The Beginning of A New Chapter

2012-01-20T17:33:00.003+08:00

Waking up to CNY excitement was never this good. In addition to the holiday mood, CNY celebration would be perfect this year.It's invigorating to know that the whole family is getting geared up for CNY. What a blessing that this year has gone as far as one month, and I've deliberately prepared to welcome the new year. A batchmate of mine had recently posted on FB, stating that 23rd Jan would be a codominant date. How original that is! Indeed, what she'd stated holds an enormous amount of truth. 23rd Jan is also results day for A Levels students. Gah, the thought of it scares me but it's time for us to find out if our efforts paid off. No matter what, I thank god for giving me the courage and determination to pull through a course which I'd thought I couldn't survive in, almost dropping out of it.

Meanwhile, have a great CNY celebration to all peeps out there and stay safe!

2012

2012-01-08T22:00:00.005+08:00

It's a brand new year again! Yes, again! Can you imagine that time passed by just so quickly that I barely have time to reflect on what I've done in 2011? 2011, wasn't really a year worthy to reminisce, considering the fact that we had two major exams to sit for. But at least, it's all over. Nevermind the exams and stress, just make sure we enjoy as much as we work. That's kinda my new year's resolution! 2012 will be a better year.As everyone's excited for the new year, many could also be wondering if the "2012 myth" or whatever people perceive it as is real. I never really cared, though it's fun to share the eagerness. Oh, why would we be eager to find out if it's really not erroneous that our lives are coming to a full stop? Nevermind the stress :)

So, the first week of January was pretty exciting as I picked up a long lost hobby; baking. Baking has always been my interest since the stay in the US. I have baked oatmeal cookies, three layers brownies, scones etc all of which I have been guided by my host dad, who's a good cook. I started off by trying my hands on banana muffins. They turned out ok. The colour and texture were to my expectation. But the taste wasn't very convincing to me as I've added a lil bit more of vanilla extract.The next time I baked, the end products which were raisin scones turned out rather desirable. The colour was a lil pale although I wished to see the nice golden brown. Taste wise was quite good. I liked it myself. Everyone enjoyed the scones. As for baked honey chicken, not too favorable as the flavors didn't combine that well.
Tomorrow, I am baking Spritz cookies, also known as butter cookies.

Enough of bakes. Now, HKU interview. Ahhh, this is one of the best, yet intimidating interview I have been to. To be honest, I wasn't at all confident about this one and it was a group interview. You know the enormous pressure when you witness a battle of wits, and you're supposed to be the one participating as well. My batch was a mediocre one, with one or two who were very promising. I think I belonged in the mediocre class. Anyway, our interviewers were a professor from Faculty of Law and another Chinese lady, probably the admission tutor. Funny as it might sound, we did not have an intro segment which really surprised me. All we did was to offer firm hand shakes before and after interview. They did not even introduce themselves. But I later found out that the professor's name is Michael Wilkinson. His name really does his justice. He was a very pleasant looking man, regularly cracking jokes to induce laughter in the interview room. We all had to engage in a discussion on what is causing destruction to the world. I wasn't the first to speak. The girl beside me kickstarted the discussion by pointing out inequality. Then, bla bla bla, it went on till morality came in. I hopped in to point out about greed. There were actually many issues I was able to relate to this. But I only managed to highlight global warming. I know, very cliched. But guess what, I was like the second last to speak and that was also after prof asked me to speak. The girl on my right was the last. We were both so quiet at the beginning. I thought we were shaken by the wits of the rest. For a moment during the discussion, my mind ALMOST wandered somewhere else as there were some points which I don't really understand. Thank god! When it was my turn, I gave a speech of decent length on what I wanted to say. The minute I ended my speech, prof intefered "You were so quiet just now and now you gave a brilliant speech" All I could afford was a grin and some chuckles. I don't know if this means good or bad but at least I caught the interviewer's attention. Oh and did I not mention that the chances of getting into HKU are really low that I think only 1/10 of international applicants would get the offer. Prof reminded us on that. Nevermind the stress again. Then, we had to voice out our conclusions which I literally crapped because out of no where, panic got the better of me. Shucks. It took about 30 minutes before we were dismissed. Prof shook our hands and when it came to my turn, he told me "You're a funny person. You wouldn't speak until I told you to. But when you speak, you make very much sense" Again, the usual me with the chuckles. I replied "I think that's my nature." A boy in the group interupted by saying "Maybe she's shy". Yeah, maybe. Anyhow, there's always one thing about interviews that scares me despite the fact that I've been to quite a number of interviews in the past. The one thing is always speaking up in a group discussion, that's why I never enjoyed group discussion. But this time, I sailed through it quite smoothly and I've won some valuable experience from it.

The Workforce

2011-12-20T21:34:00.002+08:00

Working life has been decent. I would say it's a pretty good experience since it's my first part time job. But I can't deny that this job sure demands a lot of physical strength and substantial mental strength. Constant loading and unloading of boxes filled with brochures, mineral water, shirts and banners; all needed for roadshows and edu fairs, sums up the job scope of a part timer in IMU marketing department. Well, of course, it helps build some muscles and gives an idea of what's behind the scenes, the goodie bags that we get in edu fairs are products of the hard work of the men behind the scene : US PART TIMERS or marketing assistants. Then comes the mental strength. Working with educators actually prepares you well for your future career in terms of adequate exposure to stressful working life and also having the tendency to perform your best. People there look for perfection in work. Certain people. Generally, working has been a great experience and meeting new people adds to the excitement of going to work. There're nice people and also the not-so-pleasant people but sometimes we just have to ignore the not-so-nice ones. :)

Oh joy!

2011-11-19T00:49:00.002+08:00

Yesterday I had my last paper for A Levels, sigh of relief! At least I am not going to be tied to any commitment for the next few months to come. No exams for the next 6 months!:)

Nothing feels better than to indulge in a cup of coffee and not worrying about books, tests, exams etc

11.11.2011

2011-11-11T15:08:00.004+08:00

I'm on the verge of forgetting my gmail password, so i guess i'd better sign in and hello there! I haven't been blogging since forever and after a few months of hiatus, i have finally chosen this date to start blogging again. 11.11.11, what a magnificent date!

So, what's up lately? Well, a2, a2 and a2! (a2's the A Level final examination, FYI) I'm actually still in the exam period, 2 more papers to go. Currently studying chemistry but multitasking as you should have noticed. Well, in the midst of the grueling papers, I can't help but to envision what's next for me after A Level. I'm looking forward to attend prom and most definitely, work. Skip the prom, since it's like a tradition already. It's going to be my third prom. Work! I can't deny I'm pretty excited with the thought of earning my own money (you know, getting my first pay cheque although part timers don't get one) but I'm also quite nervous about having to work with professionals, like the older and WISER people. Nevertheless, I would certainly take this chance to learn and enhance my knowledge. Oh wait, where I'm working? Well, in a marketing department of a university. Which university?? The one my mom is working in.

I have started my university applications, that's a kick start to another transition of life. I'm considering UK, as always. But the chances are slim if I don't get a financial support because my parents have made it clear to get me into the local ones if I don't get a scholarship. My alternative would be the US which is undoubtedly, my SECOND HOME. Of course, I'm considering HKU and UBC in Canada. My Chemistry lecturer once told us, "You did not study hard in A Level just to get into UNITEN or any public unis." No offence to all. I'm sure he did not mean to snub, but what he said was true in a way it served as a "wake up call" to me, telling me to work harder for my dreams! So, wish me all the luck you could and pray hard for me to get into one of these universities with a scholarship. :)

BTW, I have been watching MUM 2012 and KIMBERLY LEGGETT won! Her victory was well-favored but there're also some people who disagree with the judges' choice. I personally think there're other better candidates, though Kimberley has one of the best features among the girls. If only, Malaysian beauty queens are groomed to answer questions perfectly, they would make Malaysia proud in international pageants. But so far, none I have seen, have really captured the true essence of a beauty queen except for Deborah Henry whose explicit charm and intelligence outshined her from other beauty queens.

That's all for now. Got to get going with "stuffs" like BOOKS.

See you in a week time!

How I Survive

2011-08-06T01:39:00.002+08:00

The story of the survival is about to begin.

I'm awake, literally, to share with y'all how I managed my life amidst the never ending stress. Ok, off from trying to be abstract and inducting the suspense.

First, I have the results coming out next week.
Second, I have my university applications to fret.
Third, A2!

These are my main focus for now. Just so you know, I'm typing this with my Pure Math books by the side, waiting for me to finish up the last few questions I intend to do. Basically, welcome to A2 life!

Something worth mentioning here is perhaps my Math teacher's advice which actually plays a role in recuperating my spirit everytime it's on the verge of draining away. She managed to convince us that A Levels is the best way to prepare ourselves for uni. We may be undergoing immense stress throughout but it's all worthwhile when we step into uni, realising that it is going to be a walk in the park. Seeing others trying to cope with uni life would just give us a thorough satisfaction. Our decision in choosing A Levels, once put in doubt, will confirm its sovereignty.

So, this is how I survive at the moment.

