Dear jumjum...
I feel like the one thing I thought I was good at was just proven to be something I suck at. Feel so embarrassed and small and talent-less. Also, I've always known that I'm such an airhead compared to my siblings. And because of that I've been trying to follow the news daily but I guess after years of neglect, I need to work harder and seriously start reading more serious stuff.
Being here makes me feel like such an idiot and that my skills here are so insignificant. But I came here to be challenged. Therefore I'm gonna start seriously challenging myself to be someone I myself can be proud of.
*atm*
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
I Cut my Bangs
Dear jumjum....
I don't really remember the last time I cut my hair...and my bangs have been very annoying lately. After a long time considering cutting my own bangs, seeing this picture on FB last night was what did it. Heh. Wild woman of Borneo.
Among my friends I only know two who did this before, and I've always wanted to try. Considering the extra settling-in expenses this month, I decided to save the $ and Do It Myself. Didn't have the guts to cut the whole head though...
I'm not gonna lie- the initial snip was horrifying! The sound!!! Ugh. But I'm pretty satisfied =D Hope to goodness that I don't get too confident and give myself a bob one day.
*atm*
I don't really remember the last time I cut my hair...and my bangs have been very annoying lately. After a long time considering cutting my own bangs, seeing this picture on FB last night was what did it. Heh. Wild woman of Borneo.
Among my friends I only know two who did this before, and I've always wanted to try. Considering the extra settling-in expenses this month, I decided to save the $ and Do It Myself. Didn't have the guts to cut the whole head though...
My guide:
It looks okay...right????
*atm*
Monday, September 23, 2013
Usagi Letdown
Dear jumjum...
Was bracing myself for my very first typhoon, the 'Typhoon of the year' Usagi yesterday and it was totally disappointing! All we experienced was rain and some short bursts of strong wind. Apparently it only 'skirted' HK. All classes resumed after 2pm today =(
I didn't stock up on food at all before the typhoon, and was pretty shocked and scared to see the supermarket shelves all empty and the vending machines out of stock. To put my parents at ease I took pictures of my food stock for them, and as my mum put it, I was pretty much ready to be housebound for a week xD
*atm*
Was bracing myself for my very first typhoon, the 'Typhoon of the year' Usagi yesterday and it was totally disappointing! All we experienced was rain and some short bursts of strong wind. Apparently it only 'skirted' HK. All classes resumed after 2pm today =(
I didn't stock up on food at all before the typhoon, and was pretty shocked and scared to see the supermarket shelves all empty and the vending machines out of stock. To put my parents at ease I took pictures of my food stock for them, and as my mum put it, I was pretty much ready to be housebound for a week xD
Instant noodles, of course...
Ignore my random mooncake in the fridge...
Mini chocolate cake for emergency cravings only! ;-)
The only thing I ran out of is rice, an Asian's best friend!
*atm*
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Mooncake Festival and Sunburnt
Dear jumjum...
Celebrated (gonna be accurate here, even though Mooncake Festival sounds fun-er) Mid Autumn Festival with my aunt & her in laws on Thursday night. The queue at the bus station was crazy! Waited two whole hours for one freaking bus. I wanted to wear a nice dress for a change but then I realised that my last class was Chem lab =( so t-shirt, long jeans and sports shoes it was. Thank goodness my neighbour helped me bring my lab coat and shoes back to the dorm while I rushed to join the bus queue. Had lots of good food, and my cousin's cousins from his dad's side were playing the piano and singing and talking and joking in Cantonese. It was really nice of them to let me join!
Okay I'm not gonna lie. I didn't study AT ALL today. But I have valid reasons! Woke up late today because for some reason I couldn't sleep last night. Okay maybe it was the coffee. Anyway I spent my whole day at the swimming pool today, helping out with the inter-mural swim meet (only because we get 8 hours for it in the compulsory Health 1010 Course, and I haven't exercised at all so my log is basically 0 now and we HAVE to pass this course to graduate).
