD120000 in order for the student to come here. And not to be crude, but my friend and I both realised that it was because the Aussie government is afraid that Zimbos will come as students, and then refuse to leave, claiming status as refugees once their education is over.
I want to know...since when Australia has been trying to regulate who comes into the country and who doesn't. Australia, since the 1970s, has been accepting people willy nilly into the country. Zimbabweans should be no different.
Hmm, maybe Pauline Hanson had too much of a bad impact. Boo sucks to her!
But *Monzi's got one last shot at getting here. I'm praying that she does.

On the plus side, *Leow is definitely here to stay for uni. =) *Nish is back from her round Asia tour! :P I start uni soon. I still have a job, and my mates are safe and sound. Which I'm happy about.

Mishy <3

Well I'll Be Darned

2009-02-07T12:00:00.000+09:00

This happened quite a while ago. Last year in fact. But it never fails to bring a smile to my face whenever I think about it.

Conversation at school:
KC: I was so out of it today that I was brushing my teeth and doing my hair at the same time!
JB: So what would happen if you used your toothpaste to do your hair and your gel to brush your teeth? ...Minty fresh hair...
Me: And teeth with extra strong hold! Or...wet look teeth?

Hmm. So it turns out that hair gel IS a good investment after all. Much better than toothpaste is at any rate, since it does the job of the toothpaste too. I mean, who'd want 'minty-fresh hair'?

Another episode would be just before our mock exams:
JB: For my exam[Building and Construction], I get to build a brick wall and then knock it down!
KC: For my exam[Cooking], I get to bake a mud cake!
Me: Ooh, care to let us try your exam?
KC: But we're not allowed to eat the brick walls...

...of the mud cake I hope, KC. XD

I find it ironic that we were taking about mud and bricks in the same sentence, even though we were talking about two completely different subjects. Does anyone else find this weird?

I'm gonna miss all this when I get to uni. I mean, who am I going to have these memory-making conversations with now??

Mishy <3

Giving Up

2009-02-06T13:03:00.003+09:00

I really have no other words to express it.

I love my country. It's an amazing country. There's food, there's shopping, nightlife, people, things to do, places to see and a heritage which we could be proud of.

But politics wise...I'm losing hope. Giving up. Writing it off.

However you want to say it.

So. Four members from PAS have crossed the floor. One into BN, and the other three deciding to go down the Independent path. The Independents will however be siding with the government.
Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim is going crazy [even though he has yet to show signs of it]. Najib seems to be smug about this newly found victory, considering BN hasn't had a hold over Perak in a long time. All while the rest of Malaysia is struggling to just get by and live peacefully.

Politics isn't what it used to be. It was meant to be For the People, By the People.
Politics is all about a power struggle now. Who's got the power, who doesn't. Who wins, who loses. Who has the final say in each and every decision.
Politics was meant to represent the people, make life better, care for the people. Help those in need, make decisions which will benefit the people when push comes to shove, or even before that happens.

I'd really love to know how this 2020 vision that Datuk Badawi had in mind is ever going to come about. We can never be a first world country without the proper values and the proper base. That idea and goal was a sham right from the beginning, even before it was announced to the country.

I love my country. I love Malaysia.

Just not her current politicians.

Mishy <3

Counting Down...

2009-02-03T19:55:00.005+09:00

Create your own MySpace Countdown Counter Today!

As you may probably see, and realise - I am rather bored at home and cannot wait to be bored out of my mind at uni lectures instead.
At least there's the one hour travelling time to look forward to.
Back...and forth...
And then there's work to fill the time.
Catching up with friends.
Lots of getting out of the house.

Ah man, who'm I kidding, I'm excited. :P
And I really do need to get out of either the house, or state soon.

Mishy <3

TCK Day

2009-02-02T21:51:00.003+09:00

So it's been the subject of much discussion on the tckid forum lately. I myself have been thinking about it endless times.

The idea of a TCK Day would be...amazing.

I know that it's nothing compared to say world poverty. Or Zimbabwe. But it's still an important topic. The TCK stands up for racism, sexism, diversity, even our ever increasing globalisation.

My idea was to have some kind of TCK Week, rather than a day, in which we could fit everything we wanted to do, all across the world. It HAS to be all across the world, otherwise it wouldn't work. The idea of a TCK is to be international, and that's what I want to do.
During the first dew days, groups of TCKs could try to raise awareness by hosting talks at international schools, private schools, public schools, workplaces, offices. Talk to some TCK celebrities, do some interviews, gain media attention if necessary.
During that week, invites would be distributed to a TCK Fest where the week's efforts would culminate in a TCK video viewing, art jams, little stalls selling artworks and TCK books, maybe a few TCK celebrities coming, language demonstrations, and so on and so forth.
T-shirts would be specially made for the event, as well as little buttons.

I know I'm completely drawing from the Con-fest experience, but I reckon that when they started this Con-fest stuff, they had a good idea of what was going on.

The t-shirts were a huge point of concern, especially about whether the slogans would segregate 'us' from 'them', which was not what we wanted to do at all.
So as a way of inclusion, I guess, what would and wouldn't be appropriate for those who don't see themselves as Third Culture Kids?

1. "The Future is Upon Us: TCK!!!"
2. The phrase 'third culture kid' in as many languages as possible.
3. "I dare you to ask me where I'm from."
4. "You know you're a TCK when... ."

If you have any suggestions or opinions regarding the slogans, please help and give them. =) Any help is appreciated, and we want everyone to be involved in this. =)

Mishy <3

Someday Soon

2009-01-29T12:44:00.001+09:00

Completely and utterly addicted to this song. Along with another one which I shall post about soon. :P
The video's kinda boring I guess, but the song is addictive. And it's got nice lyrics.

Someday soon...I'll be a millionare just like she is and be able to sing about believing in yourself when the world goes through a depression. XD

I can be so cynical.

Mishy <3

Year of the Ox

2009-01-26T12:00:00.000+09:00

GONG XI FA CAI!

HONG PAO NA LAI?!
:D

Yup people, Chinese New Year is today, on the 26th of January.

Coincidentally the same day as Australia Day.

We are still more important, judging by the fact that there are at least a billion of us on this earth compared to Australia. :P

This is the Year of the Ox.

The Chinese calendar is based on the moon movements. Bascially, it is VERY accurate, right down to the last minute, so we never really know when CNY [Chinese New Year] is until we either check the calander, or do it the old fashioned way and track the moon ourselves.

The Chinese a long time ago decided to use animals as a way of telling the years apart.

There are twelve animals. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, in that order.

There's a lot of legends regarding how that order came to be, but all involve a race of some kind. The way they raced and got their places also determines some kind of personality, much like a star sign. You know how we have stuff like Capricorn and Aquarius and Pisces? The Lunar Animals are the Chinese version of it. Of course, the Zodiac signs change every month and ours takes...well...twelve years to come full circle, lol.

Traits of the Ox severe bad luck and extreme gullibleness. The reason for this bad luck, I think, is because during the race of the animals, the Rat cheated by hanging onto the back of the Ox. The Ox was so powerful and big that he was ahead of everyone else, and endured all hardships and obstacles that crossed his path. But just before the Ox reached the finish line, the Rat jumped off his back and won the race. Hence the Ox's bad luck and gullible traits, lol.

So to anyone born in the Year of the Ox - may you hopefully be luckier this year!
To all Chinese around the world:

Mishy <3

Mysteries of the World

2009-01-25T22:17:00.001+09:00

Sometimes we notice them, and most times, we don't. But some occurences of the world in which we live are to be highly pondered and investigated.

Such as the shoes store in Malaysia named Nose.
I mean, why name a store that caters for your feet, 'Nose'? I can only imagine the conversation that took place between the managers -

M1: Okay, now we must think of a name so 'kao-tim' that it will BLOW Vincci away!

M2: I have an idea! What about..."FEET"??
M1: No lah, too obvious...Let's go with "NOSE".

And so it was born. Or so I imagine it was.

Perhaps one of the more noticable mysteries of the world would be the speed-metre on the dashboards of our cars.

Most speed limits hover around 100km/h on highways. No faster, no slower. And that's possibly the fastest speed you can travel at, save driving on country roads. But c'mon, who drives a BMW or a Mercedes through endless dirt roads at top speeds?

Yet, why do speed-o-metres usually follow through all the way till 200km/h, and sometimes more? Does anyone ever hit that 200km/h speed limit? What's it there for if no one is ever supposed to legally reach that speed?
The only reason I can imagine the 200km/h speed being used is for drag racing and doing burnouts. So really, if we all want to stop dangerous illegal racing and burnouts, why is the 200km/h speed still there?

One of the greater mysteries of life. Please inform me if you find any other mysteries I have yet to think of, or if you have the answer to any of my questions. :P

Mishy <3

My Current Obssession [I]

2009-01-24T16:53:00.000+09:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl [or, millions of little girls] who grew addicted to the actvity and craze that was...fashion! Followed closely by shopping, the craze swept around the world, and whether it was for clothes, shoes, make up, or even furniture, no man could destroy the obsession that forever destroyed the image of an obedient female, as these little girls grew to become vacarious and vicious grown women swamping the malls in search of the perfect item.

Let's be serious, the very image of a swarm of women in malls is enough to be scared.

And my current obssession?

SHOES!

Okay, it's always been shoes, but this time, it's two types of shoes in particular.

One: The Gladiator Sandal. Must have, must have, must have. I tried one on in KL and now I'm going crazy just trying to get one in Perth. Trouble is? Everytime I chase after the shoe I want, my size is always sold out. Way to go, huh? You'd think they'd start stocking up on more six 6s and less size 10s.

Two: The Ipanema Sandal which was popularised by Gisele Bundchen. I'm not a stickler for branded things, but i fell in love with the shoe design the moment I saw it and now I go crazy whenever I see someone else wearing it because I have yet to buy it. This shoe featured here isn't the only style under this Ipanema category, but it's the style and colour I'm going crazy over.

I know, I'm crazy like that.

Thus is my current obssession. Updates on the next obssession soon. :P

Mishy <3

The Grand Decision

2009-01-23T13:52:00.006+09:00

Well, the decision has been made, and will be completely and utterly finalised by next week.
I'm currently kicking myself mentally for making this decision...by those words alone those who've followed me on my university agonisings will know where I've chosen to go.