Getting the better of time

2011-07-31T13:50:00.002+08:00

Dear all,

Time passes by so fast that another month just flew,merely. I could still recall the days when my american parents were here and how we enjoyed ourselves, bringing back much of the memories we shared in US. I would say it was one of the most incredible part of 2011. Their vacation here was close to ideal as they've been to almost every attraction in KL, visited Malacca and tasted Malaysia's famous delicacies and and...most importantly, they've lived in a Malaysian home. We opted to put them in the hotel at the beginning since hotels usually have the best beds, facilities and you know...what a 4 star hotel could provide. But, they preferred to stay at our home because probably they didn't like the hassle of living quite a distance from us, ME. So,we brought them to our house, had the room ready since kor is not staying with us. They had his room during the stay.

To sum up, they really had fun here, and I don't want to share every detail of the trip since I'm not keeping abreast with my blog. Lewis was fascinated with the Malaysian architecture and Teresa pretty much liked the culture here. When we brought them to Jonker Street in Malacca, they felt a total deviation from their life in Houston as they've never experienced such gaiety atmosphere in a street filled with stalls selling food, souvenirs etc. It was a pleasant experience.

That's all for now, gotta resume revising for four tests/ quizzes next week. And, the results of AS are to be released on August 11th. *crossed fingers*

Te amo, los lectores!

Day 1- Arrival of Lewis and Teresa

2011-07-03T23:33:00.004+08:00

I just feel that i have to share a part of the adventure with y'all before the night ends. Today, July 3rd 2011, is one of the most nostalgic moments of my life. As you know or may not know or have yet to know, my american parents are here in Malaysia for 10 days. My mom and i arrived at KLIA about 615pm as the arrival time is due 7pm. Technically, we waited long before the American couple who once loved and still love me appeared from the glass doors. Mom and i, or i'd say just me was in panic mode and couldnt help but to feel uneasy when we still did nt see the americans comin through the doors. The sort of ordeal ended when i saw..a couple clad in bright colored attires heading towards us. Lewis had already seen me before teresa finally had her eyes on me. Lewis spreaded his arms to ask for a hug when i was scurrying towards them and before i knew, i was already in the embrace. Next, i hugged teresa. I was teary at that moment and all i could do was to smile with all my heart. Mom introduced herself before we left for the car. The journey to Subang for dinner was a long one bt it did nt dampen the americans' spirit despite the almost 30hours flight excursions they'd to endure. We talked about everything we did not manage to catch up in the past and at the same time, looked out the window to enjoy the night view. We finally arrived at the New Ipoh chic rice restaurant after a 1hour journey. Dad joined us and we had a scrumptious dinner. They loved it, regardless of the Asian style of cooking with spice and chilli and the large portion of rice we ate. Later, the parents, i mean both american and biological ones were indulged in a heavy discussion on guns and motorcycles,yada yada yada. Almost 11pm, we sent them to the hotel and called it a day! We decided to let them rest after a long flight.Tomorrow's gonna be better!As cliched as it is, words cannot describe how grateful i am to have them here. It just reminds me of my time in the US. Adventure to the KL tower tomorrow!

Expectations...for June

2011-06-28T15:28:00.002+08:00

What more can I expect in June? It's towards the end of this spectacular month, and I don't want it to come to an ending.

Let's start off with the birthday. My birthday this year was so far one of the best I had, in Malaysia. Let's not talk about what surprises I had. Instead, talk about the fun and crazy part of this celebration. Arrived in Pyramid with Jez, and I was only expecting Elaine to be there. Amidst looking for E, I detected a few of the not-supposed-to-be-there people; Lin Yen, Lynette and Sze Munn. WTH? That was the surprise that night. We gathered at Zanmai, only to discover how long the queue was. By the time we are allowed to enter the restaurant, I will be famished. Then, headed to Kim Gary. Oh boy, that was hell of an experience walking out of the restaurant after settling down at one of the tables. I used to feel embarassed when my mom walks out of the restaurant after looking at menu. And that day, I did the same thing like my mom. LOL. Browsing through the menu, not knowing what to order, and with the "well, it's my birthday so I have the right to decide" thought running through my mind, I decided to walk out of the restaurant with the rest. Jez, was pathetic, when he pretended to be on the phone and walked out of KG. We had Sakae in the end. Haha. Sakae's always one of my favourite Japanese restaurant. So, ordered my classic Sakae all time favourite, the unagi dish. The dinner went on smoothly, until....E lost her handbag in the ladies'. So, we embarked on the search mission and finally found her Roxy; the only spoiler was that she had lost a large sum of cash.

So, later on, we decided to come over to my house to indulge in some beers. Watched a movie, camwhored (started by Sze) , that was when the crazy part began. Not to forget, the wonderful cupcakes surprise. I was going to get some drinks for them when the surprise came. They somehow managed to off all the lights in the living room and light the candles and prepare to sing the HAPPY BIRTHDAY song when I enter the hall. The cupcakes were delicious but I couldn't finish them in one shot. And nobody seemed to be hunting for The next day, I brought the cupcakes out of the fridge and I realised the wordings carved on the cupcakes, "We luv u, Jo!" That was the sweetest part of the celebration. Gosh, these bunch of awesome people!
Then, there was also a surprise in college. A good friend of mine brought in a birthday cake at the beginning of the Chem class. Slightly embarassed because the lecturer was there, but he seemed to have achieved an agreement with the classmates to have the cake in during his class. Yea, they chose the right cake which is one of my favourite cakes. Overall, a great celebration this year!

A week later, came the IELTS. Don't think I did exceptionally well, but to have gained the minimum band required for the universities is enough, hopefully.

And now, I stucked among stacks of papers which are the assignments for the break. They are due after the break. So, let's get going!

Finally, the moment I've been waiting for, the arrival of my host parents on this Sunday. I'm pretty anxious to see them again. But, at the same time, I hope I'm able to juggle between class hours and my tour guide hours. I will be their tour guide when they come!

Okay, I'm typing to much in this post. Probably the longest post I have in the blog.

That's all for now.

Hasta luego!

Cheers for June!

2011-06-10T01:30:00.002+08:00

June would be a month packed with happenings as I await with bated breath for exams, my birthday and outings with friends. Let's start with exams. Had the AS exam which ended 3 days ago, my performance was just satisfactory; something which I'm quite unhappy of. May God help me pull through this rocky road. Next up, I know, even if I've had the chance to breathe now, A2 would be just right around the corner in a blink of eye. Urgh, suffocation.

Birthday is next in the fray. Finally, something positive. Nothing much to expect though. Just want to recall my 18th birthday in the US. Oh, how I miss Lewis's brownies!

One more thing that I missed out about exams, I'm going to take my IELTS exam very soon. Good luck to me, considering the short duration I have for preparation. Yes, blame AS.

Recently, I got to know about AIESEC, a NGO which provides exchange opportunities for youths to undergo internship program abroad. I am really thankful that I passed the interview. And I am a soon to be AIESEC exchange participant. Yay or nay? Nay because parents might not allow me to be in the program. Firstly, if I were to be sent to a developing country like Philippines; they may not want me to risk my safety. So, fingers crossed and let's see what happens next.

Now that I'm free from confinement of exams, I ought to post more often.
*yawn*

Bedtime?

Yesssss!!!!

AS fear

2011-05-04T15:11:00.003+08:00

Good day!

Today's one of the days where I skip classes prior to the AS external examinations which is just 4 days from now. So, I decided that I should post something in the blog, just to break the 2 months hiatus in blogging, and it would be another long hiatus before I start blogging again. I shall, no I have to omit the AS part (though my title speaks of AS), just so I won't spoil my blogging mood today.

Well, something really amazing, I mean like seriously AMAZING happened lately in college. April 13th was a historical date for all Inti-ans, specifically Pre-U students who actually made it to the headlines by painting the biggest Inti logo on cloth in Malaysia and our attempt was officiated by the Malaysian Book of Records. What made us, students and even lecturers more ecstatic about this whole thing is that our successful attempt was published in several newspapers and also broadcasted in 8TV Quickie! The attempt saw approximately 300 students shedding tears and sweat over the initially plain white cloth and finally, the hard work was paid off! Being part of the Pre-U committee makes me even more proud of our achievement and we were the first batch of students to establish the club.

"First amongst equals"

So that's it for now and I'll be back after examinations!

Implications of College

2011-03-05T12:24:00.004+08:00

A random thought that I had like to share with y'all.

It suddenly appeared in my mind how I was so actively involved in ECA during the high school days and it is of such a contrast to my college life. I had Red Crescent, SPBT, badminton, Buddhist Society, all with assigned positions and burdened with heavy responsibilities, yet, I somehow was able to cope and in fact, I enjoyed myself during my reign in the respective positions. Despite being engaged in all these ECA during the uniform days, I have to admit that college is just a place to study and earn good grades for me FULL STOP. Well, I do have commitments such as the Pre-U Club and the newly joined Editorial Board. It's just that these do not place their importance in me anymore, not of utmost importance like in high school. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be active in more clubs but that's all I could afford as an A Level student.