So I was in the 'Stroke and turn judge' team, which basically meant we were helping the judge to watch the swimmers and disqualify people. The two other girls on the team were mainland Chinese, so I felt like I was in an 8 hour Chinese class all over again! But they said my Chinese is not bad though, among the internationals they knew =D probably because I was being very careful and pronouncing every word slowly and carefully... The local guy on the team offered to help with my Cantonese and asked me to practice speaking to him but I was so shy!
I was assigned to hold the programme book and let the judge know what was up next, and follow him along the pool holding the 'disqualify forms' and helping him fill it in when he tells me to. And I was in the sun all day! I borrowed my roommate's cap and carried a bottle of sunblock with me, applying it between rounds, but still I look like a tomato now!
Being on duty for a sports meet brings back memories! Of St John Ambulance duties and getting sunburnt afterward. It also reminded me of our Form 5 craziness plan, where a bunch of us joined the inter-school swim meet, against the pros, even though I had never taken a swimming lesson in my life. It was so hilarious and definitely worth the embarrassment (came in last for every individual match I joined, but third in the 100m relay with Freda,Cam and Joyce =D)
Anyway I was planning to go to church this evening because of Typhoon Usagi tomorrow, but I couldn't make it. But based on the predictions, I can probably make it tomorrow morning. I came back to my dorm, showered and passed out on the bed for half an hour. And then Patricia (I can use your name now, right? Since you already know xD) the European and I went for our first dance workshop!! YAY! After 9 years in limbo I finally joined a dance society! So happy!! And grateful that Patricia was there to laugh at ourselves with me. I looked like I was embarrassed throughout the session though, thanks to my sunburn!
*atm*
Celebrated (gonna be accurate here, even though Mooncake Festival sounds fun-er) Mid Autumn Festival with my aunt & her in laws on Thursday night. The queue at the bus station was crazy! Waited two whole hours for one freaking bus. I wanted to wear a nice dress for a change but then I realised that my last class was Chem lab =( so t-shirt, long jeans and sports shoes it was. Thank goodness my neighbour helped me bring my lab coat and shoes back to the dorm while I rushed to join the bus queue. Had lots of good food, and my cousin's cousins from his dad's side were playing the piano and singing and talking and joking in Cantonese. It was really nice of them to let me join!
Okay I'm not gonna lie. I didn't study AT ALL today. But I have valid reasons! Woke up late today because for some reason I couldn't sleep last night. Okay maybe it was the coffee. Anyway I spent my whole day at the swimming pool today, helping out with the inter-mural swim meet (only because we get 8 hours for it in the compulsory Health 1010 Course, and I haven't exercised at all so my log is basically 0 now and we HAVE to pass this course to graduate).
So I was in the 'Stroke and turn judge' team, which basically meant we were helping the judge to watch the swimmers and disqualify people. The two other girls on the team were mainland Chinese, so I felt like I was in an 8 hour Chinese class all over again! But they said my Chinese is not bad though, among the internationals they knew =D probably because I was being very careful and pronouncing every word slowly and carefully... The local guy on the team offered to help with my Cantonese and asked me to practice speaking to him but I was so shy!
I was assigned to hold the programme book and let the judge know what was up next, and follow him along the pool holding the 'disqualify forms' and helping him fill it in when he tells me to. And I was in the sun all day! I borrowed my roommate's cap and carried a bottle of sunblock with me, applying it between rounds, but still I look like a tomato now!
Being on duty for a sports meet brings back memories! Of St John Ambulance duties and getting sunburnt afterward. It also reminded me of our Form 5 craziness plan, where a bunch of us joined the inter-school swim meet, against the pros, even though I had never taken a swimming lesson in my life. It was so hilarious and definitely worth the embarrassment (came in last for every individual match I joined, but third in the 100m relay with Freda,Cam and Joyce =D)
Anyway I was planning to go to church this evening because of Typhoon Usagi tomorrow, but I couldn't make it. But based on the predictions, I can probably make it tomorrow morning. I came back to my dorm, showered and passed out on the bed for half an hour. And then Patricia (I can use your name now, right? Since you already know xD) the European and I went for our first dance workshop!! YAY! After 9 years in limbo I finally joined a dance society! So happy!! And grateful that Patricia was there to laugh at ourselves with me. I looked like I was embarrassed throughout the session though, thanks to my sunburn!