Yup, I'm sticking with the University of Western Australia.

So I got the offer, and I'm off to do a double degree at UWA, BArts[Communication Studies]/BCommerce.
I'm still kicking myself, wondering what life I've just missed out on, by deciding to stay with UWA.
It just means I need to earn more money and get myself outta here as soon as I can.

Orientation Week starts on the 16th of February and ends on the 20th of February. University then starts on the 23rd of February. Which I'm not really looking forward to, due to the hour long bus ride that I will eventually have to take.
I really should move closer to university. Eventually.

My fingers are severly crossed for *Monzi to come down soon, cuz I need my African influence back. =) You know I miss all you lovely Saints ladies, but after the drought one of you coming to see me suddenly seems like a flood, if you know what I mean.
I have also unexpectedly found a new recruit to UWA from Malaysia...one whom I believed would end up going to Melbourne, but in an unexpected turn of events decided to stay here.

Nice to see I've got some friends coming along for the game. =) After heading for the pre-enrolment sessions, I was greeted with the sudden realisation that all my Perth friends had ended up in ECU, or were going to take a gap year. There were a few [okay, understatement - a LOT of] Asians at the sessions, but I didn't know or didn't quite mix with any of them. And then I met *Leow at the campus during the BCommerce pre-enrolment session and got the shock of my life. So yes, nice to see that I will have some kind of company at uni.

To anyone starting uni this year, good luck...I have a feeling it's going to be one hell of a ride.
Mishy <3>

* nicknames used to allow for anonimity.

McDonalds - Just a Franchise?

2009-01-22T17:37:00.006+09:00

Being a TCK does come with it's perks, no matter how emo I can get about my situation.
One of the never ending perks, are the comparisons between everything and anything.

Take McDonalds. It's virtually impossible to go anywhere without glancing at those huge double yellow arches.

What's on the menu, however, can reveal the very essence of the country that allowed McDonalds to reach its shores.

Anyone with a TV in their house will probably be all too familiar with the programme 'Super Size Me' where a guy had the all fattening diet of McDonalds burgers in Super Size for a month in North America. The rest of the world can only gape in awe at the size of the burgers, and wonder why famine and world hunger is such a huge problem.

In the Philippines, McDonalds is more commonly known as McDo [pronounced Mac-dOH], although Jubilee tends to be more popular than this hugely international franchise. I can barely remember what was served in the Filipino franchise, but I think they had some kind of mango pudding which makes the mouth of every filo water. Or maybe I'm thinking about Jubilee again.

In Malaysia, all burgers have no pork in them, and regularly advertises their Prosperity Burgers every Chinese New Year. The properity of these burgers is, however questionable, and it is suspected that the managers of the Malaysian branch of McDonalds are in fact the ones becoming more prosperous. McDonalds is more popularly known as 'McDs', and widely attracts customers because of their ice-creams, not their burgers. They have also been known to sell 'Bubur Ayam' which is basically chicken congee. They don't taste very nice.

Indonesia presumably has a similar menu to Malaysia, and I can't imagine how different the menu might be. Unless Indonesia decides to take chicken and burgers to new heights to do a rendang sapi burger.

Hong Kong also features Chicken Congee on the menu, although as I have never tried it, I cannot comment on the tastefulness of the dish. News has also reached me, saying that Hong Kong also serves dim sum in their McDonald chains. Instant dim dum? Fast food dim sum? Char siew, siew mai, ha kau, egg tarts...instant style? In Hong Kong? When you could walk across the road and get better stuff, probably for cheaper? This is just really strange...

In Australia, McDonalads in known as 'Mackkers', or something similar to those lines. It features a cafe within its outlets, known as McCafe, allowing consumers to believe that it is in fact a classy restaurant, and not some 'fast food chain'. Burger boxes all insist that the beef used is 'purely Australian beef' and never fail to be proud of that fact. Moo.

South Africa's McDonalds remains on a low key, and only occasionally resurfaces to face up to the likes of Wimpy's, but quickly backs down again after a while. They are able to maintain their success in South Africa purely by the knowledge that if every other McDonalds in the world can survive, then so can they. [Well, I guess South Africans can be partial to a McDs burger sometimes] The smoothies and milkshakes featured on the menu of this quiet franchise however, are to be highly commended. In other words - I can't get enough of their berry shakes!

In Canada, the menu appears to be strikingly similar to North America, and I quote Chris, who recently messaged me with a: 'They have PORK in McDs...and BACON!'. Let it be known that possibly every McDonalds in the world has bacon in their burgers, save Muslim countries such as Malaysia [where Chris and I lived for a while] and so on and so forth.

And just for the record - YES burgers do taste better when there's bacon in them. :P

I love doing little comparisons like these, especially when McDonalds is the giant of all fast food chains. I mean, there's not much comparison to be done with KFC [Malaysia may indeed be the only one crazy enough to do KFC hainanese chicken rice]. The 'Burger King' corporation might have quite a few differences, but what with all the different names in each country, it'd be difficult to talk about. Just a tad too many differences.

But if anyone has any interesting stories about their encounters with the many different McDonald restaurants all over the world...gimme a shout. I'd love to hear about your experiences. =)

Mishy <3

Barack Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-21T16:12:00.003+09:00

Okay. So I missed it.

I am annoyed with myself, without a doubt.

But with good reason- I had to go to work at 8.30am [which I'd almost forgotten when I woke up], which meant that staying up from 1am to 5am would have killed me today. Not to mention, I have a Pre-enrolment session to head to at UWA, which basically means that any repeats the new channels may be showing today are more or less wasted on me.

Because I can't watch history in the making!!!

Yeah, alright, kill me now. I can't believe I missed a live piece of history in the making because of my erratic sleep schedules. Stupid timezones. I live in a bad place to watch any kind of history in the making.

I should've totally taken the day off on Wednesday so that I could stay up all morning to watch Barack Obama's Inauguration.

I'm listening to Obama's speech now as I type, and I'm amazed and the amount of work, time and effort put into his speech. Inspiring hope, initiating coordination and engineering the success of the world. He stands as a representative of what could happen, and hopefully, what will happen.

Another topic I'm amazed about is the hoo-haa about Michelle's Obama's dress. I have no idea why the fuss is all up there, but hey, I guess we as females can't get rid of our human weaknesses sometimes. My opinion: Michelle Obama did dress very nicely for that night, although I wouldn't hail her as the First Lady of Fashion. Our tastes are different, but then again, what works for her may not appeal to me.

Still, I'm going to sit back and savour an amazing triumph of humanity and for the world.

Mishy <3

University Offers

2009-01-20T21:32:00.000+09:00

THEY CAME!!!

Well, Perth came first, on the 16th of January. They appeared on the internet on the 15th, but since my internet took a week long hiatus, I wasn't able to blog about it. In any case, I did get lazy, and decided that I'd blog about all my offers after I'd received them all. My Melbourne offers did eventually turn up on the 20th of January, although I have yet to receive instructions on how to accept the offer.

From Perth, I got my first preference which was a double degree, Bachelor of Arts[Communication Studies]/Bachelor of Commerce in the University of Western Australia.

From Melbourne, I got my second preference which was a Bachelor of Arts degree in the University of Melbourne.

So I'm happy with the offers. To be honest, I wasn't sure I could make the Bachelor of Communications cut-off for University of Melbourne, so I'm really pleased about making the cut-off for the Arts degree.

As to which I will end up accepting...my decision will be known by the 22nd of January. A good, well informed decision...and hopefully I will have made no mistakes regarding this. This is such an important decision, and one that could ultimately decide my future for the next 10 years or so.

It's weird how I keep going on and on about Melbourne. But ultimately, I still don't know what to do, or where I should go. Perth is just as good too. Or, well, so we are led to believe anyway.

I think in the end, it comes down to where I want to live. The international, party scene of Melbourne? Or the quieter, more studious side of Perth?

Gosh, somehow this seems so obvious, but it isn't really.

I just hope I don't mess it up.

Mishy <3

Turning 18

2009-01-16T15:14:00.001+09:00

The Big ONE - EIGHT

Parties! Drinking! Gambling! Driving! The works!
The grand poo-bah of birthdays.

It's not all as grand as it's made out to be.

On the 16th of January...

I went to work.

Yup, I went to work in the morning. Unbelievable as it may seem, but that's what I did. One girl turned 18 a week before me, and she took a whole week off, along with a trip to Melbourne sponsered by her parents.

I didn't get amazing and grand presents. [I'm wondering whether my parents have secretly joined a Jehovah's Witness group] I did get some nice stuff from my aunt though. And a great many thanks to the people to sent me birthday wishes, either via Facebook, or via sms. =)
My work friends were great though, they got me pressies. :P I have cool colleagues.

But you know what...I think I'll just hang around for my 21st birthday before I throw the grand celebration.

After all, what can possibly be done at the age of 18? I could drink. If I'd started getting my Ls earlier, I would've been able to drive.
But I don't have my keys out into the world yet. No place to call my own. No car. Not even my licence.

Okay, so the licence bit is kind of my fault. But still.

And if anyone wants to buy me a car, it'd be greatly appreciated. :P

I'm in no rush to grow up...even though I probably should be.

Besides...hopefully by the time I hit 21, everyone will have saved more money and will have no excuse to not getg me bigger, better and grander presents. :P

The 18th year is celebrated by all and many, far and wide. In the Philippines, the 18th birthday is a huge thing to celebrate, possibly due to all the American influence. It's strange, because I never really knew where I would end up celebrating my 18th birthday. And now I've ended up here. In a place where I watch paint dry for fun. In a place where I know I'll never settle.
Ridiculous isn't it. The supposedly best birthday of my life, and this is where I am.

Still, it then makes more sense to wait till my 21st so I can go somewhere else before I hit 21 and celebrate it in the place of my choice.

I finally found someone who shares the same birthdate with me- Joe Kor, my cousin-in-law. Happy birthday. =)

Mishy <3

Growing Up

2009-01-08T22:09:00.002+09:00

Unfortunately, I no longer have a host of teachers, the admin staff plus the school headmaster/mistress to force me to do what is necessary.

Which, okay, kind of sucks.