Recently, I came across this high school senior of mine and we had a brief conversation to catch up with each other. I told him that I'm pretty occupied in A Level and immediately, he gave me this look of disbelief. "Are you kidding me?? You're the first who has ever say that!" I couldn't help but to wonder WHO THE HELL said A Level is a piece of cake! But, I didn't dare to comment much on this since everyone has their opinions depending on how they perceive the standard of their course. So, back on track about ECA. Yeah, as I said, ECA is not anymore a commitment to me because all I wanted from Inti is my dream grades. However, I will hold full responsibility to what I have indulged myself in and at least leave college with a few certificates of reasonable involvement in ECA.

This is life. As we grow older, there are more knowledge to absorb, more sophisticated terms to remember and greater dreams to achieve!

Week after CNY

2011-02-10T17:05:00.002+08:00

Well, I had my first CNY celebration after returning from the US and I am very grateful for that. Skipping a year of CNY celebration isn't really a drawback to me, since I had wonderful American mom and dad to treat me with CNY dinner and offer me the red packets *grin*. This CNY was a fruitful one as it came with new experiences and opportunities. I finally had a "cheongsam" to wear this year and had the privilege to drink! Seriously, I've tried about 4 different types of wine, red and white ones which certainly got me a little off par but I still managed to handle the mediocre alcohol content.

Then, the one week break ended when "reality" crawls in, it's time for college again! And college is merely filled with excitement, not for the lectures BUT for the prep of the attempt to paint the BIGGEST Inti logo in Malaysia *bangga* let's just hope it's gonna be a success.

So, that's about it for now. TEST tomorrow, and more to dread in coming weeks!

Hasta luego!

My All in One Update

2011-01-07T19:17:00.004+08:00

So, amidst boredom yesterday, I had to post up something out of desperation, for the sake of the urge that made me blog. And today, I decided that a proper update is fundamental to start off 2011. I realized that I have not made any new year's resolution which is very pathetic of me. It was because I was away for a hectic vacation in Ipoh that I didn't have the time to make my resolution and I hope it's not too late to make one, wait I have a few, yes a few,how greedy of me. Let me voraciously announce my resolution of year 2011:

- Try my very best to do well in SAT

- Ace A level

- Stay physically fit (I had surely gained a few pounds after devouring much of the food in Ipoh)

Speaking of Ipoh, it wasn't just a Ipoh vacation, it was like a 3 places vacation in one state. Due to the amount of relatives my mom has in Perak, I was fortuitous enough to have visited Ipoh (of course), KK and Taiping. Imagine how much I have eaten throughout the whole trip, ugh. But, it was enjoyable, really enticing food coupled with hospitality from the relatives. One thing, I met Peter, the wild boar, oh no I am not kidding. He seems pretty tame, though he's wild yeah I see the irony. Anyways, rumors say that touching it could help one strike 4D!!???? My mom and aunt were ecstatic about it...and there goes the whole troop surrounding Peter. Besides that, I had the chance to visit Perak cave which was truly breathtaking. We had to climb 400 flight of stairs just to reach the peak. No, we didn't climb that high. I climbed only 1/4 of the steps, the rest were left unattempted. Haha and my new year resolution is to be fit????LOL I actually had to endure the cold that I have got during the trip so I wasn't too fit to climb that high. That's about it for the trip that flourished my semester break.

In 2 days, a new semester would dawn, and here comes all the lecture hall and library moments. Interestingly, I have only 4 days of classes per week..???? Yeah, I guess that comes with a

tougher semester to bear with.

Soup of the day!

Today ends with a good meal from Black Canyon!

PS: Nutrition and dietatics as my future???

Amidst boredom...

2011-01-06T01:08:00.002+08:00

Good morning peeps! Yes, it's 1.12 am and I am still awake.

2010-12-23T12:42:00.002+08:00

Haven't I been updating the blog??? Oh no...my blog is being desolated...by ME. So after somewhat a more than 12 hour sleep, I could feel myself resurging from the fatigue side and storming into complete vibrance. Many things happened recently though my holidays seem dull...I received the semester results which was satisfactory (thank god) scholarship would most probably be retained (crossed fingers). So this Christmas, definitely have wonderful plans...for ONCE in my entire life. I didn't have much chances to meet up with the crap gang...except for Navee whom I met last weekend, ah absolutely enjoyable! Navee, still on for SUNWAY LAGOON? Will be heading to Ipoh on new year's day! I realized something too...there hasn't been many exciting movies in theatres and it's the peak season! Taking SAT this January...what a "delight" (I meant sarcasm with the quotation marks)to kick off the new year.
Ok, Im crapping a lot here and I shall get myself working today after a shower.

A worthy one...

2010-11-12T15:58:00.003+08:00

I gotta admit. President Clinton is one of the finest and calibred president the United States have ever had! Just meeting him today in person although not closely enough, has drawn my attention towards his flair as the former president of the US. Amazingly, he had spared his time to visit us in Nilai, which was just so generous of him to have changed hundred of students' lives in just an hour. You know, meeting him may be a once in a lifetime thing. A long wait in the multi purpose hall for his arrival was paid off when his inspiring speech echoed the hall and received standing ovations from the crowd. His talk focussed on expanding youth leadership which is what the world needs now from global citizens. I never got the chance to meet any of the presidents when I was in US, but I finally met one today in MALAYSIA, in fact, it was a memorable meeting!

PS: Finals in less than a month. Work hard man!

a little something...

2010-10-24T12:34:00.004+08:00

Seeing this picture reminds me of this unforgetable experience of mine in Gadsden Alabama. People might be oblivious about this particular place, but to me, it meant a string of memories. I just loved its greenery, not to mention the gutsy hills. You just can't help but to feel so blessed as you wake up in the morning with beautiful sights coupled with pure fresh air around you. Believe me. I remembered telling myself that I will be back in 10 years time. I was hosted in Texas but Alabama left a lasting impression in me.

So, as I was lying on the couch waiting for lunch, something ran through my mind. I wondered how much I changed after my 6 months stint. Honestly, I dont see much transition, but perhaps a tiny bit of me has shown some differences in terms of maturity and confidence. In anyway, I still feel gratified for all these that happened in my life.

Life's a fuss...

2010-10-21T16:17:00.002+08:00

I should have corrected that...life's a mess. Ups and downs of life are the norms we face in every moment of life. Nobody would believe if I say life's none other than perfection. So wrong. As time slowly creep by, things deliberately changed. From not being able to accept failure easily to one who is able to see failure in a positive way, I finally saw the light. The light that would guide me through my entire journey.

PS: Blogging hasnt been in agenda lately...quizzes and tests take over.

Aftermath...

2010-09-13T15:52:00.002+08:00

A week off from school ain't filled with boredom...hung out with some ex school mates, , attempting assignments, planned for charity project, driving classes (JPJ test next week!) and finally the "trip" to Sg. Chiling...the trip was meant to be a fruitful one, but the rainy condition wasn't very helpful...we were told not to trek the river due to slippery rocks. So, then here comes this plan of stopping by the Sungai Selangor Dam but it was closed that day! We were fortunate enough to capture mesmerising sceneries of the river with beautiful mountains as background and of course the sumptuous meal by Adelyn. Pictures shall be posted soon...LAZINESSSSS...
Oh yes, test result...which were convincing to me...much better than expected.
Now, what else? Oh, oh the "Read for Charity" project! Hopefully it turns out well!

That's all for now!

Untitled

2010-09-02T23:00:00.003+08:00

Finally done with test today...obviously did not do well. Well, life goes on man! Took some time off today to blog and glanced through my previous posts when I was still THERE (trying not to mention it) Found these really cool pictures that I took, one of which I captured with Dato' Mahadzir Lokman and Mr. Kuhan from AFS and of course the fantastic skydiving picture!
Pictures of the day, YAY!

PS: Being part of the Charity Division is gonna be a blast for me this semester, or the one and half year as a whole.

Happenings

2010-08-22T21:37:00.002+08:00

Woah, haven't been posting for about a month! So, here I am to update a little about my past few weeks. Psychology challenge, tests, quizzes for each subjects and even coursework coming, all lined up for me. But, currently still could afford to enjoy life with great college mates...exciting activities coming up for A Level peeps, hopefully!

Amidst of my pre-occupied schedule, I had some time to think about my future and interesting activities to plan with friends, several places for choice. My future is between pharmacy and psychology. God, PLEASE help me to decide.

PS: It has been about 2 months since I left. I am coming back, my second home.I still can't believe that I actually skydived there!

4th week

2010-07-26T17:47:00.000+08:00

My 4th week in Malaysia! Mom would always tell me to get back to reality when I compare my life in Houston with my life in Malaysia. I know, I know. But sometimes just the joy of saying it would bring back fond memories, I cant resist the urge to reminisce.
Darn, I'm deeply craving for JACK IN THE BOX!!!! There was a Jack in the Box near my house and I remember how convenient it was to get their ranch chicken burger. No fast food outlet in Malaysia would beat the crispness of their chicken and the ever mouth watering french fries they have there!
Oh yes, went for the 5 hours driving course, which was dead boring. Something from the course just seemed to lower my confidence in driving LOL.