*atm*
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
It's Officially Been A Month!
Dear jumjum...
It's officially been a month since I left Kuching woooooo! It doesn't feel like it's been that long though. I feel like I've exceeded the personal expectation of my adaptation ability. And honestly, other than that time we had the dealing-with-homesickness talk, I haven't really felt homesick at all =D But I know that I have it much easier than most people- thank God I have my aunt, uncle and cousin here, so whenever I want to escape the campus life and indulge in some home cooked food, I just hop on a bus and go. Also, as I have been saying before I left, in this day and age we don't really have much to complain about in terms of distance from our loved ones anymore. Mummy spams my Whatsapp with daily updates! =)
All that aside, here are 5 things I do miss about Kuching:
5. Doing Pilates on my bedroom floor. I hate exercising in front of other people! And I don't have that privacy here. It's not so much the exercise that I miss, but the chance to exercise (because indeed, I have put on weight and would love to have the chance to gam fei right now) But that won't be a problem soon- starting next week we have our compulsory weekly fitness class and I got enrolled into Pilates 101. I just hope it's in a close room and a females-only class!!!
4. Cheap food. I hate to admit this, but even until now before paying for each meal I convert the price to MYR down to the last cent. I don't really miss Laksa, Kueh Chap or Kolomee, although I was craving for Bak Kut Teh that night, which is weird because we don't even get nice ones in Kuching.
3. Mummy's cooking. I can't stand eating out all the time so I have a mini electric cooker here, but no way I can whip up fancy dishes on that tiny thing! I've started memorizing and comparing grocery prices between supermarkets, convenience stores and wet markets, just like my mummy!
2. My baby brother. He's a moody young lad now in his teens who doesn't like to chat with his sister so I don't get any real updates from him, unlike my other family members...
1. DRIVING MY BABY HYUNDAI WJW!!!!! The public transport here is great and all but I love having my wheels!!! I even had a full dream all about driving the other night.You know, most times I purposely sit in the front part of the bus just because it's the closet I can get to driving here ='( The first thing I want to do when I go back is to bring my baby out for a spin, cutting in front of cars, honking the slow pokes, challenging my reverse and side parking skills......
Oh yes, on a side note- Kuching is a small place with small malls and limited shopping options. So whenever I go on holiday to any other big city, I go a bit crazy and I have this...feeling of urgency in my shopping. (oh-no-we're-leaving-in-two-days-I-need-to-buy-this-while-I've-still-got-the-chance!) And I think after a month here, where shopping is regarded as everyone's hobby, I can safely say that I am cured. When I get the urgent need to purchase, I'm like, 'Jacq chill. You're staying here for the next four years!'
*atm*
It's officially been a month since I left Kuching woooooo! It doesn't feel like it's been that long though. I feel like I've exceeded the personal expectation of my adaptation ability. And honestly, other than that time we had the dealing-with-homesickness talk, I haven't really felt homesick at all =D But I know that I have it much easier than most people- thank God I have my aunt, uncle and cousin here, so whenever I want to escape the campus life and indulge in some home cooked food, I just hop on a bus and go. Also, as I have been saying before I left, in this day and age we don't really have much to complain about in terms of distance from our loved ones anymore. Mummy spams my Whatsapp with daily updates! =)
All that aside, here are 5 things I do miss about Kuching:
5. Doing Pilates on my bedroom floor. I hate exercising in front of other people! And I don't have that privacy here. It's not so much the exercise that I miss, but the chance to exercise (because indeed, I have put on weight and would love to have the chance to gam fei right now) But that won't be a problem soon- starting next week we have our compulsory weekly fitness class and I got enrolled into Pilates 101. I just hope it's in a close room and a females-only class!!!