I mean, no one should HAVE to tell me to get my drivers licence. Most kids are running amok trying to get it as early as they can.
I on the other hand, seem to be a tad too lazy to just get on with it. And I'm going to turn 18 in a week, the age when I SHOULD be driving myself around already...
But never mind, I'll get there.

Eventually.

Then there's work. I really am not the kind of person who will be happy standing at the counter the whole day. As a responsible adult, I should be busy serving customers and looking like a happy individual, and honing my skills in the office politics and gossip department.

Who'm I kidding?? I can't stand there and serve 200 people a day...it's simply not the most invigorating thing to be doing. And trying to make myself look interesting to my colleagues is pretty much almost a wate of my time. Especially since I doubt I'll stay all that long.
Okay, so I know I should be patient, sitting back and just...waiting for my life to be-
Ohmigosh, what crap am I SPOUTING? I can't believe I'm even thinking this to myself. I should be out there...either telling people what to do or to be told what to do.
I think I prefer the former. Grrr, grow up, grow up, grow up

-gin, seeing as uni is but a month away!

That's the other bit. Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne.
But mum wants Perth. Well not wants. Prefers. And I want Melbourne. Which is so much better mind you. That arts course is to die for.
Or, in my case, move for.

Who's the one going to university anyway, don't I get to choose, regardless???

Okay, yeah, so I've got to grow up. Out with the old, and on with the new. I'm almost 18 for crying out loud!

Crap, I don't even drink. How in the world am I supposed to socialise with a new generation of slobbering idiots who can't string two words together without mentioning 'crunk' or 'drunk' in one of them. Although some are nice. The intelligent ones are my friends. =)

...New experiences, new places to go...

What'm I talking about, I've already been to more places than a centenerian has in their entire life...

I should be excited about 2009. I AM excited about 2009.

I just wish I could cope with it much better.

Mishy <3

"Celebrate Good Times...C'mon!"

2009-01-04T22:27:00.003+09:00

I love the months from December to February.

It's always jam packed, full of activity, and usually the time when I get most of my presents. :P

So, December- Christmas! Need I say more?

Then in January, there's New Years [which is always good since it's a holiday]. Then there's also my birthday!

Finally, there's Chinese New Year, which falls from between january to February, but take fifteen days to celebrate and always ends sometime in February.

This makes the months from December to February one long, extended happy celebration for me and the rest of my family.

Hooray!

Kinda sad though, to think that this multi-celebration is coming to an end in another month or so. =(

Mishy <3

New Year's Resolutions - 2oo9

2009-01-01T00:00:00.002+09:00

I don't usually do this. In fact, I sometimes forget it's new years. I live for the fireworks, and to me that's all that matters during this time.
So you can imagine why people are calling me weird when I don't want to attend some New Year's Eve Party and do a countdown. Bo-ring. I like looking at fireworks, they're enough for me.

But back to the actual point: New Year's Reslutions!

In 2oo9, I will...

1. Go to the university of my choice. [Melbourne, Melbourne, MELBOURNE!]

2. Take up dancing [preferably latin]

3. Join choir again.

4. Put in a HUGE effort to keep in touch with people. [which I always do, but no time like the present to put in more?]

5. Get my Ls, learn to drive and get my P1s and hopefully P2s by the end of the year.

6. Buy a car. A nice car. One that hopefully needs no work done to it.

7. Finally learn a new language and learn it well. [unlike my failed attempts at malay and mandarin]

8. Save up for a new phone and camera.

9. Save up for a trip overseas. [Japan? :P]

10. Stop spending so much. [kinda kills all the other spending resolutions don't it?]

11. Learn to cook more than my usual fare.

Some of the unusual New Year greetings I came across over the years deserve to be shared.

Wishing everyone a South African New Year:
May good luck stalk you and hapiness attack you wherever you go.

May your miseries be hijacked and worries be pickpocketed. Eish!

Another cute one I came across was-

My wish for you in 2oo9:
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.

May all worries by drown in the pool of laugher and joy!

Happy New Year everyone, and may it bring peace and happiness...however it comes to you!

Mishy <3

Tis the Season to be Shopping...

2008-12-28T21:37:00.002+09:00

Shopping

SHOPPING!!

Yeah, I absolutely canNOT get enough of it.

Shopping is a hobby, and most definitely a passion. It sounds so cliche, I know. And considering that I am a female too! But 'me & shopping' can be compared to 'any guy & sports'.

They simply go together.

And of course, I totally and completely put the blame on my Malaysian culture.

Oh heck yes.

Malaysia is ALL about food, shopping and more food. Only in Malaysia can I go out for breakfast, go shopping, eat lunch whilst there, and then come back home before our disastrous Malaysian jam starts so that I can get ready to go out for dinner.

Man, what a life.

I swear, you would think that there's absolutely no world recession going on at all.

Then again, most people don't seem to care at this point in time.
Neither do I seemingly. I have done nothing else BUT shop... I have spent so much it's not even funny.

My entire family is calling me 'my mother's daughter' [and in common sense terms- yes I should hope so too], but I agree with them. Because mum started it by taking me shopping with her everytime! XD

I swear it's like a talent, or a gift. I'm so meticulous about it, it's funny.
Maybe I should just make a job out of it.

*sigh* I love shopping.

Mishy <3

Boxing Day

2008-12-26T16:46:00.003+09:00

Today is the 4th anniversary of the 2004 Tsunami which claimed many lives all across the Indian Ocean.
So I can only sit back, and remember those who died...and pray that those new tsunami warnings which were installed immediately after still work, in case of another great tsunami.

____________________________________________________________

Christmas Day was great. =) I didn't take any shots of my presents, but then again, who would want to see them?

I completely forgot that almost all stores open on Christmas and Boxing Day, because in South Africa and Australia, everything is closed, lol. So when my aunt took us out for lunch after church, I was completely flabbergasted to find that things were actually open.

Yeah, I feel like such a jakun at the moment.

As of now, I am still shopping for last minute presents for people at in Perth. Thankfully, things are cheap in Central Market, but I can't keep going back now, can I? Grr. I need to spend a whole day in there. At least most of the people on my list have been ticked off.
It's been said that Malaysians have created a 'Mega Sale Culture' and I say good for us! What excitement would there be, if we had no mega sales? I feel sorry for other countries who don't have the sales like we do. :P
Also headed to that fish pedicure place. These fish [and I have no idea what they're called] feast on dead skin cells, so putting your feet into a tank of these is literally the natural way to a great pedicure! It's dead ticklish at first I admit, but it gets better after a while. I know I only dared to submerge my entire foot in the water after about 7 minutes. Before that, I only sacrificed my heel or my toes.

My feet have never been so smooth.

Not to mention it's RM5 for 10 minutes in Central Market, so for anyone heading that side: go while the offer's still there!

Central Market's also got a stall selling shirts with incredibly witty wording on them.
RHB Bank- Robin Hood Bank. We steal from the rich AND the poor. -we don't discriminate-
HSBC- Highly Suspicious Banking Company. The world's loco bank.
BMW- Burn My Wallet

Also, my all time favourite: KEEP MALAYSIA CLEAN. Throw your rubbish in Singapore.
As well as: When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

OF course, it was RM35 friggin bucks, so I didn't buy it. One day, I'll just go and print out my own shirt, LOL.

Mishy <3

A Politically Correct Christmas

2008-12-24T18:02:00.001+09:00

Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*The politically correct police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a " Holiday ".*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken &Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si -ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Clinton, and Obama!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!*

It pisses me off that this could happen. I mean, some form of equality is good, but not to the extent that I am forced to hide my religion. Christmas is the day that Christ was born. It is meant to be celebrated and tolerated by all, just as other occasions such as Ramadan or Kwanzaa are. And so what if it doesn't apply to everybody? When people choose their way of life, it means that they're making an informed decision, and knew what would and wouldn't be included in their life.
Remember the true meaning of Christmas- Merry Christmas to all and to all...a goodnight!

Mishy <3>

TER Results

2008-12-22T21:50:00.003+09:00

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Okay, before I even continue, I must let it be known to the world that I was MISLEAD.

I was told the results were coming out on the 23rd of December, and here I was happily thinking that I'd be free from the world of results till tomorrow.

Not quite so.

It turns out the results came out TODAY.

So yes, I have been completely and totally mislead.

So I called my mum in an absolute panic. And while yes my mum was really good about delving into my pig sty of a room to look for my ID number, her belief that I would not tell her my results was not so cool.

After arguing with her for at least 5 minutes and forcing her to finally tell me my Student ID with the promise that I'd keep her on the phone and reveal my results then and there, I finally managed to log in.

Okay, so at first glance, I was pretty impressed with myself. It was a good score by Australian standards. Then I remembered what the school had predicted for me and I grew even more impressed. Then I remembered what I was actually aiming for and grew steadily depressed again.

Of course, they then gave me a break down of my scores and I grew slightly more depressed at my scores.

Well, I guess I can't have everything.

But yes, before I stretch the suspense any longer, I got a grand score of: 90.25.

So yes, compared to a whole load of other people, it's pretty great. At first glance it definitely is! But compared to other people, and considering what my pride is like, it's not the best in the world.

Individual marks were...kind of dismal. Lit greeted me with 71.4%, whilst everything else ended up with 60 something and 50 something percents.

I so knew I wasn't going to do great in Human Biology and Political and Legal Studies.
History was disappointing on a dismal level. I was hoping for a score a lot higher than what I achieved. And History is pretty much my favourite subject! But Lit and History were my top two, so no complaints there. Chemistry was...on the ball. But I achieved a higher score than my Chemistry mock! Maths was again, dismally disappointing. [Sorry Mr. Mirichlis]
Those were the four subjects that were used in my TER calculation. Just like I predicted they would be.

So after a year of freaking out, almost endless turmoil, and wondering when the hell this torture would end- it's almost over.

I still have to get over the obstacle that is...

UNIVERSITY OFFERS!!!

Mishy <3

Christmas Cheer

2008-12-18T23:56:00.005+09:00

I love music. I love choirs. By now, regular readers will know of my obsession with anything that sounds like organised sound. :P
Again, I feel a thrill everytime I hear choir music. A good choir song makes you want to get up and dance and sing along with the choir, or just leaves you entranced and captivated by every note and sound.
So here's a song by the Men's A Cappella of the Straight No Chaser Choir in Indiana University.