Reminiscence

2010-07-19T22:48:00.003+08:00

It has been 2 weeks already since I returned.
Everything seems to be different to me now. Maybe not all but partially.
I guess it's pretty normal to possess this kinda feeling for a YES returnee.
College started; I'm enrolled in the Cambridge A Level, thanks to Inti for the tuition waiver.
I remembered school in America was slow paced and everything was easy to grasp.
But now, college isn't that easy. Well, that's life.
On the other perspective, life has been so wonderful for me for the past 6 months for me to reminisce. I was blessed and is still blessed to have brilliant people around who love me and care for me.
Had Wiggy, the German exchange student for the weekend and really loved her. Too bad, she's gone far north.
Everyone seems to be dead in their blog (my friends at least) but I decided to revive mine at least occasionally since I find it one of the easiest way to express myself.
I realised that I needed some space, room to breathe. Probably I started college too early that I did not give myself adequate rest. But, I think I'm catching up now with Malaysian life though I still find my bed a little hard to sleep on and my routine rather unusual for a Malaysian teenager.
Nevermind. Things take time to recover.

Alright, time to sleep and hopefully I could sleep soundly after few nights of not-so-pleasant sleep.

PS: "You're now in Malaysia, not America. Down-to-earth, Jocelyn."

Goodbye Texas!

2010-06-29T05:42:00.006+08:00

Sometimes things happen for a reason. 6 months ago, I was about to leave for the US and now it's time to say goodbye. Nevertheless, I hope this is just a temporary farewell. I know I have loved ones here and I can't wait to be back again to visit them.

Look at this girl, she used to have short hair and looked bubbly.

Now, she has longer hair and looks more mature,ain't it? Haha, that's me!

Memories are to be cherished, experiences are to be treasured and new people that I met are to be valued for a lifetime. I truly hope that this is just the beginning and may destiny bring us all together again in the future!

PS: Flight leaving to Washington DC at approximately 11.39am tomorrow, will be there for 3 days for orientation before returning to Malaysia on July 2nd.

Cheers!

Mucho gracias mi familia de anfitrión para darme memorias maravillosas!

The Clock is Ticking....

2010-06-10T08:03:00.003+08:00

Time passes by so fast now. Haven't been blogging often, yes, because I'm trying to make the best out of my stay here. It has been a wonderful journey, of course I would want to retain it.

One month left. No, 2 1/2 weeks left.

See, time passed by rapidly.

Will be arriving in Malaysia on 4th July. Wee!

I have been kayaking and I am totally in love with it. I would consider involving myself in the sport when I return.

Well, a couple of weeks left means days away from meeting my family and friends!
Ah, feels wrong, maybe weird because we havent been seeing each other in a while, half a year to be precise!

Nooooo....I don't wanna come home yet....*grins* just kidding....

So, to anyone yang nak jemput saya dari airport, 4th of July yeah! LOL

Bungee!

2010-06-01T10:17:00.002+08:00

2010-05-12T04:03:00.002+08:00

Hey guys,

Here's a brief video that I would like to share with y'all (mommy,daddy,kor and the rest of the family and good friends) about my life in the US. So feel free to view it and drop a comment for me!

THANK YOU

3rd 6th week term; Holocaust

2010-04-20T07:52:00.003+08:00

It is already my 3rd 6th week term here; progress report is about to be released! It has never worried me when it comes to this because I've always achieved what I wanted. So, as I say PROGRESS REPORT aka report card...I made a perfect 100 for English Holocaust Literature which is something to be proud of because I've never studied Holocaust in Malaysia but now that I'm being exposed to Holocaust, it does do wonders to me.
Well, The Holocaust was the deliberate murder and persecution of the Jews by the Nazis who came into power in Germany in 1933; lead by the infamous Adolf Hitler. The Nazis' rise of power had certainly left a black mark in the world's history.
Personally, The Holocaust has made me realise that endless power could do much jeopardy to the human race. The rise of Nazi power had lead almost the entire Jewish race to be killed, nevertheless, those who were alive were brought to labor/ concentration camps to work to death.
One thing which has terrified me was the burning of the Jews' bodies in the crematorium in the purpose of eliminating the Jewish race. That was unbelievable, yet it has proven to us that the burning of human bodies was the worst form of death ever happened in the human race history.
Holocaust Literature has been my favourite these days. I've read several Holocaust books which really interest me. HOLOCAUST ROCKS!

Just thought that it would be a good idea to share a little about The Holocaust since many people are still ignorant of this and that it is wise to learn about it so that we WILL NOT repeat history again.

Belated Spring Update

2010-04-12T02:57:00.009+08:00

I had spring break a couple of weeks ago and though it was just a week of break, I had enjoyed the most out of it. I went to New Orleans,Louisiana, Gadsden, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. 3 states in a week, wonderful right? I travelled by car with my host mom, her sis, Ruba and Elly. The experience was awesome. The most memorable activity was going on the Skyrider...it was challenging but exciting! The best part was being able to have our own apartment in Alabama. We really had fun by having the place all by ourselves. Honestly, I love Alabama the most, with the hills and greenery, it was just breathtaking. See you in 10 years time, Alabama!

In New Orleans

The Skyrider

The Coca-cola Factory

Baju kebaya in Alabama

Oh, I found my first picture in Houston!

Enjoy viewing the pictures! More updates to come...love y'all!

The New Way

2010-04-01T10:23:00.002+08:00

Hey,

Jocelyn has been in the United States since January 16, 2010. The statement plays in my mind everyday with me counting the days since I've been here. I would rather count the days I've been here than count the days left for my stay in the US. I know. I know it would be resentful to confess, but here I want to make a revelation, a MAJOR one. I am slowly changing into a new person, I hope. A better person, a better Jocelyn. Since stepping onto the lone star state, Texas, I'm amazed with how structured the state is and of course, the amiable people have warmed my heart. Not to forget, the wonderful host family I have. They are one of the nicest person I've ever met besides my parents.

I've learnt and still learning, that adaptation is the new way of living. I don't expect people to change for me, I change to adapt. That's the way for an exchange student. I never know what's happenning next, so I am learning to not expect, trying hard indeed. This part of my journey would leave the deepest impact in my life; which I would remember forever. I struggle sometimes, but it doesnt matter, that would only make my experience more fruitful!

Enrolled in Pasadena High School, I stepped into a new life as an American teenager. It was different, still very different for me. But, I would still stick to AFS's saying, no right or wrong one, just differentlah...haha! New friends, definitely new perspective of life and absolutely a golden experience.

YES has changed my life greatly. It has given me a brand new life which gives me a promising future. I hope to promote YES to the younger generation. I want to tell them, YES, has inspired me to live beyond my boundaries, yet to not omit my roots. *crossed fingers* I shall be a better person once I return. However, I would still be mommy's and daddy's girl! I would still be the friend of my friends, the same Jocelyn Tang Phaik Lin!

Me encanta mi vida y la familia

GRATITUDE

2010-03-12T10:35:00.002+08:00

Thank you God.
Thank you my loveliest mom, dad, grandma and kor.
Thank you my awesome teachers of SJ.
Thank you my bestest friends.

Thank you my kindest SPM markers.

PS: Tutoring kids has been a great experience. I'm gonna get my sailing cert soon. Alabama awaiting.

A Texan's Pride

2010-03-08T09:34:00.010+08:00

Being gifted with the opportunity to be an exchange student representing Malaysia and of course, the privilege to be a Texan, is definitely the greatest pride in my life. It is only the 7th week since I arrived in the United States but I already had so many wonderful shades of colors in my life. Last Friday, my host mom drove us all the way from Houston to Terrell to spend our weekend with her friend and some exchange students. The night journey took her 6 hours to reach Terrell. On Saturday, I had the most terrific yet incredible day of my life in Six Flags, Dallas! Never in my life I had gone for so many rides in a day and it was an unforgettable experience for me. I was with a group of exchange students from Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Germany; that made the experience much more enriching. I unbelievably went on the Titan ride which has a maximum thrill rate and it is the largest ride in Texas. What a great thrill that was; it was fun to possess the feeling of fear and excitement at the same time, especially with a group of adventurous friends. That day, I tried on many rides which I never dared to ride in Malaysia; I had a great time with my friends from other countries. I even had myself drawn in caricature. Before we left on Sunday, we had managed to share our culture and knowledge of our respective countries with one another. I got to know more about the culture of Saudi Arabia and Peru from our sharing session. I also had a Peruvian breakfast style; hot Cappuccino and empanadas (Peruvian meat pie), tantalizing isn’t it? The trip to Terrell and Dallas was one of the most amazing trip of my stay so far as it had so much to offer to an exchange student like me. Yes, I’m proud to be a Texan!

Check out www.yesalumnimalaysia.blogspot.com for me too!

44th day, 6th week in USA

2010-03-01T09:38:00.006+08:00

Had some free time today, so I decided to post some updates on my activities for the past 2 weeks. I tried Columbian food which was absolutely superb, especially the desert and the fried banana. I had the chance to experience Houston's CNY, unbelievable wasn't it? Frankly, there're lots of Asians in Houston, it's beyond my expectation to encounter more Asians and Hispanic here. Well, afterall we're still TEXANS! Teresa brought me to watch a lion dance in Bellaire last weekend, it was crowded; even Americans came to join the excitement. 50 firecrackers at least were burnt; they were loud. Last Friday, Pier (Teresa's bro) treated us with a great dinner, mmmmm deliciosa! The serviche was good! And this weekend, I attended Seidy's birthday party which was a blast though it was only amongst family members. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS SEIDY! I bought her a set of Barbie accessories and a Hello Kitty soft toy; she liked it obviously. I'm gonna be occupied next weekend as I'm going to Dallas, so I wouldn't have time for updates. Can't wait for the rodeo show on the following weekend!

