Happy Birthday JT!

Happy 19th Birthday Noeru-kun!

May the Good Lord bless you!

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Congratulations to all who are freed from exams!!!!!!!

Let's enjoy the HOLIDAYS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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I broke my record----pulled an all-nighter and stayed awake most of the next day.

I did pull some all-nighters before, but I always had a few hours straight sleep from sunrise-noon or something like that.

This is the first time I stayed awake without a long sleep...from 8.20am on Wednesday...with some nap or naps (can't remember) during the day, a 15 min nap at 1am, a 1 hour nap at 9.30am, a 1.5 hour nap at 6.30pm................

O_O And i wasn't even studying for exams (i finished my last paper Econs on Wednesday morning) I wouldn't dare to pull an all-nighter for exams...too risky >.<

Anyway...

O_O Guess what I did?

O_O Sth lame

O_O The latest(?) thing American teenage girls are crazed over

O_O I dunno how popular it is in Malaysia, but

O_O You might have heard of "Edward Cullen"

O_O Or not

O_O Vampires suddenly became the most popular thing under the sun (nooops they burn under the sun)

O_O And you had to have a weird American teenage girl whose image I really cannot fit with how she is describe/describes herself in the book. I just CAN'T emphatize with Bella. Really. Of all things an American girl being not confident (sorry i love to stereotype). Besides, I had watched Saturday Night Live parody Twillight---where Bella was flirting like the most annoying valley girl ever. And here Bella was all low-self-esteem + i-hate-where-i-live + i hate having boys after me + and here am i drooling all over *BEEP* + and *BEEP* drools over me + and we soon turn into the most romantic/flirtatious/furiously kissing couple ever.

Reminds of a certain couple. You know. TAMAHOMEEEEE~~~~~~~~~~ MIAKAAA~~~~~~~

But Bella x Edward is not so bad la. I like Edward. He's interesting. But I can't understand whether he's young or old (in mentality). Like a high school kid and then like mature adult the next second. I just wish Bella wouldn't gussshhh all over him to excess- i prefer her being mad at him (but well, i would probably do the same if he was as gorgeous as depicted. I am a great appreciator of beauty.)

And the vampire thing. Sorry but it's not a new thing for me. Karin has already converted me lol.

And the romantic plot seems cliched to me (one who has watched kind of similar plots in anime/manga... a whole bunch of BL manga with the oh-so-gorgeous-and-mysterious- and i-am-so-dangerous-and i-love-you-so-much-i should-stay-away-from-you but i-cannot-control-my-primal-instincts-so-i-eat-you-up-anyway (typical rich gorgeous powerful seme) + i-am-weak-and-ugly-but-i-love-you-and i-hope-you-love-me-too-so-i'm waiting-to-be-eaten up-*swoons* (typical naive little uke) Oops was i too detailed =.=|||

But I do find Edward's behavior intriguing. Much better than the typical seme. Or maybe coz it's not BL. But the pattern does appear in non-BL plots too. His micro-behavior interests me.

(bakaka, you can just admit you want to become a fangirl.) Uh no. I haven't become fangirly over Edward. Save that for Bella.

O_O Hence was my review on "Twillight" by Stephenie Meyer, which I managed to finish in probly 6 hours. When I should've been writing my essay or sleeping. Should i say that the book was so good that i was stuck to it that i would throw away all sensibility to finish it? Hmm......it has movement, suspense.....but......something stops me from saying sincerely the book was good. Lack of the kind of prose I like? Lack of endearment to the main character?

To my current roommate Natalia:

I WISH you were here so that i will behave more sensibly. >.<

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WEATHER REPORT

I LOVE SNOWWWWWW~~~~~~~~~

But the wind is so chilly that my hands and feet still get cold even when i shut all the windows and turned the heater on to 4 (highest is 6).

Bottom line. I love snow.

It's Almost Thanksgiving!

and the main point is... HOLIDAY!!! Yay!! Hurray!! Freedom from the evil torments of the quarter system (Temporary only) But also sad...coz it signals the end of the quarter...coz my favourite class had its last class today :(

I really like the ppl in my class, we have kind of the same 'wavelength', even though we have different opinions. This class allowed me to express my opinions ( I love Americans coz they dun pandang serong at me when i spoke some really terrible english).

This class also allowed me to learn more about environment and nature and biodiversity and ecological stuff that I wouldn't have been really able to explore in Malaysia. Environmentalism is more advanced in USA, and ppl take it more seriously here. In contrast, most msian students (incld me) just memorize stuff so we can bullshit in our essays. I have always been interested in this kind of things (nature bla bla), but i was afraid to express it bcoz i was scared ppl would scoff at me, and call me unrealistic. Biology provided me a way to compromise my interests with the norm. Of course I also find human and cell and animal biology interesting.