Whew. Long name. But the music is just...woah.

I wish I could sing like that again.

Mishy <3

What Is A TCK? [Part II]

2008-12-13T01:31:00.004+09:00

TCKs come with an array of emotions.

I mean, most TCKs have been portrayed as little emo kids with not much more to do than travel all over the world, get pampered and mope over their living situation.

I wouldn't say it's that simple.

Everyone needs to feel as if they belong. As if they are loved and needed. If we look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs:

TCKs tend to be missing out on some of life's greatest needs it seems. We appear to be self actualized, and in a way, we reach this goal much faster than others.[lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts, what could be more true? :P] But without a stable base.

Physiologically, unless we're hobo TCKs [highly unlikely] we have food, water, sex [for the elders], sleep etc etc. I'm positive that unless you're being murdered/trying to commit suicide, no one can be deprived of breathing and excreting.
However, TCKs can sometime be lacking in areas such as belonging, and to perhaps a smaller extent, safety.
That's the base I'm talking about.

Most people I know wouldn't survive without a permanent house. Most people I know would next to die if they didn't have anyone they could trust. In a world where popularity and conformity is everything, many mono-cultural people would just waste away not knowing what to do.

Enter the TCK. We've never had anyone to really trust. Never had a permanent home. [The saying goes that the suitcase is where the home is] In order to survive without some of these necessities, we simply don't conform.
I'd say it's a good way to cope, isn't it?

Then again, when I think about it...maybe we don't really need to conform to well. I mean, after all, TCKs have reached the highest level more easily that way...haven't they?

Mishy <3

Unsuspected

2008-12-11T23:01:00.002+09:00

First of all: Elaine can drive.
And I managed to survive an entire 6 hours with her and did not once crash. If she ever deigns to read my blog- just want you to know Elaine, your driving skills are good. =) Considering you are living in a country where driving rules are not to be followed anyway. And considering we are not in a ditch somewhere, I think we did pretty well. Getting lost and all. XD

For another, nobody seems to recognise me. I headed into school [GIS], and almost nobody recognised me. I must've stayed out of everyone's lives pretty well. Or just passed by unnoticed. [refer to other posts to have an idea of what I'm being so emo about] Okay, so people say I've changed. I did briefly pop in once upon a time without my glasses and with my fringe, so I don't quite understand why nobody remembers what I look like. People stared at me before realising it was me. Even my own name-twin didn't recognise me immediately, which is kind of scary, seeing as I recognised her the minute I saw her.
I need a pet who can travel with me. At least the pet will have experienced what I have.

Traffic jams don't seem to be all that bad. Which, okay, freaks me out a bit. I expected to come back to chock-a-block jams and horrific driving habits. The driving habits are still there, don't get me wrong. But the jam hasn't been completely horrific. I've been getting places. Slowly but surely.

Weatherwise- I have also been surviving. Possibly because 40 degree temperatures are on the brain at the moment. But I like this humidity. It's better than dying slowly of skin cancer.

Also- Chris [no need to know the surname, cuz he might get embarrassed- plenty of Chris's out there right?] can sing! Highly pitched, yes, but he can sing. =) So I am proud of him. [yes Chris, you- if you ever see this]

So far, that's all I've found out. I'm kind of not really looking forward to finding out too much more...suddenly things seem a bit weird again. I think TCKs will understand what I'm kind of feeling here. The sudden revelation of all this newfound knowledge, of what was once familiar and suddenly is not.

Guess we all need to grow up at some stage.

Mishy <3

Come Fly With Me

2008-12-06T21:14:00.000+09:00

I have Michael Buble's song 'Come Fly With Me' stuck in my head. I love his voice, so velvety...<3

But, yes, anyway.

I HAVE LANDED ALIVE!!

Eventful it was too.

First I had to wake up at 4am. 4 friggin am in the morning.

And then I actually got up at like 4.30am cuz I couldn't wake up, and dad had to barge in and force me to get up or I'd probably end up missing my flight. [I swear I really did try to make an effort!]

Then, of course, with Air Asia, the flight got delayed. As usual. -_-" First the website said 7.05am. My ticket said 7.15am. The little TV screen with the flight times said 7.20am. Finally I ended boarding the plane at 8am.
Yeah, that's Air Asia alright.

When I ordered my meal online, I thought I was getting a nasi lemak [the realisation of which hit me at about 6am when I realised exactly what COULD happen if I ate really spicy stuff on the plane] but in the end, I received a paper bowl of...mutton rendang.

I DON'T EVEN EAT LAMB!

But I was really hungry, so it was a good thing that plane food is usually completely tasteless.

I got at the airport alright. Waited almost an hour for my luggage, wondering whether it somehow managed to get lost. Luckily it did emerge, and when it did, I grabbed it instead of letting it go round and round the baggage belt. Like the other stupid late passengers did.

But so ends my maiden air voyage alone. I loved it, and can't wait to do it again. But the next time...I'll take MAS no matter what the cost. The KLIA is just worth it really.

Mishy <3

Soon...

2008-12-05T18:25:00.002+09:00

SOON

It shall be here.

I can't believe it. It felt like years at the beginning of the year.

But it's coming, slowly but surely.

A few more hours, I'll be back where I belong.
Back in the place where I'm comfortable.
In the place I can call home.

The air. =)

Oh! Well, I was talking about Malaysia too, of course. *cough*
We'll see how it works out this time. The home I loved has been drawing further and further away from me.
But it will remain a home. To me. In my heart.

Malaysian at <3

Mishy <3

PS. TOMORROW!

Waffling On...

2008-12-03T16:33:00.003+09:00

I need to buy Christmas presents.

LOTS of Christmas presents. I don't know why I didn't start this earlier. I am panicking right about now. I plan to embark on this crazy mission tomorrow, and finish approximately...tomorrow.

I don't have a choice!

I have to finish packing by Friday.
Which means that the shopping has to be done by Thursday.

It doesn't exactly help that I've booked a ticket for a morning flight [well, okay it does: I prefer morning travel], which leaves me less time for shopping.

You know...it would be really nice if chinese families didn't have all these traditions and shows. Then I wouldn't be expected to buy presents back. Not that I am being expected to technically, since to the grandparents, I am still a 'child'. But my parents aren't children. And my aunts and uncles can't exactly be called seniors. And since I fly alone, I am expected to bring the presents with me.

This is truely the Nightmare Before Christmas.

_______________________________________________________________

On a different topic...
Work today was a crazy experience. It was only for five hours, but WOW what a day.
I met this senior lady who was buying a card and asking if she got any kind of discount with this membership card she had. I said not with that particular card, but if she had a senior's card, she could get a discount.
I looked at her name: Beng Sim.
My mother's name is Beng Sim.
So we started having a fat conversation, all about her birthdate, her Golden Anniversary, her kids, grand kids, nephews and neices, how she came from Petaling Jaya to Perth, how much she likes eating Penang Laksa etc etc. It's always nice to meet a Malaysian overseas, but wow, I don't think she ever lost her penchant for telling grandmother stories when she moved to Perth.

How typically Malaysian...

Then some chinese guy comes up, and I think his name is Mr. Hwee. The minute he saw me, he tried to make me speak in mandarin. Then switched to cantonese when he realised mandarin wasn't working. Then back to mandarin again when he realised I knew even less cantonese than I did mandarin.
I was frantically going 'wo bu shuo, wo bu shuo!!!'
But he insisted of trying to test my language skills.
Well excuse me, but after going to two different schools trying to improve my mandarin, I think it is pretty clear that it is simply not going to work out.

Although when I think about it, I probably should have insisted I was Thai or something. But he might have been able to tell. Most chinese can. Or just not tried to tell him 'wo bu shuo han yu' at all.

Anyway, that's my day...
Moral of the story: learn mandarin and cantonese. FAST.

Mishy <3

PS. Three more days...

Please don't stop the music...

2008-12-01T22:44:00.003+09:00

It is actually quite an embarrassment.

I really really really miss singing.

But that's not the embarrassment.

What's embarrassing is the fact that I joined choir for almost four years, and after a year, I can no longer reach the usual soprano pitch that I was once comfortable with.
THAT is what is embarrassing.

I want to join choir again!

I want to perform with a group of people. I want to dance the night away. I want to sing to the timing of an african jembe. I want to beat a tune with my hands. I want to listen to the voices of a dozen, maybe more people singing in harmony.

I want, I want, I want...

It sucks that I can't sing the same way I used to. I usually sing along with the radio, but when I listened to myself recently, and I mean actually listened to myself, I didn't sound the same way I used to sound. Certainly not better. And when I tried to sing some of my old choir songs, it didn't sound right. I was missing the 'key note', as Chris my old choir conductor would say. And I couldn't read music the way I used to either. I mean, I didn't expect myself to retain that skill during the TEEs, but I didn't think it would be that hard to get back on track again.

Bonk'aba'phandle. Zum Gali Gali. The Merry Widow. Tonight.
So many songs. So many good times.

I'm on the look out for a choir right now. And I'm hoping that to make things easier, the university I get into will have a competent choir. I really need to get back into this vibe again. The type I can only get before, during and after a performance. I guess you could call it a kind of high.
It would definitely explain why I was never interested in drinking or doing drugs.

You know, it's odd that considering how shy I used to be, I'm going crazy that I'm not able to perform in a choir.

Choir gave me some of the best moments of my life...
I just hope that my music doesn't go away.

Mishy <3

PS. Five more days.

Relief

2008-11-28T19:09:00.005+09:00

First of all, I must give thanks to my blog.
Yes, my own amazing blog. [normally I don't say that, but for once, it must be said]
For reminding me that...

The NS List had finally been released on the website.

Yes, I actually forgot that the list had been released on Thursday. Actually, it may have been the possibility that I'd forgotten that Thursday was the 27th of November anyway. [I blame work for this]
But, nonetheless, I remembered when I checked my blog this morning, and realised that today was the 28th of November, and that I should probably check that list now.

For those who have yet to check, the website is http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/
To check for your name, you should enter your IC number and press the 'cari' button, sit tight and hope for the best [whatever you hope the result to be].

Checking that website was the most daunting task EVER.
Forget having to move from country to country approximately every 3 years.
Forget having to hike through acres of bush in the Karoo during Saints Trek.
Forget having to sit through six never ending TEE exams.