In front of Buddhist temple in Bellaire

Roaring lion dance

3 milk cream cake;Columbian style; EXCELLENT

With the bday girl!

Carlos caught a glimpse of the greedy girl, while Heydi looked tempted

PS: Realizing the fact that it has already been more than a month since I arrived, I don't want time to pass by so fast. It's not because I dont wanna go home, but there are too much for me to live through and that time needs to move slower for me to have sufficient time to enjoy the most out of these 6 months. Still, I love you, everyone at home!

Go Texan Day!

2010-02-27T12:27:00.002+08:00

It's Go Texan Day today. So be sure to pull those boots out of the back of your closet, knock the dust off and wear them with pride. Pledging allegiance to the Texas flag is still optional, but dressing like a “Texan” isn't. What else should be on your radar as the 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo kicks off? Of course it's fun and excitement!

2010 Houston Chronicle

Snow, No?

2010-02-24T09:08:00.004+08:00

Today (02/23/2010) is probably the coldest day of my stay in Houston. It's 36 degree fahrenheit now, cloudy condition with showers in my area. It's snowing in most of the northern parts of Texas; Houston is forecasted to experience snow tonight. If it snows, I'm gonna go out with my sweater on to take a picture because I never had a picture of me with snow as the background except when I was in DC. It would be great to at least get a feel of snow in Houston since snow was never in Texans' history till lately; last year. The agenda of tonight is to patiently wait for snow! Wohoo! Off to keep myself warm now!
Hasta luego...

PS: Mummy, daddy don't worry I have enough sweaters/ jackets to keep me cosy, or my layers of fat would do good to me by insulating my body.

The Workout

2010-02-21T07:00:00.002+08:00

PHEW! Finally had my first badminton game in Houston. It was great though it was a massive workout after the hiatus from badminton for maybe 2 months at least...the youth training session was held at the Fonde Recreation Center under the Houston Badminton Club. My coach is gonna get me a badminton racquet since mine is at home! Miss my Magnetic Speed racquet! Yeah, met new people who are younger than me, OUCH! Oh yes, had my first experience in baby sitting 3 kids at once. It wasn't an easy task, peeps! TRUST ME. Alright, that's it for now. Adios...

PS: Chinese buffet in Houston is really cheap, it is only 7 dollars per head and you could take as much as you want! Plus, the food is superb!

Amo a mi familia!

Common Phrases

2010-02-17T06:45:00.002+08:00

These are the common phrases that I have heard so far in the US (I guess these are compliments to me?) *show off* LOL

"Your English is excellent!"
"Your handwriting is perfect!"
"You're smart."
"Oh, you're tall! Taller than I expected!"

el día de San Valentín (Valentine's Day in Spanish)

2010-02-15T00:33:00.003+08:00

I thought I was not going to receive any valentine's gift this time except a flower...but I was totally wrong! Teresa came into my room right after my shower with a red bag and a balloon! They were my CNY and Valentine's gift! I was in shock and didn't expect that at all...perhaps I was being paranoid on that. I have people who love me besides my family in Malaysia, YAY! The gifts are from Lewis and Teresa. The gave me a cute doggie soft toy, a balloon that says Happy Valentine's Day, ANOTHER angpow, a Planet Hollywood shirt and a Valentine's card. OMG, I couldn't imagine how speechless I was that moment, maybe for some of you it's just a small matter, but I appreciate it a lot especially when I'm away from home, feeling lonely during special occasions. Haha, thank you Lewis and Teresa!

CNY in foreign land

2010-02-14T14:18:00.003+08:00

Opps...mind my words, not foreign land but my SECOND HOME, Houston. My first CNY without my family and outside the country, amazing isn't it? Well, I've have another family here though, a good one too. So, it's CNY eve here (I know Malaysia is already one day ahead) and I was brought to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. GREAT ambience, SCRUMPTIOUS food, EXCELLENT service, that was an IDEAL place for everyone. Lewis drove us there and we met Carlos and Eve there. I whispered "wow" in my heart when I first saw the restaurant. We had a wonderful dinner together with all Chinese food, ahh, that made me felt like I was at home. Anyways, I got some angpows from them! Oh boy! It never came into my mind I could still receive angpows when I am away from home. Probably mum or dad had already taken the angpows on behalf of me. I have made a deal, all my angpows this year would go to mum's account, awh how sweet isn't it? LOL. Yeah, I WAS NOT KIDDING.

PS: It's 12.30 am now in Texas. HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR & HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I know it feels really bad when you didn't receive anything for Valentine's but at least I got a flower! Not to forget...the angpows *evil grin*
Folks, enjoy your celebration! May the year of tiger be a blast to all of you! Also, may prosperity and happiness fill the room of everyone's heart. Pictures to be updated soon.

Time Marathon

2010-02-12T07:51:00.002+08:00

It's almost one month since I arrived in Houston. Wow, that seems pretty fast. Noooo...slow down time! I need more time to enjoy here. CNY and Valentine's Day are just around the corner. Is it gonna be a yay or a boo!? LOL. Yay of course as I most probably will be celebrating CNY in Houston. There's Chinatown and oriental places with vast celebration. Got my grades recently and I made a hundred for Math and US History...I advanced to the Pre-Calculus class today. People in that class are pretty funny, even the teacher. Okay, that's it for now. Gotta catch up with time now, woosh! Off to marathon, I MEAN time marathon!

2010-02-08T09:28:00.008+08:00

What a marvellous weekend I had! I visited the Houston Science Museum and Hermann Park. It was really an eye opener to me because I've seen so many new things, INCREDIBLE. Teresa even brought me to the Hong Kong market where I could find oriental food to cook. We had a farewell party for Hanna as she's going home tomorrow. Will miss her though. I met Ajeng from Indonesia! She's outgoing and fun to be with, definitely a great friend! Stephanie joined us later after the crowd was gone. Lewis made fantastic brownies, fried rice and lemon chicken. I did the okra and egg plant stir fry and people loved it, wooh! Great achievement huh? I made lotus soup which was mediocre but was good enough for consumption LOL technical error at the lotus part I THINK. We spent quality time together and mum's family was really nice as they treated me as part of their family. Urm, had lots of pictures to be posted but here I'm gonna post a few only...time constraint yeah

I drew it for English

My new friend

The pronghorn

The giant insect?

Hermann Park

In front of St Paul's Church

With Ajeng

With Gerri, our local coordinator

With Ajeng's daddy

With Steph

PS: CNY is on the way! Nikolas kissed me twice! Aww...he's so sweet! Cute boy!

January

2010-01-29T06:25:00.005+08:00

January is about to come to an end! That's fast. So, I have gone for theatre (watched Wonderland), boat show (took a picture of my favourite boat), Hard Rock Cafe, downtown and to the space city with some exchange students. What else, folks? What else have I not try out and should try out? If you want me to tell you what's next for me in Texas, I am sure I would have a really long list for you. Pasadena high school is now my school for the semester. What has it got to offer me? So far nothing much, but the teachers are the greatest friends including the librarians. The library is my best place for a hideout. Serene. A year ago I was in a Malaysian high school and a year later, American high school awaits me, unbelievable isn't it? Unbelievable because I'm still in high school when I'm already 17+? Haha. Here are some pictures,

1 Malaysia

In DC

In Malaysian Embassy

Kee Boon and Jo in front of Abraham Lincoln's Memorial?

In Galvestone (beach in Texas)

On host dad's boat

Hannah and Jo

Charli (AYA) and Jo

Delia, Jeanne, Jo

Thar's my car! (just JOKING)

Exchange students

Franz and Jo

Ruba (Saudi Arabia), Hanna (Brazil), Jo (MALAYSIA)

Washington DC

2010-01-17T23:04:00.002+08:00

Hey there! 3 days in Washington DC was great!The weather here is cold but I guess I could adapt to it with my thick jacket and scarf. We were in the 4-H center for our orientation and met new people who were very friendly especially Charli my group leader. And guess what, I flew to Houston International Airport alone from DC, but it was only 3 hours though. Host mum and Hanna were there to welcome me, they made a nice big card with mmy name on it to welcome me. Sweet. DC was where the YES 2010 parted from each other to their respective host families around the US. sAD but it's a whole new adventure! When I arrived, mum and Hanna brought me for Chinese cuisine which really tasted good! The house is unique with dad's office at the lower floor. Dad is a funny and friendly person too. Mum was really nice to help me with my laundries. I apologize for not uloading pictures because mum's laptop didn't match with my camera plug. No worries, I will find my way to upload the pictures soon. Great pictures await you. Mummy at home, don't worry about me. I'm enjoying it here.
May God bless me.