^ if the above paragraph was an essay, it'd get a D for organization n spelling lol.

Bla bla bla. Anyway I am SOOOOOOOOO GLAD that i chose this freshman seminar. Totally no regrets, no matter how apprehensive i was at first bcoz it was 'discussion based'. I actually found it qutie relaxing, as compared to other classes where you have to listen/take notes/try not to fall asleep.

Not to mention i simply love Prof. Walsh!! He's laid back, really nice, funny, and encouraging, concerned about his students, like to listen to what we say, and passionate about his field. He also likes to make animal sounds, and enact scenarios.

And I get to learn about stuff i like, i get to learn neat things that happen in ecological relationships in great depth, i get to go on a lovely field trip, i get to read great books (i really like Edward Abbey), i get to write essays I like about topics I like, i get to know people, i get to hear them talk and give their opinions, which are really good, i get to laugh at funny stuff in class (Idil's carrots and Eric's disrespecting elders lol!)....!

And i finally noticed that one writes best when he is writing about stuff he's interested in. I think Prof. Walsh overrates me lol. I better tell him my confusion over what language was my first language.

This is Prof. Walsh! With Sara Lee Premium Choc Cookies...he brought them to our last class for us >.<>

Members of my fall quarter freshman seminar. Olivia is missing though! =( I shud've taken it the week before, when all were gathered. And i wish Prof. Walsh was in this pic too...

I'm now even more inspired to head in the direction of environmental studies while majoring in biology. Just the other day, I realized---how glad i was to be studying in the US-- if not, it would be really really hard to do environmental studies in Malaysia, with discouragement coming from every corner. It's actually fulfilling one of my childhood dreams. I've never thought of becoming a scientist, but i did imagine doing stuff to save the environment. How did I ever get here? I am indeed very very blessed, too blessed, to have received the JPA scholarship.

To those who are struggling with STPM now, I believe that you guys will become stronger and more resilient because of the tougher road you guys took. Have a little faith, and don't completely give up on your dream, even though you are sure it's impossible to achieve. Just as you believed in me when I did not believe in myself; I believe in you, even if you don't believe in yourselves. As Gabai Baachan (from book "佐贺的超级阿嬷" or "Saga no Gabai Baachan", i blogged about it previously here) insisted,

“到死以前都要有梦想！没实现也没关系，毕竟只是梦想嘛。”

"You must hold onto your dream until the day you die! Even if they are not fulfilled, it's alright, because they are just dreams anyway."

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P/S I've uploaded some pics on FB. not much. sikit saja. but better than nothing rite!

P/S For all ppl facing finals soon, GAMBATTE!!! I also have my finals on 7-9Dec.

Irony...

It's ironic...because I know I've settled down in this new environment...and how do I know?..."~Lax" 's the word! The return of the craving for manga and anime and other forms of entertainment, the return of the impulsive behavior of staying up late knowing the consequences, and the feeling of wanting to join an activity, knowing that I will be welcomed.....

Of course, I'd rather not have the first two signs of feeling 'at home', coz they interfere with my schedule and studies. And it's so weird that I'm not feeling anxious about the final exam (so weird they have a major holiday Thanksgiving like one week before finals)...

And I will be studying Econs for tomorrow's quiz. I mean now. Now. Now! Whee~

Don't be too lax...my dear...be balanced =)

The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun

Presenting...Celtic Woman

Celtic Woman is a group of 5 female Irish artistes (4 vocalists and a violinist (a fiddler, to be exact). If you didn't know them...well now you know.

I first heard them (not this song) on an album I bought for my father (Voice 2008 or sth). I was immediately attracted by their clear high vocals, not too classical (that the diction gets blurred), but not too contemporary.

On the looooong MAS flight from KLIA to USA, I flipped through the music in the in-flight entertainment, and found Celtic Woman: A New Journey. "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun" was the first song in the album, which won me over immediately.

(enraptured) *_*

I love this song...it's soothing and refreshing at the same time. It's beautiful and simple and yet is deep and rich. There are so many layers to the song: multiple layers of vocals, the instrumentals, the thought-provoking lyrics and the imagery it evokes.

And the violin. OMG. I've never seen such a performance bursting with energy, passion, enthusiasm, and pure happiness! So natural and yet ethereal. I really did think of a fairy dancing when I was watching the violinist. The power of Mairead Nesbitt...(and her dress)

Btw, this video is a live performance. The full song can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Nn2_01oAU

Awesome.