I had to interpret this white, red and blue flashing website which was all in malay into english.
For those who don't know me, languages are not my strong point. My malay is at best, incredibly weak.
I spent at least half an hour fumbling about the website in search of the word 'nama', after which I gave up and googled 'national service malaysia list 2009'
Thankfully, it led me to this website: www.malaysia-students.com/2006/07/malaysian-national-service-khidmat.html which very helpfully told me what I was meant to do in english. Ideally I would've liked a complete translation of the Khidmat Negara website into english or even step by step instructions of what to do, but it was enough to get me started.
I saw this sentence: Semakan Status Penempatan dan Kumpulan Siri 6/2009 Melalui Kad Pengenalan ... and I understood the phrase 'kad pengenalan'.
I entered in my IC number, and was greeted with the sweetest words I'd ever seen this year:

"No KP anda tidak terdapat dalam senarai yang terpilih."

Yeah, as you may have guessed by now, I still didn't completely understand that phrase.
But I did understand the word 'tidak' and guessed that I wasn't down on the list. :P:P
Thanks to Chris Ng, who happened to be on Facebook at that time, he explained to me that it meant: "You have not been chosen for the programme."

I think it's pretty obvious by now that I did NOT want to be chosen for National Service. All the crap about adding 10 points of co-curricular activities to my resume seriously does not apply to me. I have been to enough camps to use and draw from, should my 10 points ever need to be filled. Not that I will need it since I am not going to educate myself in Malaysia anymore.
And I am so happy. I now do not have to resort to devious ends to avoid getting in.
I was seriously considering getting a Singaporean citizenship if I was inducted into the programme, meaning I would never be able to settle in Malaysia until I completed my 3 months. So I'd basically be out of the country until I was like...45.

I CAN'T LEAVE MY OWN COUNTRY FOR 28 YEARS!!

Not to mention, my complete and utter failure to translate what was on that website proves my serious disability to cope with NS. I mean, everything is going to be in malay. And I will be the lone foreigner who will most likely be eaten by tigers or sacrificed to cannibalistic orang utans by my group, if we get lost in the jungle.
Although I at least understand the words 'harimau' and 'awas'.

Life is good.
Now if only the 6th of December would come faster and I could get into the University of Melbourne.

Mishy <3

Horror Came to Me

2008-11-25T14:39:00.003+09:00

"Horror came to me in the form of glow in the dark soup."
As the bowl moved closer, I began to wonder what this monstrous creation was. Though the substance was almost invisible to me, covered by its own source, its presence was known by the faint glow that it admitted. I stared in horror at the one who moved it closer to my face. Perhaps this was what Revelations was talking about. The end of the world.

It certainly would be if anyone attempted to ingest it.

I took the bowl, and tipped it over in the sink, watching the glowing mess trickle down into a whirlwind formation down the sink. A pair of interested eyes looked over my shoulder. The sun had set a long time ago, and the black out which had begun in the afternoon had thrown the city into darkness. Dogs growled at each other in the street below, and cats yowled their night time lullaby to the world, in tune with the bashing trees and wind across the window.

If I had to blame anyone for Mother Nature's tantrum outside, I would blame it on that radiating, glowing bowl of soup.

"Darling...how many times has mummy told you not to play with your paints in the kitchen?"

I got bored, so I took one of Ami's American University essay questions and did it for fun. Been meaning to do it for a while, and finally I have the time.
And after reading what I wrote, and considering how long it took me to write it...I think I need a lot more practice again.

Mishy <3

Worth It?

2008-11-24T20:06:00.003+09:00

Okay, so it's been a long time since I've been busy with anything full stop. I wish I could take up dancing or choir again, but I guess I'm going to have to wait for uni to start before I even think of taking up anything that may tie me down! [Oh gosh, please anythng that will take me away from here- MELBOURNE!!]

But okay, so the slightly extra time does mean I have more time for reflection.

Yes. Reflection.

It is quite a scary topic to think about, I know.

I decided to make up for all my non-existant-ness during exams by talking to the people I'd really missed out on and everything. And, who'm I kidding, there's a lot of people I haven't talked to in ages! I could actually make a career out of it, completely. And it's not like I meet new people every other week. More like every other year. Facebook is just that convenient for things like these, really.

But, as it turns out...some people don't really seem to be worth keeping in touch with. =/
It's odd. The people I talked to everyday and whom I couldn't live without back when we saw each other everyday...don't reply back as much as I'd like.
It's odd, that the people I barely ever talked to before have suddenly become more important to me in so many ways I could never have imagined.
Plus, it's hard. When I talk, others don't. At such a great distance, I agree it's not easy, but at least I do try. I wonder, really, if it's worth all the trouble I put into keeping in touch with people, when these other people don't put in the same effort that I do.

Don't get me wrong. They have their lives to lead...and I have mine. But people seem to be so absorbed in the lives that they lead. And people have some strange misconceptions about what I do. When I first started working, most of my international school friends thought I was working to feed my family. -_-" NO, I am working to finance myself, not my family. Just because I've started work does not mean that I have suddenly stooped so low that I partake in child labour. It just means that I'm preparing myself.

But some people have been great. Been there for me almost every step of the way, and just encouraging me to get there, slowly, but surely. Put up with my fights, my strange ideas of the world [yes, it's strange - to you.] and my wild imagination. Stuck by me through my presence, and my absence. Given me as much news as they can of the world that I left. Allowed me to travel, at least in spirit, through the journey that I would have gone on with them. That's the effort I can appreciate. That's the effort I put in for everyone who's ever had an impact on my life, and sometimes others as well.
It would be nice if people could return the favour. I don't ask people to act as though I am still around. I don't expect people to give me the same attention that I once had when I was present all the time. But it would be nice if, just a few times a month or even a year...I got some news that they were still alive, and that I have not been forgotten. That the friendship we once had did not fade completely, and that I actually once lived in the same culture and time as my friend did.

I'm not specifically pointing anyone out, nor do I actually have a particular person in mind. But it might give an idea of how many people it is that just seem to gradually fade away.

So really...is it worth me putting in so much effort for the people who don't even try?
I'll keep trying...but only to find the people who will put in the same effort as I do.

Mishy <3

In another note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!!! Hope the 18th year turns out to be spectacular for you bro. And may whatever you set out to achieve, hopefully come true. And yes, we will go to Starbucks lah. Because Coffee Bean is gay. :P

National Service Details Out Soon

2008-11-21T15:05:00.005+09:00

NS camp details out next week

KUALA LUMPUR: Those selected to join the National Service next year will be able to check their assigned camps and batches from Nov 27.
They can check online at www.khidmatnegara.gov.my or call the National Service Department’s hotline at 03-26813446.
Major newspapers will also publish the full list on Dec 6.
The next batch of 140,000 trainees will be the largest yet, an increase of 30,000 from this year.

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.

panic Panic PANIC

*breathes*

So this is what I'm coming back to. This is what's greeting me the minute I step off that plane. This is going to pretty much determine all my travel plans for the next 25 years.
Worse yet, the batch has increased. My chances have increased. I know there's a lot of Malaysian teenagers, but there can't be so many that I won't get chosen.
Will there?

Seeing as I can't understand malay very well, I guess I'll have to get my parents to check for me. Or worse yet...*gulp* go home to bad news.
No, no, think positive. Good news. I only want good news from now on.

Hmmmm, good news... is not getting chosen for National Service. And marks! Good marks...and getting to the University of Melbourne would be great too.
I could think of a whole bunch of other things that would be great, but, so far, that's the main goal. That's the plan.

Dear God,
It's Michelle here.
I'm begging you now, please.
Please don't let my name be on that list.
Please.

Mishy <3

Just Like In Year 9...

2008-11-20T13:48:00.002+09:00

I am FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I used to do this on emails to my friends. They usually read my blog, so they'll know exactly what I'm talking about. XD
Smiley wars and never ending "I'm Free" emails. We had a lot of time back then.
Sadly, I may have that time again now, but I've got other things to fill up that time.
Like learning how to cook and drive. Gah.

Still, on the plus side, it's off to the land of good food, humid heat and horrific traffic again in two weeks! :D
It sounds great already doesn't it?

I dropped my uncle off at the airport to go back to KL last week, and my mom decided to lead us in, good parents that she is, and walked straight into the Malaysian Airlines queue. Then she looked at us and tried to figure out why we weren't following when I finally had to gesticulate and say 'Mum, AIR ASIA, not MAS. Too poor. Out. Now. Embarrassing.' XD
Still, I can't wait. =)

And like I said, I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Mishy <3

When East Meets West

2008-11-16T21:08:00.004+09:00

These are icons designed by Liu Yang, a Chinese born, but educated in her teen through adult life in Germany. Her work shows how East meets West. Her work fits so well with globalization of culture, people and places.
See whether you agree with her.
Blue means the West
Red means the East/ Asian/Chinese

The boss

Child

Eldery in Day-to-day Life

Way of Life

Three Meals a Day

Moods and Weather

Things that are New

Opinion

Party

Perception of Each Other

Contacts

Handling of Problems

Punctuality

Queue in Waiting

In the Restaurant

Shower Timing

Transportation

Travelling

What's Trendy

Perhaps, it is quite a generalization but it is more or less the way of the West and the East. The two parts of the world are learning from each other while the division into two parts is too crude anyway. My favourite is 'perception of each other'. Here, the West is learning to dreass, drink and eat Asian way, but the East is fond of modern look, sausage and beer.
What is your favourite?
How do you interpret these graphics?
Liu Yang's exhibition
Liu Yang was born in 1979 in Beijing, China. She moved to Germany in 1990 and lives there since. She established Yang Liu Design institute in Berlin in 2004.
For more information, please visit her website http://www.yangliudesign.com/

My analysis? BRILLIANT!
I agree with most of the chinese stuff...especially the ones of Punctuality, Restaurant and Queue in Waiting. I swear the Chinese Nationals at KLIA were exactly like that when I tried to queue up for my flight, I couldn't even breathe when I was trying to squash through to the terminal.
It's great that Liu Yang managed to capture all my comparisons between the Chinese people and the Western people into a series of artwork...and in this instance, it's a lot more effective than any one of my gazillion essays on how they compare. I'm not so sure about the Travelling one...I'm certainly not one to be happy with looking at pictures and somehow living vicariously through them! But perhaps it's just me...=)

Mishy <3

Race-Based Politics

2008-11-15T22:22:00.003+09:00

Malaysia not ready to abandon race-based politics: Mahathir

Malaysians are not yet ready to ditch their race-based political system in favour of parties which represent all ethnic groups, former premier Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday.

Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential elections has triggered discussion about whether a minority leader could emerge in Malaysia, which has until now been ruled by a member of the dominant Muslim Malay community.

Mahathir said there is no constitutional barrier preventing an ethnic Chinese or Indian citizen from becoming prime minister.

But he said the country is a long way from abandoning the current system where the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which represents Malays, leads a coalition that includes parties representing other races.

"It doesn't work, every 'multiracial' party is dominated by one race," Mahathir said after a lecture on Malaysian identity.

"Even the PAP in Singapore is not multiracial, as is very clear when Hsien Loong says no non-Chinese can become PM," he said.

Singapore's premier Lee Hsien Loong said earlier this month that the multicultural city-state of over 3.5 million people is not ready for a non-ethnic Chinese premier in the near future.

"We are still not united if we can't even agree on having a school where all children study together regardless of race, so how can we push aside racial concerns?" Mahathir said.

"Unless people come together and try to have something in common... how can you have a party representing all the different races? You have to have a base first."

Mahathir's nemesis, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, has declared his Keadilan party the nation's first multiracial party as its members and supporters are drawn from all three racial groups.

You know what's sad, is that in a way, however slight it may be...I actually agree with Dr. Mahathir. Not that we are not ready to abandon race-based politics, but that even in schools we are all still allowing our children to continue with a system of education that invites segregation and disunity among the population from a very young age. I mean, already we are seeing that in Chinese and Indian schools, kids must take 7 subjects, whilst in Malay schools, kids only have to take 5. Inequality?
Let me tell you I would be disgustingly annoyed if a quarter of my classmates were told 'Hey, you only have to take 3 subjects' whilst I get told that I'm forced to take 6, and then to add insult to injury, I must excel in all my 6 subjects while Tom/Dick&Harry over there can simply revel in the glory of 3As and go into the same field of work that I want to get into.
In Australia, we have a choice as to what KIND of subjects we take, but really, in the end we all still have to take 6 subjects, no matter what we end up deciding to do.

I have my own ideas on how to improve the education system although I will not propose any reforms here. To be honest, I do not need the government coming to arrest me under the ISA because I 'criticised the education system' and in doing so, have somehow managed to 'insult Islam'.

But I think that Dr. Mahathir is very quick to shift the blame on education. A suggestion I might make? [I am still not criticising Dr. M...at this point, it might seem as though I'm just trying to save my ass, but if I've said something, I actually mean it] We need a base? Yes, let's make a base. Let's start with politics. Children will follow the actions and thoughts of the adults who guide them and teach them. So let's begin at with the people who can make the reform and set an example, so that we may eventually change things and create a more united Malaysia. It is never too late to start anything, and really, it should not matter where this starting point is.

At the same time...parties can be multicultural. They can be if we let them. Just because the head of the party at the moment may be of a certain race does not mean that the whole party will lean towards that race's point of view. Looking at the general picture, if we have a Chinese head one term, a Kadazan head on another term, maybe a Malay head after that...it will show. We need to be as democratic as possible, and to elect a leader among that individual party, no matter what race they are. They should be judged on their qualities. So perhaps a Malay might be the best man/woman for the job. But surely after 50 years, a good Chinese leader must have emerged at some stage. Or a good Indian leader must be popular and good with the people in the past 50 years.

And so what if Singapore is a totalitarian Chinese nation? Must we follow Singapore? Can we not begin our own path, and allow it to be one that leads to fairness and equality? One where the Chinese are not seen as 'immigrants', where the Indians are not shunned and marginalised, and one where society may finally acknowledge the true 'bumiputeras' if, there in fact, are any...The Orang Asli, the Orang Kadazan, the Orang Jakun... Somehow we seem to forget that they are a part of the Malaysian society and that they have been there for much longer than even the Malays have been.

But then, maybe we should remember that we were all immigrants at one stage in time. If you believe in the theory of evolution and migration, that is. So let's just get rid of all this 'bumiputera' nonsense. The Malays are no more bumiputera than the Chinese and Indians, the Orang Kadazan, the Orang Jakun, the Orang Asli and so on. It would certainly save on a lot of squabbling and create a better sense of equality in an already divided nation.

50 years since independence...since the day 'Merdeka' was uttered proudly and loudly in Merdeka Square. I wonder if it was all for nothing.

Mishy <3

Starry Starry Night

2008-11-13T00:39:00.006+09:00

Been meaning to do this for a while, but I never quite had the time...too many things popping up, as often happens. XD
Vincent van Gogh has been my favourite artist for a while now, and I've never quite understood it. My favourite painting was, has and probably at this stage, will always be Starry Starry Night. It's a beautiful piece art. I drew it out, in Year 7, and I can easily say that the highlight of art class. In all three years, yes guys. =/

Forget the mayan masks, I pretty much screwed it up. I believe it may have blown up in the oven. XD

So my tribute to one of the artists I've ever fully appreciated. Here's to hoping he'll lead me on to other artworks to appreciate.

Mishy <3

Typical...

2008-11-11T22:38:00.005+09:00

Cheaper nasi kandar, teh tarik and roti canai now
By LISA GOH

KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers have reason to smile as the price of nasi kandar, teh tarik and roti canai should see some immediate reduction from its current selling price.
Nasi kandar will see a reduction of 20sen a plate, while roti canai (and other roti items such as roti telur, roti pisang etc) and teh tarik will see a reduction of 10sen each.
This is because the Muslim Restaurant Operators Association (Presma) and the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners’ Association (Primas) have decided to support the Government’s move on price reduction.
However, there was no fixed maximum price for these three food items as the price reduction is on a voluntary basis.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that consumers could check the prices against the price list in restaurants.
“All such restaurants must have a price list. It’s an offence for them not to have one,” he told the press Monday after launching the Price Reduction Campaign here. Presma president Jamarulkhan Kadir said that the prices of the three items, however, would differ depending on the location of the restaurants.
“Of course the price of teh tarik in Bangsar and Balakong would be different,” he said.
Jamarulkhan said that the price range in the Klang Valley was between RM4 and RM5.50 for nasi kandar, RM0.90 and RM1.50 for teh tarik, and RM0.70 and RM1.20 for roti canai.
“We will start with our 200 members in the Klang Valley first, and soon we hope this move would be adopted by all our 4,500 members nationwide.
“As for restaurants which refuse to bring their prices down, consumers can choose to not eat there, and go to another restaurant which supports this campaign,” he said.
Asked if such a move would incur losses for the restaurant operators, he replied:
“No, it will only lower our profit margin.”
He was also asked if there were plans to include more items for price reduction, to which he said, “Slowly lah.”

I can't believe that even the reporter is as kiasu as this! I didn't stop laughing for about 10 minutes...*sigh* Malaysia sweet Malaysia. This is really how I remember it.

Three weeks and counting...

Mishy <3

Signs of Equality

2008-11-06T19:28:00.005+09:00

He's done it. He's actually done it.

But what does it mean for me? I was asked on tckid.com, and also via an email sent round by Brice.

A TCK made it to the top position in America. Not only that, he's an African American. I'm pretty certain that identifying with the marginalised class doesn't exactly make the walk to the top any easier.
In fact, he probably had to claw.

To me, it means that change and some form of equality and acceptance has finally come to the world we live in. 150 years ago, America was pro-slavery. Under Geroge Washington, the White House was completed by a group of black slaves. 150 short years later, there is a black man in that same White House.
Another idea that astonishes me...is the way he has fitted back into the USA, and the way he's been accepted. His appointment to the leadership of the country shows me that there is a way for TCKs to settle down, and to be accepted. For a tree to find its roots. For a fish to feel comfortable in its water. Whatever metaphor you wish to find, Barack Obama has defeated his demons, and proved that it can be done. [and due to all the good reviews that this book is getting, I really must go pick up a copy of Dreams From My Father]
Last but not least, to state the obvious, a Black man, an African American man has made it to the White House. The very name of the presidential residence says it all. Barack Obama has taken over what was formerly an anglocentric country.

So really...what does it say to me?
One day, I there will be a Chinese or an Indian Prime Minister in Malaysia.
One day, there will be an Aboriginal Prime Minister in Australia.
One day, I will fit back into the country that rejects me.
I just hope I'm arround to see it happen.
Barack Obama is currently placed next to Nelson Mandela on my list of idols. What is ironic is that I'm not even black, I'm chinese! But he serves as a representative of positive change and a united front. I'm just glad that the American people have voted for him, and in my view, they've made the right choice.

To give him credit, John McCain did make a very eloquent concession speech, and even attempted to quiet the booing, hissing audience. So kudos to him. =)

Looking forward to change.
MIshy <3

2008 American Presidential Elections

2008-11-04T20:54:00.007+09:00

Okay, so I really really REALLY should be studying. But I can't help it. I'm so excited, I think I'll force my dad to go buy a paper the minute it hits the headlines.

2008 AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS!!

And this is the guy who should win.

What's to know about him? And more specifically, why do I want him to win?
1. He's a TCK. W00T!
2. He was an expatriate in Indonesia. Indonesia. Same here! Wheeee... He might understand my fanatical liking for rendang sapi? :D
3. Different. How many African American Presidents can you honestly say you know of? Okay, so he's coloured. But it's a step. A good step. Especially after the mistake America made with Bush.
4. "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America." It's about time somebody realised that America is not white!
5. As a foreigner who knows that whatever America does affects the rest of us so much, I think I really need to see someone who can reflect the rest of the world as much as he/she can reflect America itself, and to understand...finally that they must act for the world as well as the United States of America.
6. Pulling the troops out of the Middle East? Sounds like my candidate!

Why am I against McCain so much, one might ask?