4. Cheap food. I hate to admit this, but even until now before paying for each meal I convert the price to MYR down to the last cent. I don't really miss Laksa, Kueh Chap or Kolomee, although I was craving for Bak Kut Teh that night, which is weird because we don't even get nice ones in Kuching.
3. Mummy's cooking. I can't stand eating out all the time so I have a mini electric cooker here, but no way I can whip up fancy dishes on that tiny thing! I've started memorizing and comparing grocery prices between supermarkets, convenience stores and wet markets, just like my mummy!
2. My baby brother. He's a moody young lad now in his teens who doesn't like to chat with his sister so I don't get any real updates from him, unlike my other family members...
1. DRIVING MY BABY HYUNDAI WJW!!!!! The public transport here is great and all but I love having my wheels!!! I even had a full dream all about driving the other night.You know, most times I purposely sit in the front part of the bus just because it's the closet I can get to driving here ='( The first thing I want to do when I go back is to bring my baby out for a spin, cutting in front of cars, honking the slow pokes, challenging my reverse and side parking skills......
Oh yes, on a side note- Kuching is a small place with small malls and limited shopping options. So whenever I go on holiday to any other big city, I go a bit crazy and I have this...feeling of urgency in my shopping. (oh-no-we're-leaving-in-two-days-I-need-to-buy-this-while-I've-still-got-the-chance!) And I think after a month here, where shopping is regarded as everyone's hobby, I can safely say that I am cured. When I get the urgent need to purchase, I'm like, 'Jacq chill. You're staying here for the next four years!'
*atm*
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Or Is It Just Me?
Dear jumjum...
I'm a big dreamer, and I always was. Do you know how sometimes when you see something or someone that you don't really know about (or don't really know anymore), you tend to build up this fantastically realistic image of them in a manner that is most interesting to you? And then you revise it and build on it until it becomes so familiar and close to you...and then reality strikes, you really get to know someone or something, and your carefully, thoughtfully constructed image is absolutely shattered. The imaginary image is not perfect or beautiful, it has imperfections that you can accept and accommodate- and that's what makes it so heart breaking.
Until something else catches your attention and you start constructing.......
Or is it just me? xD
*atm*
I'm a big dreamer, and I always was. Do you know how sometimes when you see something or someone that you don't really know about (or don't really know anymore), you tend to build up this fantastically realistic image of them in a manner that is most interesting to you? And then you revise it and build on it until it becomes so familiar and close to you...and then reality strikes, you really get to know someone or something, and your carefully, thoughtfully constructed image is absolutely shattered. The imaginary image is not perfect or beautiful, it has imperfections that you can accept and accommodate- and that's what makes it so heart breaking.
Until something else catches your attention and you start constructing.......
Or is it just me? xD
*atm*
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Letter To The Future You
Dear jumjum...
Today my friend and I picked up our society note pads, and we had some time before our next class. So I got her and another friend to write letters to our future selves- to the us four years later, upon graduation. Certainly not my own idea, must have read it from somewhere and I'm sure many people have done it before. We dismissed the idea of putting it in a bottle and burying it though- we'd probably forget where it was or someone might discover it and read them *gasp!*
The European girl focused on the stuff now, that she wants herself to remember. The Korean wrote about the goals she set for herself in these four years. Mine was basically about everything I imagine the 23-year-old me would be and my expectations. We said we should exchange and keep the letters for each other so we won't be tempted to read it before graduation- but I'm at a disadvantage here. The European wrote her letter in Dutch, and the Korean in Korean...and mine was in English! Hahaha. Although I doubt they will be as evil as to open it up and read it...
I think it's a fun thing to do. You get to see how your priorities and perspectives have changed, and how far the reality differed from your expectations =) Who knows? Four years later I just might blog about it!