*runs off coz she has a freaking calculus midterm the day after tomorrow and SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO FOCUS lol*

Do check out the song, guys. Esp. when you're about to fall asleep from studying. It helped to sustain me =)

The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun

Songwriters: Downes, David; Graham, Brendan;

High is the moon tonight
Hiding its guiding light, high

Heaven and earth do sleep
Still in the dark so deep
I will the darkness sweep

I will the moon to flight
I will the heavens bright
I will the earth delight

Open your eyes with me
See paradise with me
Awake and arise with me

I am the dawn, I'm the new day begun
I bring you the morning, I bring you the sun
I hold back the night and I open the skies
I give light to the world, I give sight to your eyes

From the first of all time, until time is undone
Forever and ever and ever and ever
And I am the dawn and the sky and the sun
I am one with the One, and I am the dawn

I am the sky and the dawn and the sun
I am the sky and the new day begun
I am the sky and the dawn and the sun

Live Life, Love Life

To live is to die and to laugh is to cry.

I think this is about the 3rd or 4th time i'm writing about life and death.

A friend from my JPA batch at INTI, Boon Jim, who got into Cornell (as mentioned in a previous post), passed away last week, in his room. Due to accidental/natural causes (not suicide, no foul play).

Read that his body was flown back to Malaysia and will be buried today.

I'm sad for him. I'm sad for his family. It's only been 2 months since he came to USA, life's just started! I think his parents really sayang him, coz I always see them with him during US app events.

Also scared for myself and other friends here in a foreign country. This is the first time someone so close to my age, who I personally know, that has passed away. I never ever expected this. I'm not particularly close to Boon Jim, but I definitely knew him, shared a few classes with him (Calculus 1, Sociology, Chem 101, Malaysian Studies), laughed at him when he was so afraid when he was coming down from flying fox(?) during BTN camp. He really worked hard to make it into Cornell. I never managed to ask him what kind of anime he watches.

Grateful that I'm in a double room now. Grateful for my roommate Natalia (gotta make more effort to get to know her). Must be more careful. Inform a friend whenever I go anywhere.

Don't want my parents to taste this kind of grief. There's a saying that goes like: It is a blessing for a father to be buried by his son, rather than have to bury his son. Morbid, but I agree.

When life is good, love it. When life is hard, embrace it tightly so that we won't lose it. Death comes to all things; it is the natural course of life. Death is also necessary so that we won't crowd the earth for new life to grow. But in general, we hope that death won't come too soon. We want to live life to the fullest, long and robust. Actually a meaningful life can be achieved early in life, if we try hard enough. If we can do everything we wanted to before we die, that would be so wonderful! I'm sure we wouldn't mind dying then. But if life were cut short- at the beginning? right when we felt so full of life? Is it fair? If death is a natural course of life, do we have the right to feel cheated?

There have been so many unfair, unjust deaths in the world. Wars, bloodshed, murder, fire, starvation. At the very least, I hope my friend was fortunate enough to have died in peace.

Rest in peace. God bless you. And may God console your parents and all who are grieving for you.

Kimagure no Post

Kimagure Romantic ~ by Ikimono Gakari

Introduced to this by my bro Josiah =D

Really like it (& the mtv! the newsreader part...lol)

Finally got a song to practice (and get back my singing abilities) I haven't been singing much :( Partly owing to the bad weather which affected my nasal cavities and voice T.T

So my singing is becoming rotten T.T

So much so when there are so many amazing singers in chapel every Sunday.

----distracted argh distracted -----

Should'vve gone to the library and let Tee Jin pressure me to concentrate on homework. Damn!

Econs midterm on monday and math midterm on thu. Midterms count for a lot on the grade, so i should buckle up.

I'm sure you guys want to know what's up right? Wazzup man?

Apple Picking last saturday was fun! though cold brr... Chinatown food was also great! thank you super seniors!

Prof Joe Walsh said my second essay was good!! We both know that the essay definitely needs trimming though. Need to slim down my essays lol. I think i use commas and semicolons to excess- need to find an alternative way to make my point. Ugh.

I spent like >20 hours in total for the essay. Slept at 5am on Tues, 2am the next day [had 2 quizzes on that day] and asked Prof for extension and was granted! then slept 4am that night. Finally had 9hours of sleep this morning.

I'm really behind in math, i think. I'm struggling. PPL ARE GOING TOO FAST vs I AM TOO SLOW AT DOING HOMEWORK AND STUDYING. not to mention my terrible procrastinating habits. Ugh. Yeah...blogging my last post was the cause of me not finishing 9.2, 9.3, 10.7 which piled up on 10.8.