1. It's McCain. Republican. BUSH WANNABE!
2. Bad-tempered: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt." --to his wife, Cindy, after she playfully twirled his hair and said "You're getting a little thin up there."
3. Yes, you may have been a Vietnam war veteran, but surely that will only serve to make me more wary of you. Military minded, and more willing to sacrifice America and the rest of the world in the fight for more oil. Come on, we all know it's not about terrorism anymore.
4. "You know that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran? Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran." Need I say more?
5. Since when was Putin from Germany? And when did Iraq suddenly become moulded next to Pakistan? Please take a look at a world map, or check up on your world leaders BEFORE you open your mouth...can you imagine what would happen if he was the president when he said all that? http://www.tckid.com/group/lets-be-careful-we-dont-make-mistakes-like-this/

The comeback to all of the crap given to Obama by the Republicans? HAH! :P

Mishy <3

Good News...

2008-10-29T22:28:00.004+09:00

Okay, so I didn't blog about this in my last post.
But only because I needed to change, confirm and finalise everything with the teachers.

And I finally did it today.

I GRADUATE WITH 2AS, 3BS AND 1C!!

Okay, so the C is not exactly something to be proud of. When I started out the year, I was a [supposedly] bright sparky student with somewhat unrealistic expectations that I was going to achieve straight As, or at the very least 3As and 3Bs.
But in the end...I think I did pretty alright.

I achieved an A in History and English Literature. [boy, I think we can all see which direction I'm headed in already huh?] Which, okay, maybe not so much of a surprise? They're practically my favourite subjects!
I achieved a B in Discrete Maths, Chemistry and Human Biology. [and Mrs. Ratnam told my mom that I was a science student in year 9? HEH.] I actually believed I was going to get an A for Maths, but I suppose, all things considered, and given the way my maths scores manage to swing up, down, left, right and centre...it's not actually that bad that I've finally gotten a B.
I achieved a C in Political and Legal Studies. Funnily enough, everyone thought I was going to ace this subject because I still wanted to be a journalist at the beginning of this year and would need this for the future. Still...I have never really been that good at completely memorising things, and perhaps this is no wonder that I am not really that good at P&L.

But anywho, That's what I've graduated with. =) Now to hopefully improve on those marks in the TEE...

Mishy <3

Graduation Day

2008-10-27T21:16:00.006+09:00

It's finally here. =)

And just as it's finally here, so too, are a number of things.

On the 26th of October, Perth finally decided to forward the clock and turn on Daylight Savings time. How gay. =( But I guess it's for a good thing. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is a ploy to make us not wake up on time for our exams, and that it is therefore a test of the "Survival of the Early Birds".

Also happening on the 27th of October are Breast Cancer Day and Deepavali. Soo...good luck to all those with breast cancer and Selamat Hari Deepavali to all Indians!

Graduation was great! It got boring half way through, yes, but aside from that...I thought it was spectacular. Our Star Student was, of course, Peixin Truong. Need we say more? [to any Morley student reading this, it needs no words!] Casey made an amazing speech and Salsano got his opportunity to do an Elvis impersonation on stage.

The Yearbooks which we received in the morning were great! And I gotta say to the Yearbook Committee, THANKS SO MUCH for a great effort and a job well done. =) [yes, I am boasting here slightly, because I'm part of the committee. XD But still] The Graduation Video was also very well done, despite JB's complaints that the video was in fact screwed up slightly. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it so much, mainly because I wasn't at Morley from the beginning and couldn't really relate to everything I was seeing on the screen, but whatever. JB and Teo have managed to sneakily add me into part of the Year 12 video bit, and after the initial "OMG, is that ME?? At the beginning of the year? What changed? Why'd they add me in???" I was quite happy to see I was still a part of the video. LOL.

So yes, now that the events are over, it's time to get down to work. And pass those exams. Argh. Exams. =_="

Guess who's the odd one out? Urgh, I should've totally been wearing a cheongsam or something...which I unfortunately do not have. Hmmm...make one in KL when I get back!! :D

Mishy <3

The Last Day of High School and a Final Tribute to Literature

2008-10-25T21:42:00.006+08:00

Well, it's over and done with. Our last day.

I can't say I cried. I never really do anymore. I can't say it was the best thing ever at the end either. I'm not even sure how I feel about it anymore.

Maybe I really am turning into some kind of robot. =/

But graduation's on Monday. I can't wait for that now. :P It feels like the Year 12 Ball again, I can't really bring myself to study. I'm wondering whether I'll actually do well or not now. It's insane what's going through my head at this moment, panicking, yet jumping up and down estatically.

But of course, no one will ever know how I'm feeling. To be honest, I can't describe it either. I can smile, look pretty [or well, play the part, LOL], say that I really am at my wit's end over school finally coming to an end. Truth is, school ends on a continuous basis for me. This is only the final ending. But it doesn't feel any different.

But you know what, I'm going to miss Literature class. And maths to an extent, I guess, mainly because I had to do work in it. XD Despite Mirichlis's jokes and interestingly menacing sense of humour. History was a good class, but only because I was genuinely interested in the subject. If I hated history, it would've probably been a seriously slow class. P&L was a weird class, and Human Bio was pretty slow. Chemistry...let's not even go there. Here's Mirichlis...attempting to move away from JB, but not quite succeeding. :D

I'll miss McInerny's class the most without a doubt. I can't believe I won't be seeing him anymore, and I almost regret not having him earlier. I mean, how many teachers can you honestly say swear without a care in the world, order beer during school field trips and allow you to slack off during class and do other bits of work so long as it's got nothing to do with numbers? All that while maintining the school grades? "Friggin miracle!" as he would say. XD How many tables can you say look like his?

I also went and had a final crack at the school. Although sadly, the teachers that I had hoped would notice it, didn't at all. Never mind, I'll try again on Monday and see if anyone notices. I just hope that Mrs. Fortune doesn't see that, I might be expelled before I can even graduate from school. XD Graduation Day soon. I'm gonna make the most of it.

Mishy <3

The TCK Alphabet Song

2008-10-22T22:40:00.004+08:00

I found this on tckid.com and want to say thank you, right now to the person who found it.
I think I'm going to try to remember this song when I have the time after exams. XD It's ridiculously cute, and I have to have to share it.

Exams are up in a week and a bit, and my Graduation Night is up in 5 days. This is it. It's finally over. I can't believe it's all finally boiling down to an end. New life, new experiences...I just hope I'm ready for it.

Hmm, I notice South Africa is missing...

Mishy <3

Philosophical Thought for the Day

2008-10-17T23:31:00.004+08:00

I have a theory that people will become what they aspire to be.

Not in the basic sense of "I want to become a cleaner when I grow up" though. There's no aspiration whatsoever in that.

I mean that whatever a person is lacking...that is what they aspire to achieve. And that is exactly what they will end up doing for the rest of their lives. Trying to fix it. Trying to chase after it. Trying to come as close as they can to it.

If a person was insecure...they would end up becoming a psychologist.
If a person wanted to feel loved and welcomed by other people...they would become an event manager or organiser.
If a person wanted to understand the mysteries of the universe...they would become a scientist.

Just things like that. And I've heard of instances where insecure people have become psychologists. I wonder whether that's actually a good thing, many times. How can someone, insecure of themselves ever help me out of my OWN psychological problems and insecurities?? Yet, I find that sometimes, these are the best people for the job. Because they aspire to cure themselves of their insecurities, and therefore they in turn can help others more easily.

I find myself doing that as well, in many ways. My own travelling has made me...alone. Striving for information. Looking for new places to fit into. To belong to a culture. To discover new things, whilst trying to blend in with what I once knew. To continue to travel. I wanted to become an archaeologist, initially. That incorporated my need to discover, the need to travel, and my need to blend in with the past and a particular culture surprisingly well. Then I wanted to become a journalist. Then I wanted to become psychologist for a time [possibly during my own insecure pre-teen years]. Now, I aim to become a teacher. Or possibly a hotel manager. Perhaps an air hostess. Or even own my own business. In one way or another, all these occupations have incorporated the thrill of the discovery, the adventure of travel, the influence of the past, and the acceptance of other cultures. [then again, my quest for a mono-cultural lifestyle is in itself, also part of the thrill of discovery, and the acceptance of other cultures]

Even in Chinese/Japanese/Korean cultures, we are somehow well known for having amazing drawings [think anime - Lord only knows why], and I believe that it is because of our intristic passion for the sciences that makes us so keen on discovering the artistic side of our identities. Japan and China notably, have been undergoing industrialisation for so long that, artistically, they've never really been able to contribute much to their cultural identities.
In India, their life is steeped into the arts, culture and superstition. They have hundreds of gods, all with their own obscure way of controlling the world. Yet, how is it really controlled? How does it work? Why does it work that way? If we look closely at India, we notice that the passion is with the sciences and the mathematics because they strive for a clear idea and knowledge of things around them. One look at their universities and their medicine degrees is all we need to see and know. XD

But that's my idea. That we aspire to achieve what we lack, and we do so for the rest of our lives...whether we do it knowingly or unknowingly. =)

Mishy <3

Murder Me

2008-10-16T23:18:00.004+08:00

Seriously. Go ahead. Right now.

I have no idea whether to be happy or not.

I got my mock exam marks back, in case no one can tell. =(

Well, I guess I'll start off with the good news, since, well, it deserves to get out. :P
I got 82% for my history and my maths!! :DD Never been happier for these two. Especially my history. I didn't think I would understand what was happening, and true enough, for a few sources I didn't. But I made it through, and I'm glad. And now I have to make sure I do the same for the finals. =(

For the others, I got in the 60% range. 60% for Human Biology. 61% for Political and Legal Studies. 63% for Chemistry. 68% for Literature.
How much more crap could this get, I was banking on Lit and Human Bio to be at least 70%! I always knew Chemistry would end up somewhere in the 60% range, although I was sort of hoping for above a 65%, seeing as I had somehow managed to convince myself that the paper was relatively easy. [Conto later told us it was actually edging on the hard side]
Still, I think Human Bio was a weird paper, and the top mark was 72%. =/ A scary thought, but at least the whole paper will get moderated up and I'll hopefully reach in with a 70-something% in that paper.
I sent my Lit paper in for remarking because I did a practice essay with the same question I did in the exam, and somehow managed to lose a full 5 marks from between the practice paper and the real thing. =/ Wonderous miracles indeed, but if all works out well, then I will have achieved at least two 80%s, two 70%s and two 60%s. Hmm, 4 A's and 2 C's. In Australia anyway. In South Africa and Malaysia, it would have been 2A's, 2B's, and 2C's.