Love,
Jocelyn

PS: Going to boat show later and school starts on Tuesday.

Bon Voyage

2010-01-12T18:15:00.002+08:00

Dear readers,

I'm leaving for the US tomorrow at 2.10 AM (indirectly tonight). It has been a great 3 days of orientation camp which prepared us well enough to represent Malaysia. We're the mini duta now.LOL. Volunteers had done an awesome job to drill us and I had learnt a lot throughout the camp. Dato' Mahadzhir Lokman was there to guide us with all his vast experiences in this program (pics to be updates in facebook, maybe not my account but AFS or other friends' account). My last message typed in Malaysia,
to my friends, don't miss me!LOL. Okok, I mean take care and don't forget me, we shall meet again in July! To mummy and daddy, don't worry about me, I'm sure I'm big enough to take care of myself. I would not disappoint you all (family) and would definitely make you all PROUD. Thank you for all your support and care for all this while. Lots of love and muaxxxxx!

PS: May or may not be updating my blog, so bare with me yeah.

The journey is gonna officially begin in about 8 hours time...

Speed Test

2010-01-07T23:31:00.001+08:00

60 words

Typingtest

2010

2010-01-05T14:26:00.004+08:00

So, 2010 has just began 5 days ago and this year marks a new chapter of my life. For a 17 years old teenage girl like me, I have never thought of having the chance to be an exchange student but now it's gonna be just about a week before I leave Malaysia,UNBELIEVABLE huh? Oh, maybe I'm not being ambitious enough to have thoughts like this. Haha. Is it me or...time just passes by so fast? I just need some empty spaces for a hiatus, but don't think I would ever have the chance for now. Anyway, make minor sacrifices for greater outcome right? Yeah, had a farewell steamboat dinner with my gang of classmates and besties. I'm not a triad leader btw.

Does that look like white wine?

My lil doggie with its tongue sticking out...

The hot couple!

Alright, off to badminton!

New Year Resolution?

2009-12-31T20:24:00.002+08:00

Wow, a blink of an eye and 2009 is almost gone. 2009 has been a great year minus the SPM and the farewell with my friends and teachers, ah memories! 2010 is arriving and what new year resolution have I got? Well, the simplest one would be to make 2010 a better year than 2009...but in terms of what? Health? No, I am free from serious illness, thank god. Studies? Yes,maybe...okay yes!SPM! Good results, please? Family, as I always wished, happy and loving family. Friends? Exactly, build good relationships with friends in Malaysia and also from all over the world. Also, garner all the knowledge and experience I could from the 6 months in the USA. Okayyyyy...I think that sums it all. Oh yeah, YSD second lvl assessment today. Nothing much but pretty much different from the normal interviews, well as you know it was assessment NOT interview. I passed the 1st stage, the group discussion which I was quite comfortable with. Then, 2nd stage, online assessment! I sort of struggled, no the fact was I screwed up haha. The verbal and numerical tests were my weakest because of time factor LOL, okay just had to admit that I was slow. Most probably wouldn't get it, even if I do, I wouldn't be able to attend the next round as I will be away for 6 months. No matter what, it was still an experience and I would treasure it for my future interviews.

That's all for now,I hereby wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2010 be a year full of colours and great events! Fireworks...

Cya...

Cloud nine

2009-12-29T16:10:00.003+08:00

I am seriously the happiest girl on earth right now. I have got my placement and have been shortlisted for YSD Scholarship. Two good news in a day, THANK YOU GOD! I have been so curious about my placement especially and now finally I have got a host family. I will be hosted in TEXAS with another Brazil student! That is sooooo unbelievable yet incredible. As for the YSD one, I am not sure if I am lucky or just good enough to meet their requirements but anyhow, there's still the second stage which will be held very soon, OMG. Gratitude. I am floating on cloud nine.

Spot Texas!

Alright, sayonara for now. More to be done and hope everything runs smoothly.
Chow!

Wooppsie...

2009-12-28T22:36:00.003+08:00

Realising the fact that BSM party was yesterday, my ERA (chehhh) had also became history. Being blessed with the opportunity to get together with the Form 5s (batch 08/09) was a rare thing and yesterday was one of the odd days we could spend our time together. I am so gonna miss BSMM SL(Y) 119. My baby. I am really (X10) missing those days where RCMs, camp, marching training etc were held. Sounding at the juniors was in fact an awkward deed for me. I had no experience in that though juniors freaked out when I roared, LOL. Now that I am taking a stroll down the memory lane, what a beautiful sight of year 08/09! Saying goodbye to BSM was never in my agenda as I'll be BACK (VAD hopefully). My besties throughout the whole journey of 08/09, Elaine, JY, Deeny, Sughan, Trishen,SH and the rest, you guys did a great job! I am gonna miss so many events in 2010, annual camp, sports day, first RCM...many more! All I could say to my dearie juniors, the current BOD is take care and lead well. Long live, Red Crescent!

PS: Leaving for the USA in 13 more days. Missed the Penang trip due to fever and flu, friends are now enjoying on behalf of me.

Acceptance

2009-12-28T17:32:00.005+08:00

ACCEPTANCE allows you to bring the totality of yourself to life. Saying 'yes' to any situations or challenges in your way would more or less affect your life. Definitely, we have no choice between 'yes' and 'no' because the answer is always 'yes'. Things are hard to avoid no matter how hard we resist. We may opt to say 'no' initially, but sooner or later 'yes' comes in our way. Life wouldn't be life if there aren't any challenges. Most of the time, people struggle to make ends meet and their efforts are to no avail. It's still okay. At least, they once said 'yes' and mustered great courage to make an attempt. Be brave to embark a new life if you failed. The most effective remedy to destroy hatred and ruthlessness is none other than acceptance. Learning to accept would ensure that one attain the calmness in him and things would be seen in a better perspective.

I'm learning to accept more of what I loathe. Still learning and hoping to get the better of me.

Sincerely from,
Jocelyn

Outing

2009-12-24T17:52:00.005+08:00

It was 23th Dec and it was the outing for the 3G-ers, yeah. We decided to meet up at Midvalley and thanks to Lidia, I was the only girl there (she ffk me). So, I met Sam, Suthan and George there at about 12 something. I was late because of you know what, TRAFFIC JAM! Luckily, dad didn't grumble much hehe. We went to have our lunch in Kenny Roger's, ordered the family meal as we wanted to recall back how loving we were to each other during camp last year, LOL. It was fun trying to refresh our memories in the camp. We gobbled our food, definitely. The guys were kinda aggressive as they kept on refilling their drinks. Later on, it was time for a movie, and Sam lost his ticket, GREAT. But we talked to the ticket people and they willingly helped us, or else 22 bucks gone for Sam! Yeah, we watched 3G Avatar. I felt that there wasn't much difference between the normal one and the 3G. Anyway, the movie was great, James Cameron rocks! I like Sam Worthington, he's HOT.

I know, I know, we were trying to act cool, but weren't we cool???

Bidding Goodbye

2009-12-22T20:32:00.002+08:00

Finally after 5 days of dance practice, we had to bid goodbye to each other before we could meet again in January for our pre-departure orientation. It was really fun having the chance to spend most of our time with all 46 YES-ers. Will miss Yan Rou's cool attitude, Navee's never-ending sarcasm, Kee Boon's fancies towards shopping (still remember her ambition was to create her own engine), and definitely Merryn's funny expressions that always make me laugh like a crazy girl. Of course, it was just a temporary farewell. No words can describe how thankful I am to be able to experience these moments with everyone including Abg Wan, and the rest of the YES Alumni.

PS: Penang trip and BSM partay cmin up. Busy busy busy...

WEE!

2009-12-21T21:58:00.003+08:00

Facts that I found out from Mr Faisal (Yes Alumni):
-transits in Dubai and Heathrow (London)
-luggage weight of max 20 kg
-strictly NO LAPTOPS
-pre-departure camp on 11th January 2010

Yeah, that's about it, had been busy these days with cultural dance. It has been a great experience and yes, I'm part of the Sarawak dance, being always the slowest to pick up, I still enjoyed the bamboo dance especially, I had tried that dance before but never in the right way, thanks to Abang Wan's patience, I finally got it. *yawn*
I seriously need some rest after these few days with the train rides and all. However, that was pretty a good way to train myself. Jocelyn, being always dependant on her parents for transport, finally is able to stand on her on feet to get back to her house from KL. WEE!

Uhh...

2009-12-18T19:55:00.002+08:00

I swear I'm so not a dancing material, picking up a cultursl dance was in fact a hard thing to do...hopefully tomorrow would be a better day, as in my performance. HEE.

The Glitters (SJ Prom)

2009-12-16T01:18:00.009+08:00

A night which all have been waiting for so long (not me though)...yesterday was the prom nite of SMK Subang Jaya for the year 2009! The boys had their tuxedos or coats on to show off their masculine side while the girls let their hair down or maybe set up their hair like princesses and dressed up marvellously to portray their feminine side, in other words their voluptous bodies. An event attended by around 100 over (I assumed)students and non-students of SJ, it was certainly a glittering night for all of them. But one thing which I felt was lame was the theme, "Angels and Demons". Haha.That night was not only meant for glamour, but it was also about having fun with friends! Here are some pictures of the night,

The Gang

PS: For the first time, I danced with my heels on, and that hurts, in addition to the aches I've got from badminton.