*atm*
Today my friend and I picked up our society note pads, and we had some time before our next class. So I got her and another friend to write letters to our future selves- to the us four years later, upon graduation. Certainly not my own idea, must have read it from somewhere and I'm sure many people have done it before. We dismissed the idea of putting it in a bottle and burying it though- we'd probably forget where it was or someone might discover it and read them *gasp!*
The European girl focused on the stuff now, that she wants herself to remember. The Korean wrote about the goals she set for herself in these four years. Mine was basically about everything I imagine the 23-year-old me would be and my expectations. We said we should exchange and keep the letters for each other so we won't be tempted to read it before graduation- but I'm at a disadvantage here. The European wrote her letter in Dutch, and the Korean in Korean...and mine was in English! Hahaha. Although I doubt they will be as evil as to open it up and read it...
I think it's a fun thing to do. You get to see how your priorities and perspectives have changed, and how far the reality differed from your expectations =) Who knows? Four years later I just might blog about it!
*atm*
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Identity Crisis!
Dear jumjum...
When people here ask me where I'm from I usually reply that I'm Malaysian- but then they assume I'm Malay and that I don't speak Chinese. So then I started telling people that I'm Malaysian Chinese- and some people will go, "huh? How can you be both?" Grrrrrr. I begin by saying ''Three or four generations ago, my ancestors...'' Oh yes. I should also mention that even the Malaysians here tell me I don't look Malaysian! =(
Some of them who might know some Malaysians would automatically assume that I speak Cantonese =( Then I have to explain that where I grew up, we speak Hokkien...and shamefully admit that I never watch TVB dramas.
Also, I hear the Chinese nationals speak Chinese all the time, and I am constantly reminded of how my own Chinese is so...err...inaccurate. My Chinese is already considered inaccurate in my hometown, what more to say compared to the Mainlanders- which brings me to my next point- I have no native language!!! =O Seriously. The Hongkees are native Canto speakers, the Koreans are native Korean speakers, the angmos are native English speakers (or any other European language), the Indonesians speak Indon, and I'm one Malaysian who definitely does no speak Malay as well as the Malays do.
I grew up speaking English, but it doesn't make a native speaker...I try to speak proper English with the people I meet here but once I meet a fellow Malaysian, *snap!* Malaysian English it is! But the main point is I don't speak with a proper English accent =( or proper Chinese or Malay accent. Which makes me very sad =(
*atm*
When people here ask me where I'm from I usually reply that I'm Malaysian- but then they assume I'm Malay and that I don't speak Chinese. So then I started telling people that I'm Malaysian Chinese- and some people will go, "huh? How can you be both?" Grrrrrr. I begin by saying ''Three or four generations ago, my ancestors...'' Oh yes. I should also mention that even the Malaysians here tell me I don't look Malaysian! =(
Some of them who might know some Malaysians would automatically assume that I speak Cantonese =( Then I have to explain that where I grew up, we speak Hokkien...and shamefully admit that I never watch TVB dramas.
Also, I hear the Chinese nationals speak Chinese all the time, and I am constantly reminded of how my own Chinese is so...err...inaccurate. My Chinese is already considered inaccurate in my hometown, what more to say compared to the Mainlanders- which brings me to my next point- I have no native language!!! =O Seriously. The Hongkees are native Canto speakers, the Koreans are native Korean speakers, the angmos are native English speakers (or any other European language), the Indonesians speak Indon, and I'm one Malaysian who definitely does no speak Malay as well as the Malays do.
I grew up speaking English, but it doesn't make a native speaker...I try to speak proper English with the people I meet here but once I meet a fellow Malaysian, *snap!* Malaysian English it is! But the main point is I don't speak with a proper English accent =( or proper Chinese or Malay accent. Which makes me very sad =(
*atm*
Saturday, September 7, 2013
First Week of Classes
Dear jumjum...
So we had the first week of classes. And honestly I think I need to pick up some paying-attention-in-class skills cause I seem to have lost them. I seem to be yawning through my classes =S Had a three-hour LANG written test this morning, and I realised I was zoning out (late night last night) during the listening part and I MIGHT have missed out on some questions...
