Val's Convocation!

Dear jumjum...

  Last year Val was saying that she doesn't intend to attend her convocation. Dad and mum insisted that they wanted to attend anyway, and obviously mum has to bring Zac along too. The convocation was a week after the midterm break so I didn't think I could go. A few weeks before, Val told us that she was elected valedictorian! I certainly didn't want to miss out on THAT so I immediately checked for promotional airfares and found one on Cathay Pacific. We teased her countless times about being the VALedictorian!

  I was supposed to arrive on Saturday midnight but the flight was delayed and I arrived at 2am. Val and her two friends were waiting at the airport for me. First time in about a decade that I stepped into KLIA. Also, I find a secret pleasure in being the first one to exit the arrivals hall! We slept around 4am and had to drive and pick Mum and Zac from LCCT at 8.30am. It was a wonder Val didn't get lost.

  We all headed down to Kajang to meet our old neighbours for lunch. It was very nice to see my old school 育华 again. Then Dad arrived, and we went to buy shoes for Mum and then headed to church. 

  That night we were helping Val practise her valedictorian speech, and I guess she was really tired cause she erm...sounded very lifeless and unconvincing and I was quite worried. I followed my parents to get some last-minute stuff and we also tapao-ed some mamak food for supper, but Val was asleep by the time we got back. We didn't want to disturb her so we headed to the pool to eat, but it was closed and we ended up eating while standing, in Sheraton's posh lobby! I stuffed myself with enough roti canais to last me for the rest of the year!

  The next day my parents woke up at 5am (?!) to buy more mamak food for breakfast (maggi goreng) and also to drive to Shangri-la to make sure they knew the route and also to check if the road was closed since Obama was visiting KL that day. I was in charge of Val's makeup and my parents were joking that they flew in a make-up artist for her all the way from HK! 

  We all neglected to order a bouquet for Val, so Mum and I bought one outside the hotel, then we found a prettier bunch for sale in the lobby so Val ended up with two xD

  My sister is too selfless and humble a person! (And so I shall start bragging) She didn't even tell us that not only is she valedictorian, she also got the President's award and the Someone-Someone award! And she didn't mention that she would be holding the mace and leading the academics in! Her speech was BEAUTIFUL and so natural. And little Zac who was once so shy and timid shouted "Hear, hear!" in the packed ballroom when Val mentioned her brother in her speech. The SimAws were a bunch of peacocks that day! =D 

With the cousins who joined us for lunch.

First proper family picture in years!

  I had to leave after the ceremony to catch my flight back to HK so that I could make it for my presentation on Monday. So super happy that I made it a point to attend, even though it was such a short and tiring trip! The next day and even two days after the ceremony it was all we could talk about on the family Whatsapp group chat!

*atm*

In view of my previous post...

Know Yourself

Dear jumjum...

  FB has been all abuzz with this new...err..test? that helps you find out your work-related personality and motivations. https://www.talentoday.com Everybody has been sharing their results. Lemme tell you, the list of questions are LONG. I nearly gave up halfway. And I think while taking the test and seeing your own preferences, you can already get a rough affirmation of who you think you are.

  I work best under competition and stress! Any so does my neighbour, so she's been coming over to my (half empty since my illegal roommate has been found out and evicted) room to study together.

Real time picture!

  I always knew I wasn't much of a leader so that doesn't bother me much. But especially this term, I've been feeling very frustrated with myself for being overly self-conscious. It has been affecting my ability to speak in public, I get too distracted about how I am perceived and do not focus on the topic at hand. It has even been holding me back during soccer practice! I know I'm a new member and I suck compared to the others, but my constantly thinking about it and fear of embarrassment has made my performance even poorer since I don't go all out and get the ball! 

  I also don't like asking questions in class or emailing professors to request something because I feel like I'm putting myself out there. When I have to, I usually put it off til the last minute. And that is one of the reasons why I volunteered to be secretary for this year's iGEM, since I have to send emails to my peers, seniors, advisors and professor on a regular basis. It also forces me to take the initiative and communicate with the senior members. (I never ever dared talked to them before this) When I first started out I was very wary of sending emails, checking them multiple times before having the courage to click 'send', but I think I'm getting over it =) Have an important solo presentation on Monday which will be graded- planning to forget about all the smarty-pants who will be present and kill it!

*atm*

Catch Up

Dear jumjum...

  I've been so busy and neglecting my blog! Just a quick update on March and April...

  Well Val and Zac were supposed to come to HK at the end of March for our Siblings' Getaway before Val starts work. I was super excited, planning the itinerary a month in advance and saving up $ so that we won't have to worry too much about finances while they were here. Then about two or three weeks before they were to come, Kong was admitted to the hospital. The doctors said it was serious, so the overseas uncles and aunts were all going back to Kuching. Nearing the date, Kong was still in the hospital so our family decided they shouldn't come. I was beyond disappointed. About three days before the supposed-to-be-cancelled-trip, Val called me while I was in the library- at first I thought Kong had passed on but she told me that Kong was out of the hospital and he seemed well enough- they were sticking to the original plan. That set me up in hives! I had so much to prepare because I sort of took a step back from studying at full-pace since I would have more free time if they were not coming. On the day of their arrival, 2 hours before my Chem midterm, I was trying to relax a bit and went on FB- to see that my cousin had posted RIP Grandpa...so I texted Mum (who, I suppose, didn't want to break the news just before my midterm) and she confirmed it. Basically, the month of March was an emotional roller coaster for me! Excited-disappointed-acceptance-renewed excitement-sadness. Meanwhile, Zac had just arrived at the airport and was waiting for Val to arrive. The poor kid was so excited about his first flight alone and was enjoying HK that I didn't have the heart to tell him. Eventually dad decided that since they were here, we might as well enjoy as much of the trip as possible, and he left it up to us to decide if we wanted to go for the funeral. Of course we did! So we spent Wed night til Friday night in HK, arriving in time for the funeral on Saturday afternoon.