Fantastic

2009-12-15T14:35:00.004+08:00

Pentax Optio S10

Got a new digital camera which my uncle bought it for me at staff price...if not, it will cost me an arm and a leg. It's light, handy and easy to use. Definitely an ideal one for me.

PS: I'm rather apprenhensive about my placement in my host family.

Darling Zoey

2009-12-12T02:08:00.004+08:00

*i am awake now, wee!don't i look cool in my new costume*

this lil cutie looked so adorable when she was asleep

Rate Me!

2009-12-11T17:59:00.004+08:00

So, new spectacles, new image? How do I look?
Describe me in an adjective that you think is most appropriate:
-adorable
-sexy
-gorgeous
-ugly
-smart
-still the same

You rate!

Hell-o Again

2009-12-10T19:14:00.002+08:00

This is crazy..I am blogging twice a day..it's not like I am not busy, but I begin to love blogging. As you can see, random blogging is so not my type but I'm now doing it. A trivia about me: I get too excited easily..so I guess blogging can overcome this problem of mine. I am curious to know my host family and the place I would be heading to! I think god thinks that it wouldn't do me any good if I were to find out the details of my host family earlier because of my so annoying syok sendiri-ness, so it's best I get to know later which means it could be as late as a day bëfore I leave. Yea well, i guess patience help! Signing off..

Eagerly waiting...

2009-12-10T16:59:00.002+08:00

Found out that I will be hosting Merryn from Perak...looking forward to meet her!
May everything goes fine throughout that period.

Nostalgia

2009-12-09T18:44:00.018+08:00

I was cleaning my room and found these...lol just ignore the flash, i was in a dark room and wanted to make those pics clear. Aww...how I missed those moments!

PS: Finally done with my books!

Hooray!

2009-12-09T13:01:00.009+08:00

OMG! I can't believe it's over! SPM is finally OVER! Wait, here's another thing to fret about... preparation to the USA! It will be a massive jam for me for the whole month of December, but it's gonna be fun and challenging. The first thing that students ought to do right after their last paper is to go home and have a good sleep to rejuvenate and that's what I thought I would be doing. But hell no, I went home yesterday for a shower and headed straight to Subang Parade to purchase my new handphone. I wasn't desperate or whatsoever, but it was the fact that I needed a new one, even the salesgirl was laughing at my SO CALLED STONE AGE phone. I've got a NOKIA 5730 Xpress Music for myself. No wait, my mum bought it for me. I had lunch/ dinner at TGIF and the portion was really big that we had to take away some of those we've ordered, probably we were too greedy at the moment we looked at the menu. Although exams are over, I would still love to make a hypothesis for myself. The lesser the number of exams held, the more energised I am. I yawn as I open my books to study, but I become 100% awake after exams. Ironic huh? Interesting? Or weird? Or does the same thing apply to everyone? Adrenaline rush works on me. Why do I say so? Because I currently starring at the computer, typing out crappy stuffs in my blog, when I'M SUPPOSE TO BE CLEANING MY ROOM! DON'T BLAME ME. It's the consequences for not hooking onto the computer for...maybe 2months? 4 weeks of "LOCK MYSELF IN THE ROOM" = 1 long crappy, ridiculous post, reasonable huh? Here's another thing, say bye-bye to HIGH SCHOOL and my blue-white uniform! Oh yes, say bye-bye to Malaysian high school but say hello to American high school! But no more uniform...sobz?

OH MAN! My books for the past 2 years...

BYEBYE my dearest uniform...

Down-to-earth my dear!

2009-12-04T12:16:00.003+08:00

My dear Jocelyn,
Please come back to reality for SPM is not over yet...you still have one more to go and WAKE UP man! Opps...

Miracles Do Happen

2009-11-22T16:34:00.002+08:00

A's wife almost succumbed to cancer a month ago, but it was not until A found hope in her. A's children are still at a very tender age. Fortunately, A is an established accountant who earns well to fend for his family. A stayed strong despite encountering with such problem. He was then introduced to a taoist temple in China. He decided to go on a group trip to China and took his wife along with hopes that she may cure after visiting the monks there. A week after A's trip to China, his wife went terribly ill and was admitted to hospital. It was maybe because of the detoxification process that she had undergone in China. A did not give up on his wife and for the sake of his children, he remained calm. A started praying to God (Buddha) everyday without fail. He prayed hard so that his wife was able to survive through cancer. Three weeks later, it was a quirk of fate when his wife miraculously cured from cancer. Imagine, A's wife was only 25 kg back then, but now, she could drive and move around with any assistance. A now believes in miracles. He believes that God is always there to help him and thanks to his determination, he now leads a happy life with his family. So, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND GOD.

Terrifying December

2009-11-11T15:14:00.002+08:00

I am posting this up even when SPM is just 7 days from now. For the sake of reducing stress, I have decided that this is the best way to release what I described as the LOAD in me. Just when SPM is just nearby and stress is accumulating in every F5 student, I could foresee how busy I would be in December! My to-do-list after SPM would be the worst list of obligations to fulfil in my entire life, I mean, not the WORST. It may not be the worst for some of you but for me, it's intimidating for now. It's so packed that I might not even have precious time to spend with my family and friends. After SPM: visa interview with US Embassy, dance practice at Taman Budaya, YES friend coming over, prom (it's up to me to decide, but since my friends are going, why not go and rock the night!), holiday plan with friends (it's a MUST) and family gathering, farewell party, damn!Terrible...

Malaysians' Joy

2009-11-02T00:08:00.003+08:00

Oh, what a joyous day it was in Sultan Abdul Hamid Stadium, Kedah, yesterday. Yesterday was the final day of the World Junior Badminton Championship 2009 which saw the Malaysian boys' doubles pair and boys' singles player storming into the finals and of course, making the home country proud. With powerhouse like China and Indonesia around, Malaysia still proved its worth when the boys' doubles pair consisting of Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han ousted the top seed from Indonesia (Angga Pratama-Rendy Sugiarto) in the semi-final. Meanwhile, Iskandar Zulkarnain, playing in the boys' singles event, managed to avenge his defeat to Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan previously. Saturday was considered the pre-historic day for Iskandar as he was one step closer to capture the boys' singles title when he made it for the final round. But that was not until Tian Hou Wei of China was on Iskandar's way to prevent him from becoming the first Malaysian boys' singles champion. In fact, he was defeated quite easily by Hou Wei without needing to force a rubber game. However, Malaysia's hope of winning at least a gold was kept alive by Kah Ming-Yao Han, who were the second seed in their event. Fortunately, the Malaysians outplayed the Indonesian pair of Berry Angriawan-Muhammad Ulinuha in a dashing match. The first game was taken by the Indonesians, whilst the Malaysians fired up to dominate the second game. Malaysian and Indonesian fans who gathered at the stadium, were totally zealous about the third game, so was I. Malaysia was leading in the first portion of the game but ended up trailing the Indonesians to a 16-20 lead. It turned out to be no disappointment as the Malaysians battled point for point to level the points at 20-20. *sigh of relief* Then again, it was a crucial moment for the Malaysian pair and also the home supporters! But, the Malaysians went on to seal the third game after an unforced error was made by their opponent, and that earned them the world junior champion title! The Malaysians won 19-21,21-12,23-21. Kah Ming-Yao Han is the 5th boys' doubles pair to have won a gold for Malaysia in this event. There was a double joy for China with Tian Hou Wei and Tang Jin Hua-Xia Huan clinching the boys' singles and girls' doubles titles respectively. Same goes to Thailand, who not only had a mixed doubles and a girls' singles champion, but also had their players' name on the history book. Thailand had not won any titles in the junior championships for over a decade. It was yesterday that Jongjit Maneepong-Rodjana and Ratchanok Intanon made history for Thailand!(Note: Ratchanok is only 14 years old and she defeated her older compatriot with style)

Pre-SPM

2009-10-29T18:57:00.005+08:00

SPM is just around the corner, to be precise it is just 19 days away from today. So, I wish all my fellow friends and peers good luck and all the best (indirectly wishing myself as well). May we pass with flying colours and once again, gambate!!

PS: My trip to the US is sponsored by AYA (Academic Year in America). I am now a AYA student! In any case that you're interested to know what's AYA all about, do visit www.academicyear.org

US awaiting...

2009-10-24T11:40:00.003+08:00

Letters in, I am tentatively leaving for the United States on 13 th January 2010.

PS : 2nd dose of Hepatitis A & B jab taken...

YUMMYLICIOUS...

2009-10-23T21:19:00.004+08:00

Here are the scrumptious, tantalizing, mouth watering muffins that will SURELY tempt you...

A sneak peek...

Halloween promotion at Dessert's Bar

TADAAAA!!!

Cobweb muffins signifying Halloween

Couldn't post up the zombie cookies from DB...cz they are now in my stomach...*evil grin*

A Token of Appreciation

2009-10-22T21:04:00.004+08:00

A picture is worth a thousand words...

A great MESSAGE by a great TEACHER...