Much as those marks look really good...it's still not good enough. Or at least not as good as I was hoping for. =/

Dear God, give me the strength to drag those marks up by the ear in the TEE. Amen.

Mishy <3

Mocks

2008-10-09T21:58:00.004+08:00

Are overr!!!
But I now have to deal with the real deal in approximately three weeks. -_-"
Kind of upsetting considering the mocks feels like it's the end.
I think the exams went alright. I think.
Lit was pretty good. Well, then again, we had the questions beforehand, so it was more than alright.
P&L was...weird. =/ But I think I passed, and again, I reserve all comment till the results actually come out.
Human Biology has me slightly worried. I think I did okay.
Discrete Maths was pretty good, only I'm now wondering if I actually understood what was happening, or I misinterpreted it all.
History...has definitely got me worried. Then again, history constantly leaves me in doubt. I reiterate, I have an abusive relationship with history.
Chemistry will always freak me out. But for some reason, I wasn't as freaked out as I usually am before a Chemistry exam.
But, well, I have five days left of holidays, so I'll leave it all alone for now, and I'll confirm my feelings on the exams when the results come back. XD

I have a graduation dress! I love it. =) And I have no pictures yet, but there shall be some when I actually go for graduation. Xd LOL. But I can say that it is short, blue and has a strap. Hoorah! :P

Mishy <3

Tribute to Life

2008-10-04T20:30:00.002+08:00

This song is kind of weird. But I like it. And, okay, I didn't exactly write or sing it, so it can't really be MY tribute to life, but...
It describes what point I'm at, in a very subtle sort of way. The video itself is pretty much my life, perhaps minus all that water. Although it'd be kinda cool to see those kinds of scenes everyday. It offers hope for the future as well. It gives a hint of direction for where life should go.

So far, this is possibly the only thing that's calming me down right now. Forcing me to look towards the future. Be bright. Remind me what this is all for. Remind me how to live.

This is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

My tribute to life. I'm Yours.

I'm Yours

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon its again my turn to win some or learn some
I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love
Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing,
we're just one big family.
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love love
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'm saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la one big family ([2nd time:] ah, la happy family)
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love love love

I won't hesitate no more
Oh no more no more no
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved, I'm sure
Theres no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No I won't hesitate no more, no more
This cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours, I'm yours

Mishy <3

The Beginning of the End...

2008-10-01T14:37:00.004+08:00

It's hard to believe.

It's hard to believe that this is where 12 years of studying leads up to.
It's the first of October today. This...this is practically the last month that I will ever be a student in an actual school. [save my flunking out of Year 12 completely and ending up having to repeat it] Sure, there's November still, but I'll be exams, not studying.

My Graduation Night is on the 27th of October, and I'm finding it surreal. I'm still in denial over it, somehow. As if after these exams, I'll go back to school again. This is just another year, and we're drawing towards the end of it. These exams haven't marked the end of anything. And in a few years time, I'll move to a different country again. Maybe Antarctica. XD But still, Graduation Night...it IS coming. My parents seem keen on attending and everything. I on the other hand haven't really given it any thought.

These exams mean everything it seems. It'll be the deciding factor in where I go for the next three years. Absolutely mental, when I think about it.
I've also decided that the rental fees for apartments in Melbourne is absolutely mental, I mean sheesh, how much more expensive could a one room condo get?

St. Stithian's College graduate in approximately a week, if my calculations are correct. I know exactly how they're feeling...I just regret that I'm not there with them to celebrate this graduation. I should be there, invading the Boys' College common room. I should be there, rallying the girls for the last warcry. I should be having that farewell chapel. I should be there, driving off with the girls who CAN drive. XD
I guess every school's different. But I looked forward to this particular one too much. Now having a different one feels like it's still not the end. But maybe things will change as time moves on.

I wonder what I'll miss about school, if I do, indeed, even miss anything at all. There'll be no more bells. No more permanant classes. No more rigid timetables. No more headmistress/headmaster or teacher to report to. No more worrying about who got the top mark in class. No more range of subjects to take.
Hmmm...in essence...no more school.
I'm moving again. But not physically. [or well, the physical part of moving might be a part of it] Rather mentally. Maybe even emotionally. It shouldn't be too different from what I've experienced already...in fact it should be exactly the same.
Just...on my own.

I'm seeing this as a whole new adventure already...=)

Mishy <3

The Omens of Study

2008-09-27T23:04:00.004+08:00

The eyelids droop lower, and lower. Like a geometric progression, slowly.
Wonderous of the number of people who must have done the same thing, years past. The 1990s. 1980s. 70s. 60s. 50s. Pre-war.
Did they all feel the heavy feeling on the foramen magnum of their necks? The drooping eyelids, and sudden lethargy that came from nowhere. The fingers crack a bit, releasing the air that's been trapped within the joints. And that was the 5th time for the day.
She needs fresh air. It's been stagnant, wafting around the same room for so long. O2. A nice change from CO2. And H2O. Dehydrated and restless. How many moles of crap, she wonders, are found in 10 grams of chem?
Probably no more than can be found in Parliament House. A debate rages in her head. Yes. No. Sit down. You need a rest. You need to study. It's only for a month, you'll be fine.
Look at the context of the whole period she urges. All that study you did before will surely boost you up now if you continue to do the same. This will ensure you social and economic surety in a racist and patriarchal society.

Yup, the omens were there.

Exams are coming soon.

And my mocks are up on Tuesday.

Mishy <3

A Fruity Odour...

2008-09-22T23:33:00.001+08:00

That's what I'm meant to say when describing an esterification.
Two weeks ago, I did an experiment on esterification. We were basically given a bunch of alcohols and carboxylic acids to play with [with proper guidance of course] and then told to identify the scents.

At that time, I was still suffering the beginning of the effects of that horrible bug going around Perth. And here I am, being told to smell six different solutions with my defunctional nose.

This event probably goes right up there next to the time at Saints Trek when I, the Malaysian, was teamed up with my Japanese Britishman partner and told to teach a bunch of Grade 7s the history of South Africa's colonialisation.

You could've asked me to tell you why the sky was blue and I'd have winged it just about as much.

The first one I sniffed smelt like nail polish remover. That was somehow unanimous throughout the class, so I put that down. The second one smelt like bananas. Oh wow, the overpowering smell of bananas. Bananas are easily the worst smelling fruit that God may have decided to plant on this earth. That was also probably what knocked out my sense of smell for the rest of the experiment.
After that, I could barely smell anything, save the overpowering 4th mixture which cleared out my nose in a flash. Although I still couldn't actually smell anything.
So I cleverly went up to Zaheed, Erik and Brendan, and collaborated my results with theirs. Yen told me that the overpowering 4th mixture was vinegar, and Zaheed told me the 3rd mixture which the banana smell managed to conquer was probably a citrus fruit since he thought it smelt like an orange. Then Zaheed decided that the 5th mixture smelt like deepheat.

Deepheat.

I'm not entirely sure how he manages to remember the smell of the deepheat so clearly, but okay, considering I had a blocked nose and I didn't really have a platform on which to argue with him, I listened to him and put that down into my results. The 6th mixture didn't actually have any scent, and when I tried to sniff it, but couldn't smell anything, I really thought that my nose had finally given in and I'd lost my sense of smell.
I also have to say thank you to Erik right now for giving us the equations since I didn't know how to write them down at the time. XD

I just spent the entire evening having to practice my organic chemistry for a test tomorrow. I think I know my stuff...I just hope I realy do know it, and it's not just floating around in my head. =/

Two colourless solutions mix and a fruity odour emerges...

Mishy <3

Palin and Clinton

2008-09-20T17:23:00.007+08:00

I love Saturday Night Live. Even if I can't get it on Australian national TV. [which kinda makes me abhor Australia even more...]

This is so precious. I love it, it's funny. Especially Clinton. I'm going to have a gala day everytime I see this from now on.
You know what I've realised...Tina Fey and Sarah Palin look a hell of a lot like each other.

Perfect. XD

Tina Fey's still cooler though. And Amy Poehler did an amazing job as Hilary Clinton. The Clintons can't be too happy right now about this one.

Mishy <3

Where Are You From?

2008-09-19T23:12:00.003+08:00

A confusing question.
Where AM I from?

This is not a case of me suffering from amnesia, or any form of memory loss. No, this is an identity issue.

When asked the question, most people would respond with their nationality.
Where are you from?
I'm from England. I'm from America. I'm from India. I'm from Canada. I'm from Cambodia.

How simple.

And me?
I'm from...
But wait. What DO I say?
I could say I'm Malaysian. But am I? Am I really? I haven't been able to speak mandarin, or cantonese or even malay since the day I was born. Some increasingly broken bits of the dialect, yes, but never fluently, and never enough to carry off a conversation. I can't speak the language, I have a different mentality, I've even started to look different...the locals would reject me for even trying to fit back in.
Could I say I am South African? I have lived there. I have been accepted by people there. I have managed to convince myself that that place was home. But hang a sec...I'm not African. I'm Chinese. Yes, I respect Nelson Mandela, but there's no way I could be African if I can't identify with all the history of the people living there, could I?
I lived in the Philippines for two years, and I liked it...but I suppose that's not enough time to claim citizenship either.
Indonesia? You gotta be kidding me, I literally got chased out when I was 7. Even though I have lived there for 7 years. That's the longest time I've ever stayed put in a place, even though I can barely remember some of it. I wonder what it must've been like back then.
How about Australian? The ocker Aussie, living out in the wild? No, not really. I can't identity with the place. Open and acepted racism? Lack of shopping malls? Yeah, I'm not gonna be able to deal with this.

So really...what am I?
By my passport, I'm Malaysian.
Culturally, I am very Malaysian.
But mentally, could I be considered South African? The one place where I've managed to fully integrate?
Physically, am I Australian, seeing as this is where I am?
I lived in Indonesia the longest...seven years...is this where I'm from?

Perhaps my passport is just a badge. Something to force on me so no one else get confused. Personally, I'm confused as well. What am I? Where am I from?

The question remains unanswered. But perhaps you can tell me where I'm from.

Mishy <3