  The first night our HK uncle brought us for supper, dessert and up Victoria's Peak. The next day I brought them to Tim Ho Wan for breakfast, then we took the star ferry and walked around the Avenue of Stars, which I have never been to either. Then I brought them to my campus and met some of my friends. It was so surreal having my siblings in my dorm! They were quite hungry so they actually ate their sister's poor dorm-cooked food. I took lots of pictures, because I was sure I couldn't imagine they were really there after they leave. Then uncle treated us to a most delicious Shanghainese dinner. On Friday we planned to go to Ocean Park (Zac badly badly wanted to get on a roller coaster (his first time) and see real life pandas!) but uncle said it would be too much of a rush and it wouldn't be worth it. Ee ee brought us to the Science Museum instead, and we sort of hung out with the family until it was time to board. I think uncle would prefer if Val was here instead of me! She's so talkative and friendly, asking uncle all these questions and talking to our cousin Edwin too. Usually when I see them I don't talk much- I just smile. Gah! Anyway we didn't get to do much but they're coming again next year!!!

  I spent my birthday in Kuching. Wasn't much of a celebration since Kong's funeral was the day before. We didn't mention it to any of the extended family. During the family luncheon, Nick Koko surprised me with a cake! And my nephews Ezekiel and Sebastian (the cutie pie and my favourite!) had just as much fun playing with the chocolate cake as eating it. The girls in HK asked me to skype with them and I found them all with a mini cake and candles, singing over the video call and then making me watch them eat it! xD When I came back I was well and truly surprised by them- one of them called me and said she left her book in my common room and that she couldn't come back in since it was after 'visiting hours', so I had to bring it down for her. They (the girls and some Malaysians as well) were all downstairs with a cake! And I was in my jammies!!! But it was a very nice pick-me-up after a sad and brief weekend back home. 

  After that I was basically busy with another midterm exam and iGEM. During the midterm break (mid April) I made a spontaneous decision to follow the Malaysians to Macau! I was very surprised to find it quite different from HK- even the weather! We had endless egg tarts (eating one everytime we saw a stall that sells it) and I spent a lot of money on food! It was worth it though, enjoyed myself a great deal.

*atm*



  

Bye, Kong.

  I remember staying in 747, Kenyalang Park during one of our holiday trips back to Kuching. Kong always smelt of cigarette smoke, frequently shirtless with a chain around his neck. He had a 'workshop' at the outside area near the kitchen filled with knickknacks he made and carpentry tools which were an endless source of fascination for us. He usually spoke to us in Mandarin, and he loved giving us long lectures about life and our faith (his lectures were mixed with some sentences in English). Dad says we get public speaking skills from him. I don't remember much, but I have an impression that he talked with a hint of humour and sarcasm, and I know he used to sigh aloud all the time and shrug in a resigned way.

  He had a secret handshake with the three of us which involved rolling your fists one in front of the other and ending with palms on each other's chest as if imparting a blessing. I regret that I don't remember exactly how it went. He came to stay with us in Kajang once. He loved to sit in the car porch and work on his projects. He collected coconuts (from the coconut tress surrounding the playground near our house?) and cut them in half, screwing them together to make a bowl with a stand. He modified his belt to keep money in a concealed zipper! Once Val and I were playing badminton in front of the Taman Intan house and Val went back in for some reason, and I was waiting for her. Kong came out and said he'll play with me. I was very worried and I told him he shouldn't but he insisted. In trying to hit the shuttlecock, he somehow stumbled against the stationary car and injured his knee. I thought that was the end of the world!

  Since we moved back to Kuching, he's been in the nursing home, and he usually doesn't remember who I am unless someone yells in his ear and tells him. He always says that he wants to go 'home', why doesn't God bring him back? I am very glad that we got to spend some time with him during the last CNY, watching him enjoying the mandarin oranges we brought him like a young child. During the week-long funeral prayers only did I recall that he used to bring a camera around to take pictures. It was delightful to see all the forgotten pictures he took of us and with us. 

  I think the last time we talked properly was during my cousin's wedding in 2008. He was already bound to a wheelchair. Before the luncheon started, I was assigned to keep him company. I tried to talk to him, asking him where he got the watch he always wears. He replied, "It was a gift from my youngest son" in Hokkien. I was like, "You mean my dad?" And he sort of looked at me like, really?!

  Thinking about past events makes me realise how strong a religious faith my grandfather had. Kong, pray for all of us down here so that we may have faith like you did. Rest in peace, Kong. 

"The race well run, your duty's done,

all glory to the Trinity above.

But as we journey still towards the Son,

guide us we pray, with your fatherly love."

您的孙女，
婷梅

Official Nerds

Dear jumjum...

  On Saturday night Patricia and I were dragging ourselves back from the library after pulling 15 hours of study. We had our fat backpacks, huge books and I was in my glasses and my baggy-est pair of jeans. We met a group of merry, slightly drunk people who just returned from 'Pub Night', accompanied by a security guard. The girls were all dressed to the nines with full-on makeup... I wanted to hide my face in a bag. Patricia turned to me and said, "This is all your fault. You guys influenced me!" I said, "Bring me over to the Dark Side! I need some fun!" and she says "Too late, I'm converted."

  What has our life become?

 

  On a happier note, my midterms end tomorrow and we've decided to ditch everything for one night and go have some nice dessert! =)

*atm*