Greetings...

2009-10-17T00:24:00.003+08:00

HAPPY DEEPAVALI to all Indians!!! Spread the festive spirit to all Malaysians regardless races and skin colours, and it's time for us to live up to the "1 Malaysia" concept. We shall all congregrate and celebrate this joyous occasion together. Don't forget to eat as much as you can, enjoy the most out of this occasion!

Oh yea, Miss Astro grand final is scheduled today!

All the best to my favourite contestant 10 Belle!

Her picture may not do much justice, but she's smart, confident and looks simply stunning on screen.

(I like her hair too)

That's all for now. HAPPY DEEPAVALI to the Indians and HAPPY HOLS to the non-Indians!!!

PS : Fireworks at midnight!

Showers of Joy

2009-10-14T16:32:00.003+08:00

What a great day after a tiring long day in school. Moral and Sejarah were disastrous as my hands are now in agony after writing so much for both papers. I battled my ass off to write as fast as I could but I think I didn't do well. Anyways, that's not the main point of today's post. I am here today to express my gratitude to God and all the people that have lended me their support all this while. For it may be a little awkward to say it out here, but I have to say that I am truly truly grateful to have these people around me. With that, I would like to declare myself as the YES Scholar for the batch 2010!!!!!!!!! I am officially a YES Scholar!!! Well, not exactly official yet, but Miss Siti called and informed me that I am guaranteed a place to the United States. Guarantee letters would be sent to all 40 candidates ASAP. Fiuuuu, need to continue taking my immunization jabs and make my passport soon! Once again, thank you God for all your blessings. Thank you for all your support, dad,mum,por por,kor kor, and friends (you know who you are) last but not least AFS Malaysia and AFS USA.

Cheers! Have a nice day peeps!

Starting off as just friends...

2009-10-09T13:33:00.002+08:00

A glance around a crowded restaurant confirmed that in our trendy modern world, it is not out of the ordinary for a woman to enjoy the company of a man whom she isn't in a relationship with.
If you dare tell a 21st century woman that she cannot catch up with her male friends, she'll most likely laugh and do it anyway, just to prove to you that she can. There is also the never ending debate of whether a man and woman can truly be "JUST FRIENDS" and there are usually an equal amount of people who say yes and no. Perhaps it is in all of us, that little twinge of discomfort that we often brush away when we are sharing a happy moment with someone other than our partner. Enjoying the company of a member of the opposite sex is far from constituting infidelity, so why should we feel bad? The evolution of the interaction between men and women has certainly made it easier for us to be in a platonic relationship. Spending time alone repeatedly with a member of the opposite sex is not a crime, but it is also putting ourselves in a position where we are able to understand them better, to laugh at their jokes, to see their kind nature and keen intelligence and to fall in love, if not, lust. Most of the time, things happen naturally. That is why we would just need to go with the flow. If you're just seeking for a great friendship, then be moderate in your interaction with the opposite sex, but yet don't feel too awkward or seem too stern in keeping a distance away from the opposite sex. It is good to have friends from the opposite sex because then, you would have a variety of friends in your social circle.You would never know what is ahead of your journey with the opposite sex. So the BEST answer is to stay put to the saying that goes "just go with the flow".

Just a little of my opinion on relationships after reading Xandria Ooi's article...

Cheers!

Mooncake Festival

2009-10-05T16:15:00.003+08:00

I had a chance to go for a dine out with my uncle and cousin during the mooncake festival on Saturday...it was a great dinner as I had the chance to taste white and red wine! Initially, I didn't want to drink, bt since a glass was already placed right in front of me, how could I resist it! I was only offered a little, as I could see that mum was going to stop me from drinking anytime if I insist for more. I preferred red wine...it tasted not too bad, with the sweetness and a little bitterness.

That's all for now...exams tomorrow! *shivers*

Discontented!

2009-10-02T16:31:00.003+08:00

I am unhappy with the fact that we have another exam coming next week!Hello???We just finished our trial! Is the school aware that SPM students are not supposed to be put under immense pressure at this moment?I mean...having exams sound good as a form of training but it's too tiring...by the time SPM is here, we would just be mentally exhausted. Oh man...I would rather they have exams in July then followed by trial in August! I can only accept the fact that exam is next week and I have to practically browse through my mountaining books and papers again. At least we deserve another week of rest...but now it's time for another marathon, an even more nerve wracking one!

Feeling ridiculous...

Flashback...

2009-10-01T18:39:00.004+08:00

Hey peeps!Check this out...

The girls' marching team celebrating after

competition...That was when I got the best platoon leader!By the way, we were trying to

strike a pose of what we did in our formation.

Our motto: KEMANUSIAAN TERAS PERPADUAN!(if I was not wrong)

The THREESOME.

Jia Ying, Jocelyn and Dinesh...

We managed to take a picture during RCM while watching the members.

Credits to Vincent (the cameraman)

So, those were the days. These are just 1/10 of the pictures in my collection. (I only took the ones that I felt were presentable) I am kind of missing those moments so imagine after leaving school, I would be dying to be part of these activities. Even more, I can't be here with the juniors especially for their CAMP! Anyways, it was really a great journey with the F5s BOD and the juniors throughout 2009. I would treasure these memories forever, at least till I am 50 years old. LOL.

That's about it for now. Just wanted to drop by to post something that has significance to me.

Chows!

PS : I got 8A 2 B (damn EST!) Vee Li would be elated with my results...because he has beaten me in the trial.

A short post had made my day!

2009-10-01T00:24:00.004+08:00

Okay...so here I am again. Got back my results today and it was surprisingly beyond my expectations...anyway, I am happy that I have improved. But to think of it, I now don't need my trial results to apply for college. I have to use my SPM results after coming back from the US. I had this thought of being oblivious about my performance in trial but then again, I felt that doing well in trial would actually encourage us to do well in SPM...and it's also a form of training!I thank god for the good results! And, today, my english teacher mentioned something about children being self centred. I totally agree with her. Who wouldn't agree with this? We, as children are being so selfish to our parents. When we need their help eg. "Mum, drive me to my friend's", "Kor, help me with those endless projects" and etc. how often they decline us? SELDOM. But when we are asked to run an errand for our parents, here comes our selfish side, eg,"Ayo,tired lar,ma" so and so. I am sharing this with everyone to remind myself not to be stingy, thoughtless and inconsiderate to our loved ones. Of course, take this as a reminder for yourself (whoever that read this post). Be grateful and always lend a helping hand to our family members regardless the reward that we crave for.

Signing off...

Procrastination

2009-09-25T02:10:00.000+08:00

What a waste of time for me today! I didn't do much...I feel futile. I could hardly remember how much time I spent studying...but I could easily remember how much I slept for the past few days. It is me or time just passes by so fast?? I am a procrastinator...obviously! But anyway, I feel great after interacting with friends in facebook especially those from AFS. In a few months, our lives are going to change forever!May every moment we spent in the selection camp is cherished in us.

Alright, off to BED!

PS: Taylor's scholarship interview awaiting...

Cakes

2009-09-23T14:04:00.000+08:00

Cakes! I love cakes...who wouldn't right? Many people enjoy eating cakes but they don't know which and what are the best quality cakes. So, here let the EXPERT tell you something about cakes...hehe...

A good quality cake must have the following criterias:

-It must give one a lasting impression at first glance

-It must have the finest texture

-It has to add a wonderful taste sensation to one who eats it

Last but not least,

IT HAS TO HAVE MINIMUM FAT! (for girls who are so concerned about their weight)

Trans-fat-free peach cream

-The first time I tasted it was at my mum's friend's birthday party. It is marvellous!

Walnut brownies

-Any chocolate lover here??This is the best choice of brownie you should try out...

These are actually from secret recipe...and don't get me wrong! I am not promoting for them. It's just that I love their cakes very much!

I have those at home now and at any time I am going to enjoy every single bite of these cakes!

To all cake lovers who are afraid of being overweight here's an advice for you,

vivez la vie pleinement, nous ne vivons qu'une fois!

Signing off...

Phew!

2009-09-21T11:05:00.000+08:00

Phew! Finally a blog for me! Pretty glad that I have one now but it is to be updated more frequent in the future because there is a majorrrrrrrr exam ahead of me. And that is the disaster of all, SPM. I wanted to create a blog after SPM but looking at the rate that I am going now...I am so behind my friends so I decided to just create one now and finish it off. I supposed to be studying now, I shouldn't be BLOGGING *shakes head*...ah nevermind in just a few minutes I would have the urge to study, I hope! Okay, people so as I said, I am new in this blog thingy, so please be generous enough to offer me some criticism or I shall say advice or whatever it is. But don't be sarcastic though. Alright, it's about time. I am taking more time than I should be in this. *angel in me is telling me to stop blogging and start studying* oh no! *devil in me is calling me* oh noooooooo! I am drowned between the angel and devil in ME!!!! Okay fine...that's it for now. People, I would say goodbye for now until SPM is over. In any case, I may update my blog surely if there's any temptations to blog. There would be, definitely. But whatever it is, good luck to friends who are taking exam soon!

Cheers!

PS : I just took my Hepatitis A and B jab, which means...I am free from those diseases!