(see, everytime i blog sure got sth to rant about. great!)

the american phrases 'good.' and 'great!' are starting to catch on me. heh!

Econs. Due to the strong foundation built in Mr.Adrian's Microecons, I was able to slack off in the first few chapters somewhat. But I'm kinda worried...... COZ MIDTERMS IS ON MONDAY and i better not screw up my first midterm

i screwed my 2nd quiz in math 230. 9 out of 20 points! WT! so midterms is really important. must not screw my math midterm.

plus they curve the grade. to get A i have to be AT THE TOP PERCENTILE of my class. man.

bye!

a happy post, for once

"[I] inspect the "sanitary facilities," where all appears to be in good order: roll of paper, can of lime, black widow spiders dangling in their usual strategic corners. On the inside of the door someone has written a cautionary note: ..." Edward Abbey. 1969. Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness. p.37

"When I write "paradise" I mean not only apple trees and golden women but also scorpions and tarantullas and flies, rattlesnakes and Gila monsters, sandstorms, volcanos and earthquakes, bacteria and bear, cactus, yucca, bladderweed, ocotillo and mesquite, flash floods and quicksand, and yes-disease and death and the rotting of the flesh." Abbey, p.208.

------------------------------------------------------------------BEWARE

the above extracts may be something you're going to read if you want to major in Environmental Science/ Conservation/ or just plain interested in Nature.

I kinda like Abbey. Lol. I have to read some books and some journals and stuff and talk about them in class for my freshman seminar, "VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY". It's actually quite fun, (except when you have 2 quizzes+1 long lab report+1 long essay due on the same day). I like my classmates, the lecturer is laid back and can be adorable lol. It's a casual setting, 17 of us (incld lecturer) and we feel free to express our ideas. Yeah even bashful little me. Even though my explaining skills kinda suck. And I MUST prepare for it lest my tongue gets tied. =& like on the 1st day of class.

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Anyway, Happy Things~!

My professor praised me for my essay!!!!!!!! KYAAAAA~~~~~ ^O^

I'm so happy! I'm so happy!

But I will not expect much for the grade. Besides it's like only 10% of the whole grade.

But I'm really happy to write something that I like and people like! Even Papi said it was good! I'm kind of surprisingly elated =P

and btw, i have another 1000 word paper due next thursday! oww..

Other Happy Things:

Apple-picking with Cilipadi (Kumpulan Budak Sekampung) in Wisconsin this Saturday!

I like the Malaysian Group.

Fiona (senior from INTI) is super helpful...she accompanied me all the way to downtown without asking for the reason (i needed to get medicine for my rashes),

Yoke Peng was a wonderful host, letting me and Tee Jin tumpang at her place for free!, brought us around, and even let us feast on her cooking (twice!);

Alicia Mama is the "Iron Lady"- type, blunt, sharp tongue, great organizer, naggy, independent, and altogether adorable- dun tell her i called her mama though :P;

Yee Hoong Papa is funny and a wonderful senior- i haven't seen enough of him though;

Tong Wei, Chyuan etc.....and oh, Tee Jin. XD. Thank you Tee Jin for not complaining when i haven't paid you the phone bill until now...

Lazy to describe more.

"Easy Writing is Hard Reading". I agree and I don't care!

Next happy thing:

MEIV Small Group (MEIV= Multi Ethnic InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) Esther, the leader of the Small Group, is really really freaking out sweet and adorable. The way she speaks reminds me of Anna, her looks remind me of Mei Yee, and her personality is bubbly and bursting with plus energy! She asked me out for dinner (out of the blue- we only met through a Msian gathering- she's Fiona's friend- and we hardly talked, yet!) and she allowed me to blab on and on about myself (yes maria actually loves to talk about me, me and me) and...man, she made me cry by praying for me. Just hit my sore spot~~~

[Jia Lerd also almost made me cry in KLIA by praying for me through the phone. T.T]

I really like the small group members. I just feel comfy with them. Though we don't really know each other. Dunno why. And today Brianne prayed for me and I for her. She's so sweet.

Ok, gotta go~ (OMG my math homework and chem lab and math reading!)

p/s I'm gradually liking my roommate more and more. Her name is Natalia. I like the way she suddenly smiles- so cute! She's tall and has a gorgeous well toned body.

(Ah Miao get ready lots of tissue when you come to US -- scared you'll keep getting nose bleeds when you see all the girls here LOL)