Am very grateful that my timetable is organised pretty well, though- leaves me with no classes at all on Tuesdays! Yay! =D I've seen some people's timetables that are absolutely crazy...
The class I enjoyed the most is, surprisingly, NOT Bio. I don't wanna complain too much...but maybe I've been spoilt by excellent Bio teachers in A Levels, and now it's back to almostPapaya!
Anyway I really, really enjoyed my computer 1001 class. I'm a super duper computer noob (Z once swapped the alphabets on the keyboard and I didn't realise at all), so all this computer information is very very exciting for me. Throughout the class I was just thoroughly impressed and surprised. Heh. Hoepfully I can get the hardware part though. The inside of a PC looks alien to me. I am also ashamed to admit that I still do not know how to fully operate Windows 8 on my laptop- even after the countless youtube tutorials I've watched.
Also, I've just found where my webcam application is on my laptop. Selfie timeeeee! xP
*atm*
So we had the first week of classes. And honestly I think I need to pick up some paying-attention-in-class skills cause I seem to have lost them. I seem to be yawning through my classes =S Had a three-hour LANG written test this morning, and I realised I was zoning out (late night last night) during the listening part and I MIGHT have missed out on some questions...
Am very grateful that my timetable is organised pretty well, though- leaves me with no classes at all on Tuesdays! Yay! =D I've seen some people's timetables that are absolutely crazy...
The class I enjoyed the most is, surprisingly, NOT Bio. I don't wanna complain too much...but maybe I've been spoilt by excellent Bio teachers in A Levels, and now it's back to almostPapaya!
Anyway I really, really enjoyed my computer 1001 class. I'm a super duper computer noob (Z once swapped the alphabets on the keyboard and I didn't realise at all), so all this computer information is very very exciting for me. Throughout the class I was just thoroughly impressed and surprised. Heh. Hoepfully I can get the hardware part though. The inside of a PC looks alien to me. I am also ashamed to admit that I still do not know how to fully operate Windows 8 on my laptop- even after the countless youtube tutorials I've watched.
Also, I've just found where my webcam application is on my laptop. Selfie timeeeee! xP
*atm*
Thursday, September 5, 2013
LANG I Hate You
Dear jumjum...
So classes have started...but every course is still mainly on introduction this week. Had an interesting time finding each classroom here! The academic building is one big place that seems to b connected but it's not. If you want to go to a specific room, you need to take a specific lift to get there, and there are 33 lifts in all. Even finding the rooms after taking the right lift is hard! Honestly the numbering system makes no sense, even the professors who have been here since the uni's establishment in '91 say they still get lost sometimes.
Anyway I had to register for LANG 1020 which is English for University Studies I! ARGHHHH hate it hate it!! Wasting my time! After taking this course for Fall term, I have to take LANG 1030 in Spring. WTH! And there's guaranteed homework every week. Kill me now. The worst part is that none of my friends have to take it because they could do credit transfer =((( Should've taken IELTS or something back in Kuching. Arghhhhh!
Gtg, have to do my LANG homework. GAH.
*atm*
So classes have started...but every course is still mainly on introduction this week. Had an interesting time finding each classroom here! The academic building is one big place that seems to b connected but it's not. If you want to go to a specific room, you need to take a specific lift to get there, and there are 33 lifts in all. Even finding the rooms after taking the right lift is hard! Honestly the numbering system makes no sense, even the professors who have been here since the uni's establishment in '91 say they still get lost sometimes.
Anyway I had to register for LANG 1020 which is English for University Studies I! ARGHHHH hate it hate it!! Wasting my time! After taking this course for Fall term, I have to take LANG 1030 in Spring. WTH! And there's guaranteed homework every week. Kill me now. The worst part is that none of my friends have to take it because they could do credit transfer =((( Should've taken IELTS or something back in Kuching. Arghhhhh!
Gtg, have to do my LANG homework. GAH.
*atm*
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